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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-16 IR LAGOON COALITION MinutesINDIAN RIVER COUNTY LAGOON COALITION MINUTES MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016 2:00 P.M. CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA SEBASTIAN CITY HALL 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA PRESENT: Richard Winger, Chairman Members: Joel Tyson and Andrea Coy Also Present: Wayne Coment, City of Vero Beach City Attorney; Dylan Reingold, Indian River County Attorney and Tammy Bursick, City of Vero Beach City Clerk 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Winger called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mr. Tyson led the Coalition and the audience present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. ROLL CALL Mrs. Tammy Bursick, City Clerk, performed the roll call. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Dylan Reingold, County Attorney, commented that he attended the Indian River Lagoon Council meeting on Friday and there was some discussion about the County stepping up and being a member of the Lagoon Council. He said the County is excited in moving along with this process and he is working with Ms. Carolyn Ansay (Lagoon Council's Attorney) in getting the necessary paperwork filled out and back to her. 5. NEW BUSINESS A) Welcome Vice Mayor Andrea Coy to the Coalition Mr. Winger formally welcomed Ms. Coy to the Indian River County Lagoon Coalition as their new member. B) Discuss Indian River County joining the Indian River Coalition Ms. Coy stated that she shared some of her concerns on Friday about Indian River County joining the Indian River Lagoon Council. She is speaking as her Council's liaison and they have to approve everything that is decided. Her biggest concern is that when you barely have an over the line vote of 3-2 then there are only three (3) members excited to be a part of the Indian River Lagoon Council (referring back to the vote taken by Indian River County to join the Lagoon Council). She said there were three (3) municipalities who realized how important this was from day one. She had some concerns with the vote taken by the County being so close that if one person changes their mind to get out of the Lagoon Council then they are back to square one. She thinks that this is a concern. At her last Council meeting Page 1 IRCLC 12/12/15 they talked about septic sewer issues and the County wanted $300,000 from Sebastian in order to put in a sewer line, which included the $100,000 that Sebastian was awarded a grant for from the Lagoon Council. She said that Sebastian put in for the grant and was awarded it and now the County wants to take the money back. She also recalled that there were some Engineering fees that the County tried to get them to pay. She said that the County is responsible to run their utilities and no one can tell her anywhere else that has had to pay them like Sebastian has. She suggested inviting the County to join them and perhaps giving them two (2) shares. The municipalities would pay $10,000 each and the County would pay $20,000 to be a part of the Lagoon Council. That way no matter what happens the municipalities would still be at the table. Mr. Tyson stated that he welcomed the County taking over this responsibility. He said with this change they know that for the next two (2) years there will not be any problems with them being members. He knows for the next two (2) years they will never have three (3) positive votes. He is all for the County taking over. Besides, it would be onen(1) less meeting he would have to attend. Mr. Winger mentioned that there were some other solutions that he came up with. He said they can step down as suggested by Mr. Tyson, do what Ms. Coy has suggested, change the paperwork to read that if the County steps down then this Coalition would replace the County, or they could ask to be a nonvoting member on the Lagoon Council. He would be more comfortable with going with Mr. Tyson's suggestion just because it is less complicated. Ms. Coy said that she knows the City of Sebastian has been left out of a lot of things. They have had to step up and fight for their fair share. This is so important for all of the municipalities and she would really love to have a vote on this Council. She serves as a member on the MPO and so does all of the five (5) County Commissioners, so ultimately what happens at the MPO is the say of the County Commissioners. She did not know if her Council would be in favor of her suggestion and she would not be able to bring it up at their meeting on Wednesday night because she will be out of town. Mr. Winger stated that each of them could bring the matter up at their respective meetings. They will not need to do anything for a few weeks since the Lagoon Council will not meet again until February. He asked Mr. Coment how the paperwork would be done to make a change to the interlocal agreement. Mr. Wayne Coment, City of Vero Beach City Attorney, stated that they could make amendments to the interlocal agreement. He said the main objective of all the municipalities is to protect the Indian River Lagoon as opposed to just mainly being a member on the Lagoon Council. He said they could keep this Lagoon Coalition in existence. They could have something in the agreement saying if the County withdraws from the Lagoon Council then this Lagoon Coalition steps back in those "shoes." Mr. Winger added that the options are like having a non-voting seat or that they continue existence. He said they would have to take the suggestion back to their different Councils' to approve it. They will give the vote to the County and if the County down the road chooses not to be a part of the Lagoon Council then the Lagoon Coalition would step back in. Mr. Reingold commented that this would be between the municipalities. Ms. Coy hoped that the County would go along with it. Page 2 IRCLC 12/12/15 Mr. Tyson recalled at the time that the Lagoon Council was formed it was under the St. John's Water Management District and now it is a whole new format. He still felt for the next two (2) years there would not be any problems with the County being the Representative on the Lagoon Council. Mr. Winger asked the members if they could go along with what Mr. Coment has proposed. Ms. Coy stated that she would bring it up to her Council at their January 111h meeting. Mr. Winger made a motion that the Lagoon Coalition's paperwork be amended that if the County withdraws from the Lagoon Council that the Lagoon Coalition would become operative again and take the County's place on the Council. This request is on the behalf of the Lagoon Coalition — reiterating that the County would step up and be the Representative on the Lagoon Council and in case they should withdraw that the Lagoon Coalition would step up again and be the Representative on the Lagoon Council. Ms. Coy seconded the motion and it passed 3-0. Mr. Winger asked Mr. Coment to draft the paperwork that would accomplish this. He then set the next Lagoon Coalition meeting for January 18th at 2:00 p.m. He said that he would bring this suggestion before the Lagoon Council at their meeting in February. Mr. Jason Nunemaker, City Manager of Fellsmere, stepped up and said that the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, the Treasure Coast League of Cities, and the Space Coast League of Cities are looking at becoming members of the Lagoon Council. Mr. Reingold stated that he would take their comments back to Ms. Ansay (Lagoon Council Attorney) to let her know what was discussed at today's meeting. He will also inform the County on the discussions that took place today. Ms. Andrea Ring commented that she has attended a lot of Sebastian City Council meetings where this matter has been discussed. She did attend the County meeting where they were discussing being a Representative on the Lagoon Council and she agreed that they need County representation on this Lagoon Council and they are moving in the right direction. She agreed with the suggestions and decisions made by the Lagoon Coalition at today's meeting. C) Proposed Approval of an Excellent to Superior Rating for the Director — Dr. De Freeze The Lagoon Coalition went through Dr. De Freeze's evaluation and gave him a five (5) — which was exceptional for all of the different categories. Mr. Winger asked the Clerk to get this information back to Ms. Ansay. D) Participation in the December 21, 2016 Delegation Meeting Mr. Winger did not see anything in particular that the Lagoon Coalition needed to address before the Delegation at their December 21St meeting. 6) ADJOURNMENT Page 3 IRCLC 12/12/15 Today's meeting adjourned at 2:33 p.m. AV Page 4 IRCLC 12/12/15