--------- All right. Good evening. Thank you everyone for being here. We really appreciate your time. Today is August 18th and it is well a little past 6 o'clock, 6:14. I'll call this city council meeting to order. Up first, we are going to do the invocation by our one and only Pastor Steve Ferris from the First Baptist Church of Destin.
Thanks for being here, sir. Father, we just come to you thanking you for your goodness and grace. We thank you, Lord, for all these as always who work for this city. Lord, the councilman, all the employees, all the things that goes in. Lord, it's it's a lot of moving parts and we just thank
you, Lord. They do a great job. We're grateful for them. And Lord, I thank you for all these young people here tonight. And Lord, the some that'll be serving on a council. Lord, I I just pray that you'll use them in a great and mighty way to have their input as Lord, they are they'll be here in the future when a lot of us are gone. Lord, we do thank
you for having your hand on this nation. And Lord, there's a lot going on in the world and we just ask for your help and we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. Councilwoman Abear with the pledge of allegiance. >> Please join me with your hand over your heart. I pledge algiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. If we have any amendments to the agenda.
Yeah, Mr. Mayor. Um, I have an item G3 that I have some representatives here as well as some young folks that might need to get home to bed in case we go late. I would like to move before 4A if possible.
>> Okay. >> So, G3 >> G3 to G3 >> 6 G3. Bingo. six >> and you want to wear >> the item called Destin Little League contributions and match request.
>> So there's like three things underneath that, right? So is there a specific one you want? >> No, just no, it's broken out. All right. And where would you like that? >> The very in front of consent. >> All right. Before 4A. All right. >> Is the lights that is there's three
>> he said turn lights. He's talking about G3 destined little league contributions and match requests >> for all of it. >> But is it the turf? Is it the lights? >> All of G3. >> It's one item. >> Well, but it's several different motions. That's
>> just G3. >> We're just moving an item. >> All right. And then I'm going to put that under uh 4 A I'm going to call it 4 A1 and then we'll go into the regular 4A2 being the delivery registration. Anything else?
Seeing none. >> Got a motion. >> Motion. I'll second it. >> Got a motion to second. We'll call the vote. >> Got to do it verbal because we don't confuse. >> Oh, we're doing it. All right. Counselor Schmidt, we're going to go verbal. >> Yes. G. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you for that. As have it so moved, the agenda has been adopted and passed. And up first is going to be our recognition for the for the Fort W Beach High School softball team 2025
class 4A state champions. And I heard that was your first time, too. So that's amazing. The worst part about uh athletes is they're always taller than me, which is really upsetting, but the coach is with me. All right, we're good here. Want us to move forward
on this? All right, let's just move forward a bit. Oh, same side. All right, we're going to all go to this side. All right. All right. And instead of trying to butcher all the amazing things that happened, Coach Gray, if you want to
take this. Oh, >> you're a coach. >> Taran. >> Taran. >> Taran. Okay. I thought you were Taran Gray. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Yes. Now I'm on the spot. I don't know exactly what to say, but um I thank you for supporting us. Um we we've been
through it. We had a very very long season and these girls have have sacrificed a lot and they've done a lot to make everybody proud. That's Destin and Fort Walton. So, um just wanted to appreciate y'all and thank you for having us. >> Yeah. And then other than that, names. Did you
want to roll call them or >> I'm make them do it? >> Yeah. >> All right. So, I'm Coach Gray. I'm the head coach at Fort Walton Beach. >> Name and position. >> I'm Mary Miller. I'm the shortstop. I'm Kelsey and I play right field. >> Macy Borggan, third base. Anna
Abernathy, second base. >> Riley Cleveland, first and outfield. >> Tayen Mayhew, second base. Ansley, left field. Anna Bill, first base. >> Um, I'm Izzy Douglas and I was the pitcher. >> Your turn.
>> I'm Coach Quinn. >> There you go. And then Coach Brent. >> It's Coach Brent Abernathy. >> Oh, come on. That's all. That's all you got. All right. Well, thank you guys so much for being here. You guys represented for Walt and Destin. We're all one big community. So, we really appreciate you not only being represented at the state, but taking it
all the way. So, we really appreciate you guys bringing home the gold. There's some awesome awards you got going on. And we really appreciate you guys. So congratulations and all the things are ahead of you. >> Awesome. >> Oh, shake your hand. >> Shake your hand. I thought you said Let
me say one more thing. >> So I know three of us up here went to Fort Wallen as well, right? You mean >> what? 12 baby >> 05. And you don't have to say it right. When you guys uh graduating >> uh 20 2026 >> 2026 they're graduating in 2026.
>> I'm not old, but I'm getting there. >> Taran, there's about five girls that five or so from Dustin on your team. >> About five. >> They play little league, I think. Most of them, too. I think four.
>> Four. Thank you. >> Awesome. >> Jim was asking. >> He was saying that they need to get on the youth council. >> Youth council. >> We need Yeah, we need more Dustin youth council. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. Thank you guys for being
here, making the trip. >> All right. All right. And with that, we will move right along into public comments. Anything and everything not going to be discussed on the public hearings A and B are welcomed at this time. I'm going to start from my right, y'all's left, if anyone wishes to speak. Oh, yeah.
Absolutely. Just push the gray button down. You can let go. The lights on. Name and address. >> Estella SK 332 Tquesta Drive, Dest Florida. Okay. Good evening, council. My name is Estella Esco and I'm a junior at Dest
High School. I'm here tonight to advocate for my appointment to Dest City Youth Council. As a former member, I was disappointed that we did not meet the application quota for the 2024 to 25 term. To help address this, I spent the past several months recruiting eight out
of the 11 applicants before you this evening. Government is my passion, and I furthered that interest through my current endership under Mayor Wagner. It would be an honor to once again serve Destin's community and youth alongside such commendable applicants. I actively
exercise my leadership skills through my extracurriculars. I have served as both sophomore and junior class president and I'm the founder and president of Destin High School's volunteering club which is now in its third year. I also serve as a student ambassador and I'm a member of National Honor Society. In addition to
school to my school and civic involvement, I hold a part-time job while maintaining placement on the A honor role for the past two years. My first time on the youth council was a very rewarding experience and I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve again. Finally, I would like to voice my
support for the proposal in section 4 of tonight's agenda, appointing five residential and five non-residential members to the youth council. This amendment to the bylaws would, in my opinion, strengthen both attendance and overall progress for the youth council. Thank you, council, for your time and
consideration. >> Thank you so much. Great job. All right. Anyone else? >> Yes, sir. >> He was wondering if you you're also an applicant for the youth council. >> Former youth council, maybe. Hello, council. Thank you for having me.
My name is Christopher Byron. My address is 263 Mattie M. Kelly Boulevard. I have a question regarding ordinance 2511ccc. Um I was made aware of this yesterday by a fellow resident of Dest and I I've
come here tonight to ask a question. While I do understand that the findings show that excessive and unnecessary noise interferes with residents quality of life, health and safety and welfare of the general public, I too am a fan of public safety and public health. I'm not
here to compromise that. My concern, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is if residential properties are not allowed to produce sound that is heard past their setbacks at any time of the day. Is
there any protection here for reasonable relaxation or celebration? Are we allowed to pull permits to have a birthday party? There are a lot of houses close to each other and I know a little bit about sound production and honestly I think my cell phone could
produce a noise that could be heard by my neighbors and I'm not here to be argumentative. I'm here to inquire. Um but that I'll turn it over to Miss Cop, our city attorney, just to answer that. >> Sure. Thank you, mayor. So the ordinance
actually contains a definition for noise. doesn't just mean any noise. It's actually noise that occurs in such a quantity and for such a duration that it's injurious or disturbing to the neighbors. So, you can make noise that your neighbors hear. It's just when it's
continuous and of such a quantity that it's causing injury to the neighbor and bothersome. So >> that kind of and and if you need further, we can get definitely get you their emails and and go into further discussion, but I try not to make this a back and forth, but if you have any
final words on that. >> All right. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Then feel free to get uh Miss Dr. Tamara Young's email. She's our PIO. And then we can get anyone if you have further discussion later. I'm trying to which which section because most of that is time. You know,
you can make noise till 7 o'clock at night or whatever for like contractors. I mean, it's not like you can never make noise on your lot or your h at your house. >> Can you clarify that, Miss Cop? >> There's only a time limit for non-residential. Residential applies all
the time, but it's the noise as defined as I said it. So, it's just injurious and bothersome, not all noise. Yeah, you can have a party. So, >> yeah. >> And you could tell we said so. >> Thank you for being here. >> Oh, no. A 40year-old's birthday party
where people are >> All right. Anyone else? Public comments run. Yes, sir. >> Just push that gray button. >> Thank you. Uh Daniel Danforth. Dan Danforth is typically what I'm called. Uh my uh address is uh 7199
uh Kimberl Lane in Milton, Florida. Longtime resident of the community. Grew up in Pensacola. Used to be a former builder here in Myiramar. And and my company is called Project Hydrarology and we specialize in storm water water quality. We won the state's award last
year and considered the state's expert. My partner wrote the FDOT drainage manual, was the lead hydraologist for FDP for 30 years. uh section chief uh and we we specialize in water quality and particularly uh holistic we don't
use chemicals all natural biomimicry and tonight I'd like to bring you a million dollars uh I have a relationship with FD and on August 7th we were given a grant now there's a little bit of a window but
it also goes on next year and so we can piggy back it and get you $2 million and and we've been recognized for what we do in water quality and particularly algae blooms. All right, this is specific to algae blooms I'm talking about. We have a couple different technologies to get you there. Proven science, natural ways
to do it. So, I'm handing you a million dollars. I just need a little staff for support to get the application in. If you want to do a project before this uh uh this year, it's got to be in before September 1st. My staff will help you. State staff will commit. It's got to be
a partnership with the municipality, of course. And uh uh and then we can do it again next year. We've got about a half million we're going to do with Scami County. We had over a million- dollar conversation today with St. Pete. I'm doing a almost a million dollar job with Bvard County. And so what we're doing is
real. It's it's And so I got some handouts here for you. But this particular product hosts, grows, and distributes natural bacteria in a weighted hose around the body of water. And it it it's 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, all natural, uh, no harmful to humans or and it's it's uh it it outruns the utrification. And so it's it's able to combat the algae blooms, your lily pad growth, milfoy, things like this, duckweed that take over our
and and and then and so it even eats two to nine inches of pond milk per season. We've got about 800 of them uh in America. I'm the distributor for Florida. We have about 10 different really innovative products that we've won state awards with. I can make your
retention pond half the size. I can increase your permeability rate so your storm water has a better response. Uh we do floating islands that can reduce nitrogen and phosphate levels by half. So we do construct the wetlands basically. So we we can help you with
some of your challenges. And then today I get off the phone with St. Pete and guess what pops up on my my phone? You know Google's listening, right? You know I mean I know. And so I I'm like well there you go. So I I get on and I was like, "Oh, that means tonight I got I'm
going to Destin, right?" You know, and that's how it happened. So I walk, you know, but this is the information. Uh I can I can help staff. We'll help with your paperwork, but it's it's a million dollars. You can have it today. We just I'm It's seriously, give me a staff member and I can fix these problems over
here. I don't know how many people can come in here and tell y'all I can fix these problems. I can take away the odor and I can fix that algae. That's a fact. >> Point taken. Yep. Council G. >> So, here's some handouts if uh for everybody. I got nine of them here. And
so, I have a question and and Yes, sir. >> Are you confined just to the algae and bloom or can you test uh Crab Island for feal California because I'm sure we could shut that thing down. >> Well, well, you know, anything to do with water quality is where we can build into this grant. And so, we have the
open conversation with the D and so I can help you if uh if if we can point you in the right direction. Casm Schmidt. >> Larry, what what do we need to do to pursue this? Uh >> just to direct you and Jeff to meet with this gentleman as soon as >> this week.
>> Yes sir, I would think. But to that end, if it's the uh submission deadline is September one. Is that >> that's for this year. So, you know, it's a bit of a push for everybody right now. Even saying >> we want to meet again until September. >> That was my point is that you're going to give us permission to move forward if
we see it viable. Can we make a motion to help that facilitate that? >> A lot of those lakes like you're referring to, that's that's not even a city lake. So, there's probably a lot of logistics I imagine you would have to work out with our staff. >> But turning away a million dollars
potentially is >> stupid. So, I want to be able to give you whatever >> Yeah. >> time and authority that's needed. >> I was hoping he had a chick, but I guess >> Well, I was waiting him to pull that out. Yeah. I I'm just going to direct city manager to get with you ASAP and
and see what we can do and figure it out because if we can, let's do it. If not, then we'll do it next year. >> Is that a motion? I'll second. >> And I'll second it. >> All right. Got a motion. I got a second. Um I'm just going to throw out there if Larry's like, "We got a golden ticket. This is good. I'll call a special meeting. We just need four people here
for five minutes then." >> And this is nonmatching. >> Only thing I can't get you is a call. >> I'll see August 30th when it opens. >> Yeah. This is This is real. It's almost like too good to be true. >> All right. Well, we appreciate you being here >> and next year we can keep we can keep this going for next year because maybe the entire basin
>> look. All right. Well, we got our motion, got our second. Um I don't see anyone else up for discussion. Do I >> I was up. No. >> Okay. Nope. All right. I'll call the vote. >> Well, jumping a little over to this public comment.
>> Yeah. >> If it's working, >> we all have it. Okay. >> You're not working. >> Uh >> oh. >> Getting hacked. All right. Eyes have it. So moved. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Yeah. If you want to pass them out, just give them to
Larry. Couple catalog. Just push it all that way and we'll get it going. >> Thank you. >> M Mr. Mayor, if may just for clarity um if we find this viable, do do we want to reach out to have a special meeting or just move it forward? Correct. >> There is no match. >> Yeah, I would say >> call a special meeting. Yeah, I would
say call special meeting if you think this is >> we will reach out to the mayor. >> Not too good to be true. >> Okay. >> Oh, okay. I got you. Hey, Ray. Uh, Councilman Guile is still marked absent. >> He's here.
>> And with that, Guy, can you record your vote? >> Yeah, it would have been a yes. >> All right. So, that's going to make the adjustment to 70 >> six. Six of us here. >> Oh. Oh, six. Cuz Dewy's not here. Oh, so it auto. >> Somebody voted for me.
>> Oh, even worse. >> Yeah. >> How many times you guys pulled that crap on? >> You finally figured it out. >> You turned away. We clicked it. >> All right. >> While this is going on, anyone else public comments? Yes, sir. Angels. Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.
>> I got you. Yep. I'm sorry. I never done this before. >> All right. It's already on, so just name and address and the floor is yours. >> Sure. My name is Noah Shank and I live at 1260 Emerald Bay Drive. Um although I'm not a City of Destin resident
technically. I hope to uh see that change in the future and I'm hoping Abby Wagner's efforts to incorporate us and make us part of the city at some point changes in the future and we become part of uh the city of Dest. Um the other thing um I wanted to say even though I'm
not a city of Dest resident um I own three commercial properties in Dest and also um run a business in Desty. Um all three of my children attend um Destin schools. I'm here to speak in support of adding parking for the Destin
Little League and to add um to um Destin Little League uh to make improvements to Thread Good Park to add parking and buy that property that's next door to Destin Little League. Being part of Destin Little League has made us
feel in to be I don't know to be frank be part of Destin family. Being part of little league has been amazing for our kids, amazing for our family and really makes it amazing to live in Destin. Um, and we really, you know, hope that the
city invests in Little League and does more in the future. Um, I would, um, like to invite the council members to come out to Threadgill any game on any night and see hundreds of Destin kids and hundreds of people there, um, enjoying themselves. And it's a part of
Destin that we love. Um, having that parking lot would make it safer for the kids at night when you're walking in the dark and trying to go from your car. It's it's something that I think safety wise that we really do need and it's something that they should add. As far as the lighting and all the different improvements that they want to
do, the match that the city is asking to do, I really hope that you guys vote in favor of doing that. And as a, you know, I'm all in on Destin. Um, I have, like I said, three commercial properties. because I run a business here and uh it's very important to me and my family and I think the Dustin Little League
family as well. So, thank you. >> Thank you so much for being here. >> Hold up, Tim. >> I got you this time. Carrie Harbar, uh, Mountain Drive 307. So, I wanted to
I wanted to, uh, talk about something that was talked about last meeting when Councilman Bagby really encourages our citizens to show up to the meetings. I do it all the time. I'm always on Facebook. Everybody's got a complaint. My son laid
into somebody today about it. Get your butt up here. But I want to say something how I feel. You want to come up here and start criticizing staff, this is what you're going to get. This is what you're going to get. You're going to get selective
enforcement. And I don't appreciate that. I want you to know that Noel Bell sent everybody to sends people. Now, Mr. Braden had talked about how a lot of our calls should be generated, our our code
calls. Well, I mean, I understand that people have the right, employees have the right to make sure our communities in shape, but I don't care for selective enforcement if it's good for me and it's good for everybody. And that's my only complaint. It's not I'm not complaining about being made to do something right
because boy, I'm up here at all these meetings. But what I am complaining about is selective enforcement. And let me explain a little something about this too. Something was kind of brought to my attention. See, because Mr. Guiles, Councilman Guiles, had appointed me to
the SR uh short-term rental committee, and I sat on that on his behalf, and I learned a little bit. And so I had some come across some things about short-term rentals and COOs that are being issued
through our our staff. And apparently we have one person that runs the show here and decides who gets to make money in this town and who doesn't get to make money. And I'm going to explain something to you. I put an ice machine on my property on Mountain Drive. It's a coin operated machine and this community
has no rules and bylaws for coin operated machines outside of a car wash. So I get a call from Noel who's got her drones all up around my, you know, flying around, drones everywhere. And so she starts sending her henchmen over
and next thing I know I'm saying, "Well, there's no ordinance on the Well, you know, Keith Howard, he put one down there and he gave, you know, put a thousand dollars." Well, Keith Howard's got a lot of money. I don't I'm assuming he does. I don't know that he does. Heard that he does.
Nonetheless, I'm just saying that. Then all of a sudden, it's kind of decided, well, for $900, you know, thousand. So, I get embezzled for a,000 bucks. And I'm okay with that. I pay $1,000 to put my machine up there, but by God, come back to city hall and make an ordinance about
it. Don't selectively enforce people. If it bothered you that I had a coin operating, it should have bothered you that the AOC had one and didn't have to get a permit. And it should have bothered you that other people got one. But it was me because I come up here and I've been participating with the city
meeting since about 2013. I got very involved. And as everybody can tell, if I'm not here, I can't defend my business. So I come. So my point is is that we have now we submit
COOs it came to my attention that get extended or initial let me just say that just regarding one that was on holiday property you know it was issued a temporary COO in July
and and a final in October but yet still allowed to lease their condo out there as short-term term rental for that 3 months, $12,000 a week. That's a lot of money you get to generate off not being in compliance when I got to be in
compliance when somebody could drive by 13 feather flags to come give me a ticket for one. Make sure everybody's in compliance. You know, now I'm hearing there's one on Crystal Beach going through the same thing. COOs are issued and three months later they're making
all this $150,000 out of compliance, but I can't fly fly a feather flag. I'm asking for equality. I'm asking for this staff, too. And I don't think that any of that was right. So, that's what >> final thoughts. >> And I'm always going to come up and I'm always going to talk. None of this will
ever bother me. We can have 10 more of these. I'm always going to be at these meetings and I'm always going to speak out for the people. And in doing so, I have found out this past week and talking and people talking to me about other things that it's not I'm not the only one. I'm by far not the only one
that complains about selective targeting enforcement in this town and it causes problems causes problems for our town and gives us a horrible name. >> Give you two times. That's it. >> Any questions?
>> All right. Councilman Dagrey. >> May I walk? >> Hey, Steve. >> You want me to stay? >> Can you remind me what we what is allowed to be proactively enforce as opposed to complaint driven? >> Steve's lookalike is here. >> Oh, I thought that was Steve. I guess
I'll have to put on my glasses. Okay. Well, guess who gets to cover for Steve? >> Nobody. >> No. >> I think it's signs, parking, and trash cans if I recall. >> Yeah. flags, parking, and trash cans. Yeah, >> those are the priorities. Those aren't
the only things that can be proactively. >> We actually directed that they be proactively enforced as opposed to having to be complaint driven because code has always been here to four before that uh complaint driven.
>> Right. >> All right. Anything else? Yes, Councilman Braden. I was just wondering if um Carrie if there was if her fines were complaint driven or if somebody actually called on it or if it they just drove by and saw it.
>> I would say >> Steve not here. Yeah, I'm assuming let's have staff we can send us back a full report. >> All right. Anyone else? >> Yeah. >> I didn't hear. Let me let me >> was yours what was the question >> was your tickets that you got in your
hand were they complaint driven >> so I did a records request and I received it this morning from Miss Gardner and records and every one of my complaints were initiated by Noel Bell >> thank you ma'am >> were they flags >> right up next
>> sounds like we want a report on that hello sir name and address David Kohl's 3817 Indian Trail. Uh I'm here to ask for your consideration for section 4H, the Destin City Youth Council. Uh I applied and uh thanks to Stella SK
recommending me and I've lived here for eight years. I've gone to Dustin Elementary, Dustin Middle, Dustin High, and I really enjoy it here. Uh I'm the president of National Honor Society at Dustin High School and I enjoy leadership positions there and I'd like to be more involved in my community. Um
I don't have any notes, so that's about it. I just want to ask for your consideration on that. All right. Thank you for being here. We appreciate you. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Anyone else? >> Uh, at 4G. >> Oh, sorry, Tim.
>> Yeah. Uh, oh, H 4H. >> Brian Auto 1117. No, that's my birthday. Sorry. 3826 Indian Trail. I I'll be super quick. Uh, the basketball Monday night used at the gym. I've been playing for like 25 years and whoever's running it now, it's amazing. It was They're
doing a great job for like the last three years there FYI. Best place to play anywhere, bar none. >> Good job, Ryan. >> The way they manage it. So, great job there. >> Team uh second Oh, >> sorry. >> I'm uh the Dustin High School cross country coach. David's one of my runners and he started the program there. So,
thumbs up to him. Thank you guys. >> Appreciate you being here, Mr. Otto. All right, Tim. Appreciate the patience. Well, good evening, Mr. Mayor, Councilmen and Women, and staff. Tim Krueger, 604 Harbor Lane. And I just wanted to take a minute and thank you
for uh recognizing what's going on at Joe's Bayou. I see section 4, uh, agenda item I, you're going to be looking at that. You know, it's somebody who's lived on the water here for lots of years. I kind of hate that it's come to
this, but somebody towing their kid on a tube versus having a two-stroke jet ski raceourse set up there on the shelf. They're two totally different things. It's dangerous. Uh Mr. Otto, his children swim out there, play out there
all the time right next to my house in the the park area. And you know, we have people that are paddle boarding, kaying, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, and doing everything in the water can including all his children out there
having a great time. The jet skis are dangerous. They're a nuisance and u unfortunately the operators are just kind of thumbming their nose at the residents and if I dare say, you know, at the city. So, thank you for taking that under consideration and I welcome
your progress in that area. Secondly, I want to thank Mr. Mayor as we learned that all of the wires had been dug up for a beautifification project through one of the city's contractors and you were super responsive with me and getting that set up. You know, we had no
internet in our office, you know, for the better part of two days. So, thanks for being so proactive and in spite of you having to also deal with a boat underneath the bridge. So, you did a herculean effort and I appreciate it. >> I appreciate it. I'll say that I was just playing telephone and it's all
staff. >> All right. Anyone else? >> Uh, all right. All right. I know you're always quick. Come on. >> Uh, Indian Trail 3826. Brian Auto said it backwards, but sorry. Yeah. No, I just want to second that. Yeah, he's
right. my family. We're down. First of all, what you guys got down there is a gym, right? It's a national treasure. You guys, if you don't know what you have down there, it's amazing. I'm sure you guys all do, of course. But for people that listening don't know, it's amazing down there. Um, yeah, it's getting dangerous. I've been down there for 15, 20 years, and it's just more and
more dangerous. So, anything we can do? Thanks. >> Appreciate that. All right. Anyone else? >> All right, seeing none, we'll close the public comments and we'll move to the consent agenda. Do I hear a motion? >> A motion for approval >> and a second. >> Second. A second by both council women
and any discussion. Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> There you go. All right, the ghost is gone. You got your voting power back. Congratulations. All right, eyes have it so moved. Moving along. Councilman Schmidt G3. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I have an item
under my name that we have asked um to be presented by Mr. Matthew Dolman, the treasurer of the Dustin Little League Board, and uh he's here to present this item and go from there. >> All right, the board recognizes you.
>> All right, just hit that button. >> All right, like uh Kevin mentioned, my name is Matthew Dolman. I am representing this time up here tonight as the Destin Little League treasurer. I've been in that position for a little over eight years. Um I'll just give you a little background. Destin little
league. Like they said, this is the absolute best thing that's going on at this city. I'm sorry for everybody else in here. It just is. Uh 8 years ago, we were operating at a money in, money out. Sometimes more money out than money in.
We made a conscious effort to really go after city leaders and other businesses to help support our league. And we were able to then in partnership with the city build those beautiful batten cages that are out at Thgill Park. If you haven't been over there to see that, you
you should. Uh thank you to the city for partnering with us to do that. We put up $45,000, I think, and then the city put up the other I want to say 60. Don't quote me on those, please. But that was a very important partnership. Um couple
things that we have on the agenda tonight. One, the parking's already been brought up. 100% support that. If you're out there on a Tuesday night at 5, let's see, 6:30 when the first games are ending and the second games are about to start, it's an absolute nightmare. So,
that is desperately needed and we fully support that. But the main things I want to bring up tonight are some improvements to the park. Uh, we've been in communication with it's E A Lighting, LED, Eagle LED. I think they're trying to make like a play on words. um they have agreed to
donate the basically the fixtures, everything for the lighting and all we would have to do is pay for the installation. So I think you have that in front of you. Installation costs somewhere around $22,000.
Um and so we would like to get work with the city to see if we could get that approved to upgrade that lighting much like is done over at uh Morgan's Park. The second item on that is turfing of the infields. Uh you've got a quotes in
front of you. One that has a huge square footage, one that has a smaller one. Huge square footage is the entire fields. Small is just the infields. Uh coached baseball for the last 15 years. Been to every facility in the Southeast,
I promise you. Uh coaching travel baseball. Turfing infields is the way that people are doing it now. The outfields, the grass grows. It's less wear and tear. It drains. There's no real issues when it comes to being able to make surfaces playable. Infields are
where it becomes important. We've got more righties than lefties. My kid's a lefty. His batter box's perfect. Righties is terrible. It's like they're digging trenches in there. Get a little rain, 30 minutes of rain, we can't play. Um, so we've got a quote in there for about $229 to $30,000 uh to do both
fields there. turf just the infields and leave the back the rest in grass. So Dustin Little League in total uh Dustin Little League is willing to contribute the 60s something thousand that we that
the contract would be through this Eagle LED and that would be through us because we are a 501c3 and so that's part of the allure to them being able to donate that right. Uh I don't know legally if they could donate to a city like they can a
501c3. I have no idea. But uh not here for that. So we're here to say that we would contribute up to $100,000 of our own money that we have raised through sponsorships through registrations through earmarking for improvements to a
city facility plus the uh money that they would be donating to us. and we would be act asking for matching requests from the city in order to help us be able to fund that in its entirety of roughly $300,000 or so. So hopefully
that is a good quick synopsis of what we're looking for. Happy to try to answer questions with that. Just so I'm kind of doing some napkin math here. They're going to donate lights and fixtures and you need us for the 22 installation. Well, we're kind of looking at this as always as one
>> holistic, >> right? Holistic. So, yeah, that portion is 22. The other portion was like 230, I think. >> Uh, so we're looking at somewhere around, you know, 200. I'm giving wiggle room here because we all know how construction >> 125125. >> Correct. If we could just split whatever
the expenses, you know, the other the the expenses are. >> All right. With that, Kevin, do you have anything anyone discussion? Yeah, Miss Sandy, >> did you guys go to Musco to to talk to them about lighting because I know that's what we just put on the field out here. I didn't know if you'd approached them or not.
>> So, I can't speak to specifically of who all was approached. Uh, these guys came came out of the way because they were willing to donate. Donations free is better than much like that gentleman was going to give a million dollars. Like, that's cool. Uh, so donations are better than >> You don't have any green algae on the field?
>> I don't think so. I don't know. But uh but so that's why we're that's why we're presenting this guys is they're willing to you know do the donation of it. If Musco or another company we're not tied to any specific company. Um we're just >> the the only reason I'm asking is
because that would be the all the lighting in all the fields would be from the same company. That would be the whole thing and then you wouldn't be dealing with two separate sets of lights. >> Sure. I don't know. I I can and I I would be happy to ask them and and find out if they're willing to donate it,
too, but that's a pretty hefty thing. Most people aren't. >> So, what were the final numbers? >> Did you Did you get I thought the mayor got >> No, but if you want to So, it's going to be about 60K in um free lighting fixtures. They're needing 22
installation. 22,000 for installation. >> Two 22,000 >> 22,000 installation. The turf is roughly 230,000. That was an estimate from a year ago. >> Correct. >> And so we'd be splitting that. He's currently looking at, let's just lump it
all together, but those what are what they are separately. That turf would be two infield. That's the minor and major league. >> That's correct. >> All right. >> Yep. >> Glad I read my briefing today. >> Yeah. And we're not I mean I don't think don't let me speak out of turn for Kevin
and behalf of the board, but uh you know we're looking to do both these projects. If we need to split these up and do one at a time, you know, whatever we have some money to spend >> with those numbers, you know, if if this all goes well, I know there's going to be a lot of factors. Are you hoping to
have this going as quickly as possible? Is a year out appropriate or what what's kind of your window of expectation? I mean I as soon as someone could do it right now would be an ideal time to get something like that going because you know we're there is possibility of fall
ball clinics things like that our season runs January essentially we start rolling in January and we go through May June depending on how well we do in all stars etc. Um so I don't know if it would be feasible to be done by January but we would certainly want to have it
done in that time frame. If not you know >> okay all right with that I'll go back to the board. Uh, Councilman Dagby. >> Thank you, mayor. Yeah. Uh, thanks for the presentation. A little bit different than what I heard from the staff uh this
afternoon. So, I'm going to just ask a bunch of questions. Sure. >> And this is why I asked my initial question which ones we were moving forward because I see them as two different projects. So, let me start with the lights because I'm I'm pretty good with the lights. What? But I do
share uh Miss Traml's question. I guess so. How many bids for lighting did y'all get? >> Kevin, do you know that answer? >> We didn't get bids because somebody solicited us to donate them for free.
The bid for Musco is approximately $200 to $300,000 that the city staff has. >> Okay. So the and but they're different lights is what I understand, right? >> I would assume so. Yes. >> Okay. And so do what's the coverage of
the light system that these guys you know how many are we going to have to install? >> It said 62 or something on the quote what like >> staff answer that >> are you talking about how many lights are needed for foot candles and
everything like that like on the field. >> Yeah. For >> um I'm not >> they're talking about >> at at Threadgill. I'm not too sure. And then at Morgans I'd have to check to see. >> I'm not worried about Morgans. We're just talking about thread guilt. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I'd have to see the spec of the light and everything like that and
probably discuss that with the distributor of how much would come off >> onto the field >> cuz these projects are not apples to apples. And so what I'm trying to figure, we can say, well, it cost us this up at Morgans's, but that's kind of irrelevant because it's a different
footprint at Threadgill. So, I'm just trying to figure out uh you know is there and I appreciate that they're going to donate the lights and I'm okay with splitting the cost of installing the lights. You know, I would like to know more about the lights. I'd
like to know, you know, how many we're going to have to install, where they're going to be. Do we have plans? I don't I don't want to just sign up for a And this is Huh. >> The attachment says 42. >> Okay, >> that was I said 62. Sorry, I was off. Yeah, that's okay.
>> And I didn't have it pulled up because I still had my >> It also gives the voltage, the dimmable number, and everything else. >> Yeah. So, the uh my but my main question was how many other bids? Because if there is if we can use the same lights that way,
are y'all going to maintain the lights based upon our last agreement, right? Once we pay our half to install them, y'all are incurring all the maintenance costs. Are we going to see you back up here, you know, every 6 months? Because then there is a if we are that we are,
but then there's a benefit if we have all the same lights and we have all the same contractors as opposed to two different lighting contract. >> Sure. I think that Yeah, it makes perfect sense. And I think that we could certainly reach out to Musco and see if they're willing to do something similar
to have that. Uh it's my understanding of the agreement that you know we're basically leasing the park from the city. >> Right. >> Right. And so any sort of maintenance would be a city we're just offering to
help expedite the relighting of that park. If the city would like to go in and pay $300,000 and relight the park, we would without a dollar from us. We would stamp that welcome that. Right. >> Yeah. proposal that came and we we haven't signed anything or agreed to
anything or whatever, but the proposal that was presented, I guess, at the last meeting or meeting before last, I can't remember which one now. Uh, you know, y'all would have it year round. So, that would inhibit us from being able to
Right now, you have it specific months. That would inhibit us from being able to rent it out for additional revenue to help pay for the upgrades and things like that. Sure. And I think that could be all a part of the overall overarching agreement, right? If we're going to put
in our $100,000 of privately raised funds, we are going to ask for some concessions to be able to use that facility for our use. You know, uh >> I don't want to step on any toes here, but that facility's never rented outside
of anybody. The I mean, I'm the one I've I've personally rented it for a travel ball team a few times. Mh. >> Outside of that, we had one tournament three years ago. Perfect game. I know cuz my son played in it. Outside of that, that overflow that facility is not
a revenue generating I maybe the staff can tell me differently, but I don't think so. >> Yeah. But my memory is the agreement said if we gave it to basically lease it to y'all for 10 bucks or whatever for year round that y'all would do the maintenance. Maybe I misremember
the item. I don't think it was that they would do all the maintenance. >> No, we'd still cut the grasses. >> Yeah. And if I remember, I think the agreement stayed the same. I'm trying to remember Mr. Dustin's motion, but the uh majority of the agreement stayed the same outside of the term and the use.
>> Yeah. >> So, the maintenance and stuff would still fall on us for the majority. >> And then, so that's that's all I have on the lights. When we get back to discussing the turf, I I have a bunch of other questions. >> Okay. All right. Um, Councilman G. Thank
you. I have a couple quick questions. Um, first I'd like to ask, has Threadgill generated revenue typically outside of Little >> It does, but like Mr. Dolman's saying, it's not anything compared to what Morgans is. I mean, there's been
birthday parties and things of that nature. Like you said, a tournament three years ago. Um, I can get those numbers. That way we can know exactly what's going on so we can see it. But it's not, you know, every week we're not putting anything over there. >> All right. I I got one other quick
question um before I I make a statement, but so I was I was watching a podcast with uh Travis Kelce, Jason Kelsey, and uh Julian Elman where they talked about one of the worst things you can do for kids is turf. Uh and that was mainly for
football. But is there going to be any liability on the city if we do turf or can will there be waiverss that eliminate I I don't remember specifically what they were saying that the turf was tearing up knees or something of that nature. Is there going to be any kind of release of liability
that the city needs to generate so that it eliminates any potential lawsuits in the future or >> I haven't had any conversations about anything with the turf company, but if we want some kind of release of liability, I can look into it for you and come back at another meeting.
>> Yeah, >> I don't have any prior to tonight. I don't have any >> for the people utilizing it is what I'm saying. Of course, we have sovereign immunity, but I would hope that >> what was what would be put in would be safe for children. >> Mr. D, isn't there >> we also have little league uh insurance
>> that is that we pay for out of every registration that covers those types of things. Uh and I believe that we have an indemnification clause in our interlocal agreement at least as well. So, uh yeah, I mean that's a that's like you get one doctor says it hurts, one doctor says it
doesn't, one doctor says crush brick's good, one says it's bad, you know. Yeah, but what I'm worried about is we have jackasses that trip over a sidewalk and sue us for $50,000, you know. So, I I just don't want that incident happening over here. But, uh I'd like to make a motion that we uh get with staff to
ensure that what they're doing meets the minimum criterion for that subject and that we find the funding to meet half and approve for the turf and the lighting. >> I'll second that. So, that's lighting and turf.
>> Yeah, it's with one. >> Okay. All right. I have a motion. I have a second. We'll continue. Uh, Councilwoman Abear, >> I was going to make the motion. So, go ahead. >> Apologize there from you. >> All right. I'm going to I'm going to
jump in uh because if we want to be bullish, we know we always want to be not government and and do things almost like a small business. And I think this is a great opportunity. I've beaten the hell out of the uh uh acronym FRDA app, but it's up to $400,000 in matching
grants. The biggest point persona of this whole grant is having a nonprofit local arm that is basically bringing us to the city versus the city bringing it to to the community. Um last year the
lowest points, this is a point score of like 120 to zero. The lowest per lowest city was Tallahassee was 63 points. Me just checking some boxes being ultra ridiculously conservative. We could get about 78 points with a project like this
with the turf because of our district and how baseball falls under the checklist. So just going to throw that out there under his motion of finding funds. The caveat, September 30th is the deadline. The funding would be here a year from now. Well, before that it
since we have an early legislation season coming up after the money is appropriated, the money is then distributed, but just throwing that out there as I'm always beating up fur, but this would be buu bucks that we could really go after and and get something
great out of that. So, I'm just going to throw that there for food for thought and turn it over to Councilman Bagby. >> Thank you, mayor. Yeah. Um uh I may make substitute motion. I hadn't decided yet. the uh only because the mayor is absolutely right. See, this is one of
these things that we walk on and hey, it's $125,000. Okay. Well, that's not uh insignificant some I get, you know, the $25,000 our half of the installation of the lights or whatever. I'm I'm all in for that. So, uh, although I would like to see if
we can get them as part of the Musco, you know, but if they're donating the lights, we'll install them and then, uh, we'll have see who can cost us the least to install them. The 115,000 each. Okay. 115,000.
The We We haven't really This is seems like a knee-jerk. Oh, boom. Here. No, hang on. Why didn't we apply for a FERD app grant last year, you know, last September or last August or whatever? And why aren't we trying to bring part
everything we do, we try to bring partners in to say, "Hey, can you give us money? County, can you give us some money? TDD, can you give us money? State, can you give us some money? DOT, and this is a we're just going to go it along alone and try to, you know, it's a
great cause. I I support the cause, but there are a lot of other ways to do this. I I believe I have several issues that I've discussed with our attorney, and I'm sure she's discussed with you or Mr. Schmidt, but the uh it's a violation
of our purchasing policy, okay, for something this large. This is outside the city manager's uh spending authority, which is where we usually draw the line. I think we've probably done 40,000 or something over his 35,000 before, but you know, that's it's not
something it it hasn't been staffed. So, the staff doesn't know because when they briefed me this afternoon, it was here's what it's going to be. It's going to be this H. And it's like, okay. Uh, so
my concern is really on the turf. Okay. Nice to have. I agree with you. Probably I don't know. I don't do travel ball. My kids are both adults, but uh you know, probably all the way through the southeast. But it is a want, not a
need. And that the difference is and that's $115,000. And so I I will make a substitute motion that we approve splitting the cost of the lights and we direct the staff to uh
do a RFP for the turf and see if we can get a better price for the turf to uh install it and for the infield. >> I'll second that. >> All right. Motion and a second. And
Councilwoman Traml, you're up now. >> Thank you. Uh I I just wanted to bring up the fact that I was um listening to a podcast today about uh the National Parks Foundation and how they give money to nonprofits. So, I would like to look
into that as as helping us pay for some of the turf. I think we can do the lights now, but I'm not sure we can do the turf now. Um, so I just wanted to bring that up and mention that. And and turf sounds really good and you've got a
price for turf here, but one of the things that is a problem right now at the park is storm water. And all of that has to be done before you can put turf down. That, you know, that's like we we paved Airport Road and then we went and dug it
up because we had storm water leaks. We didn't fix the storm water before we paved the road. We don't want to have to do that with kids. >> Sure. >> Nor turf. So, uh, I think we need to look at that as well. So, I'm hoping staff will bring part of that information to us as like what those
costs would be because that would be on us and and we need to know that before we can commit. Thanks, >> Councilman. Uh, Schmidt. >> Yeah. Just a couple questions. one for maybe Ryan uh and maybe Crystal, but isn't a light upgrade at Threadgill Park
on the CIP project over the next few years for the city to be funding? >> Yes, it is. Uh we budgeted um eight polls at about 39,000 per poll for 300 and some thousand dollars. >> Okay. >> And that is in our 5year capital plan for
>> threat. >> Eat the mic. >> Crystal, please. >> They couldn't hear you. >> He forgot his hearing aids, too. pulling the mic closer. Can you hear me now? >> There you go. >> Um, yes. We budgeted uh about three
$334,000 to replace uh the lights on the eight um the the eight poles at Dalton Threadgill and that's currently sitting in the 2027. >> Sure. Okay. >> Budget renewal and replacement.
>> Anything on the turf? Uh we also yeah we we also um budgeted for the let's see the infield $36,000. Of course the infield is just clay um
for >> but it's on the CIP >> and that's in the renewal and replacement program also for 2027. >> That's 12 points right there. >> So that's Yep. >> Thank you Crystal. So city was were potentially planning on in the CIP. >> Yeah. I'll just say the artificial turf
would be an upgrade. That wouldn't be an eligible use of replacement money. But, uh, if you were to bring some money to the plate for for the upgrade and we brought our renewal and replacement funds, uh, that could be a very good match. >> And then just a couple quick clarification or comments. This item is
not walked on to any agenda because it was on the agenda uh, which was publicized last week um, with attachments. So this there's no sneakiness going on here. Um and also um
you know I I probably will recuse myself of voting on this item. Um you know and it's just interesting that it gets to that point. But if that's what makes certain people feel better, then I guess we can do that. But I have
yet to see another organization or nonprofit come to this city to do anything near what this little league organization is trying to do with the city of Destin's Park. And I would assume if this did happen that they're not just going out there tomorrow and
throwing tarp, you know, turf down. They would have to go through the city officials office for storm water and for all of those things. But it would be actually moving forward rather than just talking about it for the next five years.
>> Cal, I just want to make sure we all understand one of the benefits of being on council is we can wave any procurement policy that's out there. >> Great point. Councilwoman Abear. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um,
Crystal, can we use the money for the upgrade in lights to that's set aside here in the next couple of years that was going to be done anyway for if we want to upgrade to turf, you know, can we do that and that be like something they're matching.
>> So maybe not immediately put the turf in. we find out the safetiness of it, get the lights in, and then work on getting the turf in over the next 18 months or so in the budget of 27. Correct. >> Yeah, it's already budgeted for 2027, so
that that would require no action currently on our part. Um to uh to the other point though, sounds the the lights um I'd say we're pretty much ready to go. um if we did a proper uh request for uh bids or looked at uh
cooperative purchasing to see who else has already done a uh a competitive um search for uh installation of lights. Um we might be able to find a contract to piggyback upon. We have funds available this year uh for the lights
for um the the renewal and replacement fund is just to replace existing assets trying to maintain a certain level. Um and again so we could use that fund as our as our match. Uh but it would require other funding from another source be it from an outside source or
from a different different source within the city to do the upgrade portion. But pretty much they're helping make that happen. Correct. >> We we can make it happen, >> right? Yeah. I'm not going to >> But again, you might want to um as you know with turf, they were just making
the point, you got to make sure that your your water issues are addressed well in advance of laying down the turf, which might bring you to the next topic here in a minute, uh with a possibility for addressing the the water issues.
>> Okay. Well, I'm not going to vote for the substitute motion. I'm going to go ahead. I feel like we need to move forward with this and help make this happen with funding that we already have and funding they're trying to give us and getting this upgraded. And if the
lighting company that put in lights at Morgans and charged us hundreds of thousands of dollars was willing to match that free deal, great. But I don't think we should hold back and say, "Well, you need to go out and get RFPs, whatever." there's a company donating lights, whether they match everything
else, I'm sure there's still going to be high quality LED lights. The maintenance is probably going to be minimum compared to the monies that we're just maintaining that park. Correct. So, yeah, I'm supporting your ideas. >> All right. Uh, Councilman Bagby.
>> Yeah. Uh, probably used the incorrect word. It wasn't walked on. It was it was on the agenda. The problem was is other than the two bids uh or I'm sorry the single bids from the two firms there was
no there there which is why when I started asking the staff questions this afternoon that they didn't know because there we hadn't what are we going to do about the drainage? Well, what you know what's when's what's the time frame we're going to do this? Yeah.
>> Why would the staff know answers? Well, that's where we >> I'm just curious. >> Why are you concerned about staff answering questions about an item that that was going to be presented on Sunshine in front of everybody, >> right? >> So, they shouldn't know because this is an agenda item presented by a council
member, >> right? >> Presented by a board. So, I don't understand what the major concerns are here from you with all this. Well, the concerns are how we're going to do it. Cuz what happens if we don't involve the staff and we find out >> it's going to cost us $500,000 to fix the storm water to put in the turf, then
guess what? We're right back to square one and we haven't applied for the FURDP grant, which we pro I guess it looks like we might have a chance of getting. I >> I mean, you give me I got a couple recommendations and turn probably Kevin loose on this. If this had been brought up in the in the normal budgeting cycle
process, we could have applied for the FURD app months ago and probably have it we may have even gotten it for this fiscal year. That's they're they just >> But even if you move these funds and you approve this, nobody's signing a deal right now, writing a check, right? So, let's just say that happens with with
your hypothetical. It's half a million dollars to do a storm water project. >> Yeah. >> Well, then guess what? The money just stays in the city of Dustin's bank, I'm assuming. But see, we can't spend that $125,000 on another item because what we're doing here is obligating those funds. >> Or you're just hypotheticals all night
long about the nonprofit sitting here trying to give you money. >> They're trying to do something good for your part, for our part. >> I know. >> Okay. I just want to make sure we're clear. >> And so, and I'm okay with the lights. It's the turf. >> Gotcha. >> Okay. The lights, you know, I don't know
if they're as good as what we got up in mortgage. It doesn't really matter unless we have to replace them in three years and then then we'll have a different conversation cuz it's like we should have gotten FDRep grant and gone with the same lights. But, you know, I I think these lights will probably be great. And I appreciate this company
donating. And I appreciate the little league folks, you know, going out and soliciting these bids, but my my I just am uncomfortable at $125,000 when there are a lot of other places I
mean, that money resides. And if we had talked about this last year or even at our budget meeting, we probably could have gotten some of that money and it wouldn't be costing us. >> We did talk about it last year. Unfortunately, we didn't take any action for some reason or another. >> We can pull the minutes if we need to.
>> Yeah. >> All right. And one critical part about the FRAP, if we do this project within one year, if we apply this year and we're like, you know what, we're just going to do it. for depths of reimbursement grant regardless. >> We can we can apply, roll the dice, do
the project, and if we do win, and it's points, so we can be very certain if we hit a threshold, we'll get reimbursed anyways, and we will a little bit we're be close to the end of the deadline, but we can do this on the front end and get reimbursed like the program is
anticipated to do to begin with. So, full circle. >> Can I just bring I I appreciate bring it all back in. >> All right. I appreciate all these. I'm not familiar with FDRAP. this that the other. Okay. Volunteer board. >> We're not a grant writer. We're not a thing. We are just fundraisers and volunteers. So, we're just coming saying
this is a goal of ours and we have $100,000 that we're willing to help commit to upgrade a city park >> and we're just asking for someone to help us. If there's another way to do it and we can get reimbured, we're all for it. But that is not my expertise. to have a real life and a real job as a in
addition to spending hours and hours coaching baseball and we don't have grant writers on our board. So that would be I would lean on you guys for help and I think the main ask here is to ask that you guys approve us to work with the city to try to make this work. >> Perfect. All right, with that I see the
board's closed. We'll call the vote on the substitute motion >> lights >> for Jim. You want to help me here? >> To approve the expenditure of the whatever it is 10 $10,000 or $12,000 for
the lights and to direct the staff to uh >> put out an RFP. >> Yeah. What? >> Yes. >> Put out an RFP for the turf installation >> to see if we can get a better price. >> Is the 11 work? Should we rephrase that to 50% not to exceed amount?
>> Okay. >> Okay. Quick question. >> Yeah. Ryan, who's the turf companies that you usually get quotes from and you usually would use? >> It's Forever Lawn. >> Okay. That's the quote that's in the packet. The same company though, I think. >> Yes. >> Okay.
>> Okay. All right. >> I'm going to be abstaining for potential appearance of impropriy or something like that. >> Great vocab. I don't know what that means. I'm just kidding. All right. With that, >> this is on the substitute motion motion.
Bagby B >> lights 50%. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, uh, nose have it. The substitute motion fails. And we're back to the original motion, Councilman Guile's motion, which was everything. >> State that. >> Yeah. staff verify that everything's
compliant with uh local ordinances and any league requirements and that we are gratefully accepting this uh organization's 50% offer to help improve our parks while we pay the other 50% for
both lighting and turf. >> Mr. Larry Jones, >> just a couple of things for clarity. Obviously, there's some storm water issues we need to look at. So we we would think that would be part of our due diligence as we move this forward and the issue of a FREDAP grant being
reimbursible to move forward with that even as we uh move this initiative forward we would apply for a fur grant for the reimbursement of this project. >> Is that acceptable? >> Yeah. >> Yes. You >> yes.
>> Okay. All right. With that I will call the vote. >> Hold on. Council member Schmid, are you abstaining again? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Is it for the same reason? >> Keep them in the corner tonight. >> Thank you. >> What was that reason again? >> For the possible
>> council member Schmidt is a unpaid board member of the nonprofit. So for the appearance of impropriety, he's withholding from voting. Not voting. >> To hear him say impropri. >> All right. Eyes have it. So moved. One,
two, three, four, five, five, zero. You got your wishes. >> Thank you. >> Good job, Council Member Bagby. >> No, no, I'd like to. No, perfect discussion. >> I just think there's better ways to find >> for sure. With that, um, I want some
point of clarification for our staff. Uh, under that motion, can are you guys okay with sending this project to our parks and recck committee to hear this under FURDAP and to accept their recommendations
for this project? >> I don't certainly don't have an issue with that, but is it is it >> there's a couple things that would be big point ticket items and we're running out of council meetings to knock this out. I I would say go ahead and explain it to them, but I don't think any of them on the board have ever heard of
this before. >> No, for sure. I'm sure staff I didn't know if we need to to direct committee direct the parks committee or we're all inform >> I'll make that a motion if you need. >> It would be just to inform them. >> I'll make that a motion, mayor, if you need it. >> All right. Thank you, sir. All right. I
got a motion. Do I hear a second? >> Second. >> All right. We'll call the vote verbally, I guess. Um, so this is just going to be to send this this uh what lighting turf I guess the turf uh concept and fur app to our
parks committee >> for information and approval. >> Okay. >> And and that is to check the box on FAP grant. >> Yes. And there's a couple more if we want to lump them all or if it's easier to go one at a time and keep it Robert's rules. All right. So we'll just we'll call the vote on that. Ray, is it easier
for vocal? I got a couple of these. spent like two hours making sure I got my fur app down. All right, we got it on the CIP. Correct. Turf is on infield is on the capital improvement project for the five years.
I got that confirmed. Do we feel comfortable doing an exe um execute a cooperative agreement with Destin Little League for greater than or equal to 10% of the project? I know we just did that through this. Does that 50/50 motion
feel comfortable for you guys? >> I think so. >> Okay. >> This will reflect that. >> Perfect. I think those are really the three things >> you can clarify. >> Yeah, we just need to make sure that we check these boxes. We just got correction. We have to get above 56% or 56 points, which I think is going to be
a cakewalk. But all right, I think that's all we had. I'll let you know at the next meeting. If not, >> we're going to make this happen. And we're getting 120k for free from the state if I if it kills us >> one way or the other. >> I I don't I don't know if we clarified. Are we doing just the infield turf or
are we doing the whole turf? That that was my question. >> Two infield. Okay. >> Two infields. >> Okay. Awesome. All right. And hopefully at the end of the day that will reduce our cost, their cost, and that'll go into storm water. It sounds like. >> All right.
Mr. Larry Jones with the real 4A. >> Thank you. The item 4 A is regarding the Liberty Liberty livery u registration discussion. If you recall at the last meeting we had a first reading of the
ordinance regarding liberty vessels um and it was sent back for some clarification. Um David Bashard, our community development director, uh has put together some pretty binary questions that we would
like to get some answers to that would allow us to better draft a ordinance for your first reading at your next council meeting. Uh so Dave is going to come and and u kind of see if we can get some clarity on a number of issues that again
will allow us to draft a more clearly defined ordinance and scoping an ordinance uh as we move forward. So Mr. Pashard if you don't mind please. >> Thank you Larry. Um so as you know the proposed ordinance 255cc
which is uh covering article 8 which permitting of delivery vessel rentals is going to make changes to two sections. Uh the first one is required safety measures. Uh there's three based on the discussions last time we found that there was three open uh questions for
discussion and uh would you like me to just uh read those one at a time mayor >> please? Okay, the first one is does requiring livery vessel business employee training as listed in 255cc benefit the public sufficient to be
mandated by ordinance. >> All right, with that do I hear a motion or do we have any discussion? I I think just um you know unanimous consent uh to make sure that we're knowing that that's the will of the board to I mean the council to take back to draft the
ordinance. I suppose if you want to do it by motion each question that'll be fine too but I don't think that's absolutely necessary. I >> I'm I'm fine with the safety thing. Yeah, let's just break it down if we could in three parts >> and then you can ask us the sub questions but I'm fine with all the safety things from my perspective.
>> Okay. So the the other two the other two are is uh has to do with requiring livery vessel rental customer training and oper operator identification. Um and then the third one it was the question can the city adequately enforce the required safety measures? Um staff
opinion is yes uh yes we can and uh we would do that partially but it's when they apply for their permit they would sign uh basically an affidavit saying that they've met all the safety requirements from the code and our code compliance would then do uh random spot
checks. Those are the three having to do with safety measures. >> All right. Anything on those bullets? >> All right. >> All right. Thank you. We're looking good. >> Right. >> That's it. >> All right.
>> Uh okay. The second section that is being uh amended or proposed to be amended is regarding the section called permit not transferable and there's six and I'll read those. The first question is should the city limit the number of
livery vessels to 490? Uh staff's comment is that as of August 13, 2025, there are 484 vessels permitted permitted but unassigned or pending a permit. Additional vessels, including yachts and boat club vessels, have until
February 2026 to be included per ordinance 20 202415cc. The second question is from the effective date of the ordinance should unassigned vessels have one year before being removed from the permit. Three,
should a buyer of a livery vessel currently under a permit be guaranteed the ability to register that livery vessel with the city? Staff comment is concerns that this could artificially increase the value of a livery vessel independent of the quality and condition
of the vessel. Uh, number four, should the city for the purpose of preventing the artificial inflation of sales pricing or price gouging limit the sale price to no more than current NADA guide plus value plus 10% for a delivery vessel that
guarantees the purchaser the ability to obtain a delivery vessel permit from the city. Staff's comment is that this action or concern is that this action could be interpreted as arbitrary and capricious by not allowing prices to reflect the true value of the vessel.
Question five, should the purchaser of a delivery vessel who benefited from a guarantee ability to apply for a livery vessel permit from the city be prevented from selling, transferring, or assigning the vessel for two years. Uh staff's comment is this action could be
problematic in terms of enforcement. The violation would likely be discovered when the new owner applied for a permit and therefore the negative consequence would be on the innocent party if the permit is denied. The sixth and final question is, should a delivery vessel which has not been used in the normal
course of business for at least 60 days be removed from a delivery vessel permit? All right. And I'm sure we got some opinions. We do. Councilman Schmidt. >> Yeah. Thank you, David and staff u for putting the time and effort into all of this. Um I'm going to just throw out a
couple of comments, potential ideas that may or may not answer these questions. And then if there's any agreement, I guess we could go down the road or is that okay how we're doing it? Um, first quick question is number one is it was
brought to me by somebody that were missing tail fins. Are they under that number of already in limbo or >> we don't have them listed on that uh spreadsheet we gave you that I got from the our permit tech. They were not listed as having a permit. >> So then the 484 490 is like a pretty
legit number. So in in in regards to that first item, you know, I feel like whatever that number is 490, maybe 500 in case there's some random ambiguity numbers missed, I would like to set it and then every year I would like it to
continue to fluctuate based upon the renewal registrations. So for example, if it's 500 and 500 registrations come in, it's 500. If 470 registrations come in, there's now 30 available registrations during the course of the
next 12 months until the next registration period. At that next period, any of those 30 that were or were not used, the new number is now set. So let's say five of them were used, now the number is at 475
for a whole another year. So that's kind of my thought about a number. And that also allows it to go down potentially if they're not being used. I don't think the city should have any business getting involved with NATA and pricing and being a boat broker and
dealer and all that stuff. I don't really like that. Um I think if I'm going to buy um if I'm going to buy, can I use you as an example? Luther's Pontoon Rental Company. I think I should take the business the
registrations. If he's selling them to me, let's just use an example of 10. If he has 10, I'm gonna buy 10. I now have 10 registrations. I still think though I should have to come to the city of Dest get my BTR, but then b make sure that my
business is not only going to just mirror what he did, but maybe I was going to tweak some boats and now I have his 10 plus some some other boats that no longer have parking. So, I'd like to make sure that when I buy his business, I still got to go to the city
to use his 10 registrations. And then lastly, I think my comment is is if he's not using his vessels, I don't like the idea of the fourmonth period or six-month period. I think if you've been approved for a year during your registration,
you have that entire year to do as you please with those registrations. When it comes time to renew it, when you renew, fill out a registration, you got to go through all of the approvals with the city, parking and bathrooms, even if I don't use it, as long as I
have all the approved potential opportunities to use it, then I just keep them, you know, uh then do with do with them whatever I need to do with them as long as I have those boxes checked. But if I don't have the ability to do the business with those
registrations, a I shouldn't be getting approval from the city. So then now they're no longer available. Kind of some thoughts there. Hopefully those maybe make sense. And if anybody else has questions, I'd try to answer them because this has been one of the
most confusing six, seven years of conversation I think we've had. Shoot. >> All right. I apologize. I messed everyone up here. All right. Councilman G. >> David, does that make any Sorry. Can I ask him first if if there >> that made sense about what I got and Sandy? Sorry about that.
>> Yep. Go ahead. Sorry. >> You got any questions? All right. I was resetting the board. All right. Councilman G. >> All right. I do agree with some of the things Kevin said with with the 490 potentially reducing those numbers annually. We paid for a study from the Army Corps Engineer. Army Corps
Engineers said we're over capacity that we are in a situation of imminent serious injury or death. So, it only makes sense to me that if we can start reducing those over years and finding a way to reduce those permits or medallions or whatever the hell you want
to call them uh annually until we become a safer harbor, that's what we should be working towards. And if that program is any unused, eliminate that number or reduce that number for the next year. I'm all for that. As far as the effective date of the ordinance, should unassigned vessels have one year from
being removed? Yes. Allowing that one year uh before removing them with a permit provides fair transition period. Right. Um [Music] the one where we're talking about should a buyer delivery vessel uh be guaranteed a registration of that
livery. This one I I I have some partial issue with. If you're buying an entire business, potentially if you're trying to buy one vessel, I I something Kevin mentioned is is probably key there. It has to go before the city. City has to
verify that they have the parking and everything else required because if you're buying one or two vessels, chances are you're not going to have the funding to have the docking and this this crap that we're doing right now where we're uh like Claude Perry, he's illegally letting delivery vessels load off his dock every day for a fee.
There's no parking allowed for that. Um, I'm down there witnessing it. We don't have the code enforcement to enforce it apparently. I've generated a document with pictures a couple years ago, submitted it, and and we still haven't done crap about it. But, um, I think
that no matter what, it has to go before the city. City has to determine if that's a viable and if it's legal, and if it's not, it it should be eliminated uh, right there on that spot. Uh, additionally, if if you change
your your business from your DO, I think you should have to go through another approval process. Um, so if you increase vessel, if you any any portion of a change of that business, um, we have too many people that have a DO right now that says, "Yes, I only operate this
part of my business after lunch, so or or for evening, so I use all that parking for delivery." But the reality is now they're doing breakfast, lunch, and dinner and they don't have the the approved parking. We're letting that slide. I think that needs to come to an end. I think that we need to be
evaluating these things and putting a stop to those types of situations. Um, as far as the NADA guideline, we need to stay away from that. Uh, in my opinion, I don't think we should have anything to do with that. Um
the uh should we purchase should the purchaser of a living vessel who benefited from a guaranteed ability to obtain a delivery per city prevented from selling transferring or signing? I I mean I don't think we should have any any say in that whatsoever. And should
the delivery vessel be uh not been used in normal business for 60 days, what do you do when there's a hurricane? you know, docks are wiped out, things are closed down. I mean, now we're saying 60 days. Now, we have to come up here and we have to review it and say, "Okay,
there's extenduating circumstances, so we're gonna have to review that. There's a fire, somebody burns something, they have to rebuild something." I I think I think we're we're we're confining ourselves too much, and we don't have the code enforcement to keep all of that in play. Um, one of the other issues I have are these these people that are
holding on to their medallions, permits, registry, whatever the hell you want to call it, because they're trying to find the way to optimize money. To me, that's no difference than than the stock exchange or gambling or anything else. You've got a set time um, one year. Some people have already had it for two years
while they're playing this game. If they're not going to use it, it needs to come back to the city and then at that point we reduce. If you're you've been holding it, you don't have the vessels to assign it to for some reason. If you can't if you purchased these things in advance and you can't get your business together in one year, you're just
wasting you're really just trying to play a lottery. That's all you're really trying to accomplish. You're trying to see if you can make money off somebody else's back by escalating that that price. So, one year should be it. After that one year, you're done. That's my take. >> So, you like Destin crypto coins?
>> Destin crypto. That's what we're doing. >> Yeah. the Paktui girl. >> All right. Far other direction. >> Know how we went there. >> All right. Uh, Councilman Brady, I did have you up first. I'm sorry. The the board got cleared, so I did want to get you in front or unless you want to give
Councilwoman Traml. All right, Traml. >> I agree with everything Kevin said. Um, I still have yet to figure out how we got into the NADA thing for registered vessels. To me, it was just the decal, medallion, sticker,
whatever you want to call it, that I didn't want people inflating the price of when they either and now if we turn it in after every year, that's fine with me. I think that's great. But, but just to be able to get a bunch of those and
hold on to them and then turn around and try to sell them to somebody else for $15,000 or something, I just think is gouging. I think we ought to hold the number at four. What are we at? 490 right now. >> 490 was the max that we determined.
>> Yeah, that's the cap. Yes, >> at that point. I think we should hold it at that and and like Kevin said, work down, but that's it. I agree. All right, Councilwoman Braden. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um >> I thought you didn't want to speak. >> Oh, no. He was had to redo the board. Um I I agree with a lot of what uh
Councilman G was saying. Um, he kind of stole my thunder on some of it. Um, I did I did want to know why the one restaurant was not on this. I think they have a bunch of tiki boats behind there. Why are they not on this list?
>> Yeah, I don't know. So, the unless they're listed under a different name than the restaurant, you know. So, but I don't know. That was the list I was given of the um the permits that have been issued and
I we can follow up if you have one that you think should be should have a permit and that doesn't have a permit then we'll definitely follow up on on that and verify. >> I'm just wondering if they're operating illegally or >> right >> if they um another thing um we like I said last
time we we never issued medallions or anything. We merely issued a sticker for the pontoon boats so we could count them because we were told there were so many they're getting jockeyed around so many times we can't keep count of them. So it's just a basically a sticker and I
guess once we put the mortorium on it everybody's like oh I got I'm going to call it a medallion. I got something important now. But I don't know. I I have no idea how or why we allowed somebody to sell all their boats or business or whatever and continue to
hang on to these registrations for a year or two years with no parking, no bathrooms, no nothing. Do we do that with all the businesses or, you know, like I've said before, I have no idea how we got here. Like I think it was Tori cabin or something. We've been
we've been talking about this for years and it's just gotten way out of hand. I mean, how how it got to this point, I have no idea, you know? I mean, it's crazy. Um, I just can't wrap my head around, be honest with you. I mean, we issued a few
stickers and then put a moratorium on it and here we are. People think they got something and they're hanging on to it. Why the city's allowing it, I don't know. Um, but, uh, that's all I've got right now, mayor. Thank >> Right. C, uh, Bagby.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh yeah so this was about 40 minutes of my hour today was >> yeah the uh yeah I can the uh what what the issue is part of the issue is is it a moratorum or is it a cap and so what
we just what I discussed with the staff was we should keep the moratorum in place and establish a cap of 450 because as councilman Gile said we've been told by the core and by other, you know, even the Boers. We got too many
boats out there. Somebody's going to get killed. Somebody's going to get hurt. So, we need to determine uh what a safe number is. And, you know, 450 is is a place to start. The way >> you say 350. I heard I heard 350. 450. 350. >> Well, I hear 200. council can set the
number whatever they want to set it at and then we once the we lift the moratorum uh after we hit that number that when we hit that cap or go below that number and how that looks is the when we go below that number then there
are five stickers five permits that will be available and on February 1st everybody will put in their request to permit their boat whoever ever is out there. And we will pick five and they will have the first op first bite of the
apple to get the permit. And then we'll pick five more in case one of those can't find a place, a slip, a parking, a bathroom or whatever, or can't buy a boat, they intended to buy a boat, but they couldn't get a boat before March
1st. I agree the 60 days is too short. Uh, but I looked at it from a season ends in October pretty much and they don't they get rid of their old boats. They buy their new boats in February. They make sure their new boats are there
by one March so that they are they can get the spring breakers and the summer season and they can get use of those uh, you know, that investment. They're not just going to pay by a boat to have it sit for four or five months in the
harbor uh waiting on people to come. So that that's kind of how it would look is because that that's my concern is we can say we're going to keep the moratorum. We can say it's going to be 490. It's going to be 290. I don't care what the number is necessarily. what's the
process so that when we go below that that everybody knows and it's fair because you know it and it could be a lottery it could be first come first serve it could be transfers with the vessel I I would get rid of transfers
with the vessel altogether you know you sell your vessel you sell your vessel if because most people if they sell it they're going to replace it they can renew the permit for They're they're both they had 10 this year. They can
have up to 10 next year until they get below that because the um you know it we we have to have a process going forward to issue these permits once we get down to whatever number we
decide the cap is. And right now we don't have a process. We just have a moratorum. And that's how we got into this false market of well I'll buy your permits and that no and if you sell the company I agree with Mr. Guile and I I
think what Mr. Schmidt was alluding to was you sell the company the permits go with the company. You sell the boat the permit does not go with the boat. the company retains it up until one March and if they haven't used it, it goes
into the lot or one February it goes into the lottery and we we pick names and then that way it's fair for everybody to have an opportunity to get more votes. So that that's my thoughts on that. I think that's David is was there anything else that we discussed? I
can't remember. >> No, I think they got it. >> All right, Councilwoman Abear. Thanks, mayor. I think putting the word lottery into it sends a terrible signal to people. You know, I got to hurry and put my name in there. I want to get, you know, I want to get picked. Um, I agree
with what both Kevin and Tori have said. And I just want to point out, we may have put a moratorum on our harbor, but Fort Walton Beach had no clue that we needed their help because they have five businesses that opened up and each of
those five businesses and their 50 to 100 pontoon boats are all in our harbor every weekend. Jimmy's is over there. The beach pontoons over there, beach weekend. You look, all of those Fort Walton beach pontoons are in our harbor.
So as people lose their business or they get done with it and our numbers come down, I don't think we need to add anymore. We just say we're done because it's never going to be a small amount because the other cities are not working
with us on this moratorum. So, I feel at this point until we can get them to come to the table on the fact that y'all need to, you know, quill how much businesses you authorize and how many boats and pontoons per business. I feel like it, you know, we've shot ourselves in the
foot basically. So, that's my thoughts. >> I don't know. Marester has a pretty trendy uh swing going on right now. Push them all to the sound. >> Yeah. Just I think Mr. Braden, I've heard something similar, but I believe
in that example, they no longer were using pontoon boats and instead are using a different type of vessel that don't fall under the livery vessel registration. Right. So,
they still have registrations available, but they're filling the dock with a different vessel now, which I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, David, but my example of kind of like in that scenario, when it comes time to renew, they're not really able to register for
them because they have a different vessel in their dock and they no longer have parking available for all of their registrations plus these new vessels. So, like maybe that's whenever it would be found. >> That's correct. Unless unless somebody alerts us or we discover it, then we
could take action. But yes, when they come around, we would have to evaluate number of vessels, the the capacity of those vessels and and so forth and the parking and everything. >> That's so the tikis are a different not to lump them all in. Is that what you're saying? >> So the vessels potentially behind this
restaurant are COI type of vessels. >> Oh, okay. Gotcha. Not not the Okay, I'm tracking now. All righty. That's a cleared board. You're taking notes like a freshman college student. You got it. >> Move on. >> Dave, you need any clear? >> This might hurt my my GPA. I I don't
know. Just if you don't mind. Uh >> come on. Hit us. >> So, um I think I've got it. So generally you can't transfer you can't transfer the ability to um to res to to apply for a permit with a boat but you
can if you if the if the business is being sold and the boats are being sold with the business. Okay. Uh don't like the setting the price limit with the nada plus 10%. Um, whatever the cap is going to be, I think
everyone seemed to be in agreement with if the next year we don't meet the cap, that becomes and it's lower. It's then that's the new cap and then that would continue. >> Is that with a one-year grace period as far as is that what I heard correctly? I was trying to take notes as well. >> I believe it was the one year of during
the registration period, right? That >> one. Okay. Okay. >> Keep going. >> Okay. um generally um didn't see a need for the 60-day, but you have the permit for a year whether you use it or not. U
there was some talk about the lottery. I don't know if there was kind of a consensus on the lottery, but some some people didn't like it. Um, and I think that's Oh. Um, and we we wanted this the ordinance to be silent on
flipping. In other words, there if someone buys a boat, well, if there's no transfer, then if we're getting rid of transfer, then it's moot. Never mind. I got it. I think that's it. >> All right. And then on the lottery, we all say no. I didn't look that way. Yeah. That's why I wanted to be our point.
>> What is the process? because it's either going to be first come first. You're going to have five or 10 permits that are not issued that are left over from the year before. So, is it going to be first come first serve? >> No. >> Is it going to be >> new? The new number is the least. Okay.
Those five people didn't reregister. >> So, you're just going to go down at what when you get to what number are you going to say? >> 200. >> He's I believe you're saying is if the number is 490. Okay. Yeah. and dem and at March one 450 registrations come in.
We're using 4 >> 450 is the new number. >> Well, that that was >> that's what I would like to make that motion that we as the numbers if people don't reregister we don't hold those or lottery them out. We drop it down when
we end up down to 300. Maybe that's our cap. But the point is we should make it where if they don't reregister, it doesn't become a lottery. It becomes a new number at the end of the registration time. Okay, we had 16 that
didn't reregister. Boom. 16 off of 490. >> I hear you. But I guess in my mind, I'm thinking this coming season the registration number is 490. We're starting with 490. >> Correct. >> Right. Okay. >> 490. But if only 450 come in during that
during this period, there's still We just set it at 490, there's 40 available. >> But if they don't register in time, but if they don't register in time, right? Or you're saying we give them until >> we set it at 490 and you have 12 months now to fill the 40. And so my thought would be yes, the first first come first
serve that fills out their paperwork and everything else. >> Not a lottery. It's a list. But 12 months later, if it's if it ends up at Ford 82, then that's the new number. >> New number. >> Yeah. >> Well, the the issue with the first come,
first serve is if I'm a smart business person, >> take them all. >> That's right. I'll take them all. I'll be the first one and I'll take all 40. >> Parking, >> huh? >> You have to have park. You have to have all the things to get approved to get them. >> You can apply for 40, but you don't have
to have a boat because you can get the permit. You have to have the parking. You have to have the bathroom. And then once you get that, because I'm not going to get a permit >> or I'm not going to get a boat if there's no chance of me getting a permit. >> Yeah. That's the last >> that would be that's the last thing I do
is write that check for the boat. >> Yeah. And the only thing I would caution y'all on is with this methodology is you're going to punish the destined providers because you're going to say,
"Well, when we get down to 300, you know, then maybe we'll open it up." Well, all you're going to do is now everybody's going to be coming out of Fort Walton Beach because the demand is still going to be there for pontoon boats. I'm just that's why I said what
we need to figure out what our cap is and you know I I said yeah 250 no I I probably wouldn't go that low because you're just there's an advantage just like our fishing fleet has an advantage to working out of the Destin Harbor there is an advantage for our pontoons
and I know everybody is not big fans but there's an advantage to them working out of our harbor that helps our businesses down on the harbor and helps our rental houses, you know, in the city of Dest and helps provide a lot of revenue for
this city. So, if you just say we're not going to refill it, we're not and I don't care how you refill it. You want to do first come, first serve, okay, that's fine. But if they don't get the boat within a month, then it goes back in the kitty and somebody else can get it. Or you can do um you know,
well, I that's all I got to say. >> No, good points. Uh, Councilman Braden. >> Thank you, Mayor. With that being said, everybody, or not everybody, a lot of people have been trying to figure out how we
can get the money that went to Rosemary Beach Water Seasides back up here. And I can promise you, anybody you want to bet, it damn sure ain't pontoon boats, this going to bring them back here.
Councilman Gal, >> I agree with that. But I got one question. So something uh Councilman Aberry just said was City of Fort Walton Beach isn't supporting this. Have we reached out to them and try to get their support and they just physically said no, kiss our butt. >> The um city of Fort Walton Beach didn't
pass a moratorum, but they did pass livery vessel regulations and their intent was to allow the parking to sort of work like a moratorum. Meaning if they didn't have the parking then the businesses couldn't operate there. So I don't know if I would say they're not on
the same page. It sounded to me that they were. >> They have a pretty good lawyer over there about it as we are. Is that what you're saying? >> They got a good lawyer in Port Wall. >> They got a good lawyer. >> So I mean I don't know what you mean by support really. They did just pass. >> Okay.
>> Similar livery vessel regulations to the city and the county. So then that means >> not a moratorum >> all-incclusive we should see a reduction because one thing Councilman Bagby just said was we're only going to hurt the Destin people. The Fort Walton people are just going to keep adding and
they're going to keep going over there. But chances are there's a limit to what Fort Walton Beach is going to add as well. So it will have an impact if we reduce it will have an ultimate impact. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's what I need. >> They just didn't use a moratorium. They are they have parking requirements that
have to be met and land is not unlimited in Destin or Fort Walton Beach for parking. >> Yeah. I just wanted to make sure this wasn't an act of fruition. There was actual results. Thank you. >> So, this kind of a pointed detail question I don't expect anyone to have off the top of their head. The um Army
Corps, what did they I know they gave us the we're we're blowing out of the seams here. Did they give us a a here's the number that would be good and that's why you're here or we're just over? >> We're so far. >> We're just heavy and we don't know the
number, but it's definitely too much. >> God, I love the federal government. >> They said they'd come back for additional money and reevaluate. >> God, I love the federal government. >> All right. Well, I thought that was going to be an easy Well, let's not throw a number out of the air. Let's let's see what the the professionals
say. So just for the record because we had that conversation, but we're not throwing a number out in the air. I have to put that on the record because it is important to have a justification for our number, right? So that it's held up. Our number is based on the number of businesses that were
here at the time of the moratorum. We probably would have had a lower number >> preferably because the Army Corps did determine we're over capacity. Um, but since at that time council didn't want to put existing businesses out, they put the moratorium in place and if you were
an existing business, you were allowed to continue. That's where our number that we have today comes from essentially >> and for legal points that makes a lot of sense. I was in high school. I appreciate the infinite wisdom of those before me and I retract my statement.
All right, with that >> do we have no motion? >> No motion. All clarification, double thumbs up. We did our job. All right, Mr. Jones. >> Moving right along. >> A completed
one. >> Next item is regarding the Oakloo County Sheriff's Office service agreement for FY26. Um, you have a copy of that proposed agreement in your packet. Uh, in essence, it is a request for a 7.88% 88%
increase over last year's funding for the same level of service. Uh, Captain Fulg and I have had um more than one discussion about whether that is the hard fast number and as of Friday he confirmed that that was their position
that uh to reduce the funding level would reduce the uh level of service um potentially to get to the current year's uh number by two deputies. and Captain Fulton's here if you have any questions
from him. But that's um the item before you for your consideration. All >> right, Councilwoman Traml. >> I was just going to make the motion so we can discuss. I move that the council approves the 2025 law enforcement service agreement to provide law enforcement services to the city of Destin by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's
Office from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. >> I'll second. >> All right. I have a motion. I have a second. Uh anything else, Councilwoman Traml? Okay. Uh, Councilman G, >> the 7.88% increase, how much of that is
CFA? >> 6%. >> 6% for a cost of living increase. Okay. Um, just so I know, what was our general standard in the city of Dustin? What was our cost of living increase for our city? >> Just under 2%.
>> So, under 2%. So, they want >> Just under 3%. >> Just under 3%. Right. Almost. Right. 3%. >> Okay. So, they want double the cost of living that we're paying our local staff, >> basically. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. And by not doing this, you
say we don't get two additional sheriff's officers >> if we maintain level funding in at the current year's rate. Conversation I've had with Captain Fulg would result in a reduction of two deputies. >> All right. And right now the budget is uh 67
million. Is that correct for them? >> For the county total sheriff's office budget. >> Yes. >> You have the the figures that we gathered today. I believe that's correct. >> 67 is what they're saying. >> And hold on. Let me make sure I understand this.
>> So come on up. out of our millillage just from Destin 33.5 go to the safety division over there right so they get a portion of that and then the
Destin TDC uh they get another there's another 20 million that goes to that do we know how much exactly of that third that roughly 50 million goes directly to the sheriff's department from those two funding basises
I will defer to Captain for he could probably better answer that than I could. >> We get uh approximately nine uh $900,000 from the TDD. >> I do not I do not know how much money we get from the tax base um out here in
Dest. Uh the TDD funds two marine units and two beach units and then they pay for all the additional overtime for spring break. and they pay for the additional deputies that it takes to work overtime uh to manage the traffic
that's coming into Destay Bridge uh during the 100 days of summer. >> And I would also like to to point out >> that's not Destin though. That's that's Niceville, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. It's it's Niceville. I mean, it's >> Yeah. Because all you're doing blocking that Lake Drive,
>> but it's but it's because of the amount of traffic that's coming into Dest. >> Yeah. Yeah, but you're only doing it to protect the residents on Lake Drive because otherwise people could come. >> We're doing it because of the road rage situations that we were having down there. Um along with the fact that the fire department on White Road was being
blocked in, couldn't respond to calls for service because of the traffic where people were trying to go down White Road. But yeah, it's a traffic control situation over there. >> That wouldn't be a county responsibility. >> Yes. >> Oh, it is. That's what you're saying. That's the fun that >> Yeah. Yeah. That's where the funding is
going for that. and and I actually um I and I said nine I said 900,000. I apologize. That's what I asked for. That's not what I got. Um I got about 800,000 >> 800 >> out of that. I would also like to point out that
you're talking about a 6% COLA increase where y'all are only getting a 3% cola increase. Uh, I'd like to point out that y'all are having a problem keeping um, uh, code enforcement officers, and each of y'all have talked about the fact that y'all need to pay your code enforcement
officers more to keep them. When you graduate from the law enforcement academy, you have got the exact same credentials to go to work for Walton County Sheriff's Office, to go to work for Knoxville Police Department, to go to work for Fort Walm Beach Police Department that you have to go to Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office. We have to have a 6% cola increase in order
to stay competitive with the market. Otherwise, we're going to start hemorrhaging deputies to Walton County. >> Okay. So, I I've crazy question because I mean right now
from what I understand, Cresview has their own police department. Niceville has their own police department. Shalomar, Balzo, Fort Walton Beach. Um Mary Esther doesn't, we don't. And some of the unincorporated areas don't. Correct. >> That's correct. So, who would you say is
the major contributor, financial contributor to your guys' bottom line then? Because if they already have their own police departments, I can't imagine they're paying as much as we are. >> Yeah. The the you know, the Aalorum tax is based on the Aalorum tax is where the sheriff's office gets it money from and
that's based on the property taxes. So, if you've got a a $100,000 home in Niceville, uh, in the county area of Niceville or in the Niceville city limits, you pay the same amount of taxes you pay for $100,000 home in Dest. So, you know, it's not it's not you can't
look at it like, okay, who, you know, so the the major contributor to the budget um for the sheriff's office comes from whoever has the highest property taxes, >> but are they also paying the additional 3 million plus 7%. >> No, they pay a lot more for their police
department than what y'all play for. >> I'm saying to you, I'm not worried about their police department. >> I understand, but y'all are y'all are contracting with the y'all are contracting with us to be your police department. >> Yeah. And maybe that's something we need to look at. >> So if if um >> us contracting our own police department >> and and you can and if you would would
y'all pull up the um would y'all put up the slide presentation that I have for y'all please? >> Captain Fulgum. >> Captain Fum. >> Captain Fulgum over here >> behind you. >> I'm sorry. >> On your six. Yeah. Um, while they're
pulling that up, did did I remember that Val P or Niceville was paying like5 or $6 million to the sheriff's department? >> I don't have um I don't have the Valp the uh Are you talking about what they're paying for the sheriff's office or what you're what they're paying to
the for their police department? >> Well, they're paying the sheriff's department. Seemed like we were paying at one time when last time I looked at it, we're paying close to 2 million, but seemed like they were paying three times that. >> Yeah. I again like I said I don't have the the tax base information broken down
to say okay this much money is coming from this area this much money is coming from that area. Uh like I um you know y'all have heard me say on numerous occasions we don't charge y'all any more than what it costs to put a deputy out here. So what we're talking about when
you're talking about reducing you know reducing the the percentage you're talking about reducing positions. Well, I'm not even talking about that right now because what I want is somebody that when we're paying them to do a job, they do the job we ask them to do and not the one they feel that they want to do. >> Absolutely.
>> Right. So if it if it benefits us to hire our own police department so that they can do code enforcement and other things. >> If you could if you could move the presentation forward to the point where it talks about the comparison between the
it'll be the the top of the slide will be the budget. Go back a few go back a few slides please. there budget proposal will be the top thing right there. I'm sorry. So that you know that's what y'all currently are getting. If you'll
go to the next slide please. So as you'll note what I said just a moment ago that's not including these are the these are things that we that the TDD pays for and services that come out here that aren't in y'all's contract. What I'm pointing out here is the fact that while y'all only have
14,000 residents, as y'all know, the numbers that y'all serve uh during any given day or any given holiday weekend is, you know, 65 plus thousand people could be out here at any given time. If you'll go forward, please. And go forward one more, please. Okay.
So based on the 2026 budget proposal of 3,35,558, y'all will be paying approximately $9266 a call for service. So if you'll go forward please, if you look in comparison to Niceville, they have
16,000 residents. They have 29,000 calls for service and they have 32 full-time officers. It caught their budget is 4.5 million. So they're paying $152,000 or I'm sorry $152
per call for service. >> Okay. That 4.5 that's for their local police department is what you're saying. >> 4.5 million is what they pay for their local police department. Now Mr. Bagby, if you've mentioned this before, y'all looked I believe it was back in 2010.
a couple times. >> I I think the latest I think the last time y'all >> was probably the last >> and it was going to cost y'all $11 million just to set up the infrastructure for your own police department in 2010 without hiring anybody. >> I get there's going to be an initial
upfront cost that's going to be outrageous, but then you also have the ability to dictate what you want them to do and what you want them to enforce >> to a degree. >> Yeah. With with all we don't have that ability. I I think we work pretty well with y'all, but that's I mean, that's a
matter of opinion. >> I'm not saying that there's certain aspects where you don't work really well with us. I just think there's other aspects where we're lacking. And and >> you and I have had this discussion in the past and and I hope this isn't like out of the clear blue by any means, but
um there's just certain portions of this where and and I understand your perspective. You don't want to get involved in code enforcement because if you do it for us, then you have to do it for other people. But my main concern with getting in involved in code enforcement is what I told y'all earlier. I don't want to stand on the
beach and explain to a lady why her 16-year-old son got beat up and she asked me where were you when my when my child got beat up down here on the beach. And I don't want to tell her that I was 200 yards down the beach arresting somebody for selling ice cream to a
four-year-old. That's why I don't want to get involved in code force. I don't want to I don't want to diminish the role of code enforcement. It's extremely extremely important, but >> chances are I won't be hitting the 16-year-old. I'd be hitting his dad. So, it's
that's a bad joke. I'm sorry. But the uh the the and I understand your point of view on that, but the problem is when we have when when we set that ordinance and we set that that law or or what you will, we need somebody that's going to
enforce it to a point where somebody can be arrested. Our code enforcement can't do that, right? >> Yes, you can. >> So, but when we're talking about an ice cream thing, tell me this. How many times you think you're going to have to arrest somebody before you don't anymore? Right? It's going to be the initial burst of >> how many times I've arrested somebody
for shoplifting in my career as a law enforcement officer over 31 years. Thousands and thousands and thousands of times. >> Those are different groups. We're talking we have what four or five groups that we have to teach a lesson to. >> And then what happens when it's the next four or five groups that comes in behind that group? You're continually that
that's a lesson that you're going to continually teach. Well, we can agree to disagree on certain portions of this, but um I I'm just curious and and I would like to know. I mean, I realize we're thinking $15 million initial cost, but then the maintenance fee to keep our
own police department so that we can dictate 4.5 4.5 million for the city of Nashville. If you'll go forward, please on the slide. Panama City Beach, their budget is 17.2
million. uh very similar demographics to what's happens here in the summertime. If you Yeah. with 85 officers to do what we do with 21. If you'll go forward to the next slide, please. South Daytona Beach,
very similar population to the city of Dest, very similar demographic to what's coming to the beach area. Theirs is also 4.5 million at 2 uh 200 $267 call with 24 officers. If you go forward to the next one, please. Atlantic Beach. Again,
another tourist destination. Very similar um very similar population, full-time population to the city of Dest. They have to do it with 29 officers and their budget is 8 million. Uh so that I mean that'll give you a general idea. I think there there may be
another one. >> So what's the price then? Let's let's talk about it this way. What's the price where you'll do what we actually ask you to do then? So since they're 4.5 million, what's the price where we can say, "Okay, we want you to enforce this and instead of $92 a call, you want it to be 15." Because just like anything in
life, there's a price that makes anything worthwhile, right? There's a price where I'll pay somebody to mow my lawn because it doesn't make sense for me to do it or there's a price where I'll do something else. Why would y'all Why would y'all pay us $157,000
a deputy a year to do something that you can pay code enforcement to do? >> Well, we don't have code enforcement right now. One, but >> you can't keep them because you're not paying a 6% cola. >> I don't think it's the 6% cola. I think
it's the initial salary that we're starting. I'm I'm going by what I'm going by what y'all have voiced up here as far as the reason that y'all are saying y'all can't keep them is because y'all are saying you aren't paying them enough >> right I don't think that's cola I think that's the initial salary that's that initial salary bas cost of living just
an annual increase based off that initial salary increase it's just supposed to keep everybody apples to apples but >> it's supposed to keep you competitive with other areas is what it's supposed to >> but that initial salary is what gets you there right that's what makes you competitive to begin with if we get to the root cause it's the initial salary
it's not the annual increases. Um, again, we'll have to we'll have to agree to disagree because I'm telling you right now, if somebody if somebody is paying you if you will have people that stick around out of loyalty, no doubt, you'll have people that stick around because they
were born in the city of Dest and this is where they want to work. But for the most part, if you've got someone that's got equal training and equal footing and the next county over is offering them a dollar an hour more, that's where
they're going to go. >> Well, then you just you just agreed with me because we just talked about initial salary, not cost of living increase. That dollar an hour more isn't a cost of living. >> But next year, you're gonna have next year. So, what you're going to face is the same thing that we face is we go
back and forth with with Walton County and Mr. Mr. Jones can speak to this because he was over here at the time. Walton County will raise their cost of living to their deputies and we'll have deputies that leave here and they end up going over there and then the following year we do the same thing and we bring
deputies back. But you face a year deficit trying to match that salary because all these guys have got the same training and it's the exact same job. And I got that and I realize what you're trying to say about the uh the uh code enforcement act, but there
was a portion in the contract that said you guys will enforce what this the city council basically deems the portion of that contract didn't say that we would enforce what the city council deems. If you look at the heading of that contract that empowers us to do what the city
council is asking us to do, not demanding that we do it. It doesn't require us to do it. And like I gave in the example when I was talking to y'all in the in the individual meetings that I had, you do not want to take away the ability for a law enforcement officer to
enforce your code. Um when I was a beach sergeant um many years ago during spring break, I had a gentleman that was walking down the sidewalk and he was carrying an open bottle of alcohol. I could not make contact with him and require him to identify himself to me
and tell me any other information about him just based on state law. But because the city of Dest had a ordinance saying that um you're not allowed to have a open container alcohol outside the festive marketplace that gave me the
ability to make contact with him, require him to show me an ID or at least require him to tell me how how you know what his name, date of birth, address, that sort of thing was. And because of that, I was able to place him under arrest and take cocaine off of him that
took cocaine out of our community during spring break. So that that's the reason that that's in there. That's not in there. If you look at the heading over that over that section that it's not in there to require I'm not even looking at that. I'm looking at right of control article
five. You're talking about article six authority to act. >> Mine is the sheriff shall and shall have and maintain the responsibility for providing the level of service determined by the city of council. >> Right. So that's determined by us. That's a level of service that y'all are
satisfied with, not a level of service that y'all are telling us that y'all want us to do. If you're not satisfied with our service, then absolutely if you think you can get better service for less money or anything else, I encourage you to go out and and you know, explore the possibility of getting your own
police department. Uh, I've shown you up here on the slide and I can tell you you're not going to get a more professional law enforcement agency than what you've got for less money. >> Yeah. And I'm not saying we need to do less money. I'm saying if we can get what we want, maybe we pay a little bit
more, right? >> And and I'm just one of seven. Don't >> No, no, no, no. That and that's certainly something that, you know, I mean, that's certainly something that you may wish for the staff to explore. >> That is something I would like us to look into. I can tell you that it's that I can tell you it's not going to happen
as far as the level of service that you're going to get. >> Well, maybe, maybe not. But I mean, I might be eating my words once it once it all goes into effect. It's just I'm I'm irritated with people me sitting on the
beach telling somebody we just made something a misdemeanor and they need to pull their damn flags down and move their and then watching a sheriff's patrol go right by me on a four-wheeler, not doing anything but hauling ass on the beach on a four-wheeler and and letting that stuff slide by when if
you're not doing anything else, at least handle that, right? So >> those deputies had no idea that it was a code enforcement violation because they're not paid for by the city of Dest. So they don't know what city of Destin code is. >> Oh, TDC >> TDD or the county was paying for them.
They're not trained in Destin code because they don't work under the Destin contract >> with that almost 8% cola. If we don't do anything, we lose two deputies. >> Well, that's what it Mr. Jones asked me what it would take to get down to last
year's price. >> Um, and that's two deputies. That's not saying that that's what the sheriff's going to agree to. >> Uh, there's a level of service, you know, that there's another layer to this that that we have to consider, and that's that if
>> if it's taken us longer to respond to a call for service and the person calls up to the city and says, "Hey, it took the sheriff's office 20 minutes to get here." the sheriff's the city is going to say talk to the city talk to the sheriff's office about that. There's a level of service that
the sheriff's going to want to maintain that he may not be willing to to give up that level of service out here. He may >> if we match the state or the staff of 3% that's half. So that would only eliminate one. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because to to his point, I I do
think having a badge of that level on our beaches because the two Marines two the two beach units are shared between Destin and Okaloosa Island with a pass in between. So it's really one side or the other. Never five minutes away.
>> Yeah. Three beach units that are that share the Yeah. >> Okay. >> That share those two beaches. Correct. >> Three. >> Yeah. We have We have three beach units. Two are paid by the TDD. One of them is paid out of the normal sheriff's office budget. Gotcha. >> But there's only one out there at a good given time and they rotate, >> right? >> Correct.
>> Yeah. That we work off of what's called a Panama schedule. >> Uh so you have an Alpha Bravo or Alpha Charlie and and a Bravo Delta shift. And on one of those shifts, we only have one deputy trying to cover both beaches. That was why I came to y'all back earlier in the year and said that we
actually need to add an additional person to the contract. >> Yeah. Which I I agree because there needs to be one on each side of the path. >> Correct. There's no way in hell one can trailer and go over to the other. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> All right. Councilman Bagby, do you need to
>> go? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Everyone Everyone's on there. Councilman Bagby, just real quick, uh maybe we need to and I will tell you I've voted against Destin City Police Force the two or three times that it came up that I've sat on this
council. Uh but the main argument was we control them you know and there we used to have a police couple of policemen in the and they would go they would bring the kids home to their parents or they would you know it was old time small southern police department but I think
it's probably time because we're we're getting into an unsustainable uh area where uh and you know what I'd like to see is the greater of either the CPI which is a federal number comes out every year. That's what we base our
races on, our raises on or the amount of growth in our property value. So, our property value grew 5% this year and our um CPI was 2.8 or whatever the heck it was. The we're not going to be able to
sustain 7% because you're just going to take a bigger chunk of the budget every year. And so at some point we we either have to cut back a deputy or two. You know, if we did the 5% this year, which is the greater of those two numbers,
it'd be 3,216,879.75, which I guess means we would only lose one deputy because that's about halfway in between. And quite honestly, I I would be willing to to lose one deputy. just we have we have to contain costs.
Uh and there are a million things we want to do for ball fields or for tunnels under and for bridges and all that. You know, not everything that we're going to fund on our own. Uh but we we have to be safe. And you know, part of your argument, you know, I I
agree with uh Councilman Guile on this shoplifterss. There's 20,000 people in this different people every week. They're not going to learn. The Memphis people aren't going to learn that we crack down on shoplifting, but
they will learn if it they live here and they're running a business here. They will learn as opposed to the shoplifterss that come in and go to the outlet mall or go to the commons or shop down at the harbor. So there there are differences. I just it's I don't know
what the solution is, but I I'm not sure I'm gonna vote for this for the motion just because I don't see a path forward for a sustainable path forward for us. >> Council Schmidt, >> thank you. Um these are always this
contract is always interesting. Every year we talk about it. I'm sure you know my my thoughts and feelings towards some of it. Um, I think the hardest part always is is is just the the the differentiation and segregating who is causing all the problems all the time
around here. I think that's where all the argument I believe comes from so many of us up here. Um, and and I get that when I drive through Andalusia, I'm a tourist, you know, but Andalusia City Police is
still having to pull me over, you know what I mean? I'm not a taxpayer in that town. So, I I get that you can't always attribute the cost of your services only to the people that live there. Um, but I just I I don't I feel like you got us by the
coahjoneses a little bit, right? It's like here's this is it, give it or take. You don't agree with this, we're moving on. Kind of how I feel like. But I hope our partnership has been so long. I mean I I would rather try to you know if the
6% cola is something we have to do you know what what's the other percentage that we can still come down on a little bit because and >> that all the other percentages are in are insurance increases um you know cost of health care insurance increases >> it's not something that the sheriff's
office has a control over >> right and and because we have had many years up here that every year we talk about your contract again but there's not my legislative sponsor or anybody else that says to city manager to go forth and start looking into this. Um I
feel like we can't start on the 11th hour u right now. I wouldn't be opposed to doing some of these things they're talking about. I think I've said that before. Um but you know I support law enforcement. I support y'all keeping us safe because one of the most common complaints I get is the safety in the
streets of Dest and the speeders on Airport Road and all these things. So we need you. It's that simple. Um, but I will also support the pursuit of a possible another option. But for now, I I want to keep the sheriff's office to continue supporting the city of Dustin.
>> Certainly, >> Councilwoman Abear. >> Thanks, Mayor. Kind of feel like Kevin pretty much said how I feel. I mean, we need you. We need your team. It's hard to stomach the increase of what we've
got to pay you to keep you. But like you said, that's the problem with most places, especially where our code department is. We don't we don't have the money to pay a whole bunch of money to code people. They get here, they get trained, and then another city steals them because they're going to get more
money from somewhere else. Um, I'm I'm happy with what y'all have been doing. I just wish there was a way we could make it less expensive, more easier for us as a city. >> And and I wish I could make it less expensive for y'all, too, without cutting services. >> I know.
>> I you know, I do, you know, I I wish it didn't cost what it costs, but that it it it's it's what it cost. You know, one of the things that that Mr. Bagby just mentioned is that y'all are buying parks and and improving improving in other places. And I want y'all to think about the fact that what the primary
responsibility of government is is to protect the citizens and to offer infrastructure >> for the citizens. >> Um, you know, so and again, like I said, I'm I'm not trying to say that some of these other things aren't important. I enjoy going
to parks, too. I, you know, I enjoy the recreational life that we have in this area, but at what cost, >> right? >> You know, I you know, The primary responsibility of government is to protect the citizens and and we're
the arm that y'all choose to utilize to protect it. If y'all aren't satisfied with the with the level of service that we're providing or you're not satisfied with the with the money that it's costing to get it, then like I said, y'all can go out and look at your own
police department. I can I can assure y'all that, you know, and obviously it's my opinion that we, you know, that y'all may not share with me, but I can assure y'all y'all are not going to be as satisfied with it. I started out in the police department. Um, you know, I
started out working for Knoxville PD and part of the reason I'm at the sheriff's office is because they could pay me more for my services. But, you know, we we've we've had that conversation. you know, if if everything is if if everything is equal,
why, you know, if if the starting salary at the sheriff's office is just, and I'm just spitballing this because I don't know it off the top of my head, but if the started salary at the sheriff's office is $50,000 a year, and the starting um salary at a police department inside Okaloosa County is $30,000 a year, why would you go to work
for a police department at $30,000 a year when you have the opportunity to go to work for the sheriff's office doing the same job at $50,000? a year. And the only the only explanation of that is either it's your hometown, you love it, and that's the place that you don't want to leave.
You've got some kind of connection there that's bringing loyalty to you or because the sheriff's office won't hire you for whatever, you know, for whatever reason. So, and and that's and um y'all will get less quality service. I assure
you, >> Councilman Braden. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I agree with that that statement you just made was quality of of service. Um, I don't think I've ever had a complaint about the sheriff's department, the
level of service that we get in this in Dustin myself. Um, you'd mentioned um that our code officers could make an arrest. Is that correct? Training or >> what would it be? >> No, I'm I'm waiting. Unfortunately, I
didn't hear back from the state attorney's office in time, but there's a method where the city can direct file with the state attorney's office. The code enforcement officers can fill out an affidavit of complaint and direct file with the state attorney's office, at which time the state attorney's office will issue a warrant um for the
person's arrest if they believe that that the crime was was broken, you know, was violated. And at that point in time, the sheriff's office would serve that warrant. Yeah, that may be a great thing that we need to be looking at. >> Um, >> and again, I tried to bring I I reached
out to the state attorney's office to get the the whole information on that for y'all tonight. Unfortunately, they haven't contacted me back yet. Mhm. Um, another thing that came to mind is what you said
of the slides of, you know, 14,000 people and the the number of calls in this community in Dest um is crazy. I mean, it's it's a high number and the majority, if I had to guess, were probably tourists. >> Um,
>> we don't we don't break it down that way because one define a tourist. Um, you know, I I all y'all know I live in Niceville. Um, I come to Destin to go out to eat. I come to Destin to go to the beach. Am I a tourist? >> Yes.
>> Yeah. Okay. Absolutely. And and and that in that >> that's a joke. >> And that Yeah, I understand. But I mean, that very well could be, but how far out do you go before you consider somebody not to be a tourist? But that that's the kind of thing that keeps us from being able to track it and say, "Yes, X number
of apprenticescent of crime comes from tourists." You know, >> you've got one there that the 13,000 residents uh number of calls was 22,000. Can we go back to Destin's or was 14,100 something and then
>> There it is. >> There it is. So, we got 35,000 calls. So if I had to guess the majority of those from is from tourist um when you have the 60 70 80,000 >> there there's definitely a significant
number of them from tourist no doubt. So it just to me it just aggravates me that you know when we talk about a BTR that no local is going to stay at a
short-term rental. If they do it's going to be very very few probably handful. Those are tourist. They need to be paying you guys for the service. And you know we jumped from $300 to $500. Everybody was just, you know, oh
my god, that's just that's crazy, you know. Well, that's the tourist. Let them pay for it. Um it's um I had one other uh one other item, I can't remember now, that was we uh without our parking, our paid parking. You know, I was just in Dallas
a couple weeks ago and it was 65 bucks to park for the day. That was valet. I could have parked across the street for like $45 a day in a public parking area. Mhm. >> 99% of that in our parking areas or maybe 100% is tourist because our locals
can park there for free. But yeah, we want to, you know, you you say raise it from $15 a day to 20. People go to raising hell. Oh, no. We can't do that. That's crazy. That's that's a lot of money. But then when we're sitting here talking to you about trying to find where we're going to pay
you, you know, another $200,000 a year, whatever the number is, well, maybe we start charging tourist park. You know, they're coming here causing trouble. I ain't worried about it. You know, myself, I think the parking ought in the parking lots ought to be at least $50 a day, not $15.
Um, I mean, I I I travel traveled all over the world. I ain't never paid 15 bucks to park nowhere. a whole lot more than that. Even in hotels and motel that I'm paying over $1,000 a night to stay in is charging me
50, 60 bucks a night for parking on top of that. Um, so anyway, maybe we need to rethink when we start charging or working these numbers for our short-term rentals and parking and anything else the tourists,
you know, contribute to. I wish that the state would allow us to put a tax on anything that have to go to the beach. Man, if we just made a nickel off every boogie board and little dip net, you know, I don't think we'd have to we get rid of all the taxes together except for that one and beast chairs.
Um but and and I don't know, m Mr. Mr. Bagman may be right that um you know I noticed the one slide um they had that was over 25 officers one one dead and they were it was $4.3 million
and we're a million dollars away from that and we're only getting how many officers? >> 21 officers. But what what y'all got to look at that you get that you don't pay for is if you'll go several slides um
further in. So uh go back one slide. Sorry. So you get me that you don't >> invaluable. >> Well, you didn't tell us that. I mean >> you get me that y'all don't pay for. You get two lieutenants in the on the road that y'all don't pay for. You get four
sergeants on the road that y'all don't pay for. You get um four corporals on the road that y'all don't pay for. You get a beach lieutenant, beach marine lieutenant that y'all don't pay for. You get a beach marine sergeant that y'all don't pay for. Um and granted, all these
people supervise people who are not in the city of Dest, but about 68% of the calls for service in I in this district comes out of the city of Dest. So you look at you you you take that you know you got $1,900,000
roughly in salary for those positions I just listed you take 68% of that you're talking about 1,325,000 you know dollars >> is that zone for island desk >> that's all my district >> that the district that I am over is called district three it's also called
the east district it starts at Duke Field it goes nine miles out in the Gulf because of the beach marine unit and it goes from the Brooks Bridge to the Walton County line. So, if you'll go to the if you'll go to the next slide, please. >> So, you're kind of chief heavy there. >> If you'll see if you see the uh if you
Yeah. If you see what this what y'all do pay is a support allocation for support services at at $287,000. Okay. Um that hasn't been increased since 2019. That's where the sheriff's office,
that's where we try to work with y'all by keeping that money down. But so, you know, that leaves the, you know, the 944,000. So, if you'll go to the next slide, please, if you'll look at that, so just for
um you know, ju just in that deficit that you have to cover, you're getting things um that y'all aren't paying for like communications dep officers. It takes about 16 communications officers to to serve the debt to serve the city that that y'all aren't paying for. Uh
you get records clerks. You get facility maintenance people. You get mechanics, crime scene people, uh crime analysis and true crime center. You get the legal staff, uh which I mean y'all already
have a city legal staff, but you've got the, you know, you got the sheriff's office legal staff as well. um you know, you got the sheriff's office finance. So, those are all things that if y'all do decide that you want to start your own agency,
um those are all things that that y'all aren't paying for right now, which is why we're able to keep the fees that we're charging, you know, in the budget down to the place that we are able to keep it down to for the 21,000. >> Well, help me understand. If we're not paying for it, who is? Because
somebody's got to pay. >> Y'all are paying a portion of it out of your county taxes. Okay. >> But then everybody else in the county is also paying for it. >> So, we are paying for a portion >> just like I'm paying. I I live in the city limits of Nashville. I pay for the Knoxville Police Department and I pay for the sheriff's office. So, y'all are
paying y'all are definitely paying a portion of it. Yes. >> Okay. Councilman >> Bagby. That was a point I was going to make is we're we're paying a large portion of that because our adorum is >> with respect to the rest of the county a large portion of that. So, we're paying
for all those things, but we're paying for it through our county taxes. The code thing, I think we may have worked out because now when we send them to training, because we were just sending them training, now we will say, "Okay, that's going to cost you a year. If you don't stay for a year, then you're going
to owe us the amount that we spit that the city spent directly on your training." >> You know, they might be a signing bonus with the sheriff's department or the Walton County Code folks, but we'll we'll see. It's been my experience that and Kim can speak to this, but it's been my experience that those things are
pretty much uninforceable. >> Does it? Yeah, >> we'll see. And then the last point I wanted to make and I I think I know the answer to this, but I wanted to make sure the ticket revenue that because 34,000 calls or whatever it is, that's a
lot of calls. They're not all tickets. you know, some of them are accidents or whatever and there's no money, but still there's a fair amount of tickets that are issued. That revenue goes to the county, right? Not to the city. Some of it goes to the city when it's written in the city limits. Um, some of it goes to
the county. Some of it goes to the to the um legal to the court system. Uh, and the sheriff's office gets I think it's about a percentage point maybe 1.5% that has to be spent on training. >> Okay. So, Crystal, how much do we have
we gotten from the county from the court system in the county that collects on these tickets? >> Yeah, I don't have the exact figures at hand right now, but I can tell you it's definitely less than 50,000 a year across all of the different types of things from enforcing city ordinance to
uh >> to parking citations. It's pretty >> because I believe the lion share goes to the county >> to pay for the court. The courts are county and the you know y'all are county. So I I get that >> it's been a long time since I looked at the breakdown of it but the sheriff's office is not getting it.
>> Okay. >> Council Braden, do you anything else? >> I just want to say thank you so much for your service. >> Thank you sir. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> If I may just a couple things. Uh, I want to say that in my year that I've been here now, Captain Fulgam has always
been available whether it's a Saturday night or a Sunday morning. So, we appreciate that. Uh, so, um, from the city manager's standpoint, it's nice to have them there on our side. Um, but a couple things. Uh, would you agree that
the representation I made to council was the conversation you and I have had over the last several weeks, if not months? >> Yes, sir. So, you made you made one comment tonight that I just want to make sure I heard correctly that there's another level that perhaps could review
where we are. Um, that may have some say in how this thing plays out. Did I understand that correctly? >> By another level, are you talking about my sheriff? Are you talking about >> I think that what you were alluding to. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. I mean, I I'll I'll bring back whatever y'all
propose to my executive command staff, uh, which is my major and, um, chief deputy and the under sheriff and and and the sheriff and and ultimately the sheriff will be the one that makes the decision on, you know, whether we're willing to give up anything or, you
know, whether we're, you know, whether we're willing to say, "Okay, yeah, you know, y'all want to bring it down by two two positions. We're willing to to do that." or whether he's willing to say, "No, we're not, you know, we're not interested in contracting with the city anymore and y'all have got x number of
days to find your own, you know, your own law enforcement." Uh, I I I say that only because it's a possibility. I I honestly don't think that's going to take, you know, that that's going to happen from our end. Um, from what I'm hearing tonight, it it may happen from y'all's end, but it's not going to happen from our end.
>> And thank you for that clarity. I just wanted to say to council if there's a message we want captain to take back to the uh sheriff or their his command staff then um >> unless it makes it clear
>> Michael's going to shut it down. >> The server is on fire. Just kidding. >> No, it's not. Well, I want you to know that I'm not bringing this up because I don't appreciate you and I don't think you're doing a good job, but it's just hard for me to justify only approving a 3% cost of living increase there and
then coming out and saying, "Okay, but we're going to give a contractor a 6%." Right? It's just hard for me to look at these people that work so hard every day, day in day out, and say yes, no, but yes. Do you see what I'm saying? >> I understand.
>> Yeah. So, I understand completely. I'm just tell I'm telling you what y'all are paying your staff is what y'all have to pay your staff to stay competitive with other cities. What we're paying our staff is what we have to pay our staff to stay competitive with other law enforcement agencies. You're you're
comparing apples and oranges when you're comparing well this is what we pay for this and this is what we pay for that. Um you know if if we don't pay our deputies a competitive rate then I'm not going to have a deputy to put on your contract. >> And that might be the answer. Yeah.
>> Is the TDC uh maxed out for the state statue? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I know. I know it wasn't too much. >> Yeah, it's 10% and they are maxed out. That was why I didn't get what I asked for. >> Gotcha. With that um possibly a sand uh sidebar, but I can't ask you any other
place. Is that anything that I know um Senator Gates has carved that out in the past. Is that anything we could even look at potentially? Is there any breath there or is that just a non-starter? It carves out there and it's, you know, decades old. But
>> that that carve out is so I'm sorry. That carve out is so specific to this area of the state. >> Yeah. We got that as a gift. >> Can have no more, you know, no more than this population. You have to have this many. And so, uh, >> yeah. I hate to ruin a good thing.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. All right. With that, um, I'll entertain a motion. >> We already have. >> Oh, okay. Got a motion for >> the recommended. Yep. Both of you. All right. With that, we'll call the vote.
I think this is the definition of a rock in a hard place. All right. Eyes have it. 51. Thank you for your service >> and the tongue lashing. >> Yeah, that's what I was say. I know we got >> piss.
>> Okay. Yeah, you need a All right. So, yeah, I know we got a couple people. I'm feeling really bad that they're still here. Um, with that, I know our uh record keeper needs to uh take a 3minut bathroom break. So, I'm going to adjourn
Okay. >> All righty, everyone. We're going to call this city council meeting back to order. And I have a motion. >> Yeah. Mr. Mayor, can I make a motion to move uh item H4
to the next as followed by the public hearing 5A? I'll second that. >> Okay. Um I got a motion and I have a second. >> There might be possible u continuences later on we get to >> for sure. Uh anything else that needs to
be considered? >> Seeing none. All right. I'll call the motion to move 4H to be our next item and 5A to be our second following item
before continuing on the agenda. Yeah. Make a vote. >> All right. We got a motion in a second. We're going to call the vote. >> Tori's not here. >> Where' go? >> We're voting. Oh. We thought you were on the John.
>> We're voting. >> So, >> we move it up. >> No, we're moving it out. >> Yes. So, vote. Yes. >> Oh my god. >> Yes. There we go. All right. With that,
next up, uh, Mr. Jones 4. >> 4 is regarding the Distant Youth Council. >> Um, as you know, there are some parameters around how that operates. Um, and so before you tonight, you have 11
uh potential appointees. Uh, six of which are non- city residents and five are city residents. uh your um policy allows up to 13 on that committee. So we don't have 13
applicants, we have 11. Beyond that, you can only have five non-resident members of the youth council and you have six um um >> nominees >> nominees um applicants for like yeah uh
that are non-residents and five who are residents. So there two or three things you can do tonight. And let me back up. Also, part of the policy says that in order to have a quorum at a meeting, you have to have a majority of the students
being city residents. So if you have a committee of the five non-residents, which is the most you can have on the committee, and the five residents that you have that have applied, then you have the potential of not having a quorum at any meeting if all 10 show up.
So couple two or three things can happen. We can um lower the uh number of non-residents to three or four and appoint three or four of those six applicants as non-residents and the five
residents so that a majority of the committee would be made up of city resident students or do away with the requirement that a majority of city residents were needed to establish a quorum which we would probably not
recommend and or uh reach out to perhaps Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, and some of the other collegiate high schools that have city residents attending to make sure that there are any represent representatives that live in the city of
Destin attending those schools that would like to serve on youth council would give that opportunity. So, few options there to move it forward. All right, with that I have uh Councilman Schmidt. >> Yeah. Can you remind me how many we
currently What's the the max number? >> 13 is the maximum number. >> 14, sir. >> 14. >> 14. >> 14, I'm sorry. 14. >> And we have 11 applicants in front of us, right? >> That's correct. Yes, sir. >> So, I feel like we've done this before and for some reason we make it very hard
to do this youth council stuff. Um, so me personally, I'm going to make a motion to appoint all 11 of these members and to direct staff to prepare an amendment to the council bylaws removing the residency based quorum requirement. >> I'll second that. >> All right, I have a motion, you know,
>> and a second. >> And my reason for that is mainly we've continued to hear issues throughout the year of filling these positions and anytime we have youth members that want to volunteer their time, I just feel like we shouldn't hinder their opportunity. Um, I I just don't unless I
I'm unaware of possible red flags of them changing the LDC or charter or anything like that. Um, I just feel like we should open the door to allow allow this participation. Um, and I'm happy to hear other ideas, but I'm just trying to kick this off.
>> All right. I got Bagby then a bear. >> Yeah, I will probably make a substitute. We need to grow the pie. So, Larry's last thing. Uh we don't need more non city resident kids. I I I would agree, you know, as many kids as we can get. Uh
the problem we had last year is the presentation was only made to Destin High School. The problem we had this or the challenge this year is uh email was sent out to the uh Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Rocky Bayou Collegiate. Uh you could probably even send it to South
Walton. I think we have one or two kids that are over there that are playing baseball or whatever the heck they're playing and get those kids who live in the city proper on the committee. We we have not reached out in the last two
years sufficiently to get the kids that we need who are residents of this city. And so my substitute motion is to uh approve the resident applicants and the
two non-resident applicants that are here tonight and at the next meeting have the city bring the staff bring us back the applicants uh where we may be able to grow and appoint all these other non-residents. Yeah.
>> Mr. Vagby I believe uh David Kohl's >> what >> he is a resident >> he's a res >> he's one of the five residents >> I'm sorry okay >> two non-resident doesn't >> and non-resident as the non-resident yeah >> we also have an annexation plan coming
>> yeah no and I I get it but the problem is is we don't have it now and you know the message we're sending to the hundreds of school kids that live in this city as residents is, you know, we're we're going to take priority over
non-residents. I just I that kind of just doesn't sit right. I I want I I don't care how many non-residents. I think I made the motion last year to increase it, but we can't have more non-residents than we have resident kits. That just that kind of defeats the
purpose. >> All right. Council. >> So, Mr. Magby substitute motion. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Oh, >> Mr. back. Just to clarify, you say five and two >> for tonight. Did we have two non-residents coming? Sorry, we have
>> We have five residents. >> Yeah. >> And six >> appoint all of them >> and six non-residents. >> Appoint the non-resident that's here got up and spoke of Stella. >> Just the two or just the one. Uh one is a resident. So only one spoke which is a non-resident.
>> Yeah. And then redouble our efforts to >> get the rest >> get the rest of them to fill out. The rule's not bad. We don't need to be changing the rule. The rule's good or the policyy's good. The problem is is we've got to do our outreach. >> Okay. Uh sir, the other problem is we
have to have a minimum of seven. >> No, I know we'll have it in two weeks. >> Okay. >> That that's our hope. I mean, we'll reach out tomorrow morning or tonight or whatever. I don't know if Tamara's already done it. >> That's the substitute motion. >> Yeah, that's substitute motion. Yeah, we
we as I said to you earlier, we did already send out some stuff a couple months ago and as of tonight, we've sent out 18 more emails to different teachers and principles. >> Okay. Yeah, because two months ago they weren't in school. >> And that's second for the substitute was Councilwoman Traml. Uh with that, you're
up. >> I was just going to say that I've done some outreach myself to some of the other schools, so I'm looking for applications to come in as well. >> Council G. >> All right. I'm seeing both sides of this. Um
I'd like to give it the two weeks that uh Councilman Bag be saying and if not then maybe we revisit this this whole program. But I do agree that we need to get more residents and the annexation might be pending or or imminent but it
still hasn't happened. I mean Dest High School that's one of the things we talked about about the ball field. They said they'd absolutely consider and then once they got the ball field, they just stopped talking about it. Right. So, I'm I'm sick of people trying to take advantage of the city of Dest. Everybody wants to claim our name that they're
they're in Destin, that they're part of us, but they don't want to annex in and be a part of us and and deal with what we deal with, pay what we have to pay. So, I would like to see if we could give the two weeks, see if we could get the couple other local kids, and if not,
revisit it and just fill the slots. >> Right. Councilman Braden. >> Thank you, Mayor. Can somebody refresh my memory of what this group of young adults do? >> Who wants to take it?
>> Yeah. Right. Are you still >> sir? Uh what it is they they represent the youth uh of Dest and uh they they have the opportunity to uh um to uh present it to the council, >> make recommendations.
>> They have a work plan that they work on and uh that's given to the council for approval. >> Yeah. Same thing as every other committee, but I guess from a youth perspective. >> Yeah. and Councilwoman Avery.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I I agree with Tori. I guess we can appoint, you know, those six now, give it two weeks, and if we don't get any more input, then we need to get back on and appoint those that did put in their names for it and go from there.
>> Ray, what's the maximum? What what what fills out? >> 14. >> Maximum is 14 and minimum is seven. >> Okay. Okay. um not to put you on the spot to get to seven. I guess there's if we're doing this in two weeks, I can see
where we're not really kicking the can too much. >> All right. >> All right. So, with that, I have a substitute motion. And with nothing else, we will call the vote >> right now. Yeah, we're approving um the
five residents and Estella They all go to Fort Walt Beach. That's the problem. >> Yeah, but they're >> Rodney. There we go. I appreciate that. All right. So, we got six six approved and we're going to have a bunch of
outreach and we're going to fill this in two weeks. >> All right. Sounds like a plan. All right. Up next is going to be 5A, Miss Cop. >> This is ordinance number 2519cc, an ordinance of the city of Dest, Florida,
amending chapter 2, administration of the code of ordinances relating to city membership in the Florida retirement system. >> Providing for membership in the Florida retirement system for the benefit of city employees, providing for conflicts, providing for incorporation to the code of ordinances, providing for
severability, and providing an effective date. This is first reading. >> Seeing that this is first reading at this time. Yes. >> Um part of this was to bring back the brief presentation that was made at the budget hearing and Miss Jamie has that
available. >> And congratulations David. Yeah. Yeah. I need to do public comments. All right. Yeah. Stay close. All right. Seeing this is a public hearing at this time, if anyone wishes to speak about this topic, this is your time to do so. Yes, sir.
>> All right, I'm back. And I'm not a destined little league treasurer at this moment. Uh at this moment I'm still Matthew Dolman. Uh and I'm representing Benjamin F. Edwards and Company. I'm a senior vice president investments for them. Padet Lushel is here with me. He's
also on team. And Heather Widenhammer who was here earlier is also with us. Um together our team Jim Lel, Tommy Lushel, and the people I just mentioned, we've been managing the city of Destin Thrift Savings Plan for over 35 years. Uh so
let me start by telling something that I said to you guys all and I've said to staff numerous times. We manage close to half a billion dollars in retirement plans, personal assets, foundations, businesses. And I can unequivocally say the city of Destin Thrift Plan if I had
to be a part of one is the one that I would choose to be a part of of all the money that we manage from a retirement standpoint. And the reason I say that is because according to the Department of Labor, 57% of businesses that have under
100 employees like the city, only 57% off a retirement plan. Of those, only the matching component of that, it's only four to 6%. Okay, just don't that's the average. Some match zero. For a refresher, and I'm sure Jamie might have this in there, the city of Dest puts in
7.5% automatically per employee, and then they match up to 5%. So the city's match plan is upwards of 12 and a half or 12 and a half% depending on the city's or the employees participation. So just a little background back in 1987 the city
started looking for retirement plan options for employees. FRS was around. FRS was started in 1970. So this is 1987 years after it. They explored FRS. They explored uh numerous other options. They explored the thrift
savings plan. ultimately with my father-in-law Jim Lel who is has to be in Birmingham tonight for another meeting they decided on the thrift savings plan. You know part of the reason they did that is at that time in the 80s the social security administration was under a ton of
pressure and they were facing insolveny. President Reagan, people may not remember had just signed some sweeping reform to SSA that cut benefits and extended full-time retirement. So city leader said,"Well, if there's an option for us to not participate in social
security, that's a better deal for our employees." So that's the that's the option that they that they chose. So, and I would argue that that had some pretty good hindsight or foresight, I should say, uh because 48 years later by the Social Security Administration's
own numbers, not by my numbers, not by some analyst numbers, by the people running the Social Security Administration, they they are telling us that since 2021, they've ran at a deficit. And in 2023, they will only be able to pay out 79 cents out of out of a
dollar of benefit. So, they're guaranteeing to pay out 21% less than what they owe. If I stood up here tonight and tried to propose that to you guys as an investment strategy, I would hope you would all boo me out of this out of this arena, right? Um, so another
thing, Social Security, remember, is a use it or lose it program. Its benefits are paid out only to people who are eligible when they're eligible can can change and has changed. the amount is is only paid out in what's approved by the by the Social Security Administration
and by Congress, which also can and will change. And it's only paid out for as long as you live, which none of us up here can control that, right? So, you know, one of the things we've heard tonight was talking about money and spending and budgets. Uh the proposal to
move to F FRS is a $410,000 increase in b in payment per year starting this year and continuing in perpetuity. Uh one of the studies by social security has also said that the ways to make this thing not insolvent is going to be to increase
the percentages. Right now 6.2% goes in for employees, 6.2% goes in from employers, right? For social security if you were part of that system. their proposals are going to be 9 and nine. So what you're reputing potentially tonight
or kicking at 6.2% maybe next year further down the road 9.2. I don't know. No one knows. Um so I just think that that you know for us to offer the employees an option to not
have to put 6.2% 2% of their pay into a failing program and give them an option to instead contribute their money into a plan on their behalf that's theirs from day one. It's professionally managed. Okay? And every dollar saved on their
behalf either they will receive or their beneficiaries will receive. To me, this is a no-brainer idea. I mean, there's no there's no reason to pass that and not stick with what we have. Um, real quick, and I know I know you've all been here all night, but so have I. So, I'd like
to get my words in if that's okay. >> Pass the three minutes, but I'm respecting your time because of that. >> I I I sent you all some a number of you back in July a number of hypotheticals, um, contributions, returning, ending values, etc. I'm not going to go through that. Um, I have with me tonight a
number of I had to go through 244 pages of the F FRS annual report, but I was able to finally find their cost, their expenses, and their returns. So, I have all that information. I can be happy to answer those questions and give those to you. I think you'll be very very
surprised that a plan that offer that has 190 billion, their cost and their returns are almost identical to a plan that has 8 million. Okay. Um, so but I do want to talk real real quick about some true numbers that
are actuals. This is not hypothetical and I have this and I can give to everybody too. Um, on July 11th of 2013, which is as far back as I can go because that's when we switched brokerage firms. We were managing the plan for a long time, but when we switched brokerage
firms, they don't the regulatory requirements don't allow us to take history with us. Don't know why. Take that up with federal government, but they don't. So when we switched in in June of 2013, the thrift plan was open here at at Benjamin F. Edwards. The account value was 4,267,65.
In the 12 years since the Thrift Plan has paid out to employees in the form of a check on their behalf to their personal retirement accounts, 6.96,973,351. As a close of business on Friday, the thrift plan had 8,838
$83,812 in it. So in the last 12 years, we've sent to employees in the form of a check 130 time th% of the beginning value that was worth and we've grown it to 188%
higher than the beginning value. Few numbers in there of that 796,458,000 171 292 287 394 314 171 279 190 150 205 272 232 336,000.
These are actual numbers of a check that was sent to employees on this in of this city based out of this plan that they were free to do with whatever. They weren't hindered by how long they get retire, how much they
get. They weren't hindered by if they collect social security for one day or 100 or 10 years. Some employees unfortunately have passed away since they rolled out of this plan. Their spouse has kept all of that money. Social Security, you pass away, you either get the higher of the two or 255
bucks. So, I think you can see that this is a benefit to to the staff. Uh, one reason I've been told that this this is being brought up is that uh some it's had some effects on hiring. So, I've been told that that's why we're looking
at FRS. Uh, I think Mr. Gil Gil Gile, sorry, I apologize for that. Brought up a good point today, right? When we're hiring people, what are they looking at? Starting salary, right? That's number one. If you want to hire somebody, they're looking at starting salary
first. Retirement benefits, unfortunately, are way, way, way down that list. So, I would argue that that seems a little odd to me, especially as I do hiring myself. The other thing is FRS is the Florida retirement system
that accounts for the state of Florida. That doesn't account for Alabama, doesn't account for Mississippi, doesn't account for Louisiana, doesn't account for any other state in this country. And we have people moving here in droves to our great city. So there's I I think
that I the point could be made that while it can certainly for the you know select few be a driving factor, I don't think it's the prime. I don't think in 45 years that we this thing has been around. It's the first time I've heard that we can't hire people because of the
thrift savings plan. So, I think that there's something, you know, needs a little bit more uh overwork there. The other confusion I think that in talking with some people has been that if the thrift if this is adopted that the current employees would be allowed to
stay in the thrift plan and that is the way I understand it to be to be read that I agree with. I think that's great. I think that's a phenomenal thing. where the confusion ran is it was brought to my attention that some people were under the impression that new employees could
also make the choice and choose what's better for them. That is not the case and this is an either or type deal for the new employees. So much like Social Security and much like some of the other other programs out there, if
we vote to move this forward to FRS, the Thrift Plan, you may not be killing it tonight, but it is dying on the vine and it will be not a matter of if, but a matter of when the Thrift Plan becomes insolvent. And it could be one year, 5
years, 10 years, 15 years, 30 years, I don't know. But we've been a part of this plan for 35 plus. We plan to be a part of it for a long time. I don't want my name associated with it when that time happens. So with that, again, I've got all kinds of information. Willing to
happily answer any questions. I appreciate y'all's time. Uh we'll only take another couple hours. >> Appreciate that. All right. With that, thank you, sir. This is his first reading. So there is going to be a second bite at the apple and time in between if you'd like to reach out
individually to uh cross sunshine law. With that, anyone else wish to speak on this topic before I close public comments. All right, seeing none, I'll close public comments at this time and entertain a motion. >> Mayor, I think the HR director was going
to speak as you left us. >> I thought you were done. any crossexamination? >> No. >> Good evening. I'm just gonna I'm just going to give you all a brief overview of our current thrift plan F FRS and then what that transition would look
like if that's the direction you all would like to go. Currently, we have our thrift savings plan and as Matt said it's 7 and a half% that's an employer contribution in lie of social security. That's important to remember since we are not contributing to social security we don't have that
extra 6.2% 2% out of um the employees paycheck and our contribution. And then we do a Okay, you got back one. That's okay. We do have a 5% match. That's if an employee contributes to their own 457
plan, we do a 5% match. That's on a seven seven-year vesting schedule and it's a graduated schedule. And as you can see, you don't vest start vesting until year three and that's 20% a year up to year seven. This is uh proposed in the budget in the Florida retirement system. That would be
a 3% mandatory contribution for employees. They can choose if they want the pension plan or the investment plan. Pension plan is eight years vesting. Investment plan is a one-year vesting schedule. Um employees would also be contributing to social security as well. So they would have two buckets of
retirement. Um and I think that was it. Oh, I'm sorry. It's a 13 I can't see that bar 63% contribution for the employer. That's what we would be contributing. And like I said, the employee would have
their mandatory 3% contribution. This is um from our budget. It is an increase of over a little over $700,000 difference between what we're doing right now and what that change would be if we're contributing to FRS.
And then this is the proposed timeline. So, it was council's direction to have this in effect October 1st. If you all would like to meet that deadline, it we do have to pass tonight and on second reading, the first meeting in September in order to get the administrative process done to start our October 1st
deductions. Do you all have any questions? >> No. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, Jamie, I have a question. >> Perfect time. >> Yes. Hello. Why why would an employee want to use this plan in your in your thoughts?
>> What employees have said to me something that's beneficial is they can use this plan in multiple agencies across Florida and they would be contributing to f I'm sorry they would be contributing to social security and FRS. So like I said they would have those two buckets and you would get a continuous paycheck and
a pension or a lump sum if you join the investment >> multiple agencies like if as in if they left the city of Dustin. >> Yeah. across Florida. >> So, is it almost kind of like a you know like we're giving them a reason or tool to now be able to transfer more easily? Like again, we're going to lose people.
>> No, I mean that is kind of common with a workforce. It's just but that also allows us to attract people who are in other agencies who have FRS. And why do we feel like threequarters of a million dollars is going to be beneficial
to the city of Destin to spend the money on this plan for the employees who continue to say they need to be paid more just money? >> Yes. So salary, >> why do this? >> It was number one with our all employee satisfaction survey. Retirement benefits
was number two. So that is something our employees have been very vocal about. why it is beneficial to have that lump sum because they're not contributing to social security. That's all the retirement they have when they were to retire from the city and employees like that extra layer of security when they retire.
>> But it sound like Mr. Dolman mentioned a history of people that have been getting like massive amount of payouts I guess and is that like through retirement or something? >> I have Yeah, I have seen 200 to 300,000 on their valuations and that is a lump
sum when they retire. So I mean that is a completely individual choice what somebody would find more beneficial. >> And so just like that could go away uh the social security or the FRS could
also go I mean they're equally like could be go gone you know they're equally unstable would you say or >> no when it's I'm sorry I don't understand your question. Yeah, I guess um if if the Social Security Administration is saying that we're running out of money, if they're saying
that 10 years from now, 20 years from now, that could be gone. It could be just as easily as a bad investment could be made on a on a thrift plan side, right? I mean, there's just as much boulder and build boulder
>> I guess the difference would be you would have FRS in addition to social security. >> Gotcha. Okay. Thank you. >> Right. Anyone else? >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. >> Uh all my if
>> he would uh come back up. Actually, let let's go ahead and get a motion on the floor so we can talk about this. Appreciate that. >> I move to approve ordinance 25-9-C on first reading. >> Second. >> Right. I have a motion in a second and I'll have Councilman G continue the
floor. >> Yeah. Okay. Uh, no. I got a bunch of questions. >> My bad. I'm eating candy trying to stay up. >> That's okay. Well, >> I mean, I I can wait and ask him when the second reading. >> No, no, he's not even his computer's off.
>> Okay. Uh, 4% rule. Are you familiar with that? >> Of course. >> Okay. And and just there may be some folks up here who are not familiar with the 4% rule. Would you explain it to them? >> Sure. So, the rule of 4% would say that
in a standard 20-year retirement, you could withdraw 4% of your money and safely know that you're not going to run out of money, right? 4% 20 years, 100%. You know, that >> right >> makes perfect sense. Yes. >> Okay. So, and you said the largest
account to date was how much? >> I just pulled up the last 12 years, but 796,000 was the largest check in the last 12 years that was sent out. >> Okay. of a lump sum. >> Of a lump sum and what was the second largest? >> Second largest was I mean I can give you
guys all this but let me pull >> you set them but I can't. >> Yeah, second largest was 458. And I think it's also important I just sorry to cut you off. It's also important to note this is not counting this is not the only fund of money because this this is also the match that they have outside
of what we manage would also be included. So the same guy that got 796 also got a couple hundred,000 from his other side of. So it's not this isn't the only sold. >> So you always have an outlier like that. What what is the average social security
retirement check? Do you know what that is? >> I do. It's $1,900 a month. >> Actually, it's a little over 2,000 now. Yeah. That you may have a >> couple years ago, but it's >> 2,000. Okay. >> It's just a hair over 2,000. Retirement check. not the not the average social security check because there's
disability there spouse I mean there's a >> slew of other uh things so at 2,000 a month uh that's 24,000 a year right so you got a how much would have to be in this plan for someone to be able to draw
using the 4% rule $24,000 a year >> forever >> well >> 600 okay there you Okay. So, you you've only had one person of the hundreds of employees that we've had in the city. You had one person that that met that.
Okay. Nobody else that you know 458 well is not even 500,000. That wouldn't even be 20,000 a year, much less 24,000. So, I just, you know, my position is,
I believe it was Councilman Gile last meeting said, you know, I'm a grown adult. Our staff members are grown adults. They're going to make a decision. We're not making them make a decision. The decision that was made to start this plan actually was voted on by
the employees. It wasn't voted on by the c the council voted to let the employees decide. That's what the employees 40 years ago or whatever decided to do. So the and and there are I think as I told you Tuesday or whatever, there are folks
that I think it makes sense to stay in this plan. If I'm less than a year from retirement, I probably need to stay in it because I'm not going to get vested in FRS in less than a year. If I have a military spouse, >> uh, and I know we're being reassigned
within a year, I need to stay in this plan. If I'm somebody who owned a business or whatever up in Nashville or Birmingham and I've got 35 years of social security history and I've got, you know, 20 quarters of really high
income, paying the max of social security, then, uh, I don't need to be in social security. I might I my recommendation is stay in this plan. Everybody else, you know, you you have to crunch the numbers. You're responsible for your retire, you know,
and I I'm sure you ascribe to the multiple streams of income. So, they don't lose their 457. They don't lose this plan if they decide to go to Social Security and to FRS. the um
number of down years in the last 11 years, this fund lost money how many times? >> Three. >> In the >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Three. I mean that according to y'all's Yeah. Okay.
>> I was getting I was getting to that. >> Well, yeah. How many times in the last 50 years has there not been a CPI increase for Social Security? Three. Okay. 50 years. Three time. It's never gone down. Okay. So, the value of
this is >> You're saying what's never gone down? The social security payouts. >> Yeah. >> The social security. They've kicked down the curb of retirement ages and the talk of in order to make this solvent that is going to be going to go down. >> There's a lot of different options that
they have and and neither one of us is omnicient. >> 100%. >> But you're talking on one off so I'm you know. Well, I'm just comparing this to Social Security right now because you you're you made the case of you need to stay here and not go to Social Security. So, I'm just I'm not even talking about
FRS and their uh investment plan the because Social Security has done a couple of things. You're right. They I think it was in ' 83 they passed legislation to delay the retire gradually delay the retirement age. they've passed where they have uh
increased the amount of wages that were actually subject to the the payroll tax that pays the social security bill and that is indexed now. But they could in fact one of the proposals I mean you talked about one but one of the proposals is to lift that cap entirely isn't it?
>> Yeah. >> Yeah% so I just >> the my thing is is >> I'm not saying you got a bad product. I'm not saying social security is the savior of the world, but there are good
points to both sides and I think the people will need to make their decision based on what's best for them. >> I agree and I think if you if you'll go back to one of the things I said, I completely agree with the giving the current employees choice. Here's what
the unintended consequences of that is when this stops, right? >> Then there's no more money coming into this plan. So if there's no more money coming into this plan, right, then we have no more money feeding the back end. You guys may not know this. We meet once
a quarter, Larry, Crystal, Jamie, and I. The main topic of our discussion is who is eligible to take their money out. Okay, >> main disc main topic because that's the only thing that really matters. Sometimes there's somebody that go, well, so and so is retiring or so and so we think they're going to retire at the
end of the year. So they'll look at it and they'll say, "All right, we've got possibly $400,000 that's going out that we need to account for." Well, we may be in June and we know we have 24,000 every two weeks coming in and we may say, "Hey, we got 200 in cash. We'll just take these contributions and not invest
them, right?" And so we'll be able to account for those potential withdrawals, right? Part of the reason we're able to account because there's money coming in. When that money coming in stops, you're left with employees who decide hopefully to stay here that are either going to
get older, they're going to quit, or they're going to die, right? So eventually, that's just the the truth of the matter, right? Whoever stays behind, that's the only three options that they have. They're either going to leave, die, or retire. And so, so when there's
nobody in the younger end to backfill that thing, we have to now change our whole entire investment philosophy on what we're doing because it's going to all have to go to cash or very conservative uh investments because if
it's not, the city could be standing up here 10 years from now and they and they go, "Well, hey, we had we got $8 million in the account, but we have $10 million worth of withdrawals. And then what happens? Then you guys have to come up with $2 million to pay
out what you owe the employees. And by doing that, I don't want to be a part of that conversation. So I would have to make my investment decisions go down to next to zero. And so now the employees that are left in the plan are mad that they're still in the plan because
they're not earning any money. And so, >> well, and that's what they need to factor in because really you're making the case that FRS is going to have and and just so I know you know this F FRS is not a plan. >> Sure. >> Okay. It is multiple plans you can
choose. You know, my wife is basically in a S&P 500 tracking plan which has done extraordinarily well, you know, over the 25 years that she's taught the but there are, you know, I want to get it in five years. I want to get it in 10 years. And then there are all other
different types of plans that you individually as a staff member can pick and those will probably have a higher rate of return because I agree with you if everybody you know I don't a the 710,000 that is if every single staff
member leaves the plan. every single I don't think every single staff member will leave the plan, but I don't know. But, you know, we we'll find out hopefully here shortly. But that's only that's the worst case that the staff brought to us. So, the the thing I would
say is yeah, those returns may go down and I understand why because we have to have cash on hand when somebody says I'm retiring. you know, the the portability is limited for Social Security, not for FRS, but for Social Security. You know,
my wife is probably going to draw on mine just because my salary was higher than hers as a teacher for a long time. Uh, but again, that's decisions those folks over there and their peers are going to have to make. I'm not going to
make them for them. You know, you're not able to make them for them. And >> no, but essentially essentially you are going forward and if there was a way that going forward they could choose when they signed up, we'd be all for it. The law doesn't allow it. Okay. I'm not for I'm just saying and I agree with get
giving them the option if there if that was the case. But while you're saying that you're not making a choice for them, you actually are because you're telling them they have to. New employees have to. And so by telling them new employees have to, the old ones, yeah, they can pick and choose. and I'm happy
to stick around and help them as long as we possibly can. But I'm telling you right now, I can see the writing on the wall. This this plan gets valued once a year. Okay, markets are up. You mentioned the three down years. Okay, the most recent down year was let's see
2022. >> 2022 was the most recent down year and it was all right >> down >> down 14%. So let's let's make numbers real simple because it's late. Say you got say somebody had we had a million dollars in the plan, right? September 30 is our valuation. It's down 14%. I'm 64
years old. I'm thinking about retiring by the end of the year, right? I look at that and I go, "Wait a minute. Market's down 14%. I'm going to retire now. I'm because now I can get my valuation based on a million dollar bas instead of based
on $860,000." Well, guess what? People talk. And if you've got an aging base, cuz that's all that's left in the plan, why would they not quit a job paying them $50,000 to get $140 from their retirement and go
work at Walmart for $10 an hour and then tell their buddy, "Hey, we ought to quit too, the FRS plan." And that's what will happen. And then somebody's standing up here asking you guys to approve a budget line item number to pay for $2 million that you don't have in the plan. And
that's just the reality of it. And so and that's that's what I think >> because we >> it may grow >> it may grow slower because you will go to more conservative investments but even if you go to a bond fund okay or
even a municipal fund you know it's still going to grow. It's not going to grow like the overseas fund has grown or the S&P 500 has. Uh the bond fund is has grown at 2% in the last 12 years. Okay, I've got these numbers. I mean, I can I
can tell you. >> So, so total return uh bond fund of America, which is our conservative bond fund, the total return has been 10 years 1.91%. So, if we want to tell employees that you want me to get
conservative because that's what I'm going to have to do and stay in the thrift plan, that's what I'm going to be forced with doing. That's hamstringing me. I can't do my job if you're telling me I have to keep this money 100% secure. This this
in my opinion is looking to solve a few small people it doesn't work for when for the masses it has. But, you know, if I look at the rest of the total returns, 26% 26% 24%. I can't be in those investments
if there's a possibility for money to come out like that of those levels. I just strictly can't because it's going to not be good for the rest of the people. It's going to be not be good for may not be any of you guys, but it won't be good for the whoever's left on this council at that point. >> All right. With that, Councilman
Schmidt. >> Yeah. I just based on the motion, I can't support it. Um I don't support spending taxpayers money 3/4 of a million dollars towards the additional cost on this right now without hearing any other true um selling points of understanding the the real reason of why
we're doing this change. Um I'm also concerned about what we're losing out with that three4 million dollars in other areas in the budget and what we're losing potentially in services or providing to the citizens. So I also saw I think the number is just under 50% of
the people that are possibly going to change or over just over 50% they're going to change. So to me that also tells us the staff that took the survey. It's not really a majority or it's not a lot um that are possibly thinking about wanting to change. So I just I I can't
support this uh this item. All right. With that we have a motion on the floor. Uh Councilwoman Abear >> I was just going to say the same thing. I just feel like this is just it's I don't feel like we have a whole entire staff buy in. So, and it's something
that I don't think we should make a decision for our staff. >> All right. With that, no one other we'll call the vote. No, >> I would just say you're not. The staff's going to decide
that that's the whole point of this exercise. Uh because the ones I've talked to all want to do this. So for for varying reasons that are particular to them. So you're not forcing anything.
All right. Anyone else? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> All right. Uh nos have it. 23. Motion fails. Ordinance dies. Um, and with that, uh, to that question, um,
Councilman Braden had a family emergency, so our hearts and prayers are with them for whatever that may be. I do not know, but just to acknowledge that he is no longer here and let the minutes reflect that. All right, with that, we'll we'll go
back to 4C, legal representation. Boss man Jones. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is regarding a engagement with a law firm of Lewis, Longman, and Walker to restate the
thrift plan. This is the um Orisa specialist. This is the um employee reirement income security act. Um, and this is special counsel that uh we need to do periodically to make sure we stay in
compliance with uh current uh statutes and regulations. >> With that, do I have >> plan? >> Do you need a motion to reinstate her? All right. >> Do I have a motion to reinstate >> our special outside counsel? This is a
attorney that specializes in Orisa. It has a lot of IRS and tax type of consequences. There's a staff member named that >> specialize in Orisa, so we are recommending you hire them. >> It's just for this. >> Yeah, >> it's not a continuing services. >> I'll entertain a motion at this time.
I'll leave it at that. >> Okay. I move to authorize the city manager to execute the engagement agreement with Lewis Longman and Walker, PA, for Orisa Legal Services related to the restatement of the city's thrift plan and transition to the Florida
retirement system not to exceed $10,000. Period. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. Further discussions? >> I got a question, Larry. >> Yes, sir. >> The third party administrator, do they not provide this type of services that we're already paying a company that
provides oversight over these plans? >> They do not. >> They're Yeah, I'm thinking not. >> They don't they don't provide like a restatement. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. >> All right. Anyone else? Seeing none, I'll call the vote.
tight 50. So moved. Item 4 D is regarding the short-term rental compliance solution provider. Um this may be premature based on the information we got today from the do
regarding the the rise um our ability to join the um the pool of uh information sharing through the do and the tax collector's office. However, if you wish to move forward, this would be a an option in case for some reason that
doesn't materialize to capture those uh individuals that would be our short-term rental condo owners um and a mechanism to move forward in the event the um the rise program doesn't pan out as we
anticipate it will. Uh but we did get a that's the um the information sharing component of the do uh which we got an agreement this afternoon late that they had approved our application. So we should get that recognition. There may
be a debate of whether we're at the right level to get the information we need. We're not sure how that uh will will go. Uh but if we'll this is simply a request to put on a street a request for proposals to help us in this
initiative. Um and it was asked today does is this going to require us to provide that list of names and it does not. So that's it's in the uh procurement documents that they would provide that. So if if you have an appetite for us to move this forward, we
would do it on a on a basis of uh it would be there if we needed it in the event we do at some point in time. So we're certainly under no obligation to make an award based on this procurement. >> All right, hold on. I I do have a motion by Councilman Schmidt. Do I hear a second?
>> I'm assuming that is the recommended motion. >> I was giving him a second to go. >> He's just reading my mind. >> Yeah, you know, come on. Figure it out. The motion was that we accept the RFP as written and move forward with the understanding that if something changes that we,
>> you know, I want to move forward. >> Yeah. >> But I'm also willing to, you know, don't want to slow that process down. >> I'm going to give it to Councilwoman Traml. Are you still okay with that motion? All right. Well, Guile's trying to sneak it underneath you here. All right. With a motion to second, Councilman Bagley.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I was going to make a motion to table it because I think if we got the letter from the department of revenue that we're uh eligible for the rise program, they will send us all the names and I just didn't want staff to work for two weeks on a RFP that we end
up just going. >> It's actually already prepared. We had had it before you earlier and so >> wasted your time. Correct me if it's ready to roll, is it not? >> Yes. >> So, it's done. >> We run the thing like a small business. I take a vote then. >> All right. Councilman G.
>> Anything in addition? >> No. >> All right. All right. With that, got motion in a second. G with a third. Uh, call the vote. >> Eyes have it. 5-0. So moved. >> Keep it chucking. Item 4E is a
restatement of our um um fee resolution and this will codify our mobility fees which we um approved back in May which was a result of the mobility plan that we approved in uh
September of last year and as a result of action that was taken in March of 2021 to replace impact fees with mobility ility fees. Uh this is kind of timely because we only have one year after passing the mobility plan to
implement the uh associated fees. So we are within that time frame and this would simply take the fees that's already been approved through ordinance into the fee schedule. >> All right. With that, do I hear a motion for the resolution 2517?
>> I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2517. >> Right. Got a motion. I got a second by Councilman Schmidt. Anything to discuss? >> No. Let's vote. >> Seeing none, we'll call the vote 4 E
5. So moved. >> Item 4F is again a update or restating the fee schedule. This will include the three components that we mentioned at the last uh meeting. the um increase of the public records charge uh hourly
charge that we're allowed to charge per statute. A change in the library service fees from a fixed1 to3 dollar amount to a replacement cost and to add the 3% service charge for credit card services the service fee for those charges.
>> I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2517 and >> second a motion and a second. Anything to further discuss? all said yes. >> What on the last one? >> Okay. So, it wasn't just We got a ghost in here tonight.
>> So, for the record, are you Did you have a yes for 4E? >> She was yes. >> Everybody said yes before the motion was ever finished >> on the last Well, because now we're back to a second 2517. >> So, >> okay. As long as you voted and you know
you went in the affirmative. Okay. >> We're trying to get this meeting over. >> All right. We got a 5-0. also moved on 4F resolution 2517 adoption of fees. >> All right. 4G. Um at the last meeting we
had a request from our uh continuing service contractor for concrete services to for an increase. Uh council pushed back and good thing you did. uh he relented and said he would be glad to honor his existing fees through the
remainder of his contract which uh runs through the end of the year. Uh so if you wish to go out for bids, we certainly can, but there is opportunity to extend that for an additional year. Uh we're certainly pleased with the service they provide. They do good work and they're responsive and so they're
remaining the fee will remain the charge will remain what it is. So if there's an appetite to go out for bid, we would recommend doing that probably in the October time frame. But we're satisfied that uh we're getting good service for the price. So be at your discretion whether you want to move it to bids or
continue with what we have. >> All right. With that, I'll move to continue the miscellaneous concrete services contract with SHA's Enterprises at the current year prices. >> Second. >> Got a motion. Got a second. Hope the sheriffs are listening. And thank you, Michael, and everybody else who went
back to them. >> Yeah, thanks, Michael. >> Yeah, good stuff. All right, a motion in a second. Seeing no further discussions. >> Are we continuing? >> Yeah, we're going to stick it. >> Is it a continuing or it's continuing until the end of the contract, I believe? Right. >> Well, yeah, then which really doesn't
need any action because contract's still in force. But the the question is, do we want to go out for bid prior to the end of the year? So at beginning of the year, we would start either have them rebid or we can continue their service for an additional year, but that would
require action at a later time that we would bring. >> So we can just talk to them and ask them about their >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Michael, for the head nod. >> Big nods over there. >> We'll stick with that. >> Okay. Is that answer you? I don't want to. Okay. >> I just need to know extending or not. >> Button.
>> Michael, jump in. >> The extension won't come till later in the year. I get that >> right now their contract is still good uh >> until December. >> Till December. So the >> keeping their contract till December. Is that correct? Is that what y'all wanted?
>> No. >> Okay. >> Michael Y. So his current contract extension expires December 31st. Prior to that, I'll bring back to the council a recommendation perhaps to renew it for the fourth and final uh that would be
the fourth and final extension. That'll be a five-year period. And in the meantime, I will approach him and see if he's interested in pursuing another rate increase or not. And if he's willing to honor the 2025 rates in 2026, I'll
certainly make that um I'll bring that information back to the council. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you, Michael. You did that much better than I was trying to do. >> I was trying to help you, Larry. You just wouldn't shut up. >> All right. Uh, yep. We got that done. I'll make a five.
>> Motion to continue for I for the next meeting. >> Okay, >> I'll second that. >> Motion in a second to push for I to the next meeting. Any discussion? Seeing none, call the vote.
That says concrete service. >> He just says that time. >> All right. Typing. >> Yeah. Right. Just just so you know, it's got uh the concrete continuing service on that last one that we voted on, but that's going to actually be the boating safety zone for I that we've pushed
>> continuous. >> All right. And then council youth, we've already done and now we're back to the bridge or going to the bridge. for Jay is regarding um direction that seeking from council. Um, if you recall, Bradley
Touchstone was a bridge architect with over 30 years experience of designing uh, bridge bridges uh, particularly the aesthetic components of those bridges that has volunteered to assist the city or and through whatever means uh, or
committee we would recommend to uh, work um, with the DOT to help make a pretty bridge. And uh I think Miss Traml has recommended that we would ask the harbor CRA committee advisory committee and the
harbor waterways committee to combine to jointly um uh entertain Mr. Touchstone and together work for recommendations to bring back to council. Um it's timely in that the first public opportunity for input will be in March of next year. So
D is working or DOT is working with the PD&E study now and so we can if we move this forward we can uh have some time to work on how that may look and what we present to them in March. >> Awesome. with that master of committees
and councilwoman Ab Traml. >> I I was just going to make the uh motion to assign the task to both committees, >> the harbor and waterways and the CRA advisory the harbor CRA advisory committee as they're already working on
one other project jointly and four of the members of the Harbor CRA are already on the harbor and waterways. So that would just be including three people. >> Okay. >> That that isn't already part of that meeting. >> All right. With that, uh, Councilwoman Abear, do you have that second?
>> All right. Uh, Councilman Bagby. >> Yeah. I was just wondering why it wasn't going to public works public safety because the bridge >> because this is aesthetic design. >> Well, it's still the aesthetic design will be wrapped up in either the PD&E
study or the followon study. So, I'm just, you know, there are folks on the public works public safety that understand that flow, that process flow, as opposed to just drawing a pretty bridge. Does that make sense? Yeah. >> Button.
>> Push your button. Push your button. >> They can certainly invite them. Uh, would you like them included in the motion >> to have them involved? >> At this point, >> bring it up there. >> Well, because he wants to hear himself talk.
I would like we need to >> All right. Don, can you can you involve the >> public works and safety? Okay. >> All right. Abear, are you okay with >> Yes. >> All right. We're we're now including three committees. Bless Touchstone's heart. He didn't know what he got himself signed into with us.
>> All right. >> Combined meeting involves publicly announcing. >> We should do a master committee. >> A master committee. >> Put a park on the bridge. >> All right. I got a motion. Got a second. See no further discussions. >> I know Kevin. I'm just queuing to Kevin
to move it. >> All right. 50. So moved. Yay. >> To the bridge. Information time. Um so 4K and 4 L are our updates on finance. Um and M we'd
have no minutes. So I'm going to ask Jeff to help me here. Uh we're we're going to pass out to each of you a a list of projects that we have kind of in the queue u for legislative um
appropriation requests in the coming year. We just ask you to take this to review it and we'll email it to the other members that aren't here. Um, at the next meeting, um, we we're going to kind of want to get our hands, uh, wrapped around, uh, how we want to move
these forward and, uh, and give Kelly Beth some direction. Um, ideally, we'll look at a infrastructure project, a rec park parks erect project, a water project, and a resiliency project. And um if we all identify one or two at
least in each of those components, uh we'll ask her to give us some leadership and guidance into where the best pots of money are going to be falling in the upcoming legislative session. >> All right, >> this is awesome, >> Dr. Young.
>> Yes, thank you. We are anticipating groundbreaking of the pickle ball courts next week, so that is a big deal. Yeah. Uh we do expect to see people out there playing in spring of 2026. And and then two weeks from today, we'll start the Clement E. Taylor Park
renovation. So that's when we'll see the fencing go up to secure the area. >> Yay. >> Yep. Another yay. Today is contract day 14 of 180 for the cross town connector. Construction has officially begun on the Aelia Drive extension and the estimated project duration is 18 to 24 months. So
far, we've distributed flyers to impacted residents, and today begins the survey layout, followed by clearing and grubbing for the installation of the drainage chambers. Our chief building official created an informationational piece about gutter
installation requirements. So, we did send that out today to about 250 roofing contractors. And finally, we have new signage for an area down at the harbor that has three specific key points to it. The no moing,
no commercial activity, and subject to video enforcement. So, I just got those back and parks and wreck is going to be putting those up later this week. We'll have other areas to work on for signage down there, but this will be a really good start. It's in an area that was providing a lot of confusion.
And that's all I have. >> Awesome. Thank you for that. A lot of great news. Do you have a date for >> button? >> You said next week. Did you have a day of the week for the pickle ball groundbreaking? >> It's supposed to be August 25th, but in general, we didn't post that or push that out just because it's always
subject to change by a few days, but we aren't doing a ceremony for that. As we talked about at the last council meeting, we'll do a ceremony once that facility is done in a celebration. Yeah. >> Okay, cool. All right, with that, any
more announcements? I don't covers that. All right. 5B. Miss Cop, >> Ordinance number 202514LC, an ordinance of the city of Dustin, Florida, creating design standards for low-speed vehicle LSV parking, defining low-speed vehicles consistently with state law, providing for findings of
fact, providing for incorporation into the land development code, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. This is second reading. >> It seemed that this is second reading and a public hearing for ordinance 2514 LC. At this time, if anyone from the public wishes to speak on this topic, this is your time to do so.
shaking their heads. No. We'll close the public comments and I'll entertain a motion. Councilwoman Abear. >> I move that city council adopt propose ordinance 25-14-LC on second reading. >> I have a motion. Do I hear a second? >> I got it. >> All right. With a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll call the
vote. >> As long as you know what you're doing. >> As long as you got it. Yeah. As long as you got it in your notes. 2514 LC. >> There we go. All right. Councilman Schmid, did you have anything? >> Okay,
>> we're going. You popped in. Just >> It's just it. You know what? Democracyy's dead. This the this software's this software actually big government's actually already won. The federal government has tapped in and voting for us at this point. All right, that's the state with home rule.
The state is tapping in to local government. >> All right, everyone can confirm you said yes. Everyone's all right. Just want to make sure. All right. Five O's. >> It passes. The ordinance is there. All right. Um, would anyone else like to
pick up Braden? Councilman Braden's >> We'll just wait till he's back. >> All right. Uh, Councilman Traml. Um, sorry. I just want to tell the council thank you for sending me to the League of Cities. I had a great time and and have blisters on my feet from
attending so many meetings that were everywhere. Um, but tonight I would like to make the motion that we did at the Harbor CRA for staff to look into the Harbor CRA parking and see if they can identify any additional parking within
the Harbor CRA. >> I'll second that. >> I have a motion. I have a second. Any further discussions? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> I forgot. >> Eyes have it. So moved. 5-0. >> Is that all? >> That's all I have. >> All right. It was great seeing you down
there. >> It was so nice having another desk tonight down there. Councilman Bagby, >> just want to congratulate the city manager on his first year anniversary and thank him for a job well done. Yeah. >> And you're still here.
>> Yeah. >> I think you've gotten less gray. >> Yeah. I'm going to suggest we start doing start our meetings at like 9:30 cuz we can get a lot of stuff done between 9:30 and 10:00. >> Yeah. Oh yeah. We got 20 minutes in between.
And is the TDC or somebody doing anything on September 20th for the annual coastal cleanup that is sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy? Last year we talked about having the Destin Youth Council take that as one of their projects. And then >> not here yet. They're not here yet, but
they may be here before the end of or before the middle >> TDC had not made any announcement in our last meeting for that >> because I know in Walton County the TDC sponsors it and gets the bags and the gloves and all. >> I can reach out to Alex tomorrow to ask
if it is on their at least thoughts. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They have a new uh keep is a beautiful point of contact. >> It's called the annual coastal cleanup sponsored by the ocean conservancy. We are we are involved with that. Like we'll have a table and be passing out
different um gloves and buckets and stuff at June White Decker and may maybe even some other locations, but we are involved with that every year. >> June. >> And Stella, if you can just pass that along. >> Yeah. Not unappointed chairwoman.
>> All right. Councilwoman Abear. Um, real quick, I was t asked by a few folks in the city that want to know, is there any way we can put like a sticker on people's garbage cans that leave them
out there for two or three days that says your trash can needs to be back to your house within 24 hours of the trash pickup? Because there's like Sunday night there were still trash cans out. That kind of thing. Do we have those? I I called and talked to Doug Rener at
Waste Management. He said you could probably have your PIO type up something and print them up, make them into stickers, and then code when they see it could just stick it on the lid. Then that way the people would realize you don't leave it out. I The lady that complained to me or the two different
people, it's the renters that live near them. They feel like they don't care. Their trash got picked up so then they drive down their driveway, put the trash in, and leave it at the end of the driveway. So, is there any way we could help that ordinance that's already on the books can kind of be brought back to
reminding them? >> Is that Teresa? We did an ordinance for short-term rentals recently for that. So, I imagine if you want to bring an update to that ordinance to to look into other, you know, properties and long-term rentals. I mean, I imagine they could. >> Is there a way that we could do that? Like, can I ask you city manager to look
into it or city attorney? >> You can be the legislative sponsor. >> I'll be the legislative sponsor. Can we find out if they rent and they're the ones that are the culprits? That would be great. And put some sort of a sticker on theirs and tell them we're going to nicely let you know next time. You'll
probably get a fine. >> All right, we got a legislative sponsor. Anything else? Turning it off. All right, Councilman Guile, >> I don't remember the exact talking with his eyes closed, >> but I think it had something to do with
coming up with a a plan to get the CRA some money or revenue through potential parking or something. I don't remember. >> Oh, she was revenue or she was just trying to find parking. >> Revenue. >> Yeah, I'm revenue. She's trying to do
parking. But that was like 12 hours ago. >> So whatever I said during that CRA meeting, that motion is the one I'm trying to say right now. Do you remember that Ray by chance?
>> Yeah, me neither. That makes two of us. >> I think it had to do with uh asking staff to look into um >> 50% >> feasibility. Yeah. The feasibility of of providing revenue to the harbor CRA. It wasn't necessarily related to parking.
It was just money. >> Yeah. Trying to find a way to generate revenue for the CRA so that they have feel like they're functioning. >> That's a motion. >> All right. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Got a second. >> See no discussion. Not giving any discussion. I'll call the
vote. Sammy says she forgot something. She >> All right. Yeah. I just got one more thing that I would like to ask. >> Did we all vote? >> It looks like it. >> Okay. The seals details. >> I wonder 50. So move. Dang. Andy, you're
even brought getting brought in. >> All right, Gal. >> All right. So, I would like to find out how many damn LSVs actually go down Airport Road. Is there a way for us to monitor or see on some time scale because there's a camera. What does that happen
on airport road? >> Oh. >> Oh, the flot camera. >> So that we can find out because if if there's a dozen of them, I mean, why should the entire community have to suffer and drive 30 miles per hour for freaking six people or three people and
we can raise that speed limit back up to 45 or something reasonable? Jesus Christ. But is there any way that we can track how many of these golf cart jackasses are driving down Airport Road? >> You're going to make Kim a very rich
woman. Is there >> I don't know if there's a counter that will deter >> I mean the best the best and only way that I mean there's a couple of different ways but the best way is to have somebody out there physically
counting all day. So zero zero zero I mean for so there's there's not really a possibil possible way for us to annotate all these zeros is what I'm finding out then I guess can I put on my next to
make our my next meeting to try to boost airport road to reasonable speed limit >> I believe is an ordinance so yeah if you want to I guess it' be a legislative sponsor >> I'll do whatever it takes >> I was only no vote as a council member when this happens. So, I'm all in.
>> Yeah. I'll be whatever it takes to to put this on my next name on the name my name for the next meeting. >> All right. So, just put it under your name. >> Yeah. And then that way everybody has time to think about it. >> Okie dokie. Uh Councilwoman Traml, >> this is for you, Mayor.
>> Okay. >> Um at the recent uh parks and rec master plan meeting, it was brought up to me >> that um we needed to look at indoor pickle ball. So, I have been looking into that and you know, Joann's Fabrics
is not really in the city, but it is a huge big building that is empty. And I was hoping that the legislative sponsor might want to reach out to somebody at the county or to the athletic group over here for the swimming pool and see if they would be interested in doing an
indoor pickle ball court in that building. >> Yeah. And uh Miss Clickscale who was helping us with the pickle ball association uh when when they were going out she kind of had that idea as well. So I'm sure they have numbers and >> as an executive
sponsor I will do that. >> Anyway, it was just it was just a thought that that building might be available and and they could do it as a private enterprise but it still be available. You know >> hopefully have something for you next meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Appreciate that. Coun. Don't we
already have indoor pickle ball at the community center? >> It's so tiny. >> Well, that's >> there's three courts for open hours to use it. >> All right. >> It's so tiny. >> Well, and and not only >> it's what God gave. >> And not only that, but remember our fees
are only a quarter of what it actually costs. If we can get a business that can provide that and and it it now becomes a business, then it would be available and we wouldn't necessarily be providing the other 75%. Good point. All right.
Dare I even call you? >> Go ahead. >> Yeah. Thank you. And I'll try to make this quick, but I think, you know, is it is again on the agenda and just I'll try to move through it. >> In the essence of going back on our council objectives, one of the one was about improving
parking and exploring parking options. Um, this particular parcel at 446 Calhoun Avenue came available uh maybe a couple years ago, but for one reason or another, we were not able to come to an
agreement to figure out how to buy it. Um, and it again has become available. And before they listed it, they did reach out and uh asked if the city would be interested in this parcel because they know of the direct relation and
border to our city park, the much talked about Threadgill Park. Um and ultimately through many reasons of additional parking uh for that park would be a huge
benefit. And I also do believe that we could possibly use that parking for the other accesses a little bit further down the road. But ultimately we have an opportunity right now to look in acquiring this parcel
uh to hopefully use for parking. Uh, I could I'm sure there's people in staff and the council that will talk about the possibilities of it having a lot of wetlands, which it probably does. Um, there's possibly things that we'd have to work on with drainage. Sure. Um, so
there are some potential issues. Uh, I also would say that a possible funding source for a purchase like this could be the parking fund, which yes, I think Mr. Bagby said earlier has over $2 million in it. Um, and so, you know, this is a parking lot potential. Uh, and there's
also currently a tenant in this property. So, if we were to actually purchase it during the time of whatever we have to do to it, we could also be receiving rent uh in during any type of design phase. So, with all of that uh
setting up, I would like to make a motion to direct the attorney to negotiate a purchase agreement within reason of the city's appraisal and to have the city manager work with staff on any limitations, wetland issues, cost estimates to bring it into a parking lot
back at the potential same time. >> I have a motion. Do I hear a second? >> Second. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh, any further discussions? Council McG. >> Um, while we're doing that, I noticed that there's an easement right across the street as well. It looks like an
easement anyway. It's not on a property line. Uh, so it's on the north side of Hickory. >> I don't see a map up there. So, but I see a map right here. Um, so while we're doing that, can we also look at what it would take to convert that because there wouldn't be a wetland issue. There
wouldn't be. So, I'm just saying simultaneously, not to undermine what you're doing, but in addition to Sure. >> Are you okay with that? >> Sure. >> Will you add that to your motion? >> I'd be happy to add that to the motion. >> Thank you. Are you okay with seconding that? >> Absolutely.
>> Wonderful. When did y'all get so nice? >> It's 10. >> All right. Councilman Bagby, >> are you talking about the drainage easement across the street? Yeah. >> So, he's probably I understand that there is a massive drain there, but
could be pursued. >> Could be pursued. >> Yeah. That that wasn't working. That would need to be Yeah, cuz the uh Scolarskis lived there. Used to live there. I don't know who's renting it now, but Yeah, that was >> He's talking about on the other side.
>> No, that's what I'm saying. They they complained that it was always blocked up and it would back up which then the water would back up in their yard in the wetlands and stuff that they were just just I just want to make sure I'm clear. We're going to go get an appraisal and
then based on that appraisal and somebody the engineer or somebody's evaluation they're going to come back and says it appraised at this and 50% of it sweats or 10% of it wetlands or whatever. Is that what we're doing? >> So, just to answer your question, no.
Um, what we are doing if if this motion were to pass would be to direct the attorney to negotiate a pro a purchase agreement within reason of the city's appraisal. At the same time, having city manager working with staff to bring back
those items. So, in my mind, if that passed, we would potentially be getting an update from the city manager about a possible purchase contract and from staff about cost and issues at potentially at the same time. So, we have all the information
>> just to answer the question, >> but wouldn't that affect the amount that the attorney or attorney and city manager negotiated for? If I mean if it's 80% wetlands versus it's 10% wetlands, you know, there there could be
a wide swing in that and the appraisal, you know, it may come in at 400,000 or it may come in at 800,000. I don't know. >> I would I would say that staff, the city manager and the city attorney would be in communication the whole time about it. So,
we would know what each other is doing and be doing. I'm I'm just how do I guess how do we determine what a reasonable purchase agreement is? >> Because first of all, the appraisal
would set forth that information >> to the extent the appraiser can figure it out. That's usually all included. It's not just comps. You know that. And then the second part is that the city engineer and whatever staff the city manager designates to look into the
issues, they're going to be talking with us as we negotiate any proposed agreement. And then also, as you all know, even if we did come up with an agreement, it's coming back to council. >> So if there's any other questions or you all don't like it, >> some negotiating chips. Okay,
>> good. All right, Council G. >> I just want to bring up that let's say that it does come back as wetlands, we have several properties out here that we don't use that we can designate as a wetland area to improve that area, right? So, as a contractor, if I find wetland, I can purchase land, designate
as wetland, make sure it's never touched, and then I can improve that wetland area. So, we have all kinds of properties out here that we don't touch, we don't deal with, we never use. >> We can always dedicate that as a wetland. So we can approve this >> good old free state of Florida for you
right there. >> That's right. Free. >> All right. Any other discussion? It's a good big topic. I love it. All right. Calling it. >> Okay. >> Come on. There we go. >> Yeah. And then Ryan, do you just want to give quick uh update what you told me
today during our meeting about the other item? >> Sure. >> Y'all are working on. >> Yeah, we're working on the lease with the school currently and then involving the crossing guard. It's going to be a separate agreement and working with the school board, the gentleman that's over the safety for that. So once we get all
that back, we'll compile it and get it back to Larry and get it back to y'all. >> Thank you, sir. >> Fantastic. >> Whose responsibility is the track? >> That would be us. >> Oh, dang it. Okay. I was going to trip and fall and sue them. >> It needs some work for sure. >> And then donate the money to the park
foundation and get a new track. >> Thank you for everybody else being here. We used to have a lot of these late meetings, so I apologize, but thank you all for being here. And that's it. >> All right, good deal. >> All right, I got one thing. Uh, beachfront owners love to tell us locals
and tourists where the ECL line is. So, I'd like to give it back to them and show them at the um PMPO Beach access where they've egregiously gone 10 to 30 feet in some instances over the ECL line
which state statute dictates and through the courts have shown that it is for the public and not for them. And so I just like this council to um just make it absolutely clear through code enforcement or whoever needs to enforce
the fact that they need to move 10 to 30 feet north of the line. What makes this very spicy is that okay, you're out there on the beach. Where the heck's the line? The old pier columns just so happen to be right there and are a great
visual representation of where that ECL line is as a visual reference point, not a legal point. And those columns are 10 ft um spaced apart from each other. And at the point where it crosses the old pier, you're actually three columns
deep. Um, so one of our more aggressive beach chair rental companies that have gotten a ticket in the past absolutely is the one in that area, Twilight. And so with that, I would like um us to enforce what the state has deemed public
beach access at Papa Beach Access. Um, so I don't know if we need a motion. I'm just kind of bringing it to light in the sunshine uh for everyone to hear that um what looks like a very bad photo op for Destin and it looks a lot like Walton
County where you got these uh 50 ft linear space and it's just packed to the brim in the summer and to each side is flanked by open beautiful white sand. Uh actually shouldn't be the case and it just so happens to be next to the tarpon beach access as well. So, not only we
getting 340 plus feet of tarpon beach front access, but we can actually extend that west by nearly two very large medium density um parcels. So, uh take that with what you want. Um I don't know if we need a motion. It's all set forth
during the state. I just wanted to bring it here for you guys to see. Um most of the ECL line is in the water or close to uh but this area specifically with the visual representation of the old pilings
really creates a juicy and fun uh place for us to do something to give more public beach access back for free. And so with that perhaps it's uh information I don't know if the motion needs to be we need to make signage down there or we
need to just reach out. I mean, I'm all here to not bang my chest and everything. Like, let's go talk to the vendors. This the I'm assuming it's an HOA and let them know, hey, um after reviewing the survey, we actually need to push you guys back. Um so, and
perhaps, um we can just have a polite conversation hopefully. Um but whatever you guys feel is good, I'm I'm done ranting. I'm okay with >> I I would just ask the staff. There's a newer survey than this. The ECL is not
going to move, but the beach profile has changed and I think we have accreted sand. And so I would ask that we make sure we have the latest map when we go and overlay the there's one with the ECL overlaid on that because
that will be more reflective of how much beach is actually out there. If you take this You're just going to get more arguments because in 12 we hadn't accreted that much. >> That's 24 map with a 12 ECL. >> Okay, >> that's the 24 map. There might be a 25
now. >> No, there's a 24. I thought this was a 2012 map. >> No, that's just designating when the ECL was established. >> Good. >> Yep. So, hopefully there's some good stuff there. Um, again, they can move them back. Uh, they typically do about two rows of chairs
uh plushly spaced out in between. um that's in that ECL line. So, as far as just visual representation of what kind of land we're talking about here, um it's going to be very nice for the public to be able to go on the wings of their access there. So, I think Do you
feel there's any motion you guys? >> I think we can we can handle that. >> Yeah, it's all it's all there. It's just more information. >> Talk to the vendors. >> Yeah. Let's be nice. Let's be courteous. We're all one big team. And before you shut down >> and take the sheriffs, >> I was I was remissed earlier not to say
thank you for allowing me to be part of what we do here in Dest for the last year. Certainly open to any feedback, the things you'd like to see us do different, we're not doing or stop doing, but I I do want to uh tell you what an incredible staff you have, how
hard they work every day to try to do good things for the city and the people we serve. So, um, a big thank you to those guys because it makes this seat much easier to operate in when they're there taking care of things. >> Yeah. Well, I'll I'll ditto down on that
and just say uh thank you for everything. You've definitely been a glue and an engine for this team and uh being having you at the tip of the spear has made an astronomical difference in a lot of aspects of local government and you are an invaluable asset to this team
as well. So, thank you. Shut up. I know where you're going with that. >> Go ahead, Mary. >> Yeah. No, I can't vote for you. So, guess what? This is not reflecting your pay raise. >> Appreciate it. >> All right. One last thing under mine. Um, annexation we were talking about today. We're running out of time. Uh,
the meats and bounds. I believe we got everything done as far as motions are concerned. Um, I I don't really know where to throw this out right at the moment. So maybe it's Ray sending us all where we lie on the motions and and wrapping up with that next meeting unless that's happened. But uh the meets
and bounds is going to take about nine months. Uh there's a deadline per state statute to get it on uh as a referendum. So we have we have enough time if we act in the next month, but I just wanted to bring that up. Um and hopefully next
council meeting we can just dot the eyes, cross the tees, and get that show on the road. I've been speaking with HOAs and individuals um just throughout the summer and uh this winter time will be a great opportunity as people settle down a little bit from their 100 hours
100 days of summer and have a little bit more time to talk local government with us. With that, Miss Kimberly Cop. >> Thanks, Mayor. Um the city filed its lawsuit against the beach vendors that had not been complying with the code on
a repeated basis just last week. So we had three defendants. So this executive session that I'm going to request from the council is related to that um litigation. So pursuant to section 286.018 0118 Florida statutes. I desire the advice of council at an executive
session on September 3rd, 2025 at 5:30m in the following litigation. City of Destin versus Kyle M. Coleman doing business as Kyle Coleman Ice Cream aka Gulfream Ice Cream. Ohana Gelato LLC and Wounded Warrior Commiss Commissery LLC.
Case number case number 2025 CA002412A 0010F in the circuit court of Okaloosa County, Florida. Pres present at the litigation will be myself, litigation council Eric Krebs, litigation council William Warner, city
manager Larry Jones, the mayor, and all members of the city council. Uh, is that date and time acceptable to the council? >> Yep. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Okay, got that. This tremolo's looking >> good. It works. >> We have a budget hearing at 5:30.
>> It's at six. >> Oh, six. Okay. >> Fine. >> All right. We're all nodding. Yes. You got that public comments? No. Everyone wants to leave. Geez. All right. Thank you guys for being here. Thank you guys for being here. of
the city. Part: 2
That is so awesome. Thank you. Uh let's call this CRA meeting board meeting for Monday, August 18th. It's 5:30 p.m. Um call to order. We'll have a roll call. Verbal, please. If we can start down there with you, Mr. Braden.
Uh present. Rodney Traml. Jim Bagby, Kevin Schmidt, and myself, Teresa Abear. We'll save the pledge of allegiance for when we finish and do the city council
meeting. Okay. All right. We're going to look at the agenda approval. If I could get John, could you come up here and give us the change that needs to be incorporated into this current agenda? Thank you. John Stevens, uh, chairman of the Harvard CRA. Um so the motion that's um
talking about the morning field uh we need to remove that one and what we need to do is we need um to add the motion uh uh CRA board consider and evaluate allocating 50% of the parking revenue generated uh within the harbor CRA district to the harbor CRA fund.
Does anyone have any objections to shifting that adding that to get this? No, I'll make that change and motion as is or good to go. It's not on the agenda. So, I'm trying to figure out which agenda we're talking about. We have an agenda that was published
through like the four motions that are on it. So, do you have a copy for all council so they can see the detailed agenda? Uh, I don't have a copy of it. Uh, David, do you should be attached to the uh on the it is on the agenda or I'm sorry,
the minutes from uh uh the it's on the minutes from the Harvard CRA. Yes, it's on the minutes of the meeting, but it's not on the agenda. And and I think what happened is they wrote down the wrong um uh they wrote down two of the correct motions. They accidentally wrote down a wrong motion
because uh these three motions are regarding parking and fees. So I'm just trying to make sure that they're all together. So is it uh your minutes that needed to be corrected versus the agenda? No, it's it's the agenda that needs to be corrected. Okay. We don't have a visual of that
agenda. Ma'am, it should be on attachment to uh 6A. On 6A, it says this is the CRA agenda, right? All it says. that says it did say the motion adopted by the
Harbor CRA. That's under discussion and business. It's there's no agenda spell out of those motions. So on do you guys have the Harbor CRA meeting agenda pulled up on your computer? They're they're in the attachments of the minutes, but it's it it tells you
that that's where they are. That's what that one does. Do you guys have the um I think the agenda report u explains it. You have that on your computer. So there's three motions on those pages.
Did you see them? He's saying the third one is wrong where it says uh the Harbor the Harbor CRA about uh Moringfield. That shouldn't even be on
this agenda tonight. So he's saying instead of that one, it should be the one about distributing 50% of the parking funds, I think. Yes. So it's just it's just not on this current agenda tonight. Madam Chairman, you want me to make a copy of this so that the board will have it? That would be helpful because right now
it's kind of confused because it's buried in the minutes. Yeah. And the author of the staff report is sick. That's why he's not here to speak to it. Okay. I'll be right back. Okay, great. Thank you. I mean, I didn't do other stuff until that topic. Well, at at this time, go ahead, Johnny,
and give us the rest of the update if the rest of the council Miss Traml, he's going to go make copies for us. If John's going to give us some update real quick. So, go ahead. All right. Well, um, so, uh, John Stevens, chairman of Harvey CRA, I just want to thank you guys for reading the
minutes, um, and, um, bringing this to the CRA meeting. Um, kind of feel like it validates what we're doing. Um, with it being a budget item, I'm hoping you all get to make a decision tonight. Um, and then whatever you guys decide, I'll pass on to the Harbor CR at next meeting. Um, so pretty much what we're discussing tonight is we're discussing
three of the 11 motions that the Harbor CRA has made throughout the year. Um, so we're not going to talk about the Moing Field. So the next motion um is the Harvard CRA recommends to the CRA board to pursue construction of temporary paid parking lot at one harbor boulevard um
in in accordance with the applicable agreements to generate revenue for the harbor CRA fund. Um the thoughts of the board was uh since the harve had no funds with the property sitting this is the idea how to generate uh money on the property and this is one of them. Um the
motion passed 50 to1 with 5 to1 with myself descending. Um, if you guys want any more information on that, I'll let you know. Otherwise, I'm just going to leave it uh nice nice and sweet for that one. Um, so I'm not sure. Are you all going to talk each motion at once or Well, first of all, that property only has parking at the very top of it. Is
that the parking you're talking about charging for? So, the discussion um that um uh the committee was discussing was to potentially reggravel the um the property um without adding any storm water um system in there. Um, and
unfortunately, I don't know how much it's going to cost, but with with the city only um creating what, $2,000 over July 4th uh weekend with all the other parks, I'm not sure how much money this one parking lot would generate. Um, and
there was no direction of how much of the property was going to be turned into a parking lot. It was just that was just the motion in general. So, why did you vote against it? Um there's a few reasons why I voted against it. One is pretty much whenever
you turn a parking lot in um into into something like this. Um it becomes harder to convert it back into potentially a public space, which is what I'm hoping that eventually would happen. Um temporary parking lots um pretty much become permanent when there's no funding and right now there's
no funding in the harbor. So I'm kind of worried about that. Um, another thing they discussed, um, not having storm water, uh, system there. With me being on Chakachi Basin Alliance, I I I believe full hardly making sure our water quality, uh, stays up the par. I
don't want to have any any um, storm water runoff there. Um, another reasoning is a lot of tourists don't know when you leave that road, you have to turn left or turn right to go into the bridge. Then they're they're forced to do a U-turn and come back into
Destin. So, I think it's going to cause car accidents down the line potentially. Um, and then not only that, my last thinking is with that design that my wife designed with the potential stadium seating down um to where everyone can see the view, the the dirt's already
kind of in place for the stadium seating, if we remove that dirt to build a parking lot and we eventually go back to that idea however many years later, I think it's just going to cost extra. So, those are my reasons why I voted against it. one at a time. I'm I'm asking the chair, are we
attacking these one at a time? I think it would behoove us to talk about each one so we each have a vote. So, let's go ahead and go through each one at a time. That's the first one, correct? That's the first one. Then go ahead and go to the second one. Okay. So, the second one, um, the Harbor CRA recommended that the CRA board direct staff to identify all n all
non-paid, um, city parking spaces within the harbor CRA district and convert them to paid parking, allowing the um, the use of of the local pass. Um, pretty much it passed. Um, there was um there's one area in particular by the
cemetery where it's not considered paid parking. And we all know that everyone that's using those those parking lots are employees at businesses. Um so I don't know if we if we can turn convert those um to paid parking with having some kind of sign
below it saying if you're using the cemetery or whatever, you don't have to pay. Um but it was just another way to try to generate a little bit more money and get a little more control under that part those parking spaces. All right, go on to the Does anyone have any questions on this this one? Jim,
I'll wait for discussion. Go ahead. Um so the um the third motion um is the CRA board considered and evaluate allocating 50% of the parking uh revenue generated within the harbor CRA district to the harbor CRA fund. Um initially there was discussion of how the um
everyone wanted 100% of uh the funds and we all agreed that wasn't going to happen. Um and we're just trying to figure out a way to help get money to the CR CRA so we can eventually start doing stuff and this was just one of those avenues. Um, and I'm here to answer any
questions. Otherwise, I will go take a seat. Um, real quick question. Did any of this get run by the financial, you know, uh, guru Crystal? I mean, with that, no. Um, it it did not. Um, these are motions made, uh, I want to say on the
fly. And, um, and of course, we I wasn't exactly sure how the motions were going to come. So, I actually p them in my 2025 annual report, which will be coming next year. But so none of it's been discussed with Crystal. Well, if you could speak to that, Crystal, those funds are already
required to be set to some sort of special funding. Is that correct? The way we've got the parking lots currently set up for funding. That That's correct. Uh council made a motion to reserve all of these monies for the parking fund. It's a special revenue
fund uh to address parking issues throughout the city. Um, Michael Burgess was just trying to look up the um the three main parking lots, Marlor, Zerby, and the community center um to see if he could quickly tally up a year's worth of revenues just to see what the impact would be.
Now, just for clarification, are we talking about those three lots or just the one at one harbor? So, uh the last motion was for um all the u uh paid parking spots in the CRA district. So uh it would include all
those not it wouldn't include Crystal Beach though would not. Okay. So just a back of the napkin calculation for FY25 those three lots have generated about
$175,000. So 50% of that would be you know 875 or something like that. And legally, Crystal, is that something we could vote on? This this might be a Kim question. Um
I'm not sure the order in which you'd have to do this because uh the city council made the motion. All right. And and made uh pass the resolution. So, so the question we need to ask him is if we have already delegated where these
parking funds are supposed to be spent, can we then regenerate or create a different way for 50% of them to be spent or given to the C? Yeah, the body that voted on the the resolution in theory can change the resolution, but this is not the body
that did that. But you can make a recommendation to the body that did that and the body that did that can change it. So when we as a team here on the CRA board make our decisions on these that would then go to the next level which we
sit on. Well, yes. Okay. Got it. All right. Well, that's all John's going to Is there some discussion at this end because we were trying to at first just get the agenda approval and find out which was added on here. So if
we get the approval of what the agenda is, we can move on because this is right here is the new business. So can I get somebody to approve approve the agenda as aended? That Kevin, I think Kevin, you made the motion. Sounds good. Okay, I'll second. All right, with that, we have a motion.
We have a second. Any discussion? All right, let's get a verbal vote. If we can start with you, Mr. Braden, please. Yes. Lick. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. M motion passes. We'll move on. Uh, let's do approval of the minutes for the May 19th CRA board meeting. Can I get
somebody to make a motion to approve those? Move to app. Oh, second. Thank you. All right. Got a Got a motion. Got a second. Um, any discussion? Can I get a uh verbal from your end, Mr. Braden, starting now? Yes. Yes.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Motion passes. The minutes are approved. At this point, we have an open for public comments. If there's anybody in the public right now that would like to speak to any of the issues for CRA only, this is not the Destin
City Council meeting. This is for the CRA meeting. If anyone here has any public comments, come forward. Looking around, seeing everybody running this way. So, going to say no. All right. Closing that. Let's moving on to new
business. Um, David, did you still need to come forward to clarify any of the new business or this sheet here helps us? If you understand the sheet, I'm don't need to come forward. All right. At this time, I will open it
up for discussion. Um, starting it with you, Kevin. Do you have some comments? Sure. Uh, thank you, John, and the board for bringing some things to us. I do appreciate it. um on the three items that you guys have asked us to um look into. Um me personally, I would not be
supporting turning in that one harbor to a temporary parking lot. Um I would be more in favor of recommending to the council to start pursuing turning it into a usable, you know, safe space that you can walk to. Um that would be my
first thought there and I'd be happy to make that motion later if we need to. Um on the non-paid spaces, I get what you're saying about near the um cemetery. Uh you're probably right that most of them are probably employees or sometimes employees sometimes people on
Thursday nights going to see fireworks. So um you know if we have paid parking everywhere else might not just continue to include some. But logistically I would definitely need to understand from staff how that would work. Um because I don't want to have paid parking or people are attending a funeral of
course. Um, and then I would I'd be open to hear like Jim and others talking about the 50% of the parking fund, you know, if if funds collected in the Harbor CRA are being generated. I mean, it seems like a potential good idea to fund the Harbor CRA with some of those
parking fees. So, um, I mean, I think I think I'd be able to support that. Just uh maybe somebody has some more experience on the CRA stuff could speak to it as well. Yeah, come on up, John. If you have some information to clarify on those, I did.
Sorry, I I forgot to mention one thing. Um, on June 11th, the Harvey CR did approve um approve a motion to recommend to the city council to direct staff to explore TDC funding options to repair the seaw wall at One Harbor Boulevard. So potentially, if we get that seaw wall
repaired, we could potentially open up that area to where it's safe, maybe having just green space temporarily until we get funding to do anything there. So, I just wanted to add that little tidbit in there, too. Thank you. All right. Kevin has given his thoughts on those. Jim, you have anything you
want to add? Yeah, I'm with Kevin on the Harbor One uh lot and with John. Um that I don't want to see parking there. I mean, think about what was it 6 months
ago and we fought over getting the cars off of there and putting up a fence so we didn't have a goat rope and now we got people that want to go back and do the opposite of what we fought so hard to get. The other reason is uh and I
know this is probably two years maybe three years away. That's the layown lot for the construction of the new bridge. So, you know, you put something in there uh at some cost and then you say, "Oh, we
were just kidding." Because now we've got all the contractors vehicles and all the contractors using that as the layown lot. And it just doesn't make any sense. They'll be out there surveying. They'll be out there doing other things to for the impending new bridge. So, I just it
does not pass my common sense test for us to do that. The other the other thing on this one, uh I'm not inclined to take money from the parking fund that we said is designated for a specific
purpose. I I don't like to get into we we set up these individual funds specifically for a purpose. And so when we start using them for everything and anything, then it becomes the next thing you know, we don't have any money. And
when it's time to actually build a parking deck on one of those three lots, it's like, wait, where'd our $2.3 million go? Oh, well, it's the gravel that we picked up. Well, we put it down, then we paid to pick it up because we're putting the bridge landing there. And it
just, you know, we got to do things a little smarter than that on the paid parking. I'm uh I I go to the uh Memorial Day ceremony every year. Uh I am not in favor of making specifically
the cemetery parking there by the cemetery paid parking. Uh I can't think uh if my wife and I end up being buried there that my kids would have to pay. And I mean think about what we're saying because we're saying, "Oh, it's all
people that work at those places." Okay. They will us if we make that paid parking guess what those it'll be the employees who are residents in the city of Destin with their parking sticker pass. So we will generate nothing, you know, or next to nothing
except from people going to see grandma or great grandma. And I just that just that just affects me different, you know, I just can't take that. The 50% split with the parking um my memory is
and Crystal I need you to remind me. Uh the reason because the harbor used to make all the money and the town center had no money because the town center went into debt early. Now because we used the harbor to pay
for Harbor One or to help pay for Harbor One, that's why they have no money. Is that the main and the undergrounding? Is that correct, Crystal? Yes, sir. That's correct.
Okay. So the Harbor CRA is uh seeing a benefit and remember in the harbor CRA we don't get half you know the CRA gets half of the from the baseline year which I don't remember what year it was but from the baseline
year they get that revenue but that all that's going to pay off the debt or pay off the future debt. So there is money. I mean, if we want to have a another funding source that says,
"Hey, we we will grant you $75,000 a year or 100, but you're getting, you know, the Harbor One parcel and you're getting the um underground the the
good effects of the undergrounding uh already. I'm not sure if you if you want to ask for a specific budget item. I would rather do that than say, uh, we're going to give you 50% of the parking fee because I want the parking money to go
in the parking fund. And I don't want I'm not saying y'all would do this because we could probably put rules in place that says you can only use it for parking improvements because it's generated by the parking fund and that's what the statute says and that's what our our uh not laws, our ordinances and
stuff say. But I I wouldn't want to hamstring you like that because you really don't have any parking right now. But if you have a an idea of, hey, we really would like to see some money spent on the seaw wall.
Could y'all put in $100,000 to as the matching for the TDC TDD money or the halfsent county money. I'd be more than willing to do that in the budget cycle as a, you know, as opposed
to just saying, "Oh, give us some of that parking money because everybody sees that bright shiny object and that big number and they think, oh yeah, we we got 2.3 million." No, you don't. That belongs to the city and it's
specifically designated for parking in those those three lots. So, yeah, that's where I am. All right. Thanks, um, Mr. Traml. I I don't have a problem with the the first I think it's the first motion um
about asking staff to look through the harbor CRA to see if there was any other parking that could be designated and literally giving the CRA that particular piece of it. As far as hamstringing
them, they're already hamstrung because the resolution says if it's from parking, it's got to be to parking, right? So, they're already there and we're not doing anything different with them. The only thing we could do different would be to um if there are any other spaces,
and and I don't know if there are or not. I haven't looked at any, but if there are any other spaces, we could carve those few spaces out of the resolution by another resolution or an addendum to that resolution that allows them to have that particular
money. Um, it's it's really hard on a CRA when you come up um and and need, you know, $100,000 or whatever they're going to need. I know one of the other projects that they have which he did not mention tonight is the
mooring project and that's got a lot of things that have to happen on land before you can do it. That's two committees working on the same project and to come up here and to ask for money and to hope you get it in the budget and it may not get in the budget or they need something they can count on. That's
what happened to the town center. That's why they didn't meet all those years and it was a huge amount of money that they gave and they've now been encumbered basically till the what the last two or three years of their whole CRA. So, um
if if you want these people to be working and to have input, they need a little bit of money, not a lot, a little bit of money so they can go out and work with the business partners, I mean the business people in the town to show good faith effort. All right. Thanks for your input. Uh,
Mr. Braden, you have some feedback. Yeah, thanks. Um, when or who authorized that Harbor One property to be a layown lot for the new bridge? I'm not sure I know who authorized that. Do
the state will because it is state rightway. Part of it about half of it is where the new bridge is going to go. So we can when we get to the bridge discussion in the meeting, the state will tell us what they're going to do on that part that they control.
They only control just a little sliver. No, it's not just a little sliver. Yeah, it's about half of it. So no, it's more than a third. So So the council approved $9 million to buy half a piece of property. Well, we'll get back. Are they going to buy half of it? Is
that what's happening right now? Right now, that is the city's property and DOT does not own that property. They would potentially be taking it by eminent domain and paying for it at some point. Thank you, Miss Cop. Okay. I just thought it was somebody said that
they was going to use that whole lot for the bridge, but um and I remember the whole parking thing a little bit different. um because probably about 8 years ago I was the one that more or less spearheaded that and
started getting the council to get paid parking and um I remember his first two or three years or four years it was you know 20 $30,000 then all of a sudden we started making
real money with it and then we started allocating it to different places. It wasn't it wasn't the paid parking was established to allocate that money immediately for a particular project or
particular item. Um so I don't know why we couldn't go back and reallocate that money or some of it somewhere else. Um, I know we've already allocated a lot of it. I know how many I don't know how we can allocate money that we don't know we what we're going
to get next year from parking or or the next 5 years for undergrounding and stuff. I guess we we've we've approved that. Um, the making that harbor one a parking lot. I I don't think I could agree with that as well.
And I I want to jump in before it gets too far along. I want to give you the chance to talk about it, but currently the code does not allow parking there as a standalone use. It would have to be part of another use. We don't allow standalone parking lots. Um, and if you
did want to do this, you would have to do an LDC amendment to start allowing that use in the zoning district. So, just just a side note, it's not currently allowed. So, we don't allow standalone parking lots. Not in that zoning district. Uh Dave, is
that correct? That's correct. Did we get the three or two or three or four on Cyber zoning district? That's in North Harbor mixuse and it is allowed there, but across the street it's not allowed because
Yeah, South Harbor. Okay. So, it's on it's on the north of 98. It's just Okay. All right. That's all I have. Thank you. Um, Mr. Tramley, you said you had one more question. I just had a question for Crystal. Um,
didn't you tell me that even if the state bought back half of that land for the bridge, that that money that we received from that sale would then go back into the debt service, not directly into the Harbor CRA.
That That's correct. It would go in towards the the debt service. the um and uh don't forget we're going to refinance that loan in about four years. So So we're not we're not certain the this situation that the harbor
CRA's cash flow is in right now will change uh four years from now, but I don't know in in what direction. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thanks, Crystal. Um do you have anything, Mr. G? Chris, I I have a question because I'm a
little confused. Right now, that 9 million debt, is that the city's burden or is that the Harbor CRA's burden? That's the Harbor CRA's burden. Okay. And you're talking about in four and a half years, we're thinking about refinancing that and taking that debt from them. Right. We have a balloon payment uh 5
years from the loan date, which was November of 2024. Okay. So from now to those four and a half years though, all we've done is burden the Harbor CRA with $9 million worth of debt and we're not offering them any way of revenue generation if we
don't give something with this 50% parking or at least a percent. Maybe not 50 but but something. Is that correct? That's correct. All right. Thank you very much, Crystal. All right. Is there any other discussion? Um my views on this is I
don't have don't want to see that parking lot or what it would become Harbor One. I say leave it as it is. We didn't put parking no parking signs up there to turn it around. So that's my thoughts on that and not really sure about trying to split the monies to help
the harbor. I just at this point not really sure which way it would work. Um, and I don't know at this point if we're supposed to make any kind of motion. So, I'm going to ask if there anybody up here has a motion for any of these that
they want to pursue. Um, I'll stand by. I was just going to make a motion that we ask staff to look within the harbor district to see if there are any other parking spaces that could be um allocated for paid parking because it is
a problem. It's not during during special events. It's not during cemetery visits. It is and I don't I disagree with with Mr. Stevens. It is not workers. I see families getting out of those cars and going down there to avoid
the the parking fee. So, um all of our other avenues are there. So, maybe we could look at that. But my motion is to ask city staff to look for um additional parking spaces that are not already allocated for parking.
All right, we have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion on this motion? All right, let's go ahead and take a verbal vote. Uh starting with you, Mr. Braden. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All right. Motion passes. Um, if you'll
take that for action, city manager. And with that, I would say if there's any other motions on any other items, Mr. Gal, go ahead. I don't know if this needs to be a motion, but I would like the city to try to find some type of revenue for the the Harbor CRA, at least for the next four
and a half years. Uh, because something Councilman Tremble mentioned, if you're we throw you $9 million in debt and you can't do crap for four and a half years, why do you even want to show up? I wouldn't show up. I wouldn't waste my time. So, I think we need to find some source of revenue um whether it's from
the paid parking uh from other parking lots or or what we need to do, but try to generate some type of source for the Harbor CRA uh for funding so that they can actually operate. Does that need to be a motion or can that just then I'm making a motion?
I'll second that. Got a motion. Got a second. Any discussion? All right, Jim, go ahead. Yeah, my my only thing is I would ask the Harbor CRA Advisory Committee, come back to us with your priority list of what you want to fund. I I I don't mind
taking this step and asking staff to find, you know, sources of income, but I don't want to create, you know, a $5 million fund and then you guys tell us we'll figure out how to spend it. That that is not how budgeting is supposed to
work. it is. Here's here's the things we would like to do. We would like to repair the seaw wall. We would like to get that underground because there's going to be a lot of the not underground under the bridge walkway. Uh there's going to be a lot of things that are going to happen in the harbor CRA
already that the city is already funding and and I agree, you know, we we need to give y'all a purpose and and a reason, but you got to tell us what what y'all are thinking about, if that makes sense. All right. Well said. Go ahead, Mr.
Braden. I think that's only only one thing you need, John, is you put us $9 million in debt. Now, we need some way to help pay for that. Um, if we bake sales bake if we if we increase the parking fees down there,
can can that additional fee go to help or unless we change that would be we'd have to change it across the the city completely. And at this point, we already had a couple of us up here that were anxious about $15 a day. Um, however, the Emerald Grand goes
to $20 a day and they fill up and are overflowing. So, I know that we have a lot of locals that use our lots because I do drive through those to see and make sure they're getting whoever is not a local is paying their way. Um, does anyone up here have a thought on if we
were to raise the fees? $75 an option the staff can bring back staff you can bring that back to us Mr. Okay, city manager what you got? We are in negotiations with our last parking that will uh perhaps have a
different mechanism for how much we charge on demand peak charge fees where perhaps we can get more usage out of the parking lots by reducing rates when it's not in demand but hopefully drive more
activity to use them. So, we'll we hope to have that back to you at next council meeting for your consideration, but we're reviewing those uh proposals back from that the one we selected as our parking vendor. Well, based on that, it also would
probably help because we don't have the amount of code enforcement to monitor those lots. And you and I have talked many times on the weekends, the lots are overflowing and they're out of town tags and you don't have enough staff to get around and check their licenses and verify they paid because it's an online thing. It's not like there's a sticker
or ticket in their front windshield. So, having a new parking custodian basically should help us raise a lot more funds through those lots. So, great. Looking forward to you bringing that back to council. Yes. Yes, Mr. G. I just have a question. So, if it's an online thing, can the tow services just
have access to it and if they see something out there just automatically tow? Why do we have to have code enforcement involved? Can't they just have access to the program? They see somebody that hasn't paid, they're in the spot. I think that Michael Burgess, can you speak to that?
Yes, ma'am. I can. The code enforcement officers have a app on their phones and there's a handheld module also they can pull up a lot and it will give them a list of all of the license plates that have current sessions. So, if they
ride through the parking lot and they see a license plate, it is not on that current sessions list, they get a ticket. That's how that works. But that wasn't the question. The question was, can we hand that same app to the tow truck companies, local tow truck companies?
I have never even thought about that, but I don't we I can certainly ask uh we can talk to LAZ about that as well because that eliminates code enforcement having to be involved. If somebody's in violation, just don't. So, a couple of the lots, the Marlor Street lot in
particular, and hopefully once the undergrounding project's done, if we can improve the Zerby lot, we can certainly look at expanding that license plate recognitionbased enforcement. So, you would automatically get a ticket if you didn't pay for your session.
And if the tow truck company takes it, um, then no revenue is coming into the city. Yeah, no revenue because currently if they didn't pay, we send them a bill with administrative fees and like extra monies on top of that from those people
that failed to pay. Thanks, Crystal. Anyone else up here have anything else they want to add? All right. U final moment. Anyone with CRA issues, discussions for the public comment before we close this meeting and move to city council?
We haven't voted on the motion. Oh, that's right. motion. We have a a motion and a second from clarify what the motion is so we can vote. Do you have that motion down, Mr. Um the motion was to for staff to come back with options for payment
with the uh to help the Harbor CRA come with funding in addition adding Jim Bagby's recommendation that simultaneously the Harbor CRA come with options of what they want funding for. Okay. All right. We have a motion. We
have a second. Can we get a vote started? Uh, Mr. Braden. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All right. Motion passes. And with that, um, we're going to go with public comments
for the CRA questions and concerns. I think we have Is there something else that needs to be brought up, David? Oh, just, uh, just for clarification, and we printed the zoning map. It's uh the South Harbor mixed use. There's a small portion which includes Harbor One that is actually north of 98. Generally,
most of it is south of 98. And with your permission, I'll hand these out to the board. That's fine. You can give it to us. Is it going to impact anything we're doing now that we're about ready to adjourn? Just so we have it. I don't think so. All right. With that, we have no public comments coming up. All right. Go ahead, John.
Quick. I just want to say thank you for listening and uh looking forward to bring you all some some more motions in the future. All right. Great. Thanks for being here. With that, we will adjourn the CRA meeting and turn it over to the mayor for city council.