Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 02-23-2010 Regular — reading text

about fears of hurricanes and alligators. Bloomberg was surprised in both cases. I almost didn' t know how to respond to the jail thing," he said. The Green Berets Bloomberg describes sound more like Jack Bauer of "24" than America's Most Wanted; they are dedicated to their profession and their country. Bloomberg calls them " triple volunteers." They volunteered for the Army, then volunteered to jump out of airplanes and then volunteered for the Special Forces. Its members are deployed in 18 South American countries and in Afghanistan. They deploy in detachments of 12 men or go on missions with one or two men. The average Green Beret is 30 to 32 years old, has about 10 years of experience and is as fit as a professional athlete. He has a college degree or has attended college, is culturally sensitive and is fluent in at least two languages. The soldiers are trained as engineers, medics, communications or weapons specialists. They usually are noncommissioned officers with an E -7 pay grade; more than $ 40, 000 a year. Soldiers deploy for about seven months a year, which means families become resilient and learn to function without Dad. Bloomberg said he has been gone for six of the last eight years and for half of his 16 -year marriage. The danger Green Berets face also takes a toll on families. Bloomberg said every child of a soldier knows at least one person with a father who has been killed or wounded in action. http : /www.nwfdailynews.com/common / /printer /view.php ?db= nwfdn &id =25324 2/ 15/ 2010 Print Article: ` Rowdy' Green Berets vs. ` crazy' Northwest Florida Page 2 of 2 Bloomberg also said the soldiers are family men, avid hunters and fishermen and likely will coach youth soccer. They are going to invest in real estate — and not just in Crestview, as another rumor claimed. Because Special Forces soldiers do not change stations, they likely will retire in the area. Bloomberg considers that an advantage for everyone. It' s so obvious how pro -military this community is, and what's interesting is it seems genuine," Bloomberg said. " We' re going to add to the fabric of this community. There are no downsides for us." More than 2, 000 soldiers — about 500 a month — will start arriving in May 2011. Because the Army allows families to move down a year ahead of time, the area could start to see the 4,300 family members this summer. The Special Forces will be at this year's Eglin air show. Visitors can meet one of the detachments and see a demonstration from the Black Daggers, the Army Special Operations parachute team. Bloomberg said he has never felt more welcomed than he has on the Emerald Coast. Eglin has made accommodations for its newest tenants, including a BX and gas station ( which will be open to anyone with military identification) just outside the Green Berets' campus south of Crestview. Base officials also have made relocation resources available online and have visited families at Fort Bragg. Through Base Realignment and Closure, Eglin has funded an overpass across State Road 85 that will allow soldiers easy access to Duke Field. The soldiers will train with special operations units at Duke and Hurlburt Field. Bloomberg said that will create a natural synergy that will carry over to missions. The end result will be a better joint force, "'he said. " It' s going to be amazing. Copyright 2010 Freedom Communications. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy I User Agreement I Site Map http : /www.nwfdailynews.com/common / /printer /view.php ?db= nwfdn &id =25324 2/ 15/ 2010  CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 23, 2010 Presentations /Proclamations Presentation Quarterly Report from the CRA Board Chairman Dr.Joyce gillie gossom will present the report Agenda Item Number: 2. 2  o. hJ° •` aQ ai°LCf C H ` Ly 4xYV a'. 1. sa . A  n W O L CN V V o 4 O O y Cq O N O 4- QO v 4- 0 0 a 0 O L- C; C O CD V Q E E O O O O Q U E U 0 0 EJ FA I L  a O N L O V 0 O o V o M L LO O— M O y- •- 4- m 00 r' O cyi U '- 41 V i 4 W Q 06 O, U E O 0. a O U. O O O V O— cN ~ O O 0 o 3 O% t* o CO O O O O 4q V — O O N N El Cie _ 11 1 1- aa 1- 11-- l' c v,p3:o t 9( 7(( Wk  CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 23, 2010 Consent Agenda Approval of Minutes: February 9, 2010 - Special Meeting February 9, 2010 - Regular Meeting Agenda Item Number: 3. 1  79 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY,OF FORT WALTON BEACH; FLORIDA BUSINESS RETENTION PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS AND ` MERRJLL LYNCH LEGAL ACTION FEBRUARY 9, 2010 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at 5: 00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Bobby Nabors, Bill Patterson, and Dick Rynearson Absent: Virgil Miller Also Present: Robert Mearns, City, Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney; Department Directors and Media CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. He requested anyone who wished to address Council to approach the podium after being recognized, then state his or her name and address for the record. PLEDGE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Mayor mentioned Mr. Miller is absent due to a relapse and asked everyone to keep him and his family in their prayers. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Garvie moved to approve the agenda as the business of the day. Mr. Patterson seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor (Miller absent). BUSINESS RETENTION PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendations and Findings of the Business Retention Panel (BRP). Michael Beedie, Engineering Services Director, introduced the members of the Business Retention Panel and stated the Chairman will present the final recommendations of the Panel. Barry Stafford, BRP Chairman, gave a brief overview of recommendations from the Panel which included increasing staff authority for approval and removing development review authority of the CRA to reduce the time and cost for site plan review and permitting; acknowledge the property rights of individuals; and extending the July 12, 2011. sign ordinance compliance date. 80 Special Council 2 -9 - 10 BUSINESS RETENTION PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS cont. In response to the question on whether the Panel made a recommendation to do away with the CRA, Mr. Stafford explained the Panel is in favor of having a CRA, it was the process and they questioned the need for the Board when everything comes before City Council. The City Attorney noted the staff report used the word " sunset" which means it would close out the CRA Board and she sees that as doing away with the CRA. Tom Rice, BRP Vice- Chairman explained having the Board review plans has slowed down He said the CRA is an important tool and the recommendation is not to do away with projects. the CRA but to have City Council establish themselves as the CRA as a way to streamline the process. There was some question on whether other CRA Boards are governed by Council. The City Attorney stated the City' s CRA is not a model CRA; there are other CRA Boards that are completely independent, not advisory, and they are the final authority. There was some discussion on whether or not City Council sitting as the CRA Board would speed up the process. The City Attorney said there are some provisions that could be overcome but action may have to be delayed until the next Council meeting. There was a question on the recommendation that singles out the Historic Sites Board and property rights and whether the Historic Sites Board is the only Board that touches on property rights. Mr. Stafford expressed his thought that every Board touches on property rights. Mr. Rice discussed the ordinance; regarding the demolition of a building 50 years or older that could take up to 90 days, and he :mentioned that it is possible to rezone a person' s property without their request. Mr. Stafford thanked