Here's who will decide fate of Florida state park golf courses

Editor's note: On Friday, after The Flagler of Stuart decided not to host the DEP public meeting that was scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, citing "safety concerns," DEP postponed all of the meetings across the state and said it is looking for larger venues "due to the overwhelming interest." Stay tuned for a new date, time and place.

None of the seven people who’ll decide on building three golf courses in Jonathan Dickinson State Park will attend a public meeting on the matter in Stuart Tuesday, according to U.S. Rep. Brian Mast.

The Treasure Coast congressman urged the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to mandate attendance for every voting member of the Acquisition and Restoration Council , or ARC.

“The absence of the ARC members at this public comment meeting will deprive them of the ability to hear from the actual public about the impact their decision will have on our community,” Mast said in a news release Thursday. “It also gives the appearance of a box-checking exercise to citizens who deserve to have their voices heard by the actual decision-makers.”

DEP will unveil its Great Outdoors Initiative at 3 p.m. Tuesday at The Flagler of Stuart , 201 S.W. Flagler Ave.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park: Residents fight golf courses in Great Outdoors Initiative

Read U.S. Rep. Brian Mast's full letter below:

Who are the DEP ARC members?

DEP’s website says the 10 members represent four state agencies, four governor appointees, one Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission appointee and one Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services appointee. However, there appear to be three vacancies.

“ARC has responsibility for the evaluation, selection and ranking of state land acquisition projects on the Florida Forever Priority List , as well as the review of management plans and land uses for all state-owned conservation lands,” the website says.

Here are the seven members listed, and their stand-ins:

• DEP Secretary and ARC Chair Shawn Hamilton , who designated his stand-in to be Land and Recreation Deputy Secretary Mara Gambineri
• William Palmer , president of the Tall Timbers Research Station, an organization dedicated to wildlife research and conservation activity. He has degrees in zoology and wildlife sciences and has been working to restore grassland habitats on 100,000 acres of public land in Florida. He has authored many papers on bobwhite quail, wild turkeys, and the effects of prescribed burning for Southern forests.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young , who designated his stand-in to be Chief Conservation Officer George Warthen
• Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan
• Florida Division of Historical Resources Director Alissa Lotane , who serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer
• Usher Land and Timber Co. officer Lynetta Usher Griner , a former member of the Florida Forever Advisory Council and the Suwannee River Water Management District board, and a current member of the Fanning Springs State Park citizen-support organization.
• Florida Environmental & Land Services Inc. President Elva Peppers , a former DEP employee who know helps agencies, municipalities and private clients develop projects.

Cheryl Smith is TCPalm's environment editor. Contact her at cheryl.smith@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Here's who will decide fate of Florida state park golf courses