parks, trails, and conservation areas, Rick Durr, Parks and Recreation Director,
addressed the members and presented the Parks & recreation Lands Protection Status
Update (presentation received and filed). The presentation was followed by questions
and discussion.
Motion by Tom O'Hanlon, seconded by Deborah Bauer, to include Natural Lands with
the provisions that the County Commission has twice voted for that a supermajority in
order to sell them.
Under discussion, Ms. Bauer stated she would like to make friendly amendments to
tweak some of the wording. She inquired if the proposed language only refers to
Natural Lands that would be reflective of the bond program to cover other
County-owned property/land, excluding trails, and do they need to broaden the
definition of the wording to include the majority of what is on the map on page 19 to
include, lands, park lands, rec areas, and land acquired under Seminole Forever.
Mr. Durr responded that from a land planning and management perspective, it is only
County-owned property including the trails. They have to abide by all the rules and
regulations with the portions of the trails the County does own, just as they do in a
lease agreement they have on trails that the County manages but is on someone else's
property. In managing those properties, this is strictly towards those properties that are
owned, operated, and managed under ordinance by the county.
Ms. Martz suggested limiting it to Natural Lands and both passive and active park lands
with a supermajority for sale or conversion.
Ms. Bauer stated the first friendly amendment would be as Ms. Martz has laid out so
they encompass not just Natural Lands but parks and recreations and conservation
areas.
Ms. Bauer stated her second friendly amendment would be in the proposed language
of 5.6(B) where it says, "The County shall manage the real property held in fee or
otherwise acquired or managed as natural lands for the benefits of the citizens of
Seminole County and shall dispose..." She would like it to say dispose or convert
instead of just dispose. Ms. Martz suggested they clarify convert to something other
than parks or recreation. Mr. Horan suggested also adding "materially change."
Discussion ensued.
Ms. Bauer confirmed with Attorney Simmons that with the amendments as she has
specified them that he understands the intent of what the proposed amendments to the
motion are for drafting the wording.
Mr. O'Hanlon agreed to the friendly amendments.
Ms. Martz clarified the motion is to direct Attorney Simmons, with the assistance of
county staff, to draft language that would require a supermajority for the sale, transfer,
conversion of Natural Lands and park facilities. Ms. Smith added based on that
language, they will vote at the next meeting whether to put it out for the Charter. Today
they are simply deciding to draft language to consider at the next meeting.
