CALL TO ORDER

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

PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS

Mayor Craig Barker – Destin

Mayor Mike Anderson – Fort Walton Beach

Councilwoman Fay Miller – Laurel Hill (President)

Mayor Gary Combs – Shalimar

Commissioner Heyward Strong – Valparaiso

ALSO PRESENT

Mr. Swanick – Eglin A.F.B.

Tina Smith – Shalimar

MINUTES

Mayor Combs moved to approve the minutes of the September 12, 2005 meeting as written.  Mayor Barker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT/FILING FEE REPORT:  $755.08 as of 11/06/2005

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

-  Affordable Housing – Mayor Anderson reported that the symposium will be some time at the beginning of next year.

-  Proposed Sales tax – Mayor Combs moved that Commissioner Strong draft up a letter to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in response to the letter received from Commissioner Bill Roberts (BOCC Board Chairman).  The letter will include the fact that the Okaloosa County League of Cities has agreed to support a 1 cent sales tax for 5 years for stormwater, streets/roads, and water/sewage projects and that the issue be on the ballot next fall.  They also agreed to a methodology for allocation and will include the spreadsheet and an explanation.  Commissioner Strong will draft up the letter and fax it to everyone for input.  When it has been finalized, it will be taken around to all of the cities for the mayors’ signatures and delivered to the county.  Mayor Anderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  It was also decided that Council Woman Fay Miller, as President, would draft up a letter from the board

-  Nominations for 2006 – Commissioner Strong moved to nominate Mayor Mike Anderson will be the President in 2006, Commissioner Heyward Strong to be the Vic e President in 2006, and Mayor Gary Combs to be the Secretary/Treasurer.  Mayor Barker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:  There was no new business presented.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS FROM CITIES

Many of the board members had to leave so the meeting adjourned at 12:49 p.m. before the reports from the cities.

Cinco Bayou

Crestview

Destin – attached

Fort Walton Beach

·         Florida City Government Week:  On October 19^th, a City Government Week celebration and luncheon was held at City Hall for all City employees.  Florida City Government Week was established by the Florida League of Cities to recognize and celebrate Florida cities.  During the celebration, City officials announced the Employee of the Year winner, presented service awards, and recognized the students involved in the City Government Career Shadowing Program.

·         Construction of Water Tanks:  Work to build a 750,000-gal water tank at the FWB Golf Club and a 500,000-gallon water tank on Hughes and Nicholson St. has begun.  The foundations for both water tanks are currently under construction.  Contractor anticipates erecting the steel water tanks starting next month.  Once the new tanks are built, the existing tanks will be dismantled.  

·         City Hall Athletic Complex:  City crews continue construction of the City Hall Athletic Complex.  This project includes two grass athletic fields, rest rooms, walkways, viewing areas, lighting and parking.  The Athletic Complex is located directly behind City Hall and is being funded through a State of Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant.  The athletic fields will be used for soccer, flag football and baseball.

·         Utilities Department:  With the start of the new fiscal year, the City’s new Utilities Department began operations.  Headed by Utilities Department Director John Hofstad, formerly the Assistant Public Works Director, the Department includes:  Water Operations Division, Sewer Operations Division, Sewer Collections Division, Water Distribution Division, Stormwater Division and Environmental Division.  The Utilities Department was formed to realign the utilities divisions of the Public Works Department for greater organizational and operational efficiency. 

·         City maps at www.fwb.org:  The City’s web site at www.fwb.org has recently been enhanced with numerous printable maps.  The maps available at the present time are:  Fort Walton Beach Street and City Limits Map, Parks and Recreational Facilities Map, Flood Insurance Rate Map, Future Land Use Map, Hurricane Storm Surge Maps (separate maps for Category 1 – 5 storms), and Hurricane Storm Surge Map – composite of all categories.

·         Beal Parkway Neighborhood Action Plan:  The draft Beal Parkway Neighborhood Action Plan will be presented and receive public input at a CRA meeting on November 16, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. at the Chester Pruitt Recreation Center .  The project consultant will present the draft plan and receive public comment about this plan that includes recommendations on land use, infrastructure improvements and programs to enhance the Beal Parkway Neighborhood.

·         Cities of Excellence Awards Program:  The Cities of Excellence Awards program is sponsored by the Florida League of Cities to recognize the many ways that cities, city officials, city employees, and citizens positively affect the quality of life of Florida residents.  The City of Fort Walton Beach has been notified by the Florida League of Cities that four of the City’s nominations are finalists in the program.  Finalists include:  Charlene Greenwald for Citizen of the Year; Mike Burton for Finance Official of the Year; Helen Spencer for City Clerk of the Year; and, “Fort Walton Beach City Changers” for the City Spirit Award.  Winners of the 2005 Cities of Excellence awards program will be announced in Orlando on November 18^th.

Laurel Hill

Mary Esther

Niceville

Shalimar

·         Shalimar Yacht Basin has submitted formal P&Z plans to construct 100+ condominiums mixed with marina commercial endeavors.   In light of this project, the Town has approved first reading of a new Marina related ordinance which required marina’s to maintain clean water related equipment and facilities.  The new development plans do not call for a slip for each units, and the Marina will remain a separate commercial enterprise. 

·         The new hotel is on track for a scheduled first part of  CY2006 grand opening.

·         The Town is updating it’s over 20 year resolution in regards to Business License fees.  Most of fees have not increased during the period.  The new hotel and new development at Shalimar Yacht Basin highlighted the need for this update.

·         The Town has made a formal offer for the three vacant residential lots next to Townhall.  Over the past years, the town has used these lots for various public services to include spring cleanup dumpsters and overflow parking.  The town has offered the owner appraisal plus 10% and will pay all closing costs.  If the owner refuses, the Town commission will consider eminent domain legal actions. 

·         Storm water flooding throughout the Town is a major priority.  A new Engineering Services contract is in final stages of approval and the first task will be to analyze and proposed solutions to three flooding problems areas.

Valparaiso

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

ADJOURN: