All the way. system. Maybe they'll get some new system. because nobody used them. >> Just keeps that from going back through the system. really did it just feedback.
>> You know what we can do? We can't just mute them in the back. >> Do that. Then they don't have like we're just muted in the back. Then they don't have to uh we don't have to worry about running out here and telling people to turn it on.
This is the Lake County Board of County Commissioners regular meeting on February 24th, 2026 in Board Chambers Administrative Building, Tvaris, Florida. Check. recording in progress. >> Good morning everyone. Welcome to our February 24th, 2026 Lake County Board of
County Commissioners meeting. We're going to open our meeting today with an invocation given by Rabbi Jeffrey Solomon from the traditional congregation of Mount Dora. And then we'll remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Aino Aaran,
our father, merciful father, who grants salvation to kings and dominion to princes, whose kingdom is eternal and unbounded, who graciously endows man with knowledge, who teaches mortal man understanding. For with God is wisdom
and understanding. Not Florida Lake County. May God bless, guard, protect, and help all the leaders of the government, the president of the United States, the governor of Florida, Lake County
Manager, and these commissioners, and graciously grant to them knowledge, understanding, and discernment. May the Supreme King of Kings in his mercy preserve them in life and deliver them from all trouble and hurt.
May the Supreme King of Kings in his mercy inspire them and all of their counselors with benevolence to do good towards all that is in their charge that this may be God's will. And let us say, amen. >> Amen. >> Please join in the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you again for this opportunity. >> Thank you, Rabbi.
>> All right. Um, agenda update. Jennifer Barker, County Manager. Uh, yes. Good morning, Madam Chair. Commissioners, I am requesting that we pull tab 24. That was a presentation on the historical museum. We would like to have that uh meeting at a later date. Um, also we do
have our fire chief here to give us an update on the current drought conditions. Um, so I'd like to invite David Kilbury, the fire uh public safety director to come forward and and give us an update. Okay. >> Good morning, commissioners. David
Kilbury, public safety director. I've got uh some information published from the Florida Department of Agriculture, which uh I have not used the overhead, so I'm going to do my best to place this where it needs to be. So,
>> yeah, I got an overhead. Um the state of Florida looks at several different items to make the determination of drought. And so using the technology, this uh came from yesterday. You can see Lake
County in green. Uh on the county average is the drought index, the amount of precipitation in the duff layer. And the duff layer is above the soil, but below it's kind of that uh composition that's in the process of breaking down.
And what it does is it looks at the moisture content of that. So to move into the next more data-driven deeper dive on our drought conditions, the state of Florida publishes this by county. And so to focus your eyes here
on the last line, we're currently in an average of 453. If you look to the right columns, less than 25% of the county is over 500, which is our current threshold for the
burn band. The surrounding counties to our east are a little uh damper. Valuchia, Simol, Orange, they're probably about 50 points less than we are. However, Marian uh north of us,
I'll pull that one up for you. So, you can see actually where Marian sits, you can see that 90% of their county is currently above 500. So, dramatic difference in the moisture content of the county just north of us. If you look
to the south in pulk I will they're above 500 in 40 or 19% is above 500 and 40% is above 600. So you can see lake county currently is not in
that same location. Oyola county is right at the precipitate. They had a fire that got into some plastic buckets in agriculture for plants. Had a pretty significant fire and so they have a a provision in their
ordinance where the county manager in consultation with the fire chief can enact that. So they decided to enact that burn ban. Ours currently goes into effect at 500 and it expires once it's went below 500 for more than five days.
So, how that equates to the fire danger. Currently, we're in a moderate state of fire danger according to the state's maps. Um, the one difference that we've had that's significant is we've talked about the the drought index, the
moisture content, but that doesn't talk about the fuel load. And as you know, we have a lot of fuel load from the recent freeze. Most of that is just leaves and brush that is wilted. It's not the catastrophic fuel load that you might see in a hurricane with down pine trees
and and significant root balls and things like that. That is a disaster for extreme fire conditions. And we had that last year, but we never re uh reached the threshold to where we really got too high above 500 to to get there. So, a
lot of the things that are dead currently are the leaves and wilted brush. So, it's not the same fuel load that you might experience postseason from a hurricane. Florida always burns. We're in, you know, we we pivot from hurricane season to wildfire season back
and forth and we're entering into the the drier months before the rain starts somewhere in May. So, uh based on that, uh it's just a tool to predict how we uh handle our our fire response in burn.
It's just a tool on the prevention side that prevents open open burning and that's the residents who want to burn their leaves, small limbs that are falling and and things like that. It will not eliminate, but it's certainly a uh an opportunity if the board decides to enact something sooner than that, but
we are not uh currently in extreme fire conditions. Another tool that I wanted to bring to your attention is we have policy that mimics the board's ordinance as well and that's our response postures based on the Florida KBDI. It comes out
daily around 1:00. We're currently in a what we call a BR1, a brush response one sends a single engine goes all the way up to four, but we start monitoring uh the dispatch center along with the morning briefing with the deputy chief of operations when we get above 450. Uh
the deputy chief has the ability to request additional resources based on weather conditions. So weather conditions uh can influence that fire load. You know, real high wind conditions can spread fire and things such as that. Yesterday would have been one of those circumstances, but it was a
typical day. Um I I believe most Florianans are aware that we're in fire season and and they take precautions. Uh but because of the the freeze and things like that, the state has moved in additional resources and in fact, we've had some aircraft from the state that
have assisted us with a fire a couple of weeks ago. So we're in the same posture. We have the resources and the flexibility, but according to the data, we have not reached the threshold of what we would call extreme fire conditions yet, but there's nothing wrong with uh putting additional
precautions. Another tool is social media to where we can uh offer tips and advise residents and things such as that. So, with that, that's kind of where we're at. We're at 450. We went up three points from yesterday and we're we're hovering just in the the high 450s
would be my prediction by the end of today. >> So, Chief, a couple things. Um it's a little concerning considering proximity to Marian and the dryness there and um I understand sort of what we we typically use, but your comments about the the
vegetation and the dry material that's there that's potentially fuel and the fact that we've had these really windy conditions. Um I I've had a lot of people ask me like why don't we have a burn ban? And as you know more than any of us know, one little spark and with
these windy conditions, it's like, you know, off to the races. >> So, um I I personally in knowing that we've got the state state of emergency in effect and our ordinance is the way that it's written, which I feel like we need to revisit in the future about how
our ordinance is actually written, but because it's already in effect, we can't change the ordinance right now. I'd feel more comfortable if we went ahead and and took those additional measures and instituted a burn ban right now. Um I
know it inconveniences some people that want to burn, but the threat on the other side is that we could be in a really costly situation. Not just dollars from us representing the taxpayers, but people that are harmed and their property is harmed and people
are put in in danger. So, I mean, I I would favor um you know, enacting our own state of emergency for now in order to put that burn ban in effect if you would be supportive of that. >> Absolutely. Yeah. Whatever the board's direction is, uh you know, it it's a
preventative effort and there's nothing wrong with that. We would rather prevent fires than respond to fires. So, absolutely have our full support on that. >> So, is it your professional opinion that we enact a burn ban? Looking at the data that the state has
produced, we are not at the threshold of the drought index, but there is a significant fuel load that the state does not. >> So, in your professional opinion, do we enact burn van? >> I would say not at this time uh based on
uh the data that we have available. We have a lot of tools to our discretion, but I would be open to whatever the board's decision is. >> Aren't you moving uh equipment around regardless? Yes sir. >> So if you if if you think there's going to be a brush fire up towards Altuna
Aster area, you've got a unit moving that that way already. It's sitting there ready to go. >> We do. And the state also has through the uh the state of uh emergency that the governor has enacted has brought some additional resources. More of it is
to the south south of state road 60 which is the very end tip of Lake CM. Everything in the state is above 600 down there. So, we're not quite there. The rains that we had come through uh lowered us from the 480s down below 450.
Uh but there are resources available to manage it. We have not reached the threshold of extreme fire conditions yet. The moisture content in the soil uh typically are uh slowm moving fires. Uh but that's not to say that this will prevent all fires. It just prevents open
burning. I will tell you it's the uh cigarette out the window and motocross and different things in those those areas that typically it's a spark or a weld or somebody just not being cognizant of their environment when they
burn or open burning things such as that. H >> how many fires have we had in the last >> We had three yesterday that the the crews were able to get to very fastly and extinguish. Uh we are in a ready posture and we've told our crews call for help early when they see smoke. We
get as much uh information over the phones. Uh we uh the Florida Forest Service is responding as well. So we have a lot of uh resources available and we have the options of upstaffing tankers and brush trucks. We're just not at that point yet of the that brush
response posture. >> And I I appreciate Commissioner Smith putting you on the spot. I I mean I see what you're trying to do. you know, he's the professional. Is it your professional opinion? But I also think that there is a value to everybody kind
of coming to the table with their own concerns. And I think that this is not one of those scenarios where because your opinion right now is, well, based on this, do we need a burn ban? Yet there are other people who have concerns that we should have one that it
just adds that added protection. Um, so you know, I I personally favor it. I think it's it's a smart thing to do. I think it's the prudent thing to do right now. I I understand you being I I don't know which one is the conservative side. I was going to say I appreciate you being conservative, but I'm not sure
which one is the more I think maybe where I'm coming from is in this case is let's just be safe rather than sorry. And um and take into account that fuel load. That that's the part that I just don't think is built into this. and um
and the fact the proximity of the other counties that are um that are you know in the extreme um index is there any chance the state is going to like change how they do this as far as >> so they continually uh improve that but
we are using state-of-the-art uh satellite technology to look at that moisture content and there are meteorologists in the state that look at this daily so there are areas in the state that are truly in extreme extreme fire wildfire conditions. Lake County isn't in one of those yet.
>> But what about the fuel side of it? Do they not, you know, why is that not built into this? >> Yeah. So, it's the moisture content and the rate of ignition of that dead fuel is it will burn. It's wilted. Some of it still has moisture in it, but it it will
rebound in in the spring. But again, it's not the dangerous fuel load like the down limbs and down trees and things like that. is what we consider light fuel at the moment and most residents are are burning that stuff in a small fire pit currently that has been, you
know, killed in their yard. But it's the human behavior that we're trying to legislate to prevent the the wildfire. But those conditions of the drought index currently and the mapping of the fire dangers, Lake County is in a moderate. We haven't yet reached a high
threshold of wildfire danger. And I I would like to respond to um Commissioner Campion is I like to manage my facts. I'm not putting him on the spot. I'm asking him professional opinion on a situation he's very well attuned of. I
can only assume that the state enacted its emergency response for the southern half of the state because they're in a high um they're in very high fire danger is the reason why the state had brought in some extra resources. Not because of the northern part. It's all because of
the southern part and I truly believe that your professional opinion I'm going to put a lot of weight on that. Um I appreciate it is something you do every day. We do not do this every day. So we're taking what you're telling us um at least I am to heart. So thank you
very much for that >> parks. >> And I really truly value your your professional experience as well. Um this is what you do and what you know. Um so you may be already on this a question that I'm going to ask. I've heard uh u
about a system that's in uh I think it's Travis County, Texas that a lot of the counties in Texas are now um following. Uh it's a AI I mean I know AI is the word of the day but um good or bad but it's but it is an AI based system that
they're raving about as far as accuracy and predicting where fires will occur um you know down to some of the uh you know uh I guess certain less than a square mile area you know that that kind of accuracy and so I'm wondering if um if you have not already looked at if you
could look into something like that and it may help in this kind of situation where you're giving us reports and I think at this point Maybe you give us reports every week or every other week where you can break out maybe break out certain areas and maybe you have the burnban in that particular sort of micro
area part of Lake County based off of some AI data that you receive through this model or your own data. It doesn't have to be what you use in Travis County. >> Sure. >> But but maybe and maybe that's what we do. Maybe there's a certain area today that you think could be the highest probability in Lake County and the burn
ban is enacted in just that area um instead of the whole county. Um something like that. So what do you think? >> Yeah, I'll put this one slide back up there. It doesn't go to the level of what you're talking about, but these numbers that you see here in the
category to the right is is similar to what you're describing is less than 25% of the county right now is over uh the 500 threshold. So, the state has that ability, but to put that out to such
finite detail in the county would be problematic on their website. But uh it's something that uh we would love to have for for casting because from Aster to four corners there's a lot of geography that has different type of fuel loads and and population densities
and interface with wildland fire and so yeah we would encourage that and as that AI technology comes available it'll be incorporated into it and we use it in other areas as well. We have a program that we're working right now on medical emergencies the likelihood should an ambulance move. So, we're we're tapping
that technology to truly be a data-driven organization. >> Yeah, I think the the you could buy into that for 1,800 bucks, I think, and have access to that that system. >> I will look into that. I appreciate that intel. Thank you, Commissioner. >> Sure. I think that's fascinating, especially if we're looking at changing
the ordinance and maybe if we have the technology then to support having um specified areas within the county that are have the burn bands because when I look at this number I see 22% are are in the high extreme.
>> So we know in those areas if somebody burns then we're you know we're taking some real chances, >> right? And I can't tell you with confidence where that 22% of the county is above 500, but um the majority of the county is below that threshold.
Currently, 75% of the county is below the 500 threshold. But that is not to say we couldn't have a significant fire because it could be in one of those areas or it could be an area that has a significant amount of fuel load. But for the most part, the county is below that 500 threshold that we have in ordinance.
And am I am I understanding correctly that cities can enact their own burn bans? >> Yes, sir. >> Has any city in Lake County enacted a burn ban? >> Groveland uh really doesn't allow any open burning, nor does Orange County, but they still have the the burn ban in
effect, but um I I believe Claremont and Groveland, both of those municipalities, I believe, do not allow open burning anyway, but >> anywhere at any time. >> Correct. But they've also uh I believe have enacted a burn man of their own. >> Of the cities that allow burn open burn,
have any of them stopped the open burn because of the um conditions we're in? >> Not that I'm aware of. I've had conversations with the fire chief in Eustace and and he was in favor of you know increased posture in in some of those areas but they have not enacted a
burn ban in the city. >> Okay. Thank you. And and along those lines though, being the district 4 commissioner, most of my my district is is a forest. I mean, a huge part of district 4 is a forest. I mean, between the siminal forest and the Okala
National Forest. So, we won't have cities in those areas. We are the jurisdiction over those areas. So, >> so well, you mentioned something about changing an ordinance. I mean, is that This is the first I've heard about
changing an ordinance. So, what what are we doing? We have an ordinance now that's working and now you're just bringing I want to discuss things before anything's done. >> Well, I'm not bringing forward an ordinance. >> You just said that you change your ordinance. >> No, I think you misunderstood.
>> I don't think so. >> No, I think you misunderstood. I said that I think that we should look at an ordinance change that that's not we're not doing an ordinance change. We're not considering or >> apparently it's this is an emergency item that you
>> No, what I brought is the possibility of a state of emergency so we could do a burn ban right now. >> I I believe that the state is correct. I'm I'm with >> But the state >> the state did enact a state of emergency >> not in Lake County. Yeah, it's it's the whole state.
>> We have we have the statistics that say we don't need a need a burn ban >> and and that's fine. That's your opinion. I mean, you you you see it that way. I just see it as I I would prefer the burn ban. I feel better about the burn ban knowing that so much of our county does have 22% of our county is
over that index. So, I'm just asking you to look at the specific facts and I guess um and it, you know, I think the key is getting information out, but what I'm getting back from people is, well, then why don't we have the burn ban? We're we're putting the facts out to
people. We're doing the social media. >> Maybe I missed this. How long were we talking about doing the ban if we do if we move forward? How long was it? >> It So, if you choose to add this item to the agenda, it would be a local state of emergency and by statute, it cannot be longer than seven days. it can be
renewed. Um, this particular draft of the ordinance would allow the the chairman to renew it at the end of seven days or to terminate it early if based on the recommendation of um, Chief Kilbury and the county manager it was no longer needed.
>> I'm okay with seven days. I mean, it's 22% of the counties in that sector. So, like seven days is not a big issue for me. If we have an agreed party that's like, "Hey, this is going to affect me in a serious way," then I would be a no. But I'm not I'm not I don't have knowledge of somebody who's going to be
adversely affected by the burn ban. So I'm fine moving forward for 7 days. >> So the the draft 7 days. >> Sorry. The the draft is on the screen. Um it would apply to all incorporated and unincorporated areas unless a municipality is issued a burn p permit. And then at the bottom you can see that
it would ban open burning which would be campfires, bonfires, unpermitted controlled burns, burning of yard and household trash, burning of new or or old construction debris, burning of organic debris, and lighting of fireworks and sparklers again during this 7-day period which could be
extended. Um you could certainly change the applicability, you could change the types of things it would um would prohibit in that seven days. Um, so this is just a draft. >> What I'm going to propose is that um I
and having seen what happened in the 98 fires. That's a study for all of Florida. Um what happened in 1998 with the virus, I understand the concern and am worried about that, but I also want to respect the process as well here with you being our expert. So, I'm wondering
if we're since we're meeting next week, literally a week from today, if it's possible that you could come back with some recommendations on localized areas based off of your technical knowledge and your expertise and maybe we enact a burn ban in those areas only if that's
something that if you would be comfortable doing, we could do literally a week from today. >> Yeah. And the state may have that availability. I'm I'm intrigued by uh the Texas model. I don't know. But yeah, I know that for them to publish 22% as
above 500 tells me they they know more than we do at the local level. It's the average thereof and it's just the drought index. It's not the fuel load, >> right? >> So that I I want the board to understand there is risk. We are in wildfire
season. We had three or four fires yesterday. We just aren't in the conflictation conditions of just a book of matches throughout the county. But there are areas, as Commissioner Campion mentioned, that are above that threshold. But there's also areas that
are well below as well. >> Yeah, I appreciate that suggestion, and I guess that's where I was going with this is that we we do this as a stop gap and then we bring back something that would be more um a modification to our existing ordinance such as what
Commissioner Park suggested. And this just gives us that period of time between now and and the next meeting to see if we can get that language in place. >> So I think Commissioner Parks was was saying wait until next week with your recommendation. Is that correct, Commissioner?
>> Yeah, I was going to suggest just wait a week. >> Wait a week until we get the real data from the fire chief. And >> Sure. I'll look at and and what I'll do is because of the concern of the commission, uh we're going to move to a BR2 response. So, we're going to send
additional resources right out the gate for anything until I report back just to give you uh added comfort. Uh and I serve at your will and I appreciate and I'll come back with as much information I can for you to make informed decisions. >> Okay. And when you come back, can you
can you please um explain how you when your fire chiefs um say, "Hey, we have we have a potential up here." What your um action items are at that point? >> I sure will. >> Thank you, sir.
>> All right. Thank you. I appreciate it. And and again, I think this is a good discussion. I think that this is, you know, and I think it it hopefully next week maybe we have something then that we can work with and in the meantime I
just urge everybody to be super careful and uh you know if you're planning to burn just wait just wait it'll still be there and you can take that project on >> and and to your point on now I mean we could do you know extra communication efforts they they love communications
>> yeah I think it's great it's just that you're going to get what you're going to hear back from people is well then why don't we have a burn ban >> so but we just need to let them know it's it's you know I I look at that map and I see those counties all above us and then I see the counties all below us and then Valuchia and here we are
sandwiched in between and then we've got these areas that actually have the high risk and to me it just seems logical but that's that's where I was coming from. Okay. All right. Moving on then to um our tab one which is uh well Mr. Cooney
isn't with us to hear but with us today but Christy Mlain is. >> Thank you. Yes, Christy Maline with the Lake County Clerk's Office. We recommend approval of two sets of minutes for you. >> So move to approve. Uh second. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? All right. That passes and
moving on to citizen question and comment period. Um during this part of our meeting, um we can hear from the public on items that um are on today's agenda with the exception of anything that's a zoning type item. Um anyone
that's joined our meeting through Zoom, you can participate by pressing star9 and then raising your hand um click the raise hand button to let us know that you wish to speak. And then we allow three minutes for speakers. And we just ask that you wrap it up when you hear the buzzard go off. And um I've got a
few speaker cards. Let's see. The first one is Cindy Newton. Got to come way down. Good morning, Cindy Neon, District 4. Uh, first of all, I'd like to thank Vice Chair Parks for being the speaker at the Passion Flower Chapter of the Florida
Native Plant Society February 14th. Taking time out on Valentine's Day meant a lot. And Eco Expo went very well uh last Saturday, February 21st. Was a beautiful day. Hickory Point venue was
very welcoming. Park staff did an excellent job with site prep. logistics followed through the entire day. There were approximately 48 vendors set up including many of the Lake County entities like Keep Lake Beautiful, Parks
and Trails, the Water Lab, Mosquito and Aquatic Plant Management, Water Resources, Water Authority, just to name a few. There were over 600 visitors besides the vendors and many left better informed
with a lot of information and a lot of positive views of some things that are going on in Lake County. And thank you, Commissioner Sabatini, for attending. We appreciate you bringing your bringing your family and spending some time. So,
thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Uh, Farmer Banks Hellfrick. >> Farmer Banks Hellfrick. I live in the Clay Road District, South Lake County. Farm tip of the day. Uh, the freeze that happened roughly 3 weeks ago. Um, your
plants, your trees are stressed out. Leave them alone. Just water them. You don't have to worry about fertilizing them. Uh, wait until they start sprouting and um pushing out new buds. Uh, and then clip them right um above the buds. Mayor, uh, I'm sorry, uh,
chairwoman, uh, board, uh, distinguished guests, um, Heidi the Pig Farmer, um, spent four years and thousands of dollars attempting to get a permit from Lake County. She was approved by the
Florida Department of Agriculture and Services. She was also approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. She had a problem with Lake County. I heard her tell her story. I pulled her aside and I said, "Heidi, let's find a way to come up with a solution." She obliged. Uh, first thing we did was get
on the phone with the honorable um, Commissioner Parks for 17 minutes. That led to me reaching out to a lawyer friend of mine uh who works within government uh who works with land use uh and he referred um Heidi to Meg at the
uh Lake County planning and zoning um department. Um Heidi then ended up taking a trip up here to Taris. Uh spent the afternoon filling out the proper paperwork, paying the fee, paying the fine. Um and this past July it was
presented she presented at the planning and zoning board right here in this room. Um there was some opposition from her neighbors. Now granted she lives in the green swamp. She has 20 acres. It is zoned agriculture. Um there was uh some
support um some of her friends myself stood up in support um and showed how a positive impact of her regenerative farming would help out the community. Uh it was approved 4 to one moved on to this board, this very board in August of
last year. Again she presented again there was slight opposition. There was on the other side some support of her neighbors, her friends I also stood up and supported. It was approved unanimously 4 to zero. Uh and she now has a conditional use permit to raise
her pigs in a regenerative way in sand pits rather than mud pits to uh humanely take that meat and process it to prepare it and to cure it and then ultimately to serve it on her property. This is a seed
to solution success story. Uh and this is what I do really well. I help people, citizens get through the intricacies of government from federal to state to county to local municipalities. Uh
government does not have the answer for everything. However, government's purpose is to serve the citizens. Um I am Farmer Banks Halffrick, um advocate for South Lake County, a candidate for state house district 25. May you all be
blessed. Thank you for allowing me to speak. >> Thank you. Um, Susan Federer. >> Hi, good morning everybody. I'm Susan Federer of Leburg and I'm kind of wanted to echoing some of Cindy's comments. I'm the president of the Lake County Conservation Council and we organized
last weekend's Eco Expo and we had such a great opportunity for um citizens from all around the county and a lot of people out of the county um come and learn about some of the great things happening here and we learned about the animals that live in the area and how to do regenerative farming, how to protect
our waterways, everything that you need to know to understand how to make Lake County work. We had it on site and we want to thank you officially as a president of the council for your generous sponsorship or support. The park staff and the um Blake County Water Authority staff that participated were
amazing and really facilitated a great event with like with about 700 people on site. So, um thank you and we hope to see you next year. >> Thank you and great job. and I would have been over there, but I was at an FFA event um over Mount Dora, but I
heard great things about the event and appreciate you guys putting that all together. >> Oh, thank you. Yeah, it was um a busy weekend. There was a lot of events going on that we got that many people on site when there was things in Howie, there was things in you, there was things all over the place. So, um we felt pretty grateful for the event. Um, we one of
the things my favorite parts was the county water authority staff that showed up with two little fish tanks, one with minnows and one with mosquito larae. And the kids got to feed mosquito larve to the fish to see it just a real key part of our waterfront ecosystem in action. >> Very good. >> Anyway, there's just a lot going on. So,
we hope to see you all next year. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um, manuel and I'm you're gonna have to help me with the last name. I am Emanuel Mia. I am a resident of the Shockley Heights
section up in the up in the Kala National Forest north of Yumatila north of Altuna to be more precise. I'm here to seek out a clarification to an article
that was published in the outpost on February 19th. Um, the Sharkley Heights Community Club is in the process of evicting four elderly campers with illnesses from
their homes. one who has been living at his home for 10 years on the grounds that the campsite that is operated by the Shockley Heights Community Club is not
zoned for uh being a campground. Now, there's a bit of a and supposedly, well, it's not supposedly, uh, code enforcement had informed, uh, the Shley Heights Community Center
that these, uh, the campsite wasn't supposed to be there. However, when I when you look through the property appraisal records, the location of the campsite is marked as an RV uh, campsite. So there is a bit of a
confusion between the two. Now the the residents were given a 14-day eviction notice which they got only on the second day. So they actually have only 12 days to move and currently
part their utilities have been partially shut down. that shutting down utilities as a tool for eviction seems to be a violation of Florida statute 8367 passed in 2016 by the legislature.
You're not supposed to be shutting down utilities as part uh of an eviction proceeding. Supposedly, the eviction well is ongoing. the code enforcement's pay going to pay a visit to these
individuals to see if they're gone and they are in the process of vacating but due to health and other issues uh they can't. Now my question is based on the article from the outpost to which
I'm going to be issuing a rebuttal is is code enforcement aiding or saying that they can go outside Florida statutes to
carry out this eviction because apparently uh the methodology being used to evict these individuals is not within state statute. >> All right. >> I yield my time. >> Okay. Yeah. And we'll we'll answer the
question although I don't know that we're going to go back and forth. I think what we're going to do is respond to that um since you raised the question so we can give you some clarification. >> Right. I going to be doing an article in the paper. >> Okay. And this hopefully will help make sure we have all the facts. Okay. All
right. Thank you. I appreciate you coming here today and bringing that information. and I'm going to ask the county attorney if she'll help us respond to that. >> So, we do have an active code enforcement case against this particular property. Um, what happens with code enforcement is we issue a notice of
violation allowing the property owner a certain amount of time to cure or to come in and apply for proper permits if that's the case. Lake County code enforcement does not issue eviction notices. We do not evict people. Um, we do not shut off utilities. None of that would be coming from us. If eviction
notices were issued by a property owner to tenants on the property, that is a completely separate process that goes through the court system and is governed by other statutes. Lake County code enforcement does not evict people. We that that's not what we do. We issue a notice of violation. They have the time
to come into compliance or apply for permits. If they do not come into compliance, then there is a hearing held in front of a special master, a code enforcement special master who, if he finds that there's a violation, will issue an additional amount of time to come into compliance. If they still do
not comply at that point, the county has the option to file for an injunction with the circuit court, but we don't evict people. We don't bring the sheriff out there. We don't make people leave. Um, again, that's an issue between the property owner and whoever may be residing on the property. And we do not shut off utilities because we are not a
utility provider. So again, there is an active case. Um, typically this board does not get involved in active cases because it is done, it's a quasi judicial process handled by a special master. Um, but um, he can certainly reach out to code enforcement and get more information as that process goes along.
>> Okay. >> Uh, legal counsel has been contracted by some of the campers over the over the matter. >> Then what happens, right? Then what happens at that point is that their legal counsel can contact my office and we will only we will work through the legal counsel with whatever their issues
may be. Um our staff will not talk with another party if they are represented by council. >> Right. >> I don't know what the status is by the campers. Uh any further questions? >> No, but thank you for being here and I hope that offered some clarification.
Okay. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> All right. Appreciate that. And I know that takes about I'm going to say 35 minutes for you to get from Shockley Heights to hear about I was up that way yesterday. So,
>> and I'm I am uh a neighbor. So, uh I believe in neighbors helping out others. >> Certainly, >> that's what makes this county uh such a wonderful place because we help our brothers and sisters. Thank you. And I
appreciate that. And I know our code enforcement is always really mindful of that, trying to work with people even though they may need to get something fixed, they try to work with them to get through that process. So, um, thanks again very much for being here today. I needed
>> and bless you all for all the work you do. >> Thank you. Um, do we have anyone online that has called in to speak? >> I think we do. Vicki Cashwell, please unmute your n unmute your line and state your name for the record, please.
>> Um, can you hear me now? >> Yes, we can hear you. >> Hello. Good morning. Good morning. So, I'm actually calling in reference to this is Vicky Dwey. Um, I live at 109041098 FAR Drive, but I'm calling in reference to
Postal Colony um, Road and it's for a friend of mine that's been being blocked off. She's um, on old property as I am and as you well know, a lot of this property out here has been landlocked and so there's, you know, people have to
travel over um, other people's property. However, she's had a really tough time trying to navigate this. So, I just wanted to bring it to your attention to see if y'all could help her with this. So, I'm referencing section 35, township 23,
and range 25. And it's actually track six. So, track six was actually split off back in the 1920s, it looks like. And so her property and his her and her husband's property is the east half of
track six. The west half of track 6 is owned by another lady that is now um that actually her side of the property is Postal Colony Road. So Postal Colony Road off of Green Swamp Road and it goes
to Lake Nelly Road. So the part off of Green Swamp Road, it's a dirt road. it splits off and they already only have a small portion to get into their property, but now it's being blocked off. Um, she's contacted several departments in the county. She's um
actually been trying to work with code enforcement, but it's really not going anywhere. They're allowing her to block it off with gates and fences and stuff like that. So, it's become a burden because they've had their property since 1986.
Um, and the lady that's now blocking it, she bought hers in 1999. And on the warranty deed, I'm reading it right now. It even says it's subject to easements, restrictions, and reservations of record, if any. So, I did a public records request which I got back
yesterday. And the deed is from uh it's actually page platbook 8 page 31 where it shows the postal colony company designated certain alleyways and it
specifically says alleyways and roadways for public use. Postal Colony Road is a road, but it's not countymaintained. But that should not affect this lady being able to put up a a gate with a lock that
they have to get out of their vehicle to come and unlock in the middle of the night for no reason. It's not her property. So, how do we determine what to move forward with this? because she's not getting a lot of answers and it's become it's becoming a problem
because now apparently code enforcement went and told the lady, "Oh yeah, your neighbor's the one that called us and allowing her to do this and it's not okay because it it's a it's a burden to to them to have to get out of their vehicle for a a a trip a a roadway that
they've traveled for the last 20, 30 years to get to their property and now it's being blocked off. >> Okay. All right. >> Is there anything you could suggest for her to to do or who to talk to? >> Um, okay. Let's We're going to work on
this. Um, I'm going to turn it over to the county attorney. >> Uh, Miss Dwey, if you can give me her name, then I can talk with the code enforcement department and get the more information on the issues. What What is the individual's name? >> Her name is Naomi. Uh, Naomi and Chris
BS. and uh they've been speaking with James and code enforcement. He's the one that's over the code because she had called code enforcement and she's also been speaking to the director of code enforcement >> and um it's really not going anywhere. So if you could she's online too. She
may be speaking next. I don't know. >> I'll follow up with code enforcement and then we'll get back to um Mr. and Mrs. BS. >> Okay. Thank Thank you. And we will work on this. Okay. Um, do we have anyone else online? No. Okay. All right. So,
Melanie, you're gonna look into this and Okay. All right. So, we that concludes our citizen question and comment period. Um, we're going to move on to our presentation of proclamations. Um, so we have a proclamation designating March
2026 as Irishamean Heritage Month. And I wondered if we could have a motion. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. And um all in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose? That passes. Yay for the
Irish. Um and we have um with us uh Greg Sean Canning. Correct. And I'm going to come down and read the proclamation and present it to you and then I'm sure you have a few things to say. All right. >> I can't believe it's been a year since
we did the last one. A year ago. That's wild. Do you remember that? >> I do. And let let the record reflect that Sean is the correct Irish way to spell s an >> Can I comment on that? >> Oh, you're gonna Oh, no. Wait a minute.
>> Opened up a can of worms. >> All these years. >> You're both right and wrong. Um, EN is pronounced Shen and it means old. >> Oh, man. >> Sean,
>> he's definitely old. is s e a father n. You have to have a father over the a. So s e a s e a father n is sh meaning John. So without the uh >> I want to go with that one.
>> It's old with the father it's John. >> So you now have to start adding that >> so is it. So I old. So I say father father >> Sean >> ina we have a lot less consonants but we have twice as many vowels as English
does. So a and a father separate vowels. >> So if that explains all right so I I got I got I got to change it then I got to do some so I'll get with you on that >> old parks >> and I get the honor of reading this because my maiden name is Shamrock. So
somehow that makes it appropriate that I'm the one that is reading this proclamation. All right. Whereas by 1776 nearly 300,000 Irish nationals had immigrated to the American colonies and played a crucial role in America's war for independence. And whereas five
signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish descent and three signers were Irishborn. And whereas 22 presidents have proudly proclaimed their Irish American heritage. And whereas in 1792, Irishborn James Hoban provided the architectural
plans for the White House and served as one of the supervising architects for the construction of the capital. And whereas Irishborn Commodore John Barry was recognized by the United States Congress in September of 2002 as the first flag officer of the United States
Navy. And whereas the Irish first came to Spanish La Florida in the 1500s, first as missionaries and mercenary soldiers and then as planters, traders, businessmen, doctors and administrators and whereas three of the Spanish governors of La Florida were Irish
military officers. And whereas Richard Arthur and Irishborn priests from Limmerick who was appointed parish priest for St. Augustine in 1597 an ecclesiastical judge of Leaf Florida established the first public school in America and opened it to both boys and
girls of all races. And whereas Irish Americans since America's inception have provided and continued to provide leadership and service to this nation's political, business, and religious establishments. And whereas it is fitting and proper to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and the many valuable
contributions of Irishameans. Now therefore, the board of county commissioners of Lake County, Florida, proclaims that Lake County does hereby proclaim March 2026 as Irishamean Heritage Month, and a copy of this proclamation shall be spread upon the minutes of this meeting and shall become
effective upon adoption this 24th day of February, 2026. >> Go to mafood. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for being here. >> A pleasure. Uh just before I begin, just to tell you a short thing, you know, uh my wife is
uh Italian American and we just celebrated our 52nd wedding anniversary. What a lucky woman she is. But uh 52 years ago when we got married, she said to me, "I have but one request.
We are going by the English form of your name." She said, "I can't be married with a name I can't pronounce, but my actual name is Grios Cananan." Totally different.
But anyway, uh, Gio Armagin, good morning. And, uh, chair uh, Camp Bion, County Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, uh, Gur Mahagood, I thank you for this
honor. on behalf of the Irish community in Florida and the ancient order of Hiburnians, the oldest and largest Irish organization in the world, tracing our roots back to the 1500s as the ribbon
societies. I would like to express my gratitude for your kind consideration in designating March as Irish American Heritage Month. St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, is without question the biggest
celebration of a national day across the globe. throughout American and Canadian studies in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany, Norway, Denmark, Australia and
New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Nigeria, Granada, and even on the Caribbean island of Monserat, the only other country in the world to declare St. Patrick's Day a national holiday.
People will be celebrating this occasion and pro proclaiming themselves Irish for the day. This proclamation coincides with festivities that are currently underway as Irish Americans once again
gather to celebrate their heritage throughout the state of Florida. During the month of March, Irish Flidians proudly reflect on the legacy of their Irish forebears who have contributed
significantly in the areas of education, business, sports, literature, science, engineering, medicine, law, enforcement, and the arts. These are just some of the contributions that have been made not
only by the Irish but by so many ethnic and racial groups who came to these United States from the four corners of the world and who have assisted in developing this great country of ours as
the current national AO deputy secretary, the Florida State Secretary, past National Director of the Southern States and past Florida State President of the Ancient Order of Hiburnians. I
would like to acknowledge the esteem honor the county commissioners have bestowed upon all Irish Americans living within this county and the great state of Florida. Gurug August Eladre
Fhanaguch. Thank you and have a blessed St. Patrick's Day. And can I just state something? Uh I believe it was last year, the year before, and I was in Poke County, and I forget what uh
jurisdiction what uh it was, but it was my second year traveling there to accept a proclamation. And when I walked in, the city manager said, "Ah, Sean, welcome back. But we have to tell you,
we've now learned how to tell the difference between Irishameans and Irishborn. And I said, "Oh my god, do tell." He said, "We ran our first St. Patrick's
Day dinner and we had two choices of a menu, corn beef and cabbage and a full chicken dinner. And as we went to introduce ourselves to the citizens, we found out that most of the
Irishameans were lined up for the corn beef and cabbage and the Irish born was lined up for the full chicken dinner. Uh in Ireland, our St. Patrick's Day dinner is very
much like what you do for Thanksgiving, but just a point. Anyway, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Next year when we do this, we need to do it with a proper pint of Guinness in front of each of these commissioners and our staff. If not, it's not it's not a
real Irish uh celebration. Is that a motion? That is a motion actually, but I'll leave it open for future. >> That was great. I have to remember how I'm supposed to pronounce your name now. >> I'm going to get my name changed. So, agenda. >> Okay. All right. Clerk of courts consent
agenda. Christie, >> thank you. We recommend approval of items one through three. >> All right. Do we have a motion? >> Move. Move to approve. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? That brings us then to consent
agenda 4 through 21. >> Uh, one of a couple things pulled. Um, poll tab five, please. And tab seven. Thank you. That's all.
>> All right. >> I would move to approve the rest. >> So, that was five and seven. >> Yes, ma'am. I believe we have a card on >> Hold on. We have a card on We have a card on 16.
Um and then seven >> 57 and 16. So do we have a motion for everything else? >> So move. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? All right. Then bringing
back um tab five. >> Yeah. What's the the waiver conflict? That's just another attorney at the firm. Is that what that is? >> That's correct. Yes. Um Chris is our lobbyist, but he has not gotten lobbied for any funding for Round Lake Road. So,
we don't see that there's a conflict with another part of their firm representing PY. Apparently, they've been a fairly long-term client of Grey Robinson. >> Yeah, I'll be voting no on this. Um, I understand it's like a sort of a legal fiction that there's no conflict that, you know, this attorney is really not
involved with this case, but you got a major firm working for one of the largest home building companies in the country, uh, who I don't trust, same company, same CEO who pushed for a 50-year mortgage. I don't support them or what they do. Um, and so, you know, I
get I get it's a legal fiction. Our lobbyist is not actually working on that case, but it's like you're all in the same seessaw basically. And literally these big firms, we've seen this with Greg Robinson in the past where literally they were lobbying for Orange County
yet working with the state senator of the Democrat party in the same county to kill the priorities of Orange County in Tallahassee. I've seen it before. I don't like it. And even if our lobbyists aren't quite literally working on anything for PY, I I just don't I don't
like it. Uh I think we need independent firm that doesn't have profit sharing agreements with companies that possibly are conflicted even if it's something minor like this. So I'll be voting no and that's it. I mean I'm just don't feel comfortable with it. Thanks.
>> Yeah, it's one of those areas that it it is it's hard as a lawyer. You understand how you can create separate conflicts within a firm. Um, and then there's the appearance side of it where it feels, um, it it makes you feel uneasy. Um, so,
um, I think it's, you know, it I I understand, um, Commissioner Sabatini's position. >> Yeah. So do I. I understand. I think that's a I'm glad you're bringing that up. Um, you know, some counties have their own lobbyists. They don't even do on staff.
They don't do contracts anymore because of that issue. Exactly. Because of that issue. But you know, moving today, we we need to >> You mean they have their own like inhouse? >> Yeah. Their own person legislative legislative affairs >> usually the bigger counties. >> Oh. >> Oh, there's some
>> now that we are becoming one of the biggest counties. We're in the top 25% now. We're the 17th or 16th largest county. So, >> but yeah, it's hard. It kind of feels icky when you have like somebody arguing for one thing and then they turn around and then they argue for another thing and it's it really
>> doesn't feel right. >> So, uh, Grave Robinson is on a three-year contract, correct? And we're on their last year. >> Yeah, >> that is correct. They will be going out to bid this year. >> All right. Um, so do we have a motion to
approve the waiver of conflict? >> I'll make a motion to approve waiver of conflict. >> Second. >> Okay. >> And the discussion is we we've all we've done this in the past. Um, I know that
there's been some anxiety over it and there's opportunities coming up in the near future to correct it. So, I don't think there's any reason to slow down the process. uh today for this um request and we can
um hash this out later on. Okay. Um when just to get a little bit more clarification on when it says the the P um the Round Lake Road project from south of Wolf Branch Road to north of
State Road 44. Does that mean that I guess there is a project that PY is working on in that location? I mean, >> that's my >> not something that's come to us yet.
>> I'm assuming that PY is probably under contract and has not purchased the property yet. >> That that's my assumption. I do know that I don't know if we've got public works here, but they have been working with some um large acreage property owners out there to acquire the right of way that we need for that road
expansion. I'm not sure if PI is one of those or they're under contract with one of those. >> And if we were not to approve this, what happens then? >> PY would retain imminent domain counsel through another law firm.
>> Not the end of the world. the end of the world. >> Obviously, it's a huge practice in Orlando. You got a lot of eminent domain lawyers. So, >> yeah, it's um >> Okay. So, I got a motion and there's been a second. So, I I think the prudent
thing to do would be to take a take a vote and then the way I think it's going to go, another motion comes up. Um, all those in favor of the waiver of conflict say I. >> I. >> I.
>> All those opposed say I. >> I. >> I. >> So, was that a 32? >> It was a 32. >> Okay. So, the waiver of conflict passes. >> Shen was the swing vote. >> I mean, and I I'm I'm really glad you brought it up. I'm I'm I'm all for
looking at what to do forward. I mean, you >> Yeah, I'm fine really either way. I just wanted to make the point we got to we got to just have a broader conversation about potential conflicts and all that. That's I mean >> that's good to know that all that happens is they just go get another law firm. >> Okay. Thank you for that.
>> Anytime. >> Okay. All right. Um moving ahead then. >> And then seven was the other one I pulled. Yeah. I just just I wanted to get you know obviously I to totally trust our county to to tell us when it's worth settling these cases but I didn't
get a chance to chat with them about the specifics of this one. Obviously it's a slightly higher settlement in the realm of settlements considering sovereign immunity. It's 125. So I just wanted to maybe get a few notes on that and why you know the liability looked clear and you know obviously I'm not against voting for it but I just didn't get a
chance to learn about it before the meeting. So, this is related to um a motor vehicle accident involving uh one of our fire trucks that did hit gas stations uh pumps at a gas station. So,
this is to settle the claim with the gas station property owner for the damages at the at the gas station. >> Got it. >> Okay. >> Okay. That's it. >> All right. Do we have a motion? I think we >> move to approve.
>> Okay. Good. I'm glad to hear that. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? All right. Then moving then to tab 16. This is a recommendation to approve um the acceptance of public rideway and easement deeds that have been secured in conjunction with the development roadway
and storm water projects. Um this I'm a little confused because this says Brit Road update on this card. This is Cindy Newton, tab 16. And you you have on here Brit Road update.
Um, yes, but I'm confused because tab 16 is is the acceptance of rightaway and easement deeds. Is this related to Brit Road? Jeff >> Jeff Farhart with Engineering. One of the properties that we're accepting is is the Brit road property. That's okay.
That's one of the ones in the in the list. And Cindy, are you just asking for an update on where we're at on Brit Road Newton District 4. Uh there's a lot of discussion about this online with a lot of misinformation.
>> Oh, imagine that. >> I It's surprising, I know. So, I thought it was a good time to have an update. One of the questions is, will there be enough rightway to the south end of the damage to then align the road?
>> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Do we have a motion for approval? >> Make a motion to approve. Second. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? And just by way of update, um we're very close to having the state sign off on the bidding process, which
hopefully then takes about 30-ish days, and then thereafter they start. So, we are very close to a a start day, and we will certainly make sure that information gets out to the public. Um, and we can we can at that time, you
know, show some diagrams and maps and all of that to show that final design that could help at least put to rest some of the issues and misinformation that is circulating out there. All right. Um, moving along then to um,
tab 22 presentations. Meg Brew, economic development director. Good morning, commissioners. For the record, Meg Brew, director for the Office of Economic Development. As is our tradition every February, I am delighted to welcome my friend,
colleague, and favorite Scotsman, Neil Hamilton, to present our 2026 economic forecast. Neil serves as the vice president for research and strategy with the Orlando Economic Partnership where he is truly a wealth of information with a robust understanding of economic data
and a talent for contextualizing complex information. I hope that you will enjoy his presentation this morning. Neil and I will get you to click. >> Thank you. And uh good morning. I think we're going to have all the accents. I was going to say we're getting all the dialects and a lot of different
>> in Scottish will have had four languages. >> Yeah, just say something in Scottish in that way. >> Thank you. And um yeah, I think this is my third time. >> I believe so. So, I really appreciate the invitation. I think if I get a fourth opportunity, maybe I'll wear my
kel like my Irish cousin here who's left unfortunately. But um so today I think you know my job is to cut through the noise for the commission. I think there's been a lot of noise this past year, 18 months. So, what I'll be focusing on today is, you know, what
what what if the noise matters to to to Lake County? What trends am I seeing that the the commission I need to be aware of? So, I'm going to follow the same format as I have in the past, which is to look at national outlook, followed by the
state and region, followed by Lake County specifically. And I do that because, you know, I'm a firm believer that Lake County is part of Central Florida, Central Florida is part of the state, state is part of the US. So everything in my kind of world kind of
cascades down. We'll start with the national outlook. And I want to I want to thank uh Meg and Kathleen. They allowed me an extra day to submit this presentation. We just got the fourth quarter GDP data on Friday uh for the for the country. um that that's going to
be a theme through this presentation of actually because of the government shutdown uh late kind of October November time frame last year um my world is in disarray so we're waiting in some data we're filling in some gaps but I'm going to do my best job I can uh the US
economy last year it slowed I think that was to be expected we it came out at 2.2% down from 2.8 8 and there really there was a lot of reasons for that. I think early in the year out of the out of the gates you know we had that huge inflow of imports and you know reacting
to the tariff announcement. So that kind of that messed with the data early on in the sense that how GDP is calculated and inflow and imports drags down GDP growth early. We then sort of moved on through the year. there was uncertainty in the market policy volatility with a new or
old new old prison I should say and then as we move forward through 2025 um I think the reduced government spending that was well telegraphed we expected that but then sort of June July time frame onwards so mid year I think we began to see some cracks in labor
market some softer consumer spending data and I think that's that's continued through the latter half of the year January we got a big bounce I'm not reading too much into to it right now. I think a lot of it was healthare which is actually a good thing for Lake County and you're well represented in
healthcare but without healthare we don't add many jobs in January in the country. Um consumer spending like I said it softened. It did not fall off a cliff. We went from 2.9 to 2.7 but there are some gathering thoughts that the consumer I spoke last year about
cumulative inflation. Not so much that you wake up and everything's more expensive. It's just the kind of building impact of that inflation um that's beginning to take its toll forecast and I want to be as transparent as I can. There are very much two
schools of thought moving forward for the US economy. First sort of half glass half full perspective and that which I kind of more in line with is we're going to rebound um a little bit moving in 26. Reasons for that is inflation is going down. You know the the and I'm going to
butcher this one. the one big beautiful act, one big beautiful bill act that should bring some positive tax changes for the consumer, for businesses, lots of investment in AI, probably going to get a couple additional interest rate cuts moving forward. Um, depending on
how the Federal Reserve approaches it. So, I think that all supports the notion of a of a rebound, a modest rebound. Um, but the other the half empty perspective says that the consumer is tired. um we need to be careful that they don't
break. uh I I go towards the more positive side in the grounds that never write off I've learned doing this for about 20 years never to learn write off the US consumer people continue to spend even when sometimes there's uncertainty there's volatility market's not doing
great so I think the forecast and this is a wells Fargo economic wells Fargo forecast not my own 2.7 that would be a that would be in line with what the IMF is currently forecasting for the US it would be above some of the big other big banks which are saying closer to 2%
2.1%. Again, I think I'm more bullish than maybe some people, but I think I think we'll be just fine. State of Florida. Um, and we've come to expect this. We outperformed the nation through 2025. Um,
labor market also softened in the second half. You see monthly average jobs went from about 12,000 new jobs in the state per month the previous year to just around 3,300. So a major slowdown. A lot of that is related to that slowdown in consumer spending. So the weakness we're
seeing it's in retail, it's in bars and restaurants. It's maybe people deciding to stay home rather than spend that extra money. Um forecast for the state is uh for much of the same will continue to outperform the US. But I I talk a lot
about the growth premium. Um historically the Florida has been good for about a percentage point in GDP over the over the US and that's because of our sort of built-in growth drivers. Wealth migration, population growth, population growth is slowing. There was
about a month ago we got 2025 census estimates for the state. Um and it pains to point out we are certainly a growth market where but we're it's a natural evolution. We I think last year state of Florida and it was an international and
domestic migration went down. International was across the country. It was not a Florida specific thing. Domestic we we we really came down. I think that's you know that's that we're becoming a victim of our success where our cost profile or cost position has evolved. For me it's a natural evolution. Um I'm not overly concerned
about it, but I do think you know the analogy I use is the US e if the US economy um is on a pedal bike um going up a hill, Florida is on one of these sort of ebikes you see in your neighborhood with the kids and our battery is population growth. It's
wealth migration. That battery is kind of less robust. It's a little older than it used to be. So I think that's where we're at. That delta is probably going to fall to about half a percentage point next year. So, a little bit of a slowdown, but still outperforming the US. And you'll see job growth is
slowing. A lot of reasons for that. I'll get into that in a bit. Job growth is slowing. Unemployment will pick up a little bit. Um, talk about the Orlando region. We we just we're always a year behind in local data. We just got 2024
GDP data. We were the eighth fastest growing large metro in the US. Um, far outpacing the the US. Um, so that takes us through 2025. Everything looking good. Uh 224, I apologize. 2025, that's where our survey work comes in. And I,
as you know, we we survey couple hundred businesses every quarter in the market. Some from Lake County. Uh Megan, I always appreciate them. They send that survey out for us. And that's a little bit of a primer how to interpret this graph. Anything above zero is positive. We asked the question um in terms of
your performance, did your revenue increase, decrease, or stay the same compared to last quarter? So the reason they get we get to a net balance which is the the share we throw out the people who say it was just the same and we take the positives less than negative. So the the me the businesses that said they
were they had positive performance less those are negative and that's the that's the balance. So anything above zero is positive means more businesses are positive than they are negative. uh and you see starting Q4 or comparing Q4 24 through 25 the end of year last year we
see everything slow drifting down a little bit Q3 was soft um but Q4 we rebounded and I'll get some reasons for that I think um where is what you'll see is innovation has gone through the roof in the last quarter employment has stayed stagnant
and so I always kind of reserve the right to call companies and say what do you mean by this uh an innovation is interesting when I call companies they say well you know we're innovating with AI AI is a huge trend companies are now they're trying to they think they can
grow uh without adding jobs and that explains the the employment so they are when people leave maybe they'll retire or go to another firm maybe two people leave they're replacing them they're trying to replace them with one and so AI is a huge emerging trend in the labor
market how it plays out we don't know but I is right now in real time I think we're entering a new era of job growth slower job growth people trying to do more with less and then my second chart on this confidence um this brings us
into the kind of political realms but last if you see the final quarter of Q4 or 2024 that was the presidential election okay so you see a huge spike in confidence in the US economy and that was because you know wherever people fall politically um there there was
uncertainty and then the election happens, President Trump was elected and suddenly okay, we know the we know with the rules of the game, there's some clarity in the direction the country is moving in. So they were very confident but then um president took office starts
with tariffs and some other uncertain um elements and so that's when that clarity start disappeared. So you see the US economy going down. Um bouncing around a little bit. Q4 they just before Christmas does not pick back up. Um and
that's because of the federal government shutdown. Uh whereas confidence in their own business that that is a slow drift. They're they're still very confident in their own business, local businesses, but entering the final quarter of 25
last year, they actually they get a point where they're kind of normalized uncertainly. They're like, you know what, this is just how it's going to be. And I can only look at my own business. The world is not falling in. Things are going things are nudging along. Uh, so we're just going to look at our our own
performance and base our confidence on that rather than conditions outside of our control. So I think that's where we're at. Um, talking about the job market and locally, we only added about 4,000 jobs last year. Um, that will probably get revised
up coming in March. We'll get the final tally. And that is a significant slowdown from you know I always think historically we're good for about a good year is 30,000 jobs in this market and by market I mean the four counties of oyola lake orange and seminal um fell
down again the reason for that softness and what I call consumerf facing sectors retail bars restaurants but then also this the advent of AI and I think that's something we really got to keep an eye on I think the days of haze job growth
are behind us. I think this will be the new norm. Less fewer jobs, companies trying to grow without adding jobs. Sometimes it's I worry about a s jobless expansion, if that's that's a term. Um that's that's something we're just going have to reconcile companies doing more
with less. The act the labor market, there's still a lot of demand for for labor. Uh what I've seen um when we see unemployment ramp up a little bit up to four and a half% almost that is that is
I think labor hoarding was a thing post pandemic. Um so companies would because they they couldn't get any talent for a couple of years. Uh they had to offer signing bonuses to get that talent and so suddenly when conditions soften they didn't want to let go of that that
talent. Um, but now they are because they think maybe AI can do it or so their labor hoarding is is gone. They're beginning to release some people. And then the flip side of that is that's an opportunity. There's there's talent in the market that we haven't had for three, four years. So some companies are
saying, you know, yes, um, we're doing a lot more with AI, but also see some great candidates in the sidelines that we couldn't have attracted last year. So that's an opportunity for some Lake County. Very important point. Next next month we'll get the county and MSA version of
the population data for 2025 and we'll really see where we land on that up through 24. Lake County population growth diverged from the state and the the region in the sense it accelerated
um the state and the region has slowed. Uh, I think we may not accelerate next year in the Lake County. Um, but I think we're going to slow less than the state and the region and that's because people are choosing, we spoke with this last year, people are choosing Lake County. I
think a lot of people in this market, even in Orange and Sear, the biggest influence to this county are from your neighbors. Um, and I think it's, you know, Commissioner Parks, I know a house in Claremont is still four or $500,000, but maybe in downtown Orlando that's six
or $700,000. So, I think that dynamic is still alive and well. >> This is a >> yeah, >> the chart on the the chart on the left is a is a really important one. um you know the partnership and around the region you you'll hear us talk a lot
about a thousand new people every week to the region or 1500 and that is still true only it masks a changing dynamic of surging a declining domestic migration surging international migration and so you see in the chart on the left in this
region we only only added 780 neck people domestically in 24 okay and that was but that was masked by a huge inflow of international arrivals. And so as we move forward, as we become more expansive, I'm really keeping an eye on
the 25 local data. I can tell you the state only domestically attracted 22,000 people. So, but that has to be spread between 67 counties. So, it's the same numbers. We just got to wait for the data to come. Um, international will will go down, I think. And I've got a SL
slide here. Lake County has much less exposed to the to declining international migration. Only 14% in the past three years has come from overseas. Lake County draws its residents not even from other states. A lot of it from this market. Florida, Orange, Semino, Miami.
I've got a chart that will depict this in a minute. The IRS data, this is one of the casualties of the shutdown. We'll get 23 late March. So, I think you've seen this data, but this is making the point again. And you're getting your biggest influence are from Orange, Oyola, Seino, and South Florida. Not
outside of the state so much, although you're still getting plenty from New York, uh, Chicago. That's hopefully you can see that it's not gray on my screen. This is a map of the data I just showed you, but it's it's telling the same story that the
biggest inflows from South Florida, from Orange, Seino, and that that is critically important because as domestic migration from other states slows, as international migration slows or declines, um the fact that Lake County
is getting the lion share of its residents from Florida is a good thing as long as your competitive position remains the same within within the market and you don't you know that your $500,000 Manola house doesn't become a million dollar mini house if that makes
sense. Um talk about the economy GDP for Lake County Lake and Oyola last year were the two amongst counties in the state of Florida with at least 100,000 population because I always filter for small
counties. Lake and Ocula were the two fastest in the state. Ocula was more than Lake, but lake at 6.3 was still about almost double the region, certainly more than the state. Um there's very very clear logical thought
process on what's driving that in the terms if you follow the you know a house is built in Lake County that sends construction activity higher then it's sold to someone who moves here drives real estate activity and then they move in and they start spending. So those
three sectors say what drove three quarters of GDP growth and that's that's as you as you look at a consumer downtown that's maybe not where you want to be um in terms of sustainability you always try and diversify slow down a little bit in employment but
still above for Lake County but still above the region and the state. This is a very important chart. I wanted you know so we get the question are we are we making progress in diversify diversifying the economy. So what I'm doing with this chart is taking a
fiveyear time frame pre- pandemic 2019 versus 24 and that's the latest calendar full year this won't be revised we have and asking the question is Lake County growing its share of jobs in high wage sectors and the answer is yes. So if you
look at the the bottom and I've sorted this from from higher wage at the top to lower wage sectors as they pay wages in Lake County. So we are seeing a declining proportion of employment in retail in the visitor economy in hotels and bars
in more in manufacturing and construction. So this is all great solid progress. But the caveat with that is those percentages towards in the service economy still more than you would have than you have in the US. And that's just a function of how we've developed, how
how we've grown as a state. You've seen this chart. This is something that's not improving. You've seen this chart before, but I have updated it to look at a five-year time frame. Still, the the and I won't call it the Achilles heel, but the challenge, the opportunity for Lake County is always to get more jobs in this market.
You know, I just I drove up here from Orange County. I looked at the other side of the highway and I saw all the cars leaving. If you can get all those people to be working in Lake County, spending their money in Lake County, then your economy becomes more resilient um moving forward. I think so we're
we're still about 70% are leaving this the the the re the county every morning. And again, that's the delta is around 75,000 people. um between those two lines that's I'm comparing the jobs that are that Lake County residents have
versus the jobs that our Lake County and it's probably bigger more than 75,000 because some of those those jobs in Lake County companies are held by people in Orange or Marian and they're coming in here. So I think the Delta is probably closer to about 100,000 people leaving.
Um the labor market it will soften. Um moving forward like I said unemployment is going up or or shedding some people. Um again not not a major issue. I don't think I think what's going to buttress
the Lake County market is healthcare. You've got a huge proportion that's still the most active job postings. Um the caveat to that is and we just at the partnership we brought out a talent report last just before Christmas was closing the gap. is comparing the gap in the talent we have right now versus the
talent we need in the future. And there's some just like every other jurisdiction in this country. There are structural issues. We don't have enough construction people. We don't have enough healthcare talent. So even as unemployment ramps up, we're still not going to have those people. They don't just
we don't just they're not born overnight. So it's still there going to be structural. You're still going to hear employers say, "Oh, we can't find this person or that person." I think the hospitals are a good example of that. If you look at the the job postings line, that's actually above
and we use this as a proxy for demand. That is that is that's above where it was pre- pandemic. That's not the case for state or the region. And that's because a lot of those healthcare providers in the county, they keep what I'm calling evergreen job postings. They never take them down because they're always always they always want to
attract candidates to keep those job postings open. Um, you've shared this chart last year. I've updated it. Obviously, I think one of one of one of the commissioners had said, "Okay, well, it's it's logical that we're losing that that the kids are
in college and that's a transient." So, I've separated out. I did look back at the envelope calcul calculations. I think um in terms of the net loss of that covered 25 to 34 demographic, it's actually improving a little bit and it's less um acute than it was last year. And
again, I think that's that's some folks coming up from Orange and Seino and deciding we you know at the partnership we have three or four young people work work or live here commuting to Orlando every day. Um but it is it does have an
an impact on labor force participation. You only look about one in two um residents are actively in the labor market because a lot of them are retired. Um I would say that would vary by commission district.
I think districts one and two South Lake probably much higher than maybe your own commissioner can't be on. So that's something there's there's some detail to be there. closing up. Uh I ran the latest forecast moving forward looking at the next
decade. Again, Lake even in this slower um job market, Lake is going to be one of the fastest growing labor markets and employment markets in the state. So I think as long as that's third bullet, I'll kind of close
on that. I think as long as this county continues to attract residents from the rest of Florida, and that certainly seems to be the case, then I think the future still looks positive for Lake County. Um, increasing diversification of the economy. Florida and Orlando will
slow slightly. Uh, Lake County, too, but I think I think you're still in great shape moving forward in 2026. Hopefully, I've left enough time for questions. >> Um, yes, I think we certainly do. you have questions >> or if I've not addressed anything that you would like to see.
>> Uh no, I I think it's I really appreciate the uh presentation super informative especially helps us when we try to make policy decisions and looking at budget and what to do thinking in the long term I think is super super important. And more of just a quick question and a comment. My quick
question first is uh the the value of the dollar and how that might affect some of the travel because you know we're one of the things we're trying to do is we do like people that come in and spend money for a couple days and then leave um to the county as Ryan is smiling in the back. Um and I think that's going to be incredibly important
can be even really important depending upon what happens legislatively in Florida with property taxes and things like that. So what do you see uh when it comes to the the dollar uh internationally and maybe attracting visitors here? Will that help us a little bit? >> For all the volatility, the policy
uncertain dollar is still the gold standard. I think I think we I think it's I think it'll be fine moving forward. I think tourism is a huge, you know, we I think we're guilty in this certainly in Orange County of taking tourism for
granted. I think tourism is a fant, you know, when you talk about traded goods and versus primary sectors and and versus local local sectors, tourism brings money into the economy. I I think >> tourism it >> imports money. Yeah,
>> absolutely. It's it's the flow of wealth into whether it's residents or tourism. I think we I think you and Blake County has a strong play. I think I see it every every weekend I'm up here for kids soccer. I see all this money flowing into the county. >> Well, that's good. I hope I hope we
continue to that continues to improve um for us and we we need that uh that money being imported as you say. I like that into the county. And I mean, I guess the other my comment is that slide 22 or slide 20 if you want to put that back up. I just I think that's super important as we're
>> um that is uh the issue of the day I think. Um, and I would just say that um, that's the one about the 70% of the workforce moving. >> Okay. >> Um, yeah, that I think is >> You mean commuting? >> Commuting out. Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. So, I got a question on that
on that slide though that showed the Disney and Universal as the main employers. Um, I think that, and I think you did allude to this, that it it skews all of the rest of our numbers when you put that in there and then you average across the board. It's a subset of the
Orange County portion. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And there's nothing I mean there's nothing wrong with that. I mean, we're so close geographically that it would only make sense that and it's a younger um group of people and I was actually in
Claremont on um downtown Claremont on Saturday um for the Fallen Heroes run. That place was like >> it was crazy. I mean, it was it was wonderful. I mean, people were having a great time, but it was the young crowd. It was definitely that 30 to 40 group
primarily. And so, they're living over in Claremont and Minnola and they're working, but it's all so close geographically in in proximity that um it I used to see that number and think, okay, across the board, all of these people are leaving Lake County, but it's
really primarily down in that area, not so much across the board throughout Lake County. At least that's my Yeah, I mean perhaps I can take that as homework and get back to you on >> the kind of commission breakout. I think that would tell tell a deeper story. >> Yeah, there's there is a lot of people I
mean you know having lived there many years now. Uh yeah, a lot of people do work at Disney and Universal, but it is still a problem on when you have that many people moving. And it's not just Disney Universal, they're going other places. I just think it's I think that's
the focus of the day is is trying to get some of those cars turned around. And um there's always going to be people leaving leaving leaving the county um to go to I mean Universal and Disney is a great job. So >> right, but that slide looked like it was a very large percentage of the people that were commuting out of lake. Whereas
if you could break it down further so that we could further understand whether what other types of jobs are they leaving for because yes, if you can tap into that and use that workforce here in Lake County for companies
>> what industries they are, you know, and almost do some targeting there. I watched a >> I watched a video this weekend. I think it was me and Kathleen were doing a piece on wellness way and I think it's fantastic that you're >> you know you're it's not there but it's >> you're allocating some of these developments and big plans for
commercial >> well and that's the key is is sticking that's why I brought that up is the point of sticking with the vision >> that it takes many many years to get the numbers turned around like this economically it's that they use the proverbial it's a battleship it takes many many years of everybody trying to
pull the same direction to get some of the numbers changed so >> but if you Look at it. The um the the four people that were looking for employer employers, three of them were healthcare >> and then our population is is and I I
know from the the college perspective so we're on board there. That's exactly where we're headed is all healthcare >> and >> which is a concern for me is >> but as an industry healthcare is >> great industry. >> It's fantastic. We um I scared some
people last week um that 4,000 jobs that we added net gain in the region last year. If you take away healthcare which added 10,000 we lose jobs in this region. We lose lose jobs. That's unheard of. So healthare I think it's also to go back to that flow of money.
Healthare people say it's a local industry. It serves the population. That's true. But if you follow the money in the insurance industry, I think it's just as traded as a lot of other I think healthcare is a fantastic country to be strong in. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That is higher paid jobs, but again, you
you have those service level jobs that are down here, it's going to offset a lot of it >> to take care of the retirees. >> Yeah. And to your point, it's I mean, if you go for for an innovator, entrepreneur, somebody that's younger, the younger generation, um they're
they're They're going to be more centered towards inward towards the metro Orlando and and and that's what we've can I hope we change a little bit. >> I do appreciate the chairman saying 30 to 40 is young but I thought 40 to 50
was young. >> 40 to 50 >> 60 and under. >> Remember Sean's name literally means old. So I don't trust his opinion on this matter. >> So wise too. No. Well, and I just did we just did some work in OciOla County for the NSF grant and the semiconductor work. >> Yeah.
>> Are looking at the story there and they they have a lot of health care in that area. >> Yeah. >> The problem is it's >> they're parachuting people in. So, we need to not do that either >> because it's not how do you get how do you get that prosperity to the residents? How do you have them participate in? And I think that's a
similar challenge to here. >> Yeah. >> Well, thank you very much. >> Very informative. Yes, definitely. And um I in next year I mean every year I understand you a little bit more.
>> So I rely heavily on your slides. >> We know we have a count next year. >> We'll have you could come after we do this next year with the Irish American Heritage and then you can bring your drink of choice. >> You know the the last talking about my the last time I wore Mel was in my
wedding in Mount Dora. Um, so I could try it out in Lake County again. I'm talking myself into trouble here, but >> we'll see you tomorrow at the barbecue, right? >> Yes. So, you coming? >> You guys go. I always go there. It's good. >> A great event. There's no program, so people love it. >> All right. Well, thank you. Appreciate
it. Have a safe trip back. >> All right. Uh, tab 23, Mr. Fitzgerald. Morning. Thank you, chairman, commissioners. For the record, Mike Fitzgerald. I'm the office of planning and zoning director.
Uh Lake County is currently undergoing a revision to its comprehensive plan. We're drafting new policies, goals, and objectives that will guide the county through the 20150 planning horizon. County has uh entered into a contract
with Kimley Horn and Associates to assist us in that undertaking. And with us today are Kelly Kipper, the vice president, and Emily Thomas. She is a senior planner with the organization, and they're here to give a presentation
and an update. >> Thank you, Mike. Uh good morning, commissioners. Madam Chair, I will say no more green wrist as I let Kathleen know I graduated um from Yeah. Anyway, >> yeah, I was going to ask you, how is your eye doing?
>> Much much better. Uh I kind of feel left out today because I'm not Irish American, not Scottish. I don't have I do have an accent. >> What are you? >> I'm German American, East Tennessian. >> Good. That's a good combo. >> It's it's it's it's its own kind of
breed. Um, I know there's >> that was a I'm not going to go. >> Anyway, I will say if you are interested in a authentic um St. Patrick's Day celebration, go to Enterprise, Alabama.
>> Uh, one, they tout themselves as having the world's smallest uh, parade and festival. They have one person in the parade. It's the Grand Marshall. They also have not a 5K, but a 0.5K race. that also has beverage stops.
>> The Bow Weevil, is it the same? >> I was at Fort Rucker for a while, so I know the town pretty well. Enterprise is a great little town. >> I was going to say, uh, you know, the bow we it starts at the bow weevil and works its way down uh the street. >> That's cool. >> It's It's classic. If you've never seen it, like it's it's a tremendous amount
of fun, especially like I said, multiple beverage stops along a >> That's cool. >> Five. Uh, anyway, uh, I'm here today. I'm actually very fortunate to have Emily Thomas. Uh Emily is not only one of our senior planners, she's also one of our senior policy uh planners as
well. Uh and I jokingly refer to her sometimes as also the chief cat herder for all of our teams. Um she's been working on this project with me since day one. Uh which is great because, you know, not only has she been integral to helping facilitate with county staff, but also integral to the community
outreach components. Uh so she's become a face that is known at the at the workshops. And when we had our second round, uh Emily led those uh efforts. So she has a wealth of information and knowledge as it relates to this. Want to be uh just kind of give you a quick
overview of where we are, what we're doing. Uh so what we're going to do at this point and and Emilier and I are going to kind of swap out here in a little bit. Uh we've talked about, you know, where we are at this point is we've been working collaboratively with staff not only on the review and the update based off of the initial
assessments uh but also updating our uh respective goals, objectives, policies. We have a lot of that information in final draft form that's being reviewed by the county departments as we speak. So there's kind of fatal flaw finals. Once we get the green light, of course, we will be going back out for that final
did we get it right uh discussion as well as some additional online engagement opportunities in working with Kathleen, Mike, Glenn, and the team. Uh you know, we are looking at a potential for an April uh time frame for public
hearings. Uh so, you know, again, that's part of the reason we've been working very diligently on the revisions, the updates, and ensuring what we're doing and how we're doing that. Um, I will say that there's always the uh the Senate Bill 180 in the back of our minds as we're kind of going through this.
Kathleen and I were talking a little bit about some strategy on that that we're going to continue to kind of flush out as we go. Just hearing that there's been a number of other communities that have received their null and void letters uh recently. Um so trying to be proactive on that front.
Uh so again what we've kind of worked on up to this point uh and if for those of you who are interested your conferencing plan now looks like this. Uh it's a little different than what uh we started with. Uh but we've been going through from the earbased which was done previously and building off of that.
We've identified a few more things that have come across uh the I'll say the the start line based off of uh additional updates from the legislature. uh we did update and review uh a lot of the technical data that goes into supporting uh the data inventory and analysis
including the population and I know you all had and Emily's going to talk about this uh a very robust vacant land use analysis also a collaborative effort with the regional planning council uh we've had the two outreach meetings I know several of you have participated in
that information uh it's it's been very wellreceived in our opinion we've gotten a lot of great information. Again, this is one of the more robust outreach efforts uh with the number of responses we've received throughout this process. So, kudos to this community for being
concerned about their community. Uh and we'll we'll get into that a little bit too and Emily's going to talk about because uh you know working with staff we got a little creative and we started talking with high school students as well as part of this. Uh so at the end of the day so we do have recommendations
not only from the matrix but also for each of the elements that provides uh recommendations and revisions to the respective goals, objectives, policies based off of a number of things. Again just kind of looking at what's been analyzed. Of course we always look at traffic and transportation looking at
the uh the long range transportation plans uh the transit plans. We get into portable water talking with of course the jurisdictions and the municipalities that are providing some of that uh service. the sanitary sewer component was also gets into s septic to sewer
discussion, storm water, uh parks and recreation facilities, population and of course the land use and I will say that there is an event uh at University of Florida on this uh the rest of this week uh and actually myself and a couple of my teammates will be presenting on as it
relates to surface and surficial waters and also from a regulatory environment. Uh so it's actually it's it's the UF's water symposium. Um it it's really exciting especially for a planner to be on land use talking with a bunch of
hydro geologists and engineers about water surface water and things of that nature and how it kind of works into the community process. So we're super excited to be a part of that group. Uh so the community outreach I'm going to let Emily kind of give us a quick
summary of that. again a very robust uh outreach effort that's yielded us quite a few results. >> Good morning. Uh through this effort, we really wanted to understand some of the the challenges and opportunities that are perceived by residents in the
county. And so we've held a few different sessions of community outreach exercises. Last summer in July and August, we held three open houses throughout the county uh with a quick presentation to introduce the project as
well as some activities to get feedback and input from residents. Um then we also had an online survey which received 1,500 responses and recently we held a second round of
of uh presentations to give an update to residents and we will have three more uh towards the end of this process. Uh so some of the things that we heard uh throughout the these community engagement exercises
uh the biggest thing that stands out is the importance of conservation and preserving the natural the beautiful natural lands here in the county as well as that rural character uh that makes Lake County so unique and special. Uh
similarly is the importance of strategic land use to reduce urban sprawl so that we can preserve that land um and make sure that we're developing in a way that that preserves the way of life in the county.
Uh we heard a lot about flooding and storm water management and of course traffic congestion uh wanting to see improved safety on our roads. Uh as Kelly mentioned, we also got some high school students involved. The
comprehensive plan is a long-term vision. It affects the people who live in the county today and it affects our children when they grow up. Uh so we want to get everybody's input and reach a wide range of demographics. Uh while there were a lot of similarities between
uh what we heard from our general outreach, there were also a few differences uh from what we heard from these this younger generation. Um conservation again was incredibly important as well as uh protecting a lot of the environmental assets here in the
county, water quality, air quality, wildlife. Um but unlike the unlike the other outreach sessions where housing was generally ranked as less important, uh we saw from the high school students
that housing is a little bit more of a priority and all types of housing too. They want to see single family mixed use where the two highest followed by duplexes and triplexes which just emphasizes that need for um housing
options. These are just a quick example of some of the activities at that first round of engagement that we did. Uh we had a mapping exercise so that participants could uh geographically locate some of
the the challenges and opportunities they're seeing. Uh so what areas of the county that we need more housing, what areas maybe need more parks, where we need to focus on preservation, uh and where to direct job growth. Uh
and then here you can also see uh just some of those things that have stood out as most important to residents. uh you see conservation, trails, parks, housing, infrastructure, transportation, walkability. Uh so all of this input helped inform the updates that we made
to the GOPS. In addition to engaging with the public, we've worked with the municipalities within the county. Uh we held three meetings where planners from the municipalities attended and were able to give us insight to some of the
challenges they're facing, some things that um they're doing to address those challenges and how the county can work with them to uh address it. Uh some of the things we heard uh across most of
the jurisdictions was again that strategic land use um and focusing on job creation uh to improve economic development. Uh there's lots of concerns about urban sprawl. Again, going back to
conserving that land you that that land uh both rural and natural um and the need for new and improved facilities and again traffic congestion and we also worked closely with the
municipalities to uh assess their utility uh availability. Most of the municipalities do allow county properties to connect without annexation, although sometimes there is a search charge required.
And that leads to the vacant land use analysis, which I know you're all aware of, so I'll I'll be brief on this one. Uh we look at it at a few different levels. We're looking at future land use, so what densities are permitted on
each piece of land? uh what types of land uses can we expect to develop there? Um and how much commercial, residential, whatnot, existing land use, what we see on the ground now. Um and for sake of this analysis, if it's
vacant or not. Uh so as we know, Lake County is growing. it's growing pretty fast and uh by state statute the county needs to be able to accommodate that growth. Uh so we looked at the densities on the vacant
parcels to see uh what can be accommodated and between both unincorporated Lake County and the municipalities uh based on household projections and um household sizes.
uh these the densities in the county are sufficient to support that growth. That means that we don't need to increase densities in any of the future land uses. However, um the
projections for uh future land uses on each parcel won't necessarily be built out to full capacity. Uh so we need to recognize that there's still a need for some strategic land use decisions to accommodate this growth. So while we
don't necessarily need to increase any densities, uh we need to think about where is that growth going to go because it won't necessarily be um one of these vacant properties in the green swamp. Uh we might want to direct that to where
there's existing infrastructure and utilities for new development to connect to. I'm going to pass it back to Kelly to walk through some of the actual updates we are recommending. >> Thanks, Emily. We're going to kind of go at a very high level at this point. I
want to be respectful of time and agendas, of course, but please feel free to ask any questions along the way. You know, what were some of the top changes or updates that we looked at? Of course, looking at the five-year capital improvements plan, which is a requirement under chapter 163 to be incorporated. Uh, I want to definitely
highlight the new future land use designation, paper designation that the county would would have at its uh ability or disposal to start applying in certain situations. Uh, again, the an increased coordination with the municipalities within the county. Those
are the the service providers that you have for water and wastewater in a lot of cases. So it's it's even more uh concerning if we don't talk to those folks and more importantly we need to have them have a seat at the table more with with us as well. Uh the different housing types throughout the urban areas
uh the preservation of the natural lands again that is a recurring uh and very uh compressing need to ensure that as we've talked about over 30% of the county is set aside either as part of the green swamp wetlands lakes or other similar
environmental features. uh and I love the presentation that you just had on the economic development. So looking that at that and incorporating some of those policies and ideas and recommendations into the comprehensive plan also further bolsters from a overall uh economic development
perspective. And then more importantly we also identified early on that there were some items that were currently in the comprehensive plan that are better suited to be in the land development regulations. Now, this becomes one of those little sticky situations, especially between uh I'll say something
that is currently in the comprehensive plan that's not in the land development regulations and I'll call it the the time period between the comp plan to that andor could it be deemed as being more burdensome. So, it is still one of those discussions, but we've identified those. Uh, of course, keeping in mind
that there is a provision under chapter 163 that says the comp plan should be the plan. The code should be the code and you should not really be intermingling those items together. So when we start looking at uh the future land use again identifying those
standards which are are better suited to be in the land the land development regulations uh look at strengthening additional policies uh the new future land use designations that we've identified with an urban transition and an additional mixed use and then looking at some of the potential compatibility
uh between uses. Now, interestingly enough, you know, this urban transition that's designated or identified to be right around those urban areas. Uh, right now, one of the things that and we talked about with staff quite a bit was, you know, we go
from the cities to the county and one of the tools that you currently are using is just the plan unit development and it really doesn't get to the level that that we all thought was appropriate for more of a transition. Again, this is a paper designation and we'll be looking at with a series of standards that the
county would have in their toolbox moving forward. The other item, uh, a new mixeduse future land use. This would actually start to also replace the plan unit development process and the comprehensive plan designation. Again, instead of having a PUD for those types
of uses, it creates some additional standards and guidelines and opportunities for true mixed use. compatibility standards. Um, of course, looking at some of this information that we'd be looking at for new buildings,
supporting infill and and the like. And of course, a new policy that would support the Florida Florida wildlife corridor. Again, that is something that is is critical in a lot of people's minds. We heard that quite a bit, not only from staff, but also through the
public outreach efforts. uh and then looking at some of those TDR options as well from a conservation standpoint. Again, similar type of approach looking at, you know, the preservation of our wetlands, our habitats, and our ground and surficial waters. Uh you know, Kim
Arnold, who is one of my senior hydro geologists, uh who I'm also speaking with on Thursday, is the is the young lady working on the the county's code as it relates to uh those components as far as some of your groundwater uh recharge areas. Uh but then again also looking at
as a separate kind of item those items that are currently in this conservation element moving those into the new ordinance uh that's being proposed that would also be consistent with state law economic development. I'm not going to dwell on this one. We just had a very
in-depth uh detailed presentation. Great information. Uh I wish a lot more communities would undertake something of that nature because it's one of those steps that helps inform the process. It's not just parallel or separate from and apart housing. Again, looking at uh updating
some of the list for the the the state federal programs. Uh looking at some of the flexible design guidelines and site uh components that would be as uh within the LDC. So, encouraging additional flexibility in the code. kind of going back and looking at those items that we
heard for the housing opportunities and mixes uh throughout the community. Uh there is a proposed uh revision to the affordable housing uh especially where we're promoting affordable housing near transit and employment centers. So again, starting to look at those
corridors where not only is there infrastructure, but also is there that kind of infrastructure that we that we need that can support true affordable housing uh through potentially of the the increase of densities right along the major transit lines that we have and
supporting those transit hubs. Uh also looking at supporting support for accessory dwelling units. Uh the granny flats have been always been a a huge option. Uh so just looking to create something that helps with the housing affordability
integrated communities. Uh so this would be a new policy that we're proposing uh that actually is focusing in on some of the infill and redevelopment. Again, kind of going back to uh those components where it's in close proximity to the transit and the employment centers, creating some of those
neighborhood neighborhood options, not only from protection standpoint, but also uh just helping facilitate, promote, and enhance communities in and around those hubs. Transportation, I'm not going to dwell too much on this one. It's pretty self
uh self self yeah just went blank self-determining especially when we look at our uh land use transportation plan that the uh the NPO puts out as well as DOT the fact that most of the roads within this community are not county-owned as far as some of the the
major networks are concerned but again looking at those level of service standards that talk about and translate throughout our community uh supporting multimodal transportation systems, increasing mobility in a in a very safe and and efficient manner, utilizing the
DO's context classification criteria. Uh so becoming more consistent with the way that they are defining certain types of roads. Uh it does not go in it doesn't is not in addition to calling out major thorough affairs or other things. There are new classifications the way that
they are looking at those roadway systems. a new potential policy uh for off-road. So, not just bike lanes along 441, but also some of those trails and other facilities that we can utilize for pedestrian and bicycles that provide
additional connectivity between our our cities, our employment hubs, and and our more urbanized areas. Uh also again looking at some of those potentials for the environmental impacts with the wildlife crossings and structures of that nature. We're seeing
more of that, especially as we uh start looking at development in and around the Florida Wildlife Corridor. You see a lot of that that's happened along I4 in PK County. So, you know, helping to facilitate and support those types of efforts.
Uh a new objective and a policy, the safety for all users. Some place some places will start to utilize uh and they may start to liken this to being the SS4A. So, that safe streets for all. So some of those uh federal highway and DOT uh initiatives again so looking at
trying to enhance uh not only vehicular but also pedestrian and bicycle safety throughout the community wreck and open space uh pretty self-explanatory uh continue to facilitate uh the enhancement of the community's parks. the relationship that
you have with some of the cities looking at those levels of service to ensure that we do have enough parks and it's not just a lake but actual actu park facilities uh that are both active and passive that meet the population's needs and also the growing populations that we
have public facilities if I start to misstep Emily's going to tap me on the shoulder and correct anything that I say that's inconsistent. uh but looking at some of those outdated policies, looking at uh you know statutory requirements for the septic to sewer conversions and that's
of course been a big issue and we've had a number of discussions not only with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with Lindsay but also with Florida Commerce on a couple of things as it related to your uh uh your earbased amendments. Uh I will say that a lot of the language that you see
within that portion especially the septic to sewer was in close collaboration with the D staff uh so that we could ensure that we were being consistent with not only their guidelines but their expectations and their their interpretations.
Basin management action plans. This was another state mandate that came out a couple of years ago. So uh again this is something that was mandated at the state level that communities are now having to approach as it relates to uh best management practices, nutrient loading
and water quality. So ensuring that we're being consistent with that state statute. Again uh just another form of the state statute uh recommendations as far as advanced wastewater treatment. Again, that goes back to uh an item that was,
believe it or not, coming up on three years ago uh that the state adopted. So, in ensuring that we're being consistent with those items, similar type of approach with a new policy for the enhanced nutrient reducing uh systems.
And we're going to just say, hey, there's a lot of other information in the rest of these elements without getting into some of the specifics. uh we didn't want to shortcut the presentation as part of today's discussion. We wanted to give you the biggest items we call it. Uh knowing that there are revisions in every
element except for uh property rights. That that's the one that's that was statemandated a number of years ago. State said here's your goal objective policy. Incorporate that in your solid. Um that's the technical term. Um so what what are our uh next steps? Of course we
have our workshop. We believe you're working closely with the state. Uh Kathleen and I have been talking about some strategies uh to get out in front of some of the state reviews in advance to try to hopefully circumvent or mitigate the potential more burdensome discussions and interpretations.
Uh and then at the end of the day, as as uh uh Emily said, you know, we'll be doing this final round of public engagement. Did we get it right? And then coming back before you all so that we can continue to kind of work towards uh an adoption cycle this year.
And of course, based off of our last discussion, there is that overarching thing that's hanging out there at the end of the day with once you do your comprehensive plan, what are you going to do with your zoning code? So, just kind of not saying that's part of this discussion, but just keeping that in the forefront as well, especially noting
knowing that we have several items that we've identified are currently in your comp plan that would be better served in your code itself. So, with that, Emily and I are here to answer any questions or provide any information that you may have.
>> Okay. Right off the bat though, the things that jump out at me were that those two land uses, the urban transition and the mixed use. Um, okay, we've got enough inventory. We
don't need to increase our densities, but isn't that going to increase our capacity? >> It can if it's applied in all of those lands. Again, it's an extra tool in the toolbox. It would redesate or be a different tool than the plan unit
development that you currently have. It provides additional, I'll say, design and development standards right up against the cities. So, it's increasing compatibility. So, >> so it would trade out like what we have now is urban low or urban urban high.
>> It starts to fix some of those those challenges that we see with that. Uh again, as Emily said, not all properties are going to develop. So, >> trying to rightsize where we can and should be looking at some of these additional developments. And it go also
goes back to that map that you saw. It just seems that in our situation in Lake County that those are the places where the cities annex. So those are the places where they apply their new comprehensive
plan designations. So I guess you could argue that if ours was urban transition now and it up was up to 12 then when they annexed it would
be I'm just kind of thinking about how this practically works because honestly they don't really they don't really care what our comp plan designation says when they annex. They're going to put on that property what they decide to put on that
property. So I'm just not sure you know how beneficial it is for us to be increasing the maximum density on those >> madam designations. >> One of the one of the ideas behind that
was to try to not necessarily always push somebody to be annexed so they can do something and which takes the control out of the county's realm at that point. But if if we're being more comparable or consistent, you've created an option to where it's like, hey, we can still get sanitary sewer in these infrastructure,
but we we're going to remain in the county versus somebody annexing raw land and next thing you know, you've got 8, 10, 12 units and you have literally no say in it at that point. So part of this was a tool to help guide and design, but
also an incentive to stay in the county. >> Okay. I mean, I can appreciate that part. in certain locations that makes sense. I just would have to see how it looks on the map itself to make sure it was in the right locations. >> Does does part of that go towards um and
I almost I want to use this word simultaneously or in parallel with the new with new codes to ensure what you're going to get in those areas. And then I mean does it behoove us then because there's there's there's a um a threshold
that doesn't get reviewed and doesn't come in front of us is that I mean if that's a concern is it lowering the threshold for a subdivision development. This is going to apply to subdivisions, right? >> It would it's it's applying to subdivisions. >> I mean, in development use >> mixed use. Yeah. Which is what you you
you want more of the mixed use ideally, but I mean, is there any thought to that? >> And if I understood, I probably didn't, Commissioner Parks. >> Okay. Uh to to the to the threshold. And then does what what about the codes though that are going to come along with it? Um >> yeah, that I mean that's the key right
there. If you're going to go there, you need to have the code at the same time. So the the code you you have I'll say good bones for the code that can help with some of this. Is it the code that I personally would write for these? No. Again, this is a paper designation.
We're not saying thou shalt map these areas. It's going to be targeted for these areas. So, you know, the the you do need a better code when it comes to that. you're going to have to update your code regardless whether or not it's just I'll call it almost like the
band-aid versus do we want to really get in and and look at some of these true urban design design components. >> Very valid question and very valid point. What what also about the um the the I know there's however we want to word
this, but the the rural limit, the rural boundary or some some in some counties just called an urban growth boundary, but we're going to call it a rural boundary. What about that as an actual um policy and layer? >> It's it's it's a tool that most
communities across the state and across the country have to basically say here's where we're going to. Thou shalt be rural and here's how we define rural. This is where we will support suburban or some of the transitioning. Um without diving too much into it, the SB80
implications is there's some discussion and again some of that's also going to need to happen with where are we thinking about some of these rural boundaries as well and then kind of looking at the boundary versus what the current comprehensive plan designations are at that. I just assume though that
those boundaries would follow where the rural designations already are located. Understanding though, if we don't get interlocal agreements or JPAs in place with the cities, then again, it doesn't even matter because they're just going to annex right over them.
But if we're doing this all at the same time and we're making progress and we're getting somewhere on those agreements, then this would be the perfect, let's just say we get that in place, this is the perfect time then to be showing it on our map that those are our boundaries that we agreed to in those um JPA.
>> Yeah, >> we just need to make sure that when we have our boundaries, our transitional zones and our a zones, we stick to them. I have >> but isn't I mean that's the whole debate about annexation. So >> that's like the issue.
>> I have a question about trans sorry transportation. I just had a couple more questions. Um just the the level of service you mentioned. I don't I I hate the level of service that we use and I just think it's caused a lot of problems and it's and so I'm glad to see that you're for transportation. And I'm glad
to see that you're moving to the um was it an LOQ level quality? >> It's yeah the DOT's new context sensitive classifications that they've been utilizing across the state. >> Is there any way that what are your recommendations on um we we have we have
a lot of road projects some some smaller plans that sometimes aren't even on our lop our list of priority projects. But if we had those as like a series of maps, uh that way and the only one I can think of is maybe like uh what we've dealt
with on Lakeshore Drive and in Claremont uh South Lake County for years, staff has had a plan, never really made it to the list of priority projects, but when it comes to development review time, there's a plan. Sometimes it's not even knowledge that there's a a plan that staff has put forward to improve the
corridor. you know, is there is there can we incorporate that kind of a that that map or that plan into it so that when you're making transportation decisions that it's right up front in the comprehensive plan? >> I don't think there's any prohibition on that. Again, start thinking about beyond
the context of that outside of what DOT is kind of doing context sensitive. >> Yeah. >> Is it going to be more burdensome or are we just talking about certain types of enhancements that you know offset somehow? >> Okay. But I mean at the long the long term is you need to identify those
projects. You need to be looking and and you'll love this. I mean you've heard this analogy before. Best time to plant a tree 20 years ago. Best time second best is now. We can either start to try to get ahead of some of this or we can be two, three, four years down the road and go well I wish we'd have done this
then. So now we've got to go through this process again. >> Okay. Thank you. I mean, I have I I'm I'm reserved until I see all you know our conversations. I'll go through this and I will say I will spend hours and hours on it. So,
I'm looking forward to your uh what you're going to propose and I'm just going to reserve a lot of my comments until we start getting some of that. But I appreciate the public process and I'll want as much I was thankful also that the you did uh went out and made a great effort along with some of our people in
the community to get the the younger uh generation involved because that's kind of what we're really doing is for them. So I appreciate that. you know, true hats off to your staff, Kathleen and Mike and Glenn and Shasta and you know that that entire crew being forward
thinking, proactive and saying what about and then really facilitating and you know Shasta for those of you who know Shasta she she's energetic and she'll get it done. Um, so you know, those have made this process so much
easier and paving the way for a lot of what we're seeing here. Especially, like I said, your staff has been very committed to this and to the citizens. >> Good job. >> Yeah, great job. And um >> I like the idea of like maybe showing
those rural boundary lines um with the um anticipation that we're going to get those agreements in place with the cities. >> That's a good idea. >> I like the fact that you're trying to keep the the county land and the county and that transition portion of it. So
>> thank you. >> Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Um, moving along then to Lavar, communications director. Did Lavar step outside? Oh, Jeff's gonna get him. >> All right.
>> He's He's right there. >> All right. So, good morning again. For the record, Meg Brew, director for the Office of Economic Development. Lavar and I are before you this morning to share a proposed logo for the Wolf Branch Innovation District. But before I turn it over to Lavar, I wanted to
provide a very brief overview of the innovation district for the benefit of the public. The Wolf Branch Innovation District is one of four strategic corridors in Lake County that was identified to both absorb some of the growth that we knew was coming, but more importantly to serve as an employment
center where our residents could cut the commute and find well-paying, meaningful employment locally. The innovation district is the result of a long-term collaboration between Lake County and the city of Mount Dora. When completed, the innovation district will capitalize on the potential for entrepreneurship,
technology, research, and innovation while protecting existing natural resources through effective master planning. The strategic corridor will provide the opportunity for residents to both work and play where they live with designated commercial and industrial areas planned to drive economic development. Lake Countyy's Office of
Communications has partnered with the Office of Economic Development, the city of Mount Dora, and Wolf Branch Innovation District stakeholders to develop the logo you will see today. The logo will be used throughout the Innovation District and on marketing material to attract employers to the location and give the Innovation
District a distinct sense of place. So, with that, I will turn it over to Lavar to discuss the design process and unveil the logo itself. Good morning, commissioners. For the record, Lavar Cooper, communications director. Um, before I begin, I want to thank Meg, Meg Brew, Misty Sar, and her
um team with Mount Dora. Also, Chairman Campion, Dr. Levy, and the stakeholders we interviewed uh for their input and perspectives to get us this far. Um, I'm presenting the Wolf Branch Innovation District uh brand, a brand designed to position this corridor
competitively while honoring the character that makes Lake County distinctive. My team and I developed this brand with two objectives: economic competitiveness and community support, two important factors and a successful corridor. To do that, it was important to focus on
who the brand is for. Uh, first it serves as Lake County's economic de it serves Lake Countyy's economic development objectives for the project creating a marketable identity that that differentiates Wolf Branch from competing corridors. Second, it serves the area residents and stakeholders in
the Mount Door and Lake and Lake County. Um, and third, it serves developers and investors who increasingly prioritize ESG factors. um those being environmental, social and governance criteria. A brand rooted in environmental heritage and community
values directly addresses those investment criteria. So developers are increasing increasingly choosing locations based on three factors. Market differentiation, community support, and regulatory certainty. A strong brand contributes to
each of these factors. Um, it tells the market what this place is for. It demonstrates community buyin and it helps to define expectations for development. Uh, this brand wasn't developed for aesthetic alone. Uh, it was built to bolster our economic strategy.
Lake County's competitive advantage is our real Florida character. Rural rural heritage, natural amenities, small town quality of life uh, within Metro or Orlando's metro economic orbit.
Um so to talk a little bit about about our approach, our approach was to to extend the existing identities of both municipalities by creating a brand that reflects the value proposition of both Lake County as real Florida real close and Mount Dora as someplace special. We
studied how other strategic corridors brand themselves including Lake Nona research park and others. Many adopt generic innovation imagery such as abstract tech graphics or minimalistic uh modern minimalism.
But we took a different approach. We asked what makes Lake County distinctive. What's what's already here and what we can build from to capture to build a brand that authentically underscores who we are and captures our value proposition.
So, the brand centers on a tree, uh, specifically the live oaks that define the area's landscape. These trees represent exactly what we want Wolf Branch to be to be, uh, deep roots, innovated, and what makes Lake County distinctive. Live oaks aren't just a staple of Mount Dora. They're they're
prominent throughout Lake County. They line our rural roads. They mark our historic properties, and they're what people see when they drive through Lake County and think, "This is real Florida." They're native. They're resilient and permanent. And like the live oak, we believe strong roots
promote healthy growth. Mount Door recently adopted the Live Oak as their official canopy tree this year. So when we presented this brand to their council on February 3rd, uh the response was overwhelmingly positive. Our positioning for this brand is
innovation rooted in tradition. Uh this positioning differentiates Wolf Branch from every other innovation corridor in Central Florida. Uh we're offering what other places can't, which is innovation in in a real Florida setting. And that's the market advantage
we aim to capture. Uh Lake County is competing for employers, as you all know, investors and talent in a crowded central Florida market. Uh so this positioning uh basically highlights our competitive advantage.
So, with that, um, I'm seeking board approval for the Wolf Branch Innovation Development brand and authorization, and this will authorize us to develop brand implementation guidelines. >> It's a little weird at the bottom, but >> move to approve. >> She liked it. >> And
>> I like it. >> Mount Dora, they already saw it and liked it. >> Yes. >> Sometimes it's harder with the color. What's I can't quite tell the color just because sometimes computer screen is not reflective of it. Is it is it like a dark brownish green? Almost a mossy dark brown.
>> Yes, it's like an olive green. >> Okay. >> You can use different colors with it. >> We can use any any color so to speak within the uh palette like we're trying to and with the screens it's always going to be a little bit different. I can show the uh actual colors or do some printouts for for the board if you would
like so you can see the actual color scheme. >> I love the idea of the tree. The tree is a little weird. a little wobbly at the bottom. >> I I I don't I don't get it. >> I mean, I just don't get it. Uh we we
we're talking about innovation, >> but we have a 50 year old tree. >> But that was what he said. We're trying to combine >> I just don't range the first the first look of it.
>> I don't >> The tree is too old. You want a younger tree. I mean, I'm definitely find just altering the tree just slightly. >> Looking at the other innovation, >> the middle age tree >> logos, this one's better than the St. Peter to Lake Nona, but I I still don't
say, man, that's I mean, wellness way has a pretty cool logo and it exemplifies what it's trying to do. I'm not sure this does. I like the personally >> I like it's a cool contrast innovation but also heritage >> and considering it's on the edge of the
it's on the edge of the Wakiva protection area and it's literally you've got this innovation area in your positioned to the forest and the Wakiva area and a place where we have a lot of these big oak
trees. So I I like the tree combined with innovation. I through the years I've seen different ideas of um how do you tie the innovation to the fact that we're so close to all of these natural features and so I'm I'm good with the
tree. I just like I just feel like the tree needs to be tweaked. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think we have a consensus here that the tree we could just could we just look at two other >> trees with the tree. That's that's that's fine. I just don't get it personally. Uh innovation to me is something um
>> but I like the branch coming out >> playing on the term branch >> right may maybe >> maybe we could >> and I can speak to the to the differentiation so yes it's a natural logo yes we're talking about innovation and it you know it it's the natural
resources which is what we offer >> in a crowded space where everything kind of looks the same this stands out uh as we mentioned with central Florida most of the Um, uh, I would say back when this project started, innovation districts were were all the craze and
people leaned into the technology side or the medical side or some of these abstract shapes. Um, as we're technically a little bit later to the table than some of the others, there's an opportunity to create some differentiation by leaning into who we are. >> It certainly is better, like I said
before, than the Lake Non or the St. Pete one. This one here is a lot better than those two because I don't get those two either. And and to your point, you know, it's really difficult to encapsulate everything that a brand is. And >> No, I get it. It's hard coming up with a
logo. I get it. >> It's hard. Yeah. But it's very important to do it. So, I'm I'm glad we're doing this. You know, that you're going to have we're going to have a logo >> and this is going to be on remembered to um 429 on Yeah. covered that tower. So, >> I mean, maybe if it's just the I get the
rooted and you explained all that, right? were rooted rooted in tradition, innovation. Yeah. Um maybe it's the if the if the problem is the bottom, maybe just it goes the opposite direction maybe. I don't know. >> Yeah. Or do you just show a little division with the the way the trunk
comes down or something? Could is there is that possible? I mean, is it there is there a chance that if we were to tweak a little bit, we still could get Mount Dora to say >> yes, we would engage those stakeholders. Uh what what we would do is kind of play with that bottom. If it's if it's
creating confusion, we can try some different things and and bring that back to the board and also the council to tweak. >> I got a question. It sounds like a funny facicious question. It's not though. What is that type of tree? >> Do we know it is a live? Okay.
>> Because there's something about the the curvature of it. It almost gives me a foreign feeling. That's so it almost gives me like there's like oriental trees. I don't know if they're called like plum trees or whatever, but like they they twist more than the average tree. Anyway,
>> that's why I feel like it it's not representative of the live oak. >> Yeah, that's the only that's the only thing. So, I think it's solid. I wouldn't change a single thing, but I would just probably straighten the tree out a little bit to make it more look because the other thing is I don't want to violate Sean's native plant ordinance. This looks like like a
foreign tree. If this is a foreign tree, I >> live oak. >> It's a live oak, but yeah. I mean, maybe Kirby said it looked old. It to me it just looks slightly um unfamiliar. So like maybe >> Oh, you're thinking of the ones that you
trim the little >> Yeah. Yeah. They almost look like a bonsai. >> Yes. Got to really be careful so it doesn't look like a bonsai. >> And that's my only Yes. >> Slightly more traditional tree. And that's it. And the sign over here that has it on it looks like it has moss hanging on it. If you look over at Wolf
Branch Innovation District, the sign >> Yes, that's going to be that will be removed. This is that those are those are mock-ups, but those will be removed. There won't >> I like the Spanish moss. I like >> Yes. I know. I was thinking the same thing is the moss lets you know it's alive. >> So, we we want the Spanish moss. >> Yeah. Yeah. More something that just
leans more into Florida. I think Spanish moss is a great way to do it. >> Y Okay, we're getting close. >> Give a couple different color options. So maybe on a live oak, you know how the branches, some of them go really low and then come up and maybe maybe distinguish a live oak more to look like a live oak and the
>> instead of a bonsai bonsai, >> right? Okay. >> With Spanish moss. >> Well, we we'll add the Spanish moss for sure. >> Okay. All right. Very good. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. All right. And it's fitting now that our next item is tab
26. >> Melanie, did they need a vote? There was a motion. >> It was direction. >> So, it was consensus. Correct. >> Yeah. >> Um, so we're going to talk about tree protection now.
>> Thank you, chairman. >> Fittingly, >> commissioners. For the record, Mike Fitzgerald in the office of planning and zoning director. >> Uh, today staff is seeking approval to advertise an ordinance amending section 9.02.00
00 entitled tree protection. This is to clarify the requirements of tree removal associated with a development project and tree protection. The ordinance title block reads as follows. An ordinance of the board of county
commissioners of Lake County, Florida amending section 9.02.00 00 Lake County Code Land Development Regulations Entitled Tree Protection, clarifying tree removal requirements associated with a development project, providing for severability, providing
for inclusion in the code, providing for filing with the Department of State, and providing for an effective date. Just a brief uh background. The county currently defines defines specimen trees as protected trees and
that is based on size, age, form, ecological value and rarity and particularly the sizees 30-inch caliber. We also defi define heritage trees uh with the same criteria size, age, form, ecological value, rarity, but also
historical significance. If if we decide that a tree has a piece, this is a 40in caliber caliber or greater tree. And currently, uh, code requires
heritage trees to obtain a variance if those trees are going to be removed. Developers should be designing around heritage trees. staff became aware that our code needed to be tightened a little bit in regard
to heritage trees. So, what this ordinance is proposing is that the removal of a heritage tree when it is associated with a development must be specifically called out in the ordinance that the board is reviewing and and potentially approving.
And the second sentence on this screen here is the real key to it. We are removing the reliance upon a a conceptual plan incorporated into a zoning ordinance as being an approval to remove a heritage tree. We want to remove that assumption. And that's uh
what this ordinance is is uh proposing to to do. With that, I'll answer any questions. And this is just an approval to advertise this ordinance. >> I'll probably have some amendments or thoughts down the road, but I'm fine with the advertisement starting out kind
of broad. Yeah, it kind of reminds me of the tree down in Apopka where they moved entire 441 around. This Heritage Street has been there forever. I kind of like it. So, I'll make a motion to approve for um advertisement.
>> Going second. >> There you go. >> All right, we have a motion. We have a second. All in favor say I. >> I. I. Any opposed? All right. >> Thank you. >> Um we also have the second oldest oak tree in the state in Fland Park in that state park. We should just very spurious
thought, but we definitely need to brand more on that. I mean, I think that's so significant. Second oldest in the state. >> Wow. >> Crazy. >> That could be a picture for >> Yeah. something that we just wish we'd lean into that just a little bit more if we can. It's it's in the state park, Lake Griffin State Park. Second oldest
oak in the whole state. Crazy. So, I did want to ask a question though with regard to how we do the other trees that get come in as part of a development plan. Um, right now they just they mark the
trees, they do a tree survey, and then the rule is that for the trees that are removed, they just have to plant mitigation trees. they have the choice of paying mitigation fees or they can do a replacement.
>> Okay. Um, so I just think the board should look at the possibility of having the opportunity for example, let's see, a a project is proposed on a on a piece of property. It's there's trees everywhere and you've got your buffer
off of the rideway and instead of necessarily having those trees removed or trees that are along the perimeter that you actually use that as an opportunity to leave the older trees in place, not just heritage
trees, but established trees in place. because otherwise we what what happens now is they they just take everything out and then they just replant. Um and new trees are good too. It is important to have new trees planted. Um but it's
just something I've always thought that could be done so much better. Um you see it in other states too where and you see it in around Florida um other jurisdictions where they require certain amount of the existing forested
areas to remain intact and they can go towards you know their obviously their tree requirements. So um just something I wanted to put on everybody's radar to see if there was any appetite for staff taking a look at what an ordinance like
that would would look like. Yeah, I support >> totally. I mean any in low impact development doing incorporating all that you don't scrape the earth and clear it and move the soils sterile soils away. All that whole thing I'm all for. Yeah, that's great. >> The only thing we got to be careful of
is u make making sure that we do not restrict the removal of china berry trees or or ear trees no matter how big they are because they're evasive trees and they can >> totally >> right the invasive ones >> right they can cause harm. So, um, we got to be careful on how we >> Mhm.
>> with that. >> And then along those lines, since we're to on the topic, um, our setback or our front buffer off of rideaways is too >> narrow >> narrow. And I don't think we should wait
until we have a whole LDR rewrite to address this. It is entirely too narrow and skimpy. it com if you compare what we're what we have compared to Leburg's Lebergs is head and shoulders above us. >> So I would suggest that we agenda something like that so we can go over
everything. >> So Mike is working on it. >> Working on that ordinance will be >> how long do you think it will be before we get that back estimate. >> This is for the setbacks from the the landscape. So we are bringing that back. I believe it's on the first regular
meeting of April, April 10th, which will be an ordinance that deals with the landscape setbacks, Commissioner Campion, that you're asking for and Commissioner Smith's request for 65 foot minimum lot widths. We're going to bring that back as part of one presentation to you. Okay.
All right. Okay. Very good. >> Thank you. Um and that passed. We're moving on to Office of Housing and Community Services. This is a presentation and recommendation for approval to advertise an ordinance amending Lake County affordable housing assistance trust fund
and live local act requirements pursuant to Senate Bill 17:30. I just want to mention also for the record, Marie Abdul Cream, Office of Housing and Community Services. During the proclamation, I checked my ancestry DNA and I'm 2% Irish. >> All right.
>> You don't hear it in my accent, but I'm going to work on it. >> Guess to you. So again this morning, this is a requested action for approval to advertise the public hearing for proposed ordinance which amends section 11-33 and 11-40 of the Lake County Code in
order to align with updates to chapter 420 part 7 Florida statutes and section 125.01055 Florida statutes as amended by Senate Bill 17 have conversations. The sections include the local housing
assistance trust fund and the affordable housing covenants and guarantees. The highlighted changes included for the local housing assistant trust fund updates the eligible uses of funds including authorization for certain rent subsidies using the state housing
initiatives local housing assistance trust fund dollars awarded annually to the county which is consistent with the limits set in the county's local housing assistance plan or our LHAP. The changes to the affordable housing covenants and guarantees reflect
statutory changes to the live local act. Ensuring compliance with updated state requirements related to the affordable housing covenants and guarantees. Again, the call to action is for the approval to advertise the public hearing for the proposed ordinance related to these sections.
All right. This is just a request to advertise at this point and this isn't bring us into compliance. >> Move approval. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. Appreciate that. And we'll wait until
March before we wish you a happy St. Patrick's Day considering Yeah. >> All right. Ryan Richie, tourism director, five-year destination strategic plan. Thank you, Madam Chair, and and uh good
morning, fellow commissioners, administration, staff, members of the audience. Uh for the record, Ryan Richie, director of the Office of Tourism. Um I got a little nervous about uh the Irish meaning of Commissioner Park's name, so I looked on on Ryan and
it means little king and illustrious. So, Jennifer will have to She's looking at me now. you're going to have to humble me uh here fairly soon now that I figured out that meaning. But um with that being said, certainly excited to uh
to uh provide this this final presentation and draft of our our five-year destination strategic plan this morning. Um before I I do introduce our consultant, I did want to go through just a a brief background of how we got
to where we are today. Um, in April of 2023, the Office of Tourism received board approval to develop a 5-year destination strategic plan. We had a formal RFP process. Downs and St. Germaine was awarded the contract in
December of 23 after a competitive review. I will say Downs and Ch St. Maine has represented pretty much um every destination in the state of Florida and then some throughout the country in these uh particular items of
of research and strategic plans. Uh there was a comprehensive stakeholder engagement. That planning process launched in January of 2024 with extensive outreach to focus groups, uh, one-on-one meetings with county commissioners, tourist development
council members, hospitality and attraction leaders, sports organizers, municipalities, and of course, marketing partners. um our data and really took this plan and and and focused more on the data and research where we looked at
the STR reports which is sometimes when I present to you guys we talk about STR reports that's the information that shows us what our average daily rates are in Lake County what our occupancy rates are here in Lake County. So we use the STR reports, any tourist development
tax collection data, marketing documents, accommodation stakeholder outreach, community sentiment surveys, and then a market perception study just to ensure thorough understanding of Lake County's tourism landscape. Um, we had
uh some some review with the TDC. There was uh moments where we had to refine that plan. Um, I know that there were two com uh commissioners that were elected to the board, so we had to go back and and um um interview them as
well. That'd be Commissioner Morris and Commissioner Sabatini. Uh there were three or four uh new members on the tourist development council. So, we had to reinter some of the new members of the TDC um just to get more feedback and
additional meetings uh and then refinements of that plan. And then on um October 6th of 2025, the Tourist Development Council unanimously approved 90, the final uh 5-year destination
strategic plan and recommending that to uh the board. So that's why we're here today. And with that, I will introduce to you Joseph St. Germaine of Downs and St. Germaine to uh present the plan. And then I will uh come back up and ask for
approval. Thank you very much again. Uh thank you to the whole whole commission for having me today. Uh Joseph St. Cherain, president of Downs St. Jane Research, largely Swedish and Norwegian, so it's not really with the theme, but there'll be no accents today. Um, I I I will say I I appreciate everyone's time who's
participated in this as I won't um I won't spend time on what Ryan just covered here, but everything that I talk about today is really taking everything that was told to us by commissioners, stakeholders, residents, what have you, and kind of distilled into the plan. So that that's where all this that's why
all this information was very important as we move forward. So, I appreciate all the time and effort from not only folks on this commission but throughout the county and kind of providing that feedback. Um, as Ryan kind of mentioned, what I'm going to do for today is focus on like the view from 30,000 ft. Give
you look at the initiatives with each um or sorry the the large strategic goals within the full report. There are uh specific initiatives, timelines, measurement objectives that would be a much longer presentation. So, I'll focus on the highlights and then and and then open up for any questions. So, I'll go
into each of these in a moment, but the five large strategic goals are continuing to expand the sports market, developing a robust partnership program, um further aligning with the community at large, um continuing with the currently branded marketing program, and
having a focus on that off our shoulder season, off peak season, and then finally, updates to the event sponsorship program and the capital project uh funding program. And I'll go into some details on each one of these now. Um number one is continue to expand sports. Um a lot of folks in this commit
on this commission and throughout um have been excited about what the sports events kind of bring to the area especially when it comes to heads and beds providing a great uh return on investment or ROI. I'll say ROI a few times throughout this because I know that's very important. not only is this commission to a lot of the stakeholders
um but you have a lot of uh infrastructure and facilities that are that are here and already um producing for you but as we get into capital improvements there may be some improvements down the road to make those facilities even better um to be able to bring um more more events. also kind of
developing some on-site accommodations that next to those facilities which may allow some improvements in in the future and continuing invest in in those sports that are your triedand-rs um such as softball, volleyball, basketball, endurance sports, fishing, golf. That's not the only sports you folks excel at.
You folks, but those are the ones that kind of popped up most often in those conversations. But as you continue develop those, there will be other opportunities for other niche sports or non-traditional sport growth. Um, this is just an area where in general the feedback we receive, you've excelled
here. So there it it's it's a good return on investment to continue this place and find other ways to improve in the sports market. Number two, and this is kind of related to even some of the conversations I've heard today, is developing a partner robust partnership program. And that is
one kind of talking with stakeholders and hotel years and attractions whatever having them better informed but also means with other um county offices you know tourism and economic development work hand inand in many different places even in in one of the conversations working with the lake county water
authority and in a place where um your water is one of the when I get to later about how you market the destination are in very important pieces but ultimately this uh the the tourism office can really be the connector at large. So some some examples um kind of being the
place where all the everyone wants to know what events are happening in the community in a certain area uh in a certain place or at a certain time that is something that can be housed within the shores office. It also it allows by being being able to communicate with different stakeholders it's able to um
really inform all the municipalities and stakeholders. For example, if there's a large event going off in one area of of the county, maybe there's an opportunity for the agurism attraction to to kind of communicate with those folks as those there may be some crosspollination
there. I mean ultimately this robust program of just being a connector within the community but also within the county it allows um to align stakeholders to work toward common goals uh better communication and resource sharing and ultimately resulting in a better ROI for
the businesses in the county but then also a better visitor experience at large which is very important just as in terms of bringing those visitors back once they come here the first time. The third is really kind of outreach to the community. As we did the resident study, um, uh, perceptions toward tourism are
positive. 64% had a positive, um, perception of, of tourism versus 9% negative. That's a 7:1 ratio. So, it is positive. There are some folks in that middle ground here. But also there is um not a lot of knowledge with your typical resident about what happens or like some
of the things that we've already talked about today, how tourism is a great economic impact and import if you will um of just bringing new money to this community while also being respectful to the residents and making sure that you know that tourism is a positive without t without taking too many things away.
So just communicating that to residents is an important thing not only in Lake County but as Ryan mentioned we work we get opportunity to work with many um tourism offices specifically in the state of Florida. This is something most tourism office in in in the recent has really kind of focused not only on marketing the destination but
communicating within this own destination because it is it's such a symbiotic relationship between the resident and the tourist while they're here. Um, number four is really to continue with the current branding and and and but with a focus on the off- peak season. So right now as we I won't get
in too deep into here but your current brand pillars are your outdoor adventure, your water adventure, your small town charm, your food and drink and ultimately the feedback that we heard was that is that is a great place to continue continue with that but then also um integrating the themes of
relaxing and active lifestyles that kind of connect to that sports tourism piece that we mentioned earlier. But then also speaking of those other niches like sports but or agra tourism or other things. Um those are going to be ways to kind of expand that current brand and really not just speak to um this not
only speaks to current residents and but also it is it it is something that resonates with your visitors and prospective visitors. So, and and also like some some of those things that can kind of speak to um you know kind of the trails and some of the other things that are they're integral to this community
community but it can also very much be uh facilitative to the visitor overall. So, um and then finally uh just the the other main thing is looking at the event sponsorship program and the capital project funding program overall with the
both were were request and provided feedback to tweak each each of those. the event sponsorship program. The biggest thing is to focus on events with a greater ROI. Um, largely focusing putting the folks uh events that bring in day trippers are not a bad thing, but a higher focus should be those putting
heads in beds because that's one, it's a it's a greater return on investment, but secondly, that's how this office is is funded. But then also um you know, giving extra credit to those who uh have play people visiting multiple areas of the county and then frankly those that occur in the off- peak season as we
mentioned earlier. That's one of the things that that was kind of feedback overall. And then finally, uh talking about the capital funding program, um there was two it was currently viewed as um ineffective with a lack of organization and clear standards. However, some small tweets cannot make
that more effective. Ultimately, the the goals there are number one, making sure aligns with a Florida statute as to what how TDT can be used for capital improvements, but then also taking the onus off of the staff recommendation. staff would still be involved in the process, vet the process just to make
sure it is still like it is it is um worthwhile to go to the TDC, but ultimately having the TDC be the evaluation of of these projects after it's vetted by staff. Ultimately um the goals of that realignment is to making sure that you align your investments
with your strategic plan overall. And then also one of the one of the quotes we hear we've heard is what we don't want people coming and just saying hey build it and people will come. They want to have folks with a plan who've done who've done their research or done the feasibility studies or talked around in
the community or if they say they're going to bring in sports partnerships have those some of those things in place just basically to have a plan before the county in invests in those places instead of just build it and they will come philosophy. That's not saying that's how it was. It's just more of like that was the feedback that people
wanted to make sure that we have they they've done they they put their ducks in a row if you were before the county is is diving up some of those dollars. Admittedly, Ryan covered kind of a lot of things that we did. That's a whistle stop tour, but I'm trying to keep it at fairly high level um before I know Ryan
said at towards the end we will ask he he'll ask for um approval, but I did want to open up any questions anyone may have before I pass it back to Ryan. >> Are there any questions? >> One. Yeah, just um I appreciate all the hard work on it and I think we had a
couple interviews individually so appreciate that and um you mentioned uh Norway coming off coming off the Olympics doing very well. Um so the the more specific question I have is how do you mentioned sports and what we might be targeting? This is a long-term plan.
We're going to what are some of our niche areas for the Olympics coming up in 28? It's in LA and then beyond that it could catapult us into something further. It's not just preparing for 28 Olympics, but it's what could come afterwards based off of something that we know will work, not just based off
pie in the sky, but but what what what is a specifically maybe from today, what would be what's Yeah, I mean that's a that's a great question. Um, you know, we we have had several conversations with national governing bodies. Sometimes I like to keep those those
conversations confidential because other destinations are are certainly working on that. I will say that rowing has become a sport obviously with our partnership with with Star Athletics and track and field that certainly is going to come up as well. But there are there
are various conversations happening with national governing bodies on how one we can get some of their events here in Lake County or two actually relocate them here to Lake County. So hopefully that answers your question >> like curling or something like that. >> I don't know about curling speed believe
it or not speed skating they train in Ocala. I don't know how that's possible, but but they do. >> Ryan, uh, >> yes, sir. >> I've heard that we're uh really tight on rooms and and a lot of times our event the the participants are staying elsewhere. Is that
>> Yeah. the case in in most destinations, we always look at what that leakage rate looks like. Here in Lake County, sometimes we say about 20% are leaking into other counties. Um, but that that's obviously something that every destination uh deals with. So I I think
uh with the incentive program that you guys have put in with the development of new hotels, um I'll give you an example. Um Leburg Bikefest during that weekend, we are 95% full. Um, so you know, we know that there's leakage going
somewhere else and that's just one weekend, but if you have other events going on that weekend, they're they're staying somewhere else. >> So, it's not the point that we don't have the rooms. They're just they're staying at Disney or wherever. >> Exactly. Thank you.
>> Well, they're staying Yeah, they're staying somewhere because they can't find a room here. I mean according to what he just described >> during that particular >> during that particular one event. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Do we need we need a >> Oh, yeah.
>> motion. >> Sorry. I'll just uh request approval of the 5-year destination. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Okay. Great. >> Thank you very much. I got a question for the county attorney because I have a
hard stop and I have to leave and so are we could we like recess and do the redevelopment agency board and then come back to the rest of the board of county commissioners agenda. >> What's that?
>> Right. But we have the CRA board meeting. >> Okay. >> Okay. Let's do the appointments on tab >> on tab 29. >> That's that's that's my committee and I recommend approval for the uh >> All right. >> Appointments.
>> Just one quick question on the super quick. What what are their positions on what their duties are as a library board member? The board members just curious >> what they do. >> Yeah. What I mean, do they understand their job or like what what do they think that they're what are their goals? What are they trying to do on the board?
Well, they're trying to keep $5 million a year so we can help with the library system. And we meet to uh distribute the uh impact fee credits. >> Okay. >> And decide where if it's our our county
that's going to do it or whether it's going to go to cities and participate that way. >> Cool. Sounds good to me. >> And it's very heavily driven by staff recommendations and presentations made by staff to that board. >> All right. We have >> move to approve or if it hasn't happened
already. >> Got a motion second already. >> All in favor say I. I. >> Okay. Moving then to um board of building examiners to point Randy Bumbello. >> Is he present? >> Move for approval.
>> Uh be I mean yeah I I will tell you you know these these library ones obviously kind of advisory like you said. I mean, it's, you know, obviously I I think that the job is a little bit more ministerial than some would think. These bu board of building examiner positions are really
important. To me, it's almost the equivalent of putting a judge on the bench. I mean, these guys have enormous control over people's businesses, their lives. I would I would move the postponement till we get him present. Not because I'm going to grill him or cross-examine him some crazy way. I just want to talk to him a little bit in
front of the commission about what his role is because I think discretion is really important here. I've represent clients in different building board examiners at local level and at the state board the Florida um um kill but the construction industry licensing board which there's basically it's
brought in two contractors and subcontractors. And I think I got to tell you I think some of these guys get out there and it's they're just too brutal. Um and I'm not saying this guy is or isn't. I just would like to talk with him a little bit about what the approach is. I want to put people on
there that are really mediation focused, settlement focused, like how do we how do we fix the situation, not just drop the hammer. And I've seen that in different counties. I'm not saying that about ours, but um it is a trend in the state, especially with, you know, contractor fraud. It's a real thing. But what's happening is I think it's
sometimes you get people who are see it only one way. So I I'd like to invite him in and just ask him a few questions. I know it's hard to fill these boards and it's he's an architect. It's a distinct position, but I still would I'd have to vote no if we didn't have an opportunity to talk to him in front of the commission. Thank you. It's a very
important board. It's not like the other boards in my opinion. >> All right. In light of that, I'll just remove my withdraw my motion. >> I mean, it'll be the first time we've ever done that. Is there anything against is there any like
um precedent as far as is it okay to do that to like actually ask them to come and interview them or are we so desperate to have people on the board that we don't I mean obviously it's a big commitment and and so I would think that for somebody that's applied that it
wouldn't be putting them out to have them come and talk with us and let us feel you know >> maybe Commissioner Sabatini could call him and ask all the questions they would he would need. >> Okay. I mean, I I think personally I think it's a very good trend when you're
taking people at this level board, the quasi judicial like I don't I'm not sure if you know the extent of this board's power. It is >> it is a powerful board. I mean it it revolves around I mean there's yes it's it and it's intended to be >> want everybody feel comfortable. So why don't why don't you just pick up the phone and
>> I'm more than happy to talk to them, but I I I want to emphasize the importance of the position by having them come before the board so they understand that what they're being trusted with and they can hear from us as a group. I think we collaborate. Here's the idea. Commissioner Sabatini, you reach out to him. When you talk to him, after you
talk to him, ask him if he minds coming to our next meeting. >> I will. I'm sure he's f I'm not and again it's not meant to be a cross-examination. It's just I think you know it it's helpful for him. >> All right, move the table then. Okay. All right. So, move to table. Do we have a second? >> Second.
>> All in favor say I. I. Okay. Um and then we're going to jump over reports. >> Okay. All right. So, we're going to adjourn the board of county commissioners meeting. We're going to open the community redevelopment agency
board and um call for any public comment. >> Let me see if we need five minutes. Erin, >> do you need time? >> An appointment 12 to We're good.
>> Are you good for these two bills? >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Okay, we're good. >> Write them down. >> Okay. All right. We're moving ahead then. Um, do we have anyone online? No. All right. Do we have anyone who No, I don't have any cards that have been
filled out to speak. We've received a lot of emails and input and so forth. Um, so tab one. >> Good afternoon, commissioners. Janie Baron, planning manager with the office of planning and zoning. The meeting has
been douly noticed in accordance with state statute and Lake County code. The agenda consists of two items on the consent and one item on the regular agenda. The two items on consent include the November Mont Plymouth Sorrento CRA board meeting minutes and the 2025
annual report. and staff does recommend approval of both items. >> Make a motion to approve consent agenda. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Okay. All >> wait. >> What? All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? All right. Moving then to the regular agenda.
>> The um regular agenda item is staff's update on the proposed road infrastructure projects and does not require the CRA board's consideration at this time. Um at the December advisory committee meeting, the committee voted to recommend to the board the following
proposed road infrastructure project which includes the use of TIFF funds um for the installation of improvements along portions of Sorrento Avenue and 473 South. The these improvements include.7 miles of sidewalk at either end of the CRA to connect community hubs
and the installation of light poles with banners on the same portions to improve public safety and community identity. Additionally, the improvements include the addition of a potential turn lane on 437 South. Staff is currently working with public works to develop a plan that
includes cost estimates and design needs for the proposed road infrastructure project. and staff hopes to bring this back to you in May for consideration. The proposed road infrastructure projects are in alignment with um goal number one, which is to preserve unique
natural features and goal number three to enhance and connect activity hubs. For goal one, a suggested project is for the CRA to consider investing in sustainable transportation links strategy to work with the county to prioritize and invest in sidewalks to
improve connectivity. on the screen is displayed the proposed um lighted sidewalks that could potentially be located. As you can see on the screen, the western segment would connect from Orange Street to the shopping plaza in Srento to run along
the north side of Srento Avenue. And on the bottom, you could see the eastern segment which would connect the site of the temporary library site to the commercial area and would run along the south side of Srento Avenue. Public works has been in discussion with staff
and we do believe that we've attained the appropriate rightway for these projects and they represent an attainable way to move forward and increase walkability and connectivity within the CRA and we staff and public works are available for any questions. This concludes my presentation. If there
are no questions, it concludes the CRA board >> and I just would like to have the honor to make the motion to approve this. >> Great. So, I would like to make a motion that we approve these requested infrastructure improvements. >> There's been a motion by Commissioner
Campion, seconded by Commissioner Morris. Any >> any other discussion? >> The motion was for what? To approve >> to approve the requested um infrastructure improvements um that are
listed here. um the sidewest and street lights along those portions of 46 which is actually Sarrento Avenue. >> There's no funding. >> It's CRA. >> Right. Right. So, we're approving the presentation or we approving the the work
>> the proposal and then what comes back is actually the documents that go along with the work itself. >> Okay. I'm good with that. >> That that's what I Okay. >> All right. Uh any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor of the motion say I. I. Oppose. There are none. That passes unanimous.
>> Thank you. >> Great. >> And before I journ super fast, just want to say thank you to the CRA advisory board, all of the people in the community that have been engaged in this process and giving their input. And I'm
just super excited about seeing some physical tangible improvements that can make the community feel that all of this time and all of this planning and all of this input is is finally, you know, coming to fruition. And so I know we're going to have a future vote
when we actually approve what um you know the use of the CRA funds, but um but it's just I I I feel that there's a lot of momentum and the CRA advisory board is you know feels that as well in the community. So I think um this this
is great progress. >> Can I make one quick statement? I want to say thank you to the CRA board because I've gotten so many emails from Sarrento that supports this. So I really appreciate the outreach that you have
done to have them at least contact us. So thank you. >> All right. Well, with that then we stand adjourned >> reports. >> Oh wait, before I say adjourned, do you want to take the gavl and then I'll leave and then anybody that wants to do reports. >> Yeah, we'll just do go write the reports. And super fast, I want to tell
you the alum treatment demonstration yesterday was phenomenal. And I think that there is opportunity between now and the end of March when they wrap up that any one of us that would like to go out there um just get with um you know get with staff and they can arrange for
that because it is really interesting. and they're putting together a a video that goes into the details, the the scientists that's involved with it and they explain how it works and how it actually attaches to the phosphorus and it's down in the sediment and it's it's
really fascinating. So, I I urge you to watch that as well once they put that um um kind of semi documentary together that that explains all of this. So, but it was it was great and all the water authority members were there and it was really excellent. But it was freezing.
>> It was really really cold. >> Okay. Thanks everybody. >> Thank you. Safe travels. >> All right. Um go right into reports. Uh county attorney, nothing. County manager, nothing. Uh Commissioner Sabatini, District One, >> no report. >> Okay. Um Commissioner Smith, then we'll
we'll come back to you. I know. >> I just wanted to say thank you for the staff and all the hard work for the workshop. I thought it was a good workshop and I really appreciate your input. >> Yeah, >> Commissioner Morris, >> kudos to that. Uh we had a great grand
opening of the uh children's library at Lady Lake yesterday and they uh they're very appreciative of the county and the partnership we have. >> Excellent. Okay, I just have two quick things. One, I want to um congratulate Claremont VFW Post 5277. meant to do
this uh at the last meeting but we were rushed but they are celebrating um their 100th birthday. Uh so that um is big news for them and I went to the event it was it was wonderful uh just they've been such an important part of our community
particularly in South Lake and if you get the chance you may want to congratulate them on their birthday. So um and then also want to uh congratulate and thank or or thank staff at least. I don't know if congratulations is the right word, but thank staff for the workshop uh as well uh last week. I
appreciate it. I thought it was good. It's one of our only chances where you can kind of just throw out ideas and you get a lot thrown at you, but I do appreciate it and again appreciate the opportunity to tell staff we um work you work very hard for us and it doesn't go unnoticed. Um so thank you. I have
nothing else but we're last. >> What is today? >> I know everybody's so excited about today and it's about the right time because today is National Tortilla Day. So go out and have a tortilla >> lunchtime. All right, >> lunch time. Thank you. >> That's great. All right, we stand a journal.