Board of County Commissioners

Administration Building 330 W. Church Street P.O. Box 9005 Bartow, FL 33831-9005 Polk County Board of County Commissioners Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final January 17, 2023 Regular BoCC meeting In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding should contact the Communications Office not later than 48 hours prior to the proceeding. Their office is located in the County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street in Bartow. Telephone (863) 534-6090 or TTY (863) 534-7777. If hearing impaired dial 7-1-1 for Florida Relay services or call (800) 955-8771 (TTY); dial (800) 955-1339 if you are using a computer. Any invocation that may be offered before the official start of the Commission meeting shall be the voluntary offering of a private citizen, to and for the benefit of the Commission. The views or beliefs expressed by the invocation speaker have not been previously reviewed or approved by the Commission, and the Commission is not allowed by law to endorse the religious beliefs or views of this, or any other speaker. If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the board with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. CALL TO ORDER - 9:00 a.m. (GEORGE LINDSEY, CHAIR) Commissioner George Lindsey Commissioner Bill Braswell Commissioner Neil Combee Commissioner Martha Santiago Commissioner Rick Wilson Present: INVOCATION Murphy Hanley, Polk County Fire Rescue Chaplain PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (GEORGE LINDSEY, CHAIR) A. PRESENTATIONS and RECOGNITIONS A.1. Employee Recognition Minutes: The Board recognized William Baggett from Probation, Philip Lefstead, Jr., from Fire Rescue, and Kendall Rawlings from Building for their years of service. B. CEREMONIAL PROCLAMATIONS C. REQUEST FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC/AUDIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD C.1. Jarrod Davis requests the Board waive, or reduce, the Level 4 and 2 Review fees totaling $9,824.50 to apply to the Planning Commission for conditional use approval of a Breeding, Boarding, and Rehabilitation Facilities, Wild and Exotic Page 1 of 6 Animal Rescue and education center. Minutes: Jarrod Davis said they run a non-profit called Tails of the Wild and he discussed the animal rescue. He said they have purchased land in Polk City and discussed the activities for church groups and school children. He asked that the review fees be waived. Land Development Director Ben Ziskal discussed the review fees totaling $9824.50. He said there are other costs associated with this that do not come to the county. He said National Encounters is a bird sanctuary and is non-profit. Commissioner Braswell said he is not inclined to grant any waivers. He said we don't do this routinely. Commissioner Combee said the $850 advertising cost is never waived. Upon question, Mr. Ziskal said the previous waiver Mr. David received was $3650. Commissioner Wilson said they have never given a waiver since he has been here. He said he feels for him and he is not inclined to drop any fees. Chair Lindsey said the Board is not inclined to grant the request. C.2. Comments. Minutes: Tom Palmer said he has been watching the past sessions on the waste collection. He discussed yard waste and said when you are doing work you have to ration the pick-up and it does not make any sense. He said for bulk waste the once a month would be like it is now. He said it would at least be picked up and recycling it is what it is and they have never been aggressive with recycling. He asked for guidance for Level 2 Reviews and said to have the right tree in the right place. Commissioner Combee discussed planting trees close to the house. He said the yard waste does make sense because there is automated pick-up without having someone on the ground. He said we have to be more efficient. He said maybe the quantity and volume is something that they look at. He said the City of Clearwater has been taking their recycling to the landfill and they were telling the public that they were recycling. Shauna Jones said she is representing the Fort Meade Dixie Youth Baseball and Softball League. She showed pictures of how the fields have been neglected. She asked if they can obtain a maintenance schedule throughout the year. She asked if people are able to use the field. She said she had someone out mowing and they got in trouble for that. Commissioner Wilson said he spoke to Mike Callender and it was on the schedule and he would get an update. He said there were certain people on the field that did not have a contract. He said he will follow up with Mr. Callender. Commissioner Combee discussed the Highland City park and he said a parent was using the field and their own equipment and resources to work on the fields. He said Page 2 of 6 maybe we need to be more cooperative and have a policy for that. D. APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA D.1. Approve Consent Agenda. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Rick Wilson SECONDER: Martha Santiago AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson E. COUNTY COMPTROLLER (STACY M. BUTTERFIELD, CPA) E.1. Disbursements. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Neil Combee SECONDER: Rick Wilson AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson E.2. Minutes of Regular Board meeting held on January 3, 2023. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Neil Combee SECONDER: Rick Wilson AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson H. COUNTY MANAGER (BILL BEASLEY) H.1. Approve Amendment No.4 to the Emergency Rental Assistance Subaward Agreement with Heart for Winter Haven, Inc. ($1,150,000 one-time expense). Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the Amendment No. 4 to the Emergency Rental Assistance Subaward agreement with Heart for Winter Haven, Inc. He recommended approval. Commissioner Santiago congratulated Heart for Winter Haven, Inc. She said it was a total of $4.7 million to distribute to the community. She gave kudos to this organization and said thank you for distributing the money to where it is needed. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Rick Wilson SECONDER: Neil Combee AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson H.2. Approve Consultant Services Authorization 18-059-06 with Dewberry Engineers, Inc. d/b/a/ Dewberry | Hydro Solutions Consulting, LLC, for the Septic-to-Sewer Page 3 of 6 Conversion Evaluation project. ($272,243.66 not-to-exceed, one-time expense) Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed Consultant Services Authorization 18-059-06 with Dewberry Engineers, Inc. d/b/a/ Dewberry | Hydro Solutions Consulting, LLC, for the Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Evaluation project. He recommended approval. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Martha Santiago SECONDER: Rick Wilson AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson H.3. Reimbursement Agreement with CHS TX, Inc. d/b/a YesCare for on-site specialty inmate healthcare services (initial payment of $545,680.98 in accrued reimbursements; estimated cost of $2,300,000 annually, thereafter). Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the Reimbursement Agreement with CHS TX, Inc. d/b/a YesCare for on-site specialty inmate healthcare services. He recommended approval. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Rick Wilson SECONDER: Martha Santiago AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson I. COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 (RICK WILSON) I.1. Commissioner Wilson Comments. Minutes: Commissioner Wilson had no comments at this time. J. COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 (BILL BRASWELL) J.1. Commissioner Braswell Comments. Minutes: Commissioner Braswell had no comments at this time. K. COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4 (MARTHA SANTIAGO) K.1. Commissioner Santiago Comments. Minutes: Commissioner Santiago had no comments at this time. L. COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5 (NEIL COMBEE) L.1. Commissioner Combee Comments. Minutes: Commissioner Combee had no comments at this time. M. COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 (GEORGE LINDSEY, CHAIR) Page 4 of 6 M.1. Chair Lindsey Comments. Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink gave an update on the environmental lands referendum that passed. He said the next meeting the will have the Resolution creating the CLASAC. He said it will be on the county's website that they will be accepting applications. He said staff will review the applications and will have the selections before the Board in April. He said hopefully the first meeting will be in summer 2023. Commissioner Wilson said he would like to see all the applications. The Board will be given the entire list of applicants. Mr. Mink said there will also be a press release. O. EXPEDITED HEARINGS PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 2022-089 Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink reminded the audience of the procedures for public hearings. He swore in those who plan to speak. O.1. Public Hearing (LDCPAS 2022-30 Langley Multi-Family CPA) (Adoption Hearing) to consider the adoption of a Small-Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) to change the Future Land Use designation on 3.8 +/- acres from Residential Low (RL-1) to Residential Medium (RM) in the Transit Supportive Development Area (TSDA). (No Fiscal Impact) Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed land use amendment. He said that staff recommends approval. The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Neil Combee SECONDER: Rick Wilson AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson O.2. Public Hearing (LDCPAL 2022-12 Residential Development Park Text Amendment) (Adoption Public Hearing) to consider the adoption of a Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment to modify Policy 2.128-C5 to allow for multiple single family detached structures on one parcel. This is related to a Land Development Code text amendment LDCT-2022-11. (No Fiscal Impact) Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed text amendment. He said that staff recommends approval. The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Rick Wilson SECONDER: Neil Combee Page 5 of 6 AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson O.3. Public Hearing (LDCT-2022-11 Residential Development Park LDC Text Amendment) (Adoption Hearing) to consider an ordinance relating to a new use called Residential Development Park (RDP) which is multiple single family units on one property for rent. (No Fiscal Impact) Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed text amendment. He said that staff recommends approval. The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Neil Combee SECONDER: Martha Santiago AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson P. PUBLIC HEARINGS P.1. Public Hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance granting an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption to a new business, Banana George, LLC, and approval of a Performance Agreement with the company. Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the ordinance granting an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption to a new business, Banana George, LLC, and approval of a Performance Agreement with the company. She said the Winter Haven and Central Florida Economic Development Councils have submitted letters of support. The Chairman opened a public hearing. Bruce Lyon, Winter Haven Economic Development Council, said he appreciates the Board's consideration and he said without this the project cannot move forward. He complimented staff. Upon question, Ms. Howard said this meets the standards under the new guidelines and she said this is the first project under the new guidelines. She said the new guidelines are higher wages, more jobs and a higher capital investment. The Chairman closed a public hearing. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Rick Wilson SECONDER: Martha Santiago AYE: Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson ANNOUNCEMENTS Minutes: Meeting adjourned at 9:43 a.m. Page 6 of 6