A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

november 18, 2014

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in the Board of County Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Lake County Administration Building, Tavares, Florida.  Commissioners present at the meeting were:  Jimmy Conner, Chairman; Sean Parks, Vice Chairman; Timothy I. Sullivan; Leslie Campione; and Welton G. Cadwell.  Others present were:  David Heath, County Manager; Sanford A. “Sandy” Minkoff, County Attorney; Wendy Taylor, Executive Office Manager, County Manager’s Office; Neil Kelly, Clerk of Court; Barbara F. Lehman, Chief Deputy Clerk, County Finance; and Susan Boyajan, Deputy Clerk.

INVOCATION and pledge

Dr. Isaac Deas with Cornerstone Hospice gave the Invocation, and Sheriff Gary Borders led the Pledge of Allegiance.

investiture

Sheriff Borders administered the oath of office to Commr. Parks, and Dr. Jack Cassell administered the oath of office to Commr. Campione.

Commr. Parks thanked Sheriff Borders for leading him through the oath of office and for his great service to this county, as well as Mr. Kasey Kesselring and Mr. Fred Costello for their friendship.  He also thanked his parents, his brother Matt, his wife, and his three children for their attendance at the investiture and for the support they have given him during his time serving as County Commissioner.  He read aloud a special oath that had personal significance to him and that has hung on his wall since November 16, 2010, which stated that, “I solemnly swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, the greatest country on earth, and the State of Florida, the greatest state in the union, and to serve all the citizens of Lake County.  My door is open to all people regardless of issue.  I promise that I will act with future generations in mind, not what is politically expedient.  I promise to listen first and deliberate very carefully, making decisions based on facts and science.  I solemnly swear to give nothing less than my best to provide the citizens with the most efficient, cost-effective government possible, and I will work to be a leader in building a culture of success in Lake County government so that our public servants are able to provide the best service to our customers, the taxpayers and the residents.  I promise to be a leader that provides every opportunity for business and innovation to flourish in our county.  I promise to admit my mistakes and do my best to make amends, and most importantly, I solemnly swear to be prayerful in my duties as Commissioner and thankful to the lord almighty for his hand in my life.”  He mentioned that this oath would remain in his office as long as he is in office, and he commented that although he makes mistakes, he takes this job very seriously and was very thankful for this opportunity to serve again.

Commr. Conner commented that it was an honor to serve with Commr. Parks.

Commr. Campione commented that she felt thankful and honored to have the opportunity to serve her fellow Lake County residents, and she thanked her family, friends, and supporters for their support throughout the grueling campaign process.  She mentioned that she was very focused four years ago on economic development, because they were hurting as a county economically, and she thanked the County staff for doing some amazing things over the last four years to get the word out that Lake County wanted to attract businesses and high-wage jobs, help their existing businesses grow, and facilitate job creation rather than being an impediment.  She elaborated that it was important to create a job base that can support their families, their businesses, and ultimately their government services.  She opined that sometimes it is not the big programs and the gigantic undertakings that really can have the biggest impact on Lake County residents and their quality of life, and she challenged her fellow Commissioners as they go forward to continue to look for the small things they could do that could make a large difference.  She related that she would like to see more focus over the next couple of years on ways to get the unincorporated communities more engaged and involved and to realize their potential.  She also requested that they challenge themselves to constantly look at the way that they do things and to not assume that because something was done a certain way for years or that there was history behind a program, there was not a better way to do it.  She also remarked that she wanted the Board to be proactive by reaching out to the community and to defy the impression that government is not responsive or does not listen.  She opined that the Board was in a unique position to be a catalyst to effectuate positive economic activity and prosperity and make things happen in Lake County in a positive way, and they could be a bridge between their educators who are trying to improve their educational system and some of the organizations and businesses in their community that could play a big role to help get their students motivated.  She thanked her fellow Board members and commented that it has been a pleasure working with them.  She commented that it was healthy to disagree at times and to debate the issues, as long as they listened to each other and discussed the issues in order to come up with the best solutions possible for the challenges that they face.  She related that her goal and vision for Lake County was to help move their county to be the best that it could be and work with the assets they had, and she expressed a belief that they could make that happen.  She concluded that she feels very blessed to be an American and very thankful to be a Lake County resident.

recess and reassembly

The Chairman announced at 9:30 a.m. that they would recess for about 30 minutes for a reception in the rotunda area honoring Commr. Parks, Commr. Campione, and their families.

Agenda update

Mr. David Heath, County Manager, stated that he was pulling Tab 29, which was a Procurement item relating to the improvements at the Johns Lake Boat Ramp, for a separate vote so that Commr. Campione could declare a conflict of interest on that item.

MINUTE APPROVAL

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Campione, and carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote, the Board approved the Minutes of October 14, 2014 (Regular Meeting) as presented.

citizen question and comment period

No one wished to address the Board at this time.

approval and presentation of proclamations

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Parks and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the following proclamations:

Proclamation No. 2014-138 proclaiming November 15-23, 2014 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Lake County

Proclamation No. 2014-141 to VAC-TRON Equipment celebrating their 20th anniversary

Proclamation No. 2014-139 proclaiming November as Hospice Month in Lake County

Proclamation No. 2014-140 proclaiming November as Florida’s Rich History Month

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Proclamation

Commr. Cadwell commented that so many people in this community went out of their way to help others, and they wanted to remind everyone that there were people that needed their help and to thank them for what they do.  He read Proclamation No. 2014-138 for National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week aloud and presented it to Ms. Barbara Wheeler, Executive Director of Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, Inc.; Mr. Steve Smith of New Beginnings of Lake County;  Ms. Irene O'Malley of Lake Cares; Ms. Gloria Boone of Lake Community Action Agency; and Ms. Cheryl Howell from the Community Services Department.  He pointed out that unlike many citizens of Lake County who have extended family or others they could reach out to for help, so many others such as new residents of Lake County, do not have that outreach, and he opined that it was their responsibility to help those people.

Ms. Wheeler thanked the Commissioners and the County employees who she has had the privilege of working with over the last eight years in her position with the Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, and she mentioned that Lake County provides grants which provide dollars that have been set aside for social services to help prevention of homelessness as well as to help those who are already homeless and need to get into permanent housing.  She elaborated that there were many reasons why people lose housing, and human beings are very different and have many different things going on in their lives.  She noted that many people who do not have a support system need their help, and she thanked the Board for the proclamation.

Proclamation to VAC-TRON Equipment

Commr. Sullivan read aloud Proclamation No. 2014-141 celebrating VAC-TRON’s 20th anniversary and presented it to Mr. Don Bucker, President and Founder of VAC-TRON.

Mr. Bucker related that he started his company in the town of Lisbon 20-years ago making molds in his garage, and he thanked everyone who came out to the celebration of his company’s anniversary.  He commented that it was an honor to be a Lake County citizen and part of this community, and he believed his role was to bring capital into this area and distribute it as locally as possible so that it enriches his community.

Hospice Month Proclamation

Commr. Parks read Proclamation No. 2014-139, which proclaimed November as Hospice Month, and presented it to Ms. Cheryl Rumbley, Community Relations Coordinator, and Mr. Chuck Lee, CEO for Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care.

Mr. Lee thanked the Board for this recognition on behalf of the Board of Directors, the staff, the volunteers, and the patients and families they serve at Cornerstone Hospice.  He specified that they currently have more than 850 patients in their care across their service area, and they admit 12 to 15 every day.  He stated that they look at the work they do with the support of the County as a public-private partnership through donated and grant monies which impact their patients and their families and noted that this fall will be their 30th anniversary.  He commented that they consider it a privilege to be based in Lake County and Tavares and to serve Central Florida.

Commr. Cadwell added that there were so many people in Lake County who did not have extended families in the area, and Hospice provides a service for those individuals.  He commented that they care for the people caring for those patients as well as the patients themselves, and he noted that they provide an important link for the mental and physical health of those they serve.

Commr. Conner commented about a personal incident involving hospice care for one of his family members, noting that there were loving and caring people there.

Florida’s Rich History Month Proclamation

Commr. Parks related that Mr. Cole Bernal has been interested and involved with issues going on in the county and local government, noting how mature and eloquent the 15-year old is.  He explained that Mr. Bernal had an idea about honoring their Florida history and helped to work on Proclamation No. 2014-140 proclaiming November as Florida’s rich History Month.  He then read the Proclamation aloud, which depicted historical events that happened in the state.

Mr. Bernal thanked the Board for passing this proclamation, and he commented about the rich history of their state, which he believed was the best state in the union.  He related that his initiative was to help people his age to get involved in politics on the local, state, and national level.

girl scout presentation

Commr. Parks related that Ms. Marisa Sulenti with Girl Scout Troop 9730 wanted to talk about something she was working on, and he elaborated that this will help her to achieve the highest honor in Girl Scouting.

Ms. Sulenti related that a few years ago her family struggled financially to obtain food and other basic household items, and although people donated food at that time, they did not donate essentials such as toilet paper, toothbrushes, toiletries, or cleaning supplies.  She explained that her project was to help people that did not have those basic household items which get overlooked during food drives, raise awareness about this hidden need, and collect items for needy families.  She elaborated that some of the donated items would go to local food banks for distribution and some would go to Christian Help.  She requested that the County help spread the word of the need for this type of assistance and to contribute an item or two to the boxes she has set up for collections, and she mentioned that she had a flyer which gave more information, a list of items to donate, and a listing of the drop-off locations.  She also offered to pick the items up personally if the drop-off locations are not convenient.  She thanked the Board for allowing her to speak.

Commr. Parks mentioned that Ms. Sulenti is also presenting her project to the cities and commended her as well as Mr. Bernal for working to make their community a better place.

CLERK OF COURTS’ CONSENT AGENDA

Mr. Neil Kelly, Clerk of Court, requested to pull Item 7, which was the Annual Audit Plan for Fiscal Year 2014-15, and to bring that back at a later date.

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Campione and carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote, the Board approved the Clerk of Courts’ Consent Agenda, Items 1 through 11, pulling Item 7, as follows:

List of Warrants

Request to acknowledge receipt of list of warrants paid prior to this meeting, pursuant to Chapter 136.06 (1) of the Florida Statutes, which shall be incorporated into the Minutes as attached Exhibit A and filed in the Board Support Division of the Clerk’s Office.

Property Placed on Lands Available List

Request to acknowledge receipt of Property Placed on the Lands Available List.  Lake County has until January 12, 2015 to purchase property from the Lands Available List before it is available to the public.

Florida Forest Service Cooperative Assistance and Fire Control Program

Request to acknowledge receipt of Florida Forest Service – Cooperative Assistance and Fire Control Program July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014.

Water Authority Budget

Request to acknowledge receipt of Lake County Water Authority’s Final Budget for 2014-2015.

Interlocal Agreement Between Sumter County IDA and City of Leesburg

Request to acknowledge receipt of the Interlocal Agreement between the Sumter County Industrial Development Authority and the City of Leesburg regarding a loan to Leesburg Regional Medical Center, Inc. to finance structures, machinery, fixtures, and equipment at the hospital facility.

Ordinance from the City of Clermont

Request to acknowledge receipt of copy of Ordinance 2014-19 from the City of Clermont which annexes a parcel of land in Lake Highlands which is contiguous to the present city boundaries into the City of Clermont, along with a transmittal letter dated October 16, 2014 stating that this ordinance was adopted by the Clermont City Council on October 14, 2014.

Inspector General Reports

Request to acknowledge receipt of the Inspector General Report – BCC-124 Fixed Asset Verification – Community Safety and Compliance Department.

Request to acknowledge receipt of the Inspector General Report – BCC-125 Audit of Code Enforcement Services.

Ordinance from the City of Mount Dora

Request to acknowledge receipt of Ordinance No. 2014-10 adopted by the City of Mount Dora on October 21, 2014 annexing property located south of US Hwy 441 at Spring Harbor Blvd. comprising 17.33 acres and contiguous to the City of Mount Dora.

Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Budget

Request to acknowledge receipt of letter from the Southwest Florida Water Management District announcing that it has adopted its fiscal year 2014-2015 budget and approved its draft 2015 Five-Year Water Resource Development Work Program at its Governing Board meeting held on September 30, 2014.

COUNTY MANAGER’S CONSENT AGENDA

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Parks and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the County Manager’s Consent Agenda, Tabs 8 through 41, pulling Tab 29, as follows:

Community Services

Request for approval for the County Manager to sign an Agreement with Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) for fixed route services for Link 55 in South Lake County from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. Also request approval of budget transfer. The fiscal impact is $224,734.00 (Grant $224,734.00 - Expense.)

Request for approval and signature of an Agreement with Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) for fixed route services for Link 204 in South Lake County from October 1, 2014 through December 14, 2014. The fiscal impact is $17,446.00 (Grant $17,446.00 - Expense).

Request for approval of the update to the Title VI Policy which documents that services and benefits are provided in a nondiscriminatory basis and must be approved by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners prior to submission to the Federal Transit Administration. There is no fiscal impact.

Request for approval and signature of the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, Agency for Healthcare Administration Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation Agreement Amendment Number 9. There is no fiscal impact.

Request for approval of the Altoona Charter School Department of Economic Opportunity Grant Agreements. The total cost of the project is $546,605; Altoona Project was funded with $206,605 from DEO and $340,000 of CDBG entitlement funds which was approved in FY 2013-14 Annual Action Plan. Approval by the Board will extend all DEO grant agreements to June 30, 2015.   The total fiscal impact for the referenced grant agreements is $206,605.

Community Safety and Compliance

Request for approval to advertise an ordinance amending two sections of the Lake County Code referring to the Code Enforcement Board that was eliminated in 2004 by Ordinance 2004-15 in favor of a Code Enforcement Special Master. There is no fiscal impact.

County Attorney

Request for approval to award to the highest bidder, Estep Construction, for county-owned property declared surplus (Alt Key 3891396); authorize Chairman to execute any necessary closing documents. The fiscal impact is $127,777 (Revenue).

Request for approval of Lease Agreement between Lake County and the Lake Agriculture and Youth Fair Association for use of the Lake County Expo Center/Fairgrounds and buildings for the 2015 Lake County Fair; and approval of Agreement to modify the Mayo Building and authorization for County Manager to execute any necessary permitting documents. The fiscal impact is $1.00 for the Lease (Revenue).  Commission District 4.

Request for approval of Rental Agreement with Best American Storage for three additional 10’ x 10’ storage units for the State Attorney’s records. The fiscal impact is $2,250.00.

Request for approval for the County to obtain its own appraiser for the Clerk’s Record Center Building and approval for County Manager to negotiate a purchase agreement with the City of Tavares for their purchase of the Clerk’s Record Center Building. The fiscal impact is not determinable at this time.

Request for approval and execution of the First Amendment to Development Agreement between Lake County and The Villages of Lake-Sumter, Inc. regarding a portion of CR 466A in Fruitland Park.  There is no fiscal impact.

Request for approval to advertise an Ordinance dissolving the Plaza Collina Community Development District (CDD). There is no fiscal impact.

Request for approval and execution of Agreement between Lake County and Mission Park Homeowners’ Association, Inc. for Traffic Law Enforcement on Private Roads. There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 1.

Economic Development and Tourism

Request for approval of amended Orlando EDC Annual Contract.  The revised contract includes an increase to the annual fee from $0.74 per capita to $0.94 per capita.  The fiscal impact is $284,909.00 (expense).

Facilities Development and Management

Request for authorization for staff to apply for an Energy Efficient Retrofits for Public Facilities Grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in an amount up to $75,000 with a 10% Board funding match and to grant the County Manager authority to approve and sign all associated application and award documentation.  The fiscal impact is not to exceed $7,500 (Expenditure).

Request for approval to award contract 15-0201 for inspection and maintenance of lightning control systems at various county facilities to Lightning Protection by Quinn (Clermont, FL), and authorize the procurement office to execute all confirming documentation.  The estimated fiscal impact for the initial four year term of the contract is $167,080 (Expenditure).

Fiscal and Administrative Services

Request for approval of year-end budget transfers for Fiscal Year 2014 in accordance with County Policy LCC-36, Administrative Procedure Pursuant to Chapter 129.06 (2)(A), Florida Statutes. The fiscal impact is $110,814 (expenditure).

Request for approval to purchase a total of five (5) cab and chassis - one (1) Ford model F-350 and four (4) Ford model F-450 for use by Lake EMS from Duval Ford (Jacksonville), under the Florida Sheriff's Association Contract number 14-12-0904, and authorize the Procurement Office to execute all supporting documentation.  Further request approval to follow established approval processes used for County vehicle and fleet purchases for future purchases of EMS vehicle and fleet equipment as described in the background summary.  The fiscal impact is $184,773.00 (Expenditure).

Growth Management

Request for approval of payment of invoice to the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC). The fiscal impact is $50,674 (Expenditure).

Public Resources

Request for approval of contract award under Invitation to Bid (ITB) 15-0604 to Anderson Rentals, Inc. (Mims, FL) for the rental and servicing of portable toilets on an as-required basis, and authorize the Procurement Office to execute all supporting documentation.  The estimated annual fiscal impacts for the two Divisions (Parks and Solid Waste) that use the contract on a regular basis are $25,000.00 (expenditure) for Parks and $1,800.00 (expenditure) for Solid Waste.

Request for approval to award contract 15-0403, Furnish and Installation of Playground Mulch to iMulchfl, Inc. (Oakland, FL) and authorize Procurement Services to execute all supporting documentation.  The annual fiscal impact is estimated at $45,000 (Expenditure).

Request for approval to adopt the FY 2014/2015 Annual Plan of Service and Combined Budget for the Lake County Library System. There is no fiscal impact.

Request for approval of proposed branch library holiday related closings for calendar year 2015.   There is no fiscal impact.

Request for approval to use "out of session" operating hours for Cooper Memorial Library when classes are not in session at Lake-Sumter State College.  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 2.

Public Safety

Request for approval to apply and to receive funds for the FY2014-2015 Florida Department of Health and Emergency Medical Services Grant, and to execute the disbursement of the grant funds including funds available from FY2013-2014. Approve staff to complete any necessary budget transfers and purchasing actions and approval of Resolution No. 2014-142. The fiscal impact is $42,752 Revenue; $64,120 Expense.

Request for approval for the Public Safety Department, Fire Rescue Division, to submit an application to the United States Fire Administration Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) 2014 cycle. The fiscal impact is approximately $1,000,000. Based on Lake County's population, County’s cost would be 10% or $100,000.  If awarded, authorize County Manager to sign and process any subsequent related funding, contracts, or grant documents.

Request for approval of a purchase order to Motorola for replacement parts for Communication Towers (Astatula and Fire Station 13 CWR Towers) due to lightning strikes. The fiscal impact is $66,678 (Expenditure).

Public Works

Request for approval and signature of Resolution No. 2014-143 to advertise Public Hearing (David & Robin DiMassino) to vacate the Plat of Darian Estates (PB 63, Pgs. 90-92).  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 5.

Request for approval of an amended agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for funding of the design of the South Lake Trail concurrently with design of the SR 50 realignment in Groveland. (Pre-paid unspent funds currently held on deposit by FDOT in an interest bearing escrow account).  The fiscal impact is $143,545 (Pre-paid Expenditure).  Commission District 1.

Request for authorization to execute a revised Resolution No. 2014-144 accepting Matanilla Drive (County Road #1038B) into the Lake County Road Maintenance System.  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 1.

Request for authorization for the Chairman to execute change order #4 in the amount of $45,783.02 to the South Lake Trail Phase 3A, Project No. 2013-03, Bid No. 13-0027, FPN No. 422570-2-58-01, to Commercial Industrial Corporation.  Change order #4 will be funded by the Renewal Sales Tax fund and is for additions and deletions to the contract to include: retrofit an existing trail crossing from asphalt to concrete, construct/modify storm system elements to prevent flooding, place steel bike rails and ribbon curb, replace asphalt areas with concrete, install a Type B double gate, and modify fencing.  With approval of this change order, twelve (12) days will be added to the contract completion time.   The fiscal impact is $45,783.02 (Expenditure), which results in a net increase of $4,315.11 to the original contract award amount.  Commission District 1.

Request for authorization for the Chairman to execute change order #6 in the amount of $22,493.09 to the Alfred Street One Way Pair Project No. 2013-07, Bid No. 13-0038, to DeWitt Excavating, Inc.  Change order #6 is for changes to the project not shown on the construction plans involving temporary video detection at traffic signals, business signs to assist local businesses during the Alfred Street closure, additional concrete to address elevation differences, installation of additional detectable warning surfaces, fiber optic cables to interconnect signals, and the construction of an additional handicap crossing.  The fiscal impact and net cost of this work is $22,493.09 and is to be funded by the Road Impact Fee Benefit District 2 Fund.  Commission District.

Request for authorization to release the cash surety in the amount of $37,290.00 posted for construction of landscape improvements.  Johns Lake Landing Phase 1 consists of 1 lot and is located south of SR 50, off Hartle Road in Section 9, Township 22 South, Range 26 East.  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 2.

Commr. Campione declared a conflict of interest for Tab 29 due to an ongoing business relationship she has with Professional Dirt Services.

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Cadwell and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commr. Campione abstaining, the Board approved the award of contract 15-0202 for improvements at the Johns Lake Boat Ramp to Professional Dirt Services (Eustis, FL).  The fiscal impact is $106,174.80 (Expenditure). Commission District 2.

presentation by lake county health department

Mr. David Heath, County Manager, recapped that the Board confirmed Mr. Aaron Kissler as the Health Department Administrator on June 10, and he believed it would be beneficial for Mr. Kissler to give the Board an update on some of the health-related issues coming from the state, including primary care initiatives.  He opined that Mr. Kissler was quite an accomplished administrator and mentioned that he worked in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and did a lot of work addressing cardiovascular disease screening in workplaces in Colorado.

Mr. Kissler commented that he has been very impressed with the public and private partnerships in Lake County, including the municipalities and the hospitals, which has worked together in the interests of its citizens in regard to emergency preparedness.  He stated that he would be giving a brief presentation on some things that they have been working on at the Health Department as well as some of the goals and future direction that they saw.  He opined that the community health events they have done in the past six months have been incredible, specifying that they have been to 51 community events during that time across the county, and he showed a list of some of those events.  He elaborated that they have some interactive ways that the community can participate and learn more about public health in the county.  He related that the events for Healthiest Weight, which is a program that has been emphasized by the Surgeon General, focuses on diseases that are related to mortality and morbidity issues in Lake County, the state, and across the United States.  He added that since a major goal of the state has been to make Florida the healthiest state in the nation, they have been concentrating on the Healthiest Weight the last few years and would continue to do so by using some of the strategies that were also used for  tobacco cessation outreach, and he showed a list of some of the Healthiest Weight events that they have done since June.  He noted that six flavored tobacco resolutions have been passed in some of the municipalities, and he announced that Ms. Genet Exalien, Nursing Supervisor for School Health, was recognized as the school nurse of the year for the State of Florida.  He reported that one of the contributions that WIC, a program that helps about 9,000 clients of the Health Department give children access to healthy foods, has done is to bring $3 million to the grocery store economy throughout the county, which has helped to support many different jobs and local grocery stores.

Mr. Kissler explained that they have provided close to 5,000 immunizations across the county, which they considered one of their core public health services, and he opined that immunizations provided the most cost-effective benefits for the funding that is used and is something they intend to continue to concentrate on.  He commented that their Environmental Health Department had the best facilities report in the state, and they were proud of the work they have done.  He displayed a pie chart illustrating the breakdown of the client services that they do in Lake County showing that they were currently averaging about 10,000 visits per quarter, and he opined that 40,000 visits per year is impressive.  He pointed out that maternity services was what they were providing the most of right now through a partnership with the local hospitals, and he hoped to grow that partnership in order to provide some prenatal visits which would result in better birth outcomes throughout the county.  He opined that they are very proud of the work and the number of services that they have done.  He commented that they are sometimes the provider of last resort and were looking for community partners and other groups to help them provide this care.  He presented some reviews that they have gotten indicating that  staff has been helpful, courteous, cooperative, friendly, and professional, resulting in a program rating of Excellent and a score of 99 percent, and he commented that these kind of reviews make him proud to be part of this agency.  He added that they are going to continue to reach out to the public to get their feedback on their services and opportunities for improvement.  He showed two slides which relate some of the patient stories about clients who they have served who could have ended up in the emergency room with a major disruption to their life and work, large medical bills, and possibly bankruptcy.  He pointed out some state and federal grants for emergency and disaster preparedness funding, noting that Lake County scored in the top two percent in the nation for the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) because of a great invested team and great communication between their partners, and he noted that they were also exceeding the state’s target score for the CDC Public Health Preparedness Grant.  He elaborated that currently Lake County was one of only 300 counties across the nation that were recognized as Project Public Health Ready, which is an evaluation of their emergency preparedness plans and coordination across the county.  He related that they also have access to the special response teams for a disaster, as a result of being part of an integrated Department of Health across the state, and he mentioned that they have used that access in the past.  He listed some of the specialized response teams that could be deployed to the county, including a Special Needs Shelter Team, Nursing Strike Team, Environmental Heath Strike Team, and Epidemiology Strike Team who track different diseases and outbreaks.  He mentioned that they currently have presentations available regarding the Ebola virus disease, which ranks in the top three health concerns right now.

Commr. Cadwell remarked that during their EMS operational committee meeting yesterday, they were updated about the Health Department’s cooperative effort, and he noted that the County has a plan with Lake EMS.

Mr. Kissler elaborated that they were looking to identify the virus, the West African countries that are the sources of the virus, and specific disease conditions, although those conditions match a lot of different ones, making it more difficult, and he assured the Board that they will be prepared to respond, would isolate those that contract Ebola from other members of the community, and would work with partners throughout the state with whom they have great communication and coordination.  He related that they have distributed medical guidance to the hospitals, urgent care centers, and medical partners and have had emergency operations meetings and weekly ESF8 calls.  He displayed slides showing their clinic locations and some of the services they provide, noting that Environmental Health provides thousands of services, and he commented that they appreciate the County’s support.

Commr. Sullivan commented that the Health Department is a very important piece of their overall health for Lake County, including immunizations, especially at a time of dwindling resources and during an expansion of Medicare and Medicaid, and he mentioned that the County’s reimbursement cost to Medicaid was $4.3 million.

public hearings

vacation petition 1210 – mehaj reddy – express shop

Mr. Jim Stivender, Public Works Director, related that Vacation Petition 1210 by the Express Shop was in Section 27, Township 22S, Range 26E in the Clermont area just north of Highway 50, and he pointed out the location on an overhead map, including a nearby Sheriff’s facility.  He explained that they were proposing to vacate the existing right-of-way across the front of the Express Shop, and the petitioner was offering a rear access, which he opined was more palatable.  He pointed out that there were no letters of opposition and recommended approval to vacate.

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

There being no one who wished to address the Board regarding this issue, the Chairman closed the public hearing.

Commr. Cadwell asked whether the change to public ownership of that property would cause any access problems.

Mr. Stivender responded that the vacation would actually give the property better access and be further away from the intersection.

On a motion by Commr. Parks, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved Resolution No. 2014-145 and  Vacation Petition 1210 - Mehaj K. Reddy (Express Shop) and Lake County) - to vacate a cross access easement in Section 27, Township 22S, Range 26E, in the Clermont area.  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 2.

vacation petition 1213 – pine ridge dairy road – lake county

Mr. Stivender explained that Lake County is the Applicant for Vacation Petition 1213 to cease maintenance and vacate the last portion of right-of-way on Pine Ridge Dairy Road near Hwy 466A in the Fruitland Park area, and he elaborated that this is to clear all title.  He showed on the map that they have vacated other nearby locations, and noted that this piece was left out.  He recommended approval to vacate.

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

There being no one who wished to address the Board regarding this issue, the Chairman closed the public hearing.

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved Resolution No. 2014-146 and Vacation Petition 1213 (Lake County) to cease maintenance and to vacate any rights that Lake County may have acquired by any act of maintenance only on a portion of Pine Ridge Dairy Road (#5603).  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 5.

COUNTY MANAGER’S DEPARTMENTAL BUSINESS

growth management

advertisement of leesburg isba

Ms. Amye King, Growth Management Department, related that she would give a presentation regarding the Leesburg ISBA (Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement), including automatic aid and an overview of the adopted South Lake ISBA.  She explained that an ISBA is an agreement adopted between a county and one or more municipalities which may include one or more independent special district as parties to the agreement.  She recapped that the southern part of Leesburg was addressed in the South Lake ISBA, and the Board adopted a responding resolution on November 5, 2013 to the one initiated by the City on September 9, 2013 for the northern portion of Leesburg.  She elaborated that the County recommended that the two ISBA’s for Leesburg be merged; and Fruitland Park, Tavares, the Village CDD, and the County negotiated a map in which everyone agreed.  She displayed a map of the adopted portion of Leesburg and the proposed Leesburg ISBA showing the merged ISBA which will contain all of the corporate limits and a 20 to 30-year growth area.  She added that the proposed ISBA provides for automatic aid for the next 20 years, allows for noncontiguous annexations in the ISBA with property owner consent, and requires that central utilities be provided for any development, including noncontiguous parcels.

Ms. King explained that the Automatic Aid agreement will ensure that the closest unit responds to incidents, provides for the use of Automatic Vehicle Location Systems (AVL) in public safety vehicles, uses Lake EMS to dispatch all calls, utilizes common run cards, and sets up the charges of $100 per medical call and $500 per fire call with a quarterly “true-up” to address allocation of costs.  She pointed out that this agreement is similar to other fire rescue agreements that have been approved so far by the Board.  She commented that one of the benefits of this agreement is that areas within the unincorporated County as well as some areas of the City will receive enhanced services and see significant improvements in response time.  She specified that the City of Leesburg Automatic Aid Agreement will be effective February 1, 2015, and she mentioned that funds have been budgeted.  She summarized that this agreement will unionize the entire city under one ISBA and one Automatic Aid Agreement and noted that it will benefit potential builders by making utilities more readily available.  She requested that the Board give approval to advertise the City of Leesburg ISBA ordinance.

Commr. Campione clarified that this agreement will make a distinction between the medical and fire payments for ALS and VLS and that all of their firefighters are ALS trained.

Mr. Heath added that the Leesburg City Council has already had their first reading for their ordinance on this.

Commr. Cadwell expressed his appreciation for the amazing job that Mr. Heath has done with the ISBA’s relating to fire service, and he suggested that they create a map using the ISBA’s as the framework.  He noted that these agreements have enhanced fire coverage without spending any additional money.

Mr. Heath indicated that staff has already put that map together and had intended on presenting it at the public hearing.

Commr. Sullivan commented that everyone’s homeowner’s insurance should go down as a result of a better ISO.

Chief John Jolliff responded that that is the intent of it, elaborating that the ISO recognizes automatic aid only now, and that information should be put out by January or February.

Commr. Cadwell added that residents want the closest unit to respond, and he commented about how far they have come regarding this issue in the last few years.

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Cadwell and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board gave approval to advertise the Leesburg ISBA ordinance.  There is no fiscal impact.

reports – county manager

deadline for agenda items

Mr. Heath asked for the Commissioners to get any agenda items for the December 2nd BCC meeting to him by next Tuesday, November 25, so that they can update the agenda, since there is an accelerated turnaround time for the agenda because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

reports – commissioner sullivan – district 1

program to help inmates with re-entry back into society

Commr. Sullivan discussed a project that the Public Safety Coordinating Committee has been working on, since he is the BCC liaison to that committee, which was called “Re-entry” to help the 13,000 inmates with transition once they get released from the Lake County Jail and to help reduce recurrence rates.  He pointed out that there was currently no transition program for that population, resulting in about a 60-percent recurrence rate.  He elaborated that he has been working with that committee, County staff, the Sheriff’s Department, and local public and private entities to try to coordinate those benefits, and they were very close to bringing something back to the Board.  He related that they were looking at ways to fund it, including some state grants.

veteran’s day ceremonies

Commr. Sullivan thanked Lake County for the great Veteran’s Day ceremonies that were held throughout the county, and he mentioned that he spoke at the National Cemetery that day.  He commented that veterans do not always get that recognition.

reports – commissioner parks – vice-chairman and district 2

proposed change to name of agricultural center

Commr. Parks related that he sat in on the Agricultural Advisory Board as a Commissioner Liaison, and one of the issues discussed was a possible name change to the Agricultural Center to reflect more of what they currently do as opposed to when they named it several years ago.  He pointed out that any decision regarding this issue would ultimately go to the Board for approval.

opening of lake hiawatha park

Commr. Parks congratulated the County and the City of Clermont on the success of the opening of Lake Hiawatha Park in Clermont this past weekend, and he commented that it was a beautiful park facility.  He mentioned that the City thanked the County and recognized them for their contribution in getting that park opened.  He encouraged everyone to visit that facility and opined that it reflected their County motto of “Real Florida, Real Close.”

potential annexation into the city of groveland

Commr. Parks mentioned some concerns about a potential application for annexation of a golf course into the City of Groveland, and he requested that it be added as a work session or agenda item for the Board to discuss on December 2.  He opined that he did not think that this annexation would fit at all into the spirit of the ISBA the County had with Groveland.  He explained that the new owner of the golf course which was part of the Palisades community that has been in decline is asking to annex that property but not the surrounding neighborhoods into the City of Groveland by using the ISBA for noncontiguous annexation for higher-density housing that would add another 155 homes to that area.  He commented that the current residents had bought their homes with the expectation of living near the golf course rather than the proposed residential development.

Commr. Campione suggested that the Board may need to have a work session before December 2 and also look at the bigger picture regarding the ISBA’s that they have already put in place as well as those that they would be doing in the future to see if they could address this type of annexation.

Commr. Conner commented that he understands those concerns, but he pointed out that this request would not necessarily be granted by the City Council.

Commr. Cadwell suggested that they make a request to the City of Groveland to not take any action until the County looks into it.

Mr. Fred Costello commented that this issue was dramatically affecting the residents there, and he pointed out that many residents attended the meeting to vehemently object to this project.  He mentioned that Mayor Tim Loucks made it clear to the residents that he was not in favor of this annexation and that he believes the majority of the City Council was not in favor of it.  He explained that the owners or developers that bought the golf course a few years ago indicated at that time that they bought it as a real estate investment, did not intend to build business for the golf course, and would build townhouses on the golf course as soon as the real estate conditions were favorable for that.  He elaborated that the developer let the golf course decline and has shut it down a few times in the past two years.  He noted that this golf course has been there since the 1920’s and related that the residents will fight to protect this gem.

Mr. Heath suggested that the Board authorize the Chairman to draft a letter to the Groveland City Council requesting that they withhold taking any action on this until the Board has had an opportunity to be briefed on this matter at the next BCC meeting.

Commr. Conner replied that he was concerned that that course of action would prevent the Groveland City Council from denying that request and recommended that they instead send Commr. Parks to that meeting to represent the Board.

Commr. Campione asked what their legal remedy would be if it was adopted, such as seeking an injunction against the annexation after the vote.

Mr. Minkoff responded that this was less an annexation question than it was a rezoning question, and he mentioned that the development of golf courses was a scenario that was happening across Central Florida and the country as a whole.  He explained that there was nothing precluding the owner of the golf course from applying in the County to rezone that property for multi-family residences, but there will not be any grounds under the existing agreement to stop the annexation if utilities are provided by Groveland.

Commr. Campione commented that the Board would never have wanted to create a situation like this, and it was not the intention of the Board when they approved the ISBA for the City to annex part of a neighborhood and not the other part.

Commr. Cadwell commented that Groveland has historically worked with the County very well, and he was confident that Groveland was not the type of city that would blatantly ignore the County’s wishes and do this type of thing that was not in the spirit of what was agreed upon.  He stated that he believes Commr. Parks could relay that to their City Council.

Commr. Conner also expressed confidence that Commr. Parks could represent the Board well at the next City Council meeting.

Commr. Cadwell suggested that the Board come up with a plan or philosophy that the County could operate under relating to this type of situation regarding golf courses in the future.

Commr. Campione suggested that they could incentivize or encourage golf courses to remain by giving developers open space credit for them.

Commr. Parks indicated that he would attend the City Council meeting.

REPORTS – COMMISsIONER campione – DISTRICT 4

veterans day celebration

Commr. Campione mentioned that she attended and enjoyed the Veteran’s Day events at Ferran Park in Eustis, which was a great event with a band and huge participation.

mt. plymouth landowners league pot luck dinner

Commr. Campione related that she attended the Mt. Plymouth Landowner’s League pot luck dinner and discussion regarding Mt. Plymouth issues, and she reported that the CRA would be hosting a community meeting and visioning session that night starting at 6:00 p.m. at Sorrento Elementary School, where they would be getting input on the renaming of SR 46 and have displays set up of the trails and the Wekiva Parkway.

reports – commissioner cadwell – district 5

welcome to returning commissioners

Commr. Cadwell welcomed Commr. Parks and Commr. Campione back to the Board.

REPORTS – COMMISSIONER CONNER – CHAIRMAN AND DISTRICT 3

EDC BARBEQUE

Commr. Conner related that he and Commr. Sullivan attended the EDC barbeque, and he had attended various events.

recess and reassembly

The Chairman announced at 11:38 a.m. that there would be a recess until 1:30 p.m.

public hearings – rezonings

Mr. Chris Schmidt, Manager of Planning and Community Design, Growth Management Department, submitted the advertisement for that day’s public hearings and displayed them on the overhead monitor.

rezoning consent agenda

Mr. Schmidt explained that Tabs 1, 2, and 3 on the Consent Agenda were approved unanimously on consent by the Planning & Zoning Board on October 29, and staff recommendation is for the Board to make a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

There being no one who wished to speak in regard to the Rezoning Consent Agenda, the Chairman closed the public hearing.

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the Rezoning Consent Agenda as follows:

Tab 1. Ordinance No. 2014-65

PH#32-14-5

Request for a rezoning amendment to existing CP Ordinance #2011-33 to increase the maximum impervious surface ratio to .70 by establishing a new CP Ordinance.

Tab 2. Ordinance No. 2014-66

PH#28-14-1

Request to amend PUD Zoning District Ordinance #2010-27 (Royal Equestrian Ranch Club) by adding 11+/- acres to the PUD and removing the provision for an on-site central water supply.

Tab 3.  Ordinance No. 2014-67, 68, and 69

PH#30-14-4

Request to rezone approximately 17 acres total from Planned Commercial (CP) to Community Facility District (CFD) 9 acres, Community Commercial (C-2) 2 acres, and Agriculture (A) 6 acres to establish three separate zoning districts.

wellness way sector plan – lpa#14/10/1-2

Mr. Schmidt reported that there were currently three letters or emails opposed to the Wellness Way Sector Plan transmittal, four in support, and three with questions or concerns.  He also introduced clarification language on two policies that occurred during and after the Planning & Zoning transmittal hearing for Exhibit A, Page 33 and 34, displaying them on the overhead, which cover Policy I-8.7.10 regarding the existing approved development.  He read the language that was added and underlined in green which stated, “Within the existing boundary of the PUD and such redistribution shall not require an amendment to the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan or be deemed to be a substantial amendment to the existing PUD.”  He related that language was also added to Policy I-8.82 regarding funding mechanisms for site specific infrastructure stating “component of any dependent or independent district created to provide regional infrastructure.”  He stated that the purpose of his presentation was to provide an overview of the proposed text and map amendment to the Lake County Comprehensive Plan relating to the Wellness Way Sector Plan (WWSP).

Mr. Robert Chandler, Economic Development and Tourism Director, discussed the challenges impacting South Lake County, the reasons why the County was doing this amendment, the existing conditions, and the impacts to the area.  He commented that the South Lake area was facing three major challenges that would affect Lake County and that the Wellness Way Sector Plan could help impact.  He referenced the growth pressures from Orlando as a result of Metro Orlando quickly approaching build-out and pushing out along the major highway corridors, and he pointed out that Clermont was the second fastest-growing city in the entire metro Orlando area from 2000 to 2010 on a nominal rather than a percentage basis, with Winter Garden being the fastest-growing city.  He presented a graph showing the corridors coming out of the downtown Orlando market, including 94,000 in population growth pushing to the west in that corridor, which was the highest population corridor of all of Metro Orlando.  He summarized that growth was coming, was not going away, and would only intensify and increase over time.  He displayed a graph illustrating the next challenge of employment and jobs imbalance, which was indicative of the diversity of their economy right now, showing that in 2000 they had an imbalance of about 27,500 residents that had to leave Lake County to find a job, with that number increasing to 37,000 in 2010.  He summarized that although they would like to close that gap and have added quite a few jobs, they were currently going in the wrong direction, and he also commented that the county is very residential-based and needed more non-residential uses and commercial and industrial growth.  He commented that that pace will continue unless they have some kind of catalyst to change it.  He added that another challenge was the transportation network resulting from the growth in South Lake County, since SR 50 was the only east-west transportation corridor in that area, and the need for additional outlets to relieve the pressure on SR 50 will become even more of a major issue as growth continues there.

Mr. Chandler displayed a map which illustrated the location of the Wellness Way Sector Plan area, which was located east of SR 27, west of the Orange-Lake County border, south of Hancock Road, and north of Hwy 192.  He mentioned that landowners in that area are having difficulties with agriculture uses, such as citrus greening, and as demand in the region intensifies because of growth, the landowners would be forced to develop their properties under the existing land use conditions.  He reported that the Sector Plan consists of a total of about 16,000 acres, with 12,000 being upland acres and 3,000 acres of which were contained in Conserve II, and he added that 27 major landowners had greater than 90 acres.  He displayed a table to show the distribution of acres based on the existing land use, pointing out that 6,300 of the 12,000 upland acres are rural, 800 are rural transition, and there was some urban low density on the west side of the property.  He related that the existing Sector Plan area could build out at just under 8,500 units, utilizing the rural designation, the rural transition, and some low density within the City of Clermont, with the rights that the landowners currently have; and there was an astronomical number on the non-residential side of 400 million square feet, based on the math of FAR’s that are applied; however, only some retail support services for the residential growth is expected rather than large-scale major non-residential uses.  He commented that the existing conditions would bring scattered, uncoordinated development; an inefficient, costly road network; limited connectivity between neighborhoods; limited environmental corridors; limited high-wage job creation; limited recreational opportunities; and a development pattern they would not want in Lake County; and he also pointed out that there was a likelihood that the City of Clermont would annex pieces of that land in the future, resulting in higher minimum residential densities, with a reasonable projection of over 20,000 units rather than 8,500.  He concluded that they need to think in terms of what it would turn into if they did not do anything.

Mr. Schmidt explained that sector plans are authorized in Section 163.3245, Florida Statutes, to encourage and recognize the benefits of long-range planning for specific areas within a region or a local government jurisdiction containing a minimum area of 15,000 acres.  He noted that they were in the transmittal phase of a large scale Comprehensive Plan Text and Map Amendment, adding that it would then go to the Department of Economic Opportunity if they approved the transmittal, where it would be reviewed by the regulatory agencies, and then come back to the Board for final approval early next year.  He related that the primary goals of a sector plan include promoting long-term planning for conservation, development and agriculture on a large scale; supporting innovative and flexible planning and development strategies; facilitating protection of regionally significant resources; ensuring adequate mitigation of impacts to regional resources and facilities; and emphasizing urban form.  He noted that approval of a long-term master plan is the first phase, and the second phase is implementation of the master plan through detailed specific area plans (DSAPS) of typically 1,000 acres or greater, which are implemented through a local government development order and can be done concurrently with a rezoning.  He related that a sector plan gives general and conceptual development guidelines, design principles, and a general road network and infrastructure plan, and a DSAP codifies broad sector plan principles and specifies development requirements utilizing site plans.

Mr. Schmidt recapped that the County and landowners in the area recognized the need for a plan that would prevent negative impacts of unplanned growth, capitalize on the significant volume of contiguous single ownership of vacant properties, and encourage and enhance high-wage job growth in South Lake County; and the County partnered with the Sector Plan area landowners to finance a sector plan for 16,000 acres.  He elaborated that Littlejohn Engineering was chosen to conduct the plan through the RFP process, launched the sector plan process in May of 2013, and provided the Board with a draft in October of 2013 which provided a solid basis and framework for County staff to base their additional revisions on.  He stated that the plan was then presented for review to stakeholders such as the Clermont City Council, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, the landowners, Lake County Schools, the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Schmidt commented that the County’s goal was to create a plan that is superior to the existing Comprehensive Plan; was simple, flexible, and predictable; had a minimum job to housing ratio of 1.5 to 1.0; had a minimum of 50 percent open space; contained balanced landowner development rights and development; created recreational opportunities; and had transportation and neighborhood connectivity.  He specified that the framework of the Lake County plan called for the creation of five tiers and Future Land Use Categories (FLUC), with each tier allowing a full complement of land uses with a range of densities and intensities, requiring 30 percent set aside for open space, and assigning a maximum number of residential units based on net buildable acreage and a jobs to housing ratio as a result of commercial and industrial development within that tier.  He displayed a map illustrating what the Future Land Use Map would look like and what the jobs to housing ratios would be for each section.  He specified that the plan had a maximum residential dwelling unit limit of 16,464 and a minimum non-residential requirement of 12 million square feet, and the minimum resulting jobs to housing ratio would be 1.6 jobs to every house.  He elaborated that developers will be required to set aside a minimum amount of properly located acreage to accommodate their required non-residential square footage.  He noted that the expected outcomes of sector plan development would be coordinated, efficient development patterns; low impact development; significant open space and large-scale environmental corridors; a long-range master transportation plan with practical financing mechanisms in place; significant opportunities for job creation; requirement of water conservation strategies; significant large-scale recreational opportunities; long-term school planning; and encouragement of technological infrastructure.  He commented that the Sector Plan provides the catalyst that was previously mentioned needed to shift the trends of growth pressure, undiversified tax base, and lack of traffic connectivity and is simple, flexible, and predictable.  He requested that the Board approve the transmittal of LPA #14/10/1-2 to amend the Future Land Use Element Policy I-1.2.2 to include additional land use categories, to create Goal I-8 to be entitled “Wellness Way Sector Plan,” with objectives and policies, and to amend Future Land Use Map 1 to include the aforementioned Future Land Uses.

Ms. Jamie Hanja, a resident of Clermont, commented that she attended the Wellness Way visioning meeting sponsored by Littlejohn Consultants on July 31, 2013 and was not impressed with the way they had members of the public coloring the maps, and she opined that she did not believe the public or Clermont residents had extensive knowledge of the Sector Plan or the visioning meetings that were held.  However, she mentioned that the Sector Plan has been presented to every Chamber of Commerce in Lake County and has been discussed at the MPO meetings for the last two years.  She stated that although she supports the County’s efforts for economic development, she did not believe that focusing so much on the South Lake part of the county will give the other five cities in the north part of the county equal share of a business hub or economic growth, and she pointed out that Leesburg and Eustis were struggling.  She added that the Wekiva Parkway would have a business economic center, and the Minneola Interchange will also want to have a business hub, although she does not believe there is enough competition to go around.  She related that Orange County tried to do a build-out in Metro West 25 years ago, but they still have not been able to attract the business job centers they wanted, and that area has attracted a large amount of crime.  She asked the Board to vote “no” on this request.

Ms. Linda Bystrak, a resident of Leesburg and representative of the Oklawaha Audubon Society, related that one of their big concerns about this project is the 53 rare, indigenous, and endangered species that are located on the property and documented on page 70 of their document, including sand skinks and 2,000 gopher tortoises which were documented on that property by FWC, thought to be the largest population of gopher tortoises in the state, and she expressed a hope that the property would be made into a preserve and isolated from all of the other sections.  She expressed another concern about the need for 21 million gallons of water a day after full build-out, especially considering that the entire Central Florida Water Initiative only has 50 million gallons a day left for Seminole, Orange, Polk, and Lake Counties, and she pointed out that this area has been declared a priority water resource caution area and was one of the highest recharge areas in this part of Central Florida.  She noted that anything that has been paved would not be available for recharge, 70 percent of their rainfall is lost in evaporation and transpiration, and only 10 percent of the remaining 30 percent of the rest makes it to the Upper Floridian Aquifer where the wells are.  She requested that the Board keep in mind that parts of this property might qualify for purchase under Amendment 1.

Mr. Curt Henderson, a resident of Clermont, mentioned that he represents people who adopt a lifestyle of being fit and active, and he pointed out that the ten-mile clay road was an asset that was of national and international significance that attracts thousands of people to come to Clermont to run these clay roads.  He explained that although the runners enjoy the nature and beauty of the area, the clay surface is of extreme importance to runners, since the impact on the legs and body is better for professional athletes as well as children who are still growing.  He commented that it is pretty safe out there, since there is good visibility for the runners and the vehicles using the road.  He pointed out that the reason the City of Clermont chose their brand was because the athletes and Olympians were already there in their community, many of whom signed the petition to retain the clay trail, and Clermont has not had to invest any money in marketing, since the athletes bring the training camps there and convince other athletes to come to that area to train.  He concluded that the endurance community has invested a significant amount of money in the area and contributed to economic development, and he requested that language be introduced to the sector plan to recognize the clay roads as an asset to the endurance community and a commitment to either preserve them or find a new home for them.

Mr. Russ Melling, a resident of Sorrento, a member of the Oklawaha Audubon Society, and a member of the Central Florida Water Initiative committee, opined that the availability of drinking water will make or break the whole state, and they were already at a critical point.  He expressed concern about this project using 20 million gallons a day of the 50 million left, and he requested that they delay the transmittal of this amendment until the report comes back in January with the Water Initiative recommendations.

Mr. Josh Castleman, a resident of Clermont, expressed support for some long-range plan that will protect the unique topography of their county and understood that Wellness Way is the best plan to do that.  He urged the Board to make the preservation of the topography and beauty of the area a priority, which is especially appreciated by runners and athletes, although it is important to non-athletes as well, and they should not sacrifice it in order to keep it for other generations.  He expressed confidence that the Board could come up with creative solutions and a plan for the future that would keep the topography as it is.

Mr. Vance Jochim, a writer of a blog on fiscal and governmental issues, commented that he was a property rights and taxpayer advocate, and he opined that County staff had addressed in their revised plans a lot of issues that he was concerned about, because it does not dictate that certain landowners will lose the rights to develop their property.  He elaborated that this plan allows the property owners to retain and negotiate the rights with others within those areas.  He added that another issue addressed was to ensure that there were not guarantees of taxpayer funds for building infrastructure or projects that would subsidize the developers and landowners that have happened in other areas.  He stated that they also want to ensure that the job objectives are optimized first, the plan included a ratio of jobs to homes, and there will be efforts to develop the commercial property that would generate the property taxes.

Mr. Jim Hitt, Economic Development Director for the City of Clermont, commented that the City’s staff has worked diligently with the County staff on the development of the plan and that there were quite a few improvements from the original draft version, including capping the maximum number of units at 16,458.  He related that the job creation was the prime impetus regarding this sector plan, including 8,000 acres which are developable versus what was originally in the Carlton, and the jobs to housing ratio was “spot on” in regard to what can be developed in this area.  He noted that the DSAP will determine the details of the plan for the 1,000-acre developable areas, with the overview contained in this sector plan.  He concluded that they look forward to being able to work this program out and getting the sector plan also adopted in the City’s Comprehensive Plans so that they are all on the same plan.

Ms. Cecelia Bonifay, an attorney with Akerman LLP, on behalf of the property owners for Clonts Groves, a 711-acre property with a mile of frontage on US Hwy 27 with currently an active grove, pointed out that they challenged the Lake County 2030 Comprehensive Plan, resulting in a settlement in 2011 of the land use for Clonts Groves being changed to low intensity which allows up to four units per acre as well as commercial and office, and she noted that it is located  primarily within the town center.  She related that she also represents Arnold Groves, which has extensive holdings in South Lake County, for property that was originally agricultural, but there were provisions where they worked with staff in order to ensure the continued use of other kinds of development uses.  She commented that those two clients represent a very large portion of this area and have worked with other landowners, the City of Clermont, and County staff; also, there have been extensive meetings over the last couple of years on this issue.  She pointed out that people will still have to meet every local, state, and federal environmental rule and regulation and be governed by the FDEP, the DEP, and the Water Management District.  She related that they were putting the framework in place for the future, which is sorely needed in this area to avoid having unplanned growth.

Mr. Larry McCranie, a resident of Winter Garden and representative of the Pacific Ace Corporation, a landowner in the sector plan, related that his question has been answered.

Councilman Mr. Ray Goodgame from the City of Clermont commented that the comments heard that day reflected the need for planning this area and the future of South Lake, and he noted that Clermont is prepared to play a large part in the effort of developing this sector plan.  He mentioned that although he believes that everyone wants to see a clay trail in the area, he does not think the sector plan should be guided by a trail, but he added that they want to work with the proponents of the clay trail.  He encouraged the Board to look at the future of their county and to transmit the sector plan to Tallahassee.

Mr. Jon Pospisil, a resident of Goldenrod, cautioned the Board against letting an animal or plant go extinct, since that species could have great value that is not always apparent in addition to their value as part of their natural heritage.  He commented that although the County has put in the plan some good provisions to protect their threatened and endangered species, especially their plants, they would still depend on the Board going forward as the DSAPs come up in order to implement that.  He opined that he believes a plan that is less than perfect is far better than no plan at all and haphazard development, and he expressed hope that this plan will result in a well-organized and well-functioning section of the county.

Mr. Nathan Hawkins, a resident of Clermont and a representative of business owners in South Lake, opined that he agrees that they should have a good job-to-housing mix, and in order to encourage jobs, they need to recruit companies that would bring the jobs that would support the houses.  He recapped from a previous presentation that day that 37,000 people have to travel outside of the area for their employment, having to spend thousands of dollars to travel to the Orlando area and missing some of their children’s sporting events, and he mentioned that his group has put initiatives together to build an alliance now in order to bring in health and technology companies ahead of time rather than wait until the housing situation is figured out.  He commented that they need to give businesses what they need to flourish.  He opined that he believes they need to pass the sector plan and that together they could support and accomplish things for the generations to come.

There being no one else who wished to speak regarding this issue, the Chairman closed the public hearing.

Commr. Parks related that he ran on the clay roads that were discussed earlier this past weekend, and he acknowledged those in the audience that were present to express support to retain those clay trails.  He stated that he recognizes the trail as a feature for this plan and hoped to accommodate it as much as possible.  He commented that he supported an addition to the Comp Plan Amendment for language which would be inserted on Page 77 underneath B) planned regional trails to recognize clay trails as a feature, and they would try to accommodate that during the DSAP process and work to plan that feature into a DSAP that would be proposed as part of the sector plan.

Commr. Cadwell opined that that was probably as far as they could go, since he was concerned about clay roads in other parts of the county that were not considered assets, and he commented that the language stating that they would identify an alternative location is fine.

Commr. Parks added that Mr. Chandler had some ideas about how to further collect economic data.

Commr. Campione asked whether they are acknowledging that a clay road could be utilized as open space under certain criteria, although she realized that they need to keep in mind that the maintenance of a clay road could be very expensive, which is why some of the clay roads in her and Commr. Cadwell’s districts end up being a problem for the County and cost them so much to maintain.  She suggested that this could be a way to incentivize keeping some trails in this situation and that they look at other clay trails around the county that they could use for that purpose as well in addition to the one in Clermont.

Mr. Chandler responded that they could count the trails toward their open space allocation as currently worded.

Commr. Sullivan commented that this plan presents a great opportunity, and although they will not be able to solve every issue as they move forward, they at least have a plan to negotiate it with the best resources that they have without taking away private property rights and try to work with the landowners to move forward.  He pointed out that Florida was the fourth and almost the third most populated state in the nation and would continue to grow, and that growth would be helter-skelter as in the past if they did not try to plan it.  He added that he agreed that water is a large issue that could end growth in the area.

Commr. Cadwell commented that they are committed to not repeating some of the development that has occurred in the south end of the county, and he pointed out that this was their first sector plan in Lake County and that there was no plan currently in place.  He urged staff to watch the jobs to housing ratio carefully during the DSAP process.  He concluded that he believes they need to move forward with transmittal to the state.

Commr. Campione commented that many people have concerns about creating only residential development, and they badly want creation of high-wage and high quality jobs.  She opined that South Lake County has the greatest potential of any other part of the county for high wage job creation.  She related that the worst case scenario that she sees is that they end up with residential but would have land set aside for open space as well as commercial that would essentially function as open space, and she believes that the residential development would be high quality in order for the profit margin to absorb the amount of property set aside for open space, which would also protect them from a scenario of increased crime.  She asked how they would address school concurrency and whether they were doing anything differently in this plan than they were doing elsewhere in the county regarding concurrency.

Ms. King responded that the process would not be terribly different than it is now, and she elaborated that they have a concurrency process in place that would necessitate that developers negotiate with the School Board if they wanted to propose a substantial amount of residential units that would trip the capacity thresholds for the adjacent schools; however, if they could not reach an agreement with the School Board, the Board would then have the authority to turn down the development.

Commr. Campione clarified that the Board could do that at the point of the zoning phase for the DSAP.

Commr. Cadwell added that concurrency would not be any different than it is at this time.

Commr. Campione pointed out that none of the property under this plan would be exempt from having to go through the normal stringent procedures that are currently in place for the protection of plants and animals.  She opined that she believes they are at a good point now to transmit to the state. She commented that she was sensitive to the concerns about the clay trails, noting that the additional language recognized that this was an important asset.  She concluded that they could hopefully find a perfect balance as new activity starts to happen in this area.

Commr. Parks commented that it has been a long process and thanked staff for working tirelessly on this plan.  He stated that he has been determined to take on the growth issue, although it is not a glamorous or popular issue, and he pointed out that growth had previously been done in a piecemeal fashion with very limited or no planning.  He stressed that this plan has flexibility and incentives to encourage businesses that want to create high-wage jobs and at the same time balances environmental concerns and the natural resources that they love about South Lake.  He respectfully disagreed with those that stated there was not enough notice of this hearing or this plan, since it was reported in at least nine newspaper articles, had extensive television news coverage, workshops were held by the Board, and invitations were extended by him to stakeholders and groups to review this plan, and he stated that he believes the process has been very fair and open.  He opined that it will proactively and very aggressively address the water issue with requirements that non-potable sources be used for irrigation and landscaping, which accounts for up to 50 percent of all water use.  He added that successful plans like Heathrow and Innovation Way happen on a 25 to 30-year timeframe, and he commented that they are thinking for the long term and have to set the vision starting now.

On a motion by Commr. Parks, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the transmittal of the Wellness Way Sector Plan to the Department of Economic Opportunity, with the changes by staff as well as changes to Page 77 previously mentioned regarding planned regional trails to recognize clay trails as a feature.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be brought to the attention of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m.

 

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jimmy conner, chairman

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

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NEIL KELLY, CLERK