The Fort Walton Beach City Council met on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, for three separate meetings. Below are the meetings and official actions taken by the council during each meeting.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING:
8. RESOLUTIONS
8.1. 2023-15 Resolution to Accept a Homeland Security Port Security Grant-Rescue Boat Lift & Equipment.---Recommends City Council adoption of Resolution 2023-15 accepting grant funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Port Security Grant Program in the amount of $57,921.00 for the purchase and construction of a covered boat lift, a FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera, and Radar for the Fire/Rescue Boat previously purchased for the City of Fort Walton Beach Fire Department. RESULT: PASSED 4-1
9. ORDINANCES (FIRST READING)
Item 9.1: 2127 Ordinance Amending COO Chapter 5.02 Animal Control.---Recommends City Council adoption of Ordinance No. 2127 to amend Chapter 5.02 of the Code of Ordinances related to animal control. RESULT: PASSED 4-1
Item 9.2: 2129 Ordinance Amending COO Chapter 4 Finance & Taxation, Purchasing Related to Spending Thresholds.---Approval of Ordinance 2110 amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 4 Finance and Taxation, Section 4.0. RESULT: PASSED 5-0.
10. APPOINTMENTS
Item: 10.1: FWB Housing Authority Board Appointment ---Postpone the appointment of a board member to the Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority to a future meeting. RESULT: PASSED 5-0
11. ACTION-DIRECTION-DISCUSSION
The Fort Walton Beach City Council held the second of two nomination sessions for the open seat left by Councilman Larry Patrick. Several community members spoke about the nominees and the council added Jeff Pendleton to the list of nominees. Six people were nominated during the previous City Council meeting: Brandon Bishop, Debi Broadnax-Riley, Ryan Hartman, Jason Harwell, John Mead and Sharon Trenary. The city council will vote on the nominees during the next regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
BUDGET HEARING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-24:
3. RESOLUTIONS
Item 3.1: Recommends City Council adoption of Resolution 2023-12 to set the tentative millage (property tax) rate for FY 2023-24 at 4.9999 mills.
RESULT: Passed 3-2
Item 3.2: Recommends City Council approval of Resolution 2023-13 to adopt the tentative budget for FY 2023-24. The tentative millage rate is 4.9999 mills.
RESULT: Passed 3-2
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BUDGET MEETING:
Recommends CRA Board of Commissioners adoption of Resolution CRA 2023-1 approving the proposed FY 2023-24 Community Redevelopment Agency budget.
RESULT: Passed 5-0
The next upcoming Fort Walton Beach City Council meetings are:
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 @ 4:00 pm - Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 @ 6:00 pm (or immediately following the Regular Meeting) - Special Meeting: FY 2023-24 Final Millage Rate & Budget Hearing #2