TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The City Commission voted to postpone, but not cancel, a punitive hearing against The St. Joe Company, the developer of Southwood over road construction delays.
They previously rejected the developer’s extension to finish the roads in the Southwood neighborhood. The St. Joe Company had said they were owed an extension because of an executive order citing storm damage.
That executive order cites the 2024 tornadoes, which one speaker at Wednesday’s meeting argued it was ridiculous that those caused delays.
City official, John Reddick, said St. Joe is now “acting with urgency” and that a public hearing would punish the developer by withholding permits.
Mayor Dailey said the developer has agreed to expedite the road, but some commissioners think the enforcement process should be kept until the road is built.
“I’m concerned that by holding the hearing on punitive damages, we’ll actually slow construction of the road,” Dailey said. He suggested canceling the punitive hearing to repair the relationship between the city and the developer.
Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox said the developer needs to meet with Southwood residents in person and asked for assurances that the project will be completed by set deadlines.
“No city should look like that,” she said of the ongoing construction in the area.
Commissioner Jack Porter raised concerns about St. Joe “acting in good faith.”
“I’m concerned that we would postpone without an enforceable agreement,” she said.
“The end goal is to build the road. Southwood has done a tremendous job of putting the pressure on St Joe,” he said. “But the company says they’re committed to doing this,” Dailey said.
Dailey made a motion to cancel the hearing against The St. Joe Company, which failed 4-1.
Instead, the commission agreed to postpone the punitive hearing under assurances from a St Joe representative that the road would be built soon and that the developer would meet with Southwood residents.
If those “benchmarks” aren’t met, the punitive hearing will be put back on the agenda.
More Tallahassee news:
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the city commission heard an update on the city’s electric scooter program, run by Spin Scooters.
A local landlord, Dr. Jackson, said he’s started collecting the scooters that are left on his property that Spin has never picked up. He suggests the city staff come up with a plan to create a “parking facility” on city property to keep the scooters off of his property.
City officials explained that if a scooter isn’t picked up, the city has the option to fine Spin, but they haven’t had to enact any fines.
Under the city’s local ordinance, the scooters are banned from FSU, FAMU and TSC unless they want to allow the scooters. They are also banned at Cascades Park.
Dr. Jackson’s property is geofenced, so the scooters cannot end the ride in the area.
Commissioner Jeremy Matlow asked if Dr. Jackson had made reports to the city.
“I’ve spent five years talking with the city,” Dr. Jackson said. “They drive the scooters as close as they can to FSU and then they die, so they’re scattered all over my properties.”
City officials said the number of scooters on Dr. Jackson’s properties has gone down since 2024 when the geofence was put into place.
In general, the number of rides has dropped substantially since 2020.
The program currently generates abut $60,000 in revenue for the city each year, but it costs about the city as much to pay for a dedicated employee to oversee the program and handle complaints.
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