Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-12-08 workshop minutes — reading text

203 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 12, 2008 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at 5: 30 p. m. with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Mayor Pro Tem; Dr. Wayne Pullen, and Mike Minich Absent: Councilmen Virgil Miller and Jim Hartwell Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Brandy Wunker, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and reported that Mr. Miller is medical receiving treatment in Houston, and Mr. Hartwell is out of town. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Minich questioned Item 4, Other Business, on the agenda and what other items the Mayor might want to discuss. The Mayor responded if there is time, he wanted to discuss an e- mail sent out after the last Council meeting regarding the legalities of the and Mayor City Manager setting the agendas prior to meetings. Mr. Minich moved to approve the agenda, including Item 4, Other Business, as the order of the day. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. Dr. Pullen stated his understanding the original motion to establish workshops was that an agenda was not needed and it was open to any discussion, and that discussion can go beyond what is on the agenda. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Miller and Hartwell absent). WORKSHOP AGENDA Discussion regarding the progress of the Sister City relationship with Kristinehamn, Sweden. The Mayor advised that the meeting would begin with a seven- minute DVD presentation, prepared by the people of Kristinehamn, to give an idea of the community the City is exploring the possibility of having a sister- city relationship with. Following the presentation, Erik Stenberg, 808 Dawn Lane, contractor of the Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center and overseer of the Sister City initiative, explained that further relations fostered by the sister tennis tournaments between Fort Walton Beach and Kristinehamn, with the ambition to establish a Sister City relationship, has an excellent potential to be a conduit for increased trade, investment, tourism and the exchange of education and culture between the two cities. 204 Council Workshop 08/ 12/ 08 SISTER CITY PROGRAM ( CONT) Mr. Stenberg reported that he will be returning to Sweden in September for the Entrepreneurs Day, and in October the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce will be in Fort Walton Beach and hopefully be able to meet with City reps at that time. He also advised the Swedish- American Business Expo will be held on March 3, 2009, during the annual tennis tournament in Fort Walton Beach, and will provide an excellent venue for local as well as Swedish companies to showcase their products and services, and for people to meet and do business with. The Mayor relayed that the idea of a Sister City with Kristinehamn is still in the exploratory phase, although there is enthusiasm for the program in both countries. Mr. Stenberg explained that in Sweden there are 41 representatives from nine different political parties and it is difficult for them to agree on things, and that the program will not happen overnight. However, the business of tourism, trade, and sharing of ideas can be done between the cities without the designation of a Sister City program. The Mayor advised that the Chamber of Commerce and the EDC are assisting Mr. Stenberg in his efforts for a Sister City relationship. DISSCUSISON OF OFF- SHORE DRILLING RESOLUTION Discussion regarding the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Resolution opposing offshore drillin~~in the Gulf of Mexico. The Mayor advised he placed this item on the agenda because fhe Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposin~~offshore drilling in the Gulf, and asked whether it is something Council would want to consider, or just have it for discussion purposes. Of. Pullen expressed his opinion that off-shore drilling in the Gulf be allowed as long as it does not interfere with the mission of Eglin. He explained the state of Florida produces no energy, it is a user state, and should be responsible for what it uses. Dr. Pullen agfeed that our beaches need protection, but there is a greater risk of pollution from barges in the waterway or tankers hauling fuel down the highways. Dr. Pullen continued he has observed drilling and every precaution is taken not to cause pollution and the oil industry is highly regulated as far as pollution goes. He advised he would not support this resolution. Mr. Garvie spoke as a strong supporter of nuclear energy, and the possibility of utilizing wind, solar, and clean coal technology as an alternative source of power. Mr. Garvie commented he recently learned that it will take 10 years before any benefit from oil drilling is realized; therefore, he would support this resolution. The Mayof asked if there was any public input regarding this subject. There was none. Consensus of Council was not to take any action on this resolution unless it is brought up in the future. OTHER BUSINESS ( FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES) E- MAIL PROTOCOL The Mayor discussed his concerns regarding an e- mail generated by a member of Council back in June questioning the legalities of the removal of agenda items by the Mayor and City Manager; specifically, Ord. 1768 which was removed from the June 24, 2008 Council agenda for second reading.  205 Council Workshop 08/ 12/ 08 E- MAIL PROTOCOL ( CONT) Dr. Pullen, the originator of the e- mail, stated his feeling that when an agenda is established and published, it should not be changed. Discussion included that often times agendas are changed, but Dr. Pullen advised that is done in public during the meetings. Discussion ensued that in reference to Ord. 1768, at that particular meeting several Council members were absent and that a majority vote was needed for and that would not adoption, have occurred at that meeting, so the decision was made to remove it from the agenda. The City Attorney advised she did not see this as a legal issue until the time the business of the agenda is adopted, and until then the agenda is up for amendment at any time. Also discussed as a matter of concern was an e- mail in which the City Attorney stressed caution in its continuance. She explained that sometimes Council and City boards receives an e- mail from a member, but when responses begin back and forth between board members, it starts getting close to violation of the Sunshine Law, and in the e- mail in question, several responses were being exchanged and she stressed caution because an item was being discussed that will come before Council at some time. Mr. Minich expressed his opinion that if a member of Council wants to bring up an item, it should be done during a Council meeting and not through e- mails that cannot be responded to. Dr. Pullen commented he is careful when sending out e- mails as he is aware of the Sunshine Law. The Mayor further expressed his concern and displeasure at the e- mail which insinuated that the Mayor and City Manager are conspiring in an unethical manner against the City. Dr. Pullen stated he probably responded in anger and frustration and that he doesn' t remember the incident, but he apologized for the contents and tone of the e- mail. The Mayor accepted Dr. Pullen' s apology as appropriate, and stated he hopes this sort of behavior will not continue. Mr. Minich stated his thoughts that the comments in an e- mail sent to everyone is completely inappropriate, and that part of the Mayor' s job is to work with the City Manager on the agenda, to gain understanding of the items to be discussed, and to be accused without any basis or the ability to respond is inappropriate behavior for any member of Council. STATUS OF WORKSHOP MEETINGS Mr. Minich discussed whether there was a need to conduct mandatory workshop meetings when items can be discussed during a regular Council meeting. He noted the two items on tonight' s workshop agenda could have been discussed at the regular meeting, and that 14 City employees are required to be at this meeting when he did not think it was necessary. Mr. Minich advised he will take a look at the next couple of workshops and if he does not believe they are necessary, he will request that only mandatory workshops be held on items that would be better discussed in that sort of setting. Mr. Reeves agreed with Mr. Minich, stating that it is difficult when action cannot be taken on items and they have to come back to Council during a regular meeting anyway, and he would like some of these discussed during a regular meeting as well. 206 Council Workshop 08/ 12/ 08 STATUS OF WORKSHOP MEETINGS CCONT) The Mayor explained the intent of the workshops was for the public to have an opportunity to speak. It was noted that the Council agenda has changed somewhat since the workshops were initiated, and there are areas on the regular agenda where upcoming items can be discussed and the public can comrnent. Dr. Pullen stated when the workshops first began there was a lot of the public who would attend, but as of late, it has not been and perhaps the need for the workshops has passed. Mr. Garvie commented he did not realize they were mandatory workshops, and questioned if it was mandatory to have a workshop if there was nothing to be discussed. Mr. Minich advised he will being it up as an agenda item at a regular meeting. ADJOURNMENT As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at