Okaloosa County BOCC — December 16, 2014 — Nov4,2014 — reading text

November 4, 2014 Regular Meeting The regular Tuesday meeting of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners was called to order at 6:00 p.m. at the Okaloosa County Courthouse in Crestview. Members present were Charles K. Windes, Jr., Chairman (left the meeting at 6:44 p.m.); Nathan Boyles, Vice Chairman; Wayne Harris; Dave Parisot; and Don Amunds. Also present were J. D. Peacock II, Clerk of Circuit Court Ad Interim; John Hofstad Interim County Administrator; Greg Stewart, County Attorney; and Gary J. Stanford, Finance Director, Clerk’s Office. PRESENTATIONS TO OUTGOING COMMISSIONERS AMUNDS AND PARISOT Mr. Windes asked Commissioner Amunds to join him at the front of the dais. He thanked him on behalf of the Board and the citizens of Okaloosa County for his service as commissioner. Mr. Amunds was then presented with a commemorative plaque. Mr. Windes asked Commissioner Parisot to join him. He also thanked Mr. Parisot for his service on behalf of the Board and citizens of the county. Mr. Parisot was also given a commemorative plaque. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’ S UPDATE Mr. Hofstad stated we are approaching the Legislative season when the delegation will convene. He said he would like to begin conversations with the Board on setting legislative priorities. Mr. Hofstad said some possible priorities might be the PJ Adams Connector, extension of water and sewer utilities at Bob Sikes Airport, Lake Silver Park, Strategic Intermodal System, and reimbursement to county for overpayments to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Mr. Boyles said he believes there is an appetite for seeking funding for projects. He recommended Mr. Hofstad prepare an updated Legislative Priorities List and return it to the Board for discussion as soon as possible. Mr. Boyles stated at that time the Board could make any changes and formally update the list. Mr. Amunds inquired on the status of DJJ litigation. Mr. Stewart stated the Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson firm has filed on behalf of Okaloosa and other counties in circuit court in November 4, 2014 -1- Minute Book 72, Page 36 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Tallahassee. The rule challenge was filed on behalf of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and 23 counties. It is set for trial next week in Tallahassee. Mr. Parisot suggested the Board pursue getting the same deal as the State on inmate medical costs. Other recommendations were amending Statute 336 to increase the $400,000 cap for in-house construction projects and getting more leeway for local boards on the use of bed taxes. Mr. Boyles said he feels it is important to segregate policy priorities from funding priorities and recommended staff separate the two. He suggested beginning with the focus on local funding priorities. Mr. Hofstad stated staff is preparing a list and will bring it back to the Board for consideration at the next meeting. COMMISSIONER’ S MINUTE Mr. Harris noted that the time is 6:12 p.m. and the polls will be open until 7:00 p.m. He encouraged anyone who had not yet been to the polls, to get out and vote. Mr. Harris stated he also wants to thank Mr. Amunds and Mr. Parisot for their service. Mr. Amunds said we have a fantastic community and staff. He acknowledged there have been some tough times but he believes it made them stronger. Mr. Amunds stated he has enjoyed his three terms in office. Mr. Boyles stated he attended the Code Enforcement Board meeting in the capacity of liaison commissioner. He said this board does good work and he would like to support efforts to make adjustments in the Code Enforcement Ordinance to authorize remediation on offending properties and to assess the charges back through the tax bill process. Mr. Boyles stated the Code Enforcement Board has done research on this process and requested staff and legal counsel be allowed to work with the Code Enforcement Board on amendments to the ordinance. Mr. Windes surveyed the commissioners and said there are no objections to staff and counsel working on this item. Mr. Parisot read a prepared statement regarding his term in office. He said he wanted the county to take a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach to issues. Mr. Parisot November 4, 2014 -2- Minute Book 72, Page 37 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners acknowledged much progress in being proactive in paving roads and stormwater. He spoke on the development of Veterans’ Park, Stillwell Park, cleaner beaches, strides being made to get out of the rental business, and partnerships with Eglin Air Force Base. Mr. Parisot stated the county’s best resource is its employees and he wished them well. Mr. Windes said about one year ago the Board commissioned Carr Riggs & Ingram to perform a risk assessment. He felt it would be beneficial to bring the two new commissioners up to speed on this report, including what actions have been taken. PUBLIC COMMENTS RELATED TO THE CURRENT AGENDA There were none. VISITORS - MARK, KIMBERLY AND ABIGAIL DAVIS, NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH AND WORLD DIABETES DAY Mr. Mark Davis stated he is present on behalf of World Diabetes Day (November 14). He said his wife, Kimberly, and daughter, Abigail, would like to address the Board. Mrs. Davis pointed out that November is National Diabetes Month. She said their daughter was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at 18 months. Mrs. Davis said the latest statistics available are from 2011 which show that 20.9 million people in the United States have diabetes. Of that number, 497,000 are children with Type I. She stated that no one knows what causes diabetes. Mrs. Davis also described her daughter’s efforts to help in finding a cure. Abigail told the assembly that she is 12 years old and has never known life without this disease. She stated that she wears an insulin pump and_=e sensor. Abigail distributed blue World Diabetes Day lapel pens and asked the Board to wear them during the month of November. Photographs were taken of Abigail with the Board. VISITORS - BERNARD JOHNSON WITH GULF POWER AND MIKE KENT WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UPDATE ON COMMUNITY ENERGY SAVER PROGRAM Mr. Bernard Johnson, District Marketing Supervisor for Gulf Power, stated he is joined by Mike Kent, Progressive Management, November 4, 2014 -3- Minute Book 72, Page 38 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners this evening to talk about Gulf Power’s Community Energy Saver Program. He said Mr. Parisot approached them a few years ago about a program for low income families. Mr. Johnson listed the goals and objectives of this program. They are: e Assist families living in income eligible neighborhoods by performing a free energy checkup and installing energy conservation measures at no cost to the customer e Educate families on energy efficiency techniques and best practices e Help save money by changing and controlling energy use behaviors e Provide information on additional energy saving programs offered by Gulf Power The Community Energy Saver Program is intended to work at the community level with direct, proactive outreach by Gulf Power. This is different than the energy audit programs which focus on individual households and rely on the households to initiate the process. During his PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Johnson gave the eligibility requirements and detailed how the “kickoff invitation letter” was distributed to neighborhoods in Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, and Crestview. The following energy conservation measures were detailed. It normally takes a three- man crew about 15 to 30 minutes to perform these tasks: e Install compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) e Install energy saving showerheads and faucet aerators e Install light switch and outlet gaskets on exterior facing walls e Perform water heater temperature adjustment e Install water heater pipe insulation e Provide a refrigerator coil brush e Install thermometers in refrigerator Other measures taken were duct sealing and HVAC maintenance. The households will realize an average savings of $145 per year with these energy saving measures. Mr. Johnson said approximately 950 homes have been serviced. Mr. Kent said these savings will be significant for these families. He expressed his thanks to Mr. Parisot for “pushing us” into this program, adding it has been a major help. November 4, 2014 -4- Minute Book 72, Page 39 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners OLD BUSINESS - DISCUSSION ON BACKYARD CHICKENS Mr. Harris stated people have contacted him about comments he made on this subject and apologized to Mr. Boyles for calling him the chicken man. He said he would like for the Board to look at the advocacy of rule for this, saying he believes the property would have to be at least one acre or more. Mr. Harris stated many areas in the United States, even in urban areas, allow backyard chickens. Mr. Boyles said he appreciates Mr. Harris’ comments. He stated he does not believe he did a good job at the outset in expressing a need for amendment to the Land Development Code (LDC) . Mr. Amunds suggested staff look at platted subdivisions and have provision for approval by neighbors on each side. Mr. Parisot pointed out we are quite a mobile society and neighbors could change often. He said he does not’ think chickens are appropriate unless the property has a rural or agricultural zoning. Mr. Windes said “I see a compromise somewhere there.” Mr. Boyles made motion, seconded by Mr. Amunds, to direct staff and counsel to look at the LDC with regard to keeping chickens in appropriate residential neighborhoods. 5 yeas. NOTE: Mr. Windes passed the gavel to Mr. Boyles at this time, 6:44 p.m. Mr. Windes left the meeting to fulfill his duties on the Canvassing Board. OLD BUSINESS - BOND RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Mr. Hofstad stated the Board began considerations on funding for capital projects during the summer. He advised that he participated in telephone conferences with the bonding agencies (Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Rating Services) and Mark Galvin, the county’s financial advisor with First Southwest, and Mark Mustian, bond counsel with Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson. Mr. Hofstad reported Standard and Poors confirmed its rating of “AA” and Fitch upgraded the county from an “A+” to an “AA-" rating. Mr. Galvin reviewed prior Board action, stating the direction was for a 20-year finance, not to exceed $25 Million. Members November 4, 2014 -5- Minute Book 72, Page 40 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners of the financial team include Mr. Galvin, Mr. Mustian, and bond underwriters RBC Capital Markets and Crews & Associates. Mr. Galvin stated the prior bond required debt service funds. This would have meant taking $1.8 Million from Reserves or purchasing a bond surety policy. However, the county’s AA rating was accepted and no debt service reserve will be required in future deals. He stated Mr. Mustian has prepared a bond statement for investors to purchase bonds. Continuing, Mr. Galvin reviewed the ratings from Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Rating Services. He advised the next step requires Board approval. Mr. Mustian has prepared an amendment to the existing bond resolution (No. 09-190), as well as a resolution delegating the Chairman and County Administrator to work with its financial advisor and underwriters to lock in an interest rate. The bond issue cannot exceed $25 Million and will not exceed a maturity date of October 2035. There will be no pre-payment penalty after ten years. The current interest rate of 4% is based on a quote for October 29. He said the county will receive $24 Million in construction funds. With an AA rating the interest rate could be 3.26%. Mr. Galvin stated they are hoping to lock in the rate within the next one and a half weeks. He said pre-closure could be on November 24, saying you will have the money before Thanksgiving. Upon inquiry by Mr. Harris, Mr. Mustian stated separate motions are needed for the