Okaloosa County BOCC — September 3, 2013 — September 17 Regular Meeting — reading text

September 17, 2013 Regular Meeting The regular Tuesday meeting of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners was called to order at 8:30 a.m. at the Water & Sewer Administration Building in Fort Walton Beach. Members present were Don R. Amunds, Chairman; Dave Parisot, Vice Chairman (departed at 9:15 a.m. and did not return); Wayne Harris; Nathan Boyles; and Kelly Windes. Also present were Gary J. Stanford, Finance Director, Clerk’s Office; John Dowd, County Attorney; and John Hofstad, Interim County Administrator. PRESENTATIONS —- EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS Mr. Hofstad presented service awards to the following employees: Lori Fox------------ Ten Years Billy Mathis-------- Ten Years Barbara Chestnut----Fifteen Years Jeb Chessher-------- Fifteen Years Al Herndon---------- Retirement Mike Rominger------- Retirement Cletus Matthews----- Retirement PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER UPATES Mrs. Kathy Newby, Public Information Officer, opened her presentation with a promo for the Okaloosa Today program which airs on Cox Channel 6. She then provided a picture of the 2013 Beach Safety staff which guarded more than 800,000 visitors and performed 200 open water rescues. Mrs. Newby also showed a photograph of the Transportation Security Officers and staff at Northwest Florida Regional Airport who observed a moment of silence at 7:45 a.m. on September 11". COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S UPDATE Mr. Hofstad said at the last meeting he addressed TPO reapportionment. He advised the legal staff for the TPO has recognized that 33% of the TPO must be comprised of county commissioners. Mr. Hofstad stated reapportionment will again be discussed at the next TPO meeting on Thursday at 3 p.m. in Niceville and encouraged the commissioners to be in attendance. September 17, 2013 -1- Minute Book 70, Page 46 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners COUNTY COMMISSIONER’ S MINUTE Mr. Boyles reported he was appointed as the liaison for RESTORE Act issues at the Northwest Florida Regional Planning Council meeting. Mr. Parisot had no comments. Mr. Windes stated at the last couple of meetings there were issues on who voted- and he would like to see some type of light indicator for casting votes. Mr. Harris said this morning we saw an example of some of the county’s finest getting service awards. He said they deserve honor and respect. Mr. Amunds thanked everyone for their participation in the budget workshops and budget hearings. VISITOR - STEVE CHRISTOPHER, LORD & SON, SHALIMAR ANNEX OPTIONS Mr. Steve Christopher, representing Lord & Son Construction, Inc., came forward to review as he termed it, the “latest and greatest” estimates for renovations at the Shalimar Annex. He stated one and half years ago Lord & Son was tasked with the design/build for renovation of this facility. Mr. Christopher pointed out negotiations were ongoing with the Meigs Family Trust at that time. Lord & Son was asked to provide Phase I and Phase II designs, noting there was some discussion on demolition of the existing facility and rebuilding a more efficient structure. Mr. Christopher stated a settlement has been reached with the Meigs Trust and it is his understanding the Board desires to move forward. He presented the following options, dated September 11, 2013: Option 1: New two-story building of approximately 50,000 square feet. $165.00 xX 50,000 square feet = £4$8,250,000. Additional costs (demolition, sitework, landscaping, telecommunications, site lighting, A/E fees, and Civil Engineer fee) is $1,505,000. Total of Option 1 is $9,755,000. If county forces are used for demolition, sitework, landscaping, telecommunications and site lighting, this cost could be deducted by $953,000. Total of Option 1 with deducts is $8,802,000. September 17, 2013 -2- Minute Book 70, Page 47 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Option 2: New three-story building of approximately 75,000 square feet with third floor as shelled space only. $165.00 X 50,000 square feet is $8,250,000; 25,000 square feet of third floor is additional $395,000. Additional costs (demolition, sitework, landscaping, telecommunica- tions, site lighting, A/E fees, and Civil Engineer fee) is $1,505,000. Total of Option 2 is $10,150,000. If county workforce is used to perform tasks as outlined in Option 1, the deducts will total $953,000. Total of Option 2 with deducts is $9,197,000. Option 3: Complete renovation of entire existing facility; approximately 65,658 square feet, including sitework, landscaping, front entrance, site lighting and A/E fees. Total for Option 3 is $10,430,000. Deducts using county forces for sitework, landscaping, telecommunications, and site lighting are $643,000. Total of Option 3 with deducts is $9,787,000. . Option 4: Renovation of Buildings B and G only, including all exterior renovations of canopies, ADA requirements and A/E fees will total $10,430,000 for Option 4. If the county completes renovation of Buildings A, C, D, E, and F, the deduct will be $3,745,000. Total of Option 4 with deducts is $6,685,000. NOTE: Options 1 and 2 would allow space for an additional 100 parking spaces. Mr. Amunds said personally he likes Option 1 based on the price which includes deducts for use of county forces. He felt verification of the numbers was important, as well as verifying that staff can be pulled off other projects to perform the work. Mr. Hofstad said he can work with staff to verify this information. Mr. Boyles expressed concern the Courthouse in Crestview is several decades older than the Annex and there is no discussion on what can be done at that facility. He referred to a $23 Million cost to construct the Annex Extension Building on Lewis Turner Boulevard and now the discussion is to tear down the existing Annex and construct another new building. Mr. Boyles said the Constitutional Officers were asked what they wanted and that is what the drawings are based on. However, he said we need to “sharpen our pencils” and give the Constitutional Officers a budget to work with. Mr. Boyles felt the cost to September 17, 2013 ~3- Minute Book 70, Page 4g Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners renovate the Annex was too steep and work should be done at both ends of the county. Mr. Amunds said it should be about “need not want” in developing the square footage. He stated if renovation is needed in North County, then the Crestview Courthouse Task Force should work on that idea and suggested Mr. Boyles work with Facilities Maintenance Director Don Turner on that issue. Mr. Parisot stated he spoke with Mr. Christopher and Leven Lord last week. He cited many problems with the existing facility and said he can support Option 2. Mr. Parisot felt this option was more economical and allowed for future growth. He agreed that renovation of facilities in Crestview is needed. He said renovation of the second floor of the Brackin Building is continuing for the Property Appraiser’s Office and there is work to be done in the Crestview Courthouse. Mr. Parisot noted that additional funds will have to be made available for the Crestview Courthouse. Mr. Parisot spoke about selling the Shalimar property and go with a Phase II construction project at the Fairgrounds property (Lewis Turner Boulevard) but it may not be = politically palatable. He said the proceeds from selling the Shalimar Annex Site could be used for a new facility somewhere else. He reiterated his support of Option 2. Mr. Amunds said he would like to get direction from _ the commissioners on whether or not the desire to keep the Shalimar facility and determine if there is support for Mr. Parisot’s idea of moving to the Fairgrounds. Mr. Windes said he is not interested in either Option 3 or Option 4. He stated we have enough rundown buildings and need a new efficient facility. Mr. Windes advised he can support Option 1 or Option 2 but would like to have more analyses from staff on lease savings. Mr. Harris stated if work is done at the Annex, the county will save $1 Million in lease fees. However, he said he would like to remind everyone the County Seat is in Crestview. Mr. Harris questioned the limitations on funds for renovations in Crestview. He recommended finding a way to improve facilities in both North and South County. September 17, 2013 _ -4- Minute Book 70, Page 49 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Mr. Amunds said the consensus seems to be to look at Options 1 or 2 for the Shalimar Annex with the understanding work will be done in North County. He stated the Crestview Courthouse Task Force will work with the Facilities Maintenance Department to bring back ideas and staff will conduct an analysis of lease dollars at the next meeting. Mr. Boyles stated earlier the Chairman asked to clear the issue of focusing on the Shalimar site or the Fairgrounds. He was of the opinion the county should be in Shalimar, saying the new facility on Lewis Turner Boulevard is to provide capacity for judicial. Mr. Amunds allowed that although the reverter clause for the Shalimar Annex is no longer an issue, the Board did make a commitment to the residents to have a facility in Shalimar for them to do their business. Mr. Harris said he supports keeping the facility in Shalimar, pointing out much time and money was spent to keep that facility. Mr. Parisot explained his rationale for Phase II at _ the Courthouse Annex Extension. He then said he could support the Shalimar site if the attempt is not to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear; in other words, he said he feels it is more economically feasible to construct a new building. Mr. Windes stated he will join the consensus in support of the Shalimar location. He said he would like additional analysis from staff on Options 1 and 2. Mr. Boyles voiced support of the Shalimar location. He said the facilities can be made functional but not by spending $10 Million in the south end and only $100,000 at the Courthouse. Mr. Amunds commented he is not in favor of a patch job but the Board will never know how much it will cost if it is not brought before it. Mr. Boyles replied that six months ago he asked for funds to support the Task Force so it could provide an analysis with options just like the ones given for the Shalimar Annex. However, it ran out of steam because of a lack of funding. (NOTE: Mr. Parisot left at this time—9:15 a.m. and did not return.) September 17, 2013 -5- Minute Book 70, Page 50 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Mr. Harris said there were some plans prepared for improvements to the Courthouse by Mr. Turner some time ago. He recommended this all be brought under one umbrella. Mr. Windes stated he can support this concept, saying let’s look at fixing it right and in conjunction with the Shalimar project. Mr. Amunds asked Mr. Boyles and Mr. Turner to bring a budget for the Courthouse to the Board for consideration. PUBLIC HEARING - REQUEST TO AMEND THE BLUEWATER BAY DRI TO ALLOW A SELF-SUPPORTING COMMUNICATION TOWER AS A PERMITTED USE Mr. Stanford read the advertised legal notice for public hearing to consider a request to amend the Bluewater Bay Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Development Order (DO) to allow the self- supporting communication tower as a permitted use on the parent tract within the area designated as Recreation on the master plan dated October 7, 2008. The request is submitted by the Lauralee Westine Law Office as agent on behalf of the property owner, Recreation Services, Inc. Mr. Dowd stated this is a quasi-judicial proceeding and anyone desiring to present testimony is asked to now stand and be sworn in. Mr. Elliot Kampert, Growth Management Director, stated the proposal before the Board is an amendment to allow a 317-foot, self-supporting communications tower. The property is located on the north side of Bay Drive, north of Lido Village Subdivision and the lease area contains 0.23 acres. Photographs of the site were displayed. The proposed tower