Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 12-12-06 workshop minutes — reading text

131 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA DECEMBER 12, 2006 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, December 12, 2006, at 5: 30 p. m. wth the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Pullen and Mike Minich Absent: Jim Hartwell Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attomey; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the qf Pledge Allegiance. FLOC 2007 LEGISLATIAVE ACTION AGENDA Mayor Anderson advised he has been attending meetings of the Florida Northwest Florida League of Cities ( NWFLOC) and the Vision 2015 League of Cities ( FLOC),the Vector Check, and wanted to report on their priorities. Priorities of the FLOC include supporting legislation for affordable housing; property tax reform, to include providing state financial assistance, in a revenue neutral manner, to impacted local governments; growth management; transportation; workers compensation for the first responders; and emergency management. The Mayor explained that many of the priorities of the NWFLOC echo those of the FLOC, with the exception of the confidentiality of municipal official, employee, and resident social and the of security information minimizing state oversight of local planning functions. Mayor Anderson reported on the 2015 Initiatives including a proposed 331 to alleviate traffic congestion on by- pass to Niceville and SR Highway 98; gave updates on Eglin and the AFSOC; and touched on priorities of the governor-elect, including doubling homestead exemption, continuing challenges to home rule, and the issue of illegal aliens. The Mayor encouraged Council to travel to Tallahassee in March and lobby with the FLOC and NWFLOC. DISCUSSION ON PLAN REVIEWS Dr. Pullen discussed his concerns regarding the problems that arose during the final phases of construction of the Villa di Mare condominium and the subsequent amendments of the approved plans to accommodate the change in the view corridors. Dr. Pullen established so the City Council has the final suggested that rules be approval of change or alterations in site plans, to alleviate the responsibility from the Staff. City 132 Council Workshop 12- 12- 06 PLAN REVIEWS ( CO NT) The Mayor noted that architectural guidelines are being established by the Staff and the CRA and MPB Boards for future developments. Dr. Pullen advised he was not referring to architectural guidelines; rather, that once a site plan is approved by Council, if a developer decides during the process he wants to change the footprint or fac;ade of the project, Staff does not have the authority to administratively make the changes, that it must be forwarded to the respective Board, then Council for final approval of any go to changes. Discussion included the fact that what the City approved for the Villa di Mare project was done and that the minimum standards were met the by developer. However, an error was made during the process regarding the view corridor for the project, resulting in the view corridor being altered and an amendment needed to accommodate the error; otherwise, the down and rebuilt. Further discussion included that the building would have had to be tom process would be long if every change had to be approved by Council, and that guidelines need to be set and deadlines made for the developers to prevent future errors. The Mayor advised there are steps that can be taken without going to the extreme of going back through the process, such as foundation inspections. Dr. Pullen countered that if a he has to go through the process, developer knows developers may be more thorough in their original plans as changes would not be as easy to make. Discussion ensued that if guidelines are established and changes are made by a developer without going through the process, a hefty fine should result. Further discussion included that as long as the project meets the minimum standards, Council cannot do anything because it is in the it is not the responsibility of the Councilor Staff if guidelines, and certain amenities are not included in a project. Missy McKim, CDS Director, discussed what is being done to address these issues, house policy that requires a foundation including an in- survey be checked not only for elevation, but view corridors and setbacks as well; an ordinance change that if major changes in site plans occurs it will go to the CRA and Council as an amended site plan; and the preparation of an ordinance that will require a foundation survey be submitted to the City within a certain number of days after inspection of the slab, and that subsequent building in the interim will be done at the risk of the builder. Ms. McKim advised the City has worked with excellent builders in the past, and the Villa di Mare project was an exception whereby one developer created a problem. However, she feels the will be strengthened with these ordinances in process place. Dr. Pullen stated he was pleased with the proposed amendments, and was advised by Ms. McKim that the ordinance regarding the foundation survey will be brought forward to Council the end of January and beginning of February, and the ordinance dealing with the time frame for the foundation survey will first go to the CRA and WB, then to Council probably in March. Mr. Tucker stated his opinion that if a set of plans are submitted and meet the code, the limit involvement from that point forward so the City ShOUld.'...,................ City is not liable for what the builder does. Miss . ... McKim stated with these ordinances, the City is checking the work being done to prevent problems occurring further on in the project. The City Manager advised that the development of architectural regulations are budgeted for this J year, and the plan is that by the end of 2007 Council will have a set of regulations to vote upon.  133 Council Workshop 12- 12- 06 POLICE DEPARTMENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE The City Manager advised that Council's approval is needed for the purchasing of software for the Police Department and receiving a credit for software from Sungard HTE Inc. She advised Dave Jenzen will explain the request, and the item will be brought up for Council's consideration during the regular Council meeting. I"'" Dave Jenzen, IT Director, advised there is a software upgrade for the Police Department, and Sungard is offering a $ 72, 000 credit for the upgrade, but it must be done by December 28, 2006, to take advantage of this savings. Mr. Jenzen advised the request had been planned for the January 9, 2007 agenda, but due to the need to take ad\antage of the savings, Council approval is needed at this time. Mr. Jenzen distributed a copy of the proposal for Council' s review. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjoumed at 6: 40 p. m. APPROVED: ~ - ~ MAYOR: ~,