Okaloosa County BOCC — July 2, 2013 — June 18 Regular — reading text

June 18, 2013 Regular Meeting The regular Tuesday meeting of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Water & Sewer Administration Building in Fort Walton Beach. Members present were Don R. Amunds, Chairman; Dave Parisot, Vice Chairman; Wayne Harris; Nathan Boyles; and Kelly Windes. Also present were Gary J. Stanford, Finance Director, Clerk’s Office; John R. Dowd, County Attorney; Ernie Padgett, County Administrator; and members of the press. PUBLIC INFORMATION UPDATE Mrs. Kathy Newby, Public Information Officer, displayed a plaque identifying Okaloosa County as a Fit Friendly Goal Achievement Site. She continued with a promo for the “Okaloosa Today” program which airs on Cox Channel 6. Mrs. Newby provided the following highlights: e The USO Freedom Lounge at Northwest Florida Regional Airport was awarded the “Top Up & Coming USO” Award. This selection was based on input from USO visitors. ® County employee Wes Fields was in the spotlight. He is the Security Manager for the Emerald Coast Convention Center. Mr. Fields was selected to wear the Doolittle Raider Crest, a prestigious honor. e Convention South Magazine named Destin as the Number 9 Southern Hot Spot for winter meetings and events. Mrs. Newby reported Destin was also featured in the Endless Summer Vacation Magazine. e June 20 is “Dump the Pump” Day with Okaloosa County Transit (OCT) providing free rides for the day. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATES Mr. Padgett stated candidates for the Airports Director post has been shortlisted to four individuals. Interviews have been conducted and he anticipates making his decision at the next meeting. COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S MINUTE Mr. Boyles stated District III is in need of a designee for the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women and asked any June 18, 2013 -1- Minute Book 69, Page 173 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners interested individuals to contact him. And, ona personal note, he wished his wife a happy eighth anniversary. Mr. Parisot reported the Governor signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gulf Consortium on June 7. Mr. Windes stated District V needs a committee member for the Parks Advisory Committee and asked interested persons to contact him. Mr. Harris stated he has nothing this evening. VISITORS - STUDENTS WORKING AGAINST TOBACCO, RESOLUTION BANNING SALE OF CANDY FLAVORED TOBACCO IN OKALOOSA COUNTY Ms. Brittany Quarrier and Ms. Riana Arenz, representing the Crestview High School Chapter of Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT), requested Board consideration to adopt a resolution banning the sale of candy flavored tobacco in Okaloosa County. The slide presentation provided not only SWAT’s mission statement but facts regarding tobacco use by youth and a comparison of tobacco-related deaths to shark attacks, alligator attacks, lightning strikes, and murders. Quotes from Phillip Morris, Lorillard, and RJ Reynolds cite teenagers and younger adult smokers as the source of replacement smokers and without them the tobacco industry will decline. The young ladies stated teenagers are more than twice as likely as adults to recall seeing flavored tobacco products or advertisements for these products. They said a recent ban on flavored cigarettes did not include other flavored tobacco products such as dip, chew, snuff and snus. Mr. Harris stated Ms. Quarrier and Ms. Arenz have represented Crestview High School very well. He then made motion, seconded by Mr. Parisot, to adopt the proposed resolution urging retailers to stop the sale and marketing of candy flavored tobacco in Okaloosa County. 5 yeas. RESOLUTION NO. 13-90 VISITOR - LINDA SUMBLIN, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, PRESENTATION OF FY 2013-14 BUDGET Mrs. Linda Sumblin, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, presented for consideration the FY 2013-14 budget for the Workforce June 18, 2013 -2- Minute Book 69, Page 174 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Development Board. She stated this board represents Region 2 and gave a brief history of how it was formed in 1996. Mrs. Sumblin said the $3.5 Million budget includes revenues and expenditures. She emphasized the importance placed on transparency and detailed how the organization is audited by the State and an independent audit firm. Mrs. Sumblin reported there have been no concerns, no findings or exceptions in their audits. She noted the budget will be presented to the Walton County Board of County Commissioners at their next meeting. Mr. Harris made motion, seconded by Mr. Parisot, to approve the Workforce Development Board’s budget for FY 2013-14. 5 yeas. VISITOR - DAVID SHERRY, EAST PASS SAND TRACER STUDY Mr. David Sherry, Okaloosa Island, gave a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Tracer Study East Pass.” He posed several questions about science, Mother Nature’s actions, who makes decision on where sand is needed, and testing the experts’ claims. Mr. Sherry commented that he feels trust in the government on where to put sand is low and the experts have been proven wrong. Mr. Sherry showed several slides with question and answer quotes about transporting sand from area R17, CPE’s verification of the model, CPE’s statement regarding grain size, sand bleaching, and shell content. These quotes were representative of the CPE Engineering firm, Ralph Clark (DEP), Mike Trudnick, and Jennifer Koch. Mr. Dowd asked the relationship of the comments from Mr. Trudnick on sand quality on Okaloosa Island and the Destin project. Mr. Harris asked Mr. Sherry if he is degreed in this field. Mr. Sherry replied his degree is in chemical engineering. Mr. Harris questioned Mr. Sherry's capacity to question environmental experts who specialize in sand drifts. Mr. Sherry responded that he does have experience in computer models. Mr. Sherry encouraged the use of tracer technology to measure sediment transport and testing of the computer simulation. He felt the placement of inlet management sand should be optimized. Mr. Sherry explained how the tracers work and gave examples of tracer release sites. Mr. Amunds stated he received an email from a citizen who wants to speak on this issue and told him he has two minutes to make his points. June 18, 2013 -3- Minute Book 69, Page 175 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Mr. Larry Hines, Destin, stated it will take him more than two minutes. He said Mr. Sherry’s first slide on littoral drift shows accretion on the left (Destin) and erosion on the right (Okaloosa Island), adding he is confident that information is from a study conducted in the 1990s. Mr. Hines said if that had actually been the case, we would not be here discussing this issue today. He advised that Mother Nature did just the opposite. Mr. Hines pointed out the predominant currents have changed three or four times since then. He commented that we don’t know what Mother Nature will do and asked why Mr. Sherry is so opposed to the dredging of the Pass and placement of sand. Mr. Hines stated the law has changed and it now states a decision should not be made today on where sand will be dredged 15 years from now. An analysis should be done as it is happening and a decision should be made on logic based on what has happened, not on what is projected. Mr. Hines said his opinion of tracer studies in this area are a waste of time and money. Mr. Hines announced his support for the current plan based on logic. Mr. Parisot said it seems to him the proposed Inlet Management Plan has a great deal of common sense. He agreed the sand should be placed where it is needed at the time of the dredge. Mr. Sherry voiced his objection to some of Mr. Hines’ remarks, saying he was misquoted. PUBLIC HEARING - ADDITIONAL STREET LIGHT, OKALOOSA ISLAND MSBU (6:30 P.M.) Mr. Stanford read the advertised legal notice for public hearing to discuss a request for the installation of an additional street light within the Okaloosa Island Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU). The proposed location of the street light is at the intersection of Santa Rosa Boulevard and the west parking lot entrance to The Breakers. Mr. John Hofstad, Public Works Director, advised the request for the additional street light was reviewed and approved by the Okaloosa Island Leaseholders Association (OILA) in April. The request for the additional light was submitted by the Board of Directors of The Breakers. Mr. Hofstad reported staff has no concerns with the request and there are sufficient fund reserves in this MSBU to cover the cost without an additional assessment. June 18, 2013 -4- Minute Book 69, Page {176 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners No one came forward to speak in favor of or in opposition to the request. Mr. Parisot made motion, seconded by Mr. Boyles, to approve the additional street light. Approval will require the Chairman to execute the necessary agreements with Gulf Power for installation of the street light. 5 yeas. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL Mr. Parisot stated he would like to discuss Items #5 and #8. He questioned a budget transfer in the Tourist Development Fund (Item #5) of $1.1 Million from Reserves for Contingencies for the following projects: * Beach Accessways~-$500,000 * Repair/Maintenance of Norriego Point--$225,000 * Artificial Reef--$75,000 * Marler Park Boat Ramp--$300,000 He requested this item be brought back before the Board as an agenda item for discussion before moving money around (budget transfer). Mr. Parisot requested this item be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on a future meeting agenda for discussion. Mr. Amunds recommended Tourist Development Director Daniel O'Byrne come forward to answer questions. He noted Norriego Point is owned by the City of Destin and recommended full Board discussion on this project. Mr. Amunds commented that it appears TDD has become the bank for projects. Mr. O’Byrne replied this is a mechanical issue more than anything else. He said they are trying to follow the budget procedures for budget modifications and to close out for this year. Mr. O'Byrne stated the Tourist Development Council (TDC) is not recommending anything except proposed changes and it was his understanding those budget changes were to be done through the Clerk’s Office. He underscored this is not a request to proceed with the projects but to designate the funds for possible future projects. Upon inquiry by Mr. Amunds, Mr. O’Byrne said the request is only to move money and there is no request to approve a project. He clarified the TDC is just making money available to the Board and said it is still your money, still your decision. Mr. Windes remarked that each project will have to have its own “dog and pony show” before approval. June 18, 2013 -5- Minute Book 69, Page 177 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Mr. Parisot felt the item should first come before the Board and if approved, then the Finance Department performs the follow up. Mr. Amunds stated it was his decision as Chairman to put this item on the Consent Agenda. Mr. O'Byrne again stated staff thought it was policy to run the budget transfer through the Clerk's Office. Mr. Amunds noted that Mr. Windes represents the Board on the TDC and asked him to comment. Mr. Windes responded, saying everyone was in favor of the action as written and of the procedures being entertained right now. Mr. Parisot made motion to table this budget transfer. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. Parisot stated Item #8 involves approval of a $75,000 TDC allocation for the procurement, transportation, permitting, preparation, and deployment of The Tenneco for the Shirley Jd. Brown Memorial Reef. He said he has many unanswered questions. Among them are the facts that no hazmat or Coast Guard inspections have been conducted, the costs are unknown, and the permits have not been secured. Mr. Windes said his concern with The