March 7, 2017

Rick Fernandez, City Manager

City of Tallahassee
300 South Adams Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Dear Mr. Fernandez,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, I

am pleased to inform you of a recent position our board has adopted related to the City
of Tallahassees Substation 12 Reliability Project. The Board of Directors, with
unanimous support, approved the following position statement in support of this critical
investment in our local business infrastructure.

The position statement is as follows:

The Board of Directors of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce supports the
City of Tallahassees direction to build the Substation 12 Reliability Project as scheduled
in 2017. This project represents a critical investment in much needed business
infrastructure for our community. The Sub12 Reliability Project will provide a new direct
power generation source for some of Tallahassees most important assets such as
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and the Tallahassee Police Department. The Sub12
project also increases reliability and backup generation for Capital Regional Medical
Center and other medical facilities along the Miccosukee Medical Corridor. Recent
natural events such as Hurricane Hermine have shown the increased need for updating
and improving the infrastructure that is required to deliver first class utility service in
Tallahassee. Outstanding business infrastructure is competitive advantage that
Tallahassee has over many other communities. The Chamber Board believes that this
project will help insure that remains to be the case.

When the Chamber of Commerce takes a position on an issue that is critical to the
success of our community, we do not do so lightly. The Chamber Board of Directors bases
position statements like the one above on our six guiding principles. We believe that the
Chambers six guiding principles can serve as blueprint for a stronger business
environment. We have enclosed a copy of those principles for your further review.
The Chamber Board commends the city management and staff for the planning and
implementation of the Substation 12 reliability project. Projects like this are why our city
continues to have outstanding business infrastructure that serves as critical strategic
advantage for the local business community.
The Chamber, its leadership team, and staff are prepared to offer additional public
testimony in support of the Sub12 project. Should you or your staff feel that there is a need
for the interests of the business community to be heard at a meeting, hearing, or other
time please do let us know.

Thanks again for your continued investment in building a stronger business environment.

Sincerely,

Reggie Bouthillier
Chair, Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors

cc: The Honorable Andrew Gillum, Mayor

The Honorable Scott Maddox, City Commissioner
The Honorable Nancy Miller, City Commissioner
The Honorable Curtis Richardson, City Commissioner
The Honorable Gil Ziffer, City Commissioner
Reese Goad, Assistant City Manager
Rob McGarrah, General Manager City Electric Utility
Wayne Tedder, Assistant City Manager - Development Services and Economic
Vitality
Russell Snyder, Land Use Administrator Tallahassee-Leon County Planning
Department
Vincent Long, County Administrator
Chamber Board of Directors