Meeting Called
to Order
Reid Hughes,
Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:09p.m.
Roll Call
Reid Hughes,
Chair, instructed the Recording Secretary to call the roll, which
included all members except Anne Hallum, who was excused.
Approval of
Minutes
Chairman Reid
Hughes requested approval of the June 13, 2001, minutes. Member Gordon
Kipp made a motion to approve the June 13, 2001, minutes, as
amended. Member Carrie Stewart seconded the motion that carried
unanimously by voice vote.
Chairman Reid
Hughes requested approval of the June 27, 2001, "workshop"
minutes. Member Carrie Stewart made a motion to approve the June
27, 2001, minutes, as amended. Member Gordon Kipp seconded the
motion that carried unanimously by voice vote.
Discussion Jof
"Finalized" Acquisition Application
Rob Walsh
presented the "Finalized" Acquisition Application and reviewed
with the Committee the changes which had been made to the
"draft" document (i.e., added cover page, instructions page,
and made the Committee recommend/requested corrections), which created
this "Finalized" Acquisition Application.
Discussion
ensued with the following amendments/corrections being recommended by
the Committee and Staff:
Page 2 – add (s) after
"Section", "Township" and "Range" in 1.b,
and after "Parcel Number" in 2.
Page 4 – delete C. 3. (owner’s
willingness to sell, form attached)
Authorization to Enter
Property – Delete "Volusia County Acquisition & Management
Division, its agents" from 1st paragraph, 3rd line, and 3rd
paragraph, 2nd line; and replace with: "Volusia County or other
public agencies, their agents."
Discussion
with regards to "Willing Seller" being a separate document, or
as part of the application.
Doug Weaver referenced the
"Owner’s Authorized Representative to the Volusia Forever
Advisory Committee" form and asked Bill Gardner if this form is
intended for "Willing Seller" or if another form would be
created to address the "Willing Seller" issue.
Bill Gardner explained
that the "Owner’s Authorized Representative to the Volusia
Forever Advisory Committee" form is intended to start potential
negotiations.
Member Dennis Bayer
recommended adding a sentence reading: "By signing below the
applicant does hereby acknowledge that he/she is a willing seller of the
above-referenced property" to Page 3, Number 11, of the Application
to address the issue of "Willing Seller."
Member Dennis Bayer made a
motion to approve the "Finalized" Acquisition Application, as
amended. Member Richard Schuler seconded the motion that carried
unanimously by voice vote.
Discussion ensued after Member
Carrie Stewart asked how the public would be made aware that the
application exists; and how and where they could obtain it.
Chairman Reid Hughes
recommended utilizing Volusia County’s Website, Volusia County’s
public radio and/or television programs, and other media (i.e.,
newspaper advertisement) to assist in where and how to obtain an
application.
Member Carrie
Stewart made a motion to coordinate with Dave Byron, Volusia Magazine,
for setting up an educational/informational program and website about
Volusia Forever, its application and its processes. Member Dennis Bayer
seconded the motion that carried unanimously by voice vote.
Discussion
ensued regarding the utilization of newspaper advertisement to promote
the application.
Member Carrie Stewart made a
motion approving the "one time" purchase of a legal ad, which
would get the process started. Member Dick Schuler seconded the motion
that carried unanimously by voice vote with Member Gordon Kipp
abstaining.
Discussion of
"Finalized" Ranking/Rating Criteria
Randall Sleister
presented two (2) additions (Recreation Trail Criteria and Historic
Criteria) to the Ranking/Rating Criteria and explained that these
additions were created to address issues expressed by the Committee
(i.e., linear trails and historic properties). He requested input from
the Committee.
Discussion with
regards to the "Historic Criteria" as to whether it is
necessary or should be part of the Rating/Ranking Criteria.
Randall Sleister
clarified that these two criterias are only elements of the overall
rating/ranking criteria.
The Committee proposed a change
in the title to "Historic/Archeological Criteria" to resolve
any issues. Members Lonnie Groot and Doug Daniels questioned whether the
"Historic Criteria" is consistent with the
provisions/acquisition goals set forth in Resolution 2000-155. The
Committee agreed to refer the "Historic Criteria" back to
staff for further review. No Motion was entertained to adopt the
"Historic Criteria" as part of the Volusia County Volusia
Forever Land Acquisition Rating/Ranking Criteria.
Discussion with regards to
the "Landscape Criteria". Member Gordon Kipp expressed a
concern with regards to Section B, "Assess the size of the
property" , which could allow the size to determine the importance
of the property over environmental values (i.e., endangered species,
wetlands, etc.).
Randall Sleister explained
that the "connectivity of the property" would allow the
smaller properties to become as important as those of a greater size.
Therefore, the issue over "just because a piece of property is
larger" doesn’t necessarily make it more important would be
resolved.
Member Carrie Stewart made
a motion to adopt "Recreational Trail Criteria" as part of the
Volusia County Volusia Forever Land Acquisition Rating/Ranking Criteria.
Member Dick Schuler seconded the motion that carried unanimously by
voice vote.
Discussion of
Dissemination of Matching Funds Programs Calendar
Discussion with regards to the
Volusia Conservation Corridor’s status with the State’s new
mechanism.
Bill Gardner advised the
Committee that the project’s ranking had been lowered from an
"A" project to a "B’ project and that staff would
contact Greg Brock, who could provide the answer to the change in
ranking and how to push the project forward.
He expressed the importance of
the project and the necessity of lobbying to push this project forward.
He presented and referenced a staff report from the St. John’s River
Water Management District, which contains the following statement:
"Completing this acquisition project would create a public natural
resource conservation area second only to the Florida Everglades in size
and value to the Nation." He requested staff to disseminate to the
County Council the status of the project in writing.
Member Carrie Stewart
recommended the Chairman contact the Lobbyist affiliated with the County
Council. Chairman Reid Hughes requested staff to prepare a letter to the
County’s Lobbyist for his signature requesting assistance in the
lobbying for the Volusia Conservation Corridor.
Member Robert Williams expressed
the need for the County to relate to the public the importance of the
Volusia Conservation Corridor.
Chairman Reid Hughes
presented a document called "Volusia Conservation Corridor"
and explained that this document could be incorporated in the lobbying
efforts, public awareness efforts, etc.
Discussion of Final Work Plan
for Committee Approval
Rob Walsh presented and
explained the additions/amendment to the "draft" Work Plan,
which were recommended by the Committee and Staff.
Member Carrie Stewart made a
motion to approve the Final Work Plan. Member Gordon Kipp seconded the
motion that carried unanimously by voice vote.
Discussion of the
"Bonding" issue after Member Doug Daniels questioned where it
was in the Work Plan.
Rob Walsh explained that
the issue of "bonding" was included in "Resolution
01", which is being reviewed and revised by the Sub-Committee
appointed by Chairman Reid Hughes.
Discussion of
"Resolution 01" with Members Dennis Bayer and Doug Daniels
recommending that the adoption/approval to be part of the next meeting
agenda.
Discussion ensued with regards
to funding (i.e., who funds what, when are the funds going to be made
available, etc.).
Doug Weaver referenced a
memorandum dated May 7, 2001, from Charlene Weaver, which addresses the
issue of funding (i.e., 50% from ECHO and 50% from Forever). He
recommended the Committee meet with the Finance/Budget Department to
clarify any issues regarding funding (i.e., bonding, pay as you go,
etc.).
Bill Gardner explained that
there is a meeting being coordinated between the County Council and the
Finance/Budget Department to review and clarify any funding issues
(bonding especially). He further explained that the Finance/Budget
Department would then coordinate with Volusia ECHO and Volusia Forever
Advisory Committees to meet and discuss the funding issues.
Discussion of "Draft"
Outline of Volusia Forever Manual
Rob Walsh presented and
explained the contents of the "draft" outline of Volusia
Forever Manual, which were incorporated from the Brevard County and
Marion County Land Acquisition Manuals.
Discussion with regards to
Financing Alternatives (i.e., Bonding, etc.), where it was recommended
to add Financing as a sub-chapter under Chapter 2 (Land Acquisition
Planning).
Member Lonnie Groot made a
motion to approve the "draft" Outline of Volusia Forever
Manual, as amended. Member Carrie Stewart seconded the motion that
carried unanimously by voice vote.
Appointment of Sub-Committee
Chairman and Activation of Sub-Committee
Chairman Reid
Hughes appointed Doug Daniels as the Chairman of the Sub-Committee and
requested that Resolution 10 be ready for approval at the July 24, 2001,
meeting.
Open Committee
Discussion/Comments
Member Carrie
Stewart asked for clarification of how the Committee would submit any or
all approved forms, applications, procedures, policies, etc. to the
County Council for their approval.
The Committee
agreed that a complete package would be provided to the County Council
for approval.
Member Dennis
Bayer asked at what point should staff be advised to actively pursue
potential applicants thus alleviating the possibility of missing out on
key parcels.
Chairman Reid
Hughes recommended that the process should and could be started
immediately.
Rob Walsh asked
Doug Weaver if there were any legal problems with accepting applications
from potential applicants without the Land Acquisition Program
Application being approved by County Council.
Doug Weaver
explained that the County Council would have to approve the application.
Once the Land Acquisition Program Application was approved, then
applications could be accepted without any legal problems. However, this
does not stop staff from any discussions with potential applicants.
Chairman Reid
Hughes expressed the need to proceed forward, which would include
accepting information from potential applicants.
Member Dick
Schuler expressed the need for Resolution 01 to be amended to address
the trails issues.
Chairman Reid
Hughes addressed the newspaper article (Letter to the Editor), which
referenced the public’s concern on how the Volusia Forever is
progressing.
Adjournment
Meeting
adjourned at 4:58p.m.
