Sam Hall, Pensacola City Council, District 2

BP's Worthless CEO Shuffle

2010-07-27T11:43:00.000-04:00

Pensacola City Councilman Sam Hall versus BP Barbie Liz Castro

2010-05-27T12:16:00.000-04:00

Outzen: How BP Secretly Buys PR

2010-05-19T11:55:00.002-04:00

Besides a stealth TV “tourism” campaign, the oil giant is giving its local agents a blank check to “diffuse or deflect negative commentary” about the Deepwater Horizon spill.

The rest of the story: link

Posted using ShareThis

ED in Pensacola

2010-04-27T19:39:00.000-04:00

From: Charles Wood
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 9:35 AM
To: Charles Wood
Subject: Weekly Economic Development Investor Update

Please note, this is an email that I send directly to you and I encourage any feedback or questions by replying to this email which is the result of a renewed effort to push information out about our economic development efforts here at the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. The information included is not considered confidential and can be forwarded to other individuals that may be interested in our efforts.

• One of Two – Over the last year, the Pensacola and Panama City MSAs are the only two metros that had positive job growth in the period from March 2009 to March 2010. While unemployment levels are still very high, this is definitely a good sign for Pensacola and possibly a sign that Northwest Florida may emerge from the recession before the rest of the state. See the map at: http://www.labormarketinfo.com/library/maps/ces/jobgrowth.asp?growthtype=p&series=00000000

• Project Activity – Our activity levels continue to climb. The back office and call center sectors have been the most active, in fact we have submitted on four different projects in the last two weeks for projects that range between 200 and 400 jobs. Additionally, mid size manufacturing projects are picking up as well generally in the range of 50 to 100 employees.

• Recruitment Trip – I attended CORENET last week as part of our recruitment efforts. CORENET is a membership organization of corporate real estate executives that manage real estate for public and private companies as well as large national real estate groups. The highlight of the meeting was a dinner hosted by the Florida Business Development Fund (of which the Chamber is a member along with Tampa, Jacksonville and a few other large EDOs) that hosted 18 corporate real estate execs from around the country.

• Final Plat for Tech Campus - The City Council approved the final plat for the tech campus last Thursday allowing PBS&J to complete the engineering documents and submit to the City and the US Economic Development Administration for final approval – this means that most of our major hurdles are behind us including the $2 million EDA grant award, the archeological dig, and now the platting process…

Recent Success: Synergy Solutions of Phoenix, Arizona has announced that they will locate a back office support center in Pensacola, creating 200 jobs in downtown.

Charles Wood, CEcD
Senior Vice President - Economic Development
Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

Recession and Florida

2010-03-02T21:25:00.001-05:00

by Dr. C. C. Elebash

The economic recession that began in 2008 is having a profound impact on state and local governments. The effect is more pronounced in Florida than in most states. This is not a short-term problem.
What happened? The underlying causes of the severe downturn were:

The United States consumed more than it produced. We are a highly productive nation, but consumption exceeded national output. We bought more from abroad than we sold abroad. This created large trade deficits which the U.S. financed by borrowing from other nations.

Credit became too easy. Congress encouraged banks to make risky loans, especially home loans. Federal and state regulatory agencies failed to foresee the consequences of this folly – or knew the dangers but still failed to curb excesses.

Easy credit produced a real estate boom that collapsed in 2007. When the “bubble” burst, developers could not pay off construction loans, and many property owners could not make their mortgage payments. Investors took big losses on “toxic” securities based on so-called “sub-prime” mortgages. The strain on our financial system spread around the world.

What now? The Federal government should keep spending! Yes, the Federal government has to keep spending. (It pains me to write this.) The recession continues because personal consumption remains low. Many workers have lost their jobs. Those who are employed are saving as much as they can and spending as little as they can. The economy may have a relapse unless Federal outlays continue to supplement private spending.
We will not have a real recovery until consumer confidence returns. The Federal government cannot address long-term imbalances until consumers spend more, banks lend more and businesses increase capital investment.

What about Florida? Almost all state and local governments face a period of weak revenues. Unlike the national government, states cannot “print money”. With few exceptions, states cannot borrow money to pay operating expenses.

The outlook for Florida government revenues is grim. Population growth and new construction were the basis of Florida’s economy and tax structure for over 50 years. That era is over.

The state depends heavily on the sales tax, and retail sales growth is weak. Federal stimulus funds may not last indefinitely. The State budget problem will not ease up anytime soon. Florida will not fully recover until a new state economy evolves.

Public education in Florida is under severe pressure. The “day of reckoning” has arrived for the K-12 class size constitutional amendment, and it is arriving at a time of financial crisis. Community colleges and universities are making painful adjustments in the face of smaller appropriations and resistance to tuition hikes.

Although municipal bankruptcies have been rare, they are now a real possibility. Local governments in Florida will be in a financial squeeze for more than just a couple of years. They rely on property taxes to a large extent, and property values are severely depressed. Little improvement is in sight for real estate. Counties and cities cannot expect the State to “bail them out” if they over commit financially, and angry citizens will balk at new local taxes.

Summing up. We are in the early phases of recovery, but improvement will be slow and uncertain. Neither Florida nor the U.S. will pick up from where we left off in 2007. There will be a new economic framework, the outline of which is not yet clear. Florida can no longer depend on in-migration to fuel our economy. Our state government will struggle financially and so will our local governments.

The ingenuity and productivity of this nation will eventually prevail. Better times will then return. Meanwhile: “Hold on to your seats!” It will be a long and bumpy ride.

(The author is a retired UWF finance professor and a Chartered Financial Analyst.)

CMP master developer responds to memo

2010-02-24T15:52:00.000-05:00

CMP master developer responds to memo

DeWeese hits home run with beautification initiative

2010-02-04T12:36:00.000-05:00

Please notice that I have added Pensacola Citywide Beautification to my blogroll. This is a site developed and maintained by Councilmember Maren DeWeese (District 3). It shows beautification efforts that have been done, opportunities for you to participate, and how to start your own beautification project.

While I'd love to hear from you on this endeavor, I ask that you coordinate through Maren. She has the plan and the connections for a volunteer labor pool.

P.C.: we didn't go to hell with the referendum

2009-12-14T23:28:00.002-05:00

To my beloved Councilman P.C. Wu, Pensacola did not go to hell just because 56% of its voters decided to go for a new charter which provides for a Mayor-Council government. P.C., if you choose to run again and win, you will be surprised how much more influence you have, with the Council setting the agenda and not the Mayor nor the staff.

From C.C. Elebash on the port

2009-12-14T23:18:00.003-05:00

The Port of Pensacola ain't what it used to be...it's the big square in the photo and not the entire waterfront like it once was. Is the big square worth $2 million a year in subsidy?

From: CELEBASH
Date: Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Subject: New Council port policy
To: ">" List

City Council port discussion – December 14, 2009

The City Council Enterprise Committee port discussion this afternoon was a perfect example of why we need an elected executive mayor.

Council endorsed a “pie in the sky” port proposal from City Staff without seeking independent expert advice or inviting dissenting views. City Staff has an ambitious port agenda with few details and no money.

Council acted in the face of a disturbingly poor year for the port – only 10 ships and record low tonnage.

Today’s session illustrates the existing City Hall “culture”. A strong Staff dominates a weak and cumbersome Council.

(Committee Chairman P, C. Wu twice alluded to the dangers of the new City Charter. He apparently has not accepted the will of the voters.)

C. C. Elebash

C.C. is right. The Council answers to the whim of the press and the minority who expresses an opinion, but the Mayor will have to run on his or her vision and be held accountable for decision or indecision. Ms. Mack came out bold for selling the port but has caved to criticism. To be fair, her proposal was too bold and the alternative offered by staff offers an out as a transition plan. [Note: The staff plan is for mixed use while in transition.]

But what we need is a decisive plan from an elected leader that can be voted on up or down by the Council: The Mayor's Plan OR the Council's Plan, if indeed, it even has one.

Indeed, this post is about Pensacola having a clear plan for what is arguably the single most valuable waterfront property in the City of Pensacola....whether that plan is one you agree with or not. Once a plan is adopted, then we should put all the wherewithal of the City behind its implementation.

It's Pensacola Wins! (and District 2 helped)

2009-11-25T08:19:00.003-05:00

The historic vote to change Pensacola's form of government passed with 55.2% of the vote. District 2 contributed with 52.4% with a relatively high turnout in an off-election.

Regarding vision

2009-11-20T10:32:00.002-05:00

Quoting from Proverbs 29:18, which says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish," Dr. Daniel A. Reed wrote in his blog:

I have often reflected on the critical ingredient to discovery and innovation.

Is it knowledge? Without doubt, for each discovery builds on the vast and interconnected web of previous discoveries. Is it talent? Certainly, as anyone who has ever taught a class knows and understands. Is it persistence? Absolutely, for Edison was right; discovery is 99 percent perspiration.

Above all, I believe the most precious and rare element is vision.

It is the ability to imagine what could be, to see what is invisible to most and obvious to only a few. It is that ineffable notion of taste, where one must choose compelling problems from among a plethora of seemingly equally inviting ones.

More generally, vision is navigating the shoals between the treacherous rocks of the truly impossible and the placid waters of the purely pedestrian.

McCormack, Baron, Salazar

2009-11-19T12:34:00.006-05:00

Seventeen members of our community traveled to St. Louis to meet with top officials at McCormack Baron Salazar, a nationally renowned community redeveloper. This is what they say about themselves, "Our mission is to rebuild urban neighborhoods in central cities across the United States that have deteriorated through decades of neglect and disinvestment. In partnership with communities, we bring vision, experience, and commitment to the challenge of community revitalization.

We believe in the future of urban America."

What did I take away from the trip? I should manage my expectations. There is a clear interest in coming to Pensacola but everything must fit. That MBS is interested in no way means that this is a done deal.

So I asked the take-away question at our final meeting, "What must we do as a community to get MBS to come help with our redevelopment?" They said, the city and county governments must work better together, petty political posturing must stop, the school board should come on board.

When asked what it is the local governments are doing right, they said cooperative funding for moving the waste water treatment facility was extremely positive, plans for opening up our waterfront, our new CRA plan, and that such a broad base of community leaders came to meet with them (more than double than normally get).

Their biggest criticism was the school board operating in a vacuum, working on strictly a business model and not an organic community model.

I really like this group. When they invest in a community, they come with money and they come to stay. They have three components of their group. One does development, another management, and the third ties the first two together with a multiplier in that it goes after multi-level government funding from outside the community, foundation grants, and local investment into community centers, schools, libraries, arts centers, etc.

Below is a description of one of their redevelopments:

Quality Hill Kansas City, MO
52,000 Commercial Sq. Ft.
496 units
Total Development Investment $54,594,000

The Quality Hill neighborhood of Kansas City has a colorful – and odorous – history. Quality Hill was settled by New Englanders in the 1850s. These 19th century entrepreneurs sought fortune in the Midwest’s booming railroad, banking, and meatpacking industries.

Successful almost immediately, the new elite built mansions, hotels, and private clubs along a bluff that provided vistas to the west. But success had its drawbacks, as well – most notably the “smell of money,” the odors from the vast stockyards that filled the West Bottoms area below the bluffs of Quality Hill. Soon the noxious odors from the teeming herds of cattle and hogs drove the neighborhood’s residents to more pristine settings outside the city.

Quality Hill began a precipitous decline that continued even after the stockyards were removed in the 1950s. Following a wave of development in the eastern edge of downtown Kansas City – including a convention center, hotel, and theater district – there was an impetus to investigate the hidden potential of Quality Hill as a residential neighborhood. At the same time, existing residents and advocates of affordable housing feared that new development would leave no place for lower-income households. A solid partnership and creative financing ensured that Quality Hill could be renewed while maintaining a supply of affordable apartments.

Richard Baron toured the neighborhood in the early 1980s at the invitation of Tony Salazar, then Director of the Kansas City Neighborhood Alliance (now President of West Coast Operations for McCormack Baron Salazar). Baron and Salazar recognized the historic significance and attractiveness of the remaining Quality Hill mansions, hotels, and clubs. Three years of persistence, lobbying, and coalition building bore results: in 1985 McCormack Baron Salazar began an historic rehab and new construction development creating over 300 apartments and condominiums, and thousands of square feet of commercial space in Quality Hill.

McCormack Baron Salazar arranged an intricate and complex financial structure to make the development possible. The company brought historic tax credits, foundation support (led by the Hall Family Foundation), bank loans, and City funds to the deal. The development won designation as an Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. New construction matches the stately historic buildings, and calls out the New England architectural traditions of the founders of Quality Hill.

The grand hotels and clubs have been renovated for commercial and residential use. The Coates House Hotel, which hosted Presidents Cleveland, Hamilton, McKinley, and Teddy Roosevelt, and survived a devastating fire in the 1970s, is now an apartment building with the original marble staircase, eleven-foot ceilings, and original oversized windows. Affordability and diversity have been maintained. Stockbrokers, teachers, hotel workers, police officers, and lawyers all reside in meticulously restored or brand new apartments. Red brick, stone trim, bay windows, and wrought iron railings are just a few of the architectural features that make Quality Hill so special. Its grandeur restored, Quality Hill today is a place for all Kansas Citians.

Ashton Hayward

2009-11-01T00:28:00.001-04:00

Allison Patton

2009-11-01T00:26:00.001-04:00

Ron Ellington

2009-11-01T00:20:00.001-04:00

Mayor-Council: Who has the power?

2009-10-30T14:36:00.005-04:00

Both.

But the argument so far has been solely on the power of the mayor....mostly at the expense of Council. But that is a false argument. The two have to work together. If the mayor bullies the city council, then councilmembers can reject his or her agenda...even before it's had a hearing. So, the mayor has to be in good standing with his or her city council.

In order to understand, let's look at how the agenda is set now. It's set by staff, the unelected 900 at city hall.

To be sure, committee chairs have "some" control, but not much, and junior councilmembers have almost no control, despite the fact that Pensacola now has one of its most aggressive freshmen classes in most of our recollection.

When Tom Bonfield was the city manager, I tried to get items added to the agenda about three times......for discussion. He said it couldn't be done unless staff approved it.

When I asked if there was any other way to get it on the agenda, he indicated that a committee chair could place it on there, but he also indicated I could not ask the chair ahead of time for that to be done. He cited Florida's Sunshine Law.

While Al Coby has been a breath of sunshine, no pun intended, I know some members feel frustrated that the agenda is out of their hands. Take Maren DeWeese and her Pensacola Promise. She can't get even 15 minutes to present it.

Why?

Staff doesn't like it.

But, in a Mayor-Council government, the council will set the agenda. If the mayor is hostile to the council, then his agenda will never be heard. Conversely, if the council is hostile to the mayor, then the mayor can veto what council has passed, which is subject to override by a supermajority.

Either way, it will be the elected, the accountable ones to the public, who will set the agenda.

Yet, without a doubt, the professionals (staff) will have to weigh in to make an issue successful.

Character and Competence

2009-10-29T10:23:00.005-04:00

Stephen M.R. Covey, the son of Stephen R. Covey, has an excellent book called The Speed of Trust.

The premise is how much quicker and less expensive things get done when individuals trust one another. Conversely, the lack of trust leads to inaction or action at double the cost.

Here's an excerpt:

....when trust is high, speed goes up and cost goes down. Consider the example of Warren Buffet---CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (and generally one of the most trusted leaders in the world)---who recently completed a major acquisition of MacClane Distribution (a $23 billion company) from Wal-Mart. As public companies, both Berkshire Hathaway and Wal-Mart are subject to all kinds of market and regulatory scrutiny. Typically, a merger of this size would take several months to complete and cost several million dollars to pay accountants, auditors, and attorneys to verify and
validate all kinds of information. But in this instance, because both parties operated with high trust, the deal was made with one two-hour meeting and a handshake. In less than a month, it was completed.

In a management letter that accompanied his 2004 annual report, Warren Buffet wrote: "We did no 'due diligence.' We knew everything would be exactly as Wal-Mart said it would be---and it was." Imagine---less than one month (instead of six months or longer), and no "due diligence" costs (instead of the millions typically spent)! High trust, high speed, low cost.

Perhaps the lack of trust is why so little ever gets done in my chosen hometown.

Why not here: "Buy Local" campaign nets two county contracts

2009-10-27T16:07:00.004-04:00

The following is from the Ocala Star-Banner on how buying local can save money and keep jobs locally or have outside vendors reduce prices.

By Bill Thompson Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 2:29 p.m. Last Modified: Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.

Marion County’s "buy local" initiative has made its initial test run — and paid substantial dividends for local companies and taxpayers.

Recently, the County Commission approved two contracts that resulted from a mandatory run-off process on close bids involving local companies that the board instituted three months ago.
The policy kicks in when an offer from a Marion County-based firm comes within 5 percent of the prevailing bid submitted by a company from outside the community. When that happens, both firms are invited to present their "best and final" offer. [more...]

"Ed" the boa

2009-10-09T11:20:00.004-04:00

"Ed", the 15-year old, six-foot long boa constrictor who wandered off from his Burgess Road home was found and returned to his owner.

Ms. Bettye Parker of Sewell Drive had workmen at her house two days ago when one came in and declared there was a boa constrictor outside her back door. She said, "Oh, good! That's Ed!"

The neighborhood where Ed resides is concerned that the City of Pensacola has an ordinance addressing dangerous animals and the responsibility of owners keeping positive control over their pets.

Should you think boas are not dangerous, ask the parents of a two-year-old in South Florida who lost their daughter to their pet snake. Ask the residents of Parker Circle if they think Ed is responsible for two missing cats in the neighborhood.

Get aboard or move on

2009-10-09T09:31:00.004-04:00

The Pensacola News Journal accurately reported my excitement about the City Council passing the bond resolution to fund the maritime park. One critic in the PNJs online comments section (link expires after a few days) called me an opportunist, mild criticism to be sure, but nonetheless, I thought it deserved a response.

Here it is:

My original and personal reasons for opposing this project remain little changed since I first learned of it in January 2005.

But........18 months of discussion, $800,000 in political action, more than 7,000 verified city voter signatures, and a referendum placed my point of view in a very decided minority.

I have to respect that.

What's more, I have an obligation to enthusiastically support the results of that referendum.

So, yes I am excited that more than three years after the political issues were settled by referendum, Pensacola will get the waterfront park the public asked for.

We still have a lot of issues to fight about in this community for those who like to fight, but the maritime park "ain't"one of them.

Rights of Nursing Home Patients

2009-10-01T11:37:00.000-04:00

Rights of Nursing Home Residents: The Florida Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

Sponsored By: CIL Disability Resource Center Advocacy Committee

Featuring : Michael Phillips, District Ombudsman Manager Region One Florida Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

· Learn what rights residents of nursing homes have in Florida
· Learn how to select a nursing home
· Learn what the Florida Long Term Care Ombudsman does to protect the rights of nursing home residents.
· Learn how to file a complaint
· Learn how to become an Ombudsman

Date: October 8th
Time: 2:00pm
Place: 3600 N. Pace Blvd.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodations should call Sherri Myers, 595-5566, Ext. 22, at least 72 hours in advance.

Please note that some people are sensitive to perfumes and colognes; please refrain from wearing excessive amounts of these products. Thank you.

From Anonymous

2009-09-17T15:44:00.002-04:00

This post is a comment received today from an earlier post. I thought it deserved its own space.

UWF is making a land grab at the Community Maritime Park. This is something you should be following closely. UWF does not want to have the location of the proposed Maritime Museum moved from the prime southwest corner of the Community Maritime Park (known as Site A) to the northwest corner on the water/just off Main Street (known as Site B).

The UWF Board of Trustees meets in FWB Thursday night (Sept. 17) to vote on its preferred site. Collier Merrill and Nancy Fetterman are on that board and are expected to ramrod Site A through the Trustees.

UWF officials/supporters are pushing to hold on to the SW corner site that was proposed (never set in stone, site plans are constantly evolving, as you know) even though it could:

1) Drastically reduce the chances of the park getting an extra $12 million from tax credits. In fact, could reduce that amount by half, Ed Gray with Gulf Breeze loan pool reported at last CMPA board meeting.

2) Kill private development on the park site, such as shops, restaurants, bars, offices etc., because it would take the prime spot for this activity to be located. That's where private interests have indicated they want to go. So, the park could end up being nothing more than a stadium and museum after all, because of UWF's greedy land grab for its own selfish interest. This is not what the public wants and it is not in the best interest of the public.

In addition -- besides squelching a chance for more funding and a better park development -- UWF is overlooking that the NW corner (Site B) is actually a better location -- not "inferior" at all. Consider this location:
-- Would put the museum right next to the proposed marine research center
--Would be in a more highly visible location being just off Main Street
--Would make it a centerpiece of the entire project
--Would actually provide a better waterfront and park view--Would still be on the waterfront--Would lead to more visitors and foot traffic
--Would cause developers they've said to convert a proposed square into a front lawn/park leading into the museum's main entrance

Quint Studer/Mort O'Sullivan, who helped spearhead the park development, actually support the NW location for the UWF's Maritime Museum. What great leadership! Something is not better than nothing on the park site; Pensacola deserves the best park development possible.

Many people speculate that Collier Merrill, who is on the CMPA board, UWF Board of Trustees chairman, and Fish House owner, doesn't want to move the Maritime Museum from the SW to NW because of his own selfish money/business interests.

Unbelievable that despite the facts, Merrill or others with UWF would risk killing a vibrant and active waterfont site (one the Pensacola people demand) full of shops, restaurants, offices, hotel and residences that are better suited to that SW waterfront corner. Not only that, UWF/Merrill risk killing the GIFT of $12 million in tax credits!

It just doesn't make any sense and actually hurts not only Pensacola but UWF as well. Too bad that UWF, like many "leaders" in our town, remain too blind to their own self-interest/desire/egos to do what's truly best for the community as a whole.

City Attorney has issues with proposed City Charter

2009-09-01T15:57:00.005-04:00

??

See the embedded documents for the City Attorney's two issues and the Charter Review Commission's response. Of note, the CRC's response is from last month when these two issues were first raised by the City Attorney along with other issues that he seemingly is now satisfied with.

City Attorney Comments

CRC Response to City Attorney_s Memorandum

Mark O'Brien's blog

2009-09-01T15:40:00.001-04:00

Mark O'Brien makes a good point on his blog, "I’m all for bringing Southwest Airlines to Pensacola, but let’s also show some love for AirTran."

A Tale of Two Authorities--cooperation needed

2009-08-31T19:25:00.007-04:00

Will Thaddeus Cohen willingly accede the PEDC some measure of authority in developing unused, unplanned for City-owned property? Will Al Coby?

One argument is that to transfer, even temporarily, downtown property to the PEDC would shutdown the CRA. ??????? The flip side of that is for the City to hang on to property it has no plans for is simply a bureaucratic powerplay: it's MINE, I can do with it what I want, including nothing, and there's not a thing you can do about it.

The PEDC can move property more quickly than the City Council. The City Council is usually briefed one-on-one regarding disposal of property, then it goes to committee. If it passes committee, then it goes to Council for two votes. Then staff executes its plan, but...like with 16 S. Palafox, it's often executed wrongly, poorly, and perhaps never concluded.

Conversely, the PEDC can and will market the properties like normal real estate transactions.

I hope as these issues arise that staff will support declaring some of the City of Pensacola's downtown property to be surplus and will allow it to be marketed by the PEDC. Contingencies can be built in so that if the City demonstrates a need for the property, then property can revert back to City Hall.

Keeping the blog current

2009-08-29T19:46:00.008-04:00

About a week ago, a friend of mine called to chat about several things but among them was keeping my blog updated....or more to the point, why I haven't been doing it so robustly.

I entered this year with 822 posts in my blog. That's an average of 411 per year.

This year I have only posted 95 times, which puts me on track for 114 posts by year's end.

Why? A few reasons.

1. The four freshmen council members either have blogs or an equivalent website that functions as a blog. They are doing a great job keeping the public informed regarding Council business. Moreover, they have been shaping the issues for the public by stating what they see as the pros and cons. According to City Attorney Rusty Wells, I should not respond, under the Sunshine Law, to those posts prior to our scheduled public meetings.

2. I don't have as much to complain about. The stranglehold on City Hall has been significantly reduced. My blog has been a way if not to shape public opinion, then it at least has helped get the dialogue going. I get even now, without daily publishing, about 100 separate computers accessing my blog. It increases between 25-50 (or more if a hot issue is going) when I do blog regularly. It's had a high average of 400 and two days it was either side of a 1,000 (more than 3,500 page loads that day). Those aren't great numbers, but I can tell you from the feedback I get, whether it is the individuals themselves or one of their surrogates, it's the most politically active in our community, including opinionmakers and decisionmakers who are among those regular readers.

3. Change is good but it has to be managed or else chaos erupts. Part of that management is to measure what change has occurred and determine if it's been effective, and quite frankly, for Pensacola, we've experienced unprecedented change. One-half of the City Council has served one term or less. The city manager departed a year ago, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) director departed and has not been replaced, we're down to zero assistant city managers, where we had two even recently, the airport director position remains open, a new city charter is in the wings that could revolutionize or local government, an effort is being made to possibly unify our county and city governments, a new economic development plan (modified) is ready to go into place, nearly 200 fewer people work for the City of Pensacola than three years ago (on the books), including EPS personnel, voters wanted a rollback in property taxes, which they got, and the global economy has gone south. I think it is time to let the dust settle. There's a lot more change that is needed, but let's measure where we are first.

4. I'm not the sniper anymore. Someone else has taken that role and quite frankly, I have a responsibility now to lead, to find common ground, to help build consensus among the Council, bridge between Council and staff, and liaise responsibly with our community. In reality, the recent turnover in the Council really demanded that I take a different tack. Yes, it's true that you can get more air into the sail by steering into the wind, but it doesn't always get you where you want to go.

Pensacola is one vote away from having a new tree ordinance

2009-08-28T10:19:00.005-04:00

Below is a response I posted earlier this morning on Derek Cosson's Progressive Pensacola.

Derek: Sacred Heart has development plans that will move forward regardless of whether we have Tree Ordinance A, B, C, D, or D (mod 1 to ver 3(a)). My understanding is that those plans are fairly firm because of the need to resolve the contradictions between the present campus configuration, topography, and expansion needs.

In short, trees will come down. The issue is how much will Sacred Heart have to pay for that development.

I happen to believe that their upcoming $200,000,000.00 investment that will add between 600-800 jobs averaging $60,000.00 per job is significant. Add to that their $50,000,000.00 per year contribution to the local indigent. That's ONE BILLION dollars over the next twenty years.

Remember this: no version of the tree ordinance heretofore would have saved a single tree, not one.

Ugandan delegation visits Pensacola

2009-08-27T12:26:00.008-04:00

Councilmember Ron Townsend and I had the opportunity to host five visitors from Uganda at Pensacola's City Hall this past Monday. What a delightful two hours it was.

Mr. John Appleyard provided all of us with a wonderful history of government in Pensacola from the earliest European settlements until the present day, then Mr. Townsend and I shared our role in local government and the Ugandans shared theirs likewise. One was a member of parliament, two were members of district councils (like our state legislature), and two were district bureaucrats.

At the end of the visit, Mr. Townsend and I delivered their honorary Pensacola citizenship conferred to them by Mayor Mike Wiggins (see photo above).

We were also joined by Dr. Jack Kichler, a fellow board member of mine on the Gulf Coast Citizens Diplomacy Council and Jena Melanchon, the GCCDC's Executive Director.

Dr. Kichler shared with me later what he learned from a dinner he and his wife had hosted in their home sometime before our City Hall meeting. He's allowed me to share some of those comments here. These comments are about the Member of Parliament (MP):

Sam,

Thank you for letting me sit in on the chat with the delegation
from Uganda this morning. Had I known you were going to be speaking to them, I would have sent this to you a little earlier so you would have had some background on Judith.

Judith Franca Akello is an interesting person one on one.

Impressions- -This is a lady who has been shot on three occasions and has lived in a displaced persons tent city for 16 years. She is from northern Uganda, which is Uganda’s poorest region.

Her name is Akello-- this name is only given to people who were born after a set of twins was born.

Her tribe is LUO; her clan is Ochoti. Almost all Ochoti clansmen have their last name begin with the letter “O”. Obama is a Luo Ochoti descendent. Luo tribes extend into northern Kenya.

She is very impressed with several things about the USA: volunteerism, sense of community, people using individual initiative to help their community when they recognize a problem, citizens respect their military and the military respect its citizens, community pride, universal education, free textbooks for k-12, friendliness---she is treated better here by strangers than by many as an MP in her own country.

She is so happy that Jena let her come to our home and eat and equally happy to see me cooking.

I cannot speak for the others, but I enjoyed Judith very much. In some ways I wish we had been alone for supper as she had so much to tell. She is so grateful for being able to come to the USA and has learned many things to take back to Uganda.

Pensacola not only city looking for accountability

2009-08-25T12:41:00.004-04:00

From: Christopher J. Lewis
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:01 AM
To: John Jerralds; Larry B. Johnson; P.C. Wu; Ronald Townsend; Sam Hall; Maren Deweese; Megan Pratt; Jewel Cannada-Wynn; Diane Mack; Mike Wiggins
Subject: SACRAMENTO

Mayor and Council,

I’m just back from my trip to DC and came upon this article in today’s Sacramento Bee. That’s where I grew up. I think Mayor Johnson proposed the change to a mayor-council form of government in January. They collected 50,000 signatures in support and the idea is moving forward to a vote.

Best regards,
CJ Lewis

Links: Sacramento Bee; Sacramentans for Accountable Government

THE PORT

2009-08-25T08:31:00.005-04:00

The opportunity for taking the first step to transform our port into a job producing venue with full public access to Pensacola's waterfront was dashed last night during a Committee of the Whole meeting. Depending on which side one is on, that's good news or bad news.

But the good news for all is this, the Port of Pensacola staff and Director of the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) are working side-by-side to transform the gateway into the port, move the boundary further south, open up Warehouse #4 for non-port use and connect the new frontage of the port with both sides of Commendencia Slip. In other words, one will be able to walk from The Fish House to Plaza de Luna and Palafox Wharf without having to use Main Street.

Moreover, multi-story development is planned for the northeast corner of the present port property, which will provide a shield to the ugly storage facility to the south.

O"Brien doesn't like proposed charter

2009-07-21T11:03:00.006-04:00

Below is an item from Mark O'Brien's web log regarding the proposed City of Pensacola Charter. My comments are in italicized brown.

Mayor Mike Wiggins says, "It's probably the most important decision we will make in our term."

He's talking about a proposal to significantly revamp the City of Pensacola's form of government for the first time since 1931.

It would entrust much more power to a "strong mayor," who would oversee government and work with a seven-member City Council.

He and council members are finalizing plans for a meeting next month to discuss the proposal. They could decide to shelve the plan, suggest changes, or forward it to the public for a citywide vote this fall. May I add another option following "suggest changes": make changes before forwarding to the public.The plan has some serious flaws, in my book.

-- The mayor would have plenty of power and not much accountability until he comes up for re-election every four years. Using this reasoning, we should eliminate the positions of POTUS and Florida’s governor.

-- The city wouldn't save any money because the mayor would have an administrator who would function much like the current city manager. Ah, if saving money is the reason for charter reform, let’s reform the charter each year during the budget process…but a charter that changes annually isn’t really a charter, is it?

-- The new mayor could politicize City Hall far more than it already is. Is that possible? In today's system, six of the 10 council members must vote to hire the city manager, who decides who else is hired and fired. In the new format, the mayor alone could fire the administrator and department heads, and even the city attorney. There's a serious downside: Political overtones detract from a staff's professionalism and make the trading of favors even more common. (The city attorney could be especially torn if the mayor and the council have legitimate differences. For that reason, the Escambia School Board has an attorney and the Escambia School Superintendent has an attorney.) Mark, I agree that the Council should have its own attorney.

-- Two at-large slots on the council would be eliminated, and the remaining seven members would be elected from specific districts. This would put added emphasis on horse-trading among council members and reduce voters' opportunity to influence their representatives. I think this is the most problematic issue, but not for the reasons you cite…it’s simply not politically salable to the majority…especially for those who will be the extra-majority of voters during an off-cycle special election.

-- With so much clout concentrated in the mayor's office, special interest groups may get more involved in city government. Most all of us, the elected and unelected, belong to several special-interest groups but we rarely think in those terms. “Special interests” most always seem to represent those on the other side because many tend to believe themselves to be above special interest. Then campaigns will become much more expensive, reducing the chances for average people to run for office. Where’s your data?

The Charter

2009-07-21T08:41:00.007-04:00

Pensacolians should applaud our Charter Review Commission (CRC) for the hard, thoughtful work of 18-months that may provide Pensacolians their chance to finally adopt a charter. Our community does not have one now as understood by most. Pensacolians never adopted our so-called charter, which has been amended time-after-time over its 78-year history without the approval of the electorate.

Certainly, the document lying now with the City Council is not what any of the councilmembers would have drafted individually or collectively. But nothing the CRC could have produced, including the current "charter" would have been what any of us would have written.

With that said, this hard-work is at risk of never being considered by the electorate because of one item: the make-up of Council. The number is not the issue, it's the elimination of the at-large seats. Indeed, if Council leaves single-member districts only in the proposed charter it will meet sure defeat at the polls.

To flesh out the several reasons why the at-large representation has become an issue would show some of the uglier sides of Pensacola socio-political posturing, so I will not present them here. Certainly, there a terrific reasons for maintaining the at-large representation, but the uglier sides alone will make passing this charter an impossibility, even if it ever gets out of Council.

There are a couple of other issues of concern for some that probably should be remedied to avoid likely defeat, but the at-large issue is huge.

Council strategies

2009-07-16T13:38:00.004-04:00

The link below leads to the strategies I submitted to staff as a follow-up to the seven goals Council established on 30 June 2009.

We were supposed to submit no more than five strategies for each goal, but I exceeded that on economic development, while I had none under some of the areas.

Strategies

Small Town, Big Spending

2009-07-15T09:22:00.006-04:00

The above paradigm shift image is meant to be tongue-in-cheek for our region, of course.

------------------------------------------------

The following is an excerpt from a New York Times Op-Ed piece penned by Tom Brokaw. There is a link at the end of the excerpt to the article on the NYTs website.

By TOM BROKAW

DURING these uncertain times we’ve yet to hear a phrase with the resonance of Franklin Roosevelt’s “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” but there are a couple of minor-chord expressions that should have staying power.

One is the observation of Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, that “you never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” Another comes from my boss, Jeff Immelt, the chief executive of General Electric, who has warned, “This is not a cycle; it’s a reset.”

Taken together, these remarks challenge us to go beyond trying to quickly fix the immediate problems of toxic mortgages, risky banks, a struggling American car industry and escalating health care costs. If the American people are tuned into the need to change the irresponsible, inefficient practices and systems that created those problems, why not enlist them to take the next step and radically change the antiquated public structures that exist beyond the Beltway?

Here are a few examples.

It’s estimated that New York State has about 10,500 local government entities…[more...]

Certainty?

2009-06-17T08:40:00.003-04:00

There is nothing certain in politics. Even the most stalwart can be turned late in a game by a groundswell (sometimes defined as 15 citizens showing up to a meeting), an e-mail, phonecall or weblog campaign, an editorial from "the daily", or the big guns in a community weighing in on an issue.

With that said, had the City Council been seated in a regular meeting this past Monday instead of in a workshop, I believe the proposed tree ordinance would have passed with minor changes. But it was a workshop, where votes don't have to be taken, and if they are taken, then they cannot be binding.

What's holding up the tree ordinance now is one or two of the big guns. That's okay. We can remedy this to suit all if we start with this premise, "Almost all of our large tree stands are gone, so let's protect the overall urban forest, tree by tree, property by property, and not penalize those who have one of the two or three relatively large stands (and still quite small) left in the city."

My thought is, "why trash a good ordinance just to make a point, making a large shareholder in this city be penalized for not clearing its land before everyone else....land that is a very small percentage of the entire area?"

To tree or not to tree

2009-06-16T14:57:00.006-04:00

At yesterday's City of Pensacola workshop on amending the City's "Tree Ordinance", eight people spoke in favor of enhancing the tree ordinance, one against, and three were split.

The one who spoke squarely against it, had issue with stormwater runoff being tied to tree preservation.

I said it was counterproductive to spend millions of dollars every year to treat stormwater runoff that would never have occurred had it not been for mowing down trees and replacing them with blacktop or concrete.

Indeed, the ordinance states, "The purpose of this chapter is to establish protective regulations for trees and landscaped areas within the city. Such areas preserve the ecological balance of the environment, control erosion, sedimentation and stormwater runoff, provide shade and reduce heat glare, abate noise pollution, and buffer incompatible land uses."

Now that the unified government study committee is seated...

2009-06-03T13:23:00.008-04:00

The following is from a staff report published by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR). TACIR is a future-oriented organization concerned with issues and problems that impact the efficiency and effectiveness of governments involved in the intergovernmental process. Often called a "think tank" or "think and do-tank" by some, TACIR seeks to identify and diagnose public policy problems that loom on the horizon.

Both proponents and opponents of local government consolidation brandish a substantial list of reasons to support their positions. Yet, experts agree that consolidation has the potential to offer at least the following advantages.

An economic development edge: Having a consolidated government allows the community to react quickly to proposed economic development prospects. Instead of having to deal with two or more governments, prospective businesses have one point of contact. Business and industrial prospects like the idea of licensing and inspection offices under the authority of one government. There's less red tape. Also, cooperative countywide planning and zoning is an economic development plus. When Augusta and Richmond County in Georgia debated consolidation in 1995, one consolidation proponent said the merger would result in 10,000 new jobs in five years. Voters of those jurisdictions overwhelmingly endorsed the plan.

Economies of scale: Combined purchasing power and efficiency can result in taxpayer savings. For example, publics works operations can share machinery, personnel, and equipment. Consolidated law enforcement departments may find themselves with the ability to fund additional patrols. A small city may find itself better able to offer services that weren't cost-effective before.

Less duplication: Cities and counties many times fund similar operations, such as road building, fire protection and solid waste services. With consolidated government, one office would replace two or more.

Government accountability: One unified government is easier for voters to understand than several local jurisdictions. This increased visibility may better focus public attention on government operations.

Harmony: One government will eliminate some discord, such as annexation disputes, and local planning and zoning issues may be more readily resolved.

Now that the Consolidation Study Committee is seated, let them (and us) get down to transforming our region into a vibrant, competitive, community.

On the CMP and UWF

2009-05-28T11:00:00.003-04:00

I want what is best for UWF in its talks with the CMPA and MPDP regarding the Fetterman Museum.

That is why I hope the university will be flexible and agree that what is best for the park is best for the City of Pensacola, the retailers who will locate there, the developer, and the university itself. That is not to argue that the museum has to move from its present location.

The CMP is an organic entity with many parts, but those parts must be arranged optimally for the body to work toward its full potential.

3-cent gas tax for ECAT

2009-05-28T10:48:00.003-04:00

I voted against this tax for four reasons:

1) ECAT's performance with the money it has already is not good.
2) This tax does more to eliminate Escambia County's general fund revenue support for the ECAT than it does for increasing ECAT's budget.
3) ECAT needs a new business plan.
4) ECAT managers showed up hat-in-hand on Monday but brought no measures of effectiveness to demonstrate its level of performance---or bang-for-the buck. Several of the City Councilmembers who voted for the tax cited this as a problem for them. I guess the thinking is that if future reports are not satisfactory, that Council can repeal this. ??? I'm not sure it can.

Employee Compensation Study

2009-05-28T10:30:00.001-04:00

-----Original Message-----
From: Lawrence Porto
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 1:17 PM
To: City Manager, City Council
Subject: employee compensation study

5/27/09

After the Committee of the Whole meeting of May 11 the Employee Representatives left with the impression that the overwhelming majority of Council was in support of not doing anything to employee benefits in a "piecemeal", shoot from the hip approach, but to have a professional, detailed study done. The only questions were who would do it, and how in depth it would be. To see council reject that reasoned, professional, defensible study and then contemplate the "piecemeal" approach was both surprising and disappointing.

I can tell you that I speak for all the Employee Representatives when I urge you to reconsider the professional study. Any cut in benefits without justification from a detailed professional study will only create deep ill will and mistrust from the Employees for this Council. A professional study will not only justify your actions to the Employees, but the media and Public as well. The idea that apprehension over what might be done is more painful than actually doing something that adversely affects Employees benefits, and therefore something must be done quickly, is misguided. We know of no employee who wishes that you would just cut something to get it over with. The budget is balanced for this year and next. You have the time to do this right. To your credit you have requested the Employees input. We urge you to honor that request and respect that input, and do a professional study.

Sincerely yours in public service,
Larry Porto

Recycling

2009-05-08T12:23:00.002-04:00

A city resident not from my district wrote an e-mail to me expressing his displeasure with the City's decision to go from a two-day-a-week garbage pick-up, to one day for garbage and another day to pick up recyclables. He asked for a logical, no-BS explanation. My response is below.

City resident:

The “NO B.S.” answer:

1. Recycling reduces tipping fees for the City of Pensacola at the Escambia County landfill
2. Recycling prolongs the life of the landfill
3. Recycling conserves natural resources
4. Recycling is seen as a progressive move, something our area doesn’t get a lot of credit for in other areas
5. My voting public asked for it. Nine other council members agreed.

The initial savings to the City of Pensacola will cover the cost of the recycling cans. Hopefully, savings beyond that will go to the consumer.

Thanks for your input. Hope some to most of my answer seems logical to you.

Sam Hall
Pensacola City Council

900th post

2009-05-05T15:58:00.003-04:00

Regarding economic development, I believe the Pensacola-Escambia Economic Development Commission (PEDC) is essential for any economic development plan. PEDC does not have to be the driver of economic development, but it needs to be plugged-in to help public-private endeavors, owing that it can issue bonds for development, it can transfer land easily for ED sites, and it has elected officials from the City of Pensacola, Escambia County, and the City of Century on its board. If public monies are going to be involved, then those held accountable to the taxpayer need to have a say in how that money is used. [Of note: there is a City of Pensacola appointee as well as one from the Board of County Commissioners along with two members from the Chamber of Commerce]

Ucci: City Pension Plans

2009-05-05T15:54:00.002-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: P.A. Ucci
Date: Tue, May 5, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Subject: City Pension Plans
To: Diane Mack
Cc: Al Coby; City Council

We share major differences regarding your (5-4-09) blog article, "solving the city's pension problem". Hiring a consultant to examine pension plans continues the practice of the seeming inability of highly compensated staff to gain needed personal expertise in the fundamentals required to resolve any problems. You and your colleagues on Council are advised to abandon the consultant notion which, I suggest, lacks merit.

Generally, the financing of most private and public pension plans are based on employee/employer contributions and investment performance primarily in the financial sector. Traditionally, "professional managers" are hired and paid handsomely for their service. It is an established fact that, with rare exception, most of the professionals (over the long) term are paid hacks failing to match the returns of Index Funds. More on this in a separate email.

The questions you posed to the city finance director are not relevant now. Instead, Staff resources should be used to examine prior pension performance for future guidance. From FY1965 to FY2009 a spread sheet should be generated for each of the three pension plans showing on a YEARLY schedule the following fundamental parameters:

1. Total plan assets at 1965 through 2009.
2. Total number of pension eligible employees and total salaries.
3. Employee contribution to plan(s).
4. Employer contribution.
5. Investment return on assets, including investment gain or loss, interest and dividends.
6. Theoretical and actual investment return.
7. Total value and asset disbursement to pensioners.
8. Total management fees, i.e. fund managers, legal and actuarial fees, other.

Analysis of this historical data is crucial to measure the merits of the existing plans and to guide in formulating improved plans if necessary. It may demonstrate that INDEX FUNDS investing (my current preference) is flawed. It may also show some disconnect between all the variables in place governing current pensions.

CMP

2009-04-24T11:02:00.002-04:00

On Monday, Mayor Mike Wiggins said the Trillium property had gone through six city councils, two referenda and months of negotiations to end up where we are now, poised to build a waterfront park at a public capital investment of $40 million.

Pensacola pensions make national list

2009-04-20T13:33:00.001-04:00

-----Original Message-----
From: Jack Dean
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 5:09 PMT
To: Sam Hall
Subject: Pensacola is not alone

*************************************************************************
Now in our 5th year of providing daily pension crisis coverage . . .
*************************************************************************

PENSION CRISIS NEWS HEADLINES POSTED APRIL 19, 2009

Visit http://www.PensionTsunami.com to access today's articles:

* Pacific Grove, California Explores Bankruptcy Option as It Tries
to Rein in Public Employee Pension Costs
* Riverside County, California Facing an Extra $119 Million Expense
for Employee Pensions
* CalPERS and CalSTRS Award Big Bonuses to Executives Despite Tens
of Billions in Losses
* Actuaries See Pension Future -- Or Not (blog - Ed Mendel)
* Pensacola, Florida's Snowballing Pension Costs Threaten City's Services
* It's Fiscal Insanity to Play Pensacola's Pension Plan Game
(editorial - News Journal)
* Massachusetts Ex-Lawmaker's Wife Got Pension Boost for Volunteer
Service as Library Trustee
* Shaky Deals Cost Detroit's Two Pension Funds $90 Million
* In Search of the Perfect Pension (blog - Megan Mcardle)
* The UAW and Chrysler: Slouching Toward the Inevitable

*************************************************************************

PensionTsunami.com is a project of FACT (Fullerton Association of
Concerned Taxpayers), a non-partisan citizens' watchdog group in
Fullerton, California. While FACT's primary focus is on California's
public employee pension crisis, we monitor developments in all three
pension spheres -- public employees, corporations and social
security -- since it is taxpayers who will ultimately be responsible
for making up deficits incurred by any of them. We also monitor
international trends. Editor and publisher is Jack Dean.

*************************************************************************

...and pensions spell trouble..OR..Checkmate for Pensions

2009-04-19T22:01:00.003-04:00

P.A. Ucci sent the City Council the link to the article below. It is written by Janice Revell, who is a columnist with Money Magazine. This article appeared on CNN's website.

NEW YORK (Money Magazine) -- The jig is up. For years, politicians have been playing what amounts to a multi-trillion-dollar shell game with state and local pensions. They've doled out lush retiree benefits to their heavily unionized workforces, knowing that they could shove the cost for those benefits onto future generations of taxpayers.

But a recent financial bombshell dropped by a San Francisco suburb shows why that shell game is now starting to unravel in a nasty way. And it's a cautionary tale that you can't afford to ignore.

Here's the skinny: In late May, Vallejo, Calif., became the largest city in California history to declare bankruptcy. Its financial demise was brought about partly by the real estate crash, which decimated home prices in the area and put a major dent in the city's tax revenues.

But the real nail in Vallejo's coffin was the city's labor costs. Under the current labor agreement, the average police officer walking the beat in Vallejo will be paid $122,000 this year before overtime, according to city documents. An average sergeant will make $151,000; a captain, $231,000. The average firefighter, meanwhile, will bring in $130,000 before overtime.

That's just the salaries, though. The final budget-crusher was the city's pension plan. Thanks to retroactive benefit enhancements approved by the city council in 2000, police officers and firefighters can now retire at age 50 and receive an annual pension equal to 90% of their final pay (assuming 30 years on the job), an amount that gets increased every year to help keep pace with inflation. The old plan had given the workers a pension equal to 60% of their final pay at age 50. [more...]

Community Maritime Park Development Agreement and Sub-lease

2009-04-17T16:42:00.000-04:00

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Law & Government Business & Law brian spencer bullock tice

Transform space into place

2009-04-11T10:45:00.001-04:00

Greening the ghetto

2009-04-11T10:40:00.001-04:00

FYI

2009-04-09T22:25:00.001-04:00

Budget Workshop

2009-04-09T17:36:00.002-04:00

The Pensacola City Council will hold a budget workshop on 13 April 2009 at 1:30 p.m. for the 2010 budget cycle. The meeting will be in the Hagler-Mason Conference Room, 2nd Floor, City Hall.
April Budget Workshop

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Presentations & Spre security fire

This is something...

2009-04-08T18:06:00.003-04:00

The following video represents something I wanted to propose last year except that we had a Council that was resistant to change. Thanks to Dr. Pratt, the topic has re-emerged and I hope you will support it: closing some major downtown arteries for specific periods of time. She is proposing specifically to close off a portion of Bayfront Parkway.

Watch the video and tell me what you think.

Presented at committee session April 6, 2009

2009-04-07T18:03:00.000-04:00

Maritime Park Presentation and Bond Resolution

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Presentations & Spre ppp vince whibbs

Become an ally

2009-04-03T14:14:00.002-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Janet Westlake <westlakej@cc.ptdiocese.org>
Date: Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Subject: Share the joy of great news coverage!
To: Janet Westlake <westlakej@cc.ptdiocese.org>

http://www.thefloridacatholic.org/pt/2009_pt/2009_ptarticles/20090327_pt_bridges.php

A guide through troubled waters

Catholic Charities’ Bridges to Circles program brings supply of hope, friendship.

PEGGY DEKEYSER | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PENSACOLA-TALLAHASSEE BUREAU EDITOR

Posted: 03.27.09

PEGGY DEKEYSER | FC
Alison Richards, standing, is an ally to circle leader Denise Dean and her son, T.J., 21 months, as the young family progresses through the Bridges to Circles program sponsored by Catholic Charities. The program pairs people living in poverty who have a strong desire to improve their lives with allies who provide emotional support and assist with complex issues.

PENSACOLA | Denise Dean never expected she would be in a position to sign up for the Catholic Charities-sponsored “Bridges to Circles” program. A professional with a job in social work and a toddler son, she took some unexpected turns in life that led her to the program.

“I work for Head Start, and last September I saw the flyer from Unite Escambia’s Poverty Solutions Team about Bridges to Circles. Because of life circumstances and because my income as a social worker is limited, I decided to enroll in the ‘Getting Ahead’ class. I knew I needed to do some reorganizing in my life to get my finances in order, and thought that the program would also equip me to be better able to help others,” Dean said.

As a “circle leader,” Dean meets with “allies” who work with her to develop the resources needed for self-sufficiency and stability. Depending on the needs of the family or individual, those needed resources might be emotional, intellectual, financial or spiritual. The 10-week “Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-By World” class is a prerequisite to being teamed with allies.

Kelly Richards was looking for a way to give back to the community when she became interested in Bridges to Circles. Her adult daughters, recent college graduates who were both looking for full-time work, also needed something “more to focus on,” she said. All three enrolled as allies in the Bridges to Circles program.

Required ally training includes participation in a “Circles” overview class and a “Bridges Out of Poverty” seminar.

HOW TO HELP

To learn more about Bridges to Circles and how you can help, contact Janet Westlake at 850-429-7296, ext. 18; or westlakej@cc.ptdiocese.org.

“Allies are different from traditional mentors,” said Janet Westlake, Bridges to Circles community organizer. “Allies engage in an intentional befriending relationship with an individual or family circle leader. It’s more of an equal relationship than a traditional mentoring relationship would be.”

Haley Richards, 24, Kelly Richards’ daughter, said that her Catholic school education instilled in her a commitment to community service. While trying to land a full-time teaching job as a secondary social studies teacher, she found she had time available to commit to becoming an ally. “It might sound like a cliché, but it really is a hand up, not a handout.”

Alison Richards, 23, echoed her sister’s thoughts, saying, “I have been so fortunate. I really want to give back. I also can bring a young perspective to our circle.” She is helping out while looking for work in her field, exercise science.

Kelly Richards’ 25 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney who spent years in the public defender’s office gives her a firsthand understanding of poverty’s impact upon the community. “I can easily see the need. My clients were not all bad people. Many are trapped in poverty. With some guidance, they could turn their lives, and the lives of their families, around. Bridges to Circles is another way to network to solve the problem of poverty,” she said. “I’d like to see everyone who is involved in our judicial system taking part in this.”

Janet Westlake

Bridges to Circles community organizer

Office: (850) 429-7296, ex. 18

i-Ten Wired Summit

2009-04-03T08:35:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I attended the fourth i-Ten Wired Summit held this time in Daphne, AL. Here are some comments by speakers at the summit about our city:

Pensacola is a "tech-friendly" city
Pensacola has a very mature fiber network
Outside the very large cities, Pensacola has one of the densest fiber networks in the country

For those who believe Pensacola should not be putting all its eggs in the tech basket, please take the few minutes to watch this video, called Shift Happens.

10-7

2009-04-02T19:36:00.003-04:00

Officer Travis Pitts is now laid to rest.

The procession from Victory Baptist Church, south of Pace on Avalon Blvd, went north to Pace, west on Caroline across the Escambia River and south on Scenic Highway to Bayview Cemetary.

Santa Rosa fireman stood at attention in full firefighting ensembles, with helmets in hand covered over their hearts. Employees at a liquor store were waving small American flags. A UPS driver stood at attention by his truck. Residents lined the road taking pictures and making digital video recordings. Pensacola firefighters had engines on scene at some intersections and The Bluffs. Several motorists from opposing traffic stood outside their cars in reverence, some with their hearts crossed.

My guess is that the procession was over two miles long with flashing blue and red lights dominating the line all the way.

Karaoke for $$$

2009-03-30T20:55:00.003-04:00

If you consider ever running for public office, then you should consider all that you will have to put up with. Several elected officials from the area (two constitutional officers, two commissioners, two council members, and two state representatives) sang at a fundraising event for the Filipino-American Republican Club.

Even though I can't sing a lick, I have to admit, it was a lot of fun.

Posturing from across the pond

2009-03-27T22:10:00.000-04:00

Pension workshop agenda

2009-03-27T22:01:00.000-04:00

040209wkshp

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Business & Legal employees pensacola

WFHS Quaterback Club 1st Annual Golf Tournament

2009-03-26T09:01:00.000-04:00

Community Partners,

Please support our student athletes and the West Florida High School Jaguar football Program by participating or supporting our first annual golf tournament. The first annual tournament will be at Osceola Golf Course on Saturday, April 18th, Check in and warm up starts at 7:00 AM, registration also includes lunch. The tournament is a four-person scramble format, best ball, with a shotgun start @ 8 PM.

Prizes for the golf tournament:

1) $10,000 hole-in-one prize

2) Three additional hole-in-one prizes

3) $2,500 putting contest ($5 ticket required)

4) Plus Mulligan's, prizes and other gifts

How can you help our young student athletes?

1) Please forward this email to your friends and organizations within the local community.

2) Sponsor a Golf Team for your business or organization.

3) Sign up as a team player in the tournament. Please refer to the attached "Golf Tournament Flyer".

4) Sponsor a hole for as little as $100, which will also include the hole sponsor sign. Please refer to the attached "Sponsorship Package".

5) Provide raffle items and other "In Kind Donations" for the tournament.

Debit or credit cards are accepted for payment and contributions. Please contact John Prince (850-292-2740 or johnprince@jagfootball.net) for additional information or registration questions.

WFHS Quarterback Club Inc. is an Florida not-for-profit corporation and an approved Charitable Organization as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS Letter of determination provided upon request.

We appreciate your support in advance for this fundraising event.

Sincerely,

Kevin L. Adams

President, WFHS Quarterback Club, Inc.

850-449-8692

kevinadams@jagfootball.net

Citizens' Academy

2009-03-25T12:38:00.002-04:00

March 16, 2009

Contact: Keith Wilkins, Deputy Chief

Neighborhoods and Community Services

(850) 595-4578

Escambia County’s Next “Citizens’ Academy”
Begins April 14

Pensacola, Fla. – Escambia County’s next “Citizens’ Academy” begins April 14 and gives residents an opportunity to learn more about their county, how it works, and offers a chance to meet the people responsible for providing county services.

The six-week class will be held each Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., beginning April 14 and continuing through May 19. Snacks and beverages will be offered during the first 30 minutes to give students the opportunity to network with other civic-minded residents. All classes will be held at the Lexington Terrace Community Center, 700 S. Old Corry Field Road with exception of the May 5 class, which will be held at the Public Safety building at 6575 North “W” Street.

If you would like to learn more about local government and attain a behind-the-scenes familiarity with county services, then this is the class for you. In addition, attendees will make the contacts needed to become effective leaders in their neighborhoods, and learn how to report environmental code enforcement issues, request traffic calming devices and schedule bulky waste pickup for community clean-up efforts.

Topics include:

Board of County Commissioners

County Administrator’s Office

Public Information Office

Neighborhood Watch

Building Inspections and Permits, Planning and Zoning, Engineering

Parks & Recreation

Solid Waste Management

Environmental Enforcement

Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)

Neighborhood Enterprise Foundation, Inc. (NEFI)

The last class will include a graduation ceremony with the county administrator. Space is limited to 20 people. Must be at least 16 years of age to attend. Call 595-4578 for registration

Dr. Pratt on pensions

2009-03-23T10:17:00.002-04:00

Councilmember Megan Pratt has an excellent post on the City of Pensacola's pension issue. To path over, click here.

Russian delegation visits Pensacola

2009-03-21T20:14:00.005-04:00

I had the opportunity to have a delightful evening in the Pensacola District 2 home of Michael and Belinda Kerr, who hosted six visitors from Primorye Kray (Maritime District) in Russia. Michael's sister Kathleen, who is a former Foreign Service Officer with the U. S. Department of State, co-hosted the event.

I was there wearing two hats, one as a board member of the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council and as the district representative for the City of Pensacola. On behalf of Mayor Mike Wiggins, I presented all six with honorary citizenship in Pensacola. At least three were moved to near full tears.

We celebrated the evening with a pot-luck dinner, wine, vodka, and songs in both Russian and English.

Joining the Kerr's and me were fellow board member, Joe Denmon and GCCDC Executive Director, Jena Melancon (Geena Meh-LAHN-shun).

Pate Stevedoring payment record at the Port

2009-03-20T18:17:00.003-04:00

This is from Councilwoman Diane Mack's website:

March 19, 2009

Pate Stevedoring payment record at the Port

In December 2008 I requested from City staff a record of all Port of Pensacola invoices, which were not paid in timely fashion by Pate Stevedoring. The reason for my request at the time was the issue of the amended lease, which the company wanted at the Port. That issue was eventually resolved in a way beneficial both to the City and its Port tenant. However, the City Council stipulated that it intends to monitor the performance of Mr. Pate's newly formed company, Northwest Florida Cold Storage, on its fulfillment of the terms of that amended lease. Because of this commitment of the Council, I persisted in asking for the late-payment report; it arrived in my email today. Here is the report. I offer it without comment and leave it to the citizens of Pensacola to form their own opinions.

Original Message-----
From: Clyde Mathis
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 10:46 AM
To: Dick Barker Jr; Al Coby
Subject: FW: Pate Stevedore Payments

Dear Ms. Mack – The following information is offered in reference to your request for information regarding payments by Pate Stevedore Company to the Port of Pensacola for freezer terminal operations since February 2004.

The City of Pensacola considers payments to be “late” on the 31st day after issuance of invoice. However, this policy was developed primarily as relates to bills to customers for garbage collection service, natural gas service, and other services provided and billed within the local area. As you know, the port business is international in nature and due to this international component, payment on a net 30 cycle is not always practical. For example, terminal operators, stevedores and freight handlers often receive invoices for port charges before they have been paid by their customers who may or may not be headquartered in the US. In many cases, they issue payment for port charges immediately upon receipt of payment from their customer but, often times more than 30 days after invoicing. In other cases, invoices are issued to a local or regional office for verification but must then be routed by those offices to corporate offices in another state or country for payment, which also, in many cases, takes more than 30 days.

Due to these intricacies, which render the port’s business somewhat unique, while we recognize the City’s net-30 payment terms, we typically don’t become concerned about an outstanding balance or begin inquiring to the debtor as regards payment until an invoice hits the 90+ day column. As information, Pate’s typical payment cycle is 60-90 days.

That being said, there have been instances in which payment against specific invoice(s) did go more than 90 days in arrears. Specifically, payment of freezer terminal rent and minimum wharfage guarantee and actual cargo throughput wharfage invoices issued between 9/25/07 and 3/27/08 ran extremely late. However, Mr. Pate openly and frequently discussed with port management his plans to utilize profits from the Vestas Wind Systems project cargo movements to bring his account current, which he did. In an effort to work with a valued business partner through a temporary economic difficulty, no interest or late payment penalties were assessed against these payments. To my knowledge, no penalties have ever been assessed against late payments by customers who have been forthright, agreed to reasonable payment arrangements, and have met those obligations.

All invoices issued since 3/27/08 have been paid timely.

Following is detail outlining the late payments:

Invoice Date Amount Type Paid Date
9/25/2007 11,706.46 Minimum 10/9/2008
10/23/2007 3,870.00 Rent 5/14/2008
10/23/2007 11,706.46 Minimum 10/9/2008
11/21/2007 3,857.56 Wharfage 6/2/2008
11/21/2007 3,870.00 Rent 6/2/2008
11/27/2007 14,898.94 Wharfage 6/6/2008
12/18/2007 3,870.00 Rent 6/2/2008
12/18/2007 11,706.46 Minimum 10/9/2008
1/24/2008 3,870.00 Rent 6/6/2008
1/24/2008 14,615.58 Wharfage 6/19/2008
2/21/2008 3,870.00 Rent 6/18/2008
2/21/2008 11,706.46 Minimum 10/9/2008
3/27/2008 3,870.00 Rent 7/5/2008
3/27/2008 11,706.46 Minimum 10/9/2008

Saudi delegation visit and local Pensacola company

2009-03-14T16:26:00.007-04:00

The opening speaker in this video is Jena Melanchon, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council, who hosted visits for a mixed group from Cameroon, Uzbekistan, Phillipine Islands et al, a Saudi delegation, and two from Estonia. Next week brings a member of the Greek Parliament, who is also a shadow minister for the environment.

Produced by:

Digital Media Education, Inc.
1303 Poppy Avenue
Pensacola, FL 32507-2238

850.473.8633

Political Diary: Quotes of the Day

2009-03-13T13:31:00.003-04:00

The following is reprinted with permission from the Wall Street Journal. Quotes of the Day are regular features of the WSJ's "Political Diary", a subscription-based daily newsletter.

I found these two items interesting because not even 100 days into President Obama's term, the mainstream media (Washington Post) and the left (Atlantic Monthly) are attacking him, and it's not because he's governing to the right.

Quote of the Day I

"Obama has stacked his administration with politicians and former government officials. You might think that with the greatest financial crisis of his lifetime, the president would want a few business leaders with experience managing large organizations in crisis. But no. Here's the un-businesslike Obama Cabinet: At Treasury, a former government official; at State, a former senator; at Commerce, a former governor; at Defense, a former government official and university president; at Energy, a former professor; at Homeland Security, a former governor; at Health and Human Services, a former governor; at the White House as chief of staff, a former congressman; at the White House as economic czar, a former university president and government official" -- Washington Post columnist David Ignatius.

Quote of the Day II

"Having defended Obama's candidacy largely on his economic team, I'm having serious buyer's remorse . . . The budget numbers are just one more blow to the credibility he worked hard to establish during the election. Back then, people like me handed him kudos for using numbers that were really much less mendacious than the general run of candidate program promises. Now, he's building a budget on the promise that this recession will be milder than average, with growth merely dipping to 1.2% this year and returning to trend in 2010. Isn't there anyone at the Bureau of Labor Statistics who could have filled him in on the unemployment figures, or at Treasury who could have explained what a disproportionate impact finance salaries have on tax revenue? These numbers . . . well, I can't really fully describe them on a family blog. But he has now raced passed Bush in the Delusional Budget Math Olympics" -- Atlantic magazine columnist Megan McArdle.

A dear friend passes

2009-03-08T18:26:00.003-04:00

A very dear friend of 12 years passed today. His name was "Bear".

Almost District 2

2009-03-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

A new I-110 southbound service road is scheduled to open this week as part of the I-110/Airport Boulevard-Brent Lane split diamond interchange construction project. The new services road will connect Airport Boulevard to Brent Lane, and allow I-110 traffice to exit at Airport Boulevard and travel on to Brent Lane.

For the full posting, please click this link:http://www.cityofpensacola.com/live/news.asp?rid=10289

To unsubscribe from this mailing list, please send an email with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line to webmaster@ci.pensacola.fl.us

Pensacola News is now being sent in HTML format. To continue receiving email in plain text format, please send an email with 'text' in the subject line to webmaster@ci.pensacola.fl.us

What is it like to live in poverty?

2009-03-04T11:32:00.003-05:00

Please consider attending. There are 80 seats available.

A Poverty Simulation educates everyone, from policy makers to local community leaders, about the day to day realities of life with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. During a simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families, from single parents trying to care for their children to senior citizens trying to maintain their self sufficiency on Social Security.

The task of each family is to provide food, shelter and other basic necessities during the simulation while interacting with various community resources staffed by low-income volunteers. Although it uses "play" money and other props, fictional scenarios, and time limits, this is not a game. It is a simulation tool that enables participants to view poverty from different angles in an experiential setting, while empowering low-income volunteers by allowing them an opportunity to interact with leaders from their communityEscambia County is offering its first Poverty Simulation on Tuesday, March 17 from 8:30-12:30. Registration and breakfast begins at 8:00 am at the Langley Bell Center. Directions and registration information is on the attached flyer.

Our target for participants is community and business leaders who need to understand the life of the poor. Please distribute this invitation to anyone and everyone you would like to participate. Members of Unite Escambia’s Poverty Solutions Team and the UF/IFAS Extension Office are asked to serve as facilitators for the event. For details about facilitating, contact Janet Westlake, Bridges to Circles community organizer, at 429-7296, ext. 18 or westlakej@cc.ptdiocese.org.

PFD Automatic Aid Agreement

2009-03-01T17:35:00.002-05:00

From: Derek Cosson
Date: Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 8:14 AM
Subject: PFD Automatic Aid Agreement
To: Mike Wiggins, P. C. Wu, Sam Hall, Maren DeWeese , Larry B. Johnson, John Jerralds, Jewel Cannada-Wynn, Ronald Townsend, Diane Mack, Megan Pratt

Mayor Wiggins and members of Council:

Tomorrow, March 2, the Pensacola Fire Department will begin a pilot program of the Automatic Aid Agreement.

Under this agreement, the Pensacola Fire Department will respond to fires and other emergencies in the County, just as if those instances were happening within the City limits.

I want to express, in the strongest possible terms, my vehement opposition to the Automatic Aid Agreement. Under the agreement, County residents will receive the services of the first-class Pensacola Fire Department -- the services that City residents pay for with their City taxes -- free of charge. Beyond being offensive to City taxpayers, the Automatic Aid Agreement will cripple any future expansion efforts. If County residents adjacent to City limits already receive the benefits of City services without the extra taxes -- what reason would they have to want to be annexed?

Furthermore, this increases workload on the PFD. Several members of the PFD have told me that the department is already having to take trucks off duty due to budget cuts.

The bottom line is that the Automatic Aid Agreement has no benefit for the City. Our firefighters don't want it. I am certain if made aware of it our City residents will not want it. If County residents want the benefit of a first-class fire department, they are welcome to request annexation and pay the same City taxes that City residents do. I urge each of you to strongly consider discontinuing the Automatic Aid Agreement.
Derek Cosson

From the WSJ

2009-02-28T09:50:00.002-05:00

Quote of the Day

"Asian economies are going to be really slammed this year. But it's an unfair world. The U.S. won't be as badly affected as most countries . . . because the U.S. retains the safe-haven status. Here is the world's biggest economy, which gave us subprime mortgages, rampant securitization, the collateralized debt obligation, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch. And yet, because it retains safe-haven status, in a global crisis, investors want to increase their exposure to the U.S. Hence, the dollar rally. Hence 10-year Treasuries down below 3% yields. It's almost paradoxical that an American crisis reinforces the status of the United States as a safe haven" -- Harvard historian Niall Ferguson, in a Q and A with economics reporter Heather Scoffield of Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper.

Blog Stats

2009-02-25T13:32:00.004-05:00

The blog statistics have leveled off about where I expected: 1090 readers. This does not account for those who read it at work, on a mobile device, and home. With quite a bit of work and some fees, I could get a lower and better number, but I suspect it would not be too much different. I'm one that uses all three. That would lower my count by two. But at some work centers, there may be more than one person using a single computer (IP address), so the number would go back up if I were able to account for those.

One of my longtime readers just bailed, said "take me off your list!" He said the same thing apparently to Kevin Doyle, Reggie Dogan, and has plans as well for Dick Schneider, the latter three from the PNJ.

My delight comes as much from the readership as it does from the fact that three others on the Pensacola City Council have blogs while another has a semi-static "website".

Jazz Meets the Wounded Warriors

2009-02-25T10:56:00.004-05:00

Click to enlarge. Cool picture of "This is not your dad's 'military force'!"

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher J. Lewis
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 11:41 AM
To: John Jerralds; Larry B. Johnson; P.C. Wu; Ronald Townsend; Sam Hall; Diane Mack; Maren Deweese; Megan Pratt; Jewel Cannada-Wynn; Mike Wiggins
Subject: FW: Jazz Meets the Wounded Warriiors

Mayor and Council. Although this event will coincide with Thursday’s Council meeting I would appreciate if you could get the word out to your constituents. Thank you. S/F, CJ

From: KITT LOUGH
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 10:10 AM
To: kitt lough
Subject: Jazz Meets the Wounded Warriior

BULLETIN!!!

On Thursday Feb. 26th, 6:30 - 9pm at Will Call on Palafox, my trio will be appearing at a fundraiser for a very worthy cause. Please visit www.escarosaindependenceweekend.com for all the details, but here is the gist:

The Independence Fund was established to help US soldiers severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan regain their independence and dignity. These are people who've lost legs and arms or had traumatic brain injury and need things like iBot wheelchairs, special hand crank bikes, specially equipped vehicles, prosthetics, and other devices to help them live more independent lives.

The fundraiser next week will help bring these Wounded Warriors to Pensacola for a weekend of bike racing, a motorcycle rally, a concert by wounded veteran and rising singing star Stephen Cochran (and possibly yours truly singing rock 'n' roll with Tim Spencer!) and panel appearances by best-selling authors and wounded vets themselves.

So for a suggested $100 tax-deductible donation, you can come hear one of your favorite jazz trios in a new setting, enjoy delicious hors d' oeuvres and alcohol to your heart's content, and support a very worthy cause.

We might not all agree with the politics that got these guys to Iraq and Afghanistan in the first place, but they served their country with honor and paid a heavy price, and now we are in a position to not only honor that service but provide very real support in keeping them active and involved in society and in life. Can't you just imagine the kind of physical and emotional hardships these people must endure?

So let me see as many of your faces as possible. Visit the website above, click on and print the invitation and show up next Thursday with your donation.

Thank you and bless you!

kitt

Ad Valorem Taxes by City District

2009-02-23T14:21:00.006-05:00

The following are the Ad Valorem Taxes to be paid by city residents and businesses to Escambia County for FY2009:

City Council District County Taxes

1 $1,516,681

2 4,439,592

3 2,594,062

4 3,019,883

5 1,367,535

6 4,121,845

7 2,012,425

Total $19,072,023

Why is this important? Almost none of it is spent inside the City of Pensacola. Moreover, when the City enters into interlocal agreements with the County, the County wants us to pay twice...once as city residents and once as county residents.

Lunch at the National Naval Aviation Museum

2009-02-21T09:30:00.001-05:00

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hall

Re: Response to Councilwoman Mack’s E-Mail of February 15, 2009

2009-02-19T18:23:00.002-05:00

To: City Councilwoman Diane Mack

Cc: Mayor Wiggins and members of City Council

CMPA Board of Trustees

Mr. Al Coby, City Manager

Mr. Thaddeus Cohen, Community Development Director

Mr. Edward Spears, CMPA Loaned Executive

Mr. Carl Wernicke, Pensacola News Journal

Mr. Jamie Paige, Pensacola News Journal

Mr. Rick Outzen, In Weekly

Mr. Derek Cosson, Progressive Pensacola.com

From: Lacey A. Collier, Chairman, CMPA

Date: February 19, 2009

Re: Response to Councilwoman Mack’s E-Mail of February 15, 2009

Dear Diane:

Please let me apologize for the delay in responding to your e-mail of last Sunday, but I just learned of it Tuesday afternoon from a news reporter. Monday, as you probably know, was a federal holiday and I was in court Tuesday morning as had not checked my CMPA e-mail until your message was called to my attention.

I was somewhat dismayed that you found it necessary to rely upon news reports of our meeting, which are not always complete or accurate, in deciding that the progress of negotiations with MPDP are more tenuous than you had previously understood. As I have offered before, I stand ready to discuss with you at any time any and all matters pertaining to the Maritime Park.

Had we done so in this instance, you would have learned that I, and the entire CMPA Board, share your frustrations with the lengthy negotiations. You would have also learned that last Friday, the Board had set the date of 13 March at which time negotiations will end. Our advisor, Dr. Beitsch, has advised, as I informed the Board, that there was more agreement than disagreement on the key issues of the negotiations, and a proposed contract could reasonably be expected before then.

On the 13th, the Board would then either approve the contract or alternatively proceed to negotiate with Trinity or, most likely I suggest, recommend to the City Council that CMPA seek bids on the site preparation work and get that part of the project underway. In the mean time, CMPA could continue negotiations as deemed appropriate. Getting the site work started is important, for as you know this work must be done before any other construction can begin.

In anticipation of this possible alternative, CMPA had directed our Design Criteria team several months ago to prepare bid-ready documents for the site work and those documents will be in hand on the 13th. Should the Board determine this to be the necessary way to go and make such a recommendation to the City Council, implementation and timing would then be in Council’s hands.

I am pleased to advise that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved our permit and I signed the documents accepting it yesterday. This is a major step in the advancement of the project as we could not turn a shovel without the permit.

I hope you find this correspondence to be helpful in answering some of your concerns. The Maritime Park is a complex project presenting many frustrations along the way, but it is well worth our time and efforts as it is so important to the future of our City.

I look forward to working with you and the City Council to move this project on to completion as soon as possible.

Respectfully,

Lacey A. Collier

The James Madison Institute

2009-02-17T15:38:00.005-05:00

THE JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE

Invites you to join our host and
former board member
TOM SYLTE

And current board members
ALLAN BENSE, EARL DURDEN,
CHARLES HILTON and SUSAN STORY

For a luncheon featuring a lecture by

SENATOR DON GAETZ
Chairman, Select Committee on
Florida's Economy

"Florida's Fiscal Future"

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:00 p.m.

In the Courtroom at
The Pensacola Cultural Center
400 South Jefferson Street
Pensacola, FL

Kindly reply to Keri Gordon by
Friday, February 20
1-866-340-3131 or keri@jamesmadison.org

http://www.jamesmadison.org

The luncheon is no cost. I recommend you attend.

Mayor Mike

2009-02-16T16:55:00.002-05:00

A new City of Pensacola news item has been posted:

Pensacola Mayors New Initiatives

Mayor Mike Wiggins announces three new initiatives to involve Pensacolians in improving the citys governance, its beauty and its youth programs.

For the full posting, please click this link:http://www.cityofpensacola.com/live/news.asp?rid=10106

KARAOKE CONTEST

2009-02-16T11:27:00.002-05:00

Between your elected officials.

March 28, 6:30 p.m.
Manila Garden Restaurant (across from Lowe's on Fairfield)
$15.00 (includes dinner)

Contestants are:
Councilmember Sam Hall (for the comic relief...can't sing a lick)
Councilmember Diane Mack
School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas
Commissioner Wilson Robertson
Commissioner Gene Valentino
Sheriff David Morgan

Proceeds go to the Filipino-American Republican Club

For tickets, contact Dino Alhambra, 458-0719; or Virgil Domingo, 453-8520

Read about Juan Carlos I of Spain

2009-02-15T16:03:00.002-05:00

Follow this link: Juan Carlos I of Spain.

Plug for food

2009-02-14T21:51:00.003-05:00

If you like authentic Mexican food, please visit Cazadores @ 3005 East Cervantes. As a frequent visitor to non-resort Mexican cities, border towns, and living up-and-down the west coast of the United States, I think I know a thing or two about Mexican food. Cazadores offers great food with terrific service and reasonable prices.

Map: Cazadores

It's one block east of Jerry's Drive-in and immediately east of the New York Deli (across from Georgio's Pizza).

k-20

2009-02-14T18:04:00.003-05:00

This is an excerpt from the WSJ. There is more to the article, before and after this excerpt that can be accessed here.
........

....What comes through when Mr. Bush is asked about education is how radical his views are. He would toss out the traditional K-to-12 scheme in favor of a credit system, like colleges have.

"It's not based on seat time," he says. "It's whether you accomplished the task. Now we're like GM in its heyday of mass production. We don't have a flourishing education system that's customized. There's a whole world out there that didn't exist 10 years ago, which is online learning. We have the ability today to customize learning so we don't cast young people aside."

This is where Sweden comes in. "The idea that somehow Sweden would be the land of innovation, where private involvement in what was considered a government activity, is quite shocking to us Americans," Mr. Bush says. "But they're way ahead of us. They have a totally voucherized system. The kids come from Baghdad, Somalia -- this is in the tougher part of Stockholm -- and they're learning three languages by the time they finish. . . . there's no reason we can't have that except we're stuck in the old way."

So are Republicans, Mr. Bush believes. But with a few adjustments, the GOP can become a modern reform party. "I don't think there's anything that holds us back," he says. "I think we're actually well positioned to do exactly that." Mr. Bush would stand the party on its head by de-emphasizing Washington and mounting "a real effort to play offense outside of Washington in advancing a reform agenda....

.......{more here}

Popular blogs

2009-02-14T14:39:00.006-05:00

My blog list got to be so crowded that I've altered it to show ONLY the five most recently updated blogs from freshest to least fresh.

Council Workshop: City's Procurement/Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program - Final Report

2009-02-13T23:00:00.003-05:00

-----Original Message-----
From: Robyn Tice
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 5:29 PM
To: City Council; Media Contacts
Cc: George Maiberger
Subject: AGENDA - Pensacola City Council WORKSHOP SESSION - 2/17/09

From: City Clerk's office

Phone #: 435-1606

RE: AGENDA - Pensacola City Council WORKSHOP SESSION - 2/17/09

NOW AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW:

Agenda for the Pensacola City Council Workshop Session for Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 4:00 P.M., Hagler Mason Conference Room, 2nd Floor of City Hall, 222 West Main Street. The purpose of the workshop is to review the City's Procurement/Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program - Final Report, Submitted by MGT of America, Inc. (City's consultant). http://www.cityofpensacola.com/live/service.asp?stype=agenda&type=2709

Weekly Economic Development Update

2009-02-13T22:53:00.002-05:00

From: Charles Wood
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 4:26 PM
To: Charles Wood
Subject: Weekly Economic Development Update

This email is the result of a renewed effort to push information out about our economic development efforts here at the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. The information included is not considered confidential and can be forwarded to other individuals that may be interested in our efforts.

* Technology sector still strong –Several existing tech companies are strong performers and are in expansion modes. Additionally, we are working with a new company on a Pensacola location that will house 10 to 20 information technology employees.

* New incubator tenant – We are currently in final lease negotiations with The Analyst Group to move into the Gulf Coast Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE, our technology incubator). The company provides staffing solutions and software for the call center industry. Their first day in the incubator should be March 1st. Look for another tenant announcement in the next 30 days!

* Blink MD finds partner – Blink MD (the first tenant in the Chamber’s Technology Incubator) has partnered with the National Center for Value-Based Health Management, an organization established by GlaxoSmithKline as a central repository for employers interested in learning how to improve employee health and reduce healthcare costs. The Center for Value-Based Health Management provides employers with tools and resources to strategically plan, design, implement, and evaluate their investment in employee health.

Sincerely,

Charles

Palafox converting to 2-way traffic this Tuesday, weather permitting

2009-02-13T22:46:00.002-05:00

Weather permitting, Palafox Street between Government and Garden Street will be converted from one-way traffic to two-way traffic on Tuesday, 17 Feb 09 at 7:00 am. The traffic signal at Palafox and Garden will allow for a right turn only, northbound on Palafox at Garden. All intersections along Palafox between Garden and Government will be prominently marked indicating this change.

This is a significant change to existing traffic patterns. Motorists are advised to use caution in navigating this area.

The intersection of 17th Ave and Lakeview Ave was converted to an all-way stop on the afternoon of 11 Feb 09. This intersection is prominently marked indicating this change. Motorist on Lakeview should use caution in navigating this intersection while the new traffic pattern is it's initial phase.

Home Builders luncheon

2009-02-13T16:01:00.003-05:00

Councilmembers Larry Johnson, PC Wu, and I attended a luncheon hosted by the local Home Builders Association (HBA). Stuart Eisenberg, an economist with the national HBA, is a very personable, entertaining, and gifted speaker. What's more, he sounds like one of my favorite economists, Thomas Sowell. He took that as very high praise.

In everything, Sowell and Eisenberg preach the law of unintended consequences. For example, terrific, emotionally driven political votes of the day may have disasterous economic effects that were never anticipated because the supporters of a particular notion never thought beyond stage one.

For example, rent controls in San Francisco stopped the building of multi-family apartments because there was no incentive to build them. Eventually, "luxury" apartments were built, which were not under rent control. Result? The more affluent moved in while the less advantaged saw their properties turn into slums.

Eventually the ones in rent controlled apartments left the city for the burbs to obtain affordable housing. That resulted in having to buy an automobile, pay for car insurance, gasoline, and repairs, and having to spend in some cases more than two hours per day commuting to an from work.

Suburban sprawl resulted in severe environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure and more. Hence, San Mateo County, to the south of San Francisco enacted some of the most restrictive land use policies in the nation. The more restrictive land uses are, the more property costs. The former rent controlled occupants had to flee the suburbs for smaller towns further out. Note: When I lived in the immediate urban area of San Francisco/Oakland, I had co-workers who commuted from the far side of Folsom....the other side of Sacramento, about 125 miles each way to work, with tolls, and heavy traffic most of the way.

Many of those unintended consequences began with rent control policies of San Francisco forty years before. Another note: My mother-in-law was born, raised and married in San Francisco. She has a childhood friend who has lived in a rent-controlled apartment that she got in her mid-twenties as a college student and clerical worker. She's still there today paying only a very small portion of her income. It went into extreme disrepair for several years, was abandoned by the owner because his taxes cost more than the rent he could charge. Eventually, the apartment went into the city's hands. So now, property owners in San Francisco (taxpayers) are subsidizing the upkeep on "Emma's" apartment. Unintended consequence #34.

I recommend to all to pick up a copy of Dr. Sowell's book, Applied Economics: Thinking Beyond Stage One. Also of note is Sowell's book The Quest for Cosmic Justice. It is sort of the same thing from a different angle.

Commercial real estate breakfast

2009-02-13T11:41:00.002-05:00

Coldwell Banker, United was the major sponsor of a breakfast yesterday regarding commercial real estate....where it's been, its present state, and where it's likely headed. I had the good fortune of being invited to attend the breakfast by one of the co-sponsors, Moulton Properties, Inc.. The Independent News also sponsored the event.

National, regional, and local speakers each spoke to his and her areas of responsibility. Here's the take away:

Sites advertising as commercial need to be "shovel-ready". According to one speaker, shovel ready indicates a site ready to start building within 15 days. Many mid-western states have permitting processes that take no more than 15 days. If a development is fast-tracked, it can be done sometimes within five days. The average time in Florida is six months.
Developments that are pre-built and want to be competitive with attracting overseas business need to have their building at least LEEDS certification (Silver), with LEEDS (Gold) being preferred. The new international airport in Panama City (Bay County) is the nation's first certified LEEDS airport.
Communities that do not have site-ready properties, strong community aesthetics, sufficient infrastructure, good schools, and pro-active, business-friendly governments will not be able to afford enough incentives to make their communities attractive to locate in. Bay County recognizes that one of its keys to success is a good North-South highway. That's why they have plans to construct a multi-lane, limited-access highway from Panama City to Montgomery, AL.

Bingo to be regulated in Pensacola

2009-02-13T09:24:00.004-05:00

Owing that Pensacola has no rules against bingo, it is allowed.

I think that's too bad. It seems like an awfully tacky business.

But there's good news. The City staff was instructed last night to look at setting some standards.

Here are some things I hope are addressed: hours of operation, limiting square footage, signage, on-site security, operational fees/tax, number of allowable bingo licenses, etc.

Mayor's award

2009-02-13T09:20:00.003-05:00

Mayor Wiggins has a very long relationship with Clean & Green and he's partnered with them to select a property each month, residential or business, that has demonstrated exceptional effort to beautify Pensacola. Clean & Green will track nominations and the mayor will make the selection.

A very attractive sign has been created that the property owner will be able to display.

"Coffee with the Mayor"

2009-02-13T09:16:00.003-05:00

Mayor Mike Wiggins will be having monthly "Coffee with the Mayor" outings. He will rotate locations, stay for 2-3 hours and make himself available to the public for attaboys, complaints, and inquiries.

Bonus: He's buying the coffee.

Lunch with the King and Queen

2009-02-13T08:59:00.003-05:00

Members of the City Council have been provided tickets for lunch with King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sophia on February 19. Each ticket has the face value of $250.

Those who accept the tickets will have to report it as a gift.

Staff/council communication

2009-02-10T19:56:00.004-05:00

Best if read from the bottom up.

-----Original Message-----
From: Al Coby
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 6:07 PM
To: Sam Hall
Subject: RE: Bryan Park

I agree with your last.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Hall
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 4:10 PM
To: Al Coby
Subject: RE: Bryan Park

That too is fine. Like I said, if the neighborhood doesn’t want it, then it’s not even tentative. If they do want it, then it becomes tentative…..at least for this project at Bryan Park.

Sam Hall

Pensacola City Council

-----Original Message-----
From: Al Coby
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 4:05 PM
To: Sam Hall
Subject: RE: Bryan Park

No Sir, in this instance “tentative” means that design, construction, planting and maintenance of a “natural park” is not necessarily more expensive but it is more involved and requires different considerations than what we are accustomed to with our traditional parks. It is a new concept for us and we want to assure that we do it properly.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Hall
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 3:58 PM
To: Al Coby
Subject: RE: Bryan Park

Al: That’s fine.

With that said, I will be going to the BFNA Thursday. The president is very excited about the idea and he is expecting me to be there. I will share the “tentative” point staff is taking, but the president, immediate past president and founding president are expecting something, and the present president appears excited.

I understand staff not coming but I am disappointed Megan will not be there. The neighborhood gets together once a month and that time is this Thursday.

My point of view is that if the BFNA says “NO” then it’s not tentative at all, it’s a no. If they are interested exploring, then it moves to the tentative stage. Staff coming or not is your call. I’ll be there.

Al, “tentative” to me means staff doesn’t like the idea.

Sam Hall

Pensacola City Council

-----Original Message-----
From: Al Coby
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 11:50 AM
To: Sam Hall
Cc: Thaddeus Cohen; David Flaherty; Rusty Wells
Subject: RE: Bryan Park

I left you a voice mail as a result of my conversation with Ms. Pratt. The concept is too tentative to schedule a meeting this week. Ms. Pratt and David Flaherty are meeting on Thursday to further discuss the concept, determine the addition information needed and develop a tentative timeline which in turn will prepare them for a public meeting presenting the idea. If you would have the Association President contact Ms. Pratt she can coordinate a meeting with all interested parties through David perhaps as early as next week.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Hall
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 10:46 AM
To: Al Coby
Cc: Thaddeus Cohen; David Flaherty; Rusty Wells
Subject: FW: Bryan Park

Before you answer with the obvious, yes, I realize it’s a Council night I am asking for…..but I could introduce Megan, then leave. She could pitch her idea then depart for our meeting.

I would also invite the Parker Circle neighborhood.

Sam Hall

Pensacola City Council

-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Hall
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 10:37 AM
To: Al Coby
Cc: Thaddeus Cohen; David Flaherty; Rusty Wells
Subject: Bryan Park

Al: I’ve talked to some Broadview Farms’ residents and there is enough interest in Ms. Pratt’s concept for us to present to the neighborhood this Thursday evening at 6:30.

I have yet to reach the president but I am hopeful we can get on the agenda.

Can someone from City staff be available that night? Can we publish the meeting now so that Ms. Pratt and I can both attend?

Sam Hall

Pensacola City Council

From the WSJ: Political Diary

2009-02-10T18:48:00.001-05:00

Quote of the Day I

"President Barack Obama's first prime-time press conference was most remarkable for how he borrowed a page from his predecessor, refusing to accept follow-up questions. . . . Until Bush, presidents since Calvin Coolidge had allowed reporters to ask another question based upon the answer to the first question. Often that first answer is a dodge, an attempt to stick to a talking point or a scripted answer. Bush was obsessed with avoiding follow-up questions, knowing that it is an effective tool for getting him off script. In last night's press conference, Obama cut off any attempt by reporters to follow up his answers to their questions. If he intends to maintain this Bush policy, reporters must work together and agree to ask the obvious follow-up to the previous question as they take their turns. Otherwise, these press conferences are nothing but one-sided speeches" -- Congressional Quarterly's Carl Crawford.

Quote of the Day II

"The Republican purpose is clearly to destroy the Obama Presidency, to frustrate economic recovery and then blame the Democrats -- and so recapture the Congress and the White House on the backs of a broken middle class. This appears to be an almost universal Republican resolve. John McCain, feted by Obama at a pre-Inaugural dinner, has repaid the gesture with sour grapes. Someone who knows him well reports that he's consumed with bitterness toward an 'unfair' press, as well as toward his successful rival. He can forgive his North Vietnamese captors, but apparently not North American voters. . . . In the closing weeks of the presidential contest, the GOP harped on the prediction that President Obama would be tested in his first weeks in office. Who knew the test would come not from the Taliban in Afghanistan, but from the Taliban in Washington? President Obama is about to pass that test. The experience will arm him for his next engagement with the Taliban Republicans" -- Democratic strategist Robert Shrum, writing at TheWeek.com.

On school vouchers in Florida: "Do they work?"

2009-02-07T18:50:00.004-05:00

The impact of Florida’s “A+” accountability program, which until 2006 included a voucher program for chronically failing schools, on public school performance has been extensively studied. The results have consistently shown a positive effect on academic outcomes in Florida public schools. However, no empirical research has been done on the impact of the program after 2002-03, the fi rst year in which a substantial number of students were eligible for vouchers. This narrow focus has left the public with an incomplete picture of the true role of vouchers in producing the public school improvements associated with the A+ program.

This empirical study is the first to analyze the effects of vouchers in the A+ program after 2002-03. It includes a separate analysis for each year from 2001-02 to 2006-07. Thus, it is the first study to analyze how the program’s effects were changed by the court-ordered removal of vouchers in January 2006. Moreover, it uses superior-quality data that track the progress of individual students over time, which have not been available to the general public until recently.

The study finds that vouchers were a key element driving improvements in public schools from the A+ program. At every step, the academic performance of failing public schools in Florida responded to changes in the status of vouchers in the A+ program. While Florida is still experiencing improvements in student performance, the removal of vouchers from the program reduced the magnitude of these improvements.

Key findings include: more here

Update from the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce:

2009-02-07T18:42:00.001-05:00

Targeted marketing with Florida Trend – We put the finishing touches on a cover wrap for Florida Trend magazine that will be sent to 300 targeted businesses around the country highlighting the recent awards by Pensacola-Based Brand Asset Digital (see attachment). They have been ranked as a top start-up of the year by Music Ally and were awarded the “product of the year” by the Distributed Computing Industry Association for their P2P (that’s peer to peer) search, giving advertisers the ability to target and connect their branded content directly to consumers via P2P search.

Blog usage data

2009-02-07T11:06:00.006-05:00

I installed a new statistical counter on my blog three weeks ago today and here are some data you may be interested in. There have been 1022 first-time visitors (based on a cookie). The average daily readership is a little over a 100 (based on a cookie) with about 160 page views (visits & return visits within the same calendar day). Most of my exit links go to Rick's Blog followed by Progressive Pensacola, which is operated by Derek Cosson, a Pensacola Rising Star.

There are about 50 hardcore readers. They visit the blog daily, including weekends, even when I haven't posted anything new for more than a week.

Something else about the blog that I changed a few months ago is my BlogRoll, the blogs I read every day. Before, it was a static view. Now, it is a dynamic blogroll that has snippets from that blog's most recent post, presented with newest blog entries first.

I think one reason Rick and Derek count so highly in my exit links is besides having quality blogs, they update their blogs more often, which ranks their entries closest to the top and they continually offer new material for mining.

Bottom line, I am not too worried that my readership is not higher than what it is, although it could be much better, but the people who are reading it are among the movers and shakers in the community. Readership is from the very young to nearly ancient, but all politically active.

Also read Councilwomen Maren DeWeese's and Megan Pratt's blogs.

C. C. Elebash responds:

2009-02-06T19:58:00.004-05:00

Sam: Reference your comment on Council Member DeWeese’ CMP financing discusiion. The following is a response for your blog. Best regards. -- C. C. Elebash

Council Member DeWeese's analysis is a worthwhile contribution to the park financing discussion. However, Ms. DeWeese may elect to abstain from any vote on this issue because of what could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

Ms. DeWeese' husband, Jeff DeWeese, was the executive director of the park promoters campaign during the 2006 referendum. He is a partner in the O'Sullivan Creel accounting and financial consulting firm. I believe this firm is a consultant to both the owners of the baseball team and the Community Maritime Park Trustees.

Although I am confident Ms. DeWeese will be fair participant in the discussions, this is may be a Council issue on which she should not vote.

CC: I think it will be left to the law and her conscience. With that said, I share your confidence that she will be a fair participant. What's more, she raises the intelligent quotient of the Council quite a bit.

Councilwoman Maren DeWeese on CMP financing

2009-02-06T08:43:00.001-05:00

Good read by Ms. DeWeese: Analysis of Barker Projections.

Pensacola is on the map

2009-02-03T10:31:00.003-05:00

The U.S. Department of State has a fantastic public diplomacy program whereby foreign opinion-makers and potential opinion-makers travel around the country to meet professional colleagues and ordinary citizens. It’s called the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). IVLP participants visit small towns, large cities, and rural communities; but they only visit areas where a local citizen diplomacy council can receive them. Unfortunately, as recently as October 2008, Northwest Florida west of Tallahassee was a no-go zone.

But that’s different now.

On November 7, 2008, the National Council for International Visitors granted Provisional Membership to the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council. With this status, Northwest Florida was welcomed to the national IVLP itinerary, making the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council the official host of U.S. Department of State IVLP delegations to the region and giving Northwest Florida the recognition it deserves.

Our first delegates arrive in February 2009. The fun has just begun!

Here they are:

Feb 18 - Feb 22 Six delegates
Education: Primary and Secondary School Issues
Countries represented: Barbados, Cameroon, Philippines, Sudan, Tajikistan, Vietnam

Feb 25 Mar 1 Ten delegates
Civic Education: Scouting and Other Youth Programs
Country represented: Saudi Arabia

Please contact us if you are interested in meeting these visitors, either professionally or socially.

Street address: 221 Palafox Place, Suite 9104 Pensacola, Florida 32502

Mailing address: P.O. Box 1591 Pensacola, Florida 32591-1591

Tel: 850.595.1631