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Park and an the Aquatics Center. The special use permit for Phase 1 is supposed to start <br />November 1, 2003 for Southern Community Park, with a completion date of August 1, 2006. <br />The Aquatics Center target date is also 2006 and should start on a parallel course with the park. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs ,seconded by Commissioner <br />Halkiatis to approve two resolutions, which are incorporated by reference, that would confirm <br />the remaining amounts pledged by the Orange County Board of Commissioners for the <br />Homestead Aquatics Center and Southern Community Park projects. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />I. Piedmont Wildlife Rehabilitation Center -Follow Up to Budget Decision <br />The Board considered moving forward with the release of $20,000 that was <br />placed in reserve in the current budget as a contribution to the Piedmont Wildlife Rehabilitation <br />Center as a contribution towards the Center's operation in Orange County. <br />Commissioner Carey said that his questions relate to the fact that the Board had <br />communicated that it would discuss this and make decisions in the context of the HSUS report. <br />The Board has not had the opportunity to have this discussion yet. He realizes that approving <br />this $20,000 will not limit the options, but he asked what this was based on. He also asked <br />what kind of grant this was referring ta. <br />Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey said that this is seen as an operational <br />grant and was presented as an original request. Regarding the first question, she said that the <br />HSUS report is a manual prepared for the animal shelter but there is nothing in there that <br />addresses wildlife. She made the statement in the abstract that this opportunity would not <br />preclude or foreclose any opportunities on the operation of the actual shelter. The County has <br />never funded wildlife as a separate feature. <br />Dr. Schopler said that this is a first time request for operational funds for the <br />Piedmont Wildlife Center and he would not preclude asking the Board of County Commissioners <br />for future funding or funding from other counties. He showed a chart of where animals have <br />come from. Orange County is not their only source of funding but they are asking other <br />counties for funding, too. There are no other commitments for funding yet. <br />Public Comment <br />Ann Peterson, APS Board member, spoke an behalf of the entire APS Board. <br />She read the first part of her prepared statement. They have met with the Piedmont Wildlife <br />Center, Dr. Schopler, and Joe LoBuglio, PWC President, to mend some fences and to ensure <br />that they are working together to be sure that all wildlife and domestic animals in Orange County <br />are properly taken care of. Instead of fighting with each other, the organizations are now <br />working together. They understand the PWC has asked for $20,000 far County support for the <br />program. The APS Board supports this request and asked that the Board of County <br />Commissioners provide the funding. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that her take on this is that this is a one-time fundinc <br />and then the Commissioners will consider more later. y <br />John Link said that Dr. Schopler's request is like a hundred requests that the <br />County receives from outside agencies and they review each request and they will do that next <br />year. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiatis, seconded by Commissioner <br />Jacobs to approve the Manager's recommendation that the County will release $20,000 that <br />was placed in reserve in the current budget as a contribution to the Piedmont Wildlife <br />Rehabilitation Center and designate it as a contribution towards the Center's operation in <br />Orange County. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />