Smart Growth Lee

Minutes

December 18, 2002

1. CALL TO ORDER, INTRODUCTIONS, REVIEW OF AGENDA

The meeting of the Lee County Smart Growth Advisory Committee was opened by Co-Chairman Bill Hammond at 6:10 p.m. in the First Floor Meeting Room of the Lee County Administration Building. Chairman Hammond advised that he would chair the meeting until the arrival of Mr. Brian Griffin, as it was Mr. Griffin’s turn to chair the meeting.

The following Committee Members introduced themselves:
Ms. Jeannie Dozier (replacing Ms. Jane Kuckel)
Mr. Jack Eikenberg
Mr. Don Eslick
Mr. Lee Ford
Mr. Dennis Gilkey
Mr. Brian Griffin (arrived during the presentation of Item 2{A})
Mr. Bill Hammond
Ms. Carol Hudler
Mr. Bob Janes
Mr. Tim Kenny
Ms. Ellen Lindblad
Mr. Rudy Marion (replacing Mr. John Witt)
Mr. Arnold Rosenthal
Mr. Don Stilwell

The following Committee members were excused absent:

Ms. Kate English
Mr. Rob Fowler
Mr. Steve Maxwell

The following Committee member was also absent:

Mr. Marty Harrity

At this time the Staff and members of the audience introduced themselves. Mr. Rudy Marion and Ms. Jeannie Dozier introduced themselves as new members.

2. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

A. MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 20, 2002

Accept and approve the Minutes as amended by discussion of the members.

Mr. Dennis Gilkey moved approval of the Minutes, seconded by Mr. Lee Ford, called and carried.

3. ACTION AND RECOMMENDATION SECTION

A. REVIEW AND ENDORSE OUTLINE

This will be used to frame a report to the Board of County Commissioners, to be reviewed by Committee before forwarding. It should serve as the outline for the “end of the first year” report, for recommendations in April.

Mr. Wayne Daltry, Smart Growth Director, explained the distributed outline and requested committee endorsement. Mr. Brian Griffin assumed the Chair at the end of Mr. Daltry’s presentation. An in-depth discussion ensued. Ms. Carol Hudler moved, “that we accept this proposed outline as the framework, knowing that we are going to have Workshops, and we’re going to have other meetings; all day meetings to add if there is something that we think is left out and we don’t know about now; there is always time to improve it; but this offers the framework we can move ahead for our discussions”. The motion was seconded by Ms. Ellen Lindblad, called and carried. Mr. Rudy Marion requested that a sheet be prepared to show the status of each particular item being discussed, showing when they will be discussed again. Mr. Daltry responded that a lot will be covered when Item 6 is discussed later this evening.

B. REVIEW AND APPROVE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES LIST PROGRESS REPORT

Review, amend and/or approve the distributed list. This will be used to guide the full day workshop to draft transportation recommendations, scheduled for January 24^th.

Mr. Wayne Daltry presented this item to the Committee, referring to the back-up material entitled, “TRANSPORTATION ISSUES – Progress (Modified by Workshop of October 2, 2002)”. Mr. Daltry reviewed the progress made in the various Workshops that have already taken place; noted the upcoming Workshops; and that when they end, full Committee meetings will rework the drafts that result from the full day Workshops. He requested review and endorsement of this list for the Transportation Workshop on January 24^th. Responding to inquiry, Mr. Daltry pointed out how this Committee is keeping regional entities well informed on any progress being made. Mr. Dennis Gilkey requested that a date be added to Item 7 above; 1982. During the discussion, Mr. Dave Loveland, Transportation Department, responded to Committee inquiry. Since there was no objection to the above list, no motion was necessary for the Committee to endorse consensus on Item 3(B).

4. “DEVELOPING CONSENSUS”

COMMUNITY CHARACTER ISSUES

Discussion of the following list:

1. There is an absence of consensus among residents and decision makers regarding a cohesive vision of what the county and its environs should look like.

2. Revitalization and development lag behind new development in priority and incentive provision.

3. Differences on which community values prevail separate the culturally and economically disadvantaged communities from the comparatively more affluent communities.

4. Underused or absent neighborhood leadership to plan and maintain communities.

5. Public information systems and current policies do not encourage viable community development

There is no consensus among and between business, neighborhood, and other activists/stakeholders (and Government) regarding the appropriate role of government in setting policies to ensure the development and maintenance of community.
Current Land Use policies do not encourage viable communities, due to a lack of incentives for community development and redevelopment.

8. Ensuring School Funding overall, and for establishing or retrofitting schools that fit into the character of the community that they are in.

Relating the educational curricula and framework to complement and further the area’s economic performance.

10. County and City economic and community development efforts should compliment and further each other’s plans according to agreed upon outcomes.

11. Incorporate the range of spatial (example, flooding) design (example, crash prevention) and maintenance (example, blight prevention) public safety components into economic and community planning and redevelopment.

12. Establish a level of health care geographic distribution, and core level of service for the community.

13. Link efforts in 9, 11, and 12, into the County economic development and economic stabilization program.

14. Link community appearance into the community economic development program

15. Establish a core level of service for mental health as part of the County economic development/stabilization program.

16. Recognize and incorporate the area age profile in planning for health services.

17. The economically challenged communities have leadership but have problem in financing improvements based upon community only TIF.

18. How to develop leadership of communities and neighborhoods, and to provide them the tools that are needed to enable the neighborhoods to help themselves.

19. Neighborhoods on the cusp - how do we keep them from going down, preserving the owner/renter mix?

20. Community landscaping - how do we create the spaces (shared spaces, green spaces, parks) for the various groups to mix and mingle.

21. Reinforce the spaces and places that make people want to stay in the community, rather than go.

22. How do we get back to the neighborhood school concept, reducing the time kids stay on buses?

23. How to we stay even with or ahead of the aging infrastructure/buildings issue.

24. How do we prevent resegregation from becoming a new issue for court review of our community?

25. What will it take to help Fort Myers have a vibrant population and tax base, as the historical heart of greater Lee County?

26. What will it take to help Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres diversify?

27. How do we keep the heart of our communities from decaying?

28. How do we get a system in place by which decision makers get out to the communities to ask what do they want.

29. How do we get people to live on the “unbuilt” second stories of our commercial areas?

30. Can revitalizing downtowns work if the next rim doesn’t get attention?

31. There needs to be prototype areas upon which we focus efforts to achieve success, to demonstrate it can be done and then move on to the rest of the communities.

32. We need to remove the imaginary lines that makes us not recognize the area from the railroad tracks to Ortiz.

33. We need to provide incentives for redevelopment to be accomplished by new development.

34. We need to examine or evaluate our package of incentives that we have for economic development/community development.

35. The TIF program should used and targeted for project certain, time certain, and dollar specific inputs and outcomes.

36. Brownfield cleanup should be a tool for identifying and prioritizing redevelopment areas, with incentives.

37. The distribution of affordable housing should be widespread, and not concentrated into few areas within the county, with the assistance, involvement, and commitment of public and private employers.

38. We should identify the top three impediments to County economic stability and improvement.

Mr. Wayne Daltry gave a brief overview of the above list, noting that presentations were made on Education, Affordable Housing, Open Space issues, the Walkable/Bicycle Safety issues, Community Appearance issues, and Sacred Places/Holy Ground. Many Committee members expressed themselves regarding the problems with education. Mr. Lee Ford spoke on the importance of Work Force Housing, as opposed to Affordable Housing.

Following a brief intermission, the discussion on the above item resumed.

Addressing Work Force Housing, Mr. Daltry suggested adding:

You ought to have the opportunity to afford to live in the community where you work.

Following further discussion, Chairman Griffin opined that Mr. Daltry has the direction to move ahead.

5. INFORMATIONAL/PRELIMINARY REVIEW

A. WATER ISSUES PROGRESS REPORT (on file)

Mr. Wayne Daltry presented this item, noting that next month he will ask for direction to move this item to a Workshop.

B. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ISSUES PROGRESS REPORT (on file)

Mr. Wayne Daltry presented this item, noting that next month he will ask for direction to move this item to a Workshop. Chairman Griffin suggested that the Committee familiarize itself with Storm Water Management. An in-depth discussion on the water table and flow ways ensued. It was agreed that everyone needs a general understanding of the aquifer system, flow ways and watersheds.

6. OTHER EVENTS

·        January 8 Workshop – Land Use Issues/Progress Report
·        Workshop Dates review
·        Meeting with Committee Chairmen

Mr. Wayne Daltry advised that Mr. Paul O’Connor and others will be participating in the January 8^th Workshop. He explained that Committee members who attend become the sub-committee. Others who attend participate in the round table discussions, with full participation. This Workshop will be held at the Department of Community Development/Public Works Building, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Upcoming events include:

     January 15^th will be the full Committee Meeting
     January 24^th will be the Friday Workshop on Transportation
     February 5^th will be the Roundtable Workshop–Community Character Issues
     February 19^th will be the full Committee Meeting
     February 28^th will be the Friday Workshop on (undetermined)
     March 14^th will be the Workshop on Water and Environmental Quality Issues
     March 19^th will be the full Committee Meeting
     April 4^th will be the last full day Workshop
     April 16^th will be the full Committee Meeting

Eventually, Mr. Daltry will get with the various County committee advisory staffs to schedule meetings to discuss what Smart Growth will mean to their operation. At some subsequent date, a meeting will be scheduled with the Chairpersons of these committees. Ms. Hudler issued a challenge to Mr. Daltry to note how the Smart Growth Committee role differs from each committee. Mr. Daltry accepted the challenge for some meeting in the future.

7. PUBLIC COMMENT

The Chairman called for Public Comment; however, no one from the general audience came forward to make comment.

8. NEXT MEETING TIME

The next meeting is scheduled for January 15, 2003, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Lee County Administration Building 1^st Floor Meeting Room.

9. ADJOURNMENT

Chairman Griffin adjourned the meeting at 8:02 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Shirley E. Rost