Frost Jones, a resident of Harbor Landing, voiced strong objections during the public comment segment, labeling the purchase a “land grab.” Jones criticized the absence of public consultation in the decision-making process, emphasizing that taxpayer funds should ensure citizens have a say in how expenditures are managed. Highlighting the financial trajectory of the property, Jones noted its original purchase price of $10 million seven years ago and its current staggering valuation of over $20 million per acre. Concerns were also raised about the potential impact on traffic and public access if the land were developed into a state park with extensive parking facilities. In response to Jones’s inquiries about possible public action, a council member assured that there would be opportunities for public input before final decisions were made, although specifics about the notification process remained unclear.

This topic segued into discussions on local environmental efforts, particularly the collaboration between the City of Destin and the Chakahachi Basin Alliance (CBA) for the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System program. Kayla Wingard, the monitoring program manager for CBA, presented the organization’s initiatives, emphasizing their role in protecting and sustaining healthy waterways through monitoring, education, restoration, and research. Wingard highlighted collaboration with Destin Middle School, where students participated in growing and planting salt marsh grasses on a living shoreline, underscoring community involvement in environmental stewardship.

Wingard’s presentation also covered CBA’s water quality monitoring program, which includes monthly sampling at six stations in Destin. Despite generally acceptable levels of total phosphorus, nitrogen, and chlorophyll, an instance of elevated chlorophyll levels at one station in Indian Bayou raised concerns. Wingard mentioned ongoing monitoring of blue-green algae by the Florida Department of Health, but acknowledged the report did not specify the cause of the chlorophyll spike. This prompted a council member to inquire about state mandates on monitoring waterways for specific contaminants, to which Wingard directed their attention to the Department of Health’s Healthy Beaches program. The council member expressed concerns about the adequacy of monitoring during peak summer months when boat traffic increases.

The council also deliberated on the CBA’s pollution prevention initiatives, including a monofilament recycling program and an oyster shell recycling initiative. Wingard reported the successful collection of 25 miles of monofilament line and the diversion of nearly 90 tons of oyster shell from landfills to restoration projects. Plans to expand educational initiatives into local high schools and encourage community participation in vertical oyster gardening were also discussed.

In other meeting highlights, the council addressed an update on the Cross Town Connector project, a $2 million grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation. This agreement required council approval, which was unanimously granted, with procurement documents anticipated for the next meeting. Similarly, the council unanimously approved a related amendment to the FY26 budget, increasing capital grant revenues and expenditures by $2 million.

Attention then turned to property-related issues, notably a proposed land acquisition that faced negotiation challenges. The city was initially in talks with a seller, but the seller rejected an increased offer of $45,000, preferring $30,000 instead. The council discussed the possibility of increasing the offer to align with the appraised value, although concerns about the timing and completion of necessary public hearings and zoning changes were raised. A consensus emerged to attempt to increase the purchase price to the appraised value while extending the timeline for further negotiations.

Parking concerns were also a topic of discussion, particularly at Threadgill Park, where staff provided a cost estimate for creating 30 parking spaces. Due to delineated wetlands on the property, additional environmental assessments could increase costs and extend timelines. The estimated project cost was projected to reach between $15,000 and $20,000 per space, with a completion timeline of two to three years. The council opted to take no immediate action on this issue, maintaining the status quo while considering alternative proposals for additional parking spaces.

The meeting also involved a proposal to amend the city’s building code related to freeboard height requirements for homes undergoing renovations. The proposed change sought to remove an additional two-foot freeboard requirement for existing homes if the renovation cost was less than 50% of the home’s value. The council expressed interest in moving forward with legislative sponsorship of the proposed amendments, while addressing concerns about flood insurance implications.