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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 11.04.2015 - Joint MeetingT. COUNTY L111C1E F L O R I D A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA Joint Meeting November 4, 2015 Convened: 2:00 PM Adjourned: 3:28 PM Attendee Name I Status Arrived Paula A. Lewis District No. 3, Chair Present 2:00 PM Kim Johnson District No. 5, Vice -Chair Present 2:00 PM Chris Dzadovsky District No. 1 Present 2:00 PM Tod Mowery District No. 2 Present 2:00 PM Frannie Hutchinson District No. 4 Present 2:00 PM Linda Hudson Mayor Present 2:00 PM Rufus J. Alexander District No. 1 Present 2:00 PM Reginald B. Sessions District No. 1 Present 2:00 PM Edward W. Becht District No. 2 Present 2:00 PM Thomas K. Perona District No. 2 Present 2:00 PM Howard Tipton County Administrator Present 2:00 PM Bob Adolphe Deputy County Administrator Present 2:00 PM Mark Satterlee Deputy County Administrator Present 2:00 PM Daniel S. McIntyre County Attorney Present 2:00 PM Don West Public Works Director Present 2:00 PM Leslie Olson Planning Manager Present 2:00 PM Angela Riggins Clerk to the Board Present 2:00 PM 2. PORT OF FORT PIERCE Representative Larry Lee, Jr. Thanked everyone for coming together stating it is time the City, County and State began to work together. 1. Interlocal Agreement (Cooperation - Development of the Port of Fort Pierce) County Attorney spoke about the Interlocal Agreement that has been drafted. He stated the County is proposing to work with the City and the first project to be worked on would be the Fisherman's Wharf project. DOT completed a study Generated 1111912015 11:50 AM Joint Meeting Wednesday, November 4, 2015 2:00 PM and identified 3 options, they recommended option 2 which would involve land acquisition. He stated the County has the funds and can bring a lot to the table. The proposal was to cooperate with the City on the project, while giving the City the option to participate in the cost of appraisals and the cost of the properties which will be jointly owned. Commissioner Alexander asked the County Attorney to identify properties that are owned by the City, properties owned by the County, and properties proposed to be purchased. County Attorney asked Joann Riley to come up front with himself and Don West to locate the properties. The County, City, and the CRA have different ownerships in that area. County Attorney stated it's a combination of private and publicly owned properties. The focus of the project is on the two or three parcels owned by River Marina. He turned the presentation over to Don West, Public Works Director. Public Works Director gave an update on Fisherman's Wharf. He stated grants were applied for properties at the far south east corner of Fisherman's Wharf during the summer and were approved, however the funds will not be available until July 2016. DOT has allowed advance purchase of those properties without signing a grant contract in advance as long as it was put in the joint participation agreement up front. The County would have to advance purchase the total cost of the properties up front, then be reimbursed in July 2016. Last year the Port Council approved grant funding for road work, those funds are available now, staff are waiting for grant contracts to arrive which should be available in the next month or so. Staff also applied for Bulkhead grants, Port Council could not approve funding at that time since the County does not own all the properties. Once the two parcels are acquired the project would be open for potential funding as well. The next step would be to complete a Phase II study. TranSystems would be hired by DOT to do a Phase II study looking at opportunities for potential developments of Port type businesses at Fisherman's Wharf. They would contact potential tenants who have businesses such as cruise ships operations, Bahamas ferry operations, boat storage operations, or any type of water facilities that might be appropriate for the area to see if they would be interested in partnering with the Port of Fort. Pierce. The idea behind Phase II is to build relationships that may turn into business partnerships, then create a business plan for Fisherman's Wharf. The end product for Phase II would be a business plan with cost estimates to have a better idea of other grants that may need to be pursued. Mayor Hudson asked the following questions: 1.) What is the time frame for infrastructures; 2.) When will Second street be completed? Staff response was the time frame is probably about a 2 year process for infrastructures. The dredging is probably the longest process, it has to go 2 1 P a g Joint Meeting Wednesday, November 4, 2015 2:00 PM through federal and state permits. Second Street should be completed in about 12 months. The various designs will be going on about the same time just at different time zones. Commissioner Perona asked if the County had done anything to secure the properties while the plan was being put together, or were they just up for sale. Staff responded that letters were sent out, luckily many tenants wanted to sale. Quotes and appraisals had also been conducted on those properties. Commissioner Dzadovsky asked if staff had worked with FPUA in regards to engineering and plans to provide utilities and electricity, also would it be reasonable to put it underground. Staff responded that would be a part of the road design section of Fisherman's Wharf. There have been problems with underground due to saltwater, it is extremely expensive and difficult to maintain, it is better to go overhead. Commissioner Sessions asked if the Port Council expressed any other desires other than an alliance in regard to the goals and objectives in developing the Port other than asking the City and the County. Staff responded they are looking for a confirmation of a partnership between the City and the County, they recognized the need for the two to work closely together. Commissioner Becht as if it was viable to turn the pond into an active water feature, or will it destroy the function as a Stormwater device. Has any thought been given to making it large enough to accommodate the drainage requirements of the surrounding properties? Staff responded there is a chance that it may hold water most of the time. While working with the State, the Water Management District, and DEP on the Second Street design, they asked for an underground liner to be put in place. The design went outside of the road right away about 50 feet, it is not sized to handle all the private properties. Commissioner Alexander asked if Port St. Lucie were to be brought to the table in the future. City Manager stated he has been in contact with the city of Port St. Lucie's Mayor and he stated they are willing to be involved, the issue for them is the funding aspect. Commissioner Hutchinson stated she would like to leave the meeting knowing there are concrete time frames in place. With the two agreements drafted, she 31Page Joint Meeting Wednesday, November 4, 2015 2:00 PM would like to at least make sure both Boards are giving direction to staff to have these items before the Board at least after the first of the year to take action. Mayor Hudson presented former Mayor Bob Benton. Mr. Benton spoke about the Port and the work taking place there. He spoke about the agreement that has been reached with Indian River Terminal in regards to mega yachts. Mr. Benton presented Mr. Haack to the Board. Mr. Haack thanked the Board for their support by allowing the mega yacht to come into the Port. He spoke about the Harbor and about bringing more mega yachts to the Port. RESULT: ITEM DISCUSSED 2. Fisherman's Wharf Land Acquisition (Phase 1) Project Agreement Staff gave an brief summary of the Fisherman's Wharf Land Acquisition (Phase 1) Project Agreement. RESULT: ITEM DISCUSSED 3. PROPOSED ANNEXATION STRATEGIES 4. ADJOURMENT There being no further business to be brought before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. NOTICE: All Proceedings before this Board are electronically recorded. Any person who decides to appeal any action taken by the Board at these meetings will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made. Upon the request of any party to the proceedings, individuals testifying during a hearing will be sworn in. Any party to the proceedings will be granted the opportunity to cross-examine any individual testifying during a hearing upon request. Anyone with a disability requiring accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the St. Lucie County Safety & Risk Manager at (772) 462-1783 or TDD (772) 462-1428 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting. 4 1 P a g e