Destin City Council approves Youth Council initiative, advances LDC and subdivision code updates; identifies $625,000 in operational savings

The City of Destin Annual Christmas Parade brings Christmas joy the 2nd Saturday in December @ 10:00 am. Mayor and City Council present the winners with a plaque at the first Council meeting following the parade. | reports=1

According to the Destin Youth Council By-Laws, the chairperson or their designee shall make a report to the Destin City Council of the activities and business of the Youth Council at least once each calendar year. | attachments=3 | reports=1

(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)

The original interlocal is dated February 3, 2025. The project needed to be delayed until this offseason, so the original interlocal requires an amendment providing an extension. | attachments=2 | reports=1

City Council established the East Pass Bridge Advisory Committee comprised of two members of the Harbor CRA Advisory Board, two members of the Harbor/Waterways Committee, and two members of the Public Works/Public Safety Committee. | reports=1

The Public Works Department has limited staff and is not equipped to perform concrete services. For more extensive projects, it is necessary to outsource the work to vendors who have the equipment, expertise, and personnel. | attachments=4 | reports=1

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Due to the intensive budget season and holidays, the city council previously directed city staff to propose regular meeting schedules for an upcoming calendar year tailored to address these potential limitations. Council Resolution 22–08 states that, "At a regularly scheduled meeting in December of each year, the city council shall adopt a resolution publishing the dates of its regular meetings for the next 12 months. This resolution adopting the meeting schedule may be amended from time to time at the council's discretion so long as it complies with the City's Charter and Florida Law. Generally, regular meetings will be held on the first and third Mondays of each month except for national holidays, which fall on a Monday, when the regular meetings will be on the next Tuesday. However, the council may adopt any regular meeting schedule for the next 12 months as it sees fit, so long as it schedules at least one regular meeting each month in accordance with the City's Charter. | attachments=1 | reports=1

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Announcements

The D estin O ptimization of G overnment E fficiencies (DOGE) program has been established to proactively identify and implement measures that improve operational efficiency, enhance accountability, and ensure fiscal responsibility across all City Departments. This initiative aligns with Council’s ongoing focus on transparency, data-driven management, and resident-centered service delivery. The DOGE framework mirrors recent state and regional reviews of local government operations, such as the Bay County audit model, covering areas including procurement, personnel compensation, property management, utilities, community services, and grant administration. | attachments=2 | reports=1

The City of Destin owns an unimproved waterfront right-of-way located at the end of 4th Street. Over time, the area has become heavily vegetated with invasive undergrowth, small-diameter trees, vines, and accumulated debris. The City Council directed staff to evaluate the cost and feasibility of clearing the property while preserving significant existing trees and preparing the site for future low-impact public use. The right-of-way also contains an existing gravel driveway that provides access to two private residences (700 & 702 Beach Drive). This driveway is to remain in place and protected throughout the clearing process. Long-term, the area is envisioned to serve as a small neighborhood “pocket park,” with possible amenities such as passive seating, natural shoreline views, and a walking path. | attachments=4 | reports=1

The Harbor & Waterways Board met on November 10th, the Harbor CRA Advisory Committee met on November 12th, and th Town Center CRA Advisory Committee met on November 19, 2025. Attached are minutes of these meetings. | attachments=3 | reports=1

On April 5, 2021, the City Council approved the scope of work and budget for a full rewrite of the Land Development Code (LDC). After internal and public reviews, beginning in early 2023, staff presented a draft of Article 3 to the City Council at its workshop on December 3, 2024 (see Background Article 3 December 3, 2024 Draft ). Incorporating the City Council’s input, staff created a final draft. Further refinements have been made based on re-reviews by new staff (see Background Article 3 Working Draft ). In addition to the staff report, the staff has provided: a draft ordinance and Exhibit A (proposed subdivision replacement article and the subdivision article to be replaced – struck through) background documents, the draft discussed at the city council workshop the current working draft, which includes the input from the city council workshop and the re-review conducted by staff a listing of changes, reorganizations, and consolidations This will be the format for all further submissions. | attachments=8 | reports=1

On April 5, 2021, the City Council approved the scope of work and budget for a full rewrite of the Land Development Code (LDC). After internal and public reviews, beginning in early 2023, staff presented a draft of Article 5 to the City Council at its workshop on December 3, 2024 (see Background Article 5 December 3, 2024 Draft ). Based on that input, staff created the “final draft”. Further refinements have been made based on re-reviews by new staff (see Background Article 5 Working Draft ). In addition to the staff report, the staff has provided: • a draft ordinance and Exhibit A (proposed subdivision replacement article and the subdivision article to be replaced – struck through) • background documents the draft discussed at the city council workshop the current working draft, which includes the input from the city council workshop and the re-review conducted by staff a list of changes, reorganizations, and consolidations This will be the format for all further submissions. | attachments=8 | reports=1

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