Tallahassee City Commission Meeting Briefs: June 11, 2025

Provided below are the news briefs from the Tallahassee City Commission meeting held on June 11, 2025.

The City Commission approved 16 Consent Agenda items.

Policy Formation and Direction

12.01: The city commission voted  5-0 to authorize staff to negotiate and execute an agreement to restore the Jefferson Street roadway and sidewalks or, if negotiations are unsuccessful, to explore other legal remedies as available related to the stalled Washington Square project.

12.02: The city commission voted 3-2 (Matlow & Porter against) to direct staff to discontinue its efforts to acquire, by eminent domain, property owned by Circle K Stores, Inc., in the Canopy development.

Public Hearings

16.01: The city commission voted 5-0 to delay the adoption of the amendments to the Land Use and Mobility Elements and transmit the proposed Land Use and Mobility Element to the State and review agencies for review. The item will be reintroduced in September so that more time can be allowed for community engagement related to the impact of the amendments on neighborhoods.

16.02: The city commission voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 25-O-13, amending Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances, the Tallahassee Municipal Election Code. The amendment will  modernize the city’s procedures and to enact the voter-approved changes for primary elections.

The city commission voted 5-0 to conduct a sunset review of City Commission Policy 118 – Canvassing of Absentee Ballots – and repeal the policy.

16.03: The city commission voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 25-O-14, amending City Charter §14 to expand the 20-day appointment window for filling an unanticipated vacancy on the city commission to 60 days.

16.04: The city commission voted 4-1 (Matlow against) to hold the first of two public hearings on Ordinance No. 25-O-15AA; Moratorium on Gas Stations; Second Public Hearing Scheduled for August 20, 2025.

This item provides for the first of two public hearings that would establish a moratorium on new gas stations or the expansion of existing gas stations, through December 31, 2025.  This item has been revised since the Introduction of the Ordinance to apply the moratorium to new gas stations or the expansion of existing gas stations, which are on a parcel located within 1,000 feet of a parcel with an existing residential use or residential uses currently under permit review.

16.05: The city commission voted 5-0 to hold the second and final public hearing on the development of the FY 2024-2029 Five Year Consolidated Plan and the FY 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan.

This agenda item provides an overview of the proposed strategic goals, projects, and activities for the FY 2025-2029 5-Year Consolidated Plan and set the budget for the first year, FY 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that the City develop a five-year Consolidated Plan for the use of entitlement grant funds and prepare an Annual Action Plan annually detailing the proposed use of those entitlement funds as they relate to the Consolidated Plan goals.