--------- Before we get started, I just want to let you know that this is a CR board meeting, community redevelopment agency board meeting. This has nothing to do with the regular agenda that most of you are here for regarding annexation.
So, we have a 30 minute meeting now. meeting now may last a little longer and then we'll start into the regular city council meeting just so y'all think we haven't lost our minds. [laughter] This happens every quarter.
So, it just so happened it happened tonight. All right. Uh we'll start with the roll call. I'll call the meeting to order and start with a roll call. Rodney, can we start at your end? >> Here. President >> here. Dewey Destin here,
>> Teresa Abear here, >> Sandy Traml here, >> Chadam Morgan here. >> Good evening all. Um, Miss Abear, would you lead us with the pledge of allegiance? >> Yes, ma'am. If >> everyone will stand and put your hand
over your heart and join me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat]
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Is there anything else that needs to be added to the agenda or where are my two people that are speaking? >> Kyle, are you speaking tonight? >> Uh, just very very >> Okay.
All right. Uh, >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as written. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Uh, all in favor signifi. Uh, can we vote on that or do we need to just say I? >> Point of order. >> You can just say I. >> No, no. I'm asking her. She told me she
had it set up that we could all vote with our machine. So that Okay. All right. All of you say uh I >> There we go. >> Sorry. Technical difficulties tonight. >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. Thank you. Do I hear a second?
>> Second. >> Thank you. That was seconded by John Stevens. Um, any other discussion? >> All right. Uh, signal approval. All approved. Signal by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Nay.
>> All right. There we go. Special presentations. Do we have any >> tonight? Daniel, do you know of any special presentations tonight? Okay. [snorts] Uh, I didn't know of any either, so I was just asking. Uh, public comments on
anything that's coming up. Do we have any public comments on anything regarding the CRAAS? I see none. So, we'll start down with the town center CRA update. Yes. Good evening, CRA board. Um so on
April 7th the town center CRA chair came and gave an update and they're presented their annual report and the CRA board directed them to um move forward with refining and prioritizing their work plans that were proposed at that meeting. >> His light's not on. Nobody can hear him. >> Oh well the light is the light is on. Is
this better? I can lean in a little bit more. Sorry about that. So um the work plans that were presented in April were the Mattie M. Kelly connector, the multi-use green space work plan. Those were the two work plans that were presented in April. However, uh the city manager has had discussions with the
public's leadership in May and they stated clearly that they were not interested in selling that parcel adjacent to Publix at this time. So, the town center CRA has um decided to essentially abandon that work plan. Um however, on the July 9th, 2026 meeting,
the town center CRA advisory committee did unanimously approve the motion to recommend the CRA board prioritize the Matt M. Kelly connector which is identified within the mobility plan as NC5 as well as the associated sidewalk and bike lane improvements identified as
S SW10 and BL6 within the mobility plan uh and to authorize $1.5 million from the town center CRA fund to be used to complete this project. Um so that is the work plan update. I will go on into the work plan process. Uh so staff has been working with these
the Harbor CRA and the town center CRA committees to essentially improve the work plan process. Um so we're in the early stages of streamlining and the development. >> Okay. Making sure I'm not losing my
mind. So this what this uh what this process update will do is again it'll streamline the development and the execution of these work plan items. Historically um work plans may be created and they just kind of sit there on the shelf. Um but staff is kind of is taking steps to ensure that these work
plans get acted upon um and appropriately and as well as identifying potential funding resources and evaluating the project's feasibility in general. Um, with that being said, we went to training uh on June 12th. Staff from the community development as
well as um CRA member chair Sandy Traml as well as the advisory committee chairs. Um all of us went to the training in Panama City Beach or Panama City uh and learned some valuable knowledge that we can carry carry with us for the CRA U board meetings and these work plans going forward
specifically as to what funds should be used for what where they shouldn't be used um things like that. So we're going to investigate ways to further provide that education and training to our advisory committees respectively. Uh and then lastly the member update. So, the town center CRA advisory committee
currently has five members seated for seven available seats. Um, in May of 26, the vice our vice chairman resigned. Um, and that left Kyle Davis, which is here tonight, um, as the new vice chairman, selected on June 9th by the Town Center
CRA. So, we do have two open seats for the Town Center CRA Advisory Committee at this time. Um, so with all that being said, tonight the recommendation from the town center CRA advisory committee is to um is recommending that the CRA board prioritize the Matty M. Kelly
connector project, again identified as NC5, BL6, and SW10 within the mobility plan and to authorize $1.5 million in CRA funds toward this project. Uh, again, the vice chair is here to answer any questions as well as staff.
>> Thank you. Did you want to say anything? Okay. [clears throat] >> Hello, CRA board. Kyle Davis, 605 Beach Drive. Uh, I thought I was going to have to be presenting most of that, so this makes my job a lot easier just to come up and talk to you. Um, the process
improvement for our work plans is is very good. I think it's going to streamline us being able to put some more good ideas on the table as opposed to painstakingly investigating everything only to be told, "Hey, this wasn't going to work out to begin with." So that's that's very helpful. Um were there any questions or top of mind items
for the uh proposal that we did make the recommendation that we just went over. >> Do we have any questions? >> I was at the meeting when they selected this. >> So I did I I known this was coming down the pike. So uh great. I think y'all have done a good job with this and um I
think now staff and the CRA advisory counselors are now all on the same sheet of music and I think it's going to go smoothly from here on out. So, thank you for that. Um, there being no questions, do I hear anyone with the recommended motion?
>> I'll go do that. Uh, I move the CRA um board authorize one uh 1.5 million to be used toward the completion of Matty M. Kelly connector project NC5 along with sidewalk SW-10 and bike lane BL-6
improvements. >> Do I hear a second? I'll second. >> All right. Thank you. Um, I just had one question on that. Uh, do y'all have the easements already or does this include getting the easements? [sighs] >> Daniel, do you know where we are on that
with the easements? >> So, no, there is a section of roadway or a section of this that we'll need to purchase the ride ofway for. >> Okay. Is that included in the 1.5? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you.
All right. Uh let's anybody have any other questions? All right, let's call for the vote. All in favor signifying by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> All right, that passes unanimously. Thank you. >> Thanks very much. >> Uh we have a Thanksy another motion with
the town center to include this um in the fiscal year 2027 budget. >> Uh do I hear a motion? It's coming out of the CRA funds. We're not adding anything else from the general fund. >> So,
>> all right. Thank you, Mr. Den >> and Miss Aier. So, the motion is to recommend the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for the town center and the CRA fund to the city council and I'll be glad to add that under my name during
the council meeting. So, we'll forward this on. Um, let's call for the vote. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Not not seeing any. That passes unanimously. Now we're on to the Harbor CRA
minus Mr. Stevens. >> Daniel, is that you two? >> Well, shouldn't is just just asking is item B the town center CR long-term financials or are we doing the Harbor CR update right now? >> Okay. >> Financial. >> We just added it to the budget. Did you
want us to do something else? Okay. No, I didn't know if Crystal wanted to present anything, so I'll continue with the Harbor CR update. I'm sorry. >> Still here. I didn't see her here, so I just assume she didn't need to, but all the all the financials are in there. >> Gotcha. All right. Sorry about that. So,
the Harbor CRA advisory committee um did the same thing in April. April 7th, they presented their annual report as well as their uh >> Excuse me. Just a minute. Those of you walking in, we are conducting a meeting. It is not a city council meeting. We're going to ask you to please be quiet.
Go ahead, Daniel. >> Thank you. Um, so in April of this year, the Harbor CRA advisory committee presented their annual uh their annual report as well as their work plans and they were directed to move forward and with refining and prioritizing them similar to Town Center. Um, so going
along with that feasibility, the work plan process update, what we did was we took a look at staff and the CRA took a look at their existing work plans and two of them such as the Moringfield work plan and the breakwater snorkeling location and oyster gardening. Um, those
work plans were proposed to take place outside of the CRA boundary. Um, so we felt that those would be better served by the harbor and waterways board. So on in May of this year, um the advisory committee approved a motion to transfer these plans to the Harbor Waterways
Board to take over and and Champion. Um and the Harbor Waterways Board did approve both of these work plans to Champion in June. So those are continuing to be refined with the Harbor Waterways Board. Um the Christmas holiday decoration work plan was um discontinued. U it wasn't appropriate
for uh this project to be as a work or dedicated as a work plan for a CRA. um CRA funds shouldn't be expended for holiday holiday decorations, if you will. And then the last work plan is the camera safety. Um so in June of this year, the advisory committee actually
had the sheriff's deputies come again and speak to the um problems, if any, within the harbor district. Um so within that meeting and throughout their conversation, it was discovered that there uh really isn't a need based on public safety concerns at this time for cameras to be placed within the harbor.
Um so that work plan has also been discontinued indefinitely. Um so that leaves them with zero work plans to date. Um we again just to reiterate we went to training in June touched on the same topics. Um and then
the member update for the harbor CRA they are missing one member. So they have six members seated u with seven seats available and that was because council member Stevens was appointed to the city council. Um, so with that, we do have one vacancy on the Harbor CRA advisory committee. Um, and with that
being said, there is not uh any recommended motions for this update. This is just anformational item and we're here to answer any questions. >> I do have a question. Um, >> and I'm sorry, and the vice chair of the Harbor CRA is here if he would like to state anything.
>> Oh, is that Jim? Okay. And this isn't necessarily for you, but it's just for the whole committee. Um, I do understand why you decided not to do the um Christmas lighting decorations, whatever you want to call them. However,
when that was suggested, it was not that the CRA expend funds or that the CRA do any fundraising. It was suggested that they get all of the property owners along Highway 98 in and see if they couldn't come up with a
Christmas decor plan, whatever it is. and then all of the businesses would then own that, but it would fulfill the need that was expressed in our last survey from our citizens about they wanted more Christmas decorations. So, I
[clears throat] would like you to consider that getting all of the people in and talking to them and see if we can't come up with some kind of plan along the 98. >> Yeah. And and I'm and I may not be the best to speak to that because I I remember it was part of it was going to come out of some of our budget. Some of
that was going to be budget. I may have misunderstood that too. >> Uh I think I motioned to take those out. But >> so if if we look at it that way then the CRA can do it because you're not expending any funds. You're just coordinating an effort. >> I'm I'm sure that
>> and you know we looked at this before um >> you can't hear me. >> Yeah. when I was a member of the CRA advisory committee and um if if you get people to participate that that own the properties along 98.
>> Yeah, I think if Daniel and Jesse put it on our next agenda, we can revisit that work plan. >> I I would like I would like you to look at that and not for expending money just to get the people if nothing else to talk to them. They're your constituents. Yeah, [laughter] >> that'll be a topic to get started with.
All right. Um, >> there is a recommended motion recommends to council to direct staff to create a new special revenue fund to track revenue and expend. >> Your mic's not
>> I jumped the gun. Um, >> are you going to go into the resolution now? While while uh while the chairs are getting moved and stuff like that, I'd like to just say a little something to that. >> Okay, good. >> Uh when we when we went through there
and we expelled these work plans to the harbor and >> is it not Can you not hear me? >> That's not usually someone something someone tells me. >> I'll lean in here a little bit. So, uh, one of the things when we expelled, uh, the work plans to the harbor and
waterways board, you know, we were kind of looking as a board on what we were going to start focusing on. Uh, the Christmas decorations are definitely something we can look at. One of the things was One Harbor Boulevard and at our last meeting uh I spoke with Miss
Kimberly and Crystal uh gave gave the report on the financials and one [clears throat] of the things that we were that maybe we got lost in the mix but what we were trying to figure out is we we basically gutted the harbor CRA budget to purchase that piece of property and now we have a beautiful
piece of property that's sitting there doing nothing. And one of the things that we were talking about or I was speaking of last year was about putting a parking lot there, something that could be moved, you know, or would would not be a permanent structure if the
bridge development came through. And as we were told and as it's seeing is that the bridge, the Destin Bridge is not going to be it's going to be repaired and not replaced in at least the next 10 to 15 years or plus. So, one of our concerns is we got this piece of property and now we don't have this this
layment of of worrying about what the state needs for space and we need to do something with it. So, uh through some discussion with Miss with Miss Cop and and uh and Crystal, we we figured out that there are things that we can make money on that we can generate revenue
back for the CRA, but it can't just be a parking lot because of the land development code. But it needs to be a benefit. So if correct Miss Cop it, it needs to be public. It needs to be a public benefit. >> So one of the things that we were discussing and that we will be discussing in the future may be coming
back to you is continuing the is fixing the seaw wall to secure the property and then coming back with the connection for the harbor boardwalk under the bridge. And one thing that we brought up also was maybe a fishing pier. So, one of the
concerns was as the DOT had with the high-pressure uh gas lines under the bridge, maybe we can even go out around the first set of pilings. If where the where the land touches the water, there's about 15 20 ft and then there's a set of the first set of pilings for the bridge. And we could have a the
walkway actually go around those and tie back into the boardwalk. We could put a fishing pier off there. We could put a parking lot there that charged a premium for having close space to the boardwalk. And these are things that could start generating money to get back into the CRA fund because we made this big
purchase and we're and and basically the way I understand it's on a balloon. So we're basically hamstrung for the next couple years before before that comes and then we got to deal with that again. So uh that's my personal opinion. That's what I'm going to be pushing through the
through the our board is to try and figure our committee is to try and figure out a way to start recouping some of those funds and not have a piece of a prime piece of property just sitting there. So, I'm not asking for anything tonight, but I wanted to express what we talked about and what we were going to
continue to talk about in that committee. >> Well, I'd encourage you to keep doing that. Um, and and uh tonight we also have um we have two motions. One was to um the CRA board to direct council to
direct staff to create a new special revenue fund to track revenues and expenditures of funds raised by the Harbor CRA advisory committee. And that's in line with what you're asking that. Do I hear a first and a second for that one? >> I'll make a first.
>> Okay. >> Second. >> Is that uh Rod? Okay. Rodney, thank you. Uh any other questions? Did anybody had with that? All right, >> Jim, back on the the plans for the property. Um, the council can allocate
money to spend in the CRA if we want. You guys come up with some good ideas, I'm sure we'll support you. Uh, the fund, I'm not I'm not sure about the this fund that we're talking about. Do we expect that we're going to get donations from somebody? Are there some
big donors out in the dark? >> I'm not quite sure. Maybe Mr. Stevens can speak to that. I'm not quite sure about the fund. Like that's all kind of new coming in. I was I'll admit to you I was I was being high level with it. So to me, but but you know, the way that we
financed it and stuff, there was only certain ways that we could we could produce we could produce revenue for the CRA and it not violate the terms of the loan that we got. So I I really didn't focus on the fund so much. And maybe that's a mechanism that John was working on behind the scenes for that, but but
that's where we're going. Well, I'm I'm curious that is a new set of accounting. It's going into a separate fund because we can't intermix it with the regular CRA funds. And I was wondering if somebody can tell me. I've never seen that happen, you
know, in the time I'm here. And I was wondering where we're going with it. Do we expect that we have some big donors that want to donate money to the CRA? and and there of course are the CRA activities are regulated by state statute.
>> In addition to that, we have a uh settlement agreement with the county which formed the CRA and uh I was just wanting to make sure that I knew what the design behind this is to to give the CRA ability. Does anybody have an
explanation? So, um, at a previous, uh, CRA meeting, um, it was it was brought up to try to get, um, parking fees, um, at at different areas in the CRA district to get a percentage to go to the CRA. And with that getting turned
down, uh, I believe the CRA um, board here made that uh, suggestion of this donation method. Um, maybe Miss Kim can add a little more input on that one. I really don't have any more input, but Crystal's on her way over to answer your questions. >> Dewey, when we went to the uh meeting in
Panama City with the CRA attorney for the state of Florida, you can raise funds that can be set aside for special projects that are not part of the requirement of the CRA. This organization can do that. It has to be
tracked obviously and it has to go to the city coffers and it has to in our case it goes to city coffers. You know if there was a board it would stay in their coffers. They can do fundraising if they go out and find a grant somewhere. It can come through the city or it can come through the CRA
which the city would be writing the grant obviously and uh it can come through the CRA. The resolution that we have in our packet is to say that if that happens, if they decide to have another seafood festival and they want to make the money off of it to use in
the CRA, they can do that. But our resolution that the city council has done says that any money that's raised has to go to debt service. So these people have nothing to do for five years. The money's gone. there won't any
be any there until 2029. So in the meantime, they can go out and do these kinds of things. They can come to the city and say, "Hey, we need such and such money for so and so." That's legal, too. But I just didn't want them sitting there doing absolutely nothing for five
years like the town center had to do when they were out of money. Well, we as I said earlier, we can >> we can actually allocate money anytime we decide to do so from city funds and and as >> we'll take 9 million >> I don't [laughter]
>> I don't uh I'm not sure that creating an alternative fundraising and I it looks to me like I'm not I'm just not real convinced that this is the way to go when we already can do all of these things ourselves. The other thing I noticed in the
resolution that I read that we're going to consider later, >> we're having a meeting. Please be respectful. >> The other thing I noticed in the resolution, it [clears throat] said any resolutions passed prior to this resolution that conflict with this
resolution are hereby voided as they apply to this resolution. I've never seen anything like that before. I I guess it's to address the original resolution that says money raised will go to debt. Um, and we can talk we can talk to that when we get to the meeting,
but that's quite unique. >> Um, so we had drawings for like in a gazebo kind of setup down there around the tree and then like having it set up to watch the sun sunsets and then we didn't really get any more feedback from that. Is that because those monies for
our CRA and president of CRA? Do you as part of that? Did you >> did are we like tableabling those ideas because we're not able to spend that money? >> And I came with I I came with drawings for a public marina too, a municipal marina. But at this time, we didn't have
the funds because we purchased the property. And then also it would take refinancing the property from its current note that it's being held on to do something of that nature. and it would have took the city bringing funds in to do that. So, we we really just
have not gotten that ball rolling. And >> well, the other question is um Miss Cop, you said that Crystal was on her way over to help answer maybe some of the funding. And Crystal's as you're here, we're discussing right now on the funding what we can do now that we know
the bridge is going to be repaired, not replaced for funding and making money, or do we as a council need to donate money to our CRA? >> Yeah. So, what I would recommend, there are a lot of um balls in the air right now that we're following up on. uh me,
Larry, Kelly Horton, uh Jeff Koad, u and we're all working actively towards um finding answers right now. I think by the at latest the second meeting in August is what we were aiming for to uh to bring some of these back to council.
So, I recommend that we just uh wait another month and um see where some of these straws are going to fall. >> Thank you. >> And I didn't mean to start a big storm about it. >> No, but thank you for the feedback. That's [clears throat] we need that. We don't know what we need to do to help you unless you give us >> that kind of stuff's gonna be coming down the pipe. So, and I didn't mean to
jump on ahead of Miss Crystal either. So, but thank you'all. That's all I had. >> We have a motion and a second [snorts] uh to direct staff to track these revenues. And that's what Crystal just said she's doing anyway. And going to bring it back what? Next month.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Next month. So, uh, would you bring that back to council or do we need another CRA meeting? Just curious. >> I'm going to bring these back to council, um, because they're going to affect the the overall city 2027 budget.
So, I'd like some input from council before I adjust the tenative budget in case any adjustments need to be made. >> Okay. But to answer your question about uh why things were put on hold, it's because we don't know how much DOT was going to need of that property,
>> right? Um, and there is someone from the CRA that's working with DOT. Um, so, uh, hopefully they'll have some more info info soon. So, >> one more question, please. Does and for
Crystal or for Kim, either one. Does the CRA have abilities to raise revenue that are not available to the city? So, uh, that's why we have this resolution on the, uh, the CRA board
meeting agenda tonight, uh, to set up a separate fund for fundraising. Right now, the only funds that are raised by the two CRA districts are the tax incremental financing, the TIFF money, and those are highly regulated by the state of Florida. So, the resolution
that we're uh putting forth would allow them to uh would allow people to fund raise for the Harbor CRA district and for that money to stay within the Harbor CRA district. Um, and >> okay, well, that's not really the
question I'm asking. The question is, does the CRA have a unique ability to raise funds that we do not? Otherwise, if they're raising it, we can't. And that just means it comes out of the general revenue or whatever we would raise. So, do they have any ability to raise funds that the city council does
not is my question. >> City council could choose to use some other funding source towards a project uh within the CRA district, but the CRA district is not allowed to spend any of its money within its fund on anything that's outside of the master plan.
>> Okay, Kim, >> I think I can answer that. [clears throat] The CRA in it of itself, there are no specific funds that they can go capture that the city council cannot from my understanding, >> which is the point I make that we
[clears throat] can do it. So, if they do it, then it comes out of what we would have done. And I'm not sure that we gain if they had a unique ability to raise funds that we didn't, it would make a lot more sense. But I'll I'll vote for the uh the direction at the moment, but I'm still a little confused
on what we gain by doing this. All right, let's call for the vote. We've had a motion and a second. Uh, all in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Thank you. Um, the next motion we have
is the actual >> resolution, right? That's right. >> We have the fiscal year 2027 budget. >> Oh, okay. Um, and the motion states, I move to recommend that the proposed fiscal year
2027 budget for the Harbor CRA uh to the city council, which is exactly what we've already reviewed when we did our budget hearings. So, nothing has changed there. Uh, and it explains to you how much is going to the loan that we still haven't paid off for Mountain Drive. And
then the um 2024 alone for it's actually number one Calhoun because we're not planning on entering from Harbor Boulevard. [laughter] We're planning on anything we plan would be an entrance from Calhoun. So personally I'd like to see it number one Calhoun. So we all understand that it's
going to be entering from Calhoun. We're not going to be entering from Harbor Boulevard. [snorts] Um so uh that motion I need a motion in a second. I'll make that motion. >> Thank you. Second. >> Second.
>> All right. Thank you, Dewey. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any other questions? >> Seeing none, let's call for the vote. >> I. >> All in favor? >> Yep. >> I. Any opposed? >> Okay. Thank you. All right. And
the resolution is coming if I can get it. Kim, would you like to read the resolution? Okay. Resolution 202619, a resolution of the city of Dest, Florida, authorizing the establishment of a special revenue fund for donations
for expenditure within the Harbor CRA district, providing for severability and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you, Kim. >> You're welcome. >> Uh, and the motion is I mean the resolution is in here. Do I hear a motion? Uh, and can I give you an
example? Do we Okay. with this resolution, if the if the Harbor CRA gets all the members of um Highway 98, the land owners in Highway 98, and they come up with a plan for Christmas lights, and the harbor,
the land owners say, "Well, I'd much rather have the city buy the lights, so I save on that because it's bulk." They can put the money in. The city can buy the lights. They can put them up. So that would be an example of how they
could fund raise without they wouldn't put a penny into it. Actually the harbor CRA wouldn't put a penny into it but but the citizens would put a penny into it and use our ability which we have done before to purchase things that we're improving in the har anywhere in Destin.
So that's the kind of thing that would allow them now to look at that in the future for things like that. We can also empower our committee to do that and it does same difference. We're
>> the committee cannot spend money until the council approved. Isn't that correct? >> Yes. Except it takes three meetings. One with the people, one with the harbor CRA, one with up here and then city council. So it eliminates some of that. I don't think we can empower a committee
to spend money that doesn't get approved by us. >> They can't. They just bring it to us as a line item. >> Right. >> All right. Uh we have a motion in a second. Let's call for the vote. >> One of the question >> I'm sorry. >> Excuse me. This is a motion by the city
council or by the CRA board. >> CRA board. CRA board making a recommendation to the city council and city council will vote on it. Got it. >> Okay. ready. Okay. Uh, all in favor signify signify by saying I. I.
>> Any opposed? >> That passes unanimously. Thank you. >> I'm sorry, M. Traml. Who who made that motion for this for this? >> Was for the resolution. >> Was for the resolution >> to take the resolution to council. >> And who made the motion? >> Um,
>> I thought John did. >> That was for budget. >> That was for the budget. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Too much noise. >> All right. Do we need to do it again? Did anybody make the motion? >> All right. Rodney made the motion. >> I'll second it. >> And John seconded it.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Do we need to vote again? All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. That's it. Um have something that kind of be under
old business. Um it has to do with the underground utilities. Uh back in August 9th, the Harvard CRA advisory committee uh made a recommendation to do phase 4 before phase 2 and then it went to count
I believe it went to council and then council recommended that it go back to the CRA to make a decision and I don't think that ever happened. So, I don't know if we can put that on our next CRA meeting. >> Sure, I can. >> Yes, sir. Okay. Part: 2
in here. We are going to get to your topic as quickly as possible. We respect and appreciate everyone's time tonight. And so with that, I'm going to call the Dustin City Council meeting to order for July 20th, 2026. Up first is going to be our invocation by Pastor Kevin from
Grace Lutheran Church. Thank you so much for being here. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Lord God, heavenly father, you have ordained government for our own good. So give us, we pray, leaders and
citizens whose hearts are attuned to you. Grant to each and all of us the wisdom to uphold what you have made right, the conviction to abhore what we have made wrong, and the will to do what you have
made just, so that thy will be done in this community. We pray this in the name of him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God. him who is fully God, born fully man, also to live the perfect
life, to die, the perfect sacrifice, to rise from the dead, the perfect resurrection and life, your son and savior from sin, ascended to heaven, to return the last day to judge the living and the dead, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> Awesome. Thank you for being here for that. Councilwoman Abear with the pledge, please. >> Please join me with your hands over your heart. I pledge algiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Man, >> that sounds pretty cool with a bunch of people doing that. That's amazing.
All right. >> So, with that, uh, for everyone who's got an agenda, please know, um, for the public hearing, which there's only one, which is the annexation, uh, per state statute, we need to have a public comment for that during that time. So, I'm going to be asking for public
comments, uh, in a moment and anything but that topic. I'm not sure if there's anyone here for anything but that topic, but I just wanted to make that perfectly clear that there will be a time to speak uh during the annexation right after uh Miss Kimberly Cop, our city attorney, reads in uh the public hearing. So, I
just wanted to get that kind of off into a good start. So, with that, I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda if we have any other amendments. >> I'll approve. >> Okay. >> I just need to add the motions that were done at the Harbor CRA and forward them
um to the council. Okay. >> And that'll under my name is fine. >> Perfect. All right. Anything else? Modifications, deletions. All right. Seeing none, can I get a motion with that modification? >> I'll make that motion to approve uh with the modifications with Miss Traml. >> All right. I have a motion with a second
by Miss Traml. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> Yep. >> I will vote yes. >> All right. We'll go down the line. All right. Good deal. Uh Councilman Braden.
Yes. >> Yes. >> We're going to do a roll call vote. >> Traml. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Eyes have it. So moved. Motion carries. All right. We'll get into the first public comments. If anyone here has wished to speak on any
topic not in under the public hearing, this is would be your time to do so. And don't laugh, there's always a few. All right. Ricky Lyn Grant Jr. 175 Main Street, Dest Florida, 32541. And uh
I just want to ask a question. What's this all for? And uh hopefully we can get to the bottom of that. You know, are we alone out there? stuff like that. And uh I think Okaloosa County needs more beach accesses because I walk through
Walton County on my way to PCB and they pride themselves on their beach accesses. They got beach accesses every hundred yards. Okaloosa County really needs more beach accesses in between all the big high-rise hotels so people that walk like me can go to the beach a
little bit more. And from the harbor, they could build a big sky bridge to walk to Norgo Point Park from the from the harbor. And you know, there could be more harbor and beach adventures out there for people that walk and like entrepreneurs or surfers and uh remote
friendly people, people that work remotely. But yeah, I would say Okaloosa County needs more beach accesses and uh and maybe a sky bridge if they're going to build like a big city because I saw it happen in Nashville when they were building like distilleries coming
in town. And I hope I don't get left behind if they're going to, you know, revamp the city and make it like a big big city, you know, like sky highrises and like maybe a city in the sky like my high club and something futuristic or
something. I could see something like that kind of being created. Um, but yeah, I guess more uh I guess bigger than life buildings, bigger than life cities, new urbanism, bigger than life, more narrative driven
type stuff. Well, anyways, um I don't want to get left behind cuz I am trying to make it home. And if they're going to, you know, be doing what they did in Nashville, then I want to be getting home cuz begin with the end in
mind. And I'm doing this for a specific reason. I'm trying to get somewhere. I may not be going to to outer space and taking people with me and, you know, but I have a a reasonable goal that I'm getting to. And uh that's something that I just want everybody to know. What is it all for? You know, I live in an
installation, you know, on Okaloosa Island and that's where I fish from. So, I just want to find uh some ground and some somewhere to call home and uh cuz I mean, you know, this I'm I'm getting there. You know, I might as well be moving to outer space with with the next
frontier. I'm just trying to, you know, I guess really get the job done, I guess. But, uh, go Packers. I got my Packers. I'm going to do some stuff. Wholesaler. I got to close my deal, but I'll see y'all next time because that's
my time. All right. Thank you, Ricky. All right. Anyone else? Hey y'all. My name is Rob Valatin. I live on Noriego Road on Holiday Isle. I'm speaking on my personal half this evening and not as an officer of the Holiday Improvement Association as we haven't met since last special meeting.
I come here because I can't help but think that an opportunity was missed last Wednesday during the special meeting. I personally dislike revisiting votes or business decisions and prefer to instead move forward once a decision or has been made or a vote has been cast. However, in the case of Wednesday's meeting, I can't help but
think that Mr. Palmer's remarks during the initial public speaking period added some heat to the room that may have influenced the outcome of the vote. From a strictly business and analytical perspective, I would think it's a no-brainer to entertain Mr. Morgan's motion and give it a try before you decide to pick a fight with the county.
All diplomatic avenues have not yet been exhausted. The council had already agreed to 75% of what the county asked for, including the harbor parking would add 25%. But as I had previously said, this could easily be recovered by simply raising fees. And since all destining county residents would be parking for
free, the only impact would be on the tourists and not your constituents. I did not hear a single argument that was objective or based on facts. It was purely subjective and based on the council's distrust of Mr. Palmer and the three county commissioners. And I get it. I've been to those meetings. Their
behavior has earned that distrust. However, I ask you not to lose the plot here, which is to gain control of the property. They provided a reasonable proposal that if accepted could be financially mitigated. Mr. Palmer himself reached out to me following the
meeting via text. I asked him bluntly if the council had voted yes on the motion, would he have placed it on the agenda and voted to jointly bring it to the state with the request to have the city manage the property? He replied, quote,
"Yes, I would have put it on the 84 agenda and I would have voted in support of it." His would be the deciding vote as Miss Cox and Miss Ketchel had previously sided with the city. So why would we not vote in favor and try to give this a try? The downside risk is that Mr.
Palmer lied to me and does not vote in favor of his own proposal. If this occurs, then you can pick a fight with the county. It would only cost us two weeks before the 84 BCC meeting. The upside is you have a definitive and favorable path to gaining control of the park without expending indeterminate
amounts of money, time, and resources that do not guarantee a positive outcome. And if things still go sideways, you can then engage with the conflict resolution process. Also, any future conflict resolution, mediation, or legal proceedings would be more
favorable to the city if you could show you accepted his proposal as is and he still voted against it. That would show on the record that he was not working in good faith with you. I ask that you reconsider now that you're a few days removed from Mr. Palmer's provocative statement and abrupt departure. I'd hate
to see that park languish behind a chainlink fence for the next x number of years as this is battled out with no guarantee the city will prevail. And I'd really hate to see that pristine piece of property be commercialized if the city doesn't prevail. It will forever be
a blight on Holiday and the city of Destin. I thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you, Rob. All right, anyone else before we close? All right, seeing no one else, we'll close public comments and we'll get into the proclamation and announcements uh presentations in this
case. So, Kelly Beth Horton. >> Oh, there you are. >> Thank you, council. I appreciate uh you all being here and what a crowd that came to see my presentation. I'm sure. Yeah, I'm very flattered that you all would come out tonight.
Um, I just came by tonight to give you guys a overview of the session, or should I say sessions because we had three of them this year. Our regular session ended on March 13th and they completed that without a budget. So, we knew we were going to have to come back. However, we came back three times. We
came back for a redistricting um session uh where they w redrew some congressional redistrics. We came back for a special session on the budget and that one finished up on at the end of May on uh May 29th which
was 77 days late. Uh overall the state budget came in at 114.5 billion which was down from last year's 115.1 billion. uh they left 14 billion in reserves and the governor did veto
1.6 billion in in projects and reserves. So that um we were very lucky that the governor did not pick on our projects that we were unscathed there. So was pretty excited about that. And then the third special session which followed right after the budget session was the
property tax um relief um amendment that went on will go on the ballot in November. and my business partner Rich Heley is here tonight and he's going to talk a little bit more about the outlook of um how how that's going to be when it goes on the ballot and some things that
are ahead for that. The the um 2026 session was a very low output of bills that passed. Of the 1896 bills that were filed, only 237 passed, which was about a 12.5 passage rate. Um and that's a
decline from 2023, which was about 19.47%. 47% pass rate. Some wins for you all for the city of Dustin was um we we secured a million dollars for the cross town connector. We secured a million dollars for the
four-prong lake project and we secured $1 million for the Stallman Avenue improvements. And I will say that you guys made it very easy on me that every time I went into a meeting to present these projects to the governor's office that y'all have worked really hard on these projects. You put a lot of skin
into the game, which is what they like to see. And we were able to keep all three of those projects. We didn't get any vetos, which was which was wonderful. I was pretty excited about that. And I appreciate all of you who came over to Tallahassee and all of you who made calls to members and the
governor's office to advocate for those projects because we were successful. And I have to mention Senator Trumbull and also Representative Manny were were champions for us, too. Um, another bill that I think is a win for you is the
sovereign immunity bill. Um, that bill did pass which raised the cap from 200 to 350 per person or 300 to 500,000 per incident. However, the governor vetoed that bill, but I do expect that this is going to come back next year. They've
they've tried it for the last couple years, but I think under a new governor and under some new House and Senate leadership that there's going to be um an attempt to bring that back next year. Um I'm going to talk just a little bit about property tax relief, about some things that are going to happen before it goes on the ballot and then Rich can
talk about maybe some polling and some things to think about there. But it it did it did pass but not exactly the way the governor wanted it to pass. it didn't include schools and it was not as aggressive as he wanted to be on it. Um,
but there there are some issues that are being challenged in court and those those challenges are going to be reviewed on the 29th of July. So, that's coming up soon and so we'll know what the court's going to do with that amendment and there's a theory that they're going to probably kick it back and ask the legislature and the attorney
general to rewrite it um under some guidelines from the court. So, we'll we'll see what they do with that. And um you know there's there's starting to be some opposition that's coming out on that amendment and [snorts] so we'll see um where that lands. There was a couple of land use fights
that I got I know that you guys are following um Senate Bill 180 from last year which was pretty pretty bad for local governments and there was a couple of fixes that were presented to the legislature this year. Um, Senator Gates worked really hard on this bill and
Representative Abbott. Um, but in the end, only the Senate passed any fixes for that. The House wouldn't take it up. Um, I'm I'm guessing they're going to try that again next year under new House leadership. We've got a new speaker coming in and I think that they'll probably take that up again next year.
So hopefully some of the things that we're trying to do this year, they could they could do next year. And I think the way they're trying to structure that is you guys would be geographically taken out is is my hope is they would only limit that to certain areas of the state and you guys wouldn't be caught up in
that. There was another bill that was called the blue ribbon projects bill, which is where large land owners could take a tract of of land and they wouldn't have to abide by any of the local planning um the local local government planning
organizations and they could just pretty much do what they wanted to do. And these are extremely large tracks of land like 15,000 acres and more or more. And I would say that was the most controversial bill of the session and it ended up not passing. But again, that one's probably going to come back next
year, too. Um, we followed a beach management bill where they were asking for all the local governments to put together their beach management plan that would be then submitted to the state to be incorporated into a big beach management program um plan, but that didn't pass. But again, I expect
that to be back next year. Um, the term limits for county commission and school board members that died. I know that's not you all, but I know that that's something you guys probably follow closely because of your relationship with the county that didn't make it across the finish line. Um there
was a bill um on the permitting, the building permit and inspections that passed that's kind of stream streamlines that process and makes it a little bit easier for people to get building permits. Um there's a DEI ban for local governments that passed and that means
that any of your vendors or any local money that goes out to either a vendor or like a grant program, they can't use that money for DEI programs a recipient of that. So you have to review all your um vendors and your grant programs and just make sure that that's not not
happening. But I think you guys are good there. Um, and then finally, I'll mention during the regular session, they took up an AI bill of rights that didn't end up making it across the finish line. The governor put that in the special session for redistricting and it didn't
the the legislature decided not to take it up again, but I expect that issue to be back and that that's probably going to be at the forefront of session next year. That'll probably be the biggest issue of the entire session. So, I think um you'll see that one and that could affect you all. So, we'll have to watch
that closely because I know that AI is in everything. And just for your planning purposes, after the election, the new members will be sworn in. And then we'll start committee meetings in December and January and February. And then regular session will start in
March. And so, be thinking about what our ask will be or what our legislative fixes need to be for next year. and we can go ahead and start socializing those because we have a great delegation. I mean, I can't say enough good things about Jay Trumbull and Pat Manny and
Shane Abbott and all the all the good folks around us. We got a couple new members that are coming in that are superstars. So, looking forward to working with them. And again, I appreciate being on the team. I love working with Larry and Kim and Crystal and all all the folks that I get to work
with on a day-to-day basis. you guys respond quickly and and you know I can take it to the bank whatever you say. And again, thanks to everyone for making calls and also for making the trip over to Tallahassee. I appreciate it. And I'm going to let Rich give a quick overview of what's going to happen in November.
So, thank you so much. >> Thank you for being here. >> Thank you. Just quickly, uh, building on what Kelly said, I want to talk about the future and the opportunity because, uh, as you all know, with term limits in Florida, you know, we have a lot of
change, constant change that's built into the system. This is going to be one of the most consequential elections we've had in the last 20 years. Um, but a lot of it's predictable, some of it's not. So, we're going to have a US Senate race that we didn't plan on. Why do we have that? because President Trump was
elected and he's from Florida and he took all kinds of people from Florida. So that opened up Ashley Moody went to the Senate. She has to run for two years to finish Marco Rubio's term and then she has to run again in two years for a six-year term. We have a new congressional map that is going to
probably yield the Republicans two to four more seats. Won't impact this area at all. Really, it's everything south of uh the Orlando area. But that's going to have a big impact nationally because if the Republicans do hold control of the Congress, we have the second largest
delegation uh in the majority. So that should benefit us particularly a very Republican area like here. The governor and cabinet um open governor's race, those don't come along very often. In fact, if you go back to 1970, only two
governors haven't run for reelection. So the thought is is this new governor is going to be here for eight years. That's a nice planning horizon, but that's going to mean a ton of change. Governor has 4 500 appointments. Governor's going to appoint a tax and budget re reform commission that's going
to happen during his tenure. All new agency heads. So, I I throw that out both because that's an opportunity and if there are people from this area that you think should be serving in state government, whether that's appointed office, whether that's uh a staff, whatever, this is the this is your
opportunity to inject those people into the system because it can have a huge huge impact on on on what happens here. Um, new staff, new policy, no institutional knowledge. So, as Kelly was saying, how great it is that you all
have been so good about coming over to Tallahassee and testifying or calling legislators or calling state officials. It's going to be more important than ever because that institutional knowledge is going to get lost. Going to be new staffers, going to be a lot of change there. Um, and the legislature, you know, the legislature is going to
stay supermajority Republican plus or minus, you know, a seat or two. But we also, that's where things get predictable because we know who the next three Senate presidents are. We know who the next three uh uh speakers are. We're fortunate that one of the former Senate presidents, Don Gates, is in the
legislature still has two more years, could have six more years to serve. And Jay Trumbull's about to get reelected and have another four years. And in his last two years, he'll be the president of the Senate. Huge, huge, huge for this region, Florida. So, I throw that out. Um second, just to get all politics is a
math problem. you know, whether you're passing a resolution here on the commission or whether it's you're getting votes or whether it's being elected, the math is all for the Republicans. There's no doubt that the Republicans are going to win statewide. So, you've got that predictability. Four weeks from tomorrow is the primary. So,
you'll know who all the statewide candidates are. You'll know who all the nominees are for office. And then the general election is 15 weeks from tomorrow. And then the new governor is sworn in 24 weeks for tomorrow. So, a lot of stuff's going to be happening. As Kelly said, now's the time to be thinking. Now is the time to come up
with ideas. Now again, if somebody wants to serve or you know somebody that should be a revenue uh secretary or whatever agency it might be, now is the time uh to do that. Um property tax, Kelly mentioned that it's hard to say what's going to happen because as she
mentioned, everybody that I talked to that are smart lawyers thinks the the language as it's written is going to get thrown out because the governor and legislature drew ballot language was longer than what is allowed by the citizens. citizens can only write a ballot entitled summary that's 75 words.
This one's like 160 and there's some deficiencies in it that people think. So, as Kelly mentioned, next week is is the court date. After that, uh there's a question, but I believe it's probably the attorney general who has 10 days then to rewrite the language. And so, the polling that's out there isn't
polling the exact question that voters will go vote for. But what I will tell you is all the polling I see shows it right now currently in the low 60s. And the rule of thumb for political professionals is whatever a ballot uh tests initially before anything's been
run against it, it's only going to go down. So the likelihood, and by the way, for those who don't know, it takes 60%, not 50%, for a ballot initiative in Florida to pass. So this one's going to be uh uh close. Uh probably uh uh may just fail because the governor said he's
not going to campaign and raise money for it. And it seems like there's more organized groups on the on the no side of this. But let's see what the real language is. Say, let's get some polling in mid August when we know what's going to be on the ballot. Um and and then we
can we can build from there. Uh with that, I just we're glad to be on your team. You guys make our job so easy. Um, but there is a I just if I if there's one message, a lot of opportunity coming down the field here and you guys are well situated to get things done because of your delegation, because of how
strong advocates you are for your community. And with that, I'll get out of the way so these folks can have their say unless anybody has any questions. >> Thank you, sir. Councilwoman Abear. >> Um, Kelly, if you can come back over here, please. Ma'am, I just want to let you know as your
legislative sponsor to ask our team here to get you as our lobbyist, you know, a couple years ago was the best decision. >> Oh, thank you. >> ever. Thanks. >> I think that you have helped us >> in areas we couldn't have done it without your help. I mean, you got us into meetings. I mean, the mayor's been
up there, met talked to Gates and talked to uh Manny and Trumbull, and it's it's been amazing the access that you have because you've been at this for years. People know you and respect you and you representing our citizens, our >> folks that work hard and we want things
done. >> And for 1896 to be Ford and our three, all three got approved in the millions that we needed, we got. Great. I just want to commend you for taking good care of us. Your team is a very valuable
asset to us and I look forward to voting for you to continue on as our lobbyist to continue doing what we need to at the state. And I plan to go up and march with you again. Okay. And see our our folks and keep our voices forward so they'll take care of us. >> Yeah. They'd rather see you than me.
>> Well, thank you. That's all I wanted to do was just publicly thank you for what you've done for all of us here in Destin. So now you know when you call Headley and Associates, it's either one. >> I'm employee of the month this month. >> Yeah. So this is what you get if you call the number. Yeah. So thank you so much.
>> Awesome. Thank you guys. Thank you so much. >> All right. And with that, uh, we'll get into the consent agenda. Do I have a motion for the consent? >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> With a motion and second. Any discussions? Seeing none, we'll call a vote for 3 A
through D. Get on to the main event. >> [laughter] >> Why you guys laughing? Come on. >> All right. 6. So moved. All right. Miss Cop. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, our first public hearing is 4A and our only public
hearing. It's ordinance 2620LC, an ordinance of the city of Dest, Florida, approving the uniform method for involuntary annexation of certain real property totaling 2,76 and 0095 acres containing all
unincorporated land lying east and south of Chhattahhatche Bay located in Okaloosa County, Florida as more specifically described herein. Amending the city charter by redefining the corporate limits of the city of Destin. Directing the city manager to do all things necessary to effectuate this
annexation. Directing the city clerk to file a copy of this ordinance with the clerk of the circuit court in Okaloosa County, the chief administrative officer of Okaloosa County, and the Florida Department of State within 30 days after adoption in accordance with section 171
Florida statutes, providing a conflicts clause, providing a severability clause, and providing an effective date. This is first reading. Mayor, >> thank you. And I'm gonna do something very odd and give it up here. So, please give me a couple minutes. Um, for the neighbors, I wanted to let you guys know
that was an idea that I have had to bring us all together as one destin. But I also want to make sure that you guys know that I've also already have failed this council and you guys for not getting in front of this and getting into your communities and figuring out what the win-win situation could be. The
last thing that I believe most of us want, but I'll speak for myself and say I'm basically a libertarian. The last thing that any of us want is more government. The last thing that anyone wants is more taxes. But the one thing that made me want to stick my neck out
here on a very unpopular conversation is the idea of what we could do if we did it together. And so the part that I have failed is getting in front of you guys and figuring out what you guys want, what you guys need, how can we offset HOA fees, what are some safety and
public health issues that we can address together. And the idea being to come up with an idea for us in a project or projects of list to vote on. And again, if we get that whole list together and it's still a horrible idea, it was only
just a conversation. The last thing that I've ever wanted, the last thing that I wanted was to rush something, push something through, and try to do what every other government that it seems like in America does, which is try to pull a fast one on the taxpayers.
So, please know that this is not something that benefits us. We're all volunteers. We all have day jobs or retired, and the last thing that this benefits is us or me. Again, what got me excited about this idea is the
multiplier effect. Again, almost through what we just saw as a presentation of there's tools that government have that HOAs don't. There's levers that government can pull that individual citizens can't. And that is the only reason that got me excited to even bring
up and introduce this kind of topic. I'm well aware that on its face, it's a horrible idea. without getting into your neighborhoods, you getting into our books, us getting into yours, there's no way that this is a good idea. And I'm
well aware to lead with the blunt truth first. But I also believe if you allow me to work with you guys and do the work over the next two years and at least come up with what we could offer, then
we can at least vote on a plan, good or bad, that we know exactly what's in front of us. I would never ask for a penny without thinking that we could give you dollars in exchange. And so with that, I'm going to open up the floor for public comments, but please
know that I'm going to be asking this council once we get through to push this to the 2028 cycle. And even then, we would start this whole process over again. This isn't about us trying to keep anxiety in your guys's back door for two more years. This is a plea in
the ask for me to give me the time to do what I promised this council to do which I had already blundered because we all got day jobs and we all got things going on. So again, I can't wait to hear everyone's comments. Um we are well aware of all the emails. Thank you.
Sometimes this council even asks why isn't there more public participation? You guys got enough public participation now? So please just know I'm up here trying to visually show that this is an ask as your neighbor not as government.
I'm going to go back to the dis and play the government role. But I'm asking you to give us two more years to see if there's even an option of benefit. And if not, let's all vote no and know that we now understand what each and every one of need and we can find other ways
to make that happen. There's multiple levels of government. We're all under Okaloosa County. there's other constituents that we can go and help each other with collectively, but there's also a benefit of being a part of the city that I believe I've learned over the past four years. And I want to
share that with you guys and see if the cost outweigh the benefit or vice versa. Again, this is not a personal project. It's just we all got into these roles because we want to help our community. At least that's exactly what I did. And there's no benefit in bringing up hard
conversations. This probably hurts if I wanted to climb the political ladder. I'm probably targeted now as the as the kid who wanted to raise your taxes. I don't really care about my political future because quite frankly before this job I wanted to be a band director. I
had no problem not being in politics. But the reality is I just want you guys to know we mess up, but all government messes up. But what I can promise you and what this board I've seen through this board, I'm not a voter, is that when we do mess up, we listen, we pivot,
and we change. When people have ideas, we listen, we budget, and we fix. And with all of these people here tonight, you are my neighbors. You are destinites, whether the government lines in the sand or not. And we are community operators. We're business owners. And
without you guys, we're not destined. This is just an invitation to start a conversation. And with that, I'll put this mic down and get you guys to come up. And I would love to hear you guys' opinions, perspectives, and things that we need to work on. But just know that I'm going to be begging and I I hope
they go with me here to push this so that we can actually have an earnest conversation and see if there's even benefits to be voted on. So, with that, thank you all so much for your time. Thank you for showing up in numbers. Sometimes it's it's very easy to think that people have given up on government
because the federal, the state, the city, and the county give us reasons every day to give up on government. But while some people might see this is a crowd and this is scary and all that, I see that that there is still hope in democracy, that the people still care about where they live and their wallet,
their community, and their neighbors still mean something to each other. So, I just appreciate everyone's time. Thank you for being here and I can't wait to hear your opinions and I can't wait if given the opportunity by this council to truly meet you guys where you guys live and see what we can do for you. Not for
the sake of growing government but for the sake of helping our community and our neighbors out. And if we're not the answer, we're all under Okaloosa County. We'll go bang down their door together. So that's all I ask is we're going to be open ears and I hope that you can at least give us the same open ears to see
if this is even a good idea. Like again I get it on the face value. This is a horrible idea. No one's hiding that. So with that I'm going to open up the public comments. We'll start in the front here and we'll go around. We're going to do three minutes. I just need your name and address. Um if you can be
not brief but to the point. Uh I'm sure there's going to be a lot here. I will sit here all night and listen to each and every one of you if we need to. But I can promise one thing. We have heard you loud and clear online, on emails, in person, at the coffee shops, and at my
um fireside chats. So, I believe we understand where you guys are at. But by all means, this is a Republican democracy, Republic democracy. And with that, you have a voice, and we'd love to hear it. Oh, great. >> All right. Name and address and the floor is yours.
>> Mike Wager, 4083, Drifting Sand in uh the unincorporated section of Okaloosa County, just next to the Destin city limits. And let me ask a question. Is it possible to poll the u the council on your
on your what you're going to say as far as putting it out two years. That way we can kind of clear the room and you don't have to listen to everybody since it's not going to matter. >> Yeah. Miss Cop. >> Yeah. >> Because it's a public hearing. There is
about a state statutes that we are governed under. Um, so just if there's anything we can >> we we're required to have a public hearing. Okay? Y'all wouldn't even be able to make your decision without hearing everybody. However, if you want to talk about how you feel about it
first and then give the opportunity for public hearing and maybe less people or more people will want to speak, you can do that. But we will have a public hearing. >> That would be great if you could >> before the decision. >> Yes, I appreciate that. No, and and >> if I get my time back. >> Yeah, absolutely. Of course. Yes. Thank you. No, thank you for that. So, uh,
Councilwoman Abear, >> um, >> how do you feel, not vote? [laughter] >> I feel like the mayor, uh, as well as all of us here on council have gotten enough information from those of you that live in the unincorporated neighborhoods and that your intent was
buying and not being incorporated. You didn't look at it as this is going to be part of the city of Destin. You knew what you were doing when you bought where you bought. Um, I agree with the mayor. We've heard you loud and clear. maybe get more information on the big benefits of what it is for the city as
far as the headcount when we go after big dollars from the state, what the headcount matters versus the 14,000 we have right now is really not a very big number when we go ask for support. Um, but I'm in agreement with the mayor of
probably moving this to two years. >> All right. Anyone else want to jump in? Uh, Councilman Braden. Oh, I'm sorry. No, I just want to say uh real quick that I I agree with the mayor 100% and what he just said.
>> Thank you, sir. Uh go down the last go down the list. Yeah. >> Um I mean I agree with you. I mean you can see this crowd right here. I mean I think waiting two years is a good idea. >> Thank you. All right, Councilman Den. Anything?
>> You can say I told you so. I [laughter] think is what he's going to say. The man of wisdom. The youth didn't listen to the wisdom. I can assure you that. [applause] >> Yeah. I I would never say that to you, Bobby. >> I appreciate. >> Um,
>> but we do this about every 15 years. The results been the same every time. Um, I want to listen to what the public has to say, but as far as saying we're going to do this again in two years, not really in favor of that. And uh because
[applause] [applause] mainly because anytime four members on this council want to go forward with this again, they can do that in two years and 10 years in two weeks. So setting it off arbitrarily to two years without
um saying that you know the council's in favor in two years. Also, you know, there's a a silly state law that says you can't tie the hands of a future council and tell them what they shall do. >> I would think we would run a file of that. So, we will get to that debate
after we've heard what the folks have to say, but I would point out that the two-year council can bring it up anytime they want. >> Perfect. All right. Thank you, sir. >> I'm willing to listen, but I happen to side with Mr. Destin. We were here when we did this before and it didn't go
anywhere. So, um, the one thing I would like for you to say is instead of no, what can you do to help us? Because Miss Abear's correct, every time we go for a grant, we only have 14 people in our
city. We're chopped up 14,000. We're chopped up >> 14,000,000. [laughter] We chopped up. We chopped up all over the place. We get comments, believe it or not, from your communities. What happened when the helicopter pad
went in? I mean, this room was full and we had to say, "I'm sorry, we can't do anything about it. >> Don't have enough people. >> We we don't." So, those kinds of things we need to start looking at as a big community, not just just your
neighborhood, my neighborhood, somebody else's neighborhood. As a big community, it affects every one of us. and those kinds of things we need to work on and and I'm not opposed to working on that with you and I'd like to hear those kinds of comments as well as
the no annexation comment. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you for that, Councilman Morgan. >> Uh thank you, Mayor. Um yeah, I just uh was put up here about 3 months ago. So, um I was unaware that the mayor had
[laughter] done this, but um y'all are very good at emailing. Uh good job there. Uh I I want to support it tonight. I I don't think I would support it in two years. Um mayor, I do commend you for getting up here and addressing these folks. I think you did a good job.
And if you want to talk to these people um about solutions, that's your prerogative. But I I don't support it tonight, and I don't think I'll support it in two years. >> All right. Thank you. And with that, you guys can make up your own tally in your head if you're keeping up with that. But with that, we'll uh open the floor if you want to start back up. Thank you,
sir. No need for no need for name and address, but the floor is yours. >> Thank you. >> Oh, just hit that gray button. I'm sorry. Yep. Pass. >> All right. Thank you. Just a couple of comments. Uh I've been uh dealing with
this uh for a while. Y'all may have seen this folder come across your emails. And uh I'd like to say that everybody I've everybody I've worked with at at the city on the staff have been real friendly. They've been open. Anything I've asked them, they they've helped me with.
And commissioners, I've talked to some of them individually and they've been helpful, too. the um without going into a lot of details about what was done done wrong about this. Uh you guys have got got it on the emails. You can read it. I don't need to go in it go through
it and beat anybody up. The one thing I would say is to with Councilman uh Dewey Destin's ideal. I had the same idea as in instead of extending it to table it to make a motion to table it and let's
be done with it because it you know and then like I said I'm I'm willing to help you you know come to the neighborhoods and then let's start over and start over from scratch that way you don't have any of this baggage you know that that's on
there. Okay. I'm short. >> Thank you sir. >> Thank you. >> All right. Anyone else in the front row? I'll just kind of grow back, please. That just hit that gray B button on the uh middle. Name and address. >> Nancy Brookke, 497 Regata Bay Boulevard
in Riata Bay. Uh I just wanted a point of clarification. When I heard um Miss Cop read the resolution or ordinance, I heard a word that jumped out at me and I didn't I didn't want to know what it
meant. I heard involuntary annexation. Could you talk to us about that, please? Would you like me to answer? >> You're the lawyer. >> I have to answer the council. Uh, so there's two types of annexations in Florida statutes. There's a voluntary procedure where the public petitions the
city and then there's this other procedure that we were talking about which they call involuntary as compared to the petition procedure but in reality it's not entirely involuntary because it does require a referendum vote and so it is majority rules. However, I guess if
you're on the side of the m minority the side um if you don't want to be annexed and the majority votes to be annexed in, it would be involuntary for you. But would that majority be within Riata Bay and Kelly for instance or I mean you're Dustin is always going to have the
majority over >> I understand your question. It's a majority of the people being annexed in. So in this case since the city did it as one whole group of properties all 2,000 plus acres would either be in or out. If
the city had done separate annexation votes for different neighborhoods, then it could have been neighborhood by neighborhood, but the city did not do it that way for this one. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for being here. Right. Anyone else? >> All right. Yes, sir. Yep.
>> It's that gray button in the middle >> in that face. Yep. name and address and the floor is yours. >> I'm Duke Elias. I am at 227 Diamond Cove. I'm on the board for Diamond Cove or Diamond uh Lake. Um and the one thing I you know I I loved hearing the fact
that y'all were talking about putting this off for a couple of years so we can try to work some things out. My biggest concern is is if you look around this room, you'll see there's a lot of retired people in here. Uh some of them are more well off than others. We're already dealing with HOAs. So what we
have to try to figure out is how if you annex us, how can that annex, what can you offer to help us lower those HOAs to help offset some of those destined taxes that we're going to have to end up paying. All right. So that's my biggest
concern and I hope that y'all will end up pushing this off so we can try to all work together to try to figure out how if you want to ask. I understand the idea of having the large amount, the larger city to be able to get the grants, but the idea is how do we also
protect those that are on on fixed incomes. >> All right. Awesome. Thank you. >> Thank you. That was great. All right. Yes, sir. >> Um, good evening. I'm uh Charles Riggden, 300 Steelwater Cove, and I'm a 28-year resident of Kelly Plantation,
and I'm currently the president of the Kelly Plantation Owners Association. And I'm here to I'm here today on behalf of our board of directors and a m and a majority of our homeowners of Kelly Plantation to respectfully state that our community has no interest in being
annexed into the city of Dustin. We are self-sufficient neighborhood governed by our own recorded declaration of covenants and restrictions and our homeowners association provides and maintains assets in our community as
it has for the last 30 years. Our residents chose Kelly Plantation precisely because of the privacy, the high standards, and the community control that our HOA delivers. The services we receive from the county
desk mortar users, the Destin fire district and Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department combined with the services that we personally fund and manage ourselves through our HOA assets have been entirely satisfactory and annex annexation would not approve our quality
of life. For many of our homeowners, this would translate into hundreds and in most cases thousands of additional dollars in annual property taxes with no clear improvement in
services they already receive or fund privately. Beyond the tax increases, annexation would add another layer of city codes, permits, and enforcements on top of our existing wellestablished HOA architectural guidelines and covenants.
and our community already maintains high standards without the city's intervention. We see no advantage in replacing or duplicating that successful system with additional bureaucracy. And finally, perhaps the most important
to me is in the last 18 months when the city has started this particular issue, no one from the city of Dest has ever contacted Kelly Plantation HOA to discuss the possibility of annexation
and to explain any potential benefits or to hear directly from our board or our residents. There's been no outreach, no dialogue, no opportunity to have a meaningful conversation before this process
advances to a public hearing. So, in closing, on behalf of Kelly Plantation HOA, we'd like to stay exactly how we are and we have no desire to change. Thank you, >> President Rigdon. [applause]
[applause] >> [applause] >> Or should I say Mayor is it mayor? >> It sounds like Mayor Rigdon with that clapping. >> Yeah. >> Uh [applause] I hear you and every point you brought up is valid. The only thing I want to
push back on is on February 27th of 2024, we emailed each other where you said you wanted nothing. You didn't want to hear me out. You didn't want to meet. So, the only thing I will push back on is I tried to reach out to you. I tried to have a conversation. I would have
loved to meet your board in 2024. >> Everything else 100% false. Uh, true. Thank you, sir. >> The same. >> All right. Anyone else? [clears throat] [laughter] Do I need to push the button or is it >> It's already on, ma'am. >> Okay. I'm Carolyn Deetsson and I live at
4307 Breakwater Drive. >> Can you push this thing moves? Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. How's this? >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Okay. I'm Carolyn Deedson. I live at 4307 Breakwater Drive. And the one thing
I have not heard addressed is how uh well the uh Florida Constitution as I read it will allow uh homeowners or property owners with um 160 acres
um to have a homestead exemption. Okay. Once it becomes that property becomes a municipality by annexation uh the property owners will be limited in their homestead exemption to half an acre. I happen to
own a large piece of property in uh Kelly Plantation and so it's my understanding under the Constitution Florida that my homestead exemption rights will be limited and I'm not a Florida lawyer. So I'm just reading what
I read on the Sunshine um website and so I thought that was an important issue for y'all to address if you come to talk to us. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Meredith Bush. My address 314 South Balin Street,
Pensacola, Florida 32502. I'm here representing uh Kelly Plantation Owners Association. I know you've just heard from our president or the the group's president. However, I'm here um as legal counsel. We recently sent you um a relatively lengthy report
outlining all of the statutory problems with this attempt. Um it's our position that it would be inappropriate to bring this back in two years for many reasons. Um so we would be asking that the council completely withdraw the ordinance, take no further action or
advance this in any way and no action at this point in time to reschedu. If the city wants to build relationships with the community, build the relationships. You know, because you took an action two years ago, that's why you're here now with two years of no communication with the neighborhood. Um, in this, you know,
um, effort, the city has fallen woefully short of meeting the statutory requirements. Your own documents, not even the acreage, stay the same. You've got a character study with 2100 acres, feasibility study with 283, the
ordinance with 2076 with a a 2.12 margin uh to meet a statutory requirement. Um, as of July, your own city attorney was asking the supervisor of elections how to identify the non-elector owners to meet a 70% rule. Yet here you are, your
citizens are out here having to take their time, their effort, their en energy and learning that you've done nothing or at least fel fallen woefully short of doing anything to inform them of the action to participate to transparently act before bringing them into your community. I don't live in
Dest. I love coming over to Dest. It's a beautiful area, beautiful group of people. However, the law applies in Destin in in the county. Um, and so on behalf of the community, we would ask that you, you know, drop this. Um, one
thing I would note is the idea that you would expend public funds to offset private costs or benefits or HOA fees. Again, that's something you need to ask your city attorney as to whether or not that's even allowed. Public funds for public purpose. Um, true engagement with
the community. And, um, you know, if you do bring this back, bring it back brand new. setting this, you know, saying today that two years from now you're going to come back is completely inappropriate. I agree with Mr. Destin's um recitation of the law. You can't bind a future board. You can't tell that
board in two years what they should do. And so the idea that you're going to decide today to do anything other than completely dismiss this, drop it. If you want to continue your, you know, your investigation, your relationship building, we welcome it. However, um anything more than that, uh I think
you'll you'll face challenges uh not only here publicly but in a court of law. >> Awesome. Thank you. [applause] >> Hello, John Love 267 Champion Court in Kelly Plantation. Uh, mayor and council, in a time when Governor DeSantis is
trying to reduce our property taxes, uh, you're trying to hit us with an involuntary annexation, which maybe is being deferred, maybe kicked down in the future, uh, that will result in a fairly substantial increase. And let's talk about the numbers because at this point,
the arithmetic just doesn't work for anybody that I know. If your home is a $750,000 assessed home with homestead exemption, your rates will go up if we pay the same tax rate as desk everybody else in Destiny by about $900 a year. On a
million-doll house, that's $1,300 a year. On a $ 1.5 million house, that's almost $2,000 a year. And on a $2.5 million house, that's over $3,000 a year. Uh, I'm sorry that it doesn't add
up for a a boat ramp and some parking passes. Love the Christmas parade. Love the destined sign. Love being part of the community, but the arithmetic just flat doesn't work. Uh, and mayor, the using the term pay your fair share, I
don't which I think I've seen in some of your comments. uh don't don't well it certainly doesn't work because it's not you're asking us to pay your bills for your infrastructure for your future development plans etc. So, uh, I
resoundingly say no thank you. Uh, in, uh, PL in Kelly Plantation, you won't be paving our roads. You won't be mowing our grass in our common areas. You won't be maintaining the recreational equipment, the pools, etc., which we already manage. Uh, uh, but we will be
subject to the destined permitting uh, regime, uh, inspections, and, uh, we'll be we'll be able to uh, engage with your code compliance people. Again, no thank you. Uh bigger government never, in my
experience, leads to lower taxes or a better service level for the community. Uh it's just more bureaucracy, more red tape and assessments. Thank you for your time. Uh I hope we never have to go through this hearing again.
Thank you, sir. [applause] >> [applause] [laughter] >> I had it on. Sorry about that. Kevin Kennedy, 214 Bayinds Drive, Destin. That be the Emerald Bay community or the Okaloosa part of the Emerald Bay
community. [laughter] little wacky out there, but um you know, I I agree with what every one of my other HOA folks have said here. By the way, I'm the president of the Bay Winds HOA, of which there's three in
Emerald Bay. You guys figure it out. We never did. Um, but I also agree with whoever said it before about the fact that, and I have to disagree a little bit with
my other buddies here, it's not all about money. Um, yeah, he's absolutely right. You look at it on paper, it doesn't add up. Um,
but that's why we need to talk to you. We need to sit down. We need to understand not just the money. We got the money figured out. It don't work. >> It's never going to work. >> Quick question. Destined taxes. Does that take care of
garbage pickup in the taxes or does that work? >> No. No. We We share. Wait. >> So then it definitely doesn't work. I was I was going to give you a little plug. I was going to give a quarter. >> It doesn't work. >> But what does work is 1,500 more people
into the voice of Destin Tallahassee. >> So that's where you guys got to put that pitch together. >> Yeah. >> Of what's in it for all of us, not just what's in it for us,
>> you know? Um, we got the there's nothing in it for us part figured out. You guys got to come sell us in how does it help Destin which ultimately helps us. >> Absolutely. >> That's all I [clears throat] wanted to say. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you.
[applause] >> Don't go far. Just hit that gray button. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Hi, Patty Scholard, 443 Captain Circle, Reata Bay. >> I wanted to say just a few things that other people haven't [clears throat] yet said. Um, number one, I agree with Mr.
Destin about not waiting two years. All that's going to do is give all of us a chance to sell our houses in the next two years. Um because we moved from another county, you can imagine what county that was that was overseeing way too much. And
the reason we moved to Okaloosa was for the freedom and the liberties in a private neighborhood that we have without being code complianced to death and cops. Don't get me wrong, I am the biggest
blue person in the world, but we don't want them hiding in our neighborhoods, which is what they were doing in the other counties. Um, so that's that's one thing I was going to say. The other thing I was going to back up the person that said, "This room is full of a lot of retirees,
including myself. >> We don't have an extra $2,000 sitting around um to to give to Destin." And but the main point is all of these building and use fee examples. Right
now, if we want to remodel our home, we pay for the remodeling of our home. We're going to pay a portion of a fee to Destin to remodel our home, to take out a tree, to clear some land, to put in an alarm system. Um, but the biggest thing
is re- roofing a house. So, for example, my size house would cost $100,000 and I would be paying Destin almost $9,000 for the privilege of re- roofing my house. [clears throat] We don't have that kind of money. And I don't want to
speak for everyone else, but a lot of other retirees on fixed income don't have that extra $9,000. We can barely put a roof on with our fixed income. We have to budget for that. So, I was going to ask you, are people already paying that currently?
Okay. And the second point is setbacks. This is huge. A lot of people in Riata Bay do not meet the setback requirements for Destin. We're grandfathered in unless it's a national disaster like a hurricane, which we're about to experience this week.
It c we cannot rebuild on our current setbacks. If there's a natur national national natural disaster like a hurricane, we can rebuild if something happens to our property like a fire. But if a hurricane comes and wipes out our
house, our pool or anything, we go from a 10-ft setback to a 25 foot setback. We would have to walk away from our home as would a lot of other people. And especially in Riata Bay, there's houses already positioned on that 25 foot
setback. and I would like your thoughts on that too. >> Thank you. For right now and in the respect of everyone, I would I I'm happy to email you and we can get the planning involved, but I I don't want to create a back and forth dialogue and and turn this into a big So, I'm not not
answering your question. Uh if you actually if you can get with uh Dr. Tamara Young right there, um I'd love to get your number, your email, whatever, and we would absolutely answer anything that we can answer for you. >> Can you just answer on the setbacks? Is that true about the national >> would we be able to create a zone over
them that's not set I mean it gets it gets very detailed very quickly and I would hate to give you a wrong answer or a good answer >> if that's a if that's set in stone or something that can be discussed. >> Yeah, >> it is something that could be discussed if you actually were annexed.
>> Yeah, >> but it doesn't sound like it's headed that way. >> My only other question is are is everyone in the city of Dustin already repaying already paying all these fees? Yes. If there fees in the schedule. Yes, ma'am. >> So, if they have a tree taken out, they
pay the city of Destin to have that. >> If it's large enough, if it's a a large tree. Yes, ma'am. >> Because I have the whole list of everything >> and I will answer each and every one of them and I can talk after with you. >> Thank you very much. >> Yes, ma'am. All right. >> Hi. Thank you. My name is Daniel
Frankfurt. I live at 336 Kelly Plantation Drive. I also own a property in Reata Bay. Own some [clears throat] businesses here in the city of Dest. Um, coming here, I was going to ask you guys to to table this. I thought that giving us more time would be appropriate. Um, I'm an attorney by
training. I've been trying to do my due diligence to try to figure out if this in fact benefits me as a citizen or not. I attended a um a meeting with the mayor where he had a county a little fireside um talk. I've been going reading the literature sent out by Riata Bay and
Kelly Plantation and trying to make my own decisions on what I think is best for the community. Um, one thing that I do really believe is that I don't like being on the sideline here in uh in Kelly Plantation as far as what goes on in the city of Dest. I don't like not
having a a voice in what happens in our city. And I think that the idea that we get nothing in exchange for this tax is overlooks a fundamental value that we have here in the United States and the right to vote and for our
ability to vote in what happens here in Destin I think is very important. I also think that the ability for us to participate in government is very important. When I first moved here in 2008, I was on this park and recreation committee with Lance Johnson and moved my way up to vice president. And when I
moved to Reata Bay, I was kicked off the committee because I was an unincorporated Destin. So you say, what can we do different? Um if this can't uh work and there's not a way for us to be a part um of the city, if there's maybe a way to get us involved in government
through volunteerism so that we can be a part of various committees because we care about the city of Destin. And you know, I think that Kelly Plantation, Riata Bay, a great community. We have a lot of great and successful people. We have retired doctors, Fortune 500
company. And no disrespect to all of you, but imagine the the pool of people that we can choose from to now sit and and and and help the future of of Destin. These people who are here who are so passionate about their their
homes, they can be passionate about our community. can draw from from their experience and their business leadership to make us a better community. So I think some of those things are significantly overlooked in what in fact we can get uh by being a part of the
city. I also believe that currently our tax money is going to the county and what I see is that the county doesn't care about us in unincorporated Destin. They allow um new hotels to be developed right on
Diane Warful with a pool right hundreds of of yards away from a middle school. Who knows what type of creeps are going to be over there. We have other um hotels that are being built. With the city's um planning, we can try to avoid
those type of situations and create a a city that really is for everybody. Last point, zeroed out. The last point is, you know, in the fireside talk, I I did hear a lot about what this could mean for the future of
Destin. And Destin's been around for 42 years. And I plan on having grandkids here, like many of these people here have grandkids. And you know, the money that we can generate through additional revenue and through help from the the federal government can be astronomical.
And the numbers that I've heard of about $2.4 4 million in taxes from these communities, $800,000 from the federal government, and then a multiplier of 4.8 brings about $17 million to this city every year over 50 years. That's half a
billion dollars that they can use to improve the city of Destin. And I understand people are passionate about living here now, but we have to think about future generations. And if there's a way that we can make this work, I would like to work with you guys to be
involved in the local government and see what we can do to makes the city of Destin the best place to live in. Thank you guys. Thank you, sir. Right. [applause] Anyone else? Oh, there we go. >> Good evening. I'm Ashley Rogers. I'm an attorney at Dunlap and Shipman. And just
for the record, I want to let you know on whose behalf I'm here today, Commons Village East Limited, Common Village West Limited, Destin Commons Limited, Destin Commons Arts and Entertainment Association, Inc., Destin Commons Phase
3 LP, Destin SCES Hotel LP, and Rack Road System Association, Inc. Obviously, this meeting has taken a huge turn that some of us didn't expect. So, I just want you to know um that we also have
very serious concerns about the feasibility study and statutory compliance of what has been proposed. I'm not sure of the procedural mechanism, but uh we'd like to see that you also withdraw, terminate, vote
against whatever the proper mechanism is to stop this now and not proceed. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, M. [applause] Anyone else? What do you think, grandson? >> Say that again.
>> I'm an old guy. [laughter] >> Uh, I really want to talk to the people in this room. Can you hear me? As well as you people. uh because it's going to be decided by a vote. But I've heard a lot of things
that are kind of misleading being stated and uh one of them is uh that you can regulate HOA fees and bring them down. You can't because statute 720 of Florida
does that and you cannot override that. And uh I don't that that just can't happen in my unlawyerly opinion. Uh I'm wondering
uh I'm obviously not for this. This is one of the the the worst ideas I've heard and I've heard some bad ones. Hey, Mike. [laughter] Mike and I did a lot of work at the county. They're actually very good to
work with and u we didn't always get the outcome we wanted. But uh in any any event um I don't know why this would benefit uh Bob Shelton at 224 Kousa Boulevard which I failed to to
mention. Uh I don't know what uh the infrastructure for the water system will be. Will it be Destin water users or will be still be count uh Walton County? So, what I'm saying is uh we're doing
just fine and we have quiet neighborhoods. The neighborhood decides what the fees will be by electing the board who makes the budget. So, the people get to do that. The city doesn't
do that even inside the city. I mean, you don't have that power. And we we elect they make a budget and that sets the fees. Now, they can be voted out and they can be pushed back on and they can be held
accountable for money that they spend that is not in the budget. So, I think this is a scare tactic to people uh that you're going to all of a sudden get rid of HOA fees and property taxes.
And uh that's that's about all there is to say about it. I like you guy. You make a good speech [laughter] from the heart. It might be a bad idea, but it was a it was an idea. Well, I I
couldn't find anything wrong with you, and I don't find anything wrong with uh not expanding or bringing me into the city. I see no benefit to me. And I uh I would say that if you think it through,
[applause] there's no benefit. >> I You can address them. I just need you closer to the mic. >> There's no benefit, >> sir. Sir. Oh, okay. Thank you. >> Thank [applause] you. All right.
>> Yes, sir. >> Oh, come on. We got three more hours. Where you guys going? [laughter] >> My name's David Long and I live at 282 Corinthian Place um in Dustin. That's in Reata Bay. Um the mayor here kind of
blew up everything I wrote, so I'm just going to make a few comments. Prior to moving uh prior to moving to Florida, I spent eight years as a school director elected and during that time we shut down three
elementary schools, consolidated and raise taxes 30% and I'm still alive. Um I was also on a municipal authority where we had whatever we need to do to uh fund the water and sewer systems. The
thing it's missing here and I when I was reading through because the comment was made by Mr. Dest at the meeting where it was tabled we need to start we need to do an outreach program. Okay. Whatever you do, you do
need to do an outreach program. Okay. Um the last thing I would add is uh I'm the creator and administrator of the regata proud Facebook group. 383
people in that group and they must own property within regata bay. I will be glad to assist you and the council in disseminating information
getting opinions through surveys uh because we need knowledge. So I guess what I'm saying is whatever you do we still do need to do outreach and the gentleman said we got great people in Bay.
We can't get engaged. It's we're like in a little bubble. So, there's a lot of things where people could add value and thank you. >> Thank you, sir. All right. Anyone else?
>> No one else. >> All right. Make sure we don't lose anyone. Good evening. Uh Vincent Asperante, 459 Captain Circle, Reata Bay. I am a newbie. I am here eight weeks.
>> Welcome. [laughter] >> I've had enough anxiety moving from the north where my values did not match, which is why I left. >> Wow. And I've known that since sixth grade when they actually used to teach American history and other fun
fundamental things that we all need to know to make appropriate decisions as adults. [snorts] I've worked very hard in my career to get where I am to be able to afford to live here. And one thing I'm able to do very quickly and what my job entails is
sizing up people within a matter of 30 seconds to know if they'll fit my organization. I could tell you this in my newbie experience here does not fit Riata Bay, Kelly Plantation, or any of the other private communities in the
area to become annexed involuntarily into the city of Dest. So, I am opposed to it. I'd love to meet with you and hear you out. You do have some charisma, so you probably have more of a future in politics than you think. I don't think tonight, >> but
well, if you make the right decision, [laughter] uh, and just dropping this this nonsense, just leave us be. That's all I want to say. [applause] >> All right. Anyone else? >> Yes, sir. I didn't want to speak prematurely. My
name is Mike Shatz. Uh I reside at 1193 Mob Bay Drive here in Destin. I've been a resident of the area where I live now uh for going on 14 years. [clears throat] I was at your fireside chat and I
appreciated the time that you spent with us trying to explain and I think your overall reason for doing this is very altruistic and I and I think that's wonderful. Uh,
but I do see this and as I told you that I thought it was gravely uh [snorts] putting the card before the horse because all of the different HOAs have [clears throat] their inherent issues and problems that they deal with
on an individual basis, most of which they do a pretty good job at. uh there are some things that are needed that perhaps the city could help with. However,
I think going about this manner of a gross amount of territory being annexed under one proposal is a mistake. And I think as I told you, you need to go and understand with the individual HOAs,
what their positive aspects are and where there are areas that perhaps the city might be able to provide some relief. If you did that and had a resolution that would allow for the individual HOAs
to vote because some of the HOAs may not be all that effective and we've seen things in the news about overreach by HOAs and problems where HOAs have dissolved. This would perhaps allow you to annex on
an individual area basis without incorporating all of the HOAs because once you're annexed, you're annexed. You can't get out. So, I didn't want this to be a situation of kind of taxation
without representation. And that's exactly what it would be if my community, for example, where I'm in Emerald Bay, we decided we didn't want this, but two or three other HOA
neighborhoods decided to, we would be locked in. So, I just think that would take care of that. I think that it needs to be rewritten in such a fashion that each of the individual areas when you approach this hopefully not for a while
until the factf finding is in for what you guys can provide the individual areas you care to annex. Then it should be a proposal to allow those individuals as their own collective groups to vote on whether or not they want to be part
of the city. That's all I have to say. Thank you, sir. [applause] Great idea. All right. Anyone else? All right. Seeing none, last call. >> All right. With that, I will entertain a
motion for the floor. >> I make a recommendation we cancel this option of annexation. >> Right. Do I have a motion? I have a motion. >> Make a motion. [applause] I was going to move that the city
council table the proposed annexation ordinance 2620-LC. Period. >> I'll second that. >> All right. I have a motion and second to table. Uh my only discussion would be I've heard you all and actually a lot of you have wonderful ideas that I wish I
had the time to hear a year ago on this. So with that with a table, would that bar the staff from after I go? Because regardless when when it seems like this dies, I still want to make a promise to you guys that I still want to hear you guys out regardless if we're moving
forward or not because I genuinely believe we're all on this sandbar together. Put government aside. I'll leave out the exploive, but screw government. Like we can still work together either way. So with tableabling still be okay for me to work and hear
them out on an individual basis? >> No, not unless council explicitly gives the city manager that authority. >> Not in an official capacity. >> Turn on your >> not in an official capacity. But as Bobby Wagner, mayor, you can talk to anybody you want to.
>> Okay. No, because I still want to I still want to even with this done, I still want to fulfill the obligation. >> You have a you have a comment on that. That is a fine line. >> I I don't want Bobby to We've had issues before where if the mayor goes out and
does something against the vote of a council, it it's not always the best thing. So, I think it would be better if council gave the city manager authority or not for staff to keep working on it and make it clear because with a table, nobody's going to be working on anything unless council tells the city manager
that that's okay >> and and that would be I take the direction the motion is in. >> Okay. Okay. >> Y >> All right, then I will pursue this in a personal capacity of going on a listening campaign. >> We're not clear. Can you can you um is
staff to work on it or not work on it? >> The motion is the motion was to table it which means staff if it passes staff doesn't do anything. >> Exactly. As long as it's on the table. Thank you. >> Yeah. And with staff not working on it, it would just be me going out and and talking to them and hearing them out.
That's all good. >> Yeah, that's where that's where the motion's at. as as long Bobby I think the key is that you >> guys I give you guys plenty of respect but I will be stern there is a decorum about this thank you >> I think the key to it is you don't
advocate a position >> okay no I just wanted to respect this council and work truly within the bounds without overstepping because we are a team and I do care about listening to them >> a listening campaign only Bob >> I hear you loud and clear all right any
other discussions >> there is no discussion table. >> Oh, good call. That's right. All right, we'll call the vote. >> All right, eyes have it unanimously. So moved. >> Have a good night. >> Thank you all for being here. Thank you for listening. [applause]
>> Thank you. >> Where's happy hour? >> Yeah. All right, everyone's left with the people that are inside the city, right? City folks. All right, good deal. All right, we will move on. [laughter]
All right, city manager report. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. Um item 5 A is establishing the FY 27 tenative milit rate and budget public hearing dates. Uh your finance
department has received the certified 2026 taxable values which increased by 1.37% over the last year. Uh staff recommends setting the tenative millage rate at 1.615 615
which is slightly above the roll back rate of 1.6044 for a 66% increase. This will support the inflationary operating cost infrastructure renewal capital improvements and plan service levels for
the FY27 budget. that what we're asking tonight is to set the uh tenative miller rate and include the budget hearings of September 8th of 2026 at 6 p.m. and the final budget hearing of September 21st,
2026 at 6 p.m. And then at your discretion, uh your budget calendar included a uh optional workshop on Monday, August the 10th at 5:30 p.m. there's a desire to continue with that. Uh there's a couple things that we will
address with you probably at the last meeting in August. Um so we we don't have anything new to present to you. But if if that's something the council would like to do, just include that to either move forward with that or to council cancel that meeting on August the 10th.
>> All right. Thank you, sir. With that, I'll entertain a motion. >> I'll go make it. I move the council set the tended millage rate for ad valorum taxes at 1.615 mills which is uh 66% more than the roll back rate of 1.6044
644 Mills and confirm the date and times of the public hearings for the fiscal year 2027 budget on September 8th, 2026 at 6 p.m. and September 21st, 2026 at 6 p.m. And in addition, do we want to proceed
with the uh I'm going to say um to proceed with the optional budget workshop on Monday, August 12th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. >> All right. Thank you, Councilman Stevens. Uh do I hear a second? >> Second. >> Yep. Councilman Dustin, any further discussion? >> I would just note that that's the same
mill rate we've had for quite a few years. >> Over 10 years now. >> Speaker, say it again. >> I would note that that's the same mill rate we've had for quite a few years. How many? >> Uh over 10 now. >> 10. >> Very good. >> Yeah. The 20 I think exactly 10 now.
2016 2017. >> All right. With that, I see no further discussion. We will call the vote. All right. Eyes have it so moved. >> All right. >> Thank you. Item 5B is regarding the technology fund and recommendation to
change. Um we're staff is recommending reducing the technology fund allocation from 10% to 5% of the applicable permit and licensing fees. Uh the the allocation was originally established to support permitting and development technology improvements. Um but with
increased revenues particularly from short-term rental registrations, we provided sufficient funding to meet current and uh and near future certainly uh technology needs. Um our so our recommendation is that we move
that from 10% back to 5%. uh that five additional 5% will fund the building department and will give it a little more um length of where it stay solvent. We anticipate it running in the red and over the next few years, but this will allow it to um operate in the black for
longer period of time and there's about a million dollars in that technology fund now and both it and our permitting folks believe that's sufficient for at least the short term. >> All right. Thank you, sir. With that, um, is this the pass motion, Councilman
Stevens? I I might have the old one up here. Uh, I'll entertain a motion at this time. I'll look away from the screen. >> Motion. >> I'll make a question. >> Okay. >> Question is,
how much exactly in dollars is this going to transfer over to the uh other area? >> I'm sorry. How much how many dollars is this talking about? From 5% to 10%. We're going to put the 5% over
>> about 100,000 bucks a year. That'll be split between the go back to the general fund and through the uh um building fund. And so they're >> split split in what manner? 50/50 10 20 >> 30. >> Crystal, can you give a little better
definition? It may be a little more in the in the uh general fund than the the building department. >> That that's correct. So, uh, this would, uh, keep about $50,000 a year in the building fund, which, by the way, is supposed to, uh, cover its own costs, but it's it's not quite covering its own
cost right now. And it would put approximately $100,000 a year uh, in the general fund or it would keep it there instead of transferring it out. >> So, the two together how much? >> 150,000. >> Okay. And that's going from 10% to 5%,
right? >> That's correct. Yes sir. >> Substantial amount [clears throat] >> and just for when the fund was established it wasn't 5% that it increased to 10 two or three years later. >> So we'll still have we'll still have the
150 go into the technology the other half of it. Right. >> That's correct. All right with that. >> Yep. >> Second it. I'll second it. >> All right. Any further discussion? All right. Seeing none, we'll call the
vote. >> All right. Eyes have it. So move 6. Next item is 5C and this is um dealing with House Bill 803 uh which was passed by the legislature and actually has been signed by the governor.
It uh says that in the building department we can no longer charge inspection fees based on cost of construction that it has to be a standalone fee and a set amount. So we've calculated that number out and we're uh looking at charging $80 uh per
inspection. Uh, however, not all of our um u current permit fees were calculated that way, but the ones that had the permit fee included in the base permit fee, we're pulling that out so that we're reducing the b per base permit
fees by those dollars. So, um, anything less than $15,000 uh, in construction cost will be a $5 fee and then $80 for each inspection. If it's a simple plumbing or HV's job that needs one inspection, it'll be $5 plus
the $80 inspection fee. Um, it's a net uh revenue neutral. Not looking for increase in any revenue from it at all. So, and permit fees should remain about the same, maybe one or two% up or down. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Traml.
>> I'll make the recommended motion. I move to adopt the resolution 26-06, which changes the fee base for inspections to meet current Florida statute and to reduce the transfers out to the technology fund from 10% of the permit and licensing fees down to 5%.
>> Second, >> Councilman Morgan. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um yeah, the only thing I saw in here on the item report was on the third page
um at the bottom where it it talks about the um basically says the city can engage an outside firm for development review and at their discretion at their discretion and change charge the applicant the
the cost of that plus 10% %. Is that true? >> Yes, that's that's typ that's for development orders like for outside consulting fees for like um traffic >> studies and stuff like that. So, that's always been in there. It's just
>> down in the table. It wasn't clearly stated what it said in the summary above. So, we just added that >> that's a you know standard for building departments to do that. Okay. and and in that line item that says um
administrative fee of 10% not to be I think more than $200. >> Got it. And then one other question and to that lady's point that was talking about the roof permits. How how much would it cost someone in this city to re-roof right now for a $30,000 roof?
What's the fee for that? >> I would have to do a calculation. Um I could do it better off a $15,000. >> Yeah, do 15. I just Yeah, I think I have a permit in right now cuz I just got hopefully they permitted it. We're going to have other issues. >> So, um like right now about a um
uh a roof permit, not counting some of the search charges, but the base fee um would run about um $129. >> And that's includes a $80 inspection fee. >> Well, no, because right now the $80 is
included in that. You see what I'm saying? And so when we change it now, that $15,000 [clears throat] roof permit will be $5 and then a $80 fee. >> Got it. So not bad. >> I think you forgot a couple zeros, but thank you.
>> Yeah, [laughter] did she because I mean Yeah, we're not charging 5 $10,000 for permit fees for a roof. Yeah, I got a new shingled roof and it was all in at 14,750 and that included whatever
permits they're going to deduct from that. >> Yeah. All right. Any other discussion? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> All right. Eyes have it 6. So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Item 5D is
resolution 2616 in support of home rule and city land use authority. Uh the uh resolution you're being asked to consider was directed by the mayor and city council at a previous meeting two or three meetings ago. I think at the
recommendation of the League of Cities that asked the mayor to move this forward, but we're recommending that you approve it. It reaffirms the city's support for municipal home rule uh authority and the ability of local governments to implement their adopted comprehensive plans, land use policies,
zoning regulations and development procedures. The resolution emphasizes the importance of local decisionmaking, respect for community priorities, and collaboration among governmental entities on growth management issues. If you approve this, we will transmit it
to the state and local officials, including the governor, legislative leaders, Oklahoma County leaders, area municipalities, and the Florida League of Cities. >> Oh, and municipalities. All right. Thank you. No, go ahead, >> mayor. I'll make the recommended motion. I move to adopt resolution 20 2026-16
supporting local home rule and land use authorities. >> Second. >> All right. I have a motion and second. Any further discussions? Seeing none. Okay. With that, we'll call a vote. >> All right. Eyes have it. So moved. 6.
Moves unanimously. Dr. Jones. >> Well, Mayor, it's actually me. Uh, [laughter] >> that's okay. That's >> Dr. Jones, your voice got very high. >> Thank you. Um, resolution uh 2621 we talked about at
the special meeting held on July 15th last week uh where the city council voted to initiate the chapter 164 conflict resolution procedures in connection with the existing disputes between Okaloosa County and the city of Dest related to the state acquired land and holiday Isisle in the city of Dest.
Uh state law requires that such initiation is made via passage of a resolution. So, uh, the city manager and myself have prepared this resolution 2621 for your consideration. And I I went over this at, um, the last meeting, but but just for the record again, this
process, if the resolution is passed tonight, um, within 5 days, the city manager and I will uh, provide notice of it and a copy of it to the county and to the state. The county would be the necessary party. The state would have
the opportunity to opt in or not. Um, after that, there would be a 30-day period where the city and the county would meet in what's called the conflict assessment meeting. This would be a public meeting. Um, it can be a meeting
of both governing bodies, but the statute only requires for the first meeting uh the administrators of the city and the county, but again, in in public. Um, so we could work with the county on on how to set those meetings up and and who would actually attend. If the situation is not resolved at that
first public meeting, there would be a second public meeting. This would be within 50 days and it's 50 days of the resolution getting passed and the notice going out, not another 50 days. Uh, so within 50 days, we would have a joint public meeting between the city council
and the board of county commissioners. uh after that if things are not resolved there is a mediation. So again this is not an adversarial process there's no winner and loser it is a negotiation in public and that's what this resolution does. It also puts timelines on. So if
you have any questions uh please let me know. There's another part of this agenda item dealing with the letter to the state but if we could just do the resolution first. >> All right. Thank you Miss Cop. With that Councilman Braden. >> Thank you mayor. Move to authorize the
city manager to execute a detached notice letter to the state, all cabinet members, and FD reps for the direction of the city council on uh July 15, 2026. >> Number one. >> Yep. That was the next one.
But if you want >> I was on resolution 2621, but what you just said would be part two. >> Okay. resolution process provided for the chapter 164 of the Florida statute. >> All right. Thank you. I went with the first motion on that. All right. And I
have >> uh >> Yeah, Councilwoman Avers on on the floor. Um with that, any discussions? >> Come on. >> Yeah, I sort of exhausted myself at the last meeting, but I I agree with
everything uh Mr. Valinin said. Um, I lost the vote. We would need someone from the prevailing side of the vote to to re raise the motion. But to Commissioner Palmer's point in his email, and legally there might indeed be a conflict, but they have not taken a
vote yet. And so, you know, I think what we have in front of us now is if I were to make a motion, and I'm not because I can't because I lost the vote at the last meeting, it would be to um agree to agree to what we discussed at last
meeting, make them place it on the 84 agenda, take a vote. If it doesn't pass, we'll enter the conflict negotiation. If it does pass, get monthly, you know, every at the eight the then
at the 94 meeting get an update from our city attorney and Larry on whether or not it the process is going well. But I think we have it in front of us. If I had to guess, we will if and we go down this route and it looks like we're going to um they'll probably come out of it
with free parking, which is something that they could vote on on 84 anyways, but >> All right. Thank you for that, Councilman Dustin. >> According to our city attorney's latest interpretation of Robert's rules, you don't have to be on the prevailing side,
I believe. Is didn't we get that at one of the meetings? >> That was probably the new addition. >> Yeah. I don't well that that is the interpretation. So Mr. Morgan, you could make the motion. >> Now my question is >> as you go to this unofficial
administrative first meeting in this process if we go forward with the process at that point that offer could be made and we would go straight to the meeting. Give me a a uptick on how that happens.
>> I'm not sure if I understood your question. It is an official meeting. It's publicly noticed with 10 days advance public notice. And what was the question? >> The question was you discussed a meeting that you and the city manager could go to. >> Well, it's a public meeting. Anyone can
go to it. I said the statute requires at a minimum the administrator of the city and the county. So, it' be the city manager and the county administrator. >> Okay. And then there's a one that follows that. If there is no resolution >> that is the uh joint public meeting they
call it >> that's the one >> and that is with the entire city council and entire BCC and y'all would choose the location. >> Okay. So my question is if we authorized you administrators to talk to their administrators and say there's the
council has said that they will grant the parking at that point. It could go straight back to the county commission meeting. Correct. >> Yes. I mean they could do that there and there's nothing in this that stops them
from doing that on August 4th. If if Commissioner Palmer wants to do this on August 4th outside of this resolution, whether we pass it or not, he can put it on the August 4th. >> Let's let's ask him to put it on the August 4th agenda right now. I mean, you don't this doesn't stop anybody from
doing that, >> right? If we had a vote that says we will in fact grant them the the parking as a condition of them. >> That's true. But what we what um >> let me think who went. Council member
Stevens, the city manager, and I each went to the last county commission meeting and um we asked them at Yes, Council Member Traml was there, but us three spoke. You weren't allowed to speak. [laughter] Um [snorts]
um that's a joke. But we each asked the county to make a motion. And what we explained was I understand that the city didn't accept one commissioner's idea, but perhaps if you voted as a board, it could affect
the city's vote. And so we practically begged them to make a motion again. Um, and they didn't. And so that's what I'm saying. There's nothing to stop anybody from doing that. The city doesn't have to vote first. And I want to point out that every single time the county asked
us to do something, this council voted in public. You guys voted on the parking. You increased the parking for Commissioner Palmer at his request. You took it to the BCC after you all voted on what our city engineer prepared and the BCC did not vote on it. And then the
same thing happened with um our request when we presented them with resolution 202605 asking them to allow the city to lease and manage the property. They didn't vote on that either. They didn't even
vote on the shorebirds resolution. So the reason I recommended this was to stop dragging it out and to help the city get a vote of the BCC. If y'all think you don't need this and you can get the vote on August 4th, that would
be great. But this just helps you get everybody in the room together. It is not adversarial. It is to facilitate discussion. So that's the reason that we got to this. Not for adversarial reasons, but because we keep begging for a motion and can't haven't been able to
get one. >> Well, I get that part. the threat of this conflict resolution though they're going to unless they just ignore the state law they're going to have to vote. So under that threat perhaps they would vote voluntarily is the only point I'm making.
All right. >> My my point I think the only way we're going to get Commissioner Palmer's support is through and he sort of told us explicitly it's all parking. Whether that comes out in conflict resolution or it comes from us tonight and we give him
the opportunity to be honest and and prove that he wasn't telling the truth because I do believe that uh Mr. Valadin got a text message from him that said, "I will support this on 84 and put it on the agenda." And I understand that there's plenty of reasons not to trust
the county. I get it and I've said it. I've read the emails. I've gotten to the process, but I think politically what has happened is that one, maybe they they're realizing that they can't commercialize it. And two, I think they've realized just kind of how crazy,
not not in a bad way, but just how um passionate we are about this, not just the council, but the public to where before I was on this board, I didn't even have to talk to I didn't talk to one of y'all up here to know exactly where y'all stood on it because it was so deeply unpopular for the county to
get it and do what they had planned with it. But I do think that I I I I really I truly believe it'll be on their agenda on 84 if we approved what we discussed on Wednesday night and it'll give them a chance to vote. And you know
what? If if they vote on it and then you've got to work out the details with Larry and Kim, I fully trust them to report back to us whether it's being done in good faith or they're still playing games. But if they do that and then we enter conflict resolution, we will be able to really look at the state
and say we've done everything the county's asked of us. Um we have been good actors throughout this process and you know they have and they clearly haven't and it's well documented in emails and in public records requests that they have not negotiated very well
or acted well throughout this whole process. But you know what we have and so it does put us in better eyes with the state and our legislators that are helping to influence those decisions in Tallahassee. And I I think we've got an opportunity to on 84 to get it on their
agenda. I think they will vote to approve it. What they do after that, it's not over. I I you know, do I trust them to follow through with it? No. But if they don't, then I think we have really good standing to say, you know what, like screw off. We've we've tried
really hard and we put our necks out here and we've done everything you've asked and we're giving you a true countywide benefit and and y'all have rejected it and y'all aren't working with us and and I trust them to give us that update. And if we go the other route, I I respect it. I
completely understand where y'all are coming from. I haven't been a part of this board nearly as long throughout this process as y'all have. Um, so I haven't exper experienced, you know, those those workshops and the county commission meetings that y'all have been
at. And so I haven't been as emotionally charged throughout this process. I'm trying to take a step back and thinking the best way for us to get that done. I think it's this path forward if it's one of y'all's, you know, I I respect it and I get it.
>> All right. Thank you [snorts] for that, Councilman Braden. >> Thank you. Um, I think like the city attorney said, we have plenty. We've tried and tried and tried. We have plenty. This just just one more. Um, nothing's going to change.
But it was I I asked a question last time. Is it going to be just that easy? We agree to the parking, they put on their agenda, they pass it, and that's it. And Mr. Destin said, "No, it's not going to be that easy." So, if they do,
if if we pass this tonight and they still put it on their agenda and they pass it, then what what's what's the next move? What's what happens then? I would think that our staff would get with their staff and work out the
details. You know, I mean, Larry or Kim, y'all can speak to it, but you know, >> what would have to happen next, I think, is we'd have to go to the state. And that's another that's the one, I guess, motion that the county did make was to send Commissioner Palmer and one
representative of the city, which ended up being Council Member Dustin, to the state. I don't remember if that was early April or March, but um we're in July. Council member Destin, how'd that meeting go? >> But they they also haven't taken. >> Yeah, that meeting didn't didn't take
place. >> If we if we did this and agreed to the parking and they voted on it and they passed it, the county passed it, then we still have to go to the state. they have to go to the state with us or whatever
to finish it out. So, um I'm just curious, Chadam, is it just your gut telling you that, you know, they're going to pass it or >> it's just something you'd really like to to see if they would do it? >> One, yeah, I'd like to give one more chance,
>> kind of bait them and see if they'll actually vote on it, you know, because to Kim's point, you know, they've been putting off going to the state with Dwey. Um, but no, I do think so. I mean, I think commissioners Cox and Katchel have kind of illustrated their support
for the city and I feel like he wouldn't present this deal if he himself didn't support it, which gives you three votes. Um, you'll see how the other two commissioners would vote on it. I It would be interesting. It would take we
are two weeks from today basically um to get that vote. And then you know one thing I would worry is through the conflict resolution is you know if we can agree to this deal we go to the state and they work it out and they give
us a the state gives us the property I think that's uh preferable to the county getting the lease of the property then signing an interlocal and having it over us kind of like Nora Point now where we saw that email where Commissioner Mixon
was fishing for have we violated any statutes because clearly the intent of that email was for them to get control of Nora Point2 and so I would like for us just to assume the lease straight from the state I think we've got a better shot at doing it this way um with
without the interlocal but again do I think they'll be good partners in it they haven't illustrated that they would be to this point but we would have a really much better grounds for like it would be a true conflict at that point like in good faith, we've sent an offer that you sent us and we agreed to it
fully. They vote yes on it and then, you know, if you'all want to put time constraints on it, that's fine. Um, but yeah, I mean, I guess it's my gut. I guess, you know, I ju I want to operate in good faith throughout the process. So, if it all
and I don't want to see it be a chain link fence for years, you know, I want something done with it. that I mean we we've given them the council the staff whatever city's given them I guess a year maybe more um and we've in my opinion have went
backwards if anything so how much more time are you thinking or or you want to put a time frame on it >> I think one of the other things that's a concern council member Morgan is the request for the AGO because in all this
time that we're also trying to negotiate with them. Commissioner Palmer went and asked the AGO if he could ignore our land use rules basically and if he had to listen to Holiday Isles rules, too. So, it's just a little bit concerning to
not um kind of get it in the lane. I I I see your point about the parking. I'm not Whatever you all want to do is fine. I just want to make sure since you are just getting back on the council that you know that history that we were working with them and council member
Destin and Commissioner Palmer were going to the state and then now we got let's not do anything until the AGO says we don't have to follow your land use. Keep in mind also Larry and I went to D and met at this council's direction and
said what do you all want us to do and they said the lease is already with the county. The only reason the county probably hasn't signed it yet is because they haven't agreed on the terms and what we saw on the red line. What I can't speak for the county, but it
appeared to me in my opinion that the holdup was our land use regulations because D told them they had to follow them. And so I I just want to make sure you are aware of that. And it's not emotional. It's fact. This is the facts. >> This is the history and there's zero
emotion to it. >> Sure. So, whatever you all want to do, I just want to make sure you remember how we got here. >> No. And I but the AGO opinion is just an opinion, you know, and but also I mean, we're still waiting to hear back on the AGO opinion. And I think if we agree to
this, he's committed to putting it on the agenda on A4. And if he doesn't, I mean, that's a terrible look. Um, but then they can have an affirmative vote to accept the deal. And then if the AGO opinion comes back, you know, saying,
"Yeah, you can violate our home rule and you can build whatever you want." We at least have that to stand on, you know, if we litigate or, you know, if if it goes south. But I I think this is more expedient to get an answer from the county because I do think through the
conflict resolution, if we want this park, we're probably going to have to give up something. I think it's probably parking. It could come out in conflict resolution. Maybe if there's a road map, a legal road map forward in which we don't have to give up parking and we can get control of this park. I'm all for
it. I just haven't heard it articulated. >> All right. Council Brady, anything else? All right. Thank you, sir. Uh Councilwoman Abear. >> Thanks, Mayor. [clears throat] I get where you're coming from, Chadam, but with all due respect, we've been at this for 12 months. And fortunately for
you, you've only had to be up here for three months. And we have been at board meetings that they have, not they, because Miss Cox and Miss Ketchel have not, but the other three have literally ignored us. We've sat there and asked
for comment. They will bring things up after public comment is over. And I just feel like we've spent months trying to make this work. We want our Norya Point to be the full area. We want our
families that live over on Holiday Isle to get the best end result, and that is no commercialization. And I feel like the longer we put this off, two weeks from now, I mean, he could waffle around. I just I just feel like his heart's not in it for us.
They're trying to see how they can get away with doing what they want to do in the beginning and carry it through. So, I just don't have a lot of faith in his word. >> Councilwoman Traml, >> uh, I'll just reiterate what happened at
the county commission meeting was um, uh, the what is it? The president of the commission, the head of chair chair of the commission >> said that uh, there wasn't anything to vote on. So, he wasn't planning on voting on anything. So, that kind of
threw me for a loop. But, I will tell you that with our opening at Tarpon and um the League of Cities dinners I went to and and Miss Cox was there, having spoken to both of them,
they don't want 100% free parking. They don't think that the county has a right to go in and tell the city in your municipal parking lots that you don't have to charge anything. We agreed on the beach. They thought that was enough.
So, that kind of made me say, "Okay, well, maybe we do need to talk to the commission as a whole and see where we are with that." We can always change our mind and say, "Okay, we'll give you all free parking." But part of our agreement was we were going
to add what? 84 more spaces down there. So that's 84 more free spaces that were just on that particular lot. So, I think it it can come back to shoot us in the foot if we decide to build a parking garage, which we're saving money
to build another level somewhere. It's going to be free to everybody. How are we going to afford that? So, I'm just going to say that from my discussions, I think we need to flesh out that particular piece of it because I'm not sure that all the county
commissioners agree with that. >> That's all. >> Thank you. Uh, Councilman Stevens. >> Thank you. So, are we able to do like a combination of >> No. >> No, it has to be I because I mean what's
five more business days of the of five days to hear their decision and then make make a reaction. Uh >> have two council members here for one five more days. >> Okay.
>> All right. I see no further discussion. I just the one question I would have Sandy would be so we don't give them free parking. Do you see a road map in which we get the lease of this park? And if so, how
do how how does that process work? >> Same way all the other processes work. When we sit when we sit down face to face with all the county commission, it's a negotiation. We're going to sit here and negotiate. If at all of that we sit there and they, you know, all five
of them say, "Nope, you got to have free parking in every parking thing in your city, >> okay?" >> Then we can make our decision. >> If two of them are telling me or alluding to me, one told me, one alluded that they didn't think that that the
county had any right to determine whether we had paid parking in our municipal parks that were not beach accesses. that says, "Okay, let's think about this."
So maybe with all of that, the concession of free parking, adding what? 84 more spaces down there with free parking and they get free parking in all of our beach accesses, which they do now on the har, you know, the
>> ones on the bay. Is that not enough? They didn't pay for this property. If they know they can't put the dock out there or they can't rent the docks, I'll put it that way. And they know they can't put what they want on it,
maybe that's enough. I don't know. But I see the same thing. I just see that I would like to see all five of them in a discussion with this and have the opportunity to say, I don't know, maybe that's enough. >> Yeah,
>> you you brought up a good point because I kind of thought it was one or the other. Um, we would be giving the free parking and doing more parking on the on the Norgo parcel here. >> Is that what the deal is at currently?
>> Potentially more parking. That would be at council's discretion if we had management or control of the park. But as far as the conversations I've had, it did not contemplate expanded parking. But if there was an expansion of the
parking and it was paid, then it would certainly be included. If if it was uh even in even what was proposed for the beach area parking, it would have been included. >> Yeah. I would just say um for what it's
worth, I'm I'm trying to come back from very riled up and to Chadam and Councilman Braden's point, I'm ticked at them, but I love the idea of this park not
getting another piece of asphalt on it. And if it really came down to free parking for an untouched pristine 4 acres that would be adjoined to already a pristine 14 acres. I mean, for as much as I would
emotionally not want to do this, I think for the 20 years from now when this is only but a memory with those who hold the grudge, I I feel like if there is a path forward for the park to be
done, ours, and unpaved, I I I definitely see where you're coming from, Council Morgan. So, with that, the motion on the table. Are we all understanding where we're at? All right. So, I'll call the vote. >> What is the motion? >> Thank you. Uh, it is number one on the
recommended motion. Someone >> adoption of the dispute resolution. And if that gets passed, it would commence the chapter 164 proceedings. >> All right. With that, I'll call the vote. [sighs] All right. Eyes have it. 51.
So moved. One other comment if I may, mayor. >> As we go forward through the process and we discussed that there there may well just be an administrative with the administrators participating before we go to the full-fledged. Uh as one
council person, I would be in favor as of allowing the free parking if that's what it takes to get us to where we need to go. And I think the mayor might even be in agreement with me. And so >> I'm doing a little meditation while we're up here trying to figure out where
I my heart is. >> So as as you go forward and we may have another meeting before that takes place if you can administratively settle this possible, but I'm not going to give you any directions to a motion. I mean, it
it's not out of the realm of things you can do to have a motion to vote on the parking and have them put it on their 84 agenda, even though this is pending because >> yes, >> we can set up this meeting and cancel it if it gets >> that's exactly >> resolved on 84. Now, I I haven't heard
you all be unanimous on the parking, so I don't know how that comes out, but if you did vote on that, that is an option. [clears throat] >> Yes. and and uh with my limited ability to count votes tonight looked like it was going to be a tie. So, I don't see
that being very very uh appropriate, but maybe at another meeting something will change. >> Mayor's a tiebreaker. >> It would be number 15, but who's counting? >> He giveth and he taketh. [laughter]
Well, the second part of this item is for the letter to the state um on the on the 15th. Um the council directed myself and the city manager to provide notice to the state of the conflict between the city and the county, particularly with
respect to the county's letter of uh commitment or non-commitment dated August 19th, 2025. Um that would be required as part of the dispute resolution now anyway. So, we're going to do that. Um and then the second part was inclusion of the city's right ofway
and parking property um in the seller's appraisal. Uh we wanted to notice the state and tell them please don't include our property in your legal descriptions um or surveys going forward. We own the right of way by deed. So I have put together that letter with the city
manager. It's in your packet. And the second motion deals with approval of that. >> All right. With that, Councilman Braden. >> Thank you. I'll read it again. I move to authorize city manager to execute the attached notice letter to the state all cabinet members in the FD reps per the
directive of the city council on July 15, 2026. >> Second. >> All right. I have a motion and a second by Councilwoman Abear. Any further discussions? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> All right. Unanimous. So moved.
All right, with that CRA. Uh, >> thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is item uh 5F. This is resolution 2619, the Harbor CRA fundraising fund that you addressed as when you sat as the CRA board earlier
this evening and that board made a recommendation to council that you adopt this resolution. So, it's before you with those recommendations. recommended motion. >> All right. I have Councilwoman Traml with the recommended motion. Uh could
you read it, >> please? >> Second. >> I move to adopt resolution 26-9 to create a new special revenue fund. >> All right. And I have a second with Councilwoman Traml. >> I'm sorry, Abear. Motion by Traml. Um any discussions on CRA?
>> Just the same discussion. Please button. >> Same discussion. It appears we are giving ourselves permission to do what we can already do and create more uh more bureaucracy. >> This is a line item.
>> I mean, but CRAS are state statute. So, I see the quagmire, but is it one of those >> the state knew better and now here we are having to check boxes? >> I still I still have some questions that I'll ask appropriate folks. >> Thanks. But I'll vote for it.
>> All right. Uh, anyone else? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> All right. Eyes have it. So moved. >> All right. G. >> Item 4G is um in regard to the freeboard
one foot two foot requirement. Um we were asked to bring this back for your consideration. So this would be authorization and direction to prepare an ordinance amending the city's flood plane management regulations to reduce the required freeboard from 2 feet which
is uh city code to one foot above base flood elevation uh which is the southern building code and Florida building code. Uh, so we've evaluated this and we believe it will move us from a class 6 rating to a class 7 rating by a few
points. And we're not exactly sure how many, but if you move uh to direct staff to make that uh amendment to the ordinance, we would ask you to include in in your motion the idea that we would also bring back a plan to the greatest
extent possible to recapture the points that we would lose by making that move. >> All right. Thank you for that. With that, do I hear a motion on the floor? >> I'll make the recommended motion. >> All right. I have Councilwoman Traml with the recommended motion
>> if I can remember it. [laughter] I move to authorize preparation of an ordinance amending the city's flood plane management regulations to reduce the required freeboard from 2 feet to 1 foot above the applicable base flood elevation. develop and implement a
community rating system enhancement program designed to offset the anticipated CRS point reductions and maintain the city's current CRS class 6 rating and initiate the ordinance review and adoption process. Is that all I
need? >> Second. >> Is that all I need? Do I need to add something onto that? >> I think that's it. >> Okay. >> That's with the addition of coming back with the points. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And come back with the points uh plan. >> Do it. Yes, ma'am.
>> Okay. With that, Councilman Stevens, are you okay with that addition? All right. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll call the question. >> All right. Eyes have it. 6. So moved. >> Mobility. >> Uh 5H is regarding uh Pine Street. At a
previous meeting, I believe it was the last meeting, a motion was made to add consideration of the uh removal of Pine Street from the mobility study at the next council meeting agenda, which is this meeting. And that motion pass 61.
So, that's before you tonight, whether that um is something you'd like to do. Um upon reviewing that, removing that from the mobility plan will uh trigger us going and having to redo our um rate
study. So there will be some expense there. Um but what we have done administratively is move it to the bottom of the list. So chances of it happening are pretty well nil. And if but if you want to go down
that path to remove it, we can do that. or uh we would recommend that we have a meeting somewhere later in the fall to rep prioritize our mobility plan um projects and just slide this one slam to
the bottom with your approval. Uh we do have to do these rate studies every five years. So we're well uh into our second year with this one. So we're going to have to redo it again next three years anyway. And by the magnitude of what's on the list now, the chance of one down
at the bottom coming up is very slim again, but um it's before you as requested. >> Right. Thank you for that. With that, do I have a motion on the floor? >> I'll make a motion to move. >> All right. Hit the button first.
>> Yes, sir. taking a project off staff believes will trigger a new reassessment study. Is that what they're saying? >> New rate study. And and I'll ask Robert to weigh in on it. He's certainly more expert on it than I am, but uh it it
does require a rate study when you make a change to it. So I guess my question theoretically is when we adopted this plan, the object of the the assessment, the study is to name some projects and to justify have a
nexus between those projects and the most we can assess on the mobility fee. Is that a fair assessment? >> Yes, I believe so. >> Does that sound correct to me? So if we had decided at that point that we
thought the mobility fee was higher than it should have been and decided that it should be half that rate, would you say we had to go that we had to go back and do a new study that the state statute under which this is uh given direction
on how it operates does not allow us to go at a rate that's lower than the study indicates. you can go at a lower rate, just not higher. >> Well, I'm glad to hear that. I I think I knew the answer to that. Anyway, so what
we're saying now is if we take a road off that we have to go through the study, but if we wanted to say the rate was really only going to be half what the study justified, we don't have we didn't have we wouldn't have to do another study.
I'm not sure >> I am answering you about you can go lower than the study. I do not know about the road removal and staff's theory on that. So that I will defer to Robert. >> Staff is saying that if we take a take the road off, we have to do a new study.
>> Well, is that correct? >> That's what I've been told. So I was not here during this whole u mobility plan. >> Okay. You were told that by who? I I mean I was told that by uh that's what I
[laughter] I was told that by or that was my understanding that is what Kim told me. So I'm not really I I really don't know the answer to that. So >> maybe we need to seek some clarity. I I
thought we were clear on it but uh I don't know what we're talking about there. What I've said is if you want to remove a road, it would require a comp plan amendment. >> Nothing I said had to do with the study. You would need a comp plan amendment because the comp plan incorporates the
plan. So, you can't change it without that. But you don't I have no opinion on the study. I didn't do the study. I have an opinion as to the fees that you can go lower instead of higher. But I don't know that taking out a road would require a new study. I got that from
engineering. >> Let me make this simply for everybody so we can come to a conclusion of what we think. I'll move that we continue this till the next meeting. >> That gives everybody a chance to get their heads together and come up with a clear answer about
removing the road. And and my question would be just the roads in the mobility plan are subject to the comp plan or if we decide to say abandon the right ofway for any road in the city do we have to go through a comp plan amendment
>> only when things are incorporated into the comp plan >> and the mobility roads were >> yes >> that was a mistake [laughter] anyway I' I'd appreciate a nice clear-cut answer so I'm going to move that we continue this to the next meeting.
>> All right. I have a motion to put this to the next meeting. >> Second. >> Second with Councilman Stevens. Uh Councilwoman Draml [clears throat] >> with with uh what Dewey is is um motion.
Are we abandoning the road? So we now have to give the right of way to either property owner. >> He changed. >> I don't I don't >> No, we're not abandoning the road. >> No. >> Okay. >> We're just moving it to the next meeting. Even if you removed it from the list, you're not going to you're not abandoning the road. That's right.
>> And quite frankly, I would I wouldn't be opposed to the motion to remove it subject to um something to the contrary that would preclude us from doing that. I think that would that would certainly be a problem. >> Exactly. I guess I guess my concern too
is um not the end that we've had all this discussion about, but the other end of that street where someone had to make a driveway that was a third of the distance and had to clear all that out. I think I feel like the city was remiss
in not building the road there so he could put his house there without having to go to the expense of building that long driveway. Um, and and I think we need to look at that. If we're allowing people to build and
we're not giving them the road to get to their own property, it's just a cheap cheap move for the city to do to not expand the road if there was a road designated to be there. I don't I don't know. I think we need to
look at that as well as the other issue that we're talking about here. So, >> and that would That's certainly going to be part of the expansion, but I can tell you the folks on that road do not want us to complete that road. So, that's for another time. >> I'm just saying it completed to his
driveway. He had to build something to get into his driveway. And and that's the part that I fault the city for because they should have built something to allow him this. We should have built something to allow him to get to his driveway because it was a
designated road. In any in any event, we we can tackle that one later. >> All right. Essentially, a motion to push to the next meeting on this topic. With that, I have a motion and second on the floor. No further discussions. Seeing none,
we'll call the vote. >> All right. Eyes have it 6. So moved. The next items are uh your information um updates to capital projects financial month TDC monthly report quarterly investment report and minutes of the
standing boards and committees. Um perhaps any questions on those? Um I'm ask Michael to give us an update on the storm situation. You know, we got something brewing out in the Gulf. I don't think it's going to be a lot, but we're going to see what the latest is.
>> All right. Good evening, mayor and council. I'm here to uh give you an update on the new tropical storm Bertha. It uh became uh Bertha uh at this 700 p.m. update. Sustained winds at 40 mph. It's about 100 miles south of Panama City right
now. It's moving very slowly at only 3 miles an hour and it is continued to expect it's expected to strengthen just a little bit uh as the days go on. Uh primary uh concern right now are bands of uh heavy rain that we may uh
encounter. Um the National Weather Service is calling for possible one to two inches over the next two days. Uh could uh gusty winds uh can be expected, but there's less than a 30% chance that we'll experience tropical storm force
winds which are 40 miles an hour and greater. And in the meantime, uh, public works will continue to monitor, as I encourage everyone to continue to monitor the websites of the National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, and
others. The overall assessment is our only primary hazard would be intermittent heavy rainfall, which we've gotten quite a bit of lately. A few gusty winds. uh with this saturated soil that we have right now,
we may encounter some uh tree loss, but public works will be ready to respond at that or to those. And what I would encourage residents and visitors to do is to continue to monitor the weather through those media outlets that I just um mentioned. And then um secure your
patio furniture, umbrellas, trash cans cuz tomorrow's trash day. So once trash is picked up, if we do get any gusts, your uh your trash can may be relocated. Um
basically, and as a reminder for hurricane season, always be prepared. Uh make sure that you have batteries and that you have lighting sources for your home and uh battery packs and cell phone chargers and such. And if you want a an
extensive list of things to prepare or a list of items to gather in your preparation, I would encourage everyone to go to ready.gov. That's ready.gov. They have a list or little uh checklist that you can go through make sure that
you're ready. And lastly, um pay attention to the beach warning flags because right now we can be experiencing rip tides and such. Not sure what the flags are planned on being tomorrow, but I imagine the Gulf might be a little angry tomorrow. So, definitely as our
visitors down here, we got a very busy week ahead of us. Just encourage safety and u exercise caution. >> All right. Thank you, meteorologist Michael. >> All right, >> back to you, Mayor. >> Dr. Jones, >> that's all we have. Dr. Young. >> Yeah. Good evening, Mayor and Council.
We have three other announcements. The annual big truck day will be on July 31st at the community center parking lot. It's going to be held from 9 to 11:00 a.m. and it's free to all ages. An ER workshop about our comprehensive
plan will be August 10th here at the annex. That meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. And this is a as a reminder the plan that deals with land use, coastal management, transportation, housing, infrastructure, conservation, and more. And we do have a survey for the public
on our website and it's on our homepage over to the lefth hand side. So we encourage the public to take a few moments to fill that out please. And lastly, the city um of Dustin is undergoing um different resurfacing projects later this month and also in
August. And some of those places include North Lakeside Drive and Misty Way. And then in August we've got Gulf Shore Drive. So, you can find out more information about that on our official Facebook page or our website. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. All right. Getting
into council member minutes as the county says. All right. Council Braden, >> I have nothing. Mayor, thank you. Councilman Stevens, >> I'm sorry. I got one item. >> No, don't apologize. >> So, pretty much I just want to bring up swimmer and safety snor um um safety at
the West Jetty in East Pass. Uh, I don't know if you all knew, but on July 4th, Oakley County Sheriff's Department uh, rescued two snorkelers that were pulled from the shore. Um, thankfully, Lieutenant Parkin and, uh, Sergeant Batis were nearby and able to rescue him. But I don't know if y'all saw on
July 9th, I was on Good Morning America. >> Um, so with that attention that we got, I mean, highlighted our our sheriff's department, which is great, but also highlighted the dangers of that area. Um I mean even last year when we lost uh Trinity in that same area. Um at that
time the Harbor Waterways uh uh board made a recommendation to uh use the buoys that we acquired from uh the Crab Island Safety Corridor potentially use there. And I reached out to Alex Fog and he actually told me it'd be a maintenance nightmare to use those
specific buoys there. Um, so, uh, I reached out to FWC's, uh, man, uh, waterway management team and, uh, they they confirmed that, uh, the city can apply for a Florida uniform waterway marker, um, permit for danger
orformational, uh, signage, um, either on the in the water or on the shore there. Um, they said that we can use something like danger, extremely uh, strong current if we wanted to. Um so any um signs that we do use whether it's
on the water, in the rocks, in the sand, we'd have to get a permit. Um but and also we'd have to coordinate with FWC, the um uh the land owners, um uh submerged land lease, uh FD, um Army Corps of Engineers, and US Coast Guard.
Um Alex Fog said he'd help us with the permitting process if we needed to. Um but then there's another um thing also um the Harbor Waterways Board did which I don't think ever made it to council. Um there is a a life jacket loaner
program. Um and uh originally the plan was to put it at Joe's Bayou. Uh after Joe's Bayou got redone, but after kind of seeing see seeing all the dangers here, I almost wonder if we could
potentially move that uh work plan to do something at the East Pass um area. maybe have in conjunction with the uh uh the fire lifeguard stations there. Um so I reached out to uh uh uh Dustin Fire Chief Sasser and he actually was on
board with this and he said he would support this. Um there's actually funding options. Uh FPL actually has a program that will pay for it. Um Bu has a program that'll pay for it and STO has a program that'll pay for it. So we shouldn't have to pay very anything if
we can use these programs. Um, >> so what's that? >> Okay, sounds good. So, uh, all right. So, I'll make a motion then, um, pretty much I want to direct staff to evaluate warning signage and life jacket learner program, um, in the for the Norgo Point,
um, East Pass area. Um, identify the necessary permits and potential grant funding and bring recommendations back to council. >> Second. >> All right. I have a motion and a second for what I would call all grants possible through FWC. >> Yeah. Sir, >> but through your motion
>> FPL FPL. Oh, sorry. All right, Councilman, >> I just comment. I think we discussed this about six or eight months ago and and directed that the signs be put up and if they're put on dry land, I don't know why we'd have to have a submerged land lease >> like on the jetty
>> or on the sand um leading up to the jetty. Isn't part of that public property some section of it? because I know there's a there's an easement that goes down to it. Anywhere that we have the ability to put it up on public property, we just need to put them up because every day we put off,
there's another chance for somebody to drown. So hopefully staff gets a gets the message from this motion, let's do it as quick as possible. >> No taken. All right, with that, any further discussion? >> All right, seeing none, we'll call the
vote. Got to believe >> he doesn't have a cursor. >> Oh, >> popped up. >> All right. Eyes have it. So moved. >> Thank you. That's all I have. >> All right. Councilman Dustin,
>> Councilwoman Traml, >> uh motion that we made at the uh CRA board meeting earlier to include the uh 1.5 million for the completion of Madame M. Kelly connector project along with the sidewalk and the bike lanes from the
town center and to recommend that this go into the fiscal year 2027 budget. >> Second. >> Right. Motion and second. Any discussions? Seeing none, we'll call the vote.
She's got to type this one out. All right. Eyes have it. So moved. >> That's all I have. Mayor. >> All right. Thank you, Councilwoman Abear. >> Nothing tonight. Thanks, Mayor. >> Council member Morgan. >> Thank you, Mayor. Now that all the Kelly Plantation people are gone, I'll uh make a motion to untex.
[laughter] >> No, but in all seriousness, that what what you defused that entire crowd and that was incredibly impressive. >> I caused it, so I might as well do something about it. I theory somebody mentioned your charisma which you do have but I would also say that I think
you reminded them of their grandson probably which certainly helped [laughter] you but really incredible job I I don't have the balls to do that good job. >> Thank you for as much of a one topic they came in this only question I got from was how old I was so you're probably not wrong.
>> Oh man. >> Uh so CH's not here. Um, I'm looking forward to the revitalization of Main Street that I saw in the work plan. Sorry I missed you guys on this last one. Uh, me and my wife had our one-year anniversary. So, sorry there there are a
few priorities in life that come above you guys and that's one of them. >> Um, so that's all I got and we got a wonderful mayor prom. So, thank you for stepping up. And with that, uh, Miss Cop, >> nothing mayor. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. All right. My destined folks, public comments and
business folks. Uh if you guys wish to speak on the public, this is your time to do so. Three minutes or we are going to close this meeting. >> Yes, ma'am. >> No, that was too many. >> She waited through this whole thing >> long so I may as well >> better than before because we probably
would have glazed over. >> Yeah, that's fine. Um Ashley Painter. Uh I live in Purdue Beach so I'm not a Destin resident. Um but I am the president CEO of United Contract Solutions and our fuel division is United Fuel Direct. We are womenowned, service disabled, veteranowned small
business, and I'm a 25-y year US Army veteran. Um, we are Florida registered and operate along the Gulf Coast, including here in Destin Harbor. Um, I just wanted to be clear, and there was some comments that were brought up the July 6th meeting. And I just wanted to clarify some things that I believe was
misinformation and share what our company actually is and what we do. Um, we offer an additional option. We are not trying to compete with a co-op. We are not trying to compete with other marinas. We are a different service. We are a white glove concier service that provides docside fueling for customers
that want it. Um and they also we also add additives um for a premium service for fueling. So um it's for the captains and boat owners who choose it. We are not in competition and we don't provide large volume like a marina. Um and I wanted to share about compliance, why
the service matters. Um we lead with compliance. It it should matter most to this council. Um, as far as safety, uh, we met with the Destin fire marshal prior to even starting operations, uh, not after the fact. We operate under a current spill prevention, control, and countermeasure plan. Our drivers, uh,
and vehicles carry active, PHMSA hazmat registration and training. Every driver who works for us is drug tested, DOT compliant, background checked, hazmat certified, and has a minimum of two years of training before they're ever handling fuel on our behalf. Um, I don't know if every marina has can say that.
Um I don't know if all the workers on docs can say that they have as much certification training and requirements as I require any of our employees. Um also they are employees. We train them. We um vet them. We have safety meetings constantly. Um customer service is
number one priority. Um again I can't say that for every marina but I know that that's something I can stand behind. Um why fueling matters is community. We currently serve 34 clients in the Destin Harbor who rely on the service. tournament and charter captains um lose pay, fishing time, running to a fixed dock, waiting in line, and running
back. Dockside delivery lets them refuel where they're already tied up. During tournaments and peak season, spreading fueling across more than one option means fewer boats maneuvering in and out of a single dock. Um I'm sure you've all heard over the last weekend there was a tournament in um Orange Beach and there was casualties. It was awful. um having
us go directly to docks and to um homeowners places of you know where they live alleviate some of that congestion in the waters especially during peak times we had the blue angels there was tournaments there was a lot of activity so allowing us to help with that
congestion um is a safety concern as well um less congestion fewer quarters um we also treat like I said with marine grade additives when customers request it which adds a engine performance and longevity on outboards come in this fleet. Um during a tournament in Sand Dustin, we were the number one, we were
the fuel provider for it. We had a client call us and say, "Hey, I'm out of fuel. It's the middle of a tournament." We were at the dock at 2 a.m. Refueled them, and they were able to go back out and finish a tournament. So, that's the type of service. You can't say the co-op will provide that service at 2 a.m. Um it's a different level. It's just a
different level of what we do. Um I'm sorry. >> Thank you. That's awesome. >> Yes. Um we are also an emergency fuel provider. I started my company as a government contractor and we provide like for Bertha we provide tents we provide catering we provide generators
we fuel generators we do um condo units fueling the generators um just fueling in general and then also emergency so we started as emergency disaster company and got into fueling doide so that was our number one so I just I I wanted to clarify some things because I believe there was a misconception about our
company and what we do and what we provide and I just wanted to share kind of we're not just a Joemo that's coming in and taking business from locals. Um, we are absolutely not that. Um, we have a direct experience standing up, activating fuel when the power goes out.
Um, and it's, you know, we're a second fuel source. So, if there is an emergency, we can come in, we're prepared, we're ready. We have all the FEMA certifications. We're a government contractor. I have active government contracts with the Navy, special services, um, Army, and just DoD. So,
um, and I'm happy to share any of those contracts with y'all. Can you give your information to Michael so that we have a backup plan? >> Yes, ma'am. Absolutely. I'm I'm happy to do that. Um, so I just I wanted to clarify any of that type of stuff. Again, we're Florida registered. We have a fire marshal approval in place. Um,
we're additional option for, you know, your current clients and we're just we're not asking for exclusivity. We're just asking to continue doing what we're doing. Um, we have the city planning division. Uh we talked with uh Sher Bertney as far as what regulations, what ordinance are in place. Um you know,
we're trying to cross all of our tees, all of our eyes, making sure we are fully compliant, fully safety, and do it as a partnership with you all. Um you know, we do everything we can. We're not asking for any special treatment, but just continue operating in the safety approvals that we hold. And that's all. Thank you. >> Thank you for Absolutely.
>> All right. Anyone else? [applause] >> Dustin can clap, too. [laughter] All right. Seeing no other further public comments, we will adjourn this meeting.