Over 7 ½ Tons of Trash Collected in One Morning, Saving Taxpayers Nearly $50,000

The City of Jacksonville’s Keep Jacksonville Beautiful commission reported that the 2015 Florida Coastal Cleanup event, held Saturday, Sept.19, was a huge success in Duval County.  This year’s event yielded more than double the amount of volunteers and trash collected compared to the 2014 cleanup.

Craig “CJ” Thompson has been appointed Director of Intra-Governmental Services for the City of Jacksonville.

In this capacity, Thompson will be responsible for leading the City’s Intra-Governmental Services Department, which includes the Procurement, Fleet Management and Information Technologies divisions, as well as the 630-CITY customer service center, the Grants and Compliance Office, and the Ombudsman Office.

Residents throughout the city are invited to participate in the 2015 Florida Coastal Cleanup event The City of Jacksonville’s Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission.  This annual event, which provides volunteers with an opportunity to help beautify the city’s shorelines, is part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).

Most city government offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.  

Mayor Lenny Curry today accepted the recommendation of the General Counsel Search Committee and appointed Jason R. Gabriel as general counsel for the City of Jacksonville. 

Pursuant to Jacksonville City Charter Article 7, Section 7.03, a search committee headed by former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney advertised, interviewed, and then unanimously recommended Gabriel for the position.

JaxReady helps you monitor weather threats and plan for evacuation in the event of a natural disaster. JaxReady provides access to current threat levels, weather reports, and wildfire updates, as well as up-to-the-minute news feeds for emergency preparedness and evacuation.  Visit JaxReady.com or download the JaxReady mobile app.

Mayor Lenny Curry today appointed Jessica Baker as deputy director of Intergovernmental Affairs. 

Baker will join the three-person team, led by Ali Korman Shelton and assisted by Latanya Peterson, tasked with crafting and guiding state and city legislative policy and bills for Mayor Curry’s administration. 

Mayor Appoints Director for Military Affairs and Veterans Department and New Director of Public Affairs

Mayor Lenny Curry today appointed retired U.S. Navy Commander William S. Spann as Director of Military Affairs and Veterans Department and Ms. Marsha Oliver as Director of Public Affairs. 

Ms. Oliver currently serves as Chief of Public Relations and Marketing for the Duval County Public Schools.  Commander Spann currently serves as Mayor Curry’s Director of Public Affairs.

Asks Regional Water Planners to "Look for a Better Solution"

In a letter to officials of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), a consortium of five Central Florida counties looking to siphon up to 155 millions of gallons of water daily from the St. Johns River, Mayor Lenny Curry has asked that water withdrawals from the upper and middle basins of the St. Johns River be put on hold until additional work exploring alternative water supply options is completed.

“While we are committed to working with the CFWI to develop a long-term strategy,” Mayor Curry said upon the letter’s release, “we’re asking those involved to look for a better solution in meeting that region's water supply needs.”

Mayor Lenny Curry’s Transition Subcommittees presented their final reports to the administration on Aug. 6 during a presentation at City Hall. The Transition Subcommittees convened individuals with knowledge and expertise from throughout the community to help the new administration address the diverse issues facing Jacksonville. To learn more about the Transition Subcommittees and read their recommendations, visit www.coj.net/transition. 

Mayor Appoints Directors for Office of Economic Development and Fire & Rescue Department

Mayor Lenny Curry today announced key appointments to the Office of Economic Development (OED) and the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department (JFRD). 

Kirk Wendland, current Director of Business Development at the architecture, engineering and construction firm Stellar, will serve as the director of OED.  Wendland has more than 28 years in the Jacksonville market, with previous experience as president of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and director of finance and administration for the Downtown Development Authority.

Kurtis Wilson, an 18-year veteran of JFRD, was appointed as Director and Fire Chief. Wilson is currently the captain of Marine Unit 39 and has previously served as division chief of Operations, Fire Prevention and Administrative Services. 

Move Will Create 123 Local Financial Services Jobs

International financial services company Macquarie Group will open an office in Downtown Jacksonville, creating 123 highly skilled jobs over the next two years.

The Jacksonville City Council unanimously approved the project on Tuesday as Project Post, and Macquarie officials announced today they selected Jacksonville as the home for these jobs, which have an average annual wage of more than $64,000.

Mayor Lenny Curry laid out his priorities and presented his proposed 2015-2016 Annual Budget to the Jacksonville City Council during a special meeting on Monday, July 20, 2015. View digital versions of the mayor's proposed budget and capital improvement plan at www.coj.net/myjaxbudget. 

Robin Lumb Will Serve as Mayor’s Director of Policy
 
Mayor Lenny Curry announced today that he has appointed Robin Lumb as his Director of Policy. 
 
In this capacity, Lumb – a former At-Large Jacksonville City Councilman – will report to newly appointed Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart.  

Playoff Teams Atlanta and New Orleans to Face Off in Third Annual Event

For the third straight year, Jacksonville will be a destination for the NBA as the Atlanta Hawks and the New Orleans Pelicans face off in a preseason game at Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday, Oct. 9.
 
The Hawks, who posted the best record in the Eastern Conference this season, will be playing a Pelicans team that advanced to the playoffs in the Western Conference for the first time since 2011.
 
“This year’s NBA game between two playoff teams showcases Jacksonville’s strong ability to host major events. We are excited that our partnership with the NBA will continue for a third successive year,” Mayor Alvin Brown said. “Our city’s record as a premier destination for sports and entertainment will only continue building momentum with this first-class show for basketball fans in 2015.”
 
The New Orleans Pelicans return to Jacksonville for the third year in a row. They feature All-NBA performer Anthony Davis coached by Alvin Gentry, who was an assistant coach for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors this past season.