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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final March 11, 2025 <br />and established priorities for acquisition. They held 15 meetings from August <br />2023 to January 2025. <br />Ms. Swindell highlighted five key factors related to property quality, emphasizing <br />ecological value and resource availability using the ELP guide and GIS Hub. She <br />also explained the ELAP Scoring Matrix Evaluation Criteria, which assisted the <br />panel in ranking parcels into three tiers based on criteria such as Natural <br />Communities, Habitat Value, and Recreational and Educational potential. The <br />presentation included the final rankings and project tiers for Fee Simple and <br />Easement nominations under the ELAP. <br />The Board expressed gratitude to the ELAP for their contributions to protecting <br />crucial wetland areas and the Indian River Lagoon. The Board and staff discussed <br />the regulatory challenges impacting development scores in these ecological <br />regions, particularly focusing on tier -one properties and sellers' compliance with <br />County conservation requirements. Acknowledging the complexities of the <br />acquisition process, staff highlighted that potential changes could arise during <br />negotiations. <br />Attorney George Glenn Jr. shared that his involvement in environmental programs <br />began as a teenager in Indian River County. He stressed the importance of <br />obtaining matching grant funds from the State of Florida, the federal government, <br />and local entities for the program's success. Mr. Glenn noted that nearly 22 <br />Florida counties had land conservation programs and criticized the previous <br />practice of acquiring properties before seeking reimbursement grants. He <br />advocated for a more proactive approach, suggesting that the County identify <br />potential matching funds, such as those from the Florida Communities Trust, <br />before making purchases and presenting proposals to the Board. Chairman <br />Flescher expressed his appreciation for Mr. Glenn's enthusiasm. <br />Deputy County Administrator Mike Zito explained that the ELAP members <br />possess a high level of expertise in evaluating applications. He expressed <br />confidence in their ability to identify potential cost-sharing opportunities. While <br />staff were skilled at analyzing possible outcomes, he emphasized the importance <br />of acknowledging the limitations of the process. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Earman, seconded by Chairman <br />Flescher, to approve staffs recommendation. The motion carried by the <br />following vote: <br />Aye: 5 - Chairman Flescher, Vice Chairman Loar, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner <br />Earman, and Commissioner Moss <br />Indian River County, Florida Page 16 <br />