CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Thomas called the meeting to order at 12:02 p.m. at Two Trees Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach .

PRESENT

Councilman Dutch Payne - Cinco Bayou

Councilwoman Brenda Bush - Crestview

Mayor Craig Barker - Destin

Mayor Glenda Glover - Fort Walton Beach (Secretary/Treasurer)

Councilwoman Fay Miller - Laurel Hill

Mayor John Thomas - Mary Esther (President)

Councilman Al Swihart - Niceville

Mayor Gary Combs - Shalimar

Commissioner Heyward Strong - Valparaiso

County Commissioner Elaine Tucker - Okaloosa County

ALSO PRESENT

Tina Smith, Deputy Town Clerk - Shalimar

MINUTES

Mayor Thomas stated that there were 3 different sets of minutes to approve; the minutes from the May 5, 2003 regularly scheduled Executive Board Meeting and the Minutes from the May 15, 2003 and May 22, 2003 Special Executive Board Meetings.  Mayor Combs moved to approve all three as written.  Commissioner Strong seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Mayor Glover gave the Treasurer’s Report as follows:  The balance as of 5/31/03 is $2,813.77.  Activity during the last month includes a payment to Two Trees for meals.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Regarding HB133, Commissioner Strong recapped this issue.  The league sent letters to the local representatives.  Ray Sansom replied and the league sent him another letter regarding his response.  The league hasn’t received an answer to their second letter.  The issue is not on the agenda for the special senate so it is in limbo until the 3^rd session.

In reference to the gas tax issue, Mayor Thomas thanked County Commissioner Tucker and asked that she extend the league’s appreciation to County Commissioner Bill Roberts.

Mayor Thomas explained that there were a lot of questions after the past 2 special Executive Board meetings and he felt that information reported to some councils may have been inaccurate.  Regarding future issues of this importance, he suggests that the league write down all pertinent information and make sure everyone gets a copy to ensure that everyone’s answers are the same.

NEW BUSINESS

Mayor Thomas has 10 copies of the new gas tax interlocal agreement that need to be signed by all of the mayors.  There will be enough signed copies for the county and each city to have their own original.

The quarterly Okaloosa County League of Cities’ meeting will be hosted by the city of Niceville and held at the City Civic Center on June 19, 2003 .  At 6:30 they will have hors d’oeuvres and punch and a buffet-style dinner will start at 7:00 .  Niceville’s City Manager will come up with entertainment and possible door prizes.

Mayor Glover announced that Commissioner Strong is the new Northwest Florida League of Cities President.

Commissioner Strong recommended that the OCLOC support Julio Robaina as 2^nd Vic e President.  Mr. Robaina was a big supporter of Clay Ford (FLOC 2^nd Vic e President) from Gulf Breeze in April of 2002.  Commissioner Strong stated that each city may do a separate letter but he is simply recommending that the OCLOC send one letter.  As of right now there is no one else running.  Mayor Glover moved that the OCLOC support Julio Robaina with a letter.  Commissioner Strong seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

Mayor Barker stated that Ray Sansom and Charlie Clary are scheduled to discuss HB133 at the next Okaloosa County Republican Club Meeting.  The meeting will be at the American Legion Hall on June 26, 2003 at 6:00 .

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS FROM CITIES

Cinco Bayou – Councilman Dutch Payne reported that Cinco Bayou is still fighting increasing insurance premiums.  Councilman Payne also stated that he is going to introduce legislation to change Cinco Bayou’s elections from every 2 years to every 4 years to save money.  Cinco Bayou has suspended their potluck dinners during the summer and will resume during the first part of August.

Crestview – Councilwoman Bush simply mentioned Crestview’s tremendous growth rate.

Councilwoman Bush apologized for the gas tax confusion.  She stated that she felt that she should have gotten the information to the Crestview City Council.

Destin – The City Council is still working on the beach renourishment issue.  There are still a lot of questions from the property owners but their Council is working on some good strategies to get the answers out there.

The Destin City Council is taking initial action tonight to pass an additional CRA in the harbor area.  In order to get this year established as the base year they have to have the ordinance passed by June 30. 

A citizen’s group has asked the Destin City Council to rename a stretch of Hwy. 98 East (the portion that runs from the Destin Bridge east to Gulf Shore Drive) “Harbor Blvd”.  The City Council supported the name change and is now getting the details in order with emergency management and all of the business owners.

Fort Walton Beach – Mayor Glover stated that she is delighted that OCLOC is working as a team.  The City will meet with the golf course committee on Friday.  The Pines has been closed for 5 weeks and will open on Saturday.  The fire station will be open at the end of July and Billy Bowlegs is coming up.

Commissioner Strong commented on Fort Walton Beach ’s technological updates to their Police Department. 

Mayor Glover was asked how Fort Walton Beach was paying for their new park.  Mayor Glover enthusiastically responded that her City does not have to pay for anything but the land and that was only nominal amount.  The land was mostly paid for through a State Grant.  The National Rotary Club challenged all of the local Rotary Club Chapters to take on a Centennial project that, for our local chapter, is this park.  The Rotary Club is now waiting for the Fort Walton Beach City Council to review and approve the landscape plan.

Mayor Barker noticed in the newspaper that the Fort Walton Beach City Council is getting involved in Water quality issues, clean marina, etc. and suggested that their two cities pair up and work together.  The discussion carried over to all cities and the county working together for better water quality.  Mayor Barker has been researching state water quality grants and went over some ideas he has.  Commissioner Tucker suggested  the cities get a task force together.  Mayor Barker agreed to meet with Commissioner Tucker to share information about this project.

Laurel Hill – Councilwoman Fay Miller thanked the League for all of their support when deciding on the gas tax formula.  She reported that her city is still working on the library issue.  They are still looking for the land and have several options.  Other than that, most things are under control.

Mary Esther – Mayor Thomas commented that since Mary Esther is having some problems with its Wastewater Plant, they decided to go out for a contract and have a contractor operate and be responsible for any shortcomings.  The contractor has been in place now for about one month and has already made nice changes.

Mayor Glover stated that Fort Walton Beach City Council is going to submit an ordinance that will allow the city to annually check the lift stations at each of the condominiums on the water.  She feels that if the city is able to check them regularly, they will be able to head off any problems.  Dealing with private property makes this difficult but the city feels like those places need to be monitored.

Mary Esther is still waiting to hear from the State in reference to the matching grant for their library addition.  The city is also looking for someone that is willing to donate a Dalmatian for the Fire Department.

Niceville – Councilman Al Swihart reported that Niceville is trying to purchase the piece of property behind Hardee’s to establish a Stormwater Management Processing plant.

Niceville is having trouble with vandalism.

Niceville is having Highway 20 resurfaced from Rocky Bayou Bridge west to Eglin A.F.B. and all of the work is being done at night. 

Councilman Swihart reiterated the information about the upcoming League of Cities dinner for those that weren’t present earlier.

Shalimar – Mayor Combs started out by praising Monika Gillette at Cinco Bayou for her updates to the Cinco Bayou web site. 

Shalimar is working on Stormwater management.  Right now the town is in the process of repairing the Clifford Drive drainage, which the town is paying for out of ad valorem that they have been saving for 4 years.  

The town is also updating Cherokee Park by adding a basketball court, volleyball court, exercise stations and a new the jogging trail around the outside. 

The town is already working on their September OCLOC dinner.

Valparaiso – Commissioner Strong updated the board that Valparaiso’s Police Chief, Lomax Donaldson, is retiring 31 July.  The City will be hiring from within.

The City has completed all 3 of their Stormwater projects. 

Commissioner Strong commended County Commissioner Tucker on the new Library cooperative coordinator, Bob Gorin.

Commissioner Tucker asked Commissioner Strong about their waterfront property acquisition project.  Commissioner Strong stated that there are 2 or 3 lawsuits.   He had a report that the judge is taking one of the issues under consideration.  The city asked for it to be dismissed because they own the property.  Commissioner Strong lamented, “It’s a nightmare.  It’s shocking to me that someone born and raised here would sue the city.”

Brenda Bush added that Crestview’s Police Chief, Maxie Barrow, is also retiring. 

At their next council meeting she will recommend Ellis Conner to be her alternate board member.

Heyward Strong iterated that the artificial reef for Okaloosa County , Destin and Valparaiso is going out this month.  Next Monday they hope to take the Okaloosa County boat out. 

Okaloosa County – Commissioner Tucker briefed that:

Eglin Air Force Base – The representative for Eglin Air Force Base was not present

Hurlburt Field – The representative for Hurlburt Field was not present.

NEXT MEETING

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, July 7, 2003 at 12:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.