Destin City Council (Nov. 17, 2025): Contracts awarded; RTCC outreach and city-camera integration directed; Harbor CRA phasing referred

(Note: Individual speakers will be limited to 3 minutes. At the discretion of the mayor, this 3 minute allowance may be adjusted depending on the level of business coming before the City Council)

On August 4, 2025, Justin Goff, on behalf of the Goff Family Trust, submitted a Harbor and Waterways Board Application for the removal of an existing dock and the construction of a new residential dock. The application, HWB-001658-2025, was applied for under a commercial marina in error, and was later applied for under HWB-001693-2025. During review of the application, it was determined that the proposed dock and boathouse extended approximately 95.6 linear feet (LF) from the Mean High-Water Line (MHWL). Per the City of Destin Land Development Code (LDC) Section 11.05.01.F, docks may not be constructed to a length greater than 20% of the width of the waterway. LDC Section 11.05.01.F states the following: No new or existing dock shall be constructed or modified such that the length of any pier as completed is greater than 20 percent of the width of the Harbor or waterway at the place where the pier is located, or out 200 feet, whichever is less, except in Choctawhatchee Bay. The waterway at the proposed location (Marler Bayou), according to the site plan, is 381.9 LF wide. Accordingly, the maximum allowable dock length is 20% of that width, or 76.38 LF. As a result, the applicant resubmitted plans to comply with the regulation above, proposing a dock measuring approximately 76 LF in total. The applicant seeks approval from City Council for a residential marine construction project proposing a new residential dock with: Total Square Feet: 2,330 SF Total Number of Piers or Docks: 1 Total Length: 76 Total Slip Density: 2 Located in the Destin Harbor: No | attachments=7 | reports=1

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On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Deputy Pierce with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office provided information to the advisory committee on the crime within the Harbor CRA, as well as information regarding the existing real-time crime center program. | attachments=1 | reports=1

Utility Consultants of Florida (UCOF) has previously prepared a utility undergrounding approach for the City that identified seven zones, which was approved by City Council. Each zone is estimated to cost $14M to $18M to complete. The zones do not have to be done in any particular order. At the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Monday, March 3, 2025, Utility Consultants of Florida gave a presentation to update Council on the Undergrounding Project, as well as to discuss Phase 2, which is currently the Highway 98 corridor, from Airport Road continuing east to Matthew Boulevard. Councilmember Bagby moved to maintain the phases in numerical sequence as presented, which was seconded by Councilmember Hebert and passed with a vote of 6-1. | attachments=3 | reports=1

The City of Destin issued Request for Proposals (RFP 25-11-PW) seeking qualified firms to provide Disaster Debris Monitoring Services in support of post-disaster recovery operations. The selected contractor(s) will provide monitoring of debris removal, temporary debris management site operations, truck certifications, and FEMA compliant documentation to ensure proper reimbursement under the Public Assistance Program. The contract (3-year with two possible 1-year extensions) is a pre-event, as-needed agreement activated in the event of a natural or man-made disaster requiring debris clearance and disposal. Five firms submitted proposals: Debris Tech, LLC Rostan Solutions, LLC SDVO Monitoring Services, LLC Tetra Tech, Inc. Volkert, Inc. All five proposals were determined responsive and complete, including the required Exhibits A–P, addenda acknowledgments, and insurance/bonding certificates. | attachments=7 | reports=1

The City of Destin issued Request for Bids (RFB 25-13-PW) for the Mattie Kelly Outfall Project, which includes the installation of a new stormwater outfall structure, road reconstruction, and related drainage improvements. The project is part of the City’s stormwater capital improvement program, aimed at improving flood control, water quality, and stormwater conveyance in the Mattie Kelly Park area. The bid was publicly advertised and made available through the City’s procurement portal. Four (4) bids were received by the published deadline: C.W. Roberts Contracting, Inc. H & T Contractors, Inc. RBM Contracting Services, LLC ECSC, LLC All four bids were opened publicly and reviewed for responsiveness, insurance, bonding, and required forms. | attachments=6 | reports=1

The harbor channel requires regular dredging to maintain the ability of larger vessels to navigate safely in the harbor. A bathymetric study completed in the summer of 2025 identified that the navigational channel of the harbor is very shallow in places and the dredging of that area would substantially improve the ability of vessels to navigate in that area. The City Council added the Harbor Dredging Project to the FY26 Capital Improvement Program. The County has agreed to partner with the city on this project. An interlocal has been prepared that provides for a 50/50 split of costs, in an amount of $800k and then City is responsible for amounts over that. City to invoice County and County to pay within 30 days. | attachments=3 | reports=1

Council asked staff to look at options for improving the 4th Street right of way (ROW) between Beach Dr & Joe's Bayou. | attachments=2 | reports=1

The City Manager requested Code Compliance staff to provide a 2026 action report. | attachments=1 | reports=1

Richard Blasbichler, the trustee for 3420 Scenic Hwy 98 (Sea Oats Motel), contacted the City regarding the potential sale of the property for $18 million. Parcel ID: 00-2S-22-0580-000A-0120. | attachments=2 | reports=1

7/21/2025 : Councilmember Bagby moved to allow city employees the option to transition from the current thrift savings plan into the Florida Retirement System (FRS) beginning FY26, starting October 1, 2025; seconded by Councilmember Trammell. Motion passed 6-0 (Clouncilmember Schmidt was absent from the meeting). 8/18/2025 : In order to proceed with allowing City Employees the option to join Social Security and FRS, staff initiated the FRS join process which requires implementation via ordinance. Staff presented first reading of proposed Ordinance 25-19-CC - Amending Chapter 2 - Administration of the Code of Ordinances relating to city membership in the Florida Retirement System (FRS); providing for membership in FRS for the benefit of City of Destin employees. Councilmember Bagby moved to approve Ordinance 25-19-CC on first reading, seconded by Councilmember Trammell. The motion failed 2-3 (Council members Bagby and Trammell voted “yes”; Council members Schmidt, Hebert, and Geile voted “no”; Council members Braden and Destin were absent). 9/4/2025 : Councilmember Destin made a motion that employees be given authority to vote on whether they would like the Florida Retirement System (FRS) to be offered as an option for their retirement, thus allowing staff to make an informed choice rather than speculating about their preferences. Motion was seconded by Councilmember Trammell and passed 4-3 (Council members Destin, Bagby, Braden, and Trammell voted “yes”; Council member Geile, Hebert, and Schmidt voted “no”). 10/6/2025: Staff presented survey results to Council. Motion by Councilmember Braden, seconded by Councilmember Destin, to place on the next city council meeting agenda a “Motion to Rescind” the council’s previous action regarding Ordinance 25-19-CC, which authorizes the city to join the Florida Retirement System (FRS). The motion passed 6–1, with Councilmember Schmidt dissenting. 10/20/2025: Motion by Councilmember Braden, seconded by Councilmember Trammell, to rescind the council’s previous action regarding Ordinance 25-19-CC – Amending Chapter 2: Administration, of the Code of Ordinances relating to city membership in the Florida Retirement System, providing for membership in the Florida Retirement System for the benefit of city employees – passed 4-1, with Councilmember Schmidt dissenting. 11/03/2025: Councilmember Trammell moved to approve proposed Ordinance 25-19-CC on first reading, seconded by Councilmember Bagby. Motion passed 5-1, with Councilmember Schmidt dissenting, and Councilmember Hebert absent from the meeting. | attachments=1 | reports=1

On June 20, 2025, Governor DeSantis approved Senate Bill 784, which amended section 177.091, Florida Statutes, effective July 1, 2025. The new law requires that counties/municipalities administratively approve plat (or replat) submittals which comply with section 177.091, Florida Statues without requiring separate/additional City Council. | attachments=2 | reports=1

On April 5, 2021, City Council unanimously approved the scope of work and budget to completely rewrite the Land Development Code (LDC). Since then, staff and consultants from 3TP Ventures, have diligently advanced the project through comprehensive review and drafting. Major activities included: Review of Comprehensive Plan Policies Developing Planning Areas and their associated Intent Statements Review of the LDC text chapter by chapter Following extensive internal and public review since early 2023, the final staff draft of Article 1 was presented to the City Council at its workshop on September 23, 2024. Public comments and recommendations from the Local Planning Agency (LPA) and other boards have been incorporated. Staff used the discussion and guidance provided at the Council workshop and incorporated changes. Further refinements were made based on re-reviews by new incoming staff, and the LPA's recommendation of approval for Article 1 at their November 6, 2025 meeting. | attachments=3 | reports=1

Florida Statute Chapter 166.241 (8) provides that within a fiscal year or within 60 days following the end of the fiscal year a municipality may amend a budget for the year. Section 3.14 of the Charter of the City of Destin provides that at any time during the fiscal year the city manager may transfer all or part of any unencumbered appropriation balance among programs amongst departments. Council may also make such transfers via motion or resolution. The summation of all such transfers by the city council will be included in an ordinance prior to closing of the fiscal year. Our Budget Adoption ordinance also allows for prior year open encumbrances to automatically roll forward to become part of the newly adopted budget. In addition, our budget adoption ordinance and city charter allow for budget amendments to occur throughout the year. | attachments=2 | reports=1