[00:00:06] >>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING. I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORKSHOP OF JANUARY 24, 2023. IF YOU'LL ALL JOIN ME WE'LL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. RECORD SHOW THAT ALL COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT THIS MORNING. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US FOR PUBLIC COMMENT YOU'LL NEED A COMMENT CARD, YOU CAN STILL COME UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND GET YOUR CARD TO US. I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFICALLY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING, BUT REMIND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE THAT WE REFRAIN FROM AUDIBLE COMMENTS, APPLAUSE, WE'LL NOT ADDRESS THE BOARD ANY COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE WITH PERSONAL, IMPERT -- SLANDEROUS REMARKS. WE HAVE OUR DEPUTY WITH US THIS MORNING TO HELP US WITH THAT. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US FOR PUBLIC COMMENT YOU'LL WELCOME TO COME. NO ONE? JUST HERE TO OBSERVE. [1.  Conservation Lands Program - Session 1] OKAY. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE. MOVING ON INTO NEW BUSINESS -- >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE GLAD THAT EVERYONE IS HERE TODAY. THIS IS AN EXCITING FIRST DAY OF THIS ADVENTURE FOR US. WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS, WE BEING PLANNING STAFF AND THE COMMISSION IN THE PAST ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SAVING SOME LAND HERE IN CLAY COUNTY BEFORE EVERYTHING IS BUILT OUT. NOW IS THE TIME TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT WE THINK NEEDS SAVING AND HOW TO GET THERE. IN DOING ALL THAT AND HAVING THE DISCUSSIONS, INITIALLY WE HAD HAD SOME CONVERSATION WITH JIM MCCARTHY. THEY'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB FOR DOING THIS WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES. WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE WEREN'T SURE THE ROUTE. THEY HELPED US WITH THAT. LONG STORY SHORT NOW THEY'RE WHO WE HAVE HIRED TO DO OUR CONSERVATION LAND STUDY. AND GIVE US A PLAN. THEY'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS AS WELL. PART OF THE PLAN ALSO IS HOW TO BY 2024 TO GET A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT. WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED BY DOING OUR HOMEWORK ON THIS AND WORKING WITH NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST, COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY. COMMUNITIES VERY CLOSE TO US, SOME OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN A PLAN AND THEN NO FUNDING TO BOY THE LAND THEY -- BUY THE LAND. SOME HAVE GOTTEN THE MONEY AND DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN OF WHAT TO BUY. WE'RE TRYING TO DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. AND ALSO HAVE A FINANCING PIECE OF THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO BUY THE LAND. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY ALL I'M GOING TO SAY, I'LL INTRODUCE THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST TEAM. FROM OUR TEAM, THE LEAD WITH THIS AND WITH SAMANTHA, THEY'VE BEEN HELPFUL. BUT THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST TEAM WE HAVE ALLISON DEFORE, AND HEATHER -- WE HAVE THOSE GUYS, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF MEETINGS WITH THEM AND CONVERSATIONS, NOW IS WHERE THEY TALK TO YOU AND GET INPUT FROM YA'LL AND THEY'LL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. ANY QUESTIONS? >> MADAME CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONERS. I HAVE TO ASK YOU TO BEAR WITH ME, I HAVE BELLS PALSY, AFFECTS HALF OF YOUR FACE. I HOPE THE OTHER HALF MAKES UP FOR IT. I HAVE A GREAT PASSION FOR WHAT I'M DOING. IT'S A TERRIBLE AFFLICTION, SOMEONE USED TO BE A POLITICIAN AND A LAWYER, BECAME A PREACHER, AND NOW I HAVE TROUBLE TALKING. YES, COMMISSIONER AND I TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY THIS MORNING, I AM [00:05:02] -- SOME OF YOU KNOW MY WIFE, VERY ACTIVE ON THE PLANNING, AND MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF COMING HERE AND SHARING THIS WITH YOU. ONE OF THE REASON I'M LEAVING THE MINISTRY AND DAY-TO-DAY SENSE, IS I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT IT'S NOW OR NEVER. AND IF WE DON'T MAKE THE -- WHATEVER MOVES WE DON'T MAKE NOW, WILL BE FORE CLOSED TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN, AND I WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN TO KNOW WHAT FLORIDA LOOKED LIKE. EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND KNOWS THE ALTERNATIVES. I WAS FOR GOVERNOR BUSH, THE EVERGLADES AND ENVIRONMENTAL -- PUT TOGETHER THE LARGEST ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION IN HISTORY. AND DEEPLY INVOLVED IN ONE THAT PASSED STATEWIDE, AND WE PASSED THAT WITH 75% I THINK OF THE VOTE. INCLUDING A BIG WIN HERE IN CLAY COUNTY. AND I WAS VERY ACTIVE AND THAT LED ME INTO CONSERVATION DEEPER AND DEEPER FOR MANY YEARS. INCLUDING HELPING SET UP THIS LAND TRUST, 24 YEARS AGO. CAME OVER AND HELPED THE PEOPLE WHO FOUNDED IT. THAT'S THE FIRST PART I SHARED WITH YOU. WHY YOU CAN TRUST US AS A PARTNER. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 24 YEARS NOW. AND WE'VE PROTECTED 24,000-ACRES. IF YOU'RE GOING TO PROTECT IT, THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS TO BUY IT OR BUY THE CONVERSATION RIGHTS. AND WITH RESPECTFUL NOT TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR LAND BUT MAKE THE YOUR LAND. IN CLAY COUNTY, WE HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS PARTNERS. WE OWN AND -- 4400 ACRES IN THIS COUNTY, AND FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE CONCERNED ABOUT -- THE ONLY TOOL, IT'S NOT. WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 6,000 ACRES THAT WE OWN THE CONVERSATION EASEMENTS TO, WHERE THE LAND OWNERS HAVE RETAINED THE PROPERTY. MANY TIMES, THEY'RE BETTER PROPERTY STEWARDS THAN THE GOVERNMENT EVER WILL BE. OR A LAND TRUST FOR THAT MATTER. AND IN MANY CASES, THEY HAVE MULTIGENERATIONAL TIES FOR THE LAND, THERE'S A GREAT LOVE AND PASSION THAT CAN SHOW FORTH IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF IT. WE'RE ALSO JUST ACQUIRED 400 ACRES ADJACENT TO AND SOUTH OF THE CLAY COUNTY REGION PARK, AND WORKING WITH THE STAFF TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE FOR PASSING USES COMPATIBLE WITH WHAT WE DO AND WHAT YOU DO. WITH REGARD TO THE REFERENDUM, BECAUSE OF OUR BACKGROUNDS ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS HERE, AND ABOVE ALL WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU GET IN A BOX OR ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES SURPRISES. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT IS COMING AND TO ANTICIPATE IT. THERE'S 133 REFERENDUM IN FLORIDA IN THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES. AND 103 OUT OF 123 HAVE PASSED. ABOUT 84% PASS RATE. AND I THINK MOST OF THE ONES THAT FAILED HAD THEY BEEN THOUGHT THROUGH BETTER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ADVANCED OR WON AT THE BALLOT BOX. 28 OUT OF 67, 28 COUNTIES HAVE DONE THIS. AT THIS POINT. AND THE MOST RECENT ONE IS NASSAU COUNTY, WHICH WE -- THEY'RE PARTNERS IN PUTTING THAT REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT, AND MANAGING IT TO A SUCCESSFUL RESULT. WE HAD A 67% VOTE, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN CLAY BUT EVERY BIT AS CONSERVATIVE. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY TEAM, THEY'RE AS GOOD IN THE NUTS AND BOLTS IN [00:10:04] LAND CONSERVATION ANYONE WILL MEET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. SHOW TIME. >> THANKS, BOSS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION ACQUISITIONS OF THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, MY JOURNEY IN LAND CONSERVATION STARTED IN 1996, I JOINED THE LAND PROGRAM AS A SUPERVISOR. AT THE TIME, BUYING LAND FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS. AND WERE NOT ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THE COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI DADE WERE ASKING. I CAME FROM A BACKGROUND OF WATER QUALITY AND DATA BASES AND ABLE TO ORGANIZE THE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT THE COMMISSIONS WERE ASKING FOR. AFTER FIVE YEARS OF DOING THAT, I THOUGHT I COULD RUN MY OWN PROGRAM, DID THAT FOR 16 YEARS, AND THEN THOUGHT I COULD RUN THE DISTRICT. I WENT TO THE WATER DISTRICT AND WAS THE REAL ESTATE DIRECTOR FOR FIVE YEARS. AND FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO RETIRE, AND LOOKING FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE, AND JIM CALLED ME. I REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME IN GOVERNMENT, BUT DOING LAND CONSERVATION FROM A NONPROFIT PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY REFRESHING. I WAKE UP AND THINK ABOUT DOING DEALS NOT ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF. BUT IT GAVE ME AN APPRECIATION OF WHAT YOU ALL DO. THAT'S WHY WE'RE A GOOD TEAM WITH YOU ALL, A GOOD PARTNER TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET INTO. WITH THAT, WE'LL RUN THROUGH SOME SLIDES. THE WAY WE DEVELOPED THIS WORKSHOP FOR YOU, THERE'S TWO PARTS. TWO QUESTIONS THAT WE'LL ASK FORT PIERCE FIRST, WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO DO THIS WORKING TO A 2024 REFERENDUM. THAT'S A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. AND THOSE ARE MOST SUCCESSFUL IF THEY'RE PASSED IN THE GENERAL REFERENDUM. THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION, IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT. TO GET YOU TO THAT QUESTION, WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE, AND GET THERE SUCCESSFULLY. I BELIEVE THERE'S A TRIED AND TRUE PLAY BOOK THAT YOU'RE ALL ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW. IF YOU'VE FOLLOWED IT, YOU'LL HAVE DONE EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO TO WITH SUCCESSFUL. THE SECOND PART, IF YOU DO HAVE THE WILL TO DO THIS THROUGH 2024, YOU CAN PULL THE PLUG AT ANY POINT, ONE OF THE VALUES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROTECTED IN THAT. WE'LL HAVE AN EXERCISE THAT YOU'RE ENCOURAGE TODAY REFLECT WHAT YOU THINK YOUR COMMUNITY VALUES ARE, BASED ON THE SEVEN CONSERVATION -- MORE DEFINED THAN ECOLOGICAL. THE KINDS OF THINGS YOU WANT YOUR PORTFOLIO TO REFLECT. I WANT TO LAY OUT TO YOU, WHAT IS MY PERSONAL ANALOGY OF THIS PROGRAM, THE LINE OF SIGHT. YOU'LL KNOW YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IF THE PROPERTY YOU HAVE BOUGHT REFLECTS THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WERE SHOWN AS THE THINGS YOUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO PROTECT. WHETHER IT'S DRINKING WATER, ACCESS, WHATEVER. WE'LL SHOW YOU SEVERAL THINGS IN PLACE. THIS IS THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST, OUR VISION. AND HE RAN THROUGH, THIS IS A NASSAU COUNTY. THE HEAT MAP, WE REFER TO A HEAT MAP. THE IDEA IS LOOK THROUGH THE THERMAL CAMERAS, HEAT MAPS IS LAY THE DATA THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU AND THE PIXELS THAT LINE UP BEST TO ANSWER THE CRITERIA BEST IS RED, IT'S HOT. 103 OUT OF 123 REFERENDUM PASSED IN FLORIDA SINCE 1999. AND $4.7 BILLION IN FUNDS. [00:15:01] THERE ARE THINGS IMPORTANT NATIONALLY AND FOR THE STATE. THERE'S MONEY FOR THOSE THINGS, BUT THINGS THAT GET MISSED. AND THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE THINGS. WHY ARE WE HERE AND SO GLAD YOU INVITED US? THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST -- THE CORRIDOR, OUR GOAL IS TO PROTECT 140,000 ACRES OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. WE HAVE UP TO 26 PARTNERS NOW THAT ARE WORKING WITH US, INCLUDING FEDERAL, STATE AND MILITARY. YOU CAN SEE THE YELLOW AREAS, THE OPPORTUNITY LANDS TO MAKE THE CONNECTIONS. THAT'S CLAY COUNTY. LET ME DIGRESS A MOMENT. I FLEW HOME YESTERDAY, AS WE CROSSED OVER I-10 AND THE PILOT CAME ON AND SAID WE'RE APPROACHING GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA IS NOT THAT BIG. YOU LOOK AT THE GREEN SPACE AND MAKING THE CONNECTIONS, THE SUSTAINABLE AND WILDLIFE CAN MOVE, IT'S NOT THAT MUCH MORE. THAT WAS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE FROM YESTERDAY. NORMALLY I FLY HOME AT MIDNIGHT AND SEEING IT DURING THE DAY IS -- LED ME TO THINKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]. THIS IS MY LINE OF SIGHT. THERE'S THREE PARTS OF THIS. THE FIRST PART IS THE CONSERVATION PLANNING. THE FIRST STEP IS PUBLIC DESIRE. TALKING ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS THEY'VE HAD AND THE PLANNING WITH THE COMMUNITY. THIRD IS A WORKSHOP. AND AFTER THE WORKSHOP, THIS CONTINUES THROUGH THE REST OF THE PROGRAM. EVERY TIME A DEAL IS BROUGHT TO YOU, THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING. A QUESTION, DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS. DOES THIS REFLECT THE VALUE THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR. VALUE IDENTIFICATION IS THE NEXT STEP, YOU'LL DO SOME OF THAT TODAY. AND HAVE THE SAME KIND OF CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS WORKSHOPS AND DO THE SAME, HERE TRADITIONALLY THE VALUES AND THEMES. DOES THIS WORK FOR YOU, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS IN THE FINAL. WE'LL REFINE THE PLAN, AND BRING THAT BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL. THEN WE GET IN THE ADOPTION PHASE. THERE'S A FEASIBILITY -- THE FINANCING OF THINGS LIKE THIS. AND WE'LL TEST THAT FUNDING, THE IMPACT ON THE TAXPAYERS IF IT'S SALES, PROPERTY TAX, WHATEVER THE FUNDING MECHANISM IS. YOU'LL ADOPT LEGISLATION THAT PUTS THE REFERENDUM FOR THE VOTERS AND THEN YOU HAVE THE REFERENDUM. THAT'S THE NOVEMBER 24 DATE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. ASSUMING THAT IT PASSES, GET IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, AND AFTER IT PASSES, ADVERTISE THAT YOU HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY NOW, FOLKS THAT OWN GOOD LAND THAT MEET THE CRITERIA HAVE AN YOU WANT TO BE PROTECT IT. THERE'S AN APPLICATION CYCLE, AND AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DEVELOP CRITERIA IN THE ADOPTION PHASE ENABLING THE LEGISLATION PHASE THAT SAYS EXACTLY HOW YOU LOOK AT APPLICATIONS. AND THOSE CRITERIA SHOULD REFLECT THE VALUES THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY SAID, THIS IS THE LAND WE WANT TO BUY. ACCESS TO WATER, DRINKING WATER, SURFACE WATER, WHATEVER IT IS. THE EVALUATION SHOULDHAVE THE CRITERIA. YOU HAVE A LIST OF PROJECTS, AND THAT'S THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THE STAFF. WHOEVER YOU DECIDE TO USE AS NEGOTIATOR. YOU'LL ACQUIRE LAND AND THERE'S VERY SOUND NEGOTIATION PRACTICES THAT THE STATE USES THAT COUNTIES USE AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADOPT IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATING, SO YOU HAVE A MARKET BASED GOOD FAITH ARM'S LENGTH TRANSACTIONS. IF YOU APPROVE THE ACQUISITIONS, YOU'RE IN THE LAND MANAGEMENT. SO THE TIME LINE, AGAIN, I HAD SOME DATES ON HERE, AS TO WHERE WE ARE. JANUARY 2023 THE WORKSHOP, OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS DO THE PLAN REFINEMENT. I SUGGEST MAYBE THE SUMMER OF 24, ADOPT THE LEGISLATION AND NOVEMBER OF 24, GET THE REFERENDUM. THOSE DATES ARE IMPORTANT, TAKE THE REFERENDUM LANGUAGE TO MAKE [00:20:01] SURE IT PASSES. AND THEN WORKSHOPS, ADVERTISING PROGRAM IN THE WINTER AND SPRING OF 24-25. THE CYCLE EARLY 25. EVALUATIONS LATE SPRING EARLY SUMMER. LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL THE INITIAL LIST, AND THE LAND ACQUISITION CAN START IN 2025. THAT'S A TYPICAL TIME LINE FOR YOU. SOME OF STUFF DEPENDING ON HOW YOU ADOPT THE PROGRAM AND BUILD THE LIST. FOR EXAMPLE, NASSAU COUNTY HAD A LIST PRIOR TO REFERENDUM. YOU CAN COMPRESS SOME OF THIS STUFF. HOW FAST YOU CAN WORK AND GET THE FUNDING SET UP, AND HOW QUICKLY -- THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS. IN RED THE LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO NAIL DOWN IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU WANT TO AND UP NOVEMBER 24. FOR EXAMPLE, BOAT COUNTY TESTED WHAT LANDS WERE IMPORTANT. THE KINDS OF VALUES THEY AND THEIR COMMUNITY WANTED WATER RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS, FISH AND HABITAT. THE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND FINANCING, THEY ISSUE BONDS TO PAY FOR THAT. AND THEY CAPPED IT AT 75 MILLION. THERE'S THREE WAYS THAT YOU TIE DOWN THE MAXIMUM YOU CAN SPEND. ONE THING WE LEARNED, THE THREE CAP, THE THREE VALUE CAP IS A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T -- YOU KEEP THE FAITH. YOU DON'T ISSUE BONDS FOR LONGER THAN 20 YEARS. YOU DON'T IMPACT THEM EVERY YEAR. PEOPLE CAN WORK THAT OUT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IS POINT OUT THE.25 PROPERTY TAX WA $30 A YEAR. IF RETURN, THEY WERE GETTING ALL THIS CONSERVATION. ONE THING TO BEAR IN MIND IS ALSO APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS. YOU HAVE THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, THE PLANNING, THE NUMBER OF PARTNERS THAT'LL MATCH WHATEVER MONEY YOU BRING TO THE TABLE. YOU'LL HAVE PROBABLY MORE THAN 75 MILLION IN THIS CASE. WITH THAT, I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND THEN COME TO A CONSENSUS ON THIS QUESTION. IS THERE ENOUGH WILL TO MOVE TO A NOVEMBER 2024 REFERENDUM. KNOWING THE TIME LINE AND THE STEPS REQUIRED. UP TO THE POINT TO MEET THE ELECTION OFFICE DEADLINE, YOU CAN PULL THE PLUG ON THIS ECONOMIC SITUATIONS CHANGE, POLITICAL WILLS, RIGHT NOW THERE'S A SENSE YOU WANT THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT YOU CAN PULL THE PLUG ON THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS. I GUESS THE QUESTION WOULD BE WHETHER OUR RESIDENTS, TAXPAYERS WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT. LAND CONSERVATION IS A NEBULOUS TERM. WE NEED TO PIN IT DOWN MORE. THAT WHAT I PUT DOWN AS A PRIORITY MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY AND SDROENT THE PLAN TO -- DON'T HAVE THE PLAN TO IDENTIFY THE PARCELS, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, MAKING SURE CERTAIN AREAS, YOU CAN VERY BADLY MISSPEND THE TAXPAYER MONEY. IT DOES HELP IN TERMS OF CLARIFYING WHERE WE NEED TO GO. I'M ALL FOR MOVING FORWARD. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS EITHER. I AGREE, THERE'S SOME REFINEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO CONSERVATION THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL PROBABLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I'M ALL FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT AS WELL. IT LOOKS GOOD. AT LEAST WHAT I'VE SEEN OF IT. >> YEAH, I GREW UP HUNTING , [00:25:03] FISHING, SOME OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES. IT'S HARD TO DO THAT TODAY. QUIET HONESTLY. MY ONLY QUESTION WE CAN ACQUIRE, REACH THE GOAL THROUGH PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY, OR EASEMENT CONSERVATION? WHAT ABOUT BENEFITORS, DONATIONS, IS THAT IN THE CALCULATIONS TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS AS WELL? >> ABSOLUTELY. MY EXPERIENCE IS PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO DONATE LAND TO NONPROFITS THAN TO GOVERNMENTS. I CAN SAFELY SAY THAT I'VE RECEIVED MORE DONATIONS OF CASH AND LAND IN A YEAR AND A HALF IN THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST THAN IN 30 YEARS AS A GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION AGENT. IT DEPENDS ON THEIR INTENT. WHAT I'M FINDING AND THERE'S LOTS OF EXAMPLES HERE IN CLAY COUNTY, FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF, GRANDFATHER HOMESTEAD THE PROPERTY. AND SAID, AVERY ROBERTS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. THE LAND HIS FAMILY OWNED FOR 150 YEARS, AND AT CHURCH, AVERY, YOU BOUGHT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S HOMESTEAD. YEAH, THEY TOOK HIM OFF TO CHURCH, SUNDAY BEST AND THERE WAS THE FOUNDATION OF HIS GRANDFATHER'S FIRST COTTAGE. THE TEARS IN HIS EYES, AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONNECTION MANY THIS AREA TO THEIR LAND AND THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO SAY, I WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES. WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF DONATIONS FROM FOLKS LIKE THAT. I THINK YOU'RE IN A MAGIC WINDOW OF TIME. WE STILL HAVE LAND OWNERS LIKE THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THEM IN SOUTH FLORIDA AT THIS POINT. YOU'RE GETTING THIS EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME. YOU'RE TAPPING INTO THAT DESIRE. >> THE REASON I ASK, THE LEGISLATOR UP IN -- PARK, WE CAME CLOSE TO GETTING BRADLEY CONSERVATION PARK DONATED TO US. AND IT NEVER MATERIALIZED, THEN IT WAS PURCHASED BY A LAND TRUST, AND IT'S BEING PRESERVED IN THAT MANNER AND SHAPE AND FORM NOW. BUT THERE WAS ALSO AN OPTION OF OUT RIGHT DONATION AT ONE TIME. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL AS FINANCIAL. PRESERVATION, IT'S A STRONG I THE BENEFITS TO THE DONOR ARE THE SAME AS A TRUST, IN TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL, THE WAY THE IRS TREATS THAT DONATION. I'M NOT A TAX EXPERT, I KNOW ENOUGH TO SAY FIND A CPA. IF YOU DONATE SIMPLE, THE YEAR OF THE DONATION PLUS FIVE MORE YEARS. IT'S A CONSERVATION, THE YEAR OF DONATION AND 15 MORE YEARS. IS THERE VALUE IF DONATING PROPERTY AND A TOOL TO USE. >> ONE COMMENT, TAX CODE NOT AN EXPERT AT IT. THE TAX CODE CHANGES EVERY YEAR. >> AS SOMEONE WHO'S NOT INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT VERY LONG, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN MY DISTRICT, A LOT OF NONCONSERVATION. AND THIS REALLY CONCERNED ME. I WAS ABLE TO FORM A RELATIONSHIP WITH JIM MCCARTHY WAY BACK WHEN WE WERE [INAUDIBLE]. IN MY BACK YARD. AND HE -- I DO MISS HIM AND I TALK TO HIM, BUT I LOVE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. I WAS WONDERING, AS FAR AS THE STEPS IT TAKES, A LOT OF WORK ON OUR PART. OR DO YOU HANDLE THAT? WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO WHAT WE DO? >> WE'RE GOING TO BE PARTNERS. WHAT WE'LL DO IS THERE'S A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF DOCUMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO DRAFT. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS TO GO ABOUT THIS. I WANT ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE A LOT OF STUFF READY TO GO, THE [00:30:01] COMMUNITY CAN READ AS THEY GO INTO A REFERENDUM. THERE'S EXAMPLE OF EVALUATION CRITERIA. YOU CAN DEVELOP AS A RESOLUTION. SAYING THIS PASSES, HERE'S HOW THOSE ARE ALREADY DRAFTED.NS.- DEPENDING WHAT THE PARTICULAR VALUES YOU WANT TO PROTECT. THE REFERENDUM LANGUAGE, THE ORDINANCE ADOPTED, THAT'S FAIRLY TEMPLATE. IN TERMS OF THE WORK YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAS TO DO, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE, TO HOLD PUBLIC WORKSHOPS. TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT, HAVE THE DISCUSSION WITH THEM IF THE VALUES DON'T TRULY REPRESENT WITH A THE INDIVIDUALS WANT. THERE'S EDUCATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. BUT WE THINK, THE MORE YOU DO GOING IN AND THE MORE CONVERSATION YOU HAVE, THE BETTER THE OUTCOME WILL BE. WE'LL BE THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. OUR CONTRACT WITH YOU ALL, GETS YOU A BLUE PRINT AND HELP TO DRAFT THE LANGUAGE GOING INTO NOVEMBER. IN TERMS OF THE WORK YOU HAVE TO DO, WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET IT DONE AND ON TIME. >> AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE YOUR KNOW HOW TO GET THROUGH THAT. AND THAT GOES TO MY NEXT COMMENT/QUESTION. ANOTHER THING I'VE LEARNED QUICKLY IS EVERYONE WANTS EVERYTHING, BUT IT COMES TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM, ALL OF A SUDDEN A DIFFERENT STORY. WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND IN YOUR PAST WITH COMMUNITIES, AGAIN, I THINK COMMUNICATION IS THE BIG KEY THERE. THAT'S A BIG DEAL THERE. >> THIS IS THE MOMENT I WAS GOING TO INTRODUCE THE MANAGEMENT OF BUDGET OFFICE. I ASKED THEM TO REFRESH US MAYBE IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING MECHANISMS YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU. AND HOW MUCH OF THAT IS OBLIGATED IN PLAN OR VISION FOR DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I RECOGNIZE TO COME UP AND PRESENT THAT. >> HELLO. GOOD MORNING. BASICALLY, SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES HAVE USED SALES TAX DOLLARS THROUGH THE CIP. GENERAL FUND MONEY, GRANTS, PRIVATE DONATIONS, THAT TYPE OF THINGS. THE FLORIDA KEYS TAPS IN TO DEVELOPMENT TAX THROUGH THE CRITICAL LANDS STATUTE. BUT LOOKING AT OUR SITUATION, THE CIP IS VERY TIGHT. WE HAVE THE SALES TAX TIED UP WITH THE BONDED PROJECTS RIGHT NOW. THAT'S 8.4 MILLION PER YEAR AND THAT GOES THROUGH 2039. WE CREATED A CHART. AND IF WE WERE GOING TO A .103. IF WE GO UP TO THE .2, THAT'S $58 MILLION. IF WE WERE TO DO THE .2 MILLS, FOR A PROPERTY WITH A TAXABLE VALUE OF $300,000, THAT'S $60 PER YEAR ON YOUR TAX BILL. DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU WANT IT TO GO. >> .2 IS STATUTORY UPPER LIMIT? >> NO, THE AMOUNT THAT -- >> DOES IT STATE CAP IT AT .2 MILLS? COULD WE GO 4 MILLION IF WE WANT? >> YES, WE CAN GO UP. THERE'S A MAX, YES. .10 MILLS IS FOR THE --. [00:35:05] THIS IS BASED ON THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT. >> THERE'S OTHER MILLS THAT WE CAN CHARGE? >> THERE IS A TOTAL FOR -- YES. >> 10 MILLS, IS THE TOTAL THE COUNTY CAN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING. >> CORRECT. >> GENERAL FUND, CL THE GMS FUNDS. >> YES. .2. AND AFTER 20 YEARS, THAT GIVES YOU $58.6 MILLION. >> AND THAT WOULD BE 60 FOR THE AVERAGE HOMES? >> $60 A YEAR, CORRECT. AND WE'LL HAVE THE CIP IMPACT FEE WORKSHOP IN MARCH. WE'LL TALK AGAIN FOR CIP. RIGHT NOW IT'S PRETTY TIGHT WITH THE PROJECTS. >> IF WE WENT SALES TAX, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT STATEMENT? >> OUR SALES TAX IS WHAT WE USE FOR THE CIP PROJECTS. AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE BONDED PROJECTS DEDICATED FOR SALES TAX AS WELL. THAT'S TIED UP UNTIL 2039. WHAT I'M SAYING IN THE CIP PROJECTS P IF WE WANT TO ADD LAND CONSERVATION TO THAT, WE HAVE TO BUMP OUR PROJECTS OUT. >> YOU CAN'T DO A SEPARATE SALES TAX FOR THIS? >> WE'RE MAXED OUT ON THE SALES TAX RIGHT NOW. >> THERE'S MILLAGE, SALES TAX AND HOW ELSE? >> IF WE HAD GENERAL FUND MONEY, GRANTS, PRIVATE LAND DONATIONS, THAT TYPE OF THING. >> REALLY THE ONLY THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, REALLY THE ONLY THING AVAILABLE TO CLAY COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS [INAUDIBLE]. >> UNLESS WE MOVE OUT OTHER PROJECTS. >> STILL HAVE THE UTILITY TAX TO LOOK AT AS WELL, RIGHT? >> NO. >> THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION. YOU COULD ADD, IF YOU DECIDED THE BOARD CHOSE NOT TO INCREASE THE UTILITY TAX, AND THEN USE IT, THAT'S A GENERAL FUND REVENUE STREAM, SO YOU COULD SAY I'LL INCREASE IT BY THE 4% I THINK WE HAVE AVAILABLE ON THE ELECTRIC SIDE. AND WE'LL EARMARK THAT AT 4%, FOR CONSERVATION. THAT'S A BOARD DECISION. >> WE HAVE ELECTRIC AND WATER. >> 0 ON WATER, GO TO 10% ON WATER, AND 6% ON ELECTRIC. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A REVENUE STREAM OUTSIDE OF -- THAT'S ANOTHER REVENUE STREAM. I CAUTION YOU CAN'T BUY FUTURE BOARDS. THIS BOARD MAY SAY THIS IS A GREAT IDEA, THE FUTURE BOARDS MAY SAY I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? >> HOW TO PAY FOR IT IS NOT A REFERENDUM ITEM. >> IF YOU DECIDED A 4%, THAT'S A BOARD DECISION TO INCREASE THE UTILITY TAXES TO 10%. BUT YOU CAN'T FIND THE FUTURE BOARD TO SAY THAT'S WHAT THE 4% IS GOING TO GO TO IN ETERNITY. [00:40:50] >>> THE OTHER THING THAT BEAR IN MIND IF YOU DO BOND, THINK ABOUT BONDING, IF YOU PAY AS YOU GO, RAISE A COUPLE MILLION EVERY YEAR, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO BUY LAND. IF YOU BOND IT, WE DID TWO BONDS HERE. 14 MILLION AND 15 MILLION. A TOTAL OF 29. THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS AND ONE OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE IS THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. WE'LL TEST THE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS AND THE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS. YOU MAY GET A PHONE CALL, CLAY COUNTY IS CONSIDERING THE LAND CONSERVATION. HOW LIKELY WOULD YOU VOTE FOR -- TO DO THESE THINGS, $23 A YEAR. 60% ARE LIKELY. HOW LIKELY WOULD YOU BE IF IT'S .2 MILL? NOW YOU KNOW WHERE THE SWOET SPOT IS. THAT -- SWEET SPOT IS. IF YOU WANT THE REFERENDUM TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THIS IS THE NUMBER YOU WANT TO BE AT. THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT PEOPLE WILL WANT TO ACCEPT. YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION GOING INTO 2024. >> AND USE THE PHRASE OF THE SURTAX. DO WE HAVE THAT? >> WE HAVE NO ROOM IN -- >> YOU'RE AT YOUR MAXIMUM SALES TAX. >> BUT THERE'S SALES TAX AND THERE'S THE SURTAX. >> YOU'RE AT THE MAX FOR BOTH RIGHT NOW. >> I HAVE A COMMENT. TWO KEY POINTS FOR THE PUBLIC. WE DON'T HAVE TONS OF MONEY TO SPEND THAT EVERYONE SAYS WE DO. WE DON'T. WHATEVER I HEAR THE COMMENT IT'S JUST NOT TRUE. WE BARELY MADE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. AND WE HAVE TO GET IT FROM SOMEWHERE. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE OR WE HAVE TO RAISE SOMETHING. PEOPLE ARE ALREADY COMPLAINING HOW MUCH THEY HAVE TO SPEND. CONSERVATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT WE HAVE TO GET EVERYONE ON BOARD. YOU'RE TALKING TO YOUR FRIEND AND EVERYTHING, WE NEED TO POSSESS THOSE STATEMENTS ON. >> I GUESS I HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT. AND WHEREVER WE GO WITH THIS, THIS COMMISSION IS LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE A GRANT DEPARTMENT TO DO THESE TYPES OF THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DONE IN CLAY COUNTY BEFORE. THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE, FEDERAL STATE AT TIMES. WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT ALL THE TIME. WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR HANDS AROUND THIS. AND THE SUBJECT, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS THE COST OF PROPERTY IS DOING RIGHT NOW. EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THE INTEREST RATES ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE ALL HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WE HAVE TO WORK AND WE ARE WORKING DOUBLE HARD TO MAKE ALL THE PROJECTS WORK THIS BEING ONE OF THEM. >> IT WAS FOR -- TALK ABOUT MAXING OUT SALES TAX AND THE SURTAX, THAT ANNUAL? >> THAT'S JUST WHERE WE ARE. WITH THE SURTAX, THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS AS FAR AS ADDING TO THE SURTAX. BUT THAT GOES INDIGENT CARE AND OTHER PROGRAMS WE HAVE TO BRING IN THAT WE COULD NOT USE TO THIS. >> AND ALSO, YOUR SALES TAX, THE [00:45:05] 1% SALES TAX THAT'S IN EFFECTS FOR 20 YEARS. IT EXPIRES IN 2029. >> THE OTHER SALES TAX TO CHARGE IS BY STATE STATUTE. IT LIMITS WHAT SALES TAX IS ROLLED OUT A CHARGE. AND WHAT THE TIME LINE IS ON THOSE. WE RENEWED SEVERAL YEARS BACK. >> AND COMMITTED THE ROAD PROJECT THAT'S THROUGH 2029. >> I WAS WONDERING OF THE BOND PROJECT. WE'RE LOOKING TO MOVE AT THE SAME TIME FOR THAT PROJECT. FOR US. THAT MAKES MORE SENSE, THANK YOU. >> OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> I THINK IT'S BEHOLDEN ON THE BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD. LAND DOESN'T GET CHEAPER, AND NOT PRODUCED ANYWHERE. WE NEED TO FIND NEW LAND. THIS IS ONE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO LOCK THAT LAND UP AS SAID. I THINK THAT IT'LL BE VERY POPULAR OPTION FOR THE TAXPAYERS. I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, EACH STEP OF THE WAY, BENCHMARKS THAT WE WORK WITH THE PUBLIC TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S -- THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY TO GO AROUND. TAKING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE HARD EARNED DOLLARS AND INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY TO BUY GREEN SPACES AND WATER WAYS, WHATEVER WE NEED TO FOCUS ON AS WE COME DOWN THE PIKE. AND DETERMINE THE CONSERVATION PLAN LOOKS LIKE. LAST NIGHT AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING, IT WAS CLEAR WHAT THE CITIZENS WANTED AS OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPERS WANTED OF THE PROJECT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. PART OF IT WAS RETAINING -- MAINTAINING TREES THAT WERE ALREADY THERE. THE SOONER THE BETTER, TO LOCK UP THE PROGRAMS. I LIKE THE IDEA OF NASSAU COUNTY. THEY HAVE A LIST OF LANDS, PARCELS THEY WERE ALREADY GOING TO BUY BEFORE THE VOTE WAS HAPPENING, THE CITIZENS KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THE MONEY WAS GOING TO BE SPENT. >> I AGREE, LIVING IN THE MOST RURAL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY, I TALK ABOUT PEOPLE KEEPING IT THAT WAY. WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THAT THROUGH GOOD PLANNING AND ZONING. REWRITING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IS A KEY PART OF THAT, AND MAKING SURE THAT SOME OF THE LAND COULD NEVER BE DEVELOPED THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAND TRUST OR THE LAND TRUST ITSELF. THE PUBLIC TENDS TO NOT HAVE A TRUST OF GOVERNMENT, THAT FUTURE BOARDS WOULD NOT CHANGE THE ZONING OR LAND USE. ONE OF THE THINGS FACING US, THIS AFTERNOON AND IT HAS BEEN EVERY MEETING SINCE I'VE BEEN A COMMISSIONER IS ZONING AND LAND USE THAT CHANGES THAT WERE MADE ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, WE'RE NOW FEELING THE EFFECTS OF. BECAUSE IT SEEMS THE WORLD WANTS TO LIVE IN FLORIDA. IT'S GREAT WEATHER. JANUARY 24, AND IT WAS COLD FOR ME THIS MORNING. BUT IT'LL WARM UP TO 80 TOMORROW. WE UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE HERE. >> QUICK COMMENT. LET'S NOT BE FOOLED ABOUT BEING ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. I DID A SURVEY LAST NIGHT, POPULATION OF -- VERY NEGATIVE TO THIS CONCEPT. AND SO MARKETING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. [00:50:04] I THINK THE GREATER GOOD OF THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR IS SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO DWELL ON, AND BEING ULTERIOR GOAL OF PRESERVATION. SO MARKETING IS VERY IMPORTANT. MOST PEOPLE HERE ARE SUPPORTIVE. THERE'S A GREATER POPULATION OUT THERE. WE REALLY WANT THE EMPHASIZE THE MARKETING IF WE GO FORWARD. >> AND I UNDERSTAND THE REFERENDUM IS NOT FREE. WHAT DOES IT COST TO DO A REFERENDUM? >> I'VE HEARD NUMBERS FROM 50 TO $100,000. IT'S THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT FALLS TO A PRIVATE IMPACT. THERE ARE FOLKS THAT I KNOW WOULD BE WILLING TO LEAD THE EFFORT IF THIS GOES FORWARD IN CLAY COUNTY. A COUPLE OF INTERESTING COMMENTS, JUST REFLECTIONS ON THINGS THAT WERE SAID. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE IDEA IS NOT TAKING THE LAND AND MAKING IT ONLY AVAILABLE TO THE ANIMALS. I BELIEVE THE FACT THAT YOU PUT PUBLIC DOLLARS IN THE PROPERTY, THE PUBLIC THAT HAS -- ACCESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK THERE'S PROPERTIES YOU DO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND GET THE BENEFITS, BUT WHERE YOU BUY LAND SIMPLE. FOLKS CAN APPRECIATE AND HUNT AND NATURE WATCH. WE'LL GET SOME OF THE VALUES IN THE WORKSHOP HERE AND THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE. HOPEFULLY BUILD YOU A BLUE PRINT THAT SAYS, IF YOU DO THESE THINGS, MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE A SUCCESSFUL REFERENDUM LIKE WE HAVE HAD. REMEMBER, ONLY 28 COUNTIES HAVE DONE THIS. THEY HAVE MULTIPLE REFERENDUMS IN THE PAST. ENED. >> I THINK THERE'S CONSENSUS THAT WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT [2.  Conservation Lands Program - Session 2] STEP. I THINK WE'RE READY FOR YOU TO MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER TWO. >> IF IT PLEASES THE BOARD, WE'LL SET UP SOME POSTERS THAT REFLECT THE TRADITIONAL THEMES, HEATHER WILL LEAD THAT PART. >> WE'LL TAKE WE RECOGNIZED THAT THE BOARD HAS PUT UP, SOME OF YOU WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SCREEN TO SEE US, AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE YOU OR THE AUDIENCE. WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT WAY TO SHOW THE BOARDS. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO ZOOM IN ON THEM FOR THE CAMERA, WE'LL HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THIS. >> IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE HEATHER, THE PLANNER FOR THE LAND TRUST AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL MAPS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE. BY SETTING THIS UP, IF YOU LOOK BACK SINCE THE 70S, 80S, AND 90S, WHAT YOU SAW TRADITIONALLY WAS BUGS BUNNIBUNNIES, BEARS, A THEN IT GROWS TO DRINKING WATER, AND FLOOD PROTECTION. AND WE TRIED TO DEVELOP THE THEMES AS BEST WE CAN IN TRADITIONAL WAYS THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT LAND CONSERVATION. THEY'LL USE THINGS LIKE WATER, WILDLIFE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHAT HEATHER HAS DONE HERE. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO BRING HER UP AND WALK YOU THROUGH THE DIFFERENT BOARDS AND WHEN SHE'S DONE, I HAVE SOME DOTS FOR YOU TO USE AND YOU GET TO PUT DOTS ON THE BOARDS, DEPENDING WHAT YOU THINK THE PRIORITIES ARE. PLEASE WELCOME HEATHER. >> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR INVITING US TO ASSIST. I'M EXCITED TO WORK ON THIS FROM A PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE. WITH NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST, WE'RE SET ON THE CONSERVATION PLANNERS, I WORK ON FIGURING OUT WHERE THE PRIORITY AREAS ARE FOR CONSERVATION, BUT MY WORK AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND IS IN [00:55:03] CONSERVATION PLANNING. LOOKING AT GIS DATA, AND DATA ANALYSIS, ANDING FIGURING OUT WHERE TO PURCHASE LAND AND WHERE WE NEED THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS. THIS IS EXCITING FOR ME TO WORK ON AND ALSO I DO LIVE IN CLAY COUNTY, I'M A CLAY COUNTY RESIDENT SO I HAVE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THIS AS WELL. I'M EXCITED TO HELP SHAPE THIS PROGRAM AND FOR CLAY COUNTY, FOR THE RESIDENTS HERE NOW AND PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'LL LEAD THIS SECOND PORTION OF THE WORKSHOP, LOOKING AT CONSERVATION VALUES. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LINE OF SIGHT MODEL EARLIER, YOU WANT TO ENSURE THE LANDS A COUPLE OF YEARS YOU PROTECT AND MANAGE, MATCH THE TYPES OF LANDS WERE THE ORIGINAL PUBLIC DESIRE. AND YOU CAN DO THIS BY DETERMINING WHAT THE CONSERVATION VALUES YOU WANT PROTECTED IN THE CLAY COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM. WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY CONSERVATION VALUES? THESE ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS -- THEY'RE ECOLOGICAL. OPEN SPACE, OVER TIME, THE VALUES HAVE BROADENED. WORKING FARMS, FLOOD PROTECTION AND PROTECTION FROM STORMS. THERE'S MANY BENEFITS THAT CONSERVATION LANDS CAN PROVIDE. AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS. IF WE SET THIS UP IN A WELL THOUGHT OUT MANNER, WE CAN FULLY REAP THE BENEFITS THAT THE LANDS CAN PROVIDE. WE HAVE A SERIES OF MAPS TO HELP ILLUSTRATE THE VALUES THAT WE THINK THE CLAY COUNTY RESIDENT THINK OF WHEN ASKED OF THE CONSERVATION PROGRAM. I'LL GO THROUGH AND GIVE MORE INFORMING OF THE MAPS AND VALUES THEY REPRESENT. AND WE ASK FOR YOU TO VOTE ON WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE. >> IF I MAY, AND HEATHER. AS WE GO THROUGH EACH MAP, IF WE PUT IT IN FRONT OF YOU, THEY CAN ZOOM ON IT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS ONLINE. AND ON CHANNEL 260. I'LL HELP YOU WITH THAT. >> THEY'RE SMALL ON THE SLIDE, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT -- >> TO BEGIN, SOMETHING THAT MOST THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF WHAT CONSERVATION LANDS NORMALLY PROTECT, ENDANGERED SPECIES AND HABITAT. AND PROTECTING THAT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. IT SAVES THE NATIVE FISH, PLANTS AND OTHER WILDLIFE FROM POTENTIAL EXTINCTION. THIS MAP DISPLAYS A FEW OF CLAY COUNTY'S ENDANGERED SPECIES. AND HABITATS IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA AS IMPORTANT FOR CONSERVATION. THESE ARE HABITAT TYPES THAT ARE NOT WELL REPRESENTED BY THE EXISTING CONSERVATION LANDS. THIS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR FUTURE. THE NEXT VALUE WE THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THE PROTECTION OF SURFACE WATER FEATURES. THIS MAP DISPLAYS ALL TYPES OF SURFACE WATERS, INCLUDING LAKES, RIVERS, STREAMS AND WET LANDS. AND ALSO SHOWS THE LOCATION OF IDENTIFIES SPRINGS AND SEEPS IN THE COUNTY. AND IN ADDITION, WE DISPLAYED THE HIGH RISK FEMA FLOOD ZONES ON THE MAP. WE HAVE ALSO IDENTIFIED DRINKING WATER AS A CONSERVATION VALUE. CONSERVATION LANDS CAN HELP PROTECT THE DRINKING WATERS IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING FILTERING THE WATER TO ENSURE IT'S CLEAN AND TO REPLENISH THE GROUND WATER SUPPLIES. THIS MAP SHOWS AREAS OF THE COUNTY WITH HIGH POTENTIAL -- THESE ARE PRIORITY AREAS TO PROTECT FOR DRINKING WATER, THEY'LL ENSURE WE MAINTAIN A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE. THIS MAP ALSO SHOWS THE LOCATION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY WELLS. THEY'LL SUPPLY WELLS TO AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE OR 15 SERVICE [01:00:04] CONNECTIONS. THEY SERVICE COMMUNITIES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, CHURCHES, ET CETERA. THIS NEXT MAP SHOWS CONSERVATION VALUE CONNECTIVITY. THIS CONSERVATION VALUE IS THE CONNECTION OF THE EXISTING LANDS TO THE LARGE AREAS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE CORRIDORS FOR PLANTS, ANIMALS AND PEOPLE TO MOVE FREELY. IT SUPPORTS THE BIO DIVERSITY TO ALLOW WILDLIFE TO MOVE TO FOOD, WATER, SHELTER AND BREEDING HABITATS. AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ALSO BENEFIT, THESE ARE BETTER ABLE TO FUNCTION OVERALL. IN TURN, THEY'LL PROVIDE SERVICES TO PROVIDE HUMAN HEALTH AND PROVIDE CLEAN AIR AND WATER. THIS SHOWS THE LOCATION OF EXISTING CONSERVATION LANDS AND THE BOUNDARIES OF CORRIDORS THAT ALREADY EXIST. TO CONSERVE THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR CONNECTING THE OCALA AND -- THE ACRES OF CONNECTED LANDS AND WATERS THAT SUPPORT WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE. OVER 8 MILLION ACRES OF THE CORRIDOR ARE CURRENTLY UNPROTECTED. THESE ARE HIGH AREAS, THE SENATE PASSED THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR ACT THAT SECURED FUNDING TO PROTECT THE INTERCONNECT AND HAD NATURAL AREAS OF THE STATE. BY CONSERVING THE LANDS, CLAY COUNTY CAN LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS AND EXISTING FUNDING TO PROTECT THE HIGH PRIORITY LANDS. ANOTHER CONSERVATION VALUE THAT WE THINK COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING ARE FARMS AND FORESTS. THE OWNERS OF WORKING LANDS, FARMS, RANCHES, HAVE A DEEP CONNECTION TO THE GROUND, WATER AND WILDLIFE. THEY MAKE A LIVING BY MAINTAINING THE NATURAL AND PRODUCTIVE VALUES OF THE LANDS. PRESERVING THESE WILL HELP TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT CONVERTED TO NONAGRICULTURAL USES. AND ENSURES THAT FARMERS AND RANCHERS CAN MAINTAIN THEIR WAY OF LIFE AND PASS IT ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. FARMS AND FORESTS ABSORB RAIN WATER, TO HELP WITH FLOODING AND PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE. THIS MAP SHOWS AREAS OF THE COUNTY, THAT ARE CURRENTLY -- AND AREAS WITH HARD WOOD AND PINE. AND CONSERVATION VALUE THAT MANY COUNTIES ARE INCORPORATING IN THE LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, ARE THE PARKS AND RECREATION PLACES. IN ADDITION, PARKS ALSO PROVIDE POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS, THEY INCLUDE ENHANCING THE PROPERTY VALUES, SPURRING THE LOCAL ECONOMIES AND ATTRACTING NEW RESIDENT AND BUSINESSES. THIS SHOWS AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE CURRENTLY ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS, AND SHOWS EXISTING RECREATIONAL TRAILS. AND SO FINALLY, ANOTHER POTENTIAL VALUE IN CLAY COUNTY IS THE PROTECTION OF HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. CLAY COUNTY HAS A RICH HISTORY. THE BATTLE FIELD REMNANTS, CAT FACES, PROHIBITION -- ARE JUST SOME THAT SPEAK TO THE HISTORY. IT PROVIDES A DEDICATED SOURCE OF FUNDING TO HELP PROTECT LANDS WITH THESE RESOURCES. THIS MAP SHOWS THE LOCATIONS OF SOME OF THE HISTORIC RESOURCES IN THE COUNTY. THERE'S SOME HISTORIC HOMESITES, MILITARY AREAS, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, CHURCHES AND RAILROAD CORRIDORS. BUT NOT YET LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF THE HISTORIC PLACES. [01:05:02] AND SO TO BEGIN, TO DETERMINE THE VALUES THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN CLAY COUNTY'S PROGRAM WE'LL ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THE CONSERVATION VALUES AND VOTE ON THE ONES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS PART OF THE REFERENDUM. WE'LL OFFER TIME FOR DISCUSSION, BUT THE IDEA IS WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME DOTS, 12 DOTS TO ADD TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EMPTY WHITE AREAS. PUT AS MANY DOTS AS YOU WANT. IF YOU LIKE ALL THE VALUES, PUT THEM ON ALL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE ALL OF THE DOTS AS WELL. IT'S UP TO YOU HOW TO DISPLAY ON THE POSTERS. >> WE DO WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO DISCUSSION. THESE ARE THE VALUES THAT WE SEE AS OTHER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, AND THE ONES THAT WE THINK WOULD COME UP FROM THE CLAY COUNTY RESIDENTS. IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU SEE IS MISSING OR LIKE TO ADD, PLEASE LET US KNOW. >> BEFORE WE GO AND PUT THE DOTS ON OUR CHOICES, ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS? >> DOING MORE OR LESS? LOOKS LIKE WE NEED ALL OF IT. IS IT BAD TO DO ALL OF THEM? >> WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, WE DIDN'T WANT TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE, THIS IS WHAT WE THINK AND WE WANTED TO LET IT BE YOUR DECISION ON WITH A YOU THINK YOUR COMMUNITIES OR WHAT YOU THINK WILL REFLECT AS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR CLAY COUNTY. IT'S UP TO THE COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC. IT'S REALLY REFLECTIVE OF WHAT THE PUBLIC SEES. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I'M HAPPY WITH THE NUMBERS ON THIS. WHEN YOU MAKE HARD CHOICES AND SPECIFICS THAT YOU WANT TO SAVE, IT'S MORE DIFFICULT. I DON'T SHARE MY THOUGHTS UNTIL AFTERWARDS. >> LET'S PUT OUR DOTS ON IT AND COME BACK. >> DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD LIKE [01:11:01] TO KNOW WHAT THE TOTALS ARE? >> YES, I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. AND WE'LL HAVE CONVERSATION WHERE WE PUT OURS AND WHY. YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW? OH. I THOUGHT SO TOO. WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, THANK YOU FOR THAT INPUT. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST IN DISCUSSING, THE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IS RIGHT I'LL SHARE WHERE I PUT MY DOTS. AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO, I CAN GO FIRST. I PUT, I THINK I PUT ONE ON EVERY ITEM EXCEPT FOR CONNE CONNECTIVITY. THAT ONE DIDN'T SPEAK TO ME. I PUT A DOTS ON SURFACE WATER, ACCESS TO RECREATION, ONE ON ACCESS TO HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, AND TWO ON THREATENED ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THE REST I SPLIT BETWEEN DRINKING WATER, FARMS AND FOREST AND FEATURES, THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD MOST WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN OUR COUNTY AND PROTECTION OF KIND OF OVERALL FROM SOME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL. >> THEY NEED TO SEE THOSE. >> WITH THAT, WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THEIRS? >> I'D BE GLAD TO GO. FIRST, I DIDN'T REALIZE WE COULD PUT MORE THAN ONE DOT ON THE BOARD. I HAD TO GO BACK. I STARTED WITH DRINKING WATER. OBVIOUSLY. WE AS A STATE -- ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH IN PLACES LIKE ARIZONA AND NEVADA. WHERE WILL YOU GET IT? I PUT A COUPLE OF DOTS THERE AND SOME ON THE SURFACE WATER. IT'S IMPORTANT, OBVIOUSLY TO ENSURE AS MUCH OF THE SURFACE WATER AS POSSIBLE. AND ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO FLOODING. IF WAYS TO TAKE OVER AND BUY LAND THAT ALLOWS US TO PREVENT FLOODING, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. WE'RE IN A SITUATION IN FLORIDA, EXTREMELY AND MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THAT. I THOUGHT CONNECTIVITY SPOKE TO ME IN THE SENSE THAT ONE WORD I HEARD THAT I LIKED, WE CAN LEVERAGE THE MONEY WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHER COUNTIES FOR PURPOSES OF PUTTING LAND ASIDE. THAT'S IMPORTANT. WE'LL HAVE LIMITED DOLLARS TO SPEND AND SO WE COULD LEVERAGE THAT AND ALSO PIGGY BACK ON STATE LEGISLATURE MONEY. AND GIVES US A HELPING HAND TO TALK TO OUR STATELY DELEGATION [01:15:01] TO GET MONEY. I ALSO PUT A COUPLE OF DOTS ON ACCESS TO RECREATION PURPOSES. TAXPAYERS WILL WANT TO GO OUT AND EYE THE LAND -- ENJOY THE LAND, BUT ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE IN FLORIDA IN TERMS OF THAT AND IT'LL HELP WITH THE EFFORT TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACES. AND I LOOK AT GRANDKIDS ABLE TO ENJOY THINGS WHEN THEIR CHILDREN HAVE A BETTER APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURE. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I CONCENTRATE ON. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> I'LL GO NEXT. WATER, IF YOU READ IN THE PRESS, WATER IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM OUT WEST. NOT JUST THERE, BUT SHORTAGE OF WATER NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES BUT WORLDWIDE. WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH WATER HERE IN CLAY COUNTY. DRINKING WATER IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SURFACE WATER IS RECHARGED COMPONENT OF DRINKING WATER. THOSE ARE HIGH PRIORITY ITEMS OF MY VIEW. ENDANGERED SPECIES, MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE RELOCATED. WE NEED TO PROVIDE HABITAT FOR THE ANIMALS THAT EXIST HERE BEFORE THE HUMAN ANIMALS INVADED THEIR TERRITORY. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT TO ME. CONNECTIVITY, DITTO. BIGGER PROJECT MORE SUPPORT, AND THE MORE GOOD YOU CAN GET. YOU CAN CONNECT BRADFORD WITH NASSAU COUNTY. THROUGH PLAN -- YOU GET MORE SPORT AND THAT'S PUBLIC SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH RESOURCES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE BIGGER THE PROJECT, THE MORE BENEFIT TO PROVIDE AND MORE SUPPORT YOU'LL GET ON THE FINANCES. I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF THESE ITEMS ARE NOT IMPORTANT. BUT THOSE WERE THE IMPORTANT ONES TO ME. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> ALSO I THOUGHT I COULD HAVE ONE DOT, ANYWAY. ORIGINALLY MY FIRST THOUGHT IS FARMS AND FOREST. AND ENDANGERED SPECIES AND HABITAT. I'M MAJORLY FOR THAT. KNOWING WE HAVE BEARS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NOW, HISTORICAL AND CULTURE RESOURCES, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS FAR AS US KEEPING THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE WE HAVE HERE. AND ACCESS TO RECREATION. WE LEARNED IN COVID THAT WE HAVE TO -- REALLY NEED TO HAVE THAT AS FAR AS THE WELL BEING, AND I THINK WE NEED TO WORK TOWARD HAVING MORE OUTDOORS AND GREEN SPACE TO WORK WITH THERE. CONNECTIVITY, ALSO I HAD A DOT ON THAT. AND THE SURFACE WATER FEATURES. WE ARE BIG WATER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY AND THAT'S AN ASSET. WE'RE BIG, MY HUSBAND IS A BIG BOATER. JUST GOT HIS CAPTAIN'S LICENSE BY THE WAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM. THAT'S A BIG DEAL WITH ME. SURFACE WATER FEATURES. >> I THINK IN THE PRESENTATION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME IS THE CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY GETTING SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST THE INTANGIBLE. MORE THAN CLEAN AIR AND WATER. DRINKING WATER JUMPED OUT AT ME FOR THAT REASON. BUT, OF COURSE, NATIONWIDE CONCERNS ABOUT DRINKING WATER. THE SECOND THING IS THE THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES AND HABITATS. SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF LAST WEEK I WAS IN A ZONING AND PLANNING MEETING, OTHER THAN TRAFFIC THE OTHER CONCERN THAT COMES UP IS THE CONCERN FOR THE [01:20:03] ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THAT AREA. I'M HEARING WHAT THE PUBLIC IS SAYING THAT THE. MY DISTRICT HAS FOREST, AND FOR ME, INTERACTING WITH THE NATIONAL RESOURCES GIVES US MORE APPRECIATION FOR THAT. AND THE RESOURCES, IF WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT, WE CAN'T PROTECT IT. AND I THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY, IF THEY -- I AM HUGE ON PRESERVING HISTORY AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. THERE WAS A PROJECT THAT CAME BEFORE US NOT TOO LONG AGO. A VERY PROMINENT HISTORICAL PIECE IN THE COUNTY. WE WERE LOOKING AT THE COMPLEX, THE SPORTS COMPLEX WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT HOW TO CONNECT THE ROADS DOWN THERE. THERE WAS A HISTORICAL PIECE THAT SOME OF US WERE NOT REALIZING IS VERY IMPORTANT. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT. OF COURSE, SURFACE WATER, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT ON THE COMMISSION VERY LONG, THE PROJECTS THAT KEEP COMING UP, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT IS RECURRING IS THE FOR FLOODING. IF WE COULD BE HAVING OUR EYES ON, WE HAVE OTHER PROJECTS IN PLACE LOOKING AT SURVEYING AND -- I THINK THAT'S A STUDY FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. NOT JUST MY DISTRICT. >> ALL RIGHT. ANSWER TO WHAT ARE THE CONSERVATION VALUES OF THE BCC, AS OF TODAY AND SEEING THESE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS MORNING, OUR TOTALS IN RANK ORDER, WERE THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, 12 DOTS. DRINKING WATER, GOT 11 DOTS. ACCESS TO RECREATION WAS 10 DOTS. SURFACE WATER AND CONNECTIVITY TIED AT 8 DOTS. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES SIX DOTS AND FARMS AND FOREST WAS FIVE DOTS. >> IT ADDS UP TO 60 SO WELL DONE. YOUR EYESIGHT IS WAY BETTER THAN MINE. >> ONE COMMISSIONER OFFERED TO SELL HIS -- >> NO ONE DID THAT, THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE. >> THAT'S AN UGLY RUMOR. >> ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT GOING BACK, IT GAVE YOU A SENSE OF WHERE YOUR PRIORITIES WERE. THE ONLY TIME YOU GET TO DOUBLE VOTE. I'LL BRING US TO A WRAP UP AND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. PHASE TWO OF THIS PROCESS IS PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND BLUE PRINCIPAL. THE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS -- THE EXERCISES THAT YOU JUST WENT THROUGH IN THE HOUR AND A BIT, WE'LL DO FOR YOUR COMMUNITY IN A SERIES OF LISTENING SESSIONS. WE'LL WORK WITH YOUR STAFF TO DECIDE HOW MANY AND WHERE TO HAVE THEM. AND THEY'LL WORK WITH THE MANAGER, THE IDEA IS YOU WANT TO HAVE FEEDBACK. YOU WANT THE COMMUNITY FROM DIFFERENT PLACES LOOKING AT THE MAP VERSUS OUT WEST, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF PRIORITIES. BE REPRESENTED. THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO HAVE AS MUCH CONVERSATION AND TRANSPARENCY AND INPUT, YOU'LL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL. AND YOU'LL DO THE THINGS THE COMMUNITY WANTS. WELL EXECUTED STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, SHOULD INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY. WE'LL HELP THE COUNTY STAFF TO PRESENT THE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK TO THEIR -- WE USE THE TERM BROADLY. AND AS WITH THE BOCC THE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ASKED TO RANK AND PRIORITIZE THE CONSERVATION VALUES WITH A PROGRAM THE COUNTY WOULD RUN. SIMILAR TO VOTING MATRIX. [01:25:03] THE BLUE PRINT OUT OF THAT PROCESS IS COMPILED IN THE CLAY COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION BLUE PRINT. THAT'S A TRANSIT REPORT. -- DRAFT REPORT. WE'LL WORK IT WITH STAFF, BRING IT TO YOU, AND DEVELOP AS PART OF THAT GIS MODELS. IT REFLECTS WHERE THE PARCELS ARE THAT BEST REFLECT THE VALUES. THE DRAFT REPORT WILL ALSO SUGGEST LAND MANAGEMENT. AND WE'LL INCORPORATE ANY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO LAND ACQUISITION, PROCESS, IN TERMS OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND PURCHASE. HOW TO WORK WITH YOUR VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND BOARDS. DRAFT THOSE INTO THE REPORT AND THEN BROUGHT BACK AS A REVISED REPORT FOR YOUR ADOPTION AND THE BLUE PRINT TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT FORMS THE BASIS FOR THE REFERENDUM LANGUAGE. WITH THAT, WE HOPE THE OUTCOME WILL BE ONE YOU CAN USE TO REFER BACK AND SAY, WE POLLED THE COMMUNITY THIS IS WHAT THEY WANTED, THIS IS THE PROGRAM, LET'S GO TO REFERENDUM. WITH THIS LANGUAGE, REFLECTS. WITH THAT, AGAIN, MY SINCERE PLEASURE TO HAVE BEEN HERE. ALLISON YOU WANT TO OFFER WRAP UP WORDS? >> CLOSING THOUGHTS, ONE, WHICH IS WE CAN ALSO WORK AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY. SOME DEVELOPING FOLKS HAVE DISCOVERED THAT FOR INSTANCE, 60% OF THE PEOPLE LIVING ON GOLF COURSES ARE NOT THERE FOR GOLF. THEY'RE THERE FOR OPEN SPACE. TWO, JUST UNDERSTAND THAT I'M SORT OF THE POLITICAL END OF THE OPERATION AND I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO WHERE YOU ARE. AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET ANYTHING SURPRISE YOU, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET ANYTHING BITE YOU. THIS IS A POLITICAL PROCESS, AND IF WE ALL PLAY WELL, IT COMES TO A REALLY GOOD PLACE. IF WE DON'T, IT CAN TURN UGLY AND WE WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN, I PROMISE. WITH THAT, EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW WHERE TO REACH ME. I'LL MAKE SURE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DOES. I SPEAK POLITICS, I WAS ONCE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE -- FEEL FREE TO CALL ME, I'M AT YOUR SERVICE ANYTIME. [COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. WE'LL BRING IT BACK FOR COMMISSIONER COMMENTS. OR ANY OTHER -- DID ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS LEFT UNOPENED? >> I THINK IT'S VERY EXCITING I'M ALL FOR IT. I HOPE WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT TO OUR PEOPLE SO WE CAN GET THEM ON BOARD ALSO FOR THE EXCITEMENT. >> I SEE A PLAQUE THERE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BOTTOM PART SAYS, BUT -- >> HOLD IT UP FOR US. JUST THE PICTURE. A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE. WE COULD ONLY SEE THE SKY, WE APPRECIATE THAT. IS IT IN CLAY COUNTY? >> YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT IT THIS AFTERNOON. >> OKAY. >> FOR THE PUBLIC WHO CAN'T SEE THE PICTURE, OUT IN TV LAND, IT'S A PICTURE OF BLACK CREEK AND WITH THE CITIZEN WAS TELLING US, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT'LL BE SEEING ON -- TLUK SEE IT ON -- THERE YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE CAMERA. THIS IS HEARD AS PART OF OUR AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON. I BELIEVE THAT'S TIME CERTAIN AT 5:00 OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. >> I'M EXCITED MOST TO SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO THIS. MORE THAN ANYTHING, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE. AND HOW THEY WOULD LIKE US TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT OVERALL, VERY VERY GREAT PRESENTATION. [01:30:03] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I'M PLEADS WITH THE GROUND WE -- PLEASED WITH THE GROUND WE COVERED TODAY. YOU HAVE A PIECE OF PARCEL SOMEWHERE YOU WANT TO BUY AND STICK IN A CORNER, AND I'M FASCINATED BY THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT GOES INTO PEOPLE PUTTING DOTS ON CERTAIN THINGS THEY PRIORITIZE. AND THEY CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I GO TO A PUBLIC WORKSHOP AND SEE THE FOLKS MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU. THAT'S FASCINATES ME TO GET IN THE MINDS OF THE TAXPAYERS TO SEE WHAT THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF SAVING LANDS. I'M EXCITED AS WELL. TO SEE THIS PROCESS MOVE FORWARD. DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> JUST TO CLARIFY A COST FOR THE REFERENDUM. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, IF IT DOESN'T ADD PAGES TO THE BALLOT, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COST. IF IT ADDS A PAGE IT'S 35 CENTS. A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY SAY, THAT'S $50,000, THAT'S A LOT. IT WOULD BE $17,500. SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN 50,000. JUST THE KEY THING. I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH MORE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST. AND WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM,THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS AND THIS TAKES US TO THE NEXT LEVEL AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND START TO THINK STRATEGICALLY. THANK YOU. >> I WOULD AGREE WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY MANAGER, I LIKE THE THOUGHT, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IS OFTEN LABELED AS A LESS CONSERVATIVE NOTION IN THE COUNTRY. I HAVE TO LIVE IN AN AREA THAT I WANT TO PROTECT GREATLY. BUT I THINK THAT IN SOME WAYS CLAY COUNTY HAS BEEN BEHIND THE TIMES. AND IT'S TIME TO -- PAST TIME TO CATCH UP. WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING THAT PAST COMMISSIONS COULDN'T. BUT THIS IS REALLY THE EXCITING THING TO ME ABOUT THIS IS, WE CAN HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC GETS TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO PAY ADDITIONAL TAXES TO CONSERVE THEIR LAND. THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF CASES. WE'LL SEE WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD. TO ME, IT'S NOT AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS THOUGHT TODAY. WHAT IS REALLY, WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF YOU FROM THE TIME IN OFFICE, RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THOSE WEREN'T TOTAL SHOTS IN THE DARK. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY AS WELL. WE'LL FIND OUT AS WHAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT FOREST AND FARMS WERE AS LOW. WITH * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.