The county approved a resolution inviting the City of Lake City to negotiate an interlocal service boundary agreement (ISBA) that would create a district where owners of qualifying commercial and industrial parcels could elect voluntary, expedited annexation into the city for municipal services.

County attorney Joel explained the ISBA process to the board and said the adopted "invitation resolution" begins negotiations with Lake City. The ISBA concept allows a municipality and county to delineate an area in which property owners may choose voluntary satellite annexation rather than requiring standard contiguous annexation. Joel said the draft district map deliberately excluded residential parcels and focused on commercial and industrial properties in the Cannon Creek and adjacent interstate corridor areas.

The agreement would not force any property into the city; annexation would remain voluntary and subject to negotiated terms for provision of police, fire, utilities and roads. Joel said Volusia County has used similar agreements and that the approach can aid economic development by giving developers the option to develop to city standards (for example, placing utilities under roadways rather than outside the pavement).

Scott Stewart, a property owner/developer represented at the meeting, said his project preferred to design to city standards and that the ISBA would facilitate those development options. The City of Lake City'9s in-house attorney, Clay Martin, and the city manager indicated support in prior discussions, Joel told the board.

The board voted to adopt the invitation resolution and authorize staff to begin discussions with Lake City. Joel cautioned that negotiations must still resolve details such as fire-assessment proceeds, crime-statistics reporting and service provision; the invitation starts the negotiation process but does not change property ownership or automatically annex parcels.

If negotiations proceed, staff expects a negotiated agreement and companion resolutions from both jurisdictions before any parcel becomes part of the city. The board recorded the motion and a voice vote authorizing the invitation resolution.