Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 01-25-05 - regular — reading text

it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, Covey, and Anderson in favor. FIREFIGHTERS TRUST FUND APPOINTMENT Mr. Holmes moved to appoint Michael A. Fiasco, 229 Alconese Avenue, Fort Walton Beach, to the Firefighters' Pension Trust Fund Board for the term ending September 30, 2006. Mr. Anderson seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, Covey, and Anderson in favor. EDC/ BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT Emergency Tourist Development Council Meeting to discuss City of Destin recent projects, especially the Beach Renourishment Project and the request to use TDC funds for legal expenses. Mr. Holmes advised that as the City' s representative to the Tourist Development Council ( TDC), he wanted a consensus of Council whether to support the City of Destin' s request for the TDC to fund the renourishment project for the beaches. After discussion, the consensus of Council was for Mr. Holmes to support the request.  73 01/ 11/05 HEIGHT LIMITATIONS ON CONSTRUCTION Discussion of height limitations on all new construction in the City. Dr. Pullen moved to direct the Municipal Planning Board to come forth with height limitations on construction in the City in support of the mission of Eglin Air Force Base. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. Council agreed it was a good idea to discuss for future development as well as supporting the mission of Eglin and Hurlburt Air Force Bases. Also discussed was the 75- foot height limitation, and that the only area that exceeds the 75- feet is the MUW- 24 area, which starts west of St. Simon' s Church, and there is not a lot of area to impact with the 75- foot height limitations. It was noted that projects already permitted will not be impacted by any new height legislation. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, Covey, and Anderson in favor. MAYOR/COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Ad- Hoc Mr. Anderson received confirmation that the Master Plan of the Water' s Edge is Committee will be brought before Council for approval in February. He was advised a letter the City' views on his plan regarding the bridge; and being drafted to John Piowaty regarding s that the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority will be at the January 18 Council workshop. is Mr. Tucker reminded citizens that the qualifying dates for individuals to run for City Council 21, 2005, at 12: 00 noon. Tuesday, January 18, 2005, at 12: 00 noon through Friday, January the City Mr. Campbell complimented Staff on the Employee newsletter. He also complimented her evaluation. Manager on the encouraging comments she received on Mr. Holmes congratulated Mike Burton and his staff on receiving the GFOA Award. her The Mayor also congratulated the City Manager on the positive comments she received on evaluation. CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS The City Manager gave an update on the underwater problem in Cinco Bayou. the State for She advised an application has been received for Disaster Assistance Waiver from that it would be difficult for the City to meet the application for Hurricane Ivan. She explained waiver of the 50/0 match, and that she was seeking direction from Council whether to proceed with the Consensus of Council was not to proceed with it. application. 2005, and The City Manager announced the closings for Martin Luther King Dayan January 17, that City the march scheduled for 9: 00 am at City Hall and ending at Chester Pruitt. She stated events and can be found at the City' s website at www. fwb. org. closings ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9: 20 p. m. 74 01/ 11/ 05 APPROVED: MAYOR: ATTEST: CITY CLERK  CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 25, 2005 Consent Agenda House Special Operations Hazardous Materials Unit and Trailer at Station 6 Council Action 1st 2nd Vote: CA- 2 Agenda Item Number:  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH MEMORANDUM DATE: January 20, 2005 TO: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager FROM: Mike Dutton, Fire Chief SUBJECT: Special Operation' s Vehicle to relocate to Station 6 BACKGROUND: converted beer Okaloosa County Fire Rescue Organization first began using an old back in 1986. This unit was delivery truck to respond to hazardous materials incidents Association who responded to supported by a few trained employees of the Chief s Ocean City/Wright Fire Department Station 1 where it was kept and then took the truck to the scene of the incident to mitigate the problem. and Fort The team is mainly composed of personnel from Ocean now City/Wright Walton Beach flIe departments, with a handful of members :trom the other fIre districts in the two main South County. This team has grown to nearly eighty members trained in Rescue, and disciplines of Hazardous Materials mitigation and Confined SpacelRope most recently in Weapons of Mass Destruction ( WMD). This unit responded to over 100 Anthrax scare incidents shortly after 911 where they were required to perfonn precise has now chemical analysis on each white powdery substance examined. This team evolved into a sophisticated resource responsible to the Department of Homeland are also accountable to Security for WMD incidents in a seven county region. They Okaloosa County for hazardous materials mitigation, high angle rescue, confmed space rescue, extrication, and as a rapid intervention team for multiple alarm fires. The vehicle now in use is a 2000 PierceILance Heavy Rescue Vehicle which was recently Okaloosa County Fire Rescue paid off last year at a cost of $ 364, 000. 00 to the with a support trailer, carnes over Organization ( OCFRO) membership. The unit, along 335, 000.00 worth of equipment including several thousand dollars of testing devices The unit is currently housed at purchased with Department of Justice grant money. Ocean Fire Department Station 2, located in Shalimar. City/Wright monies to hire two Through the collection of membership dues there were sufficient part- thru Friday from 8: 00 to 4: 00 pm. time Haz Mat Technicians who work Monday am of the and the truck as well as responding to They are tasked with taking care equipment incidents during their tour. They handle the majority of incidents during the day any C:\Documents and Settings\ cjones\Local Settings\ Temporary Internet Files\ OLK3\ Spec Ops Staff Reprt.doc  members from within the county by themselves as they are supplemented by other team the unit of county; they the requesting jurisdiction. Should they receive a request for out After 4: 00 the Shalimar' s will be supplemented by Station 2' s on duty personnel. pm a rue engine Station three man staff will either respond on Engine 2 to incidents requiring Unit ( SOU),depending on the situation. company response or on the Special Operations will Should Engine 2 be committed when a SOU incident occurs, the next closest engine where Dispatch knows there is respond to Shalimar to initiate the response. In most cases an impending maior event, the SOU will be taken to OC/W FD Station 1 where the pager to the alerted team will report for adequate manning of a trained crew prior to its response scene. DISCUSSION: Ocean City/Wright Fire Department has carried the burden of housing the SOU since 1986 without compensation. The addition of two people to the already cramped quarters of Station 2 has made living conditions there extremely crowded and SOU is now looking Station for alternate accommodations. Staff suggests that the City of Fort Walton Beach, 6 be considered for home base for this unit. The relocation of the SOU to Station 6 could be both a benefit to the City of Fort Walton Beach as well as showing a great commitment of community responsibility for housing such an important regional