Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 11-05-2001 Workshop — reading text

291 MINUTES OF TIlE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF TIlE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FWRIDA NOVEMBER 5, 2001 INTRODUCTION A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. was held on Monday, November 5, 2001, at 5: 30 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Center located at 31 Memorial Parkway, with the following members present: Mayor Glenda Glover I Councilmen: Clay Carnathan, Janet Baggett, Jim Dowling, Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Chuck Kelley, and Mike Anderson. Also Present: Reid Silverboard, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Jason Hull, City Attorney's Office; Joyce Shanahan, Finance Director; Department Directors; and Herb Marlowe, Facilitator. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order to discuss the CRA issue. CRA ISSUE The City Manager advised the CDS Director will give a brief review on the history of the CRA and the Finance Director will briefly review the financial aspects of the CRA. CRA HISTORY IN FORT WALTON BEACH The CDS Director showed a series of slides to review previous presentations on the CRA which included the goals of the City, the CRA objectives; the history of the CRA Board; why the CRA was slow in starting; the current status of the CRA; the current boundaries, the current Plan and Public input sessions; the Vision Plan Recommendations in 1994; the CRA Plan UpdatelUrban Master Plan; the Economic Development projects; the CRA Plan UpdatelUrban Master Plan, Transportation and Streetscape element; and where the dollars could come & om. Discussion included an exchange of views on the goal to reverse deteriorating trends; the incentives to improve property, i. e. residential rehab, putty and paint, and landscape grant for commercial properties; and financial incentives for commercial businesses to go downtown. FINANCIAL REVIEW The Finance Director gave a brief slide presentation to review previous presentations on the City General FWld Revenue and Expenses and the CRA Funds and Expenses which included the sales tax generated in the area and received, the TIF calculations for the original area and the expanded area, the CRA expenditures, CRA issues and facts, and how to maximize revenues. CRA ISSUES Mr. Marlowe recalled this is the meeting at which Council is to arrive at a decision for closure, and at the end of this meeting COWlcil can decide if a meeting tomorrow evening is needed. He noted there are four choices: 1) Continue with the current CRA; 2) Council act as the CRA Board; 3) A Public Referendum; and 4) Abolish the CRA. Council discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each choice. Alternative I: Continue with the current CRA - opinions of advantages mentioned included it is a funding source and provides stability; opinions of disadvantages mentioned included it does not pay its fair share of overhead, the CRA has special dollars, it could be portrayed as special treatment,the CRA has special powers, conflict of interests, members do I not have to be a citizen of Fort Walton Beach to be on the CRA Board, and people could take advantage of their position. Alternative 2: Council act as the CRA Board - opinions of advantages mentioned included Council would be in charge, it eliminates a step in the process; elected officials would be in would eliminate charge, of the CRA and the redundancy MPB, it would be more political, and it may bring more people into the process; opinions of the disadvantages mentioned included it would lose expertise and continuity, the MPB may be the wrong mix, it will require more Council time, historically the community has been against Council as CRA,and it is politicized. Alternative 3: Public Referendwn - opinions of advantages mentioned included it will get the public view and get public debate, and it will pl." ovide closure; opinions of disadvantages mentioned included there would be no public benefit to abolish the CRA, it could leave gap, and it would be an opportunity to disperse misinformation. 292 11- 5- 01 CRA ISSUES cont. Alternative 4: Abolish the CRA - opinions of advantages mentioned included potentially lower taxes, it is possible there would be no negative impact on development; opinions of disadvantages mentioned included it will leave a gap, there would be no public benefit, the City would lose a funding source, taxes don' t go down, services don' t go up, will have to either cut services or raise taxes, major accomplishments wilI not occur, redevelopment efforts will lose energy, and the City will have to return County dollars. During discussion there was mention of an Alternative 5 - to expand the CRA and make the whole City a CRA area. Following discussion on the opinions of the advantages and disadvantages of the Alternatives, Mr. Marlowe asked each member which alternative they would choose. Dr. Pullen chose Alternative 3 - Public Referendum, but could accept Alternative 1 - Continue with the current CRA; Chuck KelIey chose Alternative I - Continue with the current CRA; Mike Anderson chose Alternative 3 - Public Referendum; Mayor Glover expressed her preference for Alternative I - Continue with the current CRA; Clay Carnathan chose Alternative 1 - Continue with the current CRA; Janet Baggett chose Alternative 1 - Continue with the current CRA; Jim Dowling chose Alternative I - Continue with the current CRA; and Jim Tucker chose Alternative 2 - Council act as the CRA. Mr. Marlowe noted the majority of Council at this time wants to continue with the current system and recognized there will be an election in fifteen months and a new Council may take their own direction. He expressed concern that Council will continue to argue over this issue for the next fifteen months. Council discussed a course of action over the next four months. Mr. Tucker said CmUlcil should direct staff to find as many ways as it can to spend the CRA money so that its enhances the entire community not just property owners downtown, such as completing the Landing Park improvements and finding a way to support the Library. Following up on this Mr. Carnathan agreed and suggested taking the balance of the CRA funds to complete Phases 2 and 3 of the Landing, bond the TIF funds to get the Landing completed and relieve pressure elsewhere and put some money back into paying for the Library. Mr. Tucker agreed and stated it should be placed on the agenda. Further these things should be done during the next 15 months to get the projects completed and stop spending money on some of the other projects like the Brooks Street improvement. There was a consensus of Councilmembers to find ways to build the public assets for the enhancement of the entire community as suggested. Mr. Marlowe summarized the Council's consensus that the referendum issue would be set aside for now, and over the next four months find as many ways as can to use CRA funds to maximize public investment for the benefit of the entire community. The City Manager is to create as many mechanisms for public investment as he can that will benefit the entire community. All agreed. There was consensus of Council that a Special Council meeting tomorrow evening is not needed. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7: 35 p. m. MDJ MA YOR: