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: This meeting will take place on Monday, June 22. The meeting begins at 9:00 AM in the Hagler/Mason Conference Room, second floor, City Hall.

Committee of the Whole

Appointments: Council will make appointments to several boards and committees: the Small Business Enterprise Ad Hoc Committee, the Planning Board, and the Zoning Board of Adujustments.

Council is expected to ratify the mayoral appointment of Bobby Behr to the SBE Committee.

There are twelve nominees for six positions on the City’s Planning Board, including Progressive Pensacola publisher Derek Cosson. The other eleven nominees are: John Briscione, Jeff Crigler, Debbie Crossland, Veronica Dias, Ashton Hayward, Bob Moulton, Shana Neuhaus, Melanie Nichols, Jeannie A. Rhoden, Paul Ritz, and Clay Roesch. Messrs. Briscione, Moulton, Ritz, and Roesch, as well as Ms. Dias, are incumbents.

There are five nominees for three positions on the Zoning Board of Adjustment: Patrick Boudreaux, Joseph G. Buehler, Jeff Crigler, Tamara Landis, and Randy Oglesby. Messrs. Boudreaux and Oglesby, as well as Ms. Landis, are incumbents.

Downtown housing: The Downtown Improvement Board is asking Council to approve a resolution “identifying the need to obtain a high-quality mixed-income residential development of scale within the downtown area … as a top priority goal…”

Inaction on the pension issue: Staff is asking Council to execute a contract, not to exceed $37,000, with the Mercer Group for a “compensation and benefits comparison study.” Council approved moving forward with the study at its last meeting in May. Progressive Pensacola continues to oppose the study and views it as a waste of money. It is, however, likely to be approved.

Action on the pension issue: On the other hand, up for approval are the pension changes championed by Councilwoman Megan Pratt, which call for changes in the way pension benefits are calculated and that spousal benefits are implemented. Staff sums up the possible savings to the City: “Implementation of the pension changes have the potential of reducing the annual City contribution by $2,595,953 with a one-time reduction in unfunded accrued liability by an estimated $19,419,334, provided the changes apply to all three [pension] plans.”

These changes can be implemented immediately for general pension employees. However, both the police and fire pension benefits are subject to collective bargaining with the respective unions.

Additionally, the Firefighters’ Relief and Pension Plan was created by Special Act of the Florida Legislature and any changes to the fire plan must be approved by the Legislature. Staff is asking Council to approve development of legislation for consideration by the Legislature which would repeal the Special Act.

The Employee’s Executive Committee, which represents general pension employees, prefers that Council not make any changes until after the Mercer Group pension study is completed. The police and fire unions did not want to discuss any changes outside of collective bargaining processes.

Presentations: City staff will also provide verbal presentations on collective bargaining with employees and utility installations in City rights of way.

Neighbourhood Services

Parks & Recreation: Council will consider a $233,869.70 contract with Craftsman Concrete for improvements to the Bill Gregory Athletic Complex. The complex, located at 150 North W Street, is primarily a baseball facility, and the improvements include the addition of a batting cage, new dugouts, and new scorer’s booths, along with the replacement or renovation of other areas of the complex. The vendor, Craftsman Concrete, is based within the City limits.

Insufficient funding exists for the project, so staff is recommending that the balance be reallocated from the Sanders Beach Park project.

Bayou Texar dredging: Council will also consider a $489,998 contract with Energy Resources of Missouri for the dredging of the entrance channel at Bayou Texar. The project would remove an estimated 30,000 cubic yards of sand from the channel, which should “provide an adequate navigable course and maximizes the daily tidal exchange of water within Bayou Texar.”

The dredged material will be dumped on the upland portion of the existing peninsula, which is City property, and stockpiled for use on future City projects.

The City will receive partial reimbursement from FEMA for the project, as a portion of the sand was deposited in the channel by Hurricane Ivan.

Street resurfacing: Council will consider a $1,518,605.76 contract with Panhandle Grading and Paving. The contract provides for the resurfacing of 350 blocks of City streets, as well as for the resurfacing of private streets at the Spyglass Point Condominiums. The Spyglass Point Homeowners Association will pay for its portion of the project ($42,575).

For a list of all the streets being resurfaced, see the Neighbourhood Services agenda.

Laptops for police: Staff is asking Council to approve the purchase of 28 Dell laptops for Pensacola Police patrol cars, at a cost of $38,305.40.

Parade costs: Also up for approval is a staff recommendation that Council adopt a “full cost recovery” policy regarding parade events, which would require organizations holding parades to reimburse the City for its costs. This move is an attempt to cut costs; in FY 2008, parades cost the City Police Department $43,401, and the Public Works Department $34,830. According to staff, “funding in support of parades is not currently budgeted in FY 2010 for either Police or Public Works. If full cost recovery is not authorized, the Police Department and Public Works will be required to make service level adjustments to cover the costs.”

12th Avenue traffic study: The results of a study dealing with traffic on 12th Avenue are in. The study recommends several changes:

• Multiway stop signs be installed on 12th Avenue at Maxwell Street and Barcia Drive
• Raised crosswalks be installed at 12th and Gonzalez Street
• The speed limit on 12th Avenue between Texar and Fairfield Drives be lowered from 35 mph to 30 mph
• The installation of interactive speed limit signs on 12th Avenue between Texar and Fairfield Drives

Towing regulations: Staff is asking Council to repeal the City’s ordinance dealing with maximum charges for non-consensual towing, in order to conform to a new County ordinance. The County ordinance provides for a maximum charge of $100.

City property: Staff is asking Council to approve the release of two drainage easements on Schwab and Data Streets. The easements were acquired by the City in 1962, but are no longer necessary, and the property owner is requesting their release.

Presentations: Staff will provide a verbal presentation on Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements to City parks and facilities.

Enterprise Operations

Airport procurement: Council will consider a $60,204 one-year contract for carpet and tile cleaning services at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport. The vendor is American Facilities Services of Alpharetta, Georgia.

Also up for approval is an amendment to an existing contract to provide for replacement of fire alarm systems at the airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station. The cost is $34,845.

Council is also being asked to approve the purchase of a Kubota M108SDSC2 Tractor at a cost of $44,393.58. The vendor is Coastal Machinery Company, based in unincorporated Escambia County.

We also need some replacement airport signage. The cost is $43,605.72. The vendor is Allen Enterprises of Orlando.

Staff is also asking Council to approve a $29,000 addition to an existing contract concerning the construction of a temporary shuttle parking lot. According to staff, “during the permitting process and during construction activity, various unforeseen conditions have arisen that required the assistance of the design engineers for both review and plan modification.”

More airport stuff: Council is being asked to approve date changes in a landscape maintenance contract, due to delays with the contractor initiating service. Also up for approval is a permit allowing Skywarrior, Inc. to conduct flight training operations at the airport.

Bryan Park: The contractor for the Tyron Library/Bryan Park project wants $25,000 more for engineering and design services stemming from Council’s decision to implement a natural playground at Bryan Park.

Port of Pensacola: Staff needs Council’s permission to execute routine memoranda of agreement concerning port security with three port tenants.

Economic and Community Development

Eastside TIF spending: Staff is asking Council to approve the list of projects to be funded by FY 2009 proceeds from the Eastside Tax Increment Financing District. The breakdown:

• $20,000 for administrative costs
• $15,000 for the implementation of Pensacola Police surveillance cameras
• $70,000 for infill and redevelopment land acquisition
• $10,155 for developing plans and studies

Fee increases: Council is being asked to approve increases to permit application fees and Certificate of Occupancy fees, and to establish a fee for front yard averaging. The permit application fees would rise from the present $20 flat fee to a $27 fee for residential permits and a $34 fee for commercial permits, bringing the City fees in line with those charged by Escambia County. The Certificate of Occupancy fee would rise from the present $40 to $100, which Inspection Services says reflects the cost of the inspection itself. Additionally, staff is requesting Council establish a $150 fee for front yard averaging, which Inspection Services currently provides free of charge.

According to staff, these increases are necessary to cover deficits.

Code enforcement: Council will consider a recommendation by the Code Enforcement Board to reduce a $33,745 lien against property at 1201 North Barcelona Street to $1500.

Right of way requests: Jason Rebol and Paul Battle, the owners of a new building at 2301 North 9th Avenue, are back again requesting a license to use a portion of the East Bobe Street right of way to construct a single parking space. However, this license request covers a much smaller area than their previous request and is more likely to be approved.

Council will also consider a request to use a portion of the right of way at 200 South Palafox Street for outdoor seating. A restaurant, Blazzues, is being developed in the former Abbott’s Military Tailors building at that location. City staff is okay with it as long as the property owner maintains 8 feet of unimpeded walking space on the sidewalk.

Zoning: Council will hold a public hearing at its meeting next Thursday, June 22, to consider a request to rezone several parcels adjacent to the waterfront in the Sanders Beach neighbourhood. The request is to rezone the parcels from R-1AA (One and Two Family Residential) to R-2B (Multi-family residential) and CO (Conservation), and to amend the Future Land Use map for the parcels to reflect a change from MDR (Medium Density Residential) to HDR (High Density Residential) and CO (Conservation).

Progressive Pensacola strongly opposes this request. Bayshore Boyzz is seeking to develop a high-rise condo on the property, which Progressive Pensacola feels would result in a severe, negative impact to the neighbourhood. A high-rise condo would detract from the historic character of the neighbourhood, as well as create traffic and other infrastructure problems.

Vacate request: Residents in the North Hill Highlands neighbourhood are requesting the City vacate an unimproved, unmaintained City alley. The alley runs from North C Street to North D Street, between West Moren and Blount Streets. Residents claim that the alley attracts criminal activity. The Planning Board has recommended approval.

Finance Committee

Claim settlement: Staff is asking Council to approve a $15,000 settlement with a woman whose vehicle was struck by a Pensacola Police vehicle which failed to stop at a stop sign.

City payments to ECUA: Also up for Council’s consideration is a revised agreement with the ECUA which would reduce the City’s payments to ECUA in connection with the relocation of the Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant.

CMP bonds: Council will also consider changes to how the bonds for the Community Maritime Park would be repaid.

Community Redevelopment Agency

Archaeological services: The CRA will be asked to approve a change order not to exceed $42,000 for archaeological services provided by UWF in connection with projects on Romana and Alcaniz Streets.

ECUA, CMP issues: The CRA will revisit the agreement with ECUA and the Community Maritime Park bonds. Despite the fact that these issues will be covered in the Finance Committee, they must be again addressed by Council when seated as the CRA, as the City and CRA are separate legal entities.

Jefferson Street Garage: An information item will be presented about the costs of improvements to the City-owned Jefferson Street parking garage. The improvements, totalling $103,339, will be paid from the Parking Management District Fund.

Links

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