Welcome to the fourth edition of Viewpoint Seminole, a monthly podcast from CMF Public Media featuring a panel of Seminole County voices sharing their viewpoints about current issues confronting our local governments, school board, our state legislators, and institutions and people in the news who shape life in Seminole County.

After discussing these latest issues, panelists offer a brief congratulatory “shout out” and a constructive “call out” on other issues of their choosing.

This edition of Viewpoint Seminole was recorded on Friday, May 3, 2013. It was edited by the moderator for brevity and focus. The views and opinions expressed on Viewpoint Seminole are those of the panelists.

Viewpoint Seminole Panel

Russ Hauck Former mayor and city commissioner of Altamonte Springs Bio

Jeanne Morris President, League of Women Voters of Seminole County, former Seminole County school board chair and member Bio

Dr. Michael Abels Instructor, public administration, University of Central Florida; former city manager, Longwood, FL Bio

Desta Horner Moderator, senior producer, CMF Public Media Bio

Click here for a roster of all Viewpoint Seminole panel members

Each month, CMF offers Viewpoint Seminole as a forum for civil and informative local commentary from a panel of credible local voices that have a stake in Seminole County. Each month we’ll call upon the panel’s experience and insight and listen as they offer their “point of view” on the politics, policy, people and consequences that affect those of us who embrace life in Seminole County.

Photographs of the panel taken during their discussion are presented below in an on-line slide show.

You may email a link to this feature to those you know who have an interest in the issues discussed. Use the “share” option below. And “reply” below to CMF Public Media with your comments about this feature, adding suggestions about issues you believe worthy of future discussion by panel members.

Previous Viewpoint Seminole Podcasts

• Viewpoint Seminole #3 (03/14/13)
  Issues: 1) Bills pending at mid-point of the Florida legislative session, 2) consolidating fire and police services between the county and cities, 3) using public funds for street-scaping and building new city centers, and 4) arming teachers.
  Panel: Frank Ioppolo, Jr, Michael Hoover, Russ Hauck and Judith Smith

• Viewpoint Seminole #2 (03/14/13)
  Issues: 1) Verizon Communication’s major new facility in Lake Mary, Fl.; 2) hiring of a new police chief for Sanford; and 3) background to the unanimous defeat by the county of a proposal to amend the rural land use restrictions in east Seminole County.
  Panel: Steve Barnes, Jeanne Morris, Randy Morris and Judith Smith

• Viewpoint Seminole inaugural edition (02/08/13)
  Issues: 1) Governor Rick Scot’s education budget proposal to the legislature; 2) reaction to the pending rezoning of elementary schools; 3) and a proposal being considered by Seminole County government to amend a rural land use zone in the eastern portion of the county. Panel: Steve Barnes, John Bush, Michael Hoover and Jeanne Morris

Note:

CMF takes care to recruit and impanel members who are local to the area. Though still in formation, the full group of 11 members, when viewed as a whole will reflect a broad array of ethnicity, age, gender and life style. As a whole, they will reflect a perceived level of current or former community involvement, life experiences and familiarity with broad community issues and standards.

CMF also takes care to avoid or disclose a panelist with known conflicts of interest relative to the issue being addressed. Excluded from participation as a panel member are current members of local media and currently serving elected or government-appointed officials.

Viewpoint Seminole panel members participate voluntarily and without financial compensation from CMF as does the CMF producer/moderator

Pictures

Principal Speakers

Aliki Moncrief Director, Florida’s Water & Land Legacy Web | Bio

Michelle Thatcher National Director, southeast regional office, U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce Web | Bio

Principal Speaker

Matthew Fox Theologian and author Bio | Web

Formerly a member of the Dominican order of the Roman Catholic Church, Matthew Fox is now an Episcopal priest and founder of the Creation Spirituality movement in Oakland, California. He is the author of thirty-one books, including Original Blessing, and The Coming of the Cosmic Christ. His newest book is Hildegard of Bingen: a Saint for our Times.

Matthew Fox has been called “the most creative, the most comprehensive and surely the most challenging spiritual teacher in America.” And, his Creation Spirituality movement has been called the spirituality of the future.

Matthew Fox spoke on Friday February 1, 2013, the first day of the three day gathering presented by Gladdening Light at the Winter Park Civic center on Morse Blvd in Winter Park, Florida.

In addition the symposium included artists and musicians who performed and discussed the arc of creativity and the mystical journey of artwork, meditation and musical forms . The conference concluded with an ecumenical worship service. The founder and executive director of Gladdening Light is Randy Robertson.

Pictures

Welcome to the third edition of Viewpoint Seminole, a monthly podcast from CMF Public Media featuring a panel of Seminole County voices sharing their viewpoints about current issues confronting our local governments, school board, our state legislators, and institutions and people in the news who shape life in Seminole County.

After discussing these latest issues, panelists offer a brief congratulatory “shout out” and a constructive “call out” on other issues of their choosing.

This edition of Viewpoint Seminole was recorded on Friday, April 5, 2013. It was edited by the moderator for brevity and focus. The views and opinions expressed on Viewpoint Seminole are those of the panelists.

Viewpoint Seminole Panel

Frank Ioppolo Managing partner of The Ioppolo Law Group Bio

Judith Delores Smith Oviedo Resident Bio

Dr. Michael Hoover Professor of Political Science at Seminole State College Bio

Russ Hauck Former mayor and city commissioner of Altamonte Springs Bio

Moderator:

Desta Horner Moderator for CMF Public Media Bio

Click here for a roster of all Viewpoint Seminole panel members

Each month, CMF offers Viewpoint Seminole as a forum for civil and informative local commentary from a panel of credible local voices that have a stake in Seminole County. Each month we’ll call upon the panel’s experience and insight and listen as they offer their “point of view” on the politics, policy, people and consequences that affect those of us who embrace life in Seminole County.

Photographs of the panel taken during their discussion are presented below in an on-line slide show.

You may email a link to this feature to those you know who have an interest in the issues discussed. Use the “share” option below. And “reply” below to CMF Public Media with your comments about this feature, adding suggestions about issues you believe worthy of future discussion by panel members.

Previous Viewpoint Seminole Podcasts

• Viewpoint Seminole #2 (03/14/13)
  Issues: 1) Verizon Communication’s major new facility in Lake Mary, Fl.; 2) hiring of a new police chief for Sanford; and 3) background to the unanimous defeat by the county of a proposal to amend the rural land use restrictions in east Seminole County.
  Panel: Steve Barnes, Jeanne Morris, Randy Morris and Judith Smith
• Viewpoint Seminole inaugural edition (02/08/13)
  Issues: 1) Governor Rick Scot’s education budget proposal to the legislature; 2) reaction to the pending rezoning of elementary schools; 3) and a proposal being considered by Seminole County government to amend a rural land use zone in the eastern portion of the county. Panel: Steve Barnes, John Bush, Michael Hoover and Jeanne Morris

Note:

CMF takes care to recruit and impanel members who are local to the area. Though still in formation, the full group of 12 members, when viewed as a whole will reflect a broad array of ethnicity, age, gender and life style. As a whole, the group will reflect a perceived level of current or former community involvement, life experiences and familiarity with broad community issues and standards.

CMF also takes care to avoid or disclose a panelist with known conflicts of interest relative to the issue being addressed. Excluded from participation as a panel member are current members of local media and currently serving elected or government-appointed officials.

Viewpoint Seminole panel members participate voluntarily and without financial compensation from CMF as does the CMF producer/moderator.

Pictures

Mayor Persampiere was the guest speaker for the Oviedo Historical Society meeting on March 19, 2013. The meeting was held at the historic Memorial Building on Central Ave in downtown Oviedo. The Memorial Building is one of the several buildings scheduled to be removed in the next 2 years to make way for the widening of Central Avenue, also known as State Road 434. The fate of these buildings was one part of this report on the major changes that will occur in the city over the next few years.

Mayor Persampiere’s presentation has 3 segments. The first is an overview of the status of the city of Oviedo. The second is a description of Oviedo on the Park, the new development which will be the culmination of a decades long vision for economic development in the city. Thirdly, his attention turns to the historic district in the old downtown and the major changes that will remake the intersection of Broadway and Central. Both of these sections are within the boundaries of the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) for Oviedo.

A link is provided below to a series of illustrations the Mayor used to visualize his report. Click on the PDF file named “Oviedo Presentation”. It is not necessary to see the illustrations in order to follow the content the Mayor’s talk.

Principal Participant:

Mayor Dominic Persampiere Web | Bio

Oviedo Presentation (16 pages)

The three person panel are business veterans W. Michael “Mickey” Linn, president & CEO of Greensleeves; Richard Licursi, managing partner of venVelo; and Richard “Rick” Wohlfarth, chief operating officer of IBI Group. A more relevant description of their companies will be provided in their remarks and in their introduction by panel moderator Casey Barnes, vice president of the Orlando Economic Development Commission.

The panel offers their perspective on what business development aspects the county has going for it, the greatest challenges they face in keeping their company in the county, the resources they used to start and grow their businesses, how and whether the county fits into the overall entrepreneurial “ecosystem,” the role venture capital plays in establishing business, and whether the construction segment of the local economy seems to be turning around.

Principal Speakers

W. Michael "Mickey" Linn President & CEO, Greensleeves LLC Web

Richard Licursi Managing partner, venVelo LLC Web

Richard “Rick” Wohlfarth Chief operating officer, IBI Group, The Southgate Project Web

Casey Barnes Moderator, and vice president, Orlando Economic Development Web

Pictures

The panel on water resources was convened by the Natural Resources Committee of the League of Women Voters of Orange County. The participants are Cynthia Barnett a journalist and award winning author of books on freshwater issues including her newest book, Blue Revolution; Erik Jacobsen a life long cattle rancher and currently vice president and general manager for the Deseret ranch in St Cloud, Fl.; and Rob Teegarden an environmental engineer who serves as vice president of Water resource policy, planning and permitting at Orlando Utilities Commission. OUC serves a population of about 430,000 water users in the Orlando area.

The 20 minute presentation is moderated by Sister Patricia Siemen Director of the Center for Earth Jurisprudence at Barry University Law School. Members of the Orange County League are invited to ask questions of the panel members in the second half of the presentation.

This presentation was recorded before an audience of 200 league members and guests on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at the Sorosis Club in Orlando Florida as part of a Hot Topics Luncheon hosted by the League of Women Voters of Orange County Florida.

Principal Participants

Cynthia Barnett Author and journalist Web | Bio

Erik Jacobsen Vice President/general manager, Deseret Ranch Web | Bio

Rob Teegarden Vice President/water resources policy, planning & permitting, Orlando Utilities Commission Web

Patricia Siemen Moderator & director of the Center for Earth Jurisprudence, Barry University School of Law Web | Bio

Pictures

Listen to Mike Wacht, public involvement specialist for SunRail and his colleague Nicole Masters speak to the February 2013 Hot Topics luncheon of the League of Women Voters of Seminole County on the issue of SunRail and its construction status, particularly as it relates to Seminole County.

In this 35-minute podcast, Wacht and Master’s comments are 21-minutes in length and cover construction updates for passenger stations in Seminole county; station amenities, parking and passenger car aesthetics; operating hours; ticket expenses; transit times between stations; and how best to connect with SunRail from home or work. Their remarks are followed by another 14-minutes of answers to 8 questions asked by league members addressing such SunRail-related issues as passenger security, handicapped access, toll lanes on Interstate-4, and environmental standards. The event was moderated by league president, Jeanne Morris.

Principal Participants

Mike Wacht Public involvement specialist, SunRail Web | Bio

Nicole Masters Outreach specialist, ReThinkYourCommute Web | Bio

Jeanne Morris Moderator & president, League of Women Voters of Seminole County Web

Pictures

In 8 separate podcasts below — featuring Seminole County government’s chairman and the mayor of each of the county’s seven cities — CMF presents their report on the 2012 status of their governing body.

The Chairman

The state of the county event with Bob Dallari was recorded by CMF on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual luncheon held at the Westin Lake Mary Orlando North hotel in Lake Mary, Florida.

Bob Dallari Chairman and commissioner, Seminole Board of County Commissioners (Length: 20:53) Web | Bio

The Mayors

The state of the cities event was recorded by CMF on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s monthly “Good Morning Seminole” breakfast held at the Westin Lake Mary Orlando North hotel in Lake Mary, Florida.

	Patricia Bates Mayor, Altamonte Springs (Length: 06:47) Web | Bio		Charlene Glancy Mayor, Casselberry (Length: 07:41) Web | Bio
	David Mealor Mayor, Lake Mary (Length: 07:22) Web | Bio		Brian Sackett Mayor, Longwood (Length: 08:31) Web | Bio
	Dominic Persampiere Mayor, Oviedo (Length: 05:25) Web | Bio		Jeff Triplett Mayor, Sanford (Length: 08:08) Web | Bio
	Charles Lacey Mayor, Winter Springs (Length: 06:27) Web | Bio

Pictures

Welcome to the second edition of Viewpoint Seminole, a monthly podcast from CMF Public Media featuring a panel of Seminole County voices sharing their viewpoints about current issues confronting our local governments, school board, our state legislators, and institutions and people in the news who shape life in Seminole County…for better or worse.

Panelists will also offer a brief “shout out” and a “call out” on other issues of their choosing and they look around the corner noting imminent local issues they will be monitoring over the next month.

This edition of Viewpoint Seminole was recorded on Friday, March 8, 2013. It was edited by the moderator for brevity and focus. The views and opinions expressed on Viewpoint Seminole are those of the panelists.

Viewpoint Seminole Panel

Steve Barnes Former chairman, Democratic Party of Seminole County Bio

Jeanne Morris President, League of Women Voters of Seminole County, former Seminole County school board chair and member Bio

Randy Morris Business and public affairs consultant, RM Strategies Bio

Judith Smith Native of Sanford Florida and a third generation resident of Oviedo Bio

Moderator:

Stephen McKenney Steck Moderator for CMF Public Media Bio

Click Here for Roster of all Viewpoint Seminole panel members

Each month, CMF will offer Viewpoint Seminole as a forum for civil and informative local commentary from a panel of credible local voices that have a stake in Seminole County. Each month we’ll call upon the panel’s experience and insight and listen as they offer their “point of view” on the politics, policy, people and consequences that affect those of us who embrace life in Seminole County.

Photographs of the panel taken during their discussion are presented below in an on-line slide show.

You may email a link to this feature to those you know who have an interest in the issues discussed. Use the “share” option below. And “reply” below to CMF Public Media with your comments about this feature, adding suggestions about issues you believe worthy of future discussion by panel members.

Previous Viewpoint Seminole CMF Podcasts

• Viewpoint Seminole inaugural edition (02/08/13)
  Issues: 1) Governor Rick Scot’s education budget proposal to the legislature; 2) reaction to the pending rezoning of elementary schools; 3) and a proposal being considered by Seminole County government to amend a rural land use zone in the eastern portion of the county. Panel: Steve Barnes, John Bush, Michael Hoover and Jeanne Morris

Note:

CMF takes care to recruit and impanel members who are local to the area. Though still in formation, the full group of 12 members, when viewed as a whole will reflect a broad array of ethnicity, age, gender and life style. As a whole, the group will reflect a perceived level of current or former community involvement, life experiences and familiarity with broad community issues and standards.

CMF also takes care to avoid or disclose a panelist with known conflicts of interest relative to the issue being addressed. Excluded from participation as a panel member are current members of local media and currently serving elected or government-appointed officials.

Viewpoint Seminole panel members participate voluntarily and without financial compensation from CMF as does the CMF producer/moderator.

Pictures