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Board will decide whether to purchase or not, taking into consideration the recommendation of the LAAC. Chairman Adams commented that should the property be reclassified as not being environmentally sensitive for some reason, the problem can be dealt with at that time. She referred to last week's meeting in Tallahassee regarding the effort to have environmental lands classified "in perpetuity" and felt that everyone should be aware that these properties are primarily used for environmental purposes. The Chairman asked if anyone else wished to be heard in this matter. There being none, she closed the public hearing. Commissioner Eggert commented regarding the land acquisition guide. The LAAC was very conscious of the fact that the final decision would be made by the County Commission. When a recommendation by LAAC is discussed in this environment, it is clear that the committee can recommend to approve or deny but the Board must then take all factors into consideration. The remark made to Mr. Granse was somewhat facetious but came from the feeling that the advisory committee is somewhat tunnel -visioned but the Board must have a broader vision. Deputy County Attorney Collins requested that staff be sworn in the event a court should determine at some time in the future that this is a quasi-judicial proceeding. Community Development Director Bob Keating and Environmental Planning Chief Roland DeBlois were subsequently sworn as to their prior comments. Commissioner Macht remarked that there have been some comments in the newspaper by the editorial staff and a letter to the editor referring to LAAO as a vestigial committee. He then presented the following letter of July 1D2, 1996 from Robert B. Swift: July 12. 1996 �%-MI Rtvt•r n�cTR1B _ION�LSI G�� `� Commissa ners� � '� p;minisi•rter Ken Macht ,y. ; .., f UOrt! - Commissioner Indian River CountyiJ�gIC:'l•3 1840 25th Street °y JUL 1996 Vero Beach, Florida 32960 co Vtiliues — — r- �D BdAM�t.'4tiNtFinance �_------- re: Purchase of AGC and other Sebastian Lots 'r CCM&„ iSYrC1�SlI� 014A3 Energ. Serv. Dear Ken.F, �?5k M#,.t. Goer A business conflict will prevent me from attending the Commissioner's meeting on July 17, and so I won't be able to participate in the public hearing on this issue. I hope my thoughts can commissioners. be shared with the other As a member of the LAAC I have no illusions that the committee's actions are anything other than advisory in nature. It would take a very convoluted reading of the LAAO guide and accompanying literature to come to the conclusion that such an appointed body would have the final say in the expenditure of County funds. While true that committee, in a narrowly split vote, recommended against the proposed purchase agreement, the committee has continued to carry the properties on its ranked list of recommended properties. Had the committee wanted to, it could have voted to drop the properties from consideration. JULY 169 1996 19 �� K 98 549