Subject:
Title
Ten Appointments to the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Citizen Oversight Committee
End
Fiscal Impact:
No Cost
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners: 1) consider confirming the appointment of the applicants selected by the League of Cities for the vacant Economics/Finance Voting Member, Lagoon Commerce Voting Member, Lagoon Education/Outreach/Advocacy Voting Member, and Science Alternate seats; and 2) review applications, resumes and reference letters and rank candidates to fill the County Commission’s vacant Science Voting Member, Technology Voting Member, Tourism Voting Member, Economics/Finance Alternate, Lagoon Commerce Alternate, and Lagoon Education/Outreach/Advocacy Alternate and 3) Consider appointment of the top ranked candidates.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
On August 23, 2016, the Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance No. 16-15 for the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan and Trust Fund. The Ordinance called for establishment of a Citizen Oversight Committee (Committee) to make recommendations to the County Commission regarding annual updates to the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan that is funded by the half cent Save Our Indian River Lagoon sales tax.
The Citizen Oversight Committee is comprised of 7 voting members, 7 alternates and 2 non-voting, emeritus seats. Originally, the 7 fields of expertise were: Science, Technology, Economics/Finance, Real Estate, Education/Outreach, Tourism, and Lagoon Advocacy. On October 22, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners combined Lagoon Advocacy with Education and Outreach to dedicate a field of expertise to Lagoon Commerce, aimed at engaging citizens who work on the lagoon and experience changing conditions in real-time. The Board also added 2 non-voting, emeritus positions to provide historical knowledge.
Half of the Committee is nominated by the Space Coast League of Cities and half of the Committee is selected by the County Commission, with all seats appointed by the County Commission. Terms are for 2 years, after which members and alternates can be re-appointed or replaced. When replacement voting members or alternates are needed, the entity who selected that seat can:
1) upgrade the alternate to the member seat,
2) choose a replacement from the existing pool of applicants, or
3) request a new call for qualified citizen volunteers.
On October 22, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners re-appointed 6 current members (including 3 of 7 Board seats and 3 of 7 re-appointment requests from the League of Cities). The Board also appointed 2 emeritus positions (1 Board selection and confirmation of 1 selection by the League of Cities) and directed staff to advertise the remaining 8 seats (4 Board seats and 4 League of Cities seats). Advertisements for the remaining vacancies were posted for a month and closed on December 20, 2024.
Action 1:
Consider appointment of the following applicants selected by the League of Cities:
• Curt Smith (current Alternate) for the vacant Economics/Finance Voting Member,
• Richard Bankhead for the vacant Lagoon Commerce Voting Member,
• Kimberly Newton (current Alternate) for the vacant Lagoon Education/Outreach/Advocacy Voting Member, and
• Nicholas Sanzone for the Science Alternate seat.
Their applications are attached.
Action 2:
Review applications, resumes and reference letters and rank candidates to fill the County Commission’s Science Voting Member, Technology Voting Member, Tourism Voting Member, Lagoon Commerce Alternate, Economics/Finance Alternate (if Curt Smith is promoted to the League’s voting member seat), and Lagoon Education/Outreach/Advocacy Alternate (if Kimberly Newton is promoted to the League’s voting member seat).
For the Board’s voting member seat to represent Science, there are eight application packets, including the current Technology Alternate, who is seeking promotion to a voting member seat, and 2 applicants who have been selected by the League of Cities for other seats. If the Board selects the current Technology Alternate to fill this voting member seat, the League of Cities requests that the Board confirm Bruce Larson to backfill their vacant alternate seat.
For the Board’s voting member seat to represent Technology, there are nine application packets, including the current Technology Alternate seeking promotion to the voting member seat, and 1 applicant who has been selected by the League of Cities for another seat.
For the Board’s voting member seat to represent Tourism, there are three application packets, including the current Tourism Alternate seeking promotion to the voting member seat, and
2 applicants who have been selected by the League of Cities for other seats.
For the Board’s alternate to represent Lagoon Commerce, there are four application packets, including 2 applicants who have been selected by the League of Cities for other seats.
For the Board’s alternate to represent Economics/Finance Alternate (if Curt Smith is promoted to the League’s voting member seat), there are five application packets, including 1 applicant who has been selected by the League of Cities for another seat.
For the Board’s alternate to represent Lagoon Education/Outreach/Advocacy Alternate (if Kimberly Newton is promoted to the League’s voting member seat), there are eight application packets, including 2 applicants who have been selected by the League of Cities for other seats.
After public comment on this item, a form is attached to use for ranking the applicants for each seat. Assign number 1 to your top ranked candidate, 2 to the second ranked candidate, and 3 to the third ranked candidate. A rank of 4 will be assigned to all remaining candidates. Staff will tabulate the ranking scores during the Board meeting and report the results to the Commission for the Board’s consideration in making appointments.
Action 3:
Appoint the applicants as directed by Board action and confirm the League of Cities’ selection of a backfill candidate for Technology Alternate, if applicable.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None