Blueprint Agency may reduce number of meetings from four to three

Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency meetings may look a little different in 2025 as the organization looks to shrink its schedule from four meetings down to three.

With the end of the year fast approaching, Thursday's Blueprint meeting marks the second to last one before the final meeting in November.

The meeting is expected to culminate in the ratification of the budget, fueled with $53.7 million in revenues from sales taxes and other line items.

The 2025 - 2029 capital improvement budget for Blueprint Infrastructure "continues the implementation of 32 key community projects across Leon County; fully funds nine regional mobility, gateway, and placemaking projects; and provides $41.81 million to the City and County for improvements to sidewalks, transit, and water quality and park maintenance over the next five years," according to budget materials from the agency.

Within the consent agenda, which are items that go without discussion at meetings, next year's calendar with all future dates for meetings was posted.

The dates for the Intergovernmental Agency meetings stopped at three, contrasting the four meetings of 2024. Meeting numbers shrinking isn't unfamiliar for Blueprint, back in 2023 they went from six meetings down to the current four.

It seems the trend may continue even though the meetings have become political flashpoints and a way for fledgling businesses, projects and institutions to request taxpayer-funded assistance.

Reducing the number of meetings is a sore spot for some commissioners as the past meetings of 2024 have seen plenty of conflict, regularly going into marathon level and exceeding the scheduled three hours.

A recent meeting lasted seven hours and some commissioners from both the city and county have attempted at multiple meetings to extract money from the Airport Gateway project and open up a new funding source on affordable housing. They also continue to debate whether the Blueprint structure is effective or if it should be overhauled through an arduous amendment process.

Elected officials split on three meeting decision

According to the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency's bylaws, the group "shall meet at least once annually" but, according to Blueprint spokesperson Shannon Allen, the group meets more often to fit in all the work which needs to get done.

Allen said three meetings should give commissioners ample time as many of the ongoing projects Blueprint have already been approved, are in the construction phase and will continue through the year. Thus, the group would only need to meet for updates and information, Allen said.

For certain commissioners, such as City Commissioner Curtis Richardson and County Commissioner Brian Welch − both of whom are up for re-election in November − this explanation makes perfect sense.

"Over the years, our Blueprint meetings have expanded and contracted based on the need of the board to meet and establish policy and approve the projects," Richardson said. "Most of the projects, if not all of the projects, that were approved by Blueprint, they're already in the pipeline now and so there's not as much of a need for the board to meet."

Welch is on the same page as Richardson noting that the controversial projects, such as the Airport Gateway and Welaunee, are well down the road. He said that while there are three scheduled meetings that doesn't mean the group is limited to three.

"The chair has discretion to call more meetings if they want," Welch said. He added that if the community becomes very engaged in a certain topic or discussion then a meeting can be arranged.

Other commissioners believe the switch to three meetings is limiting and doesn't allow for transparency with the public.

"More conversation always lead to better outcomes. With all the huge public interest in controversial Blueprint projects and structure, we need more opportunities for input and conversation − not less overnight," City Commissioner Jack Porter said. "The public is expressing a broad consensus for change at Blueprint."

County Commissioner Rick Minor has seen the effect first hand of meetings ending abruptly or running too long. A chaotic adjournment in February briefly caused angst that the city and county could lose out on a federal grant for Minor's passion project, the North Monroe Street Gateway.

He agrees that projects are underway on multiple fronts, but believes that the community deserves to be in the loop on regular updates.

"It's true that Blueprint has completed most of its project prioritization and planning, so I understand the suggestion to reduce the number of BPIA meetings for 2025, but I can't support it," Minor said. "I believe Leon County residents want us to meet as often as last year, so we can provide more frequent updates on the 15 projects under construction. Open and frequent communication with taxpayers is important."

No decisions will be made until commissioner vote on their decision at Thursday's meeting and some, such as Mayor John Dailey and County Commissioner Christian Caban, believe that's the best time to share their thoughts.

If you go

• The Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency meeting will be held at City Hall, 300 South Adams Street, starting at 3 p.m. with a public hearing to follow at 5 p.m.

Arianna Otero is the City Solutions Reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com or on Twitter/X: @ari_v_otero.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Blueprint Agency looks to shrink schedule from four meetings to three