Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-01-05 — reading text

CITY OF FORT WAL TON BEACH City Council Special Meeting Agenda September 1, 2005 - 12: 00 Noon City Council Chambers 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Mayor Mike Anderson 1. Discussion of disaster assistance ideas for victims of Hurricane Katrina. ADJOURN Any person who decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter at this meeting will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. (FS286.0105). The City of Fort Walton Beach adheres to the American with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to this meeting upon request. Please call City Clerk Helen Spencer at 850-833-9509 to make a request. For Hearing Impaired dial the City Hall TDD # 850- 833- 9925 or 1- 800-955-8771 ( TDD) or 1- 800-955-8770 (Voice). Requests must be received at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting in order to allow the City time to provide requested service.  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH Memorandum TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager SUBJECT: Disaster Assistance For Victims of Hurricane Katrina DATE: August 31, 2005 BACKGROUND: At the request of Council Member Wayne Pullen, a special Council meeting has been called to discuss ways the City of Fort Walton Beach can provide disaster assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina. DISCUSSION: We are all overwhelmed by the magnitude of the disaster experienced by our neighbors to the West. Although rescue and recovery efforts are still on going; staff has developed a preliminary series of alternatives for ways the City of Fort Walton Beach could provide assistance. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but rather a set of ideas. 1. Adopt a Sister City - This concept involves selecting a Sister City developing a dialog with the City Mayor/ Council and/ or Manager to determine their needs and how the City of FWB could be of assistance. Types of assistance include: a. Staffing b. Equipment c. Financial d. Sheltering e. Supplies 2. Provide Assistance through the Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters ( VOAD). VOAD coordinates all voluntary organizations statewide such as the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the Florida Fire Chiefs Association, and the Florida City/County Manager Associations, to solicit volunteers with specific expertise to aid disaster victims. The Police Chief, Fire Chief and the City Manager have made contact with their professional associations offering assistance; as of yet none have been given an assignment nor dispatched. 3. Solicitation and Collection of Needed Items - Another way the City could provide assistance is to conduct a drive for needed toiletries and baby goods. There are many ways this initiative could be coordinated. The Museum Director offered the idea of collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste for disaster victims. 4. Coordination with Relief Agencies. - The City could offer in- kind support and/ or financial support to relief agencies such as American Red Cross, Salvation Army  or the United Way. Or the City can serve as a collection conduit for these agencies. 5. Financial Donations - Several City employees have requested that they be given the opportunity to provide financial contributions to disaster victims. a. Financial Contribution via payroll deductions, which we have accomplished in the past for Hurricane Charlie victims. b. Another request from City employees was the opportunity to make a financial contribution by way of donating sick and vacation time that the City would cash out at the employee' s hourly rate and make a contribution to a relief agency or sister City. c. An additional request would be for the City to match, at some level, employee contributions to disaster victims. 6. Provide temporary library cards to Hurricane refugees. a. Up to 30 days b. Limited item check out - 2 items CONCLUSION: Staff respectfully requests Council direction on what alternatives they are interested in pursing or others that may be discussed at the meeting. Respectfully Submitted: a~ @tcf~ ager  Disaster Assistance Ideas 1. Adopt a " Sister City" - would require Council Action a. Select a City such as Biloxi, MS; Gulfport, MS: Slidell, LA b. Make contact with Mayor, City Council and/ or City Manager c. Offer assistance i. Staff ii. Equipment iii. Financial 1. Employees 2. Residents iv. Shelter Possibilities v. Needed Supplies 1. Employee 2. Residents 2. Provide Assistance through Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster VOAD) - This organization, via state organizations listed below, coordinates volunteer efforts for disasters on a statewide basis. I understand that initial assignments are to MS and LA and are for arten day period. a. Police - via Florida Police Chief Association - in progress b. Fire - via Florida Fire Chief's Association - in progress c. Public Works - personnel to spare no d. City Manager - via Florida City/ County Manager Association - in progress 3. Solicit collections of needed items at City Facilities a. Identify Collection Sites i. Museum ii. Library iii. City Hall b. Identify Collection Items i. Toothbrushes and toothpaste - In progress ii. Diapers, Baby Formula, Baby Wipes iii. Deodorant c. Contact VOAD or other relief agency for dissemination d. Ship or take needed supplies to Sister City 4. Coordination with Relief Agencies a. Salvation Army b. Red Cross c. United Way 5. Financial Donations a. City Employee i. Payroll deduction ii. Sick or Vacation Leave Time converted to cash - would require Council Action b. City - would require Council Action i. Match employee donations at some level ii. Make financial contribution to a Sister City  August 31, 2005 N~ Eiii~EAiS E Special Council Meeting Scheduled for September 1, 2005 Fort Walton Beach- A Special City Council Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, September 1, 2005 at 12: 00 p. m. ( noon) to discuss disaster assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers, 107 Miracle Strip Parkway SW, Fort Walton Beach. Contact City Clerk Helen Spencer at 833- 9509 for more information. Press release prepared by: Carrie Wurdeman, Public Information Officer, 850- 833- 9505 107 Miracle Strip Parkway SW . P. O. Box 4009 . Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 City of Fort Walton Beach . Phone ~ (850) 833-9505 . Fax - ( 850) 833-9640 . TDD - ( 850) 833-9925 . www.fwb. org  City of Fort Walton Beach V America' s Most Beautiful Beaches If\' 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW * P. O. Box 4009 * Fort Walton Beach, Fl32549 t~~ l V .:~ .. Yv / 7"~ , 850) 833- 9500 * Fax ( 850) 833- 9640 · TDD ( 850) 833- 9925 www.fwb. org TOO ( 850) 833- 9925 Helen Spencer City Clerk August 31, 2005 850) 833- 9509 hspencer@fwb. org TO: DAILY NEWS Fax # 863- 7834 WKSM RADIO 99 ROCK NEWS DEPT. Fax # 664- 0203 WYZB RADIO COUNTRY 105 NEWS DEPT. " WFTW TALK RADIO 1260 AM " WWSF RADIO 98 SURF Fax # 994- 7191 WWAV RADIO WAVE 102 Fax # 654- 5385 WPSM RADIO 91.1 FM Fax # 244- 3254 FAV AM STEREO Fax # 243- 1471 WMMK RADIO K-92 " DESTIN LOG Fax # 654- 5982 WEAR CHANNEL 3 TV Fax # 862- 3001 CHANNEL 6 Fax # 862- 1708 CUMULUS BROADCASTING Fax# 243- 6806 PRESS RELEASE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH NOTICE OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING The City Council of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida will meet in a Special Council meeting in the Fort Walton Beach Council Chambers, located at 107 Miracle