All City Council meetings may be viewed at www.youtube.com/cityofdestin.
March 1st Council Meeting Recap
City Manager Report:
FY 2020 Annual Audit and Financial Statements: 7-0, motion passed.
EFPR Group Engagement Letter for FY2021 Audit: 7-0, motion passed to engage EFPR Group, LLC to audit the City’s financial statements for the period ending September 30,2021. Finance Director will make a small budget adjustment to encumber the funds under this year’s budget to cover fees for the audit.
Multi-Modal Transportation District (MMTD): 7-0, motion passed to replace transportation concurrency (MMTD) with a mobility fee-based plan.
Beach Cleaning - Status Update: Deputy City Manager will bring back information from Okaloosa County on their standard of service for beach cleaning in Destin for the 2021season at the March 15th City Council meeting.
Announcements:
The Harbor Capacity Study is currently underway. The Harbor Capacity Study Steering Committee held their initial meeting on February 24th.
The Governor’s Executive Order broadened the list of people eligible for the first phase of vaccine administration. Any person, 16 years and older, who is deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 by their physician may receive the vaccine.
Council Comments:
Passport Contract Amendment: 7-0, motion passed. Councilmember Destin requests a breakdown of net revenues being generated from each parking lot be provided to Council.
Direct staff to amend the code to allow additional time for ATVs to drive on the beach for trash removal: 7-0, motion passed to utilize the pending ordinance doctrine during the process of amending the ordinance to allow for looser restrictions after 2 PM which permits vendors to traverse their own property for the purpose of trash collection and addressing maintenance issues.
Councilmember Destin asked the City Manager to contact the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office and request they monitor the intersection of Main Street and Kelly Street as closely as they did when they first put up the 3-way stop signs at that intersection. There have been reports of motorists not slowing down and running the 3-way stop signs.
Main Street Bamboo Growth: Councilmember Hebert requests for an aggressive treatment for the removal of the bamboo trees on Main Street pier. Staff will work with Sheila Dunning, IFAS representative from University of West Florida, to establish what chemical they could safely use next to the water and come up with the plan to mitigate this issue and report back to Council.
March 15th Council Meeting Recap
City Manager Report:
Debt Financing - Bank RFP: 7-0, motion passed to authorize and direct the City Manager to issue the Request for Proposal.
Inventory of City-Wide Rights-of-Ways (ROW), Properties, and Easements with Waterfront Access: It was the consensus of the Council to allow staff to conduct an analysis to determine which rights-of-way, properties and easements are best suited for public/private use, including the cost for cleaning them up to make them accessible to the public, and bring back some suggestions/options by May 2021.
Paid Parking Update: 7-0, motion passed to direct staff to bring forth are solution creating a Parking Fee Special Revenue Fund with an effective date of October 1, 2021.
City of Destin Utility Undergrounding Project Management Agreement: 7-0,motion passed to authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement for Destin Utility Undergrounding Project Management with Utility Consultant of Florida.
Options and Estimates to Address Speed Concerns at Sibert Avenue and Forest Street Intersection: 7-0, motion passed to direct the City Manager to install an all way stop signs at the Sibert Avenue and Forrest Street intersection and to make any required budget amendments. The Finance Director will meet with Public Works and Engineering groups to try to come up with the actual amount for all way stop signs and determine whether an internal budget transfer or other sources of funding, such as Council Contingency Fund, is more appropriate, and bring back recommendations to the City Council at the next Council meeting.
Announcements:
City Hall Annex Parking lot is tentatively scheduled for resurfacing March 20th & 21st. Staff will put up signage to redirect patrons of the Destin Dog Park to use the City Hall parking lot.
Destin Little League opening day is Saturday, March 20th. There will be a parade from the Destin Elementary School to Dalton Threadgill Park beginning at 9:00 AM.
The President signed the American Rescue Plan. Preliminary numbers show that Destin will receive approximately $5.9 million.
Council Comments:
Councilmember Braden asked staff to determine how the new floodplain maps will affect development in Destin and any changes that can be made to the City’s current flood ordinance that can help development in the Destin areas. Also, to invoke the pending ordinance doctrine while the ordinance is in process. Community Development Director will bring back proposed ordinance parameters. The Land Use Attorney will determine whether it is necessary to invoke the pending ordinance doctrine based on those parameters.
Provide training to members of committees on formulation of their annual work plans to provide them more tools and promote consistency throughout the committee system.
Motion that a preliminary report on Stahlman Intersection Improvements be presented at the next City Council meeting passed 7-0. Councilmember Destin requested that the crosstown connector redesign project be placed on the agenda for the first meeting in May to discuss timelines for completion and to entertain ideas about multi-modal paths from several members of the community that they may be able to work into the plan.
Motion to allow the Community Development Department to hire an employee to process permits and perform routine work for simple projects that can be expedited to further streamline the process passed 7-0.
Councilmember King asked staff to come up with proposed solutions to reported constant racing/speeding on Pine Street (between Sibert and Calhoun).
Appointment of Member to Local Planning Agency - Corey Ledbetter: 7-0, motion passed.