Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow and his progressive allies are promoting a faster transition from natural gas to renewable energy, a policy supported by California-based political organizations endorsing their campaigns. However, the potential impact on electric rates has received considerably less attention.

The debate raises an important question for Tallahassee residents: Will an accelerated transition to renewable energy result in higher monthly electric bills?

Matlow, who is running for mayor, has argued that renewable energy can lower electricity costs. However, the experience of other utilities demonstrates that transitioning away from fossil fuels can involve significant capital investments, financing costs and long-term financial commitments.

(Editor’s note: Commissioner Matlow has publicly stated that city can transition to renewable energy and lower electric rates. We have asked for examples of other municipal utilities successfully implementing this transition and we have yet to receive a response.)

The issue is particularly important in Tallahassee, where natural gas is the primary fuel used to generate electricity.

California Groups Back Progressive Candidates

Lead Locally, a California-based organization supporting progressive candidates, has endorsed Matlow for mayor and Dot Inman-Johnson and P.J. Perez for City Commission.

The organization has called for Tallahassee to rapidly transition to clean energy.

Matlow has also received an endorsement from the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, an organization supporting candidates committed to reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

These endorsements highlight the importance of energy policy to the progressive movement seeking greater control of Tallahassee’s municipal government.

However, the central financial question remains largely unanswered: How much would an accelerated transition cost, and who would pay?

A 2024 Vote Reveals the Policy Divide

The disagreement over natural gas is not new.

At the February 7, 2024, City Commission meeting, Matlow and Commissioner Jack Porter voted against extending a natural gas pipeline capacity contract with Florida Gas Transmission Company.

The proposed extension involved approximately $4 million in budgeted utility operating expenditures and would secure pipeline capacity for another 10 years.

According to the city’s agenda materials, the contract represented approximately 26% of Tallahassee’s natural gas usage.

Utility officials warned that rejecting the extension would leave the city without sufficient natural gas capacity to meet existing electric and gas utility customer demands.

The agenda also stated that projected natural gas requirements demonstrated a clear need for the capacity through 2035.

Rather than approve the extension, Matlow proposed reviewing the city’s four energy contracts and examining alternatives to natural gas in connection with the city’s clean energy goals.

Porter supported the proposal.

The substitute motion failed 2-3, with Matlow and Porter voting in favor.

The original contract extension subsequently passed 3-2, with both commissioners opposed.

The vote provides a documented example of Matlow and Porter prioritizing a review of alternatives to natural gas despite utility staff’s stated concerns about maintaining adequate fuel supplies. During the discussion Matlow stated, “there are renewable energies we can import.”

Gainesville’s $2 Billion Warning

A Florida example illustrates the potential financial consequences of aggressive renewable energy policies.

Gainesville Regional Utilities pursued renewable electricity through a 102.5-megawatt biomass generating facility that began operating in 2013. The plant was designed to supply as much as 30% of the utility’s electricity.

The original 30-year power purchase agreement carried an estimated $2.4 billion financial obligation, according to a 2026 Gainesville presentation.

The agreement required substantial annual payments even when the facility was not generating electricity.

As natural gas prices declined, the biomass arrangement became increasingly expensive compared with conventional generation.

In 2017, Gainesville purchased the facility for approximately $750 million to escape the remaining contractual obligations, which would have totaled roughly $2 billion. The purchase was expected to reduce future costs compared with keeping the original agreement.

Gainesville’s experience demonstrates how long-term commitments made to accelerate renewable energy adoption can create enormous financial exposure for utility customers.

New England’s Natural Gas Lesson

Another warning comes from New England, where restrictions on natural gas pipeline expansion have contributed to higher electricity costs.

According to ISO New England’s market monitoring reports, limited pipeline capacity has increased natural gas prices during periods of high demand, contributing to higher wholesale electricity prices.

In 2025, New England’s wholesale electricity costs increased approximately 48%, reaching $15 billion. Higher natural gas prices were a major factor.

The region has also expanded renewable generation, but its experience demonstrates that reducing access to natural gas infrastructure before adequate alternatives are available can expose consumers to additional costs.

The Missing Cost Analysis

Renewable energy advocates correctly point out that solar generation has no fuel expense and can reduce exposure to volatile natural gas prices.

But solar facilities require upfront investment, and replacing dispatchable natural gas generation can require battery storage, transmission improvements and backup power supplies.

For Tallahassee, the critical issue is not whether renewable energy should play a greater role in electricity generation. The city has already invested in solar energy and established long-term clean energy goals.

The question is whether accelerating that transition would produce savings sufficient to offset the additional investments.

Before committing Tallahassee to a faster transition away from natural gas, residents should know the projected capital costs, financing requirements, reliability implications and anticipated effect on monthly electric bills.

For the California organizations endorsing Tallahassee’s progressive candidates, the priority is accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. For Tallahassee ratepayers, the priority may be considerably simpler: keeping electricity affordable and reliable.

Heading into the third full week of October as Tallahassee’s newly hired city manager, Karen Jumonville says she is approaching the new position with a listening ear. 

Entering the national search process as the sole internal candidate and with the endorsement of her predecessor, Reese Goad, Jumonville was hired with a 3-2 city commission vote on Sept. 2, 2026. 

Spending over 27 years with the city of Tallahassee, Jumonville worked her way through several positions in growth management, land development and permitting. Her most recent post was deputy city manager.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and a doctorate in public administration from Florida State University. Additionally, she holds certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.

“It’s an honor and a privilege, and I look forward to working with the new commission to achieve great things,” Jumonville told Capital Outlook during an interview on Oct. 16.

Jumonville, 54, has spent her first days on the job meeting one-on-one with the city commissioners establishing rapport and priorities under her new leadership. She has also been meeting with department heads and frontline staff, evaluating the current state of the city’s resources. 

“It’s really been meeting with people, a listening tour, meeting with some of our key external stakeholders, and then really looking to make sure that we’re on track with achieving the goals that are outlined in our city strategic plan,” Jumonville said. 

Jumonville encourages Tallahassee residents to stay updated with city commission agendas and meetings to stay involved with opportunities for participation.

Here are her responses during a question-and-answer interview with Capital Outlook:

Q: As you begin your first 100 days as city manager, what are the top priorities you want to address, and what would success look like by the end of that period? 

A: “The first 100-day period starts with listening and learning for me. Establishing a high level of trust with the commission, I want them to feel heard and to understand that operationally we are top notch. Meeting with my department heads so that they understand my expectations for them and my style. And then continuing to deliver the best-in-class service. Our mission is to be the national leader in the delivery of public service. We’re continuing that every day. “

Q: You have spent more than 27 years working within Tallahassee city government. What have you learned during that time that will shape how you lead the city differently as manager?

A: “The most important thing is being able to balance the long-term vision of where we want to go as a community with the daily realities of running a 4,000-person organization. We own and operate our own utilities, water, sewer, stormwater, electric, airport; there are a lot of things day-to-day that come up so it’s easy to be consumed with the day-to-day issues. You really have to be able to focus on the long-term goals and doing the things that we need to do to make sure that we’re successful in achieving the city commission’s vision for our community. 

Adaptability is critical. The ability to be able to pivot. 

The storm that we had last week, Hurricane Isaias, when that moved through our area, we had 37,000 outages and that’s more than we experienced with Hurricane Debbie in 2024. Our crews were able to restore 98% of the grid within 15 hours of the impact to our area. 

What you have planned on the calendar for a day, very rarely is what happens, but you have to be able to pivot when things like that happen to be successful.”

Q: How will you make sure Southside residents have a meaningful role in determining how their neighborhoods develop? And what do you see as a priority to tackle in the Frenchtown/Southside communities?

A: “The city has made meaningful efforts to make sure that our Southside residents are directly involved in shaping their community’s future through collaboration and a real community driven approach. You may have heard of the city’s Neighborhood First plans, and we have a Southside Action Plan and those focus on direct input from residents and helping them to establish and implement efforts to drive beautification in their neighborhoods, investment, and to truly be engaged in what’s going on in their neighborhoods. 

Another component of that is that we focus on connecting the residents and the businesses in the neighborhoods with the resources that they need and we support some of their community-led projects and really focus on active participation from the residents in the neighborhood in defining what improvements they’d like to see and what investments they’d like to see and what investments they’d like to make in their communities.”

Q: How do you plan to build public trust and make residents feel more connected to City Hall?

A: “It’s about transparency, accessibility, and being available to residents. Doing what we say we will do, being honest, communicating early; you know, that’s what I’ll do.

Being responsive to the community’s needs. 

Focusing on training our staff to treat every interaction that they have with citizens as an opportunity for them to demonstrate their competence and their service to the community. We want to be the national leaders in the delivery of public service so every time, every day that our crews are out in the community, it’s an opportunity for them to shine and demonstrate that they’re the best.”

Q: With the November election bringing changes to the city commission, how do you plan to maintain continuity and work effectively with whatever new commission takes office?

A: “I see myself as a bridge between the established operational, the history and the new commission’s vision, so my institutional knowledge provides stability in operations and that was seen with the storm that we had. I’m really a bridge between the operations and the commission’s vision. I’ve been here over 27 years, I’m a professional city manager and it’s my job to really be agile and know how to pivot to match the priorities of the new commission. 

They set policy and long-term vision and goals; we’re here to deliver.” 

Janelle Sears is a senior journalism student at Florida A&M University working as a freelance reporter for The Capital Outlook. This article is supported by Press Forward North Florida, an initiative of the Community Foundation of North Florida. To learn more and to support local journalism like this, visitcfnf.org/press-forward (https://www.cfnf.org/press-forward/). 

Data compiled from a database of fatal shootings maintained by the Tallahassee Democrat shows the annualized number of shooting deaths falling to 15 as of September 2026, down from a recent high of 32 in the spring of 2024. The chart tracks the rolling annual number of shooting deaths in Leon County from March 2021 through September 2026.

The decline from 32 to 15 represents a reduction of approximately 53%.

The latest figure is also the lowest annual rate recorded since 2023 and represents a substantial reversal from the increase in shooting deaths that occurred between 2023 and 2024.

The data show Leon County’s shooting-death rate at approximately 26 in early 2021 before declining through much of 2021 and 2022. By the spring of 2023, the annual total had fallen to 11 deaths, the lowest point during the period examined.

That improvement proved temporary.

Beginning in mid-2023, shooting deaths increased rapidly. The annual total climbed above 20 by late summer and reached approximately 30 by early 2024. The rate subsequently peaked at 32 deaths in spring 2024.

After reaching that high, however, the trend generally reversed. The annual total dropped into the mid-20s during the second half of 2024. There was a brief increase to roughly 28 late that year before another decline brought the total to about 20 in early 2025.

Throughout most of 2025 and early 2026, the annual number fluctuated primarily between 17 and 23 deaths. More recently, the numbers have moved lower again. By September 2026, the annual rate stood at 15 shooting deaths—17 fewer than at the 2024 peak.

The latest number is also approaching the low levels recorded before the 2023-24 surge. The September 2026 annual rate of 15 is only four deaths above the five-year low of 11 recorded in 2023.

Competing for an open seat on the commission, both first-time candidates pitched themselves as practical problem-solvers capable of moving past political dysfunction, even as they detailed differing visions for economic development, city budget priorities, and local government transparency.

Growth, Urban Sprawl, and the Local Economy

Perez, a veteran high school teacher of 16 years, framed his platform around curbing suburban sprawl and highlighting Tallahassee’s distinct cultural identity. Drawing on post-World War II development metrics like “value per acre,” Perez warned that extending city infrastructure into outer fringes creates long-term debt burdens for future generations.

Perez criticized generic developments like vape shops and car washes, urging the city to instead commercialize research from Florida A&M University (FAMU), Florida State University (FSU), and Tallahassee State College (TSC) to retain young professionals. Furthermore, Perez voiced strong opposition to committing municipal tax dollars for roads, water, and sewer infrastructure in distant developments like the proposed Wani project.

Derzypolski, a Navy veteran and longtime local business owner with 25 years of civic involvement, countered with a plan focused on regional collaboration, infill development, and creating a business-friendly environment. Derzypolski advocated incentivizing housing growth within the urban core inside Capital Circle to revitalize neglected neighborhoods, reduce crime, and meet affordable housing demands without taking on speculative suburban debt. He stressed that local government must change its mindset from “no” to “how can we make this work,” pointing to target sectors such as academic medical development, medical technology, and workforce training partnerships to drive high-wage career growth.

Party Affiliations and Independent Leadership

With neither candidate having previously held public office, both spent significant time explaining recent shifts in their political party registrations.

Derzypolski recently changed his registration from Republican to No Party Affiliation (NPA). Recounting his enlistment in the Navy at 18 and his past votes for family members like former State Senator Bill Montford, Derzypolski explained that growing frustration with national partisan rhetoric led him to align as an NPA. He rejected accusations from opponents labeling him a “MAGA-aligned” candidate, insisting local voters are thirsty for independent, level-headed leadership that evaluates projects on merit rather than party lines.

Perez, who previously registered as an NPA to keep political ideology out of his high school classroom, recently re-registered as a Democrat. He explained that the shift was a pragmatic move to signal his core values to voters in a broad electorate where direct conversation with every citizen is impossible. Responding to questions regarding external progressive group endorsements, Perez emphasized that his campaign is rooted in local issues detailed transparently on his website.

Fiscal Stewardship, Amendment 3, and Utility Rates

Fiscal management stood out as a sharp point of consensus and debate, particularly regarding Florida’s proposed Amendment 3 property tax measure. Both candidates declared their opposition to the amendment, warning that it would strip local decision-making authority and severely slash municipal revenues.

If state property tax cuts pass, Perez proposed trimming bloated executive salaries and eliminating administrative redundancies while protecting public safety at all costs. On energy policy, Perez resisted automatic electric rate hikes for renewables, advocating creative alternatives such as rooftop solar, net metering, neighborhood agrivoltaics, and localized microgrids to preserve grid resiliency.

Derzypolski warned that revenue losses from Amendment 3 would threaten essential quality-of-life programs, including parks, libraries, and performing arts. He firmly opposed raising utility rates to accelerate renewable energy transitions, citing the immediate financial strain on working families struggling with everyday grocery and prescription costs.

Governance, Transparency, and Community Priorities

Both candidates expressed strong dissatisfaction with the process behind the City Commission’s recent appointment of new City Manager. Perez criticized the selection process and her $317,000 starting salary with a $1,000 monthly car allowance as tone-deaf during an affordability crisis. Derzypolski agreed the compensation package was overly generous for a starting figure, arguing that future raises should be strictly tied to performance metrics, though he emphasized that she deserves a fair shot to execute the commission’s direction.

When asked about allegations concerning fake social media accounts operated by city staff, Perez dismissed the controversy as “keyboard warrior” distraction that fails to reflect the daily concerns of working families. Derzypolski called for transparent, courageous leadership, stating that city staff should never engage in divisive behavior on taxpayer time.

The NEBA straw poll of its members was won by Derzypolski who received 95% of the vote while Perez garnered 5%.

The Sept. 23 agenda item outlines the results of a citywide review of policies, programs, expenditures, contracts, grants and official activities potentially affected by Senate Bill 1134. The law, approved by the Legislature as Chapter 2026-43, takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.

City staff is recommending commissioners accept the report and authorize administrative changes needed for compliance. The review identifies potential impacts involving the City’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Community Human Service Partnership grants, the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, procurement practices, special events and proclamations.

Under SB 1134, municipalities are prohibited from funding or promoting DEI or taking certain official actions related to DEI. Local governments also cannot spend money to establish, support or staff a DEI office or officer. The law allows residents to bring legal action against a municipality for violations and requires recipients of local government contracts or grants to certify that public funds will not be used for specified DEI-related instruction.

One significant change involves Tallahassee’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. According to the agenda, the office currently handles functions including anti-harassment training, equal-employment-opportunity complaint intake and investigations, ADA accommodations and Career Mapping programs. Staff concluded those functions can continue if they are open to all city employees without reference to categories covered by the new law.

The Commission on the Status of Women and Girls presents a more direct conflict. The joint City-County commission was established in 2013 to promote issues involving women and girls. Because that mission explicitly focuses on sex, city attorneys concluded its current enabling resolution “appears to violate SB 1134” and would likely become void Jan. 1.

The City and County are working on a revised mission for the commission. Meanwhile, commissioners are being asked to extend the City’s contract with the Oasis Center for Women and Girls for administrative support through Dec. 31, along with the terms of seven commission members.

Special events could also be affected. City staff identified Experience Asia, Filipino Festival and Pride in the Park as events that may fall under the law’s restrictions. If ultimately determined to violate SB 1134, those events would no longer qualify for city-funded co-sponsorship beginning Jan. 1. The law, however, expressly permits municipalities to issue event permits in a content-neutral manner and provide public-safety services.

The City’s Emancipation Day holiday is expected to remain. The City Attorney’s Office concluded Tallahassee has a “reasonable and defensible” legal basis for continuing the May 20 paid holiday, citing its historical basis and statutory exceptions.

Procurement rules will also change. New and renewed contracts will no longer include race- or sex-based minority- and women-owned business goals, and existing MBE/WBE goal provisions will become unenforceable beginning Jan. 1. The city is reviewing procurement documents and plans to transition its MWSBE program to a race- and gender-neutral framework.

Staff also cautioned that future city proclamations will have to be reviewed individually because some official proclamations promoting activities based on protected characteristics could run afoul of the law.

The agenda lists no direct fiscal impact from the recommended actions.

Now the next question: What rules apply to political and social-media activity by a City employee during the workday?

Part 1 documented the timing: 225 of 343 comments — 65.6% — were posted between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. A review of Ray’s City timecards found dozens of comments during periods overlapping his documented City work schedule.

Part 2 examined the politics. NE Moderate repeatedly defended Matlow and Commissioner Jack Porter while criticizing Mayor John Dailey and Commissioners Curtis Richardson and Dianne Williams-Cox. Some comments went beyond policy disputes and addressed elections — advocating against candidates or discussing their prospects for winning or losing.

Florida Law: No Campaigning “While on Duty”

Florida law makes an important distinction between political activity conducted on an employee’s own time and political activity while working. Section 104.31(2), Florida Statutes, states: “An employee of the state or any political subdivision may not participate in any political campaign for an elective office while on duty.”

A violation is a first-degree misdemeanor.

But the statute also protects the political rights of government employees. Subsection (4) permits public employees to express opinions about candidates and issues and participate in political campaigns during off-duty hours, subject to other provisions of the law.

The law therefore does not prohibit Ray from supporting Matlow, Porter or other candidates, or criticizing Richardson, Williams-Cox or Dailey on his own time. The issue raised by the NE Moderate records is narrower: whether any of the anonymous activity constituted participation in an election campaign while Ray was on duty.

The distinction matters because some NE Moderate comments directly addressed elections.

On July 19, 2023, at 2:54 p.m., NE Moderate wrote about Richardson:

“Voted 3x to raise property taxes in 2023? No thanks Curtis.”

Ray’s City timecard shows his regular 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. schedule that day.

Other posts predicted Richardson would “struggle and probably lose” and said a controversial City project would “help Curtis lose.”

Williams-Cox was also targeted. On Sept. 21, 2023, at 8:58 a.m., NE Moderate wrote that the same City controversy could “make sure Dianne is not viable for mayor in 2026.” Ray’s timecard shows a regular City workday on that date.

TR has not identified a Florida appellate decision specifically deciding whether anonymous comments on a news website advocating for or against a candidate constitute participation in a political campaign under Section 104.31.

And the timecards do not establish that every comment between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. was made while Ray was legally “on duty.” His records generally credit eight hours of work during a nine-hour span, indicating a meal period whose exact timing is not shown.

The records establish that the comments occurred during periods overlapping Ray’s recorded City workday. Determining whether individual comments were posted while he was legally “on duty” would require additional evidence gathered through an independent investigation.

A Recent Broward County Case

A recent Broward County case demonstrates how investigators have approached similar questions involving political activity, government working time and public resources.

Abiodun “Abbey” Ajayi was an operations manager in Broward County’s Records, Taxes and Treasury Division while running for the newly created elected position of Broward County Tax Collector in 2024. After Ajayi announced her candidacy, her supervisor specifically instructed her to keep campaign activities separate from her County employment.

The Broward Office of Inspector General later investigated.

Investigators reviewed Ajayi’s timecards, County email activity, campaign activity and two political podcast appearances conducted from her County office.

One podcast was recorded at approximately 10 a.m. on a Friday. Investigators determined Ajayi had not taken leave and was working her normal County schedule. During the program, she discussed her campaign and what she would do if elected.

A second podcast was recorded from her County office after working hours and included a solicitation for campaign contributions.

Investigators also determined Ajayi used her County email account for campaign-related matters 44 times.

The Broward OIG concluded that Ajayi had improperly mixed her campaign with her government employment and referred findings to other enforcement authorities. In January 2026, the OIG filed a formal administrative complaint. The matter was resolved in April 2026 when Ajayi admitted liability and agreed to pay a $4,000 fine.

The case is not identical to Ray’s situation.

Ajayi was herself a candidate and Broward County had specific rules governing County employees seeking office. Investigators also had evidence showing the use of County email, equipment and an office.

TR has not established that Ray used a City computer, City email account or City Internet connection to post the NE Moderate comments.

But the Broward investigation demonstrates the type of evidence used to answer such questions: timecards, leave records, electronic communications, devices, government facilities and the precise content and timing of the political activity.

Tallahassee Has Its Own Social-Media Policy

The City of Tallahassee also has rules governing employees’ personal social-media activity.

Administrative Policy 408 defines social media broadly, including blogs, message boards, online forums and news-media comment-sharing platforms — categories that could encompass comments posted on a news website.

The policy specifically addresses “City Employees — Personal Social Media Activity.” It states that employees using social media strictly for personal purposes outside the workplace do not need City approval.

However, it also states:

“Employees should limit time on personal Social Media accounts while at work.”

The policy goes further for City-related subjects. Employees are directed to consult the Department of Communications before discussing City-related matters through social-networking sites.

For employees whose City affiliation is publicly known, the policy says personal content should be appropriate to the public trust associated with their position. Employees are expected to be truthful, courteous and respectful and “shall not engage in name-calling or personal attacks or other such demeaning behavior.”

Those provisions are potentially relevant to NE Moderate.

The anonymous account repeatedly discussed City business, including taxes, the City Manager, police, development projects and actions taken by individual City commissioners. Some comments included disparaging descriptions of elected officials.

Whether Ray’s activity violated Policy 408 is ultimately a determination for the City. The policy’s statement that employees “should limit” personal social-media activity at work is also not the same as an absolute prohibition against all personal Internet use.

TPD Case Shows City Social-Media Rules Have Been Enforced

The City’s social-media restrictions are not merely theoretical. In 2020, Tallahassee Police Sgt. Gavin Larremore was investigated over a Facebook post he made concerning Black Lives Matter demonstrations and the City’s decision to paint a BLM mural near Gaines Street.

Larremore criticized the City’s support for the mural and referred to protesters as a “mob of thugs.”

Police Chief Lawrence Revell ordered an Internal Affairs investigation, saying he held TPD representatives to a high standard “whether on duty or off.”

The investigation substantiated violations of TPD’s social-media protocols and rules of conduct. Larremore received an 80-hour unpaid suspension, was demoted and was required to undergo counseling.

Larremore disputed the findings. He argued that the Facebook comments were made off duty, in a private capacity, and were protected by the First Amendment.

These actions demonstrate that the city of Tallahassee has previously investigated and disciplined an employee over personal social-media activity when officials determined the content violated applicable City and departmental standards.

The City’s current TPD social-media protocols continue to reference Administrative Policy 408 and state that officers are responsible for complying with social-media rules during official duties and, in specified circumstances, at other times as well.

Two Different Questions

The Ray records therefore raise two separate issues.

The first is time: Were comments advocating for or against candidates posted while Ray was legally on duty?

The second is resources and workplace conduct: Did Ray use City equipment, Internet access, accounts or working time to engage in the activity, and did the content comply with City social-media standards?

The IP-address records alone cannot answer the second question. An Internet address does not establish that a comment was posted from City Hall, through a City network or from a City-owned device.

But Florida law and Tallahassee’s own policies establish that the distinction between personal political activity and activity conducted as a government employee matters.

The Broward investigation shows how another Florida government examined that distinction by comparing political activity with timecards, leave records, government email and workplace resources.

And Tallahassee’s handling of the Larremore case demonstrates that the City has previously investigated personal social-media activity by an employee and imposed discipline after determining applicable policies had been violated.

The remaining question in the NE Moderate investigation is therefore increasingly specific:

Were Ray’s anonymous political activities simply protected personal political speech — or did activity occur while he was performing his taxpayer-funded City job or under circumstances governed by City workplace rules?

The agenda item was originated by the underground utilities and public infrastructure division. Program engineer Jared Whitaker responded to the request for more information by stating that the multi-faceted project was designed to upgrade aging infrastructure and resolve long-standing operational bottlenecks in the northeast service area.

According to staff, coordinating pipe replacement directly with Blueprint’s ongoing road construction reduces design and construction expenses, avoids future roadway disruptions, and maximizes taxpayer investment.

Key components of the utility plan include the following:

Water Main Upsizing: Replacing and relocating existing water mains into a dedicated utility corridor to improve system capacity, lower head loss, and enhance local fire protection.

Wastewater Force Main: Constructing a new force main along Bannerman Road that connects Pump Station 94 directly to the new Bannerman main.

Addressing Aging Facilities: Pump Station 94, located in Summerbrook, was constructed in 1991 and is nearing the end of its operational service life as well as its design capacity.

Eliminating Private Easement Bottlenecks: Currently, wastewater from Summerbrook and Ox Bottom is pumped across private property easements into a gravity sewer in Killearn Estates.
.
Three Key Points of Contradiction

Despite staff’s technical presentation, Commissioner Matlow strongly contested the item. During commission discussion, Matlow made several assertions that directly contradicted the facts and scope presented by Engineer Whitaker:

1. “Roadway Driven” vs. “Development Driven”
   
   Engineer Whitaker: Stated explicitly that the utility improvements are “roadway driven and operational in nature, not development driven,” pointing out that the active Blueprint roadway project merely provides a cost-effective opportunity to execute planned operational upgrades.
   
   Commissioner Matlow: Contradicted staff, declaring, “this is not roadway driven because a roadway does not create a need for new sewer capacity,” and arguing that the $10 million advancement was designed to accommodate new development on the urban fringe
   .
2. Pipe Destination and Purpose
   
   Engineer Whitaker: Explained that the proposed force main links Pump Station 94 in Summerbrook directly to the new Bannerman force main to serve the broader northeast service area— a point later reiterated by City Manager Reese Goad, who noted the line’s terminus is the pump station
   .
   Commissioner Matlow: Alleged that the project represents an “expansion on Meridian Road with all pipes leading to the Phipps property,” questioning if the infrastructure was secretly intended to support development on that tract
   .
3. Availability of Details and Justification
   
   Engineer Whitaker: Laid out specific project locations (Bannerman Road, Summerbrook, Killearn Estates), identified exact capacity constraints (Pump Station 94 reaching design limits), and outlined the neighborhoods benefiting from the work.
   .
   Commissioner Matlow: Maintained that the commission was being asked to authorize nearly $10 million with “no explanation of the location, the area, the need which areas would be served or why we need new capacity.”

The item passed 3-2 with Matlow and Commissioner Jack Porter voting no.

The Sept. 9 vote applies not only to cameras supplied by Flock Safety, but also to other automated license plate recognition, or ALPR, technology used by the Tallahassee Police Department. TPD has been operating two ALPR systems — 80 Flock cameras and 75 Vigilant cameras — for a total of 155 cameras, according to information previously provided to commissioners.

The distinction is significant: Flock Safety is a company, while ALPR refers to the broader technology that photographs license plates and vehicle characteristics and makes the information searchable by law enforcement.

The unanimous decision represents a significant change from the commission’s Aug. 26 meeting. At that meeting, Commissioner Jeremy Matlow moved to begin removing the Flock cameras, with Commissioner Jack Porter supporting the effort. The proposal failed on a 3-2 vote, with Mayor John Dailey and commissioners Dianne Williams-Cox and Curtis Richardson supporting continued use of the technology.

Since then, the political and regulatory landscape surrounding license plate readers has changed rapidly.

The Florida Department of Transportation recently moved to revoke permits for ALPR cameras located on state highway rights-of-way and said it would no longer issue new permits. The state cited the rapid expansion of the systems along with concerns about misuse, data privacy and surveillance. Gov. Ron DeSantis has also said use of the technology had “gotten out of control.”

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil separately suspended the Leon County Sheriff’s Office’s use of ALPR technology while seeking stronger oversight and accreditation standards.

Williams-Cox said Wednesday that the city should follow the Sheriff’s Office and provide consistency in how the technology is handled locally.

The vote came despite TPD’s defense of the technology. Police officials have maintained that ALPR systems are valuable investigative tools that can help identify stolen vehicles, locate suspects and assist investigators in serious crimes. TPD had also outlined safeguards governing access to the system and recently joined LCSO in launching public transparency portals related to the technology.

But concerns over privacy, data sharing and potential misuse have fueled growing opposition locally and nationally. More than a dozen speakers addressed commissioners Wednesday and urged the city to discontinue the technology.

Matlow argued that public pressure was responsible for changing the outcome.

“This decision is only changing because of you,” Matlow told speakers, according to reporting on the meeting.

Matlow sought to go further, proposing that the cameras be physically covered within 24 hours and removed within 30 days. That proposal failed 3-2.

Instead, City Manager Reese Goad said the cameras would be turned off, preventing the city or others from accessing them through the system. The approach mirrors the Sheriff’s Office’s suspension of its cameras.

The action therefore amounts to a suspension rather than permanent removal. The cameras may remain physically in place for now, leaving open the possibility that commissioners could revisit the issue if new state rules, accreditation standards or other safeguards are developed.

For Tallahassee, the Sept. 9 vote marks a rapid reversal in a debate that has shifted from whether the city should use Flock cameras to the broader question of whether government should operate interconnected license plate-reading systems at all.

The proposed contract would run from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2031, and includes 20 weeks of severance pay, a $1,000 monthly automobile allowance and a city contribution to a 457 retirement account.

Perhaps the most consequential provision deals with termination.

Under the proposed agreement, Jumonville could only be removed by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the City Commission. With five commissioners, that would effectively require four votes to terminate the city manager rather than the three votes needed for most commission actions.

According to the city, the provision mirrors the employment terms of Tallahassee’s Inspector General. The remainder of the agreement is based on contracts used for the city’s appointed officials.

The contract comes one week after a divided City Commission selected Jumonville as the successor to longtime City Manager Reese Goad.

On Sept. 2, commissioners voted 3-2 to select Jumonville following public interviews with three finalists identified through a nationwide search. The commission then directed the mayor to negotiate an employment agreement for consideration at its Sept. 9 meeting.

Jumonville currently serves as Tallahassee’s deputy city manager and previously served as assistant city manager and Growth Management director.

The selection followed a search that began after Goad announced on April 28 that he would retire effective Sept. 30 or upon selection of his successor. Goad has served as city manager since September 2018 after being named interim manager in November 2017.

One distinction highlighted in the city agenda is that Flock Safety is a company, while automated license plate recognition, or ALPR, is the technology. TPD currently uses two ALPR platforms — Flock Safety and Vigilant — with 80 Flock cameras and 75 Vigilant cameras. The fixed cameras capture license plates and associated vehicle information that investigators can search for legitimate law enforcement purposes.

The systems are also different from TPD’s public-safety video cameras. Those cameras provide video footage associated with calls for service and investigations, while ALPR cameras automatically identify and create searchable records of license plates passing the cameras.

TPD Points to Major Cases

TPD says ALPR technology has played a role in several significant investigations.

According to the agenda, investigators used ALPR information during a 2025 investigation into approximately 14 bank robberies involving suspects traveling from Texas along the Interstate 10 corridor and frequently changing license plates. The information helped investigators reconstruct vehicle movements and connect related incidents.

In another case, following a February 2025 armed robbery and double homicide at a Gadsden County convenience store, investigators identified the suspect vehicle. A Flock alert later detected the vehicle traveling through another jurisdiction, helping officers coordinate across agencies and eventually capture the suspect in Suwannee County.

TPD also reports ALPR technology contributed to resolving several attempted murder or homicide investigations between 2022 and 2026, including the November 2022 FAMU basketball court homicide and 2025 and 2026 Tallahassee homicide cases. In March 2026, officers used ALPR data to locate an elderly person with dementia who had been reported missing.

Flock provides an additional benefit because participating law enforcement agencies can share information. TPD determines which agencies may access its Flock data, while other agencies decide whether their information is available to Tallahassee investigators. That can allow investigators to follow vehicles beyond the reach of TPD-owned cameras.

Safeguards and Audits

TPD’s General Order 56 limits ALPR use to active criminal intelligence or investigative purposes. Searches require an authorized user to provide a purpose and case number, and access is controlled through individual login credentials.

The department also says an ALPR alert by itself generally does not give an officer authority to take enforcement action. Officers must visually verify the license plate and confirm the information through appropriate law enforcement databases.

Other safeguards include mandatory training, restrictions against using the system for personal interest or curiosity, and auditing of searches. Misuse can result in discipline, termination, criminal arrest or civil liability. TPD policy establishes a minimum 30-day data-retention period, subject to applicable public-records requirements.

Those auditing provisions recently received a real-world test. TPD identified 293 searches that were flagged by the system for further review. According to the city, each was investigated and determined to have been conducted for a legitimate law enforcement purpose.

TPD also launched a public Flock Transparency Portal on Aug. 25 providing information about ALPR reads, searches, hits, policies and other information.

The discussion comes as other governments reconsider the technology. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil recently suspended LCSO’s use of ALPR technology pending additional standards and oversight, while the Florida Department of Transportation has revoked permits allowing ALPR devices within state highway rights-of-way. The FDOT action does not prohibit ALPR technology generally, but requires affected cameras to be removed from state rights-of-way.

The City Commission agenda does not recommend ending TPD’s ALPR program. Instead, commissioners are being asked to provide direction on the technology’s future use as officials weigh its documented investigative benefits against concerns involving privacy, data access, retention and oversight.

Mayor John Dailey and Commissioners Curtis Richardson and Dianne Williams-Cox supported moving forward with Jumonville, while Commissioners Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter voted against the motion. Jumonville’s contract is expected to return to the commission for final ratification on Sept. 9.

Before the final vote, Matlow and Porter, the commission’s progressive wing, proposed hiring Jumonville under a one-year contract. The proposal was rejected by the commission majority, with Dailey arguing that a short-term agreement would create instability, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The contract debate reflected a larger disagreement that has surrounded the city manager search for months. Matlow and Porter have argued that the commission should not make a long-term appointment shortly before the November elections, which could change the makeup of the five-member board. WFSU reported that the two commissioners said Wednesday that the process had been rushed and could result in instability if the incoming commission wants a different manager.

The commission majority has rejected that argument, maintaining that the current commission has a responsibility to select a permanent replacement for retiring City Manager Reese Goad.

Jumonville was one of three finalists recommended by S. Renée Narloch & Associates, the firm hired by the city for $30,000 to conduct the nationwide search. The other finalists were Scott Andrews, former county manager of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, and Valerie Washington, assistant city manager in Fort Worth, Texas.

As previously reported by Tallahassee Reports, the three finalists emerged from 37 applicants representing nine states and the District of Columbia. The applicant pool included 13 current or former city and county managers and five deputy or assistant city managers.

Jumonville brings considerably more Tallahassee experience than the other finalists. She joined city government in 1999 and was promoted to deputy city manager in March 2025 after serving as an assistant city manager since 2022. She previously headed the city’s Growth Management Department and was the first woman to serve as its director.

As deputy city manager, Jumonville oversees departments with a combined budget exceeding $270 million and approximately 700 employees. The city manager is responsible for a much larger organization — nearly 4,000 employees, a roughly $1.2 billion operating and capital budget, six municipal utilities, the Tallahassee Police Department, fire services, parks and recreation and Tallahassee International Airport.

During her presentation to commissioners, Jumonville emphasized both her experience and the responsibility that comes with the position.

“I understand first hand the significance of this position, its importance to the community and the extraordinary responsibility that comes with it,” Jumonville said, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. She said her focus would include aligning city spending with priorities established by the commission.

At Tuesday’s public meet-and-greet, Jumonville told WFSU that she would focus on “fiscal stewardship” while fostering the city’s “one team mentality and culture.”

Jumonville will replace Goad, who announced earlier this year that he would retire effective Sept. 30 or when his successor is selected. Goad has served as city manager since 2018 and had previously endorsed Jumonville as a strong candidate for the position.

In an eight-page order filed Monday, Aug. 31, Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh granted motions to dismiss filed by the City of Tallahassee and the Florida State University Board of Trustees. The ruling ends the case at the trial-court level unless the plaintiffs pursue an appeal.

The lawsuit was filed April 30 by the Tallahassee Branch NAACP and four residents — Jacqueline Y. Perkins, Moises Humberto Martinez, Ada Kilpatrick and Wilson Barnes. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief challenging the city’s March 11 vote to transfer the hospital assets to FSU.

The complaint argued the city failed to comply with Section 155.40 of Florida law in carrying out the transaction and alleged the transfer could put health care for indigent residents at risk.

Marsh dismissed the case on what he described as “multiple independent and alternative grounds,” finding that each was sufficient on its own to require dismissal.

First, the court ruled the plaintiffs lacked standing under Section 155.40. Marsh found that the law provides a specific process for challenging a hospital sale or lease and limits an “interested party” to someone submitting a proposal to buy or lease the hospital along with the governing board. None of the plaintiffs submitted such a proposal or sought appellate review of a decision by the Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration.

The court also found the plaintiffs lacked standing under broader legal principles because they had not alleged a specific injury different from that potentially experienced by the community generally. The order characterized their status as residents and possible future hospital patients as a generalized grievance and found their claimed financial injury depended upon a speculative series of future events.

In a separate and potentially significant finding, Marsh ruled that Section 155.40 does not apply to the transaction.

The statute addresses the sale or lease of a public hospital to a for-profit or nonprofit Florida entity. FSU, Marsh wrote, is neither. Instead, FSU is a governmental entity and an agency of the State of Florida. Therefore, the court concluded, transferring the assets to FSU falls outside the type of transaction regulated by the statute.

Marsh also determined that allowing the plaintiffs to amend their complaint would be futile because the legal defects identified by the court could not be corrected through new allegations. The case was therefore dismissed with prejudice, making the ruling final at the circuit-court level.

The judge emphasized that his ruling should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the city’s hospital-transfer policy.

“This court can only decide whether or not the policy is legal,” Marsh wrote, adding that the court cannot “second guess whether that is a good or bad policy.”