Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 04-10-07 regular minutes — reading text

received confirmation that individuals going door-to- door to ask for contributions to the American Heart Association would need to get a permit from the City to do that. The City Manager explained it has to be so inclusive because they cannot single out a certain segment of the population and a nominal fee can be set for those solicitations. She said staff is still researching whether or not some of those organizations might already be exempt from those types of business license tax requirements. As there was no one further, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Minich moved to adopt Ord. 1723 on first reading. Dr. Pullen seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. RECESS The meeting recessed at 8: 55 p. m. RECONVENE The meeting reconvened at 9: 10 p. m. PUBLIC HEARING - ORD. 1725: BUSINESS TAX The City Attorney read the ordinance by title. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 8. 01, BUSINESS LICENSE REQUIRED, TO BE ENTITLED " BUSINESS TAX REQUIREMENTS", DEFINING THE TERM " RECEIPT' AS IT RELATES TO BUSINESS TAXES; AMENDING PROVISIONS TO CONFORM WITH RECENT CHANGES BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO CHAPTER 205, FLORIDA STATUTES; PROVIDING FOR EDITORIAL AUTHORIZATION TO CHANGE THE TERM " OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE" THROUGHOUT THE CODE TO CONFORM TO THE RECENT CHANGES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN 1~1. '. ". ,. ii ., f', ' EFFECTIVE DATE. The Finance Director explained the change is to bring the Code into conformance with the State Statute and confirmed the funds will remain in the General Fund Revenue. The Mayor opened the public hearing. As there was none, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Minich moved to adopt Ord. 1725 on first reading. Mr. Garvie seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. Regular Council 4- 10- 07 247 GENERAL PUBLIC Charles Brady, 211 Florida Blanca Place, spoke in favor of selling the current library and building a new library because there is not enough shelving for books, the children' s area needs to be separated more, the covered walkway adds nothing to the building, and the poor wheelchair access. GENERAL PUBLIC cont. Bill Walters, 320 Smith Drive, enjoyed running for office and encouraged more people to get involved. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT Consideration of a request from the Historic Sites and Structures Advisory Board ( HSSAB) for City Council to authorize the Mayor to sign the Application for Certified Local Government and transmit it to the State of Florida Bureau of Historic Preservation. Don Panzenhagen, 267 Ewing Court and Historic Sites & Structures Advisory Board Chairman, said the application is ready to be forwarded to the State and explained being designated a Certified Local Government is the first step to get in line to get state and federal grant money to work on historic sites and structures preservation, doing research, and codifying the structures. Dr. Pullen moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Application for Certified Local Government and transmit it to the State of Florida Bureau of Historic Preservation. Mr. Hartwell seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. MAINSTREET/OKALOOSA ON ICE Discussion regarding Main Street/Okaloosa on Ice. The Mayor asked for public input. As there was none, public input was closed. Dr. Pullen moved to request that MainStreet return all monies given or advanced to them for Okaloosa on Ice on March 24, 2004 and on February 22, 2005 for a total of $ 20,000.00. Mr. Hartwell seconded motion. Dr. Pullen stated MainStreet is disbanding, they have sufficient funds the City helped raise and his difficulty they should give what the City advanced them to run the organization. He mentioned in getting information on MainStreet on many occasions. She said Ted The City Manager was not sure they have officially dissolved the organization. MainStreet was going to Corcoran with the Chamber of Commerce called because he had heard disband after the conclusion of Okaloosa on Ice this past January. She said Mr. Corcoran asked the City, and the Mayor signed a letter, to join the Chamber in requesting that those excess funds be utilized in the downtown for a gateway into the City or a public arch of some nature but there has been no response to that request. She did not know the status of MainStreet. Dr. Pullen stated he is basing his request upon Mr. Dowling' s report to Council saying they were disbanding. Mr. Minich expressed his thoughts that the City supported each event and should not ask for the the monies downtown and money back. He commented that MainStreet has been asked to spend there is no need to ask again. He believed Mr. Dowling spoke about their leaving a legacy for the City downtown in some way and he was sure they would work with either the City or the Chamber when they are ready to disband. Mr. Hartwell expressed his understanding that the $ 10, 000 given each year was seed money, or a grant, and not a loan.  Regular Council 4- 10- 07 248 MAlNSTREET/ OKALOOSA ON ICE cant. Mr. Garvie spoke about Okaloosa on Ice as a great event for an extended period of time and his disappointment if there were to be no Okaloosa on Ice event again. He thought Mr. Dowling came before Council and said there was an excess of money and they were looking to do something that would beautify the downtown in some way, and thought that would be appropriate. Mr. Holmes wished to know if MainStreet donated all the decorations and lights that were used at the Landing. The City Manager stated at the close of the season they donated all the snowflakes and decorations to the City, and the Christmas tree that was purchased with City funds and U MainStreet funds. She said it is the City' s plan, at the very least, to put up the lights at the Landing '.' i.' ",',' and replacement snowflakes have been ordered. She believed the Chamber is considering \' whether or not to undertake the ice skating rink for next year. Mr. Holmes wished to know the approximate value of the decorations donated to the City. The City Manager said MainStreet spent approximately $ 200, 000. 00 on the lights and decorations over the three year period. Mr. Reeves commented he spoke with Mr. Corcoran and the Chamber is trying to put it together. Dr. Pullen expressed he is not finding fault with Okaloosa on Ice and he also spoke with the Chamber hoping to keep it going for next year. He commented in some ways the City is looking to fill their coffers because of other issues and this is one way to get money back into the general fund, which is the only reason he brought it up. Mr. Hartwell echoed the sentiment that it is a great endeavor and commented his only objection is since it was hosted in the City at the Landing with the City' s seed money, it should be Fort Walton Beach on Ice. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it failed by a vote of 1 to 6 with Pullen in favor and Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Hartwell, and Minich opposed. LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE Discussion and motion concerning collection of fees to be included in update of Land Development Code. Dr. Pullen moved to request the Finance Director to conduct a review and advise Council regarding a fee structure for the CDS Department. Mr. Minich stated a point of order there is no backup provided and there is a motion when there is no staff input, no public input, and it is against procedures. He said if Dr. Pullen wants something brought forward to Council for consideration the best way to go about it would be to give some information so Council can look at it prior to the meeting. He noted there is a motion and if there is a second then public input is over and there has been no public input. The Mayor suggested discussion first and asking for the Finance Director input before the motion to see if it is appropriate to ask for Land Development Code amendments to include a fee structure. The Finance Director expressed her belief that the City Manager has been working with the CDS ~'""",':.:".",:,. Department to review what they do in CDS and their codes and their fees and believed as part of , . the budget presentation she will address revenues in that area. She believed what is going on in that manner is very sufficient to meet what Dr. Pullen is requesting. The City Manager stated she met with CDS staff about a week ago which was prompted by concerns from Elliott Mitchell at Sailwatch regarding the development process, the permitting process and how it is handled. She said there were some questions from developers that it is not consistent. She believed Council received a copy of the draft flow chart of the permitting process staff is looking to revise, and as part of the discussion they talked about how fees filter into the process and where they take place.  Regular Council