ECVF Minutes September 27, 2005 from ad hoc secretary Alexa Ross.
Present: Betty O'Laughlin (Sierra Club), Bob Haviland, Carrie Stewart, Pat Williams, John Baker, Dave Hartgrove (Halifax Audubon), Don White (Flagler Audubon), Alexa Ross (Volusia-Flagler Environmental Action)
The minutes of the August 23, 2005, meeting were approved.
Treasurer 's Report. $220 on hand. Total of $341.18 in bank, still missing $600 in checks - will write VFEAC, Audubon, Dave Hartgrove ($150) to replace checks. Pat will replace the money in the meantime into the account. Another $150 contribution is from Frank Burns, though it is not known if this is from an organization or Mr. Burns as an individual.
John Baker reported that the City of Winter Springs is working on rural subdivision guidelines a la Randall Arendt. Black Hammock Fish Camp 1000 acres. Robert Haviland commented that gas prices will affect rural subdivisions above all, and noted that rural development often occurs in 100-, 50- and 20-year flood plains. There is a need to study the cost of moving from cities. Developers are not required to hand out honest statements: distances, etc. There was a discussion about writing a new ordinance requiring divulging negative facts of development. EC felt legislature would never pass it. John Baker stated the public is skeptical of finding banks and developers doing anything new.
Tomoka Farms Road. David Hartgrove reported on the Tomoka Farms Road extension. He notices a 50% staff turnover every time he sees DCA. Regional planning director for South Florida Kim Metcalf did the initial mediation hearings on the Comp Plan Amendment. She is now with Lenar Homes. DCA saw lots of loopholes upsetting developer attorneys. So the personnel was replaced by a new group. Dennis Bayer believes DCA will cave, feeling the road is necessary. Volusia County staff disagreed initially but now Ron Paradise is for it. The next meeting has not yet been scheduled but will likely be the final one.
Sea Bird Island - Tract 313 Island # 3. David Hartgrove learned from David Roach, executive Director of the Florida Inland Navigation District, about erosion along the east side. Who has jurisdiction of a dredge island? (Florida Inland Navigation District. Ed) Halifax Audubon Society wants permission to erect signs and keep dogs away. The answer would be partnering between FIND and HRA. Along with other tracts forming the Port Orange Wildlife Sanctuary, 45 years old. Postings will be required; there have never been any signage. David Hartgrove will meet with Ken Parker and the Land Management office and Recreation about posting signs. The sanctuary covers half the Intracoastal Waterway from Dunlawton Ave. to the Inlet. Robert Haviland cautions the islands will be swamped unless they are built up several feet. FIND recently granted Port Orange an enforcement boat.
Daytona Beach Visioning: meetings are not being noticed properly. Visioning is done every few years. Expense in money and paper, and staff turnover means the new director of planning hasn't a clue.
Wetlands. Don White said the Corps is being pressured to forego protections for wetlands less than 10 acres. Dave notes you can buy 100 acres of wetlands, subdivide into 10 single acres, and have no wetlands protection.
Beach. A motion made by Robert Haviland and seconded by Carrie Stewart passed, to send a letter opposing construction of beach groins because 1) Sea level is continuing to rise, so they will lose their effectiveness; 2) Groins trap sand, removing it from elsewhere; 3) Groins are a hard hazard to swimmers and sea turtles. Betty O'Laughlin will write the letter.
Robert Haviland announced there is a new position paper on parking lots on the web site, a draft for the design, maintenance, operation, environmental review and e-mail comments. He has drafted a letter to DOT about beaches. Brynn has been too busy to finish it. He sent Community Voices of the News Journal an article that we are unprepared for a real disaster. Sea level rise has destroyed our beaches, we have no plan but pumping sand.
Notes: Betty O'Laughlin wants to send Gwen Straub's letter on Thornby
to the Charter Review Committee. DCA is not receptive to D. Ranch or Thornby.
Dave noted an Embry Riddle webmaster offered to do any websites. SAVE THE
LOOP is a potential ECVF member. David Hartgrove suggests we contact Earth-Justice.
Discussion of Michele Moen's reorganization proposal - the purpose of the
group, non attendees, burn outs, John Baker asks who is good at what? Betty
O?Laughlin said we could put HRAS/Sierra outings on our web-site. Would
Embry Riddle be donating the bandwidth?
Next Meeting October 20, 2005