Good news! The resurfacing of Bayou Boulevard from 12th Avenue to Firestone Boulevard is set to begin in mid-November. See the below email from Mr. Stephen Hunt of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT):
Councilman Johnson:
First let me apologize for any inconvenience the delayed start of the above referenced project may have caused. The Department strives to create and maintain accurate construction schedules, however; as discussed by phone today, there are many variables impacting the actual “shovel in the ground” date.
Currently, the Preconstruction Conference for this project is scheduled for October 28, 2009, with actual work beginning approximately 2 weeks later…..around November 12th.
Should you need additional assistance or if I can be of further service, please do not hesitate to call.
With the upcoming referendum on a new city charter, I just wanted to quickly post links to both the current city charter as well as the proposed new charter so that citizens could read both and make up their minds.
City Council will soon be filling a vacancy on the Environmental Advisory Board.
The Environmental Advisory Board provides policy advice and recommendations to City Council and staff.
The requirements for this seat are that the applicant be a city resident, and a member of a business organization.
If you are interested in serving on this board please complete an application, available on the city web site, turn it in to the city clerk, and then contact myself or another Council member for nomination. You can contact me at ljohnson@ci.pensacola.fl.us. Contact information for other Council members is located on the city web site.
I'm very excited at the work being done at the site of the soon-to-open Publix supermarket at 9th Avenue and Bayou Boulevard (formerly Albertson's). Thanks to the efforts of City staff including Mr. Thaddeus Cohen, Publix has implemented several key improvements to that property, including the installation of trees and landscaping in the parking lot, and clearing of the on-site retention pond. These measures help mitigate stormwater runoff into the adjacent Carpenter's Creek.
Yesterday's Pensacola News Journal has a great story about the project:
Cohen said Publix is cleaning out the existing retention pond at the site, which had been in disrepair for many years.
The parking lot, which slopes south toward Carpenter Creek, is a major source of stormwater runoff. Without a fully functioning retention pond, the runoff becomes a major source of pollution for the creek, which feeds the headwaters of Bayou Texar.
"Getting that (retention pond) functioning again is very important," Cohen said.
Cohen said negotiations with Publix executives also resulted in the Lakeland-based company's decision to install trees and several rain gardens, or grassy islands, in the existing parking lot.
According to the story, Publix is hoping for an opening in early November.
It's great to see out-of-town developers come in and do a project right. On August 27, 2008, I wrote a letter to Publix as a member the Emerald Coastkeeper board, expressing concerns about some of the stormwater issues I mentioned above. I received a response from Mr. Clayton Hollis with Publix stating that they would be doing some landscaping and expressing Publix's willingness to work with the community. I would like to give a very big thank you to Publix for going above and beyond the minimum. Their improvements to the retention pond and parking area mean improvements in water quality in Carpenter's Creek, and then of course Bayou Texar.
Included below is a copy of my letter and Mr. Hollis' response.
The Community Maritime Park Associates, Inc. (CMPA) Board of Trustees is responsible for overseeing the development and operation of the Community Maritime Park and is comprised of twelve (12) members. In accordance with the Master Development Agreement and Master Lease Agreement between the City of Pensacola and the CMPA the City is required to appoint one-third of the members of the Board of Directors for the CMPA not-for-profit organization.
At this time one (1) position requires appointment by City Council for a term of three (3) years (expiring October 30, 2012). Regular meetings are held monthly on the second Friday at City Hall.
ANYONE INTERESTED IN SERVING SHOULD CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR AN APPLICATION OF INTEREST AND CONTACT A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009 (NOMINATION BY A COUNCIL MEMBER IS REQUIRED).
If you have any questions please contact the City Clerk's office at 435-1606.
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