HomeMy WebLinkAboutTCERDA Semi-Annual Minutes 05-07-2009BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
TCERDA SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING
Date: May 7, 2009 Convened: 1:00 p.m
Adjourned: 3:30 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Chairperson, Paula A. Lewis, Charles Grande, Doug Coward,
Chris Craft, Chris Dzadovsky
Others Present: Faye Outlaw, County Administrator, Lee Ann Lowery, Asst. County
Administrator, Dan McIntyre, County Attorney, Mark Satterlee, Growth Management
Director, Ben DeVries, Research and Education Park Director, Millie Delgado-Feliciano,
Deputy Clerk
TCERDA Board Members: Jane Bachelor, Chairperson, Rick Minton, Jose Farinos, Pete
Stofella, Gerri McPherson
The Chairperson of the Board opened the meeting.
Ms. Jane Bachelor, Chairperson of the TCERDA Board made opening remarks and
indicated today's meeting was in fact the Semi-Annual meeting.
Ms. Bachelor advised those present this is the first meeting with the new Executive
Director, Ben DeVries. Their goal this year of completing the marketing brochure has
been met and is in the process of updating their web-site and continue to network with
key entities throughout the state to assist in promoting the Research Park.
The Board continues to work with the Growth Management Director on Park alternatives
such as amending the overlay zone from AR-1 to PNRD to attract tenants for the Park
and have discussed qualifications they would be looking for. They are also looking at
tenant initiatives to encourage and attract tenants into the Park. The Board is also
looking to engage other professional services to look at things that may need to be done
to provide readiness of the park.
Ms. Bachelor thanked the County's grant writers who have been generous in spending
much of their time with the Board in discussing ways they could assist.
At this time Ms. Bachelor turned the discussion over to the Assistant County
Administrator.
The Assistant County Administrator gave a brief overview of the stimulus programs and
the adoption of the ordinances and requested direction from the Board of County
Commissioners regarding various funds that can be utilized such as the $3. Million
allocated for the Jail Medical Wing, landfill funds, Ft. Pierce Jai Alai.
Corn. Coward addressed the Economic Stimulus program for capital projects to stimulate
jobs for those hardest hit in our County. He requested discussion today on to get
consultants on board to expedite the design.
The Growth Management Director reviewed the proposal submitted last summer
indicating options A and B. (backup material not provided) indicating a scenario of a
20,000 square foot building as an incubator.
Mr. Ben DeVries, Executive Director for the Research and Education Park addressed the
Board and those present and indicated they are continuing to work on the contracts and
have received various proposals. Their first issue was who is the customer who is the
tenant and where is the industry going. They believe the industry is going towards
"Energy" and the projects must be sustainable. He believes they must have the
infrastructure in place or they will not be looked at by various potential customers.
Mr. DeVries believes they need to look at how they can become "shovel ready". He
addressed the DOT permitting and the drainage area and believed they needed to get the
master plan backbone done in order to proceed. He recommended designing four lanes
but build a two lane road for the entire backbone but keep right of way for four lanes.
This would cut the cost and would possibly make them shovel ready by the end of the
year.
Mr. Jason Massey, Kimley Horne (consultants) addressed the Board regarding their
proposal and roadway design.
Mr. Brian Good, Kimley Horne (consultants) addressed the roadway design and focused
on development of internal roads. He addressed the demands of water quality and
alternative alignments best suited to serve the needs of the access of the park. He advised
those present the infrastructure costs could be somewhere in the area of $8 to $9 million
for 1.75 miles of internal roads and believes a two lane divided road can provide what is
needed.
Com. Coward requested discussion on the available revenues. $3.2 million dollars has
been identified from the Jail Medical Wing and $250,000 has been identified from the
landfill for tree planting and landscape enhancements.
Mr. DeVries summarized the conceptual design of the incubator building. He believes
for $50,000 they can get a conceptual design of the incubator building (8 acres),
$220,000 for the design of the turn lanes, $240,000 for the landscape, implementation
based on the consultants design plan $700,000 for extending lines (water and sanitary
sewer) and fire hydrants, this total is an estimated $1.7 million. $1 million for roadway
and they would still be under the $3.2 million.
Com. Coward requested information as to where they would be at that point.
Mr. DeVries stated they would have water, fire flow, sanitary sewer capacity for the
whole park, the backbone design (30%), the drainage for the backbone; conceptual permit
on the entire park, site plan would be conceptually done. He believes $4 million would
be the approximate total cost and indicated he believes the access south is more important
than the access to Graham Road. He believes FDOT may refund some of the
development of the roadway and does not wish to commit to the south unless they have
the developers agreement signed.
The County Administrator advised the Board they could go through continuing contracts
which is already in place or they can go through the RFQ process.
Ms. Bachelor requested information regarding both options and the length of time each
would take.
The County Administrator provided the information.
The County Attorney stated the scope of work had to be broad enough to cover what they
were looking for in a continuing contract. He also addressed the RFQ process and local
preference. The law requires if it is over $200,000 it would need to be bid.
The County Administrator stated they could not do this within a month due to the fact
there is a process for shifting the funds. She is not in a position to commit that it would
be done within a month's time.
Mr. DeVries addressed the fact they also needed to negotiate with the property owners.
Com. Craft stated his concern was the lay out of the road and how much use it would get.
He believes people will continue down Kings Highway until they reach the park.
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Mr. DeVries stated they have different configurations available and his goal is to get the
permit by the end of December of this year.
Com. Craft stated he would like to see our staff involved in the discussions with the
property owners.
Com. Coward stated there are other issues needed to be discussed today; however, what
he would like is for the TCERDA to tell the Board if they feel it is a wise investment to
utilize the funds discussed.
Mr. Jose Farinos, TCERDA Board member stated this is something they need to do and
this proposal will cut the time for the project 2-3 years. He stated there were many
positive aspects on getting this project started acid they are extremely excited and is
happy to hear there are funds available to start the project proposed. He stated they are
100% behind this proposal and would love to invest these funds in this project and felt
this was the most efficient way to start the project.
Mr. Pete Stofella, TCERDA Board member stated the faster they could process this the
less expensive it would be and believes the cost would increase if it was started 2 years
from now.
Ms. Bachelor stated until they have the infrastructure for this park it will be difficult to
attract tenants and this will give them the opportunity to be able to say to those interested
they are ready to go. They are excited to be able to have something that is doable.
Com. Dzadovsky stated he would like to encourage the County Administrator to move
the line item forward to expedite this project. He recommended the TPO Director sit in
the meetings because there are so many roadways associated with the larger plan.
Com. Coward concurred with Com. Dzadovsky in moving forward and asked if the re-
zoning had moved forward.
The Growth Management Director stated the PNRD has been recommended by approval
by Planning and Zoning Board for the 162 acres (for the research campus) and this is in a
basic format, all the details have not been worked into it. There is sufficient capacity on
Kings Highway for 800,000 sq. ft. between Kings and Orange Ave. This will be coming
before the Board; a date has not been set as yet.
Com. Coward stated since the City of Ft. Pierce is looking to annex the area, the county
should ask them to contribute to the project a match of 3.2 million dollars.
Com. Lewis expressed her concern with moving forward and firming up plans not
knowing what the city of Ft. Pierce will be doing.
Com. Grande stated he felt they will know relatively quickly what role the city will play
and does not see a reason for slowing down the planning. The annexation and
participation questions have not been answered.
Com. Craft stated he believes they should give Mr. DeVries the direction to continue on
the avenue of phase 1 since this part is not going to change.
Com. Grande reaffirmed Com. Lewis' position that some answers have not been received
as yet.
Com. Coward stated he does not wish to put the brakes on the project because of the city.
He believes they need to expedite it now and start the planning process.
Com. Dzadovsky reminded the Board the city stated at every meeting they would not
slow down the process. However they stated they cannot legally delegate the process of
the permits.
The County Attorney stated in speaking with the City Attorney, the city believes they
cannot delegate the permit process and the city must issue the permits if they decide to
annex. The law is fairly new.
Com. Craft asked if they could obtain an opinion from the Attorney General.
The County Attorney advised the Board he had sent them information on a joint exercise
however, they still believe they must issue the permits and cannot delegate that process.
Com. Lewis stated as a reminder, if there is a private entity wanting to come into the
park, they have heard many times the entity does not want to deal with two governments.
She believes 10 days will not make a difference in making the decision to move forward
and is concerned with things changing if the decision is made today.
Com. Craft stated they needed to be moving forward without committing or getting into
any trouble with annexations issues.
Com. Coward recommended writing a letter to the city regarding their annexation
requests and requesting an investment be made on their part.
It was the consensus of 3 Board members to give direction to move forward.
Ms. Bachelor advised the Board they presently have two positions on the Board and
questioned if the Commission was aware of the City of Ft. Pierce's position of having a
member on the Board. She is hoping to get the two seats filled.
Mr. Stofella addressed the possibility of a joint sign off of Kings Highway for UFA and
the USDA. They are willing to share in the construction of a new sign.
There being no further issues to be discussed, the meeting was adjourned.
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