Committee of the Whole Workshop (2025-06-05)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WORKSHOP OF THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JUNE 5, 2025 Present: Commissioner Michael S. Kohler, Chair, District 2 Commissioner Ashlee M. Hofberger, Vice Chair, District 4 Commissioner Steven L. Barry, District 5 Commissioner Lumon J. May, District 3 Commissioner Steven R. Stroberger, District 1 Honorable Pam Childers, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Codey Leigh, General Counsel, Clerk and Comptroller’s Office Wesley J. Moreno, County Administrator Alison Rogers, County Attorney DeLana Allen-Busbee, Operations Supervisor, Clerk and Comptroller's Office Ashley Danner, Office Assistant IV, Clerk and Comptroller’s Office Jose Gochez, Operations Manager, County Administrator’s Office Location: Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, First Floor 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola, Florida Report prepared by: Ashley Danner AGENDA ITEMS 1. Call to Order Commissioner Kohler, Chair, called the Committee of the Whole (C/W) Workshop to order at 9:05 a.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Commissioner Barry led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag 3. Was the Meeting Properly Advertised? The Board was advised by Ashley Danner, Office Assistant IV, Clerk and Comptroller’s Office, that the meeting was advertised in the Pensacola News Journal on May 30, 2025, in the Board’s weekly meeting schedule.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WORKSHOP – JUNE 5, 2025 AGENDA ITEMS – Continued Page 2 of 3 4. Board Items I. Discussion with the City of Pensacola Concerning the Demolition of the Old Baptist Hospital Building A. Mayor D.C. Reeves, City of Pensacola, introduced City staff and colleagues present at the Workshop, and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation, which was also attached as agenda backup, titled Baptist Demolition & Redevelopment and: • Presented a proposed plan for division and various transformative uses of the property; • Reviewed the impacts the proposed model would have on the Community; • Summarized the considerations taken for the procurement process and the potential hazards and costs accounted for prior to proposed demolition, as noted in an initial walkthrough; and • Outlined a multi-step approach to the procurement, including the four firms that were invited to present to the City; B. Erica Grancagnolo, City of Pensacola Economic Development Director, addressed questions provided by the County which were presented in the PowerPoint presentation, such as why the City did not take the lowest bid, and the City’s contribution to the project, among others; C. In response to inquiry from Commissioner Hofberger, KC Gartman, Vice President of Baptist Health Care, clarified the affordability of the proposed senior living center and multi-family housing units; D. The Board, Mayor Reeves, and Ms. Grancagnolo briefly discussed tax revenues and the reach of CRAs in the area; E. Ms. Gartman provided clarification, at the Board’s request, regarding the TEFRA Notice and the County’s funding assistance to the project; F. Commissioner May inquired about the budgeting for asbestos in the demolition, provided historical context for the importance of Baptist in the area, the collaborative infrastructure of the City and County, and advised that the focus of the project should be on the redevelopment aspect rather than demolition; (Continued on page 3)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WORKSHOP – JUNE 5, 2025 AGENDA ITEMS – Continued Page 3 of 3 4. Continued… I. Continued… G. Mayor Reeves clarified information about funding sources, bonding circumstances, and where the City stands on willingness to work with the County on the trajectory of the project, as well as that the request from the City was for $2,000,000 pertaining to demolition; H. Commissioner May expressed concern for the transformational aspect of the property not to trend toward gentrification, and the desire to keep the community affordable and accessible to current residents; I. Commissioner Barry advised that while he was supportive of the project, he was unable to justify using General Fund dollars as a funding source; J. The Board and Mayor Reeves discussed the potential of SHIP or CDBG funding being put into the project, ways to recoup money from the project, and the importance of making sure that the project is perceived as being a joint project between the City and the County; K. Adam Cobb, City Attorney, clarified the known timeline for the current Land Donation Agreement, with the potential for an extension, as well as adjustments that could be made regarding the addition of buildings and removing the First Right of Refusal; and L. Commissioner Kohler advised that all parties should evaluate potential funding opportunities, and bring the topic back for further discussion. 5. Adjourn Commissioner Kohler, Chair, declared the C/W Workshop adjourned at 11:03 a.m.