Charles S. Enfinger

The agenda for the City Commission Meeting includes a proclamation recognizing American Red Cross Month 2026 and the presentation of the Employee of the Year Award to Dawn Brothers. The Consent Agenda requires approval for the Minutes dated February 24, 2026, three Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) involving operational assistance with the Bay County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) and Panama City Beach PD, and the BCSO DUI Task Force Agreement, as well as the appointment of a member to the Board of Adjustments. New Business items include discussion and possible approval of an addendum to the Coke contract, discussion and possible approval of an RFQ and Job Description for Attorney Services, and discussion and possible approval of Resolution 2026-03-524 regarding the Midyear Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2025/2026. The meeting concludes with reports from various officials and public commentary.

Key discussions during the meeting included a presentation from Arc of the Bay regarding free tax services. The commission conducted a public hearing and first reading for Ordinance 1176-AR Comp Plan Amendments, which was approved for state submittal. New business featured the appointment of Mr. Clubbs to the Planning Board, deferring the second seat appointment, and the approval of Resolution 2026-02-518 for a replacement catwalk at Digester 4 at AWT, noting significant insurance reimbursement offset. The commission held a discussion only regarding hiring a new City Building Official, weighing costs versus efficiency of current county arrangements, and decided to continue investigation. Further discussion focused on the City Manager search process, establishing timelines for candidate reviews via Zoom and in-person interviews, and transparency measures. The agenda also included a debate on restructuring public commentary, with a motion to discuss a Town Hall format for general commentary at the next meeting. Finally, timelines for the Charter Review committee deliverables were discussed, focusing primarily on the City Clerk position referendum slated for August.

The City Commission meeting agenda included a proclamation for Flood Awareness Week 2026. Old Business items involved the second reading of an ordinance to prohibit smoking and vaping in City Parks and a discussion concerning Public Commentary and Town Hall formats. New Business items focused on approving resolutions for engineering inspection services for the Tennessee Avenue Sidewalk project, awarding a ditch digging bid for as-needed services, appropriating additional funds for Yates Plumbing and Utility Services, and approving a three-year extension for the commercial garbage contract with Waste Pro. There was also a discussion regarding pursuing dual Request for Proposals for new contract or in-house City Attorney counsel.

The workshop focused on Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects across several departments. Discussions for Wastewater Treatment Facility included plans for SRF funding for loans with advantageous rates and future rate studies. Sewer and Water CIP analyses noted required future investments of approximately $117M and $32M, respectively. Stormwater topics covered unfunded HMGP projects, the Westside Outfall, and drainage improvements where funding gaps might necessitate ending the current stormwater assessment. For Streets, the continuation of paving efforts and traffic flow concerns near Hawk's Landing were discussed, including potential solutions for lane usage during peak hours. The Library discussion centered on whether to build a new facility versus utilizing existing space or partnering with NWF libraries, with priority levels assigned to options. Fire Department discussed appropriations needed for Fire Station 3. Parks discussions involved Kinsaul Park concepts, including the potential demolition of the damaged splashpad due to high insurance premiums, and plans for future Sports Park multi-use fields and converting sod fields to turf on other fields. The session concluded with a review of updates and policy direction for the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC), including whether to update existing language in-house or hire a consultant for comprehensive chapter revisions.

The Policy Board meeting objectives included a discussion on the financial status and outlook for the program, review and preliminary approval of draft action plans, and the addition of Management Council seats. Key discussions involved the current funding outlook, understanding the financial strategy of National Estuary Programs, reviewing the SASJBEP portfolio, and discussing the status of grant applications such as the America the Beautiful Challenge. Action plan review focused on Natural Resources and Resiliency, and part of Stewardship, requiring review of 18 action plans. Other business included discussions on the formality and locations of future meetings and outlining next steps.