CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Gary Combs called the regular meeting of the Shalimar Town Commission to order at 6:00 p.m. in Town Hall chambers.  He led the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the Flag.

ROLL CALL FOR THE RECORD:

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Town Attorney Mike Chesser, Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Police Chief Charles Self, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda, and Town residents Rik Larson of 24 Old Ferry Road, Brent and Julie Getting from 2568 Palm Shores Drive, and Sidney Speer of 105 Lisa Marie Court.

P&Z BOARD REVIEW:  There were no approved P&Z minutes for the Commission to review.

OLD BUSINESS:

I.       APPROVE MINUTES FROM OF FEBRUARY 12, 2002 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING – Commission Henderson moved to approve the minutes as written.  Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.      TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT – Town Attorney Mike Chesser confirmed that he received a copy of Resolution 2002-04 (approved later in this meeting).  He also stated that the contract between he and The Town of Shalimar has been signed by both parties and is now in effect.  Attorney Chesser had no new news to report on the Racetrac case.

III.     APPROVE RESOLUTION 2002-04 – PERSONNEL POLICY AMENDMENT – After reviewing the most current draft, Commissioner Garcia moved to approve Resolution 2002-04.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

IV.     MISDEMEANOR INFORMATION – Town Manager Tom Burns suggested  going through the Town of Shalimar Code of Ordinance Book to find and update the ordinances considered to be nuisances and add the misdemeanor section to each.

NEW BUSINESS:

I.       TOWN RESIDENT’S TIME – There was no new business from the residents.

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT:

I.        OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPORT – Mayor Combs will be out of town for the Quarterly League of Cities Dinner in Crestview next week.  Mayor Pro-Tem/Commissioner Tucker will attend in his place.

The Mayor stated that he would like to see the web site updated as soon as possible.

Commissioner Tucker asked that the town staff work on getting the employee pictures updated as soon as possible.

COMMISSIONER TUCKER’S REPORT:

I.        FY02 BUDGET STATUS – Commissioner Tucker passed out the end of month report.  She is happy to mention that the original reports from the State of Florida after 9-11 are not effecting Florida ’s economy as they had originally suspected it would.

II.      FLOC LEGISLATIVE MEETING – Commissioner Tucker read off the Legislative report that was in all of the Commissioners’ boxes regarding the NWFLOC Legislative Board of Directors.  Mayor Combs offered to remain on the Board.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA’S REPORT:

I.       USING POND WATER TO WATER GRASS – Commissioner Garcia has contacted the EPA and DEP and received no new information back from them.

COMMISSIONER REEVES’ REPORT:

I.       COMMISSIONER’S DESK UPDATE – The Commission Desk is complete and in place and “the check’s in the mail”.

COMMISSIONER HENDERSON’S REPORT:

I.        “NEW” POLICE UNIFORMS – Commissioner Henderson and Chief Charles Self have been collecting estimates and information on buying new navy blue uniforms for the Police Department.  Commissioner Henderson believes that a uniform change is a significant enough issue to our Police Department that he is supporting it. 

POLICE REPORT:

I.        MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – The Activity Reports are in the Commission Binders.  The Mayor brought up to Chief Self that there are some officers that are parking in the marquee area and ruining the grass.  Chief Self relayed that he will, again, tell his officers to stop parking there.  Commissioner Tucker requested that the Police Department find out the Spring Break schedules. 

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:

Spring Cleanup will happen again this year and the dumpsters will go in the same place as they were last year.  The Mayor suggested being more specific with the Hazardous Materials (HazMat) information; letting the residents know that the town will dispose of HazMat for them on big signs attached to the dumpsters.  Manager Burns praised Sheila Hanson for the great job that she did with the town maps in the vault.  The map job is finally done.  Now she is working on the filing cabinets.  Commissioner Tucker asked if the areas behind the filing cabinets would be painted and Manager Burns said that we would talk to Jeff and figure something out.  Manager Burns asked the Planning and Zoning Board at the last P & Z meeting if any of them would like to volunteer to be a Town code expert.  He also asked if the board would work on updating the Town Comprehensive Plan.  They are going to get back to the town on that issue.  Shalimar Yacht Basin (SYB) has asked if the town would allow them to put a sign on the right-of-way.  Attorney Chesser suggested that we research the sign ordinance because it sounds like what they are wanting to do with the sign would be defined as a billboard.  SYB is also planning on starting up a sailing program for the summer for town children and are in need of support whether it be money or time.

I.       OLD PICTURES FOR BOARDROOM UPDATE –Town Manager Burns and Commissioner Garcia have had 10 pictures picked out.  After the Mayor was shown the pictures, he suggested replacing 3 of the choices with different types of pictures like more current pictures perhaps a current aerial photo, etc.

II.      PART-TIME HELP WITH MOWING – LANDSCAPING COMPANY QUOTES – After calculating all of the recent quotes from the landscaping companies, Manager Burns and Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda think that it may be more cost effective to go ahead and contract some of the mowing jobs out.  If the Maintenance Department decides to go with a landscaping company, the mayor stated that he wants to be involved with the contract negotiation.

III.     CAPITAL PROJECTS ENGINEERING WORK – The Town Planning and Zoning Board have agreed to the 60% design phase for the Clifford Drive drainage and Cherokee turn lane projects.

Before the meeting adjourned, Commissioner Tucker updated the commission on the status of the town’s CD.  The CD is about to mature and she hasn’t been able to find any good rates anywhere to lock it in at for 12 months.  She asked for permission from the commission to lock it in at 15 months for 3%.  Attorney Chesser suggested only locking it in for 6 months at a little lower rate and give the rates a chance to go up.  The Commission decided that was a better idea.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

          April 9, 2002 – Town Commission Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT:  Commissioner Henderson moved to adjourn the Town Commission meeting at 6:54 .  Commissioner Garcia seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.