Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 03-09-1976 Regular — reading text

Mrs. Norviel stated that this answers her question to an extent. But, she said, I am wondering how this applies on our ruling that we don' t supply water outside the city limits unless they have an intent to annex, which I am sure the mall does not plan to do. Mr. Rigdon replied that we serve water to l i Cinco Bayou and to of other differ- I a lot ent areas outside the city limits. We do J it with a premium of 25 - 33% more than the taxpayers inside the city pay. We have a gentlemen' s agreement with the county that if there are isolated areas where they cannot serve, then the city will fur- nish water. We do ask them if they are adjacent to the city if they will intent  y:/ ~ - v,/, 149 to annex. Mayor Pryor came down and was concerned about fire protection. It was not intended to give the mall water. I think that is what a lot of people thought. We put the valve there in case of a fire, only for protection. I Mr. Baughman stated that there is one thing he would like to clear up, Council did not intend for this water to be turned on. We don~ know who turned it on. City Clerk said that there is a meter on this valve. When it turns, they will pay. PARKING LOT COMMITTEE Under old business, Mr. Hill presented the RECOMMENDATIONS following reocmmendations from the Parking Lot Committee, which was tabled at the last meeting for two weeks: The Council Parking Lot Committee from time to time has looked at the temporary leasing of off- street parking lots for the downtown Main Street area where off- street parking requirements have been exempt in exchange for the gift of right- of- way by the property owners. After several months of study and inves- tigation and supported by studies and recommendations from the Municipal Plan- ning Board, and appraisals by real estate appraisors, the Committee recommends that the City purchase the James N. Cox pro- erty at the price of $ 185, 000. 00 with 35, 000. 00 down and $ 150, 000. 00 over twenty years at 8% per annum; and the Pat Brooks Patterson property at $ 34, 800. 00 will be paid from the General Fund over the 20- year period. Mr. Hill presented a letter from Mr. William B. Harbeson III explaining his appraisal of the James Cox property, and from James J. Tringas asking for I a letter affirmative action by Council to construct a parking lot in the downtown area. Mayor asked for a motion on the recommen- dation. Mr. Baughman said that he has studied this situation and looked at it from many viewpoints. I am convinced that this is needed to re- vitalize our down- town area. The people in the downtown area have done a lot of things to upgrade  e_.."~_..___ 3/ 9/ 7(, 150 < the area. I am convinced that re- vitali- zation of the downtown area is at a stall without adequate parking. Mr. Baughman moved that Council proceed with development of a parking lot in the downtown area. Motion was seconded by Mr. Bishopand Mayor asked for discussion. Mr. Baughman added that he does feel that Council needs to negotiate on the price. Mayor recognized Mr. Sam Taylor, President of Downtown Merchants Association. Mr. Tyalor stated that he has visited Mobile and Pensacola looking at their downtown areas. The downtown area of Mobile is dying due to lack of parking. Pensacola has created a municipal parking lot and renovated the backs of stores downtown for parking. The parking facilities we are asking for are for the convenience of the tourists and the residents of the Fort Walton Beach area, not necessarily just the merchants. People should not have to walk several blocks to get where they are going to shop. The merchants gave up their land for Main Street. I would like to see us bring this to a head. We have been working on this for over a year now. I would like to see it voted on tonight. Mayor recognized Mr. Herman Brantley, 118 Rainbow Drive. Mr. Brantley stated that he has a strong feeling about this parking. If we go this way for downtown, what do we do for Eglin Parkway or anyone else who wants this. City Attorney explained that legally a City can build a municipal parking lot. Where it is built is up to this Council. r~~ a; e- . I~erss:~~ tt~ mi~ r~:~ : b~~~~ 1_.. t~ o~~~ If you do this for downtown, where do you .. stop? Mr. Baughman stated that all councils in the past years have responded to the citi- zens of this community when the need has arisen, whether it was for tennis courts, golf course, recreation center, ball diamonds, fair grounds, or whatever was needed, if the Council could find a way  I<.. ..~. 1:<.......< -,~."", 9/ 7~ 151 to do it they have done it. Some people have lost sight of the fact that businessmen are citizens too. We are responding to a need. Mayor recognized Mrs. Livingston, 141 Alabama. Mrs. Livingston stated I that she has waited for property across the street from her to be cleared for over a year. We are citizens also, and we need something done about this tion. situa- I would like to see this taken care of before the parking lot. City Manager pointed out that Mr. Rigdon has asked that this be checked into. Mr. Livingston, 141 Alabama, stated that this property is more of a neces- sity than this parking lot. We have been fighting this for seven years-- not one year. We found out that the right- of- way was wrong. It cost me $ 85. 00 to get a survey and I found out that that was wrong. Mayor interrupted and said that he did not see the connection with the parking lot motion on the floor. Mr. Livingston replied that you are talking about spend- ing money. If you can build a parking lot, why can' t you spend money to correct this. That is the point I am getting at. Mayor stated that we will be glad to work on this, but I think we should handle this as a separate item. Mayor recognized James C. Cook, 136 Rainbow Drive, who stated that Council should run a survey and see if that parking lot is needed that badly. I have never found it that hard to find a place to park. I Mayor recognized Garfield Street. Mr. Mr. Jimmy Benaquis, 127 Benaquis stated that if you go downtown from 9: 00 to 10: 00 on in the morning you can' t place. We have about 15 to find a parking 20 more mer- chants who want to come down to Main Street if we can get parking. All last summer we didn' t have a parking space on Main Street. We have built downtown into what it should be and we need some help right  d/ 1/ ' 7(, 152 now. We have built it back and we need some parking. Mr. Charles Hughes, 215 Texas, asked what the cost would be. City Manager replied that the prices we have been talking about are $ 185, 000 for one parcel, $ 35, 000 for the other parcel, and $ 26, 000 to clear and remove what is there and put in the asphalt parking lot.