Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-17-2004 Regular — reading text

287 0" .... 1,..'" x-,..,.'..,-,..:.,.._."."";,..", ... .",';, '_"'~ held on Tuesday, A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was Chambers Hall, with the following members present: August 17, 20047: 00 p. m. in the Council at City Mayor Glenda Glover Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Pullen, and Mike Anderson. Absent: Bob Campbell; and Seat 6 - vacant. Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Mike Burton, Finance Director; Toni Craig Teal, City Attorney; and Department Directors. 1C'~:~ lmm. The Mayor called the meeting to order. tI'M. a~-. Sansom Update on the 2004 Legislative Session and plans for the 2005 Session by Representative Ray and Senator Charlie Clary. the ballot, Representative Sansom reported there will be six or seven Constitutional Amendments on mentioned minor changes amended, and reviewed couple of were made on how the Constitution can be a issues discussed by the legislators which included keeping taxes low since Florida has a very strong and low taxes is an incentive for people to move here; and making a change in the School economy funding formula that benefited Okaloosa County and beginning to correct the inequities on the distribution of school funding so that Okaloosa County and the other Counties that receive below the State average in of funding would benefit. He mentioned that the City has great representation in the Florida League Cities who does an excellent job representing the City. He expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to represent the City in Tallahassee. Senator Charlie Clary echoed the comments that it is an honor to represent the City and the citizens of Okaloosa County, then reviewed some issues discussed by the Legislators, which included a focus on militaryaffairs such as the encroachment issues with the bases, benefits for the spouses of disabled veterans, unclaimed lottery dollars to be used as matching dollars for the education system. He mentioned the destruction caused Hurricane that will result in studies to evaluate what went wrong, and by Charley that the biggest challenge in the future to the budget will be Medicaid benefits. In response to the question on a possible change in legislation to address the release of personal information, Representative Sansom stated a committee is in the process of making legislation to correct that exception to the exemption on the release of personal information, and that he has committed various legislation to make that The City Manager stated that staff is working with Representative change. Sansom' s office to draft legislation for his consideration and they will also work with Senator Clary' s office. Senator Clary added it is a priority of the legislation to make that change. Additional issues addressed included the amount of State dollars flowing to the Cities for libraries, infrastructure, etc.; the encroachment of military bases and the impact to the area, and possible funding to is under review with help with easements and the purchase of land; the Strategic Interlocal System which a focus on military bases and the hurricane evacuation system to include as part of the criteria for hurricane transportation funding; the two studies with the Alabama D.O.T. and Florida D.O.T. on the evacuation system, interstate connections from Milton to 1- 65 and Panama City to Dothan, with a focus on north-south connectors and hurricane shelters that meet all the criteria for safety. 288 ~~ i__ Continued discussion included the Highway 98 gridlock and the need for regional planning to look at four or five counties that are interconnected to try to make the transportation system work for the region; the need for Homeland security funding for homeland security training in this area; the increase in standards for mobile homes; the State legislators working with the Federal delegation to address the illegal aliens in Florida; and the S. H.J.P. program as it is funded by doc stamps. Both Senator Clary and Representative Sansom encouraged the City to continue to submit on an annual basis their list of issues they would like addressed by the legislators. In response to the question on what the City could do to help the legislators, Senator Clary responded it would be helpful to hear more feedback as it relates to the military and the veterans, the relationship between the bases and the community and how they work together, and in the areas of insurance and Medicaid, and about transportation and the road systems. Representative Sansom suggested the Council invite other City Councils from around the State to visit Fort Walton Beach so they can get first hand knowledge of the area. Mayor Glover mentioned Eglin' s concern over the BRAC closures and wished to know what could be done. Senator Clary suggested the Mayors and Councils in the area get together to talk about the long- term affect of growth, what it means to the military, what their relationship is about, and what it means when building a tall structure. The Mayor received consensus of Council in support of the preparation of a Resolution to be sent to Destin expressing support for Eglin A.F. B. and that the City considers Eglin as the first and foremost employer in the area. The City Manager stated staff would draft a resolution for the next Council meeting. The Mayor and Council thanked Senator Clary and Representative Sansom for taking the time to speak to Council this evening. Millie Thrush, 316 Sudduth Circle, addressed the subject of the CRA, in particular her feelings about keeping the CRA as a separate Board rather than combining it with another Board, or having City Council sit as the Board. She asked Council not to separate the Board as it is or to combine it. It was suggested that the subject of the CRA and the MPB be scheduled for the September workshop. Mr. Tucker expressed his intention in the near future to make a motion to direct the City Manager to bring before Council at the September 14th meeting an Ordinance terminating the current CRA Board of Directors and replacing the current CRA with the City Council. He wished to know if he would receive a second to that motion. Dr. Pullen responded he would second that motion. Mr. Tucker then mentioned a letter received from Mr. HugH which states there are areas in the CRA that are no longer blighted and should be removed during the CRA plan update. The City Manager wished to know if Council would like the CRA Board members and the MPB members_ invited to the September workshop, then after that meeting, at some future date, Council may decide to direct her to prepare an Ordinance. Mr. Tucker agreed with that as an item on the next workshop. Mr. Tucker referenced the data received on the crime statistics in the CRA area and suggested that CRA - funds be used for additional police officers to clean up the CRA area. Mr. Anderson pointed out that cleaning up the CRA area has been discussed and staff is moving in that direction. The City Manager mentioned that CRA dollars could be used to purchase property that is a nuisance to help clean up the¤ area. She recalled during the budget process that 90% of the CRA's capital dollars were re-directed to improve blighted, primarily residential areas.