CALL TO ORDER

President, Mayor Glenda Glover, called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. at Two Trees Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach .

PRESENT

Mayor Craig Barker – Destin

Colonel Nowak – Eglin A.F.B.

Mayor Glenda Glover – Fort Walton Beach (President)

Councilwoman Fay Miller – Laurel Hill (Vice President)

Mayor John Thomas – Mary Esther

Councilman Al Swihart – Niceville

Mayor Gary Combs – Shalimar

Mayor Norm Frucci – Cinco Bayou

Councilwoman Brenda Bush – Crestview

Commissioner Heyward Strong – Valparaiso

County Commissioner Elaine Tucker – Okaloosa County

ALSO PRESENT

Mack Gay – Institute of Senior Professionals

Gary McMillin – TIP

Bonnie Hutton – TIP

Mary Frey – TIP

Melissa Jones – TIP

Tina Smith, Deputy Town Clerk – Shalimar

MINUTES

March 1, 2004 , March 18, 2004 and March 25, 2004 – Mayor Thomas moved to accept the minutes from all 3 meetings as written.  Commissioner Swihart seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mayor Glover reported that the balance as of 03/31/04 was $3,162.67.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

At this point in the meeting, Mayor Glover asked that the representatives from Trauma Intervention Programs, Inc. (TIP) give their presentation.  Mayor Barker announced Mr. McMillin to the Executive Board and Mr. McMillin commenced with his briefing.  The presentation ended with the possible costs the TIP organization is planning for 2004.  Commissioner Strong suggested to Mr. McMillin that, instead of waiting to be asked to come to a municipality, they should go the cities and ask to be put on their agendas.  He also stated that it was a good time to do this with the budget process starting soon.

OCLOC Logo

Councilwoman Miller has received no feedback from her council.  She feels that they wouldn’t have any issue with whatever the board decided on for a logo.  Mayor Thomas believes that the bottom logo is good and won’t offend anyone.  Mayor Glover doesn’t feel that the cost associated with designing a new logo is worth it.  She has no objection to not discuss the logo issue further.  Mayor Barker asked if the league could use an existing graphic for the web site.  Councilman Swihart doesn’t believe there’s an advantage to the league having a logo.  Commissioner Strong suggested bringing the logos to the cities.  Mayor Barker moved to adopt the logo on the bottom of the page (with the airplanes removed) for the web site and if letterhead is purchased at a later date they will use the new logo.  Councilwoman Bush seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Clean Water Project update

Mayor Barker briefed the league on what took place at the Clean Water Workshop.  Three main issues came out of the meeting:

1.  The group in attendance will start some sort of public education effort which they will start by developing a list of all land-based pumpout stations that will be publicized on many web sites, newspapers, pamphlets, etc.

2.  The group needs to work with local Constitutional officers like the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC).

3.  There needs to be better access to existing pumpout facilities.

Also revealed is the fact that there is a private group that is trying to put together mobile pumpout units for patrolling all of Okaloosa County .  3 of the 4 boats have already been approved by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a grant.  It was discussed, at the workshop, to possibly have a public/private partnership between the mobile pumpout boats and the local government.  The local government would help offset the costs by possibly adding a small fee to all vessel registrations.

Mayor Barker would like to see Okaloosa County set a precedence for the State of Florida .

Yellow River Reservoir – views from the cities

Mayor Glover asked many of the city’s representatives what their feeling is on the Reservoir.  A majority of the league feels that their commissions/councils don’t know enough about all sides of the issue to make an informed decision.  Commissioner Strong believes the board should forego one of its monthly meetings and invite someone in from the Northwest Florida Water Management District to explain their ideas for the future.  If there is more interest among the cities, the league can have them speak at a dinner.  Commissioner Tucker encouraged everyone to not be single-visioned about this issue regarding the Yellow River Reservoir and to seek out all options before making a decision on what to support.

NEW BUSINESS

• Floridians Against Inequities in Rates (FAIR) Amendment – Mayor Glover dropped this from the agenda.

• Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) – Mayor Glover moved this to the beginning of the agenda.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS FROM CITIES

Cinco Bayou –

·        The Town of Cinco Bayou has finally passed the Florida League of Cities Resolution (thanks to Commissioner Strong). 

Crestview –

·        The City is working to help the Okaloosa Headstart Program to secure land to build a facility.

·        Crestview is hosting the North Okaloosa Relay for Life will be on April 16 and 17.  Their goal is $125,000.

Destin –

·        The new City Manager has been in his position for approximately 7 weeks.  He has brought in a wealth of knowledge of both the private sector and government.

·        Destin recently swore in Dewey Destin, who is a long-time member of the city council and Ted Corcoran, who is a newcomer to the council.

·        Mayor Barker also added that, even though the city doesn’t have a lot of new projects going on, he feels the cooperation from the Board of County Commissioners with Commissioner Tucker as the Chairperson. 

Eglin Air Force Base –

·        Brig. Gen. Edgington will replace Brig. Gen. Anzalone next week at a change of command ceremony.

·        The first week in May (May 3 – May 7) will be Eglin’s Annual Hurricane Training.  Also that Wednesday or Thursday will be a luncheon with all of the local Disaster Responders.

·        Eglin’s Annual Gate to Gate run/walk will be held on May 31 (Memorial Day).

Fort Walton Beach –

·        Mayor Glover also expressed her appreciation to Commissioner Tucker and stated that she feels that the County Commission really wants to work with the cities.  She also stated that Eglin has done a good job working with the cities.

·        The Golf Course is getting better and the tournaments are coming back.

·        There are major renovations taking place at the Landing Park .

Hurlburt Field – There was no one in attendance for Hurlburt Field.

Laurel Hill –

·        The Annual Hobo festival is going to be all day on May 8.

·        The City has decided not to pursue a grant for the library.  They are going to attempt having a smaller library and if it works out they will, then, try to get a grant to improve it.  They have had many residents that want to help out.  One person that wants to set up a trust fund to purchase books and someone may even donate a building.

·        The renovation of the City Hall has started.

Mary Esther –

·        Installed newly elected officials (Fay Young & George Crews) & returning elected (John Oler & Mayor)

·        Hosted the 1^st annual STEP UP, MARY ESTHER event at Santa Rosa Mall Saturday with 30 participants. 

·        Expect approval of major Land Development Code revision to Article 7, Land Use & Zoning, & Capital Improvement Plan project prioritization this evening.

·        Resolutions against State-mandated Internet Filtering and for sidewalks using Transportation Enhancement funds also expected to be approved tonight.

·        Highway 98 Median issue near resolution, with 3 medians being closed in Mary Esther and several turning lanes being added.

·        Submitted $650,000 CDBG grant for renovations to the sewer treatment facilities, preparing Florida Forever grant for a waterfront park (2^nd submittal on land on western edge of the City), and working on the 2 FRDAP grants in Azalea and Oak Tree Nature Park.

·        Significant reduction in amounts required by medical service providers from the bankrupt Nationwide Public Employees Trust – negotiated & filed secondary claims resulting in almost $100,000 less that the City will likely fund & file for reimbursement from the State settlement.

Niceville –

·        There will be approximately 500 children for the Easter Egg Dash.  The City has about 10,000 eggs and special prizes.

·        The main City Manager/Clerk’s offices are being rebuilt (inside and out).

·        The city is doing a lot of repaving.  There was an article in the Daily News that included Niceville’s road closures.

Okaloosa County –

·        Commissioner Tucker stated that the entire County Commission really wants to work with the cities.  She also mentioned that all of the gratitude she receives is great but that everyone should also contact other members of the County Commission to thank them personally.

·        There will be a Stormwater Workshop on April 13, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. at the Water and Sewer Building and again at 2:00 p.m. in Crestview.

Shalimar –

·        Shalimar will be getting a dinner boat that will park at Shalimar Yacht Basin .

·        Cherokee Park is almost complete.  The 68EWS will be doing a second Community Service Project at the park.  Mayor Combs reminded everyone that most squadrons are encouraged to participate in some sort of Community Service Project every 6 months.  Colonel Nowak stated that a good Point of Contact for this sort of thing is Shirley Piggott at Eglin Public Affairs.

Valparaiso –

·        The City is in its final stages of finishing up the Senior Citizens Building

·        Commissioner Strong also mentioned that the new allocation of the gas tax has been a big help.

Mayor Glover reminded everyone that the 27^th Annual Summer Dinner and Golf Tournament will be held in Sandestin on May 14.

Commissioner Strong told everyone that the 40 year Anniversary of the Okaloosa County League of Cities will be on November 2006.  The only 2 members that are still around are Mayor Whitehurst and Mayor Arnold.  The League would like to do some sort of celebration before November 2006 at one of the Quarterly Dinners.  Commissioner Strong suggested doing something small this year and making the celebration a little bigger in 2006.  Crestview is hosting the next quarterly dinner and Mayor Glover suggested that they wait until another city (other than Crestview and Valparaiso ) hosts it so that the two Mayors may just be guests.  The Executive Board decided that Destin hosting the meeting in October would be the best option. 

NEXT MEETING:   May 3, 2004

ADJOURN:  Councilmember Swihart moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:29 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Mayor Barker and passed unanimously.