Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 12-05-1995 Special — reading text

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 121 OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA DECEMBER 5, 1995 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council and the Vision Plan Stewardship Committee, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, December 5, 1995, at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: I Mayor Larry Trenary Councilmen: Clay Bob James Carnathan Campbell Watson Chris Gibson Dean Covey Jim Murtha Cissy Wyninegar Also Present: Reid Silverboard, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Len Mitchell, CDS Director; Susanne Sims, Planner; media. Vision Stewardship members present: Susan Myers, Chairman ( Chamber of Commerce) Mike Kent, Vice Chairman ( EDC) Grace Brown ( MPB) Virginia Bryant ( CRA) Jeff Fuller ( Historic Sites) Jody Henderson ( citizen) Bill Lowe ( Performing Arts) Gordon Thomas ( County) Blinn Van Mater ( citizen) Delores Robbins ( citizen) Steve King ( Beautification Committee) CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order for the of purpose receiving an overview and progress report from the Vision Stewardship Committee. OVERVIEW AND Mrs. Myers gave slide presentation which included a review a PROGRESS REPORT of the Fort Walton Vision Statement Beach and priorities established by Council, the Mission Statement adopted by the Committee, and an overview and progress report of each of the committees, boards, and organizations. I STATUS UPDATE The by City Manager Council information Committee s pursue on I some progress Judicial at of the report, gave the a issues which Center/ Industrial status retreat not update priorities set last on May, highlighted covered by the included priorities to Park/ professional office the and complexes; create safe communities ( change approach); to solve transportation issue; to raise community appearance standards by reviewing and strengthening code enforcement; to explore feasibility of annexing unincorporated areas; to undertake a cost/ benefit analysis of city programs, services, and staffing to determine actual short term and long term costs of running the government and revenue generation; and restructure the CRA.  12- 5- 95 122 PROPOSED PROJECT Mike Kent explained the goal of the proposed Judicial JUDICIAL CENTER/ Center/ Joint Use Facility project is to build a center to JOINT USE house judges, courtrooms, the Sheriff I s Department, County FACILITY Clerk' s office, and the State Attorney' s office in a central location. The proposal would be to build the center on the school board site. He mentioned some details which stil; need to be addressed, such possible as deed restrictions on the Shalimar annex and private funding of theproject. He pointed out the many positive features of the proposal: it is the cornerstone of the Vision Plan; it brings a workforce into central city support core; it stimulates for businesses in surrounding area; the infrastructure water, sewer, electricity are already available; it is a central location -- east, west, & north arterials -- already lead to the area; public/ private partnership -- private financing of a public facility; an increase of property tax base and property values in the area; safe, secure facilities for court- related activities; the re- use of historically significant building; a cost- effective way to address the County' s long- term judicial em sys:.:and office requirements; and benefits toOkaloosa Cou~~ y, Okaloosa County School District, City of Fort Walton Beach, and citizens. Mr. Kent said the Vision Plan Stewardship Committee would like conceptual approval from Council to move forward with the proj ect and approval to hire someone to put together a formal feasibility study. Mrs. Wyninegar moved to give the Vision Plan stewardship Committee approval to go forward conceptually with a plan to package, promote, and bring to fruition a Judicial Center/ Joint- use Facility on the existing Okaloosa County school Board Administration site. Motion was seconded by Mr. Covey Discussion included the central location of the site; the potential use of the facility; the number of acres available at the potential site; the infrastructure of the site; the parking situation and access problems; the need to obtain conceptual approval from the respective bodies, the County and the School Board; and the need