Oct 01, 2024 Workshop

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[4.1 CONSERVATION LAND EASEMENTS - This item is placed on the agenda at the request of Commissioner Ross who will lead discussion regarding City-owned conservation lands being placed into conservation easements in perpetuity.]

[00:05:15]

>>> INVOLVES KATHY RUSSELL ARE CONSERVATION MANAGER ALONG WITH

[00:05:25]

AND WE HAD THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY EXCITING TO CELEBRATE. SINCE 2019 PLANTED JUST OVER 2000 TREES --. IF YOU'RE AVERAGING THAT OUT THAT IS ALMOST A ONE TREE PER CALENDAR DAY WITH 330 FOR ON AVERAGE ANNUALLY. SINCE 2019 ALONE WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR CONSERVATION FOOTPRINT BY ACQUIRING AN ADDITIONAL 30 FOR .87 ACRES OF LAND. AND CONVERTING AN ADDITIONAL ALMOST 40 ACRES OF LAND 39.9 ACRES TO CONSERVATION THROUGH LAND-USE AND ZONING CHANGES. TODAY OUR CITY IS GROWING IT IS OPEN SPACE AREA AND IS CURRENTLY 42%. BUT EACH DAY WE'RE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND PROTECT MY LANDS WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THAT. THIS IS WHERE WE GET TO THE EXCITING CHALLENGE WE FACE TODAY. THE COMMISSION HAS ALREADY PUT $50,000 INTO THE LAND CONSERVATION TRUST FUND IN THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. AND AS A RESULT IT KICK STARTED ANONYMOUS DONOR TO DONATE $50,000 AND OFFER THE CITY A CHALLENGE OF RAISING AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 IF THE CITY COMMITS $25,000 AND THE COMMUNITY RAISES $25,000. WE'VE KICKED OFF THE CAMPAIGN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THROUGH THE ANNOUNCEMENT HERE AT THE COMMISSION. AND TO DATE DESPITE THE HURRICANE AND THE DIFFICULT MINDS WE HAVE HAD WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE 3000 FOR HUNDRED $75. THAT WILL BE MATCHED. THIS IS INCREDIBLE AND I'M SO PROUD AND THANKFUL FOR ALL OF OUR DONORS. THIS IS JUST A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. WE REALLY WANT TO GET TO THAT $25,000 GOAL SO WE CAN HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL MATCH DONATIONS. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT AS A COMMUNITY. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO DONATE PLEASE CONTACT US. WE DO HAVE FLYERS WE WILL MAKE AVAILABLE. ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE WE'VE UPDATED THAT RECENTLY. YOU HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION. IT TALKS ABOUT OUR LAND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES. WE WILL HAVE A THERMOMETER ON THE SITE JUST LIKE THE ONE YOU SEE BEHIND ME.

THAT WILL KEEP TRACK OF THOSE DONATIONS AS THEY COME IN EACH

DAY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PREPARING THIS PART I APPRECIATE IT. WHAT IT SHOWS IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LONG-STANDING TRADITION THAT OUR CITY HAS HAD IN LAND CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. I APPRECIATE YOU SHOWING US THIS TONIGHT. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT GO AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU MAYOR. KELLY HAVE WE GOT THE ABILITY TO DO

DIGITAL DONATIONS YET? >> WE ARE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT

NOW. >> WHEN I HAD TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC I GET QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE LIKE I COULD DIGITALLY DONATE 20 OR $50 OR $100 REALLY FAST. I DON'T REALLY JUST PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO USE CHECKS AS MUCH. I'M USED TO USING CHECKS. BECAUSE EVERY DAY WE USE A LOT OF CHECKS. HOWEVER NOT EVERYBODY DOES. THEY MOSTLY USED CREDIT CARD AND PAYPAL

STUFF LIKE THAT. >> WE ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO DONATE THE CHINA GLEE. HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET RESPONSES THAT WILL ENABLE US TO DO THAT.

>> I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. >> GOOD PRESENTATION.

>> KELLY, FIRST OF ALL HERE'S A $500 DONATION FOR MYSELF MY WIFE. I URGE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO TRY TO

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CAN YOU GO BACK A COUPLE SLIDES?

>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO. TELL ME WHEN.

>> KEEP GOING BACK. KEEP GOING BACK. STOP. I THINK THAT IS THE

ONE. >> ONE MORE. ONE MORE. IT IS THE ONE THAT SAYS ABOUT RECREATION AND CONSERVATION. IS

THAT THE SLIDE BEFORE? >> IT IS NUMBER THREE PICK

>> I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS RIGHT. BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS. I WAS SURPRISED. BECAUSE I WENT AND GOT THE ORDINANCE OUT AND -- WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS. THE CHARTER SAYS IS THAT FIRST OF ALL IT DEFINES CONSERVATION LAND AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND CONSERVATION LAND ARE DEFINED AS THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND MEAN LANDS OR PLACES WITH RECREATIONAL CONSERVATION DESIGNATION RESPECTIVELY ON THE CITY'S FUTURE LAND USE MAP. OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

CONSERVATION LANDS ARE DEFINED AS WHAT IS ON THE FUTURE LAND

USE MAP >> THAT IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE

BASED ON YOUR READING. >> AND THEN NUMBER TWO, IT GOES ON AND IT SAYS A REFERENDUM ELECTION IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE SALE OR LEASE FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF RECREATION FACILITIES. SUCH AS GOLF COURSES SWIMMING POOLS AND PARKS. SO THAT IS WHERE THE 40 YEARS AND THE VOTER REFERENDUM GOES THROUGH ALL OF THAT. FOR CONSERVATION LANDS UNDER SECTION C, IS AS CONSERVATION LANDS INCLUDING CITY OWNED LANDS PROTECTED BY CONSERVATION MUST NOT BE LEASED OR SOLD BY THE CITY THAT ARE HELD BY THE CITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC IN PERPETUITY. SO, AM I READING THAT WRONG?

>> CITY ATTORNEY >> I WAS JUST TALKING TO JEREMIAH ABOUT YOUR INTERPRETATION. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. I READ IT 10 MORE TIMES THIS AFTERNOON SINCE WE MET. WHAT IT MEANS TO ME AND I THINK IT SHOULD MEAN TO THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT IT IS STRICTER FOR CONSERVATION LANDS. YOU CAN SELL WITH A REFERENDUM IF THE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO SELL OUR RECREATION FACILITIES ARE LAND YOU CAN DO IT. THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITY WHATSOEVER TO SALE OR LEASE

CONSERVATION LANDS. >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M

SAYING. >> THEN I WAS ONLY HALF LISTENING AND I APOLOGIZE. YOU ARE 100% AND THAT IS THAT IS WHAT WE WANT. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT. THAT IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED. THAT IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED.

>> AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. WHAT IT SAYS -- YOU ARE NOT DISMISSED.

>> UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE FIRED. SO, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR AND WHAT I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR WE RAISED $1.2 MILLION. THAT PUT SOME OF THAT MONEY AND PICK WE ALL PUT OUR MONEY IN ALL THE TAXPAYERS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT FUND. THE UNDERSTANDING WAS THIS WOULD ALWAYS BE IN PERPETUITY. IT IS RIGHT THERE IT SAYS IN THE IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UNDER THE COASTAL CONSERVATION AND CITY SHALL CONSERVE PROTECT IMPLANTS FOR THE NATIONAL HOST RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE RESOURCES ARE PROTECTED AND AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. FUTURE GENERATIONS. SO, WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR AND I HOPE WE CAN COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT.

IS TO ADD SOME EXTRA PROTECTION. THE EXTRA PROTECTION IS THROUGH WHAT IS CALLED CONSERVATION GENTOO.

WE'VE ALREADY DECIDED THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IT IN PERPETUITY. THE COMMUNITY HAS DECIDED THAT. IF YOU HAVE A CONSERVATION GENTOO IT IS ONE MORE TOOL TO ENFORCE THAT THAT GIVES MORE A LEGAL STANDING FOR THE COMMUNITY SHOULD UNDER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES SOMEBODY ON THE CITY COMMISSION WILL WANT TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FROM CONSERVATION TO SOMETHING ELSE. THERE IS NOTHING PREVENTING THAT IN ANY OF THE CHARTER OR ANYTHING ELSE. ANY CITY COMMISSIONER WITH THREE VOTES CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP. SO, MAKING THAT PUTTING AN EASEMENT ON TOP OF THAT WHICH WOULD AT ATTENTION TO THAT YOU CAN MAKE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THE EASEMENT THAT YOU CAN NEGOTIATE ALL OF THAT. THE FLORIDA LAND TRUST OR ANY OTHER TRUST YOU WANT TO DO -- LOCAL AND I THINK THEY'RE

[00:15:08]

GENTLEMEN? >> LET'S GO TO THE LIGHTS.

>> I LIKE THE IDEA. I THINK ONE OF THE POINTS ARE BROUGHT TO STAFF BETWEEN THE LAST MEETING AND THIS ONE IF THERE WAS MENTION EVEN ALTHOUGH PEOPLE -- THE LAND COULD BE USED FOR DIVERSION OF DRAINAGE OR JUST WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. THOSE MAY BE THINGS WE ASK STAFF TO IDENTIFY WHICH LOTS POTENTIALLY COULD BE LIABLE FOR THAT. AND MAKE THAT AN EXCEPTION.

OTHERWISE I LIKE THE IDEA. I THINK WE WANT TO DEVELOP IT A

LITTLE BIT MORE. >> THANK YOU. I HAD SOME

QUESTIONS AS WELL. >> I AM BUT I WILL LET YOU GO

AHEAD AND SPEAK PICK >> SOME OF THE STUFF CAME UP IN MY ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING I THINK THIS IS CERTAINLY A WORTHY GOAL. AS -- ALLUDED I WAS ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE AND I CANNOT TAKE FULL CREDIT FOR THAT. IT WAS MYSELF -- I HATE TO START NAMING PEOPLE. JOHN LAZEAR AMY BRIAN -- MARGARET DAVIS CERTAINLY PICK ABSOLUTELY IN ALL-STAR ON THAT COMMITTEE.

WHEN WE WROTE THIS THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE INTENT TO PROTECT OUR CONSERVATION LAND AND YES WE MADE THAT CHOICE TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND. RECREATION WE NEED THAT REFERENDUM 70%. IT IS SO HARD TO GET. THAT IS SECURING MORE RECREATION. LET'S GO A STEP FURTHER FOR OUR CONSERVATION LAND. THAT IS WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING WITH THAT CHARTER AMENDMENT. WHEN IT COMES TO THIS EASEMENT I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AND I WANT TO GET THESE I WOULD LIKE TO GET THESE RESOLVED. TAMMY IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE HAVE SUCH AN EASEMENT WE ARE GIVING CONTROL OF THE LAND TO THE THIRD PARTY. THAT IS WHAT IT IS. AND SO --

>> IT DOESN'T MEAN THE CITY CAN'T GO ON TO THE PROPERTY.

BUT YOU'RE GIVING THEM THE LEGAL CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY.

SUBJECT TO THE EASEMENT TERMS PICK

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> MY QUESTION IS THIS. SO WHOEVER HAS THAT EASEMENT WOULD GET TO DETERMINE ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS THAT THEY WOULD BE PROTECTION OF THE CONSERVATION LANDS BUT IF WE WERE DOING SOMETHING THAT WAS DEEMED NOT CONSERVATION THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SUE US. WHAT KIND OF REPERCUSSIONS WOULD WE FACE IS MAX

>> AND EASEMENT IS LEGAL RIGHT IN A PROPERTY. IT IS CALLED EQUITABLE TITLE. YOU HAVE EQUITABLE TITLE TO A PROPERTY IF YOU HAVE AN EASEMENT WHICH BURDENS THE PROPERTY.

UNDERLYING THAT IS THE CITIES DEPENDING IF IT IS FEE SIMPLE PROPERTY THE CITY OWNS THAT OR WE OWN OUR HOMES AND PROPERTIES AS LEGAL TITLE HOLDERS. THE EQUITABLE TITLE HOLDER IF THAT IS WHO HAS CHOSEN TO BE THE GRANTEE FOR THESE EASEMENTS, MEANS THAT THEY CAN ENFORCE ANY RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE PUT ON THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN MOST OF OUR ONE ON ONE MEETINGS THE LAST WEEK. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST THEIR POLICIES OR RULES FOR MANAGING CONSERVATION LAND ARE. BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN LINE WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE WAY THAT THE CITY USES CONSERVATION LANDS BUT WHICH CONSERVATION LANDS IN THE CITY CAN BE USED NOT THAT WE ARE PLANNING THIS ALL OVER. CAN BE USED AS PASSIVE PARKS FOR EXAMPLE. TRAILS TO AN EXTENT DEPENDING ON THE IMPROVEMENTS.

THOSE THINGS WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP DOING IF WE WANT TO DO IT. THAT IS THE NEGOTIATION PART THE COMMISSIONER IS REFERRING TO. THAT IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT. IF WE JUST DID A BLANKET EASEMENT IT IS POSSIBLE THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST FROM THE THIRD PARTY LIKE A CITIZEN WOULD SAY THE CITY IS NOT MAINTAINING THIS CONSERVATION LAND AS IT SHOULD BE. AND IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE GETTING INTO AND IT IS JUST A BLANKET CONSERVATION EASEMENT WE COULD RUN INTO TROUBLE. WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF A LAWSUIT? IT IS BASICALLY ENFORCING THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. I'VE NOT FAMILIAR

[00:20:01]

>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION ABOUT THAT. YOU ALLUDED AND YOU ANSWERED IN PART MY NEXT QUESTION WHICH IS DESPERATE THIS IS MY MAIN CONCERN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE ADDRESSED SOMETHING YOU COULD ADDRESS. A BLANKET EASEMENT WOULD GIVE THE RIGHTS TO GOVERN THIS PROPERTY AWAY TO SOMEBODY ELSE AND IF THEY DETERMINED CONSERVATION IS NOT WHAT WE DETERMINED CONSERVATION THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. FOR INSTANCE THE GREENWAY THAT IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST IT IS OUR LARGEST PARCEL OF CONSERVATION LAND.

SOMETHING MY WIFE AND I LIKE TO DO LIKE MANY OTHER FAMILIES WE ENJOYED WALKING THROUGH THE GREENWAY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A HUGE AND IF IT OF THE GREENWAY. IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE -- TEDDY ROOSEVELT IF YOU SEE THE NATURE YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO PROTECT IT. THAT IS WHAT THE GREENWAY IS ABOUT. YOU SEE WHAT NATURAL LOOKS LIKE. YOU REALLY WANT TO PROTECT IT. THOSE TRAILS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT MAKES BERNADINO BEACH SPECIAL. I DON'T WANT TO JUMP INTO SOMETHING AND GIVE EASEMENTS TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO COULD THEN BAN OUR TRAILS WHICH IS A POSSIBILITY IF WE DON'T ACCOUNT

FOR THAT. >> SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO PROTECTING CONSERVATION LANDS FURTHER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THINGS LIKE OUR WONDERFUL TRAILS IN THE GREENWAY ARE PROTECTED. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO PROTECT THAT ? I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING

INTO THAT PICK >> IT IS LANGUAGE IN THE EASEMENT AGREEMENT WE WOULD WORK OUT WITH NORTH FLORIDA

LAND TRUST. >> FURTHERMORE I WOULD LIKE TO THEN ASK ABOUT NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRANSPORT RELATED TO THAT HOW MANY IN YOUR WORK I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO KNOW THIS RIGHT NOW. SO, HOW MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES OR COUNTIES HAS THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST DOES THIS FOR OR HAVE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT LIKE THIS IN GENERAL?

>> I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT FOR NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST SPECIFICALLY. THIS IS A MAJOR PART OF THEIR MISSION.

THAT PART I KNOW. I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THEM TO KNOW THIS IS WHAT THEY DO IS MANAGE CONSERVATION LAND ACQUIRE CONSERVATION LAND AND GRANTEE THESE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FREQUENTLY. I JUST

DON'T KNOW HOW MANY. >> I DON'T MIND INVITING THEM.

THE BIGGEST ANSWER THAT I NEED BEFORE I CAN MOVE FORWARD IS WHAT KIND OF ASSURANCES THAT THINGS LIKE OUR WONDERFUL TRAILS THROUGH THE GREENWAY WHAT ASSURANCES DO WE HAVE THAT BECAUSE HERE IS MY CONCERN. I KNOW COMMISSIONER ROSS'S CONCERN IS WHAT WILL THE CITY COMMISSION DUE IN 50 YEARS? SOMEONE IN THE FUTURE MAKE A CHANGE THAT AFFECTS OUR FUTURE GREENWAY. MY CONCERN IS NOW WOULD BE WHAT WITH THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST I KNOW THEY DO GREAT WORK. I ADMIRE WHAT THEY DID AND SO MUCH MORE AROUND THE COMMUNITY. MY CONCERN IS WHAT IF WE GET THIS EASEMENT WHAT WITH THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST LOOK LIKE IN 50 YEARS AND WHAT KIND OF ASSURANCES WHAT WE HAVE IF THEY DECIDED THAT TO BAN TRAILS IN THE GREENWAY HOW ARE WE PROTECTED FROM THAT. MAYBE WE INVITE THEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> SURE >> I APPRECIATE YOU. LET'S GO

BACK TO THE LIGHTS. >> THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS SIMPLE IS THROUGH AN EASEMENT. IN THIS EASEMENT THIS IS A SAMPLE EASEMENT PUT OUT BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEY SAY ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN DO AND ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN DO. YOU COULD PUT TRAILS. YOU CAN PUT THIS AND THAT. THAT WOULD ALL BE INCLUDED IN THE EASEMENT. AND SO BASICALLY WHAT THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST THEIR ROLE IS TO ENFORCE IN CASE SOMETHING GOES AWRY TO HAVE STANDING TO GO IN AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S RIGHTS ARE UPHELD. AS OPPOSED TO THAT IS THE REASON. IT IS FOR ENFORCEMENT. AN ADDED LAYER OF DETECTION FOR

ENFORCEMENT. >> THANK YOU.

>> CAN I COMMISSION REMOVE AN EASEMENT?

>> NO NOT ONE OF THESE. THESE ARE IN PERPETUITY. THIS WAS BY STATE LAW. A CONSERVATION EASEMENT UNDER CHAPTER 70 FOR OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES AS A PERPETUAL EASEMENT OTHERWISE IT IS NOT A REAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

>> YES -- ABSOLUTELY. >> SOMEWHERE WHERE I WAS READING THIS WEEKEND I READ THAT IF BOTH PARTIES AGREE YOU

CAN MODIFY IN EASEMENT. >> AND EASEMENT THAT IS THE KEYWORD PICK A CONSERVATION EASEMENT --

[00:25:01]

>> KNOW A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

>> YOU MAY HAVE DONE MORE RESEARCH THAN ME. THE STATUTE SAYS IT IS IN PERPETUITY. THAT GOES BACK TO TAXABLE -- PEOPLE OR ENTITIES THAT PERRY PAY PROPERTY TAXES IF YOU PUT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON YOUR PROPERTY YOU DON'T HOLD PROPERTY TAXES. I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT SOME MORE. MAYBE IT IS RELATED TO TAXABILITY. I DON'T KNOW. I CAN FIND OUT.

THAT IS GENERALLY THE CASE WITH EASEMENTS.

>> PERFECT. VICE MAYOR PICK >> FIRST AND FOREMOST I WOULD LIKE TO START OUT WITH I'VE ALREADY MADE MY DONATION TO THE CONSERVATION FUND YESTERDAY. I MADE $1000 DONATION TO THE

CONSERVATION FUND. >> AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR

THAT. >> I DID NOT BEAT BRADLEY HE MADE HIS AT THE MEETING. I DID MAKE MY DONATION. I FEEL STRONG ABOUT IT. JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES. AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO I DON'T HAVE ANY -- HESITATION IF IT IS DONE CORRECTLY VETTED IN THIS PROCESS GOES THROUGH AND IT IS NOT JUST A KNEE-JERK PROCESS TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT. I THINK WE JUST NEED SUFFICIENT OVERSIGHT. AND A GOOD AMOUNT OF PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE WE DO IT. I'M NOT AGAINST ANY DOING ANY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IF IT IS DONE CORRECTLY. SO, I JUST BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE SLOW ABOUT THE PROCESS AND DOING IT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ANY ONE OF THESE EASEMENTS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT GROUP IN 50 YEARS? EVERYBODY'S IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS GROUP IN 50 YEARS BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT GROUP IF THEY DON'T EXIST. THAT IS THE ONLY STATEMENT I WILL MAKE. I AM JUST AS I'M JUST INVESTED IN CONSERVATION AND JUST CONCERNED AS MUCH AS I MADE A DONATION. AND I'M SURE MY TAXES MADE A LARGE DONATION FOR THAT $1.2 MILLION THAT WAS TAKEN. I'M JUST AS MUCH CONCERNED BUT I AM NOT AGAINST IT. I THINK WITH THE PROPER MANAGEMENT AND THE PROPER AGREEMENT PUT IN PLACE AS LONG AS WE GO TO THE PROCESS, I AM ALL FOR IT.

>> GOOD. >> SO, I'M GOING TO SUMMARIZE WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A RARE CASE WHERE EVERYBODY AGREES. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUMMARIZE. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER SAID IT IS PERMANENT. IF WE WANT TO DO THIS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING IT RIGHT. VICE MAYOR I HEAR YOU PICK IT IS ALSO PERMANENT. I HEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING -- ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ASSURANCES ON CERTAIN WAYS WE OUGHT TO USE IT FOR STORMWATER. COMMISSIONER ROSS I HEAR THE NEED TO I WILL THROW ONE MORE THING IN THERE. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CONCEPTUALIZE THIS FULLY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS IT IS COMPLETELY BUTTONED DOWN TIGHT. IT OCCURRED TO ME. IF WE GRANDFATHER IN TRAILS IF WE GRANDFATHER IN TRAILS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE LOCKED IN THE GREENWAY FOREVER.

AND WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT. AND WE DON'T GRANDFATHER IN SOMETHING LIKE MAINTENANCE ON THE TRAILS. THERE IS A WAY THAT THIS THIRD-PARTY COULD KILL OUR TRAILS BY NOT ALLOWING US TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR TRAIL BUT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MOW THE GRASS ANYMORE. THAT WOULD GO AGAINST HER CONSERVATION GOALS. IF IT BECOMES OVERGROWN IT WON'T BECOME A TRAIL. THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE BUTTONED DOWN TIGHT. FURTHERMORE IT WOULD'VE THERE IS MULTIPLE MILLION DOLLARS HOMES THAT OVERLOOK THE GREENWAY. WHAT IF ONE OF THOSE MILLION-DOLLAR HOMES WAS THE FALL INTO THE GREENWAY AT SOME POINT? ARE WE ALLOWED TO PUT OUR TEAM INTO THE LAND TO MAKE NEEDED REPAIRS OR TO CLEAN UP ? WHAT KIND OF A I CAN SEE A WORLD WHERE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT I WANT TO KEEP IS SO NATURAL IT IS MILLION-DOLLAR HOME FELL INTO THE GREENWAY, THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO GO IN THERE AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO CLEAN THAT UP. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE REALLY LOCKDOWN. WE ALL AGREE WE NEED TO START THIS PROCESS. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE CHECK IT OUT WITH THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST OR WHOEVER. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE ELSE THAT WOULD DO IT. I LIKE THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST. LET'S EXPLORE ALL OF OUR OPTIONS AND MAKE SURE WE DO THIS RIGHT.

>> WITH THAT BEING SAID I THINK THAT IS THE DIRECTION PICK WHEN YOU CAN LET US KNOW WHAT YOU CAN GET SOMEONE FROM THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST TO SPEAK TO US WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD PICK >> I WILL TAKE THE EASEMENT DOCUMENT AND WRITE IN SOME OF THESE TERMS OR CONCEPTS I WILL CALL THEM. UNTIL THE OTHER PARTIES AGREE.

>> SOUNDS GOOD. SO WE NOW HAVE ADDED PUBLIC COMMENT TO WORKSHOPS. WITH THAT IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WISHES --

>> WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS COME UP WITH A WORKING DOCUMENT

[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]

TO BEGIN DISCUSSION. >> YES

[00:30:01]

>> OKAY PERFECT. >> YOU KNOW I WILL SHARE THAT

WITH THE COMMISSION PICK >> SHEILA 1553 INDIGO STREET.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MAKING THIS MORE PERMANENT. IT IS A GOOD A GOOD THING. ANYTHING FOR CONSERVATION. I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT IN THE LAST 10 MINUTES YOU GUYS MADE MORE THOUGHTFUL ARGUMENTS AND MORE QUESTIONS AND MORE PROVISIONS FOR LAND CONSERVATION THEN YOU HAVE CHANCE TO PICK I WOULD LIKE TO POINT THAT OUT.

>> WILL THANK YOU. OKAY SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID ANYONE ELSE WISH TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT? OKAY SEEING NONE I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND STICK AROUND. 29 MINUTES AWAY

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.