Fort Walton Beach Ordinance — 1847 - adopting economic dev element — reading text

READING DATE 1st a 2nd ORDINANCE 1847 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY; REPEALING THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT; ADOPTING A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT; PROVIDING FOR CONSISTENCY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Authority a. The City is authorized to adopt amendments to its Comprehensive Plan pursuant to Home Rule Powers, the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act, and section 2 of the City Charter. b. The intent of this ordinance is to revise the Economic Development Element of the City' s Comprehensive Plan, as codified in Volume III of the City' s Code. C. On lapri 1 7 , 2011, the Municipal Planning Board acting as the Local Planning Agency, upon application of the City, considered the request and recommended approval of the adoption of the Economic Development Element. d. On M ` f, 2011, and J u newt- /-- 1 2011, the Council City considered the recominfelidation of the Local Planning Agency and the coordination and consistency of these amendments with the other elements of the Comprehensive Plan. e. The City Council has provided for full public participation in the comprehensive planning and amendment process and has considered and responded to public comments. Section 2. Repeal of the Current Economic Development Element The Economic Development Element as currently adopted in the City' s Comprehensive Plan is hereby repealed in its entirety, as displayed in the attached " Exhibit A — FORT WALTON BEACH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, ELEMENT I- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT." Section 3. Adoption of the Amended Economic Development Element The amended Economic Development Element of the City' s Comprehensive Plan is hereby adopted as displayed in the attached " Exhibit B — ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT." Section 4. Conflicting Provisions To the extent of any conflict between other City ordinances and this ordinance, this ordinance shall be deemed to be controlling. Section 5. Severability If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decisions of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof. Section 6. Effective Date This Ordinance shall become effective when the state land planning agency issues a final order determining that the adopted amendment is in compliance, or, if applicable, when the Administration Commission issues a final order determining the adopted amendment to be in compliance. Qklm 1 , 2011. Ad pted Mike Anderson, Mayor Attest: Approved for legal sufficiency. w/ Helen Spencer, City/ Clerk ayw d Dykes, Cit Atto Additions are underlined, deletions are semen: Codification Instructions: Sections 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6 not codified. Section 3 codified and numbered as indicated into Volume III, Comprehensive Plan. DISPOSITION E r4 feet ' cS  FORT WALTON BEACH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENT I ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT Page I. 1 A Overview ..................................................... ............................... I -3 1. 113 Economic History ........................................... ............................... I -3 I.2 Introduction .................................................. ............................... I -4 I.3 Goals, Objectives, and Policies ........................... ............................... I -4 Element I - 1 FORT WALTON BEACH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Element I - 2  FORT WALTON BEACH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENT I ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT LIA Overview The State of Florida has recommended that all local governments write or develop an Economic Development Element as part of their Comprehensive Plan. The Element identifies goals and objectives that can be used for the development of appropriate and sustainable economic growth. Without a plan, a schedule for implementation, and a mechanism for accountability, economic development will be scattered, efforts diluted, and results poor. In the 21' century, communities must compete globally to market their areas to potential clients as ideal locations for business activity. At the same time, business retention efforts and resources are devoted to maintaining the existing base of businesses and assisting firms experiencing difficulties, while encouraging the expansion of others. Economic development is more than a process of attracting business and industry. Economic development is a process of identifying funding sources and developing a suitable, stable economic, social and political environment in which progressive, constructive, balanced growth may be realized over a period of years. Through this Economic Development Element, the City of Fort Walton Beach is strengthening its 2004 Vision Plan Focus on the Future, implementing the 2007 Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Plan, and 2006 Waterfront Plan Charting the Course; we are broadcasting our stable local economy as opposed to the unstable national market, and committing to the greatest extent possible that governmental policies, procedures and land -use decisions encourage industry innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship for long -term economic prosperity. IJB Economic History In 2007, the City Council directed city staff to improve and strengthen economic development initiatives. In 2008, the Vision Plan Stewardship Committee determined through corporate sampling that economic development is the most important issue facing our community. Also in 2008, the Local Planning Agency adopted an Evaluation and Appraisal Report which identified the need for economic sustainability in an environment of intense development pressure. In the 10 -year planning horizon, market forces indicate that the Fort Walton Beach area will continue to be the leading center for technology in northwest Florida. Our community stands to weather the economic recession better than most due to an entrepreneurial business climate and global technology - related jobs in conjunction with the Department of Defense. Eglin Air Force Base is the world' s largest Department of Defense installation, spanning 724 square miles, and defense contractor companies are established throughout the Northwest Florida region. The Eglin Air Force Base Complex ( which includes Hurlburt and Duke Air Force Bases) represents an annual $ 7. 0 billion impact in the area and an economic multiplier at ten times the national average. Our professional and technical service industries leverage the extensive government contracting that exists with local military bases. Additionally, Fort Walton Beach has redevelopment plans which provide incentives and minimize the risk for capital investment within its Community Redevelopment Area and Commerce and Technology Park. Also unlike other coastal communities, the City of Fort Walton Beach' s coastlines are not monopolized by imposing condominiums and a " soft economy" defined as being disproportionately service -oriented. Our tourists don' t define our city - our residents do. We operate a Element I - 3  FORT WALTON BEACH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 365- days -a -year economy that' s strong in technology as well as commerce. We like to say we' re big city strong and small -town friendly. I.2 Introduction In Fort Walton Beach, character is our commodity. The small -town atmosphere includes eleven traditional neighborhoods, seven of which are located along the shoreline, and each with their own distinct personality and charm. The city boasts nationally top- ranked public and charter schools with a low teacher -to- student ratio. Schools are a part of our neighborhoods, linked by fitness trails, sidewalks and public parks. Our locally -owned and operated businesses enjoy affordability and amenities which embody the city' s commitment to providing a positive business climate in which companies grow. The purpose of the Economic Development Element is to establish a course for strategic economic development until 2020 and beyond. Specifically, this Element provides the foundation for a 5 -year strategic economic development plan to be implemented by the city' s designated economic development agencies, with annual review by the City Council. This Element emphasizes the strengths of the city' s diversified, global economy; establishes a cluster development strategy to identify, maintain and enhance existing business clusters; and also identifies the market potential for new business clusters to promote entrepreneurship and private investment. To our local businesses, this Element is a statement of our City' s steadfast commitment to their growth and vitality. To investors and industries caught in a softening national economy, it' s also a broadcast that while other cities are struggling to stay afloat, ours is a stable, diversified economy backed by the United States military, global technology industries, a superior education system, carefully planned growth, and unsurpassed natural beauty. This Element will establish goals, objectives and policies for growth to encourage a " hard economy" grounded in professional services, military and medical technology, and not overly service -oriented. Realizing that according to the Florida Association of Museums, one dollar invested in cultural assets returns seven dollars, and one dollar invested in historic preservation returns ten dollars, through this Element the City will also ensure the availability of prime available lands, infrastructure, and amenities for cultural and educational venues. Fort Walton Beach will utilize the City' s 2007 CRA Plan Update, the 2010 -2020 Comprehensive Plan, and Okaloosa County' s 2006 Strategies to Diversify Our Economy, to strengthen and expand our local economy. This Element outlines projects from public meetings intended to be the cornerstone of an Economic Development Strategic Plan. Such will ensure that our community will remain a favored investment opportunity in a competitive global marketplace