CALL TO ORDER

President, Councilwoman Fay Miller , called the meeting to order at 12:07 p.m. at Two Trees Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach .

PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS

Mayor Norm Frucci – Cinco Bayou ( Vic e President)

Councilman Ellis Conner – Crestview

Mayor Craig Barker – Destin

Mayor Mike Anderson – Fort Walton Beach

Councilwoman Fay Miller – Laurel Hill (President)

Mayor John Thomas – Mary Esther (Secretary/Treasurer)

Mayor Gary Combs – Shalimar

Commissioner Heyward Strong – Valparaiso

ALSO PRESENT

Greg Kisela – Destin

Tina Smith – Shalimar

Fay Young – Mary Esther

NOT PRESENT

Councilman Al Swihart – Niceville

MINUTES

Mayor Combs moved to approve the minutes of the June 6, 2005 and July 25, 2005 meetings as written.  Commissioner Strong seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT/FILING FEE REPORT

Mayor Thomas was not present for this agenda item.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

-  Affordable Housing discussion – Mayor Anderson has been in communication with Larry Sassano with the EDC.  Mr. Sassano feels that there is a need for some sort of workshop where all sides can present their ideas.

-  Proposed Sales tax – Commissioner Strong stated that the league would need to assign a representative to meet with the county, draft a resolution that each city will need to pass agreeing to support the sales tax, draft and pass a second resolution that states what each city’s percentage will be (one resolution will be signed to each mayor).

Before the OCLOC representative meets with the county, the league will have to agree on which population census should be used (state, EDC, other), how many years the tax should be assessed (5 or 10), what the percentage of the tax should be (1/2% or 1%) and if everyone agrees that the tax should be used for Roads and Stormwater projects.

Everyone agreed on a 1 cent tax for 5 years and all representatives will bring their capital improvements list to the next meeting on September 12.

Mayor Combs moved to nominate Commissioner Strong to be the OCLOC representative to work with the county to get us good percentages.  Mayor Anderson seconded the motion.  Mayor Barker asked to make a substitute motion that the OCLOC agree to come up with a plan/methodology that everyone supports before Commissioner Strong goes to the county.  Mayor Frucci seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Mayor Barker moved that Commissioner Strong should negotiate the minimum percentages of 43% for the municipalities and 57% for the county.  Mayor Combs seconded the motion.  Mayor Barker withdrew his motion.

State had estimated population as of April of 2004 so the more updated list is from the EDC.  HS took EDC numbers which he likes because they include Eglin and Hurlburt which allows him to cut out the bases of the percentages because they don’t pay taxes and the county doesn’t pave roads, etc. on base.  Cutting out the base numbers, HS came up with 57%/43% (Counting the bases it’s about 59%/41%).

Approximately 80% of all sales tax is collected in city limits.  The error in those numbers is that the corporate offices are in the city limits but the stores themselves may be in the county.  The corporate offices collect the tax dollars from the stores and it is reported to the state through the corporate offices.  Mayor Anderson will research ways to break out the sales tax amounts collected and reported.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS FROM CITIES

Cinco Bayou – Mayor Frucci reported that the brush from Hurricane Dennis has been picked up in his Town.

Crestview – Crestview had nothing to report.

Destin – Destin’s monthly report is attached.

Eglin Air Force Base – There was no one from Eglin present.

Fort Walton Beach

·        During Hurricane Dennis, the City operated an Emergency Operations Center at the Police Department from Saturday night – Monday morning.

·        Hurricane Dennis residential storm debris removal began on July 19^th in the City of Fort Walton Beach .

·        Budget workshops will begin on Monday, August 8, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

·        Friday Night Flicks Outdoor Movies at the Fort Walton Landing will continue through September 30^th.  The movies start at 8:30 p.m. in August/8:00 p.m. in September.  Underwriting for the September movies is being provided by the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council.

·        Fort Walton is basically done with storm debris removal.

Hurlburt Field – There was no one from Hurlburt Field present.

Laurel Hill – The city is still working on enacting an ad valorem tax and, they recently found out from their attorney, they don’t have to have a vote because it will be less than 10 mils.

Mary Esther – Mary Esther is still trying to clear their roadways of debris.  They are making only one pass and Waste Management will pick up the rest.

Niceville – There was no one from Niceville present.

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

Shalimar – Shalimar had nothing to report

Valparaiso

·        The water tank is pretty much on schedule.

·        The city is still working on the new library

·        The ad valorem rate is the same as last year (3.99 mils)

·        Valparaiso ’s City Manager recently resigned and they are in the process of hiring a new one.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

It was noted that the next regularly scheduled meeting date is also Labor Day.  Mayor Barker moved to change the date of the next meeting to September 12.  Commissioner Strong seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  The next meeting will be on September 12, 2005 at noon at Two Trees Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach .  Also, it will only be for the Executive Board members and everyone was asked to bring their Capital Improvements list with them.

ADJOURN

Mayor Frucci moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:22 p.m.   Mayor Barker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.