[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6096788,"mediaKeyId","2830641-da66f2e69b9e112c028b0d4aa560d102","parentId",2830641,"title","Bayview Community Center solar project pauses contract signing pending DOE guidance; oral RFP presentations set for March 10","audioSeconds",366,"startMs",145710,"endMs",512259,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830641-da66f2e69b9e112c028b0d4aa560d102&start=145&end=512","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830641-da66f2e69b9e112c028b0d4aa560d102/thumbnail_145710.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6096788/Pensacola/Escambia-County/Florida/Bayview-Community-Center-solar-project-pauses-contract-signing-pending-DOE-guidance-oral-RFP-presentations-set-for-March-10","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096788-894824d4813ef7fe4d936db14a4fb83d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198177&Signature=A08K4Uy7VwtlGWU7q1fNZqQfjTw3I1CDlQ-Q4TVykXizHTEiuXbKvolyOc2DaGOw0ML1-iFLHh5pd0VEzAFNdiphe~ueyy5gYWDCNhBHMt-zHsbHQY0TxCuomajrU2uM2oirlgOVHJzodHkvZvWDoiUWTgiWmcpoGjSajy9iqKVLSrDkA04oiI38qk7yCRYv1mzyv0C-5hvOztPQCBL2qRu2UkRfn2XedyxW5xpPzThtILlDQ-3yitXAI7bqm08yY95TnNnPS52hP8cxRPIBeYSrZJr736Z2kx2hMkkCskPfwt6dusVc9uqZKl-T8tRYG~YYS0hk4WC1cjwq5FfQOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Pensacola, FL ","date","2025-03-06T00:00:00Z","article","City staff provided an update on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) solar project planned for Bayview Community Center and said selection steps will continue while contracting is on hold pending federal guidance.

Chase, staff member, said oral presentations from a short list of companies are scheduled for March 10. \"We're still going to continue to have those as of today, and those are scheduled for March 10,\" Chase said. Staff intends to pick one proposer from the presentations but will not enter into a contractual agreement until the Department of Energy provides clearer guidance on allowable uses and conditions because the project is partially funded with DOE money under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and partially from local energy-efficiency LOST funds.

Chase said staff planned a risk-analysis meeting with legal, finance and supervisors to evaluate whether the city could proceed if federal funding were withdrawn, and whether it would be financially feasible for the city to complete the project with local funds alone. \"I am however optimistic,\" Chase said, noting that the award was made last year and that some wording adjustments might allow the project to proceed.

Why it matters: The Bayview solar project would deliver renewable energy to a community facility, but federal funding uncertainty means contracting remains paused until federal conditions are clarified. Staff intends to keep proposers informed about the pause and the conditions under which the city would sign a contract.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Pensacola City Environmental Advisory Board - Mar 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff said oral presentations from shortlisted contractors for a solar installation at Bayview Community Center are scheduled for March 10, but the city will not sign a contract until it receives further guidance from the Department of Energy because federal funding is part of the project.","taxTitle","Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida","taxId",56151,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096793,"Pensacola staff: $1 million Arbor Day federal grant terminated; city to rely on violation fines and local funds for tree work",414,57340,471960,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830641-da66f2e69b9e112c028b0d4aa560d102&start=57&end=471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830641-da66f2e69b9e112c028b0d4aa560d102/thumbnail_57340.jpg","/articles/6096793/Pensacola/Escambia-County/Florida/Pensacola-staff-1-million-Arbor-Day-federal-grant-terminated-city-to-rely-on-violation-fines-and-local-funds-for-tree-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096793-3f3bff80cf6397e8c2976620d7009e97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198177&Signature=MU0Wz2R3DGXHhh-4cWSe3bUMsuGpZT7KUAySxRu3pcmzdzd-H4AJQuMqwTkNE7ErjCPXCyWG5HOhDZS89UHOiNQt6rFTdHocbyRYjcIRl60ethvnnsT57MwUfINS3ffZIEMBk72iGHW2S0~5dFIlR1gJB7jli39-OMs6RSWPSl6q-IZTKX6W90eZkk0yaRbMnE7eZPJYGroAAmkPQrKz3c4k2Z8rB0kcT4iB8FtnA9Xt1fsnncef0WvUlmMiyK4njsFGNDRrqHsE2nxBgLMjzdJDQSFwLQZxw6GHbFERYG-Q~ondBze35qmZgxh6p-bSSf26tNrsdxDtETjV7ZlABg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Catherine, a city staff member, told the Environmental Advisory Board that the federal Arbor Day grant the city expected to use for urban forestry work has been terminated. \"The one and only federal funding that the city of Pensacola has lost is our million dollar Arbor Day grant. It's officially terminated,\" she said.

Staff said the termination will not halt planting plans, because the city has collected violation fines that have bolstered the tree trust fund. Catherine estimated those funds amounted to roughly a quarter of a million dollars in recent months and said the city expects to continue planting, though projects may take longer.

Catherine described enforcement options used by the forestry program. She said staff can pursue violation actions against arboriculture companies, homeowners, or both, depending on the case, and that penalties have produced much of the recent deposit into the tree trust fund. She also said that many violations involve out-of-town contractors who are unfamiliar with Pensacola's permitting rules; staff plans to create outreach materials for contractors and the public.

Catherine said a city-funded renovation at City Hall is delayed about six to seven months because roughly $20,000 of the project budget covered demolition and stump removal work that city tree-ordinance language currently does not allow to be paid from tree-planting/maintenance funds; staff indicated they will propose ordinance changes to allow different uses or reclassify funding. She encouraged board members to provide input when staff proposes ordinance edits.

The board and staff discussed continuing community events and outreach. Staff plans a seedling giveaway at East Hill Market and noted the city remains obligated to hold at least one Arbor Day event per year to maintain Tree City status. Board members were also invited to participate in Earth Day Pensacola on April 19 at Bayview Park for outreach and a booth.

Why it matters: The loss of the federal grant reduces near-term federal funding for urban forestry, but staff said local enforcement funds and tree-trust resources will keep projects moving. Proposed ordinance adjustments and outreach to outside contractors are intended to reduce future violations and preserve mature trees.","City staff told the Environmental Advisory Board that a federal Arbor Day grant worth about $1 million has been terminated. Staff said the city will rely on tree-trust and enforcement funds to keep tree-planting programs and will pursue outreach and ordinance changes to reduce future violations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096798,"Pensacola advisory board urges tighter coastal resiliency and questions parking minimums as LDC update proceeds",3544,978290,4523100,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830641-da66f2e69b9e112c028b0d4aa560d102&start=978&end=4523","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830641-da66f2e69b9e112c028b0d4aa560d102/thumbnail_978290.jpg","/articles/6096798/Pensacola/Escambia-County/Florida/Pensacola-advisory-board-urges-tighter-coastal-resiliency-and-questions-parking-minimums-as-LDC-update-proceeds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096798-a928f71602512d33dee8d3fd99925d2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198177&Signature=AnXJRHELgQYB5EhqYRuWp0s9ks8BxYtNXwMlFczY0yOD0eMku1VdDpZQCONzwpJ5eLxa5cwEEeNOzwJXhentmVJumrUZvApr9UKXDBXSXfVfJfU2gNdXeeELIOep324lX17MduiRRHVZXBrzNFNOa5dg4~5u8BkXETg-Ob4z6VmP9SdjucAWOyVYXhHlNwXaRlXWqEj9MTN2zpJP7V12Yf8MympSXX9TWkB-Twdp-Ko7~NvvkdQa6TSFfXYvUE69XrNXMPu3lFLcWPzlvDCOneIw3kePmpRcnUpcSI9pCQS-6yolfPo9SV~af5be3evdLXUovA2c7KOq2POL4BoyTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the City of Pensacola Environmental Advisory Board, members spent the largest portion of their agenda discussing the INSPIRE-led update to the city's Land Development Code and whether the city should eliminate or reduce parking minimums and more firmly embed coastal resiliency standards.

Board members said changes to parking rules could enable denser, more walkable development downtown while also creating space for trees and other green infrastructure. \"Elimination of parking minimums allows for denser urban development,\" said Mark, board member, arguing that requiring fixed parking amounts forces developers to devote land to surface lots even when demand does not justify them. Other members said a zone-by-zone approach or ranges of required spaces may be more practical than a single citywide rule.

The group also discussed how coastal resiliency provisions should be integrated into the code. Members asked whether recommended language would be advisory or enforceable and whether provisions such as requirements for native, drought-tolerant plants and shading would be applied across all zones or targeted to particular districts. Don, planning staff, explained the INSPIRE timeline and review process and said the consultant and staff will work through multiple internal drafts before a public draft is released. Staff identified September 2025 as the target for the first public draft of LDC revisions and said there will be additional public workshops and opportunities to comment thereafter.

Board members agreed to hold a focused workshop in April to compile a list of recommendations and to aim for a joint comment letter to INSPIRE. The board discussed options for how the board should present input'individual member comments, several member signatures, or a single unified board recommendation'and set the workshop as a place to try to reach consensus. Several members cautioned about unintended consequences and encouraged researching trade-offs before making formal recommendations.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes for the regular meeting in January and the workshop meeting in February: motion to approve made and carried. (Motion text as recorded: approval of minutes for the regular meeting in January and the workshop meeting in February; mover not specified in the transcript; outcome: approved.)

Why it matters: The LDC governs development standards across Pensacola and changes to parking, stormwater, and tree protection requirements could affect new construction, infill, redevelopment, and urban canopy coverage.

Next steps: The board set an April workshop to produce a list of proposed recommendations to send to INSPIRE and staff; staff encouraged members to gather research and examples before that meeting.","At a meeting of the City of Pensacola Environmental Advisory Board, members discussed the Land Development Code (LDC) update led by the INSPIRE process, focusing on eliminating or reducing parking minimums, infusing coastal resiliency requirements across the code, and scheduling an April workshop to draft formal recommendations.","actionData","errors"]

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Bayview Community Center solar project pauses contract signing pending DOE guidance; oral RFP presentations set for March 10

Pensacola staff: $1 million Arbor Day federal grant terminated; city to rely on violation fines and local funds for tree work

Pensacola advisory board urges tighter coastal resiliency and questions parking minimums as LDC update proceeds