Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-29-1995 Special — reading text

MINUTES OF THE OF CITY OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA 6~ AUGUST 29, 1995 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of City Council of Fort the Walton Beach, Florida, was held Monday, August 29, on 1995, at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Larry Trenary I Councilmen: Clay Bob James Chris Dean Carnathan Campbell Watson Gibson Covey Jim Murtha Cissy Wyninegar Also Present: Reid Silverboard, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Gail Abraham, Finance Director; and Department Directors. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the proposed 1995/ 96 budget. The City Manager reviewed the procedure during the public hearing process in September when Council will adopt the budget and an ordinance that sets the tentative millage rate at the first public hearing and the general public will have an opportunity to make comments, and Council will have an opportunity to make changes prior to adopting the final budget. Council requested a recess in order to rev iew the information contained in the City Manager' s memo listing the budget issues that have not been resolved. RECESS The meeting recessed at 5: 39 p. m. CALL TO ORDER The meeting reconvened at 5: 48 p. m. BUDGET REVIEW Council concurred to follow the City Manager' s memo as the agenda for this meeting. Richard Vajs, 266 Briarwood, suggested Council roll the millage rate back to 4. 07, negate all the planned increases in water, sewer, sanitation and golf course, and instruct staff to return with a balanced budget with those provisions. I Steve specific Wiggins, details contingencies. 12 of Bay his Drive, presented proposal for a and budget explained without GOLF COURSE FEES Discussion on the Golf Course included the golf carts lease; the Capital Improvement Program for theirrigation hydraulic line; administrative costs; and anticipated revenue based on increased fees; and extensive discussion on the proposed increase of the User Fee by $ 1.50 from $ 1.50 to $ 3. 00; an increase in the Greens Fee by $ 1. 00; an increase in the Golf Cart Fees by $ 1.00 from $ 6. 00 to $ 7. 00; and an increase in the membership fees by 15%.  8- 29- 95 64 GOLF COURSE ( CONT.) Ms. Gibson moved to increase the User Fee 1. 50 from by $ 1. 50 to $ 3. 00, to increase the greens fees by $ 1. 00, to increase Golf Cart fees by $ 1. 00 from $ 6. 00 to $ 7. 00, and to increase Membership fees by 15%. Motion was seconded by Mr. Covey and failed by a vote of 4 to 3, with Campbell, Watson, Murtha and Wyninegar opposed, and Carnathan, Gibson and Covey in favor. staff was requested to provide information at the next meet ing on where the Golf Course will rank among the clubs in the County if fees are increased as proposed. Mr. Murtha moved to increase the User Fee by $ 2. 00 from 1.50 to $ 3. 50, to increase the greens fees by $ 1.00, to increase Golf Cart fees ~ y $ 1. 00 from $ 6. 00 to $ 7. 00, and to increase membership fees by 15%. Motion was seconded by Ms. Gibson and failed by a vote of 5 to 2, with Carnathan, Campbell, Watson, Covey, and Wyninegar opposed and Gibson and Murtha in favor. Council concurred with proceeding to the next issues and return to the golf course issue later in the meeting. EDC AND CHAMBER Ms. Gibson moved to reduce the funding to EDC by $ 15, 000 and reduce the funding to the Chamber of Commerce by $ 15, 000, leaving $ 10, 000 each to the EDC and the Chamber, and move 30, 000 to fund a Public Information Officer position. Motion was seconded by Mr. Murtha. Mr. Watson requested the motion be amended to reduce the funding to the Chamber of Commerce by $ 15, 000 to give them 10, 000 but retain the $ 25, 000 budgeted for the EDC. Ms. Gibson declined to accept that amendment. Mrs. Wyninegar requested the motion be amended to reduce the funding to the EDC and the Chamber of Commerce by $ 7, 500. 00 each, with the understanding the City will still consider hiring a PIO. Ms. Gibson accepted the amendment. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion as amended and it failed by a vote of 4 to 3, with Carnathan, Campbell, Watson, and Covey opposed, and Gibson, Murtha, and Wyninegar in favor. Ms. Gibson moved to reduce the funding to the Chamber of Commerce