PANAMA CITY — City officials are casting a broad net in hopes of drawing in a variety of private interest in the Marina Redevelopment Project.
Panama City commissioners unanimously agreed on language Tuesday seeking partnerships with private developers from across the country to help with marina plans. The city is expecting complete proposals from developers, with serious capital backing within 60 days to gather an idea of the amount of interest by July.
“If they are going to focus on this, we want them to focus on it the way we do and get it done,” said Mayor Greg Brudnicki.
The request commissioners agreed on does not limit the contribution of public funds — in the form of loans or bonds, tax increment financing incentives from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) or the possible “bed tax” revenue currently being considered in the city — which could be used to assist with developments.
Concessions on impact fees and funding for infrastructure improvements on the marina also are offered. However, the developer ultimately would be responsible for planning, financing and execution of the project, according to the city’s request.
In return, the city is broadly seeking a project, or overall mix of projects, that provides substantial economic benefit for the entire city without restricting the marina’s public access for recreation and entertainment.
Though commissioners have expressed a desire to keep designs of the Marina Park portion of the marina project in place, the city’s vision of the marina as outlined in the request is open to negotiation.
“Everything’s on the table,” Brudnicki said. “If they get creative with what they want to do with this property, we have an open mind and we’re not ruling anything out until we see what their idea is.”
To further entice developers, a listing of the city-owned properties downtown is included in the request, but Brudnicki said that, too, could be negotiable.
“If we’ve got control of another parcel that could be used in conjunction with something that is down here, there’s no reason not to look at that,” he said.
Other action
In other city business Tuesday, commissioners:
— Appointed Assistant City Manager Jeff Brown as the acting city manager. Brown will be the interim city manager for Ken Hammons, who will be absent from the position for medical treatment.
“He’s very familiar with everything we are working on, so he’s on top of it,” Brudnicki said. “It’s a smooth transition until (Hammons) gets back on his feet.”
— Heard the first reading of an ordinance amending nightclub license fees for businesses that offer live entertainment. Commissioner John Kady introduced the measure to remove barriers for a musical rejuvenation initiative dubbed “Music Matters” downtown. Kady requested the city remove the annual $150 license fee, but commissioners reached a compromise at $100. Later in the meeting, commissioners, acting as the CRA board, approved budgeting $7,000 for one-time payments for music license fees.
— Unanimously rejected plans to commercialize a property at 2209 E. Ninth St. for being near the former site of the Coyote Landfill. Neighboring residents objected to a land-use change for the property without a specific design of what would be developed on the land.
“My concern is not so much about what the owner wants to do with the property,” said Commissioner Ken Brown, who represents the ward. “My concern is more with the future. … If someone else buys it, then we are going to go through this problem again.”
The city will be looking into filing a $50,000 lien on the Coyote Landfill property for funds used to clear the landfill of trash and pests, which plagued surrounding property owners.
“That piece of property has been a menace for so long,” Brudnicki said. “I’d hate to see those people be burdened with something else — maybe it’s not rats, but noise — and I’d like to see them have some peace.”
— Awarded a contract of $109,976 to Royal American Construction for the Drake Avenue and 17th Street stormwater improvements.
— Awarded a bid or $371,208 to I-C Contractors for the multisite pollutant separators project.