🐾 New PAWS contract approved with a rate increase to $6 per resident
🏟️ $7 million recreation complex expansion delayed over funding concerns
🗳️ Two charter changes move forward on election timing and city official pay
FORT WALTON BEACH — The Fort Walton Beach City Council on Oct. 14 approved a new animal control contract, delayed a multimillion-dollar recreation complex expansion and advanced two proposed charter changes on election timing and pay for city officials.
Here is what you need to know.
The Fort Walton Beach City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 14 to renew its animal control services contract with the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), increasing the city’s per capita payment rate from $5.50 to $6.
City Manager Jason Davis said the one-year agreement, covering Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, was reviewed and approved by the city’s legal team.
“We’ve worked through the numbers, we have a one-year contract in place,” Davis said. “It takes us from our previous contract of $5.50 per capita based on 22,000 residents and brings us up to $6 per capita. The county is at $6.50, so that’s where we based our math.”
Davis noted that PAWS Executive Director Tracy Williams was unable to attend the meeting due to an emergency. He added that PAWS remains the only viable provider for the city’s animal control needs.
Councilmember Payne Walker raised questions about how residents report animal issues and how dispatching is handled. Police Chief Robert Bage clarified that the police department coordinates closely with PAWS.
“Generally, if you call the police department with a concern, we’ll take care of it and make the secondary phone call for you,” Bage said. “Nothing stops somebody from calling PAWS direct. Part of the new contract is we’re going to do a little bit more on the enforcement side with the ordinances.”
Councilmember David Schmidt and others discussed concerns about verifying billing and recordkeeping. Davis said the city will look into improving oversight.
The motion to approve the renewed PAWS contract was made by Councilmember Logan Browning and seconded by Councilmember Bryce Jeter, passing unanimously.
The Fort Walton Beach City Council voted 5–2 on Oct. 14 to delay awarding a $7.06 million contract for the long-planned recreation complex expansion on Hollywood Boulevard, citing concerns over financing, maintenance costs and the city’s 3 percent property-tax cap.
Public Works Director Daniel Payne presented the bid recommendation to award the project to Gum Creek Farms Inc. of DeFuniak Springs. The plan includes a 2,000-square-foot recreation office, new restrooms, four multi-purpose fields, five open-air pickleball courts and expanded parking.
“It’s a little bit over $7 million — that’s a lot of money,” Payne said, adding that staff sought a reduced design from earlier versions and recommended a $100,000 disposal contingency for possible buried waste on the brownfield site.
Finance Director Nicole Nabors told council that while the Tourist Development Council (TDC) is open to funding part of the future debt, it would not cover all costs.
“They are willing to help fund the future debt payments for us,” Nabors said. “However, they will not fund 100 percent. … The city will have to make up the rest.”
Merrell and Walker urged caution, noting uncertain revenues and the city’s recent $5.1 million draw from reserves. Walker said, “It just seems like a whole lot of moving parts and pieces … I’m just not feeling cool about this whole expansion.”
Supporters, including Schmidt and Jeter, cited tourism benefits. “Sports tourism is a big business,” Schmidt said. “People are traveling here because of this recreation complex.”
Following the inital vote that 2–5, Merrell made a secondary motion to allow city staff to work with the TDD and present financing options to the council, that motion passed 6-1, with Walker voting no.
The Fort Walton Beach City Council voted 5–2 on Oct. 14 to include the mayor’s position in a proposed charter amendment that would establish compensation for elected officials, with a recommendation to set the mayor’s pay at double the council stipend.
Browning initiated the discussion, saying the city’s charter currently outlines council compensation but does not specify the mayor’s.
“I wanted to specifically put the mayor’s in there and open it up for discussion,” Browning said.
Mayor Nic Allegretto said the role is more demanding than a council seat.
“I’d say an average of one to five events a week is what I’m averaging now,” Allegretto said. “It is a much more taxing situation as far as just travel and presence of being at things.”
Riley supported adding the position, saying the mayor’s public demands warrant consideration.
“You’re called upon all the time,” Riley said. “It’s a lot of work, a lot of energy … I’m 100 percent supportive of compensation.”
Burns explained that existing charter language distinguishes between the mayor and council, making clarification necessary.
“Because there was no previous provision that paid both council and the mayor, it needs to be clear it’s the mayor and city council,” Burns said.
Schmidt opposed the change, citing a 2024 referendum in which voters rejected compensation.
“The voters told us they didn’t want that,” Schmidt said. “It’s a volunteer position, and I’ll honor that.”
The measure passed 5–2, with Schmidt and Walker opposed.
The first of two readings required to add the proposed amendment to a ballot is expected at an upcoming meeting, before possible inclusion on a future ballot.
The Fort Walton Beach City Council voted 5–2 on Oct. 14 to move forward with a proposed referendum that would let voters decide whether to move city elections from March to the statewide general election cycle in November of even-numbered years.
Burns said the shift would not extend any current terms.
“The elections will happen in November, even years, and then the actual terms will begin the next April,” Burns said. “By doing it that way, no one’s term would be extended.”
Under the proposal, seats one through four, elected in 2023, would next appear on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, with terms beginning April 1, 2027. Seats five through seven and the mayor’s office, elected in 2025, would be on the Nov. 7, 2028 ballot, with terms starting April 1, 2029.
Schmidt, who made the motion, said the referendum gives residents the chance to decide.
“The proposed referendum ordinance gives the people the opportunity to choose whether or not they want to move it,” he said, adding that voter turnout has averaged around 11 percent. “I’d like to see that number go up.”
Browning and Merrell opposed the measure. Browning said, “We still don’t have the means or anything to do our own election if [Supervisor of Elections] Paul Lux doesn’t want to do it.”
Merrell added, “When you get 20 bullet points down the ballot, our local issues get drowned out.”
Public comment was split. Former Councilmember Kirby Locklear warned of “voter fall-off,” while resident James Liebowitz argued, “By moving the election, you’re choosing quantity over quality.”
The ordinance will return to council at a future date for review. If approved, the item will be up for discussion twice before being put on a future ballot
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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