##VIDEO ID:w6nR1CY0Tvc## hey Steve you're GNA stay on we go something iion stum we'll just make sure W will 
say that right or he will say right   he will yeah I'll just remind you but he 
has to read he has to say all right let's go good evening and welcome to the regular board 
meeting December 12th 2024 5:30 at the Ernie Lee   mahe government building please turn your cell 
phones to vibrate silence or off setting the   board of County Commissioners allow any person 
to speak regarding it on the agenda the speakers   limited 3 minutes unless otherwise determined 
by the chair person to allow sufficient time for   all speakers speakers shall refrain from abusive 
or profane marks disruptive Alberts protests or   other conduct which interferes with the orderly 
conduct of the meeting upon completion of the   public comment period discussion is limited 
the board members and questions raised by the board Pastor um Peterson can you please 
come forward and we'll do the invocation please stand let's pray almighty God and Father who are above yet 
with intimate yet distinct savior yet Lord we   give thanks for the grace and the kindness that 
you have so richly provided for us even now as we   reflect on the season we are in celebrating your 
coming to this world to be with us and to live the   life that we couldn't live and die the death that 
we deserve to die we come to you gathered here for   the purpose of governing all according to your 
will as we seek to bring about human flourishing   for all that are in our care so that they may 
declare and display your kingdom all of us do so   oh God under the clear declaration that you are 
our ultimate Lord and to you we will all stand   accountable so as this body governs father I pray 
that you will display that you will that we will   display and bring glory to you we recognize our 
need of you and your provision so we come to you   with those needs for this evening we thank you for 
creating and sustaining us and today we thank you   for awakening us to a new opportunity a new chance 
thank you for this community and for the grace you   have so richly bestowed on us thank you for each 
person that serves as our elected officials and   those who administrate for us thank you God for 
the businesses and the churches that fill our   community for the families and the people who make 
this such a great place to live yet father every   one of us are created in your image and because of 
that we know that we all often fail we acknowledge   that we are not deserving of these good gifts 
nor your favor we often find ourselves straying   in thought and word and deed from what you have so 
richly provided for us we do the things we should   not do and we don't do what we should we often 
have not loved you with our whole heart soul mind   and strength and we often do not love our neighbor 
as ourselves so we come to you Jesus who died for   our sins and ask for you to forgive us give us 
hearts of obedience to your word and from this   may we discover that in our own forgiveness that 
we can find the source to forgive one another give   us Grace to acknowledge our limitations admit our 
faults affirm our fellow human beings despite our   many differences Deliver Us from Evil grant that 
our city would be known as a righteous city a city   that confesses Jesus as Lord a city of peace and 
hope a city with happy homes a city that welcomes   a stranger a city that cares for the needy a 
city that defends the innocent I pray oh God   that our civil servants acknowledge the calling 
to Bear The Sword and perform it Faithfully be   with our courts in the law enforcement grant that 
they would never neglect or abuse their Authority   but they would stand firm for truth and Justice 
keep them safe from harm as they serve I pray   specifically for these council members who have 
been given a weighty responsibility to seek and   serve the common good of those who live here grant 
them the wisdom of Solomon the courage of Esther   the patience of Jeremiah and the humility of Mary 
may they be guided by your Providence strengthened   by your common Grace so that they may fulfill your 
purpose for this community so that every decision   that they make be righteous in your sight and 
for the benefit of all and For Your Glory Jesus   we pray all this in your mighty name for it's in 
the name of Jesus we pray amen thank you Pastor um   um Pastor Peterson's from Christ the King 
Church and on your way out Dorothy if you   would see my Aid I'd appreciate that Comm bar 
will you please please in the pledge please   join me in the pledge I pledge allegiance to the 
flag flag of the United States of America and to   the republ for it stands one nation under 
God indivisible with liy and justice for all all right are there any items to add to 
we add to the agenda tonight Comm r no sir   none I'm sorry I'm sorry M clerk okay thank 
you commission commission may I think I had   one I think it's has it it's been added was that 
agenda thanks Jose it's it's been added thank you   so much uh Comm strober nope okay uh Wes do you 
have anything okay Madam cler okay move to adopt   the agenda second all right please vote we're oh 
actually we're going to try this electronically so   they say it's fixed so let's see if it works 
all right maybe sometime make sure you save it did everyone save oh well is that incorrect approve the agenda it is 3 to two but 
normally that's a 50 vot but it's okay the two   two people fortunately we got through that 
could be a long meeting it a 32 that's the   way it'll be all night a 3-2 all night all 
right let's move on to the presentation to   Ser uh commissioner's form I'm sorry I'm can read 
commissioner Barry super thank you Mr chairman um   first I want to uh acknowledge the passing and 
and send the thoughts and prayers of the board   out to Hattie Marie McGary who uh was a career 
um career long in scami County School District   uh employee and she when she retired she opened 
she opened Hatty Marie's cafe in carer Park just   south of Mogi Road on 297 and uh it's you know 
one of the things you look back on when I saw   that she had passed and was very sorry to hear 
that I remembered um some number of years ago   when she was trying to get her business open 
there was a a slight issue with something I   was able to was able to help help uh you know 
help in a administrative way and it you know   made you feel good then I know she functioned for 
another seven or eight years after that before uh   uh before she passed recently but the restaurant 
uh the restaurant lives on I think they're going   to be closed for a few weeks but then they'll 
be reopened again also want to acknowledge uh   the scam County School District put out their top 
five their teachers of the year list their short   list a few days ago and two of those are from uh 
District 5 and happen to happen to have uh years   of attendance for my myself at both schools so 
Stacy Hammer from Ransom and Kristen mom from Tate   were two of the top five teachers in the school 
district so perhaps one of them will be the uh   SCH County's teacher of the year uh coming early 
uh 2025 when that's announced at the golden apple   Awards as well as a couple of uh good things going 
on Megan Walter has mentioned during public forum   the park going in at Mogi Road uh and Highway 29 
at the old golf course it's going to be known as   IP paper Park and we've got a grand opening that's 
uh ribbon cutting and those things scheduled for   January 30th although a lot of it is done there's 
still there's still quite a work quite a bit of   work to be done to be completed they're installing 
the disc golf course right now um but certainly   all of the board and and staff would be welcome 
to that uh ribbon cutting in kantom on January   30th and probably earlier in January something 
that hasn't been a big uh hasn't been as big   of a discussion but U those of y'all that are from 
here there's a property that's in Gonzalez uh that   was formerly the home of the 99 Boys Ranch it's 
uh just a little bit east of Highway 29 on Old   chemstrand Road that is uh going to be a going to 
be a community park in Gonzalez we're going to do   a grand opening ribbon cutting out there probably 
the middle of January the uh the playground was   installed recently want to thank Mike rhs and 
Adam Reed and all the parks and wck folks for   getting that done and Jamie higgon uh from Public 
Works they are still working out there kind of   getting you know getting the parking area ready 
getting some other things done for Access but   you know we're shooting for Aid January opening 
of that uh of that Community amenity and quality   of life uh Improvement for the folks uh there in 
Gonzalez Community thank you Mr chairman thank you   commissioner Mary commissioner mayor thank you 
Mr chairman uh first as we we're going through   this cold weather and uh many constituents uh 
in in my district uh need assistance and and   we work with many of the Social Service Agency 
but I want to thank Rick Brier Rick thank you   uh often times people would have their lights cut 
off and they say call JT but I say call Rick and   Rick I do appreciate it there there families and 
children that wouldn't be going to school Rick   had you not had their power turned on and so I 
want to public acknowledge that and thank you   uh to fpl and your community service and making 
sure that constituents U that call my office uh   at 11:00 at night because their lights off and 
they have a six-month old baby uh you get up at   11 o'clock at night and make sure their lights 
turned on so Rick thank you so much I I really   appreciate that and uh tell JT I'm not going 
to call him I I appreciate it um commissioner   Barry certainly I don't come up in your District 
very often I I would think that I'm welcome but I   I don't but I do come to eat with Miss Hattie uh 
and you know my mother loves livering onions and   uh Miss Hattie was the place that I could go get 
some livering onions and bring it back to District   3 and she has been a icon in District 3 an icon 
in the African-American community and and so um   my condolences and prayers and support with Miss 
Hattie and hopefully you guys get open back up in   January so we appreciate her uh Rodriguez Kimbro 
who recently retired from us uh his grandmother   bu black uh anyone that has had a child in 
District 3 uh would have gone to the bu black   daycare uh my prayers and condolences to The Bu 
black family uh she is an icon of the Englewood   neighborhood of the North Hill Neighborhood uh 
grew up she's been a great supporter um I don't   look forward to being there but I'm certainly 
going to be there at her homegoing and uh to   everyone that's been uh affected by bu black um 
our prayers are with you and her grandson ran our   mass transit from many years and so our prayers 
are with her uh and with that Council Council   Donna of black senior uh from the Inglewood Boys 
and Girls Club uh lost his life uh Michael Brown's   brother and and that family have they've just 
been great supporters of of District 3 and so our   prayers are with them I certainly want to thank 
every every one uh that's helping out uh with the   the price of eggs and the price of milk and the 
price of groceries many children may not have a   Christmas I've had the opportunity um to be a part 
of U many giveaways and we're going to continue   to do giveaways in District 3 but certainly 
want to thank my dear friend uh Florida State   seminal Derek Brooks uh had an opportunity to be 
uh with him as he gave out 300 pair of shoes and   we're going to continue through next week probably 
giving out another three or 400 pair of shoes uh   through the Derek Brooks Foundation to making 
sure that children uh have a nice Christmas and uh   Priscilla sap as well as John pal and uh Community 
caring had the opportunity to be with the soccer   program thank Ray Palmer for PSA was over with 
Sue strong and Sandy Sansing uh as um most people   think it's just toy giveaways and bike giveaways 
and turkeys and hams that we do uh but because of   the generosity of the Fred Levan foundation and 
Levan p anonio uh law firm uh we were able to put   together um last week a thousand of underwear and 
hygiene items uh to make sure that children uh not   only have toys uh but they have uh things that 
are necessary for that s strong strong gave a a   a real testimony of a lady who said my child don't 
want toys uh he just doesn't want to be picked on   in PE because he doesn't have underwear and so 
it was great uh that uh the SEC soccer ladies   uh were in t to that helped us bag that and to be 
over uh with Sandy Sansing and S strong uh to make   sure that children in Brownsville and Montclair 
and uh Gul Beach Highway and Warrington Village   and Forest Creek are are being able to um be 
aided at Christmas I want to thank clar long   and her staff for recognizing the importance 
of not only giving meals but making sure that   children are being taken care of many of us take 
it for granted uh that we can wake up with gifts   under the Christmas tree uh but many children 
right here in our community don't have a tree   uh they don't have a home and they don't have 
a gift and so to be a part of community caring   uh that we will be um this uh weekend uh this 
Saturday and Sunday putting those things together   to make sure that every child not only in District 
3 but every child in scami County uh wakes up with   a gift and I would say this because we're uh in 
in a public Arena if there is a child uh that's   uh within your reach no matter where they live 
in District 1 2 3 or four or five that you know   of that will not have something for Christmas uh 
please uh give my office a call or you know reach   out to our staff at Brownsville or or reach out 
to uh Community caring uh because we want to make   sure that every child that wakes up on Christmas 
knows that someone uh really cares for them and   commissioner Cola thank you uh for on bikes uh we 
were together the four of us and unfortunately I   got sick uh too sick to attend uh and uh the 
own bikes I mean because children still ride   bikes and thank you for doing the own bikes for 
me and and stepping in and uh being a part of   that so I certainly appreciate you would still 
Rod a bike L I do but I'm I'm old and fat so I   got electric bike but again thank you commiss col 
I I I certainly appreciate that and we're looking   forward to the Christmas parade on Saturday uh and 
then we're looking forward to also going out uh to   the fairground and working with Community caring 
uh and then throughout this entire week working uh   with uh the different schools within our district 
uh to make sure that children have things and to   make sure that we have feedings with our seniors 
uh to make sure that we know that our children   and our seniors are appreciated so thank you I 
was a little long but thank you Mr chairman okay   thank you commissioner May commissioner strober 
yeah I just got a couple things the first thing   is I want to mention Red Cross dying for disaster 
that's something that we're doing for the second   time this year um the Northwest Florida American 
Red Cross chapter will host their second annual Dy   for disaster that's going to happen in March 
March 27th but I'm I'm saying it now and I'm   going to say it later because uh you got to get 
the word out to make it a success that's why   I'm doing it early uh participating restaurants 
will be donating a portion of their sales to the   American Red Cross and I think it's roughly 10% 
um all proceeds benefit disaster relief in the in   a scambia and in the panh so I think it's a good 
thing if you uh are restaurant owner um and you   want to do you want to participate in this please 
let me know and and I'll get you on the list and   if you want to go to one of these restaurants 
and and participate by eating then uh I'll let   you know what that list looks like the second 
thing is um a passing of a friend of mine rich   whittig and and I only found out about it uh a 
couple of days ago because I got a a Christmas   card from his wife a nice note from from her 
too he he passed away on August 2nd and I I   just I just found out about it I mean it's a small 
world and I we live together on innerer island I   haven't seen him since very early in my campaign 
um I had lunch with him and and Judith and she   showed me some of her art she used to work um at 
the uh uh at the Smithsonian in Washington DC and   um just they're wonderful people and I I didn't 
know that was the last time I was going to see   um rich but he passed away um on August 2nd and 
my prayers are with him thank you thank you very   much commissioner Hoffer thank you so much um 
I want to start by thanking you for hosting our   first cow this morning it was great and I feel 
like we accomplished a lot and it was very well   ran so thank you also want to thank Eric Gilmore 
and chief Watts um with Public Safety and EMS we   had a great meeting this week just exploring 
new ideas and New Opportunities around uh   recruiting and retaining paramedics and EMTs so 
thank you for being so dedicated to providing   not just jobs but actual career paths for our 
community I um also want to note that we had   three people within Public Safety that celebrated 
30 years this week and that's incredible and I   was able to attend the HBA ceremony today where 
they installed their new board of directors but   they will be celebrating 75 years of moving our 
community forward and creating beautiful places   to live so wanted to give a shout out to them 
as well thank you just a couple things I want to   mention then we'll move on last week um December 
6 was 5 years ago that we had the terrorist attack   on NAS Pensacola um I was out there that day I 
was an EXO out there and um Ryan Blackwell which   lives in G Breeze you may or may not know him he 
took Six Bullets that day saved a life and I just   don't ever want that to be forgotten it was such 
a impacting event for the base in the area that um   it's hard to believe it's been 5 years but those 
kind of things it was in our community and I think   it's worth worth mentioning and remembering we had 
some great news this week um I'm fortunate right   now I happen to be the chair of the penso pr estay 
and the house voted it must have been on Tuesday   on the national EST program which was authorized 
I'd like to take credit but there were so many   people involved from both of our US senators 
to former Congressman gates to Congressman dun   the board Matt pner you guys in natur resources 
even Grover it'll have a huge impact I know it's   got a lot of media coverage but it's authorized 
hopefully next year we'll get the Appropriations   which will Infuse $750,000 and hopefully this 
hasn't been done in 30 years it will change our   waterways long after I'm gone and uh for all of us 
so that was a very big deal um so I'm glad to be   part of that now something a little bit slower but 
I got to thank the engineering department with we   had TPO on Wednesday and they had put in to have 
some sidewalk stuff done over on lilan Highway and   it got approved I know it's not going to happen 
for a couple years but they're building a new   school over there M Grove Elementary and they 
will have sidewalks on between 57 and 65th and   that was only because the engineering department 
working on that so thank you very much um I want   to thank Hassan Hills long before he started 
working for uh Steve he was working for youth   left behind and I know he's sitting here he um we 
would go out and get Christmas presents as some   of the porest areas in District 2 we're going 
to do it again this next week and H's uh his   heart is just so special and right uh in trying 
to change our community so Hanan I look forward   to being with you this next week like I told 
you I would and we'll be doing our part to uh   help some kids that wouldn't probably have a good 
Christmas if it wasn't for Assan and this will be   the last time we meet before Christmas and New 
Year so just Merry Christmas and Happy New Year   to everyone one and I think that's it we'll go on 
with the agenda Mr chairman y I do want to thank   Hassan me me and Assan have spent many late 
nights at at Brownsville loading up bikes and   loading up toys uh to get the kids in Marina Court 
that's in your District but also loading up boy   toys and bikes to get to children all over this 
community and and making sure that they are there   so H son welcome aboard and so um we're going 
to keep giving out toys and bikes I mean we're   going to keep doing that until the end Mr chairman 
there's um one thing um I do want to congratulate   the graduates of the University of West Florida 
and Pensacola State College who are graduating uh   starting tomorrow and I'm very honored and uh to 
be a part of the ceremony tomorrow at Pensacola   State College my alumni as we talk about Economic 
Development outline fi 8 today uh it is the to our   state college and our University that's training 
the next generation of leaders so congratulations   uh I know we have some employees who have taken 
classes who are graduating and some employees   children who are graduating so congratulations 
to all of our uh graduates and I look forward   to being a part of the ceremony on tomorrow 
at Pensacola State congratulations all right   let's move on to item number six uh chips are we 
going to do the presentation or certifications   appreciation by the natural resource management 
department are Robert you're going to do it okay   thank you Mr chairman Commissioners it's my 
honor and pleasure again to uh introduce you   and help us celebrate and appreciate the 40 plus 
Volunteers in our community that um that conduct   our sea turtle nest program and you'll see some 
pictures on the uh on the the the monitors that   just give you an example of what these folks 
do but it's not just the the riding down the   beach in the morning looking for uh sea turtle 
nests they have to go through a very rigorous and   thorough training that allows us to operate under 
the permits that are that are uh uh giving us our   Direction and and authority to even handle these 
sea turtl nests and and hatchlings so there's a   lot of training that's involved they also have to 
work with a number of stakeholders they work with   residents and visitors they conduct a lot of 
Outreach and education um they work with the   beachfront uh business vendors the the folks that 
put out the the uh beach chairs and umbrellas um   they also work with Anglers and the folks that 
that operate the pier the fishing pier and I don't   want to forget the Pensacola Beach lifeguards 
these folks are an integral part of what we do   um they also rescue stranded and entangled uh sea 
turtles and other marine life they transport these   uh injured animals to either uh Okaloosa County 
or Bay County to the rescue facilities and they   do this on their own time and their own dime so 
we really appreciate that they also patroled the   uh the shorelines during cold events and look 
for cold stun Turtles and then the hatchlings   that are sometimes disoriented they make sure that 
these uh these Juvenile and baby sea turtles make   it out to the to the uh breeding population so 
um Mark Nicholas is with us here and I also want   to congratulate mark on five plus years with the 
county in addition to his 30 plus years with the   US Marine Corps and National Park Service he will 
be retiring and be able to go out and do a lot of   fishing and Diving on his own so as we ask our 
our volunteers and Mark to stand could we please   give them a round of applause please come on 
would you like would you like to get a group   photo with everyone pardon me would you like a 
group photo up front with everyone yes please we   could hey if y'all would come up we'll get a quick 
photo and and thank you so much for volunteering   for this this is a you know a lot of people 
have a lot of passion for the the sea turtles okay yeah I mean some of you may 
have to slide on the other side Maybe all right actually can I get can we do two 
rows can I have some people in the back and   people in the front I tell this corny joke 
once in a while but I'll go ahead and do it   right now what' the snail say when he got on the 
turtle's back cuz he's so excited he's moving so fast when are you going to start doing c 
stand up dude we're talking about [Laughter] Turtles thank thank you all again we appreciate 
your volunteerism well now we have what I think   is probably one of the best Productions you'll 
ever see we have the Winterfest folks here and   I I think they're going come up and share some 
of the stuff they're doing for us right Mr Kim   Cary we need to come to mobile and play some 
basketball like slowest Turtle so make sure   y'all might win yeah but we're coming well we 
want to thank you um for allowing us to park   Santa slay in front of the county courthouse 
for the 15th year and I know that Martha may   huier who is the Grinch's girlfriend has some 
wonderful cookies for you and a few words of   excitement come on Martha may and she's 
accompanied by Rudolph of course oh that   nose isn't very bright but hello I am Miss 
Martha may huier the most marry who in all   of houille and I would like to introduce my 
friend Rudolph the brightest reindeer leading   Santa SLE I have one more friend I would like 
to introduce today and I would love to do so   with a song and if any of you know the words you 
are more than welcome to sing along with me you   better watch out you better not cry you better not 
pout I'm telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town whoa welcome Santa welcome Merry Christmas 
Merry Christmas Santa which Commissioners have   been good and which ones have been bad well have a 
list I didn't bring it with me so uh I'll have to   check that later but I'm sureem District 2 at my 
scami say there's a public records [Music] request   well I have a Winterfest Proclamation that I'd 
like to read for you uh whereas the Escambia   County Commissioners Have Been instrumental 
in allowing Santa Claus to bring seasonal   happiness and joy to the children of Pensacola 
by permitting me to park my sleigh in front of   the courthouse during winter fest activities 
whereas the children of Escambia County and   surrounding areas have proven to be the nicest 
most polite and cutest children in all the world   and whereas the beautiful holiday lights and 
decorations in downtown Pensacola rival those   of any City that I visit during my Christmas 
Eve journey and whereas National recognition   of Pensacola Winterfest has put a visit to this 
city and county on the Christmas wish list of   thousands of holiday marry makers therefore for 
be it proclaimed that I Santa Claus solemnly   named Pensacola and Escambia County my favorite 
place to visit during the Christmas season Merry   Christmas 2024 merry christas thank you so much 
for all your help we really appreciate it thank you well I appreciate the cookies and uhoh hey 
did youing one two three oh hello oh hi hello   everyone I am the Grinch as you guys know um I 
would have been here on time for the meeting I   was car pulling uh in Shanta slay but he let me 
off in New Jersey and I had to walk here sh thank   you for that everyone I hope you guys have been 
super naughty this year super slimy super sleazy   but if you haven't been let me give you guys some 
ideas sh I am opening a new small business in town   I think it's going to create a lot of jobs well 
at least it's creating one for me uh I am opening   my new Christmas tree lot it is the grinches 
Christmas tree lot don't ask where the trees   came from they didn't come from the state parks 
and they didn't come from China they may have come   from your living rooms but you know you guys won't 
miss anything you can come back and buy it from me   for a small donation but you know what we'll have 
to talk detailed here I'll text you later okay ah   what else maybe you could just tell them all 
Merry Christmas Mr grin oh yes Merry Christmas   guys yeah Merry Christmas don't worry you don't 
have to find me I'll find you toles thank you   thank you very much thank you all for the nice uh 
cookies and presentation thank you thank you very   much Merry Christmas Merry Christmas yeah that's 
a great thing for the city and county every year   all right well goodbye everybody we got to move on 
all right so the do we have a motion to adopt or   ratify the move to adopt the proclamations 
a second okay there's a second please vote this is interesting delay okay the motion passes 
5 um our first one as a will   be uh presenter will be thus dport 
will Mr Carter Willie Carter Jr come up do we speak communication oh we do okay and commissioner May will you 
do the honors in joining us down here of whereas Escambia County has established 
an employee of the month program to recognize   one employee to represent various departments 
and whereas Willie Carter Jr bus operator in   the mass transit Department began his 
employment with the county on October   12th 1974 and is selected as the employee of 
the month for the month of December 2024 for   his standards of excellence he displays 
in his performance and duties and whereas   and his role as a bus operator 
for 50 years Mr Carter has driven 3,134 miles and for 45 years have driven and has driven 2,817 360 miles without 
incident or accident which has earned him a   recognition in the national Safety Council in 
2024 for for his unwavering commitment and his   safety and dedication for the citizens of escamia 
County Florida and whereas Mr Carter is a value   and reliable team member who is always willing 
to cover additional shifts and volunteer for   overtime and he has touched every passenger 
on his bus with his kindness and safe driving   and whereas Mr Carter has commended for his 
public service by the national highway safety   administration in 2014 14 and whereas Mr Carter 
Still Remains physically active as a softball   player and a deep compassionate person who is 
always looking after his elderly neighbors by   delivering their prescription medications to 
them wow now therefore be it proclaimed that   the board of County commissioners of Escambia 
County Florida hereby commends and congratulate   Mr Willie Carter Jr in his selection as 
the employee of the month for the month of   December Board of County Commissioners 
Escambia County Florida Michael ker chair   District 2 Ashley hofberger Vice chair District 
Four Steven Steve strawberry district one Lumen   J May District three and Steve Berry District 5 
once again congratulations Mr Carter thank you my kind wor to each and everyone just here 
tonight my life has been good and what more   can I ask for I'm 80 years old now and my health 
is very good God has been over me for many many   years and I want to continue doing what I'm 
doing today being a Transit operator I have   learned a whole lot about people some people 
are good some people are bad but at the end   it's going to be okay and I'm and I'm not going 
to stand up here too long and talk but everybody   knows how you live your life and my life has been 
real good and my management staff always want me   to do something for for them and I'm sometime I 
have things to do myself I just go ahead and do   my job so I'm not going to talk that long 
because there's other people in here have   some words to say but all I can say to everybody 
here is Merry Christmas and a very happy new year amen thank you Mr Carter and 
congratulations on that service that's impressive thank you thank you everybody thank you our next proc is for employee of the 
year can Mrs pal and Mr Ed spanar come up for the rest of the HR team that's here if   y'all want to kind of slowly make 
your way down for the the picture oh so just under a year ago I was able to stand 
before you and recognize Ed as our January 2024   employee of the month so I was new to my role 
but having worked with Ed previously I was able   to come and the words came easy to tell you the 
level of Integrity that he brings to his duties   on a day-to-day basis his ability to deal with 
confidential situations his attention to detail   his thorough understanding of all of our numerous 
County policies and just all around great person   that it is after having been working with him 
on a day-to-day basis I can tell you just how   much of a mentor he has become to me and one of 
the go-to members of our team he never tires of   my ins insistent questions and because his 
duties touch every division HR he's always   quick to respond to the hey Ed I need you that 
he inevitably hears every day he's the epitome   of a team player always has a posit positive 
attitude his integrity and his day-to-day duties   and his commitment to es scaming County are to be 
committed to every day but we are so honored to be   back before you to recognize Ed as our employee 
of the year for 2024 his immediate supervisor   TR I think would like to say a few words and then 
we'll read his Proclamation good evening everyone   today is a special moment for human resources and 
in the employee relation team as a leader there's   nothing more rewarding than recognizing the talent 
dedication and hard work that drives our success   the title of employee of the year is not something 
that is given lightly it's earned through   consistent effort a commitment to Excellence 
and the kind of attitude that inspires others   Ed amplifies all of these qualities and more so 
Ed I applaud you thank you and give you great   gratitude for all the things that you do for our 
team and this is a well-deserved Honor on behalf   of the employe relations team and I'm sure the 
other departments in the back thank you for your   incredible contributions I'm lucky to have you 
on my team and this is well deserved thank you so [Applause] much whereas Escambia County has 
established an employee of the year program   to recognize one employee to represent various 
departments and whereas Edward Ed spainhower Human   Resources specialist in the employee relations 
division of the human resources department began   his employment with the county on February 4th 
2014 and whereas Ed was selected as employee of   the month for January 2024 whereas Ed is charged 
with maintaining employee records facilitating   training opportunities overseeing all FMLA 
and Ada processes and educating staff on human   resources policies and procedures while ensuring 
compliance with employment laws and fostering   positive relationships with employees and whereas 
Ed's integrity and commitment to the adherence   to regulatory County standards is demonstrated by 
his participation in the Progressive disciplinary   process as he ensures these tasks are carried 
with consistency fairness and impartiality and   whereas he has taken the initiative in assisting 
in the implementation of policy changes instruct   a variety of training sessions for County staff 
develop necessary standard operating operating   procedures for the employee Relations Division 
and play an active role in prominent internal   investigations and where has Ed has also aided in 
the development of fellow employee relations team   members through mentorship and continues to help 
Advance the goals and improve the processes of   the human resources department with innovative 
ideas and dedicated disposition and whereas Ed   is also an exemplary citizen of Escambia County 
assisting elderly residents with their communities   upkeep and curb appeal providing transportation 
for their medical appointments and contributing   financially to unhoused and unemployed people 
and whereas Ed whereas as a veteran Ed donates   his time and money to disabled veterans through 
organizations such as an vets American Legion   disabled vets of America and the Golf Coast 
Foundation now therefore it be proclaimed   that the board of County commissioners of esamia 
County Florida commends and congratulates Edward   spainhower in his selection as employee of the 
year for 2024 Board of County commissioners of   scami County Florida Michael koher chair 
District 2 Ashley hoffberger Vice chair   District 4 Steve strob Berger District 1 Lumen 
J May District 3 Steven Berry District 5 thank you good evening one of the many things I learned 
while serving in the Navy and Coast Guard was that   while speaking in public one should keep things 
short and sweet so with that in mind I offer the   following honored members of the board and guests 
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the   citizens of Escambia County and feel privileged 
to work with and for the outstanding men and   women of the County Workforce I feel blessed 
to receive this recognition and am thankful   for those folks that support me in my duties I 
could not excel at my job without the support of   those that I work with for this selection I offer 
my heartfelt thank you thank you and [Applause] congratulations I'm assuming since the Coast Guard   doesn't have a football team you're 
rooting for Navy this week go Navy beat Army thank you okay if uh we're going 
to go to Proclamation on the friends of   the southwest branch library can Mr Hubble and the   Melanie Skaggs from the southwest 
branch library please come forward good evening chair and Commissioners um I 
want to do just a slight deviation um back   a little over 50 years ago a young 16-year-old 
woman came to work for the library system she   worked until she retired I'm not sure how 
many employees have worked 48 years for   the county or the city she did not want to be 
recognized then but she's getting recognized   now we appreciate all the hard work she's done 
she's the current president of the friends group   at southwest branch it's actually exceeded 
50 years of service to the county and our citizens so in summary back in 1998 the 
southwest branch formed a friends group   to support the people in PTO key area and in uh 
2004 they actually built built the current Branch   Library it's out there so it has been there 
20 years but from 1998 when it originally was   in a storefront and previous to that had been 
a bus stop for our bookmobile at the time um   this group has supported not only the library 
itself but also the local schools the Pitto   key area by providing books and programming 
and they've used funds within their group to   enhance beyond what the downtown library system 
has been able to provide so I just want to make   sure that uh we recognize the friends group for 
their service um we're toting our own horn that   we've been 20 years at Southwest but really the 
person who should be honored here tonight is Miss gegs thank you it's been a privilege and an honor 
to work for the library system um as he said as   a young lady I went to work and it's just been 
wonderful when I went to work it was the city   of Pensacola's library then when it became the 
Regional Library and the county took it over   and now it's West Florida public library and I 
want to thank you all for all that you do for   advocating for our library system my job was a 
dream come true and it's been a career that I've   thoroughly enjoyed and I ask that you continue to 
advocate for our library systems because they're   so needed thank you thank you Miss gegs and 
thank you for 48 years of service [Applause]   Vicki I think Vicki's here too 
from the southwest brand no okay okay that um sums up the proclamations 
ratifications we'll move to written communication   environmental code enforcement lean 
relief for property located at 3804   West Blunt Street I think we have one 
speaker is Reggie Warren in the in the audience please come up Mi Mr Warren respect all of this but um I was coming 
to speak on behalf of my property you're a tall   guy but can you push this yeah there thank you 
okay can hear me yes sir yeah I was coming to   speak on the behalf of my property uh 3804 West 
Blunt Street um there was a lean placed on my   property um from code enforcement I I got the 
information and from Cod code enforcement like   I wasn't getting any e mails or anything 
about it until um my tenant had left and   vacated the property so um I end up getting 
the information and I quickly jumped on it   and took care of everything and brought it 
up to code and so chairman Reggie thanks for   calling I mean I don't know know Reggie was a a 
stand up football celebrity for us at one time   playing but Mr chairman Reggie I think you'll 
be happy with the motion that I'm about to make   okay uh Mr chairman um the court cost was $250 
administrative fees was 5200 and unless chips   can tell us that that was not a real cost there 
was no abatement cost I'm moving uh to uh make Mr   Warren pay the the court cost which was our hard 
cost administrative cost was no cost uh so he can   put this property back uh on the tax roll and 
get it uh building up in my district and so I'm   I'm making a motion uh to assess the $250 court 
cost and to wave the 5 uh 5200 um administrative   cost uh does commissioner may have a 
second second all right please vote no okay motion passes 5 thanks Reggie I'm 
glad to see you home man appr keep doing the   good work you're doing thank you thank you 
all right let's move n did the clerk office   receive the proof of publication for public 
hearing Mr chairman the clerk's office has   received all proof I kind I have a motion to uh 
wave the reading is there second second please vote motion passes 5 Z thank you 
moving on to public hearings um   5.31 we have several speakers um Ashley 
Gallagher would you like to come up first hi I wrote something uh that I feel about 
this uh this policy our policies regarding the   unhoused population reflect our values as a 
society by criminalizing homelessness you show   a disdain for your constituents who are most in 
need of your help this proposal is a disgrace to   humanity it is an affront to the Constitution 
if your goal is to bring homelessness to an   end the appropriate action would be to create 
policy that prevents it and helps those already   struggling with housing insecurity it is not your 
place to make this some other County's Problem by   relocating the homeless or hiding them behind bars 
have courage and work to strengthen our community   life liberty The Pursuit of Happiness those are 
our values we do not sweep issues under the rug   like cowards We rise we help our neighbors in 
need this is a country founded on freedom we do   not oppress the homeless we stand together to 
make a home for all Americans today I ask you   to consider the Legacy you are creating for our 
county is it one of Cruelty where we kick those   citizens who are already down or will embrace 
the challenge to fix what is broken do you   want to spend your term as an official facing 
backlash and legal disputes over a heartless   and futile policy you enact or do you want to be 
recognized as the compassionate and industrious   leaders you are thank you ma'am I appreciate 
your comments our next speaker is Larry DS Jr Larry D J plumet LLC because FAL matters uh 
and I don't know why we're doing this all across   the country you know uh you can't have freedom 
without freedom and I know it's unsightly I know   it's dirty it's even dangerous but I founding 
fathers preferred it that way they like that   dangerous dirty freedom but for some reason or 
another here and I bet you I bet you y'all all   vote for this you know because we can't have 
those dirty homeless people out there we just   can't have them out there we need to yall 
know what it it costs to lock them one to   lock one up it's around $552,000 a year now you 
know somebody's going to come up here and say   hey why don't we just give them money which is 
actually what's been going on you know uh with   with every program we've ever uh implemented 
in this country as a war on poverty it's the   same way you know it it starts out with the 
parents and it goes from there y'all cannot   legislate a fix to this otherwise it' already 
be fixed it' already be fixed there's no way to   legislate a fix to this the only thing you 
can do is criminalize them criminalize and   I get it who who wants to see a dirty homeless 
you know who who wants to see that nobody does   I get it but the problem is that is freedom The 
Good the Bad the Ugly it just is you can't it it's   see y'all are going to Advocate with your vote 
you're going to Advocate against freedom and that   and that's the problem with freedom i' I've said 
this before I'm sure y'all heard it before the   problem with freedom is when you have freedom 
you have have the freedom to Advocate against   freedom and that's what y'all are going to do up 
here so no matter who speaks behind me I mean I   want y'all to know that it doesn't matter what 
y'all say they're not going to listen to it not   going to listen to it or if they do listen to it 
they'll say we get it we get it Larry but oh it's   just not fair to the others and it's not fair to 
me you know I like having the bums and the hobos   and the homeless out there I like them to be able 
to come up to me and ask for help sometimes I give   them help sometimes I don't but that's the beauty 
of Freedom maybe we need some youngsters to see   this type of stuff maybe that helps them to steer 
clear of it you ever thought about that it's a   possibility but if you just had it it's just going 
to keep reoccurring and growing just like just   like a tumble weed it's going to it have y'all 
seen a where it's hasn't thank you Larry for your   comments appreciate it you're welcome gwendelyn 
Gibson our next speaker is gwindel in the audience gwendaline Gibson is oh she in the back   I see her okay and our our speaker 
after that would be August dado on Deck sorry that's okay thank you ma'am good 
evening I'm gwindel and Gibson I live at 64 Murphy   Lane I own 64 and 62 for the past 10 years I've 
been fighting the homeless because I only have   one way in and out of my road and these aren't 
homeless that want to get help these are homeless   for the center that's there and they live on the 
side of the road and I've called the sheriff's   compan sheriffs I've called code enforcement I've 
tried to work with everybody nothing's transparent   um for 10 years it has affected my life in the 
morning I go out there's drugs passed out people   um using the bathroom constantly I have to shoe 
them away I have to drive my truck from my front   door to my road because you can't walk up and 
down my road because of the violence uh 3 days   ago was threatened with an 8ft Pole to hit my 
truck um I love my truck more than anything   you know I'm a hard worker I've worked in this 
I'm a third generation pensac colan you know   we've never had this um I don't see an end to 
it they won't um listen to us that live on the   road I live with this 10 years I live with it 
I had 78 camps behind me on the Merill property   um I fought it the first three years um by myself 
the next three years it took me to get them to   code enforcement in front of a judge to get them 
to clear their property the next three years I'm   still having to do it now I'm on year 10 you know 
and um I'm stuck I don't know what to do I have no   recourse I have nobody helping um I can't see any 
end to this why am I scared drive down my road why   am I scared to go home at night do y'all get to 
go home you know without people in your yard you   know without people laying in your street you know 
I know it's a big issue and it's got to be taken   care of but and I know there's only a few people 
on my road um I'm exhausted from this you know I   have three with dementia I work a full-time 
job I've been working 48 years of my life um   I don't see why I have to do with this morning 
noon and night you know because they can't control   my road and I'm supposed to uh run over them 
or shoot them or whatever I've got to do that's   completely wrong I don't believe in that I think 
we can all work together I don't understand why   we can't get anything done I mean I'm sorry I'm 
a little quivery and a little emotional because   it takes a toll on you after 10 years of them 
coming up to you saying well you don't have the   right to do this well what are my rights what 
do I have rights with Miss Gibson I sympathize   with your situation and thank you for sharing 
your comments with the board tonight thank you   um August dado if is August here Dev Devoto am 
I saying there oh okay thank you sir are yeah L ladies and gentlemen I'm August aoto and I live 
at 60 Murphy Lane my neighbor and I have been   working tirelessly to remove the illegal occupancy 
of the homeless on Murphy Lane we've called in the   complaints to the Sheriff's Department the fire 
department and countless calls to the county code   enforcement Mr Beasley was my contact he was 
helpful initially but after a while he was not   he would schedule the trash removals but 
the illegal occupancy never quit he said   that we had to hold out till October 
1st for the law to go into effect that   Governor DeSantis signed last summer well that 
date came and went and local news heard that   Escambia County gave it a 60-day reprieve till 
December 1st well it seems that begs Lane got   the notice and and the media a lot of them 
came to Murphy Lane so they got booted out   and they they came over to Murphy Lane this 
county is not keeping the law you all knew in   advance that you had months to figure this out 
whenever it became law yall did nothing 60-day reprieve December came and now Murphy Lane is 
even heavier with illegal occupants Mr Beasley   has sent it has been sent many pictures by me 
the newspaper has been sent to pictures still no   solution I've been accused through these homeless 
people of running over some gal's dog flat outly   and every time I drive through that Gauntlet 
I get threatened by her or some other Refugee   other neighbors have been assaulted Neighbor Next 
Door was stabbed in the head and threatened and   there's gunshots throughout the night there's open 
drug deals public urination and defecation and the   trash is constant even though I clean up in front 
of my house daily there is a huge problem and you   all were nominated or hired it's part of your 
job to solve this which you are not there is a   law to uphold is the county upholding that law 
no thank you AUST I just for a point of order   I just want to put out there we have 55 speakers 
signed up tonight on all the agenda this so just   know we're going to cover a lot of ground tonight 
I didn't realize how much topics we're going to so   the next speaker is Eric sharplan but that's our 
job we're going to listen to youall so please come   up and express your what you have on your mind and 
um we want to hear it but just know we're going to   be here for a while that's good good Mr chairman 
yeah this is a serious problem you know over there   where I live at and you've been to my house Mr 
chairman you know the house that got torn down   on the other side they had four RVs there people 
were trying to survive and they you know four RVs   in the back of a house and you had I guess 
you had a mini homeless Camp there is what   I would call it but you know it's like now 
there's one popped up beside my house there's   an RV with people living in it now and I mean 
these people have got to have somewhere to go   I don't know what the solutions would be a lot 
of them are going to be going to the emergency   rooms when it gets cold and who is going to eat 
those bills and it's like a problem that have   y'all thought about doing a serious town hall 
on this to get ideas and input on what we can   do to possibly improve the situation you know 
there's got to be there's got to be an answer   out here I just don't know what it is some of 
them they don't won't help and some do and the   ones that you know scam people makes it worse 
on the ones who are actually trying to get get   get the help they need there's a lady right 
now crying on next door that she can't live   in a hotel on a $1,000 SSI check well there's 
no way and you know that I guess there's just   not enough housing out here and she ends up 
homeless with kids at the last part of the   month so uh I thank you for your time Mr chairman 
thank you Eric our next speaker is Miss Blackwell good evening to all of you and I'm speaking off 
the cuff but I had meant to do this tonight and   I forgot about it so um I was a reporter in Clear 
Water and I covered the homeless like Molly does   so well and what I found was those men out 
there they had a long wrap sheet for doing   things that we're able to do in our homes they 
can't pop a they couldn't pop a beer open and it   or get arrested I covered one man they popped a 
beer open and it happened to be right below the   police station and they took exception to that 
they shot the man's dog uh he was tied to a tree   and all he had to do was step outside the the 
length of that rope so I don't think it's fair   that a certain part of the population should bear 
the burden of the homeless but I don't think you   can just make them illeg Al it's just make them 
illegal to live they can't go to sleep it's just   to me I can't fathom it I know there is a state 
law that we have to take into account but the the   state law does say that you can have facilities 
with restrooms and whatever so that they can have   a tent you know have we we just I think we need to 
organize something like that so they can at least   you know not be a burden on all the these people 
I know that's scary and some of these people are   mentally ill I mean I know that from Clear Water 
so why is that such a difficult thing take some   government property where they're on a bunch of 
neighbors around and give them the restrooms and   and water and whatever they need to survive 
so that's what I'd say these are humans it's   ridiculous to put them in jail give them a wrap 
sheet for going to sleep in public thank you here   thank you Teresa that concludes all our speakers 
on item 531 is there a motion or discussion on   this item from any commissioner Mr chairman so 
don't we Wes don't we have some homeless money are   we where are we on terms of the low barer shelter 
and and and providing resource for the homeless   we do have some beds in this community that are 
vacant and available to be utilized should they   choose to go get some help at Waterfront for 
for for exist uh example or Ministry Village   for example so every night there are beds that 
are available that are not being utilized every   night there are beds that are available there 
has been some discussion about a low barrier   shelter uh I know between us and the city I 
think the challenge there are some challenges   there funding continuous funding challenges to 
not only build it or construct it but also run   it and operated with all the supporter services 
so I what our approach has been has been to   utilize Our Community Partners Ministry Village 
for instance we have project reconnect and they're   ministering that program for us and as of today 
we've had 103 homeless folks that volunteered and   wanted to go home or go to a family another family 
member's house or where somewhere they think they   have a better support system and so we're paying 
for bus tickets and plane tickets to do those   sorts of things and we're also working with all 
of our Community Partners our Comm Continuum of   Care is taking shape and taking form it's much 
better than it was two years ago and they're   fixing to have an administrative Advisory Board 
I think you will see some positive movement as we   continue to work on this issue but it but it has 
been challenging there's no doubt about it right   so um so we do have some resources that we're 
going to deploy for the homeless here yes and we   have been deploying uh resources for the homeless 
we've been having community events where we bring   them in they get their uh help screening they 
can get re uh food clothes a hot shower whatever   whatever the need may be and we've done that three 
times at least this past year and we're looking to   do more of that as we move forward and and was 
just for my clarification or edification this is   almost like a a mandate from the state I mean we 
don't have a lot of choice and how we adopt this   ordinance it is it is some of a mandate from the 
state that did not come with any funding right   is there any other comments if not I got something 
I'd like to share this uh this obviously was House   Bill 1365 it came up with the sheriff asking 
us to be aligned with the city um we're trying   to meet the intent and the purpose of the law 
that was passed by the legislature but I think   it's important to look at facts the other day when 
they cleared out beg's lane They removed over 15   people 13 people went to water Fort Mission four 
stayed and there were plenty of beds so some of   these folks didn't want help and so we got to 
look at this and look at the totality for the   citizens in my opinion that um no one wants 
to criminalize homelessness but at the same   time there's citizens out there that are living 
with this um in their neighborhoods and they're   reaching out to me and I know other Commissioners 
on this board pleading for us to do something   and this is just an line with what the state 
legislators is asking us to do and to do what   the sheriff has asked us to do so that there can 
be be some consistency between the city and the county is there a motion to move forward with this so your motion is to approve um 
public hearing 5.3 531 I'm sorry was   that a motion she made a motion 
I'm sorry a second okay please vote push save oh there we go okay the 
motion passes 5 Z thank you let's move   on to public hearing 5.33 we have one 
speaker Andrew blur did Andrew leave us okay I was here before calling once calling 
twice all right um what's all right double time   Andrew we got a full schedule we got time 
for winest we got time for me we do we do   we're we're waiting for you well line Adam we on 
Number 533 we're talking about the franchise fee   on what Florida Power Light franchise well we had 
a little bit of discussion I wanted to agree with   um Stephen Barry because we don't agree on too 
much but I want to agree with him or whatever   I don't want y'all to collect fees and uh 
and pass them on through Florida Power and   Light and make them look like the bad guys or 
whatever and then y'all get all the good money   because y'all already getting 4 cents gas 
tax for ecat you getting the local option   sales tax and I mean you remember what los1 was 
for Steven Barry to begin with that's for that   good stuff like my boat ramps and community 
centers and stuff like that in district one   I was promised all that by Mike Whitehead and 
then Wilson Robertson and then who's that other   guy Jeff BOS dang can we get um who was that 
one that went to jail that was he need we need   him back all right thank thank thank you Andrew 
any more speakers Mr chairman commissioner what   was that any more speakers no more speakers I 
I I move to 533 is there a second second please vote okay the motion passes 5 Z thank you 
let's move to the clerk and comp ters report   there's one speaker um um on number two 
Madam clerk I I just realize that maybe   we should Andrew you signed up for 
CR one-2 Andrew you where'd you go do   you want to speak on the clerk's report 
the numbers or you or you want to wave off come on let you're going to be you're 
you're turning this into Winter Wonderland 2.0 um The Honorable pan chers thank 
you for the great job you've been   doing I appreciate you know fighting 
for our tax dollars or whatever and   not throwing them away but as you can 
see here on that uh item number two or whatever wait we actually had a 
decrease of 3% for the October   I mean she can't do it all by herself so y'all 
going to have to tighten the belt a little bit and   like I say we need to see bed tax for seed money 
here locally or whatever I mean I want to have   my community center on the North P Paro want to 
have the um koses there where we can say you know   hey you want to go diving you can go to the Kos 
and find out where the risking is at or whatever   if you want to go and find out where is a good 
place to eat at you know at the florama Old River   um restaurant you can go to the kios whatever 
and we can actually charge charge these different   places you know all these here die Pro people 
or whatever we can charge them for advertising   on our koses and like say florama um everybody be 
coming in here trying I mean we was thr that for   Acres or whatever my original plan was we was 
going to be up there like um what that stone   Lake a lake Stone where we have campgrounds 
and stuff like that but Robert turban kind   of messed that all up for me or whatever and put 
all that poisonous dirt on there but I got plans   we can use that still we can use that dirt we 
can use that mound that way it won't flood on   the top of the mound but I've been trying to 
get commissioner stromberger hoffberger col   and Steven Barry and L May to talk to me I 
mean evidently their secretaries don't pass   on the notes to them or whatever but like I say 
Lum may I want you to be my county commissioner   when it comes to storm Ward or whatever because 
I've been screaming now for Andrew we're talking   about tourist development tax huh tourist 
development tax is the it saying that tourist   development I want to develop that 40 acres 
that Robert kind of messed over okay but we   need that tourist development there don't send 
it to Birmingham don't send it to Atlanta and   Montgomery because we need it way more than they 
do thank you very much for your comments there's   no further speakers Madam clerk if you'd like 
to proceed with your report I have four items   on the agenda the first one is acceptance of the 
September 2024 investment report you'll see that   under my direction we manage a $510 million 
portfolio number two is the exceptions of the   tdt collections for the month of October so 
that would be for September returns and yes   it had a 3% decrease however number three is the 
November collections which represents the October   stays that had a 3% increase typically on our tdt 
collections this county is about 22 million a year   in collections a substantial increase over years 
um that is to our our natural resources and our   private sector advertisements and the commitments 
that they have that bring our V visitors   and number four is minutes and reports that we've 
prepared thank you chairman thank you very much   do I have a motion to approve the clerk's report 
I'll make a motion second okay thank you please vote all right we're thanks hor for being there 
let's move on to the growth management report uh   we're on gmr number one sir go ahead and horse 
and we'll move forward for the we have several   resoning cases um we have on Cas Z 202 hor I just 
realized we have lengthy amount of speakers before   you go there on this item too so if you want to 
hold off I'll let the speakers come up first if   that's okay I presented you want to wait or do 
you want to go gmr1 gmr 3 gmr 5 gmr 127 with   the resoning it maybe best to let the director 
introduce what it is the request is and what the   recommendation from the Bo please proceed yes 
sir um we Zing KZ 24-11 the um from low density   residential to medium density residential 
the planning board made a recommendation for approval all right at this point um is there 
Larry fedman in the audience he said he but   he gave me his heed to read are you want to do 
you want to read for Larry Federman ma'am we if   you'll allow that we can only take speakers 
who spoke either at the August 6th planning   board meeting on this topic or the October 
29th planning board meeting on this topic   did you speak at one of those lar you can't 
no but did you ma'am yes she can speak on her   own behalf to summarize what her testimony 
was she cannot summarize another speakers   okay did you sign up to speak as well I 
did okay then we'll get do you what what   what's your name ma'am my name is mar okay 
please come on up we'll take your comments now and Gwen EU banks will be on deck Bank just 
had knee surgery I have her paper too okay so   she's not here no she could okay thank you 
days David Gibson will be on deck after uh Mrs konopka ready I'm ready ma'am I'm willing to 
listen to your comments let's go it's time   for a change in District one because our citizens 
deserve better and with your help we can deliver   the citizens do believe that plastered across 
the internet for commissioner strob Berger we   believe we voted and we do deserve better the 
purpose of chapter 3 zoning regulations of the   LDC is to balance individual property rights 
with the interest of the community to create   a healthy safe and orderly living environment 
so please listen to all my fellow Neighbors   when they get up here listen carefully um I am 
quoting from the LDC exact verbage and I hope   you have the meeting minutes from the uh Planning 
and Zoning Board who was on October 29th who was   really confused as to why uh commissioner BOS 
remanded it back to them they're like oh well   we already approved it they presented nothing 
for from an engineer except for the applicants   engineer which is paid by them and it's going 
to say whatever they want him to say uh but   any rate you also have some pictures from one of 
my uh fellow neighbors and it shows inundation   everywhere when it rains many backyards end 
up with standing water do you all know what   that means nobody wants to talk about it but it 
means your toilet won't flush and when your toilet   won't flush and it comes up to the top you're 
really in a um bad situation the guys can walk   outside no problem with them but what are you 
going to do about the girls put on your waiters   honey and wait out there and just squat how about 
your mom you're 85y old mom who's on a walker   and you have her go out that's not going to work 
she's too fragile to bundle up it's raining cats   and dogs you got to bundle her up put her in a car 
and take her to the Tom Thumb that's not going to work commissioner Coler I know your story best 
a fellow Cor oh thank you a nurse a leader you   know in geriatrics when you got to go you got 
to go they can't hold it and they can't walk fast so it's a problem and what 
miss kopa your time's up if you   can just wrap up here shortly 
because we have several speakers um that's just a a quality of life um 
that I've been speaking of that that we   just don't have and to put impervious 
structures on more property and not   know if it's going to flood or not it is 
not right for us this has been going on   for years thank you ma'am for your comments I 
appreciate you sharing your thoughts Mr Gibson if someone could instruct me on showing the 
pictures and put them up just press on it um   who can help them with no I'm looking for someone 
you can't bring new pictures are these pictures   these are pictures that's on the computer okay in 
your okay okay Peter can you see if you can have me don't don't start trying to get these pictures up okay just hit the arrow thank you thank you 
David Gibson 608 Yellow Rose Drive Pensacola   Florida this picture here is looking out of 
my backyard into the catchment pond that uh   supports um yellow or Rosemont subdivision uh it's 
important because uh this was the uh aftermath of   Hurricane Sandy and this was day three after 
the hurricane and you can see there that water   was back filling out of the ditch into the uh 
catchment Pond that ran like that for 3 days   before uh it stopped and water was able to go 
the other direction this in turn created this   uh this was in front of my house uh that is 
really a a low flood uh I've seen it to where   it's halfway up to that crpe Myrtle there in fact 
all the way up to that crpe Myrtle at times uh   the Water because of the rain that's coming down 
it was like that for three days that car that's   over in the front yard that white one was when a 
neighbor tried to go across that neighbor's yard   got stuck and it was there for about a week until 
they could get it out and so we're continuing to   have this kind of problem when we have a lot of 
rain uh this was November the 19th uh this was   uh after the board meeting uh took the picture 
this was less than an inch of rain uh it come up   about to halfway on the car uh I'm sorry you're 
you're bringing in new testimony and we can't do   that these are postdated the last planning okay 
there it is again there that's another picture of and we're back to this one uh we we've got a huge 
problem there and it's a a Confluence of a lot of   events that have taken place to bring it about 
uh it started with the state did their work on   Blue Angel diverting a lot of water down bellw 
it was compounded when they came in and filled   in the south side of bellevue's ditch with uh to 
make room for uh sidewalks and all the water was   diverted to the north side and uh and that's 
why we have this problem here or one of the   reasons why another problem with that is that 
uh under that area there there's a lot of or in   that area there's a lot of clay pits clay was 
uh mined there and uh about 2 to 3 feet down   under the top soil and gravel there is about 
two to uh about a foot and a half to 2 feet of   clay that does not allow the the uh water to 
perk it was very interesting when I met made   this point at the zoning uh board that um they 
could not produce any perk test or understanding   of what was going on with that area there uh 
it was very interesting too that within two   to three days after that that whole field was 
covered with trucks going around Drilling and   taking core samples to find out what exactly 
was under there which should have been done   by the developer before they even a bid on this 
to find out what was taking place and uh so the   the issue for us is that we're not against 
development we're against a 4 to 10 uh we want low   development second of all Commander Gibson can you 
summarize your thoughts here shortly do we have a   security issue that has been there we have a water 
issue and we don't want to make it any worse than   it already is and it's we've got to have some 
remediation and some problems fixed before we   have any more development there thank you thank 
you very much our next speaker is Chris cerb oh before you start my clock here uh I'm going to 
drop out of the car uh uh I'm got to buy my notes here it's the car 2- 52 and I lost 
my notes okay got it thank you all right just to say on the car 2- 52 uh let's 
stay on this one right now but I'm going to drop   out of that I'm I'm going to leave I want to let 
you know that the neighborhood there is pleased   and they support that change order so as far 
as this on the rezoning uh I'm in opposition   of it until the county gets the BW Hogan 
pit BW drainage and Hogan pit Pond project   funded designed and at least under construction 
even though sometimes developer can help plooding   problems in the neighborhood by making a pond 
bigger next to it the problem is much deeper   and bigger than that um I was uh accepted as 
an expert witness based on my experience at   that planning board meeting and Horus basically 
said that U we're using 100-year design I submit   to you that we are not using a 100-year design 
because you're using 1979 rainfall data until the   Land Development code changes which is almost 50 
years old section 2.7.2 of your Land Development   code says the decisions should be made in 
the Public's best interest there's a lot of   flooding there and if you increase the density 
in there you're going to have more impervious   area to an already existing problem the drainage 
system on B Avenue is grossly underc capacity   and Associated Hogan pit doesn't even have a 
positive outfall and it's doesn't have a big   enough volume because what happens when we have 
these events is it backs up into the drainage   and into people's yards specifically Andrew BL is 
one of those that's why he's been coming up here   for 30 years and your uh proposed code that you 
got coming out for 100-year ponds with no outfall   a 6 in freeboard I mean come on do say 
You're supposed to do 100 years 7day and 10 day scammy county is got some light at 
the end of the tunnel though they have   been working on a a large scale multiphase 
project called the Velma softly fi moldon   project and they've done quite a bit of study 
the only problem is it's quite costly to build   all those improvements I think it's four phases 
the the biew Hogan pit Pine is I believe it's   out for uh rli or you're working on it I hear 
that a lot with government we're working on it you could get a flood resilience Grant 
um maybe uh by the way uh funding for flood   resilience grants they have strings attached 
like the vulnerability assessment who knows   what's going to happen when uh Noah Atlas 15 
comes out and the floods Act and the precept   act kicks in because when that kicks in you're 
going to have Grant eligibility requirements   to have your storm water standards meet those 
new rainfall dat still opposed to it if you get   the project done over there that'd be great 
and then I'd be all for it thank you I'm not   against development I'm for responsible 
development and this ain't it thank you   for your comments and thank you for 
staying on time Jacqueline Rogers is next good evening um I'm going to stick to what 
I said which was basically at the planning board   they have five criteria they do a through e but 
you list them on your Land Development code in   section 27.2 and it says LDC zoning map and text 
amendments so a rezoning is a zoning map Amendment   and even if this resoning meets all the other 
criteria at the end in board action number five   it says the board shall then consider so it says 
if the reviewing board finds at the record of the   hearing that the applicant has presented competent 
substantial evidence establishing the required   conditions those previous five the board shall 
then consider whether maintaining the current   zoning will serve a greater public interest and 
then says you can only recommend approval if there   is no New Uses density or intensity of use of 
the proposed zoning that will likely diminish the   quality of life it says reduced property values 
confer special benefit on the subject property   to the detriment of the community as a whole or 
create adverse impacts upon surrounding properties   more than the uses densities or intensities of the 
current zoning so if it's better to leave it at   the current zoning than up Zone you're supposed to 
do that even if they meet all the conditions this   is in section 2- 7.2 we've confirmed that with 
your attorney so commissioner Bach sent this back   for a reason he said there's flooding in the area 
he was concerned about the flooding it went to the   planning board and there was no more evidence 
from the staff that said this will be okay like   he said the or one of the speakers said one of 
the engineers for the applicant they're hired to   do the best case scenario so once you reone you 
know what you're going to have you're going to   have more impervious surface if you reone to 
more impervious surface you're going to have   more storm water and if you know that you have 
a project like that pit that Chris is talking   about that is an adverse um impact and that's all 
I wanted to say is that you have to consider those   quality of life whether you should leave it the 
same or you should upzone it and you can consider   that even if they meet all the criteria thank you 
thank you than M Rogers our next speaker is Andrew blur Andrew BL 6101 mest place and stepen Barry 
and lummen may you know that I've been coming   down here for just about 30 years and I mean even 
Wilson Robertson when he was updating District 5   knew that I had problems with this ear flooding 
and y'all have not done anything to fix this I   mean boy y'all fixing 11 Mile Creek because 
of what Navy Federal Credit Union you'reall   going to have the bigger problem with y'all go 
to ol8 and I and I discussed that but here you   go here we the people do not feel that y'all 
have done to do diligence needed to dismiss or   to determine the quality of life the possibility 
reduction of property values in the area all those   houses in that area Rosewood estate Zachary St 
Tanglewood um um Ember Ridge and the Buckland   drive all those are low density housing and look 
at the flooding we're having Jeff BOS did three   storm water projects for Adams Homes of Gul Breeze 
because they were the contractors over there for   Ember Ridge and um Tanglewood and then what was 
that faridian or whatever but we still have storm   water Pro running off of Godwin Lane coming down 
Buckland into a holding Pond that they've been   working on since August trying to fix and it's not 
not fixed so I mean we want green spaces just like   y'all did at C up there in Canton Golf Course 
y'all turned that into a park or whatever why   don't the county buy it and just make it a park 
there just remember it was low density when the   church bought it it can be low density when the 
church sells it and Baton R Louisiana contract or   whatever can develop it at low density it does not 
need to be upgraded so he can make money and the   um real estate lawyer can make money and they 
haul off and run away and you're going to have   the citizens of a scam you County foot in the bill 
to fix these problems that they have generated we   don't need need to line the pockets of real estate 
day real estate uh developers in Baton Rouge   Louisiana we got enough Adams Homes over there 
in Gul Breeze that we can line their pockets Miss   kopa please we need to listen to who's speaking 
right now is that those wetlands in tangle Woods   you can see in tangle Woods all that Wetlands 
go into Rosewood Estates it goes into um Zachary   States now if you got a $5 a five gallon bucket it 
holds five gallons of water if you drill a hole in   the side of it it ain't going to hold five gallon 
water and this is what West Marino and County   engineering has done with Zachary EST States thank 
you for your comments I appreciate them uh Mr Don tinker and then Merith Bush you're the last 
speaker on this topic thank you for your time   um certainly you've heard a lot of testimony 
already on a variety of different things uh   the planning board uh not sure that they did do 
diligence and things in actually going out and   physically looking at the property and and and 
providing an assessment of the property and the   situation that we Face uh certainly for example 
uh Belleview Avenue what has been described is uh   just a two-lane roadway there's no paved shoulder 
uh no bike Lanes and travel Lane width is 10 feet   and this was presented to the tra uh to the 
planning board as a rubber stamp and saying hey   from the tto it's good to go now from a Safety 
and Security standpoint Belleview Avenue sits   between Blue Angel Parkway and Mobile Highway 
and right there on Mobile Highway at um there   is bellw elementary school and right there uh 5 
days a week morning drop off and afternoon pickup   or children dismissal there's traffic issues that 
resolve there two-lane high or two-lane roadway is   not adequate for increasing the density in this 
little area of acreage um the average homeowner   has at least two vehicles per household and you 
increase the density in that little space there   you're going to create a greater traffic Hazard 
and we have no room to widen that roadway there's   sidewalks on one side open ditch on the other 
I can't tell you how many times there's been   incidents where vehicles have uh beer off into 
the uh ditch I don't know about anything off the   sidewalk but people use that sidewalk going to and 
from schools they use it for exercise and to get   around and all it takes is a distracted driver 
whether they're texting or even somebody that   might be under the influence and just slightly 
Veer off and swerve and then you have a serious   incident resulting in serious injury or even 
death um that property has been vacant I've   lived in my property for uh 27 years the property 
has been owned by the church for a number of years   now they haven't done anything with it I don't 
know that this is a result of them expecting   Cash Cow but I certainly think that it warrants 
another look and resolve all the problems have   been addressed I appreciate your time thank you 
thank you Mr Tinker um Miss Bush you're the last speaker good evening Meredith bush1 125 
East in tendencia um attorney with Clark   pardington and agent for the applicant so this 
went to the planning board twice and twice was   found to meet all the criteria twice the 
planning board has recommended approval   um after this board remanded it to the planning 
board our engineer met with County engineer   and County Drainage team and came up with a few 
solutions that um the development could assist the   existing drainage problems in the area although 
it's not the responsibility of this development   there is a pathway forward where the um one 
solution could be the combination of the existing   storm water pond that's within the Western 
Le neighboring subdivision with the new storm   water Pond um there was no competent substantial 
evidence presented that this would create any   adverse impact there was no competent substantial 
evidence presented that there was going to be a   reduction of property values while we understand 
the neighbors have concerns with their existing   flooding that's not the responsibility nor 
is it caused by this development we have met   all criteria and we would ask that you adopt 
the recommendation of the compling board and   approve the resoning and I'm happy to take any 
questions okay um you can have a seat and if   there's some questions from board we can move 
forward all right uh board that's the end of   all the speakers um is there any discussion or a 
motion I know commissioner strober this is in your District my turn please yeah so i' I've talked with engineering and and   development services about 
this today maybe more than once and it sounds like we have an existing 
problem and we're going to add to it it sounds   like we got a problem it's obvious to me 
it's obvious we have a problem with with   storm water issues over there right now I 
don't know how this is going to help that   situation I I think at the very least you 
you've heard um Mr Gibson say that he's   not against development someone else is but 
we haven't we haven't we haven't laid the   groundwork for that development yet amen so 
I think we need to fix the issue we have now   and I don't know if it's Hogan's pit if that'll 
it'll if that'll fix it um you still here Chris cerb um um but I want to learn more about that 
I want to learn more about what we can do about   that to fix the issue before we even go back to 
the idea of resoning that's that's that's all I   got well in this situation um it sounds like 
you don't want to make a motion to approve do   you want to make a motion to remove deny some back 
to the planning board what exactly is are options   here I have a question is Joy here Blackman so 
if I could um the decision needs to be made on   the record that you have in your backup and if 
there is an effort to reject the recommendation   from the planning board we would need to address 
the criteria or which Criterion is not met and we   shouldn't be bringing in new testimony and and 
new new folks that's not so madam attorney so   if to simplify this it's obviously was that the 
zoning Chang from low density to multi multi-use   um would a appropriate motion by someone be to 
keep at low density so the recommendation from the   planning board is for approval and they have the 
the the record is in here indicating that they've   met the criteria and that's the same argument that 
you got from Council for the applicant so I think   we is our options right so um it's it's now been 
to the planning board twice if the board had a   really specific reason to send it back your 
ordinance would allow that but at this point   I would steer the board towards looking at whether 
or not you were accepting based on the record the   recommendation to approve the resoning request 
which would allow it to go to MDR if the goal   based on the record is to keep it at ldr then I 
would suggest that either the motion would be to   reject and replace one of the Criterion indicating 
that they have not met it or that you are making   a finding based on the record that there is some 
overwhelming public purpose that would allow you   to overcome the burden that's been given to you 
by them meeting all the criteria so that's kind   of where I would St opening up new testimony he 
can't send it back to the planning board if he   sends it back to the planning board it needs to be 
with very specific instruction that and it needs   to be something that the planning board has not 
already been asked to do Comm Mr Barry I know you   used to be on the planning board do you have any 
opinion on this I just I know you have a little   experience in it um well my impression would be 
that if if we were going to reject the planning   board's finding that that as mam Council said we 
um should identify which are the Criterion that   we that we have an issue with that we that we you 
know that a board member does not agree with and   uh and then for that reason we would reject the 
planning board's recommendation and and find a   different uh and find a different outcome I'm very 
uh very open-minded what commissioner stur has to   say as I was for commissioner BOS when he uh you 
know when he the item came before us previously um   I just I'm not sure exactly what that what that 
intent is but I'm I'm very open-minded to it so   I I think the The public's best interest is the 
operable words and and it's not that I think that   it doesn't that I'm rejecting necessarily what the 
planning board is recommending I just don't think   that we've gotten to the part where we should 
be even considering this and I just got here you   know so why we're here at this point approving 
this when they've got a big problem already uh   you know Mr Gibson told me about this when we were 
when I was campaigning I hate I don't want to keep   bringing that up but but but he was a supporter of 
mine that helped me and this is the issue he had   he talked to me about this and um in the Public's 
interest I don't think that we should be rezoning   this until we fix the issue the existing 
issue we have um so I'd like to explore that [Laughter] okay what if there's not a motion in 
a second where do we end up on this mam attorney   no motion then we just move on right well they 
they have a right to a decision so we I I just   don't think I don't see the point in sending it 
back to the planning board to get the same result again well we we need to give the applicant some 
sort of decision so either we are accepting the   recommendation for the approval of the resoning 
or you're rejecting it but there needs to be   competent substantial evidence for your reason why 
you're rejecting it and that needs to be explained   to them so that they know why they're being 
rejected and it's legally possible to remand it at   this point but you would really need to give them 
very specific directions as to what it is they're   supposed to explore ma Madame attorney uh if if 
it was rejected can you give him some examples   of what could potentially be legal in this 
situation because I think that's where we're hung up Andrew please we're trying to run a meeting 
thank you madam attorney I mean it it sounds   as though where where the the commissioner is 
headed is the feeling that the water intrusion   the flooding that is according to some of 
the testimony already problematic in that   area is of such a threat is that is that what the 
concern is because I think that they are going to   be entitled to know what the underlying reason 
for the rejection isn't it needs to be something   that's that's in the record that you've been 
provided which is what the witnesses have said   or that your staff testified to below with 
the in front of the planning board or is it something uh at that time the then commissioner 
for district one had concerns about storm water   and wanted the planning board to explore 
that more fully yeah they did and they   came back with the same result to move 
it to next year but isn't that based on   that's that's based on the rezoning and 
and that issue alone that's separate from   the problem that existed before this whole subject 
came up these folks as land owners are entitled to   ask for the resoning so we can't we can't just 
T we can't just table it we need to give them   some resolution so that they can explore their 
potential I have a question so I I understand   that it went back to planning and then they 
asked for solutions for the storm water drainage   the engineers for the project that with County 
employees and came up with multiple Solutions did   that do I understand that correctly so that sounds 
like that from that's coming from the attorney for   the applicant and my and I mean she can certainly 
address that but my my impression of those   comments was that that was sort of an outside of 
the planning board realm they went and had this   meeting to explore possible remedies for when they 
pursue development of the property what possible   routes could they take to address those kinds of 
concerns did they share that with the planning   board there's not a lot of detail in the current 
record about what the storm water I Ian I think that's well we need to we need to take an action 
where we at on this commissioner sherber I I'd be   happy to happy to support you in what you what you 
would what you would like to what would what would   you like us to do I'm not sure what I I know what 
I want I just be here a I just don't understand   why yeah because this doesn't sound like we can 
we can explore the idea of remediation before   the rezoning um no Mary please please let us let 
let us deliberate right now so I I might propose   that perhaps you want to consider remanding it to 
the planning board with very specific directions   that they need to take some testimony from uh 
an engineer or an expert witness on the issue   of storm water and flooding and have but did we 
get an opinion of our engineer on on on flooding   I mean I I don't think that Joy testified before 
the planning board I don't believe that she did   and I but I mean wouldn't we get that before 
we hire an outside expert David Fitzpatrick is   at this is listed as a witness for the second 
hearing but he didn't show up to speak this   evening but I mean he is an engineer he he's 
here D you have a comment that we could help   us I'm I'm David Fitzpatrick 10250 North POF 
Fox Street I'm the engineer of well going to   be the engineer record if we successful um we 
did meet with joy Blackman and um and her staff   and we came up with a what we thought was a 
solution that might help the neighborhood it's   not going to completely fix the neighborhood 
but it is going to help because we're going   to increase the size of the storm water 
Pond by of the neighboring storm water   Pond and include it with ours and continue 
to study it with joy and her team okay so I   I have a question on that so it would not add 
to the problem no ma'am okay yes Andrew please M say David if if if you're saying and 
commissioner whatever you want to do man I   mean I'm with you um you said it won't add to the 
problem and it won't fix it completely Andrew you   cannot yell out any longer or you'll have to leave 
we are trying to conduct a meeting I appreciate   your comments but you cannot do this while we're 
trying to deliberate please commissioner May yes   sir thank you Mr chairman I appreciate that I'm 
just wonder what's the impact because I I think my   colleague is concerned about the flooding that's 
happening in his district and so I think he's just   trying to find the resolution of of the flooding 
in his district right the existing storm waterer   Pond is probably designed for the 25-year storm I 
know Chris made some comments about the 100-year   storm that we use today it's a little outdated 
which is true but it's better than a 25e storm   the fact fact is the properties zone ldr now which 
would allow 80 Lots without you guys looking at it   so we're we're talking about adding about 10 Lots 
by going to MDR because you can't physically fit   more Lots on the property because it's only like 
20 acres so um that's about what we're trying to   add so we did nothing today they could do 80 
homes that's correct potentially and and if we   approve the upzoning they could do 90 homes 
thereabouts I haven't I haven't designed it yet so   yes around 90 homes the zoning density allowance 
in MDR would allow 190 Lots or houses to be built   on the property but physically they just will 
not fit on the property oh got it you could okay   commiss show I mean whatever you want man you got 
my support I think we need to well obviously um   Madam attorney's identified what we can do I mean 
could we get I know Joy's here I mean could we get   ey engineer opinion real quick because I mean what 
he's saying physically land mass you could only do   90 homes right although the zoning would allow for 
whatever 190 physically if you broke them down to   50ft Lots you could only get yes sir going from 
us you're going from 60ft lots to 50ft Lots right   so if we go to a 50ft lot that's all we could get 
is there's 90 homes yes sir approximately approxim   and that includes the the run off the holding pond 
that's what you know the Pond's going to be large   so it might take up some of those lots that we're 
talking about even if we put in the 60 foot Lots   we'll still be looking at a very large storm 
water Pond just to help help the neighborhood   and help our we we can't increase the runoff by 
technically we can't increase the runoff from   our existing site by Alt code so we have to have 
the predevelopment runoff included in our storm   water Pond uh design for your calculations yes 
sir and so you obviously you're saying we can't enlarge or deepen the pond at all I mean no you 
can right you said you were going to do that you   were going to yes sir we're going to try to 
join our pond with the neighboring Pond that   was designed with the 25e storm we're going to 
go with a 100-year storm design for hours but we   have to just look at the impact that we're going 
to create by the you know for the neighborhood   and it will be larger than the typical storm water 
pond that's in a subdivision just because of the   the physical constraints that we have and the 
existing neighboring flooding issues they would   and obviously you're one of the best Engineers 
I know um but would it be fair to commissioner   stroer to run those calculations look at that 
runoff before he approves that so he could be   assured of you know the runoff in this community 
I mean storm water Pond increasing that is that   the first thing you do before you start everything 
else uh well we do preliminary layouts and then we   have the geotechnical work done then we can design 
a storm water Pond but we've got to work with the   county on on seeing if we can help out by making 
that storm water Pond a part of the neighboring   stormw Pond a part of our new pond so there's a 
lot of work to take place and a lot of money to   be spent to get to that point so they hadn't even 
ran all the perk tests I mean they hadn't done any   Geotech I don't believe I've got the Geotech 
uh done completed done yet because depending   on how it percolates depending on the size I mean 
the saw samples and all I mean there are a lot of   variables in in terms of how we're going to uh 
percolate you know maybe a solution is Joy you   know I had the same problem out an Emerald Estates 
and then when we went back and ran the numbers we   found out there was a drainage problem do you have 
a comment or have you guys looked at this I know   you don't want to get up and talk about it but 
I I think that could maybe be an option possibly no can can joy talk Madam attorney I'm sorry 
I should ask you no if you say no then that's   fine I won't pull up strain way outside of the 
record Tes well then keep us in check all right   so all right sorry Joy if you're tring well 
how do you get to the point where you we're   going to get we're going to get advice from our 
professional then if we can't get it now it could   have it could have been before the planning board 
we can ask them to do that how do we get back to   it because now I mean now it presents a problem to 
me trying to support my colleague I want to hear   from my Engineers uh exactly uh the position 
of of what can happen and although I love Mr   Mr David I I mean we want at the end of the day 
ultimately we're going to be responsible I mean   I think it's fair to if we can you know I want to 
support commissioner stroberg to be able to hear   from our engineering staff I mean how can we get 
to that point is that we make percate then we got problems please Andrew I'm you're 
on thin so as a developer what is   your legal responsibility to make sure 
that your runoff doesn't affect anybody else there are very specific storm water 
requirements that are part of the development   process I'm not sure it's not really relevant for 
this conversation exactly what they're going to   build but if it's a subdivision the county 
typically ends up accepting the storm water   infrastructure as part of the subdivision plating 
process and there's typically at least a two-year   warranty that we require in fact there are a 
couple on the agenda tonight where the county   uh basically keeps them contractually obligated 
to be responsible for the first two years of that   infrastructure to make sure that it's working 
appropriately um and then after that it could   become either a private civil matter a code 
enforcement matter those kinds of things maybe   even injunction just depending on what happens 
we've had FD get involved in a couple thank you all right I think we need to make a decision 
there there's record there's record evidence in   here from Mr cerb who testified uh Mr Fitzpatrick 
who testified a little bit we can look at that   um or you can remand it back with very specific 
instructions about the and I have to give those   Specific Instructions I in my motion yeah the 
ordinance typically needs instructions to the   planning board so that they know what they're 
being tasked to do and we did send it back once   for storm water already so I would say be even 
more specific than that if you're wanting to hear   from our expert um licensed Engineers on County 
staff relative to the um storm water impacts the   public purpose related to that I I would say 
that's probably the best bet b on best based   on what I'm hearing you say that might be the best 
bet all right then I then I like to make a motion   to remand this back to the planning board to hear 
from an expert on the the storm War issue that's   existing there second is that an appropriate Mo 
uh motion and second Madam attorney meaning the   County engineer or other licensed County staff yes 
that's what I heard yeah okay is that appropriate   yes okay please vote did was there was there a 
second yeah it was that was commissioner May was a second wow okay the motion passes 5 Z 
to return back to the planning board   for an engineering uh reveal all right 
let's move on to what we want what we   Mary thank you for your comments you had your 
time Mary thank you we're moving on to gmr 5.45   than horse there's one speaker but go ahead so 
basically with the with that motion we're going   to move that drop 5:45 who's The Speaker 
are we bringing it back bringing it back   at a time certain Steve oh just whenever I'm 
sorry say again are we bringing this back at   a time certain or just whenever yeah whenever 
okay M chairman who's the speaker on the on 545 so we got to drop okay sorry I you I 
think you know where we're going to drop   545 yeah is there you said is there a speaker 
on 545 there is Andrew Andrew is our speaker   thank you Andrew that made my night all right I 
moved thank you Mr chairman I moved to drop the   545 to come back at a time to be determined in 
the future second Mr chairman all right please vote all right let's move to gmr 1.3 yes 
sir the next resoning item is z 202 okay   I'm sorry oh I'm sorry the vote passes 
5- Z excuse me now we can move to gmr   3 okay moving ahead the next item is 
reson Cas z22 24-20 from low density   residential to commercial the planning 
board made a made a recommendation for denial okay we have three speakers 
on this Miss Rogers you're our first Speaker good evening again um the planning board 
did recommend denial 5 to one the record at the   time they were separate Parcels so you can't add 
to the record today when we had our first stopped   out commissioner Barry and commissioner Grover 
Robinson promised that people wouldn't if they   opted out of the sector plan they wouldn't get 
anything else what they had so this this opted   out it became low density residential if you 
look at the pictures in the record across the   street our homes large lot homes down the road you 
just approved a subdivision um bellara has a Bel   uh Bell grve it's residential so uh the applicants 
agent says she admits its spot zoning but she says   commercial is Transitional next to low density 
residential that's not transitional the primary   intent of commercial is to allow more diverse 
and intense commercial uses than the neighborhood   commercial allowed that's not a buffer next to low 
density residential it's not appropriate here she   said that it would mitigate the noise the traffic 
and and and visual disturbance but that's exactly   what they have planned is commercial lot there so 
it is not Urban infill that's one of the things   the applicant used if you've been down the street 
on West Neil Road it's we have horses donkeys   chickens in our neighborhood barns ponds this 
is not an appropriate infill is appropriate an   urbanized area where infrastructure is sufficient 
that's what the um applicant said but this is not   an urbanized area this is north of the paper 
mill there's no been no repaving in 20 years   um that I've lived there there's potholes it's one 
lane going one way one going the other there's no   shoulders so you you're going to invite more 
commercial um into a dead end Road this road   goes all the way down Neil Road ends onto hillock 
you've already approved quite a bit of residential   zoning not only on Bella Grove but behind the 
Acres behind there that opted out there's a   total of 400 residential homes to go in there 
so commercial is not appropriate uh Neil Road   is not an arterial Road this is not Frontage 
to Highway 29 and that testimony was in in the   planning board that's why they were denying it 
it this will intrude into our neighborhood um   and the staff never should have approved any 
type of lot combination because now it's going   to create split zoning and we're trying to get 
away from that industrial is not um not a use   that's going to be allowed in mixed use Suburban 
land use so that's why they said they were making   it commercial because they couldn't make it hcli 
but it's because it wouldn't get approved under   heavy commercial light industrial you would be 
allowing 25 dwelling units per acre right next   to four dwelling units per acre how is that 
transitional in a low density residential   area that used to be conservation neighborhood 
in the sector plan at three homes per acre now   you're going to allow 25 homes breaker primarily 
commercial M Rogers can you please summarize your   final final comment this is spot zoning there's no 
commercial nearby and so you should deny this just   like the planning board did 5 to one thank 
you okay thank you our next speaker Sharon curn Hi um I just wanted to set the scene a little 
bit to let you know about this property um as you   drive north on Highway 29 um you go past um the 
entrance to Tate high school you'll see Windixie   on the right and then it's pretty sparse and 
you come to the big huge major intersection   that we have in cantonement which is Highway 29 
in Mogi where you have the paper mill that's on   two corners you have our beautiful new park that 
looks fabulous on one corner and you have a gas   station on the other then from there there are 
Zero commercial properties on the west side and   there are very very few commercial properties on 
the east side you'll see Wide Open Spaces lots   of green grass lots of trees when you get to Neil 
Road and this is what I love about my neighborhood   you turn onto a beautiful two-lane treelined 
country road that dead ends into the neighborhood   where I live my family moved to the area for 
the opportunity to be in a rural community all   right we wanted to give our CH our children the 
chance raise animals we've had horses goats sheeps   turkeys peacocks Pigs and the list goes on we 
didn't move out there to be convenient to anything   we didn't we don't want to walk to anything um we 
want to go out back we want to see our animals we   any commercial property it has a very good chance 
of becoming another vacant building in a future   isore in our community I ask you to please follow 
the recommendation of the planning board to not   approve the rezoning um of this property um I 
think that we proved at the meeting that it did   not meet the requirements and um I just wanted you 
to see a little picture of of one of the reasons   why it doesn't meet that requirement thank you 
thank you ma'am our next speaker is um Meredith Bush good evening Meredith Bush 125 East 
in tendencia Pensacola Florida 32502 uhor   with Clark Partington an agent for the 
applicant um so the planning board did   deny recommend denial based on the one criteria 
of spot zoning however I would point out that in   your code spot zoning itself is not prohibited um 
the commercial zoning is Transitional between the   low density residential and the heavy commercial 
light industrial um they are not separate Parcels   the Lots were combined the maps however were 
not updated at the time of the planning board   meeting that's why on the maps it shows the 
two distinct Parcels however the lots have   been combined so it is Highway 29 Frontage um if 
this board is leaning towards um denying I would   ask that you remand to the planning board for 
consideration of high density mixed use versus   a straight up denial tonight happy to take any 
questions thank you Mrs Bush that uh concludes   all our speakers uh commissioner Barry this 
is in your area yes sir thank you Mr chairman   and and and Meredith may want to may want to 
speak to this it's not a specific question but um when I look at rezonings I'm you know and 
I've mentioned this many times on aort try to   find a way to uh try to find a way to get the 
yes um you know we we can't make our decisions   based on what the proposed project is going to be 
on the properties um I haven't I haven't talked   to Meredith nor the owners but uh what I've Been 
Told anecdotally uh about the what could go on the   ground at the at the property I'd be supportive 
of that I think it's a good idea it's a it's a   matter of trying to find a way to uh uh trying 
to find a way to get the project on the ground   um and I don't uh you know it's it's uh you 
know potentially a uh a use of business that   we don't have in that area that I I think would be 
fantastic so while I would like to try to find a   way to yes my my greater yes is I'd like to try 
to find a way to yes to get the project on the ground the fear with the resoning to commercial 
is if something were to fall through there's a   there's a proposed project and and you know that 
sounds good a lot of things sound good the fear   from my point of view to rezone to commercial 
would be as as was mentioned the density and if   the project fell through for you know for whatever 
reason which you know projects interest rates have   not come down as uh as much as some had expected 
and you know some things are not happening as uh   as quickly as as as people had envisioned you know 
six months ago and if you know if something were   to happen and the property not change hands the 
contract not be closed then I feel like I would   be opening uh opening my constituents up to a 
bad situation having commercial off of Highway   29 and there's a lot of there's there's a lot 
of density and intensity that could then go onto   that property and uh that includes multif family 
it includes things that I I know that's not the   plan but you never know what happens uh what I'd 
like to try to do in Meredith I you know I had   not spoken to you but if that's the intent I I my 
comment was going to be I was going to support the   planning board's recommendation for denial with 
a comment of trying to work with staff to find   a way to get the project to get on the ground I 
I would I would hope there would be another way   I didn't know if there's uh you know a possible 
commercial PUD process or something I mean I and   Alison I know this is something I've mentioned to 
you many times when we look at the densities you   have to manage the worst case scenario which is 
what happens if whatever I think is going to go   on the ground doesn't go on the ground what then 
are you know people left with and and decisions   to commercial decisions to MDR decisions to 
the higher density zoning categories are you   know large they're they're often considerable 
changes in intensity you know uh uh affected   by that by the vote we would make is there is 
there a commercial type PUD process we could go   through is there any process we could go through 
that would have us approving the project with the   with a resoning change like a like a put because 
if the visual of the project I wouldn't have any   issue with that if that's what we if that's what 
was impact instances I believe where things have   come through concurrently where we've even had a 
flu change and a rezoning and something else that   goes with it but you can't tie the real estate to 
a specific project you just we just don't do that   it's just so I mean if it was a if it was a putt 
on the residential side we we could be approving a   project we could be approving a layout is that not 
is there is there not a commercial it's possible   to do the it would be possible I don't know 
that if so one option if you were to remand the   planning board for hdmu to do the project that is 
currently being floated would need conditional use   approval so there would be a boa hearing where the 
specific projects is considered I mean we would   first have to get that hdmu resoning but we could 
still do what we're trying to develop um through   a conditional use in hdmu so if your inclination 
is to deny wanting a specific spe but as far as   a commercial PUD I'm not aware of anything like 
that all right would what would ldm LMU do would   that have the square footage I understand what 
she said I'm asking ldm 30 ldm um I'm not sure   I know hdmu would be 35,000 square fet LMU can I 
is it is it possible to ask to have it remanded   back to look at a different without defining the 
different zoning category to have them look at it   to to have the planning board consider different 
zoning category without defining what different   one a lower intensity use I I'm I'm good with 
that Mar thought you know I you know these these   positions you criticize for being pro-development 
criticized for being anti-development but in this   case it's a it would be a good it would be a good 
project I'd like to find a way to to uh uh to help   and and put that project on the ground I'm sorry 
Drew just as a informational item the LMU and HD   CMU both have the conditional use option to go 
up to 35,000 square ft okay on that parcel all   right I would prefer then to you know in in a in 
an effort to to to try to help I would prefer then   Mr chairman to to make a motion to remand the item 
back to the planning board and uh have them assess   the the request at an ldu level and that would 
allow your your boa which that hearing could then   be tied to your project and you could you could 
show them exactly what you're trying to do and I   thank you Mr chair I'll second it but Steph quick 
question I so you manand it back to the planning   board do they still have to go to the board of 
adjustments it would be a separate Pro we'd have   to do both yes so they still have to go back to 
the board of adjustments even if youand it back   and even even if it's approved here they still are 
going to have to go to the boa commiss was it low   density or high density your motion is to send 
back to planning board I I missed that I'm sorry   toand back to the planning board and and have them 
uh assess the the request with an ldm okay with an   LMU uh zoning category and and and the benefit 
that the applicant would then have at at the boa   is at the boa they can take a they can take a uh 
a conceptual layout you know site they can take a   site plan you know drawings and uh uh and I think 
that you know it's a it would be a good thing but   I'm sorry yeah so Steve so there's not in in your 
thought pattern it's not a consideration for the   hdmu is just uh you want you want to remand it 
back for them to take a look at the ldm I would   rather them take a look at the ldm just being a 
lower intensity than the hdmu I'm you know while   whatever you want to do it's fine I'm just trying 
to get clarification I'm trying to I'm you know   trying to take on as small a risk as possible and 
the eventual risk if something were to happen the   risk would be much less with an ldm cap with an 
ldm designation rather than hdmu so that that's   that's the reason for M if they if they chose to 
do a different project other than what's currently   being proposed you could ensure the growth I would 
assume yeah and that makes the worst case scenario   to the west of it I would have ldr to and then 
this parcel H in that case if we approved ldm so   I would have ldr I would have ldm and then we'd 
have the htti that's along Highway 29 which and   you know one of the speakers mentioned there's a 
lot a lot of commercial um uh uses on Highway on   the western part of Highway 29 and very few on 
the eastart there that may be the case currently   but there are going to be more and more that is 
mean we are going to drive try to drive commercial   traffic to Highway 29 I mean that's where that's 
where we want it as the as the residential numbers   warrant commercial development which is what 
it takes first you got to have rooftops to   have businesses want to be there so as those 
things happen we we we want to you know we   want to funnel our commercial Corridor to Highway 
29 and and again this hypothetically if it's what   ended up happening would be a great project 
in my opinion so commissioner bar do I have   I'm sorry CHR did you have another comment no no 
sir I'm sorry Mr goad so the motion is to remand   back to planning board as an ldm and you have a 
second is that where we are yeah happy to Second   yes sir Mr chairman uh I'll second that with the 
ldm yes sir all right thank you all please vote all right you got to vote go through okay the 
motion pass delay 5 z uh since that's the   case do you have a motion to drop 546 yes 
so moved second Mr chairman please vote okay and we're up to gmr number five 
horse thank you the next resoning uh   request is z20 23-3 how standby it was a 
it's an administrative thing and we got   to count the vote and it's just a delay 
I'm moving faster than the computer the   the vote passed at 5-0 on dropping 546 let's 
move to gmr number five thank you horse yes   so let me slow down um from low density 
residential z223 d03 from low density   residential to medium density residential the 
planner board did make a recommendation for approval Mr chairman you have a number of speakers 
perhaps well yeah we have several speakers okay so   how many we got M we got lots of speakers tonight 
no I'm saying on this item 1 2 3 4 5 6 7even eight   nine nine on this item just just this item so Mark 
Taylor you're up first and Richard West you're on backup it's exciting all the public citizens 
want to talk tonight all right thank you Mr   chairman thank you County Commissioners hey Mar 
oh man so uh when I was growing up my mom would   often say I'm not sure if I should laugh or I 
should cry and that's kind of how I feel this   is my third time here with you guys over the 
last two years and um um you know when I bought   this land and and had some plans for it everything 
looked easy know the code of ordinances are very   clearly laid out they give you five Criterion 
just follow the law and it works right that's   what you do as Citizens you invest millions of 
dollars to try to better your community and uh   and you follow the law and I would have never 
in my wildest imagination six Generations spolan   Seventh Generation my four Sons I'm missing 
my 8-year-old's birthday right now who turned   today to be here for the third time in two years 
and I'd never if someone would told me 3 years ago   that I would have to sue my county that I've lived 
in my entire life I just said there's no way no   way I'd ever sue my county they're going to follow 
the law just like everybody else does there's this   is not going to happen and I can't believe what 
we've been through we came the planning board   unanimously approved this we came here and 
it got declined and uh we sued took a year a   year year quar million dollars tied up this land 
was on the market for years like five years this   land was on the market any neighbor and I'm very 
empathetic a lot of you guys know me or know of   me I'm an empathetic person I live every day to 
try to help other people that that's that's the   purpose of my life and I'm very empathetic to the 
other nine people that are going to talk against   me today but the bottom line is any nine of those 
could have bought this land for a quarter million   dollars over that 5 years but and turned it into 
a park and walked their dogs and enjoyed the birds   chirping and everything that do because it it's 
a beautiful piece of property and um but but they   didn't I'm the guy that came and I'm the one that 
put my quarter million dollars down and I bought   the land for something that was very clearly met 
the ordinance to go from low density residential   to medium density residential and now two years 
later tens of thousands of dollars in legal   fees the judge agreed with me the planning board 
twice has agreed with me the last time one person   did did vote against the newer person who is a 
representative um um but unanimous the first time   almost unanimous the second time can we just get 
this over with if you want to maybe the ordinances   need to get changed maybe we need to be having 
this meeting to figure out what those criteria   should be so that more of these things can get 
denied but when I bought this property and when I   applied for this the ordinance is what it was the 
testimony is what it was the professional hearing   David stay he's also our engineer of record as 
well um guys we're talking about 10 or 11 Lots   about 29 Lots can go on this property the way 
it's set up right now at best at best 41 Lots   will go on this property if all the storm WEA and 
everything lines up perfect if the stars align we   might be adding 12 Lots 11 or 12 Lots best case 
scenario please do what's right let's get this   over with I could tell your passion thank you so 
much for your comments Richard West please uh come   up and comment hi Richard Wes 128 Tiffany Drive 
um so I'm here today to ask the County Commission   to use their authority to determine that the 
documentation provided by the applicant um to   the staff and the planning board in early 2023 did 
not provide accurate information for the planning   board to make a correct recommendation for the 
County Commission um we'll we'll stick you know   we do have the Criterion to to to do the resoning 
um and they're there for a reason um and so   specifically I'm going to go through those three 
things Criterion a the proposed resoning would   introduce a density that is incompatible with the 
existing subdivision accessed via mtle Court where   the average lot size is approximately a quarter 
acre which essentially makes it four units per   acre by definition compatible development should 
enhance the usefulness of neighboring developments   and the proposed higher density does not meet that 
criteria Criterion B the proposed resoning to MDR   is not consistent with the intent and purp purpose 
of the Land Development code the high density of   MDR becomes an issue for consistency with the 
low with LDC because the purpose statement for   MDR zoning requires development to feature an 
efficient pattern of well connected streets a   condition that's not met by the parcel in question 
that parcel is connected to mle court through a   long narrow strip of land if a connection to 
Tiffany Drive was approved that only circles   the traffic back around because it's a closed 
subdivision um due to that lack of an efficient   pattern of well-connected streets that request is 
not consistent with the Land Development code and   therefore does not meet Criterion B Criterion 
C the proposed resoning is not compatible with   the surrounding existing residential uses in the 
area as stated earlier all of the homes in the   bordering neighborhoods that would be directly 
impacted by this amendment are built under LD   our conditions which just because there's a small 
mobile home park that's pre-existing does not mean   that piece of property can be rezoned when doing 
so would negatively impact the majority of the   surrounding uses so I'm asking that the board of 
County Commission uses their either their personal   knowledge of the area to reject the planning 
board's recommendation for approval over the   resoning OR at the very least the recommendation 
should be sent back to the planning board with   specific instructions to have staff re evaluate 
the resoning request with a particular emphasis on   criteria a B and C thank you Mr Wes I appreciate 
your comments Roger Moore you're our next speaker yes um I'm Roger Moore I've lived 
at 749 Rich Road for 4 Mr Mo will you pull   the mic down so we can just hear you thank 
you is that better yes sir okay um I'm Roger   Moore I've lived at 749 Ridge Road for 
the past 40 years okay according to the   public hearing that we all received changing 
the zoning from low density residential to   medium density residential would allow the 
building of 10 duplexes per acre according   to the scambia county tax rols this parcel 
is 7.43 Acres potentially 70 new duplexes   or 140 new individual residences would ultimately 
mean a large increase of people and vehicles that   would lead to heavier even congested traffic 
on Motley and at the only entrance an exit to   the neighborhood 10mile Road at modley we believe 
that rental duplexes would change the neighborhood   from a predominantly owner occupied subdivision 
with mostly well maintain homes and property   to a non-owner occupied and poorly maintained 
neighborhood that we believe would eventually lead   to increased vandalism and crime for the entire 
subdivision therefore lowering property values for   the entire subdivision also what is the plan for 
sewage management for these duplexes according to   ECUA there is no sewer available close enough 
to connect to this parcel to provide sewer   service will there be multiple septic systems 
built for these units that would be much more   closely situated than the existing single family 
dwellings our entire neighborhood is against this   thank you thank you Mr Moore Raymond Higgins 
is our next speaker and James pace is followup good evening as my as you said my name 
is Raymond Higgins I live at 10530 mle   court uh I two am absolutely opposed to uh the 
rezoning here what Mr West uh told you earlier   was not just his opinion on uh whether this 
uh uh plot should be uh rezoned it's actually   the findings of the planning board's experts 
they took a look at all the evidence all the   material evidence that had been presented to 
the planning board at the initial uh hearing   that was presented to the County Commissioners at 
the initial hearing and they changed their mind Miss Rogers say can you validate that that's correct I I think her her comment 
is noted he's got a couple Pages   worth of testimony before the planning board um certainly agreed that's not going to be relevant 
for purposes of their decision today it was not   introduced at the planning board because the 
planning board refused to listen to them they   had it there they had it in the uh pamphlet 
that was online I got a copy of it evence for   the interest we want to hear your comments but 
we have to play Within the rules of the of what   happened at the planning board so if you could 
if you could talk to those points i' it make my   life a little easier sure those those findings 
were based on evidence that had already been introduced they're finding that the proposed Zone 
would introduce a density that's incompatible with   the existing subdivision access in mle court 
where the average size is approximately 2.5 acres m'am M M for your reference the entire 
transcript verbatim of that second plan   Board hearing is in your backup the record is 
here your goal is just to summarize what you   testified to at that first planning board hearing 
um when you testified back in March of 2023 you're   just supposed to summarize those comments we 
are not taking new sworn testimony today I'm   not introducing new testimony back at that initial 
planning board meeting I had stated that you look   to the east you look to the West uh you don't 
show uh the other side of the woods if you look   at the overhead areial you'll see nothing 
but to the north east the South residential units there was U we we testified then 
that this was uh uh low density it was   not uh middle density while it had been 
zoned uh medium density it was in fact   low density housing there now that uh you 
take that to conclusion that it is not   compatible with the uh existing housing 
that's there having a high has a medium   density housing is not consistent with 
the low density housing that is existing there the traffic that also been uh spoken of 
numerous times throughout that initial hearing   and at the initial County Commissioner's 
hearing as well the entrance way to the   uh uh proposed lot is inadequate for uh 
multi-unit uh uh housing it's uh adequate   for perhaps uh low density housing that 
it exists but not for a medium density housing and the uh commercial use 
that the applicants tried to make   in this lot is just not there the convenience 
store the apartment complex is outside of this   neighborhood it's nearly a half mile down 10 
Mile Road it is not part of the neighborhood   this neighborhood that's the conclusion 
of your time um I just for the record we   you know we aren't at the planning board so 
we have to live by the rules of the planning   board I understand that you're concern and 
I appreciate your comments I really do but   um we have several other speakers that want to 
comment on this thank you Mr James pace you're next I'm James Pace I have lived in the uh mle 
Court uh area for 28 years um I'll just summarize   what I said in 2023 there are like nine rows that 
feed in to mle court which is a single street that   goes right through our uh our housing areas and 
uh I I I don't believe that adding another one   is going to help at all I I believe that it uh 
uh got a a potential for traffic congestion and   um I believe it should remain at at low density 
that's thank you sir for your comments uh Mrs   Bush I think you're up next I don't you were here 
a minute ago oh there you are Meredith come on up and then um Lisa menues after Mrs Bush Meredith 
Bush 125 East in tendencia Pensacola Florida 32502   um so I handled the original resoning request 
in which the uh planning board found that it   met all criteria and recommended approval as 
Mr Taylor testified uh the planning board again   has recommended approval uh we would just hold 
the position that we've met all of the resoning   criteria um as required by the code and ask 
that you approve the resoning to MDR happy to   take any questions okay thank you um Miss muu 
are you oh thank you you're right here in the front good evening my name is Lisa muu and 
I proud to represent Mark Taylor and his   uh Calvary uh this property has been the 
subject as he said for two years now two   years uh he's had to go to Circuit Court 
he's had a judge direct this commission to   do the right thing to not take more evidence at 
this hearing to only base your decision on the   record from the planning board um nothing 
personal Mr Barry but I'm pointing out   to the new Commissioners that the Circuit Court 
said that new evidence that was introduced by   Mr Barry himself was inappropriate that you 
shouldn't be looking at your own personal   history of the property you should be looking at 
what was presented at the planning board we went   back to the planning board again and the planning 
board very clearly you have their record said we   did a good job the first time now remember they 
are are people you appointed there are people in   the industry and they found that they had done 
a good job listening to all the sides listening   to all of the evidence and that they concluded 
again that this project meets all the criteria   and it should be rezoned as Mr Taylor said 
you only need to look at what is the increase   and the maximum increase is going to be about 12 
Lots because the density changes from 60 feet to   50 feet so there's going to be a subdivision 
there regardless it's just a matter of whether   it's going to be something that Mr Taylor can make 
affordable which I think housing is something that   we need to be concerned about in this County 
it do we have enough affordable housing um so   50ft Lots allows for about 12 more houses that's 
it that's the only thing that's different here   we're not looking at any commercial don't hear 
any of that there's nothing about commercial   here you're supposed to only look at what are the 
possible uses from the existing zoning around it   and the existing zoning is ldr is a HDR it's 
the same thing that that we've been trying to   get here the the medium density residential so yes 
there's older houses there that are on bigger Lots   but that is not not something that you should 
be considering at this point two years is too   long for a small Builder like Mr Taylor to have 
to fight to use his land that's all we're asking   approval please thank you ma'am from your comments 
Katie hubard is is Katy hubard in the thank you   Katie you're next and then Mara Maples after Katie 
thank you good evening my name is Katie hubard I   live at 790 deer Avenue um I'm just here again 
to State my disapproval of the requested zoning   changes um I myself am a longtime resident of 
the Valley Ridge Neighborhood and I can tell   you from personal experience that if the zoning is 
increased to medium it will diminish the quality   of life for the residents in our neighborhood um 
specifically this is going to bring in an influx   of people um I know Mr Taylor said that he's only 
going to build a certain amount of houses but if   he was actually going to do that I don't think he 
would be trying to rezone this to medium density   um he could do it at low density and no one's 
stopping him from doing that right now he has the   power to build at low density um so that you know 
I feel sorry for you but you could have already   been building um and again there's only one 
entrance and that also serves as an exit that goes   in and out of our neighborhood um there is not a 
traffic light there it's just not set up for the   amount of people that this would potentially bring 
in and um I would just ask you to consider um the   quality of life for the residents who actually 
live in the neighborhood and not a builder who's   just trying to come in and make a profit thank 
you thank you Miss subard uh Marsha Maple thank you my name is Marsha Maple and I live at 1100 
it's Martian Maple I live at 1100 of course   teras Pensacola Florida 32514 thank you 
Commissioners for letting us be here this   is number three and the very first time that the 
developer brought it to the planning board there   was an HDR request I am a retired Navy Chief when 
we did our budgets we always ask higher and what   we wanted and sometimes it worked and sometimes 
it didn't but sometimes it came into the middle   and that's what this game is so I am opposing 
this as an MDR um it's not compatible to us when   it went back to the planning board after being 
remanded by Mr Barry um it was not not allowed   to be no testimony no changes nothing because 
that was an an analysis That was supposed to have   been done and that was not able to be presented I 
believe believe that does need to be done because   as we've said before there's only one exit one 
entrance one exit I've lived there for 28 years   and I live in the back area of the neighborhood 
and so when I come forward to the front and we   have accidents right there in the front of monley 
court in 10mile road we've had fires we've had   hurricanes so when you start moving from an ldr 
to an MDR then you're increasing I understand Mr   Taylor's frustration that he wants to be 
at home with his children I was supposed   to be at a movie tonight okay but instead 
I'm here and I'm defending my neighborhood   my neighbors I don't mind having an ldr build 
you know I'm all about Commerce but please if   that was the case then just stay with what the 
original intent was to go from an HDR request   to an MDR request it doesn't mean it you have 
the opportun Unity Commissioners to send this   back to the planning board and to have them do a 
developmental analysis of the impact according to   criteria C and compatibility because it's not 
compatible with us you have the opportunity to   make this right the situation continues to be 
a chess game a golf migan if you want if you   say playing checkers okay just for an opponent's 
desire to make a change you Commissioners have   an opportunity to make it right we continue to 
state that this change is not compatible for our   neighborhood and we have the right to be listened 
to and to be taken into account and to let it go   back I am not an attorney so I do know that from 
that HDR to MDR when we went in for the MDR in   March of 23 it was already prejudicial and biased 
and I am not an attorney but I do know those two   legal terms when the recommendations was from 
MDR even though they listened to us they just   Heards and they went straight to MDR please send 
it back and remand it for a full analysis thank   you very much Happy Holidays thank you Miss Mel 
that concludes all our speakers um board any   comments on this yeah Mr chairman if you don't 
mind yeah please thank you thank you Miss menu Bond yes commissioner yeah and I certainly didn't 
take your comments personally but what you did   reference the judge's order so what what exactly 
did you perceive that to say well I I think you   have a copy of it in your record about that you 
committed error by including evidence at this   hearing uh about your personal knowledge of the of 
the the neighborhood and that you also failed to   apply the correct uh Land Development code section 
uh looking at the existing uses surrounding as   opposed to the uh the existing zoning and what 
could be allowed there okay is that is that what   you told the planning board when we had remanded 
it back there uh I think we did talk about what   the Circuit Court said and they did have uh the 
I believe staff gave them the order so our our   board did clearly asked the planning board to to 
reconsider the criteria see the compatibility with   surrounding uses I mean there's no dispute in I 
mean that's what our board asked for right I I   think that the motion speaks for itself okay well 
so what was there was a case that you referenced   multiple times in your testimony to the planning 
board to to to make them not um it certainly you   mentioned it many times and it seemed to have 
a lot of sway with the board members do you   mind briefly just educating my board a little 
bit about that well appears that you know all   about it commissioner Barry you could speak to it 
yourself but this is another Cas I'm not on the   record speaking on on the record in the planning 
board I'm curious as to what your take on it was   because I do have that record so what do you 
mind explaining it sure uh it's another case   against es scambi County that took place a 
couple of years ago it was a case that came   out of the board of adjustment and it concerned 
a Dollar General and it was very similar in that   uh the case had come up and gone down and the 
county had tried to open the evidence again and   tried to give the opponents a second bite at the 
Apple that's what the court said and the county   was found in contempt for allowing that to happen 
and that they had to uh the county was supposed to   follow the LDC and um that's what it said and I 
gave the I gave the lawyers a copy of that case   okay and I mean would you consider an action that 
the board of adjustment took that was adjudicated   to be the same as ours I mean is that Apples to 
Apples I I did talk to them about that being a   boa case and they acknowledged that and several 
of the board members had been involved in it um   and you had Council there the county had Council 
there and they addressed it also but I think that   if you read the um actual minutes of that meeting 
and the transcript of it you'll see that it wasn't   so much that case it was that the planning board 
members took offense that your board had somehow   suggested that they had not done a complete and 
full review of this application the first time   and they felt like they had done that and they 
didn't want to go back and do it again well you   I mean you were the first person to tell them 
what a good job they did and then and then a   couple of them did speak up and say yeah you 
know I guess we did do a good job but I mean   you were the one that originally said they did a 
very good job I I I'm not sure why I'm having a   legal discussion with you commissioner but um I 
do think they did a good job okay it's it's this   is the it's the verbatim minutes from the meeting 
that precedes this not a legal discussion I mean   these are your statements that were made did you 
okay so but it you mentioned the teramore Dollar   General case about a half dozen times probably 
during that plane board did you mention to them   what ended up happening with that decision I did I 
told them that there was a contempt order and that   eventually the contempt order was uh I believe the 
Dollar General was built what was the decision not   vacated it was after discussions with the county 
the judge's decision was vacated by by the judge   by subsequent judge yes yeah after discussions 
with the county you don't and is that part of what   we're discussing today well I think it's pertinent 
when you make statements to the planning board   members to put fear I I if I sat for five years 
on the planning board if you had told me that I   would have been afraid of being in contempt well 
but you didn't tell them that the decision was   then vacated by the next judge but not because of 
it being wrong well why do you think the decision   vacated because has there been discussions 
with the county about how to resolve it okay okay thank you miss m so you know I'm not 
sure what the purpose commissioner Barry but you   know in the last meeting I asked you to recuse 
yourself because you seem to have personal um   unusual um bias against Mr Taylor and his 
his project and you never did address that   last time you just I'm not going to recuse 
myself I have responsibility to represent my   constituents which I'm going to do I have no I 
have no conflict in the neighborhood I have no   conflict with Mr Taylor I've never had a cross 
word with him before um but you will follow the   law right well and I I'm not sure that I 
agree with exactly what you said that the   judge said I'm going to read verbatim What the in 
summary the court finds the respondent denied the   petitioner its due process and departed from the 
essential requirements of law when a commission   offered new evidence during deliberations without 
affording the petitioner an opportunity to rebut   the same in the absence of the commissioner's 
comments it's not evident the respondent would   have found competent subst substantial evidence to 
support the decision so that's what she based on   that was the decision no I don't believe in Judge 
Fred jovic's decision she said that I did anything   wrong it says you committed error you just 
left that part out no I I read the verbatim the   conclusion would me to read it I have it I made an 
error in not allowing the petitioner to respond to   rebut my comments and that is my mistake I did not 
know that once we closed the public comments that   my statements were open to rebuttal and that's 
that's my mistake and that's what the judge I'm   you you you've been accusing me of not telling 
everybody everything this board has the order   and the order is long and in that discussion not 
the final paragraph it talks specific specifically   about the errors committed by commissioner Barry 
and why his interjection into that discussion was   wrong and that's why you can't do that at your 
level um I'm just following the law that's my   job is to help you understand you have a great 
attorney over here who has been doing the same   thing tonight she's been telling you don't add new 
evidence you're supposed to be basing this on the   record the record before the planning board was 
that this applications met every criteria and that   they felt like they had done a full and complete 
review of the application there was no competent   substantial evidence at the planning board to deny 
it commission and that's what this statute your   ordinance says if there's no competent evidence to 
deny it you have to approve it and that's exactly   what the judge in this case said also he read it 
just now that there's absent Mr Barry's comments   at that last meeting she did not see anything in 
the record to support a denial he just read it   thank you m m thank you m comments on this yeah I 
do so I'll quote what Miss menu may be responding   to as well that it's evident from the record and 
seemingly conceded in the respondents brief that   the commissioner's analysis goes beyond the record 
evidence its defense is impact in part that quote   it is expected and beneficial for a commissioner 
to have familiarity with Parcels of land within   their district end quote while that may be true 
the court finds the commissioner's comments went   beyond General familiarity and because of that the 
petitioner should have given an opportunity to be   heard in response again so there's two references 
to that that being the mistake I believe and I I   love the staff I love the folks on the planning 
board they do a good job I know how thankless it   is the planning board part probably the staff 
part as well the assessment of the compatible   with surrounding uses that is what that is what 
I disagree with and I you know you look at you   look at what the zoning is I see that that is it 
looks as if it's compatible it is not compatible   with what's on the ground that is what I found 
that is what I found fault with that was my issue   I'm told don't it's not a great leg to stand on 
what I you know I've got no intent to you know   to have lengthy drawn out Court proceedings one 
of the one of the speakers who I you know uh uh   mentioned a couple of times the reference to 
the duplexes I don't believe that's anything   that can happen um because of the previous zoning 
of the property I don't believe any multif family   can go on the property and and horse the planning 
director is nodding in in agreement with that so   what we're looking at is how many single family 
dwellings can you get on the property and I think   the ldr is appropriate I understand that's not 
uh that's not what our staff said that's not   what the planning board said you know we all have 
a responsibility to represent our constituents   whatever whatever the majority of the 
board needs to do is commissioner Barry   I think and you know this is one of the 
areas I'm learning as I go and I'll just   be honest um but I I do think we're we're 
in a situation where if I was in your seat   I understand where you're at but I think we 
should take the recommendation illegal which   way to go forward honestly I uh unless 
you think there's another out here that   but Allison what's your recommendation 
on moving which way to go forward with this I I can't make the decision for you well 
I know that but you give me a you all have to   make the decision um the judge freder hov's order 
makes it very clear that you should disregard the   comments that commissioner Barry made during 
the bcc's first consideration of this matter   that you should not con consider that this 
evening as part of your decision- making   you have before you a record from the planning 
board and that may very well be true her reason   for that is that they were not given the 
opportunity to rebut my comments I just   want to be clear no one is referencing that I 
did anything inappropriate by my comments if   they were not given the process to rebut I was not 
aware of that I was not made aware of that at the   time that's this is my that's my mistake yes and 
this is my interpretation of what of this order   that we're referring to which is Judge frederic's 
order your tasked with making a decision on the   rezoning request there is a record you should 
disregard the comments from the previous BCC   deliberations made by commissioner Barry you have 
a recommendation for approval of the resoning request that that is what is before you um 
but Madam attorney and you know it's it's   it's hard for me in in full disclosure Mark and 
I our friends um it's hard for me to go against   any commissioner as it relates to their District 
if this was sent to the courts who has Superior   power over any commission I mean didn't this 
judge have the ability to rule in the favor I   mean sending it back put it back for us to make 
a decision whereas this judge could have made a   decision correct the judge does not in my opinion 
have a legal right to Grant a rezoning or give   a zoning category that's a separation of powers 
problem but what she did was she but she didn't   give us did she give us a recommendation on what 
decision to make I mean other than disregard the   statements and to rehear what was said well 
I mean I can interpret from what she's saying   that if you from what she's saying this is what 
you all dealt with the last time this came to   the board she's saying minus the comments from 
commissioner Barry it would it is not evident   that the respondent would have found competent 
substantial evidence to support its decision to   deny the resoning request which is what we did 
so when it came back the last time the board   remanded it to the planning board which ended 
up in this procedural um Boomerang that's now   sent it back to you all I would encourage you 
to look at your planning board's recommendation in combination with the Judge Fred jovic's 
order and come to some conclusion commiss   Barry I I'm sorry no I'm sorry I think you're 
done commissioner keep on I mean is this in your   opinion Madam councel is this another one that 
we could not REM back to the planning board I am   discouraging that you've already sent it back once 
they've sent it back we sent one earlier back and   we sent it again what I don't want is I don't want 
you all to be accused of trying to sidestep Judge   Fred jovic's order by continuing to Boomerang so 
is her order for us to approve it I mean I'm not   going to sidestep any judge I mean if the judge 
is saying approve it I mean it's approved neither   the judge nor I can tell you that you have to 
approve it but if you're going to do something   else you're going to need to find the competent 
substantial evidence in the record to support   that other conclusion commissioner Hoffer so my 
concern here is that we have Horus and Andrew that   run an entire department we have people that 
we have put on the board to help decide these   things and we can't set up here and continuously 
overturn those I get you sending yours back CU   you had a very specific concern and it was more 
like solve this problem and come back to me so I   understand that this is the third time around 
and we've already been to court so as someone   who doesn't believe in going to court and taking 
the recommendation of an attorney I think we need   to make a decision so I'm trying to be clear 
right now we're deliberating so and commiss   I hear exactly where you going I'm I'm trying to 
get a clear understanding from the attorney what   is the recommendation what is clear I mean I'm 
going to always take the advice of a judge and   attorney if it's clear advice I mean there's no I 
mean get I mean it has be clear I mean in I don't   know if it's black and white at this point so Ian 
it seems you know right to me in terms of what   the judge says and what you're saying so Al are 
you saying that legally we need to approve this   or you saying that we the judge sent this back 
back for this board to make a decision based on   evidence and testimony that we've got the judge 
can't make the decision for you by separation of   powers you have to make the decision by judge's 
order you need to take out the comments from the   commissioner look at your record the record has 
from 2023 it's got evidence in it and based on   that evidence your planning board is recommending 
approval of the resoning if you are coming to any   other conclusion I would recommend you look in 
that record and find the competent substantial   evidence to support another conclusion well I'm 
not a lawyer so I'm not going to go find that   information I mean is that information there in 
your opinion is I say is that information there   in your opinion yes um the judge is hinting 
that she is concerned that it may not be there I mean she says she doesn't know that with 
minus that's minus comments she's not sure it's   there and you didn't get any additional 
testimony or record evidence when it went   back to the planning board there's no additional 
stuff added so commiss Barry I I think the board   supported you on this I know this is I read 
the order and it seems like she we're getting   direction unless you could pull something out to 
send it back to planning board my recommendation   is to take the pill and move forward but I I 
you know I think that we were on your side I   I know we respect each other in these things but 
I think honestly I don't know where we're going   to end up if we I I I think we're in a vice now 
and I think we need to move forward and I respect   your position and I just I don't know I think we 
should prove it um unless you can suade me some   way not to reading that order Steve I mean can you 
you know it's it's difficult for me to you know   because I want to support Commissioners as they 
support their consti I mean do you feel that you   have points in which you can remand it back that 
you feel comfortable in sending you that would   not put us in a problem yeah I mean told because 
I don't want to go to court I mean because I I   mean you know the unfortunate thing you know we're 
we're kind of oh for the postseason you know and I mean I think what we're hearing from a judge 
and legal Steve is that's where it lands I mean   I just think that's where it lands I mean I don't 
want to go to listen and obviously commissioner be   you know I I will support you and you know and 
where you are and um but if legal is telling   us and you know I we had a you know obviously 
there were situations previous with other board   members where advice of the legal department 
wasn't taken and uh up in the loss of you know   lawsuits and so I don't well commissioner have 
a motion to move this forward because we still   have quite a bit going on tonight yeah it's 
it's regrettable that the that there wasn't   advice given that evening that said in light of 
your comments commissioner we should allow the   pl of counsel to rebut your comments because 
I think that could have avoided uh the what   appears to be the substance of the order but that 
didn't happen so nonetheless I understand but yeah   do do what I know we have other items yeah I 
well I mean there's no more item that's more   important than the constituents that you represent 
because when it's an issue that's important to the   citizens of District 3 I mean I don't care what 
the delay is I'm going to try to represent the   constituents that elected me to the best of my 
ability without reservation commission bar if   you feel there's some tool to go back I mean the 
planning board I will but I think we should move   forward unless you really feel passionate to go 
down this route again I think we should approve it   I have pushed and proed and pulled and poked and I 
cannot I don't know what that to is Mike okay well   and commissioner Barry and I don't want to end up 
I mean I'm sick of the litigation and the ca to   to to Citizens um on things that we don't have to 
litigate you know and from preach uh commissioner   May preach so in this the want go to Black Baptist 
Church but you know if you want me to anytime   after 8:00 I'm going to preach all night in the 
spirit of saying out of litigation I make a motion   that we move forward with the recommendation 
of the board okay I second it okay please vote okay motion passes 4 to one with Steve 
Barry voting no okay do I have a motion   where we at 54 yeah do I have a motion to approve   547 the adoption of ordinance 020 
20233 I make a motion is there a second second please vote okay I'm waiting for the result motion passes 5 to zero horse run 
gmr 5. 548 yes sir this is for to   review and transmit to Deo this is 
to for an opt out request uh we we   have four speakers on this transmit 
um jacqulyn Rogers you're up first I'm always first okay in the analysis for this so 
when is a when is a master plan just a suggestion   plan when it's in Escambia County this was passed 
in 2011 over a million dollar worth of resources   have gone into passing the sector plan this is 
the 13th opt out it says in the staff analysis   the balance between the work and the and the 
homes are in you know getting out of balance   continually this was passed to allow development 
in previous agrarian land so you went to the state   you said this is what we're going to do this is 
where we're going to protect natural resources   and every time these come up you guys say not 
obviously not all of you but yep yep we're   going to opt out there's no data in analysis to 
support the storm water is ready under the storm   water this is from conservation neighborhood 
three houses per acre to mixu Suburban 25 units   per acre which allows commercial this is what 
the staff said this amendment itself will not   rely on storm water requirements or calculations 
why not why does not the staff not have to do   that and Jay ingwell the district one planning 
board member has asked the staff to can do the   maximum that is allowed if you're going to allow 
by opting out you're going to allow it to go into   mix use Suburban then you guys have to do the 
calculations for that uh on the um analysis   for the Road they say over here that it's a 
two-lane road there's no improvements there's   no pave shoulder but you're going to let it opt 
out to mix use Suburban 25 dwelling units per acre   it's surrounded by conservation neighborhood 
the application said it's surrounded by hcli   but it's not those other properties have not 
opted out you guys can't keep making Master   plans and then throwing them out when they don't 
fit the developers that you want to do them for talked about the infrastructure here it says 
the 13th this plan could uh changes to the   variations of any original data used for the 
plan could hinder the balance and viability of   attaining the sector plan goals and objectives so 
basically you did a bait and switch you opened it   up for the developers to do the heavier density 
but you didn't protect the existing residents um   you're changing the fin the the final design in 
natural environment they said as stated in the   sector plan document that this daap contains 
significant Wetlands that are regulated by   the state and the final design was to avoid 
and minimize Wetland impacts to the greatest   extent possible well that's great that's what 
the sector plan did did they do an analysis   if you opted out of the sector plan what that 
would be to the natural environment no they're   just quoting things from the sector plan to opt 
a property out of the sector plan this is not   making sense the 13th property that's been 
opted out I feel sorry for Bula has a master   plan I feel sorry for Puro key because you 
guys don't respect a million dollars that you   spent on a master plan thank you Mrs Rogers your 
people want consistency whether it's going to be   up zoning or not we want consistency thank you I 
appreciate your comments Mrs Bush you're up next Meredith Bush 125 East intendencia 
of Pensacola Florida 32502 uh so I   represent the applicant in this opt out um 
we did present to the planning board and um   met all criteria required the planning 
board has recommended that you opt out   the parcel I'm happy to take any questions 
okay thank you standby our next speaker is   Stephen Harris is Stephen Harris still here 
did he leave going once going twice okay our   next speaker is Kenneth Harris is Kenneth 
Harris here all right I don't see them they   may have left um board that's the conclusion 
of our speakers um have a motion or yeah Mr   chairman I move the 548 to uh uh to approve the 
opt out is there a second second please vote Comm Mr may please [Music] save I know it's get 
we're getting used to this again yeah yeah I yet   good motion passes 5 to zero 549 it's a 549 distes 
to review and approve the scamman county Landfield   crushing U recycling permit do we have any 
speakers we actually do okay how many one uh Larry DS Larry DS Junior Plumbing LLC because 
FAL matters all right uh this is I spoke   on this one last year believe youall 
got to do this every year approve   your own permit is that right is that 
what we're talking about here yes yep uh whenever y'all got to approve a permit 
for your own operation you know how you   kind of Turn Down other people's permits 
for their operation in the private sector   and when you're approving your own why don't we 
develop a committee where we can advise y'all   you know just so we don't have problems 
like y'all just had you know with Barry   you know maybe maybe one of y'all you know could 
go with or against a committee who would advise   y'all to do this or not because I know we have 
private sector uh asphalt and concrete crushing   uh operations and I know that generally you don't 
like them to have it CU that's a competitor so uh   so I'm not I'm not really uh I'm not really for 
y'all doing this so why don't y'all vote against it Larry I never thought I'd hear you say you 
want more government that's the first time   no I want you to vote against it vote against 
your own permit okay there's no more speakers   um do I have a motion to move this move to 
motion I'm sorry I second okay please vote motion passes 5 z um let's move to gmr action 
i1 yes sir this is concer appointments for the   professional advisory commit um committee um 
candidate a through D okay there's no speakers   team there's no speakers can get a motion 
to approve yes I'm sorry please okay yeah   second we got to keep trucking here you 
have a second I know yall getting tired   but you're going to be here later if 
we don't get to work all right I got   a motion by commissioner Barry and 
a second by commissioner may please vote motion passes 5 Z gmr 22 cyh code subdivision 
permit to review I mean to approve final plat   all right do we have any speakers tostain 
do we have any speakers no all right let me   read my exstension please I Stephen Barry hereby 
disclos on December 12 2024 a measure came before   my agency which inur to the special gain or loss 
of Ryan Shavers by whom I am retained the measure   before my agency and the nature of my conflicting 
interest in the measure is as follows the scambi   County Board of County Commissioners meeting 
December 12 2024 growth management report item   22 concerning Cypress Cove subdivision per permit 
FP 249 3812 pd- FP presents a conflict of interest   pursuant to statute 112. 3143 Florida Statutes or 
the appearance of a conflict of interest pursuant   to statute 28601 to Florida Statutes because 
Ryan Shavers who is a principal of Northwest   Florida land deals LLC is one of the owners of 
Cypress Cove Development LLC and Ryan is my client   okay thank you do I have a motion to approve uh 
gar 2-2 a through d motion second okay please vote motion passes 40 with commissioner 
Barry abstaining uh horse gmr 23 yes sir   Sanctuary subdivision final 
plan approval okay we don't   have any speakers is there a motion 
to approve a through D A through d   I'm sorry Mr chairman I move the item a 
through D is there a second second please vote thank you we got gmr today motion passes 
5 Z three gark consent agenda agenda January   the 9th okay do we have a motion to appr approve 
the consent agenda a through E I make a motion   to approve is there a second second please vote 
thank you it was that was good gmr for report   tonight Horus good for the end of the year next 
time maybe we can have a few more items so haris   on the opt out we've the first public hearing was 
tonight for the sector plan it was to transmit to   review and transmit but then in January we'll have 
second of two public if it comes it got to go to   Tallahassee if it come back yes sir so it it'll 
be in Tallahassee and back by January is what   you're saying that is our goal but what if it's 
not in I mean then we we we have to reschedule   it okay it got it got to be blessed and Tass yes 
sir because what I was understanding that because   of everything in Tallahasse at the holidays 
it wasn't going to be bad yes sir so you're   not worried about that you'll just reschedule it 
at yes sir if so we schedule yes sir all of the   items where we schedule for those that have 
to go to T yes sir okay thank you very much   let's move on to the county administrative 
report Wes thank you Mr chairman sorry   vote pass Five Z this has got to speed up that's 
only delay I mean all right let's move on to the   county administrative report thank you Mr 
chairman 26 items on the technical Public   Service consent agenda there are no changes 
please hold for speakers car 1-1 and car 1-13   okay Mr chairman I move the balance thank you is 
there a second I make a second second please vote commissioner man I know you're getting 
tired but you got saved yeah no no hold   on please Mike um two can we hold two24 
we're in car one I'm car I mean car 1244   sure Daniel 124 all right I I I'm sorry I in 
my motion to uh to move the balance of the   of the consent agenda removing 1-24 as well okay 
thank you I have second second all right please vote okay motion passes 5 all right 1-1 the 
recommendation concerning acceptance of the 2024   affordable housing advisory committee incentive 
plan review report uh Leslie Yandel or yand thank you and good evening I am Leslie andle I am a resident 
of District 4 and am also a just research   Committee Member as you probably know the for 
housing advisory committee is required to exist   under chapter 420 of the Florida Statutes but it's 
more than this the the committee is comprised of   up to 11 city and county staff members a member 
of the city council and a county commissioner   and dedicated citizens with diverse skills 
and housing experience who are dedicated to   understanding the affordable housing needs and 
making recommendations it bothers me that there   are over 2,000 children in grades K through 
12 in a scambia county that do not have safe   consistent place to lay their heads at night 
there are over 1,700 households below 80% area   median income paying an excess of 30% of their 
earnings for apartment rentals they are considered   converdant they are having to make very difficult 
choices every day between food medicine utility   bills paying their housing the need is large and 
the impact of it is heart-wrenching perhaps you   may have read in the p&j today that the nonprofits 
sleep in Heavenly peace they've built more than   800 beds for kids so that they don't have to 
sleep on the floor Family Promise is providing   transitional housing for families with kids many 
of Home many of these would have been considered   homeless if not for Family Promise so we know 
that there are many nonprofits and church churches   doing their part to reduce the impact of the lack 
of affordable housing on families the big problem   is the supply there is not enough supply of 
affordable housing and rentals to meet the demand   at the price levels that people can afford to pay 
we need system systemic Improvement and removal   of barriers so that we can increase the supply of 
affordable housing not just treating the symptoms   the aack report before you I think you all have 
a copy this was presented and as I understand it   the recommendation is that it be um accepted and 
acknowledged accepted and acknowledged I am here   to ask that not only do you accept it that you 
agree to the recommendations being offered by the   ahac committee that will serve to incentivize and 
encourage the building of affordable housing and   if necessary I can go ahead and identify specific 
sections Miss Handel your time's up I you know I   got interest of time I know your passionate 
for this but we may have some discussion but   I'll give you 15 more seconds okay many of these 
have to do with giving preference under different   circumstances for affordable housing but there 
are an additional three recommendations made at   the end of the incentive report I ask that you 
consider those very carefully thank you thank   you for your attention I appreciate your comments 
M Handel I know your passion for affable housing   um I don't know if everyone's had a chance to read 
this uh Neighborhood Services is ever still here   or or Claire is here they recommended to accept 
and approve the recommendations commissioner May   you're on the affordable housing I don't know if 
you had a chance to look at all them and if you   agree with them yeah I mean I've read them I mean 
I and I agree with the speaker and and and the   passion that she's had and I mean obviously we're 
doing everything we possibly can for affordable   housing it's been my number one initiative uh 
but I do agree with the recommendations of the   staff uh personally so are you going to modify to 
adopt the recommendations or accept what what was   put to accept and acknowledge the report which 
is I think there's a disconnect and there's a   couple things in there in tiny houses Community 
Land Trust there's several different ones which I   some of them I support some I think historically 
the board has had um some some concerns about   right uh I mean you know I mean it's not far 
off I mean from where it is I mean I don't   see where the staff recommendations are going 
to impact affordable housing okay and they're   the subject matter matter matter experts I mean 
they didn't consult me on it but I I certainly   have read it and you know appreciate the work 
that they've done in their recommendations I   guess I would just ask um if you want to make 
a motion then or do you want yeah I'll make a   motion to accept staff recommendations I'll second 
it okay so we have a motion and second um please vote okay motion passes 5 then West 
Carl 1-13 the recommendation concerning   certificates of public convenience and 
necessity for the provision of advanced   life support and or basic life support 
services in escamia County Miss jacqulyn Rogers okay just briefly I was need to ask for 
clarification on this because I was going to   congratulate you on this step I thought it was an 
increase of coverage um whereas like HCA Florida   West was able to now go from their emergency 
departments to their hospital and not just take   patients home or to a nursing home but I'm we 
were being told by CMR that this is not not a   change so if you guys know maybe um commissioner 
hoffberger would know since she's been working   on this uh I do applaud having lifeu be back up 
for transfers because obviously that will take   the pressure off the crews that are responding um 
so this is a good first start so I'd like to know   is this a change because I perceive it as a change 
reading the copcn the certificate of needs but um   it's a good start to deal with the unacceptable 
wait times for the ambulances but I'm asking   asking you guys also to start taking the statistic 
again of how many times we go unavailable because   I hear about it you guys should know about it to 
make informed decisions and unavailable for how   long and what kind of calls because they're not 
always low Acuity calls the other thing that I'm   asking you to do is start timing response times 
from when the 911 call was not from when they   transferred it from one truck that one couldn't 
make it so then they transfer to another so those   are requests but I do applaud you for doing this 
we do need to more properly staff the this this   you need to budget for more more people um you 
need from what I'm hearing at least eight more   on the daytime and six more on the nighttime crew 
you can say you're fully staffed but that's only   fully staffed from what you guys have in your 
budget that's that's deceptive so until we have   an acceptable National Norm response time that's 
what I'm asking you but good job on this I know   I'm always saying the bad things thank you very 
much for doing thank you Commission hoffberger   you have a comment yeah that was the main reason 
that I ran we are tracking those times now that is   an upgrade that Chris Watts has put into place or 
chief Watts um this is also adding some additional   Service Chief watts do you want to come up here 
and elaborate on what this is Eric Eric Chief yeah adding and we are recruiting for those positions 
as well we're doing a a really good job on that   thank you what does this do uh commissioner 
I'm yeah okay thank you can you clarify this   yes good evening uh so one of the things we aim 
to do with the copcn and the changes that we are   making is to uh afford HCA in this case the 
ability to do more of the transfers instead   of just taking patients home being able to move 
patients from their freestanding ER that's in   Puro Bay back to their main hospital and bring 
patients from outside the county back to their   main hospital so it should be it should be an 
increase in the service that they can provide   is this a financial impact to our bottom line 
and transports uh anytime that somebody else   takes a transport within the county it is it is 
a financial impact to our bottom line for EMS   yes what do you think that Financial impact is 
I don't have those numbers with me we get first   rer refusal we yes we do get first rer refusal 
for the transport so there's really no way to   calculate that currently and and I also think 
it's important that we highlight the fact that   the most important thing is getting the patient 
to the help that they need not the fact that the   county makes money off of that correct thank you 
for seeing that so and with the hospitals even so   canise companies provide transport through the 
nursing homes like um to the hospital or back   and forth the nurs home we still be doing that so 
currently the way the copcn is written if if we're   discussing HCA specifically they can take patients 
out of their main hospital and back to home or to   Skilled nursing facilities and they can also bring 
them from their freestanding emergency department   in purito back to their main hospital but not at 
independent um nursing homes correct they wouldn't   pick them up there and bring them to the hospital 
that would still be our responsibility that would   still be us okay any further comments commission 
may um I want to applaud commissioner hoffberger   for taking this on and um I appreciate what you're 
doing Chief wats I um I know that we've you guys   have taken some arrows over over there but uh 
I do believe that we're going in the right way   we've got eight new ambulance if I remember that 
right quick to anyone new okay so more than I that   that calculated and the staff so I just want to 
highlight for the community we're listening to   you we're we're working to make it better and um 
I think from some of the comments we got it and   um uh I think it's getting better thank you Chief 
Watson Eric for what you're doing and I hear good   things coming that way so do I have a motion to 
approve I make a motion to approve excuse I said   I said we have over 20 new analyses on the way 
there's three on the agenda tonight yeah all right   second second still stands Mr chairman okay thank 
you please vote but Eric will you stay around   I'm probably gonna have some more questions 
toward the end of the night absolutely sir thank okay that passes 5 to zero uh I think 
the next one holding for commissioner May 124   commissioner May we're holding 124 it's on the uh 
committee assignments thank you Mr chairman and   and thank you for an awesome job of of pitting 
the assignments and most of the Social Service   things i' I've been there I was I I know that 
as I read them commissioner strob Berger was on   Area Housing which is um that I've been working on 
probably even before I was elected and I was put   on the uh community action I was just yielding 
Mr chairman to see could we just switch those   to uh between Area Housing and Community Action 
when I put these together obviously I was just   trying to have Equitable assignments on the 
Committees I'm glad to give them up no no no   I know I I appreciate that what I think what you 
know as you can see I think Steve had all his if   if commissioner um stroberg is willing to make 
that change I have no issue with it are you good   to see what's the change commun the action versus 
Area Housing I'll change all right thanks that was   very nice to you Steve thanks Steve okay and then 
the only one else the other one on there I didn't   have a chance to get in touch with um The Early 
Learning Coalition wasn't it which one yeah Early   Learning Coalition so I'll try to reach out to her 
tomorrow and other than that I'd like to move U   the appointments except for that one till I talk 
to her and if I she does not want that assignment   we can bring it back in I didn't hear you see um 
it's Early Learning Coalition she has been on it   for a while I reached out to her and I haven't got 
in touch with her and so I'll call again tomorrow   that's the only one I want to hold off till um I 
get would you want to do that I mean I make them I   mean well I'd like to talk to her see if she wants 
to you know if we have people that want the jobs   and they're excited about them I I have no problem 
keeping them on there do you have a comment   commissioner bar I'm sorry what was it did you 
have an alternative no I didn't so I mean if you   want it I guess I don't want I would think it'd be 
good for the cheer I mean Early Learning Coalition   is doing a lot of good work their meetings bus 
their meetings their meetings are normally on   Thursday that there's their their meetings are 
normally in conflict with our meetings yes is   that why you know all right so unless everyone 
else has a problem I'll reach out to her and if   she still wants to stay on it we'll keep her on 
there okay anybody else submit wantan to be on   it one more time I didn't hear that I'm I'm sorry 
Mr sham did anyone else show interest in serving   on it it say she didn't reach out to you no one 
else so um that's where we're at on that so if   if you with the changes with putting commissioner 
May back on I'll I'll move the item Mr chairman   affordable housing and Steve on um Command 
action make a second all right thank you please vote change change call okay motion passes 
5 to zero Mr chairman there are 70 items   on the Budget Finance consent agenda 
there are no changes please hold card   2-54 so commissioner Mary can abstain hold for 
speakers card two one uh sorry 2-7 2-8 2-4 and 2-32 do I have a motion to move the balance I 
make a motion to move the balance I'm sorry Mr   chairman do you do you mind holding five 
as well just okay sure let's hold car 2-5 yeah yeah with 70 of them you sometimes any other ones that you held 27 uh no I don't think we did hold 27 
right we one we don't have 2 no we don't have that   one held you want to hold two to 27 yes 27 uh 28 
29 27 28 and 29 did I hear Comm Mr strober do you   have any your your want to hold no okay I'm good 
okay so I have a motion to move the balance the   second so move all right and commissioner 
B will read the second yep okay please vote okay motion passes 5 to zero okay what we want hold 
car 2-4 first for speaker uh does commission m   going go you want to do your Obion car 2-54 
yeah whichever one we'd like to do sure so I   Steven Barry hereby disclos on December 12 2024 
measure came before my agency which inur to the   special gain or loss of Brian Shavers by whom 
I am retained measure before my agency in the   nature of my conflicted interest in the measure 
is as follows the scambi County Board of County   Commissioners meeting December 12 2024 County 
administrators report item 2-54 concerning the   contract award for the general Paving and 
drainage agreement PD 22- 23126 presents a   conflict of interest pursuant to statute 
11231 Florida 3 Florida stat 43 Florida   Statutes with the appearance of a conflict 
of interest pursuant to statute 28612 Florida   Statutes because Ryan Shavers owner of 
Shavers construction is my client okay   thank you um do at this point do 
we have a motion to um move uh 254 that's where we're voting 
second all right please vote motion passes four to zero with 
commissioner Barry abstaining car   2-4 the recommendation concerning 
resolution to convey County owned   properties for development of affordable 
Workforce housing speaker is Larry DS Jr Larry DS Junior Plumbing LLC because FAL 
matters I know y'all getting tired of hearing   that just give me a call when you need some 
Plumbing though uh these are the uh how many lots   are these was it 17 let me find it on here I don't 
got here we go right there conveyant 14 so I some   of y'all weren't up here but about 5 years ago 
I brought a uh Lum Barry was here um I brought a   a big poster board that was actually made by 
somebody in the in the permit office he's now   dead but he did an excellent job on it and he 
listed all the properties that our County owns   not State not federal not the school district 
not the city just the county and it was a slew   of properties I mean it was uh I think it was 
like 780 something buildings and then like 11   or 12200 properties I have to bring it up here 
but I want to get it redone so that I can see   where we're at uh and I don't know how long or 
how y'all acquired these properties uh I'm I'm   assuming probably through some sort of grab 
of some sort you know with fines and all all   types of stuff I mean any y'all can grab 
it all kind of ways but um why why don't   why don't we auction these properties off why 
why we affordable housing is is a that's an   oxymoron I mean what makes houses unaffordable 
is our government I've told yall this before   I mean the more government you have the more 
unaffordable Everything is Everything so you're   going to give these properties uh says adopt 
a resolution authorizing the conveyance of 14   county-owned properties to the City of Pensacola 
for development of affordable workplace housing   man that's that's you know Republicans shouldn't 
be for this type of stuff y'all should just put   them up on the auction block and let the 
private sector do their thing don't you   think I mean wouldn't that be a good idea if 
you're for limited government I mean really if   you're for limited government and you're for uh 
free markets that's what you'd do anything the   government touches doesn't seem to get better 
it seems to get worse so so I'm not for this   I'm for y'all to vote this down put it on the 
market let let the people buy it in an auction   adios thank you Mr DS there's no further speakers 
I'm move item Mr chairman a second okay please vote uh motion passes 5 to zero Mr 
chairman we have item number seven   2-7 the recommendation concerning 
change order number one to purchase shoulder yeah Mr chairman I 
I'm sorry Mr administrator   I asked to hold five okay just is Clara here yeah and I I certainly support support these 
projects and and certainly support this I don't   not familiar with the property but certainly 
support the project but we have been getting   a lot of participation on our bidding and 
we only got one bid on this what what what   do we think that's due to did you talk to any 
of the other folks we have awarded these two   recently the rehab yeah it is this is for um 
housing rehab for this home and uh it was in   it was in like a d need of repairs and so um 
of course schafers was the lowest bidder in   this process what you saying is there was another 
biders how many biders did you have how many it doesn't it's not in the background we did put it 
in the in the background of the um proc usually   it's it's more than three we usually get more 
than three biders it goes out to 100 over 100   U contractors yes sir okay I just don't have 
it in front of me do you have a copy of that here maybe my backup got 
attached to the wrong item it's possible all top possibilities I'm sorry so from what I was 
told from purchasing um we only received one um   applicant to bid on this property okay has 
somebody evaluated that to see if that's I   mean I'm not qualified to do so but I mean do 
we have an expectation as to what the bid would   be for we're getting award on one bid um yes 
sir this was a rolic and what happened with   it is we had advertised several arper projects 
for the housing we oversaturated the market so   we were trying to get bids in for these projects 
to get them done this I don't know man bid like   this I mean I I'm in the contracting business I 
know a lot of small contractors that would love   to have a bid like this that's and it is a very 
extensive repair on on this property well don't   you think since we had one back and send it back 
for a bid yeah we send it back out yeah I'm yeah   I think that was a good catch commissioner yeah 
yeah I don't think I can support it just one be   I mean you I mean what's sensitive about it is it 
because we're losing arpa dollars I mean why do   we have one I mean it's a repair I mean it's what 
other repairs I mean I mean what you saying at the   time we we put this out for bid we had a lot of um 
some of our Opa um INF housing projects out there   on the streets at the same time and some of these 
same contractors um they bid on those infield Lots   as well as the but these small guys are hungry 
right now I can just tell you small guys are   hungry right now with interest rates there's no 
new construction I mean you know for me I mean   you know there a lot of small contractors that can 
use some work we can put it back out there for bid   if you would like can we have a motion to drop 
if there's no offense I'd move to drop the item   I'm not sure ex I don't know exactly where 208 
opal is so I don't want to offend anybody mayair   okay correct it's in the Mayfair yes yeah we can 
put it back out there y That's my motion to just   resol gared what's so sensitive about this project 
though I mean is it I mean is it a baitman or lead   or anything like that so I I think this one is 
just one of those houses that unfortunately we're   starting to see more and more of that are are 
just in really rough shape if if we think that   the bones of a home are good enough we'll try to 
go in and Rehab them even at these higher limits   because the only other option is to put them 
on our demo and replace placement list which we   already have 58 families on that list right now 
so we had we had raised the limits of our rehab   strategy to 75,000 so that we could accommodate 
more of those kind of in the-middle projects   where it's not quite bad enough to where we need 
to knock it down and build something new um but   it it's more than you know our previous limit in 
years past was uh usually limited to 50,000 and   with prices the way they are right now we kind 
of we weren't able to help these homes as much   as they really needed to be so this like a re-roof 
replum I mean re mechanical re rewire it's it's a   lot it's a lot but um I I had spoken with our 
inspector is it condamned no no I believe the   family is still living there um which is which 
is why we're trying to you know do everything we   can for them um the the goal is to go into these 
homes and and leave them not still with any safety   concerns yeah this is this house is we split this 
in Mayfair is it yours or mine it's barely your   it's off aquarium it's just down a block but 
it's right next to a park and I'm looking on   the satellite I think we should go back out 
for bit yeah I mean and and I'm not familiar   with the area it may very well be a good a very 
good number I'm not I don't know Mr schaer but   it just you know the one bid part I don't you 
know I don't like that but so my motion is just   to to ask him to Res and thanks Steve I I didn't 
that's recogniz was in my district but all right   so we have a motion to drop in a second please 
vote Mr chairman who was that I'm sorry what was   the motion can we assure the family that they 
are still going to get their repairs it just   has to go back out to bid I mean because it's 
in my district I don't want them to think that   we've abandoned their project we just need to get 
a bid and we may get a better bid maybe a cheaper bid okay all right thanks you second that   cor commissioner May yes sir 
okay please please vote thank you I don't think I know what the motion 
is what's the what's the motion to drop okay motion passes 5 to zero Mr 
chairman we have uh car 2-7 car   2-8 we have the same speaker 
for both items Andrew blur and just remember y'all let Santa Claus speak and 
y'all let the Grinch speak so let me speak on   both topics Andrew bler okay well look at here 
this is the natural resources conservation Marine   Resources here we have original bid of 31 and 
now the change order is 40 [Music] $5,000 that's   close to a 150% increase for temporary labor how 
come Robert turp and natural resources can't go   out there and do their work themselves why they 
got to contract out some temporary labor I mean   they got strong backs I mean they just picking 
up orer shells or something like that I don't   know what they're doing cuz that it's not a I 
mean y'all have backup on that can explain me   this here 150% increase on temporary labor 
is y'all not interested y'all was going to   rubber stamp this without anybody discussing it 
I guess it's just taxpayer dollar being thrown away now I get three minutes on the other one too 
sure we can just okay so I mean can't Robert turet   or something else say what this temporary labor 
was using for or y'all have backup that says   what this temporary labor is come on Steve Barry 
help me out did you move to 28 what's this backup   labor for yeah what is it it's just throwing away 
taxpayer money and you know why we could take that   $45,000 and clean out ditches on Belleview Avenue 
that um Mike Whitehead covered up and that would   help a lot of drainage on moldun and bellw avenue, 
Mr BL you're talking about the the one you're   talking about right now is the living Shoreline 
28 you said you have three more minutes to no I've   said 27 27 we're talking on I thought you said 
could you go to 28 and I said you could so are   we back for your one minute you left I said did I 
get three minutes on each one I'm still on seven   I'm still on I'll let you finish another minute 
don't interrupt me my time's still ticking while   I'm talking and you interrupting me Trucking but 
I asked you do you know what the backup is on this   anybody got a back it's just throwing away money 
well I got a lot of plans in district one to do   with that money come on district one tell me what 
this year $45,000 is going toward I mean we spent $31,000 nobody's got a clue hey hoffberger 
don't be a I hire tell me what's this here   money going to answer me what's this money 
going to but y'all going to rubber stamp it   right y'all going down on the board saying well 
I mean Steven Barry and lummen may or whatever   they got 12 years or whatever of rubber stamp 
and everything so I mean I guess that's pretty   good may you fat ass over and I'll tell you 
yes sir thank you chips it's it's a it's a   pretty simple uh situation here we've had two 
employees leave and so we have two openings and   so we need to hire part-time temporary labor 
to fill the jobs of those two people thank   you so we had two employees leave so we fill up 
with temporary labor you okay with that Andrew   well why don't we just use the two employees 
salary to pay for the I mean you mean your   temporary help is going to be more than the two 
employees that left come on now give me an answer it's getting ridiculous it's different pots of 
money so so we have to allocate for that there   they're different cost centers for permanent 
labor versus temporary so the two employees   and the state pensions and stuff we're going 
to recoup that money when they left we're going   to recoup all that money right I um Pam check on 
that for us and see how we recoup that money okay   I'm ready to go on to number eight now Andrew you 
get two minutes on eight cuz you already had five   minutes that you said because you said you're 
going to eight so okay I'm on eight now City of   Pensacola we got this here funds here that we're 
spending oh living I know I don't know that that   is that's $23 million how come we don't have 
Pensacola the City of Pensacola matching this   this is FWC money that's going to uh work around 
the Navy base well I mean they got a nice little   sidewalk down there you can go down there and ride 
your bicycle along that Shoreline or whatever you   would think that uh City match that you mean is 
is the City of Pensacola still in bankruptcy or   whatever and y'all still bailing them out the 
city of P Co is not involved with this project   Mr Andrews this is a county project you ask 
them I would come on talk to the mayor and   see if you can't get them to match funds I mean 
we gave $8 million to the City of Pensacola and   ECUA the move old stinky whatever and then stter 
got the property there and he's just got it open   Mr Blue are you open to hear where the money's 
coming from we're not putting the money in it's   coming from FWC and the city FWC comes from the 
taxpayers well maybe you're at the wrong meeting   we're not FC I don't know what to tell you man 
you're not in DC no we're not they gave us the   money we're going to take it and uh do a living 
Shoreline around Nana Pensacola wow like we did   with the arer shells at Navy point Thank you thank 
you all right that's all the speakers on that Mr   chairman the junior May's here he probably could 
explain where all that money went machine yeah and   can you just ask give us 23 million out of your 
budget got okay can I have a motion in second   Mr chairman I move item seven and item eight 
okay second all right please vote can't make it oh boy Mr chairman are we going to try to 
get done by midnight I can stay out late   hey I know people are getting giddy 
but you know this is like a meeting   anyways Wes let's keep pushing on it's 
27 28 29 27 28 29 for commissioner May UMES could you come just come for just a second please I just want to be on record that this 
is for 28 these are all Grant funds correct   none of this is coming out of our gas tax or 
operating that is correct sir and that's for   28 and 29 28 and yes sir 29 okay I just wanted to 
be sure about that I I I may have some questions   about the micro Transit but I just wanted to go 
on record that these two are coming directly from   Grants that you and your staff have secured 
without any general fund dollars and without   any gas tax out correct correct yes thank you 
for your hard work any fur comments yeah I just   want to get that point of clarification thank 
you so do you want to move 27 28 yes sir please   I'll move it okay there's a motion to move 27 
28 29 and second by commissioner Barry please vote M motion passes 5 to zero I think we're   right part 2-32 the recommendation concerning 
the issues of a purchase order inex $50,000   for temporary microtransit vehicle operators 
uh Harold Griffin Jr is Harold here thanks Harold uh Harold Griffin Jr 6869 Highway 995a 
North Molino Florida 32577 there's been lots   of confusion and speculation regarding the micr 
transit pilot program and effect it will have   on the current PA Transit ridership this concern 
has come from the users of the service Community   Advocates and stakeholders these concerns 
were barked forth at the last Transportation   disadvantage board meeting none of the board 
members were aware of the new microtransit   pilot program in the agenda item the county 
is proposing to use a temporary labor service   to supply the customer service STS and drivers 
for the microtransit pilot program our ongoing   contract with the county is to provide these 
exact same Services as are contemplated in agenda   item which contract which contract specifically 
includes the pro provision of drivers to perform   the same Services as the company is currently 
providing we have trained experienced drivers   who are familiar with the routes for scambi County 
who are familiar with when and how to assist the   transit riders with getting in and out of smaller 
Vehicles who are familiar with the regular users   of community Transport and these drivers continue 
to be available to perform these Services there is   no need or appropriate justification to use temp 
labor when the county already has a contract to   use itl for these Services itl stands ready and 
able to fulfill the driving needs and customer   service reps with the pilot program under 
its existing contract commissioner be you   may remember several years back when the county 
created a similar pilot program to service the   northern part of the county the county received 
grant money on this pilot program as well and we   supplied the drivers and customer service reps to 
operate it under the existing contract moreover   using the temporary labor during the pilot program 
would actively reduce the trips itl completes   for the county because itl is paid by the trip 
the resulting reduction in revenue of the itl   would have a material detrimental effect on our 
employees and the company diverting rise to Temp   labor was not contemplated by the parties when itl 
put in this bid for the contract and the parties   not contemplate the rise will be reduced through 
the use of conty temp labor in summary The Bard   should reject the proposal to use temp labor and 
exercise his right to use the existing contract   with itl to provide these Services if the 
county decides and wants to move forward   with the microtransit pilot program the county 
should honor its existing contract with our local   company and our local experienced train drivers 
thank you Mr Griffin Sir Mr chairman Mr Griffin   and obviously um appreciate all you do um when 
you provided that service in in the North End I   remember for commissioner Barry was that was that 
parttime workers or were those full-time workers   they were full-time okay so thades I I guess I 
would have a question thades or Stefan where oh   probably you th yeah probably because this was 
brought up at our transportation disadvantage   meeting by uh quite a few people why um was 
this bided out in terms of uh procurement or   why wouldn't we use our existing provider uh for 
this service and could the existing provider do   it cheaper and have we done some type of analysis 
on this microtransit pilot program that we really   know the real cost so for the surface grant that 
was awarded toam County once again it is a service   development Grant this is a a pilot program um is 
it funded clearly by all grant money yes sir all   through grant money all fund through grant money 
so that would that make uh our current provider   not eligible to provide that service because it's 
grant money yes sir he could not provide it yes as   it was written in our contract for the um service 
development so yes sir it would not be um for the   current provider to be provide that service so 
we bided it out no sir um when we say bided it   out is that like I mean how it's a half a million 
dollar contract and I mean how did we sold Source   it to this Staffing Company without bidding it out 
to see if we could get a better price um so it was   part of the all contract that we already have 
with the um County so if we definitely need to   um revisit that but like I say it all went through 
the legal department we went back and forth it was   approved so that's how we move forward with 
the contract Service like I say it's a pilot   program for one year once the pilot program 
is over we would definitely open it up to all   employees to be able to come over to the bccc side 
commissioner May the temporary service contract   we do have a contract that was competitively bid 
right and advocus was a little better but but I   guess what my question would be was you know if 
we have full-time people that are transporting   the disadvantage what would make this company 
ineligible to be able to provide this service   is um well the use of the grant dollars for 
the development grant for one microtransit is   something that we're going to disperse in a larger 
scale throughout the county in different zones   it's more it's almost the on on demand service 
right understood and so right now I think we're   budgeted in the contract at 88,000 trips and we're 
far exceeding that at 120 130,000 trips right so   we're way over budget on the contract so this is 
an initiative to try to reain those costs in and   make it more efficient cost financially right well 
I mean yeah and and I I'm clear I'm clear on that   West I I mean I guess you know what Mr Griffin is 
saying that they probably could have provided the   service for cheaper I'm just wondering if we had 
full-time employees that are already servicing our   residents why wouldn't it be is it I mean maybe 
it's not maybe there's a justifiable reason I I   know that there were a lot of subcontractors who 
worked for itl in the community who because of the   uction of trips are now not able to employ their 
people doing during the holidays if there was an   opportunity uh for the current provider to bid 
on it I was just wondering I believe I believe   with the pilot program there will still be plenty 
of work for itl this is going to be uh simply a   pilot program we have new software that that y'all 
just awarded uh that's being installed on the on   these vehicles we have nine of them we're looking 
to get nine more and uh keep building that mic   Transit Fleet you know again I think we need to be 
more financially efficient and and a good Steward   there in that area uh it's it's been a challenge 
and we've met many times with Rod and Thad and   and Stefan and I think this is just something 
that we have to at least at least test yeah I'm   not I'm not I mean I'm not necessarily sold on 
on microtransit completely because I know there   there's been issues across the country I was just 
saying if there's a more efficient way if it could   have been U an opport opportunity for an existing 
minority company to have an opportunity uh to   take advantage of that you know even at a reduced 
rate my question would be why but if we're saying   we can't then we just can't if it's by you know 
the law I mean and that's that's fine if that's   what if that's what I'm being told then that's 
what I I will accept I certainly would rather   help a a small existing minority company then to 
hire temporary labor we all know what temporary   labor happens to be it's temporary labor people 
not being committed to uh their job they're just   looking for the next paycheck so um that's that 
was just my question way so that's that's fine I   mean if that's if that's what y'all are telling 
me that that's a fact that we they they were not   eligible to bid on it you want to oh I'm sorry did 
you have a comment no I'm yes I mean this was news   to us I mean this is not the first pilot program 
like I said we ran one um a couple years ago same   type and we provided it then so and we we weren't 
made aware that we weren't eligible to provide it   all right thank you um do have a motion to move 
forward with this or where we at commissioner May yeah I mean that's all right someone's 
got to help me out here I if if there's a   if there was a possibility uh to 
give them opportunity I certainly   would would support that but if it's 
if that's what the administrator and   the director is saying I mean I I don't 
I don't assume that there's any options so do I have a motion I'll make a motion to move 
forward on 232 is there a second yeah so we don't have a second on 
this I do oh I'm sorry I didn't hear   you commissioner man it was a second please vote motion passes 5 to zero Mr chairman car 
3-1 is a recommendation concerning it   game of children's trust applicants 
uh we can submit all the names but   we need to at least submit two 
okay we we need to vote on this don't and W we continue to keep that open correct 
please or we actually we can submit all three and   let yeah we can sub yeah that's I'm getting tired 
yeah can we uh is there a motion to submit all   to submit all three and continue to keep it 
open rolling so can apply until that point as   long as it stays open and seconded 
by um commissioner strober please vote that passes 5 to zero Mr chairman 
car 3-2 is concerning an amendment   to the interlocal agreement between 
es scambi County Senate Rosa County   Okaloosa County and Walton County for the 
development of a regional medical examiner facility okay um this I think everyone knows 
what this is they came back for $800,000 uh   the other Three Counties have voted unanimously 
on this um is there a board discussion on this   did I just have a question so the the figure 
the other counties put in was 800,000 each I'm   not positive but I think think so I do know 
that all three other Counties have approved   an amendment to the interlocal you mean the the 
dollar amount yeah I've talked to them all at   fact they all did except Walton was lower Walton 
was lower yeah because the size that they were   15% so Santa Rose and okoa put in 800,000 and 
I think Walt was 400,000 you know there was a   a lot of back and forth about the size of the 
facility the cost of the facility those things   we were promised at that time that we would 
never exceed that dollar amount but I know   well that's not accounting for three that's 
not accounting for $3 million 100 I'm sorry U   I flip my page but 35 additional square 
feet or whatever that is 135 Square F feet yeah yeah 165 I mean I'm sorry 135 more 
square feet does it cost $3 million so that's   not the that's that's not the rationale for it 
it's we were promised well will'll never exceed   this number regardless clearly it's going to 
happen I just want to voice my I displeasure   with the the Pres with the good faith effort 
that this board moved forward after a lot of   discussion but you know good faith often only 
goes one way up here so I understand that so   we'll we'll you know apparently we we'll allocate 
their additional monies so I will tell you that I   was very clear to Dan and Dr gesy that don't 
come back to the well and I think Santa Rosa   made that clear as well because I think a lot 
of people felt like they that um we wanted to   go in good spirit but you know we have you you so 
You' made that you've made that comment this time   about it that Pro that comment I assure you was 
made by your previous board that myself and my   friend sat on with the other members the first 
time it came forward it was don't come back to   the well this is a lot more money than we had 
ever envisioned because it was a lot more than   the original estimate yeah so we're at our second 
don't come back for more money but it you know I   get it I mean we see change orders just like they 
said every time I I understand the complexity in   this and um I think we I think if we didn't move 
forward with this it would really I think it' look   really bad and I don't think it's in the where we 
need to go for this project but I need someone to   make a motion or I'll make a motion that we move 
forward I'll second it all right please vote motion passes 5 to zero L I think ripped ol8 
card two 3-3 ol8 discussion we have 22 speakers   all right we have 22 speakers so Mr chairman I 
I don't know you some some of the people that   signed up gave were presenters this morning so 
I don't know if you want to let them wait to the   end or or yeah the folks that were in the bidding 
process let's put them at the end is that what I   think I saw that too is that what you're saying 
was I agree unless any I think that's the way to   go so let's just move forward with um the um Miss 
Rogers as the first one yep okay Mr chairman yeah   I mean obviously we all expressed toward the 
end of the meeting um priority's concerns and   what we could live with so we would be able to 
hear from those presenters at the end correct   because I would assume that many of the teams went 
back to try to address some of the concerns that   we laid out so before we vote we would be able 
to hear from them would you allow for that of   course I think that's important in this type of 
decision yeah okay that's all all thank you okay   just briefly these are my opinions but thank you 
for reinstating the um Committee of the whole that   was really great and commissioner May thank you 
for your questions on clarification that was very   helpful for people listening to um my opinion 
opinion only but I don't think any decision   should be made tonight um as to which entity 
do you select I think it should be decided at   an adequately announced public meeting possibly 
after there's a town hall with the bua citizens   and any other citizens in the county so they 
could ask their questions because you guys got   your questions answered but I'm I feel the people 
in the community might some of the people in the   community have become experts um you know not 
not certified experts but they've really looked   into this so for for the sake of transparency 
typically a committee of the whole was on an   alternate week from a uh County Commission meeting 
so the reason why you take no vote is then it has   time to circulate back to the people the people 
can inform themselves and then they can show up   to the next meeting very few people could have 
come this morning or watched all this morning and   then stayed to what is it 9:30 at night tonight 
with such a long agenda I support following the   dpz master plan any changes that were made should 
be in publicly not meetings um and please don't   allow any adverse non-compatible uses to the 
existing residents that surround Olf field   but thank you for your work on this thank you 
M Rogers what's I'll our next speaker is John Moore so my presentation started out with good 
evening but I think it's good night now um I'm   here to represent the majority of BU residents 
who participated in studies that resulted in   the ol8 master plan and the yet to be revealed 
Bula master plan over many years and a cost of   nearly $2 million the opinions and wishes of our 
community were tabulated the biggest desire of   Bula residen as development occurs is for bua 
to retain its rural equestrian agricultural   character we would like a town center where 
we can shop eat make doctors visits pay bills   participating in religious Services sharing 
social events and other undertakings locally   many of these activities currently may take 
us 20 to 30 minutes of travel to achieve the   codified ol8 master plan reinforces our wishes if 
it is followed as written we want you our elected   officials to continue to represent us in our 
desire to maintain our current way of life we   understand the master plan we understand light 
Industrial and Commercial development is coming   we're advocating that you enforce the master plan 
and make it binding as written in any future real   estate transactions involving Olf ol8 I'm sorry 
the ol f8 hybrid master plan was a compromise   that was accepted by the board of County 
Commissioners and the residents of Bula were   not comfortable that an economic development 
alliance with average record of property   management may desire to control of this land 
effectively diminishing our voices please do not   let our community down by allowing any changes or 
alterations to the master plan we're committed to   economic development that benefits the entire 
County but the recent drive by pedc Florida   West to squeeze every possible Penny out of this 
land regardless if it violates the master plan   or destroys the charm in appeal of the area is 
absurd District 1 made our Collective statements   loud and clear as we could on August 20th of this 
year this will be the bcc's first opportunity to   acknowledge our efforts please don't let the 
people down thank you thank you Mr Moore Peter Bolton Joe culbertson's on Deck good evening Commission my name is Peter 
Bolton and I live in bu we opted out of downtown   for for more house and a p the Pastoral Serenity 
of the Bula area it's beautiful I first visited   and fell in love with Pensacola in the mid '70s 
three generations of my family have attended   flight training at NIS my grandfather was a 
naval World War I veteran my father was vice   president of transportation for raicho chemicals 
at the time Pensacola has a reichle plant after   the office meetings to take the manager out for 
dinner for more decompressed conversation the   plant manager explained to Dad the way business 
was done here and my dad and I listened it was a   different time and I listened and learned at 
the pedc board meeting on Monday I learned a   lot there too first thank you to commissioner 
Barry for announcing the deeing of O f8 to PC   is off the table and olfa will remain an asset 
of SC scambia County and its taxpayers Guided by   the Board of Commissioners and a master plan and 
any Amazon distribution center is dead no Amazon   thank you for listening what surprised me was 
the insistance of most of the other pedc board   members on deeing the property over multiple times 
clearly somebody isn't listening our funding to   board is $800,000 a year taxpayer dollars why they 
brag on assets and successes and a need for a war   chest and at the same time owe Escambia County 
$2.5 million PDC has a tech Park and that's pass   do its dat to revert to the county why because 
it's just grass it's a park with no Tech nothing   great investment performer like that shouldn't be 
on our payroll in DC if you can't kill something   you defund it and I think that's a great idea 
in this instance to butress this recommendation   during the pedc meting meeting I witnessed a 
representative from FPL scream that we don't   owe the county a dime when this came up it's 
public records screaming or not self-exposure [Music] I also watched a local bank president 
who was just a proxy demand the deeding to   P DC again because they know what's best for 
us and they're in touch with our needs after   a resident spoke in opposition to the 
deed issue he get up and disparaged her   in front of the board and the attendees saying 
something to the effect of lady in the corner   people like you will never be satisfied you 
just get mad and create impediments very dis   respectful individual I thought to myself 
if this Bank president doesn't know who   Teresa Blackwell is he's not in touch 
with any of us Mr Bolton your time's up   thank you very much thank you 50 years is 
a long time change is needed thank you Mr Culbertson how we doing I'll just say after 
tonight um I got no interest in sitting at   that chamber anytime soon I'll stay in the 
car business um first of off I'd like to say   congratulations for bringing back the committee of 
the whole it's refreshing to see open government   once again play a role in Escambia County early 
on in my professional career a mentor told me   that a customer's perception is reality and when 
the committee of the whole was done away with and   the open conversations disappeared the result 
was the perception of this board that became   the reality of the general public was not a good 
one oh I know every one of you felt that from the   con constituency I'm hoping with the most recent 
changes of The Changing of the Guard that we can   get back to doing what this board was designed to 
do and that is lead lead the county in accordance   to what your constituents are asking you to get 
done lead from an executive level by setting   policy and then enforcing those policies the rest 
should be left to up to staff to execute most of   the problems that the previous board stem 
that the previous most of the problems that   the previous board created stem from the board 
venturing into areas that should have been left   for staff to handle let the department heads 
run their departments some of that Meandering   is exactly why this board found itself drawn into 
lawsuit after lawsuit it's time to put that to an end it would probably be a good idea also that 
when your county attorney offers you legal advice   that you actually listen to it how does this 
relate to ol8 simple this board has a clear   and concise path forward with the dpz master plan 
that will allow the board to get back to managing   at the executive level and not be drugg into 
the day-to-day negotiations and haggling out   that is of every detail that has drugged it out 
drugged this process out this far the idea of   changing the rules at every other meeting to 
appease a special interest of a privileged   few is absolutely ludicrous this morning I saw 
three presentations all of which for me fall in   line with what we think I think the residents of 
bua have been asking for which is the execution   of the dpz Master Plan Three companies who are 
willing to Pony up $40 million to execute the   plan that we've all agreed to folks it's now time 
to pick a developer hold those accountable hold   those developers accountable to the plan and move 
forward for the betterment of Escambia County the   question is now whether this board will act in an 
executive capacity to move forward or we drag this   out another four years carving out bits and pieces 
just to PE the egos of a privileged view thank you   thank you Mr cson Kim Adams is Kim here oh all 
right Kim I know you were came up this morning   you finally get your time yeah it's been uh it's 
been enlightening for sure hi I'm H Kim Adams I'm   a local attorney here I grew up here in Warrington 
I went to Warrington Middle School uh and moved   out to cantonement um many years ago um I have 
an interest in enhancing the community out in   the cantom area and the Bula area uh Commissioners 
thank you this morning for all of your insightful   comments expressions of intent to respect the 
master plan which I recently have really become   to study and learn um the need for diverse jobs 
and the need to create Community which is really   important um thank you to the residents of ol8 
um and and the surrounding areas for maintaining   in Communications concerns about the efforts of 
not following the plan and obviously knowing that   the devil will be in the details as to what is 
actually clean manufacturing and the intensity   of use issues and those sorts of things um so to 
why I'm here Community Aquatics Sports children um   that's really why I'm here I think that there's a 
definite need in our community for Aquatics we're   a Coastal Community um swimming is almost a year 
round sport here where we are um it's estimated   that 79% of children do not know how to swim 
in lowincome areas uh areas around I was one of   those children um we've lose about a hundred kids 
a year in Florida to Drowning uh and yet here we   are with one pool uh Washington High School wuwf 
which is a good 30 to 40 minutes now on 9M road   to get down there at PSC it may seem insignificant 
but I think swimming is a Sport and it's and it's   a need how do we know it's a need well the Florida 
government uh programs they're offering 2 to30 um,   a year to help build pools I've sat on some of 
those Grant meetings myself just to see what it   was about they have swim lesson vouchers they 
have water safety grants there is all kinds of   money hanging around in Florida that can help 
contribute to these particular programs um we   have 20 plus swim teams in Escambia County Middle 
School High School this is not even including all   of the the young children that start swimming at 
a young age um we have no 50 meter pool uh at all   except for wuwf which is very limited on its use 
obviously Washington High School uh you can just   go in and swim whenever you want to the other 
pools are outdoors and are not very well-kept   um that would be a hunter pool which is great 
pool but it's uh not well kept and it doesn't   hold a whole lot of kids um there's an a great 
opportunity for sports tourism with pools Aquatics   um and Just Sports in general aquatic centers 
can be used and can be self- sustaining and and   in fact very profitable if you look at pools in 
the surrounding areas and we've got statistics   for those can you sum up your your joh I sure 
will yep uh Community Health in infants seniors   create jobs uh cardiac Sports um rehab lots of 
different ways that uh I think that aquatic should   be considered in all of these Master plans we're 
talking about thank you for your comments Kim Kim   thanks for spending some time with me because 
I think that the swimming is important in the   funding sources I mean we spent a lot of money in 
American magic and sailing but if kids can't swim   how are they going to sell so I think that you 
have some great ideas U bringing forward thank   you commission may I want to go to the beach let's 
do a beach day is Matt O'Brien up Matt come come on who's next Matt O'Brien I thought you wanted to 
put the folks on the bidding go ahead Matt um this   morning was a good meeting I was happy to see the 
the three offers that that came about uh one of   the offers mentioned something about uh a service 
road or an alternate roadway for the trucks so   that they're not going through the intersection of 
BU Road and Frank reer um so if if one of them can   offer that um I I think that maybe all three of 
them that can incorporate that into their plan it   sounds like uh it's going to make a lot of people 
happy as far as the roadways uh the other thing I   wanted to mention it was they talked a little bit 
this morning about aircraft manufacturing uh and   light industrial um I worked for the Department 
of Defense uh aircraft manufacturing for several   years uh that's a highly skilled job and the I I 
believe that that's not going to employ a lot of   local uh people they're probably going to have to 
recruit from out of town and I know they're highp   paying jobs and they're good jobs and mentioned 
something about being able to have thousands of   workers out there we're not looking for thousands 
and thousands of workers coming to buah I mean   we're looking for a lot of things out there but 
we don't want another 8,000 employees coming in   for a manufacturing job I don't think that's what 
the community is all about um the last thing I   had to I have a question so what safeguards are 
in place or will be en ensure that we have the   master plan will be adhered to once the project 
begins or especially along the way is there any   safeguards in place that we know that it's going 
to stay focused on exactly what we're looking for   uh I don't want to put anybody on the spot I'm 
just does anybody have an answer to that I mean   developmental services will be managing as we go 
through to make sure the dpz uh uh intent is being met okay we also talked about recording 
the dpz plan as restrictive covenants on   the property all right thank you all 
right thanks man uh Teresa Blackwell good evening again Teresa Blackwell thank you 
Mike for bringing this C up and making ol f8   your first topic I appreciate it and it was good 
discussion this morning I liked uh commissioner   Barry's process uh about how changes would be 
approved and that uh the presenter at that time   agreed to it I think it was Chad Henderson so um 
and I have talked with all of these developers   in the past and just in passing Kim I've been 
I talked with Kim and I support her idea for   swimming I remember being a kid not knowing how to 
swim and I would try and and I would try to invent   is there something I could be holding or something 
so I could let people know I'm drowning my mother   almost drowned another child saved her so I I 
might not have existed but anyway off topic but   um basically sell to one developer the entire 
site which is the way you're headed uh forget   this whole idea of deing and um and I'll go 
to uh the the Jill I can't say her name but   the study from WWF this morning um there are 
lots of Target Industries we don't need to   fill olfa with just Advanced manufacturing we can 
have some of that but we want a diversity there   everybody doesn't want to work at Navy Federal 
we don't want them to have a choice Navy Federal   or Advanced manufacturing so uh there are other 
Target Industries like healthc care cyber we can   do some of that you know and and I think that 
one developer it'll be in their best interest   to pick something that belongs there something 
that'll work my idea which goes along with Kim   is what I'd like to see is that ol f8 is an 
outdoor experience Health you can have health   related uh you can uh you can it'll be something 
for the day that's different than Pensacola maybe   you have healthy food just all those kinds of 
things Gardens and you know that goes along   with Bula and so I did like Ryan's Bell's idea 
we're not exactly the old west we do have horses   but it was a nice idea he presented it well uh my 
tripping point with him would be partners secret   partners that he can't name um you know we we 
should know who they are bu Town Center I had   counted on Metro to be uh the urban planner in 
in that group and I was disappointed that he was   not familiar with the master plan so I'm sorry to 
say that uh Chad Henderson when he spoke knocked   it out of the park I'd say uh so for the both of 
the two um town center and Chad Henderson that's   great what uh Ashley hoffberger just mentioned 
putting that Master Plan into um the contract   because that is lacking in their offers Teresa 
your time's up and I'm let me just finish my   sentence the one does have uh um Fred's Fred 
Hammer does say he will follow the design code   but uh that's that's a good starting point but 
the other doesn't say that anything so thank you   said that was a paragraph not a sentence I 
know thanks to all my uh bues Larry you're up Rob Aaron John deck all right I'm gonna leave 
my hat on this time since we're dealing with bua ah man I've heard it I've heard it all 
y'all know y'all y y not supposed to be in   this real estate business but I've heard it 
all up here over the past what three or four   or five years how long's this been going maybe 
in another 10 years you actually might be able   to do something I mean I don't know though uh you 
know last meeting I was at meeting before last uh   I was in Dixie County last the last meeting 
y'all had so I couldn't couldn't be here for   the for the festive Festivus uh but the last 
meeting that I was at here uh some lady come up   here talking about ice skating we need to have an 
ice skating rink now it's swimming pools and you   know what's next movie stars some acting schools 
I mean this is a this is unicorns and fairy dust   I mean I don't know why they trust government you 
know with all the secret Partners there's going   to be secret Partners they're always is I mean you 
know Barry's up here freaking recusing himself two   three times a a meeting uh you know for conflicts 
or appearance of conflicts so anyways uh you know   kids when I was a kid kids could swim poor kids 
could swim poor redneck kids that didn't even   have shoes could swim they could swim better than 
a you know than a 25 horse Johnson outboard with   electric choke you know I don't I don't understand 
why we have become so dependent upon government   creating and you know in these grants you know 
the all kinds of money for this stuff all kinds of   money how y'all really think this is sustainable 
I mean grants grants all kinds of money it's just   a just falling off the the fairy you know the 
fairy dust I guess just sprinkling down um I mean   I just kind of here just point out the obvious I 
hate to tell y'all that the glass is half empty   but I mean it's obvious isn't it I mean I 
don't I just don't you know I get it it's   all with good intention it's all with good 
intention you're going to build a Utopia   Utopia let's see how happy they are in five or 
10 years or whatever whatever Shenanigans goes   on all right I don't even have a I don't have 
an answer for you cuz I don't think nobody does   in this country thank thank you lar appreciate 
your comments Rob erens pleas please if you're here Rob erens 9112 mcmillon Lane Tampa 
Florida nice to see you all again um one   request Mike do you have your cowbell I'd 
like to hear more cowbell this is you know   they're in my office but I'm glad they 
tickle tears this morning real quick uh   we all huddled up today obviously we heard 
all your comments what you'd like to see   I think we've got some other speakers here they're 
going to address a lot of that um we provided you   a handout I I know Ashley was very concerned about 
Job production um we gave you some stuff that   we've actually done um uh what what we've provided 
communities we've done and the jobs we've created   and how we started and then what we've been able 
to develop with that so I I please read it if you   have any questions you can reach back out um 
we're here we're passionate we want to do this   job I think this is a really special one this is 
what we do for a living we do Master Plan mixed   use communities that we're proud of and we want 
all these people to be proud of it as well so   uh I'm going to uh in my normal form I'm going 
to make this quick and succinct thank you for   your time thank you rob Cecilia Campbell 
and then your your husband will be next Cecilia Campbell um Frank reer Road and bua um 
this this has really been a refreshing to um   uh I can't begin to tell you the the hope that I 
have for uh the future at olfa because uh hearing   about the um P at the pedc dropping their plan for 
the um Amazon C next to to my fence that was just   remarkable and for um the the steps y'all have 
taken to taken forward and deciding that you're   not going to be the developers and that you're 
going to let one person do that one contractor   do that um I everything we heard this I didn't 
hear anyone you know really with uh terrible uh   uh dismay over anything that we heard this morning 
and I do believe that um any any of these three uh   and I'm sure you're going to be hearing more from 
them tonight and I'm they've probably already um   met together with in to give you more information 
after we finished talking but I I just want to say   that uh Bula is a very special place and um many 
many transplants there uh some of the newer newer   people are U coming back from um other places to 
finish their career to retire here a lot of n we   have a lot of Navy Folk that are brought back to 
Bula and I talked to a young couple not long ago   that when they heard that that the a possibility 
they were instead of purchasing a house they   decided to rent a house when they came back 
because of the what they were hearing about what   could happen on l o lf8 and the the thing they 
named was you know distribution warehouse on Frank   Rita Road I am also excited about the possibility 
the um I know that when uh Ryan Bale mentioned   um a a different um Access Lane for trucks 
that would solve everything it I know that   we had one time there was another road coming 
on the far uh Far Eastern side and it wouldn't   take much to find an access road that would still 
preserve the sense of residential area on um the   north side of Frank Rita Road if there are another 
access road that would not endanger all of us um   our road uh when our children were growing up they 
actually Dr rode their horses down to both sets of   grandparents okay and uh that has changed a lot 
has changed in Bula but um we we had high hopes   of walking trails riding trails uh things for the 
community that do get help preserve that sense of   the rural community that we are um there there 
was a large Exodus of horse people back when um   uh the the very beginning of our um um zoning 
requirements out in bua a lot of them got out   can you summarize your thoughts so um I'm we're 
we're excited to hear all of them U mention   trying to preserve some of our rural lifestyle 
thank you so much Zachary if you're next Mr Campbell uh Dave hoing you'll be next   it's been about five years I think over 
five years we've been having the Olf ol8   discussions and I guess towards the latter part 
of the five years there seemed to be a strange   tug ofar between our government elected officials 
and their constituents and the residents of Bula   uh Frank Rita was my grandfather and I was born 
and raised out there my wife and I have owned our   property for 44 years I guess and it borders 
olfa so by way of disclosure we have a vested   interest in that and that TW that tug-of-war 
between competing interest and all that was   was really stressful so it was a breath of fresh 
air to hear what went on this morning I thank you   for that and so going forward I I I'm looking and 
I'm anxious to to see a transparency U and open   discussions and gosh this meeting this morning was 
the first time in several years we had something   like that so transparency and also a a consistency 
with the plan having to do with maintaining the   quality of life um and consistency with the dpz 
plan and I think also importantly a a a rational   logical approach to concurrency um and growth 
management and the sequential development of   ol8 and other thing I'm looking forward to is is 
going on with these discussions with the openness   and the new transparency with gentleness 
and respect thank you thank you Mr camon Mr hoing uh good evening and thank you for your 
service the lf8 decision is the most important   decision that you all make probably for your 
political career because it greatly affects our   our future and as the woman from WF said this 
morning the numbers are really impressive for   economic development so I do believe in the plan 
but very concerned that the E Economic Development   part of the park um is done effectively so some 
comments my wife Mary and I own radio stations   and our goal is to Super serve our community 
every day and as in Economic Development I   volunteered for two decades I've been on the 
PDC board for seven years and separately we've   contributed about $770,000 uh towards Economic 
Development over the last 20 years um to help   subsidize what we're doing you guys put in a lot 
more money than I do but I do have skin in the game economic development is 
important because it raises uh   the standard of living for our citizens 
and we want to be as effective as we can   be and fla West has had a great track 
record in their 11 years of being in business so even though lf8 is a long-term 
uh project and I know you guys are tired   of talking about it and thinking about 
it [Music] um I we shouldn't rush to a   decision uh this month uh it's been a long 
night 40% of you are have been on the board   for a month and um this requires some time 
so as a business person what I would be doing   now is putting together an RFP and asking 
the people that are interested to respond   so everybody can be judged Apples to 
Apples so that's something you may consider then going in another Direction 
previous to today I didn't have any kind   of choice or or opinion really about who is 
the best to uh carry ol of ha forward but I   did watch all three presentations this morning 
and so I do have an opinion now which is from an   economic development P perspective uh I favor the 
Chad henerson group because I think they'll get   the good jobs there the fastest thanks very 
much thank you Dave Todd Thompson you're up next good evening Todd Thompson president and 
CEO of the greater pcola Chamber of Commerce   speak speak on behalf of uh my board of directors 
uh and the message from our board is simple uh it   is this has been a a long process and and uh from 
the beginning Economic Development and jobs has   been at the Forefront and we want to see that uh 
heard a lot of discussion about the master plan   and uh the economic development that's contained 
in that master plan I'd like to see that continue   that those conversations and you know let's see 
what we can do to to bring those quality jobs   to Escambia County uh I think Miss Blackwell 
with her comments about the diversification   I think that's important as well um and what 
commissioner hoffberger said this morning her   goals uh with the number of jobs and the salary I 
think those are great numbers as well so you know   as you deliberate as you consider these proposals 
please keep uh jobs economic development at the   Forefront and uh thank you for your service 
and Merry Christmas thank you Todd um Chris plat and congratulations on 
your new position sir thank you uh it's been quite a day for me I left 
Charlotte at 4:00 a.m. so um the chairman   caller commissioner ad Minister Moreno it's my 
pleasure to speak to you tonight I'm Chris PL   I'm the new incoming CEO for Florida West 
Economic Development Alliance uh it's my   first official day will be on Monday but uh uh 
as you can see it's been a pretty busy non-w   work day um so I look forward to working with 
you all I'm very excited and honored to be um   to have this opportunity to work alongside you 
as we build the economy uh here for uh scambia   uh concerning olfa uh this property provides 
our County with a very competitive opportunity   for prospects and a place for significant wage 
high wage job creation uh from my experience   Industrial and Commercial clients do not look to 
add communities to a list when they're looking   for their their client's location they want to 
uh make their job easier and try to find ways   to eliminate you from that list so the need for 
certainty and predictability is critical in all   the considerations that they have so many economic 
development rfps that come through our office uh   there's a preference for property that is either 
publicly owned or publicly controlled in some   manner um because again it provides those projects 
with certainty on the real estate component as   they do the final due diligence through their 
location um go through those location options   and it enables us to use other grant funding for 
the project so I hope in whatever path that you   choose to go forward with with ol o I'll learn to 
say it o o lf8 uh we will uh maintain a consistent   uh that that it maintains a consistent site 
plan for the light industrial portion that um   we strive to meet the criteria for the most 
desirable prospective companies and that we   retain the site's eligibility for infrastructure 
grant funding for this vitally uh important land   so I do thank you very much thank you Mr Plant 
Mr chairman oh I'm sorry commissioner Chris yes   sir um welcome to Pensacola thank you so much so 
obviously we know you're new on the job and we've   never met but how could you envision no matter 
who we choose uh as the developer we choose them   tonight or whether we choose them in later dat 
how could Florida West and PDC work with them   for the jobs I mean how do you envision that oh 
I think you know that's pretty you know looking   at the the targeted industries that we want to put 
together yeah each part of the county is going to   be different this is a strategy to look at how 
do we develop the economy for the entire County   certain areas are going to be uh targeted for 
certain kind of Industries like the tech Park the   Bluffs we'll you know we'll look at something else 
up there we'll be working with whichever developer   is assigned to it to make sure that those match up 
with the plan that they have but it's going to be   in that area with the interstate everything else 
your higher Tech you know uh job so looking at   Aerospace which is something that I'm very strong 
in developing as well as the Cyber and some other   things too so white coat manufacturing 
um so those kind of jobs so a scenario if a developer finds the number that at at least 
three of us can agree to or hopefully five of   us can agree to um and they were to inherit the 
entire site um how would you envision being able   to work to produce those 200 acres worth of light 
manufacturing jobs I mean does that work I mean I   I think it would definitely work but there'd be 
some um to access other funding grant funding   I think there'd be some legal uh things that 
would have to occur between the pedc and the   um developer as well as obviously the county as 
well so um again not as familiar with those as   as we're we're talking right now being that you 
know a few hours away from starting the job um   but we will um I can promise you we can find a 
way you're I mean I've built multiple industrial   parks we've done it both with private folks 
as well as all public dollars so well I mean   obviously you know we fund Florida West to be 
our Economic Development and job creation entity   I guess my my direct question uh you're not 
necessarily oppos to us um hiring a developer   um for all of the site or are you advocating for 
a different position uh we can work with both so   whe whether that is a you know that something 
is deed to pedc that would be wonderful if it's   working with a developer we can do that too 
so we just need to find a way that there is   some some public component or public control 
where you and and our group work together to   make sure that there's consistency you know 
that there's not a price spike for example on   the land that someone's looking to come in and 
all of a sudden it jumps those kind of things   or there's property housing gets pushed too 
close to an industrial site where then all of   a sudden it doesn't become marketable for those 
industrial is that so I would just say three is   a charm you're the third director to work on 
this project so hopefully we get it done with   you thank you very much yeah I like this comments 
thanks Mr PL uh David bear would you like to speak yes good evening thank you Commissioners uh 
appreciate this opportunity to speak with you   tonight uh and welcome Chris uh trial by fire 
he comes to work before he starts working um so   yesterday we had a Triumph Gulf Coast meeting 
in Panama City and at the meeting we approved   approximately $85 million in Grants to support the 
enhancement and diversification of the economies   uh and in support of Workforce Development 
programs within the Triumph service area in   Escambia County several organizations have been 
successful in receiving Triumph grants since 2017   examples are ihmc University of West Florida 
Pensacola State College City of Pensacola Ami   kids and pedc unfortunately there has not been 
a funded grant for an Escambia County project   pedc has been working projects with companies 
that are interested in developing at ol8 but   the county has not approved L the Lois to Simply 
allow those companies to evaluate the property for   those projects the Lois were not purchased 
in sale agreements PDC was created by the   Florida legislature to be the official Economic 
Development agency in Escambia County and ol   is an example of an asset needed for ol8 to 
accomplish the work set out by the legislature   I'm recommending that you allow pedc to work with 
one of the prospective buyers to develop the light   industrial heavy commercial property outlined in 
the dpz master plan to develop the land for clean   high- wage jobs in targeted Industries under this 
scenario ol8 would be eligible for Triumph funds   to help pay for the needed infrastructure on the 
property we're talking about millions and millions   of dollars that would be brought in for public 
infrastructure into Escambia County and into the   growing Bula area so long as the property stays 
public it's eligible for the Triumph funding if   it's sold to a private developer it is no longer 
eligible I have been contacted by two of these   prospective buyers to discuss working together 
with ped C Chad Henderson and will Wilson's group   and Ryan Bell of these two groups only one of 
them have provided pedc with anou to outline and   confirm their interest in working with pedc and 
that was Chad Henderson and will Wilson's group oops I think this is an opportunity for the county 
to show its support and investment in Economic   Development for this is a once in a-lifetime 
opportunity that has been 25 years in the making   we've heard tonight that we've talked about this 
for two three five years we've been talking about   this for 25 years the dpz master plan excuse me 
the dpz master plan has been agreed to by the   county the citizens and uh in the neighborhoods 
surrounding it Navy Federal in the plan dpz speaks   specifically about the importance of utiliz izing 
multiple developers due to the expertise in the   different developers of the different developers 
in the different areas of development are you   getting close David I just want to be finished 
I apologize uh the success of the development   depends on the Cadence of the difference types 
of development identified in the plan working   together under the master plan please make this 
consideration carefully because what you do with   this project project will reflect on your legacy 
as a county commissioner thank you for your time   thank you for your comments so and obviously you 
know you said 25 but I I know I've been around it   12 15 years and so in the PDC and I know you're 
with Florida West in an Ideal World we would work   with the developer uh in some type of Covenant 
or restriction well would allow for some of the   property to stay eligible for the millions of 
dollars we could get from Triumph I mean is that   the blueprint that you're presenting so what I'm 
suggesting is if the portion of the land for job   the light industrial heavy commercial land could 
maintain uh or be kept as public property then   it would be eligible for the Triumph funding I 
don't know if I'm breaking up uh Tri the statute   that outlines the what Triumph May fund says 
specifically it may fund public infrastructure   it may not fund private infrastructure uh so we 
can do roads and utilities the county of applied   for a $14 million grant for ol8 to put in a 
road and utilities that that Grant has been   held uh waiting to see what the county does with 
it if the county sells it to a private developer   that Grant opportunity goes away if it becomes 
if it maintains and stays uh public whether that   is through the County's ownership or through PC's 
ownership which is really just almost an extension   of the county as the economic development Agency 
for the county uh then it would be eligible for   those funds so did that Grant application has been 
granted just not awarded because we've not made a   decision on the property is what you're saying it 
has not made it all the way through the process it   the county uh submitted a pre-application uh and 
it was um told that it was eligible for funding   and so then it submitted a full application 
uh and the board of uh and it was scored   uh as an A and the board uh Triumph board voted 
in favor of it to move it towards um term sheet   negotiations uh and it has not gone to term sheet 
negotiations because the county started receiving   uh unsolicited um purchases I guess agreements 
um offers to purchase it by private developers   and so uh no one has come back to pedc to move 
forward I mean excuse me to Triumph to move   forward that Grant application uh to the term 
sheet negotiations because it's um they don't   Triumph doesn't know whether it's going to be 
owned by public or if it's going to be owned by   private if it's owned by private then there is 
no reason for Triumph to spend resources moving   it Forward I understand so they're just waiting 
obviously we we we have some friends on Triumph   uh yourself included so being granted an a it' 
be a high probability of receiving those fon   you would if it was public if it was public okay 
I I can speak for myself I can't speak for the   other members but I would definitely support it 
I voted in favor of the application when it came   before us I'm in favor of public infrastructure on 
this property but it's got to M it's got to retain   uh remain public un understood thanks thanks a 
appreciate you Mr bar you have a question not   necessarily for Mr be if what's that I said not 
necessarily for Mr be how many more speakers do   we have just oh we got about six more oh yeah 
okay before the presenters from this morning   yeah I think after we get two speakers may we do 
need to have a comfort break or something okay   oh well I wouldn't necessarily ask but we have 
six more speakers before we get to presenters   that's correct that's correct okay so can we 
just do the break after the six speakers and   then before the presenter okay do you want to 
take a break to can we do it in five minutes   because it's getting late yep yeah let's do the 
six speakers first yeah that's fine all right   let's keep pushing on uh Ryan Bell you're up 
next oh sorry I'm sorry I uh Ashton hey can you speak I know but they all they're I'm down to the 
groups that were briefing so if you want to have   each one of you brief or because I you know it's 
down to Ryan and all the you folks as well as your   your group do you want to do them individually I'm 
sorry so Mr chairman so we're down to the three   groups is that what we're down to okay we don't 
have any more citizens no more citizens uh oh I   made a mistake I forgot Andrew I I I I I just 
I made a mistake please come up and share your   comments Mr and Mr chairman while he's on the way 
up I just want to be clear if it you know and I I   would ideally like for us to take some action this 
evening and to be clear it's not this would not be   the first nor the second time that we've taken 
action to Simply ask Wes and Allison to try to   negotiate a contract that has acceptable terms 
we've done that a couple times before we were   unable to come to acceptable terms with those 
parties so we never had a contract come back   to the board it's really just the first step of 
something it's not a huge I mean I think it would   be good but it's not a huge accomplishment it is 
it it it's the first step in something happening   I understand Andrew please come up and and state 
your comments Andrew BL and I'm you found my Crypt   tonight or whatever Molly Bar's is here so 
I'm going to have to be on my M best behavior so um me being a submatic expert on flooding or 
whatever and y'all haven't address one bit of the   flooding of ol8 what what damage is it going to 
cause because I mean anybody done a topo map to   see which way the water's going to flow because 
when I mean the citizens of Bula would probably   tar and Fe feather langly Bell not because he 
gave the land to the 4 or whatever but Langley   Bell let the board of County Commissioners be 
the executive of the state and that's where   y'all got power hungry thinking y'all are real 
estate people and you're nowhere close to being   real estate people so I mean I thought it was 
he said 15 years I thought it was 24 years but   he corrected it says 25 years now with the 4 
Club Navy Federal Credit Union Spencer field   y'all haven't spent any of this time on 
Belleview storm water mold Dune problems   and stuff like that so I want y'all to address 
this here where is all this water up there on   ol8 is going to go it's going to go through all 
those ponds that supposed to be catching all the   water Navy Federal Credit Union supposed to catch 
but it doesn't work does it those ponds up there   in Navy feder cred you don't catch all that 
water cuz what are y'all doing y'all spending   money what to fix 11 Mile Creek y'all Mobile 
Highway floods with Le Mile Creek houses y'all   had to replace houses or whatever or FEMA y'all 
bought out houses on uh Le Mile Creek and what's   that um Cedar Ridge Cedar Ridge or whatever 
y'all bought you know star water on Cedar Ridge second question you don't know where the 
water is going so I say put a 8ft BM around there   and then a Floodgate a water type Floodgate around 
there and let all that water stay on ol8 because   you ain't going to be able to do it next thing 
how about payroll money y'all talk about all these   jobs or whatever but way I see it all the money is 
going over to Balwin County Santa Rosa County or   whatever y'all need to have a payroll tax on those 
people on there all along with Navy Federal Credit   Union you could probably do that with Baptist and 
Sacred Heart or whatever we had to spend money   on widening the bridge to Gulf Breeze or whatever 
nobody wants to live in a scambia county it looks   like everybody wants to escape to another County 
but they'll come and take our jobs away from   us and y'all having to address that now Andrew 
your time's up I no not I still had time no you   didn't Andrew thank you for all your comments 
I think it ought to be Andrew your time's up Jeff's community so in the interest of 
U moving forward this evening I'd like   to break until 10:35 and then we'll reconvene 
with the three briefs and then um and go from   there so let's break until 10:35 we'll 
start sharply at 10:35 thank you'all you stay there thank you I I I get you e my hey Mike were don't two minute two minute warning everybody what time is it holy [ __ ] don't all we'll be done I'm going to drop 
the other one tonight technology CU issues with it bring it back on the night 
so that's going away so yeah we get that well   I'm going to B bring back I already have 
problems with it so if everyone's okay with it have you yeah once orce all two years I've never 
had gmr killed us tonight I don't think we   heard of them anything okay test okay here we 
go hey if we could reconvene everybody please   take your seats and i' like to keep moving 
it is getting late and I want to make sure   that we're attention to Det detail on where 
we are we have a lot of business still to do all right please take your seats Ryan blackw   or Ryan Bell I'm gonna have 
you come up first if that's okay well the the we let's let I guess we should 
Define this because there's several speakers in   each group I know Ryan you're on your own can 
can we do you want to have a group total of 10   and and then that's is that fair enough and so 
whoever wants to talk out of the group you get   10 is 10 enough for the whole group is the board 
okay with that I think it's great idea okay Ryan   10 minutes and then have discussion Ryan you're 
up all right start the thank you here we go um so just to take a second thank you 
for the 10 minutes just take a second   to reiterate my belief in the dpz design 
that that was my initial inspiration and   that's what has inspired um the group that 
is supporting me um to answer a couple of   questions from Miss Teresa Blackwell um 
I have put my own private money up to pay   for the professionals excuse me that I'm 
working with um and the larger individuals that are on the Fortune 100 list I'm just 
not at this juncture able to release their   names I've invited them to come up and visit 
I've invited them to buy a house here um and   they may bring some of their corporations 
to this development um and it's just too   early in the game to to do that but I will 
be happy to release names as soon as I'm able   um so another thing I'd like to share is that I 
really want this to be a development that is for   all the people of Escambia County and so when I 
have local relationships one such relationship is   dag they are my pick to be the lead design firm 
D they've done extensive work here in Northwest   Florida um in Alice Beach Rosemary Beach dag 
is currently working on the wuwf stadium to   build that Mr Dave Latrell is the lead architect 
that's been assigned to work with me and I met   with uh the founder of dag Charlie Clary today 
and he gave me this signed letter um that he's   wanting to work with me so I'm wanting to submit 
that didn't have time to submit that before the   meeting because you guys have been in a marathon 
all day so I'm very thankful for your service I   know this has been a long process so when I say 
all the citizens um Charlie Knows Mr Eddie Todd   I was on the phone with Mr Eddie Todd today 
and I'd like to have Mr Eddie Todd also be   an architect as a part of this group and Charlie 
has agreed uh to work with Mr Eddie Todd who is   a long-standing member and has worked at Maritime 
Park before um I asked some of them to be here but   just with their own scheduling and the nature of 
this process they weren't able to physically be   here uh someone else that I want to work with and 
I care deeply about all the citizens of es scambi   county is J rby with the Urban Development Center 
um John is also signed of letter of intent that   I'd like to work with his organization because I 
believe in their mission to help the underserved   in our community to get the education that they 
need to not take the same path as some as their   friends and their community members that get into 
gangs so that's the work of the Urban Development   Center and I'm going to partner with them and 
help them uh have some of these students that   they work with be able to learn the skills that 
they need to work in these higher-end jobs that   we can bring to this field um so David I would 
have sent you a letter of memorandum I'm sorry   that I didn't do that but I'm happy to work um 
with Florida West and to work out the creative   um the creative structure that we need to have 
in order to use some of the grant money uh for   the work that they have already done I don't think 
there's any uh benefit to slow down the momentum   that their organizations have uh to continue 
the economic development um and with that I   also maintain my commitment to the people and my 
family members who are extended family members   that are here today and to my uh children and my 
their cousins that walk down Frank reita Road I   absolutely believe in my commitment to make that 
service road uh to keep any industrial trucks off   of that land so when I say that I have the network 
and the ability to make this a perfect partnership   uh I believe in that and so I also still believe 
in my 8th month timeline and I am willing to   negotiate um yes commissioner I don't want to 
start a bidding war but I have another signed   offer here um so if you guys are willing and Lady 
Madam uh you can sign this contract and I can get   to work to close this in eth months um so if you'd 
like me to submit this now it's for 4 million and   you can pass around how much is it Ryan it's for 
40 million 40 million I was on the phone with my   fund and they authorized me to go up to 40 million 
awesome good step so this making it tough on us tonight and Ryan I do appreciate you we're 
not trying to create a beating War but I do   sir I appreciate you recognizing the importance of 
all five of our districts how important uh those   funds are and there are multiple people today 
that you know you are you're highly respected   in a lot of the circles that uh I I run in 
so thank you for submitting thank you for I   don't want to take any more time I know we've 
been here late but I am committed to everyone   in this County and I and the people that I'm 
working with fully believe in this development   and the dpz design plan thank you thank you um 
well that didn't take 10 minutes um let's do   uh Fred hmer group was that okay to bring youall 
up next and whoever wants to talk for up to 10   minutes feel free I know rob you talked earlier 
but you're part of the team I your last name threw   me off but whoever Fred you want to have it's you 
got 10 minutes yeah and I'll be fast um obviously   Fred Hammer Bel Town Center uh thank you for the 
community of the whole today that was good to   have that discussion we listened very carefully we 
huddled this afternoon we've made some adjustments   to our proposal we've clarified some things 
in there um you have those in front of you now   um I do want to have Rob come back up so he can 
explain a couple things quickly on the uh the job   information I know that as that you were looking 
for there uh one other comment just want to make   sure I think we've said in the past but just want 
to make sure it's clear with everybody you know we   are the owner of the largest uh parcel of land 
in the county that is fully entitled you know   about 4500 units up in the cantonement area Metro 
development is our joint venture partner on that   you know that's a 10 to 15E project they have 
committed to this area um this is not somebody   who's just a Hired Gun to come in here to do 
something for us they are a true partner and   they're making a sizable investment into this 
area so I'd like Rob to come up and explain you   know quickly the information regarding the jobs 
and then Brian Spencer and will will come up and   explain coule couple of the other changes that 
we have in the document that you see thank you I apologize when I was up here last I thought 
you had my handout I think you have it now   and all that handout is is a community that 
we've done down in another County near Tampa   that actually shows what we've actually done 
as job creation and how we've developed this   mixed use Community to have a combination of 
everything that I think you're looking for an o   L f8 it has industrial it has Health Care it has 
schools it has many Town centers with groceries   and offices so I wanted to make sure you had 
that and you can take that and study it but   the most important thing there is that's what 
we've done we are doing that today mafit Cancer   Center 24 million square fet the first three 
buildings are currently under construction and   they're first four or five story building has 
been topped out so this isn't a dream this is   reality this is what we bring to a community 
when we find out who needs what and we work   together to make it happen so again I'm going 
to keep it short I'm going to turn it over to Brian thank you uh thank you 
chair thank you all commissioners   um I'm going to go ahead and burn up a little 
bit of time just telling you all how much I   appreciate every one of you serving as you 
are as a public servant as an elected former   reformed elected official I can tell you that uh 
your attention this evening is admirable and um   I've sat in those seats thank you so much 
for being here tonight I am very proud to   be a member of this team I'm not this is is not 
just architect Brian Spencer but I am a partner   I was invited by these gentlemen to join them as 
a development partner and I think if you know my   history as a pensac colan I consider public 
realm buildings streetcape architecture the   experiences that people have and gain from being 
in well-designed communities and even buildings   is what defines a community and attracts others 
and sustains and maintains people as residents   and workers so when I was invited I had to do my 
own evaluation of this team of Metro Development   Group Fred hemmer Chad horn to understand what 
is their history before I associate and attach   my name with these individuals I'm proud to say 
that they are consistent or they have a track   record that is consistent with my dedication to 
excellent design and architecture this morning's   C or I would like to say almost Workshop was very 
productive as you all have alluded to we all were   able to go back and look at our presentations as 
well as the purchase um agreements we already also   have an agreement with dpz to have them be basic 
a Consulting land planner with us in the process   we did not mention that but I have worked 
with Marina Curry a principal and Marina is   very excited to work with us and to also see 
ol8 become a reality thank you I'll call on will thank you Commissioners I'm going to get 
um right to the details um I appreciate um   commissioner Barry mentioning that it was one year 
ago that this um board approved for The Bu Town   Center to enter into negotiations with your staff 
for a contract I do want to remind us that at that   time we were not talking about the industrial 
top half that was for the bottom half and that   had changed the entire process so it took out 
the middle uh Avenue it took out the uh Triumph   funding because we met with immediately after 
we got that nod we met with u the administrator   and he brought in his entire staff planning 
engineering everyone and we tried to talk about   how do we get there and we came to the agreement 
that a master development plan would be the way to   make sure that this fuzzy discussion about the 
dpz plan the spirit of it the bones of it how   do you control that we decided that a master uh 
development agreement would be the way that's why   in the contract that you've had before you from 
The Bu town center and you have it as a backup and   the one page that has been provided to you tonight 
just references the paragraphs because I want you   to understand that we have spent an entire year 
going through this process understanding and   listening but it was very helpful again at the 
committee of the whole this morning to get the   details of what you were talking about no one had 
ever mentioned before the the issues and the focus   of the particular issues that you were looking for 
each time we heard we came back with what you were   looking for so just to be clear late at night on 
this particular deal point that you have in front   of you the PS the the puron sale agreement for 
bu Town Center we're talking about all 540 Acres   42.5 million you have an EMD of 25 down in 5 days 
that's non-refundable you have a $500,000 within   5 days of the bcc's approval of the initial site 
plan that's very well developed in paragraph 3.2   of the agreement that then we provide you within 
30 days a schedule a timeline with benchmarks   within 30 days of how this process is going to 
look like that initial site plan must be submitted   within 90 days the closing date is 30 days after 
the conditions in paragraph 7.2 are satisfied and   it cannot be extended for more than one year 
and then on it's paragraph eight that talks   about the master development agreement your staff 
told us that the development and infrastructure   that is in the dpz plan which is $40 million 
of investment in the plan public investment is   what that Plan called for they indicated that for 
instance storm water the road systems that was not   something they were interested in what you have 
is the ability to control the development with a   master development plan you the idea is you're the 
bid that you're getting tonight from either all   of the three you've heard dpz Spirit of the plan 
that's because under the actual plan that's not   what the $40 million that's being submitted to you 
for these three projects because all of us have   talked about the spirit of the dpz plan because 
the nuts and bolts of it in putting it forward   and getting it zoned in that correct is not there 
yet that's why we have a master development plan   in the process in the PSA so that is the way that 
we are proposing to go forward that gives you full   control of the process you see the initial uh site 
plan development within 90 days you have the uh   full approval of the master development plan which 
then gives you the entire concept and you have a   plan that the developer uh has submitted that 
you can approve and that you are guide as has   been indicated our team is already um has on board 
uh dpz will act as your master planner just as you   were discussing this morning will'll be uh happy 
to work with and there's no reason that in that   development master development plan process we 
can't accommodate and if you're staff is looking   to provide for public infrastructure that can be 
accommodated we're committed to as Rob said the   job creation the benchmarks that we heard today 
and we're committed to finalizing this PSA with   your staff within 30 days or you can sign the one 
that's there before you we're ready we've been   here for a year working with you in detail to come 
up with a plan that you've heard from the citizens   and that you've heard we've heard from you meets 
your plan thank you thank you will all right um   appreciate your comments Chad and Ashton whoever 
from your team wants to come up and talk or Chad   are you going to lead the fight here thank you 
Mr chairman uh Chad Henderson here representing   the Catalyst Wilson team commission thank you so 
much uh again very admirable for for hanging in   here uh through through the whole day events 
want to just recap um our um our discussions   this morning presentation this morning about first 
and foremost of understanding the gravity of the   decision that is before you uh we understand this 
is not just a real estate transaction and this is   not a developer selection this is a partnership 
selection uh we are focused on this uh from a   a partnership perspective from an alignment 
perspective and certainly from an outcomes P   perspective we've uh We've addressed three sets 
of key stakeholders I spoke to earlier today uh   number one is the original temp of job creation 
uh we're all here standing on as I said earlier   on the shoulders of giants that got us to hear 
for as uh commissioner may put 25 years worth   of work uh and and the original attempt was jobs 
creation and we have to do this with very much   a unified front it's going to take all of us to 
come together to bring those high-tech high-wage   jobs that we all want that's why we sought 
out you know working with and reaching out   to the business Alliance you know other aspects 
of Florida West pedc and deliver toou that we   want to be hand inand we feel like we can bring 
on our own Merit a lot of opportunity to the table   but we also know that having every tool in the 
toolbox available uh to to do that is the right   thing to do uh we share with you some case studies 
from that e District perspective of of how we've   been successful in the past we shared with you a 
case study of easta East Chase in Montgomery 300   30 Acres that 20 years ago was a Hayfield and now 
has 4,500 jobs and has a vibrant Beating Heart to   a community uh 30 food and beverage out uh outlets 
and so forth we talked about the Redstone Gateway   Redstone Arsenal about how now it's 8600 jobs 
uh and how it has another 2 and A5 million   square feet to be developed contract defense 
again High wage shs talked about another one   at at the bellward campus up in Maryland off of 
Kent around Kentland in Ash syca pharmaceutical   manufacturing and such but we understand these 
are the kind of jobs you're after we understand   how to put together a plan that makes sense 
and moving forward we talked about working in   with the spirit of dpz and within the bones of 
that plan reaching out to DPC we've already had   conversations with them to come back to the table 
to make sure that we are you know looking at every   aspect of how we can improve the plan to make 
sure that we're all set up for Success we talked   about the other group of the stakeholders that we 
talked to was creating the Beating Heart of Bula   we've talked to community members we've talked 
to Miss Theresa Blackwell we've talked to Navy   Federal folks that have been there some that 
were there when the original started this and   some that have since moved there and we felt that 
that their their voices needed to be heard but   they wanted to have a beating heart they wanted 
to have a place to gather want to have a place   for human capital exchange a place to to be with 
friends and family around experiences uh and that   they can enjoy one another and that's what we 
we really worked hard from that perspective of   creating this Beating Heart uh that was simply 
called the mixed use District understanding how   we can have a a um a an 18-hour District of 
people centered development again where it's   it's walkable uh and you have National regional 
and local uses that are com together that would   would make the whole greater than W the sum of 
its parts we'll be more successful in recruiting   high-wage jobs by having a very successful and 
highly planned out curated mixed use experience   the third stakeholder group we talked about with 
you guys about being a steward of this and how   picking the right developer the right partner is 
so important certainly The Upfront purchase price   uh creates an opportunity for immediate Roi on 
the investment of the taxpayers up to this point   we completely understand that but it certainly 
but we believe it just starts there of how much   that we can do uh by implementing and executing 
on the plan we went over our platforms not just   individuals but platforms have come together 
Catalyst and jwa Associates over 250 of real   estate professionals from a capital markets 
background uh a a leasing background Asset   Management development construction management you 
know Financial Accounting financial reporting all   of these are are different uh deliverables uh that 
come together that that create a very very viable   platform to interact with private Equity Real 
Estate and other you know pensions and other large   institutional investors that this project would 
absolutely need when we talked about working with   pedc we certainly think there could be some other 
avenues for Capital and that's why we want to work   with them because we want to explore that but 
to do that then come back to the commission do   that come back to the commission it's not very 
it's just not it's not going to work you have   to have one master developer with one throat 
to choke to work with Partners like this to   craft what we believe to be the best shot in 
making sure that this is successful cuz it's   takes all of us it's with that that that I would 
sincerely ask the board to consider to um uh uh to   to make a motion to work and pick a developer 
and work through um a a a contract a purchase   and sales agreement I know there have been some 
putting forth from front of you uh but a decision   of this size and a a contract of that complexity 
certainly there are nuances that need to be   commented on discussed and negotiated and we are 
prepared to do that um thank you very much thank   you Chad Chad to be clear your offer is still at 
40 million right our offer is at U commissioner   May our offer is at 40 million um however uh 
we are again we're opening to listen through   negotiation of exclusive negotiation of this 
contract um you know purchase price is one aspect   of the contract there are other aspects of the 
contract and we would like to address those as a whole okay thank you okay at this time board 
that's I guess the completion of all the briefs   um it's open for our discussion commissioner 
Barry would you like to start unless commissioner   stobber has some comments I'd be happy to make 
some uh was genuinely impressed with all three   presentations and I I you know I think even the 
even the presenter that I'm not as familiar with   as the other two uh presented a a capacity to 
be able to uh you know a reasonable capacity   to be able to do the project um but I you know 
certainly know the other two I I you know have   relationships in the you know the Tampa Orlando 
area that have that have worked with and around   uh Metro development and uh you know just seeing 
the other multi-use projects that they've done it   certainly seems like they have the capacity as 
well I'm inclined to uh to hope that the board   would instruct Wes and Allison to um see if we 
can negotiate an acceptable contract with the uh   the triw the Wilson group um and see if we can 
move from there uh that doesn't mean that you   know I hope that means that eventually we'll have 
a contract come back to our board but it doesn't   mean that it will um you know it's going to take 
there's there's uh and commissioner hoffberger   mentioned this morning hard money issues that 
was um and just candidly there were a couple   of issues with with a Horton discussion 18 months 
ago but the hard money was was a big one and they   were it was we were never able uh there were 
probably would have been other issues but we   were never able to get past that one issue so 
you know I agree with you the the hard money is   going to be an is going to be an aspect the uh the 
months to close is going to be an aspect the time   frame that's on the contract um the ability to uh 
you know the the appetite and the willingness to   work with uh uh to work with Florida West and work 
with pedc for the job creation I think that that's   that's going to be a component I I think some of 
that has been indicated by um you know anou that's   been sent from them to PDC or Florida West uh you 
know fairly recently so there's I think there's a   lot of components that are going to go into it 
I think there's going to be components that are   related to the to the to the bill that you know 
you mentioned this morning uh commissioner ker   about no that was the bill earlier the other 
Bill the live local act I think that there's   going to I think we're we're going to have to have 
language in there related to that that protects   you know protects the board we can't you know we 
can't exert that type of authority over privately   owned property now but while it's still publicly 
owned we we do have the ability too and I and and   I think that's something that we're going to have 
to manage uh so there there are a lot of moving   pieces that go into it but the important part is 
to me having the right partner that has those you   know those attributes I mentioned this morning 
to put a quality project on the ground create   the high wage jobs that we want out there um you 
know I would just I I would love to see you know   some upline downline you know supplier you know 
either customers or uh customer or vendors to   Navy Federal next door that seems like a natural 
seems like a natural fit I know they've spent some   time with some of the leadership at Navy Federal 
those I think we have an opportunity to maybe get   the right partner so that's what I that's that's 
what I would hope that we would do at the end of   the evening but thank you for your comments 
like uh commissioner may you want to go next or do you want to go next commissioner strober 
or do you want to let us talk before you go okay yeah I I gave him wrer first rusal yeah so 
so Steve in your mind I mean how do you see um   the inclusion of not losing those public dollars 
that David be talked about earlier so I don't   know exactly legally how how how we make that work 
but I think that when we have you know we we have   ourselves we have uh you know a potential partner 
and and then we have uh you know we have a public   agency or or and you know the the whether the 
vehicle is you know pedc vehicle I think there's   a way to manage ownership I mean just estimates 
related to storm water on the property were double   digit millions of dollars um when we had some you 
know and this has been six or eight months ago uh   when w when we had ECUA in the room um we had the 
uh the I think threers leadership team from ECUA   head engineer executive director head engineer and 
I don't know what Stacy's title is but the the of   their chain we had them in the room talking about 
utility cost out there um so this is unrelated to   uh unrelated to power unrelated to other other 
utilities that you know may be necessary the   ECA numbers were staggering for infrastructure 
because there's uh there's not uh there's a new   a completely new lift station that would have 
to be built they were talking about uh they're   not even close to um they still in in the design 
phase of one going in north of the interstate so   we were we were a long way from having capacity 
there and the numbers I think historically the   numbers that come out of e are huge and these 
numbers that they were and these were just back   of the napkin numbers to start feeding real 
commercial they had capacity to uh to serve one one project with water that had very 
little water usage one you know they there   because there's a little bit of extra capacity 
off of the Navy Federal Pro off the Navy Federal   property there was very little other capacity 
in that area so I I I I think there's a lot of   infrastructure public infrastructure that we can 
find a way to manage in the contract and um and I   wouldn't foresee you know if the build out of the 
whole property is is going to be just substantial   I don't I don't know enough to know the number 
but it is going to be substantial and these guys   whether it's whether it's that group or another 
group you know you don't make money accidentally   so if there's an opportunity to have uh to partner 
and have 10 12 1420 million of infrastructure   through the way that we manage the contract or 
manage the title transfers or the D transfers   there's a way to manage that that's going to um 
allow the job production that's really going to   you know that's really going to jump start the 
site then how would they how would they not you   know just jump at that opportunity so I I I 
believe there's a way to manage it if there's   a want from the people involved and I believe that 
there is a want from the people involved well well   let me say Steve I mean since the beginning I I've 
I've certainly um supported position of you and   and commissioner MOS and now uh commissioner strob 
Berger and you know I don't see me uh swaying from   you know supporting uh because you represent a 
large portion of those who are directly affected   but indirectly people that I represent are 
affected and so um and to be clear my district   is about about a half a mile from here I mean it 
it's it begins at the interstate I mean it is very   no no no and I respect that yeah I mean and and 
I hope hopefully you know my respect uh to my two   colleagues who represent those districts uh you 
know has you know been appreciated and I'm sure   it has been because you you you always have and 
I'll continue to do that but when when I make that   comment commissioner I'll simply make the comment 
in terms of how do we get to where we're going   I mean certainly I I know you know there's not a 
doubt I know Brian Spencer and and Fred hmer know   Brian Spencer you know well and the great work 
that he's done I've known Ashton Hayward my entire   life and and I know Chad Henderson so I mean those 
two great groups and I was impressed with Ryan you   know quite frankly I was impressed with it with 
with his number so I don't think we we go wrong   I think we got to get out to the development 
business for me when I'm hearing my PDC and my   Florida West on the infrastructure when you know 
we're hearing that there's money uh that's already   sitting in a grant that we scored an a I would 
hate to lose that money because you at the end   developer needs to make money and I'm I'm not a 
developer I don't know how to forecast I I don't   know how to read spreadsheets balance sheets 
performance none of that stuff you know that's   not what I'm what I'm doing but I do understand 
dollars and cents in bottom line and if you know   you can get 30 million from Triumph to put in 
infrastructure then the houses are cheaper you   know I mean development cost is cheaper I mean I'm 
you know so give give or take that that I think it   was $14 million that was approved you know that 
the lowest number and this is this is that this   is that a a high wage a high wage job production 
you know that would have come with a a commitment   from the county for 700 jobs at at at a minimum 
you know the the highest wages the highest the   highest Grant allocation I believe unless unless 
I'm incorrect and Mr be could correct me but I   think he spent $50,000 a job so that $14 million 
would have required you know 700 jobs give her you   know give or take understand so I mean we would 
have been on I'm sorry that may not be correct so I sorry 280 jobs excuse excuse me 280 jobs 
for that $14 million at best case scenario for   and you know so the I think we can meet the job 
numbers but they're going to but they're going to   be you know there's going excuse me there's going 
to be requirements that are going to come with any   of that public money and there was also I mean one 
of the things that came up a couple months ago was   there was there's Governor's growth uh Governor's 
growth fund that has money that could go directly   into uh you know directly into infrastructure out 
there as well and I I think the uh you know the   the process to maybe tap into that is even you 
know it's maybe even expedited but yeah I mean   I the govern's growth fun I mean I I remember 
initially Scott LOF talking about that and other   different pockets of money you know I can you 
know I've never been to a trium meeting I know   David serves on it and I have seen you know we've 
heard people talk about what our neighbors to the   east of us are getting but I have seen you know 
other counties um get a lot of Triumph money and   I think we deserve more money from Triumph here 
in this game County cuz we were uh affected uh   just like the surrounding surrounding counties uh 
but back to what I was saying Steve in terms of of   respecting uh my two colleagues you know whether 
it's 40 million rather it's 42 million rather it's   43 million you know every 5,000 makes a difference 
in my district you know and so um that's you know   I I have to get there and quite frankly you know 
we've had some conversations um on on how to get   there because those things are important uh for 
all of our districts and for all of our citizens   to win the citizens of BU need to win but the 
citizens of all scam County need to win too uh   the majority of the citizens that I represent 
uh the only time they'll enter that town center   it's probably on you know a a a night out you 
know every six months uh and so as we're moving   forward you know it's going to be important for 
me and quite frankly for me to be so supportive   uh is that we maximize uh those dollars and as 
minute or as small as they may seem uh to some   and when people talk about the 10 to 20 to 30 
year Roi uh that's great but I have the current   property blight despair in my district today uh 
and so it doesn't wait for me 10 20 years it it   happens in my years of service that I'm going to 
do everything that I can to improve the quality of   life for the citizens that I represent if that 
put in street lights and sidewalks and Parks   uh you know 10,000 at a time or 5,000 at a time 
that's that's critical for me uh although I can   certainly respect uh the long-term vision of my 
colleagues or any other person so with that said   U Mr chairman you all I think I've pretty been 
pretty clear in my position I mean my position   has always been simply High wage jobs uh you 
know never thought of housing until uh Theresa   and her group came and loved the idea aide of the 
attainable housing and and making sure people have   high wage jobs so they could be able to attain 
those homes uh and being able to recruit Revenue   funds uh for you know our portion uh that I would 
think that would go back into my district uh after   we sign a deal and get the income so you know the 
income is still very the current income is still   very critical to me thank you Mr chairman thank 
you commissioner M so if I'm hearing you right   the the price is important to you it's absolutely 
I I think I don't I've never wavered okay I mean   I think that's the only thing that I've said 
I've I've supported the two Commissioners from   that District 100% but my my position I've only 
made two points highways jobs because that was a   promise uh and then the ROI that all five of us 
will enjoy I mean it won't be one commissioner   it'll be five Commissioners being able to go back 
into their District uh to do to do great work and   and Mike you know rather you know it's you know 
a half a million a meal two meal two and a half   meal that's pretty important uh to cras you 
know that's more money that's more money than   we generate you know in a year's time in a tiff so 
you know we were talking about you know rebuilding   houses we had sent a contract back tonight for 
$73,000 if I had 500,000 I just I just change   the life of five families right in my district so 
thank you thanks for your comments uh commissioner   hoffberger I'll I'll jump commissioner stroberg 
if you'd like to comment thanks um I would love   to see if she's more Triumph dollars we have 
Ellison industrial park that hasn't been repaved   in 30 years the bluff industrial park that I'd 
like to see revitalized and the possibility of   the Midtown Commerce Park as well not to mention 
Workforce Development what I don't want is to put   jobs up in Bula and us bring in people who don't 
live here to take those jobs amen so I feel like   there's room to use Triumph dollars for Workforce 
Development I'd like to see that happen uh I want   to Echo commissioner Barry and move forward with 
the triw proposal uh I believe they showed the   best track record along with the priorities that 
were in line with our priorities of creating jobs   okay thank you thank you commissioner all right 
I'll make a comment and then I'll let Steve go   and then we'll kind of try to wrap this up I 
um I said this this morning I I think you all   are going to be able to develop something out 
there that we're going to be proud of I really   really do I've felt the passion by everyone um I 
think all the Commissioners have been listening   intely trying to process this um some of the 
things I've looked at in the in the all of the   bids obviously the price I like the additional 
deposit that we talked about this morning so   the county if it something fell out I don't want 
to completely waste a bunch of time like we have   in the last year not getting any anything back in 
return um jobs obviously are important important   I think it's and I and you know this is more 
a comment for uh the legal department I don't   know how we can work with pedc so we can get those 
Triumph dollars and I think that's something that   I don't know you can answer that night or if you 
can look back somehow to see if there's a way that   we can sell it to one developer and still work 
through that um because I think we know that pedc   has a role um but there seems to be quite a bit of 
restrictions and from what I'm hearing we want to   selda one developer the timeline for me is very 
important um but it's not instrumental but I do   like sooner than later and I do agree I do agree 
with commissioner May and it's only because of the   district I represent um when you have a lot of c 
and I have a very uh mixed District um those small   amount of monies I have three cras in my district 
I'm going to have a fourth one after tonight   um we have a lot of low income and when you have 
what like he said $200 $500,000 that would go back   on the price it's a huge difference when I go out 
to a neighborhood and they say hey I hear ol fate   or the beach is getting this and they're saying 
what am I getting in Beach Haven that's what I   got to represent and we all have to represent the 
whole community and I know that's not what you   guys are looking at as the developer but I have 
to talk to those folks just like commissioner   May does and those are hard conversations 
sometimes at those neighborhood meetings but I um I'm split between two of you I'm going 
to kind of wait and see what commissioner   strober has to say and then we'll see 
where we end up so I don't think we're   going to lose by doing this with any of the 
developers I really don't think that I think   that all of you have the passion to to do a 
great job um the jobs worries me the the the   jobs the subject of jobs worries me because 
something I I I've given it a lot of thought but I think without the 
infrastructure we can't get those jobs so we have to find a way to work 
with pedc and keep that public I think   all the developers have shown a willingness to 
do that too I've talked to them all they've said   they are so that shouldn't be a problem um but 
all things being equal you know I I expect one   day I'm going to be out there on all f8 in a 
lawn chair with Teresa and CC and we're going   to watch this happen and we're just going to be 
sipping some tea or something and we're going to   finally be so happy that we've got in here and 
it it could be with any of you but all things   being equal you know I think the money makes 
a difference I have I've seen the passion that   um Metro has sir I I I love your passion man 
you were you weren't even selling me like a   Salesman you were selling me like you want me 
to move there and that that's how I felt about   it I I've always said that I I want someone to 
develop that thing to make me want to move out of   parito key and move up to Bula and I I think you 
guys can make me move to Mula I really think you   can and I trust that you'll stick with the master 
plan you've I think it's key that you you've said   that you've got a Consulting planner in dpz I've 
talked to Marina Corey too I I know that Chad's   group has also talked to Marina for they're I 
Ashton's pretty tight knows her pretty well too   I think that relationship is it's also key to me 
too um working through that master plan with dpz um so I I I'd have to say that for me the 
difference you know in that in the bid is   is a tiebreaker for me and I and I I I 
would have to go with the metro and the hammer so Steve how do you see so I guess the 
commitment is to keep that with what you're   saying to keep that um public the 270 acres 
is that what the number is going to be it's   going to be that 270 I I 270 221 I mean that's 
I think like I said before I think we need to   re-evaluate with the help of the developers in 
dpz to figure out what really is viable up there   for in you know light industrial and and and I've 
said it again and again about the definition of   light industrial makes me nervous too because 
it's such a broad definition but we'll figure   that out I I but I think that um I think that we 
I I don't know how we do that I don't know how   we keep it public but I know that they're willing 
to work with pedc and and um um but still buy the   whole thing I don't know how that works m m I'm 
sorry who's for I don't care no no no okay thank   you you have a com either way I mean M was going 
to be quick I honestly was going to ask um ask   Chad and then ask Fred can I ask Chad Chad can you 
come forward please can ask your question please sir so I know you said you talk talked about 
it in negotiations uh that nothing was solid I   mean obviously I mean you've probably heard from 
colleague that represents that District you know   a deal breaker is the number and how important 
it is to myself and uh commissioner um ker I   I my question one is can you work with keeping 
the 270 or the 221 public and I mean when would   you have a a a be comfortable in giving a hard 
number of where you could be well I'll speak to   the uh to the you working with pedc uh on the 
what could Remain the public I think that's a   that's a a big question around structuring and 
how to appropriately structure I think that is   a uh that is a workshop in itself uh in working 
with um all stakeholders uh pedc Florida West   understanding uh from a Triumph perspective 
perspective how they look at those things uh   and that was quite frankly what our mou was about 
is to dive deep uh to make sure that that we were   looking under every rock at the same time we were 
as a a private developer we weren't running from   the fact that if it had to stay private we could 
stay private and certainly are prepared to do   that uh to provide uh you know all the capital 
necessary to develop a project uh but uh you   know this is a very uh large uh generational and 
complex project and to um and to and to stand up   here uh with not all the information to say with 
certainty uh that we have a structure that would   work um I'm not going to say that but what I'm all 
I'm asking is is to have uh the right uh to have   the property under contract Focus uh not here on 
day one but day two which is how to move forward   uh and that is to getting all the experts in the 
room uh to to look at every different avenue to to   make sure that we're utilizing every tool in the 
toolbox to get there um from a perspective of of a   hard number um you know I like I I shared with you 
earlier the CW we you know we modeled this thing   and have modeled it um you know quite extensively 
uh with the knowledge that we have with staying   in the spirit of the dpz plan uh looking at past 
experiences understanding true cost understanding   what uh uh what return profile risk return profile 
our institutional Partners institutional capital   would would need to have on a project like this 
and so flippantly you know we can't come up in   something like you know 10 million of value you 
know in the course of a you know a 4-Hour Break   um uh we're going to you know I would I would say 
that that we put certainty of execution you know   first uh about what we can put forth uh that 
said um I if the Commissioners find uh that um   our uh team is um is you know is equal but I'm 
not interested in getting a bidding war there   has to be some sort of value placed on on what 
each team brings um if if we're not if we're not   good enough then I promise you I'll be the biggest 
cheerleader for for whoever gets this uh but I do   feel uh that we're the best choice given you know 
all of the things that we talked about earlier I   said get it uh want it and have the capacity in 
their relationships to do it that's also from a   job creation perspective from a beating heart 
perspective and from a stewardship perspective   um so uh commissioner may I mean I I do think 
there is there's some room in our I think there's   a little room in our number but what we'd like to 
is look look at the contract as a whole uh and see   you know what's important to you uh commissioner 
hoffberger from a perspective of of money upfront   um but I want to address the money up front I 
want to address you know what the Milestones   that are important to you guys especially now 
that we're talking about working with uh another   entity in pedc in Florida West and how we can 
explore that that has to be factored in and to   we think about going through these Milestones um 
in anyway so so commissioner May um um we could   support um you know some some sort of increase in 
our our uh our price um I feel that um I feel that   we would really want to sit down and go through 
the entire contract with all the pertinent terms   uh and have it right there in front of us and then 
if we could not come to a term agreement then you   know we understand but um uh I do find that that 
we bring uh a lot of Merit to the table uh in our   approach uh and our willingness to work with pedc 
and being flexible and being entrepreneural uh on   how we um you know we Orient towards getting 
every again tool in the toolbox to be unified   uh on the job front uh on the Beating Heart side 
of the house I think that we we can do that really   really well and and we could also create the 
place uh that you're you're having te in the   ader duct chair um so commissioner and Chad I 
mean I I I I I get kind you know I mean if if   I was leaning I'd be leaning because I've seen 
your work I've seen the development at Baptist   I've seen seen the work that that you've done 
um I hear what two of my colleagues have said   and I certainly respect you know all of my 
colleagues I I do respect the two colleagues   that are directly affected commissioner Barry and 
commissioner stroberg I I think that their opinion   uh weighs heavy on me uh but I I I do you know 
have a commitment you know to where I am I mean   Teresa Teresa got up and spoke very highly but at 
the end of the day for me I would be inconsistent   with what I've said Comm Mr Hofer do you have 
a comment I was waiting for them to finish Ian   I stopped Chad you something you want to say no I 
mean I'm just saying this to Chad because I mean   now I think fairly the question I asked Chad I 
should ask Fred and I should ask Ryan as well in   all fairness if we're gonna do this I mean for me 
you know the dollar I would be inconsistent in the   message that I've said repeatedly I mean whether 
it was privately or publicly uh if I didn't say   that the highest and the best bid financially 
for me uh was not important and so that's what   I would struggle with I would certainly say that 
uh what I've seen with Mr Wilson what I've seen   with you is awesome uh but I I will say that 
you know I can immediately make impact in my   community the moment we can get to the end of a 
contract uh with and you know two two and a half   million dollars quite frankly it's just two and 
a half million dollars I mean if all things equal   I have two colleagues one supporting here one 
supporting there obviously they both I I would   I completely respect your position I respect all 
of your POS positions and I guess you know my ask   was is that if if I went to 42 A5 million U is the 
next conversation you know 43 million um we're not   interested I no I don't think that's it I think 
for me not for me I can't speak for anybody else   but but to answer your question I think there is 
room um and conferring with my partner uh I think   there is room uh in our bid uh to to um to explore 
matching uh at 425 but we we would like to have   again the opportunity to negotiate the contract in 
whole you know with all of the parameters all of   the pertinent terms and we have uh in large part 
uh gotten U you know at least some way uh with the   county attorney uh but there are things that we 
certainly can tighten up we haven't really seen   a red line back because we were waiting for this 
point uh we we did get some high Lev things that   were important uh but we haven't received a red 
line so I mean I I think you know what we would   ask is that if if we could commit to to matching 
the prices that we have an opportunity to have an   exclusive right to negotiate the contract is that 
fair commissioner May well yeah I'm not going to   negotiate the deal from from the dice but I that's 
very respectful and that was very important to me   and so whatever the terms of the deal is Chad I 
just want to get across the finish line but I just   want to be true to who I am and to what I've said 
uh since the beginning and those are the only two   things that those are quite frankly the only two 
requirements I've ever had uh about that and and   you know other things came along because I had no 
idea that it was going to be housing I never I had   no idea it was going to be a town center which 
are all great ideas and appreciate uh what the   bu community has said uh and so I hope that and 
as commissioner Barry said that we've negotiated   multiple times uh to no resolution and so I want 
to get out of the negotiations get out of it get   an get get an offer get a commitment get the jobs 
and you'll get the bottom line dollar and then we   move on and we get out of it because we'll be here 
to midnight in perpetuity if we continue to try to   negotiate with developers and negotiate a deal so 
that's the number was it was important to me and   back into everything else and I I I I appreciate 
you um matching that because it's important to the   people that I represent as commissioner ker said 
you know you got to go back to your investors and   you got to go back to your partners and answer 
my investors and my partners are the people that   I represent uh that I made some um commitments 
to that's where I needed to where I would expect   to be and that's just not for district three I 
mean it doesn't all go to my district it goes   to five districts uh but so it's not a a huge 
amount of money money but it certainly makes a   big difference uh to our five district so so I 
appreciate that Chad uh commissioner offer m b   I'll give you an opportunity to make a quick 
statement but can let's let commissioner Hof   so knowing that Triumph funds are important and 
I agree and work force development is important I   believe there was a section in your proposal where 
you were donating property back for school we we   were uh certainly contemplating that from the 
first um uh contract that we presented uh we have   sent again that that's why that contract has not 
you know been been put put back to us okay um you   know now we were focused more on working with the 
pedc and the E District uh from a jobs perspective   to making sure that certainly We Believe on having 
some Civic anchors within the heartbeat aspect of   our um our mix use aspect of our plan uh but 
the E District was been the focus focal point   after getting you know good direction from the 
stakeholders uh that we address as I spoke to as   I spoke about earlier okay thank you okay thank 
you yeah and I think that is I think everyone   knows the school board bought some property 
pretty close to that just recently to build   a school so um that's more in their Lane anyways 
um Mr Bill I'm going to let him he's been waving   it I don't know if you want to answer commissioner 
May's question on price or if you have some other   comment yes sir so um running running first 
of all um I I do appreciate everyone and my   other competitors here this is not the ideal way 
to negotiate a contract so out of respect though   I don't see as a citizen how an option contract 
for two years is in the best interest of this   community okay so I just want to I'm not all due 
respect the option contract we're we're ready to   move forward with this number I was on the phone 
with my principal at the fund approved the 40   million to close and I think in that six-month 
period I more than happy to have a conversation   with Florida West and PE EDC uh to see how we 
can apply for the appropriate money to have   some of that grant money on this field so I think 
in that six-month window we can we can come to an   agreement okay thank you I I think here's where 
we're at we either need to set some parameters   that we agreed to and re have them renegotiate 
or we need to make a motion if someone's willing   to do that and Mr Mr chairman I'm comfortable 
making a motion to ask Wes and Allon to negotiate   an acceptable contract that encompasses the 
priorities of the board with the J or the triw   group and see where it goes we will it's not as if 
we'll be distant from each other for months on end   you know after the holidays uh we have we have a 
lot of business beginning in January January we'll   we'll be together regularly especially with our 
our uh standing committee of the holes now that   are scheduled so we'll we'll we'll be convening 
together regularly and uh I'd like to I think in   my opinion that's the right partner I'd like to 
move forward with those discussions and give an   opportunity to see if we can get there and see 
how it goes Mr commissioner Barry um can I let   commissioner strober before we ask for a second 
to see if he would want to make a different motion   or allow that to go forward and see if there's a 
second I'd like to see if there's a second if you   don't mind Mr chairman is there a second at this 
point before no I I'd like to make a motion too   well yeah hold on there's a motion on the table 
right now so I just wanted to put that out there   I I was trying to be respectful since it's in 
his district is there a second on the initial motion I don't know what the rules are can 
we hear the second motion and then pick how   does that work um we can if we if if there 
doesn't get a second motion then we can let   commissioner stroberg go and then if uh 
commissioner Barry wants to reenter his   inial motion we can go from there are you okay 
with that commissioner Barry if there's not a   second at this time and and Mr chairman 
I know that you were moving forward and   that's fine that it was a motion but you know 
I did want to hear from we let Ryan speak and   Chad I wanted to hear from Mr Hammer but you 
I'm sorry I you did say that can you want to   bring Mr Hammer up yeah it was just quite frankly 
it was just a question of keeping the 270 public Fred are are you getting tired yeah we're here for 
you Fred it was just the addressing working with   pedc in the 270 acres and keeping that public 
is is that a commitment that you guys would   keep it public yes we're willing to do that you 
know we we've been going back and forth whether   it's the whole whether it's 250 acres and we've 
accommodated everything that's been requested   from us I mean I can tell you two years ago I 
met with chips trying to go through the details   here how to get the county their Triumph funds 
so we've been very concerned about that and as   will mentioned once the property sort of got 
bifurcated it sort of stopped that process now   that we're maybe going back into it we are 
certainly more than willing to do anything   we can to help the county get that Triumph 
funds money so we you know we stand here   I think on equal level with anybody else for 
that consistency um just talk to my partners   if we have to come up another million dollar we 
will do that we'll always take more money Fred um I promise you know I'm you know you know I'm 
not trying to help people in a biding I have a   separate question on uh you were the only ones 
that you know I know that the other two biders   or developers had said they'd work with PDC 
I I'd like to see you guys do that I talked   to you about that I've talked to everyone about 
that actually you you're you'll have a commitment   to try to use them in the economic devel is that 
you absolutely okay I just want to make sure that   absolutely and and Mike I mean commissioner Coler 
I mean this is probably the larges and thanks Fred   you've answered my question thank you Fred we're 
good you answered for me thank you yeah no thank   you so much no thank you um as you just said the 
parameters um this is such a huge project uh that   we're going to have to lock arm and arm to work 
with in where you know obviously we had two colle   leagues have clearly stated where they are uh 
you have not really stated where you are um I was   torn and you know obviously you know um my whole 
commitment was if you know it reached the 42.5 you   know I probably would support um uh Chad and his 
group um but it's important to me where commiss   stroberg is but it'd be important to me where 
we had consistency I mean I mean where this land   you know probably could easily be you know a 32 
or 4-1 vote on something that's going to take all   of us working together really with you know and 
so and I like what you said let's get the let's   get the parameters that's why it would have been 
so important to have an RFQ and RFP set out with   our expectations our criteria the minimum amount 
of money you know exactly what we wanted rather   than these unsolicited proposal because it is 
vague I mean we're we're not necessarily voting   uh on specific criteria we're kind of voting 
on a presentations and and somewhat emotions   which you know is is not necessarily you know how 
you would do a a request for proposal it would be   criteria uh but my goal is you know we have two 
guys one to my right one to my left probably with   two different motions you know how do we uh Define 
the par parameters I know everybody wants to get   off base at midnight tonight how do we Define 
those parameters come to an agreement where we   we are all singing from the same shoo of music 
I mean for me it's almost a dead tie right now   you know and probably I probably would lean uh 
we have two people voting that way I don't want   to have a 3-2 vote you know I probably would 
support my colleague and um commissioner um um if we had to come down to that vote but I I 
want to figure out how do we get this you know   in a way that's going to have a real consensus 
I know in this world that we live in some things   end up being 3-2 some things end up being 41 but 
I can tell you something this major we we have to   clearly Define to make sure that we're all voting 
on the same criteria uh to move this forward and   to have the clarifications because here's part 
of the problem we got will you work with pedc of   course I will will you keep it public of course 
I will who knows and then once again we get it   into negotiations and it fails again because it 
hadn't clearly defined here you know at midnight   we've throwing out some criteria and tried to 
force some people you know to do something you   know that we want them to do and so to me that 
is not necessarily the best way I will do uh   you know what my colleagues want to do I mean I'm 
good with that if if we just had to make the vote   but i' Lov I like what you just said we need 
to set the parameters we need to have a clear   vision of exactly the criteria that we're voting 
on and what's important you know and don't box   ourself out you know what I mean I don't think 
we tell any any I mean these two groups are so   close I mean I don't think you just snatch the 
ball and tell somebody you need to go home you   know I mean because what if negotiations fail 
I I agree with I think everything you said I I   think we should allow commissioner stroberg at 
this point oh yeah oh yeah absolutely I don't   know how much more I need to say I I do want to 
make a motion that we uh begin I'm sorry go ahead okay okay we heard that so Fred's bids 43.5 
so we we'll we'll have the contract over or   whatever but let's finish and see where 
we end up all right well I like to make   the motion that uh we begin negotiations 
with bua Town Center is there a second I'll second just because I think I should honor like 
we normally do the commissioner's District it has   nothing to do with the people that have played 
here today I think that the board has always   respected a person commissioner's District I 
think both deals are all the deals are fair   I don't know where we're going to up on this vote 
but there's yeah I'm still ful the come to I mean   I'll be candid I mean because I I still have 
to look Chad in his eyes he he he came to the   the podium and said if I went you know it's 425 
what you've back for all day and what's going to   happen in 5 minutes what be 43 and that's see that 
I wouldn't feel good about that because I said no   Chad that's not where we going I mean the number 
is you know I I want to mention something before   we vote and and two of us and Mike I think you 
were on the board when this happened you know we   had we had breand and we had breand and Horton 
that were in that were in discussions a couple   of years ago and uh you know I I thought the 
program from uh the proposal the history of   work the resume the portfolio of work I really 
I I really liked the Breeland proposals because   I liked a couple of the like-sized projects that 
they had done in Alabama um there's a principal in   the breing company that's from Pensacola it's from 
Mambi County that uh uh you know so he's he's here   frequently and what ends up happening they just 
you know it's a privately held company you know   they're they're well resourced but you're well 
resourced in a bidding war with a publicly traded   company that has unlimited access to funds and 
that's I mean that's what Dior Horton has that's   what lenar has our two public builders that we 
have locally and they have unlimited access to   Capital and the comment was just made that not 
going to get in a bidding war with them good   luck ever getting your money that's the that's the 
issue that that's why we never had a contract that   even came back to the board we were not going to 
see the con The Proposal could have been for $80   million we weren't going to see $80 million we 
weren't might as well a bit imaginary money we   weren't going to see those dollars actually come 
to our coffers and you have a well-resourced   private company that says said look Stephen it's 
not worth it why would I why would I continue why   would I continue in that endeavor just a little 
bit of historical knowledge you don't believe   that these folks don't have the resources to fund 
this right I believe that I believe both it and I   don't know Ryan as well as as as I do the other 
folks that are involved I believe that all three   have the resources just because someone has the 
resources to do a deal doesn't mean we're going   to get the money from them that's my point Horton 
had unlimited resources we could have we could   have we could have gotten an offer from Horton 
for $80 million for the property it doesn't mean   we were going to see the 80 million there's so 
many other terms that are going to go into the contract we continued redlining deleting terms 
in there as to when we would actually get paid   those terms continued coming in there they 
they continued being reut in by their general   council's office we weren't going to see that 
money they basically we had 18 month 24 month   just a contract just to tie our property up and 
see how the market goes if the market goes well   maybe they maybe they close if the market doesn't 
go well they want to come back and renegotiate   they were going to be out no hard money we were 
if if they wanted to close and it was actually   an unlimited time frame because the closing was 
dependent upon approved development orders anyway   the terms in the contract are going to be a bigger 
deal than the front end money I just it's not what   I'm saying is though I I do think that if it was 
in your District completely I know it's close I   would have respected you on what you wanted 
I mean I have to take into consideration I do   Steve Won bu buy a massive amount the people 
out there listen it's I mean I think we need   to listen he talked to those people out there 
and for me I think that that has lot of weight   I believe both companies or all three of the 
developers will do that but and Mike I'm I'm   the first four term Republican commissioner 
in scambia County history for the record what   does that have to do with well you you're just 
mentioning Steve Won bua by a massive amount oh   yeah I meant yeah I got you well congratulations 
well that's it's m that's that's that's not   newsworthy it's it's never been but that's the 
truth so I understand what you're saying but   there's I mean there there's there's political 
Capital that exists in multiple seats on the   St I agree in my here's where I am if we have 
to go because you know obviously um it's it's   almost like John R Jones it's my district but 
stepen represents a lot of people uh there's a   vested interest from two of these guys and uh 
I I certainly have seen the sweat tears that   commissioner Barry has put in this for years 
and I see the passion of of of Mr stubber to   me this is the the largest project that we're 
doing and we made tremendous amount of progress   tonight a tremendous more than we made in 
years thank to thanks to your leadership   but in my opinion he's making a motion he's Mak 
it's not clearly defined in terms of our legal I   mean the parameters of the contract in which 
we are expecting from people to me should be   more defined as we move forward we got to the 
major point when you and I wanted to get to was   the numberer we're happy with the numberer 
I mean and and so in in my opinion if this was we're tired we've been at this 10 hours and 
we're about to make a a a a a huge decision you   know to me we're there it looks like there's 
only two people left at the deal there's some   things that that PDC PDC has brought Florida 
West has thrown out Florida West new executive   director threw things at us tonight David 
barar threw things at us tonight we threw   things back at the developers tonight uh we to 
me in my opinion we need time to develop our   RP our instrument and have that conversation of 
those criteria that's important because no one's   really said definitely that they could live by the 
criteria that we've set maybe we'll negotiate it   we can get there but some things that we may say 
that may be unreasonable and at this Midnight Hour   we we can't put that together in my opinion I I 
think that fresher Minds a little time and not   kicking it down the road but we have we have made 
tremendous amount of progress and listen to lots   of lots of of lots of people all day uh to the 
point of fatigue where our entire support staff   that's going to help help us implement this are 
just about gone tonight uh I don't like I mean   I'll be candidate I don't like the vote at the 
Midnight Hour of something that that's significant   here uh I I I I I I really don't I I I think you 
know we Committee of we're there I mean we we   somebody said 25 years okay we've been waiting 25 
years and now you want me to make this decision at   midnight after we've been at this thing for about 
15 hours uh after um commissioner stobber been on   this dies two times you know I mean we need ter 
for administration legal have more conversation   have conversation with both of them I mean 
one they may back out I mean because there   are certain things that we wasn't going to bend 
on I wasn't going to bend on 42.5 million there's   things that Steve's not going to bend on there I 
mean commissioner Barry commissioner stroberg I   mean so to me it would be wise to you know take 
a moment give us some rest vet this out so we   can talk to Legal so we can talk to so we can talk 
to people who do professional rfqs rfps and other   developers so we can move forward we not kicking 
us down the road you know for months but at least   not making a decision where citizens are going to 
say we made a decision you know probably you know   at midnight about something that this major and so 
you know there's a lot of emotions here uh there's   a lot of things that have not been defined here 
tonight I think you know for me I would like to   take a breather and think about a decision that 
I'm about to make because I am poor of where I   need to be and and I've committed you know I I I 
said to Chad you know do do this I mean I can't   kick the ball you know and you know keep moving 
the goal post down the road but I certainly would   like to think about it be able to discuss it we've 
been in blackout I purposely not talk to these   guys because of blackout and and a fear of what we 
can do now we have two people that we can go into   and maybe we can begin to have some conversation 
and make a wise decision so in my opinion   you know if it's been 25 years another 30 days for 
a commissioner that's only been here for a moment   makes sense to me okay let's say uh who's next 
commissioner H or commission I do have a question   should should we just per your recommendation kind 
of revamp this whole process and put out an RFP   instead of just blanket offers to me I don't 
know I'm just asking because it's been thrown   around like four no I don't think that's a bad 
idea I mean I mean no I think that's a wonderful   idea because it sets the and I'm not that may 
be too long of a process if we're not going to   choose a a developer to go with I don't know how 
we're going to negotiate the contract that you're   talking about without having the criteria that's 
important it's not fair to make them sit up here   and overbid each other right no that's unfair yeah 
and and and you know earlier I said that I would   like more decision time you did and if that's 
what everybody wants then I'm okay with that   but now that I'm sitting here I think that we owe 
it to these developers to make a decision I mean   I mean they they've been here just as long as who 
we are and they're all waiting for us to pull the   trigger so but if you guys want to wait I'll wait 
but uh I'm also willing to make make the decision   and and and pull that trigger right now we've got 
a motion and we've got a second I'll say this I I   hear what everyone's saying but we've been doing 
this for two years we're eventually going to   have to make a decision I mean and you know I it 
I'm be willing to retract if I thought that the   conversation would be different in a month but I'm 
not really sure it would be that much different   I've been sitting here for two years we've had 
multiple bids everyone in this room would feel   the same way Mike I mean Mike all I would say to 
you we've never defined the RFP the request for   qualifications the actual proposal I mean you know 
we we we've not ever said to any developer here's   the minimum guidelines here's the minimum fee 
here's here's here's the minimum time it's all   just been kind of thrown kind of thrown out and 
so but I'll do whatever you guys want to do but I   I really think that you know come back at the next 
meeting and not admit night and make this decision   to at least give us time to go home and sleep on 
it well well isn't that what the the motion is is   to begin negotiations they may not work out but 
that's what I'm saying St then we get rid of one   because we're going to choose one why don't we 
come back commission man I can't Sor what you're   saying that's why I was saying comeback Steve you 
know in next meeting give us time to talk to staff   talk to legal and look at you know we got this 
spreadsheet we didn't set these criterias these   criterias were defined by someone else and it 
just to me gives us enough time to just take a   breathing room and not make a decision at midnight 
I'll say this we've negotiated under these terms   um how many times Allison five I'm not sure what's 
different with commissioner strob Berger's request   tonight than the other five times if someone can 
Define that then I'll well I I don't think we've   ever put out an RFQ and RFP for it I mean we just 
had but if you got I I'm I I can only speak for me   I mean I'm I'm not comfortable at this point you 
know at at midnight you know making this decision   uh I'd much rather come with fresher eyes even 
if it was a special call meeting next week uh or   or at at our next board meeting there's nothing 
that's going to happen in these holidays at all   I mean before our next meeting for the first of 
the year I mean we're all going into the holidays   that's an interesting concept would would you 
want to have a special meeting next week I oh   okay that won't work we could bring it back to 
the January 7th no bring it back to January 7th   after the holidays if Steve's if you're okay with 
it Steve I'm going to defer to you if you want   to move I think we I think hopefully at that 
at that that point I think it is going to be   something different I think it is because I see 
the passion for Mr big uh I I I see Ashley I see   Steve I see Mike I mean I see the commitment 
to trying to come to a point of comaraderie   and working together and have this thing land uh 
with a unified front that's what I see and I think   that we're getting I think we're almost there I 
mean this was probably on the third third meeting   with commissioner halberg and and and and second 
meeting with commissioner stroller and obviously   commissioner Barry and I have been together a long 
time and and you've been here a year I think that   I've seen that we've got in progress and so what 
I'm trying to find Mike is the consensus that I   believe that we can find together with just a all 
right I'm going to go back and then we're going   to finish this up commissioner stroberg 
do you want to withdraw your motion no I don't okay all right there's a motion in a second   please vote what what's the motion Steve 
please repeat your motion the motion is   for the county to begin negotiations 
with buet town center and keeping the 270 all right is there a second is 
that correct keeping the 200 and   whatever yes as one one whole property 540 Acres say we're keeping 270 for the U for 
the public light industrial is that   what we're doing with PC in Florida 
West yes that's the way it's been designed commissioner straber this 
isn't my district but your people   are they don't look happy that's why 
I'm need a table just for a little bit the math is drastically changed I'm sorry 
I'm sorry the math is drastically changed   when you take away 270 Acres there is 180 
Acres that is zoned for public use so the   developable Acres when you total this 
project is 424 so when you take 270 for   424 and you take 180 from that southern 
portion you are left with 90 developable   acres and 60 of that is zoned residential 
I'm sorry the numbers drastically Chang r i that's why I I I I I tried to make a 
substitute motion to the table till we get   all that because the things we're throwing out 
tonight with pedc in those 221 or 270 Acres we   have to have Clarity and right if we we don't if 
we don't have we don't have Clarity when excuse   me that's why we to me we have to make sure that 
we have Clarity uh commissioner stobber I think   what you I don't well I don't want I think so 
I think you meant to sell the whole property   to or to go into negotiation with the 540 Acres 
right with it with the intent of using pedc for   the yes yes sell the whole property but with the 
intent of working with pedc to develop to keep it   public we can't do that we can't keep it public 
no we can't do that and then once pdc's help no   we're not going to be able to do that so we can 
use PDC to bring in compan and to bring in jobs   and to bring in Workforce opportunities but if 
we sell the whole piece of property we cannot use   pedc to develop that property via Triumph funds 
right right that's I'm sorry I'm sorry and but   that's my understanding correct the Triumph Grant 
requires I appreciate you can't just jump up and   every every time you have something that Trigg and 
so Steve what we lose and that's the only reason I   ask for a little more clarity a little more time 
because David saying you know it's 14 million   for public infrastructure dollars listen I don't 
want to it's it's you and Steve's District I don't   want to kick it down the road just want to make 
a decision but I want to get clarity to take   some time to be able to ask those questions uh 
that's the only reason I wanted to table and get   our legal opinions and and sit down and make sure 
that we are going in the right direction because   once we go private I mean once we sign a deal 
with a developer whether we sign with Fred or   Chad Deal's done I mean we can't go back and say 
you know what it's not it's not it's not public   and you know my commitment was price in in those 
jobs that are important and for me commissioner   St you know maybe that's not the right you know 
the right way but I hadn't been clearly defined   of if I make that private am I going to be 
able to produce those jobs because I mean   you need in order to create jobs you're going 
to have to have some public dollars to create   jobs I mean that's what what we've done private 
sector Ryan please I appreciate your passion but commiss strober yeah we need to wrap this up it's 
almost midnight I need to know commissioner Barry   commissioner Barry when we were at the uh uh the 
last meeting we went to the pedc we talked about   maybe um the county still still being able to get 
triumph dollars is that not a possibility without   pedc the county I mean the county doesn't need PDC 
to get triumph dollars I mean no that's that's I   mean it it's certainly a vehicle but pedc is a 
PDC can be a recipient of Tri dollars just like   the county could be I mean you would just you you 
need to I think you wouldn't be closing for quite   a long time I think there's a there's a lot of 
time for something to happen now I you know and   I'm very supportive of of PDC being being a part 
of the discussion during this time frame talking   about a due diligence period that's going to be 
lengthy anytime during anytime during we can write   in the contract that you know before before D 
transfers before the title changes that that   you know some of it gets extracted out we reduce 
the purchase price accordingly you have a proat   of purchase price and if you know if you have a 
if you have a project that makes sense that you   know that fits that fits the master plan you pull 
that out you Prat reduce the closing price by you   know $100,000 an acre or whatever the number is 
and then you know pudc or the county maintains   the ownership for that and you and you look at 
a Triumph Grant you know the the trium grants   still there's going to be huge infrastructure 
needs out there I I think that that's still   those things are still possible but I don't 
know I mean I'm just kind of listening and and   and taking in the discussion currently so whatever 
whatever you guys want to want to attempt to do is fine all right it's midnight commiss strober do 
you move forward okay I think we need to push   this for more discussion I think I don't think 
I'm I'm going to you trct your motion yeah okay   what I would like to do in the interest what 
I would like to if the board board is okay I   would like to have them negotiate with all three 
and on the next meeting though I think we need to   be prepared to make a decision I I'm I'm not going 
to let this go on for two years Mike I commission   Co I agree can they negotiate with all the things 
that stroberg Barry wants and the community wants   and whoever has that like you said bring negotiate 
with Al three them and just bring that back to us   and I know I know that that's frustrating for 
the staff but we have set some new parameters   Alison you have some question respectfully Mr 
chairman I don't know what to we don't know   what to negotiate for well we've discussed quite 
a few things tonight from all that's the problem   I respectfully that's the problem is it taking 
270 out is it keeping it in is it to have public   infrastructure not public infrastructure is price 
the most important is it not I mean it's almost   impossible it's that is a task that I feel is 
almost possible unless there are more specific   parameters provided by you guys by a majority I 
just well let's let's cut and dry just some quick   answers because it's get like do we all agree that 
we should we're going to sell the whole property   or we're going to split it up that's an easy one 
for everyone on the board to make a decision Mr   chairman with all due respect there's no way to 
expect the staff to negotiate three with three   entities if the board's there's no way to expect 
the staff to negotiate with three entities if the   board's not willing to take action then how can 
we ask our how can we ask the two the the the   only two employees that we have to basically 
take action for us or create action for us if   we're not willing to take action okay then we 
just come back and do it again so what's your   recommendation I I I made a recommendation I made 
a recommendation that that that was dismissed so   that's fine but if we're not going to take action 
I don't see any way we ask Wes and Allison to do anything okay um I mean   so what's the minimum purchase price we're going 
to take 4.2 4.2 what's the um what's the minimum   deposit we're going to take what's the minimum 
inspection period we're going to take that's   what a developer who a developer representative 
would do for us I mean it's minimum and and so if   he came up with two years well we're not going to 
accept two years it's the minimum qualifications   that you have on any development project that 
yeah and you define that and you go what are   the contract terms that's what you do and if we 
don't have someone on staff to negotiate that then   we hire a development consultant very quickly to 
make sure that we are maximizing what's best for   the citizens of esamia County you know we're 
not going to be able to negotiate with Chad or   Fred or any of them that's not our expertise 
but we what we do is Define the parameters I   mean we want to see attainable housing we want 
to see jobs all those things have to be Apples   to Apples so you can evaluate you can't evaluate 
some you know that's you know that's a narrative   so here here's what I'm hearing commissioner May 
commissioner Barry wants to make a motion still   for U or you oh Comm no commissioner Barry's 
motion died for lack of second now hey so I've   got I've got no more comments I don't think our 
board's going to take any action that's fine if   we're gonna we're now talking about putting out 
an RFP for something RFQ what whatever I I mean   we we're discussing things that put our 
actions years in the future no I agree okay I mean all right since there's not a motion our second since 
commissioner strober withdrew his motion I think   what we need to do so there's no motion on 
the table right he withdrew it I think that the only opportunity at this time of night is 
to come back at the next meeting and redo it   again but but Mike I mean and I and see I'm not 
going against anything you saying and I'm we and   hindsight R but all I'm saying is that if we had 
an inspection period we got one person said one   year one person said two years one person said 
180 days and we clearly didn't Define what was   our minimum expectation of an inspection period 
I mean there's just a few general questions that   I think should be minimum that we' decided as a 
board that people should be able to respond to   but at the end of the day you know we want to come 
back at the meeting and just vote well I think I   think it since there's not a motion in a second 
we need to we need to just come I'm sorry guys I   wanted to get there tonight we exhausted this but 
it's it there's there's there's not an appetite   to get there tonight and maybe it's because 
we've just been here for a long time but um I   guess what I would like Wes is to put it back on 
the agenda at the next meeting give you guys the   opportunity to reflect on what we talked about but 
I promise I'll bring it up every meeting until we   get this resolved I um I was hoping we'd get there 
tonight but uh we we're not there yet so um with   that said I think we're we're done with card 2.3 
all right let's move on to the county attorney's   report oh gosh I forgot we had that too all right 
legislative priorities let's can we do this fairly   quickly do everyone know what they want to put for 
legislative uh wish list I've got the Beach Bridge   that's going to have to be replaced sooner than 
later and I would like some help with some beach   parking okay any other things that the board would 
like to be I know that insurance came up last year   we're going to bring that up again I know that's 
a uh is that something that anyone wants to bring   back again I know everyone in the states worried 
about insurance rates insurance and the Housing   Trust Fund for me okay Housing Trust one I I 
know that fdot the front gate of the base since   we got the design through TP would be nice if we 
could potentially in the following year get some   additional funds for that that's the only thing 
that I would like to add on there is there there's   four is there anything Steve that you you thinking 
about yeah we were talking about this yesterday   Alison and uh we were it was um it was cleaning 
up that um Gateway into um Pensacola Beach the um   the toll booth and stuff uh the Eastern Gateway 
project um that will tie into this but it's not   specifically this I don't think that's eligible 
for State okay or maybe we've already gotten some   State we got some State funding for that already 
right we did get 125 allocated last year we're   putting in Appropriations again for this for this 
year for I mean if they want to give me more I'll   gladly take more representative Andra is more 
than willing to carry that thank you okay is   there anything else for that meeting on the 8th 
that anyone Okay then if that's the case but but   Mike can I just ask one question we've tabled it 
just so we what's the minimal initial deposit we   gonna take are you going back to yeah I just want 
to know I mean because we're coming to boat on it   I want to know I mean because I recommend $250,000 
it goes hard within1 1880 days okay well I like   the for if someone's going to give me 43 million 
or 43 and a half I ain't going to turn it down   why don't say 43 million okay let's do it all 
I'm saying is just just put the criteria down   like you said so we won't be going back and forth 
okay we retracted back to that but but um can we   stay on this if we want at the end you want to 
come back okay yeah we got a couple more things   man all right so on legislative priorities is 
there anything else that we need to address   that is burning with anyone's heart okay Wes you 
and I will brief those four things at the next   meeting all right and I'm going to I think that's 
it now we're ready for the county attorney's   report thank you Mr chairman there are three 
action items on the county attorney's report if   I could have a motion for all three that would 
be fantastic so moved second okay please vote okay uh that passed 5 Z and then Mr 
chairman you had asked us to put on   the county commissioner social media policy as 
a discussion item I've gotten some feedback from   a couple of the um your board members uh I 
would suggest I can bring that back on the   January 9th with some of those proposed 
tweaks and then maybe we can discuss it   then I'm a supportive of that but we have 
two speakers signed up okay so Jacqueline   Rogers if you'd like to speak on this 
and I I'm in full support of what you're recommending because I'm not sure I can come back 
I'm in $8 into parking now so it there's good   and bad in the policy I really like the fact 
that you're not going to have people texting   and emailing during the meeting be present pay 
attention um electronic uh email number three   that was good too you shouldn't use your private 
email to conduct County Business uh and if you   accidentally do it or you accidentally get 
something on your phone when you forward it   the textt messaging I just don't understand 
that you you're not going to let people text   message throughout the day um it's it's kind 
of what people use nowadays so that means your   constituents can't text to you either it's going 
to be and then you you said you have it disabled   on your county device but you're not insuring 
there's nothing in this policy that says you   have to carry a county device so if you have a 
personal phone you can text but if you have a   county device it doesn't matter so um are the 
county owned devices still being backed up it   shouldn't be a problem if everyone is made to 
C carry a county device if that's your policy   and they're backed up on the smart system it 
doesn't matter social media accounts I really   just don't think that's constitutional um I don't 
think it's uh enforcable and I also think it's a   little outdated I mean it's just you guys don't 
use it uh Mr stroer Burger probably doesn't use   it but a lot of people do maybe nobody on this uh 
board but you're making a policy I mean are you   going to say carrier pigeons you can't do that 
you know I mean you they're just communication   it's all in the heart it's all in the ethics of 
how you're going to um do that now I do like the   ABC those are good those are all good um could 
you have County maintain could you say you cannot   have a privately owned uh Facebook account 
or website if you're going to have a website   you're going to have access like your CMR is going 
to have access to it and you can still post on it   but that way if somebody has a public records 
request it could be downloaded there's nobody   that could hold it back um the enforcement 
is difficult too because um a majority of   Commissioners may take any available enforcement 
action so it depends on who you like I mean you   guys are all getting along well before this last 
issue pretty well but at some point you may not   I'm just Kidd even that was good that was a 
I'm just kid it was because we have good we   had good but you know what I mean if if there's 
a if there's a dynamic where you don't like one   person you're going to enforce it on one or 
not the other what Authority do you have over   each other the governor has authority over you but 
how can what are you going to do censure somebody   that's just my my input there but I do like the 
fact that especially not nothing during board   meetings that's really helpful thank you thank 
you Jacqueline um Larry DS you're going to be   our last speaker can hardly believe I'm going 
to have this before I go to damn I'm the last   one I'm going to wrap this thing up just like the 
last Rider at the rodeo all right uh what what are   y'all doing what are you doing Freedom you can't 
have freedom without Freedom y you're going to be   telling each other oh you're on a yeah you got a 
secret social media account a sock Pucket come on   you can get on there y'all grown men and women 
you can get on there and do whatever you want   won't you can you can call text anybody from your 
personal phone there ain't nothing nobody can do   about it you kidding me you're you're free you're 
grown you're elected I mean if y'all do anything   it's just going to be you know a policy it ain't 
a law it's you're wasting our time and I'm wasting   your time right now talking about it but you know 
just so long as y'all know what whatever policy   you put in doesn't Trump nothing it doesn't 
Trump the First Amendment it doesn't trust it   doesn't Trump my ability to communicate with any 
one of y'all any way I want to communicate with   you now you know you can make better decisions 
for yourself that's that's that's on y'all the   onus is on y'all policy means jack squat so quit 
wasting time with this kind of stuff and just   move on make better decisions in your personal 
life okay thank you um board I think I had some   problems with this on number five I know and what 
like Madame attorney said I would just like since   there's a discussion on just to move it to next 
meeting if everyone's okay with that all right uh   sorry for the short meeting but um unless there's 
anything else this meeting is adjourned thank youall for