CRESTVIEW — The City Council will try to jumpstart the Crestview Power Center, a 144-acre retail project on pause after the landowner demanded more than the $1.25 million impact fee relief the city had provided.

At a special meeting Tuesday night, the council unanimously agreed to hold a June 4 workshop with all involved parties to try to resolve the impasse.

The proposed mall is part of an agreement between the city, landowner Beach Community Bank, and developers of the Redstone Commons residential development and Bishops Landing assisted living facility.

The partnership would fund a new sewer line and lift stations to replace an existing line that is at capacity, precluding any growth in the area north of Interstate 10.

The city turned to Beach Community Bank for easements on property it owns north and east of Lowe's to complete the project. The City Council approved the partnership in August 2011.

A 'deal killer'

As the project began last August, Beach Community Bank's engineer, Darrell Barnhill, sent Public Works director Wayne Steele an email stating the bank's $1.046 million city impact fees would be a "deal killer," according to Steele.

The fees, calculated by the bank, were nearly the same amount as the cost of Florida Department of Transportation-mandated improvements to State Road 85, Steele said.

In February, Beach Community Bank requested a waiver of $554,730 in city sewer utility impact fees. However, those fees could not legally be waived, Steele said.

"It is my opinion that Beach Community Bank or Mr. Barnhill is now using the easements as leverage because they overlooked the cost associated with D.O.T.-required improvements to Highway 85," Steele wrote in a report to the council.

"This is just my opinion, but I find it interesting that the D.O.T. requirements are almost the exact same amount as their water and sewer impact fee total."

Redstone Commons and Bishops Landings have met their obligations under the agreement and deserve city sewer and water services, Steele said.

If Beach Community Bank can't work out an agreement with the city, Steele said an alternative plan would be a $585,000 upgrade to another existing line using city-owned easements.

Making it work

Council members have sought ways around the impasse.

Mayor David Cadle and Fire Chief Joe Traylor said public safety impact fees could be reduced if the Power Center's fire suppression systems reduced the impact on Traylor's department.

"This is something the city has been looking for for years," Councilman Mickey Rytman said. "Over the long term, the tax base from retail sales is going to even out" losses in impact fees.

"I don't think any member of our council or any city representation is opposed to this project," Council President Robyn Helt said, adding that the current and previous city councils worked diligently to see the project through to fruition.

"I think the council's willingness to put a moratorium on traffic impact fees to the tune of more than $1 million shows our commitment to the project," Helt said.

Though his department has an alternative plan in case an agreement isn't reached, Steele said his recommendation is to work with the bank, obtain the needed easement and "move forward."

"We do want to find a happy medium for this easement," Beach Community Bank senior vice president Scott McCormick said.

Want to go?

The Crestview City Council will discuss the Crestview Power Center project during a June 4 workshop at 4 p.m. at City Hall.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City Council schedules workshop to revive retail center project

CRESTVIEW — Explaining that Crestview's building permit fee schedule does not cover actual expenses, building official Jonathan Bilby presented proposed revisions to the fee schedule to the city council.

Speaking at a Monday afternoon workshop, Bilby said there is an annual shortfall of more than $62,000 between fees taken in by the city's Building Division and the actual cost of reviewing plans and doing inspections.

The shortfall is covered by tax dollars, Bilby said.

"We have to go back to the general fund and every taxpayer is having to help cover this," Councilman Mickey Rytman said.

Bilby asked the council to revise the city's fee ordinance and use the Florida Building Code instead.

He also recommended taking a processing fee when a developer first applies for permits to cover administrative costs. Under the current procedure, if the developer cancels the project, the Building Division cannot recover any expenses it had already incurred.

Bilby also recommended rounding fees to the nearest dollar to make it easier to estimate fees for developers. Under the current fee structure, for example, a 200-square-foot home addition would incur total fees of $282.58.

"Our base permit fees are the absolute lowest in the county," Bilby said, recommending fees more in the "mid-level" range to alleviate a burden to taxpayers while not discouraging growth.

Bilby's recommendations included adding a plan review fee; lowering reinspection fees; addressing expired permits; revise electrical fees; and adding fees for changing electric hot water heater, fire sprinkler adjustments or additions fee, and a $10 charge for faxing permits.

The revised ordinance is almost read, Bilby said. He wants to seek input from the Building Industry Association before bringing it to the city council, probably within a month.

"Addressing permit fees can help us provide for a balanced budget and help pay for training and education we're required to have," Bilby said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview to consider revising building permit fees

LAUREL HILL — The City Council is questioning Okaloosa County commissioners’ proposed gas tax increase.  

The board of commissioners recently sent letters to each of the county’s nine municipalities asking council members for input on whether to increase the tax to pave and repair roads.

Councilman Larry Hendren on Thursday called the increase into question, stating the proposal was vague with no specific information.

"There are many unknowns right now," he said. "I personally don't support any tax increase at all, especially if it’s a shot in the dark."

Hendren proposed writing a letter to the commissioners asking for the specific increase amount and the increase’s purpose.

 Councilman Clifton Hall agreed, and motioned to write a letter requesting explanation of the proposed increase.

The council unanimously voted in favor of creating the letter and sending it to commissioners at an undisclosed time.

Commissioner Nathan Boyles had proposed raising the gas tax 3 cents and suggested allocating the revenue to 10 projects across Okaloosa County.

The council had unanimously voted in favor of extending for a year a funding distribution agreement of the county fuel tax. 

The county will continue receiving 60 percent of fuel tax income; municipalities will receive the remainder.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill council questions proposed gas tax increase

CRESTVIEW — Ruth Jenkins, a Crestview physical therapist, along with the American Physical Therapy Association, recently lobbied to repeal a Medicare cap on physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services.

The group also met with Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson's healthcare legislative assistants.

Congress in 2006 passed legislation that limited outaptient services available for Medicare Part B beneficiaries.

Current limits are $1,900 for occupational therapy and $1,900 for physical and speech services.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview physical therapist seeks end to Medicare outpatient caps

LAUREL HILL — The City Council on Thursday unanimously selected Preble-Rish Inc. to serve as the grant writer and engineering firm to handle public improvement grants.

The firm, which has an office in Fort Walton Beach, will help the city secure grants to upgrade the water system and Gene Clary Park, City Clerk Nita Miller said. 

The Community Development Block Grant, if secured, would fund road repair work for city streets.

In addition, city leaders approved a resolution that would amend the city’s water service payment plan. The mayor can set a base price and payment schedule to help some residents afford connection and impact fees, under the resolution. 

Click here for a copy of the resolution>>

Also, the council unanimously voted to award a $1,000 scholarship to Laurel Hill School senior John Cunningham.

Among the deciding factors were Cunningham's grade point average, school involvement and financial need, city leaders said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill selects engineer, allows water payment plans (DOCUMENT)

CRESTVIEW — City Clerk Betsy Roy has called a new city facilities rental fee schedule "simpler, easier and more fair across the board.”

The fee schedule — which the city council unanimously approved April 22 — delineates rental charges for the Crestview Community Center, Warriors Hall in the Whitehurst Municipal Building, and the Old Spanish Trail Park amphitheater.

Though the rental schedule was simplified, eliminating per-hour charges, most fees increased. For example, the Community Center rental period expanded to four hours at $200 per event without food served, as opposed to the previous fee of $100 for two hours and $20 per additional hour.

As under the previous schedule, rentals for events at which food is served are slightly higher, with the Community Center now renting for $300 for four hours. Only catered food can be served at Warriors Hall, which lacks a kitchen.

Refundable deposits on all three facilities were standardized to $100 or $200 for events at which alcohol is served. Only non-profit organizations may sell alcohol on city property.

New city facility rental fees

The Crestview City Council’s newly adopted fees are effective May 1. Rental applications are available at the city clerk's office in city hall.

Deposits:$100 per regular rental; $200 for events at which alcohol is served. Only non-profit organizations may serve alcohol.

Community Center

                    0-4 hours     4-8 hours     8+ hours      2-day rental

No food:      $200            $300            $400            $500

With food:   $300            $400            $500            $600

Warriors Hall

                    $100            $200            $300            $400

Old Spanish Trail Amphitheater

                    $75              $150            $200            $300

Old Spanish Trail Park and Twin Hills Park picnic pavilions and gazebos: $10 reservation fee

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Most Crestview city facility fees increase following council action

CRESTVIEW — It took nine months and countless hours’ research, but for the first time in 15 years, city officials and staff members can glance at a map and see Crestview’s boundaries.

The City Council on Monday unanimously accepted the updated map and approved having future updates incorporated into the document within 30 days of approved changes, such as annexations.

See a full size copy of the map here.

Teresa Gaillard, the Administrative Services Department's mapping analyst and city planner, spearheaded the project to produce an accurate city map.

“…She went back and researched all the ordinances and everything," City Clerk Betsy Roy said. "Now, going forward, she'll be able to update the map without going through the council. Now it can be updated whenever there's an annexation."

City attorney Jerry Miller expressed concern for the lack of an updated city map when he started his position in spring 2012. Monday, he called failure to update the old map a "ministerial deficiency."

"Knowing exactly where your city limits are and having them described in a uniform way is critical to so many jurisdictional issues," he said.

He called the previous map, which lacked updates on annexations, comprehensive plan amendments and rezoning, "an absolute heyday for any (legal) challenges."

From 2004 to 2010, the city has more than doubled in acreage, but updates to the previous map had not kept pace with the city's growth, Roy said.

Land surveyor Kermit George produced Crestview’s last comprehensive map in 1998; it was sporadically but not comprehensively updated, Roy stated in an agenda brief.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview map shows city's 15-year growth (MAP)