APPROVED Minutes of the Meeting

Transcription

1 APPROVED Minutes of the Meeting Withlacoochee River Basin Board Southwest Florida Water Management District Brooksville, Florida April 16, 2009 The Withlacoochee River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District convened for a regular meeting April 16, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., at District Headquarters. Board Members Present Ronald Oakley, Co-Chair Ex Officio Doug Tharp, Co-Chair Ex Officio Patsy Nathe, Vice Chair Janey Baldwin, Secretary William Bachschmidt, Member Jack Dennis, Member Kelly Rice, Member Albert Rooks, Member Board Member Absent None Staff Present Lou Kavouras Bruce Wirth Eric DeHaven Mark Hammond Mike Holtkamp Roy Mazur Michael Molligan Recording Secretary Annette Zielinski Eric Sutton Danny Kushmer Will Miller Beth Putnam Miki Renner Doug Sanders Virginia Sternberger A list of others who were present and signed the attendance roster is filed in the permanent files of the Basin. Compact discs of the audio and copies of the materials and handouts, as set out in full herein, are also filed in the permanent files of the Basin. 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Co-Chair Oakley called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Ms. Zielinski noted a quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag Co-Chair Oakley led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. (CD1/Track 1-00:00/01:14) 3. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda Ms. Lou Kavouras, Deputy Executive Director, Outreach, Planning, and Board Services, reported that Agenda Item 4, the Oath of Office, was deleted from the agenda since no appointments for this Basin Board had been forthcoming from the Governor's office. 4. Oath of Office for Appointed/Re-Appointed Board Members This item was deleted. 5. Basin Activities Report and Agenda Review Mr. Doug Sanders, Basin Planner, reported that this agenda item will be added to each Basin Board agenda providing an opportunity for the Basin Planner to give an overview of relevant items on the agenda, information items, and other topics of interest. Mr. Sanders presented this informational item, explaining how the items relate to the Board s Strategic Budget Priorities, the Strategic Plan, or other Board concerns. (CD1/Track 2-00:00/05:27) 6. Consent Items: a. Minutes of the February 12, 2009, Meeting Staff recommended approval of the February 12, 2009 meeting minutes as presented.

2 Withlacoochee River Basin Board Page 2 of 7 Following consideration, Mr. Bachschmidt, moved, seconded by Ms. Baldwin, to approve Consent Item 6.a. Minutes of the February 12, 2009 Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. (CD1/Track 3-00:00/00:40) b. Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Amendment to Include Additional Revenue from Water Management Lands Trust Fund for Surface Water Improvement and Management Projects Staff recommended to: 1) Approve Resolution No. 89, Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget of the Withlacoochee River Basin by a decrease of $1,900,000 from $12,642,261 to $10,742,261 to reflect the reallocation of revenue from the WMLTF. 2) Authorize the Executive Director to approve and execute an agreement to add the WMLTF revenue to the Blue Run Stormwater Management project (W422) for $100,000. Mr. Rooks was provided clarification on Marion County s funding ability for the Blue Run Stormwater Management project. Mr. Wirth explained that the District is taking this action now and encumbering these funds from prior years. He said this action will allow the District the flexibility later on to shift funds again if Marion County cannot go forward with its share of the commitment. Following consideration, Mr. Bachschmidt, moved, seconded by Mr. Dennis, to approve Consent Item 6.b. Motion carried unanimously. (CD1/Track 3-00:40/12:18) 7. Discussion Items: a. Election of Officers and Committee Representatives Election results were the following: 1. Vice Chair Mr. Rooks 2. Secretary Ms. Baldwin 3. Primary and Alternate Representative to the Basin Board Land Resources Committee Mr. Rooks will serve as primary representative; Mr. Dennis will serve as the alternate. 4. Primary and Alternate Representative to the Basin Board Education Committee Mr. Bachschmidt will serve as primary representative; Ms. Baldwin will serve as the alternate. 5. Citrus/Hernando County Waterways Restoration Council Citrus County Task Force Technical Advisory Group Messrs. Rooks, Bachschmidt, and Dennis, as well as Ms. Baldwin all expressed an interest to serve on this Task Force Technical Advisory Group. Ms. Kavouras and Mr. Hammond will look into the legislative mandates regarding representation on the Task Force Technical Advisory Group. The Basin Board decided for now to name Mr. Rooks as primary representative; Messrs. Dennis and Bachschmidt as alternate representatives. Co-Chair Oakley heard public comment at this time. Mr. Al Grubman, representing TOOFAR, said the citizens of Citrus County appreciate the Basin Board members participation on this Task Force Technical Advisory Group, and hopes the participation will continue moving forward. (CD1/Track 4-00:00/09:55)

3 Withlacoochee River Basin Board Page 3 of 7 b. Water Shortage Actions and Drought Messaging Mr. Michael Molligan, Communications Director, reported on current hydrologic conditions and recent emergency and water shortage actions the District has taken in response to the severe rainfall deficit. He used graphics to depict how the severity of the drought has worsened over the past 36 months and spoke of concerted efforts throughout the District to find alternative water sources and reduce existing demand for water. Public service advertising is being used extensively to promote water conservation. This item was presented for the Basin Board s information; no action was required. (CD1/Track 5-00:00/33:10) c. FY2009 Springs Awareness Week Ms. Virginia Sternberger, Senior Communications Coordinator, Communications Department, presented the results of Springs Awareness Week, which occurred in Citrus and Marion counties March 14 21, As part of the Crystal River/Kings Bay/Rainbow River Watershed Education Project (W466), District staff organized Springs Awareness Week. The goal of Springs Awareness Week was to educate homeowners and landscape professionals of the effects that over-fertilizing has on local springs and other water bodies. The week included a variety of educational events, springshed tours, workshops for homeowners and landscape professionals, and outreach at local retail establishments. Springs Awareness Week cooperators included Rainbow Springs State Park and the master gardener programs and UF/IFAS Florida Yards & Neighborhoods programs in Citrus and Marion counties. In addition to the special events, Communications and Community and Legislative Affairs staff coordinated with government representatives to have March 14 21, 2009, declared as Springs Awareness Week by the Coastal Rivers and Withlacoochee River Basin Boards, the Boards of County Commissioners of Citrus and Marion counties, and the cities of Crystal River and Dunnellon. The total cost of Springs Awareness Week was $3,300. The Coastal Rivers Basin Board contributed $495, the Withlacoochee River Basin Board contributed $1,155 and SWIM contributed $1,650. Approximately 10,000 people participated in the Springs Awareness Week events. Additional awareness was generated by media coverage in the Citrus County Chronicle, Riverland News and the Ocala Star-Banner. This item was presented for the Basin Board s information; no action was required. (CD1/Track 6-00:00/13:23) d. Agreement to Surplus Property to Sumter County Lake Panasoffkee, SWF Parcel No S Mr. Eric Sutton, Director, Land Resources Department, said the purpose of this item is to recommend the Governing Board declare SWF Parcel No S surplus; execute an agreement (Surplus Agreement) with Sumter County establishing the terms of surplus; and approve and execute the respective quitclaim deed. A general location map of the parcel to be conveyed was included in the board packet as an exhibit to this item. The subject property recommended for surplus to Sumter County is comprised of two contiguous parcels. Both parcels were acquired for the purpose of storing spoil dredged from Lake Panasoffkee as part of the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Project which was completed in October The larger of the two parcels is approximately 550 acres and was acquired in 2003 for $1,918,155. The smaller parcel is approximately 37 acres

4 Withlacoochee River Basin Board Page 4 of 7 and was conveyed to the District from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in 2003 at no cost. FDOT retained perpetual reversionary interest in this parcel requiring that any future use of the parcel serves a public benefit. Mr. Bradley Arnold, County Administrator, Sumter County, said the County would be looking forward to using this property for a shooting range. He said the natural berm creates an excellent protection area for the sport. In addition, Sumter County will help the contractor who will be removing shale material from the property and they will also be able to use some of the material for County projects. Staff has negotiated terms and conditions of an agreement under which the property will be conveyed. The terms and conditions are subject to Governing Board approval and are summarized below: The property has an adopted Future Land Use of Agriculture and zoning of A5. The use of the property for a public trap and skeet range, public shooting range and a police training facility are conforming uses under this zoning classification through a Special Use approval by the Board of County Commissioners. If the property s zoning classification changes to a classification that authorizes a more intensive use, the District will be compensated in an amount equal to fair market value of the property at the time of the zoning change. All uses of the property associated with a public shooting range, a public trap and skeet range, and a police training facility will be conducted in accordance with the Best Management Practices for Environmental Stewardship of Florida Shooting Ranges published by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The District will assign to the County all District responsibilities with respect to its agreement with Fletcher Marine, Inc. (FMI Agreement) for the sale of dredge material from the property. The FMI Agreement was approved by the Governing Board on September 30, The District will also reserve the right to access the property to remove material for its purposes at no cost for five years. The agreement is subject to FDOT s proposed expansion of Interstate 75 (I-75 Expansion Project). The County will negotiate with FDOT for the conveyance of land or interests in land at no cost to FDOT. The County may engage in surplus of property not associated with the I-75 Expansion Project. The District will be compensated an amount equal to fair market value for any property surplused as such. If the future condition of Lake Panasoffkee warrants dredging for environmental restoration purposes, the County will, in good faith, aid and assist the District in its effort to determine and obtain spoil material disposal sites. The County will hold the District harmless from claims or expenses arising from impacts to the property or to adjoining property resulting from activities conducted on the property. Staff recommended to: 1) Declare SWF Parcel No S surplus; 2) Approve the Surplus Agreement with Sumter County; and 3) Convey SWF Parcel No S to Sumter County. Following consideration, Mr. Bachschmidt moved, seconded by Mr. Dennis, to approve the negotiated terms and aforementioned staff recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. (CD1/Track 7-00:00/18:56) e. Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Preparation Mr. Bruce C. Wirth, Deputy Executive Director, Division of Resource Management, said the Withlacoochee River Basin Board has an opportunity to review its budget for funding levels of the various budget categories, including prioritization of Cooperative Funding proposals and other Basin projects. The preliminary budget assumes the millage rate will remain at mill and produce $4,480,248 in ad valorem revenue, 10 percent

5 Withlacoochee River Basin Board Page 5 of 7 below FY2009. This revenue estimate is for planning purposes and is based on preliminary estimates of taxable value obtained from the county Property Appraisers and the Legislature s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, March 4, For the June Basin meeting, staff will provide an updated estimate of ad valorem revenue for FY2010, based on the June 1 estimates of taxable property value that are provided by the county Property Appraisers. However, these estimates generally do not specify the amount that is new construction. New construction is required to calculate the maximum millage rate (i.e., maximum millage rate adopted with simple majority vote) and the rolled-back rate (i.e., rate that would generate the same level of revenue as FY2009 plus taxes on new construction) prescribed under Section , Florida Statutes. Any millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate would constitute a tax increase. As experienced for FY2009, it is anticipated that the Basin s current millage rate, if maintained for FY2010, would be lower than these two rates due to declining property values. The preliminary Budget Comparison Report for FY2010 was provided to the Basin Board members prior to the meeting. The format separately identifies the portion of the budget that will be funded by outside revenue sources from the portion of the budget that will be funded from ad valorem based revenue sources (i.e., property taxes, balance from prior year and interest). The "Millage Rate Requirements" column, to the right of each project that is funded through the ad valorem based portion of the budget, indicates the funding source as Balance from Prior Year and Interest Earnings or the millage rate required to fund the budget through that project. The Projects section includes detailed information for all Cooperative Funding proposals submitted for consideration. Project managers have reviewed and provided a staff recommendation for each proposal. Mr. Wirth said questions on projects should be directed to the Project Manager, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Kavouras, or him. Co-Chair Oakley encouraged Board members to contact staff to answer questions on projects and to provide direction to staff on developing the Basin s tentative budget, which would be presented at the June 2009 meeting. (CD1/Track 8-00:00/29:28) f Strategic Plan Update Mr. Roy Mazur, Planning Director, addressed the Board to provide a progress report on the latest update to the Strategic Plan (Plan), which is replacing the District Water Management Plan. He reviewed background of the Plan, goals for the 2011 update, and progress being made, emphasizing that the goal is not to re-write the Plan, but to finetune existing content. Mr. Mazur's presentation included an explanation of the three-tiered approach of staff involvement and an Annual Work Plan Report, which is statutorily required when a District Water Management Plan is replaced. 8. Reports: Updates to the Strategic Plan will be provided periodically to the Advisory Committees, Basin Boards, and Governing Board, with approval anticipated by the Governing Board in October (CD1/Track 9-00:00/10:21) a. Joint Basin Board Education Committee/Basin Board Land Resources Committee Meeting Mr. Bo Rooks, Primary Representative, said this report provides an overview of the joint Basin Board Education Committee/Basin Board Land Resources Committee meeting held on March 16, 2009, at the Polk s Nature Discovery Center at Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland. The major focus of the joint meeting was to discuss ways to inform the public about District-owned property and opportunities the public has to use those properties. Integral to the process is the educational elements of informing the public of water issues and conservation. Mr. Rooks said other reports were discussed on the Land Resources Department s Recreation Amenities Plan, environmental and

6 Withlacoochee River Basin Board Page 6 of 7 conservation education efforts, and the joint Get Outside! campaign. A full report of the joint meeting was included as an exhibit in the meeting notebook. This item was presented for the Board's information; no action was required. (CD1/Track 10-00:0/04:32) b. Governing Board Activities Co-Chair Oakley said Board members had been provided a written report of the March 31 Governing Board meeting, which was held at District headquarters in Brooksville. Main topics of discussion were a land exchange with the SunWest Acquisition Corporation and enactment of Phase IV water restrictions in the Tampa Bay area. Co-Chairs Oakley and Tharp said the Governing Board members took their decision-making processes very seriously and vetted the issues before them very carefully. They faced some critical issues that required emergency water shortage orders and stricter water restrictions; but they were careful not to hurt an industry s ability to perform, such as those who make their living by professional pressure washing. This item was presented for the Board's information; no action was required. 9. Announcements: Ms. Kavouras announced that the Lake Panasoffkee Celebration would be held May 29, 2009, 10:00 a.m., at Coleman Landing. The Basin Board Meetings for the remainder of the fiscal year are scheduled as follows: June 11, July 16, and August 13, all begin at 9:00 a.m., at Brooksville Headquarters. Ms. Kavouras said it may not be necessary for the Basin Board to meet in July; she will keep members informed. Mr. Bachschmidt suggested that representatives from Progress Energy attend a future meeting to explain their newest nuclear power plant plans and their anticipated water use needs. Ms. Baldwin said she has been appointed to a committee to attend meetings with Progress Energy and they have been very open with their plans. Ms. Kavouras thanked the Basin Board members for their interest and said she would have a presentation scheduled for a future meeting. (CD1/Track 11-00:0/10:42) 10. Adjournment The day's business being complete, Co-Chair Oakley adjourned the meeting at 11:28 a.m. Information Items The items listed below were for the Board's information, intended to keep the Board apprised of completed projects, cancelled projects, and projects that have executed contracts and were ready to begin. These items did not require Board action at this time. 1. Withlacoochee River Watershed Initiative (H066) 2. Evaluation of Different On-Farm Blueberry Systems to Improve Irrigation Efficiency (B263) 3. Optimizing Irrigation for Shade Tree Production (B265)

7 Withlacoochee River Basin Board Page 7 of 7 Attest: Chairman The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) does not discriminate on the basis of disability. This nondiscrimination policy involves every aspect of the District's functions, including access to and participation in the District's programs and activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the District's Human Resources Director, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, Florida, ; telephone (352) , ext. 4702, or (FL only), ext. 4702; TDD (FL only) ; or ADACoordinator@swfwmd.state.fl.us.