During the City Council’s Regular Meeting held Tuesday, the Fort Walton Beach City Council voted 6-0 to appoint John Mead to fill the vacant seat left when former City Councilman Larry Patrick resigned in August. In a Special Meeting on the Comprehensive Fee Schedule, Millage Rate, and Budget, the City Council voted 7-0 to set the millage (property tax) rate at 4.6116 mills. They also voted 7-0 to approve the city’s comprehensive budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 based on that millage rate.
In other business, the Fort Walton Beach City Council took the following actions:
9. ORDINANCES (SECOND 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 6-1
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 4.01.02 Purchasing, and approving the revised Administrative Policy Number FIN-09 Purchasing. RESULT: PASSED 7-0
10. APPOINTMENTS
Item: 10.1: FWB Housing Authority Board Appointment
Recommends the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, appoint a citizen to the Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority Board to fill an unexpired term to expire February 28, 2024. RESULT: ITEM MOVED TO FUTURE AGENDA
Item 10.2: Code Enforcement Board Appointments
Recommends the City Council re-appointment of Ms. Anna Kiehn and Mr. Thomas Cannon to the Code Enforcement Board. RESULT: PASSED 7-0
Item 10.3: Local Planning Agency Appointments
Recommends the City Council re-appointment of Ms. Mary Albright and Ms. Glenda Glover to continue to serve on the Local Planning Agency. RESULT: PASSED 7-0
11. ACTION-DIRECTION-DISCUSSION
Item 11.2: City Hall Parking Lot discussion. RESULT: ITEM MOVED TO A FUTURE AGENDA
Item 11.3: Task Order for Design of Liza Jackson Park Boating Improvements
Recommends City Council authorization for the City Manager to execute a Task Order with JDF Architecture, LLC in the amount of $139,900 and MRD & Associates, LLC in the amount of $73,595 for the design of Liza Jackson Park Boating Improvements. RESULT: PASSED 7-0
Mayor Dick Rynearson read a proclamation recognizing National Crime and Intelligence Analyst Appreciation Day and presented a certificate to Crime Analyst Jessica Edwards, who accepted it on behalf of the Fort Walton Beach Police Department.
Mayor Rynearson also presented the Student Award for Civic Excellence (ACE) to Alexa Dowdy of Fort Walton Beach High School and Arianna Dali of Choctawhatchee High School.