A regular MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

February 28, 2023

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 9:00 a.m., in the County Commission Chambers, Lake County Administration Building, Tavares, Florida. Commissioners present at the meeting were: Kirby Smith, Chairman; Douglas B. Shields, Vice Chairman; Sean Parks; Leslie Campione; and Josh Blake. Others present were: Jennifer Barker, County Manager; Melanie Marsh, County Attorney; Niki Booth, Executive Office Manager, County Manager’s Office; Kristy Mullane, Chief Financial Officer; and Stephanie Cash, Deputy Clerk.

INVOCATION and pledge

Commissioner Blake gave the Invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

virtual meeting instructions

Mr. Levar Cooper, Director for the Office of Communications, explained that the current meeting was being livestreamed on the County website and was also being made available through Zoom Webinar for members of the public who wished to provide comments during the Citizen Question and Comment Period later in the agenda. He elaborated that anyone watching though the livestream who wished to participate could follow the directions currently being broadcast through the stream; furthermore, he relayed that during the Citizen Question and Comment Period, anyone who had joined the webinar via their phone could press *9 to virtually raise their hand, and anyone participating online could click the raise hand button to identify that they wished to speak. He said that when it was time for public comment, he would read the person’s name or phone number, unmute the appropriate line, and the speaker would be asked to provide comments. He added that everyone would have three minutes to speak, and after three minutes an alarm would sound to let them know that their time was up. He added that they previously notified the public that comments could be emailed through 5:00 p.m. on the previous day, and those comments were shared with the Board prior to the meeting. He stated that anyone wishing to provide written comments during the meeting could visit www.lakecountyfl.gov/commissionmeeting, noting that comments sent during this meeting would be shared with the Commission after the meeting was concluded.

Agenda update

Ms. Jennifer Barker, County Manager, requested that Tab 4 be pulled to be brought back at a future meeting, and that Tab 26 was added as an addendum since the agenda was first published. She noted that on Tab 26, Mr. Rick Ault, a candidate for the District 2 appointment for the Board of Adjustment (BOA), was supposed to be a candidate for the District 1 appointment, and she recommended that the appointment for District 2 be reposted for applicants.

Minutes approval

On a motion by Commr. Blake, seconded by Commr. Parks and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the minutes for the BCC Meetings of December 20, 2022 (Regular Meeting), January 3, 2023 (Regular Meeting), and January 10, 2023 (Regular Meeting) as presented.

citizen question and comment period

Mr. Banks Helfrich, a resident of Lake County, opined that Lake County was over 51 percent agriculture, and relayed that he had a seven acre farm north of the City of Clermont on Sams Lake Road, which was open to the public on the second Saturday of every month at 9:00 a.m. He commented that he had an orchard with 77 fruit bearing trees, a vineyard, pineapples, blackberries, a shade garden, a vegetable garden, an herb garden, and bees for pollination. He remarked that the next event was on March 11, 2023, and that visitors should bring a hat for the sun, a bucket for clippings, and their curiosity.

Ms. Cindy Newton, a resident of Lake County, inquired if there was a date for the next countywide joint planning agreement (JPA) meeting, and if the JPA with the City of Groveland had a template that was available to the public for review. She stated that everyone was invited to the 2023 EcoExpo on Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Lake Sumter State College (LSSC) science and math building in the City of Leesburg, and that it was free of charge. She related that there would be exhibits by many conservation groups and government agencies, a discovery room by Trout Lake Nature Center, short nature films, and workshops including one with Commissioner Parks who would be speaking on what local government was doing to address climate change.

Mr. Steve Smith, with Housing for All of Lake County, stated that affordable housing as defined by United States (U.S.) Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was housing that a person could pay for with less than 30 percent of their gross wages, and that according to the Shimberg report from the University of Florida, there was a shortage of about 910,000 affordable housing units throughout the State of Florida and 13,000 in Lake County. He opined that there were only three transitional housing projects in the county with only about 40 beds, and that HUD had approved 32 projects for residents making less than 60 percent of the median income totaling 3,000 beds that were already full with a long waiting list. He mentioned there were only four HUD approved projects in Lake County for seniors, and that two years ago he had built 70 units with a waiting list of about 150 people. He noted that there were three projects pending approval, including the following: no income transitional housing; low income rental housing; and purchase assistance for homes. He asked the Board for $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the development of Astatula Village, which would be transitional housing for residents with mental and physical disabilities, opining that even though LifeStream Behavioral Center did a good job with this type of housing, they had limited resources.

Ms. Barker mentioned that the date for the next quarterly countywide JPA meeting would be April 19, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Lake David Center in the City of Groveland.

Mr. Stephen Shylkofski, with Find, Feed and Restore, commented that his organization provided housing for homeless families with children, and that he supported the projects that the County was reviewing for affordable housing funds. He related that each of the organizations he had worked with, such as Find, Feed and Restore, New Beginnings of Central Florida, and Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter, provided financial literacy education to all of their clients to ensure they were self-sufficient in their affordable housing and no cost housing, and that 13.2 percent of Lake County residents lived below the poverty line, which was higher than the state or national average. He urged that the Board would approve the three projects mentioned by Mr. Smith, and noted that about $500,000 in additional funding would need to be allocated. He added that the name of their project was the Hannah Grace Gardens in the City of Mascotte.

Ms. Melanie Marsh, County Attorney, stated that this was a request for proposal (RFP) that was still being evaluated, and that there was a blackout period; therefore, those items could not be discussed at this time.

Ms. Geneva Hamilton, President of the Caribbean American Association of Lake County, remarked that her organization needed funding to build Indigo Village, which would provide affordable housing and services for seniors who could not afford a home. She relayed that they also helped youth who had aged out of foster care, and opined that many people were coming to Lake County who needed low income affordable housing.

Ms. Tara Hagood, with the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Greater Orlando Chapter, expressed appreciation to the Board and Lake County for proclaiming March 5 through 11, 2023 as Women in Construction Week, and noted that her organization provided professional training, educational opportunities, job connections, mentorship, and networking opportunities to women in the construction industry.

CLERK OF the Circuit COURT and comptroller’s CONSENT AGENDA

On a motion by Commr. Campione, seconded by Commr. Shields and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Consent Agenda, Item 1, as follows:

List of Warrants

Notice is hereby provided 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.

COUNTY MANAGER’S CONSENT AGENDA

On a motion by Commr. Campione, seconded by Commr. Parks and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the Consent Agenda, Tabs 3 through 17, pulling Tab 4, as follows:

PROCLAMATIONS

Request approval of Women in Construction Week Proclamation 2023-12, per Commissioner Smith.

COUNTY ATTORNEY

Recommend approval of a Lease Agreement between Lake County and the Agriculture and Youth Fair Association for use of the Lake County Fairgrounds and buildings. The fiscal impact is $1.00 annually (revenue). Commission District 4.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Management and Budget

Recommend approval of a budget transfer in the amount of $105,273 from Infrastructure Sales Tax Fleet/Public Safety Facility to Infrastructure Sales Tax Sheriff Office Safety and Security to fund the increased cost of the Sheriff’s safety and security project.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Recommend approval of a Workers' Compensation Claim Settlement for a former employee who sustained an injury on July 1, 2020; and to authorize the Chairman to execute the Settlement Agreement.

The fiscal impact is $235,000 (expenditure) and is within, and will not exceed, the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget.

PUBLIC SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Facilities Management

Recommend approval:

1. To utilize Contract 22-458 with Skyline Elevator, Inc. (Groveland, FL) for the modernization of the traction elevators in the County Administration Building; and

2. To authorize the Office of Procurement Services to execute all supporting documentation.

The estimated fiscal impact is $347,400.02 (expenditure) and is within, and will not exceed, the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget. Commission District 3.

Housing and Community Services

Recommend approval of a budget transfer in the amount of $33,388 from CDBG-COVID Operating Supplies to CDBG-COVID Machinery/Equipment for the purchase of a capital expenditure. The fiscal impact is $33,388 (expenditure - 100 percent grant funded) and is within the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget.

Library Services

Recommend approval for a one year deferral for the Library Trust Fund Impact Fees Process. The Office of Library Services is seeking a consultant to create a new policy and methodology for awarding Impact Fee Grants. There is no fiscal impact.

Public Works

Recommend adoption of Resolution 2023-17 designating the County maintained roads within the Shockley Heights neighborhood as appropriate for the operation of golf carts.

The fiscal impact is estimated at $150 (expenditure) and is within, and will not exceed, the Fiscal year 2023 Budget. Commission District 4.

Recommend approval:

1. To accept the final plat for Ashton Park and all areas dedicated to the public as shown on the Ashton Park final plat; and

2. To adopt Resolution 2023-18 accepting Ashton Park Way (County Road No. 1748) into the County Maintenance System.

This road, totaling 0.07 miles, has an Annualized Average Maintenance Cost Impact of $1,576.05 per year or $31,521.02 over a 20 year life cycle. This is based on current costs for road maintenance efforts including road surface, curb and gutter, drainage systems, sidewalks and roadway tree trimming.

The estimated fiscal impact is $1,551 (revenue - final plat application fee) and an annual maintenance cost estimated at $1,576.05 (expenditure) and is within, and will not exceed, the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget and will be included in future year's budget requests. Commission District 2.

Recommend adoption of Resolution 2023-19 to reduce the speed limit from 40 MPH to 35 MPH on Sawgrass Bay Boulevard from US 27 to the end of the road in the Clermont area.

The fiscal impact is estimated at $500 (expenditure - sign materials) and is within, and will not exceed, the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget. Commission District 1.

Recommend adoption of Resolution 2023-20 to advertise a public hearing to vacate platted driveway, walkway and cul-de-sac easement, lying north of Wolf Branch Road and west of Sunrise Boulevard. The closest municipality is Mount Dora.

The fiscal impact is $2,295 (revenue-vacation application fee) and is within, and will not exceed, the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget. Commission District 4.

Recommend approval:

1. To utilize the City of Tallahassee's Contract 5179 with Alan Jay Fleet Sales (Sebring, FL) for the purchase of one Flat Bed Dump Truck for the Public Works Department, Road Operations Division.

2. To authorize the Office of Procurement Services to execute all supporting documentation.

The fiscal impact is $78,024 (expenditure) and is within, and will not exceed, the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget.

Recommend approval:

1. To utilize Florida Sheriff Association FSA22-VEH20.0 for the one-time purchase of an Asphalt Patching Truck with Orlando Freightliner (Apopka, FL) for Public Works Department, Road Operations Division; and

2. To authorize the Office of Procurement Services to execute all supporting documentation.

The estimated fiscal impact is $268,771 (expenditure) and is within, and will not exceed, the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget.

Recommend approval of a roadway improvement agreement with Founders Ridge Development, LLC to provide engineering plans and permitting and to also donate the right of way for the widening and realignment of Citrus Grove Road Phase II in exchange for transportation impact fee credits.

The estimated fiscal impact is $458,458 in Transportation Impact Fee Credits for the engineering and permitting of the project. Commission District 2.

PREsentation on the Broadband Feasibility Study

Mr. Erikk Ross, Director for the Information Technology (IT) Department, stated that he would be giving an update on the broadband feasibility study, and recalled that the Board had earmarked $3.7 million from ARPA allocations to use towards improving residential broadband service. He remarked that before spending those funds, staff first needed to identify those areas of the county that had the greatest needs, such as those areas that were called unserved, which were households that had no broadband availability or very slow internet access. He elaborated that being a rural county, there would be many unserved areas; however, there was data identifying exactly where those unserved areas were. He related that in the previous year, the County issued a formal RFP to have a study commissioned to pinpoint those unserved areas, identify how many households were in those areas, and estimate the cost to provide broadband access to those areas. He commented that in May 2022, the RFP was awarded to Magellan Advisors, which was an expert in this field and had helped hundreds of other municipalities with their broadband and fiber plans; additionally, Magellan Advisors had worked on projects for multiple government agencies in the State of Florida including the City of Gainesville, Indian River County, Escambia County, and Seminole County. He mentioned that the State of Florida had also started several initiatives towards improving broadband access throughout the state, and that in November 2022, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO) created the Broadband Opportunity Program, which was a grant program with over $400 million in funding for the installation and deployment of broadband internet in unserved Florida communities. He relayed that as part of that grant program, the State encouraged all Counties to develop a local technology planning team (LTPT) consisting of stakeholders across a number of industries, including local government, libraries, K-12 education, tourism, and internet service providers (ISPs), and noted that their goal was to help coordinate broadband efforts across the county, which was a major factor in the State’s grant program selection criteria. He commented that an LTPT had been developed in Lake County, and that they had met together with stakeholders over several months. He said that Mr. Courtney Violette, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Magellan Advisors, was a lifelong resident of Lake County who was living in one of the unserved areas, and that he would provide an update on the status of the broadband feasibility study.

Mr. Violette stated that he had been with Magellan Advisors for 12 years, and that his company had recently been acquired by a larger engineering firm with a national presence both in broadband and energy. He explained that they had reviewed trends of broadband services, the employment of various broadband technologies, the existing providers, the existing infrastructure, and the market analysis, identifying where services were provided and what types of services were offered as well as the cost for those services. He commented that they had met with numerous stakeholders in the County, including many organizations, County departments, Cities, and third party partners, such as schools and libraries. He relayed that they had conducted a survey of residents and had identified potential funding opportunities; furthermore, they had identified 24 project areas with a lack of broadband access for the County to focus on. He explained that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defined broadband as 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download and three Mbps upload, which was an old definition, and that three terms used in this presentation included the following: unserved, which were households that lacked access to 25 Mbps by three Mbps; underserved, which were households that lacked access to at least 100 Mbps by 20 Mbps; and served, which were households that had services available at or above 120 Mbps by 20 Mbps. He elaborated that there were many devices in households, such as tablets, computers, video cameras, and smart thermostats, which allowed people to participate in online meetings, educational work, projects, and other activities, and that this was what drove the capacity and bandwidth requirements within a household. He recalled that during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many people noticed issues in the network and service levels because of the increased bandwidth requirements on home networks, and that there was now funding available to ensure that everyone had access to high speed broadband services. He remarked that in the survey they conducted, there were over 2,000 respondents, and that among them, the median speeds was about 56 Mbps download and about 10 Mbps upload. He related that in Hillsborough and Seminole Counties, there were much higher median speeds, and that most of the legacy infrastructure in Lake County was rural, noting that there were many legacy Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) services and cable services, including Spectrum, Lumen, and Comcast Cable Communications, LLC. He said that the survey collected a number of other details from respondents, including the following: how they used the internet; the types of broadband used around residential activity; concerns about speeds, pricing, reliability, and general service; and how often their internet slowed down or other service related issues. He commented that this data had been provided to the County and was detailed in their report, and that from the survey they identified 26 initial project areas, noting that there was satisfactory infrastructure in only two of those areas. He stated that they identified 24 potential funding service areas that the County should focus on, and that they plotted unserved locations and households on maps they had created; additionally, they provided cost estimates for a wireline perspective where applicable. He displayed a chart with the number of households in each area, and said that they were scattered throughout the county. He mentioned that they sent representatives throughout the county to assess the identified areas, and that they had found poorly maintained infrastructure, which could lead to service issues. He displayed a chart of total footage and total miles for various project areas showing how much would physically have to be constructed to lay wire, such as fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable, to service an area, and noted that in Astor Landing there were 9.8 miles of construction required to build infrastructure to connect about 210 households. He explained that the average cost per passing was how they ranked the priority of these locations, and that the least amount of money to connect the most households was ranked first in the implementation priority column. He remarked that the total amount of unserved households was about 7,300 households, which would require about 600 miles of total wireline infrastructure to connect them, and that they had mapped the project areas showing the following: the priority ranking; the number of households; the footage; the number of anchors, such as schools, libraries, and fire stations; the number of businesses; high and low cost estimates for wireline service; a wireless deployment cost, if applicable to the area; and any nearby ISPs. He stated that their estimates to buildout Lake County in those 24 project areas would cost from $99 million to $124 million, and that there were five projects where wireless could be deployed for about $1.3 million. He relayed his understanding that there was funding available at the State and Federal level to support broadband projects, and that the County had appropriated $3.7 million to potentially fund these. He commented that there was also other funding available from the State, such as $400 million from the FDEO Broadband Opportunity Program (BOP) and $366 million from the FDEO Capital Projects Fund (CPF), noting that they were evaluating that program and would be discussing it with staff. He related that the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program was about $43 billion, and that it would be distributed to the States to fund broadband. He pointed out that funding would be available for several years to fund broadband expansion, and that they would work with providers to ensure they were meeting the needs in identified project areas. He noted that the Affordable Connectivity Program was a subsidy program, which was currently available, and that it offered a subsidy to low income households of about $30, allowing them receive broadband for free from those companies that offered a $30 high-speed internet service package to low income households. He displayed a Gantt chart showing the funding flow on the different programs, and said that there were 10 states that could possibly receive over $1 billion from BEAD including Florida. He commented that the County could continue engaging the LTPT and supporting their efforts, noting that they attended the meetings and participated in the discussions. He remarked that Lake County residents could report issues with service to the FCC and FDEO for issues related to their service levels, and that there was funding available for digital equity planning, which included training, educational programs, equipment, and the knowledge to succeed in the current digital economy.

Mr. Ross stated that staff recommended creating an RFP or County grant program to solicit proposals for the project areas defined in the study and to procure a 50 percent match to coincide with the State grant programs, and that the ISPs in the area could submit project proposals to improve the broadband access in their areas. He related that staff also recommended hiring a consultant to assist in the RFP or grant process and manage distribution of ARPA funds, opining that they did not have enough staff to ensure that those funds were administered appropriately.

Commr. Parks mentioned that the Schofield Road area was in Wellness Way, and he asked if it could come off the list because the County was requiring that developers provide a fiber-optic cable connection.

Mr. Violette replied that it could; however, he had not seen much conduit and other infrastructure being built, and he suggested engaging with developers in those areas that were being developed or were nearby project areas to ensure there was an understanding.

Commr. Parks said that he would like to be updated to ensure that what was in the plan was actually taking place, opining that broadband was important to the economy and was a determining factor in which county businesses chose to operate.

Commr. Smith inquired if they had worked with the other communication providers to determine where they had infrastructure.

Mr. Violette replied that they utilized publicly available data sets and had met with the providers during the LTPT meetings and individually, noting that some providers were reluctant to share data for confidentiality reasons and others had shown them exactly what they were planning.

Commr. Blake questioned if Starlink was an option for some of these areas.

Mr. Violette answered that every program they were considering had a target and a requirement, and that the BOP, which was the prior year’s grant program, had a 100 Mbps by 20 Mbps target, which meant that whatever project was proposed and technology was deployed had to meet certain requirements. He related that the program that launched on the prior day had a 100 Mbps by 100 Mbps requirement, which was higher than the previous year’s program, and that services, such as satellite, mobile, and cellular did not count towards being served, and that it had to be a wireline service, such as coaxial cable or fixed wireless connection to a location.

Commr. Campione asked if the grant funding flowed from the federal government to the State to be distributed, or if there were any direct applications to the federal government.

Mr. Violette replied that there were some federal programs available, such as the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which provided reconnect funding for broadband applications; however, they had not found anywhere in the county that was eligible, being determined by distance requirements from metropolitan areas. He mentioned that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) from the U. S. Department of Commerce had funding for tribes; however, there were no tribal lands in Lake County. He relayed that the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program was opened in the prior year, and that it was for building large, long-haul networks to connect anchor institutions, cities, and regions together.

Commr. Campione inquired how Lake County compared to other Counties, and if there was a good chance of qualifying for grant programs.

Mr. Violette opined that there was much funding available that Lake County could acquire by having good data and good projects and by ensuring that households were updating the mapping layers with the FCC. He remarked that this process they had been engaged in was to ensure that every state had accurate counts on unserved and underserved locations, and that the funding would be distributed based on that ratio, noting that Lake County had many unserved locations.

Commr. Campione hoped that the County could hire someone to do the grant writing to acquire some of this funding, and opined that there were some areas in the county that were underserved and had many other issues.

Ms. Barker relayed her understanding that the grants would go to the ISPs, and that the County would be supporting and providing matches or supplemental funding.

Mr. Violette commented that with the BOP, there were many requirements that led them to believe that local governments would not be good applicants; however, the new program did not have those requirements, noting that the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program was also an eligible project.

Mr. Bill Ferry, with Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, expressed appreciation for the presentation, and opined that this opportunity to partner with the County would help the ISPs determine which areas would be best to invest in. He mentioned that he was a member of the LTPT as well as the other ISPs in attendance, and that they looked forward to working together with the County.

presentation of the 2023 economic forecast

Ms. Mary Ellen Stern, Executive Director for the Office of Economic Growth, stated that she would provide a historical overview and projected forecast for national, state, and regional economic indicators to be considered as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget process, and noted that many economists did not agree on whether the country was in a recession or if a recession was avoidable. She remarked that her resources included Dr. Sean Snaith, with the University of Central Florida (UCF), Dr. Jerry Parrish, with Florida Southern University (FSU), Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. She related that the economy grew at a 2.9 percent annualized rate in the fourth quarter of 2022, which was an above trend rate for the U.S., and in January 2023, the labor market created more than 500,000 jobs and unemployment was 3.4 percent, noting that the full impact of 2022’s rising inflation and higher interest rates had not yet been realized. She commented that consumer spending had been on the rise but was about to change, and that most projections for business investments held that businesses would need to balance lower demand with the higher cost environment. She displayed a graph showing gross domestic product (GDP) for the U.S., the State of Florida, and the Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which included Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties, and said that real GDP growth was 2.9 percent at the end of 2022; however, the quarter ended with considerably less momentum than it began. She pointed out that the monthly economic data was pointing to a clear weakening in growth near the end of 2022, and that real consumer spending declined in both November 2022 and December 2022; furthermore, the 2023 first quarter consumer spending curve was forecasted to be relatively flat. She relayed that the forecast of inflation was easing, even though the services market remained high due to high labor costs, and that easing inflation had generated disposal income which had increased consumer purchasing power. She mentioned that the Federal Reserve target range was five to 5.25 percent, and that they raised interest rates in February 2023 by 25 basis points. She added that there were two more anticipated 25 point increases in March 2023 and May 2023, and that it was anticipated that they would keep that restrictive monetary policy until inflation was closer to two percent on a sustained basis. She pointed out that services inflation, which included health care, housing, travel and tourism, and education, was something the Federal Reserve was concerned about, and that they wanted to prevent it from being imbedded in the U.S. economy for a long period of time, noting that the higher interest rates were meant to balance services inflation and slow economic growth. She displayed a chart showing national consumer spending from 2019 to 2022 as well as a forecast for 2023 and 2024, and said that the easing of inflation had produced disposable real income gains which benefited consumers and increased their purchasing power. She displayed a chart showing the federal funds target interest rates from the same years and a chart showing the 10 year treasury yield note interest rate changes, which was a vital economic benchmark because it influenced other interest rates, noting that when yield declined, mortgage rates fell and the housing market strengthened, which had a positive impact on economic growth and the economy. She related that the employment situation summary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which was released on February 3, 2023, showed that the total nonfarm payroll employment increased by an average of 517,000 monthly gain compared to an average of 401,000 monthly gain in 2022. She remarked that the unemployment rate was at 3.4 percent in January 2023, and that during that time period, job growth was widespread, with the largest gains in the following sectors: leisure and hospitality; professional and business services; health care; and government. She relayed that the labor force participation rate was 62.4 percent and the employment population ratio was 60.2 percent, which remained below the pre-pandemic levels of 63.3 percent and 61.1 percent, respectively. She stated that there were 4.1 million people employed part-time but preferred to be full-time in January 2023, noting that these people either had their hours cut or were unable to find full-time jobs; additionally, 5.3 million people were unemployed in January 2023 but not calculated in that unemployment number because they were actively looking for jobs in the most recent four weeks. She displayed graphs showing the employment year over year change for the U.S., the State of Florida and the Orlando MSA and the unemployment year over year change for the same areas. She explained that consumer spending was expected to align with income throughout 2023, and opined that this would equate to a two percent annual decline in real consumption because of the following reasons: consumer use of savings and credit cards to support spending; higher interest rates; a thinning of the financial cushion that households had built up over the past two years; the fading of pent-up demand; and a concern for job certainty. She elaborated that spending retrenchment would likely be seen in spending on durable and nondurable goods, which was the larger share of consumer spending since the pandemic, and that it was projected to shift back toward services in 2023. She relayed her understanding that there would be a reduction in business investment in three different areas because the of the deteriorating demand and higher cost of financing, and that these areas included the following: equipment, which was expected to contract at an annualized rate of 9.5 percent; intellectual property, which was expected to decline at only two percent; and non-residential structures, which were expected to decline in commercial and industrial areas. She explained that the slowing of demand would drive that lower rate in commercial investment through 2023; however, with the shortening and improving of the supply chain, the resiliency of businesses could help stave off some of the decreases in the industrial market. She elaborated that there were two areas in the industrial market that may not see waning demand, such as semiconductor manufacturing and electric vehicle production; additionally, as energy prices increased and supply was strained, oil and gas production would help offset that effect. She mentioned that the struggle in prior years to find qualified workers would cause reluctance to displace workers, and that firms were expected to reduce capital expenditures and cut payrolls. She related that there were more indicators that the nation’s “Pasta Bowl Recession” was impending, explaining that the U.S. would enter a recession at a slow rate and hold at the downturn for about 12 months before rising back out of it, and that if a recession fully developed, it was expected to manifest as 2023 progressed. She forecasted that it would likely be a mild recession because consumer balance sheets were in relatively good shape, either from people saving money from the COVID-19 pandemic or from good financial planning. She stated that from 2023 to 2026, Florida’s Real Gross State Product was expected to expand an average of 0.6 percent, and that in 2023 there would be a decrease in payroll job growth and an increase in 2025 and 2026; additionally, the labor force growth was expected to average 0.8 percent through 2026. She opined that businesses would not want to lay off employees during this recession period because the labor market was very tight, and that it would be difficult for businesses to rebuild their labor force. She elaborated that this would be positive because there would not be as much job loss, and that it would help with consumer spending. She relayed that in the State of Florida, the unemployment rate projections included the following: 4.6 percent in 2023; 5.8 percent in 2024; 5.4 percent in 2025; and five percent in 2026. She stated that the strongest average job growth during that period was expected to be in the following areas: education and health services; state and local government; financial services; federal government; and leisure and hospitality. She commented that the total housing starts included the following: about 156,707 in 2020; about 191,282 in 2021; and about 192,294 in 2022. She said that it was anticipated that housing starts would be suppressed and that the projections included the following: about 133,829 in 2023; about 134,755 in 2024; about 149,920 in 2025; and about 152,865 in 2026. She pointed out that the previous year’s economic update showed an estimate of about 170,000 for 2022 housing starts, and that the actual number was about 192,000, which was about 22,000 greater. She mentioned that rapid house-price appreciation was vanishing with demand dampened by rising mortgage rates, decreasing affordability, and possible recession, and that real personal income growth for 2023 to 2026 was expected to average about two percent, starting with 2022 inflation-driven pullbacks and averaging about 3.1 percent growth in 2025 and 2026. She remarked that the average income growth was expected to be 0.3 percent higher than the national growth average. She related that estimates for the Orlando MSA included the following: gross metro product was over $143 million, which was the fourth highest in the state; population growth would average about 1.6 percent annually; the average annual wage growth would be about 3.1 percent, making the average annual wage about $71,900; the per capita income level was expected to be about $44,200; personal income growth would be about 4.1 percent; the unemployment rate should average about 5.5 percent; and job growth was expected to be strongest in the services sector, state and local government, and education and health services. She then displayed a chart comparing the State of Florida personal income with the Orlando MSA and a chart comparing the State of Florida housing starts with the Orlando MSA. She stated that the taxable property value forecast chart compared the State of Florida, Lake County, and the Orlando MSA, and that in 2022, Lake County had a 15.4 percent year over year change and was projected to be 10.4 percent in 2023. She opined that there were uncertain times ahead, and that economists in the State of Florida still felt very good about the projections for the state over the national average.

Commr. Parks opined that business loans had declined, and that there were high levels of bank deposits by individuals for financial safety. He also opined that many businesses wanted to pause to see what would happen nationally, and that it would possibly be a mild recession in the State of Florida, especially in Lake County. He said that there were many people who wanted to come to the State of Florida, and that the housing numbers may turn out to be higher than what was forecast. He also opined that job markets were slowing, and that employers could be choosier with personnel, which could cause an adjustment on the labor estimates.

Ms. Stern commented that Romac Lumber and Supply Company kept a whole house commodity index which estimated what it cost to construct a whole house that was about 2,200 square feet, and that it showed that the housing market was getting better.

Commr. Smith opined that the cost of commodities was coming down, and that the labor force was steady.

Presentation on the Pine lakes fire station

Chief Jim Dickerson, with the Office of Fire Rescue, related that the current fire station was built in 1985, and that with the addition of an ambulance in 2022, there was no room for growth. He remarked that it was located in a neighborhood without direct access to State Road (SR) 44, and that the current site was small creating ingress and egress issues; additionally, the crews would be displaced during any renovation project. He displayed a picture of the current structure, and noted that the structure had been built for volunteers and not as permanent facility. He mentioned that to renovate the current site, they wanted to do the following: add about 2,660 square feet; harden the building for a Category 4 Storm; address air quality issues; and provide room for expansion in service. He relayed that the construction project was awarded to PCDG Construction, LLC at a cost of about $1 million; however, they received a change order request from the vendor which would increase the cost by 56 percent to about $1.7 million without contingencies. He showed a rendition of the renovation, and said that the addition would have included an extractor room and gear storage areas. He commented that based on the significant cost increase for the project and with other options evolving, staff recommended termination of the construction contract from October 2022, noting that the project costs to date totaled less than $175,000. He stated that one of the options was to build a new facility at the Pine Forest Park, which was owned by the County and suitable for fire station construction, and that the Office of Facilities Management was analyzing the site for a building footprint; however, it did not have SR 44 frontage even though it had access. He said that in the second option, SHER Resources, LLC offered a donation of property of about 3.5 acres with SR 44 frontage. He mentioned that the fire station would be highly visible to east Lake County residents and visitors; however, it was located in the Wekiva Protection Area and would require a Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) amendment and rezoning as well as a review by FDEO. He noted that for the first option, there was a small ballfield that would probably have to be relocated to the south, and that Mr. Bobby Bonilla, Director for the Office of Parks and Trails, had said that it could be done; however, he reiterated that it did not have SR 44 frontage. He relayed that the project cost estimate was about $4.5 million, and that they had asked for State legislative appropriations funding of $2.8 million, noting that the remaining $1.7 million could be obtained through sales tax and fire impact fees. He stated that if the legislative funding was not appropriated, then the remaining $2.8 million would have to come from local funding, which might delay the project.

Commr. Campione commented that she visited the fire station when it was being considered for remodeling and expansion, and opined that it was not a good place to have a fire station. She opined that it was important to have access on SR 44 because it would be visible from the road, and that it could promote a revitalization in that area. She also opined that it could lower crime in the Pine Lakes area and create a sense of pride in the community, and that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) could also utilize it; furthermore, there would be a County resource in plain view. She opined that it would boost the morale of the staff there, and that this would be a good move. She expressed appreciation for the donation of the property, and said that the State of Florida had authorized it and did not have any issues for this use in the Wekiva Protection Area.

Commr. Parks opined that the LCSO could have some signage and have a presence there.

Commr. Campione opined that there were opportunities to use the old fire station property for affordable housing, a community center, or a LCSO substation.

Chief Dickerson remarked that two existing fire stations in Lake Jem and Paisley contained LCSO substations.

Commr. Campione commented that options could be discussed, and opined that having a presence on SR 44 would be helpful.

Commr. Smith agreed that having a fire station on a main thoroughfare was optimal.

On a motion by Commr. Campione, seconded by Commr. Parks and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved to proceed with Option 2 on property donated by SHER Resources, LLC, which included approving the real estate donation agreement.

discussion on an affordable housing pilot project

Ms. Maria Abdoulkarim, Director for the Office of Housing & Community Services, related that the purpose of this presentation was to provide information on an affordable housing pilot project with Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter utilizing County owned property which was deeded to Lake County in 1953 by the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida. She mentioned that this property had been assigned to solid waste uses as it was adjacent to the Town of Lady Lake Landfill, and that the property was currently zoned Agriculture and was part of the Public Service Facility and Infrastructure future land use (FLU), which did not allow for residential uses. She stated that in 2021, the Office of Housing and Community Services conducted a phase one and phase two environmental assessment to determine eligibility for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, which showed historical agricultural uses; additionally, there were no contaminants of concern identified above allowable limits or evidence of landfill gas migration detected on the property. She relayed that the property was located in the northwest part of unincorporated Lake County near the municipal limits of the Town of Lady Lake, and that it would consist of 20 lots within the Huey Harvey subdivision containing approximately 12.11 acres located off of Rolling Acres Road. She showed a map of the location, and she invited Ms. Danielle Stroud, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter, to speak regarding the proposed use.

Ms. Stroud stated that Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter served the two county area, and that their mission was to build homes, communities, and hope by partnering with both public and private organizations. She expressed excitement about the proposed project and the opportunity to partner with Lake County to provide affordable housing for families through a community land trust, which was a vehicle of separating the structure from the land. She elaborated that there would be a 99 year ground lease in which the land was owned and held in trust, which meant that the family that purchased the home would be purchasing the structure on the land. She related that this was a structured way of providing affordable housing through ownership, and that some of the benefits included the following: it made homeownership more affordable by separating the cost of the land and lowering the purchase price; it kept the home affordable forever with stipulations included in the 99 year ground lease identifying conditions determining who the property could be sold to and passed on to; it was an alternative to renting because they would be earning equity; it provided the ability to have financial stability without worrying about being evicted or the lease not being renewed; it provided shared equity along with the land trust which owned the land; it provided permanent affordability by using a calculation within the 99 year ground lease that identified how much of the earned equity passed on to the buyer or the seller and how much stayed within the housing unit and the land itself, offsetting some of the fluctuation in the market; it reduced the need for additional subsidy inputs, with the exception of down payment assistance; and it opened up more of the market for lower income buyers and seniors living on a fixed income. She opined that it was a good vehicle for providing a permanent investment in the community, and that they could create whatever stipulations desired in the ground lease. She displayed a sketch of the land divided into 60 units, and noted that it was segmented and in need of infrastructure for the development. She related that they wanted to ensure that the existing residents had as much buffer as possible to protect the environment they were already living in while being able to develop this in a way that was meaningful and had the highest and best use in yield for the number of housing units. She commented that there would be sidewalks, streets designed for connectivity between parcels, and space for a potential pocket park or community green space. She pointed out that the lots were heavily wooded, and that they would try to keep the natural environment as well as providing community spaces to be shared with the entire community in addition to private yards. She remarked that there would be a mixture of different lot sizes enabling them to produce different types of housing with some diversity in appearance, and that a single senior could live in the same neighborhood as a five person household. She elaborated that this would be a mixed income project with the majority of the project at the range of 80 percent area median income and below; however, they would also like to provide some workforce housing or market rate housing mixed in, providing a range of incomes within the community and offsetting some of the cost for the lower level income percentages. She mentioned that a larger lot could have an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) either attached or detached, creating a small scale rental opportunity for someone in the community. She relayed that the estimated total cost was about $12 million, and that infrastructure development would cost about $50,000 per lot totaling about $3 million to develop. She remarked that she had spoken to the Town of Lady Lake about this project, and since water and sewer services would be obtained from the Town, an annexation or usage agreement would need to occur; additionally, the Town had been supportive and had presented ideas and concepts. She stated that there were various sources of funding for infrastructure development that Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter could apply for, and that they could possibly construct about 12 units per year. She opined that the largest issue was building the development infrastructure, and that they could then obtain enough private funding to provide the remainder of that $12 million project. She concluded that housing and shelter was an opportunity to provide strength, stability and self-reliance, and that the County owned land that could become meaningful and useful for the residents of Lake County.

Commr. Parks opined that this was similar to the pocket neighborhood idea, and said that there was a countywide strategy for affordable housing that started with the Lake 100 and Lake County Coalition for Housing and Economic Development (CHED) committee that talked about this type of a concept, noting that it was now a real option through the community land trust model. He asked if it would only be available to Lake County residents, and if the Town of Lady Lake would waive impact and connection fees for water and sewer services.

Ms. Stroud replied that she could ask for those waivers when they arrived at that point, noting that the town manager was supportive of Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter and had worked with them in the past.

Commr. Campione inquired how they would ensure that the community was maintained nicely, and what type of assistance or planning did they provide residents for home maintenance, such as painting, roof repair, and other issues. She questioned if they operated as a homeowners association (HOA), and recalled that Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter had helped homeowners to create a reserve fund to be used for needed maintenance before.

Ms. Stroud replied that these items could be included in the ground lease, and that in this development, these items could be addressed with the HOA documents. She remarked that they would ensure that homeowners understood what it meant to take care of an asset, such as a house, and what it meant to save for that by emphasizing the educational component on the front end; furthermore, Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter was in the community and could monitor it. She opined that any partnership could have issues, and that they would do everything they could through the ground lease, the HOA, and the education they would provide.

Commr. Campione wondered if a homeowner owned the home and the lease was up, what would happen to them.

Ms. Stroud replied that if a reputable land trust company had trust in the community, and if the homeowner had nowhere to go and did not want to leave, there was no reason not to renew that lease. She mentioned that she had spoken to several land trusts that had been well established in the State of Florida about this concern, and that as long as the land trust was still viable, they would renew the lease for another 99 years, noting that if the land trust was no longer viable, there was a way to transfer it to another land trust.

Commr. Shields asked if there would be a municipal service benefit unit (MSBU) or municipal service taxing unit (MSTU) for these types of neighborhoods, or would the HOA take care of that.

Commr. Campione replied that the common areas would come under the HOA; however, at the planned unit development (PUD) level, this would need to be decided on to address the roads.

Commr. Blake recalled that this property had been owned by the County since 1953, and he expressed concern about the privacy and respect of the existing landowners, opining that there should be sufficient buffers. He opined that allowing ADUs was a great solution, and said that he supported this unique pilot.

Commr. Smith inquired when they would start on the infrastructure and when it would be complete.

Ms. Stroud replied that it would depend on the availability of the funding, and that she had submitted a request for ARPA funding, hoping that it would be approved. She commented that the next step would be to apply for CDBG funding as well as other sources, and that she would be focused on identifying funding to build out the infrastructure. She mentioned that there were many issues with a community being built in the City of Tavares; however, once the environmental studies were completed, it would not be long before the infrastructure was completed. She opined that this project would take about a year and a half after the studies and planning to complete the infrastructure.

Commr. Smith said that he had checked on the project in the City of Tavares, and that it was finally moving forward, noting that the infrastructure was in place. He relayed his understanding that Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter would be replacing the dead palm trees and pouring concrete soon, opining that workforce housing could help residents afford to live and work within a community. He questioned if there was any reassurance in the agreement that if the obligation was not fulfilled, then the property would return to the County.

Ms. Stroud relayed her understanding that this was written in the agreement as well as a timeframe, which was negotiable.

Commr. Campione requested that the agreement include developing the property in a way to preserve as many trees as possible as part of their development plan, opining that it would benefit the neighbors and the quality of the overall project.

Commr. Parks added that it should be made available for Lake County residents.

On a motion by Commr. Campione, seconded by Commr. Blake and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved to surplus Alternate Key 1527422 and to direct staff to negotiate the donation agreement.

recess and reassembly

The Chairman called a recess at 10:56 a.m. for five minutes.

regular agenda

Christian Worship Center of Central Florida

Ms. Abdoulkarim stated that the Christian Worship Center of Central Florida had requested a waiver of income requirements for affordable housing, and that in April 2018, Lake County entered into an Affordable Housing Partnership Agreement with them and donated property to construct a home for affordable housing to a qualified recipient. She mentioned that the property was .118 acres of vacant land in the City of Groveland, and that in 2022, while evaluating the property, the Christian Worship Center of Central Florida determined that the property was not buildable and requested the County to allow them to sell the property and use the funds on another affordable home which they owned. She displayed a map of the site that was sold and the site location of the property that was bought, and said that the potential new owners did not qualify as their income exceeded the moderate income limit by approximately $4,020. She remarked that the Christian Worship Center of Central Florida was requesting a waiver from the income requirements so that the buyers could purchase the home, noting that if approved, this would be the second waiver of affordable housing limits granted to them under this program. She commented that if the waiver was not granted, the Christian Worship Center of Central Florida would have to return the proceeds of the sale of the Groveland Property to the County or sell the home to an income qualified buyer.

The Chairman opened the floor for public comment.

Mr. Andre Rutledge, a resident of Lake County, stated that he and his wife intended to purchase the property, and that they had been Lake County residents for about eight years having moved from the City of Miami to improve the quality of life for their family. He commented that even though their income was slightly above the specifications for this property’s purchase, they were asking for consideration for a waiver as they wanted the opportunity to become homeowners in Lake County. He opined that their consideration would be mutually beneficial as they were active members in the community and schools, noting that his wife was an educator and he was a safe-school officer; furthermore, their children attended school in Lake County. He opined that this home was realistically one of the few affordable opportunities for a family of four, and he thanked the Board for their consideration.

Pastor John Christian, with the Christian Worship Center of Central Florida, opined that there was confusion about their request, and noted that they were not requesting a waiver for the property located between Georgia Avenue and Tuskegee Street, which was their third affordable housing project with Lake County. He related that the property they were requesting a waiver for was on Old Tavares Road, and that the house was finished; however, they needed the waiver so that Mr. Rutledge could close on a loan. He clarified that they used the proceeds of $15,000 from the sale of the property in the City of Groveland for the purchase of the property on Georgia Avenue for a third house they were building. He stated that the Christian Worship Center of Central Florida was proud to be part of the affordable housing program of Lake County, and opined that they were not asking for anything that was abnormal. He expressed appreciation for the consideration to grant this waiver and for the opportunity to build affordable housing in Lake County, noting that he had been an affordable housing advocate there since 1977, had worked for a community development corporation and Homes In Partnership, Inc., and had been on the Leesburg City Council, which also advocated for affordable housing in the city. He mentioned that they had customized this house with wood cabinets at the request of the potential owners and had installed extensive lighting, and opined that this house would beautify the neighborhood. He remarked that the builder had built these homes at cost, and opined that they had built a nice house for a family to live in. He asked that the Board would consider granting a waiver for this family, opining that they were worthy of the consideration.

There being no one else who wished to address the Board regarding this matter, the Chairman closed the floor for public comment.

Commr. Campione requested more clarification.

Ms. Marsh stated that at a December 2022 BCC meeting, Pastor Christian had asked for the ability to sell the property in the City of Groveland and transfer the funds towards property in the City of Leesburg, and that he had mentioned these residents as well as the upgrades to the house; therefore, the County had assumed that the funds from the sale had gone towards this property. She relayed that the County had also conveyed property to them on Old Tavares Road as part of the program, and she inquired which property the waiver was for.

Pastor Christian replied that they had a project at 2520 Old Tavares Road and 2530 Old Tavares Road.

Ms. Marsh commented that since this was a County donated property, Pastor Christian would have to find an income qualified applicant if the Board chose not to grant the waiver; however, the $15,000 from the sale of the property in the City of Groveland did not go towards this property.

Commr. Campione opined that since there was a third house being built, a waiver request should not come before the Board again.

Pastor Christian stated that he did not know the waiver would not be granted automatically because they had received a waiver of income requirements on the first house they built and thought that it was a standard request; additionally, he thought that there was not a large enough difference in income to matter. He said that he had learned that waivers were not typically granted by the County.

Commr. Campione remarked that certain types of waivers were granted to make a house more affordable, such as an impact fee waiver; however, a waiver of income requirements was problematic because of the purpose of the program. She opined that the County could sell property on the free market which could go towards affordable housing products, and even though it was nice to customize a home for a customer in a typical market situation, upgrades were not appropriate for the program.

Pastor Christian opined that they were learning, and said that they wanted to build a good product that was appealing and matched other homes in the neighborhood.

Commr. Campione opined that this was important when doing a mix of housing within a community; however, doing upgrades inside the house raised the price, which did not suit the goal of the program.

Commr. Blake commented that he approved of their efforts to build affordable housing and to find a good family for this house; however, he opined that one should not start moving the requirements. He relayed his understanding that the median household income was about $60,000, and opined that many people could not afford granite countertops who had to buy from the regular market. He questioned if the Christian Worship Center of Central Florida could still sell this house to Mr. Rutledge if they reimbursed the County and added that to the price of the house.

Ms. Marsh reiterated that the County had assumed that the Christian Worship Center of Central Florida used the $15,000 from the sale of the property in the City of Groveland towards this property for Mr. Rutledge; however, Pastor Christian said that it was not invested in the property on Old Tavares Road, which was a separate parcel donated to them. She remarked that if the Board did not approve the waiver, then Pastor Christian would have to either find an income qualified buyer or reimburse the County for the fair market value of the land prior to constructing the house.

Commr. Blake stated that for this amount they would be released from the terms and conditions of the income requirement, and that they could still sell the house to Mr. Rutledge.

Commr. Campione pointed out that Mr. Rutledge and his wife went through this process and picked out items for their home, and noted that they had a family of four and needed a house that they could afford, that was in a good area. She relayed that she was in favor of the waiver only if there were no more requests for waivers.

Commr. Shields indicated that he would support that.

Commr. Smith commented that there was a threshold for a reason, and that there were 12 other applicants on the waiting list for affordable housing who qualified for this program. He noted that the County had already granted one waiver, and that this would be the second waiver. He remarked that the County would not have limits for this program if they did not matter, and noted that this applicant did not qualify.

Pastor Christian opined that he had a client looking for a home who qualified for a down payment waiver for a $180,000 home; however, when he had offered them a house in the City of Leesburg, they did not want to live in that neighborhood. He opined that even though there was a list of qualified applicants, some of them would not be ready to purchase a house or would not like the options of the houses being offered. He also opined that in this market, it was difficult to find a house that was appealing, and noted that they had purchased a house on the market for $195,000 that was built in 1956 and remodeled it; however, people did not want to buy it because they did not want to live in the neighborhood. He mentioned that even though he understood the reason for limits, interest rates were increasing, and that Mr. Rutledge and his wife worked hard and wanted to purchase this house. He said that they would not ask for any more waivers, and that they now understood the rules Lake County had in place.

Commr. Parks added that he wanted to verify that these were Lake County residents, opining that it was important.

Commr. Campione relayed that Mr. Rutledge said they had been living in Lake County for about eight years.

Commr. Blake stated that he would vote against the waiver because the rules were in place for a reason, and that there was an alternative option for them to purchase the house without the waiver.

Commr. Smith said that he agreed with this statement.

On a motion by Commr. Campione, seconded by Commr. Shields and carried by a vote of 3-2, the Board approved the Christian Worship Center of Central Florida, Inc.'s request for a Waiver of Income Requirements for Affordable Housing.

Commr. Smith and Commr. Blake voted no.

appointments to the Planning and Zoning board

On a motion by Commr. Blake, seconded by Commr. Parks and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved to reappoint Mr. Dan Matthys as an At-Large Representative and to reappoint Ms. Laura Jones Smith for District 2, and approval of corresponding ethical waiver.

appointment to the Mt. Plymouth-sorrento CRA committee

Commr. Campione opined that the County should consider revising the Mt. Plymouth-Sorrento Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) ordinance allowing the advisory board to open some appointments to people who were members of other organizations, such as the East Lake Chamber of Commerce and the East Lake Historical Society, and that the ordinance could be worded to include one or two slots for individuals representing one of those groups. She opined that it would be helpful because the East Lake Chamber of Commerce office was in the CRA, and that since many of the people in those other organizations were members of the East Lake Chamber of Commerce, the ordinance could specifically reference that organization. She asked if there was consensus to have the County Attorney’s Office revise the CRA advisory board composition allowing someone from the East Lake Chamber of Commerce to be recommended by their group.

Commr. Smith indicated that he was fine with that, and asked for it to be placed on the agenda for a future BCC meeting.

On a motion by Commr. Campione, seconded by Commr. Parks and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved to appoint Mr. Francis Force as a member who is a property owner within the Planning Area.

appointment to the affordable housing advisory committee

On a motion by Commr. Campione, seconded by Commr. Parks and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved to reappoint Ms. Danielle Roberts as a citizen who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing, as defined in the local housing assistance plan.

appointments to the Board of adjustment

Commr. Shields mentioned that one of the applicants now lived in Commission District 1, and that according to Ms. Marsh, he could still serve; however, the position for District 2 would have to be advertised.

Ms. Marsh commented that the District 2 position could be pulled from the motion while appointing the remaining members, noting that the Board of Adjustment (BOA) would meet on the following week or so, and that all of those terms had previously expired; therefore, enough people would have to be reappointed to have a quorum to avoid postponing the March 2023 BOA meeting.

On a motion by Commr. Shields, seconded by Commr. Blake and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved to appoint Ms. Maritza Garcia as a District 1 member, to reappoint Ms. Addie Owens as a District 4 member, to reappoint Ms. Bea Meeks as an At-Large member, and to appoint Mr. Juan P. Camacho as an At-Large member. The District 2 appointment was tabled.

reports

county manager

new Director for the Office of Public Safety support

Ms. Barker welcomed Mr. David Kilbury, the new Director for the Office of Public Safety Support, and noted that he had worked with Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for over 38 years and had most recently served as the Orange County Fire Marshall.

commissioners reports

commissioner shields – vice chairman and district 1

Pine Meadows Recreation Area

Commr. Shields mentioned that he and Mr. Bonilla had toured the Pine Meadows Recreation Area, and opined that it presented a great opportunity to work with the Lake County Water Authority (LCWA) to protect water resources.

VAB and MPO meetings

Commr. Shields relayed that he and Commissioner Blake had attended the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) and Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meetings, and that everything was fine.

new director of the Community Foundation of South Lake

Commr. Shields commented that he had met with the new Executive Director of the Community Foundation of South Lake, Ms. Laura Michalski, and said that she wanted to understand the issues that they could address in south Lake County.

Lake Economic Area Development kick-off event

Commr. Shields remarked that he had attended the Lake Economic Area Development (LEAD) kick-off event at Bella Collina, and opined that it was a good start.

City of Groveland community meeting

Commr. Shields mentioned that he would be attending a community meeting on the following evening in the City of Groveland to discuss traffic.

commissioner parks – district 2

economic plan distribution

Commr. Parks questioned if the economic plan presented by Ms. Mary Ellen Stern, Executive Director for Economic Growth, could be distributed to all the Cities as had been done traditionally, and he hoped that some of them would use it.

Ms. Barker replied that staff would send that out.

scrub point preserve

Commr. Parks commented that he had visited the LCWA grand opening of the Scrub Point Preserve, and that Mr. Bonilla was also in attendance. He encouraged everyone to visit the property before the weather was hot, and noted that kayaks were available to use for free.

meeting with beep

Commr. Parks relayed that he had visited Lake Nona with a City of Clermont representative and Ms. Jill Brown, Director for the Office of Transit Services, to meet with Beep, which was an autonomous mobility service that specialized in connecting residents to transit systems that were difficult to get to, such as a last-mile/first-mile solution, opining that it was very realistic and a good approach. He opined that it provided a good opportunity for service in different areas of the county, such as Wellness Way, the Wolf Branch Innovation District (WBID), or in downtown areas, and that they could possibly come and do some planning for Lake County.

East Ridge High School Boys Soccer Team

Commr. Parks related that the East Ridge High School Boys Soccer Team won the state soccer championship in its division, and he proposed inviting them to a BCC meeting to honor them for their accomplishment.

Commr. Smith opined that anytime there were students and athletes excelling, it was good to recognize them.

commissioner campione – district 4

City of Minneola tour

Commr. Campione stated that she had gone on a tour with Mayor Pat Kelley, with the City of Minneola, and opined that the apartment complex at Minneola Hills was beautiful. She mentioned that the City was working on providing the economic development component of the County’s overall plan, such as industry, light manufacturing, and distribution, to attract businesses looking for locations.

county subdivision ordinance

Commr. Campione commented that as she traveled to the City of Winter Garden, she noticed that there was much construction and many homes being built, and that there were groups of trees that had been flagged to keep them from being clear cut by developers. She wondered if Mr. Bobby Howell, Director for the Office of Planning and Zoning, could incorporate this concept into the County’s subdivision ordinance, and opined that it would be good to preserve mature trees from being cut on forested tracts. She remarked that she wanted to visit the Crooked Can Brewing Company in the City of Winter Garden, and that it was a venue and was going to be a distribution site because of its proximity to Florida’s Turnpike. She related that they were going to construct a tunnel which would go to the parcel being developed for the Crooked Can Brewing Company’s marketplace, and that from the bicycle trail, one could go under the road instead of across the road.

Commr. Parks opined that Lake County would have to help them with the tunnel, and that it was part of the plan.

Commr. Campione noted that there was already a tunnel that connected with a school in a similar scenario, and opined that it was amazing.

potential location for the Medical Examiner’s office

Commr. Campione mentioned that there was a potential location for the Medical Examiner’s office in the economic development area of the City of Minneola and noted its proximity to Florida’s Turnpike. She said that the City may also have property that could be considered.

Commr. Blake commented that he had planned to tour that area with Mayor Pat Kelley, with the City of Minneola, and that he did not know about the tunnel.

Commr. Parks opined that the Public Works Department should be consulted about the tunnel, and that there may possibly be a request to work on the tunnel as well as some costs associated with engineering.

Commr. Smith thought that it would be good to have this placed on the agenda for a future BCC meeting, and that the full scope of it could be discussed at that time.

Commr. Campione opined that the tour was a good opportunity to work together with the City of Minneola and explore what was occurring in their industrial area, noting that they would have much space in that area for the targeted industries on the County’s list; additionally, they had been connected with LEAD. She opined that there could be infrastructure issues that could be coordinated, and said that the Public Works Department was managing that.

Commr. Smith mentioned that he had a meeting with Mayor Kelley in the current week.

Commr. Parks remarked that the City of Minneola was interested in doing a JPA with the County as well as signing the countywide trails master plan, opining that it was a great opportunity to partner with them.

Commr. Shields commented that there was also a ballfield in the City of Minneola that the County was considering.

COMMISSIONER BLAKE – DISTRICT 5

lead reports

Commr. Blake inquired if the LEAD reports would come quarterly, and he asked if he could receive monthly reports.

Ms. Stern relayed her understanding that the agreement specified that LEAD would give a quarterly report when they gave the County their quarterly invoice, and that they would provide a presentation to the Board near the end of the FY. She noted that they also provided a monthly report to her, which she could share that with Ms. Barker to distribute to the Board on a regular basis.

Lake-Sumter MPO meeting

Commr. Blake remarked that he had attended the Lake-Sumter MPO meeting.

vab meeting

Commr. Blake commented that he had attended the VAB meeting.

commissioner smith – chairman and district 3

lake County legislative priorities and appropriations

Commr. Smith related that he and Ms. Barker had visited the City of Tallahassee to promote the County’s legislative priorities and appropriations, and that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) suggested that the Lake-Sumter MPO keep the U.S. Highway 50 project as a top priority; additionally, he relayed his understanding that construction was scheduled to start in 2028.

Ms. Barker relayed her understanding that depending on future funding opportunities, it could possibly be accelerated since it was a top priority.

bear-proof trash cans

Commr. Smith said that while in the City of Tallahassee, there was a discussion about bear-proof trash cans, and he opined that everyone was receptive to Lake County’s request. He noted that Mr. Chris Carmody and Ms. Angie Langley, with GrayRobinson, P.A., were with them, and he expressed appreciation for their assistance.

Ms. Barker mentioned that she had met with Representative Michelle Altman, who had been interested in this issue because she was from Wakulla County, which also had issues with bears, and she opined that the bear-proof trash cans would be promoted.

Commr. Smith opined that that there had been good dialogue, and that it was very informative.

National Tooth Fairy Day

Commr. Smith commented that it was National Tooth Fairy Day.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be brought to the attention of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

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kirby smith, chairman

ATTEST:

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GARY J COONEY, CLERK