Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 11-26-07 special minutes — reading text

Esther to run the Senior Center. The Parks & Recreation Director stated many ideas have come up on with different He commented it is felt that the Senior Center, and the seniors, partnering organizations. there is a senior center. are just as important as the youth and they will do everything they can to ensure for He said the whole group is putting their heads together to come up with ways to make it more efficient the expenses and revenues. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. Lorraine Gelpi- Adkins, 115 Lorraine Court, Mary Esther, expressed that since the meeting in October a member who used the facility to keep the center open. She petition was signed by every or person and distributed a copy of the monthly calendar that lists all the classes and activities offered at the center stated it is a very viable building. Frank Mailhes, 26 Hemlock Drive, expressed his belief it was a temporary fix and addressed the need to can rely on and keep the center open and take care of the senior citizens who deserve something they have a place to go. He suggested an avenue to explore would be to approach some of the businesses about co- sponsoring senior citizen activities. Ann Kuehnel, 702 Russell Blvd, mentioned the center is worth the higher fee she pays as County a advertise what is offered at the center and where it is located resident and addressed the need to more on in order to broaden membership and keep it open. 2 1 Sbcial Council 11- 26- 07 STUDY cont. Nancy Raynsford, 247 Beachview Drive, described her use of the center and the fitness classes she takes in order to stay in good physical condition to be able to continue to care of her husband who has Alzheimer' s disease. She asked the center not be closed as there are many activities there for seniors and without it they would have no place to go. Bruce Blackwelder, 200 Miracle Strip Parkway SW, commented the seniors are the fastest growing segment of the population. He addressed the need for more advertising to target the snowbirds and I suggested the TDC as a possible source of funding. Ursela Ronneker, 723 Greenwood Street, mentioned she volunteers at the center to teach art classes and spoke about the importance of keeping the senior center open. Chuck Bolton, 180 Brian Circle, spoke about the increasing number of baby boomers who will start having a need for the facility and suggested considering a factor of increase rather than considering a possibility for decrease on a facility that is necessary. Blanche Brackin, 18 Lakeshore Drive, spoke about how much the center means to so many people and the service it performs for the county. She encouraged everyone to work together to keep the center open. Harvey Hall, 276 Beachview Drive, encouraged the City to not only think about the budget but also consider what would be done with the property if the center is closed. He also addressed the method of payment on the rental use of the property and suggested one check be made to the clerk and one check to the city so that the fee for the clerk does not have to be budgeted. Elaine Mifflin, 229- A Alchonese Avenue, spoke about the importance of the senior center and encouraged the City not to close the facility. Beverly Kapsa, 306 Holmes Blvd, spoke about the importance of the social network and programs available at the center to help the seniors stay healthy. As no one else wished to speak, public input was closed. The City Manager recapped that the staff suggestion is no action be taken during the current budget year and to give staff additional time as they formulate the 2008-09 budget to review partnering opportunities, look at staffing opportunities, and explore ways to keep the senior center viable as the city maintains the budget moving forward, then staff will make a recommendation during the 08- 09 budget process. Mr. Minich moved to maintain the senior center as is and direct staff to explore other funding mechanisms and cost saving measures. Dr. Pullen seconded motion. Discussion included comments about the important service the senior center provides and the need to work together to find a way to keep it open, and expressions of support to keep the facility open. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. Recommendation # 44 - Transfer the museum to another organization, such as the US Park Service, local universities, a local non- profit organization for this purpose, or transferring it to an Indian tribe ( cost I savings estimated at $ 130,000). The City Manager noted the Department Director disagreed and she had limited agreement. She did not believe anything needed to be done in the current fiscal year and staff wants an opportunity to continue to explore various partnership arrangements and alternative funding arrangements as well as give the new Museum Director additional time to implement some of her ideas.  Special Council 11- 26- 07 217 STUDY cont. The City Manager mentioned her main concern with this issue is the safeguarding of the artifacts at the museum. She mentioned many of the artifacts are on loan from private individuals and if the collection were to be turned over to a university, she understands many of the individuals would not want those artifacts to remain with the city through the process. She said staff is requesting time to maintain it as it is currently, continue to seek alternate funding opportunities and to look for cost saving measures. It was questioned whether it is viable to maintain a facility that cost $ 130, 000 a year. The City Manager r recalled several years ago when there was a push to do with the museum a Council away appointed committee developed a museum action plan and staff has barely been given an opportunity to implement the action plan. She mentioned a museum co- operative is W being formed in the County and there may be some help for some funding, and staff needs more time to explore ideas. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. Bill Lucas, 7 Pembroke Place, Chairman of the Friends of the Museum, expressed that the Friends support the City Manager' s recommendation. Dennis Standing Bear Compos, 334 Morgan Lane, addressed the Native American aspect of the temple mound and recalled a previous Council decided it was a sacred site and would not do with it. He anything expressed his belief it is not a viable idea to turn the museum over to another organization that may tear down the mound and build a McDonald' s. He expressed hope that the wisdom of the previous Council will be considered and not to privatize the temple mound. As no one further wished to speak, public input was closed. It was recalled the property was donated to the city and questioned whether there was a restriction that would not allow the City to do anything with the property. Laura Bessinger- Morse, Museum Director, explained there is a stipulation regarding the piece of land when it was given to the City and said to the best of their understanding it is indeed intended to be kept as a historic site and interpreted as such. She said should the City decide at some point in the future that it would no longer be an historic site and represented in the City in that way, it is practically a reverter clause where the descendents of the families could reclaim that if it were ever to be considered property for any other type of use. She further confirmed in order for the City to own the mound, it has to be kept and maintained as an historic site. It was questioned whether the County had been approached about funding. The City Manager said the City has not specifically approached the County about providing funding but there is a museum co- operative forming and there may be some funding available. Mr. Minich moved to maintain the museum as is and direct staff to investigate other funding mechanisms and cost saving measures. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. Discussion included expressions on the importance of taking care of the temple mound and the City' s responsibility to preserve the past, it was suggested that the TDC be approached as a source of funding because it is a large tourist attraction and that other sources for funding to maintain the history of the Native Americans be investigated. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried