Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 04-14-09 regular minutes — reading text

through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. Mr. Miller nominated Mayor Anderson as the alternate. The Mayor called for the vote on the nomination to appoint Mayor Anderson as the alternate to the Okaloosa Housing Partners from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. 160 Regular Council 4 -14 -09 OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPRESENTATIVES Consideration of Council representatives to the Okaloosa County League of Cities ( OCLOC) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. Mr. Reeves nominated Mayor Anderson as the representative. The Mayor called for the vote on the to appoint Mayor Anderson as the nomination representative to the Okaloosa County League of Cities ( OCLOC) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. Mr. Reeves nominated Bill Garvie as the alternate. Mr. Garvie nominated Dick Rynearson as the alternate. The Mayor called for the vote on the nomination to appoint Bill Garvie as the alternate to the Okaloosa County League of Cities ( OCLOC) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it failed with no votes in favor. The Mayor called for the vote on the nomination to appoint Dick Rynearson as the alternate to the Okaloosa County League of Cities ( OCLOC) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES Consideration of Council representatives to the West Florida Regional Planning Council ( WFRPC) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. Mr. Rynearson nominated Virgil Miller as the representative. The Mayor called for the vote on the nomination to appoint Virgil Miller as the representative to the West Florida Regional Planning Council ( WFRPC) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. Mr. Miller nominated Bill Garvie as the alternate. The Mayor called for the vote on the nomination to appoint Bill Garvie as the alternate to the West Florida Regional Planning Council ( WFRPC) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. OWTPO REPRESENTATIVES Consideration of Council representatives to the Okaloosa -Walton Transportation Planning Organization ( OWTPO) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. Mike Holmes and Bill Garvie volunteered to remain as the representatives. Mr. Nabors nominated Bill Patterson. The Mayor called for the vote to appoint Mike Holmes, Bill Garvie, and Bill Patterson as the representatives to the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization ( OWTPO) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. Regular Council 4 -14 -09 161 OWTPO REPRESENTATIVES Cont. Dick Rynearson volunteered as alternate for Mike Holmes. Dennis Reeves volunteered as alternate for Bill Garvie. Bobby Nabors volunteered as alternate for Bill Patterson. The Mayor called for the vote to appoint Dick Rynearson as alternate for Mike Holmes, Dennis Reeves as alternate for Bill Garvie, and Bobby Nabors as alternate for Bill Patterson to the OkaloosaWalton Transportation Planning Organization ( OWTPO) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. REGIONAL UTILITY AUTHORITY REPRESENTATIVES Consideration of Council representatives to the Regional Utility Authority ( RUA) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. Bill Garvie volunteered to remain the representative. The Mayor called for the vote to appoint Bill Garvie as the representative to the Regional Utility Authority ( RUA) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. Dennis Reeves volunteered to remain the alternate. The Mayor called for the vote to appoint Dennis Reeves as the alternate to the Regional Utility Authority ( RUA) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. CRA APPOINTMENT Consideration of appointment to the CRA Board of Commissioners — tabled at the 3 -24 -09 Council meeting. The Mayor noted there are now five applications for one appointment for the unexpired term until January 27, 2011. Mr. Holmes nominated Karen Huff, 2430 Avenida Desol, Navarre. Mr. Garvie nominated Lewis Jennings, 605 Mooney Road, Fort Walton Beach. Mr. Reeves nominated Tom Tona, 207 Walkedge, Fort Walton Beach. The Mayor opened the floor to the public. Jenna Leigh Caldwell, 696 Tyner Street # 32, owner of the business at 39 Eglin Parkway, stated she was approached to apply for the vacancy and expressed her desire to become involved because that part of town needs to be addressed to make it look as great as downtown. As no one else wished to speak public input was closed. The Mayor called for the vote on the nomination to appoint Lewis Jennings and it failed with Garvie in favor. The Mayor called for the vote on the nomination to appoint Karen Huff and it failed with Holmes in favor. 162 Regular Council 4 -14 -09 CRA APPOINTMENT cont. The Mayor called for the vote to appoint Tom Tona, 207 Walkedge Drive SE, to the CRA Board of Commissioners for the unexpired term until January 27, 2011 and it carried with Miller, Reeves, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. MUNICIPAL CODE Canceling agreement with Municipal Code Supplement Services. The City Clerk requested permission to allow her department to prepare the codification for 2009. She reported a letter had to be sent prior to bringing it to City Council to cancel the supplement services of Municipal Code or it would have automaticallyy xtended for another y ear. She believed her department can prepare the codification updates with assistance from the City Attorney and City Manager. She advised that the 2008 information had been sent to Municipal Code after the first of the year to prepare the codification supplement and to date it has not been completed. She mentioned it will save the City approximately $ 3, 200 - 3, 500 a year. Mr. Reeves moved to approve the action taken to cancel the Supplement Services of Municipal Code Corporation and the City Clerk to provide the municipal code services in- house. Mr. Garvie seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. LEASES FOR CITY PROPERTY Request to schedule workshop to discuss policy direction for leases for City property. The Acting City Manager mentioned over the last couple of months a number of leases have crossed his desk that range from $ 1. 00 a year to a substantial amount depending on the property leased and the lessee. He commented there are entities leasing City property for well below market value and thought the City has a judiciary responsibility to the citizens to evaluate whether the entity requesting the lease is performing a municipal service that the City could perform. He mentioned he and the City Attorney have been working on a methodology to provide guidance in evaluating the potential tenants. 5th He requested Council schedule a Special meeting on May to discuss policy on City leases to give guidance in preparing standardized leases and in negotiating the leases. 5th It was noted a Special Council meeting is scheduled for May to discuss the defined contribution plan and this issue can be placed as a second topic at that meeting. It was commented that Council should also discuss whether City staff should control the leasing of commercial property or whether a professional Commercial Real Estate Company should control the leasing of property, and Council should evaluate why they should give away property to non -profits. Mr. Miller moved to set a Special Council meeting for May 5, 2009 to discuss City leases. Mr. Garvie seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. ACTING CITY MANAGER APPOINTMENT Council approval of reappointment of Robert Mearns for an additional 90 day term. Mark Wiltsie, Administrative Services Director, noted this item is Council to consider re- appointment of Robert Mearns as the Acting City Manager for an additional 90 day period or until such time as Council hires a permanent City Manager. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As no one wished to speak public input was closed. Mr. Patterson moved to open negotiations with the Acting City Manager for a four -year contract contingent on a satisfactory background investigation. Mr. Miller seconded motion. Regular Council 4 -14 -09 163 ACTING CITY MANAGER APPOINTMENT cont. Discussion included a cordial exchange of views on whether or not to continue with the process and proceed with identifying finalists for interview. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to open negotiations with the Acting City Manager for a four -year contract contingent on a satisfactory background investigation and it carried by a vote of 5 to 2 with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor and Garvie and Nabors opposed. Mr. Rynearson moved to extend the contract of the Acting City Manager until such time the City Manager) contract is finalized in confirmation with Robert Mearns or until Council appoints a new City Manager. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. Mr. Miller moved to approve the City Attorney and Human Resources Director negotiate the City Manager) contract with the Acting City Manager Robert Mearns. Mr. Patterson seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor. Chuck Keeler, 163 Scottsdale Drive, Mary Esther, former Police Chief and City Manager for the City of Fort Walton Beach expressed that Council made a good choice in Robert Mearns and volunteered his services at any time. The timeframe involved in the background check was questioned. Mr. Wiltsie believed the background check could be completed in a week to ten days and staff will attempt to bring it to Council at the next meeting. He said Slavin will perform the