PANAMA CITY — City commissioners again hit a snag in advancing plans for the Marina Redevelopment Project during their most recent meeting.
Though commissioners have expressed a desire to keep all of the public uses outlined in previous designs of the downtown marina, they requested city staff draft a “strawman” document requesting input from the private sector. Commissioners wanted a document requesting general proposals as to what kind of partnerships could be developed to best balance public access and economic activity.
However, when it came time to consider the draft last week, commissioners did not have the most recent document in their packets, pushing a decision back an additional two weeks.
“Two weeks is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things,” said Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Director William Whitson following the meeting.
The CRA has been spearheading efforts to move marina redevelopment ahead.
In the draft request for proposals, the city asks the private sector to hone in on how their development would economically benefit at least a four-block radius around the marina, architecturally create a dynamic destination for residents and tourists and be cost feasible if any assisting funds are required of the city as a few key points.
The draft stipulates the city would not contribute more than $60,000, 70 percent of funds for public improvements or 15 percent in “gap funds” for project cost.
Since the state conceded ownership of both marinas, the city has been at a standstill on plans for the downtown marina redevelopment project, allowing a bid for construction of its Marina Park portion of the project to expire in October. Construction on the infrastructure and first phase of seawall repairs has proceeded despite indecision on Marina Park plans.
Of a $12.9 million loan the city secured for the marina project, about $8.2 million remains uncommitted.
In attaining ownership rights, the city gained the right to develop outside of the strict public use parameters the state requires.
A majority of commissioners have expressed a desire to keep the $85,000 designs in place for the planned public facilities like the lighthouse, splash pad, band shell and rolling, grassy hills. However, the marina’s proposed layout could change drastically to accommodate the right entrepreneur.
Previous timeline predictions for a completion date around July 2016 also will likely change, Whitson said.