Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-11-2007 regular agenda — reading text

size of the project and any modifications to the site plan will come back to Council. The CDS Director submitted the staff report for the record. Mr. Siner verified there was no objection to the staff report. The Mayor opened the public hearing. As no one wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Garvie moved to approve the Development Order with the original conditions of approval and a 12 month extension of the site plan approval for the CBG Waldorf Office Building located o at 45 Eglin Parkway NE on the corner of Eglin Parkway NE and Staff Drive NE. Mr. Minich seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Hartwell absent). Regular Council meeting 8- 14- 07 89 SITE PLAN APPROVAL - BEULAH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Consideration bf a request by Beulah First Baptist Church, owner, for site plan approval to develop an off-site parking lot located at 109 McGriff Street NE, for Beulah First Baptist Church. The City Attorney gave the oath to all individuals who expected to testify. Eddie Todd representing the Church, briefly went over the' request for site plan approval to develop an off-site parking lot with 83 spaces at 109 McGriff Street NE to be used for parking for the existing church and future facility expansion located north of the property. The CDS Planner submitted the staff report for the record. Mr. Todd verified there was no objection to the staff report. The Mayor opened the public hearing. As no one wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Minich moved to approve the site plan for Beulah First Baptist Church to develop an off- site parking lot with 83 spaces at 109 McGriff Street NE, and the Development Order with the conditions specified in the Order. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. The question was asked about the consequences concerning the trees cut down without a permit. The CRA Planner explained there is a condition in the Development Order that the applicant will have to replace those trees on site and it will be monitored during construction to make sure they are replaced. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller,' Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Hartwell absent) PUBLIC HEARING: ORD. 1734 - AMENDING ALARM SYSTEMS The City Attorney read the ordinance by title. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, RELATED TO ALARM SYSTEMS, AMENDING ORDINANCE 1667 BY AMENDING INITIAL PERMIT FEE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Mayqr opened the public hearing. As no one wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Minich moved to approve Ord. 1734 on first reading. Dr. Pullen seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor ( Hartwell absent). FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Council reviewed a list of agenda items proposed to be discussed at future Council Workshops or Council meetings. . The City Manager mentioned the list of items will be updated in future agendas. The City Manager noted that the fee review was done during the budget workshops and believed Council wanted to review again after the Land Development Code is completed. There was consensus that a separate workshop meeting will be held in November to discuss the Golf Club fees. It was agreed that the City Manager will ask Mr. Hartwell to provide staff more detail on what he would like to see on the review of the Charter.  Regular Council meeting 8- 14- 07 90 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS cont. The City Manager mentioned the review of the sign issue may be an agenda item on a regular agenda unless Council wants to discuss it at a workshop. It was mentioned that Council previously voted on the issue of billboards and it was suggested Council can be brought up- to- date on the issue at a workshop meeting. The City Manager noted there was subsequent discussion at the Strategic Planning meeting and she had been approached by Lamar Signs that they are interested in coming back to Council. She acknowledged her 'understanding to bring the issue to Council at a Workshop ' meeting. CRA FUNDS TO PURCHASE TWO LOTS FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Consideration of a request to use CRA funds to purchase two lots on the corner of Harbeson Avenue and Third Street SE for the construction of two Habitat for Humanity homes. Nitsi Bennet, CEO Okaloosa County Habitat for Humanity, explained the owner of the two lots has agreed to a price of $50,000 per lot and requested Council' s approval for the use of CRA funds in the amount of $ 100, 000 plus closing costs for the purchase of the two lots. The CDS Director reported that the CRA Board recommended approval of the request. Mr. Garvie moved to grant to Okaloosa County Habitat for Humanity up to $ 125, 000 in CRA funds for the purchase of two lots on the corner of Harbeson Avenue SE and Third Street SE for the construction of two homes. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Hartwell absent). PARKING FACILITIES PLAN Presentation by David Burr of Rich and Associates on Parking Facilities Plan for the CRA. Then, consideration of acceptance of the Parking Facilities Plan Final Report. David Burr, Consultant and Project Manager with Rich and Associates, went over the highlights of the Parking Facilities Plan Final Report. His presentation included the purpose and goals, the study area, the methodology used, the existing parking supply summary, the occupancy study results, parking generation rates, percentage occupancy by parking comparison, parking zone analysis, conclusions, and recommendations. Functional recommendations included seeking opportunities to increase publicly provided parking supply downtown, take steps to insure that the public parking is not further reduced, monitor absorption of parking supply; Operational recommendations include maintaining the provision in the City Code for fee in lieu of parking, compare the City' s fee to other communities, have fee amount at a level to pay to fund parking improvements not so high as to discourage development, have mechanism to periodically adjust the amount, take necessary steps to maintain/ improve, and develop a signage program for downtown development in a consistent format for signs. The CDS Director reported the CRA Board recommended approval and that the title be changed from plan" to " study". She said staff believes the more appropriate title is " Plan" as it is a very thorough document and with the recommendations it really is a plan of action for the future. She stated staff recommends approval of the Parking Facilities Plan and if approved, staff will return with a strategy on how to implement the various recommendations and time frames. Mr. Minich moved to accept the Parking Facilities Plan Final Report as presented. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. Mr. Miller commented the $ 31, 000 budgeted for LED signs could be better used to improve the parking signs for downtown. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Hartwell absent).  Regular Council meeting 8- 14- 07 91 UZA JACKSON PARK MASTER PLAN Consideration of a request for Council approval of the Liza Jackson Master Plan. Karen Gercak, Chairman Waterfronts Florida Partnership Committee, explained the committee felt one of the areas in most need was the Liza Jackson Park and decided to use the grant to hire a consultant to create a master plan for Liza Jackson Park. She stated Choctaw was hired Engineering and provided a very feasible short- term plan and a long- term plan that could be implemented in the future if conditions are right. She mentioned that both plans incorporate new lighting, impressive walking areas as well as other family friendly improvements while conserving wetlands and natural J vegetation. She said both plans will improve and increase the boat trailer parking and give access to the east and west parking areas without the dangers of entering and exiting Highway 98. She said the long- term plan would provide a more efficient boat trailer and vehicular parking area but would only be feasible if certain conditions were right, as in the need to rebuild a new pavilion. She said most of the funding for the improvements to Liza Jackson Park could be provided by grants. She said the Committee is excited to submit the Plan to Council for approval. Mark Siner, Choctaw Engineering, went over the liza Jackson Park conceptual Master Plan. He pointed out aspects of the short term plan that include new park monument signs on the east and west sides, and a new park monument sign with a flag pole at the park entrance to replace the existing sign, a formal lawn and trellis, an extended elevated boardwalk with observation decks behind the wetland area, the bay saver and the creek relocation, a connecting road from the west to the east side, the sidewalk extension west side, pedestrian amenities, dog stations, a boat wash/fish cleaning station, and 56 spaces for boat trailer parking and a boat turnaround; and the aspects of the long- term plan for a formal lawn with a water park, improved traffic flow and turnaround with 64 spaces for boat trailer parking and additional vehicular parking, the pavilion relocated, and the east parking lot identified for future recreational uses.;;,; Discussion on the short term and long term aspects of the plan included the suggestion that lights be