Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 02-28-06 ‎(regular)‎ — reading text

February 14, 2006 City Clerk) Council Action 1st 2nd Vote: Agenda Item Number: CA- 1  105 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 6, 2006 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Monday, February 6, 2006 at the Senior Center located at 31 Memorial Parkway, SWat 5: 30 p. m. with the following members 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; Finance Director ( Helen Spencer, City Vacant); Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney; Department Directors; and Media CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order for consideration of an alternative Brooks Bridge Corridor as requested by Councilman Tucker). The Mayor requested anyone who wished to address Council to approach the podium after being recognized, and then state his or her name and address for the record. PLEDGE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. ALTERNATIVE BROOKS BRIDGE CORRIDOR Consideration of an alternative Brooks Bridge Corridor. Mr. Tucker moved to waive Roberts Rules of Order for the meeting. Dr. Pullen seconded motion and it failed for lack of a 2/ 3 majority with Patterson, Tucker, Pullen, and Hartwell in favor and Holmes, Campbell and Minich opposed. Mr. Tucker moved that the City of Fort Walton Beach will not support, and will vigorously opposed, any bridge alignment to the east of Brooks Bridge. Mr. Hartwell seconded motion. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. Mary Murtha, 21 Bay Drive, requested everyone in the audience against any bridge to stand, whereupon the majority of the 100+ people in the audience stood. Teresa Garman, Island resident, expressed opposition to a bridge west of the Brooks Bridge. Douglas Farrer, 227 Alconese Avenue #C, agreed with the motion because it will limit the effect on the neighborhoods. Dick Stovie, Island resident, disagreed with a bridge to the east of Brooks Bridge because of the higher density on the island. Gene Armbruster, 210 Hudson Drive, expressed opposition to a bridge because there is a four lane road and a four lane bridge, but commented a study has been done and they should not eliminate east of the bridge; although he would like to see no bridge, there can be a bridge right next to it. Rob Smith, 13 Bay Drive NE, voiced support of the motion. C-) 106 2- 6- 06 ALTERNATIVE BROOKS BRIDGE CORRIDOR cont. Ernie Fauson, 32 Laurie Drive, agreed there should not be a bridge to the east of Brooks Bridge. Jim Murtha, 21 Bay Drive, expressed opposition to a bridge. Ken Lange, 357 Hollywood Blvd. NE, commented a bridge going through residential areas will affect neighborhoods. Phil Babiak, 53 Yacht Club Drive, Cinco Bayou resident, voiced opposition to the motion. Bob Rettie, 317 Sudduth Circle, commented the blighted area is the best place for a bridge and voiced support of the motion. Thornber Smith, 269 Ewing Court, commented the motion brings up a question as one of the constraints that has always been imposed on locating a bridge has been that it cannot take out the south side of Highway 98, south of the Indian Temple Mound. He questioned if the motion were passed if it would offer up the corridor between Highway 98 and west Brooks Street for a potential bridge immediately to the west side of Brooks Bridge. He commented that would affect the downtown and the redevelopment efforts of 25 years if the motion were not defined a little more. As there was no one else who wished to speak, the Mayor closed public input. Mr. Minich moved to amend the motion to strike the words " alignment to the east of Brooks Bridge" and insert " currently proposed" so that the motion would read " the City of Fort Walton Beach will not support, and will vigorously oppose any bridge alignment currently proposed. Dr. Pullen seconded motion. Mr. Minich expressed understanding of a perceived need for a bridge but did not think the currently proposed alignments would solve the problem. Dr. Pullen expressed desire for a plan that would protect the citizens and would oppose any bridge that would dump all the traffic in the downtown area. Mr. Holmes commented he was not opposed to a bridge but expressed the need to look at what would be best for the citizens. He suggested the Bridge Authority be requested to slow down and see if theycan tie it in with the Regional Traffic Authority and to come back with something different. Mr.Tucker supported building a bridge because it is in the long term best interest of the City and it should be somewhere west of the Brooks Bridge and not to the east. Mr. Campbell supported the amended motion ahd expressed,opposition to the proposed bridge alignments. He expressed support for no bridge at this time. Dutch Petro, 30 Moriarity NW commented a viable construction plan that would solve the traffic I problem has not been developed and voiced support of the amended motion. Don Ware, 662 Fairway Avenue NE, mentioned the lights at both ends of Brooks Bridge as the cause of the traffic problems and voiced support of the amended motion. Martha Garvie, 315 Shell, commented a bridge is needed but there is no viable solution and encouraged everyone to work toward a solution. Amy Caldwell, 345 Hollywood Blvd SE, commented none of the proposals should be considered and expressed support of the amended motion.  107 2- 6- 06 ALTERNATIVE BROOKS BRIDGE CORRIDOR cont. Diana Moore, 119 Waynel Circle SE, voiced support of the amended motion and suggested the motion include an addition that the Bridge Authority develops a solution to solve the traffic problem. As there was no one else who wished to speak, the Mayor closed the public input. The Mayor called for the vote on the amendment to the motion to strike the words alignment to the east of Brooks Bridge" and insert " currently proposed and it carried by a vote of 5 to 2 with Holmes, Campbell, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor and Patterson and Tucker opposed. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion, as amended, that the City of Fort Walton Beach will not support, and will vigorously oppose, any bridge alignment currently proposed and it carried by a vote of 5 to 2 with Holmes, Campbell, Pullen, Hartwell and Minich in favor and Patterson and Tucker opposed. Mr. Tucker addressed the need for a bridge and the need to find a place to put it. The Mayor noted Council only opposed the three proposals of the Bridge Authority and asked if Mr. Tucker would like to address his alternative corridor. Mr. Tucker mentioned the need to spread the traffic a round, t hat anything within }' 2 mile 0 f downtown would not accomplish that, and the need to start now to build a bridge. He withdrew consideration of an alternative Brooks Bridge Corridor from the agenda. GENERAL PUBLIC Robert Smith, 13 Bay Drive NE, agreed the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority' s approach is wrong and believed a bridge should be funded by the gas tax dollars. He wished to propose a new corridor. The Mayor received clarification that Mr. Smith understood he would have an opportunity to present his alternative to the Bridge Authority at their meeting tomorrow evening and wanted Council' s support. Mr. Smith offered a solution that would propose a new six lane by- pass bridge that would rise up on the north side of Brooks Bridge. He pointed out the by- pass bridge would not go over any residential neighborhoods and would reduce traffic and extend the life of Brooks Bridge. The Mayor encouraged Mr. Smith to present his proposal to the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority tomorrow evening. Doug Farrer, 227 Alconese Avenue, #C, commented if all the bridges are opposed then the Bridge" Authority will bring in other options. Jim Murtha, 21 Bay Drive, suggested Council support and insist upon an economic impact study. Don Ware, 662 Fairway Avenue NE, expressed opposition to a toll bridge and voiced his understanding if the Department of Transportation determines a bridge is needed, it will not be a toll bridge. He suggested waiting until the Department of Transportation makes that determination and that removing a traffic light on either side of the bridge would improve the traffic situation. Mike Fiasco, 229 Alconese Avenue SE, Camp Walton Village, wished to know if there were legal means to oppose and stop the bridge. The Mayor explained Council cannot do anything legally, but they can present a resolution to oppose the bridge. 108 2-6- 06 ALTERNATIVE BROOKS BRIDGE CORRIDOR cont. The Mayor reported that clarification was received from the Supervisor of Election regarding a referendum in that no one person or group of people can call for a referendum, it has to be a governing body to call for a referendum; if it is a County referendum, the County Commissioners have to contact the Supervisors of Elections; the cost would be approximately $ 200, 000 for a separate election, it takes 120 days to prepare for an election and there is an election in November but there is not time in 2006 to do a referendum on the bridge corridor; all or one of the cities can call for a referendum but it would only be for that city limits and would cost a great deal, if a referendum is required or wanted, it should be for the entire County as a bridge would affect all the citizens. Glenda Glover, 115 Waynel Circle SE, expressed opposition to all bridges and suggested Council request a study to verify the need for a bridge and a study for no bridge. She mentioned the Regional Traffic Authority is working toward a traffic solution and there