Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 03-11-1980 Regular — reading text

from we can cut out and the costs of certain things we can eliminate. Mr. Rigdon called for the question. I~ 3/ 11/ 80 & 3/ 18/ 80 o68 Mr. Grant added, one point is very important. So far all we have talked about is the budgets of the various departments. thing One that has not been brought up in reference to budgets is the various appropriations and donations that we make to agencies that are not part of the City government, and I strongly recommend that these areas be re- viewed. Mr. Baughman said, in the area of utility taxes, I have to agree 100% with Mr. Grant. In all the areas of revenue that I wish we could cut, that is the utility taxes. Inflation has driven up the size of all utility bills, and it is a major factor in people' s household expenses. Mayor called for a vote on the motion. Motion carried unanimously. He asked Mr. Baughman if he wanted to make a separate motion on utility taxes. Mr. Baughman said, we are just talking about not advalorem taxes. We are talking about the whole budget. The money has to come from somewhere or we going are to have to cut services. This is something they are going to have to look at. I don' t want to make a separate motion. Mr. Rigdon said my motion included the whole budget. REQUEST TO SUBLEASE THE Mayor presented a letter from the Corps of Engineers FAIRGROUNDS denying the request by the City to sublease to PROPERTY Okaloosa County Fair Association, Inc. the fair- grounds property. BICYCLE TRAIL Mayor presented a letter from the Fort Walton Beach PROGRAM Chamber of Commerce expressing appreciation the for City' s action in beginning a Bicycle Trail Program. LETTER OF Mayor presented a letter of appreciation to the APPRECIATION Police Department from owners of Ports of Asia. HOUSE TO HOUSE Mayor presented a request from the Shrine Association SOLICITATION FOR to solicit house to house for Crippled Children' s CRIPPLED CHILDREN' S Paper Sale. PAPER SALE Mr. Baughman moved to approve the request. Motion was seconded by Mr. Grant and carried unanimously. LTR. FROM BOARD Mayor presented a letter from the Board of OF COUNTY COMM. RE: County Commdssioners offering to meet with the CITY WATER STUDY City' s Water Study Committee. TRANSPORTATION Mayor presented a letter County from the Board of ROUTING SYSTEM Commissioners requesting City adopt a that the resolution supporting a transportation routing system to include a crossing over Choctawhatchee Bay.  3/ 11/ 80 & 3/ 18/ 80 I , rs-c I Mayor said he thought it was the consensus of Council that we should send a letter stating that we would like to have a study made to see exactly where a bridge is needed. Mr. Baughman said, what worries me is the heavy traffic problem on Brooks Bridge. I question in my mind that if you have to have a pri)ori ty, if putting the bay is going to do. 1 a bridge across With traffic on Brooks Bridge peaking at 48, 000 cars a day now, it takes about five years to get a bridge built or wideneq, we have a real serious problem right here in the downtown area that has to be solved. I don' t know what kind of a study could change that. Mayor said, in my opinion the most vulnerable thing we have in our area is Brooks Bridge. If we lose that we are in serious trouble. Mr. Rigdon said, this Council has gone on record many times saying that the most critical area in Okaloosa County is downtown. We have sent a letter endorsing the bridge program, but get the politics out of it and let the experts tell us where the bridge should be. Mr. Baughman said, I don' t know who the experts are, but if they come back and tell me that they are going to ignore the downtown problem and build a bridge across the bay I am going to raise cane. Mayor said he would reply to the letter that we feel that a bridge to alleviate the problems because of our one Brooks Bridge is the most essential thing. Mr. Rigdon so moved that the Mayor write a letter as above. Motion was seconded by Mr. Bishop. Mr. Grant said, the Transportation Committee under the Redevelopment Agency has been with DOT. I think it would be of interest to all of us if we request a direct from the Transportation Committee support as to exactly what the DOT position is. They do have the information available, and it is not good. Mr. Hill stated that some time ago there was a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce, and it was agreed I that Brooks Mayor said, alleviating Bridge would we the will answer with traffic problem come first. a on priority Brooks on Bridge. LET' S RIDE A BUS Mayor presented a letter from the Transportation WEEK Commdttee of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of