All City Council meetings may be viewed at www.youtube.com/cityofdestin.
October 3rd Council Meeting Recap
Destin Youth Council Presentation - The following motion passed 7-0: Direct staff to reach out to the Okaloosa Tax Collector’s Office and request a once a week on-road driving tests to be conducted from their office in the Destin area; also, reach out to the TDC and request support for an independent beach cleanup effort by the Destin Youth Council this year, and possibly in conjunction with Nature Conservancy Beach Cleanup Day next year.
National Code Compliance Month - Mayor Gary Jarvis read a proclamation designating the month of October 2022 as National Code Compliance Month in the City of Destin, and then presented it to Code Compliance Director Kimberly Corbin.
City Manager Report:
PAWS Contract - Motion passed 7-0 to accept the 90-day extension of the PAWS contract and authorize the City Manager to execute that contract while negotiating a future contract, accordingly. Councilmember Schmidt recommends reaching out to other entities, such as the Florida League of Cities, to obtain ideas and information about what they do with regards to animal control services.
Acquisition of property for the Cross-Town Connector - Motion passed 7-0, to approve the purchase of the vacant land at the corner of Anna Street and Benning Drive and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase agreement and proceed with closing.
Preliminary Harbor Study Data from Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) – For Informational Purposes - Motion passed 7-0, to direct staff to bring back an ordinance for a 6-month extension of the temporary livery vessel moratorium, until June 30, 2023, for first reading on October 17, 2022 council meeting.
Morgan Sports Center Barracuda Field - Interlocal Agreement - Motion passed 7-0, to approve the interlocal agreement between the Destin High School, Destin Water Users, and the City of Destin, for the use of the Barracuda Field at Morgan Sports Center as a high school baseball field.
Announcements:
The City Manager made the following announcements:
• The derelict vessel near Harbor Docks was removed last Saturday, October 1st. Okaloosa County provided some assistance in removing the vessel.
• Collections for Hurricane Relief supplies at the Marler Parking Lot on October 4 and 5. Goods collected will be delivered to the victims of Hurricane Ian.
• Destin Seafood Festival is scheduled for October 7-9.
• All city facilities will be closed on Monday, October 10th, in observance of Columbus Day Holiday.
• October 11th, at 3 PM – Blue Star Dedication at the Destin Library.
• Wednesday, October 19th, at 5:30 PM – Joint Harbor and Town Center CRA Workshop to discuss the undergrounding of utilities at the City of Destin.
• Ms. Dot Jones, a long-time committee volunteer for the City of Destin passed away recently.
Council Comments:
Councilmember Braden - Waiver of fees accrued by Destin High School - Motion passed 7-0 to waive all fees accrued to date by Destin High School.
Councilmember Wagner - Low Speed Vehicle Safety Program - Motion passed 7-0, to direct the City Manager to work with the Sheriff’s Department and other area municipalities to come up with low-speed vehicle safety requirements and education and public awareness program.
Councilmember Destin - Councilmember Destin requests the following topic be placed under his name on the next council meeting agenda: Direction to the City Manager to go forward with installing a raised pedestrian crossing on Sibert Avenue identical to the raised pedestrian crossing at the corner of Zerbe and Calhoun.
Councilmember Bagby - Resolution 17-36 - Amending the Destin Youth Council By-Laws increasing the maximum number of non-resident members - Motion passed 7-0 to amend Section 2 of Resolution 17-36, Youth Council Bylaws to read: “The Destin City Council may appoint up to 30 percent of the members as non-resident members who attend a local area high school (or home school) to fill any vacancies occurring during the year."
Appointment of Palmer Stevens Lindsley to the Destin Youth Council -Motion passed 7-0.
City Manager Annual Evaluation - Motion to give the City Manager a 3 percent merit increase for Fiscal Year 2023 beginning October 1, 2022 passed 4-3 (Schmidt/Hebert/ Destin/Braden – Yes; King/Bagby/Wagner – No.
Councilmember Hebert - Utility box paint project update.
Dawn to dusk walking/dog on a leash walking until the crosstown connector is complete. The City Manager will discuss the matter with the City’s Risk Manager to verify that the city will not incur any additional liability by removing the “no trespassing” sign off the Destin Campground and report back to council by the next meeting.
Councilmember Schmidt - Councilmember Schmidt requests the mayor and Commissioner Ponder to reach out to the new Eglin Commander to discuss whether it is still necessary to have the concrete barriers around the Welcome to Destin sign.
Mayor Gary Jarvis - The mayor requests the following topic be placed on the next council meeting agenda: “Look back at what have been successful for the city-run sports program and consider going back to the traditional sports seasons for each individual sport."
October 17th Council Meeting Recap
Proclamation for Larry Hatchet Fishing Day - Mayor Gary Jarvis read the proclamation designating October 22, 2022 as Larry Hatchett Fishing Day, and then presented it to Mr. Bob Wilder, President of Larry Hatchett Fishing Foundation.
City Manager Report:
Capital Project Management / Matrix Contract - Motion passed 7-0, to authorize the City Manager to execute the Master Services Agreement with Matrix Design Group for Capital Project Management, with stipulations that the final decision on assignment of which project shall go forward will be made by the city council at the recommendation of the City Manager; the city council will approve the scope on each individual project; and the city council will have a designee that will serve as the liaison on each project.
Water Quality Improvement Fund (Resolution 22-13) - Motion passed 7-0, to adopt Resolution 22-13 – Water Quality Improvement Fund – to track activity of the Stormwater Trust Fund and NPEB fees collected.
Cross Town Connector - Stormwater Design Update - Motion passed 6-1, to direct the City Manager to continue the redesign of the Destin Cross Town Connector retention system utilizing the ADS StormTech system to underground retention area #2.
Viability of Cross-Town Connector property as temporary recreational area - Motion passed 7-0, to direct the City Manager to make all necessary preparations to improve the Cross-Town Connector property to allow the walking of citizens and their dogs.
Resolution 22-17: Repealing Resolution 21-07 - Eminent Domain - Motion passed 7-0, to adopt Resolution 22-17. Motion to direct the City Manager to pursue, in cooperation with the county, the acquisition of a conservation easement, passed 7-0.
Announcements:
Joint Workshop of the Town Center CRA and Harbor CRA Advisory Committees on Wednesday, October 19th, 5:30 PM, in the Annex Council Chambers, regarding the undergrounding of utilities - The City Attorney recommends this meeting be noticed as a CRA Board meeting for the City Council as the CRA Board so that members of the city council can attend and make comments.
The city’s Open House is scheduled for Thursday, October 20th, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, at the Destin Community Center.
Annual Fall Fest at the Destin Community Center on Monday, October 24th, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.
Council Comments:
Councilmember Braden requests a complaint process be initiated regardless of whether the complainant decides to file a formal complaint against a city staff member. City Attorney will review the city’s current formal complaint policy.
Councilmember Destin - Motion to instruct the City Manager to install a raised pedestrian crossing on Sibert Avenue similar to the raised pedestrian crossing located at the corner of Zerbe and Calhoun, passed 7-0. Councilmember Destin requests staff search for a set of plans they have discussed in the past regarding intersection improvements for the crosstown connector and provide them to the council. He recommends taking a comprehensive look at FDOT’s proposed solution for improving the intersection. Councilmember Destin announced former City of Destin Mayor Ken Beaird passed away recently. Motion to lower city flags to half-staff at city facilities within the city limits immediately until sunset the day of interment in honor of former Destin Mayor Ken Beaird passed 7-0.
Councilmember Bagby - Code Compliance Process
Councilmember Schmidt - Councilmember Schmidt recommends having the Code Compliance Director go before the city council and discuss the direction of her department for this coming year.
Mayor Gary Jarvis - Mayor will discuss returning to traditional sports seasons or to successful city-run sports programs in the past for each individual sport at the next city council meeting.