(PENSACOLA) --- The Pensacola City Council passed tree restoration, code lien reduction, and trail improvement agenda items as promised Thursday night.
After the slight Tuesday Agenda Conference, discussions became full at the May 27 city council meeting, beginning with a tree-planting grant. While the tree canopy project held no discussion, Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier admits, "they were able to do what we were never able to do."
"To get trees in the ground, get them where they are needed," Brahier said before Chelsea Mayhem, who represents the Canopy Restoration Project, provided an update on their work, beginning with 309 trees planted since 2022, with a survival rate above 90%.
(Photo: Chelesa Mahan, arborist with the Tree Canopy Restoration, touted high tree-planting numbers to the city council)
"We have started pruning, too," Mahan said. "We have planted over 100 live oaks, which is pretty cool," Mahan said.
Thomas Patton, also with the Canopy Restoration Project, asked the council to consider the future, noting there is a waiting list of up to 80 people for the $65 trees, resulting in oversubscription of the $5,500 grant.
"We would like to make sure you folks can support us with another grant," Patton said.
Patton's ask led to former Councilwoman and District 2 Candidate Sheri Myers taking the podium, immediately noting, "When I got into office, that was in 2011, we had almost $1,000,000 in the Tree Trust Fund."
(Photo: Thomas Patton, arborist with the Tree Canopy Restoration, asks the council to consider another grant due to oversubscription of existing funds)
"Almost all of that money came from clear-cutting along Carpenter Creek," Myers said, before pointing out Councilman Charles Bare's lack of follow-through on an ordinance mandating trees be replaced where removed. "That's not being done, and it's never been done."
Again, Brahier admits that "some of those it's really a little bit out of our hands, and I agree that we should be more stringent, but we haven't figured out exactly how as yet."
(Photo: Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier wanted to know why code lien reduction was discussed at the May 27 meeting)
A revised code enforcement lien-reduction policy sparked discussion after the amendment lowered the $50K mayoral discretion limit to $25K.
A recent decision to allow Mayor D.C. Reeves sole oversight of the Community Redevelopment Agency seemingly brought up concerns for this amended ordinance, which "authorizes the mayor to take all actions necessary to exercise the mayor's executive powers as granted in the city charter."
Myers made her way to the podium again, reminding the council of resident Beverely Elliot. Elliot's code enforcement lien case, as outlined in the Feb. 13 memorandum, shows no leniency toward the disabled resident.
"I'm sure you all remember that case because you said it sounded like she had been defrauded," Myers said. Come to find out, she has been."
While Code Enforcement Officer Ryan Spikes was brought to the podium to alleviate concerns, he did not, with Councilman Charles Bare immediately questioning "tweaks" to the ordinance.
(Photo: Code Enforcement Officer Ryan Spikes at the May 21 meeting)
"The 50,000, did we look at other government entities, other cities to see how they handle this, whether the mayor and the mayor's designee has the authority to do this?" Bare said. "I am not real comfortable with one person having a decision on this, was there other research?"
Yes was the passive answer from City Attorney Andy Hobb.
"We did look to the counties, I don't remember off the top of my head what the dollar amount is that they give discretion to the county administrator on, but it was mirrored after their policy," Hobb said.
"I don't recall if it was a $50,000 number or a different number," Hobb ended, not answering Bare's question.
(Photo: Councilman Charles Bare questioning ordinance regarding code enforcement lien reduction)
Bare let him know, noting that's different because the county administrator works for the county commission.
Bare said, granted, "the citizen has the right to come to us and appeal it, but if the mayor decides, yeah, we'll just waive that and reduce it, the citizens are not going to come to us."
"The mayor doesn't work for us, so that's not the same system," Bare pointed out, adding, "If we just look at the county, that's not enough for me; I am not comfortable with $50,000 for one person."
They can range anywhere from $25 daily to $200,000. According to Spikes, three cases have been brought to the council for $50K over the last three years.
Councilwoman Brahier wanted to know why the change, to which Spikes explained that, in the past, if the lien was under $25, a special magistrate could rule on it.
"The problem with that is it is the city's money after they file the lien," Spikes said. "This includes a lot more criteria and guidelines."
Bare agrees it is not a magistrate's job to handle the city's money.
"I think the council needs to do it, and in some cases the mayor," Bare said, pointing out it's not Reeves personally, before Brahier made the motion to move to $25K from $50K.
(Photo: Sheri Myers, former councilwoman running against Councilman Charles Bare for District 2, confronts the council)
Myers said ultimately, she hopes "this ordinance addresses and gives y'all more latitude to address those types of situations."
Ultimately, Spikes said the move from $50K to $25K is due to changing property values.
"20 years ago, 25,000 dollars was a different amount than it is today," Spikes said.
Lastly, a budget reappropriation for the Bayfront Trail, which is an unencumbered carry-forward February resolution, was already referred to each of the city's redevelopment boards: urban core and the east side. As noted in prior action, reallocations of $95K and $15K are approved.
(Photo: Summary of Bayfront Trail recommendations)
(Photo: Council President Allison Patton closes out the meeting, announcing a 7-0 vote for the Bayfront Trail recommendations)
"Well, seeing no speakers from the council and none from the public, call for a vote," Council President Allison Patton said before confirming the 7-0 vote.
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