Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 06-12-2007 regular agenda — reading text

Dr. Pullen seconded motion. The Mayor Pro Tem overruled the motion. Mr. Miller moved to appeal the ruling of the Chair. Dr. Pullen seconded motion and it failed for lack of a 2/ 3 vote with Miller, Garvie, and Pullen in favor and Holmes and Reeves opposed ( Hartwell absent). Mr. Miller requested the issue be put on the agenda for the next Council meeting. Mr. Holmes moved to consider the Finance Director' s resignation. Motion died for lack of a second. Mr. Miller read into the record an email received today from the Finance Director which stated: Dear Councilman Miller, as wehave discussed I would be very interested in continuing my employment with the City of Fort Walton Beach. Of course this would have to be under different terms and conditions than the current situation. Signed Lisa Absher, Financial Director, City of Fort Walton Beach". Mr. Miller, Mr. Garvie, and Dr. Pullen requested a Special meeting be held on Thursday, May 24th. The City Manager noted there is a Special meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 29th and the item can be added to the agenda. The Mayor Pro Tem mentioned a position paper received from a Council member who stated he may not make it to the meeting. He referenced an Attorney General's opinion on position papers which stated while discouraged it is not in direct violation of the law. He then expressed his belief that position papers are not the way to do business, that business should be in the meeting in front of the public and he will not read position papers. The Mayor Pro Tem announced the Billy Bowlegs Festival in June and thanked everyone who participated in the Bruce Bankston Benefit Golf Tournament which raised $ 5, 145. 00. CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS The City Manager announced the City will designate a new Nature Trail on Lake Drive, the Medal of Honor Trail on May 25th at 4: 00 p. m.; the Heritage Park is hosting the first traveling exhibit of alligators at the Indian Temple Mound Museum May 30th - August 29th; the summer Youth Reading Program at the Library for ages 7- 12 from June 14 to July 26th and a Teen Book Club for h ages 13- 17 from June 12 to July 24; and Kid' s Day on June 7' from 10: 00 - 1: 00 p. m. at the Landing.  Council 5- 22- 07 296 Regular ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9: 30 p. m. APPROVED: ATTEST: MAYOR: CITY CLERK ddm  MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 1 OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 29, 2007 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, May 29, 2007, at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich. Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attomey; and Department Directors. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. ORDER OF AGENDA The Mayor explained that changes have occurred since the agenda was published, and asked Council if they wanted to change an item or the order of business for an item on the agenda, or to amend an item they have placed on the agenda. Mr. Holmes amended his agenda Item 3 to read ' Consideration of the Finance Director's employment termination' instead of 'Consideration of the Finance Director' s resiqnation' as it is stated on the agenda. Mr. Minich moved to combine Item 3, Consideration of the Finance Director' s employment termination, and Item 4, request for Council to negotiate contracts with/ for the Finance Director and City Clerk. Mr. Holmes seGonded motion. Mr. Minich explained the two items are similar in scope and can be discussed and taken care of at the same time. Mr. Miller explained he requested Item 4 be placed on the agenda as an action item from the May 22 Council meeting and that Item 3 regarding the termination of the Finance Director was placed ahead of Item 4, and he feels that Item 4 has precedence over Item 3. Mr. Minich reminded there is a motion on the floor and whether or not to change the order is immaterial to the motion to combine Items 3 and 4. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to combine Item 3, Consideration of the Finance Director' s employment termination, and Item 4, request for Council to negotiate contracts with/ for the Finance Director and City Clerk, and it failed by a vote of 2 to 5 with Holmes and Minich in favor and Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Hartwell opposed. The Mayor clarified the two items would be discussed as separate agenda items. Mr. Miller moved to combine Item 5, Consideration of the need to procure an independent agency to study and report on the different legally acceptable methods of executing the General Employees' Retirement Fund, and the Police and Fire Pension Funds/ Plans, and Item 7, To review the City' s participation in and contributions to the three pension funds. Mr. Minich seconded motion. 2 Special Council 5~29- 07 ORDER OF AGENDA (CONT) Mr. Minich received clarification from the City Manager that Items 6 and 7 were placed on the agenda as requested by Mr. Miller as potential workshop items. The Mayor called for the vote to combine Items 5 and 7 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. Mr. Miller moved that Item 6, 'To define the responsibilities of the City Council and the relationship ~ of the Mayor so that activities in City Hall and in Council meetings will proceed more be smoothly', an agenda item. Dr. Pullen seconded motion. . Mr. Miller stated his feeling that Council meetings are not conducted in an efficient manner and that guidelines should be set, and that the authority of Mayor and Council needs to be addressed to enhance the efficient handling of the meetings. Mr. Hartwell stated this might be better addressed during the workshop on the Charter which is planned for September. Mr. Minich also expressed his feeling this would be better addressed during a workshop meeting. Mr. Garvie stated he would like the issue discussed during a workshop as soon as possible, separate from the charter discussion. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion for Item 6 to be an item on the agenda and it failed by a vote of 2 to 5 with Miller and Pullen in favor and Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Hartwell, and Minich opposed. Mr. Miller moved to reverse the order of Item 3, ' Consideration of the Finance Director' s employment termination,' and Item 4, ' Request for Council to negotiate contracts with/ for the Finance Director and City Dr. Pullen seconded motion. Clerk.' Mr. Miller stated Item 4 was an action item from the May 22, 2007 Council meeting, it was voted on by the majority of Council and already scheduled for the agenda, and stressed its importance that it should be discussed before the item regarding the employment termination of the Finance Director. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried by a vote of 5 to 2 with Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Hartwell in favor and Holmes and Minich opposed. For clarification the Mayor explained that Items 1 and 2 remain the same; the wording for Item 3 has been changed from resiqnation to emplovment termination; Items 3 and 4 have been reversed; Items 5 and 7 have been combined; and Item 6 has been deleted. PUBLIC HEARING - ORD. 1730: SENIOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION The Mayor read the ordinance by title. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA; AMENDING SECTION 4. 04. 02, ENTITLEMENT, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ESTABLISH AN ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OF $50,000 FOR CERTAIN PERSONS WHO HAVE ATTAINED THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE AND WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES DO NOT EXCEED $ 24, 214; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The City Manager explained this is a constitutional amendment approved in November and if it is the Council' s desire for the exemption to occur during the 2007 tax year, the ordinance must be on the books adopting the homestead exemption by June 1, 2007.  3 Special Council 5- 29- 07 ORD. 1730 ( CONT) Discussion ensued regarding the wording of the ordinance which states an additional homestead exemption. The City Attorney explained that State Statute calls this an additional homestead exemption, in addition to the amount set for everyone under the statutes and is specific to age and income, and the actual body of the ordinance changes the $ 25, 000 to $ 50, 000. 00. . The Mayor opened the public hearing. There was none. l Mr. Garvie moved to adopt Ord. 1730 on second reading. Mr. Hartwell seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. RES. 07- 09- AMENDING GOLF CLUB SECTlON OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The Mayor read the resolution by title. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE GOLF CLUB SECTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECllVE DATE. The City Manager explained that in accordance with Res. 06- 08, rate fees would be automatically increased on June 1 of 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. However, at the Special Meeting of May 15, 2007, Council was of the consensus that it was in the best interest of the Golf Club not toincrease the fees at this time. Therefore, this resolution would maintain the rates as they are until June 1, 2008. ; The City Manager further explained that the play cards have already been changed to the June 1, 2007