UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no Unfinished Business to discuss.

NEW BUSINESS

Affordable Housing discussion – President Miller stated that she would like to discuss the Affordable Housing issue briefly at this meeting and add it to the agenda for the next meeting so it can be discussed when there are more members present.  Mayor Anderson suggested that the League form some sort of coalition and work with the county to come up with some sort of solution to the current housing issue.  Right now the median income and average house price just don’t match up.

Destin has been proactive on this issue for over 6 months.  Mayor Barker stated that there are many innovative ideas out there.  Destin is looking at modeling their idea after one that is currently being used by Aspen , CO which involves Real Estate Fees and Impact Fees.

Mack Gay with the Institute of Senior Professionals stated that his organization would love to be involved in this.  Everyone will bring this issue to their city/town councils and do research on their own before the next meeting.

ocloc.com Contract and payment schedule – This needs to be voted on so it will be moved to the June Meeting agenda.

Mayor Barker briefed that the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) had many different components and public education is one of the requirements.  Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) is a good resource to aid the cities with this.  Mayor Barker asked for the Board’s permission to add this item to the June Meeting agenda and he will invite someone from the CBA to speak to the board.  Everyone agreed that it would be a good idea.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS FROM CITIES:

Cinco Bayou – The Town Home project located where the old trailer park used to be is in progress.

Crestview – There was no one from Crestview present.

Destin –

·         Mayor Barker proposed that Tina Smith send a card to Tommy McDonald’s family from the Board.

·         The city is in the process of writing their new Land Development Code that follows their new Comp Plan.

·         A resolution was recently passed that is directed at our Congress members seeking their assistance in providing continued maintenance dredging funds and allocations and appropriations from the federal budget on an ongoing basis.  Within the last couple of months, it was realized that Destin has not been a part of the dredging budget for the past 6 years.

Eglin Air Force Base –

·         Received an overall excellent on May Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI).  This is the first time an Air Base Wing has received an Excellent with the ORI guidelines.

·         May 15 is the initial BRAC announcements.

·         May 17 and 18 is the Housing Privatization Meetings.

·         Dr. Lyons with The Weather Channel will be briefing Community leaders today and tomorrow.

Fort Walton Beach –

·         The results of the March 8^th municipal election were:  Mike Anderson , Mayor; Wayne Pullen, Seat 5; Jim Hartwell, Seat 6; and, Mike Minich, Seat 7.

·         The Fort Walton Beach Police Department has been recommended for accreditation status by an assessment team from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation after a three-day review in early April.

·         At the April 12^th meeting, City Council approved an $11 million bond issue to fund water and wastewater facility capital projects in the City. 

·         Sunday in the Park will be held on May 15^th from 2 – 5 p.m. at the Fort Walton Landing.  The concert will feature local favorite Jones and Company, along with Steve Gryb and His Jazz Ensemble from Miami .

Hurlburt Field –

·         Hurlburt Field’s Civil Engineers would like to meet with the Civil Engineers from the local area to look at different things that can be done to alleviate some of the flooding problem areas.

·         The Hwy. 98 traffic has been increased due to the recent bad weather.  When there is a lightning warning (lightning within 5 miles) all outside, uncovered workers are required to go indoors.  There has been money allocated to add some sort of shelter but, at present, Hurlburt Field gate guards have nothing covering them.

Laurel Hill – The city is gearing up for its centennial celebration.  Invitations to all of the cities went out last Friday.

Mary Esther –

·         Construction on 2 restaurants, Smokey Bones and Logan ’s Steakhouse, will be starting soon where Chuck E. Cheese and Fischer Brown Insurance Agency are currently located.  There is one more change to the site plan then the Development Order will be issued.

·         The city’s 2^nd annual “Step up Mary Esther” was held at the mall on the first Saturday in April.  There was a 218% increase in participation.

·         There were 6 residences, Elementary School, and several businesses that were flooded after the recent rains that don’t normally flood so the city is busy planning on improvements.

·         The city won their Billboard Lawsuit.

·         This week is Municipal Clerk’s week.

·         May is Civility Month.

·         National Day of Prayer is this Thursday.

Niceville –

·         There is a huge area that flooded because it used to be swamp.  The city is trying to come up with a Stormwater Plan.

·         The current Fire Department building is not adequate.  The city is going to try to sell the property where the Fire Department is now and where the library was and use that money to move the Fire Department to another area.

Okaloosa County – There was no one from Okaloosa County present.

Shalimar –

·         We won our billboard lawsuit, but the billboard company that was suing us has already submitted 2 different permits.

·         Shalimar swore in 2 Commissioners and 1 Planning and Zoning Board Member this last month.

·         The Shalimar Yacht Basin will be receiving a Clean Marina designation on May 17 at 2:00 p.m. from DEP.  Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony.

·         The town has had major flooding issues with Hwy. 85 ( Eglin Pkwy. ) which is also a major part of a Hurricane Evacuation Route .  Shalimar will be working to resolve this issue.

Valparaiso – There was no one from Valparaiso present.

ANNOUNCEMENTS –

Mack Gay with the ISP described a new project his organization would be working on.  The ISP has been talking with Randy McDaniel, with Okaloosa County , about Hurricane Ivan and the aftermath and lessons learned, etc.  Mr. McDaniel thought it would be useful for an independent group to interview all local agencies and get their input on what could have been done better, etc.

ADJOURN

The meeting adjourned at 12:48 p.m.