At the midpoint of his term, Mayor D.C. Reeves announced his “24 for ’24” priority list in January 2024. The list provided the Reeves administration “a strategic focus on front-facing projects impacting city residents.” (His words, not mine)
- In the press release, Mayor Reeves said, “Our citizens deserve to know our list of priorities and should hold us accountable to those.”
The City of Pensacola planned to either complete or make significant progress on the 24-item priority list throughout 2024. Where does the city stand on the list 20 months after then?
1. American Magic (Port of Pensacola, Engineering, Economic Development)
Certificate of Occupancy expected in November. Ribbon-cutting in January 2026.
2. Attainable Housing Initiatives (Community Redevelopment Agency, Economic Development)
2305 W. Cervantes St (Pensacola Motor Lodge) The agreement with a developer for low-income housing fell through due to not receiving tax credits. In July, Mayor Reeve announced the city’s plan to sell the Pensacola Motor Lodge. Last week, he reiterated that the property will be used for low-income housing.
925 E. Jackson St. – former Malcolm Yonge Gym: Community Land Trust has been selected to move forward with a target development of 80-120% AMI housing.
Infill Lot Project: Community Land Trust and the Home Builders Association of West Florida are coordinating the redevelopment of three city-owned lots to build/rehab homes at an affordable level (1491 North E St., 2300 W. Jackson St., 113 North Spring St.). HBA celebrated the project’s success on Aug. 12.
3. Baptist Hospital (Economic Development, Engineering, Housing, Community Redevelopment Agency)
Waiting for a resolution on how much Escambia County will contribute to the project. Once again, the item wasn’t placed on the Board of County Commissioners’ agenda. The donation agreement with Baptist has been added to the council agenda for Thursday, Sept. 11.
4. Bayfront/SUN Trail mixed-use path (Public Works)
Construction of a new multi-use bike and walking path along Bayfront Parkway is set to begin in 2026. The Florida Department of Transportation has budgeted $7.36 million for Phase 1 – Bayfront Parkway from Tarragona Street to 14th Avenue – for FY 2017. FDOT has already spent $1.2 million on the design and engineering. Phase 2 takes the trail from Tarragona Street to Pace Blvd.
5. Begin $5,000,000 Brownsville Commercial Revitalization Project (Community Redevelopment Agency)
Still a work in progress
6. Begin Fricker Center $5.5 million CDBG Renovation Project (Parks and Recreation/ Public Works)
Community input process has been chaotic, but the situation seems to have calmed down.
7. Begin Hashtag Project (Engineering, Public Works, Community Redevelopment Agency)
The construction plans were completed December 2021. This past July, the Pensacola City Council, as the Community Redevelopment Agency, rejected Mayor Reeve’s proposal to shift $4 million from the 2019 Urban Core bond proceeds, intended for the Hashtag Project, to the New Palafox project.
8. Code Enforcement Policy & Procedure Overhaul (Code Enforcement/Pensacola Police Department)
Software upgraded. Workflow has been digitalized.
9. Customer Service Center at City Hall (Building Inspections, Parking Management, Engineering, Pensacola Energy, Sanitation Services and Fleet Management)
The original intent was to create a center in the main lobby of City Hall. That hasn’t happened. A single webpage has been created for the payment of all city bills.
10. Hagler Mason/Council Chambers Refresh (Public Works)
Completed.
11. Help finalize A&P Mechanics School for Pensacola State College at Pensacola International Airport (Airport, Economic Development)
Construction underway.
12. Hollice T. Williams Greenway (Public Works, Engineering, Community Redevelopment Agency)
Community outreach completed. Property acquisition conversations are ongoing.
13. Improved Internal Communications (Mayor/All Departments)
Difficult to assess from outside city hall.
14. Land Development Code Assessment/Next Steps for LDC (Planning and Zoning/Development Services)
The City of Pensacola is currently in the second phase of a multi-year effort to update its LDC, following an initial assessment and recommendations report. The city council will hold a hearing on changes to the Subdivisions part of the code on Sept. 11.
15. Leadership Training/Development/Evaluation (Human Resources, All Departments)
There have been quarterly LDIs held for all leaders since the beginning of Mayor Reeves’ term. The city has partnered with Pensacola State College to create the Emerging Leaders program.
16. Low Barrier Shelter (Mayor/Housing)
On Thursday, the Pensacola City Council will vote on the leases for Pallet PBC modular shelters with Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola, Inc. (REAP) and Offentsive Corp, as a result of the Non-Profit Partnership for Homeless Sheltering Services RFP administered in conjunction with the Homelessness Reduction Task Force.
17. License To Use – Parking, Sidewalk, Canopy, Business Tax Receipt Overhaul (Development Services)
LTU’s have been updated to become more uniform across the city’s urban core.
18. Mental Health Outreach Officer Implementation (PPD)
The position is staffed and funded.
19. Parking Reform (Parking Management)
Implementation is targeted by Aug. 1, 2024.
20. Parks and Recreation Organizational Assessment + Deferred Maintenance Evaluation (Parks and Recreation)
Assessment completed. Maintenance and repairs in the 2025-26 Budget.
21. Pensacola International Airport Terminal (Airport)
Ready to go to market for bonds.
22. Recycling Solution (Sanitation Services and Fleet Management)
Curbside recycling restarted in July.
23. Solution for Bay Bluffs Park (Parks and Recreation/Public Works)
The Conservation Florida deal has been finalized and is on the council agenda for Sept. 11.
24. Strategic Plan Execution (All Departments, Pensacola City Council)
“Strive to Thrive: Pensacola 2035” was unveiled in November 2024. The Mayor recently created a department to oversee its implementation.
