The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) dissolved the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Committee, then they re-established it.
The Environmentally Sensitive Land (ESL) Program was created in 1988, when voters approved a referendum levying one tenth of a mill for 30 years for the acquisition and management of environmentally sensitive lands. The levy ended prematurely in 2011. In 2012, a continuation of the levy was put on the ballot, but was rejected by voters. There is currently $6.1 million in the ESL fund.
The ESL Committee (ESLC) was dissolved on July 28th 2015. The Commission said they were cancelling it in response to the Committee using staff time to pursue land acquisition although the BOCC had made clear its desire to stop land acquisition, since they do not wish to take further properties off of the tax rolls. On August 10th, the Board agreed to re-form an ESLC with the caveat of no land acquisition. However, the ESLC often works with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) as well as the state to identify potential properties that these organizations can acquire. Often the properties identified are privately held or already platted within a community.
During the June 29th ESLC meeting, a discussion ensued regarding the acquisition of a parcel on Shoal Line Blvd, which was a potential location for the Nature Coast Environmental Center which never came into fruition. According to the minutes of the meeting, committee member and botanist Paul Furman wished to rank the property for acquisition. “He said that he is prepared to nominate it so that the staff can do a report on it. Mr. Pianta stated that it would need the support of the Committee and wouldn’t mind staff doing it, but the owner is not willing to sell it.” In the end, the Committee decided to request that SWFWMD place the parcel (which the owner is unwilling to sell) on its acquisition list. “Mr. Pardue stated that staff should pursue discussion with SWFWMD, and then look into doing an assessment. Mr. Pianta concurred and noted that if the Chairman could send a letter to SWFWMD requesting it be put on their acquisition list, it may help. Mr. Kelly [Committee Chariman] noted that it is surrounded on three sides by the Weekiwachee Preserve, property owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Motion – Mr. Kelly moved to submit a letter from the ESLC for the Chairman’s signature to SWFWMD suggesting that they acquire the Shoal Line Boulevard property. The motion was seconded by Mr. Morris, and it carried unanimously.” Using their powers of eminent domain, SWFWMD would be able to acquire the property. The new committee will not be able to use county resources to acquire land, but they still have the ability to petition other agencies to do so.
SWFWMD has acquired multiple lots in checkerboard fashion in the Royal Highlands subdivision. They own 1294 parcels out of the 11,506 parcels total or 11.2% of parcels. Although this serves to lower the density of the subdivision, the MSBU assessment rates for road paving will be higher per property owner since the cost is distributed among the remaining parcel owners. The road paving project is set to begin in October 2015. Mr. Pianta, Assistant County Administrator said the SWFWMD project was, “A good example of what can go wrong… I think that project was misguided and the water management district realizes that now and they are attempting to come up with a plan to get some of those properties back on the tax rolls. That is not the type of program that we want to run nor should we be running, where we’re purchasing isolated lots in a large area that can’t be connected. It makes no sense.” Commissioner Rowden clarified that our ESL program did not purchase the lots.
The Little Withlacoochee Riverine Corridor project is one of four projects listed on the ESL website as “ranked by the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Committee for Acquisition.” It was explained to new members at the June 29th 2015 meeting that the project would serve to create a wildlife corridor between the Croom and Richloam areas with the goal of reaching the Green Swamp (the headwaters of several major rivers including the Withlacoochee River). The project area encompasses 2598 acres with 2133 parcels already platted in the Ridge Manor community.
Dukes stated, “I don’t have a problem with the committee. I have a problem with the direction… When I found out through some citizens from the east side that they were looking for animal corridors in Ridge Manor and the citizens are mad as hell. That should have come through the Board.”
Mr. Pianta explained, “A previous board incorporated that project into the program several years ago… The only thing that was really done was a project area was established by the board and that’s what’s in the program. The committee has talked about reviewing that particular project and my staff spent a little bit of time doing that. I would say that it was a low priority for us. We weren’t very successful coming up for good ideas for that project. I authorized that. I told the committee go ahead and work on it, knowing that the board already put it into the program and at some point they were going to have to come to the board and give you a presentation… Yes I agree we should have communicated better with the people who live out there. I think it was premature how that information got out… but at some point we would have gone to the community and discussed it with the community and then come back to the board and discussed it with you.”
Commissioner Dukes replied, “Ron I think it might be advantageous that any plan anywhere in the county as far as staff, if it’s older than the board, you might want to come back to us and see is this still valid.”
Mr. Pianta stated, “The committee when they did look at it, they identified roughly a hundred and some acres to be a priority for them that would come back here for some kind of discussion, not acquisition, but some kind of discussion.”
At the August 10th meeting, Mr. Pianta also reviewed the properties that have been acquired by the county through sensitive land funding. The 3 properties are Fickett Hammock Preserve 155 acres in 1994, the second is cypress lakes preserve 328 acres purchased in 1994, 1997 and 2001. The third is Peck Sink, 111 acres, which was the latest purchase in 2006-2008. He stated that other parcels have been purchased as a local match for the water management district and Weeki Wachee Preserve. Mr. Pianta said that these properties are managed by one individual that is employed by the county and it would be difficult for the county to purchase additional properties to manage.
Wayne Dukes stated in regards to dissolving the ESLC, “This is one of the reasons that this happened. I don’t think the committee over the years have kept your line of thinking. I know for a fact having heard it first hand that they would buy up the whole county if they could.”
Chairman Nicholson stated that legal staff has done some research and have come up with three things they are allowed to use the ESL funds for. Nicholson read them aloud, “Maintenance and preservation of environmentally sensitive lands…, the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands and recreational lands by donation or escheatment and in the incidental expenditures to manage the lands under the SL program… for personnel, insurance, arthropod control…” In regards to the ESL fund, Commissioner Dukes stated, “At least twice the committee has come to us and asked us to put the .1 mill back on which was taken off by vote. I think that if we manage our money that 6 million will go a long time to maintain what we have…”
Mr. Jean Kelly former Chairman of the ESLC described the many functions of the committee and the program overall. He explained that there are 2- state certified prescribed burn experts, 2 state-licensed pesticide/herbicide applicators, local entrepreneurs, business owners, local homeowners, even a realtor and archeologist on the committee. They participate in community outreach that includes the Hurricane Expo, Nature Coast Bird and Wildlife Festival, Water Awareness Series Workshops, Envirothon for Hernando County Schools, Coastal Cleanups as well as volunteer workdays on ESL lands. He explained that the ESL Funds are used to “Ensure continued management of preserves, passive parks and historic places, Allow for the protection of exceptional or strategic parcels that preserve our springs and water quality, Preserve open space for wildlife habitat greenways and trails and promote ecotourism.”
Tammy Heon, Tourism Development Coordinator emphasized the importance of the ESLC to our economy. She stated, “The ESL Committee helps to protect the green spaces that are our assets.” She pointed to Bayport Park which is one of the most popular waterfront parks for boating and fishing and picnicking. She also described the economy that depends on our parks and conservation areas. She stated that following the county’s rebranding process ( to the “Adventure Coast”), our primary audience are baby boomers who want to have experience in the great outdoors. Our assets are nature based amenities. Based on 2013 US travel association data there was $93.7 million in travel generated spending in 2013 and $34.9 million in travel generated payroll. She expects these numbers to be greater after the rebranding. She said that there are numerous travel writers eager to experience what Hernando County has to offer.
The county received correspondence from one such travel writer following the decision to dissolve the ESLC. Sandra Friend and her husband were in town to explore the Cypress Lake Preserve for a travel book they are writing. She stated in her letter, “We were here as travelers, spending money on a hotel room, food, and fuel. But more importantly, we were here as writers, with the intent of promoting a hike through Cypress Lakes Preserve to our rather substantial online audience and as a part of a new book.” She described the unique aspects of the preserve including the rare giant cypress that line the swamp. In closing her letter she stated, “As I said, the timing of our visit was ironic. Had we known about your decision before our arrival, we would have opted to spend our money in Dade City instead of Hernando County. As we craft our information for fellow travelers, we’ll be sure to tell them why they should, too. ”
A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Adkins to re-establish the committee with 7 members with no land acquisition. The members would be limited to 2 four year terms.
Commissioner Holcomb clarified that there will always be a possibility of land acquisition but that will not be the purpose of their committee.
Commissioner Dukes stated that land acquisition should be the purview of the County Commission, not an unelected body. He also stated that, “We need to work closer together than we have been.” The county will advertise for committee members and and then they will be appointed by the Commission. The Commission expects to receive an annual report from the ESLC and expects them to bring projects to the board before initiating them.
The motion passed 5-0.