CRESTVIEW — The City Council will meet 5:15 p.m. Dec. 14 for a workshop at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Public Opportunity on Workshop agenda

4. Items for Discussion

a. Discussion of MOU with County for use of PJ Adams Dispatch Center

b. Discussion of Interlocal Agreement with County for Courthouse construction.

c. Discussion of Traffic Impact Fees in reference to Ordinance 1596 – Traffic Impact Fee Wavier ( If time allows; If not, will be discussed in regular meeting.)

5. Comments from the Audience

6. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's the Crestview City Council's next workshop agenda

CRESTVIEW — Browsing social media comments, a newcomer might think city officials are thwarting business growth in the Hub City, possibly in cahoots with a rumored "good ol' boy" network.

Such comments are commonplace on the News Bulletin's Facebook fan page and website. One often-repeated rumor is that Crestview officials deliberately stunt growth so more tax dollars can flow to Destin and other south county communities.

But that's not the case, according to growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard. She says her department has seen a steady rise in projects requesting development orders, with seven substantial active projects in development phase.

"Oh yes, we've been busy," Gaillard said. "More development is coming to Crestview."

<<Click "READ MORE" at left to see seven projects in the works

And that, Mayor David Cadle said, could even include some long-hoped-for chain restaurants.

Still, there's the question, and consideration, of traffic impact fees: Do they hurt, help or have no bearing on local development?

The City Council will hold a Dec. 14 public workshop to discuss traffic impact fees; by law, it must decide before the year's end if the current fee waiver, in place since 2013, will continue.

120-DAY WAIVER EXTENSION

The City Council on Nov. 30 unanimously approved, on first reading, an ordinance to continue waiving traffic impact fees for the first four months of 2016 while consultants perform a traffic study that would be required if the waiver continues.

The study should be completed before April, Gaillard says. That would allow a month for city leaders to accept the study and debate whether fees should be waived or reinstated.

Public Works Director Wayne Steele says he knows what he would do.

"I would collect the fees," he said. "Maybe I'd reduce them. That study is only there to protect ourselves in case we get sued by a developer who says we're not using the funds for the benefit of what they were collected for."

Steele says the money — which must be spent to facilitate traffic flow near the affected development — has been well spent.

"Most of this money has to be spent in the (State Road) 85 and (U.S. Highway) 90 corridor, so you're taking traffic counts off the highway," he said.

Before the fee was waived in 2013, the city collected $646,000 in traffic fees, some of which is going toward the Crestview Corners connector road, which will draw traffic off S.R. 85 on the busy stretch between Hospital Drive and Redstone Avenue East.

LOST IMPACT FEES

Gaillard calculates that between January 2013 — when the fees were waived — and the end of October 2015, the city lost $241,119 in commercial development impact fees, and $182,457 in residential development fees.

"For most (developers), impact fees is something they don't even consider," Council President Shannon Hayes said. "Most of the time, when businesses come here, they don't ask, 'What's your impact fees?'

"When a multi-million dollar company comes in, $200,00 or $300,000 isn't going to affect them. They're going to make that back in a year."

So, why haven't more retail chains come to Crestview?

Steele offers an explanation.

"The reason the restaurants don't come is because they won't come until that trip count out there on (S.R.) 85 is over 50,000," he says.

DEVELOPMENT IS COMING

Crestview officials have openly, willingly talked to undisclosed, popular restaurant and retail chain developers to learn how the city can attract them, Steele said.

"Every time we talked to them, they said, 'The trips just aren't there,'" he said. "Until we get to 50,000 trips a day, they're not going to come."

However, "We have just reached that threshold."

But Mayor David Cadle says the potential for development is real. 

Nationally known eateries are now "seriously eyeing opening" on Ferdon Boulevard South behind Wendy's, Mayor David Cadle said. "Several (undisclosed) restaurant chains have shown interest in coming to Crestview, and we are presently in discussions with them and have hopes these talks will come to fruition," he said.

The city has taken several steps to facilitate bringing these restaurants to town, including annexing property for access to the development area, he said.

If the talks get serious, and the impact fee is no longer waived, Steele had one recommendation: "call them something else," he said.

"'Fee' is such a dirty word."

In the meantime, some residents have their own ideas about the subject.

IMPACT FEES: The Crestview City Council will discuss traffic impact fees at a 4:30 p.m. workshop before its 6 p.m. regular meeting Dec. 14 at city hall.

TRANSPORTATION: Crestview City Councilman JB Whitten will host an informal town hall meeting with Public Works Director Wayne Steele and city engineer Fred Cook to address transportation issues, 6 p.m. Dec. 17, at Hub City Smokehouse, 168 Main St. S.

●●●●●●

WHAT'S COMING

Crestview Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard said these businesses have submitted detailed development plans and engineering drawings, and are seeking development orders to build in Crestview:

•Day's Catfish: State Road 85 North behind McDonald's and CCB Bank, 4,500 square feet with drive-thru and 190-seat restaurant

•Elite Real Estate Services: remodeling McCaskill Street housing units for a commercial real estate office

•Express Oil Crestview: 5,100-square-foot auto repair and lube, plus 4,500-square-foot retail space on former Okaloosa Academy site

•Ferdon retail project between Publix and Sonic: 12,000-square-foot retail and 8,200-square-foot space for restaurants

•Jimmy John's sub sandwiches: Former Shell station next to McDonald's below Wal-Mart

•Redstone Commons, phase 3A: 47 more single-family homes

•Shiloh Place, 18 single family lots, on Johnson Court off Duggan Avenue

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview officials: Despite rumors, development is rising

LAUREL HILL — The City Council has deferred action on a proposed resolution defining the annexation procedure until after a Jan. 7, 2016, workshop.

The issue of having a set of rules governing how a property owner may request annexation into Laurel Hill's city limits arose after the city charged former Councilman Johnny James a $2,500 annexation fee, then the council tried to assess almost $1,000 more to cover consultant's fees.

Council Chairman Larry Hendren said the proposed resolution had nothing to do with James' situation, but was an attempt to codify the procedure to prevent similar situations.

Councilman Scott Moneypenny said he researched state statutes governing municipal annexations as well as another city's policy.

"I think we need to review what this city's done before we go deeper into annexation so we don't come across any problems in the future with fees or anything," Moneypenny said.

Moneypenny said city attorney Daniel Campbell needs to be involved in reviewing the materials and developing the resolution.

As Moneypenny distributed copies of his research, the council's newest member, Travis Dewrell, recommended that city leaders set a workshop to discuss the matter in greater detail.

Hendren, responding to a resident's question, said the reason the proposed resolution required a $6,500 annexation fee rather than the current $2,500 fee James was charged was to cover expenses including property surveys, a planning consultant and advertising costs for any necessary public hearings.

"The reason for the jump is the previous resolution was way outdated,” Hendren said.

When the resident inquired about annexation's benefits, among factors like attaining city services such as water and fire protection, Dewrell said city residents also don't have to pay Almarante Fire District's annual assessment.

"So in 65 years I'd break even with their $100 annual assessment," the resident said to laughter around the chamber.

Moneypenny said another benefit is property values are generally higher within a municipality. Having additional residents also benefits the city, he said.

"It increases the city's tax base," he said. "If development had ever taken place, that increases your population base which increases your tax base."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill council defers annexation rules

CHIPLEY – The southbound outside lane of State Road 85, just north of Range Road 232 will be temporarily closed from 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 to 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7 as crews work in the shoulder area. Drivers are reminded to be alert to slowing traffic.

Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to obey the posted speed limit, to travel with care through the work zone, and to watch for construction equipment and workers entering and exiting the roadway.

The http://www.facebook.com/StateRoad123 construction page is the fastest and easiest way to stay informed about scheduled lane closures and other construction-related impacts. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Temporary lane closure planned on State Road 85

CHIPLEY — Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction activities. 

All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. 

Motorists are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway. 

 ●State Roads 20 and 285 in Niceville, Okaloosa County: From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 5, drivers will encounter traffic disruptions as the City of Niceville holds its annual Christmas parade.

●U.S. Highway 98 in Destin, Okaloosa County: From 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, the eastbound lanes of U.S. 98 in Destin from the Boardwalk to the Destin Bridge will be closed. Crews will transition westbound lanes to handle two-way (one lane in each direction) traffic during the Special Forces Association 7 Jingle Bell Jog.

 ●U.S. Highway 331, Clyde B. Wells Bridge, Walton County: Alternating lane closures are planned 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7 and Wednesday, Dec. 10 as crews place concrete for the new bridge.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Traffic alerts announced for Okaloosa and Walton counties

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is now Northwest Florida's first, and only, law enforcement agency awarded National Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

The CALEA program is the primary method for an agency to voluntarily demonstrate its commitment to excellence. Fewer than 5 percent of the nation's 18,000 law enforcement agencies are nationally accredited.

Standards focus on department policies, and operational procedures such as police training, use of force, emergency preparedness and accountability. Compliance with these standards means a law enforcement agency follows a code of conduct recognized by law enforcement peers, the legal system and the public, and it meets the best professional requirements and practices for agencies nationwide.  

The OCSO — awarded the honor Nov. 21 at CALEA’s  winter conference — "is committed to providing enhanced service to the citizens of Okaloosa County, while upholding the highest standards of law enforcement practices in training, policies and procedures,” Sheriff Larry Ashley said. “Our agency earned statewide accreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation in July 2010.

"… We believe this commitment puts us among the nation’s leaders in law enforcement professional development.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa sheriff's office achieves national accreditation

CRESTVIEW — City Councilman JB Whitten’s next informal town hall meeting will offer residents an opportunity to discuss transportation issues.

Crestview Public Works Director Wayne Steele and city engineer Fred Cook will join Whitten for the gathering, set for 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at Hub City Smokehouse, 168 Main St. S.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview town hall on transportation scheduled

CHIPLEY — Drivers traveling north on State Road 293 (Mid-Bay Bridge) in Okaloosa County will encounter intermittent closures this week.

Crews will perform a routine inspection on the bridge from 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 to 3 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4.

Motorists are reminded to use caution when traveling, especially at night, in a work zone. 

Planned activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Routine inspection planned on Mid-Bay Bridge

Are traffic impact fees "just part of doing business," or are they a barrier to attracting businesses to Crestview?

The City Council needs to decide before the end of the year.

CRESTVIEW — The city's three-year experiment with traffic impact fee waivers expires Dec. 31, and the City Council faces two options.

One is to let the waiver expire and resume collecting the fees. After all, with new business comes additional traffic, officials say, and the waiver's purpose was to stimulate development during the recent recession.

The alternative is to renew the waiver, which proponents say encourages businesses to locate in the city. But that option isn't simply a matter of a quick council vote.

Renewal requires a state-mandated traffic study that Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard said could cost between $12,000 and $35,000.

TRAFFIC STUDY

In preparing council briefs, Gaillard discovered Moore Bass Consulting — which created the 2009 study that allowed the fee waiver — no longer provides traffic consulting services.

An alternate, Gaillard said, is to have SEAS, the city's engineering firm, provide the study through its relationship with Southern Traffic Services.

However, SEAS's contract with the city expires Dec. 8. Further, "Southern Traffic can do portions of it but they can't do the same data package that Moore Bass gave us," Gaillard said.

Options included extending SEAS's contract with the city another year or hiring another engineering firm to keep on retainer. That would require the city to issue and advertise a request for proposals and evaluate responses.

To simplify the process, at its Nov. 9 meeting the council unanimously approved retaining SEAS's services for another year.

NEW ORDINANCE

Extending the waiver requires the council to pass an ordinance, Gaillard said, a draft of which she will present for consideration at a Nov. 30 special council meeting.

Council members have sought further details about the current waiver's effectiveness since the traffic impact fee was implemented in 2009, then waived in 2013.

"I would like to know how much the city has lost in fees under the traffic impact fee waiver," Councilman Joe Blocker said at a recent meeting.

"Oooh, I really didn't need a Thanksgiving vacation," Gaillard said jokingly, indicating answering his question would involve considerable research.

Councilman Bill Cox questioned if the waiver has stimulated much business growth in the city, while expressing concern about growing traffic on State Road 85.

"I don't think there's anybody who doesn't care about the traffic conditions on 85, so what have we done? We waived the impact fees for three years," Cox said. "We haven't seen an avalanche (of new businesses) in that time."

MORE APPLICATIONS

Gaillard said she's noticed an uptick in development plans as the waiver faces expiration.

"I have three developments on my table and a fourth one to be delivered," she said.

Councilman Doug Faircloth said beliefs that the city's impact fees discourage development often come from "coffee klatch discussions perpetuating rumors about traffic."

However, he said, the fees "may not bring anyone in, but we know it'll keep them out."

Gaillard confirmed his assertion.

"Just now in the past year we are seeing an increase — a substantial increase — of new developments trying to beat the Dec. 31 deadline," she said. "They can do it now but they won't be able to do it in January."

Public Works Director Wayne Steele, however, said having the fees in place rarely affects a business' decision to come to town.

"The fees don't have an adverse reaction to development," Steele said. "Most entities use that money to help manage traffic and provide better accessibility to and from these developments. The developers don't mind paying it because they know if it's used correctly, it's going to help bring them more business."

"Most larger businesses already have it factored into their development cost," Gaillard said. "Some of them say, 'Oh, that's just business.' It doesn't inundate them like it would a smaller business."

'A GOOD TOOL'

"If used correctly, (fees are) a good tool to provide more accessibility and better serviceability to all developments," Steele said. "I have heard that we have been a very good model for using our impact fees the correct way."

One example is the city's use of water and sewer impact fees, he said.

"We have been able to set this city up for new growth for the future with our sewer and water capacity," Steele said. "We did more in the last five or 10 years than was done in the last 40 or 50 years by using impact fees without raising water and sewer rates."

But without traffic impact fees, Crestview has very little road money flowing to its coffers, even while more development comes to town and affects traffic.

"How do you pay for roadway improvements?" Gaillard asked. "All we have is our impact fees."

Without the fees, the city's only roads money currently comes from the city's general fund, which is allocated for road repairs, and local option gasoline taxes collected by the county and distributed to municipalities, City Clerk Betsy Roy said.

Even if the traffic fee moratorium is allowed to expire now that the recession is over, city leaders seem to believe imposing the fees again will have little impact on developers' plans.

"I don't think they're worried," Steele said. "We're still one of the most affordable places to build in."

CRESTVIEW'S IMPACT FEES REDUCTIONS

Through a series of ordinances, the city of Crestview has waived several impact fees to stimulate business growth during the recession. Here's a timeline:

●Jan. 16, 2009: Ordinance 1419 creates traffic impact fees

●Sept. 28, 2009: Ordinance 1432 waives impact fees by varying amounts over 18 months

●Sept. 24, 2009: Ordinance 1484 removes public schools and transportation concurrency requirements ("impact fees") and proportionate fair share provisions from the city's comprehensive plan

●Dec. 10, 2012: Ordinance 1487 waives traffic impact fees for two years  

●Jan. 1, 2015: Ordinance 1579 extends the waiver another year.

Source: Crestview Growth Management Department

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Crestview's transportation impact fees are calculated by a formula involving vehicle miles traveled, cost per vehicle-mile of capacity, and credits involving miles per gallon and motor fuel taxes.

Businesses that attract more customers are estimated to cause more wear and tear on public streets. Some typical fees collected before the fee waivers are:

Fast food restaurant (per 1,000 square feet)

$27,000 transportation cost

$13,200 fuel credit

$13,800 for impact fee

Furniture store (per 1,000 square feet)

$517 transportation cost

$253 fuel credit

$264 impact fee

Single family residence (per dwelling unit)

$3,448 transportation cost

$1,686 fuel credit

$1,762 impact fee

Source: Crestview Code of Ordinances

IMPACT FEES AT WORK

Residents will soon see benefits of traffic impact fees collected before the three-year waiver went into effect, Public Works Director Wayne Steele said.

"The impact fees that we had collected are what we're using for the Crestview Corners connector road," he said. "The plans are complete and everything is done and we're ready to bring it to the City Council for approval."

The connector will remove some State Road 85 shoppers' traffic between Hospital Drive and Redstone Avenue East by directing it through the shopping center that includes Big Lots and Bamboo Sushi.

Public Works crews will handle construction, which may start within two months. Of the total estimated $60,000 cost, $23,000 was approved for plans and permitting.

WANT TO GO?

The Crestview City Council will hold a special meeting 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at city hall to discuss traffic impact fees.

CRESTVIEW'S IMPACT FEES REDUCTIONS

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview ponders extending traffic fee waiver or letting it expire

CRESTVIEW — Loved ones are mourning the loss of a former Crestview councilwoman, real estate agent and Shalimar’s first female mayor.

Kathleen Bowman — who died Nov. 24 at 88 years old — served on the Crestview City Council from 1999 to 2003, and was named council president in 2002.

She ran for mayor in 2003, but George Whitehurst won the election. She ran again for city council, unsuccessfully, in 2005.

While politically active, Bowman was renowned for standing up for her beliefs.

In December 2002, following voters’ approval in a referendum, she led an effort to display historic documents — including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Ten Commandments — in city hall. The Ten Commandments effort drew the ire of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

The same year, Bowman joined a unanimous council vote to keep the rebel battle flag flying over the Confederate veterans memorial, which led to the NAACP's threat of an economic boycott.

Former city councilwoman Linda Parker, who served with Bowman, said she "was steadfast with her convictions. She was a fighter. She tried to see things through to the end.”

Bowman and Parker — who joined Brenda Bush, Sam Hayes and Bill Kilpatrick on the City Council — "were on the first woman-majority council,” Parker said.

"We stayed really busy then," she said, noting Bowman helped implement facilities and services residents enjoy today, including constructing the Crestview Public Library, the Crestview Community Center and Children’s Park in Twin Hills Park.

“She loved Crestview and was always trying to do things to improve Crestview and do things that were best for the community,” Parker said.

Bowman and her late husband, Fred, opened Fred Bowman Realty in Crestview in 1968 after Fred retired from a military career that took the family to Germany in the 1950s. Kathleen Bowman remained active in the business until her reluctant retirement at the end of 2013.

Before moving to Crestview in the 1990s, Bowman served as a Shalimar city councilwoman in the early 1970s, mayor in the late 1970s, and street and road commissioner in the 1980s.

Until she died, Bowman was under Emerald Coast Hospice's care.

Family visitation is between 2 and 4 p.m. today, Nov. 27, with her funeral at 4 p.m. at Crosspoint United Methodist Church, 2250 P.J. Adams Parkway.

She will be buried in a private ceremony at Barrancas National Cemetery at Naval Air Station Pensacola on Monday.

“She’s definitely going to be missed,” Parker said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Funeral scheduled for former Crestview councilwoman, Shalimar mayor