A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

June 7, 2016

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, June 7, 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; Neil Kelly, Clerk of Court; Kristy Mullane, Chief Deputy Clerk, County Finance; and Angela Harrold, Deputy Clerk.

INVOCATION and pledge

Reverend Karen Burris, Associate Pastor at Morrison United Methodist Church in Leesburg, gave the Invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Agenda update

Mr. David Heath, County Manager, stated there were no updates to the agenda.

employee awards

Mr. Robert Anderson, Human Resources Director, recognized employees who have reached significant milestones in their career with Lake County, as follows:

Children’s Services Council

Kathy Haviland, for service from 2012-2014 (Not Present)

 

Elder Affairs Coordinating Council

Joseph Wynkoop, for service from 2012-2016 (Not Present)

 

Parks, Recreation & Trails Advisory Board

Dawn McDonald, for service from 2006-2016

 

Public Safety Coordinating Council

Norbert Thomas, for service from 2006-2015 (Not Present)

 

EMPLOYEE AWARDS

 

FIVE YEARS

Mark Gato, Firefighter/Paramedic

Public Safety/Fire Rescue Division

 

David Heath, County Manager

County Manager

 

Jason Spinelli, Firefighter/EMT (Not Present)

Public Safety/Fire Rescue Division

 

John Taylor, Firefighter/EMT (Not Present)

Public Safety/Fire Rescue Division

 

TEN YEARS

December Johnson, Scales Attendant II

Public Works/Solid Waste Division

 

Virginia Moorhead, Right-of-Way Agent II

Public Works/Engineering Division/Right-Of-Way

            Shanna Wilson, Automated System Specialist II (Not Present)

Circuit Public Defender

 

TWENTY YEARS

Steven Race, Fire Captain

Public Safety/Fire Rescue Division

                                   

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

Donald Stewart, Survey Technician II

Public Works/Engineering Division/Survey & Design

 

Mr. Bill Veach, Deputy County Manager, recognized employees who have reached quarterly milestones in their career with Lake County, as follows:

 

EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER – 2nd QUARTER FY2016

Dominic Zawilski, Construction Inspector I

Public Resources/Parks and Trails Division

 

SUPERVISOR OF THE QUARTER – 2nd QUARTER FY2016

Jeffrey Hurst, Fire Lieutenant/EMT

Public Safety/Fire Rescue Division

 

T.E.A.M. OF THE QUARTER – 2nd QUARTER FY2016

 

Welcome Center Team

Janice Hull, Welcome Center Worker (Not Present)

Edith Mordini, Welcome Center Worker (Not Present)

Sandra Kintzler, Welcome Center Worker (Not Present)

Chuck Routh, Welcome Center Worker (Not Present)

Carynn Silva, Welcome Center Worker (Not Present)

 

citizen question and comment period

Mr. Vance Jochim, a writer of a blog on fiscal responsibility, presented a photo to the Board of a black bear in his neighborhood, pointing out a knocked over trash can in the road, though he could not confirm that it was because of the bear.  He congratulated Mr. David Heath, County Manager, on his 5-year anniversary working for Lake County and presented him with a book named How to Measure Managerial Performance by Richard S. Sloma.

Presentations

Sales surtax Oversite advisory committee presentation

Mr. Keith Mullins, Chairman of the Sales Surtax Oversight Advisory Committee, presented a summary to the Board of the yearly meeting of the Sales Surtax Oversight Advisory Committee meeting that took place April 18, 2016 to review expenditures of Fiscal Year 2014/2015.  He noted that all reports were filed and all queries were resolved.  He pointed out that there was a question regarding some of the cities’ financed projects, but it was learned that this was acceptable.  He stated that the cities, the School Board and the County are all complying with the intent of the penny sales tax and that there will be an additional meeting in September 2016 to review the upcoming year.

 

 

2016 HURRICANE season outlook

Mr. Tommy Carpenter, Emergency Management Division Manager, presented the 2016 Hurricane Season Outlook to the Board.  He started with an update on Tropical Storm Colin, reporting that the County sustained no damage or power outages. He gave the chronology of events, noting that there were 900 sandbags handed out to residents, and the Salvation Army provided shelter during the storm for a small group of homeless individuals. He stated that there were 2 inches of rainfall locally, with more in other areas and sustained winds of 25-30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 45 miles per hour near the airport.

Mr. Carpenter reported past season hurricane impacts to the Board and the review for the remainder of the 2016 Hurricane Season, which started on June 1, 2016.  He recalled the last hurricane to strike Lake County was Hurricane Donna in 1960, the last hurricane to strike the United States was Hurricane Wilma in 2005, and the last full activation of the Lake County Emergency Operation Center occurred on Ground Hog Day, February 2, 2007.  He noted that the 9 primary shelter spaces can hold approximately 5,900 residents and 372 spaces are designated for special needs residents.  He presented a map of the primary shelter locations, noting that they are all elementary schools and all are pet friendly.  He reviewed the different storm level categories, adding that the Saffir-Simpson Scale is used to determine the level of hurricane by wind speed. He noted that there were 11 named storms in the 2015 Hurricane Season, with tropical activity in each month of the season, but that none of them significantly affected Florida.  He stated that the forecast for the 2016 Hurricane Season provided by Colorado State University in April 2016 predicts 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes.  He said that that on May 27, 2016 the National Hurricane Center provided their forecast as well with 10-16 named storms, 4 to 8 hurricanes and 1 to 4 major hurricanes. 

Mr. Carpenter reviewed that residents should have a personal family disaster plan and communicate the plan to a local and out-of-state contact person, adding that residents should also know the shelter locations, watch the media to learn the open times of the shelters, and take First Aid and CPR classes. He stated that residents should create a disaster supply kit containing a gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food items, a can opener, medications, infant and elderly supplies, pet supplies, important documents and cash in water proof containers and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio.  He pointed out that during a storm it is important to know where the safest room in the home is, monitor local news channels and the NOAA weather radio for updates, and stay away from doors, windows and skylights. He stated that after a storm, it is important to stay updated on the latest information; stay away from downed, loose or dangling powerlines; ensure food safety and wear protective garments when cleaning up debris.  He noted residents should take photos of the home before and after a storm for insurance claims, drive only when necessary and if stop lights are out treat the intersection like a four-way stop.  He added that residents should contact family, friends and neighbors after a storm as soon as possible to let them know they are safe.  He then presented tropical disturbances from 1851 through 2013 to show that the storms can happen here and it is important for the residents to be prepared.

florida department of health update

Mr. Aaron Kissler, Florida Department of Health Administrator for Lake County, thanked the Board for securing the main facility for the Health department, stating that it meant a lot to the employees to have a stable facility in order to provide services to Lake County.  He presented an update to the Board on the Florida Department of Health, noting the Health Department’s mission is to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.  He reviewed the services that took place from May 2015 to April 2016, pointing out that services in clinical, dental and public health have increased 18 percent, with most of the increase happening in dental services.  He stated that there have been 153,741 health screenings and immunizations completed in the school district through a very good relationship with school health services and the Lake County School District.  He noted that environmental health services has completed 5,380 inspections and sanitary nuisance investigations, and the environmental health services for Lake County is ranked as one of the best in the state.  He reported that there were 910 epidemiological cases of reportable diseases investigated in Lake County, which range from a flu outbreak to chicken pox.  He remarked that vital statistics provided 21,000 services.  He stated that the financial overview has remained status quo, noting the general fund is made up of Medicaid, federal and state appropriations and added that the money provided by the County keeps the program running successfully. 

Mr. Kissler listed the accomplishments at the state level, reporting that the State of Florida Department of Health achieved accredited status through the Public Health Accreditation Board and Florida is the first state in the United States to receive accreditation across the state and for all counties.  He commented that the Environmental Health team scored a 98.1 percent overall program score, and the Lake County Department of Health (DOH-Lake) partnered with three birthing hospitals in the Baby Friendly Initiative, which is a statewide best practice. He reviewed the community health accomplishments, noting that Lake County Schools were recognized as a bronze level Florida Healthy School District by the Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership, and the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Ranking for Lake County improved from 19 to 14, which is a great accomplishment and very good trajectory. He stated that the Health Department will also be partnering with the WIN Clinic at LifeStream Behavioral Health to help promote their growth with new opportunities in Umatilla. He noted that the Department of Health did not receive local cuts to the Health Department’s general revenue and pointed out that Dr. Celeste Philip from Central Florida was appointed as the new Surgeon General for the State of Florida. He stated that DOH-Lake attended 197 community outreach events, including the Lake County Fair, Keep Lake Beautiful Clean-up Umatilla, 40 tobacco cessation classes, Get Fit Lake and Water Safety Day, adding that Lake County was one of the few counties in the U.S. to receive a Water Safety Grant.  He reviewed public health preparedness, noting that there were 4 disaster response tabletop exercises, 1 disaster functional exercise, local response planning for the Zika Virus, Emergency Operations Center hurricane exercise, and DOH-Lake local hospital disaster exercises completed.

Commr. Cadwell commented that he met with Mr. Kissler to discuss new partnerships because the Gateway Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) was dissolved, and he stated that he toured the Community Health Centers in Tavares.  He noted that this is the Community Health Center’s first time providing service in this area of Lake County, because it provides most of its services in Orange County and south Lake County.  He pointed out that the Community Health Center’s Board is made of up of Orange County residents, and he opined that having a Lake County resident become a board member would be valuable. He conveyed that the field expertise the board is looking for are in human resources, public relations, finance, faith community leader, facilities construction, architect, and a Hispanic community member.   He stated that the Board should alert the County Manager if they are aware of a resident that fulfills one of the expertise areas and is available to join that board. He suggested that the Board take a tour of the center in Tavares or Clermont to see the level of service that is provided by the center, adding that they built the facility correctly and offer several services.

Commr. Parks queried if there was a synopsis from the Community Health Center Board of the expectations for that role.

Commr. Cadwell responded that he had a packet he could send for review. 

Commr. Parks pointed out that the health ranking for Lake County was very good news and wondered if there were areas that could be improved on that could raise the health ranking even higher.

Mr. Kissler replied that the county’s access to care and the economic factor improved.  He stated that the county can improve on the obesity epidemic and the diseases that are related to obesity, by focusing on opportunities for residents to learn how to eat better and get fit. He commented that this issue mirrors the rest of the state and the country.

Commr. Parks pointed out that quality of life and emphasis on outdoor activities is an important factor for the Board and Lake County and will hopefully help by providing opportunities for a more active lifestyle.

Mr. Kissler replied that the County provides a number of trails, which is helpful in providing residents opportunities to get out and be active.

Commr. Parks asked if there was a connection between code enforcements and Environmental Health services in regards to restaurants.

Mr. Kissler responded that there can be confusion as to what code enforcement is and what environmental health is. He stated that the two areas working together to make sure that the residents do not get confused is important, and he feels that both sides do a good job in providing good customer service to help with that.

CLERK OF COURTS’ CONSENT AGENDA

On a motion by Commr. Conner, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote, the Board approved the Clerk of Courts’ Consent Agenda, Items 1 through 7, 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.

Lands Available List

Request to acknowledge receipt of property placed on the Lands Available List.  Lake County has until July 31, 2016 to purchase property from the Lands Available List before it is available to the public.

Request to acknowledge receipt of property placed on the Lands Available List.  Lake County has until August 4, 2016 to purchase property from the Lands Available List before it is available to the public.

Community Greens Community Development Budget Fiscal Year 2017

Request to acknowledge receipt of Country Greens Community Development District’s proposed Annual Operating and Debt Service Budget for Fiscal Year 2017, in accordance with Chapter 190.008(2)(b) of the Florida Statutes, along with a cover letter dated April 27, 2016 stating that the District’s public hearing is scheduled for June 27, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sorrento Christian Center.

The Villages Public Safety Budget Fiscal Year 2016-2017

Request to acknowledge receipt of The Villages Public Safety Fiscal Year 2016-17 Budget packet, along with a cover letter dated April 28, 2016.

Ordinance; City of Clermont

Request to acknowledge receipt from the City of Clermont Ordinance 2016-14 which annexes Napleton – 15859 E. Highway 50 into the City Limits of Clermont.  This Ordinance was adopted by the Clermont City Council on April 26, 2016.

Ordinances; City of Leesburg

Request to acknowledge receipt from the City of Leesburg of the following Ordinances:

            Ordinance No. 16-03  Zaremba Group/Vics Embers

Ordinance No. 16-06  Baker Grove / G3 Development

Ordinance No. 16-11  Bakich No. 2 LLC/Lake Nissan

Ordinance No. 16-16  Elderfire Lodges, LLC

Ordinance No. 16-22  Tarr’s Highway 44 Commercial, LLC.

COUNTY MANAGER’S CONSENT AGENDA

Commr. Campione asked if approving the item on Tab 5 regarding the Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA) would eliminate the Direct Pay to Halifax Medical Center coming before the Board each time it arose.  She stated that if it is a large amount, she would like the Board to be informed of it in case it affects the budget.  She opined that it would be informative to know what each case costs, including pediatric and preventative cases.

Mr. Heath replied that they are mandatory and cannot be discussed publicly because it is protected information so approval of the tab would allow for him to sign future Direct Pays. He opined that it would be best to keep them off of future agendas because they are a mandatory payment and come in erratically. He suggested that he could do a report twice a year so the Board could review the payments made. 

Commr. Campione wondered if the Board had the right to question whether the individual was a resident of Lake County.

Ms. Melanie Marsh stated that the County Attorney’s office does confirm that the resident is from Lake County.

Commr. Cadwell commented that he would like to see a good vetting process in place for each Direct Pay before getting to the County Manager’s office for payment.  He opined that a report is a good idea with no names and just the amounts paid shown and that it could also show how the costs are being affected from the efforts being done through preventative healthcare.

Commr. Campione asked for clarification of services on the South Lake Water Initiative study of the Clermont Chain of Lakes Basin in Tab 8.

Commr. Parks replied that the study will assist Public Works with documenting, assessing and finding the conditions of water conveyance structures such as culverts and ditches to gather the data in the large basin of the Clermont Chain of Lakes, which extends to the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve.  He stated that the groundwater and hydrological modeling will also be updated.  He added that it will help to better manage the drought conditions.

Mr. Jim Stivender, Director of Public Works, commented that the database containing the information concerning cross pipes and roadways is small, and there are a lot of private drainage ditches that mix in with the water. He stated that having a comprehensive plan on all aspects needs to be updated due to the growth in the area. 

Commr. Campione asked if having the comprehensive plan completed helps with the modeling to determine the status of the surface and groundwater.

Mr. Stivender replied that  it does. He stated that had never been addressed in some of the flood prone areas because no one has lived there, and having the data and the flood determinations now will be very helpful.

Commr. Campione confirmed that there was no direct fiscal impact from the Honeywell Building Services initial survey effort from Tab 14.

Mr. Heath commented that the initial survey is the first step before doing performance contracting, and there is no fiscal impact for the study to be completed because Honeywell is on a state contract, adding that what the study reveals will come to the Board for approval, and that will carry a fiscal impact.

Commr. Campione asked if the County was bound to Honeywell if they do the initial study.

Mr. Heath replied that the County was not bound to Honeywell but that they will do the study, submit the results, and then the Board can make a decision how to move forward.

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Conner and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the County Manager’s Consent Agenda, Tabs 5 through 27 as follows:

Community Services:

Request approval for the County Manager to sign the Direct Pay to Halifax Medical Center for an inpatient medical stay qualified under the Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA) guidelines. The Direct Pay requires the County Manager's signature as the invoice total exceeds $25,000. The fiscal impact is $37,048.80 (Expense). Also requesting approval for the County Manager to sign future HCRA Direct Pay’s regardless of amount. Economic Growth

Request approval of the updated Agreement between Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. and the Lake County Board of County Commissioners for transportation services to the four meal sites operated in Lake County. There is no fiscal impact.

Request approval and authorization for the Chairman to sign the FY 2015-2016 Community Block Grant (CDBG) Agreement with the City of Tavares in an amount not to exceed $75,000 (from CDBG fund) for the Tavares Nature Park Bathroom Improvement Project. The fiscal impact is not to exceed $75,000 (Expense). 

Community Safety and Compliance

Request approval to award contract 16-0001 for the Clermont Chain of Lakes Basin Study to Water Resource Associates, LLC (doing business as WRA, Tampa, FL) to complete Phase III of the South Lake Regional Water Initiative.  The fiscal impact is $300,000 (Expenditure). 

County Attorney

Request approval and execution of an Agreement between Carey Baker, Lake County Property Appraiser and Lake County for Non-Ad Valorem Assessments on TRIM Notice. There is no fiscal impact.

Request award of contract 16-0216 to American Title Insurance (Mount Dora) for on-call title search service in support of County operations.   The annual fiscal impact will be dependent upon circumstances involving use of the contract.  Expenditures fiscal year-to-date are below $1,000.

Economic Growth

Request approval of the Special Master Agreement between Lake County and Richard Xavier Gonzalez.  Authorize payment of one-half of the total Special Master fees. The fiscal impact is $375.00.

Request approval to award purchase contract for three (3) SUVs with Bluetooth connectivity under Request for Quotation (RFQ) Q2016-00136 to APR Automotive dba Reed Nissan Clermont (Clermont, FL) in the total amount of $58,065.00 for the Building Services Division of Economic Growth, and authorize execution of all procurement documentation by the Procurement Office. The total fiscal impact is $58,065.00 (Expenditure).

Request approval of the Interlocal Agreement with the City of Leesburg for coordinated support related to major fishing tournaments.  There is no fiscal impact.

Request approval of the Event Host Agreement between FLWLLC and Lake County to host a 2017 FLW Tour, a professional bass fishing tournament on the Harris Chain of Lakes in the first quarter of 2017.  The fiscal impact is $100,000 (expense).

Request approval of an Event Host Agreement between Lake County and B.A.S.S., LLC.  The fiscal impact is $55,000 (expense).

Facilities Development and Maintenance

Request approval to award contract 15-0219 to Honeywell Building Services Inc. (Orlando) for completion of a facility infrastructure energy audit intended to identify projects that may be conducive to performance contracting initiatives as addressed in the background summary.  There is no direct fiscal impact for the initial survey effort.

Information Technology

Request approval for standardization on use of Fortinet Products for IT network security and the purchase and installation of Fortinet hardware at all County Fire Stations. The fiscal impact is $22,630.

Public Safety

Request approval and execution of: (1) Hazards Analysis Grant Agreement with the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management; and (2) authorization for the County Manager to sign future amendments/modifications that do not involve financial impact. This agreement provides revenue to the Fire Rescue Division. No local match is required. The fiscal impact will be $8,054 (Revenue) and $8,054 (Expense).

Request approval of Mutual Aid Agreement with the City of Fruitland Park. (Approved by City of Fruitland Park on March 24, 2016). There is no fiscal impact.

Request approval of Amendment to Fire and Emergency Medical Services Agreement with the City of Mascotte (approved by City of Mascotte on April 4, 2016). The fiscal impact will be determined by call activity per contract.

Request approval of Agreement with First Response Training Group, LLC for on the job EMT and paramedic training. There is no fiscal impact

Public Works

Request approval to award contract 15-0040 for engineering services for the design of Citrus Grove Road to DRMP, Inc. (Orlando, FL). The fiscal impact is $541,420.21 (Expenditure).

Request approval for Chairman’s signature on a Traffic Signal Maintenance Agreement with the City of Leesburg.  The fiscal impact is $119,880.10 (Revenue - increase of $18,832.67).  Commission Districts 1, 3, and 5

Request approval of a Purchase Agreement with Pursey and Rhonda Moss for the purchase of strips of land to be used for right of way and permanent easements for the Johns Lake Road Project in the Clermont area.  Also, authorization for the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners to sign any and all documents necessary for closing. The fiscal impact is $32,500.00 (Expenditure).  Commission District 2

Request approval and signature on Resolution 2016-62 authorizing the posting of "NO PARKING ON RIGHT OF WAY" signs on Dillard Road (4858) in the Eustis area.  Section 22, Township 19, Range 26.  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 3

Request approval to release a performance bond in the amount of $398,797.15 associated with Right of Way Utilization Permit #6487 and Commercial/Subdivision Driveway Connection permit #53063, for the Ardmore Reserve Subdivision in the City of Minneola.  The subject turn lanes and driveway connection are located along Grassy Lake Road, just south of Citrus Grove Road, in the City of Minneola.  There is no fiscal impact.  Commission District 2

Request approval and signature on Resolution 2016-63 authorizing the posting of "STOP" signs with "All Way" plaques at the intersection of Woodcrest Way (0163), and Silver Creek Court (0165A), in the Four Corners area.  There is no fiscal impact. Commissioner  District 1

Request approval to execute and accept a Modification of Temporary Easement Agreement between Lake County, the City of Leesburg, and Long Farms North, Inc. and release a letter of credit for performance in the amount of $55,739.00, related to Park Hill Partial Replat and Tract B.  Park Hill Partial Replat and Tract B consists of 7 lots and is located in the Sunnyside area of Leesburg in Section 28, Township 19 South, Range 25 East.  Commission District 3.  There is no fiscal impact.

Request approval to accept the final plat for Victoria Estates and all areas dedicated to the public as shown on the Victoria Estates final plat; accept a performance bond in the amount of $475,062.50 for construction of infrastructure, and execute a Developer’s Agreement for Construction of Improvements between Lake County and Victoria Estates at Clermont, LLC for the Victoria Estates Plat.  Victoria Estates consists of 21 lots and is located just south of Old County Road 50, off of CR 455, in Section 23, Township 22 South, Range 26 East.  Commission District 2.  There is no fiscal impact.

departmental business

bear resistant trash cans

Mr. Jim Stivender updated the Board on the Bear-Resistant Garbage Cart Program.  He stated that the presentation was to review the Lake County Code, Section 23-21, regarding additional garbage cart rules and to discuss an amendment on a Bear-Resistant Garbage Cart Program.  He reviewed that Lake County has a 1-1-1 curbside collection system which entails once-per-week trash, recycling and yard waste collection, and there are three collection services and there are over 60,000 total weekly pickups.  He stated that the system is automated and semi-automated with mechanical arms, and the County provides unincorporated areas with two trash carts, one for recycling and one for household waste.  He reviewed the 2015 Bear Call data from the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) showing that Lake County ranked second for the highest number of bear related calls, adding that there were 238 calls for bears in feed or in garbage.  He presented a map showing the density of calls per square mile.  He reviewed the grant funding information, noting that the state legislature allocated $500,000 statewide to fund grants for bear-resistant garbage carts, and Lake County’s eligibility for funding is based on discussion with FWC because the county is a popular area for bears. He stated that it requires an ordinance to be enacted by the County to support bear mitigation, and FWC has no application process for the fund distribution at this time.  He said that the Section 23-21 currently states that garbage carts should not be placed at curbside prior to 6:00 am on collection day, the carts should then be removed by 10:00 pm on the collection day, and portions of the chapter are subject to code enforcement.  He stated that the additional language would state that the carts should be properly secured to prevent bear intrusion and allow the use of County approved bear-resistant carts, and the ordinance would not become effective until the FWC grant is awarded for purchase of the bear-resistant carts.  

Mr. Stivender specified that the carts are $230 each, and there was a demonstration on several carts, with one being a clear option that appears to work well.  He commented that the FWC indicated verbally that the County would be able to receive up to 1,000 carts; however, the grant had not been available to apply for at that time.  He added that it will be a sole source bid, because there is only one vendor that produces a cart that is compatible with the auto/semi-automatic collection trucks. He noted that the carts would have a handle added, and there will be microchips embedded into the cart to provide identification and location. He said that the carts would be stored at Central Facility and then distributed to residents upon request at a $40.00 one-time delivery charge with no additional assessment charged to the resident.  He pointed out that there are approximately 10,000 residents living in the areas that would benefit having the cart, so there would be a small amount of residents addressed in the first round of carts.  He commented that there would be low-income eligibility that would reimburse the one-time fee of $40.00 with guidelines to determine hardship assistance, adding that there are currently 114 residents that apply for solid waste reimbursement. He stated that there was a public hearing scheduled for June 21, 2016 that will address moving forward legally to apply for the grant.  He noted that if the Board approves applying for the grant, the application will be submitted in the fall of 2016.  He commented that once the grant is received, the carts would be ordered, there would be an internal process developed to distribute and track the carts as well as the processing of low-income eligibility requests, and the anticipated roll-out would be spring 2017.  He stated that the requested action today is the approval to advertise the ordinance to allow for bear-resistant trash carts and to move forward with the grant application from FWC.

Commr. Cadwell stated that he has logistic concerns that could be addressed during the ordinance hearing and if the grant is received.  He wondered if moving forward with the grant would limit the budget and discontinue the other bear resistant options already in place.  He asked if the program would be voluntary with requests from residents.

Mr. Stivender replied that the current bear resistant options would stay in place.  He stated that residents would request the bear-resistant carts, and a process would be in place to ensure the carts are being used in the appropriate places.

Commr. Campione commented that there will be more residents who want the cart than will be available.  She opined that Lake County will receive the grant, but the only unknown is what the amount will be, adding that she believes each year FWC will allocate more funds as long as the bear interaction is important to residents.  She pointed out that this is a concrete way for residents to avoid interactions and could possibly eliminate the need for the bear hunt.  She suggested targeting the areas where residents have to leave their garbage cans on the road permanently due to the rural nature of their home.  She also suggested that it could be helpful for entire streets in a community to get together to obtain one cart in lowering the bear interactions as long as the whole street agrees.  She stated that a list could be started now of people who would like to make a request and wondered if some residents would be willing to pay all or a portion of the cart’s cost so that they could receive one earlier.  She elaborated that there could be a program where the residents turn in their old garbage can to receive a credit toward a bear-resistant can.

Mr. Heath stated the residents could purchase the carts if it was revenue neutral but that in terms of logistics and contracts, it will need to be reviewed. He stated that $40.00 is the existing contract rate for the haulers and the carts that are delivered.  He added that assuming Lake County receives an allocation of the grant money, there will a review of the grant this fall and then a program created.

Mr. Stivender said that the research and development process is underway at Kodiak Products for the location chip and the handle, so currently it is not available for purchase until the development is completed.  He opined that the option to residents to purchase a cart is a good idea as long as it is compatible with the system.

Commr. Sullivan commented this should be monitored as it goes through the legislative process and make sure that it is a priority.

On a motion by Commr. Conner, seconded by Commr. Campione and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the advertisement of an amendment to Section 23-21, Lake County Code, pertaining to the bear resistant garbage cart program.

RECESS AND REASSEMBLY

The Chairman called a recess at 10:30 a.m. for 10 minutes.

Second Quarter Update – economic development and tourism activities

Mr. Robert Chandler, Economic Growth Director, provided a summary of Economic Development and Tourism (EDT) activities through the second quarter of 2016.  He presented graphs to the Board showing Lake County in comparison to the surrounding counties and the State of Florida.  He stated that the unemployment rate is 4.5 percent, which is a reduction and the lowest it has been since October 2007, adding that there are challenges in underemployment as well. He then presented data showing the number of individuals who live in Lake County and are employed within the Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).  He noted that the number of jobs that are within Lake County has grown by 4.5 percent and keeps increasing each year.  He stated that the wages in Lake County have jumped 4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015 and that the County has not experienced a wage increase that high since 2006, adding that wage growth is a national problem and is not specific to Lake County.  He commented that it is difficult to follow trends on multi-family permits because they are so sporadic; however, single family permits have increased, with approximately 2,500 single family permits being issued in 2015. 

Commr. Campione opined that she would be interested in seeing how these numbers are relayed through the north, west, east and south areas of the County, because she wanted to know how the impact fees are affecting the areas that are lagging in recovery.  She reported that according to some information she has read, impact fees will not deter new construction if an economy is booming but it could deter new growth if the area is lagging.

Commr. Conner stated that he thought it was important to monitor impact fees and their possible negative impact on building permits, but it is his understanding that the single family permits have increased despite this.  He agreed with Commr. Campione’s point and asked when that information could be available.

Mr. Chandler replied that if the data was available, he would provide it to the Board.  He presented the number of call leads coming into the department for new business in Lake County and noted that the department went two months without a lead, but there were three to four strong leads within the last two weeks, adding that activity is picking up in business recruitment.  He stated that the department will be doing a complete update on the marketing promotional collateral and will be putting together a promotional package and marketing portfolio for business recruitment and attraction for Lake County.  He noted that the team is attending more trade shows and also direct targeting and research is being done on cost feasible attraction tools, such as alternative ways to incentivize companies to open or expand in Lake County.  He pointed out that there are ongoing conversations with the Economic Development Commission (EDC) to ensure the partnership is maximized, and the goal is to make sure there is a return on the investment that the Lake County’s EDT Department is putting in.  He commented on the impacts resulting from the state budget, pointing out that Enterprise Florida will be reorganized and the Governor’s Closing Fund, a large state incentive for businesses, will be eliminated.  

Mr. Chandler stated that the six month statistics are positive for the Business Opportunity Centers (BOC) with 205 clients, 327 consulting sessions, 671 hours of consulting, 11 training events and 328 attendees to the training events.  He made note of Jones Brothers and Company, a local company that went to a BOC, worked to get a business plan in writing, and wrote a testimonial praising the program.  He stated that there are now four coordinators in place to help bring in the resources to help the businesses in the county, adding that the coordinators attended 205 community outreach events and 127 site visits.  He reported that in the manufacturing sector a lot of positive activity is happening specifically noting the state funding awarded for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing. He also relayed that the team hosted a Manufacturing Summit in February 2016, the www.Madeinlake.com website went live and is operational, the Manufacturing Task Force will meet at the end of June to strategize next steps and the International Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research (ICAMR) is under construction in Osceola County, which will greatly benefit the entire region including Lake County. He stated that ICAMR, a research facility for advanced sensor technology, will supplement the surrounding areas and companies will be built around the center, which positively impacts Lake County as the county is three exits up from where the proposed ICAMR site is. 

Mr. Chandler noted that marketing and advertising, trade shows, Chamber of Commerce event support, industry association event support, promotional items and handouts are all part of the promotional activities the department is a part of.  He reported that the Minneola Interchange Groundbreaking would be taking place, and the City of Leesburg is moving forward on a sea plane ramp at the Leesburg International Airport. He stated that the technology committee is working with local technology companies and Canvs Orlando on a possible Technology Incubator in the City of Eustis.  He pointed out that CoreSlab is expanding and looking to bring all of their business activities to Lake County, the Third Annual Partners for Success was a strong event held on April 19, 2016, and South Lake Hospital is adding two additional campuses. He commented that Mr. David Colby has been hired as the new president of South Lake Chamber and Mr. Stanley Sidor was hired as the new president of Lake Sumter Community College.

Mr. Chandler stated that Tourism Development Tax (TDT) revenue continues to increase and reached $357,000 in March 2016, which is the highest amount Lake County has ever reached.  He noted that the promotional activities for Tourism are marketing and advertising, event sponsorship and promotional items.  He reported that the Pandora advertising campaign has been the most successful Lake County campaign in terms of number of impressions and directing individuals to the website.  He commented that Allegiant Airlines’ Sunseeker Magazine had a feature article on Lake County in the November to January edition of the magazine and an ad continues to run in the magazine.  He remarked that there were also ads in Travelhost Orlando and AAA Magazines.  He stated that the annual Welcome to Lake County magazine is out and he opined that it is the best edition yet.  He reported that there has been an advertising Request for Proposal (RFP) raised that is receiving significant interest with an estimated budget of $500,000, elaborating that the internal design and communications staff will continue to be utilized and that the firm brought in will be utilized to help place the media and get the message out in the right places.  He stated that there are several television shows being filmed in Lake County along with a commercial to be aired during the show “How to do Florida,” and the commercial was shown to the Board. He reviewed the website www.lakebigbass.com.  He pointed out that the County is on pace to do approximately 150 events this year. He stated to the Board that staff has been researching niche sports and found that disc golf may be a big opportunity for Lake County.  He commented that it is a rapidly growing sport across the country and is inexpensive to play.  He noted that it is possible to place five to seven championship level disc golf courses in already existing parks which require low maintenance with low entry costs.  He updated the status, reporting that staff is in discussion with local municipalities, and the hope is to have one course in each area.  He reported that the benefits of disc golf are a continued strategy of investment in high growth, niche sports, where there is a low cost to build a high-end facility, low maintenance and operating costs and an immediate presence in the sport, as the president of the Florida Disc Golf Foundation lives locally in Eustis.  He commented that it provides recreational opportunities for residents when not utilized for tournaments and utilizes existing passive parks and facilities. 

Mr. Steve Bishop, Executive Director and President of the Florida Division of USA Volleyball, stated that Lake County received the Ernest Langford Pioneer Award in April 2016 at the Florida Regional Awards Ceremony and Lake County was recognized at the Dorothy C. Boyce USA Volleyball Banquet during the Florida Region Salute as one of the 20 most significant developments in USA Volleyball.  He thanked the Board and Lake County for all that has been done, and USA Volleyball was honored to be able to recognize the County with those awards.

Mr. Chandler stated that when the Hickory Point Beach Project was started, they were able to capitalize on the significant growth occurring within the sport of sand volleyball by building the country’s premiere sand volleyball complex and create an additional meaningful sports facility inventory without entering the traditional sports facility arms race. He said they have been able to market Lake County as a sports destination through USA Volleyball and their partners.  He commented that the success comes from the strong management partnership with USA Volleyball, having the ideal location at Hickory Point along with a partnership with the Lake County Water Authority (LCWA) and the opportunity to immediately build the largest complex in Florida for a relatively low cost.  He noted that the complex was built in the summer of 2014, and currently there are 21 courts with existing outdoor showers, a storage shed and court lighting, which cost $400,000, funded completely by TDT revenue and managed by USA Volleyball.  He pointed out that there were a number of major tournaments and events held there in 2015 with an economic impact of approximately $750,000 to the local area. 

Mr. Chandler stated that the current facility is the largest in the State of Florida and one of the largest in the country; however, new locker rooms, training rooms, media/meeting space, concessions and public restrooms are still needed to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming the country’s premiere sand volleyball complex.  He said that in 2015 Hickory Point Beach was one of the top three destinations to hold the 2016/2017 National College Athletic Association (NCAA) Sand Volleyball National Championship but was not chosen due to lack of support facilities. He stated that with the addition of the amenities proposed, it would be very likely that Lake County would be chosen for the NCAA Sand Volleyball National Championship in the future as well as being chosen by other organizations such as the High School State Championships, Stetson Invitational and other national and international events.  He commented that Lake County has already established itself as a leader in the sport with the only 21 court complex, and the addition of the fieldhouse facilities would make Hickory Point Beach the only complex of its kind in the United States.  He remarked that the new fieldhouse could also be used by the Hickory Point Soccer Complex, would serve as a significant asset in recruiting soccer teams, and could attract other sand related sports. He reviewed the event growth strategy by listing possible sporting tournaments that could be played at the complex after the additions.  He stated that the 4,000 square foot fieldhouse would be located on the north side of the existing courts and would contain locker rooms, public bathrooms, flexible media and meeting space, training space and light concessions with an estimated construction cost between $1.2 and $1.5 million and a total project cost estimated at $1.7 to $2.1 million.  He reviewed the staff analysis, pointing out that the additional facilities would allow Lake County to utilize existing strengths, and make it difficult for other communities to compete.  He stated that there have been meetings with the LCWA to discuss the plans for the facility, and they have expressed their support but want to be included in the design process to ensure compatibility, adding that the lease will need to be revised with the LCWA due to the size of the proposed restrooms.  He pointed out that there are sufficient funds in the capital budget to fund the project. He reviewed the next steps of the process if the Board approved moving forward on the project, noting that if all goes well the facility would be open by spring 2018.

Mr. Chandler stated that the Welcome Center was built in 1990 and the building size is 3,092 square feet; however, the Welcome Center only utilizes 600 square feet of the space.  He said that building and lot are worth an estimated $480,000 and was funded through Tourism Development Tax (TDT) revenue.  He pointed out that it is in a poor location that does not maximize visitation and is costly to manage at $55,000 per year. He reported that the Business Opportunity Center renovated the Welcome Center in 2012, and the building and lot value far exceeds the impacts to Lake County tourism. He added that visitation counts have decreased over the last 15 years, and staff strongly believes that the current Welcome Center concept cannot produce the desired results as it is structured given its limitations. He stated that in 2002 there were almost 30,000 visitors to the Welcome Center, but that number has decreased to only 8,000 visitors in 2015.  He said staff believes the funds could be put to better use, and there are alternatives that would make better sense.  He noted that feasible alternatives for the Welcome Center are closing it totally and shifting resources to an all-digital presence, relocating the center to another more appropriate location, or closing the center and shifting resources to a Welcome Center Kiosk concept.  He reviewed each alternative individually stating that the staff recommendation is to sell and surplus the current Welcome Center and move to the Welcome Center Kiosk concept. He stated if approved by the Board, staff would continue to research the concept and bring back a program for the Board to review and approve.  He reviewed the action items as being the approval to move forward on design and cost estimation of a 4,000 square foot fieldhouse at the Hickory Point Beach Sand Volleyball complex and execute a budget transfer and the approval to surplus and sell the current Welcome Center building and associated property and move to a Welcome Center Kiosk concept.

Commr. Cadwell commented that both actions items brought before the Board had also been before the Tourism Development Council, and it is understood that the Board would be voting on these items.

Commr. Conner asked what process was used in choosing the location of the new fieldhouse and the estimated size of 4,000, adding that this should be done correctly to ensure that the complex is the best in the nation.  He opined that a small concession would not be sufficient if there are large groups of people attending tournaments.

Commr Cadwell stated that additional food vendors would be in attendance and the small concession area noted in the building plan would be for smaller events.

Mr. Chandler replied that it was a strategic place to put the new facility and it was chosen after two site visits from USA Volleyball and input from the Lake County Water Authority (LCWA).  He reported that since there is an environmental area to the west, and the LCWA wants to keep the southeast area of the property clear, that leaves only the north side, close to the courts, which leaves as much of the north field as open as possible.  He stated that the square footage was chosen based on preliminary designs completed on the building and taking into account all of the functionality needed for the space.

Commr. Conner stated he was concerned about the cost estimated per square foot.

Mr. Chandler agreed that it was higher than anticipated but explained that the areas of the building that are being constructed are historically more expensive to build and doing it on a larger scale of 4,000 square feet had made the costs significantly higher.

Commr. Conner opined that this is a good addition to Lake County and the relationship being built with USA Volleyball is a positive one. He commended staff and Commr. Cadwell on all of the hard work.

Commr. Cadwell stated that the County has shown commitment to growing the park and the facility, and he believes the list of tournaments will grow with the addition of the fieldhouse.  He reported that the meeting with the LCWA was very positive, and the tour of the facility went well.  He added that as the tourism numbers have increased, the hotel room inventory has stayed stagnant for the last six to seven years, and he feels that there needs to be a philosophy to increasing the number of rooms in the county.

Commr. Parks suggested that using local independent cost estimators and architects would be a benefit to local businesses as well as to the county.  He remarked that for the visitor center it would need to be known where visitors are entering into the county to be able to strategically place a new Welcome Center building, but that would be too difficult since visitors come into the county through different areas.

Mr. Chandler replied that visitors do enter into the county from all different areas and it would be very challenging to make it accessible to all visitors.

Commr. Cadwell stated that it could be a possibility to have businesses place kiosks in their establishments, which could generate revenue.  He said that it would be important now to pinpoint locations and to keep an open mind where they may work best in different areas of the county.

Commr. Sullivan stated that emphasizing a regional approach based on where the kiosks are placed would be a good benefit.

Commr. Cadwell wondered if a new Economic Development Commission Director had been elected elected and if so, how would that impact the partnership.

Mr. Chandler replied that one had not been elected yet.

Commr. Campione asked if there was a timeline on when the decision was to be expected.

Commr. Conner opined that it would be two weeks, and it would be presented to the Board.

Commr. Campione made the suggestion of using a recruiter to target businesses that would be the best fit for Lake County.  She wondered if impact fee credits could be given to new hotels as an incentive to bring business to the county.

Ms. Marsh replied that the TDT funds are set by statute, and to her knowledge impact fees are not listed, but noted that she would review to be sure.

Commr. Cadwell stated that infrastructure such as a convention center would need to be tied to a hotel, to use TDT funds as an incentive.

Commr. Parks pointed out there is a new hotel under construction in Clermont.

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Conner and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved moving forward on the design and cost estimation for the fieldhouse at the Hickory Point Beach Complex and to surplus and sell the current Welcome Center building and associated property.

work session

budget update – public safety department

Mr. John Jolliff, Director of Public Safety, provided the Board with an overview of Public Safety operations and the proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budget.  He stated that the mission of the Public Safety Department is to provide exceptional safety and emergency response to assure the protection of life and property. He said the services are responsive to the changing needs of the County, municipalities, adjoining counties, state and federal agencies, adding that the actions build confidence in the community and the department’s service enhances the quality of life for the residents.

Mr. Tommy Carpenter, Emergency Management Division Manager, stated in the  Emergency Management Division there are four full time employees and one part time employee and the department’s mission is to prepare and provide for the health, welfare and safety of the citizens, visitors and employees of Lake County from the effects of man-made, natural or technological disasters.  He noted that the department manages the Lake County Emergency Communications and Operations Center (ECOC), maintains and updates the Lake County Preparedness Plans, manages the Lake County Emergency Notification System, manages and coordinates countywide training and exercises, manages the Special Needs Population Registry, manages the processing and approval of special events in unincorporated Lake County, and reviews and approves Healthcare Facility Emergency Management Plans.  He stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Florida approved Lake County’s multi-jurisdictional Local Mitigation Strategy, and that new ECOC workstations that were funded by the Orlando/Orange Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant have been instituted.  He said that the Microsoft SharePoint system for information and resource management was created and implemented by the staff.  He recalled that over 2015 the department coordinated the use of the ECOC conference rooms for various meetings and training, the Microsoft SharePoint system was expanded to include County departments, Constitutional Offices, and various supporting agencies throughout Lake County; and there was a multi-jurisdictional, multi-discipline Countywide Incident Support Team implemented. He pointed out that Lake County ranks fourth in comparison to the surrounding counties in the Special Needs Population Registry and noted that the County has a lower funding amount compared to the surrounding counties.  He reviewed the proposed department budget, stating it is a status quo budget of $438,793 which allows the department to maintain the current level of service.

Mr. Greg Holcomb, Communication Technology Division Manager and Enhanced 911 (E-911) Coordinator, stated that there are six full time employees in the Communication Technologies Division, and the division’s mission is to provide effective emergency and non-emergency communication technology solutions and support. He noted that the two main communication systems are the Radio System and the 911 System and reviewed the call volumes.  He pointed out that the division has accomplished the Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) installation for County and municipal agencies, and in process are the replacement of 911 recorders through a State 911 Grant Program; also, improved access and increased speeds of the Fire Station network were installed, a Continuity of Operations (COOP) was created for the six 911 Public Safety Answering Points, and the installation of phones and iPads in 24 fire units was completed.  He stated that Smart 911 continues to be a major efficiency for the division and a great outreach for the community, noting that the amount of residents signing up for the service increases about ten percent each year, and there are approximately 400 calls for service from residents utilizing the system.  He noted that there have been infrastructure network enhancements between Lake County Fire Rescue, 911, Information Technology, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. He reviewed services completed in Lake County and compared them to the surrounding counties.  He stated that the proposed budget is reflective of the general fund and emergency service fees and grants and is estimated to have total expenditures of $4,192,948, which maintains the current level of service and also reflects a status quo budget.

Mr. Jim Dickerson, Lake County Fire Chief, reviewed the Lake County Fire Rescue Division (LCFR), noting that there are 203 full time employees and 2 part time employees, which breaks down to one fire chief, six battalion chiefs, one fire marshal, one fire captain, 51 lieutenants, 138 firefighters and 7 administrative staff.  He stated that the mission of the Lake County Fire Rescue Division is to respond to fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and other emergencies to protect the citizens and properties in Lake County and to assist neighboring agencies when requested.  He said that there are 24 fire stations that are staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, and made up of 3 Platoon Systems.  He pointed out that 17 of the stations are Advanced Life Support (ALS) and 3 of the stations are designated for Special Operations.  He commented that the front line fleet is made up of 17 fire engines, 1 aerial truck, 3 squads, 14 tankers, 19 wildland vehicles and 5 special utility vehicles.  He reviewed the current deployment model and the number of personnel at each station, adding that in 2015 LCFR responded to 21,679 calls for service.  He stated that the Fire Marshal conducted 52 fire investigations, and there were over nine thousand ALS procedures completed and over twenty thousand Basic Life Support (BLS) procedures completed.  He noted that 3 fire apparatus and six LIFEPAK 15 defibrillators were purchased through the penny sales tax, Rapid Intervention Team Training was given to 177 firefighters, there were 12 firefighter positions filled and the FireHouse software was upgraded to version 7.15.37.  He commented that the Public Education and Relations Team (PERT) completed 15 Fire/Life Safety School Programs in which 2,752 children were taught fire safety education, and 153 residents were taught fire extinguisher usage, and there were 36 various business and community visits reaching approximately 3,050 residents, and approximately 125 children and parents participated in 5 fire station tours.  He stated that the division applied for three grants, Automatic Vehicle Locators were installed in front line units, phones and iPads were installed in front line units, and Mutual Aid Agreements are in negotiation with Fruitland Park, Umatilla and Montverde, adding that automatic aid response continues to be successful.  He reviewed the total calls for service and the number of stations in comparison to the surrounding counties.  He stated that the proposed budget for the Lake County Fire Rescue includes funding from the Fire Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU), Fire Assessment Fees, EMS Grant and general fund.  He stated that the proposed budget has an expenditure of $23,942,321, which reflects one reclassification of a lieutenant to battalion chief, three reclassifications from firefighter to lieutenant and six Paramedic School tuitions for ALS expansion, adding that proposed expenditures for FY 17 Fire Impact Fees is $2,336,678.  He reviewed that the proposed budget includes expanding ALS services to all stations over a three-year period beginning with Fire Stations 53 and 54, certification of six firefighters to paramedics, the purchase of 3 LIFEPAK 15 defibrillators, two extrication tools for Fire Stations 27 and 78, position reclassifications and the property purchase for future Fire Stations in Lake Yale and Seminole Springs.

Mr. John Molenda, Deputy Director of Public Safety, reviewed that the total operating revenue is made up primarily of Fire Rescue Assessment funds, and the estimated operating revenue for FY 2017 is $26,522,506.  He stated that the estimated fund balance is $4,388,234 and pointed out that this is a balanced budget with the total revenue and total expenditures being $30,910,740.  He reviewed the expenditure details, noting that the personal services make up most of the expenditures and summarized the status of each division within Public Safety.

Commr. Campione asked that a per capita analysis be provided moving forward, so when comparing with other counties, it will be easier to see what is spent per resident, which makes the evaluation more clear.  She wondered if funds had always been transferred to the Sheriff’s department from the communications budget.

Mr. Holcomb replied that it has been the process for several years, adding the funds are transferred to support the call takers for the 911 System.

Commr. Parks asked if the status quo budget addressed concerns that came out of the 1-3-5 evaluation and plan. He stated that he wanted to be sure that the tools and manpower will be available to meet resident expectations.

Mr. Molenda replied that the only budget improvements out of the capital budget would be for the additional ALS and pieces of equipment requested, and the budget does not reflect the needs of a long term plan.  He stated that the 1-3-5 committee did meet and a more realistic and cost effective plan was determined, which will be provided to the Board.  He commented that information will go into the 2018 budget.

Commr. Campione wondered if the number of personnel in each station would change with the 1-3-5 Plan and if the EMS Study would help indicate where support is needed.

Mr. Molenda replied that there were a lot of evaluations happening over the last months to create a solid plan.  He stated that one aspect being addressed in the 1-3-5 Plan is the safety aspect and what is needed right away.  He added that the EMS Study would be able to help highlight where additional support will be needed.

fire assessment update

Mr. Steve Koontz, Fiscal and Administrative Services Director, presented the Fire Assessment study update to the Board and explained that the Fire Assessment is used to fund fire protection services, such as fire suppression, fire prevention, fire building inspections and first response Basic Life Support (BLS) medical services, adding that it cannot be used to fund Advanced Life Support (ALS) medical services. He noted that the Fire Assessment study looks at the utilization of fire services in 5 land use categories, the assessment rates are calculated based on the allocation of resources and the budget, and the study was completed by Tindale Oliver and Associates. 

Mr. Steve Tindale of Tindale Oliver and Associates stated that the study was completed in 2015, and he was providing an update for 2016.  He noted that Lake County’s assessment factors are stable, and there was an increase in the maximum assessable budget by 14 percent to a funding requirement of $19.3 million.  He stated that the ALS versus BLS is stable, and there was a slight shift in land use from residential to non-residential, but the property units are stable.  He said that the recommendation is to maintain the current adopted rates until the next annual update to ensure residents and business owners do not get overcharged.

Mr. Koontz stated that the Board requested to have the vacant land be assessed, and he noted that there was a Florida Supreme Court ruling that validates the ability to assess developed and undeveloped property, which meant staff could move forward with assessing vacant land. He stated that the Florida Legislature has now exempted agriculture from being assessed starting November 1, 2017.  He said that because of this the staff recommendation is to have the workshop on vacant land with the Fire Assessment in December 2016 or January 2017, which will be early in the budget year to help assess the impacts of Fire Rescue funding, the impact of the litigation settlement, the impact to vacant landowners, and the evaluation of the volatility of the assessment due to additional land use categories.  He stated that adding or changing land uses are small changes that make large impacts and it is best to review how the addition of a sixth land use will impact the findings. 

Mr. Koontz reviewed the staff recommended rates for Fire Assessment, pointing out that the Board has been conservative in recent years by setting rates lower than the maximum.  He stated that doing so ensures that funding is not used for ALS services, and avoids the potential for legal challenges, and there is also Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) funding available to fund the Fire Rescue budget.  He commented that staff concurs with the Tindale Oliver study, noting that there are minor changes in the budget and property units, and there is a slight change in the incident and resource distribution going from residential to industrial, but no land use is being overcharged. He stated that the staff recommendation for the rates is that the Board maintain the current adopted rates until the following year, adding that the total Fire Assessment will slightly increase by generating $17.3 million, which gives the funding the department needs.  He reviewed that the next steps are the initial Fire Assessment Resolution which will be presented on July 26, 2016 with updated assessment rates and a public hearing would be held to adopt the rates on September 13, 2016. He asked that the Board accept the Tindale Oliver and Associates, Inc. Fire Assessment Study.

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Conner and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the Fire Assessment Study provided by Tindale Oliver and Associates, Inc.

RECESS AND REASSEMBLY

The Chairman called a recess at 12:37 p.m. for 30 minutes.

closed session

Ms. Melanie Marsh, County Attorney, noted that the closed session was authorized by Florida Statute 286.011 to discuss pending litigation with the County.  She added that once started, the session would be confined to settlement negotiations and strategy sessions related to litigation and its expenditures. She stated that a record reporter would be present to record the entire session from beginning to end and would include all discussion in the proceedings and the names of all persons present at any time and whoever speaks, adding none of the session could be off the record.  She said that at the beginning of the session, the entity would be required to give notice of who would be in attendance, and an advertisement was required, which she had a copy of and noted that it was in the Lake Sentinel on June 13, 2016.  She stated that the persons attending the session would be all of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, the County Manager, the County Attorney and attorney Greg Stewart of Nabors, Giblin and Nickerson P.A.  She estimated that the closed session would take up to one hour.

BUDGET UPDATE – facilities and fleet management department

Mr. Kristian Swenson, Director of Facilities and Fleet Management, stated that the Facilities and Fleet Management Department is made up of the Fleet Management Division and Facilities Management Division, adding that the department’s mission is to maintain and repair all of Lake County’s facilities, vehicles, and equipment, through sustainable proactive maintenance efforts from the inception of design to the maintenance of the facilities and from the acquisition, maintenance and repairs, to the disposal of vehicles and equipment.  He noted that the Facilities Management Division contains 26 full time employees, and its mission is to support County goals and objectives by developing and maintaining well planned, attractive and high-quality County facilities in a manner that assures longevity, cost effective energy efficiency, and quality through professional customer service. He pointed out that within the Facilities Management Division are subsets of administration, facilities maintenance, maintenance of jail and sheriff facilities and energy management.  He stated that the facilities department maintains 154 owned and leased buildings totaling 109 million square feet, 108 million of which are owned by the County.  He presented a chart showing the County-owned buildings by size and age, noting that many of the buildings are less than 10 years old.  He commented that the third floor renovations of the courthouse had been completed, and the fourth floor courthouse renovations are in progress as well as Fire Station 90/104. He remarked that future construction includes Fire Station 14 and the Public Defender Building renovation.  He pointed out that there were various maintenance projects completed including parking lot improvements, the re-roof of the Lake County Agricultural Center, Fairgrounds sewer improvements and a brick repointing on the Sheriff’s Administration Building.  He noted that a modular solution for fire stations is being reviewed to determine if it is an economical solution, and also the Performance Contracting Efficiency Study was approved and will help identify potential energy saving items. He reviewed the benchmarks comparing Lake County to the surrounding counties and opined that the County’s overall maintenance cost of $2.67 per square foot is very economical.  He stated that the proposed budget is $5,164,998 maintaining the current level of service with the proposed changes of adding a Part and Supply Technician, the replacement of two vans, and the addition of a tractor and field brush mower for the inmate work crew.

Mr. Keith Stevenson, Fleet Management Manager, stated that Fleet Management contains the Fleet Parts division, Fleet Service division and a Financial Analyst, totaling 19 full time employees.  He commented that the mission of Fleet Management is to support County goals and objectives by managing County assets (vehicles and equipment) to assure longevity, and to maximize cost efficiency and natural resource protection from asset acquisition through the disposal, in a manner that is delivered through exceptional customer service and professionalism.  He pointed out that Fleet Management maintains 694 vehicles and 215 pieces of stationary equipment and reviewed the average ages for the fleet.  He stated that Fleet Management provided fuel management using the four County-operated fuel sites dispensing 291,434 gallons of fuel and also utilizes private providers through a state contract dispensing 429,144 gallons of fuel.  He said that there have 3,624 work orders processed which translated to an average of 362 work orders per mechanic, adding there were 1,115 preventative maintenance services completed.  He commented that the fleet averages 5.5 million miles per year, which means each mechanic is responsible for approximately 554,620 miles each year.  He added that 6 surplus vehicles/pieces of equipment were repurposed and put back into service. He stated that staff provided technical assistance and emergency response for the Leesburg Bikefest.  He pointed out that the team was awarded the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition in October 2015, and to date 9 employees in Fleet Management have obtained 75 certifications and 3 have obtained master certifications.  He said that the inventory barcode system has been added to all of the parts and individual bin labels now, minor vehicle maintenance has been contracted out to increase service convenience and additional training and certifications for ASE and Emergency Vehicle Training (EVT) have been completed along with cross training.  He commented that Lake County has the third smallest fleet in comparison to the surrounding counties; however, with current staffing there is an average of 83.6 vehicles per mechanic, which places Lake County as the fourth highest compared to the surrounding counties.  He remarked that the fleet age is the highest ranked compared to the surrounding counties with an average age of 11 years.  He stated that the proposed budget is $4,269,149 and includes the addition of a new lift, a new tire balancer and a new tire mounting machine, all funded by the general fund.

Mr. Swenson reviewed the combined budget for the Facilities and Fleet Management Department, noting that revenue and expenses are balanced at $9,434,147, and that personal service makes up the largest portion of the expenses followed by repair, maintenance and utilities. 

Commr. Cadwell asked where the outsourcing costs are incurred.

Mr. Swenson replied that it falls under the repair and maintenance and contractual services.

Commr. Parks remarked that using the local architects could be a good utilization of area services.

Mr. Swenson replied that local architects are often utilized, and some are on-call for a variety of services as well as construction services and repair.

Commr. Campione wondered how the fluctuations in fuel prices impacted the budget process.

Mr. Swenson stated that the sources and gallons used are reviewed and predicted out based on the average fuel prices.  He commented that there have been times of surplus and deficit in the fuel budget, but Lake County’s cost is more of a pass through.

Commr. Sullivan asked if there was a program in place to replace vehicles and equipment that are 11 years old or higher, pointing out that newer vehicles are more fuel efficient.

Mr. Stevenson replied that there is a procedure currently under review that lays out the proper time for replacement with a timeline, mileage and repair costs factored in. He stated that the cost to repair can get quite high at the 11 year mark, remarking that this impacts the generators the most. 

Mr. Heath stated that the departments which utilize the general fund the most tend to lag behind in replacements, as it is hard to budget those, because when there is an economic turndown the replacement schedule is the first thing to be eliminated.  He said that as funds become available mid-year the staff has been working to reduce the items that are on the replacement list, and it will be ongoing into the following years, adding that in regards to Fleet Maintenance, the decision to replace is based on age, mileage and the amount of money put into repairing the vehicle. 

Commr. Sullivan pointed out that the County seems to have more leased buildings, but it equates to less square footage than the County-owned buildings and wondered if the trend was slowly moving toward more County-owned buildings.

Mr. Swenson replied that the department has been working with the County Attorney’s office to reduce the larger leased buildings, and a lot of the buildings left that are leased are for special purposes in a specific location which may be difficult to provide the needs for otherwise.

Mr. Heath commented that the goal is move away from leasing, elaborating that Public Works has now moved to a County-owned building, and the Health Department Building was purchased this year.  He added that the Tax Collector’s office will be finishing a lease in the Clermont office, and that office will be in a new building in Eustis in the next fiscal year.   

other business - appointments

women’s hall of fame selection COUNCIL

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Conner and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the reappointment of the following to the Women’s Hall Of Fame Selection Council to complete a one-year term ending June 12, 2017:

Ms. Debbie Stivender (District 1)

Mr. Rick Reed (District 2)

Ms. Debbie Boggus (District 3)

Ms. Tracy Belton (District 4)

Ms. Jean M. Martin (District 5)

Board of Adjustment

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Conner and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the appointment of Mr. Mason Gathye to the Board of Adjustment, representing District 2, for a four-year term ending January 31, 2020.

Elder Affairs Coordinating Council

On a motion by Commr. Sullivan, seconded by Commr. Cadwell and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the appointment of the following to the Elder Affairs Coordinating Council for a two-year term, ending January 31, 2018:

Ms. Judy Smith (District 2)

Mr. Anthony Sabotini (At-Large Seat)

children’s services council

On a motion by Commr. Cadwell, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the appointment of Ms. Marcella Imbesi to the Children's Services Council to complete a two-year term ending May 14, 2018.


 

reports – commissioner sullivan – district 1

art and cultural alliance

Commr. Sullivan stated that he attended an Arts and Cultural Alliance meeting that brought in residents from all over the county, and he commended their efforts in coordinating the cultural activities of Lake County.

REPORTS – COMMISSIONER cadwell – DISTRICT 5

sorrento CEMETERY memorial day ceremony

Commr. Cadwell noted that he attended the Memorial Day Ceremony at Sorrento Cemetery that brought out a large crowd and was a good event.

REPORTS – COMMISSIONER parks – DISTRICT 2

lake county school districts

Commr. Parks complimented Mr. Fred Schneider and the Public Works staff for visiting Pine Ridge Elementary to speak about their careers, and there were many compliments on their attendance.  He noted that he would like to work with the County Manager and the Board to find a way to recognize staff who work with the local school district.  He stated that he has also been regularly meeting with Mr. Bill Mathias, Chairman of the Lake County School Board, and he invited the Board to attend any of the meetings or to provide an agenda item if they have an idea or issue to bring before the School Board.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be brought to the attention of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:44 p.m.

 

 

 

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sean M. parks, chairman

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

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NEIL KELLY, CLERK