Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 01-22-08 workshop minutes — reading text

285 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 22, 2008 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at 5: 30 p. m. with the following members present: r" Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes ( arrived at 5: 50 pm), Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves ( arrived at 5: 35 pm), 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 Attorney; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. GENERAL PUBLIC Ray Knoll, president of Corte Bravo Holding, Inc., 114 Robinwood Drive NW, discussed his concern for the need for a facility for homeless veterans and requested assistance from Council to locate a suitable site in the area. Mr. Knoll provided maps from the Okaloosa County Appraisers Office and noted three possible sites: city- owned property near the cemetery, county property in Sylvania Heights, and a parcel near the new VA clinic at Eglin. Council received clarification from Mr. Knoll that he would build a facility if the property were provided. Mr. Knoll advised he has spoken with the Continuum of Care but felt that organization is more interested in homeless women and children; he is speaking only for homeless veterans. Mr. Garvie suggested that Mr. Knoll speak with Judge Maney, who is interested in the issue of homeless veterans, and Mr. Knoll advised he would contact him. Loretta Aiken, who is working with Mr. Knoll, requested that Council contact their organization if they think of a way that the City may be able to provide an avenue to assist them in helping the homeless veterans. Mr. Reeves arrived at 5: 35 p. m. UPDATE ON STORMWATER UTILITY STUDY John Hofstad, Utilities Director, advised the presentation is a follow- up to Council' s authorization from last summer to study the possibility of implementing a stormwater utility. Mr. Hofstad advised r-. that no action is required from Council at this time; the report and presentation are being provided for information purposes as an update to the Stormwater Utility Study. He concluded that the next step in the process is having the City' s consultant host a series of meetings with citizens and stakeholders to discuss the merits and benefits of adopting a Stormwater Utility. Mr. Hofstad introduced Michael Bomar, Vice President of Tetra- Tech. Mr. Bomar discussed the the study to where it is now. The initial step to process that has taken place from the beginning of stormwater studying the feasibility of a stormwater utility for the City was to develop a preliminary master plan, review and existing reports budgets, including ongoing and future CIP programs, and the list. develop a prioritization methodology for existing and future projects along with ranking Mr. Bomar advised the second step was to finalize program costs, prepare GIS impervious areas database, revenue development, cash flow analysis, establish framework for mitigation and adjustment policy and commence public workshops. 286 Council Workshop 01/ 22/ 08 UPDATE ON STORMWATER UTILITY STUDY ( CONTI Mr. Holmes arrived at 5: 50 p. m. Council discussion included the preliminary program prioritization developed by the consultant, that the projects can be shifted or moved and that revisions will occur as a result of Council input to the prioritization of the projects. Mr. Bomar discussed other issues to consider is the City' s aging infrastructure maintenance and cleaning; rehab and replacement; enforcement inspections; management; Total Maximum Daily Load ( TMDL) compliance; and reporting to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Council questioned the advantage to the City instituting a stormwater utility if the County institutes one as well. Mr. Bomar responded it would depend on how the service area is determined, and the county could easily put their rate on city residents, in addition to the city' s utility. The City Manager advised this discussion has occurred previously with the county, and there was thought of a county- wide stormwater utility and having each city identify projects; however, it has never gone further than thought. The City Manager stated her belief that if the county implemented a stormwater utility it would likely be in the unincorporated areas of the county, and that the county would not likely impose their utility on the City. Mr. Bomar concluded by explaining the monthly Equivalent Residential Unit ( ERU) meant to represent a typical residence, whereby every residential property would pay a fee associated with one ( 1)ERU and non- residential properties would pay a fee based on increments of ERUs. He explained the differences between single family residential and non- single family residential, city- owned land, vacant land, uncleared land, and road right of ways. Mr. Miller left at 6:25 p. m. Discussion ensued regarding the monthly ERU options for the various land types. The next step in the process, which is where the study is presently, is public awareness and hearings. Mr. Bomar informed this includes conducting stakeholder meetings, prepare/ obtain public education materials, publish information, and conduct ordinance adoption public hearings. Mr. Bomar concluded that once public information and stakeholder meetings are completed, Staff will report back to Council and receive direction on whether to proceed with the development of a stormwater utility ordinance. The City Manager advised Council will receive details in the future on each individual project, and that the real issue is to have a master plan for each specific project; to have public discussions on the issue and that the process has begun with this meeting; and additional public meetings and the ordinance adoption process. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p. m. APPROVED: JOJ? MAVOR: T: ~ AY'~ Ive