Equestrian Preserve Committee

Village of Wellington 12300 Forest Hill Blvd Wellington, FL 33414 Action Summary Wednesday, March 6, 2019 7:00 PM Wellington Community Center Equestrian Preserve Committee Jane Cleveland, Chair Glen Fleischer, Vice Chair Carlos Arellano Robert Bushey Dr. Rachel Eidelman Dr. Kristy Lund Annabelle Garrett Equestrian Preserve Committee Action Summary March 6, 2019 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Cleveland called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Jane Cleveland, Glen Fleischer, Dr. Kristy Lund, Robert Bushey, Dr. Rachel Eidelman, Carlos Arellano, and Annabelle Garrett were present. Staff present: Michael O’Dell, Ryan Harding, and D.J. Helkowski. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. REMARKS BY COMMITTEE CHAIR Ms. Cleveland introduced the committee members and each member gave a brief description of how they are involved in the equestrian community. Ms. Cleveland provided a review of items the EPC has discussed over the past year. The major topics the EPC has decided to focus on from the Plan of Action are: livestock waste disposal, an education campaign for local schools, a State of the Industry Report, and infrastructure (widening of Lake Worth Road and South Shore Boulevard). Ms. Cleveland then gave an update on 604.50 and the latest court ruling from the Fourth District Court of Appeals. IV. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/REORDERING OF AGENDA There were no changes made to the agenda. V. NEW BUSINESS VI. REMARKS BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Remarks by committee members were made during the "Remarks by Committee Chair" segment. VII. OPEN FORUM - Topics to be covered include: Review of Equestrian Plan of Action, Education Committee, and State Statute 604.50 Ms. Cleveland opened the meeting to the public at 7:23 pm. Thirteen residents spoke on various topics. Two residents spoke about the heavy traffic at the intersection of South Shore Boulevard and Pierson Road and the need to connect Gene Mische Way to Gracida Street. Another resident described a method of livestock waste disposal in which the shavings are cleaned and recycled. She quoted a price of $ 1.97 million for two years of licensing and the equipment to recycle shavings. Village of Wellington Page 1 Equestrian Preserve Committee Action Summary March 6, 2019 Another resident warned about increased equestrian competition in other countries, and here in the U.S., citing The Sunshine Tour in Europe and equestrian sports in Ocala as examples. He also stated that increasing the number of stalls at the Showgrounds is depressing land values, suggesting that Wellington will lose to other sites for equestrian competition if it does not remain world class. A representative from the transfer station located on 50th Street South stated he is receiving about 90% of the livestock waste and taking it to 129,000 acres of sugar fields. There are strict nutrient management guidelines in place for spreading the manure, and the transfer station has been a “great idea.” Another resident asked if an Environmental Impact Statement had been done on the transshipment site. He expressed concern about equestrian trails that are located adjacent to a livestock waste transshipment site. One resident requested that the machine that cleans the roads should pass through 50th Street South more often. A livestock waste hauler stated he is working on projects to place digesters on farms, which could reduce waste by 70% within 24 hours. The final couple that spoke stated they did not understand why manure was allowed to go into the middle of the Equestrian Preserve Area (the transshipment site). They stated Wellington should provide a place for manure transshipment, but the south side should be preserved. They added that paving 50th Street South has increased traffic, and that there is a need for a transshipment site, but it is not in the right place. VIII. STAFF COMMENTS There were no staff comments. IX. BOARD COMMENTS There were no board comments. X. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:24 pm. Village of Wellington Page 2 Equestrian Preserve Committee Action Summary March 6, 2019 NOTICE Village of Wellington Page 3