City Hall

Mayor Reeves Talks Budget Pressures, Cemex Mystery Poll and Library Standoff

After the latest update on the downtown shooting, Mayor D.C. Reeves’ press conference covered the good news on pool hours, a federal airport grant and two Direction 25 park projects, but the questions kept circling back to money and the county’s library mess.

Roger Scott Pool Reopens

Mayor D.C. Reeves opened his press conference with a win: Roger Scott Pool reopened over the Fourth of July weekend, drawing 233 people, while 195 turned out at Hunter Pool.

The hours through August 7:

• Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., then open swim 2:30 to 7 p.m.
• Sundays: noon to 3 p.m., then open swim 3:30 to 6 p.m.
• Monday through Friday: 8 to 10:30 a.m., closed 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., then open swim 2:30 to 7 p.m.

Starting August 8 through September 7, Roger Scott will only be open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Federal Grant to Reimagine Airport Curb Front

Pensacola International Airport landed a $425,000 BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund a planning study on reconfiguring and expanding the airport’s curb front roadway system. Reeves credited Congressman Trentus for helping push it through, along with Secretary Duffy and Senator’s office support, and noted the airport now serves 3.1 million passengers a year.

Direction 25: Dunwoody Park and Sanders Beach Moving Forward

Dunwoody Park: Kids picked their favorite playground design at a July 3 event in Cordova Park, part of the $200,000 Direction 25 playground replacement. Residents who missed the event can still weigh in on the city’s parks webpage through July 10.

Sanders Beach Park: A $1.4 million renovation funded through a NERDA (Natural Resource Damage Assessment) grant administered by Fish and Wildlife breaks ground this week, with fencing going up now and site work starting next week. Construction is expected to take about 60 days.

Planned improvements include:

• ADA kayak access and launch
• Four new covered picnic tables
• Solar-powered lighting and waterfront charging stations
• A new bathroom building near the playground
• Improved ADA accessibility and new benches
• Turtle-friendly lighting
• Parking lot improvements
• Educational kiosks for neighborhood announcements

Library Board: Mayor Reeves Remains on Sidelines

Reeves confirmed that the city attorney’s office reviewed the interlocal agreement behind the West Florida Public Library board of governance dispute. The conclusion: the city has no legal standing to call a meeting or otherwise intervene—it’s a county operation.

“It is ultimately the interpretation of our city attorney’s office. It is a county operation function. That’s not a comment on what the relationship between the county and the board is.”

Pressed on whether the city might pressure the county given the library’s value to city residents, Reeves said the bigger unresolved question is funding, and that decision sits with the county for now.

Data Center Moratorium: “Not a Philosophical Difference”

Asked about a proposed council ordinance for a temporary moratorium on data centers, Reeves clarified it came from Councilman Bare, not the administration. He said he’d support it if council passes it, but wants to make sure the details don’t create unintended consequences, like accidentally sweeping in an existing hospital server room.

Veterans Memorial Park Restrooms: Moving with a Prefab Building

The city is proceeding with a prefab restroom building at Veterans Memorial Park after learning — through media reports — that the goal is simply to get a facility built rather than a more elaborate design. Reeves said the city hasn’t received any outside funding offers from BFP and will move forward within its existing budget.

Budget: “Thematically, There’s Going to Be Difficult Decisions”

Reeves said the city is in final budget meetings, with a workshop expected mid-July. He described this as one of the more complex budget cycles of his tenure, citing flattening sales and property tax revenue and the potential impact of a statewide property tax amendment.

When I asked directly whether the general fund would be cut compared to last year, Reeves said he’d characterize it as essentially flat, possibly down slightly, not because of new spending, but because local governments face the same inflationary pressures as residents on procurement, materials, labor and health insurance.

Mystery Cemex Poll

Reeves said he personally received the anonymous push poll testing messaging around Cemex’s port lease and speculated it originated with the company, given its intensity around lease-related language. He confirmed there is no active negotiation underway to extend Cemex’s lease — which runs another five or six years — and no notice to vacate has been issued.

Hard Rock Reverb Project: August Permit Deadline Looms

With reports that Hard Rock’s lease requires permits by August, Reeves said he has a follow-up meeting with the project’s financial advisors next week. He reiterated the city won’t offer tax abatements to help the roughly $300 million project pencil out, calling it potentially the largest private investment in city history. He said he’d be open to a permitting extension if needed, but the ask is that the developers first show the project can work without taxpayer-funded abatement.