January 2011 Voter

The League of Women Voters of Volusia County, Florida
THE
January 2011
Visit our Web site at www.LWVVC.org
HappyNew 2011!
League of Women Voters of Volusia County Presents:
January 22, 2011
Observer Corps: A How-­‐To Workshop Workshop by
Pat Gadbaw
LWVVC Board Member, Observer Corps Director,
Transportation Committee Chair
&
Pat Drago
LWVF Board Member, LWVF Voter Service Chair,
LWVVC Board Member, Communications Chair
9:30 a.m. to noon
Summer & Dennis Clayton’s
5830 Spruce Creek Woods Drive
Port Orange, FL 32127
RSVP ASAP-- limit to 20 attendees
Summer Clayton
[email protected]
(RSVP deadline: Jan. 20, 2011)
Coffee and snacks will be provided
Happy New Year Leaguers! It’s a New Year!! 2011 has arrived and we can look forward to another Legislative Session. Board member Pat Drago gave direction to the Volusia Delegation on behalf of LWVVC in the December meeting. Our emphasis was on broadening the tax structure to improve Florida’s budget short fall and to use those revenues to improve public education During the 2011 Legislative Session we must keep our eyes and ears open to follow their on-­‐goings. The Capitol Report will be a good source of information so bookmark the LWVF website (www.LWVfla.org) to find out the latest. Watch out for alerts from the LWVF and LWVVC to contact your elected officials to let them know you are watching them and to give them your two-­‐cents! Speaking of watching your elected officials, on January 22, LWVVC will be having a workshop on how to be a good observer at county council meetings, city commission meetings, school board meetings, transportation meetings, any government meeting! Make your reservations soon! We had a most insightful and educational meeting on transportation in Volusia County in November. We had a knowledgeable panel of speakers, Karl Welzenbach, Exec. Dir. Of Volusia TPO, George Recktenwald, Dir. Of Volusia County Public Works and Kenneth Fischer, VOTRAN Gen. Manager. Our Transportation committee, headed by Pat Gadbaw will continue to lead our study as part of the LWVF Transportation Consensus Study. Pat Gadbaw (front left) with Transportation panelists from our
November general meeting.
We also had a most successful Holiday Celebration at Vince Carter’s Restaurant in December. About 30 plus of you attended the soiree and we had a wonderful time getting to know you all! We are so happy you all came! We look forward to an exciting 2011! I hope to see you at our events and hope you will be an active and/or supportive member of your Volusia County League of Women Voters! Sandy Horikami
LWVVC President Did You Know………………
On the first two days of November (General Election on Nov 2), we had 920 visitors to our LWVVC.org website? Observer Corps
January 22, 2010 we will meet for a workshop on the Observer Corps. This is an all member
workshop with information provided by Pat Drago who spent many years working with the elected
movers and shakers of this County and me. Drago will help us focus our observations on key issues
in the county. I would like to see us move more towards the planning and zoning commissions and
hope there are many of you out there who would like to join the Observer Corps with other ideas,
such as historical preservation groups, public transportation, and comprehensive plans.
The Transportation Committee has taken the last couple of months off following our all
member meeting with Ken Fischer, George Recktenwald and Karl Welzenbach. We will get back
together in January. As noted in the News-Journal the Commuter Rail and SunRail are moving
forward. High Speed may be on hold.
Patricia Gadbaw
Edgewater City Council meetings for 10/27 and 11/17
Passed on second reading land development code for docks and slips in compliance with Florida
Coastal Law.
Authorized Mayor to execute contract not to exceed $2,066,900 to Pat Cook Construction for
Fire Station 55 replacement on a vote of 4/1. If stimulus funds do not come through, the note which
was approved later for balance needed would be a 1% charge to release city from the debt.
Passed 2010-20 to finance replacement of fire station 55 not to exceed $750,000 on a 10 year
note at 2.77% balance to be paid in a 20 year note to reset then.
Oak Hill City Commission meetings for 10/25 and 11/23 and 1217
Passed R-23 authorizing mayor to make application to Florida Department of Community
Affairs (DCA) for small cities community development block grant of $602,000.
Dana Thompson presented an update on Burns Science and Technology Charter School. The
K through 8th Grade school had their charter approved Sept 27th. They are, working on details such
as food service, busing, etc. with Volusia County School Board.
Received proposal from Oak Hill Seafood Cooperative concerning future water front
management and passed R 2010-26 encouraging repeal of septic tank statutes.
Identified a need to relocate gopher turtles at Mary DeWees Park, $2,680 figure discussed,
must be state certified firm, and follow up necessary.
New Smyrna City Commission 10/26, 11/10, 12/14, 12/03
Acquired property at 2631 Westwood Ave, will be reimbursed 75% of cost, drainage project for
Isleboro.
Presented $5,000 donations to New Smyrna Beach (NSB) High School, Sacred Heart
Elementary School and NSB Police Athletic League, from NSB Police Dept Special Law Enforcement
Trust Fund, as approved by the Commission 10/26/2010, for support of continued youth programs.
Ratified IAFF, labor agreement, Fire Fighters, 2271, for 10/1/2010 through 9/30/2013, with
discussion of pension revisions left to be worked out.
Passed O55-10 allowing fences 4 FT around pool and decking when required by Florida Building
Code, with restrictions.
Passed R 41-10 renewing existing fees for Municipal Golf Course, and asked staff for possible
program ideas for utilization of local realtor services (commercial or residential) experts, to market city
owned properties.
Flagler Avenue Hampton Inn Hotel Project received a 90 day extension on timeline for
construction financing and progress.
Ratified the Labor agreement with International Brotherhood of Teamsters 385, through
9/30/2013.Balloon and Sky Fest set for April 8-10, 2011
Contracted with Land Design Innovations, Inc. for professional planning and consulting
services related to the preparation of revision to the Land Development Regulations, $57,8808 plus
reimbursable expenses, funding from the CRA Consultant Program account.
Gave Merchants of Flagler Hospitality Group $52,175 to assist in marketing and events for
next year, CRA grants and aids account.
Awarded contract for Historic SE Volusia Chamber of Commerce Building Rehabilitation
Project, not to exceed $389,177 with CRA and Echo funds to John Toft Construction Inc.
Passed O 45.10 annexing 1/2 acre at 1111 Canal St; northwest of the intersection of Canal Street
and Bay Street.
NoraJane Gillespie
Ormond City Commission meeting December 7, 2010
After the much anticipated vote on the changes to the signage laws in Ormond, the measure
died due to lack of a motion. (After the first reading of 2010-62 ordinance was read the Mayor asked
for a motion. None was made. At the closing of the meeting several commissioners alluded to the
proposed ordinance regarding the aforementioned electronic signage as an attempt for "spot zoning"
to accommodate a few churches. There were several people in the audience ready to speak for and
against these signs as they were seen as necessary by a few churches petitioning these west of 95
and as eye sores by the majority of the residents.
Several acres were incorporated into the city along US1 and zones were changed from
commercial light to tourist light.
Money for a study on the extension of Hand Avenue was approved during Consent Agenda.
Hand Avenue is being looked at as an alternative route to Granada Blvd. that will eventually meet an
extension of Timber Creek Road to LPGA.
Maritza Patterson
Port Orange City Commission 12/14/10
The two new council members, Bob Ford and Don Burnette, had obviously done their
homework and suggested some good ideas. As an example, Ford suggested that the environmental
committee look at the well-field property to determine if there is a way that the land can be used as a
passive park. He also suggested that the environmental committee and the fire department look at
the property to see if the annual dirt bike Alligator Enduro, a charity event, causes any lasting
problems, including possible fire problems during dry conditions.
Summer Clayton
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Ann Smith & Pat Gadbaw are kayaking at the LWVF St.
Augustine outing.
Welcome New Members!
Ken and Monique Fischer of Port Orange
Ken and Monique are interested in the Election Process, Land Use
Regulations, County Charter and Transportation Financing
Ken and Monique Fischer of Port Orange
Ken and Monique are interested in the Election Process, Land Use
Regulations, County Charter and Transportation Financing
Fundraising Ideas? Please share your ideas with Jean Snyder, [email protected]