Below are the news briefs from the Tallahassee City Commission meeting that took place on November 9, 2022.
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The city commission heard a presentation from Dwight Floyd, Independent Ethics Officer, from the Independent Ethics Board regarding the 2022 Annual Report.
The full presentation from Floyd can be viewed here and the official annual report can be viewed here.
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The commission considered and approved a resolution that awards a contract term of three (3) years with an optional two (2) year extension with Equix Energy Services LLC. for the installation of gas mains and electric conduits. The official bid can be viewed here.
During consideration, Commissioner Jack Porter asked about the fiscal impact of the project, and Tony Guillen, General Manager – Electric and Gas Utility, stated at the meeting that it would be “a couple million or several million over the life of the contract.”
Porter also asked if the infrastructure that will be used could be compatible for “renewable natural gas and green hydrogen” to which Guillen stated “yes.”
Guillen stated that they’re working and operating through a “clean energy plan” and that even other alternative fuel sources can be used through the infrastructure that will be used to implement this project.
Mayor Pro-Tem Curtis Richardson said that he commended the staff for their work to ensure that the city’s plan to be “carbon-neutral by 2050” is fulfilled.
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The city considered and approved a provision that would accept a $50,000 subgrant from the Florida Department of Transportation “to provide additional seatbelt enforcement.” Tallahassee Police Department Chief Lawrence Revell fielded questions from the commissioners.
Commissioner Porter inquired to if this additional seatbelt enforcement did lead to more seatbelt usage. Chief Revell stated that, according to what TPD has seen, that spending additional time enforcing seatbelt usage does lead to more compliance of seatbelts to begin with.
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The commission considered and approved a resolution that would accept a $5.1 million grant from the Volkswagon Settlement and EPA’s Diesel Reduction Act (DERA) State Grant Program. City Manager Reese Goad said this would offer the city with additional funding to purchase all-electric buses.
According to the resolution, the city’s goal is to shift StarMetro fixed routes to 100 percent electric by 2035.
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The commission passed an amendment that will “reserve $1,000,000 in City American Rescue Plan Act funding for Phase II of the Orange Avenue Redevelopment Project.”
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The city heard a presentation on the Community Resilience Plan Annual Report. The presentation at the meeting can be viewed here and the annual report can be viewed here.
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The full meeting can be viewed here.
Tallahassee City Commission Meeting Briefs: November 9, 2022 added by Grant Holcomb on
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Let’s watch to see if this seat belt enforcement slush fund is diverted to someone’s campaign manager and their PR firm to do TV commercials about seat belts. Business as usual. How can they put more officers on it when they don’t have enough officers to deal with the crime to begin with? Something sure doesn’t smell right.
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t wear their seat belt. And I view those that don’t wear seat belts as “thinnin’ the herd” not someone that needs to be saved. TPD needs more cops to fight violent crime, we don’t need to give them 50 grand to preach seat belts to stupid people.
~ The commission passed an amendment that will “reserve $1,000,000 in City American Rescue Plan Act funding for Phase II of the Orange Avenue Redevelopment Project.”
Once again… a blatant misuse/misappropriation of funds not intended for “Redevelopment Project”(s)
Why is DOT giving TPD $50,000 for additional seatbelt enforcement? Just write more Tickets. If the Ticket is $75, all you need to write is 667 Tickets. I drive a LOT and at MOST, I will only see 1 or two Drivers not wearing their Seatbelt a week. So, I think the message is out there and DOT can spend that $50,000 on Road Repairs..