Friends of Lake Jesup

Chairman Robert King called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Chairman King asked for any changes to the minutes. Carla Palmer of SJRWMD clarified June minute to reflect, " We just want to determine what the truth is and have the project go from there, what the best estimate of the truth is." Minutes were accepted as changed.

Reports

Mark Callahan Reviewed project on 46 bridge, they are going forward with the 4 scenarios that were presented at the meetings. He reviewed upcoming meetings at which FDOT will present the project to planning agencies.

Bill Daniel voiced his concern about the FHWA's participation and how it will affect the finished project. Chairman King and Mark Callahan explained that the FHWA's participation will be quantified and if they are an obstacle and their contribution is minimal, we may look for funding to replace their contribution and get them out of the picture.

Ed Hayes of the FWCC reported that the total bill of the completed berm removal project ended up being be '$199,000 and change', so there will be $100,000 'and a few pennies' left over. He reported that the FWCC has received the new monies that the legislature appropriated this year, $ 2,9000,000 for dredging. They also now have an agreement with the SJRWMD to use their land for spoil deposition from the dredging project; Carla verified that the board of the SJRWMD had approved the agreement. Ed said they have a meeting scheduled with FDEP permitting to discuss the problem and concerns they may have with the project. They have advertised a 'Solicitation of Interest" involving the engineering expertise required for the dredging, and are getting some responses already. He also reported that FWCC has herbicide out to bid, for vegetation control this fall if the water level cooperates. In response to a question, Ed stated that the Board of the FWCC approved the dredging proposal formally and everyone is up to speed on it. The FWCC sent a letter to Sanford about the spray field site for disposal. Ed has since met with them and has gotten them to agree to at least hear the proposal. Chairman King brought it to the groups attention that developing and implementing the B.M.P's for the spray site has become a much lower priority at the SJRWMD now.

Kim Ornberg of Seminole County reported on the water samples taken along Howard Ave. at the new drainpipe. She also told the group that the storm-event sampling project, that the research was complete and that the result should be available soon. They have received some new funding and another Sampler will be installed on Gee creek.

There was some discussion regarding the letter from Seminole County about the effects of the berm removal project, and this lead to discussion of the actual conditions encountered on the lake since the work has been completed. Ed noticed that the ditches involved seemed to be working as anticipated. Regina Loving of SJRWMD said that one of the plugs in the ditches has blown out, but for the most part the water from the uplands is flowing across the land surface before it reaches the lake. Chairman king stated that Ed Torres of the county is keeping an eye on how the ditches on the uplands will react.

Kim reminded us that the Seminole Water Atlas is now on-line. She assured us the Server problem had been resolved.

The chairman asked about the relationship between Seminole County and the District regarding the stormwater parks identification, siting and land acquisition. He was concerned that the parks were being developed without involvement of the Friends. Discussion followed about the status of each participant, and it was concluded to update the Friends more often regarding the project.

Bill brought up that he is noticing increased sediment transport and deposition at a site along the north shore. It was identified that considerable new developments are being constructed in the area. No action was taken on this issue.

Carla reported that she had been contacted about a large site along the south shore that is interested in voluntarily participating in the dredged spoil disposal. She will continue contact with them.

Carla also wanted to let the group know that she is in the early stages of working to get a 'Memorandum of Understanding' between all the agencies that are involved on the lake and to try to formalize the specific area that each will address. Shari King suggested the use of a facilitator in this process to keep all the agencies on a level field. Carla agreed this would probably be a good idea.

Chuck Collins of the F.D.E.P reported that he has found and incorporated a mechanism that allows the remaining funds from the berm removal project to be kept for Lake Jesup. It references "all new work" and would in some ways act as a bank account to apply the funds in the area that they were allocated for.

Chuck reported that he had gone out with a researcher and photographed the lake area with infrared photography. He and the researcher will sit down in the near future to discuss what information can be derived from this new data.

Chuck reported that the unused funds from a Seminole County project benefiting the lake would be lost very soon. We had hoped to get these funds moved to somewhere they could be applied to our work. He said he had tried, but that those funds could not be transferred to us.

Regina Loving reported that the contractors that have bid on the SR46 box culvert job have received an addendum to their proposal to include more berm removal work south of SR46 in the project area. She said they will have some decisions to make regarding how far up the ditches would be filled. After she gets a firm figure on the cost, she will be apply to FWCC for some of the remaining funds. It is anticipated that by August 8 the contract will be awarded and work will begin in earnest out at the site. The chairman raised the issue of fill being removed from the site after construction is complete, and was assured that the fill will be returned to the site and used to fill the ditches along the berm. Regina also reported that she had taken two state representatives out on the lake for a tour, and the SJRWMD board had adopted that the management plan for the Lake Jesup properties. She will mail out the copies to those who need them.

Bill showed a short video about bridge building and he considered it to be a good example of cooperation between agencies and the public. There was a brief group discussion.

Shari King reported on the County Natural Lands. She said that a proposal for a comprehensive plan amendment is being processed on 80 acres on the north shore. It is being requested that the land be given a designation of LDR (4 dwelling units per acre). The committee for preservation in 1999 considered these lands. It was decided to review this request and the DAB proposal and comment as appropriately. Shari also reported that the committee had not acted on Bird Island yet.

Hearing no other reports, the chairman discussed the list of goals and objectives for the lake. It was decided that the group needed to clarify and expand on the format before it is transmitted to the ACOE. Carla said that she has access to a trained facilitator that we could use at the August meeting to complete the document. It was agreed to accept Carla's offer and to make this the main topic of our next agenda. The chairman requested that all members work on the list before next month.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00.pm