Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 05-09-06 regular minutes — reading text

Lieu of Taxes ( PILOT) in the amount of 15, 829.43 due from the Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority to provide police, fire and other City services, due to the fact they had significant hurricane damage with limited federal funding to repair the damaged units. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. Council stated their support of the efforts of the Housing Authority. The Mayor Pro Tem called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. I. REWARD FOR VANDALISM TO BARBERSHOP POLE ON US 98 Consideration of a request to offer a reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the vandalism to the barber pole at the Barbershop on US 98. Mr. Tucker discussed his displeasure at the damage that was done tot he barber p ole at the barbershop on US 98, and proposed that a reward of $ 1, 000 be posted by the City for the arrest of those responsible.  213 Regular Council 05-09-06 REWARD FOR VANDALISM (CONT) Mr. Tucker moved to direct the City Manager to post a reward of $1, 000 for information leading to the arrest of person( s) responsible for the destructionv/andalism of the barber pole at Allen' s Barbershop at 48 Miracle Strip Parkway. Mr. Patterson seconded motion. Discussion included the development of a crime prevention hotline reward for the entire city as a way not to show favoritism to one area of the city or one particular business; the possibility of budgeting funds to be used by the City Manager and Police Chief for the posting of rewards for the destruction i of property in the City; and that other crimes have occurred downtown in the past and no rewards have been considered for those incidents. w Valerie Wenzel, owner of property at 184 Brooks Street, advised damage occurred at that property and stated her support for a city-wide program offering rewards for information on any property damage done in any area of the City. The City Manager advised the Police Chief is aware of the problems and an additional CRA officer will be utilized starting October 1. She noted an increase in transient/vagrant individuals because that is the area where services are provided to these individuals, and the City is concentrating resources toward improving the downtown area. Council supported the idea of the development of a program, but expressed concerns regarding singling one individual business for a reward when vandalism has occurred to other businesses in the past. Chris Gibson, 248 Brooks Street, advised the mural on Brooks Bridge has been vandalized with graffiti. Mr. Tucker explained his reasoning that he would like to help business owners/ individuals who have experienced vandalism who might not be able to financially post their own reward. The Mayor Pro Tem called for the vote on the motion to post a reward of $ 1, 000 for information leading to the arrest of person( s) responsible for the destruction/ vandalism of the barber pole at Allen' s Barbershop at 48 Miracle Strip Parkway a nd it failed by a vote of 4 to 3 with Holmes, Campbell, Hartwell, and Minich opposed and Patterson, Tucker, and Pullen in favor. Mr. Hartwell moved to direct the City Manager and Police Chief to look into developing a crime stopper program with a reward system and establish a reward fee schedule for the entire city. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. Mr. Hartwell explained he wanted to have a fee schedule developed so that the reward would be comparable to the amount of damage received. Mr. Minich suggested this would be an excellent project for the MainStreet organization. j i Valerie Wenzel, property owner, strongly encouraged Council to support this motion and would like to I see the City handle it rather than the MainStreet organization. i l,.The Mayor Pro Tem called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. 214 Regular Council 05-09- 06 REWARD FOR VANDALISM ( CONTI Mr. Tucker advised he would make the donation of $ 1, 000 to the City if they will post it. The City Manager advised she does not have the authority to offer a reward without the authorization of Council, and that a crime prevention program is being worked on that she will bring forward to Council. It was pointed out that donations to the City are subject to income tax laws. Mr. Tucker moved to direct the City Manager to post a $ 1, 000 reward to come from donations from I the residents of the City for the vandalism of the barbershop pole. Motion died for lack of a second. AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT FOR CITY ATTORNEY Mr. Tucker moved to amend the "Agreement for Legal Contract Services" revising Section 5 a) Compensation, adjusting the City Attorney' s Annual flat rate fee to $90, 000; all other costs charged by the attorney would be maintained. Further, to authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich In favor. SUMMER SCHEDULE FOR CITY COUNCIL Consideration of setting a summer Council Meeting schedule. The City Manager explained the proposed summer schedule for Council, as well as proposed dates for the budget workshops and the public hearings for the budget. Dr. Pullen moved the following Council Summer Schedule: Cancel the July 11 and July 25, 2006, regular Council meetings and the July 11, 2006, Council workshop; schedule the Budget Workshops for the week of August 14-18, 2006 beginning at 5: 30 pm; and schedule the Public Hearings for the Budget on September 6, 2006, at 5: 30 pm and September 20, 2006, at 5: 30 pm. Mr. Tucker seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. HISTORIC SITES BOARD APPOINTMENT Consideration of appointment to the Historic Sites and Advisory Board. Mr. Minich moved to appoint Tonya Nunes, 1159 Brooks Ridge Trace, Fort Walton Beach, to the Historic Sites and Structures Advisory Board for a four-year term until 8, 2010. Dr. May Pullen seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. MAYOR/COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Holmes thanked the City Attorney for the work she has done on the wrecker issue; and thanked the City Manager and city staff for their efficient responses to the citizen' s concerns and problems which he had forwarded over the last couple of weeks. Mr. Patterson mentioned the Sheriff's Office runs a good Crime Stopper Program with donations from individuals and private businesses. Mr. Patterson also discussed the issue of illegal aliens working within the city limits and suggested the issue be forwarded to the County level since the City has a limited role. He suggested a resolution be prepared to authorize the City Manager to send a letter to the County Commissioners asking they look into more vigorously enforcing the laws regarding the of hiring illegal immigrants to work in the United States, especially i n the State 0 f Florida and the County. It was noted a motion would not be necessary if there was concurrence of Council.  215 Regular Council 05- 09- 06 MAYOR/COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS ( CONTI Mr. Tucker had no objection with a letter being sent but accepted responsibility for what occurs in the City. He disagreed with passing the responsibility and expressed that the City should accept the responsibility. He mentioned the problems and expense involved with arresting and housing the immigrants before they are moved to a place where they will be properly incarcerated and returned to their home town, and questioned who would look after the illegal aliens once they are arrested. r Ted Litschauer, Fort Walton Beach Police Chief, explained the problem with arrests for immigration violations is that the officers do not have the authority to enforce it, so the immigrants end up staying. He explained the only time that Immigration and Custom Enforcement Services will undertake a L deportation is if the immigrants are convicted of a felony and serve the time, and then they will be deported. He said it just becomes a gathering, a housing, and a turn out to the street. He stated unless there is a serious punishment, it is beyond their purview and the reason that crime continues to rise is because there are no punishments suitable for the crime. Mr. Tucker asked the City Attorney if the City had the right to put a stop on construction if it is found there is an illegal alien working on the job site. The City Attorney responded no. The City Manager clarified that the City cannot just go to a job site without a reason, the Police have to have a reason to stop and question someone. Council concurred that the City Manager would prepare a letter for the Mayor's signature to send to the County Commissioners asking they more vigorously enforce the laws regarding the hiring of illegal immigrants. Mr. Tucker mentioned a news bit in the paper that reported on traffic problems on Brooks Bridge during the summer months 25 years ago. Dr. Pullen commended the Neighborhood Improvement employee on the excellent job in conducting the neighborhood meetings. He suggested that the residents be asked at their neighborhood meeting what they would like the City to look like and where it should go, with one question being what they think should be done with the fairgrounds. The City Manager advised the meetings are for the neighborhoods to bring issues to the city, and it is not a forum by which the City is soliciting input on specific issues. She said there are