[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6312916,"mediaKeyId","2390299-ddaf9ff2932e500cc8fd144d1c923bc7","parentId",2390299,"title","Commissioners appoint Alexandra Garnier Mercier to Commission on Aging after brief discussion on \"senior resident\" definition","audioSeconds",169,"startMs",6196000,"endMs",6365000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390299-ddaf9ff2932e500cc8fd144d1c923bc7&start=6196&end=6365","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390299-ddaf9ff2932e500cc8fd144d1c923bc7/thumbnail_6196000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6312916/Seminole-County/Florida/Commissioners-appoint-Alexandra-Garnier-Mercier-to-Commission-on-Aging-after-brief-discussion-on-senior-resident-definition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312916-a85351eeb8baffb052b66e28ebd5520d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136174&Signature=WZ6h18lj4pxAIGG9cLM7pe43xHFkDUF0--2Q8Tclax9SCIA-lQY-fqLOKhpTRmziGIm-4fRtb-TVK4YYkzB1Wbf4FstxAHciaNs5zqQe6X5jp8cHAIKvVjRaAQbK-uh6lmTI69A5Jc9tomxIgBO5pJ075~7PNyqPkpm4F7GQZcmZC-dk6xJQ3hy16PvGmMeUWszZ~PA1iBqETKlbdl-q3nuGgUmsSNhi6UxJTbE6eDs3mQ6LvuMzYNRS1hxC7s3mhZBdOyOIn2yf-S5vK1PRGMDHCEKjogd6AL33ki0lFPiN35gBHGbjaxbS6D3KrplggJq3IBEP2qIJTSnOnJcIpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seminole County, FL","date","2025-02-18T19:04:09Z","article","The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 25 appointed Alexandra Garnier Mercier to the county Commission on Aging for a term from Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2027.

During the appointment discussion, Commissioner Lockhart asked how the board defines a \"local senior resident,\" noting statutory definitions vary (for some consumer-protection statutes a senior citizen is 60 and over) and that the application did not include a date of birth. Staff said the responsibility for verifying eligibility rests with the nominating committee and the appointing authority, and county staff said it will bring forward a broader cleanup of appointment processes and definitions for boards and committees in a future agenda item. The board approved the appointment by a voice vote recorded as unanimous.

Commissioners said they support a follow-up review of appointment processes and clearer definitions for terms such as \"senior resident\" to avoid future confusion about eligibility and recommended staff return with any suggested clarifications for board consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BCC PM Session 02-25-25","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved the appointment of Alexandra Garnier Mercier to the Commission on Aging for a term through Dec. 31, 2027. Commissioners discussed the meaning of the term \"senior resident\" used in appointment materials and asked staff to review appointment definitions for boards and committees.","taxTitle","Seminole County, Florida","taxId",5038,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6312921,"Commissioners approve replacement 3,044.8 sq ft boat dock and house at 6699 Sylvan Woods Road on Lake Sylvan",188,265000,453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390299-ddaf9ff2932e500cc8fd144d1c923bc7&start=265&end=453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390299-ddaf9ff2932e500cc8fd144d1c923bc7/thumbnail_265000.jpg","/articles/6312921/Seminole-County/Florida/Commissioners-approve-replacement-30448-sq-ft-boat-dock-and-house-at-6699-Sylvan-Woods-Road-on-Lake-Sylvan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312921-f3991f90a12a12bef383f36148c0d9da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136174&Signature=Yw17Fvlv0yA01dj8R8-r5J1D3cQN-6mY-gR2V-K0GFY7FrXMu~Bz4o1RxawzRBTTfID51F-opgKUszXAmVFwhUBKrljPOIjPxviG6Q~yxS4j~tnVOq7fvggHFkaXRRyAE1Tg-0JZ3FIdTvdsfNgwOoxBZKwcEMVnI-yNKFARg6rhtKVDrJzzqoPNAArejIX5tkbKbayRBTdf2HyXk0FEOdkXePPP~52wPhdg8gy15vTv9ZEroLPXSWtRaNTV1gXkXS3iY~CiuOlJHi~d9n0BlwcG40VL7yrL8NDBkfDbvNUrUQYTFTNWWu5QbC8MQ8sR-m7b5i~YtvA2azpblWA7Tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 25 unanimously approved a request to replace an existing 3,044.8-square-foot boat dock and house at 6699 Sylvan Woods Road on Lake Sylvan.

Kathy Hamill of Development Services presented the item and said the application requests replacement of an existing dock and house of identical size (3,044.8 sq ft). Hamill told the board Lake Sylvan is shallow (depths she cited of roughly 7 feet to a maximum of about 16 feet), and that the walkway from the high-water line to the platform measures approximately 540 feet and is 4 feet wide and accounts for roughly 70% of the dock's square footage as presented to the board. Hamill said the project meets the county standard identified as \"70.7,\" which staff said promotes minimum impacts to the lake — for example by requiring a turbidity barrier during construction, setbacks that exceed code requirements, and having less than 25% of the lake's width occupied to preserve clear navigation. Hamill also said the applicant has obtained required permits from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

No members of the public spoke for or against the request. The district commissioner whose district includes the property moved to approve the request; the motion carried unanimously.

Staff recommended approval because the proposed replacement meets the applicable code criteria and has secured necessary state permits. The board did not attach special conditions beyond standard permitting and construction protections noted by staff.","Seminole County commissioners unanimously approved a 3,044.8-square-foot boat dock and house with a long walkway on Lake Sylvan. Staff said the project meets county code thresholds, includes required permits from FDEP, and triggers board approval because the structure exceeds 1,000 sq ft.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6312926,"Seminole County adopts tourism improvement district, sets advisory board to fund indoor sports plan",1325,2368000,3693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390299-ddaf9ff2932e500cc8fd144d1c923bc7&start=2368&end=3693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390299-ddaf9ff2932e500cc8fd144d1c923bc7/thumbnail_2368000.jpg","/articles/6312926/Seminole-County/Florida/Seminole-County-adopts-tourism-improvement-district-sets-advisory-board-to-fund-indoor-sports-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312926-215a344d6e7db6253b0b73fe0951083a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136174&Signature=f1rpw8rJg8fJHMmQPoytjwyGn8tpeCnwI9SeCDbeV5W5kD2oPjFxleD26UxFYVJ~xT3lN4yUbAAQPftegOt66hs5res0zLqPeStxONJMg~yHne~1tVqU5XKCn~A-U9ptwCkCIjOnjk-NNPTborcWWMR7KprL5SM1nsJN6iJVXCTVglVbTPmBsU48oKe-3f8eKb05eFvNCdopJ0XQYLGHqRoD~GIGJvr~3IqSSZVCtW19yCWyDKPeNNvL9njO~oc3XKwfuXhzKS8Qiz5VSgqADyfV8XNkgigNtFqTkf6c2u7Vl8J9oOdnDQXVXsXWNnO4y59r2XUyg2REHAmpbcHYig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 25 to form a Tourism Improvement District and to authorize a county-administered advisory board to oversee the district, a funding mechanism the county intends to use to support sports-tourism infrastructure including a proposed indoor sports facility.

Guy Cunha, presenting for county staff, said the procedural ordinance for the TID was adopted May 17, 2024, and that the formation requires a district plan, an assessment map, petitions signed by owners representing 50% or more of qualified rooms and an advisory board. Cunha said the county identified 5,054 qualified hotel rooms countywide under Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) rules; the 50% petition threshold therefore is 2,527 rooms. Cunha said the petition collection yielded 2,679 rooms in favor for a 10-year term (unless tied to bond financing), and staff estimates about $3,200,000 in gross annual revenue in year one if the board adopts the assessment at $1.75 per qualified room per day.

The board also approved the TID advisory board structure. Cunha said the advisory board will meet quarterly and include seven seats: one appointment by each commissioner (five), one appointment by the county manager (at-large seat), and one appointment by the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA). Cunha said each appointed seat (commissioner appointees and the CFHLA appointee) must be a Seminole County hotelier (operator or owner, per state statute); the county tourism office will serve as the advisory board secretary.

Public commenters included hoteliers, the Seminole County Tourism Development Council chair and sports-tourism advocates. Kristen Oswald, a hotel general manager, said local hotels need weekday and year-round demand drivers and urged support for the TID and the indoor complex plan. Jason Siegel of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and Robert Agrusa of the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association also addressed the board in support, citing room-night generation and economic impact potential.

Commissioners moved to adopt the TID formation ordinance and also to authorize the chairman to execute a resolution creating a Seminole County Administrative Code section establishing the TID Advisory Board with duties, membership terms and reporting requirements. Both motions passed unanimously.

Cunha said next steps include the levy taking effect March 11 and a summer 2025 deep dive into the proposed indoor sports facility and its benefit plan. The levy would be collected monthly by the Seminole County Tax Collector alongside tourist-development tax collections. Staff and private-sector speakers said surplus TID funds must be used per the district plan and that no property would be assessed twice under the TID rules.","The Board adopted an ordinance creating a Seminole County Tourism Improvement District (TID) and authorized an advisory board to manage levy proceeds; county staff said petitions representing 2,679 rooms (exceeding the 50% threshold) support a $1.75 per-room, per-day assessment with an estimated first-year revenue of about $3.2 million.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":80,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6312931,"Commissioners deadlock on Panther Street vacation after residents warn of flooding, litigation; item continued to March 25",3936,4389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390299-ddaf9ff2932e500cc8fd144d1c923bc7&start=453&end=4389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390299-ddaf9ff2932e500cc8fd144d1c923bc7/thumbnail_453000.jpg","/articles/6312931/Seminole-County/Florida/Commissioners-deadlock-on-Panther-Street-vacation-after-residents-warn-of-flooding-litigation-item-continued-to-March-25","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312931-80a4af2ea41c4c5ab74f5159a2a9c57f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136174&Signature=SwHGP5HiqMHXe-0626GNwxLVF6zSOkCvNAq2RCykRDafuT3757Wpcqy3Xw3l7MFDNoDL7y6Tevo6wNGxCSySaZSrkTPPj~yWpHRY8mPfo4YWX0LrC3b~rZ4qCBOn~EtMa5HgTcLZvb4Zuu1sPBeqUHlDv7Dw1AlNnS9Vtg9TP4epMTQEiPKe24pAPiNRjRtUDcQmzXIQ3p28wceVPEP3MmZ4LD6zqSe~OnfXapvyOXJAOR-hQoAvBgdSmAtKJpFWTFl3VYUs2vpNSTx6Lm4YxKmESvTmouZFQl04XJI-PLZZ5Z1o~EroF2nRM9ApX3jTrPKOcCfT4aSRX2wVDTChaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Seminole County commissioners on Feb. 25 were unable to reach a final decision on a petition to vacate a 672.6-foot portion of Panther Street in the Black Hammock area, instead voting to continue the public hearing to a date certain, March 25.

Caitlin Apgar, planning and development services, told the board the petition by Joshua and Sarah Lewis seeks to abandon an unimproved segment of Panther Street so the land can be conveyed to Lot 144/1000 Elm Street. Apgar said the proposed area is 672.6 feet long, 25 feet wide (16,812.5 square feet), that Duke Energy requires a 10-foot easement across the area, and that county engineering is reserving a 25-foot drainage easement over the entire tract. Apgar said the request complies with the county's vacating procedures under section 35.184 of the Seminole County Land Development Code and related authority noted in the application materials.

Neighbors opposed the request at the hearing. Tara Merritt, who said she lives at 1580 Panther Street, asked the board to deny the petition and said residents rely on the right of way to preserve access and future county options for drainage. Michael Prazutti, who said his property borders the vacated area, showed a survey and said fences, gates and other structures encroach into the right of way and that the community faces recurring flooding that could be worsened if public access is removed. Others, including Alicia Prazutti and Lawrence Capone, described rising groundwater levels and said relinquishing county rights now could impede future drainage fixes.

The applicants' attorney, Philip Capro, asked the board to approve the vacation and replace the public right of way with easements for drainage and utilities, arguing that an explicit easement for drainage would preserve the county's ability to address flooding while resolving the encroachment issue. Applicant Sarah Lewis, who resides at 1000 Elm Street, said she and her family have maintained the area since the 1980s and urged approval, saying an explicit drainage easement would let the county perform work if needed while preserving her family's privacy.

Board discussion focused on three topics raised by residents and staff: the presence of existing unpermitted structures in the mapped right of way, the fact much of the subject area is wetland that would require mitigation for any county-built drainage improvements, and ongoing basin drainage studies covering the Black Hammock area. County staff and the county attorney confirmed that a condition of a vacation would be the granting of utility and drainage easements to the county, and that easements preserve the county's ability to perform work; staff also said code enforcement and building divisions could address alleged unpermitted structures in the right of way.

An initial motion to approve the vacation and adopt a resolution was moved and seconded but failed on a 2-2 vote (tally recorded in the minutes as yes=2, no=2). With the application still pending and no majority decision, the board later adopted a motion to continue the item to March 25 to allow a full board discussion and to give staff time to notify participants and coordinate with code enforcement; that continuance passed by a recorded margin of 3–1. Staff said several basin studies are under way and expected to be completed by the end of the year, and that most of the subject strip is wetland, meaning any future county project would likely involve mitigation and permitting requirements.

The board directed staff to notify all parties who were present for the hearing, work with code enforcement on the alleged structures in the right of way, and return the item on March 25 with any updated information.

Clarifying details from the staff record and public comments: the vacated subject area is 672.6 feet long by 25 feet wide (16,812.5 sq ft); Duke Energy requires a 10-foot easement across the area; Seminole County Engineering requires a 25-foot drainage easement over the entire area; staff said the vacate application asserts the conveyance would not landlock adjacent properties; staff cited compliance with Seminole County Land Development Code section 35.184 (per the staff presentation). The county attorney and engineering staff said much of the right-of-way area is wetland and mitigation would be required for impacts, and that code enforcement would handle alleged unpermitted fences, gates or stands in the public right of way.

The item remains open and will be heard again on March 25. The board asked county staff to notify residents who spoke on Feb. 25 and to coordinate with code enforcement and engineering ahead of the next hearing.","Seminole County commissioners split 2-2 on a request to vacate an uncut portion of Panther Street after residents and neighbors raised flooding, property-encroachment and precedent concerns. The board later voted 3-1 to continue the matter to March 25 and asked staff to notify parties and coordinate with code enforcement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners appoint Alexandra Garnier Mercier to Commission on Aging after brief discussion on "senior resident" definition

Commissioners approve replacement 3,044.8 sq ft boat dock and house at 6699 Sylvan Woods Road on Lake Sylvan

Seminole County adopts tourism improvement district, sets advisory board to fund indoor sports plan

Commissioners deadlock on Panther Street vacation after residents warn of flooding, litigation; item continued to March 25