Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-12-08 regular minutes — reading text

207 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT W ALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 12, 2008 INTRODUCTION A regular meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at 7: 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, Dr. Wayne Pullen, and Mike Minich Absent: Virgil Miller and Jim Hartwell Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Brandy Wunker, Finance Director; 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. INVOCATION Pastor Clanston Seymore, Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church, gave the Invocation. PLEDGE Youth from Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church led in the Pledge of Allegiance. PROCLAMATION - MYFLORIDAMILITARY.COM The Mayor presented a proclamation on " MyFloridaMilitary. com" to Ellen Holt and Rick Marcum, Executive Director of Opportunity Florida. PROCLAMATION - SUPPORTING A VA CENTER FOR OKALOOSA COUNTY The Mayor read a proclamation urging the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Congressional Delegation to support the establishment of a Veterans Center in Okaloosa County in Fiscal Year 2009. Mr. Garvie relayed Judge Maney asked the citizens to send as many letters as possible to the Senators, Congressmen, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs saying they want the Center in Fort Walton Beach. RECOGNITION - DISTINGUISHED BUDGET AWARD TO CHARLOTTE DUNWORTH The Mayor presented a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Preparation from the Government Finance Officers Association to Charlotte Dunworth, Budget & Grants Manager. PROCLAMATION - RETIREMENT OF MARTY McLEAN. POLICE DEPARTMENT The Mayor presented a proclamation and retirement plaque to Marty McLean upon his retirement from the Police Department effective July 25, 2008. APPROV AL OF AGENDA Mr. Minich moved to approve the agenda as the order of the day. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor ( Miller and Hartwell absent).  Regular Council 8- 12- 08 208 CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Minich moved to approve the following Consent Agenda items. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor Miller and Hartwell absent). APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the minutes of the Special Council Meeting of June 17, 2008; the Regular Council Meeting of June 24, 2008; and the Special Council Meeting of July 8, 2008. BID 08- PUMP REI-LACEMENT 120.. Award Bid # 08- 120, Punap Replacement/Dry Pit Repair of Pump Station # 2, to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, Northwest Florida Underground, Milton, FL, in the amount of $72, 635. 00. BID 08- PURCHASE OF DUCTILE IRON PIPE 122.. Award Bid # 08- 122, Purchase of Ductile Iron Pipe, to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder meeting specifications, Carter' s Erosion and Pipe, Tallahassee, Florida, for a total cost of$ 44, 848. 38. MUTUAL AID CITY AND HURLBURT AGREEMENT.. Approve the Mutual Aid Agreement between the City of Fort Walton Beach and Hurlburt Field Fire Emergency Services Flight, and authorize the Mayor and the Fire Chief to sign on behalf of the City. MEMORANDUM OF [ COUNTY RADIO SYSTEM USE rNDERSTANDING.. Approve the Memoranduln of Understanding titled Okaloosa County Radio System Use, and authorize the Mayor and the Fire Chief to sign on behalf of the City. UNITED WAY DAY OJ? CARING 2008 Authorize up to 15 City (;~ mployees to volunteer one- half day during regular work hours in support of the United Way' s Day of Caring 2008 on September 12, 2008, utilizing whatever equipment may be necessary to assist United Way agency clients, and approve payment of $250 Corporate Sponsorship Fee. RATIFY PAYMENT T() ALLEN NORTON AND BLUE Ratify payment to Allen ~~orton and Blue in the amount of $17, 896. 96 ( previously paid) and authorize payment of the pending invoices in the amount of$ 15, 357. 00. DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE AND BEAL P ARKWAY NEIGHBORHOOD Consideration of a request to approve the Civil Plans and Specifications for the Downtown Streetscape and Beal Parkway Neighborhood Gateway Park Improvements; and approve for advertising a Request Proposals for a general contractor. Christy Johnson, Principal Planner, relayed that Michael Bomar of Tetra Tech will give a presentation on the final construction plans for the downtown streetscape and Beal Parkway Neighborhood. She reported the CRA Board recommended City Council approve the plans as presented and to authorize staff to advertise a request for proposals. She said staff recommends Council approve the CRA recommendation. Regular Council 8- 12- 08 209 DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE AND BEAL PARKWAY NEIGHBORHOOD cont. Michael Bomar, of Tetra Tech, gave a power point presentation which described the sequence of construction of the downtown streetscape improvements on the north and south sides of Miracle Strip Parkway beginning at the west end of Brooks Street SE to the Brooks Bridge that will include sidewalk pavers from the right- of-way to the property line, the removal of all Bradford Pear trees and Oak trees to be replaced with Sable Palm trees, and explained that the work will be done between 8: 00 p. m. and 8: 00 a. m.; described the Beal Parkway Neighborhood Gateway Park Improvements that will include a clock tower, traffic calming elements, and landscaping; and explained that the next step is to advertise for bids to award a contract in October for the construction to begin and completed in May 2009. There was a question on the overall plan to extend the streetscape down to the east end of Beal Parkway. Ms. Johnson explained the initial design work for the tree replacement plan was only for the project area in the downtown area and the CRA has endorsed a second phase of the project to Beal Parkway. She said they hope to be able to design that next fiscal year and there is funding in the proposed budget. There was a question on what has been done to encourage the private property owners to participate, and how it will be addressed to integrate them into the project. Ms. Johnson mentioned many of the property owners have expressed an interest in continuing the pavers to the store entrances and staff will continue to work with those who have not expressed an interest to encourage them to participate. She explained that the plan to integrate them into the project is to offer a 50/ 50 matching streetscape grant as an incentive to continue the paver stones from the property line to the storefront. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. Bobby Nabors, representing the CRA Board, addressed the tree replacement issue. He said the CRA Board voted twice for 100% tree replacement of the Bradford Pear trees and the Oak trees ( except those at the Indian Temple Mound) and rejected staffs recommendation that eight Oak trees located adjacent to public property remain. He explained in the interest of the design when the plan was implemented and agreed upon the concept was based on early Fort Walton Beach and the history of the City where there were all Palm trees in the downtown area, and they believed it important to establish continuity of design. The City Manager confirmed the plan presented tonight is what the CRA recommended for 100% tree replacement of the Bradford Pear trees and the Oak trees. There was no one further from the public who wished to speak. Mr. Garvie moved to approve the Civil Plans and Specifications for the Downtown Streetscape and Beal Parkway Neighborhood Gateway Park Improvements, as presented, and approve advertising a Request for Proposals for a general contractor. Mr. Minich seconded motion. During some discussion on the removal of the Oak trees it was pointed out the trees are relatively new and not historical and the roots have begun to buckle the sidewalk that presents a safety hazard; and hope was expressed that there will be 100% participation by the property owners on the sidewalk improvement with paver stones.  Regular Council 8- 12- 08 210 DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE AND BEAL PARKWAY NEIGHBORHOOD cont. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Miller and Hartwell absent). GENERAL PUBLIC Comments from General Public on matters of City business not otherwise on the agenda. Julie Terrell, Director of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance ( CBA), presented an overview of the various functions of the CBA and advised she will present pertinent information to Council at the budget hearings next week regarding continued City support. LANDMARK EXTENSION REQUEST Consideration of a request by Emerald Coast Partners, LLC for a 12 month extension of Development Order for Landmark Cent,er located at 223 Miracle Strip Parkway and 206 Perry A venue, as outlined in the backup report. The City Attorney gave the oath to all individuals who expected to speak. Christy Johnson, Principal Planner, reported Council approved the Development Order August 10, 2007, that the applicant has requested a 12 month extension, the CRA Board recommended approval on July 2, 2008, and staff recommends approval of the Development Order until August 12, 2009. She submitted the staff report into the record. Bruce Houle, applicant Emerald Coast Partners, confirmed there are no changes from the original approval and they are ready to break ground. It was mentioned a citizen called about the phases of construction and the concern was expressed the garage will be built first and the Landmark will not be built. Mr. Houle stated the original intention was to build the parking garage and the Landmark Center simultaneously but it was difficult from the banking perspective to do the project simultaneously because of security lien issues with respect to the parking deck being on City land, their land and the lease. He said they separated the parking deck out to start first because the construction documents for the