Olson: Deepflex concerns, FEMA appeal, City Hall security tightens

At the end of last week’s five-hour Pensacola City Council meeting, City Administrator Eric Olson gave his monthly verbal report to the council.

Olson said that he is concerned over the lack of construction at the Deepflex warehouse at the Port of Pensacola. The city is still appealing FEMA’s denial of a flooding prevention project, and he is adding more security measures at Pensacola City Hall.

Olson told the council that port staff is meeting with Deepflex representatives this week to discuss the lack of work on their warehouse at the Port of Pensacola.

“I think you’re all aware that there has been once the building was hardened, there’s been no new construction that has taken place, so the doors are still missing,” he said. “They have in their contract, I believe the day is March 30th, to get the certificate of occupancy.”

On Carpenter’s Creek, Olson said the Department of Agriculture grant had a 220-day limit that has expired. He said, “I want to reassure council and certainly the residents that this work will be taking place that we’ve been able to get an extension on the deadline for that. We will certainly be able to complete the work within the time allotted.”

He said the city had submitted a project worksheet with FEMA after the flooding.

“This was a high dollar value project, a $2 million dollar project,” Olson said. “It was denied by FEMA. I believe I notified you of that before. We will appeal the denial, but that is going to be a slow process. For anybody who has questions about that, certainly staff is available to answer any of residents’ concerns.”

Olson said that city hall security will become tighter. Council President Charles Bare had written Mayor Ashton Hayward asking to cease the screening of attendees to the city council meetings.

“The mayor is ultimately responsible for the security of everyone in city hall,” said the city administrator. “He firmly believes that security screenings are an integral part of the overall security program. There is no plan to stop the screenings.”

He continued, “In fact, I think recent events indicate the need for all of us to be more vigilant. It was really by coincidence that management staff has met this morning to discuss our overall security posture and to hear the preliminary findings of the PPD’s assessment of city hall security and that includes the security measures that we put in place for council meetings.”

Olson added, “The results of those findings indicate that there is a need for some additional measures and we will be implementing those measures in the near future. As I think Assistant Chief Lyter said, we don’t discuss the specifics of those. I just want to reassure all of you that we’re on it.”

Other topics:

On the fish hatchery, he said that Baskerville-Donovan has begun preparing the surveys of the Bruce Beach site in order to move forward with removal of the stock pile debris that’s on the site. The request for qualifications from architectural and engineering firms closed on Nov. 24. They will have oral presentation in mid January and then expect to announce the design and environmental engineering firm by the end of January.

On the Living Shoreline project, NOOA’s contractor has completed the initial field investigations in October. All of the geo technical studies have come back positive, “meaning that there should be no concern for placing the new structures.” However a number of cultural artifacts were discovered in their underwater survey, which require further investigation of the site.

On Uber, the company has a four-month interim operating agreement at the airport. Olson said there have been no complaints from taxi drivers during the first month of the agreement.

On the MWBE program status, Olson said of applications, “They’re kind of trickling in, so one thing I would like to ask all the council members if you know of businesses that may be eligible, I would encourage you to ask them to apply or to consider applying.”

He said city purchasing is doing individual outreach to businesses in the community.

“Purchasing is going to partner with the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 5th and the title of their presentation is ‘How to do business with City, County and State,’” he said. “All those who are in attendance, will also receive information on the MWBE program, including the benefits of obtaining the certification.”