Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 01-07-2012 - special - retreat — reading text

1 Draft Minutes -- City of Fort Walton Beach Special Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach Council Retreat Saturday, January 7, 2012 8: 30 AM 107 Mhucle Strip Parkway Fort Walron Beach, 1 L 32568 1. CALL TO ORDER 8: 30 AM Meeting was called to order on January 7, 2012 at Two Trees Restaurant, 1955 Lewis Turner Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Mike Anderson Mayor Present Bobby Griggs Council Seat I Present joyce gossom Council Seat 2 Present Dennis Reeves Council Seat 3 Present Trey Goodwin Council Seat 4 Present Bobby Nabors Council Seat - Present Bull Rigdon Council Seat 6 Present Dick earson Council Seat Present Also Present: Department Directors and City Attorney 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 1. Approval of Agenda The vote on the motion to approve the agenda as nted.carried unanimously. RESULT: APPROVED [ UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dick Rynearson, Council Seat 7 SECONDER: Bull Rigdon, Council Seat 6 AYES: Griggs, gossom, Reeves, Goodwin, Nabors, Rigdon, Rynearson ACTION ITEMS Paid Time Off Discussion and direction regarding the implementation of Paid Time Off. The City Manager informed he is seeking direction from Council as to whether the issue of Paid Time Off (PTO) should be pursued during the budget policy workshop in May. City Council ofFort Walton Beach Page 1 Printed 111212012 202 Special Meeting Minutes January 7, 2012 Sylvia Hanks, Administrative Services Director, explained the benefits and flexibility of a PTO plan and noted if the City adopted this type of plan, it would be required for new employees and existing employees would be grandfathered in if they so desired. Discussion included the importance of having bereavement or compassionate time off, which the City currently does not offer; offering a short or long term disability through the City's insurance A carrier if the employees wish to have it; other alternative forms of time off, such as eight 9 -hour work days and one 8 -hour work day, with every other Friday off; and special circumstances that warrant additional time including jury duty and military obligations such as the reserve or the National Guard. Consensus of Council was for Staff to come back during the budget cycle with a proposal for Paid Time Off, with a consideration for bereavement and/ or compassionate leave to be included. 2. Pension Plan Reform Discussion and direction regarding Pension Plan Reform. Brandy Ferris, Finance Director, informed the City is looking closely at modifying the existing pension plans for the Police Officers' Pension Plan, the Firefighters' Pension Plan, and the General Employee's Pension Plan, in a cost -saving effort. Ms. Ferris advised the Police and Fire Pensions Plan are administered by individual board of Trustees and the City Council serves as the board of Trustees for the General Employees Pension Plan. Ms. Ferris stated the City is requesting direction from Council on whether or not to explore various cost -saving options. Options considered include allowing changes to be effective only for employees who were hired after a certain date; allowing changes to be effective for all employees not yet vested in benefits, but no changes for employees already vested; allowing changes to be effective immediately, except for those within a certain number of years of retirement; or allow changes to be effective immediately for all employee participants. Consensus of Council was for Staff to move forward and explore the pros and cons of changes for the City's three pension plans with the City's Pension Attorney and/ or Actuary( s). 3. Okaloosa County Sheriff Contract Discussion and direction regarding the Okaloosa County Sheriff Contract. The City Manager advised he transmitted the information requested by the Sheriffs Department to them on December 22, 2011. Mr. Rynearson expressed concern with sharing this information with the Sheriffs Department and requested the item be placed on the agenda for Council discussion. Discussion included the fact that a lot of discussion will be needed between the Police Department and Sheriffs Department to find out particulars and that it will not be a .quick process. Also discussed was that criteria must be met to provide the best services available if a contract were to be considered. City Council ofFort Walton Beach Page 2 Printed 111212012  203 Special Meeting Minutes January 7 2012 It was mentioned that a referendum on the subject has been suggested but has not been discussed on an official basis. 4. City Owned Land Sales or Swaps Discussion and direction regarding City Owned Land Sales or Swaps. The Mayor requested a status on the surplus properties within the City. It was noted that each C property has been appraised and the City knows the cost, and if developers are interested they can contact the City. The Mayor mentioned the property next to the library could be of some use to the City for additional parking for the library, and the property owner has expressed an interest in swapping the property with other property within the City. The City Manager advised the seven lots located on Sotir in the Bayou Woods subdivision can be put on the market, and requested placement on the January 24, 2012 agenda. He explained the process that must be followed for the sale of surplus property. The City Manager continued the larger parcel in Bayou Woods is unstable and would require either excavation and backfill or pilings to support any load bearing structures; however, the seven lots do not appear to be affected by these problems. The property the City owns at 25 Miracle Strip is contaminated but it can be cleansed and the process would take about a year. The property on Memorial Parkway where the Senior Center is located is ready for sale but the Senior Center must remain until the new recreational facility is completed. The City Manager explained the City received the property through a dedication to be used for recreational purposes, and if sold and not used for recreation, it would revert back to the original owner, the Liza Jackson Land Company, who could sell the property. Council advised to begin conversation with them now and the City Manager advised he would place this as an agenda item for the January 24, 2012 meeting. The other property ready for sale is at 243 Hollywood, the Nelson Davis property. Consensus was to move forward with beginning the process of selling these three properties. 5. Business Retention /Attraction Incentives Discussion and direction regarding Business Retention/ Attraction Incentives. Discussion ensued on ways to recruit downtown retail through the use of incentives, lower business license fees, and the need to provide staff to market the area. Michael Beedie, Engineering/Utifities Director, informed the CRA will meet in February to reprioritize economic incentives that were discussed last year, which included a job creation bonus program and exterior improvement assistance program. Also discussed was partnering with various organization, such as the TDC and realty associations. City Ca o cil ofFort Walton Beach Page 3 Printed 11122012 204 Special Meeting Minutes January 7, 2012 The meeting recessed at 9: 45 am. The meeting reconvened at 9: 50 am. 6. CPA Street Lighting Discussion and direction regarding CRA Street Lighting. Mr. Rynearson requested the process for the City to install new street lights in the CRA area. He noted he has been on streets where the lighting is not sufficient, while other streets have too much lighting. * 40 Mr. Beedie reported the last streetlighting survey was conducted by Gulf Power in 1990 and advised the City is working with Gulf Power to see what it would take to conduct an updated study. 7. Hollywood Boulevard City Facilities Discussion and direction regarding Hollywood Boulevard City Facilities. Discussion centered on City facilities along Hollywood Blvd. as appearing aging and dated and the time has come to think about consolidation of some of these facilities. The City Manager stated the City is working on consolidating with the county on fleet maintenance services, which would leave that area where the field offices are as surplus, making it more valuable. The City Manager noted that if this area was consolidated behind Pump Station 1 on Robin wood, the property could be placed on the market or used as an additional source of land for the recreational complex. Discussion ensued that this would be a long -term project and would have to be aligned with funding availability. 8. Utility Billing Code and Practices Discussion and direction regarding Utility Billing Code and Practices. Mr. Reeves advised he had this issue placed on the agenda for discussion and clarification regarding non -payment of water bills. Brandy Ferris, Finance Director, explained how the billing cycle works and noted approximately 1400 notices are sent out each month, with between 80 to 120