By DOTTY NIST
“The community’s vision for this destination” will be the topic for a Public Space Design Charrette that the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) has taken on as an upcoming project.
During the Feb. 3 TDC meeting at the South Walton Annex Jim Bagby spoke about the charrette along with other items on his “to-do list” as TDC executive director.
Bagby said the goal would be to look at “optimum use and aesthetics” for public space in south Walton County, not just along CR-30A but in other areas south of the bay. He mentioned such elements as location of roads, tunnels, roundabouts, parking, landscaping, and fences. “What do we want the destination to look like?” Bagby continued.
He noted that the TDC has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for professionals interested in facilitating the charrette. There is a closing date of Feb. 17 for applications. No date is set for the charrette at this time.
Bagby had an update on the TDC’s beach code enforcement staff. David Goodman, a former Texas state trooper, is the newest member of that staff, bringing the total number of beach code enforcement officers to three.
Bagby added that all three officers have now been certified to write parking tickets.
Maurice Gilbert, an outgoing TDC member who had served on the council for 14 years, was thanked and recognized for his service. Gilbert had served in an elected official seat on the council as a South Walton Fire District (SWFD) commissioner. Brian Christensen, also a SWFD fire commissioner, was welcomed to his first meeting in Gilbert’s former TDC seat.
There was also another farewell and service award, as Brad Pickel, coastal management consultant for the TDC, is terminating his contract with the county early, effective March 31. Pickel has also been associated with TDC for almost 15 years, first on staff and mostly recently in the capacity of consultant— with Pickel taking a leadership role with the Walton County Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction (WCH&SDR) Project.
Regarding that project, Pickel reported that the file on the state permit for the project had been completed and that the project was now “permittable on a state level,” although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) had requested a postponement of the state’s ruling on the permit, resulting in an abeyance until Aug. 18.
Pickel also commented on the over $10.5 million that Florida Governor Rick Scott had recommended for inclusion in the state’s 2015-16 fiscal year budget, noting that the amount represents over 40 percent of the $25 million that Scott had recommended for such projects statewide.
He added that the WCH&SDR Project had been one of just six such projects to receive federal authorization between 2007 and 2014.
Pickel pledged to continue to provide whatever assistance necessary with the project until the conclusion of his contract.
“This is your project…it is in your hands,” Pickel told the council members and staff.
Bagby’s request for a recommendation to pursue a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a new coastal management consultant for the TDC generated a lot of discussion. TDC member/District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows initially reacted that the RFQ would be “premature” since the county commission had recently voted to wait six months to determine whether the WCH&SDR project, in whole or in part, would be viable. According to BCC discussion, viability would rest on the number of property owners in the project area who consented to project construction easements soon to be sent out by the county.
Bagby responded that a coastal management consultant’s duties consist of much more than “just doing the federal project.”
He noted that the person in this position “serves as the interface” with the state agencies. “They are the scientist,” he said. Other tasks, Bagby commented, would be sending out the construction easements, posting properties for which an easement had been signed, responding to questions from the public, and possibly managing projects other than the WCH&SDR Project.
Bagby continued that possibly the consultant would not be needed on a day-to-day basis but that “you need that capability.”
In response to a question, Bagby said estimated that it would take approximately three months to get a new person on board in the position. He emphasized that we would be entering into hurricane season in a couple of months, arguing that it would be “egregious” not to have the services of a coastal scientist at that time.
After additional discussion the council members voted to recommend Bagby’s request with the understanding that the scope of services for the position would be in line with the BCC decision to put off a determination as to whether the WCH&SDR Project would be undertaken. Bagby agreed with federal project oversight being deleted from the scope, with the understanding that the position would still include some tasks associated with the project such as answering questions and mail from the public on the project.
It was noted that salary for the position, and whether the consultant would be on retainer or would work on another basis, would be determined depending on responses received from the RFQ.
Regarding the state funding for the WCH&SDR Project, Miramar Beach resident Suzanne Harris pointed out that the legislature would be voting on the funding and that the state legislative session would be almost completed by the time the county would be making a determination on pursuing the project. She warned that this funding could well go to other viable projects in the state. Harris expressed doubt that Walton County would end up getting the $10.5+ million.
Harris also commented that “a tremendous amount” of money had been raised to oppose and stop the WCH&SDR Project and that a mailing in opposition to the project would probably “hit the mail today.”
Other action at the meeting included a recommendation for renewal of a $23,850 annual contract with the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and Northwest Florida State College providing for eco-tours to be offered to the public in Walton County to improve the area as a nature-based tourism destination.
In addition, the members voted to recommend a $40,000 expenditure as part of a Visit Florida co-op program with NBC Sports and Golf Channel. The program is to promote “golf and destination assets in Walton County.” The media value of the program was estimated at $225,500.
At Bagby’s request, there were also recommendations to spend $5,000 or less to engage an architect for landscaping at three gateway entrances into the destination—and to spend $11,983 for a pottery shed and electrical upgrade at the Bayou Arts Center for a pottery kiln donated by local resident Tom McGee.
TDC action items are subject to final consideration by the BCC in public session.
