Meeting Called to
Order
Reid Hughes,
Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:30p.m.
Roll Call
Reid Hughes,
Chair, instructed the Recording Secretary to record the roll of the
Members in attendance, in which five (5) Members were present to establish
a Quorum.
Approval of
Minutes
Chairman Reid
Hughes requested approval of the August 15, 2001, minutes.
Member Dick Schuler made a motion to approve the
August 15, 2001, minutes, as prepared. Member Gordon Kipp
seconded the motion that carried unanimously by voice vote.
Update on current
FCT Applications
Discussion ensued
after Chairman Reid Hughes requested clarification from Staff regarding
the Esther Street Project’s resource value, and why the project is being
directed to the Forever Program.
Bill Gardner
explained that in 1990 FCT was partnering projects that were resource
based, which this project is beach access. Since that time, FCT has made
amendments to its program, which now includes beach access, and has
re-evaluated the importance of the project. The application had been
submitted to FCT in June 2000 in which it ranked 59 of approximately 115
projects. With the authorization from the Forever Advisory Committee,
staff re-submitted the application, meeting the August 13, 2001, FCT
application deadline. He further explained that North Peninsula and Spruce
Creek Inholdings were two (2) other projects which were submitted to FCT,
and could be projects directed to the Forever Advisory Committee for
funding. The Esther Street Project could be directed to the ECHO Advisory
Committee for funding, as it is beach access.
Discussion ensued
after Member Dick Schuler asked if there is a list of potential projects
to be considered for funding. Bill Gardner explained that a list of
potential projects would be provided to the Committee after County Council
approves the Volusia Forever Land Acquisition Program’s application. He
explained that the three (3) projects which were submitted to FCT (North
Peninsula Inholdings, Spruce Creek Inholdings and Esther Street), were
projects approved by County Council because the Committee’s By-Laws,
application, work plan, and procedures had not yet been approved by County
Council. Also, the FCT deadline of August 13, 2001, was fast
approaching.
Member Carrie
Stewart asked for clarification on the process.
Rob Walsh
explained that the three (3) applications, which were submitted to FCT to
meet the August 13, 2001, deadline, were processed without going through
the Committee due to the fact that the forms (i.e., program application,
work plan) and procedures had not yet been approved by County Council. He
further explained that these forms and procedures would be before the
County Council for approval on September 20, 2001. With the approval of
the application and procedures, the Forever Advisory Committee would
process applications with the assistance of staff and make recommendations
to the County Council.
Discussion ensued
regarding who would be funding the three (3) projects submitted to FCT.
The Committee agreed that beach access should be projects directed to the
ECHO Committee for funding.
Member Carrie
Stewart made a motion to recommend to County Council that the funding for
the Esther Street Project be directed to Volusia ECHO. Member Gordon Kipp
seconded the motion that carried unanimously by voice vote.
Staff presented
the videotape, which promoted the Volusia Forever and ECHO Programs to the
voters, per the request of one of the committee members. The videotape
explained the costs, functions, and responsibilities of the Programs and
Committees.
Update on County
Council’s Discussion of Forever/ECHO on August 16, 2001
Rob Walsh
presented a Consensus Report which provides answers to the questions which
were presented to the County Council by Jamie Seaman on behalf of the
Volusia Forever and ECHO Advisory Committees (i.e., funding of historic
and linear recreational trail acquisitions, bonding, etc.). He explained
that the Consensus Report was being provided for informational purposes
only as all members were unable to attend the August 16, 2001, County
Council Meeting.
Debate ensued
regarding Answer #1 (Primarily historic acquisitions may be funded out
of either program) with Member Gordon Kipp explaining that it was
County Council’s intent to have Volusia Forever modeled after Florida
Forever, which would include historic.
References to
Resolution 2000-155’s Preamble, Section X, and Section 1, Paragraph B,
were included in the discussion with regards to the language providing for
historic to be included in Volusia Forever.
Member Carrie
Stewart explained that there had been a motion with a vote of 6 to 1 by
County Council to put historical back into Volusia Forever. She asked if
the County Council had the authority to change the Referendum language.
Frank B. Gummey,
Jr. explained that the County Council does not have the authority to
change the Referendum language, but they have the authority to make
historical part of the Volusia Forever Program.
Discussion ensued
with regards to Answer #3 (10% of Forever funds will be set aside for
access and improvements and reviewed in one year. ECHO projects may not
receive funds from Forever for access.) with Member Carrie Stewart
clarifying that the 10% is 10% of the County’s portion only and not the
grand total of any leveraged funds.
There was
agreement among the committee to adding the term "management"
with regards to the access and improvements issue above.
There was
discussion regarding Answer #4 (Forever funds may be used for access to
1988 properties). At least one Committee member was opposed to using
Forever monies to provide access for previous land acquisitions.
Discussion ensued
with regards to the Committee’s role involving access to acquired lands,
with Rob Walsh explaining that a Land Management Plan would be required as
part of an application, and this would allow the Committee to determine if
the access is satisfactory. Therefore, the Committee would have an
important role involving access.
Regarding the
issue of bonding, Frank B. Gummey, Jr., explained that the County Council
could approve bonding if it was deemed appropriate. He further explained
that each case would have to be reviewed before the determination to bond
would be permitted. Several Committee members continue to support the $10
million bonding contained in Resolution 2001.
Discussion ensued
with regards to Answer #12 (The County Council will retain final
authority as to which projects receive funding and how much. All projects
should go through the grant application process) with Rob Walsh
explaining that this also pertains to the ECHO Program. Several Committee
members expressed their concern that County Council needs to take their
recommendations seriously and, if not, the value of the time the Committee
spent evaluating properties was questioned.
Discussion took
place with regards to modifying the title of Resolution 2001 to address
any concerns in which County Council may have that this resolution would
supersede Resolution 2000-155. The Committee agreed that this
resolution does not and was not intended to supersede Resolution 2000-155,
but incorporated into a procedure manual.
Sub-Committee
Status Report – Review and Discussion of Revised Resolution 2001
Sub-Committee
Chairman Doug Daniels presented the revised Resolution 2001 and
explained that with the creation of this document the language contained
in Resolution 2000-155 was followed closely. He further explained
that additional information was incorporated to provide guidelines and/or
procedures on the application/selection process (i.e., submission of
applications to the Committee, how the applications are reviewed, making
recommendation to County Council, etc.)
Discussion ensued
with regards to the Agenda Item set for the September 20, 2001,
County Council Meeting which includes the approval of the Volusia Forever
Program Application, Program Work Plan, and direction and/or approval of
Proposed Resolution 2001. A Staff Report is also included with the
Agenda Item, which provides Staff’s comments/recommendations regarding
Resolution 2001. Member Carrie Stewart requested that the Staff Report be
reviewed with the Committee at the next meeting on
September 19, 2001.
Member Doug
Daniels made a motion that up to 10% of the Forever funds will be set
aside for access, improvements and management, and reviewed in one year.
Member Carrie Stewart seconded the motion that carried unanimously by
voice vote.
There was debate
regarding which Committee (Forever or ECHO) would fund the acquisition of
properties such as historic, trails, environmentally sensitive lands, etc.
The Committee agreed that some acquisitions would require joint funding
from Forever and ECHO. The Committee also agreed that the utilization of
common sense in the review of each application would assist in resolving
any differences of opinion regarding which program should be the funding
source.
Concern was raised
regarding the application process, specifically how and if deadlines would
be addressed. Member Carrie Stewart recommended that a cover letter
accompany the County Council approved application, which would provide to
the applicant the necessary instructions and a deadline in which the
application needed to be submitted to County staff.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned
at 5:30p.m.
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