The Panama City Commission authorized a task order with Dover Kohl on Oct. 28 to lead community charrettes and planning for the uplands at the downtown marina and to coordinate design options for the uplands alongside wet‑slip planning. The work order — to be funded through CRA or other authorized sources — is intended to produce community input, conceptual designs and a timeline that the commission and prospective developers can use to evaluate buildability and revenue scenarios.

William Harrison, representing CMP (a marina developer/operator), told the commission the company has repeatedly offered term sheets and long‑term lease draft agreements to the city and urged the commission to consider slips and uplands in tandem. “We are here to find a solution. We have been here for two years to find a solution,” Harrison said, asking the commission to engage CMP directly in public review of potential terms.

Commissioners expressed competing priorities. Some members said they would consider a slips‑only agreement to accelerate marine operations, while others insisted the uplands uses (restaurants, retail, public space, or apartments) determine the revenue model and must be vetted publicly. Commissioners repeatedly asked for clarity on construction cost estimates and revenue modeling before signing long‑term deals.

To move the process forward the commission voted 5‑0 to (1) approve the Dover Kohl task order for public charrettes and planning and (2) hold a special meeting in the first two weeks of November (Nov. 10 identified as the preferred date) to review the CMP term sheet and compare the economics of the St. Andrews marina model versus downtown slip proposals. Staff was also directed to provide a consolidated set of all prior term sheets, lease drafts, and interim agreements so the commission and public can review the history of proposals.

What’s next: Dover Kohl will refine a schedule for charrettes and staff will circulate prior term sheets and a short summary of all previously submitted marina documents. The commission set Nov. 10 as a special meeting target to discuss the CMP term sheet and comparative slip economics; the commission also asked staff to attempt to shorten Dover Kohl’s proposed timeline where possible.