A substantial portion of the meeting revolved around the budget for lifeguard services, which had not seen an increase since 2007. The fire department representative outlined the necessity of this funding to maintain beach safety, stressing the challenges in getting increases approved due to the lack of an automatic adjustment mechanism. The council members deliberated on this issue, acknowledging the importance of beach safety and the need for updated funding to address increased operational costs.

A motion was presented to approve the $282,000 budget for lifeguard services. The debate included discussions on the need for clear itemization of expenses, similar to those provided for the sheriff’s department budget. There were also suggestions to seek additional funding from large condominium complexes, although past attempts had seen limited success.

Another topic was the management of Parks and Recreation funds, specifically addressing the playground renovation at the Morgan Sports Center. The council considered reallocating funds from other projects such as artificial infields, field netting, and community center window projects to facilitate the playground upgrade. This discussion included a motion to execute an internal budget transfer of $17,995 for the playground renovation, utilizing an Omnia contract that allowed the city to “piggyback” on a procurement process completed by another entity. The council debated the risks of not obtaining multiple bids, emphasizing transparency and competition in contract awards.

The broader Parks and Recreation budget was also scrutinized. For fiscal year 2023, the department had an $8.4 million budget but had expended or encumbered $15.2 million. Unspent funds, particularly those related to a beach acquisition that did not close, were discussed, along with the renewal and replacement segment of the budget. The council aimed to balance immediate project needs with long-term financial planning and maintenance responsibilities.

Budgetary discussions extended to the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget, presented by the Finance Director. The proposed budget was set at $65.3 million, a 3.9% increase from the previous year. Notable reductions included $400,000 in personnel expenses, encompassing cuts in salaries and benefits, and a freeze on 3.83 full-time equivalent positions. The council also considered the cost implications of potentially bringing median maintenance in-house versus contracting it out, with previous bids yielding limited responses.

The council discussed several capital projects, including the continued development of Crystal and Tarpon Beach parks, harbor dredging, and the MD Kelly outfall project. The five-year Capital Improvement Plan allocated 96% of the $61.6 million to strategic plan items, with the remaining 4% for projects discussed in previous meetings. The council addressed issues with existing parking lot lights at Morgan Sportsfield, where frequent breaker trips required staff intervention.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the acquisition of new mowers and the maintenance of athletic fields and medians. The council debated the necessity of purchasing multiple mowers, ultimately proposing a motion to limit purchases to a maximum of three within the next year.

The council also discussed property taxes, noting a tentative tax increase of 7.89%, and the distribution of state-shared revenues. Comparisons with Crestview illustrated that Destin’s state-shared revenues were lower, and proposals to count tourists as part of the population for funding purposes were considered.

Staffing needs within the IT department were another focal point, with discussions on maintaining a fourth position amid ongoing software transitions and increasing workloads. The necessity of additional support in the Public Information Office (PIO) was also highlighted, with suggestions to hire specialized consultants rather than additional content creators.

The meeting concluded with discussions on budget allocations for the community center and Morgan Sports Center, emphasizing the urgency of addressing repairs and lighting needs. A motion to reallocate funds for these projects ultimately failed, leading to a call for further budget discussions in future meetings.