All City Council meetings may be viewed at www.youtube.com/cityofdestin.
October 4th Council Meeting Recap
Councilmember Braden was absent from the meeting.
City Manager Report:
ADA Transition Plan for Pedestrian Facilities, authorization to execute a Task Order - Motion passed 6-0, to authorize the City Manager to execute a Task Order with Baskerville-Donovan Engineering to perform those tasks identified in the Scope of Work and to provide the city with an ADA Transition Plan that is consistent with applicable federal law and FDOT requirements.
Resolution 2021-03 - Paid Parking Fund - Motion passed 6-0, to adopt Resolution 2021-03 and for staff to establish a special revenue fund for paid parking fees.
Resolution 21-14 - Resident Parking Pass Program - Motion passed 6-0, to adopt Resolution 21-14, to be effective immediately.
Announcements:
Library Technology Upgrades - Library Director Wen Livingston discussed the new enhancements that have been made to the Destin Library.
Undergrounding Update - Grants/Projects Manager Jeff Cozadd provided an update on the upcoming meeting between the City of Destin and their electric utility undergrounding consultant, Utility Consultants of Florida, which is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13th. It was the consensus of the council to schedule a Special City Council Meeting on Thursday, October 21st, to discuss the franchise agreement with Gulf Power, along with the addendum that would include the undergrounding information.
Council Comments:
Councilmember Ramswell - Councilmember Ramswell asked how many spaces are currently required at city parks, and what the city is currently doing with the city’s ROWs and potential access points which are not considered a park. Currently, parking requirement for formally designated city parks is one space per 5000 square feet. If this needs to be amended, staff could bring back an ordinance for council’s consideration (LUA K. Kopp). Parks parking requirements will not apply to areas not exactly city parks (LUA K. Kopp). Staff is looking at the adequacy of this standard and whether it needs to be a little higher (L. Zunguze). If they change the parking requirement, the city should differentiate between a community park and a neighborhood/pocket park; identifying requirements for community parks and minimal to none for neighborhood/pocket parks (J. Bagby).
Councilmember Ramswell reported receiving a call from one of the Destin firemen expressing concern about the several accidents and near accidents on Airport Road where they have a mid-street crosswalk with no lights or signage. Public Works Department had created a work order for placement of additional “Stop For Pedestrians in Crosswalk” signs at each of the 4 crosswalks on Airport Road (M. Burgess). Current plan is to put striping, refresh existing signage, and place additional signage at each one of the crosswalks (M. Burgess). The city has been in discussions with Gulf Power to change out the lighting on Airport Road from the orange sodium lights to a brighter LED fixtures. (M. Burgess). Original Motion: To ask the City Manager to direct staff to move forward with the project. Consider placing the solar powered flashing lights on crosswalks similar to the one that is in front of City Hall (J. Bagby/P. Ramswell). Councilmember Destin stated that the flashing lights can be quite expensive. Amended Motion: To ask the City Manager to direct staff to bring back the costs for installing the flashing lights for council’s approval before going forward passed 6-0.
Councilmember Ramswell asked staff to place the following item on a future agenda: Compatibility between city and county’s ordinances and regulations. With regards to the county’s plan to increase the maximum intensity, floor area ratio, and maximum building height for areas directly adjacent to residential zoned properties, Councilmember Ramswell asked staff to work with the county to come up with some sort of interlocal agreement to try to find a middle ground or something which both sides could agree on. Recommended course of action might be to direct staff to talk to the county about expanding the existing Joint Planning Agreement (LUA K. Kopp). Councilmember Bagby recommends they determine how many and which parcels that connect to the City of Destin will be affected by the county’s action. If necessary, he would prefer talking to the county about expanding the existing Joint Planning Agreement.
Councilmember Bagby - Staff Reporting Matrix: Councilmember Bagby asked staff to bring back at the first meeting in November a staff reporting matrix which include but not limited to the following:
• Monthly Financial Report
• Monthly updates from the TDC
• Quarterly HR Report
• Quarterly Investment Report
• Quarterly Legal Report
• Quarterly Library Report
Councilmember Bagby recommends putting a stop to the weekly task tracking report to the council.
Councilmember Hebert - Beach Flag Ordinance: Councilmember Hebert recommends amending the city’s beach flag ordinance to resemble the county’s beach flag ordinance for ease of enforcement by the Sheriff’s Department.
Councilmember Hebert - Aquatic center landscaping: The Aquatic Center is designating the first Sunday of each month as “Community Service Sunday”, inviting groups and individuals to take that opportunity to come to the Aquatic Center in Destin to work on landscape care projects.
Councilmember Hebert - Emerald Coast Transportation Symposium - November 4-5, 2021: Mayor Jarvis will attend.
Mayor Jarvis - 2021 City Manager Evaluation Process: Motion passed 6-0, to direct the City Attorney to work with city staff and bring back some recommendations on how to make the City Manager Evaluation Process more transparent and not violate the Sunshine Law.
Land Use Attorney Kim Kopp - Motion to postpone proceeding with the ordinance process regulating air tour helicopters at the Destin Airport passed 5-1; with Councilmember Schmidt dissenting.