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
