3.5 FAR, 60 DU/AC

Kirk successfully defeated the Kobayashi Maru Simulation, but that has nothing to do with what a 3.5FAR, 60 DU/AC means...But are there similarities?

What does this mean and who wants this?  3.5 FAR, 60 DU/AC?  Well, it’s not James Tiberius Kirk’s secret reprogramming code-tool utilized to defeat the Kobayashi Maru simulation.  It’s not science fiction.  It’s not even fiction.

It refers to building and massing and scale.

It is code speak for high-density, vertical dwelling capacity.

And this is what DPZ Co-Design “recommended” for “housing” at OLF-8.  In writing, to staff.

As I go through all the emails from DPZ that came out via a public records request, I’ve run across this recommendation to staff.  I also see that, rightfully, it elicits IMMEDIATE push back from our planning folks.  Check out this exchange from January 8th-12^th 2021…

Mike Weich, DPZ Co-Design: “After reviewing different plans and potential capacity we think that a FAR of 3.5 and a density of 60 DU/AC are the limits needed for OLF8”

County Planner: “Staff is really concerned about the density being at 60 DU/AC..Can we please, come up with a good plan on how to describe this to the Commissioners and the Citizens. This will freak, scare and blow peoples mind.  Escambia County has had nothing like this...”

County Planning Supervisor: “Yes, this is concerning.  Consideration needs to be given for the specific area of these types structures for the increase in density-Definitely not for the entire area”

Mike Weich, DPZ Co-Design: “We completely agree, that’s why we included the areas that would have this density only, which is less than 1/3 of the site.”

Marina Khoury, DPZ Co-Design: “...We first need to convince Bergosh that residential is desirable on a site this large, before we begin to show different density types.”

But here is the thing.  I don’t need to be convinced of anything, Marina—I’m listening to my constituents that have told me LOUDLY and CLEARLY, they DON’T want ANY housing on this field.  NONE.  We have too much already and our infrastructure has not kept up. I’ve said from the start that I realized I would likely have to accept some compromise on this----but wow!  This?!? What will these people think in Beulah when they figure out you all want 60 units per acre?

Not only does DPZ and Navy Federal Credit Union (apparently) want housing---they want 4-story, heavily massed, 60 apartments per acre housing!  This is the LAST thing I think we need.  This is the

Was the Meeting Noticed Properly?

 

There was a hastily-arranged "town hall" announced this week.  There will be multiple commissioners on the call and an issue that WILL come before the board will be discussed.  Was the meeting noticed properly, though?

Although I believe it is premature and didn't necessarily feel it was warranted yet, before the BCC workshopped the latest DPZ hybrid plan for OLF-8, a "Town Hall" online has been scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon by DPZ Co-Design.

This potential town hall was mentioned at our recent meeting---but again--- I did not know it was a firm, absolute "go" until late Wednesday afternoon.  Thursday, I had my aide Debbie Kenney sign me up online to participate---which I intend on doing.  Participating, interacting, and speaking.

Because although I recognize the current iteration for the OLF-8 field is much better than previous renditions----I still think it needs a lot of work and a lot of massaging to get it just right.  It's not like this is the last and final plan--regardless of who was in a special last minute meeting to cobble it together.  It did not come off the mountain on tablets inscribed by fire and lightning bolts from heaven....

So although I don't think it is ready for primetime and the "town-hall" is premature--I will participate.

But wait--what if my counterparts want to as well?  From the meeting comments and other things I have heard from other sources--it's my understanding at least one or two of my counterparts will be on the livestream townhall as well.

And that is where I think this knee-jerk, hastily called town hall may put us in hot water if we are not careful.  Although this is not a meeting of the board---if one or more board members speak on this land-use  issue at this special "OLF-8 Town hall" meeting (and this is OBVIOUSLY something that will come before the board for a vote)--if NOT properly advertised--- this could potentially be considered a meeting out of the sunshine.  I don't want that to happen.  I am going to speak, and I don't necessarily want my peers precluded from doing likewise.

So in a few hours when everyone wakes up, I'll send an email and find out.  I hope this event was properly noticed, with a 7-day ad.

Otherwise, if it wasn't, it would probably be wise to advertise it properly to a different date.

We'll see though, maybe DPZ and the county team did, in fact, already advertise it.  IF so, no big deal.  See ya Tuesday at the townhall!

District 1 Vaccination Event Tomorrow!

A COVID-19 Vaccination event happens tomorrow in Bellview from 8:00AM-2:00PM for eligible citizens.

A pop-up vaccination clinic event will occur tomorrow from 8:00AM-2:00PM in Escambia County's District 1 at Pine Summit Baptist Church.  The church is located in Bellview, at 2920 Bellview Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32526.

The COVID-19 Vaccine will be administered to citizens 65 and older and healthcare workers who need the shot.  There will be a total of 350 doses available for this event.  The vaccine is free of charge for citizens.

Those citizens interested and eligible to receive the shot must call to reserve a time by calling 

850-439-3358.

This event is being supported and sponsored by Community Health Northwest Florida.

Arm Wrestling over Acres

With the unveiling of the new "hybrid" plan that is being touted as the "last" iteration of a plan for OLF-8---now begins the final push by various factions to get the acreage they want for the purposes they desire...

A hybrid OLF-8 plan that I feel represents a good start at a compromise has been put forward last week by DPZ.  Again, I think it is a good start at a compromise, not a finished product by any means.  I want to see more acreage dedicated to good job creation, and much less toward residential.  I think the 45 acres for "public" uses, (school, park, walking trails, tennis courts, post office, etc.) could be increased a bit as well, to 50 acres.

But as we all know from the document dump of emails--there are factions working at cross purposes that do not want any commerce and good jobs at all--or the very bare bones minimum possible.  They want something different.

So now the rubber hits the road and here is where we complete this thing.  

And now it will be a battle of factions over space and acreage.  An arm-wrestling match over Acres.  

One very strong faction, Navy Federal Credit Union, apparently wants  lots of retail, residential, and amenities for their employees and the minimum amount of space as possible allocated for good, clean, high-tech jobs for the rest of the county and the region's benefit.  Perhaps they don't want to compete for talented employees with similar high-paying large employers should the county be able to land one or more for the field?  Seems plausible--but it is an educated guess solely because publicly they (NFCU) are silent as a mime on their true intentions/wants for this land.  The county's consultant, DPZ, marches lock step with what NFCU wants.  So do about a hundred and fifty nearby residents.

Another faction of SOME nearby residents hate all development generally, dislike NFCU and their growth and impact on Beulah particularly,  and bemoan all the residential growth in Beulah. These folks want the field to remain undeveloped.  They want no more development period, and wish Beulah had not ever grown the way it has.  There could be several thousand folks that feel this way.  They definitely want NO housing on this field.

Then there are the rest of us who want a good compromise, something for everyone, and for everyone to get a win.  This faction wants no or the absolute MINIMUM amount of residential construction on this field that was acquired for job creation--not to source land for residential developers to get richer with.  These level headed folks realize the power of job creation, and the value of the Triumph Grant that is achievable if sufficient land on OLF-8 is reserved for creation of at least 1000 good jobs. So they want land, a good portion, reserved for clean-tech, high tech jobs.  And finally, folks in this camp, like me, want community amenities, a park, a 15 acre school site, a walking trail, tennis courts, a sheriff's substation, some high end retail and nice restaurants and shops along with a post office if possible and a medical (urgent care) clinic--all in a nicely designed portion of the southern part of this parcel, in the south east corner, along 9-Mile road. 

So I believe the factions have to have their say, and what comes out of the hopper after will be the compromise we will live with.  the current plan looks like this: 

I am going to push for a minimum of 319 acres to be reserved for commerce/job creation.  I'd like to see 50 acres for public amenities and the school site, and the remaining portion of no more than 55 acres dedicated to the retail up front on 9-Mile Road with shops, restaurants, etc. along the frontage of 9-mile road in the South east portion of the field.  If high-density, high-intensity 4-story luxury rental apartments are a drop-dead, must have amenity upon which I have to compromise, then I would hold my nose and accept as little as possible of this, in the extreme north east portion of the parcel, right adjacent to NFCU's campus.  I would also apply impact fees to any such development so that such a developer would have to pay for the widening of Frank Reeder road to accommodate their impacts.  Maybe 15 acres tops for this, which would come off of the amenities and retail acreage--NOT from the commerce portion.   This is what I think would be fair and equitable.

But hey, 5 of us, the elected commissioners, will eventually be the ones who vote on this.  

We will see where it goes.  

I've put my cards on the table here, though.  I can't wait to finish this.

What About the Judges?

 

I asked rhetorically at our last Commission Meeting:  When will our state's Judges under age 65 be offered COVID-19 Vaccination?

As the efforts to vaccinate the maximum number of citizens nationwide accelerates, some very essential workers are apparently being overlooked.  Of course, everybody knows the most vulnerable citizens, in care homes, immunocompromised, and over 65 years of age needed the shot yesterday.  And locally we are hitting that target, with greater than 50% of the citizens over 65 being inoculated against COVID-19.

But now as I read about the next group of citizens eligiblefor shots—including teachers and some other professions with members over age 50—I still don’t see the state’s Judges listed.

They really have nobody pulling for them. Apparently, nobody is advocating for them.  I certainly don’t speak for them---but I am writing this because I believe there may be a HUGE glaring blind-spot that’s shifting focus away from this essential, yet miniscule, cohort of essential state workers.

Judges.

They get overlooked all the time; folks really don’t think about them.  It is esoteric, what they do and how they do it.  When important ceremonies occur, they don’t get the invite.  When they happen to attend important functions—I have witnessed hosts of such events trip over themselves to recognize every other elected official in attendance in such venues—and NOT recognize judges.  They are oftentimes an afterthought--unless one is summoned to appear before a judge. They’re severely restricted in what they can do socially, what they can say politically, and how they must comport themselves publicly.  Most folks do not realize what a person gives up in terms of privacy and privileges when he/she becomes a Judge.  But that’s a whole different topic.  I would certainly have not known much about judges and what they do had my only brother not become one.  But I do have a unique vantage point though- in that my brother has been a circuit court judge here locally for nearly the last decade and a half.  And we talk frequently.  Multiple times weekly.

So far as I have been told—the 16 judges seated in Escambia County under age 65 have not been offered the shot.  “Well why should they get one?”, folks might question sternly.

Here is an example of why:  Just one, and it is personal.   I am hyper-attenuated to this pandemic as one of my closest, best friends, Brad Crager, died of COVID-19 in January.  He was healthy, yet it took him out after an agonizing 2-week hospitalization out in Southern California.  We worked together when I was in college, we were friends for over 30 years. He was like a brother to me.

Then, last week, my only real brother, Gary,  fell ill.  My only brother.  He got really sick.  Fever, chills, and a high temperature.  He was out of it.  He had not/has not been inoculated for COVID-19.  I was worried.

But looking beyond my own concern for a loved one—this illness and related several days quarantine for the COVID-19 test’s results to come back meant 60 jury trials on his docket had to be cancelled.  Sixty of them.  Attorneys, defendants, witnesses, victims, jurors, and public officials were all delayed.  Attorneys from around the country had to reshuffle their schedules, support staff, security-everyone’s schedule was upended.  What about folks scheduled to appear who took personal leave from their jobs to attend?  Now, they will have to take even more precious, valuable leave for these rescheduled trials.

Prisoners in our jail that may have been released—had to stay in Jail.

How much did this one, minor, three-day delay cost?  Who knows, but it costs a lot.

Thankfully, my brother is fine, he tested negative and he is back on the bench.  Had he been given the

Who is it That You Think is Your Client?

In the effort to Master Plan OLF-8, The Escambia Board of County Commissioners is DPZ's sole client.  Disturbingly--there does not appear to be an understanding of this on the part of DPZ's "team leader."

Who is your client?    This seems like a very basic, fundamental question that is easily answered.

But there now appears to be some disagreement between the Board of County Commissioners and our design consultant DPZ Co-design--on who it is that is the client of DPZ in the local effort to create a master plan for OLF-8 in Beulah.

In the recent public BCC meetings last week, I have asked this point blank.  And I was told at these meetings by DPZ that the County is the client.  This is absolutely the case, 100%.  Look no further than our current contract with DPZ-where the Board is the sole client.  The contract is between DPZ Co-Design and the Escambia Board of County Commissioners---and no one else.

But in a recent email from DPZ Co-Design team leader Marina Khoury to me, she indicates, incorrectly, that "all citizens" and "all stakeholders" are also her "clients."  What??  What kind of nonsense is that?

So I asked our attorney for her opinion--- which she quickly provided.  

“Pursuant to your ask, it is my opinion that privity of contract exists solely between the BCC and DPZ.  The BCC is a legal entity and even though the BCC is a board elected by the public, the BCC is the actual client and not the public.  I certainly understand that sounds counterintuitive, but hopefully the board is supporting the wants of its constituency.”

It is odd that this even has to be discussed and defined for Khoury, but nevertheless it must be.  

This is due to some disturbing threats to "embarrass" the commissioners and also  insinuations and accusations of malfeasance leveled against the BCC by partisan stakeholders (NOT DPZ's client) simultaneously copied to members of the DPZ "team" late last year and early this year the contents of which were NOT shared with the board (DPZ's client) in real time.  (These emails only came to light upon local journalist Rick Outzen receiving and publishing them as a part of a public records request he made of DPZ.  These revelations have now morphed into more than a dozen print, TV, and online media pieces that have portrayed DPZ and Navy Federal Credit Union in a negative light while simultaneously casting doubt on the impartiality of the initial plans put forth to the BCC by DPZ)  

Some see this lack of immediate notification by DPZ to the client, BCC, of these serious allegations and plans/schemes against the board as a serious breach of trust.

DPZ team leader Marina Khoury, however, sees things differently.  

She apparently dismisses such concern in an email to me late Sunday evening when she doubles down on the faulty assertion that she did not need to notify the BCC of these emails on which she was copied.  Khoury stated at the meeting that "she stands by each and every email that has been turned over!"  And in her email to me she actually quadruples down in answering my question about why she

Land Use/Zoning 101--Video Has Been Completed

 

                                  The Zoning 101 Video, above, was produced in-house by county staff

                                             

As I campaigned for and won my seat on the commission last fall--one of the many things I pledged to do was to help the average citizen understand two very contentious processes that the county manages.

Code Enforcement was one

and Zoning/Land Use Regulations was the second one.

Because, as I discussed in my campaign platform, NEXT4ESCAMBIA, these two issues are ones that create about 90% of the consternation among citizens that I serve.

Heated phone calls, angry emails, and lots of frustration--often due to a lack of complete understanding of these processes.

So with this video, Zoning 101, that has now been completed and some follow-on tweaking to describe zoning designations and what they mean along with the Code Enforcement 101 video that is coming---2/3 of my "Big Ideas" from NEXT4ESCAMBIA will have been realized.  (The open salary database for all county employees-"Big-Idea number 3" from my plan was activated last October and is live right now, here.  Big Idea #1--districtwide elections for commissioners OR addition of two at-large commission seats---is coming for discussion between and among board members in March.)

I thanked the staff profusely for the efforts they put into creating this video.  Now, we just need to disseminate it and feature it as prominently as we can on our website.

Good News Gets Covered!

 

At last Thursday's meeting of the Escambia Board of County Commissioners--two long simmering projects in District 1 were finally approved by the board.  I incorrectly predicted that neither of these stories would be covered by the media--and I was right until I saw that the PNJ actually did a fair piece on one of these two projects--District 1's first public library going to contract.

The second project, a decade long struggle to get the necessary easements to effect a repair of a storm drain that was literally resulting in several residents of the Floridian subdivision off of Blue Angel Hwy losing their back yards to this ditch-- received no coverage.  (Part 1 of this heavy lift for the Floridian Ditch occurred on February 6, 2020 [p.21-22] when the board approved the $940,000 necessary to fund the construction and design of this repair)

But both of these projects represent the good things that happen in the county every month.  Every month our staff works to finish worthwhile projects like this library and the regional drainage solution for Sarasota Street within the Floridian subdivision.

These and similar projects--including dozens and dozens of smaller ones--are completed by our dedicated staff week in and week out.

I get it that it is extra sexy to only run us down and report that which is salacious and unflattering.  We get it, fixing the ditch so a family does not see their backyard slide down into it, is not something that many are going to find intriguing.

Covering the repaving of a community or the installation of a drainage pond is just too mundane for our media and their minute by minute news cycle.

So today, at least in this one instance,  we got one good story out that is not a negative shot at elected commissioners and dedicated county employees just trying to do their jobs as best they can....

DPZ is Dragging Navy Federal Credit Union's Reputation Through the Mud

NFCU is given the dubious distinction this week of "Loser" in INWEEKLY's wildly popular "Winners and Losers" feature.  A shame this had to happen.  It could have been EASILY avoided.....

One week ago today, late in the afternoon after work, I sent NFCU CEO and President Mary McDuffie a personalized email.  As a 40-year member of NFCU, as a strong supporter of NFCU's expansion in Pensacola, as a "right across the street" neighbor of their massively expanding GPO campus---I had concerns about issues here.

Four days later I received a response to my initial email to Ms. McDuffie.  The response was apparently assigned, written and sent back to me by a subordinate; it glossed over all of my concerns.  It was full of platitudes, short on substance.

One of the concerns I expressed was how NFCU was taking a reputation hit via some machinations by county consultant DPZ.  I offered suggestions to put things back on track--as after the email dump I received and lots of unflattering press that put NFCU in a poor light--I was hopeful that could be addressed.

I asked what it was/is that NFCU wanted to see us accomplish with the OLF-8 property?  Didn't get an answer.

Now, sadly, I see in the Pensacola area's largest circulation weekly print newspaper, the iNWEEKLY, NFCU has been given the dubious distinction this week of "Loser" in that publications popular "Winners and Losers" section yesterday. (p.4-5)

I hate to see this and the other unflattering news that is damaging to NFCU come out in the press--all due to these unflattering DPZ team emails and some other more significant issues with DPZ.

I'm a 40 year NFCU member.  I bank with them to this day.  I root for their success.

But the apparent tone-deaf response to these issues in general and to me particularly is surprisingly disappointing.

Maybe I'll send Mary a follow-up email late this afternoon....I wonder if it would simply, once again, just be delegated to a subordinate?

Regulations and Rules for Registered Architects in the State of Florida

Some nebulous professions in Florida like community liaison, media specialist, campaign operative, campaign coordinator or communications specialist may not have firm fixed rules, regulations, and codes of conduct.  Not so for Registered Architects in the State of Florida...

As everyone in Pensacola who is not living under a rock knows by now--there has been some very, very concerning and troubling issues surrounding the Board's project to Master Plan our OLF-8 property in District 1.

As emails have surfaced and many have now been examined, one of the things that most concerns me is the lack of notice by our consulting team, led by Registered Architect Marina Khoury, about schemes and plans to undermine the Board of County Commissioners' project at the OLF-8 field that appear to have been developing on a separate track concurrently with the public Charette Process.

Team Leader Khoury was copied on emails where the client (Escambia County) was being targeted by third party individuals for "Public Embarrassment" and also where insinuations were being made that the Escambia County Commissioners (DPZ's Client here) were acting with "malfeasance."  Yet no notice to any County staff was made.  These emails sent to our consultant via email copy to her created what even the most casual observer would instantly realize was potentially a serious conflict of interest! At a minimum such emails sent to the "team-leader" of our consultant group would have necessitated IMMEDIATE consultation with the client.  Didn't happen.

I have asked our County Attorney if our contract has been breached due to some of these sorts of machinations I'm now seeing within these released public record emails.  

And County Attorney Alison Rogers has now provided me her response and also additional documentation concerning the professional duties, responsibilities, Canons, and obligations of a Registered Architect under the AIA (of particular note, the canons under III)and also under Florida Administrative code.

As I peruse the information related to Architects under the FAC--I see areas of this code that may have

Today’s Meeting on OLF-8 With DPZ: Some Positives---yet the Concerns Still Linger

 

This email, above,  that threatens to undermine the BCC's project and "embarrass" commissioners was copied to DPZ team leader Marina Khoury early in January......but DPZ's client was NOT notified...why?

This morning’s regular meeting of the board of county commissioners included a continued discussion about OLF-8 following our contentious committee of the whole last week—where emails that were embarrassing to our “consultant” and very condescending (if not overtly hostile) to the commissioners and our project came to light in Rick’s Blog.  These were a result of a public records request made by Outzen in which the unflattering emails were turned over and subsequently published.

It has resulted in a significant PR Black eye for DPZ and Navy Federal Credit Union---with the latter being named a “Loser” in this week’s iNWEEKLY “Winners and Losers” section...(p. 4-5 of the edition)

Since that time additional emails have been turned over and a repeated pattern has emerged that is troubling to me; when innocuous, routine issues are discussed—our county project management team is copied.  When interaction between NFCU and some neighbors that are against any commerce on the field occur—our county staff is not copied.

And now I see that in multiple emails copied to our consultant’s team leader, Registered Architect Marina Khoury, troubling insinuations and outright lies are told about our project and the commissioners---yet this information was not passed along to the County by project manager Khoury.  The client was not told of this at the time it was happening, last summer and fall.  Why NOT?  In one of these emails it is stated that the goal is to “embarrass the commissioners”--in another—the dark insinuation is made that the commissioners are engaging in “malfeasance” as far as it pertains to the OLF-8 project.  Again--these emails were copied to our “supposed” consulting group DPZ’s team leader.  But county staff was not warned/notified/or told.  I confirmed that today through our Administrator.

Theresa Blackwell can say whatever she wants, she can send emails out to the PNJ, neighbors, whomever she chooses.  Navy Federal personnel can do likewise.

But when anyone associated with this project—either in the community or stakeholders—copies our consultant on intentions to “embarrass us”and insinuations we are engaging in “malfeasance”—we MUST be notified immediately-as we are the client.  To purposely not notify us is very, very unprofessional and deceptive.  It appears it may also be a breach of professional ethics.  This is being researched.

This email, above,  that insinuates the BCC is engaging in malfeasance was copied to DPZ team leader Marina Khoury back in September......but DPZ's client was NOT notified...why?

So yes, I’m glad Chairman Bender had a meeting with NFCU’s Keith Hoskins and others and brought a

Is the Push for Housing on OLF-8 Actually About "Affordable"---------- or is it Really All About "Upscale" Rental Housing?

If the push is for "affordable" rental units to be constructed on OLF-8--I don't see how rents of between $1,000 and 2,000 Monthly on a proposed 900 such units on the OLF-8 property fits that bill....$1,000 monthly for a studio sounds like a Luxury rental in Pensacola.....

The surreal revelations of last week surrounding our supposed BCC consultant's recommendations for OLF-8 have taken a dramatic series of sideways turns as I have now read through all the emails previously provided via a public records request.

As I have now pointed out in a series of blog posts--It appears that our consultant was working against some of our priorities as it relates to OLF-8.

But why the unwavering, uncompromising lobbying by DPZ for rental housing on OLF-8?----why the dogged, unflinching push by them to build more residential housing on this field that was acquired by the county to create jobs?

The first red flag was their outright refusal to consider the value of jobs and payrolls from companies that might become employers on that field--when attempting to rate/rank the "value" of plans they would bring before us.  This resulted in apples to pineapple comparisons of plans that were faulty.  We finally got them to bring an analysis from the Haas Center of the power of payrolls on our area---- if the right jobs are targeted and placed on OLF-8.  Now we are getting a better analysis of the economic value and power of jobs.

But initially--the vision from DPZ focused solely on the ad-valorem revenue the structures built on OLF-8 would generate for the county.  (Which are significant--yet paltry when compared to the impact of payroll dollars from a large employer rippling through an economy yearly--generating home purchases, retail purchases, gas tax and sales tax for the county.)  As an example of this at Thursday's meeting I pointed out something important that I learned earlier in the week after speaking with Escambia County Property Appraiser Chris Jones.  Navy Federal Credit Union has built about a Billion Dollars worth of facilities adjacent to OLF-8.  And if you peel off the incentives applied via eDATES provided to NFCU---the ad valorem value of the facilities constructed comes to about $4 Million yearly.  (The county only collects about half of that, though.  The balance goes goes to the School Board, the Sheriff's MSTU, and the Library MSBU).  The payroll that the 8400 Employees of NFCU generate, by contrast, is estimated to be in excess of $350 Million per year.

What's better:

$350 Million per year for jobs     or    $2 Million per year in the county's coffers as ad valorem revenue.

But wait!  It's not an either or.  We get both--as long as we put good companies on the field!

What we don't get, if we build a bunch of residential and low-wage retail on the field, is BIG PAYROLL dollars rippling through the economy.  We only get the facilities' ad valorem tax revenue. Which as I illustrated in the example above is paltry in comparison...

So I went back to the complete draft Weitzman study from last August and looked at the pages our DPZ Communications Subcontractor was highlighting in emails I have seen.  Pages 248-251 were what he

Why is the BCC's Consulting Team Working against the BCC: Part III--A Tremendous Push for Housing on OLF 8

The apparently relentless push for housing on OLF-8 by DPZ, given what the public is saying, seems akin to the trope about a square peg and a round hole...

Housing on the OLF-8 property was always a NO for me and my vote.  I knew the majority of my constituents agreed with that one point---by an overwhelming majority.  They know what I know already as a 17-year resident of Beulah right on 9-Mile Road.  We have too much residential already and our infrastructure has not kept up---and so NO, these citizens DON'T want any more housing on the OLF-8 field, period, thank you very much!

Two automated, large-pool statistically-significant polls that have been run county-wide among registered voters confirmed this.  The first one was run in August of last year.  The last one was run less than one month ago.  What do they both have in common?  Two important things: First off-folks don't want housing on OLF-8 and secondly--folks want us to pursue high-paying, high tech jobs on OLF-8.  A huge majority of the respondents county-wide want this.

Now, there are some who do not understand statistics and polling and believe these surveys should not "be trusted" because these persons critical of the surveys, themselves individually,  were not called to give input.  Others attack the credibility of the firm that conducted the poll.  But to do so really, really spotlight's someone's ignorance.  These polls were automated, run by an auto-dialer with touchtone voting.  So-regardless of who runs the auto dialed telephone poll---it has no bearing on the outcome or the results.  The results are the results are the results--whether your best friend or worst enemy asks the questions via this sort of a computerized system. So to attack the results is simply a ridiculous, feeble, and disingenuous tactic that has no basis in logic.  The final feckless argument I hear is "The questions were leading!!"

Again--this is outrageous.  Look at a couple of examples of the questions:

"Should the majority of the OLF 8 land, by Navy Federal, be used for more housing and retail shops; or

Why is the BCC's Consulting Team Working against the BCC: Part II--Why Was the Client Kept in the Dark?

Public Record emails seem to indicate that many meetings were set between the county's consultant DPZ CoDesign and groups of citizens that were working against the county's interests as it pertains to the OLF-8 project in District 1's Beulah Community.  Why was the county (the client) kept in the dark about the substance of these meetings?

 After a document dump of emails from late last week it became painfully obvious, to even the most casual observer, that the consulting firm we hired to implement the board's unanimously approved guidance document in conjunction with citizen input county-wide was being tainted.  And I don't say this lightly or without evidence.

As I discussed here and here--it appears to me that our consultants were giving an inordinately magnified voice to one large employer and their interests, NFCU, and a small group of nearby residents who were/are vocally opposed to any commerce being developed on the OLF-8 property.

I believe this was being done to magnify this opposition in an attempt to present this as a "mandate" or "ground-swelling" of grass-roots approval supporting residential construction on the field and in strong opposition to any commerce on the field.

As I've now carefully gone through the emails that were presented last week, I see DPZ's Communications Contractor Travis Peterson of Impact Campaigns working directly with both of these groups on what appears to be a second track---not in alignment with the county's (aka the client's) interests.  For instance, whenever a meeting is discussed where the "Beulah Coalition" ( a small group of  Navy Federal Credit Union employees and several nearby residents, primarily of the "Nature Trail" subdivision) is to be appraised of an update or given a briefing--County project managers are not on the distribution lists--not invited.  But DPZ staffers are copied on these invites.  Why not the county's project managers?  Why no invite for the client?"

Terri Berry, the County's Project Manager for the OLF-8 initiative said at Thursday's meeting she was told, specifically, that she was "not invited" to these meetings.  This is a red flag--no matter how many ways folks from DPZ want to rationalize that.  It was inappropriate.  Another county staff member with whom I spoken and with knowledge of this topic confirmed that the county's staff "did not" participate in meetings with this Navy Federal Credit Union/DPZ citizens group.

But looking past that part---why was the client, the county, not appraised of the content/outcome of

Some Folks Still Want us to NOT Allow Sunday Morning Alcohol Sales......At All......Anywhere

From a constituent:

"Respectfully request that this email will be considered when County Commissioners vote on subject ordinance.   Our two votes, as legal voters in Escambia County vote NO & are against the Escambia County Commission proposed ordinance. We both are unable to attend due health issues & planned physician appointment otherwise we would be sitting on the front row with our face masks. Thanking you in advance for your support and hopefully your No vote."

 My Response:

"I proposed the language change, as right now, as we speak, some stores can already legally sell alcohol on Sunday mornings but the same “type” of store, for no good reason, cannot sell on Sunday mornings.  This is currently based upon such store’s geographic location in the county.  Stores at the beaches can sell, but stores on the mainland cannot.  So right now citizens that want to do so are driving out of their neighborhoods, across the county line to buy alcohol on Sunday mornings (Santa Rosa permits Sunday morning sales beginning at 7:00AM) or all the way to Perdido Key or Pensacola Beach to legally purchase alcohol on Sunday mornings. This is backwards, discriminatory, and unfair;  my support for uniform language for ALL Licensed Escambia County retailers to sell on an equal footing and at uniform times will pass, more than likely with a rare 5-0 vote of the board.  This said—I am not advocating for folks to skip church on Sundays and go out and get drunk.  I am not making a value judgment here.  I cannot, nor can anyone, legislate morality.   But I can and I will fix language that puts some businesses on an unequal footing for reasons that are ridiculous, arcane, and obsolete—which the board’s approval of this ordinance Thursday morning will do."

Trash and Litter Issues Plague this County.... How Can WE Fix This?

I witnessed a driver on Mobile Highway by Bellview Middle School throw a paper plate out his window this morning just like it was a frisbee.  Why are citizens treating their roadways like their personal garbage can?  Would fining people get this behavior corrected?

My office has been inundated with complaints about this. Litter, and garbage, all over the place. I have seen it.  We have all seen it.

It's disgusting.

In the wake of the Hurricane Sally cleanup--there are still a number of piles of debris around my district.

This morning I saw several debris piles on Community Drive between Belview Avenue and Longleaf.  The north and south side of I-10 between exit 5 and I-110 looks like a garbage dump.  

Mobile Hwy--north and south on the right of way--is covered in litter.

As I drove up Mobile Hwy past Bellview Middle School today---I watched as a trailer being pulled by a truck had garbage falling out the back--including a large cardboard box and lots of loose, flying paper.  Right next to him was a newer Chevy Camaro with tinted windows.  I was astonished to see the driver's side window roll down--and that driver flung what looked like a "Chinet" paper plate out the window like  a frisbee.

Why do people treat these state and local roadways are their personal garbage cans?

I am working with my counterpart on the ECUA and county staff and ECUA staff to organize a mass cleanup of our streets and communities.

I am also going to discuss better enforcement of our "no littering" ordinances--to include installing more signs and actually fining violators.

But at the end of the day--these are just treating symptoms of the much larger problem which is this:  Why do people so disregard their own community to the level that they treat it like a garbage dump?  Where is their pride in their area?  What a SAD state of affairs.

Maybe a $100 dollar fine for littering would get their attention?

I'm bringing this up at Thursday's meeting.

Who Will be SRIA's Next Executive Director?

 

The Santa Rosa Island Authority met last week to pick their next Executive Director. 

Current Executive Director Paolo Ghio is retiring. 

The SRIA had a pool of 64 applicants from which to choose.

The final three candidates that comprised the short list had credentials that far exceeded the minimum including  MPA's and executive level governmental management.

It was briefly suggested that the pool of applicants be re-opened so that a larger number of these applicants could answer 3 questions instead of the final 7 being asked 22 questions.

District 2 Commissioner's Aide Jonathan Owens submitted his resume and was not selected, and did not make the short list.  Other local applicants were also in the mix, many of whom did not make the final cut either.

The selectee that was eventually picked from the top three candidates was initially notified--however it has since been determined that the vote was flawed.  Apparently-to advance any candidate forward the selectee must have at least 4 votes.  Apparently, of the 5 members that voted--this threshold was not met somehow.  

The SRIA will now have a special meeting next week to once again vote on a selectee for this position from the final three applicants.

Why is Navy Federal Credit Union--Through Spokesman Bill Pearson--Working with our DPZ Communications Consultant AGAINST the County's Economic Development Strategy?

As I continue to go through dozens and dozens of emails that were dumped last night--I keep finding indications that the Escambia Board of County Commissioners has been purposely undermined.

A few weeks back--a flyer with misinformation/disinformation began making the rounds in "chain-style" emails.  I figured it was a disgruntled resident perhaps.  Maybe it was one of the folks that want us to build thousands of residential housing units on OLF-8 (A concept I have opposed from day 1).

NFCU Public Affairs Manager Bill Pearson
sent this unflattering email --above--to our alleged 
consultant team's communications
director--who then spread it to those in the
community who are most vitriolically opposed
to any commerce on OLF 8

Now-it appears as if the mystery has been solved.  The individual who wrote the talking points, according to this email trail, is a gentleman named George Stephenson.  I don't know him, wouldn't be able to recognize him if he walked by me in a room.

As a citizen he is entitled to his opinion and to say whatever he wants about the project.  He has the freedom of speech.  This is America--not Myanmar or China.

But here is where the story goes sideways....

It looks as though Travis Peterson (one of our supposed team members at DPZ that is making $200 per hour working "for" the county)  has fed his distilled talking points  on our economic development strategies--commerce parks in particular--to NFCU executives and these "No Commerce Park on OLF-8" individuals--including George Stephenson.

And the spin on what was sent was unmistakably negative.  For instance, a recent unsuccessful bid to offer 10 acres of our Technology park was spotlighted by Peterson.  But wait--- Travis Peterson was alerted to the Tech Park issue via an apparently unsolicited email from NFCU Communications Director Bill Pearson! (above, right screen capture)

And as if all of this isn't bad enough---then I find this email document where Navy Federal Credit Union spokesman Bill Pearson is editing the bullet points of the "No Commerce Park on OLF-8" groups position paper.

And I am seeing various other emails where NFCU brass like Bill Dagnal are brought into the loop.

I am also seeing LOTS of emails where a loose Navy Federal Credit Union led "confederation" is

Whatever Happened to the Watchdog, Just the Facts, Public Service Print News of Years Past?

Like the proverbial "Dolphin in a Tuna Net" Fishing operations--today's print media appears to take a position of fire, ready, aim!--regardless of the ramifications. Regardless of the innocent by-catch. This is especially apparent locally with the Pensacola News Journal!

Where did it go? Whatever Happened to the Watchdog,  Just the Facts, Public Service Print News of Years Past?

These days, we have a press that increasingly appears to be compromised.   

At the national and local level.  

Averse to negative publicity, reactionary towards any criticism, and fickle politically.  And overly obsequious to their advertising base, to boot!

At the local level, I have seen some of the best and worst of journalism.

Some of the best comes from William Reynolds at NorthEscambia.com.  He publishes news pieces---just the facts-no spin, no "opinion."  He knocks it out of the park with his online paper.

While Rick Outzen and I have not always seen eye to eye---he tackles important stories and deals with them fairly and in a balanced way.  If not for his coverage of the shenanigans surrounding the Newpoint schools 5 years ago-----that issue may have never been cleaned up--and some folks that deserve to be in jail and are in jail currently probably would not be in jail!  He does a good job with his weekly paper.

And then we have the Pensacola News Journal--the "PNJ."

They Kowtow to their advertisers and put out some of the most putrid, disgusting rubbish you could imagine.

They go through staff like most folks change socks------ and they never do quite get the story right.

Fire, ready, aim must be their mantra--and folks locally are catching on to it.  

And believe me--the PNJ  loves to attack those of us that are elected locally trying their best to make our community better....yet they have their "favorites"---- that could commit murder and not get scrutinized in the pages of their "publication".  It is sickening, the duplicity....

But I digress.....

This evening,  I received more evidence of this feckless, weak and irrelevant print media PNJ..... I got a document dump from a public records request related to the County's  OLF-8 project (Which will be discussed tomorrow morning at a Board of County Commissioners Committee of the Whole meeting) where I have now found some incredibly disappointing emails related to the PNJ....... and it isn't surprising.....

Sadly--a team of designers that is supposed to be working for the county is apparently working at cross-purposes with us.  

That's bad enough..

But now I am seeing that along the way, this group of designers have been feeding stories to the Pensacola News Journal that run a narrative that puts us, the elected board of county commissioners, in a negative light.

So this, in and of itself, is deplorable.  But then there is the PNJ editorial board......that prints this garbage and doubles down on it!

The saddest part is the way they allow themselves to be manipulated.  

They are allowing a third party to provide the material for their stories--then apparently allowing these same folks to correct stories after publication.  Compliantly, like useful tools.

How sad.

But that's not even the saddest part.  The saddest part is the demeaning way in which the PNJ editor refers to one of her own employees in emails to folks outside their organization.  Really sad to see, and I feel sorry for this employee that such an opinion or assessment of her performance would be shared like this to someone in writing, outside her organization.  Totally unprofessional.

But again--getting back to the important topic at hand--the question remains the same:  Whatever happened to the watchdog, just the facts, public service print news of years past----looking out for the community and wanting to do what is right?

Answer---it's gone, does not exist anymore.  Everyone has an angle, everyone has an agenda.

There is no loyalty--------especially at the PNJ.

And good people and good employees get caught in the middle like Dolphins in the Tuna net.

Why is the BCC's Consulting Team Working Against the BCC? Part I

 

Take a look at this email, above.

It is one of many emails I requested and received today regarding the OLF-8 project.

It all started with posts I read in Rick's Blog.  He requested these OLF-8 related emails from DPZ ---a private company that is (allegedly) working for the County on helping to design a great plan for our OLF-8 property.

They (DPZ) didn't know (apparently) that their emails related to the county's project were public records under the Florida Sunshine law.  And so they stonewalled the initial request.  Eventually, they realized they had to comply and so they put together the emails and made them available.  And now I have copies, too. 

 And what I see as I go through these emails is what appears to be a deliberate attempt to discredit the board and the county's position.

At the meeting on January 7th I was attacked personally--and the DECADES long plan to create jobs at the OLF-8 field was attacked.  The BCC was excoriated by the very speakers that Travis Peterson, above, is encouraging.  Evan as the BCC pays his $200.00 per hour salary as a part of the DPZ team.

What gives?

So tomorrow morning I will have some questions for DPZ.  Like these:

Who do you consider your client to be?

Why are your team members assisting those that are actively working to discredit your client?

Why are you not being impartial and unbiased?

There are a lot more emails.  I'm going through all of them-----page by page, centimeter by centimeter.

Yes, I'm going to have some questions tomorrow.  

The first one is easy:  

Why is the BCC's Consulting Team Working Against the BCC?

more to come.....

Homeless Need Help! Part II: Lunch

I brought this individual, whom I had seen before, a sack lunch this morning on my way to work.  What happened next was somewhat unbelievable to me......

I wrote yesterday about a recent encounter I had with what I assumed to be a homeless person on my drive in to work.

I didn't like the way it ended, as I described in my post about it.

So this morning I brought a non-perishable bag lunch with me on my commute to work on the off chance that this individual might be on the Cervantes Street overpass again, soliciting for help.

He was there.

So as I pulled up this morning as the light turned green, I pulled up beside him, put my flashers on and rolled down the window, and he came over to the car.  I handed him the bag lunch and said "I brought a lunch for you today-God bless you."  He took the bag with a smile-- and with one single motion-- as I

Payment of Legal Fees Request May Not Necessarily be a Slam Dunk Part II: The Absolute and Total Annihilation of Mandamus Argument

When this guy, Luka Doncic,  is loose in the paint--it's a sure thing.  It's  a SLAM DUNK.  Doug Underhill's argument for payment of his legal fees by the board, however, is the opposite of this.  In fact, after reading a  12-page destruction of his argument for the BCC to be compelled to pay via a writ of mandamus---it appears less like a slam dunk and more like the Washington Generals trying to beat the Harlem Globetrotters.......Good luck with that!

When Basketball phenom Luka Doncic gets free in the lane and he has the ball---yeah it is going to be a thunderous slam dunk.  Doesn't matter who he is playing or who is in his way (or under him).  He's jamming it home even over the biggest names you hear about in the NBA.  Even those guys get out of the way and accept what's coming...

A recent request for legal fee payment for Commissioner Doug Underhill's lawyer, which to board let die in silence with no action, was answered with a subsequent legal filing where it was intimated it was/should be  all but a "sure thing" these fees would/should be paid by the county.   

I never thought it was a slam dunk.    Not even close.  And I always thought the Writ of Mandamus was inappropriate--as the board has discretion and to pay these fees is no ministerial function.  So no, it wasn't going to be a sure thing slam dunk.

After all, we're not talking about Luka Doncic.

Now I have received an email containing a 12-page legal opinion on this matter supporting the board's position that the payment of fees is not guaranteed--among other arguments.  This is from Tallahassee lawyer Rick Figlio.  This opinion was prepared at the behest of a local citizen, recently provided to the County Attorneys, and also provided to the County Commissioners.

And this 12 page position paper totally and completely annihilates and destroys the weak and feckless arguments for mandamus presented on Doug's behalf by his thus far not fully paid attorneys.

Complete annihilation in stunning fashion.  You don't even need to be a lawyer to understand it--that's how well it is written.  from the document:

• In his Petition, Underhill argues that the Board has a nondiscretionary duty to pay his legal fees on the basis of the Board’s policy.  That is meritless.

• Underhill failed to comply with the procedures set forth in the policy that outlines conditions precedent to any claim for legal representation. He was required to submit a

Homeless Need Help!

Homeless Need Help!

"Homeless Need Help!"This was what was written on the front of the flimsy cardboard sign the man was holding as he walked by my car on a recent morning as I was on my way to work.  He appeared to be young, perhaps in his mid to late 20s.   It was a very cold morning.  In fact, it was in the low to mid 30s, with a brisk north wind blowing.  It was about 6:10 AM. He was walking up and down the side of the offramp from I-110 where it connects to Cervantes Street--and as the traffic would back up (no right turn permitted on a red light) he would walk up and back, hoping someone would roll down the window and give him something.

I was on my second cycle of green light, and I was moving close to the light as it turned yellow, then red.

Knowing I'd be stopped right by where this individual was standing--a couple of different thoughts went through my head simultaneously.

I looked in my passenger seat--there was my laptop bag and my sack lunch.  Actually, it was a sack breakfast and lunch--consisting of a 7.5 Ounce can of Diet Coke, 2 hard boiled eggs, a banana, a bottled water, a microwaveable bag of rice, a tangerine, and apple, and some breaded chicken in a plastic Tupperware.  For a moment, I thought about giving him the whole bag.  I've given food before.  But then I'd be stuck at my desk with no lunch or breakfast, and about 12 hours before I'd be back home.  At about the same time, I thought about giving him a five-spot.  After all, I had about $86 bucks in my wallet-I've given money before.  Then I thought about stopping and just speaking with him, I've done that before.

I remembered the time in Cardiff by the Sea and I was on the way to the beach and I saw a guy with a similar sign.  So I reached into my cooler, grabbed an Ice cold beer and as I drove by I tossed it to him.  He smiled, did not break eye contact, and caught the beer with one hand while keeping the other hand on his sign which did not move--didn't flinch.  It was like a frog catching a fly with his distended tongue.  It was impressive.

I remembered the other time I saw a guy holding a sign like this on 9-Mile road.  This guy had no legs, he

41 Escambia Citizens Have Applied for the 5 Remaining Seats on the Escambia Children's Trust

Five of the statutorily defined seats have been filled for the new Escambia Children's Trust, so the remaining 5 seats will be filled by five persons on this list of 41---on the right.

Here's how the process is going to go from here.....

At our next meeting on the 18th of this month---each commissioner will select two names from this list as their selectees.  

The total of 10 names produced by this process will be pulled from the list, and each commissioner will select five additional names from the reduced list of 31 names.  

The top five candidates from this secondary selection process will be added to the 10 names previously selected by the board members individually, for a total of 15 selectees which will then be sent to Governor DeSantis.

The Governor will then, for this final list of 15, select the final 5 members of what will be the inaugural Escambia Children's Trust.

I'm told my name will also be sent to the Governor for his consideration, although I am not sure if it will be in addition to the 15 selectees or one of the total of 15.  I guess I'll find out on the 18th.

The subsequent timeframe for the Governor to select his five appointees remains uncertain; it could take several months to a year or longer.

But this is where we are at in this process at the moment.

Read all about the Escambia Children's Trust here.

58th Coffee With the Commissioner Event this coming Wednesday

 

We will have our 58th Coffee with the Commissioner event this coming Wednesday, February 10^th, 2021 from 6:30-7:30 AM. 

We will have County Administrator Janice Gilley, Emergency Manager and Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore, and special guest First Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner Dr. Deanna Oleske. 

We will be discussing the ongoing response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, our county COVID-19 numbers, and an in-depth conversation with Dr. Oleske about the impacts the Pandemic has had on the Medical Examiner’s office and her staff and facilities 

To join the meeting, go to the following Facebook page at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10th and watch the live stream: www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/ Residents are encouraged to send virtual questions and comments they would like to discuss with District 1 Commissioner during the event through Facebook.For more information, contact District 1 Aide Debbie Kenney at 850-595-4910 or district1@myescambia.com. For District 1 updates, follow @MyDistrict1 on Twitter.

I've Been Invited to Speak at an OLF-8 Community Meeting at Nature Trail This Tuesday at 4:30

I'll be speaking with the Nature Trail Homeowner's Association this coming Tuesday.  The topic: OLF-8

There have been lots of emails flying around about OLF-8.

What folks think, what they are being told, what they want, what they don't want, and everything in between.

The largest single common denominator that I have seen is that the lion's share of these emails are coming from the largest subdivision in Beulah, Nature Trail.

This is also the subdivision that is right across the street from Navy Federal Credit Union and the OLF-8 property.

So, at an unrelated meeting I attended yesterday I happened to see the current Nature Trail HOA president, Karen Sindel.  I spoke with her about the latest happenings as it pertains to Nature Trail and the OLF-8 development;  I asked if I could get time to come and speak, in person, to the residents of Nature Trail.

She graciously obliged, stating that there was a standing meeting of the HOA next week, February 9th, at 5:00PM and that I could speak to the group 30 minutes prior, starting at 4:30.

So I'll be there at 4:30 next week.

Looking forward to clearing up some of the misinformation that is circulating.  I'm also looking forward to some honest, one on one discussions with folks to hear their concerns.

Another Emotional, Non-Factual Form Letter Email is Making the Rounds....

A toy Gumby doll is, of course, very malleable
and easily manipulated; real
human people should not be....

Another form letter is being sent out to unsuspecting Escambia County residents, with the urging that "this be sent to the commissioners," regarding OLF-8.  We had similar, even more inaccurate propaganda going around a few weeks back.....

I've received a couple of these latest renditions, exactly the same letters.  A chain letter, a form letter.

But it has embedded within it positions that are emotionally-charged opinions--touted as facts-- that are simply not based in fact.

Here's the latest complete letter being promoted:

"Dear Commissioner Bergosh, 

I’m very disappointed that the Escambia County Board of Commissioners rejected the plans that DPZ presented at the December meeting. These are the plans that were developed after meetings  with you and us , the residents in the area, to develop a highest and best use plan for the OLF-8 property across the street from NT and met all the criteria you put in the contract you signed with them. Many of us participated either at meetings or online and voted for our favorite of the 4 plans. The Market plan and the village plan, both mixed use plans, were by far the most popular and were considered to have the best return rate. We didn’t like the commerce park plan and neither did DPZ. I am completely opposed to the type of commerce park that the board seems to continue to favor despite opposition from the many constituents that have contacted each of you.

​I expect you to listen to us and the expert planers. This waste of taxpayer money on yet another new Commerce Park when we have so much acreage already developed but unused in the current county owned parks, affects the whole county.

​No Commerce Park At OLF-8"

Here's the inconvenient fact check:

1.  Non-Factual Claim in Latest "chain letter":  "I’m very disappointed that the Escambia County Board of Commissioners rejected the plans that DPZ presented at the December meeting."  Truth:  This is not factual, the board has made no final determinations and has NOT voted to accept or reject any plan yet presented by DPZ.

2.  Non-Factual Claim in Latest "chain letter":  "The Market plan and the village plan, both mixed use plans, were by far the most popular and were considered to have the best return rate."  Truth:  The planners failed to bring a complete economic analysis for all four plans and failed to answer questions put to them before the meeting by the BCC regarding the value of the positive impact of the payrolls that 1000's jobs on the field would/could create.  They (DPZ) are now finally doing this.  Absent this key metric---the previous assertions by DPZ that the Market and Village plans had a higher economic impact/value were simply inaccurate-- not founded/based on an appropriate, complete, and apropos comparison.  Additionally--the amount of acreage for jobs in each plan varied greatly--which did not make sense.  Apples must be compared to apples.

3.  Non-Factual Claim in Latest "chain letter":  "I am completely opposed to the type of commerce park that the board seems to continue to favor despite opposition from the many constituents that have contacted each of you."  Truth:  This is obviously an opinion.  Where it is disingenuous is that it intimates that we are not listening to citizen input--which is false.  In addition to the charrettes and other inputs to DPZ--there have now been at least 2 published polls conducted county-wide that clearly illustrate that a vast majority of ALL COUNTY Residents favor high-tech jobs on this field.  Very FEW want retail and residential.  Are we not to look at these scientific polls of Escambia County Citizens that point to differing opinions/visions for OLF-8?

4.  Non-Factual Claim in Latest "chain letter": "This waste of taxpayer money on yet another new Commerce Park when we have so much acreage already developed but unused in the current county owned parks, affects the whole county."  Truth: Our 5 general use commerce parks in the county have been a smashing success story--employing 13,800 citizens and contributing $1.7 Billion yearly in area economic impact.  Additionally--we do not have "so much acreage...unused"--according to Florida West--we only have one (1) large available parcel (greater than 25 acres) and it is up in Century.  We have only a little over 100 acres available in publicly owned parks, as our utilization rate of our over 1576 acres is above 87%.  Before folks compliantly send out emails based on inaccurate information they really should read the FACTS (about our General use commerce parks here) first.  Otherwise, they are being manipulated unnecessarily.