[4:03] >> Good morning everyone let me welcome all of you to the Orange

[4:06] County Board of Commission meeting on July 14th 2026.

[4:10] We begin this morning in recognition of the passing

[4:16] of one of our county employees.

[4:24] We're going to have just a brief moment of silence,

[4:28] and then after that we will have the invocation and then

[4:32] the Pledge of Allegiance.

[4:34] And with that we are going to take a brief moment of silence.

[4:53] All right.

[4:55] Thank you.

[4:56] Phillip unfortunately was a young man

[4:59] Who passed unexpectedly.

[5:02] In the last week or so, so we want

[5:07] to just remember his service.

[5:08] He worked here with Commissioner Gomez Cordeiro

[5:13] and we wish the very best for his family.

[5:17] As they deal with these trying times.

[5:20] With that, we are going to move forward,

[5:23] and I'm going to ask Commissioner Wilson to introduce

[5:26] her guest who will be bringing the invocation this morning.

[5:29] After that, Commissioner Wilson if you will lead us

[5:32] in the Pledge of Allegiance and then

[5:34] we will start the formal portion of our board meeting today.

[5:39] With that you're recognized.

[5:42] Nicole H. Wilson: Thank you so much mayor good morning

[5:45] everybody thank you for taking that time everybody Philip was

[5:49] a friend to all at the Commissioner office

[5:51] they welcomed me when I walked onto that floor in 2020

[5:53] and Philip was somebody who we all looked to for guidance

[5:56] and for wisdom Commi he was brilliant.

[5:59] And even though my invocation guest this morning

[6:02] will be doing a Christian invocation, I'm Jewish

[6:04] and in the Jewish faith we say may his memory be a blessing.

[6:10] And Philip's memory is a blessing.

[6:13] And will continue to be a blessing

[6:15] for all of those who knew him.

[6:17] So come a good morning.

[6:19] This morning I am so honored to welcome

[6:20] my friend Pastor Socrates Perez Jr to lead us in our invocation.

[6:25] Socrates Perez Jr is a pastor who served in church ministry

[6:29] for 18 years.

[6:30] With a passion for teaching, spiritual formation,

[6:34] and music music ministry.

[6:36] Currently Socrates works with undivided a national

[6:38] organization committed to activating

[6:40] churches and communities for racial healing.

[6:43] Solidarity and justice.

[6:45] As a part of these efforts Socrates

[6:48] has launched Central Florida Movement.

[6:54] An organization committed to standing

[6:56] with immigrants in a time of uncertainty.

[6:58] And this is certainly a timely invitation

[7:00] knowing that blood was spilled in our streets again yesterday.

[7:04] Since December people who share this commitment

[7:06] have come together to learn from the experiences of immigrants

[7:09] in our community to support them through accompaniment

[7:12] at their ice check in appointments,

[7:15] and to advocate for just policies.

[7:20] Most recently the Central Florida Micah movement

[7:22] has drawn the interest of over a dozen churches

[7:24] and groups to participate in the care Kit initiative.

[7:27] Packing backpacks to serve kids and teens who

[7:31] have been impacted by the detention and deportation

[7:33] of a family member.

[7:35] Pastor Socrates is a proud product of Orange County,

[7:38] raised in Orlando, went to local public schools in Pine Hills,

[7:43] he graduated from West Orange High School, Warriors.

[7:46] He attended Rollins College in Winter Park

[7:49] and is now studying at Fuller Theological Seminary.

[7:54] He served in Christian Church Management ministry

[7:56] for 18 years.

[7:58] In Southern California the other Orange County before

[8:03] returning back here to Florida.

[8:05] Socrates has been blessed with a strong foundation in Jesus

[8:10] and the church along with opportunities

[8:12] to experience Christian faith lived out

[8:15] throughout various cultural expressions.

[8:17] Today he's passionate about seeing the power

[8:21] that faith has to respond to pain and brokenness

[8:24] in our communities.

[8:25] And with enduring hope healing and reconciliation

[8:28] please join me in welcoming Pastor Socrates Perez Jr.

[8:35] [Applause]

[8:44] >> Thank you Commissioner Wilson and good morning mayor Demings

[8:46] and commissioners.

[8:48] I consider it an undeserved blessing

[8:50] to offer a prayer this morning, I call it a blessing

[8:54] because it's really a gift for this Hispanic kid whose life was

[8:58] formed here in Orange County, and I call it undeserved

[9:01] because I went a couple of minutes

[9:02] long last time when I had this opportunity.

[9:04] So thank you for inviting me back.

[9:06] And I will keep it shorter this time,

[9:08] but I just want to thank you for your commitment

[9:10] to serve this community.

[9:11] I often pray for each of you that God will lead you and watch

[9:16] over you, specifically for the past week I've

[9:19] been asking for God's presence that it would bring peace

[9:23] as we grieve the passing of Filipe Toledo.

[9:27] I've witnessed the profound love for him

[9:29] and the appreciation for many for Philip's kindness,

[9:32] his humility, for his high level of excellence,

[9:36] for his dedication to serving Orange County well.

[9:38] This is a great loss for all of us but one that I imagine

[9:42] is felt deeply by each of you in the Orange County Staff.

[9:45] And in times of loss the answer to the question

[9:48] why O Lord is often beyond our understanding.

[9:52] And even then I believe that God offers us consolation.

[9:56] Through the embrace and outpouring

[9:58] of love from our community, and through the nearness of God

[10:02] who comforts us in all our troubles

[10:03] so that we can comfort others.

[10:06] Let us pray together.

[10:11] Creator God, giver of every good and perfect gift,

[10:17] we begin by thanking you for the gift of life.

[10:20] And in the same breath, we mourn as we

[10:23] consider the loss of our devoted public servant and a friend

[10:26] to many in this room.

[10:28] We ask for the comfort of your presence

[10:30] and the warmth of the people who surround us.

[10:33] And today God we also pray for all that

[10:36] will take place in this room.

[10:38] For the conversations and the decisions

[10:41] that will impact our neighbors in significant ways.

[10:45] I pray that we would treat one another

[10:47] with mutual respect and mutual love,

[10:50] that we would receive wisdom which you give freely

[10:53] to all who ask.

[10:55] I pray that we will honor the dignity of all of our neighbors.

[11:00] Especially those who have been cast aside or mistreated,

[11:03] and may we find the strength and courage

[11:06] right now to do what is right in this hour.

[11:09] Even when it comes at a personal cost.

[11:13] God, I am deeply moved in this moment,

[11:17] to lift up our beloved Haitian brothers

[11:19] and sisters this morning.

[11:21] We bring their concerns and their burdens before you as well

[11:25] as over 300,000 of them come many here in Orange County are

[11:30] set to lose their immigration status next week despite

[11:33] the lives that they've built here and despite dangerous

[11:36] conditions.

[11:36] So we pray God for the protection of these neighbors

[11:39] who are vital to our community and who

[11:41] are precious in your sight.

[11:43] That you would make a way where there

[11:45] seems to be no way, that your peace which passes understanding

[11:48] would guard their hearts and minds so that you would embolden

[11:51] us to stand in solidarity with them.

[11:53] Doing all that we can to seek justice on their behalf.

[11:57] And finally, O Lord, we ask that you protect and watch

[12:01] over our leaders today.

[12:02] Mind and body, heart and soul.

[12:06] Protect them from attacks that aim

[12:08] to diminish their own humanity.

[12:11] And may they know how deep and wide is your unconditional love.

[12:15] For each of them.

[12:17] May they be led by you in humility.

[12:19] To value others above themselves,

[12:22] seeking the interests of those whom they serve.

[12:25] Thank you God for Orange County this beautiful home

[12:28] that you have called us to care for.

[12:29] And we thank you God for our people.

[12:32] Whom you have called us to serve faithfully.

[12:33] We pray these things in your holy name.

[12:37] Amen.

[12:39] Thank you.

[12:47] Nicole H. Wilson: I pledge allegiance

[12:54] to the flag of the United States of America

[12:56] and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God,

[12:56] indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[12:58] Thank you Commissioner thank you Commissioner Perez.

[14:04] We have two items today we'll begin with proclamation then

[14:08] have the presentations following.

[14:09] The first proclamation is for smart irrigation laws.

[14:14] Smart irrigation.

[14:15] Proclamation reads whereas Orange County recognizes water

[14:19] as a vital and natural resource that

[14:21] is essential to sustaining our communities,

[14:29] and outdoor water use is a significant portion

[14:34] of Orange County water use.

[14:37] We recognize-- and whereas smart irrigation technology

[14:45] such as weather based controllers soil moisture

[14:48] sensors, and efficient irrigation design

[14:51] help reduce water waste and improve plant health

[14:54] and protect our valuable water resources.

[14:56] And whereas, regular irrigation systems, maintenance,

[15:00] proper scheduling of irrigation timers,

[15:03] are essential to maximizing irrigation efficiency

[15:06] and supporting long term water conservation.

[15:09] Now, therefore Jerry L Denning's with the authority vested in him

[15:15] as county mayor does hereby declare the month of July 2026

[15:18] as Smart Irrigation Month in Orange County Florida

[15:21] to raise awareness of the water use efficiency

[15:24] and encourage residents and businesses to develop

[15:27] smart water practices to preserve this resource.

[15:33] Done this 14th day of July 2026 signed by the mayor and all five

[15:36] members of the Board of County Commissioners.

[15:39] Accepting the proclamation is Matt Bowers

[15:42] the administrator for Orange County Utilities.

[15:45] Mr. Bowers?

[15:48] >> Good morning.

[15:50] Mayor Demings comment commissioners,

[15:52] thank you for this opportunity again to come

[15:56] and highlight the importance of water conservation.

[15:58] More than half of our usage goes to irrigation here

[16:03] in Central Florida.

[16:04] And if we are going to continue to grow,

[16:07] responsible water usage is going to be paramount for us to be

[16:11] able to sustain our population.

[16:12] Improving the efficiency of how we use water

[16:14] as one of the most cost effective and impactful ways

[16:17] to help ensure this valuable resource

[16:19] remains sustainable for future generations.

[16:22] Again, thank you to this board for the support

[16:25] that you've given to water conservation.

[16:27] Orange County Utilities, because of your support

[16:29] we remain a leader in water conservation.

[16:32] Our team has trained and certified irrigation technicians

[16:34] to provide customers with expert assistance

[16:37] and evaluating and adjusting irrigation systems

[16:40] to improve efficiency.

[16:41] I would just like to add we are the first municipality

[16:44] or utility in the state of Florida

[16:46] that all of our personnel out in the field

[16:49] are certified and trained professionals.

[16:52] This July we are encouraging you to take a few simple steps

[16:55] to make sure your irrigation systems are operating

[16:58] efficiently.

[16:59] First of all, we recommend walking through your yard

[17:02] while your irrigation system is running.

[17:04] If you don't walk through you don't see the problems

[17:06] and you can't know what they are.

[17:08] So you walk through, you check for leaks,

[17:10] you check for broken components and misaligned sprinklers.

[17:13] I don't know how many times we go

[17:15] by where we see that it's spraying completely

[17:17] on the sidewalk or only on the driveway.

[17:19] No matter how much you water it, concrete is not going to grow.

[17:23] And, also has a reminder during this time of year

[17:26] to set your irrigation timer to no more than twice a week.

[17:29] And if your system continues to run after significant rainfall

[17:32] like last night I'm sure you saw on the news, the intersection

[17:35] on 50 flooded out, you probably don't

[17:37] need to be irrigating today.

[17:39] So if you see your system running

[17:41] after that significant rainfall like that

[17:43] then your rain sensor may need to be repaired or replaced.

[17:46] These simple actions can help homeowners use water

[17:49] more efficiently, avoid unexpected increases

[17:52] in their water bill and maintain healthy attractive landscapes.

[17:56] Thank you for your continued recruitment

[17:58] for water conservation and the opportunity

[18:01] to highlight smart water usage practices.

[18:07] [Applause]

[18:25] >> Alright I'll crack utilities team Mark Cuneata is

[18:27] the director.

[18:39] All right let's give our utilities department

[18:40] a big round of applause.

[18:42] Good job everyone!

[18:43] Thank you Matt!

[18:51] [Applause]

[18:51] >> Our second and final proclamation is for parks

[18:52] and Recreation Month.

[18:53] I see our parks friends here.

[18:55] A lot of them are here today.

[18:57] It's good to see you all.

[18:58] The proclamation reads whereas a National Recreation and Park

[19:00] Association of designated July as park and Recreation month

[19:04] to recognize the vital role that Parks and Recreation played

[19:07] in building strong vibrant and resilient communities

[19:10] across the nation.

[19:11] And Whereas Parks and Recreation Services

[19:13] are a central component of Orange County's commitment

[19:16] to enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors

[19:19] by providing safe accessible and welcoming spaces for recreation

[19:23] wellness education and community connection.

[19:26] Whereas Orange County Parks and Recreation

[19:28] manages a diverse system of 114 parks, trails, preserves,

[19:33] recreation centers, athletic facilities,

[19:35] campgrounds, historical sites, natural resources

[19:38] to welcome more than 16 million residents and visitors annually.

[19:42] Whereas Orange County's parks trails and recreation programs

[19:45] promote healthy and active lifestyles,

[19:46] foster social connections, support

[19:48] physical and mental well-being, inspire lifelong learning

[19:52] and contribute to the economic vitality

[19:54] and environmental sustainability of our community.

[19:57] Whereas Orange County's extensive park system

[19:59] provides opportunities for outdoor adventure,

[20:02] cultural and historical appreciation,

[20:04] athletic participation, and community celebrations helping

[20:09] make Orange County one of the most desirable places

[20:11] to live work and play.

[20:12] Whereas the dedicated park and recreation professionals

[20:15] work year round to preserve natural habitats,

[20:18] protect environmental resource, provide

[20:20] high quality recreational programs,

[20:22] support youth development engage older adults,

[20:25] encourage volunteerism and create memorable experiences

[20:28] that enrich the lives of Orange County residents.

[20:30] Now, therefore Jerry Demings by his authority as mayor does

[20:38] hereby declare the month of July as Parks and Recreation Month

[20:43] and encourage all residents to take advantage of the services

[20:47] provided by the Orange County Parks and Recreation Division

[20:50] done in order this 14th day of July 2026 and all five members

[20:54] of the Board of County Commissioners.

[20:56] Accepting the proclamation is the manager

[20:58] Kyle Kent was the manager of Orange County

[21:00] Parks and Recreation.

[21:01] Mr. Kent?

[21:09] [Applause]

[21:09] >> Thank you mayor and Commissioners.

[21:10] On behalf of the 500 plus staff members

[21:12] that you have working on your Parks and Recreation

[21:14] team we are pleased to accept this proclamation,

[21:16] we are grateful for your recognition.

[21:19] We would like to point out that Parks and Recreation

[21:22] places and the faces when things are going right

[21:29] in their community.

[21:31] And right now with 4 million people visiting us each quarter,

[21:34] I think that's a testament that people think things are

[21:37] going right in this community.

[21:38] So we always appreciate the support come

[21:40] and please do pleased to accept this award.

[21:43] I would like to flip the script a little bit here.

[21:46] We have one of those important reasons

[21:48] that we all work for Parks and Recreation.

[21:50] And we invest in our community that's

[21:52] here with us today and her name is Elise Loki.

[21:55] Come on up here Elise.

[21:58] Elise is the winner of our art contest here come on over.

[22:06] Each summer we hold an art contest

[22:09] throughout our summer camps and Elise

[22:11] is one of the camp members that Port David.

[22:14] Her artwork is on the screen up there

[22:16] and Elise I'm going to give you like three seconds

[22:19] to tell us what's going on in this bottom corner over here.

[22:21] Because I think that's important to narrate.

[22:24] Why don't you tell us what that is?

[22:30] >> One of my counselors Matt is helping a squirrel.

[22:32] It happened in real life.

[22:33] The squirrel fell on its arm and broke it.

[22:36] And Matt knows the place to help squirrels.

[22:40] So --

[24:22] Parks and recreation department can come up and take a photo to.

[24:29] Don't be shy.

[24:30] Come on up.

[24:42] [Applause]

[24:50] >> All right.

[24:51] Thanks parks!

[24:55] Don't go too far Kyle.

[24:57] We have two presentations for this morning.

[25:00] The first presentation is regarding parks again

[25:03] it's a presentation of the National Association of County

[25:05] Park and Recreation Officials Award for 2025,

[25:08] so Kyle is going to come up and talk

[25:11] a little bit about this award we would appreciate that.

[25:18] >> Thank you very much.

[25:19] So one of the events that we have been producing

[25:21] for several years now for the community

[25:23] is called movies in the Park.

[25:25] We make it an effort to bring out large projection

[25:28] screens show current movies, in the community setting.

[25:32] In the lawn you bring your lawn chairs

[25:34] or throw your blankets down.

[25:36] It's a lot of fun, it's free.

[25:38] We try to do these in multiple communities throughout the year.

[25:43] And we submitted a nomination and it

[25:46] was recognized for bringing the community together

[25:49] as a great gathering and community function.

[25:51] So, we are pleased to admit that they

[25:55] felt it was worthy of an award.

[26:02] [Applause]

[26:50] >> Who doesn't love our parks?

[26:52] You've got to love them.

[26:52] All of those volunteers on the advisory board,

[26:53] thank you for serving.

[26:55] Through the movies in the Park program,

[26:59] countless residents have enjoyed evenings of entertainment.

[27:02] Connection, and lasting memories in our beautiful parks.

[27:07] So with this, this award from the National Association

[27:10] of County Parks, and recreation officials in 2026,

[27:16] this parks and Recreation program class three award

[27:21] presented to Orange County Parks and Recreation

[27:24] for movies in the Park and movies on the trails program.

[27:28] So again Kyle congratulations to you and your entire team.

[27:36] [Applause]

[28:09] All right thanks parks, and thanks folks!

[28:11] And the final presentation is for the North American Hazardous

[28:16] Materials Management Association best outreach program.

[28:19] I'm going to call on Kate Rogers with the environmental program

[28:23] supervisor from an environmental protection

[28:26] division for more information.

[28:37] >> morning and County Administrator Brooks,

[28:39] I'm very honored to receive this award on behalf

[28:42] of the Environmental Protection Division as I am very new

[28:45] in my role as supervisor of Epd's Pollution Prevention

[28:49] Control Program I must direct all praise for this

[28:51] accomplishment to my team, and our predecessor.

[28:55] This National Award recognizes the team's innovative approach

[28:59] to keeping hazardous pharmaceutical waste

[29:02] from small health care facilities

[29:04] out of our environment.

[29:06] Our pollution prevention and communication staff

[29:09] designed a user friendly digital questionnaire

[29:11] that achieved a response rate of over 50%.

[29:15] Furthermore, follow up engagement continued

[29:17] with calls come emails, and in-person inspections

[29:21] that improved the facility's understanding of their roles

[29:24] and responsibilities in the final suit of goal waste

[29:27] Management.

[29:28] This national recognition affirms the importance

[29:31] of the work that Orange County is

[29:33] doing to conserve and protect, and enhance

[29:35] our environment for current and future generations.

[29:38] It also shines a light on the tremendous talent,

[29:41] and professional expertise that characterize the care

[29:44] and service that the BPD provides to our community.

[29:47] Thank you.

[29:53] [Applause]

[29:58] >> You know I know it's a little daunting at times to come before

[30:01] the public like this, I can hear that nervousness in your voice

[30:05] come you couldn't wait for it to be over.

[30:07] But, let me just say this.

[30:10] Our community, our board of County Commission and BPD staff

[30:16] have made it a priority to make sure

[30:19] that we protect our environment here within Orange County.

[30:22] So for the Environmental Protection Division

[30:25] to receive this recognition it reflects the county's commitment

[30:29] to protecting the environment.

[30:31] Whether through preventing pollution,

[30:33] improving water quality, in our lakes, or rivers,

[30:37] or protecting the sensitive lands.

[30:39] Our entire team, thank you for the work

[30:42] that you're doing each and every day.

[30:44] Sometimes there are some unsung heroes.

[30:47] So join me this will hopefully be a little less

[30:52] stressful for you all.

[31:11] [Applause] Right one more round of applause for that department!

[31:39] Thank you all so much!

[32:09] Jerry L. Demings: All right as we transition again,

[32:11] congratulations to all of those who received recognition

[32:14] this morning.

[32:14] We are going to move forward on our agenda at this time

[32:19] while we move through the period of time in which we invite

[32:21] members of the public to come forward

[32:23] regarding any concerns or topics of importance to them.

[32:29] There are certain matters that will be taken up this afternoon

[32:32] during the afternoon portion, typically

[32:35] they are land use issues, or other issues

[32:39] that should be properly brought to other boards.

[32:42] We will of course move forward at this time.

[32:46] How many persons do we have that wish to be heard this morning?

[32:58] >> Mayor we have 42 speaker cards this morning.

[33:00] >> Okay so we do have a pretty active schedule this morning.

[33:02] So those of you who are going to come forward we're

[33:04] going to give you each one minute in which

[33:06] to plead your case.

[33:08] Because of the history that we have

[33:10] and the experience that we have we do

[33:11] know that it can be done, in that period of time.

[33:14] So with that, we will start perhaps

[33:19] in the order of which we have received

[33:22] and the request to speak this >> Thank you mayor, folks

[33:28] I'm going to call your name in batches,

[33:30] when I do please line up along the wall at the end of the room

[33:31] here.

[33:32] Approach the podium in the order called

[33:34] and please begin with your name and address.

[33:36] Our first speaker is going to be Hank Halbert, followed

[33:41] by Lucy Halbert.

[33:44] Followed by Anna Marie Halbert.

[33:52] Followed by Chad Mangione.

[33:54] Michelle Mangione.

[33:57] And David Martinez.

[34:11] >> I thought it was going to be minutes but we're going

[34:13] to shorten this down.

[34:13] Hello mayor.

[34:14] Thank you for your 45 years of service

[34:17] to the city of Orlando and the county.

[34:19] Okay good morning I'm Hank Halbert of 2711 East Michigan

[34:24] Street, we are here kind of in objection of a large steel

[34:29] building that's been placed on Michigan Street

[34:32] at a professional office they've been called

[34:35] the Monster of Michigan Street, the Michigan street

[34:40] monster, what's the other one?

[34:42] The spaceship that landed?

[34:44] And the Michigan street eyesore.

[34:48] I've sent pictures to each and every one of you,

[34:50] hopefully you've seen those.

[34:51] It's hard to describe it in words.

[34:54] It's 3300 zero cubic feet building sitting in the middle

[34:58] or adjacent to a neighborhood.

[35:00] The permit was approved over like a year period I guess,

[35:08] and we didn't know anything about this there was very little

[35:11] transparency.

[35:12] Very little fairness.

[35:13] No input from the neighborhood whatsoever.

[35:16] There are 12 houses involved, we see talking to real estate

[35:20] people we could well we have probably 50 to $100,000 value

[35:25] per house.

[35:26] That's going to be affected.

[35:27] That's why I'm here today.

[35:29] I'll let the next speaker elaborate.

[35:30] But we ask the county to not approve the permit in October.

[35:36] Thank you.

[35:39] >> Thank you Mr. Halbert for your presence.

[35:41] We move to the next speaker please.

[35:51] >> Good morning everyone.

[35:52] And, first of all, shout out to the park and recreation team.

[35:56] And thank you mayor for recognizing

[35:58] the importance of them.

[36:00] And also, my two daughters, they both learned how

[36:04] to swim and the Gatlin pool.

[36:06] So we love it.

[36:08] Thank you.

[36:09] Thank you for allowing me to speak today.

[36:13] My name is Lucy Halbert, my husband

[36:15] and I have lived in 2711 East Michigan Street since 1998.

[36:22] I came to the United States in 1996.

[36:24] And we've raised our two daughters here

[36:29] and have been proud to call this community our home for nearly

[36:33] three decades.

[36:34] We are here today because of the large steel building warehouse

[36:39] that was constructed at 26 17th East Michigan Street just three

[36:46] doors from my home.

[36:48] The structure is not compatible with the character

[36:52] of the Edinburgh Heights neighborhood and the surrounding

[36:56] communities.

[36:57] Edinburgh Heights is a quiet diverse established realty built

[37:01] in the early 1980s with some houses built even earlier,

[37:05] maybe in the 50s or 60s 70s.

[37:08] We have families, small children, senior citizens,

[37:13] and longtime residents who value the peaceful quality of life

[37:17] that we have here.

[37:19] We love our neighborhood, and we do not want to leave.

[37:23] About 12 families -- >> Sorry Miss Halbert that time is gone

[37:30] quickly.

[37:31] >> Yes very quickly.

[37:38] >> Thank you.

[37:39] Just thank you.

[37:39] We just don't think that building belongs there.

[37:41] Thank you.

[37:42] >> All right.

[37:42] We move to our next speaker.

[37:46] >> Hi I'm Anna Halbrook and if you can't tell those were

[37:48] my parents.

[37:49] I live at 2711 East Michigan Street.

[37:52] I've lived in the county my whole life,

[37:54] from Kaylee elementary to Howard to Boone,

[37:57] I followed the school path of countless other Orange County

[38:00] natives.

[38:00] This is my home.

[38:01] When I got home from college to see that the paint company down

[38:05] the street had erected a humongous metal shed

[38:07] that towered over all the houses on my block

[38:09] I was very confused to say the least.

[38:11] I have no issues with all the professional offices that are

[38:13] scattered around the area come up with the industrialization

[38:16] of my neighborhood is something that I truly cannot stand for.

[38:18] We are a community of working class people

[38:21] from all walks of life, my mother

[38:22] is an immigrant we know that there are many other immigrants

[38:25] in my neighborhood.

[38:26] We have members of the LGBTQ plus community,

[38:29] it's very diverse.

[38:30] The most important thing is that people raise their children here

[38:33] and invest their money and property here.

[38:36] I feel that this structure sets a very dangerous precedent

[38:38] for not just my neighborhood but for Orange County as a whole.

[38:42] No one wants to see their home turned into an industrial zone.

[38:45] We ask that the county considers reevaluating

[38:47] permitting of this structure for the whole neighborhood.

[38:51] Thank you so much.

[38:52] >> Alright thank you Miss Halbert.

[38:54] We'll move to the next speaker please.

[39:03] Evan good morning.

[39:06] I don't believe that I'm actually the next speaker

[39:08] but there's nobody else so.

[39:11] I'm actually here to voice my concern over the same building

[39:16] that Hank and his family have spoken about.

[39:19] I'm sorry my name is David Martinez.

[39:22] I own 2707 East Michigan.

[39:26] And, basically this building is completely

[39:29] out of character with the area.

[39:31] In every conceivable way.

[39:33] When you think of buildings you think of scale, outside of scale

[39:37] you think of style, it doesn't really

[39:40] mesh with any style in the neighborhood.

[39:43] The materials come absolutely anything.

[39:45] Can use more importantly.

[39:47] So it's going to bring, I don't know

[39:50] what's going to be stored in this warehouse looking building,

[39:54] but the use of it is of concern, the increased traffic

[39:57] and the type of traffic that it's going to bring,

[39:59] it's only a two lane road at that point.

[40:02] And so it's also setting a dangerous precedent for the area

[40:05] as well.

[40:06] So I just wanted to voice my displeasure

[40:10] and maybe we can get this thing taken care of.

[40:14] Thank you.

[40:14] Goodbye.

[40:15] >> Right thank you Mr. Martinez.

[40:17] Next speaker >> Right of Chad Michele and aren't here,

[40:23] our next speaker will be Destin Correa.

[40:25] Followed by Peter Murray.

[40:27] Susie Morris.

[40:30] Sana Hafeez.

[40:34] Jose Hernandez.

[40:50] >> Good morning.

[40:51] Board of County Commissioners my name

[40:51] is Desmond Carrera I live at 225 I'm

[40:52] here with Sunrise Moreno in support of the Sunrise Plan.

[40:56] I'm a student with no car I found a 311

[41:00] request about an unsafe crossing on Valencia College Lane.

[41:03] And Boa Vista.

[41:05] Because students like me have nothing protecting us

[41:08] from traffic the last one I want my loved ones to see

[41:10] is me on the evening news because I

[41:11] succumb to a fate like other Florida pedestrians

[41:14] crossing the road.

[41:15] This is because our infrastructure currently does

[41:18] not account for pedestrians.

[41:19] The star plan.

[41:21] A rapid transit initiative that has eight rapid transit

[41:25] corridors in this county.

[41:28] Pedestrian safety becomes a higher priority.

[41:30] I ask this board to take the next step

[41:33] in investing in the infrastructure that actually

[41:35] keeps everyone safe, protected lanes come a safe crossings,

[41:38] and the star plan Denver did it and Orange County Cantu.

[41:43] Thank you.

[41:44] >> Right.

[41:45] Thank you for your comments.

[41:46] Next speaker please?

[42:09] And then while they're doing this

[42:11] I just wanted to say my condolences to the Commissioner.

[42:14] >> I'm going to ask you to go up to the mic so we can hear you.

[42:16] We can't hear you.

[42:24] >> I just wanted to say condolences to to Commissioner

[42:26] Katara for losing somebody very important it sounds like.

[42:28] So I'm sorry.

[42:33] I can't project the evidence I'd like to show the community.

[42:38] Okay.

[42:38] Peter Murray, good morning mayor and commissioners,

[42:43] I want to thank Comptroller Diamond for investigating

[42:46] the evidence regarding fairly funded procurement July 20th

[42:50] 2609.

[42:52] The controlling finding confirmed that this $2 million

[42:54] procurement was federally non-compliant

[42:57] and the charter spectrum was received unfair advantage.

[42:59] What concerns me is that I first reported this issue to the board

[43:03] on May April 9th 2024.

[43:04] And to professional Standards on May 1st 2024.

[43:08] The evidence presented at the time

[43:10] indicated that two employees were involved.

[43:12] In why 2609.

[43:15] And 2024 are system Procurement Manager Julie Milan also advised

[43:19] professional standards as the available evidence appeared

[43:22] to show that two employees from the mayor's office

[43:24] were attempting to prevent a potential bidder from receiving

[43:27] the contract award and that this should not have happened.

[43:30] Professional standards declined to investigate

[43:32] I asked over 100 times to follow up and they refused.

[43:36] Is now the third federally funded transaction

[43:39] that I have reported which has been confirmed to be accurate.

[43:42] I have additional evidence and professional standards still

[43:45] refuses to review that evidence.

[43:46] I'm not going to ask for more time I'm not

[43:49] getting thrown out again.

[43:50] Thank you.

[43:51] I have more evidence than I would like to help.

[43:58] Jerry L. Demings: All right thank you Mr. Murray.

[44:00] Next speaker please?

[44:04] My name is Susie Morris I live at 3638 Lake Drive Orlando.

[44:10] Good morning mayor and Commissioners.

[44:12] I'm here to speak in support of keeping Green's Place properties

[44:16] as protected green space.

[44:17] I urge the board to prioritize the conversations

[44:21] and conservations when evaluating and managing

[44:26] agriculture uses on these lands.

[44:28] Green Place was funded by taxpayers

[44:31] to preserve environmentally sensitive areas wildlife

[44:34] corridors become water resources and public recreation

[44:37] common not for agriculture production.

[44:40] I respectfully ask that you keep the primary focus

[44:43] on conservation and public benefit,

[44:46] apply the strongest environmental protections

[44:48] to any potential uses, and continue involving the public

[44:52] in these important decisions.

[44:54] Thank you for your work on the Green Place program,

[44:57] please keep these lands as true spaces for all of us.

[45:01] Thank you.

[45:01] Jerry L. Demings: Thank you for your comments.

[45:06] Next speaker?

[45:19] >> (Speaking in another language) My English is not very

[46:24] good.

[46:24] I lived in this neighborhood for many years,

[46:27] and I don't think that this building is characterized

[46:32] of the surroundings.

[46:34] As a kindergarten school right directly in front

[46:39] of this, of this building, which may or may not

[46:44] contain chemicals, it looks like it probably

[46:46] will contain chemicals.

[47:05] >> (Speaking in another language) And I'm not only

[47:37] concerned for myself, it's mostly for the future residents

[47:43] and for my family and their future.

[47:46] I don't feel that it's right, and the decision

[47:52] is in your hands.

[47:53] Thank you.

[47:56] Jerry L. Demings: Okay.

[47:59] I know he gave us his name, can you repeat his name for us?

[48:09] >> My name is Jose Santos Hernandez.

[48:12] Jerry L. Demings: Mr. Jose Santos Hernandez.

[48:16] All right.

[48:16] Thank you.

[48:18] All right, we will move to the next speaker.

[48:23] >> Thank you mayor.

[48:24] Our next speaker will be Alan Levi.

[48:27] Followed by Linda Coffin, Nicholas Tahtali, Ava Gorin,

[48:34] Trevor sweet, and Samuel Chambers.

[48:47] >> Good morning my name is Alan Levi I live at 535 East Harding

[48:50] Street in Orlando.

[48:50] That's district three.

[48:52] There is a myth that people experiencing homelessness

[48:55] are mostly drug users or alcoholics.

[48:58] While substance abuse exists within the homeless population,

[49:03] most people experiencing homelessness

[49:05] do not have a substance abuse problem.

[49:09] HUD data shows that about 16% reported use,

[49:14] but that 16% it's the same number for all Americans.

[49:19] And you know the myth that adults

[49:22] experiencing homelessness struggle

[49:24] with severe mental illness?

[49:27] Yes, 26% do.

[49:29] But so do 20% of all Americans.

[49:33] It's just as likely that someone's homelessness

[49:37] led to mental illness and addiction than the other way

[49:41] around.

[49:42] Again, it's really just as likely

[49:46] that someone's homelessness led to mental health and addiction

[49:51] than the other way around.

[49:53] Thank you.

[49:55] Jerry L. Demings: All right thank you Mr. Levi.

[50:00] Next speaker please.

[50:12] >> Hello.

[50:13] I did have an image but --

[50:13] I'll just start speaking.

[50:14] Hello, good morning my name is Nicholas Vitale,

[50:16] I live at 32836 district one.

[50:21] I am here as part of the Sunrise Movement

[50:23] to talk about two things.

[50:26] First, I am opposed to opening up green place to grazing lands,

[50:33] because I don't know if you saw yesterday

[50:35] the flooding on McGuire colonial yesterday if we were really

[50:39] committed to mitigating storm water damage

[50:43] and flooding our county, we should

[50:45] be preserving our wetlands not opening them up

[50:48] to additional agricultural usages.

[50:50] And, my second thing is I'm here in support of the Star plan.

[50:55] Again.

[50:56] I'm going to keep mentioning it until September, and maybe

[51:00] even after that to.

[51:01] But I believe in it a lot.

[51:03] I've lived in this county for most of my life,

[51:07] and I have been in a very touristy part of town

[51:10] whenever tourists come to town they crowd the streets

[51:13] and I can predict whenever there's a Disney shift change

[51:16] because the traffic gets more.

[51:18] If we can get these people on public transportation,

[51:21] and free up the roads I think that would be a much nicer place

[51:24] to live.

[51:25] Thank you for your >> Right.

[51:33] Thank you.

[51:34] Next speaker?

[51:35] Evan before I get started I want to express that immigrants

[51:40] are welcome here, our heartfelt condolences to all of you,

[51:44] and especially Commissioner Cordero and her staff

[51:46] as we remember Phillip.

[51:48] Thank you very much.

[51:49] My name is Linda Coffin, and I'm from 32810 immigrants

[51:53] are welcome here.

[51:54] The deadline to end Temporary protected status for many

[51:58] Haitians is now July 24th, we recognize the tremendous burden

[52:03] this will place on families, employers,

[52:05] and the entire community.

[52:07] Mayor, we are asking you to take action on behalf of the board

[52:11] and write a letter to Senator Scott and Moody

[52:14] to say yes to s 4814, that would extend

[52:19] temporary protected status.

[52:20] We know that the House has already passed this bill,

[52:25] so that's why we want you to go ahead and write

[52:28] a letter with all of you signing it for S 4814.

[52:33] Haitian immigrants came here legally under TPS,

[52:37] they have become an essential part of Central Florida.

[52:40] They serve our hospitals, nursing homes, hospitals,

[52:43] hotels, schools, and countless other businesses that

[52:47] keep our communities moving.

[52:49] They are caretakers, health care professionals

[52:51] come a hospital workers, and much more.

[52:53] Thank you.

[52:55] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[52:59] Thank you Miss Coffin.

[53:00] Our next speaker?

[53:01] Evan good morning mayor and Commissioners.

[53:04] My name is Trevor sweet, I live at ten 626 Demille place,

[53:09] I am a district one resident.

[53:12] And I am also the field representative for the Central

[53:14] Florida AfL-CIO.

[53:15] I'm here to ask the mayor to sign a letter

[53:19] to be sent to U.S. Senators encouraging support

[53:22] for U.S. Senate Bill 4814 to extend TPS protections.

[53:27] Our neighbors are in jeopardy of losing homes

[53:30] that they have come to know for so long.

[53:32] Our members who have been working in the theme

[53:34] parks, the airport, the hotels, and all

[53:37] across Orange County in different occupations

[53:39] will no longer be qualified to work,

[53:42] to provide for their families and work

[53:45] in the industries vital to enriching our community.

[53:48] Mayor Demings, show your support for the residents

[53:51] in your community, show solidarity, and sign the letter.

[53:54] Thank you for my time.

[53:55] Thank you.

[53:58] Jerry L. Demings: All right thank you.

[54:03] Next speaker.

[54:07] >> Hello mayor and Board of Commissioners my name is Eva

[54:10] Gorin, I live at 4291 Mensa Lane.

[54:11] And I am here on account of sunrise Orlando Florida

[54:14] to support their star transit system that they have developed.

[54:17] As a university student from South Florida,

[54:21] I was deprived of the opportunity

[54:22] to grow up with safe, organized transit for much of my life.

[54:27] It was the norm for my family to get around by separate cars,

[54:31] even as gas prices rose tremendously

[54:33] and the emissions in cars increased

[54:36] climate change and the enhanced greenhouse gas effect.

[54:39] Now that I live here in Central Florida

[54:41] however, where more attention is paid towards community,

[54:45] the environment, and finding more productive means

[54:49] of transport, I find that it's in my best interest

[54:52] to put any resources possible towards supporting the Star

[54:56] plan that could encourage the follow

[55:00] through as a thorough point for the rest of Florida

[55:04] to replicate throughout the years.

[55:06] Thank you so much for your consideration and I

[55:09] heed the rest of my time as well.

[55:15] Jerry L. Demings: All right thank you for your next speaker.

[55:19] >> Alright folks the next speaker is going to be

[55:21] Christiana High, followed by Mike Ruggiero, Barry Lardner,

[55:25] Nelson Shapiro, Barbara McKane, and Rick Baird.

[55:36] >> Good morning Mayor and commissioners my name is Doctor

[55:39] Cristiano at 335 South Center Boulevard Winter Park.

[55:43] I'm speaking on behalf of the Major conservancy teams

[55:46] in Florida regarding agenda item number

[55:49] 260837 evaluation of Future managed AG uses on properties.

[55:55] TNC asks that the board carefully weigh water quality

[55:58] implications and proposed AG uses specifically

[56:01] categories on greenhouse properties

[56:03] before taking any action.

[56:05] There's evidence that categories and operations

[56:07] near water bodies as the driver of an point source

[56:11] pollution the resorts and community impacts that

[56:13] can persist long after it ends.

[56:16] We request that before developing these terms, that

[56:21] allow the use of greenspace properties for categories

[56:23] that the board direct BPD staff to complete water quality impact

[56:28] assessment for each proposed lease

[56:30] parcel to understand the state of water quality,

[56:33] establish appropriate lease conditions,

[56:35] and confirm consistency with the counties B map targets.

[56:39] While protecting the land and water resources

[56:41] that residents depend on.

[56:43] Orange County like many local governments

[56:45] is working to have stricter requirements

[56:48] and it's, thank you for the opportunity

[56:50] to speak with you today.

[56:53] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[56:57] Thank you.

[56:58] Next speaker.

[56:58] >> Good morning everyone, Barry Lardner,

[57:00] 1257 West Christmas Ray Christmas Florida.

[57:01] I'm here to oppose the consideration

[57:04] for future agricultural uses on Green Place properties.

[57:08] The purpose to purchase these lands

[57:10] was to preserve environmentally sensitive lands,

[57:12] the previous owners not only sold

[57:14] these lands for that purpose as well, once

[57:16] sold the land owner terminated leases for agricultural use.

[57:21] Please know I've been in agriculture

[57:23] in Orange County for 49 years.

[57:25] 19 years as a ranch hand hauling 40 years providing ag services

[57:32] and cultural services for many AG

[57:34] and government agriculture government agencies including

[57:38] Green Place program.

[57:39] Recently working on properties being considered

[57:43] for potential ag use ranch observes lands

[57:48] degraded in every regard.

[57:50] If you allow such lands for cattle grazing

[57:52] it would entail a tremendous cost.

[57:55] Property considered would require new perimeter fencing,

[57:59] interior fencing consistent cross fences for the purpose

[58:03] of rotating cattle fencing,

[58:10] Jerry L. Demings: Thank you Mr. Larson.

[58:11] We got the point.

[58:11] Thank you.

[58:12] Next speaker?

[58:20] >> Good morning everyone board of commissioners my name is

[58:22] Nelson Shapiro I'm a city commission planning student here

[58:22] at UCF I'm also a worker and a resident of two years here

[58:24] in Orlando.

[58:25] I'd first like to note that in order to be here

[58:27] I've had to sacrifice my attendance to lecture,

[58:29] part of my working hours and also commute here.

[58:32] Therefore I want it to serve as a reminder to the council

[58:34] that the voice isn't here today are likely not

[58:37] truly representative of the total population

[58:39] as many people are likely at work, school, or far away.

[58:43] With this I would like to share with the council

[58:46] my critical support of today's proposed Star plan.

[58:50] Due to a lack of public mass transit systems here in Orlando,

[58:53] we are all paying for the city's primary mode of transportation,

[58:56] cars, a minimum of four times.

[59:00] When we pay taxes until that goes towards expensive highway

[59:02] construction roadway maintenance,

[59:04] and I know this since I work and study in that industry.

[59:06] Two, we buy or rent vehicles and three

[59:09] we pay monthly payments for insurance,

[59:10] and for we all have to pay for gas.

[59:13] This is not to include the cost of space

[59:15] for everyone including the city as well as individual repairs

[59:18] or maintenance, please come we need a true public mass transit

[59:21] system and we need it now.

[59:22] Thank you.

[59:25] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[59:30] Thank you.

[59:30] Next.

[59:31] Evan hello Barbara McCann I live in the city park since the early

[59:35] 50s.

[59:37] And, I'm with the safe park Neighborhood Association.

[59:43] And when Commissioner Mary I Johnson

[59:46] was our commissioner in district three, we had asked,

[59:50] she used to come to our meetings,

[59:52] and we asked her if she could help us get land

[59:57] to build a park, because there was no park in Isaiah Park,

[1:00:02] and the closest park was Inglewood.

[1:00:04] So everybody had to cross which was dangerous.

[1:00:08] So she went to ou, and acquired land for a very low price,

[1:00:14] the rumor was that she got it for a dollar,

[1:00:17] but there's no record of that.

[1:00:18] But we'll believe it.

[1:00:20] So, we got a great park.

[1:00:23] It's a dog park, it's now got volleyball,

[1:00:29] it's got a skate park that my son helped build.

[1:00:33] Shout out to Trent.

[1:00:37] And so I'm here to please ask that the naming of the park

[1:00:42] get changed to Mary I Johnson.

[1:00:44] Thank you.

[1:00:47] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:00:52] Thank you.

[1:00:52] Next time

[1:01:05] >> I'm here today as a private resident,

[1:01:06] but I also am a member of Orange Audubon Society.

[1:01:10] After I was hired from Orange County I went to Oceana County

[1:01:14] and I went to a meeting where they

[1:01:16] were talking about BMPs and Tmdls on the chain of lakes,

[1:01:20] and how they add interest how the ag interest would really

[1:01:25] protect, and I asked if as a member of the local government

[1:01:30] whose responsibility it was who to meet T&E

[1:01:33] and if we could tour some of these and I was told no.

[1:01:38] The local representatives could not look at their BMPs.

[1:01:42] Secondly, catalysis did exist at one time on Christmas average

[1:01:47] Creek but they were canceled several years later.

[1:01:52] And finally psilocybin mushrooms to readily grow on cow patties.

[1:01:57] So.

[1:01:58] Thank you.

[1:02:01] Jerry L. Demings: I got Rick, was the last name?

[1:02:05] >> Baird.

[1:02:06] BAIRD.

[1:02:08] Jerry L. Demings: Got it.

[1:02:10] Thank you.

[1:02:11] All right we'll move to the next speaker.

[1:02:12] >> All right folks next batch of speakers is going to start with

[1:02:16] Mike Patterson.

[1:02:17] Followed by Aaron Germer.

[1:02:20] David Ward, Robin Ward, Christopher Stalder,

[1:02:28] and Janet Ellery.

[1:02:47] Good morning mayor and commissioners.

[1:02:50] Comptroller diamond, County administrator Brooks, my name

[1:02:54] is Mike Patterson I live at 2325 Phillips Road Christmas Florida.

[1:02:58] The reason I'm here today is a brief statement com I sit

[1:03:02] on the AG Advisory board which y'all appointed me

[1:03:05] to on the Green Place board.

[1:03:07] But our chair for ag advisory is not here today so he asked me

[1:03:11] to make sure that y'all got these points and positions from

[1:03:14] the AG advisory.

[1:03:16] Also I've attached some letters from the community.

[1:03:18] Of support for grazing, the pilot

[1:03:22] program on these properties in Roberts branch.

[1:03:25] You'll also find a folder there from UF IFAs,

[1:03:29] it shows other counties that have allowed the grazing

[1:03:32] to be done on some of their properties

[1:03:35] that they were bought just as you bought at.

[1:03:39] So thank you very much,

[1:03:45] Jerry L. Demings: All right thank you Mr. Patterson.

[1:03:47] Next speaker.

[1:03:49] >> Good morning Chair and commissioners my name is Aaron

[1:03:52] Germer, I live at 2325 Phillips Road Christmas Florida.

[1:03:55] I'm the president of the Orange County Cattlemen's Association

[1:03:59] and I'm here in support of the Green Place and catalyzes.

[1:04:03] From a land management standpoint

[1:04:06] this pilot program has the potential

[1:04:08] to provide practical benefits to Orange County,

[1:04:12] the county being discussed appears well suited

[1:04:18] to a pilot program for grazing.

[1:04:21] Subject to county approval.

[1:04:23] There's also a stewardship component

[1:04:24] considering community discussion there

[1:04:26] was different views on the true long term

[1:04:28] cost of managing this type of land,

[1:04:30] rather than debate those numbers today we believe a pilot

[1:04:33] program gives the county a practical way

[1:04:35] to evaluate actual cost and actual responsibilities

[1:04:38] and actual land management outcomes.

[1:04:42] A properly structured grazing lease

[1:04:44] may help reduce Orange County's direct maintenance burden

[1:04:47] by shifting certain responsibilities

[1:04:48] to the producer.

[1:04:50] Those responsibilities could include

[1:04:51] fencing water insurance maintenance,

[1:04:53] and regular observation of the property.

[1:04:56] This is not about replacing conservation with agriculture,

[1:04:59] it's about using agriculture as a practical tool

[1:05:01] to help the county manage these properties.

[1:05:04] Thank you.

[1:05:06] Thank you Mr. Drummer.

[1:05:09] Jerry L. Demings: Next speaker.

[1:05:13] My name is David Ward, I live at 1703 Taylor Creek Road.

[1:05:19] In Christmas Florida.

[1:05:20] And I would like to give my time to Robin Ward for her comments.

[1:05:29] Jerry L. Demings: Unfortunately can't give your time to her

[1:05:32] during this session.

[1:05:33] But you're welcome to speak.

[1:05:36] >> All right then I'll make a few comments myself.

[1:05:38] I'm a lifetime resident of Orange County.

[1:05:41] And I am a cattle producer.

[1:05:43] Cattle has been an integral part of Florida for over 400 years.

[1:05:49] We still have our wetlands, we still have our streams,

[1:05:53] we still have our rivers.

[1:05:57] I just asked the commission to do due consideration

[1:06:03] for the proposal set forth by the AG Advisory Board

[1:06:08] for the pilot program to see the reality of cattle,

[1:06:14] not just a lot of data showing what could happen, excuse me.

[1:06:23] That's all.

[1:06:24] Thank you.

[1:06:27] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:06:28] Mr. Ward.

[1:06:29] You did a fine job.

[1:06:30] Next speaker?

[1:06:33] >> Good morning Mayor and commissioners my name is Robin

[1:06:35] Ward, 1703 Tinder Creek Road and Christmas,

[1:06:39] as a member of the AG Advisory Board I'd like to make a comment

[1:06:43] regarding BMPs and safeguards on Roberts Branch.

[1:06:47] The Agriculture Advisory Committee

[1:06:50] should draw forward on what the strong best management

[1:06:54] practices.

[1:06:55] Clear safeguards and accountability.

[1:06:57] First, cattle should not have direct access

[1:07:00] to the creeks come wetlands or sensitive water resources.

[1:07:03] Any grazing plan should require controlled water sources

[1:07:06] and appropriate separations from sensitive environmental areas

[1:07:10] second the pilot should require formal best management

[1:07:13] practices these should include rotating grazing,

[1:07:16] appropriate stocking rates, repairing

[1:07:18] the wetland buffers, on site watering

[1:07:22] systems and ongoing monitoring.

[1:07:24] Third, the least must be structured correctly.

[1:07:28] If the producers to expect to be invested

[1:07:31] in fencing water structures and maintenance in the lease

[1:07:34] term and lease conditions must realistically

[1:07:37] be enough to attract responsible operators.

[1:07:41] Thank you.

[1:07:42] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:07:45] Thank you.

[1:07:51] >> Good morning Mayor and commissioners.

[1:07:52] Neighbors.

[1:07:53] I'm Christopher Stahlgren, I reside at 5102 Saint Germain

[1:07:57] Avenue in Bel Air Florida.

[1:08:00] And I'm an advocate for the housing and and with the support

[1:08:03] Orlando shelters and I was delighted to see the news about

[1:08:07] the county purchasing the 200 room hotel near the 33rd Street

[1:08:11] jail, and I hope that it is utilized as another pathway

[1:08:15] for people to find permanent housing.

[1:08:17] I think that's a great location.

[1:08:19] Near the jail to get people in and moved on with their lives

[1:08:24] and in a positive direction.

[1:08:26] I live near the international airport,

[1:08:28] and I see more people all the time experiencing homelessness.

[1:08:33] Just last week I saw for the first time on South Conway Road

[1:08:36] a woman sleeping on the sidewalk across from Lake Conway East

[1:08:41] neighborhood in front of these huge monstrous warehouses

[1:08:45] that are built on speculation near the airport for industry.

[1:08:50] If we can leave those huge warehouses empty and brand

[1:08:54] new waiting for possible tenants come

[1:08:57] we can certainly do something to help the homeless population.

[1:09:00] Thank you.

[1:09:03] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:09:05] Thank you.

[1:09:06] And, let's help her with getting that mic down.

[1:09:29] >> Good morning.

[1:09:29] My name is Shayna, I'm the president of the HOA.

[1:09:33] We have been trying to get the complex back together

[1:09:36] and see what we can do to bring it back together.

[1:09:41] But there's always someone that comes along and tears it down.

[1:09:48] Whether we're trying to get it approved again.

[1:09:51] I'm tired, I'm ready to leave and just leave it alone.

[1:09:56] The place needs to really be gone.

[1:09:59] I'm just tired of it.

[1:10:02] Thank you.

[1:10:04] Jerry L. Demings: What was your last name again?

[1:10:07] Ellery.

[1:10:08] And are you referencing the area there off of Michigan?

[1:10:12] Or which area?

[1:10:14] Timberscombe.

[1:10:15] Okay.

[1:10:15] All right.

[1:10:16] Thank you.

[1:10:25] >> All right our next batch of speakers is going to start with

[1:10:28] Cynthia Clay Tacoma followed by Chris Downey, Deborah Green,

[1:10:36] seven Charleston, Trini Quiroz, and Michael Montenegro.

[1:10:55] Morning mayor and commissioners my name

[1:10:58] is Chris Dowdy I live on one two Park Road on district five

[1:11:02] I also started as a member of the Dag Advisory Board

[1:11:05] a recommendation today is not to open all Green Place properties

[1:11:08] to unrestricted agricultural use, etc.

[1:11:10] Recommendation is much more narrow

[1:11:12] we're asking the board to allow a site specific pilot

[1:11:14] program for managed cow grazing on Green Place property

[1:11:17] currently being discussed.

[1:11:18] The key policy issues the difference between preservation

[1:11:21] and conservation.

[1:11:22] Preservation generally means a hands off approach.

[1:11:25] Conservation allows for active land management

[1:11:27] and the management supports long term health of land.

[1:11:30] Green place properties are already being actively

[1:11:32] managed in some form if the county is mowing

[1:11:35] maintaining controlling vegetation repairing access

[1:11:38] or managing public use and the land

[1:11:40] is not being treated as untouched preservation.

[1:11:42] The question is whether or not whether management should occur,

[1:11:46] is which is the most effective management tool.

[1:11:50] Managed grazing is not simply an agricultural use

[1:11:52] properly structured as a recognized Conservational land

[1:11:55] management practice.

[1:11:56] We can look to the cattlemen and ranchers of Orange County

[1:11:59] as great stewards of the land, and I appreciate your time.

[1:12:02] Thank you.

[1:12:04] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:12:05] Thank you.

[1:12:06] Next speaker.

[1:12:09] >> Good morning my name is Cynthia Claytor call my address

[1:12:12] is 2529!

[1:12:13] Court Orlando Florida.

[1:12:14] I'm here to speak about Biscayne like Miss Janet did.

[1:12:18] We met last year and I was a big advocate

[1:12:22] for staying in keeper's canon and trying to rescue at.

[1:12:25] At this point I don't feel the same way.

[1:12:27] We're still having a lot of problems

[1:12:29] come we're having financial difficulties,

[1:12:30] we need help in timber scam and we're not getting it.

[1:12:34] Everything has gone downhill, further than we ever

[1:12:36] thought it could go.

[1:12:38] So come at this point in time I don't believe

[1:12:40] it's worth saving any more.

[1:12:42] I believe that the residents need

[1:12:44] to find new places to go including myself.

[1:12:46] And Miss Janet.

[1:12:47] We are 72 and 73 years old at this time,

[1:12:51] and we can no longer take what's going on in there.

[1:12:54] It's just hard to stop things when you can't even

[1:12:58] get the police to do it.

[1:13:00] So come I'm here to just speak on that point.

[1:13:03] Because I know you're going to talk about Timbers canon today.

[1:13:05] And we need help.

[1:13:06] We really do.

[1:13:07] Because we're not getting it at this point.

[1:13:09] So that's what I'm here to talk about.

[1:13:11] We are ready to go just like Janet said I am too.

[1:13:14] That's all I had to say.

[1:13:16] Thank you.

[1:13:17] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:13:20] Thank you.

[1:13:20] We will have a presentation later this morning

[1:13:25] about timber scan.

[1:13:26] So.

[1:13:27] And some of the things that we're able to do.

[1:13:31] So thank you.

[1:13:39] Okay good morning.

[1:13:41] >> Good morning Mayor and Commissioners.

[1:13:42] Thank you.

[1:13:43] I'm Deborah Green from Orange Audubon, P.O. Box 274 Aqua for.

[1:13:48] And Orange Audubon has been a partner for the Green Place

[1:13:52] program over the years, I appreciate these properties

[1:13:55] as well-managed habitats for wildlife.

[1:13:57] And for people to hike and enjoy nature.

[1:14:02] Each year we hold two walks in collaboration

[1:14:05] with Orange County.

[1:14:07] And the point I'd like to make about the damage of grazing

[1:14:12] is that the cattle actually damage

[1:14:16] the sensitive native grasses that

[1:14:19] are a key part of those ecosystems and other plants.

[1:14:24] And, on the coats of the cattle, come seeds of invasive species

[1:14:30] that can then take hold and are very hard to eliminate.

[1:14:36] And the habitats, prescribed burning

[1:14:39] may be limited with cattle on the property and birds

[1:14:42] and gopher tortoises and other native species

[1:14:44] that the Green Place program has been trying to support

[1:14:47] will be set back.

[1:14:49] So thank you for your attention.

[1:14:56] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:14:57] Thank you.

[1:14:58] Next please.

[1:15:05] >> (Speaking in another language) one would think that

[1:15:07] after 60 long years of community advocacy, one would be tired,

[1:15:12] sleeping, eating or doing something.

[1:15:15] But anyone come any taxpayer come any citizen any person

[1:15:22] with humanity to attend these meetings.

[1:15:24] When you go home, put your computer

[1:15:27] and see who pays attention when somebody comes here

[1:15:31] to express their feelings in one minute

[1:15:34] and who knows, maybe that you have a $7 parking

[1:15:39] bill across the street just to be here.

[1:15:42] Community people, advocates, people

[1:15:46] who care for your community come to these meetings

[1:15:48] and repeat over and over and over that you are the taxpayers,

[1:15:54] you pay salaries to the people to do

[1:15:57] a decent job for the people.

[1:16:00] I am so sick and tired of coming to these meetings

[1:16:02] but I will continue to come.

[1:16:04] Thank you.

[1:16:06] Jerry L. Demings: All right Pierre thank you miss Kiros.

[1:16:10] Just a reminder to those of you in the audience.

[1:16:12] I know most of you probably know the rules,

[1:16:14] but I'm going to repeat this.

[1:16:16] Remember while we are in these proceedings

[1:16:19] to maintain the decorum.

[1:16:21] There should be no clapping, no outward making of noise

[1:16:26] or otherwise.

[1:16:27] Okay?

[1:16:28] You get a Warning, we want you to stay.

[1:16:32] Otherwise come if you don't follow the rules then

[1:16:34] we will ask you to leave.

[1:16:36] Thank you.

[1:16:36] All right.

[1:16:37] Yes sir.

[1:16:39] >> Hello, my name is Mark Montenegro.

[1:16:42] I'm from 32826 sunrise Orlando I'm here

[1:16:45] to support the star plan, recently just

[1:16:47] had a town hall in district A at South Creek Library

[1:16:50] it was pretty fun.

[1:16:51] We met a lot of people from Hunters Creek,

[1:16:54] multiple people told me how much they

[1:16:57] love how the star plan focuses on different nodes and activity

[1:17:01] in Orange County and not just downtown, and not just downtown

[1:17:05] transportation.

[1:17:06] In practice, in my experience I live in the UCF area

[1:17:09] and you see five I try to go to the airport to use the by line

[1:17:13] and it took 2.5 hours even though it's a 30 minute car

[1:17:16] ride.

[1:17:17] But to go to downtown which is technically a longer distance

[1:17:19] only takes like an hour and 15 minutes.

[1:17:22] After I traveled here from Miami a three hour trip I

[1:17:27] had almost the same amount of time, 2.5 hours commuting

[1:17:30] from the same county from district three to district five.

[1:17:34] The airport to my home.

[1:17:36] So, please support the Star plan and also support

[1:17:39] Orlando shelters.

[1:17:40] Thank you so much.

[1:17:42] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:17:44] Thank you.

[1:17:45] Next speaker please?

[1:17:50] >> Good morning my name is seven Charleston I live in district

[1:17:53] six, and I am here in support of the Star plan.

[1:18:00] All my life I have had to do public transportation

[1:18:05] because my parents only have one car.

[1:18:10] I went to UCF downtown comet takes me

[1:18:14] like two hours from Pine Hills to UCF.

[1:18:18] So, I spent four hours each day going to school,

[1:18:20] I was working two jobs and doing a lot

[1:18:23] of other community related stuff so my life was

[1:18:26] kind of impossible.

[1:18:27] And, you know, just for access to opportunities and things

[1:18:32] of that sort, public transportation

[1:18:34] is a lifeline for a lot of people.

[1:18:37] A lot of underprivileged areas, and mainly the people

[1:18:42] who use public transportation are elders, youth, immigrants,

[1:18:46] disabled, a lot of people who need access to opportunities.

[1:18:51] My organization Seeds of Pine Hills we

[1:18:54] work with a lot of juvenile juveniles,

[1:18:58] and they also need that opportunity.

[1:19:02] So thank you guys who came here and support that com

[1:19:06] I hope you have a good day.

[1:19:09] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:19:10] Thank you sir.

[1:19:11] Next please.

[1:19:12] >> Right next batch of speakers we're gonna start with Barocio

[1:19:14] Campbell, followed by doctor Jim Moyer, hope Adelson,

[1:19:19] Eugene staccato, Dominic Verardi, and Will Larkins.

[1:19:32] And Vivian Robey.

[1:19:42] >> Good morning, how are y'all doing today?

[1:19:43] I'm Horatio Campbell 449 Chantel Road Orlando Florida.

[1:19:48] I'm here on behalf of -- basically I'm here looking

[1:19:55] for support.

[1:19:55] I put a petition in to try to get a bathroom

[1:19:58] at Cadence Square Park, I'm doing this

[1:20:01] because this is the area that I grew up in.

[1:20:03] I did a lot of time incarcerated and during that time

[1:20:06] of incarceration I did a lot of self-reflecting,

[1:20:08] and after I did that self-reflection I started

[1:20:12] to realize a pattern in my community.

[1:20:14] I started to realize that we was raised the wrong way.

[1:20:17] We had a lot of dysfunction, we had a lot of trauma growing up

[1:20:21] which led to starting this corporation

[1:20:23] to help transform the lives of the young people

[1:20:26] in my community.

[1:20:27] And I want to start by helping them get back

[1:20:30] Katie Park since it's no longer a dangerous area

[1:20:33] and people are starting to chill at the park a lot.

[1:20:35] And there's no way to wash their hands,

[1:20:37] if an accident happens no one can wash their face

[1:20:39] or nothing like that.

[1:20:40] But I am looking for a connection

[1:20:42] to help bring my vision to life.

[1:20:45] Have a great day.

[1:20:47] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:20:49] Thank you for the suggestion.

[1:20:51] I'll look to the county administrator

[1:20:53] to have the team evaluate.

[1:20:58] >> I actually spoke with him earlier last week.

[1:21:00] Oh there he is right there.

[1:21:08] >> Good morning mayor commissioners,

[1:21:09] my name is Doctor Jim Moyer, I'm elected on the Whittier District

[1:21:15] two supervisor serving Northwest Orange County including Lockhart

[1:21:20] Felwood and Tangerine and unincorporated orange.

[1:21:26] I'm here today, well, my responsibility

[1:21:31] within the constraints of the law

[1:21:34] is to work with other governmental entities

[1:21:37] to serve the people.

[1:21:40] The City of alpaca has given me an opportunity

[1:21:44] to work one on one starting this Thursday every month.

[1:21:49] With office hours there.

[1:21:51] I have sent a letter to Cauee for the same thing,

[1:21:56] eight ville Chamber of Commerce has offered,

[1:21:59] we haven't worked out the details.

[1:22:00] I've sent a letter to Orlando Commissioner district three

[1:22:06] Roger Chaffin, and I am asking Orange County would it

[1:22:12] be possible to in the future work out

[1:22:14] some kind of arrangement where I could meet one on one

[1:22:18] and promote things like conservation

[1:22:19] of water conservation and the smart irrigation.

[1:22:24] Thank you, God bless you.

[1:22:27] Jerry L. Demings: All right Doctor Mario real quick

[1:22:29] just send me a letter with the details

[1:22:31] and what you're looking at doing.

[1:22:33] And we will evaluate okay?

[1:22:36] >> Thank you sir.

[1:22:38] Jerry L. Demings: You're welcome.

[1:22:40] All right next speaker please.

[1:22:43] >> I'm gonna try to summarize 20 minutes into one minute.

[1:22:46] I'm just joking.

[1:22:47] Good morning mayor and commissioners,

[1:22:50] I'm going to talk about two issues really quick.

[1:22:54] So, my name is Eugene staccato, 331 Roswell Avenue Orlando,

[1:23:00] I'm still there as of this morning.

[1:23:04] I'm a board member on Green Place

[1:23:07] I was one of the bad people I guess who wanted to push forward

[1:23:10] the study on using grazing.

[1:23:13] The thinking I was coming from was looking at what

[1:23:15] our biological center has done on the ranch on the 10,000 acre

[1:23:19] ranch that they've been using for about 30 years now

[1:23:22] as a research station I'm using cattle as part of the tool set.

[1:23:26] And that's what I'm trying to think

[1:23:28] about is can we use cattle?

[1:23:29] And also goats.

[1:23:31] That's actually a spot on invasive.

[1:23:35] And that's been done with kudzu.

[1:23:37] And my thinking is more of a tool not

[1:23:40] a giant grazing program.

[1:23:42] So this is just one of the things in the toolkit.

[1:23:45] The other thing is about this afternoon about the 2050 issue.

[1:23:49] I've got some worries that the state has

[1:23:52] taken a lot of our tools away from the 2050 plan,

[1:23:56] and that might leave us open if we go adopt a show of 2050.

[1:24:00] So maybe the proper thing to do is to look at the 2030

[1:24:04] and do a year on it and modifying a ten year extension.

[1:24:07] Thank you.

[1:24:08] Jerry L. Demings: All right thank you Mr. Staccato.

[1:24:12] The next speaker?

[1:24:17] >> Good morning my name is Hope Adelson I live at 32806

[1:24:19] and before I begin I would just like to express my condolences

[1:24:22] to Commissioner Cordero.

[1:24:23] I am here with the Sunrise Movement Orlando

[1:24:26] in support of the Star Rapid Transit Plan.

[1:24:28] I was born and raised here in Orlando

[1:24:31] and I am a proud recent graduate of Boone High School.

[1:24:34] In high school I was extremely lucky to have access to a car.

[1:24:38] Car insurance is just really expensive coming gas

[1:24:41] prices are only getting higher.

[1:24:42] This is an important reason why Orlando would benefit

[1:24:45] from extended transportation infrastructure

[1:24:47] comment would connect many people not just teenagers

[1:24:49] to their jobs come with their homes,

[1:24:52] and schools in a way that is more affordable.

[1:24:54] Additionally I'm becoming an adult

[1:24:56] in a world that is trying to grapple with the climate crisis.

[1:24:59] Climate change is the reason our Summers are only getting hotter

[1:25:01] and the hurricanes we are faced with

[1:25:03] are only getting more extreme and more frequent.

[1:25:05] We need to fight for our homes and the next generation

[1:25:09] of Floridians.

[1:25:10] By implementing the Star plan we can lower carbon emissions

[1:25:12] in Orange County by an estimated 15 to 20%.

[1:25:16] Thank you for listening comment I

[1:25:17] hope I can count on your support for funding public Jerry L.

[1:25:25] Demings: All right.

[1:25:25] Thank you.

[1:25:26] Next speaker?

[1:25:27] Ma'am hello board my name is Don I live in 3276 in Oviedo.

[1:25:32] But I'm actually moving downtown because I'm tired of traffic.

[1:25:35] I would love to ride the colorful busses every day.

[1:25:38] They absolutely make my day all of the people on the bus

[1:25:42] because you know reducing our risk of death every day I think

[1:25:45] is something that's important to all of us,

[1:25:47] and when there's 16,000 car accidents in America every day,

[1:25:50] it's kind of scary to experience our community together people

[1:25:55] say oh well people go out.

[1:25:57] But when your entire environment requires $12,000 a year

[1:26:00] on average just to own a car, that's literally a society based

[1:26:05] on classism and racism which it's not your job as the board

[1:26:07] to fix that, but supporting sunrise and the star plan can

[1:26:11] help to mitigate the effects of those.

[1:26:13] Can not only help people who are disabled,

[1:26:15] lower class, and on the margins of our society, but everyone.

[1:26:20] Literally everyone.

[1:26:20] Because most people don't yearn to sit in traffic and drive,

[1:26:23] they yearn for each other.

[1:26:25] And that's something that has been stripped away

[1:26:28] from us because of car dependency and decades

[1:26:31] of decisions.

[1:26:31] But support the star plan.

[1:26:33] Thank you.

[1:26:34] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:26:36] Thank you.

[1:26:38] Next speaker.

[1:26:39] Hi my name is Will Larkin's, I'm a lifelong Orlando N

[1:26:43] and I graduated one of Brook High School Go Wildcats.

[1:26:46] But I go to FIU in Miami now and I study sustainability.

[1:26:50] And I think it's really cool that you guys have

[1:26:53] it seems like many different ways

[1:26:55] to help your constituents and community today.

[1:26:58] So I'm here today in support of the Star plan,

[1:27:00] not just because of safety, like you mentioned

[1:27:03] there's a lot of car accidents, in fact

[1:27:05] according to the Florida Traffic Safety

[1:27:06] Dashboard approximately 58 to 70 car accidents occur

[1:27:10] every single day in Orlando.

[1:27:12] But, we also have America's farmers here and as

[1:27:15] we know Florida is one of the fastest developing

[1:27:17] places on earth, in fact 20 acres of Florida's wild land

[1:27:20] is cleared every hour for development.

[1:27:21] So if we're able to come I didn't

[1:27:23] have a car in high school, so I saw

[1:27:25] how there's entire sections of Orange County that

[1:27:27] are completely inaccessible by public transportation,

[1:27:30] and the more people that are able to take the bus like I

[1:27:34] wouldn't drive if I was given the opportunity.

[1:27:37] The more development we can have because instead of building out

[1:27:41] into our forest and into our agricultural land we can build

[1:27:43] on top of parking lot so it keeps people safer comment

[1:27:46] protects our farmland from future development,

[1:27:48] and also I would like to say I support our immigrant neighbors,

[1:27:51] please sign that bill, looks like y'all have a lot

[1:27:53] of opportunity to help today.

[1:27:54] Thank you.

[1:27:56] >> All right.

[1:27:56] Thank you sir.

[1:27:57] Next speaker please?

[1:28:06] Hi my name is Vivian Ravi, I'm from zip code

[1:28:10] 32803 I'm here in support of the Star plan.

[1:28:13] I have been writing public transport

[1:28:14] for the past few years, and it has been such a great way for me

[1:28:19] to connect with people that I never would have.

[1:28:22] My father is in in Orange County, he's on a work release,

[1:28:27] and he works a few buildings over,

[1:28:30] his commute is 30 minutes by the SunRail,

[1:28:34] but on weekends it's an hour and 20 minutes each way

[1:28:37] riding the bus.

[1:28:39] So that kind of sucks for him, he has no other option.

[1:28:43] Also, support for the homeless people in Orlando.

[1:28:51] As I've grown up I feel like I see more and more people

[1:28:53] living on the streets.

[1:28:54] And that's very concerning.

[1:28:56] So yeah.

[1:28:57] Thank you so much for your time, thank you

[1:29:00] for upholding the democracy today, and listening

[1:29:03] to the people.

[1:29:04] Thank you.

[1:29:05] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:29:08] Thank you miss ROV.

[1:29:09] Next speaker?

[1:29:10] >> All right next batch of speakers is going to start with

[1:29:12] Jan Carlo Rodriguez, followed by Liz Connor, Lashonda Jones,

[1:29:21] Wesley Lewis?

[1:29:24] Kendrick gray Jr, Matthew Dore, Claire Von der.

[1:29:37] And Bryant B.

[1:29:44] >> Good morning orange County Commission,

[1:29:46] I also do want to extend my condolences to Commissioner

[1:29:48] Cordero Phillip was an incredible guy and it was always

[1:29:51] a pleasure working with M. Good morning Orange County Commission

[1:29:53] my name is Karen Rodriguez I'm with Orlando here to support

[1:29:57] the Star Transit plan at Grants grassroots initiative to fund

[1:30:01] busses and trains all across Orange County,

[1:30:03] we're looking forward to being heard by the Orange County

[1:30:05] Commission on Tuesday September 29th, save the date,

[1:30:07] and we are excited for the board to vote yes to the study and we

[1:30:11] look forward to seeing y'all's yes vote.

[1:30:13] Stars built a framework with tiffs,

[1:30:15] as citizens board and trust fund to support transportation

[1:30:18] in the long term, by passing star

[1:30:20] we created transparent systems that

[1:30:23] make it easier to pass the sales tax and use TT dollars.

[1:30:26] As convos with the tourist development task continue

[1:30:30] the task has an opportunity to support terrorism tourism while

[1:30:36] supporting families. -- support tourism.

[1:30:40] Not only that connecting tourists

[1:30:41] to where people live in Orlando can create

[1:30:43] new economic opportunities.

[1:30:44] We hope you will support star and help us build an Orange

[1:30:47] County that we can afford.

[1:30:48] I'm also asking the Commission to vote no to the proposition --

[1:30:53] this goes against our common goals.

[1:30:57] Thank you so much have a great day.

[1:30:58] Jerry L. Demings: All right thank you so much next speaker.

[1:31:02] >> Good morning everybody.

[1:31:03] We are back.

[1:31:04] So my name is Liz Connor com I live in district five Orlando

[1:31:07] Florida 32820.

[1:31:08] So I know later you're going to talk about vision 2050,

[1:31:11] and I have many concerns.

[1:31:12] I think putting a judgment before the case of SB 180

[1:31:16] can be dangerous because we haven't seen how that plays out,

[1:31:20] I don't agree with developers being

[1:31:21] able to opt out in certain environmental rules

[1:31:24] and rural sensitive areas.

[1:31:26] I think it made sense for certain areas

[1:31:28] but you know they're going to opt out.

[1:31:29] That's going to happen right?

[1:31:30] That goes against the work that this board did,

[1:31:34] that goes against the work that we did,

[1:31:37] and the community voted for.

[1:31:38] While I do support vision 2050 personally,

[1:31:41] there are things that just aren't

[1:31:43] right with that potential of putting

[1:31:47] the cart before the horse.

[1:31:48] Jumping ahead, trying to save what we can, like I get that.

[1:31:52] But, I think if they don't want to play by the rules of the land

[1:31:54] then that's not the land for you.

[1:31:56] That's not the area for you.

[1:31:57] I think you buy that no income and it shouldn't

[1:31:59] be the practice that you know it and flip it intentionally

[1:32:02] just for massive profits.

[1:32:04] It's not good for our community, it's not good for scroll,

[1:32:07] you're hanging about traffic come

[1:32:08] you're hearing about safety concerns, flooding, yesterday,

[1:32:11] we have no infrastructure.

[1:32:13] So I just ask that that might not be a good idea.

[1:32:15] Jerry L. Demings: All right thank you very much.

[1:32:19] Next speaker.

[1:32:21] Adam good morning my name is Lashonda Jones.

[1:32:25] And I'm here for 2522 Scan Corp. I just needed someone

[1:32:32] to know and to hear me out that right now as temper scan is

[1:32:39] fraudulently removing people and our residents

[1:32:42] from their residents by sending out John Doe letters.

[1:32:46] Saying that they're squatters.

[1:32:48] I have a contract with timber scan,

[1:32:52] to purchase since 2021 which has not been closed as of yet.

[1:32:58] I've made payments, and I have documents

[1:33:02] to show that I've made those payments.

[1:33:06] And that I've made the payments.

[1:33:09] But, also, I wanted to let you know that two of the board

[1:33:14] members said that they didn't know of any of the papers being

[1:33:20] served, the squatters letters, and they

[1:33:25] said that the names were Connie and Carmen.

[1:33:30] I'm just asking that someone takes the time

[1:33:33] to have justice served and help with those legal issues.

[1:33:41] Thank you.

[1:33:46] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:33:48] Thank you.

[1:33:48] We will move to the next speaker.

[1:33:55] And by the way, if any of you are under the age of 18,

[1:34:00] you don't have to identify your address.

[1:34:03] Okay?

[1:34:04] Just your name.

[1:34:06] That's good enough okay?

[1:34:08] Hello my name is Wilson Lewis I'm from district six.

[1:34:11] And I am a part of the black Rose Summer program.

[1:34:14] We are working on a community action

[1:34:17] where we identify problems in our community

[1:34:19] and try to create a solution.

[1:34:21] The problem that I am focusing on is public transportation.

[1:34:24] This matters to me because it may be cars,

[1:34:31] maybe being too expensive, or you don't have access to cars,

[1:34:35] so public transportation is a good solution to this problem

[1:34:40] that we may have.

[1:34:41] And I would like to ask the commissioner for advice

[1:34:46] on this issue that I have.

[1:34:48] That's it.

[1:34:49] Thank you.

[1:34:50] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:34:52] Thank you Mr. Lewis.

[1:34:53] And we would be glad to talk to you afterwards.

[1:34:57] Commissioner Scott are you familiar?

[1:35:06] So you know how to follow up with him?

[1:35:10] Okay.

[1:35:11] Thank you.

[1:35:11] All right.

[1:35:12] Next speaker?

[1:35:18] >> Good morning commissioners my name is Matthew door,

[1:35:20] >> My name is Brian.

[1:35:22] >> And I'm in district six as part of the Summer Rose program.

[1:35:25] I came to talk about the issue of drug use on teens 14

[1:35:29] through 18.

[1:35:30] In our community.

[1:35:31] It can lead to poor grades, missed classes, difficulty

[1:35:35] concentrating in class, and it can also cause unsafe driving.

[1:35:40] For teens.

[1:35:41] We should have clubs in our community

[1:35:43] that teach his drug use and helping them to quit

[1:35:46] and choosing to do more healthy choices in our community.

[1:35:51] Thank you.

[1:35:54] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:35:57] Thank you!

[1:36:06] >> Good morning Commissioner my name is Claire Vance and I am

[1:36:09] part of I'm from district six, and I'm part of black Rose

[1:36:13] summer program.

[1:36:14] We've been working on a community action project

[1:36:16] and the problem that I am focusing on

[1:36:18] is community cleanup.

[1:36:20] The issue affects our neighborhoods and the people

[1:36:23] who live in them.

[1:36:24] This matters to me because keeping our community clean

[1:36:28] can make our neighborhoods look better,

[1:36:30] help protect the environment, and create healthier place

[1:36:33] for everyone.

[1:36:34] Today I would like to ask the commissioners

[1:36:36] for your commitment to supporting clean cleaner

[1:36:40] communities by increasing community cleanup efforts.

[1:36:46] Providing more trash cans, and encouraging residents

[1:36:50] to help keep our neighborhoods clean.

[1:36:54] Together we can make district six

[1:36:56] a cleaner and safer and healthier place for everyone.

[1:36:59] Thank you for your time, and for listening.

[1:37:03] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:37:05] Thank you.

[1:37:05] We'll see you soon.

[1:37:06] Alright, next speaker?

[1:37:11] I have I'm testing testing, can you guys hear me

[1:37:14] I'm at good morning Mayor.

[1:37:16] And Board of County Commissioners.

[1:37:18] I'm Kendrick Gray, I reside in Orlando

[1:37:20] and I am also an intern under Nicole Wilson.

[1:37:24] So today I will speak on agriculture and the update

[1:37:27] on the green please place properties.

[1:37:29] This agenda item was set an important precedent

[1:37:33] for future management of Green Place lands.

[1:37:35] Making my comment significant for the environmental community.

[1:37:40] The Green Place program has long represented Orange County's

[1:37:44] commitment to protecting the environment,

[1:37:46] preserving wildlife and providing impactful conservation

[1:37:49] benefits for future generations.

[1:37:51] About 80% of residents supported the Green Place

[1:37:56] with the understanding that these properties

[1:37:59] would remain dedicated to environmental protection.

[1:38:02] Cattle grazing, the risks of eroding the same promise

[1:38:06] to our residents that was provided.

[1:38:08] Its negative effects are compact soils, degrading wetlands,

[1:38:13] introducing invasive species, and deteriorated water quality

[1:38:17] through nutrient loading.

[1:38:19] Today, authorizing agriculture, agricultural

[1:38:23] uses on conservation lands.

[1:38:25] Will fundamentally change how green place properties

[1:38:28] are managed in the future.

[1:38:29] Thank you.

[1:38:32] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:38:33] Thank you Mr. Gray.

[1:38:34] All right we will move to the next speaker.

[1:38:44] >> Good morning.

[1:38:45] Excuse me.

[1:38:45] Good morning Mr. Mayor and Commissioners,

[1:38:46] thank you for the opportunity to be here to speak.

[1:38:48] My name is Zach Moldoff, my zip code is 32792,

[1:38:52] my full address can be found in the written record today.

[1:38:55] And so today I'm dressed a little different.

[1:38:59] I always come down here in my work clothes,

[1:39:01] lately I've been working on running for office which has me

[1:39:04] out there knocking on doors, experiencing all kinds of stuff

[1:39:07] in interesting ways in our community.

[1:39:09] But, one thing that has been really interesting

[1:39:12] is my wife pointed out like hey, people

[1:39:14] might think that you're a proud boy out there walking around

[1:39:16] like that.

[1:39:17] And that's definitely not me, and I don't even

[1:39:20] understand how those people dress

[1:39:22] or what it means to look like one.

[1:39:24] But, that did make me think about how hard it is to be a man

[1:39:27] and just walk around in a neighborhood of strangers

[1:39:29] because there's so many dangerous ideas about men

[1:39:31] right now.

[1:39:32] And it's not that men haven't been

[1:39:33] guilty of doing dangerous things.

[1:39:35] But I think our community does a great job

[1:39:38] of getting past the national rhetoric of knowing each other.

[1:39:40] And if you see people in your neighborhood

[1:39:43] walking around and knocking on doors,

[1:39:44] they might be politicians, they might not,

[1:39:47] might be young men like this who are motivated to get out

[1:39:49] and go and do something.

[1:39:51] And what I love is that we continue to live in a county

[1:39:53] where things are done our way.

[1:39:55] But, SunRail has a $105 million annual operating budget that

[1:39:59] is paid to a company in France.

[1:40:01] And we want the weekend service money is here.

[1:40:06] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:40:07] Thank you Mr..

[1:40:08] We move to the next speaker.

[1:40:10] >> Mayor that was all the speakers,

[1:40:11] there were a few cards that didn't show,

[1:40:13] so just one more check for Deborah Green,

[1:40:16] Mike or, symbol chambers, Santa Hafiz, Chad, or Michelle,

[1:40:24] or anyone else would like to speak?

[1:40:30] Jerry L. Demings: Okay.

[1:40:31] All right.

[1:40:31] So -- we have come on Ma'am would you like to speak?

[1:40:35] Okay.

[1:40:36] If you didn't fill out a card, if you can just

[1:40:40] do that before you leave.

[1:40:43] Just tell us your name.

[1:40:46] >> I believe that I did but I don't know if it went.

[1:40:48] Thank you very much.

[1:40:52] I'm Aria Smith 32801.

[1:40:54] There must be something rotten in the core of the social system

[1:40:59] that increases its wealth without diminishing its misery.

[1:41:01] And increases in crimes even more rapidly than in numbers.

[1:41:06] Neighbors come these words were written over a century ago.

[1:41:09] Yet they perfectly diagnosed the crisis facing temper scan today.

[1:41:13] For sale and diminution forced sale and demolitions

[1:41:15] are not solutions.

[1:41:17] Are merely a legal eviction of our elders

[1:41:19] and the erasure of a community.

[1:41:22] Focusing on Semper Scam is an informative distraction period

[1:41:25] this board knows that according to a national low housing report

[1:41:28] Orlando Ranks is the worst metropolitan area in America

[1:41:31] for affordable housing, leaving only 19 affordable units

[1:41:35] available for every 100 extremely low income renters.

[1:41:38] Tearing down one complex is not stop the spread.

[1:41:41] Is simply reallocates the problem

[1:41:42] to the next vulnerable neighborhood.

[1:41:44] Instead come I'm urging a new approach,

[1:41:47] you must allow an independent group of informed individuals

[1:41:49] to design manage and address individual housing

[1:41:52] across the county, unlike traditional stagnant counties

[1:41:55] that ignore resident concerns this group will

[1:41:58] be a direct grassroots vehicle for community

[1:42:00] led rehabilitation.

[1:42:01] Many of the commissioners aides would like my contact

[1:42:03] information after the conclusion of the session please reach out.

[1:42:06] Thank you.

[1:42:08] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:42:10] Thank you Miss Smith.

[1:42:11] Do we have any other persons?

[1:42:13] For public comment?

[1:42:14] All right.

[1:42:15] Then we are going to move forward on our agenda.

[1:42:18] Thank you to all those who spoke.

[1:42:20] Commissioner Scott?

[1:42:23] Michael “Mike” Scott:

[1:42:24] >> Thank you mayor.

[1:42:25] So just two items.

[1:42:26] One, I talked with those residents quite frequently.

[1:42:30] I have friends who stay in Tampa scan and if any of you

[1:42:34] haven't driven through temper Scan in the past 30 days

[1:42:36] I would encourage you to do so.

[1:42:38] You learn a lot just by driving through.

[1:42:40] There was a guard shack up front,

[1:42:43] and we had someone living in the guard shack,

[1:42:45] they had to tear it down because there's been a lot going

[1:42:48] on in timber!.

[1:42:49] So I just want to highlight that we

[1:42:50] are trying to make sure that whatever solution

[1:42:52] the county comes up with it is informed what the residents

[1:42:55] there, and it's thoughtful and it's approach.

[1:42:58] We've had some conversations just this morning

[1:43:01] talking with them about plans and so

[1:43:03] staff is going to be working on that.

[1:43:05] And then, the other thing is for those that have been here

[1:43:09] this entire morning you saw a new county staff member

[1:43:12] a professional who'd been working for a while

[1:43:14] speak in front of all of you and the people who are watching live

[1:43:18] on the internet or on TV.

[1:43:19] And it was like a Smiley face.

[1:43:22] I drew a Smiley face.

[1:43:24] Gentlemen come what you did this morning will always be hard.

[1:43:29] It is difficult to speak in front of people

[1:43:31] comment is difficult to show your Smiley face.

[1:43:33] And maybe it's not a Smiley face it's a palm,

[1:43:36] it's a project that you're all working on or a song or a rap.

[1:43:39] It's difficult to take the things that come here and here

[1:43:42] and share them with someone, because you don't know

[1:43:44] if they're going to say it's a good idea, or a bad idea come

[1:43:46] you're crazy come you're smart, or good job, keep going.

[1:43:49] Well I'm telling you, good job, keep going.

[1:43:53] Seven is incredible, I've seen the work

[1:43:55] you guys have done not just in my role as commissioner,

[1:43:58] but even before coming into this role, took you guys planning

[1:44:01] and preparation to get dressed, put on your best fit,

[1:44:04] you look good.

[1:44:06] So thank you.

[1:44:07] Because you could have been sleeping.

[1:44:08] Summer.

[1:44:08] Y'all could be hanging out but you're here with us.

[1:44:11] So thank you for your time.

[1:44:12] Seven, thank you for bringing them and mayor,

[1:44:16] thank you for being a role model.

[1:44:18] You've been there for me since I was 20 years old a freshman

[1:44:21] in college.

[1:44:21] So I hope that the example that you

[1:44:23] set for me is one that I can continue

[1:44:25] to set for other mentors like what seven and the other mentors

[1:44:28] do so thank you mayor for your example and your leadership.

[1:44:31] Before even being a mayor.

[1:44:32] I appreciate you.

[1:44:34] Jerry L. Demings: So how old are you now?

[1:44:40] 25? (laughs)

[1:44:42] Michael “Mike” Scott: I am 44 years old.

[1:44:44] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[1:44:46] Again thank you all for being here today we're

[1:44:48] going to move forward on the agenda,

[1:44:51] these young people all came in and the future is bright for us.

[1:44:55] Stay engaged in your community.

[1:44:56] All right.

[1:44:57] We are going to move to the consent agenda come

[1:44:59] we are going to go to the county administrator

[1:45:01] for Mr. Brooks who will be presenting the consent agenda.

[1:45:13] [Cross-Talk] And then with that I'm going to ask for a motion

[1:45:16] for approval.

[1:45:22] >> Mayor can I say a comment?

[1:45:23] I was hoping that Charles Johnson was here?

[1:45:25] Yeah he is pure Commissioner Mary Johnson's son,

[1:45:27] and because of the park naming in our consent agenda

[1:45:30] I was hoping we could give him a moment.

[1:45:37] >> Let's deal with the consent agenda first,

[1:45:38] and then I will gladly comment depending on how that turns out.

[1:45:41] Do I have a motion?

[1:45:43] >> So moved.

[1:45:44] >> Second.

[1:45:46] Jerry L. Demings: All right we have a motion

[1:45:48] and a second all in favor let it be

[1:45:50] known by saying I. Opposed no.

[1:45:51] The motion passes and it is unanimous.

[1:45:53] And let me just go to my passage of the consent agenda

[1:46:00] on today's agenda there was a contract

[1:46:03] to purchase 84.7 acres of environmentally sensitive land

[1:46:07] in southwest Orange County, the acquisition of the Wbmg

[1:46:13] development Parcels helps to provide vital water resource

[1:46:17] protection, and further preserve the county's rare habitats

[1:46:22] such as baygall, and hydric pine, flatwoods.

[1:46:26] Somebody in here knows what that is I know.

[1:46:31] The wetlands preserve through the acquisition

[1:46:34] will expand upon an existing wildlife corridor that

[1:46:37] contains both public land and privately owned conservation

[1:46:41] areas such as the Akula property.

[1:46:45] The county's Preserve, and the Grand Cypress Conservation

[1:46:49] Easements.

[1:46:50] Preservation of this property will

[1:46:53] serve to protect the wetlands that

[1:46:55] serve as the outfall for the butler chain of lakes

[1:46:59] into Reedy Creek.

[1:47:01] Additionally this acquisition will

[1:47:03] preserve natural habitats that support

[1:47:05] and protect Florida and all species.

[1:47:08] Today Orange County has purchased and preserved

[1:47:11] 3417 acres.

[1:47:13] Since the board approved the $100 million purchase

[1:47:19] environmentally to purchase environmental assisted lands.

[1:47:23] I think that is worthy of some recognition.

[1:47:28] All right.

[1:47:29] The board also renamed two parks part of which

[1:47:35] is what Commissioner Rebay was referencing.

[1:47:39] Yucatan Park has been renamed Commissioner I Johnson

[1:47:45] Park honoring the first Hispanic elected commissioner

[1:47:50] of both Orange County and the City of Orlando who

[1:47:55] played an influential role in the creation of that park

[1:48:00] during her tenure in the early 2000 s.

[1:48:03] I had the privilege of working with Commissioner Mary

[1:48:07] Johnson when she was with the city of Orlando, and here.

[1:48:11] With Orange County Governor Commissioner.

[1:48:14] She was a vociferous and tireless advocate

[1:48:19] for the community.

[1:48:20] Also, I want to recognize the fact that the Taft ballfield is

[1:48:31] now the Albert Hodges Park honoring the local businessmen

[1:48:37] benefactor and community builder who

[1:48:40] played a notable role in the development of the Taft and Pine

[1:48:44] Castle.

[1:48:45] In those areas.

[1:48:47] Both Renamings are the recommendations to the board

[1:48:53] were made by the parks and Recreation Advisory Board's.

[1:48:58] So do we still have any Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

[1:49:02] members who are still with us this morning?

[1:49:04] I know there was some here earlier.

[1:49:07] Okay.

[1:49:10] Today's approval of the U.S. Forest Grant and Sustainable

[1:49:14] Communities Grant in the neighborhood of Beautification

[1:49:16] grants represented investment in nearly $125,000 in neighborhood

[1:49:22] improvements enhancing the appearance quality and life

[1:49:24] and value of the communities across Orange County.

[1:49:27] These grants provide nonprofit and neighborhood organizations

[1:49:31] with resources to invest in public safety, neighborhood

[1:49:36] resilience, and long term economic vitality

[1:49:39] of our community across Orange County.

[1:49:42] And so, with that, Mr. Dennison?

[1:49:45] Would you like to come and say anything

[1:49:48] on behalf of your deceased mom?

[1:49:52] If so, I invite you to the microphone.

[1:50:02] >> I just want to only say thank you to the board for recognizing

[1:50:02] my mother.

[1:50:03] I know green space and conservation work

[1:50:05] were part of her services to this community

[1:50:09] along with the Victim Service Center which you're aware of.

[1:50:12] And thank you to the Parks Department and Barbara

[1:50:14] McCann for the Azalea Park Association

[1:50:16] for all of your work.

[1:50:18] I know mom's dancing and having.

[1:50:22] So thank you very much.

[1:50:26] [Applause]

[1:50:27] Jerry L. Demings: She is indeed.

[1:50:28] All right.

[1:50:28] Congratulations and I had the privilege

[1:50:31] of working with your father also at the Orlando Fire Department.

[1:50:34] All right.

[1:50:36] So, again we are going to now move forward on our agenda

[1:50:40] and move to the discussion agenda at this time.

[1:50:43] And Miss Beth Jackson?

[1:50:45] She's going to come forward from our environmental Programs

[1:50:50] administration, she will be making a presentation

[1:50:53] regarding the future manage agricultural uses on Green place

[1:50:58] properties.

[1:50:58] We heard from a number of our residents

[1:51:02] today who spoke about the potential pilot project some pro

[1:51:10] and some in opposition but that she's

[1:51:13] going to lay out the entire program

[1:51:16] and then we will have a discussion

[1:51:18] by the Board of County Commissioners

[1:51:20] and then give some direction to staff.

[1:51:23] With that Miss Jackson you are recognized.

[1:51:26] >> Thank you Mayor and commissioners.

[1:51:28] Along with myself, Kevin Campbell

[1:51:30] will be presenting for UF IFAs as well.

[1:51:34] And so, today what we are going to be covering

[1:51:39] is a purpose, some green place background, advisory board

[1:51:42] discussions, a pilot program, public policy considerations,

[1:51:47] and then we are going to summarize the presentation

[1:51:50] and then open it up for board discussion.

[1:51:52] So the purpose of this presentation today

[1:51:56] is to update the BCC on the advisory board

[1:52:01] engagement and discussions, provide context

[1:52:04] for policy and technical aspects of the agricultural use issue,

[1:52:08] seek board direction on whether to proceed with a private pilot

[1:52:13] project, and if so how to move forward with that.

[1:52:15] The board may want to consider this policy question as part

[1:52:21] of their discussion, our agricultural uses

[1:52:23] environmentally equivalent to preservation.

[1:52:28] So, green place is the county's initiative

[1:52:33] to preserve restore and maintain environmentally sensitive lands,

[1:52:37] and its mission is to preserve and manage

[1:52:40] environmentally sensitive lands, protect water resources,

[1:52:43] and to provide a quality nature based recreational out

[1:52:47] experience for existing and future generations.

[1:52:50] So, in 2021, and we are very grateful

[1:52:55] the BCC allocated $100 million for the purchase

[1:52:58] and preservation of environmentally sensitive lands.

[1:53:01] As of June 2026, when Orlando Kingdom and this most recent

[1:53:09] property that you all approved today,

[1:53:12] we will have preserved 3772 acres.

[1:53:17] And since the program's inception,

[1:53:19] we have managed to preserve 27,155 acres.

[1:53:26] 8743 of those by Green Forest, 12 properties

[1:53:31] are owned by the public managed by green

[1:53:34] for staff, four properties open to the public managed

[1:53:38] with our partners.

[1:53:39] And here's a map of Orange County

[1:53:43] and all of the Green Place properties

[1:53:45] are those highlighted in the lime green.

[1:53:47] The property in red will be the focus of our discussion today.

[1:53:53] And those in crosshatch were properties

[1:53:57] that were purchased by other state

[1:53:59] agencies and private entities.

[1:54:03] So, it's important to lay out some of the policy

[1:54:10] context for you all.

[1:54:12] So, the comprehensive plan policy has some definitions.

[1:54:20] Preservation means the designation preservation

[1:54:22] is defined as publicly or privately owned and significant

[1:54:28] environmental importance for the purposes

[1:54:31] of environmental protection.

[1:54:33] That compatible very low recreational educational uses

[1:54:37] and natural amenities and site for public amenities

[1:54:42] will allow for allowable uses.

[1:54:44] You heard today the term conservation.

[1:54:47] And, as defined by the county's Comp plan

[1:54:51] that means it recognizes lands designated for conserving

[1:54:54] our natural resources.

[1:54:56] And that's usually done through a more formal process

[1:54:59] with our wetland permitting, property,

[1:55:02] and is primarily used by private lands.

[1:55:05] Agricultural is applicable only to the areas

[1:55:09] outside the county's urban service area.

[1:55:12] And it recognizes the long term viability of the economic asset

[1:55:18] while allowing single family residence on the large lots.

[1:55:21] And it's appropriate for locations in which residents

[1:55:25] prefer a rural lifestyle.

[1:55:29] So, there are a couple of policies and goals

[1:55:34] that we wanted to focus on in this presentation.

[1:55:37] The first one is goal C which is conservation.

[1:55:41] And that's to enhance our county's natural resources,

[1:55:44] including our groundwater vegetative communities,

[1:55:48] and soils and wetlands.

[1:55:50] And two of the objectives under that goal

[1:55:53] we wanted to highlight where objective C 1.2,

[1:55:57] which says that we should protect and improve our surface

[1:56:00] waters by identifying sources of pollution,

[1:56:03] and coordinating the development and implementation of pollution

[1:56:08] abatement devices and methods and programs.

[1:56:10] And the second one is to protect identify wetland areas

[1:56:14] and existing natural wildlife.

[1:56:19] As it's been alluded to, the board

[1:56:22] will be discussing vision 2050 later on today.

[1:56:27] If that moves forward, all green place properties

[1:56:31] are or will be assigned a place type of preservation,

[1:56:36] and preservation properties would

[1:56:38] be categorized as T1 trans x, all green place properties would

[1:56:43] fall under that T1 transect, and, it mirrors that definition

[1:56:48] under the destination 2030 Comp Plan

[1:56:52] compatible very low impact recreational or educational

[1:56:56] uses.

[1:56:56] And then it goes on to list some of them.

[1:57:00] It's important to note that in T1, agricultural uses would not

[1:57:06] be allowed.

[1:57:10] So, in 2007, the previous Board of County Commissioners

[1:57:17] approved green place uses and it was

[1:57:20] amended in December of 20 2011 and secondary uses

[1:57:25] must be compatible with primary uses.

[1:57:27] When we took this to the board, at that time

[1:57:31] we were not using the designation of preservation,

[1:57:34] but in developing this presentation,

[1:57:36] we realized that these uses may now

[1:57:40] be in conflict with our comprehensive plan policy.

[1:57:44] And that will be evaluated.

[1:57:46] As you can see, cattle grazing is a secondary use under this.

[1:57:57] Okay, now we are going to go to the advisory board discussions.

[1:58:01] And so, in February 2025 the Agricultural Advisory Board

[1:58:06] in acquired a limited agricultural uses one

[1:58:09] of them being cattle grazing could be implemented

[1:58:13] on green place properties.

[1:58:14] In April of 2025, the topic was presented to our Greenspace

[1:58:20] Advisory Board, and then in May of 2025,

[1:58:23] a memo was sent to the board outlining the discussions, land

[1:58:29] use designations, staffing and resource

[1:58:32] requirements, and opportunities for partnership.

[1:58:35] In August of 2025, green Place approved a motion

[1:58:40] to pursue a pilot program which would assess

[1:58:44] the site for the ability to host cattle grazing

[1:58:47] operations for a five year lease with a renewable up to ten.

[1:58:52] It would require us to monitor the site

[1:58:56] throughout the implementation to assess

[1:58:57] the impacts of cattle grazing.

[1:58:59] In October 2025, another board memo

[1:59:06] was sent giving you all an update of our progress

[1:59:09] on these discussions.

[1:59:10] And then in October of 2025 as well,

[1:59:14] Green Place Advisory Board approved a motion

[1:59:17] selecting Roberts Ranch Reserve North as the site

[1:59:21] for the proposed pilot program.

[1:59:23] April 20th 22nd, 2026 initial results of the monitoring were

[1:59:31] presented to the Green Place Advisory Board with direction

[1:59:35] to gather and receive direction to gather more precise figures.

[1:59:41] And we will go over what we presented later

[1:59:43] on in this presentation.

[1:59:45] In June of 2026, the Green Place Advisory Board

[1:59:50] was provided the update and information,

[1:59:52] and it was a split decision two verses two

[1:59:56] in support of not in support of cattle grazing.

[2:00:01] It's important to note that two of the members of the Green

[2:00:05] Place Advisory Board are from the agricultural community,

[2:00:11] and now we are going to go over that pilot program.

[2:00:18] So.

[2:00:19] Some of the Subbullets that we are

[2:00:21] going to be discussing on site selection

[2:00:23] as I previously mentioned the Green Place Advisory Board

[2:00:26] has already selected the parcel for us.

[2:00:29] The evaluation methodology evaluation findings,

[2:00:33] comparative analysis, Savage Christmas Creek property,

[2:00:38] sorry excuse me, preserve.

[2:00:41] Operational considerations as well as

[2:00:43] public use compatibility.

[2:00:48] So.

[2:00:48] This is the proposed pilot project on the site.

[2:00:55] It's Roberts Ranch Reserve is 395 acres.

[2:00:58] The county acquired it in October of 2025.

[2:01:03] With a purchase price of $9 million plus.

[2:01:06] The prior use was a single family with cattle less,

[2:01:10] high potential for restoration, and it's

[2:01:14] regionally significant due to its proximity to Bronson State

[2:01:19] Forest.

[2:01:20] Another green parcels as well as its location

[2:01:23] within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

[2:01:25] And I just want to say on a side,

[2:01:27] this is the third property that we purchased

[2:01:30] from this particular family, so they

[2:01:32] were very invested in wanting to see their properties preserved.

[2:01:39] Again, here's another map of the of a closer up version of where

[2:01:47] Roberts Ranch Preserve North is located.

[2:01:54] And, the evaluation methodologies

[2:01:58] that we use we did a forage assessment which

[2:02:03] is a suitability of the site for pasture grasses.

[2:02:07] A bacterial analysis of the soil as well as the water

[2:02:11] within Roberts Ranch.

[2:02:13] So, we took samples and we did microbial source tracking.

[2:02:18] And Roberts Ranch is that subbasin is impaired for E coli.

[2:02:26] And a natural community assessment

[2:02:28] we looked at the canopy shrub ground

[2:02:32] cover percent coverages exotic and invasive species and plant

[2:02:36] species diversity.

[2:02:39] And now I'm going to turn it over to Kevin.

[2:02:51] >> Good morning everyone.

[2:02:52] I will cover the agricultural evaluation completed

[2:02:54] by U of I six extension, we were asked

[2:02:56] to really provide sort of an objective research based

[2:02:59] analysis assessment of the properties

[2:03:01] agricultural capability and just to be clear,

[2:03:04] UF IFAs extension cooperative extension,

[2:03:07] we are not advocating for or against,

[2:03:10] we just want to bring the non-biased information

[2:03:12] to you all.

[2:03:13] One point to remember that Beth mentioned earlier

[2:03:17] is that this property historically

[2:03:18] was used for cattle grazing before it was acquired

[2:03:21] by the county, so we weren't evaluating whether it could be.

[2:03:25] Or whether it had occurred in the past, because it did.

[2:03:28] But we did evaluate the property's current condition

[2:03:33] to understand what it could support.

[2:03:35] So, we evaluated the soils, we forage

[2:03:39] resources, nutrient levels come overall productivity

[2:03:42] of the site.

[2:03:43] So in other words we really wanted

[2:03:44] to understand how productive the landscape could be.

[2:03:47] From an agricultural standpoint, how much foraging

[2:03:50] could potentially produce.

[2:03:52] We found the soil was well suited for bear grass which

[2:03:56] is one of the most common pasture grasses used in Florida,

[2:04:01] and after accounting for the wetlands on the property,

[2:04:03] the wooded areas, the other areas unsuitable for grazing,

[2:04:08] we identified approximately 200 acres

[2:04:11] as potentially grazing property on that property.

[2:04:15] So, using the results, you can see the soil sample results

[2:04:20] on the slide, high phosphorus because it

[2:04:23] was used so fertilization, potassium was low,

[2:04:26] so it's a give and take for that.

[2:04:28] Which is usually to produce that stand and adequate levels

[2:04:32] of other elements.

[2:04:33] In a low organic measure.

[2:04:36] Using that, we came up with an estimated property's carrying

[2:04:42] capacity.

[2:04:43] So carrying capacity is basically

[2:04:45] the number of animals the land could sustainably

[2:04:49] support over time while maintaining

[2:04:52] the health of the resources, based on our evaluation,

[2:04:57] we estimated a carrying capacity of around 40 to 50 animal

[2:05:02] units for reference one animal unit is representing one

[2:05:06] mature cow and a calf.?

[2:05:10] One important point I'd like to emphasize

[2:05:13] is that this is not a recommendation

[2:05:14] to place 40 to 50 cows on the property.

[2:05:18] It sort of serves as an agricultural benchmark

[2:05:21] that helps us to understand the biological capacity

[2:05:24] of the property.

[2:05:26] So basically it answers the technical question

[2:05:29] of what the property could support

[2:05:31] if grazing would be allowed or looked

[2:05:35] at as a pilot from the board.

[2:05:37] I'm going to pass it back over to Beth.

[2:05:50] >> So as I mentioned earlier we did perform a bacterial analysis

[2:05:53] as part of that preliminary evaluation.

[2:05:56] So we tested both the stream bed for legacy levels of E.coli,

[2:06:00] and we determined that there are biomarkers

[2:06:04] associated with bacteria found in the guts

[2:06:06] of warm blooded animals and can therefore

[2:06:09] be used to measure the fecal bacterial concentrations

[2:06:11] and we are viewing that in conjunction

[2:06:14] with UCF and a professor at UCF.

[2:06:18] So the results of the microbial, say that three times fast.

[2:06:23] Microbial source tracking indicates a heavy presence

[2:06:27] of cattle and the older soils, with presence

[2:06:31] decreasing in newer soils.

[2:06:33] So future grazing could potentially keep those E levels

[2:06:38] at a higher level.

[2:06:42] And the charges just lays out some of the findings

[2:06:46] that we found.

[2:06:47] Along with that, we tested the water quality and the tributary

[2:06:52] on the property.

[2:06:53] Between March and May of 2026.

[2:06:56] This is one of the properties that we

[2:06:58] would be having quarterly water quality sampling on.

[2:07:03] So, they tested for alkalinity, organic nitrogen E coli,

[2:07:09] and the results indicate decreased levels

[2:07:12] of E coli in recent months, as we are all

[2:07:16] aware we have been in a drought.

[2:07:20] So, and exceedance is readings over 410 of those probable

[2:07:25] numbers per 100ml.

[2:07:27] And so, on the march of that we found 1732 MP s of E coli.

[2:07:37] And then it decreased over time.

[2:07:42] So, impaired water bodies and basins, Fdep

[2:07:46] designates water bodies that do not meet water quality

[2:07:50] standards as impaired.

[2:07:52] Fdep sets a total maximum daily load on impaired water bodies.

[2:07:58] For parameters such as nitrogen, phosphorus, E coli,

[2:08:02] some heavy metals, the county is required to fund and implement

[2:08:07] projects to remove, and reduce those impairments and discharges

[2:08:11] into water bodies.

[2:08:12] And we have been made aware that this

[2:08:14] is a high priority for this particular basin for Fdep

[2:08:18] to put and to establish a Tmdl.

[2:08:23] And so, the designate it and impaired it in August of 2024,

[2:08:30] and I already said they are working on establishing

[2:08:33] a bacterial Tmdl.

[2:08:35] And there are no known structural BMPs

[2:08:40] to address bacterial impairments.

[2:08:43] And removal of point source is most cost effective strategy

[2:08:49] to meet water quality requirements,

[2:08:51] and in fact, we have a past history with another green place

[2:08:55] property that we purchased where we received

[2:08:58] a grant from the state and the reason

[2:09:00] why we were awarded that grant was because we were removing

[2:09:05] cattle.

[2:09:05] As a source of points.

[2:09:08] Or pollutants.

[2:09:12] So now I'm going to go over the Natural Community assessment.

[2:09:16] This is a photo of Roberts Ranch Preserve North.

[2:09:20] And that area in the back by the fence is what should be

[2:09:25] or what is a depression marsh which has been

[2:09:28] impacted by previous land uses.

[2:09:31] So, we looked at the canopy cover, it's low.

[2:09:35] It's less than 5%.

[2:09:37] And so we use a methodology developed by the Florida

[2:09:41] Wildlife and Conservation Commission,

[2:09:45] to determine what conditions we have, and where they should be.

[2:09:53] So the desired conditions for canopy

[2:09:56] should be between 10 to 30% of the coverage.

[2:10:00] The shrub was low also on Roberts Ranch North

[2:10:04] because Roberts Ranch Preserve North.

[2:10:08] Gets less than 5%.

[2:10:09] The desired conditions for the shrub coverage is 50 to 80%,

[2:10:14] ground cover, that was good.

[2:10:17] 90 to 100%.

[2:10:20] The desired condition was 70 to 100%.

[2:10:24] Native species diversity was low,

[2:10:26] we only observed 9 to 12 species in those areas

[2:10:29] that we evaluated.

[2:10:30] And the desired conditions are 50 plus species.

[2:10:34] And the exotic species coverage was determined to be high,

[2:10:41] 90 to 100%.

[2:10:42] And as Kevin mentioned earlier, the majority of the grass

[2:10:47] species out there is Bahia and that is

[2:10:50] considered an exotic species.

[2:10:54] I said exotic..

[2:10:57] So, we felt like it was important to compare Roberts

[2:11:01] Ranch Preserve north to a site that a Green place site

[2:11:07] we are calling it a reference site which is our Savage

[2:11:10] Christmas Creek Preserve.

[2:11:11] It's located three miles from the proposed pilot site.

[2:11:16] We purchased it in 1999 and we have added to it

[2:11:20] since with $100 million that you all generously donated

[2:11:23] towards acquisition of our natural resources.

[2:11:27] It's 1576 acres.

[2:11:30] The total price is $14.6 million.

[2:11:33] It did have cattle at the time of the acquisition, in 1999.

[2:11:39] And, in 2011, we undertook an active upland restoration

[2:11:47] project, on this site.

[2:11:50] Which involved the removal of pasture grasses and herbicides.

[2:11:57] We harvested native seed from off site,

[2:12:02] and we planted those native seeds

[2:12:05] to restore that area back to three natural communities

[2:12:08] scrubby flatwoods Mesic and Wet flatwoods.

[2:12:12] And then, passive wetland restoration on the property

[2:12:16] began.

[2:12:17] In 2012.

[2:12:20] So, comparing the results between Roberts Ranch Preserve

[2:12:24] and Savage Christmas Creek Preserve,

[2:12:27] for canopy, 5%, for Savage Christmas Creek Preserve

[2:12:33] it was 25.

[2:12:34] And that's in the area of that pasture restoration.

[2:12:38] The shrub coverage, 5% on Roberts Ranch Preserve

[2:12:44] whereas on Savage Christmas Creek it was 10 to 20.

[2:12:48] Ground cover, Roberts Ranch was 90 to 100%,

[2:12:53] same thing with Savage Christmas Creek Preserve.

[2:12:57] Native species diversity, 12 for Roberts Ranch Reserve,

[2:13:02] whereas Savage Christmas Creek Preserve was 39.

[2:13:06] And, the exotic species coverage 90 to 100% for Roberts Ranch.

[2:13:14] Versus less than 5% from Savage Christmas Creek.

[2:13:21] So, the pilot site graze areas have

[2:13:28] a lower diversity and higher invasive species presence.

[2:13:33] Savage Christmas Creek Preserve is

[2:13:36] restored areas that resemble a healthy ecosystem as I mentioned

[2:13:40] earlier as our flatwoods and wet flatwoods,

[2:13:45] and the pilot site could mirror Savage Christmas Creek preserve

[2:13:48] under proper management and restoration efforts.

[2:13:51] And in fact we do have some preliminary plans

[2:13:55] to start restoring Roberts Ranch Preserve.

[2:13:59] We will be utilizing some of the tree funds

[2:14:04] to plant some trees out there as well as

[2:14:07] if the board decides to not move forward with this pilot project.

[2:14:11] We It would then begin to do some passive enhancement

[2:14:16] by reducing the mowing of those pasture areas.

[2:14:22] And so, the operational considerations,

[2:14:27] it could impact our ability to manage the property

[2:14:31] with prescribed fire.

[2:14:32] Could delay future restoration efforts.

[2:14:35] Staff time dedicated to managing the catalyst

[2:14:39] could be spent on needed improvements

[2:14:41] on this property as well as our Green Place property.

[2:14:45] We have a small but mighty team, and the Green Place program.

[2:14:49] And so, managing a thousand 8000 plus acres

[2:14:54] is a hard task, as well as making

[2:14:57] sure that the users of the ones that are open

[2:14:59] have a great experience.

[2:15:01] And, it could reduce some of the mowing costs,

[2:15:04] but it could reduce some of the mowing costs for the program.

[2:15:09] And, so, we are just doing the preliminary things

[2:15:15] under the pilot program, if the board decides

[2:15:19] to move forward with the pilot program,

[2:15:21] we would then work on the lease creation along with Iphis,

[2:15:26] and develop scope of services and delegation

[2:15:29] of responsibilities.

[2:15:30] And craft a contract documents along

[2:15:34] with our procurement colleagues.

[2:15:39] And then as well as county and facilitate review

[2:15:43] of those contracts.

[2:15:44] And then we would bid it out, unlike a normal bid,

[2:15:49] the bid would go to the highest bidder here.

[2:15:52] Because we are going to be because it's

[2:15:57] seen as a revenue generating opportunity.

[2:16:00] And then, we would then go under contract management

[2:16:06] and oversight, and all of those things that we did previously,

[2:16:10] we would be doing annually.

[2:16:12] So we would be looking at the natural communities

[2:16:15] annually to see if we notice an impact on those communities.

[2:16:21] We estimate 10% of one full time land manager.

[2:16:26] To oversight on that contract as well as additional staff

[2:16:30] resources.

[2:16:31] That will be needed for that annual vegetation.

[2:16:35] And the monitoring of the site.

[2:16:41] So, some of the risks that could potentially

[2:16:45] be associated with cattle operations

[2:16:47] are physical hazards and injury risk

[2:16:50] to individuals such as kicking, pinning, and charging because we

[2:16:56] as humans think they're cute, and they are cute,

[2:16:58] but we want to pet them and they don't really like that.

[2:17:02] Risk of disease, parasites or fungal transmission,

[2:17:07] and cattle operation should not occur on properties

[2:17:10] that are open to the public.

[2:17:12] And property usage should not contradict with the intent

[2:17:16] of the acquisition.

[2:17:17] Which is environmental protection.

[2:17:21] And so, now I'm going to go over the public policy

[2:17:25] considerations.

[2:17:26] And so, we are going to be talking

[2:17:30] about environmental impacts, agricultural use benefit,

[2:17:34] cattle grazing near Orange County, advisory board

[2:17:37] discussions, county charter and comprehensive plan requirements,

[2:17:41] and the cost versus benefit analysis.

[2:17:48] So, is this you Kevin?

[2:17:51] I lost track.

[2:17:56] >> Like any land use management practice manage grazing has some

[2:17:59] potential benefits, and some potential challenges.

[2:18:01] We looked at decades of agricultural research

[2:18:04] that really just came down to largely how is the land managed?

[2:18:09] Some of the public comments earlier

[2:18:12] mentioned and managed grazing can contribute

[2:18:15] to soil compaction, erosion, vegetation degradation, water

[2:18:21] quality impacts, and also increased bacterial loading,

[2:18:25] but that's why best management practices or BMPs

[2:18:28] you've probably heard that term are such an important part

[2:18:32] of modern grazing management.

[2:18:35] These include rotational grazing, appropriate stocking

[2:18:39] rates as I mentioned earlier, protecting sensitive areas

[2:18:42] with fencing and stream buffers, providing alternative watering

[2:18:47] sources, maybe dig a hole, no pun intended of just having

[2:18:52] water, and ongoing monitoring are all

[2:18:54] designed to reduce the environmental impacts

[2:18:56] and protect the water quality.

[2:18:58] When those practices are implemented research

[2:19:01] has shown that managed grazing can also provide benefits

[2:19:04] by helping to control excessive vegetation,

[2:19:07] reducing the accumulated biomass that can contribute to wildfire,

[2:19:14] maintaining open landscapes and also supporting

[2:19:17] habitat management objectives.

[2:19:19] So from our perspective and extension

[2:19:22] it's really the management not simply

[2:19:24] the presence of the livestock that ultimately

[2:19:25] determines the outcome.

[2:19:28] So, from an agricultural perspective

[2:19:31] managed grazing as I mentioned is recognized

[2:19:33] as a land management tool.

[2:19:36] So, managing vegetation, reducing the excess biomass,

[2:19:41] maintaining the open pasture, and the other land management

[2:19:45] practices it can complement other land management

[2:19:48] practices when appropriate.

[2:19:50] In agriculture we often talk about using the right management

[2:19:54] tool for the right landscape.

[2:19:56] So, depending on the property, that

[2:19:59] could include prescribed fire, mechanical

[2:20:02] mowing maybe some herbicide treatments, managed grazing,

[2:20:06] or a combination of some of those approaches or all of those

[2:20:09] approaches for that property.

[2:20:11] No single practice is really appropriate for every property,

[2:20:15] because some have limitations some have advantages.

[2:20:18] Research has shown that when grazing

[2:20:20] is properly managed and appropriately managed

[2:20:23] it can help recycle the nutrients on the property

[2:20:25] and maintain the forage quality and reduce those loads that can

[2:20:29] contribute to wildfire risk.

[2:20:31] And, it really does also at the end of the day

[2:20:37] really depend on applying that grazing sound management,

[2:20:41] and continually monitoring those site conditions over time where

[2:20:45] that producer will probably be there daily.

[2:20:47] The important point from our perspective

[2:20:49] is that grazing isn't viewed as a livestock production,

[2:20:53] it's a land management practice.

[2:20:55] So, stewardship is the land management practice and matching

[2:20:59] that right with the right property is going to be good.

[2:21:02] And, I would be remiss if I didn't highlight

[2:21:07] the what the agriculture is in Orange County,

[2:21:11] because it does play a significant role.

[2:21:14] Orange County is home to over 600 farms.

[2:21:17] Which operate roughly on around 84,000 acres.

[2:21:22] Which generates over $400 million

[2:21:24] in annual ag sales which is amazing.

[2:21:27] Despite being one of Florida's urbanized counties.

[2:21:33] Orange County ranks fifth in the state

[2:21:35] in total agricultural sales, and second in nursery greenhouse

[2:21:39] floriculture and sod production.

[2:21:41] So, agriculture here in Orange County

[2:21:43] is very diverse, commercial nurseries, citrus cattle,

[2:21:47] equine, specialty crops, and definitely

[2:21:51] a strong generation of the next agricultural leaders with R4 h

[2:21:57] youngsters and FFA.

[2:21:59] As Orange County continues to grow,

[2:22:03] agriculture will remain an important part of our economy

[2:22:06] and our community and landscape here so understanding

[2:22:09] that broader agricultural context

[2:22:11] really helps inform this discussion.

[2:22:13] Beth?

[2:22:27] >> So, while we were evaluating this proposal,

[2:22:29] we did reach out statewide throughout the entire state

[2:22:35] to see what other local natural resource preservation programs

[2:22:41] and whether they use the activity of cattle grazing

[2:22:45] on their properties or, or not.

[2:22:50] And this is not all inclusive, these

[2:22:53] are only the folks that actually responded to us.

[2:22:55] So we are aware that there are other programs that allow cattle

[2:22:59] grazing.

[2:22:59] So Saint Johns River Water Management District

[2:23:03] in South Florida Water Management District

[2:23:05] do allow cattle grazing.

[2:23:08] And almost all of their lease areas

[2:23:10] are 500 plus acres in size.

[2:23:13] Seminole County does not allow it

[2:23:16] due to a lack of available land.

[2:23:18] Lake County no grazing program due to active land restoration

[2:23:23] and other ecological concerns.

[2:23:26] Osceola County does not have a grazing program.

[2:23:34] And so, Kevin, you're up.

[2:23:42] >> So I'm the county liaison for the agricultural advisory Board.

[2:23:44] And that board powers and duties does provide recommendations

[2:23:52] on various county rules regulations and ordinances that

[2:23:55] affect the ag industry to really retain and enhance

[2:23:58] that industry's presence.

[2:23:59] We do have an 11 member board which

[2:24:01] is made up of AG education, horticulture, equine, livestock,

[2:24:05] fruit crop, landscape, water management, tree producer,

[2:24:10] and urban agriculture.

[2:24:13] As mentioned at the very beginning

[2:24:17] this board did have a concern or question if you will.

[2:24:22] That was raised , prior to the sale of.

[2:24:32] The board also discussed some positive impacts

[2:24:36] of the community if it were to be allowed, and also

[2:24:40] some negative impacts to the community

[2:24:42] if it were to be allowed for and also as well as the environment.

[2:24:49] The board to discuss, and they understand

[2:24:52] that conservation environmental protection and public access

[2:24:55] should be the primary greenspace properties.

[2:25:00] And they did present this as a land stewardship tool

[2:25:06] and some members spoke earlier to aid

[2:25:08] the management of the property.

[2:25:10] While future activities were being

[2:25:13] established such as the pilot.

[2:25:15] Doing the pilot feasibility.

[2:25:27] >> The Greenspace Advisory board,

[2:25:29] their mission statement is ensuring the strategic

[2:25:29] acquisition of ecologically diverse lands to enhance

[2:25:32] the quality of life for our residents and visitors

[2:25:35] of Central Florida.

[2:25:37] It's a seven member board.

[2:25:40] Academic R2, agricultural R2 at large one

[2:25:44] environmental conservation Organization member is at two.

[2:25:48] So, the board discussions they were originally

[2:25:51] considering this as a potential income source

[2:25:55] to aid in purchasing properties, to ensure the lands

[2:26:00] are fully utilized and not left unmanaged.

[2:26:03] We tried to partner with local communities

[2:26:06] and build relationships, but after discussion

[2:26:09] and further information that was provided,

[2:26:13] some concerns arose over water quality and vegetative

[2:26:16] communities.

[2:26:18] And so, the county charter 704 was passed

[2:26:26] with 80% support in 2024.

[2:26:29] And that address county protected

[2:26:32] lands including public parks, recreation areas,

[2:26:35] and environmentally sensitive lands

[2:26:37] acquired by the county for environmental ecological

[2:26:40] recreational purposes.

[2:26:42] This charter would require a majority

[2:26:46] plus one vote of the County Commission

[2:26:48] to authorize the disposition of the land.

[2:26:52] Or a change in the use of the land.

[2:26:56] So, allowing cattle grazing on green place property that

[2:27:00] have been purchased for the purpose of and use

[2:27:03] as preservation could be considered as a change of use

[2:27:08] requiring a supermajority vote.

[2:27:11] And so, the adopted comprehensive plan

[2:27:15] which is destination 2030 and the vision 2050 the proposed One

[2:27:21] vision 2050 directs development towards existing communities.

[2:27:25] Already served by infrastructure while conserving our open space

[2:27:30] and protecting animal and plant habitats

[2:27:32] from places of natural beauty.

[2:27:35] In 2007 the Green Place Use Resolution

[2:27:39] needs to be put into context with the adopt a Comprehensive

[2:27:43] Plan policies and definitions for Preservations and vision

[2:27:48] 2050.

[2:27:48] And their intent with respect to T1 transects natural preserves.

[2:27:54] Natural lands are currently preserved

[2:27:57] or in the process of being preserved generally

[2:28:00] under public ownership or ownership of institutions.

[2:28:05] Preserve natural and sensitive lands within Orange County.

[2:28:10] Provide for ecosystem education and limited public recreation

[2:28:13] without threatening those sensitive ecosystems.

[2:28:17] And again, cattle grazing if vision 2050 were passed.

[2:28:22] They would not be allowed in T1 parcels.

[2:29:01] To maintain the program is estimated to be $15,000 per year

[2:29:06] bringing all of these are based on actual elements.

[2:29:08] The potential fencing needed to exclude the cattle from Roberts

[2:29:13] Ranch is estimated at 180,000 through the county's contract.

[2:29:18] And that's a photo of Roberts Ranch.

[2:29:23] So, the benefits would project an annual revenue from

[2:29:29] the cattle would be about 20 to $30,000.

[2:29:32] It can help to control the biomass of fuel loads

[2:29:36] as Kevin mentioned, it also provides an on site presence

[2:29:41] while future management is initiated,

[2:29:44] and it also builds relationships between the agricultural and

[2:29:49] preservation communities.

[2:29:50] Catalyze would not be revenue positive with the county

[2:29:56] during the pilot program.

[2:29:58] Based on the numbers that we have crunched.

[2:30:03] And so, in summary, green place parcels

[2:30:08] are intended for preservation restoration and maintenance

[2:30:12] of environmentally sensitive lands,

[2:30:14] the advisory board supports the Green Place Advisory Board

[2:30:19] split in their support and the Agricultural Advisory Board

[2:30:22] is fully supportive, the pilot program assessment

[2:30:26] revealed site has many environmental constraints

[2:30:31] including an impaired water body integrated natural communities.

[2:30:35] The site would likely need to remain

[2:30:37] closed to public recreation, limiting the number of users.

[2:30:42] The catalyst could help build relationships

[2:30:45] across the community and bridge the gap of land management

[2:30:49] activities that are implemented the board must resolve charter

[2:30:55] policies and use for the catalyst,

[2:30:59] and the lease will not be revenue positive to the county.

[2:31:03] And so, again, I'm going to restate that fundamental policy

[2:31:09] question, to help frame your discussion.

[2:31:12] Our agricultural uses and environmentally equivalent

[2:31:16] preservation.

[2:31:16] And the issues to consider are the county charter

[2:31:20] and comprehensive plan policies.

[2:31:22] Environmental impacts agricultural use benefit,

[2:31:26] the cost versus benefit analysis,

[2:31:29] and operational considerations and public use compatibility.

[2:31:34] And so, staff is seeking more direction

[2:31:36] on whether to move forward with the pilot program for cattle

[2:31:39] grazing on Roberts Ranch Preserve or other Green place

[2:31:44] properties.

[2:31:45] And Kevin and I will be happy to address any of your questions.

[2:31:49] Thank you.

[2:31:51] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[2:31:53] Beth you said the annual revenue from the pilot

[2:31:55] will be approximately 20 million?

[2:31:59] >> 20 to 30 000.

[2:32:03] Jerry L. Demings: And the annual expenses would be how much?

[2:32:06] >> Annual would be 15000.

[2:32:08] But those are also start up costs.

[2:32:16] We did crunch the numbers mayor and it came out to 6.96 years

[2:32:21] before the county would start to have any revenue.

[2:32:26] Jerry L. Demings: Yeah because the start up costs.

[2:32:30] All right I got it.

[2:32:31] With that, we are going to open it up

[2:32:33] for discussion by the board.

[2:32:35] We will start with Commissioner Wilson.

[2:32:40] Nicole H. Wilson: Thank you mayor.

[2:32:41] Thank you so much for the presentation.

[2:32:43] And for the time spent at the briefing,

[2:32:46] I will say that I was a little bit shocked

[2:32:49] when this kind of came so developed to us today,

[2:32:53] and I have a few questions, a few comments come

[2:32:56] but I kind of want to start by asking,

[2:32:59] my understanding of our incredible advisory boards

[2:33:02] we are so grateful for their volunteerism and their work.

[2:33:05] But my understanding of the governing documents

[2:33:11] procedural outlines of their work

[2:33:13] is to review ordinances that are in place to provide advice

[2:33:18] if you will as an advisory board.

[2:33:21] This appears to be the creation of some legislative action

[2:33:25] so I was just wondering about sort

[2:33:27] of how it got this far without board

[2:33:30] direction and the ability for us to say hey,

[2:33:32] maybe we tap the brakes on this, knowing that there was actually

[2:33:36] legislation very similar to this going through this year that

[2:33:41] was defeated, there was a lot of discussion about the reasons

[2:33:43] why it was defeated for state parks and state conservation

[2:33:46] movements.

[2:33:47] And it would have been very informative,

[2:33:49] I think it would have been something

[2:33:50] that we could have discussed along the way.

[2:33:52] I read the memo I think that came

[2:33:54] from you that said that there were conversations

[2:33:57] between the advisory board and the county commission,

[2:33:59] I got an introduction to a new member,

[2:34:01] and I was grateful for that introduction,

[2:34:04] but it certainly doesn't supplant

[2:34:06] the need for board direction on creating legislation.

[2:34:09] So I kind of wanted to get some feedback from Mr. Kam on >> Yeah

[2:34:20] sure.

[2:34:21] Throughout this process, it grew.

[2:34:21] The conversation did grow.

[2:34:22] And we wanted to make sure that we had enough data

[2:34:24] and we had enough research, we had enough surveys and science

[2:34:30] before we even brought it to you because it was our position

[2:34:35] that they wanted to just bring everything to you instead

[2:34:39] of just going back and forth, we did have a member of E PD

[2:34:45] join our ag advisory boards just to bounce some ideas off

[2:34:50] and we also had a JC Arbor or agricultural extension

[2:34:53] agent join the Green Place Advisory board,

[2:34:57] so there can be some context.

[2:34:58] So we can continue to move forward with the discussions.

[2:35:01] Nicole H. Wilson: And did you all

[2:35:05] track that state legislation that

[2:35:06] was looking at very similar types of uses on state park

[2:35:08] lands?

[2:35:10] >> It was tracked, but I think our major thrust was primarily

[2:35:15] on this because the original question is could this work?

[2:35:19] Could this happen?

[2:35:20] And as we were starting to look and gather more information

[2:35:29] Nicole H. Wilson: That's lawmaking.

[2:35:31] That's lawmaking.

[2:35:31] I just want to make sure that that's clear that

[2:35:33] that's lawmaking that's policy and that's the role of this

[2:35:35] community --

[2:35:37] Committee.

[2:35:39] >> That was the goal comment it kind of merged with other data.

[2:35:42] And then also it wasn't a secondary use for green place

[2:35:46] properties, but then we also had the planning with the T1,

[2:35:51] and that was interesting throughout the discussions,

[2:35:54] and then that's when we found that out that

[2:35:57] was when like okay we need to move this forward.

[2:36:01] Nicole H. Wilson: I appreciate that and I

[2:36:04] think it's important I want to say right from the go

[2:36:06] we have common goals right?

[2:36:07] To protect ag lands and conservation lands,

[2:36:10] but that's an and, that's an and.

[2:36:12] So we need to protect ag lands and conservation

[2:36:15] lands so I just want to start out this entire conversation

[2:36:18] by saying that.

[2:36:19] I love that we got these, thank you so

[2:36:22] much for whoever shared them.

[2:36:24] Because this is a great resource and it's

[2:36:25] an important piece of information.

[2:36:27] But it really supports I think the position

[2:36:30] that I have here which is that the programs that

[2:36:33] are successful with this allow the retention

[2:36:35] of the piece of property to stay with the farmer.

[2:36:39] That the retention of the piece of property

[2:36:41] stays with the farmer, and then the easement

[2:36:44] is provided by a land trust.

[2:36:45] I don't know if the Agricultural Advisory Board participated,

[2:36:50] or heard from anybody when we discussed as a board

[2:36:54] the possibility for the infrastructure surtax

[2:36:57] that included a portion to be dedicated to land acquisition

[2:37:03] and conservation.

[2:37:04] It didn't go any further than this,

[2:37:07] we would have loved to have heard

[2:37:08] from you all at that point, to understand that that would have

[2:37:11] given us a lot of options to have

[2:37:14] a various new structural program.

[2:37:17] But, we didn't get that far.

[2:37:20] I think there are some really incredible opportunities

[2:37:23] and structural opportunities for farmer owned

[2:37:28] and privately owned land with conservation easements applied

[2:37:33] to them.

[2:37:34] But that's not the Green Place program.

[2:37:36] The Green Place program is a fully developed program

[2:37:40] that has its own structure dedicated

[2:37:44] to the conservation of our most fragile

[2:37:50] environmental ecologically sensitive lands.

[2:37:53] And, there's an incredible amount of trust

[2:37:56] that we had to go to the public to ask for in order

[2:37:59] to really develop that program to its fullest potential.

[2:38:02] Which I believe even going back to what

[2:38:05] we saw on the agenda and the consent

[2:38:07] and adding more property to that almost every single agenda,

[2:38:10] it has been a very robust and powerful program.

[2:38:16] My biggest concern with applying a pilot to that program

[2:38:22] is it inherently changes the nature of the program.

[2:38:26] And, our communication about the need for both agricultural lands

[2:38:32] and specifically protecting environmentally sensitive lands

[2:38:38] should be in conjunction.

[2:38:39] But I'm afraid if we overlap those

[2:38:41] we will put ourselves in a position to break

[2:38:43] some of that public trust.

[2:38:44] Because it sounds again like somebody

[2:38:46] is trying to develop a business off

[2:38:49] of the public tax dollars off of the conservation and acquisition

[2:38:54] work.

[2:38:59] I kind of wanted to find out actually

[2:39:02] I'm going to let this go down the line

[2:39:04] and hear what my colleagues have to say.

[2:39:06] I will tell you that I don't support a pilot of this type.

[2:39:12] I think it's really important for us

[2:39:14] to continue to stay really focused on the mission

[2:39:16] of the Green Place program because they've

[2:39:17] got their hands full.

[2:39:19] We understand we are moving into a budget session

[2:39:21] where everyone is being asked, you

[2:39:23] know there's no new positions coming anywhere everyone's being

[2:39:25] asked to tighten their belt, every penny

[2:39:27] has been looked at and accounted for,

[2:39:29] and so for us to put ourselves at risk by somehow leveraging

[2:39:34] this land that is there for purpose for ecosystems

[2:39:40] in order to potentially advance other business interests

[2:39:45] is I feel like a risk to the entire program.

[2:39:49] So that's my position here I don't support the pilot program

[2:39:53] but I do want to hear the board's discussion on this

[2:39:56] and I appreciate all the information

[2:39:57] on this I know there's a lot of work to bring it forward.

[2:40:00] I would request if there are discussions

[2:40:02] being had on legislative initiatives that you start

[2:40:05] by talking to the board right?

[2:40:09] You get this far down the line and what

[2:40:11] looks like a very developed program,

[2:40:15] we may have been able to provide enough input,

[2:40:20] honestly I wish we would have talked before January because I

[2:40:22] think there would have been a lot of conversations about how

[2:40:25] to use a half center bonding financing mechanism to help

[2:40:30] acquire more ag lands, but we didn't get that luxury.

[2:40:34] So that would be my request.

[2:40:36] And if County Administrator Brooks

[2:40:38] has some comments about that,

[2:40:46] >> Just a point on the time not to distract from

[2:40:48] the conversations.

[2:40:48] Right with respect to the timing it

[2:40:49] did start out as a recommendation

[2:40:52] from the advisory board that we would come to the board

[2:40:55] as we were going through the process.

[2:40:56] There were questions.

[2:40:59] And as Kevin indicated it started leading to a desire

[2:41:03] to have more information.

[2:41:07] We brought this to the board for a policy discussion

[2:41:09] they know that I'm always saying we're not

[2:41:11] the policymakers we have responsibility

[2:41:13] to provide all the information.

[2:41:15] So that was part of that evolution

[2:41:17] to do the analysis studies that we

[2:41:21] would take the discussion for that full sort of discussion.

[2:41:26] Not only on the staff policy level discussion

[2:41:32] it was not intended to do that, but it was our goal

[2:41:38] to do with our staff to get as much data analysis as possible

[2:41:42] for the board policy session.

[2:41:45] Nicole H. Wilson: Thank you.

[2:41:48] And I appreciate that.

[2:41:49] Jerry L. Demings: I do think that in some of these situations

[2:41:54] we have advisory boards staff gets put into a position

[2:41:58] where they're being asked questions

[2:42:00] by these various advisory boards and staff ends up being put

[2:42:03] in a position to do research.

[2:42:06] At some point.

[2:42:07] At that point is now where this is coming before the board,

[2:42:10] and so I don't necessarily think that it's an appropriate point

[2:42:16] to have this conversation for information.

[2:42:19] But, I am kind of interested in you

[2:42:23] know they talked about the Green Place advisory board,

[2:42:25] and the split decision.

[2:42:29] That's what?

[2:42:30] Seven members?

[2:42:33] >> Seven members at that last meeting,

[2:42:35] only four members were present.

[2:42:36] We did have a quorum.

[2:42:42] Jerry L. Demings: Okay so that part wasn't quite explained,

[2:42:45] so only four of the seven were present at that time?

[2:42:47] And so we ended up with a 2 to 2 vote

[2:42:50] which then is not persuasive when you only have two.

[2:42:58] Did we have any indication from the other three

[2:43:05] where they were on this issue?

[2:43:20] >> They were originally supportive of the matter,

[2:43:22] but they did not hear the additional information,

[2:43:25] especially for the water quality.

[2:43:26] In fact, one of the members who voted against it

[2:43:31] had concerns in the very beginning

[2:43:34] but, they just voted to continue to pursue it,

[2:43:43] but his comments at the end were that he couldn't support it

[2:43:48] because of the water quality impacts.

[2:43:51] And the impacts to our natural resources.

[2:43:56] Jerry L. Demings: Well and obviously today I

[2:44:00] think we have a significant threshold that we

[2:44:02] have to get beyond in order to advance this.

[2:44:06] And the requirement to have this essentially five members.

[2:44:13] We probably wouldn't get that today I know.

[2:44:20] Those of us who are present.

[2:44:23] Well, let's see.

[2:44:27] Yeah.

[2:44:28] It would be very difficult to.

[2:44:31] Out of the six remaining to have five of them.

[2:44:38] To vote to advance this.

[2:44:42] So I'm interested to listen to the rest of the board.

[2:44:46] But, this conversation today is about giving the staff

[2:44:50] some feedback okay?

[2:44:51] To either pursue a pilot, bring back additional information

[2:44:54] for us to make a decision on another date,

[2:44:58] but if there is low interest by the board,

[2:45:01] today to advance this, then this conversation

[2:45:05] is going to conclude today.

[2:45:08] Because I do think that Commissioner Wilson very adeptly

[2:45:16] pointed out that we are really going

[2:45:20] to have to be very fiscally conservative with this upcoming

[2:45:24] budget cycle.

[2:45:26] And, looking at how we spend dollars.

[2:45:31] Secondly, I do think that as this report indicates

[2:45:36] the operational considerations that

[2:45:38] are significant there are some risk of cattle operations,

[2:45:45] and then, there are if we move forward

[2:45:49] it will require a change as I see it in land use

[2:45:55] by the supermajority.

[2:45:58] And so, we can continue the conversation,

[2:46:03] I want to see if you get that kind of support

[2:46:08] to move forward or not.

[2:46:10] Commissioner Simrad?

[2:46:12] You're up.

[2:46:18] Kelly Martinez Semrad: Thank you mayor.

[2:46:21] Thank you for the presentation I really

[2:46:22] appreciate how well developed it was because I can honestly

[2:46:23] say it from both sides when I was coming in today.

[2:46:25] I take the advisors that I have on board there recommendation

[2:46:30] to me wholeheartedly.

[2:46:32] District five did vote for the exploration of this pilot

[2:46:36] study and that advisory board, and, I

[2:46:40] come from agricultural background,

[2:46:43] I grew up in in the pasturelands of Oconomowoc Wisconsin that

[2:46:49] only has you know has more cows living

[2:46:51] in it than it does people.

[2:46:53] And, I was very active in the FFA,

[2:46:56] I believe that probably one of my greatest mentors

[2:47:00] was Bobby Beagle's, and so, you know his wife

[2:47:06] Vicki tells me sometimes Kelly don't tell too many people

[2:47:08] that because some people loved him and some people didn't but,

[2:47:11] I'm proud that he was a mentor, and if I believe

[2:47:15] one thing about cattle ranchers and farmers is

[2:47:19] that they care about the land.

[2:47:21] I really truly believe at.

[2:47:22] I know it.

[2:47:23] I believe in the power of agricultural economy,

[2:47:27] it has one of the lowest leakage effects that we actually

[2:47:31] have in our local economy here.

[2:47:36] I'll also talk about the finances in a minute,

[2:47:39] because that's where I'm a little bit hooked.

[2:47:41] I'll say that every single day farmers put food on our tables,

[2:47:46] I'm okay with supporting farmers in a program like this.

[2:47:50] And I believe that there are ways

[2:47:52] that we can do a controlled pilot

[2:47:55] study to learn about the impact of what happens here.

[2:48:00] And when I say controlled, I would need more information

[2:48:05] today than what I got, which I mean you know

[2:48:08] what are the control variables?

[2:48:09] That we would be looking at?

[2:48:11] What's the period of measurement that we are considering?

[2:48:14] We already have great Pre-data, so we

[2:48:18] can do a pretest and post-test and a during test,

[2:48:21] and a post-test here, to really understand

[2:48:24] the dynamics of what happens.

[2:48:27] I am concerned about the rezoning,

[2:48:30] I don't know what those implications are

[2:48:32] when we have a state that is preempting our land rights all

[2:48:37] the time.

[2:48:38] We are dealing with one this afternoon with Senate Bill 180,

[2:48:42] but where I have my pause here O,

[2:48:45] and I also just want to say to, because I did some research

[2:48:50] and there are other, when we use our land in this form,

[2:48:57] it opens the door for other grants

[2:48:59] that we could actually apply for that could then help detour

[2:49:04] all of the things that we are concerned about from,

[2:49:08] let me see.

[2:49:10] The fencing to protect the wetlands, rotations of grazing

[2:49:13] infrastructure, invasive species management, native grass

[2:49:17] restoration, water quality improvements, those are all

[2:49:20] through USDA Conservation program

[2:49:22] grants that fund programs like this.

[2:49:25] So, I do have a lot of support for this.

[2:49:28] But, where I am concerned because you know Orange County

[2:49:32] we went through a Doge process.

[2:49:35] By golly up here and we didn't get such great reviews,

[2:49:38] and so what I'm concerned about is nobody did.

[2:49:44] Nobody did.

[2:49:45] You are absolutely right.

[2:49:46] But where I am concerned is when we talk about a seven year

[2:49:50] deficit before we begin to see anything,

[2:49:52] and that's where I have reason to pause.

[2:49:55] Because our books are under scrutiny,

[2:49:59] we are coming into the budgeting session right now,

[2:50:01] we are looking at you know if property tax reform passes,

[2:50:06] the loss of more than $100 million.

[2:50:10] So there are those concerns.

[2:50:13] And so I need more information on the pilot study

[2:50:19] and the variables that would be controlled,

[2:50:20] the intervals of testing so that we understand when we can say,

[2:50:24] this isn't working or hey this is working,

[2:50:26] and I need to understand the finances better.

[2:50:29] So I don't know if you have any of that information today,

[2:50:33] but I'm not opposed to exploring this program, I am supportive.

[2:50:40] >> So as I mentioned in my presentation Commissioner,

[2:50:42] we will be doing the vegetation evaluation every year.

[2:50:47] And we could potentially do it twice a year.

[2:50:52] Once in the fall and once in the spring,

[2:50:54] because there are differences in seasonality with the species

[2:50:58] that we can observe through those.

[2:51:00] The water quality, monitoring of Robert's rest

[2:51:05] will continue to occur on a quarterly basis,

[2:51:09] similar to the other water bodies

[2:51:12] that we sample throughout the year.

[2:51:15] Through the Environmental Protection Commission.

[2:51:25] Kelly Martinez Semrad: So what's the trigger

[2:51:27] when you say this is working?

[2:51:27] Or this is the trigger, this is not working?

[2:51:29] What are those thresholds?

[2:51:32] And whose thresholds are those?

[2:51:35] Do we make them up?

[2:51:36] Are they like where do these come from?

[2:51:39] >> The evaluation criteria, I believe it utilizes and was

[2:51:44] developed by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

[2:51:46] Commission.

[2:51:47] So, we will compare these pre results to the annual results

[2:51:52] and then we will continue to do that as in the presentation as I

[2:51:58] alluded the numbers for Robert's Ranch Preserve vegetative

[2:52:03] community is extremely low the invasive invasives that

[2:52:11] occur on that property within the areas that they evaluated

[2:52:14] is high.

[2:52:19] Kelly Martinez Semrad: But as you're doing the tests,

[2:52:22] what's that trigger?

[2:52:23] Where you get a number and you say this number is too low,

[2:52:27] this number is too high, at what point is there an evaluation

[2:52:30] of continuing the program?

[2:52:32] How long do we wait for improvement to show?

[2:52:37] Or how long do we wait for a decrease in standard to show?

[2:52:43] >> I don't think we would see an improvement in those criteria

[2:52:47] that we evaluated for the vegetative community and cattle

[2:52:50] grazing would continue because we would not be doing

[2:52:53] the restoration that we would need to look at and achieve

[2:52:59] the results that we saw on the reference site.

[2:53:02] That being said, and I just have to mention,

[2:53:06] the water quality and the fact that it may become impaired

[2:53:11] and that there are no structural BMPs,

[2:53:13] I know Kevin talked about BMPs that

[2:53:17] could be placed in the lease in the scope,

[2:53:20] and if it's the board's decision to move forward,

[2:53:23] we will work with them very closely

[2:53:25] to make sure that we include those into any lease.

[2:53:29] But, there are no structural BMPs to address E coli.

[2:53:35] And, on average, the water quality improvement

[2:53:40] projects that we can address cost between 2 to $10 million.

[2:53:47] One project.

[2:53:59] Jerry L. Demings: John do you want to come to the mic?

[2:54:02] >> Commissioner there's no magic score,

[2:54:03] and that's ultimately we understand that there is

[2:54:05] a policy discussion to be had about what the board thinks

[2:54:09] preservation looks like, and so, that's one of the reasons that

[2:54:12] we wanted to bring forth this comparative analysis which was

[2:54:15] a property the Savage Christmas Creek Preserve,

[2:54:17] it was a property that the county acquired 20 years ago.

[2:54:20] It was former cattle grazing, we went

[2:54:22] through both active and passive restoration of that property,

[2:54:26] so that property 20 years earlier

[2:54:28] is fairly comparable to where Robert's branch Preserve sits

[2:54:32] today.

[2:54:32] So as you look at those numbers, if you're

[2:54:35] comfortable with that level of degradation,

[2:54:38] or the lack of restoration preservation.

[2:54:40] Ultimately that's the board's decision

[2:54:43] but what level of quality that you're looking to achieve.

[2:54:49] Is that comparative analysis was attempting to basically say

[2:54:52] again, cattle grazing just came from the property

[2:54:56] versus Robert's branch.

[2:54:58] Or within the last two years.

[2:55:02] So we can restore it and leave it alone

[2:55:05] it could look like savage Christmas Creek in 20 years.

[2:55:08] That benchmark is at least what we

[2:55:10] attempted to do absent a score or something.

[2:55:16] Kelly Martinez Semrad: Okay.

[2:55:18] So I'm trying to cross compare then with other government

[2:55:21] organizations or supporting government organizations

[2:55:23] because Saint John's River management

[2:55:25] frequently we look to them for guidance in terms of what we are

[2:55:29] doing environmentally, and they are using this practice,

[2:55:33] but I'm hearing both from you some strong intonation that this

[2:55:37] is it doesn't sound as though you're supporting of it,

[2:55:45] and that's okay, I'm just trying to understand why we are seeing

[2:55:49] other government agencies that we

[2:55:51] reference for environmental assessments are using it?

[2:55:56] >> I'm going to go back to that water quality issue that

[2:55:59] Robert's branch is impaired isn't paired for E coli,

[2:56:03] and the cancer the county wants to say to they determine

[2:56:07] a maximum daily loading would be required to try to clean that

[2:56:11] up.

[2:56:11] Unlike the Water management districts,

[2:56:14] they are not involved in that process.

[2:56:17] They don't get allocations for a percentage of what they need

[2:56:23] to clean up for impairments.

[2:56:25] And I don't disagree with you that they utilize it

[2:56:30] as a means to help them with managing the site,

[2:56:36] providing on site presence, that's a decision

[2:56:42] that they made a very long time ago.

[2:56:45] And I'm going to hearken back to the boat trip

[2:56:48] when we took forH the spa.

[2:57:54] We didn't include the start up cost, which is, you know,

[2:57:58] if we were to fence out Robert's ranch it would cost the county

[2:58:01] $180,000.

[2:58:10] Of the leasee if that's the way that we are going to go.

[2:58:14] We have to make sure that they are doing what they obligated

[2:58:21] themselves to the contract, and I'm not saying they won't.

[2:58:25] It's just that we we use the term trust verify.

[2:58:30] As good stewards of the county's properties,

[2:58:34] we need to make sure that we have a continued presence,

[2:58:40] to continue to develop that relationship with the lessee,

[2:58:44] so that if it's the board's decision,

[2:58:47] it would be a win win for both, the leasee, and the county.

[2:58:53] So, we looked at 10% of the time 40 hours a week,

[2:59:00] came out to $15,000 for one staff person's time.

[2:59:06] For that annual.

[2:59:07] That doesn't include the cost, so we added all of those up,

[2:59:12] we did not include the cost of the property,

[2:59:14] I did that exercise, it's really 50 or 60 years to pay it back.

[2:59:28] Yeah.

[2:59:28] It also would take a long time for the Leasee

[2:59:33] to make money if they were to be putting in the water sources

[2:59:38] and thankfully the fences are in good condition, but some of them

[2:59:43] need the perimeter fencing, because that's

[2:59:45] important to the leasee or a potentially C,

[2:59:49] because, that cow is a commodity.

[2:59:53] They don't want to have that cow go out on the road

[2:59:56] and get lost or hit by a car.

[3:00:07] Kelly Martinez Semrad: You had some specific benefits

[3:00:09] to the program.

[3:00:11] And I'm sure you spoke on cost and the analyzation from BPD

[3:00:15] is definitely true for their numbers.

[3:00:17] But, there could be different numbers at the end.

[3:00:24] If a lease was negotiated or an agreement came forth

[3:00:28] such as fencing would be on the producer.

[3:00:31] So all of the fencing costs would be on the producer.

[3:00:34] And they are as something you mentioned

[3:00:36] I think it's E coli through NRCs that could help the producer put

[3:00:40] on fences and be able to move them at a cost share.

[3:00:44] Because that is a commodity, they

[3:00:46] don't want that cattle to go away.

[3:00:51] There are instances Saint John's,

[3:00:54] there's a member representing the water

[3:00:56] on our ag advisory board from Saint John's River Water

[3:01:01] Management District, and she gave

[3:01:03] a cost of what they charge it was around,

[3:01:05] I want to say 4 to $700 per head of cattle, basically.

[3:01:11] That's like the lease agreement.

[3:01:13] There is another water management district

[3:01:15] that charges per acre.

[3:01:17] Now, of course that's like thousands of acres,

[3:01:20] but, a quarterly payment to that entity would be around 17000.

[3:01:25] And that's just some of the research that I looked at.

[3:01:28] So, there are some ways that it could be negotiated with costs,

[3:01:31] because the farmer would be there on site, there would

[3:01:35] probably not be any kind of mowing,

[3:01:37] because the cattle would do all of that if you will, the fencing

[3:01:41] and for the waterways you can fence out or double fence,

[3:01:46] put buffers, is it a save all?

[3:01:49] Probably not.

[3:01:50] But, is it a solution for the time being

[3:01:53] that wouldn't increase bacterial loads?

[3:01:56] Definitely.

[3:01:57] Because that falls into BMP.

[3:01:59] So it's a seesaw approach.

[3:02:02] If that helps or answers your question there.

[3:02:07] Kelly Martinez Semrad: It does.

[3:02:10] I think this is where I am and I don't

[3:02:11] know what my board members are thinking,

[3:02:11] I'm still fighting, because I have a realistic fear that I

[3:02:14] think that the property tax reform is going to pass,

[3:02:17] and that scares me, and when I think about

[3:02:19] that I understand that the budget has

[3:02:22] a scarce resource the scarcest resource is the cash that feeds

[3:02:25] the budget when we talk about property tax reform,

[3:02:27] and I think that there's opportunity and risk in programs

[3:02:31] like this and the opportunity is if we talk

[3:02:34] about a reduction in budget we talk about a reduction

[3:02:36] in the ability to manage land.

[3:02:37] And I think that this does provide then an access point

[3:02:41] to help us manage our land, I hear the water quality concerns,

[3:02:44] I know that they are innovative approaches,

[3:02:46] I know that our cattle ranchers and our farmers

[3:02:50] come I believe them to be good stewards of the land,

[3:02:52] I come from an agricultural family.

[3:02:54] I consider myself an environmentalist.

[3:02:56] And I believe that where there is a will there is a way.

[3:02:59] I think that a controlled pilot study can work,

[3:03:02] but the key word is controlled.

[3:03:04] And I don't like nobody here wants

[3:03:09] to see water quality get worse, but I also

[3:03:12] don't want to see us having to be forced by the state

[3:03:14] to auction off what they consider surplus conservation

[3:03:18] land either.

[3:03:19] Or preservation land.

[3:03:21] And that was in at the state two years ago

[3:03:24] was that auctioning off of the surplus.

[3:03:26] So if we're using the land, then it isn't surplus,

[3:03:29] this is a way to make revenue, but I

[3:03:31] do have concerns on those finances,

[3:03:33] but I hear Kevin that there are opportunities.

[3:03:37] And I want to also emphasize, this is not a program

[3:03:41] that anybody is asking to use on 100% of Green Place Lane.

[3:03:46] So come you know come again, I believe

[3:03:48] that where there's a will there's a way,

[3:03:50] and I think that we can still restore green place

[3:03:53] land while also using it in the form of grazing land.

[3:03:58] So I would support it but I do have a concern on this finances,

[3:04:03] and today my vote I'm not going to vote on something that I

[3:04:06] don't understand finances on.

[3:04:08] That's my simple rule of thumb.

[3:04:10] I just want.

[3:04:10] And I don't clearly have an understanding of the finances

[3:04:13] and how we prevent a funding gap of seven years.

[3:04:17] So that's where my big concern is.

[3:04:19] Thank you.

[3:04:21] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[3:04:24] We do have another item this morning so

[3:04:26] let me see if we can't get a reading from the members

[3:04:28] of the board whether to proceed, with

[3:04:30] some additional due diligence for a decision

[3:04:34] to come at a later date.

[3:04:35] Clearly I think I know where Commissioner Wilson is.

[3:04:41] Nicole H. Wilson: Yeah if I could, just to reiterate,

[3:04:46] the boil down for me is that we are altering a land use that

[3:04:48] was promised to our environmental community

[3:04:52] and it's not surplus land, this is deeded to Orange County.

[3:04:57] So it's very different than the examples

[3:04:59] that I think you're referring to in the legislature.

[3:05:01] These were deeded Orange County Green Place properties

[3:05:04] for the purpose of ecosystem services, in perpetuity,

[3:05:08] so if we break into that today, if we crack into that today

[3:05:12] and change this land use, we are doing exactly what

[3:05:14] we have come to that counter up there

[3:05:16] and argued against for years and years.

[3:05:18] And that is ultimately why I am a no.

[3:05:21] I will say, I believe there is a path forward

[3:05:24] in a separate program.

[3:05:26] I want to get with the advisory board

[3:05:28] to talk about that, because there are many funding

[3:05:31] mechanisms.

[3:05:31] These are funding mechanisms where the landholders still

[3:05:35] own their land.

[3:05:37] And they alleviate part of the cost

[3:05:39] by getting an easement over it.

[3:05:41] That is not what we're talking about in this pilot.

[3:05:44] So there are options to move forward, this is not it.

[3:05:47] No.

[3:05:49] Jerry L. Demings: Okay.

[3:05:53] We can read that.

[3:05:54] Commissioner?

[3:05:57] Mayra Uribe: I wanted to ask some questions, are you sure?

[3:06:00] Am I up?

[3:06:00] Fantastic.

[3:06:01] There's a concern that Commissioner Wilson

[3:06:03] said it didn't seem well that this

[3:06:09] has elevated so quickly without our input before today.

[3:06:11] I think we have had discussions with folks in agriculture come

[3:06:15] and we've had discussions about this along the way,

[3:06:19] but I would have expected more of a transparent process

[3:06:21] with us included when we got here.

[3:06:24] I see both sides of this, but I am super super

[3:06:28] concerned about the cost.

[3:06:31] And I am very concerned that this is being brought

[3:06:33] on us right now as a cost.

[3:06:35] So we're trying to we're supposed to be giving you

[3:06:37] guys direction but I don't think we're really

[3:06:39] at the inception of what we wanted to frame to see this.

[3:06:43] I do believe there is technology that

[3:06:46] could have helped the water, but none of us

[3:06:48] will be here in eight years you know?

[3:06:53] And I just want to know like will the board take it

[3:06:57] as an opportunity and how impactful and important that is?

[3:07:00] But, I'm not a no because I don't think this is good,

[3:07:10] but I just am a no because I don't feel comfortable

[3:07:12] making that decision without all of the knowledge of the good

[3:07:15] and the bad and you know you're discussing the cost

[3:07:17] and we all know that that's overbearing,

[3:07:20] and did we hear about the water quality?

[3:07:21] I do trust agriculture it was here before we got here,

[3:07:25] so there's a lot more of that before we actually got involved.

[3:07:29] But when it pertains to this, and actually

[3:07:32] any kind of wetland impact and stuff like that,

[3:07:34] just having that full depth of knowledge is very concerning.

[3:07:38] But, ultimately I do want to take a pause,

[3:07:41] I do not feel comfortable moving forward.

[3:07:44] Thank you.

[3:07:48] Jerry L. Demings: All right Commissioner Gomes Cordeiro.

[3:07:53] Maribel Gomez Cordero: Thank you.

[3:07:56] I'm very concerned about the finances as well.

[3:07:58] I think based on what Commissioner Wilson said

[3:08:02] a tentative or any other way I would

[3:08:04] like to explore that as well.

[3:08:05] So, I don't --

[3:08:10] Jerry L. Demings: Okay.

[3:08:15] Commissioner I think we know where you are on this?

[3:08:17] Kelly Martinez Semrad: I would ask

[3:08:21] that we move this to another day with full information

[3:08:23] on finances so we can understand the full financial picture

[3:08:23] that this paints, Commissioner Wilson I hear what you're saying

[3:08:26] regarding the rezoning and stating on that podium,

[3:08:28] because I have been there hundreds of times.

[3:08:31] And you're right, advocating for zoning changes.

[3:08:36] But, we got a toll road running through solid oak forest that

[3:08:42] was promised to the people, it's not

[3:08:43] a different issue coming because it's publicly

[3:08:45] owned land it was left to the people in perpetuity

[3:08:47] with taxpayer money.

[3:08:49] Excuse me.

[3:08:49] I have the mic.

[3:08:51] So it's not separate.

[3:08:53] Then we've got Eagles roost, that's directly attached to it

[3:08:55] and then we've got another green place

[3:08:57] land that is mid mitigated mitigated land.

[3:09:01] So we have these issues all the time here

[3:09:04] so we're purchasing the land, and if we

[3:09:07] can later this afternoon talk about letting people opt out

[3:09:10] of vision 2050 our land use Nicole H. Wilson: That's not

[3:09:22] what we're talking about right Kelly Martinez Semrad:

[3:09:26] It is to the taxpayers because if we can have somebody opt out

[3:09:26] to our comprehensive land use plan to use the old version

[3:09:26] but we're going to come in here and tell farmers

[3:09:28] that we can't find a way that while we actively don't have

[3:09:31] money to restore this property, that we are not going to use it?

[3:09:35] And if you look at CFX 2025 by the way

[3:09:37] they've got a road running through this.

[3:09:39] So I'd rather use the land to help our farmers

[3:09:42] in our cattlemen while we get our finances in order

[3:09:48] but in order to do that I got to understand

[3:09:50] our finances to understand how we're impacting taxpayers

[3:09:53] so while these issues may seem separate to us

[3:09:56] because we understand the different pots

[3:09:57] and how these things work, to taxpayers it's

[3:10:01] convoluted on the surface.

[3:10:04] So I think where there's a will there's a way

[3:10:07] and this program could be successful.

[3:10:09] Thank you.

[3:10:13] Jerry L. Demings: Commissioner Scott?

[3:10:19] Michael “Mike” Scott: I've kind of been teetering back

[3:10:21] and forth.

[3:10:22] But I would like to see and Commissioner Wilson

[3:10:26] if you don't have any objection is

[3:10:27] that the staff has done some pretty significant work

[3:10:31] and put time on this.

[3:10:34] So I think from a board direction standpoint

[3:10:36] if we could allow them to talk with your team come

[3:10:39] and talk with some others and present some additional options,

[3:10:43] and then we can revisit the conversation.

[3:10:45] Because by nature the very definition of a pilot is to try.

[3:10:49] Understand what Saying we're changing the use

[3:10:51] but we're just trying something.

[3:10:54] Nicole H. Wilson: Know.

[3:10:59] It will change the use so I opposed the change

[3:11:01] use for Greenpeace for any other use.

[3:11:01] And that's going to be where I land.

[3:11:01] I'm a no to busting into our Conservation Lands program

[3:11:04] period.

[3:11:07] Michael “Mike” Scott: I got you.

[3:11:13] I got you.

[3:11:13] Jerry L. Demings: Look what we don't have is any consensus

[3:11:16] to move it forward.

[3:11:17] Towards going to the next step you know?

[3:11:20] To make this a policy.

[3:11:24] But, perhaps there may be some consensus

[3:11:31] to do some additional research and gather data,

[3:11:38] this is a little troubling to me that even out of the Greenspace

[3:11:44] Advisory board.

[3:11:46] Let me finish.

[3:11:47] Let me finish.

[3:11:48] Let me just finish.

[3:11:51] I think that that it's problematic because the Green

[3:11:56] Place Advisory Committee they didn't even clearly advance this

[3:12:01] forward.

[3:12:01] And so I think there is some need for more discussion there.

[3:12:07] You know?

[3:12:08] Out of that seven member body, they are citizens.

[3:12:13] That's the citizen advisory board.

[3:12:16] And we didn't get a good read in from them.

[3:12:21] And then also, when we look at this desire to get to the point

[3:12:29] you have to have a supermajority.

[3:12:31] We're not gonna get there.

[3:12:33] Not at this point.

[3:12:38] So I know that the board is going

[3:12:40] to significantly change here in just a matter of months.

[3:12:43] Our staff come we've got a number of issues

[3:12:46] that we're going to have to bring before this board.

[3:12:49] During this budget cycle.

[3:12:53] We don't have time to waste if you will to manage our board

[3:12:59] meetings so, if we're not giving staff some clear direction,

[3:13:05] today, then staff is all over the place.

[3:13:09] Okay?

[3:13:10] So I don't see, I don't hear clear direction to staff.

[3:13:15] I hear politics entering into it you

[3:13:19] know I'm not really ready to make a decision today,

[3:13:22] but, that doesn't give staff the direction

[3:13:26] that they need to either go back and do research or not.

[3:13:29] So this is not ready for this board

[3:13:33] to make a decision on today.

[3:13:35] And quite frankly, I don't think that it's

[3:13:38] going to be ready for this board to make

[3:13:41] a decision anytime before several of us

[3:13:46] are going to leave the board.

[3:13:47] This isn't going to come back before November.

[3:13:52] Or December.

[3:13:54] Am I right?

[3:13:56] I don't see that coming back.

[3:14:00] >> Correct.

[3:14:01] In part because I don't know what more

[3:14:03] we can actually provide that would be a deciding factor.

[3:14:08] Jerry L. Demings: Okay.

[3:14:14] So this isn't coming back for a while.

[3:14:15] You know Commissioner Wilson come you and Commissioner Simran

[3:14:18] and probably Commissioner Scott?

[3:14:21] You all are going to have to take the lead on if you want

[3:14:26] this to come back at some point I'm just telling you,

[3:14:32] we don't have everything to wrestle with all of the issues

[3:14:35] that we have to wrestle with that

[3:14:37] are going to come before this board

[3:14:38] within the next few months.

[3:14:39] It's just not going to happen.

[3:14:42] Nicole H. Wilson: I'm going to ask my team

[3:14:46] to set up a meeting with the advisory board

[3:14:48] to set up other ideas that's what

[3:14:49] I'm going to do for my office and I want to work with them.

[3:14:55] Kelly Martinez Semrad: Commissioner

[3:14:57] we can do that at sunshine.

[3:14:58] Jerry L. Demings: I think the advisory board and the board

[3:15:00] this is where you got to get a better reading coming

[3:15:01] from those citizen advisory boards.

[3:15:02] In order to kind of get to the point

[3:15:05] where the board of County commissioners

[3:15:07] can have a meaningful conversation.

[3:15:09] And we're just not ready today.

[3:15:13] So, we are going to table this for further direction

[3:15:16] in the future.

[3:15:17] That's the board direction you're going to have for now.

[3:15:23] And we are going to move on to our agenda

[3:15:25] and try to get this in.

[3:15:28] Jason?

[3:15:31] >> Good morning mayor.

[3:15:34] Jerry L. Demings: How long are you

[3:15:38] going to need for this Jason?

[3:15:39] Can you get this done by 1:00?

[3:15:40] >> I can present in that time the discussion is what I

[3:15:43] can't control.

[3:15:44] Jerry L. Demings: All right Jason you're up.

[3:15:48] >> Good morning mayor and commissioners coming this

[3:15:50] morning I'm bringing you our afternoon.

[3:15:50] Sorry I'm bringing you an update about the Timberlake

[3:15:53] Condominiums.

[3:15:54] I will be joined by Yvette for a piece of this presentation.

[3:16:00] So there are some key terms that I would like everyone

[3:16:02] to be familiar with to make sure that we are

[3:16:04] on the same page going forward, timber scan on the lake which

[3:16:08] is also referred to as timber scan also the property complex

[3:16:12] neighborhood, the condo units or the residential units in timber!

[3:16:16] The building is a group of condo units,

[3:16:19] the condominium or the condo was a type of ownership

[3:16:22] in which individuals owned separate units,

[3:16:25] and then they share ownership responsibility

[3:16:27] of the common areas, so think the hallways, the exterior,

[3:16:31] parking areas etc.

[3:16:33] That is a type of ownership of a mandatory HOA.

[3:16:37] And you have the condo association

[3:16:39] which is the govern the condo units

[3:16:41] and maintain the shared areas, and then the declarations,

[3:16:44] those are the legal documents outlining the ownership

[3:16:46] structure and the rights.

[3:16:48] Think of it as a charter or guiding document for the condos.

[3:16:52] Timber scan as we know is plagued

[3:16:54] by public safety concerns and residents living unsafe

[3:16:57] and in precarious conditions.

[3:16:59] Many of the buildings are or most of the buildings

[3:17:03] are demolished, those that are standing are dilapidated,

[3:17:05] there are condo units without walls

[3:17:08] that have people living in them, the county

[3:17:11] owns 38% of those condo units and most of those

[3:17:13] have been demolished.

[3:17:14] There are unmaintained fire hydrants and tremendous amount

[3:17:17] of dumping.

[3:17:19] To address these long term concerns the county proposes

[3:17:23] several solutions which we are bringing forth today

[3:17:27] the first is to terminate the condominiums,

[3:17:29] so the property can be sold.

[3:17:32] Second is to utilize a third party to manage that sale,

[3:17:35] and then importantly to offer services to the residents who

[3:17:38] are being impacted.

[3:17:40] So, this is the third time you would

[3:17:43] have heard this presentation about timber scan,

[3:17:46] I've just addressed this board in January of last year,

[3:17:50] which at that time I was really introducing

[3:17:52] a grand scale of timber scan and all of what's going on there.

[3:17:57] Talked about the history and the conditions

[3:17:59] I talked about the resources and I proposed a solution.

[3:18:03] There was no action taken at the time,

[3:18:05] the board wanted staff to meet with the community

[3:18:07] and bring it back for another update that happened in March,

[3:18:10] of which we then detailed engaging with the residents

[3:18:14] and stakeholders and provided more updates,

[3:18:16] I mean at that time we proposed next steps without necessarily

[3:18:19] requiring an action and no action was taken then either.

[3:18:22] So, following those BCC meeting staff

[3:18:28] reviewed the condos and documented and documented

[3:18:31] records, retained an attorney to view long term options,

[3:18:35] and continue to monitor activities in timber

[3:18:37] scan title searches are being conducted

[3:18:39] on all of the condo units.

[3:18:42] We continue to engage with residents and stakeholders

[3:18:45] there, and of course resident response inquiries.

[3:18:48] Today's presentation is going to provide a brief history

[3:18:51] realizing you all are familiar with the conditions

[3:18:55] and present the legal review of the options which

[3:18:58] is those are new, the services for the residents

[3:19:00] will be presented by Reyes, we will discuss communication plan

[3:19:04] and any updates.

[3:19:05] We are not requesting an action from you this afternoon,

[3:19:08] we are simply seeking direction about the issue and the plan.

[3:19:12] So this is our outline of which I

[3:19:14] will start with the history and existing conditions and timber

[3:19:17] scan.

[3:19:18] Built in the 1970s, timber scan was at that time luxurious condo

[3:19:22] a luxurious condominium complex.

[3:19:25] Many of the young professionals who

[3:19:27] could afford it lived at this complex, it was on the water,

[3:19:31] close to downtown, was 321 units, they do have,

[3:19:35] it was built with a master condo association which

[3:19:38] collects the dues to maintain the property.

[3:19:41] Think of all the regular day to day maintenance

[3:19:43] that you have on the condominium complex of this side

[3:19:47] the size maintaining the exterior, cutting the grass,

[3:19:51] servicing the fire hydrants and maintaining the amenities

[3:19:54] and things like that.

[3:19:55] There are four separate condo associations in timber scan

[3:19:59] which makes things a little bit more difficult and complicated.

[3:20:02] Three of those associations are inactive,

[3:20:07] they have not been dissolved, but there's no leadership

[3:20:10] anymore and their staff members and residents are actively

[3:20:14] working with that section you heard

[3:20:16] from some of those residents this morning.

[3:20:19] The decline of timber scan started in the 90s really with

[3:20:23] mismanagement of funds and poor administration of those condo

[3:20:27] associations.

[3:20:27] Again the condo associations they

[3:20:30] are required to collect dues to make the day to day improvements

[3:20:33] and maintenance of that property.

[3:20:35] At some point the dues collecting became inconsistent

[3:20:38] and did not happen on a regular basis,

[3:20:41] this resulted in water service almost being disconnected.

[3:20:44] Again, that condo association they

[3:20:51] were used to pay the water among other utilities.

[3:20:57] Buildings became damaged, the state of central Florida

[3:21:03] it took time for people to build their homes,

[3:21:07] but in a condo association the dues

[3:21:10] and the recent funding that they raised

[3:21:12] was meant to address the damaged structures

[3:21:15] and that did not occur the instructors you

[3:21:19] can see before you damaged in the hurricane,

[3:21:21] damage in those hurricanes which could not be built,

[3:21:24] which could not be the foreclosure crisis very

[3:21:30] detrimental very difficult in regards

[3:21:33] so you have now dilapidated structures

[3:21:38] combined with people in 2019 the residents

[3:21:45] did attempt to initiate receivership that

[3:21:53] was ultimately unsuccessful.

[3:21:55] So now we are up into majority you see where dilapidated you

[3:22:07] see pictures here there were fires, people when you

[3:22:10] have vacant units we know that people

[3:22:13] try to inhabit those units.

[3:22:18] They would use cooking materials or whatever

[3:22:21] and those fires burned and they lost structures

[3:22:26] some spread to other units, there were serious public safety

[3:22:29] concerns in timber scan mainly because a lot of people

[3:22:32] left, there were available opportunities for people

[3:22:36] for deviance, and not only did deviance stay in timber scan

[3:22:39] but it also spread to neighboring communities.

[3:22:42] Again I mentioned people lost their homes

[3:22:44] or left, which presented an opportunity for people to squat

[3:22:47] in those units.

[3:22:48] There was dumping, HOA dues weren't collected,

[3:22:51] water bills were not being paid nor was trash collection.

[3:22:57] So that left just a very disheartening

[3:23:00] come a very discouraging come a very difficult place for people

[3:23:03] to live and place for people to conduct their lives.

[3:23:06] This then culminated in 2014 where the water bill was not

[3:23:12] being paid to ou c.

[3:23:14] O you see started the process of disconnecting the water as they

[3:23:18] would do with the traditional account,

[3:23:20] but it was so far behind.

[3:23:22] The residents came to the BCC made an appeal for assistance,

[3:23:27] at that time after some meetings and discussions,

[3:23:30] the disconnection was delayed and eventually not done,

[3:23:35] and eventually the county started

[3:23:37] to lean in and get involved in some of the operations

[3:23:40] at Timber Scan and realized just how dire the conditions were.

[3:23:43] That involved providing social services,

[3:23:47] and approved infrastructure which we will get into shortly.

[3:23:51] And again, Orange County saw the dire need, saw the destruction,

[3:23:56] saw the public safety, life safety, and other issues

[3:23:59] in timber scan and decided intervention was best.

[3:24:02] The county has invested about $3.5 million most of that has

[3:24:07] gone towards demolishing unsafe structures,

[3:24:10] social services were offered at that time with relocation

[3:24:14] systems, county secured buildings,

[3:24:17] repaired water and wastewater systems,

[3:24:21] repaid storm drains and pave outs and had about $40,000

[3:24:27] of wastewater fees fees.

[3:24:28] But I want to emphasize most of these infrastructure

[3:24:31] improvements were the result of the condo association.

[3:24:38] They weren't able to so the county then made

[3:24:41] an extraordinary decision to address the concerns their.

[3:24:47] What we see now is things are a bit more quiet,

[3:24:52] but it's still not a place where someone would necessarily

[3:24:54] want to live as evidenced by the two residents who

[3:24:57] came this morning who were asking for an opportunity

[3:25:00] to lead leave.

[3:25:01] Again the buildings are demolished,

[3:25:03] the existing buildings are unsafe,

[3:25:05] dilapidated, fire hydrants are unmaintained,

[3:25:09] the county owns 123 condo units which

[3:25:12] I will talk about a little bit later,

[3:25:14] there are units without water and people are living in them.

[3:25:18] Dumping is still there.

[3:26:55] All of them approximately 84% was demolished.

[3:27:00] So, this is a visualization of the demolished demolitions that

[3:27:04] occurred, each of those little rectangles

[3:27:07] represents what was a building and a group of condo units

[3:27:13] a building in temper scan.

[3:27:15] What was replaced by the red rectangles

[3:27:17] is all the buildings that were demolished.

[3:27:20] As you can see here, there are eight buildings still standing.

[3:27:26] The buildings that are the yellow rectangle buildings

[3:27:28] are somewhat in the cluster, I guess to my right

[3:27:33] or we'll say in the eastern part of the map,

[3:27:35] those are all section two, the one in the back closest

[3:27:38] to the lake has a building that does not have water service.

[3:27:43] So, again there are eight buildings standing,

[3:27:47] 56 units, two of those are owned by the county, of those 50

[3:27:52] it's about 54, they maintain the hope of exemption as of 2026.

[3:27:58] I mentioned earlier that the county

[3:28:00] owns 123 units about 38% of temper

[3:28:04] scan those were not the county acquiring those through the tax

[3:28:08] process those properties come most of them

[3:28:10] demolished so air acceded to the county.

[3:28:14] Again 2021 of those are demolished

[3:28:16] and two are still standing.

[3:28:18] So in summary, temper scan is plagued

[3:28:22] by public safety concerns and residents and unsafe conditions.

[3:28:27] The dilapidated buildings presented

[3:28:30] and present public safety and resident safety.

[3:28:34] The county did pursue demolition and demolish

[3:28:38] 41 of the 48 buildings in their 56 buildings still remaining.

[3:28:43] There are still unaddressed life safety --

[3:28:50] the county owns 123 units through the taxi process,

[3:28:53] four condo units have a home extension,

[3:28:56] and then the county again is $3.5 million invested

[3:29:01] in the county to stabilize the conditions.

[3:29:03] So in regards, this session we'll

[3:29:06] be new to the listening audience about the options

[3:29:10] again the county proposes a long term solution to the conditions.

[3:29:15] I'd like to terminate the condos utilize the third party

[3:29:19] to manage the sale, and then offer services to residents.

[3:29:23] The County Attorney's office did retain law group,

[3:29:28] they are Florida based real estate firm the specialized

[3:29:34] conflicts of regulation, they've done this type of work

[3:29:37] before, it was very refreshing to speak

[3:29:39] with a firm of this level of expertise,

[3:29:40] and for them to bring their expertise to help guide us

[3:29:43] through this process.

[3:29:45] They conducted a legal analysis and to determine

[3:29:49] the condominium.

[3:29:51] And this is based on their analysis,

[3:29:57] profitable equitable or safe and those are their words

[3:30:00] from the report, they recommended

[3:30:02] they didn't recommend, they proposed four options

[3:30:04] for terminating.

[3:30:05] There's equitable termination, termination based on damage,

[3:30:12] increased possibility and then there's an optional termination.

[3:30:16] The equitable termination is allowed because the property was

[3:30:20] damaged or destroyed and cannot be repaired.

[3:30:23] It provides the most viable option to terminate

[3:30:26] and allows for judicial partition which

[3:30:29] is our desire for the property to be sold,

[3:30:31] and must be initiated by condominium owner.

[3:30:34] Again those condo units are there

[3:30:36] so the county does have the authority

[3:30:38] to initiate this equitable termination.

[3:30:41] The termination trustee would be the person

[3:30:43] who would be responsible for terminating the termination

[3:30:46] process and facilitating the sale of that property.

[3:30:50] And then laying down the association affairs.

[3:30:54] Previously we used the term receiver

[3:30:56] which was the wrong term to describe what we are doing.

[3:30:58] Receiver responsible for maintaining a property

[3:31:01] or trying to manage it.

[3:31:02] Termination trustee would be the goal of terminating the condos,

[3:31:06] selling the property, and then lining up all the affairs.

[3:31:12] Here is the second option which is the termination based

[3:31:15] on major damage, and this is based on the condo declarations

[3:31:19] in timber scan.

[3:31:21] That if majority of sorry based on major damage

[3:31:26] suffered by more than 80% of timber scan.

[3:31:28] This also may be initiated by a condo unit owner in timber scan.

[3:31:33] The next option is termination based on economic waste which

[3:31:36] is basically contrary to public policy because of damage

[3:31:41] and deterioration.

[3:31:42] Sorry operating timber scan is contrary to public policy

[3:31:46] because of damage and deterioration.

[3:31:49] Maintaining or restoring it would be financially irrational

[3:31:51] or practically impossible.

[3:31:53] And that's based on the conditions which are there now.

[3:31:57] Importantly, this option does require 66% of the condo unit

[3:32:02] owners and a majority of the association directors

[3:32:05] to provide consent before proceeding.

[3:32:09] This again may be initiated by a condo unit

[3:32:13] owner or the association.

[3:32:14] And the last of those options, optional termination this

[3:32:17] is again a voluntary termination through a plan of termination.

[3:32:21] This plan does have to go through the state,

[3:32:24] so for a vision of condominiums, timeshares and mobile homes,

[3:32:28] this does require consent of at least 80% of voting interests

[3:32:32] in timber scan, at least 5% of those or any 5% of the voting

[3:32:36] interests object then the plan cannot move forward.

[3:32:39] This also can be initiated by a condo unit or condo association.

[3:32:43] So I went through those rather fast,

[3:32:45] so I want to summarize each of those options right now.

[3:32:48] So in regards to the equitable termination,

[3:32:50] that is eligible for termination today based on the conditions.

[3:32:55] The Florida no owner consent is required, the authority

[3:33:01] for that is basically the Florida statutes, that

[3:33:04] does allow for a sale after and that

[3:33:07] is the recommendation by legal counsel based on major damage

[3:33:13] eligible for termination now.

[3:33:15] Again no consent or external review

[3:33:18] prior, the authorities and then the sale and termination

[3:33:22] could occur afterwards.

[3:33:23] Termination based on economic waste and possibility, that does

[3:33:27] require consent of the owners of the associations,

[3:33:30] it's based on the statutes and the sale is for that afterwards,

[3:33:34] and the optional termination does

[3:33:37] require consent of the owners and the association,

[3:33:39] there is an external review that's

[3:33:42] based on the Florida statutes and the sale

[3:33:44] after termination if possible.

[3:33:46] So this is very lengthy, but I'll skip through and highlight

[3:33:50] the most important parts.

[3:33:51] So if the county were to move forward with this effort,

[3:33:55] not to say that we would start in September,

[3:33:57] but if we started this effort in September

[3:34:00] the legal process is it would take about a year

[3:34:04] for a summary judgment requiring the equitable termination.

[3:34:11] So we're looking at September 2027.

[3:34:14] These are more timelines.

[3:34:16] We don't need to go over them they're

[3:34:18] more information available.

[3:34:20] More steps in the process.

[3:34:23] If the next reasonable milestone is July 2028,

[3:34:27] which would be the partition sale or the judgment

[3:34:32] to potentially sell the property.

[3:34:34] Again we are looking at about two years

[3:34:37] and this would be if all of those steps went smoothly

[3:34:40] and again you see everything there

[3:34:42] so you don't delay, no intervening appeals

[3:34:45] in the process.

[3:34:46] So if you're looking at about two years

[3:34:48] give or take for this process to start to finish.

[3:34:53] So in summary operating timber scan is no longer equitable

[3:34:56] practical or safe, the equitable termination

[3:34:59] is what the county is proposing, that's

[3:35:01] what was recommended to us from our external counsel they are

[3:35:05] allowed to terminate the condos from the center of the property

[3:35:07] and that would also provide a consent,

[3:35:10] no consent is required from the property owners,

[3:35:13] and then we would utilize the termination

[3:35:15] trustee to manage the sale.

[3:35:17] This entire process could take about two years.

[3:35:20] So I'm going to bring up a vet race

[3:35:23] to talk about the residents which includes

[3:35:25] the resources to the residents.

[3:35:33] >> Good afternoon mayor and Commissioners.

[3:35:34] Again.

[3:35:34] I am Yvette Reyes, the manager of the Citizens Resource

[3:35:37] and Outreach Division.

[3:35:38] And my portion today is brief.

[3:35:42] But, it is the most important because it does

[3:35:44] talk about the assistance to the individuals and families that

[3:35:47] currently reside in this community.

[3:35:49] So as you heard from some of the residents this morning,

[3:35:53] they are ready for help and we are ready to help.

[3:35:57] So the mission of the citizen Research and Outreach Division

[3:36:00] is to direct resources to Orange County residents

[3:36:03] through various social service programs.

[3:36:06] We are familiar with this community,

[3:36:08] and we are committed to working alongside its residents

[3:36:11] throughout this transition.

[3:36:12] So as previously mentioned the trustees work will

[3:36:17] result in the sale of the property and this

[3:36:20] could take years.

[3:36:21] So, ideally this provides us an opportunity

[3:36:25] to relocate the residents before the sale of the property.

[3:36:29] So during that time, our division

[3:36:31] will provide supportive services to help residents

[3:36:34] navigate this transition.

[3:36:36] We will do this by assigning each household a dedicated case

[3:36:41] manager who will assess the needs of the household.

[3:36:44] And will serve as the consistent point of contact

[3:36:47] throughout the process.

[3:36:49] In addition to assisting residents with relocation

[3:36:54] case managers will also connect them

[3:36:56] to county services offered through the division shown

[3:36:59] on this slide.

[3:37:00] Which offer and provide numerous resources

[3:37:03] for children and families.

[3:37:06] In addition come we partner with several community agencies

[3:37:10] that can provide further support based on each household's

[3:37:15] unique circumstances.

[3:37:18] Although only four of the units currently

[3:37:22] have homestead exemption, utility records

[3:37:25] and our direct engagement with the residents

[3:37:28] indicate that approximately ten of the units are owner occupied.

[3:37:32] And this means that it is the primary residence of the owner.

[3:37:37] So, this community is continually

[3:37:40] changing with both owners and renters moving in and out,

[3:37:44] as recently as last month.

[3:37:46] But due to the ongoing conditions as the property

[3:37:48] it has been very difficult for owners

[3:37:51] to sell their condos so as part of the proposed assistance

[3:37:56] plan the county may offer to acquire owner occupied units

[3:38:00] as a part of the real estate transaction as Jason mentioned,

[3:38:04] and appraisal will be completed and is

[3:38:06] being completed with all of the units,

[3:38:08] especially the acquired units.

[3:38:09] The real estate management division retained

[3:38:13] and professional appraiser who evaluated

[3:38:15] five of the condo units and the appraiser

[3:38:17] resulted in a value of approximately 65000

[3:38:20] for each of those units.

[3:38:22] So, this can be used as a reference point or a starting

[3:38:26] point for any potential acquisition process.

[3:38:29] So, in summary, the termination of the trustee's work

[3:38:34] will result in the property being

[3:38:36] sold while the process could take years,

[3:38:38] it also provides us an opportunity

[3:38:40] to relocate the current residents before the property is

[3:38:44] sold.

[3:38:44] So our division is committed to supporting the residents

[3:38:47] through this transition by providing case management

[3:38:51] and connecting them with county and community services.

[3:38:54] As a part of this assistance plan

[3:38:55] the county may also offer to acquire the eligible owner

[3:38:58] occupied units at an approved value of.

[3:39:04] Investors that landlord their own units

[3:39:07] but do not live on the property would

[3:39:08] receive proper compensation for the property's eventual sale.

[3:39:12] I'll now turn it back over to Jason.

[3:39:14] Thank you.

[3:39:21] >> Thank you Yvette.

[3:39:23] Realizing the importance of communication I mean

[3:39:25] you've worked very closely with the Communications Division's.

[3:39:30] To make sure we have a plan if this effort moves forward

[3:39:32] and that involves working with the media emphasizing the life

[3:39:35] safety concerns, in the county's motivation for the actions.

[3:39:39] We have done similar projects during the last couple of years,

[3:39:43] and learning from those lessons we've

[3:39:45] identified the appropriate context to speak to the media.

[3:39:48] And then of course we have reoccurring meetings

[3:39:51] to make sure that we get appropriate updates.

[3:39:53] And then the PIOs will have media inquiries and the web

[3:39:58] page, and there's already a web page

[3:40:00] that's created and provides public facing information,

[3:40:02] and then creating the appropriate handouts and door

[3:40:06] hangers.

[3:40:07] But all of that to say we have considered

[3:40:10] the way the communications with the public or with the media

[3:40:12] and with all the stakeholders involved as a critical part

[3:40:15] of this effort.

[3:40:16] So we are wrapping up mayor.

[3:40:19] In regards to updates, the county

[3:40:22] continues to engage with residents,

[3:40:24] Reyes talked about that, we did send notices

[3:40:27] to each of the condo units in timber scan about today's

[3:40:31] meeting, the county owned units are vacant and secured.

[3:40:36] Worked very closely with the Sheriff's office and facilities

[3:40:39] to ensure that staff regularly checks on those properties

[3:40:41] to make sure that they are vacant and secure.

[3:40:44] The conditions in timber scan are deteriorating,

[3:40:48] last year we heard from groups of people about efforts

[3:40:53] to address timber scan, and we were making progress,

[3:40:57] unfortunately that has not happened.

[3:40:58] Our love there predictably it is unfortunate

[3:41:01] that that has not happened.

[3:41:05] There's more vacant units there, more activity,

[3:41:08] I would say the deviant type of activity is happening there,

[3:41:11] it does have a different feel.

[3:41:13] A year ago or a year and a half ago

[3:41:16] we brought the Sheriff's office with us as a precaution,

[3:41:19] but we quickly realized that maybe that

[3:41:21] wasn't needed because we were dealing with families,

[3:41:23] people were happy to see us and Yvette and her team

[3:41:27] had contacts there.

[3:41:28] Fast forward to this year and current times

[3:41:30] I'd say it's not safe for us to canvass there.

[3:41:33] So again it's an indication as how things have deteriorated.

[3:41:37] The section two stakeholders, two

[3:41:39] if you remember there were two brothers who

[3:41:42] were kind of leading the charge, they

[3:41:44] were the most vocal about their efforts to address timber scan.

[3:41:47] For different reasons, neither of them

[3:41:49] were with timber scan anymore, we

[3:41:50] suspect that may have played a part

[3:41:52] in some of the deteriorating conditions.

[3:41:54] Without those two being present, they have not provided the plan

[3:41:58] they spent a lot of 2025 talking about and saying that they were

[3:42:01] going to provide to us, the county Attorney's office Shonda

[3:42:04] White specifically, reviewed section two's condo documents,

[3:42:09] and that review she did find an incumbent's on the property

[3:42:14] of about $770,000 in increasing.

[3:42:19] So again that's the benefit of that title search

[3:42:22] to see what other incumbents is out there.

[3:42:26] Finishing the update section two they had a previous account that

[3:42:33] was closed I guess it was sometime last year of about

[3:42:38] 82,000, some of that money is owed to Orange County Utilities.

[3:42:44] That was sent to debt collections,

[3:42:47] they have opened a new account, however that new account is now

[3:42:50] $47,000 past due.

[3:42:52] So we see a similar trend, so now this

[3:42:55] would be the second account that they have

[3:42:58] managed that is now past due.

[3:43:01] You see typically with these accounts we see taking action,

[3:43:06] they have not at this point, so it is continuing to accrue,

[3:43:10] there is I'm not sure what the issue is but they've now accrued

[3:43:13] this very large past due amount, title searches

[3:43:16] are being done by the real estate management

[3:43:17] division on all the condo units, or at least the one standing

[3:43:21] or demolished, again we want to determine

[3:43:24] if there are other leads or encumbrances come

[3:43:26] and that does include title searches of the condo

[3:43:28] associations.

[3:43:29] Condo units also are still being sold.

[3:43:31] There were seven condo units listed for sale as of

[3:43:35] just a couple weeks ago in the end of June,

[3:43:37] there were recent sales in May of last year

[3:43:40] and as early as this year.

[3:43:42] There was a very unfortunate experience with someone

[3:43:44] who bought a unit earlier this year bought it sight unseen,

[3:43:48] looked at this listing looked at the pictures,

[3:43:50] saw the price moved here from up north,

[3:43:53] and then quickly realized the situation in timber scan

[3:43:58] and how now somewhat she's in a very bad situation.

[3:44:01] Is very sad, but this is unfortunately

[3:44:04] this is the way the real estate market works.

[3:44:07] We are trying to figure a way to provide some notice to people

[3:44:12] or at least work with real estate agents about awareness

[3:44:14] about this when units are being sold people are still

[3:44:17] actively buying these who don't know any better.

[3:44:20] So in summary.

[3:44:21] Again, where I started and in regards

[3:44:25] to public safety concerns and residents they're

[3:44:28] living in unsafe conditions, I've said it before

[3:44:31] and I will continue to say it, about the buildings demolished,

[3:44:34] those that are still standing are dilapidated,

[3:44:36] there are people living in condo units without water service.

[3:44:39] The county owns the 38% of the units,

[3:44:43] the unmaintained fire hydrants, and dumping.

[3:44:46] Shum Law Group proposed is no longer practical or equitable

[3:44:52] or safe.

[3:44:53] And they've also proposed long term solutions.

[3:44:56] The equitable termination is what

[3:44:59] we talked about earlier, that is the best long term solution

[3:45:02] to address the unsafe and precarious positions there,

[3:45:06] conclusion of the process could take

[3:45:07] years which again would provide opportunities for the county

[3:45:10] to provide services there.

[3:45:12] Should the county proceed with this or should we get direction

[3:45:14] to proceed, we would be seeking authority to terminate timber

[3:45:19] scans condominiums, petition for termination trustee and support

[3:45:23] for the Residents assistance plan,

[3:45:25] if again there is direction today we would bring this back

[3:45:28] as a consent agenda item on the 25th of August,

[3:45:32] realizing we've spent today discussing all of the different

[3:45:36] situations and all of the different options at play.

[3:45:41] So, just again in summary we heard a little bit of it

[3:45:44] this morning but I want to debunk

[3:45:47] some of the misinformation that could go around

[3:45:49] about timber scam.

[3:45:50] Orange County is not responsible for maintaining timber scam.

[3:45:54] That is the condo association.

[3:45:56] Orange County is also not removing people

[3:45:58] from timber scan, the goal of this effort

[3:46:00] is to provide services to people so that they can leave

[3:46:03] and that at the end of this process

[3:46:05] we would have hopefully relocated

[3:46:07] the folks before the sale of the property.

[3:46:10] And Orange County is not buying or selling

[3:46:12] timber scan as a whole.

[3:46:14] What the county proposes is a long term solution

[3:46:16] to the conditions there to terminate the condominiums,

[3:46:18] to utilize a third party to manage the sale,

[3:46:21] to offer services to residents, and to acquire condo units

[3:46:26] if the direction is there.

[3:46:28] So, in regards to board direction there is no action

[3:46:31] today, we are seeking direction about implementation

[3:46:34] which could involve terminating the timber scan condominiums,

[3:46:38] petitioning for termination trustee

[3:46:40] and the resident assistance, where

[3:46:43] that concludes the formal part of the presentation,

[3:46:47] although Eva and I are the ones you heard

[3:46:49] from this afternoon there are others in the audience here

[3:46:51] who worked on this with us and are available to answer

[3:46:54] any questions.

[3:47:01] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[3:47:02] No sadly we've been dealing with this for far too long.

[3:47:05] Orange County is not in the business

[3:47:09] of preserving dilapidated substandard housing that

[3:47:13] poses a threat to the life, safety, health of our residents.

[3:47:19] It's time.

[3:47:21] In fact, it's past time.

[3:47:25] For us to seek an implementation schedule as you

[3:47:31] laid out here to move forward with an equitable termination

[3:47:37] of this condominium complex.

[3:47:43] It pains me to say in some regards because I

[3:47:48] know people live there.

[3:47:49] And everybody ought to have the opportunity

[3:47:52] to have pride in where they live.

[3:47:57] And it pains me that these two grandmothers here today

[3:48:05] and they're caught up.

[3:48:08] They're caught up in a situation where they've got residents,

[3:48:14] they've got owners of property, all around them who are not

[3:48:18] taking care of that property.

[3:48:21] Those people who are living there

[3:48:23] deserve to have the opportunity to get out of their.

[3:48:28] Okay?

[3:48:29] Where, we should be working with providing some run on assistance

[3:48:35] and for those who are owners who live there because they can't go

[3:48:39] anywhere else, we ought to be helping

[3:48:43] them to facilitate the opportunity for them

[3:48:46] to move somewhere where they get out of being faced with life,

[3:48:53] health, and safety challenge.

[3:48:55] For those people who own property there, who are renters,

[3:49:00] or who are renting the property, to other people, who are not

[3:49:06] fixing up the property, they are part of the problem.

[3:49:11] If you own property and you're renting it to someone else,

[3:49:15] you have a moral responsibility to make sure

[3:49:18] that that property is a place that's dignified where you

[3:49:24] would want your family to live.

[3:49:26] And so I believe that at some day moving forward

[3:49:33] with this process, my concern and my priority

[3:49:37] is for those owner occupied units

[3:49:40] and those renters who perhaps can't

[3:49:44] afford to live somewhere else.

[3:49:46] And getting them some assistance to move somewhere else.

[3:49:50] It's time.

[3:49:51] So, I don't want us to keep kicking the can down the road.

[3:49:55] We've kicked it down the road I know

[3:49:57] I've been personally involved with this one way

[3:50:00] or another for almost two decades.

[3:50:03] And it hasn't gotten any better.

[3:50:06] A lot of promises have been made,

[3:50:08] by people who so-called are investors in the property,

[3:50:12] and none of them have ever come through.

[3:50:13] They have failed these people who are living there.

[3:50:16] And I do not want this board county commission

[3:50:20] to continue failing at taking care of people.

[3:50:25] These are people who are living their.

[3:50:27] When we say it's unsafe, it's unhealthy,

[3:50:31] for them to live there, that's a problem.

[3:50:36] That's a problem.

[3:50:38] You now?

[3:50:40] I don't want the blood of these people who might be subjected

[3:50:45] to something to be on my hands.

[3:50:50] Okay?

[3:50:50] And I hope our board doesn't -- we need to move forward.

[3:50:57] Okay?

[3:50:58] With this process at this point.

[3:51:01] There are no other options.

[3:51:05] Failure to do so just continues to expose

[3:51:10] people and lives I'm close to the age of those grandmothers

[3:51:17] who are here.

[3:51:24] Some of y'all probably got some sisters and brothers there

[3:51:28] on the board.

[3:51:30] I say Commissioner Scott might have

[3:51:32] a parent closer to that age.

[3:51:34] Could you imagine?

[3:51:36] If your parent was living like this Commissioner Scott?

[3:51:42] You know?

[3:51:45] Anyway.

[3:51:46] Our board needs to take some action,

[3:51:51] and let us move this, except the direction that our staff, we've

[3:51:57] wrestled with this thing, it's time.

[3:51:59] You know, it's time.

[3:52:02] Jason, y'all have been out there come our staff has been out

[3:52:05] there, and you're hearing our staff say it's not even safe

[3:52:08] for the staff to go out there.

[3:52:11] As a 37.5 year law enforcement officer.

[3:52:16] I know when I see something that is unsafe.

[3:52:21] And this is it.

[3:52:23] I've been out there when gunfire was

[3:52:26] fired when I was the Sheriff.

[3:52:30] And it's worse now than it was then.

[3:52:37] So, let's stop making excuses.

[3:52:40] Let's move forward.

[3:52:41] You know?

[3:52:43] I see members of the board want to talk about it.

[3:52:47] But look, we need to stop talking.

[3:52:50] And start acting.

[3:52:52] Start getting something done.

[3:52:55] Commissioner Scott you're the district commissioner

[3:52:58] I'm going to go with you first.

[3:53:02] Michael “Mike” Scott: I'll let the other commissioners make

[3:53:04] their comments I'm ready to move.

[3:53:06] Jerry L. Demings: He's ready to move.

[3:53:09] Commissioner Wilson?

[3:53:10] Nicole H. Wilson: I'm 100% with every single thing you just

[3:53:13] said.

[3:53:14] I just actually wanted to find out

[3:53:16] if there were opportunities to recoup from responsible parties,

[3:53:19] because I agree, to some extent there's

[3:53:22] been predatory activity in understanding that this you know

[3:53:25] there are people still believing that they can make money

[3:53:28] from the suffering of some of these individuals,

[3:53:30] is there a path that will allow us

[3:53:32] to be able to recoup from some of the responsible parties?

[3:53:38] >> I will say, during at the sale of the property,

[3:53:42] all of the lien holders they will be compensated

[3:53:46] appropriately.

[3:53:47] I don't know if we will get it from individual people,

[3:53:50] but from the sale of the property,

[3:53:52] all of the lien holders could be compensated.

[3:53:59] Nicole H. Wilson: And then I 100% agree

[3:54:01] with I think the support for case management everybody

[3:54:03] get their own so we don't lose anybody in the shuffle,

[3:54:05] I was just wondering, this is something I asked about before,

[3:54:08] will that be proactive on our part?

[3:54:11] Knowing that there are several divisions in place?

[3:54:13] Are those case managers then going to help people navigate?

[3:54:17] Because it's just a large bureaucracy,

[3:54:19] I just want to make sure they don't

[3:54:20] get lost in the >>, of course come we are going to be doing

[3:54:24] that individualized service to them,

[3:54:26] we are going to be proactive because the goal is

[3:54:29] to ensure that those individuals who are residing there

[3:54:32] do transition and have a smooth transition as possible,

[3:54:35] because it is difficult right?

[3:54:36] Being uprooted from their homes, but, we

[3:54:38] are going to be there to support them

[3:54:40] throughout that whole process, and we

[3:54:41] will be proactive in that.

[3:54:43] Nicole H. Wilson: Thank you so much

[3:54:46] and I obviously very much support the pathway

[3:54:48] that I believe looks like the obvious one

[3:54:49] from the legal consultant, the only utilization

[3:54:52] of a termination trustee and the termination,

[3:54:55] I think understanding and sort of hearing that there's also

[3:54:59] some residents that I think want to still here they had questions

[3:55:03] about legal entanglements for themselves,

[3:55:04] would be able to also refer people for those services

[3:55:07] or legal aid?

[3:55:10] >> Have already referred folks to legal aid Barbara and Larry

[3:55:13] Thatcher have met with them, this has never stopped,

[3:55:15] it just stopped here, but the event staff and her team,

[3:55:19] they're doing cartwheels and backflips to get folks where

[3:55:21] they need to be, and other folks are moving in as they're trying

[3:55:24] to resolve issues.

[3:55:25] We had someone living in the guard shack.

[3:55:28] In the guard shack.

[3:55:29] So they've done everything to make sure that these people are

[3:55:33] not left out on the street.

[3:55:36] Nicole H. Wilson: Thank you.

[3:55:38] Do you think there's any way that we can get in touch

[3:55:39] with the MLS listing servers?

[3:55:40] With the database themselves?

[3:55:41] I thought about Zillow, Redfin, I mean those are --

[3:55:47] somewhere there's an oversight by some corporation,

[3:55:50] I wonder if there's a way to flag those properties.

[3:55:55] >> That's an excellent question Commissioner and Lucy worked

[3:55:59] with she sent an email to the association to try to figure out

[3:56:05] a way, I don't know if we can flag it on Zillow,

[3:56:08] but we're trying to build an awareness with the real estate

[3:56:10] agents in the community about timber scan.

[3:56:13] So we can try to at least avoid the scenario where somebody

[3:56:16] is moving here sight unseen because of pictures

[3:56:19] and a good price for housing.

[3:56:23] Nicole H. Wilson: Perfect.

[3:56:25] Thank you so much.

[3:56:25] Jerry L. Demings: All right.

[3:56:27] I feel like if this is a threat to the health safety

[3:56:30] and welfare of anybody living there then

[3:56:31] it's a health a threat to health safety and welfare for everybody

[3:56:34] living there.

[3:56:35] That's the situation that we have at this point.

[3:56:41] As we move forward, we've got to take action.

[3:56:45] We've got to take action now.

[3:56:48] Commissioner urethra?

[3:56:55] Mayra Uribe: I think we're all on

[3:56:57] board, what's it been two years that we've been talking

[3:56:58] about this of like my question comes because once it's vacated

[3:57:01] and demoed and everything, is this

[3:57:03] going to be up for grabs for any developer that's come in?

[3:57:07] Or are we going to be looking at comprehensive affordable

[3:57:09] housing?

[3:57:10] What, I mean, I don't know where the county

[3:57:13] and where we are legally sitting,

[3:57:16] that's a very vulnerable area.

[3:57:34] But he's opting to not go to their own apartment

[3:57:37] to live there.

[3:57:39] Are we just putting it out to the highest bidder?

[3:57:42] Are we being purposeful on this?

[3:57:44] So what's the plan?

[3:57:45] >> Yes.

[3:57:46] We will definitely be purposeful.

[3:57:48] When that property again the property or the county

[3:57:52] is a lien holder.

[3:57:53] The county has a hard cost on that property secured

[3:57:56] by Eileen and then also administrative fines,

[3:57:58] so the county does have a say in the discussions we

[3:58:06] had over the last year or two is to find

[3:58:10] a buyer who will put an asset to that Greater Texas Americana

[3:58:16] area.

[3:58:17] I'm not going to speculate as to what that will be

[3:58:21] but hopefully that'll be an asset to the community.

[3:58:37] The hard cost would be that 3.5 million.

[3:58:40] Those again for the demolitions come with the infrastructure

[3:58:44] improvements, those are 3.5.

[3:58:45] Then there's the administrative fines

[3:58:47] but I don't have that calculated right now.

[3:58:49] Those are in the millions and millions of dollars for running

[3:58:52] fines for noncompliance. .

[4:00:11] They created a different account.

[4:00:17] Different accounts still connected to the section two.?

[4:00:22] That's not going to occur to us..

[4:00:24] No because some of that money is owed to the county.

[4:00:32] Sounds good there's no owner right now.

[4:00:43] We are majority owner.

[4:00:45] Because of that check just like we do in other cases

[4:00:51] where we leveraged dollars to build affordable housing

[4:01:00] we can do the same thing with this

[4:01:03] where we have taken some of our surplus

[4:01:05] and put it into to make it kak to lower the cost

[4:01:12] and improve the quality of housing for people.

[4:01:18] We have all kinds of models Kak I think there are 12

[4:01:21] that we have done so far.

[4:01:24] There is opportunity.

[4:01:25] We talk about the owners Kak we largely talk about ourselves.

[4:01:31] So there is no reason why we cannot turn this into a success

[4:01:39] story.

[4:01:45] Whether it be the ribbon cutting or redeveloped property

[4:01:47] I'm going to be there with the rest of those people .

[4:01:55] Anyway that's the summary SP mayor I am all with you.

[4:02:02] It's time for action.

[4:02:03] Commissioner Scott I look forward to what your motion is.

[4:02:06] When I went to that property in the beginning

[4:02:08] when I first heard about it because I wasn't

[4:02:10] familiar with it and I drove around,

[4:02:13] it's alarming what I saw.

[4:02:15] There are children, there are seniors,

[4:02:17] there are people with pets that are there that are living

[4:02:21] and I know your staff has done a very good job very thoughtful

[4:02:26] in this approach and I want to thank all of you.

[4:02:29] I remember the first time you told me about this.

[4:02:32] It was so shocking to hear the conditions these people were

[4:02:35] living in.

[4:02:36] I'm grateful we're here today and grateful we're

[4:02:38] going to move forward to help manage save lives.

[4:02:41] Thank you for everything you have done. .

[4:02:45] Commissioner Scott, if you can turn that into a motion..

[4:02:56] Thank you for the presentation and your work and effort.

[4:03:00] In slide 18, you said the yellow one that's here to the lake

[4:03:12] >> I'm trying to get there fast enough

[4:03:17] >> You said people are living there?

[4:03:23] >> People own units there.

[4:03:25] Everything in yellow is a building that is still standing

[4:03:29] and people are living in those buildings.

[4:03:34] >> Thank you.

[4:03:37] >> That's why we have to have relocation assistance services.

[4:03:41] Commissioner Scott are you ready

[4:03:46] >> I'm asking on how to frame this motion.

[4:03:48] I'd like to frame it in a way where staff doesn't

[4:03:50] have to continue to come back and get latitude

[4:03:53] to make adjustments.

[4:03:54] How would I do that?

[4:03:59] >> You actually don't need a motion.

[4:04:03] Typically what staff looks for is consensus and what I've heard

[4:04:07] is resounding consensus for the three bullets.

[4:04:11] If you would like to make a motion, you can direct staff

[4:04:16] and you can exert the three bullets

[4:04:22] >> I don't have a motion I move that you move forward and take

[4:04:26] whatever action necessary.

[4:04:32] >> We have a second.

[4:04:34] All in favor.

[4:04:37] Opposed.

[4:04:45] I want to emphasize the official proposal will

[4:04:48] be on the consent agenda.

[4:04:50] This was very helpful and I thank you.

[4:04:54] >> With that thank you all.

[4:04:57] We will move forward on that spirit we are going into recess

[4:05:00] and we will come back at 2 p.m..

Board of County Commissioners on 2026-07-14 9:00 AM

Agenda

Transcript