Watch the Video of our Perdido Key Town Hall Meeting Here

Agenda and Run of the Show for Tomorrow's Perdido Town Hall Meeting

 Here is the agenda for tomorrow evening's Town Hall Meeting in Perdido.

District 1 Debate Tomorrow Night in Perdido

 The Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Candidate Debate and forum tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM at the Pointe Church on Innerarity Pointe Drive.  Here, below, are the details from the chamber:

Galvez Landing: We can Have Both a Boat Launch and a Recreational Area---And WE WILL

As long as I am commissioner of District 1--the issue on Galvez Landing where the artificial binary choice (Either a Boat Launch OR a Recreational Area) was the topic------my answer is simple.

Both.

Not everything is a binary choice.  Having a great little area with a swing, picnick table, and areas for children and parents to wade in the water is perfectly fine at Galvez Landing---and the Boat launch and rebuilt docks the county has built for a first class boat launch are also just fine.

You can have both, and we will so long as I am around.

Because not everything in life comes down to an either/or decision point.

At Galvez, it can be, will be, and IS-------- BOTH.

92nd Coffee with the Commissioner Event Live from Perdido Key this Wednesday

 

92nd District 1 Coffee with the Commissioner April 24

We are looking forward to our 92nd Coffee with the Commissioner event this Wednesday, April 24, at 6:30 a.m. at the Perdido Key Visitor Information Center, 15500 Perdidio Key Drive. The meeting will be held live and also be live streamed from the Escambia County YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@EscambiaCountyFL

Attendees include County Administrator Wes Moreno, Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore, and CEO of the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce Tammy Thurrow. Moreno will provide an update on county business, Gilmore will discuss public safety matters, and Thurrow will join Commissioner Bergosh for a discussion on topics of interest for District 1 residents and businesses in Perdido Key.

Residents are invited and encouraged to attend. Send us your questions and comments forthe  Coffee with the Commissioner event can be  to the Office of District 1 by calling 850-595-4910 or emailing district1@myescambia.com.

 

 

Great Day at the Ballpark!

I was invited to participate in the Opening Day festivities at the Southwest Sports Complex in District 1 Saturday morning.  We were celebrating the 2024 season of youth baseball, t-ball, and wee-ball at the park.

We were also cutting the ribbon on a newly-constructed all-weather, covered batting cage that the county built for the park.

It was a great day.  Lots of happy families, excited players, and extended families celebrating the season's start.

There are more than 300 players signed up, and the park was packed for opening day.  It was great.

Thanks to PBYSA, the volunteers, and the FAMILIES----- for the invite and for all they all do to provide a place for these youth to hone their skills in baseball.  And fellowship.  And leadership.  And socialization.  And the leadership building they are fostering.

(I was also asked to throw out the first pitch which I did.  I didn't bounce it, but my pitch was high and outside, LOL.)

An interesting side conversation I had was enlightening:  "These parks are getting CRUSHED by the utility bills to keep the lights on" said an official familiar with the operations at the SW Sports Complex and PBYSA.  

"3 years ago, our yearly light bill was about $22,000 a year.  Now, it has tripled.  It is $66,000 a year.  and it is killing us." Said this individual.   "Thankfully, we have the travel baseball teams and the tournament promoters who bring tournaments and collect fees which they pay us---otherwise we couldn't afford to keep this afloat"  said this source.  "We couldn't do it without them!"

It is sad for me to hear that the utilities costs are killing some of these programs for kids.  As I walked through the park, it brought back memories of my sons playing baseball at NEP at John R. Jones Park.

But we didn't have the pressure back then that  these families have now.  

I hope they are able to hang in there and sustain these programs for these families and players---but things are changing.  We need to keep these programs in place for the players and the families!

Delegation Meeting 10/26/23: Should "Perdido" Incorporate?

Escambia County's legislative delegation met yesterday evening at Pensacola State College.

A HUGE part of the meeting was about the nascent effort to incorporate a large swath of the southwestern portion of Escambia County into a new city called "Perdido."

There were large crowds from both sides that spoke passionately for and against the proposal.

In the end, the delegation voted unanimously to move the draft legislation ("local bill") forward to Tallahassee where it will be finalized, filed, and WILL PASS.

Then, the question will come before the voters in the "study area"--as to whether or not such voting residents want to incorporate.

Such an incorporation will lead to higher taxes for those within the boundaries of this new city if the voters approve the measure.  That reality was formally acknowledged last night by the folks from "We are Perdido" that are spearheading the effort.

Now the impetus is on every registered voter to educate him/herself on what this will cost, and what benefits it could bring.  And the question needs to be, is the extra layer of government and additional taxes worth it?

I am neutral on the question--but I do represent the area so I will DEMAND complete and honest transparency so the voters I represent can make an informed decision at the ballot box next year.

But there are a LOT of details to be worked out between now and then.......much more to come on this, stay tuned.

PROPERTY INSURANCE:

I spoke on the impetus for action on our state's BROKEN and DYSFUNCTIONAL property insurance market, and the desperate need for state action to provide attainable premium relief for Floridians via utilizing the Florida Huricane Catastrophe Fund to subsidize some re-insurance which would provide IMMEDIATE relief to Florida insurance consumers.  I hope the delegation will look at this at their upcoming special session in November.  I hope they will, we will see.

They need to.

Great Evening with Constituents: D1 Perdido Town Hall 9-18-2023

 We had an excellent, informative, and productive townhall meeting last night in District 1.  I appreciate all the citizens and staff that came out and participated.  For those unable to attend, I am linking the video of the event here, below:

D1 Perdido Town Hall Monday, September 18th

I'll be hosting a town-hall meeting in Perdido on Monday, September 18th at 6:00 PM.

I have not yet selected and booked a venue, but I will this week and will announce it via a press release from the county's CMR department.

As I typically do, I will request relevant staff be present to discuss the wide ranging issues of concern for the folks that live and work in this area of District 1.  And I am open to adding topics as well, so anyone who would like to have focused discussions added to the agenda can offer such ideas by emailing them to District1@myescambia.com or by calling me directly at 850-293-1459.

Some initial topics of consideration/discussion at the town hall:

--Traffic and the Roundabout, including the recent study of it's performance and potential improvements

--Growth Management and better notification of residents prior to large developments being approved

--the timeline for completion of the multi-use path

--Homelessness and the implications on the community and how the county is working to address this issue

--creating more parking at the access points and providing additional access

--beach safety

--litter and roadway refuse collection

--Incorporation questions 

I'll also invite my counterpart elected officials from the State, ECUA, and School Board to attend and bring relevant updates.

More information to come shortly.

Is the Perdido Key Roundabout Helping or HAMPERING the Flow of Traffic there?

Traffic was backed up from the Wal Mart at Sorrento and Blue Angel all the way to the "Roundabout" at Johnson's Beach Road and Perdido Key Drive on Perdido Key Saturday....

Extra signage.  Extra rumble strips.  Additional lighting.  And still even more signage.

Yet the complaints about the Perdido Key roundabout (which was supposed to improve safety and movement in, out, and through Perdido Key) appears to be a problem.  Now I am wondering---Is this roundabout helping or HAMPERING the flow of traffic into and out of Perdido Key?

I've spoken to our traffic engineer this weekend and we are going to get to the bottom of the issue and answer that question---scientifically---over the next several weeks.  Then, we will decide a potentially new course to take.

Because once this portion of the district reverted back to D1 in January of 2022 after redistricting in 2021--the roundabout was already engineered, designed and funded by the previous commissioner from this area.  On top of that--I was assured that the roundabout was the preferred option that was voted upon by the citizens by a large margin after multiple open house meetings out there prior to 2022.

So upon assumption of this area I moved forward with construction which is now completed.  And I have been out there multiple times and driven through the roundabout from every direction with no problem. But others are having problems..... 

And now that it is constructed---I am having a hard time finding anyone, literally anybody who will publicly claim they "like" the roundabout or "support" the county's construction of it.  And I can't even find anyone from this supposed "majority" who supported it initially.  They've pulled a D.B. Cooper on me.

I am finding complaints though.  Lots.  "It's not big enough" is one common one I am hearing.

"It's backing things up" is another.  "There are a lot more wrecks now!" is yet another.

Yes---there have been a number of wrecks, and also multiple persons have blown through the roundabout, straight through it, damaging signage and plantings which had to be replaced at county expense.  According to one angry citizen: "I  hope they [the county] figure it out.  I got a feeling until the turnabout is gone and some alternative turn lanes is put in the problem will continue.  The 35' ACE Hardware delivery truck that's route takes it through there twice a week had to stop and back up and eventually just crossed striaight over the mediun in order to get through.  Impossible for any emergency vehicle or delivery truck of any size getting through without resorting to doing the same.  The ACE driver has reported it to the owner of ACE hardware who also told me the same thing."

An official very familiar with the issue summed it up succinctly: "There isn't much we can do when both roads are backed up and headed in the same direction..we can't do anything to make people move quicker across the bridge and not back up through the intersection.  Too many people on too narrow of a road."

So we are going to do an analysis and apply an appropriate  fix.  That's what we are going to do.

stay tuned.

Big Lagoon State Park Repaired and Reopened

Representatives from the Florida State Park System invited me to join them for a ribbon cutting in D1 at Big Lagoon State Park Friday

Like a lot of our area did--Big Lagoon State Park in Perdido in District 1 took a huge hit during Hurricane Sally in September of 2020. 

The state has subsequently invested millions of dollars into the rehabilitation of the facility.

A rebuilt pavillion and observatory deck, a repaired observatory, repaired boardwalks, a repaved roadway through the park, and much, much more.

So this past Friday dignitaries from the state of Florida's Parks department descended on Pensacola to come out and "cut the ribbon" at the newly revitalized facility.

The local park superintendent, the regional supervisor of the parks, and also the state's park system director, Chuck Hatcher, were all present.

Because this park is in District 1--I was also invited to speak and celebrate the ribbon cutting, which I did.

There were about 100 citizens and others present for the event to see the new facility and hear from the dignitaries present.  "We have more than 1000 employees and we take pride in parks like this one in Perdido." said Hatcher.  "We brought in $85 Million in revenue and we appreciate the state of Florida's support for our parks system" he continued.  "For many years we were the only gold medal winning state park system that had repeated this honor multiple times--until recently when Delaware earned a second Gold Medal for their state park system.  But Florida stands out:  We not only have won the Gold Medal for quality--but we are the only state that has won this honor four times."

Hatcher and the other parks personnel thanked the citizens who volunteer to help operate the park, and then refreshments and a trolley tour of the facility was offered for all in attendance.  

It was a beautiful day, and this is a beautiful facility--I encourage all Escambia Citizens to visit!

Read more about Big Lagoon State Park

Read more about the Florida Parks Service 

No "Upzoning" on Innerarity from One (1) Home to Fifteen (15) Homes Per Lot

Several concerned individuals contacted me with the rumor that a single family lot on Innerarity in District 1 was going to be "upzoned" to allow 15 housed to be built on that one lot.

I knew this wasn't right, so I asked our Development Services Department staff about this.

I was told there was a pre-application submitted about a month ago, but nothing since.  This pre-application was for the utilization of multiple lots, once acquired, to be developed for single family homes not simply one lot.  An LLC has apparently been formed, it is a developer from Perdido Key, and he is acquiring contiguous parcels that once all owned by him, may allow him to develop multiple dwellings under the current zoning (MDR 10 per acre) once he has the property to accommodate the necessary stormwater retention and street requirements.  

But I was also told all of this is under the current zoning and that no upzoning was being requested.

I asked staff if there was any way---even if he assembled multiple lots---to get to 15 homes.

I was told it was doubtful under the current zoning.  The rendering presented does indicate 18 lots over what appears to be multiple existing parcels on both sides of Innerarity Point Road.

Incorporation of Perdido? Part II--Questions and Answers

 

I attended the informational meeting of the “We are Perdido” effort the other night at Liberty Church in District 1.  I thought the event went well, the speakers did a good job, and the venue was comfortable.  The audio-visual system was very good.  A large crowd was on hand as well, to get the information.

Full Disclosure:  I am agnostic on this effort at incorporation; I am neutral.  This is a decision (whether to incorporate Perdido) of the citizens and residents and business owners of that study area and their decision only.  This is exactly what I told Channel 3 when they interviewed me on this very topic, and it is also what I told InWeekly reporter Tommy St. Meyer when he also recently interviewed me on this topic. Yes, it is in my district---but whether the effort to incorporate is successful or not—that won’t change.  It will still be a part of the county and in District 1. 

But I am going to study and examine every aspect of this initiative to learn all that I can about it so that I can speak to constituents with a more informed opinion when I am asked about this effort.  (I am already getting questions about this incorporation)

So, I came to the meeting.  I stayed for about 1 ½ hours and listened to the presentation.  I was particularly impressed with Lynn Tipton, the guest speaker from the Florida League of Cities.  She brought a power point presentation with lots of useful data to relay to the assembled crowed of about 250 or so.

At the end of the presentation, a brief question and answer session was held.

So, the next day I reached out to Ms. Tipton and had the opportunity to speak with her Wednesday evening about some additional questions I had.

I asked about additional revenue sources the new city, if incorporated, would be able to raise.

According to her, the city can receive a share county’s Local Option gas taxes if they take over the county’s roads within the city’s footprint.  At the meeting, one of the organizers stated in answer to a question about Perdido Key Drive that they would not be seeking to take over the roads and the responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the road.  So, this seems to foreclose Perdido’s ability to tap into those funds.  Tipton did mention that it is not uncommon for some cities in Florida to have county roads within their municipalities.

Other takeaways included the following:

--Parks, Boat Launches, and public beach accesses within this Perdido footprint would remain a part of the county—unless the new city negotiated to take them over and purchase them.

--Potential 10 Mill levy—while completely lawful to do for the new city (Pensacola levies over 4 mills on top of the county’s assessment)-- if the elected councilmen/women of Perdido voted to do this---as a practical matter according to Tipton this is highly unlikely as no Florida municipality has levied this high a number on the citizens served because there is an unacknowledged “cap” where if a certain percentage is levied all the councilpersons get voted out.  People don’t like ad valorem tax rate increases.

--How Much will 1 Mill equate to when applied to We Are Perdido’s self-identified  taxable value of $3.5 Billion?  It appears, stripping out the school board tax and only applying the county’s, the Sheriff’s, and the library districts combined rate of 7.6605 mills---that each “Mill” of value will be approximately $3.5 Million. (Or an easier calculation to make to determine the value of just one mill is to take the total taxable value and either divide by 1000 or multiply by .001.  1 mill = $3.5 Million)

--How would the new city tap into the county’s ½ cent sales tax and 8^th cent gas tax revenues?  The new city would have to qualify to tap into these funds through the Department of Revenue by raising an amount of revenue the equivalent of at least levying 3 Mills to the taxable value of the property within its footprint.   Meaning in order for the fledgling city to tap into the ½ cent DOR revenue and 8^th cent in gas tax---important revenue sources to the city because these revenue sources are bondable---the new city would need to show DOR new revenue generation  of $10.5 Million (3 Mill equivalent) via ad

Incorporation Information Session this Monday at 7:00PM

Incorporation of Perdido?

The decision to incorporate a large swath of SW Escambia County will be up to the voters that live in that area.  It's their decision to make and my only advice to them is this: get informed, ask lots of questions, make a wise decsion, and watch your wallet!

There's been a buzz at the end of this past week about a nascent effort by a few folks to "incorporate" areas of the SW portion of Escambia County into a new City of “Perdido.”

Looking at the comments on the Studio 850 facebook site’s post after this article was published-- it appears as if many would be opposed to this.  Not that a few folks posting on facebook is scientific, though.

People have now asked my opinion about it; I've received a few emails from a handful of constituents.

I've spoken to state level lawmakers about this topic.

Yes, it's out there as an issue--but it is not the big issue.  The big issues are overdevelopment, traffic infrastructure, and stormwater.  These are the issues constituents come to me about consistently--particularly in the areas of D1 that are rapidly growing.  In fact, I had nearly 350 citizens of this very area at my two town halls in Perdido over the last year since this portion of the county reverted to D1 after the redistricting.

And I had lots of good questions from lots of citizens--more than 120 comment/question cards + verbal questions. Between the two meetings and out of all the questions (on overdevelopment, traffic, and stormwater) ----I only had one (1) question on this proposed idea of incorporation.

So, for my part, I let my own words speak for my thoughts on any incorporation, at 1:29:38 of my most recent town hall where I had the one and only question on this topic posed to me by one of the founders and staunchest supporters of incorporation (and former Doug Underhill planning board appointee) Tim Pyle.  And I gave him my answer, publicly.

Ultimately it will be a decision for those residents to make, those residents that live in this group's study area.  I represent a large portion of that area, and that will not change even if this effort is successful at some point down the line—as these areas will still be part of District 1 in Escambia County.  And as the only commissioner of five that has no part of his district within the footprint of an overlapping municipality--in many respects such an incorporation might make my job easier. 

But at the end of the day it is a question for these citizens-- as they will be the ones seeing higher property tax bills and perhaps even other added taxes, bond indebtedness, fees, surcharges, and cost increases to fund an overlapping Perdido municipality-- if this is ultimately approved.

Now, I'm told that 78% of folks recently surveyed "approved" of the plan.  Really?  I have some questions about who was asked and what question was asked--because a lot of the veracity of a poll's purported results depend upon whom was polled and precisely how such poll question(s) are asked.  Was it asked of all residents of the survey/study area?  Did it capture all income demographics?  Were owners and renters asked? Does this plan meet the requirments of 165.061 Florida Statutes? Does this study area even meet the density threshold necessary in state statutes? Did the poll's questions properly describe the fact that full county taxes, including all fire and school board millage rate taxes—plus library and sheriff MSTU’s, would still be collected post any incorporation and that new taxes would be needed to fund any new municipality's operations/personnel and overlapping services provided? (i.e., some who support incorporation may be of the mistaken belief that if they incorporate, they keep the current taxes assessed and collected of the property tax roll within their boundaries--which is not how this works.  Escambia County still would keep all the current revenue from the property within the footprint and any new incorporated municipality would have to raise EXTRA property tax and other revenue via property rate hikes and generated revenue from within their boundaries via increases in other taxes, sales taxes, fees, surcharges etc.----in order to fund their operations.  We [County] also keep all our property and roads and parks and facilities unless the new municipality purchases these and we agree to such purchases. In summary—it appears this would amount to a big, giant tax increase, not a net neutral proposition for current and future property owners and visitors.)  I'm sure there will be many "ah-ha" moments once those initially expressing support for this plan realize this financial implication/reality. Or maybe not?  Who knows?

Too many questions.

Meanwhile-- some proponents of this incorporation sound glib as they falsely claim on radio interviews

Massive Turnout for District 1 Townhall in Perdido--Watch the Complete Event Here

On 1370 WCOA This Morning at 7:10 Discussing Tonight's Town Hall Meeting in Perdido

I'll be on 1370 WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen" this morning at 7:10 discussing tonight's D1 townhall in Perdido.

Rick Outzen, host of the area's best, most informative and highly-rated morning drive news program in the Pensacola/Escambia market, has asked me to be the leadoff guest at 7:10 this morning on his hit show "Real News with Rick Outzen."  He has asked that we discuss/preview tonight's town hall meeting in Perdido--which we will do.

Once he posts the podcast, I will link it here.

27 Questions

One common need when folks are gathering information and speaking in large and small groups (even one on one) is feedback.  Sometimes a speaker can hazard a guess on how someone or some group is thinking by looking at facial expressions and body language. 

But it isn't exact--not even precise.  Someone may be agreeing with what is said but may be frowning about something alltogether unrelated.

In a one on one conversation you can ask the question:  Do you agree?  Do you disagree?  Or as Pablo Escobar's character in "Narcos" famously (and frequently) asks after stating a course of action "Si or No?"

So what I like to do at my county town hall meetings is to ask the audience agree/disagree questions.  It is an interesting and useful form of immediate feedback for me and staff.  No, it isn't scientific but it does give a really good sense of where the audience is on various ideas and topics.  So these 27 questions, below, are what I will ask the audience at the townhall tomorrow.  And just so everyone knows, and I will repeat this again at the townhall---this is 100% purely voluntary on the part of the attendees, whether or not they will participate.  I find that most do, though.

 

Run of the Show/Agenda for This Tuesday's District 1 Town Hall in Perdido

 

Approving Developments--Inside the Process Part III: Environmental Permits Granted

5th Dimension's Rendering of this proposed development

As I mentioned in parts I and II of this series of posts about a multi-family development in the Perdido area of District 1--there were residents that were caught off guard by this project.

Several came to a meeting last month, one asked for a townhall, which I have now subsequently scheduled.

Look, I'm concerned about traffic, too.  I understand the issues and have heard from many constituents that live in this area about traffic congestion.  And I am working that issue to the extent I am able and within the confines of the revenue available.  And there are a lot of great projects in the works and in the planning stages right now for that area.

This said, I am not an agent, cheerleader, or spokesman for this development, this  developer, or his representatives. I am a county commissioner for this district and because folks are concerned I have assured them that I will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that every "i" was dotted and "t" was crossed as it pertains to this particular development having been approved properly.  I have asked for and received a raft of information that the staff looked at and used upon which they based their approval decision.  I have also asked staff to have the developer's representative at the town hall as well as the traffic study's author.  We will see if they show up.  I believe it would be in their interest to do so.

Thus far, it appears to me that everything has been done in accordance with state and local ordinances and the County's land development code.

As I said I would do, I am going to link all documents related to this development here on this blog so citizens can see the same information I am seeing in the lead up to the town hall on the 25th of next month..

This morning I am linking a very important permit that was received, the Northwest Florida Water Management District approval.  Lots of additional supporting documents for this project and this particular permit can be found by clicking this link and searching under the developer name in the search field, JH Capital, LLC.  Readers will at this site see all the charts, maps, and additional