Below are the news briefs from the Tallahassee City Commission meeting that took place on September 21, 2022.
–The City Commission approved several consent items related to improvements at the Tallahassee International Airport. Other consent items included maintenance agreements for murals on the Bronough-Duval Overpass located over the Lake Anita Plaza and approving a resolution requesting an easement from the State of Florida which will allow the city access to construct, operate, and maintain electric utility improvements within Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park.
The consent items were passed unanimously.
–The city advanced three land parcel annexations. The first is located at Millennium Park on Blountstown Street. It is expected to bring in $471,500 annually in additional ad valorem tax revenue. The second is located on Southwood Plantation Road and is expected to bring in $504,915 annually in additional ad valorem tax revenue. The third and final annexation is located near Woodville Highway and Capital Circle SE. It is expected to generate $28,700 annually in additional ad valorem tax revenue.
Public hearing for all three land parcel annexations is Wednesday, November 9, 2022.
–The City Commission considered and unanimously approved an agreement between the city and Burrell Aviation Tallahassee, LLC “for the lease and development of Airport property and facilities at the Tallahassee International Airport.” The total investment in the airport development is $28 million and will support 291 permanent jobs and over 250 temporary construction jobs, according to Florida State University’s Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis.
–In the “Sharing of Ideas” portion of the meeting, the commissioners inquired with City Manager Reese Goad if there had been more discussion about getting a StarMetro route to extend to the new Amazon Fulfillment Center being developed at I-10 and Mahan Drive.
Additionally, Commissioner Jeremy Matlow proposed an item to further consideration to rename Russell Street to honor George “Calvin” Bess Jr. Russell Street was originally named after Confederate Major Albert Russell. The motion was passed unanimously.
–The City Commission adopted unanimously the Fiscal Year 2023 millage rate. However, the City Commission voted 3-2, with Matlow and Porter against – to adopt the City of Tallahassee operating budget, which totals $826.8 million, and the Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Improvement Plan which totals $205.4 million.
–The public comments focused primarily on policing in Tallahassee and affordable housing.
–The City Commission considered and unanimously approved Ordinance No. 22-O-23 which amends the city’s lobbying regulations “to prohibit individuals convicted of certain crimes from registering as a city lobbyist for a period of ten years.” Among the crimes included are bribery, extortion, theft, falsifying records, among others.
–The City Commission considered and unanimously approved Ordinance No. 22-Z-21 which changes the zoning classification for Killearn Country Club from “Residential Preservation-1 (RP-1) and Residential Preservation-2 (RP-2) Zoning Districts to the Open Space (OS) Zoning District.”
Killearn Homeowners’ Association President Steve Green offered his support for the ordinance. According to the city, the rezoning was needed to support reinvestment of the country club and club house.
Where is Dr. Erwin Jackson when we need him?
Instead of renaming Russell Street, which will mess up all those living on Russell Street, why not find a Russel that used to Live in Tallahassee a Long Long time ago and rename it Russell Street. You can have a simple event for it.
Exactly why did the Marxicrats (Porter and Matlow) vote against the Budget? Did they offer a reason for their vote(s)?
Also, check the possible type-o “However, the City Commission for 3-2, with Matlow and Porter against”… “for” or should it be “voted”?
Gas prices are still too high coming from the national level, along with the inflation, and economy. The City of Tallahassee is in a deficit which questions the competency of the city manager and on the current mayor’s watch.
Also be crime rate is very high and there are some water quality issues that need to be addressed. Finally, it is still not been addressed the employees who received raises and the 21 applicants who applied were never reported so there is a question as to the legitimacy of that process.