A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

March 15, 2016

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 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:  Sean Parks, Chairman; Welton G. Cadwell, Vice Chairman; Timothy I. Sullivan; Jimmy Conner; and Leslie Campione.  Others present were: David Heath, County Manager; Melanie Marsh, County Attorney; Wendy Taylor, Executive Office Manager, County Manager’s Office; Kristy Mullane, Chief Deputy Clerk, County Finance; and Angela Harrold, Deputy Clerk.

INVOCATION and pledge

Mr. Blake Appleby of the First Baptist Church of Umatilla gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Agenda UPDATE

Mr. David Heath, County Manager, stated updates to the agenda were as follows: an added presentation to Tab 27, a different dollar amount in the presentation for Tab 30 than what was noted in the agenda and a request by Commissioner Parks to add Tab 35 updating the Board on the Cannon Property.

citizen question and comment period

Mr. Vance Jochim, a writer of a blog on fiscal and governmental issues, stated that Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs) take up to $2 million out of the County general fund and suggested that the Board should consider not renewing them because of the cost to the County.  He opined that the cities should pay for the improvements with city taxes, not County taxes.  He noted that the grant application for 15 new firefighter positions, listed for approval in the agenda, will leave the County with $877,000 in new spending once the grant is finished.   He pointed out that the agenda did not give financial information on the Cannon Property and wanted to know how it would be paid for and maintained.

Mr. David Serdar, a resident of Fruitland Park, addressed the families of the Groveland Four and commended the Board on Proclamation 2016-26.  He noted he would like to start a program for the cleanup of cigarette litter throughout Lake County.

Presentation of Proclamation 2016-26 – Groveland Four

Commr. Parks noted that at the Regular BCC Meeting on March 1, 2016, a resolution was approved by the Board supporting the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 136, in regard to the Groveland Four.  He and the Board presented a proclamation to the families of Charles Greenlee, Walter Lee Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas, who were convicted in 1949 for perpetrating a violent crime on a white female resident of Lake County. 

A message from Senator Geraldine F. Thompson played congratulating the Board on the adoption of the resolution and noted that the responsibility falls to current day leaders and residents to acknowledge the injustices of that time.  She added that the action of the Board would help the healing process and that this is a bottom up initiative, signaling to State leaders that this is an important issue to the people of Groveland and Lake County.  She thanked the Board for the support and noted this will aid in the posthumous cleansing of the names of the Groveland Four.

A member of the Greenlee family spoke, thanking the Board for their actions and stated the acknowledgement from Groveland Mayor Tim Loucks and the Lake County Commissioners is a positive step.  He pointed out that it was not a single person but all five commissioners in agreement on the approval of the resolution.  He opined that the Board likely had some opposition on their decision, but having all five stand together was helpful.

Sophia Threat, the niece of Walter Lee Irvin, thanked the Board and noted that the adoption is a step forward for Lake County.  She stated that the families have been working for many years to get the exoneration approved.  She added that hopefully the steps taken by the Board will press the State of Florida to complete the exoneration, and the City of Groveland and Lake County can move forward.

A nephew of Walter Lee Irvin spoke stating that he appreciated the Board’s efforts and that the families will continue to fight to gain the exoneration of the Groveland Four.  He commented that they are all family and opined that the events have made them all better and a tighter family unit.

Vivian Shepherd spoke on behalf of the Shepherd family, thanking the Board for their help and for the approval of the proclamation.  She stated that the actions have been overwhelming and have brought about a lot of emotions, adding that the family is grateful and thankful.  She noted that it is time to move forward and make the cities and towns better so they are able to help one another.  She stated she is hopeful that the exoneration will be approved on the state level, and that is when they will get their victory.

Commr. Parks stated that resolutions and proclamations cannot make up for the pain and persecution that the Groveland Four experienced.  He added that perhaps this gesture would lift them up and show how disheartened the Board is that this took place in the community.  He stated that while progress has been made, the travesty should serve as a reminder of what happens when a community chooses fear and anger over love and respect. He noted that he hoped the proclamation will go a long way to encourage all residents to get involved to make the Lake County community better.  He stated that the Board will continue to fight for the exoneration by going to Tallahassee to ensure the exoneration’s completion while also continuing the fight on the local level.

Commr. Conner acknowledged former students that were amongst the families, and he felt the family was honoring the Board with forgiveness.  He opined that Lake County is a different place than it was when the atrocities occurred, adding that due to their graciousness and humility, the families are part of the reason for the improvement.  He suggested the Board speak to the Board’s lobbyist to bring the exoneration to the state level for the next session so that it can be passed and completed.

Commr. Campione stated that she is in favor of getting the Board’s lobbyist involved to work on behalf of the families and the County to get the exoneration completed.  She noted that each commissioner could do their part making calls and setting up meetings with the individuals on the clemency board at the state level.  She said that the Board is humbled by the way the family has approached this and lived their lives and she added that she is grateful to be able to adopt the proclamation and hopes to take it to the state level.  She thanked the families for attending and for everything they have contributed to the community.

Commr. Sullivan stated that the families of the Groveland Four attending shows that Lake County is a community that is trying to correct past mistakes and be a place people want to live.  He added that he is proud to represent the families and the County and thanked them for being there.

Commr. Cadwell noted that the Board has the families’ best interest at heart and opined that it was an easy decision to approve the proclamation because it was the right thing to do.  He added that the Board is there for the family and will continue to work in their best interest and move the cause forward.

Mayor Tim Loucks of the City of Groveland stated that 67 years has gone by since the atrocities occurred, and he is hopeful that Lake County can be an example to remove racial overtones and tensions.  He said that the City of Groveland fully intends to support the Commission in pursuing the exoneration on the state level to ensure it gets completed and not allow it to stall at the city or county level.  He commented that the families are to be honored; adding that they are forgiving, and he thanked the Board and County Manager for supporting the exoneration.

CLERK OF COURTS’ CONSENT AGENDA

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote, the Board approved the Clerk of Courts’ Consent Agenda, Items 1 through 3, as follows:

List of Warrants

Request to acknowledge receipt of the 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.

Ordinance 2015-06, From the City of Minneola

Request to acknowledge receipt of Ordinance 2015-06 from the City of Minneola amending the City boundaries.  The City has incorporated into and made part of the city limits of Minneola 32.18± acres of property generally located south of Grassy Lake Road, north of Rainbow Lane, in Lake County, Florida, rezoning the property from Lake County “Agriculture (AG) to “Planned Unit Development” (“PUD”) in accordance with the procedure set forth in F.S. 171.044 on November 5, 2015

Ordinance from the City of Tavares

Request to acknowledge receipt of ordinance from the City of Tavares amending the boundaries of the City by annexing approximately 1.77 acres located on the east side of SR 19, approximately 700 feet south of the intersection of CR 561 and SR 19, and rezoning said property from Lake County Urban Residential (R-6) to the City of Tavares Highway Commercial (C-2).

CONSENT AGENDA

On a motion by Commr. Campione, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the County Manager’s Consent Agenda, Tabs 3 through 21, as follows:

Proclamations

Request approval of Proclamation 2016-27 declaring March 20-26, 2016 as Florida Surveyors and Mappers Week, per Commissioner Campione.

Request approval of Sommer Sports Proclamation 2016-28 celebrating Fred Sommers' induction into the Florida Region of USA Triathlon Hall of Fame and celebrate the 33rd Anniversary of Sommer Sports and the 25th Anniversary of the Great Floridian Triathlon, per Commissioner Parks.

Request approval of Beta Sigma Phi Day Proclamation 2016-29, per Commissioner Parks.

Request approval of Proclamation 2016-30 commemorating the 50th anniversary of Flotilla 43, District 7, of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, per Commissioner Sullivan.

Request approval of Proclamation 2016-31 in observance of National Library Week in Lake County, April 10 - 16, 2016. There is no fiscal impact

County Attorney

Request for approval to authorize Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A., to represent Lake County in lawsuits filed by Cemex Construction Materials Florida, LLC and Lake Louisa, LLC.  The fiscal impact is $150,000.

Request for approval and execution of a Purchase Agreement between Lake County and Hansdel G. Swanson for property located on CR466A.  The fiscal impact is $55,000.00 (Expenditure).  Commission District 5

Request for approval to advertise an ordinance establishing the Avalon Groves Community Development District.

Facilities Development and Management

Request for approval to award term and supply contract 16-0415 for facility mowing services to Helping Hand Lawn Care (Clermont, FL).  The fiscal impact is estimated at $184,080 (Expenditure).

Request for approval of award of contract 16-0013 for civil engineering and surveying effort associated with construction of a new Tax Collector facility to Griffey Engineering, Inc. (Eustis).  The fiscal impact is $38,840.00 (Expenditure).

Fiscal and Administrative Services

Request for approval to (1) declare the items on the attached list surplus to County needs, (2) authorize the removal of all of the items on the attached list from the County’s official fixed asset inventory system records, and (3) authorize the Procurement Manager to execute any required title documents.   

Public Works

Request for approval of award of contract 16-0003 to Steel in the Air, Inc. (Ft. Meyers, Florida) to provide consulting services pertaining to leasing space on county-owned towers to third party carriers, or leasing county-owned real property to third parties for the construction  and operation of wireless communications facilities. There is no net expenditure fiscal impact as consultant fees will be charged to the entity seeking to lease space.  Any leases put into effect will reflect revenue to the County.  Revenue realized has been minimal during the previous contract period.

Request for approval to use a contract competitively awarded by Volusia County to Anixter (Orlando) and Graybar Electric (Daytona Beach) for various items of communication equipment needed for repair and maintenance needs on as as-required basis.  The estimated fiscal impact is $25,000 consisting of $20,000 for County-wide Radio, $2,000 for E9-1-1, and $3,000 for potential other department needs (expenditure).

Public Works

Request for approval and signature on Resolution 2016-32 authorizing the reduction of the speed limit from 45 MPH to 40 MPH on County Road 561/ Lake Minneola Shores (1733) from CR 565A, south to the start of the 35 MPH speed zone, north of Dianna Place, in the Clermont area.  Commission District 2.  Section 14, Township 19, Range 22.  There is no fiscal impact.

Request for approval to award contracts under Invitation to Bid (ITB) 16-0611 to Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. (Bonita Springs, FL), Neff Rental, LLC (Sanford, FL), Ring Power Corporation (Riverview, FL), and United Rentals North America, Inc. (Leesburg, FL) for heavy equipment rental services on an as-needed basis, and authorize the Procurement Office to execute all supporting documentation. The annual fiscal impact is indefinite in nature at this time as expenditures will occur as needs arise.  $25,000 expenditure was included in the FY 2016 budget for these services.

Request for approval and acceptance of the attached list of public right of way deeds that have been secured in conjunction with roadway and / or stormwater projects.  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission Districts 4 & 5

Request for approval of Resolution 2016-33 and approval and signature of a Railroad Reimbursement Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and the Florida Central Railroad Company (FCRR) for the replacement of the existing railroad lights, gates, and controller at the railroad crossing on Shirley Shores Road, Lake Jem area. FDOT will pay all costs for the railroad crossing upgrade and will manage the contract for construction.  Lake County will continue to pay the annual maintenance cost to FCRR in the amount of $3,402.00.  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 3

Request for approval to release a performance bond in the amount of $146,871.67 associated with Right of Way Utilization Permit #6388 and Commercial/Subdivision Driveway Connection permit #53053 for the Cypress Oaks Subdivision in the City of Groveland.  The subject turn lanes and driveway connection are located along CR 565A, just north of Battle Ground Road, in the City of Groveland.  Commission District 1.  There is no fiscal impact.

Request for approval to award contract 16-0411, Guardrail and Handrail Repair, Replacement, Installation and Related Services contract to Grading & Bush Hog Services, Inc. (Orange Park, FL) and Lynne Services (St. Johns, FL).  The estimated annual fiscal impact is $50,000.

presentations

bike walk central florida

Ms. Amanda Day, Executive Director of Bike Walk Central Florida, spoke to the Board on the purpose and projects of Bike Walk Central Florida (BWCF). She stated the importance of crosswalk and bicycle safety in Lake County, noting that pedestrian safety is a challenge.  She pointed out that 902 injuries occurred in 2015 due to pedestrian and vehicle accidents and equated it to two 747 jets colliding.  She commented that the number of injuries to bicyclists is also rising adding that people in the community are banding together over these safety issues.  She stated that part of the problem is most people do not identify themselves as pedestrians and additionally that improvement to the roads are based upon car needs as opposed to pedestrian needs. She noted that there is carelessness in driving, walking and the engineering design of crosswalks which contribute to the safety issue.  She commented that the area is built for cars, not for pedestrians or bicyclists. She presented the Bike Walk Central Florida board members and noted that there are three main programs that BWCF is focused on and noted the first is complete streets, which is an initiative to get cities and counties to pass resolutions adopting a complete streets policy. She noted that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is working with Smart Growth America from Washington, D.C. to put together an implementation manual to help facilitate complete streets.  She added that the other two programs are Coast to Coast Connector and Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety.  She stated that Lake County is centrally located in the state, noting there are several projects planned for the trails in the area that coincide with the Coast to Coast Connector.  She added there are tourism and economic benefits of trails and promoting a pedestrian friendly area.  She pointed out that through the grassroots effort called Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety, individual groups have gone from working on the problem separately to combining the efforts and resources for better awareness.   She reported that the grassroots initiative puts the focus on education, engineering and enforcement, hoping to make the changes long term by focusing on driver yield rates.  She gave an example of how engineering treatments, enforcement and working with schools helped a driver yield rate go from 13 percent to 58 percent at a busy Orlando intersection.  She mentioned that in a survey done by the Orlando Sentinel, 80 percent of residents believed police officers should give tickets to drivers who do not stop for pedestrians using the crosswalk. She added that using the media, including social media, is a way that BWCF is spreading the word on the Best Foot Forward initiative and showed a local news story on the initiative.  She commented that another successful program facilitated by BWCF is International Walk to School Day.  She stated that through enforcement and education, they have made positive changes and hope to continue to see progress through the initiative and applying it more extensively in Lake County.

Commr. Cadwell stated that placing the yield to pedestrians sign on the in lane as opposed to on the side of the road offers better visual enforcement, because they are easier to see as you are driving.  He pointed out that elsewhere it is typical for drivers to stop at crosswalks to allow pedestrians to cross and added that he would like to see that become part of the culture in Lake County.

Ms. Day stated that placing the signs on the in lane does trigger the driver to slow down on roads that are 35 miles per hour or less and added that the cost is not significant to place the sign there.  She commented that the roads with speed limits above 40 miles per hour are tougher to enforce.

             Commr. Campione mentioned that in other parts of the state, flashing lights are placed at crosswalks to make them easier to see for drivers and pedestrians and suggested that placing those at some of the more dangerous crosswalks in Lake County would be helpful. She pointed out an area in Eustis specifically that could benefit from this type of engineering treatment.  She commended Commr. Parks for bringing this forward, adding that she looked forward to seeing how this could be utilized in the County.            

Ms. Day noted that the rapid flashing beacons, which are solar powered, are becoming more of a normal occurrence in high traffic areas around the state and added that enforcement would need to play a role as well.

Commr. Sullivan spoke about the complete streets program implementation in Lake County and noted that continuing to work with the Florida Department of Transportation to include that in all projects would be beneficial.  He mentioned that when people start noticing, it will become the right way to do things and that continued education of the public will aid in the matter.  He added that being pedestrian and bike friendly is an important part of Lake County. 

Ms. Day stated that Lake County could be a role model for how to accomplish that, and the goal for complete streets is to get the resolutions in place, then making sure they are implemented. She added that a shift in planning and thinking will need to be done internally at the County and city level, and education details on what complete streets are will improve awareness.

Commr. Parks noted that the 29 percent increase in 2015 for Lake EMS response to vehicle versus pedestrian and bike accidents is a concern to the Board.  He added that making presentations to the cities on this issue would be helpful so leaders there can keep this in mind when contemplating new developments.

Florida Department of Transportation – Update on Wekiva Parkway

Ms. Mary Brooks, Public Information Officer for the Florida Department of Transportation, presented to the Board an update on the progress of the Wekiva Parkway Project.  She pointed out that in attendance was Alan Hyman, the Director of Transportation Operations at the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT); Glenn Pressimone, the Director of Engineering at the Central Florida Expressway Authority; and project managers of the Wekiva Parkway Project, Ashraf Elmaghraby and Matt Hassan.  She stated that the Wekiva Parkway is a $1.6 billion project of a 25-mile toll road to complete the beltway around Central Florida and makes several improvements to non-toll roads including a stretch of roadway from Mount Dora to Sanford that will be of no charge. She added that there will be parallel service roads in East Lake and Seminole County as well as a 10-mile multi-use trail. She pointed out that the Wekiva Parkway is the first in Central Florida to feature all electronic tolling, which will improve mobility, save money and reduce noise and pollution.  She stated that the Wekiva Parkway Project is an environmental project as well, authorized in 2004 by the Wekiva Parkway Protection Act as ground breaking legislation, because at the time there had not been an infrastructure design that would help to protect the surrounding environment while also increasing mobility.  She pointed out that there has been more than 3,400 acres of land set aside for conservation, there will be numerous wildlife bridges, C.R. 46A will be taken out of the Seminole State Forest by being partially moved and there will be limited interchanges available to curb new development in environmentally sensitive areas. She showed a number of wildlife protections in place along a portion of the road that is now open.  She stated that the Wekiva Parkway Trail has generated a lot of excitement, particularly in conjunction with the Coast to Coast Connector. She presented a schedule of construction for sections of roadways, each numbered, and noted the last section is to be completed by 2021 and that design of all 14 sections is near complete.  She pointed out the aesthetic plans for bridges and roadways, noting that the attempt is to make them a landmark structure in terms of visuals.  She went through each section and gave specific updates to those pieces, pointing out that the gopher tortoise relocation for section 2B had been completed and that on January 20, 2016, sections 4A and 4B had been opened with a follow up landscaping project in the works. She mentioned that the toll cost of using the road would be 75 cents for E-pass and Sunpass users and $1.00 for vehicles utilizing the toll by plate program with an additional $2.50 per month for administrative charges.  She indicated that in 2017 a lot of changes will be occurring in Lake County’s section of the Parkway.  She stated there are approximately 80 feet of wildlife tunnels along S.R. 46 to Rock Springs Run, and the plan is to have a mile and a half of safe wildlife passage through that area.  She presented a slide showing the aesthetics and improvement to the Wekiva River Bridge which was designed to fit in with the natural surroundings by bringing the bridge up to a height of 60 feet which creates additional room for wildlife to cross safely.  She stated the plan is to have a new section of parkway opened each year.

Commr. Campione thanked Ms. Brooks for the information and commented that it was good to see the community input on landscaping placed around some of the retention areas.

Ms. Brooks noted that the goal is to make those areas natural when possible.

Commr. Conner noted that he is impressed with the Florida Department of Transportation, specifically with the Wekiva Parkway Project, and was appreciative of the update.

recess and reassembly

The Chairman called recess at 10:33 a.m. for 10 minutes.

PUBLIC HEARINGS: REZONINGS

REZONING CONSENT AGENDA

Mr. Chris Schmidt, Planning and Zoning Division Manager, Economic Growth Department, displayed the advertisements presented on the overhead  monitor and requested that the Board approve Tabs 1 and 2 of the Rezoning Consent Agenda.

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

There being no one who wished to address the Board regarding these rezoning cases, the Chairman closed the public hearing.

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

Tab 1. Ordinance No. 2016-14

Rezoning Case # CUP#04/4/1-2

Otlowski-Warner

Voluntary CUP revocation which authorized a horse farm, boarding, and riding facility on property located on Bay Lake Road.  The current property owners desire to discontinue the conditional use.

 

Tab 2. Ordinance No. 2016-15

Rezoning Case # CUP#87/10/2-2

Stiefel-Clay

Voluntary revocation of CUP#87/10/2-2 which authorized operation of a home occupation for agriculture equipment repair.  The current property owner desires to discontinue the CUP for the agricultural equipment repair operation.

public hearings

North lake hospital district extension

Ms. Melanie Marsh, County Attorney, placed the proposed ordinance on the floor for reading by title only as follows:

an ordinance of lake county, florida, providing for a continuation of the existing north lake county hospital district in lake county; providing for approval of the continuation by votes in a referendum; providing that the continuation shall be effective for a period of ten (10) years beginning october 1, 2017; providing for the referendum to be conducted in CONJUNCTION with the general election to be held on november 8, 2016; providing ballot language; providing for notification to the department of economic opportunity; authorizing expenditures for informing the public; providing for severability; providing a conflict clause; providing for filing with the department of state; and providing for an effective date.

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

Mr. Vance Jochim opined that the reason this referendum was being placed on the ballot was because it was pushed through with several other items.  He recalled that this had not been voted on for forty years and that meant during that time taxpayers have not had the chance to vote for approval on the cost regarding the North Lake County Hospital District.  He stated that he attends the meeting of the North Lake County Hospital District and believes they adhere to the many requirements of fiscal control as well as reporting.  He commented that the issue was the matter of residents being able to vote on the funding and is glad the matter is now transparent to the voters.

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

On a motion by Commr. Conner, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved Ordinance No. 2016-12.

vacation petition no. 1221

Mr. Jim Stivender, Public Works Director, presented Vacation Petition No. 1221 asking approval for a public hearing to vacate the right of away and cease maintenance on a portion of Yale Circle.  He stated the petitioners were Charles Allison with Sevorg Trading, Inc., Wayne Farrar and Dale John.  He presented a map showing the land owned by the individual petitioners and the right of way noted in the petition.  He stated with the approval of the petition, the clay portion of the road would be closed off where the paved portion begins and a turnaround would be provided to vehicles coming down the paved section.  He noted that the clay portion of the road would no longer be in the county maintenance system, which would eliminate the cost of maintenance and the cost of paving the road in the future.  He stated that the staff recommendation was to approve the vacation petition.

Commr. Cadwell asked whether there had ever been a right of way vacation petition this large that was not attached to a plot of land or a major occurrence other than just closing that much right of way on a traditional loop.

Mr. Stivender replied that there had not been anything of this size before this, and he noted that this would be 3,500 feet of County clay road being removed from the County’s road system if the petition was approved.

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

Mr. Charles Allison of Sevorg Trading, Inc., who owns lands on both sides of the clay road, stated that the reason for the petition was due to safety concerns on the property.  He pointed out that it is a very rural area of the County but sees a lot of traffic, adding that along with the theft and vandalism there are occurrences of youth in the groves drinking alcohol and doing drugs.  He stated that is the main reason for the petition to vacate and that he worked with all of the landowners who are in agreement for the petition. He mentioned additional issues being trash dumping on the groves, cars driving on and tearing up the land, and young citrus trees being pulled out of his grove.  He commented that because it is done during the night, it is hard to patrol and keep people in the area at all times.

Mr. James Watson, who owns 15 acres on the paved portion of the road, stated he was not contacted about the petition and opposes it.  He noted he owns a landscaping and tree growing business that employs approximately 115 people.  He pointed out that he looks at closing the loop as a negative, and he does not believe that the turnaround is a viable alternative to a road they have been using for their operations.  He commented that closing the clay portion would be a potential negative to future development because there would be no access in the opposite direction.  He concurred about the vandalism and theft but felt that it would happen with or without the road closure.

Mr. Bill Ray, a representative from the Whitaker family, stated that they do not agree with staff’s findings and are opposed to the petition and road closure.  He pointed out that the area could be developed 20 to 30 years in the future, and the road would be needed for greater connectivity.  He commented that when larger right of ways had been vacated in the past, they were replaced with alternative accesses as part of a larger development project.  He pointed out that currently all of the properties that front Yale Circle have the ability to use that portion of the road as alternative access.  He presented photos to the Board of the clay road, stating that it is a well-traveled road.

Mr. Cliff Shepard, an attorney for the May and Whitaker Partnership opined that the area is in need of increased law enforcement, not a road closure.  He noted that asphalt material has been added to the clay road, that it is well maintained and that the road serves a purpose.  He believes there will be a need for the road in the future because of possible development, and if the road is closed it will take away the connectivity.  He stated that keeping the two access points will aid in emergency access if it was needed.   He opined that closing the clay portion of the road will devalue the properties.  He added that the property owner that he represents does not consent to the road closure.

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

Commr. Cadwell stated future development was possible, and if there was no longer a right of way there could be a possibility of having to negotiate with the developer to reconnect the road.  He believes that if this part of the area develops but the other area does not, it could lead to conflicts and transportation can at times ease the conflicts.  He opined that he does not believe it is in the best interest of the County or immediate area to vacate.

Commr. Conner and Commr. Cadwell disclosed that they spoke with Mr. Cliff Whitaker and Mr. Rodney Lin.

Commr. Campione disclosed that she spoke with Mr. Cliff Whitaker.

Commr. Parks disclosed that he spoke with Mr. Bill Ray.

Commr. Campione pointed out that when there are vacations being done in conjunction with plats of land, there are alternative accesses being proposed with the vacation.  She stated that she was unsure if the petitioner had contemplated moving the road to the perimeter of the property and bringing it out on to CR 452 away from where the curve is as a way to join the property without a road dividing it.  She added that would leave Yale Circle as a loop.  She stated that normally when a petitioner wants vacation of a large piece of right of way, they offer an alternative that is possibly a better one for everyone involved. She commented that granting the vacation negatively affects the area and added that communication with the Lake County Sheriff’s office to increase police presence in the area would be helpful.

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Campione and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board denied Vacation Petition No. 1221.

lake county code, appendix E, Land development regulations

Ms. Melanie Marsh, County Attorney, placed the proposed ordinance on the floor for reading by title only as follows:

            an ORDINANCE of the board of county commissioners of lake county, florida; amending lake county code, appendix e, land development regulations, in order to INCORPORATE irrigation design standards and adopt several florida water star program criteria to promote conservation of potable water in lake county; Amending chapter ii, entitled “definitions”; amending ldr chapter ix, section 9.01.00, entitled “landscaping standards”, and amending ldr chapter xiv, section 14.07.05, entitled “construction requirements”, providing for severability; providing for inclusion in the code; providing for filing with the department of state; and providing for an effective date.

            Mr. Tim McClendon, Chief Planner with the Planning and Zoning Division of Economic Growth, presented an overview of the ordinance amending the irrigation design standards.  He stated that that the proposed ordinance was developed using the irrigation criteria from the Florida Water Star Program, adding that existing landscaping regulations would remain unchanged and any changes to the irrigation design requirements would only apply to new development construction after June 1, 2016.  He stated that the ordinance looks to expand irrigation requirements by limiting the total amount of irrigated area on a lot, high-volume irrigation, irrigation used for trees and shrubs to low volume, and irrigation of narrow areas to micro-irrigation only.  He pointed out that it would prohibit sprinklers from spraying on to walkways of buildings.  He noted that the St. John’s River Water Management District, the South Lake Water Initiative, the Home Builders Association and multiple irrigation vendors were contacted for input on the ordinance.  He added that Commr. Parks as well as other individuals asked for the following revisions to the ordinance after being advertised: page 10, Line 42: the word “landscaped” to be replaced with the word “irrigated;” page 11, line 16: remove the word “native plants;” page 11, line 34: include the words “or similar device;” page 14, line 24: remove the words “or licensed irrigation professional.” 

Commr. Parks noted that some of the changes came about recently and clarified that this is to improve the irrigation design standards and to incorporate that into the Lake County Landscape Development Regulations applying only to new development.  He added that if passed it would also go through all 5 cities involved in the South Lake Regional Water Initiative, which are Clermont, Minneola, Mascotte, Groveland and Montverde, to be signed and approved by them.  He commented that the focus was to make these changes and then take a look at making additional changes to plant composition in the future. 

Commr. Campione asked whether or not these changes pertained to plant materials. She pointed out in the code that a minimum of 50 percent of the required plants shall be native species, which she opined was restrictive.

Mr. McClendon replied that the only items changing within the landscaping section are the updated Florida grades and standards for nursery plants that reference the 2015 version instead of the 1998 version.

Commr. Parks noted that percentage of native species remained unchanged, and he opined that the ordinance is a good balance in comparison to other landscape ordinances he has seen.

Commr. Sullivan opined that water conservation is the most important issue, and one of the ways to influence that is through the proposed ordinance.  He added that the key is that this is for new development only, and cutting back on the 50% of water that is currently used for irrigation would be beneficial.

Commr. Campione opined that incentivizing these items or making them a “best practice” would be the best route to go, instead of imposing regulations that are too specific and restrictive.  

Commr. Cadwell pointed out that most incentives are tied to utility bills; however, the County does not own a utility company, so that will be difficult to do.  He asked Commr. Campione if her concern was the additions to the ordinance or the ordinance as a whole.

Commr. Campione replied that her concern was for the new revisions proposed.  She added that there is not a guarantee that the cities will adopt these changes, and she does not think the Board should adopt the changes until it is confirmed the cities will agree.

Commr. Parks stated that the representatives in the meetings have stated they will approve the changes individually for each city.

Commr. Cadwell opined that the cities will agree because it is based on new construction and believes it will highlight the water issues to individuals who may not be aware of them.

Commr. Campione opined that these items are things that could be worked on with a developer building new construction, but residents are not aware of these discussions and proposed revisions.

Mr. Heath stated that the reason the revisions are being proposed is because it was brought forth by the South Lake Regional Water Initiative so staff is responding to that; however, in terms of Commr. Campione’s concerns, there could be a provision placed in the ordinance that would allow the effective date to be when all five cities adopt the ordinance.

Commr. Cadwell stated that the only argument to that is that the cities have their own rate structure and metering, so they do have a way to encourage their residents to conserve where Lake County does not, and this gives Lake County a way to encourage water conservation through new construction.

Commr. Campione asked how the code would be enforced and opined that this could be more of a best management practice as opposed to being enforceable.

Commr. Parks replied that the enforcement would be the same by reviewing the plans at the County level, and some of this would work on an honor system.

Commr. Cadwell stated that it would be enforced through the inspection of the original installation of the equipment.

Mr. McClendon stated that the building department only enforces the Florida Building code which pertains to the rain sensor and meets all of the building requirements for that.

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

Mr. Rich Dunkel, a resident of Mount Dora, stated that he is on the Blue Ribbon Panel for the South Lake Regional Water Initiative, and he believes there needs to be an assured source of water to have a healthy home building industry in Lake County.  He believes that the ordinance is a good idea and allows for new technologies to conserve water so that more homes can be built and extend the tax base, making the area a great place to live.  He pointed out that a neighboring county is looking to new technologies to remove those homes off of potable water through the use of new meters and other technology utilizing grants and programs through the St. John River Water Management District.  He stated there are other counties amending restrictive ordinances as well because water is a necessity.  He noted that incentives are helpful, and there are models that can be referenced to build a good system.

Mr. James Watson, a resident of Eustis, asked if the maximum percentage of irrigated space on a lot is 60 percent.  He stated that his company has landscaped many homes in the state and he believes that the ordinances are becoming more and more restrictive.  He understands that conserving water is an issue, but he believes that educating the homeowner is an important part of the process that he feels is overlooked.  He opined that using the Florida Water Star criteria and pressure regulated sprinkler heads that give even distribution of the water, which lowers the amount of water needed, are positives.  He stated that a 60 percent maximum of lot irrigation is not realistic and recalled that homeowners did not want homes that came landscaped with Bahia sod.  He pointed out that native plants are hard to come by, and the quantity is not available in large amounts like most landscape companies would need.  He opined that the best way to save water is using the Right Plant-Right Place idea and feels overall that the new proposed changes are too restrictive.

Ms. Teresa Watkins, a sustainable horticultural environmentalist who was one of the team members to develop Florida Water Star, stated that she has had many people attend workshops where she presents Florida friendly landscaping and noted people often express to her their disbelief that they do not have an efficient irrigation system and their concern over high water bills. She stated the 60 percent high volume irrigation is adequate for having turf, and 40 percent low volume or no irrigation at all works very well and is easily done.  She pointed out that irrigation can be done for St. Augustine grass, but it needs to be efficient.  She noted she feels that educating homeowners and buyers is an important step and suggested that building a package of criteria for homeowners to reference when talking with home builders is educating the consumer properly.  She stated that from information collected by several agencies indicates that only 47 percent of irrigation systems are efficient nationwide.  She opined that there is not enough plant material to do 50 percent native plant species but feels that whether it is native or not does not affect the water conservation.  She stated that there are hydric, xeric and mesic native plants which would cause the right plant-right place idea to be the most successful practice.  She opined that the heathiest landscapes are those that are the most diverse.

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

Commr. Campione made a motion to postpone and asked if the Board would be open to further work being done on the ordinance and to add incentives for County residents and developers. She pointed out that the larger issues with the ordinance seemed to be correcting the native plant issue, and having 40 percent low volume irrigation. She added that there is an additional component of getting residents and developers educated plus using incentives and outreach programs, which would be beneficial.

Commr. Sullivan replied that he would be open to looking at it further after the adoption of the ordinance, especially in the area of the native plants, which he believes is a separate issue that needs to be addressed.

Commr. Parks pointed out that the South Lake Regional Water Initiative has done a lot to address the issue over the last two to three years along with the water and conservation side of it.  He stated that there were a lot of people involved in working on the issue and does agree that public outreach is a key component.  He noted that he hopes the right plant-right place concept will be utilized and also implementing incentives and diversifying the landscaping plant list for new developments.

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Cadwell, and carried by a vote of 4-1, the Board approved Ordinance No. 2016-13, amending the Lake County Code, Appendix E, Land Development Regulations, Chapter IX Landscape Standards and Chapter XIV Construction Requirements, incorporating irrigation design standards and adopting Florida Water Star Program criteria to promote water conservation in Lake County.

Commr. Campione voted no.

community redevelopment areas update

Ms. Dottie Keedy, Community Services Director, presented an update to the Board on the current Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs) in Lake County.  She defined the meaning of a CRA as being a geographic area targeted for redevelopment that has undergone a statutory process, meets certain conditions of blight and uses a redevelopment trust fund to encourage private development. She stated the Community Redevelopment Agency is a public body created by the governing board to implement the redevelopment plan and whose authority is limited to redevelopment activities.  She noted the plan addressed the vision for the community and includes specific projects that can be funded by tax dollars.  She listed the steps to creating a CRA are prepare the finding of necessity, adopt a resolution establishing a boundary, create the Community Redevelopment Agency, prepare and adopt the redevelopment plan, and establish a redevelopment trust fund.  She added that the trust fund comes from tax increment revenue which is created by freezing the tax base and local taxing agencies who will then only receive revenue on the existing tax base until the expiration of the CRA.  She stated that the incremental revenues from the increase of property value each year are deposited into the CRA trust fund and those funds can only be used as outlined in the CRA’s redevelopment plan.   She noted that the Florida Statutes give Community Redevelopment Agencies the authority to host community events, solicit proposals for redevelopment projects, enter into contracts and handle financial issues related to the CRA.  She pointed out that CRA’s cannot exercise eminent domain or determine blight, increase property taxes, construct and or manage public facilities, fund general government operating expenses, authorize issuance of revenue bonds or other items that are normally carried out by the governing body. 

Ms. Keedy listed the names of the CRA’s located in Lake County as follows: Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Leesburg, Mascotte, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Minneola and Mt. Plymouth-Sorrento (the only unincorporated CRA in Lake County). She then gave a brief overview of each city’s CRA timeline. She noted that most of the CRA’s were established in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, and over time there have been a number of modifications to the CRA’s to further redevelopment activities, pointing out that Leesburg and Clermont expanded their CRA boundaries in 2015.  She commented that Leesburg also reset its tax base year from 2006 to 2014, adding that the Florida Statutes are silent on resetting the tax base year.  She noted that the first step for amending CRA boundaries in non-charter counties such as Lake County is to notify the taxing authority of proposed expansion and to come to an agreement on the use of the funds; she added that the dispute resolution process outlined in Chapter 164 may be utilized if agreement cannot be reached but neither party can require that the process take place, and non-charter counties do not have the ability to prohibit CRA expansions. She stated that the CRA’s within Lake County have a total net taxable value of over $1.2 million with an aggregate base value of over $965 million, and four of the CRA’s have a net taxable value below their base year value due to the recession.  She pointed out that the total increment tax value is over $276 million, and the tax increment value and millage rate determine the tax increment payment to the CRA’s.  She noted that for Lake County the general fund millage rate is 5.3051 and the total tax increment payment is almost $1.4 million and added the Lake Ambulance Municipal Service Taxing Units (MSTU) have a millage rate of 0.4629 with a total tax increment payment of $121,725.

Commr. Cadwell asked if the Board had ever denied an expansion to a CRA and noted he had concerns when Leesburg reset their base rate.

Ms. Keedy replied there had never been a denial to her knowledge.

Commr. Sullivan noted that time limits can be set on CRA’s.

Mr. Keedy responded that the statutes limit them to 30 years.

Commr. Campione asked whether the expansion or reset of a CRA such as the one in Leesburg would also extend the length of that CRA.

Ms. Keedy replied that it is possible to extend the length during the expansion process, but it is usually completed at the end of the time limit, adding she did not believe that the City of Leesburg extended its time limit.

Commr. Campione pointed out in the presentation where counties and cities can discuss use of competing funds, which in her opinion seems to be the only leverage that the Board of County Commissioners would have in regards to working with the cities on the CRA’s. She stated all County residents receive the benefits of CRAs through the downtown districts.  She opined that improving the downtown districts is important to the economic plan, because so much of the ecotourism and tourism revolves around events taking place in the historic downtowns and waterfront areas. She believes that if the funds were going into the general fund instead of the CRAs, the cities would still come to the County to ask for general funds to improve the downtown areas, adding that with the CRA there is an identified amount of money for the improvement with an amount that is known from year to year.  She wondered at what point, however, do limitations need to be in place so that the whole city does not become part of a CRA and added it may be necessary to look at how taking money from the County as a whole affects the residents in the unincorporated areas.

Commr. Cadwell stated the intent of the CRA’s is a good thing and there have been some changes to the language that benefitted the County. He expressed concern that in some cases the CRA was expanded to push questionable boundaries, but added that most of the cities have used the money for good improvements to their downtown areas.  He commented, however, that with the amount the cities receive, he had hoped they would be further along on some of them.  He stated that he understands the philosophy and wants to continue to support it, but would like to monitor the results of spending which could help influence the Board’s decision on how additional funds are distributed.

Commr. Campione stated that if the funds are being used to contribute to the County’s overall economic goals, then that is the correct use, and CRAs will need to be reevaluated if the cities are not putting the funds to good use.

recess and reassembly

The Chairman called recess at 12:04 PM for 30 minutes.

health department building

Mr. Bill Veach, Deputy County Manager, presented to the Board the lease status and purchase agreement for the Health Department Administration Building located at 16140 US Hwy 441 in Eustis.  He noted that the current contract between Lake County and the State of Florida Department of Health outlines the services the Health Department will provide and also stipulates that the County agrees to provide space through a combination of owned and/or leased buildings.  He stated that the health department building houses the health department administration, provides school health which includes screening and immunization for students, health department billing, vital statistics, public information, tobacco prevention and emergency response storage, which is located in an on-site climate controlled warehouse.  He explained that the County had begun leasing the office at this site in 2000 with a warehouse space added at the same location in 2011.  He noted that the current office lease expires in October, 2016 with no renewal options, and the warehouse lease expiring in December, 2016 has one renewal option. He added that the lease cost per month for both the office and warehouse is $6,456 per month plus the property taxes, giving it an annual cost of $92,900. He stated that the property owner intends to sell the buildings after the lease ends and gave two options to the Board for how to move forward.  He noted that the first option was to lease in a different location, and the second option would be to purchase the buildings, since the current owners have stated they will give the County the option to purchase the buildings prior to listing the buildings for sale publicly. He reported that leasing in a different location would increase expenses because the current lease has the least expensive rates in the County, and that finding available leases with comparable facilities in the needed location are limited, and there would also be moving costs incurred if a different facility is leased.

Mr. Veach then reported that the two existing buildings could be purchased by the County for $1,010,000 through ten year owner financing at 2.25 percent interest with an initial payment of $101,000 and nine additional payments of $112,700, adding that there would be an estimated cost of $25,000 for due diligence and closing costs.  He pointed out that the County’s financial advisor confirmed that the rates are competitive.  He commented that purchasing the existing buildings would be listed as debt in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) but the Health Department stated both buildings still meet the needs and location criteria.  He stated that to purchase the existing buildings there would be no relocation costs; however, there would be current and future maintenance to the buildings such as HVAC modifications, roof, and flooring needs approximated at $283,000, which the Health Department would contribute to in regards to janitorial and flooring replacement, noting that other maintenance needs could be funded through current and future budgeting processes.  He opined that purchasing the existing buildings is advantageous to the County and requested the Board’s approval to complete the purchase.

Commr. Cadwell asked if the interest rate on the purchase price was a fixed rate, then stated that Lake County has an obligation to the State to provide buildings for the Health Department, and while there are updates needed, the underlying value of the property is a good investment.

Mr. Veach stated that yes, the interest rate was fixed.

Commr. Sullivan stated that purchasing these buildings fills a requirement while moving the County closer to the goal of owning property as opposed to leasing.

Commr. Parks noted purchasing the existing buildings is the best option strategically in the long term.

Commr. Conner opined that the best option is to purchase the existing buildings when weighing it against the other alternative.

Commr. Campione stated that the County would spend more to find a new location, lease it and relocate, so purchasing the existing buildings is the best option, and the owner financing is advantageous.  She added that it is in a good location and will hold and appreciate in value.

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Conner, and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the purchase agreement with J.W. Brook, Inc., for property located at 16140 US Highway 441 in Eustis; authorization for Chairman to execute any necessary closing documents, contingent upon completion of due diligence and County Attorney approval, and approval of URR Resolution 2016-34 to recognize proceeds from owner financing/installment agreement for purchase of the Health Department building. The fiscal impact is $1,010,000 plus $25,000 estimated for due diligence and closing costs.

SAFER grant program

Mr. John Jolliff, Public Safety Director, stated the purpose of the presentation was to update the Board on the Staffing for the Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant.  He noted that on January 19, 2016 he presented to the Board the Lake County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) update and then gave a brief background on the overall staffing status, the call load per station specifically pointing out the north Lake County rural area where fire stations are spread apart and the future planning that identified the need for additional fire stations and personnel, which included funding needs.   He gave an update on the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) application approved by the Board in June 2015 that provides funding to renovate fire stations.  He stated that the request was for $1 million to renovate 10 existing fire stations with a local match of $100,000, adding that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) decision to approve the request is still being awaited. He listed the scope of work needed for the stations as follows: insulate living area for better energy efficiency, replace windows with code compliant energy-efficient windows, replace apparatus overhead doors with code compliant doors, install exhaust removal system, repair rust spots, paint all exterior siding, and repair roofs as needed. He stated that the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant was created to provide funding directly to departments and volunteer organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities. He added that the goal of the SAFER grant is to enhance the local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and pointed out that Lake County Fire and Rescue falls under the NFPA 1710 standards.  He stated that in 2008 Lake County was awarded a little over $1.3 million through the SAFER grant, and 12 firefighters were hired.  He noted that the award funding to cover the additional fire staff salaries and benefits would be slightly different from 2008 from a five-year payout period to it now being a three-year payout period with LCFR taking over the payments of salaries and benefits on the third year. He outlined the phase one requests for the SAFER Grant as 15 firefighter positions with a first-year grant funding of $876,390 and a second year of grant funding of $898,590.  He stated this would allow for immediate opening of the Dona Vista fire station and adding a third person per shift to the outlying rural stations of Lake Yale and Seminole Springs.  He stated that the requests for phase two of the SAFER Grant would be 21 firefighter positions and an estimated $1,251,000 per year for the first two years; those funds would open fire stations in the Lake Yale and Seminole Springs areas with 3 personnel per shift and adds a third person to Mount Plymouth per shift. 

Mr. Steve Koontz, Fiscal and Administration Services Director, presented the fiscal analysis and fiscal impact regarding the grant opportunities and the financial effect on the County long-term. He stated to come up with the financial analysis, staff had to assume modest growth and that the majority of the funding for the two new fire stations would come from impact fees with possibly a small amount of sales tax revenue needed to cover the rest of the costs.  He pointed out that the SAFER Grant for the 15 additional firefighters would end in 2019 and at that time expenses would exceed revenues by an estimated $1 to $2 million under the current millage and assessment rates.  He stated that the SAFER Grant for the additional 21 firefighters would end in 2021, being dependent on the fiscal year for 2019 revenue changes; he estimated the expenses would exceed revenues by $1.5 to $2.5 million, adding that the total amount of additional funding needed for fiscal year 2021 would be $2.5 to 3.5 million.  He noted that future funding options to cover the costs could be the Lake County Fire Rescue (MSTU), which is 0.4704 mills at the current millage rate, adding that every 1/10 of 1 mill generates approximately $800,000 under current property values and the Fire Assessment, which is $175 at the current residential rate, adding that a $1.00 increase to the residential rate would generate $100,000 in revenues with all other land uses increased by the same percentage. He stated that additional revenue could be generated by one or a combination of both of the options.

Mr. Jolliff requested that the Board approve applying to FEMA for the SAFER Grant to fund 15 firefighter positions in the amount of $876,390 for fiscal year 2017.

Commr. Cadwell asked how many homes were estimated in the county.

Mr. Koontz replied that there is an estimated 67,000, including Howey-in-the-Hills and Astatula.

Commr. Cadwell noted that increasing the impact fee by $1.00 would generate $67,000 plus the other categories of land uses and asked if it was a conservative estimate.

Mr. Koontz stated that with the additional land uses the $1.00 increase would generate the $100,000 noted in the presentation and that he made the projections based on today’s property values along with a 3.5 percent growth factor and rates increasing in the MSTU; however, the assessment is more difficult to project.

Mr. Heath recalled that at the Board of County Commissioner meeting on January 19, 2016, it was presented that there is a need for three fire stations to be built over a 5-year period, and he stated that the presentation for that day was a program to get those three stations operational as well as addressing the remote stations.  He clarified that the request in front of the Board was to approve the Public Safety department applying for the first of two SAFER Grants through FEMA.  He added that the request to apply for the second SAFER Grant would then be in front of the Board at a future time.  He commented that the purpose of the presentation was to outline what the total program would be for five years. 

Commr. Conner asked if there were any other financial resources to draw on to close the gap instead of raising property taxes or the fire assessment.

Mr. Koontz replied that the Board could review the general fund or look at reducing expenses, but he opined that reducing expenses would be difficult because positions are being added.

Commr. Conner stated he was concerned over the budget deficit this would create and opined that the department did not need to grow to that amount now but that he would support the hiring of 6 additional firefighters.  He stated that he feels this is not an essential need, that the department does a sufficient job on its current resources, and that growth in the area cannot be assumed.  He pointed out that the gap is too large at $1.5 to $2.5 million and commented that he would like to see a plan that meets in the middle.

Commr. Campione noted that the presentation in January showed the calls for service from 2012 to 2015 and pointed out that in 2012 there were 12,872 medical calls LCFR responded to and that in the following years the number has increased.  She stated that the public may not understand the correlation and collaboration that goes on between Lake County Fire and Rescue and Lake Emergency Medical Services (Lake EMS) and pointed out that the two departments work together in the rural and unincorporated areas taking the medical calls.  She pointed out that it is important to note the steady increase and the projected population increase as well.  She stated that the fire department is already operating from a deficit of not having enough resources to cover those outlying areas. She commented those areas may not receive insurance credit as there is not an operating fire station close to them, and the public assumption is that because they are paying the millage rate and the impact fees, the fire department will arrive on time to the scene and that the services are available. She opined that there are not complaints from residents on the level of service in these areas because there is a false sense of security.  She believes that with the presentation and grant application, the County is working to try and get the department to where it needs to be in order to provide a level of service that is already assumed by the residents.  She referred to the map that showed the outlying area stations and noted that there are only two firefighters at each of those stations, adding backup would not get to those firefighters in a reasonable amount of time should something occur.  She stated that it is important to distinguish between growing the department versus getting the department to a level of service it should be at.  She opined that now there is a way to continue the progress through the SAFER grants, that is necessary for the residents of Lake County.  She stated that she believes this is a need and not a want. 

Commr. Sullivan opined that it is about trying to meet a standard that the residents believe is in place.  He stated that this makes the Board take a hard look at what will need to happen in the future, and a plan will be in place to continue the progress with the SAFER grant. He added the SAFER grant comes from Federal funding which all residents in Lake County pay, so taking advantage of this grant will be a return on paid taxes.

Commr. Campione pointed out that there were two other funding sources noted and wanted the Board to keep in mind that when the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) study is being completed, there could be opportunities to help offset some of the costs by coordinating with transport services in Lake County.  She also stated that a proportionate share of the Advanced Life Support (ALS) funding that comes from the countywide MSTU should be going to Lake County Fire and Rescue for the unincorporated residents, which could be applied to the goal as well.

Commr. Conner asked if the EMS Study would be addressing fire services in the County.

Commr. Campione replied that it is reviewing response times, and the results could shift funds to cover some of the fire services in the outer lying areas. She added that by moving ahead with the grant in two phases, the County could be in a position to apply funds from the EMS study to cover the cost by the time the second phase begins.

Commr. Conner opined that adding the additional 15 firefighter positions prior to the completion of the EMS study is handling the issue backwards.

Commr. Cadwell opined that there is a very good chance the 15 firefighter positions would be added regardless between the years of 2019 and 2021.  He commented that doing it now will take care of the deficiencies currently in place along with two of the years covered by the SAFER grant.  He added that the second phase can be discussed at a different time and could be a smaller number depending on the Interlocal Service Boundary Agreements (ISBA), so it is best to wait and discuss it in the future.

Commr. Parks stated that his thinking is long term for the County and felt that resolving the issue present day would be best, instead of in the future when the need would be greater and would likely be more costly.  He noted that the EMS study could lend help to the revenues.

Commr. Conner asked if the 15 firefighter positions were a critical need.

Mr. Jolliff replied that it is a critical need, and he opined that better service can be provided in the rural areas, adding that now is a good time to step up and provide the service to the residents.

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Campione, and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the authorization to apply for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant to hire 15 firefighters for FY 2017.  The estimated fiscal impact for the positions is $843,480 (FY 2017 Revenue and Expense) and $864,649 (FY 2018 Revenue and Expense). Starting FY 2019, the County will be responsible to fully fund all positions. In FY 2017, the County will also be responsible for $82,000 (FY 2017 Expenditure) of gear and uniforms for the 15 new firefighters.  The cost is not covered by the grant.

cannon property update

Mr. Jeff Cole, Public Resources Department Director, gave a presentation updating the Board on new developments for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Section 6 Grant application to acquire the Cannon Property, noting that the last update was on February 16, 2016.  He presented maps to the Board to show the 43.5 acre property and its relation to local urban development, including the ViaPort Mall.  He added that there have been federally endangered and threatened species of plants and animals identified on the property. He commented that the Trust for Public Land had 13.33 acres of the property appraised earlier in 2016 at $2.66 million and a subset of 12.24 acres at $2.4 million. He gave the background of the proposal and commented that on February 16, 2016 the Trust for Public Land proposed that Lake County purchase 13.33 acres of the land for $2 million dollars ($1 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Section 6 Grant and $1 million in County land value).  He stated that following that proposal, staff was approached with a new proposal for the landowner to sell 12.24 acres to the County for $2.4 million, with the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services to apply for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services grant for $1.2 million and the landowner to donate $1.2 million in land value and the County would then own and manage the land in perpetuity with a letter committing to phased acquisition and management of the remaining 31.26 acres of the Cannon Property, should the grant be successful.  He noted that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Section 6 grant is part of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and is designed for protection and restoration of threatened and endangered plant species. He stated the grant requires an appraisal to be conducted that is in accordance with federal standards and that the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services (FDACS) apply for the grant, not the County, because it must be an entity with a formal relationship with the U.S. Department of the Interior. He added that further requirements were that the plant habitat must be preserved in perpetuity for conservation, there must be a commitment to funding for and implementation of a management plan for the plant habitat, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services approval of a recovery, and a management plan for the plant habitat prior to funding. 

Mr. Cole pointed out that on March 1, 2016 FDACS sent a letter recommending the phased purchase of the entire parcel, depending on funding availability, which would place the entire parcel in conservation. He added that the grant deadline was March 18, 2016.  Mr. Cole then presented a list established by the Board of existing unfunded land priorities, including the Wekiva Trail Connector, Helena Run Preserve (Completion Property), parcels for multi-use trail that would connect the Trout Lake Nature Center through Pine Meadows Conservation Area into the Lake May Reserve and property along the Wekiva River.  He stated that the staff analysis indicated that the Cannon Property would be an asset to the County because it is valuable conservation land has passive recreational opportunities, could promote eco-tourism and would protect threatened and endangered plant and animal species.  He noted that the potential needs and challenges with the acquisition are that acquiring only 12.24 acres limits public activities, there is encroachment by the neighboring residential communities that will need to be removed, a fire line would be needed between the property and communities, secured site access and legal access onto the property would need to be constructed and perimeter fencing, gates and signage would need to be installed.  He said that initial funding would be estimated at $65,000 to develop the plans and install the needed items with annual funding of $30,000 for basic maintenance of the property, and those costs would be programmed through the current and future budgeting processes.  He stated that if the Board wished to support the USFWS Section 6 grant application,  the staff recommendation would be that the County Manager be authorized to transmit a commitment letter subject to the following seven conditions: the County would not be obligated in any way to fund the acquisition on the 12.24 acres; the County would be provided evidence of clear title, legal boundaries and environmental assessment showing no evidence of environmental hazards all at the expense of the owner; the property owner would provide the County with a minimum 30-foot-wide improved access to the property through a permanently conveyed easement from Radio Road that the County would use for maintenance and public access; receipt of the property would not financially obligate the County in any way to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or to any other entity, in whole or in part; and Lake County would be able to manage the property within its sole discretion. Also, if the 12.24 acres are conveyed to the County, the property owner will agree to not sell the remaining 31.26 acres for development or will place a conservation easement over that land in perpetuity; the County would evaluate additional phases of the Cannon Property with the goal of preserving the entire 43.5 acres which cannot be construed as a financial commitment; and receipt of the 12.24 acres and related documentation are subject to the review and approval of the County Attorney.

Mr. David Fuller, owner of the Cannon Property, stated that his family has owned the property for 52 years, and the property has been preserved in its natural state, which is a rare occurrence.  He recalled that his family was inclined to conserve the property after speaking with Commissioner Parks in 2015.  He stated his family is willing to donate the $1.2 million in land value needed for the grant application as well as the $65,000 for the initial cost and the $30,000 maintenance cost annually for years two and three.   He noted that the property is a sand hill/pine scrub forest and harbors large communities of federally endangered and threatened plant species along with dozens of species of wildlife.  He added that with the vast majority being turned into orange groves or developed for housing, the sand hill ecosystem itself is endangered.  He stated through the grant there is the opportunity to preserve the property for future generations to enjoy.  He opined that the real Florida is disappearing and it will be gone without education and conservation.  He added that the property is a perfect case study of why conserving land and educating residents on natural resources is important.  He commented that he believes conserving the land will go along with Lake County’s ecotourism and natural resources initiative, “Real Florida, Real Close.”  He believes that the family’s action to help fund the project shows their true commitment and how much they value the property and the conservation of it. 

Mr. Greg Chelius from the Trust for Public Land stated that ecosystems across the State of Florida are breaking down and opined that the Cannon Property is a jewel in Lake County and a preserved piece of property.  He stated that Lake County is going through growth and opined that the job of the Board is to be as fiscally conservative as possible through all of the important issues happening in the County currently.   He recalled a project that he worked on in the City of Jacksonville, remarking that Jacksonville did a residential development study which showed that residential development does not show a return investment on its own, there needs to be commercial development as well to be able to fund the provided services.  He commented that it will cost more money if the Cannon Property is developed than it brings in, relating that to the residential development study done by the City of Jacksonville.  He noted that the same landowner has owned the property for 52 years and has not made any developmental changes to it, and if the property becomes owned by Lake County, there will not need to be a tremendous amount of management to provide access to the public.  He stated that the property can be used for ecotourism and education to children and families that reside in Lake County.  He noted that the appraisal for the phase one property was accurate at $2.4 million, adding that the appraisals are only completed by State and Federal Government approved appraisers.  He stated that if the Board wanted to move forward with acquiring phase two and three, the County would need to leverage $1 million worth of property for a $6 million piece of property that costs approximately $30,000 a year to manage but provides ecotourism and education, and these types of educational properties are not readily available. He stated that he believes acquiring the Cannon Property would be fiscally responsible and would provide a park with education and ecotourism. 

Commr. Campione opined that property sounded extremely unique and asked how the County would keep the endangered species from being impacted negatively by the public if the property was to be opened to education and ecotourism.

Mr. Chelius responded that creating trails with signs and kiosks explaining the endangered species would be the least expensive way to accomplish protecting the land and added that creating a campground for scouting groups would enable extended time for exploration of the property.  He commented that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services stated that the property is absolutely unique, and the scoring given to the property ranked very high because of the four endangered plant species. 

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

Mr. Peter Kehde, a Leesburg resident, stated that he owns five acres that abuts the Cannon Property and that his background is science, adding that he taught several science courses for 30 years at Lake-Sumter State College.  He noted that Mr. Cannon allowed him use of the property which he used for his classes, which enabled him to show his classes what Central Florida looked like thousands of years ago.  He elaborated that he took his classes through the sand hill communities and commented that there are other important Florida specific types of plants in addition to the four endangered plant species.  He opined that it is a wonderful educational area, and making trails would be the best way to ensure that the public is not walking over something critical.  He offered to start a group to help maintain the property and reported that there are many neighbors surrounding the area that would like to join.

Ms. Peg Lindsay, a resident of Leesburg, recalled a recent trip to the Galapagos Islands where she supported the local economy during her stay, and she feels that the Cannon Property would draw equal amounts of ecotourism that would help the local economy.  She stated that finding a way to protect the property while allowing public visits can be achieved.

Mr. Vance Jochim stated that he is concerned over the number of properties already owned by the County and feels that adding more land is not fiscally responsible.  He opined that committing to buying the rest of the property after the first 12 acres are acquired, managing it, and developing it in perpetuity is not feasible without adequate funding available. He commented if the funding is there, it should be applied to other projects that have been waiting to be developed.  He opined that the timeline was too short, and the grant should be reviewed more. He suggested allowing private charities to purchase the property. 

Ms. Lavon Silvernell, a resident of Astatula and President of the Beautyberry Native Plant Society, stated that she had the opportunity to tour the property and felt that it is an amazing area.  She noted that it must have always been open range because of the biodiversity there and opined that it would be useful for Lake County’s “Real Florida, Real Close” campaign.  She suggested that it could be part of the trail system and that people would use property because it is more accessible, which makes it more appealing.  She stated that she does have concerns, however, over the financial commitment of acquiring and maintaining the property. 

Ms. Elizabeth Kapoor, a resident of Leesburg, stated she is very excited about the prospect of the County purchasing the property.  She noted that in talking with several of her neighbors, she found that they are equally excited, and they are all very much in favor of it.  She indicated that she is willing to be a part of a “friends of” group to help maintain the property and that recruiting volunteers would be easy.  She opined that it would be good for the area, residents and property values.  She stated that it is close to schools and also close to the site of the Wings and Wildflower Festival.

There being no one else who wished to address the Board regarding the Cannon Property, the Chairman closed the public hearing.

Commr. Parks recalled that he was extremely impressed with the quality of the habitat when he toured the property, and he stated that with the development close by, this presents an opportunity to allow for the “Real Florida, Real Close” slogan to come to life.  He pointed out that there were time constraints and the choices are difficult, but he wanted to be clear that the County was not committed to acquiring the rest of the property in the subsequent phases, only to make a good faith effort to do so.  He added that the additional property could be acquired in many different ways other than the general fund or penny sales tax monies, which he would not support if that was required to purchase the property.  He opined that it is a wonderful opportunity with a good plan in place, and this property purchase still fits within the mission of the County’s property acquisition plan long term.  He pointed out since the landowner was willing to pay the initial costs and there are neighbors who want to be actively involved, he did not see that it would put the County in a tough position to apply for the grant.  He agreed that there were issues with land management and litter control, but he did not feel that these were too big to overcome, adding that it would be a good opportunity for the County.

Commr. Conner stated that he would like to make his decision based on a list of the items that the County is obligated to do if the property was acquired.  He stated concern that there was not information provided on a solution to the additional land acquisition, and he would like to have all of the information listed before making a decision.  He pointed out that there has been conversation on the Board for selling passive property, since there are not available funds to keep the many parks the County already owns open and operating.  He remarked that he still wants to look at the cost factors to the County for the Cannon Property and then make an evaluation, because he feels it is a unique piece of property.

Mr. Heath stated that there had been many revisions and opined that the offer by the landowner was generous, but the County had not been made aware of the offer prior to the meeting.  He pointed out that the Board is not agreeing to anything except to apply for the grant to acquire the first phase, and no commitments are being made to purchase the remainder of the property.  He stated that if the grant was awarded, that would be the time the property would be assessed against other priorities and the budget to determine if the Board would want to move ahead in acquiring it.

Commr. Conner stated that the public was told that the penny sales tax would be spent on active parks and law enforcement, and he wanted to clarify he would not be in agreement for penny sales tax to be used for this property. He asked what the land management plan would be for the Cannon Property and added that the plan would not be inexpensive.

            Mr. Heath replied that it was identified as $65,000; however, the landowner stated he would pay the cost.

            Commr. Campione stated that the land management side would be different from the improvements that would be made to the land regarding trails.  She suggested using local Eagle Scouts to help with making and building the trails, adding the plan does not have to be elaborate.  She commented that parking could be negotiated with the ViaPort Mall.  She stated that there is a potential for property values in that area to increase.  She pointed out that there is no cost upfront to write the letter and apply for the grant. She commented there is only a consideration of doing a land swap for the following phases and asked what County-owned property could be used for the swap. She opined it is a good solution to use a piece of surplus land that has little to no value to finish acquiring the property, anf getting the Cannon Property would be lucrative by making it the premiere place for Lake County’s “Real Florida, Real Close” brand.   

            Commr. Conner asked if surplus land in Lady Lake was a piece of property that was purchased with sales tax funds.

            Mr. Heath stated that the property in Lady Lake has been on the market for 3 years and has not sold; adding that the list of surplus property would be sold off if it was marketable. He commented that the property on that list is land that was acquired through tax deeds.

            Ms. Marsh stated that any land purchased with the public land funds could not be transferred for the purchase of the Cannon Property, because the bond would have to be repaid. She further explained that it could be different if it was kept as conservation land, but the understanding is that the landowner would take the surplus land in exchange for the Cannon Property and then sell the piece of surplus land for profit.

            Commr. Campione stated that her understanding was that if it stayed as conservation land, then the condition to reimburse the bond would not apply with the assumption that the landowner would want the land along with possibly several other pieces to round out the number to equal the amount needed for the exchange.

            Commr. Parks pointed out that there is the possibility of a land swap because of a long list of surplus property but wanted again to reiterate that the County is not obligated to purchase the remaining acreage after phase one. He opined that there could be a non-profit organization that could step up and acquire that land.

            Commr. Cadwell pointed out that the presentation stated on page 21, number six, “The County will evaluate the additional phases of the Cannon Property with the goal of preserving the entire 43.5 acres.” He added that the sentence implies there is commitment on the Board’s side to acquiring all of the property and stated that he did not feel comfortable making that commitment. He stated that page 14 of the presentation shows a list of projects that have been in limbo for many years, and he feels these projects will suffer first if the Board moves forward in acquiring the first 12 acres of the Cannon Property. He asked how they would measure the value of one over the others and opined that you could use Eagle Scouts equally as well with some of the other projects on the list. He pointed out that there are many acres of property that facilitate the “Real Florida, Real Close” campaign approximately 4 miles north of the Cannon Property. 

            Commr. Parks stated that the Cannon Property in comparison to the other property projects listed are the same from an ecological and preservation perspective, but acquiring the property does not use penny sales tax funds or move the County away from active recreation.      Commr. Cadwell asked if prescribed burns would need to occur on the property to create the suggested burn lines in the presentation, which would be a difficult task especially so close to developed land.

Commr. Parks stated that there are different management tools to use besides prescribed burning, and if prescribed burning would be needed, it would be approached differently and in smaller pieces for this property’s burn line.

Commr. Cadwell stated that he believes in the goal of conservation, but that the turnaround time for this project is too quick and the information seems to change so often that he does not feel it is the right time for this to move forward especially in conjunction with the other property projects the County has.

Commr. Campione commented that there has not been an expert evaluation completed showing that those properties are as valuable as the Cannon Property, and she feels the decision to move forward with the application is logical. She commented that the good faith effort to acquire the rest of the acres is not a financial commitment and that it would be possible to enlist other sources to finish acquiring the acreage. She opined that it would be a waste not to apply for the grant with a landowner who is willing to put up the initial maintenance and management plan cost for the first two years.

Commr. Sullivan stated that his concern is the County will acquire the first 12 acres but not be able to acquire the rest; however, with the landowner willing to fund the initial costs and management costs for the first two years, he would be willing to move ahead with the application for the grant, with that listed in writing under the conditions.   

On a motion made by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Campione, and carried by a vote of 3-2, the Board approved applying for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Section 6 Grant with two added conditions being that the current landowner will provide the $65,000 initial cost plus $30,000 management cost for two years.

Commr. Conner and Commr. Cadwell voted no.

ANNUAL SIDEWALK REPORT

Mr. Fred Schneider, County Engineer, presented the Annual Sidewalk Report to the Board. He gave a background on the sidewalks by stating that they are constructed with road projects, residential subdivisions, commercial site plans and as individual projects; the repair and maintenance is funded by gas tax and sales tax; new sidewalks are funded with sales tax and grants; the Safe Access to School Federal Local Agency Program (LAP) grants are available but must be prioritized by the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Plan Organization (LSMPO); and the Lake County Land Development Regulations have requirements for new commercial development to construct sidewalks along adjacent exterior roadways.  He stated there is a total of 193 miles of roads with sidewalks in Lake County which can be on one or both sides of the roadway.  He noted that in December 2012 the Board of County Commissioners adopted an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Public Right of Way Transition Plan for sidewalks, and following in December 2013, the federally funded Safe Access to School Study was completed by the LSMPO.

Mr. Schneider stated that sidewalks begin to show wear and need maintenance and repair at approximately 10 years.  He listed the wear can be cracks and trip hazards, curb ramps and cross slopes not up to standards, heavy vehicles, and damage from tree roots, which seem to be the largest cause of sidewalk issues.  He stated that regular maintenance needs are restriping crosswalks, sign maintenance and mowing.  He explained that maintenance is addressed by a combination of contracted services and in-house staff and that the staff has implemented the ADA Transition Plan with a sidewalk repair program with an annual budget of $500,000.  He stated that the sales tax renewal will continue to provide for the sidewalk repair program.  He noted that new sidewalks contribute to the annual cost of maintenance and repair, the cost of additional right of way should be considered, and funding is prioritized by schools, parks and community facilities.  He stated that existing Land Development Regulations (LDR) for commercial development are sidewalks on all external road frontages, and for residential development they are required within the residential areas depending on density.  He explained that no sidewalk is required for a subdivision with 1 unit or less per acre, according to the LDR requirements.  He stated that the process for prioritizing new sidewalk funding goes in a specific order, and there is a feasibility evaluation of the projects, which could identify the need to purchase additional right of way, which could add a significant cost. He added that the funding would come from the LSMPO or program projects in a Five Year Sales Tax program. 

Mr. Schneider stated that the ADA Transition Plan was approved by the Board in December of 2012 with an overall cost of $3.4 million on County roads and with $19.8 million in unincorporated areas.  He noted that with the Lake County School Board coordination, the LSMPO completed the Safe Access to School Study and developed a master plan over a 10-year period adding that School Board staff provided a priority list for funding needs.  He pointed out that the overall cost that came out of the master plan was $29.6 million, with $13.9 million being for County roads, and the rest being on the school sites themselves, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) costs or sidewalks within the cities. He stated that Gabby’s Law for Student Safety was passed by Governor Rick Scott, effective on July 1, 2015, which identifies hazardous walkways, and the Lake County School Board identified 14 hazardous walkways in 2015 for Lake County.  He listed that hazardous walkways can include steep slopes, guardrails, fences and/or lack of right of way.  He stated that the Lake County School Board and Lake County Public Works have coordinated on four locations, elaborating that in March 2016 the pedestrian route section of the North Hancock Road project was opened and students now have direct access through a traffic signal to walk or bike to the schools.  He stated that the Johns Lake Road Right of Way acquisition was underway with property owners, and construction funding is set for 2017.  He noted that the students worked on a plan to improve the sidewalks in the area of C.R. 561 and Log House Road near Pine Ridge Elementary School; it has been surveyed and the design work is halfway near completion, adding that the speed limit has been reduced in this area as well as some additional signage added.  He stated that the sidewalk at the Eudora Road and C.R. Old 441 intersection with a roundabout is being constructed and funded for 2016.  He presented programmed improvements for 2015 and stated that the total cost of new sidewalk construction for 2015 was $396,185 with $263,000 of that being funded by a Federal Grant. He listed the estimated total expenditure for new sidewalks in 2016 being $783,805.  He presented a list of road projects that have sidewalks being constructed as part of the project and funding.  He listed the priority projects requested by the Lake County School Board and Lake County Public Works with a total project cost of $5.1 million, which would likely be funded through a LAP program.  He stated that next steps would be to continue to request priority funding for Safe Access to School sidewalks through the LSMPO, for the Board to consider and evaluate sidewalk requirements for new commercial and residential projects and prepare a 5 year sidewalk program to be funded with the new sales tax authorization for the years 2018-2022.

Commr. Cadwell clarified that the sidewalk would go in both directions off of the roundabout on Eudora Road and C.R. Old 441.

Commr. Campione asked about evaluating whether or not the hazardous areas where sidewalks need to be constructed are in Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs), since the cities could share in the cost if they were. She then asked for a list to be sent of those hazardous areas.

other business

appointment to Lake-Sumter mpo citizen’s advisory committee

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Conner and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the appointment of Gregory Jones to the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization (LSMPO) Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC), to complete an unexpired two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2017.

 

APPOINTMENT TO LAKE-SUMTER MPO bicycle and pedestrian ADVISORY COMMITTEE

On a motion by Commr. Conner, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the appointment of Sharlene H. Smith to the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization (LSMPO) Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) , to complete an unexpired two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2017.

wellflorida council

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Conner and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the appointment of Allison Thall to the WellFlorida Council, to complete an unexpired term ending Sept. 30, 2016 and to serve a consecutive two-year term ending Sept. 30, 2018.

REPORTS – COMMISSIONER Conner – district 3

miracle field grand opening

Commr. Conner noted that the grand opening event for the Miracle Field was well done.

REPORTS – COMMISsIONER campione – DISTRICT 4

MIRACLE FIELD GRAND OPENING

Commr. Campione agreed that the grand opening event for the Miracle Field was well done.

Mt. plymouth landowners league

Commr. Campione stated that she met with the Mt. Plymouth Landowners League and requested that there be contact with the developer to create a regular schedule for landscape maintenance to avoid an issue with the landscaping code. 

lake technical school funding

Commr. Campione pointed out the Lake Tech funding had made it through the last rounds of approval for the State Budget. 

c1 uses in rural transition areas

Commr. Campione commented that C-1 uses have not been fully delineated in the rural transition areas and wants to be sure opportunities are not being missed because of that.  She stated that the C1 uses would have a large economic impact and that the increase in design criteria should help to compliment the rural transitional areas. 

reports – commissioner cadwell – vice chairman and district 5

shiloh CEMETERY rededication

Commr. Cadwell noted he attended the Shiloh Cemetery rededication in Fruitland Park and complimented the improvements made. 

texas roadhouse grand opening

Commr. Cadwell stated that he attended the ribbon cutting of the new Texas Roadhouse in Lady Lake next to city hall.  He complimented that it is a very nice facility.

 

 

 

reports – commissioner parks – chairman and district 2

clermont water supply project

Commr. Parks stated that the City of Clermont asked for a letter of support for a water supply project which he will write in support of individually; however, he wanted to inform the Board of this as it is related to the South Lake Regional Water Initiative. 

Miracle field grand opening

Commr. Parks noted he appreciated the Board’s full attendance at the Miracle Field grand opening and commented how well the staff did putting the event together. 

pig on the pond

Commr. Parks stated he attended the Pig on the Pond event in Clermont and opined that it was a very nice event for a good cause.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be brought to the attention of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 3:26 P.M.

 

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sean parks, chairman

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

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NEIL KELLY, CLERK