Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 01-18-05 special minutes — reading text

75 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 18, 2005 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida,was held on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 7: 00 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Glenda Glover Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Dean Covey, and Mike Anderson. Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Mike Burton, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attorney; Department Directors, and media. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE The Mayor gave the invocation and led in the Pledge of Allegiance. FIGG ENGINEERING PRESENTATION Presentation from Figg Engineering on the proposed alignments for an alternative bridge to Okaloosa Island, entitled " Emerald Coast Bridge Authority Transportation Solution - Four Corridors". Charles Silcox, Regional Bridge Engineer, and Janet Hamilton, Bridge Engineer, with Figg Bridge Engineers, Inc., gave a slide presentation on the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority ( ECBA) project. The presentation included background information on the Bridge Authority as created by the Legislature in 2001 to focus on carrying out the mission of a transportation project to solve the traffic demand; the Authority members appointed by the Governor; the Authority' s Mission Statement; the Consultant Teams hired by the Authority; the project Development and Environmental Study process, the corridor solutions considered, the alignments with fatal flaws, the recommended corridors ( Wright Parkway, Beal Parkway, Brooks Bridge and Hollywood Blvd.) to be studied further; the next steps to be taken are to do a draft Independent Traffic & Revenue Feasibility Study, to analyze the corridors, to narrow the number of alignments and transportation solutions with remaining corridors, and prepare for a second community Design Charette; and in conclusion provided an email address and mailing address where input can be sent. Jay Odom, Chairman of the ECBA, explained a toll is planned for the bridge because the ultimate goal is a solution that will help solve the traffic problem and a toll will accelerate the process. Bull Rigdon, 9 Bay Drive, spoke against a bridge. Millie Thrush, 316 Sudduth Circle, spoke against a bridge on Hollywood Blvd. Jim Murtha, 21 Bay Drive NE, asked Council to take a position to tell the Bridge Authority to build the bridge some place else and not through Fort Walton Beach. Tom Rice, Mary Esther, ECBA Secretaryffreasurer, further explained the Authority members were appointed by the Governor to look at the transportation situation in the area, that they work with the DOT, that the Authority' s Mission Statement was approved by the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization ( OWTPO), that they are still looking at the situation and trying to do something that will be better down the road. He further addressed the outstanding debt of the previous bridge authority that has slowed down the process. 76 1- 18-05 FIGG PRESENTATION CONT. Bull Rigdon expressed his desire that Council make a stand on the bridge and voiced his opposition that there is not a representative from the City on the Bridge Authority. Mr. Rice explained the Governor had applicants from the City and made the choice. Lee Bobo, 38 Memorial Parkway, noted the Governor appointed the Bridge Authority to come up with a recommendation for a bridge. He commented the City can make their wishes known by taking a stand to say .- they support a bridge or they do not support a bridge because of certain reasons, and the Governor may listen; but if Tallahassee wants a bridge, then it will be built. He expressed his desire that Council take a stand on what they feel is in the best interest of the City. oiW. In response to the question on whether the Regional Transportation Authority ( RTA) has approved one of the corridors, Mr. Rice explained the TPO has approved the Mission Statement, that the Authority did not go to the OWTPO to ask for money, and that the ECBA is in a special category because they are not asking the OWTPO for any money, that the bridge will be paid for with tolls. The Mayor commented if the Council chose to say they did not want a bridge, that it is disrupting the City, then Resolutions would come from other communities and the Governor would look at that. She expressed her opposition to a bridge unless there is a regional study. Yvonne Earle, 1600 W Campbell Drive, expressed opposition to a toll on Brooks Bridge. Mr. Rice commented his understanding that the Wright Parkway bridge is still on the books for the OWTPO, and clarified they are not going to put a toll on Brooks Bridge and that there will be a Traffic and Revenue Study done. He further noted the project is a ten year process. Emil Pagliari, 1526 Heritage Road, suggested the Authority consider putting in a tunnel. Judith FIasco, 229 D Alconese SE, questioned whether the Authority would offer a voucher for individuals who could not afford a toll. It was pointed out that it is too early to make that determination. Charlene Greenwald, 206 Jet Drive NW, expressed her thoughts that they have to have a long term solution and urged Council not to take the easy way out by saying not in my backyard. Mrs. Thrush expressed her desire for a regional study. Dr. Pullen expressed his desire that the study continue and that the study be done in a regional manner. He commented it would be premature to vote on the issue at this time. Mr. Anderson noted the Authority was tasked to solve a problem in Fort Walton Beach. He also noted there is a meeting with the US DOT to look at the Highway 98 corridor from Alabama to Bay County. He agreed the study should go forward and also see what the US DOT has to say about a possible solution to the Highway 98 problem. Mr. Rice expressed the Authority does not operate in a vacuum, that they work through Department of Transportation, the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Organization, and the Regional Transportation Authority. Mr. Patterson voiced his thoughts that the Council should discuss it and look at the four corridors to come to a consensus on one of the four areas. Mr. Holmes commented it is not known what the Authority is going to do at this time and it is too early to make a decision.  1- 18- 05 77 PROPOSED NON-BINDING CRA REFERENDUM Discussion on a proposed non- binding CRA referendum concerning the powers and functions of the CRA. Consideration of a request by the City of Fort Walton Beach to authorize the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections to place a non- binding Referendum on the March 8th City General Election Ballot concerning the powers and functions of the Community Redevelopment Agency; and consideration of a Resolution of the City of Fort Walton Beach establishing the non- binding referendum question to be placed on the March 8, 2005 City General Election Ballot. Mr. Tucker explained he wants a non- binding referendum on the CRA placed on the March 8th ballot to allow the citizens to vote on matters affecting their lives. Mr. Tucker moved to approve Res. 05- 1. Dr. Pullen seconded motion. Extensive discussion was held with an exchange of views on the purpose of the referendum/public questions; the questions presented for the ballot with a IS word limit for the title and 75 word limit for the questions; the January 18th deadline extended by the Supervisor of Elections to receive the ballot wording; and possible other ways to obtain public opinion such as a mail out questionnaire or a survey in tbe Beach Bits. Dr. Pullen withdrew his second to the motion. Mr. Patterson seconded motion. Chris Gibson, 249 Brooks Street, commented that Council in the past have not listened to the public and until Council starts to listen to the citizens, a referendum is a waste of time and money. Mrs. Thrush received an explanation that the regularly scheduled Council meetings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month are televised. Valerie Wenzel, 29 Country Club Road, expressed that Council is voted in to make the hard decisions. Mr. Covey requested the question be restated. Mr. Tucker stated his motion is to ask Council to approve Res. 05- 01 placing the public questions on the March 8th ballot. Mr. Covey called for the question. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it failed by a vote of 2 to 5 with Tucker and Pullen in favor and Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Covey, and Anderson opposed. HEIGHT LIMITATION ON CONSTRUCTION Consider height limitation on construction. Dr. Pullen expressed that the motion made by Council last Tuesday was sufficient to carry the issue forward. He stated there is no reason to bring this issue up since the Municipal Planning Board is moving forward with a Special Meeting on Thursday evening. PUBLIC QUESTION Mr. Patterson moved that the City Manager draw up a public question to insert into the next newsletter. Mr. Covey seconded the motion. The City Manager commented there are some issues with some of the questions and suggested that Council take a few minutes at the Strategic Planning Session this Saturday to debate the verbiage of the questions and the language that should be placed in the Beach Bits. Mr. Covey withdrew his second. Motion died for lack of a second. It was commented the issue would be an agenda item at the Saturday Strategic Planning Session. 78 1- 18- 05 PUBLIC QUESTION CONT. Susan Myers addressed the CRA and commented that private investment is made on private property while public improvements are made in public areas. She pointed out that the CRA uses a tax increment financing that is spent in the public area for improvements to sidewalks, streetlights, parks, public parking, roadways, flooding problems, pedestrian improvements, streetscapes, stormwater ponds, underground utilities, and so forth. She expressed her hope that Council will not risk a vital source of revenue and will show positive leadership in being fiscally responsible. ( Mrs. Myers full printed comments and a handout reviewing the basics ofCRA will be placed in Council boxes.) -. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9: 20 p. m.