CAPTIONING JULY 14, 2010 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 BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE A 1:45 TIME CERTAIN. >>MIKE MERRILL: YES, WE DO. ITEM F-8, WHICH WAS BROUGHT BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE, A PRESENTATION BY 11 GOOD ENERGY DESCRIBING UNIQUE BIOFUEL PRODUCT. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GOING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS REAL BRIEF, BUT MY OFFICE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH MR. MATTHEWS AND 11 GOOD ENERGY, AND THEY WERE PROVIDING SOME INFORMATION SOMEWHAT RELATED TO WHAT, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER FERLITA HAS COME TO US -- TO THE BOARD WITH AT TIMES TALKING ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN INCREASE THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR VEHICLES, PERHAPS UTILIZE A BIOFUEL PRODUCT WHICH COULD -- COULD BE A COST SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY AND POTENTIALLY -- I KNOW HART'S HERE AS WELL -- POTENTIALLY A COST SAVINGS TO HART. MY ONLY REQUEST IS THAT THE BOARD LISTEN TO A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION, AND THEN I THINK AT THE END YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A REQUEST OF SOME SORT REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF DOING A TEST, AND THAT WOULD BE -- NOT PUT THE BOARD UNDER ANY OBLIGATION OF ANY SORT AND ALSO OBVIOUSLY IF WE WERE TO EVER GO FORWARD WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AT THE COUNTY WHICH WOULD GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION, THEN WE'LL ASK SOME QUESTIONS. >> OKAY. MY NAME'S TED MATTHEWS, AND I REPRESENT A COMPANY CALLED 11 GOOD ENERGY. WE PRODUCE A BIOFUEL, AN ETHANOL- AND SOY-BASED FUEL. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY EASIEST IF I SHOW THIS OPENING VIDEO. IT'S ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MINUTES LONG. [VIDEO SHOWN] >> 11 GOOD ENERGY, INCORPORATED, BASED OUT OF CANTON, OHIO, MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE, CLEAN SOY-BASED FORM OF BIODIESEL FUEL CALLED G2 DIESEL. UNLIKE TRADITIONAL BIODIESEL, G2 DIESEL IS COMPOSED OF 99% ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS. >> MY NAME IS CHARLES ODIMGBE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR CHATHAM AREA TRANSIT IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. MY QUESTION WAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF PRODUCT DO YOU HAVE IN THE MARKET THAT'S GOING HELP US ACHIEVE NOT ONLY FUEL EFFICIENCY BUT HELP US WITH OUR COMPANY MISSION? >> I'M DAVID FLANDERS, THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE WITH CHATHAM AREA TRANSIT IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. WHEN MR. ODIMGBE FIRST CAME TO ME AND TOLD ME ABOUT USING THE G2, I WAS -- OF COURSE, I WAS SKEPTICAL ABOUT IT. >> WHEN WE TESTED THE G2 DIESEL BLEND, THE RESULTS ACTUALLY BLEW OUR MINDS. WE WERE VERY SURPRISED AT WHAT CAME ABOUT. WE DIDN'T ONLY INCREASE FUEL EFFICIENCIES, WE ALSO -- THE BUSES ALSO HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE HORSEPOWER THAN THEY DID. >> I WENT THROUGH, I PICKED FIVE BUSES THAT ACTUALLY HAD SOME OF THE -- HAD A LOT OF MILES ON THEM. THEY WERE RUNNING AROUND 400,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLES, ON THE ENGINES. ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY HAD REALLY POOR FUEL ECONOMY. IT WAS GETTING LESS THAN FOUR MILES PER GALLON. I PICKED THOSE TO KIND OF MAKE IT A TOUGH TEST. >> DURING THE TEST PERIOD WE EXPERIENCED BETWEEN -- I THINK IT WAS BETWEEN 20% AND 27% BETTER FUEL EFFICIENCIES, AND THIS IS [INCOMPREHENSIBLE] IN THE INDUSTRY. >> ONE OF THE DRIVERS I BELIEVE MADE A COMMENT ABOUT SHE COULD TELL THERE WAS MORE POWER SAVINGS. I THINK I HAD DRIVEN ONE OF THEM, AND IT RAN MORE EFFICIENT. IT WAS LIKE HAVING MORE POWER AND PICKUP. >> A TYPICAL TRANSIT BUS IS POWERED BY A LARGE DIESEL ENGINE. IN THIS CASE, THE ENGINE IS AN IN-LINE SIX CYLINDER FOUR- STROKE [INCOMPREHENSIBLE] CELL. G2 DIESEL WILL CAUSE A MORE COMPLETE AND SMOOTHER COMBUSTION IN THE ENGINE CYLINDER. CARBON DEPOSITS CAN BE REDUCED OR COMPLETELY ELIMINATED DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF G2 DIESEL THAT IS USED. SMOOTHER AND MORE COMPLETE COMBUSTION ALSO MEANS THAT ENGINE NOISE, COMMON KNOCKING, AND ENGINE STRESS ARE REDUCED. >> WHEN I CAME TO SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, OR CHATHAM COUNTY, I STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT KIND OF EFFICIENCIES CAN I DO WITHIN THE SYSTEM TO REDUCE COSTS, AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT COME TO MIND IS, YOU KNOW, USE OF DIESEL FUEL. COULD WE POTENTIALLY HAVE THE SAME SERVICE ON THE STREET OR REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WE USE TO BURN? SO FOR ME, I'M ACHIEVING TWO GOALS. ONE I'M BEING A PART OF HELPING THE COUNTY BECOME THE GREENEST COUNTY IN GEORGIA, BUT ALSO I'M POSITIVELY RESPONDING TO THE FINANCIAL FISCAL CHALLENGES ABOUT FINDING WAYS TO REDUCE MY COSTS. EVERYBODY'S UNDER THIS IMPRESSION YOU GOT TO DO MORE WITH LESS, AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO MORE WITH LESS THAN TO USE PRODUCTS THAT WILL HELP YOU MAXIMIZE WHATEVER EFFICIENCIES YOU CURRENTLY HAVE. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS WHAT WE DISCOVERED WAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE A 5% BLEND. YOU WANT THE PRODUCT TO SLOWLY CLEAN YOUR SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, THEREBY EXTENDING THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE, EXTENDING THE LIFE OF YOUR FUEL LINES, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. >> ADDITION OF G2 DIESEL WILL IMMEDIATELY START TO BREAK DOWN AND REMOVAL OF SLUDGE DEPOSITS FORMED IN THE FUEL TANK BY THE USE OF NUMBER 2 DIESEL FUEL. A GRADUAL BLENDING PROCESS WILL ALLOW THE IMPURITIES TO BE SAFELY DISSOLVED AND REMOVED WITHOUT HAMPERING ENGINE PERFORMANCE OR CREATING DOWN TIME. >> THEY WERE AVERAGING ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT 3.5 TO 4.5 MILES PER GALLON. AFTER RUNNING IT IN THEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH, THE MILEAGE HAD INCREASED FROM -- I THINK THE LEAST ONE WAS ABOUT 4.5 UP TO SOME GETTING CLOSE TO, WHAT, 5.86, SOMETHING, 5.85 MILES PER GALLON, A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE. >> ONE OF THE SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT THE G2 DIESEL BLEND IS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING. >> WE MADE NO ADJUSTMENT TO THE BUS. WE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO THE BUS. WE MIXED THE FUEL BACK IN THE BACK AND THEN JUST DISPENSED IT DIRECTLY INTO THE FUEL TANKS. >> THEY FUEL THE BUSES THE SAME. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANY SPECIAL BLENDING BEFORE THEY FUEL. THEY JUST PUT THE G2 DIESEL BLEND AND THE DIESEL JUST THE WAY THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE IT. WE DID OBSERVE THAT THE BUSES WITH THE G2 DIESEL BLEND HAVE SUBSTANTIAL LESS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. WHEN THEY PULL OUT OF THE GARAGE IN THE MORNING, THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO BLACK SMOKE THAT PLUMES OUT OF THE EXHAUST WHEN COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE BUSES THAT HAVE JUST REGULAR DIESEL. >> THE SIGNIFICANT PARTICULATE REDUCTION IN EXHAUST WILL LEAVE LESS CARBON BUILDUP THROUGHOUT THE EMISSION SYSTEM. THE MORE G2 ADDED, THE LOWER THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE, THE LESS CARBON MONOXIDE, NITROUS OXIDE, AND SULFUR DIOXIDE EMITTED OUT THE EXHAUST. THE G2 COST SAVINGS CAN HELP KEEP JOBS, MAINTAIN LINES AND OPERATION, AND PROLONG THE ENGINE LIFE. G2 REQUIRES NO RETROFIT AND SIMPLY DOES NOT NEED ANY OPERATIONAL CHANGES TO IMPLEMENT AND BECOME EFFECTIVE. >> SOMEBODY IN TRANSIT USES APPROXIMATELY AROUND 665,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL ANNUALLY. WHAT THIS MEANS IS BASED ON THE RESULTS OF OUR TESTING, WE ARE LOOKING AT IMPROVING OUR MILEAGE AND USING APPROXIMATELY 130,000 GALLONS LESS DIESEL FUEL TO RUN OUR SYSTEM. WHEN YOU PROJECT THIS OUT, YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN SAVINGS OVERALL. THESE NUMBERS ARE VERY EXCITING, AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO ACTUALIZING THESE NUMBERS IN COST SAVINGS OVER TIME. [END OF VIDEO] >> SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. I'VE GOT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, BUT IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS REALLY THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID IN THAT VIDEO. BE HAPPY TO GO OVER THAT, BUT PROBABLY THE EASIEST WAY IS IF YOU HAVE DIRECT QUESTIONS RELATED TO IT, I COULD ADDRESS THAT NOW. >>MARK SHARPE: WELL, WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK FIRST WAS JUST THAT IT -- IF STAFF COULD COMMENT ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD. I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MEETINGS, I BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN MEETINGS WITH FLEET MANAGEMENT, IS THAT ACCURATE? >>MIKE MERRILL: THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM FLEET. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY MET DIRECTLY WITH THESE FOLKS. >> WE HAVE. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH -- ERIC, YOUR AIDE, HELPED SET UP A FLEET MEETING FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE ALSO MET WITH SHARON SUBADAN IN CHARGE OF THE FLEET VEHICLES. >>MARK SHARPE: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD THINK IS I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- HOW MUCH FUEL WE CONSUME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ACTUALLY -- WE HAVE UNDER OUR CONTROL, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE A PILOT TEST OF SOME SORT TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS -- ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S NO COST, I WOULD THINK. I ALSO -- I KNOW HART'S HERE -- WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, EXTEND I GUESS AN OLIVE BRANCH OUT TO HART AND TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHERS AND SEE IF OUR COUNTY CAN'T -- IF WE SEE GOOD RESULTS -- AT LEAST SHARE THAT INFORMATION. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL THE CITIZENS. IT'S 11 -- THE NUMBER 11-- GOODENERGY.COM. IT'S AVAILABLE ON-LINE, BUT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, MIKE, HAVE YOU MET WITH THEM OR IS THIS SOMETHING WE COULD DO? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE TRY TO DO A PILOT DEMONSTRATION OF SOME SORT? >>MIKE MERRILL: I HAVE NOT MET WITH THEM DIRECTLY. I KNOW THAT SHARON SUBADAN HAS MET WITH THEM. I KNOW THAT SHE'S ASKED THEM A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, ASKED FOR INFORMATION FROM THEM. I GUESS MY -- MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OPEN TO ANY IDEAS THAT WILL HELP US SAVE MONEY AND OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY. WE DO ALL, THOUGH, HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ENSURING THAT OUR EQUIPMENT ISN'T BE DAMAGED, THAT OUR WARRANTIES AREN'T VOIDED, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY CAN PRODUCE FOR US CERTAIN PERFORMANCE BONDS AND INDEMNITIES IN CASE ANY OF THAT DOES HAPPEN. IT'S A LOT OF DETAILS THAT YOU DON'T NORMALLY THINK ABOUT ABOUT A PILOT PROGRAM WHEN SOMEONE SAYS WE'LL DO IT FOR FREE. WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ASSETS TO PROTECT. >>MARK SHARPE: RIGHT. >>MIKE MERRILL: WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVE OBJECTIVELY AND SCIENTIFICALLY THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO PROVIDE AN ADVANTAGE, BUT SUBJECT TO THAT, WE'RE OPEN TO ANYTHING. >>MARK SHARPE: CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? >> ABSOLUTELY. MOST OF THE EMD, CUMMINS ENGINES, THEIR WARRANTIES -- AND THEY'RE COMPLETELY -- WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH AN ENDORSEMENT WITH ALL THOSE MAJOR COMPANIES, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR 100%. I MEAN, IDEALLY, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE 100% GOING IN ALL THE ENGINES, BUT AS A 5% BLEND, ALL THE MANUFACTURERS ARE OKAY WITH THAT. WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT YOU DON'T USE IT ON THE NEWER VEHICLES. WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE OLDEST VEHICLES THAT YOU HAVE AND USE 2%, 3%, 5% BLEND ON THOSE. THE WARRANTY IS NOT GOING TO BE IN EFFECT FOR THOSE, AND FROM THE TESTIMONIALS, WHETHER IT'S THE TRANSIT SYSTEMS, THE FERRY SYSTEMS, THE OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS THAT ARE USING IT IN OHIO, WE'VE ALL GOTTEN EXTREMELY POSITIVE FEEDBACK, AND THE FUEL IS TEN TIMES BETTER THAN THE CURRENT FUEL THAT'S BEING USED IN YOUR MACHINES, SO WITH A SMALL PILOT PROGRAM, I'D LIKE TO TRY OUT A PILOT PROGRAM ON ALL THE DIFFERENT, WHETHER IT'S THE FLEET, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND HART, BUT IT JUST TAKES ONE TO PULL THE TRIGGER, AND WE CAN EASILY SHOW THE RESULTS THROUGH DYNAMETERS. IT WILL ACTUALLY SHOW THROUGH THE FUEL PUMP HOW MUCH FUEL IS BEING USED AND THROUGH FEEDBACK FROM THE DRIVERS SHOW THE INCREASE IN MILES PER GALLON AND ALL THE OTHER ADDED BONUSES WITH THAT, AND THE OTHER BIG MAJOR PLUS OF THIS IS THE MAINTENANCE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE LESS CARBON BUILDUP, YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LESS MAINTENANCE, SO THAT'S AN INDIRECT COST SAVINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE ALSO. >>MARK SHARPE: WELL, I'M GOING TO LET THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS SPEAK. MY SENSE FROM WHAT I'VE JUST HEARD HERE, THE PRESENTATION YOU'VE MADE TO MY -- TO MY OFFICE, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN A SEVERE BUDGET CRUNCH AND LOOKING FOR ANY WAYS WHICH WE CAN ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCIES OF THE EQUIPMENT WE HAVE, SAVE MONEY ON OUR FUEL, WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST BE CONSIDERING EVERY AND ALL OPTION. I KNOW THE STANDARD REACTION TENDS TO BE FROM GOVERNMENT, NOPE, THAT WON'T HELP US, BUT I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER -- ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE SOME VERY GOOD REASONS WHY -- I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO SLOW, SO WE'LL HEAR FROM THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS FAR AS THE -- THE DIFFERENCES IF THIS ENDED UP WORKING OUT, THE COST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS AND THE STANDARD FUEL, WHAT'S USUALLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COST PER GALLON? >> SURE. WELL, DIESEL IS A COMMODITY, SO IT FLUCTUATES, BUT IT'S ANYWHERE FROM 5% TO 10% MORE PER GALLON, SO IT'S PRETTY INSIGNIFICANT RELATIVE TO THE OVERALL SAVINGS. >>KEVIN BECKNER: BUT THIS IS FOR THE SPECIAL BLEND IT'S ABOUT 5% TO 10% -- OR FIVE TO TEN CENTS MORE PER GALLON? >> PER GALLON, CORRECT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. AND THEN GETTING BACK TO MR. MERRILL'S POINT WHICH I THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT IS TO DISCUSS -- YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY EVEN IF WE LOOKED AT THE OLDER FLEET, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, YOU KNOW -- AND THIS IS -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF TESTS YOUR COMPANIES HAVE DONE AS FAR AS IF THERE'S BEEN ANY DAMAGE OR THINGS THAT THIS FUEL BLEND DOESN'T WORK -- >> NOT AS OF YET. >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OBVIOUSLY THAT WE DON'T -- YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT'S OUR OLDER FLEET THAT WE DON'T CAUSE, YOU KNOW, DAMAGE TO THAT, SO MAKE SURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE INSURANCE AND THE BONDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT -- >> SURE. YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE EXPRESSION TAKE BABY STEPS, YOU KNOW. AT 2% -- I PROMISE YOU WITH THE CURRENT FUEL YOU'RE USING RIGHT NOW IS FAR INSUPERIOR THAN WHAT WE HAVE, SO WITH THOSE FRACTIONAL AMOUNTS, AGAIN, YOU'RE -- THE WARRANTIES AREN'T COVERING THOSE OLDER VEHICLES, SO THERE'S REALLY NOT A MAJOR RISK AT THAT LOW PERCENT. THE IDEAL RANGE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 AND 15, SO WITH 5%, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE RESULTS WITHIN FOUR WEEKS. >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. AND THEN AS FAR AS THE -- I HEARD YOU MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT IT WAS FREE, SO I WASN'T UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE OFFER WAS [INAUDIBLE] >> WE JUST WANT YOU TO TRY IT OUT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE THINK ONCE YOU SEE THE RESULTS, IT'S GOING TO SPEAK FOR ITSELF. SO OUR PILOT PROGRAMS ARE ALL FREE TO WHETHER IT'S THE TUGBOAT OPERATORS OR THE SCHOOL BUS SYSTEMS OR TRANSIT. WE'VE ALL PROVIDED THOSE PILOT PROGRAMS FREE OF CHARGE, SO, YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS WE GET THE RESULTS AND ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE YOU TRY IT, THEN, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO DO A BILL OF SALE AND ORDER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: BUT IN OTHER WORDS, ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF WE TRY IT THAT, I MEAN, YOU GIVE US "X" AMOUNT OF GALLONS THAT GOES INTO THE FLEET? I MEAN, HOW DOES IT WORK? >> WE'LL GIVE YOU AS MUCH AS YOU WANT FOR FREE, I MEAN, INITIALLY TO TRY IT OUT. THE IDEAL WOULD MAYBE BE LIKE A COUPLE BUSES, SOME OF YOUR OLDER FLEET, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TRY IT OUT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS. BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE VERY LONG TO SEE THE RESULTS. >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I THINK ERNIE HUTMAN -- YOU'RE HERE. OKAY. IN CASE I NEED YOU, BAIL ME OUT HERE, BUT I -- I'VE GOT SOME CONCERNS, AND THIS PUTS ME IN A LITTLE BIT OF A -- OF A PREDICAMENT, AND I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER SHARPE REFERENCED OUR ENERGY INITIATIVES, AND CERTAINLY, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ELECTRIC CARS AND BIOFUEL, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. THIS GENTLEMAN AND THE REST OF HIS COMPANY OR REPRESENTATIVES OF HIS COMPANY I BELIEVE MET WITH ME IN MY OFFICE, AND I CERTAINLY THOUGHT THAT IF WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION, I WANTED TO BRING IN AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THE EXPERT OF EXPERTS, SO I INVITED SHARON SUBADAN TO COME AND ATTEND. SHE NOT ONLY ATTENDED, SHE WAS A VERY ACTIVE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. AND I GUESS, MARK, AFTER THAT THEY WENT DOWN TO TALK TO YOU. OBVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND DON'T WANT THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE AN OPEN MEETING TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES. I WISH WE HAD BEEN AFFORDED THAT OPPORTUNITY IN SOME WAY, FORM, OR FASHION SO I WOULDN'T BE SAYING WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY AND IT SOUND LIKE I'M BEING NEGATIVE TO A SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE INITIATIVE THAT I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF, ALWAYS, BUT FIRST OF ALL, ON A COVER SHEET HERE I GOT THIS AND IT SAID, COMMISSIONER FERLITA, PLEASE SEE ATTACHED. ERNIE HUTMAN, FLEET OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MANAGER AND DEBBIE -- I GUESS IT'S JUST YOU HERE TODAY; RIGHT? >> [INAUDIBLE] >>ROSE FERLITA: OH, DEBBIE IS HERE AS WELL. OKAY. -- FISCAL SYSTEMS AND QA MANAGER WILL BOTH IN BE AT THE MEETING IN MY ABSENCE SHOULD THERE BE QUESTIONS FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT. AS DISCUSSED, WHILE WE EMBRACE NEW TECHNOLOGY AND ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, WE DO SO IN AN OPERATIONALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER AND WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN MIND. AGAIN, SHE'S NOT HERE. OTHERWISE, CERTAINLY SHE WOULD BE FRONT AND CENTER AND WOULD EXPLAIN THIS MUCH BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT IN HER ABSENCE, I WANT TO PUT THIS ON THE RECORD. I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THIS. TED AND I MET, AND I SAID CERTAINLY WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS. THIS FITS THE -- THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF OUR ENERGY GROUP. WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING FROM SHARON, AND THIS IS WHAT CAME OUT OF OUR DISCUSSION, AND I REALLY, REALLY FEEL THAT WITHOUT THIS BEING PRESENTED, WE ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE TO - - TO TAKE AN ACCURATE LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON. IN TERMS OF BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES -- AND I'M SORRY THIS IS GOING TO BE A PAGE AND A HALF, BUT IT'S VERY KEY. SEVERAL COMPANIES PRESENT NEW AND EMERGING PRODUCTS TO HC - - HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FLEET ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH CLAIMS OF REDUCED MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY AND OTHER SUPPOSED BENEFITS. IN ORDER TO SEPARATE THE PROVEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED FROM THE UNPROVEN PROTOTYPE PRODUCTS, COMPANIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBSTANTIATE THEIR CLAIMS BY PROVIDING QUANTIFIABLE SUPPORT DATA, INDEPENDENT LAB TESTING RESULTS, REAL-LIFE EXPERIMENTAL DATA IN SIMILAR LARGE AND DIVERSE FLEETS. WITH APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION, HC FLEET HAS IN THE PAST PILOTED NEW TECHNOLOGY AND IMPLEMENTED COST-SAVING MEASURES. IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH DATA, THE COUNTY'S RISK EXPOSURE TO EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCT IS SIGNIFICANT. EXCLUSIVELY PILOTING ONE PRODUCT FROM ONE VENDOR COULD PROVIDE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE SHOULD WE DECIDE TO BID THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE AT A LATER DATE. UNDER THE HEADING OF OPERATIONAL PRACTICAL CONCERNS, 11 GOOD ENERGY PRESENTS THEIR PRODUCT AS A BIOFUEL WHEN IT IS, IN FACT, USED AS A DIESEL ADDITIVE. THEY RECOMMEND A 5% BLEND ADDED TO A NUMBER 2 DIESEL. COST IS ABOUT $4.30 PER GALLON, 21 CENTS PER GALLON ADDED FUEL COST AT A 5% BLEND. RECENT TESTING WITH CHATHAM AREA TRANSIT, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, ON FIVE BUSES SHOWED MIXED RESULTS, BETTER FUEL ECONOMY ON OLDER ENGINES, WORSE ON NEW HYBRIDS AFTER 30 DAYS. DATA IS INSUFFICIENT TO MAKE A LONG-TERM DETERMINATION. REDUCTION IN MAINTENANCE COSTS ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. 2006 TESTING ON A 1962 MODEL LOCOMOTIVE TRAIN IS NOT COMPARABLE TO ON-ROAD FLEET OPERATIONS. REDUCTIONS IN SULFUR DESCRIBED IN THEIR 2006 TEST COINCIDED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF ULTRA LOW SULFUR DIESEL MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH REDUCED SULFUR FROM 500 PARTS PER MILLION TO 15 PARTS PER MILLION IN DIESEL FUEL. THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED DATA TO DEMONSTRATE A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESSFULLY BLENDING THEIR PRODUCT IN BULK. THEY PROVIDED NO ASSURANCES THAT THEIR PRODUCT WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER OEM COMPLIANT AND SUPPORTED BY THE OEMs. THEY PROVIDED NO ASSURANCE THAT THEIR PRODUCT ONCE BLENDED WOULD MEET ASTM STANDARDS FOR DIESEL FUEL. THESE ARE THE RISKS. LONG-TERM ENGINE PERFORMANCE WITH ON-ROAD VEHICLES IS UNKNOWN. SHOULD THERE BE DAMAGE OR UNDERPERFORMANCE OF VEHICLES, THE RISK WOULD BE TO THE COUNTY, BOTH IN OPERATION AND IN COST TO CORRECT ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE USE OF THIS FUEL ADDITIVE. SHOULD THERE BE DIMINISHED OPERATIONAL CAPACITY IN AMBULANCES, FIRE RESCUE PUMPERS, LADDERS, SOLID WASTE REFUSE VEHICLES, AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT, THIS WOULD RESULT IN A NEGATIVE IMPACT TO THE DELIVERY OF COUNTY SERVICES. INTRODUCTION OF THIS ADDITIVE TO OUR DIESEL FUEL SUPPLY COULD RESULT IN A NEGATIVE IMPACT TO OUR FLEET AND OUR FUELING INFRASTRUCTURE. TESTING WITH A TOTE AND PUMP MAY BE AN ALTERNATIVE BUT IS SOMEWHAT CUMBERSOME SINCE OUR VEHICLES ARE NOT DOMICILED -- THAT MEANS PARKED -- IN ONE PLACE AND WOULD REQUIRE LABOR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE PROPER MIX OF ADDITIVE, MONITORING AND CONTROLLING FUEL ISSUES AND INVENTORY, AND RUNNING REPORT TO MONITOR RESULTS. RECOMMENDATIONS PER SHARON WOULD BE THIS: PROVIDE QUANTIFIABLE OPERATIONAL DATA ON SIMILAR FLEET TYPE ON-ROAD VEHICLES FOR REVIEW BY FLEET MANAGEMENT AND HART; TEST DATA THAT IS SIGNIFICANT, SPANS A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME AND MILES TRAVELED; DATA THAT CAN BE VERIFIED; PROVIDE INDEPENDENT LAB TESTING TO SUPPORT COMPLIANCE WITH ASTM STANDARDS, BTU RATINGS, ENERGY CONTENT, ET CETERA; PROVIDE OEM SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION TO CONFIRM THAT USE OF THE PRODUCT WILL NOT VOID WARRANTIES OR DIMINISH -- AND/OR DIMINISH ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND THAT THE PRODUCT IS COMPATIBLE WITH 2007 AND 2010 DIESEL ENGINE EMISSION STANDARDS; PROVIDE A FUELING SOURCE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CAN BE USED FOR TESTING; VERY IMPORTANTLY, PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIABILITY INSURANCE THAT WOULD PROTECT THE COUNTY IN THE EVENT OF A FUEL-RELATED FAILURE; BE PREPARED TO PARTICIPATE IN A BID PROCESS SHOULD THE COUNTY DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD A DIESEL FUEL ADDITIVE PROGRAM. SO, GENTLEMEN, I GUESS THAT SAYS IT BETTER THAN I COULD SAY IT. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LEAD THIS -- THIS DISCUSSION, AND OF COURSE, SHARON SUBADAN, BASED ON THE CREDENTIALS AND BASED ON HER AWARDS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL IN FLEET MAGAZINES, KNOWS WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT. SHE WAS -- SHE WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING TO THE GENTLEMEN WHEN THEY CAME IN, BUT SHE'S ASKED FOR CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE. I -- I AM CERTAINLY -- AGAIN, LET ME SAY, I'M NOT BEING ADVERSARIAL, I'M NOT BEING THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, BUT I AM SAYING TO YOU THAT, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE SHARON IS NOT HERE, AND THESE ARE COMMENTS THAT SHE KNOWS AND SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S BEEN PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I DON'T DISREGARD THE ENERGY AND THE ENTHUSIASM OF THIS YOUNG MAN AND THE REST THAT WERE WITH HIM. IT'S A GOOD IDEA, IT'S A GOOD CONCEPT, BUT I THINK THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE PROVIDED THAT WERE NOT, AND AT THE END AND THE CONCLUSION OF OUR DISCUSSION, I THINK SHE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IF YOU COME BACK WITH THOSE ASSURANCES FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SHE AS THAT DEPARTMENT HEAD WOULD BE COMFORTABLE IN GOING FORWARD IN WHATEVER PROCESS THAT THIS STAFF AND THIS BOARD AND OUR ATTORNEY AND OUR ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMEND, BUT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WHETHER THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES ON OLD VEHICLES VERSUS NEW ONES, STILL THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF SUFFICIENT LIABILITY INSURANCE THAT WOULD PROTECT US EVEN IN THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE OLD VEHICLES. THAT BEING SAID, IF THIS GOES FORWARD TODAY, I WON'T SUPPORT -- SUPPORT IT, AND OBVIOUSLY MY REASONS HAVE BEEN STATED ON THE RECORD. WHAT I MIGHT RECOMMEND IN TERMS OF SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE A MODIFICATION OF GOING FORWARD WITH THIS IS TO PERHAPS TABLE IT UNTIL SHARON SUBADAN COMES IN AND HAVE HER HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A DEBATE. I'M CONCERNED THAT THEY'RE NOT PREPARED TO GO FORWARD. I'M EXCITED ABOUT ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO HELP US WITH BIOFUEL ISSUES AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY THINGS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S THERE YET, AND I THINK WE'RE SETTING A PRECEDENT IF WE EVEN DO THIS, "A," BECAUSE OF THE WARNINGS THAT SHE HAS GIVEN US, AND "B," BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IT'S A FAIR PRACTICE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT NOT -- MIGHT SQUAWK ABOUT. BASED ON SHARON, SHE HAS HAD OTHER VENDORS WHO HAVE ASKED FOR THE VERY SAME THING, AND BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T PROVEN THEIR CREDENTIALS AND THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN HER SOME OF THE ASSURANCES, SHE HAS SAID NO. I TRUST HER IMMENSELY, I RESPECT HER PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, AND I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE GOING ANY -- ANY FURTHER THAN THIS OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT IF THIS GOES FORWARD TODAY EVEN TO REVIEW, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT, AND ERNIE, I'M SORRY THAT I TOOK THE LEAD HERE, BUT, I MEAN, SHE -- THAT'S PROBABLY THE MEETING AT WHICH FERLITA SAID THE LEAST EVER BECAUSE, BOY, SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND SO YOU'VE GOT TO FOLLOW THE LEADER WHEN THEY HAVE THE AREA OF EXPERTISE WHEN YOU DON'T. AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DEROGATORY TO YOU OR DIMINISH WHAT YOU'RE COMING FORWARD WITH, AND MARK, BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU I'M NOT BEING -- I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ADVERSARIAL TO WHAT YOU PRESENT, BUT SHARON'S THE EXPERT, AND I KIND OF WANT THE EXPERT'S STAMP OF APPROVAL SO THAT WE -- WE, "A," GET OUT OF -- STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, AND "B," GET INTO SOME OPERATIONAL BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES BASED ON WHAT SUBADAN'S RECOMMENDATION IS, AND I DON'T KNOW, SIR, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO COMMENT ABOUT. >> I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. COMMISSIONER SHARPE, DID YOU HAVE A MOTION YOU WANT TO MAKE OR -- >>MARK SHARPE: WELL, LET ME ASK ONE -- A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS. A LOT OF POINTS WERE BROUGHT OUT. I THINK YOU ADDRESSED A COUPLE ISSUES, WARRANTIES AND STUFF. THE OEM COMPLIANT, ASTM STANDARDS. I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE. DO YOU HAVE ANY RESPONSE? >> SURE. THAT'S A FUEL STANDARD, AND IN ALL DUE RESPECT, SHARON WAS VERY OPEN TO US GIVING OUR INITIAL CONVERSATION, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES IN THAT CONVERSATION WHERE SHE KIND OF TOOK THE HELM AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GO ON A BACK-TO-BACK CONVERSATION. I WOULD LOVE TO ADDRESS ALL THOSE POINTS. I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT THE COUNTY TO BE IN JEOPARDY OR FOR THAT MATTER DO ANYTHING THEY WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH. AS FAR AS PROVIDING DATA, THERE IS VERY SPECIFIC DATA THAT SHE ASKED FOR, AND WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE. >>MARK SHARPE: WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER FERLITA THAT WITHOUT MS. SUBADAN HERE, I WOULDN'T BE COMFORTABLE GOING FORWARD WITH THE MOTION DIRECTING THEM TO ENGAGE IN A PILOT TEST, BUT WHAT I AM COMFORTABLE IS DIRECTING STAFF IN A MOTION TO MEET WITH YOU AGAIN AND BEGIN TO LAY OUT, DETERMINED UPON THE CONCERNS THAT MS. SUBADAN HAS EXPRESSED, A -- A PATHWAY WHERE YOU CAN RESPOND TO HER CONCERNS, THERE CAN BE A CONVERSATION AGAIN BETWEEN YOU AND STAFF, AND THEN PERHAPS STAFF CAN COME BACK WITH A MECHANISM THAT WE CAN -- THAT WE CAN USE WHICH IS GOOD FOR BOTH 11 GOOD ENERGY AND ANY OTHER GROUP THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED. I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A FLEET TO MANAGE, YOU'RE NOT HERE, YOU KNOW, RUNNING, YOU KNOW, EXPERIMENTS DAY AND NIGHT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF THERE ARE -- IF THERE ARE BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES OUT THERE -- AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT'S KIND OF FRUSTRATED ME ABOUT OPERATIONS IN GENERAL. YOU KNOW, WE OPERATE IN OUR LITTLE COCOON. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS WHILE BUSINESSES ARE OUT THERE ARE GRAPPLING, LOOKING AT EVERY OPTION AVAILABLE TO GIVE THEM A COMPETITIVE EDGE TO BE SHARPER AND MORE EFFICIENT. GOVERNMENT DOESN'T REALLY -- WE KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. WE'VE GOT ALL THESE RULES, BLANKETS OF RULES THAT PROTECT US FROM INNOVATION, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US IN A SAFE FASHION THAT PROTECTS THE COUNTY, ADDRESSES ALL THE CONCERNS THAT COMMISSIONER FERLITA'S HAD, GIVES MS. SUBADAN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE EACH OF THE POINTS, HER POINT, YOUR RESPONSE BACK TO BACK -- AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN COME TO SOME SORT OF UNDERSTANDING THROUGH THESE POINTS -- I'M GOING TO BE PREPARED, NOT TODAY BUT IN THE FUTURE TO ASK THAT WE MOVE FORWARD, AND HOPEFULLY SHE'LL BE SAYING AND FLEET MANAGEMENT WILL BE SAYING THEY WANT TO DO IT AS WELL. >> YEAH. I GUESS I'M -- >>KEN HAGAN: SIR, HOLD ON. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYMORE DIALOGUE. WE NEED TO GET MOVING ON THIS ISSUE. >>MARK SHARPE: SO I'M GOING TO DIRECT -- I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT STAFF THAT THEY SIT DOWN WITH 11 GOOD ENERGY AND FLEET MANAGEMENT AND WORK THROUGH THE CONCERNS THAT COMMISSIONER FERLITA POINT BY POINT BROUGHT FORWARD AND THEN SEE IF WE CAN COME BACK AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, AND ALSO PERHAPS TAKE IT TO MS. FERLITA'S ENERGY COMMITTEE AS WELL. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN HAVE IT COME BACK IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WITH A PLAN OF GOING FORWARD, OR MIKE, IF YOU AND STAFF HAVING GONE THROUGH EACH POINT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE NOT COMFORTABLE, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE DON'T, THEN COME BACK AND MAKE THAT MOTION TO THE BOARD AND I'LL BE PREPARED TO LISTEN AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO SUPPORT IT. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA -- >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. CHAIRMAN -- >>KEN HAGAN: -- THEN WE'RE GOING TO VOTE. >>ROSE FERLITA: -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT ON THAT MOTION. MR. SHARPE, IF THAT MEANS THAT -- WE DON'T WORK IN A COCOON, YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT WE CAN'T BE EVERYPLACE AND BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY, SO THAT'S WHY WE DEPEND ON THE DEPARTMENT HEADS IN EACH OF THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE TO BRING RECOMMENDATIONS. NOW, MS. SUBADAN GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND TELL HER THAT, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THEY WENT DOWN THE HALL AND ASKED YOU TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. SHE DIDN'T CLOSE THAT DOOR, AND I THINK THE APPROPRIATE PROTOCOL WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THEM TO ANSWER THOSE CONCERNS. THAT'S -- THAT'S HISTORY NOW. I WOULD SUPPORT YOUR MOTION IF IT ABSOLUTELY MEANS THAT MS. SUBADAN WOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT HER CONCERNS AGAIN AS THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR OF FLEET AND THAT THEY -- THEY ARE REQUESTED TO RESPOND TO HER, AND THEN CERTAINLY THE REST OF -- IN TERMS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, EVERYBODY'S WEIGH-IN IS IMPORTANT, BUT FOR ME THE NUMBER ONE WEIGH-IN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN TERMS OF ENERGY AND BIOFUELS IN TERMS OF OUR VEHICLES AND OUR FLEETS HAS TO BE WITH SHARON SUBADAN. >>MARK SHARPE: I WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH THAT. >>ROSE FERLITA: AND I DISAGREE WITH YOU, SIR. SHE DIDN'T -- SHE GAVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY. I DON'T BELIEVE YOU HAD THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU. HAD YOU MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH HER, CERTAINLY I THINK SHE SAID -- IN FACT, I KNOW SHE SAID -- >> YEAH, ON A REAL QUICK NOTE -- >>ROSE FERLITA: SHE SAID, COME BACK AND LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE THIS STUFF, BUT WE SKIPPED THAT STEP, SO NOW WE HAVE TO GO BACK FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT, SO IF THAT'S PART OF YOUR MOTION, MARK, THAT'S FINE. >>MARK SHARPE: THAT'S PART OF THE MOTION. >>ROSE FERLITA: AND BELIEVE ME, I'M NOT TRYING TO CRITICIZE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. >>MARK SHARPE: I THINK THAT'S GOOD. WE HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES. >>KEN HAGAN: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR ATTENDING. APPRECIATE IT. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. 2:00 TIME CERTAIN. >>MIKE MERRILL: YES, WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS, 2:00 TIME CERTAIN. FIRST IS D-1. THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY VALMARIE TURNER. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD AFTERNOON, VALMARIE. >>VALMARIE TURNER: GOOD AFTERNOON. VALMARIE TURNER, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR YEAR 2010-11 AND ALSO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE PROPERLY ADVERTISED THE ACTION PLAN BOTH IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AS WELL AS IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND ON THE WEB SITE. >>KEN HAGAN: THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SO MOVE. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>JIM NORMAN: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND COMMISSIONER NORMAN. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>VALMARIE TURNER: THANK YOU. >>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU, VAL. THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS D-2, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNUAL PLAN FOR THE COUNTY'S SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM. GIL MACHIN WILL PRESENT THIS. >>GIL MACHIN: GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S GIL MACHIN. I'M THE -- I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE THE MANAGER OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CONDUCT A HEARING ON THE 2001 ADMINISTRATIVE AND ANNUAL PLAN. WE'VE HAD IT OUT FOR VIEWING FOR 45 DAYS, WELL OVER THAT. WE HAD A NOTICE PUBLISHED APRIL 30th IN THE TAMPA TRIBUNE AND AGAIN JUNE 30th OF THE PLANS BEING AVAILABLE AT THE SECTION 8 OFFICE AND ALSO ABOUT THIS MEETING, AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING. FOLLOWING THAT WE'LL HAVE APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD FOR SUBMISSION TO HUD, WHICH IS REQUIRED 75 DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE PROGRAM YEAR, WHICH IS OCTOBER 1st. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, SIR. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: MR. MACHIN, REAL QUICKLY. OF COURSE, I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THAT ENTIRE PLAN, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF THERE'S A CAVEAT IN THERE THAT SAYS THAT -- I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY SECTION 8. ARE WE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY COLLABORATING SERVICES BETWEEN WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND TRYING TO WORK IN CONCERT TO -- TO TRY AND MAKE THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT EFFICIENT? >> OKAY. I'M GLAD YOU PROVIDED THAT ME THAT OPPORTUNITY. FIRST OF ALL, WE -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS PUBLIC HOUSING DESIGNATION JUST LIKE TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY. WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ESTABLISHED WITH TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY SO THAT WE CAN USE -- WELL, THEY CAN USE THEIR VOUCHERS IN THE COUNTY JURISDICTION AND WE CAN USE IT IN THE CITY JURISDICTION. THAT WAY IT INCREASES THE INVENTORY OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS FOR ALL CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. INCLUDED IN THAT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, WE ALSO PROVIDE A HEARING OFFICER FOR THEIR INFORMAL HEARINGS THEY CALL THEM -- IT'S USUALLY FOR TERMINATIONS -- AND THEY PROVIDE ONE TO US, SO THAT WAY IT'S A COMPLETELY UNBIASED ASSESSMENT. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM. WE GET ADMINISTRATIVE REFERRALS FROM THE OFFICE -- ALL YOUR OFFICES, AND IF IT'S NOT US, WE HAVE CLOSE COMMUNICATION AND CHECK TO SEE IF THEY'RE VERIFIED. WE HAVE A REAL GOOD PARTNERSHIP. WE WORK WITH THEM VERY WELL. THAT'S ABOUT IT. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU. I HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR MS. TURNER. WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NSP PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WORKING CONCERT NOW, I KNOW THE COUNTY IS NOT AND PROBABLY SHOULD NOT GET INTO THE RENTAL BUSINESS, BUT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR NONPROFITS TO WORK WITH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OFFICE AND WITH THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM THAT EVEN AFTER WE GET THESE HOMES, GET THEM REHABILITATED, IF THE NONPROFITS CANNOT SELL THEM, FOR WHATEVER REASON -- IF PEOPLE CAN'T QUALIFY OR WHATEVER, CAN WE JOIN FORCES WITH THEM AND -- WHEN WE'RE STILL THE OWNERS, WHILE THE HOMES ARE STILL SITTING THERE -- SINCE SECTION 8 HAS SUCH STRINGENT QUALIFICATIONS AS FAR AS THE MAINTENANCE AND THE UPKEEP AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE OF -- OF THE HOMES, IS THERE A WAY THAT IF WE HAVE SOME OF THESE LINGERING HOMES THAT ARE ON THE MARKET FOR QUITE SOMETIME DURING OUR ECONOMY, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM AND BE BRINGING SOME INCOME REVENUE STREAM BACK INTO THE COUNTY'S COFFERS DURING THIS DOWN PERIOD? >>VALMARIE TURNER: WELL, THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM ARE ACTUALLY NOT OWNED BY THE COUNTY, THEY'RE OWNED BY THE NONPROFIT. >>KEVIN WHITE: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. BUT CAN WE PARTNER -- >>VALMARIE TURNER: WELL, WE CAN PARTNER IN THE SENSE THAT THOSE HOMES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SECTION 8 TENANTS, BUT THE SECTION 8 VOUCHER IS TENANT-BASED AS OPPOSED TO PROJECT- BASED, SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE IF THE TENANTS DESIRE TO RENT THAT PARTICULAR HOME OR NOT, BUT CERTAINLY WE WOULD MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE ELIGIBLE CLIENTS. >>KEVIN WHITE: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. BUT JUST LIKE REVEREND DIXON WAS HERE THIS MORNING WITH THE COACH FOUNDATION, IF THAT HOUSE THAT HE JUST REHABBED DID NOT SELL IN A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME, IS THAT ALLOWABLE TO -- >>VALMARIE TURNER: RENTAL IS ALLOWABLE, YES. >>KEVIN WHITE: OKAY. >>VALMARIE TURNER: SORRY. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >>KEVIN WHITE: SO MOVE. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>VALMARIE TURNER: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. >>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONERS, YOUR NEXT ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING, D-3, WHICH IS THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE SHELL POINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. >>PETER ALUOTTO: PETER ALUOTTO, PLANNING AND GROWTH. THAT'S CORRECT, THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS ON SHELL POINT ROAD. PURPOSE IS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT AND TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT. THE AGREEMENT REQUIRES THE DEVELOPER TO ONLY TAKE CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS TO SATISFY CONCURRENCY AS OUTLINED IN THE AGREEMENT. IT RUNS TO THE YEAR 2020. THE APPLICANT AND STAFF ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >>KEN HAGAN: THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION -- >>KEVIN WHITE: [INAUDIBLE] >>ROSE FERLITA: SO MOVE. >>KEN HAGAN: -- COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND COMMISSIONER FERLITA. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. >>MIKE MERRILL: AND THAT CONCLUDES YOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. YOUR NEXT TIME CERTAIN WAS 2:15, ITEM B-4, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED BY PETER ALUOTTO ALSO, BUDGET AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE FUNDING FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL BUFFER TECHNICAL MANUAL. >>PETER ALUOTTO: CORRECT. THIS IS AN ITEM TO TRANSFER $150,000 FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION RESERVE FUND TO FUND A STUDY TO COMPLY WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICY 19.1 OF THE CONSERVATION AND AQUIFER RECHARGE ELEMENT. THE PURPOSE IS TO PRODUCE A TECHNICAL MANUAL REGARDING SETBACKS FROM BUFFERS. THE -- NEITHER THE EPC NOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STAFF, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE -- HAVE THE RESOURCE TO CARRY THIS OUT, SO THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO -- TO DO THE SAME. THE -- AS WE DISCUSSED THE LAST TIME, THE FUND IS ESTABLISHED BY, YOU KNOW, FEES AND PENALTIES AND COMPENSATION FOR PEOPLE WHO -- WHO REMOVE TREES ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THIS IS, BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK AGAIN SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS IT TIES IN TO OUR CONVERSATIONS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF NUTRIENTS SUCH AS NITROGEN INTO OUR WATERWAYS, AND THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS, AGAIN, IS THAT THIS WOULD WORK IN CONCERT WITH OTHER THINGS THAT WE WOULD DEVELOP AS FAR AS POLICYWISE. WE KNOW THE FINANCIAL IMPACT THIS COULD HAVE. WE DISCUSSED THAT BEFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON OUR WATERWAYS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND I THINK NOW WITH AVAILABILITY OF THE FUNDINGS FROM THIS FUND, I THINK IT'S AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO -- AGAIN THAT WE CAN WORK IN CONCERT WITH OUR OTHER FERTILIZER ORDINANCES AND THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TO REMOVE NITROGEN FROM OUR WATERWAYS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ACT ON TODAY, SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. >>KEN HAGAN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE MOTION? PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: THAT CONCLUDES YOUR TIME CERTAIN ITEMS. WE HAVE A TWO ITEMS REMAINING ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, AND THAT FIRST ITEM WOULD BE B-9, WHICH IS BROUGHT BY THE REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT, A CHANGE ORDER TO THE CONTRACT FOR THE ORIENT ROAD JAIL LIGHTING RETROFIT. RANDY KLINDWORTH IS HERE TO PRESENT IT. >>RANDY KLINDWORTH: GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD AFTERNOON. RANDY KLINDWORTH, REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT. WE -- WHEN THE BIDS WENT OUT -- WERE FIRST PUT TOGETHER FOR THE STIMULUS MONEY, THE PRICE OF THE PROJECT CAME UP A LITTLE HIGHER THAN WE THOUGHT, AND WHEN THE BIDS CAME IN, THEY CAME IN MUCH LOWER THAN EXPECTED, AND SO WE HAD SOME MONEY LEFT OVER. I HAD INITIALLY BUDGETED 700,000 FOR THE PROJECT AT ORIENT ROAD JAIL, AND WE -- THE BIDS CAME IN ABOUT 485,000, SO WHAT I DID ON THE FIRST PART OF THE PROJECT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I PUT IT OUT FOR BID, I TOOK ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING OUT OF IT, AND NOW THAT WE'VE GOT MONEY LEFT IN THERE, I WANT TO ADD THAT BACK IN, AND THAT COMES UP TO -- I THINK IT WAS A HUNDRED -- ABOUT 135,000 TO DO ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS. THEY'RE WALL PACK LIGHTS. RIGHT NOW THEY'RE VERY OLD, DISCOLORED LENSES. THIS PROJECT WILL REMOVE EACH LIGHT AND PUT A NEW LIGHT FIXTURE UP WITH A LOWER WATTAGE. WE'RE RUNNING 150-WATT METAL HALIDE COMBINATION AND SOME HIDs, AND THIS WILL PUT AN INDUCTIVE LIGHT AT 80 WATTS EACH, SO A TREMENDOUS ENERGY SAVINGS, REDUCTION IN KILOWATT HOURS, AND INCREASE THE LIGHT LEVEL AROUND THE JAIL ITSELF FOR THE DEPUTIES. VERY GOOD PROJECT AND A GOOD PAYBACK. >>KEN HAGAN: DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: MR. KLUTHO BEEN OUT TO LOOK AT THIS? >> NO, SIR, HE HASN'T. [LAUGHTER] AT LEAST NOT THAT I KNOW OF. [LAUGHTER] >>MARK SHARPE: YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM HIM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM -- >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: -- SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO JUMP TO B-12 AS LONG AS RANDY'S AT THE PODIUM. IT'S ANOTHER CHANGE ORDER RELATIVE TO THE PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM FOR THE COURTHOUSE. >>RANDY KLINDWORTH: AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS ONE HERE WE'D LIKE TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 25,000 WATTS OF SOLAR TO THE 419 PIERCE, WHICH I CALL THE MAIN COURTHOUSE ACROSS THE STREET. WHEN THE BID ORIGINALLY WENT OUT, WE JUST LOOKED AT THE TOP, THE THIRD FLOOR ROOF, AND IT CAME IN WITH THE LIGHTNING ARRESTERS AND JUST SOME WALKWAYS. WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO GET 171,000 WATTS ON TOP OF THE ROOF. WE ORIGINALLY TRIED TO GET 200,000, BUT REALISTICALLY WE CAN'T FIT THAT, AND NOW THE BID THAT CAME IN, IT CAME IN LOW ENOUGH. THERE'S EXTRA MONIES IN WITH THE GRANT YET, AND I WANT TO ADD ANOTHER 25,000 TO IT ON THE TWO LOWER ROOFS, AND THAT WILL PUT US UP TO A TOTAL OF 196,000 WATTS ON THAT BUILDING, AND WE'RE STILL UNDER BUDGET, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, AND WITH THE TOTAL OF ALL THE PROJECTS, LEAVING A LITTLE BIT OF CUSHION THERE, WE STILL HAVE $600,000 THAT I'M WORKING WITH OUR WATER RESOURCE DEPARTMENT ON THEIR TWO PROJECTS, BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING IN A LITTLE OVER BUDGET, SO WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT SOME MONEY OVER IN THEIR DIRECTION, BUT WE'D LIKE TO PUT THIS EXTRA WATTAGE ON THE COURTHOUSE, AND THAT WOULD PUT US IN A POSITION WHERE WE'LL HAVE THE LARGEST SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM IN ANY DOWNTOWN AREA IN THE U.S. IT'LL INCREASE OUR SAVINGS ALSO UP TO A HUNDRED -- OR $1,021,500 A YEAR. THAT'S INCLUDING THE JAIL IN THAT, SO SOME REAL GOOD ENERGY SAVINGS. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS. >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, RANDY. >>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM -- >>MARK SHARPE: HOLD ON. WE'RE WAITING FOR -- >>RECORDING SECRETARY: I NEED COMMISSIONER FERLITA'S VOTE. >>MIKE MERRILL: OH, I'M SORRY. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: I WAS WAITING FOR HER TO GET BACK TO HER SEAT. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IS B-13. I'LL JUST GIVE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND THEN ASK GEORGE WILLIAMS TO GIVE YOU SOME OF THE DETAILS. IN MY RECOMMENDED FY 11 BUDGET, AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME CONSOLIDATIONS, SOME STREAMLINING OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR COST EFFICIENCIES, AND UNFORTUNATELY WITH THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES, THERE ARE SOME EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE LAID OFF, AND THIS ITEM ASKS FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF A PUBLIC PURPOSE TO ESSENTIALLY PUT INTO PLACE AN OUTPLACEMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BEING LAID OFF. I THINK IT'S WARRANTED IN THESE UNUSUAL TIMES WHERE THE RECESSION IS STILL -- STILL FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION. UNEMPLOYMENT IS STILL VERY HIGH IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IN FACT, WE'RE STILL PAYING UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS FROM EMPLOYEES WHO WERE LAID OFF LAST YEAR. IT'S TAKING MUCH, MUCH LONGER FOR FOLKS TO FIND JOBS THAN IN A TYPICAL ENVIRONMENT, SO I THINK IN TERMS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE, BEING ONE OF THE LARGER EMPLOYERS IN THE -- IN THE COUNTY, WE DON'T WANT TO BE PUTTING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE, WE WANT THEM TO FIND JOBS QUICKLY, CONTINUE TO PAY TAXES, AND BUY GOODS AND SERVICES. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY MORE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS THAN WE HAVE TO, SO THIS -- THIS PROGRAM THAT'S -- THAT'S BEING PROPOSED PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE TO OBTAIN STRUCTURED OUTPLACEMENT SUPPORT, TRAINING, AND -- AND SUPERVISION AND DIRECTION TO -- TO HELP THEM FIND JOBS QUICKLY AND GET THEM BACK INTO PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT. SO WITH THAT, I'LL ASK GEORGE WILLIAMS TO JUST RUN THROUGH QUICKLY SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM AND THEN OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS. >>GEORGE WILLIAMS: THANK YOU, MR. MERRILL. GEORGE WILLIAMS, HUMAN RESOURCES GROUP, BOCC ADMINISTRATION. MR. MERRILL COVERED BASICALLY THE PURPOSE AND THE INTENT OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. I GUESS THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR EFFORTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR REDUCTION IN FORCE AS OPPOSED TO THE PRIOR REDUCTION IN FORCE IS THAT WE WERE CONCERNED THAT AS PEOPLE WERE CONTINUALLY WORKING UP TO THAT LAST DAY OF EMPLOYMENT, WE WANTED TO TRY TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD AFFORD THEM BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO MINIMIZE THE TIME THAT THEY WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED, AND SO WHAT WE'VE COME UP WITH, IF YOU APPROVE OF THIS, IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE A STRUCTURE, AS MR. MERRILL JUST SAID, TO WORK ALONGSIDE SEVERAL COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT WORK WITH US SUCH AS TAMPA BAY WORKFORCE ALLIANCE, HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AS WE PUT TOGETHER A STRUCTURED PROGRAM TO ALLOW THOSE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE AND WE PAY THEM WHILE THEY ARE DOING THOSE PARTICULAR -- WHILE THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. THAT'S THE ONE BIG DIFFERENCE, AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOUR APPROVAL IN THE DECLARATION OF PUBLIC PURPOSE IN REGARDS TO TRYING TO HELP OUR EMPLOYEES FIND FUTURE EMPLOYMENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. >>MIKE MERRILL: AND I'D LIKE TO ASK RENEE LEE TO TALK ABOUT THE OTHER FEATURE OF THIS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, WHICH IS THE WAIVER AND RELEASE THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. >>RENEE LEE: RIGHT. AND -- AND FOR THE DETAILS OF THE WAIVER AND RELEASE, I'LL ASK JENNIE TARR OR JIM LYNCH, BUT COMMISSIONERS, WE LOOKED AT THIS PROGRAM AS A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AS WELL AS THE COUNTY. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, THE EMPLOYEE, IF THEY ELECT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS OUTPLACEMENT PROGRAM, WILL SIGN A WAIVER AND RELEASE. THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, AND IT WILL ALSO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A CLEAN BREAK WITH THE COUNTY WHEN THEIR EMPLOYMENT IS TERMINATED. THEY WILL ALSO SIGN A WAIVER AND RELEASE IF THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM OR IF THEY EXTEND THEIR TENURE WITH THE COUNTY UNTIL THE END OF -- END OF SEPTEMBER. THAT ALSO PROVIDES A CLEAN BREAK WITH THE COUNTY WHEN THEY LEAVE, SO THERE IS NO -- NO TAIL LIABILITY BASICALLY THAT'S LEFT HERE. THE ONLY TIME THAT AN EMPLOYEE WOULD NOT SIGN A WAIVER AND RELEASE IS WHEN THEY ARE BEING TERMINATED. AS OF -- IS IT JULY 28th OR SO, THEY WILL END THEIR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY EARLY, SO WE THINK WE'VE PUT IN PLACE SOME CORNERSTONES THAT REALLY PROTECT THE COUNTY AND HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD FEATURES FOR THE EMPLOYEE AS WELL, AND JIM, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WAIVER AND RELEASE. >>JIM LYNCH: YES. SENIOR ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY JIM LYNCH. THIS IS KIND OF MODELED AFTER THE MANATEE COUNTY EXPERIENCE, AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN USING THIS. THE PURPOSE IS, OF COURSE, TO HELP THE EMPLOYEE TO TRY TO FIND A POSITION BEFORE THEY LEAVE OR AT LEAST GIVE THEM SOME SKILLS AND SOME ABILITY TO MAKE THE PERIOD OF UNEMPLOYMENT SMALLER. IN ADDITION, IT ALSO HELPS THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE TEND TO LIMIT LIABILITY FOR LAWSUITS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE REDUCTION IN FORCE SEPARATION, SO IT'S A WIN-WIN ON BOTH SIDES. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS BECOMING MORE COMMON AND USED MORE OFTEN BY OTHER COUNTIES. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I'VE GOT ONE FOR LEGAL IN A MOMENT, BUT GOING BACK TO MR. MERRILL AND MR. WILLIAMS, FOR THE RECORD, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SO EMPLOYEES HAVE AN EXPECTATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SERVICES AND THE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD GO THROUGH, THE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT TYPE OF HELP THAT THEY CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE -- >>GEORGE WILLIAMS: SURE. SURE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: -- AS FAR AS THE COUNTY AND WHAT THAT STRUCTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE. >>GEORGE WILLIAMS: SURE. WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH TAMPA BAY WORKFORCE ALLIANCE, ALSO HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND FOR ANY EMPLOYEE THAT WOULD BE LEAVING THINKING ABOUT ENTREPRENEURIAL -- ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES, WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTER. AFFORDING THEM STRUCTURED TIME TO GO TO A DESIGNATED SITE BASED ON HAVING GOTTEN PERMISSION FROM THEIR DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR TO GO TO THAT DESIGNATED SITE AND ACTUALLY PERFORM AND PARTICIPATE IN JOB SEARCH ACTIVITIES, ACTIVITIES THAT WE WOULD BE MONITORING, THE HR REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE ON - - ON EACH OF -- AT EACH OF THOSE SITES TO ASSIST THE INDIVIDUALS, ALSO ALLOWING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO GO WITH SCHEDULED MEETINGS WITH TAMPA BAY WORKFORCE ALLIANCE, ALSO TO ATTEND SESSIONS AND TRAINING SESSIONS WITH HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THROUGHOUT THE TIME THEY AGREE TO CONTINUE TO WORK FOR US PLUS PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SO THEN WHEN YOU SAY UPON APPROVAL FROM DEPARTMENT HEAD DIRECTORS, I'M IMAGINING THAT YOU'VE GOT CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL THE DIRECTORS SO UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW THAT THERE'S NOT -- >>GEORGE WILLIAMS: RIGHT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: I IMAGINE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A WAY WHERE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO AMPLY PARTICIPATE; IN OTHER WORDS, THE DIRECTOR SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY, WE'RE REALLY TIGHT ON PEOPLE, WE CAN ONLY GIVE YOU A HALF A DAY A WEEK TO PARTICIPATE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOING TO OCCUR, IS IT? >>GEORGE WILLIAMS: BASED ON THE SITUATION, WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, THAT IS A POSSIBLE OCCURRENCE, BUT IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. MERRILL AND ALL THE SENIOR LEADERS, WE'RE STRESSING UPON ALL OF OUR LEADERSHIP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE -- WE KNOW THAT WORK HAS TO GET DONE, BUT WITH OUR GOAL IN MIND, THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE GET BACK TO WORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IF IT ANY WAY POSSIBLE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: WELL, ONE THING THAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT THERE'S SOME TYPE OF CONSISTENCY. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO WORK AROUND SCHEDULES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES ARE RECEIVING THE FAIR -- THE SAME FAIR TREATMENT -- >>GEORGE WILLIAMS: CORRECT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: -- IS MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY THAT WE SET A FIRM TIME, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DAYS A WEEK, WE'LL SOMEHOW BE ABLE TO WORK THAT INTO THE SCHEDULE SO EVERYBODY'S RECEIVING THE EQUAL TIME SO SOMEBODY'S NOT GETTING A HALF A DAY OR FOUR OR FIVE HOURS OR WHATEVER IT IS AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS BEING AFFORDED IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS A FULL TWO DAYS TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE FOR THAT. >>GEORGE WILLIAMS: RIGHT. >>MIKE MERRILL: YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, AND DIRECTLY TO YOUR POINT, ACAs AND MYSELF WILL BE REVIEWING THE PLANS FOR THESE EMPLOYEES TO BE SURE THERE IS EQUITY AND CONSISTENCY BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE FAIRNESS. >>KEVIN BECKNER: AND -- NOW, THE QUESTION GOING INTO LEGAL, WHEN, MS. LEE, YOU HAD MENTIONED TO ENSURE A CLEAN BREAK, HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS, THAT THERE'S A CLEAN BREAK FROM THE COUNTY. >>RENEE LEE: COMMISSIONER, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE HAVE A WAIVER AND RELEASE FROM THE EMPLOYEE WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE OUTPLACEMENT PROGRAM, AND THEY WILL WAIVE ANY CLAIMS THAT THEY MAY HAVE FROM THE COUNTY AND RELEASE US FROM ANY LIABILITY. >>KEVIN BECKNER: IS THAT IN -- BECAUSE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE SELF-FUND UNEMPLOYMENT; IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S NOT -- THEY'RE NOT WAIVING THEIR RIGHT TO COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT -- >>GEORGE WILLIAMS: NO, COMMISSIONER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: -- COMPENSATION? >>RENEE LEE: YOU'RE CORRECT. >>GEORGE WILLIAMS: UNDER STATE LAW, THEY CANNOT DO THAT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>KEN HAGAN: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: I'LL MOVE. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECOND COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. YOU HAVE TWO BACK-TO-BACK ITEMS, B-14 AND B-15, WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS. I'LL ASK ERIC JOHNSON TO PRESENT BOTH OF THESE. >>ERIC JOHNSON: COMMISSIONERS, MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES. THESE ARE TWO CONTRACTS, ONE WITH THE SUPERVISORS UNIT AND ONE WITH THE SUPPRESSION UNIT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THIS IS A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT, AND WE'VE COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, AS I SAID, FOR A YEAR. MAYBE A KEY POINT YOU SHOULD KNOW IS THAT THE UNION WILL BE -- MEMBERS WILL BE VOTING TO RATIFY THIS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, SO WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE TWO BARGAINING UNITS, SUBJECT TO OUR EXPECTED APPROVAL BY THE UNION MEMBERSHIP OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS. >>KEN HAGAN: ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ERIC? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO RATIFY AND APPROVE THE AGREEMENT? >>KEVIN WHITE: SO MOVE. >>ROSE FERLITA: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND COMMISSIONER FERLITA. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: AND DO THEY HAVE TO VOTE SEPARATELY ON 15, B-15? >>ERIC JOHNSON: YES, IF WE CAN GET A VOTE ON THE SECOND ONE, PLEASE. >>MARK SHARPE: MOVE APPROVAL. >>KEVIN WHITE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER SHARPE, SECOND COMMISSIONER WHITE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>ERIC JOHNSON: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, ERIC. >>MIKE MERRILL: YOUR NEXT ITEM, THEN, WOULD BE F-1, WHICH IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS. >>MARK SHARPE: JIM'S NOT HERE. >>KEN HAGAN: WE DON'T HAVE A FULL BOARD. WE'LL WAIT UNTIL COMMISSIONER NORMAN COMES. >>LUANN FINLEY: THE FIRST BOARD IS THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD. >>KEN HAGAN: ARE WE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH SIX COMMISSIONERS OR -- OKAY. >>LUANN FINLEY: TRY. PLEASE CHOOSE THREE. COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: HARRIS, HART, AND McMAKEN. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: ALLEN, PARKER, THOMAS. >>LUANN FINLEY: WHICH THOMAS? >>MARK SHARPE: OH, I'M SORRY, NUMBER 11. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: HARRIS, PARKER, THOMAS, 11. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: ALLEN, HARRIS, AND HART. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: MYERS, HART, AND HARRIS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: RADULICH, TERNIKAR, AND PAULA THOMAS. >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. SO ONE OF THEM WILL BE HENRY HARRIS, AND THEN TINA ALLEN GOT TWO VOTES, DIANNE HART GOT THREE, STACI PARKER GOT TWO, AND CARMI THOMAS GOT TWO. SO WE'LL HAVE A VOTE AGAIN. WE NEED TWO MORE IT WILL BE BETWEEN TINA ALLEN, DIANNE HART, STACI PARKER, AND CARMI THOMAS. COMMISSIONER HAGAN, CHOOSE TWO. >>KEN HAGAN: ONE SECOND. HART AND THOMAS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: ALLEN AND CARMI THOMAS. >>LUANN FINLEY: HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: HARRIS -- EXCUSE ME -- HART AND THOMAS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: LUANN, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. WHO GOT THE FIRST ONE ANYWAY? >>MARK SHARPE: HENRY HARRIS. >>LUANN FINLEY: HENRY HARRIS. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. THEN MY TWO ARE ALLEN AND HART. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: HART AND ALLEN. >>LUANN FINLEY: HART AND ALLEN? >>KEVIN WHITE: UH-HUH. >>LUANN FINLEY: AND COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: HART AND THOMAS. >>LUANN FINLEY: SO IT WILL BE DIANNE HART AND CARMI THOMAS. AND THEN VAUNITA HARRIS WILL BE APPOINTED AS THE POLICY REP. THE NEXT BOARD IS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD. CHOOSE ONE. COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: COME BACK TO ME, PLEASE. >>LUANN FINLEY: OKAY. COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: MICHAEL KAMPRATM. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSION HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: KAMPRATM. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: GRIFFIN. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: KAMPRATM. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: KAMPRATM. >>LUANN FINLEY: AND COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: GRIFFIN. >>LUANN FINLEY: OKAY. IT WILL BE MICHAEL KAMPRATM. ENTERPRISE ZONE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, CHOOSE ONE. COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: CRIST. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: VICTOR CRIST. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: CRIST. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: I HAVE A QUESTION OF LEGAL, OKAY. I KNOW THAT SENATOR CRIST ANSWERED 17 IN TERMS OF WHEN MAYBE OR PERHAPS HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND, AND OBVIOUSLY IT MAKES SENSE. HE SAYS, AS A STATE SENATOR, I'M CALLED OUT OF TOWN SOMETIMES. THAT'S FINE. AND ON 18 -- I KNOW -- THIS IS TO YOU, MS. LEE. I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN IN THE CASE IN THE PAST, AND I KNOW THAT HIS WIFE SITS AS A CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE UNIVERSITY AREA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. IT HASN'T SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY CONFLICT. >>RENEE LEE: COMMISSIONER, THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT TO THE ENTERPRISE ZONE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AND IT WOULD BE HE THAT WOULD SIT ON THE AGENCY. >>ROSE FERLITA: UH-HUH. >>RENEE LEE: COMMISSIONER, I THINK IF ANYTHING REGARDING THE UNIVERSITY AREA COMMUNITY CENTER WOULD COME BEFORE THAT AGENCY THAT HE COULD ABSTAIN FROM ANY VOTING WITH RESPECT TO THAT ISSUE, AND IT WOULD NOT INVALIDATE HIS APPOINTMENT HERE -- >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. >>RENEE LEE: -- BECAUSE HE HAS -- >>ROSE FERLITA: THAT'S WHAT I KIND OF THOUGHT, BUT FOR ANYBODY THAT HAD ANY QUESTIONS, I THOUGHT IT WAS BEST TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. >>MARK SHARPE: I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT. >>ROSE FERLITA: IN THAT CASE, CRIST. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: CRIST. >>LUANN FINLEY: AND COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: CRIST. >>LUANN FINLEY: VICTOR CRIST. THE HEALTH CARE ADVISORY BOARD, CHOOSE ONE AS THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: CHAUDHRY. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: CHAUDHRY. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: CHAUDHRY. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: I HAVE TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM. WHICH ONE ARE WE ON, I'M SORRY? >>LUANN FINLEY: HEALTH CARE ADVISORY BOARD. >>ROSE FERLITA: LA ROCHA. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: CHAUDHRY. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: CHAUDHRY. >>LUANN FINLEY: IT WILL BE ZACHARY CHAUDHRY. CHOOSE ONE AS THE AT-LARGE REP AND TAKE CHAUDHRY'S NAME OFF. COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: FREEDMAN. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: FREEDMAN. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: DE LA ROCHA. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: FREEDMAN. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: DE LA ROCHA. >>LUANN FINLEY: AND COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: FREEDMAN. >>LUANN FINLEY: IT WILL BE STEVE FREEDMAN. I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL RIGHT BEFORE -- OR RIGHT AFTER LUNCH ACTUALLY FROM JANET STANLEY ASKING HER NAME BE REMOVED FROM THE BOARD, SO IT WOULD BE -- RICHARD BROWN WILL BE APPOINTED TO THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL. THE NEXT BOARD IS THE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD. CHOOSE TWO FOR DISTRICT 1. COMMISSIONER HAGAN. AND REMOVE MICHAEL KAMPRATM'S NAME. >>KEN HAGAN: TUTTLE AND VICKERS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: MICHAEL SEVI AND VICKERS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: PASS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: SEVI AND TUTTLE. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: TUTTLE AND VICKERS. >>LUANN FINLEY: SEVI AND VICKERS? >>KEVIN WHITE: TUTTLE AND VICKERS. >>LUANN FINLEY: TUTTLE AND VICKERS. COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SEVI AND TUTTLE. >>LUANN FINLEY: AND COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: KAMPRATM AND SEVI. >>MARK SHARPE: KAMPRATM'S OUT. >>LUANN FINLEY: KAMPRATM'S OFF. SEVI AND -- >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: TUTTLE. >>LUANN FINLEY: -- TUTTLE. SO IT WILL BE MICHAEL SEVI AND MARYLOU TUTTLE. FOR DISTRICT 2, CHOOSE ONE. COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: SCHEUERLE. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: SCHEUERLE. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SCHEUERLE. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: SCHEUERLE. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: AMIN. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SCHEUERLE. >>LUANN FINLEY: IT WILL BE WILLIAM SCHEUERLE. DISTRICT 3, CHOOSE ONE. COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: PASS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: KENNETH MYERS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: MYERS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: WHERE ARE WE? >>LUANN FINLEY: PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD, SECOND BALLOT. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND PAGE UNDER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD WHERE IT HAS CHOOSE ONE. >>LUANN FINLEY: DISTRICT 3. >>ROSE FERLITA: I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>ROSE FERLITA: THIS IS WHERE WE ARE? >>MARK SHARPE: YEAH, RIGHT HERE. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. THANKS. DR. HIRES, IS THAT WHERE WE ARE? >>MARK SHARPE: YES. >>LUANN FINLEY: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: KENNETH MYERS. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: DR. HIRES. >>LUANN FINLEY: AND COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: HIRES. >>LUANN FINLEY: IS THAT HIRES OR MYERS? >>KEN HAGAN: HIRES. >>LUANN FINLEY: OKAY. WE HAVE A TWO-WAY TIE. WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT ONE. NOW, DISTRICT 4, JOE STINES HAS ASKED THAT WE READVERTISE FOR THAT POSITION. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? >>LUANN FINLEY: YES. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: MAKE A MOTION WE READVERTISE FOR DISTRICT 4. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>LUANN FINLEY: OKAY. AND THEN DISTRICT 3 WE'LL BRING BACK THE NEXT MEETING. THE VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD, REMOVE MICHAEL KAMPRATM'S NAME. CHOOSE ONE. COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: BARCENA. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>ROSE FERLITA: WANT ME TO HELP YOU, MARK? >>MARK SHARPE: RICK BARCENA. THANK YOU. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: BARCENA. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: BARCENA. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: BARCENA. >>LUANN FINLEY: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: BARCENA. >>LUANN FINLEY: IT WILL BE RICK BARCENA. AND THEN FROM THE CONSENT THE HISTORIC RESOURCES REVIEW BOARD WILL BE PAUL JONES, FOR THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IT WILL BE ABDUL RAO AND JEROME RYANS, AND FOR THE TAMPA BAY WORKFORCE ALLIANCE IT WILL BE DONALD BARCO, ROBERT COPPERSMITH, SANDRA McLAIN, AND DENNIS MEYERS. >>KEVIN WHITE: MOVE TO CONFIRM. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: COMMISSIONER WHITE. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONERS, YOUR LAST SCHEDULED ITEM WOULD BE F-7, WHICH IS AN ITEM BROUGHT BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN CONCERNING A REPORT ON BMX NATIONAL RACES AT LAKE PARK. >>KEN HAGAN: YES. IS MR. THORNTON HERE? THIS WILL BE BRIEF. THE TAMPA BMX ORGANIZATION USES THE FACILITIES OUT AT LAKE PARK, AND IN APRIL THEY HOSTED THE GATOR NATIONAL RACE THERE. IT WAS OVER THE WEEKEND APRIL 9th THROUGH 11th, AND ONE SATURDAY AFTERNOON I GET A FRANTIC CALL FROM MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE, RICH REIDY, THAT THEY WERE HAVING ALL KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FACILITIES THERE, AND I GUESS THEY WERE ANTICIPATING ABOUT 4,000 FOLKS AND I THINK IN EXCESS OF 7,000 TURNED OUT ACCORDING TO THE PRESS RELEASE THAT THE ORGANIZATION PUT OUT, AND WE ONLY -- APPARENTLY ONLY HAD ONE STAFF MEMBER THERE, AND RICH ENDED UP TAKING MONEY AT THE GATE, I THINK, WHILE THE OTHER PERSON COULD GO BACK AND HELP WITH THE OVERFLOWED TOILETS, AND IT WAS A PRETTY NASTY SCENE, AS YOU COULD IMAGINE, SO I JUST -- I REALLY WANT TO QUICKLY GET AN UPDATE FROM MR. THORNTON ON HOW WE CAN AVOID THIS PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. TAMPA BMX IS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION, AND THIS IS A GREAT EVENT, AND I WANT JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME ASSURANCES TO THE TAMPA BMX FOLKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PREPARED NEXT TIME AND WE'RE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE EVENTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE. THIS IS, LIKE I SAID, A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND GREAT EVENT AND PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO -- TO ATTEND THIS, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT RIGHT AND JUST WANTED A BRIEF UPDATE FROM MR. THORNTON. >>MARK THORNTON: OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, MARK THORNTON, PARKS, RECREATION, AND CONSERVATION. I'M GOING TO -- I HAVE A REPORT, A PAGE AND A HALF REPORT THAT I'M GOING TO QUICKLY SUMMARIZE, BUT YOU CAN HAVE THIS THEN TO READ. I THINK I HAVE ENOUGH. AS FAR AS THE ISSUE ON APRIL THE 9th THROUGH 11th, WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FROM 4:00 P.M. TO THE END OF THE EVENING OF NOT HAVING ADEQUATE STAFF THERE. THE OVERFLOW RESTROOM ISSUE HAS BEEN -- WELL, CAN ONLY BE RESOLVED IN THE GROUP HAS ENOUGH PORTABLE TOILETS, OF WHICH WE WEREN'T REALLY IN THE PLANNING LOOP, SO WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE. HAD WE HAVE KNOWN THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE INADEQUATE NUMBERS, WE WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM THAT BECAUSE AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE HAVE MUCH LARGER FUNCTIONS AT LAKE PARK, VERY SUCCESSFULLY RUN. THE GROUP -- THE BMX GROUP AT LAKE PARK TYPICALLY OPERATES INDEPENDENTLY. THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE FOR -- FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND THEY DON'T ASK FOR A LOT FOR ASSISTANCE FROM US, ACTUALLY VERY SELDOM. I HAVE TALKED WITH OR COMMUNICATED WITH THE PRESIDENT ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS AND DID SO LAST WEEK AND ASKED HIM TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY DO HAVE ISSUES, IF THEY WILL TALK TO THE STAFF OUT THERE. I THINK THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE ISSUE OF HAVING ONE PERSON ON STAFF AFTER 4:00 P.M. WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY -- THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AVOIDED, AND I GUESS WHEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION -- HAD THE RESTROOMS NOT HAVE BEEN CLOGGED, ONE PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST FINE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT DURING THEIR REGULAR EVENTS, BUT WHEN THEY HAVE THE SPECIAL EVENT AND ONE PERSON'S THERE, IF SOMETHING'S GOING TO GO WRONG, IT DID, AND THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, SO I -- GENERAL SUMMARY, IT'S IN MY REPORT THERE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES AND THAT WE'LL HAVE THIS EVENT ONCE THEY WANT TO BRING IT BACK. THEY DO ROTATE IT AROUND, SO HOPEFULLY -- THE PRESS RELEASE WAS VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THE FACILITY. >>KEN HAGAN: EXCELLENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE, MR. THORNTON. >>MARK SHARPE: I'VE GOT A QUESTION. ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SUBJECT BUT RELATED TO PARKS, THE BICYCLE BASH -- >>MARK THORNTON: YES. >>MARK SHARPE: -- SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER IS IT 7th? >>MARK THORNTON: YES. >>MARK SHARPE: AT FLATWOOD PARK, CURE ON WHEELS, HOW'S THAT COMING ALONG? >>MARK THORNTON: THAT'S FINE. THEY'RE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH US, AND SO WE'RE MAKING SURE ALL THE FACILITIES ARE THERE AND -- >>MARK SHARPE: JUST FOR ALL THE OTHERS, THIS HAS BEEN -- IT'S BEEN OVER AT PINELLAS FOR A WHILE. >>MARK THORNTON: RIGHT. >>MARK SHARPE: THEY'RE BRINGING IT BACK HERE. THERE'S AN INTEREST IN KEEPING IT HERE. ALAN SNEL AND ALL THE BICYCLISTS ARE VERY EXCITED AND ENTHUSIASTIC. SWFBUD HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THIS, AND WE WANT TO GET A -- WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYONE REALLY COME OUT NOVEMBER 7th, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I KNOW THAT THE SPORTS COMMISSION HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS; IS THAT CORRECT? >>MARK THORNTON: YES, THAT'S CORRECT. >>MARK SHARPE: SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE A SPORT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OFTENTIMES DOESN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION. GOOD. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. THORNTON. MR. MERRILL, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS? >>MIKE MERRILL: ALL THAT'S LEFT WOULD BE THE FUTURE DISCUSSION ITEMS IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BRING TO OUR ATTENTION. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THERE'S JUST ONE ITEM THAT HAS TO DO WITH SCHEDULING, AND THIS IS PERTAINING TO OUR UPCOMING MEETING FOR THE TRANSMITTAL OF OUR COMP PLANS, AND I'M -- I HAVE A SCHEDULE CONFLICT ON JULY 22nd THAT'S RELATED TO THE WORK ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE TASK FORCE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE FOR THAT PARTICULAR DISCUSSION, AND IT'S A TRANSMITTAL SESSION AS WELL AS DISCUSSION OF THE BRANDON/SEFFNER PLAN AS WELL AS OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS. WE HAVE A RESERVED DATE OF JULY 29th, AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THEY SAID THAT IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT TO THE 29th, AGAIN, IF IT'S APPROVED BY THE BOARD, SO I WOULD JUST ASK - - AND AGAIN, WE CAN HAVE SOME DISCUSSION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR OTHER SCHEDULES ARE THAT IF IT'S POSSIBLE, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN MOVE THAT TRANSMITTAL DATE FROM THE 22nd TO THE 29th, AND I KNOW MELISSA FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS ALSO HERE IF YOU-ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >>KEN HAGAN: WHEN DOES -- AGAIN, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUTURE ISSUES NOT FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS NOW, BUT WHEN DOES THAT DECISION HAVE TO BE MADE, MR. MERRILL, DO YOU KNOW? >>MIKE MERRILL: I DON'T, IN FACT, KNOW. I DON'T THINK -- OH, I'M SORRY. >>KEN HAGAN: MAYBE WE CAN AGENDA THIS FOR TOMORROW FOR DURING OUR WORKSHOP, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A LONG DISCUSSION TODAY. YES. >>MELISSA ZORNITTA: MELISSA ZORNITTA WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF. THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE NEWSPAPER AND THE SIGNAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE FOR THE 22nd, SO -- BUT IT'S BEEN HISTORICALLY THE PRACTICE IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES UP, YOU OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 22nd, CONTINUE IT TO THE 29th, SO THAT CERTAINLY IS AN OPTION, SO THERE'S A LITTLE TIME TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ALERT THE CITIZENS WHO ARE INVOLVED, PARTICULARLY WITH THE COMMUNITY PLANS, IN ADVANCE. >>KEN HAGAN: I WOULD SUGGEST BECAUSE I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT ANY OF MY PERSONAL CALENDAR OR CAMPAIGN CALENDAR OR ANYTHING ELSE, SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE THIS UP TOMORROW DURING OUR WORKSHOP. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT IT TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DURING FUTURE ISSUES, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LAY IT OUT AND NOT DISCUSS THE ITEM, SO IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE BOARD. >>MIKE MERRILL: OKAY. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, MR. CHAIRMAN, BECAUSE RIGHT OFFHAND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE SECOND DATE IS A CONFLICT. IF IT'S NOT, I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT TOMORROW MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT OUR CALENDARS. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: YES, MR. CHAIRMAN. I DIDN'T HAVE AN ITEM RIGHT NOW. I JUST SAW OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM CONGRESSWOMAN KATHY CASTOR'S OFFICE IN THE OFFICE, AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE CAME TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OR NOT, MS. CHLOE CONEY. WELCOME TO OUR BOARD CHAMBERS. I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU CAME TO GIVE US INFORMATION FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. OR NOT. >> NO, ONLY TO OBSERVE. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU, MA'AM. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN, MS. CONEY. COMMISSIONER SHARPE. COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: JUST AS AN FYI. I KNOW THAT STAFF IS WORKING ON A SUMMIT MEETING THAT WE'RE -- I CALL IT A SUMMIT MEETING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LIFE SCIENCES. WE'VE GOT PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED AT USF, UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA, I HOPE KEISER, HCC, AS WELL AS MOFFITT, VA, AND ALL THE OTHER ECONOMIC AND EVEN VENTURE CAPITALISTS COMING TO TALK. THERE HAD BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT MAYBE HAVING IT AT THE MOSI FACILITY. IS THAT, MIKE, BEING LOOKED AT? >>MIKE MERRILL: I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS, BUT I'LL FOLLOW UP ON IT, YEAH. >>MARK SHARPE: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS AWARE BECAUSE IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT HAPPEN AND NO ONE -- AND THEY DON'T -- PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM. I'M NOT -- YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING AND I WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN IT, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S ALL MINE, SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN MAYBE GIVE THE BOARD AN UPDATE AT SOME POINT BEFORE THE MEETING AS TO WHAT'S OCCURRING, AND I THINK WILL WEATHERFORD IS GOING TO BE THERE AS WELL TO GIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE. THE IDEA IS TO TRY TO LEVERAGE ALL THE RESOURCES WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S BRINGING FOLKS -- LIKE TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL WILL BE THERE, UCH, AND OTHERS ALL IN ONE ROOM TALKING ABOUT LIFE SCIENCES AND JOB CREATION. >>MIKE MERRILL: THAT'S IN AUGUST; RIGHT? >>MARK SHARPE: AUGUST, I THINK, 27th IS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT. >>MIKE MERRILL: OKAY. BECAUSE THAT WILL BE AFTER THE ITEM ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, SO WE'LL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL. >>MARK SHARPE: EXACTLY. THANKS, MIKE. >>MIKE MERRILL: I'LL FOLLOW UP ON IT. >>MARK SHARPE: THANKS, MIKE. >>KEN HAGAN: ANY OTHER ITEMS? OKAY. WE'RE ADJOURNED, AND SEE YOU TOMORROW MORNING FOR EPC. 1