Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 03-14-06 ‎(regular)‎ — reading text

on February 6, 2006 to discuss an alternative Brooks Bridge alignment; 13 and 14 15 WHEREAS, the City of Fort Walton Beach voted to not support, and vigorously 16 oppose, any bridge alignments currently proposed. Resolution 2005- 03 was presented 17 by the Mayor of the City of Fort Walton Beach to the Emerald Coast Bridge at Authority 18 their February 7, 2006 monthly meeting; and 19 20 WHEREAS, at the City Council Meeting on February 28, 2006 a motion was 21 appropriately made and seconded by City Council. 22 23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF FORT WALTON 24 BEACH: 25 26 Section 1. The Fort Walton Beach City Council requests that the Okaloosa 27 County Board of Commissioners place a non- binding question on the fall ballot asking 28 the voters about their desires for a bridge to Okaloosa Island as follows: 29 30 I do not support a toll bridge from the City of Fort Walton Beach to 31 Okaloosa Island, nor do I support any of the proposed bridge 32 alignments as presented by the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority at 33 their February 7, 2006 meeting. 34 35 Voting Yes would be an affirmation of this statement. 36 37 38 Section 2. A copy of this Resolution shall be presented to the Chairman of the 39 Board of Commissioners at their March 21, 2006 meeting. 40 41 Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect as of March 14, 2006 42 43 44 Adopted: March 14. 2006 45 Mayo~ 47 Mike Anderson 48 49 Attest: 50 51 By: 52 Helen Spencer, City Clerk 53 54 Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: 55 56 By: 57 Toni L. Craig, City Attorney VERBATIM MINUTES- 2/28/ 06 RESOLUTION TO THE COUNTY - RE: BRIDGE ISSUE Mayor: The last thing, I told this person I would bring it up and let you guys think about it. They suggested that the City prepare a resolution and send it to the county and suggest that the County put the bridge on a referendum for later on. So I present this to you, if you want me to sign a resolution and send it to the county to suggest they put the bridge on the referendum in the fall. . . Joyce: Non-binding. . . Mayor: Non- binding referendum. Is there any support for that initiative? Jim T: I always support allowing the people to speak. . . Mayor: But again, we would just suggest to the county that they do that. . . JT: I will support that if somebody will make a motion. . Mayor: Do you want to make that motion? JT: Yeah, I'll make a motion that we ask the county to put a non- binding and see if they want to do that. Their people are a strong quality of character, so they' ll do what they want. Dr. Pullen: I second that. Mayor: Any discussions on this idea? Mike Minich: I don' t really see what good its going to do. It doesn' t really matter. The Bridge Authority doesn' t answer to us. They put it on a county thing they don' t answer to us anyway. Doesn' t matter what' s going on. I don' t see any need for it, I think it would be a waste oftime. I mean if you read the newspaper, the governor' s got a hot line on there but he says he not going to do any action against it, so I really don' t know why he put the hot line on there. So you know, there isn' t any public input. They haven' t taken any so far. If you take the public input they' ve have so far its been overwhelmingly one way, and they haven' t bothered with it then and I don' t know why they would bother with it now. I think its just expense we' d be spending for no reason. Mayor: Any other questions or comments? OK, so Mr. Tucker has made the motion and Dr. Pullen has seconded to forward a resolution to the county. . . JT:Why would anybody object to allowing the people vote on it, that is my question. And. . . a barometer of how the people feel. . t.hose who are violently opposed to it are the ones that have the squeakiest wheel, and that' s what we hear. Now there are a lot of people back there that say we do need a bridge, let them vote on it. Mayor: But do you think the county commissioners would. . . . IT: Probably not, probably not. But I don' t mind passing the hot potato to them. Mayor: OK, any other questions or comments? Yes sir? Mike Minich: Didn' t you speak with the supervisor of elections about this? IT: Did I? MM: No... Mayor: Yeah, informally we talked about as far as. . . MM: In the fall? Mayor: Yes, and the county would have to pay for it. I don' t remember the cost, she didn' t give me a cost figure. Dr. Pullen: I believe this would be with the vote already taking place, it wouldn' t be a special election? Mayor: No, it would be added to the ballot, probably, they can' t do it next week, probably in the September primary. If the county commissioners choose to put it on as a referendum. OK, yes, Mr. Armbruster, we' re getting ready to take a break. . . Gene Armbruster, 210 Hudson Drive, when you put the resolution in would you please make it a toll bridge, not just a bridge, please? Mayor: OK, thank you sir. OK, so what is the resolution we want to send to the county? IT: Gene, I'm just going to say a bridge, whether there' s a toll or a troll on it I don' t care. Mayor: OK, so your motion is just to put a bridge requirement. . . IT: I didn' t want to make something complicated, just let the people vote. Mayor: Yes, but the thing is we have to write the resolution correctly so we send it so I SIgn.. . IT: Let' s vote on the bridge. Mayor: OK, do you understand what the resolution is saying, Miss Shanahan? Joyce: I have that the resolution to the county asking for a non- binding resolution on the bridge. Mayor: Non- binding referendum. . . Joyce: Right. Mayor: OK. MM: The bridge? JS: On the bridge. I didn' t put the or. . MM: I know but what I'm saying is what bridge? The toll bridge, the proposed bridge, it makes a difference. We' ve heard discussion about replacing Brooks Bridge, you know, so is the additional bridge, the bridge proposed by the Bridge Authority? JS: Well, what I heard, I was just reading what I heard. MM: I understand. . . JT: If you would you like me to clarify that, I will. . . IS: That would be great. IT: Just let the county commissioners fine- tune the wording. Ifthey want to say toll bridge that's fine with me. . . Mayor: I don' t think that's fair to them. We have to ask them what we want them to put on the ballot. Bill Patterson: Why don' t we let her come up with several resolutions.. . Mayor: OK, then you want to have it the next time? BP: Let's look at them the next time. . IT: (inaudible) I'm tired. . . MM: There' s a motion on the floor. . . Mayor: Do you want to withdraw the motion? JT: I will withdraw the motion. . . The City of Fort Walton Beach recognizes the need for solutions to our transportation issues and stands by ready to work with the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority, our Okaloosa Walton County Transportation Planning Organization and all interested parties to arrive at solutions that meet the needs of all of our citizens, however, the City of Fort Walton Beach objects to and strongly opposes any traffic solution that includes the following: 1. The Hollywood Bridge Corridor. 2. A Toll Bridge in the Brooks Bridge Corridor. 3. Any of the Brooks Bridge Corridor locations suggested by Figg Engineering., 4. Any traffic solution within the Brooks Bridge Corridor that has more than a minimal impact on the downtown area of Fort Walton Beach. VERBATIM OF DISCUSSION ON RES. 06- 05, NON BINDING QUESTION ON FALL BALLOT Mayor: OK, Item 13, consideration of Res. 06- 05 of the City Council of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, requesting that the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners places a non- binding question on the fall ballot, asking voters about their desires for a bridge to Okaloosa Island. tape changed side 2) Mayor: Yes Mr. Minich. . . Mike Minich: You brought this up, right? Mayor: Yes I did because somebody asked me to so I brought it up and you guys voted for it. Suggested that you come back with a resolution, so I guess there' s a lot of discussion going on about the bridge, and so, as Mr.Tucker says, he likes to see the opportunity for the citizens to vote on issues. . . IT: On any issues, I agree with the gentleman back there. . Mayor: Any questions or comments on this? MM: I think we need a motion, or, we need a motion first. . . Dr. Pullen: I make a motion we approve Res. 06- 05. Bob Campbell: Second. Mayor: OK, Mr. Campbell seconded Dr. Pullen' s motion. OK. Mr. Minich? MM: Well, Dr. Pullen would you like to speak first? WP: No, go ahead. MM: This is all about to determine, in my opinion, whether there is public support for this bridge or not, that' s why we' re asking for this referendum. I object to this for a couple of reasons. Number one, if this is a county-wide referendum, don' t care what they say in Crestview, its going through our town. I don' t care what they say in Baker, I don' t care what they say in Destin. We' re being affected by this and our public support is important here to us. The second deal is that these people have gone through a 4 Y2 year process designed not only to select a corridor but to solicit public support for this, and in my opinion they have failed miserably in that regard. And I'll tell you why, you guys settle down out there. . . lau(ghter). They have gone through this process recently, not only they had a second Charette, they had a public opinion meeting and they had meetings afterward. They' ve also solicited letter and e- mail to their website. 97% of the letters they have received so far, and there' s over 200, have supported no bridge. 98% of the e- mails they have received, again around 200, no bridge. Over 50% of the invited participants to their Charette two placed marks on no bridge. 56 people spoke at their public input meeting, only four supported any bridge. 1400 names on a petition supporting no Hollywood bridge, the City of Fort Walton Beach unanimously voted no Hollywood bridge, they do not have public support, we don' t need to go forward with this, in my opinion. I think what we need to do now, and I think there' s going to be some things coming up, is that I move that we postpone indefinitely this motion until we actually need it. I don' t think they have public support, I think we' ll give them another chance at it. My motion is I move to postpone. . no its not table, table is the same meeting. .postpone indefinitely. . Mayor: Excuse me, what is the proper phrasing? MM: Postpone indefinitely is my motion. (applause) Mayor: All right. Is there a second on his motion? Mike Holmes: I'll second it. Mayor: OK Mr. Holmes seconded Mr. Minichs motion to postpone indefinitely this resolution. Now is there discussion on it. MM: I have more discussion and then let Dr. Pullen go and I'll be very brief. I think they have up until this point not listed to what the people have to tell them. I think that, in my opinion, that they now realize, and for those of us that went to the last meeting, heard Secretary Prescott state, very succinctly, that unless they had public support which they do not have, then they will not get funding to go forward. I think what we will see right now is that they will now listen to the public and will come up with some ideas. And after this I'll have another motion on that, but I think we can use