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relative to the six-month suspension of impact fees for Emergency Services Facilities, <br />Correctional Facilities, Public Buildings, Law Enforcement, and Solid Waste Facilities. He <br />provided background and analysis on the proposed Ordinance, noting that it would effect about a <br />10% reduction in residential impact fees, and up to a 35% reduction in some of the non- <br />residential fees, depending on the land use categories. Director Keating thereafter presented <br />staff's recommendation to adopt the Temporary Suspension of Impact Fees Ordinance. <br />The Chairman opened the public hearing. <br />Joseph Paladin, President of Black Swan Consulting, supported Commissioner <br />Wheeler's idea to adopt the Duncan Associates Report, mentioned at the March 3, 2009 Board <br />Meeting. He felt that the proposed Ordinance would not make the County competitive with what <br />other Counties have to offer, and he wanted staff to see if some adjustments could be made, to <br />increase residential, and to eliminate or reduce commercial/industrial fees. <br />Dr. Valerie Biehl, Vero Beach, a horse veterinarian, expressed her support for the <br />temporary impact fee reduction, which would help her build a small animal hospital, with a <br />much-needed equine surgical facility. She noted that her facility would provide jobs, and she felt <br />that the six-month reduction would help stimulate people in the community to build or to expand <br />their businesses. <br />Commissioner Wheeler opined that it is the residential "rooftops" that create the <br />need for infrastructure and services, and that the business people who follow those "rooftops" to <br />provide a service, are charged a disproportionate share of the impact fee costs. <br />Although he welcomed the proposed 35% reduction in commercial/industrial <br />impact fees, Mr. Paladin wanted to see them eliminated for awhile, with no reductions made on <br />the residential fees. <br />16 <br />March 24, 2009 <br />