Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 07-12-2000 Special — reading text

289 C, .' c, .", '. ." A Special Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Wednesday, July 12, 2000, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: I Mayor Glenda Glover Councilmen: Clay Carnathan, Janet Baggett, Jim Dowling, Jim Tucker, Dean Covey, Chuck Kelley, Margie Collins (arrived at 5:40 p.m.) Also Present: Reid Silverboard, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Oerk; Joyce Shanahan, Finance Director; Charles Turner, Construction/ Contract Manager; Police Chief Steve Hogue; Fire Chief Phillip Green; Gene Peters, Parks and Recreation Director; Carol Hill,. Library Director i i!;"-"',," : ...... . "". .-..... J~~"~\; R^""} ~~ J~~: The Mayor called the meeting to order and wekomed everyone. She advised the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the programming aspect of the police/ fire facilities and the library facility. ot'~~~~- rlf~~ ~ 7~'~': T r'i'17'~~~~ 1t; r''=~<"'~ T~' ~'1W (~ ~~~~ w~~~~~ 4'*,".~ w~,_~" r!",,~ W"~"" $""~",,,,,, I;.,,,,,t.' <' ",-, ;&~"" ". '""'~ Dart W. Davis with the architect firm of Barganier Davis Sims discussed the concept cost analysis for the new police station and fire station renovation. He reviewed the preliminary design selected by Council and discussion included relocating the truck bays from the east side of the fire station to the west side, or an option to construct two new bays on the west end of the building and leaving the existing bays on the east end for storage of trailers and large equipment. The City Manager advised a motion is needed from Council to accept the programming document and authorization to proceed on the schematic design phase. He advised if Council wants the initial schematic design developed to show the option discussed that it should be part of the motion also. Councilman Dowling stated that before a decision is made he would like estimates for furnishings and equipment for the new facilities, and directed the City Manager put together a total budget based on the present programming and report back to Council in a couple of weeks. V':"";'~~~'~ c'" *,.~,",.!.." , o'., ,.,' f.';''' 4 J~~~~ ~~ Ward Friszolowski with the architect firm of Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe distributed an updated version of the programming document. Mr. Friszolowski explained a preliminary list of required spaces was developed after meetings with the City Manager, Project Manager and Library Director. The summary of space needs was subdivided into four categories and consideration was given to the number of users, staff, use of space, collection counting,seating count, and specific environmental and engineering requirements for each space. Mr. Friszolowski presented three preliminary site plans to Council for their consideration, two one-story designs and a plan. All three plans put the building on the East Side of the property and would allow two-story I the main entrance to be on the West Side along a 3O-foot wide walkway off Miracle Strip Discussion included the future Around the Mound project and whether it would cause traffic library entrance; whether Parkway. parking will be adequate at the site; whether a noise problem will exist since the library will be located on a major highway; and the possibility of enclosed parking for safety purposes. problems at the Mr. Dowling left the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jerry Ehlers, 355 NE Gardner Drive, advised that noise should not be considered an issue and that the site is a good one for the library.  7/ 12/ 00 290 Perry Lord, MainStreet Program Manager, feels that parking will not be a problem since the present lots are only about 20% full at any given time, except during special events. Councilman Tucker continued to express his displeasure at the site selected for the library. Chris Gibson, 249 Brooks Street, suggested that Council consider the property behind City Hall where the ball fields are for the library. The City Manager reiterated what had been explained in past discussion regarding the library site, including that past Councils have indicated they do not want the library located behind City Hall Also, if the library is built using grant money, a condition is that the new facility cannot be attached to the existing library. He also addressed the elevation issue and advised the site would have to be filled to at least 11 feet. Ken Schubert, 12 Sherwood Lane, advised that according to a public poll, the majority of the public is not happy with the downtown location, and that Council should listen to what the public wants. Mr. Carnathan moved to direct the architect to develop the one-story site plan with the public space in front as a preliminary site plan for the library. Mrs. Collins seconded motion and it carried by a vote of 4 to 2 with Carnathan, Covey, Kelley, and Collins in favor and Baggett and Tucker opposed (Dowling absent). Mr. Carnathan moved to direct the architect to carry forward with the programming as discussed with the various minor changes addressed Mr. Covey seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Carnathan, Baggett, Tucker, Covey, Kelley, and Collins in favor (Dowling absent). Mr. Tucker moved to direct the City Manager to start a site evaluation of the site directly behind the existing library as a possible location for the new library. Mrs. Baggett seconded motion and it failed by a vote of 2 to 4 with Baggett and Tucker in favor and Carnathan. Covey, Kelley, and Collins opposed ( Dowling absent). The Mayor distributed a draft letter from the Okaloosa County League of Cities to the County Commissioners regarding the League's concern as to whether a vote for the one-cent sales tax would be called for by the County. The Mayor advised if Council approves, the letter will be signed by the nine Mayors and forwarded to the County. Consensus of Council was to have the letter signed and forward to the County. A_ Mrs. Baggett announced the Kiwanis Club has agreed to fund the Children's Fishing Pier Project. Council thanked Mr. Tucker for his efforts in this worthwhile cause. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Al!Jn a CITY CLERK ~