Final WC visioning session May 13

Final visioning session for Washington County on Tuesday, May 13 from 9 – 11 a.m. at the Washington County Annex on South Boulevard

For information, email Holly Langston at holly.langston@wfrpc.org

Washington County Visioning Meeting Minutes
April 29

Subcommittees

I.     SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
Committee Leader: Jim Town
Members: Chris Brunson, Bill Howell, Linda Cook, Roger Hagan, Sherri Taylor, Tonya Pippin, Scott Henderson, Jerry Brock, Lynda Waller, Jim Ackerman, Peter Herbert, Emory Pitts

Summary
•    We can be in charge of our own future
•    Infrastructure had 6 issues
•    Intergovernmental had 5 issues
•    At the next meeting the goal is to address the LDC – maps & vision
o    Infrastructure & coordination will flow from that
•    Land Use and Growth Management is the 1st priority
•    Critical Elements
o    FLU, Environmental Regulations relationship
•    New development should carry the weight for providing infrastructure and services
•    Seek federal or state $$ for a feasibility study for infrastructure
•    Comp Plan should clearly state goals of committees
•    An issue is that dealing with the projections of growth based solely on the BEBR projections is not true to local trends
•    County should purchase lands now for future public use


II.     ECONOMIC DIVERSITY AND PROSPERITY SUBCOMMITTEE
Committee Leader: Ted Everett
Members: Heather Houston-Meeks, Stacy Webb

Summary
•    Elkcam Road- need another East-West connector through the county, which will open up development.
o    This is a key location because of the pipeline and railroad in the three county area- also need intergovernmental coordination
•    Four-laning of Highways 77 & 79 is already happening- no need to further address
•    Lack of central water & sewer- need state and federal dollars
o    This is the key for creation of good jobs
•    Not enough public outcry for good jobs
•    Attainable Housing- what is it?
o    Need also to work on getting green homes that will serve to reduce utility bills once people are in them-
o    Land & tax incentives
•    Workforce being trained is important, need to attract/be able to offer higher paying jobs
•    Intergovernmental Coordination
o    County Commissioners could serve as liaisons to adjacent counties
•    Overlap items
o    contractors should work to set aside some “affordable” units
o    Florida Housing Finance has funds/incentives


III. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE
Committee Leader: Andy Andreasen
Members: Ted Hoehn, John Foster

Summary
•    Stewardship is important
•    Manage farm property with BMPs
•    Regulations are a factor
•    Homeowners and developers BMPs pesticides
•    Educational opportunities- partner with others to educate
•    Central water/sewer important
o    Needed in centralized areas not in recharge areas

Land Use Links
•    Plan for the Proper uses of land so as to have little impact on environment
•    Sand Hills Lakes are unique and should be preserved
•    Growth- buffers for development between Agricultural uses and
•    Covenants with/within developments
•    Use greywater- this will reduce the demand on water supply
•    Highest density areas are priority
•    Variances need to be better defined/more stringent
•    Should plan for adequate ROW for provision of infrastructure
•    Educate on Ag uses- limited funds
•    Purchase of development rights $$ limited
•    Link to Sustainable Development is incorporating environmental requirements clearly into the LDC, such as buffers





IV. EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND CULTURE SUBCOMMITTEE (Quality of Life)
Committee Leader: Sharon Mitchell & Joe Taylor
Members: Kathy Foster, Vann Brock

Summary
Schools
•    The existing system is a strength, though Tallahassee (DOE) has a lot of control.
•    Overall it is a good system, but the avenues for training need improvement; not able to access Vo-Tech as much as we’d like.
•    When kids finish high school, there should be only two options- College or get a job
•    Issue- class reduction has changed the entire state and if legislature doesn’t make a change, the school boards will not make it – significant bad impacts (due to lack of funding to pay for new positions required as a result of small class sizes, for example the school district has added 30 new teachers but doesn’t have that kind of growth)
•    How do we pay for growth? Need dollars to fund new classes- The growth can’t be supported by the tax base and Washington County’s Special Facilities status is state determined
•    Vernon school renovations ($7 million) aren’t even accommodating growth- no new class space
•    What about growth in Ebro (which will happen undoubtedly with airport move)?
o    Will have to have a school
o    Negotiating 100 acres from the NWFWMD
o    Also will negotiate 100 acres from the Knight Family Trust in conjunction with developing that land so that there will be school sites in new development (school concurrency requirement for all DRIs)
•    There should be an education impact fee, but this is state level control
•    Need to produce educated workforce
•    Need for Water & Sewer overlaps everything
Healthcare
•    Services in the south end of the county are lacking and the county would like to keep as many services as possible local
•    Need services to serve Sunny Hills/retirees
•    Growth is real and how does the county provide? The County should strive to keep current services and bring back OB services
Culture
•    There are many needs and many more opportunities, such as utilizing the Chipley auditorium to hold performances
•    The Washington County Arts Council should be promoted and supported
•    There is no civic center or central gathering space where arts activities can occur
•    Vernon High School holds productions now