CALL TO ORDER

New Vice President, Councilwoman Fay Miller, called the meeting to order at 12:02 p.m. at Two Trees Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach.

PRESENT

Councilman Dutch Payne – Cinco Bayou (Secretary/Treasurer)

Councilwoman Brenda Bush – Crestview

Mayor Craig Barker – Destin

David Swanick – Eglin A.F.B.

Mayor Glenda Glover – Fort Walton Beach (President) (Mayor Glover attended part of the meeting)

Councilwoman Fay Miller – Laurel Hill (Vice President)

Mayor John Thomas – Mary Esther

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

Everyone reviewed the minutes from November 3, 2003 and Mayor Barker moved to accept the minutes as written.  Councilmember Payne seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mayor Glover has not passed the books over to the new treasurer, Councilmember Payne, and she was not present at this time to give the report.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

OCLOC Logo – Mayor Glover was not present at the time of this agenda item.  When she arrived from her appointment she didn’t have the drawings to show the board.  She asked everyone to go back to their cities and come back with ideas.  Councilmember Swihart moved to table the logo design issue until the next meeting.  Councilmember Payne seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Clean Water Project – The Clean Water Committee (CWC) met today.  Issues that the CWC looked into from the last meeting did not provide any useful information.  Catalina Island was a private venture similar to a homeowner’s association that put stringent rules in place and enforced them with the use of dye tabs.  No local government, at this time, has a model similar to what our organization is contemplating.  The CWC has come to the conclusion that we need to provide the enforcement and let private enterprise pay for the pump out services.  Mayor Barker will research the cost to hire several county employees to provide enforcement throughout the entire county using the boater registration fees.  Mayor Barker will contact the CWC members and they should have a recommendation before the next lunch meeting.

Commissioner Tucker added that they have had commitments from several marinas that want to have permanent pump out stations put in, if they don’t already have the facilities.  She asked the representatives to talk to marinas in their cities and find out if they would be interested.  Mayor Barker added that he spoke with the DEP and they have committed to funding 5 pump out facilities for this year and 5 for next year using no matching fund grants.

NEW BUSINESS

Everyone agreed that it would be a good idea to move the dinners back one month and that the by-laws would have to be re-written.  Tina Smith also asked if the Executive Board meetings could move from the 1^st Monday to the 2^nd Monday of the month.  Councilman Payne moved that this issue be tabled.  He suggested that everyone check their schedules and at the next meeting, if the 2^nd Monday would be better, a motion to change the by-laws can be made and while the by-laws are being changed, the board could also discuss changing the schedule of the quarterly dinner meetings if they so decide.  Mayor Combs seconded this motion and it passed unanimously.

Commissioner Strong reported that the Florida League of Cities (FLOC) has started a new procedure (approved at the last board of directors meeting).  They established a new methodology to improve their lobbying efforts.  Commissioner Strong stated that all of the cities should have received a resolution regarding the legislative agenda for the FLOC in the mail.  He asked that the resolution be put on everyone’s agendas.  If passed by your city, this resolution is to be forwarded to the governor, president of the senate, speaker of the house, and congressional delegation.  The FLOC feels that if they receive 400 resolutions the cities won’t be able to be ignored.  If your city decides not to pass the resolution, please inform Commissioner Strong.  All resolutions should be in by February 6.

Mayor Combs stated that the executive board should create a goals list for the year 2004.  There were some that felt that the board is making progress but they also agree that a goals list is a good idea.  Mayor Combs moved that everyone go back to their councils and come up with goals to send to Tina Smith one week before the next meeting.  The goals will be drafted up and discussed at the next meeting and posted on the site.  Mayor Barker seconded the motion.  The vote was approved by all except Mayor Thomas voting nay citing that he doesn’t feel a goals list is necessary.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS FROM CITIES

Cinco Bayou –

• The boat ramp is back in operation after extensive repairs. 

• Glenwood and Laguna Parks are closed and work is progressing.

• At the Christmas Party, each guest brought one toy and The Town of Cinco Bayou collected 7-8 garbage bags of toys for ‘Toys for Tots’.

Crestview –

• The City of Crestview held a special ceremony on Friday for the National Guard which was sent out on Saturday for Fort Stewart , GA for training then on to Iraq for a year.  Councilwoman Bush is looking forward to an even larger Welcome Home Party.

• There is nothing new on the proposed bypass but the city realizes that the project can’t wait forever and is working with the TPO and DOT.

Destin –

• The City of Destin has a new City Manager that started work today. 

• Mayor Barker happily announced that Commissioner Tucker has been elected The Board of County Commissioners Chairperson and he is looking forward to a new work year with the county.

• On January 30 and January 31, Mayor Barker will bring the Destin City Council together for a “retreat” where all they discuss is their goals for the upcoming year.

• The “State of the City” address will probably be given some time in February.

Fort Walton Beach – Mayor Glover left the meeting prior to giving her report

Laurel Hill –

• Laurel Hill will be starting on their City Hall expansion and are setting a groundbreaking date for some time soon, possibly this coming Thursday. 

• The City has also hired 2 code enforcement officers on an as-needed basis using a Sheriff’s Deputy  to issue the actual citation.

Mary Esther –

• The Mall is under new management so you may notice some changes. 

• The City of Mary Esther felt that a scooter store needed to move out of the City due to possible liability issues.  The City worked with the Sheriff’s Department and the store has relocated to Destin. 

• New sidewalks may be going in on Hwy. 98 as part of the approved program from a year ago. 

• Mary Esther has a FRDAP grant out for one of the parks. 

• The City will take out a loan for the 4,000 square foot extension on their library for which they have a matching grant.

Niceville –

• Remodeling started today for the City Council chambers and the City Manager’s office, using in-house crews. 

• Donated Christmas packages to 222 senior citizens.  The packages are “Dillard size bags” full of things the recipients can use.  This is a program Niceville has been doing for 10 years now.

Shalimar –

• Shalimar has installed Dogi Pot stations which are mentioned in an article in the paper today. 

• One goal that is important to the Town of Shalimar is annexing enclaves. 

Valparaiso –

• Valparaiso ’s City Attorney resigned and there have been 8 respondents.  The council will probably select 3 tonight to negotiate with. 

• The City has received 2 bids for a watertank engineer. 

• There will be an election in March for 2 Commissioners. 

• The City is paving streets with funds from the new gas tax.

Okaloosa County –

• Commissioner Tucker has asked that the cities e-mail her with issues that involve the county.  Since she is now the chairperson, the cities will never have a stronger voice.  Also, it should be known that the county and cities are working together.

• Councilmember Swihart thanked Commissioner Tucker and the county for the library support.

Eglin Air Force Base –

• February 10 is the Annual National Prayer Luncheon from 11:30-1:00

• April 2 and 3 is the Open House/Air Show which is now only in the early stages of the planning phase.

• Construction will be taking place at the East and West Gates for the next 120 days.  The hospital and ACC gates will be open to accommodate the traffic.

• Heightened security has traffic backed up.

• Commissioner Tucker asked about the Privatization Meeting.  The meeting is going to be on Wednesday, January 7.  Representative Swanick stated that he would talk to the Civil Engineering Squadron and try to get someone here to discuss this issue.

NEXT MEETING

The next scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, February 2, 2004 at 12:00 p.m.

ADJOURN

Being no further business, Councilman Payne moved to adjourn at 1:14 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Bush and it passed unanimously.