Meeting Called to
Order
As a Quorum could
not be established, Reid Hughes, Chair, called a "workshop" to
order at 3:12 p.m.
Roll Call
Reid Hughes,
Chair, could not perform an official Roll Call, as a Quorum was not
established. However four (4) members were recorded as being in attendance
of a "workshop".
Approval of
Minutes
No motion for
approval of the Minutes from the June 13,2001, meeting.
Discussion of
"draft" Resolution to County Council
Chairman Reid
Hughes presented and briefly reviewed the contents of the
"draft" Resolution 01, which was created with the
assistance of Mr. Clay Henderson. A Subcommittee was appointed by Chairman
Hughes to work with Staff to review, revise, and finalize the Resolution
so the Committee could adopt it and forward it on to the County Council.
The appointed Subcommittee members are Dennis Bayer, Robert Williams and
Doug Daniels.
Jamie Seaman
thanked the Committee for the opportunity to work with the Subcommittee in
reviewing, revising, clarifying, and finalizing Resolution 01. She
explained the need for clear and concise verbiage so any conflicts could
be avoided.
Discussion of
"draft" 2001 Work Plan
Rob Walsh, Program
Coordinator presented the "draft" 2001 Work Plan and explained
each element of the document, which included the following staff
recommended tasks to be completed by December 31, 2001:
Creation of the Application and
Application process – in process, needs finalization;
Creation of the Rating/ranking
criteria – in process, needs finalization;
Creation of a master working
calendar for funding cycle deadlines – to be drafted for July 11, 2001,
meeting;
Creation of the Land Acquisition
Manual – to be drafted in stages and modeled after Brevard County’s
Manual;
Identify Keystone County Projects
– presented to Committee at this meeting;
Establish an understanding of
potential partners – in the process;
Items 7 through 9
evolved through discussions throughout the "workshop".
Workshop with ECHO Program – in
the process;
Creation of Resolution 01 –
subcommittee developed to process and finalize; and
Development of Performance
Measurement – to be drafted.
Discussion of the
weighing factors in the rating/ranking criteria ensued with Member Gordon
Kipp recommending the utilization of the June 13, 2001, approved
"draft" rating/ranking criteria, which was adopted subject to
change or amendment.
Member Robert
Williams questioned the usefulness of the weighing factor.
Randall Sleister
explained that the Committee would need to determine what types of
projects were important and incorporate that into the rating/ranking
criteria. He used Alachua County’s development of their rating/ranking
criteria as an example.
Chairman Reid
Hughes explained that what credence is given to matching fund sources
(CARL, the St. Johns River Water Management District, etc.) may determine
what type of projects are rated/ranked as important.
Member Robert
Williams requested that a rating/ranking criteria be developed for
corridors and/or trails.
Jamie Seaman
suggested that a point system be developed to allow additional points for
"critical" pieces or parcels in order to resolve any corridor
and/or trails issues. She further suggested that staff review and resolve
this issue.
Dot Moore, public
participant, suggested that an archeological rating/ranking criteria be
developed or added under "Cultural/Historic Resource" Category.
Discussion of Land
Acquisition Manual ensued with staff tasked to develop an outline and flow
chart to be presented at the July 11, 2001, meeting. It was recommended
that the manual be developed in stages (several Chapters at a time) rather
than a complete "draft" document.
Jamie Seaman
recommended incorporating the "draft" Resolution 01 into the
Manual. She expressed concern and the need for caution with regard to the
Committee’s "Condemnation Powers".
Discussion ensued
regarding developing and coordinating presentations from organizations
with which the Volusia Forever Program may be involved with (i.e., ECHO,
FCT, MPO, etc.) to further understand the complete process and how the
other organizations operate.
Member Gordon Kipp
expressed the need for a meeting with ECHO to develop a better
understanding of each program’s rolls or functions. Member Kipp
requested the creation of Number 7 on the "Work Plan" to be
"Workshop with ECHO."
Jamie Seaman
explained that County Council clarified ECHO’s roll with regards to
beachfront parks, and beach access. She further explained that the Council
’s intent for Forever was for walkovers, beach access, etc., but not for
off beach parking.
Chairman Reid
explained that Forever’s roll would be to protect the resource and ECHO’s
roll would be for infrastructure.
Discussion with
regards to the advertisement for the Land Acquisition and Management
Director ensued with Chairman Reid Hughes expressing a concern over how
the Volusia Forever Program could be effected.
Jamie Seaman
explained that the Land Acquisition and Management Director position was
created through a countywide reorganization by the County Manager and that
individual would be responsible for the management of all County
owned properties. She further explained that there should not be any type
of conflict with regards to Volusia Forever Program.
Rob Walsh
requested for input or additions to the "draft" Work Plan from
the Committee.
Chairman Reid
Hughes requested the creation of Number 8 for the development of
Resolution 01.
Rob Walsh
recommended the creation of Number 9 for a Program Performance
Measurement. This document would be created utilizing the format from
Florida Forever as a guide for the Committee to gage its progress.
Member Robert
Williams recommended producing an interim report similar to other State
and County Agencies, which could be a guide for the Committee to gage its
progress and make reports to the community.
Update on County
Projects for current FCT cycle
Bill Gardner
presented handouts, which included the following: 1) Cover memo depicting
proposed projects for FCT/Florida Forever Program; 2) Six (6) Maps
depicting the proposed projects for FCT/Florida Forever Program; and 3) a
Map depicting Robert Hart/Hart Land & Cattle Company property. He gave
a brief overview of two (2) significant projects (North Peninsula
In-holdings and original CARL boundary of Spruce Creek) being worked upon
since 1983 and 1987, and three other significant projects as follows:
Colby-Alderman (1991 FCT Project)
- This parcel consists of approximately 21 acres with 50% of it being
developed. This parcel is a critical linkage to other portions of the
Colby-Alderman Park parcels. Bill Gardner explained that an application
would be submitted for this project, which the estimated value of the
parcel is $210,000.
Jamie Seaman
explained that previously there had been an issue over "life
estates" with FCT. FCT would not fund "life estates."
However, since that time FCT (in the last ten (10) years) has become more
sophisticated in allowing "life estates", "less than
fees", etc. issues.
DeBary Hall ($160,000)– Bill
Gardner explained that an approved application for acquisition of
remaining parcels surrounding DeBary Hall has been filed with the Office
of Greenways and Trails. He expressed the importance of completing this
project not only because of the significant amount of funds expended on
the mansion site but the necessity to preserve the mansion site as a
historic site. With the acquisition of the out parcels, the management of
the land could allow a visitor’s center and trail head to be created,
and parking to be created, which would lessen the impacts from visitors or
fund raisers to the original DeBary Hall mansion site.
Jamie Seaman
explained the difficulty with the Office of Greenways and Trails
finalizing the application. The difficulty lies with the purchase price
being above the appraised value, which is based upon the highest and best
use of the land use. With the City of DeBary changing the land use to
"public", this created a lower appraisal, which the State will
not allow funding over that amount.
Member Robert
Williams suggested a rezoning of the parcel by the City of DeBary to
rectify this issue.
Jamie Seaman
explained that the State would not allow upping the zoning to increase the
appraised value. She further explained the goal of the County was to
fairly compensate the property owners.
North Peninsula In-Holdings (29
remaining acres estimated at $777,000- based on old appraisals) - Jamie
Seaman displayed the map pointing out the parcels included in this
project. She expressed the importance of this project.
Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve
(206 acres estimated at $1,400,000) – Bill Gardner explained that the
parcels involved in this project are included within the original
boundaries (i.e., the Kays, Pauls, etc.)
Jamie Seaman
displayed the map depicting the properties already being closed upon and
in the final stages of completion. She also pointed out all the other
parcels of interest (starting with the right hand side of the map). The
last section of parcels she pointed out depicted the area the Committee
will be focusing on acquiring (the Kay, Paul, and Eubank properties).
Discussion ensued
between the Committee, the staff and the public regarding parcels not
indicated on the map, which are not part of the original boundaries.
Alternate funding sources to acquire these parcels were discussed as a
means to acquire the parcels without amending the original boundaries.
Additional funding sources were discussed to acquire other parcels of
importance.
Jamie Seaman
explained that CARL and FCT were working together to fund existing CARL
projects needing to be completed. She further explained the goal of the
County Council was to complete unfinished existing projects.
FEC Corridor/Lake Monroe Loop (5.8
miles – estimated cost is $2,460,0 00) – Bill Gardner explained this
project is part of the Lake Monroe Loop and Spring to Spring Trail. He
displayed the map depicting this project which will start at Gemini
Springs, go south through Lake Monroe Park and link up with Seminole
County’s trail, continuing east around to S.R. 415, north to Reed Ellis
Road and finishing at the Red Line (Providence Boulevard to Osteen at S.R.
452). 99% of the corridor is owned by FEC with Florida Power and Light
owning a portion and two (2) residents having a deed to the corridor.
Discussion of the
First Phase of the Volusia Corridor, which is partnered with St. Johns
River Water Management District (CARL Project), ensued with Chairman Reid
Hughes explaining the availability of funds for this project and also its
importance. He further explained that the parcels involved in this project
are multiple use, which are ideal for recreation, trails, recharges, etc.
This project will include approximately 150,000 acres and will incorporate
a multitude of resources to be protected and preserved. This corridor was
compared to the Everglades with regards to its importance.
Jamie Seaman
explained that this parcel of land involves a 41,000-acre swath of land
extending from Pioneer Trail southward along S.R. 415 to Lemon Bluff. She
further explained that the St. Johns River Water Management District
developed the application with the County Council committing 25% of the
funding. This will be one of the projects to be discussed through Ray
Bunting, St. Johns River Water Management District (lead agency for this
project), during a Committee meeting for updates.
Robert Hart/Hart Land & Cattle
Company Property – a St. Johns River Water Management District Project.
Jamie Seaman presented the last map and old paper plat depicting the
properties, which are in a swampy area and developed prior to the Land
Development Regulation by Statute and by local Ordinance. She defined this
as "small line" acquisition. The County, through Tax Deeds or
donations, has acquired these properties. The Hart Estate properties
(depicted in blue on the map) are in the process of being sold to the St.
Johns River Water Management District.
Discussion of
scheduling conflicts with ECHO and Forever meetings ensued with Jamie
Seaman explaining the effort being made to adjust the meeting schedules.
Public Comments
Bob Buettgens
expressed his concern regarding delays which have already occurred and
opportunities which could be missed due to delays (i.e., Committee member
appointments, Quorums, etc.).
Discussion
regarding the Spruce Creek improvements ensued with Jamie Seaman
explaining that there is a Management Plan approved by the County Council
and ARC (Acquisition and Restoration Council), which was submitted to the
State for trails, boardwalks, fishing piers, etc. She further explained
that there is a building involved, which is an archeological site. The
site is in a conceptual stage. All resource-based items (i.e., trails,
boardwalks, fishing piers, etc.) would be funded through Forever. However,
any infrastructure would be handled through ECHO (i.e., buildings).
Adjournment
Workshop adjourned at 5:06p.m.
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