Pensacola City Council Regular Meeting - September 10, 2026

The Pensacola City Council met on September 10, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of minutes, consent agenda items, several grant acceptances for airport projects, a law enforcement grant that sparked considerable public comment, lease amendments for homeless sheltering organizations, funding for a stormwater park and tree canopy project, and a first reading of a parking fine ordinance. The meeting adjourned at 9:01 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Fiscal Year 2026-2027 School Resource Officer MOU (Item 2) – Approved a memorandum of understanding between PPD and Escambia County School Board for SROs at three schools in an amount not to exceed $529,522.
• Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Safe Schools MOU (Item 3) – Approved a memorandum of understanding for protection and safety at all School Board of Escambia County schools located in the city.
• Discretionary Funding Allocation (Item 4) – Approved $500 to The Eastside Neighborhood Improvement Association from District 3 discretionary funds (Council Member Jones).

All consent items were approved 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

First Leroy Boyd Forum (citizen comments not on agenda):

• Sherri Myers discussed the importance of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) priorities, citing deterioration at Fire Station 3 and the need to address public safety needs.
• Larry Downs, Jr. distributed materials and voiced opposition to Florida’s anti-Semitism law, arguing it violates the First Amendment and is un-American.
• James Borchardt, Chirag Kathrani, and Pepper Wimer announced the launch of the Gulf Coast Weekly newspaper, emphasizing fact-based reporting and community transparency.
• Pepper Wimer raised environmental concerns regarding the Port of Pensacola, referring to it as a "Superfund site" and stating she could find no monitoring data on air, water, and soil. She also commented on FLOCK cameras. Deputy City Administrator Amy Miller clarified that the port itself is not an EPA-designated Superfund site, though there were historical diesel spills that have been monitored and closed.
• Brandy Johnson expressed vehement opposition to any development at the former Escambia Treating Company site (referred to as "Mt. Dioxin") at 3410 North Palafox Street.
• Rick Frye questioned the official narrative of the 9/11 attacks, citing inconsistencies and urging council members to reexamine the events.
• Dianne Ballard advocated for amenities for individuals with disabilities at Tippin Park, suggesting a partnership with Best Buddies.
• Francesca Yabraian proposed a new noise ordinance, stating the current one (rooted in 1986) is outdated and favors corporations over residents and musicians.
• Jacob Rockwell and Lucas Pallone applauded the suspension of FLOCK cameras on state intersections, with Pallone asking about removal of cameras on non-state roads.
• Gloria Horning reported poor water quality at Bruce Beach and Bayou Texar, referencing a case study of the former Escambia Treating Company site.

Public input on agenda items:

• Item 5 (REAP lease amendment): Gloria Horning expressed concerns about placing pallet shelters near a former Superfund site. Council Member Wiggins and Mayor Reeves clarified that the shelters are going to the REAP site on Merino Street, which is not a Superfund site.
• Item 6 (Offentsive lease amendment): Multiple speakers (Brandy Johnson, Francesa Yabraian, Sherri Myers) questioned the location near the former Escambia Treating Company site and raised ADA compliance concerns about the hygiene trailer. City Administrator Stafford stated the hygiene trailers are ADA compliant.
• Item 17 (FDLE Grant): Numerous speakers (Sasha Lewis, Harper Cummings, Chanson Brummet, Declan McGurk, Sam Epstein, Alexandra Hatley, Lucas Pallone, Girasol Alfonso, Nick Grull, Elisa Rose) urged the council to reject the grant, arguing it would increase local cooperation with ICE, expose the city to legal liability, and lead to human rights abuses. They noted ICE’s record of violence and the grant’s implications for immigrant communities.
• Item 24 (Tree canopy revitalization): Sherri Myers opposed the planting plan, advocating instead for using the tree trust fund to purchase land along Carpenter Creek to preserve existing forest, and for planting trees in under-served areas like Eau Claire.

Discussion Items

• Items 5 & 6 – Pallet Shelter Lease Amendments (REAP and Offentsive): Finance Director Amy Lovoy explained that due to Pallet PBC going out of business, 13 pallet shelters originally destined for Offentsive are redirected to the REAP site, and the REAP lease is amended to add 13 shelters and $25,000 for installation. Offentsive will instead receive a hygiene trailer. Council members questioned the financial controls at REAP, the location of Offentsive near a former Superfund site, and the logic of delivering a hygiene unit with no residents currently on site. Mayor Reeves noted the trailers remain city property and emphasized that Offentsive is private property and the city supports both organizations. The REAP amendment passed 7-0; the Offentsive amendment passed 6-1, with Council Member Bare dissenting, citing concerns about the location and the hygiene unit.
• Items 7-16 – Airport Grant Awards: Mayor Reeves highlighted the airport’s terminal modernization and expansion, totaling approximately $43 million in grants, 90% from FAA and 10% local match. Deputy Airport Director Remington confirmed the grants cover taxiway rehabilitation, apron expansion, ground vehicle transmitters, and a VALE grant for the boiler system. All items passed 7-0 with council praise for airport and grants staff.
• Item 17 – FDLE Grant for Police Radios and Training: Police Chief Eric Winstrom presented the grant (total $540,701), with $477,000 earmarked for replacement of end-of-life radios, and the remainder for training (cryptocurrency, forensic digital analysis, etc.) and overtime for a 287(g) officer. He stated the grant does not require any actions beyond existing state obligations and is reimbursement-only. Public speakers opposed, claiming it would enhance immigration enforcement and expose the city to liability. Council discussion: Council Member Broughton said her constituents support it; Council Vice President Brahier expressed concerns about legal liability and the obligations of the grant; Council Member Moore noted the necessity of radios and his personal experience as the spouse of an immigrant, but said the city needs the equipment and the grant is a good deal. Council Member Bare questioned the state board’s monitoring authority. The grant passed 5-2 with Brahier and Bare dissenting.
• Items 19-20 – CERT Grant: Approved $10,000 to support the BRACE Community Emergency Response Team. Passed 7-0.
• Items 21-23 – Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park: Mayor Reeves noted this is the largest stormwater project in city history, reconnecting neighborhoods cut off by I-110. The $5.19 million FDEP grant (no local match) and the $19.88 million contract award to Talcon Group (with all six bid alternates funded) were approved 7-0.
• Item 24 – Tree Canopy Revitalization Project: Supplemental budget resolution appropriating funds for the next planting. City Arborist Moose Franklin and Street & Traffic Operations Manager Wendy Gavin explained the planting locations are based on a cross-filtered analysis of canopy studies, tree inventories, and urban heat islands, focusing on critical need areas. Council Member Bare opposed, arguing that funds collected from tree removal permits in District 2 are not being returned there, and that the process lacks transparency. Council Vice President Brahier supported the resolution but urged better consultation with council members. The resolution passed 6-1, with Bare dissenting.
• Item 25 – Parking Fine Ordinance (First Reading): Proposed Ordinance No. 7-26 amends parking fines in Title XI of the City Code. Passed first reading unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

• Approved minutes of August 13, 2026 (7-0).
• Approved consent items 2, 3, 4 (7-0).
• Approved First Amendment to REAP Pallet Shelter Lease (Item 5) – Allows REAP to host 13 additional pallet shelters with $25,000 from ARPA for installation (7-0).
• Approved First Amendment to Offentsive Lease (Item 6) – Removes 13 pallet shelters but retains a hygiene trailer for Offentsive (6-1, Bare dissenting).
• Approved seven airport-related FAA grants and associated budget resolutions (Items 7-16) – Total approximately $43 million, 90% federally funded, including terminal expansion, taxiway rehabilitation, apron expansion, VALE grant, and ground vehicle transmitters (all 7-0).
• Approved FDLE Grant Award No. IG102 (Item 17) – $540,701 for radios, training, and equipment, despite substantial public opposition (5-2, Brahier and Bare dissenting).
• Adopted Supplemental Budget Resolution No. 2026-26 (Item 18) for the FDLE grant (6-1, Bare dissenting).
• Approved CERT Grant (Item 19) and Supplemental Budget Resolution (Item 20) – $10,000 for BRACE (7-0).
• Approved FDEP Grant for Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park (Item 21) – $5,190,939 with no local match, and adopted Supplemental Budget Resolution (Item 22) (7-0).
• Awarded Bid No. 26-046 for Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park (Item 23) to Talcon Group, LLC for $19,879,785.15 (7-0).
• Adopted Supplemental Budget Resolution No. 2026-39 (Item 24) for the Tree Canopy Revitalization Project (6-1, Bare dissenting).
• Passed Proposed Ordinance No. 7-26 on first reading (Item 25) amending parking fines (7-0).