Town of Shalimar

Town Commission Meeting Minutes

May 10, 2005

 

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Pro-Tem Ricardo Garcia 6:01 p.m. called the regularly scheduled meeting to order in Town Hall chambers.  He led the "Pledge of Allegiance" to the Flag.

 

ROLL CALL FOR THE RECORD         

 

Mayor Gary Combs :  absent

 

Commissioner Jerry McCallister:  present

 

Commissioner Ursel Behnken:  present

 

Commissioner Ricardo Garcia:  present

 

Commissioner Glenn Wagner:  present

 

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Police Chief John Cash, Planning and Zoning Board members Gene Tucker, Brad Gable and Johann Behnken, Business owners Steve and Paulette Peterson, and residents Herb Reid and Virginia Rapp.

 

PLANNING AND ZONING BUSINESS:  There were no Planning and Zoning Recommendations to approve.

 

TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME:  Mr. Reid from Avalon Lane asked about the status of the Palm Tree.  Manager Burns stated that someone wanted it and was willing to pull it up.  If she doesn’t do it soon, the town will either remove it or have it removed.

 

Ms. Rapp asked about the drainage issue that was discussed at the last meeting, particularly on Barron Court.  Manager Burns explained that he will be going out with an ad for proposal bids for engineering services.

 

Gene Tucker, Planning and Zoning Board Chairman, asked Chief Cash to advise the department to spend a little more time enforcing the new speed limits on Old Ferry Road.

 

TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT:

Billboard Lawsuit Update – Manager Burns received a letter from Leslie Sheekley from Attorney Chesser’s office.  Action Outdoor Advertising did not submit an appeal within the 30 day window so the dismissal of the case in our favor is complete.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

I.

 

APPROVE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 12, 2005 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING – Commissioner Behnken moved to approve the minutes of the April 12, 2005 Town Commission Meeting as written.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wagner and passed unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

I.

 

ACTION OUTDOOR APPEAL – APPEALING MANAGER BURNS’ DECISION ON BUILDING PERMIT  (Cancellation request attached)

II.

 

GREG HOWLAND APPEAL – APPEALING MANAGER BURNS’ DECISION TO REVOKE ANY PREVIOUSLY ISSUED PERMITS FOR SIGNAGE AT SPIFFY WASH – Mr. Howland’s attorney, David Simpson, asked that this issue be postponed until the next Commission Meeting.

III.

 

RESOLUTION 2005-05 – SUPPORT FOR THE CITY OF DESTIN FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR DREDGING – Comissioner Behnken moved that pass Resolution 2005-05.  Commissioner Wagner seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

IV.

 

PLANNING AND ZONING CHAIRMAN, GENE TUCKER, PRESENTATION – Chairman Tucker reported that the owner of the property between Shalimar Yacht Basin and Snug Harbor has asked the town for a zoning change.  After some discussion at the last Planning and Zoning Meeting, the board asked the applicant for more information.  The board feels that there may be a problem for big trucks turning around with a new building on that lot.  Chairman Tucker stated that the board decided to ask the Commission to set up a meeting with the owner of the property and see if he’d be willing to sell it to the town for Fair Market Value.  The Commission directed Manager Burns to attempt to make contact with the owner and see if he is agreeable.  Eminent Domain will possibly be used as a last resort.  Attorney Chesser was directed, before this meeting, to prepare a briefing for the next Commission Meeting explaining stipulations, procedure, etc. on the Eminent Domain process.

 

-  Steve Peterson briefed that the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) sponsored Poker Run would be held on Saturday.  The after-party will be at the Shalimar Yacht Basin and everyone is invited. 

-  On Tuesday, May 17, Shalimar Yacht Basin will be designated as a Clean Marina from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  There will be a recognition ceremony at 2:00 at the Yacht Basin and everyone is invited.

-  Also, August 12-19 is Boat Week.  There will be many events throughout the week ending with the big Poker Run.  Mr. Peterson would like to have a 50 ft. movie screen on one of the docks, facing out at boaters.  They will show boaters’ safety films then move on to a boater-related movie.  All boaters watching the movie will listen to it through their AM radio.  He will show a movie every night of boat week ending at approximately 10:00 p.m. every night.  He also stated that he’s open to suggestions if anyone had an issue with this.  Commissioner Garcia asked that Steve draft up a letter with specifics for the board to look over.  Manager Burns mentioned to the Police Department that some of the customers will have to park on the right-of-way.  Commissioner Garcia stated to Chief Cash to allow Mr. Peterson’s customers to park on the right-of-way for the 3 above mentioned events but that they might want to direct some of the parking to accommodate more cars.

 

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT:  Mayor Combs was not present.

 

COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S REPORT:  Commissioner Garcia had nothing to report.

 

COMMISSIONER McCALLISTER’S REPORT:  Commissioner McCallister had nothing to report.

 

COMMISSIONER BEHNKEN’S REPORT:  Commissioner Behnken asked Manager Burns about the hole in the middle of Clifford Drive .  Manager Burns explained that some contractors hit a utility pipe which damaged the road.  He has made numerous calls to the contractor and the county to find out who was going to repave the road but hasn’t received any answers yet.  He is still pursuing the issue.

 

COMMISSIONER WAGNER’S REPORT:  Commissioner Wagner had nothing to report.

 

POLICE REPORT –

-  There was a robbery at the Waffle House on Mother’s Day.  The Police Department is working with 2 other agencies to catch the 2 suspects.  They should have an arrest by Friday.

-  Chief Cash is looking into a sort of Reserve Program, similar to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Department Posse Program or Fort Walton Beach ’s Cadet Program.  This would be a volunteer program for the Police Department.  Each volunteer would always be with a Shalimar officer.  Also, each volunteer would have to pay for their gear, guns, etc.

-  The insurance company made some minor modifications to the form that needs to be completed for the ride-along program.

 

Planning and Zoning Chairman, Gene Tucker, asked if Chief Cash would talk to the department and have the officers enforce the new speed limit on Old Ferry Road.

 

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:  Manager Burns had nothing to report.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

APRIL 27, 2005 -- PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING, 6:00 P.M.

 

MAY 10, 2005 -- TOWN COMMISSION MEETING, 6:00 P.M.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Commissioner McCallister moved to adjourn at 6:44 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Commissioner Behnken and it passed unanimously.