Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 01-22-08 regular minutes — reading text

287 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 22, 2008 INTRODUCTION A regular meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at 7: 00 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the f01l0wing members present: t"" Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attorney; Department Directors and Media. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. He requested anyone who wished to address Council to approach the podium after being recognized, then state his or her name and address for the record. INVOCATION Pastor Charles Sansom, Sr., Family of Faith Church, gave the Invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Youth from Family of Faith Church led in the Pledge of Allegiance. STUDENT ACE AWARDS Lindsay Palmer of Choctawhatchee High School and Amanda Vickery of Fort Walton Beach received the Student ACE Awards from the Mayor. BUSINESS OF EXCELLENCE AWARD Tom and Peggy Rice of Magnolia Grill received a Business of Excellence Award from the Mayor. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Minich moved to approve the agenda as the business of the day. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Minich moved to approve the Consent Agenda items. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. I"'" Council received an explanation on the grant process, and clarification on the purchase of vehicles. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of January 8, 2008. 288 Regular Council 1/ 22/ 08 ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT OF EASEMENT FOR SAlLWATCH CONDOMINIUMS Consideration of a request to accept a Grant of Easement from George Elliott Mitchell for a portion of sidewalk along the north side of Brooks Street adjacent to the overflow parking lot at Sailwatch Landing Condominiums. BID 08- 108. 2- TON CAB CHASSIS To award Bid 08- 108, Purchase of One 2-ton Cab Chassis and Container Carrier to the low, I responsive, responsible bidder meeting bid specifications, Ingram Equipment Co., of Pelham, AL for the bid amount of $73,246. WAIVER OF FEES FOR RELAY FOR LIFE GOLF TOURNAMENT Consideration of a request to waive golf fees for Relay for Life Golf Tournament to benefit the American Cancer Society on March 8, 2008. LIBRARY GRANT PROGRAM Consideration of a request to permit the Fort Walton Beach Library to expend the $ 1, 000 funds received in the " Investor Education @Your Library" grant program. AGREEMENT WITH FIREFIGHTERS PENSION BOARD. PENSION PROTECTION ACT 2006 Consideration of a request for authorization for the City Manager to execute the agreement between the City and the Firefighters' Pension Board of Trustees to implement Section 845 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. REGULAR AGENDA- CHESTER PRUITT PARK MASTER PLAN Consideration of a request to approve the Chester Pruitt Master Plan with immediate implementation of Phase I, including the demolition of dugouts and restrooms. If approved sufficient funding is available in the CRA Fund. Christy Johnson, Principal Planner, reported a presentation will be given by the consultant, who willexplain the process that has taken place from the beginning of the project to where the master plan is now. Michael Bomar of Tetra Tech advised a community meeting was held at the park in August where residents were given a survey of the improvements they would like to see most at the park. Each improvement was ranked and the results included walking trails and sidewalks as the most desired improvement, followed by decorative and new restrooms, new lighting playground equipment, and interactive fountain, a public stage, and ballpark improvements. Mr. Bomar informed Phase I of the Master Plan includes the demolition of the existing dugouts and restrooms with construction of a new trail and walking new dugouts, installation of decorative lights and gateway entrances. Discussion included there will be no change in the number of I. parking spaces at the park after the improvements completed; that the improvements have been designed in an effort to are j reduce crime at the park; and that basketball courts were not included due to the fact J that existing indoor courts at the Hedrick Center are the primary courts used. Missy McKim, CDS Director, summarized that the CRA Board recommended approving the implementation of the Chester Pruitt Park Master Plan up to the budgeted amount of $ 100, 000; to rebuild the restrooms concurrent with demolition of the old restroom facility; and to close the park and all facilities during demolition and construction activities.  289 1/22/ 08 Regular Council CHESTER PRUITT PARK MASTER PLAN { CONTI The CDS Director continued that Staff feels that demolishing the restrooms and dugouts first is the most cost effective way to move forward with implementation of both Phases I and II, and recommends approval of the Chester Pruitt Park Master Plan and Immediate Implementation of Phase I, including immediate demolition of the dugouts and restrooms. Ms. McKim explained Phase I will include the rebuilding of the dugouts with most of the labor being done in- house, r followed by installation of new plumbing service lines, construction of the walking trail and procurement of the decorative by September 30, 2008, with installation of the lights and lights the construction of the gateway entrances planned in early Fiscal Year 2009. Discussion included that the budgeted amount in Staff's recommendation remains at $ 100, 000 for this year, although additional budgeted amounts will be needed from next year' s budget; and that the park will be closed during construction activities for safety reasons. Ms. McKim discussed the differences between the recommendation of the CRA Board and Staff' s recommendation was the demolition and reconstruction of the restrooms, explaining the CRA proposed concurrent destruction and rebuilding of the restroom facilities. She continued that Staff feels the restrooms and demolishing first is the most cost effective way to dugouts move forward with the implementation of Phases I and II, and noted there will be a time when no restrooms are available. Ms. McKim advised that plans have been made for portable restroom facilities to be available during special events at the park in the interim. Discussion included that $ 100, 000 is budgeted and will be enough to do Phase I; that the CRA has funding allocated to other projects but could redirect funds if projects do not have contracts; and that the Staff recommendation was presented to the CRA Board as well. Jeff Peters, Parks and Recreation Director, mentioned that the ball fields at the parks are used frequently for adult sports. Discussion ensued regarding the crime and drug problem at the park and that residents of the used for neighborhood do not feel safe going to the park. Ms. McKim advised the restrooms are the wrong purpose; that people congregate around them and not for the intended purpose. It was felt by Staff and the consultants that delaying construction of the restrooms will not inhibit the real use of the park, it may facilitate the appropriate use of the park for recreation purposes. When questioned by Council, Ms. McKim advised the neighborhood group is in support of Staff' s recommendation. The Mayor asked for public input. Lee Bobo, 38 Memorial Parkway SW, was a member of the CRA Board when the master plan came before them. He stated that the issue of the restrooms was a concern to the CRA Board, and stated his feeling that there is not a major drug problem in the park, that the majority of f""" individuals who at the congfegate afe oldef gentlemen who sit and talk about cUffent pafk events. Mr. Bobo feels the park should not be without restroom facilities just because City Staff that he doesn' t the need for City boards or committees says there is a drug problem, and see them. that make recommendations to Council that afe not presented if Staff does not agree with Becky Robinette, 104 Carson Drive, is the secretary/ treasurer of the Beal Parkway Neighborhood Association and stated the neighborhood is in agfeement with Staff's recommendation to demolish the dugouts and restrooms and continue with Phase I, and that the drug problem at the park is prevalent. 290 Regular Council 1/ 22/ 08 CHESTER PRUITT PARK MASTER PLAN ( CONTI Chuck