Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 08-26-08 regular agenda — reading text

for preserving elements of a site or structure; resolving conflicts; providing for severability; and an effective date. ( CDS Director) ( See Backup) Municipal Planning Board Recommendation: Approval (6 -0) ( 817108) 16. Future Agenda Items. ( City Manager) (See Backup) 17. Consideration of Resolution ( 08 -34) of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, amending the Comprehensive Fee Schedule of the City for the Utilities Department by adding a fee for Stormwater Management Utility Services; and setting an effective date. Utilities Director) ( See Backup) 18. Consideration of Resolution ( 08 -35) of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; modifying the Matching Streetscape Grant Program to authorize application review and grant award up to $ 5, 000 by the Community Development Services Director; and providing an effective date. ( CDS Director) ( See Backup) 19. Consideration of Resolution ( 08 -33) of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, accepting funding through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Forestry) for the purchase of a compact utility loader; authorizing the City Manager to execute the funding agreement; authorizing the Parks and Recreation Director to oversee the project; and setting an effective date. ( Parks and Recreation Director) ( See Backup) 20. Consideration of establishing City of Fort Walton Beach Legislative Priorities for the 2009 State Legislative Session. ( Mayor Anderson) ( See Backup) 21. Consideration of elimination of the regularly scheduled City Council workshops. Council Member Minich) ( See Backup) 22. Consideration of an alternate appointment to the Code Enforcement Board. ( City Clerk) ( See Backup) 23. Consideration of appointment of a Beautification Committee/Tree Board representative to the Vision Plan Stewardship Committee. ( City Clerk) ( See Backup) 24. Consideration of appointments to the Fort Walton Beach Youth Committee. ( City Clerk) ( See Backup) 25. Other City Business for discussion purposes. 26. Mayor /Council Announcements 27. City Manager Announcements ADJOURN Any person who decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter at this meeting will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. (FS286. 0105) The City of Fort Walton Beach adheres to the American with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to this meeting upon request. Please can City Clerk Helen Spencer at 850 -833 -9509 to make a request. For Hearing Impaired dial the City Hall TDD # 850 -833 -9925 or 1- 800 -955 -8771 ( TDD) or 1- 800 -955 -8770 ( Voice). Requests must be received at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting in order to allow the City time to provide requested service.  CITY COUNCIL MEETING August 26, 2008 Approval of Agenda No Backup) Council Action 1 St 2nd Vote: Agenda Item Number: 1  CITY COUNCIL MEETING August 26, 2008 Consent Agenda Approval of Minutes: Special Council, August 11, 2008 Council Workshop, August 12, 2008 Regular Council, August 12, 2008 City Clerk) Council Action 1 St 2nd Vote: Agenda Item Number: 2  201 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 11, 2008 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Monday, August 11, 2008, at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Dr. Wayne Pullen, and Mike Minich Absent: Virgil Miller and Jim Hartwell Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Brandy Wunker, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. TENTATIVE AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE FOR FY 2008/ 09 Consideration of setting the tentative ad valorem millage rate for FY 2008 -09. Charlotte Dunworth, Budget/ Grant Manager, gave an overview of the budget process, explaining that the tentative millage rate is the rate that will be shown on each property owner's Notice of Proposed Taxes" ( TRIM Notice) sent by the Property Appraiser, and that the tentative millage rate is important because once it is set it cannot be increased without the additional expense of formal re- notification to each taxpayer. However, the tentative millage rate may be reduced without formal re- notification to each taxpayer. Ms. Dunworth advised that Staff proposes a FY 2008 -09 tentative millage rate of 4. 1986 mills, which is the same as the FY 2007 -08 millage rate. Ms. Dunworth advised the roll -back rate is 4. 6883, and explained because of the decrease in taxable value, the roll -back rate is actually a roll -forward rate this year, as a higher millage rate is required to generate the same amount of tax revenue due to the lower taxable value. Ms. Dunworth explained that the Florida Legislature requires adoption of a millage rate dependent upon the affirmative vote of the governing body, and that a maximum millage rate of 4.4190 can be adopted with a majority vote of Council ( 4 votes). Ms. Dunworth advised the Staff recommendation is to retain the millage rate at 4. 1986, which would result in $ 410,727 less revenue in the General Fund, and to set the dates and times of the public hearings for the budget on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 5: 30 pm, and Mondays September 22, at 5: 30 p. m. Mr. Minich questioned whether a millage rate of 4.4190 would mean an increase or decrease in taxes for the average homeowner. The City Manager responded it would probably mean a decrease in taxes, and would depend on the assessed value of a homeowner's property. 202 Special Council 08/ 11/ 08 TENTATIVE AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE FOR FY 2008109 ( CONT) The City Manager continued that State Statute states that if ad valorem taxes are not adjusted by cost of living, taxes can be adjusted by 3 %, so depending on whether a homeowner is eligible for a homestead exemption, a homeowner could see an increase because the property appraiser would have automatically increased their assessment. The Mayor opened the public hearing. As there was none, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Minich moved to set the FY 2008 -09 tentative millage rate for ad valorem taxes at 4.4190 mills. Mr. Garvie seconded motion. Mr. Minich stated he appreciated Staff's efforts in preparing the budget, but the higher millage rate will allow Council room to work with while discussing the budget, and that the millage rate can be lowered. Mr. Garvie stated that 67% of the citizens voted for the amendment to lower taxes, but there are consequences and reminded citizens they will not receive the services that higher taxes would provide. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich, in favor (Miller and Hartwell absent). The Mayor asked for a vote to confirm the dates and times of the public hearing for the budget. Mr. Minich moved to confirm the dates and times of the public hearings for the budget as follows: Special Council meetings on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 5: 30 pm and Monday, September 22, 2008 at 5: 30 p.m. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. Mr. Garvie advised he has tried to set his schedule around the meetings, but with the change in days from Wednesday to Monday, he will not be able to attend the meeting on Monday, September 15. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried by a vote of 4 to 1 with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, and Minich in favor and Pullen opposed ( Miller and Hartwell absent). ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p. m. APPROVED: MAYOR: ATTEST: CITY CLERK Ive  203 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 12, 2008 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at 5: 30 p. m. with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Mayor Pro Tem; Dr. Wayne Pullen, and Mike Minich Absent: Councilmen Virgil Miller and Jim Hartwell Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Brandy Wunker, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and reported that Mr. Miller is receiving medical treatment in Houston, and Mr. Hartwell is out of town. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Minich questioned Item 4, Other Business, on the agenda and what other items the Mayor might want to discuss. The Mayor responded if there is time, he wanted to discuss an e- mail sent out after the last Council meeting regarding the legalities of the Mayor and City Manager setting the agendas prior to meetings. Mr. Minich moved to approve the agenda, including Item 4, Other Business, as the order of the day. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. Dr.Pullen stated his understanding the original motion to establish workshops was that an agenda was not needed and it was open to any discussion, and that discussion can go beyond what is on the agenda. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Miller and Hartwell absent). WORKSHOP AGENDA Discussion regarding the progress of the Sister City relationship with Kristinehamn, Sweden. The Mayor advised that the meeting would begin with a seven -minute DVD presentation, prepared by the people of Kristinehamn, to give an idea of the community the City is exploring the possibility of having a sister -city relationship with. Following the presentation, Erik Stenberg, 808 Dawn Lane, contractor of the Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center and overseer of the Sister City initiative, explained that further relations fostered by