Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-24-1993 Regular — reading text

read the resolution by title only. Mr. Nicholson movedadopt Resolution 93- 17. to Motion was seconded Wyninegar and carried unanimously by Mrs. with Nicholson. Campbell. Myers. Gibson. Covey. Murtha. and Wyninegar in favor . TRAVEL EXPENSES/ Mr. Murtha moved to adopt policy to pay travel a TRIP REPORT expenses for Counci1aeabers acting in an official business capacity as a City Representative on a Committee. and that an oral or written trip report be given. Motion was seconded by Mr. Nicholson and carried unanimously with Nicholson. Campbell. Myers. Gibson. Covey. Murtha. and Wyninegar in favor. ENGINE ONE Mrs. Wyninegar commented Engine One has been duly recognized with a sign as the first fire engine of the City. MAYOR' S TV PROGRAM The Mayor announced he and Mr. Covey will appear on a local TV program tomorrow. which will be air Thursday evening at 6: 00 p. m. CIVIC LEADERS TRIP The Mayor briefly mentioned his recent Civic Leaders trip to Texas and he will provide a trip report. COUNCIL MINUTES Mrs. Wyninegar moved that Council minutes 8- 3- 93. 8- 4- 93. 8- 5- 93. 8- 9-93. and 8- 10- 93. be approved . as corrected. < Motion was seconded by Mr. Covey and carried unanimously with Nicholson. Campbell. Myers. Gibson. Covey. Murtha. and Wyninegar in favor. CRA. COUNTY TIF The City Attorney reviewed his conversations with the County Attorney regarding the respective positions on the developing position by the County to discontinue the Tax Increment Financing for the Community Redevelopment Agency area. and the questions raised regarding the TIF. the responsibility to continue it. and the County' s I position of the City in enforcing the County responsibility. He mentioned the City' s options to pursue a court to either expect the County to meet the City' s established policy of continuing the TIF or to change the City' s position. or develop a middle ground that compromises or settles the issue. He recommended. as a first step if Council' s policy position continues. that Council undertake to find out the terms of Specialty representation. estimation of the amount ofan expense involved in an evaluation of the City' s position. and recommendations regarding strengthening the City' s position regarding the matter. and strategic guidance if it became necessary to pursue through Court action the enforcement of the policy. 176 8- 24- 93 CRA. TIF ( CONT.) Mrs. Wyninegar moved to authorize the City Manager to expend up to $ 7. 500 for the assistance of Special Counsel to review the issues ( on the CRA TIF) involved and the position of the City. and to provide guidance regarding the City future course. Motion was seconded by Mrs. Myers. John Bloomer. 331 Sudduth Circle. expressed to give up the CRA and to give up the funding is premature at this point. and spoke in favor of pursuing the TIF from the County. RECESS The meeting recessed at 9: 23 p. m. RECONVENE The meeting was called to order at 9: 33 p. m. Frank Salters. 248 Brooks Street. objected to the CRA and to the TIF funding the CRA. Larry Patrick. 221 Yacht Club Drive. spoke in support of funding the CRA. Jim Horsley. 595 Fairway Court. opposed spending money in the downtown area. and suggested a better use for the money is to hold a binding referendum to find out whether the residents want a CRA or to eliminate it forever. David deVaux. 348 Marie Circle. encouraged attempting to reach a compromise with the County. and suggested using the $ 7. 500 to ask the residents whether or not they want a CRA; if the answer is yes. then pursue the funding. and if the answer is no. then cut it off forever. Jean Schultz. 313 Briarwood Circle. commented on the good work of the CRA in the suggested past year. and renaming the CRA and call it the City Improvement Committee and that it operate as any other unfunded City committee. Buck Smith. 329 Beal Parkway. spoke about the need to increase the tax base and improving the entire City. David Lewis. 212 Oak Street. expressed the opinion the whole City should be considered for improvement. not just the downtown or Eglin Parkway areas. Bill Roberts. 361 Marie Circle. commented on the misconceptions about the CRA. Kathleen Kendall. 618 Powell Drive. commented the TIF is double taxation. H. T. Smith. 269 Ewing Court. objected to the CRA receiving the TIF from the County. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried by a vote of 5 to 2 with Nicholson. Campbell. Myers. Covey. and Wyninegar in favor and Gibson and Murtha opposed.  8- 24- 93 177 THORNBER ET AL V CITY Attorney Bret Moore reported a mandate has been returned from the District Court of Appeal which returns jurisdiction to the Circuit Courts of Okaloosa County on the issue on the release of funds. and they can immediately make a transaction if they can reach a settlement. then reviewed the attempts to settle the He question of costs with Attorney George Day. and reported they received an itemized list of costs in the amount of I 12. 133. 58. He reported the offer now from Mr. Mead. an attorney with Mr. Day. is the Plaintiff' s would receive the $ 97. 050. 00 less the Clerk' s fee. plus the full 12. 133. 58 for costs. He said Council' s options are to accept Mr. Day' s number. authorize them to jointly request the funds be released from the Court. and authorize the payment of $ 12. 133. 58. or to authorize them to proceed to dispute the amount and if they can get the fees paid out of the Registry of the Court. to