Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 04-26-13-special--strategic plan — reading text

205 Final Minutes — City of Fort Walton Beach Special Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach Friday, April 26, 2013 8: 00 AM 107 Mlrncle strip Parkw, y Fort Walton Beach, Fl, 32548 CALL TO ORDER 8: 00 AM Meeting was called to order on April 26, 2013 at Library Meeting Room, Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL. Attendee Name Title, Status Arrived Amy Jamieson Council Seat 5 Present Mike Anderson Mayor Present Bobby Griggs Council Seat 1 Late 9: 00 AM Joyce gossom _ Council Seat 2 Late 8: 50 AM John Mead Council Seat 3 Present Trey Goodwin_ Council Seat 4 Present Bull Ri don Council Seat 6 Prn - - -- - Dick Ryneazson j Council Seat 7 Present Also Present: Dr. Hugh Marlow, Facilitator; Department Directors Mr. Griggs and Dr. gossom arrived later. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Mayor advised that the agenda as presented may be changed and amended as the meeting continues. The Mayor also advised that Dr. Herb Marlowe will facilitate the meeting and asked that common courtesy be the norm for the meeting. Dr. Herb Marlowe, Meeting Facilitator, advised he changed the agenda in accordance with discussions he held previously with Staff, so there was no need to approve the agenda as presented. Michael Beedie, City Manager, reminded this is a special meeting and that motions can be made and voted upon as needed and that Roberts Rules of Orders will be practiced during the meeting. Mr. Goodwin moved to waive Roberts Rules of Order during the meeting. Ms. Jamieson seconded motion and it carried unanimously. City Cauncll ofFort Walton Beach Page J P, wed 4' 30/ 2013 206 Special Meeting Minutes April 26, 2013 RESULT: APPROVED [ UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Trey Goodwin, Council Seat 4 SECONDER: Amy Jamieson, Council Seat 5 AYES: Jamieson, Mead, Goodwin, Rigdon, Rynearson ABSENT: Bobby Griggs, joyce gossom Introduction to Strategic Planning Dr. Marlowe explained the meeting is a planning session that is designed to be a conversation among elected officials and staff which will result in a formalized document that will outline the decisions made and the directions provided. Dr. Marlowe stated four questions define the strategic plan: 1) Where is the City now; 2) Where could the City be in the future; 3) What do you want the City to be; and 4) How will it get there. Dr. Marlowe further discussed the assets the City currently has, including human capital; pleasant environment; a rich history; the military; and tourism. The City Manager introduced the strategic plan as a discussion of the future of the City of Fort Walton Beach. He advised the FY 13 - 14 budget process has started and the outlook is not good. He explained that over the last five years, the City has taken a reactive approach to the economy and has forgotten about Strategic Planning, which has resulted in the development of a fiscal budget that only addresses the upcoming year, with no look into the future and the effects of today' s decisions on the future. The City Manager continued that during the past year, he has evaluated the livelihood of the City and if it continues down the current road the City will never prosper and grow. He stated services cannot continue to be cut as the City would begin to lose its identity as a full- service entity. The City Manager stated the goal of the FY 13 - 14 budget, and the three to five years in the future, is for the City to be proactive and return to a sustainable budget. City government has shrunk over 33% during the recession but no services have been cut. In past years, the City Council has committed to keeping all services, including core services and quality of life services, and although there has been no reduction in the quality of services to the public, the City has struggled internally to stay competitive with other service providers. The City Manager stated the high quality of services the City provides is the main reason people decide to move into Fort Walton Beach; however, during the recession, other agencies have or are discussing making moves to expand services and in that regard the City needs to make a move. First to take advantage of the opportunities to become the service provider in this end of the county, and second, to make that commitment to return back to prominence and make people want to move or annex into the City. The City Manager informed with the cuts each department has experienced over the last four to five years it is almost impossible to continue to provide the current service level. What is being asked for today is a commitment by the City Council to move forward with evaluating existing, enhanced, and new revenue sources. If Council is committed to pursuing the items that will be discussed today, the City Manager stated he is confident that the City will not only continue to provide the level of services our residents are accustomed to, but the City will become a leader in Cry C, un, d ofFort TVW on Beach Page 2 Printed 4, 30, 2013  207 Special Meeting Minutes April 26, 2013 Northwest Florida. However, if a commitment cannot be made today, the City Manager warned some hard decisions will have to be made. Dr. gossom arrived at 8: 50 am and Mr. Griggs arrived at 9 am.. At this time, department directors met individually with Council to discuss items of concern for their respective departments. Members of the public were invited to participate in the discussions. Dr. Marlowe advised the seven strategies to create sustainable service levels that will be discussed are as follows: 1) Community Wealth; 2) Entrepreneurial Government; 3) Quality of Life; 4) Governmental Efficiency & Productivity; 5) Alternative Revenues & Cost Reduction; 6) Facilitative Policy Leadership; and 7) Traditional Revenue Sources. Communitv Wealth --Discussion included the types of businesses /markets the City would like to attract, including start- up businesses, new /growing businesses that can capitalize on the Commerce /Technology Park; jobs in fields such as medical, software, or utility related. Economic drivers such as beach tourism and the military were discussed and that new economic drivers include manufacturing, sports tourism ( the new recreation complex is a start) and winter tourism. Consensus was that the City needs to identify and work with the Chamber of Commerce on a collaborative effort to brand and market the City in the community. Discussion ensued regarding strengthening business encouraging efforts and noted positive changes such as the new Land Development Code; protecting businesses that have remained in the City during the difficult economic times and showing appreciation for the businesses that are here; and incentive programs. Direction of Council was for Staff to meet and work with the TDC and EDC to discuss ways to encourage development and to develop a tax incentive program and forward it to Council. RECESS The session recessed at 9: 55 am and reconvened at 10: 10 am. Consensus was not to take a lunch break and continue the session to 1: 00 pm. Entrepreneurial Government --Discussion included the City's Police and Fire Services as being outstanding and the best ways to capitalize on these services; that the City's Fire Department needs support from other jurisdictions because no fire department can stand alone, thus the reasoning for the Mutual Aid Agreement, discuss with the City of Mary Esther the possibility of entering into a contract with the City to provide police, fire, sanitation and building inspection services and whether a fee should be established for these services. Direction of Council was for Staff to complete a study determining the cost benefits for expanding services and to prepare a proposal for sanitation services. Quality of Life --Discussion ensued regarding the inclusion of the Police Department into the City Charter, as is the Fire Department, to avoid the occurrence of last year during police consolidations discussions with the county. Council comments were that such a move could Cary Cou,, d ofh'ort 41, 1e, n Oeach Page 3 Printed 4/302013  Minutes 26, 2013 hamstring future Councils where the police is concerned, and the City attorney advised that State Statute discusses how this is done. There was no direction from Council regarding Charter protection for the Police Department at this time. The problem of vagrancy was discussed, including addressing the difference between vagrancy and homelessness; approaching service providers such as churches to discuss the issue; having a professional analysis of why vagrants want to be in the City and what the City should do to remove the issue; and the need to have an alternative place to bring the violators. Also noted was that by eliminating the positive aspects of the City that draw the vagrants also takes them away from the citizens to enjoy. Direction of Council was to obtain a quote from a professional firm to evaluate the vagrant condition and develop a plan to resolve the issue. The expansion of the CRA was discussed and direction was to perform an analysis of the possibility of expanding the CRA area. It was noted that amenities in the CRA area include the waterfront, the proposed boardwalk from Brooks Bridge to Liza Jackson Park, a water taxi, and family activities at the Fort Walton Landing such as interactive water features. Direction of Council was to explore opportunities highlighting the use of the waterfront. Also discussed as a