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Water Policy Review Commission
MINUTES
Regular meeting
Jan. 10, 2002
Training Rooms (first floor)
Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center
123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand

MEMBERS
Bill Scovell (present)
Fritz Behring (present)
Randy Brewer (present)
Richard Fernandez (present)
Ken Hoblick (absent)
Elizabeth Layton (present)
Beth McGee (absent)
Tom McClelland (absent)
Steven Provost (present)

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair Bill Scovell at 6:05 p.m. with the above attendance noted. Also in attendance were Cindy Finney, County Manager’s Office, Dan Eckert, County Attorney, Gloria Marwick, Volusia County Water and Utilities, Tom Carey, Environmental Management and Howard Bailey, Fire Services.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 8, 2001 MEETING
Richard Fernandez made a motion that the minutes be accepted. Steven Provost seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously and the minutes were adopted as written.

OLD BUSINESS; DISCUSSION OF THE COMMISSION’S PROGRESS AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Mr. Scovell said the Commission had reached the point to where it needed to start working on the content of what it wished to present either on the ballot or to the County Council. Randy Brewer said he met with Don Feaster of the Water Alliance, which would be voting Jan. 15 on the implementation of the water supply plan and the feasibility study of a regional water authority. He made a motion the Commission send a letter to the Authority stating that implementation of the plan is premature and asking that it be deferred until the Commission completes it mission. Elizabeth Layton said the County Council has instructed its Alliance representative, Joe Jaynes to support deferral of the plan. Mr. Scovell said he did not know if it was appropriate for the board to take action although the commission probably was in favor of it. A discussion ensued and Mr. Brewer withdrew his motion. He said he planned to go to the Water Alliance meeting but would speak for himself, not for the Commission.

Mr. Brewer said he would like to encourage the Alliance to get the consultant’s report done so the Commission can review it. He said Mr. Feaster said a rough draft could be completed by the end of March with a final report done by the end of April. He said Mr. Feaster would bring the consultant to a commission meeting to discuss the study. The Commission agreed to send a letter to the Alliance asking it to accelerate the study (attached).

Mr. Scovell passed out an article on the relationship between land use and water use planing regulation and other information (attached). He said he wanted to get an idea of what the Commission would like to place on the ballot, an advisory referendum on water authority. The Commission would need to form the ballot language.

A discussion ensued on a water authority. Fritz Berhing said he believed there was concern on the part of city managers and elected officials regarding a countywide water authority. Some city managers are concerned as to how an authority would affect their revenue and who would control it.

Mr. Brewer said according to state statues, an authority cannot take over a city’s water plant. A discussion ensued on possible ballot verbiage. Mr. Scovell said the publicity information campaign would be needed to clearly lay out the process. He suggested each member work on possible language independently.

Regarding the handouts Mr. Scovell asked if the concurrency issue is something to consider for the ballot. A discussion ensued. Mr. Fernandez said the availability of water should not be the issue that constrains growth because more water can be made. There are other issues that should constrain growth - - what you are talking about is how to fairly allocate costs.

Mr. Scovell asked what the commission thought of the study the alliance is proposing to do.

Mr. Fernandez said as he understood the study, one of the things supposed to come out of it is whether it’s practical to implement an authority, whether there is enough political support to make an authority happen. If the study would go as far as doing economic analysis and provide numbers on water resources, cost, then it would be something useful.

Mr. Brewer made a motion for discussion purposes, a straw vote; shall the WPRC support and recommend the formation of a regional water authority? Ms. Layton seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. A discussion ensued.

Mr. Scovell said what the Commission could do is draft ballot language that would ask the question: Do you favor the formation of a water authority as an advisory referendum?

Mr. Brewer said public perception of a Volusia County takeover would need to be dealt with.

Ms. Layton asked if it needed to be called an authority? Mr. Scovell said yes, since there is a statute that outlines the process. Cities with capital investments in wells would need to be compensated.

Mr. Scovell asked about water conservation? Mr. Berhing said the Commission should offer more alternatives than a water authority, such as water conservation, land development, xeriscaping. Mr. Scovell said they might want to suggest to the County Council that these be done by charter amendment.

Mr. Brewer said the Commission might want to put another question on the ballot that brings the Commission or another group back for a review of progress in this area.

ADJOURN/SET NEXT MEETING DATE
There being no further business, the Commission adjourned at 7:06 p.m. The next meeting of the Commission will be at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 in the Training Rooms, Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, DeLand.

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