Smart Growth Lee

MINUTES

SMART GROWTH MINUTES

May 17, 2006 Minutes

Time and Place: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 6-8 p.m., 1^st Floor, Lee County Administration Building, 2115 Second Street, Fort Myers Florida.

I.                   Call to Order, Introductions, Review of Agenda

Wayne Daltry opened the meeting of the Lee County Smart Growth Advisory Committee at 6:05 p.m.

The following Members were in attendance:

Mr. Bill Hammond                                Mr. Don Eslick

Ms. Carie Call                                      Mr. Lee Ford

Ms. Jill Tyrer (Arrived 6:15 p.m.)          Mr. Ron Hamel

Ms. Ellen Lindblad                                Ms. Whitney Gray

Mr. Jack Eikenberg                              Ms. Liz Donley

Mr. Neal Noethlich

The following committee members were unexcused absent:

Mr. Rob Fowler

The following committee members were excused absent:

            Mr. Steven Teuber                               Mr. Brian Griffin

            Mr. Jack Luft                                       Mr. Steve Maxwell

The following staff was in attendance:

Wayne Daltry, Director of Smart Growth

Commissioner Janes, District 1

Don Stilwell, County Manager (Departed at 6:41 p.m.)

Donna Marie Collins, County Attorney

Lucy Crook, Recording Secretary

Wayne Daltry requested to move agenda item 3. presentation below to 4. as accepted by the group. All approved.

II.                Administrative Matters:

A.     Minutes of April 19, 2006.

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

Page 2 per Neal (as)

Wayne Daltry entertained a motion to accept the April 19, 2006 draft minutes as written; Motion made by Jack Eikenberg. Mr. Neal Noethlich noted page 2. IV. A. 3) should read, “Files as, not, an”; seconded by Mr. Hamel to accept the minutes with correction. Called and carried.

III.             Presentations:

A. Update on MPO Plan (invited).

Mr. Daltry said that MPO was the first organization Smart Growth recommendations went to and he introduced John Voges, Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization Director. Mr. Voges said in December 2005 the 20-30 Long Range Plan was adopted. He confirmed that Smart Growth type options were infused with those that were not incorporated before into the revamped Public Redeveloped and Transportation Plan. The goal is to keep all transit options open. FDOT dollars are dwindling and the Highway Trust Fund will be gone by 2008. It will be necessary to seek other avenues of funding. An additional $2 per day rental car revenue the legislature recently passed, could implement $8 million per year for Lee County. MPO will help the county draft a resolution and an ordinance on how to spend the funds.

John Voges opened the floor for discussion:

In answer to Whitney Gray, Transit Authority initiatives are bus replacement, with more planning toward potential light or commuter rail. D.O.T. plans to purchase parts of Seminole Railroad for preservation and to push for keeping Transit Authority on track.

In response to the MPO model split, Mr. Voges said the forecast shows 1% of the trips are forecasted. The Needs Plan is at approximately $6 billion. That means we can go to 1-2% and save $60 million. Unfortunately, the single option vehicles forecast reads 70-80%. Educating the public by promoting transit authority will be a big part of LeeTran. Mr. Voges explained that large developers should be creating alternatives, like 300-400 ft. right-of-way now for future multi-use corridors. (Jill Tyrer arrived 6:15 p.m.).

Dan Moser – stopped by from the “Ride of Silence” and thanked MPO for help in coordinating communities that presently do not have bike/ped paths. This will give recognition that cities are connected to other counties and state roads that need retrofitting with bike/ped upgrades. Mr. Moser explained that U.S. 41 and Page Field down to Daniels Parkway have no sidewalks. As time goes by, costs are going up. It is important that bike paths will not fall to the wayside.

Lee Ford posed complaints from students on lengthy bus waits and travel time from the airport and home. Mr. Voges agreed, but LeeTran goes by patrons and interest shown before frequency is increased. A mindset change is needed to promote and vote to approve the struggling Transit Authority funding. Express bus routes, a route to Clewiston, bike/ped, etc., could be funded. There was discussion about express lanes, or light rails. Mr. Voges said $150 thousand would retrofit a bus into a hybrid and save 30-50% fuel cost and free up money for additional services. Wayne Daltry thanked John Voges for his presentation.

IV.              Discussion Topic

A.     “Refill”, Redevelopment and Infill. (Attached). Wayne Daltry discussed Lee County’s sections of developed communities from the 1950’s and 60’s with density and intensity where the current code states it is inconsistent with regulations. There has been talk about densities needed for transit and mixing the uses to alleviate a vehicle trip with commercial near by. He noted this is an opportunity for a Redevelopment Build Out Policy Recommendation that does not involve a disaster to be considered for the LPA. It could include incentives and offers to build back a redeveloped area the way they want. If this is the concept, it could be moved forward by stating: 1) land development regulations, 2) the logic behind it, 3) why is it an issue, 4) what programs are relevant to it, and 5) the paragraph policy for consideration for redevelopment. Smart Villages promotes a theme, how to mix issues of clash and conflict, and to ensure the forms blend with what is going inside the building.

Action item: to discuss Redevelopment at next meeting – attached.

Mr. Daltry said, “There are still 67 initiatives that go to LPA next week”. He referred to his last memo to include an amendment of maps, graphs and charts.

Wayne Daltry offered a break at 6:40 p.m. and those who have seen the power point presentation at Horizon Council may leave. (Don Stilwell left at 6:41 p.m.)

Ellen Lindblad asked about a policy to improve water and stormwater utility quality in impacted areas. Wayne Daltry said the board directed Public Works Utilities to use mileage funds for the non-stormwater utility in March 2006. To change from storm to storage some of the following needs to happen: 1) the dynamic flow to storage, 2) locate holding areas, 3) retrofit stormwater systems to hold, 4) simultaneously coordinate with many other land acquisition and development programs and, 4) integrate the development plans into stormwater, not drainage system.

B. “If This Is Growth Management, I want My Money Back.” (Wayne Daltry, using the script Michael Busha presented to the Horizon Council, 4-28-06).

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.

            Exotics and redevelopment.

B. Progress on various projects, verbal, Wayne Daltry (Babcock, Lake Okeechobee). Tabled.

C. Previously Distributed Items (Smart Villages, LPA Recommendations). Discussed above.

VI.              Public Comment: None.

VII.           Set next meeting date (June 21), identify agenda items, and adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:

Lucy Crook, Recording Secretary

County Administration