Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 02-24-09 regular minutes — reading text

129 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 24, 2009 INTRODUCTION A regular meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, at 6: 00 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Dr. Wayne Pullen, and Mike Minich Absent: Jim Hartwell Also Present: Robert Mearns, Acting City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney (absent); 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. INVOCATION Pastor Charles Sansom, Jr. of Family of Faith Church, gave the Invocation. PLEDGE Mayor Anderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance. PROCLAMATION The Mayor read a proclamation for Problem Gambling Awareness Week. STUDENT ACE AWARD The Mayor awarded the Student Ace Award for February to Robert Keefe of Choctawhatchee High School. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Minich moved to approve the agenda as the business of the day. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Hartwell absent). SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Erik Stenberg of the Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center discussed the World Class Tennis Tournament at the Tennis Center from March 1 through March 8, and that events include the Opening Ceremony on February 28 with Mayor Anderson, the Mayor of Kristinehamn, Sweden, and Brian Earley, the USTA Pro Circuit Director, participating. Mr. Stenberg also discussed the Swedish America Expo Day on March 3 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center, and that it will be a great way to facilitate Swedish -American business connections and networking. QUARTERLY REPORTS —GENERAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT FUNDS Presentation of quarterly reports for the General Employees' Retirement Fund investments. Bill Kennedy of Aletheia and Joe Bogdahn of the Bogdahn Group discussed the quarter's performance as of December 31, 2008, and was available to answer questions from Council. 130 Regular Council 02 -24 -08 BOARD /COMMITTEE REPORTS —CRA BOARD Dr. joyce gillie gossom, Chairman of the CRA Board of Commissioners, presented the CRA's Annual Report of Activities, including recommending approval of several Development Orders, extensions, and /or amendments; Capital Improvement Projects that were completed, including the Carson cul -de -sac, the installation of LED lights at Beal /Hollywood, 98 /Beal, and 98 /Eglin, and the downtown Streetscape and Beal Parkway Gateway Park, which are in progress; and miscellaneous projects. Discussion included the status of the underground Eglin Dr. utilities on Parkway. gossom explained that the Board felt it would be beneficial to build the reserve of the TIF funds so that when the time comes to do the project, the undergrounding can be completed at one time, and Dr. gossom stressed the project is still on the Board' s list of action items. Further discussion included that the infrastructure within the CRA area is in good repair and has been upgraded, and that Staff is working on receiving estimates to fix up the Tringas parking lot. CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Minich moved to approve the following Consent Agenda items. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Hartwell absent). APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the minutes of the Special Council Meeting of February 10, 2009 and the Regular Council Meeting of February 10, 2009. RES. 2009 -08, FDLE ENHANCED TRAINING CENTER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING FUNDING THROUGH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR ENHANCED TRAINING CENTER; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE CERTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE; AUTHORIZING THE POLICE CHIEF TO OVERSEE THE PROJECT; AUTHORIZING A BUDGET AMENDMENT; AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. RENEWAL OF DENTAL PROGRAM To continue the City's self-insured dental program administered by Dental Decisions at the monthly rates as follows: Single, $ 15. 00 Employer, $ 5. 00 Employee, $ 20. 00 Total; Family, 42. 96 Employer, $ 14. 32 Employee, $ 57. 28 Total. REGULAR AGENDA —FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Reeves advised he was approached by a citizen who wanted to know why the north portion of Memorial Parkway by the cemetery is a no -truck route and the south portion is not; the Acting City Manager advised the issue came up at a neighborhood meeting and the Police Department is aware of it, and that some research will have to be done and he will report at a future meeting. Council received clarification that the Veterans Memorial Clock Tower and the Employee Housing Assistance Initiative are two items being worked on by Staff as possible agenda items in the future. RENEWAL OF HEAD START LEASE Consideration of renewal of the Head Start Lease. The City Clerk advised the County has requested the leases for Head Start located at 22 McGriff Street and the Alice Starkey Child Care Center located at 24 McGriff Street be renewed as one lease for a ten -year period.  131 Regular Council 02 -24 -08 HEAD START LEASE ( CONT) Council received clarification on the terms of the lease whereby anytime during the 10 years the lease can be terminated with 30 days notice; after the 10 years, the lease can be terminated as long as it is not 30 days into the termination date. Dr. Pullen, as the Council representative on the Head Start Board, explained the need for the terms of the lease, and that the facility has been built for Head Start but the County maintains it on an in -kind basis, and the value of the lease is factored into the in -kind services which are required by HUD so Head Start can receive funding. Mr. Reeves moved to renew the leases for Head Start located at 22 McGriff Street and the Alice Starkey Child Care Center located at 24 McGriff Street as one lease for a ten -year period at the rental rate of $ 1. 00 per year. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor ( Hartwell absent). VINYL FENCING AROUND BEAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY Consideration of request to utilize funds from the Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund to purchase and install 2,400' of black vinyl fencing around the perimeter of Beal Memorial Cemetery in the amount of $ 19, 800, and construction of a niche wall on the grounds of the Cemetery. Jeff Peters, Recreation /Cultural Services Director, requested the use of funds from the Beal Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund to replace approximately 2,400 feet of fencing along the perimeter of the cemetery along Memorial and Beal Parkways, and for the construction of a new niche wall. The Finance Director advised that a budget amendment will be necessary for bookkeeping purposes to transfer the funds from the Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund into the General Fund for expenditure purposes. Mr. Minich moved to approve the utilization of funds from the Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund to purchase and install 2,400' of black vinyl fencing around the perimeter of Beal Memorial Cemetery in the amount of $ 19, 800, and construction of a niche wall on the grounds of the Cemetery. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Hartwell absent). CANVASSING BOARD APPOINTMENTS Consideration of appointments of two representatives to serve on the Canvassing Board. The City Clerk advised this is a request from the Supervisor of Elections and that in previous years Council has appointed the City Clerk and one member from Council as the two representatives. Mr. Holmes advised he would be happy to serve on the Canvassing Board. Mr. Minich nominated the City Clerk and Mr. Holmes to serve on the Canvassing Board. As there were no further nominations, the Mayor called for the vote on the nomination and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor Hartwell absent). 132 Regular Council 02 -24 -08 CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD APPOINTMENTS Consideration of appointments to the Code Enforcement Board. Mr. Minich moved to reappoint Lisa Courtney, 221 Beachview Drive, Fort Walton Beach, to the Code Enforcement Board for a three -year term beginning February 24, 2009 until February 24, 2012. Dr. Pullen seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Hartwell absent). Mr. Minich moved to reappoint Paul Horn, 617 Cambridge Avenue NE, Fort Walton Beach, to the Code Enforcement Board for a three -year term beginning February 24, 2009 until February 24, 2012. Dr. Pullen seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Hartwell absent). OTHER CITY BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES The Acting City Manager gave a brief update on the City /County shared resources project in an effort to reduce additional expenditures on behalf of the City, County, and other cities. The areas discussed included Shared Purchasing, Creation of a Services Data Base, Insurance ( health, worker's comp), Solid Waste, and Development Review. Mr. Minich requested any items that are going to be brought up before the City Council be placed on the agenda. MAYOR/ COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Dr. Pullen mentioned he is preparing for his last appearance on the City Desk TV program tomorrow with Jeff Peters, Recreation /Cultural Services Director. Mr. Garvie discussed the TPO and mentioned 16 counties in Northwest Florida will, if all goes well, have $ 100 million to divide to use for transportation planning issues, with 70% for state roads and 30% for local roads. He reported the TPO held an emergency meeting to set priorities for the state roads and local roads to send to the governor. Mr. Garvie mentioned the All Sports Fellowship of Christian Athletes had a big meeting at the Convention Center with over 1100 young athletes meeting junior high and high school athletes. Mr. Reeves expressed excitement over the City /County shared resources project. Mr. Miller mentioned the upcoming City election on March 10, 2009. Mr. Holmes praised Mr. Garvie on his leadership on the TPO meeting held to discuss the priorities; and mentioned the candidate forum held last week was excellent. The Mayor mentioned he lobbied in Tallahassee last week and the reuse water project has been hand delivered