Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 01-26-1993 Regular — reading text

but the City will handle the money, such as paying the electric bill in the auditorium and paying the custodians time for opening and closing. The City Attorney said the proper way to form that would be that all lease and use fees are waived. Mr. Maney accepted that as an am.enm. ent. During discussion on locations and number of meetings to be held, Mr. Maney wished to leave that the decision of the Acting City Manager, whatever is feasible. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion. as amended. and it carried unanimously with Nicholson. Campbell. Deal. Gibson. Maney. Hambleton and Wyninegar in favor. TAX AND FEE Mr. Maney compared the taxes and utility fees of Fort COMPARISONS Walton Beach with other areas. then addressed the OKALOOSA GAS Okaloosa Gas District and the unappropriated sharing of DISTRICT - funds. He pointed out the asking that resolution TOM MANEY legislation be prepared to require equitable distribution of unappropriated retained earnings each year to district members. He requested the resolution be placed on the next agenda for consideration. Fred Pryor, General Manager. Okaloosa Gas, explained retained earnings is not a cash fund. clarified the District is profit generating entity. they not a were organized provide natural gas at areas onable rate. to which are set primarily to cover the cost of purchasing gas. operation, capital expenditures, etc.. and they have not been generating excess funds. He briefly explained the legislation and the Charter under which the District operates, and noted the Board will be glad to address any issues the City may have. Discussion ensued on the meaning of retained earnings and unappropriated funds, and the distribution of unappropriated funds to member cities. David deVaux, 348 Marie Circle. suggested one way to save the taxpayers money would be to eliminate the franchise fees for the utility companies. ENVIRONMENT - TOM MANEY Mr. Maney addressed the concern a few years ago which prompted an investigation of probable dumping of many barrels of hazardous waste. He described the investigation which place. took the evidence which showed the problem, and the interest of existence of a DER in resolving the problem. He said any citizen who knows anything about dumping by one of the companies is invited to call Mr. McGarrity at DER, and emphasized DER has no interest in knowing the identify of the caller. only finding out if there is a problem so they can clean it up.  1- 26- 93 281 VOTER PARTICIPATION - Mr. Deal following: moved Whereas. the public funding REFERENDUM BALLOT for both the COllllllUnity Redevelopllent Agency and the CRA) - VIC DEAL downtown redevelopaent effort has been on- going since 1978. and Whereas. the public funding of these two programs has accounted for expenditures and obligations and Whereas. these of approximately $ 7. 351. 692. 00. efforts have divided City. both its expenditures and our citizens and its Council for many years. and Whereas. the taxpayers of the City of Fort Walton have the I cuaulative destination that a we right of instruct the our to taxes determine they pay. Therefore. Supervisor of Elections to Special Mail ballot. referendum. to be held within 90 days of March 9th. so as to determine whether this City once and for all I the move prepare should continue to utilize public funds in a downtown redevelopaent . effort. And that the cost of this referendum be paid from the CRA budget. I further move that the ballot read as follows: Do you feel that public funds should be used in the downtown redevelopment effort? And: Do you feel that public funds should be used to fund the Community Redevelopment Agency? Motion was seconded by Mr. Maney Mr. Nicholson objected to voting on an issue on which there is no time to prepare documentation. He expressed concern over the motion to abolish the CRA by public referendum in that Mr. Deal may want to develop the land as a private individual, but is unable to as long as the CRA exists. After Mr. Deal questioned the reference. Mr. Nicholson read a portion of Mr. Deal' s resignation letter from the CRA Board which stated he would like the opportunity to review the development potential of the CRA area as a private citizen without fear of creating an actual or perceived perception conflict of interest. Mr. Deal denied interest in developing the land, acknowledged he did look at it after he resigned from the CRA and did resign from the CRA to look at the property. but examined it and had no desire to develop the land. Mr. Nicholson remarked. based upon the motion and based upon the resignation letter, he will contact the State Attorney' s office to see if there is an ethics violation. There ensued a heated response from Mr. Deal in which he denied interest in