We were speaking with someone beforehand. All right. If not, well, we'll go right ahead. The city of Destin proclamation destin American Red Cross month March 2026. Whereas in March, we celebrate American Red Cross month by honoring our neighbors who made its
humanitarian mission possible in Destiny every day. This act of kindness changes lives, brings relief, comfort, and hope when help cannot wait. This compassionate spirit runs deep in our community just as it was for the past
145 years through the American Red Cross. And whereas today, those who serve in the Northwest Florida chapter light the way during emergencies, whether it's delivering shelter, food, and comfort after disasters, providing a
safe, life-saving blood supply for patients facing conditions like cancer treatment, child birth, and traumatic injuries, assisting military members, veterans, and their families with 24-hour global support, or empowering individuals with skills like
first aid, and CPR that saves lives. And whereas these collective efforts are powerful reminders that the strength of our community lies in our shared commitment to one another. As we mark Red Cross Month, let us celebrate our
local heroes and resolve to continue lifting each other up so no one faces an emergency alone. Now, therefore, I, Mayor Bobby Wagner, on behalf of the Dustin City Council, do hereby proclaim March 2026 as American Red Cross Month
and encourage all citizens to support this organization and its noble humanitarian mission. Thank you. And then I do have as a as a history buff, I have uh two points I would like to add to that as well. uh Clara Barton who was an
American patriot during the Civil War for the Union. Uh she was one of the first females uh on the front lines helping uh medical supplies, food and basic care for the Union soldiers. Uh because of that she got the name angel of the battlefield and because of that
uh became one of the key roles in the office of missing soldiers that you now know of today. In addition to that, 16 years later after the Civil War, uh the American Red Cross in 1888 was built and formed around her and her mission uh as she was one of the main
caretakers for medical supplies, food and basic care. Uh, and so with that, I just also while we're doing American Red Cross month, a Red Cross Month, I also wanted to just pay homage to a female uh, in this case soldier and someone on the front lines who helped uh, create
the American Red Cross in 1881. So thank you. >> All right. And then with that, we'll get into the FOY 2025 annual audit and financial statements. >> Okay. Okay. So, this evening, uh, here we go. Um, we have WDE Sansbury with
Malden and Jenkins here to present the overall city 2025 audited financial statements. He has a short presentation. He's available for any questions you may have. >> Take it away, Wade. >> All right. Thanks, Crystal. Can everybody hear me? Okay, >> we got you.
>> Great. Um, well, uh, thanks so much, Mr. Mayor, City Council for allowing me to be here with you all tonight. It's great to uh be able to have the opportunity to speak with you all. I do have a brief presentation that I'm going to go through pretty quickly. Um if you do all have any questions, feel free to inter
interject at any point. Um the first few slides are just the overall agenda that we're going to basically touch on. A little bit of information about Malden and Jenkins. I won't go over all of those. I will just indicate to you all just to make sure that you all are aware that back in December um of last year we
did acquire a goodsized firm um out in Louisiana and Texas that increased our overall staffing size to about 800 individuals. So we are a much larger much stronger um firm that that now has even more uh resources and capabilities and expertise to continue to serve the
city. Um, as you all know, uh, the city does prepare an annual comprehensive financial report or aer for short. Um, this goes above and beyond what is required by the state. So, always hats off to you all for going that extra mile. Um, the financial statements
themselves, I always want to remind you all that they are the responsibility and the representation of the city's management. Our responsibility as your auditors were to perform an audit and then to render an opinion. Um, we have done so. we've we've rendered an unmodified opinion. This is a clean
opinion and the type of opinion that you wish to receive each and every year. Um in the back of the report is what we call the yellowbook report. It's our compliance report. Um if there were any kind of issues, any kind of findings, material weaknesses or
significant deficiencies, we would report those there. Very happy to say once again this year we reported no findings. Um Crystal and her team do a great job of taking care of your books and records on a day-to-day basis. They also do a great job of helping us get through the overall audit process
timely. Um additionally, this year would like to note that the city did not receive and spend um in excess of a million dollars in federal awards or $750,000 in state awards. As such, we were not required to perform a single
audit um on either federal or state awards for the year ended September 30th, 2025. The next few slides are some of our required communications. We always provide those to you all in a written format in another document that I'll touch on in a minute. Um one thing I
would like to point out is that the city was required to implement Gazsby 101 this year for compensated absences. This did increase the city's overall liability that um that you all report, but that was something that again the city handled very well. Um and and it
did actually require a a small restatement to your opening uh net position. Then additionally, just like to point out that remind you all that we are independent um with regards to the city, we take our independence very very seriously.
Uh then I've got a couple of slides just some highlevel general information about the city. Um there's a 2025 slide as well as a 2024 slide. Um our overall spending per resident of 2409. That's pretty even as compared to 2024. The
general fund fund balance ended the year at 35.8 million which was about a five and a 5.7% increase from the prior year. Um the city did end the year uh with an increase in the amount of debt that the city issued about $25 million worth of
worth of new debt for capital projects and to fund some overall purchases. Um so your overall debt per resident ended the year at about $3,000 per resident. Um that does compare pretty well with other governments your size and of your makeup and nature. I've got another
client of mine that is um currently undergoing a lot of capital outlays. They're also undergoing undergrounding with their public utilities. Uh they're also a coastal community um with with a small permanent population and that it
expands quite quite tremendously during uh a busy season if you will. Um so again that's uh that debt per resident is a is a pretty reasonable number for governments your size. Um you all did end the year with about 103 employees um
which is very comparable to last year. Then you've also got some average employee salary information and percentage of general fund budget. Again, the same information on slide here with 2024. Um already kind of touched on those. Um the next slide is your general fund
revenues for the year. Um you know, where does the money come from? The next slide shows where the money goes. Obviously, the a large component of the general fund revenues comes from taxes. Um and certainly I'm sure you all have heard in the news that the governor is trying to potentially remove um property
taxes um for homesteaded properties. Um the city I believe has already done some uh research on that regarding its own um tax roles. Um I believe that number is approximately $2 million. Um, so if those funds uh or if those uh proposals
do take place, um the city would be looking at a $2 million reduction in its overall property tax. You know, there's still really no uh direction given as as far as to what is truly going to happen just yet. Um, I certainly do believe
that if the state does get this passed that the state will do something, whether it be increase property or increase sales taxes, some other means to uh to make up that difference. So, I just want to point that out that that is something obviously that I'm sure you all are aware of. Please stay tuned
because um the answers are hopefully coming pretty soon. Um the next slide is our general fund expenditure um pie chart. um you all actually have a pretty good um even breakout between governmental activities um public safety
expenditures and then culture and recreation expenditures. Um so that that's a very good well balanced overall um set of expenditures for the general fund. But that is again how the city ended for the September 3rd to 2025 year end. On the next slide is your kind of a
5year history of your fund balance um for the general fund. Again a little over 35 million. Um the city does have pretty good strong reserve funds. Um you've got some for emergency operations of about 5.3 million, debt service of about 5.6 million, um emergency
management of about 5.3 million. All of those three different categories represent about 4 months worth of general fund expenditures. Um GFOA best practices actually recommends about two to three months or 60 days, 60 to 90
days. Um, so I think you're in pretty good shape there. Um, certainly that is up to the city on um what you put in there, but I believe that that's some pretty good reasonable balances as of the end of the year. Um, then lastly here we've got um just
another information on that we we do prepare for you all an auditor's discussion and analysis. Um this is again where we put together all of our required communications. If we had any kind of findings or recommendations for improvement, those would be listed there. Again, we had none for this year. We also do list out all of the upcoming
Gatsby standards and pronouncements. There have been quite a few and there are still some others that are coming down the pipeline, but all of those are listed there um for you all to understand and read. Additionally, we do list out the fact that we do provide free CPE for all of our clients. Um
hopefully uh Crystal and Herd finance department team have been able to enjoy those. Certainly anybody on the board here as well um are more than happy to attend um any of those events. Those are really since uh
200 20 we've been doing those virtually so they're free of charge. You don't have to go anywhere. You just need to log in on a computer. Um and that's really all that I had um for you all tonight. Do you all have any questions for me? >> All right. Thank you so much for the presentation. Uh I do have a just a crystal. Um what does our average
homestead resident uh typically pay for in city taxes? >> Um it for this fiscal year they're paying about $595. >> 5.95 and we're averaging spending $2,400 for those same homestead. If >> you average out the uh the price per
parcel for public safety, general government for everything, you're correct. It comes out to about $2,400 per parcel per year. >> All right. Thank you. Anyone else have any questions for the Oh, yeah. Okay. Come on, Jim.
>> Thanks, Wade. Uh, Crystal, I want to thank you and your team, Larry, Kim, everybody that had anything to do with, you know, spending money or not spending money or whatever. Wait, I've got a couple of questions for you and you kind of addressed them and I appreciate Crystal getting you the the questions in
advance, but uh >> the uh your the other city that you do that is a coastal uh has a surge in population uh that we are comparable to our debt service per person in. Uh do
they have a 2 mil cap on their revenue? No sir, they do not. >> Okay. And I point that out because, you know, it sounds good. Hey, we're, you know, we're comparable to our peers, our peer group, but we're not our peer
group. We are our own. And with the 2 mill cap that we have in the charter, we don't have the flexibility to raise the revenue that that city, wherever they are, might have to raise. So, I I just wanted to point that out for the council. Uh and that also applies to the
you say we have four months which our policy is three months and and a year's worth of debt service and things like that but again other cities that uh participate in JAFO or whatever don't have a 2 mill cap. So
is my question to you and we've asked this question a couple of times up here. Is our three-month policy of reserves for personnel and for operations and our years worth of debt service sufficient? because those other cities, not only do
they not have a 2 mill cap, but they don't have potentially the ability to lose all of their their city in in a in an event uh catastrophic event. And so
I just want to make sure, you know, it would be one thing if we were in the hills of Arkansas or East Texas and we had three months and I would say, "Oh yeah, you know, we might have a tornado come through and wipe wipe out a couple of houses and a water man or maybe the
water treatment plant, but we have the potential to have to replace everything." So I I just want to know in your opinion, is that threemon policy sufficient? Um well ju just so you know um I won't
divulge to you the the particular client that I'm talking about but but they they too have that susceptibility and that risk um that same risk that you all also pose. I I will say this just to give you a little bit of comfort in that what I
have seen with other governments that have actually had these catastrophic events very recently. you know, both FEMA and the state of Florida themselves have been very very quick to respond and very very quick to help. Um,
and I, you know, heaven forbid we ever have to go through that. But I do think that having four what is what is relatively four months, but but two of those categories are both for emergency operations and emergency maintenance. So really those
two combined are really eight months worth of worth of general fund expenditures. Now we would certainly not hope to to utilize all of those in one event. However, I do think that if something very very bad happened that you would in the combination of having
the reserves, having the ability to to reach out to FEMA, having the ability for the state of Florida to step up and help you all that your day-to-day operations while significantly affected and significantly changed, they would not shut down. So certainly, you know,
the GFOA is there a Government Finance Officers Association. They're one of the largest governmental groups out there that that put out their best standards and best practices. Um, and in their opinion, two months, two to three months is a good number for a Florida
government. So certainly you all having four potentially 8 months. I personally feel like that is a good level, but certainly it's up to you all the council to determine if that needs to be higher or if it needs to be lower. >> Okay. Can you pull up chart five on the
top of page 13, please? And while you're doing that, uh I appreciate you you pointing out, you know, our your report pointed out we have three main sources of revenue. Uh recurring, which is adorum taxes, sales taxes, uh things
like that. Of course, grants, and then miscellaneous. and that a couple of those are under uh pressure I guess would be the easiest way to describe it. Advorum tax I agree with you probably
going to go down uh as a source of revenue. You say 2 million I I'll accept that amount. Uh sales tax has been down just because tourism has been down for the last couple of years. So, the sales tax revenue is down. Of course, TDT that
uh we share with the county is down. My concern is what is the normal because I can tell you okay not sure who's putting up what but what is the normal uh reimbursement rate let's say for
recreational uh because what what that slide shows is that we have a very low reimbursement rate and what what for those who don't understand this what that says is this is what our programs
cost and this is what we're charging people to use those programs. That's what that slide says. And so what is what is the average normally uh for governments our size? Um I I'm sorry I don't really have that
particular information in front of me. Certainly chart five in the MDNA if that is again the chart five that I believe that you're mentioning. It does look a little off this year. I certainly think that looking at prior years would make a
little bit more sense in that this is at a um entitywide level >> which means that it includes depreciation expense this year as part of some >> overall capital asset cleanup. It's part
of the new overall um u software system that was implemented. the city decided to go through and and and re-evaluate some of the estimated useful lives that it had been using over a long period of time. This significantly increased just
for 2025 >> um the overall total depreciation expense that's being reflected in these financial statements and especially in this particular chart. So just as an example, um this year's depreciation
expense is about $22 million that runs through the overall set of financial statements. The the prior year that number was about >> $3.5 million. >> So a significant change from 25 to 24,
but that we will not see again going forward in 2026. It will come back down to a lot more reasonable number going forward. So that would certainly make a big difference in in how this chart is being skewed in 25 versus prior years.
Okay. Crystal, do you remember what last year's reimbursement was right? >> FE FEMA reimbursement or depreciation? >> No, the re reimbursement on the programs and the the costs and the >> I I can share the charts for uh last
year and the prior year. Okay. with council. Um I can pull them up now or I can send them around later. >> My my question is you told me earlier today that reimbursement was 25% was the goal and we've never achieved that. So >> for recreational programs that's true uh
in the state of Florida and nationwide according to uh all the literature I've read 25% is the the target for most organizations in user fees to cover their expenses. Because the the point I want to make is for the council, uh
we're going if we lose 2 million in advorum and we continue to lose money in sales tax, we're either going to have to cut services or we're going to have to raise the rates and we can't, you know, the onetime condo fee of $500, which I
will admit I voted against. I wanted the 300, but you you can't squeeze those people uh or people like that, businesses like that. At some point, you extinguish them. And so, we're we're
going to have to reook that. The uh last thing, well, a couple more things. 49 I'm sorry, our debt is 43.9 million. Wait. >> Um, let's see. >> It is.
>> Okay, >> I'll help you. But we have a balloon payment for the 25 million that we just took out in FY29 of
18.9 million. So people see which is exactly what we have an unrestricted fund balance right or about comparable to each other >> correct >> that's right
>> okay so Chris so the point being there is people see an unrestricted fund balance and they think oh well you have all this money you know we can do this and we can do that and we could you know we have a balloon payment coming down I'm not saying we would use all that money we would probably renegotiate
depending on interest rates. Uh but it it's not just free money sitting out there just to go spend. And then I think Crystal has the rest of or some of the other changes in the audit report. There were some we'll call them generously
typos. Uh won't we Crystal? >> Yes sir. We have those uh corrections ready for >> We already have those corrections. Okay. So, with that, uh, I'll make a motion that we accept, uh, the audited financials as presented.
>> I'll second that. >> All right. Seeing no further discussions, >> discussion now. >> All right. Council Med >> and and I will concur with a number of Mr. Bagby's conclusions there. One is that we probably don't need to go in any
more debt. uh the two million a year, $2 million that we will lose if the homestead exemption rule goes into effect is $20 million over the next 10 years because it's not just 2 million this year. So, we are
going to have a pretty dramatic cut in revenue if u that ballot initiative gets on and passes and I have no doubt it will pass if it if it's put on the ballot. So, in addition to we're already at a point where we'll have to use some
of our unrestricted funds to to do that balloon payment, we have to remember that $2 million a year is going to be gone. And so, we're going to have some hard times ahead of us and we need to um cool it on going into debt in my opinion.
Hopefully, that's we will understand that as we go forward. We have our budget once again in June, July, whatever the schedule is, but we need to think long and hard before we go any further into debt. I also want to congratulate Crystal. You know, I always cut the management letter at the end. If
there's going to be any not nice stuff, that's where you find it. >> Once again, very, very clean. No really findings that we're doing anything wrong. And so, it takes a very tight operation to get that to come out where there's nothing in that letter. And I
just wanted to tell them job well done. >> Go ahead. >> I also wanted to thank Crystal for what uh long days, weekends, talked to you over the last couple of months, and it just seems like you're never off. So, thank you for being so diligent and
keeping us squared away, you and your team. So, thank you for your hard work. All right. Anyone else? All right. Seeing none, I have my motion and second on the floor. We'll call the vote. All right, councelor Schmidt. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. With that 70 eyes have it so moved. >> Restricted funds. >> All right. And then National Flood Awareness. Mr. Burgess, is that you?
>> All right, take it away. >> You got to go telephone. >> Oh, man. Hope you can say this with a little bit of grace. He Mr. Fitzpatrick, you want to come up here with me? All right. City of Destin Proclamation. Get on over here. Get behind. Get off
from the Yeah. All right. City of Destin Proclam flood awareness week. Whereas the city of Destin has experienced severe weather in the past in the form of extreme rainfall or tropical system events resulting in flooding in both coastal and environmental issues. that
is flooding that has caused damage and flood loss and to homes and buildings, all areas where they are high risk special flood hazard areas or low to moderate risk flood zones. And whereas the city of Destin is a volunteer participant in the National Flood
Insurance Program that provides residents with the opportunity to protect themselves against flood loss through the purchase of flood insurance at reduced insurance premium rates as well as the setting higher regulatory standards to reduce the flood risk and
preventative damage to their properties. And whereas the city of Dest participates in the community rating system at a class six affording most of our community our property owners up to 20% discount on their flood insurance premiums. And whereas the reduction of
loss of life and property damage can be achieved when appropriate flood uh preparedness control and mitigation measures are taken before a flood occurs. And whereas public education and awareness of potential weather hazards
and methods of protecting the critical the criterias for a health, safety, and welfare of our residents, the Florida Flood Plane Management Association, FFMA, has declared the week of March 9th through 15, 2026 as Flood Awareness
Week. to promote awareness and increase knowledge of flood risk, the availability of flood insurance, flood protection methods, and how to prepare for emergencies. Now, therefore, I, Mayor Bobby Wagner, and on behalf of the Destin City Council, in cooperation with
the American, the Association of State Flood Plane Managers and the Florida Flood Plane Managers Association do hereby proclaim Monday, March 9th through Sunday, March 15th as Flood Awareness Week in the city of Dest. and further encourages the citizens of
Destin to increase their knowledge of how to protect themselves and their property from flooding. And I think we have some some other people as well that will probably should be up here with me on this one. So with that, anything you'd like to add? >> Sure. >> So a few minutes ago, I asked Tamara,
"Do we have seven Facebook posts and social media posts ready to go already already prepared?" And I said, "Did you get that first one out today?" and she said, "Michael, it doesn't start until next Monday." So, that's being excited about flood awareness week. Now, uh you
can go to our website uh www.c cityofd.com and there's a flood information link that uh has a lot of great information. If you're concerned or if you have flood insurance and you're uh are interested in maybe is there a way to reduce my
premium, just let me know. Uh you can reach me at mberurgis@c cityofdestin.com anytime. >> All right. Appreciate you. >> Yes. >> Yes. All right. Thank you for indulging me in
that bureaucracy. With that, we'll get into public comments, which is why I'm assuming a lot of you are here. So, yes, sir. Take it away, >> comments. >> Ricky, I always look forward to hearing your public comments. >> Just hit that gray button.
>> All right. Ricky Lyn Grant Jr., 175 Main Street, Dest, Florida, 32541, General Delivery, USPS. And uh uh yeah, so I have just a few things I would like to say on uh that there's a
lot of civil civil lawsuits going on with with with the 1099 entrepreneurs out there and I just want to make sure that I'm moving in the right direction. So, I got a farm up in Palaski that I'm probably going to try to go to law
school at some point for this real estate license, but I know that this these these the trespassing and loitering and all there's all kind of things that people want to argue over. It's civil, so I'm just trying to stay civil with
everybody. Uh, let's see. So yeah, the law school up in Tennessee, this farm that I'm building. But I I got to stay in the books, man, with the with the real estate and with the 1099 independent contractors. People got all kinds of
identities out there. But to the state, we all independently contracting. And so that's my identity. So contract independently and uh the state, that's how people get paid out there is independently contracting. True, but I need to stay in the books cuz I need to
I mean I think it's important to stay with the law. I mean that seems to be the law of the land out there is uh the justice department. So that's what I'm following. That's where I'm going. That's my horizon like all the mutual funds. New horizon. That's my portfolio.
I I got so much stuff that I need to talk about. But uh I guess I got this little orange bag because of the fisherman and then 200 supercars. I be picking up leads out there, man. Somebody want to sell me 200 supercars. Everybody like that lead, so I bought
y'all the Dupoint Registry magazine. Well, I gotta build a facility to house them all. That's where I'm trying to get me on Hatch. I also got this little fishing bottle for going to Alaska and playing panache on my yacht. Going to
sail to Alaska. Or they got Gary Keller with the real estate birds. I really want to get into some leadership with the real estate people. So I could sit and be like a gargoyle, you know, just I just rain, you know. I ain't going to move. I just sit there on top of the chateau or farm that I'm
building up in Palaski. Well, that's three different main offices that I'm going to work out. But I want to keep up with Gary, Jerry Norton, Chris Cron. You know, the real estate, there's just so many investors out there. I got to keep track of them.
Get them on the phone. I'm going be wholesaling the deals, man. on the secondary market. Everybody in Wall Street, Yahoo Finance, NFL Network, ESPN, Multi-millionaires. I put everybody in the sales force on the catch you on the trail head.
That's it. Yeah. Appreciate you. All right, public comments. I'm going to start on my right, y'all's left. Anyone wish to speak? Yes, sir. >> All right. The lights are on. Just need
your name and address and the floor is yours. >> Okay. My name is Justin Reml. I live at 305 Spring Lane, Dustin, Florida, 32541. Um, I'd just like to talk to the the mayor and the council about item 4G, the cross town connector, later on tonight.
understand the council will be considering fencing. Um I have friends that live on Legion or what used to be called East Legion and also family members that live on um Sandalwood and in a couple places the cross town
connector approaches either the Sandalwood side and then the Legion side particularly by on Legion about 614 Legion Drive in that area. I know um the people that live there and further towards the east, including the culde-sac off of East Legion, the name
of which I don't recall, um they're concerned about sound uh from the road, and they're also concerned about uh where a car takes a curb too quick and maybe they get a a guest in their backyard that they didn't want. So, I
think they're concerned about Ballards. I've gotten calls at my office from other people that live in the area about it. I think a a third concern is the um is the alternate routes. So if the cross town connector is backed up, people on
East Legion could anticipate people trying to go around the cross town connector by going down East Legion in my area on Spring Lane where the cross town connector connects back into Legion proper where the the uh basketball courts are and the tennis courts and
everything. Um, people are currently taking a left onto Cardinal, a right down to lease, a left on Spring Lane, and then a right on Emiloo to avoid the traffic on Legion, and then they go back to the airport main street intersection to take a left on the airport. So, I
think some speed control devices in those affected areas may be prudent. So, uh, in summary, I'm asking that later on tonight when item 4G comes up that the council and the mayor consider, um, acoustical barriers to prevent sound
ballards or other physical barriers to prevent car crashes into backyards and things like that. And then uh speed control devices on the alternate routes that might be taken which I think could be Mountain Drive, East Legion, uh the streets like Elise and Spring Lane off
of Legion and probably other areas that you know better than I do. >> Awesome. >> Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you for that. >> All right. Oh, I got one more before you finish, Patrick. Sorry. Yes, ma'am. >> All right, that light's still on. So, just name and address and you got three minutes. >> My name is Roxy Wilson and I live at 614
Legion Drive and I am Old Destin. I have lived at N at 614 since 1978. I was the first house on the street. At one point it was a dead end and it got cut through. But what I'm trying to say is
I'm worried about the road behind my house. According to the map that was dropped off at my house, it looks like to me that the road is coming closer to me, the back my backyard than anybody else. And I'm worried about a car accident. You never know what's going to
happen. A car could come right through my backyard. My grandchildren play there all the time. I'm very concerned about safety in that respect. I'm also concerned about speed. Um, you know, I watch them go down my street 90 miles an hour for a long time and the same
thing's going to happen behind me. Is there any going to be any like speed bumps? Are there any going to be any kind of I know this is there y'all are supposed to talk about a wall tonight or a fence? I do believe that there needs to be more than just a fence. A vinyl fence is not going to solve the problem
that I have and um it's very very important to me. Um, I need something that's going to stop a car that's going to come through my backyard. And I'm also worried about lighting lights. I mean, I live in my backyard and have for years. And you know, to think of the
quiet going away is one thing, but also lights, you know, like if you do a fence, it's going to be like strobe lights. The noise is going to be insane. Um, it's going to take a lot away a lot of my quality of life. And um so I just hope that you take these concerns uh in
hand when you're trying to decide what you're going to do back there. I think a nice wall would be wonderful. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Yes, sir. >> Good evening, mayor and council members. I'm Joe Fitzpatrick. Uh reside at 3879
Indian Trail and also own the adjacent parcel. Uh this is my third time at city council and I appreciate the attention that uh city manager Jones and staff has provided to me. Since my last uh council meeting, I provided a comprehensive overview just so staff was a little and
council was a little more a breast of the situation. Uh in addition to that, also met with uh city manager Jones and staff and also submitted a follow-up proposal. So I appreciate the attention thus far from council and I look forward to any insight and direction. uh to move
things forward and progress. And what better way to at least come to some sort of structured resolution and path forward with National Flood Awareness Week. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Anyone else in the middle? All right. Yes, ma'am. >> I'll go. Thank you.
>> Hi. Um Ma Groves, uh 3611 Rosalie, Dustin, Florida 32541. Um, I'm just want to say we all really enjoying the new city park, but I live on Holiday Isisle and and I am a pedestrian down there at most times and I've noticed that there
doesn't seem to be a sidewalk where the old parking lot used to be and I'm concerned about the safety of that because when cars are all parked in that and people are walking down the middle of the parking lot, there's going to be accidents. So, I didn't know if there was a plan in place to add a sidewalk. Yeah. Okay.
>> Awesome. Thank you for the input though. Thank you. >> There's some Yes. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Rob Valatin. I live at 508 Norgo Road here in Destin on Holiday Isle. I'm a member of the Holiday Isle Board of Directors and Treasurer and I'm here representing the
1900 properties and the residents of those properties. Um we thank you for your continued support. By the way, it it's much appreciated. We uh feel very much that you're we're on the same page here. Um I wanted to share some additional data points for you that are
in our PCRs in addition to not allowing commercial activity in Holiday Isle, but the PCRs also provide in section 4.16. Um quote unquote limitations. No lot, parcel, or any portion of real property subject to these covenants shall be
dedicated, sold, conveyed, or transferred, leased, or used as a public beach access, or in any way other than as designated on the Holiday Isle plat. A public beach access includes any access that is not for the exclusive use
of Holiday Isle property owners or their guests." unquote. The Noriego Point property deed to the city in 2010 as a public park existed long before the PCNRs were amended to include section 4.16 language. So the property purchased by the state from Robert Grian Company
doesn't have the same designation history for a public park obviously because it was going to be a condominium at the time up until last year. Thus, in addition to the business operation prohibit prohibitions, we can assert that the state land cannot be used as intended absent an amendment to the
PCNRs allowing for a specific exception, but only under the conservation zoning use limits or the like. We understand that the city and county desire to enter into an interlocal agreement which we support but also the the Holiday Association is a third party with a
strong vested interest with legal standing in the property and offer you our support to prevent commercialization of the property. So thank you. All right. All right. Anyone John? Evening, mayor, council. Uh John
Stevens, 45 4025 Indian Trail. Uh first, I just want to compliment staff on the QR codes payment system that's at Joe's Bayou. Um it's actually pretty easy to use and that's a great first step moving forward. Um so today, first day of spring break, so at 9:00 a.m. um at
Joe's Bayou boat launch, what do I see? Spring Breaker is sitting on a cooler waiting for their uh their pickup from an illegal charter with no code compliance officer or staff member in sight. So, uh um it's too early in the season to already start dealing with a
potential legal charter activity at one of our public facilities. Um having this moratorium on liveries, it's it's frustrating um as a legal charter activity has been happening every year with no solution. Um, this hurts businesses have been doing it right for all these years and it makes me want to
run as an illegal operator because I feel like staff is more focused on looking at the businesses that are doing it right than the legal operators. Um, one other thing to note um, with the Destin Marina um, launch temporary being closed. Um, I'd um, suspect that Joe's Bayou is actually seeing a lot of
increased usage right now. Um, so with that increased demand um, and not only that, all the businesses are actually pinning their boats in the water to get ready for the season. I seriously doubt a lot of these businesses are actually paying. So if you actually have either a code compliance officer or a staff member there to pretty much make sure
that people are paying. I mean not only that you can actually see what illegal activity is actually going there. Um you might be able to potentially generate net positive revenue. I mean once you see how much business is actually occurring without y'all knowing it. Um I'd even be curious to see the uh compare the security camera footage
compared to the actual revenue that's being generated through this QR code. and be real interesting to see if it fiscally makes sense to have someone there right now. That's all I got. Appreciate it. >> Thank you for that. >> John, just so you know, I'll be addressing that exact issue with
Michael. We've already talked about it. >> Mr. Dallas Don Dallas 442 Snapper. Uh y'all know my situation for the last four years. Garage flooding
because the streets are not fixed. Y'all know that. Okay. I appreciate y'all for trying. Mike, Larry, Mr. Justin trying to fix it. Put that little grate in there. It works a little bit, but we get a hard rain. Whoop! Right in my garage.
11 ft about that deep. Still going on because the city has not been fixed like it should have been 2017. Like all the other streets surrounding my street except for my street. Y'all know all the purchases you've been doing. I've been
here 7 years. 16.5 million here, 9 million here, 400,000 for this stuff. Blah blah blah. Which is all good. The street needs to be fixed permanently. No band-aids. Okay. I keep hearing we don't have the money. We always got money to
do whatever. I'm asking the council uh to please I I I put in for a grant with a lady over here two years ago. ain't heard word from it. Y'all get a grant to fix Snapper Drive and you don't have to do a
heck of a lot of it. I'm the only one on the street got swolls. That's it. Okay. And that's where all the water's coming. So, you know, the city of Dest uh y'all know what you're supposed to be doing. Public works is responsible for
maintaining city infrastructure and public spaces including streets, storm, sewers, grounds, facilities. The department storm water management that's this week right storm water uh management the department manages storm
water systems and ensures compliance with storm water regulations including maintenance of swalls to prevent flooding and pollution. Okay. Uh and public works. This is the one I I
love. They're they're trying to help me, but that customer service public works responds to public inquiries, resolves issues, resolves issues four years and got done and ensures the quality of
services provided to the community. This is on y'all's website. Okay. So, again, I keep hearing we don't have money. We got money to buy everything else. But, uh, I wish the council would try and, you know, get a grant to fix my
street. At least start with some, you know, other than what my man right there tried to get done. He got it done, but it it ain't working. I know some other folks brought stuff by my house to dig up my yard or dig up my flower beds and
put all this stuff in there. Well, I can't do that. I'm 78 years old. Plus, I got bushes and roots and all kind of stuff. I shouldn't have to be doing that because I pay my taxes a month in advance. So, I save a hundred bucks. My flood insurance went I know.
We're done. Okay, cool. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Yeah, you're good. >> My flood insurance from when I moved here 7 years ago was $400 a year. Now, it's 800 bucks a year and I don't live in a flood zone. Okay, that's why we bought the house. We
looked at several houses in Dest. They were in a flood zone and I told the wife, "Nope, we ain't doing it. Now I got to pay 100 bucks a month or I'm sorry, a year." So anyway, if y'all can get the money rolling, I'd love it. Mr. Gilly, I appreciate you for bringing it
up the last time I was in here about a month ago. And hopefully y'all can get together and get some get some money going to fix some, you know, start with other than what we got right now. I know y'all ain't got millions of dollars to do all this stuff and I I I heard how much it's going to cost to do dig up the
street and all that mess, but start off somewhere because what what you're doing ain't working. But thank y'all. >> Thank you. >> I know I ran over, so I'm out of here. Oh, one more thing quick. Uh I I can't shut up. I'm going to make a little
announcement. This Saturday at Baytown Warf, I've been doing this for 5 years with uh Joe owns Emerald Coast Customs, we put on a car show from 8:00 in the morning to 3:00 or 4 in the evening. Baytown car show, hot rods, whatever.
Lambos, you name it. And it's for the children in crisis. So that's this coming Saturday. Supposed to be beautiful. So I hope everybody comes out, excuse me, hope everybody comes out and spends your money and get raffle. They give away stereoss, all kind of stuff for raffle tickets. 50/50. So
hopefully you all come out. Thank you. Bye. >> Thank you. All right. Anyone else? All right. Seeing none. All right. We'll close the public comments and we will move on to the consent agenda. We only have 3A. Do I have a motion?
>> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> With a second and a motion. Seeing no comments, we will call the vote. There we go. Cool. Oh god. As much as I agree it's technology,
sometimes it's also the user. There we go. 70. So moved. All right, Mr. City Manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. Item 4 A on your agenda is regarding the supporting America 250. This is resolution 26-03.
Uh the resolution provides that the city council designates the year of 2026 as the America 250 celebration year in the city of Destin and supports the Okaloosa County America 250 uh commission which is to operate from the
date of adoption through January 31 of 2027 and desires to participate in supporting America 250 with other municipalities and with Okaloosa County and we recommend you adopt this resolution. >> Awesome. Thank you for that. Um, do I have any Do I hear a motion?
>> I'll make a motion to adopt that resolution. >> All right. In a second. >> Right. I have a motion and a second. My only uh comment there is I want to thank our mayor prom for stepping up on there. I am running out of bandwidth. So, she's graciously stepped up to be our representative. So, thank you for that.
>> I have to give Miss Tamara, our our doctor PIO. She is totally helping me get through this. So, thanks Tamara. Birthday girl. You have to recite the decoration. >> Yes. >> Nice. All right. With that, I see nothing else
on the board. So, we'll call the vote for 4 A. All right. Eyes have it. So, move 70. Passes unanimously. >> Thanks, Sarah. Mayor Dr. Jones. Item 4B is regarding the state park on Holiday Aisle in the pursuit of reszoning
property to conservation. At the February 17th meeting, Mr. Destin made a motion to place an item on this agenda um to take a vote on working collaborative collaboratively with Okaloosa County to pursue resoning of
the subject parcel to conservation consistent with the Norya Point Park and to jointly move forward with the development of a public park that reflects the community input expressed by county residents. That motion passed. And so tonight, we're presenting you
with that process, uh, which would require a future land use map amendment, uh, amendment to the city's comprehensive plan, the future land use designation on the property, the resoning of the property, and amendment to the existing development order. So, there's a lot of things that has to
occur before we get to moving to that conservation. Uh, as you know, we have a meeting in the morning with the board of county commissioners. We're making a request uh regarding an interlocal agreement. So uh we look for your direction as to how you want to move this forward if you want to initiate
that process now if you want to see how that interlocal agreement moves forward. So we look forward to your direction. >> All right, Miss Cop >> and and just for a reminder to date the county still does not have a legal interest in the property or any lease or contract with the state. So keep that in
mind. >> All right. And then uh Councilwoman Traml, did you have >> you? Okay, Councilman Dustin, >> I I would suppose that since they do not have an ownership interest in it yet, that we might be slightly premature,
the state of Florida owns it and they may be the people that we ultimately contact. >> Yep. So, you know, depending on how tomorrow goes at the next meeting, we may move forward with this and contact
the state and and try to get their cooperation and moving forward on this. >> I just uh >> how about we we uh move it to the next meeting. >> All right. Consider that done. All right. With that, Councilman Bagby.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I'm not sure and until something happens that we need to just keep bringing this up at every single meeting. Although I appreciate the the turnout. You know, it's one way to put people in the room. U I I would just say
I think there's still a chance that the state may change the manager. I think there's a chance that, you know, I know the county has backed off a lot of what they said they were going to do based on
the last plans that Mr. Palmer showed me Friday, but has still didn't get my support. >> So, uh, because it's still competing with businesses in Dest. And so, um, I
would just say I I wouldn't even put it on the next agenda. I would I would wait until we got better clarification from the state, but if if you want to put it on every two weeks, that's fine. >> Well, of course, if it is on every two weeks, it's an issue that just doesn't
fall between the cracks, >> right? >> I don't think it's going to fall. No, I don't think it is either, but I, you know, at some point we're going to have to approach whoever is in charge and and tell them we recommend that we go to conservation, which is exactly what the
state of Florida said we had to do on our Noria Point Park. And and if they are not in favor of that or if the county commission is not in favor of that, they need to tell the public they are not in favor of having that property designated conservation. And I invite
any of those folks who want to make that statement to come forward and make it. So I'll I'll move that it be moved to the next agenda. >> All right. And with a motion. Do I hear a second? >> Second. >> All right. We'll continue discussions. Councilman G. >> I think we need to keep it active on every meeting till we get a resolution.
Uh mainly because the amount of lies coming out of people's mouth about who they're reaching out to, who's being contacted. I mean, I was only contacted one time. when I disagreed, he called the police on me. So, or the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department on me, and he hasn't reached out or allowed me to
reach out since. So, I think it's it's very important we keep this on the agenda every single council meeting until we have some type of resolution. >> Councilwoman Traml, >> I was just going to say I agree. I think u the public is fully aware that we are
all for making it conservation. We have all spoken out to that effect every just about every meeting. So, it's not like we've lost that avenue to go down, but I agree that we need to keep it on the agenda. But
please don't be upset if it keeps getting postponed because the state hasn't done anything. So, we really can't do anything until they do. So, that's what we're waiting on. Thank you, >> Councilwoman Abe. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I agree with my fellow council members up here. We don't
want you guys to feel like we're not trying to push this for you, but I will make it public that um I had set up a meeting with Mr. Palmer, Commissioner Palmer, and felt like it was a waste of time. So, I've canceled that meeting and I'm hoping tomorrow morning we'll find a little further step, hopefully, whatever their thoughts are. But, at this point,
we're we're very sure that what we want is to continue what it is at Norga Point, a continuation of a conservation park so it stays beautiful, pristine, and a beach, not a paved parking lot. So, we we've got your back. We all want the same thing here in this room.
>> Yep. And then with very nice. Um yeah, from my discussions with Commissioner Palmer, uh he expressed to me um he said we wanted to color, so I brought my colored pencils and a and a blank map. Um but it seemed his biggest um request and demand or his
non-negotiable to use his term was uh the most amount of parking possible uh there. And so that was very alarming. And so we tried figuring out well how much is enough and let's just keep going down and down. Uh but that was his
non-negotiable when we had our discussion was the more parking the better uh on the parcel itself. And then from there, it talked about uh the park, I guess, the parking that's already there in our rightway currently. And I don't know if this board's ever really
considered uh what we wanted to do there, if we're going to use it for parking or or paid for parking or how that would work. Um but I know that's a discussion that will eventually come up. Um, and so I just wanted to relay some things that we talked about and really
to make sure that we're not uh abusing y'all's time and making sure that when you guys do come, it's for the the right meeting at the right moment for the right decision making. Uh, uh, Miss Cop, do we stay in contact with the Holiday Association's um team or lawyer or
anyone of that nature? >> Yes, we do. Okay. Um the Holiday is well the HIA's attorney has reached out to us regularly including today. Um she had sent correspondence to the county attorney and the county administrator.
Um with respect to Holiday Isles position and so I forwarded that to you all today because I was copied. She's keeping us in the loop. But um the Holiday Isle attorney's letter said that Holiday Isle supported our version of
the interlocal um but also that they wanted a role in the approval process and a say um they also talked about um some issues important to Holiday Isle um as far as Commissioner Palmer's comments about how Holiday Isle um in in his mind
may have waved objections to commercial activity and she was explaining that short-term rentals are not considered commercial. She cited some case law and she said Holiday Isle certainly does object to anything commercial and that would be a violation of their CCNRs. And
I'm paraphrasing this is her letter, but I you all have a copy in your email. >> Awesome. And then my last point there is as we continue this uh every uh meeting to have this on there, I just ask that we keep them a breast of if if there's any been any new movement. I'm sure they
will know as soon as we know as well. Uh but that way um they can disseminate to their uh parcel owners, you know, if anything new has come or if we're just having it on here so it doesn't fall through the cracks because I would hate to have them miss something that's a crux of a matter.
>> Yeah. And just like when we um approved our draft of the interlocal to start the negotiations with them, we did that in a public meeting and we've been doing all of our steps in public meetings. So, you know, we we will take something to you all first and then when you're good with
that, we'll bring it to um the county and let them provide feedback and then bring it back to you again. So, our intent, city manager and staff is to have everything in public for everyone here. >> And with that, um thank you for bringing
that up. So, the county staff report then and how they've addressed how we've handled this. Anything further you'd like to clarify? Probably not, but I will. They've um as you know, we passed a a
interlocal agreement that we delivered to the county probably at least five weeks ago, if not six weeks ago that and the crux of it was let's work together. has come up with a plan that your board of county commissioners approve, the city council approves, and we'll go to
the state hand in hand and um get something good done. Um and that when we delivered that, we said we fully anticipate some red lines and some edits and some changes and suggestions. We got none of that. Um they have on their
agenda tomorrow a substitute interlocal agreement that really says we'll work together and if y'all don't like what we're doing with then we'll go do our own thing. So not real pleased with the result of that. So I believe that we will have a president set their
commission meeting in the morning to express that and let them know that we're very much looking forward to work together, but there are certain things that are perhaps non-negotiable and primarily that's setting aside our codes to accommodate your wishes. Um seems
like every day something new arises that kind of muddies things up. So, we'll continue down that path, but we will have a presence there in the morning and look forward to seeing what comes from there. >> Yep. And the only thing I'll add is I think that what I understand at least
from staff is the sticking point and I haven't heard this from the BCC yet, but what I understand from staff is that they do not want the city to be able to um say no to a management plan that they provide to the state. They our agreement
said that both the BCC and the city council would be required to approve the management plan before forwarding it to the state and they have removed that. Um our other issue is again our interlocal recognizes that as of now the county doesn't have an interest yet. If they do
we would collaborate. Um and their version kind of says you know the county is going to manage this property. I don't think that's fully been decided yet until they have a contract or a lease with the state. >> All right. Thank you for that, Councilman Bagby.
>> Yeah, I would just uh in our maximum pressure campaign, just so everybody understands, uh we're not only approaching the county and the county commissioners and the county staff, but we're also approaching our state legislative delegation. So, some
of y'all see them around. They'll be out of session. Of course, they'll be back in special sess session here. But the the non-negotiables when Mr. Palmer and I sat down, just so y'all understand where we are or where we think the county is, he had two non-negotiables.
Uh, one, the parking there would be free to county residents. I don't have a problem with that. Told him I didn't have a problem with that. Their their intent is to use license plate readers. So, a car pulls into the parking lot that's there. Uh, license plate gets
red, they park for free if it's registered in Oakloo County. If it's not registered in Oakloo County, they get a bill. I didn't really have a problem with that. Now, we may disagree on the amount of parking there, but that that that wasn't a non-negotiable. The free
to county residence was non-negotiable. The other thing uh in his mind that was non-negotiable was unity of command, i.e. one person, not a collaborative decision-making process, but a one entity. And I said, well, that's fine
with me as long as the city's the one entity. Uh we can all agree that we will, you know, we can we can make meet both of your uh non-negotiables. Uh there is another one that we think is
coming from the state uh that he identified and that has to do with the docks and I've gotten the same feedback from our state legislative delegation is that we can't get uh rid of the docks. We we may be able to modify them or
scale them or something like that, but we can't just eliminate them. And since the skate state has the ultimate decision authority here, that's probably in some iteration going to be where we are. But I hope to see all of you
tomorrow morning at 8:30 >> in Crest >> in Crest View uh at the courthouse in downtown Crest View to talk about uh Noriega Point. But I think we can either convince the state or three of the
border county commissioners that, you know, the juice is just not worth the squeeze for them and they should just turn it over to the city and be done with it and get it off their hands. But we will see tomorrow morning. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you for that, Councilman Dustin. >> Just one more question to make sure we
are not asleep at the wheel. The way this process is going to work is the state would is going to have to give a lease to the county if it goes the way they intended at the moment. Right. >> The state the state doesn't have to do
anything. They can manage it themselves. They don't have to. >> I mean, if it goes the way the county thinks it's going. If if the county was to become a manager, then the likely process would be that the state would give them a lease and then under the state law, um they would have the county
would have a year to submit a management plan to the state that would describe, you know, what's going to be on the property, what's going to be developed there, and so on. and and that document, that management plan is the document that we've said we would like both the
BCC and the city to have a role in reviewing and be able to approve or reject various versions of it. >> Okay. And and are we monitoring monitoring that process so that we would know if the state has in fact or is
planning to give that lease to the county? We we know from the state that there would be no submission of a management plan before June at the earliest, but we don't have any information from the state about the state of the lease. Um,
which might be a good thing. Maybe there won't be a lease. >> And that's exactly where I'm getting. Um, every action of the state is subject to a >> a Department of Administrative hearings action. And when you file a DOA complaint
against the state action, it puts the state action in obeyance, but it has a time frame that you have to meet before during that time that you can apply for that DOA challenge. So, if you would
find that time frame, if I remember because I've been involved in several of them in fishery issues. I thought it was 30 days, but we need to know how long it is. And we also need to be notified when or if they are about to issue a lease so
that we can file that challenge should we not get to an interlocal agreement. >> And another thing I'll point out is the state has to forward the lease to the county. But unless the county does business very differently than most
governments in this state, the BCC would have to consider the lease and approve it legally. So even if the state was to forward it to a staff person at the county, that would have to be brought to a public meeting for approval of the lease. So we
would find out about it, but I will follow Larry and I will follow up with the state. I want to make sure we don't miss that deadline >> because a nice DOA hearing usually can last up to one or two years. It's like a trial and then if you uh don't prevail, you have the opportunity to go to the
circuit court. And so we are far from without our rights if it's going to go through the county. If the state's just going to do it themselves, then you could still challenge it, but I don't know on what grounds. But we need to make sure we do not lose our window of opportunity on a DOA challenge.
We'll definitely do that. >> All right. Thank you for that input, Councilman Schmidt. >> Yeah. Thank you, sir. I know we talked to the D a little bit. >> H Why have we not officially gone to the state and asked for the lease ourselves?
>> We did. >> We certainly addressed that with them. >> So, can we take the official approach to do that now? Like with our direction? Yes. >> Would that be a step that we could take? >> Certainly. >> Wouldn't that be another level of pressure? Yes, you can.
>> Is there a reason why we don't want to go ask for the lease of the property? >> I can't think of one. >> That's a decision for this council. >> Just curious. >> Yeah. >> We want Do we want to lease the property from the state? >> We can decide what's going to happen to it. >> No, I I don't I'm not opposed to that.
But I think the the problem is the cabinet approved in their decision in that 293 pages. My memory is is they assigned the county or they approved the county as the manager
of that property is my memory on the state. I think the state can change their mind. Yeah, they can change their mind, >> but D can't change the >> cabinet's decision. So, it would have to go back to the cabinet. >> Got it. >> Yeah.
>> Well, for all >> for all hell of it, let's just go ahead and give it a shot and I'll make a motion that city of Dustin pursue a lease with the parcel with the state of Florida. >> We have a motion on the table, I believe. >> Second. >> Hold on, hold on. Let me let me clear this throtten first. Uh so we have a motion on the table to bring the state
park of on holiday is uh back each meeting and so any other discussion on that >> the issue on the conservation zone. >> Oh correct. Yes. The issue pursuing reszoning property of conservation. Thank you sir. All right. See no discussions on that. I'll call the vote
for 4B uh motion. >> All right. Eyes have it 70. So moved. All right. Councilman Schmidt, with your motion, please. >> Yeah. I'd like to make a motion to have the city of Dest attorney Manager prepare documents to request with the
state of Florida to give us a lease to the newly acquired parcel. >> I'll second that. Basically having to go back to D and ask or no, >> you have to go back to cabinet. >> Cabinet. Okay. >> I I just want go to the state of Florida and say give us we should operate and we
can manage it. we will determine the appropriate route and go down that route. Um but I would say um just for clarification then would it be acceptable for us to approach the state um and talk about Norgo and the newly acquired state property um together
>> as a city managed you know 14 acres plus four all together. Yeah, I think a lot of the comments keep talking about what the state will do or what the county will do, but this is our city. So, let's go do the cities. >> Let's go get it.
>> All right, Councilman Dustin. >> While I see this as a ultimate point we need to go at the time when they're going to have on their the county will have on their agenda tomorrow whether or not they're going to enter into an interlocal agreement with us. And
given the fact that they estimate it's going to take $5 million to manage that part. The uh I feel a little hesitant to do it tonight. I'll make a I would make a substitute motion to put that issue on the next agenda. We will
know how they act and uh at that point we make a decision. >> So I have a substitute on the floor. I I'll second that for discussion. I got >> Okay. Um All right. Then I have uh Council Back to Councilman Schmidt.
>> Yeah. On on that point, that's that's a that's a uh black and white type piece of paper that some staff member or some Yohoo decided to type up about what they want to do at that park. It's going to cost $5 million to manage, which includes all sorts of commercial
activity. So, while I hear you, if we keep it just as is, it shouldn't be as much to manage. Um, so I just I just think we should continue this pressure and continue doing these steps. And just because they may or may not do
interlocal tomorrow, if they do their interlocal, it's basically a blank piece of paper. We're not going to have to accept that. That's just them wanting to do it. Um, you know, I just I say we just keep putting this pressure on the original motion. >> Got I got Sandy than you. All right.
>> I get the the five million part. What staff? What is it costing us to maintain the Nora park a year a month? >> Tough right now. We haven't had it very long. Um, >> this will be our first season. I I'd
have to come back to you with that. >> Yeah. Well, it it's it's some amount of money in in addition to the improvements that will have to go on that property unless you just leave it blank. And I don't think that's really going to be a acceptable anyway. I just, you know, I think probably if we're pushed to that point, that's the way we need to go. I'm
just sure it's not premature to do it tonight. >> All right. I got uh Councilwoman Traml, then Guile. I I was just going to make the suggestion that we put a caveat on that request as uh based on their action tomorrow if they accept our interlocal
agreement we may not want to go that route. So maybe if we add if they accept our interlocal agreement um and meaning ours not theirs then we don't pursue that action until we come back to council again. Just a thought.
>> All right good suggestion council GA. I agree with uh Councilman Schmidt. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. We keep running, pushing, pushing, pushing till somebody finally gets tired of hearing us and gives in. I'm with Schmidt.
>> And I I would just say through at least my meeting with uh Commissioner Palmer, he seems to have no appetite for our interlocal agreement because he does not want to be hamstrung by the measly city
um wishes. Yeah. So, I I don't think the interlocal as we've presented it and while it's a fair and cooperative approach, I I don't believe the legislative sponsor for our district and for this project has any appetite in it.
Um, so I doubt they sign anything of that unless we can garner some support from the other commissioners, which hopefully we can. Uh, Councilman Bagby. Yeah, I'm going to support the substitute motion only for a couple
reasons. Number one, I I agree with uh Kevin's motion. The the problem is I don't think we know what the process is. So I I want the staff to tell us do we have to go back to the cabinet? Can DP
in some implementing policy decision say yes the cabinet identified on the paperwork that they approved that they voted on. Uh we have the latitude to change the manager because that was on
the documents that the cabinet voted on. And I I know if we voted on a document and the staff decided well that's not what they really meant we can change it. Uh, I just want to know what the process is before we, you know, start picking fights. I want to make sure we can pick
a fight that we can win on that issue specifically. I I get the whole pressure thing, but I think Mr. Dustin's right. Tomorrow they probably won't approve the interlocal or approve our interlocal. Uh, we are still with our consult uh
with our lobbyists working uh the legislative delegation. I know and so and D, but I want to know what the process is to actually get us as the replacement manager
approved by the that was already approved by the cabinet because I don't think it's just a hey, we we want to do it and we're going to pass a resolution or we're going to pass a vote and make it so. So, if the staff could bring that back and that's why at least at this
time I'll support Mr. Dustin's resolution. >> All right, Councilman Dustin, >> one last comment. I'll be quiet. Mayor, >> Mr. Palmer's one vote at the moment. I'm not sure he has the support that he needs. >> We want to look like the grown-ups in
the room. Y >> and I'm afraid that this will maybe put a sour taste in the other commissioners mouths now that and I think they're going to be more supportive than we may anticipate. So that's the only reason I
say let's let's see what they do tomorrow. >> Okay. Just one final thought, please. >> We've been we've been talking about this for a few months now. There's been a lot of people in the public continuing to talk about um Destin is in one voice and
Destin wants this and Dustin wants that. And it sounds like tonight I the way I hearing it is that we're now we're a little hesitant to what some of them other people might think on the commission or some somebody might you know get upset with us. I mean, all
we're doing is leaving this meeting that certain commissioners are probably watching and staff members and and and they're just going to hear that the city of Dest if the state bought that land like they did and none of this fight was going,
the city should still go pursue taking control of it or helping manage it because it's in the city. That's that should just be a no-brainer. the the the document that was the the cabinet from my understanding approved the purchase
of the property. The documents were support in the sale of the property. Hundreds of pages doesn't necessarily mean it was a requirement when they bought it. It was just a support document that says here's some things
that you could possibly do at this property and if you want to do it, hey, we also talked to Okaloosa County who said they would be happy to manage it for you. I don't think that was a binding document that, you know, makes that happen. But, um, I I I just see no reason to continue
to say, "Hey, this is the city of Destin and we want to manage that property and we're going to try to go lease it, too." So, if y'all want to work with us, let's Yeah. keep working with this, then we don't have to do it. But why why waste any more time is my only last thought. >> All right, with that, I got a substitute
motion on the floor. Do we all know what we're voting on? >> All right, >> let's hear it again. >> Uh, yeah. >> Councilman Dustin, can you help us out >> with your substitute? >> Just what the substitute was is to place
this on the next agenda >> with all information. We won't make a decision tonight. The decision will be put off till the next meeting. >> Okay. All right. With that, we'll call the vote. >> You want this? I don't need it. All
right. Eyes have it. 52. So moved. All right. And anything else? I don't think so on that topic. All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council, next item is 4C. This is confirmation of our
community development director. Um, Miss Tina Der is our recommended choice and I believe she is online tonight. If you have any questions for her, she is not a stranger to the city. She's was the director previously and his timing has
been um um very uh convenient for our need at the current time. So, we're excited that she's uh looking forward to coming back and joining us that she is willing to be a part of us and we hope you'll join us in that by confirming her into that
position. >> She's available if you have any questions, I'm sure. >> Well, hey there. Thanks for being on Zoom. Uh the last time we had a very convenient um timing, we got an awesome city manager. So >> Oh, with with that.
>> Yeah. Right. Shut up, Jim. Councilwoman Aber. >> I was just going to say good to have you back, Tina. I think we've already got somebody making the motion in the second, so I'm just going to say yay. Glad to see you back. >> All right. >> Thank you, >> Councilwoman Traml. >> Yes. I'd like to make the recommended
motion. I move to uh confirm the city manager's recommendation to hire Tina Deer as the community city's community development director and welcome. >> Second >> and >> thank you. It's great to be back. >> Councilman Bagby, do you still have the
second? >> Oh, you got the second. All right. Yes, sir. Thank you. All right. Uh any discussion? >> Any direction? Seeing none, we'll call the vote for confirmation. Right. Remember that.
>> See you soon, Tina. >> All right. Eyes have it. So moved unanimously. Seven 70. >> Welcome back. >> Thank you, Tina. And thank you, council, for that vote of confidence. >> All right. Uh >> uh I'll do the next one. Mayor, this is
4D. It is undergrounding PSC special counsel. This is Chef Wright's uh request. He is uh merging with another law firm. So, he wants to modify his engagement to include that new firm's name. And then with that, he's been with
the city since 2016. Hasn't had an increase in his hourly rate. So he is requesting an increase from 225 to 275 um which is still a discount from his regular rate for private clients which is $500 and other government clients is
usually 300. So he's recognizing his long-term relationship with the city. He is the attorney that would um be involved in legal matters for the undergrounding with the PSC specifically and he also assisted with our um
franchise negotiations with Gulf Power and FPL in the past as well. >> All right. Thank you for that. Councilwoman Traml, >> I move to accept the updated engagement letter from Mr. Wright as presented. >> Second. >> All right. I have a motion and second. Any further discussions?
Seeing none, we'll call the vote. I have it so moved unanimously. All right, back to you guys. Item 4E is the adoption of our FY27 budget calendar. Just lays out the dates of our workshops and uh the pertinent
dates that go along with the budget. So, this is just adopting those dates. >> All right. And with that, I hear a motion for the adoption of those calendar. Mr. Mayor, I'll make a motion that we adopt the calendar as presented. >> Thank you, sir. >> I'll second it. >> Motion in a second. Any discussions,
revisions? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> All right. I have it 70. So moved. >> Next item is 4F is regarding the arbitrage on the Trustmart loan. uh as you're aware uh there's certain regulations that we have to meet with
IRS when we borrow funds and we invest those funds that we have there's uh milestones and benchmarks we have to meet in and utilizing those funds for what they were intended to use for and this time particularly capital pro
capital improvement projects. Um, but the crux of this agenda item is to preserve our timeliness in using those funds and saving $150,000 that we're potentially have to pay back to the IRS if we don't meet these uh dates by May
7th. Miss Crystal has put together a budget amendment that accomplishes that. So, this would be the next step in that process and then there'll be another one in November that we'll have some more information between now and then on. But this action tonight will preserve our ability to to uh capture that $150,000
and not pay it back to the IRS. And I will defer to Miss Crystal if she has anything further or if you have any questions. >> All right, Mr. Strickland, do you have anything for us? >> No, I think um city manager Larry explained it very well. So if you have any questions, I'm right here. >> All right. Thank you so much. All right.
With that, I'll hear a motion at this time. Uh, Miss Traml, >> I move that the council adopt the attached budget amendment as explained by the city manager. >> Second. >> All right. I have a motion by councilwoman Traml, second by Councilwoman Abear. Uh, any discussions?
Seeing none, we'll call the vote. Moving and grooving now. >> I know you're going to ruin it for us, aren't you? 70. So moved. All right, moving right along. Cross town. >> Next item is 4G. Uh you heard some public comment earlier regarding this
item. Um and particularly before you >> No, we're just having Max. >> Um is regarding >> you up here? Yeah, >> that's Doug with our um consulting CI. We'll get there in just a minute.
>> Okay. >> So, um >> All right. Sorry. Keep going. >> So, this is regarding uh the potential of erecting a fence on the north and the south boundaries of that property. If you've driven by there or through it, you've seen that the fences there are in various states of disrepair and falling
apart and they it's just unsightly. Um, as some other folks have raised particular issues with some safety concerns and noise, um, while this may help in a little bit of that, this was not the idea behind this item. This was more for aesthetics, but I'm certain
that a fence of a solid type fence would certainly help with the, uh, sound um, and, you know, maintenance to a degree. But what we're recommending is that uh we move forward with allocating up to $225,000.
And that's about u uh I think it's 2400 linear feet of fence. Uh that'll take both on the north and the south sides of the the new roadway. Um and we would initially look at doing a change order with a contractor. If we find that that
may be uh out of order what we think costwise, we might come back and ask to do a separate procurement with a fence contractor, but we would certainly like to see what that would look like uh from a cost standpoint moving forward. And we think there's certainly um funds
available due to the the uh price that the construction component came in at. >> All right. And my only thought in here, but we'll get a motion or discussion first. Do I hear a motion for this?
All right, Councilman Schmidt. >> Yeah. So, I think this is very interesting and I'm glad that it's gotten brought up, but I think in my opinion, we are moving too fast on what
you might believe is a solution. Um because I think the neighbors that are here tonight uh bring up some good points and you know it's like when you driving down
the interstate or highways and they're putting up walls. I'm sure there's reasons but um I I don't I I think what you're trying to do is is to you know there's there's some maybe bad looking stuff. Well go through the city of Destin streets. We got people's front yards that look worse than these fences
and we don't put fences in front of their yards, right? So, um, and this is such a monumental project. I think we should look at some other solutions. So, I would like to make a motion to y'all bring us back some potential other ideas
to consider for sound safety and sight. >> Yeah. >> And with that, if I can just throw a suggestion out there. um the newer duplexes that are off Airport Road, uh Shane Cannon's development there. I I'm
going to screw up this name here. The Poto Carpass Scrub. Um just a really nice looking uh u bush that grows fairly quickly and very densely. Um if it was good enough for him on his private development, that might be another suggestion as well. Um maybe as well as
a fence or in lie of a fence. uh that would help from both sound, light, and maybe some of the other issues that the residents brought up as an alternative to um dead wood. Why not live wood? Uh so with that, Councilman Dest.
>> Thank you, Mayor. And I and I I think Mr. Schmidt directed that we look at the issue of acoustics and safety and the things that were brought up tonight. And I would concur with that that uh I'm sure it'll cost more, but we need to know what we can do because I think the
folks tonight brought up some uh you know, >> legitimate issues of of the noise. We know it. I mean, this is going to be a bypass. People are going to be roaring through there and and the speed bumps and the other things that they're talking about. We need to look at those
issues to slow it down. >> So, I concur with that motion. Council >> Braden. Yeah, I'm just wondering why this project's been going on for over 20 years. Why is this now all of us concerned? Why is this now being just brought to our attention?
>> It's just not being started. >> I mean, we've had, like I say, over 20 years, we've had all kind of workshops. We beat this dead horse till it was almost disappeared. I mean, I'm not saying we don't need to do something. I'm just wondering why
this all of a sudden coming up tonight. may >> I didn't know if we had an answer or I didn't want I didn't want to side road I can >> no answer is an answer I guess they don't want to leave them hanging and go to the next >> I can tell you why
we we brought it up was simply going out and seeing what it was what it looked like on either side and whether there was an appetite to to leave it as it is or to uh if we're going to put a park uh type thorough affair there uh to um
at least handle the aesthetic part of it. A lot of good points brought up tonight and I'm sure Doug and his group with half will be glad to work with us on how we um mitigate some of those uh other situations. So, we're more than happy to
bring it back at a later date. >> I I don't think it's going to be a problem cuz I won't support it, but I'm sure this council will make sure the speed limit down through is about 25 miles an hour. >> 15 >> 15. Yeah, I wouldn't doubt it. So, I don't think we're going to need no speed
bumps or nothing. >> Council Mag. >> Yeah. In fact, I raised this issue with the staff during my briefing. the uh because the natural barrier uh is is my preferred thing. I think part of the
problem here is uh we don't have the landscape plan in front of us because when I ask about the landscape plan, there are trees planted along the perimeter. Now, they'll start out as, you know, two or three inch caliber trees. And when I started at Rosemary
Beach, uh, 2003, those trees along 3A and along North and South Barrett Square were 2 or 3 in caliber trees and they were about 8 ft tall. And now you go down there and they've canopied over 30A and they've canopied over uh part of
the, you know, trees grow. uh the podacarpus hedge that you're talking about that's what's used at Alice Beach which is a sufficient noise I mean if it protects those you know $10 million homes from noise and traffic running
through there down 3A from going in I would say that would be you have the trees as they are give them a little room to grow and you put cararpus hedge in between and that's probably a good solution uh I don't worry about well it's going to become a bypass. Oh yeah,
it is going to become a bypass. That's the reason we fought to do it for the last 20 years is because everybody was using y'all's neighborhood streets as a bypass. So, we said we want to get it out of our neighborhood streets and just get it on a street that goes along. I'm
I'm not a you know, we need ballards and we need uh speed bumps and we need all this other stuff. I'm not a fan of speed humps, but we have a process. It's real simple. You can get your neighbors to sign and you can go before the public works public safety committee and you
can petition them to approve a speed hump and then they'll vote on that and they'll bring it to us and you know, you can get a speed hump if it goes through the but we have a process to do that. I'm just saying uh let's try the natural solution. I don't think that it's going
to be a problem. Well, I don't think it's going to be 15 miles an hour, but uh I don't think it and I think we can make it look naturally beautiful. Those walls, if you go over to Pensacola, those walls are ugly and they put little airplane things, you know, cuz they love
the Blue Angels and they put little stars. Those walls are ugly, period. and that's not what I think we want the city of Destin particularly in an area we're trying to make a park uh to to be what we have there. So that that's all I'd
say. and just to beat the dead horse further all the way through. Um, if I was if my backyard was a budding to what will be eventually to a small park and a large park, I would be going in my head like, "Well, man, I'm going to put a gate in the backyard, lock it from my side, and
now I got access to a park. If we put up a fence or even the shrubs, I don't know how that accesses it's on our land." So, just throwing that into consideration of I don't know if we would want that, but that'd be my first homeowner play would be, oh man, there's a park behind my my yard. Let me just make a gate and now I
got front row seats uh to it. I know we got to come up with a landscape that creates all these um checks all these boxes, but just throwing other variables that our local constituents might like or want or be thinking about. So with that, I got Councilman Schmidt's motion
on the play to bring it back or consider things. You just want everything to come back. >> Whatever I said. >> Whatever he said. All right. >> Sounded good the first time. >> Yeah, it sounded great. All right. Does anyone need to rehear the motion? I don't think so. All right.
Here we go. All right. Coming back with a lot more options. We'll call the vote. >> Yes. Yeah, thank you. >> Sy's misprocessed. >> All right. 70. So moved. All right.
Staff >> staff pay adjustment. >> Item 4J. Um couple of meetings ago, we were asked to bring about bring back some uh calculations regarding salary increases or pay adjustments of a one,
two, and 3% for your review. So in your packet you found uh a couple of tables. The first one is the FY26 impact. Uh, and it shows those totals of what a 1% a
2% and 3% increase um from for the remainder of this fiscal year would be. And that would be $47,600, $95,234 and $142,851. Below that you see a row up for the
following years uh years two and year three uh which would be compounding the increases and uh adding a 2% cost of living and a average of 2% merit
increase on top of that. So if you see those uh numbers again you see the one two and 3% uh for the total annual impact the year two and then then the year three. Um so
that was the the numbers based on um a percentage calculation. Uh you know there's been some other thoughts that maybe it would be a one-time payout so there's not a compounding effect. um perhaps the idea of a a static amount
paid across the uh each of the individual um employees so that the those on the lower end of the pay scale will receive a higher percentage than those at the higher end or some version thereof. So that's before you for your
consideration and we'll take whatever direction you provide us. >> All right. Uh Councilwoman Dram. >> Uh yes. And to add to that, when I had my briefing, I asked for a breakdown of position and the amount that they're
getting paid and the annual amount just so we could look at that. I was pretty shocked to see that we're still not paying $15 an hour for some people. Um, I mean, the state's working at that as a as a mandatory thing and I
it just was hard for me to believe that, but anyway, I just that's the piece of paper that you got tonight >> with the position. >> Yeah. And just to echo that, uh, I can be a cash register at Publix for 20 an hour. >> Yes.
>> All right. Uh, so with that, um, I don't know if there's a legislative sponsor who wishes to speak first on this or if there's a motion on the >> Yeah, I think I was. >> Oh, >> yeah. Mr. G was one. >> Yeah, Mr. G. Yep. >> Yep. He's on.
>> Yeah. Our uh I feel sorry for our person at $141 an hour. We just felt like we needed to go one penny higher the minimum wage just to prove a point. I mean, but um we have a lot of personnel here, especially
staff, hourly personnel that are are not making a wage that uh the city of Dest would uh allows them to live in the city of Desty and openly, which I'm sure is causing some people to commute
outside of Dest. We've got a little bit extra money in the account. I think we need to take some of that money and disperse it back to some of the employees that are working hard to make these things happen. As far as I'm concerned, our job up here is to give them the tools to do their job and if we
are not paying them effectively and efficiently and what motivates them to do their job at $14 an hour. So, um, I made the motion to come back with 1, two, 3% so that we could figure out
what would be a fair increase for for staff or or at least to show some type of appreciation for all their hard work. Obviously, I would like to go for the 3%, but um I'll make that motion just so that we can see where we stand. >> I'll second it.
>> All right. I got a motion and a second for a 3% raise, and that's across the bar, sir. Yes, sir. >> All right. Thank you, sir. All right. Uh, Councilwoman Traml >> again in my briefing with the U senior leaders,
I uh made this recommendation for the lower echelon of payment in within our city and they all nodded yes, we think that something needs to happen. >> So, um I'm not suggesting an increase
across the board. I would like to see an increase on the lower end of that so that our people that are out there working are actually making a living wage. >> That was all. >> That's a great Can I ask what you
consider the lower end of this just so I know >> 17 an hour? >> I mean that's still not a living wage but when you look at that >> Mike Mike Mike >> sorry when you look at that we've talked about parks and wreck. We've talked
about the library. We've talked about maintenance. A lot of these people are outside in the heat, the cold, the rain, the snow, whatever we have here. And in the >> So you said below 17. So you're talking about 10 people in the entire city.
>> I would say below 20 >> the first page >> for the largest increase. >> But below 20 for me is fine. I I don't have a problem with that. Okay. >> Okay. Councilman Dest,
>> I would uh only suggest that this is a subject that should be discussed during our budget. I don't know, unless Crystal can spit the numbers out for us, what this is going to cost to if we go to 20 or if we go to 17 or where we're going.
Um, and let's bear in mind that our entry into the F FRS system increased our salary demands by 400,000, I think. >> So, we need to have a hard and fast
number and then we need to figure out if we can afford that hard and fast number. You know, even if we said, "Okay, let's let's at least meet the minimum of the $15 that the state mandates that we should be doing." I think that comes into effect in October. We have to have
a number, and that's a number that we have to have every year. It's not just this year. So, you know, I appreciate the numbers that we've been shown, but we need to go about this in a little more rational basis than trying to put it on a motion tonight, not knowing what
it's going to cost. >> All right. Council Bagby. >> Yeah, I would agree with Mr. Dustin. Let's just look at the some facts here. Number one, we did a wage compensation study three years ago, which we enacted
two years ago, okay? Which brought us up to at or above our pure uh wage rates with every, you know, with Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City Beach, all these people. So we we because we
they our staff deserves to be uh comparably paid. So we did that. We've given them two uh cost of living increases since then and two merit increases since then
to make sure that they not only stayed competitive but increased based on their merit performance uh their compensation was done. we have uh taken them and I know that this is a
long-term compensation thing for FRS and Social Security as opposed to the short term, but 70 of the 90 employees that we have that were eligible to go transfer to FRS and Social Security picked that
option. Those are the folks that I thought you were trying to address because yes, they did see their net wages decrease slightly during this time per during the last six months or during this year. Uh our costs went up 11 and a
half% last year primarily due to staffing costs. Okay, remember half our budget is already or actually over half I believe is compensation for our personnel. So they are competitive. You know if we were
having a conversation you said hey let's go do a wage study and let's see if our people are being paid comparably to people throughout the panhandle. I would be for it. If you if the thing is I feel
like we need to help these people earn more. Okay, that that's that's different. That's that's not a factual basis in my mind. That is a okay. And I don't I'm kind of with Sandy, you know, if you want to do the $17 an hour and
you want to give them a 3% and you want to do the 19 and 20 and you want to give them a one and a half% and then let's let's call a date. Okay, I could probably support that, but to say a 3% across the board, I can't that that's
not justified. We we had the data in front of us two and a half years ago. We passed a budget that said, "Here's what you got to pay your people. Jamie and her team, Crystal, Larry, you know, all
worked and said, and we even deferred the senior leaders for an additional year of giving them a raise just so we could make sure that we paid the folks below the senior level a comparable wage. And then so last year we kicked in
or year before last we kicked in the senior leaders so that everybody would be making a comparable uh salary to their peer group throughout Northwest Florida. I just don't see the factual basis for just saying well
let's give them a 3% raise. I'm sorry. I just don't and I and I can't support that. Uh number number one because I don't think we've justified it. Number two, we we're going to be in a revenue crunch here. And yeah, you may have it
uh this year, but I think what what the staff was trying to tell you or tell us in the out years is if you increase it 120,000 this year, well, that gets compounded into a 2% COLA and a 2% merit or a 4%
merit and a 3% COLA. And the next thing you know that 120,000 becomes $200,000. And then we got to figure out, are we going to take one less deputy next year because we lost $2 million in our budget or what are we going to do? And I just don't think I if you want to do another
wage study next year, I I would support that. Uh but I'm pretty sure we are compar comparably paying our team. Thank you. Uh, Councilwoman Abear. >> Nothing. Mayor,
>> Council Schmidt. Nugget Chapter. >> Yeah. Jamie, can you explain this? Is this everybody that works in the city of Dest >> without their names next to it? >> Yes. Just by um title. >> So I So I assume then when you have like a maintenance tech who gets paid 65
grand and a maintenance tech who gets paid 36 grand, is it years of service? >> Yes. Okay. So, how do you justify like maybe this is a stupid question, but when we're talking about comparing to your peers in
other count cities, a maintenance tech in Fort Walton gets paid I don't know 36 or 60. So, I mean could some people could be getting paid a lot more than the neighbors or some people could be getting a lot less. I
don't know that am I asking the right question or >> you're asking an interesting question. >> An interesting question, right? >> Okay. >> More or less. How do you take >> Well, I mean later I'm going to have something because you know I I did a
that leadership course that y'all wanted me to go to with the staff members and I was I enjoyed it. Uh gentleman was in there and he asked for one thing and he asked me about two weeks ago again if I had any update for him. I said, "I'm so
sorry. I forgot." His biggest thing was he was asking if he could just get help paying for the Mid Bay Bridge tolls every day. He's got to pay nearly $5,000 in 2025 he spent out of pocket just to drive over the bridge. So I said, "I'll
be fine now this evening." So I think, you know, whether it's more pay or some things like that, we got to figure out something for some people. For sure. I agree. >> All right, Councilman G. All right, we just compared Niceville to Destin. I looked at a carton eggs at
Publix said Niceville $249. Carton eggs in Destin at Publix $259. That's a 4% increase. So obviously cost of living in Destin is greater than cost of living in Niceville. It's going to be greater than the cost of living in Fort Walton Beach. So if these people want to live, if we want them to work and live
in Dest, we need to pay them accordingly. If you're not comfortable with 3% across the board, make an alternate motion. I mean, you have that right. just come up here and say, "No, I don't agree with that. This is the motion I want to make." But until then, I mean, this is what I I believe is the
right way to go. >> I will make a substitute. Mike. >> Mike. >> I'm gonna hear the button. >> My substitute motion will request that Crystal bring back to us the numbers at the next meeting on what setting a $17
million an hour minimum wage would cost us and on setting a $20 minimum wage. And let's get the numbers and look at them. >> All right. >> Second. All right. I have a motion. Second. Any discussion on that?
Uh, Council Braden, >> and that um, maintenance tech you're talking about, one's making 35 and the other one's making 60 something. Do we have a cap on that? Do we have a cap on any of our wages? >> We do have pay bands that have a cap.
>> What would be the cap on the maintenance guy? >> She's looking. >> Maintenance tech. Yeah. What's the cap on that? depends on how your experience. >> So, what are we doing? >> Uh, we're waiting for a question to get
answered on a pay band. >> Sorry, I'm pulling it up. >> Yeah, hit him with a specific question. All right. All right. Looks like they're scattering. >> Sorry, just one more sec.
So for a maintenance tech position right now the max of that pay band is 60,000. >> Oh way to go. You're going to cut >> 5,000. >> There's one in here for 65. So we we do have some employees that have exceeded the max and now they're
they're capped. So the only increase that they can get is a cola increase which will also increase the max of the pay band. Oh gosh. >> And that's just a consequence of years of service and our pay band's not catching up to it. >> Yeah. >> And that was going to be my comment is you know we definitely don't want to punish someone who's been here 20 25
years. >> Correct. >> Doing stellar work. But does that answer >> Yeah. >> 60 is as is our cap. So, >> does that preclude them from getting a merit increase? >> No. How we do the merit increase for our
red circle employees is they'll get if they were going to get a 3% increase, they'll get a lump sum that's not rolled into their base rate. They would just get that onetime payment. >> Okay. How feasible would it be to do a $1,000
bonus for those that make $20 an hour or less and that's it? Just pay those give them that bonus like a summer bonus. >> Yeah, we can do anything >> cost effective. >> All right.
>> For 53 cents more question. >> All right. So to keep this going, I got a substitute motion to bring back a 17 and 20 cap or 20 um minimal. And with that, Councilman Bagby, final thoughts. >> Quick point
>> on the bridge tolls. Uh the the state government has the program because I know Jenny and I if you have the little uh thing >> sunasspass thing after the first 20 >> yeah like 30 and then it becomes very
>> through and then the next so that but that's only 15 days and then they're they're like you get a huge discount or they're free or what I thought we were just getting a huge >> Mr. Bagby, I was actually told that's been u rescendered and discontinued. What? >> That plan has been discontinued. >> No way.
>> How do you think the taxes are going to get paid for? >> All right, with that, we're going to call the substitute motion. >> We're lagging here. We're doing so well. >> This is on the substitute motion to look at 1720. I got a 52. So moved for the
substitute motion. All right. All right. So now we are into announcements which subsequently I believe are going to be you guys as well. >> So >> yes, >> we got two. First is uh Doug Pritchard and his folks from Half and Associates.
U we sent you some a report last week regarding the completion of phase one of the cross town connector and the stormwater component. and Doug is here to answer any questions you may have. Uh Doug, we thank you for that. And if you
have any comments on the um the the fence, sound barriers, bottlers, those safety features that you might add to there. We'd love to hear that as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. Come on. >> Yeah. Uh just that gray.
>> There you go. Great. Good evening. Doug Pritchard. I'm with Half Associates. for doing the CI about 6 months ago. We came in with boards and you guys were gracious enough to hire us to do the job. So, we're here today to tell you phase one is complete. It is on time. >> Hell yeah.
>> It's actually about 4 days early and it is below budget. So, kudos to your staff for chasing down city purchased materials. Saved about 80 grand on the project. Phase two is coming up. Our pre-construction conference is on March
11th. We've already engaged with CW Roberts to find more of those materials that the city can purchase and save the tax on. So, we're looking for opportunities there. Um, phase one went very well. H&T performed
uh exceptionally. We put in the largest storm chamber system in the state of Florida right here in Destin. Ask me how many gallons of water will that hold. >> How many gallons of water will that hold? >> 98,346 gallons. almost some
>> amount of water >> and that's the equivalent of instead of a 17ft swell that we were going to call a park not >> now we have a flat grassland park to work off of >> it it is it will have a slight uh pond shape but yeah okay nice big area there photos you can see um are from our
construction camera they're tracking progress they're doing time lapse um those can be set from the last week to the last 14 days to the entire project that's up and running and it's doing quite well. >> Um, and you can see some of the time lapse there.
>> Show me some time lapse. >> Um, >> timelapse. Yeah. >> With that, um, we've already started some of our utility coordination. I've got Stephanie here. She's been helping us set up all of the utilities that have to move. So, we have scheduled
commitments from them. Most of them want to do it in conjunction with the contractor's work. So, the next step is to get the contractor schedule, which I've already requested. We should have it by March 11th. So, 500 days in that contract. It's going to be a long one.
Um, and we hope that it goes as well as phase one did. So, with that, any questions about what happened out there? >> Council Dustin, >> I was just going to congratulate you guys. That was a hell of a hole and it and it looks it looks beautiful now. And
you know that I hope is a solution. We can work through the city instead of having giant giant swailes, storm water structures that are just big holes. >> That looks so much better. I know it cost quite a bit more, but it sure looks >> sure looks good.
>> Yes, sir. >> And thanks to the staff for finding >> helping you all save money. >> And uh for those who I've had a couple questions about uh Mount Dest that's over there behind it. Uh what does that look like as far as the mountain coming down?
>> Is that part of phase two? >> Yeah. As soon as we release CW to go, they're ready to go get the dirt. Okay. >> We expect that dirt will be gone within a month. >> Okay. Nice. And we're just going to ship that out >> that belongs to them. >> Okay. Gotcha. Awesome. All right. >> Thank you.
>> Uh Councilwoman Traml. >> Yes. I'd just like to say thank you. I I thought it was very well done the whole thing. Uh, I appreciate you burying all those dogouses because I had so many calls about what were those yellow things. They look like dogouses. So, we
call them dogouses. But, um, my biggest attab boy is because we had no change orders. We didn't have anything related to that. And, and as as a city, we've been known to have a lot of change orders. It seems like every time we turn
around, we're approving something. But um I appreciate all you've done and your crew's been exceptional and and staff, thank you for saving all that money. I appreciate that and I hope we can save even more when we get down to CW Roberts list, too.
>> All right, Councilman Bagby. >> This is the good this is going to be the hard part. So, >> hole was easy. >> The hole was easy. >> Thank you. You guys did a great job. No. And are are the cameras gonna stay out there for the phase two? Yes. Good. Because my biggest concern, as I shared
with staff, was not getting this part done, but keeping CW Roberts and or other contractors off of those exfiltration tubes because all it takes is one of those tractors or one of those
>> back hose or something driving over those tubes and then you've ruined the whole system and then you won't be smiling going, "Oh, how many thousands of gallons of water?" because it won't hold any. >> Yeah, we're gonna do orange fencing and silk fence to restrict that. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. >> All right. Councilwoman Abear, >> that was my question. Fantastic so far. Great job. But I was going to say, how are you going to prevent them from someone that has no idea except drive that truck, move that dirt, and then they drive over that. So, you're fencing it and keeping it from them. Okay.
Awesome. And thank you. Thank you for coming in on time, under budget, and keep on moving. So, thank you. >> All right. Appreciate you. Thank you guys so much. >> Thanks, D. Appreciate you. >> Yeah, I know. >> Yeah. Sorry for not letting you guys go
first. Appreciate you being on nine. >> Next item is um Mr. Fitzpatrick is here. Um if he's as he spoke earlier, he's been here for the last three meetings, I believe. This may be his third meeting. Uh he may have been here more than that.
We have met a number of times uh regarding the storm water situation on his lot there on Indian Bayou um or Indian Trail and um after our last conversation, I simply
asked him a question. What are what are you asking the city to do? So he presented us um after our agenda was published. So, I'm just going to share it with you, and I I briefed each of you on it prior to, but he's presented us with two options. Option one is to pay
him $460,000 for an easement and then for the city to uh bear the restoration cost of hardening the banks of the branch that flows through that property. That's
option one. Option two is to purchase the property outright for $1,275,000. So, um, Mr. Fitzpatrick's here. You have any questions or you has any comments or whatever you decide for us to do, we'll move forward with it. >> All right, Councilwoman Abear.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um, thanks, Larry. Um, Mr. Fispatrick, if you want to come up to the mic. Um, I have a couple of questions. I started doing some looking into this. you know, how could somebody that you know, bought property, what you know, what was going on. Um, is it you
bought this site unseen on the internet, never even came to Desty? You bought it both lots without seeing. >> No, I did come to Dustin. So, I've been uh, you know, in Okaloosa County uh, since 2006. You know, I own a second
home on uh, at Destin West on Okaloosa Island. so familiar with the area and moved down here and saw both lots. Uh looking at both lots, they were not impaired. Uh I confirmed my purchase with a wetland delineation which was
part of my comprehensive package that I put out. Uh compared that to county parcel records, compared that to a survey. So as I look at that and I look at the buildable lots, you know, obviously the whole lot is not, you know, a typical Indian trail 100 by 500.
Okay. I ascertained the buildable area for a lot to exist back next to my residence. Uh if you were to go look at a county parcel, you would see that, you know, where my house sits, you know, my neighbor is, you know, an 8ft easement. I don't know how, right? You know, I
don't know where zoning was when they were built, but you know, 8 foot, another 8ft easement, and then there's another house. Well, we love our neighbor, but you know, we never see him. You know, we're all focused on backwater. And so this seemed like a very logical, you know, this is where a very, you know, you're not going to put
a mega mansion, okay, but you will get a very reasonable 3,000 square foot house on this property. Uh, that was in my purchase in August of 2021. Now, I don't know if you want the whole backstory. I mean, I can more than happy to walk. Well, I was just under the assumption
that you had purchased this both properties, both pieces for $900,000 via like, you know, more of a sight on scene. Hadn't really done the years back of where this has always had this uh water issue. Um, so you had come and
looked at the land when you >> came look at the land uh confirmed with the wetlands delineation and it was actually purchased uh I believe the total purchase price was 1.45 four or five million for both parcels. >> That's right. >> Okay. Council G,
>> this is a question for city. Um, what what was your date of purchase again? I apologize. >> Uh, August the 21. >> August 21. Did we do anything to that area to any of the roadways or anything that would aggravate or cause any type of
>> Not since that time? Not that I'm aware of. And I defer to Michael or >> there's nothing we did that could have caused it or amplified it or >> No, sir. We haven't done any storm water modifications, road paving, anything of
that nature. Um 2021 to the present. >> Okay. So, if nothing's been changing, I'm just curious why you think we're responsible. >> Um well, so I'm not sure if you looked at the comprehensive overview. Now I'm not an engineer, okay? When I look at certain things, but I understand the
fact that, you know, any u erosion or any modifications that take place, you're not you're not seeing immediate action as it relates to water. In my pro uh package I provided, I provided a comprehensive overview of LAR. Okay? So, if you look at direct LADR points, which
actually I provided city manager Jones with a copy and have even more detail. Okay? It's not about has any changes been made which I you know we can go back and you know I haven't put in a public records request for all the maintenance logs and records but you know there's definitely maintenance that
has occurred but I believe the last time Indian Trail was graded it was 2016 or not graded but uh repaved. >> Yeah that was before my time and I'm not aware of any paving that's gone out there. >> Yeah. So, I don't have the exact data, but I can tell you in LAR points when I
look at the two subdivisions that I called out, I can tell you very clearly that there is a um you know, I mean, I basically have the points. I can tell you that there is a uh point Q a
total of a 16% uh dip in the road you know if you will where the swailes direct the direct uh the water through the swale which is concentrated at my parcel. I can also look at the other subdivisions with additional pipes and water being facilitated out. So you have
a combination of the rooftops, the impervious surfaces. You know, there's pictures of pipes that are being routed. And so, basically what you have is you have concentrated dip drainage that is all coming down to three pipes which increases the energy and it's right there at my property. And I I brought up
the city manager Jones. You know, I have a question. I'm waiting for my surveyor to confirm whether or not those pipes are actually on my property. You know, the coverts that are there. So you know in the pictures that water is from all these areas you know call it 20 acres
call it the county call it the airport you know all this is being concentrated and directed through two coverts that come and shoot directly at my property. Now, one of the images that I have here, you know, I'm more than happy to share and follow back up as just, you know, a consultant, you know, that I hired to
take all the radar, take all this data, everything that's available, you know, basically shows that there's clearly incision erosion that is not happening upland because upland you have a little bit more diffused flow. Okay? But then it's all concentrated down here, which is the exact uh nature and it's in, you
know, in the detail like I said, >> but none of those things were a added after the purchase of the property. they were prior to the purchase of >> well there's images you know that you're able to identify on Google Earth and I'm sure the maintenance records will show uh maintenance of swailes head walls
introduced in 2019 2020 you know so I I think you know there could be more in investigation but I highly highly suspect based upon all the data that I have there are significant changes that have been made to the infrastructure whether that be grading installation of head walls you know there's images of
head walls that are directly up at property. Uh there's uh >> adjacent to your property >> across the road. >> So it's hard to explain, but if in one of the pictures, so if you were sitting where the culvert is here, okay, there's Indian Trail Drive. So go across Indian Trail. There's another culvert. And so
you have all this water from the subdivisions that are all directed. >> Who added the head wall? >> Who added >> the city? I'm assumed the head wall. >> No, >> not since 2018. >> Okay. I mean, prior prior to that, prior to
that, >> so since since I've been here in this positions in 2019, we haven't done any capital improvement projects, drainage, road maintenance, anything like that out there. >> All right, that's what I needed to know. Thank you, >> Councilman Braden.
>> Thank you. Um, so you purchased this property knowing that there was wetlands on it and what I've been told, I guess your deed says that your property line goes to the center of a creek. >> Correct. >> And now you want the taxpayers to
backfill it so you can build on it. Is that what you're telling? >> Well, yeah, I am. I mean, because it's basically the city infrastructure that's causing the challenge. >> I'm looking at Google Earth, like you said, and I can see where the pipes are going out.
where the drainage is. And it's I mean, I've been here 59 years and it looks the same to me as it did then. I mean, there's a little ditch right there that's going out in the bay. And if it was as bad as you said it was, there should be a pretty good wash out right there >> to the Well, so I think you need to look
at the images and I would say from the wetlands perspective, okay, the property does not look where it's at in the package. >> How are we going to How are we going to back fill the wetlands? You can't. >> Okay. So, the question is, is it defined wetlands? Okay. And uh from a D there's
no permits, there's no documentation with it being jurisdictional wetlands to my knowledge. It is artificially wetlands which is caused by the hydraology of the drainage coming down. So, I mean, you know, there's plenty of, you know,
>> the problem I got is is you bought a piece of property that the property lines is is in the center of a creek. >> Yeah. >> And I had a piece the same just identical to it down in Walton County. Mine went out to the to the center of the water. It never crossed my mind to go to the
county and try to get the taxpayers to to back fill my property so I could >> Did you have a culvert directly >> sitting at the pore of the property? Yeah. >> Increasing the energy. >> It's going right out into the into the bay. And it it looks similar to this. But >> did the county or city have an easement on your property?
>> Taxpayers money. >> Did the county or city have an easement on that property? >> I I don't know. But I can't spend the taxpayers money to backfill your property that you bought knowing there was a creek running through it. So you can build on it. >> Okay. So >> I mean I'm not going to spend your money
that way to to back fill my property. Well, you've already spent my money because you've taken away 222 acres >> of my parcel. >> I haven't spent your money. I mean, I haven't spent your taxpayers money to to fill somebody else's property so they can build on it knowing they bought some wetlands or a creek or whatever. I mean,
it's just And who's your neighbor that you speak of on the other side of the creek? >> Peter boss. >> Okay, I'm done. >> Councilman Bagby. >> Oh, could I could I make one additional comment? >> Please, please. Okay. So, the question is, do you think when you look at the
erosion that's occurred, did the county have or county or city have an easement on your property direct storm water drainage to the property? >> Well, who has these? County or city? >> Okay. Does the city of Destin have a drainage easement for that cover to directly direct the water onto my
property? >> Where is it expected to go? Where is it expected to go? >> It's been going for the last 59 years that I know of. >> Okay. Is there a defined creek? What's the definition of a creek?
>> Is it on your deed? Because it says that your property lines and goes to >> actually doesn't say that. It says center line of Holly Branch. >> Holly branch. That is a creek. A branch is a creek. >> Okay. >> Probably switch. Jim Go. Jim Go. where
>> Okay. So, I I'm just trying to figure figure out. So, you you came down, you were staying at Destin West, you found this piece of property, you did all these tests or surveys or or whatever. Okay. What? So,
you I assume you had an appraisal done. >> Did have an appraisal. >> Okay. And you had some kind of study done to see you you mentioned some study that you had somebody an engineer a wetland a wetland study done. Okay. So
you had an appraisal you had a wetland study. What else did you have done to determine before you bought this parcel parcels? Two parcels. >> You know you do what every other buyer does. You run through some due diligence. You rely on records that are provided to you. >> Okay.
>> And you move forward. >> Can we get a copy of those? uh they were provided in the package. >> Okay. So we we have the appraisal. >> I don't know about the appraisal. >> Do we and we have the wetlands determination from 2021. >> I go back and look, but he said he's
provided >> because I you know everybody's up here and we're just all trying to do our our research and and get our facts straight from public records. The my thing is as a realtor, I went and said, "Okay, let's go to August 2021." And I pulled up the
listing. It was originally for $1.5 million, 1.75 acres. Uh it was, you know, days on the market was 75 cumulative days on the market. You're the buyer, new Bron Falls, all this. It says it was
purchased for sold price $900,000. Okay. I go to the property appraisers website to see is that true? Because sometimes uh it's not true. So, I go to the property appraisers certified values
in 2021 and the lot that the h the parcel that the house sits on uh was appraised at 594,000 and the other parcel was appraised at uh over 100,000. So, I said, "Okay, well, that's about right." Because it's
usually a little bit lower. So, 900,000. That makes sense. Do you have a copy of your sales and purchase contract where because you say >> you say you paid $1.4 million for these two parcels the MLS and I I'm not
calling a real people make mistakes. >> You know, if you were to go right now,000. So >> if you were to go to pull up the county right now, >> I'm at the county right now. >> You'll see Joseph Fitzpatrick purchased 3879 Indian Trail for $900,000. If you go to the adjacent parcel, you'll see
Fitz Investments LLC purchased that parcel for $550,000. >> So, you paid on the other parcel just so I make sure I'm correct on this because I don't, you
know, sometimes my common sense is my own worst enemy. the uh so what you're saying is the parcel you with the house which is the smaller parcel I I will grant you that you paid almost as much as you paid
for the parcel with the creek in it now I paid 900,000 for my house which is 74 acres >> and paid 550,000 for 1.13 acres with the creek to the
center line of the Holly branch. >> Okay. So, do you do you have the sales and purchase contract for both those parcels then? >> I do. I don't have it with me, but >> Okay. Yeah. No, I just I'm just trying to because somewhere it's not adding up in >> that'll all be confirmed. I mean, just, you know, based upon what I said.
>> Yeah. And so, I'm a little bit um like cuz I didn't grow up here like that half of the table uh and and one down there. uh you know, but it looked like that that is a long-term creek
there. You know, it's been there. It's you got trees growing up, you know, that are goodiz trees. It's not like it just happened, I guess, in the last two years. Does that make sense? >> Oh, it I mean, you could look at data points. You can look at the erosion. You could look at the movement of the creek.
And so I'm more than happy to, you know, I could I could load up, you know, documents and, you know, if that's what you'd like me to do, more than happy to do. >> Yeah. I because I, you know, it's like the audit. I read the audit one and a half times. I'll read everything you give me and I'll go, okay, it makes
sense or does it make sense or we had a few typos. So, >> so one of the things as it relates to drainage, okay, if we go back, one of the things I've also done is I've gone back through all the public records on all the infrastructure that's been built. Okay, the city council predates,
you know, majority of the members here. Okay, city council uh was well aware of all the Indian drain, all the development of subdivisions in this area. The drainage issues were discussed on multiple occasions. The drainage
issues were discussed to construct the drainage and direct the water to this parcel. That's not the fuse sheet flow. Okay? That's not what the creek used to be. The city engineered and manufactured all this piping to this culbert which has significantly eroded this parcel
from when I originally purchased. I can tell you I mean I've got all the data for this more than happy to share. I can also tell you that the city entered into settlement agreements with the upwards uh developers. Okay. In order to address this drainage because it was not addressed, the subdivisions were graded.
This water was directed. The airport's infrastructure was developed. All this water was directed to this parcel. You're not going to see an immediate change. Okay? Incision, everything, all these data points. You see a significant change in this area from 2017 based upon
LAR. We can get any other survey reports, anything that's needed. So, I totally reject the notion that this parcel sits today as it sat when I acquired it. The city's infrastructure is directly impacting this parcel. >> Right.
>> Those culberts have been under that road >> since I lived there, which was probably I don't know 40 years ago. >> So, it was it predates the city. >> The cos were there and that that water was running through there. the drainage,
whatever. I guess when they put Indian trail through there, they put a culbert under the road. >> That's where Maddie Kelly did it. >> Yeah. So, it's not like that the city went and put those culberts there. But I get what you're saying there. There there's drainage is being routed that way and going out to the bay
>> because that's the way nature's always put it is right through there. So, that's why the city's doing it. But the city didn't put those cos there and make that. >> I guess the county did >> without an easement. And so did they not expect continued uh damage to be conducted on the property without a
drainage easement? You can't take water from a 500 ft,000 ft and say that it's always gone there and say that it's okay that you grade the road, which there's images in the package I provide. There's direct images of water flow, there's changes to the culverts, there's changes
to the drains. I mean, if we want to go down the route of a public records, maintenance records request, you know, I'm more than happy to. as I said previously. Okay. I'm looking for direction from the city. I think the city has significant liability exposure here. >> Okay. I've been holding
>> Thank you. Do you all want any other information? >> No. >> Or are you good to move on? >> Yeah. >> Go ahead, >> Kevin. You presented an option not too long ago. I thought there was a document
that said city just put their hands up and say we're not doing anything. let you do something. Is that no longer an option or >> Well, I think what's been identified is the what was not identified at that point was the complete loss of the parcel.
>> Okay. So point of the buildable area of the parcel if the city's prepared to forego some of the uh setbacks and easements um you know it it's an option. And you did you say a second ago that since you purchased it, you have the
>> No, just just the actual surveys coming back with the loss >> a minute ago some about since since 2021 there has been drastic change to the to the erosion. Is that what you were saying? >> Yes. >> Gotcha. >> Okay. >> All right. Councilman Denon, final thoughts. >> Just one question. Is there any
opportunity for collaborative effort here where we may be able to get a grant? We may even be able to find some money to to modify the drain and you provide an easement so that we can do the work or is that not been discussed or have you rejected that idea alto
together? We've certainly at council direction have began looking at opportunities for grants. As you know, it's private property, so those become a little more difficult, but we'll certainly go down that path. And the option that was presented was simply
to, you know, pay a substantial amount for that easement and not so before we we move forward with what it would take to harden or armor the edges of that branch, we wanted to see what the appetite of council was, but we'd certainly be glad to look at that.
>> And that is the question I ask. Without an easement, we can't do any of that. If you want to give us an easement in lie or in exchange for those kind of drainage solutions, that's something I would think would be reasonable. We work together and we try
to we try to fix the problem. But I, you know, to pay 400,000 or whatever it is for the easement in addition to trying to do the storm water improvements, >> that's probably a little bit beyond the pale. So, I would be one council person in favor of working together
with the uh the easement being given to us so we can go get the money. And of course, you wouldn't give us the easement until we had the money to try to fix the problem. But that's one solution. >> All right. With that, um, since this is
not an action item or anything, I think we've got all our points out. Thank you for being here. Okay. And we'll move on >> and and we will certainly entertain a meeting with Mr. Fitzpatrick. We've certainly have some cordial meetings and look forward to others. And if he's immenable to that, we'll schedule a time
to sit down and see what that may look like. >> I just want to echo to Mr. Dustin's comments. >> Okay. >> Can I make one additional comment? >> Yeah, please. We'll get keep rolling here.
All right. So, I think we are at public hearings. Oh, additional announcements. >> Thank you. I do have one. Um, were you were you done, boss man? >> You're good. Okay. We have the Destin Fishing Hall of Fame on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the community center. And there
will be three inductees this year and the public is welcome to attend again at the community center 11:00 a.m. this Friday. >> All right, that's it. Okay, perfect. All right, Miss C. >> Okay, on to public hearings. This is ordinance 2528LC, an ordinance of the city of Dustin,
Florida, a amending table 7-2 of the land development code table of allowable uses to add coffee and tea manufacturing N AIC 311920 as a conditional use within the industrial zoning district, providing for authority, providing for findings of
fact, providing for incorporation into the land development code, providing for conflicting provisions, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. This is second reading. There have been no changes since first reading. >> All right. And see this is a public hearing at this time. If anyone wishes to speak on 2528 LC, this is your time
to do so. Seeing none, we'll close. Oh, >> okay. Seeing none, we'll close the public comments and I'll entertain a motion at this time. >> So moved. All right. I have a motion. Do I hear a second? >> Yep. Yep.
>> Referring to the recommended motion to approve. Yes. Make motion to approve the recommended motion in the packet. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Do I hear a second on the motion? >> Second. >> All right. Any further discussions? Tori has uh left, by the way, for for
the record. Ray. >> Ray. >> He's like, I did it 20 minutes ago. >> All right. Seeing no discussions, I'll call the vote for 5A, ordinance 2538 LC. Oh,
I think number 16, baby. Let's go. I just have it so moved. >> What the heck? >> You weren't here the other night. >> Oh, >> all right. I voted then, too, didn't I? >> Yeah. >> Look at that double whammy. All right.
5B. Miss Cop. Ordinance 2611 CC, an ordinance of the city of Dustin, Florida. >> I just want to make sure I understand this was a because I thought I covered this previous action item. >> It's a conditional use. So, it'll come
back has still come back before the council to be approved. So, if it were built next to a residential area, we could say, "Oh, no." >> Yes. >> Okay. I just want to make sure. >> Yep. This council has >> we we created an option if conditions
are met for this council's satisfaction. >> All right, Miss Cop 2611C. An ordinance of the city of Deston, Florida, amending 1480, I'm sorry, section 1486 relating to applications to city council for reduction of existing code compliance leans, providing for
authority, providing for findings of fact, providing for incorporation into the code of ordinances, providing for conflicting provisions, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. This is second reading. Also, no changes since first reading. >> All right. Thank you for that. If anyone
has uh public comments on 2611C, this is your time to do so. Seeing none, we'll pull close the public comments. And I have a motion from uh Councilwoman Traml. >> Mayor, I move to approve ordinance
26-11-C on second reading. >> Second. >> I have a second. Any further discussions? Seeing none by council, we'll call the vote. All right. Eyes have it. So moved. >> Thank you, mayor.
The next ordinance is number 2612LC, an ordinance of the city of Dustin, Florida, amending the land development code to define indoor sports recreation establishments. Amending table 7-2, table of allowable uses to allow indoor sports recreation establishments as a
permitted use in the industrial zoning district. Amending article 8 transportation table 8-6 number of vehicle and bicycle par park parking spaces required modifying parking requirements for indoor sports recreation establishments providing for authority providing for findings of fact
providing for incorporation into the land development code providing for conflicting provisions providing for severability and providing for an effective date this is first reading and I think Daniel right >> yeah I'll take it so this was a council directive for staff to bring forth an
ordinance to allow these indoor sports recreation establishments as a permitted use within the industrial zoning district. So tonight, staff has um come forth with that that ordinance. And so this ordinance would allow these indoor recreation establishments as a permitted use within the industrial zoning
district. As well, staff is proposing for the required parking for such use to be two parking spaces per batting cage. And then for the square footage that's not utilized for batting cages, the applicants would have to provide one space per 500 ft of gross floor area. So
that is what we're proposing tonight and we're here to answer any questions that you may have. >> All right. Thank you, Daniel. At this time, seeing that this is a public hearing, if anyone wishes to speak on this topic specifically, this is your time to do so. All right. Seeing none, we'll close the public comments. I'll entertain a
motion. Uh, Councilwoman Traml, or is this from last time? Mayor, I move to approve the proposed ordinance 26-12-LC on first reading. >> All right, I have a motion. Uh, >> second. >> Seconded by Councilwoman Abear. Any discussion?
Seeing none, we'll call the vote. All right, eyes have it 6. So moved. All right, Miss Cop. >> Thank you, mayor. This is ordinance number 2524LC, an ordinance of the city of Dest, Florida, deleting article 2, administration of the land development
code to remove and replace the existing article 2 in its entirety. Deleting article 4, public participation of the land development code to remove and replace article 4 in its entirety. Providing for regulations relating to general administration, development orders, guarantees, shies, and future
improvement payments. Providing for review processes for planning applications and general review, land division applications, miscellaneous planning applications, planned unit developments, marine construction applications, conditional uses, certificates of appropriateness, changes
of uses, appeals, special exceptions, variances, providing for regulations relating to telecommunications and wireless facilities, providing for site development and building permit review, providing for public procedures and meetings, establishing city boards and committees, Providing for procedures for
addressing and providing for development fees, providing for authority. Providing for findings of fact, providing for incorporation into the land development code, providing for conflicting provisions, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. This is first reading, Daniel.
>> Yes. Good evening again. So, I have a presentation for this item that I will not read word for word, but I'm going to quickly go through it with you all. So, as y'all are aware, article two for this LDC we write is administration. So, as Kim read out, this is dealing with processing various applications,
different types of review processes, um, PUB criteria that we've discussed at length in our workshop, change of uses, appeals, etc. Um, so as you next slide, please. As you all are aware throughout this LDC rewrite, some of our main focuses have
been language, formatting, organization, and consolidation. And then as well as uh in this PowerPoint, I'll touch on some of the items that we touched on in our city council workshop a year and a half ago at this point. Next slide, please. Next slide, please. I'm not going to
touch on all that. Y'all know what the issues are. Um so with formatting for article 2, what we've done to ease to ease the readability of applicants and staff is to implement charts for our review processes. And then we've also broken down all of the development types and subdivision types to a table that
you can locate. And then it's all hyperl to the applicable section that deals with that specific applications review process. Um it also has who has the final approval such as city council, city manager, community development director, etc. Next slide, please.
I'm not going to go into this slide too much, but what I what this slide you need to get from it is since our workshop in September 2024, there has been little no little to no change. Um the only change that we've had done is
reorganize some sections that we felt may be better located in article 2. Um so they stayed in article 2 just in different subsections. And then we have implemented a few a few small changes. Um, and that would be such as the new
platting uh process that we that y'all approved 25-17 LC. So, everything that we've done since the workshop is to be consistent with any kind of ordinance that's been approved through this body. Um, as as I was describing, we've changed the way our plats are reviewed
and approved per state statute. So, that's also reflected in this article. Next slide, please. We did implement the so in our workshop one of the criteria that we discussed or one of the talking points was the PU PUB
minimum lot size. Um staff did a lot of internal discussion and we did bring forth a recommendation actually it was an LPA recommendation as well for a minimum lot size of 5 acres and that would be throughout the entire city. So at first in our workshop we had it broken down into planning area of
minimum parcel size for PUDS. that got pretty convoluted and we wanted to be consistent and make the proc the review process as streamlined and not convoluted as possible. So we are proposing five acres um minimum for anybody to utilize a PUD application and
that's just to be able to utilize or submit for the PUD. Next slide please. Should be a couple more. Oh no consolidation you can stop there. Thank you. So, this last slide is the consolidation which tells you what lives
in each section. Now, um I don't want to go through this line by line again, but Kim pretty much laid out what's in this section. Um so, again, development order criteria, review processes, development and land division application types,
PUD, the marine construction application criteria, conditional use, and certificate of appropriateness. So certificate of appropriateness was an item that was mentioned that is mentioned in our current land development code but there's no process outlined for such certificate. Um so now
we have outlined a process for that and really that's that would only that process would only be utilized for a property that's trying to be considered part of the overlay district. Um I believe that process was created part of that overlay district. And
that's really it. Um, so I'm I'm here to answer any questions that you may have and Kim, you can speak to anything I may have missed. >> Anything? All right, seeing none, thank you for the presentation, Daniel. Uh, >> I will say the U, I'm sorry, one more
thing. So, >> the passion the >> So, the only thing that I can think of that we may need to address would be the res single family residential dock requirements. So, this is addressed in article two, which is in front of you. Currently we have it as we've discussed
in the workshop there's three different marine construction categories one two and three as we have it drafted in your packet today uh category ones would be allowed to go to the building permit stage whereas two and three would have some sort of board or committee approval
as y'all are aware there was a motion made last meeting to bring forth an ordinance to remove single family residential docks from the harbor waterways board/ city council consent agenda um process. So staff is aware. We're in the we're actually taking that
ordinance to LPA next week. Um and so we are aware that that section of this article could change and we are on board with it. Whatever y'all decide to do. >> All right. Thank you for that update. With that, I'll take a motion.
Uh Councilwoman Traml, >> I move that the city. >> No. I'm going to I'm going to have to actually say that again because it's >> I move that the city council approve ordinance 25-24-LC on first reading. >> Second. >> All right. Thank you for that. I have a
second. Any discussion, comments, concerns? Councilman Dustin. Oh, yeah. Counciloman Traml. >> I just I just have a question for staff. Can you uh send us You send us all the changes in this one. Can you actually send us article two this time?
>> Yeah, article two. Is it not in your packet? >> I didn't see it in my agenda packet. >> It's the It's the exhibit A. >> So, >> I just want it after it's already been >> I can definitely send it. I have no problem doing that, but it should be in the packet.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. >> I will send it in an email separately tomorrow. >> All right. Thank you. Councilman Dustin, do you have something? >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Seeing none, I will call the vote. Y sorry.
>> All right. Eyes have it. So moved. 6. All right. That's all for them. Okay. Councilman Braden, anything tonight? >> Thank you, mayor. Um first, um our compass system that we have. Um, I
know we spent I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of dollars on this and I don't know how we we fix it or if we can, but there's fraudulent documents being uploaded to this and permits being
in issued um because I don't think anybody's actually reading the documents. It just says like insurance provide, you know, put your insurance on there to be able to go to the next page. So, you upload your insurance and then you can go to the next page. Well, nobody's reading that just because there's a document
there, but it's fraudulent. It just goes to the next page and the staff doesn't pick that up. Um, so how do we fix that? And how do we how do we fix somebody getting a building permit
to turn a two-bedroom condo into a three-bedroom condo? totally remodeled bathrooms, kitchen, flooring, the whole nine yard. Gutted it and the contract price is $23,000. >> Yeah. How how do you get need more than that?
>> Yeah. I mean, I couldn't buy the cabinets for that. So, I mean, what do you do? I mean, people complain about permit fees and our these impact fees in the harbor. So, what do we just tell our our builders? If you want to build a million dollar
house, just put on there that you're the house cost you a,000 bucks and that's what you going to pay the permit fee on. It's $1,000. So, I guess that's going to go right on through. So, I don't I don't know what the question. I don't know what the answer is, but there there's something seriously wrong. I hate that
we spent all this money on this system and it's just I don't know. We the city of Dustin has a crack that's the size of the Grand Canyon because everything falls through the crack or just drop the ball on it or whatever. Um, so I don't
know. I don't know what the answer is, but we need to do something. >> Have you sent that over the fraudulent documents and the contract stuff? That over to staff or Larry? >> Well, I can get the the contract for >> or the the fraudulent the example. >> I plan on meeting with the city manager
this week with them all. Keep us posted, please. >> Yeah, I will. >> In the sunshine. >> Yes. >> All right. Um, next thing. Um, was it the the village
in? It's across from your place, Dewey. >> Yes. >> Is that the village in Okay. Um, as of yesterday, it's been 5 weeks that in front of that that motel, there's multiple signs out there. Three
night special, $49.95 snipe signs out next to the road. They're they're illegal. on I guess our co- compliance we're spending 300 298 $299,000 almost $300,000 on co- compliance officers
and and those signs have been there for five weeks now as of yesterday that that I know of. It could be there longer. That's how long I've been watching them. Um I mean we get Allegiant to fly in here, fly you in here from Chicago or whatever for 50 bucks. Tori gave us that
whole spill. Now you can stay three night special for $50, $49.95 in Destin. I guess that's what we're all going after. That's what we're all proud of. Or because I don't know. I'm the only one that ever brings it up. So I I've tried and I've tried and tried for years
and I'm I'm getting where I'm just beating my head against the wall and I'm just if that's what we all want the city to be, then I I'll just quit quit worrying about it. But it's it's ridiculous. I don't know. We're paying $300,000 for code compliance officers and I guess they're riding around with
blinders on like horses in New Orleans. You know, they just not not looking. I don't. So, with that said, I would like the city manager to get the council the last 90 days
of what code compliance the these seven officers, however we got what they've done. Do we keep track of verbal a verbal um warning? Do we keep track of written warnings? And then written citations
where it's actually cost money because I learned the hard way that a citation could be a warning citation, not a cost money citation. So I'd like to know what the next 90 day the last 90 days. I'd like to get that report of what's been
done. Um, I got a couple more, but I'm gonna I'm gonna skip over those. Um, for our um fabulous sheriff's department back there, um, do y'all keep track of
the same thing of verbal warning, there's somebody speeding or whatever, verbals, written, and then actual citations. Yeah, we track how many verbal warnings we give and when we give citations
>> do if if the council if we wanted a a report on say 98 from Marlor Bridge to Airport Road for say the last 6 months. How many verbal warnings, actual written warnings, and actual
citations, whether it be speeding, stop signs, whatever, is that possible to get? >> I couldn't tell you how many were verbal versus how many were written warnings, but I can tell you how many were warnings and how many were citations. >> Okay. Can you give us that on 98 and on
Airport Road, >> please? >> For what time frame? Uh just the last six months. >> Yes. >> Thank you, sir. Um I'm gonna stop there, mayor.
>> Good deal. Like it. I Yeah. Keep it going. Keep throwing wood on it. All right. >> I have nothing tonight. >> All right. Thank you, Councilman Dustin. >> Nothing tonight, Mayor. >> Councilman Bagby. Well, I want to follow up because, you know, in your last little not town hall, but whatever you
call those things, you you talked about code enforcement and all it's going to be the biggest and now it's like, >> well, maybe it's not going to be our greatest achievement in this six months. Uh the what is our
mechanism for if we find somebody that doesn't upload insurance properly or just uploads fake insurance or can we get them unlicensed? >> I'll ask Noel if she can better answer
that. >> I mean if we if we find it depends on if they're registered or state contractors. If they're registered contractors, we'd take them to the county's board. Um, if we found that there was fraudulence in
their certificates of insurance. Um, otherwise, if it's a state contractor, we'd have to turn that over, you know, file complaint with DPPR against that contractor. >> Okay. When's the last time we filed a
complaint against a contractor? um probably last year, but that wasn't because of a certificate of insurance. >> Okay. >> Typically, we double check those to make sure that they're accurate and that the information matches their license and
everything else. So, >> I'm not sure which one >> the reason I asked for the mechanism because this is the exact same issue we have on the docks on the NPEB. Okay. where we we're going to charge you based
on what you tell us the improvements cost. And of course, they build a dock for a you know 125 ft vessel for $5,000. And so we collect on the $5,000 even
though everybody up here knows you couldn't park a 125 ft vessel at a $5,000 dock. And so, but we're relying on them >> and their honesty and and so >> where's the follow?
>> Yeah. I do to what level do we check the inputs into the system? I guess that maybe that's the bigger question here. I mean, if I if I personally see that it's a way lowball thing they're throwing out there, I call
them out and say, "I don't know where you're getting this cost. Can you please give me a different number, a better number?" I mean other than that I would compare it to the ICC's um standard that they have for but it's
for on that's all for new construction so you have to kind of >> so is this like code it's is if we see something in compass I'm not even sure how you found it and I don't want to know but if if we tell you then you'll go look at it and then you'll take them
and to the board. >> Yes, I can do that. >> Okay. All right. It's kind of like the signs. So, if we see signs cuz I have been noticing a lot of signs popping up and it's not even political season. It's just power washing and outside my
neighborhood all these painters and everything and I'm like, where the heck are all these signs coming from? I challenge anybody to go down Legion Drive that the people was talking about on the cross town connector, that Legion Drive portion from Beach to Benning, just that just that little stretch.
Drive that road and see how many code violations you can find. >> Well, there's a lot. >> There's a pile of them just on that little tiny stretch. >> Okay. >> All right, Councilwoman Neighbor. >> Thanks, Mayor. Um, a couple of things and I've kind of already breached the
information with Larry. The first one is um the ghost chairs. I know that that's private beach. It's private owners, but the 20 chairs that are set up and you know there's nobody there all day, but it's just all down the beach. Is there
anything that we have as far as like an agreement with any of the owners and the chair vendors that you know, hey, can you set up five instead of 20 until they're filled? Or is there anything we can do as a city to help our citizens
who were asking why do we have so many ghost chairs and nobody's on the beach? Is there anything we can do to help with that private owner of that condominium deal with the the chair vendors? >> It may be limited, but if you'll give us
opportunity, I'll confer with council and see if if that would be a an ordinance amendment or some um working with the whatever association those vendors may have. But we can certainly address it and see if there's something we can come back with.
It would be nice if we could do something soon because it's just going to get worse as the year goes on through the summer. Um, and then the other question I had was also John had come up talking about the parking at um, well
the enforcement rather at Joe's Bayou and I called Michael earlier today because I asked the city manager about it. So for the record, Michael, will you explain? Yes, it is day one, but here's what it's going to be done. >> Sure. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um,
very proud to announce that we have started our new uh paid parking program effective yesterday to So, today's day two. Um, at Joe's Bayou, like um John stated that we do have the QR codes up now. So, the honor box that we've had up
there for years and years uh has been covered up and it's it's even better. It's gone. So, it's we're we're receiving exclusively digital payments for our boat launch fees which are $25. It's remaining at $25 plus the
applicable fees and taxes. So, the so that'll be just a little additional uh cost, but it'll offset the expenses to the city. Um, the cameras have not been installed yet, but we have gotten the electrical contractor to drop power over
there for the camera installation. Once that's done, now if we have any people that are going to go launch a boat and not pay, if that camera sees your trailer tag come in and then you don't pay in a certain amount of time,
you'll automatically receive a citation. Okay? So, it's assuming that you haven't paid and you won't pay, but that that hasn't been enacted yet. Um, as far as picking up passengers from Joe's Bayou
like a rogue operator would, we don't have any mechanism other than monitoring the camera that Andy and them had installed there last year, and we just don't have a staff member dedicated to watch that. Now, we do have Parks and Recck does have a part-time staff member
down there that can I'm sure I don't want to speak for Lisa, but uh that will be present for a portion of the time, especially probably on the weekends, but the um as far as Joe's Bayou is concerned, the
the cameras once they're installed that will be set up in such a way that you will have to pay or you'll get a citation automatically there. So, we're uh kind of looking forward to having that and the uh finance team won't have to go empty that honor box with all that
wet cash in it. >> Okay. And then the question I have for you, city manager, is can we not have one of our code enforcement folks at least be a presence in the morning at most of the time when those
rogue operators are doing their drop off, especially during the spring break between spring break and then summer. you know, having that nine o'clock to like 11 o'clock somebody at Joe's by you to sort of show force that, you know, we're not going to allow the rogue
operators to come in and do their thing. >> Yes, ma'am. We can certainly give it more attention. Probably wouldn't assure you that somebody be there 100% of the time, but we'll make it a priority that uh we'll keep an eye on it and give it our best shot to get them
under control. >> Okay. Thanks. That's all I have. Mayor, >> just one comment on that issue. So, we don't have a staff member at the Joe's Bio Ramp during this spring and summer season. >> Not full-time. What? Yeah. Lisa, what's
our schedule? >> I have a part-time person and he was um we have just one part-time person right now. Um we will fill in as we have been with um other parks and recck staff.
Yes, we believe that we'll have somebody there just to help. Of course, he won't be taking money now, but answer questions and also, you know, get them to the right ramp. >> Okay. My question is in the past, did we
have one there full-time taking money? Did we monitor it most of the day? >> We pretty much I try we only have one that is employed to actually be at Joe's Bayou, but I did bring in other staff
members and we did try to have somebody there pretty much um every morning until about 1:00 Monday through Friday, Friday, Saturday, and Sundays. staff until about 6 to
let's just say around six >> on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays all day till 6. >> So that's not what we're going to do now. >> Is that what we're going to do? Probably >> my question is what have we changed? Because I can tell you if we don't have somebody down there most of the time,
the sheriff's department's going to be very busy. >> Yeah. >> Because >> I believe we're probably going to have to be the same way. I know there's been talk like, "Oh, we'll get a rid of staff," but I had my staff there today.
I was there actually today. Um Wayne did leave a little bit this morning because he didn't have any water. We didn't have stashed. Um but we will have people there, I think, probably like I did last year and all
the other years. That's what we need. While the automatic >> toll system is lovely, >> if you don't have somebody there to separate the uh Budweiser from the right other beers, >> you're going to have >> and that's what I've been saying is the money is not the only thing >> they're going to be fighting down there
all the time. >> Right. Okay. >> Yeah. So, my question is, can you at the next meeting come back and tell us what the plan is? Because here's here's what I see happening or have seen
happen is we got Joe Bayou covered and then they're there and you know the little boat operators, they're pretty smart. They're pretty sneaky. So, hey, I'll pick you up in the harbor at the city dock behind Dwy's or the fleet or
whatever. Oh, well then at that next meeting we'll be complaining about we saw 12 boats pick up, you know, right next to John. I mean, he's got pictures of them. Can we get somebody down there? And the next thing I know is they're picking out up on Noriega Point or
they're picking up over here and we're just playing whack-a-ole. And we got to figure out how not to play whack-a-ole uh or do it smart through some kind of technology. You know, we got the camera down on the harbor. We got the cameras coming at Joe's Bayou. We got, you know,
they'll they'll pick them up over at the old cement plan. I mean, that can we have kind of like a holistic plan or maybe y'all have some secret plan every day at some place different or something, but just to say, "Yep, we're
going to put somebody down at Joe's or at the boat launch. Great. We won't catch anybody, but we'll pay somebody to be there all time. So, what can we get a comprehensive plan, please? >> All right. Thank you for that, Council
>> Schmidt. City manager. >> City manager. Thank you. >> Heard you loud and clear. >> Thank you. >> Got it. >> This is great. This is great conversation. I I love it. Um, no, you guys are, you know, you're talking about some good stuff and I feel like we've have never talked about some
of these things, but >> here for 16 years. >> Well, I will say a couple notes. First of all, you want everybody to pay at Joe's B, you just put a little lift gate right there. You can't get in without the lift gate opening. That'll solve that problem
>> for getting in, right? Not it won't solve the illegal problem, but it'll solve the people to pay. then we don't have to worry about Jim, Dick, or Tom or Harry collecting any money. Um, and I think we have parking funds that will pay for things like that because it's a parking lot, right? So, that's a
possibility. Um, just a thought. So, then speaking of code, because it's a important thing I think we've all talked about. I'm concerned and I don't want to go down this road tonight, but um it's it's a I
mean, this is the same thing we've talked about for the past five years since I've been up here again. And here we are. Community development director is gone again. And now we have another one coming back. Um, I hear we the manager, Chris. >> Mhm. >> I think he's going to be doing a good
job as a manager, but I I think we might need to start looking at what maybe y'all did in the past, maybe you didn't do this, but I don't think the community development director should be focusing any of your time, energy on, well, maybe not any, but on
code compliance. You know, there's so much going on with compass and building and permits and everything else. co- compliance is one of the biggest issues we always have up here, you know, and I don't know if it's a separating two different divisions or whatever, but
maybe keep that in mind while you're doing all this other research because I don't know, may maybe having somebody a different director, something because it's important and we're talking about the same thing every single year,
you know. So anyways, um just one idea. I would like you, Larry, please, if you could work with Crystal and Jamie, maybe a little Google's monkey survey, find out who might be interested or benefit
from a Mid Bay Bridge toll supplement and what that looks like costwise. I get that the the the the complaint then might be, well, I come from Mary. Are you going to pay my gas? Like, I I get that. I understand that. But I I
would like to at least pursue first what that looks like for the Nashville people. And then if while y'all are doing this, if you have these other ideas, please feel free to add to it if you don't mind. be glad to be and to that end we have had that conversation a number of times trying to figure out how
to get that balance but doing the survey and finding out how many >> y'all talk about it and then maybe let us make a final decision for you. You know what I mean? >> Glad to thank you. Um, and then I will say I do know somebody, I'm not saying
it was me, but um, they submitted a expired certificate of insurance, not for building, but on a different topic, and the staff did a very good job of highlighting it was expired, and they said, "So and so, you might want to just
double check." So, I'm just, you know, not they are, some people are checking some things. And so >> did you update your insurance? >> It was sent right back. It wasn't me. It wasn't me, but I confirmed it was done. Um, so you know, I'm not there are there
are they are doing a lot of good things, too. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but yeah. So, kudos. Thank you. >> Well, since Kevin's coming clean with his insurance, I had to get my license renewed today because I was about a month overdue on my driver's license. So, there you go. I'll come clean with you.
Um, I mean, if you guys don't have any update on it, I we don't need to do my uh fence thing tonight. Uh, do you guys come up with any alternatives or anything from staff level of what that looks like? >> Not of any uh substance. We're certainly continuing to take a look at and have
any conversations to try to see what we can come up with. >> All right, then. I'll just push that. >> All right, city attorney. >> Nothing tonight. Thank you, Mayor. >> All right, public comments. Of course. >> Sorry. No, you're good.
>> It's okay, John. We get it. >> Really quick, John Stevens, 425 Indian Trail. Um, piggybacking off of Joe's Bayou. Um, I love Wayne, but I truly think a code compliance person at least there in the morning will do a lot more um than a uh someone else just because
people fear code compliance. They don't fear Wayne. So, I'm sorry. Dang. All right. Press the button. >> You're good to go. >> All right. So, I got to be uh quite honest. I was a little surprised at
council's reaction tonight and some of the questions. More than happy to answer them, but just sort of step me back a second. For the last three council meetings, I've had, you know, presented what I thought was organized information with regards to what I've been able to research with regards to the issue. Have
had cordial meetings with Larry based upon my last meeting. I've submitted uh since last council meeting, I submitted a 37page, you know, here's the information I have. Okay. I've heard words of the water's always gone there
to that effect. Okay. And I believe I presented a package of this is what I you know this is what I've seen. I don't see the existence of a drainage easement. I see the existence of additional water being routed from the upward parcels. Okay. And you know I can
go through with that information based upon my last meeting with Larry. He said okay provide a proposal back that we can send to council. Okay. That proposal was not a windfall for Joe. Okay. based upon the parcel on anything that was out there. It was based upon three
fundamental components. First being measurable land loss 22 acres. We can debate what that value is. Okay, I'm not, you know, stuck in the mud. It was based upon measurable land lost impact to developable value of the parcel, but
then also a functional drainage easement uh which I believe would also benefit the city as you look at other upward drainage problems that you have. And this is clearly identified in the 2004 storm water master plan, the 2024 storm water master plan. And there's plenty of
documentation of this issue having existed since the subdivisions and since this area was developed. I will also say that the damage and based upon all the data and research I've been able to gather, okay, is continually eroding and occurring based upon each storm water
event. So the fact that a pipe was installed on X date, you're not going to see that impact on day one. Okay? It takes time, it takes years, and I think there's clear evidence of continued uh direction of water flow that is
continuing to erode the property. So with that, you know, I came in here two meetings ago and I said I'm looking for direction. I feel like I've submitted plenty of information to the council and at this point I would ask for a formal written response to my last proposal.
Either a counter proposal or it's my problem to resolve. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. All right. And any public comments? Anyone else? All right. Seeing none, adjourned. Staff