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Council accepts $4,766 FDLE grant, vacates Perry Avenue easement and adopts noise and platcode updates
Summary
The council unanimously accepted a federal JAG grant to equip officers with tactical first aid kits, vacated a 10‑ft ingress easement at 206 Perry Ave SE, and adopted amendments to the city’s noise rules and land development code to comply with state law.
Fort Walton Beach City Council approved several routine but substantive items in its meeting, including a small state grant for police equipment, a property easement vacation, and two ordinances affecting downtown noise and plat procedures.
Police first‑aid grant: Chief Beige asked the council to accept a Florida Department of Law Enforcement JAG award of $4,766 to buy tactical first aid kits for officers. He described kit contents as medical supplies for immediate care — “quick clot, chest seals, [and] bandages” — and clarified there are no controlled drugs in the kits. Councilwoman Berry moved to accept Resolution 2025‑15; the motion passed unanimously.
Easement vacation at 206 Perry Avenue SE: Tim Gibson presented an ordinance (2192) to vacate a 10‑foot ingress/egress easement that staff said no longer serves a public purpose because sidewalks and fencing now render it unusable. Gibson said the easement “really does not serve a public purpose” and staff recommended approval. Councilman Schmidt moved adoption; the ordinance was adopted unanimously.
Noise ordinance changes: On second reading the council approved Ordinance 2187 to revise Chapter 9.06 (Loud and Unusual Noises). Changes adopted included revised allowable hours in the downtown entertainment district (Sunday–Thursday activity cutoff at 11:59 p.m.; Friday and Saturday events can run until 2 a.m. the following day) and shifting a 6 a.m. start time to 7 a.m. to align with existing rules. Chief Paige and staff explained the edits; council adopted the ordinance unanimously.
Land development code updates: The council also adopted Ordinance 2189 (second reading) to amend plat procedures in the land development code to implement changes required by Senate Bill 784, assigning a local staff approval authority and clarifying timelines. Council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 2025‑15 (accept FDLE grant) — approved unanimously; Ordinance 2192 (vacate easement at 206 Perry Ave SE) — adopted unanimously; Ordinance 2187 (noise code amendments) — adopted unanimously; Ordinance 2189 (plat/administrative procedures) — adopted unanimously.
What’s next: Staff will implement grant procurement for the tactical first aid kits, record the vacated easement and proceed with any CRA coordination for site improvements, and publish updated code language following the adopted ordinances.
