Meeting Called to
Order
As a Quorum could
not be established, Reid Hughes, Chair, called a "workshop" to
order at 1:37p.m.
Roll Call
Reid Hughes,
Chair, instructed the Recording Secretary to record the roll of the
Members in attendance, in which four (4) Members were present for the
"workshop".
Approval of
Minutes
No motion for
approval of the Minutes from the September 15, 2001, meeting.
Update on Recent
Countywide Parks, Trails and Natural Lands Master Plan Workshop
Rob Walsh provided
an overview of the initial workshop held on October 29, 2001, in
New Smyrna Beach. He described the workshop as a local
government-coordinating workshop, which was sponsored by Volusia County
Leisure Services and invitations were extended to local government
agencies. The purpose of the workshop was to put together a countywide
parks, trails and natural areas master plan that the county, as well as
the municipalities, could utilize in identifying what each entity
currently has and was planning for future needs. Glatting Jackson is the
consultant in charge of developing a Master Plan. The Master Plan
designates the general location and size of the major facilities in both
the County and the municipalities; an estimate of cost to implement the
plan; and a detailed implementation strategy to fund, acquire and/or
develop parks, trails and natural areas over the next 20 years.
During the workshop, three (3) groups (i.e., Natural Lands, Trails and
Parks) were created to do brainstorming. The Volusia Conservation Corridor
was discussed at great length along with the undeveloped lands in the
middle of the County.
A follow-up
meeting is scheduled for December 4, 2001, from 9:00a.m. – 12:00a.m at
the Brannon Center, 105 South Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach, Florida,
where Glatting Jackson will provide a report from the information gathered
at the initial workshop. The agenda will consist of map reviews, review of
cost estimates, probable funding sources, and brainstorming of the three
groups to finalize the Master Plan.
Discussion ensued
after Member Carrie Stewart asked if these meetings where public.
Doug Weaver
explained that these meetings were staff meetings held in the public and
reiterated that the workshop is a staff function to collectively preparing
a Master Plan, which will be presented to the public.
Update on the Hart
Cattle Company Property in SE Volusia County (A SJRWMD Project)
Rob Walsh
explained that the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) is
currently in the process of obtaining appraisals for the properties in the
Hart Cattle Company’s project boundaries. He further explained that
SJRWMD has obtained funding through Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT),
therefore they will not be partnering with Volusia County for funding.
However, they will be looking to Volusia County for management of the
properties similar to the Lake George arrangement between SJRWMD and
Volusia County.
Chairman Reid
Hughes expressed the need to actively pursue acquisition of these
properties.
Randall Sleister
explained that the County has acquired small parcels of land through tax
deeds in the area, which include Cape Atlantic Estates. He further
explained that the County would be requesting assistance from the Volusia
Forever Committee to acquire additional parcels.
Discussion ensued
with regards to the size of the Hart Property Project in which Chairman
Reid Hughes explained that approximately 14,000–20,000 acres are
contained within the Project’s boundary.
Doug Weaver
explained that the Hart Property consists primarily of larger parcels of
land and that Clyde Hart had intended to acquire the smaller parcels,
which would connect the larger parcels together. This area originally was
targeted to be developed as a subdivision. However, the subdivision never
developed.
Progress Report
on Committee’s 2001 Workplan
Rob Walsh
presented an update on the Committee’s Goals for 2001, which were
established on July 11, 2001, and approved by County Council on October
18, 2001. He explained that the Committee had completed approximately 80%
of the Goals. He reviewed the Goals and explained the workplan’s status
with regards to completeness as follows:
Application –
Goal Completed after County Council’s approval on October 18, 2001.
Rob Walsh
explained that staff has been promoting the application through PR work
(i.e., Radio, Television and Newspaper) and that the application can be
obtained through the Internet or by contacting staff in DeLand in person
or via telephone.
Rating/Ranking Criteria – Goal
Completed through County Council’s approval of Resolution 2001-198 on
October 18, 2001.
Keystone County
Projects – Goal Completed through staff developing maps of
environmentally sensitive lands, and lands in public ownership, within the
County.
Joint Workshop with ECHO –
County Council determined that the joint workshop was unnecessary.
Working Calendar
– Goal Completed on August 7, 2001, through staff compiling a Master
Calendar for Matching Grant Information of state, federal and water
management district programs.
Resolution 2001-198 – Goal
Completed through County Council’s approval on
October 18, 2001.
Land Acquisition Manual – Goal
80% Complete after the approval of Resolution 2001-198 by County Council
on October 18, 2001. Staff will utilize guidelines contained in
Resolution 2001-198 to develop a Land Acquisition Manual which will start
with a Flow Chart illustrating how the Forever Program will operate.
Performance Measurement – Goal
25% Complete. Staff will modify the sample performance measurement form
obtained from the state to meet the needs of this program. The estimated
time of completion is December 31, 2001.
Understanding of Potential
Partners – Goal Completed through staff’s communication and
development of a working relationship with various county and state
agencies (Brevard County, Hillsborough County, Alachua County, St. Johns
River Water Management District, Florida Communities Trust, etc.)
Doug Weaver
explained that staff has traveled to three (3) other counties (Alachua,
Hillsborough and Brevard), and to Tallahassee. Staff has met with various
state agencies (i.e., Florida Communities Trust, Department of
Environmental Protection/Division of Lands, Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, and Acquisition and Restoration Council, etc.) to
establish a rapport and exchange ideas with these state agencies, along
with the various counties. He further explained that Alachua County’s
program was very similar to Volusia County’s as they have the same type
of lands and they are also in the beginning stages of their program (year
1).
Discussion ensued
regarding the continued public support for the Volusia Conservation
Corridor to be moved from the "B " list to the "A"
list.
Chairman Reid
Hughes requested that the list of ARC members be provided to the Committee
and others who are continuing with the lobbying efforts.
Volusia Forever
Process – Resolution 2001-198
Doug Weaver
reviewed and explained the flowchart, which was developed based on
Resolution 2001-198. The process should flow as follows: 1) Application
completed by property owner and submitted to County staff for review of
completeness; 2) County staff conducts initial site ranking; 3)
"Draft " site evaluation report is developed by staff; 4)
Property owner can submit additional information, if desired; 5)
"Draft" evaluation report is submitted by staff for the
Committee’s review and determination of eligibility; 6) Ranking of
property by Committee once it has been determined as eligible, which will
be done twice a year; 7) Committee identifies project boundaries; 8)
Committee separates projects into two (2) Groups, A and B, and sub-ranks
them within the groups; and 9) Committee submits it recommendations to
County Council for approval. He further explained that
January 31, 2002, is the deadline for the application to be
submitted to Volusia County staff for the first cycle, which will allow
the applications to be reviewed, ranked and ready for County Council’s
approval by Spring 2002.
Discussion
continued regarding the January 31, 2002, application deadline. Doug
Weaver explained that staff needed to make a deadline determination which
would allow enough time to process the applications to fall in line with
Florida Communities Trust’s deadline.
He further
explained that anything submitted to the County after January 31, 2002,
would be for the next cycle. However, the County may allow some leeway
depending on the number of applications that are submitted and the fact
that the process is new.
Rob Walsh
explained that a cover letter is provided to each applicant which explains
the deadline. Therefore, the applicant is aware of the January 31,
2002, deadline.
Discussion ensued
after Doug Weaver emphasized to the Committee the need to move on to
another property owner when negotiations break down with a property owner.
Discussion ensued
regarding the ranking of projects in Group A and B after Member Richard
Schuler asked who makes the decision to rank the projects as 1,2,3, etc.
under Group A or B.
Doug Weaver
explained that the Committee would make their recommendations to County
Council who will make the final decision with regards to which projects
will move on in the process.
Discussions
continued regarding the importance of the Volusia Conservation Corridor
and the continued efforts in making this project a priority.
Member Richard
Schuler request clarification regarding the definition of a
"project".
Douglas Weaver
explained that the Committee could determine a project boundary, however
you need a willing seller in order to have a project.
Other Business
Rob Walsh
explained that there should be two (2) projects ready for the Committee’s
review and determination of eligibility at the December 19, 2001, meeting.
Chairman Reid
Hughes emphasized to the Committee that they need to refrain from
answering any negotiation questions (i.e., appraisals, property value,
etc.) or refrain from negotiating with a property owner.
Frank B. Gummey,
III referenced Resolution 2000-169, Section XI (Prohibitions), to further
emphasize the point. Section XI (Prohibitions) reads as follows: "At
other than Committee meetings, the Committee and each member thereof are
prohibited from soliciting offers or negotiating or otherwise engaging in
contact with the owners or representative of owners of properties that may
be considered for acquisition or improvement of lands by the Volusia
Forever Program. The responsibility for publicizing the Program and
soliciting, contacting and negotiating with property owners, potential
sellers, or representatives thereof is the sole responsibility of the
County Manager or designee. Members of the Committee are prohibited from
representing the Volusia Forever Program or County interests to any public
or private land acquisition or preservation support entity including the
St. Johns River Water Management District, the State of Florida and the
United States of America unless otherwise directed by the County Council
or County Manager or the designee."
Member Carrie
Stewart requested clarification on what restrictions were imposed on the
County Council.
Frank B. Gummey,
III explained that the Committee is governed by resolutions approved and
adopted by the County Council, and that the County Charter governs the
County Council who are elected officials. He further explained that unless
the County Council imposes restrictions on themselves there are no
restrictions currently restricting them from negotiations.
Chairman Reid
Hughes requested that staff and/or the Committee emphasize to the County
Council the need for them to refrain from negotiating which could impact
and inflate the selling price of potential purchases. He also requested
that John Pescatello, Head of the Acquisition Program for the Nature
Conservancy, be present at the December 19, 2001, Committee
meeting.
Douglas Weaver
referenced Chapter 259, F.S. which outlines the percentage of Florida
Forever funds awarded to different state agencies (i.e., Florida
Department of Agriculture, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission each received 1.5%). He further explained that potential
funding and/or partnering could be obtained through these agencies.
Discussion ensued
regarding letters of support for the Volusia Conservation Corridor from
cities, legislative delegation, and conservation groups.
Chairman Reid
Hughes provided a Chairman Report explaining the role of the Committee,
which is to carryout what the voters have mandated. He further explained
that the Committee needed to move forward and not allow personal
differences to interfere with the process.
Chairman Reid
Hughes raised the issue of bonding versus a "pay as you go"
program with the Chairman explaining that bonding could still be utilized
as a funding tool. The Chairman stated that "pay as you go"
programs don’t work and bonding will be required. However, the County
Council will make the determination if bonding will be utilized based on
each situation.
The Committee
agreed that the County Council did not eliminate bonding from the program
as a funding source. However, the issue of bonding will be handled on a
case by case basis.
Douglas Weaver
clarified what the determination of the County Council was regarding the
issue of bonding by reading Section 2 (Alternatives for Financing
Acquisition) of Resolution 2001-198: "County
Manager will investigate alternative methods for funding acquisitions,
including long term financing through the issuance of bonds, notes and
other authorized indebtedness. The County Manager will report the findings
after the first eligibility pool has been reported to the County Council
and should update findings on an annual basis."
Discussion ensued
with regards to the resignation of Doug Daniels on
October 19, 2001.
Rob Walsh advised
the Committee that the current schedule for meetings is on the 3rd
Wednesday of every month, with the next meeting on December 19, 2001, in
the Training Rooms on the 1st floor of the County Administration Building,
123 West Indiana Avenue, DeLand. He asked the Committee if they wished to
continue to meet on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.
Chairman Reid
Hughes decided that the schedule for 2002 would be discussed at the
December 19, 2001, meeting.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 3:05p.m.
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