Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 04-11-06 workshop minutes — reading text

161 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA APRIL 11, 2006 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, April 11 , 2006, at 5: 30 p. m. with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Finance Director Position vacant); Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS/ COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Discussion of legal requirements for amendment of zoning ordinances in relation to the Comprehensive Plan. The City Attorney addressed the Memorandum of Advice dated April 6, 2006 that Council received regarding the issues raised by the attorneys at the March 28, 2006 Council meeting when the height issue was discussed. She stated that as a legal requirement, Council is well within their rights to reduce heights in the C- 1, C- 2, M- 1, M- 2, and MUW- 24 districts, and whether the heights are left the same or reduced is completely within the legislative prerogative of the City Council. The City Attorney explained the Comprehensive Plan is intended to be the outside development envelope and anything that would expand the envelope of development would require an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. She advised that Council can make legislative changes and can make changes to the Land Development Code without going through a Comprehensive Plan amendment. Further discussion included whether or not allowing greater height is more restrictive or less restrictive, the issues of vested rights and the rights of individuals to develop their property as they like, aesthetics, and wind against broad side of buildings. FAIRGROUNDS AND SOFTBALL COMPLEX PROPERTIES Discussion of future uses of Fairgrounds and Softball Complex properties. Mr. Hartwell suggested that Council begin thinking about what they want to do with the property. The City Manager advised that if Council is serious about pursuing discussions with the County to Staff to solicit a bring a judicial center to the complex, her recommendation would be to 1) direct for that and 2) direct Staff to enter into a memorandum of understanding with master plan parcel, the County outlining what they need to go forward. She stated she will be meeting with the County Administrator this coming Thursday to discuss the county' s needs as it pertains to the location of a center at the judicial fairgrounds. Once she has an understanding as to what the County is and consideration. requesting, she will bring that information back to Council for their discussion 162 Council Workshop 4/ 11/ 06 FAIRGROUNDS AND SOFTBALL COMPLEX PROPERTIES cont. Council expressed interest in pursuing discussion with the County about locating a judicial center at the complex. Discussion included where a center could be located; the possible moving of the softball fields; whether to lease or sell property to the County; receiving assurance that the property will remain annexed in the City limits; that the needs of the ball fields and the Fairground Association be protected; and the desire for citizen input on the issue. Chris Gibson, 249 Brooks Street, agreed with the need for a master plan before talking about developing the property. She encouraged Council not to sell the property, but to lease it to the County to cover the debt service. Bull Rigdon, 9 Bay Drive SE and President of the Fair Association, discussed the various events that take place during the year at the fairgrounds; that the fairgrounds is an asset to the community, and that they have provided assistance to the community after hurricanes; and that the Fairground Association is willing to purchase their part of the property from the City. Mr. Rigdon a Iso expressed the fair' s support of moving forward and discussing the idea of a judicial center with the City and County, and the three entities working together. As a recap, the City Manager stated she would meet with the county to discuss their needs and expectations, and then she would come back and share that information with Council. She recommended that if negotiations are held with the county before determining what parcel to sell or lease, a master plan would need to be developed for the parcel, with public feedback and for discussion of the best use of the land. The City Manager stated professional expertise would be needed for the development of a master plan and she will place an agenda item on the next meeting for consideration of a bid for a master plan. FINANCE DIRECTOR RECRUITMENT Discussion of progress of the Finance Director Recruitment. Mark Wiltsie, Human Resource Director, advised this Friday is the closing date on the second recruitment for the position of Finance Director, and that out of 21 applications received, two only are marginally a cceptable. He suggested Council change the course of action and hire an executive search firm to solicit, screen, and recommend qualified candidates for the position. He mentioned he has spoken with other cities within the state and for some reason there is a shortage of Finance Directors, and a recruitment firm has been used successfully in other cities. Discussion included whether promoting in- house was possible. Mr. Wiltsie advised that while there are several talented individuals working in finance, they do not meet the stringent qualifications set forth for the position. Also mentioned was that it is Council' s decision to hire and that recruiters were not used for the hiring of previous finance directors. Mr. Wiltsie recommended the firm of Colin Baenzinger & Associates out of Wellington, Florida, who was the lowest of the three firms that solicited a proposal in an amount of $ 17, 500, including ..... expenses. He advised the entire process would take between 60- 90 days. The City Manager informed Council that if they decide to use a recruiter, this would change the direction previously given to Staff regarding the selection committee. She advised the recruitment director would work directly with Council and bring back candidates for consideration, and the selection committee process would be abandoned. The City Manager informed that if it was the consensus of Council to use an executive search firm for the Finance Director position, she will ask for a vote stating such under the Mayor/ Council portion of the regular Council meeting. Consensus of Council was to consider the search firm and to discuss and vote at the Council meeting.  163 Council Workshop 4/ 11/ 06 FUNDING METHODOLOGIES/ UNDERGROUND UTILITIES Discussion of funding methodologies for underground utilities. Dr. Pullen suggested that they begin to think about underground utilities and ways it can be funded to discuss at a future workshop. He mentioned one idea would be to allocate the cost of underground utilities to the property owner to pay their fair share. It was commented that the cost to underground the whole city would be cost prohibitive. Dr. Pullen expressed that is the reason Council should gather ideas and decide whether to go forward or to drop the idea. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6: 40 p. m. APPROVED~ ~ MAYOR: Ive