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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJoint Workshop Minutes 04-05-2007BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA WORKSHOP BOCC AND CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE Date: April 5, 2007 Convened: 3:15 p.m. Adjourned: 5:05 p.m. Commissioners Present: Chairman, Chris Craft, Joseph Smith, Paula A. Lewis, Doug Coward, Charles Grande City Council: Mayor Christensen, Vice Mayor Kelly, Linda Barts, Michelle Berger, Chris Cooper Staff: Doug Anderson, County Administrator, Dan McIntyre, County Attorney, Lauri Case, Utilities Director, Millie Delgado-Feliciano, Deputy Clerk Opening remarks were made by the Boazd of County Commission Chairperson as well as a history as to where we aze today and the proposed DRI which have not come before the Boazd of County Commissioners. The County is seeking a bulk water agreement with the City of Port St. Lucie. The Mayor and the Chairman of the Boazd met and they proposed a compromise for both entities to review. The compromise was not accepted. They aze requesting to start over again today and asked both the city and the county to work together on this issue. Mayor Christensen stated this was of no benefit to the city, the compromise would give the city what they needed and also provide the county with the bulk water they need and wish to supply. Ms. Berger stated she was willing to start anywhere. Com. Craft stated the city was still working out the bulk water agreement. The City acknowledged not having an issue with the county being the bulk service supplier, however, ownership of the lines was the sole deal breaker from both ends. The City does not have an issue as to the county being the one deciding who would get water service. Mayor Christensen stated her understanding was the county was to decide who would get the water and then contact the city to authorize the supply. Com. Craft stated ownership of line would give the county control of the growth in the unincorporated area. Mayor Christensen stated, the county would not be building the lines, the developer would, the county would authorize connection and service to be provided then the developer would turn over the lines to the city. The city has been providing service inside and outside of the city limits. Mr. Kelly questioned why not draw the line at Midway Road, FPUA would service North County and PSL South and this way the county would not need to get into the utility business. He does not see the problem since the county would decide who would get service in the unincorporated area. Com. Craft stated the County does have a utility but has not decided to get out of the business. He is looking to create a Regional Utility for North County in conjunction with FPUA and he believes this will happen in the future. Mr. Kelly stated they were not willing to give up authority of the lines or maintenance of the lines. He does not have a problem with the county deciding who should get the water in North County. The City Manager stated he has not changed his position. Investment protection is important. Port St. Lucie is a leader in providing water and believes it should be split with FPUA providing water to the north and Port St. Lucie to the south. Port St. Lucie offers a good product. Growth control is a totally different topic. Com. Grande stated he believes there eventually will a regional utility however today the county would like to be a customer. Mayor Christensen stated the city wants to retain ownership of the lines and all other ancillary things are negotiable. The main objective is the city to retain the ownership of the lines to protect the health and safety of all its customers. The customers have made a large investment and they are looking to maintain the integrity of the system. Com. Grande stated the Rangeline Road area will not be built by the city but would be connected to the city. They are not in the city service area. The preference would be the city provide the service. Com. Craft recommended the county own the lines and the city maintain the lines. The City Council disagreed. Mr. Cooper stated he believes there should be a line down Midway Road and believes the county is not the logical supplier. Com. Craft stated they are not in the business of utilities for profit but to provide service and are not looking to make a windfall with FPUA or the city. Com. Coward stated the growth issue is the main topic to be discussed. All is speculative building and he believes this will not be happening no matter what the newspaper said. His charge is not to build more houses that would be a drain on the taxpayers. The developers do not have the property rights they are proposing and he believes they are playing the city and the county on each other and he does not wish for this to continue. The clear issue is ownership of the lines and he is trying to understand it. The goal is not to build a competing utility but to partner with the city. The key issue is the county maintaining control of the growth. Mr. Cooper asked if the county would be amenable to having an agreement that the city would be the sole water provider to the south. Com. Coward stated he would consider it. Mayor Christensen stated her concern was that Comp Plans can change from one Board to another. Com. Craft asked if the city would consider a long term agreement for 30 years as the county has with FPUA. Mayor Christensen expressed her concern with the developers building the utility and given it to the county and this would make it a competing utility. The city is there at Rangeline Road and has the capability to service, it does not make sense why the city would not service the area. Com. Smith asked what if the lines belonged to the county and everything else belonged to the city. Mayor Christensen stated if the city was not going to own it, why maintain it. The need to make sure that companies will put something into the system that may cause problems. 2 ~~ ~.~ ~r Ms. Berger alluded to FPUA and the meting outlining jurisdiction area. She stated when you go by State Statute, 5 miles out of boundary lines is still within jurisdiction. Com. Craft stated prior city council signed the agreement they would not go past City boundary lines. He stated the county would sign an interlocal that the city is only the provider if the county owns the lines and a multi year agreement can be signed. Ms. Baits stated they were not interested in annexing of nay more roof tops but it makes sense the City own the lines because they are already out there. The county could do it but at what price? Com. Lewis expressed her concern with capacity in the future. Mayor Christensen stated they would expand the utility to address capacity needs. It was the consensus to schedule a meeting in two weeks. The meeting was adjourned.