Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Upcoming
Special Magistrate - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
Special Magistrate - Regular Meeting
Community Redevelopment Agency - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
Local Planning Agency - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
Community Redevelopment Agency - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
Recent meetings
City Council - Regular Meeting
The City Council will vote on a major development order for a 100-unit senior living center at 27 Robinwood Drive SW, along with a related amendment to the Bayside Breeze workforce housing agreement. Other items include ordinances to allow commercial use of shipping containers, adopt the FY 2026-27 CDBG Annual Action Plan, and add a five-year DROP option for police officers' pensions. Consent items include up to $250,000 for the Steamboat Landing demolition and acceptance of a $5,550 Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant for the library.
- Major development order for 100-unit senior living center at 27 Robinwood Drive SW
- First amendment to Bayside Breeze Apartments development agreement
- Up to $250,000 for Steamboat Landing demolition project
- Ordinance 2218 amending mayor and council benefits in City Code Section 6.03
- Ordinance 2219 adding five-year DROP option for police officers' pension fund
City Council - Special Meeting
The City Council will discuss and set the proposed maximum ad valorem millage rate for FY 2026-27 and schedule the required public hearings. Based on preliminary assessments, the city's taxable value increased 3.75% to $2,511,529,806. Maintaining the current rate of 4.3282 mills would generate a 3.48% revenue increase in the General Fund and 5.16% in the CRA Fund. The rates set at this meeting are the maximum allowable for the coming fiscal year.
- Set proposed maximum millage rate for FY 2026-27 (current rate 4.3282 mills)
- Schedule public hearings on millage and budget: Sept 9 & 23, 2026 at 5:01 p.m.
- Projected taxable value increase of 3.75% ($90,868,717) to $2,511,529,806
- Revenue increase of $288,801 in General Fund and $84,832 in CRA Fund if rate unchanged
- Preliminary tax roll assessments attached for review
Community Redevelopment Agency - Regular Meeting
The Community Redevelopment Agency will vote on approving a $110,256 dumpster enclosure project and review bid proposals for the Steamboat Landing demolition. The board will also discuss a community engagement scope for the Walter Martin Streetscape project and consider a proposal for downtown holiday decorations. Updates on the Vandergriff Park gateway entrance and nuisance/blight mitigation are on the agenda.
- Recommend approval of Dumpster Enclosure project for $110,256
- Review bid proposals for Steamboat Landing demolition
- Discuss Walter Martin Streetscape Community Engagement and Concept Design scope from Kimley Horn
- Consider proposal from The Lighting Company for downtown holiday decorations
- Update on nuisance/blight mitigation at 230, 232, 240 Miracle Strip Parkway SW
Special Magistrate - Regular Meeting
The Special Magistrate will conduct quasi-judicial hearings on one code enforcement case (CE-25-34-PR, where staff recommends issuance of an Order II) and ten police citation hearings for school zone speeding violations detected by RedSpeed cameras, with staff recommending each citation be upheld and fines imposed. The meeting also includes approval of prior meeting minutes and withdrawal of complied cases.
- Code enforcement case CE-25-34-PR – staff recommends issuance of an Order II
- RedSpeed citation hearing for Duane Jerome Davis (Notice 2032400088842585)
- RedSpeed citation hearing for Jordan Albert Hadley (Notice 2032400074688387)
- RedSpeed citation hearing for Melissa Jean Johnson (Notice 2032400094259712)
- RedSpeed citation hearing for Haley Waddell Letcher (Notice 2032400091671594)
City Council - Workshop
The City Council will hold a workshop to discuss the 2026-27 budget, including potential outsourcing or elimination of services such as sports providers, daycare, senior programming, fireworks, and the library. They will also consider revenue generation ideas like parking fees, rec center fee increases, a municipal rental property enterprise fund, and a fire assessment. A list of city properties will be reviewed for surplus or sale.
- Discussion of eliminating or outsourcing sports providers, daycare, senior programming, fireworks, concerts, parades, chamber, EDC, pool, online billing, and library
- Revenue generation topics: parking/ramp usage, rec center fees for residents, municipal rental property & brokerage enterprise fund, rate study, fire assessment/MSBU/MSTU
- Review of surplus property list for potential sale
- Concepts: P3 for library and other sites, enterprise fund fee increases, millage cap discussion (CPI + 3%, flat 6%)
- List of city properties attached with deed restrictions and uses
The workshop addressed a projected $500,000 budget gap under the voter-approved spending cap. No formal votes were taken; council directed staff to return with additional information on outsourcing youth sports, daycare, and senior programs, as well as exploring fees and operational changes. Council unanimously supported remaining in the library business and exploring relocation or public-private partnerships.
- Unanimously supported continuing library operations and exploring relocation/partnerships
- Directed staff to bring back outsourcing model for youth sports (soccer, baseball, football)
- Directed staff to bring back outsourcing model for daycare program
- Directed staff to bring back outsourcing model for senior programming
- Directed staff to return with total overtime costs for fireworks, concerts, and parades
- Directed staff to bring back funding options for Chamber/EDC/grant agreements
- Directed staff to return with implementation details and savings for online-only utility billing
- Directed staff to bring back information on increasing non-resident recreation fees and exploring parking/boat ramp fees
City Council - Regular Meeting
The City Council will hold public hearings on several land-development code amendments, including allowing commercial uses of shipping containers and removing minimum roof pitch requirements. The council will also consider a response to a county letter requesting refunds of school speed zone fines, and discuss consolidation efforts and budget caps for the upcoming fiscal year. A consent agenda item includes awarding a $150,000 sanitary sewer lining contract.
- Award of FY 2025-26 sanitary sewer lining services to Gulf Coast Underground, LLC for $150,000
- First reading of Ordinance 2215 to allow commercial uses of shipping containers
- Second reading of Ordinance 2211 to remove minimum roof pitch and overhang requirements
- Conveyance of surplus property north of Lewis Turner Boulevard to Okaloosa County
- Response to county letter recommending denial of school speed camera fine refunds
Local Planning Agency - Regular Meeting
The Local Planning Agency will consider a variance request to reduce building height compatibility standards at 27 Robinwood Drive SW, with staff recommending denial. The board will also recommend two ordinance amendments: Ordinance 2215 to allow commercial uses of shipping containers, and Ordinance 2216 updating development permit requirements. The meeting includes approval of previous minutes and public comments.
- Variance request to reduce height compatibility standards at 27 Robinwood Drive SW (staff recommends denial)
- Ordinance 2215: amending Land Development Code to allow commercial uses of shipping containers
- Ordinance 2216: amending Land Development Code regarding development permits and exemptions
- Approval of minutes from May 7, 2026 meeting
- Public comments (none recorded at previous meeting)
City Council - Workshop
This is a workshop meeting of the Fort Walton Beach City Council. The only substantive item is a townhall discussion regarding park ordinances and the use of electric outlets at city parks. No votes or final decisions are scheduled.
- Townhall discussion on park ordinances and electric outlet usage at city parks
Special Magistrate - Regular Meeting
The Special Magistrate will hear four code enforcement cases, including a request to authorize a nuisance abatement, and 15 police citation hearings for school zone speeding violations. Staff recommends upholding all citations and imposing fines. The meeting also includes approval of prior meeting minutes.
- Code enforcement case CE-26-302-NUS: staff recommends authorization for nuisance abatement
- Code enforcement case CE-24-730-NUS: staff recommends issuance of Order II
- Code enforcement case CE-25-1213-SA: staff recommends issuance of Order I
- Code enforcement case CE-26-223-FA: staff recommends issuance of Order II
- 15 RedSpeed citations for school zone speeding, including multiple citations for Kory Ikaika Wiggins and Steven Arthur Campbell
City Council - Regular Meeting
The City Council will vote on Resolution 2026-10 committing $2,700,000 from half-cent surtax revenues to FDOT for design of the Around the Mound transportation alternative. Other items include first readings of ordinances to convey surplus property north of Lewis Turner Blvd to Okaloosa County and to remove minimum roof pitch/overhang requirements from the Land Development Code. The Council will also consider awarding a five-year auditing contract to Warren Averett, LLC and authorizing an extension of a workforce housing funding agreement for 28 and 30 Windham Avenue SE.
- Resolution 2026-10: $2,700,000 commitment to FDOT for Around the Mound design
- Ordinance 2214: conveyance of surplus property north of Lewis Turner Blvd to Okaloosa County
- Ordinance 2211: removing minimum roof pitch and overhang requirements from residential design standards
- Award of annual auditing services to Warren Averett, LLC for five years (June 2026–May 2031)
- Authorization to draft extension of workforce housing funding agreement for 28 and 30 Windham Avenue SE
The City Council adopted Resolution 2026-10, committing $2.7 million from half-cent surtax revenues to the Florida Department of Transportation for design of the Around the Mound transportation alternative, with $675,000 to be reimbursed by Okaloosa County. The vote was 6-1. The Council also unanimously approved the consent agenda and an agenda amendment. No other substantive decisions were made; the meeting included proclamations, recognitions, and public comments.
- Adopted Resolution 2026-10 committing $2.7M to FDOT for Around the Mound design (6-1)
- Approved consent agenda including April 21 and 28 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Amended agenda to move Item 13.4 after Item 10.1 (unanimous)
City Council - Special Meeting
The City Council holds a special meeting to consider and vote on a settlement in the lawsuit Tosha Lowery-Vanderford vs. City of Fort Walton Beach (Case No. 2025-CA-001252). The agenda includes an executive session before the vote. No other substantive business is scheduled.
- Vote on settlement of Tosha Lowery-Vanderford lawsuit (Okaloosa County Case No. 2025-CA-001252)
The City Council held a special meeting to discuss pending litigation in executive session. Upon returning to public session, they voted unanimously to authorize settlement of the Tosha Lowery-Vanderford lawsuit for $42,500, with the plaintiff releasing all claims and dismissal with prejudice. The council also unanimously approved the agenda.
- Approved $42,500 settlement for Tosha Lowery-Vanderford lawsuit (5-0)
- Approved agenda as presented (5-0)
Local Planning Agency - Regular Meeting
The Local Planning Agency will hold quasi-judicial hearings on two land development code amendments. Ordinance 2211 would remove minimum roof pitch and overhang requirements from residential design standards. Ordinance 2213 would update pre-application conference rules to comply with new Florida statutes. The board will also approve prior meeting minutes and hear public comments.
- Ordinance 2211: removes minimum roof pitch and overhang requirements from LDC Section 4.01.02 Residential Design Standards
- Ordinance 2213: amends LDC Section 9.01.02 to add pre-application review provisions per Florida Statutes §163.3169
- Approval of minutes from the April 2, 2026 regular meeting
The Local Planning Agency voted unanimously to recommend two ordinance changes to the City Council. Ordinance 2211 removes minimum roof pitch and overhang requirements from residential design standards, citing modern alternatives. Ordinance 2213 amends pre-application conference rules to comply with a new state law. Both recommendations were forwarded without opposition.
- Recommended Ordinance 2211 removing minimum roof pitch (3:12) and 3-foot overhang requirements from LDC Section 4.01.02 (unanimous 4-0)
- Recommended Ordinance 2213 amending LDC Section 9.01.02 for pre-application conferences to comply with Florida HB 927 (unanimous 4-0)
- Approved meeting agenda as presented (unanimous)
- Approved minutes of April 2, 2026 meeting (unanimous)
City Council - Regular Meeting
The City Council will hold second reading votes on ordinances to re-establish maximum height standards in mixed-use zoning districts and update permissible uses in Community Facilities and Mixed Business/Manufacturing districts. They will also consider accepting a $295,866 state immigration enforcement grant, updating utility deposit requirements, and approving a sole-source purchase of $109,577 for underground power lines at 132 Miracle Strip Parkway SW. Discussion items include a proposal to contract with the Sheriff's Office for dispatch services and the school zone photo enforcement ordinance.
- Second reading of Ordinance 2209 to re-establish maximum height standards in mixed-use zoning districts
- Second reading of Ordinance 2208 updating permissible uses in Community Facilities and Mixed Business/Manufacturing zones
- Acceptance of $295,866 FDLE immigration enforcement grant (Resolution 2026-07)
- Sole source purchase of $109,577 for relocating power lines underground at 132 Miracle Strip Parkway SW
- Discussion of contract with Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office for full-time dispatch service
The City Council rescinded a previous motion to request full-time dispatch services from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. They also failed to initiate the repeal of the school zone photo enforcement program. However, they approved a contract for animal control services and a resolution to accept an FDLE immigration grant.
- Rescinded motion to request dispatch services from Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office (4-3)
- Failed to initiate repeal of school zone photo enforcement program (3-4)
- Approved PAWS contract for animal control services (unanimous)
- Approved Election Services Agreement with Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections (unanimous)
- Authorized award of ITB 26-004 for resurfacing tennis and pickleball courts (unanimous)
- Passed motion to contact special interest groups for 2027 budget input (6-1)
- Directed staff to identify a financial expert for cemetery care fund analysis
- Adopted Resolution 2026-07 to accept FDLE Immigration Grant Award Funding
City Council - Special Meeting
The City Council will convene an executive session to discuss the pending lawsuit FWB Watch Group v. City of Fort Walton Beach (Case No. 2025 CA 000115). Following the closed session, the council will reconvene and vote on a proposed settlement of the litigation.
- Executive session to discuss lawsuit FWB Watch Group v. City of Fort Walton Beach, Case No. 2025 CA 000115
- Motion to vote on settlement of the same lawsuit
The City Council unanimously adopted a motion to settle a pending lawsuit involving the FWB Watch Group and authorize the filing of a stipulated motion to end the case. The settlement includes a permanent injunction on the results of specific ballot questions.
- Agenda approved unanimously
- Executive session held regarding FWB Watch Group v. City of Fort Walton Beach
- Settlement of FWB Watch Group v. City of Fort Walton Beach adopted unanimously
- Litigation attorney authorized to file stipulated motion and order
Community Redevelopment Agency - Regular Meeting
The Community Redevelopment Agency will receive updates on several projects, including the patriotic fire hydrant project, downtown pressure washing, dumpster enclosures, power line relocation at 132 Miracle Strip Parkway SW, Vandergriff Park lighting, Chester Pruitt Park CPTED upgrades, and Steamboat Landing demolition. The board will also consider proposals for the Vandergriff Park Gateway Entrance and review the 2025 CRA Annual Report.
- Status update on CRA Patriotic Fire Hydrant Project
- Update on CRA Downtown Pressure Washing Services
- Update on Relocation of Power Lines at 132 Miracle Strip Parkway SW
- Presentation and discussion of proposals for Vandergriff Park Gateway Entrance
- Presentation of the 2025 CRA Annual Report
The Community Redevelopment Agency accepted the 2025 Annual Report and approved routine procedural items. Staff updated the board on several downtown and park projects, including a fire hydrant art installation, dumpster enclosures, and power line relocation funding. The board voted unanimously to send the Vandergriff Park Gateway Entrance sign design back out for bid after discussing cost, durability, and maintenance concerns.
- Approved agenda unanimously
- Approved February 24, 2026 minutes unanimously
- Accepted 2025 CRA Annual Report unanimously
- Voted to re-bid Vandergriff Park Gateway Entrance sign unanimously
- Noted power line relocation funding agreement to be presented to City Council
- Delayed Steamboat Landing demolition bid opening pending clarification
City Council - Special Meeting
The City Council will hear a proposal from the NAACP to amend the city charter and change how council members are elected, with options for three or four district seats (plus a possible five-district option). The council will decide whether to bring back a formal ordinance at the April 28 meeting.
- NAACP Okaloosa Branch #5633 presents a Representative Governance Model Proposal
- Three-district and four-district charter amendment ordinances are attached
- A five-district option may also be presented by the NAACP
- City attorney requests direction on whether to proceed with an ordinance at the April 28 meeting
The City Council heard a presentation from the NAACP Okaloosa Branch proposing a hybrid single-member district and at-large council system, but took no formal action. The meeting included extensive public comment and council discussion, with some members expressing support for the current at-large model and others raising concerns about representation. No vote was taken on the charter amendment or any related ordinance.
Special Magistrate - Regular Meeting
The Special Magistrate will conduct quasi-judicial hearings on two code enforcement cases and ten police citation hearings for RedSpeed school zone speeding violations. Staff recommends upholding all citations and imposing fines. The meeting also includes approval of minutes from the March 18 meeting.
- Code enforcement case CE-25-201-PR – staff recommends Order II
- Code enforcement case CE-26-223-FA – staff recommends Order I
- RedSpeed citation hearing for Philip Morton Carroll (3 notices)
- RedSpeed citation hearing for Jaymie Lee Greek
- RedSpeed citation hearing for Richard Brian Hawkins
City Council - Regular Meeting
The City Council will hold first readings of two ordinances amending the Land Development Code: one updates permissible uses in Community Facilities and Mixed Business/Manufacturing districts, and the other re-establishes maximum height standards for all mixed-use zoning districts. The council will also consider awarding a $227,082.60 contract for Fire Station 7 roof replacement and discuss purchasing the reverter clause for City Hall. Other items include a mutual aid agreement with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office and a response to a county letter regarding a school zone camera.
- First reading of Ordinance 2208 amending permissible uses in Community Facilities and Mixed Business/Manufacturing districts
- First reading of Ordinance 2209 re-establishing maximum height standards for all mixed-use zoning districts
- Award of ITB 26-002 for Fire Station 7 roof replacement to Bel-Mac Roofing, Inc. for $227,082.60
- Authorization to negotiate purchase of reverter clause associated with City Hall at 107 Miracle Strip Parkway SW
- Law enforcement mutual aid agreement between Fort Walton Beach Police Department and Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office