Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 03-09-2010 Regular — reading text

there is a perception that the CRA Board has become something larger than originally intended by having the ability to review plans for development and as structured has slowed down development. Some discussion included comments that the CRA is an important tool and the Board serves a valid purpose; that the Board' s input is valuable; that Council reviews and approves the CRA budget; and that eliminating the CRA review of projects will streamline the process and remove the need to take over the rest of the authority of the CRA. The City Manager went over the third recommendation that City Council should review the existing sign ordinance, which establishes that all nonconforming signs must conform to the City' s sign ordinance by July 12, 2011, as it is an economic hardship on businesses at the present time. 2-  91 Special Council 2/ 23/ 10 BRP RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Cont. The City Attorney advised the issue has been long running and mentioned the litigation with Lamar Signs over the ordinance that set into place that all signs should be in conformance by 2011. She mentioned another issue in the litigation and the settlement included an agreement to review the sign ordinance every two years. She said in this situation: the best thing for the City would be to review the sign ordinance and come back with suggestions on how to address the issue. She also mentioned there was an amendment to the final settlement that changed the initial amortization schedule for certain billboards. She said this is a big issue and it will affect all the businesses that have signs older than 2001. Some discussion included comments that minor modifications to signs require an upgrade to the 2011 standards; that the cost is exorbitant and unrealistic; and it is important this issue be worked on now. The City Attorney noted there are two different issues which make the sign code very complicated. She said if certain changes are made which are stated in the code, then they have to conform to the current code, which is different than the sign litigation on Highway 85 and 98. She said the bottom line is during litigation the City agreed to go through a sign review every two years, which is where they are right now, and that sign ordinance review will help with some of the issues. She confirmed that Council can extend the amortization date to when they want, within State Statutes. The City Manager thanked the members of the Business Retention Panel for a great job and he acknowledged Michael Beedie, Tim Bolduc, and Samantha Abell for a great job in providing support to the Panel. He believed the Panel exposed the City to what the people are feeling and thinking so staff could bring it to Council for action. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Brian Rosales, 412 Holmes Blvd, discussed the recommendation on incentives and cautioned Council to be careful about the public /private partnerships and the incentives given to developers. Tom Rice, former Vice -Chairman of the Business Retention Panel thanked City Council for the opportunity to serve on the panel, and thanked the City Manager and staff for their guidance with an open canvas to review everything to identify opportunities and obstacles. There were no further public comments. Mr. Nabors moved to authorize City Manager and staff to proceed with the the recommendation to expand the category for expedited and minor projects in order to increase staff level review and approval authority; and to re- evaluate the adopted comprehensive fee schedule to allow for incentives and fee waivers or reductions for new development and redevelopment. Mr. Rynearson seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor (Seat 2 vacant). Mr. Nabors moved to amend the Land Development Code to remove the development review authority of the Community Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor Seat 2 vacant). 3- 92 Special Council 2/ 23/ 10 BRP RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN coot. Mr. Reeves moved to review the existing sign ordinance, as soon as is possible, to include a review of the July 2011 timeline. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. Mr. Garvie moved to hold any sign ordinance changes in abeyance until a new ordinance is in effect. Motion died for lack of a second. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to review the existing sign ordinance, as soon as is possible, to include a review of the July 2011 timeline and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor (Seat 2 vacant). ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5: 50 p.m. APPROVED: MAYOR: ATTEST: CITY CLERK ddm Ir,a  1PV MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 23, 2010 INTRODUCTION A regular meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at 6: 00 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Dennis Reeves; Bill Garvie, Bobby Nabors, Bill Patterson;' and Dick Rynearson. Seat 2 Vacant Also Present: Robert Mearns, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney; Department Directors and Media CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. He requested anyone who wished to address Council to approach the podium after being recognized, then state his or her name and address for the record. The Mayor announced that Councilman Virgil Miller lost his battle with cancer and passed away on Saturday evening February 20th, and asked that his family be in everyone' s prayers. INVOCATION /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pastor Mickey Muse, Westwood Baptist Church, gave the Invocation and youth from the Westwood Baptist Church led in the Pledge of Allegiance. STUDENT ACE AWARDS The Mayor presented the Student Ace Awards to Asha Kennedy of Choctawhatchee High School and Elizabeth Gallagher of Fort Walton Beach High School. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Reevesmoved to approve the agenda as the business of the day. Mr. Patterson seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor (Seat 2 Vacant). PRESENTATION —US ARMY SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND LTC Gary Bloomberg of the US Army Special Forces Command, Special Forces Integration Team Eglin, discussed the relocation of the Army's 7th Special Forces Group ( Airborne) to the area. PRESENTATION —CRA BOARD ANNUAL REPORT Dr. joyce gillie gossom, Chairman of the CRA Board, presented the Board' s Annual Report to City Council, which included CRA capital improvement projects that were completed during the past year. CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Reeves moved to approve the following Consent Agenda items. Mr. Patterson seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor (Seat 2 Vacant). 5- Regular Council 2/ 23/ 10 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of minutes of the Special Council Meeting on February 9, 2010, and Regular Council Meeting on February 9, 2010. GROUNDS MAINTENANCE BID AWARD Award Bid 10 -006, Grounds Maintenance Bid, to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, Advance Lawn Control, Fort Walton Beach, in the amount of $34, 200. 00. URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANT Approval to apply for USDA 2010 Urban and Community Forestry Grant in the amount of 10, 000 for the 2011 Earth Day and Arbor Day events, using City personnel and equipment for the 50% match. RES. 2010 -5, OPPOSING AMENDMENT 4, VOTER REFERENDUM FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHANGES The City Attorney read the resolution by title. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA OPPOSING AMENDMENT 4 ON THE 2010 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT, WHICH PROPOSES AN AMENDMENT TO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION REQUIRING THAT EVERY AMENDMENT TO A CITY'S OR COUNTY' S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BE SUBJECT TO A VOTE OF THE RESPECTIVE CITY' S OR COUNTY' S ELECTORATE; PROVIDING FOR THE CITY CLERK TO SEND CERTIFIED COPIES OF THE RESOLUTION TO THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Mayor advised the Northwest Florida League of Cities adopted the resolution in opposition to Amendment 4, which would amend Florida' s constitution to require a voter referendum on every city and county comprehensive plan amendment. The Mayor continued he requested the resolution be placed on the agenda for Council' s consideration. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As there was none, the public input was closed. Mr. Garvie moved to adopt Res. 2010 -5. Mr. Nabors seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor Seat 2 Vacant). The Mayor advised the backup includes a list of groups both in favor and opposing the resolution, and asked if Council wanted the City's name to be included on the list of groups in opposition. Mr. Garvie moved to adopt Res. 2010 -5 to add the City of Fort Walton Beach to the list of groups opposing Amendment 4. Mr. Rynearson seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor Seat 2 Vacant). RES. 2010 -6. AMENDMENT TO THE CITY COMPREHENSIVE FEE SCHEDULE The City Attorney read the resolution by title. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE FEE SCHEDULE OF THE CITY, AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 6-  95 Regular Council 2/ 23/ 10 RES. 2010 -6 ( CONT) Jeff Peters, Recreation and Cultural Services Director,., advised that as directed, staff has adjusted the recreation and culture fees .to address families with several children. Mr. Peters was available to answer any questions: The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As there was none, the public input was closed. Mr. Garvie moved to adopt Res. 2010 -6. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Nabors, Patterson, and Rynearson in favor Seat 2 Vacant). ORD. 1821, AMENDS STORMWATER UTILITY FEE The City Attorney read the ordinance by title. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA; PROVIDING AUTHORITY; AMENDING CHAPTER 10. 521, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT UTILITY, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING PROVISIONS AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Michael Beedie, City