RLAAOC Minutes 01/22/2001 J '
*Amended
RURAL LANDS ASSESSMENT AREA OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE
MINUTES
January 22, 2001
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT
Joe Boggs Stephen Bortone
Floyd Crews Fred Thomas(exc.)
Ron Hamel, Chairman
Rodney Harvey
James Howard
Dawn Jantsch
Andrew Mackie
Grady Miars
Ann Olesky
David Santee
Neno Spagna
Sonya Tuten
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Commissioner Jim Coletta
Linda Bedtelyon, Planning Services Tim Durham
Bruce Johnson
Bob Mulhere, AICP, Planning Director Tom Jones
Margie Student, Assistant Co. Attorney Larry Keesey
David Weeks, AICP, Principal Planner Bryan Paul
Michael Simonik
Amanda Stein
Richard Woodruff
Alan Reynolds
Chris Straton
CALL TO ORDER
(Item I.) The meeting was held at Corkscrew Middle School, 1165 Oil Well Road (C.R.
858), Naples, Florida, with a quorum present. The meeting was called to order by Bob
Mulhere at 6:30 p.m. Bob introduced chairman elect, Ron Hamel to the audience and
Ron accepted the committee's nomination to act as chairman.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
(Item II.) Rodney Harvey motions to approve the November 20, 2000 meeting minutes,
James (Jim) Howard seconds, and the motion passes, 12:0.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item III.) Chairman Ron Hamel asks for a motion to change the agenda item"C", to "D"
and discuss "Update on the NRPA Boundary court hearing" in its place. Ron also asks
for an additional item to be added under"F": "Role of Rural Lands Committee". The
remaining agenda items will be discussed in alphabetical order, following the change.
Jim Howard makes a motion and Sonya Tuten seconds the motion; the committee
passes the motion, 12:0.
OLD BUSINESS
(Item IV.A) Chairperson nomination acceptance: This agenda item was completed in
the "Call to Order".
(Item IV.B) Committee vacancies: Bob Mulhere invites new member Joe Boggs to be
recognized and informs committee that the remaining vacancy on the committee is being
advertised by the Board of County Commissioners. Also at this time, Bob recognizes
Commissioner Jim Coletta's attendance at this evening's meeting. Mr. Coletta
comments that he is very interested in the committees' proceedings, but will refrain from
interjecting, other than asking questions and being of assistance to the committee in
whatever way he can.
(Item IV.C) Update on NRPA (wetlands) Boundaries Legal standing: Ron Hamel asks
for current information; Bob explains that the county is appealing some "non-
compliance" issues and has adopted "interim" NRPA boundaries amendments; Margie
Student further comments that the DCA found the county's interim amendments in
compliance.
(Item IV.D) Discussion of County-wide Objectives and Policies for Wetlands, etc.: Bob
states that the terminology"County-wide" is a misnomer and a more correct term would
be"Urban Area"; Bob also suggests deferring any lengthy discussion to another
meeting, as Bill Lorenz, Director of Natural Resources, is absent from this evening's
meeting. He also reminds the committee that it is a "work in progress"; Natural
Resources Department is working with the Environmental Advisory Committee and with
representatives of property owners, and the Lands Committee can expect significant
revisions within the next 30-45 days.
(Item IV.E) Discussion of WilsonMiller Presentation: Al Reynolds of WilsonMiller recaps
the Stage 1 product (Data Collection) and submits memo( )to committee members
detailing Stage 2 scope of work, methodology and schedule. Stage 1 significant findings:
Land Cover: Agricultural use comprises 48% of total area; Wetlands, 38%;
Land Use: Agricultural uses make up 58%; grazing leases, 33%, together comprising
91% of total area.
Public Lands: 13,000 acres;
Conversion of(natural) lands to agricultural uses totaled 5,000 acres, not 35,000 acres
as the former study indicated;
40,000 acres are in interim NRPA designation;
Areas of Critical Concern amount to 1/3 of the study area.
Mr. Reynolds stresses to committee that this resulting data sets the foundation for the
remainder of the study. (Pages 11 and 12 in a corrected form were distributed to the
committee)Al continues to proceed into explanation of the Stage 2 portion of the study
calling it"Land Use Alternatives"; he further states that this is the point were application
is made to the models derived in Stage 1, including options and scenarios. Al Reynolds
then proposes a schedule of events to begin with the committee's March 2001 meeting.
He suggests WilsonMiller bring in agricultural experts to facilitate a workshop with the
committee to demonstrate such things as, market(s), and how it relates to the study
process;
April 2001 meeting: to consist of a workshop of small groups
May 2001 meeting: an Opportunities & Restraints Map will be presented
June 2001, a draft of Stage 2 product will be available
Mr. Reynolds also suggests that committee members acquaint themselves with the
Immokalee Area Master Plan so they have an overview; Joe Boggs moves that the
committee endorse and operate on the proposed schedule, with Floyd Crews second,
the motion passes, 12:0; A motion to approve the Stage 2 methodology is entered by
Nino Spagna, seconded by Ann Olesky, and opposed by Andrew Mackie, passes 11:1.
(Item VI.F) Discussion of The Role of the Rural Lands Committee: suggested by Ron
Hamel: Bob Muihere invites the committee members to individually stand and introduce
themselves; Bob explains that the Rural Assessments (Fringe and Lands)are a result of
the Final Order from the Governor's Office; the Board of County Commissioners
directed a bifurcated process and adopted two separate resolutions for the studies; the
committees requirements are to"react"to the information brought to them by way of
questions, comments, making recommendations, etc. Bob states that ultimately, the
goal sought of the committees is the endorsement of the Comprehensive Plan
Amendment(s), bringing the County into full compliance with regulatory and statutory
demands of the State of Florida; beyond the minimum requirements, Bob explains that
the objective is to develop the Growth Management Plan amendment(s)that do the
"best job" at addressing the various concerns (environment, property rights, agriculture,
etc.).
NEW BUSINESS
(Item V.) Discussion of Web-Site: Bob informs committee that the web-site for the Rural
Assessment Areas is underway and should be ready for public use in 3-4 weeks.
Updates to follow.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
(Item VI.) Chairman Hamel calls for any public comment and Chris Straton of the
League of Women Voters introduces herself and two other members in attendance. She
comments that she is following the progress of the Rural Assessment Committees
(Lands and Fringe) as well as the Community Character& Design, Select Committee.
FUTURE MEETING DATES
(Item VII.) February 26, 2001 at Corkscrew Middle School, 6:30 p.m.
ADJORNMENT
(Item VIII.) The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
*A taped and hard copy of these minutes, when approved in final form, are available at the Clerk
of Courts, Minutes and Records Office, Building F, Collier County Government Complex