LAUREL HILL — The City Council will meet 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at city hall, 8209 Highway 85 N., Laurel Hill,

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Call to order

2. New business:

a. Resolution 2017-01, Community Development Block Grant

3. Adjourn

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what the Laurel Hill City Council will meet about Feb. 8

LAUREL HILL — Tensions arose regarding water rates, communication, resident concerns and a local scholarship during a Thursday evening City Council meeting that lasted several hours.

WATER FEE QUESTIONED

City Councilman Scott Moneypenny expressed concern that households outside Laurel Hill city limits are charged a 33 percent fee to use city water. Individuals outside municipal boundaries are not to be charged more than 25 percent, according to the Florida Statutes. Those outside city limits should be charged an amount comparable to those within Laurel Hill’s boundary or be reduced to a legally acceptable maximum fee, Moneypenny said.

“I don’t believe outside our city limits should be different than inside our city limits,” Moneypenny said. “We have to take action on this.”

Councilman Travis Dewrell countered by arguing those households pay no city taxes and therefore an additional charge should remain. However, if the fees exceeded legal limits, immediate changes needed to be made, Dewrell said.

Within the same Florida Statute section, a provision allows municipalities to levy a fee up to 50 percent on non-resident households who use city water or sewage systems. Affected residents must be notified of a public hearing regarding the fee and be offered the opportunity to discuss it.

City Attorney Dan Campbell confirmed such a hearing took place in 2008 when the current fee was set. Therefore, the 33 percent fee was within legal limits.

City water fees for both residents and non-residents haven’t been adjusted since that time, according to Moneypenny. A comprehensive increase might be necessary to maintain adequate functionality of the utility, he added.

The council agreed to look further into the matter and address a possible rate hike once more data was available.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS

Contacting Laurel Hill City Hall after normal business directs callers to a voicemail and an emergency number. However, at times that number goes unanswered as well, according to Moneypenny.

If the city operates and advertises an emergency line (separate from 911) for after-hours incidents, such as a city water leak, then city officials must be accountable for answering that line, Moneypenny said.

Concerned citizens can contact officials directly if the emergency line is unavailable, Councilwoman Debra Adams said. Moneypenny gave consent to publicly list his contact information through City Hall and its website during an earlier discussion.

Direct contact during such a scenario renders the emergency line redundant, Moneypenny claimed.

While calls might go immediately unanswered, they are responded to in a timely manner during non-business hours due to the city’s small size, according to Dewrell. Having a 24-hour emergency line for city matters wouldn’t be cost effective as an employee would have to be paid for time spent on-call, officials said.

RESIDENT CONCERNS

Damage occurred to a resident's property after a private work truck drove through the owner’s yard in December. The truck was carrying limestone that had been purchased by the city, according to Moneypenny.

The homeowner filed a damage report with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, seeking repairs.

The stone has been stored on an adjacent property owned by the city. Although it is not on the complainant's land, the location has affected the proper flow of garbage trucks and school buses and required them to drive through her property, Moneypenny said.

Mayor Robby Adams said his office was aware of the situation and the responsibility fell to the stone company, not the city.

Recent holidays and rainy weather conditions should be considered when questioning why an immediate repair didn’t take place, Debra Adams said.

Dewrell disagreed and claimed the city shared in responsibility. The city could move the stones to a more suitable location within a matter of hours and explore repairs of the damaged property, he claimed.

Deteriorating road conditions on Skyline Drive were also addressed.

The city has promised solutions to the road’s drainage, flooding and paving problems for years with no results, multiple citizens said. Severe potholes are observed by city workers driving through the area, but met with no action, Moneypenny said.

Issues can’t be addressed if they are not made known to his office, Robby Adams said. Such matters have been addressed by Moneypenny at several council meetings, Dewrell countered.

The debate was closed by Council Chairman Larry Hendren, who requested an assessment of the road be completed to determine the best approach to resolution.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Several votes to appoint a scholarship committee failed due to a range of concerns. Debate over multiple council members serving, mayoral participation and the ability of those outside city limits to be on the committee stalled an agreement.

Further tension came when Dewrell questioned the success of the previous year’s committee, who saw only two students apply for the awards. This sparked a discussion between Dewrell and Debra Adams — a member of the previous committee and a local school teacher.

Ultimately, a committee of three non-officials was nominated.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Debates stretch council meeting for hours

CRESTVIEW — The City Council held a workshop Monday evening to direct multiple initiatives of the growth management department.

Crestview failed to include a state provision defining unsafe structures when it updated its building codes in 2013, according to Growth Management Department Director Teresa Gaillard. Gray areas resulted from the lack of this provision regarding how the city’s building inspectors can properly enforce codes.

“Current code does not even define an unsafe building,” Gaillard said. She’s requesting the city review and adopt a more robust building code that includes provisions on structure safety.

State building codes are revised every three years and Crestview’s current codes are based on guidelines from 2012, according to Gaillard. The city should adopt the most updated version, state codes from 2015, during this update process, she said.

City Attorney Ben Holley advised the council that codes should be reviewed by a property attorney, or somebody with knowledge on property law, before moving forward. Codes that deem buildings unsafe often deal with commercial properties that potentially create extra legal steps for the city, according to Holley.

“It’s a complicated issue but just because it’s a complicated issue doesn’t mean we shouldn’t address it,” Councilman Shannon Hayes said. “For our city to be better we have to do something.”

Hayes said he supports granting the growth management department permission to research and find solutions to code issues in the city. He will motion to approve such matters at the next council meeting, he said.

Other council members agreed with Hayes' sentiment and reiterated statements from previous meetings about making the city more proactive toward code enforcement.

Council President Joe Blocker officially added to the next meeting’s agenda a proposal to grant growth management the aforementioned permissions.

Building codes aren’t the only thing in need of an update, according to Gaillard. She also advised the council to review its process for land annexation and how the city processes requests for water and sewage services to areas recently or soon to be annexed.

Gaillard recommended easing the process to reduce the cost for those seeking annexation and to make it more appealing for county residents. Properties that agreed to annex, received services and didn’t annex should also be more scrutinized, according to Gaillard.

The City Council gave permission to the growth management department to further research annexation and how services are provided to those areas.

Two other items for discussion were removed from Monday’s schedule. A proposed change in school hours was dropped after an alternative process to the unnamed situation was reached.

Additionally, a discussion about the YMCA building by County Commissioner Nathan Boyles was postponed due to an illness in the family.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Council tackles building codes

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County legalized ownership of backyard hens in 2015, but regulations have made it difficult for some residents to keep chickens on their property.

Jessica King is one of those residents.

King moved outside Crestview city limits several months ago believing she would be able to raise chickens. Her property is 0.3 acres, which means she would need a county exception to possess hens. However, an exception is difficult to obtain, according to King.

“I do a lot of gardening and it’s easier to be self-sustained,” King said. “Chickens would be on our property but the rules prevent us from doing so.”

Areas zoned as R-1, less dense areas with single-family dwellings, require at least half an acre to possess up to four hens or ducks, according to Okaloosa County GIS Analyst Planner Mike Ruzowski. Smaller lots or additional animals require the exception described by King, who lives on an R-1 lot.

Permission to own four hens meant King would have to pay a $1,200 fee, complete an application, build a coop or enclosure, receive written approval from her neighbors and pass a code inspection before having the exception considered. She could still be denied by the county after completing this work.

“I’ve done the math and the cost to get your home up to county standards means it would take about four years for the investment to pay off,” Ruzowski said. “And that’s if you’re spending $4 for a dozen [eggs]; somebody like me buying regular eggs, it might take close to 10 years.”

Okaloosa County should adopt ordinances similar to Escambia County, according to King. Escambia County allows residents with under a quarter acre in R-1 zones to own up to eight chickens. Roosters, which are banned altogether in Okaloosa County, are permitted in Escambia if the resident meets certain requirements.

Okaloosa’s ordinance discourages ownership for people with less than a half-acre and those seeking more than four chickens, according to King.

A now retired member of the Okaloosa County Growth Management Department didn’t want an ordinance allowing backyard chickens, according to Ruzowski, who said the county disagreed and welcomed their possession. Therefore, the ordinance was shaped in a manner that would appease the county board of commissioners but limit the department’s efforts regarding the matter, Ruzowski said.

“We’ve never really had any pushback from it until Jessica [King] said something,” Ruzowski said. “She was the first one to ask questions about it.”

Okaloosa County Growth Management Administration Director Elliot Kampert could offer further information on the ordinance, Ruzowski said. Multiple calls to Kampert were unanswered and his voicemail was full.

King created an online petition to address her desire to reduce restrictions on backyard chickens in the county. If the petition “gains traction” she will use it to present her case to the county’s growth management department, King said.

Ultimately, King wants Okaloosa County to mirror the ordinances in Escambia County, although she doesn’t advocate for allowing roosters.

Visit www.change.org/p/growth-management-backyard-chickens-for-crestview-fl-reduce-restrictions to learn more about King’s petition to the county.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Resident questions county chicken code

CRESTVIEW — The City Council will meet 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at city hall, 198 Wilson St. N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

Revised

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open Workshop

4. Public Opportunity on Council Propositions

5. Items for Discussion/Consideration:

a. YMCA Building – Nathan Boyles

b. Proposed changes in School Hours – Growth Management

c. Unsafe Structures – Growth Management

d. Out of City Utility Services – Growth Management

6. Comments from the Audience

7. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what the Crestview Council will meet about Jan. 23

CRESTVIEW — Businessman Quint Studer has invested millions of dollars in the Pensacola community; his Studer Community Institute aims to increase the area’s quality of life. Now, he’s turned his attention to Crestview with Community Redevelopment Agency Director Brenda Smith’s help.

A successful downtown area needs events, retention of existing businesses and the ability to identify and assist local establishments seeking growth, according to Studer, who said towns also need a central mission or plan.

Crestview governmental departments have respective plans, but without a central mission to encompass these plans the town will face difficulty luring investors and maintaining a high quality of life for residents, Studer said Wednesday during a CRA meeting.

Developing a central plan requires research and data, according to Studer. Therefore, he’s partnered with Mason-Dixon Polling and Research to conduct a citywide survey and begin collecting information for a metric system. This system will track data necessary for city planners, officials and the private sector.

“[Cities] are so desperate to do something, that they do something,” Studer said. The result is too many short fixes that “sizzle out” in time, he added. This is why towns need to develop a plan to diagnose problems and develop long-term solutions.

A 16-metric dashboard will be created to evaluate what the city determines are the most important factors to its quality of life. This will provide the city with data to better formalize methods for improvement, Studer said.

Mason-Dixon’s initial research will involve interviews with elected officials, business leaders and organization heads, according to Lawrence Harris, the company’s principal. These interviews will shape survey questions for city residents, of which 625 will be selected. The company has a 95 percent confidence rating in its surveys, with a 4.5 percent margin of error, Harris said.

“When you hold up a mirror, you see things you might not want to,” Studer said. The process will expose city leaders to residents’ positive and negative perspectives of them, he added.

Cities must accept the findings, identify problems and find solutions to succeed, Studer said, adding studies like this one are conducted throughout the country.

Harris will conduct analysis and present finding reports after each round of surveys. These reports will be available to view online.

The Studer Community Institute also offers leadership development training and workshops geared toward small businesses and not-for-profit companies. Over 1,500 hours of training were conducted during 2016 in Pensacola.

The Mason-Dixon research costs about $35,000 and will be paid entirely by Studer, carrying no cost for Crestview residents.

Harris will meet with local leaders and compile an initial report on the findings. This report will be used to develop the survey for residents. The entire Mason-Dixon process will take a couple of months, according to Harris, but the process doesn’t end there, Studer said.

Implementation of projects and meeting goals can be a lengthy process and Studer commended Crestview’s elected officials for taking the initial steps to help the city redevelop and grow.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pensacola investor eyes Crestview for growth

LAUREL HILL — Renovations and redevelopment to Laurel Hill’s Gene Clary Park are a step closer following Thursday’s city council meeting.

The park was previously approved for a $50,000 grant from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. The city prioritized renovation projects in this order:

Restrooms: general improvements

Parking lot: adding a fence to limit driving in the park

Playground: adding new swings and shading

Basketball courts: building new courts

Picnic area: replace and add additional tables and benches

Baseball field: improve field and possibly add bleachers

Softball field: improve field and possibly add bleachers

Money must be spent on each project, but it’s unclear how much will be dedicated to each. Engineers will develop plans that include cost and present them to the council 6 p.m. Feb. 2 for approval.

In addition, the council on Thursday rejected the sole contractor bid for a project to improve road conditions on Sunnyside Avenue. Anderson Columbia quoted the city $372,207 for the project but was unapproved due to cost.

The council will itemize the project and attempt to distribute costs between the city and county.

The Citizens Advisory Task Force recommended applying a grant to another roadway renovation project that extends from State Road 85 and Third Street to Chicago Avenue to Steel Mill Creek Road and back to Second Avenue.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill plans park renovations

LAUREL HILL — The City Council will meet 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at city hall, 8209 Highway 85 N. 

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. New business:

A. Citizen Advisory Task Force to address the council with their recommendations.

B. Select contractor (Sunnyside Avenue)

C. Gene Clary Park grant

2. Adjourn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what the Laurel Hill Council will meet about Jan. 19

CRESTVIEW — The City Council will meet 5 p.m. Jan. 23 at city hall, 198 Wilson St. N.

Here is the meeting's agenda. 

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open Policy-making and legislative session

4. Public Opportunity on Council proposition

5. Item for discussion: Radio Tower Lease – Chief Traylor 

6. Comments from the audience

7. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what the Crestview Council will meet about Jan. 23

CRESTVIEW — The City Council’s decision to look at the issue of medicinal marijuana has raised questions about the city’s plan and legality of moratoriums.

LOCAL STATUS

The council held a first reading of legislation to place a moratorium, or temporary ban, on all practices related to the growth, sale and distribution of medical marijuana. Council members unanimously passed Ordinance 1615.

The second reading of all ordinances must be completed before it is officially enacted, according to Florida Statutes. This will allow for public input regarding the proposed ordinance.

Passage of the legislation would impose a moratorium until Sept. 1, at which time the city would review state regulations and decide what further actions are necessary. The intent is to assess the effect the law will have on the community and zoning regulations. 

STATE STATUS

Amendment 2 passed on Nov. 8, 2016, with over 71 percent of Florida voters approving of the legislation. The amendment became effective Jan. 3, 2017 and legalized medical marijuana for people with debilitating diseases or conditions.

However, the amendment created no regulations or guidelines for issuance of qualifying patient identification cards, qualifications for caregivers, registration of treatment centers, or quantity for qualified patients. The state has six months from the law’s effective date to establish such regulations.

TEMPORARY BAN'S LEGALITY

Florida Statutes doesn’t prohibit city or county governments from enacting moratoriums or bans. Therefore, the state’s lack of regulation opens the door for such bans at a local level.

Additionally, the Home Rule statute allows legislative discretion for the state’s various municipalities.

Crestview isn’t alone in seeking a ban on the substance; several other Florida counties and cities have enacted laws that restrict medicinal marijuana. Among them include Bay County, Panama City Beach, Gulf Breeze, Pasco County, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Marion County, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Miami Beach, Orange County and others.

Most of the bans are four to six months and cite a lack of state regulation as the main purpose.

WHAT'S NEXT

Medicinal marijuana sits in legal limbo for a portion of the state despite its passage by voters. Florida has six months to establish regulations and guidelines pertaining to the practice, at which time residents shall have the ability to seek “judicial relief to compel compliance” if such rules aren’t put in place, according to the amendment.

Through the use of video conferences and home delivery, patients can still obtain medical marijuana even if their respective city or county lacks the proper resources. This process can bring additional cost burdens due to shipping and still be difficult.

Until the state establishes clear guidelines, it’s unclear how local municipalities will regulate the practice. In the meantime, yes, it is legal for cities such as Crestview to impose bans on medicinal marijuana.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Can the city ban medical marijuana?