City Commission Meetings - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. I'm calling to order the City  of Panama City Commission meeting for February   24th at 4:30 p.m. We're going to start out  with an opening prayer by Dr. Corey Pittz,   senior pastor of St. Andrew Baptist Church,   followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by  city manager Jonathan Hayes. Please rise. Let's pray. Lord, we come to you just recognizing  that you are the creator of all things and you are   the giver of all good gifts. And so, God,  we thank you for the gift of Panama City   for all of its citizens, God. And we uh just  thank you also for those first responders that   uh that keep our city safe, keep us well, and  keep us protected, God. We pray for every family   uh that calls this place home that you'd have  your hand on them. And Lord, we also thank you   for these leaders that are here today. God,  we pray for wisdom for them uh as they seek   to bring order to uh uh to items that are on the  agenda. And God, we pray that you would give them   discernment as well as they lead well. God, we  thank you for how good you are to us. We thank   you for how you bless us. In Jesus name we pray.  Amen. Amen. Please face the flag and join me in   the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of  the United States of America and to the republic   for which it stands, one nation under God,  indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please call the role. Hi. Mayor Branch present.  Commissioner Street here. Commissioner Hughes   here. Commissioner Lucas present. Commissioner  Granger. He may join by Zoom later on in the   meeting. Mayor, you have a quorum. Yes.  You've received the meeting minutes from  

February 10th. Do I have a motion to accept? So  move. Please call the RO. Commissioner Street.   Yes. Commissioner Hughes? Yes. Commissioner  Lucas? Yes. Mayor Branch? Yes. Motion passes   40. any addition additions or modifications to  the agenda? Uh, none from staff, Mr. Mayor. Uh,   I don't have an addition this week, but um I would  like us to discuss water billing. Uh, maybe not at   this meeting, but at the the following meeting.  Oh, community fund. March 10th. No, I think   you mean March 10th, right, Commissioner? March  10th or possibly at our virtual workshop. Okay,   sounds good. Moving on. Community announcements.  Yes. As February comes to a close, stay connected   to what matters most in our community. Make sure  you're signed up for city communications and   receive updates straight to your inbox or phone.  From our monthly newsletter to real-time alerts   like water service notifications, we'll keep  you informed every step of the way. Scan the   QR code or visit panalcity.gov to sign up today  because staying informed is always in season.   The city has introduced a new way for  residents to stay informed about programs   and operations at the MLK Junior Rec Center. A  dedication not a dedicated notification rather   uh group has been added to the city's mass  communication system to provide timely updates   directly to subscribers. Scan the QR code on the  screen or text PCMLK to 38276 to automatically   opt in for text notifications or subscribe online  at panama city.gov gov for MLK Junior Recreater   Center notifications. The Panama City Symphony in  partnership with the city of Panama City brings   live musical performances to the city hall rotunda  once a month through their musically upclose   series. These free concerts feature intimate  chamber music by PCS musicians and special guests,  

offering the community a chance to enjoy classical  and contemporary music in a relaxed downtown   setting. Join us this coming Friday, February  27th, at 3:30 p.m. in the city hall rotunda   for the next musically upclose performance.  Panama City's Charter Review Advisory Board   is actively engaged in a comprehensive review of  the charter. The next review meeting is Thursday,   March 5th at 12 noon in room 30 room 236 at city  hall. And the Panama City Parks and Recreation   Advisory Committee has gathered community input  regarding parks under construction for potential   consolidation. Their community survey closes this  Saturday, February 28th. For more information on   both, please visit the city's website at  panol city.gov. Join us for Ignite STEM,   a fun, interactive STEM experience designed for  youth and families in our community. Brought to   you by HCA Florida Healthcare and the Bay  County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Bay.   This event goes beyond textbooks, showing kids  the exciting possibilities of STEM learning and   careers right here in our community. Ignite STEM  will be held Saturday, March 14th from 10:00 a.m.   to 12:00 noon at the MLK Junior Recreation Center.  This event is free, but registration is required.   Scan the QR code on the screen or visit our  website to register today at panalcity.gov. On March 16th through the 18th, the Dreambuilder  Spring Break Camp will be happening at the MLK   Junior Recreation Center. This 3-day camp runs  from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and offers a full   day experience focused on creativity, confidence  building, teamwork, hands-on learning. The cost   for the camp is $50 per camper for kids aged  6 to 14. Space is limited to 50 participants.  

Registration is now open and closes March 2nd.  Reserve your spot today at panama city.gov.   That is all the announcements. Moving  into public hearings. Item number 6A is   uh ordinance number 3299 amendment to chapter 12  environment adding article 8 railroad rights of   way vegetation drainage and nuance maintenance.  This is the final reading for ordinance 3299 and   staff recommendation through the uh director of uh  development services and the city manager's office   is that the commission have the final reading and  approve this ordinance. I do believe that city   attorney Mr. Zimmerman does have a few remarks  before we move forward for consideration. Mr.   Mayor, uh, this item came to you, uh, for  consideration, uh, last meeting, and it is,   um, it it is a requirement to have a more  streamlined approach for code enforcement. So,   it requires all railroad companies to maintain  grass and weeds outside the ballast track zone.   So, they do not exceed the the grass and weeds do  not exceed 12 in in height. Keep open all ditches,   culberts, and storm water conveyance within the  rideaways to prevent flooding or standing water.   Keep rights away outside the ballast track zone  free of fire hazards, trash, encampments. Ensure   vegetation outside the ballast track zone does not  obstruct visibility at public street crossings.   The ordinance exempts the area known as the  pal ballallas track zone where the railroad   tracks are in a 15 ft area extending  from the center line of the track on   both sides so as not to interfere with  the operations of the railroad. This   uh item came up with observations by commissioner  street and others concerning the uh issues with  

vegetation and and right ofway. the city is not  obligated, but if it does uh it could provide   notice uh of the need to either clean up or or  mow and then if that is not done within 30 days,   the city could do that on its own and then  the city could have a lean and do a nuisance   assessment to collect the cost of that action.  This is a ordinance that um is loosely patterned   after one from Central Florida that we looked at  and it is uh available for public participation. Mr. Mayor, yeah. Well, this is a public  hearing. Oh, this is a public hearing.   If you wish to speak about item 6A,  please come forward. Anyone for 6A? Seeing none, let's do a motion  to accept. Um, and I think Nevin,   thank you. I think Nevin just read,  "We have a code enforcement process. What's wrong with using that versus creating an  ordinance and put some government overreach in   there?" And I I remember Josh talking about that  that is a hard area right there. I 21st Street   and running down there. But here's a concern that  I have. Is this setting is this setting the the   stage for later on? Now we want the guy behind  the Texico on Harrison and 231. We want to clean   his up. We're going to charge him and now we're  opening the door to let's just go charge stuff.   We can't even cut our own grass all the way. We we  have people cutting it for free. Um I'm concerned   that we are getting the cart before the horse.  Really, we shouldn't charge anybody on that. But   and we we ought to get our house straight first  before we start doing that just from a position of  

uh do as I say not as I do. Um but does that  concern of later on this commission is not the   same? Let's say anything from South Florida  is going to be a different than up here and   now they're going to open the door and start  charging people for cutting rightways which   is that a does this allow for that potentially  the first of all code enforcement the way the   code is written out is available as far as to uh  site the uh railroad that but what this does it   it allows it to be more proactive In other words,  some jurisdictions, I believe, they have a process   where they can provide notice. If nothing's done,  they immediately take action and and abate the   problem and then if somebody doesn't like the way  it was abated, then they can file an appeal or   something after the fact. This is patterned after  that. The way that the city's uh code enforcement   mechanism is set up is that you provide notice and  then if it's not abated, you go to a magistrate   and then you act pursuant to a magistrate's order.  So this is doing it differently than our normal   code enforcement process where you give notice  and if nothing's done, you immediately the city   could immediately take action and and then file  file a lean. Now, this is specific to a railroad.   I'm not saying that the ordinance couldn't be  amended someday to include other things. It's   um Okay, that that works. Have we talked to the  railroad company? Has anybody called them to say,   "Hey, we're getting ready to try to make y'all  do something." Or have we have anybody called?   Lots of conversations. I mean, we've had  multiple verbal conversations over the  

last many years going back to when I was public  works. Since Commissioner Street introduced this,   have we called the the railroad company and said,  "Here's what's going on." I didn't call them,   but I did email it to the contact at the railroad  and just put on their on their radar and said,   "If you have any questions, myself and Mr. Zimmer  would be happy to uh hop on the phone with you."   I never heard back from No, sir. So, I I guess I  p you back on that and say I don't think the goal   is to go out in there and us start cutting other  people's grass and charging them. Ours is not,   right? But I would say that I think it'd be  interesting to talk about a roll out if this   ordinance passed. How would we get their attention  before we start doing that? And so would we start   sending them certified letters letting them know,  hey, like what would be the process if this thing   passed and we decided there were areas around the  railroad tracks that were overgrown? How would we   notify them and what would we expect from them?  Like what would be the time period before we   just start going cutting grass everywhere? Cuz  that's not the goal. The goal is not to grow a   grass cutting team. Uh is that's not the goal.  The goal is to have a a rideway that we don't   take care of and the taxpayers don't take care of.  Right. Josh, what how what stretch of railroad are   we talking about? So, what's mainly brought this  to forward is we have a a several mile section   um that is part of our what I would say  it's critical um if it gets overgrown   um then houses flood, properties flood because  it's the main drainage area for the entire for   multiple neighborhoods. It's not just one. So, we  have gone through this process of trying to walk   through code enforcement, trying to go through all  of these steps. And what you'll find is the way   our process is built, it's really meant for, hey,  one time this happens, this is corrective action,   and then that's it. Whereas this is an ongoing  issue. So, it's not like a roof. Go fix your roof,   go fix your window, and you're done. This is  something that has to be done over and over   and over again throughout the year. The other side  that makes this a real unique situation is there's  

part of the railroad track specifically that's  federal jurisdiction and there's part of it that's   local jurisdiction. The federal jurisdiction  already has its entire there's a whole different   process to walk through. Federal Railroad  Administration oversees that and those kind   of things. But these specifically these ditches  are are are critical that they be maintained.   And up until the point in time of Hurricane  Michael and Jennese and Wyoming taking over,   this was a railroad responsibility. This was not  something that the city the city ended up having   to mitigate after the storm because it wasn't  getting maintained and people were flooding. And   so this has never been a city responsibility. Even  going back to minutes in 1960, you know, you can   see where there's been these instances where the  railroad has stopped maintaining things and the   city's had to give them notice and say, "Go ahead  and and and correct this." But we are in a weird   instance as I've met with their government affairs  officials from Jacksonville. I've made them very   aware of what we're seeing going on. They've  gone through three different heads at the local   um at the local level. We're just not getting any  kind of response as as is right here. So, I don't   know what the next step is as far as what happens  after this. Um, I think probably there is probably   some certification of response or or some type of  notification that comes. Maybe Nevin you can you   So, is this the line that runs crosses 15th Street  and runs uh parallel what would be behind 15th and   in between 15th and 21 by Jinx and those things.  But yeah, the what brought it to my attention is   ultimately the neighborhoods that are flooding and  so and that really exists from about Lisby all the   way to the college. Mhm. That's part of, you know,  basically your entire ward. Yeah. And a little bit   of Jesus. A little bit of Jesus in mine. So, okay.  What I might suggest is Mr. Zimmerman and I can  

follow up with an additional letter uh letting him  know that this has passed and and again, you know,   request to sit down and talk about, you know, what  this means for the future uh of the city and our   ongoing relationship with the railroad. And so I  think uh well, I know for me the deciding factor   here is the flooding and the u the residents and  what they suffer as a result of these unclean   ditches. going back to your initial um example  of can we would this be open the door to just   start charging everybody according to this process  and I think not because the criteria for getting   us to this point is as Commissioner Street has  just outlined um and just being ignored and the   fact that it is causing flooding and other  issues for uh for our residents. All right,   that dude got a long beard. Would y'all be open to  um if we were if if it were to pass that it had a   um a delayed start until I just think we need to  talk to the railroad. I know you've tried and I   and I do appreciate that. But if we did certified  mail that way we know we get it. It's somewhat of   a demand letter but not really that that strong.  Um I just don't think it's right to pass it and   say, "Oh yeah, by the way, here's what's get  and I know we tried but we really didn't get in   touch with you." Is that something that we could  consider? You want like a 60-day start date? 30   days. I mean, not 30 days. Yeah. I will state we  actually emailed them another letter regarding the   quiet zones and they did acknowledge that. So,  I mean, we do have a docu in the last 30 days,   30 to 45 days documented response of them  communicating with us. Sorry. Just to follow   up on the mayor's question as far as notice, the  ordinance says that violations, uh, written notice   shall allow a minimum of 30 days to correct any  nuisance and notice is provided in accordance   with, uh, Florida statutes and it is certified.  So you provide certified notice and then you  

have and it's a minimum of 30 days to abate  whatever problem is identified in the notice. Do I have a motion to accept? So  moved. Second. Any discussion?   Please call the RO. Commissioner  Strait. Yes. Commissioner Hughes. Are we doing it with a delayed  start? I I was just going to ask,   did you want it? It could be effective in  30 days. The motion is not that. Janice,   would you agree to a 30-day? Yes. Okay. So,  it will be effective. Can we just say April   1? Would that be fine? Just make it clean. April  1. April and we can start cutting April. As long   as it's no. Yeah. Okay. April April 1 start  effective date. Okay. And who second? Do we   have to second? I'll mean yes on that. Okay. All  right. Commissioner Luke, do I start over? Yes.   Commissioner Street? Yes. Commissioner Hughes?  Yes. Commissioner Lucas? Yes. Mayor Branch? Yes.   Motion passes 40. I'd like to read the title.  Ordinance number 3299 and ordinance of the city   of Panama City, Florida, amending chapter 12  to require maintenance of railroad rights of   way by railroad owners and operators outside  of the operational track and ballast zone area,   providing for vegetation, drainage and nuisance  control outside of the immediate ballast area   and providing for severability clause, repealer  provision, cotification and an effective date. Thank you. We are now into um audience  participation. Please come forward if   you'd like to speak about anything on the  remaining of the agenda item. Uh now is   your kind time to come forward if you  want to talk about the farmers market   or anything else. You have three minutes.  Just let us know what agenda item you're  

speaking on and give us your name and  address for the record. Good afternoon. U Walter P. Hendendrick 614 Maple. Uh I just I  wanted to hear what y'all saying talking about   the railroad. I wanted I know in Milville y'all  have it's aband track in Millville or that they   go y'all going do anything with with that. But  the railroad do not run through there anymore.   that track is batting it. And um I think if the  if there's a ditch on on either side of that   railroad track, I kind of believe that it's  it's city responsibility to keep that ditch   clean if there's a ditch running down inside that  railroad track. I know they have they have their   own part of their prop their their property, but  if there's a ditch there. Uh I I don't know how   y'all feel about it, but I think it should be  it seem to be to me as a city responsibility uh to have that d keep that ditch  clean where the water will not   affect the the homes there at the near  that railroad track. And I think some   over here track do have ditches off on  this downside running down side of Thank   you. Anyone else want to speak about  any remaining agenda items? Yes ma'am. Good afternoon everyone. Good afternoon.

Brenda Lewis Williams 2748 Oak Okamock Drive.  First, I want to give you all kudos. You're   surprised, right? Because I like the idea that  you are doing a monthly and weekly updates for   the citizens of the of uh Panama City. I think  that's wonderful. You just followed after me when   I was doing my tood doodles. That's all you're  doing. But anyway, I think it's wonderful that   you are doing that. um 10A. I wanted I would  like to know why we have to have an interim   clerk as opposed to since the clerk is not  leaving till I believe she told me August,   why we have to have an interim clerk. And I'd like  to get an answer today if possible and um and and   look and look at hiring somebody to be there while  she's there so that she can help train them. Uh   this was not on the agenda. Jonathan spoke to  the activities of the dream dream camp. Is that   what it's called at MLK? Yes, ma'am. But it was in  the announcement. So indirect in the announcement.   Correct. So are there any scholarships available  for students do who may not be able to afford the   $50? Um and what is the farmers market about? You  just have farmers market but no information. Stay   and find out. I can't today but um and he hasn't  spoken but um Commissioner Hughes did when he was   out of town on a meeting but my understanding  is that if commissioners are not in attendance   physically in attendance they cannot uh vote.  So I'd like an answer to that. That's correct.   Huh? That's correct. Yeah, I know. But he was out  of town and he spoke. It's no argument. Just make   I'll tell you the answer. No, just clarifying  a point. Yes, ma'am. medical emergency allowed.  

That's the exception. Oh, I'm not interested  in why you were out of town. I'm I'm interested   allowed you to vote. That's the That's the  difference. That's what allows you to vote   is under medical emergency necessary. You're still  allowed to participate and vote. Outside of that,   you can't. Okay. But you that wasn't explained  when you did by design. No, no, no, no, no. Thank you. We'll roll those questions into  those agenda items. Let's make sure we get   those answered for her. Anyone else want  to speak today? Yes, sir. Come on down. He's got a longer beard than Brian. I know.  He makes his beard look small. Hello, mayor,   commission, city manager. I'm Bill Davenport,  3946 Peters Drive here in PC. Um, I'm here in   regards to I can't remember, it's 10 something on  the farmers market. Um, we've submitted a we've   submitted a permit for the upcoming year for the  farmers market. Um, really don't know what to say.   We've uh presented our option that we would like  to proceed with for this particular year. We've   experienced great growth with the city um which we  believe is bringing a lot of benefit to downtown   and the city um businesses. And when it gets  time for that or now, I don't know the procedure   really, but I'm able to answer any questions  that I may have an answer for you. Awesome.   We may call you up toward that agenda item.  Yes, sir. Anyone else? Yes, sir. Come on down. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Ben McGee,  515 Bunkers Cove Road. So, um, I'm here for   10F Downtown Farmers Market. I'm just interested  in the downtown farmers market not moving from   location to location. I don't know if that was  proposed, but I just heard stuff about that on  

Facebook and through group chats and stuff like  that. I would like if the downtown farmers market   was in one place. Um it provides predictability  for parking, for vendors, um for customers,   people who are setting up, tearing down. Um even  just knowing which vendors are there is nice. So   when you go and you look for one of your favorite  vendors and they're not there one weekend and   it's kind of frustrating. So I can imagine vendors  moving from place to place. Um moving from street   to street, block to block can be uh frustrating  for um for those who patron the farmers market.   Personally, as a both a patron of the farmers  market myself and as a business owner and   someone who commutes through downtown every day, I  would prefer to be at for it to be in one location   um every weekend. I love the farmers market. I  just don't want to see it bounce around quarterly,   monthly, whatever may have been proposed if it's  been proposed for it to move. What location do   you like? What location do I like? Um, I really  enjoyed it when it was in Mackenzie Park. I know   that originally it was moved away from there  because of the construction and you were there   when I originally spoke to not having it be  on to my dis dislike of it being on Harrison.   um it wasn't detrimental to the point to where my  business went in the red. However, we do did see   about a 30 to about 35% decline in um our normal  traffic um on Saturday on the Saturdays. Um it was   okay. So, it's not conducive to my business per  se. Um which selfishly that's selfish. However,   uh my only prop my only request is that it  just doesn't move from place to place. If   it stays where it's at, what it is what it is. If  it moves somewhere else, it is what it is. I just   don't want to see it continue to hop around.  Uh wherever I'd like to see it really isn't,  

you know, I'm not really worried about it. As  long as it's in one place, then I know I can go   get that same stuff I get every weekend. Cool.  Yes, sir. Thank you. It's our new neighbor. I   know. Anyone Anyone else want to speak today?  Last call. All right. Closing public comments.   Moving on to consent agenda. Do I have a motion  to accept the consent agenda? So move. Second.   Have a second. Second. Please call the role.  Commissioner Street. Yes. Commissioner Hughes. Oh,   we we close public comments. Can I speak? Uh  let's go ahead and finish the the roll call.   One second. Commissioner Hughes. Yes. Commissioner  Lucas. Yes. Mayor Branch. Yes. Motion passes four   to zero. Yes. No. We technically closed it, but  yes, I'm sorry, I can't hear. Well, that's okay.   What agenda item are you speaking on? What agenda  item are you speaking on? What do I want to speak   on? Yes, ma'am. Go back. If you could go back to  the mic so we can all hear you. I'm I can't hear.   Speak up. Could Could you go to the mic, please,  ma'am? Thank you. Okay. I'm sorry. I can't speak   right into that. Okay. I'm sorry I can't hear. I  really I'm hard to hear. Name and address for the   record. Okay. My name is Ella Smith and I live  at 1247 Capri Drive and I'm sorry I'm multiply   disabled and I really can't hear. Okay. Um I'm  a retired teacher. My husband is an attorney   and my son and him own a big law firm in Atlanta  and I'm very angry and I've come here many times   and spoke over ordinances that have not been and  do not have not that um regarding between town   houses and I don't want to go into detail because  I don't want to become angry because I am angry.  

Um, as far as Venetian Villa, originally the  work that was to be done there, the road was to   be paved all the way to the end of Venetian Villa  and there was to be sidewalks all the way to the   end of the road on Venetian Villa. I went to every  single meeting and I'm very aware that there were   supposed to be roads all the way down Venetian  Way and now all of a sudden they're stopping.   So needless to say, I am very angry and I've run  for office many times in Atlanta. My father-in-law   was a senior state court judge in Decap County.  So needless to say, I'm very angry that again,   money has been spent in Panama City. I can see it.  But when it comes to the outskirts of Panama City,   again, it stops. So I'm here to tell you today  that I am very angry. I don't get angry very   often, but I am very angry as an individual  who's disabled to see that the money stops   on the outskirts of Panama City. So I am telling  you, I am here to tell you that I will advocate   and we will be back and I can assure you we will  be back in mass and I will be running for office   and things will change because it's not right for  all the people in the city of Panama City not to   be represented. I appreciate your time, every  single one of you. But all the people in Panama  

City pay taxes and all the people in Panama City  should be represented. Every single one of them.   We should have our canals. They should be done as  promised. Again, we should be represented. Thank   you very much. and our streets should have  been paved. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Jonathan,   can you get her Suzanne's card so we can have a  meeting with her? Sure. Can you hand her my card,   please? Thank you. Okay. Closing public comments.  Moving on. We've passed the consent agenda. We are   moving into the city attorney items. Uh any any  city attorney items? None. None. Just the whole   meeting. Jonathan, we are on 10 A. We are. So this  is just as is standard practice after um notice of   departure of a charter officer. There is generally  the commission will give uh the remaining charter   uh members direction on what they would be the  next steps. Um that could be something as simple   as um you know uh pausing for 30 uh days or so  and coming back or or or having HR uh provide uh   maybe a draft job description for the commission  to take 30 days to review and provide feedback,   you know, either through the city attorney or the  city manager's office or the city clerk treasur's   office depending on that vacancy. So really, we  just want to know if there's if there's any action   uh at this time that the commission would like us  to take regarding the vacancy uh that is pending   for one of the charter positions. Yeah. I I've  never hired a clerk before. Uh and so I'd love to   see uh potentially the staff come up with a with a  description, but I'd like to see what other cities   descriptions are when they hire clerks. Sure.  Might be different. And just, you know, I'm not   looking for a thousand different descriptions,  but just kind of how they look at the position   differently than us potentially. and let us  discuss uh you know if that's that has a bearing   in our decision- making. Yeah, I' I agree with  that. I'd like to see is it possible to get at  

the next commission meeting so that we I bet Miss  Lewis can have us some stuff to look at by the   end of the week. Okay. I' I'd love to see I know  that there's been a discussion with the charter   um review committee. I don't know if they've made  any kind of formal adoption on you haven't watched   every single one. So, I know that there's been  discussion of of separating clerk and treasurer   responsibilities. Has there been any action taken  by them? They're still in the middle of that. Uh,   Commissioner Street, um, they've that'll be  the topic of the next probably meeting. Um,   but, you know, even if they do recommend it, as  a reminder, it has to come before this body for   approval. It has to go before the voters. Um, you  know, potentially in November, if we don't make   the July deadline for the supervisor of elections,  it'll have to go on our on our April meeting.   um sorry, our April election of next year. So,  I mean, you're looking at what eight eight or   nine up to maybe uh 13 months before we have  any final approval and any change to that   uh from from the voters who ultimately have to  sign off on the charter change requirements for   the last time we put out a um looking for somebody  to fill that position. You have what we were Yeah,   I would defer to Mr. Zimmerman. He was here at  the time and I believe he helped lead the effort.   So yes, we we do have those. We can make that  sounds like we can make that available. Uh we can   uh provide you the information that's already  in the charter about the duties in the charter.   Provide you with a uh draft uh job description  and also provide you with information from other   other cities. Do we need to discuss or or  have a workshop or distribute information   on how to hire recruiter versus internal  versus recommendations on that as well?   we we could last time um um there there was  discussion and and a recruiter was hired  

eventually and uh and that there was you know I I  don't I can't recall now exactly how the recruiter   was selected but uh there was a selection process  with proposed uh fees and that was provided to the   commission and that information can be provided  as well I believe from I'm making all these things   because I'm not going to be doing it. Sorry.  Sorry. Last time we did solicit for proposals   for an executive search firm. I I can't remember  exactly how many we got back. Six six or seven   or so. We evaluated those made a recommendation  to the commission and it selected one and and   went that way. It was during COVID, so it was  a unique time period to be recruiting. Um but   so it did take a little longer than we would  have liked but um but that's the route we went but the commission decided at that time to kind   of have the city manager and the  city attorney lead that effort. Okay. So I I don't know who should be leading  it. I just would like to see some research   coming to us so we can start thinking about it  have a baseline amount of information to start   discussing. I agree and I think we should  move forward with filling the position. Um,   and as the charter review process  unfolds, uh, should there be a change,   make it at that time. Cool. Do you need a vote  on anything or is that enough information for you   guys to move forward? Oh, yes. Granger. Do you  want to say something to Commissioner Granger?

Yeah, especially there's no cost. Is there any  cost to Yes. I think it was roughly $25,000. Oh,   why do I need to pay somebody that  much money to tell me? Yes or no? Yeah. I mean I' I'd love to  see all those options kind   of just a list of options so we can discuss those Mhm. could go ahead. I was going to say to me we  we have uh some it'd be interesting next 15   days or so distribute some information and then  potentially vote on a path for the next meeting,   next 30 days, something like that would be  a nice tentative date to kind of aim for.   Yeah, I think we could make that, sir. We  could provide some information on on, you know,   where the job could be posted at at no cost and  then obviously just get feedback from y'all and   then move forward with the job description at  the timing that y'all so direct. Sounds good. I'd   just like to say I've received um communication uh  that someone citizens are kind of concerned about   uh Jan. And I just want to say that she happily  turned in her retirement and um is uh setting sail   into I don't know about the wild blue yonder but  the country to the to the farm or to the country.  

Yeah. And um so we are very thankful for her  years of service to the city. And and maybe maybe   to give a little addition background, we do have  an open deputy treasurer position that's created   some delays um in the ability to get audits done  and things like that. And so her being able to be   freed to just work on that rather than sit in a  three-hour meeting with us is I think something   that's been welcomed to her as well. So yeah,  cool. No vote needed. We can move on to item 10B.   Item 10B is consideration of approval  of budget amend resolution 20260224.2   2 and LPA 0035. Amendment number six, an  increase of $1,500,000 to the existing   subreipient agreement between the Florida  Department of Environmental Protection   or DP and the city of Panama City for the  Panama City Kings Point Pretty Bayou septic   to sewer water expansion phase 3. As background  information, amendment number six adds $1,500,000   to the agreement with no match from the city,  increasing the total grant amount to $8,499,520. This increase was requested under the  2025 2026 general appropriations act of   the Florida legislature. This previous  modification amendment number four was   effective May 18th of 2020 and set  the agreement amount at $6,999,520 and0. Phase three of the Pretty Bayou septic to  sewer improvements includes the installation of   approximately 16,000 linear feet of low pressure  sewer with connection to existing city sewer main,   15,400 linear feet of portable water man to  connect to the existing water system and 35   additional fire hydrants that will increase  coverage and provide more fire protection.  

Staff recommendation through the director of  public works is that the commission approve   this request and the accompanying budget and  resolution. Mr. Mayor. Yes. Do I have a motion to   accept? Motion to approve. Second. Any discussion?  I got a question. Um, this money is coming to us.   We're matching. No, no matching, sir. No matching.  Yeah. This was an effort by the D. They actually   initiated it and and it's really something they've  initiated from Pensacola to Key West. They want to   get septic tanks off our coastal communities  and waterways. So that was that was in the   governor's first term, I think, that he he tried  to phase one. We did phase one, which is the pink,   and then as an aside, we did phase two. Uh but  thankfully, construction prices started coming   down. Uh so we actually had about an extra  $900,000 from the appropriations for phase 2.   So we're able to go into phase three and pull out  a section, which is what you'll see as phase 2a.   uh which then reduce the scope further for phase  three. So we feel confident uh that we can get   this wrapped up for the remaining month monies  that we have uh and upon your approval we'll go   out to bid just as soon as possible. Awesome. Uh  any other discussion? Please call the rolling.   Commissioner Street. Yes. Commissioner Hughes.  Yes. Commissioner Lucas. Yes. Mayor Branch. Yes.   Motion passes four to zero. Okay. I have  a budget resolution to read and this is   um you have 10 B. 10B. Thank you. And  it is resolution number 20 260224.2 and it's the uh increase and  it is to increase the budget. I don't see the title anyway. It's to increase  the agreement between the FD and the city of   Panama City for the King's Point pretty value and  water expansion phase three. All right. Item 10 C  

uh is related and it's consideration to approve  panhandle engineering amendment number seven   to task order number 13067 for Pretty Bayou  improvements phase 3 for CI services in the amount   of up to $230,000. As background information,  uh, on April 29th, 2020, the city of Panama City   contracted with Panhandle Engineering for the  design of the Pretty Bayou Septic Super Project   for $499,490. This was directed under task order  number 1367 with the following six amendments.   This new amendment number seven will increase  the scope for CI services to include phase three   uh construction management at a cost of $230,000  bringing the new task order to 1,381,320. Details of the additional work to be performed is  in the attached proposal that was dated December   18th of 2025 for the commission and information  is in your packet. Staff recommendation to   the director of public works is that the  commission approve this request. Mr. Mayor,   yes. I'll enter on a motion. Motion to approve.  Second. Any discussion? Please call the role.   Commissioner Street. Yes. Commissioner Hughes?  Yes. Commissioner Lucas? Yes. Mayor Branch?   Yes. Motion passes. Board to zero. Item 10D is  memorandum of understanding seeking approval from   the commission with Maselina Investments LLC and  Mackenzie Partners LLC for 300 Leverne Avenue as   background information and closes the proposedou  or memorandum of understanding between the city   and the owner and developer of the property  located at 300 Leverne Avenue. The purpose of   theou is to approve the use of density bonuses  in the downtown district as provided by section   104-33 of the unified land development code. This  section states that a development may utilize   density bonuses up to 60 units per acre and may  exceed the maximum floor area ratio of 3.0 if  

certain public benefits or development amenities  are proposed. Theou lays out the following public   benefits and amenities for 300 Lever Avenue.  public access prominade along the water, public   parking, a rooftop amenity and motorport/plaza.  Theou also establishes a commitment to coordinate   the relocation of drainage and utility easements  on the property. Following approval of theou this   evening, the next step is for the developer  to finalize the development plans and submit   a development order application for review by  staff and our planning board. The pro, excuse me,   the project is considered a major development  as defined by the unified land development code,   which requires final approval by the planning  board. Uh, uh, staff recommendation through   the director of development services is that  the city commission approved theou withina   investments LLC and Mackenzie Partners LLC for  the property at 300 Lever Avenue. Mr. Mayor,   I will entertain a motion. So move. Second. Any  discussion? Yeah. If we have to approve theou,   why don't we have to approve the the major  the uh planning board does? The planning board   does. I think he's asking why them and not the  commission. Why not us? Because that's on the   on the large side here. We're we're approving the  and I'm for it. So, I'm just asking a question.   The uh uh upon review and Mr. Fuller can address  it, but Mr. Burke who uh works with on planning   issues with us and Mr. Fuller, it appears that the  city commission actually approves the residential   density bonuses. And so the B and that has to do  with what public amenities are being proposed. And   so the city commission is saying we know that you  know it's very general but these are the public in   uh amenities prominade and parking and then  the develop then that provides instruction  

to the planning department to make sure that  the development order includes those public   amenities and then the lever or the leverage is  that unless those public amenities are provided   a co isn't ultimately issued on the project. Is  that a fair statement? That that's fair. Yeah,   that's that's a correct statement. Yeah. Tonight,  what what's under consideration is for the record,   Michael Fuller, director of development services.  Well done, Mr. Mayor. What do you mean? Um,   what uh what's under consideration tonight is is  the use of the density bonus, the the 60 units per   acre, as well as uh coordination of moving some of  the easements around on property. Um once that's   done, then they will submit for DOU and we'll make  sure that the DO does meet those 60 unit per acre.   We'll make sure the easements are relocated as  as laid out in this in thisou. But thisou is   the start of of the do process I guess is how you  could look at it. So would it not come back to us   after it goes through the planning commission as  other developments. There's uh no the uh per our   unified land development code the planning board  is the final decision maker on major developments   which that being said uh colleagues I'd like to go  on the record to to note that the public amenities   that are uh outlined here include uh parking and  that is something that um I'd like the uh planning   commission and and the process that is going to  follow to make sure that those public amenities do   come to fruition. that um as they stated them here  u because that's a great need in the community and   when we increase the density we're also increasing  the need for parking downtown. So they don't have  

it when it's time for the C they don't get their  C if you tie it that way. Well as I understand it   this is a general document but it's not a hold  the feet to the fire document. Yeah. I mean,   they'll need to demonstrate when they submit for  a development order that that they are going to   provide some public parking that they are going  to have a rooftop amenity that they are going   to have a prominade along the waterfront. Those  things will be part of our review when we review   the for the DA. Michael, if something doesn't  happen, does it come back to us? Yes. Yes,   sir. So, anything outside if it does not  get fulfilled as as Commissioner Lucas said,   you guys would have it would have to come back to  you. Well, and to add, you know, the part of the   process of of when you're buying a property is the  do, you know, you don't want to buy something when   you don't know what you can do to it. Exactly.  And or with it. And so this is just a part of   the pro. So they have confidence moving forward  to purchase the property to move into just it's   a it's a knot of confidence. They spend $100,000  on architecture plans that we don't then approve.   So these are all just the little steps that build  confidence for investment. So and I think that's   uh that's a good thing. And I'm not saying that  um I'm against it. I just want what's suggested   here for public amenities. Uh the rooftop in a  in a development like this could become a luxury   and not accessible to the public. Sure. As it goes  through the process and you know as things pencil   out and so we are approving the density because  it will add public value and I'd like to see that   um as it goes forth. I kind of thought about this  like you don't get the the plats back to sign you   and I was like I want to know about that and  here's one where we'll know because it's going   up out of the ground but why you why we don't get  it back is is odd to me. What's a motor court? Um   it it's it's basically where they you can turn off  the road into the project. Um circular driveway I  

guess the public access. Yes. Okay. Okay. one  one additional reason, Commissioner Hughes,   that that that you're seeing this and uh not  just the planning commission. Um at some point,   hopefully when the project when the project's  built, uh this allows the water and sewer and   storm water to be relocated. So once it's they'll  they'll put it in place. They'll dedicate the new   system to the city and then the mayor will be  asked to sign a quick claim deed and that quick   claim deed abandons and gets rid of the existing.  So that but it will not need to come back because   that's all been identified in theou. What about a  quick claim deed for the the circle that's in the   middle that we own? Is that happening that closing  when that piece of property the city does in the   middle of the three and a half acres? Do we do  that when they're buying it or after the when   he's signing the quick claim deed to transfer the  uh the easement? Yes, that there I'm you know that   I haven't seen the title commitment. I know that  I've I have focused on the easement, but obviously   the city is saying that the only interest the  city has in this property are those new the new   water and sewer, the new storm water that's there  uh after relocation. Okay. I'm very excited and   very supportive of this this project has probably  been you should have been there 30 years ago. It   should have been something there. So, I'm very  excited and very thankful for the investment   and uh willing to support it and want to move  forward. And if there's any other discussion,   let's So, I worked on this for 15 years. Three  offers on it. Never got the closing. The common   denominator moves out and now you get it's gonna  have a project. So, thank y'all for bringing it   to uh fruition. Yeah. Yeah. We're excited. We're  thankful. Any other discussion? Please call the   role. Commissioner Street. Yes. Commissioner  Hughes. Yes. Commissioner Lucas, yes. Mayor  

Branch, yes. Motion passes 4 to zero. Item 10E is  consideration of approval for Vulkar Incorporated   for bid PC26-016 professional services for Panama  City Rails with Trails. As background information,   the city through the city's purchasing division  uh solicited qualifications from experienced and   qualified engineers to provide professional  services for the city of Panama City Rails   with Trails project. The scope was to seek  qualifications from experienced and qualified   engineers to provide professional services for  the planning of a multi-use trail and associated   items along the Bayine Railroad, now Jennese and  Wyoming, uh, system. This project will include   phase one, Hathway Bridge to Michigan Avenue,  phase two from Michigan Avenue to State Road 77,   Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to State Road  30, US 98, and West Beach Drive. and phase three,   Frankfurt Avenue from State Road 30, US 98, West  Beach Drive to the end of pavement. The purpose of   this project is to facilitate pedestrian  and bicycle commuting and recreation by   adding a multimodal link to established  routes serving the port facility, FSU,   GF Coast State College, various schools, parks,  businesses, and a variety of city neighborhoods.   A panel of five staff independently reviewed each  submitt and found Vulker to be the most qualified   firm. Results were sent to the Florida Department  of Transportation and they concurred with city   staff's findings. The RFQ was issued pursuant to  section 287.000055 rather of the Florida statutes,   the Consultants Competitive Negotiation  Act or CCNA for continuing contracts.   Approval this evening by the commission will allow  the city to enter into negotiation with Vulkar   Engineering Incorporated and we will return  recommended task order to the commission for  

approval at a later date. Staff recommendation  through the director of public works is that the   commission approve this request for the award  of bid PC26-016. Mr. Mayor, I will entertain a   motion. Motion to approve. Do I have a second?  Second for discussion. Yeah, let's discuss. Um,   my reason for asking about contacting the railroad  company because we were going to kick him in the   mouth on the first one and ask him to dance on  the second one. And um, so I'd like really for   us to talk to him about that and I think we  probably have a better result on this ask um,   before we start charging them. These these paths  were chosen based on the rail obviously. Do we   already have easements? Do we already is it out?  Is that going to be a process or do we just Why   do we need their participation? Is it easements  in perpetuity? That's part of the process. Uh,   Commissioner Hughes, this will take the the phases  that were referenced. Um, basically the pink and   the green uh and and move that up to 30% design  that involves any necessary rightaway permits   um site analysis and planning. Um, so again,  that takes us to 30% for phase one and phase two,   which includes uh the items that you referenced  in order to move that project forward. Some some   places we have right away, maybe some places we  don't that we need that. And I I think that's   what's accomplished inside of this scope is  trying to figure out what's all needed. Okay. Any other discussion? Please call the RO.  Commissioner Street. Yes. Commissioner Hughes,   yes. Commissioner Lucas, yes. Mayor Branch, yes.  Motion passes four to zero. All right. Item 10F  

is discussion of the uh downtown farmers market  uh mayor, commissioners, I I did send uh an email   uh yesterday and then uh which was a forwarding  of an email, excuse me, from Mayor Branch. And   then additionally, we have a letter uh that came  in from the downtown improvement board. Just a a   quick uh summary of where we are today. Um uh  as of today, um the uh downtown farmers market   has approval to remain on Harrison Avenue in  between Oak and 4th through the end of this month,   which will be Saturday. Uh starting March 1st, uh  they are required to move back to uh in and around   Park Avenue, Oak Avenue, and Bell Booth Place in  and around McKenzie Park uh for that issue. um   as constru the issue was the construction uh  had moved them off of that area but they are   now able to move back. However, uh there is a new  permit application which is sitting with our PCR   director Mr. My uh I did request him to hold off  on moving that forward until we had a conversation   uh this evening. And that request is to remain on  Harrison Avenue uh from Oak to 4th this Saturday   week, which would be March 7th, and that's because  of the Flux Festival, but then be able to uh be   moved uh the following Saturday, March 14th, uh to  be from 4th Street all the way to Sixth Street. I   will share it's the opinion of our PCR team and  the police department that given their current   size and continued growth that that stretch along  Harrison Avenue from Oak to 4th is simply too   tight. Uh as is some of the areas in and around  McKenzie Park. Um I I I I personally do agree   and I've stated this in the email. I do agree  with the point that Mr. McGee made. I do think   moving it around uh will will be problematic. Uh  we've had it where it is now for about seven or  

eight months. Uh my recommendation is that uh the  commission approve the modification to the permit   uh to remain on um Harrison from Oak to 4th just  for this coming weekend because of flux, but then   starting the 14th uh move to um Fourth Street to  6th Street. Let's re-evaluate that in October when   we have about seven or eight months worth of data.  Uh and then we can compare it to the two different   um sections. Uh and then as we consider the permit  uh for 2027, uh I will also add that that moving   it up a little bit further uh like that does uh  keep it kind of away from the 012 construction   area which we do expect to last uh throughout uh  the rest of the year. So uh that's the background.   Uh Mr. Mayor, commissioners, happy to answer any  questions that y'all have. I know this will be a   uh a passionate discussion with lots of different  opinions and viewpoints, but uh Mr. My is here as   is uh Captain Dusty Patterson with the police  department that can answer any questions uh in   regards to this farmers market and the operation  in downtown Panama City. Mr. Mayor. Yeah,   thank you. Uh I was thinking about you know seven  years ago downtown how there's no farmers market,   there's no traffic problem. There's no  construction. There's no uh you know there   was lots of vacant storefronts and um you mean  eight years or seven and a half? Oh yeah. Seven   years ago. Oh yeah. It was it was true. And how  far things have come. Even when the farmers market   started, it was all in Gateway Park. It was like  uh six or seven vendors and Bill was one of them.   He was selling coffee. And how far we've come.  And I couldn't have been my wildest imagination.   Imagine a downtown with 8,000 people on a Saturday  morning and an arcade and boutiques and you we're   talking about a multi-million dollar projects  now. What a what an amazing reality this is.   And you know, with me living downtown, I go for  walks now. People are, "Come here. I gotta talk   to you about the farmers market." And everywhere I  go, "Let me talk to you about the farmers market."  

And now I'm hiding, walking down alleys to walk my  dog. Cuz everywhere I go, I get, "Let me tell you   about the farmers market." Uh, and and it is it's  a great problem. There's so many people downtown.   I even I told Jonathan um I uh I was trying to  get out of my own house because of Harrison Avenue   being closed and all the different I had to go  went down to the marina couldn't get out. There   was a traffic jam there and then I tried to get  up to the courthouse the oneway alley. Couldn't   get up that. So then I went back down to the and  then went through the cove to get out of downtown   because there was so much traffic. A smile on your  face too. Oh yeah. Yeah. And there were moments   where I was like dag damn it. And I could see  someone, especially about a kid, and screaming it   out of your car, you'd get a little upset. And um,  you know, I go back to the fact that we spent a   we as in the city spent a ton of money on Harrison  Avenue. And Harrison Avenue is a place for people.   And um, you know, businesses need some some  consistency. You know, even if you, you know, even   my own businesses have a varying amount of hours  and we are not open every day, same hours every   day. There's, you know, hour or two here. We're  closed certain days. And that does trip people   up anytime there's not a consistent pattern.  I'd like to see the farmers market, you know,   and I appreciate the DIB distilling down. They  went through a lot of heated discussions and a   lot of conversations distilling down. I'd like to  see it on Harrison Avenue. Um whether it rotates   or not, I there's pros and cons to everything.  Um but to me, too much of a rotation this side,   that side. You what we want is predictability.  You want to be able to tell your employees they're   like my employees. They know that on Saturdays  they need to park all the way up near the Marie,   you know, hotel motel up there because that's  where the parking spots are going to be. And   you want to be able to predict to your even your  customers, hey, I know that these pockets of this   part of town will be available on these days.  And so some of that predictability is helpful   to employees and uh and customers. So, you know,  whether it stays on one block of Harrison Avenue  

or rotates on Harrison Avenue, I'm indifferent to  that, but I'd like to see it on Harrison Avenue,   but in general, I'm thankful we're even talking  about this. Right. Sure. You know, and you know,   and the reality, too, is it's it's thousands of  people who are there to buy and they're in a good   mood and there it's puppy dogs and strollers, you  know, it's not uh you know, it's not a rowdy crowd   and and uh and they're there to buy things.  So, we're thankful for that. So I ask people   regularly, where does downtown start? Starts at  sixth street, but most people will tell you the   clock tower because that's what has been open the  most for the longest. And I think the city before   you and I got here has done a good job of keeping  you promoting and doing all that, but I think it's   also time that we now include we need to invite  400 block and 500 block because they're downtown.   Um, so from that vantage point, I've been  trying to come up with, you know, a way to have   the public interact with those businesses. At one  time, I had some idea where you build the longest   Subway sandwich or something and you have to go  into each business and get something that you've   been in the you in there to participate. Um, this  this does somewhat solve that problem in terms of   it puts people in front of those businesses,  but it also creates problems at the same time.   Um, I look at it from I need the business owners  to tell me what's probably best rather than   me tell them. Uh, I don't own a business down  there. And what I hear the most of is parking,   not for the public, but for their like  one business, I need parking so we can   do deliveries and all that. Okay. And that's  they they lose that ability on the front side.   I like rotation because it keeps it in front  of everybody equally. I think the the permit  

that's in front of us is what 7 months and  3 months or something like that. You know,   seven up on the four and 500 block and  three down on the 300 block. Is that No. No,   sir. There is no permit for that. The permit that  is sitting at Yeah. Right. But the only thing   that's been formally submitted that's sitting at  Mr. My level pending tonight's meeting is to move   it to 4th through 6th starting March 14th for the  rest of the year and then next weekend being able   to stay in between Oak and Fourth so that they  don't interfere with flux. That's what's sitting.   Okay. Correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Myro. That  is correct. Thank you. So police perspective,   I'm confused as to why they would be against it  because we're not adding any more police. We're   we have the same amount of in stop, you know,  in zones, if you will. Um, so we're not adding   anymore. So I was I had a question about that. Um,  from the city's perspective, specifically the city   manager, why um why would you suggest it stay down  there um in one spot? What what was the reason for   that? I think a lot of the reasons that um Mr.  McGee mentioned I agree with. He actually thought   some others that I didn't. I think predictability  is good. Moving it around, I think, will cause   confusion. I think you get into a battle rhythm  and people can know where to park and where to go.   There is a little bit more parking uh the further  north you get in and around city hall. And again,   we have about 7 months or 8 months worth of data  um from when it moved to Harrison Avenue because   of construction in in ' 012. Uh and this would  give us roughly, you know, another eight months   worth of data. Then we can compare and then try to  make a decision moving into 2027. Do we want to do   the first half of the year on the southern half or  the back half? Or maybe people are like, you know   what, maybe we want to go back to Beach Drive. I  believe the desire eventually is that it will grow   all the way from Sixth Street all the way to Beach  Drive. I believe that is the the eventual desire  

of the farmers market. I've heard that anecdotally  from a few people. So, and I think it has that   potential given the growth that we've seen really  just over the last few years since I've moved back   um uh you know, back home. And I want to commend  Bill. You've done a great job and thank you for   bringing 8,000 people, you know, helping it get  set up for downtown. That's really cool. Um,   Bill's like famous farmers market. I know he's  like talking. Would you mind if if people here   that wanted to talk about this? Sure. We can  reopen public comments. Is that okay? Sure.   If you want to speak about the farmers market,  come on down. Um, and including you, sir, that   went into three minutes. If you wanted Sure. We're  willing to hear more comments if you want to speak   about farmers market. arcade guy. Mhm. That's  a cool arcade. That was very cool. Mhm. Well,   thank you for breaking how you normally do this  and giving me a chance to talk. I couldn't be   here earlier. I was still closing my business. I  love the farmers market. Let me preface that by   saying I love the farmers markets. Address. Name  and address. Oh, Leanne Harding. I own Main Street   Antiques on Harrison at 437 Harrison Avenue. Um,  I love the farmers market. It brings a fantastic   demographic downtown every Saturday and um I want  nothing more than for it to succeed and for it to   grow. I have real concerns. Uh my my business has  been downtown for a decade now. I just celebrated   my 10th anniversary in November. Um and um I've  gone through a hurricane that significantly   impacted my business. I've gone through COVID that  signific significantly impacted the business. Um,   a road closure 3 weeks after I bought my  building and moved in where uh, you know,   the road was closed for 6 months. And um I know  as a board it's your job to do the most that  

you can for the most number of people, but  I think you have to take into account that   um we've we've really had some significant  problems downtown. Um, I'm concerned that my   business being closed, the front road being closed  every Saturday. I I try to know that some of the   other businesses are really going to benefit from  6 8,000 people walking past them. My business is   more of a destination. The people that are coming  to me are coming from Atlanta, from Birmingham,   from New Orleans. They come specifically to shop  at my store on a Saturday where we can load giant   pieces of furniture into their uh uh trailers for  them to leave. If the road is closed, they are not   going to be able to shop at my store. They're  not coming back another day cuz they're in town   specifically that day to shop. So, I I'm really  afraid that uh having the road closed on Saturdays   is going to significantly impact my business.  Right now, I know that I have customers complain   that they can't uh shop on Saturdays because all  of the parking is taken up either by customers   of the market or by vendors of the market. So,  the road being closed in front is going to just   kill my Saturday business. And uh I'd like you  to consider if it's going to happen, I'll live   with the three months. Nobody said anything  about seven months. The DIB even recommended   it only be three months in front of each block.  Uh, seven months will kill another Christmas.   You guaranteed us that we would only have one  Christmas damaged uh by road closures and now   you're saying there's going to be another. So, um,  I hope you stick to your word and and, uh, don't   close us for another Christmas season. Thank you  for allowing me to speak. Thank you. Anyone else?

Katherine Shores um board member of the downtown  improvement board and also a property owner and   representative of six storefronts on Harrison  Avenue. And what I have asked you each for is   equality. So, I don't understand the desire to go  into the northern two blocks and stay there for a   long period of time. All I'm asking for, I think  we all agree, we love it on Harrison Avenue. And   in the 300 block where I am, we love it in the 300  block. So, please just consider sharing the love   or those that hate it, share the pain. Either  way, let's be even and equal. So the rotation,   it's not a big deal. We're just shoving it two  blocks south, two blocks north. I just don't   understand why the equality of that cannot be  considered when we've already moved it once. It   did not affect the market negatively. We continue  to thrive. And so let's go into four and 500.   I don't care how many months or which ones they  are, but let's just do it evenly. Four and 500,   two and 300 evenly across the board. That's on  my ask. But thank you guys. Thank you. So in this   meeting we're just discussing or you want us to  push forward with a motion of something. So again,   yeah, I'm not it doesn't have to be in  two blocks. I understand the traffic,   but to me rotate it, I'm fine with that, too. So  if I just point out a couple things. First off,   it was asked by at least two of you. I don't know  which ones, but the downtown farmers market pays   $1,000 a month to the u to the DIIB. In addition,  they pay for security, the police expense,   plus they pay for three employees to operate  the farmers market. So, I is the permitting.  

That is correct. So, if the DIB is asking us for  a specific piece, why are we not discussing that?   That's my the recommendation I put forward and I  respect that some people are saying differently,   but the permit that was submitted by the DIIB and  Mr. Davenport is starting March 14th, moving to   the north of Fourth Street for the remainder of  this calendar year. Fact, that is what is sitting   with our folks right now. And as far as the the  the road closures, obviously I think y'all know   this and and I do love and cherish our downtown  business owners. I was obviously talking about   construction. I have no control over road closures  for event permits that lies with this body. Okay.   So, so if I can get clarity, so we've got a permit  from the DIB stating one thing and then we've got   a letter stating another thing. Is that am I  understanding? You're right. That is correct.   That's confusing. Hello, Bill Davenport with the  farmers market. Um maybe I can help clear up some   of the confusion. Um cuz even to me it's kind of  as clear as mud. Um the permit was requested just   earlier than the meetings that took place with the  DIB and the businesses. So with the information at   that time we submitted the the permit which was  the forum 500 block. From that meeting um the   consensus was a rotational um market. I submitted  in the email um what the rotation would look like   in my opinion. Um the DIIB submitted theirs.  I think there was a little bit of a disconnect   between adding some additional places into that  rotation that from a farmers market standpoint   um would probably be detrimental to what  we're looking to grow with downtown with   the foot traffic. And my assumption was that  was we had clarified and worked through that.  

So it was going to be a rotation on Panama or on  Harrison Avenue only, not into Mackenzie Park. And   um so the permit submitted is for a for  a permanent spot. Due to the timeline,   I didn't know whether we needed to pull that back  if we could get it amended and put back in or if   that's something you guys as a commission or guys  and gals as a commission can make the change if it   comes to a vote. But that's the reason why there's  a disconnect on what the communication is saying   versus what the permit is is the permit got in  on the timeline, but the meeting from the DIIB   and and us are on separate schedule. So you're  open to the rotation up and down. So I I am good   with the the rotation. We just want stability. You  know, if the rotation happens, we're totally fine   with that and we'll make it work as long as it's  on Harrison. um the stability piece, you know,   it's knowing what the schedule will be so that we  can effectively communicate it to the community,   to our vendors, and to all the stakeholders that  are involved so everybody can plan whether it   be parking, foot traffic, all the stuff that  comes with it. So, there's so much who who who   filed this. Can we just enable staff to like  rotate on Harrison Avenue? The the sequence,   I don't really care. Approve the permit. Well,  but I don't want to approve a permit when I   don't I don't know what's on the permit and I  don't want it to be, oh, we have a minute now.   Can we just have staff work with Bill and the or  whoever and to get a permit that's uh you know,   a rotation on Harrison Avenue, the increments that  that he wants or what makes sense to whether it's   six and six or 33 and three, it doesn't matter  to me. It seems like there's some consensus from   the merchants on a rotation, some consensus on  a rotation on Harrison Avenue. Yeah. So I so   I'm hearing the the rotation piece. Do you feel  like you and the DIB can get to a schedule that  

makes sense? Yeah, we can we can definitely,  you know, split it the the rotation. Again,   this is just kind of discussions that with the  DIB. We had submitted ours. I think there there   was a little bit of disconnect. Um that's been  clarified but not communicated effectively. Yeah,   you you clarified it. One thing to add as as  business leaders talk to me um Bill is one thing   take this for a resort. I'm not a farmers market  expert so please don't take this as me telling you   what what to do any shape or form but one of the  ways that was described is the back of the tent   is like facing their business and so most of the  people are walking down the middle versus walking   down the sides. Is that not true? That's that's  incorrect. You changed it. So we we have set   the market up with the intent of pushing the foot  traffic to the businesses. So when you're walking,   you're either walking on a right or a left  side towards the business. So you guys have   already figured that out. Sounds like you guys  have actually kind of clarified most of this   and that there's just a disconnect between the  existing permit and what needs to come. So yeah,   I feel perfectly comfortable with I think you guys  have got enough rotation I think is clear. So,   and it's fair. Yeah. And then take the data and  you may come up with something different. You may   get a group of business owners that want it right  in front of their business. I would like to say,   you know, a rotational from from when you look at  markets across the nation, your markets that that   are thriving markets, economic generators, um, as  far as foot traffic and putting, you know, kind   of rear ends and seats per se. Um, those markets  are are they have stability. you know, stability   that can either look at permanent, but when you  start getting too many, oh, by the ways, you know,   like we're going to add an additional place. When  it starts getting too complex, you start really   hurting the product that you're trying to to  grow and utilize. Being on the same road though,  

even though it's up and down, is that that's where  we can make that work. And the reality is they're   not drastic moves to the rotation between those  blocks. So, if you are used to showing up, say   on the 300 block, all you do is turn to your right  and you're seeing the market on the 400 block. And   if you show up on the 400 block, you turn to your  left, you're going to see it on the 300 block. So,   it's not a drastic change where somebody's really  going to have to go search and see where the   market is, they're going to be able to find it.  And we're going to have good communication out   through our different social media um to be able  to communicate, hey, that's where it is. So I I   I don't think it's a a big problem. Um and it's  something we can definitely make work given the   sentiment I'm hearing here at the deis that um if  it goes back to staff and DIIB and and you all to   work out the permit and bring it back to us March  10th. That's still within a time frame. Uh no,   I mean we need to approve um March or y'all need  to approve March 7th to stay where they're at.   I'll motion to stay where you're at for another  week so that you are through March what is it?   Uh March 7th. March 7th to give us time for you  guys to get back to the final appointment. Does   that work? Any discussion? Please call the role.  Commissioner Street. Yes. Commissioner Hughes.   Yes. Commissioner Lucas. Yes. Commissioner Gr.  Sorry. Commissioner Granger. Mayor Branch. Yes.   Motion passes four to zero. So, um, things that  I've heard that this isn't having to do with that   like the restaurants are saying that that day is  is now tough because I guess the food trucks. Uh,   do you have any data? We need to keep data on  moving that up. Does that help them? Uh, I hear   u there's a lot of good, but also hearing that.  Do you have a system of no competition coming out  

of the farmers market versus existing buildings  or existing businesses as much as possible as   much as possible within reason. We don't we we  take into consideration that a like type item,   we're not setting them right in front of their  store. You know, again, this is where it kind   of gets nuanced a little bit because what  you consider close to your store and what   I consider close to your store may not be the  same thing. We don't get it perfect every week,   but what we do is we take that feedback when we  hear it and then we try to adjust to make it right   so everybody can can thrive and be happy in the  in the situation. So, we do take it where we we're   not putting a what we would consider a liked item  or or a direct competitor in front of a store,   but that doesn't mean there's not going to be one  in the farmers market. We're just going to locate   them differently. Are you in charge of the layout  of where Yes, sir. Is that how you do Okay. Yes,   sir. And Bill's got 8,000 opinions on there.  You know, I want this merch and this thing goes   here. Too many sourdough people and none  of the sourdough people. And if you boil   a farmers market down, it's the art of hurting  cats. So it is. We appreciate you, Bill. Yes,   sir. We do. That's a lot of cats. Um, so do  I have a motion to adjurnn? So move. Motion   to what? To adjourn. Yeah. Is that a second?  Please call the role. Why don't you amend?   Commissioner Street. Yes. Commissioner Hughes.  Yes. Commissioner Lucas. Yes. Mayor Branch. Yes.   Motion passes for We're going to take a 10-minute  break. Then we have our meeting. Thank you.

usually smiling at me nicely. All right,  the special call Panama City Community Fund   Board of Directors meeting for February 24th is  hereby called to order. Um, we will have uh the   roll call, please. Um, Madam Secretary, Director  Street here. Director Hughes uh here. Director   Lucas here. Director Director Branch here. You  have forum. Thank you so much. Uh board members,   you have the uh the minutes from the January 13th,  2026 Panama City Community Fund Incorporated Board   of Directors meeting. Staff would entertain a  motion to approve the minutes. Second. We have   a motion to second. Is there any discussion? Madam  Secretary, please call the role. Director Street.   Yes. Director Hughes. Yes. Director Lucas, yes.  Director Branch, yes. Motion passes four to zero.   Thank you. Item two is audience participation.  Each speaker is limited to three minutes and these   are only uh items for the um authority underneath  the Panama City Community Fund. Please come to the   podium and give your name and address. Seeing  none, audience participation is closed. Moving   into item number three, which is discussion  and authority, discussion of authority rather,   and procedures related to expenditures from the  newly created cost centers for the MLK rec center,   and we did include Trudale Park, but uh we will  speak to that during uh this agenda item. Mayor,   commissioners, sorry, board members, I did  put down uh a uh a memo on each spot here this   evening. Uh this was also emailed earlier that  uh it spells out um the uh center scholarship   program and how we plan to approach this. This is  a collaborative effort between the city manager's   office uh the parks, culture and recreation  department and our housing and community   services department. Uh you kind of have two  options in front of you. Um staff recommends  

the city commission select option one uh which we  believe is more simple uh and more quicker. Uh and   we would be happy to entertain uh any questions  uh that you may have. Uh and additional uh we have   Mr. Meyer and um uh Miss Wear that are here that  are able to answer any questions. But basically,   applicants will be able to apply for a one-year  membership scholarship that covers a residential   membership valued up to $100. Individuals can  also apply for a scholarship to cover the cost   of paid programming such as summer camps, STEM  events, etc. up to three times a year valued   of up to $150. So this does answer the question  that was asked earlier in the commission meeting   uh to this end. So um staff would entertain a  motion to approve um for the purpose of having any   uh type of deliberation. I move that we approve  both options one and two given the distinction in   incomes that um option one uh certainly uh gets  those who qualify and have that kind of uh of uh   documentation but there's a gap that option two  would uh would fill. All right. Is there a second   to that motion? I'll second. All right. There's a  second. Is there any conversation or or questions   of staff from the rest of the board? Yes. I would  just like to have an update maybe in say 6 months   on how many people have taken advantage of option  one and option two because I'd be hardpressed to   think that somebody that was in option one is not  an option two. But maybe that is the case. So well   actually it's the reverse. It's reverse that there  are those who who are not at the lowest end that   qualify for those state programs but would fit  under the U AMI at a different level. Okay. Yeah.   I'll just note we have had about 2,000 accounts  set up since January what was it the 15th uh when  

we started. So 2,000 and uh so they're coming in  for Yes sir Mr. How many of those are free versus   Well, they're all free right now. Okay. Yeah. How  many of those will turn into pain? We don't know   yet. We don't know yet. Okay. Um, let me see if I  can find uh I'll let you know after tonight. So,   the this this uh uh this fund we're talking  about, you know, I've been after trying to my   goal is to have 10,000 a year by companies donated  going forward $2,500 by four in separate ones.   And their first question is where is it going?  That means not the general fund. Um and how is   it being spent? And my idea of scholarship is  for items that they have to join a me join to   become a member so that they have access to rather  than just going to be able to play basketball. Is   that that's what we're talking about here?  Right. Correct. If you show up during open   basketball time, that's free. And so we wouldn't  charge for that. But yes, the any contributions,   as a reminder, we set up a line item specifically  for the MLK rec center scholarship program inside   the Panama City Community Fund. This is a totally  separate fund. y'all operate as directors and not   as city commissioners and mayor in this.  There is u there is no connection with the   general fund with this. This is a separate  nonprofit account that has been set up. So   uh and and additionally we have quarterly meetings  uh and uh and we provide financial reports that   y'all have to vote to basically acknowledge uh  and approve. So you'll see every quarter uh the   monies that are going out for this particular um  benefit for folks at MK Rec Center. What now? But   from this fund. From this fund. Correct. Okay. And  can we keep once a quarter maybe we update those   people that donate. Hey, here's how many people  you help scholarship. You help you participate.   Especially if there's more of a need. But I  understand your question to be their money goes   into the fund. It funds the membership. Then that  money goes out of the fund. And where does it go?  

And that question has been answered. But I think  that's the question he's asking. Correct. So,   it would go in a very systematic way to cover the  cost of whatever event, whether it's a membership,   whether it's one of these special things we spoke  about, um, you know, the STEM events, the camps,   and all that, and it would go into the appropriate  fund on that end. Would everybody's fees go to   cover certain expenses that we denoted because  there's it's on the information page? That is   correct. But it would be a specific individual  transaction for an individual that meets the   criteria of either option one or option two to  cover that expense. It wouldn't just be like, hey,   we're going to transfer, you know, $1,000 into the  general fund. It has to be very systematic. It has   to be specifically tied to an application. I come  in and pay 100 bucks because I don't qualify. You   come in and pay, you get the scholarship, but that  $100 goes to whatever is checking. They both go to   the same place. They both go to the same place.  And that's what I'm want to make sure of. We're   going to transfer that $100 scholar out of PCCF  into that one one transaction at a time. All   right. Yep. All right. Additionally, we have a  um a letter that we would also like to approve.   This is to use for soliciting contributions. I  don't know if you'll have any edits to that. Uh   this was something that our staff um uh drafted  and and I provided edits to it, but I I we think   it's good to go and uh we can circulate this in  in PDF format and and circulate it through email.   Uh if you'd like to have it printed and and hard  copied to somebody with a more personal touch,   happy to do that as well. Uh we can do either way.  and and we're also happy to follow up uh you know   and and let folks know you know maybe a couple  times a year uh how many folks they were able to   help, how many kids or families they were able to  help uh with their contribution. Absolutely. I'd   love for you to use the letter and then give us a  report on how many people gave and if they didn't  

give then we'll come back and is the letter going  to be a requirement? I do. No, it is some of y'all   asked for that. So you could go and and hand it to  someone and say here here's what we're asking for.   I would start the letter with dear person who  loves the children of Padamos. That's right. Yes.   And you would sal your salutation would be smiles.  Yes, it would be. So, uh, do we vote yet? Y'all   have it. We have a motion and a second on the  floor. Sure. All right. All good. All right. Love   it. So, we'll this will be signing off on option  one and option two, uh, as well as the letter. So,   Madam Secretary, please call the role. Director  Street, yes. Director Hughes, yes. Director Lucas,   yes. Director Branch, yes. Motion passes four  to zero. And I just want to say thank you to   uh direct the president, whoever you are. I am  the I'm the president right now. Yes, ma'am. To   the president and your staff for uh for moving  this uh forward and bringing it to us. Um and   uh thank you. You're very welcome. Most of the  kudos goes to Mr. Jones, Mr. from my miss but   I appreciate it on their behalf. Um I will state  I just want to give a quick update on Trudale. So   um as a reminder there was some some talk about  this at the last meeting. We we're not going to   create a line item for that because this is a a  one-time project. Um so we are uh our plan at the   March 10th commission meeting is to bring forward  the bid recommendation for the parking lot. Uh we   are working very quickly right now uh between  uh PCR and the CRA and parks and uh and public   works to get the building out to to bid for HRP.  Uh and then after we get that out on the street,   uh we are also working concurrently with um with  uh Florida architects on the interior of the   building and identifying exactly what we need. And  then we would work with this commission, primarily  

probably Commissioner Street, to go out to folks  that have made offers to donate materials, labor,   supplies, and when they make those contributions,  whether it be labor, whether it be materials,   uh that can be a one-time contribution  specifically um earmarked uh or designated for   the Trudale project. And what I've asked the team  to do is to beyond the HRP money for the project,   beyond the HRP money for the exterior of the  building including HVAC, uh the full buildout uh   of the inside, what is the approximate scope um  that we we and what's the cost estimate on that   and what do we need uh with facility maintenance  and public works kind of helping manage that   construction project so that we can go out and  make specific asks for the people in the community   that have offered to help build that out. And then  we would of course supplement that a little bit as   needed with CRA funds, but we have the ability  to give them a donation that 100%. I think the   reason why Miss Smith felt we didn't need to have  a permit line item because this is Lord willing a   project that will allow that part to sit there for  50 years before we have to do something else to it   again. I just want to be able to get a donation.  Yeah, absolutely. You'll be able to, sir. Yes,   sir. Mr. We're going to pay for the upgrade  of trees now or well, we have some HRP money,   hometown revitalization program for the parking  lot. It's be about 35 spots. Uh and then uh we're   going to do a slab for eventual uh some pickle  ball um uh in that area. And then uh and then   a playground. We'll use some CRA money for that.  Uh then we have another HRP fund. We roughly have   $750,000 in HRP money for the Trudedell Park,  including both the park, the parking lot   uh and the uh and the clubhouse itself.  We're going to maintain that gazebo that's   been there for for generations. Uh the HRP money  specifically for the clubhouse is the exterior.   The roof's in good shape, so we won't need to do  that. That'll help save some money. New windows,  

new doors, new skinning, um HVAC, and then the  necessary electrical for that. Then beyond that,   staff will have to work within our current budget  and contributions from the community to kind of   do the finishing buildout of the inside of the  clubhouse. But we have plans for that already from   um uh from uh Florida architects and that. So what  we're working on doing is kind of splitting those   plans um for the clubhouse itself uh in order to  both identify the what HRP can do kind of outside   including HRP um I'm sorry including HVAC and  then the inside of the building is what we will   have to do through a combination of funds for  the city CRA uh and then hopefully most of it   if not all contributions from the private sector  uh and then our facility I thought Mr. Pick said   is that he they would kind of do the inside or  they they had people they could complete the   the project with you know uh either discounted  rates or their labor is remember when he came   up and talked to us that day. He did. I mean I  know there's been other folks um Meer Electric   has has offered to do some things. What we'd like  to see is I mean there are some things that that   our staff can do. Um for example the framing.  So, you know, would you know, obviously, if we   can get everyone to donate everything that we need  for everything, that would be great. But I also,   you know, I I think it's it's okay for us to have  a little skin in the game. And if we could get,   say, for example, someone to donate all  the timber, all the lumber for framing,   our guys could frame it up. And then you bring  in Meer Electric to provide both the material   and maybe the labor for the electric. That would  be great. Uh we could maybe get someone to donate   contributions to do all the sheetrock work. Uh  that would be so those and again we're working on   those those specific items right now. That's been  my task to both logistics and facility maintenance   as well as public works to the stuff that's not  going to be covered by HRP. We want to be able  

to have a clear scope kind of what we need so  that we can then go out there as both elected   officials and senior staff and talk to those  community members that have already offered a   desire to help get Trudale into the end zone.  One of us up here knows how to get discounted   from Lowe's while I build something. So maybe  maybe we get uh some help there. Yeah. So it's   basically the same process that we did with garden  club. Very similar process to to the garden club.   Correct. That worked out well. It did. And let  me just say that was about a 1.1 to$ 1.2 million   building that we built for a little over $600,000.  So we'll go to a lot of the same folks. But again,   some new folks have already reached out uh that  are, you know, maybe more from the west side of   town in the seniors area and have a lot of  history and and would love to do that. So,   yes, any contribution to that, whether it be  material, labor, uh, they'll be able to get a,   um, I don't know what would it be. It' be just  an acknowledgement letter of the value. Correct,   Miss Waldron? Yes. So, all right. If there's  no more questions about Trudale or the MLK   rec center, we'll entertain a motion  to adjurnn. To adjourn. Second. No,   no, he can send a motion. I'll second. All right.  Any further discussion? All right. Call the role,   please, Madam Secretary. Director Street. No. Yes.  Director. Oh, no. I wanted to do that. You just   want to know if we're listening right here.  Uh, yes. Director Lucas. Yes. Threat branch.   Motion passes. Motion ajourned. Being ajourned.  Boom. You would have said no. And I would say no.