Jamie Page round-up, 02.05.09

The News Journal‘s man on the government beat, Jamie Page, is on a prolific streak, with several readworthy posts today:

“Councilman wants big charter changes”

Mr. Page spoke with Councilman Larry B. Johnson about changes Councilman Johnson hopes the Charter Review Commission will implement. The Councilman’s hopes, along with a few thoughts:

• Move to a strong mayor form of government
  • Note: The CRC has already implented this.
• Lengthen Council members’ terms from two years to four years
  • Note: The CRC has already implented this.
• Transition to full-time Council members
  • Note: The CRC’s strong mayor is a full-time position, and I full expect the CRC to implement full-time Council members.
• Shorten the period between Council members’ election and when they take office.
  • Note: The CRC has moved the date Mayor and Council take office from the second Monday of the following January to the fourth Tuesday in November. This reduced the wait from 2+ months to three weeks.
• Reduce the size of the City Council to no more than seven members
  • Note: As we have said before, Progressive Pensacola opposes any reduction in the number of Council members. More seats equals more representation.  When members of Council have fewer constituents, it allows them to better represent and serve those constituents and their neighbourhoods. A larger Council also promotes consensus-building and deters the formation of voting blocs.

“Outside firm investigating city land deal”

Mr. Page explains:

A Tallahassee firm is looking into the controversial airport land lease deal by the City of Pensacola to see if it was done above board.

The city has hired the firm of Law, Redd, Crona and Munroe — which does accounting, auditing and consulting — to review the process leading up to the Nov. 20 City Council vote on the land lease, and the city’s policies on such transactions. The firm will give an opinion on whether the process was consistent with city policies.

To those who opposed the Airport lease and called for this investigation:

In a recent city memo, City Attorney Rusty Wells says Law’s services will cost $220 an hour, plus travel and expenses.

Hope it’s worth it!

“City getting proposals for new library”

Regarding the planned new downtown library, “the Downtown Library RFP Evaluation Committee will meet March 2 to hear presentations from the short list of potential architectural firms.”

Several big-name firms are in the running, including Bullock Tice, Spencer Maxwell Bullock, and Quina-Grundhoefer.