Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 03-13-07 workshop minutes — reading text

203 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 13, 2007 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 5: 30 p. m. \/ lAth the following members present: Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Bob Campbell, Dr. Wayne Pullen, and Mike Minich Absent: Jim Hartwell, Jim Tucker Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors Absent: Helen Spencer, City Clerk CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. ABSENCE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS The Mayor announced that Mr. Hartwell is out of town on business and the City Clerk and Mr.Tucker are participating at the canvassing board to certify the elections. FORMATION OF A TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE The Mayor advised that at the suggestion of Councilman Holmes to look into the establishment of a citizen ad- hoc committee that would address all downtown traffic issues, several points were brought forward for Council discussion, along with a draft resolution. Tom Murray, Public Works Director, discussed the topics to consider in the formation of such a committee, including the purpose, whether it will be ad- hoc or standing; objectives; and the geographical area to be covered. Also the composition, including the desired cross section of the community that would best serve the committee; what existing community organizations should be represented; and what committee size will be sufficient. Mr. Murray also presented for discussion purposes a draft resolution which described the purpose and composition of the proposed committee. Council questioned the number of Fort Walton Beach residents currently on the TPO' s Citizen' s Advisory Committee. Dean Covey, 270 Brooks Street SE and member of the Citizens' Advisory Committee, advised there are three individuals, including himself, on the committee, and the total number of individuals on the committee are approximately 20 persons. Doug Reed, 842 Santa Rosa Court, felt the idea of a citizen ad- hoc is a good idea as it will provide citizens an opportunity to have input as well as obtain information on what the City is planning to do with infrastructure in relation to streets and roads. Dr. Pullen noted the number of ad- hoc committees the City presently has, and suggested that if the issue is traffic in the downtown area, the CRA Board of Commissioners appoint a Committee of One to research the issue then bring it back to the CRA Board for discussion, then, if needed, form an ad- hoc committee. 204 Council Workshop 3- 13- 07 FORMATION OF A TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Mr. Holmes stated his thoughts that this is an issue that may be city-wide further down the road, and he is not sure that the CRA needs additional tasks at this time. He stated he is also for a looking different make- up for the committee. Discussion ensued whether the committee would be tasked to study traffic primarily in the CRA area or on a city-wide basis, and whether other issues, such as parking, landscaping, etc., should be considered. The City Attorney distinguished between an ad- hoc and a standing committee, stating a specific duty and time frame is needed for an ad- hoc committee that states when it begins and the time the committee has to make its findings. She further explained that if the CRA is made specific to the committee, the goals of the committee would include the jurisdictional issues since some recommendations may be made that cannot be implemented because of FOOT roadways that are not under City jurisdiction, and they do not want a committee making recommendations that cannot be carried out by Council. Also discussed by the City Attorney were the Committees of One that were formed on two other boards as research committees, and if a Committee of One were formed for traffic study purposes, the issue of public input may not be met because one person would be gathering the information. She also discussed the issues of having an odd- number board to prevent lack of quorums, and that if the committee is a standing committee with ongoing recommendations, they need to be specified as to how they will be brought forward to Council. The City Manager advised it was her understanding the Committee was to be a mechanism to gain citizen input and noted that the downtown merchants voiced their strong opposition the regarding suggested one- way pairs and left turns downtown. Discussion included that public input can be gained from having Council workshops which could or could not involve the CRA, the Chamber of Commerce, and downtown merchants. Mr. Holmes offered that for many years there has never been a positive direction or plan taken regarding traffic, that plans taken to the FOOT were never followed through and he fears that if a plan is not taken, the traffic problem will continue for many years to come. Mr. Holmes cited the success of the Museum Ad- Hoc Committee and the positive results the committee had in a short time in being tasked with only one goal. Bob Rettie, 317 Sudduth Circle, suggested the topic be an agenda item for the neighborhood meetings and that public input can be gained through those meetings. The Mayor questioned what action Council wanted to take. The City Manager reiterated the issues pointed out by the City Attorney, including whether the committee be standing or ad- hoc, and what exactly the goal of the committee should be. The City Attorney suggested Mr. Holmes have some ideas where he would like to start so that a resolution can ...... be formed around his suggestions. Mr. Holmes stated his feeling the committee should be focused on traffic in the downtown area, though not be focused solely on the CRA. Consensus of Council was for Mr. Holmes and the City Manager to get together and discuss his proposed ideas and that a resolution be formed and brought forward to Council. Freddie Jones, First City Bank, stated his thoughts that traffic is critical to downtown in that merchants want to be able to showcase their shops and businesses. He also stated this feeling that the City is pedestrian friendly and easily accessible.