HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-21-2023 Joint City-County Workshop01'1017
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HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND
Joint City — County Workshop
September 21, 2023
10:00 a.m. to Noon
Location:
North Indian River County Library
Meeting Room
1001 Sebastian Boulevard
Sebastian, Florida 32958
AGENDA
1. Call to Order & Introduction
a. Board of County Commissioners
b. City Council
c. Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Expectations for Today (TCRPC)
4. Septic to Sewer
a. Presentation on IRC wastewater capacity
b. Current projects underway/planned
c. Desired future projects
d. Funding strategies
e. TMDLcredits
5. Joint Use Planning— Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement
6. Regional Park and Recreation Partnership Opportunities
7. Closing Comments/Next Steps
8. Adjournment
This is not a public hearing. However, if a person decides to appeal a decision made with respect to any matter
considered at the above meeting, he or she may need a verbatim record of the proceedings including the
testimony and evidence, which record is not provided. (Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes).
Anyone who needs a special accommodation for this meeting may contact the County's Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) Coordinator at (772) 226-1223 at least 48 hours in advance of meeting.
Anyone who needs special accommodation with a hearing aid for this meeting may contact the Board of County
Commission Office at 772-226-1490 at least 20 hours in advance of the meeting.
Board of County Commissioners
City of Sebastian
Joint City -County Workshop
1. Call to Order
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HOME Of PELICAN ISLAND
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 AM by Tom lAnahan, Executive Director Treasure
Coast Regional Planning Council, who introduced himself as the facilitator for this meeting.
2. Introductions
Introductions were made individually by all present
Indian River Count• Board of Countv Commissioners
Chairman Joe Earman
Vice Chairman Susan Adams
Commissioner Joseph E. Flescher
Commissioner Deryl Loar
Commissioner Laura Moss
County Attorney William DeBraai
County Administrator John Titkanich
Citv of Sebastian
City Mayor Fred Jones
Vice Mayor Chris Nunn
Council Member Ed Dodd
Council Member Bob McPartlan
Council Member Kelly Dixon
City Manager Brian Benton
City- Attorney Jennifer Cockcroft
3. P1edQe of Alle iQ ance
Mr. Lanahan led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
4. Exnectations for Joint Meeting
Mr. Lanahan stated the importance of having an open dialogue about the current issues and
stated the Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, the Sebastian City
Council, and the City Manager had jointly determined the topics for discussion. The
Joint City d County Workshop l Thursday, Septetnb,.:r 21, 2023
objective was to discuss these topics, share perspectives, and find areas of agreement. He
indicated there would be no public input taken at this meeting.
5. Sevtie to Sewer
Indian River County Utility Services Director Sean Lieske, in his PowerPoint presentation
titled "Septic to Sewer and Septic System Mandated OSTDS Upgrades," reviewed the
number of Wastewater Treatment Facilities (WWTF) within the County and their capacity.
He noted the Central WWTF primarily serves the Sebastian area and pointed out that there
was an existing capacity of 1.1 57 MGD remaining. At this point, the County would need to
start looking at expansion toward future demand with an estimated 11,000 to 12,000 single-
family residence septic tanks that would need to be converted over to sewer, not including
future development or annex properties.
Mr. Lieske brought up House Bill (HB) 1379 and noted as part of the Bill, lots one acre or
less where sewer is not available, new onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems
(OSTDS) must upgrade to enhanced nutrient -reducing OSTDS beginning January 1, 2024,
unless previously permitted. Fie added existing OSTDS would be required to connect to the
central sewer or upgrade to an enhanced nutrient -reducing OSTDS by July 1, 2030. He went
over the estimated costs of an enhanced nutrient -reducing OSTDS, the required annual
operating permit cost, and the two-year maintenance agreement.
Mr. Lieske concluded his presentation by reviewing the public and private infrastructure
needs when doing septic -to -sewer projects and the cost estimates for both public and private
infrastructure funding options.
A discussion ensued on HB 1379 and competing with counties in the entire Slate for funds
due to the recent State unfunded mandate. The County planned to seek federal grant
opportunities and discussed the possibility of the County and the City of Sebastian (the City)
partnering as a community to sign on to the grant applications together in order to add more
leverage. The City mentioned that they currently had two septic -to -sewer issues, one being
the entire City and the second being the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Sector
located directly along the Lagoon, which was the highest priority and was shovel -ready.
They wanted to keep the two issues separate and move forward with the CRA Sector project.
Further discussion was held on educating the public on the State's unfunded mandate in
regard to the enhanced nutrient -reducing OSTDS, permitting and enforcement of the
enhanced nutrient -reducing OSTDs, seeking funding for septic -to -sewer conversion,
expanding the capacity of existing wastewater treatment facilities, and looking at a future
plan to build a North County WWTF. Mr. Lieske hoped that if the County had a septic -to -
sewer conversion project timeline identified within a plan, maybe it would eliminate the need
to make that OSTDS upgrade. lie indicated the County would be starting an Integrated Water
Joint City - County Workshop 2 Thursday, September 21, 2023
Master plan next year, and part of that plan included septic -to -sewer conversion and
additional WWTFs. A suggestion was made for a Septic -to -Sewer committee.
Mr. Lanahan summarized from the discussions there was a consensus for the prioritization of
the CRA area septic -to -sewer conversion project, the County collaborating with the City to
pursue potential grant funds for septic -to -sewer conversion, and moving forward with septic -
to -sewer conversion.
6, Joint Use Planning — Interlocal, Service Boundary- Agreement
Mr. Benton brought up the City Council's discussion to bring forward an area agreement in
regard to the planning boundary at Indian River Boulevard from U.S. Hwy I connection to
the north and U.S. Ilwy 1 connection to the south. County Administrator John Titkanich,
from the County's perspective, wanted to include all areas where the boundaries abut. Mr.
Lanahan spoke of his experience in doing an Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement (ISBA)
and the state requirements for an ISBA. He cautioned against going too small (under 10
acres), but where a large area may seem efficient, it created a hearing process that attracted
concerned parties from all areas and created a misperception that it would change a person's
jurisdiction. A Joint Planning Agreement (JPA), in which any development that happened to
touch another city's boundary, would commit the parties to make aware of and discuss
planned projects without binding either the City or the County. Mr. Lanahan stated there was
a way to roll a JPA into an ISBA, and what you may include in an ISBA: municipal service
area, the unincorporated service area, identify who will provide and/or fund the provision of
public safety, fire rescue, water and wastewater, road ownership, construction, and
maintenance, conservation, parks and recreation, and stormwater management in the areas of
discussion. A discussion followed on an ISBA and opening a line of communication
between the City and the County to address issues such as the proposed hotel on Indian River
Boulevard in Sebastian and the expansion of County Roads 510 and 512.
A request was made for the County to include the City, acid vice versa, on its meeting notice
list for committees, board meetings, and committee vacancies.
Mr. Lanahan proposed to have a more formalized and durable agreement, adopted with a
resolution that could withstand changes in personnel, elected officials, or administrative star'.
It was a consensus for staff to explore the best mechanism for the City and the County.
7. Regional Park and Recreation Partnershiu Onvortunities
Indian River County Parks and Recreation Director Beth Powell demonstrated the new
Indian River County website (iridiantiver.gov) to highlight the park and recreation facilities
within the County. She announced that on September 27, 2023, there would be a Kickoff
Meeting for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. She stated the Master Plan would take an
assessment of the County"s existing resources and identify future needs and opportunities.
She said it was the County's initiative to complete this Parks and Recreation Master Plan,
Joint City - County Workshop 3 Thursday, September 21, 2023
which would give the public an opportunity to provide valuable input that will guide future
improvements and support the expansion of services. She concluded the plan would create a
clear path for capital improvements and strengthen the County's ability to leverage available
grant funds. A discussion followed on the need for additional parks and a recreation center
in the Sebastian area.
8. Closing Comments/Next Steps
County Administrator Titkanich, in response to a question concerning the closure of the Old
Dixie Railway in Sebastian to accommodate the widening project for CR-510, stated the
County would ensure the availability of a turnaround area for traffic.
9. Adiournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:57 a.m.
Please note: These minutes are filed with the Clerk to the Board and are available for
inspection upon request.
Joint City - County Workshop 4 Thursday, September 21, 2023