MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE WASTEWATER RELOCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, HELD IN THE SECOND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, 100 NORTH U.S. #1 FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, AT 10:00 AM ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2016.
1.
CALL TO ORDER - Chairman Darrell Drummond called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
2.
ROLL CALL
- Present:
- Chair Darrell Drummond; Vice-Chair Chris Craft; R. Duke Nelson; Mazella Smith; William Theiss
- Absent:
- Robert Adolphe; Timothy Perkins
- Staff Present:
-
- Deputy City Clerk Katerri Johnson
- City Manager Nicholas Mimms
- Attendees:
-
- Rep. Larry Lee Jr.
- Nicole Fogarty, St. Lucie County, St. Lucie County
- Howard Tipton, County Administrator, County Administrator
- Clay Lindstrom, FPUA Director, FPUA
3.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - There were no minutes to approve.
4.
NEW BUSINESS - There was no new business to discuss.
5.
OLD BUSINESS
a.
Discussion with City Manager, County Administrator and the FPUA Director regarding the upcoming legislative session and seeking financial assistance from the State Legislature.
Nicole Fogarty gave a brief breakdown of the availability of funds by using an environmental approach discussed at previous meeting. Discussion included the possibility of having to defend that position. Howard Tipton, County Administrator, stated that this project is an economic impact and they can try to show some environmental impacts as well. Clay Lindstrom, FPUA Director, stated that he does not support that direction because there is no environmental impact since there are no releases or spills into the river.
Further discussion included the commitment levels from the City, County and FPUA towards funding of the project. Clay Lindstrom stated that the FPUA will not consider rate payer increases. Vice-Chair Chris Craft stated that this project is going to take reaching in multiple buckets and tapping into every opportunity that exists. Additional discussion included thinking outside of the box, possible hazard mitigation option, the County point of view for a joint project and making great use of the property.
Representative Larry Lee, Jr. stated that he is pleased to see the collaboration. He is committed to doing everything he can at the state level and believes that the information Nicole has presented is valuable and we should take the opportunity. Nicholas Mimms, City Manager, stated that he has reached out to the consultant and should have some initial research back as soon as possible. Further discussion included getting an appraisal and survey, reaching out to the DEP and including a previous Charette that has pertinent information.
Nicole Fogarty gave a brief breakdown of the availability of funds by using an environmental approach discussed at previous meeting. Discussion included the possibility of having to defend that position. Howard Tipton, County Administrator, stated that this project is an economic impact and they can try to show some environmental impacts as well. Clay Lindstrom, FPUA Director, stated that he does not support that direction because there is no environmental impact since there are no releases or spills into the river.
Further discussion included the commitment levels from the City, County and FPUA towards funding of the project. Clay Lindstrom stated that the FPUA will not consider rate payer increases. Vice-Chair Chris Craft stated that this project is going to take reaching in multiple buckets and tapping into every opportunity that exists. Additional discussion included thinking outside of the box, possible hazard mitigation option, the County point of view for a joint project and making great use of the property.
Representative Larry Lee, Jr. stated that he is pleased to see the collaboration. He is committed to doing everything he can at the state level and believes that the information Nicole has presented is valuable and we should take the opportunity. Nicholas Mimms, City Manager, stated that he has reached out to the consultant and should have some initial research back as soon as possible. Further discussion included getting an appraisal and survey, reaching out to the DEP and including a previous Charette that has pertinent information.
A motion was made to formally ask the City for a survey to be done on all of the property. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
A motion was made to formally ask the City and County commission and county to pursue potential grant sources. The motion was seconded with discussion about utilizing the charette package with its pertinent information and passed unanimously.
6.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Harold "Buzz" Smyth
Harold "Buzz" Smyth
7.
ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:05 a.m.