I'm going to call this city council meeting to order. All right. Good evening. It's February 2nd. It is 6:01, so we're a minute behind. Hopefully, we won't be here all night. Uh up first, we're going to do our invocation by the one and only
Pastor Steve Ferris from the First Baptist Church of Dustin. Thank you for being here. Father, we just come before you tonight thanking you for your goodness and grace. And Lord, we thank you for all those that are are serving here in this city and serving here tonight. And Lord,
I want to pray for the cities that's really in disarray, a lot of struggles, a lot of just Lord not coming together and Lord. So I pray for unity around this nation. Lord, it it's needed and wisdom is needed uh not only here but around the world. And we thank you that
we've been blessed. We thank you that we missed all the bad weather, but Lord, we want to pray especially for those tonight who are still digging out from this storm. It's uh been relentless. So Lord, I just pray you'll give them wisdom and guidance and thank you for each and everyone that's here in Jesus name. Amen.
>> Amen. >> Now, if you could please put your hand over your heart for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> All right. Well, thank you all for being out here on this wonderfully cold night. Um, for the agenda, I do have a request to bring up uh my H2, the 1 million oyster
project. uh then make it 1B. Uh Miss Allison from CBA is here and I don't think she wants to hang out with us all night. Um is there any other changes or modifications to the agenda? All right, seeing none, if I can get a motion
>> motion to approve the agenda as amended. >> All right, I have a motion. >> Motion and a second. Councilman Bagby with the motion. Councilman Dustin with the second. Uh with that, we'll call the vote. Fair enough. All right. For the sake of
Oh, there we go. >> Scared it off. All right. So, eyes have it so moved for zero. And with that, we'll have our parks and recreation committee annual report. Thank you guys for being here.
All right, just hit that gray button. It'll turn red. >> All right. Do we have to start with our name and address first? >> You guys are committee. >> No worries. Thank you. >> All right. >> Hello everyone. Thank you for your time
today. I'm Autumn Widen Ammer. I'm the chair of the parks and recck committee and we are here to present our 2025 annual report. We've tried a new approach. So, we hope you all like it. Um, I don't know how to work this.
>> Oh. Oh, >> thank you. Okay. Um, for the agenda today, we'll go through some quick introductions. We'll recap our mission as a committee. We'll share more about our work plans. We'll highlight the impact we've had, and we will talk about
how we benefit from your support. on the next slide. Um, I already introduced myself. I am Autumn Widenhammer and I will turn it over to the other committee members. Good evening, Jessica Julian, 407 Juniper Street.
Um, I'm here tonight just to talk a little bit about uh what we do as a park and rec committee. I know a lot of you have served at some point. Oh, I'm just introducing myself. Oh, okay. Sorry. Oh, sorry. I thought we were doing it as a win. I'm ready. I'm ready. Introducing
ourselves. >> Hi, council. Uh, I'm Allison Stevens, 4025 Indian Trail, and uh, I am on the parks rec committee for a year now. So, y >> Jan McGraw, 3871, Indian Trail Unit 1A.
>> All right. And then Matthew Sweetster has since resigned since we put this presentation together. Um, Aubrey Sanuchi is not here tonight. and Andrea Aninsley is also not here tonight. Uh we'd also like to give a big thank you to our staff leaison Lisa, Ryan, and Brian who are excellent to work with. On
the next slide, we will kick it over to Jessica to go through our mission. There we go. I'm back. Okay, cool. Um essentially what we do, um and I know some of you have served in this position, is to effectively bridge the gap between
council and the parks and recck committee to get out into the community. um where we can get um input whether it's from surveys where we're working with um Perez group or open meetings where people come in to get feedback to find out what the needs and desires are
of the community. Um essentially we're the hands and the feet um that we filter through that system before they're going to come to council and to make sure that we're also effectively looking at the mission of what Lisa and her team are looking for. But um we've put together a
pretty eclectic group so that we can effectively hopefully represent Destin and the needs of what Destin is looking for. Not what Jessica's looking for, not what Jan's looking for, Autumn, but so that we can really represent whether it's, you know, new chair, the little
league, or whether it's um Oyster Bays and things like that that you'll hear about later. But um we're just here uh to volunteer as much as we can within our community. So, just uh again be a voice that we partner with you um so that the decisions that come before you
can be made effectively. Um that way we're cognizant of your time. Obviously, we're on a volunteer basis. You guys understand you guys give up your time and your talent to serve and we want to make sure when it comes to you that it's been vetted well. So, we're here to partner with you and we hope to continue that partnership throughout the year to
continue to bring um the world's best parks right here in Dest. So I'll turn it over to her. >> Thank you. On the next slide, um see ongoing work plans. So just given the nature of our committee, some of our
work plans are ongoing. So I will highlight a few. We have the adopt a park. So we have a different committee member each month go to the dog park and help clean up. We had Ally very graciously pick up a ton of dog poop one time. We've had picking up trash, recommending improvements, um notifying
staff of things. and so keep that park looking very nice. We have our park inspections. So twice a year we inspect all of the parks and make recommendations for maintenance or improvement to staff and then we are also working on a better way to kind of track those improvements so we can
showcase the impact we're having there. But we typically do it before and after tourist season to make sure they are looking um good to go. We have Tree City USA and Arbor Day ceremony. So put together an annual ceremony to plant a tree. um brought some local homeschool
kids to celebrate this year and did a ceremony for that to keep us um marked as a tree city USA. We also have um community adopt a park tree and bench which we are working on improving that process so it's available on the website so community members can adopt that and
um help raise some money for parks and wreck. Uh next we have new and returning work plans. So just based on having new members of our committee over the past year, some of these are things were brought we've brought back from the past. Some are new ideas. So we have
Pooch Palooa which we brought back. Um raised a good amount of money for improvements the dog park and many of you were present there so thank you for joining. We have um playground and park updates. So really looking at our parks and finding one substantial update we
can make per year at a park and continuing that instead of just a ton of little tiny maintenance things so that there's a visible impact of the committee. Um I won't go through all of these but little free libraries. So our first one will be going in the dog park soon. I know staff is working to install
that and then looking to bring little free libraries to different public parks throughout each year to kind of help it, you know, advertise at literacy and share books. Um looking to bring back the destined bike helmet and road safety programs that were previously here. And
then also cannot forget to mention the pickle ball courts. I know the opening has been long awaited. So looking at planning a grand opening for that for the community to join. On the next slide, we will turn it over to Jan.
>> As you can see, there are quite a few motions passed. Um to honor council's time. Um going to just give three highlights perhaps. Uh number one, the harbor CRA board committee to add breakwater and oyster gardening at
various locations in Dest. Improvement of Dustin Little League artificial turf at Thragiel Park to move forward with FRDAP grants and moving forward to continued phases with Perez planning to implement needed
improvements at existing parks and visioning for future park projects. Okay. All right. So, uh, measuring our impact over the past year, our work has focused on one core purpose, uh, improving our parks while strengthening community
connection through committee in I'm sorry, through committee inspections and collaboration with staff, we helped identify priorities and support numerous park improvements that residents can see and enjoy today. These efforts ensured these efforts ensured that concerns were
not only heard, but addressed. Um, as Autumn has said, we have um done park pooch palooa which has raised over $1,000 um through the parks foundation. And uh looking ahead, we are uh uh
helping re Sorry. >> I know, right? Sorry. Looking ahead, we played an important role in shaping the future of our parks by providing key input during the master plan design phases. This allowed community voices to be reflected in long-term planning decisions.
Community engagement remains central to our work. We participated in recreation events, uh supported adopt a park commitments, uh gathered resident feedback, and advocated for the needs of our parks and neighborhoods. Uh finally,
finally, we served as a pre-consil advisory resource, helping refine proposals before they reached council, ensuring ideas were thoughtful, well-developed, and aligned with community priorities. Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to thoughtful planning,
strong collaboration, and a park system that truly serves our community. She nailed it, didn't she? doing so great. Uh well, first off, we have to say thank you. Obviously, what we do, we can't do alone. We um whether it's through city funding. Um like I said, we
can be the mouthpiece, but at the end of the day, it takes all of us working together, whether it's funding, whether it's moving forward to get grant funding to help with those things. So, um we can't do it without the support of the council and without the support of the community. And we all work
collaboratively and consistency through that process. So, um, you know, when, for instance, when the Dustin Little League when they came and they talked to us about the turf and, um, we listened and we listened not just with what we would want for our own kids, but just what would be the most and best for the
community. So, working collaboratively, we hope that we can continue to do that moving forward. Um, as you can see, we've got an exciting bunch here. So, we're willing to put the manh hours in and do the work. So, just because we love Dustin, we love living here just like you guys do, and we want to see
that continue to move forward. So, as we go forward and we evaluate and have new ideas, which I hope comes out in this next phase, um I appreciate the council also um looking at that and moving us forward with that so we can work with Lisa and her team um and look at what do we need to build and what do we need to
obviously maintain and upkeep and get to where um you know, where we can go so we can continue to make uh Destin great. So, um, we again, we just want to say thank you to the council for your time tonight, for looking this over. And obviously, we're here for, um, any questions or anything that you might
have, uh, that we could try and answer. And if we don't have an answer, we'll get you one for sure. So, is that any Yeah. Anybody have any questions? >> Anything that you guys need from us specifically to support you guys in this? We appreciate you bringing
bringing this up and having this much organization behind your committee. I mean >> kind of a loaded question. >> Yeah. I think it was a level of awareness for one. I think we are looking to make a new um process for the annual report just to share what we've been doing and the impact. I know the
beginning of last year or last year sometime there was some question of whether the committees were valuable or not. So just trying to showcase that there is an impact and that we love volunteering our time to improve the city. So nothing specific at the moment that we need but just keeping those doors open.
>> Awesome. Yep. Go ahead. >> Great job. Thank y'all for everything you do. The the one thing I would ask you to do maybe at your next committee meeting is uh we have a lot of needs and a lot of wants and everybody has
different ideas in this city to prioritize the two or three things. Uh we had this conversation with the Harbor CRA advisory committee the other night. Everybody wants everything and they want it now. You know, people want a skate
park, they want to enlarge the dog park, they want to do turf on the fields, they want to do, you know, there there's 40 different idea. You know, I'm a pocket park guy. I'd rather put a little pocket park in every little neighborhood. Uh but
everybody has a different idea. if y'all could help us by saying here are really the three things that you know if we could get these and and I don't you know it could be expand the dog park or the skateboard
park which you won't get my vote for but that's okay because it it takes more than one uh and just tell us this is where we as a committee because y'all do you give more time probably give as much time as we do you know you just do it in
a little in one specified area. So I would just ask that y'all help us prioritize our effort >> going forward. >> Y >> you guys did a great job. You know you're doing a great job. Thank you. >> Thank you. Sounds good. >> Yeah. To echo on that just a tad, I
would say from the visioning session, one of the things that I think everyone could agree on is the beautifification of it all. And with you guys, to use your words, you know, you guys are the hands and feet and out there specifically in the parks. there's anything um that's a reoccurring issue. I think those things are things that we could look at for funding for additional
staff or you know getting Larry involved to try to figure out a different approach. Um so if there's things that are continually coming up or things that you feel are maybe an issue at all parks, I think being those eyes and ears and really giving us that grass the grassroots um perspective I think would
be huge as well. So thank you. >> Absolutely. Thank you >> Kevin. Yeah, thank you for the presentation and for being here. Uh, I do enjoy the presentation um, visually and everything. Uh, a few highlights for me and comments. Um, I love parks and I
love recreation. Um, so there was one mention about recreation registration calendar, an annual thing, a new and returning work plan. So that's that's an exciting uh, feature. I think that's a new thing. Um, I believe we are uh over
capacity for much of our recreation across the entire city all the time. So, I think it'll be great to have that aspect be looked at um with community involvement to understand the need for all ages, young and old, that use
outside inside facilities um both through city recreation, also through the rental program. Um, so I'm I'm excited to see that option on there. Um, >> that was Alli's idea. I didn't touch on that. >> Yeah, it's great. >> You want to give a Yeah.
>> And you're >> just want to make sure she got the credit for that. >> Yeah, definitely. I saw her name on there, so I'm excited about that. Um, and like Jim said, you know, there's there's a lot of big needs all the time
and sometimes they're quick, you know, immediate. Sometimes they can be more in the future. And and I think that y'all and us right now have an opportunity to look at the big need of a possible facility of a recreational facility as a city city center, city
town, whatever the heck it's going to potentially be called, right? Um, I think that, you know, tonight we're putting onto the street, uh, a bid to replace a roof at the community center for approximately a million dollars for a roof that was just replaced 12 years
ago, you know, and so that also needs another million dollars worth of work to it. So, one thing that should be really I think focused on is what's that second community center or that instead of community center going to look like two years from now, five years from now, 10
years from now even. I think that would be a great thing for y'all to really start talking about. Um because if we talk about it, it's going to eventually go back to y'all anyways. So, might as well start talking about it because it's it's a need, I believe. >> Um that's a big one. And I know we have
the new park in Norgo. We have potentially the new state park or county park or city park, whatever the heck that's going to be as well. So, a lot of like facilities that are being added to our roster, which is great, >> but it also means our amazing parks and
rec department is going to be even more overworked. So, what do they need next year, two years from now as well, right? Um, and just think things like that that the more that y'all can continue to do and workshop in that group, I believe the better it's going to be for us as a
council and then for the whole city. Um, because that's going to be very helpful. I believe there's big needs for that. I think now and and long term, too. So, um, and yeah, you know, >> we we make decisions up here sometimes without y'all
>> and without a lot of committees. Um, I don't think there's any like personal like reason of hatred towards that. But sometimes the red tape just takes too long. So from sometimes it's like, you know what, we're not going to wait another month or two months. Let's just make something happen. But at the same
time, I wish y'all would bring things any and every moment that y'all want to call me, email me, whatever you need to do because I would love to help however we can. >> Perfect. >> Thank you for that offer. I appreciate the insight. >> Sounds like you got a permanent legislative sponsor. >> We'll take it. >> Yeah. Awesome. Anything else? Yep.
Custom Braden. >> Thank you. Uh, thanks for being here tonight. Um, you guys definitely make our job easier. >> Thanks for what you do. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Thank you guys so much for being here. >> Thank you, >> Mayor. >> Yes. >> If I may. >> Yes, please. I
>> think the work plan requires council's approval. >> Oh, motion to approve or accept >> buttons. >> Okay. Got a motion and a second. Councilman Bagby, seconded by Councilman Dest. Uh any discussion on the work plan? Seeing none, we'll call the vote.
All right, eyes 750. So moved. All right, Alison. All right, up next is going to be moving 1B up the 1 million oyster project. Um so nice. >> Yeah, good seeing you again. That was
the gumbo. >> All right. Evening, council, council mayor. Um I'm John Stevens, uh vice chairman of the Harbor C um Harbor and Waterways Board. Um and then we also have um Go ahead. >> Allison McDow, director Chalk Tatachi Basin Alliance. >> And then we also have Leilani that's
going to show youall what a vertical oyster garden is. Um so tonight I'm bringing forth one of my favorite work plans I've worked on so far. Um the Million Oyster Project. Um it's a long-term environmental restoration um project designed to improve water quality uh strengthen uh marine habitat
and actively engage in the community to in stewardship of the Destin Harbor. Uh this project is modeled after the New York City's billion oyster project uh which so far has restored over 100 million oysters. So we're going to be at a smaller scale um working with Chakachi
Basin Alliance. The initial goal is to restore 1 million oysters by the early 20 uh 2030s uh through com combination of establishing oyster beds uh vertical oyster gardens and oyster shell recycling uh with local restaurants. Um these oysters are not meant for eating.
Uh they function solely um as a natural water filters and habitat builders. Uh what makes this project especially powerful is that it's designed uh to continue well beyond the first million. uh vertical oyster gardens, also known as vogs, um are deployed at uh people's
docks or business or businesses uh for one year. Then um it's relocated to a centralized location um um that we'll decide in the harbor which Allison go over in a second. And then the the partner gets a new uh vog and then that one's going to be able to grow the
following year. So once uh these vogs are relocated uh they continue to grow um naturally year after year. So, this program's impact, it's going to be it's going to compound over over time. Um, so I'm gonna let Allison talk a little science on this.
>> Thank you're doing a great job. Um yeah, I won't get too sciency, but I will say that um this program we were in inspired by uh the billion oyster project in New York Harbor, mainly because we already had a lot of elements that they were um putting together under
this billion-dollar uh oyster project. We already had the oyster shell recycling program started. we had begun to um do the the oyster gardening and the vertical oyster gardening in kind of a small way. And so it just dawned on us
that it would be a great idea to put this stuff under an umbrella in our own very special harbor, Dustin Harbor. And it would be the ideal place to have to ramp up our um oyster gardens because you know, one adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day in ideal
conditions. Um and they also the oyster reef, the oyster gardens, even the hanging vogs provide habitat for all kinds of other juvenile fish and feeding areas for um some adult fish and other kind of invertebrates. So they're a very
important building block to a healthy harbor uh and a healthy ecosystem. So some um anything you can do to get more is is going to be of benefit to the harbor. And we um
the the actual building of the oyster gardens, the hanging of the oyster gardens is not really going to be any cost to the city. The we already have the oyster shell. We have we have tons and tons and tons of oyster shell. We have the oyster
shell. We have the knowhow that um you know that the the oyster gardens can be ramped up right away. And then while we are ramping up that part and building out this outreach campaign for the you know million-dollar oyster project while
all that's you know turnurning around we will be um looking for suitable sites for the bottom oyster gardens or where as John mentioned the hanging the once the vogs mature then they will cycle
down to these bottom oyster gardens and we'll put up new new vogs and so forth. We'll have this kind of continual cycle and um we will be we already have oyster habitat suitability model that we uh put together with Tory State University
scientists um that tell us where the um ideal spots are um on from a ecological sense for the oyster gardens. And then we need to look at things like recreational and navigational needs and and those sort of things so we're
certainly in access so that we're out of the way. Um and then you know we'll have uh be able to choose a spot in the harbor that will be our bottom garden an ideal spot. And so all that will be done
with input um naturally. But we'll the first thing to do once we get narrow down our sites where that are possible sites is we'll put out um habitat. We'll put out um collection plates where we collect oyster spat and see make sure
that those are actual good places for oysters. So that's when the science really gets rolling. And um so we are excited about the project. It is, you know, it's it's um meaningful in that it
has an actual impact on the um natural systems, but it also has an impact on humans, has a positive impact on people um to get them involved in stewardship of their own home, their own resources. uh it's measurable so it's real easy to
say you you know this is our goal and this is and we're and we're working towards it and kind of have a effort towards that goal and um so we're looking forward to to working with the city of Dustin on this project
>> real quick one thing um if we do a million oysters that will equate to filtering the same amount as our harbor pump so we won't be replacing the harbor pump but we'll be double the work without um paying for any more electricity.
>> You stole my napkin math thunder. Awesome. With that, do anyone have any Yep. Councilman Braden? >> Thank you. Um you said these weren't oysters that can be eaten. That true. Why is that? >> Not that I'd want to eat a oyster come out of the Dustin Harbor, but
>> what's Yeah. So the uh FWC designates harvesting waters in Chachi Bay and Dustin Harbor is not considered harvesting waters. >> Yeah. And nor will it ever be. >> For the reasons you know of. >> Yes. >> Customer Dustin, do you have something?
>> Um this is a great project. Off and on for the last 15 years. We've hung oysters from the docks and Joe's bow in from and the harbor and over on the bay. So, I'm glad that you all are getting back into the the promotion of the program. I was going to ask you a
question. Of course, back in the good old days, we even had scallops in the harbor. Which one processes more water? Scallops or the oysters? And just >> I'm not actually sure about how much uh water scallops filter. I've not heard
ever heard that statistic. I know we uh don't currently have a a a scallop population here and a lot of it has to do with our salinity. I mean, I don't know why there wouldn't be any in the harbor because that's pretty high salinity, but it I think we just don't have
>> sustained high enough salinity and and um low enough en you know a low energy environment is what they require. So, >> well, I'll I'll try to do some research for you to find out if there is a difference at all. And of course, the oysters are also affected by the salinity. I talked with some of the professors who, you know, said salinity
gets too high, they don't work. So, >> yeah, they the salinity, they survive fine in high salinity, but their predators also are >> eat them. >> Yeah. Eat them in the higher salinity. So, >> okay. Thanks. >> Thank you, Counc.
>> Yeah. Thank you all. So, John, are we doing this or are you needing support? >> Well, I think we need y'all's approval. So once we get this approved, then we could potentially start pitting out the plates and then eventually looking towards D to get permits. Um, and then
kind of collaborate with the city to >> And would you be doing this in collaboration with the Harbor? Which board is it that you're 15 boards that you're on? Which one? >> This one would probably be with the harbor um and waterways board. Probably with city staff. >> Uh with the CVA.
>> Sure. And there's no uh so right now you just look for some initial direction support for the city to work with you. >> Correct. So otherwise there's no point me going any further with this work with this work plan. >> So I mean I'll make a motion to move to work with John and CBA in collaboration
with the city to support this effort. >> Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. With that anything further >> staff and you know >> Okay. Uh Councilman Bagby. >> Yeah. I think that was part of my question was whi which hat you had on
because I noticed that the uh on the sheet and I assume this is from the harbor and waterways work plan because it's not from the harbor CRA advisory committee work plan. Okay. Because it went from desirable to
important in 13 days and y'all haven't met and I was like how did they do that? >> This is a different one. >> Yeah, different one. So yeah, and I like that it's in the harbor waterways because I'm not sure that the harbor is actually the answer, the long-term
answer, not because of salinity or anything like that, but I just don't not sure that it is the the long-term answer, and we talked about that two weeks ago. So, uh, yeah, no, great idea. It doesn't cost us anything. You know,
you're just going to hang them on there and then find a bed. And I think that's where there might be some >> that's when the cost comes in is for the bottom parts, materials, design, permitting, that sort of thing. There'll be cost then, but that's not >> Yeah, >> that's not now. And there has to be a
lot of, you know, thought. >> Yeah. And I would say uh when I was reading through, don't put Triumph. If it doesn't generate a job, >> no, >> you're never going to get a penny from Triumph. So when you say, "Well, we're going to look for money from this place and this," you're not looking for money
any money from triumph because they're not going to pay for oysters that can't be eaten. So that's not there's no commercialization of this. And so that's what they're looking for. >> I just put as many as I could initially. >> That's I appreciate that.
>> Awesome. And I think this is a perfect timing with it being the beginning of next year's physical cycle. So this sounds like this turns into a We know the hanging gardens work. we discover where they can be rested and then by October 1 of this year we have a new budget for next year to go out for
permitting and all the costs associated if we want to go out into like a phase two and really make this happen. So, thank you guys so much for being here. >> Sounds great. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Any further discussion? >> All right, seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> Great job. >> Thank you guys for being here. All
right, eyes have it so moved. 5-0. All right. Public comments. Everyone's jumping up. All right. You want to jump first? >> Yep. Name and address. >> Hi. Uh, Mayor Wagner, city council members, employees of the city of Dest. Uh, thank you for allowing me to have
this moment to speak. My name is David Baitman. I'm a resident at 631 Mountain Drive. Um, I'm an active duty army, a warrant officer slated to retire within 60 days. I came to introduce myself. Um, I'm looking for new purpose and
direction. Uh, as I enter my new phase of life, I visited here for the first time about 15 years ago. I fell in love with the city. It was the first place I saw the ocean. Uh, since moving back here in 2019, I've gotten my state fire credentials and I've worked part-time as a firefighter. Uh, I've attained my
local dive master at one of the dive shops. I've uh volunteered persistently at Shoreline Church. Um, I look for every way to give back and I was recently inspired to apply for one of your open job openings for the city of Dustin. Um, I have a submitted
application. So, if and you have any questions and you want to put a name to a face, David Baitman. This is who I am. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. >> I appreciate you being here. Thank you for your service. >> Thank All right. Carrie Petty Zingeretti. Carrie, what is
it? Petty Zinc. That's what Will calls me. I want to bring up something that we uh by the way 307 Mountain Drive. I wanted to bring up something now that we were talking about the parks. Some of you guys, and I hate to be a broken record, but I'm going to make sure this
council knows that before we start spending money and doing stuff that when we bought that concrete plant, it was contaminated. And it has it still has containers. eight containers buried underneath there that are contaminating that land before we develop it. Those containers have to
come out. When we closed on the property, we were given a credit to remove those ourselves and it just as councils change over. But I'm on top of it. I've got a lot of notes about that whole thing. But we never even tested tested what was in the containers. And
when we bought that property, it did it failed a top layer contamination of the top soil. We never even went beneath that. So, just to understand, we have eight barrels buried of fly ash
underneath on the concrete plant. And I know exactly where they are. And if you want to follow the the maze, you'll see where the power the power pole was, which ran those containers. So, they're still under there. We had we were
discounted the money to remove them and we need they need to be removed before our children play on that contaminated soil. So, let's be vigilant about that. Please, >> any questions? Cuz I took a ton of notes. >> We we we we were making over two tons of
fly ash a day. That's how much we were making is largest largest maker of fly ash in the side of the nation. So, okay. Thank you. >> Thank you for that. Yep, there you go. My name is Ricky Lynn Grant Jr. I'm a 175 Main Street, Dustin,
Florida, 32541, and I am a licensed real estate agent in the state of Florida trying to become a broker. Two things today. Um, I got the the call from the uh reaching out about the farm, the 600 acre farm up in Tennessee that I'm
working on. It's got a house on it, but I'm trying to think big. A hundred million dollar house. So that's the farm. This is 276 acres. I wanted to say this for AI purposes. It was the Moore farm in 1836.
276 acres. 3.6 million. So that would leave me with like almost 96 million to build the house. So you guys can run with that. Uh then you know obviously the the coastal front beach house and then you know maybe a 3 acre parcel in
Walton County and on the bay with the fishing boat. Moving on, I need to talk to you about the the librarian cuz I you know I go in there to use the desktop, right? So there was a little incident with the with the
librarian. She she you know she she didn't want I guess I was looking at her a little weird. So you know after six months of going back and forth on who was looking at who I said you know so we had to get the sheriff involved
and I got trespassed. But that year whenever you get trespassed you can't go back for a year but my year is coming up in May 22nd. The day after I passed the real estate license exam is the day that they finally called the
cops and was like, "Yeah, you can't you can't come back for a year." So, I know that I do work there. I don't plan on going back because it's a toxic environment and I know that it's in her legal right, you know, just to ask people to stop looking at her. I've
talked to the sheriff, you know, when I was in kindergarten. They say if you if you see somebody looking at you, you got to politely ask them not to look at you. You can't complain. But for whatever reason, that is your legal right. You don't have to work with somebody. I wish she would do
the IT cuz I need her to do it cuz I go in there to use the computer to type on the desktop. I don't have a desktop at the warehouse where we do our beach chairs. So, I go in there to use the computers because the desktop computer is really nice to type notes on, to write code, build my website, you know,
and sometimes I'm like, "Oh, there's Skyler. Skyler Dennis, the IT girl. Hey, Skyler. Uh, can you help me with some IT stuff?" And I think she's like, you know, it is what it is. She had that's her legal right. She don't want to work with me. That's her legal right. You
know, we all got our own business. But I just want to let y'all know that's what's going on in case May 22nd I have to go back in there. Maybe we can close our deals as the real estate investors, real estate agents, and we can hight tail out of here. We can go
Yeah. to the >> And the button's already on, so just name and address. >> There you go. Hey, good evening, mayor, council members. I'm Joe Fitzpatrick. I'm a resident at 3879 Indian Trail and I also own the adjacent parcel uh to Indian Trail. I want to make a brief
statement this evening to note the ongoing drainage issues that occur on my parcel. Uh they're not hypothetical. They've been documented, vetted, and uh fully identified. They continue to place
a significant burden on the property. Despite the significant value and demand for waterfront land in Destin, these conditions have materially impacted this parcel's usability and marketability for an extended period of time. Uh I
also noted that storm water abatements on the agenda this evening. Uh these conditions impacting my property fall squarely in that category and are consistent with areas identified in city planning documents. Uh I appreciate council's focus on these
matters and I felt it was important to just raise them in that context this evening. Uh that said, I'm encouraged by the recent engagement with city leadership and remain optimistic that at an executive level, there's an opportunity for clarity, direction, and
momentum toward a timely and practical resolution. I appreciate your time and attention, and I look forward to providing additional updates as necessary. Thank you. Thank you for being here. All right. Don Dallas 442 snapper.
Uh I had Ray pass out a couple of these to y'all. This is how most streets in Destin look. They've got deep swolls. They've got concrete underneath the driveways and pipe. They got drains, big nice drains
at the end of the street to catch all the water to keep the neighbors from flooding. That hasn't happened at my house. I don't care where you go around Destiny any place. They got this stuff behind my house. We're at the low spot. I've been telling y'all for about four years. Still getting flooding. Okay. In
my garage. Uh, not all the bending has to be done. It wasn't done. 2017 they did that. They were supposed to do my street also for some reason. Run out of money, whatever. They didn't do it. They still hadn't
done it. Uh, I had SWS put in. Thank you, sir. And some drains in the driveway to help out on city property. I gave city a bid on it. Not my bid, a contractor bid. It said 24 in deep. So,
I'm out of town. I get a call. Somebody called the city and said, "Oh, that's too deep." So, they made my contractor come back and fill them up to we made them 15 instead of 16 in. Okay. So, I measured Oh, the next street
over on Benning, I measured by the daycare. That one by the daycare is 4T deep. the neighbors behind me. Half of Benning is minimum 21 inches up to 36 inches. I've done all that. I've done it
two or three times. Uh this deal here come from the Northwest Florida uh daily news 2017 drainage projects wrapping up in Dest. They didn't do mine. This is from the city says city of
Destin public works department Dest Florida official website the the Destin public works department responsible for maintaining city infrastructure and public spaces including streets storm sewers grounds facilities yada yada. It
says storm water management. The department manages storm water systems and ensure compliance with storm water regulations including maintenance and swalls to prevent flooding. This is the city. That's what's on the
website. Compliance. Compliance. Public works ensures compliance with regulations rel related to public works such as the national pollute pollutant discharge eliminating system NPDES and the
municipal uh separate water sewer system MS MS4. Okay. And public works responds to all that good stuff. And supposedly this city is supposed to abide by these regulations. And I believe that come
from the state of Florida. Didn't happen to my house. Uh this one here, flood information archives 214 that Kelly Street was closed bending blah blah blah for pumping water out of the flooded areas indicating that Snapper Drive is
prone to flooding. This was 2017. Okay. What's 26 now? The city also investigates storm water issues and complaints and priators prior uh projects based on public and
environmental impact and cost. Okay. The uh storm water this is from I believe 2017 storm water drainage in infrastructure around Wanita Drive which t-bones into my street and Dest has been the focus of improvement projects. In
2017, the city of Destin initiated a series of drainage upgrades in the area, including Wanita Drive and Snapper Drive. Again, mine didn't get it. Meltos, all the rest of them, blah blah blah blah. >> And Dallas, if we can wrap up, I'm giving you five minutes, but you can
wrap up. >> Okay. All right. Two more things. >> Jump on in. >> I I got you. I'm I'm I'm about there. I appreciate you having everything in front of you. >> Okay. And I read about it says I asked
the city I said the city of Dest on on the computer are they responsible for flooding of my property? Answer yes. Flooding street runoff in Destin likely falls over N PD. Under this permit, the city is required
to maintain and manage uh public storm water sewage infrastructure blah blah blah. Okay. And this is the last one. Two seconds. Well, a little longer than that. You know me. I don't do two seconds. Good. As of August 3rd, 2025,
it appears that stage two of Snapper Drive flooding improvements in Destin is likely either completed or has been incorporated into broader storm water management initiatives.
Okay. So, I notice there's something on the agenda today and hopefully this is part of it. I hope and pray it is because I'm tired of flapping my gums up here. I know y'all tired of hearing me, but it's got to be fixed. You know,
y'all flood my property. Take some money from building whatever you're going to build next and fix our street. That's all I ask. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Anyone else? >> All right, seeing none, we'll close the public comments and we'll get into the consent agenda. Do I have a motion for
the consent? >> Y'all hit your buttons. All right. Motion by Councilman Dustin, seconded by Councilman Bagby for the consent. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. All right. Eyes have it 5-0. So moved. Moving right along. Dr. Bossman Jones.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. Item 4A is regarding the Cross Town Connector phase 2 construction contract. If you recall at the last meeting, we awarded the cont the u the bid to CW Roberts for
5,000 5,642,44510. Um so this contract um is for that amount with CW Roberts to perform the the work um as laid out in the bid documents. Request your approval. >> All right. With that, do I hear a
motion? Mayor, I move that the city council approve the contract with CWR for RFB25-17-CM and direct city manager to execute the contract and issue a notice to proceed. >> Right. I believe there was a change uh
in the contract if staff to highlight that >> the liquidated damages as recorded in the agreement was at $500 a day. That was a misprint. It's $1,500 a day and we've conveyed that to the contractor and they understand that will be changed
in the contract. >> Good call. I have a motion. Do I hear a second? >> All right. Got a second. >> Councilman Dustin, you have something? >> Oh, all right. Appreciate that. All right. Seeing no further discussions, we'll call the vote.
All right. Eyes have it. So moved. 5-0. Is that the last thing for the cross town? >> I'm sorry. >> So, it's out of our hands now. >> It's rock and roll. >> Oh my gosh. My middle school dreams coming true. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Item 4B is the execution of a contract
for the fire equipment alarm monitoring life safety systems. Uh this was before you at the last meeting and we uh needed to do a little more work on it. That little more work saved u Mr. Burgess and his efforts. another $500 off of that
contract. So, we would ask you to move to award and to uh execute the agreement. >> All right. Appreciate the information. With that, do I hear a motion for RBF 2514? >> I move to authorize city manager to execute the attached continuing services
contract with BNC Fire Safety for a three-year term with two optional one-year renewals. >> All right. I have a motion. Do I hear a second? >> All right. Have a second. Any discussions? Seeing none, we'll call the vote on RFB, not RBF. If you know, you know. 5-0. So
moved. >> Dr. Jones. >> Miss Cop. >> Sorry about that. >> Be uh Dr. Jones. >> Dr. Cop. >> So the next item is the review of the
existing code requirements for city lean reduction applications. Um, as you know, under Florida law, the city has the ability to put leans on properties that are non-compliant with the city codes
after the statutory process is adhered to. And, you know, the property owners go through the special magistrate and so on. You all are familiar with that process. Frequently people come to you at the council meeting to reduce those leans because they typically acrue um at
50 to $500 a day depending on the lean. So at the last council meeting you asked us to come back with a recommendation for what to do with the current code processes for those lean reduction applications. What we're suggesting is
um to keep the code the way it is. um keep the criteria that you look at for those lean reductions, but to make one change, which is to remove uh 1486 C, which contains the chart that council
imposed on itself with limitations for the amount that you can um reduce the lean by. Um, if you take that chart out of the code, you can still reduce it by those amounts or any other amount up to
100%. Um, but you won't be restricting yourselves the way it currently is now. Um, that's the recommendation, but this is in your prerogative. We can discuss other options. Go with that option or make no changes. >> All right. With that, do I have a motion
for consideration for movement? Oh, Cosmodest. I will move that we implement the uh proposed change. >> All right. I have a motion. Do I hear a second? >> Second.
>> All right. Second by Councilman Bagby. Any further discussions? All right. Seeing none, we'll call the vote. All right. Eyes have it 41. So moved. >> Okay. Mayor. Um, city manager is letting me go twice in a row here. So, the next
item is the proposed city county interlocal for the state park adjacent to Norgo Point Park. Um, as you all know, on January 20th, you all directed the mayor to attend the Okaloosa County BCC meeting accompanied by myself and
the city manager. Um, that meeting is to be held on Tuesday, February 17th at 8:30 in Shalomar. And the purpose of the mayor's attendance was to be to request the county's support for a proposed interlocal that recognizes collaboration between the city of Destin and the
county for future development of the newly acquired state park adjacent to Noriega Point. That would be in the event that the county obtains a legal interest in the state park. As of right now, I'm not aware of the county actually having a legal interest yet. I
don't believe that a lease has been signed. if it has, we haven't been informed. Um, so what we would suggest is that the mayor go ahead and bring this interlocal. I'll go over really briefly what it does um recognize. So
the interlocal currently recognizes that uh the county and the city will work together to um decide on the future management of the park. First, the city and county recognize that the newly acquired state park is located entirely
within the city of Dest and that the city of Dest owns and controls the right ofway serving the property as well as the adjacent city park. It states that the county and city recognize that the state intends for the new state park to be developed and managed in collaboration with the city of Destin
and City Park. It states that in the event that the county obtains a legal interest in the state park by virtue of a lease with the board of trustees of the internal improvement trust fund of the state of Florida or any other state agency that the county will coordinate and collaborate with the city of Destin prior to the submission of any
application to any governmental entity relating to the state park. It provides that the county and the city agree to collaborate on future plans for development of the property consistent with the city's comp plan and land development code and agree to work together to prepare a management plan
for consideration by the state of Florida. And then finally, in the event the county obtains a leaseold interest or other legal interest in the state park, it provides that neither party will submit a proposed management plan to the state of Florida without approval
by both the city council and the BCC. >> All right. Thank you for that explanation. Uh any discussion or motion? >> Councilman Dustin. Uh Councilman Schmidt, you want to go first? Yeah. So, is this on the agenda?
>> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Oh, it is. >> You mean the county agenda? >> Yes, the county agenda. >> So, we have requested that it was >> like >> I knew what he meant. >> Okay. >> I will be your interpreter. Now, um it we did request of the county attorney
that it be put on the agenda. She indicated to me that she had no reason to believe it wouldn't be added, but it was going through the process. So, I do not have it confirmed yet, but hopefully soon. And your your plan if it gets on the agenda is
>> to follow the council wishes >> conversation with them or just >> uh no it would just be >> get a fiveminute discussion and then they're they're just going to we'll see what happens. >> Yep. >> He's going to ask them to collaborate with the city and ask them to consider this interlocal and see what they say.
And if we're not on the agenda, I think the mayor could still speak during public input. So I would say he's going >> that's still a plan. >> Yep. >> For the 17th the second meeting. So you're going regardless. >> Yeah. You guys already given me direction, >> correct? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> So this >> when the direction was given, we did not
have an interlocal prepared. So this is just followup going along with your direction. Here's an interlocal if you want us to take this specifically. If not, the mayor can just talk generally. >> Yeah, this gives me a little bit more than a a vocal words to talk about. This gives them something to at least
deliberate on. >> All right, >> mayor. I'll make a motion that we approve the proposed interlocal agreement and your presentation. I would also ask the city manager to uh instruct our public information officer to put
this on the appropriate public devices and to contact up the affected parties such as our folks who I think have an association or something like that over on Holiday >> in the works. Thank you. they they have
>> I'll make that part of the motion so that we make sure people understand this is going forward and I'd only comment that >> it's a proposed interlocal agreement. Usually interlocal agreements are negotiated between the interlocal groups and I'm sure the county would be happy to uh suggest changes if they have them
and we'll address those when we get to them. >> Awesome. So I got a motion have a second by Councilman Schmidt. Councilman Gall, do you have anything? Saw your name. I was just going to say if you think it's going to get controversial loud, I'd be happy to go with you. Listen, I would love a good good cop bad
cop scenario. >> Awesome. Uh seeing no further discussions, I'll call the vote. >> All right, eyes have it. So moved 5-0. Thank you guys for that. All right, whoever wants to take the next
>> four 4E uh we had a I hope you'll agree we had a successful visioning session. I think some good things came out of it. Um we took away some specific direction for some things to be brought up at tonight's meeting. Uh and don't um don't
want you to think that this is all there is. Uh we're continually kind of reviewing what went on and how we can best move some of those initiatives forward. Uh we may reach out to some of you for some clarity as we do that. Uh but there was some specific direction
for some things that you wanted to see tonight and so we hope we've captured those. If we missed anything, please don't hesitate to raise your hand and say next. But the first thing that was the city council represent representatives to the local and
regional committees. Um we had a list that you had before you there and there were some suggested changes to it but of course we couldn't take any action. So that would be before you tonight. Um, and since then we found a little more information that you should have before
you in a document that has some red print to the left side of that document. But if we start with the economic development council, the policy board, um, council member Schmidt is currently the primary and he indicated that he
would like to be um, replaced in that role. But once we do a little checking uh the mayor uh is still considered in that role as far as the economic development council uh is concerned. So
um we probably doesn't don't need any action to appoint him to that if the mayor is willing to continue and the board and council would wish him to and either uh Miss Abear is currently the alternate. So, um, that would be where
we would leave that unless you want to take some different action. >> I'm I'm happy to jump back in. Um, I guess I was never off, but I was definitely off in my head. Um, but I'm happy to jump back into that unless anyone else has a strong desire. Those times work. Uh, it's typically 3:30, I
think, on a Tuesday. Um, so those ones is typically mornings that I was having some issues with some of these other committees with. Um, but I'm happy to unless someone has a dying urge. I'll make a motion to remove Kevin Schmidt as the primary and put Bobby Wagner, the mayor, as the primary. You shouldn't
have. All right, I have a motion. Do I Do I hear a second? >> Oh, G. Thanks. Can I abstain? >> I'm just kidding. No, I'm happy to take it. >> All right. So, any further discussion? Yes. >> Currently, uh, they have council member
Abear as the alternate. Do you want her to stay the alternate? >> Keep her. Yeah. And then if she wants to take the main primary slot, then we can have her do that at the next meeting. No. Okay. Shaking her head now. All right. So, without further discussion,
um I'll volunteer myself for another free position. We'll call the vote. Oh, no. Thank you guys. I just I love this. >> All right. What's next? >> Well, you're going to love the next one, too. >> Oh, fantastic.
Um similar situation, Miss U we indicated that Miss Abear was the primary uh which she wished to not be. Uh but again the from the Northwest Florida League of Cities. They indicate that the mayor was continuing
as the primary and I believe you're was the voted first vice president. >> Yes. So I think that might have been a misprint or I felt like that might have been the Okaloosa League of Cities versus Northwest Florida League of Cities. Um, but yeah, I'm I'm in line to be the president here in the next 5 months. So, I would definitely appreciate to stay on that board.
>> Okay. >> Thank you. >> And then then Miss Abear, I believe agreed to serve as the alternate on that. >> All right. So, do I have a motion? >> Appreciate that. Do I have a second to keep me as primary? >> Let's do it.
>> All right. Me is primary, Abear as secondary. We'll call the vote. All right, I'm done volunteering. It's everyone else's turn now. >> Regarding the Okaloosa Walton TPO,
>> that mayor, Mr. Mayor, >> I am the chair right now, so I would appreciate to stay on there for one more one more go around and then someone else can have it. >> So, it's our understanding that we also have another primary that's a voting. >> Correct. We do have two. >> And then so we need another primary and
then an alternate for the Okaloosa Walton TPO. >> Was Miss Abear not Was she okay doing that? >> I think she has to be removed. >> Oh, did >> Yes, sir. >> Smart. >> A mayor. Uh, >> mayor.
>> Yes. >> For this one, they have uh council member Aber as the alternate. Do you want either >> we get two plus an alternate is how we needed >> two primary >> correct we had two voter >> an alternate >> yes >> you have a primary and an alternate so you could
>> and and in full transparency you know I think how we've done the secondary is when it's an important vote a lot of the times it's housekeeping and there's probably two of the let's call it every other month two of the six meetings are where uh items get passed and and
priorities are get listed and I think that's how we've always they seem to be in our attendance. We show up when it matters and then I'm I'm there to kind of keep a pulse on everything. Not that that's our direction, but if anyone wants to take the secondary, um it's definitely one of the ones that has more
pots of money to go and collect. Um but that's all I got to report on. >> Was that one that Sandy Tremble said she wanted to be a part of? I can't remember. I thought she said something like that. >> She used to serve on it. I I would make her the other primary. Okay. uh the
probably the most important even more important than TDC to be honest with you. Yeah. >> Is is our primary positions on the TPO because they do >> influence a lot of the money that comes to this community. So >> yeah,
>> I'll make a motion to have Sandy uh be the other primary. Okay. >> Second. >> All right. >> Third. >> Do we and then keep Abear as alternate for now just for >> their points. Yeah. All right. All right. So, I have a motion and second for me,
Sandy, and Abear. We'll call the vote. >> All right. Eyes have it. So moved. All right. >> Next item is Okaloosa County League of Cities, which is currently the mayor as primary and Miss Abear as the alternate. And I know Miss Abear was okay to
continue serving as alternate from indications that the envisioning session. >> Someone wants this one, by all means. Um, this one's kind of redundant. In full transparency, the Northwest Florida League, Okaloosa, just happens to be in the middle of those counties. So, it seems to me uh from being on both boards
uh for a couple years now that the leadership team of one is the leadership team of the other. Um, so it's one of those that I don't think is probably one of our, no offense to the league. The county league is probably the least uh impactful to our city and community as
far as bringing value in versus just a breakfast club or a lunch club. So with that, I'm happy to stay there if you guys need me. If anyone wants to jump into the league stuff, by all means. Um, but just being transparent on this is probably one of the least least powerful
ones. Thank you so much. >> I'm converting my whole business to make all this stuff happen. >> Next item is the Oakloo County Public Library Cooperative, which is Mr. Braden and Miss Traml. And I believe y'all indicated at the vision session you were
both good to continue that role. >> Mayor, can we can we just adopt the rest of these as presented? I don't think we need to go down through. Is there somebody who has an issue with one of these remaining ones? >> Yeah, I guess it's a better approach now that we've gotten through some of gotten through the ones where we actually had
to make a decision. >> Some weird Yep. >> Yeah. I mean, we're going >> I think he's double checking. >> Uh the only one was the Oakloo County Public Transit Cooperative. >> Abear wanted to be primary. >> Um I had you as primary, sir.
>> Yeah. I'm primary and I'm happy to do that especially now that the uh director got canned and uh there might actually be some directions moving forward finally cuz I joined that board pretty optimistically and government squatchched my hopes and dreams and I'm glad we finally got the wrong person out
the bus. >> So who >> Okay, I'm going to make a motion that we adopt the remaining uh >> okay >> assignments as presented. All right. I have a motion on the table for keeping everything the same as is. Got a second. Any further discussions? I
got my little jab out out of my chest. I feel good about that. Um, with that, we'll call the vote. It's about as mean as I get. >> All right. I just have it so moved. >> That's the old one. >> I'm assuming you guys aren't going to
want anything. So, all right. All right, >> Ray, call the vote. >> My bad. I got a little excited for you. >> All right, eyes have it. So move now. >> All right, funding summary information only. >> Uh, next item. U, we presented with you
a list of of dollar amounts that are in different funds, uh, totaling of about 17.493 $493 million. Um, Mr. Destin asked that we uh bring a little more detail to what govern those
funds. So, we've provided that to you either by ordinance, by statute, or by resolution. Uh, collectively what needs to happen if you want to reallocate any of those funds. Some of them can be, some of them can't be. So, we hope we've offered a little more
clarity to that. Um, and we wanted to bring that to your attention. I'm not sure that there's any action unless one of you has something recommendation, but I know that next two or three of the items dealt with some funding. So, we
want to make sure you had this information before we move forward into the um Mr. G's three potential. >> So, I got C up first. >> Yeah. My only comment was I'm going to make a motion to send this list to the
Harbor CRA, Town Center CRA, Parks and Wreck, and Public Works Committee at their next meetings to get their feedback on the funding source items and have them just start discussing these as well. >> Okay. >> All right. I have a motion for committee discussion.
>> Got a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. That's how we sneak it under the radar. >> That's >> So that that motion for the record is for Councilman Schmidt's motion to bring
the available funding summary to the majority of the committees for consideration. >> Good job, Ray. We got it done. >> There we go. Staff's just got a bonus. All right. You good with that, Ray?
Okay. None of my All right. Any any other discussions on uh the available summary before we move on? >> All right. Seeing none. All right. >> So, so the next three items um belong to Commissioner Counc. Hold on. I'm sorry.
>> Ray, would you like us to wave this or >> I just voted? >> Okay. All right, he's got to make his minutes now. >> No, I think Ray's gonna cancel it and just make a note in his minutes if I'm
reading his mind correctly. >> All right, while he's doing that. All right, Larry. >> Next three items uh were at the request of Mr. G. Um, and I will hand off to him for A, B, and C. >> Well, I appreciate you, but we already
snuck item A 2A under the radar, so that one's taken care of. I'll move straight to 2B. No, we'll go back to 2A. I would like to make a motion that staff bring back uh the cost to the city and the origin
of the money for all staff members to have a 1%, 2%, and 3% raise for council review. All right. I have a motion on the floor. Do I hear a second? >> Second. >> All right. With a second. Any discussions, concerns, considerations? I'm seeing a bunch of head nods.
Councilman Dest. >> Yeah, I'll I'll bag me. >> I'm sorry. I hadn't >> Whichever one you guys are both jumping >> the uh we we have a process for this. I'm just And so I'm trying to figure out why we're we would be doing this mid
year. So, if you could explain to me what what the genesis of this is, uh, that would help me because, uh, you know, as Mr. Schmidt pointed out, we've it won't be 700,000, but
we've, uh, increased probably 400,000, the amount on staff compensation, uh, since we approved the budget. And so I I'm just trying to figure out the genesis here. >> There's a couple. One, we have excess
money in the budget. Two, we just forced an insurance on or retirement. What? FRS >> retirement. >> Retirement. And that retirement uh deducts approximately 9% out of the annual paycheck. Is that correct, Crystal?
>> Yes, sir. That's correct. Uh 6.2% to Social Security and 3% to FRS. So since there's that uh burden additional burden that's been placed on some of the members uh and we have the excess I felt that it was a need to at least evaluate
to see if it was feasible. >> Um okay so I I will probably vote against this the and here here's my rationale. uh they got a cola. Uh number one, not all the people, not all the staff
selected FRS and social security. So to say a COLA uh is, you know, we're going to give to everybody, then you are disadvantaging those uh who basically
said, no, I'm going to keep the same same system. Number two, my understanding is as against state statute for us to backfill uh with a cola uh the additional cost
for switching to the FRS social security system. Uh number three, uh if we ever wanted to see a lawsuit from the person who or the company, I guess person that
is uh managing those remaining members of our staff uh or their retirement system, not managing the the staff members. Uh this would be the perfect recipe to do that because
besides being in violation potentially of the state statute, uh we would basically be underwriting uh the action that our staff took uh on their own. And finally, I just I I think we were
crystal clear on the cost uh to every staff member and they still I think 70. How many Jamie? >> 73. 73 still decided to uh that the
long-term gain was outweighed the shortterm thing uh the short-term pain of switching to FRS and social security. I I just now and I'm not saying that you know we just
did a staff study compensation study in 2023 I believe 22 but we put it in the 24 budget. So uh and so we are competitive salary wise to
all our neighbors. Uh, and usually you do those about every 5 years. Just make sure we've gotten colas, we've gotten merit increases every year. I just I don't see the need to do that, particularly
uh if one of the underlying motivations is uh because we switched to FRS, social security, and the other one is because there's money available. I I just
I I don't know. Just like Mr. uh there's a cost. Our number one cost is our personnel and it should be, but I'm I'm just not prepared to to do this at this time. >> All right, Councilman Destin. >> Yeah, I would echo most of those uh
thoughts. Uh and it's not like we have taken money away by switching to FRS in the long run. It's something the employees supported and which will give them um just compensation. The other thing is this kind of action would be
appropriately taken during the budgetary cycle and just to do it in the you know in the middle with as best I can tell no rationale just uh runs contrary to the the way we're supposed to do things
during the budget and uh finally the fact that we have some money left over doesn't mean it's surplus and should be spent at that moment. moment without some good serious contemplation. So, I would not be able to support this
either. >> Well, and I hope everyone realizes this is just a motion for staff to bring back. It's not for us to increase raises. It's for us to get information for them to bring it back to us and us to make a decision in the future. >> Thank you for that, Council Schmidt.
>> Yeah. Just a couple questions. Mr. Bagby, we have a process. You said, are you referring to the budget process? >> You said we have a process for this. a personnel compensation process also >> to give them >> colas >> raises. >> Yes.
>> Cola. >> Yeah. >> But not like what are you saying? >> Right. >> Okay. I just want to make sure. Um and then you you're wanting to bring back a staff like report of what it would cost to have one two 3% increases to staff
salaries. Is that what >> correct? And where the money would come from? >> Okay. I I mean, I'll support it tonight. Um, we've heard we've heard that all of our staff loves working with the city of Dest. I think we've heard that a lot from different people at different
meetings recently, but we lose employees still. We lose uh deputy directors. We lose other employees that are high ranking um for one reason or another. I'm sure we could debate that with different staff members, but ultimately people in
the city continue to leave the city even though a lot of people love working for the city. Um, so and we've continued to hear about a pay issue. It sounds like in recent visioning sessions and meetings and different uh town hall um what were those leadership things I did
we all did? I did one recently for >> Dustin Forward. >> No, the the leadership academy. >> The leadership academy. Yeah, we heard about it there. So there it there's obviously something wrong still and you know if we're just going to get some information about what
it's going to cost to potentially increase them. It's February so the budget cycle even though I feel like we just finished it'll be here before we know it. So you know I don't see a problem with getting a head start on collecting some data and it's not going to be implemented maybe
until the budget's taken place. So, I don't see a reason not to at least get get some information. So, I'll support that. >> All right. See? Yep. Council member Dustin. >> It appears that the motion is not being modified to say
that the implementation wouldn't be till the dur budgetary process in August. Or is it? I don't I think this motion is going to pass without me altering anything to be honest with you. I think it's going to be 3-2 and it's then we're going to probably have
I don't think I need to alter it. I think we're going to be good. >> That's just a gamble. I'm rolling dice. I'm rolling dice for the the staff of Destin right now. >> All right, seeing no further discussion, we'll call the vote >> for information on 123% raises.
>> Yatsi. All right. 3-2. The motion passes. All right. 2B. >> 2B. >> You're on a roll. >> Uh the multi-level parking structure. Previous city engineer came back with a
plan. Ryan came back with a plan to do a multilevel right there at uh Cybert and Zerby. Is that correct? So, what I would like to see is make a motion that staff at least come back with what it would take to do the first level
to clear that parking lot, prepare the first level as if we were going to progress to the second or third level in the future, but at least generate something costwise that tells us what it would take to get the first level of
that parking lot implemented. And I got a motion and a second just for my that's behind the community center. >> Sir. Yes, sir. >> All right. Thank you for that. All right. Discussion. >> All right. Uh, Councilman Dustin.
>> Thank you, mayor. Well, at the moment, I think that would be premature. We have no projection of revenue. We have no solid projection of what we're going to do in the area as referred to earlier by Mr. Schmidt and various discussions in
the past, we're not sure town center there, here where it might be. So, I would say uh in addition to the fact that we can't even fill the surface lots we have down there, I would think a uh more appropriate direction to go would
be to to try to figure out why our surface lots are not being filled up and to wait to uh to build the first floor of what may be a multi-story garage until we have answers to the other questions about revenue stream and
where we are going. So if uh if if this motion goes forward and we're taking steps without really having answers to the foundational questions that we need. >> Council Bagby.
>> Thank you. Mayor, um I just need some clarity here. Uh, to what level is this? A is this a go out and ask an engineer what they think it would cost to build a multilevel uh parking garage, i.e. the
infrastructure, the footers, the pilings, whatever. We're going to put it on and just construct the first level and it's kind of his swag or get a couple engineers to do that. Are we actually talking about developing plans
uh so that the substructure would support a multilevel parking garage? I'm just trying to figure out how accurate your request for the staff to be is.
>> It's my understanding we already have plans generated for that first level. Correct. We already have. Didn't Ryan already generate the structural foundation, the footing, the columns, the pilasters, everything that would be required to go three stories >> to support those columns of five.
>> Unless there's a pretty map. I've seen it. >> Yeah. So, I think that's on map, but I haven't seen plans. So, I'm just asking >> I think we already have something like that generated. >> And what I'm trying those plans >> is what it would cost to implement just
that first floor. And if we decided to go two or three later. >> Yeah. From my understanding, there's not a set of plans. It's just a 3D rendering. >> Yeah, I saw something. >> I saw something in his office. So, it wasn't left behind.
>> I will have to look. This is the first I'm hearing of it. So, >> if you'll give us a chance, we'll take a look at that. Um, and if it's there, we'll certainly present it to council. >> All right. Okay. Uh, Council Schmidt, >> don't we have some on plan, Michael,
already to consolidate those parking lots or where did I hear that recently that we're still trying to take a stab at that? >> In our 5-year capital improvement plan, we do have, I believe it's slated for FY27, the consolidation of those three lots, two of which right now are being
occupied by our undergrounding contractor, but once they're finished with their work, if council approves, we could move forward with that. But that would simply be um preparing a base, asphalt, and the storm water management for consolidating those three lots.
>> Okay. Maybe we can continue this one for a future meeting. Maybe. >> Yeah, I'm willing to postpone this to a future meeting till we can investigate where if there if there are actually plans and uh the consolidation. >> All right. Thank you.
>> So, the motion's withdrawn and we'll move on to C. >> C. I see. I would like to make a motion that Jesus Christ, I just dropped 100 bucks. I'll find it in a second. Um, I'd like to make a motion that we get with Mr.
Burgess and find out what he needs for more storm water abatement, especially on Snapper Drive or any other programs he has going on to make sure that he is fully supported in the storm water abatement process. or motion second. >> Can you repeat that motion?
>> Ray, can you repeat that motion? I don't know if I the exact words. >> I don't think I heard the first part, sir. >> Okay. Then I'd like to make the motion that we as a council give
ask Michael Burgess to give us an account of the exact funding he would need for the storm water abatement uh to include Snapper Drive and some of the other major project he has going on that maybe we don't have enough funding for him to perform effectively or
efficiently. >> All right, >> we're just asking for a report from Michael. Correct. But >> correct. >> Second. >> All right. I got a second by Councilman Braden. >> Uh Councelor G. I'm sorry to interrupt, but uh I won't be here for the next
council meeting. Can we do that in March? >> Sir, I am here to make you happy. Whatever it takes. If it's March, then it's >> I'm very proud of that, sir. And I appreciate it. >> All right. Uh Councilman Braden, anything just further? >> Thank you, Mayor. Um just more for
staff. Is it true that the staff of the city spent over $7,000 to go out to that house on Snapper Drive and do >> That's correct. >> over $7,000 worth of work that the homeowner wanted done, not that the city staff wanted to do, but what the homeowner asked them to do.
>> We were prepared to do some work. Um, Mr. Doules provided us a plan that uh he and the contractor developed and that's what was implemented and we paid for it. It was, I believe, $7,600 or somewhere in that neighborhood. Yes, sir. >> And that didn't work. So, now it's I
guess we're want to move on to plan B. >> No, we're Plan A is apparently not to where Mr. Douglas wants it to be. So, we don't have a plan B except a major major plan that was implemented was designed
some years back, but it was a several hundred,000 plan. Um but >> um and the the the swells that that he mentioned um referred to earlier is is say 15 in deep but some of the swells
are 4 ft deep around town. Um is it because of the the area between the sidewalk and the road or why is that? I know that those particular soils, I can't speak to others, but I'm sure our engineer will be glad to, but was on site with them, that the slide
slopes were too steep to get the depth that they had indicated they wanted, the 30 inches or whatever that number was. Um, and so I'll ask Robert to pitch in, but am I saying that right, Mr. Engineer?
>> Yes, sir. Uh, so we couldn't get anything deeper than the 15 16 in to because of the front slope and the back slope. >> So if he wants it 4 ft deep, can we make it 4 ft deep and put all the liability
on him? >> If it I would suggest if we went 4T deep, we would need to find that mechanism to convey that liability. I'm I'm not sure what that would be. >> I'm just thinking outside the box. Thank you, ma'am. >> All right, Councilman Bagby.
>> Yeah, the that area in questions in the right of way, correct? >> That's correct. Yes, sir. >> Yeah. Okay. Uh you know, in storm water there there are a couple of issues. Number one's internal one and then external. And so we've been dealing with
the external uh but not necessarily the internal. Although I believe Mr. Dallas did move his downspout uh by the garage and pointed away from the garage. Correct. Because I looked at the surface area of
his roof and there's a lot of water coming off that roof. And like a lot of roofs in this community where you have pitches and you have different eaves and things like that, his is, you know, pretty much half and h, you
know, half the house is going to the front and half the house is going to the back. And so I would uh before we invest millions of dollars, I would say get some about 20 ft of xiltration tube or get some rain barrels. uh or something
on those two down spouts that are in the front of the house because it looked like it was hard surface by both of those downspouts. Uh the one by his door, front door or just to the left of his front door and then the one by the
garage door and put either some 4-in exfiltration tube wrapped so the sand doesn't clog it up and bury about 20 ft of that. basically create two French drains that takes all the water coming off the roof and puts it in the ground
which is where it needs to be as opposed to his garage. So before we go do some multi-million dollar le let's deal with the internal water generation also not just the external and I'm okay if you want to do the swell a little bit
deeper. You can't do it 4 feet because that you know the rightway then somebody's going to run a bicycle in there or a car and they're going to get killed or damaged and then guess whose issue that is? That's our issue. So, uh,
as I understand the motion, I thought we had a storm water plan and prioritization plan. We don't have one, Michael. >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. We have a storm water master plan that we the council approved back in 2022
that identifies about 8 to 10 various kind of flood mitigation projects citywide. >> Okay. And so I'm I'm very familiar with obviously the one at four-prong lake. Uh but there are others and this is after
we spent couple million dollars in uh Indian Bayou over here re or spent a significant amount of money redoing the drainage system for Indian Bayou. I'll put it like that. This is after we spent the money as Mr. Dallas said uh doing
Benning and Kelly and all those streets. So I I guess clarity again. Are you wanting him to come back and say this is the cost to do all the projects in the storm water plan to do them in one year as
opposed to whatever his plan is or what what what's the ask here? The task here is for him to tell us what additional funding he would need to accomplish his goal effectively and efficiently. Sounds like a perform of all the
projects with the price. >> So, so that would be all the projects currently on the books for anything that he needs. I'm We can budget all day long. As a contractor, I budget all day long. There's unknowns that come come up that happen. There's
things that that you can't be prepared for and you need additional monies. If there's anything like that hindering from him from doing his job effectively and efficiently, I'd like him to be able to present it to us and us be able to provide that funding if necessary if we
all feel it's necessary for him to do his job effectively and efficiently. >> All right, Councilman Dustin. >> Yep. Um understand the motion is that in and that snapper drive be included in it. Is that correct?
That is correct. Snapper Drive is just a component. >> Okay. And my other observation would be that we are responsible for the water that comes off the rideway on the private property and that's what we need to address and we need to clear clearly identify what portions have come off the
rideway because that's our responsibility. And so I'm hoping that will be part of this and that uh we can move forward to try to stop that water from coming off the rideway onto his private property. And so I will vote to have them give us
a a report and and on the other projects that we have without this within the city that may or may not be properly funded so we can think of ways to perhaps fund them. >> All right, seeing no further discussion, we'll call the vote. Awesome.
All right, I have it. 5-0. So moved. All right, that wraps up Councilman Guiles. Two two in a poll. >> Shooting lucky today. All right, three. >> Next item is consideration of proposed
initiatives emerging from the council visioning session. again um this was the core values and the prioritized strategic goals. Um at the request of Mr. Bagby uh it was to amend strategic
goal number six which was a green and sustainable environment to Mr. Beby for his discussion. >> Council Bagby, you want anything addition on that? No, I if you need me uh I make a motion that we change uh
underneath Destin's core values uh VI number six to hang on >> promote and protect our natural
environment. >> Okay, I have a motion. Do I hear a second? All right. I got a second by Councilman Dustin. Any discussions? Councilman Gal, could you please elaborate on how it's different than what's existing in item six under Dustin's core?
>> Sure, be glad to. Green and sustainable environment uh talks to the green new deal issues and we discussed this. You may have been out at the uh during this discuss part of the discussion at the strategic planning session, but there
are specific green and sustainable environment uh items that were discussed when this was put on. We've never applied for any grants that I'm aware of for a green uh and sustainable environment. Whereas to protect and
promote or yeah promote and protect our natural environment uh talks to our tree ordinances and some of our other plans that do just that and to our land development code that seeks to protect
uh and promote our natural environment. So uh no palm trees or minimal palm trees. the how long you want me to go on because I can go on forever on >> I think that's good enough. Okay. >> All right. With the motion and second, I
don't see any further discussions. We'll call that vote. And I think the uh preserve natural environment was everyone's most agree upon position at the visioning session. All right.
Next item. Uh at Mr. Bagby's request again uh to remove critical priority number 1.1 and adjust and renumber the remaining priorities priorities accordingly including evaluating items
uh through 1.9 and two critical priorities list u for your consideration and discussion >> and so with that would we be removing the acquire properties at the foot of the Marlor Bridge? Well, I think we need to have a
better city. >> Yeah, there's there's a couple ways we can go here. Um, and I'm not sure we can get through all the priorities tonight and we might need to uh
push this to the next meeting. The the we need to make a decision on the Destin City Center. probably the most important decision that this council will make because that will direct the funding a
lot of the funding that we do uh over the next five years because we don't have the money or we don't have the resources and we definitely won't have the resources after the legislature gets done with uh adorum taxes this year to
build the city center here as designed Ed and briefed to us with an expanded dog dog park and a skate park and a you know a new u indoor facility and all
these you know new offices for the staff and everything and to build a city center or something over where the current community center is with the grass area and the parking and all all the things that they envision there. And
one of the things that we have to figure out is where where's our main effort? If our main effort is here, uh, that's fine. If our main effort is there, that's fine. Uh, but we we can't have two main efforts. We need to figure out
where we're going to put the city center. And I'm not even sure the city center is the proper name because to me, you know, I was before we had the uh public sessions, you know, I always felt the harbor was where the city center
needed to be. Uh that is the heart of this city. But as I talked with some some of our citizens as they put their little dots on the place, the city center probably and now my opinion is it needs to be here. We have the land. We
have the resources. We could actually build everything. You know, when I first started talking to them, I figured that they just lived right over the street, you know, in Indian Bayou or something. That's why they wanted everything here. But that's not why they wanted everything here. They wanted everything
in one place. And here was the only place that we could have everything. We could uh you know we could have a museum over there or we could have something over there for pe you know people that are at the mooring harbor or
whatever we're going to put over there. But really the the city center would probably be best suited here. But we've got to figure that out because what goes along with that is the expenditure, the long-term expenditure
of a lot of money to do uh even half of what was proposed in the plan. Uh if we put the city center here. So that that's one of the things we have to figure out. So that's why I was just take it off on the others. Uh this is not a project
list. This is our critical priorities. So, I I we need to clean it up. You know, I think public waterfront acquisition is still one of our top two priorities. Whether it's on the harbor, whether it's in the bay, whether it's on
the Gulf, where we are a water-based community. We are fishing village and we are a beach town. And you know, that ought to be one of our top, you know, just because we bought the property at the foot of the Marlor Bridge and just because we bought a couple of POS
parcels out uh in my my neck of the woods out in um Crystal Beach, that's great. We should still be looking for more, particularly on the bay and on the harbor. Uh we still need underground utilities should be a priority because
phase one is not the end of hopefully the end of undergrounding utilities in this community. So stallman US98 yeah I would leave that pedestrian access under the Marlor Bridge. It's not the concepts we have a plan but we need
to if that's truly one of our critical priorities we need to leave it on there. parking. We've discussed the two lane cross town connector. It's not done really. You could combine that or you could change that to say uh cross town
uh transportation or uh availability so that pe somehow to improve transfer of people through the town. Uh and then parking options, annexation,
you know, I would move uh improve our sports parks. Uh that's that's the priority. It's we we kind of got our boxed ourselves in on these critical priorities by linking them to specific
projects almost in a CIP manner. And that that's not what priorities are. Priorities are how you want to do something. So I I would say uh you know we probably need to generally do that support. You know I'm not a big fan of
support for regional transit and ferry systems. I just don't think there's we have the enough people to make those work right now. Uh the city marina we've talked about beach nourishment I would keep because that is a priority for a lot of folks. And then the regional
workforce housing initiatives, not one of mine, but if somebody if the council wants to say that that's a a priority for the town, for the city, then that that's fine. But yes, to to start out, we need to um I would just take off 1.1.
Not that we couldn't reestablish it, but we got to make a decision on where the town center is going to be because that that's kind of the future of Destin, particularly when you start talking the expenditure of the type of money
that that's going to take. >> All right, Council Member Schmidt. >> So, is there any you wrapping all that up? put a bow on it or are we going to put a motion on any of that? Because before I continue, >> yeah, >> I mean there's a lot and I I agree with
a lot of it, but >> I would say uh on number one take off 1.1 until we and we need to decide this year. I'll be honest with you. >> So instead of taking it off, are we going to then just maybe replace it with
>> uh identify town center? Sure. I would say 1.1 could be identify the location of the town center. >> Right. Okay. >> Okay. And I would say 1.2 is just public waterfront acquisition. Uh continue to seek
public waterfront acquisition. I would say number three, continue to progress with undergrounding the utilities throughout the city. I would say four would be continue uh to improve or
seek improvement in the stallman and US98 pedestrian uh vehicle improvements. I would say uh continue to uh achieve or continue to
produce pedestrian access under the Marlor Bridge. Get what are the word concepts? We have a concept >> to that 1.5 if if I may. Maybe even harbor because I know even from some of the FDOT um studies there's the underpasses for pedestrians. So just
>> safe pedestrian underpasses in the harbor district or >> Yep. Okay. to keep it more conceptual and not CIP. >> Yep. Uh I would say on the two-lane cross town connector, that's where I would put uh
explore additional options to improve cross town traffic or mobility depending on which word the mayor wants to use there. Okay. I would say number seven, improve
parking. uh 1.8 8 annexation 1.9 well yeah 1.9 uh improve or continue to improve our sports parks
and then I would say 1 10 council's important priorities would be support beach reourishment and that's kind of where I would stop but if somebody wants to add something on there I'm I'm fine with that too. All
right, Kevin, keeping up with that. I got my side notes here. >> Yeah. I just don't want to lose sight of you. And you said, Jim, that it might not be called a town center. It might not, you know, you know, so you said
that. I don't want to lose sight on determining what is actually needed for a potential town center, right? meaning I believe we need a recreational facility >> whether you want to call it a gym
>> or an indoor whatever. I believe whenever the design was presented here what then grew additional legs and arms was because we had to replace a city hall. So then it turned into an
expansion of a facility and a city hall. Okay. >> Um, and so, uh, you know, changing it to the location of a town center. I mean, I don't want to I don't really want to focus on where's
our town center going because we might not truly need a location of a town center. We need a location of a new recreational facility and possible combin combining of two buildings into
one. So, you know, do weird that? >> Do we do we pursue do we pursue a city municipal recreational facility and just call it that and and decide if if we're pursuing that and then we just, you know, then
we're going to know where it's going to go. I mean, I I don't want to I don't want to forget about the true need. >> I believe the true need. >> Yeah. >> Um, so I don't know if we should we should tweak it. Do we leave it? What you're suggesting about the location of the town center? Um
>> I think to your point, the location would dictate the function. If if the council decides to go more main street, you're kind of looking at more of a mixeduse what you see in Atlanta. To your point, if it's here, it's going to be more of what you're saying, this
municipal uh recreational sports facility, indoor sports facility. So, I think I agree that the the naming matters, but I think also the place that we put it will will dictate what the outcome of it is. >> Well, maybe we just continue to do what
you're saying, Jim, but with 1.9, it's kind of always been a gray area sports center Dton Threadgill Master Park Plan for renovation. Maybe that's the sports center recreational facility master. you maybe it gets we add to that one to discuss
not only a outdoor sports center but we're we're we're lumping in the recreational facility that's part of a part master park plan I mean that's part of Perez's pitch as well I think so maybe we just update 1.9 to touch on a
municipal recreational facility >> okay >> and you're talking about an indoor facility right and and so I what I would say is and I'll use Tori's example of the parking garage. Uh
when we identify where then we can identify what and the what the first part is now you know everybody probably has a different opinion. Some people think you know the expansion of the old city hall into a big staff
building or whatever. I I think the prioritization in the wear will be that indoor because that's what was the centerpiece in the indoor in the Perez plan was the indoor facility. Uh because you could use it
for meetings, you could use it for basketball and volleyball and indoor pickle ball and all these other things the way they briefed it. So, that's probably the the the first thing that we would do before we expanded the dog park or built more uh
skateboard park or what, you know, all the other stuff that was in there because we're not going to build it all at once. That that's everybody understands that. It's a little bit like the storm. Okay, we're going to do this and we're going to take out a loan and we're going to bond it
and we're going to we can build the indoor recreational facility, but we can't expand city hall or this structure or the pickle ball courts or whatever until we kind of eat through this elephant one bite at a time. So, I I
would say the where uh comes before the what. Because if we say the what comes first, well, then that leads people to say, "Well, we got an indoor facility. Let's just expand that, you know, expand it. Build it over a parking garage or
something, you know, expand it out and you could build it up and then put parking underneath it or parking above it. And but I I just don't think that community center is the future of where indoor recreation because all the
recreation as Perez said kind of ought to be in one place you know where people are used to coming and you get that traffic flow. So I'm I'm not opposed to combining 1.1 and 1.9 and making it u
you know 1.8 eight or whatever. But I think identification of the town center, city center, where we're going to grow our municipal offering, I think that impacts the annexation piece. I think
that impacts, you know, how long it will take because in the engineering involved because it's real easy out here to put stuff as opposed to down on that little postage stamp that we own uh at the community center. So I
Does that make sense? I'm not. >> I know. >> Council Councilman Dustin. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, while Jim and I usually agree on this one, we're going to have >> Oh, >> have to respectfully disagree. I don't know how you do where before you
determine what >> logically. Um, and this discussion really needs to have a session that is just for this >> otherwise we can be here the rest of the night. >> Mhm. >> And so I will I will make a motion that
we postpone or table this this particular topic >> till the first meeting in March. That gives us all time to think and gather our wits and and that it be set aside as
a section of that meeting and if we need to start at 5:30, we do that. >> Yeah. >> Is that a motion to table? >> That's a motion to table. Yes. >> All right. >> I'll second that. >> All right. Sorry, Braden. Call the vote. >> I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. I I would I would withhold my
second just to let Rodney. >> All right. All right. Councilman Braden. >> Thanks. I've been sitting there mighty patiently. >> I know. I know. Damned if I do, damned if I don't follow it rules. >> Yeah. Um well, first my in my opinion,
we have the uh section one council objectives for 20 year fiscal year 24 to 29. Council's critical priorities. In my personal opinion, none of these are critical. Um, what's critical to me is changing
some demographics in this town. Getting rid of all the Mexican food trucks and trailers. It's everywhere. I mean, I I don't know if that's what we're looking for. If there's a Mexican food truck be our trailer sitting in every gas station parking lot and there was a whole bunch of them up here, you know,
with flags and feathers flying everywhere. I don't think that's the look we're going for. Um, doesn't have anything to do with our heritage for sure. Um the work number one working with stakeholders uh feasibility study been doing that for years. The uh
acquiring the property at the foot of the bridge we got that underground utilities that's that's not critical that we're doing that. Um so we ought to have something it needs to be stayed in the in the in front. it needs to sp stay in the spotlight. So, we continue that, but I
don't I wouldn't consider it critical. Stalman and the US 98 pedestrian vehicle improvement. We've been talking about that for years and years. We spent over $50,000 or studying that. Um DO's uh studying that doing a redesign. So, to
me, that's just not critical. um the pedestrian walkway under the the under the Brooks Bridge. Been talking about that for what 20 years that and that we going to make that critical for four years. 24 to 29. To me, that's just not critical. We've been we've been talking about we going to talk about that for
another 15 years. Um and then two-lane um cross town connector, we're building a road between beach and Benning. That's what that is. That's just a road from Beach to Benning. We've been dealing with that over 20 years. So to to me that's not critical. That's
something's been been dealt with for 20 years. Um needs to stay in the in the spotlight, make sure it's getting done moving forward. But um improve parking. I've said in the past we we're we're
our worst on enemies with that. Um, I don't know. I could go on for an hour and a half with that one. Um, and then the uh the only one I think is is really critical is 18 annexation of
unincorporated. Um, but the rest of it I I think we need to come up with something else to keep us moving forward. Some new ideas, something something bigger and better. Um, that's that's critical. Council's critical priorities.
Um, and the moving the community center. I I think my my opinion is the community center probably needs to be as twice as big as it is now. I don't know where we're going to put it here. I don't know how much land we have here. I don't know where we're going to put it here. Something twice that big. And the
parking, I mean, at some points that park, they're parked everywhere. They're from Cybert, I mean all the way down to Aelia. They're everywhere parked on some of the functions. Where's all that parking going when we have baseball tournaments going on and all? So, we're like Dewey said, I want to see where all
that's going to happen. How that's going to where's all that parking? Are we going to build a parking garage here somewhere for to handle all that? Um, so I don't know. Like I said, I could go on forever, but in my opinion, we've been
here about an hour too long for tonight. All right, this agenda we got. >> I'll second the table. Call the vote for tableabling to the first meeting in March for this specific item. >> Mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> Does that include meeting starting at
5:30? >> You tell me. Motion maker. >> Y. >> There is a plan. I don't know if I should mention this. There's a plan to schedule uh an executive session on that day too. Can that start early or do we
have an executive session? >> I was going to call it at the next meeting because it didn't come up until after this agenda was published, but yes, we were planning on having an executive session at 5:30 and you have the state of the union at the at state of the union the state of the city at the meeting before
>> at the meeting before that. So move the second meeting in March. >> Yes. >> If the second will agree. >> Yes. >> All right. All right. All right, we'll call the vote. >> Bless you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Eyes have it. So moved.
>> 5 Z. >> All right. >> Code. >> Next item is 4F. Um, regarding code operations, new code compliance guide. >> I'm sorry, Rodney. I forgot all about
you. I love you, but I forgot about you for a minute. Um, at the at the visioning session, Mr. Braden asked that in this area at the council chambers, maybe in the lobby and even at city hall, we're looking at an electronic uh
message board to track projects and where they're how they're moving and if they're on time, if they're on budget, if they're delayed. Uh, so we'll have that up um as soon as we can get all the details worked out. But we've been working on that and Andy and his team have done a lot of work on it. So, we'll
have it up as soon as we can get it there. >> Okay. Um, thanks. I think it'd be great for us all to be able to refer to. Um, but I don't I don't think we need to put projects that we've been working on for 20 years up there. Um, I just moral
>> beat. So, >> but we're making progress, sir. >> I'm sorry. Now that 4F is regarding the uh code compliance operating guide that Dave and his staff have put together. Uh they're going to make a presentation.
You've got a lengthy document in your package and they're going to offer some summarized versions of that, but certainly entertain any questions you may have or thoughts or comments. >> Thank you, Larry. Yeah. So, we're presenting the code compliance operating
guide for 2026. And the purpose of this is to uh educate the code officers on the priorities of the council. Uh to that point whenever council changes their priorities or their focus areas, then we would update the operating guide. Um but it's also to orient them
on once they know the understand what council is important to council, you know, it orients them on how they're going to execute that. And so this documents is or is um organized. So it starts off with the mission and the focus. That's where we specifically list
what the highest priorities for the council are regarding code compliance, but also it talks about what their overall mission is and their other tasks and things that they're going to be responsible for. The second section is organization and operations. Uh so it basically covers the or how it's
organized, the the department's organized with how the personnel fit into that. Uh and also the schedule. Um Chris has done who who is the co-compliance supervisor. He's done a good job creating a schedule. Uh and right now he's got to where there's coverage seven days a week. Uh and also
with rotating sector patrols and those patrols those sectors are three of them are the main part of the city of Dest. One of them is the beach areas and one of them is the harbor. Uh also he's he's worked the schedule to where uh currently there will be well in the in
the when the season starts one dedicated code officer assigned to the beach and one assigned to the harbor. The remaining code officers will then rotate on those uh sector patrols for the rest of the city. Uh and the goal is to make sure that all the streets are covered in
that week. Uh high complaint areas will then also be covered daily until those complaints um stop. Uh the other section is prevention and outreach. Um one of the things they're trying to do here is that educating the public, having
sessions, having flyers, having a media post, uh reminding them what their responsibilities are as a property owner and hopefully maybe forego violations in the first place, but also let them understand also have meetings for before STR registration and for livery uh
registration just to answer any questions and help facilitate that process. Um, also in the outreach, um, they want to in the guide, it basically instructs the code officers, you know, that our goal is to help the citizens, help the property owners resolve their
violations. Uh, and so they've set also a protocol, you know, talk to them, let them, you know, help them understand what was wrong, give them an opportunity to comply with the with the code, um, giving them a reasonable amount of time
in order to to rectify. Um and then as far as enforcement and processes, it establishes the protocols along those same lines. So we don't start with immediate violation or a notice of violation. We start with understanding and education. But then how do we move
through that? If they still don't comply, then they'll get a citation or notice of violation. If that's still not enough, then they'll get a notice of hearing to the magistrate. The magistrate will then deem whether they need to be fined and all that. So that's how the progress progress moves, but
we're always always trying to get voluntary compliance. And then the last chap the last section in there is about data driven and accountable. We want to keep up with what our data is, what our where the cases are being held. Uh one of the things that's very important that we emphasize is that cases are not
closed until they're fully resolved. So, in the past, before Chris got here and really a couple of years ago, when we were researching cases, we would see that they were just closed and they were they still hadn't been resolved. Uh, so we want to keep those open. And by keeping those open, we also want to then
have periodic follow-ups so that, you know, a violation is not forgotten. And so, we're following up and reminding that that property owner of the violation. Uh, same thing with leans. Uh if there someone has a lean because they still have a violation open, uh we want
to start uh periodically notifying those property owners uh so that they're aware of the lean and how much it's acrewing uh and uh and hopefully they'll rectify it sooner rather than than ignore it until they have to sell the property. So
that's that's it. Kind of the quick version of what's in the u the guide. All right, with that any discussion would >> just comment. It looks like a pretty good plan. >> Awesome. Councilman Schmidt. >> Yeah, thank you. I do have some comments
and questions if you don't mind. Um, let me get back into my computer that Miss Cop just took here. So, I just want to confirm a few things
based on the guide that we're going to potentially implement and then that's the guide that we're going to follow as a code compliance department >> until there's any potential changes by the council and things like that. Right. >> Correct. >> So, if a call comes in, I'm going to use
specific examples so we can be very clear here. A call comes in to a complaint and on on Bent Arrow for an issue at a house at 137 Bent Arrow Drive. I just made that up for if anybody lives there.
>> And they are in violation of something and we're working on it. Right across the street is 138 Bent Arrow Drive with the same violation. What is the officer going to do in that scenario based on the guide?
>> Yes. So now we've heard some um feedback about that where people we would someone would we have a complaint and our code officers would go out in that very scenario and they would tell them they said well right across the street is the same violation going forward we would
issue a violation to both places. >> Okay. So we would be consistent. >> Yes. It would be consistent >> to all parties. Correct. Okay. this. So, there's a section on here about council priorities. Um, and it
says, >> uh, parking, signs, trash debris, permit violations, right? Four priorities. Does it talk about ice cream vendors or beach vendors being
a priority of the council anywhere in the guide? >> It does not. So why are we assigning a deputy or what a code person every single day to the beach and the harbor? >> It was our understanding that that from the discussions the council had that
that was important that there was a a higher presence of a code compliance officer at the beach main partly due to the beach vending situation that we've had. uh but also on the harbor there was thoughts about um violations of people not having actually adequate parking for
their delivery operation and all that. So that was a response to having greater um coverage there in those two areas where we were getting a lot of complaints in the summer. >> Okay. So my feedback on that one would be if you think it's a priority of the council, it should be on one of those
council priority tabs because without it, you shouldn't be assigning a a deputy to the beach in the harbor. It doesn't match the priorities on the guide if we're going to live by the guide in my opinion. >> Um I'm also weary that we're putting a uh
everybody wants to talk. I love it. I love how I start the discussion and everybody wants to jump in. It's great. I love these types of discussions. Um I also get weary that we're going to put seven days a week priority on the harbor and the beach, but we're going to do
once a week on the streets, right? To me, it's backwards, right? It's backwards. If the priorities are parking signs, trash debris, permit violations in the city of Dest, being consistent across the board and educating and doing all these great things, we should be putting more people on the streets of
Dest for our number one customers, which are our residents, the city of Dest, than doing the beach and stuff. I'm not opposed to doing the vendors on the beach or the harbor, but like I mentioned in my in my meeting, we hopefully can be smart with our staffing
where they're going to the harbor at times that people like that are out there a lot recommend for three or four hours in the morning and three or four hours in the evening or something. So, we're not wasting a resource all day where I would hope
they would be more beneficial. Like you're talking about education and stuff. That's great because the biggest problem we have, as we've learned with some of our properties in Destin in regards to the junkiness, is once it gets to a certain point, you just can't even do anything anymore. But if we caught it earlier, then we'd be able to
fix it. So, um, you know, I know it doesn't specify exactly how you're going to do the the shifts, but I would hope that y'all keep that in mind that we really think about utilization of the resources and use the experts that are on the harbor um, and the beach to make
sure we're using those people wisely. Um, and if the council disagrees with me, then I would ask them to specify exactly how they want that to be listed in in this guide. uh because to me uh doesn't say it right now. Um
>> you want to have that discussion? >> No. And then prevention and outreach. Again, I do I do like that and I think that's great. Education will solve a lot of the problems and uh and I'm appreciative of y'all putting the guide together because we didn't have one. We got to start
somewhere, you know. So, I'm glad it's here. Um, and I'm going to take it for what it's worth and I'm going to be optimistic and and and hope that we'll do it right. I mean, that's the goal.
So, like in 6 months from now, we look back, hopefully we're we're better than we were today. Kind of like I talked about previously. Um, because this is one of the most visual in-your-face issue departments we have in the city
for years that I understand. Um, and the biggest complaint that we hear I hear is about the consistency across the board for all for all codes. Um, and and that's important to me. So, um, yeah, that's it for now. Thank you. >> All right, Councilman Bagger.
>> Okay. Um, so I I want to ask a couple of questions. Uh, and I'll use uh Mr. Schmidt's example. So, there's a viol. Somebody calls in a violation at 137 Ben Arrow, right? You
go over there, you go, "Yep, there's a violation. Here's here's your violation notice." Okay. If the homeowner at 137 doesn't come out,
the code officer is not looking to see if every house in that neighborhood or next door or across the street has a same or similar violation. He is just responding to the complaint. Correct.
>> Correct. >> Okay. So now, if the homeowner does come out and goes, "Thank you." uh you know the 138's got the exact same problem right across the street then that is a complaint and that person will
get cited also. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, uh on the on the beach the uh and I I think let me back up because I think this more
important you used the word prioritize and CI understood that in the context of earlier discussions of here's the things we will be proactive in because we have to identify those things that we will be
proactive active that we aren't complaint driven because the statute allows us to not go and say, "Oh, please can you do, you know, this is your warning. Here's your notice. Now, the next time we come out here, no. If we
identify areas to be proactive, you can actually go out there and write that time, not a warning, but a ticket." And so when we establish these and you call them priorities, but I call them
proactive enforcement areas, the that is different. So that if you have parking in the rightway, you know, okay, well, I'm going to give you a warning and then if I ever catch, you know,
whatever my license plate is, 82E1 or whatever on my car. The if I ever catch that guy again, he's getting a ticket next time. No. Proactive means if I'm parked in the rightway, you go and you put a ticket on there. And there is no,
"Oh, gee." And I understand we want to get compliance. I understand the various iterations we've gone through in this state, not just this community on, you know, code enforcement and code compliance and code. So, I just
want to make sure that these three or four areas, we're not saying everything is a proactive go write a ticket now, but we are saying you got signs in the rideway or you're parking in the ride ofway or the trash, you know, yes, that
gets you a ticket that day. That doesn't get you a warning. And now I got to put you in the log and I got to figure out or somebody else, some other code officer has to figure out two weeks later, has this guy ever been cited before for leaving their trash can out in the middle of the street? No. Your trash cans in the middle of the street
and we've been directed to proactively enforce these three or four areas, right? Do we >> Yes. If if that's what the way council wants us to handle that, then we will handle it that way. >> Yes. >> Okay. That's the way I thought we we
were handling it. Maybe I misunderstood on on the beach. Uh I guess the lifeguards told us they wouldn't help us out. Probably haven't heard anything. >> No, we did hear. >> Um they actually said that they would um
be willing to notify the city in egregious situations. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Going to be on the contract for the next month. >> Okay, good. So see progress. Now, the lifeguards are going to call you, whoever we designate, Larry, somebody,
and say, "Hey, you need to send the code guy because we got ice cream people walking with their trailer." I'm fine making that making vendor enforcement one of our top four priorities for proactive enforcement. That That's all I'm getting at. Everything else can be
complaint driven. Everything else can be, you know, you got your warning, now you got to do it. You got 30 days or whatever y'all give them to make it right. But there are some things that it's particularly in a resort
community. Yep. Okay. I come down from Georgia. By the time you figured out that I'm the one that parked in the rideway three days last week, I'm back in Georgia for the next year. So, all right. Thanks. two just just to kind of the the flip
side of that is you have some of these communities and it's not right or wrong I guess but when you have the residents doing it and now they come up in arms and they have three vehicles in a two parking lot driveway cuz everyone uses
their garage for everything but a car. What's our solution? Are they going to get a ticket every day? because I feel like that's when we break down and and don't become consistent like we kind of agreed at or there seemed to be agreement at the visioning session of we got to stick to our guns, we got to do
this, but then a a situation comes up and then it's like oh well what do we do? I I'm just trying to play almost play devil's advocate not to draw this out but I'm afraid we say ticket every time. Next thing you know, we have a
party for New Year's at the locals's house. And now we got 20 cars lined up on the rightway. Are they all getting a ticket and is there going to be 20 people here saying, "What the heck?" >> And we had that conversation today. >> Awesome. >> You know, for a Super Bowl party you go
in, that is a one-time thing. Now, if you are a wedding venue and every dang Saturday, you got 40 cars. I'm talking like a residential, >> not a turn and burn short-term rental. >> I'm talking Yeah. more hosting a
>> once a year, once a whenever that party is. What does that look like? What does that look like? >> Yeah. I mean, I kind of feel like that's maybe I have to give that some thought on how we would write that. Uh so we're not
that we are still being consistent and we're not being arbitrary. Yeah. And I don't we're operating in the gray. So I get there's not a >> definitive. It's, you know, someone has a Christmas party and people are, you know, parked on. So um I mean the strict
if we just said nobody can park in the rightway, right? Unless it's approved for parking, then they would be in violation. I don't know. Is that is that what council would want us to do? So um >> I don't think there's a right answer. Just the answer we're going to pick.
>> Yeah. So um Yeah. And per Yeah. So there's judgment involved in in in all of this, but it but if you're asking me, you have to be consistent and across the board at all times. >> That would be my official answer. >> All right. I'm going to get get to my
parents house a little early so I'm not in the right away when you guys come by >> because that's going to happen. >> All right. Uh Council Gile, >> first I wanted to thank council for approving the registration fee on the short term because that's going to help pay for some of this.
>> Yeah. coming up. I think that was probably one of the smartest decisions this council's ever made. Second, I want to just give a fair warning, and I kind of talked to you about this before. We have a citizen that is an honorary code enforcement
citizen that lives on Holiday Isisle that does an amazing job of reporting violations. And coming up very soon, you're going to get a lot of calls, a lot of emails, and a lot of texts. And we're all going to be copied on them. So, just be prepared whatever your
contingency plan is to be able to handle that holiday aisle traffic. >> Councilman Dustin, >> thank you, Mayor. I would just um support the allocation of resources in the summer. The beach and the harbor are
absolutely our priorities. I believe we've made that clear through discussions and maybe motions, but if we haven't, I'll be happy to put that on the next agenda to make that absolutely clear and we can vote on it because those are the times we have to concentrate out there.
>> Council Schmidt. >> Yeah. I just clarity me and Mr. bagby don't agree on some things often but and I apologize to have to rehash this but I was confused by my example and then he
gave a similar example and it sound like he got the answer that he wanted to hear and I got the answer that I wanted to hear which I believe are very conflicting >> he he only said that you would only write a ticket if the owner of the house of the current person receiving the
ticket says the guy across the street. >> You told me that the patrolman would be observant of his surroundings if he noticed across the street. >> So, I just want to make sure we're going to be happy when we leave here today. >> Yeah. When he said that, he didn't say only. He just said if if if you go to
this one and then he complains about his neighbor, you're going to give them a ticket. And I said yes. I didn't say I was we weren't going to. >> But you'll also be observant, >> right? >> And so they'll give them a ticket even if they don't complain. You hear that, right? If he observes. >> Sure. >> Correct. >> Well, that's I'm just saying if he observes it, nobody complain.
>> Typically, they don't observe. You know, they go >> Well, they should. >> No, because I don't want them walking the neighborhood to see if everybody closed their trash can. >> I say they're walking back to their car in the driveway and look up. It's called being observant of your surroundings. I mean, this is what our code officers
should be doing, >> right? >> Yeah. But I don't my my experience with a lot of observers is they aren't observant. Uh and so if he doesn't see it, he
doesn't see it. >> But if he does >> Yeah. If he does, he can write it up. I don't have a problem with that. I'm just >> Can I get Can I ask a hypothetical? >> Sure. >> So we get called in on We get called in a complaint. Let's say it's parking in the rightway. And right across the street, we can see parking in the
rightway. That one's easy, right? Go. Oh, yeah. There it is. Should they drive down the street and look for parking in the rightway? >> I mean, that becomes a what's what's going on there in their duty time, right? And they're going to patrol that street. Sure. I mean, I get it. Facebook
was popping the other day because y'all went through >> the thing off of airport. I get it. And they were people were say, "Oh, we supposed what do they expect us to do? How are we going to fill our cars on here?" They're like, "Well, I get it." But so obviously y'all were going through that street and you wrote warnings of tickets. So sure, do it as
long as you have the time to do it for the next 10 to 20 to 30 minutes. >> What I mean is like, you know, so let's say 137's Mid Street. You come in from one end and then they would drive out the other end because every not being arbitrary, right, and saying, "Well, >> let's go out this way and see if there's
more." Because we've seen we got called a complaint and there's one right across the street and there's one there. So, I'm trying to >> I don't think I don't think we push the street. >> The impression I get, we don't want like us to be like vigilantes and just like roaming around for some of these things, but some of the things we do want them
roaming around looking for. So, >> for me, to me, it's the consistency, right? We we and I think we all agree on that. How you do like I don't want to be the I'm not an expert. I mean, sheriff's department back there, he's a paid expert in types of patrol things, right?
I don't want to tell you how to do the job. I'm only going to give some advice and maybe some different ideas, but ultimately y'all gonna have to figure out how to do the petroleum job. Consistency across the board is kind of our whole goal. I believe we're all in agreement on that.
Observing a property that's in violation is being consistent whether it's a complaint or not. Until our code says we're a complaint only driven department, then we shouldn't only assume that we're only complaint driven department. I
think your mission because I read the whole thing talks about being a community approach style or something. So that's where I think now you get the judgment of it's Super Bowl Sunday. We're a small community. Your code guy might go knock on the door and say, "Hey, can I have some some chips and
dip? What what's the score? Hey, don't forget tomorrow make sure these cars are moved." Right? But that's in my opinion the community approach to your not having to always be consistent about the car in the in the yard. Um, this is this is just a big thing and and
I I just want to make sure we're all okay and understanding. >> So, I I agree and I I if I think what y'all are saying and is that, you know, if we're out on a call, we get a complaint, we see other ones, you know, by all means, we should do that and that way we're we're proving that we're being
consistent, right? And I think that that goes to the credibility of the officers. Is is that a fair assessment? >> That's fair to me, you know? I mean, again, you're going to have people that are should be driving around, I assume, looking at construction that's ongoing
to make sure they have permits so that way we know if they're in violation or not. You know, the collection of just garbage in people's yard. There's so many of those yards around Dustin of just trash. And if you pull up their property, they're not going to see a
single warning or ticket in our system. Well, guess what? Today's a new day. Like that would be a proactive approach in my opinion to strategize over the next 6 to 12 months. How are we going to do these things? I maybe I'm wrong. Miss Cop can speak to Mr. Bagby about the law
about we can only immediately give them a ticket only if it's a council. I think you said something about if we say it's a direct >> it has to be directed. I think you I think code has the ability to give a ticket. There's different types of
tickets. There's notice of hearings. There's notice of violations. There's all sorts of things. And there's I'm not even going to begin to begin understanding all those rules. That's why we have our amazing attorney here. Um, but you know, I would use what you
can to the best of your ability. Um, sorry. Yeah, I'm just rambling now. It's getting late. Sorry, Councilman Braden. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, if there ever was a critical priority for the council of this this community, it is the harbor.
Um, there can be a code compliance officer, whatever on that harbor full-time, 7 days a week, 10 hours a day. Um, I mean, this was my baby years ago. Um, I went to the city manager's office
several years ago. um pulled three files from one one piece of property which has several BTRs. Just pulled three. Um all three of them had the same piece of paper just like we all have this same piece of paper here sitting on all our
desk. Same piece of paper with the parking the same writing on it. And that had the same parking claim. This is all my parking I need. And pull up the next folder. same piece of paper. I'm I'm
claiming all this part. There's like 60 parking places on the entire piece of property. I'm claiming all of them. The next piece of paper, same thing. So, that's what I'm talking about when I'm saying that, you know, we're our worst enemies. We keep issuing these BTRs and we don't go down there. That's what I
told the city manager years ago when the council approved us having a code compliance officer on that boardwalk every day. Go get development orders on a piece of property. go see what's supposed to be there and what's actually there. Um, and then when you get done with that one,
pick another one. I don't care if you're throwing dice or whatever, just pick one and and or just start at one end and go to the other. Um, I like what you're doing with your with the uh code. Um, I think we need to be more proactive just like stuff is on
social media. Everybody's all, you know, been out of shape. Um, but sadly enough, the council is going to tie your hands the closer it gets to election.
That's just a fact. I won't, but it is year after year people start complaining. They want those votes and they're going to tell you just quit doing what you're doing or whatever. You need to lay off of it. You know, if I was you, I I don't know what
I would do. I'm like, well, you know, well, all right. We'll just sit in the office and eat bomb bombs. I guess when y'all get ready to after the election, y'all decide y'all want to get back on CO compliance again. You let us know. We'll go back to work. I don't know what you're going to do, but I that that's
coming. I can promise you. Um, I like your plan. I hope it hope you stick with it. I hope the council sticks with it. Um, because we do we need There's a lot of just get like Kevin said, it's just getting out of hand. is going to get to the point where you just can't reel it back in anymore. Thank you, man.
>> Uh, sadly, I think it's that's just funny. My only my only thought um that comes up is when we go short-term rental, they're parking all over the place cuz too many people came to the mini hotel and there's no
place for them to go. Um, I just think there is a solution in our mobility plan for the parking lot that's in the power line easement over at FPL. Um, it's also a um a priority to get more parking. I
think that is a you site them, you ticket them, whatever your guys's proratory is, but then also then it turns into I'm here for a week. What what do I do? Do I just get a ticket every day? Um, so I I think it would be beneficial and profitable if we solve
several issues with one thing. You can give them the ticket and then let them know there's a overflow parking lot that's city-owned. That will cost you money, but it won't cost you as much money as a ticket every day for bringing too many cars to the short-term rental. Because I think that turns into an issue
as well of whether it's residents or short-term rentals in Crystal Beach, there's too many cars that come in and then what happens? you can't tell them to go park at the Walmart parking lot even though I think that's where the common sense would say to go. Um so for things like that just trying to think
while we're in the offseason before it goes completely it's not going to get paved by then. Um but just an idea of how do we solve or relieve the pressure of an issue that we know is coming and a ticket does one thing but to the residents complaining they can get a ticket and still see the car there the
next day and probably still feel the same frustration. So just an idea of moving things forward that also allows us to pay ourselves back for improving an area. All right, with that, where are we? >> Announce announcements.
>> Uh first, thank you for your feedback. Um and know that we're always want to hear from you. If you see ways we can improve or do better, let us know and we'll give it our best shot. So just a few announcements. Mr. bag mentioned the
uh the destined fire contract. It just come back in the next meeting and Miss Cop addressed the code matter, but we also had the conversation with the force majour and they've agreed that in the event it goes beyond seven days, we will sit down and have a conversation about
how we can get some relief from it. Um uh we were asked at the last meeting to reach out to Tim Smith, the um district dot secretary, uh for a meeting. Uh we I think we've got that nailed down today for a meeting next week. So the mayor
and I will be traveling over to Chipley to meet with him and his staff. Uh we were asked about a the letters regarding the um uh opposition to oil drilling and energy exploration in the Eastern Gulf. Uh those letters have gone out. So we
wanted to make sure they went out to um all of our federal delegation. Uh we were asked to have conversation with the sheriff's office regarding the harbor cameras. Uh we've had that conversation. There is some things we can work together on there. Uh our IT
folks are talking to their IT folks to see how all that will come into play. Uh then we were asked to have conversation with the county staff regarding the uh seaw wall at Harbor One and the conversation with the TDC. Um I did have conversation with Mr. Coffee. Uh and
we're going to continue that conversation at a meeting later this week. So um we're not there yet, but we're still giving it a shot. >> So Dr. Young, >> I'm sorry.
I only have two additional announcements to add. The first is that the data has been completed by Cherry Communications regarding our annexation survey and that information of of course has been passed on to all of you. Quick highlights, the margin of error was 7.6%.
There were 151 completed surveys and while 2% asked not to answer um their general view of the area being annexed, we did have 98% answer. 31.1% of those strongly supported or somewhat supported
the idea of being annexed. 44.4% strongly opposed or somewhat opposed the idea and 22.5% were unsure. Um, and again, the data is broken down into areas and neighborshood and such for you all to digest more.
And then lastly, the state of the city address by Mayor Wagner is going to be February 17th at 5:00 p.m. here in the annex and the public is u absolutely encouraged to attend or join in on the live stream to hear what he has to say. Uh, please note this is a Tuesday um as
opposed to our regular scheduled Monday council meeting. So, Mayor Wagner will um give his state of the city address at 5:00 p.m. and then we'll have our regular council meeting that night at 6 p.m. Thank you. >> All right, Miss Cop. Public hearings. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh the first public
hearing is ordinance 2513PC, an ordinance of the city of Dest, Florida, making transportation related amendments to chapter 1, future land use element. Chapter 2, transportation element. Chapter 9, capital improvements element. Chapter 12, Administration and
Chapter 13, glossery of the city's comprehensive plan. Deleting the multimodal transportation district, providing for goals, objectives, and policies relating to the city mobility plan and city mobility fees, providing for transmitt to the Florida Department
of Commerce, providing for incorporation into the comprehensive plan, providing for a business impact estimate, providing for conflicting provisions, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. I'll turn it over to the community development director. >> Yeah. So, this uh this is second time.
This is second reading and you had already a second reading on this. Uh but then we subsequently found out that it was supposed to go to Department of Commerce between first and second reading. So, we've sent it to them and they provided comments. Uh they were suggestions. They weren't mandatory, but
we felt like they were good comments and we've incorporated them. um bas basically one of is the way we refer to in the comp plan how we refer to the mobility plan they wanted the version in there and the author and the date so that I think that's a good idea we've
made that change the other one in there was a chapter with a chart that had level of service this is unregulated level of service it did not have specifically mentioned vehicles and they suggested that we do that and so staff added a column for vehicles so that it
covers vehicles as well as pedestrians bicycles and transit. And uh also while they were in there, they cleaned up the the chart and they got rid of some um old dates and things like that. Those are the only two things that have changed since you guys approved it um
before the second reading. >> All right. Thank you for that. With this being a public hearing at this time, if anyone wishes to speak on this specific issue, this is your time to do so. Seeing none, I'll close the public comments for 2513PC and entertain a
motion from councel. >> Mayor, I move to adopt proposed ordinance 25-13-PC as presented. >> Thank you for that. I have a motion. Do I hear a second? >> With a second. Any further discussions? Seeing none, we'll call the vote.
All right. Eyes have it. So moved. 50. Miss Cup. >> Thank you, mayor. This is ordinance 2526LC, an ordinance of the city of Dustin, Florida, deleting section 71300, non-conforming uses and structures, and section 16800, non-conforming signs of
the land development code, and creating a new article 3 nonconformities, amending and updating regulations relating to nonconformities with creating an exception for structures located within the South Harbor Mixed Use District, SHMU, that are damaged by natural disasters or certain other
forces major by greater than 50% as set forth herein. Providing for authority, providing for findings of fact, providing for incorporation into the land development code, providing for conflicting provisions, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. This is um second
reading and the modifications that council requested on January 20th have been put into the ordinance. >> All right. Thank you for that. With this being public hearing number two for 2526 LC, if anyone wishes to speak on this topic, this is your time to do so. Seeing none, we'll close the public
comments and I'll entertain a motion. >> Mayor, I move to adopt ordinance 25-26-LC on second reading >> with a do I hear a second >> with a second from Councilman Destin. Any discussion?
Seeing none, we'll call the vote. All right. Eyes have it. So moved 41. Miss Cop. >> Thank you, mayor. This is ordinance number 2605LC, an ordinance of the city of Dustin, Florida, amending article 8, transportation of the land development code, amending section 8060, vehicle and
parking standards and section 8090, multimmodal transportation district, deleting multimmodal transportation district, MMTD, and replacing with parking standards for commercial, mixeduse, multif family, and transit oriented development. Amending and removing parking reduction options.
Removing on-site parking maximums. Removing alternative parking options as set forth herein. Deleting map 84 multimodal transportation district map. Providing for authority. Providing for findings of fact. Providing for incorporation into the land development code. Providing for conflicting
provisions, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. This is first reading. And the community development director is here if you have any questions. >> All right. With that, do I have anyone from the public who wishes to speak on ordinance 2605LC?
Seeing none, we'll close the public comments at this time and I'll entertain a motion. Uh, mayor, I move to approve ordinance 26-05-LC on first reading, but I would like uh David to, if he has anything he wants to
say, be allowed to speak. >> Can I get a second? >> All right. With Councilman Dustin. Yeah, just as so what we did here this is uh the current article 8 and so what's on second reading it will go into effect the code now the whatever changes are in
here on article 8 would be incorporated in the LDC update which would and that will be article six going forward in the LDC update um and the only other thing is that currently right now in the code um we allow for a shared parking
agreement u if a professional engineer did the did the agreement and did the assessment. The one of the changes here is that it will now have to be approved by council. So, and then everything else that was in the title. Right. With that, seeing no further
discussion, I'll call the vote. All right. Eyes have it. So moved. 5-0. All right. Going down the list. Councilman Braden. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> All right. Good deal. Councilman Dustin. >> Thank you, Mayor. I've I've been having a number of complaints over the years
about the uh speed at which recreational docks, small recreational docks are approved at the at the moment we make them go through the harbor board. And these docks are docks that are approved
by DP as I would say as a right if it's under a certain size. It used to be 500 square ft recreational only. Um I'm not sure if they've changed that standard, but that's a small dock and we've had a
number of people over the years that had to wait months to get their permit to build their dock at their house. um many times because there was no quorum for the arbor and waterways, whoever it is that we were sending them to. I'm trying and I've tried to figure out what it is
we're trying to accomplish with that. These these permits are issued by DP, like I said, as as a right as long as they're under a certain size and they're recreational nature, not commercial. I understand having harbor and waterways review the commercial and large docks
that are over the size, but to delay people sometime for months over a small recreational dock just doesn't make sense. And I don't know what the utility is. So, I would ask that this be sent to the appropriate committee. I guess that
would be community development to come back with us, come back to us and and make a recommendation on allowing those small recreational docks to be permitted much like you would get any other permit without having to go through harborways or put on the agenda for us to approve.
I really don't understand what we're trying to accomplish with these little docks. >> When you said committee, um, did you want it to go to staff for their thoughts or did you mean like LPA and advisory board >> committ? What's the procedure that you think we need to go through to to stop making these folks go through this
extended and complicated procedure? >> Uh, probably staff first, but they will necessarily take it to the uh to the LPA anyway. Um, but if you want staff to bring it to council first, I'm just trying to clarify how quick you want it to move. If you want it to go as quickly
as possible, we'll go straight to LPA. >> I would say that it needs to be quickly because I don't know what we're accomplishing by making them go through this process. So, I'll make that in the form of a motion that that we send it to staff and then they take it to LPA and comes back to us.
>> All right. I have a motion. Do I hear a second? >> Second. >> All right. Any discussions? >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Just a quick question. Is is this a ordinance? What is this process? How is it codified? >> I was referring to an ordinance because what council member Dustin is talking
about would require an LDC change. >> Okay. So, we would have staff bring that to LPA and then to you all. >> Okay. And but the change that you're going to bring is that if it has FD approval and it's under a
certain size, then the community development director or somebody on the staff can approve it. >> Exactly. It won't come to any. >> Okay. I just want to make sure we're not over just send it to another No, >> no. I meant the ordinance.
>> All right. Any further discussion? Right. Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> All right. Eyes have it so moved. 5-0. Anything else? Councilman Dustin. >> All right. Thank you so much. Councilman Bagby. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> All right. Councilman G.
>> No, sir. Thank you, >> Councilman Schmidt. >> Yes, sir. I do have a few things. Of >> course you do. >> Um there was uh well, hopefully some positive stuff. Uh there's >> some local families that are wanting to do some
uh business or something uh in the industrial zone and there's some current code written that are possibly preventing them from uh similar to the doc situation. It sounds like a smooth channel of uh trying to do things to
better our community. So, um I would like to have staff draft an ordinance and take it to LPA. Basically a similar situation here uh that's going to allow recreational complexes in the industrial
zone and have uh specifically parking recommendations that uh take into consideration batting cage recreational square into the parking requirements for square footage.
Um, and this I believe will allow them to something that makes more sense versus what our current code says. It rewrites our code to fit real life situation. I think that makes
more sense. So, I'm asking to take it to LPA and then bring it back to us. >> All right. I have that in the form of a motion. Do I have a second? >> All right. Seconded by Councilman Braden. Uh, discussion. Yep. Councilman Dustin. Um, I know that staff's been kicking this around here recently and this is in
a CRA, right? >> Or no? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> This is directed to our city attorney. >> Yeah, it's on airport road. What he's referring to, but what what you're really saying is it would affect the whole industrial district, which is a
very small part of the city in reality anyway. Talking about allowing a recreational facility in the limited area of industrial. >> Yes. And so we can we can go forward to make this happen through this procedure. >> What would happen is so there is a
potential applicant in the city that has reached out and met with staff and apparently is talking to some of you. But um they want to do a recreational facility. It's currently prohibited in the zoning district. So this would allow it as a permitted use. Doesn't mean it won't come to council because it would
it depends if it needs a major development order or not. If it does, it would still come to council. But this request being made by council member Schmidt would make it a permitted use and also reduce the parking because one of the arguments being made is that batting cages encompass a lot of square
feet that are not actually being used by people unless they want to get hit with a ball. So talking about reducing some of the parking for that percentage. >> All the questions I had. Thanks. >> No problem. >> Councilman Braden.
Yeah, they reached out to me as well and I thought it was ludicrous that they was having to require 70 parking places for four batting cages. Um I know they got a large facility there, but you know using probably a third of the square footage
of that building. Um but that that was just crazy. And it's kind of like the the uh Amvets, you know, they they they only got probably 10 12 guys that, you know, same people that show up there every night, you know, and we're making them have I don't know what it was, 80
100 parking places or something. Um so I'm glad you brought it up. We need to do something with it. >> Thank you. >> All right. And that is all I have. >> Mr. Mayor, can I get a point of clarification? >> Can I get Can I get a point of clarification? So you said recreational
uses. I know you have one certainly in mind and so I just wonder about the generality of that and also is it indoor recreational uses or would you be okay with other recreational uses being in a industrial zone?
>> Well my intent is an indoor recreational facility not like an outdoor arena or anything. Does that answer your question? >> It does. >> Okay. Anything else? All right, seeing none, we'll call the vote.
>> Court, we're going to court marshall. Uh, Councilman Guile, >> can you vote? >> While we're waiting for him or what? >> Sheriff, uh, Sergeant-at-Arms, may you escort our councilman back to his seat? >> I was answering questions from a
concerned citizen. I apologize. All right, eyes have it so moved. 5. >> Another item in the spirit of strategy, strategic goals and initiatives of needing parking still. Um, the new owner
of the 446 Calhoun property has reached out again. That's the property that we were under contract pursuing and there is uh discussion about uh seeing if the city is still interested in pursuing to buy this. Um,
and there's been some initial conversation um about zoning requirements and things like that. And it sounds like there's another possibility to seek um purchasing this parcel for parking
related issues. So, uh I'd like to direct uh city attorney to seek out what the potential contract would look like and bring it back to us for consideration. Second. >> That's a motion to reopen the negotiation. Is that taken?
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Got a motion. I got a second. Any further discussions? Seeing none, we'll call the vote. >> Sweet. Thank you all. And last thing, um, gentlemen, Mr. Fitzpatrick, I walked
down to that unit, that lot the other day. uh brought a lot of questions and potential concerns. Are are we He mentioned that we're already talking with them. Is that is that an ongoing thing? Y'all you're working with them or Michael? >> I believe we have a meeting scheduled
next couple of days. >> Oh, there's a meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Can you uh please keep us surprised of that? >> I appreciate it. >> That's all I have, Mr. Mayor. Thank you'all. >> Good stuff. Good stuff. All right. I guess I have one thing left. one destined what the government would call
annexation. Um, as we heard from the numbers, um, I think it's valid. I think it's needed and I think it's warranted. Um, so I'd be asking council to seek their approval to, uh, approve the meets and bounds surveying needed by Florida
State Statue to begin the process of annexation for all of unincorporated Destin. And with that, I'll open it up for discussion. Councilman Dest. >> No, go ahead. Councilman Dustin, please. >> Yeah, confused me. I >> was just trying to verify that the meats
and bounds description would be the original ones that accompanied the incorporation until they were taken out, which would encompass all of the unincorporated area from the county line back this way. >> That would be my intention is to do it all in one swoop. I I support that and
if you need a motion to that effect, I will make it. >> All right, Councilman Dustin, thank you for that. I have a motion. Do I hear a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Councilman Gile. Councilman G. Any discussion? >> No. >> Thank you, Councilman Bagby. So when this comes back up for approval,
could you give have us a chart that shows the neighborhoods, shows how they voted for, against, unsure what you know the way you've done, but just a single chart so that we can see because uh a couple of those
neighborhoods seem to be more strongly opposed than others. And so I'm not sure we're not on a fool's errand if we're trying to get every one of them as opposed to the ones that we reasonably,
you know, if it's 50/50, we can probably get that. But if it's 7030, we're probably not going to get that. I mean, I'll just be honest with you. So I don't not sure we want to lose just because we over our overextended our reach if that
makes sense. >> Fair enough. Council Dustin, >> the only thing I'd point out is there's still state statutes that prohibit creating enclaves which is I'm afraid what we would create by carving out sections according to neighborhoods. But that's an issue we can have the city
attorney look at. >> All right. Thank you for that. >> All right. Seeing no further discussions. All right, we'll call the vote. All right, eyes have it. So moved. 5-0. Thank you for that. And that is all I have, Miss Cop. >> Nothing, mayor. Thank you.
>> All right. Public comments. Final bite at the apple. Anyone? Pure entertainment. Awesome. You're my kind of people hanging on with us the whole night. All right. With that, where's my gavl? All right. City council adjourned.