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MINUTES
VOLUSIA FOREVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 15, 2002
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
VOTRAN Facility, 950 Big Tree Road
South Daytona, FL 32119

Meeting Called to Order

As a Quorum could not be established, Reid Hughes, Chair, called a "workshop" to order at 3:40p.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 March 28, 2002, meeting.

Discussion of Policy Issues

Chairman Reid Hughes stated that the Committee had established the Volusia Conservation Corridor, Spruce Creek Preserve and Lake George as priority areas. He directed staff, with the authorization of the Committee, to provide the Committee with a list of additional recommended target areas, which follow the Committee’s policies (i.e., resource oriented, adjacent to other public owned lands, eligible for matching funds, and size) at a future meeting.

Douglas Weaver stated that staff would be taking a pro-active approach and would be contacting potential applicants within the recommended target areas (i.e., parcels adjacent to the Volusia Conservation Corridor, St. Johns River, other public owned lands, etc.). He stated that staff would be requesting an approval from the Committee to proceed with this pro-active approach.

Chairman Reid Hughes explained that obtaining matching funds would be a factor when determining target areas as it is a requirement of the program. He also explained that staff would be able to contact potential partners to determine whether there is the potential for partnering and obtaining matching funds.

Member Gordon Kipp requested that Chairman Reid Hughes clarify the meaning of "size."

Chairman Reid Hughes explained that the Committee would prefer to review larger sized parcels; however, other factors (i.e., adjacency to other public owned lands, resources, etc.) could determine that a "postage sized" parcel would be a priority.

Discussion ensued regarding the solicitation of applicants after Member Gordon Kipp and Member Anne Hallum requested clarification on the issue that the Committee would not be permitted to solicit potential applicants.

Rob Walsh stated that the Committee would not be permitted to solicit potential applicants, per the Prohibitions outlined in Resolution 2001-69, Section XI. However, County staff is not restricted from taking a pro-active approach in soliciting potential applicants. He explained that with the limited amount of funds available to purchase properties, staff would recommend that a concerted effort be made on specific target areas to get the fullest use of the limited funds. He also explained the process as follows: staff would contact the property owner, explain the Volusia Forever Land Acquisition program, and determine if the property owner would be willing to participate in the program. If the property owner would not be willing to participate in the program, staff would continue with the search for willing applicants.

The Committee agreed with staff’s recommendation to take a pro-active approach; however, an official motion could not be made, as there was not a quorum.

Chairman Reid Hughes recommended that the Committee contact staff with any recommendations or suggestions for areas to solicit or target as a priority area.

Discussion of Small Lot Acquisition

Rob Walsh presented a map depicting the areas throughout the County that are the major antiquated, platted subdivisions (Cape Atlantic Estates, University Highlands, Hamilton Heights, Park Villas, and Davis Park) without infra-structure and are primarily wetlands. He explained that the current building and zoning regulations would make it difficult for a landowner to obtain the permits necessary for development. The County has been acquiring smaller 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 $10,000/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 significant wetlands that are protected and can’t be built upon. Staff has proposed to supplement the wetlands funds with Volusia Forever funds (2% of the annual funds raised by Volusia Forever). Again, this would permit staff to take a pro-active approach in obtaining property within an area that has been targeted as a priority. Cape Atlantic Estates was recommended for the initial attempt by staff, as the SJRWMD is in the process of acquiring the Hart Cattle Company property. Staff could focus on property in and around this area to fill in the holes. Staff doesn’t want to create a market where a market doesn’t exist. These are lands that have very low economic value, difficult to obtain a building permit, no facilities or structures, and low development pressures. The small lot acquisition program would be a staff intensive program and a supplement to the acquisition of larger properties, which have a significant ecological value. Staff would provide a brief layout of potential areas considered as target areas.

Douglas Weaver stated that the County would not be doing surveys or appraisals on these small lot acquisitions in order to keep the costs to a minimum. He explained that there could be some risk involved by not doing the surveys.

Chairman Reid Hughes requested that staff’s request for authorization to proceed with the small lot acquisition program and authorization to utilize 2% of the Volusia Forever funds for small lot acquisition be placed on the Agenda for the June 19, 2002, meeting. He directed staff to continue with the pro-active approach and work with the SJRWMD.

Discussion of Bonding

Chairman Reid Hughes stated that bonding may become necessary with staff taking a pro-active approach in acquiring land and the limited amount of available funds for all the proposed acquisitions. He explained that even though the concept of the Volusia Forever Land Acquisition program is to "pay as you go", this would provide an opportunity to address and express the need for bonding to the County Council.

Update on May 2, 2002, County Council Meeting

Rob Walsh stated that the County Council approved the Committee’s 1^st cycle ranking recommendations as follows without any changes.

The County Council directed staff to proceed with the acquisition process on the Group "A" list of properties. He explained that staff would be taking the following actions to obtain matching funds for the acquisition of the Group "A" properties:

1. Stanaki Sections 1 & 2 – Amendment to CARL boundaries for Spruce Creek Preserve to encompass this property, or Florida Communities Trust (FCT) application;
2. Southern Pines Plantation - Florida Communities Trust (FCT) application, which would be presented to the County Council in June for approval;
3. Smith Property – St. Johns River Water Management District application;
4. Ocklawaha - Amendment to CARL boundaries for Spruce Creek Preserve to encompass this property, or Florida Communities Trust (FCT) application;
5. Catholic Diocese - Florida Communities Trust (FCT) application, which would be presented to the County Council in June for approval;

Discussion of Applications Submitted for Determination of Eligibility

Without a quorum the Committee could not vote on the submitted applications for a determination of eligibility. However, the property owner, owner representative and/or public comments were permitted.

Pine Island Properties

Mr. Charles McAlister, property owner and owner representative, was present to provide additional information to the Committee. He provided maps, which displayed the properties contained in four (Kilian, Harper, Mayo and Harrington properties) of the six applications being submitted for review and determination of eligibility by the Committee. He stated that collectively these applications would create one large contiguous area of land, which would also be adjacent to public owned lands.

Douglas Weaver stated that the Kilian property was the keystone parcel, which is directly adjacent to property owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Mr. McAlister presented additional maps of the two remaining applications (Pine Island Marina and McAlister properties), which illustrated that these parcels are contiguous to each other and also create one large parcel of land. He stated that the applications provide ecological and recreational land, which are irreplaceable. These properties would also provide the only access to Lake George on the east side of the lake. He further stated that there is an active fish camp on the Pine Island Marina property.

Member Anne Hallum asked how many buildings were on these properties as the information provided in the Committee Agenda Package was not clear.

Mr. McAlister stated that the only properties with buildings on them are the McAlister, Harper, and Pine Island Marina.

Other Business

Rob Walsh reminded the Committee that June 30, 2002, would be the deadline for the current cycle of Volusia Forever applications. He explained that at the July meeting the Committee would be determining the eligibility of applications received on or before June 30, 2002, and the September meeting would be the ranking session for all applications that have been determined as eligible.

Rob Walsh reminded the Committee that it is directed in Resolution 2001-69, Section X (Meetings, Officers, and Administrative Support) to elect a Chair and Vice-Chair annually. He explained that the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair would be on the Agenda for the June 19, 2002, meeting.

Chairman Reid Hughes instructed staff to contact each Committee Member prior to their monthly meeting to determine if a quorum can be established.

Douglas Weaver instructed the Recording Secretary, as standard operating procedure, to contact each Committee Member prior to their monthly meeting to determine if a quorum can be established.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

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