Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves joined Pensacola Morning News Thursday with a packed agenda — including a major public safety warning about a repeat-offender scrapyard, the milestone opening of Palafox Street, and long-awaited news on Veterans Memorial Park.
Scrapyard Fire — Fourth in Two Years
Wednesday's fire at a Pensacola scrapyard brought 32 firefighters to the scene for 12 hours — and Reeves says it was the fourth time in two years the city has responded to that same location. Escambia County resources were also called in. Reeves says the city had previously notified the facility that additional fire suppression infrastructure was required on site — and that crews had to refuel twice during Wednesday's response. The city is now drafting formal letters to both the local ownership and the parent company in England — and is working with the city attorney's office and fire department to explore all available legal and code enforcement options. Reeves says with Bayou Chico nearby the environmental stakes make the pattern of fires unacceptable.
Palafox Street Opens Monday
Palafox Street opens to vehicle traffic Monday June 2nd — completing a 139-day reconstruction project that Reeves says is the fastest an $11 million road project has ever been completed in the city's history. The project included 300,000 new pavers, upgraded stormwater infrastructure adding 100,000 gallons of capacity, and new ECUA utility lines. The street passed its first real test this week when heavy rain produced no flooding or remnants — exactly what the upgraded stormwater system was designed to handle. The project came in on time and at or under budget — earning the contractor a 10 percent completion bonus. Reeves says the city lost zero businesses during construction and actually saw new businesses open during the project. Parking changes along Palafox are expected to roll out in October — with the city considering an additional free parking day, peak and off-peak rates, and an expanded senior parking permit open to all residents over 65 region-wide for ten dollars a month.
Veterans Memorial Park Restroom — Finally Moving Forward
After 12 years of discussions and three rejected proposals Pensacola's Veterans Memorial Park is finally getting a permanent restroom. Reeves says the current administration secured the first state funding ever allocated for the project. The Veterans Memorial Park board most recently rejected a Portland loo proposal within the last 90 days — but Reeves says a recent media report made clear the board now simply wants something installed. Reeves says the city agrees and will move forward with either a Portland loo or a prefab structure — with flood plain requirements at the site limiting options. A meeting with the board is scheduled this week.
Yard Debris and ECUA Partnership
An ECUA proposal to help the city tackle its record yard debris backlog is now being evaluated at the staff level. Reeves says if the ECUA partnership is the best path forward his sanitation team will move in that direction. The city has collected nearly 10 million pounds of yard debris this spring — up dramatically from 7.4 million pounds during the same period last year.
Lien Relief Ordinance and Data Centers
A lien relief ordinance proposed by Councilwoman Allison Patton is on the city council agenda Thursday night — creating a structure that would allow the mayor's office to waive up to $50,000 in accumulated fines in appropriate cases. Reeves also addressed public concern about data centers — saying they are not on the city's economic development priority list and that the county inquiry involves one company in very early preliminary discussions.