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

getting quorums that means there is no interest, and he recommended downsizing or disbanding some of the committees so the City can run more efficiently, and again stressed his belief in property rights. Mr. Stanford stated he is in favor of temporary committees that meet for a specific time, make their decisions and recommendations, and then move on. The Board questioned whether Staff is allowed to make recommendations on what can be eliminated or streamlined. The City Manager responded that Staff is controlled by the LDC and that is what Staff has to enforce. He further advised Staff does make recommendations to the City to Council and noted Staff is working on streamlining the process, and this Panel was created make certain the business community is benefited. The City Manager also noted that the City Staff has been reduced this past year, leaving fewer personnel to staff committee meetings, and advised that citizens still have plenty of opportunities to voice their opinions at City Council meetings. Dean Covey, 270 Brooks Street SE, pointed out that he has worked with the City on boards and on Council for over 25 years and that the issues comes down to the cost benefit analysis of each of the committees, and expressed his concern that public input may be lost if committees are eliminated Brian Rosales, 412 Holmes Blvd., discussed museum personnel undertaking the tasks of the Historic Sites Board. Ms. Abell advised if that is a recommendation from the Panel Staff will look into it. Mr. Rosales suggested a recommendation to review the Beautification Committee in the next few months, and stated he was in favor of the Chamber of Commerce taking over the duties of the Waterfront Committee. The Panel asked if Mr. Rosales, a former member, could submit recommendations he may have Mr. Rosales wants to provide had as a member of the Panel. The City Manager advised that if information he can submit it to Staff, who will give it to the Panel. Discussion ensued regarding the Tax Increment Funding ( TIF), which is how the CRA receives its funding. The City Manager explained the funds are the increment over and above the base year, He and the more successful the CRA is the more successful they are in terms of funding. continued the whole core of the CRA is to reinvest into the community to increase property values, and a way to measure the success of the CRA is through the CRA Plan. Ms. Abell noted that Staff is currently working on CRA performance measures as another way to measure the success of the CRA. OVERVIEW OF PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendations from previous meetings, as listed in the Staff Report, are as follows: 1. Expand the category for expedited and minor projects in order to increase Staff -level review. This will reduce the time and cost for site plan review and project permitting. 2. Amend the City code to remove the development review authority of the CRA. Neither the interlocal agreement nor State Statutes provides for the CRA's development review authority. 3. Maximize the incentive potential for the CRA to encourage private reinvestment with proper cost/benefit analysis. 4. Re- evaluate the adopted fee schedule to allow for incentives and fee waivers /reductions. Business Retention Panel 12 -10 -09 OVERVIEW (CONT) Recommendations from this evening include: 1. The need to respect the right of private property owners in regards to their properties. 2. Have the function of the CRA performed by the City Council. Previous recommendations included implementing plans in the Code to encourage redevelopment; a review of the sign ordinance; and for the City to look at ways to encourage businesses to come into the City (outside of the CRA area) by providing incentives and tax breaks. The City Manager advised one way the City is working to attract business is by reconditioning the property by What A Burger that was recently purchased and placing it on the market in order to bring a tax base and create jobs. Mr. Stafford moved to accept the recommendations as prepared by Staff and to include the recommendations made tonight and for Staff to provide a report over the next three weeks. Mr. Rice seconded motion. Mr. Rice amended the motion to include any other recommendations that Staff may come up with between now and the end of the month, and for Staff to let the Chairman know and to include them in the report. Mr. Stafford accepted the amendment. The Chairman called for the vote on the motion, as amended, with Briere, Corbin, Rice, Siner, and Stafford in favor. and it carried unanimously Mr. Beedie advised Staff will take the recommendations and prepare a draft report and submit it to the Panel in two to three weeks, include any more recommendations, and submit a final report for the Panel to review at their January meeting. JANUARY MEETING The next meeting of the Business Retention Panel will be on Thursday, January 28, 2010, at 5:30 pm. ADJOURNMENT As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Ive 12-  MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS RETENTION AD HOC PANEL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 199 2009 INTRODUCTION The meeting of the Business Retention Ad Hoc Panel of the City of Fort Walton Beach was held on Thursday, November 19, 2009, at 5: 30 pm in the Council Chambers of Fort Walton Beach City Hall with the following members present: Chairman; Andy Corbin, Barry Stafford, CEO of Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, President, Technical Services Laboratory; Brian Rosales, Banker, Gulf South Bank; Mark Siner, President and Owner of Choctaw Engineering Absent: Jane Briere, Director, UWF Small Business Development Center; Tom Rice, Owner of Magnolia Grill and member of the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority, Vice -Chairman 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 MINUTES Mr. Siner moved to approve the minutes of September 24, 2009. Mr. Corbin seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Corbin, Rosales, Siner, and Stafford in favor Briere and Rice absent). CITY BOARDS /COMMITTEES Overview of City Boards and Committees. Due to Mr. Rice' s expressed interest in this topic, there was consensus of the members to continue this item until the next meeting. It was further agreed to hold the next meeting on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 5: 30 p.m. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Stafford stated he extended an invitation to a real estate appraiser to speak at the next meeting about the overall market conditions. Michael Beedie, City Engineer stated staff will review all the minutes of the panel to prepare a summary of suggestions. DISCUSSION Mr. The question was posed whether the Boards /Committees were inundated with projects. and Beedie advised there are small projects here and there but no definitive major projects, mentioned the major activity at this time is an update of the Comprehensive Plan and revision of the Land Development Code, Mr. Siner questioned whether there is merit in considering the idea of deferring costs to new businesses coming into town. 13- Business Retention Panel 11 - 19 -09 DISCUSSION cont. Mr. Beedie noted staff will place that idea on the summary list for discussion on whether to add that to the final report to City Council Mr. Rosales expressed concern and advised caution over favoring one group over another. Samantha Abell, Senior Planner mentioned the City recently adopted an Economic Development Element that will guide decisions made. The status of the downtown parking garage was questioned. Mr. Beedie reported the City is still waiting for the appropriate submittals. ADJOURNMENT As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5: 45 p.m. ddm 14-  MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS RETENTION AD HOC PANEL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 22, 2009 INTRODUCTION The meeting of the Business Retention Ad Hoc Panel of the City of Fort Walton Beach was held on Thursday, October 22, 2009, at 5: 30 pm in the Council Chambers of Fort Walton Beach City Hall with the following members present: Chairman; Jane Briere, Director, Barry Stafford, CEO of Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, UWF Small Business Development Center; Tom Rice, Owner of Magnolia Grill and member of the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority, Vice -Chairman; Brian Rosales, Banker, Gulf South Bank; Mark Siner, President and Owner of Choctaw Engineering Absent: Andy Corbin, President, Technical Services Laboratory; Also Present: Robert Mearns, City Manager; 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 MINUTES Mr. Rice moved to approve the minutes of September 24, 2009. Mr. Siner seconded motion Stafford in favor ( Corbin and it carried unanimously with Briere, Rice, Rosales, Siner, and absent). . . _ SPECIAL PLANNING AREAS Samantha Abell, Senior Planner mentioned one of the changes to the Comprehensive Plan is the addition of an Economic Development element that will for the first time lay out policies and economic development and it will lay out the framework for the five year plan. She went over the changes to the Comprehensive Plan with major amendments to the Future Land Use Element that relate to establishing 11 Special Planning Areas, expanding performance standards, expanding She the bonus system, implementing the CRA Urban Framework Plan, and military compatibility. talked about how there is a need for Special Planning Areas as general land designations make it difficult to adopt incentives and a bonus system, and given the same incentive options investment will logically flow to more stable areas. She explained the idea of Special Planning Areas will first and then identify areas which are unique by their operation/ natural features/ built environment; encourage redevelopment by tailoring land regulations /incentives to the specific needs of an area. the Community She said the Planning Areas will