City town meeting to decide parks plan
FROM STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Gulf Breeze City Council members scheduled the annual town meeting for May 5 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall. Amemo from city staff invites "Please attend and bring your suggestions on how the city can improve services and on how the city can save taxpayer dollars."

Gulf Breeze City Hall is located at 1070 Shoreline Drive and the phone number is 850-934-5100.

A first reading was held during Monday night's Gulf Breeze City Council meeting on an ordinance to establish a police and emergency service response (PESR) user fee for police response to vehicle accidents.

Police Chief Peter Paulding explained "PESRs are being introduced across the state. Though the average response time for police in the city is two minutes, a 10-year average of wrecks shows they take about 45 minutes of an officer's time. There is a short form report, but the long forms where this is road obstruction or injury take a great deal of research and work. That translates into time our officers spend."

Paulding recommended a $215 fee for out-of-city residents and business vehicles not registered in the city.

City counsel Attorney Matt Dannheisser advised the council that the individual ticketed in the wreck would be assessed the fine, and they would then file a claim with their insurance company.

Nearly 400 wrecks per year occur within the city limits and are investigated.

Council, acting as the Board of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) also approved hiring Kenneth Horne & Associates for storm water improvements and road repairs on Daniel Drive. The area is flood-prone, and both school property and St. Ann and Gulf Breeze Presbyterian churches are affected.