Rollcall

Commissioner District 1 Rita Pritchett, Commissioner District 2

Tom Goodson, Commissioner District 3 John Tobia,

Commissioner District 4 Rob Feltner, and Commissioner District 5

Jason Steele

Present:

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Commissioner Rob Feltner, District 4

Commissioner Feltner led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

E.1. Resolution to Recognize the Five-Year Anniversary of the Kindness All Around

Symbol

Commissioner Goodson stated today this might be appropriate; it surely is appropriate in this

world today, Kindness All Around; maybe tomorrow everyone should try a little of that and see

how far it gets them; and he asked the lady that is in attendance and prepared to speak to

please come down.

Ms. Wilcox expressed her appreciation for allowing her to speak; she stated she has a couple

students with her today, Rosalie and Tommy who were part of the efforts to start this Kindness

symbol when they were in her kindergarten class; and they have continued to be kind

throughout the years. She commented they are the epitome of exactly what people want to

happen, which is to learn it when they are young and continue it when they get older; and she

would like to encourage everybody to not just be kind, but to also see the kindness symbol,

share it, and spread it so that it helps remind others to be kind also.

Commissioner Feltner read aloud, and the Board adopted Resolution No. 23-11, recognizing

the five-year anniversary of the Kindness All Around Symbol.

Result: ADOPTED

Mover: Tom Goodson

Seconder: Rob Feltner

Ayes: Pritchett, Goodson, Tobia, Feltner, and Steele

Victoria Connors stated her only comment is that the Board is approving funding for the Florida

Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) agreement NM034 on Flamingo Drive; she

thinks it is funding for a swell to prevent erosion and in doing so on North Flamingo, it would be

taking out trees which are there as a screen for the motel that is directly across Flamingo from

her home and many other homes; it is a big concern for her because there is a lot of traffic that

goes in and out of that motel which is sometimes not very good traffic; for people to be able to

see into her home across the street without that barrier is a concern for her; also the barrier of

trees and sea grapes prevents a lot of erosion; there is not any flooding on that street; she

knows on South Flamingo there is flooding; and she does not know what good a swell would

really do. She continued by saying she thinks maybe hooking up to sewer systems and putting

in some storm drains from the actual street because where the majority of the flooding is in that

area is actually on Ocean Boulevard; she does not know if it is coming in off of A1A and

traveling down the little street there, because there is a slight decline, but that is where the

flooding is; she thinks it will be a waste of money to put in the swell, especially on North

Flamingo because there is no flooding there; and there is no erosion.

F.1. Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant INV43 - Ultrasonic Algae

Treatment Performance Testing in Brackish Sykes Creek Canal - District 2

The Board executed and approved the FDEP Grant Contract; authorized the County Manager

to execute any future amendments to the Contract; and authorized the County Manager to

approve related Budget Change Requests.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.2. Cost-Sharing Agreements 39078 Flounder Creek Pond Denitrification Retrofit

(D1), 39079 Kingsmill-Aurora Phase II (D4), 39089 Sand Dollar Canal (D5), and

39278 Pioneer Road Denitrification (D2) with St. Johns River Water Management

District (SJRWMD).

The Board authorized execution of Cost-Sharing Agreements 39078 Flounder Creek Pond

Denitrification Retrofit, 39079 Kingsmill – Aurora Phase II, 39089 Sand Dollar Canal, and 39278

Pioneer Road Denitrification with SJRWMD; granted permission to execute grant amendments

and modifications upon review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, Risk

Management, and Purchasing Services; granted permission to execute all competitively

procured construction and Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contracts, amendments, and

change orders; and authorized associated Budget Change Requests.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.3. Approval, Re: Dedication of Sidewalk Easement from Barefoot Bay Recreation

District for the Barefoot Bay Beachside Restroom Project- District 3.

The Board approved acceptance of the Sidewalk Easement from Barefoot Bay Recreation

District for the Barefoot Bay Beachside Restroom Project.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.4. Approval, Re: Dedication by Warranty Deed for Tract J of Reeling Park North and

Seville at Addison Village - Phase 1 and Bill of Sale from The Viera Company, all

Related to Lift Station U-75 - District 4.

The Board approved acceptance of the Dedication by Warranty Deed for Tract J of Reeling

Park North and Seville at Addison Village – Phase 1 and Bill of Sale from The Viera Company,

all related to Lift Station U-75.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.5. Approval, Re: Dedication of Utility Easements from D. R. Horton, lnc. and Crystal

Bay Community Association, lnc. for Tract RD-2 and a Portion of Lots 26 and 27,

Block N Related to the Plat of Crystal Bay Phase 3 - District 3.

The Board approved acceptance and executed the Dedication of Utility Easements from D. R.

Horton, Inc. and Crystal Bay Community Association, Inc. for Tract RD-2 and a portion of Lots

26 and 27, Block N, related to the Plat of Crystal Bay Phase 3.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.6. Approval, Re: Contract for Sale and Purchase from Bluewater Pointe, LLC for the

Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Zone C Septic to Sewer Conversion

Project - District 2.

The Board approved and executed the Contract for Sale and Purchase from Bluewater Pointe,

LLC for the SOIRL Zone C Septic to Sewer Conversion Project; and authorized the Chair to

execute all required closing documents related to the Contract.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.7. Approval to execute a Property Owner’s Consent Form with the Florida City Gas

Company for the Brevard Energy LLC renewable natural gas facility construction

project at the Central Disposal Facility.

The Board approved and executed the Property Owner’s Consent Form with Florida City Gas

Company, granting Florida City Gas Company permission to construct, and retain access to, a

pipeline gas metering station within the area at the Central Disposal Facility currently leased by

Brevard Energy LLC for Renewable Natural Gas Facility Construction Project.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.8. Approval, Re: Submission of a grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services for the

Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health

Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances (Maximum Award

Amount: $6,000,000)

The Board approved Housing and Human Services Director as the Authorized Grantee Official;

authorized Housing and Human Services Director to submit the grant application, including all

forms; authorized Housing and Human Services Director to sign all related agreements,

modifications, and contracts as required, upon approval of Risk Management and the County

Attorney’s Office, upon grant award; approved all related grant funded travel; and authorized

the County Manager to sign all necessary Budget Change Requests (BCR).

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.9. Caretaker Services Contract-Chain of Lakes Park (District 1)

The Board approved the selection and award a Caretaker Services Contract to Jonathan

Ernesto Ramos at Chain of Lakes Park, Titusville, Florida; and authorized Parks and

Recreation Director to execute the Contract, and execute subsequent renewals and future

amendments to incorporate standard contract clauses upon County Attorney and Risk

Management approval.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.10. Board Approval, Annual Request to Write-Off Uncollectible Emergency Medical

Services (EMS) Ambulance Fees for FY22-23

The Board in accordance with Ordinance No. 79-21, approved the FY2022-2023 uncollectible

EMS accounts receivable write-off as noted on the Agenda Report.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.11. Appointment(s) / Reappointment(s)

The Board appointed/reappointed Darlene Hunt, to Art in Public Places Advisory Committee,

with said term to expire December 31, 2025; Dr. Joanna Bass, to the Board of Adjustment, with

said term to expire December 31, 2024; Teddy Chase, as alternate, to Board of Adjustment,

with said term to expire December 31, 2024; and Brian Hodgers, to the Planning and Zoning

Board, with said term to expire December 31, 2025.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.12. Confirmation of Melissa H. Powers as Human Resources Office Director

The Board confirmed the appointment of Melissa H. Powers as the Human Resources Office

Director.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.13. Bill Folder

The Board acknowledged receipt of the Bill Folder.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

F.14. Precinct Boundaries - Altered and Added (Chapter 101.001(1) F.S.)

The Board approved the revised precinct boundaries due to an annexation by the City of

Rockledge.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Rita Pritchett

Seconder: Tom Goodson

G.1. Petition to Vacate, Re: Two Public Utility and Drainage Easements- 1335 Anchor

Lane - “Glen Isles Sec. 2” Plat Book 20, Page 36 - Merritt Island - Thomas Earl

and Monica C. Phillips - District 2

Commissioner Steele called for a public hearing on a petition to vacate two public utility and

drainage easements located at 1335 Anchor Lane, Glen Isles Sec. 2, Plat Book 20, Page 36, in

Merritt Island, by Thomas Earl and Monica C. Phillips.

Marc Bernath, Public Works Director, stated this is a petition to vacate two public utility and

drainage easements, 1335 Anchor Lane, Glen Isles located in District 2, vacating part of a

public road utility and drainage easement for the construction of a roof over an existing deck;

and there are no concerns or complaints.

There being no comments or objections, the Board approved the petition to vacate two public

utility and drainage easements as requested by Thomas Earl and Monica C. Phillips, located at

1335 Anchor Lane, Glen Isles, Merritt Island.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Tom Goodson

Seconder: Rita Pritchett

Ayes: Pritchett, Goodson, Tobia, Feltner, and Steele

H.1. Reconsideration, Re: Funding recommendations for listed FY 2023-24 Cycle 2

Sports Grants.

Peter Cranis, Tourism Development Office Director, stated this is a reconsideration of two

sports grants in the total amount of $18,000 for Smooth Running, LLC; and he believes Mr.

Varnes is in attendance for questions.

Chair Steele asked the County Attorney if the Board needs to go back and waive the rules

again or if they will continue from the previous meeting.

Morris Richardson, County Attorney, explained in this case the rules were waived for a

reconsideration on this subject and then while it was under consideration, it was continued,

therefore, the Board does not need to waive again, this is just a continuation of the

reconsideration.

Chair Steele thanked Attorney Richardson.

Commissioner Tobia handed Mr. Varnes a piece of paper stating it was so he could have some

reference to help answer his questions; he stated he appreciates Mr. Varnes updating the

request, but there were a few things that he did not understand, so maybe he could clarify; the

event budget that Mr. Varnes turned in on January 29, the last entry in there is the full price and

is $103; he went to the website and the price is $113; and he asked if that was an oversight.

Mr. Varnes explained that was not an oversight, $113 is what happens after the cut-off of online

entries, and is the highest price possible.

Commissioner Tobia noted it is not reflected in the budget Mr. Varnes has turned in.

Mr. Varnes further explained that it would not be because they only collect online entries for

what they have records of.

Commissioner Tobia advised he gets a little concerned when there are things that are not in

the budget.

Mr. Varnes noted that would be no more than a handful of entries, if any.

Commissioner Tobia stated in the initial budget that he turned in, there is $3,000 in

sponsorships.

Mr. Varnes asked which event this is for.

Commissioner Tobia replied, this is the first event, Cocoa Beach Triathlon and Duathlon and

5K.

Mr. Varnes agreed.

Commissioner Tobia stated the one he turned in on January 29, that $3,000 is no longer there;

and he corrected his statement by saying $5,000; and asked if Mr. Varnes lost those sponsors.

Mr. Varnes responded he did not; he stated the Board at the last meeting was focused on his

revenues from entries and that is what he included here; and he specifically went back to the

entries and revenues, as that was the whole subject of the matter at the last meeting; he can

add that $5,000 in on sponsorship, he was focused on revenue entries because of the original

paperwork Commissioner Tobia provided him.

Commissioner Tobia pointed out all he wanted was transparency.

Chair Steele asked Mr. Varnes to slow down, everything was going to be fine; to let everyone

talk so that people are not talking over each other.

Mr. Varnes agreed.

Commissioner Tobia explained Mr. Varnes said registrant so he will go with that farce; he

looked at the budget that was turned in on January 29, as opposed to the one previous and on

the January 29 one, the shuttle versary 5K, on the website cost $45, but he did not see the $45

reflected anywhere in the January 29 budget; there is a picture of the Shuttle versary 5K with a

list price of $45, in the budget it is not included; and Mr. Varnes estimates on the December 5,

that there will be 300 entrants.

Mr. Varnes affirmed.

Commissioner Tobia asked for an explanation as to why with 300 entrants at $45 or less, why it

is not reflected on the most recent budgets.

Mr. Varnes pointed out it is reflected with full price entries 108 at $45 each for $4,860.

Commissioner Tobia asked Mr. Varnes to show him where that is located.

Mr. Varnes explained it is under Shuttle versary 5K, the third line item down.

Commissioner Tobia stated he is looking at the budget from January 29.

Mr. Varnes noted he is also.

Commissioner Tobia repeated here is the budget Mr. Varnes turned in on January 29, it has a

total of 790 entrants.

Mr. Varnes inquired if Commissioner Tobia is talking about the Shuttle versary 5K that is what

he had just referenced.

Commissioner Tobia noted he did; and the one turned in, the Cocoa Beach Triathlon and

Duathlon, it is not listed there.

Mr. Varnes commented yes sir, it is; he has it right here; this is exactly what he turned into the

Tourist Development Council (TDC) and what was sent on to Commissioner Tobia; and he

noted he never turned in something that looked exactly like that so he is not sure.

Commissioner Tobia mentioned he did not make these numbers up this is what he received.

Mr. Varnes explained this is actually what he turned in, nothing had art or color of any sort on it.

Chair Steele asked Mr. Cranis if he put something different on these numbers.

Mr. Cranis stated not to his knowledge; he thinks they had included everything that they had

received, unless something maybe accidentally got omitted, but he does not believe so.

Commissioner Tobia stated just to be clear, these blue ones that he received from his office,

Mr. Varnes did not turn in.

Mr. Varnes explained he turned in nothing with color; this is exactly what he submitted; they

were two word documents; and the only color he has ever seen are the ones that

Commissioner Tobia submitted at the last meeting.

Chair Steele asked Commissioner Tobia if he had any more questions.

Commissioner Tobia advised he does have questions as to why he is receiving something that

is different from what was turned in, but that may be handled differently; going to profit loss, on

the third one, the profit loss, initially Mr. Varnes has a difference of $11,400 on the January 23;

and he asked if it is fair to say once the revenue of the sponsorships is put in, Mr. Varnes will

no longer be losing money on this venture.

Mr. Varnes advised that is certainly the intent, yes.

Commissioner Tobia stated that is no problem just making money and receiving more from

government may draw some ire from some folks.

Mr. Varnes restated that is the intent.

Commissioner Tobia commented he likes Mr. Varnes' honesty; USA Beach Running

Championship, their same issue here, and Mr. Varnes willfully admitted it, it sounds like, he put

down $3,000 in sponsorship in January 23, but the January 29 budget does not have that

$3,000; and he asked if it is fair to say that he still has those sponsorships.

Mr. Varnes commented yes it is still there.

Commissioner Tobia pointed out is just not reflected in the budget.

Mr. Varnes agreed, stating the focus of the last meeting was on entry revenues.

Commissioner Tobia apologized if he was unclear, stating his focus was on full transparency.

He thanked Mr. Varnes; he stated clearly there are some inconsistencies; even if they find one

where on the website it is $113 today and it is not reflected that way on the budget; and he

appreciates it but it is still not a good representation of what he has.

Chair Steele asked Mr. Varnes to stay at the podium.

Commissioner Pritchett stated she thinks next year, and she thinks this has been discussed,

but these people should be turning in their financial statements after the project; and then

maybe compare them to the budgets and maybe help them with better budgets being turned in

with what the Board is looking for, so they are a little bit easier to read.

Mr. Cranis advised he can certainly do that.

Commissioner Pritchett stated she is fine with Mr. Varnes making some money; and she asked

how many people he has that come in from outside of Brevard County that are participating in

his races.

Mr. Varnes answered it depends on what it is; the Cocoa Beach Triathlon, over 60 percent

come in from out of Brevard County, largely Orlando, Saint Petersburg, and Tampa; they draw

straight across the I-4 corridor; they also get a lot of residents for the Cocoa Beach Triathlon

that come from out-of-state because basically in the Northeast it is too cold to be doing

triathlons; they are not doing them; and that is why this race is so popular, or one of the

reasons.

Commissioner Pritchett noted she had a little struggle with this last week but Commissioners

Steele and Goodson seem to be very fond of this so she will vote with whatever they would like

to vote with; she got a lot of questions answered; Commissioner Goodson, it is kind of in his

neck of the woods even though it is all TDC; and Commissioner Steele brought it in, so she

thinks she knows what he is doing.

Chair Steele asked Commissioner Pritchett to take the Chair.

Commissioner Pritchett accepted the gavel, stating she would like to hear from Commissioner

Goodson.

Commissioner Goodson stated he is for it; they are going to be rated at the end of how much

bed tax they get; he is going to vote for it; and he made a motion to accept it.

Commissioner Steele seconded.

The Board approved the Tourist Development Council’s recommendation regarding funding for

the FY 2023-24 Cycle 2 Sports Grants Program for: Cocoa Beach Triathlon and Duathlon

(04/13/2024-04/14/2024) $12,000.00 and USA Beach Running Championships (04/28/2024)

$6,000.00; further, based on the facts specified, by approving this Agenda Item, the Board

made legislative finding that Tourist Development Tax Funds are authorized for Sporting

Grants pursuant to Section 125.0104(5)(a)3., Florida Statutes, and Section 102-119(3)a, (5)a,

and (6)a of the Brevard County Code of Ordinances; authorized each of the tourist-oriented

sporting and special events having one of its main purposes the attraction of tourists, and the

entity and the Space Coast Office of Tourism both intending to ensure marketing and

promotion of these events to tourists; authorized the Tourist Development Office Director to

negotiate and sign all necessary agreements and related documents upon County Attorney’s

Office, Risk Management, and Central Services approval; and authorized the County Manager

to execute necessary Budget Change Requests.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Tom Goodson

Seconder: Jason Steele

Ayes: Pritchett, Goodson, and Steele

Nay: Tobia, and Feltner

I.1.

Direction, Re: Funding for Environmentally Endangered Lands (EELs) Program -

All Districts

Mike Knight, Environmentally Endangered Lands (EELs) Program Manager, stated he has

before the Board today some options to consider regarding the future funding of the EELs

program; he knows the Board has seen this presentation and has already had a chance to

review it, so he will move through it rather quickly; this slide highlights a little bit of program

history; the main takeaway point is for previous referendums the County utilized an acquisition

contractor to handle the land acquisition efforts of the program and they were the primary

interface with land owners during the acquisition process; this issue is going to come up a little

bit later in the presentation; and the next slide is the ballot language for the two previous and

most recent referendums. He continued by saying the most recent has some specific language

related to the protection of lands that directly protect the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Johns

River; since the program began in 1990, they have acquired a little over 28,000 acres of land

and the program directly manages only a little over 19,000 acres of those properties; the land

maintenance activities of the program include prescribed fire, they maintain 102 miles of fire

control lines, maintain a variety of public use trails for a variety of activities, 49 miles of access

and maintenance roads, 61 miles of perimeter fence lines, 33 trail heads and parking areas,

and a lot of effort dealing with exotic species, both plant and animals; and this next slide

highlights the recreational uses of the lands that are managed under the program. He

continued by saying the main point here is that there are three environmental education

centers, the Enchanted Forest in Titusville, Sam’s House in North Merritt Island, and the Barrier

Island Center in South Melbourne Beach; the program also maintains over 81 miles of public

use trails for activities such as hiking, biking, equestrians, and paddling; as the Board considers

its options moving forward they have identified some capital equipment and recreation projects

for the existing lands that they manage; those are highlighted on the screen and they can be

brought up later if there are any questions; historically, lands have been acquired using three

main methods such as fee-simple acquisitions or direct purchase from the land owner, and two

forms of donation, either donations from the development community for mitigation, or

donations from individual citizens that are non-mitigation related; and the key areas that they

are seeking Board direction on are funding for on-going maintenance of the existing lands and

centers, acquisition for lands that include out-parcels within the existing lands that are

surrounded by the conservation lands, and potentially lands that directly benefit the Indian River

Lagoon (IRL) and the St. Johns River, and to improve and expand the public use opportunities

on the lands they already have. He went on to say as identified in the 2022 ballot language,

lands providing protection to the IRL and the St. John’s River were ranked based on the criteria

noted in this slide; the lands are included in the overall land acquisition list recommended by

the EELs Selection and Management Committee; and the goal tonight is to ensure this aligns

with the interest of the Board moving forward. He mentioned this slide highlights the ranking

sheet that is used to prioritize these particular lands; the blue represents largely wetlands

properties that are primarily wet, green represents out-parcels that are within the existing

conservation areas that are primarily uplands, and red shows which of those properties rank

the highest based on this criteria; it is estimated that of those red parcels on the right side, the

estimated cost would be in the neighborhood of about $28 million to acquire; historically, they

typically have a success rate of about 50 percent, so they would estimate that cost, of splitting

it in half, down to $14 million, subject to change according to any input from the Board tonight;

the next few slides just represent those red parcels in relationship to the lands that they have

already acquired; therefore, the lands that are bordered in green or blue are already

conservation lands within the holdings of the program. He stated this next slide shows the

actual operating expenses for Fiscal Year 2023 and it also represents the anticipated operating

needs of the program moving forward, of course, depending on the direction of the Board

related to land acquisition; they currently have 23 fulltime staff members and six part-time; he

believes in the Board’s package there is a financial condition report of the program that was

prepared by CRI and has been reviewed by the chair of the audit committee and was approved

to be here today; and the findings in that report are consistent with the information here. He

stated looking at some potential bonding options for the Board to consider, the first slide

focuses on bonding specifically and related to debt millage associated with that; depending on

the direction the Board would like to take, there are additional corresponding, operational costs

and millages that are on the next slide that would correspond with these; Option 1 is issuing

bonds to fund primarily Capital Improvements to the existing facilities, lands, and equipment,

and to fund annual program operations, at the same level that was stated in the previous slide,

$3.2 million in bonds; Option 1a is added to that so it would include Option 1, and that would be

to issue bonds for some initial land acquisition that would focus on lands directly protecting the

Lagoon and the St. Johns River, and would be $6.2 million in bonds; Option 2 is to focus strictly

on issuing bonds for a new education center and field office on the existing lands that they

have and fund the annual operations of the program at $4 million in bonds; Option 3 would be

to issues bonds for some additional land acquisition in the same criteria, so to expand the

acquisition efforts, focusing on the Lagoon and the St. Johns River, to include those lands

within Option 1a, and fund the annual operations of the program; and Option 4 would be any

further direction received from the Board. He went on to say the next slide is operational costs

related to those, depending on which option the Board chose, the corresponding millage for

operations would be added to the bond, and he can come back to this if there are any

questions; the last slide relates to additional direction that he would need if the Board wishes to

move forward with some land acquisition; historically, it has always been handled by an

acquisition contractor; they would need some direction on how to approach that, whether it

would be going out for a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a contractor and how the Board would

like a contract like that structured if it goes down that path; keep in mind all purchases always

come back to the Board for final approval, therefore, the final stop for any acquisition that

would be considered; and this will come back to the Board depending on what options it

chooses tonight.

Chair Steele stated he assumes that all of the people who filled out cards are in favor of the

Board doing one of these options; he asked if there is anyone opposed to doing one of these

options; he commented as a result, there are a lot of cards and he is going to leave it at two

minutes because he is sure the same thing is going to be said over and over; but the Board

does want to hear what people have to say.

Philip Stasik stated he is speaking on behalf of the Space Coast Progressive Alliance (SCPA);

SCPA strongly encourages the Board to adopt Option 1, 2, 3 and open it up to Option 4; this is

the Board’s opportunity to use that money that the citizens of this County have asked for it to

spend to protect the wild lands, the river, the IRL, and the beaches; they need protection as

soon as the County can possibly do it; the best way to do it is to set the lands that are still

available aside as best it can; and protect the lands that the County has already chosen to

protect. He mentioned his personal experience is he has had the pleasure of doing oyster

gardening; he has cleaned up the rivers both underwater and on the shore with Keep Brevard

Beautiful (KBB); they adopted a spoil island; they have done many things over the years all

across this County to help protect Brevard; he first came to Florida back 45 years ago as an

aerial photographer and when he flew over Brevard County, the IRL was clear and the St.

Johns River was clear and healthy; over the years people have seen that change; he and his

wife moved here 30 years ago; when he first flew over this area the population was 273,000 in

1980, 30 years ago it was 400,000 people; and today there are 660,000 living in Brevard

County and they are depending on this Board to please do the right thing and protect this

County. He reiterated to go full speed ahead on all options; and to acquire land, protect the

river, and protect the lands.

Tom Unrath stated he is not going to speak to say what to do but he would like to give a little bit

of the why; he is a Lutheran pastor and the way he sees the environmentally endangered lands

program is not just to protect, and he is very much for protecting the wetlands, the IRL, and the

St. Johns River, but also to enhance the opportunity for him and others not just in the County,

to be part of what God has given them; God’s creation is wonderful and he would like for

people to maintain it as best they can; and he would like to see people not only maintain the

beauty that God has given them, but to also use it for a purpose that others can also enjoy it.

He went on to say some of what Mr. Knight put on the screen and how that can happen, he is

totally behind all of that; and that is part of the reason that he sees for the reason why to do

this, to be good stewards of God’s creation.

Lillian Leber stated she just wants to present the missed opportunity that the Board is faced

with and that is the James Road extension; this is fragile and endangered land; it has not been

identified as such, but people know different; people know that it is probably very important to

their community, there has been evidence of it; they are waiting to receive approval for more

investigations; it has many nests of the endangered Gopher Tortoises, a couple of bobcats

were seen yesterday roaming the property, and there have been sightings of the Scrub Jays;

she could not get pictures because they are pretty quick; she asked if anyone has been there

or seen this parcel of ground at James Road; and she encouraged the Board to view it before it

gets destroyed by ground clearing and by that new development. She noted she understands

where it is, she understands the Board does not have that ability, but it does in the grand

scheme of things; the Board has the ability to take whatever property it can purchase; she

thinks it needs to be put into the County’s hands where it can remain as a preserve, in terms of

the nature preserve, not in Windward Preserve; and she asked the Board to please give that

consideration, the County needs an evaluation of this property before it is too late.

Chair Steele stated before going any further he would like the speakers to keep their comments

specific to the Agenda Item; he appreciates Lillian’s comments in regards to a particular piece

of property that the EELs Committee might purchase, but that is not what this is on tonight; and

he mentioned this is the County Commission making a decision on which option they are going

to take.

Josie Howe stated missed opportunity has taken place multiple times with endangered land in

the County; they are with the State right now about an archaeology survey that excluded

possibly if anybody took fourth grade history, they would have known where to have dug on this

property; the thing is when going forward with the EEL, contractor versus committee, she would

urge the Board to discuss using a local contractor with a committee oversight from afar

because with this property, back to 1959/60 no one ever locally owned the property until recent;

this is an example of land going awry because no one knew what the land was; and with the

Board’s consideration moving forward, it is very important and imperative that it be

committee(d) out for searching, because Brevard County is a huge County. She continued by

saying she grew up in a huge County with historical prevalence in Texas; she grew up in the

City that was the first capital of the republic where Sam Houston died and they are just now

getting everything back in order because too many people moved in, and the first 300, which

was her father’s branch of the families, and actually part of the fifth and sixth cousins founded

Brevard in the 1800’s after the split and the move from Barbados; the thing is, local looking to

not have any more missed opportunities, because the land in which Lillian is talking about, the

County held in a five-year right-of-way trust that should have had archaeological surveys done;

with the State, there is no archaeological survey on the master site file until the year 2021; and

this is what she was implying of the missed opportunities. She added do not miss another

opportunity to preserve it.

Richard Heffelfinger stated he does not want to throw a wet blanket on anybody, but he would

kind of like to understand when the County sells bonds, investors buy the bonds, and then the

County pays interest on the bonds; he asked what is the cost impact to the taxpayer; he noted

the County is no longer doing anything on non-ad valorem tax; they are not collecting; and he

asked if somebody could discuss how this impacts people because there was a statement in

the text that it would talk about the options and the cost to the taxpayers. He continued by

saying the bottom-line gets into it like the people are asking to spend their own money and

somehow the people are going to pay for that; it is a great idea to buy property, but at what

cost; he would love to tell the Board to buy Windward Preserve back, they are going to try to

preserve some of it anyway, so why could the Board not work with them to help preserve that

property and maybe offset a little bit of the cost and maybe ask them for a compromise to

reduce the housing slightly because they have a problem with the wetlands in there; and he

would like to hear what the options are, the newspaper said something about $50 million, and

he asked if that is the max that the County is allowed to go. He inquired what would be the cost

to the taxpayers on $50 million worth of bonds, because they will have to pay for it out of tax

dollars, nobody is giving that money to the County for free; and he noted he would like to hear

what the tax implications are.

Wade Olsen stated this is kind of the same subject to a certain degree; a lot of these wetland

properties that are being developed throughout the County, they do mitigation through

mitigation banks so they are wetlands, but unfortunately a lot of these credits that they are

buying, they are preserving wetlands outside of the County; he thinks this area that most of the

speakers are referring to on the north end of Friday Road could be an opportunity to establish

that as a local wetland mitigation bank, that way it can be preserved within the community and

shared by the community; and that is his suggestion.

Debbie Pottorff stated she is also speaking to the James Road extension; she is asking for the

Board’s consideration to use part of the conservation land purchase funds to purchase this

acreage; from what she understands, she does not want to be going off of topic, but she

believes one of the options is to purchase land; this area was annexed by the City of Cocoa

from unincorporated Brevard County and it is a protected old growth live oak area, with other

flora as well, threatened Gopher Tortoises, protected Florida Sand Hill Cranes, and many

mammals; the surrounding area is very rural; and it would be a great opportunity to purchase

land to protect the beautiful land for the future.

Anita Unrath stated yesterday Advent Lutheran Church had a women’s Bible study; in their

Gather Magazine Scriptures and Nature, Teachers of Faith; in one of those studies they were

talking about Noah; there was a very interesting question about Noah; and she asked who are

some of the Noah’s in the local community who help protect and sustain creatures or the

planet. She added she would say the Board probably has a whole room full of those Noahs

here today; and what are they doing, they are doing all kinds of things to protect the

environment; this EELs program is so important and the voters recognize that; 70 percent

voted in favor of it; she asked the Board to please go to the $50 million bond level because

saving Brevard County is something that is so important to all of people on the Space Coast,

that they have this wonderful nature that they are surrounded by; and she mentioned Brevard

has so many Noahs, it has the EEL program, it has Natural Resources Management

Department, the Brevard Zoo, a bunch of non-profits recognized here today, and all of them are

in favor of this program because they voted for it. She noted now the question of how the Board

can join them, that is for the Commissioners; and she asked for the Board to join the other

Noahs in the room and to fund this program to the maximum allowable.

Kris Baker stated she is the Chair of Surf Rider Foundation; they are a big environmental

organization and she agrees with Ms. Unrath just said; she is also there supporting the Indian

River Coalition, so whatever they have to say she is in support of as well; she hopes that the

Board wants to continue with the EELs program funding; and she thinks the Board needs to for

the community and all of the animals.

Cindy Olsen stated she unfortunately came for that same topic that the Chair is not real happy

about; she would like the EELs program to consider buying the 212 acres at James Road

Extension; this is wetland property, it has a lot of wildlife that is endangered and they are doing

nothing what-so-ever; she has been reviewing all the documents on the St. Johns River Water

Management District (SJRWMD) where they have the permit and people can read all the

documents online; they are hiding the wildlife species; they submitted a report and they say

they are going to talk about it and then just leave it out; it is not in the report; then they have a

phase one environmental assessment and said they found Gopher turtles and recommended a

phase two environmental assessment to be done and it was not done; therefore, SJRWMD is

not properly processing this application. She went on to say she looked through the application

form they filled out and they left out sections; they did not even check the wetlands box in their

application; this is really just getting shoved through really quickly; she just found out about it a

month ago; and she just wishes somebody could help save this property.

Chair Steele advised it is not that he is unhappy about it, it is just the Board has to put the

horse before the cart; and what the Board has to do tonight is to make a decision on where it is

going to go and then have to study the criteria and let the EELs committee go to work. He

noted he apologizes if he is trying to keep the speakers on track, but the Board cannot discuss

single pieces of property tonight; he thanked them all for comments; and he mentioned he is

sure the Board will be listening to all of them when it gets to the point where it has the money.

Vince Lamb stated with the passage of this referendum the voters of Brevard County have

empowered this County Commission to show leadership in protecting the waters by purchasing

lands and preventing the pollution associated with development; the Indian River Lagoon and

the St. Johns River need strong County leadership; in 2016, after the massive fish kill,

Commissioners Barfield and Smith stepped-up as leaders; they embraced the Save Our Indian

River Lagoon (SOIRL) Plan developed by Natural Resources; they received community support

and got votes for approval; more recently, the Commission simply reviews the annual updates

from the Citizens Oversight Committee (COC) and approves them with just small changes; and

he asked can he ask the number of people here tonight, who are not speaking, to show support

of this bonding and land purchases to protect the Lagoon and the St. Johns, to stand.

Chair Steele allowed it; and he thanked them all for coming.

Mr. Lamb continued by saying today is the Board’s opportunity to show leadership; it can vote

to initiate the bonding and the purchases of the land that protects the waters; it can bond and

authorize the maximum $50 million; it can authorize a lower amount; it can do nothing; the

choice is the Board’s; and he asked it to stand up and protect the waters and the life that

depends upon them.

Tami Hoisington thanked the Board for allowing her to speak. She stated she is also from West

Cocoa, however, what she is going to say does have something to do with one of measure

numbers and it is about saving the waters; if the flood waters were to just be let go and if all the

trees and wetlands on the property were to be destroyed, it would greatly impact the St. Johns

River and it already flows slow enough and stays at flood level for months, as everybody

knows; she doubts that anyone could keep pollutants out of it if they were to cut all the trees,

build all these homes, and have pavement on there and everything else, it is just impossible;

and she asked how many have seen actual Blue Birds, not Blue Jays or Scrub Jays. She noted

they have been gone in the area where she lives for over 10 years; there have been three

spotted in the last two weeks; that is pretty exciting; if all of that stuff is gone and the wetland

are not protected, the trees and Pine Lilies, which are also endangered, are not protected

because they are out there, that is a real shame; she has only been there for three years and

she loves this County; she plans to die and be buried here because it is beautiful; however, as

many have already said, they are asking the Board to please be advocates for that property

because the property cannot speak on its own. She asked the Board to please protect it for the

people.

Martha Pessaro stated this evening she is wearing the hat of the president of The Friends of

the Enchanted Forest; for 33 and one-third years, they have been working with the EELs

Program and Natural Resources to give education, passive recreation, some conservation and

preservation to the lands that are called the EELs Program; the Enchanted Forest was the

flagship for this entire program; she wanted to share with everyone, and she cannot show the

people on TV today, but she has the Gopher Tortoise, some Scrub Oaks, and then the

beautiful emblem for The Friends of the Enchanted Forest, the Ancient Oak; she knew people

would not be able to see that on television any longer, but she wanted to let people know that is

what the Enchanted Forest is representing and they have those symbols that they take with

them; and they are having an enormous amount of impact this first month into the year, and

those numbers on attendance are growing and growing, even if it is raining out, crowds of

people are coming, and it is amazing. She went on to say they want to keep that up; they want

a bond at the maximum so that they can keep this program going another 20 years; beyond

that, they are hoping that their ancestors will be very glad that they put all this together; and

their descendants will have something to enjoy. She commented she leaves the Board with the

words of the esteemed Joni Falls, who is Enchanted Forest Sanctuary Steward for many years,

“May the forest be with you.”

Ronald Jurgutis stated the Board has door number one, door number two and door number

three, or door number four to spend money; he understands it takes money to get this done;

hopefully staff is going to be doing the correct job on this; as he remembers being a resident of

Florida since 1972, vacationing here many years when he was a child, it was totally different;

his major concern is he has seen Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tallahassee, he

has seen a lot of places, and this gets going here with save the land, and it needs to, but are

they the correct choices of where they are being saved, is there enough participation to ensure

that it is saved, because he will provide examples in these various communities, hopefully it will

not happen here, but it is already happening with rubber dust hitting the waterways, not only the

IRL, but the St. Johns River; and he asked again if the County is going to save the correct

places because at one point in Fort Lauderdale, which he lived down there for a little while,

nothing will be developed past the road on the other side of the interstate, it is going to be

saved everglades, nothing is going to happen, they have this land, and then it happens, more

money, and guess what, they developed, and they kept going west, and west. He noted he

hopes this is spent diligently, correctly, and in the correct spots; and there needs to be a lot of

citizen input.

Keith Winsten thanked the Board for taking up this important topic. He stated he really wants to

just make one point about what a great investment this is in the community; as people know, 70

percent of the citizens voted for it, to bond up to $50 million; here are two reasons why he

believes that is so; first, the nature of the process, as the Board saw the options tonight, he

would encourage it to bond as much money as possible; if it takes a look at the actual pieces of

property, they have low value in terms of the tax market, but high value for conservation they

have pinpointed for that purpose; and it is well done by staff to date, and the Selection

Committee. He went on to say the second piece he wants to talk about is the intrinsic economic

value to the community; as the Board is probably aware, the Economic Development

Commission (EDC) and the Tourist Development Council (TDC) just completed a unified brand;

they literally engaged thousands of people in Brevard County to talk about what makes life here

so special, how to recruit the kind of people they want to live here, and how to bring new

companies here; to look at the brand, it is built about two things, space and technology and

nature; the two live side-by-side; without the nature, people do not move here; when people

wonder about the investment, this is the best investment to make about keeping this economy

thriving, protecting the Lagoon and the lands that buffer the Lagoon, the lands that bring quality

of life, the lands that showed up in all of that work on the brand; he would encourage this Board

to bond the maximum possible, and at a minimum to combine one, two, and three, and start the

work, because this gentleman said, time is slipping away; and he mentioned to just get at it and

empower the teams here, and the very capable staff with the County, to move forward and

protect the right land, build the right facilities, engage in the next generation, and keep this

place really special.

Craig Wallace stated he is representing the chairman of the Indian River Lagoon Coalition; he

will keep this perspective on the Lagoon mainly, but also to the rivers; this is really the

opportunity for the County to preserve some of the wetlands; as one can see that has become

kind of the focus of looking at future lands here; wetlands are super important; one, because

that is where all the surface water is going to drain when they develop all of the areas around

there that are not maybe purchased by this bond issue; those are the critical areas where they

are going to keep from flooding and keep that water from directly going into the Lagoon; and

those are the perspectives he would like the Board to consider when it thinks about this. He

added these are areas, as was said, that are swamp land; he would like to keep it in that state

because it is the best way to filter that water, to keep it clean when it gets into the aquifer, and

keeps it out of the Lagoon; and that is his focus. He asked for the Board to please get as much

land as it can.

Sarah Rhodes-Ondi stated she represents the Sea Turtle Conservancy; Brevard County voters

supported the EELs Program referendum in November 2022 by a very wide margin; Brevard

County residents have spoken and they see the positive benefit of the EELs Program for the

community; the Sea Turtle Conservancy supports the Commission moving forward with

bonding the referendum as written, to keep the existing nature centers and possibly a new

center open, maintained, and staffed, delivering exceptional educational programs; the nature

centers are gems utilized by over 63,000 school children and visitors annually; and for many

these centers are their first exposure to the wild land trails, the beach, the IRL, and the positive

emotional and psychological benefits of a strong connection with unspoiled nature. She

mentioned these centers and trails are not just places for wildlife, they are essential for human

well-being; to fund continued land management and public access, taxpayers and matching

funds of $42 million have been invested in enhancing local biodiversity and maintaining a native

landscape for wildlife and people to recreate; EELs maintains 70 miles of trails including

waterfront lands on the Indian River Lagoon and its tributaries; and if EELs discontinues their

land management practices, the native landscape and access to it will be lost in just a few

years, as will the gains of the last 30 years. She stated the referendum specifically supports the

County continuing to acquire sensitive lands; EELs has identified properties that will enhance

wildlife corridors allowing safe passage for a variety of imperiled species; many of the targeted

lands are wetlands that clean and filter out pollutants from the water before it drains in the IRL

and the St. Johns River; and both of these land buying priorities are consistent with State

leadership priorities to purchase lands in the Florida wildlife corridor and improve the water

quality of the IRL. She noted the EEL conservation lands, the existing 28,000 acres, and the

future acquired lands improve the water quality of the Lagoon over time, will support sea grass

recovery; and that is critical food for the juvenile green sea turtles who make their home in the

IRL.

Sandra Sullivan stated in 2022 she did quite a bit of advocating for this tax to pass; she was

very grateful to see it pass; she has a couple comments that are a little different that some of

the other speakers, a fiscal one; the wetlands are the heart and soul of Florida; they improve

water quality and more importantly, when there are hurricanes they mitigate damage; they give

a place for the water to go; what people see with development, there is much more stormwater

going into the IRL; she wants the Board to consider that it is very much a priority to acquire as

much in the way of lands and although the Board may be inclined to think this is going to take it

off the tax role, as some of the Commissioners have stated in the past, the savings to the

insurance industry, which is in crisis, under the Federal Flood Insurance Program, the County

has obligations as well to protect wetland areas; these areas are not really supposed to be

developed, but Florida does not have a good track record in that regard; and she would say, in

looking at this, and she does not see it in the referendum language supporting new centers nor

an office space, she would encourage the Board not to do Option B for the field office, but to

focus entirely on the acquisition of wetlands that will have a fiscal impact for putting stormwater

to a place; and to work with St. Johns because a few years ago were getting rid of their

conservation lands, to work with them, as they are also combining efforts with EELs to continue

their acquisition.

Jim Swann stated his biggest deal is he came here with 180,000 people in this County, and

moved here to get away from all the people that moved into Clearwater where he was raised;

now there is 600,000-plus people; what he would ask the Board to think about is what is it

going to be like when there are 800,000 people or one million people; there needs to be

recreational green space and protected areas to keep pace with that growth; if the County buys

a little bit there will be some for all those new people to enjoy; and that was his only real

thought.

Commissioner Feltner stated he thinks the Board can come back in the future and bond more

money so while he appreciates the comments today to go to $50 million, but he does not think

that is the right thing to do out of the gate, to go for the maximum; he thinks there was a

comment earlier about not building a new building, he happens to agree with that; he thinks the

voters voted to buy land; he knows the options, bond $14 million, but he would be closer to half

that amount; that is what he would be comfortable with; the Board can come back in 90 days,

to get the ball rolling, see how it goes, see what is out there, what is available, and revisit the

rest of the amount, whatever the Board’s pleasure is in a few months; and that is what he would

be comfortable with, $7 million to bond.

Commissioner Tobia stated he supports Option 1; he thinks there is some needed equipment

to help maintain the lands that the County has; there are certainly some improvements that

need to be made for boardwalks and in his opinion, some Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

compliance issues; he is fully ready to go forward with Option 1, which is a bond amount of

$3.2 million; he will get into some reasons why he does not think bonding is the right way to go

for land acquisition; and he will start with the first five properties that were listed in there, they

all consist of wetland, and generally wetland cannot be built upon, ownership alone does not

have an impact on the Lagoon. He continued by saying the question is these wetlands continue

to serve as natural filters for the Lagoon whether they are owned by the County or whether they

are owned by an individual, there is no net-positive; when there is a net-positive, and he would

like to say what a great job SOIRL has done, they have an approach and are using math

behind it; he would like to see that same approach done here; and he thinks that is incumbent

upon the Board. He mentioned the SOIRL Plan stated the amount of speed of nutrient

reduction are the two most critical factors affecting the success of restoring the IRL to health; to

get at the ballot language here in the attachment, it says it directly benefits the IRL and the St.

Johns River; the way that SOIRL did this was to determine how many dollars per pound of

Nitrogen and Phosphorous; that was identified as a key driver to healing the Lagoon; that is

what it says in the ballot language that they are looking to heal the Lagoon; and there is not

one project listed here that has any empiric data that it is going to help the Lagoon, so until the

Board sees that data, he thinks saying they are potentially going to bond land is not fair to the

constituents. He mentioned there are people out here that are already saying buy this land and

the Board has not even begun; for the reason that there is no net-positive impact for wetlands

whether the County owns it or not, it is still going to be a place for filtering, saying this is going

to be good for the Lagoon, but not measuring it, and the same way that the County is spending

SOIRL dollars, he thinks is the same way that it should spend these EELs dollars, and until the

Board is given that data, he thinks it would be premature to go spend $7 million, $14 million, or

all $50 million, as some people said; and he advised he will be strongly in favor of Option 1,

which is bonding in the amount of $3.2 million for upgrades to existing facilities, as well as

equipment to help support those upgrades.

Commissioner Goodson asked Commissioner Tobia if the wetland is owned is it not true that

they could mitigate it and develop the wetland, buying mitigation credit somewhere else.

Commissioner Tobia replied absolutely, but where many of the wetlands are located, the odds

of mitigating a wetland on a piece of property that is 90 percent wetland is highly unlikely; he

stated Commissioner Goodson, a developer or someone in that field who has paved a great

deal of Florida, which he greatly respects, and he mitigated wetland when he purchased

property, a small portion, less than five percent of the property had wetland and it was

mitigated; someone would never buy a piece of property that was 95 percent wetland and then

mitigate it; and the properties that the Board is looking at here are overwhelmingly wetlands so

the likelihood of that happening is slim to none.

Commissioner Goodson asked if he understands Commissioner Tobia correctly and that he

would want to see some sort of a one through 10 item that by buying a EELs land, they would

have to prove the need just like SOIRL proves their money is spent and where it is going.

Commissioner Tobia responded he thinks that is what the voters demand; they had down here

that the County is to use it to help heal the IRL; the County has Tetra Tech that has gone out

there and shown them the dollars per pound of nitrogen and phosphorous and he is not a

scientist, but he is going to go by what has been used in the past; he thinks that same rubric

should be used when spending these $50 million; and if the Board can show that buying a

piece of land has a net-positive effect using some scientific measure other than people saying

buy this land, he would be more than willing to look at it; but he has no evidence here that

shows there will be any level of filtration, any level of nitrogen removal, and any level of

phosphorous removal; and again that is what the SOIRL Plan indicates is important to healing

the Lagoon, buying land is not the answer.

Commissioner Goodson asked with Commissioner Tobia’s comments, would that responsibility

be placed on staff to prove to the Board that is a good reason to buy this land.

Commissioner Tobia replied it would be the same way that the SOIRL Committee goes around,

and if that requires some sort of contractor or someone with that area of expertise, but he is not

willing to ask individuals to part with money via bond without having some data to show that

there will be a positive effect on the IRL.

Commissioner Goodson asked if Commissioner Tobia is approving Option 1 and 1a.

Commissioner Tobia advised he is not approving anything, he is only one person.

Commissioner Goodson asked if Commissioner Tobia’s recommendation is Option 1 and

Option 1a.

Commissioner Tobia responded absolutely not, it is Option 1.

Commissioner Pritchett stated she was hoping to hear where Commissioner Goodson was

landing in all this; he asked a lot of good questions, but she still does not have a footing on

what he is thinking.

Commissioner Goodson stated he really does not know what he is thinking yet, he was just

curious what Commissioner Tobia was thinking.

Commissioner Pritchett stated the things running in her head is the voters approved this at a

large margin that they wanted it for, she thinks, to maintain or to purchase; definitely to

maintain so the Board needs to move that; she is definitely on board with Option 1; the other

ones, she thinks the Board should be looking at them; she cannot help it but she is an

accountant and interest rates are so high right now; she would have a little more comfort if the

Board had it solidified what it was going to look at; she is comfortable going with Commissioner

Tobia’s idea; but she liked Commissioner Feltner’s idea as well. She continued by saying she

thinks this year the interest rates are going to start coming down so she would like to see what

it is that the Board is going to purchase because it is tax dollars; she thinks the delta is like $6

per year to the average taxpayer and a $250,000 home which is almost everybody now; with

responsibility on that, she thinks she would want to see the property they are looking at like

Commissioner Tobia is asking because this Board is going to have to vote on it too; and she

thinks if they had a piece of property and started working towards this, that might be a better

route. She added she is fully in agreement with the taxpayers of finding this property and

purchasing it for the reasons that they asked to do it; she thinks it is a good idea; responsibly

she would like to see the EELs board come with the number that it wants to do; the Board will

vote on it, then start working on the bonds; but that is just her thoughts on it.

Chair Steele passed the gavel to Commissioner Pritchett.

Commissioner Steele stated he wants to talk because the people have talked; they have been

very loud and very clear on what they want the Board to do; he has served 50 years in the real

estate business; he was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale and he does not want another Fort

Lauderdale; he does not want any more problems; if the Board does not get on the stick and

start purchasing lands, they will be ruined; and he cannot believe that the Board is sitting there

after the people spoke, 70 percent, saying to go get some land and buy the lands that are in

the potential area; and if he had it his way he would buy all the land on the ocean and the river

and stop the development from going any further. He continued by saying tonight there is a

very critical choice and he was prepared to go to $25 million and hopefully go to get the other

$25 million at another point; it does not look like that is the way this Commission is going; he is

absolutely in favor of Option 3; the Board needs to move and it needs to move now; the

wetlands are a very important item that the County needs to purchase; he understands

Commissioner Tobia’s argument, he does not totally agree with it; he is a private property rights

guy and people are hearing him say tonight, without buying these wetlands, without buying

these properties, the County is not going to have any private property rights any longer; and he

would like to move to accept Option 3 as the issue for this evening.

Chair Pritchett commented real quick, she knows the people really like this guy, but she is

going to ask that they not applaud so that they do not boo when somebody says something

they do not like, so everybody has the ability to speak their opinion; and she asked if that is fair.

Commissioner Goodson stated by buying land, unless he is mistaken, is not going to stop

people from coming to Florida; if someone can pass building a wall up there around

Jacksonville, go to it; when he was born there was three million people in Florida; he does not

know but some people say there is 100,000 people moving to Florida every day; there might

come a time where everyone might want to move to Georgia; he does think there is some

validity to what Commissioner Tobia is saying, there should be some sort of a checkmark and

balance on land buying that serves the purpose that the voters voted for; and that was save the

IRL and the St. Johns River. He continued by saying with that being said, he would support

Option 1 and Option 1a; that is what he would support tonight, giving time for the Board to

check EELs buying land, and giving them an opportunity, or staff an opportunity, to say this is a

valid piece of property.

Chair Pritchett stated she does not disagree with that, not that if something else comes back

she would not vote for another bond issue on this to get it going because the Board can, but

she thinks that would be a minimal amount of money, actually $3 million is not very minimal, to

go out and find the number one thing that they want to buy, or the first few things; then the

Board can come back and have a discussion because every purchase has to come before this

Board anyways; she does not think that would be that long of a process; and hopefully it would

drop those interest rates down because bonds are going to be very much higher in interest

than regular mortgage rates.

Motion dies for lack of a second.

Commissioner Tobia asked if he could make a motion; he stated he will start with the softball

because he thinks everyone is on board with Option 1; he wants to get that ball rolling and get

it off the table, then if someone wants to add after this motion they can do it separately; and he

moved to approve the bond Option 1 to issue bonds in the amount of $3.2 million to fund

capital improvements for the existing facilities and equipment and to fund annual program

operations in the amount of $3 million to maintain existing conservation lands and

environmental education centers.

The Board provided direction by approving Option 1, to issue bonds in the amount of $3.2

million to fund capital improvements to existing facilities and equipment, and to fund annual

program operations in an amount of $3 million to maintain existing conservation lands and

environmental education centers.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: John Tobia

Seconder: Rob Feltner

Ayes: Pritchett, Goodson, Tobia, Feltner, and Steele

Commissioner Goodson made a motion to approve Option 1a.

The Board approved bond Option 1(a), in addition to Option 1, to issue bonds up to $3 million

for initial land acquisition with a specific focus on lands that directly benefit the Indian River

Lagoon and St. Johns River.

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Tom Goodson

Seconder: Rob Feltner

Ayes: Pritchett, Goodson, Feltner, and Steele

Nay: Tobia

Chair Pritchett inquired if there were any more motions to be made.

Commissioner Steele advised he would like to make to motion for Option 3.

Motion dies for lack of a second.

Chair Pritchett stated her thoughts are to find some stuff, bring it back, and let the Board

continue to approve them as they are working on the rubric and the Board will figure out a way

to get these; and they are doing good with them.

Frank Abbate, County Manager, stated what staff will do in light of that, is to bring back to the

Board an Item so it can discuss how to move forward with identifying that land; as Mr. Knight

had identified in the presentation, they will need someone to look at the land, and sort it out; he

believes it was the Nature Conservancy for the first two bonds, he believes; and his

understanding is they really are not involved in that kind of work any longer, so they will have to

go out. He explained staff will bring back in the near future, different options that are available,

and were outlined in the presentation, with more detail.

Chair Pritchett passed the gavel back to Commissioner Steele.

J.5. John Tobia, Commissioner District 3

Vice-Vice Chair Tobia stated today is National Chopstick Day; useless Florida fact, the world’s

most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Tiffany resides in the Morris Museum of

American Art in Winter Park; this day in Florida history, on this day in 1959 the United States

successfully test fired its first Titan one intercontinental ballistic missile from Cape Canaveral;

and most importantly, the employee recognition, and he wants to thank District 4 for the

nomination, is Mr. James Aquino. He continued by saying James is from Roads and Bridges, a

lead heavy equipment operator II, in Public Works with 26 years of service; he started his

career in October 1997, in the Countywide dredge crew; once this crew was disbanded, he was

assigned to Merritt Island, Road and Bridge; he served there for many years before transferring

to Melbourne in 2019; over his 26-year career, James’ strong leadership skills and ability to

organize work group for optimum production has made him an invaluable member of the Road

and Bridge program; and the District 4 Commissioner said, “I appreciate his many years of

service and his experience and knowledge about our District. He has a can do and let’s get the

job done attitude that makes him a great asset for the County and District.” He went on to say a

quote from his Director, Marc Bernath is, “James Aquino is a rockstar. He is our fixer for every

maintenance issue countywide, give him an assignment and get out of the way because he,

along with his team, will ensure it gets done right the first time”; a quote from Ryan Mertz,

“James has always been my go-to employee, no job is too difficult for him to finish safely and in

a timely manner”; a couple quick, fun facts, James is a collector of vintage VW cars and enjoys

going to car shows; he is also has a food truck that specializes in Thai food; he was recognized

for saving the life of a coworker by administering CPR, after he went into cardiac arrest; and

James is married and has two children, Jamie and James. He thanked him for his service and

all that he does for the entire County.

The Board recessed at 6:32 p.m. and reconvened at 6:38 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Peter Moolhuizen stated he brought a few people here tonight; they are the Brevard

Renaissance Fair and just finished their ninth season at Wickham Park; their final season at

Wickham Park; hopefully they can change that; they have had thousands of people come there

this year, and thousands of kids and families come over the last nine years; 11 years ago they

started at Eastern Florida State College at the old grounds and then it was sold, traded, or

whatever the deal was so they moved into Wickham Park; and they have grown and grown. He

continued by saying they have an event that is about 14 acres and brings in about 70,000 to

80,000 people per year and millions of dollars to the local community; he spoke to one vendor

that lives there for eight weeks every year; they had asked him to keep track of how much

money he spent this year and it was over $8,000 in Brevard County; there are hundreds of

vendors that live there for those weeks; there are thousands of people who come in and take

hotel rooms; last summer the Board passed a Resolution or changed one of the rules to the

Park, Section 7082 basically banned them from Wickham Park, even though it was not

intended to ban them; they were not the target, but it did hit them; and they now have no home

to go to because of the Resolution, and are forced to move out of Brevard County. He added

Brevard County is their home, it is their namesake, and it is everything that they have built; they

are all from Brevard County and want to stay here; and he is asking the Board to make a

change on that rule and allow them a couple of years to find a spot in Brevard where they can

develop, grow, and build a site that the community can be proud of and live with. He noted he

has a petition to give to the Board of about 3,000 people that signed in the last four days.

Sandra Sullivan stated so she had her rally this evening here outside the Commission Offices

before coming in, so she is a little bit late; she wants to talk about a couple things; one, she is

disappointed in the Commission for not taking a vote; a year ago in May, it at least addressed

the public comment aspect and at the time it was not decided to move forward with that; she

would like to say she thinks this is a violation of County Commission Policy BCC-97, which

declares it to be a Board Policy to promote maximum participation in County affairs by affected

or interested citizens in accordance with the First Amendment protections guaranteed under

the United States Constitution; that is from the County’s own Policy; and if she is clipping video

which seems to be the objection, and on issues of public interest, and people are concerned

about it, then that is engaging the residents of Brevard County. She noted the second issue is

she came here this evening as she stated, and had her rally, there is a beautiful natural reef

and under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) this is

protected as the ecological importance and uniqueness of the nearshore coquina rock

outcroppings in Brevard County mid-reach study area, the near shore hard bottom has been

designated as official fish habitat and is very important to several fish species and shrimp; and

unfortunately as she goes through the documents, it seems like there is alleged bait and

switch, when there was only allowed 300,000 cubic yards of material according to Fish and

Wildlife Service, but ended up with double that in 2020.

Francis Gomez stated she is a neighbor to Wickham Park; in the last seven years she saw how

the Fair brings business to the area; businesses that pay taxes, businesses that pay the money

needed to buy the land they need to preserve the Lagoon; businesses who made taxes to pay

the Board’s payments, to pay this community; she walks in the park every day, and it was said

many people are not enjoying the park during the time of the fair, but that is wrong; she saw

more families from Brevard enjoying the park at the time of the fair than the people she saw

daily walking their dogs on the same grounds; and this is killing business when it kills the fair.

She mentioned it is killing supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, and all that kind of business

just because one or two people want to keep the park with a week in between; maybe one

person is upset because he is unable to walk the dog in the trails; she asked what happens

with the other families here; she reiterated she is a neighbor to that park, and what happens

with her; she asked what happens with those businesses and those schools, with the money

that is needed for this County; and she noted she is just asking for the Board to think about

that.

Robert Socks stated he just wanted to give the Board an idea of where the Windward Preserve

is that it has been hearing about tonight; it is easy to find; drive up north Friday Road right to

the end where it intersects with James Road and it is that quadrant of land; there is an easier

way to see it by driving up I-95 and go east on the Beachline; as approaching the slope where

the Brightline tunnel is underneath, look to the right, there is a 221-acre expanse that looks like

a beautiful pine forest; and that is the land that was being talked about. He noted it has to be

preserved, it is very valuable, and they are finding items now that were never discovered

before, including possible Indian mounds.

Richard Heffelfinger stated he always kind of uses this as a moment to wrap up the meeting;

there was some good participation; he loves to see the community get involved with their

government; when the County sells the bonds, he thinks the Board said in that text it was going

to tell the people how much it cost, so he asked if the Board approved one of those today; in

the future, if it had the dollar cost to the average homeowner, instead of the millage, most

people do not understand millage, he did but forgot how to do the calculation, but asked if it is

based on the assessed value, so it is just multiplication; he would just like to know what the

costs are; and as far as Windward Preserve, he asked if there is a possibility for

Environmentally Endangered Lands (EELs) to negotiate with the owner. He noted they are

having to preserve some Wetlands because they know they have it; he asked what happens if

EELs got involved and offset some of the cost, or maybe negotiated a little more wetland

preserve and saved them some money, maybe they would not build so many houses; he thinks

there is a possible synergy there that if EELs got involved the County could preserve that

property as well as allow somebody to build on their own property; he just thinks that is

something that should be considered; and maybe the County can do it, maybe it is too late, but

he cannot believe they are building the houses in there because he has seen some of it and it

is awfully wet. He added there is a lot of wetlands and a lot of filtering of water going on in

there, Commissioner Tobia; he thought it was a good meeting; he is glad they did not spend a

whole lot of time talking about $18,000 on that triathlon thing though because he thought they

were going to kill that; he thought the conversation on the EELs program was good; and he

appreciates the meeting and he will keep the Board up-to-date on the Windward Preserves.

Robert Scorah stated he thinks everybody is familiar with the water problem they have on North

Merritt Island; they show the sand at the pumping station on Hall Road; Snake Creek is

completely blocked; he knows they get a lot of water from the Space Center and everywhere

else; and they need the Commissioners to see if they can get that cleaned out some way.

Commissioner Pritchett asked for Mr. Scorah’s address.

Mr. Scorah advised it is 4950 Ralphs Lane.

Commissioner Goodson stated Mr. Scorah has already gotten with his office and he has given

it to Mr. Bernath; he is on it; and soon as he send back an email he will follow up with him and

go from there.

Mr. Scorah stated they get a lot of water from Bezo’s but he knows that has been mitigated, but

not in this County and they need any drainage they can get.

Chair Steele stated he wants to remind everybody this is public comment time, it is not a

question and answer type period; if the Board did that it would take a long time to get through it

and they would never be able to get the answers until going back through staff; he asked that

everyone please come up and make their public comment; the Board will note them; and if

there is a Commissioner here in that district then it will be looked at.

Regina Weiler welcomed everyone to the meeting; she stated she is a native of this County

and she likes to say that she hails from the Isle of Merritt; 11 years ago Brevard Community

College (BCC) had an event at a pavilion on the outskirts of the campus called Dragon Fest;

she was there in awe and wonder, overjoyed that she had an event like this in her own back

yard; she experienced that joy and pride in her County’s rich culture every January; she wants

to continue to patronize local vendors, artists, musicians, and everyone else who loves this fair;

this event not only brings the community together, it generates revenue, educates school

children, provides a platform to experience history and culture, and above all else it is five

weekends of merry-making with something for everyone; why this County Commission would

want to deprive citizens of this wonderful experience is beyond her comprehension; and as the

Board can see, she is not alone in her distress at this Board’s decision. She continued by

saying without people who have passion for events, the park is just a parcel of land, but

perhaps that is the point.

Amanda Kline stated she is not a great public speaker but she just wanted to speak about the

Renaissance Fair; she does not know if the Board knows at all about education day; it attracts

over 2,500 students who come; it is very near and dear to the homeschooling community, she

is a homeschooling parent, but also to school children who come in on buses from schools,

private and public; they only charge $5 admission and free adult admission for the parents to

come with the children; she thinks that is super important; she would hate to lose that; she

knows this really is not on the Agenda tonight, but she thinks after reading the public comments

from September 12, 2023, she felt like the public commenters were completely negative and if

more people had known that was on the Agenda, people like herself would have come and told

about the positive aspects of it; and she just thinks this is an important thing for the County.

She mentioned if the Board wants to see an event that everybody really fits in, people of all

ages, races, genders, and abilities, it is the Renaissance Fair; it is near and dear to her family’s

heart; they go every year; it is a tradition for her family; she would hate to lose it just because

some people are negative and want to use the park as their private back yard; she thinks it is

important to the community; and she asked the Board to not take this away, education day is

amazing, and she wants the Board to know that.

Josie Howe stated this is a part of that property that the County actually has control over; follow

that red line, it is the James Road annex that is still owned by the County and is not in the plat

for this development at the corner of 520 and I-95; James Road from the master site file she

received today, was designed and developed in 1912, extension off of a spring; that spring

does run out straight to the St. John’s River; it also has a manatee protection zone by

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); it is the funniest thing when one sees it on

Google Maps because it is halfway up James Road by Iron Horse and by Southern Strides; and

in 2021 there was an archaeological survey that is on file with the State and in the Master File

Directory and it only told the establishment of the road, but along the road that is still owned by

the County is evidence of settlement shells, conch shells, mussel shells, and scallop shells.

She noted if one saw the dots on the map, those are some other areas of concern that were

excluded in the archaeological survey due to the wetness of the land; if the Board would like

that file, Ms. Pritchett has her email address; currently, as of Sunday because that is still a

public right-of-way, she rode out there with a neighbor, and there are multiple washouts; the

County currently holds the permit in Planning and Zoning, two, three, Romeo, Whiskey, Zero,

Zero, three, four that would have to be approved for this development to occur; and currently

one can barely drive a golf cart down the road with washouts, the canal is getting deeper, there

are active springs that run off from the ranches between Triderway and Horseshoe Court. She

added the evidence and the non-agricultural views is very concerning.

Peter Solenski stated he moved to Brevard back in 2009 so he has had the pleasure of going

to the Brevard Fair since its inaugural year and he has seen it grow with more vendors, more

shows, more visitors, all while leaving the majority of Wickham Park free and available for

everyday use; over the years he has been able to talk to these vendors and visitors and has

learned a lot about the history of the Renaissance and about their skills and crafts; they would

ask about Brevard, such as when is the next launch to where is a good place to eat, what are

the hidden gems of Brevard; he knows there is a concern for Wickham Park and he

understands that; but he would ask the Board to please reconsider the restrictions.

Stephen DiRusso stated he has been here for over 20-plus years; he has been to over 100

Renaissance Fairs and all of the ones located in Brevard, so he kind of considers himself as an

expert; he can tell the Board right now, in the State of Florida this is the only fair that is super

family friendly; out of all the fairs he has been to in his life, in the top 10 family friendly; this is a

gem, the County does not want to get rid of this; this Board likes facts, so here are some of the

facts, out of all the other fairs, the closest one is one and one-half hours away, the rest are

two-plus hours; this County has something that not everyone has; and this County has a good

fair that has been established for a long time that has the same population as Deerfield that

has 30-plus years and going strong. He mentioned Hogtown is 30-plus years as well; this

County has the same draw as they do, nine years; does the Board see where it could be in 30

years; think about all the money that it will bring in to help protect the lands, to help do other

educational things with this money; he understands the issue is with Wickham Park, that is fine;

if the Board does not want them at Wickham Park then give them a home in Brevard County;

give them some land, as rennies they will help contribute to keeping the land safe and clean if it

is given to them; all he is asking is to either find them a home in Brevard County or let them

stay at Wickham until they find a home in Brevard; but the point is, this is a gem and the

County should not let it go. He added it is family oriented and that is what Brevard County

wants to be known as, that they protect their lands, they are family oriented, that they are a

tourist destination second to Disney, second to Orlando; it wants everyone to want to come to

Brevard afterwards; and to have all things that other counties wished they had. He reiterated

for the Board to please give them a spot or home somewhere in Brevard or let them stay until

they find a home in Brevard County.

Ronaldas Jurgutis stated he thought the speakers had three minutes and asked if it has been

reduced to two; first of all, the Carillon Bells is in Lake Wales, Florida, which he had the

pleasure of growing up over there; some of his formative years; to announce, in history, in the

prior meeting, not to know what Carillon Bells are is very, very disappointing considering this

structure has been this long; for God’s sake just Google it to know what they are; that takes two

seconds; he would guess that Commissioner’s cannot do that; and that promotes this State, it

is a treasure and he lived in that area specifically. He mentioned the next thing, he guesses this

is going to start the program of masked singers here, since the speakers are blocked out as

citizens; he thought this was a community and that everyone would be televised and create and

atmosphere; he is going to turn around and see how the Board like that; this is his message to

the Board, that maybe there should be an iron curtain so it cannot see him, nor the people on

the television; and he asked if the Board is going back to the 20’ and 30’s where there is no

visual contact with the citizens here. He asked if there are classes of people that the Board is

embarrassed of that it should not be; he commented this is absurd, going back to third grade;

and he is so saddened by this.

Richard Mariani stated he is ashamed to say that he has not been to the Renaissance Fair until

just the last two nights, although he has lived here since 2009; although he was born and

raised here, he spent almost 20 years in Europe, most of that in Germany and he went to a lot

of Renaissance Fairs; he would have to say that the Renaissance Fair here in Brevard County

is amazing; by all means, it should, if everyone can manage it, stay in Brevard County; and he

asked the Board to please not over-regulate it and force it to leave this County. He asked

everyone who agrees with him, to stand if they believe the Renaissance Fair should stay in

Brevard County; and he stated his final words would be and borrowed heavily on Henry David

Thoreau, “that government is best which governs least.”

Chair Steele mentioned he knows everybody is all happy about this and the Board understands

that, but please let him get through the public comments.

Scarlett Hurlburt stated she is 15 years old and performer at the Brevard Renaissance Fair and

has been performing there for seven years, starting when she was nine; she thinks this fair is

very beneficial to young performers like herself; she is very interested in the performing arts

and this fair has been the biggest contributor to her experience and education with theater and

other educational factors because it talks about that period of history; she is part of a

condensed Shakespeare program so she has had the chance to learn a lot about Shakespeare

and the Renaissance along with the performing arts; she thinks this is very unique and very

important to have something like this locally; and she thinks it provides people, like herself, with

life experience and jobs. She mentioned she has had family members come from out-of-state

and in-State come to the fair; she has talked to audiences and heard that they have also come

from out-of-State and further from within the State; and she just thinks it is very important for

this to stay here.

Riley Hart stated she is 16 years old and has been performing at the Brevard Renaissance Fair

since before it was officially the Brevard Renaissance Fair, making it a total of 11 years; she

started out performing at Dragon Fest when she was just six years old as part of an acapella

group performing renaissance songs and dances; after the first two years of Dragon Fest,

when she was then eight years old, when the Brevard Renaissance Fair began, this acapella

group continued; it has now evolved into a full show where they perform complex acapella

songs and dances; yes, this is a group of minors and they do it because they love it and love to

provide for the community; she is also a part of the condensed Shakespeare productions that

her friend Scarlett has mentioned; and this past year she had an amazing opportunity where

she got to be a part of writing one of the condensed productions. She noted she took all five

acts of Hamlet and condensed it into a 25-minute show, where she also helped direct, produce,

and played Ophelia; she has grown so much from all of her experiences over all of these years;

out of all of them, this past year, where she got to have this experience, has helped her grow

so much as a performer and as a person; it has given her so much more confidence in herself

and her ability to do and to be; and she would not be who she is today without this fair and she

knows there are many others that would agree. She stated she is here among the many

people, asking the Board to please not take this wonderful event away from the people of

Brevard County; and she hopes it will consider the words of this community when they say that

Brevard is their home, and help to keep Brevard in Brevard.

Jade Dorminey stated she is actually a resident of Melbourne and has been proudly so for

seven years; she has also for the past seven years been a very proud member, both as patron

and staff, of the Brevard Renaissance Festival; when she first moved here, there were two

things she heard and they clashed quite a bit; the first, she was actively encouraged as a

young person to move away from Brevard because she heard the words ‘mel-boring’ and she is

sure many people here know that phrase; and this is why the people are here. She noted the

people behind her today, that are with her today, these are the people who made her want to

stay and there are many like her; this fair, she has seen more art, culture, music, local vendors,

and artists that would otherwise, not have this chance, that have their footing because of

Brevard County; the County wants numbers, look at the amount of money this brings into

surrounding hotels, restaurants, other industries; she knows people from other nations and

states that come here only for Brevard; there are people who have been drawn here because

of what is done here at this Fair; most of them here today live here, and want to keep it here

because they want the same community to pour the same love and support back into the

community that they call home; and she asked the Board to let them keep the Brevard

Renaissance Fair in Brevard. She added the Board is hearing from people of all ages; Brevard

is a family County; it is looking at families being pulled together by an event that is being held in

the County’s back yard; and she reiterated let them keep it here.

Jeffrey Kneiblher, Jr. stated he has been going to the Renaissance Fair for at least five years

here in Brevard; the first Renaissance Fair he ever went to he was about 11 years old and the

magic and majesty he saw there from all the books, movies, and tv shows, he loved growing up

as kid and it was just there in front of him, real life; he got to learn so much about history and

culture all around the world; something he believes everybody can fall in love with is at the

Renaissance Fair, whether it be art, culture, or performance; and for it to be leaving Brevard is

very sad and he would hate to see it go. He mentioned obviously, so many vendors that he has

talked to, so many businesses that he knows, all benefit from this; he thinks the best thing is

the children who go there can learn things, see their imaginations come to life in front of them

with real people, not on a television screen, be able to talk and learn about history; and that

would be an awful thing to get rid of. He stated it is a very awesome thing that the County has

here and not a lot of people can travel to the other fairs, so it is an amazing thing to have here.

He mentioned he does not know if the Board members have ever gone to the Renaissance Fair

but he would highly recommend it; and he asked to keep it in Brevard and to let the children

and everybody else experience the magic that happens in front of everybody’s eyes when they

walk through those gates.

Barbara Weiler stated she is in attendance in renaissance garb to show her support for keeping

the annual Renaissance Fair in this County at Wickham Park; she has attended all weekends

for the past five years and watched the public’s enthusiasm for the event grow every year; it is

obviously an extremely well-received event and brings a healthy revenue into this County as it

promotes Brevard in a positive way; although there is some friction for some created by the

Fair’s presence, this friction, she believes, is felt by fewer people rather than many because

those who have objected, object to anything in the park; the fair is a wonderful family activity,

providing an educational opportunity to hear the majesty of the carillon, to see the herty-gerty,

and the ancient loot actually played, to watch a jousting match, and to be swept into the era of

the middle ages by truly gifted and talented entertainers; these entertainers who for the most

part return every year have become dear friends, they greet many by name, play favorites

songs, ask about people’s pets, and they truly strive to entertain everyone beyond their

expectations; and she asked the Board to please keep the Renaissance Fair at Wickham Park.

Sarah Wardlow stated she had been in Brevard County as a parent with five children that

graduated from Merritt Island High School, from 51 years old all the way down to 40; all of her

children have learned a lot of things by going to events in Brevard County; she has been to

these events and she has been a parent who has gone on a field trip with her sixth grade son

at Garden Gale Elementary; they came back from a Renaissance Fair and they decided to put

on a fair at Gardendale, which they all dressed up like Shakespeare and in renaissance outfits,

had little tiny booths, sold little things, and her son and his friend whittled little flutes out of the

trees in Brevard County, and sold them; all the money they made from their fair at Gardendale

Elementary School, they went to the Medieval Times in Orlando paid for out of that money;

some parents participated as chaperones, like herself because she believes in it because there

is music; and there is a women named Kathleen that plays the harp at the Renaissance Fair

and a gentleman with the bronze bells that plays music, originally a drummer, but here he is

with 5,000 pound equipment playing music. She noted there are all these minstrels, people

playing violins and bag pipes; there is a gentleman teaching blacksmithing with making swords,

someone else is blowing glass, someone showing, and explaining jousting; next, there is booth

where they are checking out the family name, people’s background and heritage, coat of arms;

it is amazing; and then there are different vendors with different plaques where they have made

things from scratch, clothing made from scratch, and all in this period of time, the Renaissance

time.

Kathleen Finnegan asked if they share this time or if they each have time.

Chair Steele advised they have two minutes together.

Ms. Finnegan stated she is a classically trained harpist and has been a veteran of Renaissance

Fairs amongst many other places in international venues and this one she has chosen because

what she does, bringing a harp and valuable instruments to the street where people get to see

it, makes people love their community; it accomplishes everything that she has heard here

tonight.

Naomi Finnegan thanked the Board for allowing her to speak; she mentioned she travels with

her mother who is a harpist and her father is a magician; she takes ballet and plays the violin;

they choose to make their home right here in Florida; she also works with equestrian chaos, a

family of mounted archers that travel nationally performing the only mounted archery stunt

show in the world; and they have united different cultures globally through mounted archery,

keeping this unique art from disappearing; mounted archery is growing internationally and the

family behind equestrian chaos are the pioneers paving their way for a new generation of

youth, inspiring individuals worldwide by exposing them to a horse, bow, and family.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Jack Ratterman stated he is there to speak about not having the video up; if the video was up

and the people who were watching this Commission Meeting and saw these people from the

Renaissance Fair come up, it would be a whole different sale; as it is all people are hearing is

the audio; he does not think that is the reason the Board is here, it is here to promote

government, according to the Charter participation; and for the speakers to be over-shadowed

with interesting facts and history to be put up there and the speakers are not, he thinks it is

disrespectful for them to take their time to come down to this meeting, spend their gas, away

from their families, and come and talk to the Board; and he asked the Board to at least give

people the courtesy of putting it on the television.

Nancy Simon stated she still cannot understand why the County wants to cut down the

Rockledge Drive trees, many of them centuries old; do not give her dubious reasons, garbage

trucks, fire engines, and school busses that have been cited in the past, they have all been

shown to be misinformation; like so many people, she is delighted by the beauty and the

uniqueness of this State designated scenic route; the canopy and oak trees are invaluable to

both animals, birds, and protecting the shore line; and there are over 5,000 signatures of

people who agree with leaving the trees alone. She mentioned there are so many joggers, dog

walkers, bikers, and families that enjoy that road; she is ashamed of the Commissioners of this

County who are disregarding the beauty of this historic road; she asked if it is ego because this

was stopped a few years ago; and she asked the Board to make this County proud that their

Commissioners care more for supporting the health of the oak trees, the beauty of the road, as

well as the health and shoreline of the river.

Bowen Fin stated she moved here fairly recently in 2019 due to medical reasons, she was near

wheelchair bound; she was warned to not explore Brevard County, it was not safe, and it was

not friendly; the first place she was able to visit with her wheelchair and her walker was Brevard

Renaissance Festival; through this Renaissance Festival she found not only a family, but a job

that she could work, where not even McDonalds would hire her; she would have loved to have

been part of the conversation that made the decision with Brevard to move the Renaissance

Festival and not allow it to be there; she works as a vendor and entertainer where she

entertains not only children, but adults, where she brings the conversations of multiple

generations, where she brings the history of not just the Renaissance, but local Brevard history,

the pirates that were here and the native tinkerers that were here; and she noted this festival

unites everyone in a way that even the Maryland Renaissance Festival, one of the biggest

festivals can look back and wonder where that community is within them. She went on to say

Brevard County has a unique look and feeling; this is their home and what makes them unique,

and the Brevard Festival; and what she says to all her participants is, “Shade and sweetwater.”

Kimberly Gibbs stated she would like to talk about the decision to remove the video from public

comment; she learned about it in an article that appeared in yesterday’s Florida TODAY; it was

very disturbing to her for a number of reasons; first of all, she was very disappointed about the

decision to remove the video, but she was more disappointed in the task of approval offered by

this Board; she attended a community meeting last night and a County staffer was there; this

issue came up and the staffer wanted to emphasize that the video would still be shown for all of

the meeting it is just the public comment section that will not show on the video; whether she

meant to or not she gave a very strong impression that that important parts of the meeting

would be preserved and shown on video, it is just the unimportant parts that would not be

shown; she asked is video equal to audio to the people out there in television land and does the

Board think they got the full benefit of the meeting tonight; and she noted she loved these

costumes, but the people in television land, who could not be there, were cheated out of that

experience. She commented video is not equal to audio; public comment is important, the

public is here to educate the Board as well as everyone else, as well as those people in TV

land; she asked what are the consequences of this decision to remove the video because she

did not see any good reason for it at all; she commented it seems punitive, targeted, and

vindictive aimed at maybe a constituent; if someone wants to come here and show a sign they

will not be seen; and discouraged by all that, she is urging the Board to restore the video today.

Sarah Hodge stated she is there to support almost every comment she has heard in the

audience tonight from all the groups; she is especially there because of the preservation of the

mid-reach reef; it is an important reef and it needs to be preserved; she thinks if the Board took

a survey most people would agree with that; there was a petition going out in 2017, and she

guesses there will be another one, but she is not sure yet; also the comment from Kim Gibbs,

this is ridiculous that the Board is taking off part of the public comment video, it is not right; and

she mentioned the speakers can take their own videos and place them on the internet

everywhere if they cannot have the video here. She asked the Board to please keep the

Renaissance Fair, it is a wonderful contribution to Brevard County. She reiterated that she

supports all of those comments.

Catalina Liebel stated she is performer at the Renaissance Festival as well as helping to

manage the entertainment department so this gives her a very unique perspective onto both

behind the scenes and in front of them; she would like to speak on behalf of the children of

Brevard because that is who she sees the most at the fair; this is not a children’s fair, not an

adult’s fair, but a family fair; they provide clean, honest, and fun family entertainment, but more

than that they provide education into historical things that the children might not know about or

get to see in person because to be honest, most kids nowadays do not see beyond the four

corners of a screen of their mom’s tablet; and here at the Brevard Renaissance Festival there

is a lot to offer these children and they do offer thousands of children a unique historical

education. She noted the knights teach chivalry, and tell her if there is a young boy in today’s

America who could not benefit from a lesson in chivalry; on the other hand, they have one of

the only female jousters in the country, and a women half her size, in a full suit of armor fighting

a man twice her size is not a lesson that women can do anything, she does not know what is;

Brevard also provides a place that families can be together and entertained equally, not adults,

not children, equally family entertainment; and she asked where else and over-worked mom

with a bunch of kids put on a beautiful gown and a corset and get to feel like a princess for a

few hours, while entertaining her kids, and gets to feel good about it because it is educational;

the children get to learn about Shakespeare, see actual actors who bring to life real historical,

and none of it is fiction, all of the cast portray it to be the actual time period in history with real

people; and she asked the Board to please continue to allow them to provide educational

enriching entertainment to these children and families of Brevard County.

Joseph Castillo stated he is a new resident to Palm Bay; there has been a couple of themes

that have been reoccurring tonight like facts, like Commissioner Tobia said, and funding; he

wants to share some facts; five years ago he did not even know Brevard County even existed;

he came to Brevard County to attend the fair; he and his family fell in love with this fair; the

Board wants facts he will give it some facts; before his family finally moved here last

December, his family probably spent tens of thousands of dollars in hotels and meals just

coming to this fair; the Board wants to talk about funding, there is lots of funding that would be

lost if families can no longer come to this fair; he also wants to know where the Board is going

to replace that lack of funding; it is asking about all these projects the County is going to have,

to fund the wetlands, and buying of the lands, this is a great opportunity that it is missing out

on; and he would urge the Board to rethink this disastrous decision to let this fair not go on.

Lisa Covery stated she is speaking on behalf of Debra Thornton because she had to go to

work; she is a resident of this beautiful County and she is going to read a statement on behalf

of Debra Thornton; she read, “My name is Deborah Thornton. I am a U.S. Army Veteran, a

professional performer, and a performing arts teacher. I relocated to Brevard County with my

four-month-old infant from New York City two weeks after 9-11. I intended to stay for a year

while things cooled off in New York, but instead I have built a life for myself here. Brevard is my

home. Brevard Renaissance Fair is a huge part of my life here. I have helped to grow the event

from a tiny one weekend event at Wickham Park pavilion to the thriving event that now hosts

an international cast and crew of over 700 souls and entertains thousands of patrons who travel

from all over the country to attend the event, along with members of our local community who

look forward to it every year. My acapella choir students have performed at the event every

year since the beginning and many of these students have crossed over into my condensed

Shakespeare company. What a fantastic opportunity for these local youth to get to learn

confidence, renaissance, music, and Shakespeare and actually perform it for crowds of patrons

for five weekends. Many of the choir kids have been out there for year after year and they have

grown from a group of little kids singing at the front gate into a fully developed professional

quality act. They sing in two to five part harmony while juggling, playing catch with the crowd,

standing on one leg, manipulating puppets, running crowd participation games, et cetera. No

matter what field they ultimately go into as adults, the level of comfort and confidence that they

have in presenting themselves before a crowd will be invaluable. We also share our love of

complex music and Shakespeare plays, not only with adults who attend, but with thousands of

local students every year, especially on education day. We hear from students every year that

did not realize they actually like Shakespeare until they saw it.”

Andrew Meade stated he is the entertainment director for the Brevard Renaissance Fair; he

also works there as an entertainer; each year he is responsible for hiring hundreds of

entertainers to bring to Brevard County for five weeks; in addition to the incredible talent that

already resides in this County, they bring in entertainers from all over the United States, and all

over the globe; this season, the combined cultural talents of artists from Ukraine, Canada,

Australia, Scotland, England, Ireland, Austria, and Italy graced this County, many of them with

the sole purpose of performing an art fair before returning to their home countries; and he had

the honor of showing a band of northern Italians, the majestic wetlands of the Merritt Island

Wildlife Refuge. He noted this was their introduction to America and this County, a place which

they never heard of, and it amazed them; surely they have heard of the Grand Canyon and Old

Faithful, but their trip here has put this County on the map because of their magical experience

in this unique and diverse County; and he now has emails from entertainers all over Europe

wanting to visit Brevard County, not Miami, not Orlando, but Melbourne, Florida. He went on to

say two sisters from Nova Scotia visited the warm Atlantic waters of Melbourne Beach after

providing the people of Brevard with their unique multi-generational and rarely heard Celtic

music, the last thing they said before they left for Canada was they cannot wait to come back; a

world-renowned bagpiper from a remote island off of Scotland, to play his ancient music for the

people of this County, he takes two flights and a puddle-jumper before he even leaves Scotland

to come here; entire American families make their livelihoods traveling this great nation

entertaining the masses; it is not an easy job, people will not get rich doing it, the hours are

long, but they do it because they love it and they love the people; and they believe in the power

of humans assembling from all corners of the earth and participating in something important.

He continued by saying their business is assembling humans to take a break and enjoy their

day; take a break from the stress of daily life; today the power of humans assembling takes a

different meaning; today they are here to tell the Board it is wrong; for the past nine years

through the rain, hurricanes, heat, and muck, hundreds of people have called Wickham Park

home; some even helped build and tear down the site for nine weeks; they will not stand idly by

while so few threaten something so vital and so beautiful; and unlike the Board, entertainers do

not get the promise of government salary, but like it, they serve the people. He mentioned if the

audience does not like a song a band plays, they stop playing it and play a song the people do

like; it is called doing their job; the people of the Brevard Renaissance Fair do their job, and it is

time the Board does its job; and the Commissioners are playing the wrong song.

Doug Simon stated this is a different topic, it is about the trees on Rockledge Drive; the subject

on the calendar tonight was spending the EEL money to protect the environmental land

including the Indian River Lagoon which costs the County lots of money; he asked why the

District 2 Commissioner is doing the reverse by threatening to cut the historic beautiful live oak

trees and their canopies on Rockledge Drive; they go along the river shore to help protect the

river; they help protect the Indian River Lagoon by preventing runoff into it; and have many

other environmental benefit, as well as protecting houses during hurricanes and so forth. He

mentioned leaving these stately, centuries old live oaks alone would cost the County absolutely

nothing, so please leave them alone.

Sharon Maus stated she comes from an area where they have a huge Renaissance Festival in

Colorado; she is there as member of the pirate and charitable community and she wants to

express this is one of the most important events to help network and see friends from inside

and outside of the County; for many of the pirates, this is one time of year that they come in

from out-of-State to see their friends, loved ones, and experience the very best the County has

to offer; this event is more than just a fun activity for them, it has bridged cultural, political, and

generational gaps for every single one of them; and it has helped extend their family and friend

groups in ways no other events can. She mentioned this one event is a massive boom to the

morale of the crews and is one of the only places they can truly connect and network in an

environment that lends itself well to what they do, dress up, have fun, and drink a little rum; on

behalf of the Brethren of the Space Coast, the Leviathan, the 10 Rep Scallions, the Red

Diamond Crew, and the Black Rose Crew, they urge the Board to reconsider the decision to

close Wickham Park to their beloved Brevard Renaissance Fair; this is their livelihood, it brings

money into the County; as a business manager, two blocks from there, she makes money; and

she asked the Board to please not take this away.

Chair Steele commented this is the last time he is calling Julian Reyes; she is not here; and he

asked to let the record reflect that he has tried three times.

Jason Kolleda stated he lives a short ways from the Brevard Renaissance Fair; he has been

here since 2000; growing up here he did not feel the need to stay, he was looking to go to

college and decided to go elsewhere; he remembers his sophomore year of college, his friend

took him to a Renaissance Fair in North Carolina; when he came back after college he found

out that there was one in his backyard; it has been one of the things that has really helped him

create a family here, outside of just his biological family; he also works in staffing and

recruiting; and they bring in engineers from all over the country, they are young, nerds, and

they like the Renaissance Fair. He added they are trying to bring people to this County and this

is one of the things that helps show that they have the culture and the interest, and more than

just a beach; everyone who lives here knows that, but as the Economic Development

Commission (EDC) has been trying to show for the last couple of years with its rebranding

project, not everybody outside of this County knows that; and this is just one more way to show

that Brevard County is an interesting place filled with loving people and families, with things to

do.

Jeanette Walmsly stated she works for Brevard Renaissance Fair as the cast director, and an

entertainer; she is not alone in saying that they all love Wickham Park so much; it is beautiful,

she loves the squirrels, the little bunnies that come out at night and scare people when they

walk the path; they take care of it; it is their home and they do not destroy it; everybody comes

up and asks the Board for money for the environmental things; the Board should ask them,

because they are not asking for any money, they want to give the County money; they could do

all kinds of things to help the County raise money for the environment to save the trees and

save the Lagoon; and she noted they are an international festival with people from all over the

globe that come here, spend their money, and put this fair and this town on the map. She

mentioned the education day is so very important; she teaches renaissance and medieval and

historical dance and the history and education that they provide for these children is so very

important because a percentage of them do not even know who the President of the United

States is; but when they leave the fair, they are given a thirst of knowledge, and they think it is

so interesting, seeing a queen, a blacksmith, a glass blower, and a joust; and it sparks their

creativity and they may want to read a book.

Gwendolyn Ray stated she is a Lake County resident and an attendant, turned participant of

the Renaissance Fair since 2006, when she was just nine years old and in the fourth grade; it

was attending Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Fair run by the Lake County Education

Foundation that lit the fuse inside of her that would send her on this journey of traveling the

country and working at least seven different Renaissance Festivals this last year, alone,

working in entertainment merchandise, food vending, and even production on the sound and

lighting team here at the Brevard Renaissance Festival, following in the footsteps of her father

who is a world renowned lighting engineer himself; and it was volunteering at the Lady of the

Lakes Renaissance Fair at 15 through the educational program they offer to supply volunteer

hours to students to get those scholarships that they need to go to college. She commented

that showed her that there is a whole network of opportunities that can be found; it was after

she was doing competitive dance that she found through hard work and trials that people can

actually build something for themselves in their community; she ended up studying theater in

college and coming back to the Renaissance Fair as an adult to still continue simply

volunteering to give back to her community; it was through Lady of the Lakes that she found

the Brevard Renaissance Festival and ended up getting onto the circuit after the pandemic,

when other opportunities in life failed her; and if the Board takes away the Brevard

Renaissance Festival, it is taking away an opportunity for children to see different paths in life,

to see things like glass blowing, blacksmithing, falconry, and even live jousting. She mentioned

the same jousting trope that does the Brevard Renaissance Festival is the one that she saw at

nine years old, and continued to see as she volunteered in high school, and then came back,

as an adult, to work at that festival; currently there are no other festivals in Florida, other than

two weekends, or in the entire country that happen at the time of the Brevard Renaissance

Fair; and if the Board takes that away, it is not only taking away the taxpayer money in this

County, but it is taking away people’s livelihood.

Charlie St. Cryr-Paul stated he is an entertainer over the past 27 years and has performed over

3,000 shows; he has performed a Super Bowl, been on television, invited to perform at

Presidential Inaugurations, performed for the Pope, performed at Alice Cooper’s birthday party,

been on America’s Got Talent, and hold annual residency at Walt Disney World; his instrument

costs over $1 million; he is the guy who plays those Carillon Bells, but it is not about him, it is

about this instrument; this is a rare experience that is an educational pursuit of his to share with

the world; and why does he share all of that, of all the performances that he has performed,

and all the festivals in all the countries and places he has performed at, there has only been

one place, one festival that has not only supported his educational pursuit but actually

promoted and encouraged it, and that is the Brevard Renaissance Festival. He went on to say

he has had the pleasure of having students from local schools perform with him, daytime and

evening shows; he has been invited into schools to perform master classes for the arts

programs, and worked with local students; the educational days that have been talked about,

he has had hundreds of students actually sit behind this magical instrument and experience it;

these are the experiences that help a community grow artistically; these are the experiences

that inspire people; and he asked the Board to not be foolish and see what it has in front of it.

Nicholas Damario stated he is a member of the Brevard community, and he likes to think he is

a part of the Brevard Renaissance Fair family; he has been attending the event at Wickham

Park for five years now and he is fortunate enough to have it so close by whereas there are

literally those who travel from other parts of the world to visit this Fair and share their time,

talent, and treasure; those gifts do not end with the Renaissance Fair, they continue on to the

Brevard community as a whole; as the Board is aware, current restrictions concerning events at

Wickham Park would effectively ban this fair from the park; and while they may be able to

relocate in Brevard or outside of Brevard, or at worst, there not being a fair any longer, he

would prefer if it did not come to any of those options, they consider Wickham Park their home

and would like to keep it that way. He continued by saying he believes they should be able to

dialogue and come to a solution that works for everyone, the Renaissance Fair at Wickham

Park is a treasure to all of Brevard and it should be treated as such.

Conor Shorthill stated he is a student at Satellite High School and has been going to the

Renaissance Fair for four years now and has loved going every single year; it is an absolute

blast to see all of the musicians and performers that take time out of their year to do what they

love; he is looking at doing blacksmithing and welding in the armed forces; he had originally

gotten that idea from this Renaissance Fair; he saw a blacksmith on his freshman year, four

years ago, and was just completely entranced and in awe with the whole trade; he loved it and

wanted to do it; and he has met several talented individuals who want to help him with that goal

of being a blacksmith.

Cherie Grulich stated she is a Brevard County native, born and raised, all 36 years of her life;

she was a District 4 native for most of that, but she had to move because of costs; she has also

been an OG Renaissance Fair attendee and has been going since, the Dragon Festival; as so

many others have pointed out, this is a major event for the County; there is someone from

every race, creed, and background; there are performances that cross all kinds of boundaries

that bring people together; for the County to lose this, on an emotional level would be awful, but

it would also affect people financially; the benefits to the restaurants in that area which

otherwise get driven by, by most locals; people know they are there but they go other places,

like Viera, downtown Melbourne, or Cocoa Village; this brings people to those local businesses;

even if it is the fast food places, or anything like that, having worked the Fair herself, sometime

she just wants to stop at McDonalds to grab a burger, it is exhausting; and she does not have

much more to say that others have not already said, but she would urge the Board to give the

fair time to find a better solution. She mentioned she understands that the Board wants to

protect the park; but she can say out of all of the events, having gone for the last 10 years, they

keep it better than most of the other events that have been hosted there; people will not find the

garbage and the destruction; on the plus side, they try to protect the wildlife while they are

there; the amount of people that they have had to try to stop from harassing the tortoises,

which is a common problem in Florida, is a constant; and she urged the Board to give them

time.

Kristen Lortie stated she is a Cocoa resident and commenter on citizen participation throughout

Brevard County; she had not realized the Board had cut off the video feed, and she is

absolutely shocked by that; a fashion show, she read the article that someone else had

mentioned, now guess what, all of the speakers backsides are a fashion show; anybody who

thinks that these meeting should be televised please go ahead and stand up; stand up now if

they think that they matter just like the Commissioners; and that they should be televised. She

mentioned before everyone sits down…

Chair Steele stated he is going to go ahead and let her speak but she really needs…

Ms. Lortie interjected stating she wants more time then.

Chair Steele asked her to stop; he asked for everyone to sit down; he noted that Ms. Lortie is

not going to do that at this meeting; and advised that she can go ahead and start.

Ms. Lortie asked if the Chair would start her time over then; she told everyone they could sit

down; and he noted she lost half of a minute there.

Chair Steele told her to go ahead.

Ms. Lortie mentioned she had not gotten to speak.

Chair Steele stated he would like Ms. Lortie to please go ahead and start her conversation, and

that the Board understood very clearly what she said, so if she would continue he would

appreciate it.

Ms. Lortie stated if she gets cut off, she did not even get two minutes to say her topic; her topic

is about Speak Up Brevard; it is a program, if anybody knows about it in this audience she will

be surprised, maybe a handful of people; this program happens once a year in December; for

the month of December there is a website that is open and it is called Speak Up Brevard; this

year she became disturbed on December 5, when she realized that County staff, who also

decided not to televise the speakers faces, had decided not to publicize the event; it was not

publicized and she wrote to all of the Board and no one would correct it, no one would put the

dates on the website to update it, no one would publicize it; she was the only one who would

raise publicity for this program in Brevard County; and she has been waiting since December 5

to visit with the Board about this and this was the opportunity. She mentioned she is here to

support the EEL program, but this matters; this is an opportunity for citizens to go to this

website called Speak Up Brevard and put in comments that Commissioners are required to

take a vote on, on their behalf, that staff is required to weigh in on, and do some analysis in

that; unfortunately for some unknown reason, the website is only open in December; it opens

on December 1 and closed early this year, but staff did open it so it was at least open

throughout the month of December and through January 1; and there is no reason for this

website to not be open all year round. She noted the citizens of Brevard clearly want to

participate; because of her personally being a catalyst for this program there are now at least

55 recommendations; last year there was one recommendation that was tucked into the

consent agenda; and she opposes this.

Commissioner Steele advised Ms. Lortie she is now finished; and he noted he is trying to be

very kind, but when one starts that kind of stuff it does not help.

Carmen Parise stated she has been a home schooler, kids all with three degrees, and she has

lived here for over 35 years; the fair is in its infancy and evolving into one of the country’s few

family events for Brevard County; it has become a great expression for this community, arts,

history, and camaraderie; she sees it every time she goes; it may someday find a more

permanent fixture some place, but it has not happened yet; it may even become a year round

program somewhere for someone with money, she does not know, but it should be; and she

totally loves it for the kids, the grandkids, and everybody. She mentioned one of the things that

is happening right now, right here in front of everyone, is a miracle; it is bringing attention

where it is needed; it is actually becoming a grandstand for everyone to feel each other out,

and that is a miracle; mistakes like this are not a threat; it is not going to become something

that is going to weigh people down it is something that is going to form them for the future

because people can see the community effort that everyone desires; this is something that is

going to boost morale and the community; everyone was designed for a time like this; and this

is what it is for.

Kathleen Blackshear stated Kathleen Finnegan is her maiden and professional name; she is a

20-year veteran of Renaissance festivals; Kathleen Blackshear is her private married name;

she has very rarely been a patron, but she has at this fair because she lives here and this is her

home fair; what she wanted to say about that is what a different experience it is; how much the

love of one’s community affects the way that they treat this; the more people who come here,

the more people will love this place, this County, this fairground, and this property and will take

care of it; and she is also going to share this time with her daughter like she did before. She

showed a photo of her daughter and stated this is Naomi seven years ago yesterday as a

patron of the Brevard Renaissance Fair, and this is what she is today.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Elizabeth Seal thanked the Board for its time and allowing the people to present their case. She

stated he has been involved with the Brevard Renaissance Fair since it began in various forms;

she is currently a member of the condensed Shakespeare group that was talked about earlier;

they squish Shakespearian plays into little bite size morsels that make them very entertaining

and educational for many of the people that come, and herself; she adores all of the patrons;

they come from everywhere; and she recognizes so many people. She noted her doctor shows

up, former co-workers show up, politicians show up, and she knows most people dogs, not

necessarily their names, but they are all so very dear to her; the people in this County who vote

for Board Members deserve very large cultural events; and it is very short-sided of the Board to

not come up with a compromise to allow them to have these events. She went on to say the

Brevard County Renaissance Fair, and other cultural events like it, bring value to this County;

and they make life in this County fun and worth living.

Commissioner Feltner stated he would first like to say that he appreciates everyone being

respectful tonight; he knows they are very passionate about this event, so he appreciates the

respectful decorum; he appreciates Peter speaking on behalf of the Renaissance Fair, meeting

with him a couple of times, and he thinks that many people believe that the Renaissance Fair

should stay here in Brevard, and he shares that view; however, he thinks it needs a larger

venue; that is the thing; he asked that they remember when the Wickham Park pavilion was

there, that was sort of the de facto fairgrounds in Brevard County; some people had hopes for

the Cocoa Expo and that did not pan out; Wickham Park has become the fairgrounds, and with

all due respect to the people who want it to be a community park, they are concerned about

that, and he cannot disagree with them; and he can only say that he will continue to work

together with them and hopefully find a way for the Renaissance Fair to stay here in Brevard

County.

Commissioner Steele thanked everyone for coming, the Board listened very intently, and

hopefully they will all be able to work something out.

ADJOURN

Upon motion and vote, the Board adjourned at 8:02 p.m.

ATTEST:

______________________

RACHEL SADOFF, CLERK

________________________

JASON STEELE, CHAIR

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

Result: APPROVED

Mover: Tom Goodson

Seconder: John Tobia

Ayes: Pritchett, Goodson, Tobia, Feltner, and Steele