Chairman Jay Zembower

Present:

Vice Chairman Andria Herr

Commissioner Bob Dallari

Commissioner Lee Constantine

Commissioner Amy Lockhart

Additional Attendees: County Manager Darren Gray, County Attorney Kate Latorre, Clerk of

Court & Comptroller Grant Maloy, and Deputy Clerks Kyla Farrell and Terri Porter.

II. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Kurt Slafkovsky, SGTV Senior Video Coordinator, Office of Communications, gave the

invocation. Jeremiah Robinson, IT Services, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS

Presentation - Coyotes and Bobcats (Jayne Johnston, Sr Wildlife

Assistance Biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

2023-1441

Ms. Johnston addressed the Board and presented the Coyotes and Bobcats Wildlife

Assistance Program presentation. There were few Board comments, suggestions, and

questions.

Quarterly Report - Soil and Water Conservation District (Gabrielle Milch)

2023-1440

Ms. Milch addressed the Board to present the Quarterly Report for the Soil and Water

Conservation District. There were few Board comments, suggestions, and questions.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

County Manager Darren Gray announced the deletion of Agenda Item 12, Corridor

Partnership Agreement with UCF Research Foundation and associated Budget Amendment

Request, and advised it will be brought back at a later date.

Commissioner Lockhart requested to pull Agenda Item 10, Memorandum of Understanding

with Spay N Save, for a separate vote.

Motion by Vice Chairman Herr, seconded by Commissioner Dallari, to approve Constitutional

Officer's Consent Agenda Item 3 and County Manager's Consent Agenda Items 4 - 10, and

13 - 17.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

(The Consent Agenda motion was reconsidered before the Regular Agenda.)

Constitutional Officers – Consent Agenda (Item No. 3)

Expenditure Approval Lists dated November 29, December 6 and 13,

2023; Payroll Approval List dated December 7, 2023; and the BCC

Official Minutes dated November 14, 2023. (Jenny Spencer, CPA,

CGFO, and CFE, Director-Comptroller’s Office)

2023-1439

County Manager’s Consent Agenda (Items No. 4 - 17)

Community Services

Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Recovery

Connections, Inc. Community Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder

Services Agreement Amendment in the amount of $200,000 to provide

recovery focused mental health and substance use disorder services to

engage Seminole County residents who are seeking recovery, in

recovery, or in need of recovery focused support services. Countywide

(Kelly Welch, Community Health Division Manager)

2023-1289

Development Services

Approve the request for a Release of Lien for a vacant property located at

2023-1160

600 Shadowmoss Circle, Lake Mary, Parcel No.

03-20-29-5PG-FB00-0000, that was attached due to a Code Enforcement

Special Magistrate lien of $232,500.00 for Case # 17-91-CESM, filed

against Magnolia Golf Club Holding LLC (Magnolia Golf Club Holding

LLC, Applicant) District5 - Herr (Liz Parkhurst, Project Manager).

Authorize the Chairman to execute a Satisfaction of Lien in the amount of

$2,934.99 associated with the property located at 305 Sweetwater Club

Circle, Longwood, FL 32779; filed against Ruth A. McAdams; District3 -

Constantine (Mary Robinson, Planning and Development Project

Manager).

2023-1337

2023-1405

2023-1421

Approve the Final Plat for the Carneal’s Addition to Chuluota Subdivision

containing one (1) lot on 16.07 acres zoned A-5 (Rural), located on the

east side of Lake Mills Road, approximately one (1) mile north of

Curryville Road; (Robert Carneal, Applicant) District1 - Dallari (Annie

Sillaway, Planning and Development Project Manager)

Adopt the Resolution approving the operation of the Housing Finance

Authority of Volusia County in Seminole County to issue its multifamily

Housing Revenue Bonds in one or more series to provide funds to finance

Riverbend Landings Apartment Homes Phase II (Atlantic Housing

Partners, Applicant); Countywide (Rebecca Hammock, Development

Services Director and Allison Thall, Community Services Director).

Resolution 2024-R-1

Emergency Management

9. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Memorandum of

2023-1372

Understanding (MOU) between Tuskawilla United Methodist Church and

Seminole County to act as an emergency shelter during a state or local

emergency. Countywide (Alan Harris, Emergency Management Director)

Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Memorandum of

Agreement with Spay and Save Inc. for support with the Trap Neuter

Vaccinate Return (TNVR) program. Countywide (Alan Harris - Emergency

Management Director)

2023-1430

2023-1344

2023-1348

Pulled for separate discussion/vote.

Innovation and Strategic Initiatives

11.

Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Seminole County

Government - the National Entrepreneur Center Master Services

Agreement in the amount of $45,000 for the purpose of providing small

businesses and entrepreneurs access to professional business

assistance, quality educational programming, and practical industry

expertise in Seminole County. Countywide (Guilherme Cunha, Economic

Development & Tourism Administrator)

12.

Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Seminole County

Government - The Corridor Master Services Agreement in the amount of

$300,000 for the purpose of providing an industry cluster initiative crucial

for fostering collaboration and innovation within the high-tech ecosystem;

and approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Resolution

implementing the Budget Amendment Request (BAR) #24-020 to

appropriate an interfund transfer from the General Fund to the Economic

Development Fund. Countywide (Guilherme Cunha, Economic

Development & Tourism Administrator)

Pulled from the agenda.

Management and Budget

13. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Resolution

2023-1412

implementing Budget Amendment Request (BAR) #24-015 in the MSBU

Program Fund to transfer $100,000 from reserves for Rice Lake Lake

Management Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU) Phase I (capital)

restoration services. Countywide (Timothy Jecks, Director of

Management & Budget)

Resolution #2024-R-2

BAR #24-015

Public Works

14. Authorize Chairman to execute the Decorative Sign Agreement between

2023-1367

2023-1275

Markham Meadows Homeowners Association, Inc., and Seminole

County. District5- Herr (Jean Jreij, P.E., Public Works Director)

Resource Management

15. Approve the ranking list and authorize staff to negotiate rates in

accordance with Section 287.055, Florida Statutes, the Consultants

Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA), and authorize the Purchasing and

Contracts Division to execute two (2) Master Service Agreements (MSA’s)

for PS-5135-23/TAD - Professional Engineering and Architectural

Services for Solid Waste Management Division Including Municipal Solid

Waste Landfill and Transfer Station. Countywide (Diane Reed,

Purchasing and Contracts Division Manager) Requesting Department -

Environmental Services

16.

17.

Approve ratification from the Board for the submittal of the FEMA Flood

Mitigation Assistance grant applications for three Seminole County

homeowners that experienced flooding from Hurricane Ian in 2022; and

authorize the County Manager or designee to execute any documents

associated with the grant applications. Countywide (Alan Harris,

Emergency Management Director) Requesting Department - Emergency

Management

2023-1429

2023-1431

Approve and authorize the Chairman to submit the Emergency Medical

Services (EMS) Trust Grant Resolution and Application in the amount of

$63,897.50 from the State of Florida Department of Health to be used for

the purchase handheld point-of-care (POC) lactate monitors for

emergency medical services providers; and to execute a Budget

Amendment Request (BAR) #24-018 through the EMS Trust Grant Fund

in the amount of $63,897.50; and authorize the County Manager or

designee to execute all future documents associated with the grant.

Countywide (Timothy Jecks, Management and Budget Director)

Requesting Department- Fire Department

Resolution #2024-R-3

Resolution #2024-R-4

BAR #24-018

Items Pulled for Separate Discussion/Vote

Emergency Management

10.

Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Memorandum of

Agreement with Spay and Save Inc. for support with the Trap Neuter

Vaccinate Return (TNVR) program. Countywide (Alan Harris - Emergency

Management Director)

2023-1430

Commissioner Lockhart asked staff to discuss the progression of the TNVR program.

Mr. Harris addressed the Board and discussed the program at the Commissioner's

request. Commissioner Lockhart confirmed with Mr. Harris that the only group that has

asked to partner with the County regarding spaying and neutering is Spay N Save.

Motion by Commissioner Lockhart, seconded by Commissioner Constantine, to

approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Memorandum of Agreement with

Spay N Save, in support of the TNVR program.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

Reconsideration of Consent Vote

Chairman Zembower asked for reconsideration on the original Consent Agenda vote to

approve Agenda Items 3 - 10 and 13 - 17. Agenda Item 11 was not included in the motion,

and Agenda Item 10 had been requested to be pulled for separate discussion and vote.

Motion by Commissioner Constantine, seconded by Commissioner Dallari, to reconsider the

Consent Agenda motion.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

Motion by Vice Chairman Herr, seconded by Commissioner Constantine, to approve Consent

Agenda Item 11 as follows: approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the National

Entrepreneur Center Master Services Agreement in the amount of $45,000 for the purpose of

providing small businesses and entrepreneurs access to professional business assistance,

quality educational programming, and practical industry expertise in Seminole County.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

V. REGULAR AGENDA

18.

Consider a request to reduce a Code Enforcement Special Magistrate

lien, from $84,300.00 to $4,000.00, for Case # 18-23-CESM, on the

property located at 3451 Dawn Court, Lake Mary, Tax Parcel ID:

02-20-29-503-0000-0120, (Ahmad Mohammed, Applicant); District5 - Herr

(Liz Parkhurst, Planning and Development Project Manager)

2023-1423

Ms. Parkhurst addressed the Board and presented the item as outlined in the agenda

memorandum. It was determined that the Applicant was present, and Ahmad

Mohammed addressed the Board to discuss the history of the property. There were

questions from the Board for the Applicant and staff.

Motion by Vice Chairman Herr, seconded by Chairman Zembower, to deny the request

for reduction of the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate lien, from $84,300.00 to

$4,000.00, for Case #18-23-CESM, on the property located at 3451 Dawn Court, Lake

Mary, Tax Parcel ID: 02-20-29-503-0000-0120, owned by Ahmad Mohammed,

Applicant; require payment of the lien in the amount of $84,300.00; and authorize the

Chairman to execute the Release of Lien upon payment in full.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

19.

Wekiva Island Paint Out and Spring Fling Special Event Permit - Consider

a Special Event Permit for the Wekiva Island Paint Out and Spring Fling

on Sunday, February 25, 2024 through Thursday, March 21, 2024; with

the exception of the following days: March 8, 9, 15, and 16, 2024, which

will have normal business operations and are not a part of the Special

Event request, located at 1014 Miami Springs Dr. Longwood; (Mary Sue

Weinaug, Applicant) District3 - Constantine (Mary Robinson, Planning and

Development Project Manager)

2023-1313

Rebecca Hammock, Development Services Director, addressed the Board and

presented the item as outlined in the agenda memorandum. There were no questions.

Applicant Mary Sue Weinaug addressed the Board and clarified that the auction is

Wednesday, February 28, so there will be amplified sound under the solar array that

day; and the gala is Saturday, March 2, and will also have amplified sound.

With regard to public participation, Jeff Stammer spoke in support of the Special Event

Permit. No one else spoke, and public input was closed.

Public Comment Form was received and filed.

Motion by Commissioner Constantine, seconded by Commissioner Lockhart, to

approve the Wekiva Island Paint Out and Spring Fling Special Event Permit for

Sunday, February 25, 2024, through Thursday, March 21, 2024, with the exception of

the following days: March 3 through 9, and 15 through 16, 2024, which will be under

normal business operations and are not a part of the Special Event request, located at

1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood; Mary Sue Weinaug, Applicant.

Under discussion, Commissioner Dallari asked about the conflict of dates for amplified

sound. Ms. Hammock advised staff's speaking notes had the dates incorrect, and Ms.

Weinaug was correcting the dates for the record.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

V1. WORKSESSION

The Chairman recessed the meeting at 11:01 a.m., reconvening at 11:15 a.m.

20.

Traffic Calming Update Presentation. Countywide (Charlie Wetzel, County

Traffic Engineer)

2023-1305

Mr. Wetzel and Fire Chief Matt Kinley addressed the Board and presented the Traffic

Calming Update presentation. The Board asked several questions to staff and shared

their comments. Board direction was for staff to circle back with the Commissioners to

work out the details before the item goes on an agenda for approval.

With regard to public participation, no one spoke, and public input was closed.

Recess BCC Meeting Until 1:30 P.M.

The Chairman recessed the meeting at 11:52 a.m.

Reconvene Meeting at 1:30 P.M.

Chairman Zembower reconvened the meeting at 1:30 p.m.. with all Commissioners and other

Officials, with the exception of Clerk Maloy and Deputy Clerk Kyla Farrell who was replaced by

Deputy Clerk Terri Porter, who were present at the opening session.

VII. PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA

Accept Proofs of Publication

Motion by Commissioner Dallari, seconded by Vice Chairman Herr, to authorize the filing of

the proofs of publication for this meeting’s scheduled public hearings into the Official Record.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

Public Hearings - Quasi - Judicial

No ex parte communications were submitted.

21.

Advanced Autobody Small Scale Future Land Use Map Amendment -

Consider a Small Scale Future Land Use Map Amendment from

Commercial to Industrial for an existing autobody shop on approximately

0.62 acres, located on the west side of S Ronald Reagan Boulevard,

approximately 1/2 mile south of North Street; (Z2023-01/07.23SS.01)

(JHR Consultants, Applicant) District4 - Lockhart (Annie Sillaway,

Planning and Development Project Manager).

2023-1404

Ordinance #2024-1

Ms. Sillaway addressed the Board to present the item as outlined in the agenda

memorandum (presentation received and filed).

The Chairman determined the applicant was in attendance but had no comments to

make.

With regard to public participation, no one spoke in support or opposition, and public

input was closed.

Motion by Chairman Lockhart, seconded by Commissioner Dallari to adopt Ordinance

#2024-1 enacting a Small Scale Future Land Use Map Amendment from Commercial

to Industrial for an existing autobody shop on approximately 0.62 acres, located on the

west side of S. Ronald Reagan Boulevard, approximately ½ mile south of North Street;

as described in the proof of publication; JHR Consultants, Applicant.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

Public Hearings - Legislative

22.

Land Development Code Rewrite and Associated Comprehensive Plan

Amendments -Consider the second reading of an Ordinance amending

Chapter 1 - General Provisions, Chapter 5 - Administration, Chapter 35 -

Subdivisions, Chapter 40 - Site Plan Approval, Chapter 60 - Arbor, and

Chapter 80 - Construction, and a Repeal and Replace of Chapter 2

Definitions and Chapter 30 - Zoning of the Seminole County Land

Development Code and consider adoption of an Ordinance amending the

Introduction and Future Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan.

Countywide (Rebecca Hammock, Development Services Director)

end

2023-1403

Ordinance #2024-2

Ordinance #2024-3

Ms. Hammock addressed the Board to present the item as outlined in the agenda

memorandum (presentation received and filed). She advised this is the second

reading of an ordinance amending the Land Development Code and the adoption

hearing for the associated Comprehensive Plan Amendments. She reviewed staff's

request and noted the first reading of the ordinance and transmittal was on October 24,

2023; and that staff did not receive any comments or objections after transmittal to the

State and regional review agencies for the associated Comprehensive Plan

Amendment. So, they are bringing those back to the Board for adoption in conjunction

with the Land Development Code. She then reviewed the Code rewrites.

Upon inquiry by Commissioner Constantine for the record, Ms. Hammock confirmed

this is a living document and can be changed at any time if they recognize the need.

With regard to public participation, the following spoke in support: Grey Wilson, on

behalf of The Friends of the Wekiva River; and George Sellery. Both complimented

staff on all of their efforts.

With regard to public participation, no one else spoke, and public input was closed.

Public Comment Forms were received and filed.

Motion by Commissioner Constantine, seconded by Vice Chairman Herr, to adopt

Ordinance #2024-2 amending Chapter 1 - General Provisions, Chapter 5 -

Administration, Chapter 35 - Subdivisions, Chapter 40 - Site Plan Approval, Chapter 60

- Arbor, and Chapter 80 - Construction, and a Repeal and Replace of Chapter 2 -

Definitions and Chapter 30 - Zoning of the Seminole County Land Development Code;

and Ordinance 2024-3 amending the Introduction and Future Land Use Element of the

Comprehensive Plan; as described in the proof of publication.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

IIX. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT

No report.

IX. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT AND STAFF PRESENTATIONS

23.

Quarterly Budget Update - (Timothy Jecks, Management and Budget

Director)

2023-1452

Mr. Gray indicated he felt it was important, as they start kicking off the budget process

for this next fiscal year, to bring up to the Board and to the public, on a quarterly basis,

where they are and what the status of their revenues and expenditures are. He added

the Board will be able to view this once their Dashboards are up and running, which

should be very soon.

Mr. Jecks addressed the Board to give a quick update of the first quarter revenues and

expenditures (presentation received and filed). He mentioned the first quarter is 25%

of the year, but a lot of their revenues come in delayed, so it is not expected they will

see exactly 25% for each category.

Mr. Jecks reviewed Major Revenues, Base Budget Expenditures, Personnel Lapse and

Project Budgets (presentation received and filed).

Commissioner Lockhart commented that Mr. Jecks mentioned that their gas taxes

support transportation and she said their gas taxes are a drop in the bucket toward

supporting transportation and roads. She thinks it is worth noting that a lot of these

taxes that they collect do not come close to funding the actual needs that they support,

and they often must supplement with General Fund dollars a great portion of the things

that these other taxes are supposed to fund. She thinks moving forward this Board is

going to have to have some candid conversations about this.

Commissioner Dallari agreed with Commissioner Lockhart's comments. He addressed

Mr. Jecks stating that if they look at the Tourism Tax for October from year to year,

they are actually down by $140,000, and he asked if there was a reason for that. Mr.

Jecks responded that his understanding is that the FY23 October collection was

reflective of more people coming to Florida. If you look at the prior years, you see

FY22 with $422,000; so he thinks it was more of a reflection at the beginning of FY23

being ahead of where they normally are.

Commissioner Dallari stated when he looks at the Gas Tax, the Gas Tax from year to

year and month to month is actually almost $200,000 higher than last year. He thought

that Tourism and the Gas Tax would go somewhat hand in hand. He just wants to see

what the correlation is, so he is hoping Mr. Jecks will have additional information he

could share with the Board at a later date. Mr. Jecks replied he absolutely would.

Vice Chairman Herr stated she thinks it is fabulous that this information is going to end

up on a Dashboard.

Chairman Zembower specified he would like to see a percentage change comparison

to the previous fiscal year. He thinks it would be helpful for the Board members to

understand where they are trending as compared to the historical data from the

previous year. Mr. Gray said they have that information and can provide that to the

Commissioners.

With regard to public participation, no one spoke in support or opposition, and public

input was closed.

X. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER REPORTS

District 5 - Vice Chairman Herr

Vice Chairman Herr reported she attended the Animal Control Board meeting in Allen Harris'

absence, and it was a pleasure to be there with all the volunteers to share her appreciation of

all of the work they do.

District 1 - Commissioner Dallari

Commissioner Dallari advised at the last MetroPlan Orlando meeting, they received a handout

of the Top 30 High-Injury Network Roads designations for Seminole, Orange and Osceola

counties, and he has asked staff to share that with the Commissioners.

As the alternate, he attended the last CALNO meeting, and at the end of the meeting, a

couple of individuals and mayors from some of the different cities asked what Seminole was

doing with the funding they are getting from the "opioids." He assured them that their County

Manager would be speaking with their city managers about that because they are trying to

figure out how they can all partner together. He expects there will be an update at a later date

from Mr. Gray regarding this. Mr. Gray indicated Chairman Zembower and he have a Mayors

and Managers meeting next week, and that is on the agenda to discuss.

Commissioner Dallari reported he attended the ECNL Girls games last weekend and stated it

was truly amazing. They have held this event for many years at the Lake Sylvan fields and

Orlando Soccer fields, but because of the rain, they had to switch to the Boombah Sports

Complex by the Sanford Airport. He commented that moving an event of this size and

magnitude was truly amazing. Everyone was so thankful to have the facility and staff handled

it flawlessly. They moved it back to Sylvan Lake on Sunday and he said staff did a

phenomenal job with preparing those fields.

Commissioner Dallari commented he was at the Wekiva Island Winter Wonderland and that

Santa's Workshop was truly "Disney-esque."

24.

Board Appointments

2023-1482

Motion by Commissioner Dallari, seconded by Commissioner Constantine, to reappoint

Don Peterson to the Code Enforcement Board for a three-year term beginning January

1, 2024; Anne "Sheeba" West to the Library Advisory Board for a two-year term

beginning January 1, 2024; and the appointment of Brandy Ioppolo to the Planning and

Zoning Commission due to Stephen Smith's resignation, which was due to a conflict;

and Cindy Harkins to Parks and Preservation Advisory Committee for a two-year term

beginning January 1, 2024.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

District 3 - Commissioner Constantine

Commissioner Constantine said he is very much looking forward to the new Fire Station #11

opening up on the 19th. He noted that was the first station that went with consolidation with

Seminole County helping them to be the "Class 1" that they are today when they merged with

Altamonte Springs.

The Commissioner advised the Florida Association of Counties' Legislative Day is on the 17th.

It is the first day of the Legislative Session today and SB1184 concerns the rural boundary

that they need to be looking at, and there is a "glitch" bill going through today at 4pm at the

Community Affairs Committee concerning the Live Local Act, which is going to be an

improvement with a lot of the concerns they had about industrial height and a few other things

like that. One thing they do have to worry about is an alternative mobility fee bill that has

been filed.

District 4 - Commissioner Lockhart

Commissioner Lockhart stated she had an opportunity to work with the County Attorney's

Office in connection with the Canvassing Board. There was a question about the timing with

this being in 2024, whether the Chairman would be allowed to have her continue to serve on

the Canvassing Board for the Presidential Preference election in March, even though she

plans on actively supporting Amy Pennock and potentially others for Supervisor of Elections

on the August 2024 ballot. So the question is, if she is supporting someone publicly in 2024,

can she still serve on the Presidential Preference primary in March, and the answer was,

"yes," because the way the law is written, you cannot be actively supporting someone on the

ballot with which you are canvassing. She wanted to put everyone on notice that she will not

be able to serve in August, so the Chairman will have to start the process of finding someone

else to serve in that role for 2024 because of her decision to support someone on that ballot.

(Written communications regarding this received and filed.)

In connection with fiber optics and WOW, Commissioner Lockhart thanked staff who is

continuing to try to work with them. She stated they continue to wreak havoc in her district

and the types of damage that is being done include water lines being torn up and then roads

failing because of the water. It is an absolute disaster. She knows Kristian Swenson,

Assistant County Manager, is continuing to work with them trying to get things together, but

they are still really struggling.

Commissioner Lockhart mentioned she will be attending the Scottish Highland Games and the

FAC Legislative Conference.

Commissioner Lockhart advised they received a letter dated December 29, 2023, but it was

not included in the Chairman's Submissions, so she will give it to the Clerk for that purpose

(received and filed). The letter came from a resident in her district talking about the WMCA

on Longwood/Lake Mary Road. She opined they are going to be in these situations regularly

now where community members think that when something private decides to close, that it will

be the Government's responsibility to buy it and keep it open, or repurpose it in some way,

shape or form. She acknowledged they do have a Joint Use Agreement with the Lake Mary

High School Swim Team and they use that for practices, so there is a public purpose currently

being served there. She advised she has a meeting set up with executive team members of

this "Y" and Amy Pennock, and noted this is also Ms. Pennock's School Board District, to talk

about what the ramifications could be and what options there may be. She said she will let

the Board know how that meeting goes.

District 2 - Chairman Zembower

Chairman Zembower talked about "Martin Luther King Day" and the activities and events to

take place.

Chairman Zembower noted that some proclamations are on the agenda as presentations and

some are just listed in the Consent portion. He would like staff to get with the Commissioners

to see what they prefer and then put it in the Code or put something in there so it carries

forward.

He advised he has also been in contact with Wide Open West (WOW), the internet company.

There are issues in his district right now because of some of the things that have been going

on in the news media and social media. He thinks staff is on top of all of this. He has actually

looked into this and learned there have certainly been mistakes made by the vendor and their

subcontractors, but there have also been problems with the marking of the lines, the locator

services who are a third party that come in and mark lines, and for whatever reason have not

always marked them right. They also discovered in other parts of the county and in certain

cities, there is no historic documentation of where certain HIP structure actually is. He

advised he has spoken to the CEO of WOW, and they have assured him that they will take

care of each and every problem and put it back the way it is supposed to be. Staff now has

contact information to reach the CEO.

Commissioner Constantine stated the Cities had put together a task force and Seminole is

now a part of that and they are all working together. He pointed out that it also involves other

companies like AT&T. He noted the County does not have control over this because it is a

state legislative requirement that they have the right to use the public right-of-way. The

County can help the neighbors in contacting WOW and the others to get in there and fix the

problems. This is the problem that happens when they take away local control of public

right-of-way.

25.

Board Appointments

2023-1484

Motion by Chairman Zembower, seconded by Vice Chairman Herr, to appoint Andre F.

Hickman to the Tourism Development Council for a three-year term replacing Jamie

Ross who has termed out.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.

XI. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

CORRESPONDENCE AND/OR REPORTS

1. Letter dated January 5, 2024 from Chairman Zembower to The Sharing Center in

support of grant funding for the Five Points Village affordable housing project.

2. Letter dated December 29, 2023 from Mark Kamrath, Longwood citizen, to

Commissioner Lockhart requesting consideration by the County to partner with other

municipalities or entities to keep the J. Douglas Williams YMCA in Lake Mary from

closing. cc: Warren Yon, WMCA; David Mealor, Mayor, City of Lake Mary; and

Seminole County Commissioners.

3. Letter dated December 12, 2023 from BCC Chairman Jay Zembower to Terri Porter,

VAB Clerk, regarding Commissioners selected to serve on the Value Adjustment Board

effective May 1, 2024. cc: Board of County Commissioners and County Commission

Records.

XII. PUBLIC COMMENT (Items not Related to the Agenda)

Michael Hagerty addressed the Board stating he is passionate about helping animals. He

spoke of his support for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah as a donor and a friend. He

also supports other animal charities including Pet Alliance in Seminole County and Orlando.

He said he attended a recent Animal Control Board meeting and expressed his concern that

the next meeting will not be held until March, because he thought there may be another 300 to

400 animals put down by then. He suggested they consider a task force that moves things

along quickly. He recommended they change the name of the Animal Control Board to the

Animal Welfare Board.

Robert Warner addressed the Board and advised he is the campaign manager for Change

Saves Seminole. He shared a personal story about growing up in foster care and bullying that

he endured by other children. He found solace in a large black Labrador named Buddy. He

opined with the combined efforts of the community and the support of Best Friends Animal

Society and the collaboration with shelter leadership and the Board, he believes they can

make a difference.

With regard to public participation, no one else spoke, and public input was closed.

Public Comment Forms were received and filed.

Vice Chairman Herr stated she would like Mr. Harris to speak to get fact on the record. The

insinuation that hundreds of animals are going to die between now and March is offensive and

completely inaccurate. She added the name of the department in the county is Animal

Services and it expands well beyond kennels.

Alan Harris, Director of Emergency Management which includes Animal Services, addressed

the Board stating he has with him today Steven Lerner, who is currently the Interim Animal

Services Division Manager.

Mr. Harris addressed the facts in connection with animal services in the county including the

definition of no-kill shelters. He noted that on the website of the campaign that Mr. Warner

talked about, it states that Change Saves Seminole is a community movement to end the

unnecessary killing of healthy and/or treatable dogs and cats at local shelters. Mr. Harris

advised they are an open shelter that took in 6,779 animals last year, and that they get all

types of animals and they are not all in wonderful conditions. He said zero is the number of

euthanized animals due to space in their shelter, due to breed, and due to length of stay. All

animals that needed to be euthanized were assessed by their medical team and then

determined they were not going to make it or their quality of life was going to be so bad. He

relayed a recent story where one of their vet techs, Nicole, stayed up all night with a dog that

was badly burned rubbing ointment on it throughout the entire night to help keep it soothed,

even though the emergency vet thought the animal might not make it through the weekend.

Mr. Harris advised their primary purpose at Animal Services is the welfare of the animals and

the public's safety, and he explained the instances when they would have to euthanize any

animal.

Commissioner Lockhart stated she will be very candid because they have entertained this

specific "volunteer" group's interest in providing this County support now for many months.

She is not interested in entertaining it anymore. This group created the "Change Saves

Seminole" Facebook group complete with logo before they had ever even reached out to the

County's Emergency Management team, and that is documented. They created the page on

October 2, 2023, and Mr. Harris received the first email from that group asking to have contact

with them after that date. So Seminole was already identified as a target, a logo had already

been created, and it didn't really matter what information the County had. The decision was

made; it was a solution looking for a problem.

Commissioner Lockhart indicated she had looked at this group's 990. The last one on the IRS

webpage is from 2020; she did find their 2021 on another webpage. They have over $100

million in assets, including a hotel in the Virgin Islands. She said if they would like to come

and rescue all of the animals in Seminole County and give them wonderful homes and buy a

piece of property here and do the wonderful thing they are doing in Utah here in Seminole

County to save all the animals here, that they have the assets and the resources to do that.

As a donor, someone can look at their 990 because it is a public record.

Commissioner Lockhart advised that she, along with the County Attorney, Mr. Harris and Mr.

Lerner, attended a meeting via electronic media and what she would describe the tone to be

was, "You will accept our offer to help, or else." She never got to what the "or else" was, but

the clear implication to her is that this bombardment of a social media campaign and

everything they have invested their time, energy and resources into that is focused on

Seminole County is for their own purposes. She does not desire to work with an organization

as a "partner" that behaves this way.

Commissioner Constantine noted that Seminole was the first county to do reports on

greyhound injuries, and even had to go to court in connection with those races; one of the first

in the state to adopt a backyard chicken ordinance, one of the first - if not the first county - to

try to eliminate puppy mills. They have a rule of having no exotic animal shows, and were the

first in the state to adopt an urban bear ordinance. They have a no-sale rule, only adoption, in

all of their pet stores, which other counties tried to do and could not. They have a registry of

animal abusers. The Humane Society awarded Seminole for all of the things they have done

in connection with the protection of animals and commented they are leader in that.

Commissioners Dallari and Herr listed a few more stating that the list goes on and on.

Commissioner Constantine advised he has observed the activity that Mr. Warner's

organization has undertaken and opined it is nothing short of attempted extortion by an entity

trying to raise money from its donors under the false pretense that this county is not doing

good work and not doing the people's work. The group continues to endeavor upon this

extortion campaign from their donors all over the country, from places that do not even know

where Seminole County is located. He offered if their organization wants to come here, they

will help with the permitting process and finding a location. They can set up their own shelter

and they can handle all the animals they desire, or they can fly one of their lavish jets into

Orlando Sanford International Airport and load animals up and take them to Utah. This Board

has no interest in doing business with this organization, and their extortion campaign is a

shame and a crime on the taxpayers of this county for the amount of time that this has taken

away from individuals who are trying to help the same entities that they claim are not being

helped.