WALTON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
May 13, 2014
4:00 PM Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag
Call to Order
Consider Additions/Deletions
Approval of Agenda with additional and/or deletions
Public Comments – please limit comments to five minutes or less
Items removed from Consent Agenda for further discussion
Approval of Consent Agenda
1. Clerk’s Items:
1. Approve Expenditure Approval List (EAL)
2. Approve Minutes of April 22, 2014 Regular Meeting and May 1, 2014 Emergency Special Meeting
3. Approve Investment Report for quarter ended March 31, 2014 as requested by the Clerk’s Office
2. Administrative Items:
1. Appoint David Smith, Citizen appointment, to the Value Adjustment Board
3. Budget Amendment Resolutions/Transfers:
- 1. Request to approve budget amendment in the amount of $20,637 for Corrections and Animal Control general/professional liability and vehicle insurances that were transferred to the Sheriff
- 2. Request to approve budget amendments in the amount of $48,741.50 from TDC Improvements to cover cost of the change order for the TDC Visitor Center restroom design change and $23,850.00 from Product Development for the CBA/Kellogg Agreement
- 3. Request to approve a budget transfer in the amount of $55,000 from Public Works maintenance account to buildings for additional funding to complete the construction of the Public Works building addition, parking lot and drainage improvements
- 4. Agreements/Contracts:
- 1. Request to approve the Child Support Service of Process Grant Agreement CST66 with the Department of Revenue
4:05 PM Larry D. Jones, County Administrator
- 1. Administration
- a. Request from Rene Youell, Attorney for Liberty Fire District, to allow Liberty Fire District place a referendum to increase their Annual Non-Ad Valorem Special Assessment on the Ballot for the August 26, 2014 Primary Election
- b. Request to advertise for RFP for Document Management Services
- c. Request to allow ISO access to Walton County Fire Rescue to determine protection rating
- d. Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District Appointment
- e. Parking lot lease at the NE corner of CR 393 and CR 30A at Ed Walline Park
- i. Lease Agreement for additional summer season parking
- f. Consider Brian Brigman’s submission regarding the proposed development in the Mossy Head Industrial Park
- g. Request to review and approve the contract with Brigman Properties, LLC for real property located in the Mossy Head Industrial Park
- h. Request to apply for Federal Economic Development Grant for Mossy Head Industrial Park Waste Water Treatment Facility
- i. Request to approve Administration’s proposal to move forward with the property acquisition and construction of a Sports Complex to be located in South Walton County
- j. Request to approve Florida Department of Transportation Classification Map and for the Chair to sign letter of approval
- k. Approve a Resolution extending the Local State of Emergency for an additional seven days
- l. Approve a Resolution recognizing Emergency Medical Services Week of May 18-24, 2014
- m. Approve a Resolution recognizing Public Works Week of May 18-24, 2014
- 2. Public Works
- a. Request to advertise for construction bids for the widening and resurfacing of CR 3280 from Magnolia Lodge Road to SR 20 – project funded by the Small County Assistance Program (SCRAP)
- b. Request to advertise for construction bids for the widening and resurfacing of CR 1084 from SR 187 (US 331) to SR 83 – project to be funded by the County Incentive Grant Program (CIGP)
- c. Request to approve and award ITB #014-008 for the purchase of 7 Tri-Axle Dump Trucks, to the low bidder, Tampa Truck Center in the amount of $114,993.00 per truck
- d. Request to rescind Fuel Bid #014-005 previously awarded to low bidder, Mansfield Oil Company on February 24, 2014, due to the services provided to the County do not meet the requirements set forth in the bid documents and request to recognize the alternate fuel supplier, Retif as the primary fuel supplier
- e. Request to reject Bid #014-013 received from McLean Tennis Courts for Helen McCall Park. Only one bid response was received and the bid came in higher than amount budgeted
- f. Request to approve and award Bid #014-011 for the widening and resurfacing of CR 183 from south I-10 to SR 81, to low bidder, CW Roberts in the amount of $2,172,997.34 – project funded by the Small County Outreach Program (SCOP)
- 1. Results of Beach Vendor/Turtle Watch Workshop
- 2. Request to research additional beach accesses
- 3. Updates
- 1. Request to approve a Ride-Along Agreement with Chipola College
- 2. Request to approve a Ride-Along Agreement with Northwest Florida State College
- 3. Request to approve a Ride-Along Agreement with Washington-Holmes Technical Center
- 4. Approve Contract for EMS Billing Services with EMS Consultants
- 5. Request to hold a Special Meeting for a Public Hearing on May 20, 2014 at the South Walton Courthouse Annex at 4:00 PM to adopt the proposed Amended Roadside Fundraising Ordinance
- 6. Request to hold a Special Meeting for a Public Hearing on May 20, 2014 at 4:00 at the South Walton Courthouse Annex at 4:00 PM to adopt the proposed Noise Ordinance
- 7. Request to approve the Engagement Letter dated April 22, 2014 with Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP
- 8. Request to approve the Engagement Agreement with the Warner Law Firm
- 9. Request to reschedule and continue the Sandestin DRI Compliance Hearing to June 6, 2014 at 9:00 AM at the South Walton Courthouse Annex
- 1. South Walton Sports Complex
4:55 PM Commissioner Bill Imfeld, District Three
5:00 PM Commissioner Kenneth Pridgen, District Two
5:05 PM Chairman W.N. “Bill” Chapman, District One
- 1. Request to hold a Joint BCC/Planning Commission Workshop to discuss the US 331 Corridor Guidelines
- 1. Bonnie Perry – new construction causing property damage – 780 Bayshore Drive
- 2. Kevin Boyle – Annual South Walton 4[SUP]th[/SUP] of July Parade
Agenda Recap - Staff Review of Directives
5:20 PM Planning and Development Services
- 1. Request direction regarding DEO Letter dated April 24, 2014 – Ordinance 2014-06 Sandestin DRI E2 Change DO Amendment
- 2. Announcement of Special BCC Meeting to hear Legislative and Quasi-Judicial Items on May 20, 2014 at 4:00 PM at the South Walton Courthouse Annex
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Recreation and Parks
Request from Walton County for additional Public Beach Access to Topsail Hill
Preserve State Park
Walton County in conjunction with the Cypress Dunes Subdivision Homeowners
Association and the Topsail Village Homeowners Association requested that the
Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP) consider an additional public beach access
at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. The concept included creation of a new
pedestrian entrance and trailhead near the state park’s southeast corner and
construction of a boardwalk from that point to the park’s beach. The potential
access would serve the residential areas along SR 30A and east of the Preserve as
well as the general public. Staff of the Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP) met
with representatives of Walton County, Cypress Dunes and Topsail Village at the
potential access point to discuss potential improvements and alternatives.
Potential Public Access Concept Description
The potential access would be located in the southeastern portion of the park off of
Sandstone St. Access to the trailhead would be provided via a county easement
across the streets and alleyways of the Beachview Heights subdivision. Specifically
access to the trailhead would likely occur along Tanglewood Drive and Sandstone
Street. Bicyclists and pedestrians would travel on the Timpochee Trail, a paved
multi-use trail that runs parallel to Scenic 30A and would cross the highway at an
established signalized crosswalk. From the crosswalk visitors would turn south onto
Tanglewood Drive then continue south and eventually east along Sandstone Street.
A trailhead would be created on park property and include an interpretive kiosk,
bicycle rack and honor box. Access to the park would be restricted to pedestrians
only. Park visitors would enter the park through a pedestrian gate located at the
trailhead then travel over a constructed boardwalk onto the park’s beach.
Resource Description and Assessment
DRP Biologists have evaluated the potential impacts of the proposed trailhead and
access route to park resources. This evaluation indicated that the entire area of
beach dune and relatively open canopy scrub that lies south of Sandstone Street
and the Cypress Dunes Subdivision is habitat for the state and federally endangered
Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus). The beach dune and open
sandy areas to the north and west of the proposed access provides primary habitat
for an extant population of beach mouse. The area that would be traversed by the
proposed boardwalk is vitally important refugia for survival of the beach mouse
population following hurricanes and tropical storm events.
The construction of an additional access point within the park would further
fragment the available nesting and foraging habitat for snowy plovers (Charadrius
nivosus) and other imperiled shorebirds (e.g., least terns). It would also increase
the potential for conflict between park visitors and shorebird nesting and foraging 2
activity. Additionally, an unintentional consequence of many beach access
boardwalks is the creation of elevated perches for avian predators of imperiled
shorebirds. Existing DRP policies concerning pets will need to be strictly enforced.
Free-ranging dogs and cats pose a significant threat to both imperiled beach mice
and shorebirds. Currently DRP allows dogs in the park as long as they are on a
leash, however a more strict “no pets allowed” policy may be considered for this
area.
Other imperiled species are found within the vicinity of the proposed access. These
include gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), large-leaved jointweed
(Polygonella macrophylla) and Gulf Coast Lupine (Lupinus westianus). These
species often require actions or protection in addition to the natural systems
management that the Florida Park Service employs. Imperiled species management
is a coordinated effort of US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Florida Natural Areas Inventory
(FNAI), U.S. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (USDACS) and DRP.
Further consultation with the FWC and the USFWS on the potential impact to
imperiled animal species will be required as the project moves forward.
In addition, to concerns regarding imperiled species, the disturbance from the
construction of a boardwalk or the continual use of on grade paths would provide a
potential corridor for exotic plants to invade the preserve. Boardwalk construction
within the beach dune community will also disturb the natural dune contours
exposing them to unnatural wind currents and increased wind erosion.
Scrub is a fire dependent natural community that can burn during drought periods.
It should be noted that while naturally occurring fire in the coastal scrub is unlikely,
wildfires occurred at the park three times between 2002 and 2009. A wildfire
burned the entire scrub area south of Sandstone Street and the Cypress Dunes
Subdivision in the early 1990s, before it was acquired as a state park. The repeat of
a wildfire with anthropogenic ignition, like the one in 1994, could result in the
destruction of permanent facility improvements such as the proposed boardwalk.
The park currently uses mechanical treatment methods to provide fuel reduction
along established fire lines between the park and adjacent properties.
The park has yielded little evidence of prehistoric habitation; however, several
archaeological sites have been identified within the state park. The area was
utilized by the timber and the naval stores industry into the late 20th century. Any
ground disturbance or construction within the state park would trigger the need for
further investigation, including cultural resource surveys, in order to gauge
potential impacts to the park’s cultural resources.
Design Factors and Permitting
Any potential expansion of public access to the state park must provide for the
health, safety and welfare of state park users; and, all facilities must be
constructed to the standards and characteristic style of the Florida State Park
System. Facilities must comply with the guidelines in the 1991 ADA Standards for 3
Accessible Design, which includes universally accessible materials and standards.
Furthermore, materials and construction must be suitable to withstand
environmental conditions that are natural to the park, including exposure to
extreme heat, sun, saltwater, high winds and seasonal storms. Facilities within the
state park must also withstand the natural community management protocols
implemented by DRP, including prescribed fire. Park staff, volunteers, law
enforcement and other personnel require unrestricted access to all facilities, trails
and roadways for maintenance and operations activities.
Any potential improvement project must comply with the permitting requirements
of relevant local, state and federal agencies. Walton County building codes, zoning
and wetlands setback ordinances will apply. DEP coastal construction permitting will
be required for dune boardwalks. Environmental regulatory permits will be required
for wetland impacts and stormwater management. Consultation and permits from
the FFWCC and USFWS will also be required for impacts to federal and state
imperiled species. The feasibility and cost of obtaining necessary permits is not
addressed in this report. Preliminary design, engineering and permitting studies
would be needed to develop a project scope and generate more precise costs,
including permitting fees and potential mitigation costs.
In order to limit resource impacts, the facility type preferred for the potential
access is an 8’ wide elevated boardwalk similar to the one that provides beach
access at Deer Lake State Park (see attached photos). The proposed boardwalk is
approximately 1650 linear feet. The cost estimate is based on a standard wood
boardwalk with top-down construction. However, due to the topography and other
potential design variables a 20% contingency has been added. The cost estimates
presented are preliminary and intended to be used as a planning tool for illustrating
the potential cost of the concept. The actual number and type of facilities,
boardwalk materials and alignment, project scope and related costs can only be
determined following stakeholder and public input and completion of an in-depth
site analysis, environmental impact assessment, cultural resources survey and
necessary engineering studies.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Recreation and Parks
Office of Park Planning
TOPSAIL HILL PRESERVE STATE PARK
Legend
kj Potential Trailhead
Access via county easement
Proposed beach access
Park Boundary
0 125 250 500 750 1,000
Feet
´Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Summary of Cost Estimate - Potential Beach Access Boardwalk
Facility/ Construction Type
Unit Cost Unit Cost
Units Cost
Safe Crossing (typical treatment) $15,000.00 lump sum 1 $15,000.00
Trailhead Facilities
Stormwater $6,000.00 lump sum 1 $6,000.00
Honor box $500.00 each 1 $500.00
Bicycle rack $600.00 each 1 $600.00
Kiosk $1,200.00 lump sum 1 $1,200.00
Beach Access Boardwalk
Cultural Resource Survey $5,238.00 lump sum 1 $5,238.00
10' wide elevated boardwalk $280.00 l.f. 1,650 $462,000.00
Preliminary Cost
20% Contingency
25% Survey, Design, & Permitting
Estimated Total Cost $711,280.10
$122,634.50
$98,107.60
$490,538.00