Laserfiche WebLink
Board of County Commissioners <br />Meeting Minutes - Final September 22, 2020 <br />Recommended Action: Authorize the County Administrator to hire a consultant or attorney to fight the <br />allocation process <br />Attachments: Commissioner's Memorandum <br />Commissioner Solari opened discussion on recent developments related to the <br />Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) for the Central Indian River Lagoon <br />(Lagoon) handed down by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection <br />(FDEP). The Commissioner reviewed the BMAP's change in methodology <br />which allocated Indian River County a larger and more expensive share of the <br />Lagoon's nitrogen removal requirements. He noted that his frustration lay with <br />a broken BMAP development process which lacked communication from FDEP <br />and disregarded input from the County. <br />Public Works Director Rich Szpyrka detailed the significant financial impact <br />that the changed BMAP parameters would have to the County; the matter was <br />considered urgent in light of the FDEP's December 2020 deadline to complete <br />the BMAP. <br />Discussion ensued between the Board and staff, with County Attorney Dylan <br />Reingold providing guidance on filing a formal, legal protest. Chairman <br />Adams voiced a need to proceed with caution on this politicized issue, and <br />advocated working up the chain of command at FDEP. <br />Commissioner Solari specified that his goal was to enable better <br />communication between staff and FDEP, and suggested authorizing staff to hire <br />a consultant or attorney to work with the FDEP to set reasonable goals for <br />Indian River County. <br />The Chairman then opened the discussion to the public. The following people <br />spoke: <br />Joseph Paladin read into the record a letter from Jean Catchpole, Chairman, <br />Indian River Neighborhood Association (IRNA) Water and Lagoon Committee <br />Ryan Sweeney read into the record a letter from Paul Fafeita, President, Clean <br />Water Coalition <br />There being no further comments, public discussion was closed. <br />The Board wrapped up discussion with final comments on addressing the <br />FDEP. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Solari, seconded by Chairman Adams, to <br />authorize the County Administrator to hire an outside consultant or attorney to <br />assist staff in working with the Federal Department of <br />Indian River County Florida Page 18 <br />