Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 06-26-07 regular minutes — reading text

per year payable monthly, as a vehicle allowance; delete Section 5: Retirement, which states: ' City shall continue to pay, on the Finance Director' s behalf, an amount equal to ten percent ( 10)% of the Finance Director' s base salary into the International City Management Association Retirement Corporation ( CMA- RC) 457 Deferred Compensation plan, in equal proportionate amounts each pay Motion to amend died for lack of a second. period.' Mr. Miller voiced his opinion that the Finance Director has done a good job since her employment, and noted her presentations and the research she has done per his requests, and that she deserves a contract based on performance and not personalities. The Finance Director asked if she could clarify some information for Council, and the Mayor responded that because of the situation, she could. The Finance Director stated that the City' s personnel rules do not apply to her, and she was informed of this on May 11 and subsequently was asked to resign on May 17. She advised that is why there is a contract before the Council now, because she has nothing that applies to her, and she wanted Council to understand that is the origin of why the contract is being discussed. Mr. Hartwell questioned if he could make another amendment to the motion since during discussion he has considered additional information, even though he already made one that failed. He was advised he could make another amendment. Mr. Hartwell moved to amend the contract as follows: Under Section 4, Benefits, Item A: Decrease the annual vacation leave from 96 hours per calendar year to 80 hours per calendar year, delete Item 4B which states: ' In recognition of the necessity to commit hours and work on various seasonal projects, the Finance Director will be allowed an additional two ( 2) weeks of time off with pay per year. This time off is not accrued as leave'; delete Item D2 which states: ' City agrees to continue to provide and pay 100% of the premiums for the Finance Director' s existing comprehensive disability insurance coverage'; add to Item E, ' the sum of $ 1, 200 per year payable monthly, as a vehicle allowance; delete Section 5: Retirement, which states: ' City shall continue to pay, on the Finance Director' s behalf, an amount equal to ten percent ( 10)% of the Finance Director' s base salary into the International City Management Association Retirement Corporation ICMA- RC) 457 Deferred Compensation plan, in equal proportionate amounts each pay Mr. Miller period.' seconded motion to amend the contract and it carried by a vote of 4 to 3 with Miller, Garvie, Pullen, and Hartwell in favor and Holmes, Reeves, and Minich opposed. An exchange of views were given regarding the lack of professionalism and bickering taking place among the City' s officers; that the City has good, talented, people with aggressive personalities and now is the time to work together for the City; that the Council was remiss in not offering the Finance Director a contract at the time she was hired; and that there needs to be consistency among the charter officers of the City. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion, as amended, and it carried by a vote of 4 to 3 with Miller, Garvie, Pullen, and Hartwell in favor and Holmes, Reeves, and Minich opposed. 42 Regular Meeting 6/26/ 07 RECESS The meeting recessed at 9: 00 p. m. RECONVENE The meeting reconvened at 9: 10 p. m. BROOKS BRIDGE MURAL Request approval for a local artist, Tamala Cusumano, to paint a new mural on the Brooks Bridge as a community service project, and authorize the CDS Department to coordinate the project. '< fII!I/ f The CDS Director advised that a local artist, Tamala Cusumano, has offered to paint a new mural over the deteriorating one on Brooks Bridge as a community service project. The mural would consist of 5 panels and detail the history of the City from the 1930' s to the present. The only cost to the City would be the purchase of paint, disposable brushes, the cost to have the wall professionally cleaned, and to have an acrylic sealer placed over the painting. The CDS Director advised the cost would be $ 2, 244. 00, with $ 2, 000 coming from the Waterfront Florida grant monies and the remaining $ 200-$ 300 from CRA funds. Discussion ensued on the proposed funding from the Waterfront Florida fund, and whether the Water' s Edge/Waterf ont Florida Partnership Committee (WFPC) agreed to using their funds for this project. The CDS Director advised that the grant monies were used for the Liza Jackson Park study and that the grant would end in the middle of August, and that the $ 2, 000 is unallocated funds. The Committee was notified of the decision to use these funds for this project. The City Manager noted that City Council, not the WFPC, has approval of the use of the funds. Further discussion included placing a rail or installing lighting to deter people from vandalizing the mural; the fact that the acrylic sealing helps tremendously with cleaning any graffiti that may occur; and that the mural should be within completed a month after painting begins. Additional discussed ensued regarding the monies being used from the WFPC grant for the mural project, and whether that committee has agreed that their funds be used. The CDS Director again explained the grant will end in mid- August, that the majority of the funding has been used for the committee' s Liza Jackson Park study, and that the $ 2, 000 is unallocated funds that if not used will be lost. It was questioned whether there was any type of contract being considered with the artist, whereby the City could remove the mural if it was not what was expected, and the CDS Director replied there was not. ...... The Mayor asked for public input. Charlene Greenwald, 204 Jet Drive and member of the WFPC, stated that to her knowledge, ...., this project has not come before the WFPC for their consideration, and questioned whether there was a deadline on the grant money. There was no additional public input.  43 Regular Meeting 6/26/ 07 BROOKS BRIDGE MURAL ( CONT) The City Manager informed that this is within her purchasing authority and funding could be found from another line item if Council is so inclined, and that what she is seeking is Council' s approval of the painting of the mural. She advised that the WFPC will meet the end of July and they will be approached regarding the use of the grant funds for the project, which she believes does expire in August. Otherwise, the City Manager stated CRA funds would be used for the project. Mr. Minich moved to approve the painting of a replacement mural on the Brooks Bridge by a local artist, Tamala Cusumano, and authorize the CDS staff to coordinate the project. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. Mr. Hartwell amended the motion that the City Manager look for alternate funding first, and if she cannot coordinate with the WFPC before the funding expires, to allow her to spend discretionary funds to get the project completed. Mr. Minich seconded the amendment. The Mayor called for the vote on the amendment and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion, as amended, and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. STATUS OF REVIEW/ REVISIONS TO THE LAND DEVELOMENT CODE Presentation of a report on the status of the Review and Revisions to the Land Development Code. The CDS Director presented background on what was entailed in the review and revision of the LDC by Wilson Miller Consulting Firm including interviews with all members of the City Council, the City Manager, City Attorney, and CDS Director to obtain their input; several joint meetings with the MPB and CRA to gain an understanding of the code provisions that need to be modified and revised; public workshops; and the presentation of the proposed changes to several neighborhood organizations throughout the summer. Discussion included the fact that the project has taken longer than anticipated; that any changes considered to the LDC have to go to the MPB for their consideration; that a workshop could be held with Council to familiarize them with the changes to the document; and that the City Council in May of 2006 authorized only $ 48, 625 for the project. NOMINATIONS- FLOC CITIES OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM Consideration of nominations for the 2007 Florida League of Cities, Cities of Excellence Awards Program. The Public Information Officer advised that the Florida Cities of Excellence Awards Program began in 2004 to focus public attention on city programs and individuals contributing to the quality of life in Florida, and the City has submitted awards and has had finalists in several categories in 2005 and 2006. He requested that Council consider whether it wishes to submit nominations in any of the categories for 2007, as the nominations must be in to the FLOC by August 10, 2007, with the awards being presented at the Awards Banquet in November. Mr. Minich nominated Mayor Mike Anderson as Mayor of the Year and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. 44 Regular Meeting 6/ 26/ 07 FLOC NOMINATIONS Mr. Garvie nominated Jo Main as Employee of the Year and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. Mr. Minich nominated the City' s Neighborhood Improvement Program for the City Spirit Award and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, IIIi\Io and Minich in favor. Mr. Holmes recommended that the Public Information Officer, Cam Johnson, be submitted for recognition in a category. Mr. Johnson advised the City of Excellence Award shows how the 41'''' nominated city excels in areas of governance/ administration, innovative programs and