Pensacola council approves lease amendment, budget resolution to finalize American Magic facility

The Pensacola City Council on April 10 unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s lease with American Magic and adopted a related supplemental budget resolution to finalize prepaid rental terms for the sailing team’s new facility.

The move clears what Mayor (name not specified) described as “the final block to finish out the construction of this amazing new facility” and passed on a 5-0 vote after a motion by Council Vice President Patton and a second by Council Member Breyer. The council then adopted Supplemental Budget Resolution No. 2025-16 by a separate 5-0 vote.

Why it matters: The council and the administration framed the approval as a concluding administrative step on a project the city has discussed for years and as part of a broader effort to leverage waterfront activity for local economic development and job opportunities. Tyson Lamond, chief operating officer of American Magic, thanked the council and described Pensacola as a new home base for the team.

Council discussion and presentations Mayor (name not specified) opened the council discussion by characterizing the day as “certainly, a big day for our community” that would complete construction of the team’s facility and bring potential benefits “for job opportunity, quality of life” in downtown Pensacola.

Tyson Lamond, chief operating officer of American Magic, told the council: “having a home base that, you know, truly feels like home, not only for me, but for our team members and all their families is huge. And there's no greater place to call home for our team than Pensacola.”

Council Vice President Patton said she had watched races in Pensacola Bay and quoted sailors who “love Pensacola,” and she expressed enthusiasm for the partnership.

Formal actions - Motion to approve the amendment to the existing lease agreement between the City of Pensacola and American Magic (item 25-324): moved by Council Vice President Patton, second by Council Member Breyer; vote 5-0; outcome: approved. The amendment was described in council materials as necessary “to finalize, execute, and administer this lease agreement consistent with the terms outlined in the amendment and the mayor’s executive powers as granted in the city charter.”

- Adoption of Supplemental Budget Resolution No. 2025-16 (item 25-341): moved by Council Member Bayer, second by Council Vice President Patton; vote 5-0; outcome: approved. The clerk read the resolution as “a resolution authorizing and making revisions and appropriations for the fiscal year ending 09/30/2025, providing for an effective date.”

Context and related items The council discussion on American Magic was part of a larger downtown and port agenda. Council members and the mayor repeatedly framed the issue as a timely opportunity that links the team’s presence to port activity and broader downtown investments. The council later moved on to other items, including acceptance of the city’s annual comprehensive financial report and consent to the mayor’s appointment of a new port director (both approved 5-0).

Votes at a glance (other formal outcomes at the April 10 meeting) - Approval of minutes (regular meeting dated 03/27/2025): motion passed 5-0. - Approval of the agenda (as amended): motion passed 5-0. - Consent agenda (appointments to Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; award of contract RFQ 25-011 landscape installation and maintenance services; discretionary funding allocation for Council Member Tenyate Broughton, District 5): approved 5-0. - Appointment of Nanette Chandler to the Zoning Board of Adjustments to fill an unexpired term ending 07/14/2026: moved by Council Member Bayer, second by (not specified in the record at the vote); vote 5-0; outcome: appointed. - Acceptance of the City of Pensacola annual comprehensive financial report for the year ending 09/30/2024 (item 25-331): moved by Council Member Baer, second by Council Member Breyer; vote 5-0; outcome: accepted. Auditor Krista McAllister of Warren Averett reported an unmodified opinion and no findings. - Consent to the mayor’s appointment of Rear Admiral Lance Scott, U.S. Navy (ret.), as Port Director (item 25-418): moved by Council Member Baer, second by Council Member Baer; vote 5-0; outcome: consented. Council members asked Scott about port strategy; Scott said he looks forward to “tak[ing] the port to the next level.” The item referenced City Charter section 4.01(a)(7). - Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-17 regarding the Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board’s exemption from annual tax-increment contributions to the redevelopment trust fund: moved by Council Member Baer, second by Council Member Breyer; vote 5-0; outcome: adopted. - Adoption of Supplemental Budget Resolution No. 2025-03 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Alcony Street and Davis Highway two-way conversion study/design): moved by Council Vice President Patton, second by Council Member Breyer; vote 5-0; outcome: adopted. The item funds design work for a two-way conversion. Public comment raised pedestrian and parking concerns near McGee Field; council members emphasized community outreach and safety-focused design. - Adoption of Supplemental Budget Resolution No. 2025-19 (Law Enforcement Trust Fund expenditure for a BearCat vehicle): moved by Council Member Baer, second by Council Member Breyer; vote 5-0; outcome: adopted. Mayor (name not specified) called the action a “long overdue modernization” for equipment used by the department.

What the council did not decide tonight No legislative provisions were rejected. Items that require later design, public engagement, or implementation steps (for example, the MLK/Davis two-way conversion) were adopted at the funding or study stage; council and staff said additional design work and community input remain before construction or operational changes would be made.

Ending Council members and the mayor framed the American Magic lease amendment as a final administrative step for the team’s facility and tied the decision to broader port activity and downtown development. The council concluded the meeting with unanimous votes on the items listed above and moved to follow-up design and implementation steps where the motions funded studies or created assignments for staff.