Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-25-2007 regular agenda — reading text

September 11, 2007, at 5: 30 p. m. wth the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson J.. Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich Also Present: Joyc~ Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher" Finance Director; Toni.Craig, City Attomey; and Department Directors M CALL TO ORDER TheMayor called tile meeting to order.. .. ~ MOMENT OF SILENCE The Mayor asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of the events of September 11 , 2001 , and in honor of those who continue to fight to serve and protect us; PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ' The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance..' WORKSHOP AGENDA Presentation by Geographic Technologies Group on GIS Needs Assessment. John Hofstad, Utilities Director; explained that due to recent catastrophesthathave occurred in the J Gulf Coast area, it was determined that developing a Geographic Information System (GIS) Asset Management system for underground infrastructure was a.high priority item. A GIS program provides the, necessary information to identify and prioritize capital improvement projects and to streamline numerous business processes within the City. Mr. Hofstad continued thatWiththe GIS program, Citywide a, map of the water;' wastewater, and,stormwater system will be developed containing all the required asset information, including pipe size and material, condition, etc. Mr. Hofstad advised that RFP' s for engineering/ consulting services for GIS needs were advertised, wi.th Geographic Technologies Group ( GTG). being the top- ranked firm. He introduced' a GTG representative to give an over~ 1I presentation of the program. David Holdstock, CEO of GTG, discussed the GIS Needs Assessment Phase, which includes project goals and' objective~; interviews with' City departments; evaluation of existing City conditions; data and databases; and taskdeliverables; and the system Design Phase, which man.~gementstrategy;.system architectural design, to include. networking; hardware and i. nc1uctes e;, and dc*~ conversion; data creatiqn and data; and the Strategic Implementation Plan, softwa.r. 1 whi~,h ~ iII be phased oyer five yeg( s: 1,,-, ' ' When que.~tiPfled about ~he cQsqo bri1(gJi e City in line with a GIS SYstem, Mr. Holdstock stated it he advi? ed that UtiHties/ Pl)blic maY,be..prudent to wait until thel)ext ph~ se is completed; hoyvever; vVor~swiU entail" lototthe a detaii and expense ofth~ prpje~ t, and thatprobab, ly6Q% to 70D/tiofthe 0- , totalbuag~~pould be tied into utilities.,' . .. " ., , ' , The Finance Director informed that the current contract approved includes a Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan, as well as a pilot project for the Brooks Street area that includes utilities mapping.  Cauncil Workshap 09- 11- 07 130 GIS ASSESSMENT NEEDS ( CONTI The City Manager advised this item\ Nas" presemted far Cauncil' s infarmatian and update and no actian was requir~ d. She alsO' advis,ed that a GIS Needs AssessmentQuestiannaire is included in their packet and if they feel inclined to' complete it, Mr. Hafstad GeaR pravide cantact information if they have additional questlans. LAMAR SIGNS- MODIFY SETILEMENT AGREEMENT DISCUSSION Discussian to' determine if there is an interest to' madify the Settlement Agreement with Lamar Signs. Missy McKim, CDS Directar, advised that at the Strategic Planning Sessian held on January 20, 2007, Cauncil requested that the signage and billbaard ardinance be readdressed to' include revisiting the billbaard issue, reducing the number af' billbaards,. and/ ar' allawing the anes o remaining to' be upgraded. She explained that the ardihance,\ vhich was adapted in the 1980' s, states that all billbaards are nancanforming, and that amartizatian was required after five years and extended twice. Ms. McKim cantinued that in 2000 the Cade required all signs to' be amartized and a new sign cade was adapted, and all signs were amartized except thaseapproved far billbaards ar landmark signs. Ms. McKim infarmed that mast af the remaining signs are in the CRA area and will mast likely be remaved when redevelapment accurs. . " , A lawsuit .was filedby Lamar' after receiving natices af vialatians far nat remaving their nancanfarming signs. The Settlement Agreement with Lamar teft eight billbaards an Federal Aid Primary roadways, with ane being remaved due to' redevelapment, leaving seven remaining billbaards. " ' It was nated that an Octaber 30, 2006, Ceuncil directed staff to' mave ferward to' wark aut an and it failed a vote af 3 to 4. The City agreementfar MadificatiQn to'the Settlement Agreement,. by Manager stated it was, her understanding that during the Strategic Planning Sessien held in January af 2007, Cauncil directed staff to' revisiUhe issue, and Staff has been in discussionswith Lamar to' see if an agreement cauld be reached when and if Cauncil wished to' amend the settlement agreement. Areas laaked at fer the placement af signs that wauld,be less abJectianable included bath ends af Highway 98by Breaks Bridge and the area of the patential Wal~Mart. As af this time/ an agreement an.w~erea third billbeard weuld be placed in the City ceuld nat be agreed an. Mr. Hartwell disclased that he spake with Jae Raines af lamar Signs an this subject last evening. Mr. Garvie disclesed he spake with Mr. Raines as well. Dr. Pullen disclesed he alsO' had spaken with Mr. Raines last Octeber. Mr. Minich maved to' suspend Raberts Rules af Order far the remainder' at-this item sa Cauncil can state their opinian without a motian. Mr. Gclniie secanded matianand it carried unanimeusly with Haimes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, HartVlielland Minich in favor. The' City Attarney clarified that this issue deals with .a litigatiansettlemenf agreement and the madification ef the-Agre ment, nat the cade itself, and questians need to' be facused en the settlement agreemeht and medifying terms ef the' agreement. She centinued if Ceuncil decides to' mave intO' the madificatian af the Settlement Agreement; it will be back in the litigation process as that is the enly process to' do 50'.  Council Workshop 11- 07 09:. 1 a- 1 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT- LAMAR SIGNS ( CONT) Discussion included that the code can be modified; that the I verbiage 'to maintain' in Item 4.9f the Settlement Agreement does not meanthat a billboard can be replaced, nor is itfurther defined to mean a billboard can be replaced; and that the new 'TV type' billboards would be the replacement for the old billboards. Council discussiofl included the fact that modification of the Settlement Agreement was voted on last year and failed and that vote should be honored and not be brought back for discussion; that the City is redeveloping the downtown area and that the should continue the .'facelift' with the City new technology being developed; that the direction of the City is changing for the good and that old- fashioned billboards would not fit in with the modernization of the and tha.t the City; proposal by Lamar sounds like it would be beneficial to the City. The Mayor noted there appeared to be a consensus of Council to modify the settlement agreement with Lamar. Joe Raines, Vice- President and General Manager of Lamar Advertising, advised that all seven of the old billboards would come down and is asking that three be replaced, and that he is working with Staff to determine those locations. Mr. Raines further advised that Lamar has volunteered to donate to the City a spot on each of the billboards for City promotions; which is a value of $1 , 000 per month per board, or $24,000 worth of advertising per year. He also informed that all boards are on a network for such things as Amber alerts, surf, and hurricane warnings. The City Manager advised she understood Council' s direction, and she will work with the City {;;:: Attorney on the process of how to bring the issue back, whether as an agenda item or an .:';~' Executive Session. The Mayor asked for public input. Millie Thrush, Sudduth Circle, stated her opposition to billboards as not being beneficial to the City. There was no further input from the public on this item. GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM Discussion regarding status of the Great Neighborhoods Program. Ms. McKim advised the City' s Great Neighborhoods Program is being revamped due to the loss of the Neighborhood Coordinator dedicated to the program, and existing staff will be utilized. She advised that next month the first City-wide Neighborhood Committee Meeting will be held with each