Community Redevelopment Agency Administration May Be Out of Mayor's Hands

(PENSACOLA) --- If it is not one thing with the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), it is another.

Yesterday, the Pensacola City Council discussed ending Mayor D.C. Reeves's ability to appoint a CRA administrator.

The pending decision brought up at the Council Agenda Conference on whether to strip the mayor of authority is not personal. Reeve's predecessor Mayor Grover Robinson, initiated a mayoral-appointed CRA administrator in 2019. 

Bares pointed to the memorandum dating back to the 2016 appointment rules.

(Photo: Memorandum of Understanding for CRA administrator appointments)

A decade later, it is going back to what it was before 2019, when former Councilwoman Sherri Meyers voted against the change.

She feels the same way today.

Actively challenging the CRA, Myers made her point on Jan. 17 and Feb. 13. Myers was present at yesterday's agenda conference but could not share her opinion as it is not allowed at conference agendas.  

However, today Myers told OpGov.ai that she voted against changing the inter-local agreement with the city on July 15, 2019. She said that the time the CRA had worked hard to get control over CRA staff and to give it back to the mayor was unacceptable. She also said at the time that it was a "power grab" by then-Mayor Robinson.

"I am glad Councilman Bare brought the matter back up for discussion, but feels the rest of the CRA/City Council members are not bothered that the mayor can hire and fire CRA staff," Myers said.

Yesterday, Bare began the discussion, noting, "I think that the CRA needs to have a bigger role in managing the staff."

"The city council meeting critically exposed significant operational and policy challenges, particularly concerning local autonomy versus state mandates and instances of administrative oversight failures," according to the platform. "A contentious debate centered on the Community Redevelopment Agency's (CRA) staffing and reporting structure, highlighting a philosophical divide within the council regarding the Mayor's executive authority versus the council's legislative oversight."

Bare brought up Councilman Jared Moore's favorable vote for a mayor having more CRA administrative sight in 2019, citing he is the only existing councilmember on the dais to personally recall the decision.

Councilwoman Teniade Broughton was the first to pose a question, asking when the CRA sunset is.

(Photo: Councilwoman Teniade Broughton)

Answer, 2047.

Council Vice President Jennifer Braher seemed to be in favor.

"I think that it could benefit and be more streamlined if we did it that way," Braher said. "I'm definitely interested in the discussion and the conversation on how we do this."

However, in the end, from her own words, a "council-manager opposed to Council-strong-mayor" process seems more beneficial. 

(Photo: Councilwoman Jennifer Braher)

The conference lasted a little over an hour, with officials going over the agenda for Thursday night's meeting, which begins at 5:30 at 222 W. Main St.