When it came time for the Community Redevelopment Agency report during the May 9 Pensacola City Council meeting, Councilman Brian Spencer—who also serves as the CRA chairman—was out of the room. He’d left a moment earlier, followed shortly by City Administrator Bill Reynolds.
When the councilman returned—again, followed shortly by Reynolds—his fellow members were interested in when he would be scheduling a CRA meeting. Spencer said he’d provided outgoing CRA Director Ryan Winterburg-Lipp with a list of three potential dates and instructions to forward the options to the council members; he noted that Reynolds was also included in the loop.
“I have no results from that,†Spencer said, offering to “dig†for the emailed request. “I put that in their hands.â€
Councilman Charles Bare said he never received the email offering up possible dates for a CRA meeting.
“Last thing I had from Ryan was back in April,†Bare said. “So, please, just follow up with her.â€
“You bet I will,†Spencer replied.
Reynolds offered up nothing at the council meeting, but would send out an email a week later to “close the loop.â€
“In regards to the CRA, Councilman Spencer did request staff to look at a block of 3 dates for an upcoming CRA meeting,†Reynolds wrote. “I had requested a hold be put on that until we could figure out the upcoming staffing for the CRA since our very able CRA Director, Ryan Winterburg-Lipp was soon to be leaving our employ.â€
The administrator went on to note the CRA’s “significant financial issues†and informed council members—who also sit as the CRA board—that he was working with city staff to “come up with a transition that in effect would not refill Ms. Winterburg-Lipp’s position, but have the functions of the CRA transferred to each individual department that would have responsibility for oversight of the function as if it was a pure City function.â€
“I believe we have the staffing details worked out at this point,†Reynolds concluded, “and look forward to discussing with the CRA.â€
