Access your local Jacksonville Public Library anytime, anywhere via their JaxLibrary mobile app.

The Jacksonville Waste and Recycle mobile app provides your customized collection calendar for trash, recycling, and green waste pickup, plus holiday scheduling and disposal guidelines.

Don't just be ready this hurricane season, be JaxReady! The City of Jacksonville partnered with the Times-Union Media, First Coast News, the American Red Cross and WJCT to produce the 2013 Emergency Preparedness Guide, at no cost to taxpayers.

Download the 2013 Emergency Preparedness Guide

You can pick up a copy in the Sunday, June 2 edition of the Florida Times-Union, or pick up a copy at various locations throughout the city starting June 3, listed here. To learn more about Emergency Preparedness, visit www.JaxReady.com or get the JaxReady mobile app.

Hurricane Season Starts Saturday, But Residents Can Plan Now For All Hazards

Hurricane season starts Saturday, but the public should prepare now for any emergency.

Proper planning can help people have the right plan in place to respond and recover from emergencies – not just storms, but fires, floods and other hazards. Mayor Alvin Brown and leaders of the American Red Cross of Northeast Florida and Duval County Emergency Management are providing resources to assist residents and business owners with precautions in 2013.

Mayor Alvin Brown will host Mayor Brown’s Interfaith Breakfast on May 20 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. The breakfast, featuring Bishop T. D. Jakes of The Potter’s House of Dallas, will focus on the theme "Faith, Family and Friends." The event will explore ways to build community partnerships that will improve education and reduce crime. During the event, Mayor Brown will launch initiatives focusing on mentoring local youth, as well as crime prevention and intervention.

Learn more about Mayor Brown's Interfaith Breakfast at JaxHappenings.com

Mayor Alvin Brown today announced an agreement on retirement reform with the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters (JAFF), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund (JPFPF).

The new agreement is projected to save taxpayers approximately $1.1 billion over 30 years, including almost $50 million in the next Fiscal Year alone (10/1/2013 to 9/30/2014). To put those numbers in perspective, the first year savings alone are the same amount of money needed to pay the compensation of approximately 800 city employees. The savings equal the combined budgets of the Jacksonville Public Libraries and the City Planning and Development Department.

“I greatly respect our brave public safety employees and the important work they do for our community,” said Mayor Brown. “This agreement is a product of partnership between the City and public safety professionals. Together, we have achieved retirement reform that will help ensure financial sustainability for both taxpayers and employees.”

Learn more at www.coj.net/RetirementReform.

Five City of Jacksonville Department of Public Works employees demonstrated excellence in equipment operation and winning skills at the Equipment Rodeo held on Wednesday, April 24, during the American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida Chapter conference held in Jacksonville.

The centerpiece of the day’s event was the Professional Skills Competition held in the parking lot of the Prime Osborn Convention Center. APWA-approved equipment dealers hosted eight challenging and innovative events aimed to test the skills, safety and time of competitors. Types of equipment featured at the event included a mini-excavator, a sewer cleaner, a backhoe loader and a remote-control mower. Competitions included obstacle courses and tasks emphasizing skill and agility.

Bank contributes $70,000 toward pilot project

Wells Fargo and Mayor Alvin Brown announced progress toward the opening of the Jacksonville Day Resource Center (JDRC) for homeless people with the company’s $70,000 contribution toward the pilot project.

Joined by the mayor, the center’s board and partners, Wells Fargo regional president Scott Coble announced the $70,000 contribution in seed funding to help move the project forward. The JDRC will lead a challenge grant campaign to encourage other businesses and community members to become involved as well through contributions.