Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 01-08-08 regular minutes — reading text

advanced of what the department currently has and they are free. He explained the grant was advertised to all the haz mat teams and although they do not have a haz mat team but are part of a haz mat team, they applied, as well as the haz mat team, and the fire department received it. Mr. Minich moved to accept the grant from the Department of Homeland Security, Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. CRA FUNDS TO PURCHASE TWO LOTS Consideration of a request to use CRA funds to purchase two lots at 110 and 112 Methodist Avenue for the construction of two Habitat for Humanity homes and reimburse Habitat for Humanity for these purchases. If approved, sufficient funds are available in the CRA Fund. The CDS Director noted the CRA Board recommended approval. In response to the question on the amount of money, the CDS Director replied they do not have an exact figure at this time but there is a cap of up to $ 175, 000. 00 for both lots which will include reimbursement up to the appraised value of $ 135, 000 plus costs of the appraisal, survey, title work, closing fees and demolition costs. It was questioned why the item was on the consent agenda with an expenditure of up to $ 175, 000. The City Manager replied it was part of the budget. It was noted that the market value in 2007 was $ 127, 000 and it was questioned why the City is paying above the market value. Nitsi Bennett, President/CEO for Habitat for Humanity, said the property has been appraised at 135, 000; within three months it went down around $ 40, 000. She said initially when they spoke with Ms. Sledge it was sitting at $ 160, 000 which was less than what she had it on the market for. She said the Habitat Board of Directors will pay anything over $ 135, 000. She said the City will pay I up to the appraised value which is $ 135, 000 and Habitat will pay $ 25, 000, and they have a line of cred it to pay for it. Regular Council 1- 8- 08 275 CRA FUNDS TO PURCHASE TWO LOTS cont. Confusion was expressed over the three different figures of two lots at $ 160, 000, a not exceed 175, 000, and an appraised value of $135, 000, and it was questioned the amount the City would fund. The CDS Director explained the City will fund the $ 135, 000 appraised value plus the costs for the appraisal, the survey, the title work, the closing fees, and the demolition costs, not to exceed $ 175, 000. Ms. Bennett further explained that Habitat will pay the costs and submit invoices for reimbursement. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As no one wished to speak public input was closed. Mr. Minich moved to approve the use of CRA funds up to $ 175,000 to reimburse Habitat for Humanity up to the appraised value of $135,000 for the purchase of two lots at 110 and 112 Methodist Avenue SE, plus the cost of the appraisal, the survey, the title work, the closing fees, and the demolition costs. Mr. Miller seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The City Manager mentioned a question arose on the workshop meetings for the Charter review and explained due to the enormous task of a comprehensive Charter review a separate single item workshop for each of the four primary sections of the Charter was scheduled for the third Tuesday in February, March, April, and May. Clarification was also given that the workshop to review the Pension Plans will be held on March 25th because that is when the Police and Fire Pension Attorney is available. There was some discussion on the Charter process review, the deadline to place on the November or March ballot, and receiving public input. The City Manager mentioned that Council would make their determination during the Charter review then staff would take it to the neighborhood committees to receive feed back and support. For review of the Charter, it was the desire of Council to receive prior to the first workshop in February copies of charters from communities similar in size and services provided, the National Civic League Model Charter Workbook, and a time table for the deadline to place a proposed Charter change on the ballot for November 2008 or March 2009, and the City Manager will provide a matrix summary of each section for review. RES. 08- 03. APPROPRIATE PROPERTY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING The Mayor read the resolution by title. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, PURSUANT TO SECTION 166. 0451, FLORIDA STATUTES ( 2007), FINDING THAT THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, DOES NOT OWN ANY PROPERTY THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR USE AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING; AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The CDS Director stated staff reviewed the list of all City owned parcels and recommends to Council that at this time there is no property owned by the City that is suitable for affordable housing. The City Manager mentioned a few years ago Council tasked the City Clerk to identify vacant property that could be developed for affordable housing and subsequently the parcels identified have been sold. She said the City has undertaken a review of this nature in the recent past which is why staff does not believe there are any additional parcels that could be sold or transferred to someone for affordable housing. In response to the question on the criteria for acceptable property, the CDS Director explained the zoning, the size and current use of the property was reviewed, and those parcels that are in residential zoning are either pump stations, small pieces of right- of-way, or have specific uses, and none were found that were of a size suitable for any project.  1- 8- 08 Regular Council 276 RES. 08- 03 cont. There was a question posed on two parcels, 83 & 172, slated to be future mini parks that are currently leased for use by the Boy Scouts. The City Manager explained there is no intention to develop a park until the boy scouts no longer wish to lease the properties. She also mentioned there are two parcels, parcel 20 on Hollywood and parcel 77a at the end of Sotir, that have undetermined fill as well as drainage issues which is why they are not suitable for development. It was clarified that the reason for the resolution is because the State adopted a statute that required cities to identify any city owned land that could possibly be used for affordable housing. It was questioned whether any outside agencies had reviewed the list to determine whether any properties are suitable for affordable housing. The CDS Director stated the list had not been presented to an outside source but the Public Works Department and the Engineering Division did extensive work to prepare the list which is inclusive of information on the use of the property, I future land use designation and zoning in order to determine if there were any potential properties. The City Manager mentioned the purpose of the list is to hold a public meeting on the list so that others have access to the information. It was noted that on parcel 94a the developer for the area was required to set that parcel aside as green area, and the parcel is currently being leased by the Mormon Church. It was questioned whether the list would be posted on the web site. The City Manager noted there are certain itemsprotected by the bioterrorism act that will need to be redacted from the list then it can be posted to the web site. Nate Smith, 949 Pocahontas, received confirmation that the list can be available on the web within a week. Mr. Minich moved to adopt Res. 08- 03. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. It was mentioned that Parcel 2 is a low cost lease used by Head Start as in- kind service to receive their funding. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, P~ lIen, Hartwell, and Minich In favor. BLUE CROSS/ BLUE SHIELD INSURANCE RENEWAL Consideration of a request to authorize the City Manager to execute a renewal of the City of Fort Walton Beach Medical Insurance Program with Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Florida. Mark Wiltsie, Human Resources Director, advised that Staff is recommending award of the medical insurance program to Blue Cross/ Blue Shield for their 3559 Plan ( to replace the current 1752 Plan with similar features), and continuation of the 702 buy- up plan and the 1352 buy- down plan for those employees who choose those plans, beginning February 1, 2008. I Council received clarification that the 750/ 0 City contribution and the 25% employee/ family contribution did not change. The City Manager noted that at the beginning of the renewal process Blue Cross/ Blue Shield had proposed a 20- 250/0 increase in benefits, and that Staff worked hard to get that down to an increase of 7. 60/0. Regular Council 1- 8-08 277 BLUE CROSS/ BLUE SHIELD INSURANCE RENEWAL cont. Mr. Miller moved to authorize the City Manager to execute a renewal agreement with Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Florida to provide medical insurance coverage to City employees, retirees and COBRA participants for the claim year February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, as follows: 1) The 3559 Blue Options Base Plan. Single Coverage $ 370. 49 per month; Family Coverage $ 1, 012. 55 per month. 2) The 702 Blue Choice Buy-Up Plan. Single Coverage $ 469. 13 per month; Family Coverage $ 1, 283. 05 per month. 3) The 1352 Buy Down Plan. Single Coverage $ 342. 76 per month; Family Coverage 936. 77 per month. Mr. Garvie seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. Council commended the efforts of Staff in keeping the cost of health care as low as possible for the City employees. RES. 08- 02. RATIFY TERMS OF MASTER EQUIPMENT LEASE/ PURCHASE AGREEMENT The Mayor read the resolution by title. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, RATIFYING THE TERMS OF THE MASTER EQUIPMENT LEASE/ PURCHASE AGREEMENT EXECUTED ON APRIL 3, 2002, AND AMENDED ON OCTOBER 25, 2004, BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE NO. 03537- 00300; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO