JOINT CITY/COUNTY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

FEBRUARY 15, 2005

 

 

ATTENDEES

Mayor Russ Hauck, Altamonte Springs

Mayor Bob Goff, Casselberry

Commissioner Susan Doerner, Casselberry

Mayor Thom Greene, Lake Mary

Mayor Butch Bundy, Longwood

Mayor Linda Kuhn, Sanford

Mayor John Bush, Winter Springs

Commissioner Don Gilmore, Winter Springs

County Chairman Carlton Henley, Seminole County

Commissioner Randy Morris, Seminole County, Chairman

Marty Chan, PBAS Representative

Hank Lander, Casselberry C of C

Kim Hengehold, Oviedo C of C

Tom Marin, Seminole C of C

Jonathon Moore, Seminole C of C

David Gierach, Sanford C of C

Steve Glazier, Winter Springs Business

 

ABSENT

Commissioner Jon Batman, Altamonte Springs

Commissioner Mike McLean, Lake Mary, Vice Chairman

Commissioner Brian Sackett, Longwood

Mayor Tom Walters, Oviedo

Councilwoman Regina Bereswill, Oviedo

Commissioner Randy Jones, Sanford

 

Chairman Morris called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m. and established a quorum was present.

 

Review/approval of corrected minutes of the November 16, 2005 meeting and January 18, 2006

 

Motion to approve corrected minutes of November 16, 2005 by Mayor Bundy, seconded by Mayor Bush.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion to approve minutes of January 18, 2006 by Ms. Chan, seconded by Commissioner Doerner.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Chairman Morris stated that after researching the matter of substitutes for appointed members attending and voting at meetings, he read minutes from May 18, 2005 stating “If the Mayor can not attend, the Vice-Mayor may attend, but if an elected official can not attend the meeting, no alternates would be allowed”. 

 

Commissioner Doerner stated that in Casselberry, the commission would have to appoint a member to attend as all five members have equal voting rights.  Chairman Morris stated he hears no objection that if a city duly appoints another elected office to attend in someone’s place, they would have full voting rights.

 

Parks and Recreation - School Facility Use Agreement; Sports Business Task Force Update; and presentation by the Seminole County Visitors Bureau

 

Joe Gasparini, Parks Manager, recognized several members of the subcommittee in the audience; Jerry Sullivan, Sanford; Fran Melee, Longwood; Chuck Poola, Winter Springs; Suzan Bunn, Tourist Development; and Scott Stegall, Seminole Co. School Board. 

 

Mr. Gasparini reviewed the power point (received and filed) presentation stating the steps in the process to obtain approval of their recommendations. 

 

Under discussion, Mr. Gasparini stated the subcommittee was unanimous on this recommendation with participation from all  of the cities.  Commissioner Henley asked if the proposed memorandum of understanding would spell out the utilization and facilities between each entity and the School Board.  Mr. Gasparini stated they are looking for a umbrella interlocal agreement and then the memorandum of understanding detail the particulars with each city/schools.  This will a reciprocal agreement- usage will work both ways. 

 

Commissioner Henley asked that private agencies also be considered in the draft memorandum of understanding. 

 

Scott Stegall, Seminole County School Board, explained that this agreement was modeled after the agreement in place in Volusia County which has worked for a number of years.  There is still a lot of work to be done with the memorandum of understanding but this is a beginning. 

 

Motion to endorse the concept presented today to the School Board and then on to the entities and to also proceed with developing a draft memorandum of understanding by Commissioner Henley , second by Mayor Bush.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Suzan Bunn, Tourism Development, stated although she is not on the Park and Recreational subcommittee but they felt there should be a centralized entity to bring sports for the cities and county into the area especially non-local sports events.  She outlined the issues of a Sports Business Group in a power point presentation (received and filed).

 

Chairman Morris questioned when it is stated “Seminole County Sports” if that is inclusive of all Seminole County plus the cities or just Seminole County; the language needs to be very specific as to which entity or entities it is referring.  Ms. Bunn stated Seminole Sports Business is for all the cities/county park and recreation departments working together  to bring in events.  Discussion continued that the wording should be clear to promote all sports business events through one portal which includes private events. 

 

Mr. Gasparini stated the Sports Business Group would assist in coordination of events throughout the county citing a recent request for 25 to 30 softball fields.  One entity would not be able to provide that, but as a whole through this business group, this request could be filled. 

 

He continued with the request to establish a sports group, to move the plan forward to the cities and the county, and once adopted to commit staff to this group. 

 

Under discussion, Mayor Greene asked about committing staff in which Mr. Gasparini replied it would be staff that is able to commit facilities for future events.  Commissioner Henley asked if this would take the place of the Central Florida Sports Commission.  Mr. Gasparini replied he does not see this as an issue, because this group would be focusing on different events and feels this group would be an enhancement to the Sports Commission. 

 

Mayor Hauck stated he feels this issue should move forward but perhaps this committee may want to consider specific objectives such as adding consideration of the relationship with existing sports commissions.  Mr. Gasparini replied that would be worked out in the mission statement adding that the main purpose of every park and recreation department is the day to day activities and not to compete with other sports commission.

 

Discussion continued on the activities of the sports commission, the under utilization of some facilities, the cooperation of marketing, a need of a business plan, the projected increase of pooling resources, the actual make-up of the business group and governance, and the use of a parent brand as well as a monolithic brand to promote the various entities. 

 

Mayor Bundy expressed concern to stay focused on providing recreation first to the citizens of each city before offering facilities to others and the current need for more facilities in the county and cities. 

 

Commissioner Henley added that one of the reasons the Central Florida Sports Commission has not gone out to recruit the “b” activities was there was no agreement to provide facilities county-wide for these events.  There are many regional “b” events out there and if the facilities would be available, there would be events coming to Seminole County.

 

Mr. Lander added that many events do occur on holiday weekends when the fields would typically be unused plus some of these events are sports beyond the traditional field sports.

 

Discussion continued on the economical factor of bringing in more events and family activities. 

 

Mayor Bush suggested that the Central Florida Sports Commission needs to be worked into this plan and recommended they all meet to work out the details of a Sports Business Group. 

 

Motion by Mayor Hauck to move forward with the development of a sports business group and to task the subcommittee to develop the bullets as presented in the scope of services to include a relationship with the Central Florida Sports Commission and also to include a draft set of objectives for the Sports Business Group, seconded by Mayor Goff.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Stormwater Committee-Action Item; Mosquito Control District Report;  Review of Henry Deans Recommendations on Water Supply

 

Kim Ornberg, Seminole County Stormwater, introduced Tom Brode, Orange County Mosquito Control District Director who is attending to field questions on implementation and programming.  Ms. Ornberg reviewed the power point presentation and information packet (filed and received).

 

Discussion ensued focusing on capital costs, the enhanced services proposed, the cost per citizen versus the cost per area, the responsiveness of complaints and the governance of the district.

 

Mr. Brode explained that in Orange County this District is part of the Health and Human Services Department.  Standards dictate that general calls such as looking at ponds or ditches are responded to within 2 working days and requests for spraying are responded to within 5 days.  Of course a lot of this is dependent on the weather – too windy, rainy, etc – but their response time is much quicker that the standards – 1 ½ days and 2 days.  Mayor Greene asked who does the citizen call if the request is not responded to?  Chairman Morris explained that many residents in the cities are used to a very personal, hands on system.

 

Under discussion focusing on costs of operations Mr. Brode explained that most mosquito districts throughout the United States are based on either a millage based upon a rate set  by the boards or a monthly fee set on water meters.  It is difficult to say which method works the best.  He likened this to fees for libraries or fire protection. 

 

Mayor Goff stated it  seems there are three decisions to be made 1) is this a county department or an consolidated district equaling sharing the costs and responsibility on an agreed upon program; 2) does the money come from the city budgets, an MSBU or a millage across the County or out of the County budget; and 3) is this for profit or a dedicated district and then the governance of the district. 

 

Commissioner Henley stated he would support the County levying the appropriate millage to pay the total cost with the County being in control with an advisory committee set up with staff from each city.   He continued that the program presented is more superior than what each city is doing now.  

 

Commissioner Henley questioned if responding to a phone call from a citizen is more important than having a scientific approach to mosquito control.  If the program is working county-wide there will be fewer and fewer calls from citizens.  He has no problem with tracking calls to determine if one area needs more attention, but he feels we need to look at the whole county and determine what is the best type of program which should drive the issue more than how will we respond to a phone call.

 

Discussion continued on the effectiveness of private programs versus in-house,  response time by the district,  public education, upcoming EPA regulations and the quality of life.

 

Motion by Mayor Bundy that the Joint City/County Advisory Committee request the County Commission assume mosquito control from the cities and levy a millage to fund this, seconded by Commissioner Henley.

 

Commissioner Henley asked if it would be more appropriate for each city to approve this recommendation before forwarding this request to the County.  Mayor Bundy stated since it will save money there should  be not questions from the cities.  Mayor Hauck requested a presentation for each city.  The motion maker agreed that this issue be taken back to each city for action or appropriate resolution, seconder agreed.  Commissioner Henley asked that a presentation be made to the BCC first to get a consensus from the commission.  Mayor Greene stressed that the idea of an advisory committee be part of this overall package. 

 

Motion by Mayor Greene to amend the motion to include “there shall be an advisory committee developed by the subcommittee in terms of structure and governance”, seconded by Ms. Chan. 

 

Amendment to the main motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion passed unanimously.

 

Chairman Morris asked that the presentation to the BCC be at the February 28th meeting and invited the committee members to attend. 

 

Chairman Morris stated the discussion on Henry Dean’s water supply presentation will be held until the March meeting. 

 

Update on activities of other subcommittees - Fire/EMS and Solid Waste

 

Rafael Montalvo gave a brief update on the Fire/EMS subcommittee which met first on January 21st.  This subcommittee wants to build on existing cooperation, renew and update first response agreements, and complete an inventory of areas where there is joint cooperation.  This information will be presented at an upcoming Joint City/County meeting.

 

Ms. Crotty stated the Solid Waste subcommittee will be bringing recommendations at the March meeting which will focus on joint contracting for collection, county-wide tax roll billing for disposal fees and hurricane response coordination.  They will also be recommending a standing  Solid Waste committee be appointed that would have representation from each entity meeting quarterly.

 

Rafael Montalvo stated at the last meeting it was decided that water supply governance would be discussed.  He has reviewed the past meetings and noted the requests to hear from other water authorities around the state.  He asked if there were types of models they would like to see and what interest regarding these models.  David Gierach stated it may be appropriate to have the Volusia Water Alliance present information as well Tampa Bay Water.  In his opinion, any proposed authority would need to address future water supplies and control of a regional surface water plant.  Cooperative and interlocal agreements are also areas that need to be discussed and reviewed.    Commissioner Henley added that he visited the Peace River facility and he thinks that hearing how that facility operates would be beneficial to this committee as this is a multi-jurisdictional facility. 

 

Mayor Bush discussed ways the City of Winter Springs is saving water by use of reclaimed water as well as exploring opportunities to use Lake Jesup at a source for reclaimed water.  Chairman Morris added that the last CUP’s approved for Seminole County was declining although population continues to increase.  In his opinion, that is one reason why combining CUP’s makes a lot of sense.  Orange County is in the aquifer  2 to 3 feet in Seminole County.  Seminole County has issued a letter of protest because of the ultimate affect it would have on the county.  Brevard, Lake, Volusia and Osceola all have expressed concern on this request.  Commissioner Henley added this request would add 61 million gallons to the  Orange County CUP.

 

Being no further information, the meeting adjourned at 5:40 pm.