Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 10-14-03 regular Council agenda — reading text

and Mike Anderson. Councilmen: Mike Holmes. Bill Patterso~ Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker. Dr. Wayne Pullen, Absent: Chuck Kelley Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, Interim City ManagerlFinance Director; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig. City Attorney; and Department Directors. The Mayor ca11~ the meeting to order. well by Gene Armbruster, 210 Hudson Drive, mentioned the Summit meeting last Saturday was handled very staff and suggested the City save the cost of an outside facilitator for future meetings. Discussion on purchasing and preserving of the Indianola Mound property. and Anita Kroha, 109 Brooks Street, referenced the part ofthe Comprehensive Plan on the future land use policy Mound property located on requested Council consider purchasing and preserving the privately owned Indianola Brooks Street, and suggested the City could get grant a ftom the State for 75% of the purchase price. and .the remaining 25% could be donated. 25% ofthe Discussion included the fact that the Florida Trust for Public Lands requir~ the City to guarantee be and protected; that purchase price, plus the development of a Master Plan of the site on how it will preserved an excavation has never been done to determine whether there are human remains or artifacts on the property; and that the current would need to provide a written release' to allow the property to be property owner scanned" for human remains. found then it Charlene Greenwald, 206 Jet Drive. received further explanation that if human remains were would change what could be done with the property. . interest in Gene Armbruster, 210 Hudson Drive, wondered whether any of the Indian Tribes had expressed any rather than the their own burial ground and if there was a way the Indian Tribes could purchase the property. further commented since it is their City, and still maintain the status of the mound and preserve it. He it and that,maybe. the Indian Tribes background and history that perhaps they would be interested in preserving could receive State Grants to preserve the property as an Indian burial ground. c-\  9-16-03 bb at 122- 132 Discussion on purchase of twin properties east of 200 weSt for a City park. Properties located Miracle Strip Parkway SW (Lot 1 formerly Damon' s property and Lot 2 formerly Mr. T. property currently owned by Royal View Development). east of Paul Broshear, 209 West Miracle Strip Parkway, Mary Esther, proposed the City purchase two properties resolution that the 200 West to develop ~ a City park. He suggested Council consider three resolutions, the first it can be done City states its intention to acquire the properties for the use of a veterans memorial park provided form committee to determine whether the actual so without raising taxes; a second resolution to an exploratory interest to develop the park exists, to determine the potential acquisition cost, the potential for the donations to and third resolution to state the meet the requirements, and potential for .grants to. make up any difference; a intention to rezone the current land.as park land. provide the current owners are reimbursed at fair market City' s value, again at no cost to the taxpayers. He mentioned others have approached him about their willingness to interest by the match his $ 1, 000 pledge; however, there is hesitancy to proceed unless there is some statement of Cityand donate if an actual fund and formal program exists. wO,Pld The Interim City Manager reported she learned there are plans pending for the former Mr. T' site s that are the former Damon' expected to be brought before the CRA Board in the next couple of months, and regarding s that site, she understands the developer has given up doing it himself and is looking for someone help develop to development on Mr. T's particular site. She mentioned there might bea legal restriction because of the pending site. The City Attorney commented if there were a Development Plan in effect it would increase the value of the Interim City Manager commented if property and. of course, increase the rights of the property owner. The with pending development be excluded from discussion. She Council did wish to move forward that the parcel the further explained that if Council were to agree with Mr. Broshear' s proposal, one of which was to rezQne property, that doing so would put the City in a difficult position with the pending development. the It was suggested that Mr. Broshear talk with the property owners to determine their interest in selling property . Charlene Greenwald expressed her opinion that Ms. Kroha and Mr. Broshear are seeking conceptual agreement that it is something the Council would want to pursue. Dr..Pullen discussed the contract for the clubhouse construction that staff is attempting to bring to a close, his suggestion that a closeout audit be performed, and mentioned that William Strikes, an expert in construction contract,is willing to offer assistance at no charge. to Dr. Pullen received confirmation that staff will.research the suggestion made regarding easier handicap access the library. Dr. PUllen mentioned Council previously requested a comparison of the City' s sign ordiDance with the County' s sign ordinance, and it has not been received. decide whether to move During an exchange of views on the Police Department, it was suggested that Council citizens to forward or to drop the subject; whether or not to proceed with a referendum; taking a survey of the get an idea whether to continue; and the need for a cost benefit analysis.  9-16-03 61 Mr. Tucker received no objection from Council that the Army troops from the 3rd Infantry Division be invited to come down to participate in the Holiday parade in December. and it will be Council received assurance that a member of staff regularly attends the Bridge Authority meetings included in the weekly report given to Council. that the Committee provide Council During discussion on the Museums Ad Hoc Committee, it was suggested noted as long as with a list of alternatives along with the pros. and cons of each alternative. The City Attorney makes recommendatioDS, then they have not violated the Committee puts the information into a report and no exclude alternatives from their report. the Sunshine Law. It was also pointed out that the Committee could not There was a brief discussion on the matrix provided by staff on the City Manager applicants, and clarification that the salary range set was just for the salary and did not include benefrts. the utilities Council received explanation that as the City redoes a project, they look at the issue of placing it. underground, but it is expensive and found that no one is willing to pay for of the City to Council received confirmation that citizens are audiotaping and video