A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

FEBRUARY 8, 2000

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, February 8, 2000, at 9:00 a.m., in the Training Room of the Lake County Administration Building, Tavares, Florida. Commissioners present at the meeting were: Welton G. Cadwell, Chairman; Catherine C. Hanson, Vice Chairman; Rhonda H. Gerber; Robert A. Pool; and G. Richard Swartz, Jr. Others present were: Sue Whittle, County Manager; Sanford A. Minkoff, County Attorney; Alvin B. Jackson, Deputy County Manager; Tad Stone, Senior Director, Emergency Services; James Mauney, Lake County Fire Chief; Geoff Beyer, Leesburg Fire Department; Mark O'Keefe, Florida Hospital Waterman-EMS; Wendy Taylor, Administrative Supervisor, Board of County Commissioner's Office; Barbara Lehman, Chief Deputy Clerk, County Finance; and Marlene S. Foran, Deputy Clerk.

AGENDA UPDATE

It was noted that there were no additions to the agenda.

PERSONAL APPEARANCES

WORKSESSION: FIRE UPDATE

Commr. Cadwell welcomed those present to the worksession on fire service in Lake County. It was noted that the following had been distributed prior to the start of the meeting: Original Staff Proposal for Levels of Service, July 1998/Updated Status Report as of February 3, 2000; Lake County Fire & Rescue Strategic Plan Outline; Volunteer Application Booklet; New Volunteer Orientation Booklet; New Employee Training Packet; and Orientation Booklet. He stated that he has received telephone calls from citizens expressing concern that the Paisley fire station was going to be closed and questioned if there has been any discussion about closing said station since the Board gave direction not to close the station.

Mr. Tad Stone, Senior Director, Emergency Services, appeared before the Board to present an update on fire service in Lake County and responded that there has been no discussion about closing the Paisley fire station. He directed the Board's attention to the Department of Emergency Services Original Staff Proposal for Levels of Service, July 1998, and Updated Status Report as of February 3, 2000 and discussed the basics of the original plan, and provided an overview of staffing and Lake County's fire stations. Mr. Stone discussed the purchase of property for a new station in the South Lake area. He stated that the South Lake area was expected to triple its population in the next five (5) years and Lake County was trying to meet that anticipated growth. He stated that a four (4) acre parcel has been purchased on S.R. 40 for the relocation of the Astor/Astor Park fire station and reiterated that there were no intentions of moving the Paisley fire station. He stated that land would be purchased for the relocation of the Minneola fire station in Fiscal Year 2002. Staff was looking at the impact and run volume in the Yalaha area; however, it has not been determined whether or not to move the Yalaha fire station at this time. He stated that current discussions were in progress with the City of Leesburg for joint staffing of a fire station at the Leesburg Airport for the Bassville Park area.

Mr. Stone discussed the Detail of All Stations for Astor, Altoona/Paisley, Pine Lakes, Sorrento, East Eustis (44-B Eustis Airport), Old 441 Mt. Dora, Lady Lake, Bassville Park, Plantation, Lake Jem, Yalaha, Clermont, Minneola, and South Lake. He discussed the Level of Service in 1998, the Proposed Level of Service and the Status on the proposed level of service, as follows:

Astor Area



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 1999: Fully staffed; joint staffing Fully staffed/24 hours per day

FY 2000: Purchase land Land has been purchased.

Altoona/Paisley



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 1999: Enhance volunteer commitment Altoona station to remain open with

FY 2000: Purchase land closer to SR 42 2 paid staff/24 hours per day.

and 439. Paisley station to remain open,

FY 2001: Relocate station 44 to new site. and staffed with volunteers.



Pine Lakes



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 1999: Fully staffed Fully staffed/24 hours per day



Sorrento



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 1999: Fully staffed Fully staffed/24 hours per day

Interlocal Agreement - Wekiva area Interlocal Agreement in progress.



East Eustis (44-B Eustis Airport)



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 1999: Maintain full staffing Fully Staffed

Joint ventures with Eustis and/or Mount Dora Mutual Aid Complete;

Interlocal Agreement in progress.

Old 441 Mt. Dora



Proposed Service: Status:



Discussions with Mount Dora and Tavares 7 Volunteers

Ongoing discussions.





Lady Lake



Proposed Service: Status:



Interlocal Agreements with Sumter and Fully staffed

Marion Counties Interlocal Agreement discussions.



Bassville Park



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 1999: Fully staffed Fully staffed

FY 2002: Purchase land Current discussions in progress to

FY 2003: Relocate Relocate to Leesburg Airport;

and discussions with Leesburg for joint staffing of station.



Plantation



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 1999: Open existing station Station open

Fully staffed Fully staffed

Joint staffing/Interlocal Completed

Agreement with Leesburg



Lake Jem



Proposed Service: Status:



Discuss joint venture at Bragg Complex 3 staffed

with Tavares Joint venture discussions.



Yalaha



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 1999: Fully staffed Fully staffed

FY 2000: Purchase land No plans to relocate at this time.

FY 2001: Relocate



Clermont



Proposed Service: Status:

Joint venture with Clermont Working on Interlocal Agreement.



Minneola



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 2000: Fully staffed Fully staffed

FY 2002: Purchase land

FY 2003: Relocate



South Lake



Proposed Service: Status:



FY 1999: Purchase land; build station Sites being considered

FY 2000: Fully staffed Fully staffed

1st Response Agreement-Osceola, Orange & Polk



Mr. Stone stated that during the past eleven (11) months staff has worked to make sure that the County has staff in place to meet the call load and demands of the system. He stated that staff has taken significant steps to bring the fleet up to an appropriate level and a number of pieces of equipment have been ordered, including ten (10) new engines that will be distributed throughout the system in both career and volunteer stations.

In response to a question presented by Commr. Hanson, Mr. Stone stated that there have been discussions on co-locating a library and fire station in the South Lake area.

In response to a request by Commr. Pool, Mr. Stone provided an update on the Bay Lake area and explained that, although the zoning was changed on the Kuharske property, the land was never conveyed or a lease was never developed. He stated that the Kuharskes have agreed to Quit Claim the deed with a reverted clause. Mr. Stone stated that Osceola County was also experiencing tremendous growth and was considering relocating their fire station in the area further inside the boundaries of Osceola County, and Lake County will not be able to provide coverage for the zones.

In response to a question presented by Commr. Cadwell, Mr. Stone stated that Lake County has developed a swap for services agreement with Volusia County for fire service for the Astor area.

In response to a question presented by Commr. Gerber, Mr. Stone stated that Lake County has an automatic mutual aid response agreement with the City of Leesburg for fire service in the Pennbrooke area, and the City of Leesburg was the primary first response unit. Commr. Gerber expressed concern with fire coverage for Continental Country Club and suggested that there was an opportunity for an interlocal agreement with Sumter County for fire protection for Continental Country Club.

Commr. Pool requested information on the cost to purchase the new fire trucks and suggested that staff take a look at purchasing used trucks in lieu of new trucks. Mr. Stone explained that the philosophy taken since he joined the County was to take a straight forward approach that a fire truck was an utility vehicle that carries water and equipment. He stated that the last fire trucks purchased prior to his arrival in Lake County were Pierce suburban type pumpers, at a cost of $210,000, without the equipment. He stated that the trucks that he has purchased for Lake County were International Freight Liners with a commercial chassis, interchangeable parts and easy to work on, at a cost of $148,000. He stated that an all wheel drive vehicle has been purchased for the Pine Lakes area. The newer vehicles that are being purchased are conventional and not all wheel drive; however, they are being ordered with a different rear end, transmission and higher horsepower engine. He noted that all wheel drive vehicles that will float water are located in almost all of the fire stations for functioning on sand roads.

Mr. Stone discussed the Lake County Fire & Rescue Strategic Plan Outline which identifies what the department needs to do and commitments that need to be considered in regard to Employee Safety, Quality in All Aspects, Public Image, Public Trust, Infrastructure, Community Involvement, Policies & Guidelines, Marketing Plan, Barriers to Movement, and Teams.

Mr. Stone briefly discussed the Volunteer Application Booklet, New Volunteer Orientation Booklet, Orientation Booklet, and the New Employee Training Packet. He noted that the cover of the Volunteer Application Booklet features Mr. Walt Zeiner, Central Florida Volunteer Firefighter of the Year 1999.

Chief Mauney discussed proposed state legislation for the certification of volunteer firefighters and explained that said legislation mandates a minimum standard of 160 hours for all volunteer firefighters. He stated that a group of individuals in the Central Florida area are currently addressing a rewrite of Chapter 633, Florida Statutes, and other statutes that accompany Chapter 633 that address volunteer training and other training. He stated that he would keep the Board informed on this issue and would reserve the right to ask the Board for assistance in the future regarding said legislation.

RECESS & REASSEMBLY

At 10:00 a.m., the Chairman announced that the Board would recess and reconvene at 10:20 a.m. in front of the Lake County Administration Building for the Space Needs Tour of County Buildings.

WORKSESSION - SPACE NEEDS TOUR OF COUNTY BUILDINGS

Commissioners present for the Space Needs Tour were: Welton G. Cadwell, Chairman; Catherine C. Hanson, Vice Chairman; Rhonda H. Gerber; Robert A. Pool; and G. Richard Swartz, Jr. Others present for the tour were: Sue Whittle, County Manager; Sanford A. Minkoff, County Attorney; James C. Watkins, Clerk of Circuit Court; Neil Kelly, Senior Chief Deputy Clerk; Mike Anderson, Senior Director, Facilities and Capital Improvements; Wendy Taylor, Administrative Supervisor, Board of County Commissioner's Office; and Marlene S. Foran, Deputy Clerk. The news media and one citizen were also present. It was noted that the Space Needs Tour would include a tour of the Lake County Judicial Center and the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

At 10:30 a.m., Mr. James C. Watkins, Clerk of Circuit Court, welcomed the Board, staff and guests to the Lake County Judicial Center and stated that Mr. Neil Kelly, Senior Chief Deputy Clerk, would be conducting the Space Needs Tour of the Public Defender's Office, State Attorney's Office, Clerk of Circuit Court's Office, Judges' Suites and Law Library. He asked that the Board observe the very crowded conditions in the Clerk's Recording Department.

Public Defender

Mr. Skip Babb, Public Defender, presented the tour of the Public Defender's Office on the fourth floor and stated that an increase in case load due to capital cases has resulted in boxes stacked along the hallways due to a shortage of storage space. He noted that all of the five county area was experience space problems. He stated that the Public Defender would prefer to remain in the Judicial Center and explained that it was very valuable to the attorneys to be in the same facility as the criminal justice system.

At this time, Mr. Mike Anderson, Senior Director, Facilities and Capital Improvements, informed the Board that options for expansion of a north wing, and the dollars associated with said expansion, would be presented at the Board Retreat on February 18, 2000.

State Attorney

The tour continued to the State Attorney's Office on the fourth floor and Mr. Hugh Bass and Mr. Pat Kicklighter presented the tour of the State Attorney's Office. Mr. Bass discussed a shortage of office space, and stated that an increase in case load has resulted in boxes stacked along the hallways due to a shortage of storage space. He noted that each case generates approximately 14 boxes of paper work prior to going to trial. Mr. Bass stated that two terminals would be added to the already crowded word processing room and noted that the hallways were being used for office work stations. He stated that the court reporters were now located off-site and were using their conference rooms and the Law Library for depositions. Mr. Bass stated that security would be necessary if the State Attorney's Office were to be relocated off-site.

Clerk of Circuit Court

The tour continued to the Clerk of Circuit Court's Office on the third floor and Mr. Neil Kelly, Senior Chief Deputy Clerk, and Mr. Scott Roti, Chief Deputy Clerk, Courts Management, presented the tour of the Clerk's Office. Mr. Kelly stated that the Clerk employees 120 employees in the Judicial Center and an additional 30 employees in other County buildings. Mr. Kelly called attention to the over crowded conditions in Computer Services, and the lack of storage space for Computer Services. He noted that every available space in the Clerk's Office was being utilized for a work station and noted that there were sixteen (16) employees in the Recording Department with three (3) employees located in workstations outside of the department.



Law Library/Judges' Suites

The tour continued to the Law Library and the Judges' suites on the second floor. Mr. Anderson stated that the architectural work has been completed for two (2) new Judges' suites using half of the Law Library space. He stated that the Judge's suites were 1,600 square feet in size and that the two (2) new suites located in the Law Library would be considerably less.

Court Room 8

The tour continued to unfinished Court Room 8 on the first floor. Mr. Anderson explained that Court Room 8 would be a civil court room only and construction would be completed in the fall of 2000. He discussed the shortage of parking spaces and informed the Board that 92 additional parking spaces would be created by filling in the retention pond. He briefly noted that the proposed north wing would be on the north end of the Judicial Center and would extend to the east.

Sheriff's Office

At this time, the tour continued to the Sheriff's Office and Lieutenant Cecil Garrett, Support Services, escorted the tour to the Communications Center. Mr. Terry Tedford, Assistant Lead Dispatcher, explained the operations of the Communications Center and stated that 6,800 E-911 calls were received in the Communications Center in 1999. He noted that fifty-one (51%) percent of the calls received were from the unincorporated area of Lake County.

Commr. Cadwell announced the conclusion of the Space Needs Tour.

There being no further business to be brought to the attention of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 12:05 p.m.









_____________________________________

WELTON G. CADWELL, CHAIRMAN







ATTEST:







_______________________________

JAMES C. WATKINS, CLERK



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