Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 02-09-2010 Special-BRP, Merrill Lynch lawsuit — reading text

needs to their time and effort.The City Manager stated he learned, take. a look at the system that is developed in terms of processing, and that sometimes when committees are created they can influence the process. The Committee thanked the City Manager for the opportunity to serve the City. on the Business Retention Ad -Hoc Panel. ADJOURNMENT As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm. Ive 7-  CORRECTED MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS RETENTION AD HOC PANEL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA DECEMBER 10, 2009 IN 1 KUUUt; I IUN The meeting of the Business Retention Ad Hoc Panel of the City of Fort Walton Beach was held on Thursday, December 10, 2009, at 5:30 pm in the Council Chambers of Fort Walton Beach City Hall with the following members present: Barry Stafford, CEO of Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, Chairman; Jane Briere, Director, UWF Small Business Development Center; Andy Corbin, President, Technical Services Laboratory arrived at 5: 40 pm); Tom Rice, Owner of Magnolia Grill and member of the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority, Vice -Chairman; and Mark Siner, President and Owner of Choctaw Engineering Also Present: Robert Mearns, City Manager; Michael Beedie, City Engineer; Samantha Abell, Senior Planner; Tim Bolduc, Building Official CALL TO ORDER The Chairman called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Chairman led in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Siner moved to approve the agenda as the business of the day. Mr. Rice seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Briere, Rice, Siner, and Stafford in favor ( Corbin absent). APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Siner movers to approve the minutes of November 19, 2Q09. Mn. Rice seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Briere, Rice, Siner, and Stafford in favor (Corbin absent). CITY BOARDS /COMMITTEES Overview of City Boards and Committees. Michael Beedie, City Engineer, advised that at the October 22, 2009 Business Retention Panel meeting, members requested information regarding the City's existing boards and committees; specifically, which groups are required by state statutes, which groups can have their operations assumed by City Council, and whether it would be an obstacle if Council were to become the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Mr. Beedie reported Staff provided the Panel with a brief synopsis of the three boards that are charged with a mission related to development review, the CRA, the Municipal Planning Board MPB), and the Board of Adjustment (BOA). Mr. Rice advised he was the member who requested this information, and that he was interested in all the boards, not just the CRA, MPB, and BOA, to determine how much staff time is utilized for the committees, how much space is provided for the meetings, and whether an end time exists for the committees. Waterfront Committee Discussion ensued on the purpose and functions of the Waterfront Committee. Samantha Abell, Senior Planner, explained that a grant was awarded for a waterfront coordinator to plan development on the waterfront and the committee was formed, and that with the completion of the grant the coordinator position ceased and that the committee now has four members. 8-  12 -10 -09 Business Retention Panel Waterfront Committee (Copt)_ Ms. Abell continued that Council directed Staff to look into how some of these committees can at possible partnership with the Chamber of operate more efficiently, and Staff is looking Commerce for the Waterfront Committee. Ms. Abell continued that the Waterfront Committee has fulfilled their purpose of creating a The Panel received years. Waterfront Plan, but not much has come from the Committee in three clarification there is no sunset to the Committee. Code Enforcement Board Mr. Beedie Discussion ensued on the purpose and function of the Code Enforcement Board. explained there are two code enforcement officers on staff and their purpose is to work with He reported the Board includes the property owners in bringing code violations into compliance. City Attorney and the attorney for the Staff, and the time spent varies depending on the number of The purpose of the Board is to listen and determine the code cases brought before the- Board. amount of fines, based on Staffs recommendations, and also to determine liens and foreclosures that are brought before them. The Mr. Rice questioned if it is mandated by the State that a city has a code enforcement board. City Manager explained that Code Enforcement Boards are created through Florida Statutes 162, enforcement board, but that if there is no board, and it is not mandated that a City have a code there is no way to address a complaint. Historic Sites and Structures Advisory Board Ms. Abell discussed the purpose of the Historic Sites and Structures Advisory Board is to provide a survey of archaeological sensitive areas and historic structures. Mr. Rice questioned if someone wants to build or tear down a structure on their property if they have to go before the Historic Sites Board. Ms. Abell responded that according to the City's Code of Ordinances, if a structure is deemed to be older than 50 years old, the Board has up to 90 days to work with the property owner to determine whether there are any aspects of the structure that could be deemed historical and saved. City projects, there were shards discovered by Mr. Beedie explained that during recent archaeologists after digging took place, and that in the future, the Board will receive copies of plans for them to review to determine if they want to have an archaeologist review the site. Mr. Rice received clarification that if he wanted to demolish his property, he would not be able to do so immediately, it could take up to 90 days, depending on the condition of the structure and whether there is anything that could be salvaged. Ms. Abell advised that as of last year, Council had been advised that it had never taken 90 days for an individual to demolish a structure on their property. Vision Stewardship Committee Ms. Abell advised the Vision Stewardship Committee has been dissolved as they fulfilled their mission, and has been replaced by the Economic Advisory Group, which will meet every three months to discuss the economic growth of the City, and will present a report at the end of each year to the City Council on what they have accomplished during the year. Youth Committee Mr. Beedie advised the Youth Committee has been dissolved due to problems having a quorum at meetings. 9- Business Retention Panel 12 -10 -09 Beautification Committee Mr. Beedie advised the purpose of the Beautification Committee is to handle the beautification of the City and to present the beautification awards to homes and businesses in the City. Mr. Beedie mentioned that in the past few years the City has become more pro- active in the beautification of the City with streetscape and right of way projects, and have taken an initiative in maintaining the parks. The City Manager advised that the City had a horticulturist full time who would select the flowers and shrubs for the medians, but the position was eliminated. He continued that the Committee has met only 58% of the time this past year, and that the role will be changing in an effort to revitalize the Committee. The City Manager explained his Executive Assistant has been assigned as the Staff liaison to the Committee, and that members of the Committee are in the landscaping business and therefore can provide advice to the City. The City Manager further advised the City is designated a Tree City USA and that the committee doubles as the Tree Board. CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Mr. Rice stated he feels that the CRA is a good idea and a sound and important tool for cities, but he believes that the City's CRA Board has become something larger than originally intended by having the ability to review site plans for development in the CRA area. Mr. Rice was of the opinion that City Staff are the professionals and have the expertise to review the plans. Mr. Rice recommended that the CRA have less power and not be allowed to review building plans and that the CRA be sunset as a citizens committee. He stated that by creating a CRA Board of citizens, the development of the City has been slowed down or, in some cases, stopped all together. He noted the 90 -105 days in takes to get plans approved by both the CRA and Council, and by going to the CRA is an extra step in the process. Mr. Corbin was advised it is legal for the Council to act as the CRA Dean Covey, 270 Brooks Street SE, and current member of the CRA, advised he was a member of Council when they acted as the CRA several years ago and it was dissolved. Municipal Planning Board ( MPB) It was clarified that the MPB is created by Florida Statute. Mr. Rice inquired if there were any issues that the Panel could discuss to make the MPB work better. Ms. Abell responded that Staff has no recommendations at this time. Ms. Abell continued the MPB oversees the City's Comprehensive Plan and the Land Development Code. Discussion ensued regarding zoning changes that have occurred in the Comprehensive Plan which makes it difficult for business owners to utilize their property in the way they desire. Ms. Abell discussed the dissatisfaction of the MPB with these issues, and that the Board has voiced their displeasure to Council. She advised one of the first things the MPB did to update the Comprehensive Plan was adopt an economic development element as a way to encourage, strengthen and retain businesses in the City. Ms. Abell noted the MPB has worked hard on the Comprehensive Plan, and all changes will go to Council in January, and will be a better document than in the past. However, Ms. Abell noted it will take 12 months to incorporate the changes into the Land Development Code. Mr. Rice noted it will take renewed faith among property owners to do what they want with their property, and recommended that the City encourage this renewed faith in private property and self - determination. 10-  12 -10 -09 Business Retention Panel OVERVIEW ( CONT)_ Mr. Rice discussed the need to ` pull back' on the number of City boards and committees, noting that if there is a problem