Draft Minutes
May 19, 2004
I.
CALL TO ORDER,
INTRODUCTIONS, REVIEW OF AGENDA
Chairman Bill Hammond opened the meeting of the Lee County Smart
Growth Advisory Committee at 6:04 p.m., in the First Floor Meeting Room
of the Lee County Administration Building. The following Committee
Members were in attendance:
Mr. Jack Eikenberg
Mr. Brian Griffin
Mr. Bob Janes
Mr. Rudy Marion
Mr. Arnold Rosenthal
Ms. Jill Tyrer
Mr. Don Stilwell
Mr. Bob Janes
Mr. Bill Hammond
Mr. Steve Maxwell
Mr. Rob Fowler
Mr. Don Eslick
The following Committee members were excused absent:
Mr. Dennis Gilkey (represented by Mr. Dennis Church)
Ms. Jeannie Dozier (represented by Ms. Babcock)
Ellen Lindblad
The following Committee members were absent:
Mr. Lee Ford
Mr. Steve Smith
Mr. Tim Kinney
II.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Chairman Bill Hammond
asked each of the members to make a short introduction for the sake of
the public.
A.
MINUTES OF April 21,
2004
Mr. Jack Eikenberg moved to accept the
Minutes, seconded by Mr. Brian Griffin, called and carried.
III.
PRESENTATIONS:
GREYFIELDS IN ACTION. MAYOR JIM HUMPHREY OF FORT MYERS WILL DISCUSS THE
DOWNTOWN PLANNING AND OTHER SMART GROWTH ISSUES HE SEES FACING FORT
MYERS.
Mayor Jim Humphrey presented city of
Fort Myers history and statistics. He covered issues regarding:
·
Over 30% of assessed
value off the tax roll
·
Infrastructure in need
of repair
·
Debt
·
Growth
·
Taxes increased during
his administration
Serious financial conditions:
·
Maintenance and repair
·
Infields
·
Low resident population
within the city
He discussed the “DuanyPlan”
to encourage growth through responsible development. The city realized
that transportation, smart growth issues and infields needed to be met.
He mentioned city developer partnering the benefits of no impact fees
worked for both partners. The City of Fort Myers realized the following
goals:
·
Priority is resident
population over commercial and industrial development.
·
Need infrastructure
concurrent with development over and above impact fees.
·
Addressed concerns with
the city’s next comprehensive plan
for Dr. M.L.K. Blvd and Veronica Shoemaker Blvd.
·
Looked at the commercial
and industrial zoning for transportation and infield needs.
Infield Area:
·
Working with
Homeownership Resource locating
condemned, foreclosed properties along with donating lots to groups that
will build single family homes for certain prices.
·
Realized the importance
of regional corporation for SW Florida’s
future growth.
·
Create a boundary area
to ensure that the city cooperates with political entities within the
county.
·
The next endeavor is
Public-Private Partnership with
reference to waterfront property near Exhibition Hall, East of
Harborside.
A question and answer session
wherein the following topics were discussed:
·
Foreign investors – low
cost and fewer restrictions.
·
Adult clubs will not be
moved to East Fort Myers.
·
Through lengthy planning
and discussion there is little risk for companies through partnering.
·
Arnold Rosenthal
requested a map for future new housing developments including
annexation. Specifically the proportionate share per acres of housing,
recreation, etc.
·
Bill Hammond stated that
the city, county, water management district, developers and
environmental groups are working in a joint workshop with Smart
Growth for incentives to provide
development to protect Six Mile Basin,
(up to SW Corner of Lehigh) including surrounding wetlands, single
family cypress head lots to proactively solve issues as development
moves in.
·
Dan Moser is currently
working with the City of Fort Myers Brownfield Committee
to extend bikeway along 10 Mile Canal
from Colonial to Imaginarium through the urban core.
·
Steve Maxwell discussed
annexation and impact with unincorporated county. He questioned
Mayor Humphrey on transitional zones
in the next 5 years.
·
Mayor Jim Humphrey
stated reserves are at10 million with a balanced budget in excess. The
5-year strategic plan shows a slight reduction. Most of the money is
focused on public safety and neighborhood improvement. He thanked Mr.
Stilwell and Mary Gibbs, Department of Community Development, for their
assistance with the City of Fort Myers.
·
Mayor Jim Humphrey
responded to Steve Maxwell’s
question with regard to areas of partnering
with the Lee County.
·
Important to reach an
agreement of reserved boundary and health insurance premiums with the
county.
·
Goal is to retire the
debt to future development and cooperate through expansion of
infields. He added the importance to
preserve Six Mile Cypress.
·
Don Eslick expressed his
concerns with the city taking a similar posture with Wal-Mart or any
similar large corporation as Estero did.
·
Mayor Jim Humphrey
concurred the difficulty the city has had with Wal-Mart on Colonial. He
is opposed to Wal-Mart on U.S. 41 because of potential roadblocks and
damages to other businesses.
§
Mayor Jim Humphrey referenced the 40 story
high-rise buildings that would change the waterfront scene in Ft. Myers.
He was not in favor of it, however Ft. Myers City Council voted 5-0
to pass the ordinance.
B.
GREYING OF AMERICA. MR. JIM NATHAN OF LEE MEMORIAL
HOSPITALS WILL PRESENT HIS PERSPECTIVES OF THE AGING POPULATION, WHAT
THAT MEANS TO HEALTH CARE AND COMMUNITY CHARACTER, AND WHAT THAT SHOULD
MEAN TO A SMART GROWTH INITIATIVE THAT IS ATTEMPTING TO MEET THE NEEDS
OF THE POPULATION.
Jim Nathan introduced Sue
Maxwell, who he called a “national
resource.” She is considered an expert at the national level on the
aging of America. He explained background to the critical need for the
aging population vision in Lee
County.
·
Lee County is currently
a senior boom community and about the future, social and healthcare
needs lie for seniors.
·
Lee County is twice the
national average in “over 65 population” today. ( Fifty % over the
state average in over 65 population.) The rest of the nation will not
be where we are today demographically until the year 2030.
·
Seniors use healthcare
twice more frequently as non-seniors. Keeping up with the growth will
be difficult from a facility delivery system and equipment technology
standpoint.
·
The nation will face a
massive shortage of physicians and labor force. Majority of labor force
today are baby boomers. There is not a replacement labor force
graduating from medical schools.
In summarization, the issues of concern are:
·
Labor force, growth,
facilities, technology and the principal payer for services is
government.
·
Forge relationships with
similar organizations with the same focus as Lee Memorial did a decade
ago
·
Network with other
programs within the community that focus on dealing with senior issues.
·
Sue Maxwell,
Commissioner Bob Janes and Jim Nathan collaborated on social services
healthcare and organized a larger group.
·
They conferred with them
and asked them to do “Pragmatic Dreaming,” a concept that Jim Nathan and
Sue Maxwell developed.
·
This group was asked,
“What could they do better together rather than individually.”
·
The input would help
piece together visions to become a laboratory, funded by grants, to see
what the future issues for seniors would be.
Sue Maxwell’s presentation (attached
with minutes) was distributed while she summarized the group’s process
along with the highlighted 6 recommendations. She defined this as the “The
Community of Choice.” She noted how
other communities are combining healthcare and human resources together
into one resource.
A question and answer session began:
·
Mr. Rudy Marion
questioned the grant funding availability.
·
Mr. Brian Griffin asked
what could Smart Growth address to help growth pay for medical services.
·
Mr. Jim Nathan discussed
where major growth areas that have heavy senior population will have
significant challenges:
·
Uninsured
·
Dismantling of employer
health insurance
·
Principal payers.
Discussion continued among the
members:
·
Add under “Safety” in
the Smart Growth brochure.
·
Entice workforce, such
as payer mix and reimbursement for non-paying patients.
·
Funding for facilities.
·
Organizations that
survive are those that provide:
·
Good caring, employer
relations
·
Effective leadership
·
High quality service
·
Patient satisfaction
·
Magnet Nursing Programs
offer freedom to work and collaborate with physicians.
·
Out of country labor
does not work well long-term.
·
County involvement is
important. Long-term goals and strategies should be added to Smart
Growth goals.
·
Not lose sight of the
magnitude and speed this is occurring.
·
Go to a laboratory
setting.
·
Receive government and
media support to encourage grant funding.
IV.
ACTION SECTION
A.
LEE COUNTY FIRE
DISTRICTS. A draft list of issues and work scope will be presented for
your consideration. A key point of direction is how to bring the
different Districts into the front end of the discussion
(Action needed: As Determined.)
Wayne Daltry
distributed and discussed
Consolidated Fire Districts as requested.
(His report is attached.)
Discussion and proposed work scope for
the committee continued. Wayne Daltry
noted without a cause, consolidation is usually after the fact of
important issues. He asked the members to consider if there is a
compelling result that would warrant consolidation:
·
Some counties have gone
through consolidation involving leadership and outcome charted ahead of
time.
·
High-rise buildings – This
will be a new evolution for this area of fire fighters.
·
Look at training, level of
service and response time.
·
Define the problems.
·
Fire Districts are part of
community character.
Bill Hammond
reiterated that the action requested beyond politics is a
3-person steering committee
to work with the community.
Discussion continued
with regards to Fire Districts:
·
Fire Districts do not
enjoy high impact fees.
·
Do a deficit assessment
and deal with the deficiencies.
·
Exposures in Lee County
are difficult; not always the same.
·
Public expenditure study
on effectiveness and efficiency.
·
Is the 1998 study for
$200,000 obsolete?
Estero Fire Rescue
Dennis J. Merrifield, Fire Chief,
took the floor. He read his speech
and offered a copy to the recording secretary for the minutes.
(Attached.)
Questions and answer session began:
·
Chief Merrifield
stated that the county did not follow through with the recommendations
after the completion of the1998 study.
·
There were
no summations
provided from the study.
Fire Consolidation Committee:
The following members volunteered to
research and present recommendations:
Steve Maxwell, Brian Griffin, Don
Eslick and Jack Eikenberg.
(Note: May 7, 2004, Don Eslick sent
a memo requesting he be omitted from this committee. Also
Note:
Rob Fowler requested to become a member of this committee.)
Wayne Daltry confirmed
that he would accomplish the following:
·
Research the book
·
Note the recommendations
·
Send recommendations to
Chief Merrifield
·
Set up a subcommittee
meeting
·
Invite the Chief
Merrifield and colleagues
·
Invite John Wilson
·
Meet in June (July meeting
is canceled.)
V.
OTHER BUSINESS
A.
MEMBER ISSUES
Members identify those issues that may not have been addressed to date.
·
ATTENDANCE.
(Action needed: Issues to be forwarded to the next meeting)
Pine Island Comprehensive Land
Use Plan
·
Brian Griffin presented
his report (attached) Pine Island Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
This will be a recommendation at the next Smart Growth meeting.
Discussion ensued to invite any of the challengers of this issue to the
next meeting.
·
Attendance flagged byWayne Daltry.
If members do not advise him they are not attending a meeting two times
in a row, and they do not attend, he will presume they are no longer on
the committee and notify the appointing commissioner.
MOTIOIN:
·
Motion passed to not meet in July. Seconded by Brian
Griffin called and carried.
VI.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Nat Ippolito, Fire Chief San Carlos Fire Department and President of Lee
County Fire Chief offered assistance
with Smart Growth Committee. They are willing to follow
recommendations.
·
Bill Hammond suggested
that after Wayne Daltry
completes the recommendations from the 1998 report, that the Fire
Districts and Union meet at an August or September Smart Growth meeting
for briefing.
·
Cliff Paxson, Chief South Trail Fire
District and Al Lewis,
Deputy Fire Chief of Bonita Springs
also took the floor. It was stated that this is also an EMS issue as
well as a Fire District issue. EMS is legally required to provide
service statutorily.
Bill Hammond reminded the committee
there will no meeting of Smart Growth in July with the next meeting
convening in August.
Wayne Daltry outlined the following
topics that are in the process:
·
June will be a
presentation on the transportation plan update.
·
Recommendations were mute
to the BoCC September and December.
·
Water issues.
·
Economic Development
moving forward.
·
Elegant Few are being
tracked.
·
The Composite Recommendations
that affect the Lee Plan
are in the County EAR package
being developed through the
Comprehensive Planning process.
This process will take some time, but
7once completed, the resultant
plan amendments will lead to
the Land Development Regulation
(as associated county ordinances) being amended or expanded.
·
The few items tabled for
future discussion and the other "elegant few"
items should continue to come before
you as time permits. These include the "Community Character"
issues that need more discussion.
Next
Month's meeting will include:
·
A presentation by the MPO on the Transportation Plan
update
·
Pine Island letter
·
Progress report on Fire Consolidations
·
Other time sensitive matters to be determined.
VII.
SET NEXT MEETING DATE AND ADJOURN.
The next meeting is scheduled for June
16, 2004, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Lee County Administration
Building, 1st Floor Meeting Room.
MOTION
·
Mr. Rudy Marion moved to adjourn, seconded by
Mr. Brian Griffin, called and carried. Chairman Bill Hammond
adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucy
Crook
