Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 05-22-2007 regular agenda — reading text

City time to provide requested service.  263 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 1, 2007 INTRODUCTIoN A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 5: 30 p. m. wth the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim J Hartwell, and Mike Minich Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors CALL TO. ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. STORMWATER UTILITY PLAN Presentation and discussion regarding the development of a Stonnwater Utility Plan. John Hofstad, Utilities Director; gave a PowerPoint presentation that addressed the stormwater issues facing the City. The presentation included information on the existing stormwater infrastructure that has evolved since the City was chartered in 1937 and networks through 29 individual drainage basins that cover over 4,789 acres in the City and includes 34 miles of underground stormwater pipe, 61 outfalls where stormwater meets an open body of water, 11 stormwater retention ponds, 3 miles of ditches and streams, and over 1300 curb and surface inlets. The presentation also included information on the symbiotic relationship of stormwater and water quality; water quality data; the negative impacts on the ecosystem from poor water quality; the positive impacts resulting from good water quality; background on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( NPDES) program, regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ( FDEP), that is intended to control water pollution by regulating point and non- point discharge sources and is part of a federal mandate that requires all local governments to accept responsibility for stormwater generated within their respective jurisdictions; the obligations of the City, under an NPDES Phase II MS4 permit issued by FDEP in September 2003, to implement a multitude of Best Management Practices ( BMPs) over the course of the five year permit; an overview of the NPDES compliance that includes public education and outreach, public involvement and participation, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site stormwater runoff control, post- construction stormwater management, and pollution prevention and good housekeeping; the NPDES components outstanding; and the impact of storm frequency to stormwater quantity. The presentation also included mention of stormwater drainage concerns at locations such as Powell Drive, W. E. Combs, Jonquil and Sullivan, Linstew Drive, and Ewing Court, with a more detailed description of the drainage concerns, system analysis and cost j analysis at 606 Powell Drive and the drainage concerns and solutions at W. E. Combs in the Greater Sylvania Heights area; proposed future projects and associated costs; major issues affecting stormwater; solutions to the growing needs of stormwater; potential funding mechanisms; the CIP 5220 Stormwater Utility Study; what can be expected from the stormwater utility study; and reasons to pursue a Stormwater Utility.  Council Workshop 5- 1- 07 264 STORMWATER UTILITY PLAN cont. The Finance Director gave a PowerPoint presentation that covered how a Utility is established as a separate Enterprise Fund, like water and sewer, that the Utility Fee rate schedule is determined by the rate study and added to the monthly utility bill like garbage and sanitation fees; how the Utility rate is calculated taking into consideration the permeable vs. impelVious surface area, residential vs. commercial, old vs. new construction, in establishing the base unit and qualifying fee exemptions; how to implement a Stormwater Utility by developing a CIP Program, developing a rate structure, public outreach, passing enabling ordinance, and a Master Database/ Utility Billing implementation; a timeline for the feasibility, develop data, and implementation stages with a February 2008 target date to start with revenue collection; and the bid rankings on the RFP issued in January 2007 for Engineerin~ and Consulting SelVices for a Stormwater Utility Study will be h brought to City Council on May 8 with a request from staff for direction from Council on whether or not to proceed in the development of a Stormwater Utility. Discussion included questions on additional costs to implement the stormwater utility. The City Manager stated, if approved by Council, staff will begin accounting for the costs. In response to the question on obtaining federal or state grants to fund the cost of needed projects, Mr. Hofstad replied the City has taken every opportunity to apply for and secure grants but those dollars will only go so far. Additional discussion was held on how the rate is calculated on the impelVious areas vs. permeable areas. Eric Lang, 606 Powell Drive, thanks staff for their work, stated it is an infrastructure issue and expressed his expectation for some kind of action fairly soon to alleviate the flooding problem on his property. Barry Gray, 217 Burnette, commended City staff for their efforts on behalf of the W. E. Combs neighborhood. The City Manager stated Council will have the RFP on the May 8th agenda. She encouraged Council to talk to the Finance Director or Mr. Hofstad if there are any specific questions between now and next Tuesday when it will be brought to Council for a decision and if the decision is no, then staff will have to do the projects as grant funds are available. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meetingadjoumed at 7: 30 p. m. APPROVED: MAYOR: ATTEST: CITY CLERK ddm  265 M\ NUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 8, 2007 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 5: 30 p. m. wth the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, 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 Pledge of Allegiance. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION Discussion on increasing homestead exemption from $25, 000 to $50, 000 for persons over the age of 65 whose household income does not exceed $ 20, 000. ' The City Manager recalled the constitution amendment to increase the senior homestead exemption from $25,000 to $50, 000 was passed last November, and the legislature has passed the enabling law. She reported she was notified by the Property Appraiser of a requirement that if the City wants to increase their homestead exemption for seniors from $25, 000 to $ 50, 000 that it would have to be done by ordinance by June 1st. She mentioned she heard from Okaloosa County who plan to enact it by emergency ordinance at their May 15th meeting and it is her understanding that the City of Destin also undertook the amendment to their senior exemption at their meeting last night. The City Manager reported the additional exemption would represent an increase of $32, 000 in additional exemptions resulting in a total of $ 63, 000 less in revenue. She said staff recommendation is to wait until it is known what the legislature is going to do at their special session June 12 - 22, and it is still unkno'M1 what direction they are going to go. The City Manager said if it is Council' s desire to increase the homestead exemption it would require two readings of an ordinance, ten days apart, and would require special meetings unless it would be possible to adopt an emergency ordinance. She noted the City passed the first senior homestead exemption in December 1999 and there are 276 parcels eligible. It was commented that a decision is needed by Council on whether or not to move forward and should have been placed on a Council agenda, and it was questioned why the item is on a workshop agenda. The City Manager explained it was received at the last minute and it seemed to be adiscussion item on whether or not Council is interested in pursuing, and she did not have time to give it to the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance.  Council Workshop 5- 1- 07 266 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION cant. In response to the question on what an emergency session would entail, the City Manager explained Council can hold a Special meeting for one item, which would be for the ordinance. In response to the question on when the residents would benefit from the additional exemption, the City Manager explained the Property Appraiser sends the bills in November, and if the City adopted the additional exemption by June 1 st then the seniors would receive a $ 50, 000 homestead exemption vs. a $ 25, 000 this tax year. If the City adopted it after June 1st then it would take effect November 2008. In response to the question on how the $ 20,000 is determined, whether it is gross income, net income or is taken off the tax return, the City Manager stated it is determined by the Property Appraiser. The Finance Director mentioned there are certain forms of income that are not applicable to the cap. The City Manager stated in the intervening time between now and the regular meeting, staff may be able to prepare an ordinance for Council consideration this evening for first reading, then again on May 22nd and it would meet the June 1st deadline. It was questioned whether Council could feasibly address an ordinance at the regular meeting tonight. The City Attomey responded it is feasible but Council is hearing from staff that staff is not recommending it at this time. She fJrther stated passing slap- stick legislation is not necessarily the best thing to do, and whether or not it delays a benefit to the citizens for one year is a Council decision, but with everything that is pending she thought it would be rushing legislation and not necessarily needed at this point. There was an exchange of thoughts on whether or not to adopt an ordinance by June 1 st to increase the senior homestead exemption. The City Manager mentioned if it is not adopted by June 1st and if the legislature does not pass legislation that would