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MARCH 16, 2021
A
Workshop Meeting
of the
sitting as the Management & Planning
Committee, was held on this date with the following Commissioners present:
Absent
Ray Sandelli
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 1:34 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNTY MANAGER
County Manager Roger Desjarlais opened the conversation by saying the Workshop topics for today are the
Executive Director South Florida Water Management District followed by a short break and then it will move
into the FY21-22 Budget Kick-Off (Budget Assumptions & Policy Direction) Presentation by Pete Winton,
Assistant County Manager/Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Desjarlais then asked Deputy Manager Dave Harner to
introduce the item and to give a little back ground on the topic. Mr. Dave Harner stated that back on October 6,
2020 at the Basin Management Workshop the Board had questions about BOMA and what is happening. Staff
then reached out to South Florida Water Management District. Mr. Harner stated that some of the topics being
covered by Drew Bartlett, Executive Director South Florida Water Management District this morning will be:
Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee Watershed Projects, Lake Hicpochee Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement
Project (LHHEP), BOMA Flow Equalization Basin (FEB), Caloosahatchee Reservoir Water Quality
Component, Watercourse Maintenance, as well as some major projects that are happening that will benefit SW
Florida. Mr. Harner then introduced Mr. Chauncey Goss, Chairman of the South Florida Water Management
District. Mr. Goss stated that a lot of people don’t realize how big the Water Management District is. It runs
from Orlando all the way down to the Keys. There are 1,400 employees and a billion dollar budget. Chairman
PRESENTATION
Topic:
Presented by:
BOARD DISCUSSION
Drew Bartlett, Executive Director South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) narrated a detailed
PowerPoint Presentation
executive order on the environment really challenging DEP and the South Florida Water Management Districts
with improving water quality and getting the job done. The Governor set forth 29 priority projects to challenge
the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) with getting them done. Mr. Bartlett stated that it all
starts with basing all decisions in science. Mr. Bartlett stated that if Lake Okeechobee is not managed right then
everyone is affected and has a hard time from the estuaries to the everglades. Mr. Bartlett stated that if we don’t
fix and get better operations with water quality with Lake Okeechobee then the Caloosahatchee Estuary is
affected. Mr. Bartlett stated that over the past two fiscal years the State has received over $50 million from the
legislature to start building storage north of the lake. When Lake Okeechobee gets too full it dumps into the
Caloosahatchee Estuary and that is what we do not want. He went on to talk about some of the projects going on
with Lake Okeechobee.
North of Lake Okeechobee Projects:
•
Aquifer Storage and Recovery System
•
Kissimmee River and Headwaters
•
24 Dispersed Water Management Projects
•
Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area
•
Brady Ranch Flow Equalization Basin
•
Grassy Island Flow Equalization Basin
Mr. Bartlett went on to say that when Lake Okeechobee is too full we need to put it somewhere besides the
Caloosahatchee Estuary. South Florida Water Management District is focused on building a massive reservoir
south of Lake Okeechobee to take on the extra water. The district is building a component to the west called the
A-2 West STA that is a storm water treatment area used to clean the water out of the reservoir and then send it
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to the Everglades. The reservoir the Army Corp of Engineers is building is under construction on the storm
water treatment area and anticipate the Army Corp of Engineers to break ground on construction of the
reservoir this year and the STA will be completed in 2023. He went on to explain the high lake management
bands and water shortage management bands. Commissioner Ruane stated that he wants to see us do everything
we can to lower the lake and he would like all partners to receive maximum discharges west-south-east. Mr.
Bartlett confirmed that SFWMD does send water in the 3 areas Commissioner Ruane discussed. There was
additional discussion about harmful effects of moving the water. We need to make sure to take the water out in
a healthy way. Commissioner Ruane discussed harmful discharges and expressed his concern about red tide and
also solidity dips. Mr. Bartlett stated that he has already communicated with the Army Corp of Engineers to let
them know if the solidity dips or the oysters and sea grass are affected we will need to change and back off. Mr.
He went on to give updates on the Lake Hicpochee Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project (LHHEP),
BOMA Flow Equalization Basin (FEB), Caloosahatchee Reservoir Water Quality Component, Watercourse
Maintenance. Mr. Bartlett stated that it was time to use the BOMA land and add berms and use it like a storm
water treatment area. He went on to say they partnering with the county and doing nitrogen research in order to
find out the best way to deal with it. Commissioner Mann said that he has waited 10 years to see something
happen to BOMA and is glad to hear about the plans. He asked when we could expect to see the work started.
Mr. Bartlett said they should break ground in 2022 and it will be a 2-3 year project. The Caloosahatchee
Reservoir (C-43) is underway as we speak and is 67% complete. The final completion date is projected for May
2022. He went on to discuss algae bloom issues and the products used to help keep the water clean.
Commissioner Hamman had concerns about the alum and if it will create “muck” at the bottom of the lake. Mr.
Bartlett stated that is in not as much “muck” as it is sediment and it will settle and needs to be maintained. A
crew would have to go in and scrape the bottom of the lake. Commissioner Hamman asked about GS-10
property in Lehigh Acres. This property is intended to bring water in, clean it up and discharge it.
Commissioner Hamman suggested making a connection from C-24 to the GS-10 property. The Board just
approved a Land Management Plan today so it would have opportunities to be funded. Mr. Bartlett said that it
sounds like there might be benefits to looking into it. Director of Natural Resources Roland Ottolini stated that
he would like to see the item up for further consideration as well. Commissioner Mann asked for further
information on the alum and if it was new to the SFWMD and Mr. Bartlett stated that is not new. However, it
had not been used on this large of a scale before. It was agreed that Lake Okeechobee was much too large to use
alum as it would be cost prohibitive. Commissioner Mann made the comment that the C-43 would be the one
that would actually need it the most. He also inquired as to when C-43 would have water and be completed. Mr.
•
$625M Everglades and Water Resources
•
$473M Everglades Restoration (Estuaries)
•
$50M Springs
•
$145M Water Quality
•
$25M Harmful Algae Blooms/Red Tide
Mr. Bartlett finished off the presentation by reviewing the Annual Storage Capacity by Region with a bar graph.
Commissioner Mann made a few comments and thanked Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Goss for all the work they have
done.
The chairman called for a recess at 2:14 p.m. The meeting resumed at 2:24 p.m. with all Commissioners
present except Commissioner Pendergrass who is absent.
Topic:
FY21-22 Budget Assumptions & Policy Direction
Presented by:
BOARD DISCUSSION
PowerPoint Presentation
and started off by saying the reason for the work session is to review some of the policies that have put the
county in a very healthy financial position. He went on to say that Departmental Fiscal Managers and
Department Directors are developing their budgets, last week was the deadline for them to submit their Capital
Improvement Plans (CIP). In the presentation Mr. Winton reviewed some of the key fiscal policy guidance that
the Board had directed and approved over the last eight years. This has led to the under pinning of the budget
development process as we go forward.
Topics Discussed During the Presentation:
•
Financial Decisions & Policies
•
Financial Stability
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Additional Investment
•
Taxable Property Values – Countywide
•
Revenue Assumptions
•
General Fund (Expense)
•
Expense Assumptions: Continuation Budget Only; Growth Increment Funding;
•
Strengths: Revenues Coming Back; COVID-19 Revenue Losses Not As Great As
Originally Projected; Debt Profile (debt being paid off); Healthy Reserves
•
Challenges: General Fund Debt Repayment; Transit Subsidies (General Fund &
•
Planned Expenditures
•
•
General Fund Projection
•
Unincorporated MSTU
•
Board Priorities
•
Upcoming Workshops
Commissioner Mann inquired about micro surfacing and asked if that was a new word and is it a way of saving
money. Deputy Manager Dave Harner addressed the question saying no it is not a new word and yes it is indeed
a way of saving money. This type of surfacing is used on roadways that are not high impact such as
neighborhood roads. There was additional discussion about road maintenance and sidewalks. Mr. Winton
reviewed the Lee County Taxable Values in the General Fund and stated that the FY20-21 outpace the increase
of the General Fund and that is why the model is set for a higher tax base increase. He went on to say the
taxable values are updated several times a year and the values being reviewed have a five year projection or in
some cases it is a seven or eight year projection in the General Fund. Mr. Winton went on to review the Board
Priorities and then the Upcoming Workshops and the topics for those scheduled meetings. Commissioner Mann
asked that there be a Memorandum of Understanding brought forward for the recreational opportunities for the
GS-10 property. Commissioner Sandelli agreed that would be a good idea to move it forward and
Commissioner Hamman echoed the sentiments. There was additional discussion about funding for the 20/20
projects. There was additional discussion regarding the stimulus monies paid which created a surplus and
enhanced the excess reserves. Commissioner Ruane suggested looking into these reserves for the funding of
20/20 projects. Commissioner Hamman agreed there needs to be a discussion about the excess reserves and how
to potentially use those funds or discuss reducing taxes collected from the residents of Lee County. There was
additional discussion about not needing to leave 20 percent as excess reserves, the percentage could possibly be
16.5 percent instead. Mr. Winton stated Staff could bring the topic back to the Board for further review and
discussion. County Manager Roger Desjarlais stated there are multiple reserve accounts, not just the General
Fund. He stated that there needs to be a review to establish if those levels are set at the right level. Then there
would need to be a review of millage rate percentages.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 3:21 p.m.
By: ___________________________
___________________________________________
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