Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 06-26-2007 regular agenda — reading text

City was starting to have cash flow problems and liquidating and selling investments starting in 2002. Larry Cole with Merrill Lynch commented the Advisory Board is a good idea; there may be better ways to handle the cash flow as right now the amount of money going out every quarter is just slightly more than the contributions coming in so the Managers do n6t have to sell assets every quarter to fund the retirement benefits; that most cities are probably putting in the minimum contribution required by the actuary; and the majority of people that have 401 K options put it in more conservative options. Mr. Minich received confirmation from Mr. Cole that his firm would be able to provide written comments with suggestions. Angela Ballant with O' Sullivan Creel, mentioned the GASBY 25 and GASBY 27 are the Governmental Accounting Standards Board that basically govern the accounting, presentation and display of what is required for the City' s pension plans. She pointed out that Note 6 in the Audit has all the pension plans broken out as well as all the required disclosures. She briefly explained under the Governmental Accounting Standards Board they have to record what the City is actuarially required to fund, and even if the City were not going to fund that they would have to book liability for the difference and if the City were not funding what was actuarially required they would be making a comment as auditors they have a problem. She said the City has always funded what they have been actuarially required to fund.  23 RegularMeeting 6- 12~07 REVIEW OF PENSION PLANS cont. Ms. Ballant further explained the unfunded AALis just an estimate, it is good information and a good indicator of what is happening but it is just a point in time snap shot, it is disclosure information on page 70 of the Audit and on page 71 there is a ten year history of the annual required contribution and what the City has done, and they have always contributed 100% or more of what is required. She said they feel, as the external auditors, that the Plans are in good financial condition, obviously the costs are going up, and thought there are some forward thinking suggestions in what the Finance Director put together. Mr. Miller expressed the need to digest the information and maybe make a motion at the next meeting. He said he would like to have the evaluation of the recommendations from Mr. Tierney, Mr. Linn and Mr. Cole. The City Attorney suggested the motion be in the form of direction, they are professionals that are working for the City and if they cannot meet the timeline they will let Council know they cannot do it. Mr. Miller moved to direct the consultants provide the necessary information so that Council can make a decision at the June 26, 2007 Council meeting. Mr. Garvie seconded motion. During discussion on the timeline it was pointed out the information would need to be provided by June 21 for the June 26th meeting. Mr. Linn expressed that timeline would be a little quick for him and t'ti;' it would be better if they had more time. Mr. Minich moved to amend the motion that the consultants provide the inform;ation for the first meeting in August. Mr. Hartwell seconded motion. Mr. Minich commented that the information was not available when the ' agenda was published and expressed the hope that the information will be thoroughly reviewed and discussed and coordinated with all the staff so that it comes back to Council as a cohesive piece of staff work. Dr. Pullen commented there was a lot of work put into the information and was. made available as soon as possible, it was given a short term and done outstanding in the period of time available. The Mayor called for the vote on the amendment to the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. Mr. Minich expressed the hope that the information will be shared with all staff members and each consultant so everyone can review all comments so that what comes to Council is a unified position; there are great ideas, and that all backup documents are included when the agenda is some published. The City Manager concurred they need to review the recommendations and have a unified position from the City to bring forward to Council and she is committed to work with the Finance Director, the Actuary, the Pension Attorney, and the Auditors so they can bring to Council the ordinance required amendments at that time and have it all as one comprehensive package if Council is ready to move forward. She said she is committed to working together and they all need to be J involved because it is a city-wide decision. The Mayor received confirmation that the information would also need to be shared with the Advisory Committee. Mr. Miller explained the contribution amounts and trend ~increased his questions and felt it is too important not to get all the information he could about the subject as- everyone deserves to know everything about their pension fund. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to direct the consultants to provide the necessary information so that Council can make a decision at the first meeting in August and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. 24 Regular Meeting 6- 12- 07 RECESS The meeting recessed at 10: 45 p. m. RECONVENE The meeting reconvened at 10: 55 p. m. STANDING COMMITTEES/ ADVISORY BOARD REPORTS The MaYQr noted there is nothing under this item tonight and mentioned this was added to the agenda as a place where the citizen' s advisory committees and standing boards can make presentations to Council as they are scheduled. He mentioned that Council members are members of various organizations and if they want to talk about their board or committee, this is the agenda item it would fall. PUBLIC HEARING ORD. 1729 - BUSINESS TAX The City Attorney read the ordinance by title. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA; AMENDING THE BUSINESS TAX SECTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH TO INCREASE ALL BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT CHARGES BY FIVE PERCENT 5%); AMENDING SECTION 8. 01. 09 OF THE CITY CODE, AS ADOPTED IN ORDINANCE 1725; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Mayor opened the public hearing. As there was no one who wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Minich moved to adopt Ord. 1729 on second reading. Mr. Hartwell seconded motion' and it carried by a vote of 6 to 1 with Holmes, Miller, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor and Reeves opposed. PUBLIC HEARING ORD. 1720 ~ STORMWA TER DISCHARGE TheCity Attorney read the ordinance by title. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY; ADDING SECTION 10. 521 ENTITLED " INAPPROPRIATE DISCHARGE DETECTION' AND ELIMINATION INTO STORMWATERSYSTEM" TO VOLUME II, CODE OF ORDINANCES; ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF POLLUTANTS BY STORMWATER DISCHARGE BY ANY USERS, AND TO PROHIBIT INAPPROPRIATE CONNECTIONS TO THE MS4; RESOLVING CONFLICTING PROVISIONS; DETERMINING SEVERABILITY; AND SETTING AN' EFFECTIVE DATE. The Mayor opened the public hearing. As there was no one who wished to speak, the public hearing I was closed. Mr. Garvie moved to adopt Ord. 1720 on second reading. Dr. Pullen seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. PUBLIC HEARING ORa. 1724 - PERMIT FLAG POLES UP TO 200' AS CONDITIONAL USE The City Attorney read the ordinance by title.  25 Regular Meeting 6- 12- 07 ORD. 1724 cont. AN OROINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORTWAL TON BEACH, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY; AMENDING CHAPTER 12. 731 HEIGHT AND AREA EXCEPTIONS OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO PERMIT FLAG POLES UP TO A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF TWO HUNDRED ( 200) FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AS A CONDITIONAL USE; RESOLVING GONFLlCTING PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND' PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. J The CDS Director noted on line 22 the word approval should read disapproval. The Mayor opened the public hearing. Jay Odom, owner of Uptown Station, discussed his request for an amendment to the Code to allow tall flag poles as a conditional use. He mentioned the two requirements mentioned at the last meeting, approval by the FAA and not more than one tall flag pole be allowed per square mile, are. not in the ordinance but he checked with legal counsel who said because they have been brought up and are very clearly stated that there is no problem, on a staff approval, that those be a requirement of an approval of any of the flag' poles; and they felt it was not needed or appropriate to have it in the ordinance itself but it could be a condition of approval at the time a request was made. He said the location in Central Park at Uptown Station is a public space, no one is restricted from that space, and it is open and available to the public 24 hours a day. . He said even though it cannot be restricted to only an American flag, he would voluntarily in his application make it a requiremenL.that it only be allowed to be an American flag. Dr. Pullen mentioned it also requires approval by Eglin, as far as their mission, in addit'ion to the FAA. Mr. Odom stated that Eglin has already gone on record as their approval of flag poles up to 200' not to exceed one flag pole per square mile, which they gave to the City in writing. Dr. Pullen commented that the concurrence of Eglin would also be part of the conditional use approval. Mr. Odom commented he would have no problem with that, they have already stated their position. Mr. Hartwell asked Mr. Odom why he did not consider a statute or something that represents the military and first responders instead of a flag that represents 3 million people, and asked why 170'. Mr. Odom replied that is what he chose, and it is the same height as the water tower across the street. Mr. Hartwell asked Mr. Odom if 170' were not approved if he would put up a flag at 70'. Mr. Odom replied no, he wanted to do something extra ordinary and special and there are plenty of flag poles 70' tall. The Mayor opened the floor for public input and stated he would like to alternate pro and