Thursday, April 19, 2001
East Branch (Oviedo) Seminole County Library
DRAFT MINUTES
Chairman Robert King called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Chairman King asked for a review of the March minutes that were accepted as presented.
Chairman King discussed the correspondence attached to the minutes.
Ed Hayes, FFWCC, gave an update on berm removal. He asked the group for direction if there were funds remaining after the berm removal and revegetation.
There was discussion on various berm sections. Chairman King asked Mr. Hayes if he could produce a graphic depiction of the berms.
Bill Daniel asked about the status of sign that restrict airboats from going into the marsh. He wanted to know which agency put the signs up and when were they coming.
Chairman King told the group that the FDOT Bridge Presentation has been postponed until May meeting.
Chairman King said no one was in attendance from the USACE but he had a conversation with Pete Milam who said the restoration project at the mouth of the lake has been deemed appropriate for federal funding under the 1135 process. He said under this plan, the Corps will restore or enhance the results of an earlier project. He said the federal spending cap would be $5 million. He said the Corps still has to do due diligence and they will eventually do their own hydrologic model and environmental assessment, but they will have some kind of answer for the group in six months.
Chairman King said the 1135 program requires a non-federal partner to contribute up to 25 percent of the cost of the project. He said the WMD has come forward as that partner and it is significant that they have pledged their cooperation (which was voiced in the letter in the minutes package) so early in the process.
Because of the length of the meeting at this point and the need to discuss the following resolutions, Chairman King postponed the Brainstorm List Review – Create Goals & objectives for USACE until the May meeting, but asked all members to go over the list in the interim.
Chairman King introduced Henry Dean, the executive director of the SJRWMD, who gave an overview of the legislative funding resolution he was asking the FLJ to support and the chairman to sign. After group discussion, the attached resolution was approved (see underlined sections for changes made by the group and the email cover sheet to Rep. Tom Feeney’s office.)
Chairman King said he was concerned about a budget item, shoreline dredging, which was submitted by both the WMD and the FWCC. He said he knew Rep. Feeney’s office how to deal with the duplication, but he wanted to make sure that both agencies involved were aware of the duplication.
Chairman King introduced Allen Stewart, Hydromentia, who gave an overview of the legislative funding resolution he was asking the FLJ to support and the chairman to sign. After group discussion, the attached resolution was approved (see underlined sections for changes made by the group and the email cover sheet to Rep. Feeney’s office stating the FLJ vote and concerns.)
Lothian Ager, FFWCC, asked for an update of the draw down study. Regina Lovings, SJRWMD, said the report should be finished in May and she would bring a copy if she received in time for the meeting.
Ms. Lovings gave a report on the status of the box culvert on State Road 46.
The meeting was adjourned at 10 p.m.