CAPTIONING
OCTOBER 15, 2008
BOCC REGULAR MEETING
AFTERNOON SESSION

***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the 
***following meeting.  It should be used for informational 
***purposes only.  This document has not been edited; 
***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words 
***that did not translate.

>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE 
AFTERNOON SESSION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 
BOARD MEETING.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANT TO READ INTO THE RECORD FROM 
COMMISSIONER MARK SHARPE, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT I'M UNABLE 
TO ATTEND THE AFTERNOON SESSION OF TODAY'S BOCC MEETING DUE 
TO A PLANNED SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT AT THE TAMPA CHAMBER.
PLEASE READ THE REASON FOR MY ABSENCE INTO THE RECORD.
THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, MS. BEAN, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A 1:45 TIME CERTAIN.
>>PAT BEAN:  COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE SCHEDULED AT 1:45, ITEM 
B-2, WHICH IS TO HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE REGIONAL 
WATER SUPPLY DEMANDS DOWN THROUGH THE ENHANCEMENT OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S EXISTING WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM 
TOOLS.
WE HAVE BOTH PAUL VANDERPLOOG FROM OUR OWN WATER DEPARTMENT 
AND ALSO JERRY SEEBER HERE FROM TAMPA BAY WATER.
PAUL, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME OPENING COMMENTS OR -- NO?
>>PAUL VANDERPLOOG:  MARIO.
>>PAT BEAN:  MARIO.
OKAY.
MARIO.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WELCOME, MARIO.
>>MARIO CABANA:  GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE 
BOARD.
MARIO CABANA, WATER RESOURCE TEAM PROGRAM MANAGER, WATER 
RESOURCE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THIS NEXT ITEM WE'LL GO OVER THE STAFF INFORMATION PAPER 
PREPARED IN RESPONSE TO WATER RESOURCE-RELATED CONCERNS 
RAISED BY THE BOCC DURING ITS PAST BOARD MEETING ON 
SEPTEMBER 17th.
TO PARAPHRASE, CONCERNS RAISED LAST MONTH CENTERED ON FIRST 
THE MEMORANDUM FROM TAMPA BAY WATER GENERAL MANAGER TO HIS 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASKING FOR MEMBER GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE 
IN CONSERVING WATER BY IMPLEMENTING SHORT-TERM WATER DEMAND 
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
SECOND, DETERMINING A MECHANISM TO REQUEST THAT TAMPA BAY 
WATER RENEW THEIR CONTRACT IN 2009 RATHER THAN 2010.
AND THIRDLY, TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BOARD TO 
RECEIVE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON 
TAMPA BAY WATER'S LATEST SET OF POTENTIAL NEW WATER SUPPLY 
PROJECTS IDENTIFIED FOR THE MASTER WATER SUPPLY PLAN UPDATE 
LATER THIS YEAR.
THE BOARD HAD ALSO REQUESTED TO INVITE THE TAMPA BAY WATER 
GENERAL MANAGER, MR. JERRY SEEBER, AND HE'S HERE TO ANSWER 
ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
UNLESS THE BOARD PREFERS SOME OTHER COURSE, I WOULD SUGGEST 
TO GO OVER EACH AREA OF CONCERN ONE AT A TIME AND HAVE MR. 
SEEBER ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE BEFORE 
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT MATTER.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  ARE YOU READY?
>> YES, I AM READY.
THE FIRST CONCERN WAS WITH THE TAMPA BAY WATER MEMORANDUM 
ASKING FOR MEMBER GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
TO BE BRIEF, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT TAMPA BAY WATER'S 
REQUEST IS REASONABLE IN THAT IT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN 
THE CONTEXT OF OUR EXISTING WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS 
ALREADY IN PLACE.
WE HAVE A BUDGET ESTABLISHED.
SECONDLY, IT'S PRUDENT IN LIGHT OF HYDROLOGIC INDICATORS 
WHICH TELL US THAT FLOWS IN THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER AND 
ALAFIA ARE CURRENTLY AT NEAR RECORD LOWS FOR THIS TIME OF 
THE YEAR.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS OUR REGION HAS NOT RECEIVED 
NORMAL RAINFALL TYPICAL OF THE AVERAGE FLORIDA RAINY 
SEASON, AND CONSEQUENTLY THE RIVER SOURCES HAVE NOT BEEN 
AVAILABLE TO TBW FOR QUITE SOMETIME.
THIS CONDITION CLEARLY WAS NOT EXPECTED NEARING THE TAIL 
END OF THE RAINY SEASON, AND OF COURSE, FURTHER 
COMPLICATING MATTERS IS THE REDUCED STORAGE CAPACITY AT THE 
REGIONAL RESERVOIR.
IN CONCLUSION, WATER RESOURCE SERVICES STANDS READY TO 
ASSIST TAMPA BAY WATER BY ENHANCING ITS DEMAND MANAGEMENT 
PLANS ALREADY UNDERWAY.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SEEBER?
>>JIM NORMAN:  YES.
ACTUALLY, THAT'S NOT WHY I HAD -- I WANTED TO ASK HIM SOME 
QUESTIONS.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT, SO I WANTED TO ASK HIM A 
QUESTION, AND THIS IS WHY WORKING THROUGH THE GENERAL AND 
WORKING -- ONE OF MY SPECIFIC REASONS FOR HAVING YOU HERE 
WAS LOOKING AT THE GLOBAL EFFECT OF TAMPA BAY WATER AND 
KNOWING US AS A MEMBER GOVERNMENT, SERVING ON IT BEFORE, 
BEING HERE SINCE THE BEGINNING, I HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF 
HOW THE PARTS WORK, AND KNOWING THAT IN '10 THAT OUR 
CONTRACT OR OUR -- OUR AGREEMENTS WILL STOP TO EXIST, I 
BELIEVE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S HEAVILY INVESTED IN THIS 
TAMPA BAY WATER CONTINUING.
I MEAN, THERE'S MULTIPLE REASONS GOING BACK TO THE FACT 
THAT BACK YEARS AND YEARS AGO, IN THE '80s, WE EVEN SIGNED 
AGREEMENTS THAT WE WOULD NOT SEEK OUR OWN WATER KNOWING 
THAT -- HOW THE ASSETS ARE ALL BLENDED AND WE'RE ALL 
SHARING THE WATER RATES.
OUR COUNTY HAS SO MUCH TO LOSE, AND OTHER MEMBERS ALSO, 
THAT IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG IN A MOVING FORWARD IN THE 
NEXT PHASE OF THE TAMPA BAY WATER AGREEMENTS THAT WE 
WOULD -- WE COULD LOSE TREMENDOUSLY.
OUR ENVIRONMENT COULD FAIL AS FAR AS OUR DRAWDOWNS AGAIN, 
OUR WETLAND CRISIS THAT WE FACED BEFORE, THE REASON WE GOT 
INTO THIS.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE -- AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR RESPONSE -- IS I 
BELIEVE WE NEED TO FORMALLY ASK YOU AS THE LEADER OF TAMPA 
BAY WATER TO START AN ENGAGING FROM 1/1 TO THE END OF '09 
THAT WE WOULD HAVE ALL THE AGREEMENTS WITH MEMBER 
GOVERNMENTS READY TO GO TO BE ABLE TO THEN ASK SWFWMD TO 
BLESS THOSE AGREEMENTS IN THE YEAR '10, AND IF WE -- IF 
ANY -- I MEAN, IT MAY BE AS SMOOTH AS ALL POSSIBLE, BUT 
JUST TRYING TO ANTICIPATE IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF A 
PROBLEM OR CRISIS THAT WE NEEDED TO DEAL WITH, WE COULD 
DEAL WITH IT BEFORE WE GOT TO THE WITCHING HOUR IN '10 AND 
THEN WE'RE DEALING FROM A CRISIS POSITION, SO I GUESS MY 
MOTION I'M GOING TO TRY TO MAKE TODAY IS THAT WE WOULD 
FORMALLY ASK YOU AS A -- AS A GOVERNMENT TO START THE WORK 
TO TRY TO GET OUR MEMBER GOVERNMENTS IN A POSITION TO 
ACTUALLY HAVE AN AGREEMENT AGREED UPON IN THE YEAR '09, AND 
THEN FORMALLY PRESENT THAT TO SWFWMD IN THE YEAR '10.
THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION I'M GOING TO ASK TODAY.
WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT.
>> BE GLAD TO, COMMISSIONER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
IN RESPONSE DIRECTLY TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT STARTING THE 
PROCESS, WE HAVE BEGUN WORK AT TAMPA BAY WATER TO ADDRESS 
THE CONSOLIDATED WATER USE PERMIT --
>>JIM NORMAN:  RIGHT.
>> -- THAT WILL EXPIRE IN 2010, AND THAT PROCESS WAS BEGUN 
-- IT'S A VERY OPEN PROCESS -- WITH REPRESENTATION WITH 
BOTH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY UTILITY STAFF, THE 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EPC STAFF, THE STAFF OF THE WATER 
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND OF COURSE, THE STAFF FROM TAMPA 
BAY WATER AND THE CONSULTANTS THAT TEND TO FOLLOW THE STAFF 
TO THESE MEETINGS ON THESE CRITICAL ISSUES.
WE ESTABLISHED REALLY TWO GOALS AT THE OUTSET.
ONE IS TO ENSURE WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE 
READY TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION TO THE WATER MANAGEMENT 
DISTRICT THAT EACH OF THE MEMBER GOVERNMENTS AND TAMPA BAY 
WATER ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AND THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE 
ISSUE OF ARBITRATION AMONGST OURSELVES TO DEAL WITH BEFORE 
THE PERMIT IS CONSIDERED BY THE DISTRICT, SO GOAL NUMBER 
ONE WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNICATION LINKAGES BETWEEN 
THE MEMBER GOVERNMENTS, BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND 
TAMPA BAY WATER, WERE SOLID ENOUGH THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE 
THE ISSUE OF ARBITRATION BECAUSE WE FAILED TO COMMUNICATE 
AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER IN THIS PROCESS.
SECOND GOAL WAS TO ENSURE THAT WE MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF 
THE RULE PROMULGATED BY THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT SO 
WE'RE NOT EMBROILED IN ANY CHAPTER 120 PROCEEDINGS AND HAVE 
TO TALK TO THE DISTRICT THROUGH OUR TRIAL LAWYERS IN ORDER 
TO HAVE THE PERMIT RENEWED.
WITH THAT IN MIND, WE BEGAN THE PROCESS EARLY IN 2008, IN 
APRIL, AND THERE'S BEEN FIVE MEETINGS ALREADY AMONG THE 
PARTIES THAT I MENTIONED ON THE CONSOLIDATED WATER USE 
PERMIT.
YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN PARTICIPATING IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY IN 
THAT EFFORT.
OUR NEXT STEPS INVOLVE GOING OUT TO EACH AND EVERY 
WELLFIELD ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND DOING THE VERY 
DETAILED NUTS-AND-BOLTS TECHNICAL WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE 
ADDRESS ISSUES SPECIFIC TO WELLFIELDS.
THAT IS GOING TO CARRY US THROUGH THE BULK OF 2009.
WE ANTICIPATE BEING DONE WITH ALL OUR TECHNICAL WORK AND 
HAVING THE MATERIAL READY FOR SUBMISSION TO THE WATER 
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BY THE END OF 2009.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THERE IS NO CONFLICT TO ASK YOU TO FORMALLY 
CONCLUDE ALL OF YOUR WORK AND HAVE THE MEMBER GOVERNMENTS 
IN A POSITION TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT BY THE END OF '09?
>> THE PERMIT APPLICATION REALLY COMES FROM TAMPA BAY WATER 
AS THE PERMIT APPLICANT --
>>JIM NORMAN:  I UNDERSTAND.
>> -- BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM IN US MEETING -- 
HAVING IT DONE BY THE LATTER PORTION OF 2009.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, COMMISSIONER.
>>JIM NORMAN:  BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT 
MOTION.
THAT IS, I BELIEVE IT'S IMPERATIVE UPON OUR ENVIRONMENT 
HERE TO PROTECT IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE GOTTEN DIALOGUE BACK IS THAT 
YOU'RE CONCURRING THAT OUR PUMPING LEVELS WOULD REMAIN THE 
SAME AS WE GO FORTH?
>> YES.
OUR APPLICATION PROCESS AND DISCUSSIONS HAVE --
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND THROUGH THE NEXT APPLICATION PROCESS --
>> HAVE STAYED 90 MILLION GALLONS A DAY AND NOT ANY HIGHER.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>> AND WE ANTICIPATE A TEN-YEAR RENEWAL THROUGH THE WATER 
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE UPON THIS BOARD TO 
TAKE THE LEADERSHIP TO ASK THAT AND TO LEAD TO MAKE SURE 
THAT THE MEMBER GOVERNMENTS AND ALL CONCUR WITH THE 
APPLICATION BY THE END OF '09, AND I WOULD ASK THAT I GET A 
SECOND ON THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I'M SORRY.
I WAS TALKING TO RENEE AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RECLARIFY THAT MOTION.
I'M SORRY.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THAT WE ASK -- WE FORMALLY ASK TAMPA BAY 
WATER TO WORK ON THEIR -- THEIR CONSOLIDATED PERMITS AND 
HAVE THEM CONCLUDED BY THE END OF '09, AND PRIMARILY IT'S 
BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO EVER GET INTO A CRISIS SITUATION 
IN '10 WHEN OUR PERMITS AND OUR AGREEMENTS ARE NOT AGREED 
UPON, AND WITH THAT FORMAL REQUEST THAT THEY HAVE CONCURRED 
WITH AS THEY MOVE FORWARD THAT OUR -- WE REMAIN AT THE SAME 
PUMPING LEVELS WE AGREED --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  NOT TO EXCEED.
>>JIM NORMAN:  NOT TO EXCEED THE SAME PUMPING LEVELS AS WE 
HAD IN OUR PREVIOUS AGREEMENT WHERE WE ROLLED BACK FROM THE 
ORIGINAL STARTING POINT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I'LL SECOND THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND I THINK YOU 
RECOGNIZE WHAT HE'S ASKING.
YOU'RE NOT GOING HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH COMPLYING WITH THAT 
DEADLINE, MR. SEEBER, YOU DON'T THINK?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO, COMMISSIONER.
THE STAFF AND THE TEAM INVOLVED IN THIS ENDEAVOR BELIEVE 
THAT THEY WILL BE CONCLUDED WITH ALL OF THEIR TECHNICAL 
WORK BY NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER OF 2009, WHICH WOULD POSITION 
US AT THAT POINT TO SEND IT OUT FOR ONE FINAL REVIEW BY ALL 
OF THE PARTIES AND HAVE IT IN PLACE WELL IN ADVANCE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THAT'S FINE.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS DIALOGUE AND THEN HAVE 
SOMETHING THAT'S UNREALISTIC THAT YOU CAN ATTAIN.
THAT'S FINE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN, 
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE.
NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
>>JIM NORMAN:  MR. SEEBER, THANK YOU.
>>MARIO CABANA:  OKAY.
AND I'D POINT OUT THE AGENDA ITEM PACKET HAD A DRAFT LETTER 
WHICH I BELIEVE ADDRESSES BOTH OF THOSE CONCERNS FOR 
CONSIDERATION, SO I'LL MOVE AHEAD AND SKIP TO THE MASTER 
WATER PLAN.
THE LAST AREA OF CONCERN CENTERED ON TAMPA BAY WATER'S 
ONGOING EFFORTS TO UPDATE THEIR MASTER WATER SUPPLY PLAN AT 
THE END OF THIS YEAR WHICH INCLUDES THE TAMPA BAY WATER 
BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S SELECTION OF A SHORT LIST OF PROJECTS 
TO BE FURTHER STUDIED IN ANTICIPATION OF FINAL SELECTION IN 
THE YEAR 2012.
THESE FINAL PROJECTS SELECTED IN 2012 WILL BE PURSUED TO 
MEET WATER SUPPLY NEEDS BEYOND 2019.
WITH REGARD TO THIS AREA, STAFF WAS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE 
ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ON WATER SUPPLY OPTIONS TO PURSUE FOR 
DEVELOPMENT IN THE MASTER WATER PLAN UPDATE, AND TO THAT 
END, WE'VE REVIEWED THE TAMPA BAY WATER CONCEPTUAL 
PROJECTS, ABOUT 18 IN ALL, AND HAVE OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR 
THE BOARD TODAY.
FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I'D LIKE TO JUST QUICKLY COMMENT ON 
THE GENERAL CATEGORIES OF PROJECTS AND THEN WRAP UP WITH 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PROJECTS TO BE SUPPORTED.
IN THE CATEGORY OF TRADITIONAL GROUNDWATER, TAMPA BAY WATER 
HAS IDENTIFIED EIGHT POSSIBLE PROJECTS LOCATED IN 
HILLSBOROUGH AND PASCO COUNTIES SHOWN HERE ON THE FIGURE.
THE LARGE FIGURE TO THE -- KIND OF THE TOP LEFT THERE 
REPRESENTS THE LARGER PROJECT TO POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE 
CENTRAL SYSTEM WELLFIELD PERMIT, THE CONSOLIDATED PERMIT, 
AND THE OTHERS ARE INDIVIDUAL WELLFIELDS SCATTERED AROUND 
THE REGION.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE PROJECT, THE EXPANSION OF THE 
BRANDON URBAN DISPERSED WELLFIELD, THESE GROUNDWATER 
PROJECTS ALL FALL WITHIN SWFWMD'S ESTABLISHED NORTHERN 
TAMPA BAY RECOVERY AREA, A REGION WHICH CONTINUES TO 
EXHIBIT ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS TO WETLANDS, LAKES, 
AND THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER.
IT IS BELIEVED AT THIS TIME BASED UPON HYDROLOGIC AND 
ECOLOGIC CONDITIONS THAT THESE NEW PROJECTS WOULD 
EXACERBATE THE IMPACTS BEING SEEN AND ARE THEREFORE NOT 
SUPPORTED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AT THIS TIME.
IN THE CATEGORY OF ALTERNATIVE SUPPLIES, TAMPA BAY WATER 
HAS IDENTIFIED NINE PROJECTS, INCLUDING SURFACE WATER-, 
BRACKISH GROUNDWATER-, SEAWATER-, AND RECLAIMED WATER-
RELATED PROJECTS.
ANCILLARY TO SOME OF THE PROJECTS IS A POSSIBLE SECOND 
RESERVOIR TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN AN UNDETERMINED LOCATION IN 
SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
STARTING WITH THE SURFACE WATER, TAMPA BAY WATER HAS 
IDENTIFIED THE ALAFIA RIVER AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE FOR 
ADDITIONAL WATER USE QUANTITIES.
THIS PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES AN OPTION TO CONSTRUCT A SECOND 
RESERVOIR, AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE AS THE BLUE BOXES SHOWN IN 
THE SOUTHERN PART OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
AS YOU KNOW, TAMPA BAY WATER ALREADY USES THE ALAFIA RIVER 
AS A SOURCE OF WATER, AND TO DATE NO ADVERSE IMPACTS HAVE 
BEEN DETECTED RESULTING FROM TAMPA BAY WATER'S WITHDRAWALS.
FURTHERMORE, SCIENTIFIC WORK COMPLETED BY SWFWMD IN 
DEVELOPING THEIR MFL FOR THE RIVER SUGGESTS THAT ADDITIONAL 
WATER COULD BE HARVESTED FROM THE RIVER DURING PERIODS OF 
HIGHER FLOW, SO BEST AVAILABLE INFORMATION, STAFF BELIEVES 
THAT IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL WATER FROM THE 
ALAFIA RIVER; HOWEVER, ASIDE FROM THE LACK OF INFORMATION 
AVAILABLE TO EVALUATE POSSIBLE CONCERNS FOR SITING A SECOND 
RESERVOIR, CONSTRUCTION COSTS TO INCLUDE THE SECOND 
RESERVOIR WOULD MAKE THIS PROJECT THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF ALL 
OPTIONS BEING CONSIDERED.
CLEARLY THERE ARE OTHER FEASIBLE OPTIONS THAT SHOULD BE 
PURSUED BEFORE THE RESERVOIR OPTION.
THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION HERE WOULD BE TO FURTHER 
INVESTIGATE THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE THE ALAFIA RIVER 
WITHOUT A SECOND RESERVOIR.
WITH REGARD TO BRACKISH GROUNDWATER, TAMPA BAY WATER HAS 
IDENTIFIED THREE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS WITH ALTERNATIVE 
SITING OPTIONS TO USE REVERSE OSMOSIS TO TREAT BRACKISH 
GROUNDWATER IN PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTY.
YOU CAN SEE THE WAY THEY'RE SPREAD OUT ALONG THE COASTAL 
AREAS.
EACH PROJECT IS IDENTIFIED TO PRODUCE UP TO FIVE MILLION 
GALLONS PER DAY OF POTABLE WATER.
AS POTENTIAL DROUGHT-PROOF ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY 
SOURCES, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THESE PROJECTS ALL SHOULD BE 
CONSIDERED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION BY TAMPA BAY WATER.
WITH REGARD TO SEAWATER DESALINATION, TAMPA BAY WATER HAS 
IDENTIFIED TWO PROJECT OPTIONS.
THE FIRST OPTION REFERRED TO AS THE GULF COAST DESALINATION 
PROJECT IS A NEW FACILITY TO BE COLLOCATED WITH THE 
EXISTING POWER PLANT AT THE ANCLOTE RIVER IN PASCO COUNTY 
YOU SEE IT THERE TO THE FAR RIGHT ALONG THE COASTLINE.
TBW HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED EXPANSION OF THE TAMPA BAY WATER 
DESALINATION FACILITY TO INCREASE PRODUCTION THERE BY TEN 
MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
AS DROUGHT-PROOF ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY SOURCES OF 
RELATIVELY HIGH CAPACITY, STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDS BOTH OF 
THESE SEAWATER DESALINATION OPTIONS BE FURTHER CONSIDERED 
BY TAMPA BAY WATER.
AND LASTLY, THERE'S THE RECLAIMED WATER OPTIONS.
WITH REGARD TO A PROJECT INVOLVING RECLAIMED WATER, TAMPA 
BAY WATER HAS IDENTIFIED TWO POSSIBLE APPROACHES.
THE FIRST ARE THE DOWNSTREAM AUGMENTATION PROJECTS AS 
PROPOSED TO SWAP RECLAIMED WATER FOR ADDITIONAL SURFACE 
WATER FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER AND/OR THE ALAFIA RIVER, 
AND SECONDLY, A MORE RECENT CONCEPT BEING INVESTIGATED BY 
THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT INVOLVING AQUIFER RECHARGE 
WITH HIGHLY RECLAIMED WATER.
WITH REGARD TO THE FORMER PROJECT, STAFF HAS REACHED A 
CONCLUSION THAT THE DOWNSTREAM AUGMENTATION PROJECTS WOULD 
NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO THE COUNTY'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO 
ELIMINATE ITS WASTEWATER DISCHARGES TO OPEN WATERS OR 
HELPING TO RESTORE NUTRIENT-IMPAIRED WATER BODIES SUCH AS 
TAMPA BAY.
CONSEQUENTLY STAFF DOES NOT SUPPORT EITHER DOWNSTREAM 
AUGMENTATION PROJECT OPTION, AND THAT ONE ALSO WAS ONE OF 
THE PROJECTS THAT INCLUDED THE OPTION FOR A SECOND 
RESERVOIR.
AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THEM IN THE SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
THE LAST THING BEING LOOKED AT IS THE AQUIFER RECHARGE 
CONCEPT SEEMS TO HAVE MERIT BUT HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY 
STUDIED IN THE TAMPA BAY REGION TO FULLY UNDERSTAND 
POSSIBLE CONCERNS.
IN ORDER TO ANSWER SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS, THE 
WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT HAS EMBARKED ON A FEASIBILITY 
STUDY TO LOOK AT THE AQUIFER RECHARGE USING HIGHLY TREATED 
RECLAIMED WATER IN ORDER TO CREATE A NET BENEFIT TO THE 
AQUIFER THAT WOULD ALLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL 
GROUNDWATER SOURCES.
ONE EXAMPLE FREQUENTLY MENTIONED IS THE IDEA OF A SALTWATER 
BARRIER ALONG THE COAST -- THAT'S SHOWN AS THE STAR NEXT TO 
THE TAMPA BAY DESAL PLANT -- WHICH WOULD PREVENT SALTWATER 
INTRUSION AND ALLOW ADDITIONAL GROUNDWATER TO BE PERMITTED 
FURTHER INLAND.
THE CONCEPT AND VISION [INCOMPREHENSIBLE] RECLAIMED WATER 
POSSIBLY TO DRINKING WATER STANDARDS SO THAT IT COULD 
CONCEIVABLY BE USED TO RECHARGE THE AQUIFER.
SWFWMD STUDY WILL EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING DIRECT 
RECHARGE WELLS AND RECHARGE BASINS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF 
SOUTHERN HILLSBOROUGH AND EASTERN POLK COUNTY.
TAMPA BAY WATER HAS RECENTLY ADDED THE AQUIFER RECHARGE 
PROJECT TO THEIR LIST AND IS A POTENTIAL DROUGHT-PROOF 
ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY SOURCE.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THIS BE CONSIDERED FOR FURTHER 
EVALUATION, AND THIS BRINGS US TO THE CONCLUSION.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT, STAFF SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS 
FOR FURTHER EVALUATION BY TAMPA BAY WATER, THOSE BEING THE 
BRANDON WELLS ENHANCEMENT, THE ALAFIA RIVER EXPANSION 
WITHOUT A SECOND RESERVOIR, THE AQUIFER RECHARGE CONCEPT, 
AND THE FIVE DESALINATION-RELATED PROJECTS SHOWN ON THE 
LIST THERE.
RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE BOARD DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE A 
LETTER FOR THE CHAIRMAN'S SIGNATURE THAT IDENTIFIES FOR THE 
TAMPA BAY WATER BOARD OF DIRECTORS THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
PREFERRED FUTURE WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS THAT SHOULD BE 
FURTHER EVALUATED FOR THE MASTER WATER SUPPLY PLAN UPDATE 
IN DECEMBER OF 2008.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON THE ALAFIA RIVER 
SIDE OF THIS, AND ALSO, MR. SEEBER, I'D LIKE TO ASK ABOUT 
THE STATUS OF THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THE ALAFIA RIVER, SO 
A COUPLE QUESTIONS GOING HERE, AND --
>> OKAY.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE BECAUSE ONE OF 
THE QUESTIONS I GET FROM THE CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT -- 
AND ALAFIA RIVER IS IN THE DISTRICT -- IS ARE WE GOING TO 
DRAW IT DOWN AND TURN IT INTO ANOTHER HILLSBOROUGH RIVER 
WITH BRACKISH, SALTWATER INTRUSION.
>>MARIO CABANA:  EXCUSE ME, BUT DID YOU WANT MR. SEEBER TO 
ADDRESS THAT?
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  BOTH OF YOU, BUT I -- WE'LL TALK ABOUT 
RECLASS TO MR. SEEBER AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
>>MARIO CABANA:  WELL, THE EXPANSION OF THE ALAFIA RIVER 
PROJECT IS SIMPLY LOOKING AT TAKING ADDITIONAL WATER DURING 
HIGHER FLOW PERIODS.
TO DATE, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ADVERSE 
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS DUE TO THE EXISTING WITHDRAWALS THEY 
HAVE.
AND SECONDLY, SWFWMD HAS CONDUCTED A LOT OF SCIENTIFIC 
EVALUATION OF THE RIVER AND THE RIVERINE SYSTEM AND THE 
ECOLOGY AND HAS THEMSELVES CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS A LITTLE 
SLIVER PERCENTAGEWISE THAT STILL COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO 
TAMPA BAY WATER AS A WATER SUPPLY SOURCE, SO I HAD ONLY HAD 
CONCERN WITH BUILDING THE SECOND RESERVOIR IN THAT IT DROVE 
THE PROJECT TO BECOME ONE OF THE HIGHEST-COST PROJECTS, I 
BELIEVE OVER $10 PER THOUSAND GALLONS.
THE RECLASSIFICATION IS -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS STILL UNDER 
CONSIDERATION BY FDEP UP IN TALLAHASSEE.
WE WILL BE HELD -- THEY WILL BE HOLDING SOME PUBLIC 
WORKSHOPS, I BELIEVE, IN DECEMBER OR EARLY 2009, JANUARY 
PERIOD, AND WE WILL BE ACTIVE IN THOSE WORKSHOPS TO 
REPRESENT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  ALL RIGHT.
AND YOUR REASONS FOR WITH OR WITHOUT THE RESERVOIR, EXPLAIN 
THAT.
CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT?
>>MARIO CABANA:  MY ONLY REASON -- THERE'S ISSUES WITH -- 
WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE THE RESERVOIR'S GOING TO BE.
I BELIEVE THERE'S SIX SITES BEING CONSIDERED, SO I CAN'T 
REALLY COMMENT ON THOSE PARTICULAR SITES, BUT ASIDE FROM 
THAT, IF YOU ROLL THE -- THE SECOND RESERVOIR INTO IT, THE 
CAPITAL COSTS DROVE THE PROJECT TO BECOME AT A COST OF 
$10 -- OVER $10 PER THOUSAND GALLONS, WHICH CLEARLY RANKED 
IT THE HIGHEST-COST PROJECT ON THEIR LIST, SO I JUST 
THOUGHT IT WAS REASONABLE THAT THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS 
THAT ARE FEASIBLE WHICH ARE LESS COSTLY THAT SHOULD BE 
PURSUED BEFORE YOU TAKE THAT STEP TO MOVE TOWARDS SUCH AN 
EXPENSIVE PROJECT.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  ALL RIGHT.
MR. SEEBER.
AND WELCOME BACK.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  I'LL TELL YOU AGAIN, IT'S A PLEASURE 
WORKING WITH YOU AND THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE OPENNESS AND 
THE GOOD COMMUNICATIONS THAT YOU'RE BUILDING AND DEVELOPING 
BECAUSE IT'S JUST A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO SEE AT TAMPA BAY 
WATER.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE THAT.
WITH REGARD TO THE RECLASSIFICATION, MR. CABANA STATED IT 
QUITE WELL.
OUR BOARD AUTHORIZED THE SUBMISSION OF THE APPLICATION IN 
DECEMBER OF 2007, AND WE SUBMITTED THAT TO THE DEP IN 
JANUARY OF 2008.
DEP HAS UNDERTAKEN A REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION.
THEY HAVE ASKED US FOR ADDITIONAL DATA, WHICH HAS BEEN 
PROVIDED.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THE STAFF FROM TALLAHASSEE VISITED 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THEY TOURED THAT PORTION OF THE BYPASS 
CANAL AND THE ALAFIA RIVER THAT HAD BEEN PROPOSED FOR 
RECLASSIFICATION.
THEY HAVE NOT, THAT I KNOW OF, SET ANY SPECIFIC DATES FOR 
ANY PUBLIC WORKSHOPS THAT WOULD BE HELD ON THE -- ON THE 
APPLICATION.
THEY ARE MOVING SLOWLY, AND MY STAFF TELLS ME THAT THAT'S 
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DEALT WITH ONE OF THESE IN QUITE A FEW 
YEARS, SO THEY'RE KIND OF FEELING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE 
RULE TO ENSURE THAT THEY OBSERVE IT PROPERLY, BUT I 
ANTICIPATE THAT THERE'LL BE SOME ACTIVITY THAT WE ALL WILL 
SEE PROBABLY EARLY IN 2009.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  OKAY.
AND WHILE I HAVE YOU UP HERE, GIVE US A STATUS REPORT ON 
THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE DESALINATION PLANT --
>> SURE.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  -- AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT, AND 
HAVE WE HAD ANY BUMPS ALONG THE WAY SINCE IT'S GONE ON-
LINE?
AND THEN FROM THERE, I'M GOING TO LEAD INTO JUST A CURRENT 
STATUS REPORT ON THE RESERVOIR AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH 
THE CRACKS THERE.
>> WITH REGARD TO THE DESALINATION FACILITY, AS 
COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM KNOWS, WENT INTO OPERATION IN 
DECEMBER OF 2007, AND THROUGH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10th, THIS 
PAST WEEK, WE HAVE PRODUCED AN AVERAGE OF 20.08 MILLION 
GALLONS A DAY AT THAT FACILITY.
IF YOU WERE TO AVERAGE ALL OF THOSE DAYS AND ALL THE 
PRODUCTION, WE'RE AT A LITTLE OVER 20 MILLION GALLONS A DAY 
FROM THAT FACILITY, WHICH HAS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY AS WE 
DEAL WITH THE SHORTAGE IN SURFACE WATER THESE DAYS FROM THE 
ALAFIA AND FROM THE BYPASS CANAL.
THE FACILITY WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THAT MODE THROUGH 
THE REST OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
YESTERDAY WE RAN AT 27 MILLION GALLONS A DAY, SO THE 
PRODUCTION VARIES, OF COURSE, WITH THE ABILITY OF THE 
MEMBRANE SYSTEM TO HANDLE WHAT WE'RE PUSHING THROUGH IT.
THE FACILITY, THOUGH, IS PERFORMING IN A WAY THAT WE WANT 
IT TO PERFORM RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF MEETING OUR DEMANDS.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT'LL BE IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE ABOUT 
10% OF OUR REGIONAL NEEDS GOING FORWARD.
WITH REGARD TO THE RESERVOIR FACILITY, WE'RE USING --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  AND BACK UP.
I THINK ONE OF OUR PROJECTS HERE WAS TO EXPAND THE CURRENT 
DESAL PLANT.
>> YES, SIR.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  TELL US -- SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT 
WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN AND WHAT -- HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO 
GET THAT ON-LINE AND WHAT --
>> OKAY.
AS PART OF THE LAST MASTER WATER PLAN EFFORT, WE 
ANTICIPATED THAT THE DESALINATION FACILITY COULD BE AS 
LARGE AS 35 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED AT 25, BUT ALL OF THE PIPE 
PIECES, THE INTAKES AND OUTFLOW STRUCTURES ARE SIZED TO 
HANDLE THE LARGER FLOW, SO ONE OF OUR ALTERNATIVES GOING 
FORWARD IS TO ADD THAT TEN-MILLION-GALLON-A-DAY CAPACITY TO 
THAT FACILITY, AND IN TERMS OF HOW LONG THAT WOULD TAKE, 
LIKE ANY LARGE PRODUCTION FACILITY, INDUSTRIAL FACILITY, 
SEVERAL YEARS TO DESIGN, PERMIT, AND CONSTRUCT THE 
IMPROVEMENTS.
THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY OF TEN MILLION GALLONS A DAY IS 
ABOUT 25% OF THE 40 MILLION WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED 
OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, SO THE ACTUAL PHASING OF WHEN IT 
COULD GET BUILT IS A DECISION THAT OUR BOARD HASN'T MADE 
YET.
IN FACT, THE BOARD HASN'T MADE A DECISION YET TO INCLUDE IT 
AS ONE OF OUR PROJECTS GOING FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE 
RECOMMENDED TO THEM THAT THAT BE INCLUDED, SO IT'S A 
MULTIPLE-YEAR EFFORT.
I DON'T THINK ANY DECISIONS BY OUR BOARD ARE ANTICIPATED ON 
WHICH PROJECTS TO CHOOSE PROBABLY FOR ANOTHER TWO OR THREE 
YEARS, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ANALYZE 
SOME OF THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT WE'RE SENDING FORWARD 
TO OUR BOARD.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  ALL RIGHT.
AND THE RESERVOIR.
>> RESERVOIR FACILITY, WE'RE USING IT TODAY BECAUSE OF THE 
LACK OF FLOW IN THE ALAFIA AND THE HILLSBOROUGH.
I THINK YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THE REPORTS AND THE MATERIALS 
THAT WE'VE TRIED TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE THAT THE FLOW IN 
BOTH RIVERS IS ABOUT 5% RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS TO SAY 95% OF 
THE TIME THERE'S MORE WATER IN THE RIVER, SO WE HAVE BEEN 
MAKING USE OF THE STORED FACILITY -- STORED WATER AT THE 
RESERVOIR HERE IN -- BEGINNING IN LATE SEPTEMBER AND 
THROUGH EARLY OCTOBER.
THE FACILITY ITSELF IS FUNCTIONING WELL AND SERVING US WELL 
TO PROVIDE CAPACITY TO MEET DEMANDS HERE IN THIS 
INORDINATELY DRY SEASON.
THE CRACKING SITUATION HAS NOT REALLY CHANGED RELATIVELY TO 
WHERE IT'S BEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
ANALYSIS OF THE FACILITY CONTINUES BY OUR ENGINEERING FIRM 
TO DETERMINE THE PRECISE CAUSES OF THE CRACKING AND TO 
DEVELOP SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OUR BOARD ON REMEDIES.
THAT WORK WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THE FALL AND IN THE 
SPRING OF 2009.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE FACILITY CONTINUES TO BE USED AS IT 
WAS DESIGNED TO HELP US MEET DEMAND ON ANY GIVEN DAY FOR 
OUR CUSTOMERS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WHAT ABOUT SAFETY ASPECTS?
ANY BREACHES THAT WOULD CAUSE --
>> ABSOLUTELY REMAINS SAFE, COMMISSIONER.
THE FACILITY IS A VERY SAFE FACILITY, HAS BEEN INSPECTED ON 
A REGULAR BASIS BOTH BY TAMPA BAY WATER AND ON A PERIODIC 
BASIS BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 
AND THEIR DAM SAFETY EXPERT.
THAT STATUS HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE BEGINNING, STILL IS A 
VERY SOUND FACILITY AND STILL FUNCTIONS VERY WELL.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  JUST VERY QUICKLY.
YOUR -- YOUR DEMAND -- YOUR 20-YEAR DEMAND THAT YOU SPOKE 
OF AND YOUR OUT YEARS, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU-ALL 
VISITED THOSE NUMBERS, AND HAVE THEY CHANGED FROM THE 
STANDPOINT OF -- I MEAN, WE HAVE -- FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD 
TO US TO -- WE'VE HAD TO GO BACK AND RELOOK AT OUR 
POPULATION DEMANDS.
LOOK AT SCHOOLS, HOW WE HAD JUST AN EXPLOSION OF BUILDING 
SCHOOLS WITH THE ECONOMIC SITUATIONS AND THE PEOPLE COMING 
TO FLORIDA, AND THINGS HAVE RIGHT NOW CHANGED.
HAVE YOU ALTERED ANY OF YOUR DEMANDS?
>> YES.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SO THE CURRENT VOLUMES AND EVERYTHING THAT 
YOU'RE ANTICIPATING ARE CURRENT NUMBERS?
>> YES.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WITH ALL THE CHANGES IN THERE?
>> WE HAVE TAKEN A VERY HARD LOOK AT PROSPECTIVE DEMANDS 
BECAUSE AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE HAVE AN UNEQUIVOCAL 
OBLIGATION TO MEET EVERYBODY'S DEMAND REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT 
IS.
>>JIM NORMAN:  RIGHT.
>> WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY LOOKING AT PROSPECTIVE 
NEEDS INTO THE FUTURE.
YES, WE DID MODIFY OUR PROJECTIONS GOING FORWARD IN THIS 
PLANNING EXERCISE BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY 
AND THE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF HOUSING --
>>JIM NORMAN:  WHAT'S THAT REDUCTION?
>> WELL, LONG-TERM, IF YOU HAD LOOKED AT THIS MASTER WATER 
PLAN DOCUMENT FIVE YEARS AGO AND YOU CALCULATED THE SLOPE 
OF THAT GROWTH CURVE, IT WAS ABOUT 3% PER YEAR.
IT IS NOW DOWN TO ABOUT 2% PER YEAR OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD.
IF YOU LOOK AT JUST '09 TO -- OR EXCUSE ME -- '08 TO '09, 
IT'S FLAT.
SO -- AND FROM THERE, IT STARTS TO CREEP UP A LITTLE BIT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  GOOD.
>> AND OF COURSE, LIKE ANY CRYSTAL BALL, IT GETS A LITTLE 
MURKY THE FURTHER YOU GO OUT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SURE.
WITH YOUR PLAN, YOUR MASTER WATER PLAN, WHERE ARE YOU 
ANTICIPATING RIGHT NOW FOR CONE RANCH TO BE IN THERE, OR 
WHAT'S YOUR -- WHAT'S YOUR FUTURE VISION ABOUT CONE RANCH?
>> THE CONE RANCH FACILITY AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF WATER 
SUPPLY IS INCLUDED IN A GROUP OF 300 PROJECTS THAT TAMPA 
BAY WATER --
>>JIM NORMAN:  RIGHT.
>> -- GATHERED TOGETHER IN THE PLANNING EXERCISE.
IT IS NOT AMONG THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE -- THAT OUR 
CONSULTANT HAS FORWARDED TO OUR BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION 
OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
IT IS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THAT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SO YOU'RE SAYING IN A 20-YEAR PLAN RIGHT NOW 
IT'S NOT INCLUDED?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
NOW, ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE REJECT AND DON'T USE OUT 
OF THAT 300, THEY DON'T GO AWAY.
WE KEEP THOSE AROUND BECAUSE THIS PLANNING PROCESS IN WHICH 
WE ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED BY CONTRACT IS REPEATED EVERY FIVE 
YEARS, SO IN FIVE YEARS WE GO BACK AND WE LOOK AND SEE 
WHAT'S AVAILABLE AT THAT POINT FOR CONSIDERATION, BUT IT IS 
NOT PART OF THE RECOMMENDED LIST THAT OUR BOARD IS GOING TO 
BE LOOKING AT THROUGH OCTOBER AND DECEMBER AS PART OF THE 
NEXT MASTER WATER PLAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  ALL YOU PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE PAST THE NEXT 
TWO, THREE, OR FOUR YEARS, REMEMBER THAT COMMENT.
WRITE IT DOWN SOMEWHERE.
[LAUGHTER]
>>KEN HAGAN:  DO WE HAVE ANYMORE QUESTIONS OR -- 
COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YEAH.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD IF I CAN HAVE A RECONSIDERATION 
ON THE FIRST VOTE REGARDING THE CONSOLIDATED PERMITTING AND 
NOT TO EXCEED 90 MGDs.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MOVE FOR RECONSIDERATION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  AND I'D LIKE TO --
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  WOULD YOU PLEASE RE-RECORD YOUR 
VOTES.
>>JIM NORMAN:  YOU WANTED TO RECONSIDER ON THAT FIRST?
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YES, PLEASE, AND WHOEVER MADE THE MOTION.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I'D MAKE ONCE AGAIN THAT WE FORMALLY ASK 
TAMPA BAY WATER TO ACTIVELY PURSUE THE CONTRACT FOR THE 
MEMBER GOVERNMENTS TO EXTEND TAMPA BAY WATER AND COMPLETE 
THAT PROCESS IN '09 AND ALSO PUT A CAP ON THE EXTENSION OF 
THE CAP ON DRAWDOWNS THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT FIRST CONTRACT.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WAS THAT 90?
>>JIM NORMAN:  90, YES.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND THAT WAS BY FERLITA, YES.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOARD MEMBERS.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION BACK TO MR. SEEBER 
AGAIN.
I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE GIVING US, SIR, 
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORKING WITH US, BUT AS WE GO 
THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION AND THIS DIALOGUE, I'M STILL KIND 
OF CONCERNED -- I MEAN, ON ONE HAND YOU'RE SAYING THAT 
EVERYTHING'S FINE, EVERYTHING IS DOING WELL, THERE'S NO 
SAFETY ISSUES AND STUFF, BUT THEN WE CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT 
THESE CRACKS, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, INTO NEXT 
YEAR, INTO THE SPRING, INTO THE -- I MEAN, THAT JUST 
DOESN'T GIVE ME A LEVEL OF COMFORT THAT I'M SATISFIED WITH.
I MEAN, IT IS WHAT IT IS AND THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR 
SOMEBODY TO COME UP WITH SOME DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED 
TO DO?
I MEAN, THERE ARE CRACKS, AND THAT'S --
>> YES.
AND THE CRACKING SITUATION HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESSED 
BY TAMPA BAY WATER FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WELL, AND I DON'T SIT ON THAT BOARD, TWO 
OF MY COLLEAGUES DO, YOU KNOW THAT, BUT AGGRESSIVELY 
ADDRESSED OR NOT AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESSED, CAN WE HAVE SOME 
OUTSIDE OPPORTUNITY TO HOPE AT LEAST THAT THAT WILL BE 
ADDRESSED SOONER?
>> YES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  JUST INTO THE SPRING, DON'T WORRY, THE 
CRACKS ARE SAFE, YADA YADA.
THAT MAKES ME WORRY [INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK]
>> THE ANALYSIS THAT'S UNDERWAY BY OUR SYSTEM ENGINEER IS 
NOT YET COMPLETE, COMMISSIONER.
THAT'S WHY I CAN'T COME TO YOU AND SAY HERE'S A WRITTEN 
REPORT.
[INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK]
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OH, NO, NO, NO.
ALL I'M ASKING IS COULD THERE BE SOME EXPECTATION OF FAST-
TRACKING THAT SO WE HAVE A RESPONSE OR A DIAGNOSIS SOONER 
SO WE CAN GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE?
>> YES.
WE ANTICIPATE HAVING A LOT MORE INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH 
OUR BOARD BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
SORT OF.
THANKS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YEAH.
AND ON THAT WITH MS. FERLITA'S QUESTIONS AS WELL, I -- WITH 
IT BEING IN MY DISTRICT, I STAY AFTER IT, AND I HAVE 
CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH IT, AND THIS 
PROCESS -- AND IT -- YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME TIME WITH MR. 
SEEBER AND YOU'LL GET A COMFORT LEVEL THAT I HAVE THAT THIS 
DIRECTOR IS -- OR MANAGER OF THE TAMPA BAY WATER IS 
BRINGING US INFORMATION, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN IN A TIMELY 
MANNER.
PRIOR TO THAT I WAS REAL CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY 
AND THE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO THE POINT THAT I HAD 
TROUBLE GETTING OUT THERE TO THE RESERVOIR.
DON'T HAVE THAT WITH THIS FELLA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OH, NO, NO.
AND --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  AND WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
I'M JUST --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
NO, NO.
BUT MR. HIGGINBOTHAM, DON'T MISCONSTRUE WHAT I'M SAYING.
I HAVE EVERY BIT OF CONFIDENCE.
I LIKE YOUR STYLE, JERRY.
I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, I LIKE WHERE YOU'RE BRINGING US, 
AND THAT'S FINE.
AND I THINK THERE IS MORE COMMUNICATION, BUT THE CRACKS ARE 
STILL THERE.
THAT'S NOT YOUR FAULT, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KEEP US 
INFORMED SO THAT PERHAPS MAYBE IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO 
REMEDY THAT SOONER, THAT'S GREAT.
EVERYTHING CAN BE FINE, BUT THE CRACKS ARE STILL THERE.
NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR STYLE OF LEADERSHIP.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
I'M HEARING A LOT OF GOOD INPUT, AND I'M SURE YOU ARE AS 
WELL.
>> COMMISSIONER, WE SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATION.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  GOOD.
>> AND WE'RE ANXIOUS TO TACKLE THIS AS WELL SO THAT WE CAN 
GET TO THE BUSINESS OF WHAT WE'RE ABOUT, WHICH IS PROVIDING 
WATER 24/7.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  AND TO HIS POINT, HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
YOU WERE VERY FORTHCOMING WITH ANY OFFERS I WANTED WHEN WE 
SPOKE IN MY OFFICE.
I'M NOT ON THAT BOARD AGAIN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I NEED 
TO BE -- NOT BE INFORMED, AND YOU'VE GIVEN ME THAT 
OPPORTUNITY AND YOU'VE OPENED THE DOOR QUITE WIDE, SO I 
APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION.
>> YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD -- PROBABLY 
TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR I KNOW THERE WILL BE 
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONS WITH THE CONTRACTORS AND 
ENGINEERS, SO I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE THESE REPORTS AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
I BELIEVE WE STILL NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON THE STAFF'S 
RECOMMENDATION.
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION ON --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SO MOVE.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND 
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. SEEBER.
NEXT ITEM.
>>PAT BEAN:  THE NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, IS ITEM D-1, 
WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR 2:00.
THIS IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FOUNTAINS AT 
FALKENBURG DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AMENDMENT, APPLICATION 
NUMBER 08-1325.
AND SHAWN PERRINE IS HERE TO PRESENT THAT ITEM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD AFTERNOON.
>>SHAWN PERRINE:  GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
SHAWN PERRINE, PLANNING AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
AS MS. BEAN SAID, WE'RE HERE FOR THE SECOND REQUIRED PUBLIC 
HEARING FOR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT APPLICATION 08-1325.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE FOUNTAINS AT FALKENBURG 
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT YOU APPROVED IN JANUARY OF THIS 
YEAR.
FINAL BOARD ACTION IS REQUIRED AT THE END OF TODAY'S PUBLIC 
HEARING.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT REFLECTS A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP.
SOUTHERN FALKENBURG RESIDENTIAL, LLC, AND SOUTHERN 
FALKENBURG HOLDINGS, LLC, HAVE ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT ALSO MODIFIES THE LOCATION OF THE 
EASTERN PROJECT ACCESS ON CAMDEN FIELDS PARKWAY AND 
ELIMINATES A WESTBOUND TURN LANE AT THAT ACCESS POINT.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THAT APPLICATION.
THE APPLICANT AND HIS AGENT ARE HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY 
QUESTIONS FOR THEM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, SHAWN.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM?
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MOVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FOUNTAINS AT FALKENBURG 
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND BY 
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
NO COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  MR. CHAIR, YOU HAD PULLED AN ITEM, ITEM A-76, 
FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THIS IS A REPORT FROM THE MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DEPARTMENT 
REGARDING ALTERNATIVES TO AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 
SPECIAL DEPENDENT DISTRICTS.
YOU HAVE THE REPORT IN YOUR BACKUP.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANTED TO 
ADDRESS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  I REALLY JUST HAVE ONE MAIN QUESTION.
WE HEARD FROM THE ONE GENTLEMAN THIS MORNING, AND I HAD 
ALSO RECEIVED A FEW E-MAILS FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF SPECIAL 
TAXING DISTRICTS ASKING FOR THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE 
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION WITH RESPECT TO REQUIRING AUDITS 
WITH LESS THAN $50,000 IN REVENUE FROM THESE SPECIAL TAXING 
DISTRICTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIST, PROBABLY 90% OF THEM ARE LESS THAN 
$50,000, AND THE MOTION THAT WAS REQUESTED TODAY WAS JUST 
TO RECEIVE THE REPORT, WHICH I'M FINE WITH DOING, BUT I 
JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN -- WHEN WILL THE DECISION BE MADE ON 
WHETHER TO ALLOW FOR THE ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION OR 
THE -- OR THE PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION?
I SEE THAT IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACKUP, IT WOULD NOT TAKE 
PLACE UNTIL FY 10, BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO MY 
CONSTITUENTS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE STATUS IS AND WHAT 
THE PROCESS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND JUST RECEIVING THE REPORT.
ERIC.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  COMMISSIONERS, ERIC JOHNSON, MANAGEMENT 
AND BUDGET.
THE BOARD HAD ASKED US TO RESEARCH THIS AND COME BACK, AND 
SO THAT'S THE FORM THAT WE BROUGHT BACK TO YOU.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY GIVE US DIRECTION TO GO FORWARD.
THE PROCESS -- EXCUSE ME.
THE PROCESS WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD WORK WITH THE COUNTY 
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE DISTRICTS BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY 
THEY WOULD HAVE A SERIES OF ORDINANCES THAT WOULD HAVE TO 
BE UPDATED.
THERE'S CERTAINLY PLENTY OF TIME SINCE THIS CAN'T TAKE 
EFFECT UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
TECHNICALLY OUR CAUTIOUS RECOMMENDATION IS LEAVE THE AUDIT 
REQUIREMENT, BUT WE UNDERSTOOD THE MESSAGE TO GO OUT AND 
WORK WITH THE DISTRICTS, SO WE HAVE BROUGHT YOU AN 
ALTERNATIVE THAT WE THINK ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF 
PROVIDING THE TRUSTEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO STILL HAVE AN 
AUDIT IF THEY FEEL VALUE OF HAVING THE AUDIT FOR THE 
SMALLER DISTRICTS AND BY COMING UP WITH A METHOD THAT IF A 
DISTRICT DECIDES TO SAVE MONEY BY SKIPPING THE AUDIT THAT 
THEY ADVISE ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT OF 
THE INTENT NOT TO HAVE ONE.
AT THAT POINT OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT HAVE 
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND MEETINGS, THEY CAN SERVE AS 
TRUSTEES IF THEY'RE INTERESTED.
WE THINK THIS IS A SOLUTION.
WE'VE RECOMMENDED THAT IT APPLY TO THOSE WITH LESS THAN 
$50,000 IN CURRENT REVENUE, SO WE'RE NOT COUNTING LAST 
YEAR'S MONEY THAT THEY MAY HAVE CARRIED OVER.
IT WOULD MEAN THAT 35 OF THE 46 EXISTING DISTRICTS HAVE 
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY ON 
THE AUDIT.
THEY CAN STILL CHOOSE TO HAVE A BOOKKEEPER, SO THEY CAN 
HAVE SOME OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT IT WOULD TAKE THE 
FORMALITY OF THE AUDIT AWAY.
WE'RE COMFORTABLE IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT US TO 
WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ON THE RECORD THAT IT WAS A GOOD 
PROCESS.
I APPRECIATE MR. LEVIN'S COMMENTS THIS MORNING, BUT WE HAD 
A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED, MARY MAHONEY, WHO MASTERS THIS 
STUFF MOST OF THE TIME AND DEALS WITH THEM AND WHO WAS WELL 
RECEIVED AT HER MEETINGS WITH THE DISTRICTS; KEN GENTILE 
FROM THE IPAs OFFICE WHO HAD GOTTEN INVOLVED; KRIS 
LANDKAMMER AND AJAY GAJJAR FROM THE CLERK'S FINANCE 
DEPARTMENT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FINANCIAL REPORTING AND 
HOW WE COULD MAKE SURE SOMETHING WORKS; AND CERTAINLY PAUL 
JOHNSTON OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO, IF YOU GO 
FORWARD, WOULD GET THE LION'S SHARE OF THE WORK BECAUSE 
IT'S LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT YOU WOULD BE DIRECTING US TO WORK 
TO MODIFY, BUT WE'RE COMFORTABLE IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE US 
THAT DIRECTION TO WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT WE 
BROUGHT THIS BACK AS A STAFF REPORT BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY, 
I THINK, WHAT YOU DIRECTED US TO DO, GO OUT, RESEARCH.
WE'VE COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE.
WE THINK IT WORKS.
ALL THE DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THIS.
I THINK THE RESPONSE WE'VE GOTTEN IS OVERWHELMINGLY 
POSITIVE OF GIVING THEM THE OPTION, AND I'D LIKE TO 
RECOGNIZE THAT MOST OF YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS AS 
WELL IN TERMS OF ASKING ABOUT IT, AND AGAIN, I TAKE A 
CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, BUT THE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH COSTS 
MONEY TO THESE DISTRICTS.
THEY'D LIKE AN ALTERNATIVE, AND WE CAME UP WITH ONE WITH 
THEIR ASSISTANCE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, ERIC.
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND MR. JOHNSON, YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND FAIR TO THAT 
POINT.
I THINK ALL OF US IN SOME DEGREE, SOME BEFORE ME AND ME 
NOW, HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT 
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND I THINK YOU CLARIFIED YOUR 
POSITION LAST TIME.
WE DIRECTED YOU TO COME BACK WITH A REPORT AND YOU HAVE, 
BUT JUST AS MR. HAGAN POLITELY EXPRESSED HIS FRUSTRATION, 
SO DO I.
I MEAN, WE DON'T WANT TO REMOVE ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT'S FOR 
SURE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WITH THAT THRESHOLD OF 50,000 
OVER, 50,000 UNDER, OR WHATEVER, THEN PERHAPS MAYBE WE 
COULD DO SOMETHING TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN AND STILL GET 
WHERE WE'RE GETTING, SO I'M SENSING THAT YOU'RE WILLING, IF 
THIS BOARD WANTS YOU AND WANTS YOU TO TAKE THIS DIRECTION, 
TO COME BACK WITH -- AFTER THE REPORT, AFTER THE RESEARCH 
TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WILL DO ALL OF THAT FOR 
THOSE SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS, AND IF MR. HAGAN WANTS TO 
MAKE THAT MOTION, I WOULD CERTAINLY SECOND IT IF HE WANTS 
TO GIVE THE GAVEL TO WHOEVER HE GIVES IT TO, BUT I THINK 
THAT'S WHERE -- I DON'T WANT TO READ INTO WHAT YOU'RE 
SAYING, MR. HAGAN, BUT I THINK YOU WANT SOME RELIEF FOR 
THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS, IS THAT NOT WHERE --
>>KEN HAGAN:  NO, I DEFINITELY WANT TO PROVIDE THEM AS MUCH 
FLEXIBILITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS LIST, SOME OF THESE 
GROUPS, $4,818, $4,868, I MEAN THAT'S ALL OF THEIR REVENUE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THAT'S IT.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO COMPLY 
WITH, SO I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOME MODIFICATION.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  WELL, YOU CAN -- IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH 
THE ALTERNATIVE THAT WE'VE PRESENTED, WE CAN WORK WITH THE 
COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
>>PAT BEAN:  NOW.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  IF YOU GIVE US THAT DIRECTION, WE'LL DO 
THAT NOW.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  NO, I'D LOVE TO MAKE THE MOTION.
I THINK THAT IF --
>>KEN HAGAN:  PLEASE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  YOU WANT ME TO?
OKAY.
THEN IN KEEPING WHAT MR. HAGAN'S WISHES ARE FOR THIS, I 
WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE THIS MOTION FOR YOU TO WORK WITH THE 
COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND COME BACK WITH THIS 
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  SECOND.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  WE HAVE THE SOLUTION, IT'S IN THE REPORT. 
WE'LL DO IT, AND THERE'S SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT MARY MAHONEY 
HAS IDENTIFIED AT THE BACK OF THE REPORT THAT WE CAN DO AT 
THIS SAME TIME BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T CODIFIED SOME OF THE 
RESOLUTIONS THAT THESE DISTRICTS HAVE PASSED AUTHORIZING 
HIGHER LEVELS THAN THE ORDINANCE TECHNICALLY ADDRESSES.
WE'D LIKE TO SHORTEN THE ADVERTISING PERIOD SO THAT WHEN 
THEY WANT TO ADVERTISE THEIR BUDGET PROCESS, THEY CAN DO IT 
QUICKER.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO MR. BUDGET GUY AND ASSISTANT 
ADMINISTRATOR, YOU DO THE WORK AND WE'LL APPROVE THE 
MOTION.
THANK YOU.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  WILL DO.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
THANK YOU, ERIC.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA, SECOND BY 
COMMISSIONER BLAIR JUST TO RECEIVE THE REPORT AND TO ALSO 
DIRECT STAFF TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND 
THE SPECIAL DEPENDENT DISTRICTS ON THE ALTERNATIVE 
RECOMMENDATION.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANKS, MR. HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
SO NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  THE ONLY THING LEFT, COMMISSIONERS, IS WHETHER 
OR NOT ANYONE HAS A FUTURE ISSUE THEY WANT TO BRING TO THE 
TABLE NOW THAT WE SCHEDULE FOR OUR FUTURE BOARD MEETING.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'D LIKE TO DIRECT OUR STAFF TO GET WITH THE INTERNAL 
PERFORMANCE AUDITOR AND SEE HOW LOWRY PARK ZOO HAS SPENT 
THE DOLLARS THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY.
AS WE SEE, THEY'VE BEEN IN THE NEWS QUITE A BIT, AND I JUST 
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN 
SPENT AT THE ZOO HAVE BEEN IN THE APPROPRIATE FASHION.
I KNOW A GREAT MAJORITY OF WHAT WE DO ARE CAPITAL 
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WITH THE PARK, BUT -- AND I JUST WANT 
TO -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT --
>>JIM NORMAN:  WOULDN'T THAT BE THE CLERK?
>>PAT BEAN:  IT WOULD BE THE CLERK.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  IF I CAN ADDRESS THAT, THERE'S TWO 
RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE.
FOR ALL THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, OUR RELATIONSHIP IS NOT WITH 
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, IT'S WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA.
ALL OF OUR MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO TAMPA, AND THEY HAVE FULL 
ACCOUNTABILITY TO US FOR HOW THE ZOO SPENDS THAT MONEY ON 
PROJECTS, SO THAT COULD BE A FOCUS.
THE DIRECT RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE ZOO -- AND 
PAT AND I MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ZOO LAST WEEK.
I MET AGAIN YESTERDAY.
THEY HAVE A BOARD MEETING THIS FRIDAY WHERE THEY'LL HAVE 
SOME NEW OFFICERS.
WE HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ZOO IN REGARD TO A 
CONTRACT WHERE I PAY THEM I THINK IT'S $1.04 PER ATTENDEE 
OF THE ZOO, SO WE'RE PAYING TO SUBSIDIZE WHAT THEY CHARGE 
PEOPLE AT THE GATE SO THAT IT'S AN AFFORDABLE OPPORTUNITY 
FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND WE'RE PAYING THEM -- 
LAST YEAR IT WAS 450,000, THIS YEAR IT'S 10% LESS, 405,000, 
BUT WE DON'T PAY FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS, SO I DON'T 
THINK THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR DOLLARS TO HAVE GONE 
TO SOME INAPPROPRIATE EXPENDITURE BY THE ZOO.
WE'RE BASICALLY SUBSIDIZING THE GATE SO THAT WHEN SOMEONE 
BUYS A TICKET TO THE ZOO IT'S CHEAPER.
YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO HAVE THAT AUDITED.
I'M COMFORTABLE THAT THERE'S NOT REALLY MUCH TO LOOK AT 
THERE.
WE'VE TRIED [INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK]
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THAT'S ON OUR BEHALF.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CLERK'S BEHALF?
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  WELL, THE CLERK'S OFFICE WOULD BE LOOKING 
AT WHETHER WE HAD DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOWED THAT THEY HAD 
SUFFICIENT VISITORS LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR UNDER THE NEW 
CONTRACT TO JUSTIFY THAT SUBSIDY.
IT'S -- THEY CAN AUDIT IT.
IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE FOR ANYONE TO AUDIT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP THAT I SUSPECT THE 
CITY HAS WITH THEIR OWNERSHIP ISSUES, BUT WE'RE COMFORTABLE 
WITH WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO DO.
WE CERTAINLY -- I E-MAILED PAT THIS MORNING.
WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO LOOK AT ANY AUDITS THAT THE CITY 
HAS REQUESTED TO SEE --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WHERE DOES THE CAPITAL PROJECTS COME FROM?
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  THE CAPITAL PROJECT IS WE GIVE MONEY TO 
THE CITY OF TAMPA SINCE THEY OWN THE ZOO AND THEY PAY FOR 
THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ZOO SINCE IT WILL BE THEIR ASSET.
WE DO THE SAME THING WITH THE AQUARIUM WHEN WE GIVE MONEY 
FOR EXHIBITS AT THE AQUARIUM.
CITY OWNS IT, CITY ASSET.
WE GIVE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE CITY, AND THEY'RE ACCOUNTABLE 
TO US.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
THIS IS WHERE MY DILEMMA COMES IN WITH THAT, AND NOT THAT 
THERE IS ANY IMPROPRIETY, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE 
THERE HAS BEEN SOME ALLEGATIONS, AND WE CAN SEE THAT 
THERE'S BEEN SOME -- NO PUN INTENDED -- MONKEY BUSINESS 
GOING ON AT THE ZOO, SO THEREFORE, FROM AN ACCOUNTING --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MOSI.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEVIN WHITE:  YEAH, THAT TOO.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, BUT MY POINT IS, ERIC, YOU CAN -- 
FROM AN ACCOUNTING STANDPOINT, YOU CAN MOVE FUNDS FROM ONE 
ACCOUNT TO THE OTHER WITH -- WITH RELATIVE EASE, AND IF WE 
PAY FOR SOMETHING OUT OF A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, IT 
CAN BE REIMBURSED AND THEN FUNNELED A DIFFERENT WAY.
NOT THAT -- AND I'M NOT ALLEGING THAT AT ALL, BUT THAT'S A 
VERY POSSIBLE SCENARIO --
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  I UNDERSTAND.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  THAT WOULD BE AUDIT, THEN, OF THE CITY OF 
TAMPA AND THEIR HANDLING OF OUR FUNDS, AND WE'RE 
COMFORTABLE IF YOU'D LIKE TO --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ALL I'M SAYING, IF WE'RE GIVING ALMOST A 
HALF MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND WE HAVE 
SEEN THAT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME SORT OF SCRUTINY THAT THE 
ZOO IS UNDER NOW, I THINK WE OWE THE TAXPAYERS OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A LOOK AT THAT.
AND THE SECOND THING, I'D LIKE TO MENTION -- I WAS ASKING 
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY A MOMENT AGO -- I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY 
WHAT OUR RULES ARE, AND I'D LIKE HER OR SOMEBODY FROM HER 
STAFF TO ENLIGHTEN ME.
WHEN WE ARE GIVING NONPROFITS OR OTHER ENTITIES SUCH AS THE 
ZOO ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY -- IN SOME CASES WE'RE GIVING 
ENTITIES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT THERE IS NO, QUOTE, 
UNQUOTE, ACCOUNTABILITY OR TRANSPARENCY -- WELL, HEAR ME 
OUT.
WELL, YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD YEAH, PAT, BUT LET ME TELL 
YOU WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
WE HAVE GIVEN MONEY TO COMMISSIONS AND THINGS OF THAT 
NATURE, AND I CAN -- I DON'T WANT TO NAME ANY IN 
PARTICULAR, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE'VE GIVEN AN ENTITY A 
MILLION DOLLARS, BUT NOW WE COME BACK AND SAY TO THEM, WE'D 
LIKE TO FIND OUT WHERE THE MONEY IS SPENT, WE'D LIKE TO 
KNOW HOW MUCH OF YOUR BUDGET IS BEING SPENT ON 
ADMINISTRATION.
WE'RE TRYING TO -- WE WANT TO SEE WHERE YOUR DOLLARS ARE 
BEING SPENT.
WELL, WE ONLY HAVE TO SHOW YOU MONEY ON WHAT YOU SAY OR THE 
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US.
IF OUR BUDGET'S 20 MILLION AND YOU GAVE US A MILLION, WELL, 
I THINK WE OUGHT TO STILL BE ABLE TO SEE -- WE OUGHT TO BE 
ABLE TO SEE THE BOOKS AND FIND OUT WHERE OUR MONEY IS, AND 
THAT'S -- AND WE'VE HAD COMMISSIONS -- AND I CAN NAME THEM, 
BUT I JUST -- RIGHT NOW TELL US, WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE -- 
YOU DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT.
YOU CAN'T SEE OUR BOOKS.
YOU DON'T -- IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS AS A BOARD WHAT OUR 
ADMINISTRATION MAKES, WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS OR -- NOT 
DEPARTMENT HEADS BUT UPPER-LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS MAKE AS FAR 
AS PAYROLL ON THESE TYPE OF DEALS.
>>PAT BEAN:  WHEN WE ENTER INTO A CONTRACT -- AND WE HAVE 
TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO TRANSFER ANY COUNTY DOLLARS TO 
ANY OTHER AGENCY, WHETHER IT'S A COMMISSION OR WHETHER IT'S 
A PRIVATE NONPROFIT OR WHATEVER IT IS.
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT IN THE CONTRACT THAT REQUIRES THEM 
TO PRODUCE AN AUDIT THAT WE CAN REVIEW.
NOW, I WILL ADMIT -- COMMISSIONER NORMAN KNOWS THIS QUITE 
WELL --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, IT'S BEEN LIKE PULLING HEN'S TEETH 
GETTING THEM, THEN.
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, SOMETIMES IT IS LIKE HEN'S TEETH GETTING 
THEM.
WE'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE SPORTS AUTHORITY OVER AND OVER 
AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN YOU REMEMBER THIS WHEN WE WERE TRYING 
OUR BEST TO GET INFORMATION FROM THEM, AND IT REALLY TOOK A 
REAL HARD PUSH TO GET IT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE AGREEMENTS 
THAT SAY THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE US AN AUDIT OF THEIR FUNDS 
AND HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE SPENT, AND WE SPELL OUT HOW WE'RE 
GOING TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FUNDS THAT WE 
GIVE THEM; CORRECT?
>>PAT BEAN:  THEY HAVE TO GIVE US A COMPLETE AUDIT OF THEIR 
AGENCY BEFORE WE GIVE THEM MORE FUNDS THE NEXT YEAR.
WE DON'T GIVE A PRIVATE NONPROFIT OUR DOLLARS AND ONLY LOOK 
AT OUR DOLLARS.
WE ASK TO SEE THEIR WHOLE AUDIT OF THEIR WHOLE AGENCY.
IS THAT NOT CORRECT, ERIC?
>>KEN HAGAN:  ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR FUTURE ISSUES, SO LET'S 
DETERMINE WHAT THE SCOPE IS AND IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR 
SOMETHING.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, MY ENTIRE SCOPE AND THE WHOLE REASON 
FOR BRINGING THIS UP, I JUST WANT CLARITY OF WHAT OUR -- 
WHAT OUR AUTHORITY IS WHEN WE'RE GIVING ORGANIZATIONS MONEY 
AND WE ASK THEM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND/OR AN AUDIT AND 
THEY'RE TELLING US NO, SO DO WE HAVE THE -- THE RIGHT AT 
THAT TIME TO EITHER MANDATE THAT, OR DO WE JUST PULL OUR 
FUNDING FROM THEM?
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S A --
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  COMMISSIONERS, ON MOST OF OUR NONPROFIT 
CONTRACTS WE HAVE AN AUDIT REQUIREMENT.
WE SUSPEND PAYMENTS WHEN WE DETERMINE THAT THEY HAVE HIT 
THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR AN AUDIT AND HAVEN'T DELIVERED US 
ONE, AND WE WILL NOT MAKE PAYMENTS TO THEM UNTIL SUCH TIME 
AS THEY PROVIDE US THE AUDIT.
WE DO THE SAME THING IF THEY DON'T PROVIDE US AN INSURANCE 
CERTIFICATE, SO IN THE CASE OF, AS I SAID, WITH THE MONEY -
- IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT 7.5 MILLION THAT HAS GONE FOR ZOO 
IMPROVEMENTS BY WAY OF THE CITY OF TAMPA.
WE DO GET TAMPA'S AUDIT, WE LOOK AT THEIR BOOKS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, THIS ONE WASN'T POINTED AT THE ZOO.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COULD WE JUST AGENDA THIS FOR NEXT MEETING OR 
A FUTURE MEETING?
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE DIALOGUE ON 
THE DISCUSSION HERE.
>>PAT BEAN:  WE CAN.
I JUST NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT 
INFORMATION WE'RE BRINGING BACK.
>>RENEE LEE:  WE'LL VISIT --
>>KEN HAGAN:  WHATEVER HE WANTS US TO BRING BACK.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  JUST THE COUNTY'S POSITION AND WHAT OUR 
CURRENT RULE IS --
>>KEN HAGAN:  OUR POLICY IS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- AND THE POLICY.
>>RENEE LEE:  YES.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I DO NEED TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  BECAUSE DO YOU REMEMBER THE SUPER BOWL?
IF WE WOULD HAVE SHOWED WE GAVE MONEY TO TAMPA BAY & 
COMPANY AND THERE WAS A DEAL ABOUT, OKAY, SHOW US YOUR BID, 
IF THAT BID WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE STREET AND SHOWN THE 
WORLD OUR BID, WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THAT SUPER BOWL, SO 
BE CAREFUL --
>>KEN HAGAN:  THERE'S SOME CONFIDENTIALITY --
>>JIM NORMAN:  THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME CONFIDENTIALITY 
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HURT OUR COMMUNITY IF WE'RE BIDDING 
ON BUSINESSES OR BIDDING ON HUGE PROJECTS --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S AN EXCLUSIONARY CLAUSE WITH THAT, AND THAT'S FINE, 
BUT --
>>JIM NORMAN:  OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T GO TOO FAR.
MY ONE ITEM -- AND I -- AND I KNOW -- I GOT THIS -- I 
STARTED GETTING THIS A LOT WALKING THE LUTZ AREA, BUT GOING 
BACK ABOUT TEN OR 12 OR 14 YEARS -- AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER 
HAGAN KNOWS THIS BECAUSE OF THE LUTZ COMMUNITY -- WE HAD 
PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE SITINGS OF TRYING TO SITE A HIGH 
SCHOOL.
THERE WAS LAWSUITS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IT WAS THE WORST THING.
I MEAN, WE HAD THE SCHOOL BOARD HERE MULTIPLE TIMES.
THEY COULDN'T -- WE COULDN'T GET THE ZONINGS, WE COULDN'T 
GET THE LAND PURCHASED, WE WERE IN COURT.
IT WAS A -- IT WAS AN AWFUL SITUATION TO FINALLY SITE A 
HIGH SCHOOL OUT THERE.
WE GOT -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT GAITHER, BUT WE'RE DOING THE 
NEW HIGH SCHOOL OUT ON LUTZ-LAKE FERN.
WHAT I'M GETTING BOMBARDED NOW IS THE LUTZ KIDS IN LUTZ ARE 
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THOSE HIGH SCHOOLS, AND ONE 
OF THE -- I GUESS THE COMPONENT -- ONE THING THAT'S BEING 
SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS -- WHAT I'M HEARING IS TRY TO 
REUNITE LUTZ, MEANING LET A LOT OF THESE KIDS GO TO THE 
EXISTING SCHOOLS THAT FINALLY ARE GOING TO BE BUILT IN 
LUTZ, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO GET IN THE SCHOOL BOARD'S WAY.
I KNOW, BUT WE DO HAVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE 
SCHOOL BOARD, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WHEN -- WHEN 
THINGS ARE BEING BUILT OUT INTO THE -- OUTSIDE THE URBAN 
SERVICE AREA, AND HIGH SCHOOLS ARE A BIGGER IMPACT THAN 
OTHER JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE, AT LEAST TO AIR HOW THEY'RE MOVING 
FORWARD IN THE EARLY STAGES, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE SCHOOL 
BOARD HERE TO GIVE US SOME -- WHAT THEY'RE THINKING AND HOW 
THEY'RE GOING TO DRAW THE LINES OF LETTING THE LUTZ KIDS GO 
TO THE LUTZ SCHOOLS AND TRY TO JUST SAY, PLEASE GIVE US 
THAT INFORMATION ON THE EARLY END BECAUSE I'VE GOT TO TELL 
YOU, FOLKS, I'M GETTING E-MAILS LIKE CRAZY AFTER I WALKED 
THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY'RE TALKING MORE AND MORE ABOUT 
THIS STUFF, AND I -- YOU KNOW, I CARE ABOUT THOSE KIDS AND 
WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL, SO IF WE COULD INVITE THEM 
JUST TO GIVE US WHAT THEY'RE THINKING AND LET US BE 
INCLUDED IN THEIR THOUGHT PROCESS.
I'M NOT TRYING TO GET IN THEIR WAY OF THEIR WORK, BUT IT'S 
A REAL CONCERN FOR A LOT OF THOSE PARENTS OUT THERE.
THEIR KIDS ARE -- FINALLY THERE'S A HIGH SCHOOL IN LUTZ AND 
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO THERE.
I JUST THINK THAT'S KIND OF INSENSITIVE FOR US NOT TO CARE, 
YOU KNOW, SO THAT WOULD BE MY -- I KNOW, COMMISSIONER 
HAGAN, YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD A LOT OF THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, AND I'VE CORRESPONDED 
WITH MANY OF THE CITIZENS THAT HAVE E-MAILED US, AND I'VE 
ACTUALLY, FOR INSTANCE, LAST NIGHT HAD DIALOGUE WITH MANY 
OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ONE ON ONE ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'VE HIRED A CONSULTANT 
THAT'S GOING THROUGH AND STUDYING ALL THE -- YOU KNOW, THE 
DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE AREA, BUT, NO, I THINK IT IS A GOOD 
IDEA TO HAVE THEM COME IN AND --
>>JIM NORMAN:  LET'S AIR IT.
LET'S BRING IT HERE, LET'S AIR IT, LET'S TRY TO BE INVOLVED 
A LITTLE BIT TO SHOW OUR CONCERN THAT THESE KIDS WANT TO GO 
TO -- FINALLY, WE HAVE A SCHOOL IN LUTZ, A HIGH SCHOOL 
THERE ALONG WITH GAITHER, AND LET THE KIDS GO THERE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND AGAIN, I'M SENSITIVE, YOU KNOW, OF OUR 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DON'T WANT TO GET 
INTO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT IN THE REDISTRICTING OF 
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROCESS THAT HAPPENED THE LAST YEAR 
OR TWO, THERE WAS A FREQUENT CRITICISM OF THE -- OF LACK OF 
COMMUNICATION, SO PERHAPS THIS WOULD HELP AT A MINIMUM TO 
ALLOW US TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CITIZENS AND LET THEM KNOW 
EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
>>JIM NORMAN:  INVITE THEM OVER AND MAYBE HAVE A KUMBAYA.
>>PAT BEAN:  DO WE WANT TO HAVE COOKIES AND MILK?
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. HAGAN, PLEASE GIVE ME A COUPLE pf 
MINUTES TO SAY THIS AND MAYBE IT WILL SAVE US SOME 
FRUSTRATION.
EARLY ON IN MY TENURE HERE WE HAD A BOARD RETREAT, AND WE 
HAD NOTHING ON OUR AGENDA THAT SAID NEW BUSINESS, OLD 
BUSINESS, AND I WAS COMING FROM A CLIMATE WHERE THAT WAS 
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING UP SOMETHING THAT WASN'T ON THE 
AGENDA.
YOU GUYS WERE VERY GRACIOUS TO AGREE, AND WE PUT ITEM "H" 
IN HERE IN TERMS OF FUTURE DISCUSSION ITEMS.
WE ALL HOPE AND IN MOST CASES WE SEE THAT OUR STAFF IS VERY 
WILLING TO RESPOND TO US AND RESPOND TO US VERY QUICKLY.
CASE IN POINT, ERIC JOHNSON KNEW THE ANSWERS TO A COUPLE OF 
THE CONCERNS THAT MR. WHITE HAD, AND THIS IS NOT SPECIFIC 
TO MR. WHITE'S, AND IT'S ALWAYS VERY DIFFICULT NOT TO WEIGH 
IN BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE AN OPINION, BUT IF WE KEPT THAT 
SHORT, IF WE KEPT THAT JUST TO TITLES AND MAYBE STAFF 
DIDN'T COME UP AND TRY TO EXPLAIN QUICKLY -- AND THEY'RE 
IMPRESSING US. THEY'RE RIGHT, ERIC KNOWS HIS STUFF, BUT IF 
THEY DIDN'T DO IT, THEN IT WOULDN'T TEMPT US TO GET 
ENGAGED.
NOW, YOU WANTED SOME CLARIFICATION, AS THE MAKER OF THAT 
SUGGESTION TO CLARIFY, BUT IF WE DID IT THAT WAY, I THINK 
IT WOULD ACCOMPLISH WHAT I HAD ASKED AND HAS WORKED VERY 
WELL FOR ME, SO THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION THAT MAYBE THAT'S 
WHAT WE SHOULD TRY TO KEEP TO, AND THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE 
BITS AND PARCELS AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CHAIRMAN SAYING, 
OKAY, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS FOR FUTURE, BUT HE'S ALREADY 
SAID SOMETHING, MR. CHAIRMAN, SO I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, 
AND THEN IT GETS OUT OF HAND, SO IF WE STICK TO THAT 
POLICY, I THINK IT'LL WORK BETTER.
AND EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS A LOT OF STUFF NOW, HE WILL HAVE 
AN OPPORTUNITY BY THE NEXT BOARD TO ELABORATE EVEN FURTHER, 
AND THEN WE CAN ALL WEIGH IN, AND I THINK THE PROCESS WILL 
BE WELL SERVED.
THAT'S JUST AN OPINION.
>>PAT BEAN:  GOOD IDEA.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  A COUPLE THINGS JUST TO TAG ON AND NOT TO 
BELABOR THE SUBJECT, BUT AS KEVIN WAS SPEAKING, IT REMINDED 
ME -- I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, AT THE ZOO WE'RE GIVING 
DOLLARS THROUGH TAMPA BAY & COMPANY [INCOMPREHENSIBLE]
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE GATE MONEY BESIDES THE DOLLARS 
THAT THEY GET ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WHICH IS SEPARATE; IS 
THAT CORRECT?
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, THE BOARD APPROVES BOTH OF THEM, THOUGH, 
ON A REGULAR BASIS.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WELL -- AND THEN WHAT THAT ULTIMATELY 
BRINGS ME TO IS WE DISCOVERED WHAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S 
SALARY WAS WHILE HE HAD TIME TO GO BUILD HIS OWN BUSINESS.
I THINK THAT'S EXCESSIVE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD DEAL WITH THAT, BUT I'D LIKE TO 
KNOW WHAT EVERY NONPROFIT GROUP'S EXECUTIVE STAFF IS 
MAKING.
THE PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS AREN'T JUST A TROUGH, AND THERE 
SHOULD PROBABLY BE SOME TYPE OF A NEEDS ASSESSMENT DONE ON 
EACH ONE.
I MEAN, IT'S NICE TO HELP EVERYBODY THAT YOU CAN, BUT WE'VE 
GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS NOW, IN THE STREETS, NO FOOD.
I MEAN, THERE'S GOT TO BE -- THERE'S GOT TO BE, YOU KNOW, A 
PECKING ORDER OF THE DOLLARS THAT GO OUT, SO THAT'S JUST A 
COMMENT, AND MAYBE I CAN GET THE ANSWER TO THOSE DOLLARS.
THE OTHER ONE WAS KIND OF PIGGYBACKING.
I ALMOST BROUGHT IT UP WHILE ROSE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE 
OXYCODONE AND OTHER MEDICINES.
A VERY NICE YOUNG LADY AT SWEETBAY, ELIZABETH, ASKED ME -- 
AND THIS IS HER CONCEPT, NOT MINE -- IF IT WAS POSSIBLE 
TO -- AND SHE HAD DONE IT -- THEY DID IT, I GUESS, IN 
CINCINNATI WHERE SHE CAME FROM.
SHE'S AT THE ONE AT FLORIDA AND FLETCHER -- TO HAVE A DAY -
- AND IT REQUIRES A POLICE OFFICER BEING THERE -- WHERE 
EVERYBODY CAN TURN IN ALL THE OLD DRUGS IN THEIR HOUSE, AND 
IT DOES -- DRUGS, NEEDLES, OR ANYTHING ELSE, AND IT DOES A 
LOT OF GOOD THINGS.
IT KEEPS THEM OUT OF OUR WATER SYSTEMS, IT KEEPS THE KIDS 
FROM BEING, YOU KNOW, MORE TEMPTED TO GO INTO THE MEDICINE 
CABINET AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S LEFT OVER, BUT THE ONLY WAY 
THAT THEY CAN DO THIS IS IF THERE IS A LAW OFFICER PRESENT, 
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO COORDINATE THIS THROUGH THE SHERIFF OR 
THE SHERIFF AND THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES' POLICE OFFICERS, 
AND I'D LIKE TO OFFICIALLY --
>>PAT BEAN:  WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  -- DO THAT TO GET THAT BALL ROLLING.
>>PAT BEAN:  WE'LL LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN COME 
BACK WITH.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT SINCE SHE SAID WE 
SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT THEM NOW.
>>KEN HAGAN:  ANY OTHER ITEMS?
OKAY.
WITH THAT, WE'RE ADJOURNED.
>>PAT BEAN:  THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS.


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