Closing the Loop on the CRA

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.”

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.”

“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.”

“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.”

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.”

“I believe we have the staffing details worked out at this point,” Reynolds concluded, “and look forward to discussing with the CRA.”