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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTreasure Coast Council of Local Governments Meeting 10-1-14TREASURE COAST COUNCIL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments Meeting Wednesday, October 1, 2014 - 10 am 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida St. Lucie County Roger Poitras Administration Annex Third Floor Conference Room 3 1. Chairman Mowery called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. Introductions were made: Members Present: Dowling Watford, Council Member and Treasurer, City of Okeechobee Ingrid Van Hekken, Alderwoman, St. Lucie Village Peter O'Bryan, Commissioner, Chairman, Indian River County (IRC) Joel Tyson, Vice Mayor, City of Fellsmere Linda Hudson, Vice Chairwoman and Mayor, City of Fort Pierce Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, Commissioner, Town of Sewall's Point Jerome Adams, Councilman, City of Sebastian Richard Winger, Mayor, City of Vero Beach Kathryn Hensley, School Board Member & Secretary, St. Lucie County School District Margaret Helton, Commissioner, Okeechobee County JoAnn Faiella, Mayor, Port St. Lucie Tom Campenni, Commissioner, City of Stuart Tom Slater, Council Member, Town of Indian River Shores Tod Mowery, Commissioner, St. Lucie County Members Not Present: Karen Disney-Brombach, Indian River School Board Sarah Heard, Commissioner, Martin County Harry Charleston, Mayor, Town of Jupiter Island Michael Busha, Martin County School Board Also Present: Pete Tesch, Director, St. Lucie County Economic Development Michael Corbit, CareerSource Research Coast Kathy LaMartina, South Florida Water Management District Kate Parmalee, Intergovernmental and Grants Coordinator, Martin County Kathy Salerno, Jeff Atwater, Florida Department of Financial Services Stuart Trent, Town of Jupiter Island K.C. Traylor, FNAA Candace Walls, Congressman Patrick Murphy's Office Carrie Lira, Senator Joe Negron's Office Nicole Fogarty, State Representative Harrell's Office Ann Benedetti, St. Johns River Water Management District Ann Bolduc, State Representative Magar's Office Pat Christensen, Treasure Coast Regional League of Cities Cara Perry, FAU Harbor Branch Rosalie & Tony Longano, Harbour Isl. Dr. West Susie Caron, Commissioner Mowery's Aide 4. Chairperson's Comments Chairman Mowery welcomed everyone and asked Councilwoman Ingrid Van Hekken to introduce our Guest Speaker, K.C. Traylor. Ingrid Van Hekken introduced K.C. Traylor and thanked her for taking the time to speak to the TCCLG. 5. Presentation: K.C. Traylor, from "Florida Not All Aboard" gave the background on how she became involved in "Not All Aboard Florida" beginning in February 2014. To date they have 30 Resolutions that say No to "All Aboard Florida" and 31 thousand signed petitions opposed as well. K.C. gave a very informative power point presentation and stated that the presentation is available to anyone upon request or you can visit FLANOTALLABOARD.Com and download it. She has a Radio Program on Thursday nights sharing additional information as it comes in. Council Member, Richard Winger stated it looked like a wash on all issues on the EIS (Environmental Impact Study). K.C. Traylor will be putting together a document on the EIS Report as soon as all the information is available. She concluded with "Stop the Money- Stop the Train" and would like the TCCLG to please consider a Resolution opposing "All Aboard Florida" to add to her website. There was general discussion relating to All Aboard Florida by Council Members. Congressman Murphy has spoken out against "All Aboard Florida" as well as written several letters regarding the issues. 6. Vice Chairperson's Comments: Vice Chairwoman Hudson had no comments in consideration of time. 7. Approval of the September 3, 2014 Meeting Minutes ON MOTION BY Port St. Lucie Mayor JoAnne Faiella, SECONDED BY Vice Chairwoman Linda Hudson, the members voted unanimously (13-0) to approve the September 3, 2014 meeting minutes as presented. 8. Treasurer's Report Councilman Watford reported the activity for the month of September 2014 (see attached report). Beginning balance 9295.67, Deposits — Dues: Fellsmere, Stuart and Okeechobee County $600.00. Expenses $0.00 with an Account Balance of $9895.67 and a Certificate of Deposit balance of $11,322.04 ON MOTION BY Vice Chairwoman Linda Hudson, SECONDED BY, Joel Tyson, Council Member, the members voted unanimously (13-0) to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented. 9. Committee Reports i. Florida League of Cities Mayor JoAnn Faiella reported the Florida League of Cities has elected several New Board Members and are still working on a Resolution regarding Sober Homes (Detox Facilities). ii. Florida Association of Counties Councilman Peter O'Bryan reported that Amendment 2 fell apart on procedure basis. State wide issues include Lagoon, Water Supply and discussion on DRI's focus to use Regional Planning Councils. FAC is in need of a 2"d Vice Chairman. With regards to Medical Marijuana, Indian River County will be drafting an ordinance similar to the one drafted for "Pill Mills" as they have great concern if this passes. The City of Vero Beach is also looking in to an ordinance but may be more geared to Zoning. Councilman O'Bryan stated that the Governor has already signed a Bill in Florida known as "Charlotte's Web" (marijuana in liquid form) for medical use. Florida has 5 Regions and Grow Areas already and the state has already made it available through physicians. Commissioner Mowery spoke to the Medical Marijuana issue being a member of a FAC Joint Task Force that is collectively looking at all the issues. Action needs to be taken before January, not the November 4th election date. Commissioner Mowery reminded everyone to make sure they have the mandatory four (4) hours of Ethics Training before year end 2014. Pat Christensen stated that the Treasure Coast League of Cities will be offering an Ethics Course on February 11, 2015 at the Port St. Lucie Community Center and everyone is welcome. iii. Florida Association of School Boards St. Lucie County Board Member, Katherine Hensley reported that the State of Florida does not have the ability to receive K2 test transmissions- Opt out at this time. The FASB has to hold an Emergency Election due to the two top Officers not being reelected. Remember to vote YES for the Children Services Council Amendment on Nov. 4th for Okeechobee, Martin and St. Lucie Counties to reauthorize funding. This funding includes several hundred jobs and program. Ms. Hensley was proud to announce that the Indian River Lagoon Science Festival was a huge success as they hoped for Fifteen Hundred visitors but the numbers look closer to Four Thousand. Thanks to everyone for such a successful event. iv. Florida Research Coast Pete Tesch stated St. Lucie County's focus of Economic Development is a Four Region Approach and the Regional Councils are very active and pulling resources together for best exposure. The St. Lucie County EDC is targeting Industry Opportunities, Industrial and Agriculture Technology as well as looking at the 195 Corridor, Airport and Port for Targeted Industries. St. Lucie, Indian River and Martin County are working on `Project What' which has the potential to create 650 local jobs. v. CareerSource Research Coast Michael Corbit distributed a handout on Unemployment. The report is unchanged from previous months with ups and downs. With the season fast approaching, we should see an improvement in the Unemployment numbers. There will be a job fair in Indian River County on Oct. 151h and one in Port St. Lucie on Nov. 13th, please spread the word. vi. Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council No Report 10. Old Business Commissioner Mowery requested the November Meeting date be changed to the second Wednesday of November, due to the November 4th Elections. Councilman Dowling Watford made a motion to move the TCCLG Meeting to November 12, 2014 at 10 A.M. or soon thereafter and the 2015 Nominating Committee, Vice Mayor Joel Tyson, Commissioner Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch and Alderwoman Ingrid Van Hekken meet at 9:30 on November 12, 2014 to present the slate at the 10 A.M. Meeting. ON MOTION BY Councilman Dowling Watford, SECONDED BY Councilwoman JoAnn Faiella, the members voted unanimously (13-0) to accept the motion. 11. New Business Cobb's Landing in Downtown Fort Pierce was suggested as the meeting place for the December 3, 2014 Reorganizational Meeting. Vice Chairwoman Linda Hudson will bring details back to the November Meeting. Councilwoman Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch posed the question if the TCCLG was ready to act on the request by K.C. Traylor to write a Resolution opposing "All Aboard Florida"? Councilwoman Ingrid Van Hekken stated it looks like we are ignoring it and are we going to write a Resolution or Not? After discussion by Council Members, Councilwoman Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch made a Motion to Create a Resolution that the Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments oppose "All Aboard Florida and the Use of Public Funding". ON MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER Ingrid Van Hekken to approve the motion as stated. The members voted unanimously (13-0) to accept the motion. 12. Legislative Issues Legislative Delegates Offices gave brief updates. 13. Ad'ourn By: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:54 a.m. Tod Mowery, Chairman