Pensacola council chambers to undergo $400K security, tech upgrades – WEAR

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The City of Pensacola will begin upgrades soon to its council chambers, costing just over $400,000.

The goal is to offer more protection for council members.

City Council President Casey Jones says the upgrades will certainly help better protect members of the council, but adds these are much-needed upgrades to help them better serve the public

The new technology includes larger monitors and upgraded lighting. Another major change is closing off the dais.

There will be a wall constructed that would allow officials to leave out the back if needed.

The speaking podium below the dais will also be lowered.

“Generally speaking, what’s going to happen here in the chambers is this dais will be one unit now. There will be no gap in between,” said Amy Tootle, the director of Public Works & Facilities. “We’ll be removing this step here and that is essentially for security reasons to help prevent someone jumping over the dais.”

“Unfortunately there are risks of security, so this is a way to mitigate that,” she added.

Jones says a security breach has never been an issue since his time in office. He and other city leaders want to keep it that way.

The additional layer of protection will help city hall meet the standards set at other city-owned meeting places.

“I don’t think there have been security issues we’ve seen, definitely just precautionary consistent with chambers and other spaces where boards meet,” Jones said. “It’s going to give us more space to have technology back there so that we have information at our finger tips that we need to make these decisions.”

Other upgrades include new seating for council members and the public, some new walls, as well as improvements to some mechanical and electrical items.

They’re expected to start construction next week. It’s unclear when they’ll be complete.