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Water Policy Review Commission
MINUTES
Regular meeting
May 9, 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 (present)
Elizabeth Layton (present)
Beth McGee (present)
Tom McClelland (absent)
Steven Provost (present)

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair Bill Scovell at 6:03 p.m. with the above attendance noted. Also in attendance were Cindy Finney, County Manager’s Office, Dan Eckert, County Attorney and Ted Erwin, Chairman of the Volusian Water Alliance.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 11, 2002 MEETING
Elizabeth Layton made a motion the minutes be approved. Randy Brewer seconded the motion. The motion to approve the minutes as written was passed, 8-0.

CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF FINAL REPORT/RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL
Mr. Scovell recognized Ted Erwin, Chairman of the Volusian Water Alliance. Mr. Scovell noted that several WPRC members went to the Alliance meeting where the Implementation Strategy Alternatives Evaluation was presented by consultant Jacob Varn. Mr. Scovell said although there appears to be a substantial amount of support for the creation of an entity, there are serious reservations about it that are sufficient enough that it might not happen at this time. Mr. Brewer agreed and noted the municipalities have legitimate concerns but we need to get something on the ballot to allow the voters to provide direction. The voters can turn it down but that's a risk you take. Ms. Layton said it sounds very much like what occurred in 1994-5 during the transition from the Water Coop to the Alliance. She noted that everyone survived that and came together. Mr. Brewer said the question of voting equity was raised among members. Mr. Scovell said the only way it would work and it has been proved in the Hillsborough area, is one entity, one vote. It won't work any other way. Fritz Behring said he would not buy into the weighted vote system and agreed the one vote per entity was the way to go. Mr. Scovell added that was regardless of whether the entity was a utility provider or not.

Mr. Scovell asked what should the group put on the ballot (list of advisory question attached) and a discussion ensued, which led back to the presentation at the Water Alliance meeting.

Mr. Erwin said Holly Hill representatives (letter attached) had the opportunity to discuss what they wanted and were mostly silent. He said the May 21 regularly scheduled meeting will allow further discussion of Mr. Varn's plan and Mr. Varn will be present. Mr. Erwin said the final report is due at the end of May and it will be presented to the Alliance at its meeting the third Tuesday in June. The proper procedure would be to accept the report on face value as a report, he said. Mr. Erwin said if 50 percent of the entities would agree to be involved it would be cost effective in the long run. Those who don’t come in initially will eventually be squeezed into joining and he thinks they should pay a premium if they join at a later date.

The Commission discussed which of the two #4s (a or b) should be adopted. Mr. Brewer made a motion to place on the ballot an advisory question/referendum dealing with the creation of a wholesale water distribution organization for all water systems of Volusia County. Beth McGee seconded the motion for discussion. Mr. Brewer said there needs to be a funding mechanism identified and clarified because a tax would be opposed. Rick Fernandez said the primary emphasis is equalization of rates. We are looking for wellfield management and want to concentrate on that concept, he said. Mr. Scovell restated the motion and the Committee voted 8-0 to approve it.

Mr. Scovell said he would work with staff liaison Cindy Finney to come up with proposed ballot language which would be distributed to Committee members for comment.

Mr. Fernandez made a motion the second ballot issue be patterned after question #2. Mr. Brewer seconded for discussion. Mr. Fernandez said he felt this was a parallel issue with the primary focus on utilizing a county wide stormwater fee dedicated to moving water, taking the water going into the rivers and moving it west. M. Layton said voters would say they have already paid for that. Mr. Fernandez said the primary emphasis would not be to collect money but to increase our raw water supply.

Mr. Scovell said there will need to be a voter education program and he thought the county should fund it. Voters don't care where the education comes from. He said he thought newspapers and television would provide public education also. Mr. Provost stated that questions 1 and 3 would be on a citizens survey. A discussion ensued. Mr. Scovell called for the question. The vote was 7-1 to approve the motion with Elizabeth Layton dissenting.

Mr. Fernandez said #2 would be aimed at diverting discharge to central areas that would benefit the overall water supply. We want to tell people that the program would move the water that now flows to the rivers into recharge. It would enhance the raw water supply of all Volusia County. Mr. Scovell said what this would try to do is rehydrate central Volusia.

The committee discussed the wording for question #4. Mr. Brewer suggested take out "rates for" and leave the rest. Mr. Behring suggested it read… "the creation of a centrally managed water production distribution organization for the management of groundwater supplies."

Ken Hoblick said he wanted to return to an earlier discussion the Committee had in March about adding serving public, commercial and industrial needs to question #4 and whether agriculture should have been included. He read a state law regarding duplication of government regulations to the Committee (attached). Mr. Scovell said nothing that has been proposed deals with agriculture. At some point, the St. Johns River Water Management District will deal with agriculture or it may come from the state.

Dan Eckert said if there is to be a tax and the Committee's purpose is to provide political will and a tax is a component of that, shouldn't that be a part of the ballot question? There was continued discussion about the wording of the questions.

ADJOURN/SET NEXT MEETING DATE
There being no further business, the Commission adjourned at 7:05 p.m. The Commission agreed to review the proposed ballot questions before setting another meeting. 

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