Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 10-24-2006 ‎(regular)‎ — reading text

10- 9- 06 COURTHOUSE ANNEX cont. Commissioner Roberts noted there are two sites, one next to the fire department and the other is the parking lot ofthe fairgrounds. He wished to know ifthe price per acre were different for both sites, or ifthe parties will try to come to an agreement on a figure per acre. He requested clarification on which parcels are being considered. The Mayor explained the City has been addressing the four different alternatives, AI, A2, A3, and A4, presented by HLM. Councilman Hartwell commented that none ofthe schemes mention the amount of acreage needed which will be an important factor in making a decision. He stated the City would need to know how many acres the County would need and, if the fair grounds were to stay, how much of the parking space it would encroach. The Mayor mentioned it is also important to know, ifthe City goes forward with the master planning for the whole area, how much acreage the County would need and ifthere is a preference ofthe four sites. Mr. Curry stated they have been discussing approximately 15 acres to accommodate, the facility, the parking and the necessary storm water. Councilman Pullen favored scheme A3 design because it would keep the ball fields intact, and noted that part of the property could be used for joint parking. He suggested they look at what is needed for the building and work out joint parking facilities. Commissioner Amunds questioned whether it would be possible under scheme A3 to keep the fair grounds and work out an Interlocal Agreement for the Complex, Fairgrounds, and the Annex to share the parking, rather than the County actually purchasing the parking area and the City would still own it. Councilman Pullen suggested the County could purchase part of the parking lot and an Interlocal Agreement could be entered into for shared parking. Councilman Minich favored a solution that would allow the fairgrounds and the Courthouse Annex to be on the site. He liked the solution of a joint use parking lot with the City to retain ownership but favored design scheme A2 with the ball fields moved back. He stated the City paid the appraised value and the property should be sold for the appraised value, but only for the site the County needs with the City to retain the parking lot area and receive a yearly fee for maintenance ofthe parking lot, and be able to plan for parking in emergency situations. The Mayor noted, for clarification, that Schemes Al and A2 show the site design on the softball fields in the southeast quadrant and would cause the soft ball fields to be moved, and Scheme A3 and A4 show the site design in the parking lot in the southwest quadrant. Councilman Hartwell wished to know how far north 15 acres would go if placed in the parking lot of the southwest quadrant in order to see the impact on the present fairgrounds operation. Commissioner Campbell wished to know how much of the 15 acres would be for shared parking. Mr. Curry estimated approximately 7 -8 acres for the building and stormwater and approximately 7- 8 acres for parking.  Special Council 10- 9- 06 69 COURTHOUSE ANNEX cont. The City Manager commented it is likely they would have to shift one of the ball fields in order to accommodate all three uses, the ball fields, the fairgrounds, and the annex, on that property; or put additional in an area outside of where the parking is currently for the Fair Association and parking the ball fields. It was noted that the parking lot is a little over 7 acres and the ball fields is a little over 12 acres. Councilman Tucker voiced support of shared parking. He stated the City carries the community for bear everything and receives little compensation and expressed his desire that the County should more ofthe burden for the parking and the recreation. He said he would only support anything that gives the City more of an opportunity to make money. The Mayor wished to know ifthe County, individually or collectively, had come up with a preferred location if the annex were to be located at that property. Mr. Curry stated the County has not had discussion on a and asked HLM Design to look at the property and give a visual aid preference only how it would fit if it were located on that site, which is where the four different scenarios came from. The Mayor noted that one of the alternate designs has a three story structure and another has a five structure with a parking garage, and wished to know why a parking garage would be needed if story the structure were higher. Mr. Curry explained that HLM Design was asked to giv.e different scenarios with the height limitation at 50' and ifthat were not an issue to give a visual with a footprint for a five story facility, and to show how the surface parking would be reduced if a parking garage was added. He said they are working tools with different visuals to see how much land area would be required. Councilman Minich commented it had not been decided whether two of the ball fields could be moved to the north. He expressed his thought that there is enough land to accommodate both the a need to pre- position fairgrounds and the annex and still have parking. He commented if there is large equipment in the event of an emergency situation that it could not be done if there was a parking garage. Commissioner Campbell wished to hear from the Council members which parcel they think is the best parcel they would offer the County that would accommodate the City' s needs, the Fairground needs, and the County' s needs, Councilman Tucker stated the southwest comer. Councilman Pullen stated the southwest comer, but with the short end of the thought they could go with anything as long as the citizens do not end up stick. Commissioner Campbell questioned whether there was enough in the southwest comer for 15 acres if there is no shared parking. the The City Manager stated it is not known at this point, but ifthere is a general consensus ofwhere Council and Commission are interested, then staffs can work out the particulars and bring it back to each body individually or collectively. 0- ._. _'__'_"'_'__' ~ -.  70 Special Council 10- 9- 06 COURTHOUSE ANNEX cont. Councilman Hartwell stated he had no problem with the southwest corner but it is only 7 acres and noted that would not be enough. He also did not have a problem with moving the ball fields north to give the County the entire frontage so that the lower portion of scheme A2 and all of A3 should give the County enough acreage for the facility, retention ponds, and parking. Councilman Minich believed the southeast corner is the best solution; visually it separates the two with a parking lot from the fairgrounds, would provide staff parking off to the side ofthe facility, and it would be the best for emergency management situations. i Councilman Holmes expressed he was not so concerned they did not need to be site specific right now, and commented the County has not actually said what they need. Councilman Patterson recalled the City initially bought the small acreage for the citizens and as a buffer for Eglin and stated now the City is going in a total different direction on what he thought was the initial plan for the purchase. He said the County has far more options for land purchase than the City has land to grow or develop for the City. He did not see any way to do it without cutting into the ball fields, cutting in the fairgrounds, and taking a piece ofproperty that is for the benefit ofthe citizens of the City. He said there is no more property available and once the property is gone, it is gone and there will be no more open air events. He stated he could not go along with the whole thing. Councilman Campbell agreed it is a little early to pick a place but did favor the southwest corner. He thought the City Manager and County Administrator could meet to work it out. He believed they should be agreeable as a group to work together to make it work. The Mayor noted there are six in favor of pursuing it with the County to place the Courthouse Annex on city owned property at 1950 Lewis Turner. Commissioner Amunds wished to know ifthe survey shows where the fairground building is located and how far it sets back. The City Manager stated the City does have that information. Glenda Glover, 115 Wayne! Circle, former Mayor, recalled it was discussed at the time that the property was to be a buffer zone for Eglin, and reminded Council it was worked out with the fairgrounds, and there was nothing about selling the property. She expressed it should stay open and it should be known it is a buffer for Eglin A.F.B. She expressed disappointment in Council. Jerry Melvin, 840 Santa Rosa Court, mentioned the Florida Statutes provides for lnterlocal Agreements. He expressed preference for an Interloca1 Agreement rather than the parties exchanging money and deeds. He would like to see the fairgrounds stay and everyone have use of joint parking. He mentioned that the fairgrounds have done a great job in providing a service not only times of a disaster but also for recreation for the citizens. Allan Stearns, 2 lpswich Circle, commented the ball fields are underused, that there are other soft ball fields that are not used, and did not think three ball fields are needed at that site. He commented it looks like there is plenty ofproperty for the fair, the County, and the City. He recommended they consider both sides and make the new Courthouse Annex at the site on Lewis Turner Boulevard as it meets all the public needs and would be accessible to those who use it. L._  Special Council 10- 9- 06 71 COURTHOUSE ANNEX cont. Kabe Woods, 29 Country Club Road,