Minutes
March 17, 2004
1. CALL TO ORDER, INTRODUCTIONS,
REVIEW OF AGENDA
The
meeting of the Lee County Smart Growth Advisory Committee was opened by
Co-Chairman Brian Griffin at 6:08 p.m., in the First Floor Meeting Room
of the Lee County Administration Building. The following Committee
Members were in attendance:
Ms. Jeannie Dozier
Mr. Jack Eikenberg
Mr. Lee Ford
Mr. Dennis Gilkey
Mr.
Brian Griffin
Mr. Bill Hammond
Ms. Ellen Lindblad
Mr. Steve Maxwell
Mr. Arnold Rosenthal
Mr. Don Stilwell
Ms. Jill Tyrer
The following Committee members were excused absent:
Mr. Don Eslick
Mr. Bob Janes
Mr. Tim Kenny
Mr. Rudy Marion
The following Committee members were absent:
Ms. Kate English
Mr. Rob Fowler
Mr. Steve Smith
2.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A.
MINUTES OF JANUARY
21, 2004
Accept and approve the Minutes as
amended by discussion of the members.
Mr. Jack Eikenberg moved approval of the
Minutes of January 21, 2004, with a correction to Page 3, Item 3 B;
change the word “objection” to “objective”. Mr. Arnold Rosenthal
seconded the motion, which was called and carried, with the correction
noted.
3.
ACTION SECTION
A.
DISCUSSIONS WITH DR. JAMES BROWDER AND THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL
BOARD
Dr. James W. Browder, Superintendent,
School District of Lee County, noted that the following members of the
School Board are in attendance:
Jeanne S. Dozier, Chairman
Jane E. Kuckel
Elinor
Scricca, Vice Chairman
Robert D.
Chilmonik
Dr. Browder opened his talk by siting
statistics regarding enrollment; the types of students (i.e. ethnic
background, gender or special needs); number of employees;
transportation; food service and area population. He further noted that
48 of 58 graded schools earned top grades of A or B; 10
schools earned C; there were no Ds or Fs. He addressed Growth,
Class Size Reduction, Financing, Partnerships and Multi-use Facilities.
He explained how K Mart’s are being purchased for staging schools. He
explained how Modular Schools are built (12 classrooms at Riverdale were
up in about seven days). Dr. Browder acknowledged how the County and
Cities are working with the School Board to get the necessary approvals
to build the schools. A copy of his speech was distributed to those in
attendance. A question and answer period ensued, wherein the following
topics were discussed:
A Sales Tax Referendum ($900 million is needed to build 41 schools in
nine years)
Year Round Classes
Maintaining a high level of education;
ask our legislatures what there stand is and what they intend to do to
support what is in the Constitution – a high quality education for our
students
Getting Lee County out of being listed
in the 40s in per child spending and teacher salaries in Florida
The
construction deficit
How to
deal with land offered for schools that would create urban sprawl
Vocational Education – Comprehensive
High Schools
Current $500 Million debit for
Certificates of Participation
The possibility of 20/20 lands being
used for schools
Teacher
value and teacher commitment to students
The need to get the facts straight
before the Sales Tax is pitched
Funding not only for seats, but also for
teachers and materials
Request the School Board come back to a
meeting stating what they would like Smart Growth to proposed to the
Board of County Commissioners
Members
of the audience and the School Board members were included in the above
discussion. Mr. Daltry advised that Ms. Kathy Babcock, School Board
planner, will be present for the next Smart Growth Meeting.
At this
time the Co-Chairman called for a ten minute break; the meeting was
called back to order. Discussion turned to the following item.
B.
REVIEW OF BROCHURE
Revise and accept the Brochure as amended.
Mr. Wayne Daltry distributed copies of
the brochure. He requested everyone review and edit the brochure and
have it back to him in two weeks. He noted it will have colored paper,
photographs and charts. If this is what the Committee wants under its’
name, Mr. Daltry will have it redone for the next meeting.
4.
OTHER BUSINESS
A.
THE LEE COUNTY MASTER MITIGATION, RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION
STRATEGY PRESENTATION – PROGRESS REPORT
Mr. Wayne
Daltry presented this item with the aid of Power Point. He noted the
tentative schedule:
This meeting - Mitigation Plan Re-environmental
mitigation strategy
Next meeting - Greyfields, Infield, redevelopment strategy
Meeting following - Community Character strategy
Mr.
Daltry reviewed the Mitigation Plan Components. If done project by
project, you may end with many projects, but there may be no more
environmental system. Since each entity that reviews these projects has
requirements, the Smart Growth Committee should come up with a list that
coordinates all their requirements. Task Teams are in place drafting an
outline for a program (an Interagency Task Team and an Interdepartmental
Task Team). A Future Land Use Map was included. Sample Projects
include:
Island Park to be rebuilt as a Filter Marsh,
habitat and to store more water
Ten Mile Canal – working to expand, with private
investment dollars, to clean up the water quality before it goes into
Estero Bay
The Brooks Flowway, Bonita Bay
Filter Marsh – Lehigh
The
Mitigation Plan defines the edges of our urban areas in Lee County with
green space. Also discussed was permitting for the Water Management
District and the Lower West Coast Water Supply Plan as pertains to water
quality. The Mitigation Plan may be found on the Smart Growth web
site;
www.smartgrowthlee.com
B.
MEMBER ISSUES
Members identify those issues that may not have been addressed to date.
Issues to be forwarded to the next meeting.
Co-Chairman Griffin introduced two
items that were presented to him by members of the public:
Revised Mining
Prospectus to
conduct a study to look again at the consolidation of fire districts (a
handout was distributed)
5.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The Co-Chairman called for public
comment and the following person came forward:
Ms. Peggy Apgar-Schmidt – addressed water
quality
Later in the meeting
Ms. Apgar-Schmidt – spoke to the blasting issue
6. SET
NEXT MEETING DATE AND ADJOURN.
The next meeting is scheduled
for April 21, 2004, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Lee County
Administration Building, 1st Floor Meeting Room.
Mr.
Daltry advised that he has approached Ft. Myers’ Mayor James Humphrey to
appear at a Smart Growth Committee meeting and he is available for April
21st or May 19th. The Committee agreed to invite
him to the May meeting. Mr. Jack Eikenberg suggested that Mr. Jim
Nathan, Lee Memorial Hospital, be invited to appear to discuss the
process of “self pay – no pay” and what happens to the hospital. Mr.
Arnold Rosenthal brought up the problem of blasting. Assistant County
Attorney Tim Jones advised that the Board of County Commissions will act
on the Blasting Ordinance in April. Attorney Jones summarized that the
Ordinance gives three alternatives:
1.
Prohibit all blasting (development blasting)
2. No
development blasting without getting a permit from the Board of County
Commissioners.
3. A
much more restrictive Blasting Ordinance. Lowering the PPVs to .3 from
.5; adding a frequency requirement – nothing below 40 hertz; minimum
distance of 600 feet from a structure; measuring the blast at the
projects property line, as opposed to the first building; pre and post
blast inspections for everybody within 1500 feet; offered within 3000
feet; one strike and you are out. If you violate the intensity
provisions of the Ordinance, then the blaster can get no more permits to
blast in Lee County for five years. The development itself – no more
blasting for the life of the development. These are the major changes.
As an
aside, Attorney Jones revealed that there are no academic or experience
requirements to be a licensed blaster. You only have to pass a test and
the State will give you a permit. Mr. Daltry was requested to have the
Public Hearing information for the Committees April meeting.
Mr. Jack
Eikenberg moved to adjourn the meeting at 8 p.m., seconded by Mr. Steve
Maxwell, called and carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Shirley E.
Rost
