Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 05-23-1972 Regular — reading text

Association*concerned, the Island Authority would provide a facility until one could be provided otherwise. Mrs. Timmel stated that she knew the Bar Association was in favor of the second judge for the County. Councilman Palmer commented that it had been known since last March that action would have to be taken on the issue and he could not understand why it was just now appearing on Council's agenda. He stated that he felt the people were being deprived of the opportunity to elect a judge. The Mayor stated that it takes 2 or 3 months to decipher what the Legislature does, which probably accounts for the issue just now appearing on the agenda. a) Marsha Timmel stated that even with the Municipal Court and the present County Judge. court cases are now far behind in: beifig heard, and if action for a second County Judge is not taken before 1977 the situation will be much worse. Mrs. Budulf suggested that Council and the County Commission should .meet to- gether to talk over the issue and the problems involved. The League of Women Voters would be glad to help in any way to get this done and get the public out. Even with only a week of time the people could have an opportunity to make their wishes known. The Mayor commented that when Article 5 was voted on the people were informed that they would have until 1977 to abolish Municipal Court, and as Mayor he voted for the issue because he believed there was time for an orderly change over and phasing out of the court. Then the Legislature went back and passed the buck to City Council, which had put a real burden on them. W. J. Roberts, Jr. Gommented that he appreciated the position of the Council members, but felt the action they would take would have an important effect on the future of political groups in the County, especially if they vote against the people on this issue. He wondered if the Council was rushing out of a. decision.* He suggested the Council wait the 4 or 5 days before June 1 and talk with the County officials and the people. Councilman Rigdon stated that he had invited everyone in the Court House down to Council meeting to talk the issue-over, with little response. The League of Women voters is the only group that had really worked. Mr. Hedrick brought out that Mr. Roberts had been in City government some 12 to 14 years and his experience was of value. Marsha Timmel urged that Council wait to act and give the people time to comment on their positions since they had voted to abolish the Municipal Court when they voted on Article 5, Council had changed their minds but the people nad not said *instead of rushing into a decision 160 VOTE ON MUNICIPAL COURT SPECIAL MEETING ON CITY COURT B. O. D. REPORT 72-16 RE: ABATEMENT OF VANDALISM 100.160 RE: REZONING AND GRANTING VARZANCES they had changed theirs on the issue. Mayor called the question on the Motion to recommend that Municipal Court not be abolished. Roll call vote was as follows: Hedrick- No; Brock-Yes; Schweizer-No; Guidry-Yes;. Van Buskirk-Yes; Rigdon-Yes; Palmer-No. Mayor stated the vote was a majority vote recommending that the Municipal Court not be abolished. Councilman Paimer then made a motion that the council meet on Tuesday of the following week to consider Abolish- ing City Court and give all eitizens a further opportunity to express their views. Mr. Hedrick seconded the motion. After a brief discussion motion was carried. B. 0. D. Report, from Sewer Operations was read by Mayor. City Attorney read the following reso- lutions .and Ordinances: RESOLUTION 72-16 A RESOLUTION REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF VANDALISM TO AND THEFT OF BOATS, MOTORS AND ALLIED EQUIPMENT IN THE WATERS ADJACENT TO THE GREATER FORT WALTON BEACH AREA. Councilman Guidry moved that the resolu- tion be adopted. Councilman Brock seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. 100.160 AN ORDINANCE REZONING CERTAIN PROPERTIES AND GRANTING VARIANCES TO USES OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, PROVIDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. Councilman Rigdon moved that the or- / dinance be passed on second reading. Motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 574 RE: COLLECTION OF FEES 100.161 RE: REZONING 100.162 RE: CLOSING AND VACATING A PORTION OF COMET STREET 100.163 | RE: AUTHORIZING OCCUPA- TIONAL LICENSE FOR VARIOUS BUSINESSES IN NON-CONFORM- ING BUILDINGS 574 AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE COLLECTION OF FEES FOR CONNECTION TO CITY WATER MAINS AND CONNECTION TO CITY SEWERS BE PAID AND COLLECTED AT THE SAME TIME BUILD- ING PERMIT FEES ARE PAID AND COLLECTED PROVIDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. Mr. Schweizer moved that ordinance be passed on 3rd reading. Guidry seconded and motion was carried. 100.161 AN ORDINANCE REZONING CERTAIN PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF FORT WALTOM BEACH- (GULF POWER CO. R-2 to M-1; FOY SHAW RIA to M-1 west 100 ft. fronting on Robinwood etc) Motion was duly made, seconded, and unani- mously carried that ordinance be passed on Ist reading. Motion was then duly made and seconded that the rules be waived and the ordinance be passed on third and final reading. Motion carried unanimously. 100.162 AN ORDINANCE CLOSING AND VACATING A PORTION OF COMET STREET IN THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, PROVIDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. Motion was duly made, seconded, and unani- mously carried that ordinance be passed on lst reading. 100.163 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES FOR VARIOUS BUSINESSES IN NON-CONFORMING BUILDINGS, PROVIDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. Motion was duly made, seconded, and unani- mously carried that ordinance be passed on lst reading. 4 ate 162 523.1 RE: REQUIRING PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT AND BIDS SENATOR CHILES FIVE YEAR ROAD PLAN NEW BUSINESS MAYOR PRO TEM PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT BIDS 523.1 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 523 £0 REQUIRE PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT AND BIDS ON PURCHASES IN EXCESS OF $1,000.00, RATHER THAN $500.00, PROVIDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. Motion was duly made, seconded and unani- mously carried that ordinance be passed ¢ on lst reading. Motion was then made that the rules be waived and ordinance be passed on 3rd and final reading. Motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. The City Manager read a letter from Lawton Chiles, concerning Revenue Sharing for information only. City Manager presented matter of the Five Year Road Plan required by Dept. of Transportation. Councilman Brock moved that the Plan be approved and submitted to the State Department of Transportation. Motion was seconded by Van Buskirk and carried Unanimously. Councilman Rigdon moved that Mr. Joe Guidry be appointed Mayor Pro Tem for the term starting July 1, 1972. Motion was duly seconded Mr. Palmer stated that he believed the appointment of Mayor Pro Tem was to gd from person*®on the Council, by seniority. He said that Mr. Guidry had preceded Mr. Rigdon as Mayor Pro Tem. If he now succeeded Mr. Rigdon this was not according to policy; he felt policy should either be followed or abolished. After a brief discussion among council members, Mr. Hedrick moved to table the motion. The motion was seconded by Mr. Van Buskirk. On roll call the vote was: Yes/Palmer, Van Buskirk, Guidry, Schweizer, Brock and Hedrick; No/ Rigdon. City Manager presented bid of R. Ward Company for playground equipment, and stated that this compamy had given the low bid meeting all specifications, and was in the amount of $958.00. * to person 163 Motion was duly made, seconded, and carried to accept the bid, from R. Ward Co. Other Bid was: $870.05, from American Playground Device Co., but was incomplete. SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION Councilman Guidry made a motion that the DURING SUMMER City Manager be requested to liok’.into the possibility of hiring high school boys to build sidewalk during the summer in the most needed areas to be determined by Council to give employment td the boys, ‘and-to improve safety by keeping children off the streets. Motion was duly seconded. General discussion was had as to age of boys who might be employed, past practice of the city in this regard, and State requirements as to safety hazards in such employment. Mr. Hedrick commented that he felt the Council did not have to spell out all such matters as this, that they hired a City Manager and this type of thing could be left to his discretion. Marsha Timmel stated that she felt that the City's employment of the high school students would be a constructive thing. Question was called and motion carried unarimedas ty. MILO SMITH ZONING STUDY Mr. Palmer inquired of City Manager if' any reports had come back from Milo Smith § Associates in regard to the study which they had approved at a prior meeting. Mr. Walker said that their action had been fed back to the Planning Board but as yet nowword on progress had been re- ceived. ~ . VARIANCES TO ORDINANCES Mr. Palmer brought up the matter of the many ordinances which Council appeared to be undoing in many instances by allowing individual exceptions to the ordinances. He felt the Council should take a stand, either to take the ordinance off the books or enforce it. The Mayor suggested that perhaps this matter would be improved with the study of Milo Smith § Associates when it was completed. POLICE HATS DELIVERY DATE Mr. Van Buskirk inquired as to status on Police hats, City Manager stated he would get information on this and report to Council. ADJOURNMENT Mayor thanked those present for being at the meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. _ APPROVED yet, 257 / G72 MAYOR: ATTEST: Ah pb City Clerk-Finance Director