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

accommodate those living on the Island. Efforts were made to meet the needs of the community by elevating the roadway, so that Island residents would be able to travel on Santa Rosa Blvd. and experience no additional traffic at all.If there was to be a toll, they would have a toll free route on and off the island via the existing Brooks Bridge. After seeing the reoccuning washouts of Hwy 98, caused by the past few storms I also requested that Figg Engineers consider extending the skyway from the orgin point of the Hurlburt crossing all the way to Desti~ above Hwy 98 so that a truly regional problem, would be better addressed, the skyway could then be taken over and through Destin,creating an almost county wide through corridor, that would handle the capacities and demands placed on it,for the next twenty to thirty years, if not longer. Then we came to the second Emerald Coast Bridge Authority charrette 2, which by this time was being called a " charade". I attended this work shop as well. Let me say that it was a disappointment from the very first fifteen minutes, declining in answers provided, and escalating both, frustrations and tempers, of all that attended, throughout the rest of the day. From the onset of the meeting in the morning, where I asked the first question of Linda Figg,after she unveiled the " Three corridors most voted for." " Are these the only options your company is giving us to work with?" Things proceeded to deteriorate at a snow balling rate. Yes, those three con- idors were all that was given consideration. Out of those three, options for two types of landings for each conidor. The Wright Pkwy. option that my group, as well as others, presented to the first charette, that had made it to the final cut,bore little or no resemblance to what Figg Engineers came out with. Gone was the Hurlburt bridge and now instead of creating an East to West corridor, a major road now plowed through schools and neighborhoods, going north to south. Taking no logical approach into account,of where the traffic we were trying to route through the city, was being routed too! Nothing has been said of the B. R.A.C. commission either, behold the golden goose has laid a golden egg. That translates into what will soon be fifteen to twenty thousand new people coming to our homes, schools, and yes our roads. If that is not incentive enough for the Air Force to take some responsibility, I don' t know what is. Yielding the right of way on the island reservation would be a good start. Taking a serious look at what this plan could do to enhance the mission of Hulbrurt would be a good second. Remember the original plan called for a pass to provide access to the Gulf and widen the tax base to help earn tax revenue to pay for the project. It would greatly enhance quality of life in both Ft.Walton and the Island. Sound side would have wonderfully clean clear emerald waters. By the end of the day the atmosphere was thick enough to cut with a knife. If you are unaware of the sentiments of the people in attendance, let me tell you that over one third of all that attended gave ones ( on a scale of one to ten ) to every plan as it was presented 2 by Figg. The key words are " as presented by Figg." These are the same people that gave their vote to the corridors at the first charette. By the end of the day virtually everyone in the room was so utterly disgusted, that when Ms.Figg refused to answer a direct question from me, just stood at the podium and looked straight ahead. I could bear no more, I turned to the room and asked that everyone in favor of telling Figg to go back and redraw these plans, that we approve of nothing you have shown us, or said, stand up. Eighty per cent of the people in room stood up, including the mayor and several city council members. " Is that a loud enough message to you Linda?', to which she had no reply. I was one of the people that placed my green dot on the " No" placard, not because I was against a bridge, but because I could not in good conscious choose any of Figg' s designs. I packed up and left. The following week, with speed that would rival a bullet, a special meeting was called by the city council. At that meeting, a vote was taken and passed that the city would not endorse any of the three corridors currently under consideration. This was to be signed by all council members, and to be delivered to the E. C. B.A. by the mayor himself. That done, there were three people in the room that wanted alternatives also delivered to the Authority. Jim Tucker was one, the council voted to not hear any motions, packed up went home. Now we come to " The Emerald Coast Bridge Authority Planning Alternative Meeting." By definition you would think that this is a meeting to hear alternative plans that individuals, like myself and others, have designed, hence the name " Planning Alternatives." Nope! Wrong again. Instead of hearing alternatives, we are fed falsified numbers by Figg Engineering that show that, even after you remove one- third of the votes that people gave at the second charette, you still don' t get an approval rating that comes close to showing a positive response by or for, any of Figg' s designs. And still they press on. Is it any wonder that at this point tempers are so hot,that extra deputies are in attendance? After the board conducts business, the ftrSt to speak is our mayor. After reading the letter to the board, he was very politely asked by the Chairman of the authority, Mr. Tom Rice, " If indeed you do not like any of the proposed bridge corridors, may we please know what you do suggest we do. Do you have an alternative route for us to consider?" DUH! You might have anticipated, this to be, the ftrSt question ask~ by someone that has spent the last four years working his but off, to solve our areas traffic problems. The some what befuddled mayor had no answer what so ever, other than to say ," 1 really don' t think we need a bridge", this is a forward thinking elected official. Right. What followed next,was a parade of over fifty people saying negative things about bridges, punctuated by six that said we have got to do something, two had plans, but were not allowed time to explain them. End of meeting, everyone leaves disgruntled and frustrated. By the way, at this point,Figg and their associates have taken home near $ 300, 000.00. The date we all have been waiting for, the E. C. B.A. will pick a corridor in which to build abridge; of a design that no one wants, and put in a place no one wants. Today' s front Bridge Authority dodges bullet"..... You may have dodged a bullet but you' re page. . .. ~~ 3 not dodging this howitzer shell. All that happened was that Dale Peterson made and the authority passed a motion that the " Wright Corridor be eliminated from consideration and that the sister bridge and Hollywood Corridors be sent to the Northwest Florida Corridor Commission, to see how they fit into the overall plan. Let me save you the trouble and expense of doing that and tell you this; Nothing is gained for our community by either of these " Solutions," they are anything but solutions. By forwarding either of these grotesque corridors, you are preparing to destroy the entire city center. The long term damage will, and there is no doubt about this, be irreversible. Like so many in this community I am imploring you to rethink, reevaluate, and tell Figg Engineering, that this is not acceptable. I am asking every person that will read this to respond, in any way you can. If my own proposal is what you think is the best on the table, then get off of your butt and onto your computer. E- mail meatDutch500@cox. net and put it in writing so I can carry it to the bridge authority for you. If you think you have a better solution send that too. Whatever you do, don' t be silent. Make your voice heard. Send direct E- mail to the Bridge authority, to date they have received 196 total, and most were negative. We are coming down to the wire and it is Gametime folks. Be heard, sound off. Most sincerely, Dutch Petro 4  CITY COUNCIL MEETING March 14, 2006 Regular Agenda Consideration of Mayor' s appointment to the Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority City Clerk) Council Action 1st 2nd Vote: Agenda Item Number: RG - 14  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH MEMORANDUM TO: Joyce Shanahan, City MtliI. ur/ FROM: Helen Spencer, City clerK(!rl DATE: March 6, 2006 SUBJECT: Housing Authority Appointment BACKGROUND: Pat Thornber, 342 Holmes Blvd. NW, Fort Walton Beach, has been a member of the Fort Walton Beach Housing Authoritysince March, 1986. Her current tenn ended on February 25, 2006. Mrs. Thornber has been contacted and will serve another four- year tenn if reappointed by the Mayor and approved by Council. The Housing Authority acts to provide safe, sanitary and decent housing for low income families at affordable rent. Membership on the Housing Authority Board is not limited to city residents, and there are no term limits. DISCUSSION: In accordance with F. S. 421 05 (1) (attached), the Mayor has authority to appoint with the approval of Council. INCUMBENT: PAT THORNBER, 342 HOLMES BLVD. APPLICANTS: NONE CONCLUSION: Recommend the Mayor appoint, and Council approve, a citizen to serve on the Housing Authority Board for a four-vear term until March 13. 2010. S/ lve Reviewed and Concurred: ~ Hold for Discussion: Denied: 8~ g,&>- anag~ Date Comments: u-ILl t-.-.  PUBUC HOUSING Ch.421 used In connection wIth a housing project, or of the commIssIoners who are first appointed shall be Ignee or assignees of such lessor's Interest or designated to serve for tenns of 1, 2, ancf ,3 years lrt thereof, and the Federal Government when respectively; the remaining commissioners shall be Is a arty to any' contract with the authority.. . designated to serve for terms 0f 4 years each, from the I, d1. 17911. COL 19<40 1937j 30 Supp. 7100( - ): .. 1. cII. 202 9. HlI' .- t. date of their appolntmenL Thereafter, each commls- 1~~ i t. 0 dr. 28051. 1953: .. 24, d1.57. 1; .. 1. cII. ISN&a.