Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 02-10-09 special — reading text

stimulus funding for the Hurlburt Reuse (Water) project. John Hofstad, Utilities Director, mentioned the State could potentially receive several million dollars in federal stimulus funds that will be earmarked for shovel -ready projects. He stated the City does have a project on the books as they were only able to get one -third of the infrastructure in the ground for the Hurlburt Reuse project so there is two-thirds of the project left to complete to put in two miles of line to the Beal Memorial Cemetery. He mentioned speaking with the lobbyist group and a local committee about putting together a letter to send to the Governor and certain cabinet members requesting inclusion in the funding source should it get handed down from the federal government. He requested Council allow staff to draft a letter to send to the Governor's office for inclusion in the funding source for that project. There was a question on the preparation and delivery of the letter. Mr. Hofstad clarified that The Advocacy Group will assist with the crafting of the letter to be signed by the Mayor, and the lobbyist group will hand deliver the letter to Tallahassee to act on the City's behalf as the conduit to get the message to the Governor's office and those particular individuals responsible for dispersing the funds.He mentioned he also sits on a committee of Panhandle Utility Directors that has been discussing how to potentially secure funding not only individually, but collectively as a Panhandle group. He said he will use every avenue available to secure funding for the City. During some discussion it was commented that the project would be an advantage to the base and suggested that a letter of endorsement from the base commander of Hurlburt Field be attached to the letter from the City of Fort Walton Beach.  Special Council 2 -10 -09 120 HURLBURT REUSE WATER PROJECT cont. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As no one wished to speak public input was closed. Mr. Miller moved to direct staff to coordinate with The Advocacy Group and proceed with sending the letter ( requesting consideration for stimulus funds to complete the Huriburt Reuse project). Mr. Minich seconded motion and It carried unanimouslywith Holmes, Miller, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Reeves absent). LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES Consideration of setting legislative priorities. The Mayor opened the floor for discussion with the suggestion that each Council member submit a list of three or four items to the City Clerk who would compile the list and the top three or four items that have the most votes would be the topics that go forward. Mr. Garvie mentioned the OkaloosaWalton Transportation Planning Organization (OWTPO) will be setting priorities for the Okaloosa and Walton areas and each City will have an opportunity to bring forward their priorities. Discussion on identifying priority issues included an exchange of thoughts on issues important to the City such as transportation, the home rule, no unfunded mandates, unpaved streets, water management, neighborhood stabilization programs, drainage problems in the Combs neighborhood, and stormwater filters. During discussion it was mentioned that one of the tasks of The Advocacy Group is to look for funds that are available. It was also commented that anything The Advocacy Group does will benefit the City and it is not necessary to give them a list as they will monitor legislation to identify what is important to the City. Mr. Garvie mentioned he and the Mayor will also travel to Tallahassee to lobby on behalf of the City and expressed a desire for direction from Council. The Mayor described the procedure used last year where on a weekly basis The Advocacy Group TAG) would send a list on the status of the House and Senate bills, then the City Manager and he would have a conference call with TAG to go over the list and the lobbyist would tell them which ones were most important to the City. He mentioned, based on the calls from The Advocacy Group, that he and the City Manager can prepare a memo of record to recap what is going on so Council will know which issues are hot and what issues are important to the City that need support. The Mayor said he will make sure to share with Council the status update on specific bills each week. Council concurred with continuing to follow the procedure described by the Mayor. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p. m. APPROVED: ATTEST: MAYOR: CITY CLERK ddm  11-3 Regular Council Meeting 1/ 27/ 09 ORD. 1790 ( CONT) The Mayor opened the public hearing. Kabe Woods, 240 Brooks Street, encouraged Council to adopt the ordinance. As no one else wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Hartwell moved to adopt Ord. 1790 on second reading. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. Mr. Hartwell stated his appreciation in having the Charter review, and stated his endorsement of the ordinance and that it streamlines the span of control and feels comfortable with the Finance Director reporting directly to the City Manager. Mr. Miller presented his feeling that the City Charter has worked for years and should not be changed and that the Finance Director should continue to be a Charter Officer appointed by the Council.He also suggested that this item be delayed to allow the incoming Council to decide, and that there is no urgency to rush into it. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried by a vote of 5 to 2 with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Hartwell, and Minich in favor and Miller and Pullen opposed. REGULAR AGENDA —FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The Acting City Manager advised he had no items to present at this time. Mayor Anderson asked Council to review the Northwest Florida League of Cities legislative priorities and the Florida League of Cities legislative priorities to develop a list of priorities for the advocacy group to monitor during the legislative session. Mr. Garvie stated he agreed with the Mayor, as he wants to ensure that what he is pushing for in Tallahassee during the legislative session is what the Council has agreed on. The Acting City Manager was requested to contact The Advocacy Group to provide a synopsis report on their meetings with the Mayor and Council. When the synopsis report is received a special Council meeting will be scheduled to set priorities for lobbying. Mr. Miller questioned whether a Strategic Planning session would be held to lay groundwork for the 2010 budget and who would facilitate it. The City Manager advised he would meet with the Finance Director to incorporate everyone' s thoughts into the budget process. The Finance Director advised she will provide Council a time table for preparation of the 2009/2010 budget to discuss at the February 10, 2009 Council meeting. The Mayor clarified that the City Manager and Finance Director will lead the discussions. COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT BETWEEN CITY AND FT WALTON DEVELOPERS LLC Consideration of approval of the Collateral Assignment of Development Agreement between City of Fort Walton Beach and Ft Walton Development Partners LLC to the Georgian Bank and authorization for the Mayor and City Clerk to execute that document on behalf of the City upon sufficient proof from the developers of a performance and payment bond of no less than 4, 250, 000. The City Attorney advised the developer and principals of Ft. Walton Development Partners LLC are present to discuss their request, and after their response she will inform Council of her advice. 11 Recommendation to amend Table H1 to include Kepner Drive Water Main Replacement Project. 11a) Consideration of Ordinance ( 1784) of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; amending the Comprehensive Plan of the City; adopting text amendments to the Capital Improvements Element to update the schedule of Capital Improvement projects, and to incorporate by Transportation reference the OkaloosaWalton Transportation Planning Organization' s Improvement Program 2009 -2013 and the Okaloosa County School Board' s 2008 -09 School Facilities Work Plan; providing for severability and an effective date. ( Development Services Director) (See Backup) Local Planning Agency Recommendation: Approval (5-0) ( 12/4108) Synopsis. Updates the required Capital Improvement Element of the Comprehensive Plan. MOTION: AMEND TABLE H -1 OF ORD. 1784 TO INCLUDE KEPNER DRIVE WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT. 7- 0 MOTION: ADOPT ORD. 1784, AS AMENDED, ON SECOND READING. 74 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR CITY CLERK 12 Consideration of Ordinance ( 1789) of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; providing authority and intent; amending Section 53 of the City Charter to remove archaic and inapplicable provision that was nullified and repealed by the Home Rule Powers Act of 1973; and providing an effective date. ( City Attorney) ( See Backup) Synopsis: Eliminates reference to position of "recorder" found in the City Charter. MOTION: ADOPT ORD. 1789 ON SECOND READING. 6 -1 ( HOLMES, REEVES, GARVIE, POLLEN, HARTWELL, MINICH —YES; MILLER —NO) CITY CLERK 13 Consideration of Ordinance ( 1790) of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; providing for authority and intent; amending sections 21, 22 and 23 of the City Charter to remove archaic and obsolete provisions regarding finance procedures; amending section 53 to remove the Finance Director as an officer appointed by the City Council; and providing an effective date. City Attorney) ( See Backup) Synopsis: Removes the Finance Director as an appointed officer to a regular employee. ADOPT ORD. 1790 ON SECOND READING. 5 -2 ( HOLMES, REEVES, GARVIE, MOTION: HARTWELL, MINICH —YES; MILLER, PULLEN —NO) CITY CLERK EG AR AG t€ A ' 14 Future Agenda Items. ( City Manager) ( See Backup) MAYOR ANDERSON ASKED COUNCIL TO REVIEW THE NWFLC LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND THE FLC LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TO DEVELOP A LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR THE ADVOCACY GROUP TO MONITOR DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE ACTING CITY MANAGER WAS REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE ADVOCACY GROUP TO PROVIDE A SYNOPSIS REPORT ON THEIR MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WHEN THE SYNOPSIS REPORT IS RECEIVED A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE SCHEDULED TO SET PRIORITIES FOR LOBBYING. THE FINANCE DIRECTOR WILL PROVIDE COUNCIL A TIME TABLE FOR PREPARATION OF THE 2009/2010 BUDGET TO DISCUSS AT THE FEBRUARY 10, 2009 COUNCIL MEETING. ACTING CITY MANAGER FINANCE DIRECTOR CITY CLERK Helen Spencer From: Helen Spencer Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 3:52 PM To: Robert