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

this if we need it but right now I don' t believe they have public support and I don' t think we should use it. Because as I remind you gentlemen, when we asked for a Fort Walton Beach representative on this authority, just be careful what you ask for. JT: We got one.. MM: Yeah, Mayor: Any other question or comments? Yes Mr. Hartwell? Jim Hartwell: Of Mr. Minich. What do you see is the negative impact? I see a neutral as in postponing indefinitely, what is the negative impact? MM: Right now the negative impact would be this. In the first place, one of the negative impacts is expense. It' s expensive to put something on a referendum. That's not the big deal, but it is expensive. The other thing is they' ve gone through a process and not received public support. You know, we don' t need to give them another shot at it. I think what they need to realize now is that there may be solutions out there to the transportation problems that we have, but they need to listen to the public that they were supposed to get support from to begin with. And the negative is that maybe some people farther away in the county may vote, yeah I'm for this bridge, and they' re not effected by it and then all of a sudden they' ll say well you see, right there we' ve got public support. And that's the negative. I believe there are ways we can work with the ECBA to come up with solutions that will be acceptable to all. But they have to start to listen. And right now through their process, they have not gotten that support. Mayor: Anyone else? Go ahead Dr. Pullen. . . WP: The comment I would make, and I agree with the thinking on it. .and . we have a city-wide election coming up in about 12- 14 months, and we can put it on the city ballot so the citizens of Fort Walton Beach can express their opinion because that' s who it will effect. I've been taken to task because I've said the citizens of this city elected me and my job is to protect the citizens of Fort Walton Beach. And I think that would be more than anything else. . . MM: And I'll go after everyone else. . . Mayor: Anyone else have. . . Mr. Tucker? JT: I would just like to express an opinion and it's probably like a lead ball. . but, . Gene' s point that he made last time is that we put in toll, do you support a toll bridge. I wonder if we should do that, if we go forward with this. The other item that kinds of bothers me is that I would like future generations to know we at least tried, we brought this before the people and they had an opportunity to vote on it. They did before, what was that, 10 years ago more or less? The people voted on it and voted it down, someone may recollect those numbers better than I. But it was voted down then. I would not any guilt that I, as a public official, failed in my job if the people had an opportunity to vote on this issue. And Michael that' s where I'm coming from, let the people vote. If they say we don' t want a bridge. . and there' s one other thing about it, we talk about Fort Walton Beach, do you support a bridge or bridges from Fort Walton Beach to Okaloosa Island. Does that mean inside the city limits, because you know we get accused of murder and robbery and all the other bad things in Fort Walton Beach and they really are not in Fort Walton Beach, they' re in Mary Esther or somewhere else. So Mr. Mayor, that's my point, that if there was a better term, ifit said from the continental US, not the island, in other words from the land mass here, then I could understand that. Mayor: Just a clarification if I may. All of them impact the city of Fort Walton Beach. . . JT: They don' t have to though. . . Mayor: The one' s that are currently being evaluated and proposed all impact the City of Fort Walton Beach, the two remaining ones. And then, I'm not trying to force my opinion on anyone but just some information. In discussion with Mr. Rice he admitted there may be a need for a replacement bridge which may be a different alternative completely than a toll bridge, so that' s other options that may be out there, and I think that may be what Mr. Minich is going for. . .Yes SIr MM: And I want you to understand that if we need to use this motion again we can use it again. Ifwe vote it down, its gone and we just didn' t bring it up again. So to me its like if we to use this later on we can bring it up later on. And I think some things are going to happen and I think they' re realization that the ECBA needs to listen to the public I think they' re finally getting that message and I think that right now we really don' t need to go there, and that' s why I said to postpone it indefinitely. Mayor: Mr.Holmes? MH: I agree, I don' t want people in Laurel Hill deciding about the bridge, if you put it on the referendum that' s going to create, it will just give other people to influence what we get. I do agree they should always have the opportunity to vote, and that maybe the city residents are the ones that need to be looking at this because that' s who it will impact. It's a tough deal, and we' re going to take the burden of what they want if we put it on the referendum as county wide. Mayor: Dr. Pullen. WP: Question. Do we want to say indefinitely or until the Council wants to bring it back. MM: It' s kind of the same. Ifwe find later on it needs to come back then we can bring it back. Mayor: Any other questions. . Mr. Hartwell? JH: I like what Mr. Minich has proposed here. We are responsible for the citizens of Fort Walton Beach, we are not responsible for Okaloosa County. I don' t want the wrong people voting either for what impacts us. I like what Dr. Pullen had to say, if we put it on a referendum we can do that next year. Citizens of Fort Walton Beach. . . JT: Would someone read it again please? Mayor: Mr. Minich would you repeat your motion? MM: I move to postpone this, the main motion, indefinitely, and that's it. And indefinite means if we needs to bring it up later we can do it, right now I don' t think its necessary. Bill Patterson: I see Toni keeps shaking her head. . . Toni Craig: Well we have a disagreement about Roberts Rules but it really won' t come into play until the time comes for it to be taken offthe table or taken out ofthe postponement. So at this time he' s indefinitely, that means discussion would not ensue on that particular saying postpone motion on this particular resolution and would basically end the debate. So what would have to if we table it would happen is a new motion would be made, a new resolution would be made, so be to table the exact same resolution. MM: My interpretation of tabling is different. . Mayor: But the thing is we can always get around to changing the wording. . . JT: And if I vote for it that means I can bring it back up again, that always scares me if I vote again it I can' t bring it up again. Ms. Gibson. Mayor: Any other questions or comments? OK, please vote on it. .OK Chris Gibson: I was wondering if you were going to get to the public. . . not sure we need to, but go Mayor: Well, because we already have a motion on the floor I'm ahead. . . Chris: Well, I think the public should always be allowed to speak on any issue, especially one as important as this. . MM: Well, you had that opportunity. Mayor: Go ahead Ms. Gibson. . . CG: Chris Gibson, 249 Brooks Street. I have been to all the ECBA meetings, I have listened and tried personally to talk to people on the board, we all know who I'm referring to. They won' t even discuss the issue with you, so I encourage you as a Council to ask the Supervisor of Elections to put this on the City ballot for next March or whenever we can get it on the ballot. . . because they have taken the figures they got and turn them around to make it look like they have support. They will mistrue figures all day long, and two of the city residents get to vote on this issue, and absolutely show them we don' t want a toll bridge. I personally don' t want a bridge at all as it will come through my house, I can tell you I don' t want a bridge coming through my house. And, but anyway, I would greatly appreciate it if you would go ahead and vote to send it to the county so the Supervisor of Elections can put it on the referendum that the citizens of Fort Walton Beach get to vote on. This is a very important issue not only to me but all the people, not knowing where its going to go. They say Hollywood Blvd, and I can guarantee the people up and down Hollywood Blvd don' t want this thing coming through their neighborhood. So I would encourage you not to postpone but go ahead and vote on it, send it up to the county, send it to the Supervisor of Elections and ask them to put it on the ballot so the citizens of Fort Walton Beach only can vote on the issue and let the BA and Mr. Prescott know how we feel, still, again about this issue. Mr. Prescott knows how we feel but he' s got this BA backing him up, because they were put on that board to build a bridge and they think that' s what they have to do or else they failed in their job. Well, hate to tell you this, but they haven' t failed if they don' t build a bridge. So would you please not ignore this issue, let the citizens vote on it and let the ECBA know how we feel about this issue, and the governor too, they' re going to keep cramming it down our throats. So until we show them again that we do not want a bridge through FW, it will destroy our town, especially a toll bridge, you' re going to destroy development in this area, so I would appreciate it if you would go ahead and vote to send this to the Supervisor of Elections. Thank you. Mayor: Thank you Ms. Gibson. Anyone else wish to speak. Anyone on Council? Please vote on Mr. Minich' s motion. It does pass unanimously. Thank you. MM: If you will allow me a little bit of latitude, since this is kind of on the same subject, I would like to make another motion. It' s lengthy, I have copies for everyone. I'll speak slowly. I move that the City of Fort Walton Beach recognized 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 our citizens, however, the City of Fort Walton Beach objects too and strongly opposes any traffic solutions 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. And my motion also include this be a letter, letter or resolution, whatever would be most appropriate, to