Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 05-14-13--regular — reading text

types of businesses /markets the City would like to attract, including start- up businesses, new /growing businesses that can capitalize on the Commerce/ Technology Park; jobs in fields such as medical, software, or utility related. Economic drivers such as beach tourism and the military were discussed and that new economic drivers include manufacturing, sports tourism ( the new recreation complex is a start) and winter tourism. ; And sports /winter tourism. Consensus was that the City needs an identity identify and to work with the Chamber of Commerce on a collaborative effort to brand and market the City in the community. Discussion ensued regarding strengthening business encouraging efforts and noted positive changes such as the new Land Development Code; protecting businesses who have remained in the City during the difficult economic times and showing appreciation for the businesses that are here; and incentive programs. Direction of Council was for Staff to meet and work with the TDC and EDC to discuss ways to encourage development and to develop a tax incentive program and forward it to Council. RECESS The session recessed at 9: 55 am and reconvened at 10: 10 am. Consensus was not to take a lunch break and continue the session to 1: 00 pm. Entrepreneurial Government --Discussion included the City's Police and Fire Services as being outstanding and the best ways to capitalize on these services; that the City's Fire Department needs support from other jurisdictions because no fire department can stand alone, thus the reasoning for the Mutual Aid Agreement; discuss with the City of Mary Esther the possibility of entering into a contract with the City to provide police, fire, and sanitation and building inspection services and whether a fee should be established for these services. Direction of Council was for Staff to complete a study determining the cost benefits for expanding services and to prepare a proposal for sanitation services. Oty C, u, a,d afFon Walton Beach Page 3 Pac1 8ERg; 36  8. 1. b Minutes April 26, 2013 Special Meeting Ouality of Life --Discussion ensued regarding including the Police Department into the City Charter, as is the Fire Department, to avoid the occurrence of last year during police consolidations discussions with the county. Council comments were that such a move could hamstring future Councils where the police is concerned, and the City attorney advised that State Statute discusses how this is done. There was no direction from Council regarding Charter protection for the Police Department at this time. The problem of vagrancy was discussed, including addressing the difference between vagrancy d and homelessness; approaching service providers such as churches to discuss the issue; having a professional analysis of why vagrants want to be in the City and what the City should do to remove the issue; and the need to have an alternative place to bring the violators. Also noted was that by eliminating the positive aspects of the City that draw the vagrants also takes them ° w away from the citizens to enjoy o na Direction of Council was to obtain a quote from a professional firm to evaluate the vagrant a condition and develop a plan to resolve the issue. The expansion of the CRA was discussed and direction was to perform an analysis of the possibility of expanding the CRA area. It was noted that amenities in the CRA area include the waterfront, the proposed boardwalk from Brooks Bridge to Liza Jackson Park, a water taxi, and family activities at the Fort Walton Landing such as interactive water features. Direction of Council was to explore opportunities leveraging the water. Also discussed as a quality of life issue was an alternative bridge to the island in the wake of recent damage to Brooks Bridge and resulting traffic issues. Council took the position that a bridge from Wright Parkway is the best option. Direction of Council was to obtain an analysis from the Bridge Authority that has been completed and evaluate it for future discussion. Governmental Efficiency and Productivity --Discussion included the need to compensate City employees and bring them to the level of pay they were making in 2008. It was noted that increases in insurance and other expenses decreases an employee' s pay and Council stressed the need to take care of the City' s employees or the City will lose talented people to the improving private sector. The City Manager advised a pay and classification study is being planned in order for wages to be comparable to today's pay standards. Also discussed was for the City Manager to start discussions with the county regarding expansion of services throughout the entire south county. Alternative Revenues and Cost Reduction - -The issue of recycling will be re- addressed including providing costs and introducing a pilot program for recycling. A Fire Assessment fee was discussed and the City Attorney advised school boards are exempt by the State from certain fees. Direction from Council was for Staff to investigate how this type of fee would be assessed against schools and to discuss the legal issues regarding assessments at a future workshop. Page Cary CO. tl, UOf FO, t H ItaaBeach Pd4 29  8. 1. b Minutes April 26, 2013 Special Meeting Consensus of Council was to take no action on the Local Option Gas Tax until they receive a plan from the county, and to take no action regarding franchise fees. The City will continue to work with NBI regarding a comprehensive analysis of city property that can be sold and will investigate the possibility of hiring a grant firm to work on a contingency basis. Facilitative Policy Leadership --Discussion included the role and responsibility of elected officials in their dealings with each other and with City Staff and the procedure for consent agendas. An updated Rules and Policies Procedures guide will be developed. Nv Traditional Revenue Sources --Discussion ensued the baseline and sustainable budgets being developed by Staff. The City Manager advised that his recommendation during the budget meeting on June 4 will be the sustainable budget as this is what the City needs to operate. m 0 Direction from Council was to develop a sound budget with options to generate the necessary a revenue to support the total cost. a Ma The City Manager reviewed the actions that were discussed at the meeting: M 1) Marketina/ Branding- -City will collaborate with the Chamber on branding ideas N O 2) Strengthening Business Encouraging Efforts - C - ity will set up meetings with development and industry partners on ways to improve the development process and develop tax incentive 52 programs. 3) Expansion of Services - -the City will evaluate costs of services for adjacent communities. 5 m v a) Fire- -the City will look at the costs and benefits of mutual aid agreements and the cost for the m fire department to be independent; b) Police - the - City will schedule a meeting with the sheriff n and with representatives of Mary Esther and Cinco Bayou regarding expansion of services; c) N Sanitation- -the City will prepare Requests for Proposals for services expanding services to neighboring communities. U0 4) Charter Change—Council took no action regarding changes to the Charter. U 5) Quality of Life —the City will contact a consultant and continue to work with the Chamber on the issue of vagrancy; look into the possibility of expanding the CRA; explore opportunities s around the waterfront; and obtain the report from the Bridge Authority and prepare a summary 2 for Council. 6) Governmental Efficiency and Productivity-- the City will develop an employee compensation plan for the upcoming budget and look into having an updated pay and classification study done. 7) Alternative Revenues and Cost Reduction-- the City will evaluate the cost to introduce a pilot program for residential recycling; b) Fire assessment - -the City will look at other assessment areas around the state; 3) Property sales - -the City will continue to work with NBI on selling city- owned properties; d) Grants - t-he City will investigate grant writing firms to work on a Fart Watron Beach Page 5