Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 03-11-08 regular minutes — reading text

and Minich in favor. CRA REPRESENTATIVE TO THE VPSC Consideration of appointment of a CRA Representative to the Vision Plan Stewardship Committee. Dr. Pullen nominated Daike Klement. The Mayor called for the vote on the nomination to appoint Daike Klement as the CRA Representative to the Vision Plan Stewardship Committee for the length of her current term on the CRA Board and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. OTHER CITY BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION Mr. Hartwell addressed the subject of an interim finance director until one is hired. The City Manager suggested that the City' s Comptroller, Brandy Wunker, be appointed on an interim basis. Discussion ensued as to whether the Florida League of Cities gave any assistance in finance director searches, and the City manager stated she would ask them. Discussion ensued on how the absence of a finance director would affect the budget, and the City Manager advised that the budget process for the next fiscal year was underway, that the City' s audit has been completed and the auditors will give their report on March 25. The Mayor informed that the representative from the organization used by the City in the last search for a finance director contacted him and offered his services on an expenses- only basis. Consensus of Council was to place the subject of appointing an interim finance director on the March 25th Council agenda. MAYOR/COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Minich recognized Jo Main for her courage in standing by her position. Mr. Hartwell mentioned Archaeology Day this Saturday at the Heritage Park, and recognized the boy scouts in the audience. 54 Regular meeting 3- 11- 08 MAYOR/COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS cont. Mr. Garvie thanked the citizens who called him since last Friday. Mr. Miller commented the tennis tournament was tremendous. The Mayor commented the tennis tournament with 100 players from 31 countries had a great turnout. He mentioned the letter from Bridgeway expressing appreciation for the support and a W: l=~ S~=~ e ~~ ~:::~~~~ ~:~:: l~:~ ~..".....:,."... d~~ c:~: ~~ ~~ ti~ a~ : ec~~~= c~ ae~ i~: e: appreciated the help with a library issue, and received letter from a resident a regarding two city ..' .... employees who helped her change a tire. He commented with all the turmoil that has been going on the last few weeks the City staffhas maintained providing outstanding service to the community. Dr. Pullen mentioned that the Library Co- Op will need to be discussed at the Saturday Strategic Session. CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS The City Manager mentioned the Strategic Planning Session on Saturday, March 15th from 8: 00 Heritage Park Open House on Saturday, March 15th from 10: 00 a.m. until a. m. until 2: 00 p. m.; the 1 : 00 p. m.; the 6th Annual Police Department Construction Junction on Saturday, March 22nd; and the Easter egg hunt at the Landing on March 20th. The Mayor added thanks to the City employees for their hard work on the golf tournament last Saturday to raise funds for the American Heart Association and the Cancer Society. GENERAL PUBLIC Alice Hillard, 217 Garnier Beach Drive, voiced concerns over meetings being held by a small group of people that want to create a 501 (c )3, non-profit organization for their subdivision, elect officers, change their covenants and write by- laws. She expressed that the neighborhood does not want their subdivision to change, they do not want to become a historic district, they do not want boat ramps, they do not want a community vegetable garden in the park, they do not want additional sidewalks or bike lanes on their streets, they do not want a homeowners association or team captains on their street, and do not want to be told what color their homes can be or that their trash cans have to be in and out at certain times. She had 35 proxies from people who do not want their neighborhood changed and said they need Council' s help. Deloris Harris, Garnier Beach, echoed the concerns about a group who want to create a 501 (c) 3 for their neighborhood and stated a majority of the neighborhood does not want a 501( c) 3 or any changes to their neighborhood. The Mayor explained the Gamiers LLC or the Corners LLC is not a City sponsored organization and the City is not endorsing what they are doing; the City is only trying to organize the neighborhoods to look at their particular issues and the City will not force anything on anyone. The City Manager explained the Gamiers Beach neighborhood is one of the eleven that were meeting monthly and some of the neighborhoods are thinking about neighborhoods forming their own I; neighborhood association. She said the City has no part of that neighborhood association; it is the individuals who live there. She said what the City does to participate in the process is to find a location for the meeting and send out a neighborhood newsletter. She said if the individuals want to organize it is a private issue between those individuals; the City is not facilitating it or giving direction, the City is only there to help with the meeting. Regular meeting 3- 11- 08 55 GENERAL PUBLIC cont. Missy McKim, CDS Director, said that is one of the eleven neighborhoods and they were not very active until the Eglin Group proposed a development, and the neighborhood has a strong consensus they did not want to accept $ 100,000 in exchange of their support for a rezoning of a single family lot that was needed to add on to a small piece of commercial they wanted for a Walgreens. She said some people in the neighborhood have been interested in forming a committee and it has not been decided whether it will be a SOI( c) 3, and the Gamiers Beach neighborhood is not in consensus on the formation of a committee or a SOI( c) 3. She said she attended the meetings to help them through a contentious period and now they will be moving forward on their on. She said there is very little the neighborhood committee can do without City Council approval. She confirmed that information on any changes to a neighborhood initiated by anyone other than the City would be distributed in the monthly newsletter that is mailed to all residents in the City. It was questioned whether Council could change the covenant which the neighborhood IS established under without a majority vote of the property owners. The City Attorney stated that the City does not have anything to say or do about those covenants that were created in 19S0; they are aside and apart from what the City Council would do in City ordinances, and whether or not they are still in effect is a legal question she cannot answer because the City is not involved in that issue. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9: 00 p. m. APPROVED: cudiL d5j & 11/. L et/ MAYOR: JkA- ATTEST: t~ CITY CLERK ddm