Council discusses forming citizen commission to plan U.S. 250th anniversary events

Councilman Louis Baer introduced a discussion about forming a citizen commission to plan Pensacola’s observance of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Baer said he has discussed the idea with the mayor and city staff and noted that many municipalities have advisory committees and templates for planning such commemorations.

"There's a national effort. There's a Florida effort," Baer said, and he asked colleagues to suggest community members who should be involved. Mr. Stafford, speaking for the mayor’s office, said the mayor asked him to take the initiative and "come back to the council with some ideas about how to commemorate events moving forward, with some type of advisory organization that we would work together to create."

Vice President Breyer urged that representation be inclusive; she cited the bicentennial in Washington, D.C., where Native American participation was prominent and said she would hope for similar inclusion in Pensacola's planning. The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or commission structure at the conference; staff will return with proposed options for membership and scope.