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HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformal Packet 10-26-2010~~, CCU[.[ NTY F L O R 1 D A -~''~~~, AGENDA Tuesday, October 26, 2010 1:30 P.M. INFORMAL MEETING 1. CALL TO ORDER - COMMISSIONER GRANDE, CHAIRMAN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 2. HURSTON BRANCH EXPANSION 3. DISCUSSION PACK AND GO PARK RESTROOMS-COMMISSIONER GRANDE 4. BOARD UPDATE & DISCUSSION: • SOLAR AND ENERGY LOAN FUND INITIATIVE • OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY INITIATIVE 5. ADJOURNMENT CONFERENCE ROOM #3 ROGER POITRAS ADMINISTRATION ANNEX 2300 VIRGINIA AVENUE, FORT PIERCE FLORIDA 34982 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~xamine any individual testifying during a hearing upon request. Anyone with a disability requiring accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the St. Lucie County Community Services Manager at (772) 462-1777 or TDD (772) 462-1428 at least forty-eght (48) hours prior to the meeting. r. - ~ .., ~. ~ Housing and Community Services ~~ ~•~ ;~, ~~ Library __ ._______. _ _ MEMORANDUM TO: Faye W. Outlaw, MPA, County Administrator THROUGH: Beth Ryder, Director ~' ~ FROM: Susan Jacob, Library Manager DATE: October 12, 2010 SUBJECT: Friends of the Library/Contribution to Operating Funds On Monday evening, October 11, 2010, a meeting was held with County and Library Administration and the Friends of the Library. Present at the meeting were, Faye Outlaw, County Administrator, :Beth Ryder, Director of Housing and Community Services, Susan Jacob, Library Manager and Padrick Pickney, Treasurer of the Friends of the Library and the organization's designated spokesperson. We met to discuss the feasibility of a significant financial contribution from the Friends to the County's General Fund. This money would be designated exclusively for the Library's operating expenses and is contingent on the BOCC moving forward with the Hurston Branch expansion. The Library Manager has asked that the requested money fund a full time Children's Librarian and that an additional sum be set aside for the estimated increased. operating expenses of the Hurston Branch which would double in square footage. The County Administrator has indicated that while. this plan would increase the square footage of the Branch, it is not indicative of increased service hours, which will remain at 2 days per week for the foreseeable future. Once the Expansion is complete, the Friends have agreed to fund $75,000 per year for a two year period ($150,000 total). Cc: Lee Ann Lowery, Assistant County Administrator ~. C a u ~~ y ~ , DATE: October 21, 2010 Parks & Recreation Services MEMORANDUM TO: Faye W. Outlaw, MPA, County Administrator ~/ I HRU: Lee Ann Lowery, Assistant County Administrator FROM: Debbie Brisson, Director ._~~~~ RE: Pack It Out Parks & Restroom Closings As a result of significant reductions in General Fund revenues, a recommendation was made by County staff and approved by the Board, to designate ten (10) neighborhood parks as "Pack It Out Parks" and to close restrooms at four (4) of these parks. Neighborhood parks are typically small parks that are within walking distance of the community they serve. Parks were chosen based upon their type, location, and use and are identified below. Parks included in the programs are: Pack It Out Parks Paradise Park (Old) Lakewood Park Indrio Park Sheraton Plaza Little Jim Park Maravilla Park Collins Park Palm Lake Park Harbour Pointe North Causeway Island Park Closed Restrooms Paradise Park Sheraton Plaza Little Jim Park Maravilla Park After approval of the program, County staff posted signs at each park (see attached). To date, Parks & Recreation Managers indicated there has been no significant increase in litter or trash. The County's program is designed to involve park users in the stewardship of county parks while assisting the county in reducing park maintenance during these difficult financial times. It is modeled after two programs (see information attached); one in our National Park system and the other in Seattle, Washington. It is our hope that this program will be successful in St. Lucie County and eliminate the need to close these parks due to staffing reductions. Staff estimates General Fund savings of approximately $75,000 per year including 1.3 FTE's that were eliminated effective 10/1/2010. If you have any questions, or need additional information, please advise. attachments cB a~ L a cv c L y-+ W ~> , r' ,. ~:: ~. ~ ~1~.` ;z t..~, ~ i -~`,M ',.,--1 ~~ ~- r ~~J V J O ~~ U L ~--+ Ca a--~ ~~-- 0 -~--+ Cn L.. (I3 Q 0 0 L ~..~ O c~ U C~ N U N .~ O U .~ L. N .~ _O O Ca ~~ O N c~ ~~ _:- c ~ ~ ~: r ~; ~ p ~ ~~~ U ,r N U J Seattle Parks & Recreation: Environmental Stewardship -Pack It Out Page 1 of 2 Activities Arts & Culture Boating.. _ . ,.......Sports Swimming Children Teens ' Lifelong Recreation (50+) __ _ Specialized Programs __. _ _ . Volunteering Environmental Stewardship Learning Getting Involved _ _ Caring for our City Stewardship Planning & Projects Environmental Stewardship Pack It Out Parks Environmental Stewardship: (206) 684-7457 ~ ParksES@seattle.gov Seattle Parks and Recreation this summer is encouraging park users who generate trash to "Pack it Out" through a pilot project at 18 parks. To contain the increasing costs of trash collection and litter control, which cost more than any other maintenance activity (over $1 million per year), and to involve park users in the stewardship of city parks, Parks and Recreation will post signs at the parks, ask for user comments, and measure trash reduction by regular inspections. Program designers chose parks based on their type, use and accessibility, with a focus on natural areas and viewpoints. Pack it Out signs will read: "Seattle Parks and Recreation is trying out a Pack it In, Pack it Out program in this and 17 other City parks." The Pack it In, Padc it Out program is a partnership between Seattle Parks and Recreation and our park users to encourage environmental stewardship and save money. Through this program, we hope to encourage our park users to reduce the amount of garbage they generate and 'pack out' the items they bring into these parks. Pack it In, Pack it Out encourages environmental stewardship by increasing park users' awareness of waste reduction and resource conservation, and by providing another opportunity for citizens to be involved in park stewardship. We believe taking pride in a park will go much farther in maintaining the park's beauty and cleanliness than a garbage can. • Pack it In, Pack it Out increases the efficiency of our garbage collection system. Seattle Parks and Recreation spends more on garbage collection and litter control than on any other maintenance activity (over $1 million per year). This program will reduce the amount of trash we have to collect from our parks and will allow us to focus our resources on more heavily used parks. Please help keep these Pack it In, Pack it Out parks litter free! Parks included in the program are, north of the Lake Washington Ship Canal: Belvoir Park, Froula Park, Matthews Beach Wetlands, the 14th Avenue Boat Ramp, Golden Gardens Peninsula, and North Seattle Park. Parks between the Lake Washington Ship Canal and I-90 are: Howell Park, Lakeview Park, Bagley Viewpoint, Marshall Park, Kiwanis Ravine and the Louisa Boren Greenbelt Trail. Parks south of I-90 and in West Seattle are: Seola Park Viewpoint, 12th Avenue Viewpoint, Upper Colman Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Cormorant Cove Park and Day Street Park. For more information, please contact Phil Renfrow at Seattle Parks and Recreation (206) 684-7457 or phil.renfrow@seattle.gov http://www.Seattle. gov/parks/Environment/packitout.htm p Departments ~ Services ~ Staff Directory c . . _ _. C Seattie.gov r This Deparkment Plan a Climate Friendly National Park Visit ~ Do Your Part! for Climate Friendly Parks Page 1 of 2 ~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~ U sarnarTe o' e rnaa: . ~CLIMATEFriendtyPARKS. ?ass~.tiorU (- i s:~n~e ~RsmembPrm~ Climate Change in tfie Parks Trip Planner Take Action Learn More About f.{r_me ~ Climate f ric;ndly Tr,p Planner ~.~ SnfaRE.._._K3'• ^,..- Like ~. 2 people like this. Climate Friendly Trip Planner The parks are undertaking projects to reduce their environmental footprint and you can do your part to make it even ~- - - - ~ - stnaller. Trash Does Contribute to Planning year next national park trip with an eye towanf amservafion can signifir:antly rattuc2 your vacation CO> Climate Change emissions, and-when combined with Heady 275 million park visitors ayear--make a real difference. Do Yaur Pait! has a few ways to help ensure your footprint on the parks is more like a bird and less like a bear. Before You Go 't'ou can make park-friendly choices cyan before leaving home. rao.w^ a= Stay CIOSe t0 home. You doKt have to travel a great distance to find a groat park. Research dzea,~ i the ootiens in your region, you might just find a gem ycu Haver even knew existed. Click here to T ini i b i find a Dark near veu. m o m ze your car on mpart. divide your•.vaste into recyGables, garbag=. Explore public transportation options to your park destination. Many parks are linked to ern: wrrpastable :tens--A theta is train and bus routes. Other parks are in the middle of the cit",+ and are accessible even on foot. For a~mposting a: the paB--or ycu can pack additional information view the 'plan your visit" or'directions° links on most naticnal park web it ouE and compost and ; ecy~2 at home. pages or visit the U.S. Park Service Trails and Rails site. If you are driving make sure your Car Is Up t0 date on scheduled maintenance and check your fire pressure before you go. >; fiile on the hightivay, follow the speed limit-mast scenery TAKE ACTION! Icoks better when it isn't blurry-and keep the windows up to save fuel when driving at higher speeds. Click here for more fuel efficiency tips or learn fuel e~cient driving habits from the EFE`-,. n~~ake changes in your everyday Need Haw gear? Try a gear Swap Service or the online Gassifieds. Afraid of commitment? lifestyle to reduce the risk of climate change in the National Patks. Try borrowing equipment to see whether you like it before investing; cr rent equipment- everything from tents to canoes-from an outfitter. besides; ycu gat better gas mileage on Tong trips without the canoz strapped to the top of your rar. What Can Yeti Do? Shut down your hOUSe when you leave on an extended Trip. Turn off and if possible unplug appliances-except your refrigerator-and turn do; n your water heater. To learn more ernrgy- saving tips visit eneravsavers.gov or Uy to make every day Earth Dav. ~t the Park ti's time to (ally embrace the nahual beauty and history of our parks. You are al the parks to sea the parks. so you need to get around. Be sure to take advantage Of the many park bus systems. If you really want to go eco-friendly, use a bike, canoe, kayak: or just hike while exploring. F er the really adventurous, try one of the original bio-fuel vehicles and set out on a horse or a mule. PoI!otiv the 'inks below to access information cn some of the public trans,:onation and bus and shuttle systems available to naticnal park visitors: National Perk Service Alternative Transportation Svsl2ms Park shuttle system pages Acadia National Park and the Island Explorer 6rvice Canyon National Park Colonial National Historical Parts. Denali National Park and Preserve Grand Canyon National Park Glacier National Park Ha,rraii Volcanoes National Fark Mount P,ain.ier National Park Rocky Mountain National Park and nearby Estes Park. Colorado Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parksand Kings Canyon National Parks Yellowstone National Park Yosemite National Park Zion National Park yb?ten explorng the parks, avoid S2nSitlVe areas such as dunes, wetlands and stream t:eds, and steer clear of seasonal nesting er breeding areas. Many parks are singular hosts for http://www.doyourp artparks. org/climate-friendly-trip-planner plan a Climate Friendly National Park Visit ~ Do Your Part! for Climate Friendly Parks Page 2 of 2 endangered or threatened species and maintaining these habitats is essential for wildlife. Visit Leave No Trace for more information. Parks get thirsty and so do you. Prick in your own Water, in your ovrn bottle. ;/Je knew you've get to eat: so bring your own dishes-and dmYt forget utensils. Even etiquette experts approve of a spcrk when roughing it. 'Nash and reuse. If that's not for you. try sv+itching to one of the many kinds of tableware that are 1 GO percent ccmpostable. It's a start. Speaking of washing. Use the water from the melted ice in your cooler to wash dtsheS; and •wash 200 feet away from streams and lakes. Choose biodegradable and phosphate -free soap to wash your dishes and yourself and he sure to scatter gray water so it safely filters through the soil before heading back ',c the water supply. Detergents, toothpaste, and soaps harm fish and other aquatic life. GO jump in a lake lean-up and cool off. Choose a lake; or if you dare, wait until you get home for that full-on shower. With all this washing, there has to be drying. In a warm park? Dry OUt In the Sun. Sun not an option-use a micro-towel; or use Goth instead of paper. Always check on campfire regulations in the park you are visiting. If there are burn restrictions, pack in a compact fuel stove, either :vay it reduces your impact an the park's natural resources. Click here for more on responsible campfires. Whatever you do, pack out what you pack in. Carry a trash bag to pick up your litter and; he~c: arty litter loft by others. Just because soiTtecne else has bad manners. doesn't mean you have to fellow suit. Keep it clean. Make sure garbage ar~d belongings are stewed •.vhen boating. Plastic bags that blow overboard can choke aquatic species and wildlife. For mare odor friendly packing out and in. re-use re-Sealable plastic bags from home. BUy food In bulk and make your awn personal-size portions. Maybe re-use re sealable plastic bags from home. Once empty. they are great for packing out. Use crank electronics, recnargeable lithium-ion batteries: or use the sun to recharge backceuntry gadgets, for fighting try an LED lantern. V`fien fishing, ren;ember that Catch and release helps ensure you will have fish for tornorrwi s trip! Click here for more on catch and release. We know they are prett<j; but when diving or snorkeling near coral reefs. do not touch, stand: calk an, kick, or coiled coral. Read some Snorkeling tips. Don't be shallow. If you are operating a boat in warm water, navigate carefully to avoid contact with coral reefs, and never drop anchor onto a reef. Also USe Care when boating in shallow water to protect delicate seagrass below. Click here for more eco-friendly beating tips. The End is Really Just the Beginning YoLi ve seen the park„ now you want to protect it even more Sort your trash. Divide your waste into recyclables; garbage, and compostabie items-if there is composting at the park-or even if you compost and recycle at home. Click here for more on recycing in the parks er read upon the extensive recycling program at Zion National Park. Fouoving a trip, wash your gear and vehicle to help reduce the spread of invasive Species. And it's OK to head to the local car wash. The average driveway-bucket wash uses more than 500 gallons of water and the soapy run-off can affect water quality and aquatic life. The average commercial carwash uses only 32 gallons a car, recycles that water continuously, and ensures the run-off is treated before heading back to community water supplies. Click here to learn more about invasive species in our national parks. Plan your next trip to a national park; irs aclimate-friendly vacation. Not that there's arrything wrong with golfing, but a typical backpacking trip has a much smaller footprint than a golf vacation of the same duration. Stay involved. Plant a tree in your hometown, and help groups like the National Parks Conservation Association protect our parks for the next generation. i, r'as° ~, ; f. . >,z _.,. Hume jClimate Charce in the Parks ~4Vhat a Cbmalc Chan e i How Parks ara 9eino Atfeded wha+ PaAs are Ccinc Trio Planner (Take Adinn IHcw We Calwlale C02 Sarnvs ~id'+Lifestvle ILeam Mors IADOUt User Aureement ~ Privacy http://www. doyourpartparks. org/climate-friendly-trip-planner