I. Call to Order,
Introductory Remarks, Roll Call:
Chair Libby
called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Roll call was taken, with Teri
Ford Cobean absent.
Mr. Libby gave a
brief summary of the County Council Meeting of October 18, 2001, and
thanked those on the board that attended the meeting. The application
and the RFIA form were passed unanimously by the County Council. There
were some developments that occurred at the meeting that he felt could
affect the board ’s work. He stated that even though the purpose of
the meeting was to look at the RFIA’s and review some of the judgement
calls made by the staff on eligibility, he felt that the board needed to
relook at the criteria (Tab 5) to be sure they are comfortable with the
definitions for each one of the point areas. He stated that the public
does not know that Volusia ECHO does not fund operating support. Nor, do
they appreciate that ECHO will not fund special projects and exhibits of
a temporary nature or maintenance on buildings.
He reviewed the
Program Goals (Page 2 of the application) and Project Impact ( Tab 5 of
the application) handouts, and wanted to make sure that the board
members were comfortable with the areas selected by which to review the
grants and score the point totals.
Mr. Libby stated
that in the County Council Meeting the Volusia Forever Program was
discussed. When Volusia Forever was originally presented to the public,
prior to the vote, it had three (3) areas: 1) Endangered Land; 2) Water
Recharge; and 3) Heritage and Cultural Lands, and under each there were
sub-sets. This was done to mirror Florida Forever. At the meeting, the
Volusia Forever Committee requested the County Council grant them the
right to eliminate the Heritage and Cultural Lands and move them to
"Enhancements", which means there is no primary category for
Heritage and Cultural Lands in Volusia Forever.
He stated that
the heritage community in Volusia County supported Volusia Forever, as
it would benefit them, so now there appears to be a vacuum and he would
contact County staff to discuss the issue.
II. Approval of
Minutes:
Ms. Hagstrom
moved to approve the minutes of the September 26, 2001 meeting. Ms.
Williams seconded the motion. The minutes were unanimously approved.
III. Staff
Report:
Ms. Hodge
complimented and thanked Ruby Barnett for all of her hard work in
putting together the notebook. She referred to the staff comments in the
board’s packet and wanted to be sure they realized that these were her
comments as to eligibility and not meant as a final decision.
Mr. Libby stated
that if Ms. Hodge, as staff, identifies any applications as general
operating support grant, a temporary exhibit grant, or a maintenance
grant, she can reject them as ineligible and they do not need to go to
Mr. Gummey or the Board for additional review. The Volusia ECHO was not
designed as a public works program, or to purchase property unless it is
eminently connected to an ECHO resource (off beach parking or an
endangered historical property).
Ms. Hodge asked
that the Board review her comments and further discussion would be held
later in the meeting.
Mr. Libby stated
that planning on a project was not an eligible cost under the ECHO
program. He stated that the criteria and eligibility will be
communicated to the applicants at the Public Workshops in December and
January (Board approves actual dates, Page 12 of these minutes).
(Teri
Ford Cobean arrived, 3:10 p.m.)
IV. Old
Business:
Update on RFIA
& Needs Assessment
Ms. Hodge stated
that her comments on the RFIA responses are presented as they were
written in order for the Board to clarify which elements of a project
were eligible. Further, the projects selected for discussion are not the
only projects with issues. They provided a sample of questions which,
when answered, would be applied to all projects whether they are
discussed specifically today or not.
Ms. Hodge
reviewed those RFIA projects where there were concerns:
1. Non-Profit
African American
Museum
If the project
included storage area, office, and dining halls, would they be eligible
for funding or match?
Ms. Hagstrom
stated that these areas (non-public use or not ECHO specific use areas)
should be included as their match.
Mr. Libby stated
that the Board needs to look at what the project is for and its primary
function and the applicants have to make sure their application reflects
this. The Board will allow for secondary and tertiary uses for match as
long as there is a connection to the primary project.
Atlantic Center
for the Arts
Office space and
gift shops would be eligible for match only, but renovation of an old
space to ECHO use (such as gallery space) would be eligible for funding.
DeLand Naval Air
Station
May an applicant
buy artifacts with ECHO or use a collection for match?
Mr. Libby
remarked that state or federal governments do not allow an applicant
organization to either use endowment or v aluable collections as match
on any grants. Collections are not eligible for funding or match.
Halifax River
Audubon Society
Request is below
the required minimum 2002 grant request. Not eligible for funding.
Halifax
Historical Museum
Request is below
the required minimum grant request for 2002 and is a maintenance
project. Not eligible.
Discussion was
held on the funding of maintenance projects. The Board agreed that these
types of requests would not be fundable.
Little Theater
NSB
Some repair
elements of this project might be used as match, but not funded by ECHO.
Ormond Beach
Historical Trust/Three Chimneys
Phase I -
Ineligible project 2002. ECHO does not pay for planning phases. This
phase could be used as a match for future grant years.
Suggestion was
made to make a specific list of those types of requests that are not
eligible. Ms. Hodge will compile a list and ask Mr. Gummey if this
refinement will require going back to the County Council.
Mr. Gummey
stated that it would be wise to go back to County Council with the new
list if it significantly changes strategy.
The Board agreed
to take the list to County Council, if necessary.
Ormond Beach
Historical Trust/Acquisition of Legendary Golf
This project is
adjacent to Three Chimneys so both should be considered as one project.
The purchase of the property has to be integral to the historical
project. Purchase of property for parking is not eligible for funding,
with the exception of beach and river access parking.
Applicants need
to be very clear in their application what the land is to be used for
and if eligible, may be used as match.
Ms. Hodge
remarked that the Board may want to decide about land acquisition for
parking as it relates to the need of a project and public use of a
project. (Under current application guidelines, staff believes land
purchase is not specifically beach/river access or endangered historic
sites.
Ormond Beach
Historical Trust/Historical Museum
Phase I is
planning and is not eligible.
Public
Archaeology Learning Center/ALC at DL Spruce Creek Preserve
Office space is
usable as match only.
Pioneer Art
Settlement/Boarding House
Request is under
required minimum for 2002, but not requesting until 2005.
Board indicated
this project does not qualify for ECHO, as it would be considered a
"collection".
Pioneer Art
Settlement/Lemmon Bluff Preservation Project
Needs to clarify
unknown elements.
Pioneer Art
Settlement/Pierson "Colored" School
Request is under
minimum grant 2002, but not requesting until 2005.
Does not qualify
for ECHO as it is considered part of a "collection".
Pioneer Art
Settlement/Acquisition of Facility along the Amtrack
Appears not
eligible for funding, (parking site only) but may be used as match.
Pioneer Art
Settlement/Heritage River Trace
As it is an
outdoor recreational project it should be considered by ECHO. The Chair
felt the Board, needs to look at the mission on the Pioneer Art
Settlement if this application comes forward.
Ponce DeLeon
Inlet Lighthouse Pres. Association
Purchases of
artifacts are ineligible. Repair of lenses including installation, would
be ineligible. If this is restoration, the applicant may apply for
funding.
Ponce DeLeon
Inlet Lighthouse/Meyer Building
Purchases of
artifacts are ineligible.
Ponce DeLeon
Inlet Lighthouse/2nd Ass’t. Keepers Dwelling
Purchases of
artifacts are ineligible.
Renovation would
be fundable.
Stetson
University Inc./Gillespie Museum
Parking is Phase
I – not eligible. The expansion of the museum is Phase II. Applicant
may wish to switch phases of construction (or construct them in the same
time period using parking as match). The Board felt parking requests
should be part of a project, not a project by itself in these cases.
The Sailing
Center Inc.
Request is under
the required minimum for grant year 2002, but not requesting until 2003.
Youth Explosion
for Christ
Programs are
ineligible.
Mr. Libby asked
if anyone from the audience had any questions or comments concerning
what had been discussed concerning the not for profit section.
Mrs. Irene
Johnson, representing the African American Museum asked for
clarification concerning the gift shop and office space being used as
match. The answer was "yes". Chair Libby indicated the
multi-purpose auditorium hall may be considered, but she was told to
make their application very expressive as it relates to ECHO.
Ms. Pattie
Pardee, Sands Theater Center, had questions concerning the renovation
versus maintenance issue.
Mr. Libby stated
that lighting and curtains would be an ordinary maintenance expense of
the organization. However, with the theater there could be exceptions to
get ECHO money.
Restoration –
yes, preservation – yes, maintenance – no, renovation of a historic
building – yes, but no renovation to an11-year old contemporary
building.
Ms. Hodge told
the audience that she was available to contact with any questions
concerning their project.
Municipal
Daytona
Daytona Beach
Bandshell
Not a function
of ECHO.
Ms. Hodge asked
if an applicant could use previous grants or previous matching cash to
match ECHO?
Mr. Libby stated
that an applicant could be allowed to use up to 50% of previously
awarded grants (non ECHO grants) if the grant was for comparable use
(the same project as the ECHO request).
Ms. Hodge read
the Matching Funds Statement from the application.
Mr. Libby stated
that the State of Florida does not allow an applicant to receive state
funds with no forward cash and they may not use previous matching cash.
Bethune Home
National Landmark
Not eligible as
drafted. Appears to be a maintenance project.
Dickerson Center
Not eligible –
this is repair maintenance of an existing facility.
Mr. Matousek
stated that the applicants with multiple applications need to prioritize
their requests because of the limited funds in ECHO.
Mr. Libby stated
that the County Council did not want to limit the applications per
applicant, however they admitted that next year they would entertain a
recommendation from the Board asking to limit the number of applications
per applicant. He asked the Board if everyone was in agreement with the
Board not entertaining replacement of items such as pools, tennis
courts, shuffleboard courts, bike trails, sidewalks, streets, etc. The
Board agreed with this.
Discussion was
held on restoration, renovation, and remodeling of existing cultural and
historic facilities.
Mr. Libby stated
that ECHO was interested in restoration and bringing property back to
its original condition or the adaptive reuse of a building and used the
DeBary Hall as an example. Board members generally agreed with this
statement.
Family Aquatic
Center
If the project
were for an indoor pool, it would not be eligible for funding.
Manatee Island
Learning Center
Project is
ineligible since it is program development.
Memorial Plaza
Request involves
moving monuments to a central location, which is not fundable.
Landscaping alone as a project would not be eligible for funding.
Monuments would be considered a "collection" or "art in
public places", which are not fundable.
North Halifax
River Yacht Club Basin
Dredging project
and a public works project. Not eligible.
Peabody
Auditorium
Most items
appear to be a maintenance projects and not eligible. Restoration of the
building to its original structure would be considered. Expansion of the
structure to provide greater use would be considered.
Peninsula Club
Historical
building not open for the public all the time. May not be eligible.
R J Longstreet
Elementary Sports Complex
This is a School
Board facility (not owned by the City) and request is below allowed
minimum for grant year 2002. Not eligible.
Stormwater
Treatment & Attenuation Facility
Public Works
project. Not eligible.
Tarragona Arch
Board generally
felt this was a maintenance project and would not be eligible. Property
does not have scheduled tours.
YMCA (Daytona
Beach)
Indoor
recreation facilities are not eligible.
Daytona Beach
Shores:
A1A Pedestrian
Lighting
Lighting
required to meet an Ordinance - not eligible.
Per Mr. Gummey,
ECHO should not fund code compliance projects.
Ocean Racquet
and Recreation Club
Project is
maintenance repair and would not be eligible.
DeBary:
Bill Keller Park
Center
Indoor
recreational facilities are not eligible.
Community Park
Project
Repair of
existing ball fields is not eligible. Construction of new additional
ball fields is eligible.
Our History
Program
development is not eligible.
DeLand:
City Hall
Appears to be a
maintenance request and would not be eligible.
Jacobs Dairy
Looking for
acquisition funds. The Chair felt this may not be eligible for ECHO.
Spec Martin
Stadium Locker Rooms
The application
and plans for expanding use of the facility will have to be reviewed.
"Project" area would not be accessed by the general public.
Deltona:
Performing Arts
Auditorium
DBCC and City
Hall will be adjacent to this project. Applicant needs to document how
this project is specifically or majorly ECHO. The Board will carefully
review this documentation.
Mr. Libby stated
that is why architect’s drawings and budgets are required, and it is
up to the applicant to be honest about the use and then the grant (if
awarded) would be cut by the percentage that is not related to ECHO
activities. He asked the Board if they wanted to establish a percentage
of the space that needs to be ECHO related. It was the general consensus
of the Board that they would take care of that when the project is
scored individually.
Ms. Becky Adams
(City of Deltona) stated that another application will be presented for
a multi-purpose facility with a gymnasium, locker rooms, bathrooms,
office space, conference rooms, in addition to a large auditorium with
stage. The Performing Arts Auditorium application is specifically for
performing arts.
Mr. Libby stated
that the cultural portion of the building is eligible for grant
application.
Edgewater:
Cultural Center
Application
needs to clarify what type learning facility it will be.
Mr. Jack Gordon
(City of Edgewater) stated the learning center would be environmental,
cultural, and conservation center to help educate the people in the
community, and in addition they may hold health fairs and craft fairs at
the facility. He asked the Board about what they were looking for in the
budget.
Mr. Libby
responded that they are looking for the entire budget amount for the
project.
Kennedy Park
Renovations
Project for
remodeling existing facilities would be ineligible if seen as
maintenance. Readapting of the property to a new and enhanced facility
may be considered for ECHO funding.
Shuffleboard
Complex
Clubhouse could
possibly be eligible for match or funding. Need further information.
Riverside Drive
Acquisition Site
The Board
prefers that property be used as match for improvements on the site by
ECHO.
Holly Hill:
Historical
Survey of the City
Program based
– not eligible.
Riverside Trail
Connection
Cities are
trying to connect a sidewalk within the city limits.
Mr. Libby stated
that these trails would be eligible under the outdoor recreation part of
ECHO. How fundable they are is going to be based on the application and
how it expresses the use of the "sidewalk trail". The Board
agreed with his interpretation.
Lake Helen:
Hopkins
Hall/Renovation
Maintenance
projects are not eligible. Restoration is fundable.
Blake Memorial
Baptist Church
Project is a
church and may not be public access. Interior work would not be
eligible. Exterior work might be considered if documentation of value to
the historical district supports a grant award. The city should not
apply since they do no own this property, but may provided supporting
documents.
New Smyrna
Beach:
Callalisa Park
Retention ponds
are not eligible for grant, but if necessary to park development, may be
used as match.
Ormond Beach:
Ames Park
Request is below
minimum for 2002 and is a maintenance project. Not eligible.
Casements
Improvements
Office space is
not ECHO fundable but could be used as match for ECHO project.
Central Park
Phase IV
To complete a
park complex connecting other park areas. Eligible but needs to address
ECHO concerns to be fundable. Board prefers that property be purchased
then come to ECHO for improvements.
Nova Community
Park
Below minimum
grant amount for 2002 and appears to be maintenance. Not eligible.
Nova Community
Park Improvements
Indoor sports
complex. Not eligible.
Ormond Beach
Sports Complex Improvements
Below the
minimum grant in 2002. Not eligible.
Public Art and
Sculpture
Purchases of art
and exhibit items are not fundable.
Senior Center
Main mission is
not ECHO activities. Not eligible.
Special Events
Mobile Stage
Not permanently
installed – not eligible for funding.
Tennis Court
Facility Improvements
Appears to be
for maintenance – not eligible. ECHO would entertain the request for
new tennis courts if they can demonstrate the need, but they will not
remodel existing tennis courts in disrepair.
West Ormond
Community Park Development
Design
development and would not be funded by ECHO, but may be used as match.
Port Orange:
Gamble Place
Design elements
are not fundable, but may be used as match.
Allen Green
Center
This is a
multi-purpose facility – not eligible.
South Daytona:
Reed Canal Park
The ECHO Board
prefers supporting improvements rather than land acquisition.
B. Application
and Timeline
Ms. Hodge
suggested that workshops be held on Saturday, November 10, 2001 and
Wednesday, December 5, 2001 in the Training Rooms, from 8:00 a.m. to
12:00 a.m. She stated that the application would be available on
Thursday, November 1, 2001, which gives enough time to notice it and
place it on the Internet. The technical eligibility review deadline is
Friday, January 4, 2002, by the staff. Staff will be given two weeks to
review the applications. On Friday, January 18, 2002, a mailing will be
sent out responding to the technically eligible projects. Friday,
February 8, 2002, is the application deadline. On Wednesday, February
27, 2002, the projects will be submitted to the Board. This deadline may
not be attainable due to a certain amount of legal documentation Mr.
Gummey has to review. The Board will have approximately two weeks to
review the projects for approval. The grant review panel will meet on
Wednesday, March 13, 2002. The meeting on March 13, 2002, will be an all
day meeting. Ms. Hodge will confirm all meeting dates and furnish the
Board a timetable and meeting location.
V. New Business
Grant Agreement
– Is forthcoming.
Reimbursement/Reporting
Procedures – Mr.
Gummey will report at the next meeting.
Mr. Libby asked
that Ms. Williams bring the Needs Assessment information back to the
Board as a whole at their next meeting. He asked Ms. Hodge to ask Ms.
Williams (absent at 5:30 p.m.) when she would be prepared to present the
Needs Assessment information. This would determine the date the Board
will meet in November.
Ms. Hodge stated
she would meet with Ms. Williams concerning the Needs Assessment map and
notify the Board of the date of the next full Board meeting.
Mr. Schleicher
stated he would be unable to attend any meetings in November, as he will
be out of town.
Mr. Green stated
his appreciation for allowing him to serve on the committee, but that it
was necessary he resign since his election to office in Port Orange.
Councilman Ward will be appointing a new member.
VI. Public
Participation
There was no one
from the public who wished to speak.
Mr. Matousek
stated that he would like to see more partnering between cities and
non-profits, so that there could be regional centers of some sort.
Mr. Libby stated
that he felt that this is what the ECHO program will stimulate. He asked
Ms. Hodge if she would like support at the workshop and stated that it
would be a good idea if the committee members could make at least one of
the workshops.
Ms. Hodge stated
that her only concern was if the Board would debate any issues in a
public workshop.
Mr. Libby
discussed the decorum at the meetings.
Ms. Hargreaves
asked for an opinion about visiting the sites.
Mr. Libby stated
that it was important to make site visits. However, perhaps not as a
group or have contact with the applicants.
Mr. Gummey
stated that they should avoid groups and develop a consistent way of
making site visits individually.
Mr. Libby
suggested that they develop a site visit form.
There being no
further discussion, Mr. Davidson moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:40
p.m. Ms. Hargreaves seconded the motion.
back to
home page
Public information
produced by Volusia County Government
