Pat McMichael

From: Sent: To:

John Asmar Wednesday, January 04,20123'.27 PM Rick Outzen Re: FINAL DRAFT - Port Policy statement

Subject:

Will find out

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 4,2012, at 4:24 PM, "Rick Outzen" <19!lZgl@1pS"99.[P wrote:

Will Ashton take questions? Has he briefed council? How about Mathis?

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Comments by today? Not for publication

Sent frorn my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Travis Peterson <press ashtonlla Date: January 3,2012 5:03:54 PM EST To: Derek Cosson <dcosson@ci.pensa
<B Re)rnolcls@c i,pensacola.fl .us>, John Asmar

, Bill Reynolds

<iasrnar@ci.pens , Ashton HaYward > <ahayivard@cityo

Subject: FINAL DRAFT - Port Policy statement

This is for Port Policy statement....please approve or provide final edits.

Travis

***BEGIN***
Pensacola has a long and proud maritime tradition. One hundred years ago, our port was a leading exporter of timber, cotton, and other goods. However, things are very diflbrent today. Our port now struggles in a market dominated by larger ports with competitive advantages over the Port of Pensacola. These competitive advantages include: the ability to handle containerized cargo, private sector or taxing authority funding for

infiastructure improvements and upgrades, room for geographic

expansion, and a history of strong public support for marketing, contracting, and improving port services. Over the Past several decades, the Port of Pensacola has suffered, and continues to suffer, from all of these
disadvantages.

The future of the Port is a controversial issue. In the past, the City has not been willing to address the Port's future, due largely to political battles that have continually erupt when the future of the Port is debated. There are those who feel the time has come to close the Port and sell the land to the highest bidder. Others feel we should invest in marketing the port and improving its facilities. One thing is clear - the status quo is no longer sustainable. I want to thank the members of my Port Advisory Committee, who spent months studying the Port, analyzing its strengths, weaknesses, and potential. I've had time to consider their recommendations, and today, I'm announcing a plan for a new kind of port. I believe the Port has an opportunity to encourage private sector job creation and play a larger role in our local economy, but changes must be made. To that end, I am announcing the following course of action for the Port: 1. We will re-examine the port's lease with Cemex. Aggregate storage is incompatible with our adjacent downtown and historic districts. 2. We will support the expansion of high-tech offshore service industry tenants. These tenants have a reduced impact on the Port's neighbors and the city generally. This new focus also provides opportunities for considerable private-sector job growth. 3. We will begin identifying sources for funding port improvements. This will include taking advantage of state and federal grant opportunities as well as available funds for economic development stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 4. I will work with the City Council to adopt policies that allow Port staff to expedite decision-making by executing tariffs, contracts, and lease agreements with mayoral approval. 5. Finally, I am directing Port staff in the future to equally consider overall community benefit and quality of life issues, with potential economic benefit when weighing potential tenants and

pon uses.
I believe these changes provide a clear direction for the Port, create the opportunity for sustainable, private-sector job growth, and can make Pensacola a viable, competitive port option for zr"-century industries. ,r:i*END***

Pat McMichael
From:
Sent:
John Asmar

To:
Cc:

Subject:

Wednesday, January 04,2012 3:27 PM Travis Peterson Bill Reynolds; Derek Cosson Re: FINAL DRAFT - Port Policy statement so, prepared? Have you briefed council? Has Mathis been advised?

Will the mayor take questions? If

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 4,2012, at 4:22 PM, "Travis Peterson"

<press@ashtonhayw

wrote:

basically the message is this:

l)

rocks and gravel not what we want to welcome our city

2) Port not exist to put money in city coffers, it exists to help private sector create jobs
3) pursue this new opportunity for offshore oil and gas service industry. (so, this puts dirty tenants on notice, helps us with downtown / historic folks, puts buddy et al on notice they better come through, and sets the tone for what type of industry we want).

On Jan 4,2012, at 3:17 PM,

jasmar@ci.pensac

wrote:

Thanks
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: "Travis Peterson" <press@ashtonhay Date: Wed,4 Jan20l215:13:01 -0600 To: John Asmar<jasmar@c ityofpens
Cc: Derek

Cossoncdcossc,n@cityofu ; Bill

Reynolds<B Reynolds@c ityofu Subject: Re: FINAL DRAFT - Port Policy statement Chamber inviting Vision 2015 folks, Port Advisory folks invited, council invited. Media invited.

AH approved and vetted by his kitchen cabinet. Talking points to Mayor later today for his
review overnight.
I think we are pretty well covered....it will be a quick event. practice with Mayor tomorrow prior to event.

Will

need to do some brief

Q&A

TP

On Jan 4.2012. at2:57 PM. John Asmar wrote:

Are we prepared for the press conference? Has AH approved? Have we invited supporters? Have we shared the proposed policy statement w the Mayor's supporters to receive comment? Does the mayor have talking points? I'm sorry ifthese have already been addressed. Just checking
Sent from my iPad

On Jan 3,2012, at 5:03 PM, "Travis Peterson"

<press@ashtonhav

wrote:

This is for Port Policy statement....please approve or provide final edits. Travis

***BEGIN***
Pensacola has a long and proud maritime tradition. One hundred years ago, our port was a leading exporter of timber, cotton, and other goods. However, things are very different today. Our port now struggles in a market dominated by larger ports with competitive advantages over the Port of Pensacola. These competitive advantages include: the ability to handle containerized cargo, private sector or taxing authority funding for infrastructure improvements and upgrades, room for geographic expansion, and a history of strong public support for marketing, contracting, and improving port services. Over the past several decades, the Port of Pensacola has suffered, and continues to suffer, from all of these disadvantages.

The future of the Port is a controversial issue. In the past, the City has not been willing to address the Port's future, due largely to political battles that have continually erupt when the future of the Port is debated. There are those who feel the time has come to close the Port and sell the land to the highest bidder. Others feel we should invest in marketing the port and improving its facilities. One thing is clear - the status quo is no longer sustainable.
I want to thank the members of my Port Advisory Committee, who spent months studying the Port, analyzing its strengths, weaknesses, and potential. I've had time to consider their recommendations, and today, I'm announcing a plan for
a new

kind of port. I believe the Port has an opportunity to encourage private

sector job creation and play a larger role in our local economy, but changes must be made. To that end, I am announcing the following course of action for the Port:

l. 2.

We will re-examine the port's lease with Cemex. Aggregate storage is incompatible with our adjacent downtown and historic districts. We will support the expansion of high-tech offshore service industry tenants. These tenants have a reduced impact on the Port's neighbors and

the city generally. This new focus also provides opportunities for considerable private-sector job growth.

3.

We will begin identifying sources for funding port improvements. This will include taking advantage of state and federal grant opportunities as well as available funds for economic development stemming from the Deepwater

Horizon oil spill.

4. 5.

I will work with the City Council to adopt policies that allow Port staff to expedite decision-making by executing tariffs, contracts, and lease agreements with mayoral approval.

Finally, I am directing Port staff in the future to equally consider overall community benefit and quality of life issues, with potential economic benefit when weighing potential tenants and port uses.

I believe these changes provide a clear direction for the Port, create the opportunity for sustainable, private-sector job growth, and can make Pensacola a viable, competitive port option for zr't-century industries.

***END'k**

Pat McMichael
From:
Sent: To:
John Asmar Wednesday, January 04,2012 3:32 PM Rick Outzen Fwd: FINAL DRAFT - Port Policy statement

Subject:

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

To:JohnAsmar@>

From: Travis Peterson <press@ashtonhayward.cont> Date: January 4,2012 4:31:31 PM EST

Subject: Re: FINAL DRAFT - Port Policy statement
Yes, a few questions. There is a big chamber luncheon right after the even-t (where they annoucne their $2.2m request for Port) so we will have a reason to cut it off. He will be prepared.

Council has been notified bY Bill. Mathis has been advised.

On Jan 4,2012, at3'26 PM, John Asmar wrote:

Will the mayor take questions? If

advised?
Sent from my iPad

so, prepared? Have you briefed council? Has Mathis been

On Jan 4,2A12,at4.22 PM, "Travis Peterson"

<press@,ashtonhayw

wrote:

basically the message is this:

1) rocks and gravel not what we want to welcome our

city

2) Port not exist to put money in city coffers, it exists to help private sector create jobs
3) pursue this new opportunity for offshore oil and gas service industry.
(so, this puts dirty tenants on notice, helps us with downtown / historic folks, puts

bgddy eial on notice they better come through, and sets the tone for what type of industry we want).

On Jan 4,2012,

aL

3:17 PM, iasmar(Dci.pensacola.fl'us wrote:

Thanks
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: "Travis Peterson" <press@ashtonha-vw Date: Wed,4 Jan2012l5:13:01 -0600 To: John Asmar
Cc: Derek

Cosson<clcosson@cityofpen ; Bill

Reynolds<B Reyno lds@c i t)'ofu Subject: Re: FINAL DRAFT - Port Policy statement Chamber inviting Vision 2015 folks, Port Advisory folks invited, council invited'

Media invited.

AH approved and vetted by his kitchen cabinet. Talking points to Mayor later today for his review overnight.
I think we are pretty well covered....it

will

be a quick event.

Will

need to do some

brief Q&A practice with Mayor tomorrow prior to event'

TP

On Jan 4,2012, at2:57 PM, John Asmar wrote:

Are we prepared for the press conference? Has AH approved? Have we invited supporters? Have we shared the proposed policy statement w the Mayor's supporters to receive comment? Does the mayor have talking points?

I'm sorry ifthese have already been addressed. Just checking

Sent from rny iPad

on

Jan 3.2012, at 5:03 PM, "Travis Peterson" <press@.ashtonha.vr,vard.com>

wrote: This is for Port Policy statement....please approve or provide final edits.
Travis

***BEGIN***
Pensacola has a long and proud maritime tradition. one hundred years ago, our port was a leading exporter of timber, cotton, and

other goods. However, things are very different today' O.r, plrt now struggles in a market dominated by larger ports with competitive advantages over the Port of Pensacola' These competitive advantages include: the ability to handle containerized .u.go, private sector or taxing authority funding for infrastructure i*p'.orr"-"nts and upgrades, room for geographic expansion' and a history of strong pubiic support for marketing' contracting, and improving portiervicet. Orr"t the past several decades, the Port of pensucola has suffered, and continues to suffer, {lom all of these
disadvantages.

The future of the Port is a controversial issue. In the past, the City has not been willing to address the Port's future, due largely to political battles thaf have continually erupt when the future of the -port is debated. There are those who feel the time has come to we close the Port and sell the land to the highest bidder. Others feel should invest in marketing the port and improving its facilities. One thing is clear - the status quo is no longer sustainable'

who I want to thank the members of my Port Advisory Committee'

spent months studying the Port, analyzing its strengths, had time to consider their -eal.nesses, and potential' I've recommendationi, and today, I'm announcing a plan for a new kind of port. I believe the Port has an opportunity to encourage private ,".io. job creation and play a larger role in our local economy' but changes must be made. To that end, I am announcing the following course ofaction for the Port:

l. 2.

We will re-examine the port's lease with Cemex' Aggregate storage is incompatible with our adjacent downtown and

historic districts'
We will support the expansion of high-tech offshore service industry tenants. These tenants have a reduced impact on the Port's neighbors and the city generally. This new focus also provides opportunities for considerable private-sector

job growth.

3.

We will begin identiffing sources for funding port improvements. fnis witt include taking advantage of state and federal grant opportunities as well as available funds for economic development stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil sPill.

4.IwillworkwiththeCityCounciltoadoptpoliciesthat

allow Port staff to expedite decision-making by executing tariffs, contracts, and lease agreements with mayoral approval. Finally, I am directing Port staff in the future to equally consider overall community benefit and quality of life issues, with potential economic benefit when weighing potential tenants and Port uses.

5.

I believe these changes provide a clear direction for the Port, create the opportunity for iustainable, private-sector job growth, and can make iensacola a viable, competitive port option for zr"-century industries.

***END***