Section 253.034(5) and 259.032 (8)(a), Florida Statutes requires that state, regional, or local governmental agencies or private entities designated to manage State-owned conservation and recreation lands shall develop and adopt, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, an individual management plan for each project designed to conserve and protect such lands and their associated natural resources every 10 years.  Section 253.034(8)(b), Florida Statutes requires that an individual management plan for state-owned conservation and recreation lands greater than 160 acres must be developed with input from an advisory committee composed of representatives of the lead local land managing agency, co­-managing entities, local private property owners, the appropriate soil and water conservation district, a local conservation organization, and a local elected official.  

St. Lucie County manages three (3) State-owned conservation and recreation lands through lease agreements with the Board of Trustees that are greater than 160 acres, including Blind Creek Beach (Lease No. 4233), Harbor Branch Preserve (Lease No. 4621), and John Brooks Park (Lease No. 3510). The committee will review and provide input for the three projects listed above and conduct a public hearing in accordance with Florida Statutes and County advertising requirements to garner public support and input.

On October 13, 1998, the Board adopted Resolution No. 98-237 which created the Blind Creek Management Plan Advisory Committee pursuant to Section 259.032(10) to assist in the preparation of the Blind Creek Management Plan.

On January 19, 1999, pursuant to Section 253.034(4), Florida Statutes, the Board adopted Resolution No.99-032 which amended Resolution 98-237 and renamed the Blind Creek Management Plan Advisory Committee to the Blueway Advisory Committee and expanded the Advisory Committee’s role to provide input in the development of individual management plans for the additional state-leased conservation and recreation lands managed by St. Lucie County, all of which are connected by the Indian River Lagoon.

On October 4, 2022, pursuant to section 253.034(5) and 259.032 (8)(a), Florida Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners updated the Blueway Advisory Committee, amending the membership requirements, updating the roles, responsibilities, appointments, terms, and updated the resolution to meet current-applicable statutes.

The Advisory Committee shall be comprised of nine (9) primary members and two (2) conditional members (noted with *) as determined by the individual project:

1. Lead Land Management Agency Director or Designee (Staff)
2. Comanaging Entity Director or Designee (Staff)
3. Local Private Property Owner Representative(s)
4. Local Soil and Water Conservation District Representative
5. Local Conservation Organization Representative
6. Local Elected Official (BOCC Chair Appointed)
7. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Representative*
8. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Representative*

*Conditional members are required if habitat or potentially restorable habitat for imperiled species is located within a given project, as determined by the Environmental Resources Department, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall be included in the Advisory Committee, otherwise the representatives listed as (7) and (8) may be excluded from quorum. 

The Board shall appoint the Local Private Property Owner(s) that represent as stakeholders for a given project under review by the committee. The Board of County Commissioners Chair shall appoint the Local Elected Official. The County Administrator or designee shall appoint the remaining members.  Members of the Advisory Committee shall serve until the management plans are updated and approved by the State.  There shall be no limit on the number of terms an individual may serve. Members shall be subject to the Operational Procedures for Advisory Boards and Committees as set forth in Resolution No. 12-156 as may subsequently be amended.

A quorum is necessary to conduct committee business. A quorum is reached when half of the required members are present, plus one. There are nine (9) primary members and two (2) conditional members of the committee. Six (6) members are required for a quorum, however the conditional members are required to be in attendance if habitat or potentially restorable habitat for imperiled species is located within a given project that is under review, as determined by the Environmental Resources Department, otherwise the conditional members may be excluded from quorum. 

The Blueway Advisory Committee meets ad hoc and at an infrequent frequency, given that the individual management plans to be reviewed are updated every ten (10) years.  Staff from County Environmental Resources Department will coordinate the meetings when the management plans are due for updates and submit the updated plans to the committee for input and approval. The committee will be required to hold a public hearing as part of the management plan updates to garner public support and input for the plan update(s). 

Board Liaison (Director)-

Amy Griffin, Environmental Resources Department Director

griffina@stlucieco.org

772-462-2526

Board Liaison Designee-

Mike Middlebrook, Environmental Resources Assistant Director

middlebrookm@stlucieco.org

772-462-2526

Board Clerk-

Jill Arnold, Environmental Resources Department Sr. Office Operations Specialist

arnoldj@stlucieco.org

 772-462-2526