Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 08-10-2010 Regular — reading text

demonstrated by City of Fort Walton Beach helped ensure that the communities you serve are accurately represented in Congress and eligible for the funding needed for important community programs, services and facilities. The 2010 Census data will aid your community and government in making strategically and fiscally sound decisions to spur and sustain economic development and growth, and improve the quality of life in every neighborhood. Once again, thank you for your contributions and unparalleled efforts to the 2010 Census to assure Florida residents are accurately reflected in the 2010 Portrait ofAmerica. Your partnership is appreciated and we look forward to continued opportunities to work together in the future. Sincerely, t1blople /" 4 George Grandy, Jr. Atlanta Regional Director USCENSUSBUREAU www.census. gov  CITY COUNCIL MEETING August 10, 2010 Consent Agenda Approval of Minutes: Special Council Meeting - June 22, 2010 Regular Council Meeting - June 22, 2010 Agenda Item Number: 8. 1  MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA JUNE 229 2010 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, June 225 2010 at 5: 00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes; joyce gillie gossom; Dennis Reeves; Mike Minich, Bobby Nabors; and Dick Rynearson Seat 6 Vacant Also Present: Robert Mearns, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors PURPOSE Discussion of the proposed Millage Rate and Budget Policy Issues. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. He requested anyone who wished to address Council to approach the podium after being recognized, then state his or her name and address for the record. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE Discussion on the proposed millage rate for the next fiscal year. The Finance Director stated the purpose of the meeting this evening is to allow Council the opportunity to set the proposed millage rate which is the rate that will be shown on the tax notice sent out by the Property Appraiser. She said the rate can be decreased but it cannot be increased after it is set without incurring additional advertising costs. She went over information on the millage rate; some general information on the composition of the City and number of parcels by taxable value; and history of the City' s Ad Valorem revenues and millage rate. She went over the rolled -back rate which, based on the preliminary taxable value, is estimated at 4. 4543 to generate the same amount of ad valorem tax revenue as the prior year City -wide. She went over the maximum millage rate that can be set by a majority with 4 votes, by two- thirds with 5 votes, and a unanimous vote or voter referendum. She said if Council desires, the proposed millage 291' rate can be set tonight thereby not requiring a special meeting on June and regardless of whether or not the proposed millage rate is set tonight, staff requests a policy decision on whether the millage rate should be maintained at the current level or increased to fund desired service levels.  Special Council 6 -22 -10 PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE cont. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Chris Gibson, 249 Brooks Street SE, received clarification that to maintain the same level of services the millage rate would need to be set at almost 6 mills. Roy Hackney, 337 Elliot Road, received explanation that the taxes on a $ 1 00, 000 home would increase approximately $ 180 a year at a 6 mill rate. As no one else wished to speak public input was closed. Mr. Minich moved to set the proposed millage rate to be used in developing the FY 2010 -11 budget and published on the " Notice of Proposed Taxes" at 5. 0 mills. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. During discussion comments included the desire to maintain the level of services and to retain as many employees as possible; the desire not to jeopardize the quality of services the citizens receive; that the current level of services cannot be maintained without increasing the millage rate; that the millage rate should not be increased with the current state of the economy and the oil spill situation; that there is still the ability to make reductions and changes without losing services; that the proposed millage rate can be lowered and reductions can still be made during the budget process; that the tendency in the past has been to eliminate people as opposed to changing the way business is done; that the proposed millage will help offset some of the $ 1. 4 million shortfall; that money can be saved on some items as opposed to eliminating positions; the desire that Council try to keep the millage as low as possible when going through the budget process and not repeat: past actions of running the total budget up to the proposed millage; and that the message be sent to staff that it is time to start trimming and find out where major changes can be made, and not to prepare a budget based on the proposed millage. Council received explanation that the proposed millage rate is published on the " Notice" sent by the Property Appraiser in August and Council cannot go above that without formal notification to each property owner, and the tentative millage is set at the first public hearing and the final millage is set at the second public hearing. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried by a vote of 4 to 2 with Holmes, gossom, Minich, and Rynearson in favor and Reeves and Nabors opposed ( Seat 6 vacant). BUDGET POLICY City Council review of the staff proposal on the preparation of the budget. The City Manager mentioned preparation of the budget will be predicated on the fact that the same percentages of the budget each department received last year would be applied to this year' s budget, even though there is diminished revenue. He requested Council endorse the proposed method for allocating the estimated available FY 2010 -11 General Fund resources. He said Council will meet in August to begin going through the budget line -by -line in each department. 2  MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA JUNE 229 2010 INTRODUCTION A regular meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at 6: 00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, joyce gossom, Dennis Reeves, Mike Minich, Bobby Nabors, and Dick Rynearson Seat 6 Vacant Also Present: Robert Mearns, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney; Department Directors and Media CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. He requested anyone who wished to address Council to approach the podium after being recognized, then state his or her name and address for the record. INVOCATION/ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pastor Rob Bohnsack, First Presbyterian Church, gave the Invocation and Cabe Williamson from the Church led in the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATIONS Ms. gossom presented the Northwest Florida League of Cities Community of Excellence Award for the Chester Pruitt Park Improvements to Charles Scott, President of the Beal Parkway Neighborhood Association, and Doug Reed, Chairman of the CRA. EGLIN PARKWAY CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN John Alaghemand from the OWTPO' s consulting firm DRMP gave a power point presentation on the Eglin Parkway Corridor Management Plan. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Reeves requested that Item 14. 5, Discussion of Legal Team Costs, and Item 14. 6, Discussion of 651 Powell Drive, be reversed on the agenda. Mr. Reeves moved to approve the agenda, as amended, as the business of the day. Mr. Rynearson seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, gossom, Reeves, Minich, Nabors, and Rynearson in favor Seat 6 Vacant). CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Reeves moved to approve the following Consent Agenda items. Mr. Rynearson seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, gossom, Reeves, Minich, Nabors, and Rynearson in favor (Seat 6 Vacant). APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the Special Council Meeting of June 1, 2010 and Regular Council Meeting of June 8, 2010. TASK ORDER, HATCH MOTT MACDONALD To authorize the City Manager to execute a Task Order with Hatch Mott MacDonald of Pensacola, Florida, to complete a preliminary evaluation and engineering report of Pump Station No. 1 and force main for a not to exceed amount of $100, 000.00.  Regular Council 6 -22 -2010 WORLD CHANGERS SUPPLIES To authorize acquisition of materials to roof and/ or paint 19 homes for the World Changers program from the two lowest, responsive responsible bidders, Lowe' s Home Center and the Home Depot, in a not to exceed amount of 45, 000.00. PUBLIC COMMENTS Rep. Matt Gaetz, 301 Brooks Street, discussed the proposed millage rate set by Council and hoped Council will take the opportunity not to raise the millage rate, and asked that a critical view be taken regarding the need for lobbyist services as the Mayor takes a very active role in Tallahassee. Tom Corrigan, 116 Berger, referenced an article in International Firefighters Magazine regarding the manning of fire departments and strongly recommended the article be read. RES. 2010 -16, BUDGET AMENDMENT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 BUDGET TO MAKE CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO APPROPRIATIONS OF CITY FUNDS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Brandy Wunker, Finance Director, was available to answer questions Council might have The Mayor asked for public :input. There was none. Mr. Rynearson moved to adopt Res. 2010 -16. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, gossom, Reeves, Minich, Nabors, and Rynearson in favor (Seat 6 Vacant). RES. 2010 -17, SUPPORT FOR THE OKALOOSA COUNTY BOCC A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE OKALOOSA COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO TAKE DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PREVENT CRUDE OIL FROM THE DEEPWATER HORIZON SPILL FROM ENTERING THE CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY FROM THE DESTIN EAST PASS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Mr. Minich explained the resolution shows support of the County Commissioners in the proactive role they have taken in regards to the oil spill in the Gulf. The Mayor asked for public input. Chris Gibson, 249 Brooks Street SE, commended the efforts of the County and received clarification that through the action of the county, the permitting process will be expedited in protecting the City' s waterways. As there was no one else who wished to speak, public input was closed. Mr. Minch moved to adopt Res. 2010 -17. Mr. Nabors seconded motion and it carried by a vote of 5 to 1 with Holmes, Reeves, Minch, Nabors, and Rynearson in favor and