Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 02-12-08 workshop minutes — reading text

3 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 12, 2008 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, February 12, 2008, at 5: 30 p. m. with the following members present: Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich, Mayor Pro Tem Absent: Mayor Mike Anderson Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor Pro Tem called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor Pro Tem led in the Pledge of Allegiance. GENERAL PUBLIC Erik Stenberg, 808 Dawn Lane and Manager of the Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center, announced the third annual tennis tournament from February 24 through March 3 at the Tennis Center with players from all over the world, and invited Mayor and Council to attend. PLAYFUL CITY USA Jeff Peters, Parks and Recreation Director, explained the City received information on becoming a Playful City USA through the KABOOM organization, a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Mr. Peters advised that to be designated a Playful City USA, a community must meet five commitments including creating a Local Play Commission Task Force; designing an annual Action Plan for Play; conducting a Playspace Audit of all publicly accessible play areas; identifying current spending on capital projects and maintenance of play spaces; and proclaiming and celebrating an annual Play Day. Mr. Peters said In return, communities that become a Playful City USA receive highway signs and special incentive opportunities; are included in national media campaigns; receives priority. status in accessing KABOOM resources including grant opportunities; and is recognized at national municipal leadership and recreation conferences. Mr. Peters concluded that at this time, it is felt that the Playful City USA application process is not beneficial to the City due to the involvement of time and resources to complete the application. However, Staff will continue to monitor the benefits of the program and will bring it back to Council at a later date if the program changes. OKALOOSA COUNTY RECREATION COOPERATIVE UPDATE Mr. Peters advised he met with representatives from the cities of Crestview, Destin, and Niceville, along with County Commissioner James Campbell, to discuss the idea of forming a recreation cooperative for the residents of Okaloosa County. Discussion among the cities included a formula that would be equitable for all of the cities involved, and that the funds collected would be used for capital projects within various fields and gymnasiums. 4 Council Workshop 02/ 12/ 08 COOPERATIVE UPDATE ( CONTI Mr. Peters stated his feeling that the Cooperative would be a win-win situation for all involved and would be beneficial for City. Council questioned whether having a fairgrounds cooperative had been explored, but the City Manager explained the fairgrounds is an independent 501 (c) 3 program and is not controlled by I the County. Mr. Peters did advise, however, that the idea of a museum cooperative is being explored by the Museum Director. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5: 50 p. m. APPROVED: 1p~~( q~ J MAYOR: / ttdu ST: A71]. a.~ CITY CLE K Iva