From Greater Pensacola Chamber candidate surveys:
DISTRICT 4
Peter P Gaddy III
Q7 Do you believe the city allocates sufficient resources for infrastructure projects? How would you prioritize these projects and fund them?
Yes, but we must stay of top of maintenance to prevent costly replacements.
1) Stormwater management- Stormwater utility fee/Restore Act
2) Downtown Parking Garage(s) construction- municipal bond issuance/LOGT/LOST
3) Road Paving- general fund
4) Pensacola Energy Maintenance- Utility Enterprise Fund
5) Port, Hire outside sales to promote- Port Enterprise Fund
6) Airport Maintenance- Airport Enterprise fund
Q8 What do you consider to be the number one infrastructure concern for the City of Pensacola going forward, and how do you propose to address that concern?
Stormwater management is the number one infrastructure concern that Pensacola faces. Insufficient stormwater management practices over the last 100 years have polluted our waterways. Most of the outfall structures on Texar have been replaced with devices to collect solids and prevent them from reaching the Bayou, but that will just stop future pollution. We must focus on repairing the damage already caused. This will be done by completing the stormwater outfall replacements, the Carpenter’s Creek Restoration and the dredging of Bayou Texar and Chico to remove contaminated soils. We must also address stormwater in flood prone areas. This all can become a reality if the Restore Act dollars are spent wisely.
Q9 What would you change about the relationship between the Mayor’s Office and City Council (i.e. should the Mayor attend all city council meetings, etc.)?
Since the strong mayor system was implemented eight years ago, we effectively have executive and legislative braches of city government. The mayor cannot vote in council meetings, and I think that it is acceptable for the mayor to send staff on his behalf. However if the Mayor attended council meetings there could potentially be some good strategy/problem solving dialogue. I would like to have a close relationship with the next mayor and work to grow our community and create job opportunities.
Jared Moore
Q7 Do you believe the city allocates sufficient resources for infrastructure projects? How would you prioritize these projects and fund them?
The tendency is to always, emphatically answer questions like this with a resounding “no!” The better solution is to ensure we have a sustainable metric when prioritizing which infrastructure projects to fund. We should consider the measurable value added by specific infrastructure prior to funding. The form is largely determined by the function. And the need determines the priority.
Q8 What do you consider to be the number one infrastructure concern for the City of Pensacola going forward, and how do you propose to address that concern?
Having received a lot of recent attention, the implementation of the WFRPC’s plans for both extremes of Cervantes is a big piece of the infrastructure challenges facing Pensacola.
Q9 What would you change about the relationship between the Mayor’s Office and City Council (i.e. should the Mayor attend all city council meetings, etc.)?
Obviously, the City of Pensacola benefits when the Mayor and the Council work collaboratively.
Chris Phillips
Q7 Do you believe the city allocates sufficient resources for infrastructure projects? How would you prioritize these projects and fund them?
I believe so, but I think it’s important at this time to get our budget under control and cut some of the wasteful spending now. Although whether it be city, country, or private sector we’re going to need a new arena sooner than later.
Q8 What do you consider to be the number one infrastructure concern for the City of Pensacola going forward, and how do you propose to address that concern?
The Port of Pensacola is extremely important, but I do not support giving it up for multi purpose use or selling it at this point. We need to go find a tenant, it’s a deep water port with value.
Q9 What would you change about the relationship between the Mayor’s Office and City Council (i.e. should the Mayor attend all city council meetings, etc.)?
The Mayor and City Council must come together, the Mayor should be at every single City Council meeting. We need more working together across the board, that’s one of my biggest reasons for running.
DISTRICT 6
Butch Hansen
Q7 Do you believe the city allocates sufficient resources for infrastructure projects? How would you prioritize these projects and fund them?
I do not believe the city is allocating sufficient resources for infrastructure maintenance projects. I prioritize infrastructure projects in the order of public safety (storm water, sidewalks, street lighting, street repairs, cross walks, railings, etc.) Although much has been done to improve our storm water management systems and their environmental impact, there continue to be parts of the City that require additional improvement and monitoring due to new development impacts. Our sidewalk, street lighting, street repair programs are need of improvement as the number of deficiencies observed over time continues to increase. Once the magnitude of the recurring repairs is assessed in these areas, the source of the funding can be determined. Storm water projects are funded via storm water utility fees, and most recurring infrastructure maintenance is funded via the general fund. General Fund revenues come from ad valorem taxes, business and service taxes and other usage fees. The right balance of these sources will have to be analyzed to for any changes to these rates or reprioritization of their allocation.
The second area of infrastructure projects is for capital improvements, which are by and large funded through the local option sales tax revenues. These infrastructure projects include upgrades and renovations to our Parks, athletic and other facilities. The level of investment for this type infrastructure (i.e. new, improved) appears adequate and may be outpacing our ability to maintain and sustain through our maintenance funding, which comes from the sources mentioned above. The city council needs to ensure the life-cycle costs of all infrastructure are taken into account, with the impacts on the long range costs highlighted, prior to agreeing to adding new infrastructure.
Q8 What do you consider to be the number one infrastructure concern for the City of Pensacola going forward, and how do you propose to address that concern?
The largest infrastructure concern for the City is how to pay for and perform the routine and recurring maintenance on the infrastructure and facilities that it currently has. Every district has wish lists of repairs or enhancements that are needed, often times safety related, that are not done or slow to get done because of insufficient funding or other resources. These items span sidewalk repairs, street lighting, local flooding, park maintenance, landscaping maintenance, wharf maintenance, street sign maintenance, etc. Comprehensive project lists must be developed, prioritized, funding identified, and projects managed to completion. Recurring maintenance plans must be developed to ensure required funding is budgeted, and any new infrastructure acquired must be added to this plan.
Q9 What would you change about the relationship between the Mayor’s Office and City Council (i.e. should the Mayor attend all city council meetings, etc.)?
This is perhaps the basis of my campaign and desire to become a City Council member, to re-establish the voice of the people in city government. The mayor (executive), and the city council (governing body and representatives of the people) need to work together to effectively manage and improve the City. Each entity has its role but charting the future course of the city needs to be shared in by both to be effectively developed and then implemented. Yes, this discussion should happen in public, and at council meetings, as well as in preparation for public meetings within the requirements of Sunshine. The City Council should be doing more than merely approving individual proposals by the mayor with the bare minimum of information. With responsibility to approve the budget and all necessary appropriations of the taxpayer money, all pertinent information regarding the purpose of projects, their impact on the community, the financial impact on the city (short term and long term) should be readily provided, explained and defended as necessary before these
decisions are made. As a council member, I will insist on having needed information in a timely manner prior to making any decision about the peoples’ money and the impact on the desired future course of the City.
Ann Hill
Q7 Do you believe the city allocates sufficient resources for infrastructure projects? How would you prioritize these projects and fund them?
The city could always use more funds. I would especially support the West Cervantes Street Corridor Management Plan and the East Cervantes Street Corridor Management Plan From North 9th Avenue to East Gonzalez Street. The corridor plans can be paid for in part through the Fla.-Ala. TPO annual budget from the Florida Department of Transportation and from city and CRA funds. We also should be looking at our RESTORE proposals to assure we are meeting required criteria.
Q8 What do you consider to be the number one infrastructure concern for the City of Pensacola going forward, and how do you propose to address that concern?
With the new Pensacola Bay bridge comes the need for a smooth transition along Pensacola’s waterfront that allows good traffic flow and safe and easy public access. Can we successfully implement a road diet, or will traffic jams become commonplace? More public hearings and collaboration with the county and state are imperative because there are no easy answers.
Q9 What would you change about the relationship between the Mayor’s Office and City Council (i.e. should the Mayor attend all city council meetings, etc.)?
The balance between the mayor’s office and the city council needs to be made more equitable. We need a strong legislative council to balance a strong executive mayor. The mayor should attend all council meetings and hearings and participate in the discussions. The mayor should not be able to veto budget requests that involve the hiring of voter-mandated council staff. And it’s vital that City Council members have free access to public records and an open door to the mayor’s office.
Completed Questionnaires:
Ann Hill
Butch Hansen
Chris Phillips
Jared Moore
Peter Gaddy
