MINUTES
VOLUSIA FOREVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
3:30p.m. - 5:30p.m.
Thomas C. Kelly Building
123 West Indiana Avenue, Training Rooms 1 & 2, DeLand, Fl 32720

Reid Hughes, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.

Roll Call

Reid Hughes, Chair, instructed the Recording Secretary to record the roll of the Members in attendance, in which eight (8) Members were present.  Member Robert Williams was recorded as an Excused Absence.

Approval of Minutes

Reid Hughes, Chair called for a motion to approve the March 19, 2003, Minutes.  Member Gordon Kipp made a motion to approve the March 19, 2003, Minutes, as presented.  Member Phil Maroney seconded the motion that carried by unanimous voice vote.

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

Frank Gummey, III reviewed the procedures for the election of Chair and Vice-Chair as outlined in the Committee's By-Laws, Article III., Officers & Duties, which reads: "In Accordance with Resolution 2001-69, the Committee shall annually elect a Chair and Vice-Chair. Pursuant to Resolution 2001-69, such officers may be re-elected at the discretion of the Committee, but shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive years."  He added that Members Reid Hughes and Carrie Stewart could not be re-elected to their present positions (i.e., Reid Hughes as the Chair, and Carrie Stewart as the Vice‑Chair).  According to Roberts Rules of Order, the presiding official calls for the nominations for each position (Chair and Vice-Chair).   Any Committee Member may nominate himself/herself, or any other Committee Member.  When the nominations have been completed then a vote is taken with each Committee Member voting for the nominee of their choose.  If there's not a majority vote, then there would be a run-off between the top two (2) nominees (only if there are three or more nominees).  The Chair and Vice-Chair would each be elected by a majority vote.  This procedure would be followed for the election of Chair and then the Vice Chair.

Chairman Reid Hughes asked if the new Chair and Vice-Chair would take effect as the presiding officials at the next Committee meeting, or effective immediately.

Frank Gummey, III stated that the ECHO Committee made the determination allowing the new Chair and Vice-Chair to begin their one-year term effective immediately.

Chairman Reid Hughes elected to relinquish his authority as Chair to his successor effective immediately and called for nominations for Chair.

Member Gordon Kipp made a motion to nominate Member Carrie Stewart as Chair and Member Anne Hallum seconded the motion.   As there were no other nominations, the motion carried unanimously by voice vote and Member Carrie Stewart was elected as Chair. 

Chairman Reid Hughes called for nominations for Vice-Chair.

Member Alan Alshouse nominated Member Gordon Kipp for Vice-Chair, and Member Gordon Kipp nominated Member Phil Maroney for Vice-Chair.  After a roll call vote, Member Phil Maroney was elected as Vice-Chair by a vote of 4 to 3.

Chairman Reid Hughes relinquished control of the meeting to the newly elected Vice-Chair, Member Phil Maroney, as the newly elected Chair, Member Carrie Stewart, was not present at that time.

Discussion and Determination of Eligibility for Submitted Applications

1.       Scheible Property – Rob Walsh provided the following information about this property: 1) it is 10 acres in size; 2) it is located within the Lake George Wildlife Management Area; 3) it is an application solicited by staff after the Committee directed staff to actively pursue willing sellers in and around the Lake George Wildlife Management Area; 4) it is an addition to the Lake George Wildlife Management Area; and 5) the funding partner would be the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Member Reid Hughes asked what staff's recommendation would be for this property's determination of eligibility.

Rob Walsh stated that staff's recommendation would be that the Committee determine this property as eligible for further consideration under the Volusia Forever Land Acquisition Program. 

Vice-Chairman Phil Maroney asked if exotic/invasive species and/or adjacent properties would compromise the appropriate management of the property.

Randall Sleister explained that there weren't any issues with the adjacent properties and/or exotic/invasive species that would compromise the appropriate management of the property.

Vice-Chairman Phil Maroney relinquished control of the meeting to Chairman Carrie Stewart, upon her arrival.

Member Reid Hughes made a motion to accept the Scheible Property Application as an eligible project.  Member Linda White seconded the motion that carried by unanimous voice vote.

Member Anne Hallum questioned the selling price as the application notes that the applicant is a willing seller "if the price is right."

Rob Walsh responded that staff could not provide that determination.  However, he referred to the Property Appraiser's information provided in the Committee's Agenda Package, which shows that the property is assessed at $7,500 and was sold in 1976 for $3,000.  He added that the current market value would be determined after appraisals have been completed.

2.       Audubon Property - Rob Walsh provided the following information about this property: 1) it is a 60 acre tract divided out of 200 acres; 2) it is located directly west of the railroad tracks off Grand Avenue and Audubon Avenue in the Glenwood area; 3) it consists of wetlands and pine woods; and 3) the property owners intend to develop the parcels on the east side of the railroad tracks, but are willing to sell the 60‑acre tract for conservation purposes.

Member Phil Maroney asked if there was connectivity or linkage to any other public lands.

Randall Sleister stated that there was no direct connectivity or linkage, but there are public lands in close proximity.

Rob Walsh added that Volusia Timber Company owns the property located directly to the south of this tract, which is adjacent to public lands.

Member Anne Hallum stated that members of the Glenwood Community have been lobbying the property owners to submit the entire 200 acres for conservation.  She added that there is connectivity at the railroad tracks with the National Wildlife Refuge, but there is a roadway (Highland Park Road) that doesn't allow the property to be directly adjacent to public lands.  She provided an additional map to further depict the location of the property in relation to other public lands (Wekiva‑Ocala Greenway) and stated that this could create a wildlife corridor for bear and other animals.

Member Phil Maroney asked if there was privately owned property between this property and public lands.

Member Anne Hallum responded that the roadway (Highland Park Road) is the only land/property not allowing the direct connection to public lands.  She added that the property located between Audubon Avenue and the railroad tract, which is south of Highland Park Road, is National Wildlife Refuge property, and that this property is largely wetlands.

Member Phil Maroney questioned why Number 10 on the application, which requests for a brief explanation why this property should be considered as eligible for purchase, was not completed.

Rob Walsh explained that the property owners made a determination that a portion of their 200 acres needed to be conserved.  With this determination, the property owners selected the portion with the least amount of development potential, thus creating this 60-acre tract.

Member Anne Hallum requested that the Initial Review Report reflect that there is connectivity/linkage to other conservation land and improves natural systems corridors.

Member Gordon Kipp made a motion to accept the Audobond Property Application as an eligible project.  Member Linda White seconded the motion that carried by unanimous voice vote.

Land Management Goals

Randall Sleister explained that this "draft" Resolution was created as an attempt to formalize goals and objectives for the management of County owned conservation lands, past and future.  He added that more specific goals and objectives would be created for each property.  He further explained that staff was seeking input from the Committee, and to obtain their approval and support.

Member Alan Alshouse suggested making a correction on Page 2, Item B, last sentence, to add "or other" after the word "Mechanical," which would allow flexibility to utilize grazing leases for vegetation management.

Douglas Weaver added that pasture areas of various properties could be utilized for cattle grazing in lieu of mowing, which could offset management costs.

Chairman Carrie Stewart asked if there would be a formal lease agreement for cattle grazing and what would be the length of the lease agreement.

Douglas Weaver explained that there would be a formal lease agreement, which would be required to go through the County's bid process, and the agreement would typically be valid for 1 year.

Member Alan Alshouse suggested making a correction on Page 4, Section 6 (Operational/Administrative Objectives), Item A, third line, to add "other renewable resources" after "sales of forest products," which would allow flexibility.

Member Phil Maroney asked if Section 4 (Recreation, Public Access and Education Objectives), Item A, on Page 3, would include construction for parking, access points, facilities, etc.

Rob Walsh stated that Section 4, Item A, would include light construction, such as parking corrals, primitive camping areas, benches, or kiosks.

Member Anne Hallum suggested making a correction on Page 3, Item H (Monitoring), to create a separate Section for monitoring.

Member Reid Hughes made a motion to approve Resolution 2003-, as amended.  Member Jo Ann O'Bannon seconded the motion that carried by unanimous voice vote.

Small Lot Acquisition

Rob Walsh explained that approximately 1 year ago the Committee approved the creation of a Small Lot Acquisition Program, which would facilitate the acquisition of small parcels within antiquated, platted subdivisions (i.e., Cape Atlantic Estates, University Highlands, Hamilton Heights, Park Villas, and Davis Park). The County has been acquiring small lots through land donations, tax sales, and purchases utilizing wetlands mitigation funds that were created through the wetlands mitigation ordinance.  With the creation of the wetlands ordinance, the County created a funding source (approximately $20,000/year) to purchase the smaller lots. The County collects fees from developers who impact wetlands, which pays for the damages caused by their development.  The County, in turn, utilizes those funds to purchase ecologically significant wetlands that are protected and can't be built upon.  Staff requested that the Committee approve the usage of Volusia Forever funds for the acquisition of small lots.  This would permit staff to take a pro‑active approach in obtaining property within an area that has been targeted as a priority.  The Small Lot Acquisition Program would be a staff intensive program and a supplement to the acquisition of larger properties.  Staff would provide updates/reports to the Committee.  He explained that a handout was provided to the Committee to provide a better picture on how successful the Small Lot Acquisition Program has been, and the need to allocate additional funds from the Volusia Forever tax receipts.  Originally the Committee approved an allotment of 2% of the annual Volusia Forever tax receipts with a cap of $65,000 to be utilized for the acquisition of these small lots.  He reviewed the handout information and explained that the initial acquisition efforts have nearly exhausted the current funds allotted for the Small Lot Acquisition Program.  Staff was requesting an increase in the annual funds for the Small Lot Acquisition Program from $65,000 to $125,000, which would be 3.2% instead of 2% of the projected Volusia Forever tax receipts (now projected to be $99 million instead of $88 million over 20 years).  He added that staff recently processed another mail-out to property owners in a targeted area of University Highlands, which are the properties that abut the FDOT purchased Southern Pines Plantation property (approximately 2,200 acres).  This mail-out is an attempt to increase the size of the Southern Pines Plantation property.  However, any further acquisitions under the Small Lot Acquisition Program may not occur due to the exhaustion of the current Volusia Forever and wetlands mitigation funds.

Member Linda White made a motion to approve staff's request to increase the funds for the Small Lot Acquisition Program from $65,000 to $125,000.  Member Phil Maroney seconded the motion that carried by unanimous voice vote.

Discussion ensued regarding access to the small lots with Member Anne Hallum questioning how the Committee could visit the various properties.

Randall Sleister reminded Member Hallum of an application submitted to the Committee during the 1st ranking cycle, which included a multitude of parcels owned by Mr. Larry Mullins in the University Highlands Subdivision.  He stated that access to these parcels would be difficult, as the area is undeveloped and there are no roads.

Rob Walsh also stated that initially staff determined that the acquisition of these parcels would be complicated and that the Small Lot Acquisition Program did not exist at that time.  Since that time, staff was reviewing the potential of acquiring Mr. Mullins' parcels through the Small Lot Acquisition Program.

Douglas Weaver explained that staff was offering the targeted small lot property owners the assessed value for their parcels and price negotiations would be minimal.  He added that it was estimated to be three to five years before any significant amount of small lots could be assembled into one large contiguous area.

Frank Gummey, III added that there have been title issues involved with some of the small lots, which are being worked out on a case by case basis, and there is a potential for acquiring a small lot without an insurable title.  He stated that this process would incur some risk.

Chairman Carrie Stewart asked when the proposed increase in funds for the Small Lot Acquisition Program would take effect.

Rob Walsh explained that the proposed increase would take effect immediately after County Council's approval.

Douglas Weaver advised the Committee that staff would be presenting the request for the increase in funds for the Small Lot Acquisition Program to the County Council on May 8, 2003, for their approval.

Staff Updates

Rob Walsh explained that the map requested by Chairman Carrie Stewart, which depicts the Committee's acquisitions by year, was still in process.  He stated that the base map, which depicts all of the conservation lands (approximately 207,000 acres) in Volusia County regardless of ownership, had finally been created, and staff would work on completing the designation of the acquisitions by the Committee.

Douglas Weaver provided the following updates:

• Catholic Diocese Property - located on the St. John's River in the Osteen area.  Originally, the FCT application did not qualify for funding, but qualified for contingent funding.  Since then other applications on the funding list have fallen out and this application has moved up to the funding list.  The appraisals have been completed and are being reviewed by the review appraiser in Tallahassee.  Negotiations with the property owners should occur within the next two weeks.

• Timberlands Consolidated - 1,100 acres abutting Plum Creek.  The closing on the property is anticipated to occur within the next two weeks.

• Ranking Meeting - The County Council will be presented the Committee's 2002 2nd Cycle Ranking recommendation on April 24, 2003, for approval.

• Staff extended their appreciation and gratitude to Member Reid Hughes, for his service and cooperation as the Chairman of the Committee for the initial two years.

Member Reid Hughes extended his appreciation and gratitude to staff and other Committee Members for their cooperation and assistance during his tenure as Chairman.  He congratulated Member Carrie Stewart, who was elected as the new Chairman, and Member Phil Maroney, who was elected as the new Vice-Chairman.  He informed the Committee that a thank you letter for the support of the Ponce Preserve Project had been received from the Town of Ponce Inlets' Town Council.

Rob Walsh requested that the Committee make a determination regarding the necessity to hold a meeting on May 21, 2003.

Discussion ensued with Chairman Carrie Stewart making the determination that unless staff contacted the Committee by May 1, 2003, the meeting scheduled for May 21, 2003, would be canceled.

Chairman Carrie Stewart welcomed the newest Committee Members, Jo Ann O'Bannon and Linda White.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 4:42 p.m.