The coming week in City government

Below is the breakdown of what the Pensacola City Council will consider in the coming week. As always, direct expenditures are highlighted. Links to the full agendas are included at the bottom of the page.

Committee of the Whole

Based on Council input, staff is recommending that the City Manager’s increased spending authority ($25-50K) be limited to expenditures to small businesses with 15 or fewer employees.

The City Manager was granted the increased spending authority last month with the thought that it would help small and minority businesses better compete for some City contracts.

Neighbourhood Services

Sidewalks: Council will consider the award of a $54,500 contract for the replacement of sidewalks in Malaga Square (at 10th and Blount). Hopefully the sidewalk corners, which feature historic inlaid street names, can be preserved. The vendor, Affordable Concrete, is based in unincorporated Escambia County.

Procurement: Staff is asking Council to approve the purchase of a “Toro Reel Master 7 Gang Transport Frame
Model #3345 and accessory equipment” at a cost of $3 1,095.88. This equipment is used to mow large athletic fields. The vendor is Jerry Pate Turf and Irrigation, which has an office in unincorporated Escambia County.

More sidewalks: Council is also being asked to approve $12,496.67 for “additional sidewalk and curb
work associated with the installation of handicap ramps” in association with existing street projects. The vendor is Roads, Inc., which is based in unincorporated Escambia County.

Contracts: Also before Council is the approval of engineering design services contracts with PBS&J and Hatch Mott MacDonald. The contracts would last five years and relate to Public Works project. There is no immediate cost for the contracts as the cost of design services will be included along with the contracts for the actual projects. Both firms are based out of the area; Hatch Mott MacDonald maintains a Pensacola office within the City limits, while PBS&J maintains an office just outside the City limits.

Enterprise Operations

Tryon Library: Council will consider the purchase of 34 Dell Optiplex computers for the new Tryon Branch Library. The cost per unit (computer + 17-inch monitor) is $1,249, for a total cost of $42,446. The hardware could be purchased at less cost retail; the reason for the increased cost is specialty software that the out-of-state vendor will install on each machine to prevent configuration changes and adapt them to specific library uses (card catalog, etc). Staff is also asking Council to approve a “permanent underground power distribution easement” with Gulf Power, necessary to get power from Langley Avenue to the library.

Road project: Staff is recommending Council award a $176,824 contract for street reconstruction. Three spans will be reconstructed: East Mallory Street from North Davis Street to North 7th Avenue, West Wright Street between North Barcelona and North Reus Streets, and North 16th Avenue between East Gadsden and East Jackson Streets. Spans of East Lakeview and North 19th Avenues, both of which are older concrete streets, were planned to be reconstructed but removed from the project due to objections raised by the East Hill Neighbourhood Association. The vendor for this project is Panhandle Grading and Paving, which is based in unincorporated Escambia County.

Port of Pensacola: The Port is establishing a short term operating agreement with Offshore Inland, an offshore oil and gas exploration company. The agreement itself does not require Council approval; however, Offshore Inland has asked for a 90-day cancellation period instead of the customary 30 day period. Staff has asked Council to approve that exception.

Economic and Community Development

Historic preservation: Mr. Robert Savage is asking Council to approve an Historic Preservation Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for his property at 202 West Gadsden Street. Mr. Savage has done an excellent job restoring a beautiful old home and is to be commended for his investment.

Staff will also provide Council with an information item about the Westside Community Redevelopment Area tax increment financing district.

Fianance Committee

Community Maritime Park: Council will try to come to a decision on financing the Community Maritime Park. Staff has recommended the issuance of 30 year fixed rate bonds. We won’t rehash the arguments over this here.

Note: The Community Redevelopment Agency will not meet.

Links

• Committee of the Whole agenda
• Neighbourhood Services agenda
• Enterprise Operations agenda
• Economic and Community Development agenda
• Finance Committee agenda