More notes: Charter Review

June 18 Charter Review Commission—Part 2

CRC Chairwoman Crystal Spencer told Mayor John Fogg she is concerned that when she and consultant William Haraway go before the city council on July 1, “There may be some attempt to cut short our charge.”

Fogg said they want the commission to finish as quickly as it can, but with due diligence.

The mayor also said he will recommend waiting on the process of hiring a city manager until the CRC has an end date for its work. “Then, we’re free to do a serious search.”

Regarding the council manager form of government, Fogg said he asked Charleston, S.C. Mayor Joseph Riley (who will speak to the CRC) if he could have accomplished what he has with our current form of government. Fogg said Riley’s immediate response was: “No. Couldn’t.”

CRC member Ed Ranelli asked Fogg what consequences prolonged CRC deliberations would have on hiring a new city manager.

The mayor said they will discuss it on July 1. But, Fogg added, “We can have an alternate plan that I think is very viable.” Assistant City Manager Al Colby, who is in the DROP program, “could be a very viable interim city manager,” Fogg said. “In my mind, it makes sense, considering his responsibility for the (city’s) core services.”

All told, Fogg spoke for about an hour and a half, the longest of the four speakers.

Councilwoman Jewel Cannada-Wynn addressed the CRC with a prepared statement before she took questions.

First, Cannada-Wynn said she often asks city residents what they want in terms of a form of government. “I have not heard that they want to change it at all,” she said.

The councilwoman said people tell her, however, that Pensacola should have one voice—one person who is the leader. They also say the city manager has too much power and authority, and is not an elected official who is answerable to the people, according to Cannada-Wynn, who noted she does not agree with the power and authority part.

Having a city manager that is skilled is necessary, regardless of what comes from the CRC deliberations, Cannada-Wynn said.

The councilwoman said she would like some “tweaking” of the current mayoral position, including making the post full-time. Cannada-Wynn also wants staggered terms for council members, she said.

Cannada-Wynn doesn’t rule out term limits, she said. The councilwoman would also like for terms to be four years, partly to allow for time to learn how to navigate the city budget and learn how council members feel about issues, she said.

The councilwoman also said she would like a review of the referendum process, and she has concerns about reducing the number of council seats, “which may be read as reducing the African-American representation on the council.”

While not necessarily charter review related, Cannada-Wynn said she wants the SBE program to be improved. “The Chamber is working hard, but I feel we can do better.”

Pensacola is not stymied by its form of government, “only by our belief that things will not change and move forward,” Cannada-Wynn said.

CRC member DeeDee Ritchie questioned the councilwoman’s thoughts on the mayor, such as the position being full-time, considering she is not advocating strong mayor.

Cannada-Wynn said she “would like the mayor to occasionally have veto power, because sometimes we get stuck on issues and are not looking at the big picture.”

“I think your ‘tweaking’ is suggesting a different form of government,” Ritchie responded.

CRC member Floyd Armstrong asked Cannada-Wynn about evaluations for the city manager, and she said a review should be conducted when the contract is over, not annually.

CRC member Robert Holmes apologized to the councilwoman and others for his comments about the lack of city leadership. Instead, Holmes clarified, the city “has not always demonstrated a focused direction.”

Huh?

CRC Consultant William Haraway asked Cannada-Wynn her thoughts on the effectiveness of the committee process.

“I feel that it works, in a sense,” the councilwoman said. “I guess it just depends on the leader of that committee. But she thinks it’s fair and gives everybody responsibilities, she said.

Haraway also asked about the Civil Service Board, which Cannada-Wynn said she is not necessarily sold on keeping. But, “Do we have something in place that would address grievances?”

Haraway asked Cannada-Wynn, too, if she thinks the city manager should have Florida experience, and she thinks the person should at least have some, she said.

CRC member Samuel Horton asked if affording the mayor veto authority would give the person too much power.

Cannada-Wynn said the mayor could provide guidance and move things along.

The councilwoman added that she used to think government churned slowly until she realized public hearings must be held. “A mayor is not going to be able to circumvent public hearings,” Cannada-Wynn said.

The next speaker was C.C. Elebash, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot and UWF professor, among other notable accomplishments, who spoke somewhat briefly but succinctly.

Elebash outlined five points, including that the future of the entire area depends on what Pensacola does, and that (the problem) is the system, not the people. He also advocated a “strongER mayor system.”

“If we have leadership in Pensacola, it’s diluted,” said Elebash, who noted that the city has been losing population for many years.

Elebash also gave indications of “what has happened to us,” including the fact that 62 percent of Escambia County Schools students are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

The speaker also cited an official document that states Pensacola’s growth is limited because of Pensacola Bay.

“All I can say is: Wow. That’s a shocking lack of vision. The waterfront is Pensacola’s biggest asset.”

Elebash said vision and action are needed to stimulate revitalization.

CRC member Natalie Prim asked him about the Community Maritime Park.

“It’s like saying the library system’s getting better. Well, where’s it been?” Elebash responded.

Horton asked Elebash how a strong mayor would have moved the CMP project forward faster.

“A strong mayor would have addressed that issue years ago,” Elebash said. “We would have had a plan for the Pensacola waterfront. We were behind the game. I think a strongER mayor would have been ahead of the game.”

The last speaker at the meeting was another community leader, John Peacock, who said a vote by the council should not only count, but should stand for something.

It takes six people to change anything, and it takes “enormous energy” for a city official to actually accomplish anything, said Peacock, who noted that the leaders are in management-type positions.

Peacock noted people falsely compare strong mayor to Fidel Castro. “Nobody wants a dictator,” he said.

“The Port (of Pensacola) is a constant issue that’s never decided,” Peacock said when talking about commitment, which “gives you accountability and authority.”

Peacock then distributed an illustration of commitment—a drawing of a butt—to each CRC member and consultant.

“Until we put somebody’s fanny on the line, I fear that we’re never going to move forward and achieve everything Pensacola has to offer,” Peacock said.

We had a strong mayor for a short period of time—Mort O’Sullivan, Peacock added. “He got the CMP done, in my opinion.”

Peacock also spoke of City Manager Tom Bonfield’s seven-year anniversary party for the post, when Peacock said Bonfield commented that it’s not his job to get out in front of people.

“If it’s not his job, and the city council members are part-time, whose job is it?” Peacock asked. “Nobody’s.”

Lastly, oddly, Horton asked to hear about strong mayor issues in Detroit, Mich.

Spencer explained that speakers from certain cities have already been discussed and lined up.

Horton said he doesn’t need to hear from Detroit governmental officials in person, he just wants to hear about their issues.