Okaloosa County BOCC — March 3, 2015 — Jan 27, 2015 County Priorities Development Workshop

January 27, 2015 2015 County Priorities Development Workshop A workshop to discuss development of county priorities for 2015 was called to order at 10:00 a.m. at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island. Members present were Nathan D. Boyles, Chairman; Charles K. Windes, Jr., Vice Chairman; Wayne Harris; Carolyn Ketchel; and Trey Goodwin. Also present were J. D. Peacock, II, Clerk of Circuit Court; John Hofstad, County Administrator; Lynn Hoshihara sitting in for Greg Stewart, County Attorney; and Gary Stanford, Finance Director, Clerk’s Office. Mr. Boyles thanked staff for coordinating the meeting today. He stated in the past we have been reactionary, looking backwards, and picking up pieces. Mr. Boyles said he is optimistic we are going to be looking forward and the purpose of this workshop is to focus on challenges ahead and 1look for actions that are achievable in the next eleven months. He was hopeful there could be a transition to this type of planning before the budget process each year. Mr. Boyles outlined the three items on the agenda for discussion: 1. Improve infrastructure A. Develop a road paving and improvement matrix with quantifiable criteria for the ranking of road pavement and improvement priorities. B. Develop a list of RESTORE Act eligible projects for submittal to ORAC for funding consideration and direct the completion of funding application. C. Create a functional Transit Cooperative to revitalize and redefine the role of public transit in Okaloosa County. 2, Support economic development and diversification A, Adopt a Master Economic Development Ordinance to better coordinate economic development activity in Okaloosa County. B. Complete the site selection process at Bob Sikes Airport and begin recruitment of qualified tenants. C. Inventory and evaluate future economic development sites and industrial parks within Okaloosa County to include infrastructure analysis, etc. Use results of January 27, 2015 -1- Minute Book 72, Page 126 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners analysis to prioritize locations and develop long-term marketing and management plans. 3. Refocus on the customer A, Re-tool the budget presentation and adoption process to improve transparency and develop an annual pre- budget priorities development process. B. Complete a comprehensive review of the Code of Ordinances and Land Development Code (LDC) and adopt changes to simplify and modernize the Code and LDC. C. Improve the fraud reporting process to include improvement of the anonymous reporting system with distribution to multiple independent agencies. He requested the commissioners and staff members to be fully engaged in this conversation. Mr. Harris commented we have a finite amount of money and people. He stated we can prioritize but we must remember Okaloosa County has the lowest tax base in the state and those dollars do not go far. Mr. Harris said the department heads sitting around the table have had to stretch those dollars. Item 1A. Public Works Director Jason Autrey stated the department has taken a first run at ranking projects. He suggested a presentation in the near future to demonstrate how the projects were prioritized. Item 1B. Mr. Hofstad stated when planning for use of RESTORE Act dollars the objective 1is to address pressing county needs. He said there are a number of needs relating to stormwater and roads. Mr. Hofstad said on the heels of the BP Deepwater Horizon O0il Spill, the <county launched into a process of identifying projects relating to the natural habitat for NRDA dollars. He advised they were unsuccessful in their bid to obtain NRDA funds. Subsequently, he said they looked at outfalls into water basins and identified more than 50 which were impacted. Information was gathered regarding costs to retrofit the outfalls. Mr. Hofstad stated he would 1like for Rick Owen, County Administration Manager, to speak on the Okaloosa RESTORE Act Advisory Committee (ORAC). Mr.