Buc-ee's is Hiring......WOW!

 

Buc-ee's is a phnomenon all to itself.  

I didn't know much about them, other than I had stopped in the locations outside of Tucson and San Antonio on cross country trips from Pensacola to San Diego multiple times since 2004.

They have good prices on gas, a funny logo, they sell shirts, they have clean restrooms, and they have retail floor space larger than Lowe's or Home Depot with ANYTHING you want for sale.  Anything travel related.  And gas pumps in rows.  Lots of them.  They're unique.

A couple of years back a Buc-ees opened nearby--just over the border in Alabama between Mobile and Pensacola.  I've stopped there from time to time for gas and a pulled-pork sandwich on trips out of Pensacola on the I-10.

This past weekend coming off a road trip to New Orleans I braved the crowds to stop at the closest Buc-ees to our area.  There were so many cars trying to get in, the parking lot attendants literally were directing traffic like I was at the L.A. Coliseum to see the Rolling Stones play a concert.  It was ridiculous.  But even with a massive crowd I got in and out quick (and paid about $.20 cents less per gallon than I would have at the Circle K in Pensacola.....)

As I pumped gas I saw the placard on the pump announcing the positions that were open at this local Buc-ees (and the pay).

I guess I must be out of touch --------but some of those jobs pay well.  I mean, over $200K.  WOW!

So it just goes to show we live in a great country, and with a company like Buc-ees, a young person can start a job at the entry level and end up working his/her way up to store manager making a respectable salary.  No college, no student loans, straight in to the workforce.  Not for everyone--but for some this could be a very viable option.  I'm sure they earn this pay, whoever works there----it is retail after all---but WOW!  

Look at the wages, below.  Look at the benefits.  How in the world will McDonalds, BK, and the rest compete with this kind of pay and benefits package??????  No wonder a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal deal and McDonalds is like $14.68 these days...And a 3-piece Chicken Dinner at Popeye's with a drink is like $15.79.  Funny money.....

(my first job at the Navy commissary in Yokosuka Japan at age 14 paid $2.41 an hour in 1982---my first job in Pensacola at the Popeye's on Navy Blvd in 1984 paid $3.35 per hour-----my oh my have times  changed!)

Mayor DC Reeves Delivers a State of the City Address to Citizens

We work closely with the city on several issues, and three of my counterparts have large swaths of their districts that are also within the city limits.  So, there will always be some synergies and some crossover that requires city/county cooperation.  The homelessness issue and the related problems are a big topic that will require us working together. In addition to this, my employer ESA South is very interested in the happenings in the city so they asked if I would attend this event. So, I made it a point to attend last evening's "State of the City" Civicon event at the Sanders Beach Community Center.

Here are some highlights of his hour and ten-minute presentation.

First, the mayor focused on describing his progress in addressing his initial promised improvements in safety, housing, and jobs.  To illustrate his progress, he utilized data from a UWF Haas study the city commissioned of only city residents, and he also utilized data from the recently completed PYP Quality of Life Survey of area residents (including Escambia County Residents).

Highlights:

--94% of residents rated Pensacola Fire Department Excellent or Very Good

--87% of residents rated Pensacola Police Department Excellent or Very Good

--89% believe the city is heading in the “right direction.”

--new North City Police Substation will be opened at the PSC campus within the next 60 days

--City Fire Service enjoys the Highest ISO Rating, a 1

--$840,000 grant received for the installation of high tech “Shot Spotter” technology that will enable law enforcement to react to gunfire in real time and at the precise location where the gunfire occurred

--He discussed the ongoing efforts and legislative requests this upcoming session for $18 Million for demolition and re-purposing of the 50-acre legacy campus of Baptist Hospital for housing and other city needs.

--He discussed the current effort and #1 legislative ask from the state legislative delegation for a 5-gate expansion at the Pensacola International Airport-from 12 to 17 gates and additional concession options.  The funding necessary for completing this project will be split between the city, the state, and the federal government, according to Reeves.  Initial design is underway.

--Pensacola’s Airport throughput is at a record high already this year, and the projection is that by year’s end we will have had more than 2.65 million enplanements, which represents an 89% increase over enplanements in 2013

He next described what the survey data revealed to be the most desirable features of the city.  Access to

Dystopian, Fearful, Defeatist, Pessimistic Emails---and My Enthusiastic, Positive, and Realistic Response!

Dystopian, Fearful, Defeatist, Pessimistic, and emotionally-charged emails to me regarding OLF-8's pending development will, in return, receive factual, rational, educated, enthusiastic, and emotionally neutral (Think "Spock-like") responses!  

I've lived the OLF 8 issue since I bought my house right across from the field nearly 20 years ago.  At that time, it was people complaining about the noise of the choppers.  Little did I know then that a nearly decade-long effort was already well underway for the county to acquire that property for jobs from the Navy.....but it was.

Fast forward 11 years to 2015 and I became well aware of the history of the project---and I campaigned in support of a world class, high-tech, clean tech commerce park on OLF-8 to create and provide high-tech, clean-tech, high-paying jobs for the entire region--along with amenities along the 9-Mile Road frontage for nearby residents----as I successfully ran for and won the D1 seat on the BCC.  

Yes--I've lived this issue for a long time now.

Although some will now attempt to re-write history, the facts are the facts:  I supported jobs, and I vehemently DID NOT support any, not one, residential dwelling on that field. NONE.

But then came the upswelling of anger and frustration from neighbors, politically connected companies, and stong special interests----and the original plan went out the window faster than lightning in favor of a watered down footprint for jobs--favoring a much larger mixed use development and some amenities. And yes, some residential on the field was incorporated into this "new direction"--even though very few in Beulah wanted any more residential built there on OLF 8.  Even my most ardent, staunchest political enemies in the area agreed with my assessment that we should NOT be competing with the private sector by sourcing land for homebuilders on OLF 8 because there was too much residential being built in Beulah already and the infrastructure couldn't support more on OLF 8.  

But I was outvoted.  

And then I went through the master planning, swallowed hard, held my nose, gagged and in the spirit of compromise went along with the rest of the board in supporting the master plan as the blueprint going forward for this parcel. It was a hard-fought compromise that left a little something for everyone, a lot of stuff a lot of people didn't want, and very little of what a few people wanted.  Nobody was 100% happy-it was the epitome of a compromise.

That's the fact, Jack.  That's how this happened, and that is how we came to be where we are today, period, end of story.

And now that we have chosen a group with which to partner-----as only one group came to the drop dead meeting yesterday-----I am receiving some emails that are negative.  I am also receiving some that are positive.  The negatives outweigh the positives roughly 2-1.  Here, below, is an example "negative" email and my upbeat, positive, rational, and factual response:

"Jeff,

Please [do] not [use]DR Horton (sic), he is a cheap builder and will add nothing to our area and OLF-8. It would be nice to have decent restaurants. Would be great to have a Post Office,  but as you told me the USPS is closing offices, although there are 2 close together on 29. I go back to MLK and Fairfield by the School District Warehouse to purchase stamps and do mailing. Very inconvenient.

But we say no to DRA Horton(sic), not that it matters. Sounds like a done deal. And traffic will be horrific with more homes and apartments. Oh well, the end of paradise.

Thanks,"

My response:

"Thanks for the email.  I believe we did the best we could-- given the fact that the stronger bidder (Breland) didn’t show up to the selection meeting and given the fact that DR Horton is now teaming with Stirling and upped their offer significantly.  Additionally, to their credit, DR Horton acquiesced to our insistence that they accept a deed restriction limiting their ability to build residential on the light industrial/commercial areas of the parcel.  And they did set aside a 20 acre piece of the parcel for potential sale to the school board for a school if the school board decides they want to pursue that.  And their plan has a town center, Class A medical and office buildings, retail, restaurants, and other amenities for the Beulah community. The half-hearted Breland “rendering” sent to us the night before the meeting that they did not attend indicated a small, miniscule retail parcel on the nine mile frontage, a tiny, miniscule parcel for job creation (commercial, light industrial) on the northeast corner----and the entire balance of the land residential.  It was DOA the minute I saw it, so it was wise they ghosted us and did a no show.

 Remember XXXXX—from the get go I powerfully advocated against ANY residential on that field.  I wanted amenities, retail, restaurants on the frontage and the balance of the land for the creation of high-tech, clean tech jobs (like NFCU in aesthetically pleasing buildings).  But due to the pressure put on my counterparts by local residents, and powerful and politically connected special interests,—that original plan (you know, the reason we spent $18.5 million and 25 years working on this project in the first place—as a regional jobs generator) was thrown out the window.  Over my objections.  That is the true history, well documented, of how we got where we are today. So we did the master plan which I ultimately endorsed and voted to support, in the spirit of compromise.

 With that as the backdrop, we are where we are now with one interested party.  And while the plan is not perfect, I do think this team will work with us.  And over the next 6 months or so we will hammer out an agreement that will result in between a $20-$27 Million dollar “profit” for the taxpayers—which proceeds can be used throughout Beulah, District 1, and the county to address deficiencies in stormwater and traffic infrastructure as well as other quality of life needs.  And remember this, as well:  We have a $155 Million Dollar interchange coming in Beulah which will divert half of the current 9-mile road traffic which all utilizes exit five.  Additionally, Beulah Road—now a state road—will be widened in that plan.  The state is currently constructing significant upgrades on Mobile Hwy from Blue Angel all the way to 9 Mile road through Beulah.  And the Governor’s newly-announced Florida Forward initiative earmarks $162 Million for an ambitious 6-year plan to 6-lane 1-10 through Beulah from the weigh station to Pine Forest road along with a significant re-work of the entire interchange at exit 7.  So infrastructure upgrades and modernization projects are in the works right now and have been in planning since I first took office 6 years ago.

 And the built up field will create jobs and generate significant new ad valorem tax revenue for the county and the school board—which is the real, long horizon plus of this deal.  This added revenue allows us to maintain what we have done this past year:  ensuring our sheriff’s deputies, EMTs, paramedics, firemen, and corrections guards are the highest paid in the region.  All of this without raising the year over year millage (property tax) rates.  Growing the economy allows us to do these great things while keeping the tax burden low.

 So thanks for your email of concern, and please know I am going to do my level best to shepherd this deal toward a finale that produces a huge win for Beulah (where I have lived for 20 years right across from OLF 8), the county, and the region.

 Happy Easter, and have a great weekend."

 

Revised Offer for OLF 8 Just Received: $42 Million with 100 Acres retained by Escambia County for Jobs

The folks from DR Horton were at this morning's meeting.  And they listened to the concerns of the board.

This evening right before the start of our regular meeting, a final, revised LOI was sent to all commissioners--an offer that reflected the morning discussions and addressed these concerns.

This last offer raises the price for the parcel to $42 Million Dollars and sets aside 100 acres for the county to retain, subject to negotiation on the price, for job creation.  The offer also, importantly, recognizes and will substantially comply with the Master Plan for OLF 8 and the offer also accepts the imposition of restrictive covenants on the deed.  These will be necessary to limit additional residential construction in the areas zoned for commercial which could be flipped to residential under the latest Tallahassee law that was just passed (Live Local Act)--which bypasses and preempts our zoning restrictions on such decisions.

Breland did not show up at tonight's meeting, and they did not come to the morning meeting either.

We will be voting on this in the next 15 minutes.......

 

More Big Economic Development WINs for Escambia County at Triumph Gulf Coast Yesterday!

Approved Yesterday:  $20 Million + in Economic Development Projects for Escambia County from the BP Oil Spill Settlement Proceeds--$14.2 for District 1's OLF-8 road infrastructure initiative...

Yesterday was a huge day for Escambia County as two big projects moved forward and were approved at the Triumph Gulf Coast meeting in Panama City.  The projects, totalling more than $20 Million Dollars, will allow for the growth of jobs at Escambia's OLF 8 property in District 1 via the construction of a high quality, durable road from 9-Mile Road to Frank Reeder road, as well as associated drainage and utilities.  This will bi-sect the property and has been something multiple potential developers had looked upon as "must have" infrastructure for the field's development to commence.

The second project approved yesterday, project laser, will help to fund a manufacturing research center of excellence.

The board members received the below email notifying us of the vote by Triumph yesterday afternoon from Scott Luth, CEO of Florida West Economic Development Alliance.  From the email:

"The Triumph Gulf Coast board voted to support two Escambia projects yesterday afternoon totaling over $20 million. 

 The County OLF8, $14.2 million, road and infrastructure project term sheet was approved and recommended for a full contract. This is a tremendous milestone project to develop publicly owned, competitive, light industrial park property to help our community keep and expand our existing business and attract new business.

 The PEDC, $6 million, Project Laser full application was approved and recommended for term sheet development. This is a partnership project between PEDC, Pensacola State College, Space Florida, and LIFT to establish a new manufacturing research center of excellence in our community (Please see the Triumph Staff recommendation of our project attached).

 I would like to thank the Triumph staff and our two Triumph board members from Escambia County, David Bear and Collier Merrill, for their support and leadership. 

 Both of these projects would not have moved to this stage without the help and support of the City, County, and many other partners. 

 While these are great first steps and represent a lot of work thus far, we will now begin to move the projects forward to realize the long term benefits this potential investment will have within our community.  I appreciate your support of our community"

About Florida West

About Triumph Gulf Coast

$14.2 Million Triumph Gulf Coast Ask for OLF-8 Wins Unanimous Approval

Escambia County is bringing home a huge award of over $14 Million in Oil Spill penalty money to create good jobs on our OLF-8 property.  Big win for our county and our citizens!

As the county moves toward developing the jobs-producing portions of OLF 8 --one of the biggest barriers (outside of some of the requirements and ambiguities of the site's Master Plan) that companies and potential developers have expressed is all about infrastructure.   Where will the roads be located?  Who is responsible for stormwater retention?  Will it be necessary on each parcel--or will there be a large, centralized storm pond for all commercial tennants to utilize?  What about sewer?  what about electrical service?  These are important questions that need to be answered before we can move jobs creating high-tech, clean tech manufacturing, distribution, and assembly companies onto this field.

Yesterday in Panama City a big part of the answer to that question was formalized.  John Singley and Studio 850 were there and covered the meeting.  Kudos to them for doing that.  

As a result of the county's request- we will receive $14.2 Million in BP oil spill monies to invest in a North-South connector road between 9-Mile Road and Frank Reeder Road---which will facilitate ingress/egress for the vehicles of potential jobs producing tenants on OLF-8.  The county will kick in an additional $3 Million in matching funds ---but will be reimbursed for this funding outlay once deals are reached with those who will develop sites on this field to produce jobs.

This was a giant, profound step forward.  Right now, there are two entities that have expressed significant interest in building 35-40 acre sites on the field for creating up to 250 jobs that will pay above our county's average salary.  A third entity is waiting in the wings.  Interesting to me that no residential interest has swooped in to develop the dozens of acres that provide for density of up to 60 units per acre under the OLF-8 Master Plan.  I'm told by staff and at least one residential developer that some of the provisions of the master plan are actually a hindrance to such developers coming in to build--which frankly is fine by me as I was the commissioner who was staunchly opposed to any residential being constructed on this field. (along with a majority of nearby residents that did not want residential and feel too much residential has been built in Beulah already.  So perhaps that is just serendipity.  Meanwhile, we WILL move forward with creating jobs and bringing home the Triumph money just as I campaigned on. (Read all about the history of this field here.  There's a LOT of history..)

But nothing--commercial or residential-- moves on that field until we can cogently explain what the road layout will actually look like and how the provision of utilities will be distributed around the field.  A large part of that question will be answered as a result of yesterday's meeting and unanimous vote to support OLF-8 and Escambia County.  Another big win for the county.

Much more to come on this in the months ahead.

Pegasus Takes Flight in Escambia County!

Dignitaries, citizens, elected officials, and officers from Pegasus Laboratories, Inc. Celebrate the opening of Pegasus' newly acquired facility in Escambia County's Ellyson Industrial Complex on Thursday, April 28, 2022.

It was a clear blue sky and70 degrees in Escambia County's Ellyson Industrial Park this morning as a group of locally elected dignitaries, economic development leaders, business leaders, citizens, members of the chamber of commerce, and the press welcomed the leadership of Pegasus Laboratories, Inc., to their new facility.

The facility, at 9101 Ely Drive, was the former Hitachi Cable Facility.  It is now the property of Pegasus Labs.  They received a $2.5 Million Dollar Award from Triumph Gulf Coast in exchange for their commitment to fund 60 new jobs at the facility paying an average wage exceeding $60,000.00 per year.  In addition to this, Florida West and the PEDC assisted with a financing package which allowed for this company to retrofit and modernize this facility at a cost of over $12 Million Dollars to facilitate the work they do--pharmaceuticals for the veterinary industry.  Then, via a long-term leaseback agreement that's more complex than I'll get into here, the company will occupy this facility and pay rent to PEDC for use of the building they will have renovated.

I was honored to speak today on behalf of the Board
of County Commissioners at the ribbon cutting of Pegasus
Laboratories' newly acquired facility in Escambia 
County

And the winners from this deal will be Pegasus, the community, the county, and the citizens who get jobs at this 520 employee strong (140 locally after the new hires are brought aboard)--employee-owned business that was founded in the mid 1980s and merged with a Kansas City company in the late 1990s.

I met several retired employees of this company after I was given the opportunity to speak to the crowd as a representative of the Board of County Commissioners and after all the other dignitaries had spoken.

One individual told me she is retired at age 50 from the company--and was passionately supportive of the expansion.  Executives from Pegasus, during their speeches, touted the fact that many of the company's original employees had been able to retire comfortably via the growth in their stake of their (employee-owned) company.  Pegasus Executive Chairman Don Chew described the growth he expects from this company in the years ahead "We are a $50 Million Dollar company, going to $100 Million in the next few years--I'm confident of that." 

Another gentleman, Mr. Gary Cushing, (one of the original founders of the company) told us a great story about the early days of the company, operating on a shoestring budget, borrowing money for his first building and getting the builders to invest in the company, and getting the first big-successful product on the street (a drug that's now the leader in the industry for animal incontinence).

David Bear, from Triumph Gulf Coast, addresses the attendees at today's ribbon cutting

According to his recollection of the CDC (veterinary) approval process for this drug (now called Proin)--they (Pegasus) had the preliminary approval of their first of its kind medication for animals, with a primary active ingredient that, at that time, was an over the counter medicine that was and is common-phenylpropanolamine.  The success came quickly, according to Cushing.  "We were doing very well with the product in liquid and chewable formulations--but then the issue of illicit "cooking" of drugs containing phenylpropanolamine for the making of methamphetamine led to limits on the sale of these drugs."  he continued  "Luckily, one of our [Pegasus] guys knew the number for the #2 guy at the CDC, the man who could get us the green light to continue selling our medicine.  So we called him, we spoke to him, and what do you know--he had a pet that had incontinence!" He summed it up by saying "We got the approval we needed stamped that day, in one day!"

He was quick to point out that he's retired now--but I could see the passion in his face as he retold this story.  He also talked about a French company that early on tried to take on Proin.  "Our team of 7 salesmen beat that company--we beat them back and we are still on top." 

Great company, great history, great people.

Economic Development is alive and well here in Escambia County--and this was a great day for it!

DPZ Town Hall on OLF-8 Happened........200 or so Participated....Ho Hum.......

The DPZ town hall occurred last night playing to an audience of about 200 or so "online"....(our County's population is 315,000 and District 1's population exceeds 63,000...)

...And I hung in there for about an hour and a half for the one after another series of soliloquies.  I utilized the "Q&A" function to ask 7 specific questions for which I received various degrees of responses.

The latest hybrid plan was presented, and the DPZ staff took turns discussing various pros and cons of the previous plans and the recent hybrid plan.

They also made a big production about what they consider their willingness to do this online zoom meeting "pro-bono"--or no cost.  They put this in their press release and also reiterated this position. (Meanwhile, I am told their invoices submitted thus far to the county are approaching a Million Dollar$.)  But this zoom call was done for "free."

When I got on the call, there were a total of 137 attendees on the online town hall, plus 10 members of the DPZ staff.  On the facebook livestream, the attendee number fluctuated between 29 and 46 attendees.

So it looks like about 200 or so citizens were on the call total (unless some were on the call and on facebook livestream like I was--in which case that number could vary and be less)

The DPZ staff put a poll up asking some questions and they report a total of 210 folks participated and voted in that poll.  I'm not certain these were 210 unique poll responses, or were duplicates allowed? Not sure.

Not surprisingly, though,  the poll results from this small number of apparently like-minded attendees mirrors what DPZ wants:  Amazing!   

Q1--less than 100 acres for jobs --71% for 100 acres or less to 29% wanting more than 100 acres

Q2--High Density Residential -- 209% for high-density residential  to 8% for NO Housing (wait, how can that be accurate if it doesn't equal 100%?--someone ask the experts at DPZ to explain please)

Q3--Completion/build out timeline--76% 10 years or longer, 23% 5 years or less..

Afterword, at least one citizen excitingly, in giddy fashion, exclaimed what a smashing success this charrette was.  And her excited post got two or three "likes" and four comments....

Meanwhile, an exasperated nearby resident tagged me on this post to facebook that very quickly garnered 72 thumbs ups and 40 comments and counting....

"Jeff Bergosh

,

I have been asking to speak for about an hour (since the poll questions went up) and have been ignored. DPZ does not want to hear from the community and get our feedback! I want to make it clear that I do not want a single house on OLF 8. I want to see community amenities, specialty grocers (Trader Joe’s would be awesome), high end/high tech jobs, green space, schools, retail and restaurants, post office, a recreation center, and libraries.

I do not want my property value decreased by high density, lower cost housing! I do not want 500+ acres or warehouses, industrial buildings."

To which I replied:

"Melanie French

--. I support amenities for the residents, a school site, parks, some restaurants and retail for all of us out here. I also support lots of clean tech, high tech jobs in buildings that are built to high standards of aesthetic quality--like NFCU's buildings. Like you an many others I have spoken with--what I adamantly DO NOT support is any more high-intensity, high-impact, traffic exacerbating dense residential that DPZ and NFCU are pushing on this site. They are pushing it, and most residents like me ( a 17-year homeowner in Beulah) know our infrastructure cannot keep up if we allow thousands MORE apartments on this field.

But in the end, it will be a compromise. Neither you nor I nor anyone (DPZ, NFCU, etc.) is going to get 100% of what they want. And we will all more than likely have to accept some of what we specifically do not want.

But being the optimist I am---I believe that field is big enough for all of us to get a win, to get lots of the things we do all want!"

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?

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

What Does Escambia County, And District 1, Want to See on OLF-8?

62% of County Residents surveyed in today's poll want jobs developed on OLF-8, while only 18.5% want to see housing and retail developed on the site...

Today Rick Outzen, publisher of INWeekly and Rick's Blog,  posted the results from a survey he conducted county-wide regarding the development of Beulah's OLF-8.

His post goes through the numbers from each commissioner's district.

The results are not surprising to me--as they mirror the results from a similar poll conducted last October.

When we use a wide net and capture the thoughts of ALL voters on this topic----the overwhelming majority of citizens agree with me in that we need 1.) NO residential on the field and 2.) Good, High Tech High-Paying Jobs.

I say it's not surprising--I'm sure there are a couple of subdivisions and about 2-dozen folks who may be surprised, and unhappy, about what this polling says people want.....

Read "Poll-Voters Want Jobs at OLF-8"

Folks are Being Misled and Manipulated about OLF-8 Part II

Folks that believe some of the lies in a chain
email going around are being used and 
manipulated.  The OLF-8 project will
be a great community asset with something
for everyone!  There is no FIGHT to be had 
on this project!

As I described in part I, there is a "chain-mail" going around that has a lot of debunked garbage in it as well as faux-facts about the OLF-8 project and the Board of County Commissioners' intentions going forward with this land.

We had a handful of speakers attend our public forum on this topic yesterday, and I took the opportunity to let them know they had been misled and that the characterizations they are hearing from some special interests on this project were simply untrue.  I spoke to the issue and set the record straight beginning at minute 18:00 of this video. and also at minute 54:30.  I was amazed that these folks are/were being misled and manipulated to such a degree.

Folks should not allow themselves to be manipulated to a point they become enraged about this project---there is no fight to be had here!!!  I want great things and good amenities on this field-I want what they want-and DPZ is going to help us facilitate this compromise! 😀

Not to sound like a broken record--but I have agreed to the compromise the board made and agreed to in this document in 2018.  Everyone who is getting these garbage propaganda flyers going around should look at this very important board guidance document that was approved in November of 2018 via a 5-0 vote of the board.  After that was approved------at that point the project changed and shifted to a mixed use development--with something for everyone--and away from strictly a "commerce park."  So again, as it pertains to this project, here is my position which I believe comports with what the vast majority of my constituents want:

Here is what I support: I want parks, greenspace, an elementary school, a walking/biking trail all around the field, restaurants and some retail along 9-mile road’s frontage.  I want beautiful aesthetics and lots of amenities for nearby residents like you and me.  I also want good, high-tech/clean tech high-paying Jobs in attractive facilities like NFCU’s buildings.  And I want us to follow the guidance document, the seven-pager linked above, that the BCC voted unanimously to approve, for how jobs and amenities are to be developed on OLF 8.   If we do this—we will all get a win and we will have JOBS, amenities, parks, some retail, a school, hopefully a post office, and possibly some mixed-use features.  I want something good for the community and the county and region---which means jobs are an important priority.  I am willing to compromise to a point—but not on the jobs aspects.  After all---we spent $18 Million and 25 years acquiring this parcel of land to create jobs.  Every acre we take away from that goal represents a compromise already.  So my ideal plan utilizes the maximum number of acres possible for the creation of good jobs which will allow us to secure a Triumph Gulf Coast grant for the build-out of the property to include infrastructure, roads, gutters, and stormwater features that may also double as recreational amenities for nearby residents.

Here’s what I don’t support:  Residential development on the field.  I know I may have to accept some in the final plan that will be a compromise with my peers on the board—but I do not believe we should use this land for residential construction or for sourcing land for residential developers.  There is too much residential out here already under construction---and the infrastructure is insufficient to handle more of this concentrated all in one area like OLF-8.  Furthermore, I do not believe that if high-density, high-impact residential is permitted on the

Escambia County's General Use Commerce Parks: A History of SUCCESS!

Yes, Folks are entitled to their own opinions.  But NO-they are not entitled to their own facts;  Escambia County's General Use Commerce Parks have been a SMASHING SUCCESS----not a failure!!

There is a lot of selfish propaganda being spread around the community at the moment regarding Escambia County's Economic Development efforts.  Specifically--this inaccurate information simply asserts that Escambia's Commerce Parks are a "failure."

But nothing could be further from the truth.  Our parks are a massive, overwhelmingly positive success story!

The disinformation campaign is being conducted to try to stop the Board of County Commissioners from creating high-technology, clean technology high-wage jobs at the county's recently acquired OLF-8 property in Beulah.  This "strategy" goes a little something like this: 

1.) Enlist certain community members to email the members of the Escambia Board of County Commissioners with false "knowledge" that our commerce parks are a failure

2.) Tell commissioners "we don't want any good, high paying jobs for the rest of the county located in our neighborhood"

3.) Spread the fiction that good jobs will "wreck" the area and "prevent" good amenities from being constructed on OLF-8 for the benefit of the entire community and county----as if somehow creating jobs and creating amenities for nearby residents are somehow mutually exclusive and this is some sort of a "binary choice."  (hint: doing these things are not mutually exclusive--this is not a binary choice)

It's all Pure fiction, rubbish.  

Here are the facts:

1. Our general use commerce parks have been smashing successes (see picture above). 

2.  As the board member who represents Beulah and lives right across from OLF-8 for the last 17 years--I would NEVER support building an "Ellyson" Field type of commerce park on OLF-8 and I STRONGLY support some great amenities (parks, post office, green space, restaurants, walking path, school, tennis courts) being constructed on the field.  I did not, have not, and never will support crushing machines, smokestacks, foul odors or heavy industry on this field.  OLF-8 Will NEVER be an "Industrial park."

3.  The only thing I absolutely DO NOT support is the construction of any more residential units on this property----the private market has this box checked already and we do not need to be in the business of sourcing land for developers to build more high-density, traffic exacerbating residential dwellings out here in Beulah.  We have enough already!

It sure would be great if folks, before becoming all "spun-up",  lathered, and exercised---would simply check the facts before they spin propaganda at the behest of some self-interested entities for political ----not practical -----purposes.  

Election season is over.  😊

A Win-Win On the BCC's OLF-8 Jobs Project is Now Within Our Reach!

We are on the cusp of a great win, an exciting and unprecedented opportunity for all of Escambia County with our OLF-8 jobs incubation project.  I'm excited for the possibilities this project will be bringing!  With this as the backdrop---it is unfortunate that this project ---for which we've worked so long and hard--- is being dismantled and the facts surrounding the reasons for this project are being deliberately obfuscated, minimized, watered-down, marginalized, misstated and misrepresented.

Case in Point:  a recent Sunday PNJ Guest editorial regarding the development of Beulah’s OLF-8 property completely misrepresented my position and misquoted statements I have made on this important county initiative.   This hatchet-job attack also glossed over some very important factual details that need to be re-emphasized. 

Because when we are talking about decades of effort by county employees, the private sector, the Department of Defense, and economic development partners region-wide---not to mention millions of taxpayer dollars expended for this property—we must be honest, tell the story truthfully, and maintain the integrity and fidelity of the purpose behind the acquisition of this OLF 8 property. 

the county commenced this project and expended nearly $18 Million in taxpayer funds to acquire this property from the US Navy starting more than two decades ago to 1.) protect the military flight training mission in NW Florida (which has been largely accomplished with Escambia county’s successful land swap with the Navy) and 2.) to create good jobs for Escambia County residents.  Period.

We DID NOT publicly fund this project to get into the residential land development business, the hotel business, to build a giant park, a mini-city, or a mall.

The recent Sunday PNJ guest editorialist, certain developers, and several other self-interested parties appear to be minimizing and downplaying the essential reason(s) Escambia County started this project in the first place.  Apparently, these folks that have not paid attention to the history of this project (and even some who have paid attention and know better) want to naively and passive-aggressively assert that this property somehow just magically fell out of the sky and into our laps while ignoring the real history of how this land was acquired and for what purpose it was pursued.  Worse yet—many of these same individuals espouse that now, like a “tabula rasa” clean slate, we should do exclusively with this land “that which appeals to and benefits nearby residents and special interests exclusively.” 

These entities and their proxies are even pushing massive residential development on this parcel (1900+ new residential dwellings!) AND a multi-story Hotel to boot! 

As Beulah residents, we’ve all witnessed firsthand the problems that have festered as massive residential growth has been allowed to occur without the necessary infrastructure to support such growth.

I, along with the clear majority of the Beulah constituents I represent, DO NOT favor any residential dwellings being constructed on this field!  This is starkly illustrated with a countywide poll recently taken that shows 57% of county residents surveyed support jobs being created on the field, and only 25% want residential construction on the land. In that same poll, an astonishing 85% of county residents surveyed want the county to do more to support high-wage, high-tech jobs!

And as it pertains to a multi-story hotel on the OLF 8 field--there are several nearby Hotels under construction already--- so why would we ever want to get into the business of competing with hotel developers?  Answer: We shouldn’t.

Although I did not create this OLF-8 Jobs project—I inherited it upon taking office in 2016---I do strongly support it.  And as the recently re-elected D1 commissioner, I will never countenance a “bait and switch” job on the other four districts of the county by conveniently forgetting about and

Who are the Subcontractors that will be Working With the Master Planner?

As I discussed here, we now have our selection committee, we have our short list of 8 firms that want to be chosen to master plan OLF 8, and now we know which subcontractors each finalist will be utilizing on their respective team(s).

This document lists all the 8 firms that have put in for this work and all their identified subcontractors--local and out of state.  This document also lists many of each firm's past projects, clients and accomplishments.  This is very interesting information that those who are truly interested in this project should and will analyze.

The effort to do a world-class master plan will be thorough and most importantly it will be guided public input by citizens and by the compromise document that was voted upon by the BCC in a rare but meaningful 5-0 vote.

I'm extremely pleased that we have multiple award-winning, world-class design professionals seeking to do this work.

This process is now moving forward and this is a good thing.  Once the 7-member committee vets these firms, they will provide the BCC a short list of finalists for our consideration--and the full BCC will make the final selection of the firm that will do the master-planning of OLF 8.

What's the Value of OLF 8 in Beulah, Part II

Above:  a portion of our most recent appraisal on 102 acres of the 636 acre OLF 8 site has been presented to the Escambia BCC

I did part one of this post last March.  I was right then, and the naysayers were dead wrong--and many of us knew it all along.

Today we got the proof.

Last March, as we pushed forward with completing the land transfer deal with the Navy for OLF 8, four of the five commissioners wisely voted to stay the course.  Utilizing only the sales data available at that time, and the most recent appraisals available for the property at that time, even the most casual observer just 10 months ago could clearly see that the value of the 636 acres of OLF 8 would at a minimum exceed the $17.5 Million taxpayers through the BCC expended to acquire this property.

It was really easy to see.  Except for those who would not accept reality.

So these naysayers pushed back.

One famously stated that the property "Was only worth $4.75 Million!" --which was ridiculously stupid and way, way, way off the mark.  Not surprisingly, others naively parroted that badly mistaken talking point.  But they were wrong then, and definitely proven so unequivocally now.

Today we received our first new appraisal on a portion of our soon-to-be acquired OLF 8 property.

As can be seen in the picture above, the appraisal for just this 102 acre part of the 636 acre property is $4.5 Million, or $45,000.00 per acre.  If that value holds true for the entire 636 acre tract, we will be looking at more than $28 Million in value--a value more than $10 Million dollars above our acquisition costs of $17.5 Million.

The moral of the story is this:  Just because somebody says something--even if they say it convincingly and with a straight face--does not make it true.

Luckily, the four of us had it right and pushed forward with the correct action, and now all the taxpayers in Escambia will reap the eventual benefit!

Navy Federal Credit Union Makes a Formal Offer of $4.2 Million for 100 Acres of OLF 8

NFCU has offered the Escambia BCC $4.2 Million for 100 acres of OLF 8.  Not mentioned are the 300 jobs and the offer to Master Plan the site....

UPDATE--12:00-  I just received a call from NFCU leadership;  although the 300 additional jobs issue does not appear in the written offer to purchase the land from the BCC--that pledge of an additional 300 jobs as additional consideration for the 100 acres still stands, and language to this effect will be worked into any finalized deal made with the county to purchase this land, according to NFCU's interim President of Greater Pensacola Operations Kara Cardona.

ORIGINAL POST below:

Navy Credit Union has made a formal, written offer to purchase 100 acres of the County's soon-to-be acquired 636 acre site in Beulah known as OLF 8.  The offer was made on December 19th, just as everyone (myself included) was focusing on holiday plans, travel, and family.

This offer was not entirely surprising, though.

Two months back-- NFCU sent a letter expressing interest in 100 acres for the purpose of providing additional parking for their employees, a recreation field, and other amenities which would allow them to also add an additional 300 jobs (over and above the 10,000 they are already slated to add under previous agreements).

I responded directly to NFCU when that offer was made.  I reiterated the importance of the jobs creation aspect of this land and our Triumph Gulf Coast application.

As I read through the newest offer, I see the 300 jobs created language is not present in the terms.

This is problematic.

The 300 jobs are of CRITICAL importance.

In order to receive as much as $30 Million dollars from Triumph Gulf Coast (which will help fund regional stormwater infrastructure and offset the county's $17.5 Million dollar acquisition costs associated with OLF 8)--a minimum of at least 1,000 good wage-paying jobs must be created with

On WCOA's Good Morning Pensacola Today

I'll be the guest later-on this morning on WCOA's top-rated Good Morning Pensacola radio show.

The singular topic of discussion will be OLF 8, jobs, and the County's $30 Million Dollar Triumph Gulf Coast Grant Application--and how all of this ties in with the HUGE victory we had in our recent special meeting by approving a compromise RFP document for this property that:

1.  Still focuses on using this field to create good jobs for the county.

2.  Still focuses on the Triumph Grant.

3.  Allows for the planner to incorporate aspects of Regional Significance into the plan (in order to help us win the Triumph Grant)

4.  Allows for the incorporation of some amenities that have been requested by local Beulah Residents and Navy Federal Credit Union.

This compromise document represents a win-win for Beulah Residents, NFCU, and the citizens county-wide!


Listen to the Podcast Here