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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJoint Workshop Minutes 02-03-2006BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA CITY OF FT. PIERCE/CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE WORKSHOP Date: February 3, 2006 Convened: 2:00 p.m. Tape: 1-2 Adjourned: 4:45 p.m. Commissioners Present: Doug Coward, Chairman, Chris Craft, Frannie Hutchinson, Paula A. Lewis, Joseph Smith Others Present: PSL- City Council: Jack Kelly, Pat Christensen, Michele Berger, Cooper Mayor Minsky Ft. Pierce City Commission: Mayor Benton, Com. Alexander, Com. Beck, Com. Coke, Com. Nelson The County Administrator made opening comments. Ms. Jodi Bonet, Transit Manager, made a power point presentation on the transit system in St. Lucie County. A Federal and State perspective was provided by Ms. Bonet. The MSTU currently is .09 or $7.00 fora $100,000 home or $13.00 fora $200,000 house. Councilman Cooper questioned if there was a consideration of tri-rail coming to our area with there being $15 million dollars available for it's expansion. Ms. Bonet advised Councilman Cooper they are considering expanding to Martin County. Com. Coward commented on the need to retrofit older roads to provide bike paths and he hopes to look at an MSTU to see if this can assist in the funding in bicycle and pedestrian system. BIOSOLIDS Mr. Leo Cordeiro, Solid Waste Director, addressed those present regarding sludge and a biosolid facility. This facility was proposed two years ago and had the design and plans for permitting. They had received 2 million dollars from the state, however, the requested partners did not respond . It is still open for discussion and presently have $5 million and they hope to get support to put the project back on course. Mayor Minsky questioned if a business plan had been done and asked if a copy could be sent to his office. Mr. Cordeiro stated he could provide a copy of the executive summary to everyone interested. Com. Beck questioned if an ordinance had been drafted by St. Lucie to prevent the sludge from spreading and contaminating our western lands. The County Administrator stated an ordinance had not been drafted to this point prohibiting this and it is his understanding it is still being applied to the land in St. Lucie County. Com. Beck stated from his perspective until this idea is coupled with the pellets he would have trouble with both. FEDERAL TRANSITADMINISTRATION f/orida Tots/Appropriations $65.77 million Federal Transit Commitment (including $15 million to expand Tri-Raip 5~ Lucie County - $1,224,711 05 Federal Appropriations Bill $388,711 06 - 09 SAFETEA-LU $836,000 06 Federal Appropriations Bill $500,000 STATE SUPPORT for TRANSIT Growth Management Bill -Senate Bi'113i50 IO Year Total Funding Provide $7 Billion jor Multimodal Projects ($ in millions) • $709 for New Starts Transit Program • $4,730 for Strategic Intetmodal System • $1,555 Transportation Regional Incentive Progam TJZ4NSIT PERSPECTIVE Federal State Local State Perspective Due to the inability to expand road ca achy to keep up with the. population growth, the 2005 Florida Legislature approved the Growth ...Management BiIL Provides State funds to match Federal New Starts Transit Grants. Provides funds for planning "Smart Growth" communities. LOCAL HISTOR Y 1992 -State allocated funds for the transportation disadvantaged population. 2000-Federal Transit Administration provided over $6 million to St. Lucie County for operating assistance from 1995 to 2000. 2002 - U.S. Census Bureau linked St. Lucie and Martin counties. After 2007, both counties will be ineligible for operating funds since we have morethan 200,000 people. 2002 -Public Hearings were held and all of the jurisdictions approved as interlocal agreement for the MSTU with a mazimum mil of .25 per household. 0.09 was approved for the first 3 years. 57.00 per 5100,000 home. 1 ~UNICIPAL ~ERVICEAXING NIT-2004/05 Demand Amount Response Collected Trips Cost of From Jurisdiction Performed Trips MSTU .Difference St.WCieCour><y 30,217 $512,178 $455,046 S(57,132) ~Y a( p5~ 38,328 649,660 528,867 (120,793) Gty FL Pierce 58,161 985,829 114,588 (871,241) SL Wde YIWge 318 5,390 3,306 (2,084) TOTALS 127,024 2,153,057 1,301,807* -1,051,250 - s+,+eana mm ~auct.e, tesASe u..e ror °rw maeoh one .tart •fA.2t4 was appWe to Fwe Route one not e^euob0 M ealeultlbns. TREASURE COwA St R s~asli~ilu~,~a~li~_ v nn~.v ^ mat ~- :r _~ 9~ ~~ -.TME TREA$U[E CORST CONNKTCM ~ - BUS ROUTE. 2 - 2/ 2005 I . t __ _s -fif _;~ - M - -- - [a ,~~ THE DIFFERENCE WAS FUNDED BY: -Programs: Medicaid, Transportation Disadvantaged, Older Americans Ad, & COA's Agency Contracts & fare box -State Funds: FDOT Block Grant -Federal: Section 5307 & Section 5311 -Note: 5307 Operating dollars will be unavailable after FY 2007 due to the 2000 Census merging. TREASURE COAST CONNECTOR FDOT Funding ^ FY 2005 - s 500,000 ^ FY 2006 - s 450,000 ^ FY 2007 - s 400,000 ^ FY 2008 - s 350,000 ^FY 2009 - s 300,000 ^ FY 2010 -100°k Local Funding BUS ROUTE 3 - 2/2005 ~_ ~ ' ~ h ~~` ~~ E .:,F~~9i ~F _ - _~ _ ..~, f ~ - ~ ~~wv 2 Treasure Coast Connector Month/Year US -1 Whee%hair Tota/ /Bikes 7/2003 2345 86 2345 10/2003 2708 166 2708 1/2004 2285 144 .2285 4/2004 2641. 181 2641. 7/2004. 2505 227 2505 10/2004 2218 135 2218 12/2004 2575 222 2575 3/2005 2853 172 2853 Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency Implement a downtown Trolley in 2006, Second phase to connect to the beaches, Received a Florida Department of Transportation grant for transit shelters to be placed within .the Redevelopment Area. Treasure Coast Connector (+) Month/Yeas. US 1 East/ West Tota/ 4/2005 2818 978 3796. 5/2005 2663 1178 3841 6/2005 2730 1185. 3915 7/2005 2579 1263 3842 8/2005 2724 1461 4185 9/2005 2606 1552 4158 10/2005 - 2315 1552 3867 11/2005. 2926 1777 4703 ~ Port St. WCIe Dowruorn Trdlay ~~ { O *...~~ @ r I ,' it n i r ~ '?~ f -_ . '~ ` _. ~, ~ - _ ~ is FDOT SERVICE DEVELOPMENT GRANT / Provides 3 years of 50°~° funding for operation. / Covers 50°~° of 2 Routes in Ft. Pierce. / Covers 50°~° of Zoned Demand Response Route in western Pt. St. Lucie. / Could be used for additional routes in Pt. St. Lucie or Ft. Pierce. 3 Ar~~st ~~~ ~~sA~ns ~:• Adds Functional Art to the community •: Highly Weather Resistant •Extremely Durable Material Marketing of stops •Cool and comfortable ~==~ ._ ~i Long Range Transportation Plan In 2006, the public and governmental agencies will develop a long range transportation plan, this includes: • New Fixed Routes • Transfer Stations • Expanded roadways • Funding Options Marketing of Connector Service. Connected Newsletter Promotional ever Radio,. Newspaper ads Short promo video Web site: wY~PN:Cr805~J r?C00~t connector.com 6,579 riders for December couN~rYT:~~a~ ^ Coordination with St. Lucie County Cultural Affairs Council. ^ Mosquito Control ^ Parks and Recreation ^ Road and Bridge ^ Environmental Resources ^ Jail Trustees _ _ ^ Community Services II ^ FDOTGrant and County. Community Pride funding. Affordable transportation is important for economic development. How do we .INCREASE transit service? POSSIBLE OPTIONS INCLUDE: Increase rate per ride on demand response - .50 -x1.00. • Make fixed route free. • Increase ridership by adding benches, shelters & longer service hours. • Research successful ideas from other communities. • Increase millage on MSTU. • Improve marketing of service. • Develop transit /pedestrian mixed use developments. 4 ~. ~~ ...r Com. Coward stated the pellet system is helpful in dealing with our waste and because we are currently an outfall for sludge from other areas because they do not have agricultural lands in their jurisdictions, we are limited as to how restrictive we can be unless we have an alternative for disposal. The County Attorney stated they have a draft ordinance in its final stages and they are trying to parallel the ordinance with the alternative. This issue has been litigated in other places in the state. Com. Coward stated to make it cost feasible they need to include other entities to partner with us. Mr. Cordeiro stated $5 million would get the dewatering started. Com. Coward requested all pertinent information be sent to the different partnering entities. FEMA REIMBURSEMENT The Assistant County Administrator addressed the reimbursement appeal filed regarding debris removal on private roads. They received notice their appeal was denied .They felt the county had not significantly proved that they had legal responsibility for debris removal on private roads and within gated communities. They have hired a second consultant to assist with the second appeal. They are in the process of doing this with a dead line of March 13th to file second appeal. Councilman Kelly asked his City Manager if they had received any information. Mr. Cooper, Port St. Lucie City Manager advised those present that they had received some funds the same as the County, however, no one in the state has received reimbursement for private roads or gated communities, they are presently in the appeal process also. He believes it will end up in the political arena. They have not been reimbursed for Frances and Jeanne in the area of $970,000. Com. Beck asked the county particularly in the service area of Ft. Pierce Utilities, give serious consideration that every time a development is approved that the city may annex, make sure it is not a private gated community and they have the inner connectivity that seems to make sense from a planning standpoint. Com. Coward concurred. Com. Alexander asked if they had the figures from Ft. Pierce. The Assistant County Administrator stated she did not have those figures. The City Manager stated their cost was in the vicinity of $300,000 and they received last week the letter of denial of the appeal they had submitted. He suggested they work with the city of Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County on this issue. ROAD CONNECTIVITY Mr. Scott Herring Road and Bridge Manager addressed those present on the roads in St. Lucie County. Mr. Herring reviewed the proposed transportation projects/improvements for St. Lucie County, both funded and unfunded. There are many unfunded needs at this time within the County. Mr. Herring reviewed the TVC network and the proposed parallel street network. 2 `.~ ~r ~....~ Com. Nelson asked if staff could addressed the Weatherbee Road problem. He stated there has been growth in the area and have had many accidents in the area also. He believes they need to do something . The County Administrator stated they have had to take steps and place turning lanes which are now being done and are 95% complete and are now in contact with FDOT to have a consultant there to take new traffic numbers and do a signal analysis. Com. Hutchinson asked the City as they approve the developments they ask the developers to pay their fair share for the roads. CITYOF FT. PIERCE JOINT PLANNING AGREEMENT Mayor Benton addressed the East Boundary 25~' St., West Boundary Jenkins Road, Southern Boundary Edwards Road and the Northern Boundary Orange Avenue and stated the county is approving large developments in those areas as well as the city. They are looking at so many homes, the roads etc., there are many and the county has not signed off on these developments regarding the roads. He stated he felt they needed to be on the same page and plan those areas a lot better than they have. The County Administrator stated he believed the agreement has been executed. The City Manager stated the agreement states the two entities will review each others plans. The County will have a technical review person and the City's meetings and vice versa. What they are initially looking for is some type of cooperative agreement on the density issues and land use in all the area within the service boundary of the FPUA. Mayor Benton stated he did not feel comfortable approving large projects when he knows there are no funds for the improvements. Com. Hutchinson suggested the city and the county have a workshop to discuss land use. Com. Coke stated the city and the county are working diligently to make sure the future land use is compatible with each other. She suggested having both entities engineers to look at the roads within the city and the county and where the development will take place and get a needs assessment. Com. Coward stated they needed cooperative transportation and land use planning between the city of Ft. Pierce and the county and is hoping to work and have as joint participation agreement with the city of Port St. Lucie . Mayor Benton stated they needed a centralized area for ballfields. He felt Lawnwood can handle this area, however, they need more open space from developers for use by children. He felt if the city was going to annex all these properties then they need to have adequate facilities. Com. Nelson addressed the ditches on Kings Highway and asked what was the county's philosophy in making the appearance better and safer in the area. Com. Hutchinson stated the piping on Kings Highway will be figured out at the design phase. This is also a state road and they will have the final say. CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONTINGENCY FUNDS Councilman Kelly addressed the figure of 10 million for liability. They have received 4.5 million from the state and are short 1.5 million and he requested the county assist with half of the 1.5 million dollars from their contingency for the Monterray Waterway. The County Administrator stated they presently have $700,000 left for the balance of the year and their financial goal is 4.4 years to recover. Mayor Minsky suggested pressing the Federal Government to provide assistance. Councilmen Kelly stated they did not request an answer today only for the county to consider it. Com. Coward stated he was sure the BOCC would consider it, however they must face the reality of what has happened under their own recovery phase. SKATEBOARD PARK Mayor Benton addressed this issue and stated he was looking for a commitment from the county. He is looking for 1.5 acres. The County Administrator stated they are presently looking at property and gave an idea of what they were presently considering i.e. gymnasium and adjacent to the gym this is where the skateboard park can be located. The estimated cost is $557,000 and the funding has not been identified. He is hoping the city would be a partner in this venture. He also commented on other ideas they had regarding joint ventures. He believes they have located a site. Com. Coke stated she supported utilizing the park referendum funds provided by the City of Ft. Pierce and she recalls the city was to have some in put as to how these funds would be used. She hopes the county would attempt to find the funds from the parks referendum. Com. Nelson stated he supported the Skateboard park however, the expressed concern with the liability issues. Com. Coward asked the Mayor to have the Commission address the acreage and see if they can provide the county with additional land to incorporate the skate park and the county will then go back and look and see if they can find additional dollars to pay for the improvements. Staff was directed to continue to work on dates for future discussions. PUBLIC COMMENTS Joseph Jenkins, Ft. Pierce radio addressed the Board and expressed his concern with the north county area. He stated they needed more facilities available for the Northwest part of the city. Mr. John Ferrick, area resident, addressed the flooding of the North Fork area and expressed concern with development into the flood plain areas. Mayor Benton suggested the entities get together and discuss future approval of projects in the county and the cities. The meeting was adjourned. 4