Daily Record Financial News &
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 063 • Three Sections
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Term-limits bill tabled for pension
By David Chapman, Staff Writer City Council member John Crescimbeni dug out a 25-year relic in preparation for a final vote Tuesday on term limits. A bright orange sign that simply stated in block letters: “Support the two-term limit for City Council.” Council member Matt Schellenberg for months had pushed to extend that to three consecutive terms, but Tuesday the push ended for now. After passing four committees last month, Schellenberg withdrew his bill. If it had passed — and he
believed it had the votes — the decision would have been left up to voters in the summer or fall. But it also might have competed with a half-cent sales tax extension referendum that Mayor Lenny Curry and others want to pay down $2.7 billion in pension liabilities. Schellenberg said he didn’t want there to be any conflict or distraction — all efforts needed to go toward pitching the sales tax extension to voters. Schellenberg said it wasn’t the right time or place to pursue the referendum. Earlier in the day, he said when
he talks to people in his Mandarin district, he hasn’t been talking term limits, just the pension fix. Coupled with how well the effort in Tallahassee has gone, he said he made the decision in the past week. Crescimbeni supported “not cluttering” the ballot and said if voters felt strongly about extending term limits, they should bring the issue back up — much like they did in the early 1990s when they capped term limits at two consecutive terms. Council member Bill Gulliford disagreed, saying a consolidation task force recommended the idea and Duval County is the only
one, with the exception of Orange County, with term limits for constitutional officers. Those positions and the mayor were later added to Schellenberg’s bill as an amendment. “I do hope it comes back,” said Gulliford. Schellenberg said he appreciated support, but the timing just isn’t right. His colleagues agreed, supporting the withdrawal unanimously. Crescimbeni put away the sign — for now. dchapman@jaxdailyrecord.com (904) 356-2466
Creating dishes for Sbraga & Co. customers
Photo by David Chapman
Schellenberg says not right time for anything else
City Council member John Crescimbeni holds his 25-year-old sign.
Wood You moving for new Earth Fare site?
Executive chef Justin Petruce, right, chats with, from left, line cooks Alvin Jones, D’Juan Miller and sous chef Ian Fleishmann as they prep for serving dinner at Sbraga & Co. See Petruce’s workspace on Page A-7
Photo by Fran Ruchalski
Owners say they were told grocery coming
Florida tackling Zika virus early Governor seeking help from Centers for Desease Control
By Max Marbut Staff Writer As of Tuesday afternoon, 16 cases of the Zika virus had been reported in Florida, including one case in St. Johns County. But that didn’t stop health officials from going into action. State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong issued last week a declaration for public health emergency for the counties with residents who have contracted Zika virus: Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade and Santa Rosa. On Thursday, Broward County was added and on Friday, Osceola and St. Johns counties also were included on the health emergency list. According to the state Department of Health, which is issuing daily updates on the virus that can be spread by biting mos-
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quitoes, all cases to date are travel-associated, meaning the people infected picked up Zika in a foreign country and then brought it with them to Florida. Duval County is not considered at risk for the virus at this time but the city has a program in place since 1957 to control the source of Zika virus transmission. Most people who contract Zika virus report flu-like symptoms that usually go away in about a week. What’s caused the current focus on the virus is there is no vaccine against it and its danger to women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. In South America, where thousands of cases of the virus have been reported, Zika has been linked to birth defects. Two species of mosquitoes are implicated in the transmission of Zika and they are Zika continued on Page A-3
legal notices begin on page
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The Aedes aegypti mosquito is suspected of carrying the Zika virus. It is one of 47 species of mosquitoes found in Duval County.
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Wood You Furniture is relocating its Mandarin store in two weeks, moving from the Mandarin South shopping center where the store owners say Earth Fare will open a grocery store. Dawn Blankenship, who owns Jacksonville-based Wood You Furniture with her husband, Brett, said they have leased space for about five years in the center at 11700 San Jose Blvd. Their last day there will be Feb. 20. They will move about 3 miles north to 10100 San Jose Blvd. Books-A-Million real estate subsidiary Preferred Growth Properties LLC bought the Mandarin South shopping center in July 2014. Blankenship said Preferred Growth Properties representative Bear Burnett told her and her husband that Earth Fare had signed a lease there. Burnett has not returned several phone calls and emails. Mandarin South is at San Jose Boulevard and Loretto Road. Earth Fare has been expected in the area. The natural and organic foods grocer opened its first Jacksonville store in August 2014 at the Atlantic North shopping center at 11901 Atlantic Blvd. At the time, Earth Fare CFO Scott Little said the company wanted to open up to four stores in Jacksonville, including in Mandarin and Westside. Earth Fare, based in North Carolina, has not confirmed the Mandarin South location. A spokeswoman said Tuesday the company would be in contact when it is ready to make a statement. The manager at Earth Fare’s Atlantic North store referred questions to Earth Fare in North Carolina. Mathis continued on Page A-2
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