of the
Smart Growth Task
 Force
 

Review and Discussion

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Draft Minutes

SMART GROWTH MINUTES

January 18, 2006 Meeting

Time and Place: Wednesday, January 18,  6-8 p.m., 1st Floor, Lee County Administration Building 2115 Second Street, Fort Myers Florida.

 

I.                   Call to Order, Introductions, Review of Agenda

Brian Griffin opened the meeting of the Lee County Smart Growth Advisory Committee at 6:05 p.m., in the First Floor Meeting Room of the Lee County Administration Building.  Mr. Daltry introduced new members Liz Donley, Charlotte Harbor Estuaries and Steven Tueber, Chairman of the Lee County School Board.

 The following Members were in attendance:

Mr. Bill Hammond

Mr. Don Eslick

Mrs. Carie Call

Mr. Lee Ford

Ms. Jill Tyrer

Mr. Ron Hamel

Mr. Jack Luft

Mr. Steve Maxwell (arrived at 6:10 PM)

Ms. Ellen Lindblad (

arrived at 6:10 PM)

Mr. Jack Eikenberg

Mr. Brian Griffin

Mr. Steven Tueber

Whitney Gray (Arrived at 6:40 PM) 

The following committee members were excused absent:

Mr. Rob Fowler

Neal Noethlich

The following staff was in attendance:

Wayne Daltry, Director Smart Growth

Commissioner Janes, District 1

Donna Marie Collins, County Attorney

Lucy Crook, Recording Secretary 

 

II.                Administrative Matters-

A.      Minutes of November 16, 2005.

Action Needed: Accept and approve the minutes as amended by discussion of the members.

Motion by Mr. Hammond to accept the draft November 16, 2005 minutes as written; seconded by Ron Hamel. Called and carried. 

III.     Presentation: Mr. Daltry explained that the inter-local agreement consists of only the recommendations.  The forty page report sent to the Regional Planning Council (RPC) is in the final stages with RPA. Mr. Daltry continued listing many of the recommendations that Smart Growth has labored on for two years; one being the 21st Century Management for 21st Century. The Evaluation Appraisal Report Amendments (EAR) was received well at the local planning agency on November 28, 2005. 

A.     Inter-local Agreements, Annexations, and Service Provision- Mr. Daltry said discussing the core level of services with the city’s would ensure that it will not be the competition that drives the organization, but where organization should be. Hundreds of county agreements with municipalities have been reviewed. (Ellen Lindblad and Steve Maxwell arrived at 6:10 p.m.) See attachment “Inter-Local Agreements, Annexations, Service Provision & Specials Needs” for a summary of Mr. Daltry’s discussion.  He concluded that other than transportation there were no working agreements with cities and the county. The report documents the large capacity of agreements and focuses on uncovered issues as recommendations.

Some topics of discussion - Steve Maxwell was concerned that the inter-local costs or annexation as it relates to the county were not covered.   He suggested more dialog on tax liabilities and boundaries in unincorporated areas; Don Eslick discussed the need for adequate public participation. His concerns were with the cities/county competition lowering the environmental protection with the jurisdictions that gives developers the best deal. He questioned if it was understood that the statute has changed to require more county and city participation in pre-annexation; Commissioner Janes talked about constitutional problems prohibiting counties from moving in certain areas.

B.   Special Districts in Lee County-Wayne Daltry said vast numbers of inter-local agreements with fire and other districts were found. He said the inter-local independent districts are shrinking. See attached map, “Fire District Boundaries.” See Mr. Daltry’s attached report, “Contents.” Discussion continued on the status of many of the districts. See attachment, “Community Development.” Mr. Daltry said these two reports are two of the County Commission Goals for this year.

IV.              Action  Section

 A. Review the “Smart Village” Summary for comments and recommendations for an action plan. 

Wayne Daltry displayed and recapped the planning maps Smart Growth studied at the November meeting. He said the county focused on urban boundaries omitting things that did not make communities whole. While the county’s growth sprawled, community groups identified what is missing; Smart Growth recommended help to the communities, such as Workforce Housing. Mr. Daltry said future growth should help supplement these communities, i.e.; mixed-use housing and development. He reiterated that transit is a critical component to urban structure and that the current 1-1/2 units an urban acre does not work. He reminded members of the November 2005 assignment to locate aging urban sites for potential utilization. Mr. Daltry referred to, “Below market point housing.” See attached, “The Smart Village Concept.”

(Break at 7:00 p.m. Back at 7:10 p.m.)

Mr. Daltry discussed the six predicates in the “Smart Villages/The Smart Village Concept” handout. He referenced Mr. Luft’s November presentation and Mr. Luft concurred it is like “Trying to create an alternative lifestyle, walkable community.”

Some of the topics of discussion were; Mr. Luft suggested using stronger language with vertical mixed-use and the importance of smaller schools in the school system.  (Mr. Daltry asked everyone to send ideas to Mr. Luft); Ms. Lindblad requested a presentation on urban mixed-use centers; Mr. Hammond suggested finding a way to create Smart Growth Concept outside the urban core that would break the Veranda prototypes (as an example) to include corridors of Smart Growth Villages; Mr. Hamel questioned the economic parameters.  Mr. Daltry asked members to email thoughts and suggestions to him.

V.                  Other Business

A.  Members identify those issues that may not have been addressed to date. 

Action Needed: Issues to be forwarded to the next meeting.

Discussion continued when Mr. Maxwell discussed the cost to local governments and fiscal impact statements.

B.  Progress on various projects, verbal, Wayne Daltry

Subcommittee meeting with RPC.  Mr. Daltry said the water wars continue.

Discussion – Mr. Ford said he is pleased with the issues Smart Growth is currently targeting; Mr. Daltry said he would look into Mr. Hammonds’ question on innovative practices in neighborhoods be accommodated in the Comp Plan with regard to services for new development. Also Mr. Griffin asked, “How often do we measure air quality and are there any countywide restrictions for airfields?”

VI.              Public Comment

Dan Moser encouraged Mr. Daltry to continue his negotiations with the cities. He said he would like to see discussion of a corridor from Boy Scout Road in the City of Fort Myers.

VII.           Set next meeting date (February 15, identify agenda items, and adjourn.)

Motion to adjourn by Steve Maxwell at 8:00 PM; seconded by Ms. Lindlblad. Called and carried.

 Respectfully submitted by:

Lucy Crook, Recording Secretary

County Administration