CAPTIONING
OCTOBER 1, 2008
BOCC REGULAR MEETING
MORNING 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 MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 1st, 
2008, REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING OF THE HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE AND INVOCATION, 
GIVEN BY OUR CHAPLAIN, COMMISSIONER BRIAN BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR THE PLEDGE OF 
ALLEGIANCE WE HAVE A SPECIAL GROUP OF YOUNG CHILDREN HERE 
FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEARNING IN 
BRANDON.
THEY'RE SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADERS.
MS. MICHELLE JOHNSON IS THEIR TEACHER IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND 
THEY'RE HERE BECAUSE COMMISSIONER AL HIGGINBOTHAM HAS A 
WONDERFUL PROGRAM CALLED "KIDS IN THE COUNTY," AND FOR ALL 
THOSE THAT ARE VIEWING RIGHT NOW OR WOULD LIKE A TOUR OF 
THE COUNTY CENTER, THEY CAN CERTAINLY CONTACT COMMISSIONER 
AL'S OFFICE, AND HE HAS DONE A MARVELOUS JOB WITH THIS 
PROGRAM, SO WITH THAT SAID, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PLEDGE 
OF ALLEGIANCE, ONCE AGAIN, GIVEN BY THE LIGHTHOUSE CENTER 
FOR CREATIVE LEARNING IN BRANDON.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
NOW WE WILL BOW FOR PRAYER.
DEAR GOD, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS 
WONDERFUL GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS WHO WILL BE THE FUTURE OF OUR 
WORLD, THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE TO SAY THE PLEDGE 
TO THIS VERY WONDERFUL NATION THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE 
SACRIFICED FOR.
FATHER, WE HAVE THE GREATEST NATION IN THE WORLD, 
REGARDLESS OF THE TURBULENT TIMES WE'RE GOING THROUGH, AND 
I JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD COMFORT ALL THOSE THAT ARE BEING 
AFFECTED BY THESE TOUGH TIMES, AND LET THEM LOOK AT THE 
BRIGHT SIDE AND BE POSITIVE AND BE UPBEAT AND KNOW THAT 
LIFE IS FULL OF PITS AND VALLEYS, AND WHENEVER WE'RE DOWN 
IN THAT VALLEY, THERE'LL ALWAYS BE A MOUNTAINTOP THAT WE'LL 
CLIMB AND SIT ON SOON TO BE.
FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE FIGHTING OVERSEAS AND 
ALL AROUND THE GLOBE.
WE PRAY THAT THEY WOULD ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSIONS OF 
BRINGING PEACE AND STABILITY TO THE WORLD AND PROTECTING 
OUR NATION.
FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THE VETERANS WHO HAVE FOUGHT IN PAST 
WARS AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED AND HAVE GIVEN THE 
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND WHO ARE WOUNDED NOW, AND WE JUST ARE 
GRATEFUL FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT THEM AND KEEP THEM 
SAFE WHILE THEY ARE PROTECTING US.
FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE ON STAFF HERE IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR OUR RESIDENTS 
AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES, FATHER, THAT WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE 
GOOD DECISIONS, AND WE ASK FOR WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND 
UNDERSTANDING.
WE THANK THE ADMINISTRATION, WE THANK ALL THOSE WHO ARE 
PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT, AND AGAIN, FATHER, WE PRAY FOR 
THOSE WHO ARE CALLING UPON YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW AND ASKING 
FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.
AMEN.
>> AMEN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
AT THIS TIME WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS TO BE GIVEN OUT, 
AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT THE FIRST TWO.
THE FIRST ONE WILL BE GIVEN TO OUR FIRE CHIEF, BILL 
NESMITH.
CHIEF, ARE YOU HERE?
I'M VERY PLEASED THIS MORNING TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION 
TO CHIEF NESMITH PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 5th THROUGH 11th AS 
"FIRE PREVENTION WEEK."
AND THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS, FIRE IS A SERIOUS 
PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, AND 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND 
SECURITY OF ALL THOSE LIVING IN AND VISITING OUR COUNTY; 
AND WHEREAS, OUR HOMES ARE THE LOCATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE 
AT GREATEST RISK FROM FIRE, AND IN 2006 HOME FIRES KILLED 
MORE THAN 2500 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND FIRE 
DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES RESPONDED TO 
NEARLY 400,000 HOME FIRES; AND WHEREAS, COOKING IS THE 
LEADING CAUSE OF HOME FIRES AND HOME FIRE INJURIES, WHILE 
HEATING EQUIPMENT AND SMOKING ARE THE LEADING CAUSES OF 
HOME FIRE DEATHS; AND WHEREAS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S FIRST 
RESPONDERS ARE DEDICATED TO REDUCING THE OCCURRENCE OF HOME 
FIRES AND HOME FIRE INJURIES THROUGH PREVENTION AND 
PROTECTION EDUCATION; AND WHEREAS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S 
RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO TAKE PERSONAL STEPS TO INCREASE THEIR 
SAFETY FROM FIRE, ESPECIALLY IN THEIR HOMES, AND RESIDENTS 
WHO HAVE PLANNED AND PRACTICED THEIR HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLAN 
ARE MORE PREPARED AND WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO SURVIVE A 
FIRE; AND WHEREAS, THE 2008 "FIRE PREVENTION WEEK" THEME, 
"IT'S FIRE PREVENTION WEEK - PREVENT HOME FIRES," 
EFFECTIVELY SERVES TO REMIND US ALL OF THE SIMPLE ACTIONS 
WE CAN TAKE TO STAY SAFER FROM FIRE DURING FIRE PREVENTION 
WEEK AND YEAR-ROUND.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY 
PROCLAIM OCTOBER 5-11, 2008, AS "FIRE PREVENTION WEEK" AND 
URGES EVERYONE TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES BY 
HEEDING THE IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGES OF FIRE PREVENTION 
WEEK 2008 AND TO SUPPORT THE MANY PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIVITIES 
AND EFFORTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE AND EMERGENCY 
SERVICE, PRESENTED THIS 1st DAY OF OCTOBER, 2008, SIGNED BY 
ALL SEVEN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
I'M EXTREMELY PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS TO OUR CHIEF, BILL 
NESMITH, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AND I 
BELIEVE YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO GIVE AFTER THAT.
[APPLAUSE]
>>BILL NESMITH:  GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
ON BEHALF OF THE -- ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY FIRE RESCUE WE THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION FOR 
"FIRE PREVENTION WEEK."
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT IS WE 
CAN PREVENT SOME FIRES, ESPECIALLY IN HOMES, PARTICULARLY 
WITH KEEPING GOOD, SOLID SMOKE DETECTORS, WORKING SMOKE 
DETECTORS, AND WE ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND ALL THE CITIZENS 
THAT WE'RE COMING UP ON THE CHANGE YOUR CLOCK, AND THAT IS 
THE SAME TIME THAT YOU WOULD CHANGE YOUR BATTERIES OUT IN 
YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR.
ALSO, WE ALSO EMPHASIZE HAVING GOOD FIRE DRILLS WITH YOUR 
FAMILIES.
EXIT DRILLS WITH THE FAMILY WILL HELP SAVE LIVES ALSO, BUT 
PARTICULARLY SMOKE DETECTORS.
THAT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT IF SOMEONE IS 
NOT ABLE TO AFFORD A SMOKE DETECTOR, ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS 
CALL FIRE RESCUE.
WE WILL PROVIDE THEM A SMOKE DETECTOR.
IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO INSTALL THE SMOKE DETECTOR, WE WILL 
INSTALL IT FOR THEM, SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT 
WE HAVE AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL GO ON TO ANOTHER SPECIAL 
OCCASION HERE TODAY.
THIS HAS TO DO -- ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WE HAVE AN AWARD THAT 
IS CALLED THE CHET THARPE AWARD.
THE CHET THARPE AWARD WAS CREATED A FEW YEARS AGO, AND IT 
WAS CREATED TO HONOR THE FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR.
FIRE CHIEF CHET THARPE, WHO IS NOW DECEASED, WAS THE FIRST 
FIRE MARSHAL AND FIRE CHIEF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE 
RESCUE FROM 1971 TO 1985.
THE CHET THARPE AWARD RECOGNIZES AN OUTSTANDING CAREER OR 
VOLUNTEER SUPPRESSION MEMBER OR FIRE COMPANY FOR SERVICE 
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.
THIS RECOGNITION CAN BE ACTS OF HEROISM, UNUSUAL 
DEDICATION, OR SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM IMPACT FOR OUR PUBLIC 
SAFETY.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE -- WE'RE HONORED 
TO HAVE JUDGE CHET THARPE, THE SON AND ALSO THE DAUGHTER OF 
CHET THARPE HERE TODAY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP AND 
HELP ME PRESENT THIS AWARD.
THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT OF THE CHET THARPE AWARD IS THE 
OBVIOUS CHOICE BECAUSE OF HIS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, 
TECHNICAL PROWESS, AND MILITARY BEARING.
HE EMBODIES ALL THE POSITIVE QUALITIES TRAITS THAT 
FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS RESPECT AND ADMIRE.
CHIEF ERNIE WARGO'S ABILITY TO INITIATE AND BUILD THE 
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM THROUGH ASSURING OF A SMOOTH-
RUNNING EMERGENCY SCENE WAS EVIDENT AT THE BEST WESTERN 
MULTIALARM FIRE.
HE SERVED AS INCIDENT COMMANDER AND FLAWLESSLY MANAGED OVER 
40 EMERGENCY APPARATUS AND NEARLY 100 FIREFIGHTERS AT ONE 
OF OUR LARGEST FIRES THAT WE'VE EVER HAD IN HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY.
BY HIS ACTIONS, CHIEF WARGO DEMONSTRATED HIS UNIQUE ABILITY 
TO MANAGE MULTIPLE TASKS WITHOUT LOSING SIGHT OF THE 
MISSION.
HIS LEADERSHIP SERVES AS A MODEL TO OTHERS TO FOLLOW WHICH 
RESULTS IN HIS BATTALION BEING AMONG THE MOST RESPECTED IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
BATTALION CHIEF WARGO CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE HIS ABILITY 
TO LEAD AND MANAGE MULTIPLE PRIORITIES, ALL KEEPING FOCUS 
ON THE CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE HONORED TO PRESENT THE FIREFIGHTER OF 
THE YEAR, CHET THARPE FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO 
BATTALION CHIEF ERNIE WARGO.
[APPLAUSE]
I'LL HAVE CHET THARPE SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I 
WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING MY SISTER AND I TO 
ONCE AGAIN PARTICIPATE IN THIS AWARD PROGRAM.
IT'S EXTREMELY SPECIAL TO US AS IT'S NAMED IN THE 
DEDICATION OF MY FATHER.
THIS ONE IS SOMEWHAT SPECIAL IN THAT -- BECAUSE CHIEF 
WARGO, AS I FOUND OUT, WAS HIRED BY OUR DAD, AND SO THAT'S 
A SPECIAL OCCASION FOR US, AND AS MY SISTER AND I GREW UP, 
WE GREW UP -- THE FAMILY OF OURS WAS THE FIRE SERVICE, AND 
I ALSO KNOW THAT CHIEF WARGO'S SON IS ALSO A FIREFIGHTER, 
ERNIE WARGO JR., SO -- AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS BIG "E" AND 
LITTLE "E."
[LAUGHTER]
COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IN THESE TIMES THAT 
OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE GOING THROUGH WITH 
GREAT UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, ONE THING 
THAT WE CAN BE ALWAYS CERTAIN OF IS THE DEDICATION OF OUR 
MEN AND WOMEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF 
THEIR UNSELFISH ACTS, THEIR DEDICATION TO PROTECTING THE 
LIVES AND PROPERTY OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY, I 
THINK THAT WE CAN ALL SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF 
THAT, AND I HIGHLY COMMEND THE FIRE SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]
CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT 
AND ALL MY COLLEAGUES THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WELL, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK CHET AND HIS 
LOVELY WIFE FOR BEING HERE --
>> SISTER.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YOUR SISTER.
EXCUSE ME.
YOUR SISTER.
FORGIVE ME.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
FORGIVE ME.
A LITTLE FRAUDULENT SLIP THERE.
>> FRAUDULENT OR FREUDIAN?
[LAUGHTER]
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  IT WAS FREUDULANT.
[LAUGHTER]
ANYWAY, CHET, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
YOU'RE A WONDERFUL PERSON, AND I'M SURE YOUR DAD WAS A 
WONDERFUL MAN.
YOUR BROTHER BRUCE, NOT YOUR DAD BRUCE, HE'S A WONDERFUL 
PERSON ALSO, BUT I COULDN'T ECHO THE SENTIMENTS ANY 
STRONGER THAN WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
THEY ARE AWESOME.
CHIEF NESMITH YOU DO A WONDERFUL JOB WITH A TREMENDOUS 
GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THE CHET THARPE AWARD I KNOW IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR TOP 
HONORS IF NOT THE TOP HONOR IN THE FIREFIGHTER DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU, GUYS.
THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  YES, SIR.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I PRETTY MUCH WANT TO ECHO THE SAME THING IN TERMS OF 
CONGRATULATIONS.
CHIEF, I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT CHOICE TO MAKE BECAUSE 
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, EVERY MAN AND WOMAN IN 
OUR FIRE RESCUE IS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING US, AND IT NEVER 
FAILS THAT -- TO YOU, CHIEF WARGO, YOU DO SO MUCH AND SO 
MANY THINGS THAT MANY OF US ACCIDENTALLY TAKE FOR GRANTED, 
AND THEN WHEN YOU COME UP HERE, YOU'RE VERY SHORT ON WORDS.
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE COMMITTED TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND 
YOU'RE MORE INVOLVED WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY THAN OUR PUBLIC 
SPEAKING.
WE ARE AS STRONG AS YOU MAKE US IN TERMS OF A COMMUNITY AND 
A NATION, AND NEVER SHOULD WE EVER DISCOUNT AN OPPORTUNITY 
TO SAY THANK YOU.
SINCERE THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THE REST OF YOUR 
COLLEAGUES.
WE APPRECIATE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND JUDGE THARPE, I WANT TO THANK YOU ONCE 
AGAIN FOR COMING DOWN AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS VERY 
SPECIAL AWARD.
AS SOMEONE WHO EXPERIENCED A HOME FIRE AS A CHILD, I COULD 
NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER.
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK OF MEN AND WOMEN 
OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S SOMETHING I'LL NEVER 
FORGET EVERY DAY, SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, AND I WANT TO 
THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 
EVERYTHING THEY DO, PUTTING THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE TO 
PROTECT OUR CITIZENS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SO THANK 
YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
I'M GOING TO PRESENT THE SECOND PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING 
SEPTEMBER 2008 AS "PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH" HERE IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
IS THERE A DR. BRIAN RIVERS HERE -- PRESENT?
>> GOOD MORNING.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD MORNING, DR. RIVERS.
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION WHICH STATES, 
WHEREAS, PROSTATE CANCER IS THE MOST FREQUENTLY DIAGNOSED 
CANCER IN MEN, AS WELL AS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF 
CANCER DEATH IN AMERICAN MEN, WITH AN ESTIMATED 28,660 MEN 
IN THIS COUNTRY LOSING THEIR LIVES THIS YEAR TO THIS 
DISEASE, 2,520 OF THEM IN FLORIDA ALONE; AND WHEREAS, 
RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT MEN COULD REDUCE THEIR RISK OF DYING 
FROM PROSTATE CANCER BY FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED PROSTATE 
CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES, INCLUDING EXAMINATIONS BY A 
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND INCREASED USE OF EARLY DETECTION 
PRACTICES; AND WHEREAS, MOFFITT CANCER CENTER IS A NATIONAL 
LEADER IN THE TREATMENT AND RESEARCH OF PROSTATE CANCER, 
OFFERING A BROAD RANGE OF STATE-OF-THE-ART AND INNOVATIVE 
TREATMENTS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE FLORIDA PROSTATE 
CANCER NETWORK; AND WHEREAS, THE SNEAKERS AT WORK CAMPAIGN, 
A NATIONAL WORKPLACE-BASED EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND 
FUNDRAISING EVENT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE NUMBER TWO 
CANCER KILLER OF MEN, PROSTATE CANCER, IS BEING PROMOTED BY 
MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND SEVERAL AREA CORPORATIONS; AND 
WHEREAS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPPORTS THE ERADICATION OF 
PROSTATE CANCER TO ONE DAY END THE SUFFERING OF ITS 
CITIZENS FROM THIS DISEASE, AND THUS THE ONGOING 
ADVANCEMENT OF CLINICAL RESEARCH IN THIS FIELD.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY 
SET ASIDE THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS PROSTATE CANCER 
AWARENESS MONTH IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO HEIGHTEN 
AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THIS DISEASE AND TO 
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT 
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND THE FUNDING OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS 
TO FIND A CURE, EXECUTED THIS 1st DAY OF OCTOBER 2008, 
SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND I'M 
VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU, DR. RIVERS.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS.
ON BEHALF OF MOFFITT CANCER CENTER, WE'D LIKE TO EXTEND OUR 
GRATITUDE FOR JUST THIS ISSUANCE OF THIS PROCLAMATION.
MY NAME IS DR. BRIAN RIVERS.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE RESEARCH FACULTY AT MOFFITT CANCER 
CENTER AND ALSO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 
FLORIDA PROSTATE CANCER NETWORK.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADVANCING THE EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE 
OF THIS DISEASE THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WE 
COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION OF OUR EFFORTS 
IN THIS REGARD AS IT RELATES TO INCREASING THE AWARENESS 
RELATED TO PROSTATE CANCER.
AS I SAID BEFORE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC 
ABOUT THE EXTENT AND THE IMPACT OF PROSTATE CANCER, NOT 
ONLY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF 
FLORIDA AND THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT THIS DISEASE IS 
HAVING UPON AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN.
AT MOFFITT CANCER, TO THIS APPROACH WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN 
NOVEL APPROACHES, SUCH AS OUR SNEAKERS AT WORK CAMPAIGN, 
WHICH WAS THE PURPOSE TO EDUCATE THE CORPORATE SECTOR ABOUT 
THE NEED TO INCREASE AWARENESS AS RELATES TO PROSTATE 
CANCER, AND AS WELL, WE HAVE A BARBERS AGAINST PROSTATE 
CANCER INITIATIVE TAKING PLACE RIGHT IN EAST TAMPA, WHICH 
ENTAILED ACTUALLY TRAINING EIGHT BARBERS IN FOUR DIFFERENT 
BARBER SHOPS, EIGHT AFRICAN-AMERICAN BARBERS TO DELIVER 
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE PROSTATE HEALTH 
MESSAGES TO THEIR PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CLIENTELE.
AGAIN, WITH THE COMMUNITY WE ARE BUILDING THE CAPACITY TO 
ENSURE THAT ALL MEN AND ALL FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT 
FROM THE EARLY DETECTION OF PROSTATE CANCER, A DISEASE THAT 
WE KNOW WHEN FOUND EARLY ENOUGH SURVIVAL RATE APPROACHES 
NEARLY 100%, SO WE UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY AND THE 
IMPORTANCE OF ACTUALLY INCREASING AWARENESS TO ENSURE THAT 
ALL MEN ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM EARLY DETECTION OF THIS 
DISEASE, SO AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE 
BOARD THIS MORNING FOR, AGAIN, THE SUPPORT, THE TIME ON THE 
AGENDA, AND THE OUTWARD RECOGNITION OF OUR EFFORTS AS 
RELATES TO JUST PREVENTING THIS DISEASE AND ULTIMATELY 
PREVENTING AND CURING CANCER OF THE PROSTATE.
WITH ME TODAY ARE PERRY LIMES, THE COORDINATOR FOR THE 
FLORIDA PROSTATE CANCER NETWORK, AND THEN DIANA ZUBROWSKI, 
WHO'S ONE OF -- WHO'S A MEMBER OF OUR CORPORATE PARTNER 
BOARD, EXCUSE ME, AND SHE'S GOING TO COME AND BRING REMARKS 
AS WELL FROM THE CORPORATE SECTOR.
HER COMPANY WAS VERY INVOLVED IN OUR SNEAKERS AT WORK 
CAMPAIGN AND HELPED RAISE FUNDS, AGAIN, TO ADVANCE WHAT WE 
KNOW AND THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED AS RELATES TO PROSTATE 
CANCER, AND RIGHT NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE DIANA ZUBROWSKI TO 
THE STAND.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN.
I'M DIANA ZUBROWSKI.
I'M WITH THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, ALSO A RESIDENT OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SO APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME HERE 
TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO.
I SERVE IN THE MOFFITT CORPORATE PARTNERS COMMITTEE.
OUR GROUP'S FILLED WITH MANY FOLKS FROM TAMPA'S CORPORATE 
LEADERS, AND OUR PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT MOFFITT'S WORK TO 
CURE AND RAISE AWARENESS FOR CANCER.
WE DO A NUMBER OF FUNDRAISERS, AND WE'RE ALL SO GREAT AT 
RAISING AWARENESS.
RAISING AWARENESS IS WHY PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP AND 
OTHER CORPORATE PARTNERS PARTICIPATED IN THE SNEAKERS AT 
WORK CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR.
HAVING EMPLOYEES WHERE SNEAKERS TO WORK FOR ONE DAY WAS A 
FUN WAY TO SPREAD THE WORD THAT GUYS NEED TO GET SCREENED 
FOR PROSTATE CANCER.
THIS IS A CRUCIAL MESSAGE BECAUSE SCREENING FOR EARLY 
DETECTION CAN SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES.
MAMMOGRAMS ARE A PART OF LIFE FOR WOMEN, AND WE NOW NEED TO 
DO THE SAME THING FOR GENTLEMEN.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE HOPING TO BUILD THE SNEAKERS AT WORK 
CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE MORE AND MORE WORKPLACES NEXT YEAR.
WHO KNOWS, MAYBE EVEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EMPLOYEES CAN GET 
INVOLVED TOO.
AT ANY RATE, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR 
THIS PROCLAMATION AND FOR HELPING SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT 
PROSTATE CANCER AND FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT IN THE BATTLE FOR 
CANCER.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MOFFITT 
AND ALL OF THE CORPORATE SPONSORS BECAUSE PROSTATE CANCER 
IS AN AWFUL DISEASE IN OUR COMMUNITY, JUST LIKE BREAST 
CANCER IN WOMEN.
PROSTATE CANCER AFFECTS MEN OF DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBERS IN 
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND ALTHOUGH VERY 
UNCOMFORTABLE, JUST GOT MY OVER 40 PROSTATE EXAM AND PROUD 
TO SAY THAT I'M GOOD TO GO, BUT -- NOT A VERY COMFORTABLE 
PROCEDURE BUT A NECESSARY PROCEDURE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT 
TO PROLONG AN EARLY DETECTION WITH YOUR LIFE AND WANT TO 
LIVE A QUALITY OF LIFE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE 
AWARENESS DOES, AND ESPECIALLY THE AWARENESS IN THE 
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY AS A 
WHOLE, AND THANK MOFFITT FOR ALL THAT THEY DO IN OUR 
COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND ALL OF OUR CORPORATE 
SPONSORS THAT HELP THEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MS. BEAN.
>>PAT BEAN:  YES.
JUST TWO COMMENTS.
DR. RIVERS AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY FROM MOFFITT 
AND THE CORPORATE WORLD, FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE BEEN VERY 
PROUD TO BE ENGAGED WITH MOFFITT IN BRINGING M2GEN TO THIS 
COMMUNITY.
THAT WAS A REAL EFFORT, TOOK SOME REAL DOING TO BE ABLE TO 
ACHIEVE THAT, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT PARTNERSHIP THAT 
WE HAVE.
SECONDLY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE DO INCLUDE SCREENINGS 
FOR PROSTATE CANCER IN OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM TODAY, BUT TALK 
TO US ABOUT THE SNEAKERS IN THE WORKPLACE PROGRAM, AND 
WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT INCORPORATING THAT AS 
ANOTHER MEASURE.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. BEAN.
AND THE FINAL PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING WILL BE GIVEN BY 
COMMISSIONER ROSE FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, COLLEAGUES, 
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
AS WE CAN SEE BY THE PROCLAMATIONS AND ACCLAMATIONS THAT WE 
GAVE THIS MORNING, WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY 
AND AGENCIES TO THANK THAT SOMETIMES WE GET BEHIND ON OUR 
SCHEDULING.
LAST MONTH'S PROCLAMATION SCHEDULE WAS FULL, SO ALTHOUGH 
THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROCLAMATION FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG 
ADDICTION RECOVERY MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO 
PRESENT IT TODAY.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR AND 
TO MOFFITT FOR WHAT THEY DO, AND MR. WHITE BEING THE 
GENTLEMAN THAT YOU ARE, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO 
MAKE THE COMMUNITY AWARE, AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT 
THAT YOU SPARED US THE DETAILS OF YOUR EXAMINATION.
[LAUGHTER]
THIS MORNING I AM VERY HAPPY TO PRESENT THIS TO SOME 
AGENCIES THAT DO GREAT WORK IN OUR COUNTY.
TODAY WITH US IS MARY LYNN ULREY, WHO IS THE CEO FOR DACCO.
I BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS CHRISTINA EASON WITH HER, A 23-YEAR-
OLD WITH HER INFANT WHO WAS BORN DRUG-FREE; AND ALSO MY 
FRIEND RICHARD BROWN, WHO IS THE CEO FROM ACTS; AND ALONG 
WITH RICHARD IS ASHA TERMINELLO, WHO IS OUR DIRECTOR OF 
OPERATIONS, SO IF RICHARD AND MARY LYNN WOULD COME UP.
MARY LYNN, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S UNDERSTOOD -- WE HAVE 
WORKED TOGETHER ON SOME COMMITTEES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO 
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT DACCO DOES.
I APPRECIATE THAT BOTH AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND EVEN 
MORE SO AS A PHARMACIST WHO RECOGNIZES HOW IMPORTANT YOUR 
SERVICES ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE DUAL PROCLAMATIONS, AND I WILL READ THEM AND THEN 
ASK BOTH OF YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS, IF YOU WOULD.
TO RICHARD, THE SAME RECOGNITION, AND WITHOUT ANY 
DISCOUNTING OF WHAT YOU DO, I HAVE A PARTICULAR PERSONAL 
EXPERIENCE WITH RICHARD AND ACTS, AND SO IF IT SOUNDS LIKE 
IT'S PARTIAL, BELIEVE ME --
>> IT'S OKAY.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WELL, THE BEAUTY OF THESE TWO AGENCIES IS 
THAT IT'S NOT AT ALL COMPETITIVE, IT'S VERY COMPLEMENTARY, 
AND THEY WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
RICHARD, AS I SAID, IS THE CEO OF ACTS, AND I HAVE 
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE, WHERE THEY'VE 
STARTED, AND WHERE THEY'VE GONE.
I STARTED AS THEIR CONSULTANT PHARMACIST AND CONTINUE TO BE 
THE CONSULTANT PHARMACIST.
I STARTED THAT RELATIONSHIP IN 1974, AND IN 1974 ACTS WAS 
HOUSED IN THE OLD SALVATION ARMY BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF 
PLATT AND FRANKLIN -- AND JIM, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WHERE 
THAT IS.
IT'S NOW THE PARKING LOT OF -- OR THE PARKING GARAGE OF OUR 
CONVENTION CENTER.
-- AND FROM THERE THEY HAVE GROWN AND CONTINUED TO SERVE 
OUR COMMUNITY AND ARE VERY BROAD SPREAD IN TERMS OF 
MULTICOUNTY AGENCIES, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT ANYTHING WE 
GIVE TO THESE AGENCIES IN TERMS OF FUNDING AND EFFORTS IS 
VERY WELL SPENT BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY 
AND CONTINUE TO DO.
LET ME READ THIS ONE, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSION, BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS.
WHEREAS -- THIS PROCLAMATION -- SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS 
IMPACT 22.6 MILLION PEOPLE AGED 12 OR OLDER IN THE UNITED 
STATES, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH 
CORONARY HEART DISEASE, CANCER, OR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE 
COMBINED; AND WHEREAS, STUDIES HAVE CONSISTENTLY FOUND THAT 
INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR PEOPLE TO BE 
SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR PATH OF RECOVERY; AND WHEREAS, PEOPLE 
WHO RECEIVE TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS CAN 
LEAD MORE PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING LIVES, PERSONALLY AND 
PROFESSIONALLY, AND THOSE IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY ARE OFFERED 
A RENEWED OUTLOOK ON LIFE; WHEREAS, REAL STORIES OF LONG-
TERM RECOVERY CAN INSPIRE OTHERS TO ASK FOR HELP AND 
IMPROVE THEIR OWN LIVES, THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILY, AND THE 
ENTIRE COMMUNITY; WHEREAS, DACCO, DRUG ABUSE COMPREHENSIVE 
COORDINATING OFFICE, INC., OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, HAS 
SUCCESSFULLY TREATED AND DISCHARGED 956 ADULTS AND CHILDREN 
IN FY 07-08; AND WHEREAS, ACTS, AGENCY FOR COMMUNITY 
TREATMENT SERVICE, SUCCESSFULLY TREATED AND DISCHARGED 897 
ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN FY 07; AND 
WHEREAS, IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE EDUCATE RESIDENTS THAT 
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS -- ABUSE DISORDERS ARE SERIOUS 
HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE OTHER 
CHRONIC DISEASES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE 
FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY; WHEREAS, TO HELP ACHIEVE THIS 
GOAL, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE 
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ASSOCIATION 
ADMINISTRATION, THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG 
CONTROL POLICY, DACCO, AND ACTS HAVE ALLIED TO PROMOTE THIS 
YEAR'S THEME, "JOIN THE VOICES FOR RECOVERY, REAL PEOPLE, 
REAL RECOVERY."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY 
PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2008 AS "ALCOHOL, DRUG 
ADDICTION RECOVERY MONTH" IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND 
SALUTES ALL RESIDENTS WHO SUPPORTED THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT, 
AS WAS EXECUTED THE 30th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2008.
IT WAS SIGNED BY OUR CHAIRMAN, MR. HAGAN, SIGNED ALSO BY MY 
COLLEAGUES AND MYSELF, AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US IN THIS 
COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOTH OF YOU, 
FOR WHAT YOU DO.
WE ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE IT.
IT IS MY HONOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
RICHARD.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU-ALL BOTH -- EVERYONE FOR TAKING TIME 
TO ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THIS.
I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE TREATED, AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT 
MORE PEOPLE THAN THIS; HOWEVER, 2,000 ARE RETURNING TO THE 
COMMUNITY PAYING TAXES NOW, SO THAT'S A REAL BONUS.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS WE USE EVIDENCE-
BASED PRACTICES WHICH HAS BETTER OUTCOMES THAN 
TRADITIONALLY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN RECOVERY, AND 
FINALLY, IT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF SO MANY PROBLEMS IN OUR 
SOCIETY AS FAR AS DIVORCE, CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, 
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND THE THINGS THAT YOU TREAT IN SO MANY 
OTHER WAYS.
THIS IS SORT OF THE ROOT CAUSE OF THAT, AND I JUST WANT TO 
THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT AND SEEING IT AS A 
DISEASE.
THANK YOU.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT MARY LYNN SAID.
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNITION OF FOLKS IN RECOVERY.
IT'S A HARD ROW TO HOE, IT'S A LIFETIME COMMITMENT, AND 
ALSO ON BEHALF OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FOLKS IN 
RECOVERY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT 
AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND THE RECOGNITION 
OF THE EFFORTS THAT GO ON IN THAT AREA.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO ASSURE YOU 
THAT ACTS AND DACCO AND OUR NETWORK OF PROVIDERS IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO KEEPING OUR 
INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, PARTICULARLY DURING THESE ROUGH 
TIMES WHEN DEMANDS ARE GOING TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY FOR 
THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE DO, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO 
KEEPING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TOGETHER IN ALL POSSIBLE WAYS TO 
INITIATE RECOVERY AVAILABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND BOARD MEMBERS, LET ME SAY TO YOU-ALL, 
THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE WONDERFUL, AND IF YOU-ALL FOLLOWED 
THE LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, THE -- OUR TALLAHASSEE EVENTS, 
THEIR FUNDING WAS COMPLETELY TAKEN AWAY AT ONE POINT DURING 
THE PROCESS, 100% TAKEN AWAY.
WE -- IF WE ARE -- INDEED BELIEVE THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT 
AGENCY, AND THEY ARE -- THEIR ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING FOR 
OUR COURTS, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT THEY BENEFIT THE 
LIVES OF FAMILIES -- WE SHOULD ALSO MAKE THIS -- AND I'LL 
REFER THIS OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATOR -- MAKE THIS A PART OF 
OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION PACKAGE THIS YEAR BECAUSE IN THE 
EARLY PHASES, LAST YEAR 100% OF ALL THEIR FUNDING WAS TAKEN 
AWAY, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEVASTATION TO US LOCALLY, 
SO -- AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT.
OKAY.
SO THAT'S THE -- THAT'S THE KIND OF POSITIVE STUFF WE CAN 
DO FOR THESE AGENCIES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. NORMAN, BOTH OF THEM, OF COURSE, ON 
BEHALF OF THEIR AGENCIES APPRECIATE IT, AS DO ALL OF US, 
BUT THAT IS SO ON POINT BECAUSE AS I SAID, WHEN I STARTED 
WITH ACTS IN 1974, RICHARD -- AND I'M SURE YOU CAN ATTEST 
TO THIS -- WE TREATED DRUG ADDICTION PATIENTS AND CLIENTS 
THAT WERE PREDOMINANTLY ADULTS, AND NOW IF YOU SEE HOW MANY 
CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED IN ADDICTION SO EARLY, MY GOD, IT IS 
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE THEM ALL THE FUNDING WE POSSIBLY 
CAN.
I TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND ALSO, COMMISSIONER, LET ME JUST SAY, YOU 
SHOULD HAVE CALLED ME DOWN.
I WOULD HAVE HELPED, BUT I WAS JUST GETTING OUT OF HIGH 
SCHOOL.
BUT ANYWAY.
[LAUGHTER]
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER, MR. NORMAN.
[LAUGHTER]
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.
I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU AGAIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE WE GO INTO THE CHANGES 
TO THE AGENDA, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME FOR A MOMENT, WE HAVE A 
SPECIAL GUEST IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT 
OFF OF THE AGENDA, MR. NICK COX FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
IF HE CAN COME FORWARD, AND I BELIEVE YOU HAD SOME -- 
WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
WELCOME.
>> YEAH.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN, THANK YOU.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR INDULGING ME FOR A FEW 
MINUTES TO HAVE ME HERE.
AS COMMISSIONER HAGAN MENTIONED, I'M THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR 
OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
MY REGION GOES FROM PASCO COUNTY DOWN TO COLLIER COUNTY AND 
LEE.
SO COMMISSIONER WHITE, I FEEL THE PAIN ON A DAILY BASIS 
THAT YOU RECENTLY WENT THROUGH BEING WITH DCF DOING WHAT I 
DO BECAUSE IT IS A CHALLENGE, BUT I WANTED TO BE HERE TODAY 
TO THANK YOU ALL AND TO THANK ONE OF YOUR -- ONE OF YOUR 
SECTIONS, THE SOCIAL SERVICES IN PARTICULAR.
THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW THAT I COME FROM A 
PROSECUTION BACKGROUND.
I'M LAWYER, AND I SPENT 16 YEARS AS A PROSECUTOR, AND 
DURING THAT TIME I WORKED WITH BOB BUTTERWORTH AT THE 
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, AND WHEN HE BECAME THE 
SECRETARY, I ENDED UP COMING OVER TO DCF, AND WE BROUGHT 
WITH US SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE USED AT THE AG'S 
OFFICER OVER TO DCF.
ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU-ALL ABOUT 
WAS A PROGRAM WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE PROVISION 
OF SERVICES AND THE HOMES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR FOSTER 
YOUTH WHO ARE IN OUR CARE, IN PARTICULAR IN GROUP HOMES, 
AND WE'VE KICKED THAT OFF WITH A VENGEANCE HERE IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WHAT WE CALL "OPERATION DO DROP 
IN," IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE GENERAL CAME UP WITH, I 
DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S RANDOM UNANNOUNCED INSPECTIONS OF 
GROUP HOMES, AND IT'S BEEN HAVING QUITE AN IMPACT BECAUSE 
WORD HAS SPREAD THROUGH THE INDUSTRY THAT THIS WAS -- THAT 
THIS WAS GOING ON, AND IT'S REALLY IMPROVED A LITTLE BIT 
THE QUALITY.
UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN WE HIT HYPER DRIVE.
WE RECENTLY HAD A HOME HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT WAS 
UNDER INVESTIGATION BY US AND BY THE AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE 
ADMINISTRATION, AND WE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH 
THIS PLACE, AND OUT OF THE BLUE DURING THE INVESTIGATION 
THIS HOME TOLD US, WE'RE CLOSING OUR DOORS, COME GET THESE 
13 KIDS IN 24 HOURS, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR US.
AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR 
SITUATION -- THESE CHILDREN ARE SOME OF OUR MORE 
CHALLENGING FOSTER YOUTH, KIDS WITH CROSSOVER ISSUES WITH 
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
OUR COMMUNITY-BASED CARE ORGANIZATION HERE IN TAMPA, GREAT 
PARTNER, HILLSBOROUGH KIDS, WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED 
BECAUSE THEY HAD TO FIND QUICK PLACEMENTS FOR THESE 13 KIDS 
AND WERE HAVING A REAL DIFFICULT TIME DOING IT AND STARTED 
TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD ASK THIS HOME TO 
CONTINUE THEIR SERVICES FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS AND GIVE THEM 
A SPECIAL STIPEND TO DO IT, WHICH WOULD SEND THE WRONG 
MESSAGE AND IT WOULD HAVE THE WRONG IMPACT, AND THESE KIDS 
NEEDED TO BE OUT OF THERE.
IT WAS NOT A GOOD SITUATION.
WELL, ONE OF OUR STAFF, OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, MARGARET FENDER, PICKED UP THE PHONE 
AND CALLED ONE OF YOUR FOLKS, TOM PAPIN, OVER AT LAKE 
MAGDALENE.
AND I HOPE MANY OF YOU KNOW TOM PAPIN AND ALSO MANUS 
O'DONNELL, AND WE MADE A PHONE CALL TO THEM AND SAID, WE'VE 
GOT A BIT OF A FIX HERE, CAN YOU HELP US OUT?
AND TOM PAPIN STEPPED UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN 
HELP YOU OUT AT THE LAKE MAGDALENE FACILITY.
AND THEY TOOK THESE KIDS -- THEY TOOK THE MAJORITY OF THESE 
KIDS OUT AT THE LAKE MAGDALENE FACILITY, AND NOW THESE KIDS 
HAVE BEEN THERE.
IN FACT, I SPOKE TO MR. PAPIN THIS MORNING, AND HE TOLD ME 
THAT THESE KIDS ARE DOING WONDERFULLY.
THESE KIDS CAME FROM THIS OTHER FACILITY WITH REALLY 
NOTHING IN THEIR THERAPEUTIC BACKGROUND IN THEIR FILES, 
WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM BECAUSE AGAIN WE'RE DEALING 
WITH SOME REAL CHALLENGING KIDS HERE.
THEY HAD NO EVALUATIONS, NOTHING FOR THEM TO GO OFF ON, AND 
NOW LAKE MAGDALENE IS PROVIDING THAT AND IS TAKING ALL THE 
STEPS FOR THEM.
YOU KNOW, I WENT OVER WITHIN ABOUT TWO OR THREE DAYS AFTER 
THEY WERE PLACED OVER AT LAKE MAG, AND I MET ONE OF THE 11-
YEAR-OLD BOYS, AND HE REMEMBERED ME BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN OUT 
TO THIS FACILITY SEVERAL TIMES, THE FORMER FACILITY, AND HE 
MET ME THERE AND HIS FIRST COMMENTS WERE TO ME, DUDE, THIS 
PLACE IS SO MUCH BETTER, AND I MEAN, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, LAKE 
MAG REALLY HAS BECOME ALMOST LIKE A SUMMER CAMP SETTING, 
AND THESE KIDS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE HAPPY TO BE THERE AND 
THEY'RE THRILLED TO BE THERE.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU ALL THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR THE 
PROVISION OF SERVICES YOU'RE GIVING OUT THERE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS -- THIS PROGRAM NOW WITH WHAT'S 
HAPPENED HERE AND WITH YOUR HELP WITHIN 24 HOURS OF HELPING 
US PLACE THESE KIDS, WORD HAS SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE, NOT 
ONLY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BUT THROUGHOUT OUR REGION, 
ABOUT OUR CONCERN ABOUT GROUP HOME SETTINGS, AND YOU KNOW, 
I THINK THE MESSAGE IS THAT WHEN GOVERNMENTS CAN COME 
TOGETHER, LOCAL, STATE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, WHEN WE WORK 
TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN, AND SO IF YOU-ALL 
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MR. O'DONNELL AND TO THANK MR. 
PAPIN -- I'VE ALREADY DONE IT A BUNCH OF TIMES, BUT WE 
CANNOT THANK THEM AND WE CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR 
THE HELP ON THAT, AND WE HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS 
KIND OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU-ALL, SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY 
MUCH, AND PLEASE PASS IT ON TO THEM AS WELL.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE THE HONOR OF 
SERVING WITH MR. COX ON THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, AND YOU ARE 
REALLY, TRULY A GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT.
YOU COME IN EVERY DAY SO ENTHUSIASTIC, SO UPBEAT, AND YOU 
DEAL WITH SO MANY CHALLENGING ISSUES, AND I KNOW THAT YOUR 
NEW BOSS, GEORGE SHELDON, IS GOING TO DO A SUPERB JOB AS 
WELL.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, WE THANK YOU 
FOR THE GOOD WORDS ABOUT MANUS AND MR. PAPIN.
THEY ARE PHENOMENAL.
I'VE BEEN OUT TO THAT HOME MANY TIMES.
I'M SURE THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE AS WELL.
IT'S A GREAT SERVICE YOU PROVIDE FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND I 
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE AND GIVING US SOME 
GOOD NEWS.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN..
>> THANK YOU.
AND AS I TOLD YOU, TOM PAPIN AND MANUS O'DONNELL, I'M A 
FAN, A HUGE PLAN, SO --
>>KEN HAGAN:  MS. BEAN.
>>PAT BEAN:  YES.
I HAVE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING YOU, I'M PAT BEAN, 
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR --
>> OH, I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
[LAUGHTER]
>>PAT BEAN:  -- BUT STARTED MANY YEARS AGO IN THE HUMAN 
SERVICES ARENA FOR THIS COUNTY, AND I CAN TELL YOU ONE 
THING RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PERSON IN CHARGE OUT THERE THAT'S HAD 
THE ENTHUSIASM THAT I HEAR OUT OF YOU THIS MORNING, AND I'M 
EXCITED TO HEAR THAT, AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT TOM AND 
MANUS BOTH HAVE JUST DONE PHENOMENAL WORK.
MANUS IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
MANUS, STAND UP.
[APPLAUSE]
THEY HAVE -- THEY HAVE DONE PHENOMENAL WORK SINCE THEY'VE 
BEEN WITH THE COUNTY, HELPING TO TURN THAT FACILITY INTO 
ONE THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY GOOD TO 
HEAR THAT YOU HAVE HAD THAT KIND OF VERY POSITIVE 
EXPERIENCE, AND SO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND 
SAYING THAT.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ALSO, I TRIED TO INVITE MR. PAPIN TO 
COME DOWN HERE.
I CALLED HIM THIS MORNING AND SAID, CAN'T YOU COME DOWN AND 
SEE THE COMMISSIONERS WITH ME, I MEAN, I'M GOING TO SAY 
SOMETHING NICE ABOUT YOU, YOU MIGHT WANT TO RUN DOWN, AND 
HIS BASIC RESPONSE TO ME WAS, DUDE, I'VE GOT WORK TO DO 
RIGHT NOW, SO, YOU KNOW, HE'S WORKING HIS TAIL OFF.
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, WE'LL GET HIM A COPY OF WHAT YOU SAID SO 
HE CAN TAKE THAT AND LOOK AT IT EVERY TIME HE GETS A LITTLE 
FRUSTRATED OR A LITTLE DOWN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MUCH THE SAME THING AS PAT.
I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU, BUT THE 
ENTHUSIASM THAT I HAVE SEEN PERSONALLY ON TOURS WITH TOM 
AND WITH THE WORK THAT MANUS DOES, OBVIOUSLY, IS THE SAME 
ATTITUDE THAT YOU HAVE, SO I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW MARK 
THOROUGHLY ENJOYS WORKING WITH YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT 
YOU DO BACK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REPRESENTING US SO WELL THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  NICK, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK 
WITH YOU.
IT'S ABOUT --
>> THIS IS ABOUT TOM AND MANUS.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  NO, TOM AND MANUS ARE GREAT PEOPLE.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH THEM ON THE SIDE, BUT 
IN A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME 
ON THE BOARD FOR CHILDREN, PLAYING BASEBALL AND COACHING 
BASEBALL, YOU SET A GREAT TONE FOR THE WHOLE BOARD, AND YOU 
WERE, AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED, ALWAYS -- AS COMMISSIONER 
SHARPE MENTIONED, ALWAYS FULL OF EXCITEMENT AND A CAN-DO 
GUY, AND YOU'RE A MAN'S MAN.
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANKS, NICK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  HAVE A GOOD DAY.
MS. BEAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVIEW THE CHANGES TO THE 
AGENDA?
>>PAT BEAN:  YES, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT, COMMISSIONER.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU DO HAVE ONE ITEM BROUGHT UNDER THE RULE 
13 FOR THE BOARD TO APPROVE ADDING TO THE AGENDA, AND THIS 
IS TO DIRECT THE STAFF TO FORWARD THEIR ACTION PLAN 
REGARDING THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION 
PROGRAM TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD.
STAFF SHOULD REFER THEIR FINDINGS, PROCEDURES, AND RULES TO 
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD'S NEXT AVAILABLE 
MEETING IN ORDER TO REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF OFF-THE-AGENDA ITEMS.
ITEM B-3 IS A REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF THE 
PUBLIC FUNDS AND USE OF COUNTY STAFF TO PROVIDE INFORMATION 
TO THE PUBLIC AND ENCOURAGE PASSAGE OF THE REFERENDUM TO 
EXTEND THE ELAP PROGRAM.
F-3, DIRECTING STAFF TO INVESTIGATE FUNDING ALTERNATIVES TO 
SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF A MANNED AMBULANCE FOR PROGRESS 
VILLAGE THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE ELIMINATING THE STAFF OR 
APPARATUS AT THE LUTZ FIRE STATION.
YOU HAVE ONE DEFERRAL OR DELETION FROM THE AGENDA, AND 
THAT'S A-56, APPROVING A SATISFACTION OF CLAIM COVERING 
PAYMENT OF COSTS FOR THE GUARDIANSHIP CASES.
THAT WILL BE DELETED FROM THIS AGENDA.
YOU HAVE ONE ITEM REMOVED FROM CONSENT FOR SEPARATE VOTE.
THIS WAS REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
HE WISHES TO ADDRESS FOR SEPARATE VOTE A-30, APPROVING THE 
SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE PERMIT AND LICENSE AGREEMENT 
BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE CITY OF TAMPA, AND 
HILLSBOROUGH AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT.
THERE'S ONE ITEM THAT'S PULLED FROM CONSENT FOR 
HIGHLIGHTING, AND THAT IS A-29, TO APPROVE A LETTER OF 
AGREEMENT BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AVIATION AUTHORITY 
AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND AUTHORIZE MARK THORNTON, 
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND CONSERVATION, TO EXECUTE 
THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT FOR TEMPORARY USE OF PARKING AREA 
FOR OVERFLOW PARKING DURING THE TAMPA BAY YOUTH FOOTBALL 
LEAGUE FOOTBALL GAMES.
AND THEN YOU HAVE ONE ITEM REMOVED FROM CONSENT FOR 
DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS, AND THAT IS ITEM A-66, ALSO 
REMOVED BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
THIS IS TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM PARKS, RECREATION, AND 
CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE BUILDING OF PARKS AND 
LIGHTING.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A LIST OF ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR A TIME 
CERTAIN.
AT 10:30 YOU'RE TO TAKE UP ITEM F-2, WHICH IS TO DIRECT THE 
ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP A POSTER IDENTIFYING THE COMBAT 
TAX GRANT PROGRAM.
ITEM D-1 IS SCHEDULED FOR A TIME CERTAIN AT 2:00 TO APPROVE 
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HISTORIC 
PRESERVATION PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ORDINANCE 93-7.
AND THEN ALSO AT 2:00, ITEM D-2, APPROVING THE
FY 2008/FY 2014 HART CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
D-3 AT 2:00 ALSO IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 
1st AT 2:00 AND ENACT AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED CHILD SEX CRIME 
PREVENTION WHICH ENHANCES CHILD SAFETY.
AND THEN AT 2:00 ALSO IS ITEM D-4, ADOPT A PROPOSED 
AMENDMENT TO THE WATER CONSERVATION ORDINANCE 03-7 AS 
AMENDED BY 06-32 AND 06-38 RELATING TO WATERING 
RESTRICTIONS.
THOSE ARE THE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA, MR. CHAIR.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MOVE THE CHANGES, MR. CHAIR.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGES 
COMMISSIONER FERLITA, SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL GO INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT 
PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.
THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT ANY ISSUES 
OR CONCERNS.
YOUR OPINIONS ARE VALUED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INPUT TO THE 
BOARD MEMBERS; HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED THAT AT THE SAME 
TIME WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD THAT COMMENTS ARE NOT 
DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A COMMISSIONER OR STAFF MEMBER 
BUT RATHER AT THE ISSUES.
WE'VE SET ASIDE 45 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE MICROPHONE, AND 
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES.
THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING ARE DAVID BROWN, 
MARILYN SMITH, AND CLARENCE DUKE TOUTES.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
MY NAME IS DAVID BROWN.
I'M FROM SUN CITY CENTER.
A MONTH OR TWO AGO PAUL VANDERPLOOG STOOD RIGHT HERE AND 
TOLD YOU THAT WHEN IT COMES TO BACKFLOW VALVE CITATIONS, 
WATER RESOURCE SERVICES DOES NOT TARGET PARTICULAR AREAS OF 
THE COUNTY.
SINCE I WAS PRETTY SURE HE WAS BEING UNTRUTHFUL, I MADE A 
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR CITATIONS COUNTYWIDE, AND HERE 
ARE THE BACKFLOW VALVE CITATION COUNTS GOING BACK TO MAY 
8th.
THREE FOR BRANDON, ONE FOR GIBSONTON, ONE FOR ODESSA, ONE 
FOR RIVERVIEW, ONE FOR SEFFNER, 71 FOR YOUR SUN CITY 
CENTER, AND 102 FOR YOUR APOLLO BEACH.
WHEN I FINISHED COMPILING THE NUMBERS, THE HAIR ON MY ARM 
WAS STANDING UP.
I WENT INTO THE FRONT ROOM AND I READ THE COUNTS TO MY 
WIFE.
SHE SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE SOMEONE AT WRS WAS TRYING TO GET 
EVEN WITH SUN CITY CENTER BECAUSE OF MY SPEAKING OUT ABOUT 
HOW DANGEROUS RPZ VALVES ARE, BUT THEN I REMINDED HER THAT 
APOLLO BEACH HAD EVEN MORE CITATIONS.
SUDDENLY THE WORD KICKBACK CAME TO MIND.
COULD IT BE THAT ALL OF THESE SOUTH COUNTY CITATIONS ARE 
BEING DRIVEN BY A KICKBACK ARRANGEMENT?
ON AUGUST 20th YOU PASSED A MORATORIUM ON CITATIONS, AND 
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT IS EVEN MORE 
INTERESTING.
BECAUSE OF LABOR DAY THERE WERE NINE WORKING DAYS.
ON SIX OF THOSE NINE DAYS AFTER THE INSPECTOR FINISHED HIS 
DAILY PLUMBING INSPECTIONS, HE DROVE BACK DOWN TO SUN CITY 
CENTER AND ONLY SUN CITY CENTER AND COMPILED A LIST OF OVER 
200 PROPERTIES THAT WERE TO BE CITED THE INSTANT THE 
MORATORIUM WAS LIFTED.
I LOOKED UP THE TERM "SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT" ON THE 
INTERNET.
IT SAYS THAT ASIDE FROM BEING AN ABUSE OF POWER AND 
INHERENTLY UNJUST, IT ALMOST INEVITABLY MUST LEAD TO 
FAVORITISM AND EXTORTION WITH THOSE EMPOWERED TO CHOOSE 
BEING ABLE TO HELP THEIR FRIENDS AND TAKE BRIBES.
IF I WERE TO WRITE A NOVEL INCORPORATING ALL THIS 
INFORMATION, I THINK ITS STORYLINE WOULD BE THAT PLUMBING 
COMPANIES IN SOUTH COUNTY WHO ARE PROVIDING KICKBACKS TO 
COUNTY OFFICIALS WHEN BACKFLOW VALVE BUSINESS COMES THEIR 
WAY, AND THE UNDERLYING THEME OF THE NOVEL WOULD BE THAT 
THE MORE CITATIONS YOU PUT OUT THERE, THE MORE KICKBACK 
MONEY YOU'LL GET BACK.
THE SOLUTION IS TO MAKE WRS PAY FOR THE COST AND 
INSTALLATION OF ALL BACKFLOW VALVES.
THAT WOULD STOP ANY KICKBACKS AND WOULD STOP THE 
EXPLOITATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS.
ANY QUESTIONS?
BING, BING.
>>MARK SHARPE:  MARILYN SMITH.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  MR. BROWN, I WILL LOOK INTO THAT.
MAKE SURE I GET A COPY OF THAT.
>> OH, YEAH, RIGHT.
BONGIORNO.
MARILYN SMITH, P.O. BOX 66 SYDNEY 33587, GRANDMOTHER-AT-
LARGE.
I SEE THE CHAIR HAS EXITED.
WELL, WE'LL GO ON ANYWAY.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A-1, AGING SERVICES.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO DO THOSE LIGHTED AREAS AND 
ENHANCE THOSE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OLD PEOPLE HAVE BAD EYES, 
AND WE GET RUN OVER IF WE CAN'T SEE, SO LET'S GIVE THEM 
MORE MONEY INTO THE LIGHTING, OUTDOOR LIGHTING.
THAT'S SAFETY REASON.
THEN WE HAVE A-30.
THAT'S A TRANSPORTATION ITEM, AND I LIKE TO WATCH HOW IT'S 
BEEN HIGHLIGHTED HERE WHERE THERE IS A CERTAIN AREA THAT 
MAKES SURE THAT NO MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION IS GOING TO GO 
TO THE STREETCAR, WHICH IS ONLY RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT 
STREETCAR GOT MONEY IT SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN IN THE 
BEGINNING, $13 MILLION.
IT IS NOT TRANSPORTATION.
DICK GRECO SOLD IT AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE LITTLE RAILS AND THE 
REAL RAILS, SO LET'S DON'T GET THAT CONFUSED WITH 
TRANSPORTATION, PLEASE.
IT IS NOT, AND NOBODY RIDES IT.
IT'S A -- AROUND OUR NECK IT'S A MILLSTONE.
NOW, LET'S GO ON.
WE HAVE D-4, WHICH IS WATER CONSERVATION.
WATER CONSERVATION HAPPENS TO BE TIED TO ALSO THE WETLAND, 
AND, YOU KNOW, ELAPP IS INVOLVED IN THAT.
SO ALL -- YOU KNOW, WATER, WETLAND, WATER ARE ALL 
CONNECTED.
NOW, THIS IS WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING BECAUSE MR. BLAIR, 
WHO WAS CHAIR AT THE TIME OF EPC, DECIDED TO CUT AND BLEED 
ALL OF OUR WETLANDS, AND IT WAS PAID FOR NONETHELESS BY ONE 
OF HIS BEST BUDDIES, MR. DIBBS, WHO HAS A BIG SIGN OUT 
THERE ON EHRLICH ROAD, PAID FOR BY BRIAN BLAIR, WHICH IS A 
BLATANT LIE BECAUSE MR. DIBBS PAID FOR THAT SIGN.
THAT'S NOT TRUTH IN ADVERTISING, BRIAN.
AND DON'T INTERRUPT ME AND TELL ME IT'S A LIE BECAUSE IT IS 
NOT.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  IT'S A BLATANT LIE.
>> WHAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS -- SHUT UP.
IT'S MY TURN.
YOU TALK ENOUGH.
YOU GOT ON THIS MORNING WITH YOUR RELIGIOUS STUFF.
>>MARK SHARPE:  EXCUSE ME.
EXCUSE ME.
>> HE HAS NO RIGHT TO INTERRUPT ME.
>>MARK SHARPE:  LET'S JUST CONTINUE WITHOUT --
>> TELL HIM TO BE QUIET.
TELL HIM TO BE QUIET.
>>MARK SHARPE:  GO.
>> NOW, HERE WE GO.
HE HAS A HUGE SIGN BETWEEN THE STOP SIGN AND A WATER 
HYDRANT -- FIRE HYDRANT ON THE CORNER OF 122nd AND FLORIDA 
AVENUE, BUT HE'S OH SO CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
NO, HE ISN'T.
HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT KEEPING HIS JOB.
THAT'S ALL HE CARES ABOUT.
NOW, WE ALSO HAVE THE ADVERTISING -- THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING 
ADVISORY BOARD.
THAT'S A JOKE.
THEY'VE GOT PEOPLE ON THERE WHO ARE SO CROOKED IT'S NOT 
EVEN FUNNY.
THEY'VE BEEN PUT OUT OF BUSINESS IN OTHER WAYS, BUT THEY 
GET ON THAT BOARD.
HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO ADVISE PEOPLE LIKE 
HOWIE AND PEOPLE LIKE COLONEL BOWWOW.
THEY CAN'T EVEN SPEND TWO MILLION A YEAR, AND NOW THEY'RE 
GOING TO GIVE THEM 19.1?
COME ON.
GET A GRIP.
THAT ADVISORY BOARD DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A QUORUM MOST OF THE 
TIME.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  PARDON ME?
>> MORE TIME HE GETS.
>>MARK SHARPE:  JUST KEEP IT --
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  NO.
I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY OTHER THAN IT'S ROUGH WHEN SOMEBODY 
GETS UP HERE AND TELLS BLATANT LIES WITH NO FACTUAL 
EVIDENCE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
THE NEXT PEOPLE IS CLARENCE TOWNES.
AND THE FOLLOWING WILL BE EILEEN HART AND KENT McCLENDON.
MR. TOWNES.
>> RIGHT.
MY NAME IS CLARENCE DUKE TOWNES.
I LIVE AT 2706 NORTH 33rd STREET IN TAMPA, FLORIDA.
MY TOPIC TODAY WILL BE RACIST IDEAS BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
CONTRACTOR LICENSING DIVISION THAT ONLY APPLIES TO BLACKS.
THIS IS A STORY.
I HAVE TWO EARS AND ONE MOUTH.
I LISTEN TWICE AS MUCH AS I SPEAK, SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL DO 
THE SAME THING.
ON SEPTEMBER THE 20th, 2007 -- THAT'S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR 
AGO -- I HAD THREE LICENSES, CONCRETE, TILE, AND CARPENTRY, 
RENEWED INACTIVE, THE WAY I HAD BEEN DOING FOR A NUMBER OF 
YEARS.
THESE THREE LICENSES ARE SIMPLE LICENSES THAT DO NOT 
REQUIRE ANY CONTINUOUS EDUCATION IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM.
I WAS TOLD BY DAVID KENNEDY, WHO IS THE CONTRACTOR 
LICENSING PROGRAM COORDINATOR THAT, QUOTE, YOU PEOPLE -- 
ONCE HE SAID THAT, I INTERRUPTED TO ASK, WHO ARE YOU 
PEOPLE?
HE STATED, PEOPLE LIKE ME.
I THEN ASKED, BLACK PEOPLE LIKE ME?
AND HE STATED, YES.
RIGHT AWAY I ASKED HIM, DID HE KNOW STEVE LaBRAKE, AND HE 
ANSWERED, MAYBE.
THEN HE WENT ON TO SAY, WHEN YOU PEOPLE -- THAT'S BLACKS -- 
HAVE YOUR LICENSES INACTIVE FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR, YOU 
PEOPLE -- THAT'S THE BLACKS -- FORGET THE SKILLS YOU HAVE 
AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO ACTIVATE MY LICENSE FOR THE 2008-
2009 YEAR OR HE WILL PERSONALLY TAKE THEM AWAY.
I HAVE HAD MY THREE LICENSES SINCE 1974 -- THAT'S 34 YEARS 
-- WITHOUT A SINGLE COMPLAINT.
FAST FORWARD.
SEPTEMBER THE 16th, 2008, I WENT TO GET MY THREE LICENSES 
RENEWED, INACTIVE OF COURSE.
WHEN MY NAME WAS CALLED, BEFORE I SAT DOWN I ASKED THE 
YOUNG LADY, ARE THERE ANY LIMITS ON HOW MANY YEARS THAT YOU 
CAN HAVE YOUR LICENSES INACTIVE?
HER ANSWER WAS NO.
I SAT DOWN AND GAVE HER THREE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS, AND SHE 
STARTED THE PROCESS.
THEN SHE TOLD ME THAT DAVID KENNEDY HAD PUT ON ALL MY -- 
ALL MY LICENSES THAT I ONLY CAN RENEW THEM ACTIVE.
THEN SHE SAYS, THAT'S STRANGE.
AND I ASKED, WHAT'S STRANGE?
AND SHE SAID, HE DIDN'T PUT A REASON WHY.
SO SHE GAVE ME ONE OF DAVID KENNEDY'S CARD AND FOR ME TO 
TAKE THE ESCALATOR TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND GO STRAIGHT TO 
THE GLASS DOORS STRAIGHT AHEAD.
HE WASN'T IN, BUT THE YOUNG LADY AT THE FRONT DESK CHECKED 
MY LICENSES AND SAID DAVID KENNEDY HAD PUT IN THE SYSTEM 
THAT I HAD TO RENEW THEM ACTIVE.
THEN SHE SAID, THAT'S STRANGE.
I ASKED, WHAT'S STRANGE?
AND SHE SAID, HE DIDN'T STATE A REASON.
ALSO, DOING CONCRETE, TILE, AND CARPENTRY IS LIKE RIDING A 
BICYCLE.
ONCE YOU LEARN YOU NEVER FORGET, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE BLACK.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANK YOU, MR. TOWNES.
MR. WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I'D LIKE TO ASK MS. BEAN TO GET WITH MR. 
KENNEDY AND LOOK INTO THIS, AND IF THERE'S ANY 
IRREGULARITIES HERE AT ALL, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS 
IMMEDIATELY.
I'M PERSONALLY AWARE OF SOME WORK THAT MR. TOWNES HAS JUST 
DONE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, A MAJOR MOSAIC 
PIECE OUT THERE, AND IT'S AN ABSOLUTE WONDERFUL PIECE THAT 
JUDY GENSHAFT AND USF HAS --
>> AND I DIDN'T NEED MY LICENSE BECAUSE THAT'S AN ART 
PIECE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, 
BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART OUT THERE, AND I'VE SEEN OTHER WORK 
THAT MR. TOWNES HAS DONE IN THE PAST, AND HE'S A MASTER AT 
HIS TRADE TO SAY THE LEAST, AND I DON'T SEE WHY ANYONE 
HAVING A LICENSE FOR 34 YEARS SHOULD BE PENALIZED UNJUSTLY, 
SO IF WE COULD LOOK INTO THAT --
>>PAT BEAN:  ABSOLUTELY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND HAVE 
SOMEONE IN THE ADMINISTRATION GET BACK WITH MR. TOWNES.
THEY WILL HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION OFF OF THE FORM 
THAT YOU FILLED OUT, AND THEY SHOULD BE GETTING WITH YOU 
EXPEDITIOUSLY.
IF THEY DO NOT, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE ALREADY AND WE PLAYED PHONE TAG, BUT IF YOU 
HAVEN'T HEARD A RESPONSE -- HOW LONG DO YOU THINK, AT 
LEAST, MS. BEAN, BEFORE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET BACK WITH 
HIM WITH SOME PRELIMINARY RESULTS.
>>PAT BEAN:  OH, I'LL HAVE SOMEBODY GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM 
TODAY IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO REACH HIM TODAY.
DID YOU PUT A CELL NUMBER, BY ANY CHANCE, IF YOU HAVE ONE 
ON THAT LIST?
>> NO, I SURE DIDN'T.
>>PAT BEAN:  BEFORE YOU LEAVE, IF YOU'LL JUST STEP OVER 
HERE AND GIVE HER YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER, WE'LL GET IN 
TOUCH WITH YOU TODAY --
>> WILL DO.
WILL DO.
>>PAT BEAN:  -- AND START A DIALOGUE, OKAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND COMMISSIONER WHITE, I AGREE.
I REMEMBER THE BAD SITUATION THAT WAS CREATED IN SOLID 
WASTE WHEN A LOT OF THESE KIND OF ISSUES WERE SURFACED, 
AND --
>>PAT BEAN:  SO DO I.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND I WANT TO SAY I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT 
ENOUGH, COMMISSIONER WHITE, AND I'M GLAD YOU REFERRED THIS 
OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED A 
CROSS AND DOUBLE-CHECK WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY ALSO HAVING 
A PARALLEL REVIEW OF THIS.
THIS IS VERY SERIOUS COMMENTS, AND -- BEFORE WHAT WE HAD 
WAS ADMINISTRATION WHICH WAS INVOLVED, AND AT THIS POINT IT 
SOUNDS LIKE THE CLAIMS ARE ADMINISTRATION'S INVOLVED, SO I 
DON'T WANT THEN -- SINCE -- I KNOW YOU'RE THE 
ADMINISTRATOR, AND I KNOW HOW STRONGLY YOU WERE ENGAGED IN 
CLEANING ALL THAT UP, BUT I WANT TO CHECK AND DOUBLE-CHECK, 
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR -- IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, 
COMMISSIONER WHITE, OUR COUNTY TO RUN A PARALLEL REVIEW 
THAT WE GET ALL THE FACTS AND YOU GET RESOLUTION OF WHAT 
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>>PAT BEAN:  ANYTIME WE'RE DOING A REVIEW SUCH AS THIS ONE, 
WE WOULD INVOLVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AUTOMATICALLY.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I WANT IT OFFICIALLY BEFORE THE PERSON 
MAKING ANY STATEMENTS HE KNOWS ALL THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED, 
SO --
>> ONE THING I HAVE HERE, ALL -- BOTH OF THEM SAID IT WAS 
STRANGE.
I HAVE A COPY OF THE BLANK SPACE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 
FILLED OUT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, SIR.
>> IF YOU WANT A COPY, I WILL GET WITH EVERY LAST ONE OF 
YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE:  MS. BEAN, TO INCLUDE -- I APPRECIATE THE 
COMMENTS OF BOTH COMMISSIONER WHITE AND COMMISSIONER NORMAN 
AND AGREE ENTIRELY, BUT ALSO TO INCLUDE THE WAY OUR STAFF 
CONDUCTS ITSELF.
I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST THAT IN ANY WAY AN INDIVIDUAL WAS 
COMMUNICATED TO IN THE MANNER THAT WE HEARD HERE WITHOUT A 
FULL INVESTIGATION.
IF THAT'S CORRECT, THAT IS ENTIRELY INAPPROPRIATE AND NEEDS 
TO BE AS WELL THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND DISCUSSED.
AND THEN I WOULD ALSO ASK ON THE PREVIOUS CASE, WITH REGARD 
TO THE ISSUE OF THE BACKFLOW VALVES AND THE CITATIONS, I 
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FROM STAFF AN ANALYSIS OF -- WE'VE 
ESTABLISHED A MORATORIUM, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME IF WE'RE 
ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM, THERE'S A PURPOSE BEHIND THAT 
MORATORIUM, WHICH IS TO WAIT UNTIL WE WORK THIS PROCESS 
OUT, AND I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING OUT AND THE 
MOMENT THE MORATORIUM'S LIFTED REISSUING CITATIONS.
I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST GET A REPORT BACK FROM STAFF ON THAT 
ISSUE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THE COMPLAINTS ARE GENERATED BY 
NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE WHO CALL IN.
THE STAFF DOESN'T GO OUT AND ACTIVELY --
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  BACKFLOW.
AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WHEN WE INITIATED THIS ISSUE TO GO 
AHEAD AND GET THE ISSUES AND CITATIONS STOPPED, AS YOU 
KNOW, WATER RESOURCES, NOW THE STATE, HAS FOLLOWED SUIT, 
AND THEY HAVE STOPPED, BUT I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE -- I 
DON'T EVEN THINK THEY HAVE THE STAFF RESOURCES TO GO OUT 
AND DO THIS, BUT AS FAR AS THE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT 
OF WATER RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY TARGETING SOMEBODY IN MY 
DISTRICT, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CASE WHERE A CITIZEN HAS 
INITIATED A COMPLAINT AND THEY'VE RESPONDED TO COMPLAINTS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, EILEEN HART, KENT McCLENDON, AND 
YVETTE MALDONADO.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS EILEEN HART.
I LIVE AT 16921 CRAWLEY ROAD, ODESSA, FLORIDA.
I WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE MORAL COURAGE AWARD FOR 1996.
I AM RETIRED NOW, BUT I WORKED FOR 28 YEARS ON THE NIGHT 
SHIFT AT A LOCAL LABORATORY.
DURING THE LATE '80s AND THROUGH THE '90s THERE WAS A LOT 
OF TRAUMA WITH THE EXCESSIVE GROUNDWATER WITHDRAWALS, HENCE 
THE WATER WARS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE'S WET PROPERTIES, THEIR WELLS, WETLANDS, 
THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE THOUSANDS, WELL, MILLIONS IN THE END 
TO OUR COUNTY, PASCO COUNTY, ET CETERA.
I WOULD COME HOME FROM WORK AT 7:00 A.M., SLEEP FOR A 
COUPLE OF HOURS, AND GO TO WEST COAST -- THAT IS NOW TAMPA 
BAY WATER -- AND THE SWFWMD, THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, 
COME TO THIS BOCC, GO TO THE OTHER BOCCs OF PASCO AND 
PINELLAS COUNTY, AND PUSH FOR DIVERSITY.
DIVERSITY WAS WHAT WE NEEDED.
THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF WATER DAMAGE, THERE WAS -- MAINLY IT 
WAS GROUNDWATER.
WE NEEDED WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
WE NEEDED A WELL, A RESERVOIR THAT WORKS, WE NEEDED DESAL.
WE NEEDED ALL THE OTHER THINGS BESIDES ONE SOURCE OF WATER.
I WAS NOMINATED FOR THE MORAL COURAGE AWARD FROM 1996 BY 
SWFWMD, AND THIS BOCC SELECTED ME TO BE THE RECIPIENT.
I WAS SURPRISED AND THRILLED.
THE SAME DAY I RECEIVED THIS AWARD THE BOCC OF PINELLAS 
COUNTY SUED ME AND SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE FOR OUR SPEAKING OUT 
AGAINST THE OVERUSE OF GROUNDWATER.
THEY DIDN'T WANT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
IT WAS A SLAP SUIT THAT CARRIED ON FOREVER.
THAT WAS THE VERY SAME DAY I RECEIVED THIS AWARD.
HOW ADVANCED I THOUGHT MY COUNTY WAS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO 
SPEAK OUT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SHUT THEM UP.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WHEN I HEARD THAT IT WAS SUGGESTED 
THAT THE AWARD BE RENAMED FOR A PERSON.
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A NONPARTISAN AWARD AND FOR VOLUNTEERS 
WHO WORK FOR IDEAS AND ISSUES THAT BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF 
THIS COUNTY, NOT FOR THE ISSUES OF PERSONAL GAIN OR 
MONETARY DONATION.
IF IT WAS NAMED FOR ANYONE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NAMED FOR 
THE PERSON -- THE COMMISSIONER WHO INITIATED THIS IDEA.
THIS AWARD HAS LOST ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR ME.
IN MY OPINION, IT IS -- THE REASON FOR IT HAS BEEN NEGATED, 
AND I AM GIVING IT BACK TO YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. HART.
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, KENT McCLENDON, YVETTE MALDONADO, 
AND GEORGE NIEMANN.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. HART.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE APPRECIATE THE HISTORY LESSON, MA'AM.
>> -- AND GIVE IT TO THE NEXT PERSON.
>>KEN HAGAN:  NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, KENT McCLENDON, YVETTE 
MALDONADO, AND GEORGE NIEMANN.
THANKS FOR COMING DOWN, MS. HART.
NEXT, PLEASE.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS KENT McCLENDON.
I LIVE IN PINELLAS COUNTY.
I WAS A RESIDENT -- I WAS A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH FOR 
EIGHT YEARS.
I PLAN ON MOVING BACK HERE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO MAKE PUBLIC THE PROPERTY THAT I PURCHASED 
FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT THE AUCTION SOLD IN ERROR IN 
FEBRUARY OF 2006.
THIS PROPERTY IS 1201 JACKSON STREET HERE IN DOWNTOWN.
FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING 
FOR THE TRUTH WITH TIME AND EXPENSE.
NOW WE ARE LOOKING TO YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS, TO BE MADE 
WHOLE ON THIS MATTER.
WE ARE ASKING THAT THE COUNTY MAKE A DEAL WITH THE 
EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY FOR THE ENTIRE PORTION OF THE LAND 
THAT THEY DID NOT USE OF THE R.H. TAYLOR TAKE OR A 
SETTLEMENT OF $50,000.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.
IS IT LEGAL TO SELL SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TITLE TO?
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. McCLENDON.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>>KEN HAGAN:  IF YOU STEP OVER HERE, I BELIEVE SOMEONE FROM 
STAFF CAN ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS.
OKAY.
MR. FITZGERALD.
COMMISSIONER BLAIR OR COMMISSIONER FERLITA, DID YOU WANT 
TO --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'M SURE BRIAN, HE WILL HAVE SOME CONVERSATION.
SOME OF YOU, PERHAPS, HAVE HAD SOME DIALOGUE WITH THIS 
GENTLEMAN AS WELL, AND MR. McCLENDON DID BRING UP SOME GOOD 
POINTS.
I KNOW AT THIS POINT HE HAS NOT OFFICIALLY HIRED AN 
ATTORNEY, SO I'M NOT REAL UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT TALKING ABOUT 
THIS, BUT SOMEHOW THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN, MS. LEE -- 
AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- SOME OVERSIGHT IN HOW THIS 
PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS SOLD TO HIM.
HE DID INVEST THE MONEY TO PURCHASE IT, AND I THINK THAT HE 
HAS -- HE'S INCLUDED 18,000 PAID FOR THE TAX DEED, 
RECORDING DOC FEES, SEARCH, EXAM FEES, TAXES, INTEREST ON 
FINANCED PURCHASE MONEY, AND IN ADDITION, SUBSEQUENT TIME 
AND EXPENSES WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS 
THE PROPERTY OWNER FOR THIS -- THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY AND 
WAS NOT.
I UNDERSTAND HE HAS BEEN TALKING TO MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE 
MORE SO THAN I HAVE TALKED TO HIM, AND I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T 
TALKED TO YOU DIRECTLY, BUT I THINK THERE WAS SOME 
SUGGESTION THAT WE GIVE HIM THE 18,000, END OF STORY.
I THINK HE'S GOT MORE THAN THAT INVESTED IN IT.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT HIS ATTORNEY AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A 
SETTLEMENT AMOUNT THAT WOULD MAKE HIM WHOLE, BUT I THINK 
THAT THERE ARE MORE ISSUES THAN JUST THE 18,000.
FIRST OF ALL, HE THOUGHT HE OWNED IT, HE PAID FOR IT.
THERE IS SOME TIME THAT HAS PASSED, AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE 
INTEREST ISSUES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IN 
TERMS OF A COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT SO WE CAN GET THIS 
SETTLED AND HE CAN GO ON WITH HIS PLANS TO PURCHASE 
SOMETHING IN PLACE OF THIS OR WHATEVER, SO, BRIAN, I -- I 
DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING OR YOU DON'T WANT 
TO SAY SOMETHING.
IT'S FINE, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS.
HE SEEMS TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS, AND I THINK IT'S AN EASY 
FIX.
I'M NOT PART OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, BUT I THINK IF WE 
LOOK AT IT AND WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S FAIR AND 
EQUITABLE BOTH TO US AS A COUNTY AND HE AS AN INDIVIDUAL 
WHO WAS SOLD PROPERTY WHO, IN FACT, THOUGHT HE WAS BUYING 
IT AND HE DIDN'T BECAUSE WE WEREN'T THE OWNERS PRIOR TO HIS 
PURCHASE, SO PLEASE WORK WITH HIM TO TRY TO MAKE IT 
SOMETHING THAT HE CAN LIVE WITH AND WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH.
I TRULY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU.
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, YVETTE MALDONADO, GEORGE NIEMANN, AND 
BECKI FORSELL.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
YVETTE MALDONADO, EAST HILLSBOROUGH.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE COMMISSION AWARE OF AN IMPORTANT NEWS 
ITEM THAT BROKE YESTERDAY.
IT WAS REPORTED BY WAYNE GARCIA ON CREATIVE LOAFING AND IS 
IN PRINT THIS MORNING.
THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE IS, DID AN INFLUENTIAL DEVELOPER 
PAY FOR BRIAN BLAIR'S CAMPAIGN BILLBOARDS.
IT SURE LOOKS LIKE THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
IN A STORY TO BE PUBLISHED IN OUR PRINT EDITION TOMORROW, I 
WRITE ABOUT HOW AT LEAST ONE INVOICE FOR A BLAIR CAMPAIGN 
BILLBOARD WAS SENT DIRECTLY TO A COMPANY OWNED BY DEVELOPER 
STEPHEN DIBBS.
THE BILLBOARD ON EHRLICH ROAD IN NORTH TAMPA TOUTING THE 
REELECTION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRIAN BLAIR 
READS IN FINE PRINT AT THE BOTTOM, POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT 
PAID FOR AND APPROVED BY BRIAN BLAIR, REPUBLICAN FOR 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 6.
IT APPEARS, HOWEVER, THAT HIS CAMPAIGN DID NOT PAY FOR THE 
BILLBOARD ADVERTISEMENT.
BLAIR'S CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT SHOWS NO SUCH EXPENDITURE, 
AND ACCORDING TO AN INVOICE OBTAINED BY CREATIVE LOAFING, 
THE BILL FOR THE $2500 A MONTH ROADWAY SIGN WAS SENT TO 
NORTHDALE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS OWNED BY STEPHEN DIBBS, A 
CONTROVERSIAL AND PROMINENT DEVELOPER WHO HAS SUPPORTED 
BLAIR IN THE PAST.
IF DIBBS DID PAY FOR THE BILLBOARD, IT WOULD APPEAR TO 
EXCEED THE LIMITS IN THE STATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW WHICH 
CAPS DIRECT OR IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATE CAMPAIGNS 
AT $500 AND REQUIRES DISCLOSURE OF ANY CONTRIBUTIONS.
AMONG DIBBS' VARIOUS HOLDINGS IS THE BOURBON STREET PLAZA 
SHOPPING STRIP CENTER, WHERE THE BILLBOARD IS LOCATED.
IT IS NOT CLEAR FROM THE INVOICE WHETHER DIBBS PAID FOR THE 
BOARD.
INVOICE WAS PROVIDED TO CL BY SOURCE WHO REQUESTED 
ANONYMITY BECAUSE THE SOURCE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO RELEASE 
THE DOCUMENT.
THE INVOICE FROM CBS OUTDOOR, WHICH SELLS THE BILLBOARD'S 
ADVERTISING SPACE, WAS DATED AUGUST 20th, 2008, FOR USE OF 
THE BILLBOARD IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
THE 10-FOOT BY 36-FOOT SIGN IS HIGHLY VISIBLE TO ANYONE 
DRIVING WEST ON EHRLICH FROM NORTH DALE MABRY HIGHWAY.
IT WAS STILL IN PLACE LAST WEEK WHEN CL VISITED THE SITE.
NEITHER DIBBS NOR BLAIR RESPONDED TO NUMEROUS TELEPHONE AND 
E-MAILED REQUESTS FOR COMMENT ON THIS STORY.
COMMISSIONERS, AS A CITIZEN, I'M OUTRAGED BY THIS.
IT'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE OF INTEGRITY.
CAN I PLEASE GET YOUR COMMENTS?
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. MALDONADO FOR PROVIDING THE 
ADVANCED COPY OF THE CREATIVE LOAFING PAPER.
HOPEFULLY THEIR BANKRUPTCY FILING LAST WEEK WON'T 
NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE PAPER.
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, GEORGE NIEMANN, BECKI FORSELL, AND PAM 
CLOUSTON.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  JUST FOR THE RECORD, MY COMPANY DID PAY C 
BS OUTDOOR DIRECTLY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WELCOME, SIR.
>> GEORGE NIEMANN, DOVER, FLORIDA.
I ACTUALLY -- MY COMMENTS TODAY WERE ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC, 
BUT AFTER HAVING THIS BROUGHT UP BY THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, I 
THINK I NEED TO ADDRESS THIS.
IF -- THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE SEEN THE ARTICLE -- AND I BELIEVE 
IT'S OUT IN PRINT TODAY -- IT'S VERY, VERY DISTURBING, AND 
TO THOSE OF US THAT ARE ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND COME 
DOWN HERE ALL THE TIME, I'VE WITNESSED COMMISSIONER BLAIR 
ON THE CAMPAIGN STUMP SAYING -- AND I'VE HEARD THIS 
REPEATEDLY -- INTEGRITY AND I'M THERE FOR YOU AND I FIGHT 
FOR THE LITTLE GUY.
WELL, INTEGRITY IS BEING HONEST AND REPORTING EVERYTHING 
THAT YOU SPEND ON YOUR CAMPAIGN.
THIS GOES BEYOND JUST A SLIGHT ACCOUNTING ERROR.
THIS IS FRAUDULENT, AND I THINK THAT MAYBE -- I GUESS IT'S 
GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION, I 
HOPE, IF A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED, BUT THE GROUNDS FOR 
RECALL I THINK ARE IMPORTANT, AND MAYBE THE COMMUNITY NEEDS 
TO START LOOKING AT RECALL AS AN OPTION BECAUSE THIS IS 
ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS FOR A PERSON TO CAMPAIGN AND TALK 
ABOUT INTEGRITY AND THEIR HONESTY AND WE SHOULD TRUST THEM 
AND BELIEVE IN THEM, AND THEN WE FIND THAT THIS STUFF GOES 
ON WHERE HE VIOLATES THE ELECTION LAWS, AND THERE'S 
PROBABLY MORE TO IT AND THERE'S PROBABLY MORE MONEY THAN 
WAS REPORTED IN THE PAPER, BUT I AM FED UP, AND JUST TO 
REMIND EVERYONE AND THE CITIZENS THAT ARE VIEWING THIS, 
THIS COULD BE GROUNDS FOR RECALL BECAUSE RECALL INVOLVES IF 
THE OFFICIAL IS GUILTY OF MALFEASANCE, MISFEASANCE, NEGLECT 
OF DUTY, DRUNKENNESS, INCOMPETENCE, PERMANENT INABILITY TO 
PERFORM OFFICIAL DUTIES, OR CONVICTION OF A FELONY 
INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE.
WELL, I THINK THIS EVENT PROBABLY FITS INTO AT LEAST TWO OF 
THESE, SO I WOULD SAY I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE COMMENTS, AND 
I'D LIKE TO HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE REST OF YOU.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR COLLEAGUE, AND CAN WE DO 
SOMETHING TO BE MORE RESPECTABLE AND TO BRING BACK THE 
TRUST OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO ITS CITIZENS?
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. NIEMANN.
COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YES.
A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
NUMBER ONE, THIS IS PURELY A CAMPAIGN STUNT BY MY OPPONENT, 
WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNFACTUAL, AND ALSO, I MADE A CHECK 
DIRECTLY TO CBS, SO IT'S REALLY DESPERATE PEOPLE DO 
DESPERATE THINGS, AND IT'S A SHAME THAT YOU'VE GOT TO BRING 
THIS TO THE FOREFRONT AND TO COMPROMISE MY INTEGRITY IS 
SOMETHING THAT I CERTAINLY WON'T SIT IDLE AND DO NOTHING 
ABOUT, SO YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK.
MR. NIEMANN, YOU'VE ALREADY FILED ETHICS COMPLAINTS, 
WHICH --
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  -- WHICH CAME BACK WITH NO PROBABLE CAUSE 
BESIDES STEALING SIGNS, AS I'M SURE YOU'VE DONE IN THE 
PAST.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
LAST TWO SPEAKERS, BECKI FORSELL AND PAM CLOUSTON.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
LET'S GO TO A LITTLE LIGHTER SUBJECT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU.
>> I AM HERE FOR A VERY SPECIAL REASON.
I BROUGHT A COUPLE OF OUR PEOPLE FROM YES!
OF AMERICA UNITED.
MY NAME IS BECKI FORSELL.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A SMALL NONPROFIT 
HERE IN YOUR COUNTY.
I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF OUR COUNTY AND TO HAVE 
PEOPLE LIKE YOU STAND IN FRONT OF ME -- OR I SHOULD SAY SIT 
IN FRONT OF ME AND SUPPORT THE SMALL ORGANIZATIONS.
YES! OF AMERICA UNITED IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT YOU HAVE 
DONATED $10,000 TO.
I WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU, ALSO MAYBE TO 
HAVE A PICTURE OPPORTUNITY SO THAT WE CAN PUT YOUR 
WONDERFUL FACES ON OUR WEB SITE, OUR NEW DISABILITY 
AWARENESS MONTH WEB SITE THAT DEALS WITH EDUCATION IN OUR 
CLASSROOM FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR 
FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND THAT DISABILITY IS NOT A WORD THAT 
SHOULD BE LOOKED DOWN UPON BUT A WORD THAT REALLY DOESN'T 
NEED TO BE IN OUR VOCABULARY BECAUSE WE'RE JUST PEOPLE JUST 
LIKE ANYONE ELSE, AND WE NEED TO BE ACCEPTED AND HAVE 
ACCOMMODATIONS THAT GIVE US THE SAME EQUALITY OF EVERYONE 
WHO SITS IN FRONT OF ME AND BEHIND ME AND IN OUR COUNTY.
SO YES! WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR 
YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
I WANTED TO REPORT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE DEALT WITH THE 
DRAFT, AND I WANTED TO THANK ERIC AND NIKKI AND THE STAFF 
AND OF COURSE PAT AND MARK AND BRIAN AND EVERYBODY ELSE 
THAT STOOD UP FOR US THAT GAVE US A UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR THIS 
EVENT.
WE HAVE TWO EVENTS ALREADY PLANNED OUT OF THE THREE.
ONE IS OCTOBER 20th, WHICH I HOPE THAT SOME OF YOU WILL BE 
ABLE TO COME OUT TO AT DAVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND WE'LL 
BE TALKING TO THE FOURTH GRADERS THERE PLUS THE TEACHERS 
AND THE PARENTS.
ON NOVEMBER 8th I'VE INVITED SOME OF YOU TO COME OUT TO THE 
FAIR, FAMILY ABILITIES INFORMATION RALLY.
IT'S GOING TO BE FROM 10:00 TO 4:00.
WE HOPE THE PUBLIC WILL COME OUT.
IT'S A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, BUT IT'S IN A FUN WAY.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE CARNIVAL TYPE EVENTS GOING ON.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS YOU MOVE FORWARD TO 
GIVE US THE MONEY, AND WE JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND LET 
YOU KNOW THAT SMALL ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE KEY TO THE 
FUTURE, BUT OUR BIGGEST KEY IS THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH 
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IF WE HAVE BUILT A PARTNERSHIP 
WITH OUR COUNCIL, OUR COMMISSION, OUR LEGISLATORS AND THE 
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE CAN ONLY HAVE MORE PROSPEROUS 
TIMES.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL TAKE A 
PICTURE WITH US NOW.
>>KEN HAGAN:  ABSOLUTELY, MS. FORSELL.
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  BECKI, JUST -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE VISITED IN 
MY OFFICE BEFORE, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU IF THERE'S 
ANYBODY I KNOW THAT LEADS BY EXAMPLE, IT WOULD BE YOU.
EVEN WE ON THE COMMISSION HAVE LOTS OF THINGS TO LEARN 
ABOUT LEADERSHIP FROM WHAT YOU DO IN TERMS OF A LEADERSHIP 
ROLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, AND YOU KNOW I MEAN THAT SINCERELY.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING 
DOWN.
WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE THE LADIES WHO ARE WITH YOU TODAY.
>> YES.
OH, YES.
THESE ARE FOUNDERS.
WE STARTED OUT AS A BLIND SUPPORT AND NOW WE DO CROSS-
DISABILITIES.
AND CINDY AND CHRISTY HEDINGER HAVE BEEN WITH ME FOR THE 
LAST 12 YEARS.
I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE THIS WITH YES!
BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE JUST ME.
WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR ORGANIZATION THAT ARE OUT 
VOLUNTEERING AND BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
OUR PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE AT THE YES! OFFICE.
I TELL PEOPLE IF YOU COME TO MY OFFICE AND THERE'S PEOPLE 
STANDING THERE, I HAVEN'T DONE MY JOB BECAUSE THEY SHOULD 
BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WORKING, AND WE HAVE THEM ON 
BOARDS, WE HAVE THEM IN CHURCHES, WE HAVE THEM ALL OVER THE 
PLACE, AND I NEVER KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP.
THESE ARE TWO OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES.
THEY'VE BEEN WITH PERFORMING ARTS FOR 19 YEARS AS 
VOLUNTEERS.
>> WOW.
>>KEN HAGAN:  BECKI, IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD HERE, WE'LL 
TAKE A PICTURE.
>> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND PAT, WHEREVER YOU ARE, THANK YOU, PAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE ERIC IS --
>>JIM NORMAN:  STAND UP, PAT.
>>PAT BEAN:  I AM STANDING UP.
[LAUGHTER]
>> [INAUDIBLE]
BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK ERIC WHEREVER HE IS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  HE'S IN THE BACK.
>>PAT BEAN:  THANK HIM ON YOUR WAY OUT.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANKS AGAIN, MS. FORSELL.
AND OUR LAST SPEAKER THIS MORNING IS PAM CLOUSTON.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M PUTTING ON A DIFFERENT HAT TODAY.
I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF R-LAND.
I AM NOW THE PRESIDENT OF R-LAND, WHICH IS -- I'M SURE 
YOU'RE SLIGHTLY FAMILIAR WITH.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THE WATERING 
RESTRICTIONS ARE GOING TO GO ON FOR LONGER.
WE DON'T NEED TO BE SUCKING ANYMORE WATER OUT OF OUR RURAL 
AREAS AND CAUSING TREES TO DIE SO GREEN GRASS CAN GROW.
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF BOYETTE 
ROAD AND LITHIA-PINECREST ROAD.
THERE'S BEEN SOME KIND OF IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA, AND IT 
LOOKS PRETTY DANGEROUS.
THEY DID SOMETHING AND THEN THEY STOPPED AND THEN THEY DID 
SOMETHING ELSE, AND IF SOMEBODY COULD KIND OF GO OUT AND 
HAVE A LOOK AT IT, IT -- THEY'VE GOT MEDIANS IN THERE WHERE 
THERE'S NO ROOM, IT SEEMS, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT 
DONE VERY WELL, AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH 
THE WAY IT WAS DONE ORIGINALLY, BUT IT'S AT BOYETTE AND 
LITHIA-PINECREST ROAD.
THEY'VE GOT A NEW LIGHT IN THERE AND SO FORTH, AND I THINK 
IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH A DEVELOPMENT FARTHER DOWN ON 
BOYETTE ROAD, BUT IT'S -- IT'S NOT TOO GREAT.
ALSO, ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO R-LAND WENT TO A TOWN HALL 
MEETING IN PLANT CITY AND BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF A SAWMILL 
WHICH IS CONSIDERED A COMMERCIAL OPERATION OPERATING ON AN 
AGRICULTURAL LAND, AND I GUESS IT WAS KIND OF LOOKED INTO.
I KNOW THAT SOME PHOTOS WERE PROVIDED.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN INSPECTOR -- THERE WAS AN INSPECTOR 
THAT WENT OUT.
THAT SAWMILL IS STILL IN OPERATION.
RAW-CUT PINE TREES ARE BEING DELIVERED THERE OR BROUGHT 
THERE, AND THEN IN SEVERAL DAYS THEY'RE GOING OUT AS CUT 
BOARDS IN VARIOUS LENGTHS, AND THEY LOOK PRESSURE TREATED 
TO ME.
WE'VE DONE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, FENCE PUTTING UP AND BARN 
BUILDING WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO OUR PLACE THAT I'M 
DEFINITELY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT PRESSURE TREATING IS.
IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT WE'VE GOT A COMMERCIAL OPERATION ON AN 
AGRICULTURAL LAND AND TAXES AREN'T BEING PAID FOR A 
COMMERCIAL OPERATION OR THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF ZONING, BUT 
NOW I'M WONDERING HOW THIS WOOD IS BEING PRESSURE TREATED 
BECAUSE THAT'S, I THINK, HEAVY INDUSTRIAL, SO COULD WE SEE 
IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, MR. COMMISSIONER?
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  PAT, IF WE CAN JUST REFER BOTH OF THESE OVER 
TO STAFF TO INVESTIGATE AND PLEASE REPORT BACK TO 
MS. CLOUSTON AS WELL.
>>PAT BEAN:  WE'LL DO THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA.
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO MOVE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT BY COMMISSIONER 
FERLITA, SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WE HAD TWO ITEMS PULLED, BUT THEY'RE BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR, 
SO WHY DON'T WE WAIT ON THOSE UNTIL HE GETS BACK.
>>PAT BEAN:  WE'LL WAIT UNTIL HE GETS BACK AND GO FORWARD, 
THEN, WITH -- ITEM B-1 WOULD BE YOUR FIRST ITEM THIS 
MORNING.
THIS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY HUMAN RESOURCES, AND IT IS THE 
APPROPRIATE OF $3,900,000 WITHIN THE EMPLOYEE GROUP HEALTH 
INSURANCE FUND FROM RESERVE FOR CONTINGENCIES TO COVER THE 
INCREASE IN THE COST OF CLAIMS.
I'D RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
THIS IS -- YOU NEVER KNOW WITH YOUR CLAIMS UNTIL YOU GET 
THEM ALL IN, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT'S GOING TO BE, 
AND OCCASIONALLY WE HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SO MOVE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF 
RECOMMENDATION BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN, SECOND BY 
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
CAN WE GO BACK TO A-30.
>>PAT BEAN:  YES.
A-30 WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT OR REMOVED FROM CONSENT FOR A 
SEPARATE VOTE, AND THAT IS TO APPROVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT 
TO THE PERMIT AND LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY, THE CITY OF TAMPA, AND HILLSBOROUGH AREA REGIONAL 
TRANSIT AUTHORITY, AND COMMISSIONER BLAIR, I DON'T KNOW IF 
YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENT OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO ASK FOR 
THE VOTE AND -- SO YOU CAN VOTE SEPARATELY.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YEAH.
I'D JUST LIKE TO VOTE SEPARATELY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  MOVE APPROVAL.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE, 
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 6-1.
COMMISSIONER BLAIR VOTED NO.
>>KEN HAGAN:  A-29.
>>PAT BEAN:  YES.
A-29 WAS REMOVED FOR HIGHLIGHTING, AND THIS ALSO WAS 
REMOVED BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR, AND IT IS TO APPROVE A 
LETTER OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
AVIATION AUTHORITY AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND AUTHORIZE 
MARK THORNTON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND 
CONSERVATION, TO EXECUTE THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT FOR 
TEMPORARY USE OF PARKING FOR OVERFLOW PARKING DURING THE 
TAMPA BAY YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOOTBALL GAMES, AND THAT'S 
WITH THE AVIATION AUTHORITY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WELL, FIRST I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER 
HAGAN'S OFFICE AS WELL BECAUSE THEY GOT WITH THE -- AS I 
UNDERSTAND IT, THEY GOT WITH THE AVIATION AUTHORITY, MARK 
LEVINSON CALLED ME IN PANIC BECAUSE THEY LITERALLY COULDN'T 
HAVE HAD THEIR FOOTBALL SEASON BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF 
PARKING OUT THERE, SO WE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO GET THIS 
DONE, AND I APPRECIATE MR. THORNTON'S EFFORTS ON THIS.
THE -- ALL THE CHILDREN THAT PLAY AT TBYFL ARE VERY 
THANKFUL.
WE'VE HAD CALLS FROM SEVERAL COACHES AND ALSO FROM MR. 
LEVINSON THANKING THE ENTIRE -- THANKING EVERYBODY THAT WAS 
INVOLVED, SO I JUST WANTED TO PASS THAT ALONG AND SAY THANK 
YOU TO MR. THORNTON, SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER HAGAN'S 
OFFICE FOR HIS EFFORTS, AND THANK YOU TO MY AIDES, CHRIS 
AND STEVE AS WELL FOR ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS.
SO I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS AND THANK YOU.
>> SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR, 
SECOND COMMISSIONER WHITE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  THE NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, WOULD BE ITEM B-
2, TO APPROVE THE NEW BOCC POLICY ON RECORDING OF 
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS.
ERIC JOHNSON IS HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT IF YOU HAVE 
QUESTIONS.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  COMMISSIONERS, ERIC JOHNSON, MANAGEMENT 
AND BUDGET.
THIS IS A POLICY BASED ON A REQUEST FROM OUR AUDITOR TO 
EXERT GREATER INTERNAL CONTROLS WHEN IT COMES TO RECORDING 
CONTRIBUTED ASSETS.
IT'S BEEN DEVELOPED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AND REVIEW BY 
THE CLERK'S OFFICE, AND WE'D RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
WHAT THIS WILL BECOME IS THE FOUNDATION FOR A SERIES OF 
PROCEDURES IN THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THIS 
ACTIVITY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR -- CAN WE HAVE A -
-
>>MARK SHARPE:  MOVE APPROVAL.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER SHARPE, SECOND 
COMMISSIONER WHITE.
NO COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  THANK YOU.
>>PAT BEAN:  AND THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM B-3, WHICH IS ALSO 
BROUGHT BY THE MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DEPARTMENT TO 
AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND USE OF COUNTY 
STAFF TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND ENCOURAGE 
PASSAGE OF THE REFERENDUM TO EXTEND THE ELAP PROGRAM.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  THAT'S D-3?
>>PAT BEAN:  B-3.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  B-3.
>>PAT BEAN:  B-3.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO MOVED, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> I'LL SECOND.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WELL, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT.
FIRST OFF, TO -- IF YOU'RE GOING TO EXPEND PUBLIC DOLLARS 
IN A TIME LIKE THIS, TO PUSH A REFERENDUM -- IN WHICH I 
BELIEVE IN -- I TOTALLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP OUR 
ELAP PROGRAM, BUT WE'RE DUPING THE PUBLIC BY TELLING THEM 
THAT IT'S A CONTINUATION OF THE EXISTING PROGRAM BECAUSE 
IT'S NOT.
YOU'RE ADDING TEN MORE YEARS, YOU'RE ADDING ANOTHER $100 
MILLION, AND ALL YOU REALLY -- I BELIEVE THAT ALL WE REALLY 
NEEDED TO DO WAS TO CONTINUE THE $100 MILLION, NOT ADD $200 
MILLION -- NOT ADD AN ADDITIONAL $100 MILLION, ESPECIALLY 
IN TIMES LIKE THIS.
YOU COULD USE MONEY LIKE THAT TO GO OUT AND TELL SENIORS 
THAT THEY CAN GET AN ADDITIONAL $15,000 HOMESTEAD BREAK IF 
THEY CONTACT THE -- THE -- ROB TURNER'S OFFICE, THE 
PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY, LET'S DO SOMETHING TO HELP 
THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS BEING PUSHED ON US RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY REALIZE 
THAT ADDING THE $100 MILLION NOW MAY PUT IT AT -- IN A 
FAILURE POSITION, SO THEY'RE GOING TO USE TAX DOLLARS TO 
INCREASE TAX DOLLARS, AND I THINK THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG AND 
INAPPROPRIATE, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS.
NOW, IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND PUSH IT ALL YOU WANT TO AND 
TELL PEOPLE THE TRUTH IN WHATEVER YOU WANT TO -- IN 
WHATEVER FORM THAT IS, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT 
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'RE ACTUALLY ASKING OR APPROVING OUR 
ADMINISTRATOR TO GO USE TAX DOLLARS TO RAISE TAX DOLLARS 
FOR A PROGRAM THAT IS GOOD, BUT IT'S BEING -- THE TRUTH IS 
NOT BEING TOLD ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
THEY'RE NOT BEING TOLD THAT YOU'RE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL TEN 
YEARS WITH NO SUNSET.
THEY'RE NOT BEING TOLD THAT YOU'RE -- THEY'RE ADDING AN 
ADDITIONAL $100 MILLION.
THE -- I DON'T MIND WHAT YOU DO AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE 
INTEGRITY OF TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ENTIRE MATTER, AND 
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND PUSH THIS, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING 
TO SAY THAT, OH, BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER 
$100 MILLION TO YOUR TAX BILL, MS. BEAN, AND THIS IS GOING 
TO BE FOR 30 YEARS RATHER THAN 20 YEARS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S YOUR INTENTION AT ALL.
THE -- WHY NOT LET FLORIDA FOREVER, WHO'S PUSHING THIS, 
SPEND THEIR DOLLARS?
WE SHOULD NOT BE USING OUR COUNTY DOLLARS TO PUSH A 
REFERENDUM ITEM THAT IS NOT BEING TRUTHFULLY EXPLAINED TO 
THE PEOPLE.
IF IT'S -- ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REMOVE THE SUNSET BECAUSE 
WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM SPENDING THE $100 MILLION TO BEGIN 
WITH, AND THIS KEEPS ADDING TO THE GENERAL FUND, THE 
MAINTENANCE FUND IN WHICH WE'RE ALREADY HAVING TROUBLE 
PAYING FOR THAT, SO NOW YOU'RE GOING TO -- WHEN I WAS SHOWN 
THE LAND THAT WE COULD PURCHASE, IT WAS BETWEEN 10,000 AND 
15,000 ACRES, AND THAT WAS AT -- AND $100 MILLION, IF YOU 
DIVIDED -- WHEN THE REFERENDUM WENT FROM -- I GUESS IT WAS 
1990 TO 2010.
THAT WOULD BE THE YEAR 2000 -- AND I BELIEVE THE PROPERTY 
RIGHT NOW MAY GET CHEAPER THAN EVER BECAUSE OF THE 
SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW FROM -- FROM THE TOP ON 
DOWN.
WE TALK ABOUT AIG, WE TALK ABOUT FREDDIE, FANNIE.
WE HAVE YET TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF THAT AND WHAT IS GOING TO 
POTENTIALLY HURT PEOPLE EVEN MORE, AND NOW -- IF YOU LOOK 
AT YOUR TAX BILL, WHAT YOU'RE PAYING RIGHT NOW -- IF 
EVERYBODY GOES HOME AND GETS THEIR TRIM NOTICE AND PULLS IT 
OUT, YOU MIGHT BE PAYING .7 -- IT'S FAR FROM THE QUARTER 
MILL.
I HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO PAYING THE QUARTER MILL.
I THINK, AGAIN, ELAPP'S AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT WE DO 
NEED TO KEEP, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT WE'RE -- I THINK IT'S 
SENDING A WRONG MESSAGE TO GO OUT AND SPEND PUBLIC FUNDS TO 
PUSH A REFERENDUM ITEM THAT IS ADDING ANOTHER $100 MILLION 
TO THE COFFERS, SO I WOULD MOVE TO -- I WOULD MOVE TO 
APPROVE ALLOWING MS. BEAN TO PROMOTE THE PROGRAM WITHOUT 
USING ANY TAX DOLLARS.
I WOULD MAKE A MOTION --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO THAT'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BECAUSE WE 
HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  THAT WOULD BE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  LET ME SAY THAT ALL THE TIMES I'VE SAT HERE, 
MS. BEAN, I DON'T RECALL A TIME THAT WE'VE -- WE HAVE USED 
TAX DOLLARS TO PROMOTE THINGS.
THE THINGS THAT I RECALL IS WHEN AN ISSUE WAS EMBRACED BY 
THE COMMUNITY, THEN THAT COMMUNITY RAISES THE MONEY TO -- 
AND THAT GOES TO THE CIT, THAT GOES TO COUNTY MAYOR, THAT 
GOES -- YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A PROHIBITIVE POSITION THAT WE 
STATED EVEN RECENTLY ON THE COUNTY MAYOR THAT WE WERE NOT 
GOING TO SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLAR TO PROMOTE A POSITION.
WE ALLOWED YOU TO GO OUT TO GIVE, AS IT'S STATED HERE, 
PROVIDE INFORMATION, BUT THAT WAS NOT DIPPING IN AND 
SPENDING -- THERE'S NOT EVEN A -- FRANKLY, THERE'S NOT -- 
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT AN AMOUNT HERE.
I MEAN -- MY POINT IS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS DOES 
MORE HARM THAN HELP.
WHEN YOU ARE USING DOLLARS THAT WERE VOTED ON BY PEOPLE 
PREVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BUY ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS THAT WE'RE 
NOW TAKING OUT OF THAT POT TO IF YOU WANT TO CALL EDUCATE 
OR POLITICIZE THAT PROCESS -- AND I -- YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A 
HEARTBURN WITH THAT, AND -- BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHERE I 
DISAGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER.
THERE'S A LOT MORE PROJECTS THAN -- I KNOW THIS COUNTY HAS 
ACTIVELY BEEN TRYING TO BUY LAKE PARK AND LAKE ROGERS, AND 
THOSE ARE HUGE PROJECTS THAT WILL EAT UP EVERY BIT OF THAT 
MONEY.
THERE'S DIALOGUE WITH ST. PETERSBURG.
THE PROJECTS ARE THERE IF WE COULD PULL THE TRIGGER AND 
HAVE A WILLING SELLER OR SOME WAY TO HAVE A WILLING SELLER, 
BUT THIS IS THE WRONG WAY TO GO, IN MY OPINION, AND WHAT 
SHOULD HAPPEN, AS THEY DID WITH THE POLL, THERE WAS PRIVATE 
MONEY GENERATED.
THEY WENT OUT, THEY RAISED MONEY FOR THE POLL, AND THEY 
INVESTED IT THAT WAY, AND YOU GOT POLL NUMBERS.
YOU BROUGHT IT FORWARD.
I THINK THIS IS VERY DAMAGING TO THE PROCESS, AND I WOULD -
- I WOULD -- THE LANGUAGE I WOULD USE, IF YOU CLEANED UP 
YOUR MOTION, TO DIRECT OUR ADMINISTRATOR TO BE ABLE TO 
PROVIDE INFORMATION AS WE DID ON THE PREVIOUS ITEMS GOING 
FORWARD, AND I WOULD SECOND THAT.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  OKAY.
THAT'S FINE.
I MIGHT ALSO ADD -- OH, I'M SORRY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I WANTED TO ASK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IF 
SHE COULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS WE'VE HAD A COMMITTEE WHICH REVIEWED 
OUR STRATEGY FOR PROMOTING THIS REFERENDUM ITEM.
THE ITEM IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER?
>>PAT BEAN:  IT'S ON THE NOVEMBER 4th BALLOT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO WE HAVE A LIMITED TIME, AND ONE OF THE 
THINGS THAT I'M WELL AWARE OF, NOT WITH JUST THIS ITEM BUT 
MANY OF THE ITEMS THAT VOTERS VOTE ON, THEY DON'T HAVE A 
LOT OF INFORMATION, AND SO WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE 
THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH CONFUSION AND 
MISINFORMATION, AND THIS PROGRAM IS -- IS WILDLY SUPPORTED 
IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT PROVIDES A TREMENDOUS SERVICE.
AS COMMISSIONER NORMAN JUST INDICATED, THERE ARE A NUMBER 
OF PROJECTS WE'RE INVOLVED IN NOW WHICH WILL EAT UP THE 
MONEY THAT'S IN OUR EXISTING FUND.
WITH LAND PRICES AS LOW AS THEY ARE, THE EXTENSION OF THE 
PROGRAM, WHICH WE ALL KNEW ABOUT BECAUSE IT WAS DISCUSSED 
AD NAUSEAM BY THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS REVIEWING THIS WHEN 
THEY BROUGHT IT FORWARD, THE IDEA WAS THAT WE WOULD 
CONTINUE THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE'S STILL -- ROUGHLY HALF 
THE AMOUNT OF LANDS THAT WE'D LIKE TO PURCHASE AND ADD TO 
OUR ELAPP INVENTORY IS STILL SITTING OUT THERE, BUT MY 
QUESTION IS DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WITH THE REGARD TO THE 
AMOUNT OF MONEY, WHAT WE WERE CONSIDERING WITH REGARD TO 
PUBLIC FUNDS?
>>PAT BEAN:  COMMISSIONER, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I WAS 
NOT ENGAGED IN ANY OF THE DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM, 
AND IN FACT, UNTIL JUST YESTERDAY OR A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO 
DID I DETERMINE HOW IT ACTUALLY CAME FORWARD, AND SO I 
DON'T KNOW IF THE GROUP THAT HAD MET TO TALK ABOUT PUTTING 
THIS ITEM FORWARD HAD A NUMBER.
I'VE NOT --
>>MARK SHARPE:  WHO WAS THE GROUP THAT MET THAT -- THIS WAS 
PUT FORWARD BY CONTACT PERSON MARY HELEN FARRIS, BUT WHO 
WAS OUR --
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, FROM MY STAFF, WALLY HILL WAS THE 
INDIVIDUAL WHO MET WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
BEYOND THAT I DON'T KNOW.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS AT LENGTH.
WE'VE HAD A COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWED OUR STRATEGY.
WE APPROVED IT.
THEY'RE NOT HERE, AND I'M AFRAID WHAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP 
DOING IS FINDING OUT, YOU KNOW, LATER THAT WE JUST -- AND 
I'M SUPPORTING THIS MEASURE -- BUT THAT WE RUN THE RISK OF 
INJURING SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN AGREED TO, AND WE 
SHOULD HAVE SOMEBODY HERE WHO CAN SPEAK TO IT.
I MEAN, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I WOULD -- I WOULD STILL URGE 
BOARD MEMBERS WITH LESS THAN -- WITH ABOUT A MONTH TO GO 
BEFORE THE ELECTION, I THINK IT WOULD BE FOOLHARDY TO NOT 
BE COMMUNICATING, BUT I WISH WE HAD MORE INFORMATION TO 
EXPLAIN AT LEAST WITH REGARD TO THE PUBLIC FUNDING PORTION 
WHAT THAT MEANS, HOW MUCH THAT IS.
ARE WE JUST TALKING ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL FROM STAFF GOING 
OUT AND EXPLAINING OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT RUNNING TV ADS?
>>PAT BEAN:  WERE YOU INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSIONS?
>>RENEE LEE:  COMMISSIONER, WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM 
DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WALLY HILL TO PREPARE THE 
RESOLUTION.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WALLY'S GONE?
>>RENEE LEE:  WALLY'S GONE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO WE SHOULD HAVE THE DEPUTY TO THE DEPUTY.
SOMEONE SHOULD BE HERE WHEN WE KNOW WE'VE GOT AN ITEM.
>>RENEE LEE:  YEAH.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR IF HE HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE 
COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN WORKING THIS REFERENDUM ISSUE.
I DO KNOW THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WOULD HAVE TO HAVE 
YOUR APPROVAL TO SPEND ONE DIME OF COUNTY MONEY IN 
PROMOTING THIS REFERENDUM, SO IT WOULD BE UP TO YOU TO -- 
EVEN IF SHE SENT OUT STAFF AND REIMBURSED THEM FOR GAS 
MILEAGE, SHE WOULD NEED YOUR PERMISSION TO DO THAT.
THIS IS A REQUEST.
SHE COULD EDUCATE AND PREPARE INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES OR 
ALLOW STAFF TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY OUTSIDE DISCUSSIONS OF 
THIS ISSUE, AND ANY DOLLARS USED TO REIMBURSE STAFF WOULD 
HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY YOU TO SUPPORT THIS.
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
WELL, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. SHARPE, I AGREE WITH YOU, AND IT'S 
UNFORTUNATE THAT MR. HILL WAS THE ONE THAT CHAMPIONED THIS 
AND REQUESTED THE RESOLUTION TO GO FORWARD, BUT IT IS MY 
UNDERSTANDING -- THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PROMOTING IT 
OR NOT PROMOTING IT.
THESE ARE SIMPLY DOLLARS FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH 
THE ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S SOON 
TO BE ON A REFERENDUM.
I THINK THAT WE HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT THIS 
BEFORE.
AS MR. SHARPE SAID, WE HAD HUGE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WE 
WERE GOING TO LOOK AT OR PRESENT OR SUPPORT, AND I'M JUST 
NOT GOING TO SUPPORT WHAT MR. BLAIR'S DOING WITH THOSE 
CHANGES THAT MR. NORMAN HAS SECONDED.
I'M BACK TO OUR FIRST POSITION.
IF THAT SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILS, I'M STILL MOVING THE FIRST 
I BELIEVE WITH MR. SHARPE'S SECOND.
ALSO, I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THAT AS WE GO FORWARD THERE ARE 
SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.
I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY PRUDENT 
TO DISCUSS THINGS UNLESS YOU HAVE THE FULL FIGURES IN FRONT 
OF YOU.
I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT THAT'S GOING TO WEIGH IN TO THIS 
WHOLE PROCESS, BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE IS 
SUPPORTING THIS AS STATED, SO I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT 
IT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
TO PAT, I GUESS, IN THEORY, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM 
SUPPORTING THIS.
I DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY IN THE PAST AND THE INSTITUTIONAL 
KNOWLEDGE THAT COMMISSIONER NORMAN JUST STATED, WE'VE NEVER 
DONE THIS, BUT WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH UP FRONT IS THE 
PUBLIC FUNDS TO BE USED AND THE COUNTY STAFF TO PROVIDE.
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS, IS THIS A BLANK CHECK OR -- OR DO 
WE HAVE SOME PARAMETERS WITH A CEILING OR -- I MEAN, THE 
WAY I'M READING IT, IT'S A BLANK CHECK TO USE COUNTY FUNDS 
AND TAX DOLLARS, AND I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT THAT 
YOU'RE SAYING AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO 
PROVIDE INFORMATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTY TV, I 
DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BRIGHT 
HOUSE, VERIZON, MAIL.
I DON'T KNOW.
CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY KIND OF ASSURANCE --
>>PAT BEAN:  HERE'S WHAT I'LL MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THE 
BOARD AS OF NOW, BECAUSE I JUST TALKED TO MARK THORNTON, 
AND I JUST TALKED TO ERIC JOHNSON, AND NEITHER OF THEM WERE 
INVOLVED IN ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS EITHER, SO HERE'S WHAT I 
WOULD PROPOSE.
THAT YOU AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR UNDER THE SAME 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS WHAT WE DID WHEN WE AUTHORIZED ME 
TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, WHICH MEANS WE COULD RUN SOMETHING ON 
HTV, WE COULD DO THAT WITHOUT ANY REAL COST TO THE COUNTY, 
THAT WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE GO OUT AND SPEAK AT ANY MEETINGS 
THAT OCCUR IN THE COMMUNITY.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THAT'S THE MOTION.
THAT'S THE MOTION.
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S WHAT I'M 
SUGGESTING AT THIS POINT.
WE WILL NOT PAY MONEY TO BUY ADVERTISING ON ANY TELEVISION 
STATION, WE WILL NOT PAY ANY MONEY TO PUT UP BILLBOARDS OR 
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IF THERE IS A NEED FOR THAT TO OCCUR, SOMEBODY ELSE NEEDS 
TO PUT THAT TOGETHER IN THE FORM OF A COMMUNITY SUPPORT 
GROUP AND GO FORTH AND DO GOOD, BUT THAT'S THE EXTENT OF 
WHAT I WILL SAY WE WILL DO.
THAT'S MY COMMITMENT TO YOU AS THE BOARD.
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
MOTION.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, THEN, B-3 WILL --
>>PAT BEAN:  ALL YOU DO IS AUTHORIZE ME TO DO WHAT WE'VE 
DONE IN THE PAST LIKE WITH THE MAYOR.
I HAVEN'T SPENT ONE DIME.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, WE CAN AMEND B-3 TO TAKE OUT THE 
EXPENDITURE OF ANY PUBLIC FUNDS, AND WE CAN JUST AUTHORIZE 
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR --
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  EXACTLY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- AND STAFF TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION, SO 
WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE OUT THE PUBLIC FUNDS.
>>PAT BEAN:  [INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK] AND PROVIDE 
INFORMATION.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THAT'S THE MOTION.
I READ THE EXACT WORDS.
THAT'S THE MOTION THAT HE ACCEPTED.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  YOU MEAN THE SUBSTITUTE THAT YOU MADE?
>>JIM NORMAN:  BRIAN CRAFTED THE WORDS EXACTLY TO THAT, 
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I SECONDED IT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
IF THAT'S THE CASE -- OKAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  LET ME START OUT BY SAYING IN WAS POORLY PUT 
TOGETHER.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE GUY THAT APPARENTLY CHAMPIONED THIS 
IS NO LONGER EVEN HERE.
I MEAN, THIS IS -- MY SIX YEARS, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A 
SITUATION LIKE THIS.
>>PAT BEAN:  COMMISSIONER, WHEN I HEARD THERE WAS SUCH AN 
ITEM, I DID NOT WANT ANYONE TO COME BACK AND SAY THAT PAT 
BEAN DIDN'T LET THE ITEM COME TO THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
I DID NOT KNOW HOW IT GENERATED.
I STARTED INQUIRING, AND IN FACT, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN 
TELL YOU I ASKED HER DID SHE HAVE ANY IDEA WHO STARTED IT 
BECAUSE IT CAME FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  NO, THAT'S FINE, BUT CLEARLY YOU KNOW THE 
HISTORY OF THIS BOARD.
APPARENTLY WE DIDN'T TAKE A POSITION ON THE CIT.
WE WERE VERY -- OUR LANGUAGE WAS VERY HARD AND STRICT 
RELATING TO THE COUNTY MAYOR ISSUE.
>>PAT BEAN:  UH-HUH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE WERE VERY DIRECT IN OUR WORDS.
WE DID NOT WANT ANY DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON THIS.
I SUPPORT THE REFERENDUM.
I'VE STATED SO AT THIS DAIS, I'VE STATED SO IN CAMPAIGN 
LITERATURE.
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S PRECEDENT 
SETTING.
IN A YEAR OR TWO IF THIS BOARD DECIDES TO PUT A 
TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM ON, ARE WE GOING TO GO OUT AND DO 
THE SAME THING THEN?
SO I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS WAS BROUGHT TO US AND 
SETTING A PRECEDENT.
I LIKE THE SUBSTITUTE -- I PREFER THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, 
PROVIDING EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ALLOWING YOU AND STAFF TO 
SPEAK ABOUT THE ISSUE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST, 
SO -- COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  NO, ENOUGH SAID.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, THEN, THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OF 
WHAT THIS PROBABLY MEANT ANYWAY.
I DIDN'T SEE THIS AS A REQUEST FOR MONEY FOR AN ADVERTISING 
CAMPAIGN, BUT THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STAFF MEMBERS TO 
GO OUT AND COMMUNICATE.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, SOMETHING LIKE THIS -- AND I WAS EXPECTING THAT WE 
WOULD HAVE A STAFF MEMBER WHO WOULD EASILY EXPLAIN AND 
QUICKLY -- MY READ WAS THIS WAS NOTHING MORE THAN TECHNICAL 
SUPPORT FOR THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD BE -- THAT WE 
WOULD HAVE WHEN YOU GO OUT AND TRY TO COMMUNICATE TO A 
COMMUNITY ABOUT SOMETHING AS COMPLICATED AS THIS PROGRAM.
AND IF THERE'S -- IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'RE 
MISSING, THEN I WOULD -- I MEAN, WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT 
OF TIME.
I'LL SUPPORT WHAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED HERE NOW, BUT IF THEY 
HAVE SOMETHING ELSE IN MIND, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT 
THIS IS QUICKLY AND THEN GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME 
BACK HERE AND MAKE THEIR CASE.
WHETHER WE SUPPORT IT OR NOT, THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION.
>>PAT BEAN:  IF SOMEONE HAS SOMETHING ELSE IN MIND 
[INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK]
>>MARK SHARPE:  BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD BECAUSE I 
COULD NOT IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULD BE RELYING ON US TO 
SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT EXPENSIVE AND NOT HAVE ANYBODY HERE 
FROM OUR STAFF OR THEIR ORGANIZATION TO EXPLAIN IT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I THINK WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THE FACT 
THAT THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF MISCOMMUNICATION.
ENOUGH SAID.
SITUATION PASSED.
AFTER YOUR EXPLANATION I UNDERSTAND IT, PAT, AND BASED ON 
WHAT YOU SAID, I WILL REMOVE MY MOTION FOR THE FIRST -- MY 
MOTION FOR THE FIRST SUGGESTION, AND THEN IN THE EVENT THAT 
SOMETHING ELSE COMES UP AND WE WANT TO REDIRECT SOMETHING 
TO THE BOARD, ONCE YOU'VE MAYBE PERHAPS REASSIGNED THIS AS 
WE GO FORWARD TO SOMEONE -- TO ANOTHER ASSISTANT 
ADMINISTRATOR OR WHOEVER, THEN WE CAN REVIEW IT, BUT I 
THINK TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, AND WE REALLY DO NOT WANT TO 
DO ANYTHING TO IMPEDE OR HANDICAP WHAT WE'VE GOT COMING 
FORWARD IN TERMS OF A REFERENDUM.
THAT BEING SAID AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EXPLANATION, I WILL 
SUPPORT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR, SECOND BY 
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
AGAIN, JUST TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, SPEAK TO 
THE COMMUNITY SOMEWHAT OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
NO MORE COMMENTS.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  MR. CHAIR, YOU HAVE AN ITEM --
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
BLAIR I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH YOU 
WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY POORLY PUT 
TOGETHER.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZING A BLANK CHECK.
I NEVER WANT TO SEE THIS AGAIN PERSONALLY WHERE IT SAYS 
AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS WITH A BLANK 
CHECK.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEBODY WOULD WRITE THAT, PLUS THE CIT, AS 
YOU MENTIONED, THE -- WAS DONE WITH PUBLIC FUNDS -- I MEAN 
WITH PRIVATE FUNDS, NOT PUBLIC FUNDS, AND THEY WENT OUT AND 
PROMOTED IT SUCCESSFULLY, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, 
MR. CHAIR, VERY, VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
NEXT ITEM.
>>PAT BEAN:  THE NEXT ITEM WAS A TIME CERTAIN THAT WAS SET 
FOR 10:30.
THAT IS ITEM F-2.
THAT'S BROUGHT TO THE BOARD BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN, WHICH 
IS TO ASK US TO DEVELOP A POSTER IDENTIFYING THE COMBAT TAX 
GRANT PROGRAM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  COMMISSIONERS, LET ME INVITE MR. BELDEN UP 
TO THE PODIUM ALSO.
>>PAT BEAN:  AND HOW ABOUT FRANK STROM, WHO'S OUT THERE IN 
THE AUDIENCE.
FRANK.
>>JIM NORMAN:  YES, I WAS ALSO GOING TO MENTION FRANK.
THE REAL PROBLEM, WE HAD A COMBAT SOLDIER THAT HAD FALLEN 
THROUGH THE CRACKS, IF YOU WILL.
WHAT THEY -- WHAT THEY DID -- THE WAY MY UNDERSTANDING IS 
IS THIS COMBAT SOLDIER, HE WAS SERVING, HE CAME HOME, HIS 
NAME WAS STEVE -- AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT -- CAME 
HOME, TRIED TO RESEARCH THE GRANT.
HE WAS REDEPLOYED.
HIS WIFE TRIED TO RESEARCH THE GRANT GOING TO COUNTY 
OFFICES, SPEAKING WITH SUPERVISORS, SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE, 
AND GETTING, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
THIS IS AN EXTREME -- ACTUALLY, LET ME GO AS FAR -- THIS 
SOLDIER WAS HAVING EXTREME DIFFICULTY EVEN PAYING THE 
PROPERTY TAXES AND WAS IN PERIL AS WE WERE MOVING DOWN THE 
ROAD HERE FOR THEM.
MR. ROGOFF AND ALSO MR. STROM STEPPED UP AND RESOLVED IT 
AFTER SOME DIALOGUE WITH THEM, AND I WAS VERY, VERY 
THANKFUL THEY DID THAT, BUT THE RESULT OF TAKING THIS A 
STEP FURTHER THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN -- WE HAVE MEN 
AND WOMEN OUT THERE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE REALLY COME TO 
DEPEND ON THIS PROGRAM QUITE A BIT NOW, BUT A LOT OF THEM -
- IT SHAKES THEIR ENTIRE LIFE UP IN MANY CASES WHEN THEY'RE 
DEPLOYED, AND THIS IS A REALLY TREMENDOUS HELP TO A FAMILY 
WHEN THEY'RE FACING THESE HARDSHIPS, AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH 
MR. BELDEN.
HE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH PAT, OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR 
COMMUNICATIONS PEOPLE TO CREATE A QUALITY SIGN TALKING 
ABOUT THE GRANT ITSELF, THE CONTACT INFORMATION, THE WHAT 
IS ALL AVAILABLE, AND I DON'T KNOW, MR. BELDEN -- I KNOW 
YOU'VE LOOKED AT IT A LITTLE BIT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS?
>>DOUG BELDEN:  COMMISSIONER, WE'VE COME UP WITH A PLAN 
FROM OUR OFFICE.
IT'S TOP PRIORITY AS PART OF OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
MS. NANCY MILLAN IS OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
WE'VE SPOKEN WITH LORI HUDSON IN COMMUNICATIONS TO COME UP 
WITH A SIXFOLD PLAN ALONG WITH THE APPROVAL OF -- ONCE WE 
SPEAK WITH PAT, AND THAT IS, NUMBER ONE, WE'RE GOING TO 
MAKE SOME SIGNS FOR ALL OF OUR BRANCH OFFICES, FIRST OF 
ALL, HUNG AT VARIOUS CONSPICUOUS SPOTS, NUMBER TWO PUT IT 
ON OUR WEB SITE, NUMBER THREE WORK WITH VETERANS AFFAIRS, 
WE HAVE A CONTACT, MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, AND THEN WE PLAN 
ON WORKING HOPEFULLY WITH THE LOCAL MEDIA TO GET THE WORD 
OUT.
I HAVE INSTRUCTED MS. MILLAN THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY, AND I 
COMMEND YOU, COMMISSIONER NORMAN, AND THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR 
YOUR SUPPORT OF GRANT FUNDS FOR A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT 
THING LIKE THIS, SO I WILL ASSURE THAT MY OFFICE DOES 
SOMETHING TO 110%, AND WE WILL SHARE THAT PLAN WITH YOU, 
MS. BEAN, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS ONCE WE 
DEVELOP THAT.
IT'LL BE SOONER AS OPPOSED TO LATER.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND MR. STROM, THANK YOU.
THIS WAS A FAMILY IN PANIC, FOLKS, AND THIS WAS A GUY THAT 
WAS DEPLOYED MULTIPLE TIMES, CAME BACK.
HE GOT VERY FEW DAYS AND HOURS IN BETWEEN THINGS TRYING TO 
HANDLE HIS FAMILY, AND I WAS EXTREMELY THANKFUL THAT YOU 
STEPPED UP, AND MR. ROGOFF, I DON'T SEE HIM IN THE 
AUDIENCE, BUT YOU-ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THIS 
PROGRAM AND HOW MANY FAMILIES THAT YOU'RE HELPING IS -- MY 
HEART GOES OUT TO YOU.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, AND I'D MOVE THAT WE WORK WITH --
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  SECOND.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND THE REASON MR. BELDEN -- HE'S THE TAX 
COLLECTOR SPOT.
HE'S GOT -- AND ACTUALLY, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT 
WHENEVER WE HAVE OUR TRAFFICKING AREAS, OUR HIGHLY 
TRAFFICKING AREAS IS WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING SUCH 
AN INFORMATIONAL SIGN FOR FOLKS THAT KNOW WHERE TO CONTACT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  NO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, DOUG, 
VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO.
YOU'RE ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WITHIN 
THIS ORGANIZATION.
YOU RUN A TREMENDOUS OPERATION.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK MR. STROM FOR HIS SERVICE AND 
APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING THAT SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACK 
THERE, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOD BLESS YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>>MARK SHARPE:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANKS.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THANK YOU, GUYS.
>>PAT BEAN:  MR. CHAIR, I THINK THAT YOUR NEXT ITEM WOULD 
BE ITEM F-1, WHICH ARE YOUR APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARDS AND 
COUNCILS.
THAT WOULD BE THE ARTS COUNCIL AND THE HEALTH CARE ADVISORY 
BOARD.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  OKAY.
THE FIRST BOARD IS THE ARTS COUNCIL.
I NEED EACH COMMISSIONER TO CHOOSE FIVE APPLICANTS.
COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  KITZEROW, LAZZARI, MARSH, PORTER, AND 
SHERMAN.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  LAZZARI, PORTER, SHERMAN, AND STORER.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  OKAY.
THAT WAS -- ONE MORE.
LAZZARI, PORTER --
>>JIM NORMAN:  LAZZARI, PORTER, SHERMAN, STORER.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  FIVE TOTAL.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND WARD.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  WARD.
COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  KITZEROW, LAZZARI, LOPEZ, MARSH, 
PORTER.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  GREGORY, LOPEZ, MARSH, PORTER, AND 
SHERMAN.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  3, 6, 8, 9, AND 10.
THAT WOULD BE LAZZARI, PORTER, SHERMAN, STORER, AND WARD.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  GREGORY, KITZEROW, LAZZARI, PORTER, AND 
SHERMAN.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  AND COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GREGORY, LAZZARI, PORTER, SHERMAN, AND WARD.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  OKAY.
JIM PORTER, MARTHA SHERMAN, RHONDA LAZZARI, ADAM KITZEROW -
- OH.
NEVER MIND ON KITZEROW.
OKAY.
WE NEED -- WE HAVE LAZZARI, PORTER, AND SHERMAN.
AND THEN WE HAVE A TIE FOR -- WITH THREE VOTES FOR GREGORY, 
KITZEROW, MARSH, AND WARD.
SO WE NEED YOU TO PICK TWO.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WHO WERE THE TIES AGAIN?
I'M SORRY.
KITZEROW, MARSH --
>>LUANN FINLEY:  GREGORY, KITZEROW, MARSH, AND WARD.
SO COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  KITZEROW AND MARSH.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  WAIT A MINUTES.
KITZEROW AND MARSH.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  KITZEROW AND WARD.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  KITZEROW, WARD.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  GREGORY AND MARSH.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  KITZEROW AND WARD.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WARD AND KITZEROW.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  AND COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GREGORY AND MARSH.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  SO IT'LL BE KITZEROW AND WARD.
>>JIM NORMAN:  MOVE TO CONFIRM.
>>LUANN FINLEY:  AND THEN COMMISSIONER -- OR THEN HEALTH 
CARE ADVISORY BOARD, NO VOTING REQUIRED.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONFIRM COMMISSIONER 
NORMAN, SECOND COMMISSIONER WHITE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE AND BLAIR.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SORRY.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  YOUR NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, WOULD BE ITEM 
F-3, WHICH IS BROUGHT TO THE BOARD BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
THIS IS TO DIRECT STAFF TO INVESTIGATE FUNDING ALTERNATIVES 
TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF A MANNED AMBULANCE FOR PROGRESS 
VILLAGE THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE ELIMINATING THE STAFF OR 
APPARATUS AT THE LUTZ FIRE STATION.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SECOND.
[LAUGHTER]
>>KEN HAGAN:  I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE BRIEF.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE THAT BRIEF.
THERE'S BEEN A PILOT PROGRAM GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS 
NOW WHERE THEY'VE BEEN ROTATING AMBULANCES BETWEEN LUTZ AND 
PROGRESS VILLAGE, AND I WANT TO SAY UP FRONT I DON'T WANT 
TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE SERVICE LEVEL 
AT PROGRESS VILLAGE.
IF THEY HAVE A NEED, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE 
ADDRESSING THAT NEED.
I'VE JUST GOTTEN A NUMBER OF CALLS, E-MAILS, AND CONCERNS, 
ONE PHONE CALL IN PARTICULAR FROM SOMEONE WHOSE HUSBAND HAD 
A STROKE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO IN THE LUTZ AREA.
THE AMBULANCE WAS CALLED AWAY AT LUTZ, THE FIRE STATION OUT 
ON CHAPMAN ROAD THE AMBULANCE WAS NOT THERE.
ULTIMATELY AN AMBULANCE FROM PASCO COUNTY RESPONDED AN HOUR 
LATER, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE HUSBAND PASSED AWAY, AND THE 
DOCTOR SAID, IF THE PERSON WOULD HAVE ARRIVED EARLIER, IN 
ALL LIKELIHOOD IT WOULD HAVE SAVED HIS LIFE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING ALL THE ISSUES AND 
HAVE ALL THE ALTERNATIVES COME BACK TO US.
I'M SURE IT WOULD REQUIRE FUNDING AND THAT MAY ULTIMATELY 
BE THE DECISION, BUT IF WE CAN JUST COME BACK WITH ANY 
OPTIONS IN 60 DAYS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  YES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  A FRIENDLY SUGGESTION, WHY DON'T YOU GET 
THAT GAVEL TO HIM SO YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO COMPLEMENT 
HIS SECOND.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WELL, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT --
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I WILL DO THAT.
FIRST, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YEAH, AND IT SOUNDS GOOD.
DOES THE CHIEF -- I KNOW THAT YOU'RE HERE.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY INPUT ON THIS AS WELL?
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD MORNING, AGAIN, CHIEF.
>>BILL NESMITH:  GOOD MORNING.
BILL NESMITH, FIRE RESCUE.
LIKE COMMISSIONER HAGAN SAID, WE'VE BEEN DOING A PILOT 
PROGRAM SINCE NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, AND UP TO THAT POINT 
IN TIME -- WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING PRIOR TO DOING THE 
SUGGESTED MOVE OR PARTIAL MOVE 12 HOURS A DAY, AND WE HAD 
NO COMPLAINTS, AND OUR STATS HAVE PROVED THAT THIS WAS A 
GOOD MOVE; HOWEVER, AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE WERE PLANNING 
ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEETING.
WHEN WE DETERMINED THAT WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO DO IT ON A 
PERMANENT BASIS, THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED GETTING SOME 
CONCERNS, SO ANYWAY, WE WILL CERTAINLY GET A FULL REPORT 
BACK TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WITHIN THE TIME 
FRAME AND LAY OUT ALL THE OPTIONS THERE AND -- WHERE A 
DECISION CAN BE MADE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  I'M SURE ULTIMATELY IT WILL COME DOWN TO 
FUNDING, AND THAT MAY BE THE BASIS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  BUT THIS ENHANCES YOUR SAFETY, AND THIS 
HELPS US?
>>BILL NESMITH:  FROM OUR STANDPOINT, IT'S BASICALLY 
PRIORITIZING -- WE'RE LIMITED AS FAR AS RESOURCES.
WE'RE PRIORITIZING A RESCUE UNIT, AN ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT 
PARAMEDIC TRANSPORT UNIT TO AN AREA THAT HAS MORE POTENTIAL 
FOR CALLS THAN THE LUTZ AREA, AND ONE OF THE THINGS -- ONE 
OF THE TRUE THINGS THAT HAS HELPED US IN THE LUTZ AREA IS 
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE ADDED TWO NEW RESCUE 
UNITS IN AND AROUND THE LUTZ AREA.
WE'VE PUT ONE IN LUTZ AND ONE IN NORTHDALE, SO IT HAS 
REDUCED THEIR NUMBER OF CALLS AND THE NEED TO HAVE A RESCUE 
UNIT IN THE VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION IN LUTZ PROPER.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
CHIEF, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION FOR ME, WERE WE -- BECAUSE WE 
HAD BEEN COMMUNICATING IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE.
ARE WE -- BECAUSE IF THE PLAN -- IF I'M CORRECT WAS TO MOVE 
RESCUE 24 TO THE PROGRESS VILLAGE AREA EFFECTIVE TODAY, 
CORRECT, OCTOBER 1st?
>>BILL NESMITH:  THAT'S WHAT WE INTENDED TO DO, YES, SIR.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
ARE WE STILL DOING THAT AND GOING TO CONTINUE THE PILOT 
PROGRAM, OR CLARIFY THAT FOR ME.
>>BILL NESMITH:  OKAY.
WHAT WE INTEND TO DO IS UNTIL WE COME BACK WITH A FULL 
REPORT, AS REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN, WE'RE GOING TO 
CONTINUE WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY AND HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE 
NOVEMBER.
WE'RE MOVING THAT RESCUE UNIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS 
PER DAY IN THE DAYTIME HOURS TO PROGRESS VILLAGE.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE NOVEMBER, AND IT 
HAS WORKED FINE.
WE MOVE IT 12 HOURS.
THE RESCUE UNIT GOES BACK -- APPROXIMATELY 7:00 OR 8:00 IN 
THE EVENING GOES BACK TO LUTZ, REMAINS IN THE LUTZ FIRE 
STATION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR SHIFT, THE 24-HOUR 
SHIFT, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS THE FOLLOWING DAY, AND 
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
THAT IN THEORY I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ON ITS FACE, BUT 
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT AND WE SEE THE NEED FOR THE RESCUE 
CAR IN PROGRESS VILLAGE, AND I WOULD -- I WOULD REQUEST 
THAT IT GO TO PROGRESS VILLAGE 24 HOURS, AND THEN WE COULD 
STILL CONTINUE THE NUMBERS UP IN LUTZ, AND THE REASON FOR 
THAT, WE HAVE -- IN PART OF THE COMMUNICATION, LOOKING AT 
THE NUMBERS, IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THIS DAYTIME RELOCATION 
RESCUE 24 TWO DAYS IN A ROW 24 HOURS RECEIVED ZERO CALLS, 
ZERO CALLS FOR SERVICE.
RESCUE 24 RAN 730 CALLS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER '06 AND SEPTEMBER 
OF '07.
MANY OF THESE CALLS WERE SOUTH OF THE LUTZ AREA.
BETWEEN SEPTEMBER '07 AND SEPTEMBER OF '08, RESCUE 21 -- 
RESCUE 24 RAN 1141 CALLS.
THIS INCREASE WAS DUE TO THE PILOT PROGRAM IN PROGRESS 
VILLAGE.
THUS FAR, CALENDAR YEAR 2008 THERE HAVE BEEN 420 ALS 
RESPONSES IN RESCUE'S 24 PRIMARY AREA, 1430 ALS CALLS IN 
THE PROGRESS VILLAGE AREA, THREE TIMES AS MANY CALLS IN THE 
PROGRESS VILLAGE AREA.
THIS IS A LIFE, SAFETY, AND WELFARE ISSUE.
WE HAVE THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF CALLS FOR ADVANCED LIFE 
SUPPORT SERVICE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE -- 
AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
IF THE RESCUE CAR IS NOT IN LUTZ, THEY STILL HAVE AN ENGINE 
THERE THAT CAN RESPOND WITH PARAMEDICS ONBOARD.
AM I CORRECT OR INCORRECT?
>>BILL NESMITH:  THAT'S CORRECT.
IT'S ONE OF OUR ONLY VOLUNTEER PARAMEDIC ENGINES THAT WE 
HAVE IN THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE ONE THERE AND ANOTHER LOCATION, PLUS WE HAVE A 
SECOND RESCUE UNIT THAT IS AT ONE OF OUR NEWER STATIONS, 
STATION NUMBER 40, WHICH IS ALSO IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF 
LUTZ, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY ADDRESSED IN LUTZ.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  AND THAT'S MY POINT.
IF WE'VE BEEN DOWN HERE 12 HOURS A DAY, I DON'T HAVE A 
PROBLEM WITH THAT.
IF WE PUT THE RESCUE CAR DOWN WHERE IT'S MOST GREATLY 
NEEDED -- AND I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER HAGAN'S RESPONSE TO 
ONE OF HIS CONSTITUENTS THAT HAD A STROKE AND PROBABLY 
WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN AREA THAT HAS 
THREE TIMES THE SIGNIFICANT CALLS FOR ADVANCED LIFE 
SUPPORT, I DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO TAKE THAT.
WE'VE DEMONSTRATED THE NEED BY HAVING IT COME DOWN HERE 12 
HOURS A DAY, SO THAT ALLEVIATES SOME OF THE CALLS OFF THE 
OTHER RESCUE CAR, BUT WE HAVE THREE TIMES THE ADVANCED LIFE 
SUPPORT RUNS, SO I DON'T SEE -- I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM 
CONTINUING THE PILOT, BUT LET'S MOVE THE RESCUE CAR 24 
HOURS WHERE IT'S NEEDED AND LET'S MOVE IT DOWN THERE, AND 
WE CAN CONTINUE TO OBSERVE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE LUTZ 
AREA, AND WE HAVE A FULLY STAFFED ENGINE WITH PARAMEDICS 
AND FIREFIGHTERS ON IT BECAUSE WHEN YOU RUN A RESCUE CAR, 
YOU'RE RUNNING AN ENGINE ANYWAY, AM I CORRECT, TO ALL OF 
THE EMERGENCY -- MEDICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSES?
>>BILL NESMITH:  THE REAL LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SO YOU'RE RUNNING TWO ANYWAY, SO FOR 
SOMEBODY TO HAVE TO RESPOND NORTH COUNTY LUTZ ALL THE WAY 
TO PROGRESS VILLAGE, THAT'S -- BY THE TIME THEY COME THERE, 
YOU'RE DEAD.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FROM A SAFETY -
- LIFE, HEALTH, AND SAFETY, WELFARE TO HAVE A UNIT THAT'S 
GOING TWO, THREE DAYS WITH NO CALLS AND HAVE THE PROGRESS 
VILLAGE AREA BOMBARDED AND INUNDATED WITH 1430 CALLS AND 
THEN HAVING TO BRING PARAMEDIC UNITS FROM OTHER AREAS OF 
THE COUNTY TO AN AREA THAT HAS THREE TIMES THE CALL VOLUME.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.
POINT IS WELL TAKEN THAT MR. WHITE IS BRINGING UP; HOWEVER, 
I'M REMEMBERING AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS, CHIEF, THAT WAS 
SOMEWHAT SIMILAR IN THE CITY OF TAMPA WHEN I WAS A COUNCIL 
MEMBER THERE.
NEW TAMPA HAD MANY LESS CALLS THAN SULPHUR SPRINGS, AND I 
BELIEVE MAYOR IORIO HAD MADE A DECISION TO MOVE THE CAR TO 
SULPHUR SPRINGS BECAUSE YOU COULD GENERATE MUCH THE SAME 
DATA AS WE HAVE HERE, AND THAT'S VALID AND THAT'S PRACTICAL 
AND THAT'S COMMONSENSICAL.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT I THINK WHERE -- I'M QUITE SURE WHERE MR. HAGAN IS 
GOING IS THAT ALTHOUGH WE CAN GENERATE REPORTS THAT SHOW 
THAT IT'S MUCH MORE UTILIZED IN THIS AREA, PROGRESS 
VILLAGE, VERSUS LUTZ, IT IS STILL INCUMBENT UPON US TO 
RESEARCH EVERYTHING WE CAN DO.
EVEN IF IT'S ONE PERSON THAT NEEDS IT AND WHAT WE HAVE 
THERE IN LIEU OF THIS IS NOT SATISFACTORY, THEN THAT'S AN 
ISSUE.
WE DON'T DO PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS BY THE NUMBERS, WE DO 
PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, SO THE PRACTICAL 
SIDE I UNDERSTAND.
THE FUNDING PERHAPS WE'LL SEE, BUT AT THIS POINT I THINK 
THAT MR. HAGAN IS JUST SIMPLY -- AND I HATE TO KEEP 
ASSUMING THIS, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME HE'S ASKING THE 
ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK AT THIS AND COME BACK WITH WHAT WE 
CAN AND CAN'T DO.
I JUST DON'T WANT ANYBODY IN ANY PARTICULAR AREA OF OUR 
COUNTY TO THINK THAT WE DIMINISH THE NEED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY 
EQUIPMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL JUST BECAUSE THERE'S 
A LESSER NEED AND THE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURS THERE IS MUCH 
DIMINISHED COMPARED TO AN AREA LIKE PROGRESS VILLAGE, SO 
I'M WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTING WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE'S ASKING US TO LOOK AT IT.
IS THAT CORRECT,  MR. HAGAN?
>>KEN HAGAN:  YES, MA'AM.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO I THINK THAT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO DO 
THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND ESSENTIALLY COME BACK WITH THE FUNDING 
THAT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFFING LEVELS, AND THAT'S 
WHAT IT'LL PROBABLY COME DOWN TO, WHAT THIS BOARD CAN AND 
CAN'T DO.
>>PAT BEAN:  IF THAT IS THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION BASED ON 
THE INFORMATION, YOU WANT US TO BRING THAT BACK, YES.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WELL, I'VE GOT A LITTLE DIFFERENT TAKE ON 
THIS A LITTLE BIT.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS, TO ME, GOT THE FEEL OF PITTING ONE 
COMMUNITY AGAINST ANOTHER, AND I DON'T LIKE THAT.
THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
AND IN ALL DUE RESPECT TO NUMBERS, IT COMES DOWN TO IF ONE 
LIFE IS LOST BECAUSE OF THIS BOARD'S ACTION OF MOVING ONE 
TO THE OTHER, IT'S THE WRONG MOVE.
THERE IS -- THERE IS A SPECIFIC FUND, WHICH IS THE 
COMMUNICATIONS TAX, WHICH IS -- COULD FUND ANY EMERGENCY 
EQUIPMENT OR ANY HARDWARE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE SOME PERSONNEL THAT YOU MAY HAVE 
TO EITHER ADD ONE OR TWO OR MOVE AROUND THE DEPARTMENT A 
LITTLE BIT FOR -- I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT 
HAS BEEN SAID HERE TODAY ABOUT CALLS.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN'S ON POINT ABOUT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE DIED 
WITHOUT THAT BEING THERE, COMMISSIONER WHITE'S COMMENTS 
ABOUT, HEY, LOOK, LOOK AT ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WILL 
BE DEAD IF WE DON'T DO THIS.
I -- AND COMMISSIONER HAGAN, I DON'T THINK WE CAN -- WITH 
THIS BEING OUT IN FRONT OF THIS BOARD TODAY, I DON'T THINK 
WE CAN WAIT A MONTH OR -- I THINK YOU COME BACK BY THE END 
OF THE DAY WITH A PLAN THAT YOU PUT COVERAGE, PROFESSIONAL 
COVERAGE OF LIFE SAFETY ON BOTH, YOU BUY THE EQUIPMENT, AND 
YOU PROVIDE IT.
SIMPLE AS THAT FOR ME.
I DON'T WANT TO PIT ONE AGAINST THE OTHER.
BOTH HAVE THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT -- IF 
IT'S ONE.
NOW IT'S THERE.
WE HAD THE PILOT.
WE SHOWED NEEDS EVERYWHERE.
WE GOT TO STEP UP.
I MEAN, WE'VE JUST GOT TO.
AND I WOULD WANT SOMETHING BY THE END.
DAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  NO, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
I JUST -- I DO NOT WANT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS UNTIL WE ALSO 
HAVE THE PUBLIC MEETING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE, 
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT, SO WHETHER IT'S 
60 DAYS, 45 DAYS, OR BY THE END OF THE DAY, I'M FINE WITH 
THAT.
OBVIOUSLY IT IS A LIFE-AND-DEATH ISSUE, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE 
OR SHOULD HAVE THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE AND HAVE THEIR INPUT AS 
WELL.
THAT WAS THE ONLY POINT WITH THAT.
COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  BOTTOM LINE, WHAT IS IT YOU FEEL GIVES 
THE SAFEST AND ADEQUATE COVERAGE?
I RAISED THIS QUESTION.
IT WAS NOT A COMMUNITY PITTED AGAINST A COMMUNITY, BUT 
BECAUSE MY DISTRICT HAS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF RURAL AREA, AND 
WE KIND OF HAVE SOME SIMILARITIES HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF 
WE SUPPORT THIS, ARE WE GOING TO BE SHORTING PROGRESS?
YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- DO WE CONTINUE WITH THE STUDY, AND ARE 
WE FINE WITH THAT?
DO WE -- I JUST DON'T -- I DON'T WANT OUR CITIZENS WHO ARE 
IN NEED OF A SAFETY CALL TO BE SHORT HERE.
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>PAT BEAN:  MR. CHAIR, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD GET 
A LITTLE EXPLANATION ABOUT THE SITUATION REGARDING THE ONE 
PERSON BECAUSE I JUST ASKED IF IT WAS TRUE THAT WE DIDN'T 
HAVE A VEHICLE AVAILABLE, HOW THE CALL CAME IN, AND IT 
MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE IT WASN'T QUITE 
AS DIRE AS -- CAN YOU DO THAT OR CAN YOU GET DAVE TO DO IT?
>>BILL NESMITH:  LET ME -- WE HAVE CHECKED INTO THE 
SITUATION THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  DID YOU TALK TO MY AIDE STEVE?
>>BILL NESMITH:  YES.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
BECAUSE WE GOT THE CALL YESTERDAY.
>>BILL NESMITH:  WE HAVE TALKED TO THE PERSON INVOLVED.
I'D LIKE DAVE TRAVIS, OUR RESCUE CHIEF -- HE'S THE ONE 
WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT, SO I'D LIKE FOR HIM TO MAKE 
THAT EXPLANATION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SURE.
>>BILL NESMITH:  I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN 
WHAT WAS PORTRAYED.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
DAVID TRAVIS.
I'M THE RESCUE CHIEF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE.
JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME CONSTITUENT, 
I SPOKE TO HER YESTERDAY AND RESEARCHED HER CALL, AND 
BASICALLY WHAT WE HAD WAS RESCUE 24 WAS UNAVAILABLE.
ACCORDING TO THE DISPATCH DATA LOG, THEY WERE NOT IN 
PROGRESS VILLAGE ZONE THAT DAY, HOWEVER.
THEY WERE ON ANOTHER CALL IN THE LUTZ AREA.
RESCUE 40 WAS ALSO UNAVAILABLE.
THE ENGINE GOT ON-SCENE WITHIN NINE MINUTES.
THE CALL HAD COME IN AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD FALLEN OFF OF 
HIS BICYCLE AND WAS NOT INITIALLY THOUGHT BY DISPATCH TO 
WARRANT AN ALS -- WHAT WE CALL A DELTA RESPONSE WITH THE 
RESCUE AND AN ENGINE, SO IT WAS A PRIVATE BLS AND AN ALS 
ENGINE SENT ON THE SCENE.
THE ENGINE GOT ON SCENE, RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A 
PARAMEDIC AMBULANCE AND SUMMONED ONE, AND BECAUSE RESCUE 24 
AND 40 TO THE SOUTH WERE UNAVAILABLE, THEY WOUND UP GETTING 
A MUTUAL AID RESPONSE FROM PASCO COUNTY, AND ACCORDING TO 
THE EDC RECORDS, THAT RESPONSE TIME, I BELIEVE, WAS 25 
MINUTES, SO IT WAS ACTUALLY PROBABLY 30 MINUTES FROM THE 
TIME OF THE INITIAL CALL, BUT IT WAS ABOUT A 25-MINUTE 
RESPONSE TIME FOR PASCO COUNTY TO GET ON THE SCENE, AND 
THEN WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE PATIENT WAS EVIDENTLY HAVING A 
BLEED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, 
WHICH IS NOT A TRAUMA CENTER, AND THEN HAD TO ULTIMATELY BE 
TRANSPORTED ON TO ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, WHICH IS A TRAUMA 
CENTER.
SO THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FACTORS.
IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, BUT I 
THINK THE INITIAL REPORT AND THE INITIAL WORD THAT SHE HAD, 
THE CITIZEN HAD, WAS NOT EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
CHIEF, I GUESS, IF YOU WILL, THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME THE 
MOST IS WE'RE ASKING FOR A STUDY, AND WE'VE ALREADY DONE A 
STUDY.
THIS PILOT PROGRAM HAS BEEN GOING ON, AND WE WANT TO 
CONTINUE TO STUDY AFTER STUDY AFTER STUDY WHERE WE'VE 
PROVEN THAT THE NUMBERS COME IN AT 420 CALLS FOR THE LUTZ 
AREA VERSUS 1430 FOR ANOTHER AREA.
I BEG TO DIFFER WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS DISPERSED BY THE NUMBERS.
THE GREATEST NEED HAS THE GREATEST RESPONSE.
IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PUTS MORE PERSONNEL WHERE THE CRIME 
LEVELS AND THE CRIME STATS ARE HIGHER, AND THAT'S ONE OF 
THE THINGS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.
THIS IS A LIFE, HEALTH, AND SAFETY, WELFARE ISSUE, AND THE 
TRUCK IS DOWN THERE 12 HOURS OUT OF THE DAY RIGHT NOW AS IT 
IS AND RESPECTIVELY WITH THE RESCUE CHIEF THAT JUST SPOKE 
ON THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT THAT DID OCCUR IN THE LUTZ 
AREA, THE LUTZ RESCUE TRUCK WASN'T ASSIGNED -- IT WAS IN 
THE LUTZ AREA ANYWAY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO REALIZE.
NO MATTER WHAT AREA YOU'RE IN, IF THAT RESCUE TRUCK IS NOT 
AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA, YOU'RE GOING TO THE NEXT STATION, 
THE NEXT STATION, AND THE NEXT STATION FURTHER OUT, AND 
UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEXT STATION FOR THIS ONE HAPPENED TO BE 
UP IN THE PASCO AREA, SO -- WHERE MUTUAL AID COMES IN, BUT 
I THINK WHEN WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DISPARITY IN CALLS THREE 
TO ONE FOR ONE PARTICULAR AREA, I THINK THOSE NEEDS HAVE 
ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN FOCUS GROUPED, 
THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN STUDIED.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION ON IT, AND IF WE HAVE A 
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE IN THE LUTZ AREA, WHICH WE DO, 
TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR THEM, THERE'S AN ENGINE UP THERE 
WHICH IS VERY RARELY USED.
THERE'S RESCUE WHICH IS VERY RARELY USED, BUT WE HAVE A 
FULLY CAPABLE STAFFED ENGINE THAT CAN RESPOND TO ANY ALS OR 
DELTA RESPONSE THAT FIRE RESCUE HAS, AND THEN 40, WHOEVER -
- STATION 40 OR RESCUE 40, WHOEVER'S THE NEXT CLOSEST ONE 
CAN ALSO BE ON THE WAY, BUT YOU HAVE PARAMEDICS ALREADY ON 
THAT ENGINE, WHICH HAS THE SAME RESPONSE TIME, WILL BE 
RIGHT THERE TO BE ABLE TO RENDER AID AND SUPPORT.
SO -- AND IF WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE STUDY AND IF WE DECIDE 
THAT WE NEED TO AT THE END OF THE DAY GO OUT AND BUY A NEW 
RESCUE CAR AND MAN THE PERSONNEL, WELL, SO BE IT, BUT WE'VE 
PROVEN A NEED IN ANOTHER PART OF THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT 
NECESSARILY DISPARAGING ANOTHER, SO I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE 
FORWARD WITH THE APPROVED PLAN THAT WE HAD THAT WAS ALREADY 
SENT OUT THAT THE EXTRA RESCUE CAR NEEDS TO BE DISPATCHED 
TO ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE NEEDS ARE THREE TO 
ONE ON OCTOBER 1st, WHICH WAS IN THE PLAN, AND THEN WE CAN 
CONTINUE WITH THE PILOT IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE A PILOT FOR 
THE NORTH LUTZ AREA.
>>KEN HAGAN:  JUST LET ME SAY I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER 
WHITE WITH ONE EXCEPTION.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR THERE TO BE ANOTHER STUDY OR CONTINUED 
STUDY.
THE MOTION SPECIFICALLY SAYS TO INVESTIGATE THE FUNDING 
ALTERNATIVES -- BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO MONEY -- 
ON WHAT IT WOULD COST TO CONTINUE OR HAVE THE MANNED 
AMBULANCE AT BOTH PLACES, SO THAT'S --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
THAT'S WHERE I WAS CONFUSED.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THERE'S NO REASON TO STOP 
WHAT WAS GOING TO BE PUT IN PLACE OCTOBER 1st TO MOVE THE 
RESCUE CAR, THEN IF WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO 
INVESTIGATE FUNDING OR SOMETHING ELSE, THEN --
>>KEN HAGAN:  WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FACT THAT THEY DID 
NOT -- IF IT'S THE TYPICAL POLICY OR PROCEDURE THAT WE DID 
NOT HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING YET, SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD SAY 
WE SHOULDN'T TAKE ACTION UNTIL WE ALSO SCHEDULE THE PUBLIC 
HEARING IN THE COMMUNITY.
MS. BEAN, DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT?
YOUR LIGHT WAS --
>>PAT BEAN:  NO.
I THINK I ALREADY COVERED WHATEVER I NEEDED TO COVER ON 
THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  CHIEF, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT?
>>BILL NESMITH:  THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY, COMMISSIONER, 
LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, IS BEFORE WE DID THIS BACK IN 
NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WE DID HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING, AND 
WE HAD NO DISSENTERS AT ALL AT THAT PUBLIC MEETING, AND WE 
HAD A PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, AS A MATTER OF 
FACT, FOR A SECOND MEETING TO DISCUSS WITH THE CITIZENS 
WHAT OUR FINDINGS WAS DURING THE 11 MONTHS OF STUDY, AND WE 
WERE GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THEM TO GO AHEAD AND 
MOVE IT PERMANENTLY.
THAT'S WHAT OUR PLAN WAS, BUT WHEN THIS ACTION CAME OUT 
FROM THE BOARD HERE, THAT'S WHY WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO 
CANCEL THE MEETING, AND WE WILL RESCHEDULE IT, OBVIOUSLY, 
BUT THERE WAS ALSO A NOTICE -- WE DID A LATE-MINUTE NOTICE 
TO THE PUBLIC, AND I WAS AFRAID THAT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE 
REALIZED THAT WE WERE HAVING A PUBLIC MEETING.
>>KEN HAGAN:  HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED TO ADEQUATELY 
NOTICE THE MEETING?
>>BILL NESMITH:  WE COULD HAVE A MEETING WITHIN A WEEK FROM 
TODAY OR IN THAT TIME FRAME.
WE'D WORK WITH COMMUNICATIONS TO GO AHEAD AND START MOTIONS 
TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
ARE WE PUTTING THE PROGRESS VILLAGE COMMUNITY AT RISK BY -- 
I'LL CHANGE THE MOTION AND MAKE IT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING 
IN TWO WEEKS -- IF WE CONTINUED THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR TWO 
WEEKS, HAVE THE MEETING, AND THEN COME BACK WITH THE 
FUNDING OPTIONS AT THAT TIME?
I MEAN, IS THAT GOING TO PUT AN UNDUE RISK?
>>BILL NESMITH:  WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS 
FOR 11 MONTHS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  RIGHT.
>>BILL NESMITH:  OKAY.
IF WE CONTINUE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR 11 MONTHS AND TAKE 
IT FOR TWO MORE WEEKS, WE WOULD HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR THE 
BOARD, AND --
>>KEN HAGAN:  I'LL CHANGE THE MOTION TO TWO WEEKS FROM THE 
60 DAYS.
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
OKAY.
NOW, I THINK, GENTLEMEN, THAT WE HAVE A DILEMMA HERE.
>>PAT BEAN:  YES, WE DO.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE 
THAT NEED THIS OR APPEAR TO NEED OUR SERVICES IN PROGRESS 
VILLAGE MORE THAN IN LUTZ.
THIS IS BROUGHT TO US NOW.
IT'S NOT ABOUT DOING SOME NEW PROGRAM OR ANYTHING ELSE.
I DON'T CARE IF IT'S ONE LIFE OR 2,000 LIVES.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH MR. NORMAN.
YES, I KNOW MR. WHITE SAID THAT'S HOW THE SHERIFF'S 
DEPARTMENT DOES THINGS AND HOW -- THAT'S PROBABLY HOW TPD 
DOES BECAUSE DEPENDING ON A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM A 
CERTAIN GRID, THAT'S WHERE THEY ALLOCATE THEIR PERSONNEL.
WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT LUXURY HERE.
I MEAN, I'M SO SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT GENTLEMAN, 
AND LESSONS LEARNED.
IT IS HERE, IT'S BEFORE US.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO MORE STUDIES, WE DON'T HAVE TIME 
TO WAIT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, 
CHIEF, I'M NOT SURE YOU CAN PUT THAT TOGETHER IN A WEEK, 
BUT THE POINT IS WE HAVE AN ISSUE NOW, AND I -- I 
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT WHAT MR. HAGAN IS DOING AND DOING IT 
THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE, USUAL PROCESS, BUT MR. NORMAN HAS 
BROUGHT UP A VERY, VERY CRITICAL ISSUE.
WHAT IF -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE.
STATS ARE GREAT.
STATS CHANGE.
DATA CHANGES DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS ON ANY GIVEN DAY.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS AND SOMETHING 
HAPPENS?
THAT'S -- THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK ANY 
COMMISSIONER HERE WANTS ON THEIR HEAD OR THIS GOVERNMENT 
THAT REPRESENTS ALL OF THOSE CONSTITUENTS.
WHETHER THEY NEED IT A LITTLE BIT OR WHETHER THEY NEED IT A 
LOT, IT'S -- IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL THING IF THAT SERVICE 
IS NOT UTILIZED IN LUTZ, BUT IT HAS TO BE THERE FOR THEM 
BECAUSE OUR SERVICE TO THEM IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND 
IN TERMS OF LIFE SUPPORT IS NOT SUBJECTIVE, IT'S OBJECTIVE, 
AND SO NOW WE HAVE PUT OURSELF IN A DILEMMA WHERE WE HAVE 
TO ACT AND WE HAVE TO ACT VERY EXPEDITIOUSLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS, IF WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS 
PUBLIC HEARING.
I'VE ASKED RENEE LEE THAT PERHAPS MAYBE OVER THE BREAK SHE 
CAN SEE IF THAT CAN BE WAIVED.
SOMEHOW, SOME WAY WITH PERHAPS THOSE MONIES THAT MR. NORMAN 
HAS TALKED ABOUT WE NEED TO SUPPLY BOTH, AND IF ONE USES IT 
MORE THAN THE OTHER, FINE.
IT'S STILL A RESPONSIBILITY OF FIRE RESCUE, IT'S STILL OUR 
RESPONSIBILITY.
THERE'S NO TIME TO DO MORE STUDIES.
THERE'S NO TIME, AND IT'S NOT A PRUDENT THING TO LOOK AT 
OUR DATA AND SAY BASED ON THIS, WE'RE BETTER INVESTING IT 
HERE THAN OVER THERE.
WE CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE, SO I -- I JUST WANT TO CAUTION US 
THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING MORE, AND I THINK OVER 
THE BREAK PERHAPS OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT CAN COME BACK AND 
SUGGEST SOMETHING, AND PERHAPS MAYBE IN THE INTERIM YOU CAN 
TALK WITH MS. LEE AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT SATISFIES 
BOTH.
WHETHER IT'S MORE HERE THAN HERE DOESN'T MATTER.
IT'S GOT TO BE THERE FOR BOTH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS TO THE 
FOREFRONT, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, BUT I REALLY TRUST THE CHIEF 
IN HIS DECISIONS.
I'M NOT AN EXPERT.
THE BOARD'S BROUGHT OUT SOME GREAT POINTS.
THE COMMUNICATION FUND.
WE JUST WENT THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS.
IF WE NEEDED RESCUE OR AN AMBULANCE IN BOTH PLACES, PERHAPS 
WE COULD HAVE FUNDED THAT FROM THE -- FROM THE GENERAL 
BUDGET, FROM THE MONIES THAT WE HAD RATHER THAN SOME OF THE 
OTHER THINGS THAT WE FUNDED, SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING FOR 
FUTURE CONSIDERATION, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
EVERYBODY'S TAKEN CARE OF, AND I KNOW THAT'S YOUR GOAL TOO, 
SO I'M PUTTING MY COMPLETE TRUST IN YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT 
TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY WE HIRED YOU.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MS. BEAN.
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THE BOARD -- I 
JUST ADVISED RENEE, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR A PUBLIC 
HEARING.
IT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE TRY TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC WHEN WE'RE DOING ANYTHING THAT 
THEY MIGHT BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT.
IT'S A PUBLIC MEETING DONE NOT AS A REQUIREMENT.
THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT WE DO THAT OTHER THAN WE 
BELIEVE IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT 
AND THE CITIZENS THAT WE HAVE THAT MEETING, BUT I DO 
ENCOURAGE US TO LET THE CHIEF EVALUATE THIS SITUATION.
I BELIEVE HE'S DONE THAT, BUT I WOULD ASK HIM TO GO BACK 
AND DO A FURTHER EVALUATION BECAUSE I SUSPECT IF WE LOOK, 
WE'LL FIND OTHER EXAMPLES AROUND THE COUNTY WHERE IF BASED 
ON THIS ONE INCIDENT WE SAY WE NEED TO PUT A NEW CAR THERE, 
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PUT OTHER NEW CARS, SO LET THE 
EXPERTS -- AND THEY ARE THE EXPERTS, I'M NOT.
LET THEM COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION, AND I DON'T 
BELIEVE THEY CAN DO THAT IN JUST OVER THE BREAK.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR THE CHIEF AND MAYBE EVEN 
THE RESCUE CHIEF.
FOR THE CALL VOLUME THAT WE HAVE FOR THE LUTZ AREA, TAKING 
THE RESCUE CAR OUT OF THAT AREA, AS WAS PLANNED, HAVING AN 
ENGINE, WHICH YOU ALREADY DO, FULLY STAFFED WITH 
PARAMEDICS, WOULD THAT LESSEN THE RESPONSE OR THE -- OR THE 
CAPABILITIES OF THE LUTZ AREA BASED OFF OF THE VOLUME OF 
CALLS WITH JUST AN ENGINE, PARAMEDIC ENGINE UNIT RESPONSE 
VERSUS A RESCUE CAR?
>>BILL NESMITH:  IT WOULD NOT, COMMISSIONER, AND THE REASON 
I SAY THAT, BOTH AREAS, PROGRESS VILLAGE AND LUTZ AREA, 
BOTH HAVE PARAMEDICS ON THE ENGINE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I UNDERSTAND.
>>BILL NESMITH:  OKAY.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT APPLES WITH APPLES THERE, OKAY.
THE REAL QUESTION IN THE LUTZ AREA IS THE TRANSPORT OF THAT 
PATIENT, THAT CRITICAL PATIENT, OKAY, AND THAT'S -- THAT'S 
WHAT -- THAT'S WHAT THE REAL QUESTION IS, AND THE EXAMPLE 
WITH OTHER UNITS BEING OUT OF SERVICE HAVING TO TAKE A 
TRANSPORT UNIT FROM A FURTHER DISTANT AREA, THAT'S THE 
CONCERN.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, IF THE -- IF THE ENGINE ITSELF HAS 
TRAINED PARAMEDICS ON IT, WHICH IT DOES, THEY CAN STABILIZE 
THE PATIENT UNTIL THE NEXT RESCUE CAR GETS THERE; CORRECT?
AND THAT'S THE STRATEGY THAT'S EMPLOYED?
>>BILL NESMITH:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  AND IF THAT'S CORRECT, I MEAN, IN THEORY 
WE'RE NOT LESSENING SERVICES AT ALL BECAUSE NORMALLY BY THE 
TIME YOU STABILIZE SOMEONE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW 
MINUTES FOR AN AMBULANCE TO GET THERE ANYWAY.
>>BILL NESMITH:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SO -- OKAY.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S REALLY NO DISPARITY THEN IN THAT 
ASPECT OTHER THAN THE -- OTHER THAN THE POSSIBILITY OF 
POTENTIAL TRANSPORT ISSUE?
>>BILL NESMITH:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  CHIEF, WHAT ABOUT THIS?
IF YOU NEED MORE TIME -- AND PERHAPS MAYBE MS. BEAN IS 
RIGHT -- I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
THE INTERIM.
I MEAN, TALK TO ME ABOUT MAYBE EQUIPMENT, TEMPORARY 
EQUIPMENT, LEASING OPPORTUNITIES, SOMETHING SO THAT IT 
COVERS THOSE CITIZENS AND EVERYBODY ELSE INVOLVED IN THIS 
WHILE YOU COME UP WITH A DETERMINATION.
AND I DON'T MEAN TO PUT MR. JOHNSON IN THE MIDDLE BECAUSE I 
KNOW THAT'S NOT HIS ROLE, BUT BECAUSE I LOOK TO HIM FOR 
SOME ADVICE, THEN NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED, SO I'M 
GOING TO ASK HIM TO COME UP AND HELP ME WITH THIS.
BUT LET ME HEAR FROM YOU.
DO YOU HAVE SOME EQUIPMENT THAT CAN BE ACTIVATED OR 
SOMETHING IN THE MEANTIME?
>>BILL NESMITH:  OBVIOUSLY WE COULD FUND IN OVERTIME MONIES 
FOR AN INTERIM BASIS FOR WHICHEVER UNIT --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  YEAH, BECAUSE THERE'S TWO THINGS.
I MEAN, THE OPERATING COSTS IS GOING TO BE A CONCERN --
>>BILL NESMITH:  YEAH.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  -- BUT THIS IS CRITICAL THAT WE GIVE THEM 
COVERAGE, NOT WAITING FOR A REPORT BACK, SO YOU COULD DO 
THAT?
>>BILL NESMITH:  WE COULD TAKE ON OF OUR RESERVE UNIT, AND 
WE HAVE A RESERVE EQUIPMENT THAT WE COULD PLACE A UNIT IN 
SERVICE FOR AN INTERIM PERIOD, YES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  AND MR. JOHNSON, I HATE TO PUT YOU IN A 
BIND, BUT WOULD YOU MIND ADDING TO THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD MORNING, ERIC.
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  GOOD MORNING.
COMMISSIONER, THE -- PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS TO COME 
UP WITH A PERMANENT FUNDING SOLUTION IF THE BOARD WANTS TO 
EXPAND THE FLEET OF AMBULANCES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  BUT I MEAN, IN THE MEANTIME, WHAT --
>>ERIC JOHNSON:  SHORT-TERM WE COULD CERTAINLY COME UP WITH 
OPTIONS FOR YOU, BUT WE MAY LOOK AT SOME OTHER OPTION FOR 
THE LONG-TERM FUNDING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF WE PUT ANOTHER 
UNIT IN SERVICE -- WE JUST BALANCED THE BUDGET THAT TOOK 
EFFECT TODAY, HAPPY NEW YEAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN COME UP 
WITH AN OPTION TO GET US THROUGH THE BALANCE OF THIS YEAR.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S TALKED ABOUT A FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE 
HAVE.
ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A FUNDING SOURCE THAT 
WILL CONTINUE ON INTO FISCAL '10, AND IN JUST A COUPLE 
MONTHS WE'LL BE STARTING TO PREPARE YOUR NEXT BIENNIAL 
BUDGET, SO THERE MAY BE A SHORT-TERM FUNDING STRATEGY AND 
THEN A LONGER-TERM ONE THAT WILL NEED THE BOARD'S APPROVAL.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
SO WOULD IT BE PROHIBITIVE FOR ME OR UNREASONABLE FOR US TO 
ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THAT MAYBE OVER THE BREAK AND MAYBE TALK 
WITH THE CHIEF JUST ABOUT A TEMPORARY SITUATION, A 
TEMPORARY FIX, THAT IT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF OPPORTUNITY 
TO DETERMINE WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT COVERS EVERYBODY?
>>PAT BEAN:  WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT IT OVER THE BREAK AND 
COME BACK AND GIVE THE BOARD OUR RECOMMENDATION AT THAT 
TIME.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU, MR. HAGAN, WAIT AND 
SEE?
>>KEN HAGAN:  YEAH.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY I DISAGREE WITH OUR 
ADMINISTRATOR, ONE KEY POINT.
YOU DID A STUDY, YOU DID A STUDY HERE IN LUTZ.
THE ACTION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE -- HAPPEN TODAY WAS TO 
MOVE AN AMBULANCE AWAY FROM ONE AREA AND PUT IT INTO 
ANOTHER AREA, SO THAT'S NOT ALL THE AREAS EQUALLY ALL OVER 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
THAT'S LUDICROUS.
AND THE IDEA OF -- YES, THERE IS PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE 
TRYING TO OVERSEE THIS.
THIS ISN'T EVERY SITUATION BECAUSE THERE'S AN ACTION THAT 
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN TODAY, AND THAT'S WHAT 
COMMISSIONER HAGAN WAS IDENTIFYING, BUT WHAT OUR DISCUSSION 
IS ABOUT IS THAT IF THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING OR NO PUBLIC 
HEARING, THAT COMMUNITY IS GOING TO FEEL IT'S LESS SERVED, 
AND WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET TO IS AN INTERIM TIME 
PERIOD, IF IT'S OVERTIME, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, OR -- I WANT 
EQUAL COVERAGE FOR BOTH, WHATEVER ACTIONS YOU WERE GOING TO 
TAKE, EQUAL COVERAGE FOR BOTH UNTIL A DETERMINATION'S MADE.
IF IT'S OVERTIME, BUY A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, OUR MEN AND 
WOMEN NEED THE RESOURCES AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE BOTH 
AREAS.
HOWEVER YOU DO THAT, THAT'S FINE.
I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU, BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S WHY 
I SAID BRING BACK SOMETHING TODAY BECAUSE IF YOU DO KEEP IT 
IN LUTZ AND YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO MOVE IT, YOU'RE GOING TO 
HAVE 12 HOURS DOWN IN PROGRESS VILLAGE THAT DIDN'T OCCUR.
IF YOU DID MOVE IT, NOW YOU'VE GOT 24 HOURS UP IN LUTZ 
THAT'S NOT OCCURRING, SO IT'S NOT AN EQUAL, ON PAR EXTEND 
IT FOR TWO WEEKS AND LET IT JUST HAPPEN, SO THAT'S WHY I 
WANTED YOU TO DO SOMETHING, JUST GIVE THE -- IF YOU WANT TO 
HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THEN OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, WE 
CAN SAY, LOOK, YOU'RE COVERED 100% UNTIL WE MAKE A FINAL 
DECISION, LIKE MR. JOHNSON SAID, SHORT-TERM, LONG-TERM, OR 
WHATEVER, BUT --
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
I'LL CHANGE MY MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE THIS TO THE LAST 
ITEM OF THE DAY, AND THEN WE'LL PLEASE COME BACK WITH, 
AGAIN, THE SHORT-TERM AND THE LONG-TERM OPTIONS THAT WE 
HAVE.
OKAY.
SO THAT'S MY MOTION, AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  THE NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, IS ITEM F-4, 
WHICH WAS TO ASK THE STAFF TO FORWARD THEIR ACTION PLAN 
REGARDING THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION 
PROGRAM TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD, AND THIS 
WAS BROUGHT TO THE BOARD BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
I THINK THIS ONE ACTUALLY WILL BE QUICK.
YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD THAT WE'RE IN LINE TO GET ABOUT $19 
MILLION FOR NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM TO WORK WITH 
THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS THAT WE'VE HAD, AND ALL I WANT TO DO 
IS PRIOR TO THE BOARD OR THE COUNTY COMING UP WITH A PLAN 
THAT WE REFER IT OVER TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY 
BOARD, WHICH ACTUALLY MEETS ON MONDAY, AND -- JUST TO GET 
THEIR INPUT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE BOARD.
>>PAT BEAN:  THE STAFF WILL BE PREPARED TO MAKE A 
PRESENTATION TO THE ADVISORY BOARD ON MONDAY.
WHAT THEY WILL NOT BE PREPARED TO DO, BECAUSE WE'VE JUST 
GOTTEN FINAL RULES PARTIALLY YESTERDAY AND PARTIALLY I 
THINK COMING IN I THINK STILL THIS MORNING FROM HUD, IS TO 
GIVE THEM A PLAN OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE 
CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE RULES AND THE CONCEPTS WITHIN 
WHICH WE MUST WORK WITH HUD.
IT IS A VERY SHORT TIMETABLE FOR US TO HAVE AN ADOPTED PLAN 
AND BE BACK TO HUD WITH OUR COMMITTED PLAN, SO WE WILL 
BRING IT TO THEM ON MONDAY FOR ANY INPUT THAT THEY HAVE, 
BUT I DOUBT THAT IT'LL HAVE TIME TO GO BACK TO THEM BEFORE 
WE HAVE --
>>KEN HAGAN:  WHATEVER INFORMATION WE HAVE PRIOR TO MONDAY, 
E-MAIL IT, MAIL IT JUST SO THEY HAVE IT -- I DON'T WANT IT 
TO BE SPRUNG ON THEM IN THE LAST MINUTE -- SO THEY CAN HAVE 
A CHANCE TO DIGEST IT.
BILL, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT?
>>BILL ARMSTRONG:  BILL ARMSTRONG, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF 
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YES, SIR.
WE'RE GOING TO BE -- WE'RE CRASHING RIGHT NOW.
IN FACT, THE STAFF IS MEETING WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA TO TRY 
TO COORDINATE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO THEIR PROGRAM.
WE WILL HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE WORKING THROUGH THE WEEKEND TO 
TRY TO GET SOMETHING BECAUSE BASED ON THE 15-DAY PUBLIC 
REQUIRE THE, JUST THE AGENDA PROCESS, WE REALLY HAVE TO 
HAVE THIS PLAN COMPLETED BY A WEEK FROM FRIDAY, WHICH IS 
VERY LITTLE TIME TO DO SOMETHING AS COMPLEX AS THIS PLAN 
WILL LIKELY BE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
THANK YOU.
SO CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO REFER THIS OVER TO THE ADVISORY 
BOARD?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO MOVE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO MOVE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE, SECOND 
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>PAT BEAN:  THE ONLY OTHER ITEM FOR THIS MORNING IS ITEM 
A-66, WHICH WAS AN ITEM REMOVED FROM CONSENT FOR DISCUSSION 
BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE PARKS 
AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S REVIEW OF THE BUILDING OF PARKS 
AND LIGHTING AS IT AFFECTS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  OKAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YES.
BOARD MEMBERS, MANY -- ALL TOO OFTEN -- THIS IS REALLY A 
PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO 
SOMEHOW MAKE REVISIONS TO THE ORDINANCE.
WHEN -- LET'S SAY YOU GO INTO EXTRA INNINGS AT A BASEBALL 
GAME.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN, I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
EVERYBODY SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
WE HAVE CHILDREN RUNNING AROUND THE PARK WITH NO LIGHTS ON.
ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME THE LIGHTS WILL GO 
OFF.
IT'S HARDER TO FIND YOUR CHILDREN.
EVERYBODY KNOWS DARKNESS INHIBITS NONSAFETY AREAS, AND I 
WOULD JUST HOPE THAT SOMEHOW WE COULD MAKE A UNIVERSAL 
ACROSS-THE-COUNTY RULE THAT PARKS COULD STAY OPEN UNTIL 
11:00 BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE TAKE CHILDREN HOME MANY TIMES 
BECAUSE -- AND I'VE HAD TIMES WHERE I COULDN'T FIND THE 
KIDS, AND THEY WEREN'T THAT FAR AWAY.
YOU CAN HOLLER AT THEM IF YOU WANT TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, KIDS 
ARE GOING TO BE KIDS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO WANDER OFF INTO 
DIFFERENT PLACE, AND I THINK IT PUTS THEM AT A 
COMPROMISED -- A COMPROMISING -- IN A COMPROMISING 
SITUATION THAT WE WOULD CERTAINLY WANT TO AVOID, SO I WOULD 
HOPE SOMEHOW THAT WE COULD DIRECT STAFF TO LOOK AT WHETHER 
OR NOT AMENDING THE ORDINANCES TO MAKE IT UNIVERSAL ACROSS 
THE COUNTY FOR THE PARKS TO BE ALLOWED TO KEEP THEIR LIGHTS 
ON UNTIL 11:00, IF THAT WOULD BE AMENABLE TO THE BOARD.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.
NOT TO DISCOUNT WHAT MR. BLAIR'S BRINGING UP, BUT MR. 
NORMAN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
I THINK THE PAPER PUBLICLY ATTACHED YOU TO THIS DARK SKIES 
ISSUE, AND YOU SPOKE ABOUT IT AT LENGTH, AND WAS IT NOT 
YOUR DIRECTION OR INTENTION FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THIS TO BE 
ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING IN OUR 
PARKS?
>>JIM NORMAN:  YEAH.
AND I -- THIS IS -- WHAT COMMISSIONER BLAIR WAS SAYING IS 
REALLY TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES.
HE'S WANTING TO DO THE -- I GUESS -- AND HISTORICALLY -- I 
MEAN, FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH PARKS, I MEAN, THEY'VE TRIED 
METERS, TURN OFF THINGS, BUT A LOT OF THESE KIND OF THINGS 
THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IF I RECALL --
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  RIGHT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  -- IS THESE PARKS GUYS, THE MANAGERS HAVE 
KEYS, AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE TURNING THEM OFF TO SAVE 
ELECTRICITY BECAUSE THE LEAGUES ARE HAVING TO FUND THE 
ELECTRICITY BILLS, SO A LOT OF THAT, I GUESS, HAS TO BE 
WORKED THROUGH OUR PARKS AND RECS FOLKS, BUT WHAT -- MR. 
THORNTON AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING AND HAVING DIALOGUE ABOUT 
REALLY MOVING -- THIS IS THE DIRECTION THAT THEY'VE TOLD ME 
CAN GET THE QUICKEST ON GETTING LIGHTS UP FOR THE NEW 
ESTABLISHED PARKS AND THE NEW FIELDS IN TOWN 'N COUNTRY, 
THE OSCAR COOLER PARK AND THAT ADDITION, AND REALLY, AS WE 
GO FORTH WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE FOR COST, KIDS, 
LIGHTS, AND SAFETY AND THE WHOLE BIT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF 
YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING MORE TO THAT, BUT WE -- YOU KNOW, 
WHAT HE'S GOT BEFORE US IS THE RESOLUTION THAT HE'S SAYING 
CAN GET US TO THE FINISH LINE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M 
DEPENDING ON.
>>MARK THORNTON:  GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MARK THORNTON, PARKS, RECREATION, AND CONSERVATION.
IT IS ACTUALLY TWO KIND OF PARALLELING ISSUES.
THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT FALLS UNDER THE CURRENT LAND 
DEVELOPMENT CODE IS SOMEWHAT RESTRICTED, AND THAT IS IN THE 
PROCESS OF WORKING, AS OUR REPORT SAID.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT'S 
GOING TO BE -- THE MEETING IS ON THE 13th OF OCTOBER, WHICH 
IS A WEEK FROM MONDAY, SO WE'RE VERY COMFORTABLE THAT 
THAT'S MOVING FORWARD.
THE LIGHTING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SOMETHING THAT 
WE'RE SUPPORTING AS IT REFLECTS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
THE OTHER IS MORE OF A CURFEW ISSUE, AND I -- I WASN'T SURE 
OF THE QUESTION, BUT IF -- I THINK THAT WE TRY TO HAVE OUR 
LIGHTS OFF AT 10:00, AND WE'VE HAD AN ISSUE AT FOREST HILLS 
WHERE YOU PLAY, ACTUALLY, THAT WE'VE HAD A TIMER BECAUSE A 
LOT OF TIMES THE LEAGUE WOULDN'T TURN THEM OFF.
IF THAT TIMER NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED, I THINK THAT THE 
ORDINANCE OR THE -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A CURFEW ON 
LIGHTED FACILITIES BECAUSE I KNOW IN OTHER AREAS WE GO 
LONGER THAN 10:00.
WE JUST HAD SOME NEIGHBOR COMPLAINTS.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE LEAGUE THE OVERRIDE ABILITY, 
AND THEY JUST HAVEN'T ASKED FOR IT.
KNOWING THE -- NOW, FOREST HILLS DOESN'T PLAY UNDER PONY -- 
OR THEY PLAY PONY BALL.
LITTLE LEAGUE CAN'T START AN INNING AFTER 9:00 P.M., SO THE 
10:00 RULE GENERALLY WORKING COUNTYWIDE WITH SOME VARYING 
EXCEPTIONS, AND ONE IS FOREST HILL BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A 
LITTLE LEAGUE-AFFILIATED PROGRAM, SO WE CAN WORK ON THAT.
IF THERE IS AN ORDINANCE THAT LIMITS 10:00, AND I DON'T 
RECALL THE TIME FRAME FOR LIGHTED FIELDS IS 10:00 BECAUSE I 
DO KNOW THEY DO GO LONGER OCCASIONALLY, WE CAN BRING THAT 
BACK AS A MINOR AMENDMENT TO OUR PARK ORDINANCES AT ANY 
TIME.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SO YOU THINK THIS IS LIKELY A LEAGUE-BY-
LEAGUE ISSUE?
>>MARK THORNTON:  WELL, WE GENERALLY -- OR THE WAY THAT I 
RECALL -- AND FORGIVE ME FOR NOT HAVING IT COMMITTED TO 
MEMORY, BUT MOST OF OUR PARK -- THE OPENING TIME IS DAWN TO 
DUSK EXCEPT IF IT'S A LIGHTED FACILITY, AND THEN ATHLETICS, 
OF COURSE, LIGHTED FACILITIES GO LATER.
WE GENERALLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM GOING INTO 
AFTER 10:00 MOSTLY WITH YOUTH AND MOSTLY DURING THE WEEK 
BECAUSE OF SCHOOL.
THE SUMMERTIME IT'S NOT AS BIG OF AN ISSUE.
I JUST NEED TO LOOK AT THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ISN'T 
LIMITED TO 10:00 BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THAT OCCASIONALLY 
IF YOU ONLY START AN INNING AT 9:00 KNOWING SOME OF THE 
KIDS AT 11 AND 12 YEARS OLD, THAT INNING COULD STILL BE 
GOING ON AT 10:30, SO WE WILL LOOK AT THAT AS WELL AND 
BRING BACK A PARALLEL REVIEW FOR THE BOARD IF THERE IS ONE 
THAT NEEDS TO BE.
IF IT'S NOT, WE JUST NEED TO WORK WITH THE LEADERSHIP AT 
FOREST HILLS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AN OVERRIDE BECAUSE IF 
SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THE GAME IS GOING INTO EXTRA INNINGS, 
YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP IT AND YOU DON'T WANT TO -- THE 
LIGHTS GOING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PITCH OR RIGHT AFTER 
THE GAME IS OVER, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU GOT KIDS ALL 
OVER THE PLACE, YOU CAN'T FIND THEM.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  RIGHT.
>>MARK THORNTON:  YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM TIME TO GET TO THE 
CARS, LEAVE, THEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  IF I CAN JUST ANSWER, THE QUESTION WAS 
BROUGHT UP -- I BELIEVE, COMMISSIONER NORMAN, YOU WERE 
SPEAKING TO OSCAR COOLER PARK ORIGINALLY --
>>JIM NORMAN:  ALL PARKS.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  -- IN THE PAPER.
WERE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT ALL PARKS?
>>JIM NORMAN:  YEAH.
THE ITEM I BROUGHT HERE LAST -- I GUESS IT WAS LAST WEEK, 
IT'S THE CONSTRUCTION OF MULTIPLE FIELDS THROUGHOUT THE 
COUNTY.
WE CAN'T GET THE PERMITTING FOR THE LIGHTS TO GO ON WHEN 
WE'RE CONSTRUCTING THE SITES, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT 
REALLY FAST-TRACKED THAT WE CAN, ONE, GET THE FIELDS BUILT 
AND GET THE LIGHTING ISSUE RESOLVED.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  RIGHT.
AND I UNDERSTAND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, BUT WE 
DO HAVE EXISTING PARKS LIKE FOR LIKE TOWN 'N COUNTRY, FOR 
OTHER PARKS, NOT JUST FOREST HILLS, THERE'S OTHER PARKS IN 
THE COUNTY THAT HAVE THE SAME --
>>MARK THORNTON:  AND WE WILL JUST LOOK AT --
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  -- SITUATION.
>>MARK THORNTON:  IF THERE IS AN ORDINANCE THAT LIMITS THE 
CURFEW AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED TO 11:00 P.M., WE'LL 
BRING THAT BACK TO YOU.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE IT AS A TIME SPECIFIC, THOUGH.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ADDRESSED AS A PUBLIC 
SAFETY ISSUE --
>>MARK THORNTON:  ABSOLUTELY.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  -- BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY IS.
>>MARK THORNTON:  WELL, IT IS.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YES.
>>MARK THORNTON:  WE WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO THE 
RESIDENTS.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  SURE.
>>MARK THORNTON:  AND 11:00 P.M. IS PUSHING IT SOME TIMES 
OF THE YEAR, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT HAPPENS, AND IT'S A SAFETY 
ISSUE, AND IF YOU'VE EVER HAD LIGHTS GO OFF IN THE MIDDLE 
OF A PITCH, IT'S DUCK, SO --
>>JIM NORMAN:  I'LL MOVE A-66.
>>MARK THORNTON:  THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN IS JUST TO 
DIRECT STAFF -- OR TO RECEIVE THE REPORT AND DIRECT STAFF 
TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE IF THERE ARE ANY ORDINANCES, 
RESTRICTIONS, OR LIMITATIONS ON EXTENDING THE HOURS SO THE 
LIGHTS CAN BE ON.
MOTION COMMISSIONER NORMAN, SECOND COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  ANY OTHER ITEMS THIS MORNING?
>>PAT BEAN:  WE HAVE NO OTHER ITEMS FOR THIS MORNING.
THE ITEMS WE HAVE FOR THE AFTERNOON START AT 2:00, SO THE 
BOARD SHOULD RECONVENE AT 2:00.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WE'RE ADJOURNED FOR THIS MORNING.
SEE YOU AT 2:00.


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