Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 06-01-2010 special — reading text

presentation included information that in FY 09 -10 the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society ( PAWS) received $ 87,787 for animal control services; The Advocacy group received $ 40, 000 to provide legislative support on behalf of the City at the State level; the Chamber of Commerce received $ 16, 000 from the General Fund and $ 15, 000 from the CRA to provide promotional material and information to people moving to the area; and the Economic Development Council ( EDC) received $ 16, 000 to promote businesses and economics in the area; that PAWS has submitted a contract for the same amount as the current year for FY 10 -11;that the Mayor travels frequently to Tallahassee, has several contacts there, and can lobby for the City; and that the City Manager' s request for information from the EDC has been unanswered. Special Council meeting 6 -1 - 10 165 Quality of Life —Outside Agency Funding Discussion included clarification that the Chamber is now billed for in -kind services provided for the Billy Bowlegs and Dog Daze events; and the cost versus benefit of utilizing The Advocacy Group for legislative support. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Jenna Caldwell, speaking on behalf of the Chamber, discussed how the mission of the Chamber is to support the businesses. As no one else wished to speak public comment was closed Mr. Minich moved to fund PAWS at the proposed contract price of $87,787; discontinue the $40, 000 to The Advocacy Group for legislative support; fund the Chamber of Commerce $ 20, 000 through CRA funds; and discontinue the $ 16, 000 to the EDC. Mr. Holmes seconded the motion and it carried by a vote of 5 to 2 with Holmes, gossom, Minich, Nabors, and Patterson in favor and Reeves and Rynearson opposed. Quality of Life —Tennis Center Policy Decision: Should the City discontinue tennis center operating subsidy. The presentation included information that the City contracted Municipal Tennis Center operations to Erik Stenberg in October 2002 and the current three -year agreement expires September 30, 2010; that the City spent $ 31, 811 for tennis center operations in FY 2008 -09 excluding building and grounds maintenance; the City has not received a portion of gross revenues as the Contractor has not exceeded the $ 50K base revenue; and the millage required to sustain $ 32K for the tennis center is 0. 0294 mills. Council received clarification that at the end of the agreement the City can open up the tennis center operations for competitive bid, and that the City would still own the property but lease it out. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. As no one wished to speak public comment was closed. Mr. Nabors moved not to renew the current tennis center contract and to submit an RFP for tennis center operations. Ms. gossom seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, gossom, Reeves, Minich, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. Quality of Life —BMX Park Policy Decision: Should the City discontinue BMX park operating subsidy. The presentation included information that the City contracted BMX Park operations to Bill Madden in October 2007 and the current three -year agreement expires September 30, 2010; that the City spent $ 8, 590 for BMX complex operations in FY 2008 -09; that all revenues, including daily fees and clinic fees generated from the operation and management of the BMX/skateboard complex, are retained by the Contractor; and the millage required to sustain $ 14K for the BMX park is 0. 0125 mills. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. As no one wished to speak public comment was closed. Mr. Nabors moved not to renew the BMX contract and to submit an RFP to operate and maintain the BMX complex. Ms. gossom seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, gossom, Reeves, Minich, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. 166 Special Council meeting 6 -1 - 10 Quality of Life —Ri2ht -of W - ay Maintenance Policy Decision: Should the City contract with the Florida Department of Corrections for right -of w - ay maintenance. The presentation included information that the Department of Corrections offers a Community Work Squad program where inmates perform public work; the work squad consists of one supervisor and 8 workers, working Monday through Thursday; the right -of w - ay budget is $ 347, 931 for 7 full -time employees; two City workers would remain to schedule the work squad' s assignments and to maintain right -of w - ay areas around homes and other sensitive areas; the City would be required to purchase a van and special phone the first year and pay the supervisor' s annual salary each year; using inmate labor for right -of w - ay maintenance would save the City $ 129K the first year and $ 148K annually thereafter; that five positions would be eliminated; and 0. 1366 mills is required to sustain the $ 148K annual savings. Council received clarification that the sensitive areas the work squad would not work are those areas close to the schools; that other Cities that have used the work squad' s spoke highly of them; and the City would do what it can to find the other five employees a position. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Doug Reed, 847 Santa Rosa Court, received clarification that the medians on Highway 98 are within the CRA area. As no one else wished to speak public comment was closed Mr. Reeves moved to contract with the Florida Department of Corrections to use inmate labor for Mr. rights -of w - ay maintenance. Holmes seconded motion and it carried by a vote of 6 to 1 with Holmes, Reeves, Minich, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor and gossom opposed. Quality of Life —Athletics Policy Decision: Should the City reduce adult athletic programs. The presentation included information that the adult athletic programs include church basketball, men' s softball, women' s softball, co -ed softball, and flag football; that in FY 09 the adult participants were 390 City residents and 304 non -City residents; the youth athletic programs include flag football, tackle football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and girl' s softball; that in FY 09 the youth participants were 886 City residents and 498 non -City residents; the net cost of providing adult athletics is approximately $ 54, 650 and the net cost of providing youth athletics is approximately $ 42, 150; the City currently has an Adult Athletics Coordinator and a Youth Athletics Coordinator; the estimated savings from reducing adult athletics, and combining programs under one staff person would be $ 50K; and the mills required to sustain $ 50K for current programs is 0. 0462 mills. During discussion it was explained that the City would try to provide the most popular sports first; and that the City' s costs are similar in comparison to the surrounding Cities. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Pat Thornber, 342 Holmes Blvd., commented other cities charge more for their services and seem to have plenty of people participate. As no one else wished to speak public comment was closed. Mr. Reeves moved to reduce the adult athletic programs. Mr. Nabors seconded motion. Special Council meeting 6 -1 - 10 167 Quality of Life —Athletics cont. Discussion included comments that the City offers a lot of free athletic activities; that non -City residents should pay for the cost of the programs; and that the option of a different fee schedule should be explored first. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it failed by a vote of 3 to 4 with Reeves, Nabors, and Minich in favor and Holmes, gossom, Patterson, and Rynearson opposed. Quality of Life —Museum Hours Policy Decision: Should the City reduce museum operating hours and discontinue outreach programs. The presentation included information that the Heritage Park and Cultural Center is open 29 hrs a week Monday through Friday 12 — 4: 30 and Saturday 10 — 4: 30; that 68% of the museum beneficiaries are off s-ite through the educational outreach program for which the City receives no revenue; that the City can no longer afford to fund off s- ite education programs for the benefit of schools and other community groups; that reducing hours of operation to 15 hrs a week Friday through Sunday 12 — 5: 00 would permit the museums to stay open at times when City residents are most likely to visit; reducing hours of operation to 15 hours a week would decrease staffing to the Manager and one part-time assistant with a personnel savings of 98, 260; that reducing the hours of operation during the weekdays is estimated to decrease admission fees and merchandise sales of about 40% or $ 24K; the net saving would be $ 74,260; and the mills required to sustain $ 74K for the current museum operations is 0. 0685 mills. Discussion was held on the proposed hours of operation and the outreach programs. Gail Meyer, Museum Manager, explained it averages 54 man hours of one person' s time for the 15 specific events that take place over the course of a year, to present what the museum has to offer to the residents and tourists. Discussion included the desires expressed that the proposal from the museum be a little more aggressive on the proposed hours of operation. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Anna Peele, 640 Pinecone Court, Mary Esther, retired Museum Director and Chairman of the Friends of the Museum, asked Council to consider the cultural atmosphere downtown and to help them preserve what they have in this town, that the Friday through Sunday hours be reconsidered, and to reconsider eliminating the outreach programs. It was clarified that the proposal was not to set specific hours but more of a policy decision on whether to reduce the hours to 15 hours per week. Doug Reed, 842 Santa Rosa Court, Chairman of Musical Echoes, commented they need to bring the museum to the point that it is the gem of the community and there is an opportunity to fund part of the museum through CRA funds. The City Attorney confirmed the statute does not allow CRA funds to fund a museum. Bill Lucas, Choctaw Beach, member of the Friends of the Museum, commented there is 1, 000 years of family albums in the museum and suggested the County or the State be approached for additional funding. Jean Lucas, Choctaw Beach, member of the Friends of the Museum commented when people visit the museum they spend their money in the shops and restaurants downtown. John Jansen, 357 Eglin Parkway, comment the museum has tried hard to do what they can to improve and asked they be given an chance because they are on the verge of being something better than what they were. 168 Special Council meeting 6 -1 - 10 Ouality of Life —Museum Hours Cont. As no one else wished to speak public comment was closed. Mr. Holmes moved to allow the museum staff to formulate a plan. Mr. Nabors seconded motion. The desire was expressed that the museum work with the downtown merchants on the hours of operation; and