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.

Note: The Community Redevelopment Agency will not meet.

Committee of the Whole

The only item on the COW agenda is the Development Agreement and Sub-Lease between the Community Maritime Park Associates and the Maritime Park Development Partners. The 109-page proposed agreement is available in the full agenda.

Neighbourhood Services

Procurement: Council will consider the purchase of two items for the Pensacola Fire Department: one “2009 Pierce Level I Custom Pumper” at a net delivered cost of $310,385, and one “2009 Pierce 100′ Aerial Platform” at a net delivered cost of $858,326, for a total cost of $1,168,711. The vendor is Ten-8 Fire Equipment, Inc., of Bradenton, Florida.

More procurement: Also up for consideration is the purchase of “furniture, fixtures, and equipment” for the Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Community Centre, totalling $122,529.25. The vendor is Contract Resources, based in the City of Pensacola.

Parks & Rec: Council is being asked to approve the placement of a memorial plaque in honour of tennis player Larry Caton at the Bayview Park tennis courts. The Pensacola Friends of Tennis will fund the cost of the plaque but are asking that City staff install it.

Disaster services: Staff is asking Council to approve a one-year extension of a 2006 contract with Beck Disaster Recovery, Inc., of Orlando, Florida, for disaster debris planning and support management services.  In the event of a disaster, FEMA requires monitoring of each load of debris collected. This monitoring must be done by a third party, who would submit the information gathered to the City, who in can then request reimbursement from FEMA. There are no costs to the City unless services are requested.

Fuel charge decrease: Courtesy of stable fuel prices, Director of Finance Dick Barker will lower the fuel charge on City sanitation bills from $1.50 to $0.50, effective May 1.

Additional street rehabilitation: A one-time allocation of $260,376 in Community Development Block Grant funds has been made available to the City courtesy of the federal stimulus bill, with the conditions that the City spend it and start construction within 120 days. The City plans to use the money to resurface 58 blocks of City streets, replace curbs, and install handicap ramps, all in the Westside area near Morris Court and the Englewood Senior Apartments. For a map and list of streets, see the full agenda.

Enterprise Operations

Library architect: Council will decide on an architect for the new downtown library. A selection committee has ranked Pensacola-based TOWNES + Architects at the top of a group of finalists, and City staff has negotiated a contract ready for Council approval. Progressive Pensacola is encouraged by the fact that TOWNES + Architects has a LEED-accredited architect on staff, as we hope that the new library can be constructed to be as “green” as possible. However, TOWNES is a very small firm, and will be outsourcing much of the design work, and thus our tax dollars, to a larger Birmingham firm. Small businesses are great, and we’re glad the City is trying to throw them more business, but this library project might be better in the hands of a larger firm.

Massage chairs: Council will consider a small amendment to the City’s agreement with Smarte Carte, Inc., which operates automated massage chairs at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport. The amendment would extend the agreement through July 2012 and add a clause allowing the City to terminate the agreement with 30 days’ notice.

Street reconstruction: Staff is asking Council to approve more street reconstruction. Portions of Schwab and Goodrich Drives as well as Joy and Hewitt Street will be reconstructed for a total of 15.5 City blocks. The cost is yet to be determined.

Housing funding: An information item will be provided to Council concerning a successful funding application by the City’s Housing Department.

Economic and Community Development

Specialty center: Staff is asking Council to approve the designation of a “specialty center” district, which is a legal device which could allow folks to ignore certain liquor laws during permitted events. This is being proposed at the suggestion of the Northwest Florida Arts Council after concerns arose that businesses could be held liable if patrons carried wine cups and other alcoholic beverages out of the business during events such as Gallery Night. The proposed specialty center district covers much of the area where Gallery Night activities take place, as well as the Belmont-Devilliers area.

Sidewalks: Council will consider the list of streets to receive new sidewalk construction, as well as reconstruction of damaged sections. This year’s list focuses safe access to schools and community centres. For a full list of areas where sidewalks will be constructed or reconstructed, see the full agenda. The total cost for this project is $230,000; a contractor has not yet been selected.

Zoning issues: Staff will provide an information item regarding a rezoning request. Grover Robinson IV, who is a realtor in addition to his other job as a member of the Escambia County Commission, is asking that property at 4016 North 9th Avenue be rezoned from R-1AA (One and Two Family Residential) to R-2 (Residential Office), for the purpose of developing medical offices. The parcel, which is adjacent to the Pineglades neighbourhood, is presently vacant. A public hearing will be held on the request at Council’s regular meeting the Thursday night.

In another information item, a Mr. John Thomas is requesting that the area on the north side of Heinberg Street between 9th and 14th Avenues be included in the existing Dense Business Area. This would reduce the distance required between bars in this area and churches, schools, residential zones, etc., and provide greater flexibility with parking requirements. The request is intended to facilitate the relocation of the Roundup nightclub to a new property on Heinberg Street. A public hearing on this issue will also be held at Council’s regular meeting next Thursday.

LDC amendment: Staff is informing Council of a proposed amendment to the City’s Land Development Code which would, among other things, prohibit outdoor advertising signs (billboards) in the CRA district. A public hearing will be held on the issue but is not yet set.

Finance Committee

City property: The Airport wants, or rather needs for the Airport hotel deal, to acquire the five-acre property at 1200 College Boulevard. The parcel is presently owned by the United State Army Reserve but will soon be turned over to the City. The Airport proposes transferring $3.3 million plus interest from the Airport Fund to the General Fund over a four-year period. Despite the fact that the City owns the Airport, the City runs it as an enterprise operation, and airport funds are entirely separate from other City monies; hence the money transfer.

Insurance coverage: Staff is asking Council to approve a one-year proposal from the Molton Allen & Williams Agency of Pensacola for “excess gas liability” insurance coverage, with a premium cost of $172,569. Staff is also asking Council to approve a one-year proposal for property insurance in the amount of $1,118,121.

Financial report: The City’s Finance Director, Dick Barker, will present the second quarter financial report.

Links

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