Meeting Called to Order
Reid Hughes, Chair,
called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.
Roll Call
Reid
Hughes, Chair, instructed the Recording Secretary to record the roll of the Members in
attendance, in which six (6) Members were present establishing a quorum.
Approval of Minutes
Reid
Hughes, Chair, called for a motion to approve the September 19, 2001, and November 21,
2001, Minutes. Member Gordon Kipp made a motion to approve the September 19, 2001, and
November 21, 2001, Minutes with no corrections or additions. Member Richard Schuler
seconded the motion that carried by unanimous voice vote.
Update on the December 4, 2001,
Countywide Parks, Trails and Natural Lands Master Plan Workshop
Rob Walsh provided a brief update
regarding the December 4, 2001, follow-up session of the Countywide Parks,
Trails and Natural Lands Master Plan workshop held in New Smyrna Beach. He explained that
the topics of discussion and items of review were as follows:
- Reviewed the maps that were developed from the
October 29, 2001, meeting;
- Discussed the Volusia Conservation Corridor, which
had been identified on the map;
- Discussed the completion of existing projects such
as North Peninsula State Recreation area, Spruce Creek Preserve, and Lake George parcels;
- Discussed other potential projects identified on
the map, such as Hart Cattle Company property in southeast Volusia County; Indiana River
Lagoon Blue Way; and the State Road 40 Connector from Lake George to Ormond Beach along SR
40;
- Discussed the cost estimate spreadsheets prepared
by Glatting Jackson, which had been developed from information provided on
October 29,2001;
- Discussed potential funding sources and the fact
that the County already designated up to 10% of its annual tax revenues, approximately $8.8
million over 20-years with a "pay as you go" program, to be utilized for access,
improvements, etc.
He further explained that
additional information would be necessary to clarify and/or further define information on
the cost spreadsheet, along with updating the maps. Currently, the acquisition cost
estimates are $3,000/acre for natural lands and $1,000/acre for conservation lands. A
request was made for staff to inventory the current habitats to assist in the further
development of the map into layers that would also assist in focusing on potential project
areas. This information would be worked on over the next couple of months and a
quasi-final report would be provided in approximately 60-90 days (i.e., 1st
quarter of 2002).
Richards Schuler asked if the cost
estimates included infrastructure or were they strictly management costs?
Rob Walsh explained that the cost
estimates did not clearly define whether these figures included infrastructure. He
explained that Glatting Jackson had requested additional information to assist in better
defining the cost estimates, which would be based on different scenarios (i.e., lands that
are: less than 500 acres; 500-1000 acres; or over 1000 acres). Staff would be defining the
management criteria (i.e., what are the tasks to be performed under management?).
Discussion ensued as to whether
the fees for management are one-time fees or renewed annually. Rob Walsh explained that
these fees, per the spreadsheets that were provided at the workshop, are annual O&M
(Operations and Maintenance) fees. He further explained that the estimated cost would be
$10,000/acre.
Randall Sleister explained that
the $10,000/acre figure comes from the Water Management District projects used for
mitigation. When someone has mitigation and they are turning the land over to the state,
the District requires $10,000/acre for the management in perpetuity. He further explained
that the management fees should be one-time.
Member Dennis Bayer asked what the
difference was between natural and conservation lands?
Rob Walsh explained that question
had been raised at the workshop and participants requested that natural and conservation
lands be defined.
Update on Florida Communities
Trust, and Acquisition and Restoration Council Rankings of Volusia County Projects
Douglas Weaver reviewed the memo
that had been provided to the Committee with regards to the Florida Communities Trust
(FCT), and Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) funding awards. He explained that
during the December 5 and 6, 2001, ARC meeting the Volusia Conservation Corridor, which is
approximately 36,000 acres, was moved to the "A" list. He expressed gratitude to
the following for their assistance in achieving this gratifying goal: The Volusia Forever
Advisory Committee; Mr. Herky Huffman; and Dr. Allen Egbert, Executive Director of the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. On November 29 and 30, 2001, staff met with members
of FCT in which the 215-acre Doris Leeper/Spruce Creek Preserve Project was awarded
$735,000 in matching funds with an estimated total project cost of $1,470,000; and the
29-acre North Peninsula Inholding Phase II Project was awarded $446,500 in matching funds
with an estimated total project cost of $893,000. However, a third project, the 2.3-acre
Esther Street Project, was not awarded a grant. In addition, both the Doris Leeper/Spruce
Creek Preserve and the Three Chimneys Projects were moved to the ARC’s "A"
list. He also explained that the acquisition of the Hart Cattle Company property was
moving forward with St. Johns River Water Management District as the lead agency and
Department of Transportation as a funding partner.
Chairman Reid Hughes also
expressed gratitude to the Committee for their efforts in lobbying to have the Volusia
Conservation Corridor moved to ARC’s "A" list.
Discussion ensued with regards to
the total cost for the projects with Douglas Weaver providing the following costs:
- The Volusia Conservation Corridor - approximately
$10 million over several years
- Doris Leeper/Spruce Creek Preserve - $1,470,000
- North Peninsula Inholdings Phase II - $893,000
Rob Walsh explained that the
County’s portion for projects 2) and 3) would be 50% of the total, which would be
approximately $1.1 million.
Douglas Weaver explained that
although the Volusia Conservation Corridor’s "Fee Simple" portion of the
project was moved to the "A" list, the "Less Than Fee" portion (i.e.,
conservation easements) of the project remained on the "B" list. He further
explained that administratively this portion of the project should be moved to the
"A" list in February 2002.
Discussion of the Elkcam Road
Extension
Discussion ensued regarding the
removal of the Elkcam Road Extension, which is located in the Volusia Conservation
Corridor, from the MPO 5-year plan after Member Carrie Stewart expressed the need to lobby
the County Council for this removal and explained the potential purchasing problems.
Chairman Reid Hughes pointed out
that the Committee has previously conveyed to the County Council via a letter from the
Chairman that outlines their position, which is for the County Council to
refrain from
planning or discussing roads through the Volusia Conservation Corridor. He further
explained that staff has been requested to investigate the MPO 5-year plan and the status
of the Elkcam Extension.
Douglas Weaver explained that Rob
Walsh would be investigating the status of the Elkcam Extension as to what plan(s) it is
on and providing an update to the Committee at their January 16, 2002, meeting.
Discussion and Determination of
Eligibility for Submitted Applications:
Chairman Reid Hughes reminded the
Committee of the procedures, which were provided to the Committee as a flowchart at the
November 21, 2001, meeting.
Rob Walsh explained that the
Committee would be reviewing and determining if any of the three projects submitted were
eligible. He also explained that staff had reviewed the applications for completeness,
performed a cursory review of the properties, and provided the Committee with copies of
the report depicting how the properties met or do not meet the criteria that had been
established by the Committee under Resolution 2001-198. He re-emphasized the January 31,
2002, deadline for this first cycle of applications and reviewed the timetable for this
first cycle as follows:
December 2001 thru February
2002 - Committee determines if applications are eligible.
March/April 2002 –
Committee rates/ranks properties previously determined as eligible with the assistance of
a complete analysis report provided by staff for each property. The Committee will also
group projects into Group A or B lists.
April/May 2002 –
Committee’s project recommendations forwarded to County Council for approval. With
this timeline we would fall in line with FCT and ARC/Florida Forever application deadline
for matching funds.
Discussion ensued regarding the
separation of the projects into a Group A or B listing after Member Carrie Stewart
questioned the necessity for this procedure as the County Council would be reviewing both
groups.
Rob Walsh explained that projects
ranked and placed on the Group A list must be eligible for matching funds, and the
projects on the Group B list could be fully funded by the Volusia Forever Program. He
further explained that the Committee created the Group A and B list under Resolution
2001-198. He also explained that by utilizing the Group A and B lists, the Committee would
emphasize to the County Council the projects that are most important to the Committee.
Chairman Reid Hughes explained
that by utilizing the Group A and B lists, we would be paralleling the State’s
Florida Forever program. He reviewed the timeline outlined by Rob Walsh and explained that
by summer the Committee would be looking for applications for the 2nd cycle. He
recommended that staff continue communicating and developing relationships with state and
county agencies.
Discussion ensued regarding
priority areas, such as scrub jay habitats, after Member Dennis Bayer inquired how staff
would actively be pursuing small lot acquisitions of this nature.
Randall Sleister informed the
Committee that staff would be providing applications to the Committee for small lots
acquisitions sometime in the future. However, staff has been directed to focus on North
Peninsula Inholdings, Spruce Creek Preserve, and Lake George outparcels.
Member Dennis Bayer expressed the
need to prioritize acquisition of parcels that are under development pressures, such as
scrub jay habitats.
Discussion continued regarding
scrub jay habitats with Randall Sleister explaining that the Scrub Jay HCP was currently
researching information on scrub jay habitats, and eventually staff would focus on
potential parcels for acquisition.
Douglas Weaver indicated that
staff would be providing proactive small lot acquisition applications to the Committee for
funding in the future.
- Catholic Diocese Property –
Chairman Reid
Hughes explained that this property is located along the St. Johns River, adjacent to or
near St. Johns River Water Management District property; it has water resource criteria;
and there is potential for partnering with the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Rob Walsh advised the Committee
that staff had been provided additional information after the application was received and
staff had prepared the initial report. He further explained that there is a potential link
along the St. Johns River to lands currently in the St. Johns River Water Management
District’s 5-year acquisition plan.
Randall Sleister explained that
initially this property was viewed as a stand-alone project. However, the potential
linkage with St. Johns River Water Management District property has elevated the standing
of this property. He further explained that this was the only site of the three potential
applications that staff visited.
Members Carrie Stewart asked what
kind of recreation opportunities would this property increase?
Rob Walsh pointed out that there
would be excellent opportunities to put in a canoe/kayak launch for water recreation. He
also explained that the Catholic Diocese has utilized this property for primitive camping
for the Boy Scouts along with other groups throughout Central Florida.
Mr. Steve Triece, Representative
for the Catholic Diocese, was present to provide additional information to the Committee.
He explained that this site is historically known as "Marshall’s Bluff"
where people had done swimming, boating, and primitive camping; and that it is the desire
of the Catholic Diocese to make this public land. He also explained that Seminole County
would be acquiring property directly across the river through their acquisition program
that would further promote outdoor recreation for this area.
Randall Sleister pointed out the
property on the map of Volusia County for the Committee.
Member Dennis Bayer asked Mr.
Steve Triece if the property on the Seminole County side was public land?
Mr. Steve Triece explained that
this property was public land and is better know as the Boar’s Head Tract by Seminole
County’s Land Acquisition Committee. He also explained that the Seminole
County’s Landfill is to the south of this property and that Seminole County was
trying to preserve as much waterfront property as possible for the natural habitats.
Discussion ensued with regards to
the staff report after several members requested clarification on staff’s evaluation.
Randall Sleister explained that
staff had found it difficult to interpret the meaning or intent of the rating/ranking
criteria.
Member Carrie Stewart requested
the assessed value of this property.
Rob Walsh responded that the
assessed value is $239,000.
Douglas Weaver explained that
staff incorporated the "high to low" criteria range on the Initial Review Report
for guidance instead of simply answering yes or no.
Rob Walsh explained that the
information contained in the "Initial Review Report" is preliminary and very
general. After the property has been determined "eligible" then staff will
provide a report that would be more in-depth, along with a presentation for the
rating/ranking process.
Member Carrie Stewart made a
motion to accept the Catholic Diocese Property Application as an eligible project.
Member Gordon Kipp seconded the motion that carried by unanimous voice vote.
- Reetz Property –
Randall Sleister pointed
out on the map of Volusia County the general location of this property, which is near the
Plantation Pines Subdivision in Ormond Beach off of SR 40.
Chairman Reid Hughes explained
the negatives of this property as follows:
