City a 'great risk' and liability, researcher says

CRESTVIEW — “Great risk” was the central theme during a Monday evening Crestview City Council meeting.

The council, city leaders and department heads heard qualitative findings and recommendations from Larry Harris of Mason-Dixon Polling and Research. Harris’ research was the leading tool in a redevelopment assessment of Crestview, funded by Pensacola businessperson and consultant Quint Studer.

Harris, based on consultation and research, recommended Crestview adopt a council-manager form of governance. This form of government creates an administrator role held by a nonpartisan individual to conduct day-to-day administrative tasks using prior knowledge and experience.

Elected officials under a council-manager government would focus on policy planning and development, while the manager would focus on facilitating and supervising public programs.

Harris conducted a study of Crestview’s political and legislative standing and discussed these findings with various experts from across the country.

Harris' recommendation of shifting to a council-manager structure—used by over 3,500 municipalities across the country—was based on a review of literature and best practices outlined by the Florida League of Cities, Center for Florida Local Government Excellence, Florida City and County Management Association and the International City/County Management Association. 

Furthermore, Harris held in-depth interviews with elected city officials, department heads, business owners and community leaders, and regional and state economic development professionals.

Mayor David Cadle and several, unnamed council members support the structure change. Several department heads, also unnamed, expressed “anxiety and concern about the current structure,” according to the report.

Additionally, several business owners and community leaders viewed Crestview’s current model as a threat to progress and their business future.

“The city of Crestview’s current form of government and existing organizational structure and operations present a substantial risk to the ethical, efficient, effective provisions of [city] services and the stewardship of taxpayer funds,” the studies summary of findings read.

What are the stakes?

“The risk to health, life and safety,” Harris said.

“The square mile of blight around [Crestview] city hall, every pile of garbage is standing water and that’s Zika when it makes it up here,” Harris said. “[Crestview] has buildings with collapsed roofs, with broken-down fences, occupied dwellings with bedrooms with plywood boards on them but [Crestview] doesn’t have building codes, which is another risk to life and safety.”

The research supported creation of a Charter Review Commission, which would facilitate creation of a new city charter.

Additionally, it supported establishment of an administrative board to advise and oversee city structure, procedures and operations management in anticipation of a new charter. This board would consist of the mayor, a single member of City Council and a certified city manager consultant.

The transition to a council-manager government would require a voter referendum, which could be completed via mail ballots, according to the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux. This would prevent the city from having to wait for elections in 2018.

No issue or matter was up for a council vote during Monday’s meeting and they opted to decide on the review commission during a March 13 meeting. The delay would provide the council additional opportunity to consult with regional cities that use a council-manager government, such as Fort Walton Beach.

“[Mason-Dixon and Studer Institute] are trying to push us to do something,” City Attorney Ben Holley said, pointing at Harris. He advised the council to take its time to further research and explore the findings of the study.

Cadle agreed that more research was necessary for a post-meeting interview.

“We have to get it right this time,” Cadle said, referencing previous failed attempts to modify the city structure. Cadle cited his desire for community input on the matter but didn’t comment on what forum or setting such an input would occur.

“My purpose (Monday) was to put on the public record that the city is at risk based on empirical research and the opinions of experts in the field,” Harris said. “They need to have a sense of urgency and make that priority one. [Crestview] voters deserve better.”

Melissa Simpson, a Crestview resident and local Realtor, urged leaders to consider what Harris discussed during the meeting’s public comment portion. Simpson feared residents would leave for other areas if problems aren’t resolved.

Joe Barley, another Crestview resident, opposed the changes proposed through Harris’ research. He argued that the people in the town make it a place worth living in.

The City Council’s meeting to discuss its next course of action will be at 6 p.m. on March 13, in the council chambers of City Hall.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story stated that numerous organizations endorsed the council-manager structure of government for Crestview, based on Larry Harris' statement. That is not the case and we have updated the article.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City a 'great risk' and liability, researcher says