Friends of Lake Jesup

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Chairman Robert King.

Approval of Minutes of November 20, 2003: The minutes were accepted as presented.

Mail and membership: Chairman King asked for self-introductions.

Old Business:

1. Update on progress of Restoration Plan / Hydraulic Model - Pete Milam, USACOE: Mr. Milam reported on the status of the environmental assessment in preparation for interagency (peer) review and quantification of habitat improvement units for each restoration alternative. Chairman King said he would find out whether USACOE would be required to provide mitigation. Mr. Milam said he would send Chairman King a copy of the habitat improvement document so that anyone interested could see what kind of help he needs in quantifying habitat improvement.

2. Update of State Road 46 Bridge Replacement Project - Scott Bear, CH2MHill: Mr. Bear reported that the PD&E is completed and design plans will be available at the 30% meeting at the end of February. He said the agency will start quantifying impacts and working with the WMD. Chairman King asked if the group could get a report on the make up of the top 20 to 30 feet of the borings. Mr. Bear said he would ask for that report. Chairman King also asked that the design drawings be included in some way on the web site

3. In-basin mitigation tracking update: Ms. Bess said no real progress had been made on the project because the staff member and Steve Rich have not been able to meet and "tweak" the report.

4. Update on shoreline dredging project - Ed Hayes, FFWCC: Mr. Hayes brought the group up to date on the events surrounding the muck removal permitting problem and told the group that due to a lack of permits, the bid opening scheduled for the next day would be canceled and the funds for the dredging project would revert back to the state legislature because they would not be encumbered by the end of the month as required. Cheryl Moore, from Congressman Tom Feeney’s office introduced herself and explained her relationship to the issue and then began to ask various question of the Mr. Hayes and members of other agencies present with regard to the permitting situation. Don Pardue, of Rep. Sandy Adam’s office, was also available and gave input into her office’s stand on the issue. Chairman King referred to the text of the statement he presented to the Seminole County Legislative Delegation, which was included in the group’s handout package. He said he specifically told the delegation that the group would not at that time ask for regulatory relief, but that was before he knew that the FFWCC was going to let the money go back to the legislature. He said the question now was what direction the group should take. He said he heard support from the legislators for the project. Ms. Moore said she has been given the authority to go to Tallahassee to lobby on the restoration project’s behalf. Discussion followed regarding next step to move forward with muck removal. Two items appeared to be the focus. First FWCC needs a reaction or direction from Friends regarding funds. Then a decision needs to be made whether to continue to pursue the existing proposal or back up and start looking for disposal sites again. Decision was made to pursue re-appropriation of funds, and to locate a site that was permit able. The upcoming meeting will be brainstorming possibilities.

   There was a brief presentation and discussion regarding a Lake Jesup Basin Mitigation Initiative.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.