MINUTES
SMART GROWTH
May 16, 2007
MINUTES
Time and Place:
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 6-8 p.m., 1st
Floor, Lee County Administration Building at 2115 Second Street, Fort
Myers, Florida.
I.
Call to Order, Introductions, Review of Agenda
Bill Hammond opened the meeting of the
Lee County Smart Growth Advisory Committee at 6:00 p.m.
The
following committee members in attendance:
Ms. Whitney Gray
Ms. Carie Call
Mr. Brian Griffin
Ms. Liz Donley
Mr. Lee Ford
Dr. Bill
Hammond
Ms. Ellen
Lindblad
Mr. Neal
Noethlich
Mr. Damon Romanello
Mr. Ron Hamel
Mr. Matthew Caldwell
Dr. Margaret Banyan
The following committee members excused
absence:
Mr. Jack Luft
Mr. Steven Teuber
Ms. Liz Paul
The following committee member’s
unexcused absence:
Ms. Jill Tyrer
The following staff in attendance:
Wayne Daltry, Director
of Smart Growth
Commissioner Ray Judah
Donald D. Stilwell, County Manager
Donna Marie Collins, County
Attorney
Lucy Crook, Recording Secretary
Steve Myers, Lee Transit
Carmen Monroy, Lee Transit
II.
Administrative Matters Called to order at 6:00 p.m.
A.
Minutes of February 21, 2007.
Action Needed: Accept and approve the
minutes as amended by discussion of the members.
Brian Griffin made a motion to approve
the February 21, 2007 draft minutes as written; seconded by Ron Hamel.
Neal Noethlich made the following corrections; bottom of page 3, strike
“entertain a motion” to “made” a motion. The last motion on page four,
strike “change to “chance”. There were no other corrections. Co-Chair
Hammond asked for a vote to approve the draft minutes with corrections.
It was unanimous. Called and carried.
III.
Discussion: Wayne Daltry asked to move agenda item III. B. to
III. A. and introduced Steve Myers, Lee Tran Director who gave the
following power point presentation.
B.
Transit, 2030 (attached): He presented short range and long range
planning. “Who we are and what we do; what are the long range plans”.
Some of the highlights follow: there has been a thirty percent increase
in rider-ship; survey shows riders want frequency of service; some goals
are to attract choice riders, implement service to surrounding counties,
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT building new roads). Short term goals: light rail
after 2030 - BRT is less expensive than light rail or building new
roads; save travel time, waterborne downtown connector ferry, working
closely with Lee DOT. (Commissioner Judah arrived at 6:22 p.m.)
Some of the questions and answers follow: One third of rider-ship
travels U.S. 41; concern with many buses operating with few passengers;
consider a connector with Ava Maria project and other inter-county
connectors; Commissioner Judah said, “This is just a pipe dream unless
there is a funding source to expand public transportation.” He
encouraged the committee to be the force to impress to the community the
importance - no one is willing to step forward. Discussion continued if
travel time could be improved by using special lanes to increase choice
rider interest; County funds fifty percent of costs; demographics show
seventy percent of riders have no car; Lee DOT is aware of the BRT
corridor and use of toll lanes as well as being involved with the
over-site committee; it was agreed that Florida Gulf Coast University is
a valuable funding and research source; documentation is available on
MPO website; Expressway Authority agreed to support two new lanes. Don
Stilwell interjected that the school system faces the same situation
where buses are not filled to capacity and recommended Transit and
School Board coordinate efforts, students could ride the transit system;
one of the savings would be property taxes. Mr. Stilwell said it is
incumbent on the committee to put pressure on government and school.
More discussion followed.
The
topic turned to Transit financing alternative energy through federal
funds and the choices available. Co-Chair Hammond suggested scheduling a
workshop with the school transportation system in the future. Discussion
continued with infill, rising prices and commending Commission Judah for
prevailing with three votes on the mining issue at this weeks’ board
meeting.
A.
Five Global Trends presentation to the BoCC – Wayne Daltry (Mr.
Stilwell left 6:50 p.m.) said today was the official consummation of
the April 11th Board approval of Smart Growth
recommendations. After a short discussion, Mr. Daltry began his power
point presentation (attached). He reminded the committee of the
“Buildout” number of 1.4 million people. He noted that understanding
buildout (at current approval levels) is critical for resource and
development planning. Statistics show that one out of 500 people in U.S.
live in Lee County. He will email supporting maps and walk through this
to see the progress on implementing the initiative; the challenge that
remain is integrating the recommendations into Smart Growth programs.
There are seven points that are critical in integrating into county
programs, which was discussed in the handout.
Some of the discussion follows: Easier to allocate resources instead of
having to size roads and utilities; Wayne Daltry said the committee
should choose the steps to promote and prioritize for him to evaluate
and bring back progress to the committee, while promoting already
adopted recommendations.
Brian Griffin talked about Fire Districts’ cut back. Wayne Daltry talked
about tax structure with regards to increasing international ownership
of property in Lee County receiving tax breaks; which tax system is fair
to those who live here and which meets the service level in the
community; need to not interrupt the flow of dollars in the area (which
is the measurement of economic activity) and keep it coming in when
talking about reforms.
C. DRGR studies and mining applications. There are several mine
applications in rezoning. The Consultant report should be completed in
June. Some topics were: fourteen studies; conserve DRGR lands; proposals
in, but not approved.
Floor opened for discussion: thirty percent of DRGR is proposed for
mining; what are the accumulative impacts of mining over a long period
of time on issues of water, habitat, etc.; Florida is the second largest
aggregate producer; Commissioner Judah said to expedite a Comprehensive
Plan; work on the solution.
Public Presentation: Peggy Schmidt (public) stated that we are going to
run out of aggregate. She came forward and made a presentation that the
County does not have enough information to make decisions in DRGR; Greg
Rawls study is a trend study and explained other issues that should be
included. Because his study used averages in data points with ground
water data, what is needed is ground water tracking; studies show that
horizontal flow path contaminates have gone 30-60 miles. She is asking
County to reconsider and do study properly. Co-Chair Hammond discussed
the aquifers in that same area as a complex public issue.
D. “Turning Around Downtowns” (tentative): Postponed until next
meeting.
IV. Task
Progress
A. Integrating Smart Growth into the initiatives, plans, rules and
regulations of County departments. (handout)
B.
Member Issues - Above
C.
Other progress reports (none)
V.
Public Comment - Above
Commissioner Judah asked to bring back a response from Rawls study.
Wayne Daltry asked to hold back until the fourteen reports (a.k.a., DRGR
literature review) are received in June and note what is found and what
is not found. Commissioner Judah concurred. There was more discussion:
wait for reports and look at the gaps; funding by state reclamation and
restoration phosphate industry research center. Peggy Schmidt said
moratoriums only have one year and to initiate ground water tracing
would not be a conflict.
Discussion turned to water issue and agriculture land: Wayne Daltry said
understanding water budgeting is key to understanding the issues, but it
is not difficult to know. Mining (in water budgets) constitutes a
hole in land, and the key is trying to figure where is water coming
from to fill the hole; he also noted that regional planning is
re-recognizing the importance of regional food production, so it is poor
policy to eliminate agriculture land; need to focus on designated area
for agriculture; international competition. Matthew Caldwell asked to
place this as a critical need.
Brian Griffin reminded the committee that the Charter Review Committee
III will convene May 24th and asked members to bring forth
any issues they would like considered. The issues go to the electorate
next year.
Wayne Daltry summarized that agenda item 3.D. will be later; 4.a. was
handout; b. above; C., finish study on what to do for water retention;
and bring back to next meeting to discuss expected land to handle
growth.
Public, Arnold Rosenberg said should not be making water decisions
without all the data and applauded Peggy Schmidt’s presentation. He
asked the committee to make maximum use of opportunity to address the
upcoming county delegation on issues of importance such as this one.
VI. Set
next meeting date (June 20), identify agenda items, and adjourned at
8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
by:
Lucy Crook
Recording Secretary
County Administration
