The meeting was not as well attended as the one on July 15, 2003. There was a combination of the same people who had spoken on March 30 and July 15 and other citizens who participated for the first time. The overwhelming majority of speakers supported the approved 2002 plan and asked the commissioners to reject the mediated settlement agreement. Though polite, it was apparent that in the end, Chair Rodney Long and Commissioners Cynthia Chestnut and Lee Pinkoson were going to vote to adopt the "settlement agreement." Commissioners Chestnut and Pinkoson, uncharacteristically, spoke only one time during the entire meeting - Mr. Pinkoson read a prepared motion into the record and Ms. Chestnut seconded. Commissioner Mike Byerly raised some questions and aided Chair Long in understanding citizens' statements/questions, thereby helping them to get on the record and establish "standing." Commissioner Wheat did not arrive in time to participate in the meeting or the vote.

As was the case in the previous meetings, the Petitioners did not present any facts to support their position - Attorney Ronald Carpenter, pleasant, relaxed and smiling, used only about 3 minutes of his allowed 30 minutes. Instead, they thanked the commission for their support, patience and fairness. One or two made the comment that this mediated agreement represented "democracy." They did not elaborate, not did they explain how a closed mediated settlement was more democratic than the 5 year process that had been open to all members of the community.

Kathy Cantwell, MD, and Dwight Adams, PhD, both made powerful statments that gave their reasons for intervening and for seeking an Administrative Hearing. They both cited scientific and legal reasons why the commission should refuse to adopt the settlement agreement. Attorney David Russ gave reasons why the "negotiations" deprived his clients true participation.

Chairman Long was careful to give everyone a chance to make their points. He complimented everyone for the respectful way they had presented their opinions.

Some comments:

Sara Poll pointed out some parts of the DCA approved 2002 Comp Plan that were being removed:

• Conservation Open Space Element Revisions for Settlement:
  • 3.1.1. Well field protection has been stricken from primary and secondary conservation areas.
  • 3.1.2. The entire section has been stricken - secondary natural resource areas, flood plains, wild-life habitat, protection of champion trees, and scenic corridors have lost all the protections provided them in the 2002 plan.
• Definition of strategic eco-systems: "Outstanding examples of eco-systems that are intact or capable of restoration and that require conservation and management to maintain important reserves of bio-diversity at landscape natural community at specific levels..."
• This settlement agreement removes protection that state agencies as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservtion Commission and Florida Natural Inventory, along with other reports from the 1990's will no longer be applied in considering the negative impact of development.

Ms. Poll then expressed her dismay and disgust with the lack of concern for future

• The county will no longer be the beautiful place to live that it presently is.
• No understanding or caring about the bio-diversity required for all life to exist.
• Adopting the settlement agreement ignores the thousands of hours the planning staff had invested - along with all the dollars involved - to develop the 2002 plan.
• How the 3 commissioners would be able to sleep at night?
• Put the matter on the ballot for the public to decide.
• All the original maps should be restored.

Rob Brinkman pointed out that Chair Long had voted for the 2002 plan. Mr. Brinkman asked Mr. Long to explain why he was changing his vote.

Many other citizens comments expressed compelling reasons to support the DCA approved 2002 comp plan.

After all comments had been made, Chair Long asked for the commissioners' comments. Commissioner Byerly read the statement he had put into the record on July 15. Commissioners Chestnut and Pinkoson were silent.

Chair Long then said he would answer Mr. Brinkman.

There are 1,500 policies or more in the 2002 comp plan and only 40 are being changed. Because 95% of the points are not challenged, he felt that "the little 5% were points that reasonable people could sit down and mediate and allow a balance to make sure that all the interests that we deal with in the comprehensive plan, and those interests of persons who did not agree with it, could sit down and mediate it..." Chair Long would not allow Mr. Brinkman to reply. Although Chairman Long spoke at length, he did not explain why he felt the need to negotiate any points after all the work that had gone into the previous 5 year public process.

The final vote was 3-1 to adopt the settlement agreement. Chair Rodney Long, Commissioners Cynthia Chestnut and Lee Pinkoson voted yes. Commissioner Mike Byerly voted no.