CAPTIONING
JUNE 17, 2009
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 
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE A 1:45 TIME CERTAIN.
MS. BEAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.
>>PAT BEAN:  YES, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
THE ITEM IS A PRESENTATION BY, IT SAYS, THE HONORABLE DOUG 
BELDEN, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR, AND I BELIEVE HE 
HAS SOME OTHER FOLKS WITH HIM WHO MAY ALSO BE SPEAKING, BUT 
DOUG, THIS IS TO TALK TO THE BOARD ABOUT THE STERLING 
PROGRAM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. BELDEN.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE YOU INVITING ME HERE TO SPEAK TODAY.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO PREFACE BY SAYING I HAVE A VERY 
HIGH REGARD OF THE UPPER MANAGEMENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, 
AND OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS HAD THE 
PLEASURE OF NOT ONLY WORKING WITH COMMISSIONERS IN A VERY 
POSITIVE WAY BUT PEOPLE LIKE MIKE KELLY AND HIS STAFF ON 
RENOVATIONS WE'VE MADE IN CONSTRUCTION, RENEE LEE AND HER 
ESTEEMED STAFF OF COUNTY ATTORNEYS WHO PROVIDE US WITH 
UTMOST QUALITY LEGAL WORK IN A VERY EXPEDIENT MANNER, AND 
SAVED US HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
GENE GARDNER IN CIVIL SERVICE, PAT BEAN, AND ERIC JOHNSON, 
AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE -- THESE ARE JUST A FEW 
EXAMPLES OF THE WEALTH OF GREAT EMPLOYEES AND RESOURCES 
AVAILABLE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK 
THAT ALL THESE AGENCIES OUGHT TO GET TOGETHER, 
CONSTITUTIONALS AND OTHERS, AND WORK TOGETHER.
OUR ORGANIZATION THOROUGHLY ENJOYS DOING SO.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SHOW YOU HOW THE STERLING/BALDRIDGE 
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HAS HELPED OUR OFFICE.
LET ME START BY SAYING THIS PROCESS IS NOT ABOUT WINNING AN 
AWARD.
BEING A 2008 GOVERNOR'S STERLING AWARD RECIPIENT WAS A NICE 
WAY TO RECOGNIZE OUR STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK, BUT THE 
REAL BENEFIT WAS RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR OUR AGENCY IN 
TERMS OF COST SAVINGS, PROCESS EFFICIENCIES, AND LONG-TERM 
PLANNING THAT HAS ENSURED OUR SUSTAINABILITY WITHOUT A 
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR STAFF, OUR CUSTOMERS, OR THE 
SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
AT THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, WE HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF 
OURSELVES AS A PRETTY GOOD ORGANIZATION, BUT WE COULD NEVER 
REALLY TELL YOU WHY WE WERE GOOD UNTIL WE ADOPTED THE 
STERLING/BALDRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
WE HAVE SOME SOUND BUSINESS PRACTICES IN PLACE AND WAYS TO 
RECOGNIZE OUR CUSTOMERS WERE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, BUT 
WE NEEDED A SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO GET OUR EMPLOYEES, 
INCLUDING FRONT-LINE STAFF, NOT JUST MANAGEMENT, FOCUSED ON 
A COMMON SET OF GOALS AND EMPOWER THEM TO BE INVOLVED IN 
DECISION-MAKING AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS; ELIMINATE SILOS;  
INTEGRATE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND BUDGET PROCESSES WITH 
MISSION, VISION, VALUES, PRIORITIES, AND CORE COMPETENCIES 
TO ENSURE OUR PLANS, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES WERE ADDRESSING 
OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES AND LEVERAGING OUR 
ADVANTAGES; IDENTIFY SMART MEASURE FOR EACH DEPARTMENT TO 
INCREASE THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL POSITIONS FROM 
LEADERSHIP TO THE FRONT LINE BUT MORE IMPORTANT TO ENSURE 
WE WERE MEASURING THE RIGHT THINGS, NOT NECESSARILY 
EVERYTHING, IN ACHIEVING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN; BENCHMARK TO 
OTHER AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY WORLD-CLASS ORGANIZATIONS, TO 
DETERMINE IF WE WERE AS REALLY GOOD AS WE THOUGHT WE WERE 
OR IF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAD A BETTER WAY OF DOING THINGS.
THIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN EACH OF THE 
IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU WE ARE FAR FROM PERFECT.
WE MAKE MISTAKES, AND WE HAVE A LONG ROAD OF IMPROVEMENTS 
AHEAD OF US.
THIS JOURNEY NEVER ENDS.
BUT THE STERLING/BALDRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HAS HELPED US 
BECOME MORE DATA-DRIVEN AND ENSURE WE WERE MANAGING BY 
FACT, NOT BY PERSONALITY.
THIS HELPED US REDUCE OUR ERRORS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED COSTS 
AND REWORKING BY HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE TO HAVE CONSISTENT 
SYSTEMATIC PROCESSES AND MEANINGFUL PERFORMANCE RESULTS.
WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS SYSTEM, IT'S DESIGNED TO WORK FOR 
ALL ORGANIZATIONS NO MATTER THE SIZE, SECTOR, OR INDUSTRY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN ADDITION TO OUR OFFICE WITH 283 EMPLOYEES 
AND EIGHT OFFICES, THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS HAVE 
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED THE STERLING/BALDRIDGE SYSTEMS.
SHANDS HEALTH CARE WITH 13,000 EMPLOYEES AND 2300 
VOLUNTEERS, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WITH 30,000 
EMPLOYEES.
THEY CURRENTLY TO DATE HAVE A 60% PARTICIPATION, AND IN TWO 
YEARS 100% PARTICIPATION WILL OCCUR.
THE CITY OF CORAL SPRINGS, BREVARD COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM 
WITH 9,000 EMPLOYEES AND 73,000 STUDENTS; THE ORANGE COUNTY 
CLERK OF COURTS; AND THE MARION COUNTY SHERIFF.
AS REFERENCED, THE STERLING QUICK FACT SHEET I GAVE TO EACH 
ONE OF YOU, THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SEEN A TREMENDOUS 
IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR OPERATIONS SINCE ADOPTING THIS SYSTEM, 
AND AT THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, I ATTRIBUTE OUR 
CONFIDENCE TO STERLING AS WELL.
IT CREATED A FOCUS ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AMONG OUR 
WORKFORCE.
IT HELPED US TO LOOK AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE, 
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, ALIGN OUR RESOURCES, INTEGRATE AND 
STREAMLINE OUR PROCESSES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IMPROVE OUR 
BUSINESS RESULTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2006 WE DECREASED OUR 
CUSTOMER WAIT TIME FROM OVER 17 MINUTES TO TEN MINUTES, WE 
IMPROVED OUR PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT TURNAROUND TIME FROM 
ALMOST TWO WEEKS TO SAME DAY FOR 97% OF THE PAYMENTS WE 
RECEIVE; WE REDUCED OUR CALL CENTER ABANDONMENT RATE FROM 
6% TO 2%; WE ACHIEVED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RATING OF 
99%; WE IMPROVED OUR EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION RATE FROM 87% TO 
9% AND INCREASED OUR ECOMMERCE PROPERTY TAX TRANSACTIONS 
FROM 3% TO 12.5, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE COST 
TRANSACTIONALLY OF AN ECOMMERCE IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN 
SOMEONE COMING TO OUR BRANCH TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, AND WE'VE 
DONE IT ALL, AN ANNUAL INCREASE OF TRANSACTIONS, 41 LESS 
STAFF POSITIONS, A REDUCED BUDGET OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
FROM FISCAL 2006 TO FISCAL 2009 WE INVESTED $132,000 TO 
IMPLEMENT THIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AT THE TAX COLLECTOR'S 
OFFICE IN TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS, AND OUR 
HARD-DOLLAR SAVINGS HAVE TOTALED OVER $2 MILLION, WHICH 
DOES NOT INCLUDE THE INTANGIBLE BENEFITS OF IMPROVED STAFF 
MORALE AND EMPOWERMENT, NOT TO MENTION HAPPIER CUSTOMERS.
AT THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE WE BELIEVE IF IT AIN'T BROKE, 
TWEAK IT.
THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PROCESS IN BUSINESS, PRIVATE OR 
PUBLIC, THAT CANNOT BE IMPROVED.
OUR GOAL IS DOES IT WORK FASTER, BETTER, AND CHEAPER?
AND THAT'S WAY THE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO LOOK AT THINGS.
SOME OF THESE THINGS INCLUDE SHARING RESOURCES AND BEST 
PRACTICES AMONG ALL COUNTY AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS TO 
SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
FOR EXAMPLE, MY INFORMATION SERVICE DIRECTOR, MR. KIRK 
SEXTON, HAS FORMED A CITY-COUNTY I.T. COALITION TO IDENTIFY 
BEST PRACTICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE RESOURCES TO SAVE 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TAXPAYERS MONEY IN COSTLY I.T. 
EXPENDITURES.
TO DATE WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING.
THERE WERE 17 PARTICIPANTS, THE BOCC, THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, 
THE CLERK, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, THE AVIATION 
AUTHORITY, THE 13th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, HARTLINE, THE STATE 
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SCHOOL DISTRICT, CITY OF TAMPA, THE 
PROPERTY APPRAISER, PORT AUTHORITY, THE CIVIL SERVICE 
BOARD, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND OTHER INVITEES THAT PLAN 
TO COME TO THE NEXT MEETING, THE CITY OF TEMPLE TERRACE, 
PLANT CITY, WEDU, AND USF.
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AGAIN, SHARING 
BEST PRACTICES.
BASICALLY THIS IS WHAT THE STERLING/BALDRIDGE MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEM IS ALL ABOUT.
AS ITS LEADERS, WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF OUR OWN WAY TO DO 
WHAT'S RIGHT TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY.
THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY 
ADMINISTRATOR TO EXPLORE THIS SYSTEM AS POSSIBILITY FOR 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE MET ALREADY WITH SEVERAL 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DEPARTMENTS REGARDING STERLING BECAUSE 
THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BEST 
PRACTICES AND/OR CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
I BELIEVE THIS SHOWS A WILLINGNESS OF THESE AGENCIES TO 
EMBRACE THE SYSTEM AND COULD BE A POTENTIAL STARTING POINT 
SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO IMPLEMENT THE STERLING BUSINESS MODEL.
THE -- TWOFOLD HERE.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, AGING 
SERVICES, COMMUNICATIONS, WATER RESOURCE SERVICES, CIVIL 
SERVICE, AND WE MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
I WOULD RECOMMEND TO OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MS. BEAN, 
THAT WE MAYBE START THIS PROCESS WITH COMMUNICATIONS, YOUR 
FLEET SERVICES, AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
IN ADDITION, THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE CURRENTLY HAS THREE 
STERLING EXAMINERS ON STAFF, ONE OF WHICH IS OUR EXECUTIVE 
ADMINISTRATOR, JENNIFER CASTRO, WHO HAS SPEARHEADED THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF STERLING IN OUR ORGANIZATION, AND WE 
WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN WITH RESOURCES.
WE ALSO HAVE SHIRLEY KRUGER WHO'S WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT 
WHO IS A VETERAN 12-YEAR STERLING EXAMINER AS WELL AS 
EXTERNAL HELP AROUND THE COUNTY.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE, FOR THIS SYSTEM TO WORK IT 
WILL TAKE A BUY-IN AND DEDICATION FROM THE BOARD, THE 
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND ALL YOUR TOP LEADERS.
YOU HAVE TO SET THE TONE FOR THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES.
IN ADDITION, YOU HAVE TO CRAWL BEFORE YOU WALK, SO IF YOU 
CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT THIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, I WOULD ADVISE 
YOU TO START SLOWLY AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALL EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST MANAGERS, 
HAVE TO BE EMPOWERED TO MAKE THE PROCESS WORK MORE 
EFFECTUALLY.
THE COUNTY HAS NUMEROUS SMART AND CAPABLE EMPLOYEES, SO THE 
BURDEN TO CHANGE DOES NOT REST SOLELY ON LEADERSHIP.
STERLING IS NOT A QUICK FIX, IT IS A NEW WAY OF DOING 
BUSINESS AND A WHOLE NEW MIND-SET FOR ALL COUNTY STAFF FROM 
THE TOP DOWN.
BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU, HAVING ENGAGED, EMPOWERED EMPLOYEES 
COUPLED WITH A HIGH MORALE PRODUCES PHENOMENAL RESULTS.
IN CLOSING, I KNOW HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS MADE EFFORTS TO 
IMPROVE, THEY'VE BENCHMARKED AND MEASURED PERFORMANCE, BUT 
I'D ASK THESE QUESTIONS.
HOW DO YOU KNOW HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT'S HIGH 
PERFORMING AND THAT YOUR EFFORTS ARE WORKING?
WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FOR BENCHMARKING?
WHO ARE YOU BENCHMARKING AGAINST?
HOW DO YOU KNOW THE BEST HIGH-PERFORMING COUNTIES IN THE 
STATE AND IN THE NATION?
HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS DRIVES 
DECISION-MAKING AND IS YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS 
INTEGRATED WITH YOUR BUDGET PROCESS?
DO YOU KNOW THE KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN EACH OF THE 
COUNTY DEPARTMENTS?
AND MY FINAL QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?
WHAT IS THE DOWNSIDE OF TRYING THIS?
NOW I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MR. JOHN PIENO, 
CHAIRMAN OF THE FLORIDA STERLING COUNCIL, WHO WILL PRESENT 
TO YOU THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF THIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT OPTIONS OFFERED.
JOHN IS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY DIONE GEIGER, THE EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR, AND PAT SCIARAPPA, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
COORDINATOR, AND MARY GAMBLE, A MEMBER OF THE STERLING 
PANEL OF JUDGES AND A BAY AREA RESIDENT.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION, MR. BELDEN.
WELCOME, SIR.
>> THANK YOU, AND GOOD AFTERNOON.
I TRUST YOU HAD A GREAT LUNCH.
I HAVE FOLDERS IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU, AND I WANT TO -- I 
DON'T WANT TO DWELL ON THEM, BUT EVERYTHING I TALK ABOUT IS 
BASED ON THIS CRITERIA.
IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S STERLING AWARD CRITERIA.
THIS IS THE BALDRIDGE CRITERIA AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND 
THIS IS THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BEING USED 
WORLDWIDE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER TOOLS OUT THERE LIKE ISO, YOU'VE 
PROBABLY HEARD OF LEAN, YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF SIX SIGMA.
THOSE ARE TOOLS EMBEDDED IN THIS CRITERIA.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO FOCUSING ON THIS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S A NICE READ, PROBABLY THE BEST BOOK YOU GOT ON 
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THAT YOU COULD FIND.
BY THREE PAGES AND I FALL ASLEEP, SO ANYWAY -- BUT IT'S 
STILL THERE FOR YOU.
STERLING IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT 501(C)(3).
WE RECEIVE NO GOVERNMENT FUNDS, AND WE'RE THE STATE PROCESS 
THAT MIMICS AND COPIES EVERYTHING THAT THE NATIONAL AND 
INTERNATIONAL PROCESSES USE.
OKAY.
THIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS NOT PRESCRIPTIVE, AND IT WORKS 
FOR ALL SIZE AND ALL TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONS, AND YOU JUST 
HEARD SOME OF WHAT DOUG SAID, THAT -- THE TYPES OF 
ORGANIZATIONS AS SMALL AS 50 PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATION, AS 
LARGE AS 13,000, BUT IT WORKS, AND WE GOT ALL THE RESULTS 
TO SHOW THAT.
BASICALLY IT'S MANAGEMENT BY FACT, MANAGEMENT BY FACT, AND 
IF YOU'RE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M 
TALKING ABOUT IN THE OTHER SECTOR.
IF YOU DO WORK, YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE IT.
NOT ONLY OUTCOME MEASURES THAT YOU LOOK AT ON A PERIODIC 
BASIS BUT THE IN-PROCESS MEASURES THROUGHOUT THE 
ORGANIZATION THAT ACHIEVES THOSE OUTCOME MEASURES.
IT'S CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR PROCESSES, IF THEY'RE NOT MAPPED AND 
THEY'RE NOT CONSISTENT, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MEASURE THEM?
AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT AND AS IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING 
THAT I TALK ABOUT, THIS IS A COMMUNICATIONS TOOL.
IT FORCES YOU TO COMMUNICATE, ENGAGE, AND EMPOWER ALL OF 
YOUR STAKEHOLDERS.
THAT MEANS IF YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT YOUR -- THE 
CITIZENS WANT OR WHAT YOUR WORKFORCE WANTS, YOU HAVE TO 
HAVE A METHOD TO ASK THEM.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A METHOD TO AGGREGATE THAT INFORMATION AND 
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A METHOD TO TAKE ACTION ON IT, OKAY, AND 
I'LL GIVE YOU A CLASSIC EXAMPLE.
I DEAL WITH -- IN THE LAST 17 YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS, I 
HAVE A LITTLE STORY RIGHT NOW THAT'S PROBABLY APPROPRIATE 
HERE.
IT'S CALLED A TALE OF TWO COUNTIES, AND ONE OF THE COUNTIES 
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IS 
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AND DOUG MENTIONED THEM ALSO.
THEY'RE USING THIS PROCESS AND THEY'RE USING IT BY 
DEPARTMENT, AND EVERY ONE OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS THAT TAKE 
PART IN THIS PROCESS HAS SHOWN INCREASED CUSTOMER 
SATISFACTION, INCREASED EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION, AND REDUCED 
COSTS AND EXPENSES ACROSS THE BOARD.
THEY ARE NOT SUFFERING THROUGH THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS 
THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH DURING THIS ECONOMIC 
DOWNTURN.
THEY'RE NOT LAYING OFF ANYBODY.
ANY OF THE JOBS THAT WENT AWAY WENT AWAY BY ATTRITION.
I HAVE ANOTHER COUNTY THAT I'M NOT MENTIONING BY NAME, BUT 
YEARS AGO, ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, THEY USED THIS PROCESS.
A NEW LEADER CAME IN AND SAYS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT 
MEASUREMENT STUFF ANYMORE, WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE THINGS 
THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO US, LIKE HOW MANY POTHOLES WE 
FILL.
TODAY THEY'RE FACING 20% TO 25% CUT IN THEIR WORKFORCE, 
THEY HAVE NO PROCESSES IN PLACE, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT 
HAPPENED, AND WHAT HAPPENED IS ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE TOP 
TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ORGANIZATION WENT AWAY, AND IT BECAME 
REACTIVE INSTEAD OF PROACTIVE.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO SUFFER FOR IT.
NOW, I'M GOING TO END THIS WITH ONE REAL QUICK WAY TO 
DESCRIBE HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE VARIOUS TOOLS THAT WE HAVE, THE 
FIRST QUESTION THAT'S ASKED IS IN THE LEADERSHIP CATEGORY, 
AND IT ASKS, HOW DO YOU SET THE DIRECTION OF THE 
ORGANIZATION?
WELL, YOU SET THE DIRECTION OF THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE 
VISION, THE MISSION, AND THE VALUES.
THAT DEFINES THE CULTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO HAVE THEM, YOU SEE.
THE VISION OF THE ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO BE DEPLOYED AND 
UNDERSTOOD FROM THE TOP OF THE ORGANIZATION DOWN TO THE 
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE ORGANIZATION SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT 
PERSON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN -- AND THAT'S A BAD 
TERM TO USE BECAUSE THEY USUALLY ARE THE CUSTOMER CONTACT 
PEOPLE -- NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY DO, HOW WELL THEY 
DO IT TO SUPPORT THE DIRECTION OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S A SNAPSHOT OF THE PROCESS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS AVAILABLE.
ONE OF THE ONES THAT I RECOMMEND STARTING WITH IS CALLED 
THE NAVIGATOR.
IT'S A VERY SIMPLE TOOL, 42 QUESTIONS OR 42 ITEMS IN THE 
BASIC CRITERIA.
THEY ALL LINK TOGETHER.
IT'S AN ANONYMOUS SURVEY.
YOU DO IT AS A CROSS-SECTION OF THE ORGANIZATION.
IT TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR TO COMPLETE, AND IT'S COST-
EFFECTIVE.
I NEED TO ALSO -- AND IF I WERE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO 
YOU RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE ONE THAT I WOULD START WITH IN 
THE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE IT -- IT'S EASY TO ENGAGE PEOPLE, 
AND IF YOU TIE ON MENTORING AFTER THE SURVEY IS DONE TO 
IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS AND YOUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
IMPROVEMENT, THEN YOU'RE WELL ON YOUR WAY.
DOUG MENTIONED A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE WILLING TO 
HELP, AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES.
WE TALKED ABOUT SHIRLEY KRUGER.
SHE'S HERE WITH US TODAY.
JENNIFER CASTRO IS WITH US.
WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT 
OF HEALTH, SUNSTAR PARAMEDICS ACROSS THE BAY, HONEYWELL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS LOCALLY THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP 
YOU, BUT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO BUILD YOUR OWN INTERNAL 
CAPACITY, AND YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE IN PLACE IN THIS 
ORGANIZATION NOW TO HELP YOU.
I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
I TRIED TO MAKE IT AS BRIEF AS I POSSIBLY COULD.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR YOU ALREADY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, SIR.
COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, JOHN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING 
HERE, AND DOUG, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR -- BOTH OF YOU FOR 
THE PRESENTATIONS YOU'VE MADE AND FOR TAKING THE TIME, 
JOHN, TO COME DOWN FROM TALLAHASSEE TO TALK WITH US, AND 
BOARD MEMBERS, FOR YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE BEEN 
FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A LESS THAN COMPLETE 
APPROACH TO HOW WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO WITHIN THE 
ORGANIZATION AND HOW WE MATCH EVERY ACTION THAT WE TAKE 
WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION TO THE STRATEGIC VISION WHICH WE -- 
WE DISCUSS WHEN WE HAVE OUR BOARD RETREATS AND THAT WE HAVE 
IN OUR DOCUMENTATION.
AND AT TIMES -- AND ARTFULLY ON MY PART -- I'VE TRIED TO 
LOOK FOR A WAY THAT WE COULD GET OURSELVES TO BE A BETTER 
ORGANIZATION.
WHILE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, I'VE TALKED WITH DOUG, AND 
DOUG SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE USUALLY -- WHEN I FIRST GOT 
ELECTED IN 2004, HE WOULD STOP ME OUT FRONT BY THE FLAGPOLE 
AND WOULD TELL ME EARLY IN THE MORNING ABOUT THE STERLING 
PROCESS AND HOW EXCITED HE WAS ABOUT IT AND HIS BUY-IN TO 
IT, AND, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES I THOUGHT, OH, GOSH, THIS IS 
A 15- OR 20-MINUTE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION I'M GOING TO HAVE 
WITH DOUG, BUT HIS ENTHUSIASM, WHICH WAS SO INFECTIOUS AND 
THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE EMPLOY CEASE THAT WORK FOR HIS OFFICE 
WAS SO STRONG REALLY IMPRESSED ME, DOUG, BUT WHAT IMPRESSED 
ME MORE WAS THAT AS WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS CRISIS -- 
WE CALL IT A CRISIS -- AND THE MORALE I THINK HAS BEEN AT 
TIMES LOW, WHEN I'VE TALKED TO CUSTOMERS WHO'VE COME TO 
YOUR OFFICE OR EMPLOYEES WHO'VE WORKED WITH YOUR OFFICE, 
THEY ALL CITE YOU AND YOUR OFFICE AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT 
THEY WISH WE WERE DOING COUNTYWIDE.
AND WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT, WAIT A MINUTE, IT SEEMS THAT 
WE'RE SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS, AND HERE'S A GENTLEMAN WHO HAS 
TAKEN THE TIME -- AND IT'S GRUELING -- BUT PUT YOUR AGENCY 
THROUGH THIS -- YOU'RE -- THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND NOW 
WE'RE SHOWING RESULTS, AND THERE ARE SAVINGS.
AND FOR ME, I THINK THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL AT THIS 
TIME WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH BUDGET REDUCTIONS, WHEN 
PEOPLE ARE BEING LAID OFF AND STAFF IS WORRIED, THAT RATHER 
THAN BEING IN A RETRENCHED, REACTIVE STATE TO THE BUDGET 
CONDITIONS, AS JOHN SAID, WE ARE LEANING FORWARD IN A 
PROACTIVE STATE, GIVING, IF NOTHING ELSE, HOPE TO ALL THE 
EMPLOYEES HERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND AN ANSWER AND WE'RE 
GOING TO DO BETTER WITH LESS, WE'RE GOING TO WORK ACROSS 
DEPARTMENTS, EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE VALUED, AND EVERY IDEA 
WILL BE CONSIDERED, AND -- AND -- AND SO, DOUG, I FELT LIKE 
THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED INCLUDE COST, 
TIME, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME, AND -- AND I FEEL THAT 
IT'S WRONG.
IN FACT, MY BELIEF IS THAT WITH YOUR EXPERTISE -- LET ME 
ASK YOU, DOUG -- LET ME GO TO DOUG FIRST.
DO WE HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE OR DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE 
WHO CAN ASSIST US SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS 
PROCESS AND SAVE SOME MONEY SO IT WON'T COST US AS MUCH AS 
AN -- ANOTHER ORGANIZATION MIGHT HAVE TO USE?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  YES.
WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN OUR OFFICE THREE STERLING EXAMINERS 
WHO WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANY AGENCY THAT MS. BEAN WOULD 
RECOMMEND GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE SHIRLEY KRUGER WHO COULD HELP, WE'VE GOT STERLING 
WHO I THINK HAS GIVEN US A VERY GOOD PRICING ONCE YOU AND 
JOHN GO OVER A FEW THINGS ON THE NAVIGATOR, AND AGAIN, IT'S 
ALL UP TO MRS. BEAN AS TO THE NUMBER.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO START SLOW WITH, LIKE I SAID, 
FLEET, WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND 
COMMUNICATIONS AND BUILD UPON THAT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  IS THAT -- I MEAN, MY FEELING IS THAT WE 
SHOULD -- I APPRECIATE WHEN YOU SAY WE SHOULD START SLOW, 
BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE WE OUGHT TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE.
DO YOU THINK THAT THAT'S ENOUGH?
AND HOW WOULD WE BRING IN OTHER -- I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE 
SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD USE COUNTYWIDE.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  ABSOLUTELY.
EVENTUALLY, LIKE MIAMI-DADE, AS I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU, 
THERE'S 60% PARTICIPATION.
THEY'VE TAKEN A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THE NEXT TWO YEARS 
WILL BE AT 100%, BUT I THINK THOSE ARE THREE EXCELLENT 
AGENCIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH 
BESIDES FLEET, AND I KNOW THEY JUST GOT A RECOGNITION, BUT 
IT CAN SHOW RESULTS VERY QUICKLY, THE PROCESS, AND THEN WE 
CAN WORK OUT SOMETHING WHERE WE COULD KEEP ADDING ON 
DEPARTMENTS RATHER QUICKLY.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE A TRAINING FACILITY ON THE 14th FLOOR 
THAT THANK GOD ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HELPED FUND FOR US -- 
WE APPRECIATE THAT -- THAT WE CAN COME RIGHT UP HERE AND WE 
HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNTY WHICH 
DOES REDUCE THE COST.
I THINK IT'S A WAY TO START THIS PROCESS, AND I GOTTA TELL 
YOU, THE GREAT THING IS WHEN YOU SEE THE EXCITEMENT, 
PARTICULARLY IN TODAY'S ECONOMIC TIMES, THE EXCITEMENT OF 
THE EMPLOYEES ONCE THEY BECOME EMPOWERED AND THEY KNOW 
THEY'RE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS 
AND SHARING THE SUCCESSES A HUGE, HUGE THING.
AND WHEN I JUST RECENTLY -- A COUPLE OF -- A MONTH AGO WENT 
AND GAVE THE AWARD TO THE MIAMI-DADE PARKS AND RECREATION 
DEPARTMENT.
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE EXCITEMENT OF ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES 
THAT SHOWED UP TO BE RECOGNIZED.
IT WAS A PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL MODEL SYSTEM.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, I'D LIKE TO LISTEN TO THE OTHER BOARD 
MEMBERS.
I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL 
JUST CLOSE WITH A STATEMENT THAT I THINK -- AND I'M 
SPEAKING TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND HER STAFF -- THAT 
FOR THIS TO WORK -- THIS SYSTEM'S NOT MAGIC.
THERE ARE CHALLENGES, I MEAN, WITH ANY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, 
AND IF WE TAKE THE SYSTEM AND THE ATTITUDE AS, WELL, I'M 
REALLY NOT IN ON THIS BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE, WELL, 
I HAVE TO OR THERE'S PRESSURE OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, I 
DON'T THINK IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT -- YES, JOHN.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE A SECOND, I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE THING 
IN DEFERENCE TO PAT, AND I'VE WORKED WITH PAT BEFORE IN THE 
PAST.
WE KNOW EACH OTHER.
WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS, PARTICULARLY EAGLE-EYE CEOs, THEY 
THINK IT'S SOME KIND OF AN AUDIT.
IT'S NOT AN AUDIT, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THE ORGANIZATION IS 
IN TROUBLE OR DOING BAD THINGS.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN PLACE.
IT'S PULLING ALL OF THOSE PIECES TOGETHER AND FOCUSING THE 
ORGANIZATION IN A SINGLE DIRECTION.
AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT BEFORE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  JOHN, WERE YOU IN THE NAVY BEFORE?
>> I'M SORRY?
>>MARK SHARPE:  WERE YOU IN THE NAVY?
>> YES, I WAS.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WHAT DID YOU DO?
>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE IT, BUT I FLEW A-6s.
>>MARK SHARPE:  A-6 SQUADRON?
WERE YOU A COMMANDER IN THE A-6 SQUADRON?
>> VA-35.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I WAS VA-176.
>> I WAS --
>>MARK SHARPE:  I KNEW YOU WERE A GOOD MAN.
>> I WAS ALSO A MAINTENANCE OFFICER IN VA-176.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WERE YOU REALLY?
ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE HARD.
I -- I REALLY WOULD HOPE THAT -- THAT -- THAT THE COUNTY 
ADMINISTRATOR AND HER STAFF AND OTHERS WOULD TAKE THIS IN 
THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT WAS INTENDED.
I -- I RECOGNIZE, I THINK, THAT IN MANY AREAS WE ARE GOOD.
I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THIS 
DEPARTMENT, LOOK AT THAT DEPARTMENT.
I RECOGNIZE THERE ARE GOOD DEPARTMENTS, AND I THINK IT'S 
NATURAL FOR THERE TO BE A DEFENSIVE MECHANISM TO SPRING UP, 
WHETHER IT'S STAFF OR EVEN BOARD MEMBERS, SOMEONE 
SUGGESTING THAT WE'RE NOT THAT GOOD, BUT EVEN, YOU KNOW -- 
I MEAN, MY FAVORITE MANAGEMENT BOOK, GOOD TO GREAT, YOU 
KNOW, GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF GREAT, AND WE NEED TO BE GREAT, 
AND -- AND I -- AND UNTIL WE'RE THERE -- AND WE'RE NOT 
THERE BY ANY STRETCH -- THEN WE SHOULDN'T -- WE SHOULD NOT 
STOP AND WE SHOULD NOT REST.
IN -- AND IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, 
SO I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING US HERE, 
AND I'D LIKE IT HEAR THE OTHERS AND THEN MAKE A MOTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS KNEW EACH OTHER WAS IN THE NAVY, 
BUT YOU HONED RIGHT IN ON THAT.
ALL I CAN SAY IS I STAYED AT A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS LAST 
NIGHT.
[LAUGHTER]
>> ANYBODY WHO'S EVER SERVED IN THE NAVY IS ALWAYS COMRADES 
IN ARMS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  VERY GOOD.
TELL ME ABOUT THE BUY-IN AND THE ENTHUSIASM AND THE MORALE 
BUILDING AND HOW -- HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
AND I ASSUME IT'S NOT OVERNIGHT, BUT DOUG AND I HAVE TALKED 
ABOUT IT A LOT.
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THAT QUESTION.
I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE.
NUMBER ONE -- AND I TELL EVERYBODY THAT, AND SEVERAL OF YOU 
HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE.
IT DOESN'T WORK UNLESS IT'S ENABLED AND DRIVEN BY THE 
LEADERS OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY 
MEAN THAT THE CEO HAS TO GET OUT THERE AND DO ASSESSMENTS 
AND DO ALL KIND OF GRUNT WORK, IT MEANS THAT THE LEADERS AT 
ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION, THE LEADERSHIP SYSTEM 
THAT'S MAKING THIS THING WORK.
THE TYPICAL ROLE MODEL THAT WE HAVE, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION 
IS IN THE MID-90s, EMPLOYEES SATISFACTIONS IS IN THE MID-
90s, AND THE REASON IT GETS THERE IS BECAUSE I TALKED ABOUT 
COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGING THEM.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, PARTICULARLY IN THE WORKFORCE, PEOPLE 
ARE TALKING TO THEIR PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK EVERY 
DAY AND FACING THE CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY TO FIND OUT HOW THEY 
CAN DO THINGS BETTER.
I SERVED IN THE NAVY.
IF I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHAT WAS GOING ON 
BAD IN MY ORGANIZATION, I WENT TO THE TROOPS WHO WERE DOING 
THE WORK.
I DIDN'T EVEN TRUST MY DEPARTMENT HEADS TO KNOW EVERYTHING.
I WENT TO THE TROOPS.
THEY'RE THE ONES DOING THE WORK THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE, 
AND THEY CAN HELP YOU.
EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT GETS ENGAGED WITH THIS WITH 
LEADERSHIP BACKING, THE MORALE AND THE ENTHUSIASM GOES UP 
ENORMOUSLY.
IT DOES.
AND THE COUNTY I TALKED ABOUT, AT ONE TIME IT WAS UP AT 89% 
EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION.
TODAY IT'S AVERAGING 55%, AND THEIR GOAL IS TO BE AT 70%.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU START THE PROCESS, YOU OPEN IT 
UP, AND THEN YOU PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER IT.
MORALE PLUNGES.
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR?
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YES, SIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I GUESS, DOUG, I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION.
>> YES, SIR.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THE OTHER DOUG.
>> I'M SORRY?
>>JIM NORMAN:  THE OTHER DOUG.
[LAUGHTER]
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>JIM NORMAN:  WHEN YOU STARTED DOWN THIS ROAD, I GUESS MY 
FIRST QUESTION WOULD BE -- AND I KNOW THE GUY STANDING TO 
YOUR RIGHT THAT -- PROBABLY HAS SOME KIND OF VESTED 
INTEREST IN THIS, BUT WHY -- WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THEM?
IS THERE ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION OUT THERE DOING SIMILAR OR 
DIFFERENT -- IS THERE OTHER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THAT ARE 
PERFECTED OUT THERE IN WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THEM?
YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE EXPERTS IN YOUR OFFICE AND ALL THESE 
KIND OF THINGS, BUT I GUESS ON A COMPETITIVE THING OUT 
THERE, IS THERE OTHER GOOD SYSTEMS, IS THERE OTHER -- WHY 
ARE WE CHOOSING THEM?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  THE WAY I LEARNED ABOUT THE SYSTEM, 
COMMISSIONER, WAS FROM A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, DR. JIM 
ZINGALE, THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
REVENUE WHO WE WERE AGENTS FOR PROBABLY EIGHT YEARS AGO, 
AND HE BROUGHT ME IN HIS OFFICE, WE BECAME VERY GOOD 
FRIENDS, AND HE KNEW WE WERE MAKING MEASUREMENTS, WHICH WE 
DID TEN YEARS AGO.
I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT JUST COMING FROM THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU STAND, HOW CAN YOU 
BE THE BEST, AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND HE INTRODUCED ME 
TO THIS BUSINESS MODEL, STERLING, AND DR. ZINGALE, WHO'S A 
VERY BRIGHT MAN, TALKED ABOUT OTHERS, BUT KNOWING THIS IS 
THE MALCOLM BALDRIDGE, WHICH IS INTERNATIONAL, AND LOOKING 
AT THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE WINNERS AND ALL THAT SORT OF 
THING, HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG IF YOU'RE COMPARING YOURSELF IN 
OUR CASE TO FEDEX AND TO HONEYWELL AND TO RITZ CARLTON AND 
SHANDS HEALTH CARE AND THE FACT THAT THEY GOT GOVERNMENTS 
INVOLVED IN THIS BUSINESS MODEL?
AND THEN THEY STARTED LOOKING AT CORAL SPRINGS ELEMENTARY 
SCHOOL IS NOW A BALDRIDGE WINNER AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND 
HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THESE SEVEN POINTS FROM LEADERSHIP 
DOWN TO RESULTS ARE SO WELL INTEGRATED TO THE WAY 
GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS.
AND SO I WENT OUT AND VISITED VARIOUS PLACES, TALKED TO 
OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS AND TOOK 
OFF WITH IT, BUT I WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THIS AND SPENT A 
LOT OF TIME WITH DR. ZINGALE, AND THEY WON IT AT THE 
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AND I FIGURED IF THEY COULD WIN IT, 
WE COULD DO THE SAME THING ON A SMALLER SCALE THAN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.
ONCE IT STARTED IT CAUGHT ON, AND WE REALIZED WE WERE 
MAKING MEASUREMENTS, ARE WE MAKING THE RIGHT MEASUREMENTS, 
ARE WE BENCHMARKING AGAINST WORLD-CLASS ORGANIZATIONS?
LET'S EXPOSE OURSELVES.
WE THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, AND IT JUST CLICKED, AND 
THAT'S WHY I PURSUED THE SYSTEM, THE MANAGEMENT MODEL.
>>JIM NORMAN:  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IN OUR DIALOGUE AND 
DISCUSSION, WHAT SEEMS TO BE MISSING FOR ME IN THIS ANYWAY 
IS IF WE'RE GOING TO DO COUNTY -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING 
ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT HERE, BUT I THINK THAT IN OUR 
SELECTION PROCESS, IT SHOULD BE ALL FUNDED AGENCIES WITH -- 
WITHIN -- IN OTHER WORDS, EVERYTHING THAT WE GIVE DOLLARS 
TO AS AN ORGANIZATION, IF WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, 
HAVE THESE COMPLIANCES AND BENCHMARKS AND WHATEVER, I THINK 
THAT'S THE UMBRELLA THAT -- AND IF I HEAR -- IF I'M HEARING 
THIS RIGHT AND ACCURATELY -- AND JUST TRYING TO LOOK 
THROUGH THIS STUFF AS MUCH AS I COULD -- WHAT -- IT SEEMS 
TO ME THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE NOT GOING IN AND 
STRETCHING YOUR RESOURCES AND DOING ALL THE COUNTY 
GOVERNMENT, YOU'RE TAKING ONE SMALL PIECE AT A TIME.
LIKE YOU SAID, MIAMI-DADE THEY'RE AT 60 BECAUSE THEY'VE 
BEEN ON IT FOR A LONG TIME.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S CORRECT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND THEY'RE DOING THAT PIECE, THAT PIECE, 
THAT PIECE, UNTIL YOU GET THE --
>>DOUG BELDEN:  WHOLE GOVERNMENT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  BASICALLY THE WHOLE, SO IT'S NOT OVERTAXING 
ON AN ORGANIZATION --
>>DOUG BELDEN:  CORRECT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  -- THAT YOU -- AND YOUR APPROACH, BUT AGAIN, 
COMMISSIONER SHARPE, I GUESS YOU'RE MOLDING SOME MOTION, 
BUT I -- I WOULD WANT EVERYBODY TO BUY IN IF THERE WAS A 
BUY-IN LIKE THAT AND THAT -- I MEAN, I'VE HAD ACTUALLY 
PEOPLE TELL ME, HEY, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY 
AND SPEND IT HOW WE WANT TO.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD, LET'S 
GO DOWN THE ROAD OF KUMBAYA.
NEXT I GUESS I WOULD -- IT SOUNDS PRETTY EXCITING.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM MS. BEAN ALSO.
SHE'S SORT OF LEFT ON THE SIDELINES HERE.
ONE THING I DON'T WANT TO DO -- AND THAT'S WHY I LIKE THE 
PIECE THING AND WORKING ON A SLOW THING BECAUSE YOU KNOW 
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUDGET AND WE'RE ALL MAXIMIZING 
OUR WORK HOURS AND TRYING TO CRUNCH ALL THAT, AND I HATE TO 
THROW SOMETHING AT A MANAGEMENT IF IT SHORTCHANGES 
IMMEDIATE DECISIONS WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE, SO THAT'S MY ONLY 
LITTLE BIT OF A TIMING ISSUE, BUT THE CONCEPT'S EXCITING, 
AND I THANK YOU, DOUG, AND I THANK YOU, MARK, FOR DOING IT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE] AT LEAST MAKE A COMMENT.
>>PAT BEAN:  OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, I'VE TALKED TO DOUG MORE THAN ONE TIME ABOUT 
THIS, AND I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT'S ON THE 
TABLE TODAY TO START WITH OUR FLEET DEPARTMENT AND OUR 
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
BOTH OF THOSE ACTUALLY HAVE VERY STRONG LEADERSHIP AND THEY 
HAVE BEEN WORKING IN -- PARTICULARLY FLEET, I WOULD SAY, 
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THEY'VE JUST WON FOR THE SECOND YEAR 
IN A ROW THE NUMBER ONE FLEET DESIGNATION BY THE 
ORGANIZATION THAT MEASURES PUBLIC FLEETS AND HOW WELL 
THEY'RE MANAGED, BUT YOU'RE NEVER THROUGH.
YOU CONTINUE IN THIS PROCESS, AND WE ALREADY ARE INVOLVED 
WITH THE FLORIDA BENCHMARKS CONSORTIUM, AND THEY'VE TOLD US 
WE'RE THE LEAD AGENCY IN THAT CONSORTIUM WITH BENCHMARKING.
WHAT WE FIND WITH BENCHMARKING, IT'S VERY HARD TO BENCHMARK 
UNTIL YOU GET TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE TRYING 
TO BENCHMARK AGAINST, AND YOU MAKE SURE YOU'RE TALKING 
ABOUT APPLES TO APPLES, BECAUSE FREQUENTLY YOU'RE 
BENCHMARKING AGAINST APPLES AND WATERMELONS, AND THAT 
DOESN'T WORK, SO WE ARE ALREADY ENGAGED IN TRYING TO MAKE 
OURSELVES AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY WILLING 
TO GET INVOLVED, START WITH TWO DEPARTMENTS, AND WORK OUR 
WAY THROUGH.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH STERLING.
THIS ORGANIZATION DID THAT ONCE BEFORE.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT WASN'T SUCCESSFUL FOR US THE LAST TIME, 
BUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE 
BEEN WORKING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF PROCESS MAPPING.
WE'VE MAPPED PROCESSES IN MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.
MAYBE NOT ALL OF THEM -- PROBABLY NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT 
THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, AND WE'RE WILLING 
TO TAKE ON THE WORK AS LONG AS WE CAN TAKE IT IN -- ON IN 
MEASURABLE BITES THAT WE CAN MANAGE AND STILL DO THE OTHER 
WORK BECAUSE WE ARE IN A PROCESS WHICH IS GOING TO BE A 
LITTLE BIT HEAVY YET FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE WE 
HAVE NOT BALANCED '11 AT ALL.
WE DON'T HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU FOR '11 THAT'S 
BALANCED, AND WE'VE GOT TO DO ALL THAT AT THE SAME TIME WE 
START THIS, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY WILLING.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
BEFORE I MAKE MY COMMENTS, BRIEF QUESTION OF MS. BEAN WITH 
WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH STERLING BEFORE AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
CAN YOU EXPOUND UPON THAT A LITTLE BIT?
FOR ME, WHAT DIDN'T WORK, WHY DIDN'T IT WORK, BECAUSE I'M 
KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM, BUT --
>>PAT BEAN:  AS MUCH AS ANYTHING, I THINK IT WAS THE FACT 
THAT THE LEADERSHIP AT THAT TIME -- AND YOU MIGHT SAY WELL, 
YOU WERE HERE -- YES, I WAS, BUT I WASN'T THE 
ADMINISTRATOR.
THE ADMINISTRATOR SAID WE WERE GOING TO GET INTO THE 
PROGRAM TO MAKE US BETTER.
WE WEREN'T GOING AFTER THE AWARD.
HE STARTED EVERYBODY INTO THE PROCESS, AND THEN ALL OF A 
SUDDEN, HE SAID, OOPS, NO, WE'RE GOING AFTER THE AWARD, AND 
IT CHANGED THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE INSTANTLY BECAUSE THE TRUST 
FACTOR WAS GONE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AND THERE WASN'T THE 
KIND OF BUY-IN AFTER ALL FROM THE LEADERSHIP THAT WAS 
REALLY REQUIRED.
YOU GOTTA HAVE BUY-IN, OR YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SURE.
OKAY.
>>PAT BEAN:  AND IT GOT TO BE A PROGRAM WHERE PEOPLE JUST 
DIDN'T SEE WHY ARE WE HAVING TO DO THIS BECAUSE THIS PERSON 
IS NOT REALLY BUYING IN LIKE WE THOUGHT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN DOUG BELDEN PRESENTED THIS PROGRAM 
TO ME, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL MANAGEMENT 
PROGRAMS OVER THE YEARS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- AS A 
MANAGEMENT TEAM AND AS A LEADERSHIP IN AN ORGANIZATION, YOU 
HAVE TO BE ABLE TO INSPECT WHAT YOU EXPECT, AND IF YOU HAVE 
NO PROCESSES IN PLACE TO DO THAT, YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO 
MEASURE --
>>PAT BEAN:  THAT'S RIGHT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHERE YOU'RE GOING, 
AND I THINK THIS PROGRAM IS VERY, VERY ADEPT TO A 
MEASUREMENT CRITERIA FROM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, FROM 
BEGINNING TO -- WELL, THERE IS NO END.
YOU'RE CONSTANTLY ALWAYS MEASURING, AND EVEN WHERE YOU GET 
TO WHERE YOU FEEL YOUR PLATEAU IS, THERE'S STILL MORE ROOM 
FOR MEASUREMENT AND POTENTIAL GROWTH, AND ONE OF THE THINGS 
THAT THE PRESENTER -- I'M SORRY, I FORGOT YOUR FIRST NAME, 
BUT --
>>PAT BEAN:  JOHN.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- JOHN MENTIONED WAS FORCED COMMUNICATION.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS -- THAT IS THE KEY ELEMENT IN ANY 
TYPE OF COMMITMENT, WHETHER IT'S GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES, 
MANAGEMENT, OR WHETHER IT'S SPOUSAL RELATIONSHIPS.
COMMUNICATION IS KEY.
THINGS FAIL FOR LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
WELL, I THOUGHT YOU WANTED THIS, I THOUGHT YOU WANTED THAT.
NO, I'M TELLING YOU WHAT I EXPECT, I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK, 
AND THEN TOGETHER WE'LL MAP OUT THIS PROCESS OF HOW WE WANT 
TO END THIS ROAD OR WHERE WE WANT TO END UP, AND IT'S A 
VERY, VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, ONCE 
WE ALL COME TOGETHER AND GET ON THE SAME PAGE, IT BECOMES 
EASIER AND IT BECOMES EASIER AND MORE INFECTIOUS, IF YOU 
WILL, TO SPREAD THE POSITIVES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE 
ORGANIZATION.
AND JUST THE ENTHUSIASM THAT DOUG BELDEN'S OFFICE IS 
EXPERIENCING, THEY'RE EXUDING THAT ENTHUSIASM IN THE 
PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE COUNTY.
I'M NOT SAYING EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT IS SAYING YES, YES, 
YES, YES, BUT THEY'RE SAYING AT LEAST WE HAVE MEASURABLE 
RESULTS, WE HAVE COMMUNICATION, I CAN TALK TO MY PARTICULAR 
DEPARTMENT HEAD, I CAN TALK TO MY MANAGER, AND MY THOUGHTS 
AND OPINIONS ARE NOT ONLY VALUED, BUT THEY'RE ENCOURAGED.
SO MANY PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO SAY WHAT THEY THINK FOR FEAR 
OF RETRIBUTION, AND THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS INVITING AND 
ENCOURAGING THAT TO MAKE THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS THE 
TEAM PLAYER A BETTER EMPLOYEE AND MAKE, IN THIS CASE, THE 
COUNTY GOVERNMENT THE BEST IT CAN BE FOR THE PEOPLE WE 
SERVE, WHICH ARE OTHER EMPLOYEES AND ALL HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY RESIDENTS, SO DOUG, I APPLAUD YOU FOR IMPLEMENTING 
THIS AND BEING -- AND EARNING THE AWARD FOR YOUR 
DEPARTMENT, AND JOHN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS AND 
PRESENTING THIS PROGRAM TO US, AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES 
FROM HERE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER NORMAN 
ON THE ISSUE OF THE AGENCIES WITH REGARD TO ALL FUNDED 
AGENCIES, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE 
MOTION.
DOUG -- WELL, LET ME ASK JOHN ACTUALLY.
JACKSONVILLE'S FIRE DEPARTMENT, ARE THEY USING THIS?
>> YES, THEY ARE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  CAN YOU TELL ME HOW IT'S WORKED OR NOT 
WORKED?
>> IT'S WORKING EXTREMELY WELL.
THEY HAVE -- THEY'RE NOT LOSING ANYBODY, AND THEY'RE 
INCREASING THEIR EFFICIENCY ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS.
NOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S -- IT'S INCOGNITO.
IT'S THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITHOUT A NAME, AND SOMETIMES 
YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.
PAT MENTIONED SOMETHING I THOUGHT WAS VERY APPROPRIATE OUT 
THERE.
IF YOU GO AFTER THIS AS WE WANT TO WIN THE TROPHY, I SAID, 
FINE, DON'T BOTHER TO DO IT, PLEASE.
I'LL SELL YOU A TROPHY.
THEY'RE 3600 BUCKS.
I'LL PUT WHATEVER YOU WANT ON IT AND YOU CAN HAVE IT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
I WOULDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT AN AWARD, I WOULD TALKING 
ABOUT -- I WOULD TALK ABOUT GETTING BETTER, IMPROVING HOW 
WE SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, LISTEN, I -- I'M WITH YOU 100%.
THE ACTUAL AWARD -- I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S NICE BECAUSE OF 
ALL THE HARD WORK, BUT WE'RE NOT DOING THIS FOR THE AWARD.
WE'RE DOING THIS -- TAXPAYERS LOOKING FOR BETTER CUSTOMER 
SERVICE, I THINK ABOUT OUR BUILDING AND PERMITTING.
I HAVE PEOPLE WHO FROM THE BEGINNING HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT 
TURNAROUND TIME.
I MEAN, WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE, AND 
PETER'S COME IN HERE AND DONE A MAGNIFICENT JOB, BUT, I 
MEAN, I'D LIKE TO SEE US USE THIS PRINCIPLE IN OUR BUILDING 
DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THAT'S SOMEPLACE WHERE WE OUGHT TO EXPLORE MOVING 
QUICKLY.
JOHN, IS THERE A WAY -- WHEN -- WE TALK ABOUT -- IS IT 
MIAMI-DADE THAT'S GOING TO FINISH UP OR BROWARD, WHICH ONE 
WILL FINISH WITHIN TWO TO THREE YEARS?
>> MIAMI-DADE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND HOW LONG FROM BEGINNING TO END, FROM 
TOP TO BOTTOM, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE THEM TO GO THROUGH THIS 
PROCESS?
>> THEY'VE BEEN AT IT NOW FOR -- ABOUT FIVE YEARS WE'VE 
BEEN WORKING WITH THEM, AND THEY DID IT EXACTLY THE WAY PAT 
TALKED ABOUT.
THEY PICKED THREE OR FOUR ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY STARTED AT 
VARIOUS LEVELS.
SOME STARTED AT THE NAVIGATOR, SOME STARTED AT THE 
CHALLENGE LEVEL TO TAKE ASSESSMENTS.
THEY BUILD THEIR OWN INTERNAL CAPACITY BY PROVIDING 
EXAMINERS FOR THE PROCESS, SO THEY BECAME THE INTERNAL 
EXPERTS TO IT, AND THEY JUST CONTINUE TO DO IT, AND IT -- 
PROBABLY IN ABOUT I'D SAY TWO YEARS THEY'LL HAVE THE WHOLE 
COUNTY FULLY ENGAGED AND PROBABLY A ROLE MODEL FOR THE 
NATION.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND IF WE WERE TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS -- 
AND I HOPE THAT THE MOTION WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL -- WOULD YOU 
BE ABLE TO HELP PUT TOGETHER -- I'D LIKE TO SEE A 
COUNTYWIDE PLAN AS WELL.
I MEAN, THE STRATEGY FOR -- I MEAN, THIS IS NOT GOING TO 
WORK IF WE'RE JUST GOING TO CHERRY-PICK DEPARTMENTS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT WE DID, BUT I'M SAYING I WANT TO 
SEE THIS COUNTYWIDE.
WOULD WE BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A COUNTYWIDE PLAN?
>> YES, WE WOULD.
WE'D MODEL IT -- THE BASIC MODEL ON WHERE WE START, YOU 
MENTIONED TWO, HE MENTIONED ONE.
WE CAN HANDLE AS MANY AS YOU WANT US TO.
WE'LL BUILD A BASIC MODEL TO GET STARTED, AND THEN WE'LL 
BUILD A MODEL OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND WHERE YOU WANT TO 
BE IN TWO YEARS.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND DOES THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BELIEVE 
THAT THIS -- I MEAN, WOULD -- BEFORE I MAKE THE MOTION, I'M 
NOT GOING TO ASK ARE YOU COMFORTABLE BECAUSE I THINK LIKE 
WITH ANYTHING, I'M NOT REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMFORT 
LEVEL.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE WORKING REALLY HARD.
NOT THAT WE'RE NOT, I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING VERY HARD, BUT I 
BELIEVE THAT NEED TO WORK HARDER AND THAT WE NEED TO ALL 
ENGAGE IN THIS, BUT I -- AND SO BELIEVE IN THIS, BUT DO YOU 
BELIEVE IN THIS?
>>PAT BEAN:  COMMISSIONER, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO THIS.
I BELIEVE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, AND I BELIEVE THE 
BOARD HAS TO HAVE AN INVESTMENT IN IT AS WELL.
YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE TO HAVE AN INVESTMENT IN 
THIS ALSO, AND SO AS LONG AS YOU'RE AS A BOARD INVESTED, 
WE'LL BE HERE, AND, I MEAN, I JUST NEED TO GET A COUPLE 
THINGS ON THE RECORD JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF JOHN IF NOBODY 
ELSE.
JOHN, WE'VE BEEN SAVING MONEY NOW EVERY YEAR SINCE -- THE 
FIRST YEAR WAS '06 THAT WE STARTED IDENTIFYING 
EFFICIENCIES, AND MY STAFF GAVE ME A CHART AS WE WERE DOING 
THE BUDGET THAT IF YOU ADD UP STARTING WITH THE 8 MILLION 
THAT WE GOT THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN ADDING ON AND KEEPING 
THAT SAME 8 MILLION, WE'RE UP CLOSE TO $150- TO $200 
MILLION THAT WE'VE TAKEN OUT IN EFFICIENCIES.
>> GOOD START.
>>PAT BEAN:  SO WE'RE DEFINITELY COMMITTED AND WE ARE 
WILLING.
>>MARK SHARPE:  GREAT.
I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS, 
BUT I WILL MAKE A MOTION, INCLUDING THE COMMENTS BY 
COMMISSIONER NORMAN, THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE 
RECOMMENDATION AS MADE BY OUR TAX COLLECTOR, DOUG BELDEN, 
AND THAT WE BEGIN WITH THE -- THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU 
ADDRESSED.
I WOULD LIKE FOR -- THOUGH, TO SEE WITH BUILDING SERVICES 
AND OTHERS IF WE -- I'D LIKE TO SEE A COUNTYWIDE PLAN, AND 
IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVELY, I THINK THAT 
THAT WOULD BE VERY -- VERY HELPFUL, AND YOU'VE GOT MY BUY-
IN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PAT BEAN, YOU'VE GOT MY BUY-IN ON 
THIS, AND SO I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS, JOHN.
WHEN WE START THIS PROCESS, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE STARTING 
WITH THE -- LOOKING AT THE NAVIGATOR PROCESS, AND I KNOW 
YOU HAD MENTIONED THERE'S AN ON-LINE SURVEY.
WHAT COULD BE OUR EXPECTATIONS THAT WE -- IF WE ARE 
SUCCESSFUL -- SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THIS, WHAT SHOULD BE 
OUR LEVEL OF EXPECTATIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE ACHIEVED AT THE 
NAVIGATOR LEVEL?
>> I WOULD -- JUST LET ME MAKE ONE COMMENT TO PREFACE THIS, 
SIR, IF I MAY.
I WOULD START WITH UNDERSTANDING THE CRITERIA FOR YOUR 
LEADERS IN THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION SO THAT ONE DAY CRITERIA 
TRAINING AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU.
THAT'S THE REAL BEGINNING.
THAT'S BASICS.
THAT'S 101.
BUT FROM THE NAVIGATOR, IF YOU DO ONE DEPARTMENT OR YOU DO 
FOUR DEPARTMENTS, YOU'RE GOING TO START TO IDENTIFY VERY 
SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT AND VERY SPECIFIC 
STRENGTHS THAT YOU HAVE.
TYPICAL NAVIGATOR WILL IDENTIFY 15 TO 20 STRENGTHS.
AGAIN, YOU'D ALSO HAVE 15 TO 20 OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
IMPROVEMENT.
WE COULD START TO LOOK AT TREND, BUT IT CAN'T STOP THERE.
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE IT -- ONCE YOU LEARN -- IDENTIFY THE 
OPPORTUNITIES OF IMPROVEMENT, IT'S IN FRONT OF YOU NOW, 
IT'S ON PAPER, WE VERIFIED IT, YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT 
IT, SO YOU NEED TO START PLANNING WITH TEAMS AND HOW YOU'RE 
GOING TO ADDRESS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THAT'S THE TAKEAWAY IS PUTTING PEOPLE IN PLACE TO SOLVE 
PROBLEMS, PUTTING IN PLACE TO IMPROVE PROCESSES THAT YOU 
KNOW NEED IMPROVEMENT.
IN BUILDING PERMITS, EVERY COUNTY'S GOT A PROBLEM WITH 
THAT, SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
YOU NEED TO GET VERY SPECIFIC USING SOME OF THE PROBLEM-
SOLVING TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT 
IT.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
SORRY.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  SO DOES IT IDENTIFY -- WE IDENTIFIED 
AREAS THAT WE'RE DOING WELL, WE IDENTIFIED AREAS OF 
IMPROVEMENT.
DOES IT HELP US IDENTIFY WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE, OR THAT'S 
WHERE WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE MANAGEMENT TEAM?
I MEAN, ARE THERE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME FROM YOUR END 
OR THE CONSULTANT'S END OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THOSE 
EFFICIENCIES?
>> WE HELP MENTOR YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND HELP YOU PUT 
TEAMS TOGETHER AND HELP -- AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THE TOOLS 
THAT YOU CAN START TO ANALYZE WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS.
A LOT OF TIME WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU SAY, YEAH, THIS WAS 
THE PROBLEM, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT SEEMS VERY 
OBVIOUSLY THAT THIS IS THE SOLUTION, BUT WHEN YOU START 
WORKING IT AND IDENTIFYING IT AND REALLY GRINDING DOWN TO 
THE CORE, THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION AT ALL.
AND A SIDE BENEFIT OF THAT, IF YOU SOLVE ONE PROBLEM, 
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IT'S GOING TO SOLVE ANCILLARY 
PROBLEMS AROUND IT ALSO, SO, YEAH, WE MENTOR YOU THROUGH 
THAT.
I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART.
THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT GET THE FEEDBACK 
REPORT FROM THE NAVIGATOR OR CHALLENGE OR THE GOVERNOR'S 
STERLING AWARD, AND THEY TAKE THAT REPORT, PUT IT IN THEIR 
BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND DRAWER, AND OVER THREE MONTHS' PERIOD OF 
TIME, IT EVAPORATES.
YOU NEED TO TAKE IT AND DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
IT CAN'T STOP BY JUST DOING THE SURVEY.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THEN WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING 
STARTED FOR THIS PROGRAM -- OBVIOUSLY NOBODY'S DISCUSSED 
THIS YET, BUT THOSE WATCHING AND TAXPAYERS MIGHT WANT TO 
KNOW, WHAT WOULD BE OUR INVESTMENT TO GET THROUGH THIS FULL 
PART FINANCIALLY FOR THE STERLING NAVIGATOR TO GET THROUGH 
THIS PROCESS?
WHAT WOULD WE BE LOOKING AT?
>> I CAN'T GIVE YOU SPECIFIC NUMBERS.
IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MAINTENANCE IS LIKE.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT -- WHAT THE COMMUNICATIONS IS LIKE.
YOU HAVE 34 PEOPLE THERE.
THE -- THEY DO 25 NAVIGATORS.
THE INITIAL INVESTMENT OF THAT IS $895 TO DO IT.
NOW, THE ADD-ON TO THAT IS ANALYZATION AND MENTORING 
THROUGH THE PROCESS WILL BE ADDITIONAL COST, OBVIOUSLY.
AGAIN, COSTWISE THE TRAINING, IF YOU BRING ALL YOUR 
DEPARTMENT HEADS AND YOUR KEY PEOPLE TOGETHER, PROBABLY NOT 
ONE BUT PROBABLY TWO TRAINING SESSIONS BECAUSE I THINK YOU 
HAVE TOO MANY.
MAYBE YOU CAN DO IT WITH ONE.
THAT'S A $2500 DAY.
WELL WORTH IT, THOUGH.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  AND THEN THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH, 
I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED IT EXAMINES PROCESSES.
DOES THIS PARTICULAR STAGE LOOK AT POLICIES, INTERNAL 
POLICIES OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE, OR IS IT MORE 
JUST GEARED TOWARDS PROCESSES?
>> I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION, SIR.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  SURE.
YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT PROCESSES AND WHAT 
WE HAVE THAT'S GOING GOOD AND WHAT'S NOT GOING GOOD.
DOES IT LOOK AT POLICIES THAT WE PARTICULARLY HAVE IN PLACE 
AND WITHINSIDE OF OUR ORGANIZATION, OR AGAIN, DOES IT JUST 
LOOK LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING PROCESSWISE?
>> PROCESSES OUGHT TO EMANATE FROM POLICIES, AND THE 
PROCESSES OUGHT TO SUPPORT THE POLICIES, AND SO THE POLICY 
IS -- ONE, HAS TO BE CLEAR, NUMBER TWO IS THE PROCESS HAS 
TO -- YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHY YOU'RE DOING IT, 
HOW YOU DO IT, AND HOW IT SUPPORTS THAT POLICY, SO 
ABSOLUTELY WE LOOK AT IT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  BUT THIS JUST INCLUDES LOOKING 
INTERNALLY, IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY EXTERNAL INPUT FROM 
CITIZENS WITH THESE DEPARTMENTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> WE DON'T TALK TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.
WHAT WE ASK YOU -- AND THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE.
WHAT WE ASK YOU IS HOW DO YOU TALK TO YOUR CUSTOMERS, HOW 
DO YOU SURVEY THEM, HOW DO YOU FIND OUT WHAT THEIR NEEDS 
ARE, HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT, AND HOW MUCH DO THEY APPRECIATE 
OR NOT APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
SO WE DON'T TALK TO THEM, WE LOOK AT YOUR PROCESSES AND HOW 
YOU DO THAT.
HOW DO YOU DO CUSTOMER SURVEYS, YOU KNOW?
SIMPLE QUESTION, RIGHT, BUT THERE ARE PROBABLY 50 MODELS 
OUT THERE IN HOW A COUNTY OF YOUR SIZE OR PRIVATE-SECTOR 
ORGANIZATION YOUR SIZE SURVEYS THE CUSTOMERS.
IT STARTS WITH THE CUSTOMER CONTACT PEOPLE, THE FOLKS WHO 
ARE FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE CUSTOMER EVERY DAY TO FORMAL 
SURVEYS THAT GO OUT ON-LINE, TO FORMAL SURVEYS THAT ARE 
MAILED TO THEM.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF WAYS, BUT YOU HAVE TO AGGREGATE THAT 
ALL TOGETHER SO YOU COME UP WITH ONE THING, AND THAT ONE 
THING IS HOW GOOD ARE WE DOING IN SERVING OUR CITIZENS?
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  SO TO CLARIFY THE MOTION, THEN, THAT'S ON 
THE FLOOR, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ASKING THEM TO COME BACK 
WITH AN RFP LOOKING AT THE STERLING NAVIGATOR AND GIVE US 
MORE DETAIL AS FAR AS WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL, OR WHAT ARE 
WE LOOKING AT ON THIS MOTION?
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING -- DOUG, YOU 
WANT TO -- MY HOPE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN THE 
PROCESS.
I DON'T WANT TO -- I MEAN, WE CAN STUDY THIS THING.
I'M PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD, SO HOW WOULD WE MOVE FORWARD?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  WE'RE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND I 
THINK -- I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MS. BEAN -- ON SPECIFIC 
AGENCIES IF THE BOARD SO DESIRES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  WELL, THEN, I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE 
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INVESTMENT IS IN THIS, WE DON'T KNOW 
A TIME FRAME --
>>DOUG BELDEN:  WE CAN PREPARE BASED ON THE COUPLE AGENCIES 
SHE TALKED ABOUT TO DO THE NAVIGATOR MODEL.
>>MARK SHARPE:  LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, THE COMMUNICATIONS 
DEPARTMENT, WE SAID $840?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>> 895.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  895 I THINK IS THE NUMBER.
WE CAN PREPARE THAT AND PROVIDE THAT TO MS. BEAN, ALL THOSE 
AGENCIES WE JUST DISCUSSED.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  BUT THEN WE'RE ALSO -- LET ME JUST 
INTERJECT BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE WHOLE CONCEPT, BUT WHAT I 
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS, AGAIN, COMING BACK -- YOU STARTED 
MENTIONING ABOUT CONSULTING AND THE IMPLEMENTATION, SO I 
THINK WE NEED HAVE TO HAVE A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT THIS 
LOOKS LIKE.
I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF COMING BACK WITH THE RFP AND 
LOOKING AND GETTING THE FULL PRESENTATION.
THAT GIVES US ALSO A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THE 
WHOLE PROGRAM AND ASK ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING COMPLETE BEFORE WE 
VOTE ON IT SO WE KNOW WHAT OUR INVESTMENT IS, WE KNOW WHAT 
THE EXPECTATIONS ARE, AND THEN TAKE A FORMAL VOTE THAT WAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>> WE'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
I'LL PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR YOU, AND AGAIN -- I'LL LOOK 
AT IT ON AN INCREMENTAL BASIS, ON A TWO-YEAR CYCLE WITH UP 
TO ABOUT FOUR -- FOUR OR FIVE AGENCIES OVER TWO YEARS.
IS THAT TOO MANY?
>>PAT BEAN:  I DON'T KNOW.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER OFFLINE.
WE'LL BUILD SOMETHING THAT'S INCREMENTAL AND TAKES IT ON A 
STEP-BY-STEP BASIS SO YOU CAN LEARN FROM IT.
IT WILL INCLUDE -- WE DON'T CALL IT CONSULTING, WE CALL IT 
MENTORING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
CAN YOU BE YOUR OWN CONSULTANTS, PAY YOURSELF.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND SOME OF THESE COSTS, THOUGH, DOUG WE 
TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THIS.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE STAFF IN PLACE WHO KNEW HOW TO DO THIS, 
THERE WILL BE COST SAVINGS, IS THAT NOT CORRECT?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  THERE WILL BE NO COST FROM MY OFFICE FOR US 
PROVIDING HELP --
>>MARK SHARPE:  EXCELLENT.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  -- IN TERMS OF TRAINING, USE OF THE 
TRAINING FACILITY.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, AND I THINK THAT THE QUESTIONS BY 
COMMISSIONER BECKNER ARE VERY WELL SERVED, AND WE SHOULD -- 
THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
I MEAN, THERE'S GOING -- THERE'S NOTHING THAT COMES WITHOUT 
A COST.
IT'S GOING TO BE TIME, IT'S GOING TO BE SWEAT, IT'S GOING 
TO BE MONEY, BUT IN THE END, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE SAVINGS 
AND THE CHANGE IS GOING TO BE DRAMATIC, I HOPE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE A NAVY MAN.
YOU'VE BEEN ON A SHIP, I'VE BEEN ON A SHIP.
WE TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME, PAT AND I, ABOUT HOW LONG 
DOES IT TAKE TO TURN A SHIP?
I'VE SEEN SOME SHIPS TURN PRETTY FAST WITH GOOD, STRONG 
LEADERSHIP.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL YOU CAN BRING THAT PRESENTATION 
FORWARD AND THAT WE CAN GET -- YOU KNOW, WE CAN MOVE 
FORWARD AGAIN ON A --
>>DOUG BELDEN:  ONE OF MY QUESTIONS TOO, DOWN IN THE LONG 
RUN IF THIS ALL WORKS AND HAPPENS WELL AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR 
WHOLE AGENCY ONBOARD, MY QUESTION WOULD BE WHY DO YOU NEED 
A PERFORMANCE AUDITOR IF YOU'VE GOT MEANINGFUL, 
QUANTITATIVE RESULTS RECOGNIZED BY THE PUBLIC THAT THEY CAN 
SEE AND DO?
>>MARK SHARPE:  EXCELLENT.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  WHY DO YOU NEED THAT COST?
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR INTERNAL INVESTMENT, 
IT'S VERY SPECIFIC.
>>JIM NORMAN:  DOUG, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, AND I KNOW YOU'RE 
A PRO AT THIS, AND THIS ISN'T A SETUP QUESTION, OKAY, BUT -
- [LAUGHTER] -- UH-OH.
SAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S MOVE THIS OUT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
AND LET'S SAY SOMEWHERE IN THE PANHANDLE, OKAY, AND WE'RE 
ENACTING THIS PROGRAM AND THEY'RE GOING OUT IN SAY ROAD AND 
STREET, AND THE OLD THING OUT THERE THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR 
ROAD AND STREET DEPARTMENT THEY'VE GOT TEN GUYS THAT STAND 
AROUND A HOLE WHILE ONE GUY DIGS A HOLE.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  RIGHT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND THAT, OH, BY, THE WAY, THOSE TEN GUYS 
THAT ARE STANDING AROUND THAT HOLE THAT ARE DIGGING THAT 
HOLE ARE COVERED BY CIVIL SERVICE, SO DOES THIS GUY -- DOES 
JOHN COME IN HERE AND SAY, OKAY, WE FIRE THOSE TEN GUYS AND 
LET THE ONE GUY DIG THE HOLE?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  I THINK ONCE YOU -- AGAIN, NO.
I THINK WHAT HAPPENS --
>>JIM NORMAN:  WELL, THAT'S THE -- I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S 
THE STREAMLINING, GETTING -- I GUESS I NEED TO UNDERSTAND, 
AND THAT'S NOT A SETUP QUESTION, BUT I MEAN DO THEY GIVE 
YOU THE -- YOU KNOW, YOU JUST MADE A COMMENT ABOUT GETTING 
RID OF THE PERFORMANCE AUDITOR, THAT KIND OF THING.
DID THEY GIVE YOU THE -- THE REAL DEAL TO SAY, HEY LOOK, 
YOU'VE GOT 12 GUYS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, 11 GUYS DIGGING 
THAT HOLE, ONE OF THEM CAN DIG THE HOLE.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  THEY GIVE YOU THE TOOLS NECESSARY --
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND WILL THEY TELL YOU IN A REPORT THAT TEN 
OF THEM -- AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT AREN'T COOPERATING, 
THEY'RE NOT BUYING INTO THE PROGRAM, AND THESE TEN NEED TO 
BE OUT OF HERE?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  THEY WILL PROVIDE YOU EVERY SINGLE 
IMAGINABLE TOOL.
WHEN WE STARTED OUT -- WE TRIED THREE TIMES, AND I'M 
TELLING YOU THE FIRST TIME WE HAD UMPTEEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
IMPROVEMENT.
KIND OF DISCOURAGED, BUT WE LEARNED FROM THAT AND WE SCORED 
THE SECOND TIME AND WENT WAY UP.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND --
[INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK]
-- SOME OF THIS, BUT --
>>DOUG BELDEN:  YES, THEY WILL HONESTLY TELL YOU -- IF 
YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING REALLY BAD, HALF ASS, WHATEVER IT 
MAY BE, THEY'LL LET YOU KNOW ALL THE WAY ALONG THE LINE, 
AND WHAT -- WHAT YOU GET FROM THAT IS IT REALLY -- THE 
EMPOWERMENT -- IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN IN WORDS SOMETIMES.
THE EMPLOYEES WILL STAND OUT IN TERMS OF THEIR PERFORMANCE 
BY BEING EMPOWERED AND ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS.
THIS MODEL DOES THAT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  OKAY.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  WE WITNESSED THAT.
WE'VE SEEN THAT.
NOW, WHEN YOU HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE IN OUR OFFICE, WE 
HAVE POSITION JUSTIFICATIONS.
EVERYONE HAS TO BE JUSTIFIED AS TO WHAT THEY DO.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.
I JUST -- I'M TALKING ABOUT REAL PRACTICE, THINKING I 
UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT THIS -- HOW YOU FIRE TEN PEOPLE 
AND THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOB AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN 
YOU'RE BEING SUED BY CIVIL SERVICE AND ALL THAT STUFF.
I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK THROUGH ALL THESE NEXT STEPS.
>>MARK SHARPE:  IF WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT WE USE TEN PEOPLE 
AND YOU REALLY ONLY NEED ONE PERSON, IS THIS GOING TO 
EXPOSE THAT SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ACTION STEPS?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  ABSOLUTELY.
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>DOUG BELDEN:  WITHOUT A DOUBT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
DOUG, I'M KIND OF SITTING HERE IN QUIET AMAZEMENT THAT WE 
HAD A 2.5-HOUR DISCUSSION AT LEAST ABOUT THE VALUE OR THE 
NONVALUE OF AN INTERNAL PERFORMANCE AUDITOR, AND YOU JUST 
WHACKED THAT POSITION RIGHT OUT OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL 
CHART, BUT THAT BEING SAID, I THINK, JOHN, THERE'S 
SOMETHING I WANT TO ASK, AND DOUG, STAY THERE BECAUSE YOU 
MIGHT ANSWER IT TOO.
IN REFERENCE TO WHAT COMMISSIONER NORMAN IS SAYING, WHEN 
YOU COME IN, I THINK WE OR SHOULD BE RECEPTIVE TO WHAT OUR 
CUSTOMERS WANT.
WE SHOULD BE CUSTOMER SERVICE-ORIENTED.
THAT'S A GIVEN FOR GOVERNMENT OR BUSINESS OR ANYTHING ELSE, 
AND I THINK YOU'RE MORE GOING -- IF I UNDERSTAND THE 
PROCESS AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BRING TO THE TABLE FOR US 
AFTER EVERYBODY WEIGHS IN ON THIS, IS YOU'RE NOT 
NECESSARILY GOING TO SAY YOU'VE GOT TEN PEOPLE AND NINE ARE 
NOT DOING ANYTHING, SO THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
ARE YOU GIVING US THE LATITUDE THAT SAYS YOUR CUSTOMERS 
WOULD RATHER SEE THE ONE GUY DIGGING THE HOLE AND THE NINE 
OTHER GUYS DOING SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S -- THAT'S MORE 
CUSTOMER SERVICE-ORIENTED?
IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING?
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE DETERMINATION DECISIONS, YOU'RE 
GOING TO SAY WHERE IS THE BEST USE OF THE EMPLOYEES YOU 
HAVE, NOT NINE WATCHING AND ONE WORKING, ONE WORKING AND 
NINE DOING OTHER THINGS?
>> WE WILL PROVIDE YOU THE TOOLS TO HELP YOU ANALYZE THE 
PROCESSES.
TO WORK, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THIS IS WHAT I DON'T WANT THIS TO DO, 
THOUGH.
GO AHEAD, AND THEN I'LL FINISH.
>> NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU TO FIRE TEN PEOPLE.
THAT'S THE DECISION YOU HAVE TO MAKE.
WE'LL GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO ANALYZE THE PROCESS, THEN YOU 
CAN MAKE A DETERMINATION TO WHERE YOU MIGHT BEST WANT TO 
MOVE RESOURCES OR HOW YOU WANT TO BEST DO A JOB.
IT BECOMES --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  BECAUSE IF WE'RE SAYING EVERYBODY HAS TO 
WEIGH IN ON THIS AND EVERYBODY HAS TO BE COMMITTED TO DOING 
THIS PROCESS EVEN AT THE FIRST LEVEL, IF THE INSINUATION OR 
THE CONCEPT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO HELP US LOOK WHERE 
WE CAN CUT NINE MORE PEOPLE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A 
BUY-IN FROM OUR EMPLOYEES, I CAN TELL YOU, SO I -- FOR ME 
SUPPORTING THIS, AND I DO, IS SIMPLY TO TELL US HOW WE CAN 
BEST ORGANIZE THE ORGANIZATION THAT'S THERE BUT NOT TO HAVE 
EMPLOYEES AFTER THEY'RE GOING THROUGH RIF POTENTIALS NOW -- 
NOT TO HAVE EMPLOYEES WALKING AWAY FROM THIS CONVERSATION 
THINKING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TARGET NINE 
OUT OF TEN EVER THEM --
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  -- BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO CRUMBLE MORALE 
THAT'S NOT TOO TERRIFIC NOW.
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
LET ME TELL YOU, THOUGH, HAD DOES GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO 
REALLOCATE RESOURCES AND PUT THEM IN PLACES WHERE THEY 
MIGHT BE MORE EFFECTIVE, CROSS-TRAINING SO PEOPLE CAN DO 
MORE THAN ONE JOB.
THERE'S A LOT OF ASPECTS TO THIS --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
SO BETTER UTILIZATION OF OUR STAFF.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  NOT ELIMINATION OF OUR STAFF.
>> THAT'S THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN.
I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.
PEOPLE SAY OH, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS STERLING STUFF, THAT 
MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO LAY OFF A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOLKS.
DON'T GO THERE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
>> YOU GOTTA BUILD THAT TRUST.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  AND THEN I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT DOUG, 
YOU WANTED TO WEIGH IN?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  YEAH, I'D LIKE TO ANSWER THAT.
THE STERLING MODEL ENABLES THIS BUDGET CYCLE COMING UP -- 
WE'RE LAYING OFF NO ONE OFF IN MY OPERATION, NO FURLOUGH 
DAYS, NO SALARY REDUCTION, AND WE'RE CUTTING THE BUDGET 
5.6%.
>> VOILA.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  OKAY.
IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF STERLING.
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>DOUG BELDEN:  NO.
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>DOUG BELDEN:  WELL, WE'VE ELIMINATED 41 POSITIONS.
WE NEVER HAD TO GET RID OF ANYBODY.
I WILL TELL YOU THIS MODEL HELPED US ACHIEVE THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
COMMISSIONER --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I JUST WANT TO ASK ONE MORE QUESTION.
I THINK YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GET BACK TOGETHER AND GIVE US 
A DOLLAR AMOUNT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND JOHN, JUST ONE 
QUESTION.
IN TERMS OF COST BENEFIT, I THINK YOU TALKED ABOUT THE 
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT FIRST, ET CETERA.
I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN FINALIZED.
PAT, I GUESS THAT'S YOUR DECISION.
IT'S NOT BEEN FINALIZED WHAT DEPARTMENT OR TWO YOU'RE GOING 
TO START WITH?
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, DOUG HAD SOME IDEAS.
I HAD MY OWN SUGGESTIONS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO YOU-ALL ARE GOING TO DO THAT AND COME 
BACK.
YOU KNOW, LIKE SOMETIMES IF YOU BUY A LITTLE BIT OF 
SOMETHING IT'S MORE PER UNIT?
IS THERE SOME SORT OF A COST BENEFIT AT A CERTAIN 
THRESHOLD?
LIKE --
>> NOT REALLY.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  LIKE, I MEAN, IS A DEPARTMENT WITH 30 
GOING TO BE HALF THE PRICE OF A DEPARTMENT WITH 60, OR IS 
THERE SOME BREAK IN PRICE?
>> A DEPARTMENT OF 30 WOULD BE MUCH LESS THAN A DEPARTMENT 
OF A HUNDRED.
A DEPARTMENT OF HUNDRED YOU'D PROBABLY DO -- FOR NAVIGATOR, 
YOU'D DO 50.
FOR A DEPARTMENT OF 30, YOU DO 25, SO IT'S HALF THE PRICE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  IT'S PER EMPLOYEE, IT'S NOT --
>> IT'S PER EMPLOYEE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  IF YOU BUY MORE, YOU PAY LESS PER UNIT?
>> IT'S PER UNIT OF 25 FOR THE NAVIGATOR.
AND WE WANT A CROSS-SECTION IN THE NAVIGATOR TO TOUCH ALL 
PARTS OF THAT ORGANIZATION SO THAT -- IN THE WAY THAT DOES 
NOT IDENTIFY WHO SAID WHAT, OKAY.
WE WANT TO -- WE ENSURE -- AND WE'LL DO THIS FOR YOU.
WE'LL ENSURE THAT YOUR PEOPLE VIA WEBINAR THAT THIS IS AN 
ANONYMOUS SURVEY, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE FINGERPRINTS 
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WHO SAID WHAT 
BECAUSE YOU GET ALL OF THE COMMENTS BACK THAT THEY MAKE, 
AND WE ASK FOR COMMENTS, VERBATIM.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO TOTALLY ANONYMOUS?
BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SURVEYS WHERE IT SAYS ANONYMOUS, BUT THEN 
YOU SEE SOME LITTLE CODE ON THE CORNER THAT MAKES PEOPLE 
NOT ANSWER.
I KNOW HOW THAT GOES.
>> IF YOU WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE SURVEY, WE'RE GOING TO 
KNOW WHO THAT IS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I UNDERSTAND.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  IN RESPONSE TO COMMISSIONER NORMAN, ON THE 
FUNDED AGENCIES, WHICH IS A GOOD IDEA, WE'VE IDENTIFIED -- 
AT LEAST SUGGESTED TO MS. BEAN THE FLEET MANAGEMENT 
DEPARTMENT, THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, AND THE COUNTY 
ATTORNEY.
THOSE THREE.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE CAN PROVIDE AN EXACT COST, 
COMMISSIONER BECKNER, TO THOSE THREE STARTING WITH THOSE 
THREE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  YEAH.
AND LIKE I SAID, JUST THE OVERALL COMPLETE PROPOSAL PERHAPS 
YOU CAN COME BACK WITH AT THE NEXT MEETING?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  BASED ON THE NAVIGATOR --
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  YES.
>>DOUG BELDEN:  -- UP THROUGH THE FOLLOW-THROUGH FOR A TWO-
YEAR PERIOD.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  AND MR. BELDEN, YOU HAD MENTIONED -- I 
THINK YOU SAID YOU SAVED $2 MILLION OR SO THROUGH THIS 
PROCESS.
DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  IN FACT, I THINK I SENT YOU A COPY OF THAT 
BREAKDOWN AND THE COST ANALYSIS TO YOUR OFFICE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU READ THAT YET.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  AND YOUR TOTAL INVESTMENT THEN IN THE 
PROGRAM?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  $132,000 FISCAL YEAR 2006-2009.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  I THINK THAT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CERTAINLY TAKE A 
LOOK AT AGAIN TO CREATE MORE EFFICIENCIES, SO I'M CERTAINLY 
SUPPORTIVE, I JUST -- AGAIN, JUST SO WE ALL HAVE A CLEAR 
PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, JUST COME BACK WITH A COMPLETE 
PROPOSAL.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE, RESTATE THE MOTION, 
PLEASE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THE MOTION IS THAT MR. BELDEN AND THE 
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WOULD COME BACK WITH A -- WITH A COST 
PLAN TO SHOW US HOW WE CAN BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS 
STERLING PROGRAM, TARGETING THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU HAVE 
DETERMINED, AND I -- AND I WOULD ASK YOU JUST TO TAKE A 
LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND COME BACK WITH WHAT YOU THINK IS 
RIGHT, AND THEN -- BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- 
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO START SOMETHING, LIKE YOU SAID, AND 
THEN PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER, SO I WOULD AS WELL 
INCLUDED IN THIS MOTION LIKE TO SEE THE OVERALL PLAN FOR 
THE COUNTYWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A COST, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A 
GREATER RETURN, AND I'LL TELL YOU, I -- THAT LAST STATEMENT 
FOR ME WAS THE STAMP.
WHEN YOU HEAR OUR ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND IN TRYING 
ECONOMIC TIMES POTENTIALLY SAVE JOBS, CREATE GREATER 
EFFICIENCIES, AND SPEND LESS TAX MONEY, THAT'S FANTASTIC.
>> SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE'VE GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY 
COMMISSIONER SHARPE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE 
ON THE MOTION.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  NEXT ITEM.
>>PAT BEAN:  YOUR NEXT ITEM IS YOUR 2:00 TIME CERTAIN.
YOU HAVE TWO OF THOSE, ACTUALLY.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO SOLICIT 
PUBLIC INPUT ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FY 09 ADOPTED 
BUDGET, AND ERIC JOHNSON IS HERE TO PRESENT THAT.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  GOOD AFTERNOON.
ERIC JOHNSON, MANAGEMENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR.
COMMISSIONER, THIS IS A NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING TO REDUCE 
THE BUDGET FOR IMPACT FEES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.
THIS FOLLOWS ON A SIMILAR ITEM THAT WE HAD BROUGHT YOU 
RECENTLY TO REDUCE OTHER REVENUES.
IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE SHOULD TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM?
GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
GERALD WHITE, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
I'M HERE RELATED TO THE -- I GUESS THIS IS THE TRUST FUND 
FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THE 
WAY I READ IT IN THE NEWSPAPER.
I GUESS I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSS OF OVER A 
THOUSAND JOBS IN THIS COUNTY AND THE SERVICES IN THIS 
COUNTY AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, 
PRESIDING OVER THE LARGEST DISMISSAL OF EMPLOYEES IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HISTORY.
AND SO I WANT TO REQUEST THAT THE BOARD LOOK AT EVERY 
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WITH THE 
EXCEPTIONS OF THE 40th STREET PROJECT AND THE BRUCE B. 
DOWNS PROJECT, AND ANY PROJECT CAN BE POSTPONED, 
ELIMINATED, PUSHED BACK, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GENERATE 
THE $150 MILLION FROM THESE ROAD PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN 
FUNDED AND MONIES JUST SITTING IN THE BANK AND KEEP THESE 
EMPLOYEES WORKING.
I THINK IT'S DOABLE, I THINK IT'S FEASIBLE.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS 
COUNTY TO POSTPONE A PROJECT TO SAVE A JOB.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU'RE ELIMINATING EMPLOYEE JOBS AND SERVICES IN THE 
COUNTY, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT SAME MONEY AND HIRE 
EMPLOYEES BY WAY OF A CONTRACT THROUGH BIDDING, AND SO IT'S 
JUST A BAIT AND SWITCH.
I'D RATHER KEEP THE SERVICES AND KEEP THE EMPLOYEES INTACT 
IN OUR COUNTY, AND I THINK THIS IS A DOABLE, FEASIBLE WAY 
WHERE YOU CAN JUST POSTPONE A PROJECT, PUSH IT BACK A 
LITTLE BIT, AND AS THE MONIES COME AVAILABLE, EXECUTE THE 
ROAD PROJECT, AND THAT WAY YOU CAN KEEP THE EMPLOYEES 
WORKING, YOU CAN KEEP THE SERVICES IN OUR COUNTY, AND IN 
THE END WE'LL WIN AND ALLOW THE PRESIDENT, THE GOVERNOR, 
THE CABINET, AND THE LEGISLATORS TO IMPLEMENT THE REFORMS 
THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE WORKS.
AND I THINK THIS BOARD NEEDS TO WORK JUST A LITTLE BIT 
HARDER TO TRY TO SAVE THESE JOBS.
START TALKING ABOUT ELIMINATING JOBS.
I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT FINDING WAYS TO SAVE THESE JOBS.
IT'S DOABLE.
WE HAVE A $3.8-BILLION BUDGET.
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO CUT SO MANY JOBS AND 
ELIMINATE SO MANY SERVICES JUST FOR $150 MILLION WHEN YOU 
HAVE A $3.8-BILLION BUDGET.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
YOU HAVE THE TENACITY, YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH TO GET THIS 
DONE, AND I BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT.
JUST FOCUS ON IT.
I'M NOT SAYING HURT ANYBODY.
I'M JUST SAYING JUST PUT EVERYTHING IN ITS PROPER 
PERSPECTIVE TO BRING ABOUT SOME REAL REALITY AND SAVE SOME 
FAMILIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID IT.
HE TALKED ABOUT THE GOOD SAMARITAN, AND IT'S IN AMERICAN 
HISTORY.
THAT WAS A LESSON HE LEFT WITH US.
I'M ASKING YOU TO IMPLEMENT IT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. WHITE.
ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM?
COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT TO MR. WHITE JUST BRIEFLY.
SOME OF THE ROAD PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE -- AND I'D LIKE 
OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY OR MS. BEAN TO CLARIFY THIS FOR ME.
THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED WITH CIT 
DOLLARS, SO, THEREFORE, WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO PULL 
THOSE AND PUT THOSE BACK IN GENERAL FUNDS TO FUND ANYTHING 
ELSE.
THOSE ARE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
AND THEY WOULD ONLY BE FOR A ONE-TIME USE IF THEY CAME OUT 
OF THE GENERAL FUND, BUT MS. BEAN OR -- OR -- OR MR. 
JOHNSON, IF YOU COULD PLEASE JUST CLARIFY THAT.
AND THAT'S A -- THOSE ARE EXCELLENT POINTS, BUT I JUST WANT 
TO MAKE SURE THAT -- YOU KNOW, THAT WHAT YOU'VE SAID IS 
ADDRESSED, AND DURING OUR LAST BUDGET HEARING AS WELL, SOME 
OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE COME UP WITH SOME INNOVATIVE 
IDEAS THAT WE'VE INSTRUCTED THE BUDGET STAFF TO GO BACK 
WITH AND TRY AND DO WHAT THEY CAN TO SAVE SOME MONEY, IN 
PARTICULAR, AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME TARGET AREAS WHICH 
WOULD SAVE SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS, SO -- POTENTIALLY, BUT 
MR. JOHNSON, IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS FOR MR. 
WHITE, I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  YES, SIR.
I THINK MR. WHITE RAISED A GOOD POINT.
IN THE CASE OF THIS SPECIFIC ITEM, WE'RE DEALING WITH A 
REVENUE THAT ISN'T BEING COLLECTED, AND TRANSPORTATION AND 
PARK IMPACT FEES CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION.
IF WE DON'T USE THEM FOR CONSTRUCTION OR LAND ACQUISITION, 
THEY HAVE TO BE RETURNED TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT PAID THOSE 
FEES WHEN THEY PULLED PERMITS TO CONSTRUCT A HOUSE OR IN 
THE CASE OF TRANSPORTATION, ANY TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION WOULD 
END UP PAYING A TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE.
AS YOU'VE INDICATED, COMMISSIONER WHITE, THE BUDGET THAT WE 
HAVE -- IN FACT, IT'S ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA AT THE WORKSHOP 
TO TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THE FACT THAT BECAUSE CIT DOLLARS 
PAY FOR A LOT OF PROJECTS AND BECAUSE CIT DOLLARS ARE 
COMING IN AT A LOWER LEVEL THAN ANTICIPATED AND WE HAD 
ANTICIPATED BORROWING AGAINST FUTURE CIT DOLLARS, THOSE 
DOLLARS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE MONEY IS NOT COMING IN.
WE'VE ALREADY REDUCED THE REVENUE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR 
THROUGH THE RECENT BUDGET HEARING YOU HAD TO MODIFY THE 
BUDGET TO CONSIDER THOSE LOWER FEES, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS 
THOSE DOLLARS CAN'T BE USED TO RETAIN JOBS, AND IN FACT, 
THEY'RE COMING IN AT SUCH A LOW LEVEL THAT IN OUR CIP WE'VE 
PUSHED BACK $360-MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS WE HAD PLANNED 
TO BUILD USING THOSE DOLLARS, BUT AGAIN, CIT DOLLARS, LIKE 
IMPACT FEES, CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION.
BUT MR. WHITE RAISED A GOOD POINT, WHICH WE BELIEVE WE HAVE 
ADDRESSED AGGRESSIVELY IN THE BUDGET AND WILL CONTINUE TO 
LOOK AT IN THE BUDGET, AND IN IS USING OPERATING REVENUES 
THAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY USED TO FUND PROJECTS.
WE'VE PULLED WAY BACK IN THAT, AND IN FACT, WE'VE IN THE 
BUDGET PROPOSED TO DEFEASE $85 MILLION IN EXISTING BONDS IN 
ORDER TO FREE UP OPERATING REVENUES THAT WERE PAYING FOR 
DEBT THAT INSTEAD WILL SAVE, IN OUR ESTIMATION, BETWEEN 200 
AND 250 JOBS, SO WE'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO THE ISSUE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT.
AS YOU'VE INDICATED, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE THE 
OPPORTUNITY -- YOU'VE ALREADY RAISED SOME ISSUES.
WE'LL BE LOOKING AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE JOBS.
IN THIS CASE, IMPACT FEES CAN'T DO THAT AND CIT DOLLARS 
REALLY CAN'T EITHER WITH ONE EXCEPTION I SHOULD PUT ON THE 
RECORD, AND THAT IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS GOING TO USE 
SOME OF THE CIT DOLLARS THAT HAD BEEN ALLOCATED FOR SOME 
DETENTION FACILITIES AND OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WILL BE 
USING THOSE TO PURCHASE LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES.
THAT'S AN ELIGIBLE USE OF THE CIT.
IN FACT, THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO OF THE CIT THEY HAD, THAT'S 
FREEING UP SOME OF WHAT OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE REQUESTED 
FROM YOU FROM PROPERTY TAXES, SO I THINK WE'RE BEING FAIRLY 
AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUE MR. WHITE 
RAISED.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, ERIC.
WE NEED A MOTION.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SO MOVE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MOTION BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>MARK SHARPE:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  NEXT ITEM.
>>PAT BEAN:  THE SECOND ITEM THAT'S A PUBLIC HEARING IS 
ITEM D-2.
THIS IS TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AS REQUIRED BY ORDINANCE 
93-16 FOR THE ELAP PROGRAM TO TRANSFER THE RIGHT TO USE A 
PORTION OF THE BALM SCRUB ELAPP SITE FOR A PERMANENT 
UTILITY EASEMENT, AND KURT GREMLEY IS HERE TO PRESENT THIS 
ITEM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WELCOME, MR. GREMLEY.
>>KURT GREMLEY:  GOOD AFTERNOON.
KURT GREMLEY, ELAPP ACQUISITION MANAGER.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED UNDER 93-16 FOR GRANTING A 
RIGHT WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAND ACQUISITION AND 
PROTECTION PROGRAM PROPERTIES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A PROPOSED 25-FOOT FORCE MAIN EASEMENT ON 
THE BALM SCRUB ELAPP SITE ADJACENT TO BALM ROAD.
STAFF WITH THE WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT APPROACHED PARKS, 
RECREATION, AND CONSERVATION STAFF FOR THIS PARTICULAR 
EASEMENT AND WHY THEY NEED TO LOCATE IT ON THE PARTICULAR 
BALM SCRUB SITE.
STAFF WITH BOTH DEPARTMENTS ESTABLISHED CONDITIONS FOR THE 
EASEMENT THAT WERE ACCEPTABLE TO ALL PARTIES.
THE PROPOSED EASEMENT WAS PRESENTED TO THE ELAPP GENERAL 
COMMITTEE.
AFTER DISCUSSION THEY REFINED THE CONDITIONS.
THESE WERE ALSO ACCEPTABLE TO WATER RESOURCE SERVICES AND 
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED AND THE PROPERTY WAS 
POSTED.
SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THIS EASEMENT, STAFF IS 
RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD ADOPT A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING 
THE NORTH 25 FEET OF THE BALM SCRUB ELAPP SITE AVAILABLE 
FOR A FORCE MAIN, SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS DETAILED IN THE 
RESOLUTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, SIR.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM?
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
PAM CLOUSTON, 1621 THOMPSON ROAD.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.
ELAPP IS BOUGHT OUT OF THE ELAPP FUNDING AND WATER 
RESOURCES IS A SEPARATE ENTITY.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY KIND OF COMPENSATION TO ELAPP 
FROM WATER RESOURCES?
IS THAT NECESSARY?
IS IT SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY EVER THOUGHT ABOUT?
YOU KNOW, DO WE DO THESE THINGS ALL THE TIME?
THAT WAS JUST A QUESTION.
THANKS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  CAN ANYONE FROM STAFF ADDRESS HER CONCERNS?
>>KURT GREMLEY:  YES, COMMISSIONER.
CONDITION OF THE EASEMENT IS THAT THE WATER RESOURCE 
SERVICES COMPENSATE FOR THE VALUE OF THE EASEMENT WHICH IS 
$28,639 AND ALSO WATER RESOURCE SERVICES PROVIDING $37,500 
TO PROVIDE FOR ANY POTENTIAL -- FOR ENHANCEMENT OF HABITAT 
OUT THERE FOR ANY POTENTIAL IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS 
EASEMENT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  ALL THAT UNDERSTOOD, I'LL MOVE THE ITEM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER 
NORMAN, SECOND COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I'M SORRY.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  YOUR NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, IS ITEM A-67.
THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA BY 
COMMISSIONER WHITE.
COMMISSIONER.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU, MA'AM.
AT THE LAST -- THE LAST BOARD MEETING WE HAD, WE HAD A 
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE -- THE AWARDATION OF FIRE -- SECURITY 
GUARD SERVICES TO THE COUNTY AND MS. LU BANKS CAME UP AND 
GAVE US A SMALL PRESENTATION ABOUT -- MY QUESTION WAS WHY 
DID WE END UP CHOOSING THE -- THE COMPANY THAT WE WENT WITH 
WHEN WE'RE AGAIN TALKING ABOUT WE'RE IN SUCH TIGHT 
BUDGETARY TIMES, AND IT APPEARED THAT WE HAD ANOTHER BIDDER 
THAT CAME IN THAT HAD TWICE THE FORCE, TWICE THE EXPERIENCE 
IN GOVERNMENTAL BUILDINGS, AND WAS A LOW BIDDER, AND ALSO -
- WHICH WAS ENCOURAGING TO ME -- GOT ALL OF THE POINTS ON 
THE BID CONTRACT FOR THE MBE PARTICIPATION PORTION ON THE 
CONTRACT WHERE THE OTHER COMPANY THAT WE HAVE ON HERE NOW 
HAD ZERO POINTS ON THAT PARTICULAR BID, SO I GUESS AT THIS 
POINT IN TIME, MR. CHAIRMAN, I GUESS WE'D HAVE STAFF OR -- 
OR WHOMEVER COME UP AND -- AND INFORM US A LITTLE MORE ON 
THE -- ON THE ITEM.
I GUESS MS. BANKS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MS. BANKS, IS THAT --
>>LU BANKS:  GOOD AFTERNOON.
LU BANKS, DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE SECURITY GUARD SERVICES 
FOR ARMED AND UNARMED UNIFORM SECURITY FOR VARIOUS 
FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY.
THIS RFP WAS HANDLED IN THE PROPER MANNER.
THERE WAS NO INCONSISTENCIES IN THE WAY THE EVALUATION TEAM 
EVALUATED THE PROPOSALS.
AS YOU RECOGNIZE IN THE AGENDA ITEM THAT THERE ARE 
CRITERIA, THERE IS EVALUATION CRITERIA WHERE THERE IS 
POINTS, AND 50% OF IT IS PRICE.
THE OTHER CRITERIA IS QUALIFICATIONS, TECHNICAL EVALUATION, 
MBE, AND SO FORTH, AND OF COURSE, 5% -- FIVE POINTS FOR THE 
MBE.
THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE WENT THROUGH EACH ONE OF THE 
PROPOSERS AND DETERMINED THE TWO -- THE PROPOSAL THAT BEST 
REPRESENTED AND MET OUR NEEDS.
THAT PARTICULAR FIRM IS ALLEGIANCE.
ALLIEDBARTON HAS APPEALED FROM THE PROCUREMENT, THE COUNTY 
ADMINISTRATOR, AND NOW IF IS BEFORE YOU BECAUSE THEY FELT 
LIKE THE POINTS -- THEY DIDN'T GET SUFFICIENT POINTS IN THE 
CATEGORIES BY THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE, AND SO THAT'S WHERE 
WE ARE TODAY IN TERMS OF THEIR APPEAL.
THEY'RE APPEALING THE SCORING THAT THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE 
USED IN EVALUATING THEIR PROPOSAL IN TERMS OF THEIR 
RESPONSE TO THE RFP CRITERIA.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I UNDERSTAND.
I DON'T HAVE MY -- I DON'T HAVE MY -- MY BACKUP'S ON THE 
WAY UP HERE.
I LEFT IT ON MY DESK.
ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS ARE BRINGING IT TO ME.
CAN YOU REMIND ME WHAT WAS THE POINT SPREAD?
I THINK IT WAS 1.6 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>>LU BANKS:  BANK 1.36, I BELIEVE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  1.36 TOTAL POINTS.
>>LU BANKS:  I BELIEVE THAT'S IT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  AND THEN THERE WAS SOME OTHER CRITERIA THAT 
I QUESTIONED IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY HAD THIS, BUT WHEN THEY 
BRING ME MY BACKUP, I'LL BE ABLE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AT 
THAT TIME, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER ANYBODY ELSE WAS GOING 
TO DO ANY PRESENTATIONS OR NOT.
>>LU BANKS:  WELL, WE HAVE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EVALUATION 
COMMITTEE HERE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
>>LU BANKS:  MR. DUNLAP, AND HE CAN TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT 
THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  PLEASE.
THAT'S FINE.
>>LU BANKS:  MR. DUNLAP.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
SCOTT DUNLAP, DIRECTOR OF SECURITY FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
I THINK THE WHOLE REASON WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE WE WENT 
THROUGH THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE, SCORED ALL THE PROPOSALS.
WE CAME UP WITH A -- POINTS BASED ON THE TECHNICAL AND THE 
OTHER ONE, WHICH CAME UP TO 50%, AND ALLIEDBARTON WANTED TO 
GO AHEAD AND APPEAL TO YOU, SO I THINK THEIR ATTORNEY HAS 
WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY.
MY EVALUATION TEAM THOUGHT PROCESS IS IN THE LETTER IN THE 
BACKUP.
>>KEN HAGAN:  IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY, MR. DUNLAP?
>> UNTIL HE --
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
I BELIEVE MR. MECHANIK REPRESENTS ALLIED.
I TOLD HIM HE COULD HAVE FIVE MINUTES, AND IF THERE'S A 
REPRESENTATIVE FROM ALLEGIANCE, THEY COULD ALSO BE GIVEN 
FIVE MINUTES IF THEY'RE HERE AS WELL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS.
DAVID MECHANIK, 305 SOUTH BOULEVARD.
I WOULD ASK YOUR INDULGENCE.
I PLANNED THIS FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I MIGHT RUN A LITTLE BIT OVER, AND I'D APPRECIATE A LITTLE 
FLEXIBILITY IF I -- IF POSSIBLE.
I REPRESENT ALLIEDBARTON SECURITY SERVICES, AND AS IS 
INDICATED, ALLIEDBARTON IS PROTESTING THE PROPOSED AWARD OF 
THE RFP TO ALLEGIANCE SECURITY.
I HAVE WITH ME TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF ALLIEDBARTON WHO ARE 
HERE STRICTLY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UNDER THE SCORING SYSTEM, ALLIEDBARTON, I THINK AS 
INDICATED, CAME IN BEHIND ALLEGIANCE 1.36 POINTS BEHIND -- 
I MEAN 1.36 POINTS BEHIND ALLEGIANCE OUT OF A TOTAL OF 105 
POINTS, SO YOU COULD SEE WITH THAT CLOSE OF A MARGIN, WE 
HAD A NUMBER OF CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE POINTS WERE ASSIGNED 
UNDER THIS PROCESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, UNDER THE COUNTY'S SYSTEM, THE METHOD BY 
WHICH THE POINTS ARE AWARDED OR WEIGHTED IS NOT CLEAR.
IT'S NOT -- THAT PART OF THE PROCESS IS NOT PUBLICIZED AS -
- AS PART OF THE RFP, AND SO AS PART OF OUR PROTEST, WE 
WERE FORCED TO QUESTION HOW MANY OF THESE POINTS WERE 
ASSIGNED BY THE -- BY THE COMMITTEE.
INDEED, AFTER WE FILED OUR PROTEST, SOME OF OUR CONCERNS 
WERE CONFIRMED IN THAT IN A NUMBER OF CASES THE STAFF 
ISSUED A RESPONSE TO OUR PROTEST AND INDICATED A NUMBER OF 
PLACES WHERE IT BELIEVED THAT THERE WERE DEFICIENCIES IN 
ALLIEDBARTON'S PROPOSAL; HOWEVER, IN SEVERAL OF THOSE 
CASES, THE DEFICIENCIES WERE REGARDING ITEMS THAT WEREN'T 
EVEN REQUIREMENTS OF THE RFP, SO WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A 
GOOD EXAMPLE OF A SITUATION WHERE POINTS WERE EITHER NOT 
AWARDED OR WERE DETRACTED OR SUBTRACTED FROM ALLIEDBARTON'S 
PROPOSAL FOR A REQUIREMENT THAT WAS NOT ACTUALLY IN THE 
RFP.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE COMMITTEE DETERMINED 
THAT ALLIEDBARTON WAS SUPERIOR TO ALLEGIANCE IN CONNECTION 
WITH ITS PRICING, AS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED, AND WITH THE 
WMBE PARTICIPATION, AND WE BELIEVE THAT ALLIEDBARTON IS, IN 
FACT, SUPERIOR ON THE OTHER ITEMS, AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO 
IS JUST BRIEFLY GO THROUGH A FEW EXAMPLES OF OUR CONCERNS.
EXCUSE ME.
AS PART OF OUR PROTEST, ALLIEDBARTON INDICATED THAT IT HAD 
SUBSTANTIALLY MORE EXPERIENCE, BOTH IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT 
WORK AND IN SECURITY WORK IN GENERAL.
SPECIFICALLY, ALLIEDBARTON PROVIDES MORE THAN FIVE MILLION 
HOURS A YEAR OF SERVICE FOR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENTS AS OPPOSED TO ALLEGIANCE, WHICH PROVIDES ONLY 
1.4 MILLION HOURS PER YEAR.
YET IN THE COUNTY RESPONSE TO OUR PROTEST, ONE OF THE 
COUNTY COMMENTS WAS THAT THE MANAGEMENT TEAM IS LACKING 
BECAUSE THERE IS NO -- IT INDICATED NO ADVANCED 
CERTIFICATION WITHIN THE MANAGEMENT TEAM.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE THERE WAS NO SUCH REQUIREMENT 
IN THE RFP AND NO SUCH INDICATION OF CERTIFICATION WAS 
PROVIDED BY ALLEGIANCE.
SO WE QUESTION HOW COULD THIS BE A DEFICIENCY IN OUR 
PARTICULAR PROPOSAL IF IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT AND THE 
COMPETITOR DID NOT PROVIDE SUCH A CERTIFICATION EITHER?
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THREE OF THE FOUR PERSONNEL, 
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL DEDICATED TO TAMPA HAVE BAs IN 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SECURITY OF OVER -- 
OVER A DECADE.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, THE COUNTY STAFF IN ITS RESPONSE INDICATED 
THAT ALLIEDBARTON DID NOT DELINEATE THE PERCENTAGE OF TIME 
THAT MANAGEMENT WOULD SPEND THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE COUNTY 
CONTRACT.
AGAIN, THIS WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT OF THE RFP, AND AGAIN, 
ALLEGIANCE DID NOT PROVIDE THAT PARTICULAR INFORMATION AS 
WELL.
JUST VERY -- VERY QUICKLY GOING THROUGH.
THE COUNTY RESPONSE INDICATED THAT HIGHER SCORES WERE GIVEN 
TO PROPOSERS THAT HAD MORE EXPERIENCE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
ENTITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
AGAIN, THIS WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT OF THE RFP AND WE BELIEVE 
IGNORES THE MORE SUBSTANTIAL -- SIGNIFICANTLY MORE 
SUBSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE IN BOTH GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND IN 
PRIVATE SERVICE BY ALLIEDBARTON.
FINALLY -- AND I'LL BE VERY, VERY BRIEF -- THE -- THE RFP 
LISTED SIX SPECIFIC CRITERIA THAT THE RESPONDENTS WERE 
SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE IN CONNECTION WITH ITS QUALITY 
ASSURANCE PLAN.
THE ALLEGIANCE PROPOSAL DID NOT RESPOND TO FOUR OUT OF SIX 
OF THOSE CRITERIA, AND I REALLY WOULD NEED TO TAKE A FEW 
MINUTES TO GO THROUGH THESE, BUT I'LL JUST REPRESENT TO YOU 
THAT IN THREE OUT OF THOSE FOUR CASES, THERE WAS A GENERIC 
RESPONSE, WHEREAS THE COUNTY RFP REQUIRED THAT YOU 
SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY WHAT YOU WOULD DO FOR HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY IN YOUR QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN, AND WE SUBMIT THAT 
THAT WAS A NONRESPONSE TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THE RESPONSES -- I MEAN ONE OF THE CRITERIA HAD NO 
RESPONSE FROM ALLEGIANCE.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY COMMITTEE IN ITS EVALUATION 
FAILED TO ASSIGN SUFFICIENT WEIGHT TO THE QUALIFICATIONS 
AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES OF ALLIEDBARTON AND SIMILARLY 
OVERLOOKED SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IN ALLEGIANCE'S 
PROPOSAL, AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM ALLEGIANCE SECURITY 
GROUP?
>> YES.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
YOU'LL HAVE UP TO SEVEN MINUTES IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANY 
COMMENTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.
>> BOB GLAZMAN, ALLEGIANCE SECURITY GROUP, 4905 WEST LAUREL 
STREET, TAMPA.
JUST IN ANSWER TO THE FIRST ONE, MR. WHITE -- COMMISSIONER 
WHITE, EXCUSE ME, WE DID HAVE A SIGNED AGREEMENT WITH THE 
MINORITY VENDOR.
IT WAS NOT ON THEIR LETTERHEAD, SO IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED 
FOR THE RFP.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, IF IT'S NOT CONSIDERED, THEN WE CAN'T 
LOOK AT IT.
>> NO, YOU CAN'T, BUT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, PART OF IT.
THE EXPERIENCE FACTOR FOR ALLEGIANCE, WE HAVE HAD THE 
CONTRACT CONTIGUOUSLY NOW FOR SEVEN YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS PARTICULAR 
CONTRACT NOW FOR TEN.
WE DO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE COUNTY.
WE KNOW THE COUNTY'S NEEDS.
WE'RE VERY UNIQUE IN THAT CURRENTLY WITH THE COUNTY 
CONTRACT, WE HAVE LESS THAN 6% TURNOVER OF EMPLOYEES 
ANNUALLY.
OUR PEOPLE ARE HAPPY, THEY DO THEIR JOBS.
THE COUNTY'S HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE.
THERE ARE PROBLEMS.
WHEN THERE ARE, THEY'RE RECTIFIED IMMEDIATELY.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
THANK YOU, SIR.
MR. DUNLAP.
>> YES, SIR.
I'D JUST LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS WHAT THE EVALUATION 
COMMITTEE WAS LOOKING AT WHEN WE GOT THE RFP.
WE ALSO HAD A PRE-BID MEETING WHERE WE SAID WE WERE 
SPECIFICALLY GOING TO LOOK FOR THESE THINGS.
THERE WERE CERTAIN THINGS THAT EVERYBODY ON THE EVALUATION 
TEAM WAS LOOKING FOR.
THEN THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE MET AND THEN THERE WERE 
THINGS THAT WERE ABOVE AND BEYOND, BUT IN THE CASE OF 
ALLIEDBARTON, THE TEAM FELT THAT THERE WAS A LOW EXPERIENCE 
LEVEL IN SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BY THE SUPERVISORY 
STAFF.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR IS FOR THEM TO 
GIVE THE RATE OF PAY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE TO THE 
OFFICERS SO THAT WE COULD SEE HOW MUCH OF THE MONEY WAS 
GOING TO GO TO THE OFFICERS.
THEY DID NOT DO THAT.
THEY DID NOT GIVE THE COST OF THE BENEFITS THAT THEY WOULD 
CHARGE THEIR OFFICERS TO SEE IF THEIR BENEFIT PACKAGE WOULD 
BE SOMETHING THAT WAS REAL NICE ON PAPER BUT THE OFFICERS 
COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
THEIR TURNOVER RATES WERE INCONSISTENT ONCE WE ACTUALLY 
FOUND THEM.
ON PAGE 47 OF THEIR PROPOSAL, THEY SAID THEIR TURNOVER WAS 
55%.
AND ON PAGE 51, THEY SAID IT WAS 58%.
AND THE AMOUNT OF UNIFORMS THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE TO THE 
OFFICERS WAS NOT AS HIGH AS THE OTHER PROPOSALS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WAS THAT A PART OF THE ACTUAL RFP?
I MEAN, ASKING THE AMOUNT OF UNIFORMS, THINGS OF THAT 
NATURE?
>> YES, THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PROVIDE THE 
OFFICERS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
>> SO OVERALL WE GAVE 23 POINTS OUT OF 30 FOR 
QUALIFICATIONS AND 17 POINTS OUT OF 20 FOR THEIR TECHNICAL 
APPROACH.
WE HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT THEIR PRICE WAS GOING TO BE.
WHERE THEIR PRICE WAS A LOT LOWER WAS IN THE ARMED HOURLY 
RATE.
THEIR PROPOSAL FOR THE UNARMED HOURLY RATE ACTUALLY IS 
THREE CENTS MORE AN HOUR THAN THE WINNER, ALLEGIANCE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, EXACTLY, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING 
AT HERE.
THE UNARMED SECURITY RATES FOR ALLEGIANCE WAS 13.16, THEIRS 
WAS 13.18, SO TWO CENTS DIFFERENCE THERE.
WITH ARMED SECURITY GUARDS 15.32 VERSUS ALLIEDBARTON AT 
13.47 WITH A -- LIKE I SAID, A LOW BID -- LOW BID -- 
BELIEVE ME, I'VE BEEN IN BIDDING PROCESSES AS WELL.
I REALIZE LOW BID IS NOT ALWAYS BEST BID AS WELL, BUT WITH 
THE -- THE CRITERIA AND THE SERVICES THAT DOING A LITTLE 
HOMEWORK WITH BOTH OF THESE AGENCIES -- AND I DON'T KNOW -- 
AND I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO ASK THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE 
ALLEGIANCE GROUP -- IF YOU COULD COME BACK UP, PLEASE -- 
AND OTHER TYPES OF GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, I SEE THAT -- 
WENT ON ALLIEDBARTON'S WEB SITE AND DID OTHER INVESTIGATION 
WITH THEM AND SEE THAT THEY HAVE GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE 
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT, AND I'M GIVING 
YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THAT FOR ME RIGHT NOW.
>> WE, AS A COMPANY, HAVE FIVE CONTRACTS WITH THE FAA, WE 
ARE A SCHEDULE 84 GSA PROVIDER, WE DO THE ARMY NATIONAL 
GUARD IN KANSAS CITY, WE DO --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
HOW LARGE IS THE COMPANY, EMPLOYEES AND HOW MANY STATES DO 
YOU DO BUSINESS IN?
>> WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING BUSINESS IN 17 STATES.
WE'RE ABOUT 3400 EMPLOYEES.
2,000 OF THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE IN FLORIDA.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. MECHANIK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN 
ANSWER THAT FOR ALLIEDBARTON OR ONE OF THEIR 
REPRESENTATIVES.
>> MR. MULLEN FROM ALLIEDBARTON IS HERE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THAT'S FINE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
RICHARD MULLEN.
I'M VICE PRESIDENT WITH ALLIEDBARTON FOR THE FLORIDA 
REGION.
ALLIEDBARTON HAS ABOUT 56,000 EMPLOYEES.
THE FLORIDA REGION IS REPRESENTED BY SEVEN DIFFERENT 
DISTRICT OFFICES, AND OUR EMPLOYEE COUNT'S ABOUT 6,000 FOR 
THE STATE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
56,000.
HOW MANY DO -- DO YOU DO LARGE CONTRACTS FOR GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES AS WELL?
>> YES.
AS A MATTER OF FACT IN FLORIDA WE DO SEVERAL PORTS.
WE ALSO DO WORK FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
THAT ONE CONTRACT'S APPROXIMATELY 9800 HOURS A WEEK.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  YOU-ALL ARE STARTING TO DO THE PORT OF 
TAMPA NOW; CORRECT?
>> YES.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  RECENTLY.
OKAY.
MR. -- BOARD MEMBERS, I LOOK AT THIS, I DON'T SEE -- BASED 
OFF OF THE CRITERIA, THE PRICE POINT THAT WE'RE AT COMING 
IN LOW BIDDER PLUS THE AMOUNT OF SERVICES THAT I -- THAT 
I'VE SEEN BETWEEN THE TWO COMPANIES, I DON'T SEE -- MY 
BIGGEST -- MY BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH IN IS THERE'S A FIVE-
POINT DISPARITY BETWEEN THE TWO COMPANIES IN 
QUALIFICATIONS, AND I DON'T -- I DON'T SEE THERE -- I MEAN, 
PERSONALLY I DON'T SEE THERE BEING FIVE POINTS OF 
DISCREPANCY, AND I'VE LOOKED AT THE RFP, I'VE LOOKED AT THE 
QUALIFICATIONS, AND I'VE LISTENED TO BOTH SIDES.
IT IS -- AND FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, BOTH COMPANIES ARE WELL 
QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE TO TAKE ON THIS CONTRACT RIGHT NOW.
IN THE SCHEME OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE TIMES THAT 
WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE NOT PRUDENT FOR US 
TO GO WITH OUR LOW-BID PERSON AT THIS POINT IN TIME, 
ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIGHT AND TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES.
NOT ONLY THAT, IN THE GREAT MAJORITY OF SECURITY CONTRACTS, 
THESE WILL NOT BE PEOPLE THAT WILL LOSE JOBS, AND YOU SEE 
THE PRICE POINT IS TWO CENTS DIFFERENCE ON UNARMED, AND I'M 
SURE UNARMED IS THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE WORK THAT WE DO -
- THAT WE HIRE OUR SECURITY SERVICES FOR.
JUST FOR SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT DON'T KNOW, ONE 
SECURITY COMPANY, ALL THEY DO IS COME IN AND OFFER THE 
OTHER SECURITY GUARDS JOBS, AND THEY JUST SWITCH UNIFORMS, 
AND THOSE THAT CHOOSE TO STAY AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK 
IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND WORK IN THE PLACES THEY ARE, THEY 
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO WORK FOR THE OTHER SECURITY 
COMPANY.
IT'S NOT LIKE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WILL BE LOSING THEIR 
JOBS, WHICH THEY WON'T, BUT WITH THAT AND ALL OF THAT BEING 
SAID AND LOOKING AT THE BACKUP ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, 
SINCE I PULLED IT FROM A COUPLE OF BOARD MEETINGS AGO, I'M 
GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AWARD THE CONTRACT TO 
ALLIEDBARTON SECURITY BASED OFF OF THE QUALITY, EXPERIENCE, 
THEIR SIZE, AND AS WELL AS COMING IN AS LOW BIDDER.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND I GUESS THIS GOES TO MS. LEE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRESSES ME AND SOMETHING THAT MR. 
MECHANIK STATED -- AND I GUESS YOU HAVE TO CLARIFY IF 
THAT'S TRUE.
IT SEEMS TO ME WE'RE HEARING MORE AND MORE CONTRACTS 
AWARDED THAT ARE AWARD HIGHLIGHTS THAT NEVER WENT OUT IN 
THE BID PACKAGE.
HOW DO WE -- HOW DO WE DO BUSINESS THAT WAY?
IF YOU OUTLINE -- I MEAN, WE NEED TO BE -- I MEAN, WE'RE IN 
A WORLD OF, YOU KNOW, CROSS YOUR Ts, DOT YOUR Is KIND OF 
DEAL, AND WE WANT ALL THE ANSWERS TO BE IN THERE AND WE 
WANT FAIR -- FAIR TO ALL SIDES, AND IF YOU LAY OUT THE 
CRITERIA AND YOU LAY OUT THE POINTS PER CRITERIA AND THEY -
- THEY ANSWER THOSE BIDS AND THEY GO INTO A PROCESS, IT -- 
IT SEEMS TO ME WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE INTO THIS, OKAY, 
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIRST ROUND, SECOND ROUND, GO IN A 
ROOM, NEGOTIATE, AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO WHO WE WANT 
TO, AND THAT -- THAT BOTHERS ME A LITTLE BIT.
MR. MECHANIK'S RIGHT.
I WANT TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER WHITE IN LOOKING AT THIS 
AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF I -- AWARD MAY BE THE WRONG THING TO DO.
I'D LIKE TO REFER IT OVER TO YOU, BUT -- DO YOU SEE WHERE 
I'M COMING FROM?
>>RENEE LEE:  I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER.
>>JIM NORMAN:  MR. MECHANIK WAS RIGHT.
>>RENEE LEE:  AND, YOU KNOW, I -- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME 
THAT I'VE HEARD MR. MECHANIK'S CONCERN ABOUT THIS ENTIRE 
RFP PROCESS, BUT IT IS NOT A BID PROCESS WHERE YOU HAVE A 
LOW BIDDER WITH SPECIFIC SPECIFICATIONS, IT IS AN RFP 
PROCESS, WHICH --
>>JIM NORMAN:  I UNDERSTAND THAT.
>>RENEE LEE:  -- MAY ALLOW CONSIDERATION OF SOME FACTORS 
THAT ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY ENUMERATED IN THE DOCUMENT.
I'M NOT CERTAIN HOW THAT APPLIES IN THIS INSTANCE AT ALL, 
BUT QUITE POSSIBLY PURCHASING COULD EXPLAIN WHAT HAS 
HAPPENED, BUT I'D CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO LOOK AT THIS AND 
REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WHAT --
>>RENEE LEE:  I DON'T KNOW IF THE CHAIR WOULD LIKE 
PURCHASING TO --
>>KEN HAGAN:  WHAT ARE -- WHAT ARE -- I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT 
ARE THE BOARD'S OPTIONS IN THIS TYPE OF SCENARIO?
>>RENEE LEE:  COMMISSIONER, CERTAINLY THIS IS A 
RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD TO AWARD THE CONTRACT.
YOU -- IT IS A RECOMMENDATION, SO IT'S WITHIN THE BOARD'S 
DISCRETION TO AWARD TO THE BIDDER THAT YOU DEEM WOULD BE IN 
THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY, SO YOU COULD CERTAINLY 
PASS COMMISSIONER WHITE'S MOTION IF YOU WANTED TO.
THE BOARD HAS SEVERAL OPTIONS.
YOU CAN SEND IT OVER FOR FURTHER STUDY, YOU COULD ACT ON 
THIS MOTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SEE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD HEARD MR. 
MECHANIK'S COMMENTS OUTLINED LIKE THAT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS MR. MECHANIK'S COMMENTS IN WRITING TO 
YOU AND COPIED TO US, AND I WANT AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE I 
AWARD ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO VALIDATE -- SEE, I'M 
HEARING -- AND MR. MECHANIK, ARE YOU HERE?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>JIM NORMAN:  ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE THIS IN WRITING TO 
THE COMMISSION?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND, YOU KNOW, IN ALL DUE RESPECT, I'D LIKE 
THE OTHER SIDE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE COMMENTS ON IT TOO, BUT I 
GUESS I -- IT SEEMS TO ME I JUST GET THIS SICKENING FEELING 
THAT WE'RE DEVIATING A LOT FROM OUR -- OUR ORIGINAL -- WHAT 
WE'RE PUTTING OUT ON THE STREET.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN, IN DEFERENCE TO WHAT 
YOU SAID, I BELIEVE -- I'M NOT SURE, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK 
MR. MECHANIK, COULD YOU COME UP AND THEN MAYBE HAVE STAFF 
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SAME THING.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE PULLED THIS THE LAST TIME, I BELIEVE 
THAT PART OF THE RFP PROCESS -- WOULD YOU NOT HAVE HAD TO 
STATE THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST SAID HERE TO OUR STAFF AND 
THEY'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFUTE OR GO OVER THOSE 
THINGS ONCE AGAIN?
>> WELL, YES AND NO BECAUSE PART OF MY PRESENTATION 
INCLUDED COMMENTS ON THE COUNTY'S -- COUNTY STAFF'S 
RESPONSE.
THE -- WE FILED A PROTEST, THEN THE COUNTY ISSUED A 
RESPONSE TO THAT, SO SOME OF MY COMMENTS TODAY RELATED TO 
THE COUNTY STAFF'S RESPONSE, AND WE DID NOT -- THE PROCESS 
DOESN'T ALLOW FOR US TO THEN FILE ANOTHER RESPONSE TO THAT.
SO --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, AND I'D LOVE OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO 
RESPOND.
THE POINT I'M GETTING AT IS IF THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, 
I JUST DON'T WANT TO KEEP BANTERING BACK AND FORTH AND 
WASTING STAFF'S TIME.
EITHER WE'RE GOING TO AWARD IT OR WE DON'T AWARD IT.
I MEAN, I WENT OVER WITH MS. BANKS AND HER STAFF WHEN WE -- 
WHEN I OUTLINED CERTAIN SPECIFIC CRITERIA, SO I KNOW THAT 
THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THE INFORMATION TO HIT MR. MECHANIK 
WITH, AND NOW IF MR. MECHANIK IS SAYING THAT HE'S HAD THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO STAFF, EVERYBODY IN THE LOOP THAT 
WE'RE GOING TO SEND BACK TO THE TABLE HAVE BEEN TO THE 
TABLE, AND ALL OF THE -- MY CONCERNS WOULD HAVE BEEN 
ADDRESSED, AND NOW IF THESE ARE SOME NEW CONCERNS THAT THEY 
DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY -- I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST -- SOME OF THESE THINGS I JUST THINK WE JUST NEED TO 
GET OFF THE DIME AND EITHER AWARD IT OR DON'T AWARD IT ONE 
WAY OR THE OTHER, AND LIKE I SAID, IN THESE TIGHT ECONOMIC 
TIMES, I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT WE HAVE EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE 
CAPACITY, WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY, WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL 
STABILITY, AND IMPORTANTLY FOR ME, WE'VE GOT THE MBE 
COMPONENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS STATED 
AND WHO IT IS THAT'S IN THERE AND IT'S GOING TO SAVE THE 
COUNTY A LOT OF MONEY, AND I JUST WANT TO PREFERABLY MOVE 
FORWARD WITH IT UNLESS THERE'S JUST SOME OTHER UNANSWERED 
QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, I ACTUALLY WANTED TO HEAR STAFF'S 
COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO THIS.
I MEAN, I -- AGAIN, I DO NOT LIKE IT -- I MEAN, I 
UNDERSTAND AND WE SHOULD BE HEARING THESE -- GIVING THE 
OTHERS A FULL OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK, BUT WE HAVE A 
PROCESS, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS NOW OF -
- OF, YOU KNOW, ENTERTAINING EVERY CHALLENGE TO EVERY 
PROCESS BECAUSE EVERYONE'S GOING TO WANT TO CHALLENGE.
NO ONE LIKES IT WHEN WE MAKE A SELECTION, SO I WANT TO 
UNDERSTAND FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE THE IMPACT OF THIS 
AND -- I JUST WANT IT HEAR YOUR RESPONSE.
>>LU BANKS:  THIS -- EXCUSE ME.
THIS PROCUREMENT WAS ADVERTISED.
WE RESPONDED TO EVERY QUESTION THAT ALLIEDBARTON HAD.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING NEW THAT HAS OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF -
- OF THE PROCESS IF I'M HEARING WHAT I THINK YOU SAID, 
COMMISSIONER.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WELL, CAN I GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE?
THE OTHER -- THE ONE SIDE SAID, OKAY, WE PUT AN MBE THING 
IN THERE, BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE A LETTERHEAD ON IT SO THEY'RE 
NONCOMPLIANT.
>>LU BANKS:  YES.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THE OTHER SIDE IS.
I MEAN, THEY ARE COMPLIANT AND THEY DO HAVE -- YOU KNOW -- 
AND -- YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.
THIS MORNING WE WERE TALKING ABOUT -- AND THIS IS WHAT'S 
KIND OF -- WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LOCAL 
HIRING, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW IN LOCAL HIRING WE GET 
PERCENTAGES AND THEN HOW MBEs WOULD GET PERCENTAGES, AND 
THAT'S DOCUMENTED.
THEY DID THE RIGHT THING BY PUTTING IN THAT, THE OTHER SIDE 
DIDN'T, AND THAT'S WHY I'M GIVING DEFERENCE TO COMMISSIONER 
WHITE.
HE'S ON POINT ON ONE SIDE SEEMS TO HAVE DONE THE RIGHT 
THING AND THE OTHER -- AND WE AWARDED IT TO THE OTHER GUY, 
AND IT'S CHEAPER AND EVERYTHING, SO COMMISSIONER WHITE, 
I'LL SECOND YOUR MOTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER BOARD COMMENTS?
WE HAVE A MOTION.
COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
CAN I HEAR YOUR RESPONSE TO THOSE POINTS?
>>LU BANKS:  THEY -- GO AHEAD.
>> COMMISSIONERS, WHEN THEY SENT THE PROTEST LETTER, AS THE 
EVALUATION CHAIRMAN I WAS CONCERNED THAT MAYBE I MISSED 
SOMETHING BECAUSE I PORED OVER THOSE EVALUATIONS AS THE 
FIVE OTHER MEMBERS WHO ARE THE USERS OF THE CURRENT 
SERVICE.
I LOOKED THROUGH EVERY SINGLE POINT.
WE ADDRESSED EVERY SINGLE POINT.
WE LOOKED AT EVERY POINT THAT THEY BROUGHT UP, AND WE 
AWARDED BY CONSENSUS -- IT WASN'T JUST ME, IT WAS CONSENSUS 
OF THE FIVE MEMBERS, THAT THEY GOT THE POINTS -- 
ALLIEDBARTON GOT THE POINTS THAT THEY GOT, AND THEY WOUND 
UP BEING LOWER THAN ALLEGIANCE.
IT WASN'T LIKE THEY BROUGHT UP SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T 
SEE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY SAID, OH, YES, WE DID PROVIDE THE PRICE 
FOR THE SECURITY OFFICERS, IT WAS ON PAGE 47, YOU MISSED 
IT, SO THERE WAS NO NEW INFORMATION TO GO AHEAD AND 
RESCORE.
UP FORTUNATELY, THEY CAME IN SECOND, EVEN WITH THEM GETTING 
THE EXTRA FIVE POINTS.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT GOT THIS CLOSE, BUT THAT'S -- 
THAT'S THE WAY IT CAME OUT, AND THE OTHER THING -- ONE OF 
THE REASONS WHY THEY WOUND UP GETTING A LOT OF POINTS IS 
THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING THE SERVICE FOR THE LAST FIVE 
YEARS, AND AS YOU KNOW, THAT CAN EITHER MAKE YOU OR BREAK 
YOU.
THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE SERVICE -- DAN KLEIN'S ONE OF THEM -
- ARE HAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT IT -- ALLEGIANCE IS 
RESPONDING AND HAS RESPONDED.
EVEN TODAY ARMSTRONG -- DIRECTOR ARMSTRONG CALLED ME UP 
BECAUSE HE'S GOT A CONCERN AT ANIMAL SERVICES TOMORROW.
ALLEGIANCE IS GOING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THREE -- THREE 
GUARDS WITH LESS THAN TEN HOURS' NOTICE.
THIS IS THE KIND OF RESPONSE WE'VE BEEN GETTING FROM THEM, 
AND THEIR PRICE IS VERY COMPETITIVE, SO WE WENT THROUGH THE 
PROCESS WE WERE SUPPOSED TO, WE AWARDED IT TO ALLEGIANCE.
THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US ANY 
NEW INFORMATION THAT WE OVERLOOKED.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, AND I MEAN, 
I MAY AGREE WITH THOSE POINTS, BUT IF -- WE'LL NEVER KNOW 
WHAT ANYBODY ELSE CAN DO IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE 
OPPORTUNITY, PLUS BEING, LIKE I SAID -- FOR ME, ESPECIALLY, 
LIKE I SAID, IN THESE TIGHT ECONOMIC TIMES -- AND CERTAINLY 
THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO IT IF THEY'VE GOT 56,000 
EMPLOYEES VERSUS, I THINK, 3,000 OR 6,000 EMPLOYEES.
I MEAN, THAT'S MY POINT.
IT'S JUST LIKE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN'T 
RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS TPD BECAUSE THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, 500 
LESS DEPUTIES THAN, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF TAMPA HAS, AND, 
YOU KNOW -- BUT --
>>MARK SHARPE:  BUT EVERYBODY HAD A FAIR OPPORTUNITY?
>> UH-HUH.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THERE WAS NO -- THE APPLICATION OR THE -- 
THE RESPONSE THAT WE RECEIVED FROM ALLEGIANCE, WAS THERE 
ANY SHORTCOMINGS IN THEIR RESPONSE?
>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
IF THERE -- WE DID TAKE SOME POINTS AWAY FROM THEM IN 
CERTAIN AREAS BECAUSE WE THINK THERE'S THINGS THAT THEY CAN 
IMPROVE, BUT THEY RESPONDED TO ALL THE QUESTIONS, THEY 
PROVIDED THE TURNOVER, THEY PROVIDED THE RATE, THEY 
PROVIDED THE COST OF THE BENEFITS.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, I MEAN, I WILL JUST SAY THAT FOR ME, 
AGAIN -- USUALLY -- AND GREAT APPRECIATION FOR MR. MECHANIK 
AND THE CASE THAT HE'S MADE, BUT I WORRY -- WORRY -- I'D 
PREFER TO LOOK TO STAFF, AND I SET A HIGH BAR FOR WHEN I 
WANT TO OVERTURN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS, OTHERWISE THIS 
WILL BECOME A DAILY OCCURRENCE, AND -- AND SO FROM WHAT 
I'VE HEARD, I'M SATISFIED WITH WHAT STAFF HAS PRESENTED AND 
WILL SUPPORT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I DON'T HAVE MY OTHER NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO BIDS THAT WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT?
>> OKAY.
ALLEGIANCE IS PROPOSING $13.16 AN HOUR FOR THE UNARMED 
GUARD, AND ALLIED IS CHARGING $13.18, WHICH IS ACTUALLY TWO 
CENTS MORE AN HOUR.
FOR THE ARMED GUARD, WHICH IS -- MAKES UP A VERY SMALL 
PORTION.
IN FACT, ONE OF MS. BEAN'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE'RE 
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ELIMINATE THE ARMED GUARDS.
ALLEGIANCE' PRICE IS $15.32, AND ALLIED IS $13.47 AN HOUR.
AND SO IF WE ELIMINATED THE ARMED GUARD, WE MIGHT HAVE A 
NEED FOR ARMED GUARDS IN THE FUTURE, BUT RIGHT NOW IF HER 
RECOMMENDATION GOES THROUGH, WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY ARMED 
GUARDS, AND WE'LL BE PAYING TWO CENTS MORE AN HOUR FOR THE 
PERSON WHO DID NOT WIN THE RFP.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  BUT, I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT THE 
TOTAL AGGREGATE OF THE WHOLE CONTRACT?
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NUMBERS?
>> THAT GOES UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS, BUT RIGHT 
NOW IT'S ABOUT --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  IT WAS TWO MILLION EIGHT THOUSAND -- TWO 
MILLION EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FORTY-EIGHT DOLLARS 
VERSUS 19.8 -- I'M SORRY, 1.98 MILLION.
>> THE TOTAL DIFFERENCE --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SO I THINK IT'S 26, 28,000.
>> 27,152.76.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  ALL RIGHT.
MR. DUNLAP, IS THERE --
>> INCLUSIVE OF ARMED GUARDS.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  ARE YOU -- ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR 
THINGS ABOUT ALLIED THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A CONCERN THAT THEY 
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FULFILL AS FAR AS DUTIES OR SERVICES 
OR ANYTHING EXPECTED THAT -- THAT YOU WOULD FEEL MORE 
COMFORTABLE WITH ALLEGIANCE, OR IS THERE ANYTHING THAT 
SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT, FROM A SERVICE STANDPOINT, I THINK 
WE'RE BETTER OFF WITH WHERE WE'RE AT?
I'M JUST TRYING TO GAUGE THE DIFFERENCES BECAUSE WE KNOW 
SECURITY IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES, SO, YOU 
KNOW, AGAIN, WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST 
SERVICE FOR THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE.
>> THERE'S NOTHING IN ALLIED'S, YOU KNOW, PROPOSAL THAT 
WOULD MAKE THEM NOT PROVIDE ON PAPER A DECENT SERVICE, BUT 
AS YOU KNOW WITH EMPLOYEES, WHEN YOU -- WHEN YOU HAVE AN 
EMPLOYEE, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU'D WANT TO KEEP THAT 
EMPLOYEE IS BECAUSE YOU THEY WHAT YOU HAVE WITH THEM,, AND 
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU BRING ON SOMEBODY DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE A KNOWN ENTITY COMPARED TO AN UNKNOWN.
THEY MIGHT BE BETTER, BUT WITH THE TRACK RECORD THAT 
ALLEGIANCE HAS GOT RIGHT NOW, THE POINTS THAT THEY'VE GOT, 
THEIR EXPERIENCE LEVEL, THEIR TRACK RECORD, AND THEIR 
PRICE, I THINK IT'S THE BEST THING FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
RIGHT NOW FOR US TO STAY WITH THEM.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. DUNLAP, I THINK --
>>KEN HAGAN:  HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
ARE YOU FINISHED, COMMISSIONER BECKNER?
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND I WANT TO SAY -- AND I WANT TO SAY THIS 
TO PAT.
AND SIR, YOU'RE A NICE GUY.
I WANT TO SAY THIS, THOUGH.
THIS IS -- AGAIN, THIS IS -- THIS IS A PROCESS OF A SHELL 
GAME SOMEHOW.
I MEAN, ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU'RE SITTING HERE NEGOTIATING 
SAYING, OH, YOU KNOW, WHAT, OH, BY THE WAY, PAT BEAN IS 
GOING TO RECOMMEND NO GUNS, SO DROP THAT PRICE, IT'S GOING 
TO BE CHEAPER.
I MEAN, THIS IS WRONG.
HE SAT RIGHT -- HE STOOD RIGHT THERE AND STARTED 
NEGOTIATING WHY THE PRICE WAS GOING TO BE CHEAPER AND THE 
TWO DIFFERENT CONTRACTS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PUT OUT IN A 
BID, "X" NUMBER OF GUNS, THIS IS THE PRICE, THIS IS WHAT 
THE CONTRACT'S GOING TO BE.
HE'S NOW TALKING ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REALLY 
THAT COST, IT'S GOING TO BE CHEAPER THAN THAT, SO THEREFORE 
WE SHOULD REALLY GO AHEAD AND GO WITH THIS ONE.
IT'S MANIPULATING ME, I FEEL LIKE.
IT'S NOT THE BOTTOM LINE, IT'S JUST NOT NUMBERS AND CENTS 
AND WHO'S GOING TO DO THE BEST DEAL.
IT'S LIKE YOU'RE DIRECTING ME.
YOU'RE NOT -- PAT BEAN DIDN'T TELL ME SHE -- SHE IS NOW 
GOING TO DROP ALL ARMED GUARD GUYS AND WHATEVER AND IT'S 
NOT IN BLACK AND WHITE TO ME THAT -- SO MY PRICE IS GOING 
TO BE DIFFERENT RIGHT HERE THAN THAT OTHER DEAL, AND -- 
THAT'S MY PROBLEM ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING, AND MS. LEE, THROW 
THIS CONTRACT AWAY.
YOU BETTER START LOOKING AT THIS.
THIS IS -- THIS IS TROUBLESOME TO ME HOW WE'RE -- IT'S 
GETTING A LOT OF GRAY AREA AND MOVING HERE AND HOW WE ARE 
TO BE AWARDING -- YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ALL THESE 
PROCESSES.
MAN, YOU-ALL CAN'T SEE ANY OF THIS, HOW IT'S GETTING TO BE 
MOVING AND -- IT'S WRONG.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE, THEN COMMISSIONER 
FERLITA.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THAT WAS MY POINT EXACTLY, COMMISSIONER 
NORMAN, THE PROCESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS COMMISSIONER SHARPE SAID, YOU KNOW, HE 
DOESN'T WANT THIS -- IT'S A CONTINUAL THING.
WELL, BUT SEE, THE FORTUNATE OR UNFORTUNATE PART ABOUT THE 
REALITY, THE PROTEST IS A PART OF THE PROCESS AND ANYBODY 
HAS THAT OPTION TO BE ABLE TO COME UP AND EXERCISE THAT 
PORTION OF THE PROCESS THAT THEY WANT TO, AND THAT'S WHAT 
HAS OCCURRED IN THIS CASE, AND MY QUESTIONING OF THE 
PROCESS WHEN I SAW BOTH OF THESE -- THESE ENTITIES WAS, 
ONE, THE HUGE DISPARITY IN QUALIFICATIONS, WHICH I DIDN'T 
SEE HOW IN THE WORLD THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, AND THAT'S 
WHEN I CALLED PROCUREMENT IN TO EXPLAIN THAT TO ME, AND 
THEN ON THE SECOND WAS THE MBE, AND I'M [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I THINK I'D LIKE -- GO AHEAD.
I'D LIKE TO LISTEN TO YOU.
>>CARL HARNESS:  CARL HARNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATOR.
MR. CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER NORMAN, IF WHAT MR. DUNLAP SAID 
CAME ACROSS AS HIM NEGOTIATING, I ASSURE YOU HE WASN'T.
HE WAS BASICALLY STATING SOME FACTS TO GIVE YOU SOME 
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN SHOULD WE 
GO AHEAD WITH OUR CURRENT BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'VE SAT IN ON SOME OF THESE MEETINGS.
I STAND BY THE PROCESS THAT PROCUREMENT WENT THROUGH.
WE GET THESE PROTESTS ALL THE TIME.
ONCE THE PROTESTS GET TO A PARTICULAR LEVEL, WHEN THEY GET 
TO THE BOARD LEVEL, IT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE TO KIND OF DO 
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THE PROCESS.
ALL WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST INFORMATION 
AVAILABLE, AND I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT.
I'M CONFIDENT IN THE -- IN THIS CURRENT PROCESS THAT HAS 
GONE ON WITH THIS -- WITH THIS RFP, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT 
ELSE WE CAN TELL YOU AT THIS POINT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>PAT BEAN:  I'D LIKE TO, MR. CHAIR, HAVE --
>>KEN HAGAN:  WELL, LET COMMISSIONER FERLITA --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  IT'S ALL RIGHT.
GO AHEAD.
LET ME JUST ABSORB ALL THE INFORMATION, AND THEN I'LL MAKE 
A COMMENT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GO AHEAD, PAT.
>>PAT BEAN:  I WOULD LIKE FOR THE PURCHASING OFFICE TO 
EXPLAIN THE PROCESS, WAS IT FOLLOWED, WAS IT NOT FOLLOWED, 
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WAS DONE WHERE SOMEBODY JUST THREW 
OUT WHAT WAS IN THE PROPOSAL OR THREW IN SOMETHING NEW THAT 
WASN'T IN THE RFP DOCUMENT?
>> JAN JARDIEU WITH THE PROCUREMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I THINK PART OF WHAT STARTED THIS DISCUSSION MAY HAVE BEEN 
A MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN SOMETHING MR. MECHANIK SAID 
REGARDING SCORES BEING GIVEN FOR ITEMS THAT WERE NOT IN THE 
PROPOSAL.
THE RFP DOCUMENT CLEARLY SPELLS OUT THE EVALUATION 
CRITERIA.
I THINK WHAT HE MEANT BY THE COMMENT WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT 
PRIVY TO THE ACTUAL SCORING ONCE IT -- AFTER IT HAD 
HAPPENED, AND THAT WAS THE PART THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF, NOT 
THE ACTUAL CRITERIA IN THE RFP.
AND THOSE MEETINGS OF THE EVALUATION COMMITTEES ARE 
PUBLICLY NOTICED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUNSHINE LAW, THEY 
ARE PERMITTED TO BE PRESENT FOR THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT 
OPPORTUNITY.
AND THE OTHER ITEM RELATING TO THE MBE AND THE LETTERHEAD, 
THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CHANGE IN HOW THAT OCCURRED.
ALLEGIANCE DID NOT SUBMIT AN MBE COMMITMENT ON THE MBE'S 
LETTERHEAD.
THEY WERE SCORED ZERO BECAUSE OF THAT.
ALLIEDBARTON GOT THE FULL FIVE POINTS BECAUSE THEY DID 
SUBMIT THAT.
IT WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT.
THOSE ARE BONUS POINTS, SO THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME 
CONFUSION ON THAT POINT IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS AS WELL.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ISN'T IT THE COUNTY POLICY TO HAVE THAT 
AS --
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- NOT A BONUS?
THAT'S A REQUIREMENT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA STILL HAS THE FLOOR.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MS. LEE, DO WE HAVE TO HAVE AN MBE 
COMPONENT?
>>RENEE LEE:  COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO HAVE 
IT ON EVERY BID.
I KNOW THAT -- I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT OPERATES ON OUR BIDS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  LOOK, LET ME JUST SAY THIS, MS. LEE.
I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.
IT LOOKS LIKE, AT LEAST IN SOME CASES, SOME OF US ARE 
LOOKING AT THE LAST PERSON WHO SAID SOMETHING TO DECIDE HOW 
WE'RE GOING WITH THIS.
IT'S LIKE WE'RE VOTING FROM THE HIP HERE.
I -- I UNDERSTAND THE POINTS THAT MR. MECHANIK MADE, AND I 
KNOW, MR. NORMAN, YOU'VE GOT SOME PROBLEM WITH MAYBE THE -- 
THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS.
WHETHER THAT'S VALID OR PERCEPTION, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT EVEN IN MY CASE I'M LOOKING, WELL, HE HAS A VALID 
POINT.
WELL, WE DON'T REALLY NEED THE MBE COMPONENT.
THEY LOST POINTS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.
THEY SUPPORTED IT.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GIVE US GUARDS RIGHT ON THE SPOT 
TOMORROW MORNING.
THEY COULD HAVE DONE IT BUT THEY'RE NOT AWARDED, SO WOULD 
THEY HAVE DONE IT, WOULD THEIR PERFORMANCE BE BETTER?
I MEAN, I TEND TO BE LEANING TOWARDS SUPPORTING THE MOTION, 
BUT I THINK IN FAIRNESS TO THE WHOLE INTEGRITY OF THE 
PROCESS, A BETTER SUBSTITUTE MOTION WOULD BE TO SEND IT 
BACK.
WE HAVE TIME NOW TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN.
PROCUREMENT STAFF CAN COME AND TALK TO EACH OF US THAT HAVE 
A CONCERN, AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE 
OF THE COMPELLING ARGUMENT THAT THIS SIDE GAVE OR THAT SIDE 
GAVE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M NOT REALLY, REALLY SURE THAT I 
KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, AND LIKE YOU, MR. SHARPE, I BELIEVE 
THAT OUR STAFF DOES THE BEST THEY CAN DO.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT MR. MECHANIK ON BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT 
HAS SOME COMPELLING ARGUMENT, BUT IT'S LIKE I -- I THINK 
THAT THE BETTER PROCESS WOULD BE TO DO A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, 
SEND IT BACK, AND THEN WE'VE GOT A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT 
REALLY WENT ON, AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE IF THEY ACTED 
APPROPRIATELY OR WE CAN AWARD IT TO THE OTHER SIDE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MS. BEAN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD?
YOUR LIGHT'S FLASHING.
>>PAT BEAN:  I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WHATEVER THE BOARD WANTS TO 
DO.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO SUPPORT ALLIED 
BY COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  CAN I MAKE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO SEE 
WHERE IT GOES?
>>KEN HAGAN:  SURE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I'LL MAKE THE MOTION AS A SUBSTITUTE THAT 
WE REDIRECT STAFF TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AGAIN AND COME 
BACK WITH A SECOND PRESENTATION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER 
FERLITA.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, I'M THINKING ALOUD HERE.
IF -- IF I DON'T SECOND YOUR MOTION AND IT DOESN'T SUCCEED, 
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE IS WHERE POTENTIALLY WE'RE 
GOING TO BE AWARDING IT TO ALLIED, AND I HAVE GRAVE CONCERN 
WITH THAT, IN THE THAT ALLIED WOULDN'T BE A DESERVING 
COMPANY, BUT NOW I'M BASING MY DECISION -- AND I'VE ALREADY 
HEARD A CONTRARY COMMENT AS TO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE 
WERE GOING TO GO WITH ALLIED.
I THINK -- I MEAN, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD STILL STAY -- I 
HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING WHICH SUGGESTS TO ME THAT WE SHOULD 
BE DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN APPROVING STAFF 
RECOMMENDATION.
BUT I GUESS IF THE CLOSEST I CAN GET TO THAT IS TO SUPPORT 
YOUR MOTION, I'LL SUPPORT -- I'LL SUPPORT THE SUBSTITUTE 
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  BUT IT'S FRUSTRATION, I AGREE, EVEN IN 
SUBMITTING THAT SUBSTITUTE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I'LL SECOND YOUR SUBSTITUTE MOTION, BUT I -
- YOU KNOW, I'M FULLY PREPARED FOR STAFF TO COME BACK AND -
- WITH A FURTHER EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THEY GOT TO THEIR 
CONCLUSION, AND UNLESS THERE'S A THIRD SUBSTITUTION MOTION 
TO SUPPORT --
[LAUGHTER]
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
NO, THERE'S NO THIRD SUBSTITUTE MOTION FROM ME, BUT I --
>>MARK SHARPE:  WHERE ARE YOU ON THIS?
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  WELL, NEW THAT I'VE HEARD MR. MECHANIK, 
I'M IN THE POSITION RIGHT NOW THAT I DON'T LIKE THIS 
PROCESS OF WE'RE COMING UP HERE AND STARTING THIS 
NEGOTIATING PROCESS OR SHOOTING FROM THE HIP, WE'RE GOING 
HERE, WE'RE GOING THERE.
I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH AND TRUST IN STAFF, BUT I ALSO KNOW 
THAT I'VE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WHOLE PROCUREMENT 
PROCESS.
I -- YOU KNOW, I'VE MET AND TALKED WITH -- YOU KNOW, ABOUT 
THIS PROCESS, AND I'M STILL GETTING TO A POINT OF 
UNDERSTANDING IT.
SO BUT ANYWAY, I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY BEHOOVE US TO GO 
AHEAD AND TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, LIKE ONE MORE SHOT, 
TO GO THROUGH THIS, TO HEAR BOTH SIDES AND TO STUDY BOTH 
SIDES SO THAT WE CAN WEIGH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON -
- AND ALSO THEN LOOK AT THE NEW TESTIMONY, SO IF MR. 
MECHANIK CAN SUBMIT ALL OF HIS STATEMENTS IN WRITING TO US 
SO WE CAN WEIGH THOSE, I WILL GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE 
SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER FERLITA PUT FORWARD AND 
THEN HAVE PERHAPS -- SET THIS FOR OUR NEXT MEETING, WHAT, 
JULY 17th OR WHATEVER THAT DATE MAY BE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YEAH.
AND TO SUPPORT IT WOULD JUST DELAY IT FOR HOW LONG?
WHAT'S THE TIME THAT YOU'D COME BACK?
BECAUSE I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER WHITE'S 
MOTION, BUT I'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OVERALL SECURITY 
SERVICE ANYWAY, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT DEBATE, BUT I DON'T 
KNOW -- WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME AS FAR AS COMING BACK WITH 
IT?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  IF YOU'RE ASKING ME, I THINK THAT BOTH 
SIDES CAN GET BACK TOGETHER AND COME TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
IS THAT SOMETHING -- SEE, MR. HIGGINBOTHAM, LET ME JUST 
EXPLAIN.
I'M NOT EVEN COMFORTABLE WITH MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION, BUT I'M 
LESS COMFORTABLE WITH THE FIRST MOTION ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE 
IT'S LIKE WHO SAID WHAT AND HOW ARE WE GOING.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON.
SO I THINK IT -- THAT'LL GIVE THEM ENOUGH TIME TO CLARIFY 
THEIR POSITIONS AND FOR US NOT TO TRY TO BE SECOND-GUESSING 
WHAT ACTUALLY WENT ON WITH THE PROCESS BECAUSE HOW LONG 
HAVE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE.
WE'RE STILL NOT SURE IN SOME CASES WHO WE'RE SUPPORTING AND 
WHY AND WHY NOT, SO ANOTHER MEETING, ONE MORE TIME, COME 
BACK NEXT WEEK, AND I'M HOPING THAT THE ARGUMENTS ARE GOING 
TO BE PRETTY BLACK AND WHITE, THERE IS IT, THIS IS WHAT WE 
USED, THIS WAS OUR OUTCOME, HIS ARGUMENT IN DEFENSE OF HIS 
CLIENT, AND THERE WE ARE, VOTE IT UP OR DOWN, AND IT'S 
DONE.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, IF ANY OF US HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LIKE 
WHETHER OR NOT THE MBE THING IS A COMPONENT OR WHETHER OR 
NOT THAT'S JUST AN EXTRA BONUS, THEN THOSE THINGS ON AN 
INDIVIDUAL BASIS COULD BE ANSWERED, AND WE CAN MOVE MORE 
SMOOTHLY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WE'VE GOT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA TO 
BRING THIS BACK AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, THE SECOND WAS 
BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE SUPPORT -- RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION FAILED 3-4.
COMMISSIONERS HAGAN, HIGGINBOTHAM, NORMAN, AND WHITE VOTED 
NO.
>>KEN HAGAN:  IT GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION BY 
COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  YES, SIR.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE AWARD ALLIEDBARTON THE 
CONTRACT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 5-2.
COMMISSIONER FERLITA AND SHARPE VOTED NO.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
NEXT ITEM.
>>PAT BEAN:  YOUR NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, WOULD BE YOUR 
APPOINTMENTS.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  SHOULD WE WAIT FOR COMMISSIONER FERLITA?
>>KEN HAGAN:  GO AHEAD.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  THE FIRST BOARD IS THE ENTERPRISE ZONE 
AGENCY.
NO VOTING IS REQUIRED.
SUZANNE TATE WILL BE APPOINTED.
THE NEXT ONE IS THE HEALTH CARE ADVISORY BOARD.
THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE TERMS THAT ARE EXPIRING, BUT I ONLY 
NEED APPOINTMENTS FOR THE FIRST TWO.
THE HEALTH CARE REP -- HEALTH CARE BUSINESS REP, PLEASE 
CHOOSE ONE.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
JUST FROM THE TOP THREE NAMES.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MASON.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  FROM -- WE'RE JUST DOING THE TOP ONE NOW?
>>LUANN FINLEY:  JUST THE TOP.
>>MARK SHARPE:  MASON.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  MASON.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MASON.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MASON.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSION NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  MASON.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  MASON.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  IT WILL BE MASON.
THE AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THAT'S THE EASIEST THING WE'VE DONE TODAY, 
ISN'T IT?
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WE COULD MOVE TO RECONSIDER IT.
[LAUGHTER]
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  ERB.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  ERB.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  ERB.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  ERB.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ERB.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  ERB.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  ERB.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  EDITH ERB.
AND THEN THE USF COLLEGE REP WILL BE DR. PETERSEN.
THE NEXT BOARD IS THE TAMPA SPORTS AUTHORITY.
PLEASE CHOOSE TWO, COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  LARSON AND MARCHETTI.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  LARSON?
>>KEN HAGAN:  MARCHETTI.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  LARSON AND BYCZEK.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WE'RE ON SPORTS AUTHORITY?
>>LUANN FINLEY:  YES.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  LARSON AND MARCHETTI.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  LARSON AND COX.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I'M GOING TO PASS.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  LARSON, MARCHETTI.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSION BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  LARSON AND SNELLGROVE.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  AND COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  LARSON AND MARCHETTI.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  IT WILL BE LARSON AND MARCHETTI.
>>JIM NORMAN:  MOVE TO CONFIRM.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MOVE TO CONFIRM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MOTION TO CONFIRM COMMISSIONER NORMAN, SECOND 
COMMISSIONER WHITE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  YOUR NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, IS AN ITEM 
BROUGHT TO THE AGENDA BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
THAT IS ITEM F-7, AND THAT WAS YOUR ITEM, COMMISSIONER 
SHARPE, WHERE YOU WERE GOING TO REQUEST THAT COMMISSIONER 
FERLITA REPRESENT --
>>MARK SHARPE:  TAKE THIS PIECE OF GOOD NEWS TO THE 
CHILDREN'S BOARD.
>>PAT BEAN:  YES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
AT THE LAST WORKSHOP WE WERE DISCUSSING WAYS IN WHICH WE 
CAN COLLABORATIVELY WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WITH 
THE CHILDREN'S BOARD IN PARTICULAR, AND SHE HAD MENTIONED 
THE CHILDREN'S BOARD'S RESERVES, AND I WAS FULLY PREPARED 
AND PUTTING TOGETHER A PRESENTATION.
I'VE ALREADY SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 
CHILDREN'S BOARD EXPRESSING BOTH MY -- MY CONCERN ABOUT THE 
IMPACT -- POSSIBLE IMPACT ON THIS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, THE 
VALUE OF THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH THEY'RE FULLY AWARE 
OF, AND THE NEED TO CRAFT TOGETHER A SOLUTION, AND -- BUT 
ALSO THE CHALLENGE FOR ME IS I WILL BE TRAVELING TO D.C. ON 
TAMPA BAY WATER BUSINESS AND WILL HAVE TO MISS THIS 
MEETING, AND SO I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT THE BOARD WOULD 
KINDLY SEND COMMISSIONER FERLITA TO --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  KINDLY OR UNKINDLY?
[LAUGHTER]
>>MARK SHARPE:  SHARPEN YOUR ELBOWS.
AND YOU'LL BE WARMLY RECEIVED BY -- ACTUALLY BY THE VERY 
GOOD BOARD THERE, AND IF YOU WOULD, ALONG WITH STAFF, GO 
THERE AND MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY WORK WITH OUR 
STAFF TO COME BACK IN A MONTH WITH A PLAN TO BE ABLE TO IN 
THIS EMERGENCY -- THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT COMMISSIONER HAD 
SAID.
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, WOULD THEY WORK WITH US IN 
TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR PARKS 
PROGRAM AND THE KIDS CAN HAVE THE AFTERSCHOOL DAY PROGRAM, 
AND THAT WAS MY MOTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. SHARPE, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WHEN 
SOMEBODY MAKES A SUGGESTION THAT SHOULD BE DONE, THEY 
SHOULDN'T BEGRUDGE BEING THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO GO 
LOBBY FOR THAT.
AND SO I CERTAINLY WILL BECAUSE IT'S A WORTHWHILE PROJECT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  AND I TRUST YOU WITH MY LIFE, BUT I'D LIKE 
TO SEE A COPY OF YOUR AIRPLANE TICKET AND MAKE SURE THAT 
YOU WERE REALLY OUT OF TOWN.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THAT VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I CAN TELL YOU, I CAN THINK -- ALL OF YOU -
- I WAS THINKING OF EACH ONE.
I WAS THINKING I WOULD LOVE TO SEND JIM NORMAN OVER THERE.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT -- BUT I REALLY -- I THINK -- I -- I -- EACH OF THE 
BOARD MEMBERS COULD GO, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU'D EXPRESSED 
INTEREST IN THIS AS WELL.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I'M JUST GIVING YOU A HARD TIME.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND I THINK IT WOULD BE FABULOUS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE TO TRY --
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>>ROSE FERLITA: -- TO CONVINCE THEM TO HELP US, YES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WELL, AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY BAD THINGS 
ON THIS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER SHARPE 
SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT YOU VOTED NO AGAINST THAT REALLY 
KIND OF DISHEARTENED ME A LITTLE BIT IS HOW THEY'RE 
INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES, AND SO WHAT I DON'T WANT -- AND 
I GUESS THE MESSAGE THAT I WOULD HOPE TO PASS ALONG TO 
COMMISSIONER FERLITA -- IS I ACTUALLY DON'T WANT THIS TO BE 
AN ARM LENGTH TAX INCREASE THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE 
GOING TO INCREASE MILLAGE EVEN MORE AND THAT -- YOU SEE --
>>MARK SHARPE:  IT WILL BE WITHIN THEIR BUDGET.
NO, NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY, YES.
>>JIM NORMAN:  IN THE BUDGET -- THE RESERVES WE'RE TALKING 
ABOUT.
I DON'T WANT THEIR KNEE-JERK REACTION, OH, LET'S -- THIS IS 
JUST AN ARM-LENGTH OPPORTUNITY OF RAISING TAX, AND I DON'T 
WANT THAT AT ALL.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THERE'S BREAKING NEWS HERE.
I BELIEVE WHEN MR. SHARPE'S OFFICE ASKED ME IF I WOULD GO 
WITH MR. THORNTON JUST AS A VOTE OF SUPPORT, I, IN THE 
PROCESS OF RESCHEDULING A MEETING THAT I HAD, TO BE HAPPY 
TO DO THAT, WHICH I JUST AGREED TO DO, AND I WAS VERY 
COMFORTABLE THAT MR. THORNTON WOULD HAVE ALL THE RIGHT 
ANSWERS FOR THEM TO LISTEN TO OUR REQUEST, AND SO SANDY 
JUST HANDED ME SOMETHING THAT -- SANDY CHIN, MARK'S AIDE, 
JUST SENT TO US A WHILE AGO, AND IT SAYS, AFTER MORE 
DISCUSSION WITH COMMISSIONER SHARPE AND MARK THORNTON, 
THEIR WISH WOULD BE -- I'VE BEEN SET UP.
THEIR WISH WOULD BE FOR COMMISSIONER FERLITA TO MAKE THE 
ENTIRE PRESENTATION WITH MARK THORNTON THERE TO ANSWER ANY 
QUESTIONS.
I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I ORIGINALLY 
TOLD YOU, SANDY.
WE FEEL IT WOULD GIVE MORE WEIGHT -- UH-HUH -- TO THE 
REQUEST IF IT CAME FROM A BOCC MEMBER RATHER THAN STAFF.
COULD YOU ASK COMMISSIONER FERLITA IF SHE'D BE COMFORTABLE 
PRESENTING THE ENTIRE ITEM.
LET ME KNOW.
[LAUGHTER]
JUST GOT THAT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I'M ENTIRELY COMFORTABLE.
[LAUGHTER]
>>ROSE FERLITA:  YEAH, YOU CERTAINLY ARE, ALI.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SO AM I?
[LAUGHTER]
>>ROSE FERLITA:  ALL RIGHT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SO WAS THAT A MOTION, COMMISSIONER SHARPE?
>>MARK SHARPE:  YES, THAT'S MY MOTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SECOND COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANKS.
>>PAT BEAN:  THE NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, IS ITEM A-21.
THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT FOR DISCUSSION, AND IT 
WAS PULLED BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THANK YOU, MS. BEAN.
WHEN I SAW THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, I STARTED LOOKING AT THE 
BACKGROUND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW -- AND 
I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT WE PROBABLY DO NEED OUTSIDE 
COUNSEL TO LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR -- THE NEIGHBORHOOD 
STABILIZATION PROGRAM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE 19 MILLION.
WHAT KIND OF CONCERNED ME, THOUGH, IS I DIDN'T SEE ANY 
PARTICULAR CAP ON IT AS FAR -- OR -- AS FAR AS AN 
EXPECTATION OF HOW MANY DOLLARS WE WOULD HAVE SPENT, AND I 
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF A CONTROL 
THAT'S IN PLACE SO THAT AS A BOARD WE'RE WELL INFORMED OF 
WHAT THOSE FEES ARE AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT'S BEING 
DONE AND THEN THE PRODUCTIVITY THAT'S GENERATED FROM THAT.
I DON'T WANT THE BOARD TO BE SURPRISED AND FOR IT TO COME 
OUT THROUGH OTHER SOURCES THAT WE HAVE JUST SPENT A HALF A 
MILLION DOLLARS ON LEGAL BILLS, AND PEOPLE ARE THROWING UP 
THEIR ARMS AND WONDERING WHAT IN THE WORLD DID WE JUST 
SPEND A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON, SO MS. LEE, COULD YOU 
COMMENT AS FAR -- WHAT I WAS CONSIDERING DOING IS PLACING A 
CAP ON HERE, AND CERTAINLY NOT A CAP IN THE AMOUNT OF 
SERVICES THAT CAN BE PERFORMED BUT A CAP THAT WOULD BE 
REACHED, AND THEN ONCE THAT CAP IS REACHED, THEY WOULD HAVE 
TO REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE SERVICES 
WERE PERFORMED AND HOW MUCH MORE IS NEEDED.
>>RENEE LEE:  ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER, AND WE DISCUSSED 
THIS ISSUE YESTERDAY, AND WE HAVE AMENDED THE CONTRACT.
THE CONTRACTOR IS HERE, HELENE MARKS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, JUST AS SOME BACKGROUND, THIS IS A NEW 
PROGRAM TO THE COUNTY.
THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM IN WHICH WE 
GO OUT AND BUY FORECLOSURES.
THE -- IT -- IT'S AN ACCELERATED PROGRAM.
WE HAVE TO SPEND THIS $18 MILLION IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF 
TIME, SO WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THE SERVICES OF AN ATTORNEY 
WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH DEALING WITH DISTRESSED PROPERTIES, IN 
THIS CASE FORECLOSED PROPERTIES, WHO CAN NEGOTIATE THE FEES 
OUT WITH THE BANKS AND CAN IDENTIFY OWNERSHIP AND THAT KIND 
OF THING.
SO WE'RE NOT CERTAIN HOW MUCH TIME WILL BE SPENT IN DOING 
ALL OF THAT.
WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT STAFF IS IDENTIFYING 
AND TURNING OVER TO HER, AND THAT'S WHY INITIALLY THERE WAS 
NOT A CAP ON THE CONTRACT, BUT AFTER SPEAKING TO YOU, WE 
HAVE PUT A CAP ON THE CONTRACT OF $50,000, AND WE'VE 
AMENDED THE CONTRACT TO READ THAT PROFESSIONAL LEGAL 
SERVICES PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT 
EXCEED THE SUM OF $50,000 UNLESS FURTHER APPROVED BY THE 
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
SO THAT WILL BE THE INITIAL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT, AND IF 
WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS, WE'LL BE BACK TO THE BOARD FOR 
APPROVAL.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  RIGHT.
AND THAT WAS MY ONLY CONCERN, SO, I MEAN, I FEEL VERY 
COMFORTABLE GOING FORWARD WITH THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AGAIN THAT WE DON'T LOSE CONTROL, 
ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIGHT BUDGETARY TIMES, AND WE DON'T GET 
SURPRISED BY A LARGE ENORMOUS LEGAL BILL, SO WITH THOSE 
AMENDMENTS, I WOULD MOVE THE ITEM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MOTION TO APPROVE --
>>JIM NORMAN:  I'LL SECOND.
THAT'S A GOOD JOB, COMMISSIONER.
>>KEN HAGAN:  -- COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECOND COMMISSIONER 
NORMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  YOUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM A-50.
THIS IS ALSO AN ITEM PULLED FROM CONSENT, BUT THIS ONE WAS 
PULLED BY COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
BOARD MEMBERS, I JUST NEEDED CLARIFICATION ON THIS.
THIS WAS A MOTION TO DENY A PERMIT BY SHANNON BRANTLEY FOR 
THE USE OF SEVERAL OF OUR RECREATION CENTERS FOR TEEN 
DANCES.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT -- GOOD.
MR. THORNTON, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS.
WHAT I WAS -- WHAT MY MAIN CONCERN WAS ON THIS ONE, THE 
MOTION FOR DENIAL, WERE THEY NOT PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THE 
DANCES OR -- AND/OR IN LOOKING IN THE BACKUP, THAT APPEARED 
TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN DISSENTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR THING.
>>MARK THORNTON:  GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
MARK THORNTON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND 
CONSERVATION.
THERE IS PROBABLY AT LEAST AT THIS POINT A CONCERN WHETHER 
OR NOT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OBTAIN SECURITY.
I GUESS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HIRE PRIVATE SECURITY AS 
ANYONE WOULD BE ABLE TO.
THE BASIS FOR OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DENIAL IS THAT THIS 
PROGRAM -- OR THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, WE USED TO RUN THEM 
OURSELVES, AND WE'VE NOT HAD GOOD LUCK WITH THEM.
THERE'S BEEN PROBLEMS.
SO MUCH SO THAT WE'VE STOPPED DOING THEM.
THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT A NONPROFIT -- IF IT WOULD HAVE 
BEEN A NONPROFIT AGENCY, I WOULD HAVE DENIED IT AND IT 
WOULDN'T COME TO THE BOARD.
BECAUSE IT'S -- HE'S NOT NONPROFIT, THE APPROVAL WOULD HAVE 
TO BE AT THIS LEVEL, AT YOUR LEVEL.
MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THIS IS NOT THE PROGRAM THAT IS 
WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE IN OUR CENTERS.
HE WOULD HAVE TO MEET ALL THE GUIDELINES OR HE -- IT 
WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE OF DENIAL.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS IS THAT THIS IS -- THAT WE NOT HAVE 
THIS PROGRAM.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, I GUESS WHEN YOU SAID DIDN'T MEET ALL 
THE -- I MEAN, WHAT CRITERIA?
>>MARK THORNTON:  WELL, HE HAS TO PROVIDE INSURANCE AND 
SECURITY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, WHICH HE WOULD HAVE TO 
BEFORE HE COULD USE THE FACILITY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
>>MARK THORNTON:  BUT AS FAR AS APPROVAL FOR HIM TO USE IT, 
BECAUSE HE'S NOT NONPROFIT --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  HE'S A FOR-PROFIT.
>>MARK THORNTON:  -- IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THIS BOARD.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THE 
SUBJECT OF THE PROGRAM, WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT WE HAVE 
THIS PROGRAM IN OUR CENTERS BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
AND THIS IS JUST -- I SAY JUST, I'M JUST SAYING JUST BY 
READING IT -- A TEEN DANCE, AND I GUESS THESE WILL BE GOING 
ON DURING THE SUMMERTIME?
>>MARK THORNTON:  WELL, HE ORIGINALLY WANTED SATURDAYS 
UNLIMITED, AND WE HAD TO GET HIM TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.
THE ISSUE THERE WAS HE THEN HAD FOUR DATES AT FOUR 
DIFFERENT CENTERS, AND SO WE DID NARROW THAT DOWN.
HE WANTED TO ADJUST THE TIME TO WHERE THEY WOULD START AT 
9:00 P.M. AND BE OVER AT 1:00 A.M., SO, YOU KNOW, BASED 
ON -- AGAIN, BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THESE EXACT KIND 
OF PROGRAMS, WE'VE NOT HAD GOOD EXPERIENCE.
WE DID THEM FOR MANY YEARS AND FINALLY JUST STOPPED DOING 
THEM BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITIES NOT IN THE CENTER BUT IN THE 
PARKING LOT AND TWO BLOCKS DOWN AND THE FACT THAT OUR -- 
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TOLD US TWO YEARS AGO, WHICH IS 
WHY WE STOPPED, THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER PROVIDE OFF-DUTY 
SHERIFF'S OFFICERS THROUGH COUNTY PROGRAMS TO TEEN DANCES 
AT REC CENTERS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS, SO WE LOST OUR 
SECURITY BECAUSE THE SHERIFF COULDN'T GET ANYBODY TO WORK 
THEM.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
>>MARK THORNTON:  AND SO WE STOPPED.
THE -- THE -- THE -- MR. BRANTLEY WOULD HAVE TO FULFILL ALL 
REQUIREMENTS.
I'M NOT DENYING IT BASED ON WHETHER HE HAS OR HE HASN'T.
THE SHERIFF WON'T PROVIDE SECURITY BECAUSE HE'S AN 
INDIVIDUAL.
HE WENT TO DEP AND GOT STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THEY COMMITTED TO HIM.
I TALKED WITH THE LIEUTENANT WHO'S THE LOCAL DEPUTY HERE OR 
THE LOCAL SCHEDULER, AND HE WASN'T REALLY SURE WHAT HE WAS 
COMMITTING TO, AND I TOLD HIM, AND I GUESS HE HAD TIME TO 
THINK ABOUT IT, AND THEN HE RETRACTED HIS COMMITMENT.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT MR. BRANTLEY WOULDN'T GET 
SECURITY.
HE'D HAVE TO GO HIRE PRIVATE SECURITY.
I DON'T KNOW.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, I -- I AGREE WITH YOU ON ONE THING.
I -- TO EVEN SUPPORT THIS, I WOULD WANT LAW ENFORCEMENT --
>>MARK THORNTON:  THAT'S PART OF THE ORDINANCE.
THAT'S REQUIRED.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- NOT PRIVATE SECURITY BUT ACTUAL LAW 
ENFORCEMENT THAT COULD --
>>MARK THORNTON:  I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE 
ORDINANCE.
RIGHT NOW I DON'T KNOW WHO HE HAS AS FAR AS LAW 
ENFORCEMENT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  HE COULD GO TO THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND/OR --
>>MARK THORNTON:  CITY POLICE EVEN, I GUESS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, NOT IN BRANDON, MANGO, NORTHDALE.
>>MARK THORNTON:  OKAY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  NO, THEY CAN'T --
>>MARK THORNTON:  YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A JURISDICTION 
ISSUE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  NO, THEY CAN'T -- EXACTLY.
BUT -- I GUESS MY POINT IS THIS: I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO 
ENCOURAGE ANY TYPE OF TEEN -- CONSTRUCTIVE TEEN ACTIVITY 
THAT WE COULD IN THIS POINT IN TIME BECAUSE WITH -- WITH 
OUR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES THAT ARE 
BEING CUT OUT, OUR TEENS ARE GOING TO NEED CONSTRUCTIVE 
ACTIVITIES FOR THEM, AND I AGREE IF IT'S GOING TO BE A ROB 
IN THE PARKING LOT -- I MEAN, ADEQUATE SECURITY NEEDS TO BE 
IN PLACE, BUT I THINK -- AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT HE CAN 
ACQUIRE THE ADEQUATE SECURITY BECAUSE YOU SAID THE 
SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND D.O.T., THEY'VE PULLED OUT -- I DON'T 
KNOW IF FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL HAS THE MANPOWER.
I KNOW THEY DO HAVE OFF-DUTY PERSONNEL -- BUT THAT TYPE OF 
MANPOWER.
YOU NEED SO MANY OFFICERS PER SO MANY ATTENDEES, AND THE 
REQUIREMENT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IS ENOUGH FOR THE PARKING 
LOT AS WELL AS INSIDE THE FACILITY, AND IF -- IF MR. 
BRANTLEY CAN'T ACCOMMODATE THAT ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER 
REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS INSURANCE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE -
- I THINK EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
PROVE THEMSELVES WITH THE ADEQUATE SECURITY, AND IF WE -- 
AND WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST AND WE FOUND OUT FIVE 
DEPUTIES WASN'T ENOUGH, THEN WE NEED TO GO TO TEN, FIVE 
INSIDE AND FIVE OUTSIDE.
WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
AND -- BUT IF THEY CAN'T MEET WHATEVER WE SAY OR YOU AS THE 
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SAYS IS NOT ADEQUATE SECURITY, THEN THE 
EVENT DOES NOT NEED TO TAKE PLACE FOR SAFETY ISSUES.
BUT IF -- IF WE CAN CONSTRUCT SOMETHING THAT ON THE 
PROPONENT OF HOW MANY YOU'RE EXPECTING, SINCE YOU ARE FOR-
PROFIT, AND WE EXPECT TO RECOUP ALL OF OUR REVENUES -- AND 
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS TURNED 
DOWN FOR, WHERE IT SAYS THAT THE RATES ARE BASED ON 2002 
BOCC CHARGES FOR THE USE OF OUR FACILITIES.
WE CAN'T BASE THINGS OFF OF 2002 ANYMORE, WE NEED TO BASE 
THINGS OFF --
>>MARK THORNTON:  THE ORDINANCE -- THE FEE ORDINANCE NEEDS 
TO BE UPDATED.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
>>MARK THORNTON:  BUT THE FEES THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS RENTAL 
IS BASED ON THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS REDONE IN 
2002.
ANYTIME WE HAVE A RENTAL OF THIS NATURE OR ANY RENTAL, 
PRIVATE BIRTHDAY PARTY, WE -- IT COSTS US MORE MONEY THAN 
WE BRING IN ON THE CHARGE.
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON 
THAT FOR -- ACTUALLY, WE HAVE IT PRETTY WELL DRAFTED, BUT 
WE'VE GOT OTHER THINGS WE'RE DOING WITH THE BUDGET, SO TO 
COME BACK IN AND READJUST OUR FEES, WE'LL DO THAT VERY 
SOON.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ABSOLUTELY.
>>MARK THORNTON:  I JUST -- I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE -- WE 
VALUE OUR TEEN PROGRAMS TREMENDOUSLY IN THAT AGE GROUP, SO 
MUCH SO THAT WE HAVE A DESIGNATED STAFFING UNIT THAT DOES 
TEEN ACTIVITIES.
WHAT I'M -- WHAT I'M TELLING YOU OR RECOMMENDING DENIAL FOR 
IS THAT THROUGH OUR EXPERIENCE AND MY OPINION AS YOUR PARKS 
DIRECTOR, NOT MY PERSONAL OPINION BUT MY OPINION BASED ON 
MY JOB HERE IS THAT NOTHING POSITIVE IS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR 
THE TEENS BETWEEN 9:00 P.M. AND 1:00 A.M. IN THESE KIND OF 
EVENTS.
WE HAVE TEEN PROGRAMS EVERY DAY.
WE TAKE HUNDREDS ON FIELD TRIPS DURING THE DAY, BUT FROM 
9:00 P.M. TO 1:00 A.M. IN A -- A DANCE HALL ENVIRONMENT, 
WHICH IS -- WAS HIS FIRST REQUEST, IT SAID DANCE HALL 
ENVIRONMENT, I CAN'T RECOMMEND IT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE 
IT'S GOING TO BE POSITIVE FOR THE KIDS INVOLVED.
WE'RE TALKING ARE 15- THROUGH 17-YEAR-OLD.
HE CAN DO ONE, AND IF IT GOES OFF WITHOUT A HITCH, I WOULD 
LET HIM DO MORE, BUT OUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT WE -- WE HAD TO 
STOP DOING THEM.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, HAVE HIM DO ONE SOMEWHERE ELSE SO YOU 
CAN GO MONITOR IT, THEN FIND OUT --
>>MARK THORNTON:  [INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK]
>>KEVIN WHITE:  AND UNTIL THEN, WE'LL --
>>MARK THORNTON:  THAT'S MY CONCERN, COMMISSIONER, IS 
THAT -- THAT WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT WE HAD PROBLEMS, WE HAD 
FIGHTS AND GANGS AND --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THAT'S FINE.
I'LL MOVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY CONSTRUCTIVE TEEN 
ACTIVITY AND 1:00 IN THE MORNING DO NOT GO TOGETHER, SO I 
APPRECIATE YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE'VE GOT A MOTION COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND 
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MARK.
>>PAT BEAN:  AND MARK, I WANT YOU TO BACK UP COMMISSIONER 
FERLITA REAL WELL AT THAT MEETING.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MARK, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MEETING BEFORE 
THAT, YOU KNOW THAT, HUH?
OKAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  ANY OTHER ITEMS, MS. BEAN?
>>PAT BEAN:  THE ONLY OTHER ITEM IS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY 
FUTURE DISCUSSION ITEMS THEY WANT TO IDENTIFY AT THIS TIME.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  I'D LIKE TO BRING AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION 
TOMORROW DURING OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP THAT I THINK WE NEED TO 
ADDRESS, AND IT WOULD BE ENTITLED EXECUTIVE PAY 
COMPENSATION, SO I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT FOR THE BUDGET 
WORKSHOP TOMORROW.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AT OUR LAST BUDGET MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT 
SENDING OUR ADMINISTRATOR AND OUR CHAIRMAN OVER TO MEET 
WITH THE SEMINOLE TRIBE FOLKS.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION WITH THE STATE 
LEGISLATOR PEOPLE, AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT COMPACT IS 
COMING TOGETHER, AND I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE THAT A 
LETTER, AS WE DISCUSSED, ASKING FOR -- IN THE AGREEMENT 
THAT $5 MILLION WOULD BE DEDICATED TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
FOR YOUTH ACTIVITY -- I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO 
STRUCTURE THAT, BUT TO GO TO BOTH THE APPROPRIATIONS 
CHAIRS, SENATE AND HOUSE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER AND THE 
GOVERNOR THAT -- WHAT EXISTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND 
WHAT IS ANTICIPATED TO COME ON HERE AS FAR AS THE 
MULTIGIANT HOTEL AND THE SERVICES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE 
HAVE TO PROVIDE, THAT WE WOULD BE A PART OF SOME 
DELINEATION AS FAR AS THAT COMPACT.
I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE TIMING THAT WE WOULD SOMEHOW 
FIRE THAT LETTER.
ACTUALLY, THAT WAS THE ADVICE I HAD GOTTEN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT SHORT.
AS I SAID EARLIER TODAY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE 
STIMULUS ISSUES AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, LOTS 
OF TIMES FROM CONSTITUENTS, ESPECIALLY NOW IN AN ECONOMIC 
DOWNTURN, YOU HEAR SOME THINGS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THIS.
YOU GUYS KEEP OFFERING INCENTIVES TO INDUSTRY TO ESTABLISH 
OR RELOCATE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, ARE YOUR INCENTIVES TOO 
GENEROUS ON OUR TAX BACKS?
AND SO WHAT ARE THE GUARANTEES?
HOW DO WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO STAY HERE LONG ENOUGH FOR 
US TO GET A RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND I THINK THAT'S A 
VALID CONCERN, SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST IS FOR OUR 
NEXT BOCC THAT GENE GRAY AND STAFF, WHOEVER HE CHOOSES, 
COME TO OUR MEETING, GIVE US A REPORT ON THE BENEFITS THAT 
WE REALIZE FROM THESE QTI INITIATIVES, AND ALSO AT THE SAME 
TIME, TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IN 
TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HELP FOR STARTUP SMALL 
BUSINESSES AND EXISTENT SMALL BUSINESSES ALREADY HERE, SO 
THAT'S ONE OF MY REQUESTS.
AND THEN -- WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE A MOTION.
THAT'S IT; RIGHT?
AND THEN THE SECOND AND LAST THING THAT I HAVE IS WITH 
REGARDS TO A STORY THIS MORNING THAT WAS PUT OUT IN THE 
TIMES BY BILL VARIAN, AND I'M GLAD YOU DID, ACTUALLY, BILL.
THERE IS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND NOT DO AND 
SOME OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, EXPRESSED A RELUCTANCE IN 
LOOKING AT MILLAGE AND RAISING THE -- LEVYING MORE OF A 
MILLAGE RATE, AND I DID THAT SIMPLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE 
SYMPATHETIC IN THESE TIMES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT AT THE 
SAME TIME, WHEN HE MADE THE REFERENCE THAT THIS, OF COURSE, 
WOULD GET IN THE WAY OF OUR ELAP PROGRAM, I REMEMBER VERY 
WELL -- I BELIEVE IT WAS IN MAY OF '08 THAT I WAS THE PROUD 
MAKER OF THE MOTION THAT PUT THE ELAPP REFERENDUM ON THE 
BALLOT IN '08, SO OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANT ONE TO CONFLICT 
WITH THE OTHER.
THAT IS, IN FACT, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, AND I SUPPORTED 
THAT REFERENDUM AS WELL.
I SPOKE WITH MIKE MERRILL BRIEFLY EARLIER, AND I'D LIKE FOR 
HIM TO SHARE SOME OF HIS RESPONSE THAT HE GAVE ME.
I THINK TOMORROW WOULD BE A PERFECT TIME AT OUR BUDGET 
WORKSHOP.
I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS A WAY THAT WE COULD PERHAPS ISSUE 
SOME ELAPP BONDS AND AT THE SAME TIME IT NOT RESULT IN AN 
INCREASE IN MILLAGE LEVY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
MR. MERRILL AND I ARE GOING TO MEET AFTER THE MEETING, BUT 
I THINK JUST TO CLEAR THAT UP, I DON'T -- I HAVE -- THE 
REASON I BROUGHT IT UP IS BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL E-
MAILS ALREADY ABOUT PEOPLE THINKING THAT WE'RE DISREGARDING 
WHAT THEY VOTED FOR, AND THE PUBLIC SPEAKS WHEN THEY VOTE 
ON REFERENDUMS.
I SUPPORT IT, I RESPECT IT, AND I DIDN'T MEAN THIS TO BE IN 
CONFLICT WITH THAT.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS UNDER THE UMBRELLA TOMORROW OF OUR 
BUDGET MEETING FOR MIKE MERRILL TO COME IN, AND -- AND I'M 
SURE THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU TOO, MR. JOHNSON.
IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO 
THINK WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM, WE ARE, AND I'D 
LIKE THAT TO BE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH TOMORROW SO THEY 
UNDERSTAND WHAT MY POSITION IS AND HOPEFULLY THE POSITION 
OF THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES INDIVIDUALLY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE, I 
MEAN, IF YOU ASK MIKE MERRILL, WHICH I DID AS OF ABOUT A 
WEEK AGO, THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF HIM AND THE COUNTY 
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF PREPARING ALL THE BOND DOCUMENTS, ALL 
THE LEGAL PAPERWORK THAT MUST BE PREPARED PRIOR TO GOING 
OUT TO THE BOND ISSUE, WHICH IS STILL SCHEDULED FOR THE 
FALL, SO NOTHING'S CHANGED.
OKAY.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WELL, THERE ACTUALLY IS TWO CONFLICTING 
INITIATIVES THAT WERE OUT THERE.
ONE WAS AMENDMENT 1, WHICH WAS INCREASING THE $25,000 TO 
$50,000 EXEMPTIONS, ROLLING BACK YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, AND 
ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
WHAT I THOUGHT OUR DIALOGUE WAS ALL ABOUT -- AND I DIDN'T 
WANT THIS TO BE MISINTERPRETED EITHER -- IS THAT WE WERE 
TRYING TO HAVE FEE-BASED OPTIONS THAT WE COULD LOWER THE AD 
VALOREM RATE AND WE COULD STILL EXERCISE -- WE COULD REALLY 
TRY TO TAKE CARE OF BOTH.
WE COULD EXERCISE ELAPP AND NOT RAISE AD VALOREM.
THAT WAS THE GOAL I WAS HOPING ADMINISTRATION WAS LOOKING 
AT, SO I AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER FERLITA, BUT I WANT 
TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH INITIATIVES THAT WENT TO THE 
VOTER.
ONE EXERCISE ELAPP, BUT THE OTHER ALSO TO BE CREATIVE 
ENOUGH ON FEE-BASED PROGRAMS, OPTION PROGRAMS THAT WE DO 
NOT HAVE A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  APPRECIATE THE CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT BECAUSE 
I THINK -- I RECEIVED THE SAME REPORT BACK FROM MR. MERRILL 
THAT WE WERE MOVING TOWARD WITH THE PROJECT, BUT I DO AGREE 
BECAUSE I -- THE E-MAILS I'VE BEEN SENDING OUT TODAY AND 
LAST NIGHT WERE JUST THAT.
WE HAD TWO SEPARATE INITIATIVES.
I SUPPORT THEM BOTH, AND I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO BRING 
THEM BOTH DOWN, AND OUR -- INTO A NICE, SAFE LANDING, WHICH 
IS WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT ELAPP.
WE CAN ALSO DO AS WELL WHAT THE VOTER WILL WAS WITH REGARD 
TO MILLAGE RATE, AND SO I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER NORMAN 
AND COMMISSIONER FERLITA FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THAT'S ESSENTIAL FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND 
THAT WE WERE NOT TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE PROCESS AND 
SUPPORT BOTH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND I JUST KIND OF WANT TO ECHO THOSE SAME SENTIMENTS.
THAT'S WHY AS WE DISCUSSED DURING OUR LAST BUDGET MEETING 
IT'S SO IMPORTANT -- AND I THINK MR. JOHNSON WAS GOING TO 
BE COMING BACK, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL GET INTO THIS 
TOMORROW OR NOT, BUT JUST REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT ARE OUR 
FUNDING OPTIONS SO WE CAN TAKE EVERYTHING INTO 
CONSIDERATION, AND I'M NOT -- I DON'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES, 
I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO FEES, BUT WITH THESE PROGRAMS IN 
PLACE, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE, AND WE NEED TO 
FIRST GO -- START -- AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, 
OBVIOUSLY GET AS LEAN AND MEAN AS WE CAN AS A GOVERNMENT 
AND CUT WHERE WE NEED APPROPRIATELY, BUT REALLY AT THE END 
OF THE DAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HOLE TO FILL AND WE NEED 
TO KNOW WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE.
SO AGAIN, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE JUST SEE WHAT 
ALL THE OTHER OPTIONS TO FILL THESE GAPS ARE, AND THEN AS 
THE BOARD WE'LL MAKE THE APPROPRIATE DECISION ON HOW TO DO 
THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SO MS. BEAN, I KNOW THAT YOU HAD PASSED OUT 
AN AGENDA FOR TOMORROW'S WORKSHOP, BUT WE'LL DEVIATE FROM 
THAT.
THE FIRST TWO ITEMS WILL BE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND THE 
ELAPP ISSUE.
OKAY.
ANY OTHER BOARD COMMENTS, FUTURE ISSUES?
OKAY.
WITH THAT, WE'RE ADJOURNED.
>>PAT BEAN:  WE'RE DONE.


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