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6021" —104 FAGE 9 Commissioner Adams inquired about costs involved, and Chairman Eggert advised that the TCRPC would be adding staff but they had not advised the cost to the County. Mike Busha, Executive Director of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, advised that it was not anticipated that there would be a cost to the County. It is hoped that funding would come from planning grants of between $50,000 to $70,000 from the EDA. If the grants are not received, another way will have to be found to fund. The task they will perform is to prepare an overall economic development plan for the four counties initially, and help coordinate the updates required by the Federal government. Commissioner Adams understood that the OEDP would merely coordinate, that no economic benefit would come directly to the County. Chairman Eggert advised that Indian River County would receive 10% on our funded projects, for which we have never applied. Chairman Eggert then voiced her concerns which started back at the strategic plan and doing the economic development part of it. Some changes were sent in by the County, and nothing was changed. She was really concerned about what was in the plan versus what was in the overall economic development plan and what is going to fit for St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach Counties, and how it would really help Indian River County in the long run. She maintained there was no benefit for the County to do it now. Mr. Busha said he had stayed up all last night trying to figure out how he was going to convince Indian River County why this would be such a great idea. He had come to the conclusion that he cannot say anything other than the 10% bonus credit, the OEDP updates, the grant writing and things like that. The reason is that the regional planning council has no track record, no experience related to engaging all four counties in some economic development effort. He could tell them about what has happened in other regional planning councils. The Treasure Coast region is untried. He knew that everyone was worried about the 800 pound gorilla (Palm Beach County). He had recently made a presentation for them on "Eastward Ho" for Palm Beach County and at the conclusion, they took him aside and asked, "What the heck are the three northern counties doing? They're taking over." They further indicated to him that they felt the three northern counties were taking over the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. So, they have concerns, too, and he did not know how to deal with it, but he knew there was strength in numbers and that a lot of the positive initiatives that happened in the other regional planning councils would not have happened if there was not a forum. try it. Mr. Busha commented that he was not before them to offer anything, just to ask that they From what Chairman Eggert has been able to observe, she failed to see interaction and cooperation resulting from groups which supposedly worked together, but yet might actually be 50 June 10, 1997