CAPTIONING
NOVEMBER 4, 2009
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 OUR WEDNESDAY, 
NOVEMBER 4th, 2009, 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 AL HIGGINBOTHAM.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THIS DAY IN HISTORY HAS SOME 
SIGNIFICANCE TO MANY OF US IN HERE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NAVY VETERANS, IT WAS ON THE 4th 
IN 1775 THAT GENERAL WASHINGTON COMMISSIONED THE FIRST 
NAVAL SHIP, AND IT WAS THOSE BATTLES WHEN HE SENT THEM DOWN 
INTO THE CARIBBEAN TO INTERCEPT THE BRITISH WARRIORS THAT 
ENTITLED US TO GATHER AND ASSEMBLE AS WE WILL TODAY.
AND ON ANOTHER NOTE, SINCE WE ARE ALL DISCUSSING ELECTIONS, 
IT WAS ON THIS DAY THAT AMERICA ELECTED THE FIRST WOMAN 
GOVERNOR.
IT WASN'T RECENT TIMES, IT WAS BACK IN 1924, AND IT WAS A 
STATE THAT WE MAY NOT EVEN THINK OF AS ELECTING A LADY 
GOVERNOR.
IT WAS WYOMING, AND HER NAME WAS NELLIE ROSS.
BOW YOUR HEAD IN PRAYER.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THESE PIONEERS WHO HAVE COME 
BEFORE US AND HAVE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE 
TODAY TO EXCHANGE IDEAS, HAVE DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS, DO IT 
WITH RESPECT, KNOWING THAT WE ALL HAVE ONE THING IN MIND 
AND THAT IS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL GENERATIONS HERE 
IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN THIS COUNTY.
FATHER, HELP ME TO CONDUCT MYSELF IN A MANNER WHICH IS 
CONSISTENT WITH YOUR TEACHINGS.
AMEN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
THIS MORNING WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS TO PRESENT, AND 
I'M VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE 
FIRST TWO.
THE FIRST ONE, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO 
MEGAN ALLEN, HONORING HER FOR BEING THE 2010 FLORIDA 
TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE MS. ALLEN AND ALSO SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR 
CAROL KURDELL TO PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD MORNING.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE I'M A PRODUCT OF THE 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OR BECAUSE I HAVE 
A SON THAT'S IN SECOND GRADE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE, 
BUT I ALWAYS TRY AND FOLLOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR -- IN 
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND BACK IN FEBRUARY I REMEMBER READING 
ABOUT A 4th GRADE TEACHER FROM CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY WHO WON 
THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AND THEN A FEW 
MONTHS LATER, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN JULY, READING ABOUT THIS 
SAME WOMAN, MS. ALLEN, WHO WON THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR 
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND I THOUGHT HOW GREAT IT WAS THAT 
IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE 
BEST AND BRIGHTEST TEACHERS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
JUST SO HAPPENED A COUPLE MONTHS AFTERWARD I HAD THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MS. ALLEN, AND I CAN TELL YOU WITHIN 
MOMENTS I COULD SEE HER PASSION FOR TEACHING AND FOR HER 
STUDENTS, AND I KNEW THAT THIS BOARD NEEDED TO RECOGNIZE 
HER FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I'M PLEASED TO READ -- TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION INTO THE 
RECORD.
WHEREAS, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES AND HONORS 
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUTSTANDING CLASSROOM TEACHERS WHO 
HAVE DEMONSTRATED A SUPERIOR CAPACITY TO INSPIRE A LOVE OF 
LEARNING IN STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES; AND 
WHEREAS, MEGAN ALLEN WAS NAMED THE 2010 FLORIDA DEPARTMENT 
OF EDUCATION/MACY'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND THE CHRISTA 
McCAULIFFE AMBASSADOR OF EDUCATION; AND WHEREAS, AS THE 
FLORIDA TEACHER OF THE YEAR, MEGAN ALLEN WILL CONDUCT 
WORKSHOPS, ADDRESS FELLOW TEACHERS, PARENTS, BUSINESS AND 
COMMUNITY LEADERS AT CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS AND TALK TO 
STUDENT GROUPS ABOUT CAREERS IN EDUCATION; AND WHEREAS, THE 
FLORIDA TEACHER OF THE YEAR, MEGAN ALLEN WILL ALSO SERVE AS 
THE CHRISTA McCAULIFFE AMBASSADOR FOR EDUCATION TO SERVE AS 
A GOODWILL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
AND TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE; AND WHEREAS, MEGAN 
ALLEN'S PAST RECOGNITIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE A 
NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER AND A KIDS IN NEED 
FOUNDATION GRANT RECIPIENT AND SHE BEGAN A GREEN TEAM 
RECYCLING PROGRAM, A KEYS TO SUCCESS PROGRAM FOR STUDENT 
ACHIEVEMENT, AND A CONFIDENCE SQUAD FACT PREP AND STEP 
TEAM; AND WHEREAS, MEGAN ALLEN IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING 
STUDENT LEADERSHIP BY HEADING CLEVELAND SOUL, SERVING 
OTHERS THROUGH UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP, AN AFTERSCHOOL 
SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP CLUB WHERE STUDENTS ARE EMPOWERED TO 
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND OTHERS.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY 
CONGRATULATE MEGAN ALLEN ON HER REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, 
AND WE WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS IN INSPIRING OUR FUTURE 
LEADERS OF TOMORROW FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, EXECUTED THIS 
4th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2009, SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN BOARD OF THE 
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
MEGAN, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I STILL REMEMBER THE IMPACT 
OF MY 4th-GRADE TEACHER HAD ON ME, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HIS 
CREATING AND FUN AND INTERESTING WAYS THAT HE TAUGHT US, 
AND I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT NOT ONLY ARE YOU TEACHING 
YOUR STUDENTS, BUT YOU'RE PROVIDING THE MEMORIES THAT WILL 
LAST A LIFETIME, AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO COME DOWN AND 
PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
>> LET ME JUST SAY THAT THIS IS THE PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT 
HAPPENS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EVERY DAY IN EVERY 
CLASSROOM.
WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT MEGAN CONTINUES TO BE 
THE EPITOME OF WHAT WE EXPECT OUT OF OUR TEACHERS.
SHE REPRESENTS US SO WELL ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE 
NATION, AND WE'RE JUST SO PROUD OF HER, SO I WOULD 
APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF 
APPLAUSE FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, AND I WANT TO TALK FIRST 
TO THE STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE.
IF YOU NEED PASSES BECAUSE YOU'RE LATE TO SCHOOL TODAY, WE 
HAVE THE CHAIR FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD HERE, SO SHE'LL -- 
SHE'LL WRITE YOUR EXCUSE FOR YOU.
NOT A PROBLEM.
BUT THANK YOU.
SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, AND IT'S SUCH A HUMBLING 
EXPERIENCE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>>MARK SHARPE:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I JUST WANTED TO SAY, CAROL, THANK YOU FOR 
THE PROMPT ABOUT THE SECOND APPLAUSE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, 
OUR GRATITUDE TO WHAT SHE DOES AND THE TEACHERS IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DO GOES FAR BEYOND THE SECOND ROUND OF 
APPLAUSE.
IT IS NICE TO SEE AN INDIVIDUAL AS PROFESSIONAL AS SHE IS 
WHO OBVIOUSLY, OBVIOUSLY -- AND I DON'T KNOW HER -- BUT 
ENJOYS WHAT SHE DOES, AND THEN THE NICEST PART ABOUT THAT 
IS TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST BENEFITED 
BY IT, US AND OUR CHILDREN AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SO 
WE'RE PROUD OF THEM, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP 
IN TERMS OF YOUR BOARD, AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WELL, BOARD MEMBERS, I COULD NOT BE MORE 
DELIGHTED TO PRESENT THESE NEXT AWARDS, AND I'D LIKE TO 
INVITE THE FOREST HILLS BRONCO ALL-STARS TO PLEASE STAND 
BEHIND ME HERE.
YOU MIGHT RECALL A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO THIS BOARD 
RECOGNIZED ANOTHER FOREST HILLS TEAM, THE PINTO ALL-STARS, 
FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND I'M EXTREMELY PLEASED TO 
HONOR THE BRONCO ALL-STARS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A POWERHOUSE OF A PROGRAM AT FOREST 
HILLS.
THIS TEAM IN TOURNAMENT PLAY WENT UNDEFEATED, GOING 19-0, 
WINNING THE DISTRICT, STATE, REGION, FOR ULTIMATELY WINNING 
THE 10th ANNUAL CAL RIPKEN LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES IN 
ABERDEEN, MARYLAND, BEATING TEAM MEXICO 7-6 IN FRONT OF 
5,000 PEOPLE.
THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS ARE ON THIS SPECIAL TEAM:
BRANDT BURROWS, BRENDON WAMSLEY, CHRISTIAN WHIDDEN, DARREN 
GOODEN, DARREN MILLER, DREW PAULSEN, JASON HEINRICH, JESUS 
VEGA, JONATHAN DIAZ, JONATHAN SHAW, JOSH RUSSO, KYLE 
ROCHELLE, KYLE TUCKER, AND MICHAEL RIVERA.
I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THESE PLAYERS AND THIS TEAM, WHAT 
THEY ACCOMPLISHED.
IT IS AMAZING.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MANAGER CARLOS 
NORIEGA, THE COACHES, JOHN HEINRICH, TOM SHAW, AND DON 
WHIDDEN, AND ESPECIALLY THE TEAM MOM, KERRI SHAW.
I KNOW HOW HARD THE TEAM MOM WORKS.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE PLAYERS -- OR THE PARENTS OF 
ALL THESE PLAYERS FOR ALL THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU MAKE AND 
EVERYTHING YOU DO SO THESE YOUNG BOYS CAN PLAY BALL.
I OFTEN SAY THAT SOME OF LIFE'S GREATEST LESSONS ARE 
LEARNED ON THE BALL FIELD, AND WHILE THEY -- THESE YOUNG 
MEN DO NOT REALIZE IT NOW, THEY ARE CERTAINLY MEMORIES THAT 
WILL LAST A LIFETIME.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE MANAGER, MR. NORIEGA, TO COME FORWARD.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO, FIRST OF ALL, READ INTO THE RECORD A 
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT WHICH STATES, THE HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE 
THE FOREST HILLS BRONCO ALL-STAR TEAM FOR WINNING THE 10th 
ANNUAL CAL RIPKEN LITTLE LEGAL WORLD SERIES ON AUGUST 22nd, 
2009, AT THE RIPKEN ACADEMY BASEBALL COMPLEX IN ABERDEEN, 
MARYLAND.
FOREST HILLS WENT UNDEFEATED 19-0 THROUGH THE DISTRICT, 
STATE AND REGION TOURNAMENTS BEFORE HOLDING OFF A SIXTH-
INNING RALLY TO DEFEAT MEXICO 7-6 IN THE FINAL GAME.
THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES 
HEREBY COMMEND THE TEAM'S COACHES FOR INSTILLING IN THEM 
DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE.
THE ALL-STARS VICTORY DEMONSTRATES UNDERSTANDING OF 
TEAMWORK AND A COMMITMENT TO BE THE BEST.
WE EXTEND OUR BEST WISHES TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM AND THEIR 
FAMILIES, AND WISH YOU CONTINUED ATHLETIC SUCCESS FOR YEARS 
TO COME.
AWARDED THIS 4th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2009, SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN 
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS, AS WELL AS WE HAVE KEYS 
TO THE COUNTY I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU, THE OTHER COACHES, 
AND THE TEAM MOM.
AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BECKNER ALSO HAS A PRESENTATION 
OR AN AWARD HE'D LIKE TO GIVE.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  WELL, I'LL JUST ECHO SOME OF THE 
SENTIMENTS OF CHAIRMAN HAGAN BECAUSE ALL OF YOU HAVE WORKED 
SO HARD TO ACHIEVE THIS GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND YOU ALL 
HAVE REPRESENTED THIS COMMUNITY SO WELL, AND I THINK IT'S 
JUST A MARK OF THE EXCELLENCE THAT LIES AHEAD OF YOU IN 
YOUR FUTURES, AND SO I JUST CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF 
YOU TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE BOTH IN SCHOOL AND YOUR 
ATHLETICS,  AND JUST CONTINUE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THIS 
COMMUNITY.
AND TO ALL THE COACHES AND PARENTS, AGAIN, THE COMMITMENT 
THAT GOES BEHIND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO FOR YOUR CHILDREN IS 
JUST -- IS JUST -- AGAIN JUST REALLY EMPHASIZES YOUR STRONG 
PARENTING SKILLS AND THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE MADE TO 
THE KIDS TOWARDS EXCELLENCE, SO WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO 
PRESENT TO THE COACH AND TO THE TEAM ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD 
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THIS PLAQUE THAT SYMBOLIZES YOUR 
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON FOR 2009.
SO GUYS AND COACHES, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS, AND 
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  BEFORE I ASK MR. NORIEGA TO SAY A FEW WORDS, 
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE PLAYERS COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR 
NAME AND POSITION, AND AFTER THE MEETING WE'LL HAVE A DVD 
DELIVERED TO EACH ONE OF YOU OF THIS MEETING.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHICH SIDE YOU WANT TO START AT, BUT PLEASE 
COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND POSITION.
>> KYLE TUCKER, CENTER FIELD.
>> BRANDT BURROWS.
I PLAY RIGHT FIELD.
>> DARREN GOODEN, AND I PITCH.
>> CHRISTIAN WHIDDEN.
I PLAY SHORTSTOP.
>> JOSH RUSSO, AND I PLAY SECOND BASE.
>> BRENDON WAMSLEY, PLAY RIGHT FIELD.
>> MICHAEL RIVERA, FIRST BASE.  
>> JONATHAN SHAW, THIRD BASE.
>> KYLE ROCHELLE, LEFT FIELD.
>> JESUS VEGA, CATCHER.
>> JASON HEINRICH, FIRST BASE.
>> DREW PAULSEN, THIRD BASE.
>> JONATHAN DIAZ, PITCHER.
>> I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK ALL THE COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS ISSUES AND OTHER ISSUES 
THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU NEED TO ATTEND TO, AND FOR 
YOU TO TAKE YOUR TIME OUT TO RECOGNIZE THESE YOUNG MEN FOR 
AS HARD AS THEY WORK, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND BESIDES BEING GREAT ATHLETES, ALSO GREAT KIDS AND GREAT 
STUDENTS.  
THEY ALL HAVE GREAT GRADES IN SCHOOL HERE.
THAT'S APPLAUDING THEM ALSO AND TO THE PARENTS AND THE HARD 
WORK AND COMMITMENT THEY MAKE.  
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEM ON THIS SPECIAL 
DAY.
THIS IS A MEMORY THEY WILL HAVE FOR THE REST OF THEIR 
LIVES, AND THEY'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS 20, 25 YEARS 
LATER, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE HELPED MOLD KIDS THAT ONE DAY WILL BE A 
PART OF SOCIETY INSTEAD OF A BURDEN, AND THAT'S FROM THEIR 
HARD WORK AND THEIR PARENTS.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE:  FANTASTIC.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
[APPLAUSE]
>>JIM NORMAN:  COACH -- COACH, ONE THING, I REALLY WANT TO 
THANK YOU TOO.
I WAS ACTUALLY THE -- THE FIRST COACH OVER AT PERIA WHEN 
YOU-ALL WENT FROM LITTLE LEAGUE TO PONY AND WAS THERE -- I 
GUESS I COACHED FOR 30 YEARS, AND THE DEDICATION THAT I 
KNOW YOU'VE MADE, BUT TO ALL THE YOUNG MEN THAT ARE 
STANDING THERE, AS YOU GO FORWARD, NEVER -- I KNOW 
COMMISSIONER HAGAN SAID IT AND THE COACH SAID IT.
DON'T FORGET THIS.
THE SACRIFICES YOUR FAMILIES ARE MAKING AND YOUR PARENTS 
ARE MAKING TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY, I SAW IT EVERY 
DAY.
THEY GIVE UP SO MUCH, THEY GIVE UP SO MUCH TIME, AND 
WITHOUT YOUR FAMILIES RALLYING AROUND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF 
YOU, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR, AND I HOPE 
EVERYBODY NEVER FORGETS THAT, THE SACRIFICES OF YOUR 
FAMILIES THAT HAVE GOT YOU HERE.
AND COACH, I KNOW YOU KNOW IT AND I KNOW YOU -- YOU'RE WITH 
THE PARENTS, BUT THE YOUNG MEN, WHEN YOU GROW OLDER -- 
YOU'RE VERY SPECIAL, AND YOUR FAMILIES ARE VERY SPECIAL FOR 
THE DEDICATION THEY'VE GIVEN YOU, AND I'M JUST THRILLED 
THAT I KEEP SEEING FOREST HILLS COME THROUGH BECAUSE WHAT 
CHAMPIONS, AND I'M SO PROUD THAT YOU REPRESENT OUR -- OUR 
COUNTY AND OUR CITY, AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
GREAT JOB.
I KNOW YOU COACH OUT THERE NOW, AND GREAT JOB FOR BRINGING 
THESE YOUNG MEN HERE.
IT'S AN HONOR THAT WE CAN SEE YOU HERE TODAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND REALLY CAN'T SAY ANYTHING BETTER THAN 
WHAT COMMISSIONER NORMAN JUST SAID.
WE ARE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY PROUD OF THIS TEAM AND OF -- 
AND OF YOU GUYS, AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY BEFORE WE 
TAKE A PHOTO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH -- WITH 
CLEAR CHANNEL, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO RECOGNIZE THIS TEAM 
ON A BILLBOARD ON DALE MABRY.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WOW.
FANTASTIC.
>>KEN HAGAN:  SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO SET UP GETTING A 
TEAM PHOTO, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE OF -- OF THE BRONCO 
TEAM AND THE PINTO TEAM, SO THAT'LL BE IN THE WORKS.
IT'LL BE COMING HERE IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS, SO I'M VERY 
PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AS WELL.
CAN WE GET A PHOTO.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WELL, THAT'LL MEAN A LOT OF GIRLFRIENDS.
[LAUGHTER]
>>ROSE FERLITA:  COACH, I WANT TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION JUST 
FROM OBSERVATION.
>> YES, MA'AM.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I KNOW THE ANSWER, I THINK, BUT TELL ME 
THEY'RE NOT THIS QUIET ON THE FIELD.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THEY'RE PROBABLY 14 OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE KIDS YOU'VE 
EVER MET IN YOUR LIFE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THAT'S WHAT I KIND OF THOUGHT.
>> THEY COMPETE WHO'S GOING TO HIT THE FIELD FIRST, WHO'S 
GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HIT HOME RUNS THE FURTHEST.
THEY PLAY -- BOTTLE CAP BASEBALL THEY COMPETE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM AND TO YOU FOR 
HAVING THEM ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY'VE DONE, COACH.  
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM WILL MAKE THE 
NEXT COMMENDATION.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU.
AND WE HAVE MORE NEWS FROM THE SPORTS WORLD IN HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXCELLED, AND IF I CAN 
CALL COACHES ANDY CHASANOFF AND BECKY LEHMAN UP WITH SOME 
MEDALLIST FROM THE PARALYMPIC SPORT TAMPA BAY.
ZACH WOODKE AND EMILY CLARKE, IF YOU'D ALL COME FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW -- ZACH'S MOM, BARBARA, IS HERE AND EMILY'S 
MOM, MARCIA, IS HERE ALSO, AND I WANT THANK YOU FOR YOU 
JOINING US.
TELL YOU HOW THIS ALL GOT STARTED.
BACK DURING BUDGET WHEN WE WERE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING 
OFF-SITE HERE, I OBSERVED A YOUNG GIRL IN THE BACK WHO WAS 
PATIENTLY WAITING HER TURN WITH THE MANY HUNDREDS WHO 
WANTED TO SPEAK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM 
IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BUDGET, AND EMILY WAITED ALL NIGHT 
LONG, DIDN'T GET TO TALK, AND SHE WAS PATIENT AND SHE WAS 
COURTEOUS ABOUT IT AND SET A GREAT EXAMPLE, AND FOR THE 
RECORD -- SHE GAVE ME THE COMMENTS SHE WANTED TO READ INTO 
THE BUDGET HEARING THAT NIGHT.
AND FOR THE RECORD, EMILY, I'M GOING TO READ THESE INTO THE 
RECORD AND THEN GIVE YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR MS. BEAN TO 
INCLUDE IN HER FILE AS WELL.
BUT HERE'S HOW IT STARTS, FOLKS.
MY NAME IS EMILY CLARKE.
I'M TEN YEARS OLD AND I'M A PART OF THE BLAZESPORTS 
PROGRAM.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS PROGRAM FOR FIVE YEARS.
I PLAY ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF SPORTS.
MY FAVORITE SPORTS ARE SWIMMING, BASKETBALL.
I LIKE COMING TO BLAZE BECAUSE IT'S FUN TO BE LIKE ALL THE 
OTHER KIDS AND PLAY SPORTS, EVEN WITH A DISABILITY.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH AT ALL PEOPLES AND IT IS MY HOME AWAY 
FROM HOME.
SIGNED EMILY CLARKE.
AND THANK YOU.
THIS IS NOW IN THE RECORD FOR YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T 
GET TO READ IT THAT NIGHT, EMILY, AND I'M GOING TO PASS IT 
DOWN TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR, MS BEAN.
THIS IS A CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION FOR AGAIN OUTSTANDING 
YOUNG ATHLETES.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALL SORT OF SPORTING COMPETITIONS 
AND ACTIVITIES, AND THIS ONE IS FOR THE PARALYMPICS SPORTS, 
AND WE HAD SIX YOUNG PEOPLE FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT 
COMPETED ALONG WITH THEIR COACHES, AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR 
THE FINE JOB THESE COACHES HAVE DONE AND THE HOURS OF 
DEDICATION.
THEY BROUGHT HOME 67 MEDALS DURING THESE SUMMER OLYMPICS.
IT READS AS FOLLOWS:  IN RECOGNITION FOR EARNING FIRST 
PLACE IN MEDIUM-SIZED DIVISION COMPETITION, BRINGING HOME A 
TOTAL OF 67 GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE MEDALS FOR TRACK AND 
FIELD, SWIMMING, TABLE TENNIS, WEIGHTLIFTING, AND SETTING 
THREE NATIONAL RECORDS DURING THE NATIONAL JUNIOR 
DISABILITY CHAMPIONSHIPS, A PARALYMPIC-STYLE COMPETITION 
WHICH TOOK PLACE JULY 25th THROUGH AUGUST 2nd, IN ST. 
LOUIS, MISSOURI.
ON BEHALF OF THIS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION, WE EXTEND OUR 
SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM FOR MAKING HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY TRULY THE BEST IN THE NATION.
WE WISH YOU ALL FUTURE SUCCESS IN OLYMPIC COMPETITIONS, THE 
PARALYMPIC COMPETITIONS, AND FOR YOUR ENDEAVORS IN LIFE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND IF COACH OR THE OLYMPIANS WOULD 
LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR ATHLETES, OBVIOUSLY, AND THEY 
REALLY EXCELLED IN THIS COMPOSITION.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO THE 
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS A REPLICA OF OUR FIRST PLACE 
TROPHY THAT WE'RE BRINGING BACK.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE FINISHED THAT HIGH UP, AND 
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT 
OF OUR PROGRAM, SO THIS IS FOR YOU, AND THANK YOU VERY 
MUCH, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR US.
>> SIR, MAY I HAVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
>> ANDY CHASANOFF.
>> THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANK YOU, SIR.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  ANDY, YOU KNOW -- YOU KNOW THE RELATIONSHIP 
THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS, AND THANK YOU, AL, WHAT -- 
THIS PROVES ALL CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE EQUAL.
WHAT WE DID AS AN INVESTMENT IN ALL PEOPLES LIFE CENTER 
WITH ANDY'S HELP, WITH THE GREAT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY 
THAT RALLIED AROUND ALL CHILDREN -- ONE OF MY DEAREST 
FRIENDS THAT DIED, DAVID HAYES, WAS A MAJOR PART IN A LOT 
OF THIS.
ONE OF HIS CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THIS.
AND WHAT ANDY DOES ON A DAILY BASIS -- WHAT WE DID AS A 
COUNTY COMMISSION TO CREATE ALL PEOPLES LIFE CENTER -- IN 
OUR EYES, EVERY CHILD IS EQUAL AND HAS AN EQUAL PLAYING 
FIELD TO PARTICIPATE AND GO ON AND FULFILL THEIR DREAMS, 
AND ANDY, YOU'RE A MAJOR PART OF THAT, AND MY HEART GOES 
OUT TO YOU AND ALL THE WORK YOU DO FOR THESE CHILDREN, AND 
THANK YOU, AL, FOR BRINGING THIS HERE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  VERY WELL SAID, COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
[APPLAUSE]
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THE END OF OUR PROCLAMATIONS.
I WOULD ASK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THEN, TO PLEASE 
REVIEW THE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.
>>PAT BEAN:  HAPPY TO DO THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE F-5, WHICH WAS ADDED PURSUANT TO RULE 
13 OF THE RULES OF ORDER, WHICH IS A CONTINUING -- CONTINUE 
THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ECONOMIC POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THAT'S BROUGHT TO THE BOARD BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
F-6, DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO INCLUDE ON EACH 
AGENDA JUST PRIOR TO EACH FURLOUGH DAY A NOTICE TO THE 
PUBLIC OF THE COUNTY'S CLOSURE ON FURLOUGH DAYS AND DIRECT 
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENSURE TRANSPORTATION OF 
DIALYSIS PATIENCE BY SUNSHINE LINE DURING FURLOUGH DAYS AS 
LONG AS DIALYSIS CENTERS ARE OPEN.
THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE BOARD BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
OFF-AGENDA ITEMS, B-6, SCHEDULED FOR 2:15, IS TO RECEIVE 
PRELIMINARY REPORT REGARDING THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A 
CONSOLIDATED UTILITY AUTHORITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
B-7, INCREASE BUDGET $4,816,165 IN EXCESS FY 09 COMMUNITY 
INVESTMENT TAX REVENUE AND 384,550 IN EXCESS 9th CENT FUEL 
TAX.
THIS IS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF THE TAXES TO THE THREE CITIES 
AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.
ITEM B-8, APPROVE THE 2010 MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THE BOARD 
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
B-9, APPROVE THE EXTENSION OF THE EMERGENCY ROAD CLOSURE OF 
DANNY BRYAN BOULEVARD FROM BEECHWOOD BOULEVARD TO 
SUGARCREEK DRIVE FOR 60 DAYS TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC WORKS 
DEPARTMENT TO REPLACE A FAILED CROSS-DRAIN CULVERT.
B-10, ACCEPT STATUS REPORT ON IPA PEER REVIEW.
F-4, SCHEDULED FOR 10:30, PRESENT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS THE TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE'S FINAL 
RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORT.
THERE'S ONE DEFERRAL AND DELETION.
THAT'S ITEM A-16, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE 
TO ADVERTISE AND SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR DECEMBER 2nd TO 
RATIFY A NEW VERSION OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RED LIGHT 
CAMERA ENFORCEMENT ORDINANCE.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS -- I'M SORRY -- FOUR ITEMS PULLED 
FROM CONSENT.
ITEM A-1 WAS PULLED BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
THAT IS TO APPROVE THE MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE 
NATIONAL COMMUNITY STABILIZATION TRUST RELATING TO THE 
ACQUISITION PROGRAM WHICH WILL ASSIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION 
OF FORECLOSED PROPERTIES.
ITEM A-37, PULLED BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, THE AWARD OF 
PURCHASE OF 87 OCTANE AND DIESEL FUEL NUMBER TWO TO 
MANSFIELD OIL COMPANY.
THAT'S PULLED BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER AS WELL AS THE NEXT 
TWO -- NO, ONE MORE ITEM, A-43, APPROVE THE INCREASE TO BID 
NUMBER 2-0340-07-JM, SECURITY SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR 
WITH QUALIFIED SYSTEMS CONTRACTING.
AND THEN A-45 WAS PULLED BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, AND 
THAT IS THE AWARD OF THE BID NUMBER C-0190-09-JA, BRUCE B. 
DOWNS WIDENING, PALM SPRINGS BOULEVARD TO PEBBLE CREEK 
DRIVE.
AND THEN THERE WAS INITIALLY A PULLING OF A-51, BUT 
COMMISSIONER BECKNER HAS PUT THAT BACK ON CONSENT.
HE GOT THE ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THAT IS CORRECT.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT EARLY 
TERMINATION FEES WITH THAT LEASE AGREEMENT, AND YOU HAD 
SENT ME A MEMO STATING THAT THERE WERE NO EARLY TERMINATION 
FEES, SO UNLESS ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT 
THAT, I'M SATISFIED WITH THAT.
>>PAT BEAN:  GOOD.
SO THAT WILL NOT BE PULLED.
THEN THE FOLLOWING LIST OF ITEMS ARE SCHEDULED FOR A TIME 
CERTAIN.
AT 10:00 A.M., ITEM F-2, TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE 
ADVISORY PANEL CHAIRPERSON ON ITS REVIEW OF THE BEST 
APPROACH THAT MIGHT BE UTILIZED TO PERMANENTLY PRESERVE AND 
RESTORE CONE RANCH.
THAT'S BROUGHT TO THE BOARD BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
E-1, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S 
OFFICE WILL PRESENT A $50,000 CHECK TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS FOR COMMISSIONER ROSE FERLITA'S BULLY BUSTERS 
ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAM.
ITEM F-4, PRESENT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THE 
TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE'S FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND 
REPORT, BROUGHT BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
B-4, RECEIVE THE COUNTY AUDIT REPORT 190, IMPACT FEE 
PROGRAM.
B-5, RECEIVE COUNTY AUDIT REPORT 189, INFORMATION AND 
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DEPARTMENT GENERAL CONTROLS FOLLOW-UP 
TO REPORT 172.
ITEM F-1, DISCUSS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SAFE ACCESSIBLE 
GOLF CART PATH FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE SUN CITY CENTER 
AREA.
ITEM D-1, ADOPT A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE BOARD'S 
INTENT TO USE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING AN 
ASSESSMENT FOR LEVY, COLLECTION, AND ENFORCEMENT OF A NON-
AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE 
FOLLOWING ESTABLISHED WATER RESOURCE SERVICE IMPACT FEE 
ASSESSMENT UNITS, AND IT LISTS ALL OF THOSE UNITS.
ITEM D-2, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE 
ENACTMENT OF AN ORDINANCE REGULATING PROPERTY MAINTENANCE 
STANDARDS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
AND ITEM -- THAT'S AT 2:00.
AND THEN ITEM B-6 IS AT 2:15, TO RECEIVE THE PRELIMINARY 
REPORT REGARDING THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A CONSOLIDATED 
UTILITY AUTHORITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
SUCH REPORT WILL BE PROVIDED UNDER SEPARATE COVER.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MOVE THE CHANGES, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>PAT BEAN:  AND THOSE ARE THE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND DID YOU PULL A-1?
>>PAT BEAN:  YES.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGES BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA, 
SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
NOW WE'LL GO INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT ANY ISSUE 
OR CONCERN.
YOUR OPINIONS ARE VALUED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INPUT TO THE 
BOARD MEMBERS; HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED AT THE SAME TIME 
YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD THAT COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED 
PERSONALLY AGAINST A COMMISSIONER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT 
RATHER THE ISSUES.
SET ASIDE 45 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE DAIS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND 
ADDRESS AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
EACH PERSON WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES.
FIRST THREE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, TERRY FLOTT, WESLEY 
BAILEY, AND JOYCE NOONAM.
GOOD MORNING, MS. FLOTT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS TERRY FLOTT, SEFFNER -- UNITED CITIZENS ACTION 
NETWORK AND SEFFNER COMMUNITY ALLIANCE.
"B" -- ITEM B-6, THE UTILITY ISSUE.
IS THERE GOING TO BE A SEPARATE REPORT INCLUDED FOR YOUR 
REVIEW TODAY?
DO YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT?
IT WASN'T ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA.
IT'S GOING TO COME LATER?
>>RENEE LEE:  [INAUDIBLE]
>> OKAY.
WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT IF SO.
I'M HERE ALSO TO SUPPORT THE CONE RANCH SPEAKERS TODAY.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY TIME AWAY FROM THAT.
THE TWO ISSUES THAT I MAINLY WANT TO ADDRESS IS ITEM F-4 
AND B-4.
F-4 IS THE AUDIT -- B-4, EXCUSE ME, IS THE AUDIT ON THE 
IMPACT FEE SCHEDULE, AND IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD REPORT, 
ALTHOUGH I THINK MOST OF THE CITIZENS IN THIS ROOM COULD 
HAVE TOLD YOU THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING ODD GOING ON WITH 
OUR MONIES FOR THE IMPACT FEES, AND I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR 
HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REMEDY SOME OF THIS.
AND I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED -- MOVING ON TO F-4, PAGE 17. 
LOOKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT REPORT ON AGE -- ON PAGE 17, 
THERE ARE SIX DRIs LISTED AS PART OF THE TAX -- POSSIBLE 
TAX WE MAY BE ENCUMBERED WITH FOR TRANSPORTATION, LIGHT 
RAIL, AND SOME ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.
THE SIX PROJECTS THAT I'M LOOKING AT ARE ALL DRIs, AND I'M 
SURE THIS MUST BE A COINCIDENCE, BUT NOT -- WELL, I WON'T 
SAY SURE.
I'M NOT SURE, BUT THEY'RE ALL THE SAME DEVELOPER, AND THE 
DRIs -- WE'RE -- IT APPEARS TO ME THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT 
PROBABLY FRONTING SOME MONEY TO THEM TO GET THESE -- MAYBE 
NOT TO THEM BUT FRONTING THE MONIES THAT THEY WOULD 
NORMALLY HAVE TO PAY TO DO THE PROJECTS THAT GO ALONG WITH 
THEIR DRI, SO THAT TAKES ME FULL CIRCLE BACK TO B-4 WHEN WE 
TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT FEES AND THE -- THE PROBLEMS THAT 
WE'VE ENCOUNTERED IN THAT PROGRAM.
THIS IS SCARY, FOLKS.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO -- IF WE CAN'T MANAGE AN IMPACT FEE 
PROGRAM, MAKE SURE THE MONIES ARE GOING WHERE THEY'RE 
SUPPOSED TO BE GOING, THIS IS SCARY THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING 
TAXATION, ANOTHER PENNY, AND WE CAN'T MANAGE WHAT WE'VE 
GOT, AND HOW ARE WE GUARANTEED THAT WE'LL EVER GET THIS 
MONEY BACK THAT THE DEVELOPER THEMSELVES IS SUPPOSED TO PAY 
FOR?
SO I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THAT -- THESE THOUGHTS INTO 
CONSIDERATION.
IT'S VERY SERIOUS, AND IT MAY HARM THE -- THE ADDITIONAL 
TAX BEING -- GOING -- BEING VOTED FOR.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. FLOTT.
WESLEY BAILEY, JOYCE NOONAM, AND MARCELLA OSTEEN.
GOOD MORNING, MR. BAILEY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY TO BE ALIVE AND LIVING IN HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY.
BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, AND IS IT GREAT OUTSIDE?
AND I HESITATE TO SPOIL YOUR MORNING WITH SOME SOUR 
COMMENTS, BUT OF COURSE, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, ISN'T IT?
READING THE CAPTIONED COMMENTS FROM THE MAY 6th BOCC 
REGULAR MEETING, SOMETHING LEAPT OUT AT ME.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN IS QUOTED AS HAVING SAID, REFERRING TO 
CONE RANCH, THE COUNTY DOES NOT OWN THIS PROPERTY.
THIS PROPERTY IS OWNED BY THE BONDHOLDERS, BONDHOLDERS WHO 
PURCHASED THIS TO RUN OUR WATER SYSTEM.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.
CONE RANCH DOES NOT BELONG TO THE BONDHOLDERS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, CONE RANCH DOES NOT REALLY BELONG TO 
THE WATER ENTERPRISE.
CONE RANCH IS LAND THAT IS ULTIMATELY OWNED BY THE 
TAXPAYERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SO SAID FC&EG THROUGH KEN 
JONES IN HIS PROPOSAL TO THE CONE RANCH ADVISORY PANEL ON 
AUGUST THE 18th.
IN OTHER WORDS, COMMISSIONERS, CONE RANCH BELONGS TO US, 
AND WE INTEND TO KEEP IT.
LET ME REDUCE THIS TO THE SIMPLEST TERMS.
SELLING PUBLIC LAND AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE REAL ESTATE 
MARKET WHEN IT'S GOING TO BRING THE LOWEST PRICE EVER TO 
PRIVATE OWNERS IS A VERY BAD IDEA, AND IT DOES NOT SERVE 
THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
THE PEOPLE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY OWN CONE RANCH.
ELAPP WANTS TO BUY CONE RANCH.
THE PEOPLE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WANT TO SELL CONE RANCH 
TO ELAPP.
SO YOUR JOB IS VERY SIMPLE.
YOU AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF CONE RANCH TO ELAPP.
THIS BUSINESS ABOUT THE BONDS AND TBW EASEMENTS AND A WHOLE 
BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF AT THESE ADVISORY PANEL MEETINGS HAVE 
GOTTEN BOGGED DOWN OR ARE SIMPLY DISTRACTIONS.
THEY'RE NOT AN IMPEDIMENT TO FC&EG BUYING IT, THEY'RE NOT 
AN IMPEDIMENT TO ELAPP BUYING IT, THEY'RE JUST SMOKE, 
THEY'RE JUST SMOKE CLOUDING THE ISSUE.
FUNDING THE PURCHASE OF CONE RANCH, WORKING OUT WETLAND 
MITIGATION, DEALING WITH CARBON CREDITS, AND ALL THAT IS 
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ELAPP.
AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF CONE RANCH TO ELAPP AND LET THEM GET 
ON WITH THEIR JOB.
I THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. BAILEY.
JOYCE NOONAM, MARCELLA OSTEEN, AND TODD PRESSMAN.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
ON JUNE 3rd THE BOCC MEETING, COMMISSIONER HAGAN DID SAY, I 
WANT TO MAKE SURE -- REGARDING CONE RANCH.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
SPEAK DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND ALSO ON THE JUNE 
6th, COMMISSIONER HAGAN SAID, I WANT THIS TO BE A VERY 
PUBLIC AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
WELL, THE CONE RANCH ADVISORY PANEL MET ON OCTOBER 16th.
WHAT ABOUT THE CLOSED-DOOR PRIVATE MEETING BETWEEN EDITH 
STEWART, MIKE MERRILL, HEIDI McCREE, AND KEN JONES?
THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CONE RANCH ADVISORY PANEL DID NOT 
EVEN KNOW THIS MEETING WAS GOING ON, AND OUT OF THAT 
MEETING CAME THIS HYBRID PROPOSAL THAT WENT ON TO THE 
NOVEMBER 16th AGENDA WITHOUT THE PANEL GETTING A CHANCE TO 
EVEN DISCUSS IT LET ALONE VOTE ON IT.
ALSO, COMMISSIONER HAGAN ON JUNE 3rd SAID, I ALSO WANT TO 
ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMENT 
AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS.
WELL, THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN 
LIMITED TO THE THREE-MINUTE REMARKS AT THE END OF THE 
MEETING.
THE FCEG, KEN JONES, HAS HAD A CHANCE TO GIVE A 45-MINUTE 
OR -- PRESENTATION TO THE CONE RANCH ADVISORY PANEL FOR 
THEIR PROPOSAL WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, AND AT -- AS OF 
THIS DATE NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK 
ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS AT LENGTH.
I MEAN, THESE THREE -- THREE-MINUTE REMARKS DO NOT COVER 
ALL THE BASES, AND SO AT THIS POINT NO -- NO ONE HAS HAD A 
CHANCE FOR THIS ELAPP, WHO -- THE CITIZENS -- THIS IS WHO 
WE WANT TO PURCHASE CONE RANCH IN ITS ENTIRETY, NOT THE 
HYBRID PROPOSAL.
WE DO -- CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY DO NOT WANT THE HYBRID 
PROPOSAL.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS FCEG, I HAVE STATED IN THE PAST -- 
FLORIDA CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, THE NAME -- I 
THINK IT'S A GREENWASH, I THINK IT'S A SHAM AND A SHAME 
BECAUSE THE -- J. PATRICK MICHAELS OF THAT GROUP, HE HAS AN 
ALLIANCE -- HE'S IN BUSINESS WITH FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL 
JOHN ASHCROFT, AND KEN JONES WAS A FUNDRAISER FOR TRENT 
LOTT.
THEY -- I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THEM 
THAT -- THAT RINGS OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS OR -- OR 
CONSERVATIONISTS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. NOONAM.
>> THEY MIGHT BE GREEN ALL RIGHT, BUT --
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. NOONAM.
>> AND OUR TAMPA TRIBUNE --
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. NOONAM, WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF 
PEOPLE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.
MARCELLA OSTEEN, TODD PRESSMAN, MARTIN HURWITZ.
GOOD MORNING, MS. OSTEEN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT F-4, WHICH IS THE TRANSPORTATION TASK 
FORCE REPORT TO YOU.
WE -- I TEND TO WANT TRANSIT, AND WHAT YOUR -- WHAT THEY 
HAVE DONE, WHICH THEY THINK IS GIVING EVERYBODY SOMETHING 
FROM THE PENNY TAX, MAY BE A PROBLEM AND NOT WORK OUT LIKE 
THEY WANTED IT TO BECAUSE WHAT I'M SEEING FROM THIS LIST ON 
PAGE 17, THESE SIX DRIs -- ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR -- SIX OR 
SEVEN DRIs, THEY'RE ALL FROM NEWLAND.
SCOTT JONES IS ON THE TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE, AND THAT 
JUST MAKES ME SUSPICIOUS, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF 
OTHER PEOPLE SUSPICIOUS.
AND THESE DRI CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE 
QUARTER OF THE PENNY, THE HEADING -- EVERYBODY SAYS, OH, 
DON'T WORRY, WE'RE NOT LETTING THE DEVELOPERS OFF THE HOOK.
I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT.
HERE'S THE HEADING, AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT.
PROJECTS LISTED BELOW REPRESENT POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY TO 
EXPLORE ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION OF PRIVATELY FUNDED PROJECTS 
THROUGH APPROPRIATE AGREEMENTS -- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? -- 
PROVIDED THAT SUCH AGREEMENTS ARE FOUND TO BE CONSISTENT 
WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION, AND 
FLORIDA STATUTE.
IN NO WAY WILL SUCH AGREEMENTS REDUCE RESPONSIBILITY OF 
DEVELOPERS TO CONTRIBUTE PROPORTIONATE SHARE OBLIGATIONS, 
WHICH THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE WHEN THESE DRIs WERE 
ACCOMPLISHED.
NOW, CONSIDERING THE PRECARIOUS HEALTH OF ALL DEVELOPERS, 
EVEN THE MOST HEALTHY ONES, THIS DOES NOT -- IT'S NOT WORTH 
MUCH.
THIS STATEMENT IS NOT WORTH MUCH.
SO THIS RAISES HUGE RED FLAGS.
NOW, ABOUT THE CONE RANCH DEAL.
IN ESSENCE, THE COUNTY IS SITTING ON OUR FRONT PORCH WITH 
CONE RANCH OUT HERE.
WE OWN IT.
WE'RE NOT -- WE DON'T -- WE HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF SELLING 
IT, SO ALONG COME SOME BROKERS WHO HAVE NAMED THEMSELF THE 
FLORIDA CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP.
THE ONLY BUZZ WORD THEY DIDN'T PUT IN THERE IS "GREEN."
THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE AHEAD AND JUST SAID THE FLORIDA 
CONSERVATION GREEN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, BUT THEY'RE 
BROKERS, OKAY, SO THEY COME ALONG AND SAY, HEY, YOU-ALL 
NEED TO SELL THIS TO US.
WE'RE GOING TO BROKER IT TO WHOEVER.
SO WHY SHOULD WE EVEN GET OUR PANTIES ALL IN A WAD AND HAVE 
THIS PANEL?
WE SHOULD HAVE JUST SAID NO, THANK YOU, IT'S NOT FOR SALE, 
BYE-BYE, BUT WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
SO NOW IT'S GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT 
ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE SMOKE AND MIRRORS, BUT WHEN IT 
COMES DOWN TO IT, THIS IS A TREASURE THAT WE OWN, AND IF WE 
DIDN'T OWN IT, WE'D BE MOVING HEAVEN AND EARTH TO TRY TO 
GET IT, BUT WHY CAN'T WE JUST SAY, OKAY, WE OWN IT, DO 
WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET IT WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T SELL 
IT -- ELAPP WOULD BE THE BEST THING -- AND THEN WE -- AND 
THEN IT'S DONE?
BUT LIKE MR. WHAT'S HIS NAME SAID, TO TRY TO EVEN TALK 
ABOUT SELLING IT IN THIS DOWN MARKET IS CRAZY, BUT IT'S A 
MOOT POINT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SELL IT.
WE ALREADY OWN IT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. OSTEEN.
>> SO CASE CLOSED.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  TODD PRESSMAN, MARTIN HURWITZ, AND PAUL 
COURTER.
MR. PRESSMAN, I KNOW YOU SIGNED UP AND MR. EBBERS.
IF YOU SPEAK IN PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU PROBABLY -- YOU WON'T 
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN WE PULL 
THE AGENDA ITEM, SO IT'S NOT BOTH.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT.
>> OKAY.
WE'LL WAIT FOR THIS AFTERNOON THEN WHEN IT COMES UP.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MARTIN HURWITZ, PAUL COURTER, AND RAY CORONA.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD MORNING.
>> MY NAME IS MARTIN HURWITZ.
I LIVE ON TREMONT COURT IN SUN CITY CENTER, THE HEART OF 
SOUTH COUNTY AS YOU WILL.
OUR ISSUE IS F-1, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GOLF CART PATH TO 
HELP US GET ACROSS HIGHWAY 301 IN SUN CITY CENTER SO THAT 
THE CITIZENS OF SUN CITY AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY CAN 
GET TO WAL-MART AND DO SOME SHOPPING.
OUR ISSUE IS NOT THE IMPACT OF CONE RANCH ON THE COUNTY, 
BUT IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US.
GOLF CARTS ARE A PREFERRED MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IN SUN 
CITY CENTER.
I KNOW THAT FOR MY WIFE AND I WE PUT 9,000 MILES ON THE CAR 
AND PROBABLY A THIRD OF THAT ON THE GOLF CART.
A TYPICAL ROUNDTRIP DAY IN TOWN IS FROM HOME TO THE POST 
OFFICE TO THE BANK AND TO THE GROCERY STORE OR TO WAL-MART 
OR SOMEPLACE LIKE THAT, A TRIP OF ABOUT SEVEN MILES.
OUR CAR AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT MOST OTHER CARS RUNNING 
COLD AND SHORT DISTANCES IN TOWN GET SOMETHING AROUND 15 
MILES TO THE GALLON.
A SEVEN-MILE TRIP, THE CAR NEVER WARMS UP AND USES A HALF A 
GALLON OF GAS.
ASSUMING A HUNDRED PEOPLE A DAY MAKE A TRIP LIKE THAT -- 
AND THAT'S ONLY 1% OF OUR POPULATION -- YOU'RE LOOKING AT 
50 GALLONS OF GAS A DAY.
NOT A LOT, BUT WHEN YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY 300 DAYS A YEAR, 
THAT'S 6,000 GALLONS OF GAS.
IT MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE AND IT MAKES SOCIAL SENSE TO REDUCE 
THE EXPENDITURES FOR GASOLINE, TO SAVE THE RESOURCE OF 
GASOLINE, AND TO REDUCE THE POLLUTION AND KEEP THE COUNTY 
GREEN.
WE NEED AN APPROVED PATH TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND WE 
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. HURWITZ.
[APPLAUSE]
PAUL -- IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S CARTER, RAY CORONA, AND WALT 
CAWEIN.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M PAUL COURTER.
I LIVE AT 2306 PLATINUM DRIVE IN SUN CITY CENTER.
A DOZEN YEARS AGO A PREVIOUS COUNTY COMMISSION AGREED TO 
PROVIDE A GOLF CART PATH TO THE WAL-MART STORE IN SUN CITY 
CENTER.
IT'S STILL IN USE AND HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO THOSE OF US 
WHO DEPEND ON GOLF CARTS TO GET AROUND.
IT DIDN'T COME EASY IN A COMMUNITY OF 20,000 CROTCHETY OLD 
PEOPLE.
NOTHING IS UNANIMOUS, BUT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE DEDICATED TO 
MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR THE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WENT TO 
WORK AND GOT IT DONE.
SOME OF THEM I THINK ARE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO A NEW WAL-MART STORE OPENED ON THE 
OTHER SIDE OF TOWN JUST ACROSS HIGHWAY 301.
THE OLD STORE CLOSED, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A TOUGHER 
TIME GETTING TO ITS REASONABLY PRICED MEDICATIONS AND OTHER 
MERCHANDISE.
A NEW GROUP GOT TOGETHER TO TRY TO RESTORE GOLF CART ACCESS 
TO WHAT IS THE LARGEST RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT IN OUR PART OF 
THE COUNTY.
IT HASN'T COME EASY THIS TIME EITHER, BUT OUR RESIDENTS 
RESPONDED IN FORCE.
THEY CIRCULATED PETITIONS, THEY PACKED MEETING ROOMS, AND 
DEMONSTRATED UNMISTAKABLY THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR 
PEOPLE WANT A WAY TO WAL-MART IN A GOLF CART, AND MANY NEED 
IT.
IT'S IN YOUR HANDS NOW, AND I ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. COURTER.
[APPLAUSE]
RAY CORONA, WALT CAWEIN, AND ANNE CROSS.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
I FLEW IN FROM MIAMI LAST NIGHT FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF 
ADDRESSING THIS BOARD FOR THREE MINUTES IN OPPOSITION OF 
ITEM A-45, WHICH IS THE AWARD OF A $40-MILLION-PLUS 
CONTRACT TO A CONTRACTOR THAT COULD HAVE MET THE GOALS 
ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESSES BUT ELECTED 
NOT TO.
HE -- THE CONTRACTOR MET 2.8% OUT OF A 13 REQUIRED, 
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THEY COULD HAVE MET THE GOALS 
AS THE OTHER -- A MAJORITY OF THE OTHER CONTRACTORS MET THE 
GOAL.
THE -- AT THE OFFSET, LET ME MAKE CLEAR THAT YOUR PROGRAM 
IS LAUDED -- IT IS PRAISED BY EVERYONE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE FINEST PROGRAMS THAT THERE ARE, AND 
THERE'S FINE FOLK WORKING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SMALL 
BUSINESS, BUT THE -- THE DEPARTMENT CLEARLY NEEDS A 
DIRECTION FROM YOUR PART.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE CONTRACTOR AS HAS BEEN DONE IN 
OTHER PROJECTS BEFORE ELECTED TO NOT MEET THE GOAL, 
ALTHOUGH THEY COULD HAVE, BECAUSE THEY -- THERE'S A POINT 
COUNT THAT -- THAT THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACTOR IS VERY SAVVY 
WITH AND WAS ABLE TO MANIPULATE THAT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT 
THEY HAVE A -- MADE A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT, NOTWITHSTANDING 
THE FACT THAT THEY PRETTY MUCH CONCEDE THAT IF THEY WANTED 
TO, THEY COULD HAVE MET THE GOAL.
THEY CLAIM TWO REASONS FOR NOT MEETING THE GOAL THAT COULD 
HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO 
THE SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND LOCAL 
COMMUNITY.
AND THE TWO REASONS THAT THEY PROFFERED WAS, ONE, LACK OF 
RESPONSE, BUT THEY ADMITTED THAT 34 SMALL AND MINORITY 
BUSINESSES RESPONDED.
THE OTHER REASON WAS THAT 17 OF THE PEOPLE THAT RESPONDED 
HAD THE QUOTES IN, BUT THEY WERE NOT THE LOWEST QUOTES.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT ANYONE CHECKED WHETHER THIS IS 
TRUE.
AND EVEN IF IT WAS TRUE, ACCORDING TO THE OWN -- TO THE BID 
DOCUMENTS AND THE ORDINANCE, THIS IS NOT A REASON, 
ESPECIALLY HERE.
THIS PARTICULAR BID HAD PVC PIPE AND ITEMS THAT ARE 
NEGOTIATED AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE.
NO -- CERTAINLY OUR COMPANY GAVE A $4-MILLION QUOTE THAT WE 
WERE WILLING TO MATCH THE BEST OFFER.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND HAVE A NICE DAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. CORONA.
WALT CAWEIN, ANNE CROSS, AND THEN DOUG EBBERS.
MR. EBBERS, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOW OR IN THE AFTERNOON?
>> WE'LL WAIT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
THANK YOU, SIR.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CAWEIN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT F-1, SUPPORT FOR A GOLF CART PATH TO 
OUR WAL-MART IN SUN CITY CENTER.
COMMISSIONERS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT $300,000 IS A LOT OF 
MONEY.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IF WE COULD SHARE THAT EXPENSE WITH 
YOU, IT WOULD MAKE YOUR JOB A LITTLE EASIER.
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO REMIND YOU OF A FEW ACTIVITIES IN SUN 
CITY CENTER THAT WE BELIEVE CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL 
WELFARE AND BUDGET OF SOUTH COUNTY.
OUR SECURITY PATROL IN SUN CITY CENTER WITH 1250 VOLUNTEERS 
AND FIVE SQUAD CARS SUPPORT THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
SHERIFF'S OFFICE BY PATROLLING OUR RESIDENTIAL AND 
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ON A SEVEN-DAY/24-HOUR BASIS.
OUR EMERGENCY SQUAD WITH OVER 400 VOLUNTEERS, FOUR 
AMBULANCES, AND TWO WHEELCHAIR-EQUIPPED VANS PROVIDE 
EMERGENCY SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
RESCUE SQUAD, ALSO ON A SEVEN-DAY/24-HOUR BASIS.
I CAN'T PROJECT THE EXACT COST SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY, BUT I 
THINK WE ALL CAN AGREE THAT IT'S SIGNIFICANT.
CERTAINLY, THESE ORGANIZATIONS ALLOW THE COUNTY TO APPLY 
ITS RESOURCES IN OTHER MORE NEEDY AREAS.
SUN CITY CENTER ALSO HAS A CHARITABLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 
WHOSE MISSION IS TO BUILD A BETTER COMMUNITY THROUGH 
CREATIVE PHILANTHROPY, VISION, AND LEADERSHIP, AND THEIR 
COMMUNITY IS SOUTH COUNTY, SOUTH OF THE ALAFIA RIVER.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF 
GREATER SUN CITY CENTER HAS GRANTED WELL OVER $1 MILLION 
FOR PROGRAMS SUPPORTING EDUCATION, YOUTH, SENIORS, HEALTH 
AND HUMAN SERVICES, ARTS, ANIMALS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE MONEY FOR THESE GRANTS COMES PRIMARILY FROM CURRENT AND 
FORMER SUN CITY CENTER RESIDENTS.
OUR HOPE FUND, ANOTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION, ALSO 
MANAGED AND FUNDED BY SUN CITY CENTER RESIDENTS, PROVIDES 
MEALS, BOOKS FOR OUR LIBRARY, AND EDUCATIONAL AND 
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN PROGRAMS AT THE 
SOUTH COUNTY'S BETHUNE PARK.
THEY ALSO PURCHASED A $25,000 VAN THAT WAS DONATED TO THE 
COUNTY TO TRANSPORT THOSE CHILDREN AT BETHUNE PARK TO 
VARIOUS COMMUNITY AND COUNTY ACTIVITIES.
WE HAVE A FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY THAT WORKS CLOSELY WITH 
OUR COUNTY LIBRARY.
WE HAVE OVER 200 CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT DONATE MONEY 
AND THEIR TIME AND INCLUDING OUR OWN MARINE CORPS 
LEATHERNECKS CLUB THAT'S GEARING UP FOR THE TOYS FOR TOTS, 
AND THEY'LL DO A WONDERFUL JOB AGAIN.
THERE ARE LOTS MORE, BUT I HOPE THESE FEW FACTS WILL 
INFLUENCE YOU IN A POSITIVE WAY AS YOU DECIDE YOUR VOTE.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE APPROVE OUR GOLF CART PATH.
THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. CAWEIN.
[APPLAUSE]
ANNE CROSS, RONALD ZELINS, AND EUGENE McELROY.
GOOD MORNING, MS. CROSS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS ANNE CROSS, AND I'M FROM SUN CITY CENTER, AND 
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ITEM F-1.
NOW, WE'VE ALL HEARD THE SAYING, A PICTURE IS WORTH A 
THOUSAND WORDS.
I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU A SIGHT THAT WE SEE EVERY DAY IN SUN 
CITY CENTER.
SHOPPING CARTS, SOMETIMES UP TO A DOZEN.
THESE ARE THE TOOLS THAT MANY OF OUR FOLKS USE TO HELP GET 
ACROSS 301.
NOTICE THE ROUGH GROUND, THE FOUR TRAFFIC LANES, THE VERY 
NARROW MEDIAN STRIP, AND THE LONG TREK TO WAL-MART'S FRONT 
DOOR.
IMAGINE WALKING THIS DISTANCE ON A DAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE 
IS IN THE MID-90s.
SEEING THIS SIGHT EVERY DAY MADE US REALIZE WE NEEDED TO 
FIND A SAFE WAY TO GET OUR FOLKS ACROSS 301, AND A PETITION 
DRIVE SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
WE ASKED WAL-MART MANAGEMENT FOR SUPPORT, AND THEY 
GRACIOUSLY AGREED.
OUR GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS COLLECTED 4,418 SIGNATURES WITHIN A 
SIX-DAY TIME FRAME.
THAT BREAKDOWN INCLUDES SIGNATURES FROM 1224 FROM KINGS 
POINT, 1,048 FROM SUN CITY CENTER SOUTH, AND 1788 FROM SUN 
CITY CENTER NORTH.
AN ADDITIONAL 388 INCLUDED VALENCIA AND FREEDOM PLAZA.
AGAIN, A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
PLEASE HELP BUILD US A NEW ONE.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. CROSS.
[APPLAUSE]
RONALD ZELINS, EUGENE McELROY, AND RAUL CORONA.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS RON ZELINS.
I LIVE AT 1142 CORINTH GREENS DRIVE IN SUN CITY CENTER.
THAT'S IN THE KINGS POINT AREA.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS AGENDA ITEM F-1 OF THE NEW GOLF CART 
PATH IN SUN CITY CENTER.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF USE 
OF GOLF CARTS AND WHY THE COMMISSION SHOULD SUPPORT AND 
ENCOURAGE THAT USE.
ONE OF THE THINGS -- ADVANTAGES OF THE GOLF CARTS IS THAT 
IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS 
BECAUSE THE GOLF CARTS USE GOLF CART PATHS, SO IT TAKES 
THOSE PEOPLE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE DRIVING CARS OFF THE 
ROADS.
IT ALSO REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF GAS, AS MENTIONED BY A 
PREVIOUS SPEAKER, THAT NEEDS TO BE USED, SO IT DECREASES 
OUR DEPENDENCY ON FOREIGN OIL.
NOW, MAYBE IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET, BUT EVERY DROP HELPS.
RIGHT NOW -- I GUESS UP UNTIL THE NEW WAL-MART MOVED INTO 
THE NEW LOCATION, MY WIFE AND I WOULD USE OUR GOLF CART TO 
GO JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, BUT NOW THAT THEY'VE MOVED, IF WE 
GO OUT ON A TYPICAL DAY AND WANT TO DO OUR SHOPPING AROUND 
TOWN AND ONE OF OUR STOPS WAS GOING TO BE WAL-MART, WE NEED 
TO TAKE A CAR, SO WE'RE USING OUR CAR A LOT MORE, AND WE'D 
LIKE TO NOT DO THAT, USE IT LESS, AND CONTRIBUTE LESS TO 
THE POLLUTION, LESS TO THE TRAFFIC, AND HAVE THE ADVANTAGES 
OF USING OUR GOLF CART.
THE GOLF CART PATH WILL NOT ONLY ENHANCE THE LIVES AND 
MOBILITY OF OUR SENIOR CITIZEN POPULATION BUT WILL HAVE 
MANY OTHER BENEFITS, AS I EXPLAINED.
I THEREFORE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS GOLF CART PATH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. ZELINS.
[APPLAUSE]
EUGENE McELROY, RAUL CORONA, AND GERALD WHITE.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> EUGENE McELROY, 2210 GRENADIER DRIVE, SUN CITY CENTER.
MY OFFICIAL TITLE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION GOLF 
CART SAFETY COMMITTEE IN KINGS POINT.
KINGS POINT IS A UNIQUE COMMUNITY WITH OVER 9,000 
RESIDENTS.
MY PURPOSE IN BEING HERE TODAY IS TO SUPPORT THE 
CONSTRUCTION OF A PATH -- SAFE PATH, ACCESSIBLE PATH FOR 
THE RESIDENTS OF SUN CITY CENTER.
OVER 12 YEARS AGO I STOOD AT THIS PODIUM AS A SPOKESMAN FOR 
THE RESIDENTS OF SUN CITY CENTER.
I ASKED THAT THE CONCEPT OF A GOLF CART PATH BEING BUILT 
COMPLETELY OFF THE ROADWAY BE APPROVED.
THE PATH WOULD RUN IN FRONT OF THE SOUTH BAY HOSPITAL, THEN 
PARALLEL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF STATE ROAD 674 TO UPPER CREEK 
DRIVE.
IT WOULD THEN CONTINUE ON UPPER CREEK DRIVE TO CORTARO, 
WHERE IT WOULD CROSS UPPER CREEK DRIVE AND THEN CONTINUE 
WESTWARD ON CORTARO TO THE ENTRANCE TO WAL-MART.
THE CONCEPT WAS APPROVED FOR PUBLIC WORKS TO COME BACK WITH 
A PATH DESIGN THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COULD APPROVE.
AS CAN BE VERIFIED BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN, WHO WAS THERE AT 
THE TIME, THE -- ANOTHER MEETING WAS MADE.
IT WAS DECIDED AFTER MR. BERNARDO GARCIA, PUBLIC WORKS 
DIRECTOR, BROUGHT A SAFE DESIGN PATH AND STATED THE FUNDING 
COULD BE TAKEN FROM THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX.
THIS WAS APPROVED, AND AFTER A FEW PUBLIC MEETINGS, THE 
BOARD GAVE ITS TIME APPROVAL, AND THE PATH WAS BUILT AT NO 
COST TO THE RESIDENTS.
THIS PATH STILL USED BY VIRTUALLY ALL THE RESIDENTS.
IT WAS DEDICATED IN DECEMBER 1999 IN THE OLD WAL-MART 
PARKING AREA.
THIS YEAR THE PATH WILL HAVE ITS 10th ANNIVERSARY.
YOU CAME THROUGH FOR US THEN.
PLEASE DO IT NOW.
POSSIBLY THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX TYPE FUNDING CAN BE 
USED FOR THE F-1 11:00 TIME FRAME CERTAIN BEING DISCUSSED 
TODAY.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS' EFFORT TO GAIN THIS ENTRANCE 
TO THE SUPER WAL-MART.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, SIR.
[APPLAUSE]
RAUL CORONA, GERALD WHITE, MARC TIDEY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS RAUL CORONA, AND I'M FROM ENGLEWOOD, FLORIDA.
I HAVE A BUSINESS IN MANATEE COUNTY, A NEW SMALL BUSINESS, 
AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE APPROVAL OF 
AGENDA ITEM A-45, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS PULLED.
THIS -- THIS BOARD, THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
DEPARTMENT, HAS SET SOME REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL, MINORITY, 
DISADVANTAGED, WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN THESE 
CONTRACTS.
THIS IS A $40-MILLION CONTRACT, AND THEY MET 2.8%, I 
BELIEVE.
THAT'S WAY SHORT.
I'M SCARED OF THE PRECEDENT THAT IT SENDS.
I STARTED MY BUSINESS ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, YOU KNOW, 
HOPING FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT THE -- THE COUNTY 
HAS IN PLACE, LOOKING FORWARD TO -- TO WORKING WITH THE -- 
WITH -- WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY, AND, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT, 
YOU KNOW -- THAT THIS IS NOT APPROVED.
THEY DIDN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT GOES -- THERE'S A 
POINT THING SOMEBODY SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER HOW IF THEY TRIED 
AND THEY DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE, IT COUNTS SO MUCH AS POINTS 
TOWARDS THEM.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE REASON THAT 
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT EXISTS.
I BELIEVE IT'S TO HELP SMALL, DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES JUST 
LIKE YOU HAVE THE PONY LEAGUE, THE LITTLE LEAGUE, AND YOU 
HAVE THE RAYS.
IT'S ALL DIFFERENT LEAGUES, AND THE INSPIRATION TO HAVE 
SMALL COMPANIES SUCCEED, THE MONEY TO STAY LOCALLY HERE, I 
MEAN, THAT'S I THINK WHAT IT'S ABOUT, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR 
TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND PLEASE TRY TO LOOK INTO IT 
AND SEE WHY IT IS THAT THEY COULDN'T MEET THE GOALS WHEN 
THE SECOND AND THIRD RUNNER-UP, PROBABLY THE FOURTH RUNNER-
UPS ALL MET OR EXCEEDED THE MINORITY AND SMALL BUSINESS, 
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS GOALS THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
DEPARTMENT SET ASIDE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, SIR.
GERALD WHITE, MARC TIDEY, AND FORREST DAVIS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN.
GERALD WHITE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
FIRST I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MARK 
SHARPE ON HIS WORK WITH THE INDIGENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAM 
AND THE SAVINGS OF OVER $20 MILLION.
THIS BOARD AS A WHOLE IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR YOUR WORK WITH 
THE INDIGENT HEALTH CARE.
WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR SENSITIVITY TO THAT ISSUE.
BUT THIS MORNING I'M HERE ON AGENDA ITEM F-4, THE TRANSIT 
STUDY, AND B-6, THE UTILITY CONSOLIDATION THAT COMMISSIONER 
NORMAN BROUGHT FORWARD.
I GUESS MY FIRST CONCERN IS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
THE -- THE INNER CITY, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ARE 
TREATED FAIRLY RELATED TO THIS TRANSPORTATION ISSUE.
I HAVE SAID SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS STUDY OF THIS ISSUE 
THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME STOPS, SOME 
TRANSIT STOPS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
I DON'T WANT A TRANSIT LINE THAT GOES UNDER, OVER, AROUND, 
OR ON TOP OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
WE WANT SOMETHING THAT GOES THROUGH THE BLACK COMMUNITY, 
THAT STOPS, THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THIS NEW TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME WHEN YOU DISCUSS THE 
LINES.
IF SOMETHING'S NOT -- IS GOING TO STOP IN OUR COMMUNITY, 
THE PEOPLE -- THE POOR PEOPLE, THE WORKING POOR THAT NEED 
TRANSIT THE MOST, WHY SHOULD WE VOTE FOR IT?
IF WE DON'T HAVE A STOP IN THE INNER CITY, IN OUR COMMUNITY 
IN ANY KIND OF PROPOSAL, I'M TELLING YOU THE TRANSIT 
PROPOSED TAX IS DEAD ON ARRIVAL.
I'M ASKING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CITIZENS DO NOT VOTE FOR 
ANY KIND OF TRANSIT TAX THAT DOES NOT TREAT THE BLACK 
CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTY FAIRLY, AND I'VE SAID THAT FROM THE 
VERY BEGINNING, AND I -- I STAND BY THAT.
ALSO RELATED TO THE TAX ITSELF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST A 
TOUGH UNPRECEDENTED TIME TO EVEN BE CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL 
TAXES, BUT I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT A TAX IF ALL THE CITIZENS 
ARE TREATED FAIRLY RELATED TO A TAX.
WHAT I WANT THIS BOARD TO DO IS GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE 
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX, THE 30-YEAR TAX.
I'M MORE IN FAVOR OF EXPANDING THAT TAX, THE COMMUNITY 
INVESTMENT TAX THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE SYSTEM.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REALLOCATE SOME OF THE PROJECTS OR 
CONSIDER REALLOCATING SOME OF THE PROJECTS, EXTEND THAT 30-
YEAR TAX, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY BOUGHT INTO, AND 
MAKE RAIL A PART OF THE EXISTING TAX STRUCTURE.
INSTEAD OF GOING TO EIGHT CENTS, YOU CAN KEEP IT AT SEVEN 
CENTS.
I WANT THAT LOOKED INTO.
I SUPPORT TAX, BUT I WANT IT DONE FAIRLY, AND I WANT ALL 
THE CITIZENS TO COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY BE INVOLVED, AND I 
THINK -- I THINK WE -- THE MAYOR IS TO BE COMMENDED.
MAYOR PAM IORIO IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE 
FORWARD.
WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. WHITE.
MARC TIDEY, FORREST DAVIS, RENE MORIN.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  FORREST DAVIS, RENE MORIN, AND GEORGE 
NIEMANN.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M FORREST DAVIS, 402 DORCHESTER PLACE, LIVE IN KINGS 
POINT IN THE SUN CITY CENTER COMMUNITY, AND I'M HERE THIS 
MORNING TO APPEAL TO YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS, ON THE F-1 
WITH THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE GOLF CART PATH TO THE WAL-
MART SUPER CENTER.
I AM PRESIDENT OF THE CONDOMINIUM OWNERS ASSOCIATION IN 
KINGS POINT.
WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP OF 9,000-PLUS RESIDENT MEMBERS, AND I 
CAN'T SAY THAT ALL OF THEM ARE IN SUPPORT, BUT I -- BUT THE 
MAJORITY OF THEM ARE WHOLEHEARTEDLY BEHIND THIS EFFORT AND 
ENDORSE AND REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL FOR THIS USE OF GOLF 
CARTS TO WAL-MART.
THE USE OF THE GOLF CARTS TO THIS LOCATION WOULD OPEN UP A 
NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITIZENS AND THEM BEING 
ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SUPER CENTER.
IN ADDITION, IT ALSO HELPS OUR DEPENDENCY ON FOSSIL FUEL.
SO I ASK YOU THIS MORNING AND WHEN IT COMES BEFORE YOU THAT 
YOU CONSIDER AND VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE TO MAKE THIS HERE 
GOLF CART CROSSING A REALITY, AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS, BY 
APPROVING IT, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF CITIZENS OF SUN 
CITY CENTER VERY HAPPY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, SIR.
[APPLAUSE]
RENE MORIN AND GEORGE NIEMANN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS RENE MORIN.
I LIVE AT 706 HUXLEY PLACE IN SUN CITY CENTER, AND I AM 
HERE TO ADVOCATE THE F-1 PART OF THIS -- TODAY'S AGENDA.
I AM A REAL ESTATE AGENT.
I SEE NEW PEOPLE EVERY DAY, AND WE TOUT SUN CITY CENTER AS 
BEING GOLF CART ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL YOUR DAILY NEEDS.
YOU APPROVING THE GOLF CARTS TO WAL-MART WILL REALLY 
ENHANCE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES IN SUN CITY.
EVERY DAY I DRIVE MY GOLF CART AS A GENERAL RULE.
IF I'M NOT DRIVING CUSTOMERS AROUND OR HAULING MY BOAT OUT 
TO THE WATER, I'M ON MY GOLF CART.
YOUR VOTE ON THIS -- ON THIS AGENDA WOULD BE GREATLY 
APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, SIR.
[APPLAUSE]
GEORGE NIEMANN AND JOANNE O'BRIEN.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GEORGE NIEMANN, DOVER, FLORIDA.
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TODAY WITH REGARD TO CONE RANCH -- I 
WENT TO THE LAST MEETING THAT WAS HELD, AND IT APPEARS TO 
ME FROM OBSERVING AND READING ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING 
AT THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE'RE GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES, AND I 
WOULD JUST LIKE TO BRING THE BOARD BACK TO THE -- TO THE 
REASON THAT WE ESTABLISHED THE PANEL AND THE PRIMARY FOCUS 
FOR THE CONE RANCH ADVISORY PANEL, AND THE STUDY THAT -- 
THAT'S BEING DONE IS TO FIND A WAY -- THE BEST WAY TO 
PERMANENTLY PROTECT THAT PROPERTY FROM BEING PRIVATELY 
DEVELOPED, AND I THINK YOU'VE GOT A CONSENSUS NOW, MOST OF 
THE MEMBERS ON THE PANEL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FC&EG.
THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT THAT PROPERTY IN PERPETUITY IS TO 
LET ELAPP ACQUIRE IT.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE ADVISE THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THIS 
ADVISORY PANEL TO GET BUSY AND GET THE CONSENSUS AND LET'S 
NOT SPIN OUR WHEELS ANYMORE.
THE OTHER ITEM I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS THE AUDIT REPORT 
ON IMPACT FEES BY THE -- BY THE COUNTY CLERK AND HOW IT 
RELATES TO THE TRANSIT REFERENDUM THAT IS GOING TO BE 
PROPOSED MOST LIKELY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF THAT REPORT, WE'RE NOT DOING 
A GOOD JOB.
WE'RE CHARGING A FRACTION OF IMPACT FEES, WHICH SOME OF MY 
COLLEAGUES, LIKE KELLY CORNELIUS, CALL DEVELOPER WELFARE, 
AND SO LET'S -- LET'S USE THAT.
WE'VE -- WE'VE GOT THE REPORT BACK.
WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB ON THE IMPACT FEES.
WE DON'T HAVE GOOD ACCOUNTING ON THEM.
BUT I THINK THE PRIMARY PROBLEM IS WE DON'T -- WE'RE TRYING 
NOT TO CHARGE DEVELOPERS FOR THE COST OF DEVELOPING.
WE WANT BUDGET-NEUTRAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT MEANS YOU 
CHARGE ENOUGH IMPACT FEE AND/OR MOBILITY FEES GOING FORWARD 
TO PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NEEDED BECAUSE I THINK 
YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO START MARKETING THIS PENNY TAX REFERENDUM -
- OH, AND EXCUSE ME, IT'S REALLY NOT A PENNY TAX, IT'S A 
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TAX BECAUSE THE AVERAGE FAMILY WILL BE 
SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR, AND THEY WON'T SEE -- 
THEY WILL NOT SEE A TRAIN COME DOWN THE TRACK FOR PROBABLY 
20 YEARS, SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO PROPOSE THIS, YOU NEED TO 
MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE -- THAT WHEN WE HAVE FURTHER 
GROWTH, WE'RE GOING TO LET IT PAY FOR ITSELF.
SO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU PROMOTE THIS REFERENDUM.
YOU'VE GOT TO REASSURE CITIZENS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO 
COMMIT THESE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. NIEMANN.
[APPLAUSE]
JOANNE O'BRIEN, AND THEN THE LAST SPEAKER THIS MORNING WILL 
BE NICK COX.
>> GOOD MORNING.
JOANNE O'BRIEN, 6916 THRASHER DRIVE, TAMPA, PRESIDENT OF 
THE EAST LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS ABOUT THE WATER, THE PEOPLE 
AND THEIR WATER BILLS, DATED OCTOBER 1st, AND THEN IS SAYS, 
OCTOBER 26th.
IT'S LIKE THEY'RE SENDING A WATER BILL OUT, YOU KNOW, BACK 
TO BACK, AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING NOTICES THAT THEIR BILLS 
ARE NOT BEING PAID, AND THEY'RE SENDING OUT CERTIFIED 
LETTERS, WHICH THEY'RE ADDING TO OUR WATER BILLS.
NOW, THE COUNTY I BELIEVE SHOULD TAKE OVER ALL THE WATER 
COMPANIES, HAVE IT ON A COUNTYWIDE WHERE IT WOULD BE FAIR 
TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY WITH THEIR WATER BILLS.
OUR AVERAGE WATER BILL IS ABOUT $120 A MONTH, AND MOST OF 
IT IS YOUR SEWER TREATMENT AND YOUR SEWER COLLECTION TO THE 
CITY OF TAMPA BECAUSE OF THE PUMPING STATION THERE BY I-4 
AND ORIENT ROAD.
A FEW BLOCKS SOUTH OF ME THERE'S PEOPLE PAYING $9, $10 A 
MONTH FOR WATER, AND WE BELIEVE THIS IS NOT FAIR.
SO EAST LAKE UTILITIES' CONTRACT, I BELIEVE, IS UP IN 2011, 
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT 
JUST DUMP THIS COMPANY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CORRUPTION 
THERE.
THEY SAY THEY FIXED OUR PIPES, BUT SOUTH OF US WHERE THAT 
PIPE RUNS TO 301 BY THE VETERANS PARK, THAT'S STILL FULL OF 
HOLES, LEAKS, AND WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT WHERE THEY'RE GOING 
THROUGH THE PUMPING STATION.
THIS IS NOT FAIR.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MS. O'BRIEN.
[APPLAUSE]
NICK COX.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD MORNING.
>> NICK COX, REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT 
OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO COME SEE YOU ALL.
YOU-ALL MAY HAVE -- I DON'T NEED THAT, I THINK, BUT YOU-ALL 
MAY HAVE BEEN AWARE THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECENT ARTICLE IN 
THE ST. PETE TIMES ABOUT THE LAKE MAGDALENE FACILITY.
WE HAD JUST COINCIDENTALLY BEEN DOING OUR OWN EVALUATION OF 
THE LAKE MAG FACILITY, AND I ACTUALLY BROUGHT COPIES OF IT 
WITH ME WHICH I CAN LEAVE WITH THE CLERK FOR YOU-ALL TO 
TAKE A LOOK AT.
I JUST WANTED TO ASSURE YOU ALL AFTER -- AFTER READING THAT 
ARTICLE, I WANTED TO ASSURE YOU ALL, NUMBER ONE, OUR 20-
SOME-ODD PAGE EVALUATION WE FEEL WAS VERY THOROUGH.
IN FACT, WE CONFABBED WITH THE ST. PETE TIMES WITH THE 
REPORTER WHO WAS COVERING THIS TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS 
ANYTHING WE WERE MISSING.
WE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE THIS REPORT IS, WITH 
WHAT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE, AND WHAT WE FOUND.
LET ME JUST SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT THE LAKE MAG FACILITY IS 
A GIFT THAT YOU-ALL GIVE US, REALLY AND TRULY.
THE CHILDREN THAT ARE SERVED THERE ARE INCREDIBLY 
IMPORTANT.
THIS IS A FACILITY WHERE WE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE -- HAVE 
THIS ABILITY TO SERVE SOME OF THESE FOSTER KIDS WITHOUT 
YOU-ALL BEING WILLING TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
WHY WE DID FIND SOME PROGRAMMATIC AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES 
RIGHT THERE, I WILL TELL YOU THAT MR. PAPIN AND HIS STAFF 
HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY QUICK TO RESPOND, TO TAKE ACTION.
MR. PAPIN HAS EVEN STARTED MAKING SOME ADMINISTRATIVE 
CHANGES OUT THERE.
ONE OF THE MOST -- ONE OF THE ONES WE NOTED WAS DR. TAMRA 
WILLIAMS, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE CLINICAL ISSUES NOW, WHO 
WE ARE VERY, VERY IMPRESSED WITH, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE 
YOU-ALL HAD A CHANCE TO SEE OUR REPORT TO KNOW THAT IT'S 
THOROUGH, TO KNOW MOST IMPORTANTLY THAT LAKE MAG IS 
RESPONDING VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S MANY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ADVISORS 
HERE THAT ARE ALSO GOING TO FOLLOW UP, AS ARE WE, AND SO I 
JUST WANTED TO COME BEFORE YOU-ALL AND TELL YOU THAT, YOU 
KNOW, THERE ARE ISSUES THERE, THEY ARE CLEARLY NOT 
INSURMOUNTABLE ISSUES.
IN CONTINUES TO BE A VERY GREAT ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY AND 
TO OUR CHILDREN, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT 
THAT BEFORE YOU-ALL SO THAT YOU KNEW.
SO I WILL LEAVE A COPY OF THIS REPORT WITH -- WITH THEM FOR 
YOU-ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS -- 
I THINK COMMISSIONER SHARPE HAS MY PHONE NUMBER.
I'LL GIVE IT TO ANY OF YOU.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. COX.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW MR. COX 
IS JUST NOT A TALLAHASSEE TYPE PERSON OR WHATEVER, HE'S A 
RESIDENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HE LIVES HERE, HE HAS CHILDREN THAT HE WORKS WITH.
ACTUALLY HE HAS AFFILIATION WITH THE YOUTH BASEBALL THAT 
CAME THIS MORNING.
>> SPONSORED THAT TEAM.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WELL, EXACTLY.
MY POINT IS HE CARES ABOUT OUR KIDS, HE CARES ABOUT THESE 
FACILITIES, AND THIS IS JUST NOT A BUREAUCRATIC MOVE HERE.
THIS GENTLEMAN IS SINCERELY -- AND I'M GLAD COMMISSIONER 
SHARPE HAS HIS CELL PHONE.
I KNOW WHERE HE LIVES.
[LAUGHTER]
>>KEN HAGAN:  SO DO I.
>> YIKES.
>>JIM NORMAN:  ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS MAN 
CARES ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S IMPASSIONED WORK THAT 
HE HAS DEALING WITH ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, SO, AGAIN, THANKS 
A LOT, AND I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT.
>> AND THANK YOU BECAUSE SERIOUSLY, WHAT YOU-ALL ARE DOING 
WITH US WITH LAKE MAG IS A HUGE, HUGE BENEFIT.
I CAN'T UNDERLINE THAT ENOUGH.
I DON'T WANT YOU-ALL TO HAVE ANY KIND OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS 
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
IT'S GOOD WORK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, MR. COX.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS, I BELIEVE OVER 20, THAT DID 
NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.
PER THE BOARD'S POLICIES YOU'LL HAVE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK AT 
THE END OF THE AFTERNOON SESSION TODAY.
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINDER OF THE 
CONSENT.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO MOVE.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER 
FERLITA, SECOND COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
FIRST ITEM.
>>PAT BEAN:  COMMISSIONERS, YOUR FIRST ITEM SCHEDULED FOR 
10:00 A.M. IS ITEM F-2.
THIS IS TO RECEIVE THE UPDATE FROM THE ADVISORY PANEL 
CHAIRPERSON ON ITS REVIEW OF THE BEST APPROACH THAT MIGHT 
BE UTILIZED TO PERMANENTLY PRESERVE AND RESTORE CONE RANCH.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN, THIS IS YOUR ITEM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  YEAH.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND SCHEDULE 20 MINUTES, 
BUT -- SO THIS WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW MOMENTS.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU, HEIDI, FOR COMING DOWN THIS MORNING.
I JUST WANT TO ASK MS. McCREE, WHO'S THE ADVISORY PANEL 
CHAIR, TO JUST GIVE US A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE WORK IN 
PROGRESS THAT THE TASK FORCE HAS MADE SO FAR AND A SENSE OF 
WHEN WE MAY EXPECT TO RECEIVE THE PANEL'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE THE BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER ANY 
THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS TO -- TO THE CHAIR AS THEY -- AS 
THEY DELIBERATE OVER THEIR NEXT SEVERAL MEETINGS.
THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF INTEREST AND MEDIA COVERAGE 
OF THIS PANEL AND THEIR WORK.
THERE'S BEEN HEALTHY PUBLIC DISCOURSE FROM MANY 
PERSPECTIVES, MANY WE HEARD FROM DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS IS AS IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE CONE RANCH IS A VERY 
COMPLICATED AND DETAILED ISSUE, AND IT'S -- THE PROPERTY'S 
TOO IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.
I'VE READ -- I GUESS THERE'S BEEN SOME COVERAGE IN THE 
PAPERS ABOUT FCEG'S OFFER TO UNDERWRITE AN ENVIRONMENTAL 
ASSESSMENT OF THE LAND, AND I'D LIKE FOR HEIDI TO TOUCH ON 
THAT, AND ALSO BECAUSE IT'S BEEN DISTORTED THAT I JUST WANT 
TO RESTATE ON THE RECORD AS I HAVE DURING EVERY DISCUSSION 
THAT WE'VE HAD ON THIS ISSUE THAT MY ONLY INTEREST IS IN 
PERMANENTLY PROTECTING AND PRESERVING CONE RANCH, SO I WANT 
TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT RECORD IS CRYSTAL CLEAR AND THAT I 
WILL RESPECT AND RELY ON THE PANEL'S ADVICE AS THE BEST WAY 
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
AND I'VE STATED THAT TO MY REPRESENTATIVE, DEE LAYNE, ON 
THE PANEL SEVERAL TIMES.
SO WITH THAT, MS. McCREE -- I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU SENT A 
LETTER YESTERDAY KIND OF PROBABLY TOUCHING ON WHAT YOU'RE 
GOING TO SAY THIS MORNING, AND I JUST WANT TO WELCOME YOU, 
AND ANY UPDATE YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE APPRECIATED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MY VOICE 
THIS MORNING.
I MAY BE BRIEFER THAN YOU EVEN WANT ME TO BE, BUT I'M GOING 
TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS.
I JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A LOSS OF VOICE.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU EACH OF YOU, AND I THINK I CAN 
SPEAK FREELY FOR EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PANEL THAT WE 
REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AS CITIZENS OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO -- TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS 
CAPACITY.
THIS IS A CHALLENGING ISSUE TO ADDRESS, AND I'LL TELL YOU A 
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN -- WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO 
AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED, BUT I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR 
THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I JUST -- I'M NOT SURE -- ARE THERE ANY OF THE PANEL 
MEMBERS HERE THIS MORNING?
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE, BUT -- OKAY.
NONE OF THEM ARE HERE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE IF THEY 
WERE HERE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST BRIEFLY THANK THE STAFF.
YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN SO RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS, 
AND WE'VE ASKED LOTS AND LOTS OF QUESTIONS, AND THEY'VE 
BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE.
AND WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE MEETINGS.
WE'VE BEEN TELEVISED.
WE HAVE A WEB SITE ON YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WEB SITE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTERACTION THROUGH THAT MEDIUM.
WE HOPE WE'VE BEEN ACCOMMODATING AS BEST WE CAN FOR THE 
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO AGAIN, IN BRIEF, I DO -- THERE IS A LETTER THAT'S BEEN 
CIRCULATED TO YOU THIS MORNING.
THIS IS A STATUS REPORT, IT IS NOT THE SET OF 
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MADE THE RECOMMENDATIONS YET, SO I 
FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT TOO MUCH OF OUR 
SUBSTANCE.
WE DO PLAN TO MEET ON NOVEMBER 16th AND REALLY ROLL UP OUR 
SLEEVES ARMED WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE NOW 
RECEIVED AND START THE DELIBERATIONS, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE 
DELIBERATIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU IN THE NEXT FEW 
WEEKS.
LET ME JUST SHARE WITH YOU, WE'VE MET FIVE TIMES.
YOU APPOINTED THE PANEL IN JUNE.
WE MET AT THE END OF JUNE, WE MET TWICE IN AUGUST -- WE MET 
ONCE IN JULY, AND TWICE IN AUGUST.
AT THE END OF THOSE FOUR MEETINGS, WHICH WERE LARGELY 
ORGANIZATIONAL AND FACT FINDING -- AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, 
EVERY TIME WE HAD A PRESENTATION, THERE WERE A MYRIAD OF 
QUESTIONS WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED GREAT RESPONSE TO.
WE HAD OVERVIEW OF THE OWNERSHIP HISTORY OF CONE RANCH, THE 
FINANCIAL HISTORY, OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT 
THE BOARD HAS, ALL OF THE OTHER ENCUMBRANCES ON THE 
PROPERTY OUT THERE, AND WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE TO 
ADDRESS THOSE RIGHTS IF A TRANSFER OR SOMETHING OCCURRED.
WE'VE HAD PRESENTATIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY, IF 
YOU WILL, OF THE LAND, WHAT IS THE LAND, WHAT'S OUT THERE, 
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO RESTORE IT, WHAT LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS 
EXIST, WHY OR WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED, WHAT HAS 
BEEN THE ROLE OF THIS BOARD AND YOUR PREDECESSOR BOARDS IN 
YEARS PAST, AND HOW HAS THE COUNTY ADDRESSED CONE RANCH.
SO WE'VE HAD LOTS OF PRESENTATIONS FROM A -- FROM THAT 
PERSPECTIVE.
WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.
WE'VE HAD PRESENTATIONS ON CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, WE'VE 
HEARD ABOUT THE CONSERVATION BUYER PROGRAM NATIONALLY, 
WE'VE HEARD FROM FC&EG, WE'VE HEARD FROM MITIGATION 
BANKERS, THE REGULATORS, THE EXPERTS IN MITIGATION BANKING, 
AND SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO DO MITIGATION BANKING.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WITH EACH MEETING QUESTIONS WERE ASKED 
AND -- AND RESPONSES WERE REQUIRED.
TO THAT END, WE TOOK A SLIGHT BIT OF A HIATUS BETWEEN THE 
END OF AUGUST AND JUST LAST OCTOBER 23rd WHERE YOUR COUNTY 
STAFF COMMITTED TO GOING BACK INTERNALLY AND WORKING ON A 
LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED AND COMING BACK 
TO US WITH A PRESENTATION, WHICH THEY DID, AND I'LL SPEAK 
TO THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.
PARALLEL TO THAT PROCESS, THE ELAPP COMMITTEE WAS MEETING, 
AS YOU KNOW.
THERE'S BEEN HEIGHTENED INTEREST FROM THE ELAPP 
PERSPECTIVE.
WE FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LET THAT PROCESS GO 
FORWARD.
YOUR ELAPP COMMITTEE WILL BE COMING TO YOU BY THE END OF 
THIS YEAR WITH THEIR ANNUAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND 
WE FEEL THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE CONE 
RANCH ADVISORY PANEL IS ON CONE RANCH AT THAT POINT IN 
TIME, SO OUR GOAL IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IS TO COME BACK TO 
YOU IN A PARALLEL PROCESS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE ALL THIS 
INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO 
GO WITH THE FUTURE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF CONE 
RANCH, AND I WILL REITERATE -- THE CHAIRMAN COMMENTED -- 
WE, AS THE COMMITTEE, HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS WHAT WOULD 
BE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE PERMANENT PROTECTION 
OF CONE RANCH, SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS.
THOSE -- WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU WITH RECOMMENDATIONS -- A 
RECOMMENDATION, A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
I HAVE NO IDEA AT THIS POINT, BUT EACH OF THOSE OPTIONS 
WILL PROBABLY HAVE SOME ACTION STEPS THAT REALLY ARE IN THE 
PURVIEW OF THIS BOARD.
THERE ARE ACTION STEPS WHICH WE'VE ADDRESSED THAT WE KNOW 
THAT IS IN YOUR AUTHORITY, AND A YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO 
MAKE THAT DECISION, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO 
YOU WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, RESPONDING TO ANY QUESTIONS 
YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE STEPS YOU MAY NEED TO TAKE, AND I'M 
HAPPY THIS MORNING TO TAKE ANY DIRECTION, SUGGESTIONS, 
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BACK TO OUR COMMITTEE.
WE ARE GOING TO MEET AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 16th, AND WE 
CERTAINLY DO HOPE TO HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO COME TO 
YOU BY DECEMBER FOR YOUR DELIBERATION, SO THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT UPDATE, 
MS. McCREE.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR INDULGING MY VOICE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  HEIDI, I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO 
REVIEW ALL THE TRANSCRIPTS.
I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS AND YOU'VE LOOKED AT 
OPTIONS FOR THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF CONE RANCH.
IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING THE -- DOING 
NOTHING?
AND BY THAT I MEAN RATHER THAN -- I'VE TALKED WITH ELAPP 
AND THOSE WHO REPRESENT THE ELAPP FUND, AND THERE'S SOME 
CONCERN ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE HAVE IN ELAPP 
AND THAT IF WE WERE TO TRY TO PURCHASE IT, IT MIGHT THEN 
DIMINISH OUR OPPORTUNITY TO BUY -- TO PURCHASE OTHER 
PROPERTIES BUT THAT IF WE JUST WERE TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS 
QUO AND NOT SELL IT BUT ALSO -- TO EITHER A PRIVATE 
INTEREST OR TO ELAPP BUT LEAVE IT AS IT IS, THAT THAT MIGHT 
ALSO ALLOW FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PROPERTY.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING?
>> YES, WE HAVE HAD THAT DISCUSSION.
NOW, WHAT I WILL -- GETTING BACK TO THE MEETING ON OCTOBER 
23rd, WHAT THE COUNTY STAFF CAME TO US WITH WAS ESSENTIALLY 
A MATRIX OF A MYRIAD OF OPTIONS, WHICH THE COMMITTEE'S 
GOING TO NOW ADDRESS OR DELIBERATE ON.
THEY RANGE FROM DOING NOTHING TO PURSUING SOMETHING WITH 
ELAPP, TO PURSUING A PRIVATE CONSERVATION BUYER OPTION, TO 
MITIGATION BANKING, TO ESSENTIALLY A COMBINATION OF ALL OF 
THE ABOVE, AND SO SOME OF THOSE ARE WHAT WE'LL BE TALKING 
ABOUT AND COMING BACK TO YOU.
BUT TO SPECIFICALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, THAT IS -- 
THAT IS AN OPTION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE IS IS WHETHER OR NOT THAT 
LEADS TO PERMANENT PROTECTION OF CONE RANCH AT THIS POINT 
IF WE JUST LEAVE IT AS IT IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED IN 
PRESERVATION.
THERE IS STILL A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE, NOT 
NECESSARILY THIS BOARD BUT ANOTHER BOARD COULD MAKE A 
DECISION TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH CONE RANCH WHERE IT 
MAY NOT BE THE PERMANENT PROTECTION.
SO THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING, BUT WE CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO 
DISCUSS THAT, YES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND THEN -- AND I GUESS JUST MY LAST 
QUESTION, IF -- IF THE OPTION AS RECOMMENDED BY YOUR 
COMMITTEE WOULD BE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE -- THE PRIVATE 
PURCHASING -- CREATING OF THESE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.
WHAT ARE YOU -- WHAT GUARANTEES WOULD WE HAVE NOT JUST FOR 
THIS BOARD BUT 50 YEARS FROM NOW, A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW 
THAT THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, FULLY 
ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC?
>> WELL -- AND AGAIN, WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS THAT WHOLE 
ISSUE.
THE -- THE ISSUE OF CONSERVATION EAST EASEMENTS IN 
PERPETUITY -- AND THEY'RE USED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND 
ONE OF THE -- IN ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WE HAVE FROM 
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, YOU KNOW, IF A CONSERVATION 
EASEMENT IS WELL WRITTEN WITH ALL THE PROPER MONITORING AND 
ENFORCEMENT, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNRAVEL A CONSERVATION 
EASEMENT.
IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE CONTRACT THEORY, YES, IT IS A 
CONTRACT, AND CHANGES CAN BE MADE AND AMENDMENTS CAN BE 
MADE.
ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WAS MADE WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU 
COULD HAVE A SERIES OF EASEMENT HOLDERS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD OCCUR.
YOU COULD HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT IS A COUNTY-APPOINTED 
COMMITTEE THAT'S MONITORING THE EASEMENT, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, 
BLAH, BLAH.
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE AN OPTION OUT THERE, AND IF THAT 
IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE, WE WOULD COME BACK 
TO YOU WITH HOW -- HOW THAT WOULD GO FORWARD AND WHAT THE 
ACTION STEPS WOULD BE, BUT WE AS A COMMITTEE HAVEN'T YET 
MADE THAT DECISION, SO WHAT I WOULD PREDICT IS IF THAT IS A 
DECISION WE MADE, WE WOULD COME BACK WITH A SERIES OF HOW 
YOU DO THAT AND HOW YOU DO THAT TO --
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> -- PROTECT.
YES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD, IF YOUR PANEL 
WERE TO RECOMMEND OR THIS BOARD WERE TO DECIDE THAT WE 
WOULD HAVE ELAPP PURCHASE THE PROPERTY SO THAT WE COULD 
HAVE THE GUARANTEE, THE ACTUAL MANAGEMENT OF THE LAND 
ITSELF -- I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THERE -- THERE IS A 
CATTLE --
>> A CATTLE LEASE, UH-HUH.
>>MARK SHARPE:  -- A CATTLE LEASE THERE, AND ALSO THEY ARE 
KILLING OFF A LOT OF THE FOREIGN -- LIKE THE BRAZILIAN 
PEPPER PLANT AND OTHERS.
>> RIGHT.
THE EXOTIC SPECIES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  IF WE WERE TO SELL THIS TO ELAPP, IS THERE 
A PLAN IN PLACE AS WELL SO THAT WE COULD ALSO CONTINUE TO 
MANAGE THE -- THE LAND.
>> LAND.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND WITH THE CATTLE LEASE, IS THAT 
SOMETHING THAT COULD CONTINUE?
>> YEAH.
I THINK ALL OF THESE THINGS COULD CONTINUE.
THOSE ARE THE -- THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
YOU COULD CONTINUE THAT.
THE -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CATTLE REALLY DO PROVIDE 
THAT MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE WITH THE INVASIVE 
SPECIES, ET CETERA, SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS -- WILL 
CONSIDER.
I THINK -- I THINK THE -- THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE IS HOW DO 
WE BEST MANAGE AND RESTORE THAT LAND OUT THERE INTO THE 
FUTURE?
AND THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT, AND 
WE'D LIKE TO BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND STEPS BACK TO 
YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I WOULD JUST CLOSE BY SAYING I APPRECIATE 
THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE FROM -- YOU KNOW, I'M NOT -- I 
WILL -- I WILL WEIGH CAREFULLY YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND 
READ WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAS TO SAY, BUT FROM MY 
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR I GUESS IS THAT -- THAT 
ABSOLUTE PROTECTION AND IN A WAY THAT -- YOU KNOW, 
SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WELL, THE LAND IS NOT BEING 
ADEQUATELY USED TODAY.
WELL, SOMETIMES WE -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS LAND 
THAT WILL ALSO BE HERE AGAIN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS 
HUNDREDS OF YEARS FROM NOW WHEN WE'RE LONG GONE, AND WHAT 
WE DO TODAY WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEM, AND THE DECISIONS 
WE MAKE WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEM, SO I DO APPRECIATE 
YOUR WORK, AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT, BUT I THINK YOU KNOW 
WHERE I'M GOING AS FAR AS MY --
>> THANK YOU.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO PRESENTING THESE OPTIONS 
TO YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  JUST QUICKLY TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE WITH I THOUGHT A FULL 
UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF CONE RANCH AND 
HOW IT ALL IS SET UP PRESENTLY.
AM I MISTAKEN THAT THE ENTERPRISE FUND, MEANING THE 
BONDHOLDERS OF OUR WATER DEPARTMENT, OWN THAT -- OWN THAT 
SITE AND THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A FAIR-MARKET-VALUE 
PURCHASE AND THAT -- HAVE I MISUNDERSTOOD SOMETHING 
SOMEWHERE OR AM I CORRECT?
>>RENEE LEE:  NO, COMMISSIONER.
I BELIEVE THAT ALL -- ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE 
RECEIVED FROM OUR FINANCIAL -- OUR FINANCIAL --
>>JIM NORMAN:  SO I AM CORRECT THAT IT IS --
>>RENEE LEE:  YOU ARE CORRECT ABOUT --
>>JIM NORMAN:  OKAY.
I THOUGHT I HAD A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRUCTURE OF 
THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS THE COMMITTEE GOES FORWARD, I -- 
COMMISSIONER SHARPE, YOU KNOW, TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT.
WHATEVER WAY IT GOES, THE PROTECTION IS GOOD, IMPORTANT, 
AND ALSO THE FACT THAT THERE'S A REVENUE STREAM THAT THE 
COUNTY RECEIVES, AND I KNOW THAT'S THESE LEASES AND CATTLE 
AND PROTECTION OF THE LANDS AND THE SPECIES THAT ARE OUT 
THERE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THAT IS CONTINUED FROM THE 
STANDPOINT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF -- IF THINGS ARE TAKEN OVER, 
OWNERSHIP CHANGES, THAT -- THE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND 
DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING TO THE COUNTY ARE PROBABLY 
IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT, SO I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT THAT 
THERE IS SOME REVENUE STREAMS, AND IF IT'S TAKEN OVER THAT 
THESE LEASES CAN CONTINUE AT SOME POINT AND THAT AT LEAST 
YOU JUST CAN'T CUT THINGS OFF AND -- BECAUSE THERE IS SOME 
MAINTENANCE OUT THERE AND SOME GOOD THINGS HAPPENING ON 
THAT PROPERTY NOW, SO --
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THAT'S ALL.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WELL, MS. McCREE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE 
UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK OF YOU AND 
THE TASK FORCE, AND I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER.
>> I'LL REPORT -- I FEEL FINE.
I JUST APPRECIATE YOU INDULGING MY VOICE.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, THOUGH, IF INDEED 
WE SELL THIS TO ELAPP, ARE YOU ALSO INVESTIGATING WHETHER 
THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT IF -- 
I MEAN, THAT'S AN OPTION WITH THE -- THOSE WHO ARE -- WHO 
ARE CURRENTLY LEASING IT, SO IF ELAPP HAD IT --
>>JIM NORMAN:  THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO IT JUST ISN'T -- SO THE WILD PLANTS 
DON'T RUN --
>> YES.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE -- THE TIMING, I THINK WHAT 
WE'D LIKE TO DO FOR YOUR BENEFIT IS COME BACK TO YOU IN A 
PARALLEL PROCESS WITH THE ELAPP COMMITTEE SO THAT YOU CAN 
EVALUATE, YOU KNOW, BIG PICTURE WHAT YOUR CHOICES WILL BE 
WITH REGARD TO ELAPP GOING FORWARD BUT ALSO WITH REGARD TO 
CONE RANCH SPECIFICALLY.
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANKS AGAIN.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
MS. BEAN, NEXT ITEM.
>>PAT BEAN:  YES.
THE NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, IS ITEM E-1, SCHEDULED FOR 
10:15.
THIS IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PRESENT A $50,000 CHECK TO THE BOARD OF 
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE BULLY BUSTERS PROGRAM.
AND HERE COMES CHIEF DOCOBO.
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD MORNING, CHIEF.
>>JOE DOCOBO:  GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
JOE DOCOBO, CHIEF DEPUTY, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S 
OFFICE.
I'M HERE THIS MORNING ON BEHALF OF SHERIFF GEE AND THE 
ENTIRE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PRESENT YOU 
A CHECK FOR $50,000 FOR THE BULLY BUSTERS PROGRAM.
THIS -- THIS CHECK REPRESENTS FUNDS THAT WERE SEIZED DURING 
THIS PAST YEAR FROM DRUG DEALERS AS A RESULT OF SOME 
INVESTIGATIONS BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND SHARE GEE 
COULDN'T THINK OF A MORE WORTHY CAUSE THAN TO PUT IT 
TOWARDS THE FUNDING OF THE BULLY BUSTERS PROGRAM, SO ON 
BEHALF OF SHERIFF GEE AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU 
$50,000.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANK YOU, CHIEF.
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WELL, YOU KNOW, I KNEW THAT CHIEF DOCOBO 
WOULD BE SHORT IN DOWNPLAYING WHAT -- WHAT HE AND SHERIFF 
GEE HAVE DONE, SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A BUSY AGENDA, BUT I 
WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T AT LEAST TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW 
IMPORTANT THIS IS TO THE CHILDREN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
FIRST OF ALL, JOE, THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, YOUR 
SUPPORT, AND FOR SURE THIS FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION AND TO 
THE SHERIFF AS WELL.
WHEN INITIATED THIS BULLY BUSTER CAMPAIGN, OBVIOUSLY WITH 
100% SUPPORT FROM MY COLLEAGUES, AND I CONTINUE TO THANK 
YOU FOR THAT, WE KNEW THAT THAT WAS ESSENTIAL TO PROTECT 
OUR CHILDREN SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE MORE OF THOSE BULLYING 
ATTACKS THAT WE ALL REFER SO VIVIDLY AT WALKER MIDDLE 
SCHOOL, BUT WITH THE DAUNTING ECONOMY, WE KNEW THAT WE 
COULD NOT EVEN IN A SMALL WAY PLAN TO USE ANY TAX DOLLARS, 
ZERO TAX DOLLARS, SO WHAT WE DID WAS FORM RELATIONSHIPS 
WITH NONPROFITS, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, AND OF COURSE 
THIS CHECK FROM SHERIFF GEE TO BE ABLE TO MOTIVATE THE 
CAMPAIGN IN TERMS OF PSAs, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
IN ADDITION TO THAT WE COMMITTED TO ZERO TOLERANCE AND TO 
ALSO WORK WITH THE TOTAL COMMUNITY IN AN EFFORT TO NOT 
COMPETE BUT COMPLEMENT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S EFFORTS TO -- 
TO HELP WITH ANTI-BULLYING, SO BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE 
OF THE FACT THAT SHERIFF GEE HAS CONTRIBUTED THIS, YOU GUYS 
ARE JUST INCREDIBLE PLAYERS, AND THIS IS NOT WHERE IT 
STOPS.
HE -- HE, THE SHERIFF, APPOINTED LISA HABER, DETECTIVE 
HABER, TO BE PART OF OUR COMMITTEE, AND THROUGH THAT YOU'LL 
NOTICE THAT THERE ARE MANY OF THESE BUS STOP BENCHES THAT 
NOTIFY PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN ANONYMOUSLY CALL THE -- THE 
CRIMESTOPPERS AND GET -- AND GET THE TIPS IN THERE AND NOT 
WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE IDENTIFIED, SO THERE ARE 
MANY WAYS THAT SHERIFF GEE AND CHIEF DOCOBO IS HELPING US, 
AND WE APPRECIATE THIS.
AND IT'S GOING TO GO A LONG WAY, JOE, AND I APPRECIATE IT, 
AND I FELT BAD TO COME OUT HERE EMPTY-HANDED, SO I THOUGHT 
FOR A $50,000 CHECK, I SHOULD GIVE YOU THIS, BUT I THINK 
THIS IS YOURS ANYWAY.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  CHIEF, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER FERLITA BROUGHT THIS ITEM TO THE 
BOARD, AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I HAVE CHILDREN -- ALL MY 
CHILDREN ARE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT WHETHER YOU HAVE 
CHILDREN OR YOU DON'T HAVE CHILDREN AND WHETHER THEY'RE IN 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR NOT, I THINK WE RECOGNIZE YOU JUST CAN'T 
PICK UP THE PAPER AND NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE ISSUES, 
AND -- AND OFTENTIMES THOSE ISSUES NEVER COME TO THE 
SURFACE, AND -- BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE BEING BULLIED OR 
THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE BULLYING DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I 
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT -- THAT YOU GOT INVOLVED AND THAT 
YOU BROUGHT THIS -- THAT YOU PUT THE MONEY OUT THERE TO 
HELP US BECAUSE I THINK YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IF WE DON'T DEAL 
WITH THESE ISSUES EARLY ON, THEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THOSE 
ISSUES, AND SO I JUST WANT TO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, COMMEND 
COMMISSIONER FERLITA FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD, THE BOARD FOR 
SUPPORTING IT, AND YOUR SUPPORT AND THE SHERIFF'S SUPPORT 
FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD FOR ALL THE 
SUPPORT IT'S GIVEN TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OVER THE YEARS, 
SO THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MARK, THANKS FOR THOSE COMMENTS, AND, YOU KNOW, I PURPOSELY 
STOPPED MYSELF FROM IDENTIFYING ANY PARTICULAR MEMBER OF 
THE COMMITTEE.
SOME WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING GRANTS SO THAT WE 
HAD THE DOLLARS TO DO THE PSA, OTHERS DID THE LEGAL WORK, 
SO I THINK SOMETIMES IF YOU HIGHLIGHT ONE, YOU DIMINISH THE 
VALUE OF OTHERS, AND OUR COMMITTEE'S INCREDIBLE.
THEY'RE ALL MOTIVATED TO DO THIS, AND OUR CHILDREN BENEFIT, 
SO I APPRECIATE IT.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I JUST WANTED TO COMPLIMENT COMMISSIONER 
FERLITA ALSO AND THE SHERIFF.
WHAT A GREAT CONCEPT TO TAKE THE DOLLARS FROM AREAS THAT 
ARE FOLKS VICTIMIZING OUR COMMUNITY AND TAKING THOSE 
DOLLARS AND REINVESTING IT INTO THE SAFETY OF KIDS.
WHAT A GREAT CONCEPT.
GREAT JOB SHERIFF AND ROSE.
GOOD JOB.
THANKS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, JIM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
>>PAT BEAN:  MR. CHAIR, THE NEXT ITEM WOULD BE ITEM F-4, 
SCHEDULED FOR 10:30.
THIS IS TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THE 
TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  BOARD MEMBERS, TODAY YOU WILL FORMALLY HEAR 
ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TRANSPORTATION TASK 
FORCE.
WE REALIZE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT AND, AT TIMES, DETAILED 
INFORMATION.  
LUCIA HAS PREPARED A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AS WELL AS 
SOME EXCELLENT VISUALS TO AID OUR DISCUSSIONS TODAY AND 
THOSE THAT WE'LL HAVE IN FUTURE MEETINGS.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS 
FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK ON BOTH PHASE I AND NOW ON THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS ON PHASE II.
THIS HAS BEEN NEARLY A THREE-YEAR JOURNEY TO THIS POINT.
THESE FOLKS HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB, AND I CANNOT THANK 
THEM ENOUGH FOR THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT THEY'VE PLACED 
INTO THIS EFFORT.
I KNOW I'VE SEEN SEVERAL OF THEM IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, 
PHIL WALLER, JAN SMITH, RANDY COEN, AMONGST OTHERS, AND I 
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WIDE BREADTH OF GROUPS AND 
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN A PROACTIVE 
INTEREST IN THIS TASK FORCE.
THEIR SUPPORT HAS BEEN CRITICAL AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AS 
WE PROGRESS WITH THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS.
NOW THAT THE TASK FORCE HAS ISSUED ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, OUR 
WORK AS A BOARD IS JUST BEGINNING.
TODAY IS THE FIRST STEP IN A PROCESS THAT I BELIEVE WILL 
CULMINATE IN NOT ONLY A SOLID MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION 
SYSTEM, BUT IT WILL IGNITE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
EFFORTS, JOBS WILL BE CREATED, OUR TOURISM EFFORTS WILL BE 
ENHANCED, AND OUR RESIDENTS WILL ENJOY AN IMPROVED QUALITY 
OF LIFE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT ASKING THE BOARD TODAY TO 
APPROVE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
I BELIEVE A DRAFT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS RECEIVED ON 
OCTOBER 20th, BUT THE FINAL REPORT WAS NOT RECEIVED UNTIL 
MONDAY AFTERNOON, AND FRANKLY, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT 
OF INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS -- IN THIS REPORT.
I RESPECT THE BOARD MEMBERS' DESIRE AND NEED TO SPEND TIME 
DIGESTING THE INFORMATION, AND I'M SURE MANY QUESTIONS AND 
ANSWERS WILL RESULT FROM THIS REPORT.
I'M ALSO PERSONALLY VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING THE 
PERSPECTIVES OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND BELIEVE THAT THE 
DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE ON THIS BOARD CAN DO NOTHING BUT MAKE 
THIS PUSH EVEN STRONGER.
WHAT I AM HOPING TO HAVE AT THE END OF THE BOARD DISCUSSION 
IS -- IS TO ACCEPT THE TASK FORCE REPORT AND THEN TO DIRECT 
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO COME BACK WITH A RESOLUTION OF 
INTENT FOR THE BOARD TO DISCUSS.
AND THIS RESOLUTION WOULD INDICATE THE BOARD'S WILLINGNESS 
AND INTENT TO PLACE A REFERENDUM ON THE NOVEMBER 2010 
BALLOT.
WITH THE BOARD'S INDULGENCE, I'D LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT 
TO REFLECT ON -- ON THE APPROACH AND STRATEGIES THAT I'VE 
TAKEN AS CHAIR OF THIS TASK FORCE.
I OFFER THESE COMMENTS TO YOU HUMBLY, AS I'VE SAT THROUGH 
HOURS OF TESTIMONY, PRESENTATIONS, AND DISCUSSIONS, AS HAS 
VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
ADDRESSING OUR TRANSPORTATION ISSUES IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT, 
BUT IT IS CRITICAL TO THE COUNTY AND THE REGION AT LARGE.
BACK IN 2006 WHEN WE BEGAN THE TASK FORCE, I DID NOT TAKE 
ON THE RESPONSIBILITY LIGHTLY.
I KNEW IT WOULD BE ROUGH TERRAIN, I KNEW THERE WOULD BE 
TOUGH SPOTS, DEBATE, AT TIMES CONTENTIOUS AND VARYING 
DISPARATE PERSPECTIVES, REALIZING EARLY ON THAT 
ACCOMPLISHING TRUE MOBILITY IN THE LONG TERM WOULD REQUIRE 
ESTABLISHING CREDIBILITY IN EXISTING TRANSPORTATION 
SPENDING, AND AS A RESULT, I INTENTIONALLY BIFURCATED THIS 
PROCESS.
IN THE FIRST PHASE WE BUILT ON -- BUILT CREDIBILITY BY 
SHOWING THE TAXPAYERS THAT WE WERE MAKING GOOD USE OF THEIR 
HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS AND NOT THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER 
BAD.
WE FOCUSED HARD ON IMPACTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S QUALITY 
OF LIFE WITH ROAD CAPACITY, SMART TECHNOLOGIES, 
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS, AND TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATIONS.
WE SHOWED OUR FOLKS THAT WE COULD DO THIS BY LEVERAGING 
EXISTING REVENUES WITH A VERY AGGRESSIVE AND EXPEDITED 
SCHEDULE.
IN THE FALL OF '07 THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDED AND THIS 
BOARD APPROVED A $500-MILLION CAPITAL PROGRAM USING 
EXISTING REVENUES.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE SHORTER-TERM GOALS OF PHASE I NOT ONLY 
ALLOWED US TO ADDRESS REAL PROBLEMS THAT OUR FOLKS WERE 
EXPERIENCING WITH RESPECT TO TRANSPORTATION, BUT IT CREATED 
A GENUINE MOMENTUM, AND WE MOVED FULL THROTTLE INTO 
STUDYING A MULTIMODAL APPROACH, ONE THAT WE KNEW WE WOULD 
HAVE TO ASK OUR TAXPAYERS TO INVEST IN.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE YOU TODAY REPRESENT AN 
AMALGAMATION OF THE BEST MINDS AND EFFORTS OF PEOPLE 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THIS COUNTRY ON TRANSPORTATION.
SPECIFICALLY, THIS REPORT LAYS OUT OUR PLAN FOR A LONG-TERM 
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORK AND FUNDING PROGRAM FOR 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON JUST A COUPLE OF THE ELEMENTS OF OUR 
REPORT BEFORE LUCIA GIVES HER POWERPOINT.
THE FIRST IS THAT IT WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS 
OUR NONTRANSIT OR ROADS NEEDS.
WHEN WE BEGAN THE TASK FORCE IN OCTOBER OF '06, WE WERE 
TOLD THAT WE HAD A $3.8-BILLION UNFUNDED TRANSPORTATION 
NEED.
NOW, THIS -- AGAIN, THIS NEED DOES NOT INCLUDE TRANSIT OR 
RAIL.
IT WAS JUST UNFUNDED TRANSPORTATION NEED.
THE REALITY IS OR THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS THAT THAT 
NUMBER IS NOT SHRINKING.
TO THE CONTRARY, IT'S GETTING LARGER, SO IT'S VERY 
IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS THIS NEED.
OUR RECOMMENDED LIST OF POTENTIAL NONTRANSIT PROJECTS 
STARTS ON PAGE 16, AND A COUPLE THINGS I'LL POINT OUT.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE'S OVER 25 ROAD PROJECTS AND 30 
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED.
THE PROJECTS ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE 
COUNTY.
DUE TO THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN, IF YOU RECALL, DURING -- WE 
ADOPTED OUR CIP BUDGET.
WE HAD TO DEFER SOME OF THE PHASE I PROJECTS, SO SOME OF 
THE PROJECTS THAT WERE DEFERRED ARE INCLUDED ON THIS LIST.
CONSISTENT WITH PHASE I, WE REACHED OUT TO THE THREE 
MUNICIPALITIES.
WE ASKED THE CITY OF TAMPA, PLANT CITY, TEMPLE TERRACE, YOU 
KNOW, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE OR FOUR UNFUNDED NEEDS, AND 
WE INCLUDED THOSE IN THE REPORT.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ARE INCLUDED, SUCH AS TRAILS, UPPER 
TAMPA BAY TRAIL, SOUTHCOAST GREENWAY TRAIL.
THEIR BRIDGES AND SIDEWALKS ARE INCLUDED.
ANOTHER AREA I WANT TO TOUCH ON, AND THIS WAS -- WE HAD A 
COUPLE OF SPEAKERS THIS MORNING TOUCH ON THIS DURING PUBLIC 
COMMENT -- WAS PRIVATE-SECTOR PROJECTS WHERE DEVELOPMENT 
ORDERS CURRENTLY EXIST.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF THE BOARD, BUT I'M 
FREQUENTLY ASKED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, WHY 
WASN'T THE PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE EITHER APPROVED OR -- OR 
PUT IN PRIOR TO DEVELOPMENT BEING APPROVED.
I KNOW MOST OF US WEREN'T EVEN HERE, BUT WE FEEL THE HEAVY 
BURDEN OF THIS RESULT.
IN MY VIEW, THERE'S ONE PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE WE 
ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROACTIVE, WE CAN 
ACTUALLY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE PUT IN PRIOR TO 
DEVELOPMENT TAKING PLACE.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, REALLY WHAT A NOVEL 
CONCEPT; RIGHT?
AND THAT AREA IS IN SOUTH COUNTY.
NOW, UNLIKE WHAT SOME OF THE NAYSAYERS MIGHT SUGGEST, THIS 
IS NOT A SECRETIVE ATTEMPT TO RELIEVE DEVELOPERS OF ANY 
OBLIGATION.
IT STATES ON PAGE 17, IN NO WAY WILL SUCH AGREEMENTS REDUCE 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPERS TO CONTRIBUTE PROPORTIONATE 
SHARE OBLIGATION.
IF A DEVELOPER HAS AN AGREEMENT TO PAY FIVE MILLION OR TEN 
MILLION OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS FOR A PROJECT, WE'RE NOT 
GIVING THEM ONE RED CENT.
THEY'RE GOING TO STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THAT FIVE 
MILLION OR THAT TEN MILLION.
THIS IS SIMPLY A WAY TO POTENTIALLY FAST TRACK NEEDED 
PROJECTS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OUTLETS AND CONGESTION 
RELIEF NOW RATHER THAN WAIT FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG BEFORE 
THE ECONOMY TURNS AROUND AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS IN THE 
POSITION TO BUILD MANY OF THOSE ROADS.
SO I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT.
THE NEXT ISSUE IS THE IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR PLAN ADDRESSES OUR LOCAL 
NEEDS, BUT IT MUST ALSO WORK WITH AND COMPLEMENT TBARTA'S 
REGIONAL PLAN.
ALONG WITH HART, TBARTA SHOULD BE OUR PARTNER MOVING 
FORWARD.  
IN FACT, IF YOU'VE SEEN RECENT SURVEYS OR POLLS THAT I 
HAVE, IT INDICATES THAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE PRIORITIZED 
MEETING OUR REGIONAL NEEDS ABOVE THINKING SOLELY ABOUT THE 
NEEDS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SO IT IS -- IT IS CRITICALLY 
IMPORTANT THAT WE PLAN FOR THE REGIONAL CONNECTIONS THAT 
WILL OCCUR ONCE SURROUNDING COUNTIES APPROVE A REFERENDUM, 
AND IT APPEARS THAT PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES ARE MOVING 
QUICKLY TO PLACE THE REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT IN THEIR 
COUNTIES VERY SOON, POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS 2012.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT -- I DON'T KNOW IF HE IS STILL 
HERE, BUT THE CHAIR OF PASCO COUNTY COMMISSION, JACK 
MARIANO, WAS PRESENT THIS MORNING, AND I KNOW HE SENT OUT A 
LETTER TO OUR OFFICES -- THERE YOU ARE, JACK.
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN, SIR.
AND HE'S HERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR -- OF OUR EFFORTS.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE -- THAT THE TASK FORCE 
RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN OUR PLAN 
AND TBARTA'S, AND IT STATES SO ON PAGE 5, WHICH SAYS THAT 
WE BELIEVE IN THE BENEFITS AND SYNERGY OF ALIGNING OUR 
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH TBARTA, AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD 
ALIGN CONCEPTUALLY TO THE OTHER REGIONAL AND STATE 
INITIATIVES.
WE SIMPLY MUST ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SEAMLESS TRAVEL BETWEEN 
THE COUNTIES BECAUSE TRAFFIC CONGESTION DOES NOT START OR 
STOP AT THE COUNTY LINES AND NEITHER SHOULD OUR SOLUTIONS.
THE LAST COMMENT I'M GOING TO MAKE IS ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND 
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT ON PAGE 8 OF THE 
REPORT.
THIS IS INCLUDED TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S FULL DISCLOSURE AND 
TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
WE FELT IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO CREATE A CITIZEN 
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT WOULD CONDUCT INDEPENDENT FISCAL 
AND PERFORMANCE AUDITS TO GUARANTEE THAT THE REVENUES ARE 
USED IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
THIS -- THIS SHOULD BE A CITIZEN-DRIVEN COMMITTEE THAT 
INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION 
AGENCIES, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
SO WITH THOSE INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO ASK LUCIA 
TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE HER POWERPOINT 
PRESENTATION.
GOOD MORNING, LUCIA.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
LUCIA GARSYS, THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR PLANNING AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT IS TRULY MY HONOR TODAY TO REPRESENT THE TRANSPORTATION 
TASK FORCE.
I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR LETTING ME SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.
IT HAS BEEN QUITE AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE, AS 
COMMISSIONER HAGAN HAS SAID, AND THIS GROUP HAS WORKED 
VERY, VERY HARD, AND THE BODY OF WORK THAT THEY BRING 
BEFORE YOU IS THE ONE THAT YOU HAVE TODAY, THE 
TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE PHASE II REPORT, THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE MULTIMODAL FUNDING AND STRATEGIES.
BEFORE I START, LET ME JUST QUICKLY SAY THAT THE 
TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THIS REPORT, 
BUT IT WAS NOT WITHOUT A LOT OF DEBATE AND A LOT OF ANGST 
ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE BRINGING TO THIS BOARD.
IT CLEARLY RECOGNIZED THAT A 1% SALES TAX WOULD BE A 
CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT THING TO TALK ABOUT IN THIS 
COMMUNITY, BUT AFTER STUDYING THE ISSUES, AFTER LOOKING AT 
THE NEEDS, AFTER EXPLORING OTHER JURISDICTIONS, WHAT THEY 
FOUND IS THAT THIS WAS THE WAY TO MOVE AHEAD, SO THIS 
TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE WILL BRING TO YOU A 
RECOMMENDATION FOR A 1% SALES TAX.
WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A FRAMEWORK.
IT IS NOT WRAPPED UP WITH A BOW WITH ALL THE ANSWERS, AND 
THAT IS BY DESIGN, BECAUSE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU NEED 
TO ADDRESS ARE INDEED POLICY ISSUES THAT ARE BOARD ISSUES, 
SO THE TASK FORCE HAS FRAMED THE ISSUES FOR YOU AS BEST AS 
THEY COULD TO ENGAGE YOU IN THE DISCUSSION AS YOU MOVE 
FORWARD WITH THIS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN 
PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS IN ADDITION TO TASK FORCE 
MEMBERS, STAFFS OF HART, MPO, TBARTA, MANY OTHER 
ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS YOUR OWN STAFFS HAVE SPENT LOTS 
AND LOTS OF TIME PUTTING THESE ITEMS TOGETHER THAT WE'RE 
BRINGING BEFORE YOU TODAY.
SO WITH THOSE OPENING REMARKS, IF WE COULD, JUST THE 
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TASK FORCE REPORT, AND WE WILL MOVE 
QUICKLY, AND THEN I'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU'D LIKE.
AGAIN, VERY IMPORTANT GUIDELINES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR 
REPORT.
REALLY THE SUMMARY INCLUDES THAT THEY ARE -- THAT THE WORK 
OF THE TASK FORCE BE COORDINATED WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT 
AGENCIES, INCLUDING TBARTA FOR THE REGIONAL CONNECTION, THE 
MULTIMODAL APPROACH, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU WILL SEE 
HOW MULTIMODAL INDEED IT IS.
THE TASK FORCE REALLY BELIEVED THAT WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE 
PUBLIC AND ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THIS DISCUSSION.  
THEY HAVE DONE THAT IN MEETINGS IN THE SUMMER AND WOULD 
OFFER TO YOU; THAT IS, IF YOU MOVE FORWARD, YOU MOVE 
FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT THE 
SPECIFIC PROJECT.
AND OF COURSE, THEY'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THERE IS A 
REFERENDUM AS YOU MOVE INTO THIS.
SO THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION IS TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC 
REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER 2010 FOR A 1% SALES TAX USING THE 
CHARTER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION SURTAX.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR A FUNDING PLAN THAT INCLUDES AN 
ONGOING SALES TAX, 75% OF IT DEDICATED TO TRANSIT, 25% TO 
NONTRANSIT, UP TO AND INCLUDING NOT JUST THE CAPITAL PIECE 
BUT THE ONGOING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PIECE.
IMPORTANT TO THIS ALSO IS THAT THE HART AD VALOREM BE 
MAINTAINED AS WELL AS THE 6th CENTS AND THE 9th CENT GAS 
TAX BE RENEWED FOR MAINTENANCE OF YOUR COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM.
A MOBILITY PLAN ULTIMATELY NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED THAT 
INCLUDES THESE TRANSIT PIECES AND NONTRANSIT PIECES, THAT 
IT IS REGIONAL AND COUNTYWIDE IN NATURE, AND THAT IT IS 
CAPITAL, OPERATIONAL, AND MAINTENANCE; THAT A BUS COMPONENT 
INCLUDE EXPAND BUS SYSTEMS BECAUSE AS WE TALK ABOUT 
TRANSIT, IT'S NOT JUST THE RAIL PIECE, THERE ARE BUSES AND 
OTHER FORMS OF MASS TRANSIT THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED AS 
WELL AS EXPLORING NEW SERVICE TYPES, MAKING SURE THAT 
AMENITIES ARE IN PLACE, AND OTHER SUPPORTING 
INFRASTRUCTURE; THAT PARATRANSIT BE CONSIDERED; AND THAT 
THE BUSES BE AN INITIAL PHASE OF THE ROLL-OUT OF ANY 
PROGRAM SO THAT FOLKS CAN SEE THAT EARLY.
SO NEW AND ENHANCED LOCAL SERVICE -- THESE ARE COMPLEMENTS 
OF HART -- AS WELL AS CIRCULATORS AND FLEX SERVICE COVERING 
VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE AREA, NEW EXPRESS SERVICE THAT 
REACHES MOST PARTS OF THE COUNTY -- ALL PARTS OF THE 
COUNTY, AND THEN CONNECTING TO REGIONAL AREA, AS WELL AS 
METRORAPID SERVICE, AND THEN WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT 
THE RAIL PIECE.
SO THE RAIL COMPONENT AGAIN IS FOR OPERATING AND CAPITAL.
YOUR TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE HAS SAID LET'S TALK ABOUT 
THE USF/DOWNTOWN/WESTSHORE LINK AS THE FIRST ONE, SO YOU 
WILL SEE THAT RECOMMENDATION IN YOUR REPORT.
MAKE SURE THAT LAND USE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES 
ARE INCLUDED SO AS STATION AREAS REDEVELOP THERE'S 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND ENHANCED SERVICES AROUND THE 
STATIONS AND THEN REVIEW PERIODICALLY THE UPDATE TO THE 
MASS TRANSIT PIECE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS CURRENT AND 
MEETING THE NEEDS.
SO THIS IS THE RAPID TRANSIT PIECE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO 
YOU BY THE TASK FORCE, AGAIN COMPLEMENTS OF HART.
THE PIECE THAT THE TASK FORCE IS IDENTIFYING AS THE INITIAL 
LINE ARE THOSE THAT YOU SEE AS THE RED LINE GOING NORTH-
SOUTH AND THE BLUE LINE EAST-WEST.
THE NONTRANSIT PIECE, AS COMMISSIONER HAGAN SAID, REALLY 
LOOKING AT THE COUNTY'S PRIORITIZED PROJECTS, AND MANY OF 
THESE PROJECTS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY.
THEY'RE IN PD&E, THEY'RE IN THE DESIGN PHASE.  
THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN STARTED, SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO 
INCLUDE THEM.
THEY INCLUDE PROJECTS FROM THE CITIES OF TAMPA, TEMPLE 
TERRACE, AND PLANT CITY.  
THEY ARE ROADS, INTERSECTIONS, ATMs, NONVEHICULAR MODES, 
AND TRAILS AS YOU'LL SEE, THE BROAD DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE 
COUNTY.
THEY REALLY DO OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTNERSHIPS, 
WHETHER THEY BE WITH FDOT, OTHER GOVERNMENTS, OR PRIVATE 
DEVELOPERS.
THE TASK FORCE SAID LOOK AT THOSE THAT ARE HIGH BENEFIT-
COST OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS THE ATMs, TECHNOLOGY, AND 
INTERSECTIONS, AND MAKE SURE THAT DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS 
AROUND THE RAIL STATIONS ARE CONSIDERED AS YOU MOVE 
FORWARD.
SO LOOKING AT THESE PROJECTS NOW, THESE ARE THE NONTRANSIT 
PROJECTS.
THE FIRST PIECE OF THIS ARE THE ROADWAYS, THE VEHICULAR 
BRIDGES, AND POTENTIAL INTERCHANGES, AND IF YOU SEE THESE 
PROJECTS, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN ON LONG-TERM 
PLANS.
SOME HAVE BEEN INCLUDED TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE UPCOMING 
RAIL SYSTEMS, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE ALSO ADD TO THEM 
THEN -- ONE MORE CLICK -- INTERSECTION PROJECTS THAT HAVE 
BEEN IDENTIFIED.
MANY OF THESE -- ALL OF THESE, QUITE FRANKLY, ALREADY IN 
THE PD&E PHASE AND UNDERWAY, SO THERE IS PROGRESS MADE.
THERE IS NO FUNDING TO ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT THEM, BUT THE 
PD&E IS BEING COMPLETED AS WE ARE TALKING.
TRAILS HAVE ALSO BEEN A PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE 
TASK FORCE, AND YOU WILL SEE THE UPPER TAMPA BAY TRAIL, THE 
SOUTHCOAST TRAIL IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE WE 
ALREADY HAVE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND SOME FUNDING FOR PHASE I, A 
TRAIL AS PART OF THE TEMPLE TERRACE REDEVELOPMENT AREA, 
AND, IF PINELLAS COUNTY PARTICIPATES, A CONTRIBUTION TO THE 
TRAIL ACROSS THE FRIENDSHIP TRAILBRIDGE.
SO IF YOU TAKE ALL OF THESE, PUT THEM TOGETHER, IT LOOKS A 
LITTLE BIT LIKE THIS.
THESE ARE ALL THE ROADS, THE VEHICULAR BRIDGES, 
INTERSECTIONS, AS WELL AS ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE HART 
PLAN.
THAT'S THE PIECE THAT IS FOR CONSIDERATION AS THE MOBILITY 
PLAN AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
AGAIN, THE TASK FORCE, SUCCESSFUL REFERENDUM, MAKE SURE 
PROJECTS ARE COST-EFFECTIVE, THAT THEY ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY 
DIVERSE, THAT THERE IS A BROAD-BASED CONSTITUENCY, AND THAT 
THERE'S PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INPUT, AND THAT'S A CRITICAL 
PIECE FOR THIS IS THAT THE LIST OF PROJECTS IS A LIST OF 
POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE 
COMMUNITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
IT IS NOT A PLAN AT THIS POINT, IT IS A LIST OF POTENTIAL 
PROJECTS.
AND THEN THE GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE, WHICH THE 
TASK FORCE INDICATED IS CRITICAL, THAT CITIZENS BE INVOLVED 
IN AN OVERSIGHT PIECE, THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR 
INDEPENDENT FISCAL AND PERFORMANCE AUDITS, THAT THERE ARE 
FOLKS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD AND CITY COUNCILS, 
AND THAT IT REPRESENTS AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE OF 
TRANSPORTATION USERS.
IN SUMMARY, THE REFERENDUM FOR MULTIMODAL INVESTMENT, 
ONGOING 1%, AND AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED TO FUND THE 
OPERATING COSTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE AND IN 
ORDER TO MAKE IT WORK, THE HART AND AD VALOREM -- THE HART 
AD VALOREM AS WELL AS THE GAS TAXES AS A PIECE FOR OUR 
ONGOING MAINTENANCE WOULD BE A PIECE OF THIS 
RECOMMENDATION.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS THE SUMMARY OF WHAT THE TASK FORCE BRINGS 
BEFORE YOU.
I THANK THEM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM, AND I 
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND MIGHT JUST MENTION TO 
YOU THAT THERE ARE OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE NOW LOOKING AT 
THIS SAME MODEL AS A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
PINELLAS HAS APPROACHED US AND PASCO COUNTY IS LOOKING AT A 
SIMILAR KIND OF MODEL AS THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH DISCUSSING 
THEIR TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, LUCIA.
AND BEFORE WE GO TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENT, AGAIN, THE 
PROCESS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT -- AND MS. LEE, CORRECT ME IF 
I'M MISTAKEN, BUT THE NEXT STEP IS FOR THE BOARD TO ASK THE 
COUNTY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION OF INTENT FOR THE 
BOARD TO APPROVE INDICATING OUR INTEREST IN PLACING A 
REFERENDUM ON THE NOVEMBER 2010 BALLOT, AND THEN ONCE A 
RESOLUTION IS IN PLACE, THE NEXT STEP IS -- WOULD BE TO 
APPROVE AN ORDINANCE WITH THE SPECIFIC BALLOT LANGUAGE AND 
DESIGNATED PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE FUNDED WITH THE 
REFERENDUM.
AND I ANTICIPATE THAT STEP BEING IN EARLY 2010.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>>RENEE LEE:  THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, COMMISSIONER, AND 
I'LL BE BRINGING BACK THAT RESOLUTION IN THE DECEMBER 
MEETING.
IS THAT --
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
I'LL GO TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
FIRST COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  WITH THIS REPORT, ONE OF THE THINGS I DON'T 
SEE -- AND I ACTUALLY DID A THOROUGH CHECK WHEN I WAS IN 
TALLAHASSEE THIS WEEK.
WHERE'S THE FEASIBILITY REPORT?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  THE -- THE FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY PIECE --
>>JIM NORMAN:  THE FEASIBILITY THAT EVERYTHING -- IN OTHER 
WORDS, WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS A LOT OF PROJECTS, GOT A LOT OF 
WISH LISTS, AND I HEAR YOUR VERY SELECTED WORDS, 
"POTENTIAL."
WHAT CONCERNS ME IS A PROMISE MADE AND A PROMISE KEPT.
I WANT TO -- IS THERE GOING TO BE A DOCUMENTED FEASIBILITY 
REPORT THAT'S SCRUBBED AND LOOKED AT, THAT CITIZENS KNOW 
WHAT THEY'RE BUYING AND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE ASKED MIKE MERRILL 
AND ERIC JOHNSON OF OUR STAFF TO DO THAT FOR YOU, AND THEY 
ARE WORKING ON THAT WITH HART, SO THEY WILL BRING THAT BACK 
TO YOU THAT IDENTIFIES --
>>JIM NORMAN:  SO WE'RE GOING PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT 
ASKING PEOPLE TO VOTE ON SOMETHING WITHOUT A FEASIBILITY 
REPORT BEING -- BEING PRODUCED AND ISSUED?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  MY UNDERSTANDING IS BEFORE YOU -- IF -- IF 
YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A RESOLUTION TODAY, 
THAT'S JUST A RESOLUTION OF INTENT, BUT THE REFERENDUM 
WOULD NOT BE SCHEDULED UNTIL LATER.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO ASK 
THIS BOARD TO VOTE ON IT BEFORE A FEASIBILITY REPORT IS 
DELIVERED?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  WE CAN BRING THE FEASIBILITY -- OUR INTENT 
WOULD BE TO HAVE THE FEASIBILITY REPORT TO YOU ON THE 
DECEMBER 2nd DATE IF THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION.
WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK TO YOU.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE THE HARDCORE 
FEASIBILITY REPORT ON WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR, WHAT WE'RE 
SAYING IN A REPORT LIKE THIS, WHAT'S THE -- I ACTUALLY, YOU 
KNOW -- THOSE NUMBERS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  ABSOLUTELY, AND THE TASK FORCE WOULD 
CONCUR WITH YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, FIRST, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TO 
AGAIN THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR PUTTING THIS TASK FORCE 
TOGETHER.
I KNOW THAT WHEN THIS WAS SUGGESTED, I GUESS IT WAS OVER 
TWO YEARS AGO --
>>KEN HAGAN:  THREE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  -- THREE YEARS AGO BY CHAIRMAN HAGAN, I 
HAD -- I HAD A SIMILAR INTEREST IN PUTTING TOGETHER A 
COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LOOK AT THESE ISSUES, AND HE BEAT ME 
TO THE PUNCH, AND I TELL YOU, I -- I'VE REALLY BEEN 
THANKFUL BECAUSE KEN IS A VERY METICULOUS PERSON, AND HE 
DOESN'T COME ABOUT AND DOESN'T REACH CONCLUSIONS -- 
SOMETIMES I TEND TO BE -- YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IN SOMETHING, 
MY GUT TELLS ME THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND I WANT 
TO GO OUT AND DO IT, AND I'VE -- I'VE FELT FOR A LONG TIME 
THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS OUR TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES AND 
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER COMMUNITIES 
THAT HAVE STEPPED FORWARD.
THE CHAIRMAN, RECOGNIZING THAT WE'VE GOT SOME MAJOR 
CHALLENGES TO FACE, PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE.
EACH OF US HAD A REPRESENTATIVE WHO SERVED ON THAT TASK 
FORCE, AND I WANT TO SAY TO EACH BOARD MEMBER HERE, 
IRRESPECTIVE OF YOUR POSITION OR OPINION, I APPRECIATE YOUR 
QUESTIONS AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS BECAUSE YOU GAVE US 
SOME REALLY GOOD BOARD MEMBERS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF BOARD MEMBERS SITTING OUT HERE 
RIGHT NOW WHO ARE TASK FORCE MEMBERS, AND IF YOU WOULD 
PLEASE STAND, THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS, IF YOU'RE IN THE 
AUDIENCE.
WOULD YOU -- WOULD YOU MIND STANDING.
THERE'S MECHANIK IN THE BACK.  
I SEE SOME OF YOU ARE SHY.
PLEASE STAND.
WE HAVE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL AND OTHERS 
WHO ALL SERVED ON THE TASK FORCE.
AS WELL COMMISSIONER HAGAN ALSO MADE SURE THAT WE HAD I 
THINK AN EXCELLENT STAFFPERSON WORKING THIS PROBLEM, AND 
THAT WAS LUCIA, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, LUCIA, FOR THE 
WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
WE HAD THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TAMPA ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN 
THIS PROCESS, AND I SEE MAYOR IORIO HERE, AND THANK YOU, 
MAYOR.
WE HAD THE MAYOR OF PLANT CITY AND OTHER -- AND ALSO 
REPRESENTATIVES FROM TEMPLE TERRACE.
HART HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THIS, TBARTA HAS BEEN 
ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THIS, THE MPO HAS BEEN ACTIVELY 
INVOLVED IN THIS, FDOT HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THIS, 
MORE AGENCIES THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK AT, AN ALPHABET 
SOUP OF GROUPS ALL WITH THEIR OWN CONCERNS AND INTERESTS, 
WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN TRYING TO ADDRESS A REAL 
PROBLEM, AND NONE OF US, IN PARTICULAR THE MEMBERS ON THIS 
TASK FORCE, WALKED INTO THIS LIGHTLY BECAUSE I THINK WE 
KNEW IN THE END THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.
AND AS MUCH AS -- AND PEOPLE WHO I DEEPLY RESPECT HAVE COME 
TO ME AND SAID, MARK, I'VE SEEN THE TASK FORCE 
RECOMMENDATIONS OR -- IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME?
SHOULD WE -- SHOULD WE BE CONSIDERING A SALES TAX INCREASE?
WHAT'S THE COST GOING TO BE TO ME?
AND INEVITABLY I'M DRAWN BACK TO THE -- THE COST OF DOING 
NOTHING, THE COST OF THE STATUS QUO, THE COST OF TRYING TO 
ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST BY SIMPLY 
WIDENING ROADS, AND AS WE'VE LOOKED, WHETHER IT'S BEEN TO 
NEW TAMPA AND THEIR ISSUES OR WESTCHASE AND THEIR ISSUES OR 
SOUTH COUNTY OR BRANDON -- WE WERE JUST IN BRANDON NOT -- 
JUST BUT A FEW DAYS AGO, A LARGE NUMBER OF US, TALKING 
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, AND THEY RECOGNIZED THE SERIOUS 
PROBLEM THAT THEY FACE.  
WE CAN CONTINUE TO WIDEN ROADS, BUT JUST LOOK AT THE 
EXAMPLE OF LITHIA-PINECREST.
YOU TALK ABOUT WIDENING A ROAD, AND BOY, I TELL YOU WHAT, 
THEY COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK, AND RIGHTLY SO, MANY PEOPLE.
WHETHER YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER, A PROPERTY OWNER, YOU'RE A 
CITIZEN WHO WANTS TO MAKE IT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY SAFELY, AND 
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY A 
FOUR-LANER, TAKING IT TO SIX OR EIGHT -- OR AN EIGHT-LANE 
AND POTENTIALLY, WHAT, GOING TO TEN OR 12?
IT'S COST PROHIBITIVE.
IT'S NOT SAFE, AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN 
THAT TYPE OF A COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND SO I APPRECIATE WHAT THE TASK FORCE HAS DONE BECAUSE 
IT'S MY SENSE THAT BY TAKING ACTION, WE WILL ACTUALLY SAVE 
PEOPLE OVER TIME MONEY.
I LOOK AT THE -- THE COST OF FUEL.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A GENTLEMAN THREE OR FOUR WEEKS 
AGO.
HE TOLD ME, MARK, HOW CAN WE BEAR THIS PRICE?
WELL, THE AVERAGE CITIZEN EACH YEAR WILL PAY APPROXIMATELY 
$85, A HOUSEHOLD $144 FOR THIS TAX.
WHEN I HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH THIS ONE GENTLEMAN, GAS 
WAS AT $2.32 A GALLON.
IT'S NOW OVER $2.67 A GALLON.
A GUY LIKE MYSELF WHO AVERAGES 15,000 MILES, THAT COST 
DIFFERENTIAL IS OVER THE $85 JUST FOR THAT THREE-WEEK 
INCREASE IN GAS COST THAT I WOULD PAY ON THIS REFERENDUM.
WHEN GAS GOES APPROXIMATELY RIGHT NOW AT $2.58, A PERSON 
DRIVING 15,000 MILES WILL PAY $2,115 IN GAS PRICES.
THAT'S JUST THE GAS.
WHEN GAS GOES TO $3, THAT SAME PERSON WILL PAY $2,957.
WHEN GAS GOES TO $4, $3,276 PER YEAR.
$5, $4,095.
FOR THE PERSON WHO OWNS TWO OR THREE CARS, THAT'S A REAL 
COST.
I THINK THAT THIS PLAN IS GOING TO PROVIDE A VIABLE 
ALTERNATIVE TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT WANT TO HAVE TO 
MAINTAIN TWO OR THREE CARS AND/OR -- AND LOOKING FOR 
OPTIONS TO COMMUTE ALONG BRUCE B. DOWNS OR SOME OF THESE 
OTHER THOROUGHFARES, TO HAVE AN OPTION WHICH MIGHT ACTUALLY 
SAVE THEM MONEY AND AT THE SAME TIME ATTRACT THE TYPE OF 
BUSINESSES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN CHARLOTTE AND DALLAS AND SALT 
LAKE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BUILT SIMILAR SYSTEMS. 
INVESTING A DOLLAR IN TRANSIT HAS BROUGHT BACK $6 IN 
PRIVATE MONIES.
SO I BELIEVE THIS IS A SMART INVESTMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.
WE CAN'T TURN BACK THE CLOCK AND GO AND UNDO WHAT WE DIDN'T 
DO TEN YEARS AGO.
COMMISSIONER SCOTT, NOW COUNCILMAN SCOTT, REMINDS ALL OF US 
CONTINUOUSLY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST TO 
DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM AND HOW WE DIDN'T, AND NOW WE SIT 
HERE TODAY, AND FOR THOSE WHO SAY, WELL, I'M PAYING FOR 
THIS, BUT WHAT WILL I SEE NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING A 
BUS, AN ANEMIC BUS SYSTEM OF APPROXIMATELY 230 BUSES 
COVERING 1,051 SQUARE MILES AND HOPEFULLY DOUBLING OUR 
FLEET QUICKLY, ADDING FLEX SYSTEMS AND CIRCULATORS THAT 
WILL BENEFIT THE OUTER COUNTY, AND THEN OVER TIME, YES, 
WHERE THE DATA DEMONSTRATES IT WILL WORK, BUILDING A LIGHT 
RAIL SYSTEM, A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM THAT, BY THE WAY, WILL 
COST APPROXIMATELY 37% OF THE TOTAL OF ALL COSTS THAT COMES 
FROM THIS TRANSIT TAX, THE REST GOING TO ROADS, BUSES, FLEX 
SYSTEM, CIRCULATORS, MAYBE TAKING THESE -- THE BUS STATIONS 
WHERE PEOPLE WOULD NOW STAND IN THE DARK WAITING TO GET ON 
THE BUS IN BRANDON TO RIDE IT DOWN TO MacDILL AND ADDING 
SOME LIGHTS AND PUTTING COVERAGE AND MAKING THEM SAFER AND 
TAKING PEOPLE FROM WHERE THEY LIVE TO WHERE THEY WORK.
I THINK THIS IS A SMART MOVE, AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE 
CHAIRMAN AND ALL THOSE WHO'VE -- WHO'VE WORKED INTENTLY ON 
THIS.
SO I WILL -- I WILL MAKE A MOTION -- I KNOW OTHER BOARD 
MEMBERS HAVE -- HAVE COMMENTS, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A 
MOTION THAT WE DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A 
RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS BOARD OF 
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS SERIOUS ABOUT PROCEEDING ON THIS 
ISSUE AND SERIOUS ABOUT MOVING TOWARDS A REFERENDUM IN 
NOVEMBER OF 2010, AND I WOULD ASK THAT THAT RESOLUTION BE 
BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD AT ITS NEXT MEETING ON DECEMBER 
2nd OF 2009.
THE RESOLUTION SHOULD STATE THAT THIS BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS INTENDS TO PLACE A REFERENDUM ON THE NOVEMBER 
2010 BALLOT, GIVING THIS COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
DECIDE ON A 1% SALES TAX AS ALLOWED BY THE CHARTER, THE 
COUNTY TRANSPORTATION SURTAX, A TAX THAT I BELIEVE NEEDS TO 
CONTINUE IN PERPETUITY TO FUND NOT ONLY THE CAPITAL BUT 
ALSO PROVIDE THE ONGOING AND INCREASING OPERATIONS OF AN 
EXPANDED TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THE RESOLUTION SHOULD STATE THAT 75% OF THE REVENUES SHOULD 
BE ALLOCATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND 
MAINTENANCE OF A TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND THAT 25% SHOULD BE 
ALLOCATED TO A NONTRANSIT COMPONENT.
WE SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THAT THE HART AD VALOREM BE 
MAINTAINED AND RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 6th CENT AND 
THE 9th CENT GAS TAX FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF 
OUR ROADWAYS.  
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE RECOGNITION THAT 
OUR EFFORTS ARE PART OF A REGIONAL NETWORK AS IDENTIFIED BY 
TBARTA.
AND I'LL CLOSE BY SIMPLY STATING I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE 
MANY, MANY QUESTIONS, VERY LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS AND 
CONCERNS.
I WOULD ALSO CLOSE BY STATING THAT I DON'T THINK THERE'S 
ANY RIGHT ANSWER.
I THINK THAT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES THAT ARE 
GOING TO BE POSED TO US THEMSELVES HAVE A LOT OF MERIT, AND 
I DO RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES OF PUTTING SOMETHING LIKE 
THIS ON A BALLOT IN THIS ECONOMIC CLIMATE, BUT JUST FOR 
MYSELF ON THIS ISSUE, I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT THE TODAY OR 
THE TOMORROW OR EVEN THE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW OR THE TEN, 
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT 20 YEARS OR 30 YEARS FROM NOW LOOKING 
BACK WHEN OUR KIDS SAY, IF WE'VE DONE NOTHING, WHY, AND WHY 
DID YOU PUT THAT COST ON MY SHOULDERS BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE 
TO ACT, I WON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER, AND AS MUCH AS I DON'T 
WANT TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S 
GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING 
TO PAY A LITTLE MORE, I THINK THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT 
THING TO DO AND WILL OVER TIME SAVE US MONEY, AND I WANT TO 
BE ABLE TO SAY TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE DIDN'T JUST 
SIT THERE, WE ACTED AND WE DID THE RIGHT THING.
SO FOR THAT, CHAIRMAN -- MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE REST OF THE COMMENTS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER 
SHARPE.  
COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU.
AND I'VE LISTENED WITH INTEREST THIS MORNING AND HAVE 
FOLLOWED THIS CLOSELY, AS ALL OF US HAVE, AND THE MOTION IS 
TO HAVE A -- A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, 
AND I KNOW THAT THE QUESTION THAT I'VE ASKED TIME AND TIME 
AGAIN, AS LATE AS YESTERDAY MORNING AT 9:30 WHEN I SPOKE TO 
COUNSELOR, WHEN WE PASS A RESOLUTION OF INTENT, IT CREATES 
THE BIGGEST COVER-UP, THE BIGGEST LOOPHOLE THAT I CAN EVER 
IMAGINE.
WE RECEIVED, YOU KNOW -- I THINK WE RECEIVED A BIG MESSAGE 
FROM VOTERS YESTERDAY IF WE WATCHED ELECTIONS IN OTHER 
STATES THAT THEY SAID THEY'RE TIRED OF BUSINESS AS USUAL, 
AND THE LOOPHOLE I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THAT A RESOLUTION OF 
INTENT PROVIDES THE SHIELD TO WHERE WE WILL NOT KNOW WHO 
FINANCIALLY IN THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTES TO EITHER OPPOSE OR 
SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE SIDES -
- AND I'VE SEEN SOME PUBLIC RELATIONS FOLKS AND I'VE READ 
THAT WE'VE GOT A PR FIRM THAT HAS BEEN HIRED ALREADY, BUT 
THAT A RESOLUTION OF INTENT ALLOWS THEM TO OPERATE IN A 
CLOAK OF SECRECY, THAT THERE WILL BE NO FINANCIAL 
DISCLOSURE UNDER A RESOLUTION OF INTENT, THAT WE WILL NOT 
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHO OPPOSES AND WHO SUPPORTS 
THIS, AND I WON'T BE A PART OF THAT.
SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THE MOTION ON THAT -- THAT GROUND.
THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS.
AGAIN, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE NEED TO BE OPEN, WE 
NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT, AND UNLESS THE COUNSELOR HAS 
CHANGED HER MIND SINCE YESTERDAY MORNING, THE RESOLUTION OF 
INTENT PROVIDES THAT CLOAK OF SECRECY AND DOES NOT ALLOW 
THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHO WILL SUPPORT FINANCIALLY THIS EFFORT.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  I'M NOT DONE.
YEAH.
I WAS -- I WAS ASKING HER.
>>RENEE LEE:  COMMISSIONER, THE RESOLUTION OF INTENT 
EXPRESSES TO THE PUBLIC THAT IT'S THE INTENTION OF THE 
BOARD TO PUT THE REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT IN 2010.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  RIGHT.
BUT MY QUESTION ASKED YESTERDAY, YES OR NO.
>>RENEE LEE:  IT DOES NOT BECOME AN ISSUE UNDER THE 
ELECTION LAW UNTIL THE BOARD PASSES THAT FORMAL LANGUAGE.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  RIGHT.
>>RENEE LEE:  SO THAT THERE ARE -- THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS 
OR PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO MIGHT WANT TO SUPPORT THIS WHO HAVE 
NO REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AT THIS TIME.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
BECAUSE THAT'S MY CONCERN IS THAT -- THAT IT PROVIDES A 
SHIELD.
YOU KNOW, I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TELL OUR 
KIDS 20 OR 30 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THEY SAY, WHERE'S MY 
MONEY?
YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS REFERENDUM AND THIS ORDINANCE -- 
LET'S CALL IT WHAT IT REALLY IS, IT'S A CONTRACT.
IT'S AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO PARTIES THAT BOTH PROMISE TO 
DO SOMETHING FOR A RESULT, AND THE TAXPAYERS HOLD THEIR END 
OF THAT BARGAIN UP WHEN WE ASK FOR THESE CONTRACTS TO BE 
AGREED UPON, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN THIS GOES TO 
A VOTE IN 2010.
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO AGREE TO A CONTRACT, BUT THEY'VE GOT 
TO LOOK AT THE PARTY ON THE OTHER SIDE, THAT'S THE 
GOVERNMENT, WHICH I'M NOW A PART OF, AND WE'VE GOT TO -- 
THEY'VE GOT TO LOOK AT US AND SAY, WELL, TIME AND TIME 
AGAIN YOU'VE BROKEN YOUR CONTRACT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHEN 
YOU HAVE PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD -- WOULD CREATE A TAX THAT 
WOULD PROVIDE A SERVICE AND THEN YOU FALL SHORT.  
TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHEN WE'VE SAID THE TAX THAT IS NOW 
IMPLEMENTED IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE ROADS -- AND I KNOW 
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE $500 MILLION IS TO GO FOR ROAD 
IMPROVEMENTS THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN ANTICIPATING.
WE HIRED THE FIRM TO OVERSEE THE MANAGEMENT AND 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO CREATE ANOTHER TAX TO FILL IN THE GAPS 
HERE.
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.
BUT MY STOPGAP THIS MORNING IS GOING TO BE ON A RESOLUTION 
OF INTENT WHERE THERE'S SO MANY -- COMMISSIONER NORMAN 
REFERRED TO WHEN HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF 
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
I'M NOT READY TO -- TO BEAR OR LAY THE BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE 
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ENTERED INTO CONTRACT WITH AND WE HAVE 
FAILED THEM.
UNTIL WE KNOW AT SUCH TIME THAT WE CAN PROVE THAT, THAT THE 
OTHER PARTY IN THIS CONTRACT CAN SEE THE DETAIL, SEE WHAT'S 
IN THE IMPLEMENTING LANGUAGE, THAT ORDINANCE -- TALK IS 
CHEAP.
WE'RE GETTING PROMISED A LOT.
WE'VE BEEN PROMISED A LOT AS TAXPAYERS BEFORE.
I HEARD SOMEONE SAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS TRAIN DOESN'T 
GO OVER MY NEIGHBORHOOD OR THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
TALK IS CHEAP, SIR, AND YOU'VE SEEN IT TOO MANY TIMES.
>> TOO MANY TIMES.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE 
TALK, WE BACK IT UP AND WE BACK IT UP IN WRITING, BUT AS -- 
FOR NOW, I WANT TO SEE THE CONTRACT.
I WANT TO SEE THAT THIS GOVERNMENT CAN DO SOMETHING.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD TRUE TO OUR PRINCIPLES AND 
VALUES OF BEING THE BEST COUNTY IN THE NATION AND THAT -- 
THAT WE'RE NOT JUST KNOWN AS A COUNTY IN THE STATE WITH THE 
HIGHEST TAX RATE.
AND DON'T THINK FOR ONE MINUTE THAT THE FEDS ARE GOING TO 
COME BAIL US OUT OR THAT THE STATE'S GOING TO BAIL US OUT 
BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, THEY'RE GETTING READY TO DUMP MORE 
EXPENSES ON US AS THEY PASS ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY, SO I'M 
NOT SOLD ON THIS, AND MY GREATEST CONCERN IS A REFERENDUM 
WHERE WE HAVE A RESOLUTION OF INTENT.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND ALSO, I JUST 
WANT TO AGAIN THANK CHAIRMAN HAGAN AND VICE CHAIR SHARPE 
AND ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SO ADAMANT ABOUT 
ADDRESSING THE REAL NEED THAT WE HAVE ON A LONG-TERM BASIS 
FOR A COMPLETE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN OUR 
COUNTY.
IT NOT ONLY WILL ADDRESS THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, BUT IT 
ALSO IMPACTS OUR ECONOMICS AND OUR ECONOMY, AND THAT WAS SO 
TRANSPARENT WHEN -- WHEN WE VISITED CHARLOTTE A COUPLE 
WEEKS AGO -- AND SOME OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TO 
OTHER COMMUNITIES -- WHERE OVER THE TIME BILLIONS OF 
DOLLARS HAVE COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND TRANSIT-
ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPED AROUND THE TRANSPORTATION 
SYSTEM, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE 
IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR 
CURRENT GENERATIONS, AS WELL AS OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO PERHAPS 
ADDRESS, AND SOME CONCERNS THAT I HAVE ARE AROUND THE 
PRIVATELY FUNDED POTENTIAL PROJECTS HERE.
MAYBE LUCIA OR SOMEBODY ELSE COULD ANSWER PART OF THESE 
QUESTIONS.
THE COST ESTIMATES THAT ARE BROUGHT FORWARD HERE, ARE THESE 
THE TOTAL COST ESTIMATES FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT, OR IS THIS 
WHAT THE TAXPAYER OR THIS FUND WOULD -- WOULD PAY FROM 
THIS?
WHAT DOES THAT REPRESENT?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  ON THE COST ESTIMATES THAT'S IN YOUR 
RECOMMENDED LIST OF POTENTIAL NONTRANSIT PROJECTS, APPENDIX 
"C," SOME OF THEM IN THE ENTIRE LIST REPRESENT WHERE THE 
PROJECT MIGHT BE, SO SOME MIGHT REPRESENT THE BALANCE OF 
THE PROJECT, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE FOR SOME OF THE 
PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY.
FOR SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE COMPLETELY NEW, 
THEY WOULD -- THEY'RE AN ESTIMATE, A CURRENT ESTIMATE, A 
PLANNING ESTIMATE OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW FOR EVERYTHING 
FROM LAND ACQUISITION, DESIGN, TO CONSTRUCTION.  
AND THEN THE ONES THAT YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO 
THAT ARE THE DEVELOPER PROJECTS, THOSE ARE THE COST 
ESTIMATES TO BUILD THOSE SEGMENTS OF ROAD, SO THOSE ARE THE 
COST ESTIMATES FOR THOSE PIECES AS THEY'RE IDENTIFIED ON 
THIS LIST.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  SO FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT THAT IT'S 
REPRESENTING, THOSE ARE THE COST --
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  WELL, FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT AS IT'S 
DELINEATED ON THIS LIST.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
AND THEN OF THAT, HOW DOES THAT -- DO WE HAVE A -- A -- 
SOME TYPE OF A REPORT THAT SHOWS WHAT THE DEVELOPER 
RESPONSIBILITY IS VERSUS WHAT OTHER ENTITIES OR THE COUNTY 
OR THE TAXPAYERS MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  THE DEVELOPER PROJECTS WITHOUT THE -- 
GETTING TOO FAR IN THE WEEDS, DEVELOPER PROJECTS OFTENTIMES 
PROVIDE MORE CAPACITY THAN THAT PROJECT CONSUMES, SO THE 
BALANCE OF THAT IS PROVIDED IN IMPACT FEE CREDITS.
I DON'T KNOW RIGHT OFF HERE -- OFF THIS LIST WHAT THAT CAN 
BE, WHAT THAT IS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK TO SEE HOW WE 
MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  YEAH.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SEE IS HOW EVERYTHING'S 
DELINEATED OUT AS FAR AS THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT, 
WHAT THE DEVELOPER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND THEN IF YOU 
COULD ALSO IDENTIFY THE DEVELOPER THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH 
THAT PROJECT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME BECAUSE -- 
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD, AS FAR -- ARE THESE LISTED IN ORDER 
OF PRIORITIES THAT YOU WOULD BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD BE 
IMPLEMENTED, OR IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR ORDER TO --
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  THERE'S NOT AN ORDER TO THIS LIST.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
AND THEN IF -- ALSO, IF I COULD SEE -- IT WOULD BE HELPFUL 
IF WE COULD HAVE SOME CONVERSATION AS FAR AS WHAT THE TOTAL 
DRIs THAT MAY BE OUTSTANDING WITHINSIDE OUR COUNTY.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHERE I'M GETTING AT, IF WE NEED TO HAVE 
DISCUSSION, IF THERE MAY BE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD 
LIKE TO SEE THIS PARTICULAR TAX FUND, IS THAT POSSIBLE THAT 
WE COULD GET WITH THE OUTSTANDING DRIs AND THE DEVELOPERS 
ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  WE CAN PROVIDE YOU -- COUNTYWIDE IS YOUR 
QUESTION?
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  YES.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  YES, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
MY BASIC CONCERN IS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE -- AND I 
GUESS -- YOU KNOW, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT IF WE'RE 
SETTING PRECEDENCE WHEN WE'RE -- WHEN WE'RE SPECIFYING 
SPECIFIC -- SPECIFIC PRIVATELY FUNDED PROJECTS.
YOU KNOW, ARE THERE CERTAIN DEVELOPERS, THEN, THAT WILL 
STEP UP LATER ON AND SAY, WHY AREN'T YOU HELPING ON MY DRI 
THAT I HAVE?
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FAIR PROCESS TO GO 
ABOUT DOING THAT BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THE TOUGH ECONOMIC 
TIMES AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE 
DEVELOPERS' COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT WE ALSO NEED 
TO BE RESPECTFUL TO THE TAXPAYERS' COMMITMENT AND MAKE SURE 
THAT WE ARE NOT RELIEVING THEM OF THEIR FULL 
RESPONSIBILITY.
AND I KNOW YOU STATE THAT THERE, BUT WITH THIS -- WOULD 
THESE DOLLARS ANYWAYS REDUCE THE AMOUNT THAT THEY MAY HAVE 
HAD TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE PAST AS FAR AS THEIR 
RESPONSIBILITY?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  NO.
THAT'S THE INTENT OF THE LANGUAGE, THAT THESE -- THE 
LANGUAGE SAYS THAT THEY WILL -- IF THEY ARE OBLIGATED BASED 
ON WHAT THEIR PROJECT SAYS, 700 UNITS, WHATEVER AN AMOUNT 
OF SQUARE FEET, THEIR OBLIGATION IS TO PROVIDE $5 MILLION 
OF IMPROVEMENTS, IT WILL NOT CHANGE THAT.  
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
SO IF THEY HAD A $10-MILLION COMMITMENT, THAT $10-MILLION 
COMMITMENT IS NOT ANYWAY OFFSET OR REDUCED BY THESE 
DOLLARS?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  CORRECT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
YEAH, IF YOU COULD GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION, THAT WOULD BE 
HELPFUL, AND I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK IN THIS.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  WE WILL PROVIDE IT TO ALL OF THE BOARD 
MEMBERS AS PART OF THE -- IN PREPARATION FOR DECEMBER 2nd.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OH, IS THIS -- ON DECEMBER 2nd, WILL WE 
BE FINALIZING THE PROJECTS, OR DO WE HAVE UNTIL WE APPROVE 
THE REFERENDUM LANGUAGE LATER ON TO FINALIZE WHAT WE ARE 
ACTUALLY APPROVING FOR PROJECTS?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  MY OFFER TO YOU WOULD BE AND THE WAY THE 
TASK FORCE WAS THINKING ABOUT IT IS THERE WOULD BE AN 
OPPORTUNITY IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY TO HAVE COMMUNITY 
MEETINGS AND TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THESE PROJECTS, 
FIND OUT WHICH ONES ARE THE TOP NEEDS, WHICH ONES MOVE 
FORWARD MIGHT BE A PRIORITY THAT COMES OUT OF THAT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  SO WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND A LOT 
OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT TO -- TO DISCUSS THE 
SPECIFIC PROJECTS --
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  THAT IS THE INTENT OF THE TASK FORCE, YES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND ONE THING BEFORE COMMISSIONER FERLITA 
GOES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, COMMISSIONER BECKNER, 
IT SAYS RECOMMENDATION OF POTENTIAL NONTRANSIT PROJECTS 
WITH THE THOUGHT BEING SOME OF THESE OR MANY OF THESE MAY 
NOT ULTIMATELY END UP BEING INCLUDED.
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I KNOW WE'RE 
GOING TO HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE 
DETAILS, BUT FIRST OF ALL, LET ME BEGIN BY THANKING 
COMMISSIONER CHAIRMAN -- COMMISSIONER HAGAN FOR CHAIRING 
THIS.
IT WAS CERTAINLY OBVIOUSLY LABOR INTENSIVE, AND I AS WELL 
WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY REPRESENTATIVE, JAN SMITH, AND THE 
REST OF THE TASK FORCE.  
I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT COMMISSIONER SHARPE SPOKE BEFORE ME 
BECAUSE I HAD ALL THOSE DETAILS AND DATA IN MY MIND, AND 
NOW I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO REPEAT THEM.
[LAUGHTER]
RIGHT.
BUT IN ANY CASE, LET ME BEGIN BY -- BY STATING MY POSITION 
AT THIS POINT, AND AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE MUCH TIME TO MASSAGE 
SOME OF THE DETAILS.
I AM ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND 
THAT WOULD BE AN IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT 
IS MULTIMODAL IN NATURE.
I AGREE WITH THE CONCEPTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED BY THE 
TASK FORCE, AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS LOOKING 
NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME BUT CERTAINLY IN DETAIL AT A 
BLUEPRINT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO PERHAPS NEGOTIATE ON SOME 
OF THE -- THE DETAILS IN THIS EXERCISE.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AND LUCIA, PROBABLY YOU 
CAN ANSWER THESE, AND AGAIN, THEY'RE GENERAL IN NATURE, AND 
AS WE GO FORWARD, THEY WILL BE MORE SPECIFIC.
IN TERMS OF THE -- AND I THINK COMMISSIONER BECKNER WAS 
LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE -- THE NONTRANSIT PROJECTS -- I 
THINK IT WAS ON 16 OR 15 -- 17.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  IT STARTS ON 16.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
JUST A QUESTION, LUCIA.
WE CERTAINLY WANT THIS COMPONENT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE 
GOING TO BE AS INTERESTED AS OTHERS ARE IN -- IN NONRAIL 
PROJECTS VERSUS RAIL PROJECTS.
HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE HOW WE'RE GOING TO -- TO -- TO PICK 
ONE OVER THREE, FOUR OVER EIGHT?
WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE PROCESS BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THAT 
I'M A SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, AND IF THERE'S 
SOMETHING HERE FOR MY DISTRICT, CERTAINLY MY CONSTITUENTS 
ARE GOING TO SAY MAKE SURE THEY PICK US BEFORE THEY PICK, I 
DON'T KNOW, SOMEPLACE ELSE, SO WHAT MECHANISM DO YOU HAVE 
IN PLACE OR WHAT MECHANISM DO YOU PLAN TO PUT IN PLACE TO 
MAKE THAT SELECTION A FAIR PROCESS?
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  CERTAINLY I WOULD OFFER THAT SOME OF THE 
PROJECTS THAT WERE DEFERRED FROM THE CIP BE SOME OF THE 
ONES THAT MOVE FORWARD FIRST.
SO THAT WOULD CREATE AT LEAST A FRAMEWORK FOR US IF THERE 
IS PD&E, IF THERE IS DESIGN, IF A PROJECT HAS ALREADY 
ENTERED INTO THE PHASE OF SOME KIND OF DEVELOPMENT, THAT 
THAT WOULD BE A LOGICAL PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE OTHER PIECE IS LOOKING TO SEE HOW THE CASH FLOW COMES 
IN, LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IN BALANCING 
THAT, AND THEN LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY TO SEE WHAT IS 
COMING OUT AS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY SET OF NEEDS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE BECAUSE 
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S GOING TO BE MAYBE A GROUP THAT IS MORE 
VERBAL THAN ANOTHER, BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT 
THEIR PROJECT SHOULD BE NUMBER ONE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF 
FAIRNESS.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  SURE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO FIGURE 
OUT WHAT SPECIFIC FORMULA YOU'RE GOING TO USE, AND ALL OF 
THOSE ARE COMPONENTS, BUT I'M JUST SAYING AS WE GO FORWARD, 
WE HAVE TO HAVE RESPONSES TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY SAY, YOU 
KNOW, I REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LIGHT RAIL.
I'M SUPPORTING IT BECAUSE I'M GETTING SOME OF THE OTHER 
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS, BUT YOU BETTER MAKE 
SURE IT'S A FAIR PROCESS.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY TECHNICAL 
COMPONENTS THAT COME INTO PLAY, WHERE THERE IS A NEED FOR 
CONNECTIVITY, THERE IS A NEED FOR CAPACITY SOONER, ROADS 
ARE MORE CONGESTED.
ONE ROAD MAY BE MORE CONGESTED THAN ANOTHER, AND ALL OF 
THOSE WILL COME INTO PLAY.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO IT WOULD BE KIND OF MAYBE PERHAPS LIKE 
A POINT SYSTEM.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  A MATRIX OR SUCH.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  ANOTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO POINT TO 
AND I LIKE AND I STILL -- AGAIN, AS WE GO FORWARD, TODAY IS 
THE MORE OR LESS GENERAL DISCUSSION, AND THEN WE'LL GET 
INTO DETAILS OF CONCERN FOR EACH OF US FROM THE STANDPOINT 
OF WHAT WE WANT TO RELATE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
ON PAGE 7 ON THIS GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND 
CREATING THIS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, I THINK SO FAR FROM WHAT 
YOUR -- YOUR FIRST SUGGESTION IS HERE, IT'S A GOOD MIX OF 
CHOICES IN TERMS OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THE 
SELECTIONS, AND PERHAPS AS WE GO FORWARD, THERE AGAIN TOO, 
WE MIGHT WANT TO ADD OR DELETE OR DO SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE 
THERE IS -- IS GOING TO BE AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE 
CONCERNED.
WE'RE SUPPORTING ALL THIS MONEY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S TRANSPARENCY, OVERSIGHT, 
ACCOUNTABILITY, SO WE -- WE NEED TO -- TO CONTINUE TO LOOK 
AT THAT AND FINE-TUNE IT.
ONE OF MY LAST COMMENTS IS IN TERMS OF THE FEASIBILITY 
REPORT THAT COMMISSIONER NORMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE TARGETING THAT EARLY DECEMBER 
DATE, BUT AS WE ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH INFORMATION AT 
THE LAST MINUTE, I THINK YOU SHOULD EXERCISE EVERY EFFORT 
POSSIBLE TO GIVE IT TO US BEFORE THEN.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  WE WILL --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  IT'S LIKE WE DON'T HAVE HOMEWORK UNTIL 
IT'S DELIVERED, AND AT THAT POINT WE'RE MAKING OUR COMMENTS 
BASED ON HOMEWORK THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO REVIEW.
AND I GUESS ULTIMATELY THIS -- THIS IS WHERE I'VE ALWAYS 
THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO BE.
I KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING LOTS OF THINGS, ONE 
OF THEM BEING AMBIVALENT.
I THINK COMMISSIONER SHARPE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE REASONS 
THAT MPO, THAT HART, THAT TBARTA, THAT THE TASK FORCE, THAT 
OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE 
COME TOGETHER AND THOUGHT WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET THIS 
DONE, AND THEY'VE HAD DIFFERENT REASONS AND DIFFERENT 
RATIONALES, AND THAT'S FINE.
SO NOW WE GET TO -- TO THE FINAL -- FINAL ALMOST, AND ALL 
OF THOSE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND ALL THOSE TWO, THREE YEARS, 
MORE THAN THAT, PEOPLE HAVE WORKED.
IT'S FINE.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY ALL GIVE US THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE 
ON WHY WE NEED THIS, BUT NOW WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE THIS 
COUNTY COMMISSION'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE 
RESPONSIBILITY UP OR DOWN, SUPPORT IT OR NOT, AND THAT'S 
WHEN WE MIX ALL OF THESE THINGS AT THE TOP OF THE FUNNEL, 
THE BOTTOM OF THE FUNNEL, THEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE 1.2 
OR THE 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE THAT REALLY COUNT.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE TO DO A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GOOD 
JOB OF BLENDING ALL THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD SUPPORT THIS 
AND GO FORWARD AND NOT -- NOT LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY BUT 
MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE DIVERSIFIED 
NEEDS.
I HAVE SAID THIS MANY TIMES.
MY DRUGSTORE WHERE I PRACTICED MANY TIMES FOR A LONG TIME, 
I MEAN, FOR OVER 22 YEARS IN SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, SOME OF THE 
CITIZENS THERE ARE REALLY NOT GOING TO BE CONCERNED, I CAN 
TELL YOU FROM CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS, ABOUT A LIGHT 
RAIL.
THEY DON'T CARE, BUT THEY WANT YOU TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING 
BACK IF THEY'RE PART OF THIS TEAM.
THEY WANT IMPROVED BUSES AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA, AND 
WE'VE HEARD THAT.
SO THIS IS WHERE OUR CHALLENGE IS GOING TO START BEING VERY 
DIFFICULT, TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SOMETHING HERE FOR EVERYONE 
AND THAT IT'S A FAIR PROCESS AND NO SMOKE AND MIRRORS; THIS 
IS WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING AND YOU GET TO DECIDE.  
AND I KNOW THE DOWNSIDE FOR LEGISLATORS IS THE FACT THAT 
HOW DARE YOU THINK ABOUT INCREASING TAXES AT THIS POINT IN 
TIME WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A DAUNTING ECONOMY.
WELL, THAT'S WHERE THE PARTNERSHIP STOPS.
WE ARE NOT TELLING OUR CITIZENS WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, WE'RE 
MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON OUR OWN SPECIFIC OPINION 
AND -- AND STAND ON WHAT THEY SHOULD CONSIDER, AND THERE'S 
THE OPTION THAT -- THAT MAKES IT EASIER AND MORE PALATABLE 
FOR OUR CITIZENS.
WE'RE PUTTING IT ON A REFERENDUM, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S -
- THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND IT'S VERY SYMBOLIC IN THIS 
TIME.
WE HAVE TAKEN INITIATIVES HERE THAT HAVE AUTOMATICALLY 
APPROVED STUFF, BUT THIS IS NOT ONE THAT WE SHOULD DISCOUNT 
THE REFERENDUM POLICY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ABOUT US TELLING 
THE CITIZENS WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO, IT'S ABOUT TELLING THE 
CITIZENS THAT WE WANT THEM TO MAKE THE CHOICES.
WE HAVE ALL COLLECTIVELY -- CERTAINLY MANY IN LONGER WAYS 
AND HARDER WAYS THAN OTHERS.
WE HAVE DONE OUR HOMEWORK, WE HAVE LOOKED AT INFORMATION, 
AND IT'S TIME TO PRESENT IT TO THE VOTING PUBLIC.
THEY GET THE CHOICES, THEY MAKE THE DECISIONS, AND WE ARE 
THEIR SUPPORTIVE CAST, IF YOU WILL.
SO THAT BEING SAID, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF DETAILS TO 
MASSAGE, BUT I'M HAPPY THAT AT LEAST WE'RE AT THIS POINT 
FOR NOW.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER WHITE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BRINGING THIS 
ISSUE FORWARD.
THANK COMMISSIONER SHARPE FOR SUCH A WELL-CRAFTED MOTION, 
WHICH I WAS HAPPY TO SECOND.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER SHARPE SAID IS, IS THIS 
THE RIGHT TIME?
WELL, I CAN HONESTLY ANSWER THIS WHEN WE'RE ASKING THE 
TAXPAYERS TO COME OUT OF THEIR POCKET WITH ANYTHING 
ADDITIONAL, IT'S NEVER THE RIGHT TIME, IT'S NEVER GOING TO 
BE THE RIGHT TIME.
IT'S NEVER THE RIGHT TIME TO ASK TAXPAYERS OR ANYBODY TO 
COME UP AND PONY UP WITH ANY EXTRA ADDITIONAL MONIES AT ALL 
BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO KEEP EVERY PENNY IN OUR POCKETS THAT 
WE CAN, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE GREATER GOOD FOR THE 
ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT NOW, FOR THE FUTURE AND FOR OUR 
CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ON THE -- ON THE MINDS OF -- 
OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, WAY BEFORE 
I EVER EVEN ENTERED INTO POLITICAL SERVICE, AND WE'RE STILL 
TALKING ABOUT IT, AND WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING BUT TALK 
ABOUT IT.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COMMISSION TO GET OFF THE 
DIME AND PUT IT TO THE TAXPAYERS TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS THE 
TAXPAYERS WANT TO DO ABOUT IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION AND THE 
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE, AS A BOARD, HAVE SET ASIDE $500 MILLION, HALF A 
BILLION, TO IMPROVE ROADS IN OUR -- IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND 
AS WE CAN SEE, ALONG THE I-4 CORRIDOR, THE DOWNTOWN 
INTERCHANGE AND INTERSECTIONS, AS SOON AS WE BUILD WE CATCH 
UP AND THEN IT'S TIME TO START ACQUIRING LAND AGAIN AND 
START WIDENING AND BUILDING MORE ROADS AND MORE ROADS AND 
MORE ROADS AS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO INFLUX INTO OUR STATE AND 
INTO OUR COUNTY.
THIS IS -- THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT -- THAT I CAN 
SUPPORT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THIS 
SEVEN-MEMBER BODY MAKING THE DECISION.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE, VOLUNTEERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY, TO 
JOIN THE TASK FORCE ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER COUNTY AND 
CITY AND LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES COMING TOGETHER TO TRY AND 
FIND OUT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST IDEAS TO IMPROVE OUR 
COMMUNITY'S TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND ALL THE COMMUNITY AND ALL 
THIS BOARD IS TRYING TO DO IS SAY COME UP WITH THE BEST AND 
BRIGHTEST IDEAS AND THEN PUT THAT FORTH TO THE COMMUNITY 
AND LET THE COMMUNITY DECIDE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS 
IS ALL ABOUT.
AND WE'VE -- WE HEAR CONCERNS, AND I HAVE SOME CONCERNS 
HERE THAT I'D LIKE TO GO OVER AS WELL, BUT I THINK WHEN 
THOSE CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED AND THEY'RE PUT TO THE PEOPLE, 
THE PEOPLE WILL END UP MAKING THE ULTIMATE DECISION WHETHER 
THEY WANT TO PAY THIS EXTRA PENNY OR NOT.
AND THEN IF THEY DECIDE THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, 
THEN IT IS UP TO US.
AS COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM WAS SAYING, IT'S GOING TO BE 
UP TO US TO KEEP OUR PROMISE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, AND I 
THINK IF WE DON'T DO IT AT THIS TIME -- WE ARE FACING 
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, BUT WITH CHALLENGES COMES 
OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW WE CAN GET GREAT DEALS ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT READY TO MOVE FORWARD AND START 
BUILDING, BUT WE CAN START -- ONCE AND IF THIS PASSES, WE 
CAN START ACQUIRING OUR RIGHT-OF-WAY, WE CAN START THE -- 
THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION PROCESS, AND AT THIS POINT IN 
TIME, THAT MAY BE THE MOST VIABLE TIME TO DO THIS IN THIS 
ECONOMIC SLUMP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE REAL ESTATE MARKET 
BEING THE WAY IT IS.
COMMISSIONER NORMAN BROUGHT UP A VERY, VERY VALID POINT, 
WHICH I HAD ON -- ON MY LIST, THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY -- ANY -- ANY STATISTICAL DATA ABOUT 
HOW THIS WILL BE PAID BACK OR THE FEASIBILITY OF THE 
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS, BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK THAT 
MOST PEOPLE WILL NEED TO REALIZE ABOUT THIS -- THIS SALES 
TAX THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE 
IN OUR COUNTY WILL PROBABLY NEVER RIDE A TRAIN AND MAY 
NEVER EVEN GET ON THE BUS, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO 
REALIZE -- IN THIS CAMPAIGN THAT WE'RE MOUNTING TO SEE THE 
VALUE AND WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME, AND WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU MAY 
NOT BE A BUS RIDE OR A TRAIN RIDE, BUT IT -- BUT ALLEVIATED 
CONGESTION THAT WILL HELP YOU GET TO YOUR DESTINATION IN A 
MUCH FASTER PACE, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF UNANSWERED 
QUESTIONS.
AND ONE OF THE OTHER CONCERNS THAT I HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY, 
WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEFINITIVE BALLOT LANGUAGE YET.
WELL, NO, WE DON'T, BUT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME AND 
THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE PUT FORWARD TO THE PEOPLE AS 
WELL AND ALSO THE PARTICULAR ROUTES.  
I WAS AT A LOCAL EATERY THIS WEEK, AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE I 
SEE IN THE AUDIENCE I WON'T MENTION, BUT WE WERE TALKING 
ABOUT THE -- CONNECTING ONE OF THE POTENTIAL ROUTES TOWARDS 
THE WESTSHORE AREA BUT HOW RIDICULOUS IT WOULD BE NOT TO 
HAVE THAT LOCAL EXTENDER GO OUT TO THE AIRPORT FOR LIGHT 
RAIL.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE WESTSHORE -- I 
MEAN, THESE ARE A LOT OF THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT ARE 
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE NEAT TO VET AND WE NEED TO 
COME TO THE TABLE AND -- AND GET THIS ENTIRE PROPOSAL OUT 
AND GET AS MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS TO OUR VOTING PUBLIC 
AS WE CAN, BUT I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US AS A BOARD 
AND AS A BODY TO MOVE FORWARD, GET THIS TO THE MOST 
COMPLETED FORM THAT IT CAN BE, AND PRESENT THIS TO THE 
PEOPLE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND LET THEM MAKE THE 
DECISION, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  AND COMMISSIONER SHARPE, LET ME SAY THIS TO 
YOU.
I CAN'T LEAVE THIS UNCHALLENGED THE WAY YOU PUT IT OUT 
THERE LIKE THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE AND DEBATE THIS TODAY ALL DAY, BUT 
YOU CAN'T SAY YOUR NUMBERS WITH ALL THE GAS NUMBERS AND 
GOING UP AND -- YOU'RE EQUATING THAT TO ALL THESE FAMILIES 
AND GIVING UP A CAR AND ALL THAT WHEN LAST MEETING YOU-ALL 
TALKED ABOUT 90% OF THE PEOPLE NEVER USING THE SYSTEM, SO 
YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.  
YOU CAN'T SAVE ALL THESE FAMILIES DOLLARS AND THEN ALL OF A 
SUDDEN SAY THAT 90% WON'T USE THE SYSTEM.
BUT -- AND I AGREE THE IMPASSIONED WHATEVER YOU WANT TO 
SELL DEAL, AND THAT'S OKAY, BUT I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE 
SOME ACCURACY DURING THIS WHOLE THING, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE 
KEPT TRYING TO SAY.
I SUPPORT A COMPLETE SYSTEM.
I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS FRAGMENTED SYSTEM.
BUT LET ME ALSO SAY TO YOU THIS IS NOT ABOUT -- AND 
COMMISSIONER WHITE -- ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S NOT GOING TO ALEVE THE CONGESTION IF THE GOAL OF THIS 
IS ECONOMICS.  
IT'S TO BRING JOBS AND ECONOMICS TO THIS REGION, AND THAT'S 
WHAT I SUPPORT, BUT WHAT THIS DOES, IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, IS 
THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF INVESTMENT AND A LOT OF COMPANIES 
COMING HERE, WHICH MEANS THE ROADS WILL NOT BE UNCONGESTED, 
IT'LL BE PROBABLY MORE CONGESTED.
WHAT -- THE REASON I DON'T SUPPORT THIS PLAN IS BECAUSE 
IT'S A FRAGMENTED SYSTEM TO ME, IT'S NOT A REGIONAL 
APPROACH.
YOU CAN SAY ALL DAY IT IS, BUT IT ISN'T.
HAVING 12 AND 16 AND 25 AND 80 THAT THEY MAY PUT ON A 
REFERENDUM IN THE FUTURE, IT'S A BROKEN SYSTEM.
IT'S NOT A COMPLETE SYSTEM THAT WILL WORK AND HAVE THE 
BIGGEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT WITH ECONOMICS IN THIS REGION.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T SUPPORT IT.
BUT I THINK -- AND I WILL TELL YOU JUST FROM MY 
PERSPECTIVE, THE 25% THAT YOU-ALL SAY IS GOING TO GO FOR 
OTHER THINGS AND WHATEVER, TO ME YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FOOL 
THE PUBLIC WITH THAT.
THIS IS A RAIL SYSTEM, IT'S A LIMITED RAIL SYSTEM, AND I 
SUPPORT A REGIONAL RAIL SYSTEM THAT WORKS, AND I THINK OUR 
CONCEPT HAS BEEN WRONG, BUT IF YOU WANT TO -- IF YOU WANT 
TO CONTINUE PUSHING THE BUTTON AND HAVE THE OPEN DEBATE, 
I'M WILLING TO DO IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SIT HERE AND 
HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THROWN OUT.
I ACCEPT THEM IF I DON'T RESPOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DEBATE AND THINK 
THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE IT.
A LOT OF THE -- A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES THAT 
HAVE BEEN --
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>MARK SHARPE:  GOOD.
WE'RE GOING TO.
A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES ARE THE EXACT SAME 
QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES THAT WERE PLACED BEFORE THE VOTERS 
IN CHARLOTTE.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SPOKE TO WHEN WE WENT TO 
CHARLOTTE OPPOSED THE SYSTEM.
THEY SAID NO.
RANDAL O'TOOLE -- LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU GET 
BECAUSE YOU SEE THEM WHEN THEY COME OUT IN E-MAILS.
RANDAL O'TOOLE IS A LARGE PART OF THIS.
HE WRITES A LOT OF I THINK LEGITIMATE AT TIMES BUT SOME OF 
IT IS NOT SO LEGITIMATE CHALLENGES TO PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION, AND HE RIDES A BIKE, BUT WHAT WE'RE 
FINDING, THOUGH, IS WHEN WE WERE IN CHARLOTTE, WHEN THEY 
HAD A CHANCE TO UNDO THE REFERENDUM -- AND THAT WAS BEFORE 
THE RAIL LINE EVEN BEGAN -- 70% OF THE VOTERS CAME BACK AND 
SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT BECAUSE RECORD NUMBERS WERE RIDING A 
BUS SYSTEM THAT BEFORE WAS ABOUT TO GO BROKE.
IN CHARLOTTE AND IN PHOENIX THEY HAD A SYSTEM NO ONE WANTED 
TO RIDE, FEW BUSES, DANGEROUS STOPS, POORLY LIT, BAD 
FREQUENCY.
IT WAS A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHESY.
PEOPLE DIDN'T RIDE IT BECAUSE, WELL, YOU HAD TO WAIT TOO 
LONG FOR THE NEXT BUS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOUBLING OUR BUS FLEET, ADDING 
CIRCULATORS OUT IN THE COUNTY, PROVIDING MORE EXPRESS BUS 
ROUTES, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE SERVICE THAT I THINK THE 
CITIZENS THEMSELVES WILL WANT TO USE.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU'LL RIDE THE RAIL LINE, THAT'S AN OPEN -- 
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FORMULAS, FDOT AND FTA AND OTHERS HAVE 
COMPLEX PROCESSES THAT RAY CHIARAMONTE AND BETH ALDEN AND 
ALL THE OTHERS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AND COME BEFORE US AND 
GIVE US THEIR DATA, BUT -- AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE FROM 
THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER COMMUNITIES WHEN THE RAIL LINE DOES 
BEGIN TO OPERATE -- AND SALT LAKE CITY, WE WERE LOOKING -- 
WE WERE SITTING IN THEIR -- IN A ROOM LOOKING AT PICTURES 
OF THE BEFORE AND AFTERS, BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF AREAS WHERE 
THERE WERE UNDERPERFORMING CORRIDORS.
MAYOR McCRORY -- I'LL SAY IT POLITELY -- CALLS THEM 
CORRIDORS OF CRUD, AREAS WHERE THERE'S POOR DEVELOPMENT 
WHERE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BUILD BUSINESSES, AND THEN AFTER 
THEY PUT THE RAIL LINE IN THERE, IT BEGINS TO ATTRACT 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, BUT CITIZENS 
WHO HAD COME IN SALT LAKE CITY WITH SIGNS SAYING DON'T KILL 
OUR CHILDREN AND DON'T BUILD THIS RAIL LINE WHO WHEN WE 
WENT TO SALT LAKE -- I WENT TO SALT LAKE WERE OUT THERE NOW 
AVIDLY SUPPORTING IT AND SAYING WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET 
OUR SYSTEM AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
RAY PUT OUT A REPORT -- THE MPO -- JUST KIND OF AS AN 
EXAMPLE.
IT SAID THAT THE WIDENING OF I-275 NORTH OF DOWNTOWN AT A 
COST OF $2.2 BILLION OR MORE ULTIMATELY TO CREATE A CROSS-
SECTION OF EIGHT TO 12 LANES.
IF THESE LANES ARE BUILT, I-275 TRAFFIC CONGESTION WILL 
STILL BE MORE THAN 28% OVERCAPACITY IN 2035.
IN OTHER WORDS, TO ACCOMMODATE THE MOST RECENT FORECASTS OF 
TRAFFIC CONGESTION, THE CURRENT EIGHT-LANE I-275 NORTH OF 
DOWNTOWN TAMPA WOULD HAVE TO BE EXPANDED SO IT'S NOT JUST 
12 LANES BUT 16 LANES.
WHO WANTS -- WE CAN'T AFFORD 16 LANES.
AND WHEN YOU BUILD 16 LANES, UNLIKE THE RAIL PROJECT OVER 
TIME WHERE YOU'LL HAVE THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT 
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHERE MOFFITT AND THE VA HOSPITAL 
AND THE BYRD ALZHEIMER'S CENTER, AND PEPIN HEART, AND USF 
HEALTH WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT AND USE IT.
STUDENTS -- RECORD NUMBERS OF STUDENTS WILL BE USING AND 
RIDING THESE SYSTEMS, YOU'LL HAVE ECONOMIC BENEFIT, AND SO 
I BELIEVE THAT THERE -- THERE IS ENOUGH INFORMATION FROM 
EXPERIENCES IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND ALSO JUST THE DATA 
THAT -- I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NO ONE WILL RIDE THE 
SYSTEM.
WE'RE GOING TO WIDEN BRUCE B. DOWNS, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE 
WHO LIVE IN TOWN 'N COUNTRY AND SOUTH TAMPA AND WESTCHASE 
WILL SAY I'LL NEVER RIDE BRUCE B. DOWNS, WHY AM I USING MY 
MONEY FOR THAT ROAD?
SO I BELIEVE THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE -- WE'RE ADDRESSING 
THE ISSUE.
WE'RE NOT SOLVING IT, THIS WILL NOT SOLVE OUR CONGESTION 
PROBLEM, BUT I THINK THIS WILL HELP MITIGATE THE PROBLEMS 
AND AT A FAR BETTER VALUE THAN THE STATUS QUO.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I JUST WANT TO AGAIN REITERATE WHAT I ANTICIPATED HAPPENING 
FROM THIS, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY HAPPENING.
THIS IS GOOD.
THIS IS HEALTHY DEBATE AND WE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE 
WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO 
AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE FINE-TUNED AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE 
ALTERED, VICE VERSA, AND MR. NORMAN BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT, 
ACTUALLY, BUT THAT'S WHY THIS IS KIND OF A TWO-PRONGED 
APPROACH.
I LOOK AT THE TASK FORCE GUIDELINES ON PAGE 3, AND IT SAYS, 
WE BELIEVE THAT A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A 
REFERENDUM MUST BE WELL THOUGHT OUT, COMPREHENSIVE, AND 
BALANCED.
IDEALLY, A REFERENDUM SHOULD ADDRESS THE FUNDING NEEDS OF 
THE COUNTY, HART, TBARTA.
A PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM MUST BE BUILT ON A SOLID 
PROGRAM, WHICH ADDRESSES THE URBAN, SUBURBAN, RURAL, AND 
REGIONAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST JUNCTURE AT WHICH WE SHOULD BE 
RIGHT NOW.
WITH REGARDS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY REFERENDUM, ABSOLUTELY 
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO TAKE THE LEAD, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF SOME OF THE OTHER 
ADJOINING COUNTIES, SO WE START LOCALLY WITH REGARDS TO 
LEADERSHIP, BUT AFTER THAT'S ON ITS WAY, WE HAVE TO AT THE 
SAME TIME THINK REGIONALLY.
THAT'S SIMPLY PUT.
YOU'VE GOT THE CHAIRMAN OF PASCO COUNTY COMMISSION, AND 
CHAIRMAN MARIANO, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU, SIR, AND HE'S HERE, 
AND THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF PARTNERSHIP.
AND NOT -- WE'RE NOT GIVING HIM A CHALLENGE CERTAINLY BY 
HIM LISTENING TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE DEBATES, AND IT 
COULD GET HEATED, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE CITIZENS WHO WANT TO HEAR THE 
DIFFERENT POSITIONS ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP HERE AND ASK 
THE QUESTIONS, SO THEY'RE HAPPY THAT HE DISAGREES WITH ME 
OR ME WITH HIM OR HE WITH THE NEXT GUY.
THAT'S FINE.
THAT'S FINE IN TERMS OF THIS PROCESS TO GET IT WHERE IT 
NEEDS TO BE, BUT ONCE WE HAVE THIS FINE-TUNED FOR US, 
THAT'S WHEN WE EXTEND NOT THE CHALLENGE, WE EXTEND THE 
INVITATION TO CHAIRMAN MARIANO, WE EXTEND THE INVITATION TO 
THE NEW MAYOR IN ST. PETERSBURG.
CONGRATULATIONS, BY THE WAY, MAYOR FOSTER.
SO WE HAVE THINGS TO DO, BUT WE HAVE TO START AT HOME TO 
SHOW THAT LEADERSHIP, AND HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT THAT 
CIRCLE WILL EXPAND AND WE WILL GET INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES 
THAT COMMISSIONER NORMAN IS CONCERNED ABOUT, AND REGIONAL 
IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO 
LOCALLY.
THAT AGAIN IS MY SENSE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
>>JIM NORMAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE, YOUR FRAGMENTED SYSTEM 
WILL NOT WORK LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I DON'T -- YOU KNOW -- AND WHAT IS CHARLOTTE'S SALES TAX?
MY POINT -- MY POINT IS --
>>MARK SHARPE:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>JIM NORMAN:  EXCUSE ME.
>>MARK SHARPE:  HALF CENT.
>>JIM NORMAN:  NO, WHAT IT IS?
WHAT'S THE TOTAL?
>> I THINK IT'S 8.5.
>>JIM NORMAN:  MY POINT IS THIS SYSTEM WILL NOT GET TO THE 
AIRPORT, WILL NOT GET TO MOFFITT, WILL NOT GET TO THESE 
PLACES.
THIS IS A BROKEN SYSTEM AS IT EXISTS ECONOMICALLY.
THE ROADS WILL STILL NEED TO BE WIDENED BECAUSE WE'RE THE 
BUSINESS CENTER.
UNLESS WE HAVE A COMPLETE SYSTEM IN PLACE FROM THE GET-GO, 
THERE'S NO -- THERE'S NEVER A PROMISE AND FULFILLMENT OF A 
FULL SYSTEM, IT'S ALL MAYBES AND IFs, AND SO I JUST WANT 
PEOPLE'S MONEY INVESTED BETTER, AND I DON'T SEE YOUR PLAN 
INVESTED IN A WAY THAT HAS THE ECONOMIC RETURN.
AND -- AND LET ME JUST SAY YOU ARE SUPPORTING A TAX WHEN 
YOU PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR THIS, AND IT IS FOR RAIL.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  YES.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THE ARGUMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, 
SURROUNDING COUNTIES ARE LOOKING TO US FOR THIS -- THIS 
STEP AND THAT IF WE PASS THIS, THEN OTHER COUNTIES WILL 
PASS IT.
I KNOW WE HEARD THAT EXACT SAME LOGIC AND ARGUMENT WHEN WE 
HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT FRIENDSHIP TRAILBRIDGE, AND IT WAS 
COMMISSIONER NORMAN AND I WHO VOTED NO, NOT TO SEEK THAT 
FUNDING, AND WE WERE TOLD -- AND IT WAS ARGUED IN THIS 
MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES HERE THAT IF WE PASS IT, 
PINELLAS COUNTY IS -- THEY'RE ALL FOR IT, AND WHEN IT WENT 
TO PINELLAS COUNTY, IT FAILED 7-0.
SO BEFORE WE GO STEPPING OFF INTO THAT, LET'S MAKE SURE 
THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE PARTNERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DANCE 
WITH ARE IN THE DANCE HALL.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE, THEN COMMISSIONER 
FERLITA, THEN WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE MOTION.
>>MARK SHARPE:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. SHARPE, ARE YOU THROUGH?
YEAH?
OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE 
UNDERLYING THEME SHOULD BE FAIRNESS TO EVERYBODY WHO'S 
INTERESTED IN THIS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, AND I DON'T MEAN 
TO PUT OUR ATTORNEY, SAM HAMILTON ON THE SPOT, BUT I WILL, 
SO SAM, COULD YOU COME UP HERE FOR A SECOND.
I THINK AS THIS DIALOGUE CONTINUES TO GO FORWARD, SOME 
PEOPLE THINK OR ASSUME THAT THIS IS WRITTEN IN STONE, AND 
SAM, I LEFT SOME OF MY NOTES ON MY KITCHEN TABLE, AND I 
WISH I HAD BROUGHT THEM.
THERE WAS A HANDOUT THAT YOU HAD GIVEN US AT OUR REQUEST.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT SAYS ABSOLUTELY THAT THIS HAS TO BE 
75/25; IS THAT RIGHT?
AND WOULD YOU JUST ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT?
>>SAM HAMILTON:  BASICALLY, YES.
SAM HAMILTON, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THERE ARE STATUTORY USE PROVISIONS.
THE STATUTE THAT AUTHORIZES THIS TAX HAS SPECIFIC 
PROVISIONS THAT SAY WHAT THE MONIES CAN BE USED FOR.
THERE ARE FOUR SEPARATE SUBSETS.
ONE OF THOSE SUBSETS DOES HAVE THE 75/25 SPLIT, BUT IT 
REALLY IS A FUNCTION OF HOW IT'S ALL DEDICATED.
THE OTHER THREE SUBSETS DO NOT.
SO THE BASIC ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS NO, THERE ISN'T A 
75/25 SPLIT MANDATED BY LAW UNLESS YOU ONLY PICK THAT ONE 
PROVISION.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
SO AGAIN, I MEAN, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED THAT 
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE FAIR BREAKUP OF PERCENTAGES, BUT 
AS WE GO FORWARD, IF WE'RE HEARING FROM CITIZENS THAT 
PERHAPS THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE FINAL FORMALIZATION, WE DO 
HAVE SOME OPTIONS TO TURN AROUND AND REVIEW?
>> SURE, THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THAT'S A QUESTION WE HAVE IN TERMS OF WHEN WE GET TO 
STRUCTURING THE ORDINANCE IN TERMS OF THE USE PROVISION.
THAT ANSWER WILL -- THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WILL HAVE 
TO COME OBVIOUSLY TO DRAFT THE ORDINANCE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
AND WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT IS WE WANT BROAD-
SPECTRUM SUPPORT, AND I THINK WE'VE HEARD THIS IN DIFFERENT 
WAYS FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE UP HERE, BUT IN ORDER TO SECURE 
THAT BROAD-SPECTRUM SUPPORT, IF THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH 
THE 75/25, THEN I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AT 
THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, AND YOU'RE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT 
THAT, MR. HAMILTON, SO I'M SURE AT LEAST FOR ME I'LL BE 
ASKING YOU FOR SOME DIFFERENT INFORMATION IN BRIEFING AS WE 
GO FORWARD.
THANK YOU, SAM.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I HATE TO KEEP BELABORING THIS POINT, BUT I 
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
THE -- WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT PUTTING TOGETHER THE PLAN, 
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HART TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION WAS 
MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE DID NOT OFFER TO THE VOTERS WAS 
SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT WORK ON ITS OWN.
WE WANTED TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT IT WOULD WORK, 
WHICH IS WHY WE CAME WITH THE FUNDING FORMULA THAT WE CAME 
WITH, WHICH WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY, ULTIMATELY OVER 
TIME, TO BUILD A SYSTEM THAT WOULD CONNECT THE DOWNTOWN 
AREA WITH USF AND THEN OUT TO WESTSHORE AND THROUGH THE 
AIRPORT, THE "U," WHICH IS ULTIMATELY FOR US A VERY 
IMPORTANT PACKAGE, AND THEN WE ALSO SET ASIDE I BELIEVE IT 
WAS 15%, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 20% FOR THE CONNECTIONS SO THAT 
WHEN OTHER COMMUNITIES CAME FORWARD AND WERE READY TO 
CONNECT, WE WOULD HAVE MONEY TO ACTUALLY NOT JUST TAKE IT 
TO THE BOUNDARIES BUT CONNECT WITH THE OTHER SYSTEMS.
AND I -- AND I DO AGREE THAT IN A PERFECT WORLD, IT WOULD 
BE BETTER IF WE HAD ALL THE PARTNERS AT THE TABLE 
IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE CHALLENGE IS IS THAT FOR ME, WE -- 
WE -- THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT WILL OPERATE AND FUNCTION FOR 
US NOW, IT WILL PROVIDE THE BUS SYSTEMS THAT WE NEED FOR US 
NOW, IT WILL BEGIN TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ROAD 
CONSTRUCTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR US NOW, BUT AT THE SAME 
TIME, WHEN OTHERS ARE READY -- AND PASCO HAS MADE CLEAR 
THEY'RE STEPPING UP AND THEY'RE READY.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION FOR PASCO 
COUNTY -- AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR, FOR BEING HERE, 
VERY COURAGEOUS ON THE PART OF YOU AND THE OTHER FIVE TO -- 
BUT HAVE SAID THAT THEY'RE PREPARED TO WORK WITH US, AND 
WE'VE GOT OTHERS WHO ARE GOING TO MODEL -- PINELLAS COUNTY.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, I MEAN, IT'S 
GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK ON THEIR PART, BUT ULTIMATELY 
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN IS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH A 
BRAND-NEW -- THIS IS GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT VOTE 
THAT I THINK THE CITIZENS HAVE OR WILL HAVE HAD IN THE LAST 
30 YEARS, TO TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY, TO CREATE JOBS, AND 
TO ADDRESS THE CONGESTION PROBLEM THAT WE FACE.
IT IS FAR FROM PERFECT, BUT IT IS FAR BETTER THAN DOING 
NOTHING.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MOTION.
THE LAST TWO COMMENTS I WANT TO MAKE, COMMISSIONER -- WHAT 
COMMISSIONER FERLITA AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ALLUDED TO IS 
ACCURATE IN THAT THERE'S NO ONE WAY TO HANDLE IT AS FAR AS 
A SPLIT, AND WE'VE BEEN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE 75/25 
SPLIT.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THOSE ARE ALL THE ASSUMPTIONS AND PRO 
FORMAS USED BY MIKE MERRILL WITH THE COUNTY, BONNIE WISE 
FROM THE CITY, AND HART ARE BASED ON THAT FORMULA, SO WHILE 
WE DO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE THAT, I'D WANT FRANKLY 
MORE MONEY TO GO TOWARD NONTRANSIT NEEDS.
ALL THE NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING USED AND THE FEASIBILITY 
STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE ARE BASED ON THAT 
SPLIT, SO I DO WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
I DO SHARE COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S CONCERN -- HE PHRASED IT 
AS PROMISES MADE AND PROMISES KEPT.
WHAT I'VE STATED REPEATEDLY DURING OUR TASK FORCE MEETING 
IS THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE 
OVERSELLING AND UNDERDELIVERING.
THAT'S A MAJOR CONCERN OF THE TASK FORCE, AND THAT'S WHY WE 
ASKED MIKE MERRILL TO SCRUB THE NUMBERS AND TO COME BACK 
WITH THAT -- TO US WITH THIS -- WITH HIS COMMENTS, WITH THE 
REPORT ON THAT.
HE HAS BEEN MEETING REPEATEDLY WITH HART, AGAIN WITH 
MS. WISE FROM THE CITY OF TAMPA, AND WHILE I WAS AT MY LAST 
BRIEFING, THEY'RE NOT 100% COMFORTABLE AT THIS TIME, THEY 
ARE VERY COMFORTABLE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET THERE PRIOR 
TO OUR DECEMBER 2nd MEETING WHEN WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THE 
RESOLUTION, BUT THAT IS AN EXCELLENT POINT, AND WE HAVE TO 
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION ANYWHERE WHERE 
WE'RE, YOU KNOW, OVERSELLING AND UNDERDELIVERING, SO I DO 
AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER NORMAN ON THAT POINT.
OKAY.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE AND 
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WHITE TO DIRECT THE COUNTY 
ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION OF INTENT FOR THE BOARD TO 
DISCUSS AT OUR DECEMBER 2nd BOARD MEETING.
OKAY.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 5-2.
COMMISSIONERS NORMAN AND HIGGINBOTHAM VOTED NO.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE FROM SUN CITY CENTER 
HERE TO HEAR THEIR ITEM, AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE APPROACHING 
OUR NOON RECESS.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TAKE THIS OUT OF ORDER 
AND HEAR THAT ITEM NEXT, AND THEN THE NEXT ITEM, THE I.T.S. 
ITEM, MAYBE HEAR AFTER THE NOON RECESS.
>>JIM NORMAN:  SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  YEAH, AND I HAD DISCUSSED WITH PAT ABOUT 
MOVING THE AUDIT ITEMS UNTIL 1:45.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  OKAY.
FIRST.
SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN:  MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, SECOND 
COMMISSIONER NORMAN.
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  JUST VERY QUICKLY.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS COME UP NOW 
ON THE SUN CITY ISSUE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANYBODY HERE FROM HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ANYMORE.
PAT, YOU HAD DIRECTED THEM TO BE HERE; CORRECT?
>>PAT BEAN:  I HAD ASKED, YES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
WELL, MAYBE PERHAPS THEY DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO COME UP NOW.
I JUST WANT SOMEBODY ON THE RECORD TO TELL ME THAT -- I AM 
CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE 
SENIOR CITIZENS NEED, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY AN AVENUE OF 
RELIEF FOR THEM, BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD ANYBODY SAY ON 
THE RECORD THAT THERE ARE NO SAFETY ISSUES, AND I THINK 
THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY.
I KNOW THAT DOESN'T SOUND IMPORTANT NOW, BUT IF SOMETHING 
HAPPENS, THEN THIS CONVERSATION WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT, 
SO I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN ANSWER THAT.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WE HAVE A MOTION.
IF WE MOVE THAT --
>>KEN HAGAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WHAT'S THAT?
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WHAT IS YOUR MOTION?
>>KEN HAGAN:  TO HEAR THE ITEM NOW.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON THE MOTION.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  RIGHT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS 
HERE NOW.
>>KEN HAGAN:  WELL, WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE -- I MEAN, 
BOARD'S PLEASURE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ACTION OR NOT, BUT I 
KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE THAT ARE WAITING FOR --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO WHAT ARE YOU ASKING, MR. HIGGINBOTHAM?
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  I'M ASKING --
>>KEN HAGAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  -- THAT WE TAKE THIS OUT OF ORDER, WE 
GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT, AND YOU CAN VOTE YES OR NO ON MY 
MOTION EVEN IF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS NOT HERE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  BUT THE SHERIFF'S STATEMENT IS PART AND 
PARCEL TO MY DECISION.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM:  WELL, THEY'RE NOT HERE TO VOTE ON MY 
MOTION.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THIS ITEM WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE AT 
11:00 ANYWAY, SO IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE HERE --
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST HEARING THE ITEM 
NOW.
HE'S MAKING A MOTION TO HEAR THE ITEM NOW, AND WE'LL TALK 
ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  AFTER WE VOTE.
THAT MAKES A LOT OF -- NO SENSE.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  WE'VE GOT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT WE'RE 
GOING TO ADDRESS NOW THROUGH -- WITH MR. GORDON, UNLESS 
THERE'S SPECIFIC THINGS YOU NEEDED FROM THE SHERIFF'S 
OFFICE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WELL, I THINK MS. BEAN HAD ASKED THEM ON 
BEHALF OF THIS ITEM TO BE HERE SO I COULD MAKE SURE THAT 
THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BELABOR THIS, BUT THE SAFETY ISSUE IS 
JUST AS IMPORTANT TO THESE SAME SENIOR CITIZENS AS THEIR 
ISSUE IS.
[INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK]
>>KEN HAGAN:  -- THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE AT 11:00.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WELL, THEN, I MEAN, WE COULD LISTEN TO 
THIS NOW -- MS. LEE, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK TO YOU, I 
GUESS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY PRACTICE TO VOTE ON SOMETHING 
BEFORE MY ANSWERS -- MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
I CAN VOTE ON HIS MOTION NOW, BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME, 
MS. BEAN, WOULD YOU HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE SHERIFF'S 
DEPARTMENT COME AFTER OUR -- OUR --
>>PAT BEAN:  YES, I WILL.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  -- WHEN OUR AFTERNOON MEETING STARTS, AND 
MR. CHAIRMAN, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, LET THEM SAY ON THE 
RECORD THAT THEY DON'T FEEL -- NOW, IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM 
WITH IT, THEN I'M GOING TO ASK FOR RECONSIDERATION AND NOT 
SUPPORT IT.
I MEAN, THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WANT 
THIS.
IS THAT -- IS THAT PROCEDURALLY OKAY?
YES?
>>MARK SHARPE:  I WOULD SUPPORT YOUR RECONSIDERATION IF AT 
A LATER DATE YOU GOT INFORMATION THAT WAS CONTRARY TO --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  NOT AT A LATER DATE.
I JUST WANT SOMETHING FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TODAY.
AND I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS COMMUNICATION, BUT EVIDENTLY 
THERE WASN'T?
DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU TALKED TO?
>>PAT BEAN:  I THOUGHT THERE WAS ALSO.
I'LL HAVE TO VERIFY UPSTAIRS.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
SO SIMPLY PUT, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THE HARDSHIP.
I WILL SUPPORT IT ON ITS FACE WITH THE CONDITION THAT AFTER 
LUNCH IF YOU COULD ASK SOMEBODY FROM DAVID GEE'S OFFICE TO 
COME AND JUST SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THE SAFETY COMPONENT OF IT, 
AND IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT CAUSES SOME HESITANCY, THEN 
-- MR. SHARPE HAS ALREADY SAID HE HE'LL SUPPORT MY 
RECONSIDERATION -- I'LL VOTE NO.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
>>KEN HAGAN:  PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON THE MOTION TO HEAR 
THE ITEM NOW.  
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY, BOB.
>>BOB GORDON:  OKAY.
I THINK -- I'VE BEEN ASKED TO DESCRIBE THE BACKGROUND 
BEHIND THIS.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THIS IN 
ANTICIPATION IT MIGHT BECOME A CAPITAL PROJECT APPROVED BY 
THIS BOARD.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT A LOCATION THAT'S ABOUT A QUARTER OF A 
MILE NORTH OF 674 THAT CROSSES FROM -- IT WOULD CONNECT 
FROM DEL WEBB -- ON THE ELMO WE'VE GOT A PICTURE COMING UP 
MOMENTARILY, AND IF -- MIKE, IF YOU COULD KIND OF POINT 
THAT OUT.
THE RED LINE AT THE TOP THERE SHOWS THE PROPOSED LOCATION 
OF A GOLF CART PATH THAT WOULD CONNECT TO -- YOU CAN SEE 
THE CAP STONE OR CAPE STONE INTERSECTION WHICH IS ABOUT A 
QUARTER MILE NORTH OF STATE ROAD 674.
IT DOES RUN ACROSS PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS AND 
NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THE ACQUISITION OF AN EASEMENT.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT COULD GO FORWARD FAIRLY QUICKLY IF 
THE BOARD APPROVES IT.
THE DEVELOPER DOES HAVE A SWFWMD EXEMPTION THAT WOULD 
ACTUALLY COVER WHATEVER IMPERVIOUS MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO 
BUILD THIS GOLF CART PATH, SO IN TERMS OF GETTING SOMETHING 
MOVING FORWARD QUICKLY, IT COULD HAPPEN FAIRLY QUICKLY IF 
WE'RE SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH -- IF THIS GETS 
APPROVED.
IN TERMS OF THE SAFETY ISSUES, I WILL TELL YOU THERE -- 
WHILE I'VE NOT PERSONALLY SPOKEN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, 
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS WILL HAVE ALL OF THE FEATURES 
THAT -- THAT THE EXISTING CROSSINGS HAVE ON 674 IN TERMS OF 
THERE WILL BE A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THERE WILL BE SIGNAGE IN 
ADVANCE, SO INASMUCH AS YOU CAN MAKE ANY AT-GRADE CROSSING 
SAFE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- ALL OF THOSE FEATURES WILL BE 
IN PLACE FOR THIS.
WE UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITY OF THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'VE BEEN OUT IN THE FIELD.
WE'VE SEEN THERE HAS BEEN WHAT APPEARS TO BE SOME 
UNOFFICIAL USE, IF YOU WILL --
[LAUGHTER]
I'M SAYING THAT POLITELY -- BY SOME INTREPID SHOPPERS WHO 
NEED TO GET OVER FOR VALID PURPOSES AND REASONS, TO GET 
THEIR MEDS AND OTHER CONSUMABLES AT THE WAL-MART, AND 
THEY'RE DOING THAT NOW WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A HARDENED 
GOLF CART PATH.
THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE, OF COURSE, OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL 
THAT PREVENTS -- YOU KNOW, THAT ALLOWS THEM TO CROSS THAT 
SAFELY.
YOU SAW PICTURES EARLIER OF THE GOLF CARTS -- NOT THE GOLF 
CARTS BUT THE BUGGIES FROM THE WAL-MART BEING LEFT IN THE 
RIGHT-OF-WAY, SO THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ATTEMPTING OTHER 
MEANS THAN WHAT WE THINK WOULD BE A MUCH SAFER METHOD FOR 
THEM TO MAKE ACCESS TO WAL-MART.
THE MONEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM A -- A POOL OF MONEY THAT 
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WORKS 
FOR SAFETY ISSUES THAT COME UP DURING THE FISCAL YEAR THAT 
CAN'T BE ANTICIPATED.
THIS WOULD COME OUT OF OUR CRITICAL ACCIDENT AND MITIGATION 
FUNDING, SO THE FUNDING WOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THAT -- 
FROM THAT ACCOUNT TO BUILD A GOLF CART PATH, AND DEPENDING 
ON WHETHER THIS BOARD APPROVES IT AND WE'RE ABLE THEN TO 
MOVE FORWARD TO BE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, 
THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION COULD BE A COUPLE OF MONTHS FROM 
THE DATE WE ACTUALLY ACQUIRE THE EASEMENT.
THAT'S A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
LET ME JUST TAKE A COUPLE STEPS BACK SO THAT THE BOARD 
MEMBERS THAT MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROJECT MAY HAVE 
A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND AROUND THIS, AND I KNOW WE'RE 
RUNNING LATE, SO I WON'T BELABOR ANY OF THE POINTS HERE, AS 
YOU'VE HEARD MANY OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE RESIDENTS TODAY.
THIS ISSUE ACTUALLY BECAME WHERE -- TO ME WHEN I HAD MY -- 
MY MONTHLY COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS THAT I HOLD AT THE END OF 
EACH MONTH, MY COFFEE WITH KEVIN'S WHEN I FIRST GOT 
ELECTED, AND WHEN THIS FIRST CAME TO MY ATTENTION AND I MET 
WITH THE RESIDENTS OF SUN CITY CENTER, I WAS KIND OF AMAZED 
TO WALK IN A ROOM WITH NEARLY 200 PEOPLE THAT HAD SEEMED 
LIKE THEY HAD TWO THINGS THAT WERE A CONCERN WITH THEIR 
ELEMENTS OF LIVING IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THAT WAS REALLY 
GOLF CARTS AND WAL-MART, AND AS WE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS 
EARLIER, IT WAS THE GOLF CARTS THAT THEY RELY ON, MANY FOR 
TRANSPORTATION, AND TO THEM GOLF CARTS ARE LIKE CARS TO US, 
AND IT'S CRITICAL FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND SAFELY 
IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, AND THEY RELY ON WAL-MART FOR THEIR 
LOW-COST PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND FOR THEIR DAILY SUSTENANCE 
NEEDS.
SO THIS TO ME HAS BECOME AN ISSUE OF SAFETY FOR THE 
RESIDENTS, OF WELL BEING FOR THE RESIDENTS, AND SOMETHING 
THAT REALLY DESERVES OUR ATTENTION.
TO ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT 
WERE CONSIDERED BEFORE, WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY LOOKED AT WAS A 
CROSSING OVER AT 301 AND 674.
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RIGHTFULLY 
REJECTED THAT PATH, CITING SAFETY CONCERNS AS WELL AS A 
CONFLICT WITH THE FLORIDA STATE STATUTE.
THERE WAS ALSO DISCUSSION OF 301 AND 674 OF CONSTRUCTING A 
BRIDGE OVER THAT AS A BYPASS, AND ESTIMATED COSTS THAT WERE 
CONSIDERED THEN WERE ROUGHLY ABOUT AT LEAST $8 MILLION, AND 
WITHOUT A CURRENT FUNDING SOURCE WOULD PROBABLY TAKE MORE 
YEARS AND A LONGER TIME TO COMPLETE THAN THIS CURRENT 
PROJECT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR THAT -- BETWEEN MY 
OFFICE AND THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM AND THE 
COMMUNITY DEVELOPERS, THE COUNTY STAFF, THE FLORIDA 
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE FLORIDA DELEGATION, WE 
HAVE REALLY THOUGHTFULLY COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WE 
BELIEVE IS SAFE FOR RESIDENTS AND IS COST-AFFORDABLE, AND I 
TRULY WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO COMMISSIONER 
HIGGINBOTHAM BECAUSE HE REALLY HAS -- HAS BEEN TENACIOUS 
ABOUT THIS, HAS WELL REPRESENTED THIS COMMUNITY, AND REALLY 
HAS HAD A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE SUN CITY CENTER, AND IT 
WAS HIS HISTORY AND HIS BACKGROUND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO 
CREATE THE SYNERGY BETWEEN OUR OFFICES TO COME TOGETHER TO 
BRING THIS FORWARD BEFORE THE BOARD.
SO COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I REALLY 
EXTRAORDINARILY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE 
AND YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR EFFORTS ON THIS PROJECT, AND 
WHAT'S REALLY KIND OF UNIQUE IS THAT THIS PROJECT DIDN'T 
BECOME ABOUT PARTISAN POLITICS.
WE REPRESENT DIFFERENT PARTY AFFILIATIONS, BUT THIS PROJECT 
REALLY BECAME ABOUT PEOPLE AND ABOUT REALLY COMING TOGETHER 
TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, AND THAT WHAT WE HEARD 
WHEN WE TRAVELED TO TALLAHASSEE AND I MET WITH THE 
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, WE MET WITH OUR FLORIDA 
DELEGATION.
EVERYBODY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, CAME 
TOGETHER TO RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND BOB WENT OVER A LOT OF THE DETAILS OF WHAT THE PROJECT 
WOULD ENTAIL, AND SO -- THERE'S ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF STEPS 
THAT WE WOULD GO THROUGH ON THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THIS 
PROJECT.
THE MOTION THAT I WOULD PUT FORWARD TO YOU TODAY IS TO 
CREATE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, ALSO A CIP, IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH BOCC POLICY 3.02.02.00 FOR THE DESIGN, LAND 
ACQUISITION, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A GOLF CART PATH 
CONNECTING DEL WEBB BOULEVARD AND U.S. 301 IN THE SUN CITY 
AREA.  
THE FINAL PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS WILL 
BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FINAL APPROVAL IN THE NEAR 
FUTURE, POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS THE NOVEMBER 10th LAND USE 
MEETING.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF -- MR. BARNES, YOU HAD, I THINK, SOME 
COMMENTS MAYBE THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THIS?
MR. BARNES IS PRESIDENT OF SUN CITY CENTER ASSOCIATION.  
>>KEN HAGAN:  GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. BARNES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
>> YES.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, AND I HAVE WITH ME 
SEVERAL -- AS YOU'VE SEEN THE SIGNS -- ENTHUSIASTIC 
SUPPORTERS OF THIS PROJECT.
I THINK THAT PROBABLY SOME OF YOU GOT AN IDEA OF THEIR 
ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS OVER THE WEEKEND WITH THEIR -- WITH 
THEIR CORRESPONDENCE WITH -- WITH YOUR OFFICES.
IN ADDITION, I HAVE -- WITH THE CHAIR'S PERMISSION, I HAVE 
LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT AND RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS 
PROJECT FROM THE SUN CITY CENTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, 
FROM THE FEDERATION AT KINGS POINT, AND THE CONDO 
ASSOCIATION AT KINGS POINT, AND WITH CHAIR'S PERMISSION, 
I'D LIKE TO GIVE THOSE TO THE ADMIN FOR INTRODUCTION INTO 
THE -- IN THE RECORD.
>>KEN HAGAN:  YES, SIR.
>> I'LL JUST BE BRIEF.
YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE AGE AT SUN CITY CENTER IS 74 YEARS 
OLD.
WE'RE A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.
WE LIVE -- MOST OF THE PEOPLE THERE LIVE ON LIMITED INCOMES 
AND DEPEND VERY MUCH ON THEIR GOLF CARTS TO GET AROUND THE 
CITY, AND WHEN -- WHEN THE WAL-MART WAS PLACED ACROSS 674, 
ACROSS 301, AND WAS NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE TO -- BY GOLF 
CART, THAT CREATED A REAL PROBLEM FOR MANY, MANY OF OUR 
RESIDENTS.
I THINK THERE IS A -- IN ADDITION TO THE -- TO THE ACCESS 
TO THE WAL-MART STORE, THIS GOLF CART PATH WILL ALSO 
PROVIDE ACCESS TO A HARTLINE BUS STOP THERE AT -- IN THE -- 
ON CAPE STONE AVENUE.
THAT SHOULD HELP, YOU KNOW, INCREASE THE UTILIZATION OF -- 
OF THE HARTLINE BUS STOPS AND PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS WITH 
THE CAPABILITY TO GET TO MOFFITT, TO GET TO THE VA CENTER, 
AND OTHER USF HEALTH FACILITIES, AS WELL AS DOWNTOWN TAMPA 
AND TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
SO I THINK THAT'S A -- THAT'S A GREAT DEAL FOR THIS THING.
THIS IS REALLY -- THIS GOLF CART PATH IS REALLY DESPERATELY 
NEEDED BY -- BY OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY PLAN STRESSES THE USE OF GOLF 
CARTS AS A MAJOR MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND WE HAVE 
LOOKED FOR A LEGAL AND SAFE CROSSING OF THAT -- OF THAT AT 
THAT POINT.
FDOT HAS INDICATED THAT BASED ON FLORIDA STATUTE 316.212,  
THE CROSSING FROM A STATE ROAD -- THE CROSSING OF A STATE 
ROAD FROM A COUNTY ROAD TO A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY IS AN 
APPROVED GOLF CART CROSSING, AND IT'S UP TO THE COUNTY AND 
THE DEVELOPER TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THAT CROSSING.
FDOT'S RULED THAT THE PROPOSED CROSSING IS WELL WITHIN THE 
FLORIDA STATUTE.
NOW, THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT CAPE STONE AVENUE WHEN TIMED 
PROPERLY AND WITH ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE WILL PROVIDE A MEANS -
- A SAFE MEANS TO CROSS THAT 301 AVENUE -- 301 HIGHWAY.
THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE CROSSINGS THAT WE HAVE ACROSS 
674.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THE BRIDGE THAT YOU JUST HEARD IN THE 
TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE HERE OVER THE LAST HOUR TALKED 
ONE OF THEIR PROJECTS IS A BRIDGE OVER 301 AS A LONG-TERM 
EFFORT TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO -- TO WAL-MART.
NOW, THE CART PATH THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY IS -- IS A 
PREPARATORY REQUIREMENT TO ANY BRIDGE.  
IF AND WHEN THAT BRIDGE IS CONSIDERED AND BUILT BY THE -- 
BY THE COMMISSIONERS, THIS CART PATH IS GOING TO BE 
NECESSARY TO GET FROM DEL WEBB -- EAST DEL WEBB TO THE BASE 
OF THE BRIDGE.  
SO -- SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS 
ECONOMIC CLIMATE THAT AN $8-MILLION BRIDGE IS REALLY 
FEASIBLE, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HAVE A CART PATH COST THAT -
- A CART PATH THAT COULD BE DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED AND 
IMPLEMENTED AT A VERY FRACTION OF THAT COST AND IN A VERY 
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
SO WE CERTAINLY URGE YOU TODAY TO SUPPORT THIS -- THIS GOLF 
CART PATH, AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE CITIZENS IN SUN CITY 
CENTER -- I WON'T SAY ALL OF THEM, BUT THE 20,000 RESIDENTS 
THAT THE THREE ORGANIZATIONS HERE TODAY REPRESENT, I THINK 
THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT CART PATH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MR. BARNES, AND 
FOR --
[APPLAUSE]
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN SUN CITY CENTER.
COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. BARNES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, 
AND LET ME JUST CLARIFY MY POSITION SO NOBODY HAS ANY DOUBT 
WHERE WE'RE GOING.
I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE TO 
LOOK AT TRYING TO COME ACROSS THERE.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'VE GOTTEN CORRESPONDENCE FROM AARP 
FOR A LONG TIME, SO I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN MYSELF ACTUALLY.
YEARS AGO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS MAY HAVE BEEN THERE THEN 
AND MAYBE NOT, AND SO THIS GIVES ME AN IDEA OF HOW THE 
GROWTH HAS CONTINUED IN SUN CITY.
FOR A WHILE I WORKED FOR JASON STAFFORD AT STAFFORD DRUGS 
IN SUN CITY, AND SOME OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW HIM, SO 
CERTAINLY IT WAS BECAUSE OF SOME CAUTIONS THAT I HAVE SO 
THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS VIABLE.
WE HAVEN'T -- WE HAVEN'T SAID NO TO ANYTHING IN TERMS OF 
WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST OR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR HOW 
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
>> RIGHT.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  BUT IN BETWEEN THE CONVERSATION WE HAD 
BEFORE AND WHEN MR. GORDON WAS UP THERE -- AND LET ME SAY 
TO MR. GORDON AS WELL, BOB, YOU CERTAINLY ARE RESPECTED AS 
OUR PUBLIC WORKS GUY, BUT YOU'RE NOT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY GUY, 
AND I DON'T THINK THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
THAT BEING SAID, WE GOT SOME CORRESPONDENCE JUST NOW WHILE 
YOU-ALL WERE TALKING AND DELIBERATING ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND 
MAJOR HARTLEY FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SAID THIS WOULD 
WORK BUT THEY HAD SOME CONCERNS.
WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS?
NOT ABOUT THE CARTS, BUT IN TERMS OF SAFETY FOR THE PEOPLE 
WHO ARE DRIVING THE CARTS ACROSS THAT PATH, HE SUGGESTED 
THAT PERHAPS -- WE MIGHT LOOK AT THIS AT A LATER TIME -- TO 
REDUCE THE SPEED OF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC SO THAT THE SAFETY 
OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CARTS WOULD BE MORE PROTECTED, SO I 
WILL SPIN OFF INTO THAT, AND PERHAPS AT SOME POINT, 
MS. BEAN, WE CAN GET TOGETHER WITH THE SHERIFF'S 
DEPARTMENT, AND IF THEY THINK REDUCING THE SPEED OF THE 
TRAFFIC YOU'RE COMPETING WITH IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE SAFETY 
TO YOU, THEN I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT.
SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF SUN CITY, I WAS NEVER OPPOSED TO 
THIS, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, LET'S DO IT 
COMPREHENSIVELY.
IF WE CAN GET THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE 
BIT, FINE.
AT FIRST HE SAID, REDUCE THE SPEED.
I SAID, HOW FAST CAN THE CARTS GO?
HE SAID, NO, NO, NO, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO 
CONTEND WITH.
[LAUGHTER]
>>JIM NORMAN:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO WE WILL GET THAT DONE, AND AT THE POINT 
THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME HEADWAY INTO THAT, THEN WE WILL 
CERTAINLY NOTIFY YOU, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO 
REDUCE THE SPEED, AND THAT'S LESS YOU HAVE TO CONTEND WITH.
THANKS ABOUT YOUR ENTHUSIASM ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER NORMAN, COMMISSIONER SHARPE, 
THEN WE NEED TO VOTE.
>>JIM NORMAN:  YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THE FOLKS THAT 
WERE OUT HERE FROM SUN CITY, I'VE WITNESSED BEFORE THAT -- 
THERE WAS LIKE ONE BUSLOAD DOWN TODAY.
I'VE ACTUALLY WITNESSED THREE AND FOUR BUSLOADS COME DOWN, 
SO WE MUST BE PUSHOVERS NOW BECAUSE NORMALLY THIS ROOM IS 
SO FULL WITH JUST EVERYBODY.
AND I'VE SEEN THE -- I GUESS A LOT OF THE GROWTH OF SUN 
CITY OVER THE YEARS, OF ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU-ALL HAVE 
DONE.
IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT GETS IT RIGHT, SUN 
CITY GETS IT RIGHT, AND THE RELIANCE THAT WE'VE HAD ON 
YOU -- AND I -- I HEARD THE -- THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE 
THINGS THAT YOU-ALL DO WITH THE COUNTY, OF YOUR EMERGENCY 
SQUADS AND ALL THE THINGS.
THEY HAVE BEEN SUCH A PARTNER OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, 20, 
25 -- WHATEVER YEARS WITH THIS COUNTY, AND WATCHING -- YOU 
KNOW, THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT THE OVERLAYS THEY HAVE, THE -- 
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT -- I MEAN, THIS IS SUCH A 
STRUCTURED FIRST-CLASS, ORGANIZED COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T 
BELIEVE THAT THE LEADERSHIP WOULD BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT 
EVERY "T" CROSSED, EVERY "I" DOTTED.
YOU'RE GETTING IT RIGHT, AND THAT'S WHY I STRONGLY SUPPORT 
YOU.
YOU'VE -- YOU'VE EARNED MY RESPECT OVER THE YEARS AND MY 
TRUST, AND I'M THERE FOR YOU, AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 
ALL COMING DOWN HERE TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT TIME FILL THE ROOM UP, THOUGH.
I MISS YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
>>KEN HAGAN:  COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I THINK THAT'S VERY WELL SAID, COMMISSIONER 
NORMAN, AND I WANT TO SAY I'M HONORED TO SECOND THIS 
MOTION, AND I'M LOOKING AT YOUR RESOLUTIONS, AND I 
ESPECIALLY LIKE THE SIXTH WHEREAS, WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT, 
WHEREAS THE PROPOSED PATH WILL ALSO GIVE GOLF CART ACCESS 
TO A HART PARK-N-RIDE SITE THAT WILL PROVIDE BUS 
TRANSPORTATION TO THE JAMES HALEY VETERANS HOSPITAL, LEE 
MOFFITT, TAMPA INTERNATIONAL -- I'M NOT TRYING TO START IT 
AGAIN, ROSE, I KNOW, I'M SORRY, BUT I'LL TELL YOU -- AND I 
DO HOPE THE SUN CITY RESIDENTS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED 
BECAUSE I THINK THE ONE POINT COMMISSIONER NORMAN DID MAKE, 
WHICH IS ACTUALLY TRUE, YOU GUYS ARE IN THE DETAIL -- HE 
SAYS A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE TRUE -- I DIDN'T MEAN IT THAT 
WAY, JIM.
>>JIM NORMAN:  I WAS CALLING YOU ON THAT, COMMISSIONER.
[LAUGHTER]
>>MARK SHARPE:  WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU GUYS ARE INTO THE 
DETAILS, YOU WANT TO GET IT RIGHT, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT 
YOU WOULD BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE LAST DEBATE THAT WE 
JUST HAD BECAUSE I THINK THIS WILL BENEFIT YOU AS WELL, BUT 
I DON'T WANT TO CROSS THE TWO.
I RESPECT COMMISSIONER NORMAN AND HIS POSITION AND HIS 
POINTS, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I'M GLAD THIS IS GOING 
TO WORK --
>>JIM NORMAN:  KEN, I FORGOT TO ASK A QUESTION.
I'M SORRY.
THE LEADERSHIP THERE, YOUR COORDINATION WITH WAL-MART -- 
YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVE MET WITH WAL-MART.
ARE THEY COOPERATING WITH YOU?
I'VE KNOWN WAL-MART AS BEING A -- A REALLY GOOD CORPORATE 
CITIZEN, AND IF WE CAN ASSIST AT ALL, WE WANT TO, BUT ON 
THE RECORD, YOU CAN TELL US THAT YOU'RE --
>> YES.
WE'VE MET WITH THE LOCAL WAL-MART'S MANAGER SEVERAL TIMES, 
AND WHEN WE WERE SPINNING UP TO DO THIS TWO YEARS AGO, HE 
GAVE US PERMISSION TO COLLECT SIGNATURES FOR THE -- FOR 
THE -- THE MOTION THAT WE -- THE REFERENDUM THAT WE -- THAT 
WE HAD OUT.
I MET WITH HIM THIS LAST WEEK, AND HE EXPLAINED TO US THAT 
HE -- IF THEY GET THIS APPROVED AND GET THIS GOLF CART PATH 
IN, THAT HE WILL INSTALL GOLF CART PARKING AREAS AROUND HIS 
STORE AND THAT HE WOULD -- YOU KNOW, HE'LL DO EVERYTHING HE 
CAN TO DO -- TO -- TO GET THIS GOLF CART DONE, SO HE'S 
VERY --
>>JIM NORMAN:  I'VE KNOWN THEM AS A GREAT CORPORATE PARTNER 
OVER THE YEARS.
I JUST WANT THEM TO CONTINUE THAT GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH 
SUN CITY.
GOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> YES, THEY WILL.
>>JIM NORMAN:  THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN:  AND I JUST WANT TO THANK AGAIN ED BARNES AND 
MY BUDDY IN THE BACK, DON SCHINGS, FOR HIS -- FOR YOU-ALL'S 
LEADERSHIP AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING DOWN AND JOINING 
US THIS MORNING.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG -- A LONG MORNING, AND I ALSO WANT 
TO THANK COMMISSIONER BECKNER AND HIGGINBOTHAM FOR 
INITIATING THIS ITEM.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SUPPORT IT.
SO A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER 
HIGGINBOTHAM -- OR COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY:  MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>KEN HAGAN:  OKAY.
WITH THAT --
[APPLAUSE]
-- THAT CONCLUDES THE MORNING AGENDA, AND WE'LL RETURN AT 
2:00.
THANK YOU.


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