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Sheriff asks city to abandon alley behind office to improve security; planners outline procedural steps
Summary
Sheriff Harrison asked the commission to vacate the alley directly behind the sheriff’s office to reroute it to Sixth Street for security; staff outlined required plan amendments, public notices and fees and estimated a 45–60 day process to complete the alley-abandonment and related plan changes.
Gulf County Sheriff Harrison asked the Port St. Joe City Commission to abandon the alley directly behind the sheriff’s office and reroute access to Sixth Street, saying the change would help secure the office and still allow ingress and egress for neighboring businesses.
City staff explained that the requested alley vacation will require a sequence of steps, including a plan amendment (to change land-use designations for an adjacent parcel that is currently classified residential), public notices, a planning-board hearing and a formal resolution to abandon the alley. Staff estimated the process could take 45–60 days and said advertising and engineering fees would apply; one staff estimate cited approximately $4,000 in engineering and related costs for plan changes and notices.
Sheriff Harrison said his office is limited in local funds and asked the commission to consider fee relief or collaboration; he also noted the office provides dispatching and other shared services under contract with the city. Commissioners asked staff how to expedite the process; staff confirmed the alley-abandonment begins with a planning-board review, followed by notices and a resolution before the commission.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff said they would prepare a schedule and next steps for the commission to consider at a future meeting.
