City Commission Meetings - Regular Meeting

I am calling to order the Panama City Commission  meeting for January 27th, 2026 at 4:30. Opening   prayer by Reverend Randy John, pastor of Heritage  Bible Church, followed by the pledge of allegiance   by city manager assistant Jar Jones. Yeah.  Yeah. Please rise. I almost called forward. Yes, sir. The microphone. Yes, sir. Didn't know  which way I should face. So, let's pray. Father,   we thank you for this time that we  can come together. We recognize uh   that we're coming together not just as uh a  city council or as concerned citizens, Lord,   but that we are coming before you as well in all  that we do in all our business and transactions   as well as personal. Father, I thank you for the  people that serve here, that serve this community   in these various positions in the city. And so  Lord, we pray that you would give them wisdom,   that you would give them uh hearts that to know  what you are doing, Lord. That you would bring a   sense of unity and creativity in all that you  desire them to accomplish here for this city.   Lord, we know you have purposes here. We know  you have plans and we pray that they would be   enacted in all this. May your hand of blessing be  upon us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Please join me in the pledge of  allegiance. 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. [clears throat] Please call the role. Mayor  Branch, present. Commissioner Lucas, present.  

Commissioner Granger is not here. He will be  here. He's running late, madam clerk. Commissioner   Street not in attendance. He is uh out of town  on city business. And Commissioner Hughes here.   Mayor, you have quorum. You've received the  meeting minutes from January 13th. We entertain   a motion to accept. So move. Second. Please call  the role. Mayor Branch, yes. Commissioner Lucas,   yes. Commissioner Hughes, yes. Motion passes  30. Additions, deletions, or modifications. Yes,   Mr. Mayor. Um, I would request that the  um item for the MLK MLK recck fees be um   relocated toward the front of the agenda perhaps  uh directly following audience participation. And what number? 9. Okay. 9E to 6B. Anything else?  That's all changes. All right. I'll entertain a   motion to accept. So moved. I'll second. Please  call the RO. Commissioner Lucas. Yes. Commissioner   Hughes. Yes. Mayor Branch. Yes. Motion passes 30.  That's correct. Are those all Mr. Mayor? That's   it. All right. Community announcements. January  may be wrapping up, but the year is just getting   started. So don't miss a moment. Sign up for our  most reliable method of city communications and   get updates straight to your inbox or phone. For  example, all the information you're about to hear   is also sent out through this communication  system. Scan the QR code on the screen or   visit our website at panama city.gov to sign up  today. The city's former payment system, payment,   is no longer operational as of January 1, 2026.  And all payments must now be made through the  

new invoice cloud platform which can be accessed  via our website. Residents and businesses should   register and update their payment information  to ensure proper payment processing. Those who   have already updated their details need to take no  further action. Thank you to everyone who joined   our downtown Marina public chares. Your ideas  and feedback are helping shape the future of our   downtown marina. If you couldn't attend, you can  still watch the presentation and submit feedback   through the city's website until the end of this  month as we prepare for the next design phase,   which is to be presented in late March or early  April. Let the good times roll this February   6th and 7th. Don't miss the St. Andrews Marty  Gro Festival and parade in historic downtown   St. Andrews. A fun-filled celebration with  vibrant floats, music, food, and beads for   all ages. View St. andrewsmartygra.com for full  details, schedules, and updates. Save the date   for the annual CRA social set for Thursday,  February 19th, uh from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in   the rotunda of city hall. Panama City CRA socials  are informal community gatherings where residents   can meet the community redevelopment agency team.  Uh learn about projects and priorities and share   feedback to help guide future improvements across  the city's redevelopment districts. For more   information, visit our website at panalcity.gov.  Panama City's Charter Review Advisory Board is   actively engaged in a comprehensive review of the  city charter, an important governing document that   hasn't seen a full revision since 1963. Panama  City's Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee   has gathered community input at three town halls  this month regarding parks under consideration   for potential consolidation. The last one being  this Thursday night for Ward 2 at 5:30 PM at the  

Glenwood Community Center. That's January 29th.  To get involved and learn more, please visit   our website at panama city.gov. That's all our  announcements, Mr. Mayor. Awesome. Uh we are in   audience participation. If you would like to speak  with anything related to the agenda items today,   please come forward. Everyone gets three  minutes. Uh, please let me know what topic   you are discussing on the agenda and your name and  address of the role. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, my   name is John Hulleneck. I live at 1421 Discovery  Loop North. I'm here to speak on item 7G, which is   on your consent agenda, which we do appreciate,  and I wish Commissioner Granger were here so we   could thank him personally for for coming forward  uh with this. Uh our neighbor is also here who   lives in the new section that is um germanine to  this. She lives in the new westernmost section of   Discovery Loop. Uh we call her our digital twin  because while we live at 1421 Discovery Loop   North, the first new house on this new section  of Discovery Loop has the address of 1421. So   we brought our mail her mail to her to give to her  today. She brings boxes to us. We've gotten her um   uh bathtub and insulation and um she's gotten our  packages and things like that even before she got   a chance to move in. So, we really appreciate  you taking this into consideration. I know it   was one of those things that probably isn't  momentous to a lot of people, but she's the   first one in the new section and there's a whole  street full of lots that are being built on. And   uh if not for this action by you today, uh I'm  sure there would be many other people showing up   here to go. would you please do something about  this? So, thank you. I'm sure your uh uh Amazon   Drive will be thankful as well. Yes, ma'am. And  sir, um name and address. Valerie Wetszberger,   1421 Discovery Loop. Hopefully now 1421 Indigo  Street. Um I just uh wondered how I move forward  

then when this takes effect and then um how I  officially get the change of street address. if   you have any answers there or if there's someone  I can talk to. Yeah, it's it's if Mr. Mayor, yeah,   it's it's a pretty easy process. We initiate  it all through our GIS system, through the   911 system with the county, our own streets  um sorry, our own sign shop will change out   the street signs. We work very closely with the  developer on this as well. Okay. So, it'll happen   pretty quick, [clears throat] assuming assuming  the commission votes to approve it tonight. Yes.   Okay. Sounds good. Thank you so much. Absolutely.  Anyone else related to the agenda items on today's   agenda? Yes, sir. Good afternoon. Uh, Kenneth  Bostic, grew up at 11:09 Friendship, live out   in L Haven now, but I just wanted to talk to about  the boat launch. I understand there's grants being   applied for it. I know FWC gave Mexico Beach  and Port St. Joe of a lot of money for grants to   improve the boat launches. As you well know, does  any of y'all have a boat up here? Well, you know,   last year we had 126 days of snapper season. When  people come into Panama City go snapper fishing,   it's not small boats. It's not 14t runabouts. It's  big boats to bring in big people that spend a lot   of money that stay down at the hotels, go to  the beach, wherever they want to go. But I just   can't emphasize enough that we when they come  to Panama City, they go to the boat launch to   launch a boat. If any of it has ever tried to get  a big vehicle with a trailer down Harrison Avenue,  

it ain't going to happen. I'm sure they have  lighted signs out in our facility here that   starting in May they could put on 231 directing  people how to come. But even if you go down Jinx,   you get into a foray of how to get to the marina  when you see the marina. I just believe signage is   very important. They're bringing in big boats, big  money, and I just believe we're missing it if we   don't try to cater to the people with the money.  Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you. Anyone else want   to speak on today's agenda? A lot of people here  want to speak. Yes. Don't trip over your scarf.   Your foot. I'll get one back. Oh my gosh. Or as I  pick it up, get down here first. Good afternoon.   Good afternoon. How's everyone today? Don't trip.  Beg pardon. Don't trip. Yes, ma'am. I didn't hear   what you I said don't trip on your scarf. I won't.  Your scarf's in your feet. I'll get it. Thank you. Thank you. Brenda Lewis Williams, 2748  Oak Hammock Drive, 32401. Uh my agenda   item is the agenda. Okay. I did a little bit  of research. Which I'm sorry, which one? No,   my agenda item is the agenda. Okay. I uh did a  little bit of research and unless my reading and   comprehension is poor, which it isn't, then um  I believe we're in violation of the statutes.   The statute read that there should be a space  on the agenda for agenda items and non-aggenda   items. And we haven't done that. Mr. Zimmerman  can correct me or let or correct you all. You  

and I had a conversation when you first took  office that you would readress this in September,   which you did not. No, you didn't. But anyway,  uh that was you and I having a conversation and   you did not readress the the um I address  it. I like the meeting format. Pardon? I   like the meeting format. We're good. But the  Florida statute says otherwise. Okay. So, Mr.   Zimmerman can look that up. And um the other item  that is on the agenda item that are I addressed   not too very long ago is the change orders. Uh  let's see what is that. Uh 7E 7F are the change   orders and I addressed that in another meeting.  I I think that this is frivolous spending because   the contractor should have an idea what this  contract is going to uh what it's going to be,   the cost of it, and so they should include that  within their primary bid or their initial bid.   This is frivolous to me because it's costing  the city money that they're coming back into   to capture. There is a it's called um retrren  uh retrrening construction. Yeah, look it up   and you can go back and get the information  and it tells you there's several videos tells   you how to avoid having change orders. So, we  need to look at that because it ends up being   frivolous and costing the city money. Thank you.  Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, sir. Come on up. I don't know. I don't say where it's at. Walk P614  

May Avenue. Which is an item? Uh  13 uh 13th Street Bay High. Okay. Don't have anything sitt nearby. Yeah.  9C. Yeah. It's 9C. Yeah. Just for clarity,   it's Harrison Avenue. There's nothing  happening on 13th. What would that   it just Harrison Avenue? There's  nothing happening on 13th. Well,   I'm talking about Are y'all still planning  on shedding 13th Street down? Close 13th Street. That's not this item. This item has  nothing to do with 13th Street. Mr. Mayor,   this item 9C is about pedestrian safety across  Harrison. Across Harrison Avenue based across   Harrison. Mhm. Based on a written request  from the principal of Bay High and a couple   other groups. On opposite side of Yes. helps  people get across the street safely. All right. Parking lot. Dies and they were no talking. Yeah.  Anyone else on related to those agenda items?   No one else wants to speak. All right. Closing  public comment. One more. Yes, sir. Come on down. Hello. Jonathan Walker 1503 Dunn Court. I'd like  to talk about item 9Ee about the membership and   rental fee schedule for the MLK Junior Center.  Um, yeah, I was born and raised in Bay County   and I'm currently an engineering student at Duke  University and I'm here tonight as somebody who   plans to use the MLK Center, but also as somebody  representing younger residents in our community.   Um, I specifically want to focus on the current  membership fee structure for the MLK Center.  

Right now, the proposed annual membership is set  at $100 for residents and 200 for non-residents.   And I understand that many parts of the center are  open to the public free of charge. But to access   the fitness center and the gym during member  hours requires a membership. So to fully use   the MLK center with all of its amenities, you need  a membership. In this it creates like an all or   nothing system where you either pay the full $100  or you don't get full access. And I believe that   that int that that structure unintentionally  leaves people out and it leaves money on the   table for the city. Um, there's a large group  of residents who can't comfortably pay the $100   upfront or 25 every quarter, but they could pay  something and right now there's no option for   them. So, economically, it's inefficient and it  prevents people in the community from having full   access. As a young college student myself, I don't  have a stable income yet, and I'm trying to be as   responsible with my money as I can and plan for my  future. And I can tell you that paying that $100   would be a stretch, and I'm not the only one that  is in that situation. So, I'd like to suggest a   sliding scale membership fee model where instead  of a flat fee, membership could be tied to broad   income ranges and not their exact income, but just  a range where lower income residents would pay   less and higher income residents would pay more.  And then everybody would be able to participate at   a level that makes sense for them. And so yeah,  whenever doing that, then that allows for one,   the city to make more money because the people in  the middle who wouldn't be able to pay the $100,   they can pay maybe $50 or $25. And so you're  getting a wider audience to pay the membership   fee and it allows for the entire community to have  access to all of the amenities of the MLK Center   and not being constrained to just like the open  community hours. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Gregory Dossi, PO  Box 35894, Panama City 32412. I want to piggyback   on what Mr. Jonathan Walker said. Uh, we had  a meeting with several people, uh, Mr. Hayes,   Commissioner Lucas, uh, and Mr. Elliott, Mr.  Merrill and all. And we presented a proposal with   the fees that they that Mr. uh Walker was talking  about. So, we want to ask that the current item,   I believe 9D, be pulled at least until the  next meeting so the full slate of commissioners   could have the opportunity to look over the  proposal. Not only did we propose, you know,   the change in fees, we had someone that does a lot  of uh basketball tournaments and stuff who did did   research on the uh fee structure for tournaments  in Bay County because when you presented your   proposal, you had Okaloo, Orlando, Dothan, places  that weren't comparable to Bay County. So this   fee structure as far as the tournaments and stuff  like that that was based on Bay District schools,   the city of Panama City Beach, uh the city of  Manhaven because we don't want to be overpriced   or underpriced when we're talking about bringing  tournaments. So uh we had a meeting of community   members uh that came together and voiced  their opinion. So, we actually put in three   uh fee proposals. One was a no fee proposal  for [snorts] everyone. The second one was   a no fee proposal for Panama City residents  only. And the third was a fee proposal based   uh off of your uh fee proposal that you had uh  with the sliding scale rates based on the federal  

uh income guideline. So, it's not like you have to  reinvent the wheel on what you want the guidelines   to be. It's something that's already there.  And it doesn't necessarily have to be that   one if the city already has some kind of income  guidelines in place to base that fee off of. And   some suggestions were you can if someone has an  EBT card, uh you can have proof of verification   of their EBT card or something, you know, like  that. So, we like to, you know, for the whole city   commission to uh look at that and take that into  consideration. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Good evening on Patty. Sunday, 11:15 Fairland. Um,  it's community announcements. Does that count if I   comment on one of those? It was Yeah, sure. Okay.  Um, thank you for the wonderful event, the charet   about the downtown marina. I enjoyed it very much.  I was blessed that I actually went to the first   one that Dober Cole had many years ago. I think  it was a huge success. Um I have a refinement that   I don't know I don't have a solution for but this  is in your wheelhouse is that the demographics of   those who attended I would say were 80 to 90% 55  plus important legacy citizens probably 85% there   um being a parent of four children aged 24 to 30  um who are two are Florida citizen Um, I don't   know how we capture them, right? I don't know  for sure how we capture that demographic. It's   not unique to here. I think that that demographic  is are the future users of the space. And again,  

maybe capturing some of those opinions in a proper  survey sample would be the maybe the final 10 or   20% refinement to the data that comes back. And  so that's my only comment. I certainly talk to my   children and their friends um about it, but  how do we capture what they're thinking and   and how they plan to use the space? You know,  what is their vision? Thank you. Thank you. Uh good afternoon, Mr. Mayor. [clears throat]  Rufuswood, 1911 East 10th Street. I too want to   kind of just piggyback on what Mr. Walker and  Mr. Doss all all made mention of in terms of   the MLK Recreation Center. Again, we are so very  very proud of the new facility. As you all know,   uh when the pres uh fees were presented to  us, there was a lot of confusion and a lot   of misinformation and a lot of it was created  through social media. Uh and of course when we   had the last meeting on this subject matter, we  had a lot of folk who were upset, angry. Uh the   Bay County branch, NAACP along with the student  advocacy center and the uh some of the unions, the   fraternities and sororities in the community. We  all got together and we held a couple of meetings   because my thing was what we we don't need to  spend a lot of time uh fussing and fuming and   crying and complaining. what we need to do is put  some proposals together. And that's exactly what   we did. We had at least three or four meetings  and we had a diverse group. We had black, white,   uh some of the youth, some of the elders um  and um they all came together um uh to put   this proposal together. And so again, we  met with uh Mr. Hayes and we met with Mr.  

uh Jones and some of the other officials  of the city. uh you have copies hopefully   by now of those proposals and we really would  hope that you would give consideration as you   all know we do everything we can do to work with  our officials we're always very proud of the work   that Commissioner Lucas does as well as many of  the rest of you but we want to work with you all   where we can and so uh we would hope that you will  give careful consideration to the proposals which   have been presented to you and I know we may not  still agree on everything but I think the input   that we received receive from the community  is very important and we hope that you will   uh take time to study it and uh hopefully we  can uh come to an agreement with what we can   work with. You know, we want to be on the same  page as much as we possibly can be. This is our   center. All of us are proud of it. We are and I  feel like you all are too. Y'all wouldn't have   voted to move forward to do what we've done if you  weren't proud of it, too. So let's work together   as best we can in terms of government as well as  our community. Uh somebody say uh teamwork that's   what makes the dream work. So thank you so very  much for your consideration. Yes sir. Thank you. Anyone else? Public comments. All right. Closing  public comments. We're going to move to item 7A.   Do you want to kick that one off? make this. Um  yes, in light of the um information that we've   uh received and the thoughtful consideration  that um the community has put into the fee   proposal by the staff. Uh I'd like to ask that  we table this so that we have the uh time and   staff has the time as well to uh thoroughly  uh look through what has been presented. Um I  

am uh grateful and thankful that um the NAACP Bay  County branch took the leadership role in bringing   um various sectors of the community together  to uh to respond to the proposal. So with that,   Mr. Mayor, I'd like to move to table uh the MLK  recck fees. We have a motion to table. Do we   have a second? All right. Please call the role.  Commissioner Lucas, yes. Commissioner Hughes,   yes. Mayor Branch, yes. Motion passes 30. All  right. Consider uh Mr. Mayor, commissioners,   is there a date that we want to try to  shoot to have those back? I would just   as soon as possible at the next next meeting.  Next meeting. Next meeting. Got it. Thank you. Consent. Yep. So, uh, the consent agenda is next.  Um. All right. Consent. Yeah, that's that's you.   That's you, sir. I was going to do it anyway since  you asked. Do we have a motion to accept items   quick? Uh, please call the RO. Commissioner Lucas,  yes. Commissioner Hughes, yes. Mayor Branch. Yes.   Motion passes 300. All right. Now we're down  to city clerk. City clerk. Not uh item 8A is a   notice of term expiration on the board of trustees  for the retirement plan and trust for the general   employees of the city of Panama City. The board  of trustees for the retirement plan and trust   for the general employees of the city of Panama  City has one position that is appointed by the   city commission for a 2-year term that expires  on January 25th, 2028. The current board member,   Priscilla Haggler, is the vice president at First  Federal Bank, which is the bank the city uses for   its operating bank, and she has expressed her  interest in retaining her position on the board. Need a motion on that? Motion we accept. Second.  Please call the role. Commissioner Lucas,   yes. Commissioner Hughes, yes. Mayor Branch,  yes. Motion passes 30. Item 8B is a notice of  

term expiration on the infrastructure s citizens  committee. The infrastructure sir tax citizens   committee has one position for a two-year term  that expires on January 11th, 2028. The current   member, Mr. Charles Tim Fontaine, the W 2  appointment, has expressed an interest in   retaining his position on the committee. Also, the  clerk's office has received one application from   Dr. John Haley. [snorts] Uh, Mr. Mayor, the um  infrastructure certain committee has um three uh   representatives from Ward One. Uh that wasn't  intentional. It happened with some uh changes   in our redistricting and so forth. Um but I would  like to uh thank Mr. Fontaine for his service. Uh   but would like to uh move that we appoint Dr. John  Haley from war 2 to be on the infra infrastructure   sir tax citizens committee. Okay. Do I have  a second? Second. Any discussion? Please call   the role. Commissioner Lucas. Yes. Commissioner  Hughes. Yes. Mayor Branch. Yes. Motion passes 30. The final item under the clerk's agenda is   8C. This is a third amendment to  the Triumph GF Coast Grant Award. Um, the city of Panama City and Eastern  Ship Building Incorporated entered into   a grant award agreement with Triumph  GF Coast, Inc. uh on August 1st, 2019,   whereby Triumph awarded $20 million to  the city under certain terms, conditions,   and contingencies and subject to certain  performance metrics. The attached contract   is the third amendment to this agreement and  provides for the following additional terms   and conditions. The first is that it extends  the completion date of the grant to August 1st,  

2028 in line with the timeline in the budget of  the second amendment. It adds required timelines   for dispersement request and the grant closeout  deadline. and it requires disclosure of and an   auditor's opinion on the expenditure and receipt  of funds related to the Deep Water Horizon oil   spill. The only uh the only one of these that  affects the city is the extension of the timeline,   the completion deadline. We are already um filing  timely dispersement requests and we already   include a disclosure and opinion on the Deep Water  Horizon oil spill in our financial statements.   I will entertain a motion. So  move. Second. Please call the RO. Commissioner Lucas. Yes. Commissioner  Granger. Yes. Commissioner Hughes. Yes.   Mayor Branch. Yes. Motion passes 40. Moving  into city manager. Item 9A is consideration,   approval, and authorization to  execute the second amendment. Sorry, I don't know why that's on the  screen. Um, consideration, approval,   and authorization to execute the second amendment.  Are we just going through them for Commissioner   Granger? Maybe. These are our announcements.  I'm not sure why that's up there. I apologize. Oh, that's Yeah. All right. uh to execute the  second amendment to the joint participation   agreement ASZ65 between the state of Florida  Department of Transportation and the city of   Panama City, Florida in consideration to approve  budget amendment resolution 20260127.2 2. As   background information, on May 28th of 2024, the  city of Panama City approved joint participation   agreement JPAC65 between FDOT and the city of  Panama City CRA for the city and CRA to provide   landscape improvements along State Road 30 US98  Beck Avenue from 15th Street to 10th Street,  

including maintenance for 5 years following  installation. FDOT provided a grant award of   $500,000 for this project. On July 23rd of 2024,  the city of Panama City approved the first amended   JPA, which expanded the project limits from  16th Street to 10th Street with the scope of   work and funding remaining unchanged. The second  amendment requests an additional $50,000 in grant   funding to address added scope and associated  cost, including landscape material upgrades   and related infrastructure improvements. Staff  recommends the commission approve and execute the   second amendment to the JPA ASC65 between State  of Florida Department of Transportation, the   city of Panama City, and approve the accompanying  budget amendment resolution 20260127.2. Mr. Mayor,   I will entertain a motion. So move second. Any  discussion? Call the RO. Commissioner Lucas,   yes. Commissioner Granger, yes. Commissioner  Hughes, yes. Mayor Branch, yes. Motion passes   40. I'd like to uh read this is uh under section  9A and it's uh resolution number 2026127.2 two and it is resolution providing for  the amendment of the approved fiscal   year 2526 budget to accept and expend funds  received from an amendment to FDOT JPAZ65. Item 9B is consideration of approval of  resolution number 20260127.3 in support   of the city's grant application to the Florida  Department of Environmental Protections AY's   Florida Voting Improvement Program or FBIP. At  the December 10th, 2024 city commission meeting,   the commission voted to issue a task order to  design and permit improvements and expansion of   the downtown marina boat ramp. This effort was  undertaken with the understanding that grant  

applications are more successful with shovel ready  plans. The city is ready to reapply for the FBIP   uh grant and this application requires a  resolution of support from this body. Staff   recommends adoption of resolution 20260127.3  in support of the city's application to FD's   FBIP grant. Mr. Mayor, I will entertain a motion.  Um I'll send a question. Have a second. Second.   Still have a question? Mhm. Uh, how much is this  rent for? It's like 350 or is it 2 million? Uh,   I'm not sure of the specifics numbers. That's  why. Well, there were the $350,000 one was the   at the federal level, which is for the kind of  the like the day dock kind of that floating. Um,   this I'm I'm not quite sure of the full potential  of this. I think they give out different amounts.   Uh, and so the the project itself is around $1.8 8  to $2 million to fully do uh to do the enhancement   of the boat ramp. We made a nice transition.  What if we we have plans? What if we put it   out from then? Staff would happily be willing  to do that if the commission would like us to I'm sorry, Ryan. I cut you. No, you did.  You want to start? No. Any other discussion?   Please call the role. Commissioner  Lucas, yes. Commissioner Granger,   yes. Commissioner Hughes. Yes. Mayor  Branch. Yes. Motion passes 40. The   uh commission has adopted resolution  of local support resolution 2026127.3 uh concerning the boat ramp. Item 9 C is  consideration to approve resolution 20260127.5   to provide support for pedestrian improvements  by the Florida Department of Transportation or   FDOT on Harrison Avenue in between 12th and  13th Streets adjacent to Bay High School in  

Panama City. As background information, the state  of Florida is committed to creating safe routes to   school with focus on pedestrian safety. The city  of Panama City supports this initiative and would   like to support this effort whenever possible. The  city manager has been approached by the state of   Florida through FDOT with proposed improvements  to Harrison Avenue between 12th Street and 13th   Street to improve pedestrian safety for access  to and from Bay High as outlined in exhibit A   contained within the attached resolution. There  should be a map to put on the screen. Um and   uh the city fully supports these proposed  improvements uh as our public works department,   Panama City Police Department, Panama City  Fire Department concur these improvements   will improve the overall pedestrian safety in the  immediate area of Bay High School. I'll just add,   Mr. Mayor, commissioners, we also have been  reached out to by the principal of Bay High   uh and the superintendent of schools uh for  the benefit of this as well. If y'all could   rotate that one click to the right. Uh staff  recommendation is that the commission approve   resolution 20260127.5 providing support to FDOT  for the proposed safety improvements to Harrison   Avenue in between 12th Street and 13th Street  adjacent to Bay High School. This will be done at   no expense uh to the city of Panama City. Uh, and  you'll just note this will allow folks to cross   more safely at 12th Street, but crossing Harrison  Avenue uh to gain access to the uh Bay High School   campus and predominantly the uh the symphony  in that new building that was built. Mr. Mayor,   I will entertain a motion. Second. Any discussion?  [clears throat] Call the RO. Commissioner Lucas,   yes. Commissioner Granger, yes. Commissioner  Hughes. Mayor Branch? Yes. Motion passes 40.   Commission. Uh, the commission has adopted  resolution number 20260127.5, a resolution of   local support concerning the safe roots to school  grants. Item 9D is consideration to approve 5-year   leases with the bank court for four new vehicles  to be used by the Panama City Police Department.   It's background information. The vehicle lease  payment will be funded using surplus funds from  

the police department's bodywn camera program  totaling $37,465 as the first year annual cost   was budgeted higher than the final contracted  amount. The remaining $9,127 will be funded from   the department's operating budget. The addition  of these vehicles will support fleet management   and ensure continued operational readiness by  replacing aging, less reliable vehicles within   the Panama City Police Department's fleet. Staff  recommendation through the chief of police is   that the commission approve this request. Mr.  Mayor, I would entertain a motion. Motion to   approve. Second. Any discussion? Call the roll.  Commissioner Lucas. Yes. Commissioner Granger.   Yes. Commissioner Hughes. Yes. Mayor Branch.  Yes. Motion passes 40. All right. Uh item 9E   was uh moved up early in the agenda and tabled  until the next agenda. So uh item 9F is report   on and options for the cross connection control  and update on the consent orders. Uh at the last   meeting um or the December meeting there was  discussion about this. Uh we did provide a uh   memo that was circulated uh earlier today through  email uh and then uh also provided hard copies at   each of your um positions. Uh the information is  here uh just given some additional history and   background and ongoing efforts uh regarding the  cross connection control status report. Uh, and   I will note that we we actually did uh meet the uh  requirement of the consent order um uh by December   31st of uh 2025. Uh and we did not start um you  know um receiving those penalties and additional   fines uh from the state. Uh I'll also note that  um and y'all did receive a copy of this, but   um enhancing and making additional improvements  to the not only the cross connection control uh   program, but also the fog program for the city is  one of our key uh projects during the first half   of calendar year 2026. So um Mr. Jones uh and Mr.  Murphy have worked uh quite hard on this uh along  

with Miss Medky uh the environmental compliance  manager over the last week to two weeks and are   happy to uh to answer any additional questions  uh the commission may have. Mr. Mayor. Yeah.   Any questions for staff? Um and where we were  checking creating the water check. So what we're   doing is you're saying is instead of going out and  seeing a water meter with no backflow promoter and   assume that it's a irrigation meter, we're there's  there's a way to say no now this is not and we're   not going to shut it off. We're going to find you.  It's if it is an irrigation meter with no backflow   preventtor, we're going to find you rather than  shut it off. But if it's not, it's a it's a water   meter for new construction. So, how do you how  do we differentiate? I'm going to try and answer   that question and and and kind of because there's  three different things that that are going on. So,   one is is we've had feedback from builders in  these large subdivisions like Sweet Bay and   Liberty um that that it's taking too long to get  water meters unlocked. And so, and too long is   like a 24-hour request window. Um, so we went out  and we we unlocked all the whips and said, "Okay,   just connect to to what you need to when you  need to for your construction meter or for your   construction water for the site." Um, invariably  what's happened is you've got a 50/50 shot if you   don't call and say, "Which one's my irrigation  meter? Which one's my meter that's going to be   built for sewer of hooking up to the wrong meter?"  Um, so, uh, invariably what'll happen is somebody   moves into that house, the the customer comes  into city hall, they get the count transferred   from the builder, um, and then, uh, and then  come to find out when they're they're they're   getting threatened to get their water shut off.  Um, and because they don't have a backflow pre and   then we go out and turn the water off, then  the customer goes, "Well, why'd you turn my  

water off to my house?" it's because their house  has been hooked up to the irrigation meter the   whole time and they've been spraying their yard  with water that they're paying for sewer charges   on. So that that's the issue. So staff has gone  back and said, "Look, we're going to we're going   to lock the whips before and the contractor is  going to have to call us to to hook up to the   water facilities so we can make sure that the the  correct meter is hooked to the potable water for   the house and is appropriately built for sewer.  while the irrigation meter, while still potable,   is not being built for sewer. Um, so that's that's  part of the issue. So, it's a physical plant issue   that that we've corrected some processes that  that we shouldn't have got blacks on regardless   of the feedback from the builders. Um, this the  second and excuse me, let me think here for a   second. The the second issue you're asking about  is is the backflow preventers in and of itself.   So um if somebody is is out of date, so like for  residential irrigation meters, you have you have   to get an inspection every two years. Um staff is  going to work through that to provide options. We   have to residential backflow preventers irrigation  connections are required to be respected inspected   every two years. A commercial connection is  required every every year. Um so as part of that,   we're going to provide some options to our  customers. So if they don't want to deal with it,   we can get them to sign a right right of entry  and potentially have a contract partner go out   and inspect it for a flat fee that we'd agree to  with those contract partners. Um, additionally,   we have some inspectors in house. So we're looking  at those capabilities, but it's it's all detailed   in this memo. Um, and and I'd be happy to answer  any questions between now and the next meeting   as well. So, and and again, this is part of our  ongoing effort in the first half of this year to   improve these processes and and to additionally  require comply with the bare minimum of the   statute and maybe not be so um worried about  best practices. All right. Sir, and if I may,   uh, Commissioner Hughes, so regarding the other  item of the check box to kind of help, uh, we've  

done some initial research on that and our goal  is to have some, uh, initial report back to you on   that early next week and then hopefully we'll set  up the meeting with the potential folks that you   suggested. So, so the meeting, the call on Monday.  So, for the commission, I asked about water when   we're turning water on on new construction. We  don't have that ability unless it's irrigation   and so and and so now we want to we do we do  so sorry if I wasn't clear. So typically in   a new construction when the builder says hey I  need my meter set and I need a irrigation and a   regular meter account. We go set both meters and  we make the tap connections to the water lines.   The issue is is is those we're charging them 100%  all three services but they need water. So, what   I'm trying to do is just get a water check box so  it's it's we know it's just water. Can that go to   the people that are inspecting so they know they  don't they're not going to shut it off. See what's   happening is they're shutting it off because it  says on there, you know, don't have a MacBook   and they're doing their job or charging them for  water, sewer, and garbage when all they really   need is water at this time for construction. Yes,  Commissioner, you're you're acting you're exactly   right. This memo does not address that topic.  We have a separate memo that's ready to go for   distribution um tomorrow that addresses that very  topic and and we can fully explain it as well. All   right. Because this was just dropped. I read it  this afternoon. Can we can we look over it some   more and talk about it next meeting? Oh, there's  no action. There's no action. That works. Yes,   sir. All right. Thank you. I think the good  news is is we did meet the consent order   um in time and uh you know we're looking ways to  you know continue to enhance the program and and   uh as part of the broader uh project effort for  the first half of the year. We want to make sure   that we're only enforcing the backflow pretor  program to the minimum required for per the D.  

Have you had any conversations with the D of  whether or not a fee structure like this would   um would be helpful or not helpful in the  situation where they maybe audit us and find that   that some of these backflow preventers are not up  to snuff. I personally have not um I I'd be happy   to reach out to him this week and I know Mr. Hayes  will be in Tallahassee tomorrow. I mean I don't   know how how often they audit or even if they do  I don't know. I know it's an unfunded mandate from   the state which is not that great but um I'm just  I don't want to go I don't mind this direction.   I just don't want us to go in this direction  thinking that it's you know sufficient legally   sufficient or does it check the boxes for the D  and then and then we find out oh in 2026 it's not.   Yes sir. So these are these are only suggestions  versus cutting somebody's water off. So we have a   lot of commercial accounts specifically like large  campuses with 300 plus backflow preventers on one   user. Yeah. Because they have so many irrigation  accounts and and so those are those are quite the   chore to to one comply with and make sure they're  inspected on annual basis. So this would give   us the option of in lie of shutting a connection  off either a commercial or irrigation commercial   connection then to be able to find them. So  for example, hospitals, we don't want to shut   a hospital's water off over a backflow pre, but  there needs to there was some sort of incentive.   So these are these are only suggestions. If  this is something the commission is likes,   then we can vet that legally with D. But 100%  grant, we need to make sure it's statutoily legal.   I think there needs to be some time for it to be  digested because it did just come out today. Um,   but I I would like us to see I would like us to  move in some direction in the future with this.   Um, mainly because I I hear it from the residents  that, you know, whatever reason their backflow  

preven report didn't get put in, whether it was  from the contract or whether they just didn't do   it in time or whatever, and all of a sudden the  meter gets locked. And in some cases, it was the   wrong meter. and getting somebody to come back  out to unlock it can be also quite difficult um   and and not very timely. So, uh I like the idea of  not locking the meters and having alternatives. I   I I do like that because it's it's a lot easier to  settle um because if if we make a mistake, we can   settle it with the money instead of having to send  somebody out there to go fix the meter. Yeah, I   know Mr. Mr. Hayes is in my preference to not lock  a meter unless it's for non-payment or or before   a contractor connects to the meter itself. So we  can identify and make sure that that's the correct   meter. That's the only time I prefer to lock them.  And we've come a long way back in the day used to   be Friday afternoon cut offs and I mean it was it  was tough. Yeah. Awesome. Any other discussion on   that item? It's a great idea. All right. I'll  entertain a motion to motion. [laughter] And   how you going to get here late and move to the  shortest meeting we've ever had. [laughter] Please   call the RO. Commissioner Lucas. Yes.  Commissioner Granger. Yes. Commissioner   Hughes. Yes. Mayor Branch. Yes. Motion  passes 40. Look at you. Oh no. I need to shut Not sure anything else.