[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6090443,"mediaKeyId","2866973-d4fa852e0c4ac6832a91bfb23502bb9e","parentId",2866973,"title","Votes at a glance: Panama City commission approves multiple capital items, directs staff follow-up","audioSeconds",502,"startMs",9622000,"endMs",10124000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866973-d4fa852e0c4ac6832a91bfb23502bb9e&start=9622&end=10124","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866973-d4fa852e0c4ac6832a91bfb23502bb9e/thumbnail_9622000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6090443/Panama-City/Bay-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Panama-City-commission-approves-multiple-capital-items-directs-staff-follow-up","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090443-bf7ed2dc5a962c29e927a1987e2af207/orig.mp4?Expires=1771210759&Signature=UgE~8KtgbZDQjbsGomqX7geaY24ZlFQxMqGpdr91MXzS~3DLYxHs-3zSEK1ElcuY9jqAmuoSFhE~FxFn02gLjMfuJ8DHpMh8B64-GRf5N4y2doLKj1VsowLpek9rLZcmZfJF~XpHtxSyLTTcDA-KF~f5kKP8xc0OXJ8ue0J0WA05dEmz-a3b-r4gJ2KULyyzQKEDIMLk7fo2aJpqCA3aPRlXRMHhLgv2YdCreNWM7R3a5F0qT-Uj1OCgl4Q1o392ihVHmaI36Vd73fTJeDsvMoYGWCtZhaPpnZRRACgFUzdWjFVW1PaF5oWA6WpDuOvKNsgwLqXU2cLpxlZHfPPPrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Panama City, FL","date","2025-04-03T23:02:54.413Z","article","The Panama City City Commission on March 18 approved a series of consent and action items covering park projects, building repairs and utility coordination. Below are the formal outcomes recorded during the meeting. Where a vote was taken the roll-call result is listed; most items passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes approval (February 25): Approved (motion passed 5-0).
- Motion to table agenda items 9g and 9h (staff request to wait until April 8): Approved (motion passed 4-0 with Commissioner Street abstaining on the scheduling item).
- Relocation of item 9I to become 9a on the agenda: Approved (motion passed 5-0).
- MLK Rec Center programming MOU: Commission approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Downtown North Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the City to reimburse up to $325,000 on a reimbursement basis for programming supplies and equipment for the new MLK recreation center. Motion passed 5-0. Staff said the funds cover equipment and program supplies; operating costs will be addressed in FY26 budget planning.
- Fire Station 1 water-intrusion repair contract: The commission awarded the construction contract for ITB PC-25-010 to Acro Construction LLC in the amount of $897,196 to repair chronic water intrusion at Fire Station 1. The commission approved use of up to $660,000 in insurance proceeds as reimbursement for part of the cost. Motion passed 5-0.
- Bay Memorial Park renovations: The commission approved a budget amendment to transfer $250,000 from the general grants fund to the capital improvements project fund for Bay Memorial Park renovations after a state grant was revoked; motion passed 5-0.
- FDOT utility work agreement for West 23rd/20th Street milling/resurfacing: Resolution approved to enter a Utility Work by Highway Contractor (UWBHC) agreement and pay $113,750 to allow FDOT’s contractor to adjust city utility assets as part of FDOT’s project. Motion passed 5-0.
- Easement agreement for cell tower parcel (3002 W. 19th Street): The commission authorized execution of a perpetual easement agreement with TPA VI LLC for a negotiated price (motion passed 5-0). The easement sale was listed at $742,000 in the agenda materials.
- SRF Area D15 construction contract (Saint Andrews): The commission awarded PC-25-030 to Royal American Construction, Inc. for base bid plus alternates and authorized up to $4,313,000 including a 5% contingency; motion passed 5-0.

Several consent items and routine administrative resolutions were approved as part of the consent agenda. The commission also removed the monthly financial statement from consent for separate discussion and asked staff to schedule a budget workshop in the coming weeks to review fiscal projections and use of reserves.

What happens next

Staff will return on April 8 with a status update and timeline for the proposed transportation impact fees and will present an aspirational work program before the commission’s April 24 second reading. Contracting and budget items will proceed to execution per staff recommendations; the Fire Station 1 repair contract will be managed with a planned use of insurance proceeds and pending disaster reimbursements, and the MLK Rec Center MOU is reimbursement‑based so funds will be used as vendors/invoices are submitted.

Roll-call votes noted in the meeting minutes were recorded for each item where applicable; full contract documents, resolutions and budget amendments are available in the commission packet.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Panama City Commission Meeting 03182025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved multiple capital and contract items on March 18 — including funding for MLK Rec Center programming, a major repair contract for Fire Station 1 and allocations for Bay Memorial Park — and set next steps for staff follow-up.","taxTitle","Panama City, Bay County, Florida","taxId",4834,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6090446,"Panama City delays vote on transportation impact fees to April 24; staff to produce work program and hold stakeholder roundtable",2775,6004000,8779000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866973-d4fa852e0c4ac6832a91bfb23502bb9e&start=6004&end=8779","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866973-d4fa852e0c4ac6832a91bfb23502bb9e/thumbnail_6004000.jpg","/articles/6090446/Panama-City/Bay-County/Florida/Panama-City-delays-vote-on-transportation-impact-fees-to-April-24-staff-to-produce-work-program-and-hold-stakeholder-roundtable","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090446-75152748dc23b6313eb6082cce2cb79d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771210759&Signature=WrZV6K4Cr7x5zjeJ7D23pyIs1wAZoghN-pQSfuaKfW3ArDr-Y31RcGqhRerKtjQWA9Bzy-p26nvZU8OMRHgpUzNjykHe8PnY2mmYuJV9~ucQ9wWg2r1~i9Xi1iG-HJIFntnrcIMHN8G0tWY-WOLL8eFzIvWNYwpzR5ku-CHaNVsidoh1VLrDPzt6K0gEu7mi0~7o0YPdzYv8gQXX6C5ga5~W6~ejentHUTDBkAIyQ0r0reV3YRvUdiZ7e1LnQCMZUcozNoGtWvXOYugBqdGUAqaGbzn0knLSG2cpu0Dtmj-pkiWX8HvrChpeBINZ0jQNHflTNJd8czggxjsa4biItQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Panama City City Commission voted unanimously on March 18 to defer the second reading of a proposed transportation impact fees ordinance until the commission’s second meeting in April and directed staff to return with a work program and timeline.

City staff summarized a series of stakeholder workshops and edits to the draft ordinance, including exemptions and reductions intended to protect small, infill and affordable homes. Jonathan (city manager) said staff had met with industry groups and had revised provisions for residential units under 2,400 square feet and for accessory dwelling units. “I would recommend tabling it to actually the second meeting in April, which would be the 24th,” Jonathan said, noting staff would return earlier with a status update and an aspirational spending plan.

Builders, the Bay Building Industries Association and the Bay County Chamber of Commerce urged additional time to assess changes and coordinate with legislative activity in Tallahassee. Kurt Hartog of the Bay Building Industries Association told commissioners he would prefer the final reading be delayed so builders could gather more information while they were in the state capital. “We’re here today … to ask if we could have the ordinance tabled at least into April so we have more time to discuss this with the commission,” Hartog said.

Staff described major policy elements the ordinance would create: (1) fees charged at building permit issuance rather than at development order; (2) exemptions and fee reductions for certain small‑footprint infill and housing that meets Florida affordable‑housing criteria; and (3) an appeals process (initial review by the planning director or director’s designee, planning board appeal and judicial review to circuit court). The consultant and staff also noted impact fees must meet a “rational nexus” test and tie fees to anticipated transportation improvements.

Commissioners asked staff to produce a geographically specific “work program” identifying where impact‑fee revenues would be spent inside Panama City proper (for example, pedestrian and sidewalk priorities) and in Panama City North (where arterial capacity and lane expansion are the dominant needs). Commissioners discussed staged implementation: staff said a phased rollout is legally defensible and that an initial percentage of the full fee (staff said 25% as a defensible phased start) could be used if the commission chose to phase-in the ordinance.

A motion to set the second reading for April 24 and to have staff return with a timeline and an aspirational work program at the April 8 meeting passed by roll call: Commissioner Street — yes; Commissioner Halligas — yes; Commissioner Lucas — yes; Commissioner Granger — yes; Mayor Rowan — yes. Staff also agreed to continue roundtable sessions with industry leaders and to host a workshop with the commission and public before final action if commissioners request it.

The ordinance remains under consideration; staff and consultants will prepare further materials describing how fee receipts would be programmed and the anticipated effect on different building types and locations within the city.","After extended testimony from builders, the Chamber and residents, the commission voted 5-0 to move the second reading of the proposed transportation impact fees ordinance to April 24 and asked staff to return with a work‑program update on April 8 and to hold a stakeholder workshop before the final hearing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6090451,"Residents press Panama City over months-long dirt streets, flooding and damages from neighborhood reconstruction",764,1414000,2178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866973-d4fa852e0c4ac6832a91bfb23502bb9e&start=1414&end=2178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866973-d4fa852e0c4ac6832a91bfb23502bb9e/thumbnail_1414000.jpg","/articles/6090451/Panama-City/Bay-County/Florida/Residents-press-Panama-City-over-months-long-dirt-streets-flooding-and-damages-from-neighborhood-reconstruction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090451-a81e4c73d1b0e13a1be17cf74c4cf600/orig.mp4?Expires=1771210759&Signature=L0NH4GzFg5J~Fg9op0aWxCaBLcfngFVK1lqUD8417PtpOpCh~fo8wfZWa6r0E2bVz-DjyBsBeKapkhRvGvJCtyBbHv-7cxu37VgPLlsAO9tM2WeYo3dIeCBegtDO4CrMHVAe-Gq9oplyhkXg5t5LXmn0Z8MErROxUDvQwdsIlfCw-gBuB7HY3lYxrzF2u6kx35LVphYwsA~ZeHGDOf2ROKEDMWKP3IXajU2d8Kp8GaiT0Mv5cLB3miVE-M7H4fq1qvRFZjCh-CLMdIZu8i0Yw6JSMmxoPPgQRvNcF-Si-D2cD3XK0ZL7vB6zmyyY2MaUk2dx7UEY088VV7wNpZeFHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of Venetian Villas told the Panama City City Commission on March 18 they have faced months of unpaved streets, deep standing water, damaged personal property and limited ability to leave their homes as the city’s SRF infrastructure reconstruction work continues.

Danny Bishop, who said he lives at 4026 Valencia Court, described a neighborhood where more than 100 homes are affected and neighbors are unable to leave because water and mud made driveways impassable. “We have students getting off school bus, walking through the mud to get back home,” Bishop said, and later added that a neighbor reported more than $15,000 in damage to a boat dock. Bishop said storm drains were not working and that pockets of standing water repeatedly trap cars in driveways.

Another resident, Edward Maseca, told commissioners his utility regulator was disconnected during the work and that his water bills were estimated for multiple months while the regulator remained disconnected; he also said he had three work orders entered to reconnect the regulator. Maseca asked why homeowners cannot receive a date for contractor work at their homes and suggested a simple door‑hanger notice after work is complete.

Several residents asked the commission to consider a 50% abatement of property taxes for the year to compensate for the lengthy disruption; Bishop said he had circulated a petition and that most neighbors supported the request. The request was not acted on as a formal agenda item; it was raised in public comment.

City staff explained the work is part of an SRF project (referred to in testimony as F1 and F2) that rebuilds entire neighborhoods — water lines, sewer, storm drains, curbs and roads — and that for mobilization reasons the contractor must operate across multiple streets at once rather than on single blocks. The city manager and project staff acknowledged the disruption and said the contractor, Gulf Coast Utility Construction, has construction, engineering and inspection staff on site each day. The city also said it is finding legacy underground utilities that complicate work and slow progress.

Assistant City Manager Jared Jones and public works staff agreed to set up a one‑on‑one meeting between the residents and the project manager and requested a follow-up meeting including Gulf Coast Utility Construction to address standing water and communication problems. Staff said they will explore temporary pumps and other mitigation measures to reduce standing water in emergency cases and promised to follow up on dredging and drainage questions in the canal behind the neighborhood.

The commission did not take formal action on the tax‑abatement request at the meeting. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the reconstruction will be disruptive but emphasized the long‑term goal of new underground utilities, curbs and paved roads once the project is complete.","Venetian Villas and Venetian Way residents described months of dirt streets, standing water and property damage from an SRF-backed reconstruction project. Residents asked the commission for a 50% property tax abatement; staff agreed to set up a follow-up meeting with the contractor and residents.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6090456,"Panama City commission approves variance for 1212 Beck Avenue, allowing finished floor 1 foot below city standard",426,968000,1394000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866973-d4fa852e0c4ac6832a91bfb23502bb9e&start=968&end=1394","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866973-d4fa852e0c4ac6832a91bfb23502bb9e/thumbnail_968000.jpg","/articles/6090456/Panama-City/Bay-County/Florida/Panama-City-commission-approves-variance-for-1212-Beck-Avenue-allowing-finished-floor-1-foot-below-city-standard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090456-e1a852687d18d972b1ed9eab1665a5a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771210759&Signature=C1nSwTB3bY-J8ftlCr5V58IOPGrFXTMHTe9aL7jPpYnk6MNSD5xIwQK6l1~rPsxcU-NP31o9gNrVDZFFHC1iauHZ19PDBswv56c6sLRUcd6eGQ5mM9NkhkXk2gjecMwU7jBI2I1DMg8is0a-VZVqusaaiBe1Vjb706U0H64sUOE6ej4cyTfITCEtohhLOCekTO0frYMSLaRJYB4zgWkp4B8J0w0p0kWvt8FI4eDZXLwj1aLt-TtAN~yUFLSk0NRTDwdaKHsaGPs~r8tAx4hXuMJwq1TyMlhjRrLZiPirCR1Y1X6fKwU-QMhhIcO4I2QCY7SahH4SBpk1IglDX3L2qQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Panama City City Commission on March 18 approved a variance that allows a finished floor elevation of 1 foot above the base flood elevation for a planned development at 1212 Beck Avenue.

City staff said the request is a variance from section 9-84 of the city’s Drainage and Floodplain Damage Prevention Code of Ordinances, which normally requires the finished floor to be at least 2 feet above the BFE. Staff told the commission it found the application met the ordinance criteria and recommended approval, saying failure to grant the variance would create exceptional hardship for the lot and that the proposed elevation would meet FEMA requirements.

Robert Carroll, of McNeil Carroll Engineering, represented the applicant and described site conditions during the quasi-judicial hearing. “The existing property sits at about elevation 5 and 6, so we’re already going to have to come up 2 to 3 feet above that,” Carroll said, adding the proposed finished floor would be roughly elevation 9 (1 foot below the city’s 10-foot requirement) and that the design will include stormwater treatment on site. He told the commission the project complies with FEMA requirements and that the applicant will sign a hold harmless agreement if the variance is approved.

Mayor Rowan and commissioners questioned whether lowering the city standard by 1 foot was the minimum necessary. Carroll said the increased cost and ADA ramping constraints make the extra foot burdensome and that nearby buildings — including Los Antojitos and another restaurant — sit at a similar elevation.

After brief discussion the commission voted by roll call: Commissioner Street — yes; Commissioner Halligas — yes; Commissioner Lucas — yes; Commissioner Granger — yes; Mayor Rowan — yes. The motion passed 5-0.

The commission’s approval allows the developer to construct at 1 foot above BFE while requiring the applicant to execute a hold-harmless agreement. City staff said they had reviewed the materials provided and found no evidence the variance would increase flood heights or present a danger to neighboring properties.

The decision was made at the end of a public hearing in which the commission treated the matter as quasi‑judicial and received sworn testimony from the engineer. No appeals or follow-up dates were set at the meeting.","The Panama City City Commission approved a variance allowing a finished floor elevation of 1 foot above base flood elevation (BFE) for 1212 Beck Avenue after testimony from the applicant's engineer and staff recommendation. The measure passed 5-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Panama City commission approves multiple capital items, directs staff follow-up

Panama City delays vote on transportation impact fees to April 24; staff to produce work program and hold stakeholder roundtable

Residents press Panama City over months-long dirt streets, flooding and damages from neighborhood reconstruction

Panama City commission approves variance for 1212 Beck Avenue, allowing finished floor 1 foot below city standard