PUBLIC NOTICE. Corkscrew Road Service Area Advisory Committee

Transcription

1 PUBLIC NOTICE Corkscrew Road Service Area Advisory Committee When: July 17th 2014 Time: 2:00PM Where: Estero Community Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd. Estero, Florida. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss general business. All residents of this unit are invited to attend and participate. Contact Information: Melissa Geissler MSTBU Coordinator Minutes Corkscrew Road Service Advisory, July 17, 2014, Thursday 2:00 PM, Estero Community Center 1. Call to Order Agenda Filled Positions Attendees: Jim Boesch, Stoneybrook Mark Novitski, Bella Terra Maddy Isaacs, Preserve (absent) Cathrine Bakos, Monte Cristo (absent) Jim Kurtz, Wildcat Run Mike Elgin, Miromar Outlets Michael Maloney, Stoneybrook Sam Marshall, Banks Engineering (absent) Melissa Geissler, MSTBU Coordinator Lori Borman, Lee Co Sarah Clarke, LDOT Dan Weiss, Lee Co John Fredyma, Legal, Lee Co Pete Winston, Lee Co

2 Others as indicated in attached sign in sheet 2. Public Comments - None 3. Approval of Minutes of previous (17 Jan 2014) meeting No minutes available. Board President remembered discussion on Fl Development (Stock) request for refund of credits. 4. Staff Reports a. Financial update Lori Borman provided the financial statement (attached). It was noted ~= $3600 charges will be incurred the remainder of the fiscal year for Administrative costs. A lengthy discussion was held on finances and our ability to pay current debts. Although we have a $579k in available cash, we have unused credits for $864k. At any time the owner of these credits could request return of these credits. If the CRSA does not have the funds, then Lee County would have to pay the balance. Both the President, Jim Boesch, and John Fredyma, legal counsel for lee Co mentioned the ability to negotiate with the owners of the credits for a settlement. Although the hope we could negotiate for something less than 100%, current discussion with the Lee Co attorney and Fl Development (Stock) indicated Stock would take 95% in a settlement. Further discussion was held on anticipated funding and possible funding. In anticipated funding we are due ~= $100k from the Preserve (by March 2015), and ~= $275k from Montecristo (2016/2017). In possible funds (attached) if all is built out, there is a possibility of $867k (which include the Preserve and Montecristo), although realistically we can expect less than 50% of what s possible. Our projected position by Mar 2015 would be ~= $675k in available cash and $864k in unused credits leaving us in a negative position of $189k. If we want to spend some of the available cash for a capital improvement project (CIP) on Corkscrew Rd (which is Lee County owned and maintained), we would make a recommendation to the county commissioners for their approval. The county commissioners would ask staff to prepare a staffing package with coordination of the various offices (e.g. legal, finance, LDOT) for their thoughts and insights. The Lee Co staff present at the meeting wondered if the county commissioners would approve a project knowing there was a liability. It was also

3 noted by the Lee County attorney the CRSA ordinance stated funds are to be used for Capital Improvement of Corkscrew Rd It was also discussed the CRSA is projected to end 30 Sep This may or may not be a mute point. Since the CRSA is within the city limits of the Village of Estero, the village, upon incorporation, would have the option of accepting or rejecting the transfer. All in attendance wondered if the Village of Estero would accept a known liability? b. Budget preparation No discussion at the meeting 5. Landscape and Irrigation Improvement on Median Dividers The $4M Corkscrew Rd capital Improvement project to install a median between Ben Hill Griffith Parkway and Wild Cat Run (and Median at Bella Terra entrance) was a CRSA funded Capital Improvement Project (CIP). As a result any landscape for this project is also the responsibility of the CRSA. Landscaping was included in the initial project, but shortfall in funding eliminated the landscaping. If Lee County had undertaken the Corkscrew Rd CIP, there would have been installed the standard landscape project. At the time this project was budgeted, designed, and approved, the Preserve development order was not submitted and approved. The Preserve was started while the project was underway. Corkscrew Rd from I-75 to Ben Hill Griffith Parkway median was landscaped and there is a current MSTBU to pay for the initial installation, and the annual operations and maintenance. Lee County legal verified current CRSA funds could not be used for annual operations and maintenance costs. Mark Novitski asked Sarah Clarke if the median installed from Ben Hill Griffith Parkway and Wild Cat Run was designed for four lane operation when the road is eventually widened. She stated yes. This was asked to ensure if the CRSA would install landscape and irrigation it would not be tore up when the road is eventually widened. Last CRSA meeting the President requested an estimate from LDOT to install landscape/irrigation from Ben Hill Griffith Parkway and Wild Cat Run and provide annual Operations and Maintenance. The estimate provided by LDOT was $250k for construction and unknown at this time for annual operations and maintenance.

4 Before requesting approval from the Lee County Commissioners and any construction could begin, it would require forming a new MSTBU to pay for the Operations and Maintenance. 51% of property owners, through a petition, would have to agree to an additional ad valorem tax to fund the MSTBU. (Currently this is what the Brooks does maintain the landscape and irrigation for sections of Coconut Rd and Three Oaks Rd.) After lengthy discussion, the President polled the members on their support for the project. The consensus was there are many unknowns and legal considerations for any action and cannot see proceeding with this effort at this time. 6. Discussion: a. Major Traffic Problems at the Preserve and Bella Terra i. Lou Frattarelli, Sal Dassaro, The Preserve, Mark Novitski, Bella Terra Lou Frattarelli, Sal Dassaro, and Mark Novitski each spoke on the safety issues of Corkscrew Rd between Wildcat Run eastbound to Alico Rd. Realistically they understand expanding Corkscrew Rd to 4 lanes is not in the 2035 plan and they will probably not see it in their lifetime. Not all this roadway is in the CRSA as the CRSA does not include Corkscrew Shores or the planned Wild Blue development. Jim Kurtz also expressed his concern how difficult it is to turn left onto westbound Corkscrew Rd. Of particular concern are the dangerous curve on Corkscrew Rd; No left turn lane (westbound) into the Preserve; the alignment of new access/intersections of Wild Blue onto Corkscrew Rd; and conducting a current traffic count on Corkscrew Rd (extrapolations and projections use 2010 traffic count data). LDOT staff explained the standards for intersections used did not require the developer of the Preserve install a westbound left turn lane into the Preserve. LDOT also explained some traffic study was accomplished in 2012 and will provide a copy (attached). John Fredyma, Lee County legal counsel, stated the Wild Blue development plan is working its way thru the process. What has been published is a concept plan. Those who spoke believe the alignment of Wild Blue entrances with current entrances is critical to road safety. LDOT staff again stated they follow the standards for intersections

5 All speakers agree this is a major safety concern and regardless of what happened in the past something has to be done in the future. The Board wondered if some of the concerns could be solved by more law enforcement. This is a request going forward by the owners of Preserve and Bella Terra. Mark Novitski stated he and others will be speaking at the upcoming Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings in Aug Other Business The president stated,. if we are not going to do any more projects then it s time to shut down the CRSA. He will work with Melissa to schedule a meeting in the next 30 days. None 8. Board Requests 9. Adjournment A motion was made to adjourn, seconded, and all in favor at 15:25 Submitted by Mark Novitski

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