February 8, 18

Report to Coquina Board from the Steering Committee Workshop and Opinion Survey Results For the past two months, the Landowners have provided their opinions via an Internet survey. On Thursday evening January 25, 2018, the Steering Committee conducted a Public Workshop with three objectives: 1. Solicit additions/deletions to the Board’s 2018 goals 2. Prioritize those goals 3.Brainstorm ideas for implementing those priorities. Sheriff Stephen, Commissioners Culpepper and Hazellief, and Mike Vincent attended as honored guests. Thirty-eight (38) Landowners attended, including some who purchased land within the last few weeks and had never attended a single function in the county. We believe this was the first time Coquina has conducted a public workshop where the landowners were asked, “What’s important to you?” Many attendees asked me to say “thank you” to the board for that opportunity. Attachments to this Report:

1. We presented the Board’s published 2018 goals 2. We shared the core values of most importance to Landowners 3. We presented the most important Landowner issues captured from the opinion survey 4. We conducted a prioritization exercise, so Landowners could tell you their preferences in

ranked order 5. We gathered 38 implementation ideas on a variety of priorities

The attendees were engaged, respectful, polite and prompted the Sheriff to say, “The group here is not the problem. I understand completely. If I owned land, I’d want to be able to drive my ATV down the street to visit my neighbors.” By the end of the evening, the sheriff was engaged, offered a few ideas, and agreed to meet with our committee to offer his ideas and expertise as we create the “Practical Implementation” portion of our action plan. Both Commissioners listened, and I believe were impressed with the event and happy they attended. Summary of Six Key Findings:

1. The overwhelming majority of landowners want their rights-to-ride ATVs restored. (This data matches the April, 2017 opinion survey, and the data tracks the October, 2017 election results.) See page 9.

2. The thirst for honesty and ethics from the board came across like a Tsunami. 3. The demand for transparency (openness) in all dealings ranks as the Landowners’ #1

indicator of honesty and ethical behavior. 4. Spend Landowner money wisely.

a. The Board should exercise a stronger oversight process regarding approvals of invoices. You should review “actual expenses to plan” at every monthly meeting.

b. The board should adopt a Procurement Policy that follows Best Practices. 5. The Landowners agree with the goals you listed for 2018. Now we have prioritized them

for you. a. Smooth the roads and clean the ditches. b. Adopt project goals with milestone dates and Key Accountability measurements

for each employee. (Drive efficiency and effectiveness.) 6. Landowners are willing to spend an annual fee per ATV to ride. (Restricted to

Landowners only). #1 answer: $26-$50 per year per ATV. Must be a permanent solution implemented preferably with the Sheriff’s input. However, we’re willing to exercise all legal remedies at our disposal in pursuit of the right to ride, if necessary.

Coquina Water Control District Board of Supervisors 2018 Goals

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CORE VALUES-(Survey Results)Top core values most important for CWCD Board

1. Compliance to ethics rules/laws- conduct themselves independently and impartially, not using their offices for private gain 

2. Honesty- Being honest is much harder than being transparent. Firm adherence to a code of especially moral values.

3. Transparency- government's obligation to share information with citizens.  Proactive disclosure, ease of access to public records. 

4. Responsiveness- ensuring CWCD actions respond to the preferences of its citizens

5. Treat citizens with respect- Courtesy, politeness, and kindness. Listen to what others have to say before expressing your viewpoint. ...Use people's ideas to change or improve work

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RESEARCH FINDINGS (ATV/OHV)• Landowners should be allowed to ride ATVs/OHVs un-harassed

(83% agree or strongly agree) • ATV/OHV riding/access on Viking Prairie roads should be

restricted to landowners only (91% agree or strongly agree) • ATV/OHV riders should be subject to a safe riding program that

requires riders to operate within specified rules of the road (83% agree or strongly agree)

• 91% would purchase a decal/permit as a landowner (to indicate ATV/OHV operation by landowners, to lawfully ride their ATV/OHV on Viking Prairie roads).

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LANDOWNER PRIORITIES FOR CWCD-(Survey Results)Top 10 Issues most important to landowners.  

Operational 1. Water Control/Drainage -CWCD should focus on water control/drainage issues and not trying to control non-related matters   2. Road Maintenance 3. Canal Maintenance 4. Swale (Ditch) Maintenance 5. Information- CWCD should routinely update its website with fresh information (e.g. meeting agendas, minutes, documents). Better, easier

information from staff regarding project or work requests

Strategic

1. CWCD should restore landowners rights to use the roads for safe ATV/OHV use 2. CWCD should implement more effective practices to get more projects done in less time (efficiency) 3. CWCD should find ways to reduce expenses 4. CWCD should maintain adequate funding reserves for a "rainy day” 5. CWCD should acquire (new, used or lease) better equipment to get work projects completed more

effectively 

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OTHER COMMENTS-(Survey Results)• Safety for riding horses in the prairie. • Pick up trash or at least pick up furniture from our neighborhood. Like that couch put next to

the mud whole. • The stoppage of law enforcement harassment of us landowners and our friends and family so

we can enjoy our lifestyle and freedom. • Rude sheriff deputy • Make sure riders respect fences and marked private property lines. • Bought property for peace and relaxation. Also like to ride ATV. Don’t want to be harassed by

sheriff • Garbage that has been left all over my property by trespassers • People need to be really careful about where their (gun) discharges end up (3) • Hire an in-house mechanic instead of paying crazy amounts to have machines towed to Palm

Beach • Hire a secretary to take over administrative and bookkeeping activities as well as to digitize

Coquina records

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Workshop Priorities

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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1

Regularroadmaintenance(smooth

thesurfaces)

Repairnumerousequipment

breakdowns

Mowroadsidesregularly

Implementmoreefficient

workflows,streamlineprocesses

Acquire(new,usedorlease)beJer

equipmenttogetworkprojects

completedmoreeffecMvely

ReduceoperaMngexpenses

Addstopsigns

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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1

Cleartheditches/swales

Addressnumerousproblemdrainage

areas

Maintainthecanals

Bemoreresponsivetolandowners

ReduceoperaMngexpenses

Implementmoreefficientworkflows,

streamlineprocesses

Drainage

Roads

Workshop Priorities

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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1

Restorelandowner’srighttorideATVs/

OHVssafelyandwithcourtesy

Restorelandowners’faithinboardtoact

ethicallyandhonestlyinalldealings

Increasepublictransparency-update

websitewithfreshinformaMon(e.g.

meeMngagendas,minutes,documents).

BeJer,easierinformaMonfromstaff

regardingprojectorworkrequests

Maintainadequatefundingreservesfor

a"rainyday”

Improvestaffmorale

Reducegunfire

Strategic

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Idea Brainstorming Brainstorm ideas in your group to solve the issue you chose Narrow to top two ideas Write two ideas on White Sheets Share ideas Committee will build a master list of ideas

1. How to reduce operating expenses in the CWCD 2017/18 FY budget? ⋅ RFPs/Bids

2. How to Implement more efficient workflows, streamline processes. ⋅ Publish Maintenance schedules ⋅ Oversight by construction committee of landowners

3. How to easily identify Landowners and their guests when they ride ATVs/OHVs in the Prairie. What if guests bring different ATVs each time they visit? How to make it easy and simple for deputies?

⋅ Flag and sticker ⋅ Carry ID or property Deed info ⋅ Temp sticker for guest, permanent sticker for landowners ⋅ Landowners pay for removable sticker for guests ⋅ Red, reflective Large decal ⋅ 1st 4 letters of owners last name, followed by numeral- e.g. ALLE1, ALLE2 ⋅ Ticket those without decal

4. How to deny non-landowners from riding ATVs (and make it enforceable)? What statutes are applicable over private roads, lands for outsiders or riders without decals/permits?

⋅ Signs ⋅ Trespassing warnings ⋅ Issue secondary decal (parking permit) to tow vehicles and trailers. Any non-

decaled vehicle parked in Prairie with trailer attached is parked illegally, so ticket and tow them. Can Landowners groups share in revenue collected from towing company?

5. How to inform riders of rules of the road for ATVs? How to enforce them? ⋅ To get your sticker you must attend a meeting to learn the rules ⋅ Must watch an educational video to get a sticker/decal ⋅ Sign and acknowledge you and guests are informed of rules of the road ⋅ Fines ⋅ Revoke right to ride ⋅ You are responsible for your guests ⋅ Signs ⋅ Boards like at park

6. How to set and collect fees for ATV use in the Prairie? How to collect payment. How often do you assess? Collect?

⋅ Collect at time you get sticker ⋅ Yearly or every 2 years ⋅ Appoint a management person/office/committee ⋅ Flag/decal to ATV, numbered to owner ⋅ Annual fee, buy yearly on website after watching video on rules and taking exam ⋅ If caught doing something illegal, you lose your decal ⋅ Fee based upon cost of program divided by # decals issued, plus contingency

fee ⋅ PayPal ⋅ Dropbox like at state park

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7. How to ensure riders respect private land, fences and property lines? ⋅ Signs ⋅ Citizens Observers Patrol for Prairie (Sheriff designated) Q: Can COP volunteers

be trained/authorized to issue parking tickets? ⋅ Other landowners patrol, call Sheriff if escalates

8. How to prevent negligent or reckless firearm discharges?* (Although this is outside the purview of the CWCD, it’s an issue for many landowners.)

⋅ Build shooting range area away from homes

9. Others ⋅ Close park entrance, use Hwy 60 instead, put private community entry gate ⋅ Transparency: Monthly, nightly meetings when majority can attend. ⋅ Periodic surveys on website where owners can submit ideas, comments,

complaints etc.

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Goals for New Easement (Restoring Right to Ride) Once the 2008 “Dedication” document is terminated, a new document must be issued. The following goals were suggested by Landowners during the recent Workshop and opinion survey (January, 2018.)

1. Establish the legal right to ride ATVs/OHVs for Landowners only, on a permanent basis (cannot be rescinded).

2. The document must withstand legal challenges. 3. Easements shall be declared Private, not Public. 4. The document must be written in a manner that will NOT limit or preclude a lender from

offering financing on properties in the Prairie. 5. The document must allow appropriate Ingress/Egress. 6. The document must include a list of Rules of the Road for safe and courteous ATV/OHV

operation (with consequences for failure to comply.) 7. Include mechanisms for permitting and enforcement, that are:

a. Simple b. Easy to spot AND identify offenders c. Provide enforcement that deters violators d. Supported by a fee structure that covers implementation and enforcement

expenses e. Priced in a way that align with Landowners’ suggestions f. Any decals/flags or identifying devices must be difficult to counterfeit g. Written with input from the sheriff’s office

8. The CWCD/OCO Inter-Local Agreement must be rewritten to accommodate the above. Landowners offered dozens of ideas to implement the above via the opinion survey and during the Public Workshop. The Steering Committee is asking for more ideas- How to achieve the above goals, specifically concerning the fee pricing structure and anti-counterfeiting methods.

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Annual Amount Landowners would spend per ATV for permit