Panama City Commission approves grant amendments, FDOT agreement changes, safety resolutions and police vehicle leases

The Panama City Commission on Jan. 27 approved several staff-recommended resolutions, contract amendments and appointments, and received a utilities compliance update.

Key votes and actions

- Triumph Gulf Coast grant amendment: The commission approved a third amendment to the city’s grant agreement with Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. and Eastern Shipbuilding Inc., originally awarded on Aug. 1, 2019 for $20,000,000. The amendment extends the grant completion date to Aug. 1, 2028 and adds timelines and audit disclosure requirements; commissioners approved the amendment by roll call (4-0).

- FDOT JPA ASC 65 amendment and budget adjustment: The commission authorized execution of the second amendment to Joint Participation Agreement ASC 65 with the Florida Department of Transportation for streetscape and landscape improvements on State Road 30 (US 98/Beck Avenue). FDOT originally provided a $500,000 grant for the project; the amendment added $50,000 to cover added scope and upgraded materials. Staff recommended, and the commission approved, the amendment and associated budget resolution (4-0).

- FBIP boat-ramp resolution: Staff requested a local-support resolution for the City’s reapplication to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s FBIP (Florida Boating Infrastructure Program) to advance downtown Marina boat-ramp improvements. Commissioners adopted the local-support resolution 4-0.

- FDOT Safe Routes pedestrian improvements (Harrison Avenue): The commission approved resolution 20260127.5 supporting FDOT-proposed pedestrian safety improvements on Harrison Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets adjacent to Bay High School. Staff noted the improvements would be at no expense to the city; the resolution passed 4-0.

- Police vehicle leases: The commission approved five-year leases for four new Panama City Police Department vehicles. First-year lease payments will be funded by a $37,465 surplus from the police department’s body-worn camera program with $9,127 from the department’s operating budget; the motion passed 4-0.

- Appointments: The commission reappointed Priscilla Hagler to a two-year term on the board of trustees for the city retirement plan (motion passed 3-0). The commission also appointed Dr. John Haley to the infrastructure surtax citizens committee to address a Ward representation imbalance (motion passed 3-0).

Utilities compliance update

Staff reported on cross-connection control and related consent orders for the city’s water system. City staff said they met the consent-order requirements by Dec. 31, 2025 and avoided penalties. The staff memo (distributed before the meeting) outlined process changes to reduce meter misassignments, proposed alternatives to locking meters for noncompliance and described inspection cadence: residential backflow preventers require inspections every two years; commercial systems require annual inspections. Staff said they would vet any incentive or fee model with the Department of Environmental Protection to ensure legal sufficiency.

Votes were unanimous on the major staff recommendations; where recorded, roll-call tallies appear in the agenda minutes.