A regular MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

april 7, 2020

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., via teleconference, which was allowed per Executive Order of the Governor of Florida due to COVID-19, a novel strain of the coronavirus. Commissioners present at the meeting were: Leslie Campione, Chairman; Wendy Breeden, Vice Chairman; Timothy I. Sullivan; Sean Parks; and Josh Blake. Others present were: Jeff Cole, County Manager; Melanie Marsh, County Attorney; Niki Booth, Executive Office Manager, County Manager’s Office; Gary J. Cooney, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller; Kristy Mullane, Chief Financial Officer; and Kathleen Bregel, Deputy Clerk.

moment of silence and pledge of allegiance

Commr. Campione called for a moment of silence in order to show solidarity to first responders, healthcare workers, and everyone impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as those on the front lines providing food, services, supplies, and support. She then asked for Commissioner Sullivan to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Agenda update

Mr. Jeff Cole, County Manager, conveyed instructions for the virtual meeting, and explained that the meeting was being livestreamed on the County website; additionally, he explained that the meeting was available through Zoom Webinar for members of the public who wished to provide comments during the Citizen Question and Comment Period of the meeting, noting that directions on how to accomplish this were being displayed through the livestreaming. He elaborated that citizens who desired to speak during the Citizen Question and Comment Period could join the webinar and press *9 on their phones to virtually raise their hands; furthermore, Mr. Erikk Ross, Director for the Information Technology (IT) Department, would then identify the person, unmute their phone, and allow the citizen to speak for their three minute timeframe. He added that anyone wishing to provide written comments could visit www.lakecountyfl.gov/commissionmeeting, noting that comments presented before 5:00 p.m. the previous day were shared with the Commission prior to this meeting, and that comments sent during this meeting would be shared with the Commission after the meeting was concluded. He then indicated that the only change to the meeting agenda was for Tab 6, noting that the requested action was revised to be consistent with the related resolution.

Commr. Campione welcomed Congressmen Ross Spano, Michael Waltz, and Daniel Webster, who were connected on the meeting, and thanked them for making time in their schedules to provide updates from Washington, D.C. She expressed appreciation for their communication to constituents through their websites and various platforms as well as their role in assisting the county with access to information, supplies, equipment, and responding to the needs of the business community. She then asked for Mr. Tommy Carpenter, Director for the Office of Emergency Management, to provide an update on the COVID-19 situation in Lake County prior to the congressmen speaking.

office of emergency management update

Mr. Carpenter provided an update on the County’s response to the coronavirus concerns and reported the following: the Emergency Operations Center was at a Level 1 full activation with minimal staffing at the center due to many staff working remotely; his office remained in daily communication with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) and various stakeholders; the local Florida DOH in Lake County COVID-19 hotline was available seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 352-742-4830; and on Monday, March 30, 2020, the Lake County Citizens Information Line was activated at 352-253-9999. He then shared several statistics from the Florida DOH’s website regarding COVID-19 cases within the county. He indicated that the Office of Emergency Management was actively working to support the Lake County DOH, noting that the DOH was communicating frequently and providing guidance to the 107 Lake County citizens who were home quarantined. He mentioned that his office was also communicating with hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities daily in order to ensure they had the personal protective equipment (PPE) and support needed so that their most vulnerable population was protected. He relayed that Lake County’s non-congregate sheltering plan was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and that staff continued to work with hotels and other locations which could support providing sheltering for the homeless and first responders if needed. He said that staff was continuing to work with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and local vendors in order to obtain personal protective equipment, and thanked the three congressmen on the meeting for their assistance; additionally, he acknowledged Lake and Sumter Emergency Recovery (LASER) and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) for leading the efforts to produce cloth masks for patients. He added that the Agency for Economic Prosperity was supporting local businesses with updated information regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. He commented that his office was conducting municipal county conference calls every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:00 p.m. as an opportunity to share information and answer questions, that they were working with all stakeholders to review information and data coming from places around the county in order to help determine what might occur next, and that they were attempting to forecast the best they could regarding the county’s needs. He encouraged residents to continue to follow the social distancing guidelines and to do their part in order to get through this situation as soon as possible and resume normal daily routines.

Commr. Campione thanked Mr. Carpenter for the information and reminded everyone that updates were available on the County’s website as well as through links to the DOH website. She explained that the number of hospitalizations listed on the DOH website was a cumulative number at this point, with the hope that information on the number of patients who had recovered or been released might be added in the future. She communicated that as the Board Chairman, she remained regularly updated throughout the day, and that she was staying in close communication to her counterparts in the surrounding counties in order to share best practices; additionally, she was in constant communication with Mr. Carpenter, the Lake County Sheriff, and the hospitals, noting that the hospitals had a plan which would place staff in hotel rooms if necessary in order to keep them from exposing their family members by being at home. She remarked that she was also in regular communication with retailers, and that Mr. Carpenter, the Office of Code Enforcement, the LCSO, and the Cities’ code enforcement departments were working diligently with retailers to pass along information and assist with changes to practices in order to keep citizens safe as they obtained supplies.

Congressmen updates

Congressman Michael Waltz thanked the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for inviting him to speak regarding what Congress was attempting to provide in the COVID-19 relief packages. He recapped that the most recent relief package of $2.2 trillion seemed to have the most media coverage; however, he shared that there were other packages passed as well. He explained that the first package was $8 billion dedicated to research and development of antivirals and therapeutics, which he felt was a very important package and was needed in order for the country to be able to resume normal life with confidence. He mentioned that the CARES Act was the largest relief package and contained the individual tax rebate, noting that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was endeavoring to have those checks in the mail by April 9, 2020. He explained that there had been some confusion regarding how senior citizens who were receiving social security or other disability payments but had not filed with the IRS as of the year 2018 would receive their payments; however, he relayed that the United States (U.S.) Treasury Department and the IRS were reaching out to the U.S. Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regarding this and that they were looking to utilize banking information on file to distribute the checks. He added that there was also a portal site available through which citizens could enter their most recent address or banking information to ensure the funds were received properly. He indicated that the amounts citizens would be receiving were $1,200 per person, with $500 per child, for those with incomes under $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for joint taxpayers. He also reported on the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), sharing his sympathy as a former small business owner for those struggling to keep employees on their payroll. He indicated that the details of those programs were currently being discussed with the banks, and that the application was on his website. He stated that the intent of the PPP was to provide two and a half times a business’ monthly payroll, provided as a loan; however, as long as the business could keep employees on their payroll through June 30, 2020, it would turn into a grant. He added that there were other provisions in the program regarding debt forbearance and other forms of tax relief, some of which were specific to the industry a business was in. He also clarified that for seniors who were of the age to receive mandatory distributions, they no longer had to take those distributions if they did not want to sell their retirement assets into a down market; rather, they could keep those assets invested. He said there was also another provision in which if someone was having some type of financial emergency, then they could receive up to $100,000 out of their retirement account early without the normally associated ten percent penalty; additionally, there was assistance in these programs for hospitals and providers, noting that he had recently spoken with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AdventHealth who expressed gratitude for the provisions which addressed the streamlining of billing which would help first responders. He commented that he had been personally engaged in assisting national guardsmen, noting that he was still serving in the United States National Guard, to ensure that they would receive the same Tricare and housing benefits as the active duty serving. He relayed that there was $8 billion in the most recent CARES Act package that would come to the State of Florida to help with state budget issues due to losing revenue to the budget and also having a significant increase in COVID-19 related responses. He mentioned that there were discussions around what the next phase out of Congress might look like, noting that there might possibly be a round two of the CARES Act with more funding going into the PPP and possible help for states to balance their budgets which would have shortfalls and extra expenses. He related that there was an effort to connect local companies who were shifting their production to provide PPE, coronavirus testing, and lab equipment to hospitals and EOCs who might have a need, and he encouraged those companies to reach out to his staff so they could help make those connections. He gave his website at Waltz.House.gov, and indicated that the latest news from the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS could be found on his site. He shared that while there were some hiccups along the way, Congress was working diligently to put these programs in place in record time as far as the legislation, the implementing rules, and the actual execution in getting the money out to people in need. He closed by thanking the first responders and those on the frontline who were stepping away from their families to serve, noting that he was proud of what he was witnessing in the community as Americans stepped up to help other Americans. He emphasized the importance of individual responsibility to follow these guidelines and felt that the sooner everyone did that, the quicker the nation would make it through this time. He then expressed his willingness to help in whatever way he could.

Commr. Campione thanked Congressman Waltz for his comments and for his service. She then introduced Congressman Ross Spano, who she noted represented a large part of the southern part of Lake County around State Road (SR) 50 in the Town of Montverde area and then south from there to the county line.

Congressman Spano thanked the BCC for the opportunity to present, and recognized Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Cole, and the County’s leadership for their hard work over the last several weeks, noting that having leadership at all levels, including municipalities, county representatives, and even the President of the United States, in times like these was important to having an effective response. He noted that Congressman Waltz had done a fine job outlining some of the items performed legislatively from a national perspective in response to this crisis. He reiterated that the first bill was to address the concerns regarding developing solutions such as an antiviral and therapeutics which would assist with getting through this tough period. He said that the safety and welfare of the American people was his first priority, and that he appreciated the patience and cooperation of those following the social distancing requirements and stay-at-home provisions which had been implemented as he felt that it would help tamp down the transmission curve and limit the scope of the potential damage. He shared that he had also owned a small business prior to serving in Congress, and that his heart was burdened by the difficulties that small businesses were going through; additionally, he commented that as a member of the House Small Business Committee, they had gravitated towards the issues affecting small businesses. He relayed that the idea behind the legislation relating to PPP was to encourage small business owners to retain their employees, and to encourage anyone who was an independent contractor or sole proprietor to hang in there and stick with the nation economically so that once the country was on the other side of this crisis, then they would be in a position to get their business back up and running, including staff, with as little damage to its operation as possible. He acknowledged that there had been some challenges in the process, noting that just the previous evening there were some additional treasury regulations that were implemented to address some of the concerns the banks were having. He mentioned that some of the concerns were that banks were only extending loans to existing customers as their first priority which meant that if a business’ bank or lending institution was not participating, then the business owner was unable to get assistance. He explained that the potential problem related to the Patriot Act, which has a know your customer provision that created a possible liability for banks if steps to properly identify a person were not taken; additionally, he said that another item was that larger institutions were bumping up against their lending caps which meant they were providing a certain number of loans and then were closing off to others. He implied that because of this, some were afraid that the funding had run out; however, he assured that this was not the case and that the U.S. Treasury Department was working to resolve these problems. He stated that within the first 24 hours of the program, there was about $5.4 billion of loans which had originated, and he asked for small business owners to be patient as the issues were worked through. He then expressed gratitude for first responders who were placing themselves at risk as they served. He reiterated that his office was willing to assist in whatever way they could, that they would continue to stay engaged with the leaders in Lake County, and that his website Spano.House.gov had a number of resources on it including applications, a list of vendors participating in the PPP, frequently asked questions, and a way to submit questions. He stated that his office remained committed to helping everyone, along with the local leadership, to do whatever was needed to make it through this crisis with the hope that everyone would come through it stronger, learn things about each other, and work better together. He then thanked the Commission for the opportunity to speak.

Commr. Campione thanked Congressman Spano for his report and great information and noted that it was extremely helpful to hear this directly from the County’s representatives. She then introduced Congressman Daniel Webster, noting that he had been with the County for a long time and had represented the entire county at one point before the congressional districts were changed. She said that Congressman Webster currently represented the central and northwest part of Lake County, and thanked him for being willing to speak.

Congressman Webster shared his thankfulness for the Lake County Commission, the County’s leadership, and the great job everyone was doing in the county. He opined that President Donald Trump had made a great choice in selecting Vice-President Mike Pence to lead the U.S. response to COVID-19 since he was a former governor and understood the necessity of state and local communities working together. He remarked that while the federal government had provided funding in the bills that they passed, using the local communities to lead was a wise move he thought. He relayed that he had received calls from churches and 501(c)(3) organizations within Lake County regarding the PPP loan program because they did not realize that they were included in this program, but he reassured that loans were available to veteran and nonprofit organizations. He explained that initially some banks were not willing to loan to these organizations; however, he stated that he and his colleagues made them aware that this was a part of the legislation which helped to clear up the confusion and directed the banks to abide by the law. He encouraged any citizens with questions to call his office at 352-241-9220 or visit his website at Webster.House.gov, noting that there was a link on the website for information on the programs available. He relayed that many questions coming into his office were from senior citizens who were wondering when their relief check would be coming, and he indicated that they would be arriving soon and that they did not need a bank or automatic deposit to receive it. He shared that one item he was interested in was making buildings safe once people returned to the office. He explained that there was technology available which would kill viruses, bacteria, mold and germs, and that he had given the following two recommendations to the engineer responsible for the U.S. Capitol Building: to open the damper in the building in order to bring in more fresh air, noting that air was treated through a filtering system; and to utilize virus killing devices such as ultraviolet light at a certain spectrum and ionization of particles, which he encouraged to be installed into the duct system of the building. He also encouraged Lake County and municipalities to hold meetings remotely through the phone or other media, and to only return to their buildings once they were safe. He also shared that his office had been successful with assisting individuals from Lake County who were stranded in other places in the world in returning home to the United States, noting that the State Department had worked with them to provide private and military planes to assist with this. He said that many of the big programs had already been mentioned by the other two Congressmen but these were a few he wanted to share. He reiterated that anyone with questions could call his office or visit his website so that they could provide the information needed. He related that the next step in this process as far as federal legislation was to address infrastructure, which would create jobs as well as bring people to the State of Florida which was positive for the state’s tourism industry and the revenue it provided. He added that they were also working with the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association in regards to providing hotels as possible temporary hospitals to help take care of the needs of the community, noting that there were some business individuals interested in providing funding for this as well as some engineers who would assist. He thanked first responders, volunteers, and those who had retired from a profession that were willing to help in particular areas of need. He concluded by offering his help with anything needed.

Commr. Campione thanked Congressman Webster for speaking, and expressed her appreciation for each Congressman touching on different areas with helpful information. She remarked that since Congressman Webster served on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and if Congress did offer infrastructure funding as part of a stimulus, then she would like to present the County’s needs as they had many road resurfacing projects that would be perfect for that type of stimulus program, including County Road (CR) 466A which was in his district.

Minutes approval

On a motion by Commr. Breeden, seconded by Commr. Sullivan, and carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote, the Board approved the minutes for the BCC meetings of February 11, 2020 (Regular Meeting) and February 19, 2020 (Special Meeting).

citizen question and comment period

Commr. Campione reminded citizens that anyone wishing to speak should press *9 on their phone to raise their hand or click the raise hand button if participating online, noting that the three minute timeframe would still be followed with a buzzer sounding at the end of the three minutes. She reiterated for individuals to remain respectful, and to use this time as a way to collect important, constructive information that could be used to address issues impacting constituents. She also relayed that those not comfortable speaking could relay information via email.

Mr. Ross with the IT Department explained that anyone wishing to speak could utilize the raise hand procedure; furthermore, for those connected through the computer, he would read the citizen’s name and unmute their line so they could speak, and for those connected through the phone, he would read out the last four digits of the phone number when it was their time to speak. He indicated to the Chairman that no one had raised their hand to speak, and then read an email from Ms. Mary Kozlowski, a resident of The Villages, who asked for the County to keep the pickleball courts at the Palatlakaha Environmental and Agricultural Reserve (PEAR) Park open to the public, noting that those utilizing the courts were adhering to the social distancing guidelines as well as sanitizing the balls in between games.

CLERK OF the Circuit COURT and comptroller’s CONSENT AGENDA

Commr. Campione asked for Mr. Gary J. Cooney, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, to provide an update on what was happening within the court system from an operational standpoint, and to give an overview of what services were available and how they were currently being provided under the new protocol.

Mr. Cooney reported that the Lake County Clerk’s Office was fully operational with the only service they had stopped providing being the passport service. He explained that the passport office in the City of Miami had notified them that it would be closing, and that any passports submitted after that point would not be processed anyway, except for emergency passports which could only be processed by the Miami Office. He added that while the passport process had been paused, his office was still issuing marriage licenses, and taking payments daily, noting that telephone payments were now being accepted and online payments would be implemented soon. He stated that the Clerk’s Office was still receiving e-filings which were reviewed daily, receiving requests to review documents in their court records operations, taking minutes for the BCC meetings, processing all the payroll for the County, and paying all the County’s bills. He clarified that all these operations were being accomplished with a skeleton staff, that employees were being rotated in and out of the building on a weekly basis, and that protective measures had been put in place for the safety of both citizens and employees. He relayed that judiciary was holding essential hearings such as first appearances and bond hearings, and that a rocket docket was happening weekly in order to send individuals through the criminal process and get them out of the jail population, noting that this was done virtually. He related that his office was also still assisting anyone who was a victim of domestic violence with those individuals having the opportunity to visit the courthouse in person, and that this service was still staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the week, with after-hours occurring through a connection with the LCSO and the Lake County jail, noting that the process of going into the jail itself had been changed to a virtual process. He indicated that Baker Acts and Marchman Acts were being taken, and that his office was handling probate and guardianship issues; additionally, recording was still happening although they were encouraging people to utilize a vendor to virtually record, noting that paper recordings had been moved from the third floor of the old wing of the courthouse to their record storage facility behind the jail. He emphasized the importance of maintaining recording services in order to assist the construction industry.

Commr. Campione thanked Mr. Cooney for the overview of the Clerk’s Office. She inquired if vendor information for recording could be found on the Clerk’s website in order to assist with electronic filing.

Mr. Cooney replied that there were three main vendors that the Clerk’s Office used with one of the main ones being Simplifile, noting that this vendor had recently sent a list of their individual providers. He explained that the Clerk’s Office hoped to post that list; however, he indicated that sending people to those offices may not be any safer than just having them come to the Clerk’s Office. He simply encouraged those who were already using the electronic filing to continue to do so.

On a motion by Commr. Breeden, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote, the Board approved the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s 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.

City of Eustis Ordinance

Request to acknowledge receipt of Annexation Ordinance 20-09 from the City of Eustis.

Lake Emma Community Development District

Request to acknowledge receipt of the following items for the Lake Emma Community Development District; a map of the district, the legal description as shown in the attached City of Groveland Ordinance 2019-54; Resolution 2020-4; and the district’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget in accordance with Section 190.008 (2)(b) Florida Statutes.

COUNTY MANAGER’S CONSENT AGENDA

Commr. Campione requested for Tabs 5 and 6 to be pulled from the Consent Agenda for a separate vote and for these proclamations to be read on the record.

On a motion by Commr. Breeden, seconded by Commr. Blake and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the Consent Agenda, Tabs 3 through 29, pulling Tabs 5 and 6 for a separate vote, as follows below.

On a motion by Commr. Breeden, seconded by Commr. Sullivan and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved Tab 5, Proclamation 2020-28 designating April 12-18, 2020 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and Tab 6, Proclamation 2020-40 in support of first responders and healthcare workers.

Commr. Breeden thanked telecommunicators, first responders, and healthcare workers, and then read Proclamations 2020-28 and 2020-40.

Commr. Campione expressed her appreciation for all the medical workers, first responders, and those providing essential services in various realms.

PROCLAMATIONS

Request approval of Proclamation 2020-20 declaring April 10, 2020, as Gopher Tortoise Day in Lake County, per Commissioner Breeden.

Request approval of Proclamation 2020-24 declaring April 2020 as iBuild Central Florida month in Lake County, per Commissioner Parks.

Request approval of Proclamation 2020-28 designating April 12 - 18, 2020 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, per Commissioner Breeden.

Request approval of Proclamation 2020-40 in support of first responders and health care workers, per Commissioner Breeden.

COUNTY ATTORNEY

Request approval to grant a Perpetual Utility Easement to Sumter Electric Cooperative, Inc. for the new Lake County Animal Shelter located at 12280 County Road 448, Tavares. There is no fiscal impact. Commission District 3.

Request approval of Affordable Housing Partnership Agreements with Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter, Inc., Homes in Partnership, Inc., and Christian Worship Center of Central Florida, Inc. There is no fiscal impact.

Request approval:

1. To accept the following properties acquired through Escheatment Tax Deeds and surplus for the purpose of disposal: Alternate Keys 1254787, 1254825, 1340659, 1341931, 1631360, 1646588, 1762758 and 3307763.

2. To accept Offers to Purchase for Alternate Keys 1268419, 1448905, 1513251, 1772672 and 1798337.

3. To authorize the Chairman to execute any necessary closing documents.

The fiscal impact is $4,525.00 (revenue). Commission Districts 1 and 5.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Management and Budget

Request approval of reimbursement for the Lake County Sheriff's Office $2.50 Education Trust Fund for Fiscal Year 2020. The fiscal impact is $53,722.00 (expenditure).

Request approval for the Chairman to execute any necessary agreements or documents related to the Memorandum of Agreement between the State of Florida, Department of State, and the Lake County Supervisor of Elections for grant funds to continue cybersecurity initiatives in preparation for the 2020 Presidential Election. The fiscal impact is $21,918.62 (expenditure - $19,059.67 in grant funds; $2,858.95 from the Supervisor of Elections' budget).

PUBLIC SAFETY AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Emergency Medical Services

Request approval of a facility use agreement with Lake Technical College, Inc. (LTC) to allow the Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to use a portion of the LTC campus to operate an EMS station. The fiscal impact in the first year is estimated at $25,000.00 (expenditure) for facility improvements, with an annual savings of $17,800.00 in subsequent years from elimination of lease payments. Commission District 4.

Fire Rescue

Request approval to utilize Contract 18220 with Omnia Partners - Public Sector (formerly known as U.S. Communities) to upgrade Kronos Telestaff time scheduling software, as technical support for the current version will no longer be available after September 30, 2020. The estimated fiscal impact is $36,300.00 (expenditure) for the first year and $24,960.00 (expenditure) annually for subsequent years.

Request approval of Contract 20-0716 with Fisher Scientific (Pittsburgh, PA) for dual-certified firefighter rescue gear, and authorization for the Office of Procurement Services to execute all supporting documentation. The estimated fiscal impact is $160,640.00 (expenditure).

Public Safety

Request approval of an amendment to the interlocal agreement with the City of Leesburg for the creation, distribution and sharing of geographic information. There is no fiscal impact. Commission Districts 1, 3 and 5.

PUBLIC SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Housing and Human Services

Request authorization for the Chairman or designee to execute the Certificate of Participation for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for the Fiscal Year 2019 Program, and approval to name Stephanie Glass, Human Services Coordinator, as Program Coordinator. There is no fiscal impact.

Public Works

Request approval to accept public right of way and easement deeds that have been secured in conjunction with development, roadway, and stormwater projects. The fiscal impact is $1,728.90 (expenditure - recording fees).

Request approval and execution of a Partial Release of Easement of an existing drainage easement for the development of the Governors Lake Commerce Center, located in the Clermont area. The fiscal impact is $96.50 (expenditure - recording fees). Commission District 2.

Request approval of Resolution 2020-41 designating Rose Avenue/County Road (CR) 468 in the City of Fruitland Park, from CR 466A to Berckman Street and on Berckman Street from Rose Avenue to Willard Avenue, as appropriate for the operation of golf carts. The fiscal impact is $250.00 (expenditure - sign materials). Commission District 5.

Request approval of Resolution 2020-42 authorizing the installation of "stop" signs and "all way" plaques at the intersection of Lake Minneola Shores and Jalarmy Road, in the Minneola area. The fiscal impact is $200.00 (expenditure - sign materials). Commission Districts 1 and 2.

Request approval of Resolution 2020-43 to reduce the speed limit from 55 MPH to 45 MPH on County Road (CR) 473, from CR 44 to Scottish Highlands Boulevard, in the Leesburg area. The fiscal impact is $200.00 (expenditure - sign materials) Commission District 3.

Request approval to release a performance bond of $48,070.00 posted for the completion of sidewalks for the Serenoa Village 2 Phase 1A1 final plat, located in the Four Corners area. There is no fiscal impact. Commission District 1.

Request approval to release a performance bond of $99,275.00 posted for the completion of sidewalks for the Serenoa Village 2 Phase 1A2 final plat, located in the Four Corners area. There is no fiscal impact. Commission District 1.

Request approval to release cash funds posted as surety for the completion of infrastructure improvements for the Tiger Paw Estates final plat, located south of Groveland. There is no fiscal impact. Commission District 1.

Request approval to:

1. Accept the final plat for Palms at Serenoa Phase 2, and all areas dedicated to the public as shown on the Palms at Serenoa Phase 2 final plat, located near Clermont.

2. Execute a Developer's Agreement for Construction of Improvements with Forestar (USA) Real Estate Group, Inc. (Arlington, TX).

3. Accept a Performance Bond of $44,434.36.

The fiscal impact is $1,551.00 (revenue - final plat application fee). Commission District 1.

Request approval for the Chairman to execute a Hold Harmless and Indemnification Agreement with A.C.M.S., Inc. (d/b/a Heart of Florida Landfill) to allow for County Solid Waste trucks to receive unloading assistance or be pulled from the landfill when conditions warrant. There is no fiscal impact.

Request approval of Contract 20-0902 with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (Raleigh, NC) for engineering and design services for the Round Lake Road Extension from the Lake/Orange County boundary to north of State Road 44 for approximately five miles. The fiscal impact is $2,297,884.00 (expenditure - $147,884.00 in County impact fee funding and $2,150,000.00 in grant funding). Commission District 4.

Request approval:

1. To execute a Local Agency Program Supplemental Agreement and supporting Resolution 2020-44 with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the design of safety improvements on County Road 452, in the Eustis and Leesburg area.

2. Of Unanticipated Revenue Resolution 2020-45 to receive additional grant funds from FDOT.

The total fiscal impact is $4,883.00 (expenditure/revenue - 100% grant funded). Commission Districts 4 and 5.

Request approval to execute a Local Agency Program Supplemental Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation regarding funding the construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of Citrus Tower Boulevard and Mohawk Road, in the Minneola area (including Resolution 2020-57). There is no fiscal impact. Commission District 2.

2020 census update

Commr. Campione reminded residents to fill out their 2020 census card which they should have recently received in the mail.

Ms. Jennifer Barker, Executive Director of Administrative Services, provided an overview of the 2020 Census process by giving information regarding its background, the Complete Count Committee, outreach efforts, and the 2020 Census timeline. She commented that under Title 13 of the United States Code, more than $675 billion in federal funds would be distributed to local communities based on census data. She explained that the census data assisted federal, state, and local decision makers with the planning and implementing of programs and services, planning emergency response needs, and forecasting future transportation needs, noting that the information collected during the data gathering process could not be released with any identifiable information about residents or businesses. She added that the census count also determined the number of Congressional Representatives allocated per each state. She stated that one crucial part of the census process was establishing a local Complete County Committee (CCC) to increase awareness and motivate residents to respond to the 2020 Census. She indicated that the CCC was a volunteer committee comprised of community leaders including faith-based leaders, social service representatives, school board representatives, and representatives from the County’s Constitutional Offices. She reported that Lake County’s CCC was formed in January 2020, and had met twice to share ideas, develop strategies to reach the undercounted population from the 2010 Census, and encourage participation in this year’s census. She explained that due to social distancing guidelines put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the original outreach efforts discussed by the CCC could not be done, such as posting signs in libraries, handing out flyers, posting signs at the Lake County Fair, etc.; furthermore, she said they were now depending on a strong virtual outreach effort utilizing the County’s website to encourage community participation with all CCC members following the County’s social media pages and sharing posts to ensure that the message of the importance of census participation was far reaching to the diverse communities within the county. She concluded by sharing these 2020 Census timeline dates: homes received the official Census Bureau mail March 12-20, 2020, with detailed information on how to respond; April 1, 2020 was Census Day which meant that residents should count everyone living in their home as of that date, and should include extended family members, non-family members, and newborn babies who resided in the home; beginning in late April/May 2020, the Census Bureau would begin counting people experiencing homelessness, noting that the methods utilized to perform these counts may need to be re-strategized to meet the current social distancing guidelines; if the timeline was not revised, census workers would begin to visit residents who had not responded in May 2020; and census workers may be identified by a valid identification badge, which would include a photograph, a United States Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date, and that they could possibly be carrying a Census Bureau bag and other equipment with a Census Bureau logo. She said that since everyone was practicing social distancing and spending more time at home, she encouraged residents to take the time to respond to the census, noting that it would only take about five to ten minutes to do so and could be done online, by phone, or by mail. She relayed that a high participation rate ensured that federal tax dollars sent to Washington, D.C. would come back to the Lake County community and its residents as well as help make sure the county had the right Congressional representation required to meet residents’ needs for the next ten years.

Commr. Sullivan asked for Ms. Barker to reach out to him since he volunteered at the City of Leesburg food bank and he believed that there was a great population utilizing it which should be counted in the census.

reports

county attorney

city of minneola participation in ambulance mstu

Ms. Marsh provided an update on the City of Minneola’s participation in the Ambulance Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU). She recalled that the City had been sent a notification in January 2020 informing them that their authorization would be expiring in April 2020, and that the City had relayed to the County that they would be unable to present this information to their city council until April 21, 2020 with their second reading to occur on May 5, 2020. She said that she had contacted the Lake County Property Appraiser’s Office (PAO) who advised her that they needed a response from the City of Minneola by May 1, 2020 in order to allow their office enough time to remove city residents from the Ambulance MSTU assessment if the City did not approve participation in the MSTU moving forward. She relayed that the City of Minneola would be contacting the PAO to determine if they could allow an extension until May 5, 2020 for their second reading, noting that the County was waiting to hear the PAO’s response to that request.

white water farms property

Ms. Marsh updated the Commissioners on the status of the White Water Farms property in East Lake County as she knew that they had been receiving emails from residents in that area. She indicated that the owner had begun hauling material from this property, and that at this point, the owner did not have any approved plans or best management practices through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) nor through the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). She reported that the County Attorney’s Office had filed an injunction on Friday, April 3, 2020, and were waiting for service on the property owner and hoping that the assigned judge would allow a virtual hearing in order to get a temporary injunction in place to stop the hauling. She reiterated that there was hauling, that there were multiple trucks coming and going from the property, and that the property was located off of SR 44 in the vicinity of the Cross Tie Ranch subdivision.

Commr. Campione asked to clarify for the public that the County had already sent notices and communicated to the property owners that they did not have the permits needed to do what they were attempting to do and what they were now engaging in. She explained that the County had taken all the steps possible from the County’s standpoint and now had to rely on the legal system; furthermore, under the present circumstances, it was not the typical process that would normally happen but the County was hoping to be granted the virtual hearing and be able to get an injunction in place.

Ms. Marsh added that the County had also notified the FDACS and the SJRWMD about the activity taking place on the property, and that it was her understanding that the SJRWMD had also sent the property owner a warning letter due to the fact they did not have any approvals from the SJRWMD.

Commr. Campione opined that with so many residents at home and not on the roads, if there were legitimate mining and hauling activities, then this would be a good time to get that type of work accomplished; however, she felt that those who tried to circumvent the rules hurt everyone by handling situations in this manner. She hoped that this property owner would reconsider their actions.

howey-in-the-hills speciaL ELECTION

Ms. Marsh indicated that some of the Commissioners had been contacted by members of the Town of Howey-in-the-Hills council regarding a special recall election that was scheduled for April 14, 2020, noting that her office had received a copy of a federal order which was a temporary restraining order that put a temporary halt on that election; therefore, she stated that election would not take place on April 14, 2020. She stated that they would need to work through the court process to determine when or if that election would be rescheduled.

county manager

LAKE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Mr. Cole assured the Board and the public that Lake County Government was fully operational at this time and was providing essential services to the public with staff working remotely, in the field, and in their offices. He stated that all appropriate safety measures were in place for the employees and the public which they served, and noted that permits were being processed online, services for veterans and those in need were being provided over the phone, that parks were open and maintained, that animals were being taken care of at the Lake County Animal Shelter, and that the Offices of Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) along with their dispatch staff were deployed and prepared for anticipated increases in need. He also thanked the entire County staff who were committed to ensuring that all government services continued to be available, noting that the County had an amazing team; additionally, he thanked the Information Technology Department for their outstanding work on conducting this virtual meeting.

Commr. Campione expressed appreciation to Mr. Cole for his leadership as well as those employees who were undertaking tasks which may not be a part of their normal job description in order to fill in the gaps for those who were not able to work. She opined this spoke to the character and willingness of County employees to help others and to be a part of the endeavor to continue providing services for what the community needed.

commissioners reports

commissioner sullivan – district 1

APPRECIATION FOR BOARD CHAIRMAN

Commr. Sullivan thanked Chairman Campione for her efforts in reaching out to the public and responding to their needs, noting that often when he receives emails from citizens, the Chairman has already responded to the needs of the community.

RECOGNITION OF COUNTY STAFF AND COMMUNITY

Commr. Sullivan also thanked all the County staff for their hard work and dedication during this difficult time, and encouraged all citizens to adhere to the social networking and programs provided in order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus; additionally, he felt that the county would come through this as a better community. He recognized Mr. Brandon Matulka, Executive Director for the Agency for Economic Prosperity, for his team’s assistance to local businesses since there were so many small businesses which make up the county’s economy, and for the insight and assistance offered by the three Florida Congressmen.

Commr. Campione thanked Commissioner Sullivan for leading the Pledge of Allegiance and opined that it brought a sense of normalcy to hear him lead it. She acknowledged how each Commissioner was stepping up to do their part, was having communication with citizens, and was bringing information back to Mr. Cole and County staff in order to address the needs. She relayed that Commissioner Parks was instrumental in conducting a virtual meeting with his constituents in the Four Corners area, and she asked for him to report on that meeting.

commissioner parks – district 2

FOUR CORNERS COMMUNITY VIRTUAL MEETING

Commr. Parks shared that he had hosted a virtual meeting the previous week with constituents in the Four Corners area, thanking Mr. Carpenter and staff for helping with this meeting. He mentioned that the meeting lasted about two hours, that many citizens’ questions were answered, that staff relayed important information, and that there was positive feedback regarding the effectiveness of the experience, noting that the platform utilized worked very well and should be considered for use by the other Commissioners to inform their constituents. He emphasized the importance of keeping the community informed.

RECOGNITION OF COUNTY STAFF

Commr. Parks thanked all County staff and recognized Mr. Glen Guzman, Director for the Office of Code Enforcement, Ms. Whitney Boylston, Director for the Office of Animal Services, Mr. Matulka, LASER, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Offices of Fire Rescue and EMS.

county PARKS AND TRAILS OPEN

Commr. Parks expressed appreciation that the Lake County parks and trails remained open during this time, and thanked staff for assisting with making this happen.

Commr. Campione agreed with Commissioner Parks’ comments regarding the importance of continuing to communicate with residents as often as possible especially since not everyone utilized social media; additionally, she indicated that the County was having difficulty getting Lake County’s information broadcasted on the local news stations, noting that it was being provided to the stations but not being broadcasted. She shared that the Office of Communications staff worked diligently to emphasize to those stations the importance of sharing information for people who were a part of their audience but lived in Lake County and were not residents of Orange and Osceola Counties, which seemed to be getting most of the coverage. She thought that due to this effort, information on the news stations would hopefully improve, and she thanked the stations who were beginning to broadcast Lake County information.

commissioner BREEDEN – district 3

APPRECIATION FOR COUNTY STAFF AND COMMUNITY

Commr. Breeden said that she was grateful for all the efforts being made to address the crisis and to get information out to the public; additionally, she thanked the Chairman for her emails and videos, the County Manager, Mr. Carpenter, the DOH, LASER, all County departments, and the residents in the community who were following the safety guidelines. She understood that having to stay at home was not easy, but she was doing her part and hoped that everyone else would continue to do their part as well in order to get through this time as quickly as possible, to get people back to work, and to get businesses back open.

Commr. Campione agreed that being home and not being able to go to places may not be easy and sometimes brought about negative attitudes; however, she shared that positive interactions and actions such as volunteering were also happening which were helping others feel supported. She thought those actions were important to carry everyone through the negative aspects of this time. She encouraged following safety guidelines and being responsible within one’s own family, and shared that she appreciated everyone doing their part.

commissioner BLAKE – district 5

APPRECIATION FOR COUNTY STAFF AND COMMUNITY

Commr. Blake echoed what had been mentioned by his fellow Commissioners, and thanked Mr. Cole, Ms. Marsh, and Chairman Campione for their leadership, noting that he had received positive feedback from the video done with the Lake County Sheriff; furthermore, he shared appreciation for County staff who continued to go above and beyond what was expected. He also expressed appreciation for all that Mr. Michael Tart with LASER was doing and for Mr. Matulka’s assistance in helping local businesses.

LOCAL FOOD BANKS

Commr. Blake emphasized the importance of keeping the local food banks stocked, and thanked all those who were volunteering and the churches who were getting involved. He showed gratitude to the community for all they were doing during this time.

commissioner CAMPIONE – district 4

LAKE AND SUMTER EMERGENCY RECOVERY (lASER)

Commr. Campione also recognized the great job that Mr. Tart and LASER were doing for the community, as well as the religious leaders who were a part of that network. She relayed that LASER was able to reach out to ministers throughout the county to ask them to hold virtual services so that the community’s spiritual needs could be met, especially during the Easter season. She was grateful to all the groups for their innovative approach to help protect their congregations.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Commr. Campione remarked that she understood that there were families that needed to engage in funeral services; however, she asked for funeral homes to please refrain from having gatherings at this point and for residents not to ask them to put others in that situation.  She indicated that the County was trying to provide some leadership on this, and while this was difficult, she felt that these services and celebrations of life could be held at another time in the future. She believed that to congregate would not be the right thing to do from a safety perspective at this point in time.  She said that the County would continue to work with funeral homes and those organizations to make sure that they were keeping everyone safe.

APPRECIATION FOR COUNTY STAFF AND COMMUNITY

Commr. Campione recognized Mr. Jerry Smith, Director for the Office of EMS, for his leadership and for the work his team was performing, noting that this was a difficult time to orchestrate a workforce which had to take extraordinary precautions. She reiterated appreciation for the first responders and healthcare workers, and then acknowledged the leadership of Mr. Guzman, the municipalities, community retailers, and everyone working together to address keeping people safe. She also thanked the Lake County Sheriff for his leadership and his team for their assistance with protecting the waterways and moving around resources. She felt that this was an important way to allow individuals to be outside which was good for their health without jeopardizing their safety or the safety of others.

COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Commr. Campione encouraged everyone to continue to remain calm during this crisis, to follow the guidelines and measures established to keep their family safe, and to stay home as much as possible, noting her gratitude for those who were working and unable to remain at home. She reiterated for residents to continue to stay updated through emails and the DOH updates.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be brought to the attention of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.

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leslie campione, chairman

ATTEST:

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GARY J COONEY, CLERK