Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 04-11-06 Regular — reading text

WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 28, 2006 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at 5: 00 p. m. with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson ( arrived at 5: 10 pm), Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Pullen ( arrived at 5: 13 pm), Jim Hartwell ( arrived at 5: 50 pm), and Mike Minich Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Finance Director Vacant); Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. GOLF CLUB STUDY RATES Interactive discussion regarding establishing fees for the Fort Walton Beach Municipal Golf Course. Charlotte Dunworth, Management Analyst for the City, described the various rate scenarios for the Golf Club. Two were proposed by the Golf Club Advisory Committee, one was proposed by the Golf Club Administrator, and two scenarios were offered by the president of the Men' s Golf Association. She advised all rates are slated to be effective June 1 of each of the fiscal years; are based on 90, 000 paid rounds per year, and all are scheduled to increase 5% annually. In the two scenarios proposed by the Advisory Committee, membership fees increased for City residents and decreased for County residents; member and junior green fees increased and non- member green fees did not change; member cart fees decreased, non- member cart fees increased, and rider cart fees did not change; and pull cart fees increased. In Both Scenarios # 1 and # 2 proposed by the Advisory Committee, City members would break even at 41 rounds per year, and County members at 47 rounds per year. In Scenario # 1, the cumulative excess for fiscal year 09- 10 is $ 406, 566; in Scenario # 2, the cumulative excess is $ 706, 566 for fiscal year 09- 10, with contributions from the general fund. In the scenario proposed by the Golf Club Administrator, no distinction was made between City and County residents or their dependents for membership; non- member green fees increased; non- member cart fees increased; and no contribution was proposed from the general fund. Both City and County members would break even at 35 rounds per year. The cumulative excess for fiscal year 09- 10 is $ 1, 241, 858, with no contributions from the general fund. Ms. Dunworth also explained the scenarios proposed by Chuck Wheelahan, President of the Men' s Golf Association, with revenue levels predicted on achieving new county memberships. Jim Frazier, Golf Club Administrator, discussed the need to stay competitive with other courses by offering a low rate to out-of-town residents during the months of January, February, and March, while offering City residents some priority on tee times or allowing them to buy in increments of 10 or 5 plays at reduced rates. 142 3/ 28/ 06 Council Workshop GOLF CLUB RATES ( cont) as leagues and toumaments, and Discussion included ways to increase play at the course, such advised that marketing dollars were needed ways to market the course. The City Manager to increase play at the elsewhere and that there are things that can be done administratively course, such as requiring cart riding on weekends and holidays and having peak/non- peak rates. The City Manager further informed that between late January and April is when 60% of the revenue is received at the golf course, due to the snowbirds that are in the area, and that their contributions to the course cannot be ignored. Council thanked the Advisory Committee for their efforts and in getting some numbers together to w~. - The Mayor asked if there was any public input. Men' s Golf Association, stated his Chuck Wheelahan, 613 Powell Drive and President of the recommendations; rather, as a theoretical proposal was not represented to support any budgetary Those points were that county members he talked with felt group of numbers to make two points. than members, which is why their numbers were lower in his proposal, city they were charged more members, thus increasing and that if you lower the county membership fees you will get more revenue. Lee McDonald, 10 Rue de la Roi, expressed his thoughts on raising both city and county membership, and the expense of the clubhouse. his thoughts that the Joe Sasso, 18 Oakdale Road and Golf Club Advisory member, expressed considered are more than fair, and that raising of rates is imperative and that the new rates being the course is a benefit to the City that must be kept up to standards. rates should be lowered for the senior Jim Tibbs, 703 Ferguson and Golf Club employee, feels the citizens. members should be increased during the John Vesey, 230 Thomas Court, feels the rate for non- months of January, February, and March of each year. months. Council noted the contributions of the snowbirds during the winter The public input was closed. on which scenario they prefer. She The City Manager asked for a recommendation from Council make a profit and that the capital improvement emphasized the proposed rates are not designed to stated the rates do not include charges for the items are based on current year needs. She further services that the fund provides to the golf course, such as human resources, accounting, general and insurances. to their April meeting an adjusted Consensus of Council was for the City Manager to bring back rate schedule using the proposal submitted by the Golf Club Administrator, to include other costs such as human resources, accounting, and insurances.  143 Council Workshop 3/ 28/ 06 PRESENTATION OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES Presentation of underground utilities report by Municipal Planning Board representative. Bill Wayne, Municipal Planning Board member, presented his report and reviewed the information he compiled during his research on undergrounding utilities, including the benefits of undergrounding of utilities as opposed to above ground wiring, cost, and requirements. Mr. Wayne advised the Municipal Planning Board has recommended that the first approximate mile from the westem City limits to be undergrounded should be the Miracle Strip ( Highway 98) corridor. The Mayor thanked Mr. Wayne for his thorough research. WRECKER ORDINANCE Discussion regarding the proposed wrecker ordinance. The City Attorney explained this ordinance will adopt private property towing requirements and will address the rotation wrecker system. She advised the ordinance will be placed in the traffic section of the code and the Police Department will be responsible for enforcement and regulation. She further advised the ordinance will set up a hearing officer to address violations of the ordinance, as well as the permitting of the wreckers and vehicle itself. The City Attomey suggested that before the ordinance is adopted, that the Police Department notify all wrecker companies to set up a workshop to receive their input; that a resolution be drafted that addresses and makes suggestions on the maximum fees to be charged within the City; and that procedures for the rotation system be adopted and procedures for the hearing officer need to be adopted through a resolution of Council. The Mayor received clarification that once information is received from the wrecker companies, the ordinance will be drafted and brought to a regular Council meeting. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS Discussion regarding appointments of Council representatives. The Mayor explained that the Council appointments will be voted on later during the regular Council meeting, and that this was the time when changes could be made for appointments if a member of Council so desired, and all appointments are for a one- year term, from April 1 through March 31. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Dr. Pullen advised he would continue as Council representative to the EDC. LIBRARY COOPERATIVE Dr. Pullen advised he would continue as Council representative to the library Cooperative, and Bob Campbell will continue as the alternate. OKALOOSA-WALTON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION Mr. Minich advised he did not wish to continue as a Council representative to the OWTPO. Jim Hartwell advised he would serve as Council representative in place of Mr. Minich, with Mayor Anderson taking Mr. Hartwell's place as an alternate on the OWTPO. OKALOOSA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Dr. Pullen advised he would continue as Council representative to the OCDC. 144 3/ 28/ 06 Council Workshop OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES continue as Council representative to the OCLOC. Mayor Anderson advised he would REGIONAL UTILITY AUTHORITY Bob Campbell advised he would continue as Council representative to the RUA. TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL as Council representative to the TDC. Mike Minich advised he would continue WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL as Council representative to the WFRPC. Bill Patterson advised he would continue MAYOR PRO TEM as Mayor Pro Tern. Bob Campbell advised he would serve another year will be voted on during the Regular Council Meeting. The