Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 10-14-1997 Regular — reading text

l lJ' ~ 5:' /. 9;- lale Filed ., 1---4 j!;, , OTJCf.: UNDER PROVISION~ OF FLORIDA STATUTES ~ Jl2. 311 ( 1985), A FAILURE TO MAKE ANY REQUIRED ISC1.0SURE CONSTITUTES GROUNDS FOR AND MA Y BE PUNISHED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE fOLLOWING: MPEACHMENT, REMOVAL OR SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, DEMOTION, REDUCTION I~ ALARY, REPRIMAND, OR A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED 55. 000.  MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 295 OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 15, 1997 INTRODUCTION A Special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Flor ida, was held Wednesday, October 15, on 1997, at 5: 30 p. m. in the council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: I Mayor Glenda Glover Councilmen: Clay Carnathan Bob Campbell Jim Dowling Chris Gibson Dean Covey Chuck Kelley Margie Collins Also Present: Reid Silverboard, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Jerry Miller, City Attorney; Department Directors; Media CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order for discussion on the proposed Judicial Center. JUDICIAL CENTER The City Manager reported the County invited the City to submit a final proposal by October 31st. The Committee is present to review the proposal developed and obtain endorsement on the proposal from Council so the Committee can go forward to make the Judicial Center a reality on Lowery Place. Susan Myers, Chairman of the Vision Stewardship Committee, quoted a passage from a book entitled " THE GOOD CITY AND THE GOOD LIFE Renewing the Sense of Community", written by Daniel Kemmis, former Mayor of Missoula, Montana, which placed into perspective the efforts of Council and the Committee as they worked together very closely the past few years to get the Judicial Center Center located on the School Board site, and they are now ready to go forward. Mike Kent, Vice- Chairman of the Vision Stewardship committee, gave a brief overview of the proposal which included a funding source identified with approximately $ 1. 3 million available in an economic development account due to appreciated value of the land purchased for the industrial park; financing plan for the I a ownership entity, County; establish a 501 ( c)( 3) Not- for- Profit Corporation controlled by County Commission; the Board of Directors to be County Commission, staff or citizens may be appointed to the Board by the County Commission; a financing vehicle of tax exempt bonds; repayment with spaces leased to Okaloosa County and other Governmental or private business entities; ultimate ownership reverts to Okaloosarepaid county when bonds are 30 at cost to YW. LS) no profit motive; and County; no complete County control of building, with specifications and bid acceptance from private contractors. He requested Council to put the money up that has been set aside to purchase the land. 296 10- 15- 97 JUDICIAL CENTER Mr. Carnathan moved CONT. 1. To direct the City Manager to negotiate the acquisition of Lowery Place with the Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools and School Board. 2. The final acquisition shall be contingent on obtaining a firm commitment from the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners to place the Judicial Center at Lowery Place. 3. To direct the City Manager to negotiate the acquisition of the Coast Marine and Metro Motors properties for additional municipal and Judicial Center parking. 4. To authorize the City Manager to submit a proposal to the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners for locating the Judicial Center at Lowery Place, including providing the Lowery Place property, and providing a methodology for financing the project if desired by the County Commission. 5. To authorize funds derived from past economic development activities to be reinvested in this project. 6. To reaffirm the Council pledge to facilitate this project through the City approval process. Motion was seconded by Mr. Campbell. Discussion ensued on the request for additional language for a firm written commitment from the County that the Judicial Center will be located at Lowery Place; the intent apply to the funds past economic development derived from activities, and any other potential costs which might be involved in the project. The City Attorney pointed out the motion gives the City Manager instructions to bring Council a document to either approve or reject. Mr. Carnathan and Mr. Campbell accepted amendments to the motion as follows: 1. To direct the City Manager to negotiate the acquisition of Lowery Place with the Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools and School Board. The final acquisition shall be contingent on obtaining a firm written coumitment from the Okaloosa County Board of County coumissioners to place the Judicial Center at Lowery Place.