Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 03-14-2000 Regular — reading text

tank, and that the lettering will be compatible with the new signage that will be proposed. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it canied unanimously with Carnathan, Baggett, Dowling, Tucker, Covey, and Kelley in favor (Collins absent). Jay Odom of Crystal Beach Development stated he is excited about the new name and signage for the Commerce and Technology Park and that it will be something the City can be proud of. 1."~~~ r' U'~ f.~~ T1Irr?'-~ t"".' ~'~ =,' i:;:':,,~' bi.:~ u.! LJ.I L,~ I.!;!.,::..~ J> Consideration of accepting the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAPR) for the City of Fort Walton Beach. Florida.for fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. Joseph Henderson and Angela Balent from CreeL. Bryan, and Gallagher, discussed pertinent items of the CAPR including general government revenues of the City, and the fact that the City is in extremely sound, fiscal condition in all aspects of its governmental and proprietary operations. I Mrs. Baggett moved to accept the audit for fiscal year ending September 30, 1999. Mr. Kelley seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Carnathan, Baggett, Dowling, Tucker, Covey, and Kelley in favor ( Collins absent). trmE LOAN DISCU8$IONI Consideration of regulating Title Loan activities. The Mayor asked for Council' s direction regarding title loan activities, stating that everyone is educated about the practices of title loan companies after hearing from opponents and proponents at the workshop meeting. The Mayor advised she received a letter from the Better Business Bureau urging Counci11imit the interest rates.  3/ 14/ 00 Jl LJ trrrLE LOAN cont~ Mr. Kelley advised he is not in favor of doing anything regarding title loan companies, stating there has been no citizen input expressing concern regarding the business, and that the major problems with the military was not with title loans but cash advance or payroll loan companies, and those issues are not being addressed. Discussion included whether the Council should get involved into monitoring or setting a standard for businesses; the need for Council to take a position as to what is right for the community; the fact that title loan owners do not live in Fort Walton Beach; and that personal accountability is a factor in the title loan business. The Mayor commented that Eglin and Hurlburt are the mainstays of the community. She would like to see Council move forward in a way that shows the community appreciates the military, and that their young men and women are being protected from financial problems. The Mayor further advised that there are other issues she would like to pursue, such as check cashing and payroll loan businesses. Mrs. Baggett moved to instruct the City Manager to return with an ordinance limiting the interest rate of title loan companies to 30%. Motion was seconded by Mr. Covey and carried unanimously with Carnathan, Baggett, Dowling,Tucker, and Covey in favor and Kelley opposed (Collins absent). 0 ,-' _', :.' ,.,',,';:...::;.,........ t'.',',',, Et" """', 8> ti""' ',' ",:} _,.', > ".' '....... ~.....' ~'._< ',.:: ,')\' ,- " c',' i,,-,.:.. :" "... ,.>,~ c, ,....,....,. -; ,.,", ':~,,"","" -,..", .'. '-",'.. '; i",;;........_'.. _ 0''''_.'' ,," """__", .. ",, 0,,'," ".. " .. " Request for approval of the Urban Master Plan for the CRA area. Flinn Fagg, Planner II, explained the process to begin making changes to the Land Development Code once the Urban Master Plan is adopted include public workshops in May to get public input; CRA and MPB Board meetings in June to discuss public input; then return to Council in July for approval of the changes to the LOC. Discussion ensued regarding the purpose of a CRA area per Florida Statute and that the CRA Plan is sound and has all the elements required by Florida Statutes; and the purpose of Urban Master Plan. Mr. Carnathan moved to adopt the Urban Master Plan. Mr. Covey seconded motion. Chris Gibson, 249 Brooks Street, expressed her support of the Urban Master Plan and stated some portions of the CRA area does effect adjoining areas of the City. She also requested the areas designated for recreation and access to the waterfront as listed in the Comprehensive Plan be incorporated into the Urban Master Plan. Keith Brockman, 348 Brooks Street, advised something needs to be done about the traffic and suggested another bridge be built to control traffic flow on Highway 98. The City Manager advised the City has asked the MPO that a second bridge be built. Mr. Carnathan amended his motion to incorporate the areas designated for recreation and access to the waterfront listed in the Comprehensive Plan into the Urban Master Plan. Mr. Covey accepted the amendment and the motion carried by a vote of 5 to 1 with Carnathan, Baggett, Dowling, Covey, and Kelley in favor and Tucker opposed (Collins absent). The meeting recessed at 8:57 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:10 p.m. IolscussloN ON F & P'S FOR THE POUCE AND FlU Ulan"', STATIONs! The Mayor asked that this item be moved up on the agenda. Mr. Dowling advised he wanted to discuss a couple of items on the RFP' s for the Library, Police and Fire stations; however, he first wanted to discuss the status of the Golf Club Clubhouse project. He advised he received a call from the architect working on the project in Texas who informed him the project was put on hold and not worked on for the past three weeks. The architect stated there were issues regarding the layout of the banquet facilities and other on- going issues that prevented them from moving forward, and Mr. Dowling requested some clarification.  3/ 14/ 00 I__.. uc,, 215 A_. '''', ' 0", .. .. ...,_ ' dO" ",' ;.' .' ,'. .... .'.' .'.'.'.' -..' .' ."','". .'.' '--, ..'.' Mark Richard, Golf Club Administrator, advised a group of individuals are interested in leasing the food and beverage area of the Golf Club. Mr. Richard advised he spoke with the City Manager about the issue, and it was the opinion that the architects hold off on the food and beverage area until a design could be decided upon, whereby the recommendation would be taken to Council. Mr. Richard stated he told the architects they could continue with the rest of the building, but the architects advised it would be better to have a design firmed up on the food and beverage area before proceeding with the rest of the project. Mr. Richard explained there are lease negotiations going on at this time with the investors, and the lease will be I brought to Council along with other issues concerning the Golf Club. The City Manager advised Council he instructed Mr. Richard to inform the potentialleasees they needed to formally submit a plan; if not,the project would go on with the design approved by Council. They were given until the end of this week to get a proposal together. Mr. Dowling expressed concern that Council was not aware that their last direction given to Staff had been redirected. Mr. Richard stressed nothing was being redirected, the design that Council approved has not been changed. The City Manager stated he should have informed Council that negotiations were being held and that the architect had been told to hold back on the banquet facility. He stressed the architect was not told to stop any of the design, and that they are supposed to be working on all aspects but the specifics of the banquet facility. Mr. Dowling expressed concern over the three more complex projects the City will be undertaking, and that there must be more coordination/ information sent to Council so they are aware of what is going on. Further discussion included possible problems with the overall project budget; how costs will be covered and the fact that the security system will be part of the ongoing construction of the building. Mr. Dowling stressed he wants to know who will be responsible for the day to day activities of the decision making for this project and the other projects as they occur. He requested the City Manager prepare a detailed document describing how all aspects of the project will come together. Mr. Dowling also received clarification that the materials for construction projects done by the city are part of the overall budget but the labor is not. Chris Gibson, 249 Brooks Street, feels that funds should come out of a departments enterprise fund for projects that are being worked on, and not from the City's general fund. Discussion turned to the RFP's for the Library, Police and Fire statiOnB and the staff members that will make up the evaluation committees for the evaluation of the proposaJs. Mr. Dowling requested that at least two Council members be placed in the groups to do the initial evaluation, and the City Manager advised that was Council' s decision. The City Attorney cautioned there are reasons why Staff and Council members should not be mixed on committees, and suggested that a subcommittee of Council be formed if Council is interested in doing so. The City Manager advised Council is free to look at all the