Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 07-13-06 special minutes — reading text

261 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 13, 2006 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 5: 00 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich Absent: Dr. Wayne Pullen Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Finance Director ( position vacant); Toni Craig, City Attorney CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. SOFTBALL COMPLEx/FAIRGROUNDS PROPERTY Discussion of City owned Softball Complex/Fairgrounds property as a possible site for the Okaloosa County Judicial Center. The Mayor turned the meeting over to Mr. Campbell, who explained he called this meeting to give Council the opportunity to discuss how they feel regarding a county judicial center on the fairgrounds property and the importance of having a judicial center in the south end of the county; the need to give the City Manager direction to discuss options with the County administration; and the urgency of the situation as the County may be pursuing another site for a judicial center. The City Manager advised an RFP has just been sent requesting the services of a consultant to develop a master plan for the parcel, with an estimated completion of the study to be about 3 to 6 months. She indicated that if Council wishes the center to be specifically included in the master planning process, the chosen consultant will be notified. The Mayor asked for public input. Charlene Greenwald, 206 Jet Drive, read a letter from Susan Myers stating support of having the Judicial Center at the fairgrounds. Ms. Greenwald echoed her support as well, and expressed concern over transportation problems that could occur if the center were located at another site. As there was no one else who wished to speak, the Mayor closed public input. Mr. Campbell moved to authorize/ direct the City Manager to meet with the appropriate County officials to determine the possible location of the Judicial Center at the fairgrounds. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. 262 Special Council 7- 13- 06 FAIRGROUNDS PROPERTY ( CO NT) Discussion was held on various issues, including that it is the county' s decision as to where they want to place a judicial center, not the city' s; that there are many unanswered questions, such as whether the property would be given away or sold; the fact that there is a three-year lease with the fairground association and that has to be considered; and that the lease with the fairgrounds includes a termination clause which was agreed to and signed by all parties. Further discussion included a concern with the fairground property as a site for the center because of possible parking/ space utilization and conflicts with events taking place at the fairgrounds. Also discussed was the best use of the property for the citizens and the fact the County has had offers from other sites, including property at OWCC. The City Manager clarified Council' s intent for her to meet with county officials and let them know the City is interested in having a judicial center at the fairgrounds and to ascertain if the county has any interest. If so, to inform them the City is willing to work out a deal for the use of the property. Mr. Patterson requested that a letter be sent to the county withdrawing their offer if the county rejects the property for any reason. He was advised that could be a subsequent motion. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Pullen absent). Mr. Patterson moved to direct the City Manager to send a letter to the County withdrawing their offer of the fairgrounds if the County rejects the property for any reason. Motion died for lack of a second. The City Manager advised she will approach the County with great urgency and report back her findings. OTHER BUSINESS- FAIRGROUNDS LEASE Mr. Hartwell discussed the Northwest Florida Fair Association and expressed his dismay that the Association charged the World Changers, a non- profit organization, $ 11, 360 for the use of the fair facilities for one week. He explained that approximately 400 high school students and chaperones were housed there while they volunteered their time to the City by painting and re- roofing houses for the low- income citizens of the City. Mr. Hartwell expressed his thoughts that this cost was way out of line considering the work that is done by these students, and that he is having a difficult time with the City' s continued support of the fairground operations. Mr. Hartwell moved to terminate the contract/lease with the Northwest Florida Fair Association, following the terms of the contract which were signed by both the City and the Association, and to follow the steps under Section 11 of the Lease relating to the Expiration, Termination, and Abandonment of their operations on the city-owned property. Mr. Tucker seconded motion. Mr. Tucker advised he was offended at the cost that the World Changers organization was charged to be housed at the fairgrounds, and suggested a refund to the organization. Mr. Patterson advised the organization was charged one- half of what the Association would have charged any other organization. He reminded Council that the fairgrounds had to run a 100- ton air condition unit for 8 days, that 600 fluorescent lights were needed, and that the World Changers requested a lot of additional things that the Association provided. Mr. Patterson stated that the fairgrounds, like everyone else, has to pay their bills and the World Changers were charged fairly for their 8- day stay. Mr. Holmes advised that the World Changers paid $ 2, 000 last week to stay in a neighboring city with facilities better suited for them, and they have never been charged over $5, 000 for a facility where they stayed. Mr. Holmes also said only 1/ 3 of the building was used and needed a/c, and that none of the cooking facilities were used as meals were brought in by local churches.  263 7- 13- 06 Special Council FAIRGROUNDS LEASE ( CONn Discussion included whether the City has the right to tell a business what to charge or how to run their organization just because the City owns the property the business is leasing; that the Fair Association has worked through everything the City has asked them to the past seven months; and that the City has leamed of issues at the fairgrounds it was not aware of when the lease was entered into. Mr. Campbell stated he has been advised by County Commissioners and others that the biggest obstacle against the fairgrounds as the site for a judicial center is the fair association, and that a lot of groups are willing to pay a lot more for the property than what the City is receiving from the fairgrounds. When questioned, the City Attorney presented her opinion that at any time the situation changes and four members decide not to terminate the lease or to make an amendment to it, a motion can be made at that time. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried by a vote of 4 to 2 with Holmes, Campbell, Tucker, and Hartwell in favor and Patterson and Minich opposed ( Pullen absent). The City Attorney advised she will begin the termination process. Briefly discussed was Chapter 616. 07, Public Fairs and Expositions, of the Florida Statutes, which defines the operations of a fairgrounds, and states that properties remain public property. The City Attorney advised this issue will be addressed in the termination process. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6: 30 p. m. t!;;; tu~ APPROVED: MAYOR: Ive