Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 10-10-06 regular minutes — reading text

77 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 10, 2006 INTRODUCTION A regular meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, October 10, 2006, at 7: 00 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: r- Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker, Dr.Wayne Pullen, and Mike Minich Absent: Bill Patterson, Jim Hartwell Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Finance Director Position Vacant); Toni Craig, City Attorney; Department Directors and Media. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. He requested anyone who wished to address Council to approach the podium after being recognized, then state his or her name and address for the record. INVOCATION Tom Murray, Public Works Director, gave the Invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Minich moved to approve the following Consent Agenda item. Mr. Tucker seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Patterson and Hartwell absent). APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the minutes of the Special Council Meeting of September 20, 2006, and the Regular Council Meeting of September 26, 2006. ORD. 1707- COMP PLAN AMENDMENT- 653 COUNTRY CLUB AVENUE NE The City Attorney read the ordinance by title only. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AMENDING THE CITY' S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RELATING TO PROPERTY LOCATED AT 653 COUNTRY CLUB AVENUE NE; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY; PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS OF FACT; r PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENT OF THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THE PROPERTY FROM OKALOOSA COUNTY LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL; PROVIDING FOR INTERNAL CONSISTENCY; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Missy McKim, CDS Director, entered the Staff Report into the record. The Mayor opened the public hearing. As there was none, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Campbell moved to adopt Ord. 1707 on second reading. Mr. Minich seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, and Minich in favor Patterson and Hartwell absent). 78 Regular Council 10/1 0/ 06 REGULAR AGENDA- INSTALL PVC WYE-TEE AND SEWER LATERAL TO ROW. 29 JONQUIL Consideration of a request for City Council to install a new four inch PVC wye- tee and sewer lateral to the right- of-way line 10 feet north of south property line of 29 Jonquil Avenue; further, authorize the waiving of tap fees and asphalt cut/repair fees in the approximate amount of 1, 200 to facilitate a conversion from septic tank to City sewer service. Annie and Don Gratton, 29 Jonquil Avenue, explained they recently discovered that they were not connected to the City' s sewer system, even though they have been paying the fees since they lived at the home, which has been since 1974. Mr. and Mrs. Gratton feel that the City should reimburse them for sewer service and repairs and the original pumping out of the septic tank. John Hofstad, Utilities Director, explained that a stub- out had been provided during the construction of the sewer main along Jonquil Avenue in February of 1972. The original property owners were given the option of tying onto the stub- out or staying on the septic system, and they decided on the latter. Mr. Hofstad explained that when the Grattons bought the property through foreclosure in March of 1974, the septic system information was not disclosed to them. Mr. Hofstad advised that the City ordinance states that residential and commercial customers who have service available to them, but who are not connected to the sewer system, shall be charged accordingly. Mr. Hofstad feels the City' s recommendation to grant a waiver of the tap fee because they have been paying into the fund for 32 years is a reasonable request. The City Manager explained the ordinance was originally written to discourage property owners from remaining on septic systems. She stated although she understood the Gratton' s dilemma, she does not want to convey that the City is responsible for refunding sewer bills for those who may still be on a septic system. She informed it is her feeling that Staff is offering an amicable solution to pay the tap and curb- cut fee, although their request to fill the septic tank with sand cannot be granted because the City cannot do work on private property. Mr. Hofstad further advised that the City is providing a new service tap because the previous tap is under a newly installed driveway, and the City does not want them to have to tear up a new driveway. Mr. Tucker moved that the City install a new four (4) inch PVC- wye-tee and sewer lateral to the right- of-way line ten ( 10) feet north of the s.outh property line of 29 Jonquil Avenue NE; and to waive the sewer connection fee of $600 and pavement replacement fee of $600 for the work to be performed. Mr. Campbell seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, and Minich in favor ( Patterson and Hartwell absent). DISCUSSION OF CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES Consideration of a request for the " reduction in City Budget by consolidation of services." Mr. Tucker stated his desire to reduce the City' s budget by consolidating the services provided by the City. He informed he would like an RFP that will allow professionals to study the situation and inform the City how it can reduce the budget; otherwise, it will not happen as he feels it cannot happen by reducing the millage rate. Kabe Woods, 29 Country Club Drive, Destin, asked the City to consider what it can privatize or what services it can do without, and stated his opinion a study is a idea. good  79 Regular Council 10/ 10/ 06 CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES ( CONT) Mr. Tucker moved to direct the City Manager to prepare and solicit a request for proposal for the consolidation, coordination, and contracting out of services and City the bring results before Council by the first meeting in January 2007. Dr. Pullen seconded motion. The City Manager received clarification that it is Mr. Tucker' s intention, through his motion, for her to prepare a document to ask how to consolidate, coordinate, and contract City services to reduce the cost of government for the City, and to have those that bid on it advise what they would charge the City to come up with a plan to do that, and to present this information to Council in January. v The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried by a vote of 4 to 1 with Holmes, Campbell, Tucker, and Pullen in favor and Minich opposed ( Patterson and Hartwell absent). DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO EMPLOYEES PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Consideration of a request for City Council to delegate the authority to the General Employees Pension Advisory Committee to make a determination of whether benefits are required to be forfeited. Mark Wiltsie, Human Resources Director, advised that two City employees were terminated due to admitted theft of City property, and that the Florida Statute requires that the Board of Trustees of the pension plan meet and determine if those employees should forfeit their pension benefits. Mr. Wiltsie informed that the City Council can direct the General Employees' Pension Advisory Committee to undertake that process, which is what Staff is recommending. Dr. Pullen moved to direct the General Employee' s Pension Advisory Committee to conduct the pension benefit forfeiture proceedings for two terminated employees due to admitted theft of City property. Mr. Campbell seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, and Minich in favor ( Patterson and Hartwell absent). NAME FOR PASSIVE PARK ON THE SANTA ROSA SOUND Consideration of a request to designate a name for the passive recreation park on the Santa Rosa Sound currently under development located on US 98 across from City Hall. Jeff Peters, Parks and Recreation Director, advised the last part of the project for the park across from City Hall is being sent out for bid. Staff requests Council consider officially naming the park and suggestions included the Sound Park or Centennial Sound Park. Mr. Peters also requested that the City' s Beautification Committee and the Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club be recognized on the park sign due to their efforts in this project. Mr. Minich moved that the passive recreation park on Santa Rosa Sound across from City Hall on Highway 98 be named the " Sound Park" and that the City' s Beautification Committee and the Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club be recognized on the park signs. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Patterson and Hartwell absent). WINTER MEETING SCHEDULE FOR COUNCIL Consideration of setting a winter Council Meeting Schedule as outlined in the backup report. Mr. Holmes moved to cancel the Council Meeting of December 26, 2006. Dr. Pullen seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, and Minich in favor ( Patterson and Hartwell absent). 80 Regular Council 10/ 10106 FAIRGROUNDS MASTER PLAN PROPOSAL Consideration of a request to authorize the City Manager to negotiate with the number one ranked proposer, the Genesis Group, for the Preparation of a Master Plan for the Fairgrounds/ Softball Complex at a not to exceed amount of $75, 000. This item was deleted from the agenda. POLICE OFFICERS PENSION FUND APPOINTMENT Consideration of appointment to the Police Officers Pension Trust Fund Board. Dr. Pullen moved to reappoint Gerald Moore, 119 Waynell Circle, SE, as the City' s U appointee to the Police Officers' Retirement Fund Board of Trustees for a two year term, until September 30, 2008. Mr. Tucker seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Patterson and Hartwell absent). CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD