Council issues proclamations, and passes a slate of code and land-use measures

At its Aug. 14 meeting the Pensacola City Council presented two proclamations and approved a group of code and land-use measures on first and second readings.

Proclamations: Mayor D.C. Reeves read a proclamation recognizing Jayla's Voice ("J. La Michelle Day") and designating Aug. 21 as Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day in Pensacola, honoring a local advocate who died April 26, 2024. The mayor also read a proclamation recognizing the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act and presented the document to representatives from AARP and other attendees.

Ordinances and code changes: The council approved on first reading an amendment to the city fire code to permit commercially manufactured outdoor fire pits with spark arrestors on private property; Fire Chief Ginny Craner explained the change applies to commercially made fireplaces that meet testing standards. The item passed first reading.

On second reading the council adopted several land-use and zoning amendments without recorded opposition, including local amendments to floodplain management and the Florida Building Code (ordinance 8-25), future land use and zoning map amendments for two recently annexed parcels on the 2400 block of Langley Avenue (ordinances 9-25 and 10-25), and future land use and zoning map amendments related to properties on the Creighton Road corridor including the O'Reilly's Uptown Tavern site (ordinances 11-25 and 12-25). The council also adopted a resolution approving two applications to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Resilient Florida grant program for stormwater improvements on West Strong Street/N. R Street and West Main Street (resolution 2025-552).

Votes were unanimous on the items noted in the record. No substantive amendments were made in the council chambers during the meeting.