MINUTES OF THE GLADES COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING ROOM, GLADES COUNTY COURTHOUSE, MOORE HAVEN, FLORIDA The Glades County Board of County Commissioners met on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. with the following Commissioners present: Russell Echols, Chairman Donna Storter Long Robert Giesler Paul Beck Not present: K.S. Butch Jones, Vice Chairman Others present: Julie Mann Braddock, Administrative Secretary Wendell Taylor, County Manager Larry Hilton, Community Development Director Gary Ritter, SWFMD Okeechobee Service Center David Whidden, AIM Engineering Nena Bolan, Glades County Democrat Avant Brown, Superintendent Glades County Road Department Bob Jones, Public Safety Director Dale Milita, Craig A. Smith & Associates Connie Vanassche, Craig A. Smith & Associates Pete Quasious, Audubon Society Steve Ramunni, Attorney City of Moore Haven Stuart Whiddon, Glades County Sheriff 7 citizens Chairman Echols called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. PRAYER Commissioner Storter Long gave the invocation. PLEDGE Commissioner Giesler led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. AGENDA AMENDMENTS Chairman Echols re quested that two items be added to the agenda. He added an agreement for a land swap between Glades County and the City of Moore Haven under Presentations/Awards. He added a discussion regarding the Legislative Delegation under the Business Agenda Item #7.
approved the amendments to the agenda. PRESENTATIONS / AWARDS Steve Ramunni, Attorney for the City of Moore Haven, stated this matter had been continued from the previous meeting. He stated he had provided updated legal descriptions for the 4 acres and the easements needed by the City (Exhibit A ). He stated the City had approved the conveyance of the property across the street excluding the water tower property in exchange for the 4 acres where the Waste Water Treatment Plant was presently located. He stated Attorney Pringle was in the process of preparing the legal description with the County Engineers. He stated the 4 acre cut out of property at the Waste Water Treatment Plant would be conveyed by the County to the City. ON MOTION of Commissioner Beck seconded by Commissioner Giesler the Board approved a land swap with the City of Moore Haven and authorized the Chairman to sign all necessary documents. Attorney Ramunni stated he and Attorney Pringle would prepare the documents and have them signed. He stated he would also order the title work on the 4 acres and anticipated that the transaction would take approximately 2-3 weeks to close. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. EAR Based Amendments Larry Hilton, Community Development Director, asked the Board to consider adopting these amendments based on the Evaluation Appraisal Report. He stated this hearing was for transmittal to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) only. He stated the DCA would review the amendments and send back their objections, recommendations and comments. He stated Jim LaRue of LaRue Planning had been hired by the County to prepare the documents and a representative from LaRue Planning was present tonight to answer any questions the Board may have. He stated he had met with a representative from ALICO regarding some text changes. He stated it had been agreed that the amendments would be transmitted as is and adjusted at a later date. He stated the Planning Commission had recommended approval. Commissioner Storter Long asked if Ordinances would be adopted to enact the changes. She asked that a calendar be prepared showing the deadlines and when the adoptions would take place. 2
Mr. Hilton stated new Ordinances would be adopted and he would keep the Board informed of the schedule. He submitted a map regarding the Special Treatment areas and stated he was trying to get rid of the map as it was not needed anymore (Exhibit B). Chairman Echols called for public comment. Pete Quasius, Audubon Society, recommended approval of the EAR Based Amendments. ON MOTION of Commissioner Beck seconded by Commissioner Giesler the Board approved transmittal of the EAR Based Amendments to the Department of Community Affairs with revisions as discussed based on the recommendations of the Planning Commission. 2. Impact Fees: Four Ordinances to defer Collections until December 1, 2010 County Manager Taylor stated adoption of these Ordinances would extend the suspension of the collection of Impact Fees until December 1, 2010. He stated the Ordinances were currently written showing a date of December 1, 2009. He stated Attorney Pringle had advised him that the Ordinances would need to be adopted individually. County Manager Taylor read the title of Ordinance 2009-17 (Roads) into the record. ON MOTION of Commissioner Storter Long seconded by Commissioner Beck the Board adopted Ordinance 2009-17 (Roads) rescinding the collection of fees until December 1, 2010. Chairman Echols called for public comment. There was none. County Manager Taylor read the title of Ordinance 2009-18 (EMS) into the record. adopted Ordinance 2009-18 (EMS) rescinding the collection of fees until December 1, 2010. Chairman Echols called for public comment. There was none. 3
County Manager Taylor read the title of Ordinance 2009-19 (Parks) into the record. ON MOTION of Commissioner Beck seconded by Commissioner Storter Long the Board adopted Ordinance 2009-19 (Parks) rescinding the collection of fees until December 1, 2010. Chairman Echols called for public comment. There was none. County Manager Taylor read the title of Ordinance 2009-20 (Public Education) into the record. ON MOTION of Commissioner Beck seconded by Commissioner Storter Long the Board adopted Ordinance 2009-20 (Public Education) rescinding the collection of fees until December 1, 2010. Chairman Echols called for public comment. There was none. CONSENT AGENDA 3. A. Approved County Warrants (Exhibit C ) General Fund: 61560 61639 Intergovernmental Radio : 10137 SHIP: 1418 B. Approved minutes of the October 26, 2009 Regular Meeting. approved the Consent Agenda items. BUSINESS AGENDA 4. Joint Meeting: Glades-Hendry Board of County Commissioners County Manager Taylor stated Hendry County had asked if the Board wished to schedule a joint meeting. Chairman Echols stated he did not wish to schedule a meeting until there were some legitimate topics to be discussed. He stated he did not wish to discuss the Intermodal Logistics Center because of the competing interests. 4
County Manager Taylor suggested that he, Mr. Hilton and Mr. Jones be allowed to meet with Hendry County to find out what topics they wished to discuss. He suggested that one topic of discussion should be routes that State Road 29 may take in the future. Chairman Echols suggested that the joint promotion of ecotourism in both counties be a topic of discussion. Commissioner Giesler suggested holding off on the meeting. He suggested following County Manager Taylor s suggestion. Commissioner Storter suggested a joint staff meeting. She stated any items that needed to be discussed further could then be brought to the Board. Commissioner Beck agreed with County Manager Taylor s suggestion. The Board directed county Manager Taylor to meet with Hendry County staff and explore subjects for a possible meeting in the future. 5. Adopt Resolution amending the 2008-2009 General Fund and Transportation Trust Budgets adopted Resolution 2009-19 amending the 2008-2009 General Fund and Transportation Trust Budgets. Motion carried 4 0 vote. 6. Adopt Resolution amending Revenues, Expenditures and Approving Item to Item Transfers and Amending the 2008-2009 County Budgets adopted Resolution 2009-20 amending Revenues, Expenditures and approving Item to Item Transfers and amending the 2008-2009 County Budgets. 7. Discuss Legislative Delegation meeting (Added by amendment) Connie Vanassche, Craig A. Smith & Associates, thanked the Board for amending the agenda to include this discussion. She stated the number one issue in Tallahassee was the 2.7 billion deficit in the State s budget. She stated the County would want to keep the Waste Water project in front of the legislation. She stated no CBER s would be presented to the Legislature this year; however, her staff had prepared a different form to present regarding this project. She stated another issue that would be in front of the Legislature this year would be a request to exempt counties with populations of less than 100,000 from the new 75% recycling requirement. She stated lobbyists were asking that the Legislature define composting and to keep the rural counties exempt 5
from the requirements. She stated her staff was also working on the Emergency Management Certification. She stated there was no need to have a degree to be an Emergency Management Director. She addressed the proposed joint Resolution 598 regarding longer term limits for Legislators in Tallahassee. She stated there was also some language affecting the term limits in the cities and counties at a local level. She stated she felt elections were the term limits for local officials. Chairman Echols agreed. He stated no one should have to run for office every 2 years. Commissioner Giesler agreed that the elections were the term limits. Commissioner Beck agreed. Mrs. Vanassche state the next Committee week would begin December 7, 2009. CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS There was no discussion. COUNTY ATTORNEY There was no discussion. COUNTY MANAGER County Manager Taylor stated he had asked that Mr. Milita contact our Legislators and request a 30 minute session following the public hearing on December 3 rd where the City, Commission and School Board would be able to address the Delegation. He stated that the Commission had not been able to address the Legislators at the public hearing for the past 2 years. DEPARTMENT HEADS Bob Jones, Public Safety Director, and Terri Helfinstine, E-911 Coordinator, presented a summary of HB 355, also known as the 911 Bill or the Denise Amber Lee Bill, which would be presented to the Legislature for consideration in the next session (Exhibit D). He stated he felt the Bill would pass. He stated the Department of Health was already doing inspections of local dispatch units. PUBLIC INPUT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Gary Ritter, Okeechobee Service Center Director - South Florida Water Management District, stated the Lake was ¾ of a foot lower than it was at this time last year. He stated there had been limited rainfall and the system was now beginning to experience some stress. He stated the Corps would begin some pulse releases to the Caloosahatchee because of elevated salinity levels. He stated these releases would be approximately 450 cubic feet/second for about 11 days. He stated the Water Management Board had recently approved state-wide water conservation rules. He stated these rules would go into effect in January for Glades County residents and 6
would limit watering to 3 days per week. He stated he along with several consultants would meet tomorrow with the Barron Water Control District to begin the planning process of the C-43 project on the BOMA tract. He stated he would keep the Board informed of the progress of this project. Patrick Vanasse, Certified Planner with RWA Consulting, Inc., stated he was present on behalf of ALICO. He stated ALICO owned property in Glades County and had hired RWA to help keep an eye on the EAR Based Amendment process for them. He stated he Mr. Hilton and Mr. LaRue had been very gracious with taking their comments and working with his staff. He stated there had been some concerns regarding the proposed language and a letter outlining these concerns had been provided (Exhibit E). COMMISSIONERS ITEMS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Storter Long reminded everyone of the dedication ceremony at the Ortona Community Park at noon following the December 8 th meeting. Commissioner Giesler stated Mr. Ritter had informed him that Water Management was within a mile of completing the dredging on the Buckhead Ridge canal. He thanked the Muse Community Association for the great dinner they had hosted last Thursday. He introduced Rogel Brown, President of the Buckhead Ridge Homeowners Association. Chairman Echols stated Claudie Mcpherson, Coordinator of the Toys for Tots project, had contacted earlier this evening to let him know that she would be holding the fund raiser again this year. He stated the average cost of a bicycle would be approximately $60.00 - $70.00. He stated the bicycles would be given out on December 19 th so donations would need to be made to her before that date. He stated Mrs. McPherson had requested that the checks be made payable to Toys for Tots and given directly to her. Commissioner Storter Long stated the donations could also be given to Jennifer Hopper in County Manager Taylor s office. Commissioner Beck gave an update regarding the Curry Island project. He stated he had been asked to have the Board send a letter requesting a 50 year lease with Water Management on the property along SR 78. He stated he hoped to have a draft letter for consideration by the next meeting. He stated he had also been in contact with representatives from the East and West Coast Boy Scout Councils regarding an agreement for use of the property; however the Councils were looking for more acreage than what the County had on Curry Island. He stated it appeared that the County would not be getting the Parker Place lease from the Department of Environmental Protection. He stated Lake Okeechobee Habitat Alliance had gotten the lease. He stated the Boy Scout Council was looking to lease approximately 600-1000 acres to make a permanent Boy Scout camp site. He stated he had directed them to Lykes Bros., Inc. He stated the Council liked Glades County because of the central location. He stated approximately 5,000 boy scouts utilized their current site in Martin County every 7
weekend with more in the summer time. He stated this would have a tremendous economic impact on Glades County. ADJOURN ON MOTION of Commissioner Beck seconded by Commissioner Giesler the Board moved to adjourn the meeting. There being no further discussion, Chairman Echols adjourned the meeting at 6:49 p.m. ATTEST: Russell Echols, Chairman Joe Flint, Clerk of the Circuit Court Approved: December 8, 2009 THESE MINUTES ARE NOT A VERBATIM RECORD. TAPES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN LISTENING TO THE ENTIRE MEETING. 8