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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet February 26, 2013AGENDA Tuesday, February 26, 2013 9:30 A.M. INFORMAL MEETING CALL TOORDER -COMMISSIONER MOWERY, CHAIRMAN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS EDC: 1ST QUARTER UPDATE - TOM WILKINSON, TREASURER/SECRETARYECONOMlC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2. UPDATE ON THE MINUTE TRAQ PAPERLESS AGENDA SYSTEM -TECHNICAL OPERATIONS MANAGER -DATA SYSTEMS COORDINATOR 3. WESTERN LANDS STUDY -DIRECTOR PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES 4. UPDATE ON THE OPEN RECREATION PILOT PROGRAM -DIRECTOR PARKS, RECREATION & FACILITIES 5. UPDATE ON OPERATING FUND BALANCE -COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR -BUDGET MANAGER 6. 2013 1ST QUARTER SPENDING UPDATE -DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET -BUDGET MANAGER UPDATE ON ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS AND GREENWAYS & TRAILS PROGRAM -ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE DIRECTOR 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-examine any individual testifying during a hearing upon request Anyone with a disability requiring accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the St. Lucie County Safety & Risk Manager at (772) 462-1783 or TDD (772) 462-7428 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting. Item #3 Planning and Development Services Department Planning Division MEMORANDUM TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Mark Satterlee, AICP, Directo DATE: February 12, 2013 SUBJECT: Western Lands Update The purpose of this presentation at the Informal Meeting is to update the Board on the progress made in addressing the open space issue and also get Board input on proceeding on further Western Lands Plan implementation. Staff and representatives of the Western Lands property owners and stakeholders have met on several occasions since the BOCC accepted the "Western Lands Study: Vision and Plan" on September 18, 2012. The purpose of the meetings was to develop a resolution to the open space issue that was one of the driving forces for the study. Recall that a number of Western Lands property owners/stakeholders had issues with a number of recommendations in the Plan. The Board, staff and property owners/stakeholders agreed upon Plan acceptance to focus on resolving the open space issue prior to proceeding with other aspects of the plan. As part of the open space discussion, staff and the property owners/stakeholders have reached general agreement on regulating residential development in the agricultural areas to resolve the open space issue. In those discussions other issues were explored beyond open space and staff suggests work continue of those items. Consensus Issues: Staff and the property owners/stakeholders (also the primary litigants in the multiple Bert Harris claims and the pending law suits) have agreed to the following: 1. Eliminate the current confusing reference to how open space in Ag residential development is regulated. The property owners feel and staff agrees that the current policy language is unclear and cumbersome. 2. Replace the existing Ag open space requirements with that of the normal PUD which requires 35% open space. This requirement combined with the larger lots that will naturally occur out west will likely serve to meet the goal of retaining undeveloped open area and maintaining the rural character. 3. The plan also recommended that the number of lots allowed to be platted "by right" be increased from 8 to 20. The property owners/stakeholders requested Western Lands Update February 12, 2013 Page 2 that number be significantly higher and suggested 90 lots. Staff felt the 150% increase suggested by the Plan was ample but agreed to consider a higher number and after discussion agreed to recommend 45. Any development proposing more than 45 lots will be a PUD. Implementing the above changes related to residential development in agricultural areas means amending a few Comprehensive Plan policies and small sections of the Land Development Code through the public hearing process. Issues for Further Discussion: In the meetings with the property owners/stakeholders several other issues were raised regarding their objection to some of the Plan proposals, including the larger development forms and the TDR program. 1. As an alternative to the TDR program in the plan, the stakeholders suggested allowing open space to be spread among non-contiguous parcels within a single PUD. Staff agrees that it could be beneficial to both the property owner and the County and is interested in exploring this further. 2. How to handle the larger development forms in the Plan. Currently the plan calls for 4 development forms: a. Ranchettes (up to 20 units) b. Rural Hamlet (up to 400 units) c. Ag Hamlet (401-1199) d. Rural Village (1200 units and up) From comments provided during the Western Lands Study staff understood that the threshold of a 400-unit PUD was acceptable, but that the development criterion in the Ag Hamlet and Rural Village was the point of objection. Staff's first suggestion was the addition of general policy language for a unit cap that would trigger more creative development solutions without prescribing a specific form. Staff thinks that this type of language is important to being able to recommend the standard PUD with 35% open space in agricultural lands. However, we have remained open to suggestions for alternative language. 3. Staff supports the direction provided by the Plan because it provides structure and direction on where little or none exists now. Moreover, the Plan recognizes the economic value of agriculture in its current form and its potential for the future, including making it easier to do business in the Ag areas. Staff thinks that where there is disagreement on larger development forms that continued work and collaboration with the property owners/stakeholders can address most issues. Recommendation Staff seeks an indication of general support for the proposed changes to regulating residential development in the Ag lands, support for continued work on the development forms and future implementation of the economic development-related elements in the Western Lands Plan. Item #4 Fenn Center Adult Open Recreation 4 Month Program Evaluation October 9, 2012 -February 13, 2013 Backeround In January 2012, a new operational directive for the Fenn Center was given to staff. Recurring local recreational programs were phased out by June 1, 2012 and a departmental reorganization created a new Tourism & Venues Division. By reducing the local recurring recreational events at the Fenn Center, the new division is focused on booking large outside events that will provide an economic impact to the area and generate hotel room nights. At the Board of County Commissioner's Informal meeting on October 9, 2012, the BOCC directed staff to implement a six month pilot program "Adult Open Recreation" at the Fenn Center. Program Description • Open recreation for basketball and volleyball takes place every Tuesday and Wednesday night from 5pm - 8pm. If the Fenn Center facility is rented by an organization for an event during these dates, the program is cancelled during those rental dates. • All participants must be 18 years old. • No court reservations accepted. • All players are accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. • No children are allowed in the facility during Open Recreation. • Participants have access to public restrooms and drinking fountains. All other facility rooms including meeting rooms, locker rooms and offices are not available for use. • Three courts are available during open recreation, unless rented by another organization. • Volleyball courts will be set up upon request. • Fee is $5 per participant. • Procedures: o $5 fee and sign-in required for each day of participation. Cash only. o Photo ID with proof of age must be provided. o First time participants must fill out a release and waiver of liability form. This is kept in the participant file. o Court assignments will be given by staff at sign-in. o Courts will be monitored by staff to ensure equitable use. Every 15 minute turnover if demand exists. Staff For the safety of the participants and to ensure revenue accountability and security, County staff recommended that two (2) employees work the two-night per week program. It was also recommended that at least one of the employees be CPR/AED certified. Since the program began during the off-season for lifeguard duties at County-managed pools and beaches, two lifeguards were utilized to work the program, one (1) supervisor and one (1) recreation assistant. The employees were scheduled to work Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:30pm to 8:30pm. Just one month into the program, staffing became a challenge. Unfortunately, one of the staff members was released indefinitely on workers compensation due to an injury and three months into the program, the other staff member was released from employment on family medical leave. Therefore, Tourism & Venues staff as well as Manpower staff must cover the scheduled nights. This has proven to be a challenge since several of the Tourism & Venues staff utilize a flex schedule to accommodate the Fenn Center's and Fairgrounds' weekend events. Cost vs. Revenue Total staffing cost to run the program two nights a week for the last four (4) months was $3,848. The total revenue collected during this time period was $2,575, at a loss of $1,273 or $318 per month. At this rate, continuation of the program will cost the County $3,819 per year. Comments/Issues/Concerns The most positive aspect of the program was the opportunity for adults to participate in a healthy activity in'a controlled environment. The Tuesday and Wednesday night participation was clearly split with the greater number of participants coming on Tuesday nights (274 on Tuesdays vs. 241 on Wednesdays). The program was not without its issues and incidents but staff handled them well documented everything in their daily program log. During the program, the Special Olympics basketball practiced one night a weel<along with Adult Open Recreation and they supply staff to supervise and handle emergencies for their participants. Recommendation Continue the program the pilot program reducing Adult Open Recreation to one night per week. Assuming an average of 19 participants per week, the County would lose $25.26 per week or $1,313.52 per year.