City Commission Meetings - Regular Meeting

I'll second just so we can talk. We'll discuss it. We'll still first. Well, Nevin, I thought we made some changes to what was read on what Jonathan read. We changed the timeline to a year without the On the permits we initiated, we've got to issue that?

Yes, sir. So, Michael, your department has to make sure they hit the timelines. And I wanted the city to have something that they had to do because we were asking the buyer to do something as well. We all need to work together on that, and it keeps it moving along.

I just wanted to let you know what we talked about.

I'm up for bringing it back. There's three players in this, a buyer, CRA, and the city. And what we're doing today is trying to get something done, and then it has to go to CRA. They're the final approval. It bothers me that we're... Everybody in here that has something to CRA can apply for this rate. We're not going to spell out for what they're going to get. They're going to apply the criteria. But for whatever reason, we're spelling out what this applicant can receive that's already in writing and approved. And what's going to happen is somebody reads it and wants to see $100,000. They're g

I get it. I get it. But there's no special favor given to this guy. Everybody that has property, and that's the RA, qualifies for this property. to make an application under this demo grant. That's correct, right? Yes.

I'm okay with that. Everybody has an opportunity and we're just restating it and making it a guarantee. As long as you meet the criteria, it's a guarantee. Right?

And let me say, I want this project to happen. My job, as long as all of ours, is to protect the city. And what matters is what's inside the four corners of that contract. And all I'm trying to do is tighten it up so we don't have any issues coming back. That's all my goal is, not to kill it, not to make it go away. And he hired a good lawyer. to make sure that happens. So, thank you.

Can you explain to the state revolving fund how the money comes out and what we have to pay back?

We're giving that all up. It's $100,000.

All right. So all your comments are right. I like them. Because one of the things that I didn't think about up front, we're going to take that $5 million. It wouldn't come to us all the time. Put it over here. We're creating a gap. What are we paying that money? Where's that money going? General fund, it sounds like. What are we paying with that $100,000? So I asked Brandon to give me some information, and that money is designated to parks and rec. A department that already is sometimes on life support with people and all that, and they're doing the best they can. We're taking $100,000 away fr

Oh. Well, the money comes in the general fund. It goes to parks and rec. You lost hand on that one. Yeah, lost hand. I mean, because you currently have a $1.2 million budgetary. Right. You know it. Okay, why does it go to reserves if we're going into parks and rec?

Well, hold on. So, St. Joe Company. Contrary to what the social media will tell you, they don't want to take over Panama City, in my opinion. And they don't want to own and operate the marina. They want us to keep owning it. They just want us to do what we're supposed to so people will meet out there. So we can all have a good time down there. 0% interest. We already talked about one we worked with, and that's great, the State Revolving Fund. This is an opportunity to Norman Thibodeau's. We had a grant that we didn't take. We had a participation of a P3 that we didn't do, and now we got money.

Yeah, and our land lease requires that money be spent on the marina.

I'd like to see it. I'll make a motion that we accept. The St. Joe offer, and here's why. We have 60 days to also maybe talk them out. I'm not a big fan of the five years, if that's what we're not. But in the 60 days, we can negotiate with St. Joe. And if we fall flat on our face, we can go pay 5% and $3 million in interest, but we've got no way to pay for it. That's the last option we want. But we have a fallback. So if we go ahead and accept this option today, we've got 60 days of work on it, and I promise we'll keep you updated on how that goes. So I make a motion to accept that offer with

Good question. Because in the drawing, they have boat lifts, and They put enough money in there. If you want to put a boat lift in, they're going to pay for that.

I do have a question for you guys. Y'all operated under those definitions, those requirements.

So you used both of those definitions. You disqualified them and found reasonable and unreasonable, correct, in all the letters? Yes.

Were there any requests for information that changed any timelines, any requirements, anything that would have made the disqualified person be qualified? I'm learning about these things about, so I'm asking questions just, I would've never thought about. Did y'all change any rules along the way or add anything along the way in the admin?

My concern is this. We want to now make a decision about how to move forward with someone over money. Not over... Is it the right person, wrong person? We need to make sure we're going to have a class A project. We had a chance to do this and it wouldn't cost us any money. And we couldn't make a decision then. I'm concerned that we're rushing to a decision now because of... saving money not taking away from Mr. Bowers at all it's not his fault that he comes in it's our fault that we are having to work off of saving money that's where I'm getting caught in here because are we going to do this e

But take that aside. What we're talking about now is exactly the same except we're zeroed out. Never mind the uplands side. That's the problem I've got.

It's not about the lowest bid. We're making a decision based on, we got a recommendation, the new one thing. And I feel like that decisions are being made or being passively made based on dollars, not on recommendations. So that's just a concern that I have. Doesn't mean I'm going to go yes or no on that.

We've got a recommendation and we go with a low bid. What is afforded each party if we voted the other way? We went with Carter's Or protest?

Any planned payments before it's paid off? You know, I told us we were going to pay off maybe another $20 or $30 million. I'd like to see that forecast out because what's coming back is the bulk added. And that $5 million for that one there, so that's got to be included back into the future as well.

And a potential end date of payment when that loan goes away. So if it's a 30-year loan. Is that possible?

Okay. And that includes the 23 that we've approved already? Yeah, we don't have to workshop in this meeting, but just send us. I do have a question for Patty, though. I think you asked... The 73 that we paid off, when did we spend that money on?

I will entertain a motion. Motion to approve. Jonathan, the bridge, didn't some of that come through appropriations, and that's not all loan money?