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Panama City commissions design for 50 wet slips; staff says construction could begin next year
Summary
Panama City commissioners agreed to adopt a structured meeting plan and to advance design of the first 50 wet slips at the downtown marina, with design work expected by mid‑December and construction potentially beginning in early 2026. Key financing and environmental‑review questions remain.
Mayor Branch called the Nov. 10 special meeting to order and proposed a staged approach to rebuilding the downtown marina, saying he tries "to take big problems and big decisions and try to break them into small decisions." Commissioners adopted the meeting structure by a 5–0 vote.
Staff later described a two‑phase plan for the marina. "The first phase is the 50 slips," staff representative Mr. Zimmerman told the commission, adding that the city obtained a post‑disaster permit exemption that would allow construction of up to 50 slips without a full permit. Zimmerman said he expects the 50‑slip design to be completed by mid‑December, and the full ~200‑slip conceptual design by mid‑February; permitting for the entire marina would then take "anywhere from a year to 18 months," he said.
Commissioners debated whether to pause after the first 50 slips to test market demand or to continue design for the full marina. Mayor Branch argued for an incremental approach to avoid locking in the wrong slip sizes: "We may find that the marina needs bigger slips or smaller slips," he said. Several commissioners urged that market analysis be completed alongside design work.
Public speakers with marina experience urged that past layout and infrastructure be reviewed to inform the new design. Marine surveyor Chris Mills asked staff to provide drawings showing what the pre‑storm marina looked like and how the 50‑slip phase would connect to an eventual 180–200‑slip plan.
Staff recommended immediate next steps: finish the 50‑slip schematic, obtain exemption paperwork for environmental review, and collect market analyses from PFM, CMP and other local operators to inform whether to proceed with additional phases. The commission directed staff to return with cost estimates, market analysis and updated timelines at upcoming meetings.
What’s next: staff and consultants will pursue design completion in December and return to the commission with firm cost and financing options before any construction contract is awarded.
