Panama City will not poll voters in upcoming elections about West Beach Drive project
PANAMA CITY — Because local officials could not reach an agreement, voters will not have the opportunity to be polled on a controversial roadway project.
In a Panama City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Michael Rohan proposed the city add a referendum on ballots in an upcoming election to help guide the commission's decision on the pending West Beach Drive Multi-Use Sidewalk Project.
The discussion led to two failed motions: one to include the referendum in the Primary Election in August, and another to include it in the General Election in November.
"I like democracy, and I think this is democratic," Rohan said of the poll. "For right now, Beach Drive folks, you've been denied."
It should be noted that although Rohan was in favor of the referendum, he only supported it if it was included in the Primary Election.
Commissioner Janice Lucas made a motion for staff to help create an ordinance for the referendum to appear in the November election. It failed with herself and Commissioner Josh Street voting yes, and Rohan and commissioners Jenna Haligas and Brian Grainger voting no.
Rohan then passed the gavel to Haligas to make a motion for the referendum to appear in the August election. It did not go to a vote for a lack of a second.
Lucas, Grainger, Street and City Manager Jonathan Hayes all said during the meeting that they think November would be the best time to offer such a referendum. With it being a general election, rather that a primary election, voter turnout will be higher, so more residents would get to weigh in on project.
"Mr. Mayor, I cannot support the primary balloting of this particular issue in as much as it would realistically leave out a great number of voters in the city," Lucas said.
"Agreed," Grainger said. "You say you believe in democracy and you want democracy, but you don't want the election that would have the highest turnout.
"I don’t agree with either one of these dates," Grainger said, "but if you truly wanted the highest turnout and you truly wanted to know the will of the people, you would go with the election that has the most amount of people showing up."
Grainger voted against the November election date because he said the commission was elected to make decisions.
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According to the city, the goal of the West Beach Drive project is to add a multi-use path on the south side of the road that not only would make the area more accessible to pedestrians, but also connect the Panama City and St. Andrews marinas.
Many Beach Drive residents, as well as Rohan, have publicly voiced their disapproval of the project.
"Qualifying is not until June, but as of right now ... I'm not aware of any democratic primaries in August," Hayes said. "There's some Republican primaries for our constitutional offices, and I would not want the city to be accused of picking a time when it knows that certain parties might be disenfranchised and not showing up."
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City will not add referendum for West Beach Drive project
