All City Council meetings may be viewed at www.youtube.com/CityofDestin.
February 1st Council Meeting Recap
City Manager Report:
Memorandum of Understanding for City Access to Driver and Vehicle Information Database System: 7-0, motion passed to direct the City Land Use Attorney to finalize the agreement with the State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and direct the City Manager to enter into the proposed memorandum of agreement.
City Hall Annex Operating Hours: 7-0, motion passed to authorize the Community Development staff to maintain closure to the public on Fridays until the end of March 2021.
Cross Town Connector Redesign from Four-Lane to Two-lane Section – Adkins North America, Inc: 6-1, motion passed to approve the proposed right-of-way, intersection improvements, and right-of-way acquisitions.
Safety Improvement Options/Permanent Solution to Slowing Down Speed on Calhoun Avenue: 6-1, motion passed to direct the City Manager to direct City staff to design speed humps along Calhoun Avenue between Leonard Destin and Clement Taylor parks, and that the speed limit in the area of the two parks be reduced to 25 mph.
Announcements:
US Army Corps of Engineers has provided their portion of the funding ($250,000) for the Harbor Capacity Study. The study will begin in March 2021.
The Cross Street drainage and water quality improvement project is about 95% complete. The contractor will now be moving their operation to Calhoun Avenue near Dalton-Threadgill Little League Park location. They will close Calhoun Avenue for 2 or 3 days while they install some piping under the road. The contractor provided a detour plan. Announcement will be made to the public and pertinent organizations once the timeline for the project is finalized.
The City has applied for grant to add $25,000 worth of exercise equipment to the walking path of Morgan Sports Complex. They expect to get the result of the application within a month.
Council Comments:
LDC: 7-0, motion passed to allow the City Manager to utilize the City's continuing services contractor to assist in finalizing the Land Development Code revisions.
Harbor Parking Lot Study: 7-0, motion passed to authorize staff to use the City's continuing services contractor to assist in creating the baseline document for the harbor parking plan.
Destin Fishing Museum Request: 7-0, motion passed that the City cover the costs for asbestos testing at the Destin Fishing Museum facility.
Membership Nomination to Public Works/Safety Committee: 7-0, motion passed to appoint John Green to the Public Works/Safety Committee.
Community Development Specialized Positions: 7-0, motion passed to have the City Manager discuss with the Community Development Director the appropriate increases to the salary amounts being advertised for the specialized positions in his department in order to be more competitive, and then discuss the feasibility of the salary increases with the City's Finance Director.
February 16th Council Meeting Recap
City Manager Report:
Submerged Land Lease Application for Norriego Point: 6-0, motion passed to proceed with the submerged land lease application to only include the Norriego Point Park; and to authorize additional funding for another survey should it become necessary.
Speed Concerns Sibert Avenue & Forest Street Intersection: 6-0, motion passed for the city manager to bring back some cost estimates for Council consideration before implementing any of the proposed improvements.
Animal Control Services: 6-0, motion passed that staff provide a report to Council on the PAWS contract by May 2021.
Release of Code Compliance Lien: 6-0, motion passed partial release of lien.
Announcements:
The Destin Library is scheduled to return to normal operating hours beginning Monday, February 22nd.
Council Comments:
Waterway Rental Safety Committee: 6-0, motion passed to appoint Councilmember Hebert as primary council representative, and Councilmember Schmidt as alternate council representative, to the Okaloosa County Waterway Rental Safety Committee.
Harbor CRA Advisory Committee's recommendation to declare the City property between Calhoun and Zerbe a historical area: 6-0, motion passed to direct the City's Land Use Attorney and staff to develop a Zerbe-Calhoun Historical District overlay and bring it before the Local Planning Agency for their review and recommendation in March 2021.
Crab Island Committee Ordinance: 6-0, motion passed to have Mayor Jarvis send a letter to the Okaloosa County Commission reiterating the City's continuing support of the ordinance adopted by the Crab Island Committee last year and encouraging them to stay the course.