All City Council meetings may be viewed at www.youtube.com/cityofdestin.
March 7th Council Meeting Recap
Destin High School (DHS) - Ms. Christine Cruickshank, Principal - Ms. Christine Cruickshank, DHS Principal, and Mr. Phil Dorn, DHS Athletic Director, updated the council on the first 7 months since DHS opened its doors; and shared the vision of the future for DHS and its role in Destin with the council.
City Manager Report:
Choctawhatchee Bay Alliance (CBA) FY21 Water Quality Presentation - Ms. Jenna Kilpatrick of Choctawhatchee Bay Alliance (CBA) provided a report on CBA activities conducted for FY 2021.
FY 2021 Annual Audit and Financial Statements - Mr. Thomas Smith, Director of EFPR Group, LLP, presented the independent auditor’s report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021. Motion passed 7-0, to accept the 2021 Annual Audit and Financial Statements passed 7-0.
Update on Capt. Royal Melvin Heritage Park - Mr. Scott Jenkins of Construction Engineering and Inspection Services provided a progress update on the Capt. Royal Melvin Heritage Park. Motion passed 6-1, with Councilmember Braden dissenting, to direct the City Manager to execute Change Order 11 to the GLC Contracting Construction Contract passed 6-1, with Councilmember Braden dissenting.
Destin Cross Town Connector Retention Areas and Traffic Safety - Mr. James Park of Atkins Engineering discussed the architectural renderings, proposed Pond 2 modifications and traffic calming devices for the Destin Cross Town Connector project. Motion to direct the project engineer to explore the idea of reducing the footprints of the pond and adding exfiltration piping and bringing back recommendations in 4 weeks failed 3-4 (Bagby / Destin / Wagner voted “yes”; Schmidt / King / Hebert voted “no”; Mayor Jarvis casts the tiebreaking vote of “no”; Councilmember Braden was not present during the voting). Motion passed 5-1; with Councilmember Wagner dissenting; Councilmember Braden was not present during the voting, to direct the City Manager to authorize the continued design of the Destin Cross Town Connector to the 90% phase.
Strategic Plan FY 2023 - Strategic Goals & Council Objectives - Motion to adopt the FY 2023 Council Strategic Objectives with the following modifications:
• Move “Research viability of Multi-use Convention/Sports/Community Center (Phase 1 Feasibility Study)” from the Desirable Priorities category to Critical Priorities category (1.2) and change the title to “Work with stakeholders to pursue the Destin City Center.”
• Table “1.6 – Zerbe St/Calhoun Avenue Phase II Design pedestrian pathway under the Marler Bridge” until further notice.
Instruct staff to begin their research and planning for future budget workshop with the city council passed 6-0.
It was the consensus of the City Council not to move forward with the feasibility study for the city center until directed to do so by them.
Motion passed 6-0, to direct staff to bring back a budget amendment to move the $75,000 budgeted for FY 2022 for the feasibility study and put it in Council Contingency account for the remainder of FY 2022.
Compensation Study - Dr. Jeff Ling of Evergreen Solutions provided a brief update on the methodology and results of the compensation study for the City of Destin.
Utility Undergrounding - Utility Consultants of Florida - Task Order 2 - Motion passed 6-0, to direct the City Manager to execute Task Order 2 of the Destin Utility Undergrounding Project Management Agreement with Utility Consultants of Florida.
Adoption of Resolution 22-05 Investment Policy - Motion passed 6-0, to adopt Resolution 22-05 Investment Policy; with the following amendment to the Investment Policy:
• Section XI – Competitive Selection of Investment Manager. First sentence to read, “If the Investment Officer in consultation with the City Council determine that an Investment Manager is desirable, then a minimum of three (3) qualified broker/dealers must be contacted and asked to provide bids/offers in writing to manage the City’s investments.”
TDC FY22 and FY23 Expenditure Plan - Motion passed 6-0, to authorize the City Manager to sign and submit the proposed Expenditures Plans and Operations Funding Request to the TDC for consideration by the March 15th deadline.
Announcements:
• Over 200 citizens have completed the Joe’s Bayou Recreation Area Improvement Project survey to date.
• The links to the Joe’s Bayou Recreation Area Improvement Project survey and the Community Development Citizen Engagement Survey can be found on the City of Destin website under the News Release section. They are also posted on the City Government Facebook page, on Tweeter, Instagram, and Next Door
• City Manager will be out of the office from March 21-25. Mr. Webb Warren will be the Acting City Manager from March 21-23. Mr. Zunguze will be the Acting City Manager from March 24-25.
• The City of Destin will host the Destin Forward Class on Thursday, March 10th.
Council Comments:
Councilman Schmidt - "Drive Slowly" sign at Main Street and Kelly Street - Councilmember Schmidt requests the City’s Public Works/Safety Committee to consider viable options for placement of the 4 “Please Drive Slowly we love our Children” signs around the city.
Mayor Jarvis - Will be absent from the City Council meeting on April 4th. He will sit on a panel for the National Marine Fisheries for Shark Predation. Discussion of imposing tougher enforcement actions against troubled properties in the City of Destin will be rescheduled at a later date.
March 21st Council Meeting Recap
City Manager Report:
Compensation Study - Motion: Authorize the City Manager to implement Option 3 of the Compensation Study, effective for the pay period beginning April 2, 2022. Substitute motion to table this item to the April 4, 2022 City Council Meeting failed 2-4 (Council members Destin and King voted “yes”; Council members Hebert, Bagby, Wagner, and Braden voted “no”). Motion passed 6-0 to authorize the City Manager to implement Option 3 of the Compensation Study, effective for the pay period beginning April 2, 2022.
Solid Waste Franchise Contract - Request for Direction - Motion passed 5-1; with Councilmember Destin dissenting, to waive the standard procurement procedure and direct the City Manager to negotiate a renewal of the solid waste contract with Waste Management and bring information back to the City Council by the first council meeting in May.
Destin Citizen Survey 2022 - Motion passed 5-1; with Councilmember Wagner dissenting, to approve the use of the National Citizen Survey through Polco/National Research Center for a total cost of $21,800 and endorse the addition of the half-page of custom questions and custom benchmark comparisons.
Announcements:
Community Development Director Louis Zunguze will be the Acting City Manager on March 24th and 25th.
Council Comments:
Councilman Destin - Requests the City Manager directs the Public Works Department to look into the possibility of placing a lighted pedestrian crosswalk across the two shopping centers on Main Street or do whatever is necessary to make that area safe for pedestrians especially at night.
Councilwoman Hebert - Motion passed 6-0, to direct staff to come back and discuss the feasibility of scheduling just one council meeting in July, November, and December, and that being on the second Monday of those months.
Mayor Jarvis - Requests staff look into the idea of renaming one of the city’s athletic facilities after the city’s legendary little league coach Bill Shirah and bring recommendation back to council.