Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 01-09-07 workshop minutes — reading text

141 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 9, 2007 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 5: 30 p. m. wth the following members present: I""'" Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Bob Campbell ( Mayor Pro Tem), Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich Absent: Mayor Mike Anderson Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attomey; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor Pro Tem called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor Pro Tem led in the Pledge of Allegiance. QUESTION ON PARLEMENTARY PROCEDURE Mr. Minich questioned whether the next two agenda items should be on both the Council workshop agenda and the regular Council meeting agenda. He expressed his understanding that if an item requires an action by Council then it should not be on a workshop agenda; and if it is not for Council action, he questioned why it is on the next agenda. He believed both items should be removed from the workshop agenda and requested a ruling from the Chair. The City Attomey stated during a workshop the Council does not make a decision and it is within the Chairs prerogative as to whether there will be discussion on the items. There was some discussion on whether or not the items should be discussed at the workshop or at the regular Council meeting. Mr. Minich requested a ruling from the Chair. The Mayor Pro T em expressed his belief the items should not be brought up in a workshop then voted on at the regular Council meeting tonight as Council should ha\e more time to look at it. The City Attomey stated it is not really an issue of parliamentary procedure because of the fact that workshops are really not designated in Roberts Rules of Order, but once Council is in the workshop they are. She commented what she is hearing is that if there is not proper wording of the agenda item then it does leave a question on why it is there. She said if the agenda item is presented to the City r" Manager and it is not requesting an action, then she would construe that simply a discussion matter and it is not an action matter until it is further defined in the regular agenda. She said having them back to back does create a problem because Council has not had time to formulate what action, if any, may be necessary. She said at this point it is up to Council whether or not to discuss the items and go forward with the agenda as it is. Mr. Tucker moved to accept the two items on the workshop agenda and move forward with the agenda. Mr. Patterson seconded motion and it carried by a vote of 4 to 2 with Holmes, Patterson, Tucker, and Pullen in favor and Hartwell and Minich opposed.  142 Council Workshop 1- 9- 07 FEES FOR STUDENT TENNIS AND GOLF TEAMS Discussion on fees for student tennis and golf teams. Dr. Pullen expressed his belief there should not be a discrepancy between what is charged for different teams, that the same fees charged to tennis team members should be charged to golf team members. He mentioned other sport teams pay a fee and questioned why the school student teams should not pay a fee. He expressed his opinion that if student teams are charged to play tennis then they should also pay to play golf. He wished to know Council' s thoughts. He also noted the resolution that established it is ten }ears old and they should be reviewed periodically. r1..: Mr. Minich mentioned that the golf teams have an informal arrangement for the students to perform U volunteer work at the golf course and the teams play on a course at a time when it would not displace any business. Mr. Tucker questioned whether the tennis players perform any clean up work. Mr. Minich stated the tennis players pay a fee but do not do any work, and the golf teams do not pay a fee but do volunteer work instead. Mr. Holmes questioned if a problem has been presented or any complaints made. The City Manager stated she is unaware of any problems with regard to either the tennis or the golf club but the Golf Club Administrator may be able to speak on VIkIether there have been any issues at the golf club. Jim Frazier, Golf Club Administrator, first asked the Mayor Pro Tem his experience when he played on the Choctawhatchee High School Golf Team. The Mayor Pro Tem stated the golf team helped in various different ways plus he paid to learn tennis at the tennis center and never helped pick up balls or pick weeds and thought it was a very fair system. He said he has not received any complaints about the tvttO different aspects. Mr. Frazier said during 2006 approximately $ 10, 000 was spent by junior golfers on the golf course, that everyone pays their fair share and the practice sessions are the only time they can play free. He did not see a problem at the golf course. Dr. Pullen commented he brought up the issue for discussion and if everyone is happy with the way it is then he will withdraw it from the Council regular agenda. FEES FOR SECURITY SYSTEMS Discussion on fees for security systems. Dr. Pullen stated he brought up the item because he has been thinking about what was done when the Ordinance was passed to start registering security systems. He felt it is a disservice to the people who take the initiative to protect themselves and rather than discouraging people to install a system that they should be encouraged to install a security system. He understood the concern with false ~ alarms and had no objection but did not think they needed to register the systems for the Police Department to track as another employee may be needed and it would be an unnecessary expense f ~~ City. He suggested the current ordinance can be amended or i~:~~ ~~~~~ simply be f\ a~ r It was questioned whether there is a problem with false alarms and whether the ordinance needed to be amended. The City Manager stated there was an issue about false alarms in 2005 and the Police Chief is working on an amendment to the ordinance because there are some aspects that seem counter- productive. 11  Council Workshop 143 1- 9- 07 FEES FOR SECURITY SYSTEMS cont. Ted Litschauer, Police Chief, explained the ordinance which addressed several issues was set to be put into place during the 2006 calendar year. He said the resources, and there is an allowance of primary one, false alarms, is a drain on the three alarms within a 12 month period with no charge. He explained the reason the police want a registration is so they have emergency contact information and by having an annual registration it would force people to update their information. He said a registration fee is unfair because an alarm system in a home or a business is not propose that it be changed to require the required. He would registration for the information and require the annual renewal so the information is not more than one year old, but eliminate the $ 50. 00 initial registration fee and $ 25. 00 annual fee and retain the provision that if