Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 10-13-2009 regular — reading text

stream recycling. Discussion included offering incentives for homeowners to recycle and that the size of the bins are too small to handle plastic bottles, etc. Mr. Kennedy stated he asked this to be put on the agenda to open discussion about a few locations in the CRA area that could be drop -off points, such as the Fort Walton Beach Landing, Liza Jackson Park, and Ferry Park. Mr. Kennedy feels if single stream recycling can get established at one or more of these sites, the citizens will get attuned that recycling is done at these locations. Mr. Kennedy acknowledged this won' t solve the City's recycling problems, but it can motivate the City to work with Waste Management on the single stream recycling at key places. The Board asked Mr. Hofstad to return when he has a firm commitment from Waste Management on whether they are willing to consider single stream recyclables. Mr. Hofstad advised he will contact Staff to be placed on a future agenda, although he is not sure when that will be. The Board advised their next regular meeting will be November 4. FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT /COMP PLAN PROPSED CHANGES Discussion of Future Land Use Element and proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan. Samantha Abell, Senior Planner, advised the Local Planning Agency voted to move forward with amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and was available to answer any questions from the Board. Mr. Tona received clarification on the mixed -use waterfront district. CRA FUNDS /HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Ms. Johnson reported, per the Board' s request, that since 2000 CRA funds in the amount of 300, 007..61 have been used to support Habitat for Humanity, benefiting up to nine families, including the redevelopment of the lots on Methodist Avenue SE. She clarified that because the property on Methodist Avenue has not yet been developed, Habitat has placed four families in homes, and that when Methodist is developed, there will be a total of nine families, and the cost is land costs. Mr.Kennedy explained he had this item placed on the agenda and his feeling that although Habitat is a worthwhile program, he questioned whether the funding granted to Habitat could be used in other ways, such as streetscape projects, to benefit a greater amount of people. 151- CRA 09/ 02/ 09 CRA FUNDED /HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Mr. Tona stated his agreement with Mr. Kennedy' s concern, and relayed his disappointment that local contractors and / or vendors who work with Habitat are not donating their time or materials toward the construction of Habitat homes. UNFINISHED BUSINESS— DISCUSSION OF PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNOR STONE Ms. Johnson advised the Board voted at their August 5, 2009 meeting to endorse the Friends of the Governor Stone Ship Mate program, and directed Staff to bring a recommendation regarding an agreement between the CRA and the Friends to tonight' s meeting. Ms. Johnson advised Staff has met with officers of the Friends of the Governor Stone to discuss docking the vessel at the Fort Walton Beach Landing, and at this time, the agreement is in progress and a proposed agreement has been given to the City Attorney and that there is nothing to report as of this date.Ms. Johnson advised Staff will bring the Board recommendation for a partnership with the Friends of the Governor Stone to City Council at their September 22, 2009 meeting, and ask for approval to proceed with a drafting of an agreement between the Friends and the City. Mr. Reed expressed his concern that the agreement is going before the City Council before the Board has had a chance to review it and give their recommendation. He noted the motion was for Staff to work out an agreement with the Friends of the Governor Stone for the Ship Mate program and to bring that recommendation back to the CRA Board, and feels that with any issue from the CRA, the Board should decide when it goes before Council and not before. Mr. Reed presented a recommendation that this issue not go to Council until all issues with the Friends of the Governor Stone are worked out and it is brought back to the Board. Ms. Johnson advised that Staff attended several meetings with the Friends and with the City' s Cultural Services Director to ensure the infrastructure would be in place to dock at the Landing and that there would be no additional fees, as well as with the City' s Human Resources Director to work out liability issues, and these are some of the issues that need to be worked out, and the agreement is preliminary at this time. Ms. Johnson advised that the Friends have requested flexibility in where to dock the vessel, that they do not want to be restricted to docking the vessel at the Landing; however, the vessel would remain in the CRA area and another location suggested was behind Staff's restaurant. The Board objected to that request, and Ms. Johnson advised that provision can be stated in the agreement. Ms. Johnson clarified that it is not an agreement that will go before Council; rather, information and the idea of a partnership with the Friends of the Governor Stone is the issue that will go to Council. Mr. Reed reiterated his feeling that any information sent to Council by the CRA Board should be complete and does not want an item brought before Council that is incomplete and that does not answer all questions or concerns. Discussion ensued regarding the feasibility of the vessel being docked at the Landing; that the agreement is in negotiations with details still to be worked out, and the City Attorney is reviewing it; that funds in the amount of $ 5, 000 be used from the Board' s promotional account as that is the only account that is feasible for this purpose; and whether in -kind promotions and /or services have been considered. Mr. Reed stated his overall concern was not with the Governor Stone or the concept of the Ship Mate program; rather, he questioned who made the decision to route around the CRA Board and to go directly to Council. He stated his feeling that the Board is not needed if items go to Council first. 152- CRA 09/ 02/ 09 GOVERNOR STONE ( CONT) Mr. Reed also stated he wants something back from the Friends of the Governor Stone in writing, through City Staff, that shows an agreement has been reached, and also stated his feeling that if the vessel is not docked at the Landing, then the Board doesn' t need to fund the program. The Chairman reviewed her notes from the previous meeting and that it was her recollection that the Board requested more information. However, Mr. Covey read the motion from the minutes of September 2, 2009, which read ` to direct Staff to work with the Friends of the Governor Stone on an agreement for the Ship Mate program and bring back a recommendation to the September CRA meeting' and Mr. Covey questioned why the agreement was going forward to Council. Ms. Johnson reiterated the agreement was not going before Council; the concept of the partnership between the City and Friends was going to Council for information so that Staff can work with the City Attorney on a final draft of the agreement to bring back at the November meeting of the CRA Board. The Board was in agreement that the City Council should not see this item before the Board has reviewed all the information and the Chairman advised she was uncomfortable with $ 5, 000 being used from the City' s promotional fund. Staff was instructed to come back to the Board with options to consider to determine whether or not the Board wants to fund or partner with the Friends of the Governor Stone, and not to send any information to the City Council until the Board has had a chance to review all information and to determine whether or not they will partnership with the organization. Mr. Covey again noted the motion from last meeting and that the only thing binding by Staff was that an agreement be discussed and brought back to the Board. Mr. Tona moved to instruct Staff to return at the November meeting with a draft agreement from Friends of the Governor Stone. Motion failed for lack of a second. Mr. Reed moved to instruct Staff to return at the November meeting with a draft agreement from the Friends of the Governor Stone to include in -kind service options. Mr. Legg seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Covey, Gossom, Kennedy, Klement, Legg, Reed, and Tona in favor. TOUR ACTION PLAN Ms. Johnson requested the Board study the action plan of comments from the walking tour and e -mail her of any recommendations or suggestions they might have.It was noted many of the comments dealt with code enforcement issues and Ms. Johnson advised those comments were passed on to the City's Code Enforcement and that a monthly action report will be provided to the Board. Mr. Reed asked that for the next CRA meeting, an item be placed on the agenda regarding the entertainment district overlay that was requested from the MPB. Mr. Reed also advised Council will be addressing the alcohol issue on September 15 and urged members to attend as this will affect the CRA. Mr. Reed left the meeting at 7: 02 pm. The Chairman advised that between now and the next CRA meeting, she wants to revisit the code itself and be clear about what is and is not enforceable within the CRA so that the Board can ensure that what is enforceable is in fact being enforced and if not, how can the Board help facilitate that happening. 153- CRA 09/ 02/ 09 REVIEW OF CRA MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT /BUDGET There was no discussion regarding this item. PROGRESS OF PROJECTS Ms. Johnson reported on the following: Chester Pruitt Park: Reopening on October 24. Restrooms are under construction, landscaping will be installed, and the lights will be shipped September 15. Eglin Parkway Improvements /Beautification: Staff has been working with DOT to put a mast arm at the light at the intersection of Hollywood and Eglin, and is reviewing Cinco Bayou' s plans to underground utilities at Eglin and how to incorporate the plans into the City. Minor Update to CRA Plan— Completed projects to be removed from the plan at the end of the year or beginning of next year. Landmark Center —Developers are scheduled to go before Council on September 22 to discuss the annual review of the development agreement, developer has been working to finance the project and changes to the development agreement will be forthcoming for the construction of the parking garage. Joe and Eddie' s — A single -story dentist office is being planned for the north corner and the architect is working on plans to submit. The dentist plans to go forward in December, and with the new LDC:, the project is considered a minor development and will not come before the Board for site plan approval, but the Board will be updated on the project and will receive a conceptual drawing. The Board expressed their displeasure at not being advised of the proposed single -story dentist office at the Joe and Eddie' s location. Ms. Johnson explained that with the new LDC, Staff can approve site plans for minor developments which are less than three stories or less than 2. 26 acres of property, but the Board will still see major developments. Ms. Johnson continued this is in an effort to streamline the development process. The Board was not aware of this change and questioned when and where it came