Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 04-18-06 special minutes — reading text

177 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA APRIL 18, 2006 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich. Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Finance Director ( position vacant); 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. BUDGET POLICY ISSUES Consideration of major budget policy issues to guide the development of the Fiscal Year 2006- 07 Operational Budget and Capital Improvements Program. The City Manager recalled Council expressed a desire to have earlier development in the budget process. She mentioned the objectives of the meeting are to assist Council in understanding the City' s available revenue sources and plan of operation, and make revisions as desired; to establish service levels and funding mechanisms in accordance with Council' s service priorities; and to ascertain Council' s position 0 n certain policy issues critical to the development of the operational budget and capital improvements program for fiscal year 06- 07. The City Manager gave an overview of the economic indicators useful for evaluating the framework within which the City operates, with a 3.6% increase in the Consumer Price Index, an increase in the Consumer Confidence Index, and a decrease in the help wanted at the national level; and a 15% increase in retail sales, an 18. 6% decline in affordable housing, and a 2. 6% unemployment rate at the local level. She then gave an overview of the revenues from Ad Valorem taxes, communication services tax, franchise fees and utility taxes, State Shared Revenues, local option gas tax, and user fees. The City Manager gave an overview of the expenses for personnel services, compensation, health insurance costs, pension, operations & maintenance, capital outlay, and capital improvements. Council received clarification on the ten- year Interlocal Agreement with the County re- written in FY 02- 03 on the local option gas tax, and the additional homestead exemption adopted by the City in 1999 for r income qualified seniors; an explanation on the employees' longevity step plan currently in place with a 3% annual step increase that will max out at 20 years. The City Manager asked Council to reach a consensus on the following policy issues critical to the development of the FY 06- 07 operational budget and capital improvements program: stormwater management fee; GIS Asset Management- Utilities; Attainable Housing Partnership Program; Main Street funding; Expand CRA Public SafetY Initiative; Expand Police Take- home vehicle policy; Police pre- service hiring program; Fire Station 7 renovations; Fire Command vehicle; Tennis Center Improvements; Employee COLA; and City Manager reorganization. 178 4- 18- 06 Special Council Tennis Center Improvements Should the Tennis Center be upgraded? Erik Stenberg, Tennis Center Contractor, mentioned there were people from 34 countries at the tennis center for the first professional tennis tournament. He explained the U. S. Tennis Association ( USTA) evaluated the event and made a list of improvements needed at the facility in order to have another professional tournament at the tennis center. l J~ The City Manager explained since the transition to a tennis center contractor, the City has not spent any real capital dollars at the center. She mentioned there are certain improvements the USTA would like to see, primarily repair of the courts, and approximately $40, 000 in improvements were identified the for FY 06- the last five J 07. She noted that a lot of capital improvements have not been done at facility over noted the $ 120, 765 improvements years and the City is responsible for the facility. The City Manager identified are included in the out years of the five year plan for the center, but would have to be accelerated to meet the requirements to have another professional tournament in January 2007. it could be During some discussion it was mentioned that if some businesses wished to donate money applied to help upgrade the facility. Mr. Stenberg expressed his willingness to hold fundraising a tournament to help raise some of the money. Mr. Minich moved to commit funds for improvements to the Tennis Center ($40, 740. 00 in FY 06-07 with $15, 000 for repair to courts 8, 9, 10& 11, $ 1, 500 to replace bulbs & ballasts, $2, 800 to replace 2, 000 to repair carpet, $ 6, 500 to re- paint interior, $7, 040 for grounds maintenance contract, $ 025 in FY 07-08 with $ 7, 100 for grounds gazebos, $ 5, 900 for irrigation/ landscaping; $ 37, maintenance contract, $8, 500 for irrigation/ landscaping, $18, 000 to repair fences, $3, 000 to add light fixtures, and $ 425 for directional signs; $ 28,200 in FY 08- 09 with $ 7, 200 for grounds maintenance contract, $18, 000 to repair fences, and $3, 000 to add light fixtures; $10,300 in FY 09- 10 with $7, 300 for grounds maintenance contract, and $3, 000 to add light fixtures; and $10, 400 in FY 10- 11 with $ 7, 400 for founds maintenance contract, and $ 3, 000 to add light fixtures). Mr. Tucker seconded motion. During discussion on the need for improvements to the tennis center, a preference was expressed that funds be allocated for a fire department command vehicle: that the tennis facility can generate revenue by increasing fees; and concern was expressed that it will be seen as spending money for a private venture. Further discussion included the suggestions to make the minimum improvements to make the center a safe environment and that the tennis center fee schedule be revisited. Council expressed their satisfaction with Erik Stenberg as the contractor to operate the tennis center. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried by a vote of 6 to 1 with Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, and Minich in favor and Hartwell opposed. Stormwater Manaaement Fee Cstrateaic plan aoal) Should stormwater management costs be offset by impact and/ or user fees if the one- cent sales tax referendum fails? The City Manager explained stormwater improvements are necessary and over $13 million in stormwater needs have been identified over the next five years. Council received clarification that the request is whether Council wants to consider a revenue producing tax if the one- cent sales tax referendum fails. During discussion it was suggested that Council should start thinking of this even if the one- cent sales tax referendum is approved. Mr. Minich moved to endorsemoving forward to evaluate impact and/ or user fees to fund stormwater management projects, if the one- cent sales tax referendum fails. Mr. Campbell seconded motion.  179 Special Council 4- 18- 06 Stormwater Manaaement Fee cont. John Hofstad, Utilities Director explained the stormwater modeling and stormcad software needed for stormwater management. Mr. Holmes moved to amend the motion to also evaluate impact and/ or user fees to fund stormwater management projects, if the one- cent sales tax referendum passes. Mr. Campbell seconded motion. The Mayor called for the vote on the amendment to the motion to also evaluate impact and/ or user fees to fund stormwater management projects, ifthe one- cent sales tax referendum passes, and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion, as amended, to endorse moving forward to evaluate impact and/ or user fees to fund s tormwater management projects if t he 0 ne- cent sales tax referendum fails, and also to evaluate impact and/ or user fees to fund stormwater management projects if the one- cent sales tax referendum passes, and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. Mr. Tucker offered, since one of the major outfalls runs through his property, to place whatever the stormwater modeling would require on his property, at his expense with no cost to the City. GIS Asset Manaaement - Utilities Cstrateaic plan aoan Should the Geographical Information System ( GIS) be updated to include water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure? The City Manager explained if the sales tax initiative is successful, a portion of the cost can be offset by the proceeds; if it is not successful the project will be phased in over a five