Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 06-30-09 special — reading text

the assisting agency performing hereunder. SECTION VII: EFFECTIVE DATE This agreement shall take effect upon execution and approval by the hereinafter named officials and shall continue in full force and effect until January 1, 2011. Under no circumstances may this agreement be renewed, amended, or extended except in writing. SECTION VIII: CANCELLATI) i Any party may cancel their participation in this agreement upon delivery of written notice to the other parties. Cancellation will be at the direction for any subscribing party. In witness whereof, the parties hereto cause these present to be signed on the date specified. q4A Qtr o --- - te/ / oq Ed Spooner, heriff Date Okaloosa Cou eriff's Office r J Brian Mitchell, Chief of Police Date Crestview Police Department G 0A&J David Cadle, Mayor 6 Dat 02 . City of Crestview Ted Litschauer, Chief of Police Date Fort Walton Beach Police Department Mike Anderson, Mayor Date City of Fort Walton Beach Brian Cruttenden, Chief of Police Date Niceville Police Department Lannie Corbin, City Manager Date City of Niceville Joseph Hart, Chief of Police Date Valparaiso Police Department John B. Arnold, Mayor Date City of Valparaiso r. C' ILL 5 " W-e 2 z< ° t John Ca hief of Police Date Town of Sh mar Mayor Gary Combr;,/, Date Town of Walimar  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA MEMORANDUM Office of the City Manager DATE: June 16, 2009 TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Membe a FROM: Robert T. Mearns, City Manager SUBJECT: Business Retention Ad Hoc Panel Background The City of Ft. Walton Beach is experiencing a continuing and gradual downturn in the economy unlike anything experienced in recent memory. It is not a local -phenomenon but global in scope and effect. Although economists are predicting that the slide may end in either the third or fourth quarter of this year, what is not known is when the upturn will begin. That is likely dependent on the availability of credit. Credit could infuse dollars into the construction industry if there were not already a glut of housing stock already available. Within the City there is also an abundance of vacant commercial and industrial property on the market for both rent and sale. Site Plans approved several years ago had to be extended for three additional years because there is no investment capital available. While this picture may be bleak, there has been an injection of energy into the area. That energy is 7th brought to us courtesy of the F -35 bed down and the Army' s Ranger Battalion. These expansions of the existing military presence will most certainly have an effect on the economy; but in what time frame and to what extent geographically and economically is a projection at best. The City needs be realistic with the here and now of our economy and not wait for military deployments to the area. Pro= Just as the City approved the extension of site plans as a means of preserving future development within the city, there must necessarily be other methods, ideas, and /or measures that could 'be undertaken to retain existing, or entice new businesses, within the city. It would seem that the best source of such methods or ideas would come from the business people who have businesses in the city who are willing to contribute a few hours a- month, for several months, to share with the city some of their ideas. Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council appoint a Business Retention Ad Hoc Panel consisting of six core local business persons to evaluate the city' s approach to business regulations and what can be done to improve the services the city offers in this vein. This Panel would meet not less than once per month for not more than six months and upon its sunset present its recommendations to the City Council for consideration.  RESOLUTION 09 - 24 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING AN AD HOC BUSINESS RETENTION PANEL; ESTABLISHING THE DUTIES OF THE BUSINESS RETENTION PANEL; SETTING A TERMINATION DATE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH: Section 1. Intent. The United States is experiencing the most significant economic recession since the Great Depression. The current recession has seen five million jobs lost nationally over the past fourteen months, the state unemployment rate surpasses nine percent, and Fort Walton Beach unemployment levels are eight percent. Across the country, housing values have dropped, credit is difficult to access, and unemployment has soared. While the Greater Fort Walton Beach area has a diversity of business and industry and has, to date, withstood the impacts of the recession relatively well, it has not been immune from its effects.The City Council desires to appoint a Business Retention Panel to serve as a liaison with the business industry, identify and recommend actions that the City can implement to support economic recovery, help City residents access resources to allay the recession's impacts, and improve the City' s overall business climate. Section 2. Formation. The City of Fort Walton Beach hereby establishes the Fort Walton Beach Business Retention Panel. The purpose of the panel is to serve as a liaison with the business industry, identify actions that the City can implement to support economic recovery, help City residents access resources to allay the recession's impacts, and improve the City' s overall business climate. The panel shall recommend strategies and actions that the City Council may undertake to mitigate the impacts of the current recession on City residents and businesses, and to help promote the economic recovery of the city and region. Section 3. Membership. The Business Retention Panel shall consist of six members to be appointed by the City Council. The Panel shall elect from among their body a chair and vice chair at the first meeting of the panel. A designee of the City Manager shall serve as the City staff liaison to the Panel. Section 4. Meetings. a.The Panel will meet no less than once a month at a location and time to be determined by the Panel. The Panel may schedule additional meetings to conduct the business of the Panel by voting on the date, time, and location of such additional meetings at any regularly scheduled meeting.  b. The Panel meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the latest version of Roberts Rules of Order and be governed by the Sunshine Law. C. The provisions of Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances which are not in conflict with the provisions of this resolution shall govern the Panel. Section 5. Termination. The Panel shall continue in existence until December 15, 2009, unless further extended by the City Council. Section 6. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval by the City Council and signature of the Mayor. Adopted by the City Council on this day of , 2009. Mike Anderson, Mayor Attest: Approved for form and legal sufficiency. Helen Spencer, City Clerk Toni L. Craig, City Attorney