Okaloosa County BOCC — January 30, 2013 — reading text

Boyles addressed the imposition of franchise fees. He said everyone else in the Panhandle uses these fees for revenue except Okaloosa County. Mr. Boyles stated that by not considering other revenue options, the county is forcing the burden on property owners. He supported forwarding letters to the utilities to learn their positions. Mr. Harris responded that he could not agree more. He said the taxpayers of this county no we have problems. Mr. Harris said the franchise fee and gas tax are user fees and stated that people traveling through our county purchasing fuel will help support maintenance of our roads. He too supported sending letters to the utility companies. Upon inquiry by Mr. Parisot, Mr. Curry confirmed the franchise fee would apply only to the unincorporated portion of the county. Mr. Curry went on to say that he has received clarification about imposing the franchise fee. He stated that if you do not receive agreement from the utility companies, you can go to court to receive authority to impose it by showing the benefits of the fee. The three utility companies to be impacted are Gulf Power Company, Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative, and the Okaloosa Gas District. Mr. Windes said he knows there are problems with roads and the county needs more revenue. He stressed looking at the big picture and everyone be willing to pull together. Mr. Windes advised that he is not interested in increasing ad valorem taxes. Mr. Amunds stated he would like to hear from all nine cities on increasing gas taxes. Mr. Boyles said this is a difficult political task and giving the municipalities an opportunity to “buy in” is important. Mr. Dowd advised the cities must agree and referred to the formula for distribution of the gas tax revenues. He said currently that formula is 60/40 and must be re-calculated every ten years. Mr. Stanford explained the Local Option Gas Tax (LOGT) is based on interlocal agreements with the cities and agreed the current split of revenues among the county and cities is 60/40. He pointed out the formula is not based on road miles but the original transportation expenses. Mr. Parisot asked if the interlocal agreements would have to be in place by July 1. Mr. April 16, 2013 -15- Minute Book 69, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Curry replied it is his belief everything must be completed by July 1. Mr. Parisot said the Board should also address the establishment of a stormwater utility. Mr. Amunds drew the discussion back to issuance of letters on possible revenue sources. Mr. Harris made motion, seconded by Mr. Boyles, to authorize the Chairman to forward letters to the utility companies regarding implementation of a franchise fee and to forward letters to the City Councils to gather input on implementing additional gas taxes. 5 yeas. Mr. Amunds stated at the end of last fiscal year the Board sent letters to the cities regarding assistance in supporting Okaloosa County Transit (OCT). He said he has asked Mr. Kampert to have this information available during the budget workshops. Mr. Amunds commented that he has not received any response yet. Mr. Kampert stated he has only heard from the City of Valparaiso which declined to provide financial support. Mr. Parisot again said he would like to address establishing a stormwater utility for unincorporated Okaloosa County. He said we presently have a Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) for parks with a millage rate of 0.1800 mills. Mr. Parisot advised there is currently a reserve of $4 Million in the Unincorporated Parks MSTU. He recommended holding a public hearing to amend the ordinance which created that MSTU to split the revenues between parks and stormwater. Mr. Windes asked how many counties have stormwater utilities. Mr. Hofstad answered Pensacola and Tallahassee have these utilities. Mr. Dowd asked Mr. Parisot if he is advocating amending the Parks MSTU. Mr. Parisot replied it is the same boundaries and the same customers and there would be no increase in the millage rate. Mr. Amunds stated when the MSTU was established for parks, that Board promised the citizens 100% of the revenue would go to parks. He said he is not interested in going back on the word of the former Board which established the MSTU and he is not interested in the proposal to divert a portion of those taxes to a stormwater utility. Mr. Amunds said if there is interest in April 16, 2013 -16- Minute Book 69, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners generating revenue for stormwater, then it should be by separate MSTU. Mr. Parisot questioned why elections are held every four years. Mr. Windes stated you cannot do a “bait and switch.” Mr. Parisot objected and said that is not what it is. Mr. Windes replied, “It’s close.” Mr. Parisot said he is trying to do this without a tax increase. Mr. Dowd provided the history behind creation of the Unincorporated Parks MSTU, which included dual taxation lawsuits by the municipalities. He advised that part of the settlement with the cities was to create the MSTU to pay the costs of parks. Initially, the settlement included provisions for law enforcement and libraries but those were removed. Mr. Boyles stated that he will have to follow precedence, pointing to what Mr. Dowd just illustrated. He agreed there is a substantial need for a stormwater utility but he does not want to overload the boat, saying the Board has discussed other tax issues. Ms. Linda Sanders, Seventh Avenue, said she believes there is an easier answer to this issue and asked why a referendum can’t be held. She suggested dropping the millage rate for parks and adding stormwater. Ms. Sanders said, “We can’t do simple any more. You have to make it complicated.” She said the problem is really bad in Shalimar and stated she does not understand why this cannot be done. Mr. Curry replied that it can be done and that is what the Board is discussing. Mr. Harris pointed out there are other issues to be considered. He said that he understands the logic but this room could be filled with people who disagree with diverting that revenue from parks. Ms. Sanders asked if some of the money could be used for the flooded parks in her area. Mr. Harris told Ms. Sanders she is talking about two parks and there are hundreds of parks in the county. Mr. Curry told the commissioners it has been an honor and pleasure to serve the Board. April 16, 2013 -17- Minute Book 69, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. _____________________________ _______________________________ DON W. HOWARD DON R. AMUNDS, CHAIRMAN CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (These minutes were transcribed by Teresa Ward.) April 16, 2013 -18- Minute Book 69, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners  BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: June 4, 2013 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Kay Godwin SUBJECT: Landrum Staffing Rate Schedule Amendments DEPARTMENT: Human Resources BCC DISTRICT: ALL STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Request approval to amend the rate schedules in the temporary staffing agency contract with Landrum Staffing. BACKGROUND: The County has had an existing contract with Landrum Staffing since 2011. The current rate schedule started at $10.00 per hour. The amendments add markup rates for temporary positions with an hourly rate between $8.00 and $10.00. Temporary staffing agencies are used primarily to fill vacancies temporarily due to turnover and extended absences, and sometimes to augment current staffing during times of heavy workload. Outsourcing staffing allows for quick assistance, and helps to reduce costs compared to regular budgeted positions with benefits. Funding for these services comes from budgeted funds within the user departments. OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove RECOMMENDATIONS: Approve the rate schedule amendments to the Landrum Staffing contract. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator  BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: June 4, 2013 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: John Hofstad SUBJECT: Island Sands Beach Service of NW FL Qualified Beach Vendor Certificate & QBV Beach Vehicle Permit DEPARTMENT: Public Works BCC DISTRICT: Two STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Approval of requests from Brian Cox owner of Island Sands Beach Service of NW FL to obtain a Qualified Beach Vendor Certificate to provide beach chair and umbrella rentals on designated public beaches and a Qualified Beach Vendor Beach Vehicle Permit to access public beach areas on Okaloosa Island. This is a renewal application. BACKGROUND and ANALYSIS: Brian Cox owner of Island Sands Beach Service of NW FL has met the requirements specified in Ordinance No. 13-07, County Recreation Areas: Section 5. Permited Vehicle on the Beach, Park, and Recreation Areas; Section 8: Commercial Activity on Public Lands: Section 10. Permit for a Designated Beach Property to obtain a Qualified Beach Vendor Certificate (QBVC) and Qualified Beach Vendor Beach Vehicle Permit (QBVBVP). Granting this request will permit said business to conduct commercial beach chair and umbrella rentals on designated public beaches and access the beaches of Okaloosa Island in a specified vehicle on scheduled dates/times. OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove. RECOMMENDATION: Request Board approval of the Qualified Beach Vendor Certificate and Qualified Beach Vendor Beach Vehicle Permit 0007 for the calendar year of 2013 (13QBVC0007 & 13QBVBVP0007) to Brian Cox owner of Island Sands Beach Service of NW FL. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator Revised: March 12, 2013 Qualified Beach Vendor Certificate Processing Check List (Beach Chair/Umbrella Rentals) New Applications √ Renewal Date Received: ___March 18, 2013__ Company Name: Island Sands Beach Service of NW FL Contact Person: Brian Cox Phone #: (850) 259-4896/ (850) 685-9483 Email: briancox@yahoo.com NA Application form _√ $500 Application fee √_ Designated Beach Area Permit √ Upland Property Owners Approval √ QBV Beach Vehicle Permit √ Vehicle insurance √ Vehicle registration √ $500 QBV Beach Vehicle Permit fee √ Hold Harmless Agreement √ Statement of Acceptance of Ordinance 13-07 √ Copy of Liability Insurance for $1,000,000 naming BCC as insured √ Copy of O.C. Local Business Tax Receipt √_ Copy of Workman’s Comp. Insurance policy BCC Approval: _______________________ 2013 QBVC0007 Brian Cox - Island Sands Beach Service of NW FL Designated Beach Area Upland Property Owner Location Name Permit Approval Bella Riva √ √ Island Mist √ √ Island Sands √ √ Island Surf √ √ Pelican Isle √ √ The Palms √ √ Vista Del Mar √ √  BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: