The coming week in City government

Below is the breakdown of what the Pensacola City Council will consider in the coming week. As always, expenditures are highlighted. Links to the full agendas are included at the bottom of the page. Included in the full agendas are copies of any contracts, agreements, ordinances, or resolutions.

Note: This meeting will take place on Monday, April 19. The meeting begins at 1:30 PM in the Hagler/Mason Conference Room, second floor, City Hall. Please note the earlier-than-usual start time.

Finance Committee

Potential changes to stormwater fees. Council could make changes to the City’s stormwater assessment, a fee charged to property owners in order to finance stormwater management improvements. The fee is based upon an Equivalent Stormwater Unit (ESU), which is set as the amount of impervious area for the median single family residential home. Due to new development and redevelopment, the median size has changed and City staff is recommending adjustment of the ESU from 2,575 square feet up to 2,998 square feet. Doing so but leaving the ESU billing rate at $52.80 per ESU would result in reduced revenue. To maintain the current revenue level the billing rate would need to be adjusted to $72.24 per ESU.

Claim against City. Ms. Cary Carter has filed a claim against the City as a result of a vehicular accident that occurred on June 10, 2002. Ms. Carter’s vehicle was struck by a City pickup truck which had run a red light. Ms. Carter suffered injuries as well as the total loss of her vehicle. City legal counsel is recommending a settlement of $49,500.

City property insurance. It’s time for the City to buy property insurance again. Staff is recommending a proposal from the Florida League of Cities Public Risk Services. The proposal is for a $1,133,348 annual premium which would provide up to $150 million protection for the City’s estimated $216 million in property. The proposed premium is about $114,000 less than the premium paid by the City last year.

Bidder contact ordinance. An ordinance that would prohibit bidders on City contracts from contacting City Council members is back up for discussion. The ordinance came about after a similar measure was passed by the County Commission in the wake of the Maplewood affair. At the last round of committee meetings, various changes were discussed and the ordinance was referred back to staff.

Finance report. Finance Director Dick Barker will present a report on the City’s finances for the six months ending March 31.

Neighbourhood Services

ECUA monitoring wells. Council recently approved a request by ECUA to place monitoring wells in four City parks, on the condition that ECUA would relocate the proposed site of one of the wells to lessen the impact on residents. ECUA has proposed an alternate location for that well, to be located in Baycliff Estates Park, and it is coming back to Council for approval.

Disaster debris recovery services. Staff is asking Council to approve an extension with D & J Enterprises for disaster debris recovery services. This firm handled debris recovery in the wake of Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis and a contract extension would retain their services through May 31, 2012. Costs are only incurred when and if the services are rendered, and the retention of such a vendor is a prerequisite for FEMA reimbursement.

9th Avenue sidewalks. Sidewalks are coming to portions of 9th Avenue after a long wait. Council is being asked to approve a Local Agency Program Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation, which will begin the process of constructing sidewalks on 9th Avenue from Fairfield Drive north to Berkley Drive.

DEP agreement. Also up for Council’s consideration is an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection related to the Romana Street Outfall Drainage Improvement Project. The agreement provides grant funding for the project.

Economic and Community Development

Downtown Technology Center approval. The final plat for the PEDC Downtown Technology Center is up for Council approval. The proposed Technology Center is located south of Chase Street between Florida Blanca Street and 9th Avenue on land assembled from City and County-owned properties. The PEDC and Chamber of Commerce will market parcels there as a tech-industry commerce park.

Enterprise Operations

Sewer easement. As part of the EPA’s Escambia Treating Company Superfund cleanup project, the City is being asked to approve a sewer easement adjacent to Hickory Street. The easement will be used to construct a sewer connection and ECUA will take ownership upon completion of construction.

Airport contracts. First, a housekeeping item correctly notes the number of operator leased aircraft tie down spaces in a contract with ECKO Air, LLC. Secondly, Council is being asked to approve a supplemental agreement with Gresham Smith & Partners for “design development services of additional updates to the terminal expansion project.” The additional expense is $134,528 plus a 10% contingency and direct expenses of “not-to-exceed” $2,075. Funding is available within the project’s budget.

Port lease. Up for Council’s consideration is a lease with Offshore Inland, which provides offshore vessels with maintenance and repair services. The company established a Service Center at the Port of Pensacola last year under a Short Term Operating Agreement, and has had a very positive impact, with an estimated direct spending of $2.2 million in the local economy. The proposed lease would be for an initial term of two years, with two five-year renewal options followed by a two-year renewal option. The initial rent will be set at $104,400 annually and will adjust upward if Offshore Inland expands its operations. When the rent is combined with dockage, harbour, and other fees, staff estimates annual income of between $340,000 and $550,000.

Airport economic impact. An information item highlights a recent study by the Florida Department of Transportation that estimates the annual economic impact of the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport as over $565 million.

Waterfront Rescue Mission relocation. Another information item details a planned relocation of the Waterfront Rescue Mission’s Main Street facilities. The homeless outreach organisation has long outgrown its small facilities and has been seeking to relocate for some time. A recent attempt to relocate to the Englewood area met with resistance from neighbourhood residents and was scrapped. Now, the Mission has secured land near Herman Street in unincorporated Escambia County and plans to construct new facilities there, which should be ready to occupy within two years.

Community Redevelopment Agency

Economic development incentive award. Staff is recommending the Council/CRA approve a $150,000 economic development incentive award to support the aforementioned Offshore Inland in the relocation of its operations to the Port of Pensacola.

Amendment to litter collection contract. With the completion of various projects, the City/CRA has placed more litter containers within the CRA district and needs to amend the contract with its litter container collector JaniKing. The contract price will increase by $1,701.48.

New downtown signage. The Downtown Improvement Board is preparing to install new wayfaring signage throughout the downtown area. The DIB is not requesting any funding from the City but would like the City’s in-kind assistance to remove existing signage. An information item includes examples of the new signage.

Committee of the Whole

Pensacola’s Promise. The Pensacola’s Promise committee has wrapped up its work and the proposed plan will be discussed by the City Council. We’ve have details about this later this week.

Pending comp plan and LDC amendments. An information item details pending changes to the comprehensive plan and land development code currently being considered by the Planning Board.

Links

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