City of Panama City Virtual Workshop 09102026

The City of Panama City held a virtual workshop on September 11, 2026, focused on negotiating with developers for community benefits and improving the city's request for proposals (RFP) process. Erin Lonoff, a partner at HRNA Advisors, presented on how cities can align public land assets and policy goals with market realities to achieve successful public-private partnerships (P3s). The discussion emphasized balancing developer financial feasibility with community benefits such as affordable housing, green spaces, and sustainable design. Key topics included understanding development economics, market studies, and tools cities can use to incentivize development, including discounted land, tax incentives, and infrastructure investments. The workshop also addressed challenges in affordable housing development, particularly for low-income homeownership, and the importance of clear city vision and internal alignment before negotiating with developers. The commissioners discussed the potential for a land disposition policy and the role of land banks or similar entities in managing city-owned parcels. Action items included exploring further analysis and support from Erin Lonoff to assist the city in shaping its development strategies and RFP processes.