City Commission Workshop Meeting

APPROVED: 11/7/2013 City Hall City of Eustis, Florida 10 North Grove Street Post Office Drawer 68 Eustis, FL 32727-0068 Meeting Minutes- Final* City Commission Workshop Thursday, October 17, 2013 7:57PM City Hall CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Muenzmay- 7:57p.m. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF QUORUM AND PROPER NOTICE Present: 5 - Linda Bob; Albert Eckian; Michael Holland; Karen LeHeup-Smith; and Kress Muenzmay I. Workshop Item 13240 Proposed Large Scale Text Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan Dianne Kramer, Acting City Manager/Development Services Director, reviewed the history of the proposed large scale text amendment to the Comprehensive Plan including the proposed elimination of school concurrency and the changes to the future land use appendix that deal with the open space requirements for any property re-designated after the original map was adopted. She noted the information provided regarding school concurrency. II. Commission Discussion The Commission discussed how school concurrency works with Ms. Kramer stating that it is directly tied to capacity. She explained how special programs at a school may affect a school's capacity and how information and data is shared between the City and the school system and how enrollment affects the surrounding service areas. She commented on the amount of flexibility under the comprehensive plan noting that while the City has school concurrency in its plan it has no control over where the capacity is given by the school system. She explained the reasons school concurrency was originally mandated to be placed in the comprehensive plans during the high growth years noting that locally they have not been able to see how school concurrency works due to it only be adopted just prior to the collapse of the housing market. The Commission discussed what would happen if school concurrency was eliminated with Ms. Kramer explaining the developers would not have to pay the fee to get a reservation for capacity from the School Board. She added that she had recommended, if the City eliminated school concurrency, the City enact its own agreement with the school system for provision of information. She noted that with concurrency the cities can assist the School Board in handling capacity by delaying or slowing development in a specific area that may already be over capacity. She further explained that, if the City has school concurrency in its comprehensive plan, then the School Board's 5-year Capital Plan is included in the City's Capita/Improvements Element. III. Public Input - Mayor Muenzmay opened the floor to the public at 8:21 p.m. Nancy Muenzmay, 3312 Indian Trail, Eustis, commented on the amount of growth in South Lake County with 67% of the School Board's capital funds over the past few years going to South Lake. She expressed concern that, if the developers in Mount Dora aren't required to pay the fees to the School Board, then the rest of the County will pay the cost of providing additional schools Ms. Kramer clarified that the only fee those developers won't pay is the application fee, they would still have to pay the impact fees. Ms. Muenzmay commented on the competition for capital funds, the need for people to advocate for the area schools and the need for improved technology in the area schools, not just buildings. City of Eustis, Florida Page 1 Printed on 1012412013 City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes - Final October 17, 2013 IV. Commission Direction The Commission discussed retaining the school concurrency noting their ability to control how fast a development grows based on capacity and the possibility of having development incentives pertaining to concurrency if it is retained. CONSENSUS: It was the consensus of the Commission to retain school concurrency in the Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Kramer then reviewed the proposed changes to the future land use appendix and explained what was included regarding open space requirements based on the Wekiva Basin Protection Act negotiated settlement. She commented on the difficulty in administering those requirements and how it can create inequities. She expressed support for discussing the issue with the State. The Commission discussed what area is included in the Wekiva study area, the effect on development, the need for open space, the effect on public property, what would happen if the amendment is denied by the State, and the need for commercial development. Derek Schroth, City Attorney, noted that if DEO (Department of Economic Opportunity) is amenable to the changes the City would have to draft an amendment to the previous stipulated settlement. Mayor Muenzmay re-opened the floor to public comment at 8:50p.m. Jim Rotella, 217 E. Badger Avenue, commented on the importance of the future land use map and the need for more public input before making any changes. Ms. Kramer clarified that what is being proposed is what the City had in its original comprehensive plan. She stated that what is now in the plan is what was required to be put in there by the State. Mr. Schroth stated that the discussion is for staff to contact the state for their input prior to any formal public hearings and adoption of an ordinance. The Commission reiterated that the proposed changes are to reverse the requirements previously mandated by the State and implement what the City Commission originally approved. It was noted that the need to move forward is based on the current environment at the State and their willingness to consider changes. He added that the City has been conducting a series of workshops over the past year at which members of the public could have provided input. Nancy Muenzmay suggested that the City look at other cities' comprehensive plans and development regulations. The Commission discussed the lack of a scientific basis for the designation of the Wekiva study area. CONSENSUS: It was a consensus of the Commission for staff to contact the State DEO to obtain their input regarding the proposed changes to the future land use appendix. V. Adjournment - 9:02 p.m. /)1""'1 C- ~ ,/ \ -MARt-- ~c-.rM_O_N_T_E_Z----~------~~T.MUENZMAY City Clerk Mayor/Commissioner *These minutes retlec~ the actions taken and portions of the discussion during the meeting. To review the entire discussion concerning any agenda item, go to www.eustJs.org and chck on the v1deo for the meeting in question. A DVD of the entire meeting or CD of the entire audio recording or verbatim transcript of the meeting can be obtained from the office of the City Clerk for a fee. City of Eustis, Florida Page2 Printed on 1012412013