HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformal Minutes 05-25-2007BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
INFORMAL MONTHLY MEETING
Date: May 25, 2007
Convened: 9:00 a.m.
Adjourned: 11:30 a.m.
Commissioners Present: Chairman Chris Craft, Joseph Smith, Paula A. Lewis, Doug
Cowazd, Chazles Grande, absent
Others Present: Doug Anderson, Don West, Public Works Director, Millie Delgado-
Feliciano, Deputy Clerk
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Craft.
Day Public Hearings -
A discussion was held by Com. Smith regarding the Board considering holding public
hearings in the day time. He commented on the cost for holding night meetings, i.e.
overtime for hourly employees who must be present, and the electricity utilized.
Com. Lewis stated she would be willing to look at the issues for day meetings however
she felt the night meetings aze for the public who work during the day and would like to
be present when an issue affects them directly.
Staff advised the Boazd they would scrutinize the issue and come back with a
recommendation.
Management Softwaze-
Com. Smith addressed implementing agenda management software.
Staff advised Com. Smith they would start issuing the agendas 2 weeks in advance.
Com. Coward reconunended looking into an in house solution. He felt the county had
many talented personnel in the Information Technology department. He is hesitant to
implement a new system when the departments aze already bogged down with so many
projects.
Com. Smith requested the Board review a presentation on the issue in the future.
Com. Lewis expressed her concern with a paperless system and information collected.
Com. Smith commented on the use of paper and asked before they talk about cutting
capital costs he would like to see if they can find a way to save on the use of paper.
Com. Craft recommended double siding the use of paper.
Com. Cowazd commented on the multiple correspondence received.
Staff will review the distribution of letters.
Staff will meet with the representative of the softwaze.
Transitional Zoning/Transfer of Development Rights
Com. Craft discussed this issue.
Com. Lewis stated until she sees the specifics (i.e. project specifics) she is hesitant.
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Com. Coward concurred and stated he had fundamental concerns and should look at the
big picture. It seems to be in puzzle pieces and felt they need to meet with the
communities.
Com. Craft commented and stated a master plan would be needed for the area.
Com. Coward stated he was not feeling the pressure just because developers wanted to
quadruple their density. There is no obligation for them to rush this through because they
want increase development rights. The developers purchased these properties as they are.
Com. Coward stated they needed to have a discussion before changing the Comp Plan
and need to have public input first.
Com. Lewis stated because it has been submitted does not mean it is happening. She
concurs it does need to be scrutinized by the public. It is an idea that came from someone
else.
Com. Coward stated they need to have the breaks put on until the public decides what
they want in that rural area until then it is premature.
Com. Craft stated he concurred and the submittal of the plans are so that the Board does
have discussions on these issues. He is ready to move forward .
Com. Coward stated he would like to take the TDR issue and broaden it.
Com. Smith commented on the issue of water and asked if the South Florida Water
Management District could come in and give a presentation to the Board regarding these
issues.
The Public Works Director stated the water plan is updated every five years and we are in
the middle of a cycle at this time and it may be appropriate to look at it in the next cycle.
Com. Coward stated he would like to proceed in the manner of bringing in another entity
to help provide funds for regional water planning, we need to find a funding partner, the
county cannot do it alone.
Com. Lewis stated whatever increases they give it does not remove anything from the
landscape. She believes the next step is a charrette for the TDR's.
Com. Craft stated they are not talking about a growth management strategy but a
management strategy, so it should be a management charrette.
Com. Lewis she is reluctant to put a massive thing out that this is how the rest of the
county should look.
Com. Coward he does not wish for anyone to misunderstand their discussion and think
they are talking about taking properties. They have inherited a Comp Plan which give
people a lot of property rights.
Com. Lewis stated she thought going out for an RFP would help them and would like to
move forward with the RFP since things are not going to change.
The Assistant County Administrator advised the Board they have the RFP prepared but
are not ready for it move forward. The Board needs to keep in mind they need to have
the staff to work with the consultant and at this time they do not have the staff. She is not
sure how long it will take to hire the staff.
Com. Craft requested as soon as the department is up in staff the Board be advised.
The Assistant County Administrator stated she would put a report together for the Board
to advise them what is happening and have the Board prioritize the issues.
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Com. Smith recommended slowing down the process of the applications to give the
department time to staff properly and prepare at lease until the department gets up to
standards in staff.
The Assistant County Administrator advised the Board of the positions filled and when
staff would be coming on board.
The Growth Management Director advised the Board there are several things that can be
done to assist the department and the work load.
He recommended not asking any more applications and clearing the deck, amending
application fees to provide full cost of consultant to review the applications and relate ate
the rates which put applications in the process through the system as date order/date
complete sequence and have administrative procedures and codes. There are 254
applications presently being processed through the system. He recommended the 3
strikes you're out system as far as the applications.
The development community agrees with these new possible procedures.
He also recommended reviewing the type of applications and taking an analysis segment
into the types and then they can have clear standards as to how long it takes to process.
They now have 18 months of projects on the books and are still refining and developing
the DRC process.
The Assistant County Administrator commented on those developers who do not wish to
present all the necessary information to staff.
Com. Craft recommended a time line or a cut off date.
The Growth Management Director requested the Board allow the developers to come
back to the department and then the department will provide a report on the plan.
Com. Smith stated he looked at it as if the developers is willing to work with staff then
everything may be in order, however, if the applicant does not wish to work with staff
then he would think there is something else happening.
Com. Craft agreed that if the developers do not provide all the necessary information then
the application should go back through the process, planning and zoning or whatever is
necessary.
Com. Craft if there was a check list in existence.
The Growth Management Director acknowledged there is a check list the developers
must go through and are working on Code revisions to address some of these issues.
Com. Coward stated he did not have a problem holding some things up for some projects
like speculative housing. But does have a problem holding back commercial industry
that provide jobs etc.
The Assistant County Administrator asked if the Growth Management Director can bring
a format forward on this process to the Board and if the can do all this with only 4
planners on staff. She felt she needs to be realistic and if she cannot move the workload
through the door, the theories and code revisions are fine but they are still being worked
on, she cannot move a workload based on theory.
The Asst. County Administrator advised the Board staff would prepare a report for the
Board at an upcoming day meeting (June 12, 2007).
The meeting was adjourned.
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