CAPTIONING JULY 14, 2010 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, JULY 14th, 2010, 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: IT'S OFTEN I TAKE A MOMENT LIKE THIS TO REFLECT ON HEROES AND LEADERS IN OUR PAST IN OUR HISTORY, AND WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS HISTORY HERE IN THE LAST DECADES HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND TAMPA, AND WITH THE PASSING OF GEORGE STEINBRENNER, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. REMEMBERING THAT TIME IS THE GREATEST HEALER OF ALL. AMEN. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. THIS MORNING WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATIONS TO BE PRESENTED, AND THE FIRST ONE WILL BE GIVEN BY COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. THIS MARKS THE ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP DAY. ON NOVEMBER 2nd, 1983, PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SIGNED AN ORDER ESTABLISHING A FEDERAL HOLIDAY TO HONOR DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. THE HOLIDAY WAS FIRST OFFICIALLY HELD JANUARY 20th, 1986. MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HELD FESTIVALS AND PARADES TO CELEBRATE THIS DAY. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING MORE MEANINGFUL, AND SOMETHING MORE LASTING. IN 1988 EMPLOYEES OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ESTABLISHED THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO HELP HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, OR CREED FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION. OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO HAVE DOLLARS DEDUCTED FROM THEIR PAYCHECKS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND. THEY WERE LATER JOINED BY CITY EMPLOYEES. THE FIRST SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED IN 1989, AND SINCE THAT TIME OVER $500,000 HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO OVER 400 STUDENTS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THERE YEAR 19 STUDENTS EACH RECEIVED $1,000 TO ATTEND COLLEGE. RETIRED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF CLARENCE FORT AND -- HAS AN CONTINUES TO HAVE FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED THE SCHOLARSHIP. DEPUTY FORT HAS A PAST AND PRESENT -- I'M SORRY. DEPUTY FORT HAS BEEN A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND WAS THE FOUNDER OF THIS COUNTY'S MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARADE. EACH YEAR HIS NATIONAL DEACONS OF CONVENTIONS DONATES $1,000 TO THE FUND, AND THEY HAVE BEEN DONATING FOR OVER 13 YEARS. FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO RETIRED DEPUTY CLARENCE FORT, IF HE COULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITE, AND COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. IN FACT, THE COUNTY CAME ONBOARD AT THE INCEPTION, AND THE CITY JOINED US LATER, SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK YOU. I WAS JUST READING A PIECE IN THIS MORNING'S PAPER ABOUT U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION COMMISSIONER DUNCAN WHERE HE SAID THAT EDUCATION IS THE SUREST WAY OUT OF POVERTY. POVERTY AFFECTS US ALL, AND IF WE CAN GET EVERYONE EDUCATED, I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>KEVIN WHITE: HANG ON JUST A SECOND. I'D LIKE TO ASK MS. JOYCE RUSS HE EL AND THREE -- WE HAVE - - RUSSELL AND THREE -- WE HAVE THREE OF THE STUDENTS HERE WHO ARE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. MR. QUESLY DANIEL, JR., MS. KARA THOMAS, AND MS. LEA COLEMAN, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE, AND MS. JOYCE RUSSELL, WHO IS OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN LIAISON WHO IS ALWAYS DILIGENT IN THESE ENDEAVORS WHO STAYS ON THE FOREFRONT OF THIS FOR US AND OUR COMMUNITY, I'D LIKE TO HAVE HER COME FORWARD AND SAY JUST A WORD AND HAVE EACH ONE OF THE STUDENTS JUST BRIEFLY GIVE US A COMMENT. >>JOYCE RUSSELL: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS. AT OUR LAST RECEPTION THIS YEAR IN APRIL, COMMISSIONER HAGAN WAS IN ATTENDANCE, AND WE ALSO HAD CITY COUNCILMAN THOMAS SCOTT IN ATTENDANCE. WE HAD 19 STUDENTS, AND AS IT IS SAID, WE NEVER KNOW WHO'S GOING TO SHOW UP EACH TIME TO REPRESENT THE STUDENTS, BUT THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS GIVEN REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, OR COLOR, AND IT'S ALWAYS A DIVERSE GROUP. WE WILL BE SENDING A PICTURE OF ALL OF THE 19 2010 AWARDEES, BUT AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE THE STUDENTS TO COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TELL YOU WHICH SCHOOLS THEY'LL BE ATTENDING. >> HELLO. I AM QUESLY DANIEL, JR., A FORMER KING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. >> ALL RIGHT. >> YES. I WILL BE GOING TO FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY, AND MY CURRENT MAJOR IS MATHEMATICS, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE CONTINUED TO DO FOR US AND EVERY MEASURE YOU'VE TAKEN TO HELP ME FURTHER MY EDUCATION, SO THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LEA COLEMAN. MY PARENTS ARE MR. AND MRS. ALBERT CARY COLEMAN. I'M A FORMER STUDENT OF TAMPA BAY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR YOU MAKING THIS SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE TO ME, AND I AM ATTENDING FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY AS WELL IN THE FALL MAJORING IN PHARMACY. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KARA THOMAS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP AND HELPING ME GO TO SCHOOL. I WILL BE ATTENDING EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE IN JACKSONVILLE WHERE I WILL MAJOR IN EARLY EDUCATION, AND I'M A GRADUATE OF MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU FOR THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT, MR. CHAIRMAN. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE A SECOND VERY SPECIAL RECOGNITION, AND I'D LIKE TO BRING UP THREE YOUNG LADIES WHO WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL TO THIS COMMUNITY. MS. RENEE ROUNDTREE, MS. ROSE DODSON, AND MS. DELORES KEEN. WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD. ON JUNE 29th OF THIS YEAR WE ALL KNOW A GREAT TRAGEDY OCCURRED IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE OFFICERS DAVID CURTIS AND JEFFREY KOCAB WERE GUNNED DOWN ON THE STREETS OF TAMPA. THESE THREE YOUNG LADIES ARE REALLY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS ALL ABOUT. THEY THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO GET INVOLVED, TO GO OUT AFTER THEY HEARD THE GUNSHOTS. THEY SAW THE OFFICERS LYING ON THE GROUND. THEY IMMEDIATELY TOOK ACTION AND WENT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON RATHER THAN GOING BACK INTO THEIR HOMES AND JUST NOT WORRYING ABOUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY HEARD. THEY SAW THE OFFICERS LAYING ON THE GROUND. THEY TRIED TO DO WHAT THEY COULD, AND ONE IMMEDIATELY RAN BACK TO DIAL 911 TO ALERT THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE OTHER AUTHORITIES THAT TWO OF TAMPA'S FINEST HAD BEEN GRAVELY INJURED, TO SUMMON MEDICAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS FURTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT, TO GATHER ONE OF THE MOST MASSIVE MANHUNTS THAT HAS EVER TAKEN PLACE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S HISTORY, AND I WANTED TO PERSONALLY BRING THESE LADIES TO OUR COMMISSION CHAMBERS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE 99.9% WONDERFUL, LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, AND WHAT -- WHAT WAS DEPICTED ON THAT DAY IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY OR THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND I BELIEVE THESE LADIES EXEMPLIFY JUST THE -- THE GREAT MORALITY OF -- OF WHAT OUR -- WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT, AND THAT'S FOR INSPIRATION AND HELPING AND LENDING A HELPING HAND TO OUR FELLOW MAN IN ANY TIME OF NEED, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THESE LADIES PERSONALLY THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. AS A FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA AS WELL AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, IT'S JUST -- IT DOES MY HEART WELL TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE SUCH OUTSTANDING PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO GET INVOLVED AND AREN'T WORRIED ABOUT THE -- THE NO SNITCH POLICY, THAT WE CAN -- THAT'S GOING AROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY NOW. THEY'RE NOT AFRAID OF SHOWING THEIR FACE, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST SHOWING THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ABOUT AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT. AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THE COMMENDATION TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE LADIES THAT SAYS EACH ONE OF THEIR NAMES. IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR QUICK THINKING AND ACTIONS ON JUNE 29th TO AID AND COMFORT TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS DAVID CURTIS AND JEFFREY KOCAB DURING THEIR LAST MOMENTS OF LIFE. THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR SELFLESS ACTIONS AS YOU WITNESSED THE ANGUISH OF THE LOSS OF TWO OF THE COMMUNITY'S FINEST. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY COMPASSION THAT IS REFLECTED OF YOUR CARING AND LOVING OF OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMUNITY. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE LADIES. [APPLAUSE] STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR STATEMENT. >> MY NAME IS ROSE DODSON, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN GETTING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW THAT -- THANK YOU GUYS FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE DID DO SOMETHING RIGHT, AND I'D LIKE TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION THAT YOU GUYS ARE GIVING US AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. >> HOW YOU-ALL DOING TODAY? MY NAME IS DELORES KEEN. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS -- I DON'T KNOW. >>KEVIN WHITE: [INAUDIBLE] >> I FEEL SO BAD RIGHT NOW, JUST I REALLY CAN'T TALK. >>KEVIN WHITE: IT'S OKAY. >> HI. I'M RENEE ROUNDTREE. I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK, POLICE SNITCH AND EVERYTHING, BUT I JUST THANK YOU. I JUST FELT THAT I TRIED TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT OR DID SOMETHING RIGHT, BUT I JUST THANK YOU-ALL. [APPLAUSE] >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU, LADIES. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITE, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. COMMISSIONER NORMAN WILL PRESENT THE NEXT PROCLAMATION. >>JIM NORMAN: BOARD MEMBERS, THIS IS A -- REALLY A DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR -- FOR HEROES OF OUR PAST, AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE DAVE BRAUN UP, IF I COULD. EVERYONE IS WELL VERSED WITH HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HIS -- HIS -- ALL OF HIS WORK HE DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO READ THIS, THIS PROCLAMATION, AND BEFORE I DO, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M LIMITED IN MONTHS ON THIS BOARD, AND I KIND OF DROPPED ON THE BOARD A LITTLE REQUEST FOR THIS GENTLEMAN SOME MONTHS AGO ABOUT OUR VETERANS AND OUR VETERANS OPERATIONS OUT ON 301. IT WAS BASICALLY SPURRED ON BY THEIR LEADERSHIP, AND THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY SPEAKS OF ONE ELEMENT OF WHAT THESE GENTLEMEN AND LADIES OUT THERE FIGHT FOR, WHICH ARE OUR VETERANS. THEY -- THEY TALKED TO ME AND I PRESENTED TO YOU -- AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER HAGAN MENTIONED THAT DAY THAT HE ALSO WANTED TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH -- WITH TRYING TO GET OPERATIONAL DOLLARS, NOT A BIG NUMBER, WE'RE TALKING $7,000 FOR AN OPERATION OF A FACILITY THAT PROMOTES GOING OUT AND HELPING VETERANS' CAUSES. REALLY THEY BRING THEM TOGETHER THERE AND THEN THEY FACILITATE THEM ALL OVER OUR COMMUNITY LIKE THE HALEY HOUSE AND GETTING VOLUNTEERS AND PROMOTING THOSE KIND OF ACTIVITIES FOR VETERANS. WHAT THIS IS TODAY IS A -- IS A SMALLER RECOGNITION OF SOME OF THAT, AND LET ME READ IT, AND I'M SURE DAVE BRAUN WILL - - WILL SPEAK AFTER. IT SAYS, WHEREAS, MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE VIETNAM WAR WAS WAGED. MAY WE NEVER FORGET THAT 58,000 AMERICANS SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES. 303,000 WERE WOUNDED IN ACTION AND 2,000 ARE CONSIDERED MISSING IN ACTION; WHEREAS, AT THIS TIME, OPPOSITION TOWARD THE WAR TURNED INTO OPPOSITION TOWARD THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN IT, AND INSTEAD OF A WELCOME HOME PARADE, THEY CAME HOME TO HOSTILITY, RIDICULE, AND CRITICISM; WHEREAS, DESPITE THE DIVISIONS THAT EXISTED IN OUR COUNTRY AT THE TIME, OUR TROOPS CONTINUOUSLY DEMONSTRATED THE BEST OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT BY PERFORMING AMAZING ACTS OF HEROISM, AND THEY DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND RECOGNITION FOR EVERYTHING THEY DID TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM; AND WHEREAS, NOW RECOGNIZED IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, "WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS DAY" WAS STARTED BY A GROUP OF VETERANS IN CALIFORNIA WHO WERE MOTIVATED BY THE INDIFFERENCE THEY PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED UPON RETURNING HOME FROM VIETNAM; AND WHEREAS, MAY WE ALWAYS PROPERLY ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, ESPECIALLY THE 100,000 VETERANS WHO RESIDE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND OUR SOLDIERS WHO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR FREEDOM. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DOES HEREBY SET ASIDE JULY 14th, 2010, AS "HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS DAY," AND IT'S SIGNED BY ALL THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND IT URGES RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN HONORING THIS DAY AS A SMALL GESTURE FOR WHAT OUR VIETNAM SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES SACRIFICED. AND I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THIS, AND BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE A LEGACY OUT AT 301, AND I URGE YOU AS I'M LEAVING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THESE ULTIMATE SACRIFICES. MR. BRAUN. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I APPROACH THIS BOARD IT'S TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I HAVE A SPECIAL HONOR TODAY TO REPRESENT -- IT'S NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT ALL OUR VIETNAM VETERANS, AND THAT INCLUDES VIETNAM ERA VETERANS. ANYONE WHO SERVED DURING THAT TERRIBLE WAR AND WHO CAME HOME AND FACED, AS THE COMMISSIONER SAID, MANY HOSTILITIES, MANY OF US HAVE BURIED THAT HATCHET A LONG TIME AGO. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT AMERICA HAS TURNED THAT CORNER, AND WE ARE SUPPORTING TWO WARS AND MANY, MANY INJURED VETERANS, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALSO FOR SUPPORTING OUR POWs AND MIAs WHO ARE CONSIDERED DECEASED BY NOW. I HAVE BEEN APPROACHING THIS BOARD SINCE WE RAISED THE POW/MIA FLAG BEFORE IT BECAME A LAW TO DO SO, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MANY BOARDS THAT PRECEDED YOU, ALL THE WAY BACK WHEN I BECAME INVOLVED WITH COMMISSIONER SELVY, CERTAINLY COMMISSIONER BUSANSKY, JAN PLATT, PAT FRANK, AND MANY OTHERS. ALL ALONG THE ROAD YOU ALL HAVE REALLY SUPPORTED US OUT AT THE PARK AND SUPPORTED OUR VETERANS IN GENERAL. I'D LIKE TO SAY PARTICULARLY JIM NORMAN, WHO GOES BACK A LONG WAYS, JIM. I CAN REMEMBER IN 1996 WHEN WE APPROVED SOME MONIES TO AID US TO BUILD THE VETERANS FREEDOM MEMORIAL AT VETERANS PARK, WHICH WAS A MAJOR ENDEAVOR, AND THAT'S WHERE I BECAME INVOLVED, AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO REPRESENT OUR VETERANS OF THIS COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY OUR VIETNAM VETERANS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO THANK THE PRESIDENT FOR SIGNING THIS PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL RECOGNITION OF OUR VIETNAM VETERANS, AND I THINK SECRETARY SHINSESKI -- SHINSEKI IS DOING A FINE JOB TO BETTER AND FURTHER THE REWARDS THAT ARE JUSTIFIED FOR OUR INJURED VETERANS AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR VETERANS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. A LITTLE TOKEN OF MY APPRECIATION, I USUALLY DO THIS, SO I'D LIKE TO PASS THAT AROUND. THANK YOU AGAIN. APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] >>KEN HAGAN: AND COMMISSIONER FERLITA WILL PRESENT THE NEXT PROCLAMATION. >>ROSE FERLITA: FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE YOU EXCUSE ME FOR SLOWING THIS PROCESS UP A LITTLE BIT. I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SURGERY ON MY FOOT, BUT I WOULD NOT LET THAT GET IN THE WAY OF PERHAPS HAVING ONE OF THE LAST OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BOB GORDON A HARD TIME, SO BOB, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE, I'LL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND WHILE HE'S DOING THAT, DAVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO FUNNY THAT YOU TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU COME UP HERE FOR -- FOR WHAT WE TRY TO HONOR YOU FOR THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT -- YOU USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK US ALL THE TIME, AND THAT, IN FACT, IN TERMS OF OUR VETERANS, IS BACKWARDS. EVERY TIME YOU COME UP HERE WITH -- WITH JIM'S LEADERSHIP AND EVERYBODY ELSE, WE TRY IN SOME SMALL WAY TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU NEVER HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO US AND TO THIS COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE DONE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE VETERANS BY THE SERVICE YOU GAVE US, AND WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. WE CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. >> THANK YOU. >>ROSE FERLITA: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING. MR. CHAIRMAN, COLLEAGUES. I WAS ASKED TO PRESENT THIS PUBLIC WORKS AWARD, AND I'M DELIGHTED TO DO THAT. THEY ARE RECEIVING REACCREDITATION FROM THE NATIONAL CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, APWA, AND BRIEFLY, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION CHARTERED IN 1937 IS THE LARGEST AND OLDEST PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS INDUSTRY. IT BEGAN AN ACCREDITATION PROGRAM IN 1996. THE PROCESS FOR ACCREDITATION REQUIRES THAT APWA CERTIFY PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS, CONDUCT ON AN ON-SITE AUDIT TO VERIFY THAT INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ARE MET. IN JUNE OF 2006 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BECAME THE 34th ACCREDITED AGENCY, AND WE WERE THE FIRST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO ACHIEVE THIS DISTINCTION, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT SHOWS THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CONTINUES. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR THREE PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS CONDUCTED AN AUDIT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND PROCEDURES. ALL PRACTICES EVALUATED WERE FOUND IN FULL COMPLIANCE. THE APWA ACCREDITATION COUNCIL GRANTED OUR DEPARTMENT FULL ACCREDITATION ON APRIL 2010, AND THAT ACCREDITATION IS VALID UNTIL 2014. ACCREDITATION IS A PROCESS OF CONTINUES IMPROVEMENT. IT IS RIGOROUS. WE PURSUE THIS DISTINCTION TO ENSURE OUR CITIZENS THAT THEIR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ACCOUNTABLE AND IS USING THEIR TAX DOLLARS IN A RESPONSIBLE AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO BE THE ONLY ACCREDITED AGENCY IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. IT'S A BIG DEAL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BOB GORDON COME TO THE PODIUM, AND HE WILL PRESENT THIS AWARD -- HE WILL BE PRESENTED THIS AWARD BY MR. NOEL THOMPSON FROM THE NATIONAL CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION. SO MR. THOMPSON, IF YOU'LL DO THE PRESENTATION, I'LL STEP ASIDE. THANK YOU FOR COMING, SIR. APPRECIATE IT. >> APPRECIATE IT. ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ASSERTED THAT GOVERNMENT WAS NOT THE SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS, THAT, IN FACT, GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM. NOW, MOST OF US WHO HAVE SERVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT -- ON AN ELECTED LEVEL OR IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY OR ANY OTHER CAPACITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REALLY DIDN'T TAKE WELL TO THAT NOTION, AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DISPEL THAT EVER SINCE, AND IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH TO DISPEL THAT NOTION. AND I DON'T THINK THAT YOU HAVE ANY GROUP THAT HAS DONE MORE TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDES TOWARDS GOVERNMENT THAN THE PEOPLE WHO DELIVER THE BASIC SERVICES, THE SERVICES THAT MAKE A COMMUNITY A COMMUNITY THAN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SO IT IS -- IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE PLAQUE TO BOB GORDON AND TO STAFF AND ALSO A PLAQUE TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. THOMPSON, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH SIR, AND WHAT YOU SAID IS TRUE IN TERMS OF THE DEPARTMENT BUT ALSO ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP THAT THAT DEPARTMENT HAS, AND THAT CERTAINLY IS IN THE PERSON OF BOB GORDON. THE SECOND PART OF THE PRESENTATION IS RECOGNIZING OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR COMPLETING THE DESIGN-BUILD PROJECT OF THE YEAR, AND THAT WOULD BE THE COLUMBUS DRIVE EXTENSION PROJECT, AND I THINK THERE'S A BOARD THAT -- YEAH. IF YOU WANT TO JUST KIND OF SHOW IT FOR THE LOOKING AUDIENCE OR THE LISTENING AUDIENCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT -- WHY DON'T YOU COME OVER THIS WAY. >>BOB GORDON: THERE WE GO. [INAUDIBLE] >>ROSE FERLITA: YEAH, MAYBE THEY CAN SEE IT. ANYWAY, AS -- AS PART OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MISSION TO WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, IT WAS DECIDED TO DESIGN A DESIGN-BUILD FOR THE COLUMBUS DRIVE EXTENSION PROJECT. THAT WAS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S FIRST DESIGN-BUILD ROADWAY PROJECT. THE EXTENSION IS APPROXIMATELY .9 MILES LONG AND PROVIDES A CONNECTION BETWEEN FALKENBURG ROAD AND U.S. 301. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN JANUARY OF '09 AND WAS COMPLETED IN JANUARY 2010. THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET AT A COST OF $7.1 MILLION. THIS PROJECT WAS NOMINATED AND WON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, APWA, PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 2010, AND I WOULD -- IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THAT PLAQUE TO BOB, AND BOB, THIS GOES A LONG WAYS TO SHOW WHAT YOUR STAFF DOES AND WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES DO, BUT THEY CERTAINLY FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THEM, AND AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HIGHLIGHT THE LEADERSHIP YOU'VE GIVEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MAYBE IN TERMS OF A ROAST OR SOMETHING BY THE TIME SEPTEMBER'S UP, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AHEAD OF THE REST OF THE GUYS AND TELL YOU PERSONALLY FRIEND TO FRIEND, COWORKER TO COWORKER, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU, AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IS VERY OBVIOUS. >>BOB GORDON: THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] APPRECIATE IT. >>BOB GORDON: FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO ALSO GIVE RECOGNITION TO THE PROJECT TEAM FOR THIS PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD, AND AS I CALL YOUR NAME WILL YOU STAND IN THE BACK SO YOU COULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. DANA MACKEY, LANEY PETERSON, HOLLIS DAVIS, ALI BOOSHEHRI, RICHARD BURNS, AND WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WERE VALERIE HOLT AND SAM HALABI, BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND THEN IN REGARDS TO THE APWA ACCREDITATION, IT'S REALLY OUR PLEASURE TO BE THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT'S ACCREDITED. THIS IS -- THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROCESS IS IT REQUIRES US TO LOOK AT OUR PROCESSES EVERY FOUR YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES SO THAT THE CITIZENS ARE GETTING THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK IN PUBLIC WORKS FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION TODAY. THANK YOU. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANKS, BOB. >>BOB GORDON: APPRECIATE IT. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. MR. MERRILL, YOU WANT TO REVIEW THE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA. >>MIKE MERRILL: YES, MR. CHAIR. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OFF-THE-AGENDA ITEMS TODAY. FIRST IS B-6, WHICH IS AN APPROVAL OF A HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH SABAL RIDGE APARTMENTS TO FUND CONSTRUCTION OF 108 AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT UNITS. B-7 IS AN AGREEMENT WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, SAND DOLLAR, INC., FOR THE SAND DOLLAR GARDEN APARTMENTS TO FUND COSTS OF ACQUISITION AND REHABILITATION FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. B-8 IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION ENABLING THE COUNTY TO PERMIT AND IMPLEMENT THE USE OF TRAFFIC INFRACTION DETECTORS FOR RED LIGHT INFRACTIONS. B-9 IS A CHANGE ORDER TO THE CONTRACT WITH A&K ENERGY CONSERVATION, INC., FOR THE ORIENT ROAD JAIL LIGHTING RETROFIT PROJECT. ITEM B-10 IS THE APPROVAL OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE 28.51 ACRES OF LAND AT 4409 FOXWORTH ROAD IN RIVERVIEW. THE PROPERTY'S LOCATED WITHIN THE PALM RIVER/CLAIR MEL/PROGRESS VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION TARGET AREA. B-11 IS A REPORT FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OFFICE CONCERNING THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM. B-12 IS ANOTHER CHANGE ORDER. THIS IS THE CONTRACT WITH ECOSOLAR FOR THE MAIN COURTHOUSE AND TAX COLLECTOR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM PROJECT. ITEM B-13 IS REQUEST FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF PUBLIC PURPOSE TO ADOPT A PROGRAM FOR OUTPLACEMENT SERVICES FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BEING LAID OFF TO REDUCE THE COUNTY'S IMPACT ON UNEMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNTY'S COST OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION. B-14 AND B-15 ARE THE RATIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS. F-6 IS AN ITEM BROUGHT BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER SCHEDULED FOR 11:15 TIME CERTAIN TO DISCUSS ESTABLISHING A MEMORIAL FUND RECOGNITION PROGRAM FOR FIRST RESPONDERS OF THE COUNTY WHO ARE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. F-7 IS BROUGHT BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN, REQUESTING A REPORT ON BMX NATIONAL RACES AT LAKE PARK. AND F-8 IS AN ITEM BROUGHT BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE, 1:45 TIME CERTAIN, A PRESENTATION BY 11 GOOD ENERGY, INC., TO DESCRIBE ITS UNIQUE BIOFUEL PRODUCT TO ENHANCE ENGINE PERFORMANCE FOR THE COUNTY'S FLEET. WE HAVE ONE DELETION WHICH IS ITEM B-1, WHICH WAS TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY AREA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WITH RESPECT TO ACQUIRING THE CEDAR POINTE APARTMENTS. THERE ARE THREE CORRECTIONS TO AGENDAS WHICH ARE SCRIVENER'S ERRORS. A-5, THE AMOUNT -- THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WHICH WAS SHOWN AS 255,000 SHOULD HAVE READ 225,000. B-4, THAT IS BEING SHOWN TO -- SCHEDULED FOR A TIME CERTAIN AT 2:15. AND B-9 WAS ANOTHER SCRIVENER'S ERROR IN THE NOTATION OF THE ARRA STIMULUS PROGRAM. WE HAVE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT. WE HAVE TIME CERTAINS. 10:00 A.M., B-5, IS A COUNTY AUDIT REPORT ON AGING SERVICES. 10:15, F-2, AN UPDATE ON THE ANTI-BULLYING ADVISORY COMMITTEE -- OR AN UPDATE FROM THE ANTI-BULLYING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 10:30 IS A REPORT AND APPEARANCE BY RICHARD TARR WITH REGARD TO RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE STRUCTURE OF THE INTERNAL PERFORMANCE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. 10:45, ITEM F-4, IS AN ITEM BROUGHT BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN TO DISCUSS ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM. 11:00 A.M., B-3, IS THE ADOPTION OF A POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. 11:15, F-6, IS THE ITEM I MENTIONED EARLIER CONCERNING THE MEMORIAL FUND RECOGNITION PROGRAM. 11:45 WILL BE A RECESS FOR LUNCH. 1:45 IS THE ITEM I MENTIONED CONCERNING THE UNIQUE BIOFUEL PRODUCT PRESENTATION, 1:45. WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT 2:00 P.M. -- AT 2:00 P.M. D-1 IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. D-2 IS ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT COMMENTS ON THE ANNUAL PLAN FOR THE COUNTY'S SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM. D-3 IS THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE SHELL POINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. AND THEN FINALLY AT 2:15, ITEM B-4 IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT TRANSFERRING $150,000 FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION FUND RESERVE TO FUND AN ENVIRONMENTAL BUFFERS TECHNICAL MANUAL PREPARATION. THOSE ARE THE CHANGES TO THE TIME CERTAINS. >>ROSE FERLITA: MOVE THE CHANGES, MR. CHAIRMAN. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA TO APPROVE THE CHANGES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 5-0. >>KEN HAGAN: AT THIS TIME WE'LL GO INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT ANY ISSUE OR CONCERN. YOUR OPINION IS VALUED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING VALUABLE INPUT TO BOARD MEMBERS; HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD THAT YOUR COMMENTS ARE NOT PERSONALLY AGAINST A COMMISSIONER OR STAFF BUT RATHER THE ISSUES. WE'VE SET ASIDE 45 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING. WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. EACH PERSON WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES. THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, JOHN DAUSMAN, WILLIE DIXON, AND DIANNE HART. GOOD MORNING, MR. DAUSMAN. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JOHN DAUSMAN. I LIVE AT 4703 RIVER HILLS DRIVE. I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO SPEAK ON ITEM A-11, YOUR FINANCIAL SUMMARY REPORT, MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS REPORT THAT IT DOES NOT TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THE COUNTY'S DEBT SITUATION. IN FACT, IT DOESN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY'S DEBT SITUATION. ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT YOUR NEW ADMINISTRATOR HAS ANNOUNCED THAT COUNTY DEBT MANAGEMENT WILL BE ASSUMED BY THE CLERK OF COURT SEPTEMBER 30th. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS A LIE. THIS IDEA EXISTED ONLY IN MIKE MERRILL'S MIND. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IS FAR DIFFERENT. HERE'S THE REAL STORY. ON JUNE 30th, THE CLERK'S LONG-TIME DIRECTOR OF FINANCE RETIRED, AND YOUR ACTING DIRECTOR OF DEBT MANAGEMENT, TIM SIMON, APPLIED FOR THE JOB AND WAS DESERVEDLY SELECTED. SOME WEEKS AGO TIM CONFIDED IN ME ON THIS IMPORTANT CAREER MOVE BECAUSE HE WANTED MY INPUT ON A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN, A CONCERN HE ALSO HEARD FROM THE CLERK'S FINANCE STAFF, AND THAT CONCERN WAS THAT THE STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE ADMINISTRATOR'S DEBT STAFF CONTINUE AFTER THE TRANSITION SO THAT THE THREE- QUARTERS OF DEBT MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES NOT GOING TO THE CLERK WOULD CONTINUE JUST AS BEFORE. IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T CAUGHT ON, PAT'S LIAISON FOR THE PAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS WAS ME. THE BIGGEST PART OF MY JOB WAS TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH BORROWED CASH THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO NEED FOR APPROXIMATELY THE NEXT 18 MONTHS FOR ITS BILLION-DOLLAR CAPITAL PROGRAM, AND BY NEARLY EVERYONE'S ACCOUNT, THAT JOB HAS BEEN RUNNING EXCEEDINGLY WELL. MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW SUCH AN EFFORT IS GOING ON CONSISTENTLY. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT AND WAS MOST EAGER TO CONTINUE JUST AS BEFORE UNTIL I LEARNED THAT I WAS EXPECTED TO DO MY JOB IN SECRET. MIKE MERRILL HAD ANNOUNCED THAT DEBT MANAGEMENT WAS ASSUMED BY THE CLERK, AND THAT WAS THAT. THE ABSURDITY OF IT ALL WAS THAT I WAS ASSURED I WOULD BE EXPECTED TO KEEP DOING MY DUTIES AND EVEN WORK IN THE SAME OFFICE AT THE SAME CUBICAL, AS LONG AS THE SIGN CAME DOWN OFF THE DOOR. FORM OVER FUNCTION. IT MADE A MOCKERY OF MY WORK, SO I RETIRED ON JUNE 30th IN PROTEST. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S MUCH MORE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MANY OTHER TOPICS. I WAS ALARMED BY A NEWSPAPER HEADLINE A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THE COUNTY IS HUMMING ALONG. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. TRANSPARENCY IS ZERO, SECRECY IS RAMPANT, AND MANAGEMENT FOCUS IS SOLELY ON IDEOLOGY. THERE IS DEEP TROUBLE AHEAD, AND I'LL BE BRINGING YOU THAT MESSAGE AT FUTURE MEETINGS. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. DAUSMAN. WILLIE DIXON, DIANNE HART, AND THEN ANN JENKINS. GOOD MORNING, REVEREND DIXON. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M REVEREND WILLIE G. DIXON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COACH FOUNDATION. WE'RE LOCATED AT 1331 WEST CASS STREET, AND I JUST COME TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND BRING YOU SOME GOOD NEWS BECAUSE USUALLY YOU HEAR BAD NEWS AND PEOPLE SAYING ALL TYPE OF THINGS, BUT LAST THURSDAY WE HAD AN OPEN HOUSE. COMMISSIONER HAGAN AND COMMISSIONER WHITE WERE THERE, AND THEY CAN ATTEST TO WHAT THE NSP PROGRAM IS DOING FOR THIS COMMUNITY. WE HAD ONE HOUSE THAT CREATED 35 JOBS. NOW, IF ONE HOUSE CAN CREATE 35 JOBS, JUST THINK WHAT A HUNDRED HOUSES CAN DO, AND I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU AND MS. VAL TURNER FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE IF THE -- THE ECONOMY TURNED AROUND BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING MARKET, WE CAN ALSO CAUSE IT TO STIMULATE AND CAUSE MORE ECONOMY TO COME INTO THIS COMMUNITY, SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES THERE FROM REPRESENTATIVE KATHY CASTOR'S OFFICE, WE HAD INDIVIDUALS FROM THE HUD OFFICE TO COME AND SEE WHAT IS BEING DONE IN THIS COUNTY, AND I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD JUST ALLOW ME TO -- I DON'T SEE MS. TURNER HERE, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING FOR HER, AND I THINK YOU, MR. HAGAN, AND MR. WHITE -- I'VE GIVEN YOU TO SHOW YOU WHAT IS BEING DONE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, ALSO WHAT IS BEING DONE IN OTHER CITIES. LAND BANKING IS THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE, WHAT, YOU BUY LAND WHILE LAND IS CHEAP, AND THEN WHAT, THEN YOU CAN ALSO PREPARE FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE, AND ALSO WE NEED RENTERS TO BUY HOMES BECAUSE EVERYONE IS NOT PREPARED TO BE A HOMEOWNER. SO I THINK YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, AND YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL PERSON WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO RUN YOUR HOUSING PROGRAM. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE HOUSING PROGRAM FOR OVER 35 YEARS IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, SO I KNOW WHEN THINGS ARE BEING DONE RIGHT. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME ACCOLADES FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND FOR YOU HAVING A STAFF WITH -- UNDER MS. TURNER. THEY ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF WE JUST STAND BEHIND THIS DEPARTMENT AND REVITALIZE OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE ONE HOUSE CAN CHANGE A COMMUNITY, SO WE NEED TO GIVE HER ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE CAN. BY THIS WE WILL CREATE JOBS BECAUSE, WHAT, ONE PERSON WILL BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND BUY THINGS FOR HIS FAMILY, AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. >>KEN HAGAN: AND REVEREND DIXON, I JUST WANT TO -- I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND TIRELESS EFFORTS TO NOT ONLY REVITALIZE OUR COMMUNITY BUT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SO MANY THAT LIVE HERE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >>KEN HAGAN: DIANNE HART, ANN JENKINS, THEN MARILYN SMITH. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DIANNE HART AND I RESIDE AT 5006 CUMBERLAND DRIVE. I TOO AM A NONPROFIT, EAST TAMPA BUSINESS AND CIVIC ASSOCIATION. I SERVE AS THE CEO FOR THAT ORGANIZATION. THANKS TO YOUR HOUSING PROGRAM, EAST TAMPA BUSINESS AND CIVIC HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE TWO NEW HOMEOWNERS INTO THE NSP PROPERTIES. WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEVEN NSP PROPERTIES THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN ONE PHASE OR ANOTHER, BUT BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP IN YOUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THINGS ARE RUNNING VERY SMOOTHLY FOR US. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S BEYOND MRS. TURNER'S CONTROL TO BE ABLE TO BUY PROPERTY THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE, AND PART OF THAT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT TAKES US A LONG TIME IN GOVERNMENT, AS YOU ALL VERY WELL KNOW, TO PURCHASE A PIECE OF PROPERTY, SO A LOT OF TIMES WE END UP LOSING THAT PROPERTY BEFORE WE CAN GET IT AS AN NSP PROPERTY, BUT THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL. WE TOO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EMPLOY PROBABLY 35 TO 40 FOLK ON EACH ONE OF THESE HOUSES, SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID. WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE WHO OBVIOUSLY WORKED SOME AND WERE UNEMPLOYED, AND THE BUILDERS ARE REACHING OUT AND GETTING THOSE PEOPLE. WE'RE ASKING OUR BUILDER TO BE SURE TO INVOLVE PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY, PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK, SO I TOO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES. THANKS TO MS. TURNER AND OVER TO LANETTE GLASS AND TO ALL OF YOUR STAFF OVER AT THE COUNTY HOUSING DEPARTMENT. IT IS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TASK TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY IN TODAY'S MARKET WITH ALL OF THE INVESTORS RUNNING AROUND ZAPPING UP EVERYTHING AS SOON AS IT HITS THE MARKET, SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS POSSIBLY ACQUIRING AS MANY PARCELS AS EACH ONE OF US WOULD LIKE, BUT IN TODAY'S MARKET THERE'S NOT VERY MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT UNLESS WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SPEED THIS TRAIN UP A LITTLE BIT IN PURCHASES THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND I KNOW THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- I MEAN, YOU-ALL HAVE SOME PARAMETERS IN WHICH YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITHIN, SO I TOO THANK YOU. IT IS GOOD NEWS. TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO HELP AND TO BE ABLE TO STABILIZE A COMMUNITY IS AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL THING. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA SINCE 1999. THIS IS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND I'M A VERY PROUD RECIPIENT OF THESE HOMES, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING PEOPLE IN THEM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE TO HELP US MOVE THIS PROGRAM FORWARD AND THANKS TO MS. TURNER AND HER STAFF, AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE A PART OF YOUR PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MS. HART, FOR YOUR COMMENTS. [APPLAUSE] ANN JENKINS, MARILYN SMITH, AND THE LAST SPEAKER, MARK KLUTHO. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING? MY NAME IS ANN JENKINS. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF COACH FOUNDATION. I'M ALSO RETIRED FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, SO I'M A VETERAN HERE TODAY, BUT I AM OUT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M STILL IN THE ARMY. I'M IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD. WE ARE OUT HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE ARE WORKING HARD. IT'S NOT EASY TO SELL THESE HOUSES, BUT WE ARE OUT HERE SELLING, TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN, AND I'M HERE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I DID NOT SEE SOME OF YOU-ALL AT THE OPEN HOUSE. I AM SURE THAT COACH FOUNDATION INVITED YOU, AND IF THEY DIDN'T, YOU RAISE YOUR HAND, LET ME KNOW, I'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT. [LAUGHTER] BUT FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SUPPORTERS HERE THAT'S SUPPORTING THIS NSP PROGRAM. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND SUPPORTERS. WE NEED YOUR HELP. NSP NEED YOUR HELP. VAL TURNER NEEDS YOUR HELP. THIS YOUNG LADY IS A VERY HARDWORKING YOUNG LADY THAT'S WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, AND SHE NEEDS YOU TO HELP. WE GOT A LOT OF FLAK, YOU KNOW, FROM SOME PEOPLE, BUT THAT IS -- THAT HAPPENS ALL OVER THE WORLD. I LOOK AT THIS COMMISSION ALL THE TIME ON TV, AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AT THIS COMMISSION, AND I'M LETTING YOU KNOW THAT YOU-ALL NEED TO COME OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND VISIT US BECAUSE I KNOW ELECTION TIME YOU-ALL WILL BE OUT THERE. I'LL SEE EVERY FACE, EVERYONE THAT'S RUNNING FOR SOME OFFICE, I'LL SEE YOUR FACE BECAUSE I AM A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND I AM IN THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME. I REMEMBER I FED YOU AT MARVIN KNIGHT'S PLACE. I REMEMBER YOU, MR. BECKNER, YOU KNOW. SO I'M JUST LETTING YOU-ALL KNOW THAT YOU-ALL NEED TO COME OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU-ALL NEED TO GET ON TOP AND GET INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM AND HELP US DO WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. WE ARE FOOT SOLDIERS FOR YOU. THE FOOT SOLDIERS, WE DO THE WORK, SO YOU-ALL GET US SOME HOUSES. THAT'S ALL I WANT IS YOU-ALL TO GET US SOME HOUSES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK AND CONTINUE TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK. I CAN'T WORK. I'M A 100% DISABLED VETERAN, AND I WANT YOU-ALL TO KNOW THAT, BUT I GIVE IT MY ALL. I GIVE MY ALL TO MY COMMUNITY. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS MY HOME. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN TAMPA. SO I WANT TO SEE ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY YOU, MR. HIGGINBOTHAM. YEAH, I TALKED TO YOU BEFORE. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MRS. JENKINS. THANK YOU, MRS. JENKINS. >> THANK YOU ALL. >>KEN HAGAN: HAVE A GOOD DAY. MARILYN SMITH AND THEN MARK KLUTHO. GOOD MORNING, MS. SMITH. >> BON GIORNO. THIS IS NOT A HAPPY OCCASION. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU I'M HAPPY TO HAVE KNOWN GEORGE STEINBRENNER. HE CAME HERE FOR SHIPS, STAYED FOR BASEBALL, AND MADE IT A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. ENOUGH SAID. YOU KNOW, GEORGE WOULD TELL YOU RIGHT NOW GET ON WITH BUSINESS. AND DON'T BE USING HIS NAME TO GET YOURSELF IN THE PAPER. NOW, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A-2. WHY IS CODE ENFORCEMENT MOVING MONEY AROUND TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS THAT IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING CARE OF? YOU'RE NOT ASKING ENOUGH QUESTIONS. YOU NEED TO LOOK THAT UP. BARGE IS AT IT AGAIN, GOING TO PAY FOR SOME MORE BLACKBERRIES THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING RID OF. F-7, IT SEEMS LIKE COMMISSIONER HAGAN IS WORRIED ABOUT BMX. HE COULD WORRY ABOUT BIGGER THINGS THAN BMX. THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, SO YOU DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY BUT YOU MADE SOME MONEY AND YOU MADE SOME DEALS, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU OUGHT TO BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT. GOT YOUR NAME IN THE PAPER. B-13 IS A LITTLE BIT SCARY TO ME. I DON'T LIKE THE WAY IT LOOKS TO ME THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THIS COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME OR A SHORT TIME ARE BEING SKEWERED THE WAY THEY'RE REWRITING THINGS, YOU CAN'T BUMP HERE, YOU CAN'T BUMP THERE. THIS IS NOT A WAY TO TREAT PEOPLE WHO DO THE DAILY WORK OF THIS COUNTY. ONLY THOSE AT THE TOP KEEP THEIR JOBS, THE GUYS -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T RUN A SHIP WITHOUT THE SAILORS. NOT EVERYBODY CAN BE AN ADMIRAL. REMEMBER THAT. YOU HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM HERE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE IGNORED. WE HAD MOLD ON CEDAR POINTE, AND I DON'T CARE WHAT THESE PEOPLE TELL YOU, MOLD IN A BUILDING IS BAD, SO WHAT DO WE DO? VALMARIE GOES OUT THERE AND PAYS $1.8 MILLION FOR A BUILDING WITH MOLD. HALLELUJAH, ISN'T THAT GREAT? THEN WE HAVE LAND BANKING. LET ME TELL YOU WE HAVE NOW TITLED IN OUR NAME SEVERAL PROPERTIES. EVERY PROPERTY YOU LET A BANK SELL YOU TAKES REVENUE FROM THE STREAM TO PAY FOR GOVERNMENT. NOW, THAT'S CALLED DEFICIT SPENDING, AND WE'RE DOING A BODACIOUS AMOUNT. YEAH, HUD BUYS THEM, BUT ONCE THEY'RE OFF THE ROLLS, WHO'S PAYING THE TAXES? YOU PEOPLE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND ECONOMICS, AND YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS AND YOU'RE LETTING THESE PEOPLE TELL YOU WHAT TO DO? I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ONE FINAL THING AND THEN I'M GOING TO STOP FOR TODAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THESE THINGS THAT ARE THE TRUTH AROUND HERE TOO MUCH. YOU HAVE A BRIDGE CALLED THE PLATT STREET BRIDGE, AND MR. - - MR. BOB GORDON HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT WITH HIS STAFF FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND I AM VERY AWARE OF THAT BRIDGE BECAUSE WHEN I GO OVER IT RATTLES, SHAKES. YOU KNOW, IT'S A BAD BRIDGE AND IT'S A DANGEROUS BRIDGE. SO THEY HIT A BRICK WALL AT A CERTAIN POINT WITH A PART THAT THEY NEED THAT ARE BRAKES TO MAKE THE LITTLE UP-AND- DOWN BRIDGE, AND I'M NOT DONE YET, SO YOU HAVE TO WAIT. I'M BREATHING TOUGH TODAY. AT THAT POINT -- >> [INAUDIBLE] >> AT THAT POINT I SAID, BOB, WHERE ARE WE NOW? HE SAYS, WE'VE HIT A BRICK WALL, MARILYN. WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET THIS PART OUT OF THE AMERICAN -- BY AMERICA. I HAD TO BOTTOM LINE -- IT TOOK ME FOUR DAYS. I HAD TO BOTTOM LINE -- AND NO HELP FROM ALCALDE & FAY THAT WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO, NO HELP FROM EDITH. I DID THIS ON MY OWN HOOK. I EVEN GOT IN TOUCH WITH TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RAY LAHOOD TO GET THE PART. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. >> AND I DID, AND WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH IT, NO THANKS TO YOUR STAFF OTHER THAN THE ENGINEERING FOLKS OF BOB GORDON. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. LAST SPEAKER THIS MORNING, BOB KLUTHO. GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. WHO'S PUSHING RAY'S MOVE WRITTEN BY THAT BOY BILL VARIAN, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT CALLED ME A SELF-PROCLAIMED VETERAN WHEN RONDA STORMS WANTED ME BARRED FOR LIFE FROM THESE MEETINGS? HE WRITES -- THIS BOY HERE, RAY NEUBAUER, HE'S A TEMPORARY -- ONE OF HIS HATS -- A TEMPORARY WORKER STUDYING WAYS TO MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GREEN. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BY DEFINITION GREEN. HOW STUPID CAN YOU GET? AND THEN WE HAVE THIS ONE, USF TRANSFORMER, THIS IDIOT GENSHAFT. IT SAYS HERE THAT THEY'RE DOING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. WHY THEY JUST BUILT A NEW BUILDING OVER THERE, AND THIS THING'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING A SUSTAINABLE DESIGN. THE NEW MARSHALL CENTER, A MONUMENT TO IGNORANCE. WHY YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS ON THE CAMPUS, AND THEY'RE DOING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES? WHAT A JOKE. AND THEN WHAT DOES THIS STUPID FOOL SAY? SHE SAYS, THERE WAS A VARIETY -- VARIETY OF POINTS OF VIEW. NO. POINTS, THAT'S PLURAL. WERE. THIS IS THE PRESIDENT OF A UNIVERSITY? WHAT A STUPID MORON. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE FROM HERE, FOLKS. AND THEN THE COURTHOUSE GETTING SOLAR COLLECTORS. OH, BOY, HOW PATHETIC. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WASTED RENEWABLE ENERGY. OH, MAN, $960,000. DID YOU GET THE LIGHTING FIXED? IMAGING SPECULAR REFLECTORS, NOT THREE BULBS, ONE BULB, ONE BULB HERE. YEAH, SEE. JUST LIKE DOWN THE HALL HERE, 600-PLUS WATTS OF LIGHTING IN THE BATHROOM, SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS WASTE THE RENEWABLE ENERGY OVER THERE. HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE? THIS IS A CRIME. LIKE WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID IN "TIME" MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 12th, 1960, BETTER BUILDINGS BY DESIGN. WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS, THEREAFTER THEY SHAPE US. AND YOU PASSED A RESOLUTION APRIL 1st, 1998, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS. ZERO, ZERO SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS HERE. YOU PEOPLE ARE CRIMINALS. YOU NEED TO BE IN JAIL. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. KLUTHO. APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA. CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSENT. >>MARK SHARPE: SO MOVE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER SHARPE, SECOND COMMISSIONER BECKNER. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>KEN HAGAN: FIRST ITEM, MR. MERRILL. >>MIKE MERRILL: YES. WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE YOUR 10:00 A.M. TIME CERTAIN, SO AT THIS TIME WE'LL DO ITEM B-2 FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE CANVASSING BOARD. >>RENEE LEE: AND COMMISSIONERS, WE NEED ONE COMMISSIONER, AND WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER. THAT'S COMMISSIONER KEVIN BECKNER, AND WE NEED YOUR APPROVAL. >> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] >>ROSE FERLITA: SO DID YOU NEED A SECOND OR YOU JUST WANT TO JUST MOVE FORWARD? CONGRATULATIONS. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BECKNER, FOR VOLUNTEERING. DO YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR -- >>KEVIN BECKNER: DO I NEED -- >>JIM NORMAN: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEVIN BECKNER: DO I NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS FOR CONCERN OF PERSONAL GAIN? >>RENEE LEE: I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO YOU. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THIS JUST SEEMS TOO QUICK. [LAUGHTER] >>JIM NORMAN: WAIT A MINUTE. I MIGHT WANT TO DO THIS. I GOT A BOX OF VOTES I WANT TO BRING IN. [LAUGHTER] >>KEN HAGAN: WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND COMMISSIONER FERLITA. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RENEE LEE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: AND LET'S DO ITEM B-6 FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OFFICE. VALMARIE IS HERE TO PRESENT THAT. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, VALMARIE. >>VALMARIE TURNER: GOOD MORNING. VALMARIE TURNER, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONERS, THIS ITEM, B-6, IS FOR THE HOME PROGRAM. WE ARE PROVIDING $700,000 IN HOME FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A 108-UNIT AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THE DEVELOPER IN THIS TRANSACTION COMPETITIVELY COMPETED AND WAS AWARDED FOR FUNDING BY REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND MULTIFAMILY OF NEW CONSTRUCTION IS AN ACTIVITY THAT WAS INCLUDED AND APPROVED UNDER OUR CURRENT ACTION PLAN. >>KEN HAGAN: DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MS. TURNER? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >>KEVIN WHITE: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND COMMISSIONER BECKNER. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: AND ITEM B-7 AS WELL, VALMARIE. >>VALMARIE TURNER: THIS IS WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM. THIS IS SAND DOLLAR GARDENS APARTMENT AND IT'S AN AGREEMENT WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES THAT PROVIDES FOR THE ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION, AND RELATED COSTS FOR A 40-UNIT DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA AREA WHICH IS A TARGET AREA FOR NSP. IT PROVIDES 3.4 MILLION OF WHICH 1.9 IS NSP AND 1.45 IS WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT RECOVERY DOLLARS. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: JUST ONE QUESTION I HAD AS I WAS READING THROUGH THESE AGREEMENTS. THERE'S NO DOLLARS -- THE COUNTY'S NOT TAKING ANY TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR AS THE -- THE RUNNING OF THE PROGRAMS OR ANY ONGOING EXPENSES AS FAR AS THAT GOES; IS THAT RIGHT? IS THAT JUST ALL THE CAPITAL -- ABOUT THE CAPITAL ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY? >>VALMARIE TURNER: RIGHT. THIS WILL BE RUN -- THE ENTIRE PROJECT WILL BE HELD IN THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES' NAME. >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >>MARK SHARPE: SO MOVE. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER SHARPE. DO I HAVE A SECOND? >>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND. >>ROSE FERLITA: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND COMMISSIONER BECKNER. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: IF DAN POHTO DOESN'T MIND, COULD WE FINISH UP A COUPLE MORE WITH VALMARIE? ARE YOU OKAY? ALL RIGHT THANK YOU, DAN. ALL RIGHT. IF WE COULD TAKE ITEM B-10 WHICH IS ANOTHER NSP ITEM TO PURCHASE LAND IN RIVERVIEW. >>VALMARIE TURNER: GOOD MORNING AGAIN. THIS IS ON FOXWORTH -- FOXWORTH PROPERTY TO PURCHASE AND LAND BANK 28 ACRES OF VACANT LAND IN THE RIVERVIEW AREA. PURSUANT TO THE NSP REGULATIONS, AN APPRAISAL WAS COMPLETED, AND THE ASKING PRICE WAS 1.1 MILLION, WHICH IS LESS THAN 99% OF THE APPRAISED VALUE. THE APPRAISED VALUE CAME IN AT 1.2 MILLION. THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE PALM RIVER/CLAIR MEL/PROGRESS VILLAGE AREA. THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT THAT WE PROVIDED TO HUD ALLOWS FOR US TO DO LAND BANK ACTIVITIES, AND THIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED FOR 504 UNITS. >>KEN HAGAN: ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >>KEVIN WHITE: MOVE THE ITEM. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER WHITE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >>ROSE FERLITA: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND COMMISSIONER FERLITA. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: AND FINALLY, ITEM B-11, WHICH IS THE UPDATE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM. >>VALMARIE TURNER: COMMISSIONERS, TO DATE WE HAVE CLOSED ON 59 SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTIES. WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TEN EXECUTED CONTRACTS THAT ARE PENDING CLOSING, THREE OF WHICH WILL BE CLOSING BETWEEN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK. WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT OFFERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OUT. WE HAVE CLOSED ON FOUR PROPERTIES WITH ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS, SO WE HAVE FOUR PROPERTIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED TO HOMEOWNERS. WITH YOUR APPROVAL OF THE FOXWORTH AGREEMENT AS WELL AS THE SAND DOLLAR GARDENS APARTMENTS, WE'RE NOW AT 75% OBLIGATION, AND ON JULY 7th, AS IT RELATES TO THE CEDAR POINTE APARTMENTS, THE COUNTY -- WE HAD TO CLOSE IN THE COUNTY'S NAME, AS WE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNIVERSITY AREA CDC. THE TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY IS THE CURRENT PROPERTY MANAGER. WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH THE OTHER HOUSING PARTNERS IN TERMS OF ESTABLISHING AN OPERATING AGREEMENT, AND WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO THE BOARD AT THE FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST. >>KEN HAGAN: ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SO THE DEADLINE AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED, REVIEW THAT AGAIN FOR PEOPLE LISTENING. >>VALMARIE TURNER: THE DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 3rd. WE WERE HOPING TO BE AT 100% TODAY, BUT, HOWEVER, AT THE AUGUST 3rd MEETING OR THE FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST, WE'LL BE AT 100%. >>KEVIN BECKNER: AND THEN JUST AGAIN, THE PROPERTIES ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE CLOSED OR JUST UNDER CONTRACT? >>VALMARIE TURNER: UNDER CONTRACT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: UNDER CONTRACT. AND ARE WE -- JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE MISSING OUT ON ANY OF THESE DOLLARS BECAUSE WE KNOW SOMETIMES DEALS DO FALL THROUGH, ARE THERE GOING TO BE CONTRACTS THAT PERHAPS WOULD TAKE US OVER THAT AMOUNT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE -- WE'VE GOT BACKUP? >>VALMARIE TURNER: ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THE PIPELINE, WE'LL BE OVER THE 19.1. >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING HARD, VALMARIE. APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO IMPROVE THIS OFFICE. >>VALMARIE TURNER: THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >>KEN HAGAN: CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SO MOVE. >>KEVIN WHITE: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECOND COMMISSIONER WHITE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: THANKS, VAL. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, VALMARIE. >>VALMARIE TURNER: THANK YOU. >>MIKE MERRILL: AND NOW YOUR 10:00 A.M. TIME CERTAIN. DAN POHTO IS HERE TO PRESENT HIS AUDIT REPORT ON THE AGING SERVICES DEPARTMENT. IT'S A FOLLOW-UP AUDIT. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, DAN. >>MIKE MERRILL: THANKS, DAN. >>DAN POHTO: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. DAN POHTO, DIRECTOR OF COUNTY AUDIT WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE. WE HAVE AUDIT REPORT 198 WHICH IS A FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST YEAR ON AGING SERVICES. THEY HAD 19 FINDINGS. THEY HAVE ADDRESSED 16 OF THEM. THREE OF THEM THAT ARE OPEN ARE GOING TO PROBABLY TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER. ONE IS MORE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE AND THE OTHER IS JUST A -- OPTIONS FOR FRIENDS OF THE AGING, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER. WE DID HAVE TWO NEW FINDINGS. ONE OF THEM IS CLOSED AND THE OTHER ONE IS BEING WORKED ON BETWEEN NOW AND PROBABLY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. >>KEN HAGAN: ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR DAN? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT? >>JIM NORMAN: SO MOVE. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER NORMAN. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU, DAN. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>DAN POHTO: THANKS, COMMISSIONERS. >>MIKE MERRILL: THANKS, DAN. NEXT WOULD BE ITEM B-8 FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CONCERNING THE RED LIGHT CAMERA ORDINANCE. >>CHARLOTTE DIGGS: GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS. CHARLOTTE DIGGS, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT WILL DECLARE THIS BOARD'S INTENT TO OPT INTO LAWS OF FLORIDA 2010-80, WHICH RELATES TO THE ENFORCEMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF PENALTIES FOR RED LIGHT INFRACTIONS THAT ARE CAPTURED BY CAMERA. THIS BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR CRIST AND BECAME EFFECTIVE ON JULY 1, 2010. THIS BOARD MAY RECALL THAT AN ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN DECEMBER OF 2009, ORDINANCE 09-64, RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, BUT THE NEW LEGISLATION THAT HAS TAKEN EFFECT HAS EFFECTIVELY PREEMPTED THE COUNTY FROM CONTINUING TO ISSUE NOTICES OF VIOLATION UNDER THAT ORDINANCE; THEREFORE, WE'RE BRINGING YOU THIS RESOLUTION WHICH WILL ENABLE THE COUNTY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS PROGRAM UNDER THE NEW LAW. THIS RESOLUTION WILL EFFECTIVELY ENACT THE PROGRAM RETROACTIVELY TO JULY 1st, 2010. IT WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH VENDORS AUTHORIZED TO CARRY OUT SERVICES RELATED TO RED LIGHT CAMERA VIOLATIONS. THE RESOLUTION ALSO ADDRESSES ENFORCEMENT OF VIOLATIONS ISSUED PRIOR TO JULY 1st, 2010, UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, 09-64. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. ALSO WE HAVE PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AS WELL. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MS. DIGGS, I DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT THIS IS NECESSARILY DIRECTED AT YOU FOR RESPONSE. I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR ADMINISTRATOR YESTERDAY IN TERMS OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS, AND THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE -- WE GOT ANSWERED FROM -- FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE AMONG WHICH HOW MUCH WAS COLLECTED AND WHAT THE COUNTY RECEIVED? I CAN GO THROUGH THAT. HOW MUCH HAS BEEN PAID TO THE VENDOR, AMERICAN TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS, FOR SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH APRIL 30th? PURSUANT TO ITS CONTRACT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, IT'S COMPENSATED AT A RATE OF 4750 -- $4,750 FOR TRAFFIC APPROACH EACH MONTH FOR UP TO TEN APPROACHES. HOW MUCH HAS BEEN PAID TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE 9-64? ALL PROCEEDS DO GO INTO THE UNINCORPORATED -- UNINCORPORATED AREA GENERAL FUND. AND THEN I ASKED FOR A LAYOUT OF HOW THIS IS COMING IN IN TERMS OF PAYMENTS AND REPORTS, AND I BELIEVE FROM THE KNOWLEDGE I WAS GIVEN THROUGH THIS, THIS GOES TO THE VENDOR, THEN IT'S SENT TO US, THEY GET WHATEVER THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET IN TERMS OF FEES, BUT I -- I REALLY DON'T SEE -- AND THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO EVEN BE MORE MONEY. I DON'T SEE A LEVEL OF COMFORT FOR ME IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY, AND I SHOWED THIS TO MR. MERRILL. THIS IS THE MECHANISM, NOT WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU CAME FORWARD WITH TODAY, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS RELATED TO IT, I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO ASK THAT, AND IN MY CONVERSATION WITH MR. MERRILL, I THINK HE AGREED, AND MIKE, I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT I THINK THE LEVEL OF CONCERN IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY FROM THE ACCOUNTING STANDPOINT WARRANTS US TO DO AN AUDIT OF THIS, AND I'LL ASK MR. MERRILL TO WEIGH IN ON THAT IN TERMS OF HOW WE WOULD DO THAT SO THAT IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR WHAT THEY GET, WHAT WE GET BACK. I'M JUST -- I DON'T SEE THE DETAIL IN HERE THAT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH, AND MY STAFF AND MYSELF HAS -- HAVE TALKED TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE, AND DAN, YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO WEIGH IN IF YOU WANT, BUT I THINK JUST TO KEEP US ALL ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND HAVE CITIZENS KNOW THAT THIS IS WORKING, YES, AND IT'S A REVENUE AND IT'S GREAT AND IT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND, AGAIN, THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS -- IS NEBULOUS, SO MR. MERRILL, IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT,ED THAT'S BE GREAT. >>MIKE MERRILL: YES. THE SHERIFF'S CURRENT CONTRACT FOR -- FOR THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS DOES PROVIDE FOR AUDITS. THEY CAN GO IN AND DO AUDITS, AND I THINK PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO BE TO COORDINATE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SINCE IT'S THEIR CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S DONE -- TO, YOU KNOW, JUST BE SURE THAT THE VENDOR IS DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. >>ROSE FERLITA: YEAH, AND SO WE'D JUST ASK THEM TO DO THAT -- >>MIKE MERRILL: I THINK SO. >>ROSE FERLITA: -- AS A MECHANISM OF THEIR AGREEMENT? >>MIKE MERRILL: I THINK THEIR REPRESENTATIVE'S HERE. >>CHARLOTTE DIGGS: THEY'RE PRESENT IF YOU'D LIKE. >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. BROWN? IS HE HERE THEN? OH, I DIDN'T EVEN SEE YOU. >>RENEE LEE: CHRIS BROWN. >>ROSE FERLITA: I'M SO SORRY. ANYWAY, CHRIS, THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY NOTHING TO DO WITH -- I AM TOTALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE PROCESS, BUT YOU KNOW, VENDORS COME AND VENDORS GO, AND WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING THEM HONEST. >> SURE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. CHRIS BROWN ON BEHALF OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERN OR HESITATION TO COOPERATE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY. THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE IS THE INTERPRETATION THAT I HEARD BY YOU, COMMISSIONER, IN TERMS OF HOW THESE MONIES ARE RELAYED. THAT WASN'T MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW IT OCCURS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE ENTIRETY OF THE MONIES COLLECTED BY ATS GO TO THE COUNTY FUND, AND THEN ATS IS PAID OUT OF THAT FUND, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS PAID OUT OF THAT FUND, SO CERTAINLY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PROBLEMS SHOULD BE MINIMIZED, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROCESS. WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT, AND -- >>ROSE FERLITA: AND YOU KNOW WHAT, MR. BROWN, IF THE WAY I -- I RELAYED IT IS INCORRECT, I'D LOVE TO BE WRONG. BETTER US AND THEN GIVE THE VENDOR THEIR FEE, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU AND I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF YOUR TERMINOLOGY'S RIGHT OR MINE OR THE MECHANISM, I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. >> SURE. AND I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM RELAYING EITHER TO THE SHERIFF OR TO COLONEL BROWN, WHO HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY PERSON ON THIS -- >>ROSE FERLITA: RIGHT. >> -- THE BOARD'S CONCERN, AND PERHAPS YOU AND HE OR THE COMMISSIONERS AND COLONEL BROWN OR THE SHERIFF SHOULD COORDINATE ABOUT REQUESTING AN AUDIT OR LOOKING INTO THAT. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. WELL, MR. KLEIN, DO YOU -- I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO WEIGH IN ON. >>DAN KLEIN: COMMISSIONER, THE OBSERVATION IS CORRECT AS THE WAY THE -- THE FLOW OF FUNDS. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS ARE SENT OUT BY THE SHERIFF'S CONTRACTOR. PAYMENTS ARE SENT AND RECEIVED BY THAT CONTRACTOR, AND THEN ONCE A WEEK THE FUNDS ARE SENT TO BOARD ACCOUNTING FOR DEPOSIT AND RECEIPT INTO THE BOARD'S UNINCORPORATED AREA GENERAL FUND. WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO SOME DEGREE IN RECONCILING THE MONEY THAT'S RECEIVED VERSUS WHAT WE KNOW WITH REGARD TO THE PAYMENTS MADE. SINCE WE DO NOT MANAGE THE RECEIVABLE RECEIPT OF THE INDIVIDUAL PAYMENTS, WE ARE CLOSE IN RECONCILING THOSE NUMBERS, BUT WE CAN NEVER GET TO THE EXACT AMOUNT. IN FACT, IN MOST CASES, THE MONEY WE RECEIVED ARE NOT DISVISIBLE BY $125, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF THE INDIVIDUAL VIOLATION, SO THERE'S SOME ISSUES AS TO WHETHER THERE'S PARTIAL PAYMENTS AND PAYMENT PLANS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S STAFF BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DO NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT CONTRACTOR IN TRYING TO CONTINUE TO RECONCILE THOSE MONIES. >>ROSE FERLITA: RIGHT. AND YOU KNOW, DAN, I DIDN'T WANT TO GO INTO THAT AMOUNT OF DETAIL, BUT THAT'S WHAT I SUSPECTED, BUT I WANTED TO VERIFY THAT. AND CERTAINLY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND COUNTY COMMISSION ARE PARTNERS. THE OTHER PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IS A VENDOR, AND IF IT'S NOT CRYSTAL CLEAR AND IT DOESN'T EXACTLY RECONCILE, THEN EXACTLY RECONCILE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, SO I THINK WE NEED TO BRING IT TO THE LEVEL OF AN AUDIT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. THERE ARE GOING TO BE EVEN MORE MONIES GENERATED FROM THIS AND I APPLAUD IT, AND IT KEEPS PEOPLE SAFE IN TERMS OF KNOWING THEY'RE GOING TO GET A TICKET IF THEY SPEED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, AND THE GOOD BENEFIT OF THAT IS THE DOLLARS GO TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND I'M DELIGHTED THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT NOT BEING EVENLY OR EQUALLY DIVISIBLE BY 125 OR THAT THE COUNTY DOESN'T EXACTLY WORK OUT. SO MR. MERRILL, THAT BEING SAID, IF I NEED THAT IN THE TERM OF A MOTION, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. WHATEVER AMOUNT OF TIME WE NEED TO COORDINATE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR -- FOR AN AUDIT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- THAT THE VENDOR IS HONEST -- AND I'M NOT MAKING ANY ACCUSATIONS, I DON'T KNOW, BUT SOME OF THESE THINGS DON'T COME OUT EXACTLY EVEN IN TERMS OF THE LITTLE ACCOUNTING THAT I DID, AND I THINK MR. KLEIN SUBSTANTIATED THAT, SO HOW DO WE WANT TO DO THAT? >>KEN HAGAN: MS. LEE, DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS TOO? >>RENEE LEE: YES, COMMISSIONER. I THINK AN AUDIT IS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE WE'RE IN A TRANSITION PERIOD, AND COMMISSIONER FERLITA, YOU'VE RELATED SOME OTHER QUESTIONS IN YOUR DIALOGUE THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE A COPY OF. >>ROSE FERLITA: CERTAINLY. >>RENEE LEE: SO THAT IF WE NEED TO AMEND THE CONTRACT, IF WE NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES AT THIS POINT DURING THIS TRANSITION THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT AND TIE UP ANY LOOSE ENDS IN THE CONTRACT. >>ROSE FERLITA: GREAT. WE'LL PROVIDE THAT TO YOU. >>RENEE LEE: WE'LL CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO DO THAT, WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. SO I GUESS IN THE FORM OF A MOTION, I WOULD LIKE AN AUDIT DONE AND THEN HAVE THE RESULTS OF THAT AUDIT REPORTED BACK TO US. >>KEN HAGAN: WHY DON'T WE APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FIRST. >>RENEE LEE: THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK. >>KEN HAGAN: CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? >>ROSE FERLITA: SO MOVE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER FERLITA, SECOND COMMISSIONER BECKNER. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>ROSE FERLITA: SORRY, MR. HAGAN. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 5-0. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: AND THE MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF AND MR. MERRILL WITH THE HELP OF MS. LEE AND OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO ORGANIZE AN AUDIT WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND CERTAINLY WITH MR. KLEIN OR SOMEONE IN THEIR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE APPROPRIATELY, AND THEN THE SECOND LEG OF THAT IS, OF COURSE, IF IT'S NOT SATISFACTORY AT THE RESULT, THEN WE WOULD LOOK TO YOU TO MODIFY THAT AGREEMENT. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. MOTION COMMISSIONER FERLITA. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> COMMISSIONERS, IF I COULD BE HEARD ON THE CURRENT MOTION. >>KEN HAGAN: DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THE MOTION? >> [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: YES, SIR, MR. BROWN. >> JUST TO CLARIFY A POINT, THE CONTRACT IS SOLELY BETWEEN THE VENDOR AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND SO I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE MOTION SHOULD BE CAREFULLY WORDED. >>ROSE FERLITA: WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST, MR. BROWN? >> I THINK THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CAN -- CAN ASK THE SHERIFF TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT PURSUANT TO ITS CONTRACT, AND IF THAT'S NOT IN THE CONTRACT, WE ARE CURRENTLY REVISING THE CONTRACT TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW, THE BOARD COULD ASK THE SHERIFF TO MAKE SURE THAT STAYS IN THE CONTRACT, BUT I CAN'T ANSWER FOR THE SHERIFF TODAY. I CAN'T -- I CAN'T APPROVE AN AUDIT. THAT'S THE SHERIFF'S AUTHORITY. >>JIM NORMAN: IF THAT'S YOUR MOTION, I'LL SECOND THAT. >>ROSE FERLITA: I'M SORRY? >>JIM NORMAN: IS THAT YOUR MOTION? >>ROSE FERLITA: TO REQUEST THE SHERIFF -- >>JIM NORMAN: I'LL SECOND THAT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. >>KEN HAGAN: ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 5-0. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> I WILL RELAY THE MESSAGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. >>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, YOUR NEXT ITEM WOULD BE YOUR 10:15 TIME CERTAIN, WHICH WOULD BE THE UPDATE ON THE -- UPDATE FROM THE ANTI-BULLYING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ITEM F-2. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU, MR. MERRILL. FIRST OF ALL, COLLEAGUES, I THINK THE BEST PLACE TO BEGIN ON THIS BRIEF UPDATE TO YOU IS BY THANKING YOU. YOU ACTUALLY ALLOWED US TO CREATE THE BULLY BUSTER BOARD AND INITIATIVE, AND I MUST SAY DUE TO ALL THE HELP THAT WE'VE GOTTEN, WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE. IT WAS OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF AROUND LAST AUGUST, AND THE BOARD PASSED A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE ANTI-BULLYING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AT THE TIME, I REMIND YOU, THAT IT HAD A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH, PUBLIC AWARENESS, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, BUT CERTAINLY WITH THE UMBRELLA THAT AT NO POINT WOULD THIS REQUIRE OR WOULD WE REQUEST ANY LOCAL TAX DOLLARS TO -- TO FURTHER THIS INITIATIVE. USING RESOURCES, EXISTING RESOURCES, GRANTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS, SUCH AS THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHICH DONATED $50,000 FROM FORFEITURE DOLLARS TO THE BULLY BUSTERS IN JANUARY, AND CERTAINLY, TO DAVID GEE, I AM VERY GRATEFUL; TO CHIEF DOCOBO, WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT DONE, MY HEARTFELT THANKS. CAROL MICHEL AND EDDIE SANTIAGO FROM THE COUNTY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICE, WHICH RUNS THE PROGRAM, ARE HERE TODAY TO BRING US AN UP-TO-DATE STORY. IT'S A VERY GOOD STORY. I'M VERY PROUD OF IT, SO, GUYS, IT'S YOURS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. BULLY BUSTERS IS ALL ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS, AND WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THE BOARD APPOINTED THE ANTI-BULLYING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE RESOLUTION LAST OCTOBER. THE 13 VOTING MEMBERS STARTED MEETING -- I'M SORRY, IN AUGUST. THEY STARTED MEETING IN OCTOBER. THEY HAVE MET MONTHLY. THEY HAVE A CHAIRMAN, A VICE CHAIRMAN. THEY'VE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF WORK. THEY HAVE SET UP FIVE SUBCOMMITTEES NOW TO WORK ON TRAINING, CURRICULUM, INITIATIVES, DATA SUPPORT, AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, AND THE TRAINING SUBCOMMITTEE HAS ALREADY STARTED WORK ON COMING UP WITH ANTI-BULLYING CURRICULUM, WHICH WE WILL USE TO TRAIN LEADERS OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS, AND THEN THOSE LEADERS WILL USE IT TO TEACH KIDS AND OTHER WORKERS. ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PARTNERS, OF COURSE, IS CRIMESTOPPERS OF TAMPA BAY. THEIR HOT LINE AND THEIR TEXT LINE IS WHAT WE USE FOR OUR BULLY REPORTS. IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. IT'S CONSTANTLY MONITORED, AND DEPUTY LISA HABER, WHO IS THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR CRIMESTOPPERS IS WITH US TODAY. SHE ALSO WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR BULLY BUSTERS PROGRAM. WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ACTUALLY, TWO PRODUCED BY HILLSBOROUGH TELEVISION LAST FALL, AND THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING ON BRIGHT HOUSE CHANNELS THAT ARE TARGETED TO KIDS, INCLUDING NICKELODEON, DISCOVERY CHANNEL, ANIMAL PLANET, AND CARTOON NETWORK. PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION WEDU ALSO PRODUCED A PSA FOR US, AND A GROUP OF KIDS FROM DURANT HIGH SCHOOL WON A CONTEST THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PUT ON. THEY PRODUCED A PSA THAT IS SHOWN IN THEIR SCHOOL, AND IT IS ALSO ON OUR WEB SITE, ALONG WITH THE OTHER THREE PSAs. WE PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 10,000 BOOKMARKS WITH THE LOGO, 500 POSTERS. WE HAVE SINCE PRINTED MORE. WE PUTS THE BOOKMARKS IN BACKPACKS AT VARIOUS PRESCHOOL EVENTS LAST SUMMER. WE WILL DO THE SAME THING THIS SUMMER. WE DISTRIBUTED THE POSTERS AND -- AS WELL AS THE BOOKMARKS TO ORGANIZATIONS, GROCERY STORES, SCHOOLS, CLASSROOMS, TEACHERS ASK FOR THEM. THANKS TO CRIMESTOPPERS, WE HAVE 50 BUS BENCHES THAT ARE PAINTED WITH THE CRIMESTOPPERS LOGO -- I'M SORRY, THE BULLY BUSTERS LOGO PLACED IN STRATEGIC AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. WE HAVE DESIGNED PLEDGES FOR ADULTS, ANTI-BULLYING PLEDGES FOR ADULTS, FOR KIDS, AND AN ANTI-CYBER BULLYING PLEDGE, AND ALL OF THOSE ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WEB SITE AS WELL AND HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. WE LAUNCHED THE BULLY BUSTERS WEB SITE, WHICH IS PART OF HILLSBOROUGHCOUNTY.ORG, LAST FEBRUARY. IT'S FULL OF INFORMATION, RESOURCES, WARNING SIGNS, EFFECTS OF BULLYING, AND A NUMBER OF THINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON IT AS WELL. IN NOVEMBER WE PRODUCED A 16-PAGE NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION INSERT WITH THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. IT WAS CALLED "GANGS 101." WE WORKED WITH CRIMESTOPPERS ON THAT. TWO PAGES IN THAT INSERT WERE DEVOTED TO BULLYING AND ANTI- BULLYING. WE ARE GOING TO PRODUCE ANOTHER INSERT. IT WILL BE PRINTED IN AUGUST BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS ONE WILL BE ENTIRELY ON BULLYING, AND HALF OF THAT INSERT WILL BE PRINTED IN SPANISH. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ASSETS IS OUR BULLY BUSTERS YOUTH COUNCIL, WHICH WE KICKED OFF IN APRIL. THESE KIDS ARE DEFINITELY OUR CHAMPIONS WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT BULLYING, AND EDDIE SANTIAGO, WHO IS OUR CRIME PREVENTION COORDINATOR FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE WILL TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. >> THANK YOU, CAROL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT THE BULLY BUSTERS YOUTH COUNCIL IS UP AND RUNNING, AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF BULLYING THAN TO INVOLVE THE CITIZENS WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM, THE YOUTH? WE CONTINUE TO SEE AN INCREASED PARTICIPATION FROM YOUTH OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. WE'VE ESTABLISHED MONTHLY MEETINGS THAT INCLUDE PLANNING, EDUCATION, AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT, AND THE KIDS ARE WORKING HARD TO RAISE AWARENESS AMONG THEIR PEERS AND FELLOW CITIZENS THAT BULLYING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SOME OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE BEHIND ME TODAY, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF THIS INITIATIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, JONATHAN RAMIREZ, MAHOGANY BROWN, KRISTEN RODRIGUEZ, JONATHAN FIGUEROA, CLAUDIA FERRARO, MONICA FERRARO, AND TESHAWN PATTERSON HAVE BEGUN WORK ON A BANNER FOR THE ANNUAL KIDS FEST WALK AGAINST DRUGS AND VIOLENCE THAT'S HOSTED BY THE MENDEZ FOUNDATION. CAROL'S GOING TO HOLD THAT UP RIGHT NOW SO YOU CAN SEE THEIR WORK. THIS IS JUST A DRAFT, AND IF THIS IS JUST A DRAFT OF THE KIND OF MESSAGES THAT THIS GROUP OF KIDS IS PRODUCING, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FINAL RESULT. CONGRATULATIONS, KIDS, ON A JOB WELL DONE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE ON THE BULLY BUSTER YOUTH COUNCIL, AND BEFORE I TURN IT BACK TO CAROL, I'D LIKE TO SHOW A BRIEF VIDEO OF THE KIDS IN ACTION. [VIDEO SHOWN] >>ROSE FERLITA: I'M GOING TO BE BACK. YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK SO WE MAKE THIS BIGGER AND BIGGER. [END OF VIDEO] >> AND BEFORE WE GO, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH RECOGNITION HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS RECEIVED BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM. WE HAVE BEEN SPOTLIGHTED NATIONALLY, ON A STATE LEVEL, AS WELL AS LOCAL. WE WON THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY INFORMATION OFFICERS AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE COMPETITION FOR CITIZENS EDUCATION WITH BULLY BUSTERS. BULLY BUSTERS HAS BEEN SPOTLIGHTED IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES NEWSPAPER, AMERICAN CITY AND COUNTY MAGAZINE. WE HAVE RECEIVED EXTENSIVE POSITIVE COVERAGE FROM LOCAL PRINT AND TELEVISION MEDIA, BUT MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, NICKELODEON HAS FOUND OUT ABOUT OUR PROGRAM. THEY ARE GOING TO BE SPOTTING THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BULLY BUSTERS PROGRAM IN AN ANTI-BULLYING SHOW THAT THEY ARE DOING. IT WILL AIR IN SEPTEMBER. IT'S CALLED "NICK NEWS." THEY ARE INTERVIEWING SEVERAL OF OUR KIDS BY TELEPHONE. HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GOING TO SELECT A COUPLE OF THEM AND FLY THESE KIDS WITH THEIR PARENTS TO NEW YORK, AND THEY WILL BE THERE FOR THE TAPING OF THE FINAL SHOW. SO THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SYNERGY OF OUR PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP BULLY BUSTERS, TO MAKE IT WORK, TO BRING ATTENTION TO BULLYING AND HELP CREATE A BULLY-FREE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING US TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. THANK YOU. >>ROSE FERLITA: CAROL, I GUESS WE START WITH THANKS TO ALL OF YOU GUYS. IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE. CAROL, EDDIE, SHEREE FISH, JAN McDONALD, DETECTIVE HABER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING A PARTNER WITH US. JAN MacLEOD I UNDERSTAND IS OUT OF TOWN. LORI HUDSON AND HER CREW JUST DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB ALWAYS AND ALWAYS. AND TO THE KIDS, YOU GUYS, WE SAID THAT THAT NIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUR LEADERS NOW, WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW YOU. THAT'S VERY, VERY OBVIOUS AGAIN, GENTLEMEN AND AUDIENCE VIEWING, THAT ONE THING, EDDIE, THAT YOU SHOWED, ONE WORK OF ART. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOT -- I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN DRAW A LITTLE STICK PERSON, YOU KNOW, AND THESE KIDS, THIS IS ONE OF THE PRODUCTS OF US GETTING TOGETHER THAT NIGHT UPSTAIRS TO DECIDE HOW THEY WERE GOING TO PROMOTE OUR BULLY BUSTER PROGRAM, SO THEY ARE THE TRUE STARS. WE'RE GOING TO DO REALLY WELL, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WELL BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP, SO AGAIN, NO TAX DOLLARS, AND GENTLEMEN, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT LOTS OF TIMES THERE'S DIFFERENT INITIATIVES, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL RESPECTFUL OF WHAT WE EACH DO. THERE ARE ENOUGH INITIATIVES WHERE EACH OF US CAN DO DIFFERENT THINGS. THAT'S WHY THERE'S SEVEN OF US AND NOT ONE, AND SOME THINGS AS YOU ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH, THAT PARTICULAR INITIATIVE SUNSETS. WITH THIS ONE, AFTER MY TENURE OR ANYBODY ELSE'S TENURE HERE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE BUILT UPON FOR YEARS TO COME. PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN LIKE THIS DON'T SUNSET AT THE END OF SOMEBODY'S TERM OR AT THE END OF SOMEBODY'S INITIATIVE. IT'S GREAT, AND I HOPE THAT IT CONTINUES AFTER I'M GONE. AGAIN, TO EVERYBODY WHO'S MADE THIS A SUCCESS, JUST CONGRATULATIONS. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER FERLITA FOR THE GREAT WORK AND HER LEADERSHIP IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. WHAT A GREAT INITIATIVE. A COUPLE QUESTIONS WHEN THEY ALL FINISH UP WITH THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER. NUMBER ONE WOULD HAVE TO BE -- I'LL WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE DONE WITH THEIR PICTURE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >>KEVIN BECKNER: AS FAR AS WORKING WITH THE -- WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO FURTHER PROMOTE THIS PROGRAM, WHAT DO WE - - WHAT TYPES OF THINGS ARE WE WORKING ON WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD OR INSIDE THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE, I MEAN, THIS SEEMS LIKE TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAM TO PROMOTE WITHINSIDE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. >> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS THEIR OWN BULLYING PROGRAM, AND THEY ALSO HAVE A HOT LINE. TWO MEMBERS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM THEIR PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT SERVE ON OUR ANTI-BULLYING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND DR. TRACY SCHATZBERG, WHO IS ONE OF THOSE, IS ALSO ON OUR TRAINING SUBCOMMITTEE TO HELP COME UP WITH A CURRICULUM THAT WE HOPE WE'LL BE USING, WHICH WILL BE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLS. SEVERAL OF THE SCHOOLS ARE OFFERING THEIR OWN PROGRAMS. I KNOW THAT WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS THE OLWEUS PROGRAM, SHEEHY HAS THE STEPS TO RESPECT, I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED, SO WE HOPE TO WORK AS A -- WE'RE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AND WORK AS A SUPPLEMENT TO PREVENT BULLYING OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAS THE KIDS FROM 7:30 TO 2:30, BUT BULLYING GOES ON AT BUS STOPS, PARKS, STREET CORNERS, AND VARIOUS OTHER PLACES, AND WE HOPE WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT THERE AS WELL. >>ROSE FERLITA: AND YOU KNOW, IF I MAY INTERJECT SOMETHING, KEVIN, TO YOU, WE CLEARLY SET THE RULES WHEN WE FIRST ESTABLISHED THIS. I MET WITH ONE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS NOTHING THAT WE WERE GOING TO COMPETE WITH, BUT AS CAROL SAID, WE'RE GOING TO COMPLEMENT WHAT THEY DO. THEY'VE GOT ISSUES ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, BUT ONCE THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL AND THEY'RE IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION SITES AND EVERYPLACE ELSE THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY THAT DOESN'T STOP AT THE END OF THEIR PARTIES, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE SAYING AND I INTERRUPTED YOU. >>KEVIN BECKNER: NO, NO, THAT'S OKAY. SO THIS IS REALLY MORE -- THIS IS ACTUALLY GREAT BECAUSE THIS IS AS AN EXPANSION INTO THE COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED -- BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS, SO THIS EXPANDS, THEN, WHAT WE'RE DOING INTO THE BROADER COMMUNITY. >>ROSE FERLITA: RIGHT. >> YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER, IN FACT, THE NATIONAL MEDIA TELLS US ONE OF THE REASONS THEY ARE SPOTLIGHTING OUR PROGRAM SO OFTEN IS BECAUSE IT IS RUN BY A COUNTY. MOST OFTEN THESE PROGRAMS ARE RUN BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THIS ONE IS RUN BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WHICH MAKES IT UNIQUE. >>ROSE FERLITA: AND A SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE DOES SIT ON OUR -- ON OUR COMMITTEE. SO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME ENERGY AND SYNERGY. >>KEVIN BECKNER: ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE, AND PERHAPS DETECTIVE HABER IS STILL HERE, MAYBE SHE COULD ANSWER. I'M JUST CURIOUS AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED REGARDING BULLYING BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN SUCH A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT OUR STATS ARE AS FAR AS THE INCIDENTS OF BULLYING WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DETECT. >> YES, COMMISSIONER. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW -- AND I DID ADDRESS THE ISSUE YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE SCHOOLS. WE ARE THE SAME REPORTING MECHANISM IN SCHOOL AS WE ARE OUT OF SCHOOL -- >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. >> -- BECAUSE WE HAVE A CAMPUS CRIMESTOPPERS PROGRAM, AND WE FELT THAT THAT WOULD JUST-- IT MADE SENSE SO THE KIDS HAVE THE SAME REPORTING NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, SCHOOL, HOME, PARK, SO WE ARE THAT MAIN CONDUIT FOR BOTH. WE'VE RECEIVED -- THIS SCHOOL YEAR WE'VE RECEIVED 40 TIPS THAT HAVE COME IN TO CRIMESTOPPERS IN REGARD TO COMPLAINTS OF BULLYING. THEY'VE COME FROM -- AND I -- THEY ARE ANONYMOUS, SO I CAN'T TELL YOU ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE GUARANTEE, BUT ABOUT 75% COME IN VIA OUR TIP LINE, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 20% THAT HAVE COME IN THROUGH WEB AND ABOUT 5% THAT COME IN THROUGH TEXT BASED ON OUR STATS, AND THEY RANGE FROM -- SOMETIMES THEY'RE KIDS -- BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING THIS -- I'VE BEEN MANAGING THE PROGRAM FOR 12 YEARS, SO I CAN GET A FEEL FOR WHETHER OR NOT I'M DEALING WITH A PARENT, I'M DEALING WITH A GRANDPARENT, I'M DEALING WITH A GUARDIAN, OR I'M DEALING WITH A CHILD, AND SO WE'RE GETTING TIPS FROM ALL OF THOSE AREAS. >>KEVIN BECKNER: AND WHEN THESE TIPS COME IN AS FAR AS REFERRALS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR REFERRED BACK TO COUNSELORS, HOW ARE THESE TIPS HANDLED ONCE A BULLYING INCIDENT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED? >> THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT IT INVOLVES THE SCHOOLS, THAT IT'S ACTUALLY INCIDENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN SCHOOL OR ON THE BUS OR AT THE BUS STOP, SO I HAVE -- I WORK WITH DR. JUDITH RAINONE FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. SHE IS MY MAIN CONTACT. I REFER ALL BULLYING COMPLAINTS TO HER. SHE THEN REVIEWS THEM, AND THEN SHE ACTUALLY SENDS THEM OUT TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR INVESTIGATION AND TO BE WORKED. IF IT INVOLVES A CRIMINAL INCIDENT, THEN IT'S REFERRED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: GREAT. THANK YOU. >> MAY I HAVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. >> IT'S DEPUTY LISA HABER. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER NORMAN. >>JIM NORMAN: DEPUTY HABER, BEFORE YOU RUN AWAY, FIRST OF ALL, I SEE THIS AS JUST AN OUTSTANDING FURTHERING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S ATTEMPT TO TRY TO PROTECT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. IN YOUR MIND, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OUR PARTICIPATION AND HELP IN THIS PROGRAM? >> WELL, AS A PARENT MYSELF -- MY DAUGHTER IS GOING TO BE A SENIOR AT STEINBRENNER HIGH SCHOOL IN THE FALL -- I'VE KIND OF LOOKED TO HER, AND SHE SAYS TO ME, MOM, SHE SAYS, YOU KNOW, I SAW A BULLY BUSTERS POSTER AT SCHOOL OR SHE HAS SEEN ONE OF THE PSAs, AND SHE KNOWS MY INVOLVEMENT, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE PROGRAM. AND, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS ACTUALLY SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW, MOM, WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL I WISH WE HAD THAT, SO THE FACT IS THAT I THINK A LOT OF STUDENTS AS WELL AS PARENTS -- AND I THINK THAT'S THE KEY -- AND GUARDIANS FEEL THAT THEY NOW HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO TO GET INFORMATION, TO BE EDUCATED, AND TO GET ASSISTANCE. THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD IS TO HAVE SOMEBODY TELL YOU I CAN'T HELP YOU, YOU KNOW, SO -- AND BULLYING HAS -- UNLESS IT INVOLVES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, OFTENTIMES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESOLVED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A FULL-SERVICE AGENCY AND WE DEAL WITH EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN, IF IT DOESN'T INVOLVE A CRIME, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO AS MUCH, BUT WITH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS WE CAN ACTUALLY DIRECT VICTIMS AS WELL AS PERPETRATORS TO THE PROPER MEANS OF GETTING HELP, AND I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. >>JIM NORMAN: AND THE REASON I ASKED HER TO EXPLAIN THAT, TO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO'S ON THE GROUND DOING THIS, LIVING IT EVERY DAY, TO EXPRESS THE NEED FOR THIS AND HOW IT'S HELPING CHILDREN, IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN SAID BETTER, AND THANK YOU, AND THANKS, COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU. >>JIM NORMAN: IN IS A VALUABLE ASSET THAT WE'RE GIVING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, AND I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE, AND ALSO, COMMISSIONER FERLITA, THANKS. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU. >> AND LIEUTENANT RICK HERNANDEZ FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ALSO SITS ON OUR COMMITTEE AS WELL, SO -- >>KEN HAGAN: I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER FERLITA ONCE AGAIN FOR INITIATING THIS PROGRAM AND THANK DEPUTY HABER, FELLOW CHAMBERLAIN CHIEF CLASS OF '85. GO CHIEFS. I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND THAT OF CRIMESTOPPERS. LIKE YOU, I'M SEEING THESE SIGNS AND PSAs EVERYWHERE, SO I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM, AND I COMMEND YOU, COMMISSIONER FERLITA, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >>KEN HAGAN: I KNOW THE YOUTH COUNCIL LEFT, BUT I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE YOUNG KIDS, YOUNG CHILDREN THAT ARE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN A PROGRAM AS IMPORTANT AS THIS, SO GREAT JOB. MR. MERRILL, WE HAVE A 10:30. >>MIKE MERRILL: YES, 10:30 TIME CERTAIN, F-3, APPEARANCE BY RICHARD TARR TO GIVE HIS RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE IPA'S OFFICE. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, MR. TARR. >> GOOD MORNING. JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND, YOU-ALL HIRED ME EARLIER THIS YEAR TO DO A PEER REVIEW OF THE IPA ACTIVITY, WHICH I DID AND WROTE A REPORT IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. IN APRIL YOU ASKED ME TO FOLLOW UP ON IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE IN THAT REPORT THAT RELATED TO CURING SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIENCIES THAT I IDENTIFIED IN THE WAY THAT THE IPA'S OFFICE WAS -- WAS SET UP AND WAS OPERATING. I'VE -- THOSE PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATIONS ADDRESSED MAKING SOME CHANGES OR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD IN -- IN, NUMBER ONE, THE RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE CHARTER FOR THE IPA. I MADE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE SEPARATE THE IPA FUNCTION FROM THE BUDGET ANALYST RESPONSIBILITIES AND THEN ALSO RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE NAME. THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING LAST NIGHT BEFORE THE -- THE BUDGET REVIEW BOARD WHERE THAT WAS DISCUSSED. THEY'VE TABLED IT AND ARE GOING TO BRING IT UP AGAIN ON JULY 30th. DURING THAT MEETING THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE REST OF THE FIX, SO TO SPEAK. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN SEEING THAT THE REST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I'VE PRESENTED TO YOU THAT I'M READY TO DISCUSS THIS MORNING ARE GOING TO BE ADOPTED BECAUSE AS I SAID IN THE REPORT, THE -- ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LINKED TO EACH OTHER AS FAR AS CURING THE -- THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIENCIES THAT WOULD ALLOW THE IPA DEPARTMENT TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND PROVIDE MORE VALUE TO THE BOARD. AND SO I HAVE DISTRIBUTED TO YOU A BOOKLET, AS I PROMISED I WOULD, WITH A PROPOSED AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER, A PROPOSED INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT CHARTER, AS WELL AS A PROPOSED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION OR THE -- WHOEVER WOULD HEAD UP THE -- THE BOARD INTERNAL AUDITOR DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE NAME THAT I HAD PROPOSED TO THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD, AND I'M PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. THE IDEA IS THAT YOU WOULD LOOK AT THIS, YOU WOULD ADOPT IT AS ORDINANCE, AND THEN THIS IN CONCERT WITH THE CHANGES THAT WOULD BE PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR -- FOR THE -- THE IPA FUNCTION IN THE CHARTER WOULD TOGETHER CURE THE DEFICIENCIES AND HOPEFULLY PUT IN PLACE AN INTERNAL AUDIT BOARD, INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE BOARD. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FOR MR. TARR? COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MR. TARR, AS I WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR REPORT AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND AS I WAS ALSO REVIEWING THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT THE CHARTER REVIEW MEETINGS THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS, WHEN WE WERE TALKING -- ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF BOARD REQUESTS FOR ACTIVITY BY THE IPA, COULD YOU CLARIFY AS FAR WHEN WE'RE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF THE FOUR-HOUR RULE HOW THAT WOULD NOW WORK THROUGH THIS STRUCTURE, HOW WE WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT THAT REQUEST TO THE COMMITTEE? >> YEAH. THE WAY THIS IS STRUCTURED NOW TO KEEP ANY INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER FROM MONOPOLIZING THE RESOURCE, A REQUEST FOR AN AUDIT WOULD BE MADE TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WOULD THEN CONSIDER THAT IN LIGHT OF THE APPROVED ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN. THE AUDIT COMMIT WE WOULD THEN MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER THEY WANTED TO INCLUDE THAT AND MODIFY THE AUDIT PLAN AND INCLUDE THAT REQUEST IN THE CURRENT ANNUAL PLAN, AND THEN THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED BACK TO THE -- TO THE FULL BOARD FOR THEIR OVERALL APPROVAL AND -- FOR THE CHANGE IN THAT PLAN. >>KEVIN BECKNER: WHAT WOULD BE THE TIME FRAME, IF YOU COULD JUST CLARIFY SOME THINGS REGARDING THE REPORT AND THE RECORD AS TO HOW OFTEN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WOULD MEET, AND I GUESS THE QUESTION IS IS THAT IF -- IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AND REVIEWED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, WHAT TYPE OF TIME FRAME -- I MEAN, ARE WE TALKING MONTHS, ARE WE TALKING SOMETHING THAT A REQUEST WOULD BE ABLE TO BE IMMEDIATELY REVIEWED? HOW WOULD THAT WORK IF WE HAVE SOMETHING OF MORE OF A PRESSING OR URGENT NATURE -- >> IN WHAT I'VE OUTLINED HERE, I SAID AS A MINIMUM THEY WOULD MEET QUARTERLY, FOUR TIMES A YEAR. CERTAINLY THEY COULD MEET MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE WORKED OUT IN THE DETAILS AS HOW WE SET IT UP WHEREBY THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE COULD REQUEST A MEETING BE HELD TO CONSIDER ANY REQUEST FOR ANY CHANGES IN THE ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THAT WOULD BE ONE ISSUE THAT I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY WOULD NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IS BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THAT IS OF A MORE PRESSING URGENT NATURE - - >> CERTAINLY. >>KEVIN BECKNER: -- THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, A VARIETY OF INTERNAL ISSUES COULD OCCUR OR OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER THAN ON A QUARTERLY. >> SURE. THAT'S A GOOD POINT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SO I WOULD -- THAT'S THE ONE MAJOR THING THAT I WOULD LOOK AT AS FAR AS ADJUSTING, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY REVIEW THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS BY COMMISSIONERS. >> AND WE COULD CERTAINLY PUT LANGUAGE TO THAT EFFECT IN WHAT I'VE PROPOSED HERE. THIS IS WHAT I HOPE IS A GOOD OUTLINE AND A STARTING POINT, SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD COULD THEN LOOK AT AND -- AND CONSIDER AS YOU HAVE AND THEN VOTE ON IT AND ADOPT IT AS AN ORDINANCE SO THAT IT WOULD COMPLEMENT WHAT THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD HAS BEEN ASKED TO DO IN CHANGING THE CHARTER AS IT RELATES TO THE IPA FUNCTION. >>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR -- FOR COMING HERE AND THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND YOUR EXPERTISE IN ASSEMBLING THIS. I'VE EXPRESSED MY OPINIONS BEFORE THE NEED FOR THIS DEPARTMENT AND ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS CONFLICTS WITH THE DUTIES OF THE CLERK, AND I BELIEVE AGAIN THE NEED FOR BOTH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS, AND IT'S NOT AN UNJUSTLY USE OF TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING SOME OF THE INTERNAL ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THROUGH THE IPA. WHAT'S BEEN LACKING, AS I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE AT OUR PREVIOUS MEETING, HAS REALLY JUST BEEN A CLEAR-CUT STRUCTURE, DEFINING THE ROLES OF THE IPA, DEFINING THE OFFICE STRUCTURE, AND ALSO DEFINING WHAT THE WORK PROCESS WOULD BE, AND I THINK THE ADDITION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IS APPROPRIATE. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT PERHAPS WERE NOT AWARE, THE CHARTER COMMITTEE REVIEW BOARD LAST NIGHT DECIDED NOT TO PUT THIS POSITION BACK TO THE BALLOT, SO THAT AGAIN BRINGS US BACK TO THE BOARD WHERE WE NOW HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TAXPAYERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS OFFICE IS STRUCTURED APPROPRIATELY AND USED APPROPRIATELY SO WE CAN HAVE THE BEST USE OF TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS AND WE CAN ALSO GET THE MOST EFFICIENT USE FROM THIS OFFICE. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU, AND COMMISSIONER BECKNER, I SHARE YOUR INTEREST IN THE PROCESS FOR REQUESTS FROM THE BOARD HERE AS TO HOW TIMELY THAT CAN BE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WILL COME UP THAT WE'LL WANT QUICKER ANSWERS ON THAN TO HAVE TO WAIT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, BUT I LIKE THE STRUCTURE WITH THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, CLEAR DEFINITION, GETTING AWAY FROM INTERNAL PERFORMANCE AUDITOR TO PERFORMANCE AUDIT. EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT OR TO -- >> EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT PERFORMANCE AUDITING, OKAY, THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION EXACTLY WHAT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT IS, OKAY. AND TO ELIMINATE THAT CONFUSION, LET'S JUST CALL IT AN INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT, AND THEN THE BOARD AND THE AUDIT COMMITTEE CAN DEFINE THE SCOPE AND THE -- >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: GOOD. >> -- SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF WHATEVER THE AUDIT PROJECT'S GOING TO BE. IF WE SAY IT'S A PERFORMANCE AUDIT, THEN WE GET A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT, WELL, IS THIS REALLY A PERFORMANCE AUDIT -- >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: RIGHT. >> -- OR IS THIS A COMPLIANCE AUDIT, AND IT DETRACTS FROM AND CREATES A LOT OF CONFUSION AS TO WHAT THIS FUNCTION CAN BRING TO THE TABLE AND -- AND -- AS VALUE TO THE BOARD. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I JUST WANTED TO HAVE YOU RESTATE IT. >> UH-HUH. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: NOW, IN THE PROCESS OF FILLING THIS POST IN THE FUTURE WITH A DIFFERENT DEFINITION AND DIRECTION OF THIS -- THE DUTIES, WOULD IT EXPAND OUR FIELD OF APPLICANTS? >> I BELIEVE IT -- IT WOULD DEFINITELY EXPAND THE FIELD OF APPLICANTS BECAUSE, IN ESSENCE, YOU'VE -- YOU'VE SAID THERE'S NO LIMIT ON WHAT, OKAY, TYPES OF PROJECTS COULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY SOMEONE WHO'S LEADING UP THIS DEPARTMENT AND CONSEQUENTLY WOULD MAKE IT A MUCH MORE CHALLENGING AND MUCH MORE REWARDING POSITION FOR SOMEONE TO APPLY FOR. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: SO, MR. TARR, JUST THAT LAST COMMENT, AND THEN I'LL GO BACK TO WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IF IT'S AN INTERNAL AUDITOR, THEY CAN DO PERFORMANCE AUDITORS -- AUDITS, BUT THEY CAN DO OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT PERFORMANCE AUDITS? >> CORRECT. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. AND THEN WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BENEFIT, THE HEALTHY BENEFIT, I THINK, OF LOOKING AT THAT AS A SEPARATE POSITION VERSUS A BUDGET ANALYST. >> CORRECT. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. WELL, JUST TO GO BACK AND JUST KIND OF BRING ME UP TO SPEED WITH -- WITH WHAT MY POSITION IS -- I KNOW THAT MR. BECKNER BROUGHT THIS UP IN THE MORNING SESSION OF THE JUNE 30 MEETING, AND I MUCH AGREED WITH WHAT HE SAID, BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE INVESTED DOLLARS INTO HAVING YOU BRING US YOUR EXPERTISE, TO MAKE THAT FULL CIRCLE AND WELL ROUNDED, I WANTED TO HAVE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND TELL YOU WHAT -- TELL US WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WERE AFTER YOU HAD DONE THIS RESEARCH. IT MAKES SENSE AND IT GIVES US A RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT WE PUT IN YOU. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK YOU DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU, AND THAT'S NOT LIKE IT SHOULD END NOW, WE SHOULD CONTINUE, AND YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE PROCESS OF THE SELECTION WHEN THAT COMES TO PASS. SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT NOW AND SO I BETTER UNDERSTAND -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE MS. LEE THAT WOULD KICK IN HERE -- WE WOULD HAVE AN INTERNAL AUDITOR, WE WOULD HAVE A BUDGET ANALYST, WE STILL WOULD HAVE -- BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE WORKLOAD IS GOING TO BE MUCH, WE WOULD STILL HAVE AN MOU WITH MS. FRANK? >>RENEE LEE: YOU COULD, YES. COMMISSIONER, THAT MOU IS FOR A CERTAIN TYPE OF AUDITS. IT COULD STILL REMAIN IN EXISTENCE ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS. IT -- IF YOU ESTABLISH THIS POSITION, I THINK IT COULD CERTAINLY BE COMPATIBLE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE NOW. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. AND JUST -- JUST TO DEFINE DIFFERENT -- DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF THIS DISCUSSION, SOME THINGS WILL PROBABLY BE DONE BY RESOLUTION, SOME THINGS WILL BE DONE BY ORDINANCE, AND -- AND, FOR INSTANCE, THE -- THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, MY UNDERSTANDING -- AND I THINK THIS IS CORRECT -- THEY ARE SIMPLY ADVISORY, MUCH LIKE THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THEY ARE NONVOTING. AND SO IT'S FOR THIS BOARD TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR INPUT. AND IN TERMS OF WHEN -- I'LL ASK YOU ALL AT ONE TIME. IN TERMS OF WHEN THEY MEET IN TERMS OF OUR CONVERSATION, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE COULD ALWAYS CHANGE THAT IF WE THOUGHT THERE'S SOME URGENCY THAT THEY NEED TO ADDRESS OUR REQUESTS IN TERMS OF -- OF AUDIT APPROVALS, ET CETERA, AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS; RIGHT? >>RENEE LEE: YES. COMMISSIONER, I THINK IF I HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS, THERE ARE SOME FORMAL DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE DRAFTED TO IMPLEMENT HIS RECOMMENDATIONS. I THINK PROBABLY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE COULD BE ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION, WHICH YOU COULD CHANGE. YOU WOULD CERTAINLY SET OUT THE PURPOSE AND THE SCOPE OF THEIR DUTIES THERE, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. YOU WOULD ALSO WRITE IN TO THAT RESOLUTION HOW YOU WANT THEM TO RESPOND TO YOUR REQUEST, YOU KNOW, IN THE FOUR-HOUR REQUESTS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. I THINK WITH RESPECT TO THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE INTERNAL PERFORMANCE AUDITOR, YOU MAY WANT TO MEMORIALIZE THOSE IN AN ORDINANCE. >>ROSE FERLITA: UH-HUH. >>RENEE LEE: SO THAT WOULD GO IN TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OR SOMETHING TO THAT EXTENT, SO I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS THAT YOU NEED BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD BASED ON HIS RECOMMENDATIONS. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. AND DO WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE CURRENTLY EXISTING MOU WITH PAT FRANK'S OFFICE? >>RENEE LEE: I WILL LOOK AT THAT, OR IF IT'S YOUR DIRECTION TO LOOK AT THAT, I'LL SEE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT CAN EXIST WITH -- >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. >>RENEE LEE: -- WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CERTAINLY, IF THERE ARE SOME CHANGES NEEDED, WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK TO THE BOARD. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. WELL -- AND I'M GOING TO MAKE THAT MOTION, AND LET ME JUST MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT, AND THEN, MR. MERRILL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT AS WELL, SURE. I THINK WHERE THIS BROUGHT US WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A LESSON, AND WE -- WE ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM IT, THANKS TO YOU AND THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAD WITH THE ATTORNEY AND WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR AND CERTAINLY WITH PAT FRANK'S OFFICE, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT. WE'RE GOING TO SEPARATE THINGS THAT NEED -- SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEPARATED PERHAPS, AND WE -- WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A MORE FINE-TUNED PROCESS THAT'S GOING TO MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT AND IS NOT GOING TO HAVE SOME OF THE CONTROVERSY THAT THAT -- THAT WHOLE PROCESS HAD IN TERMS OF DEFINITIONS AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO I THINK WE'RE ALMOST THERE. AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, MR. TARR, AND I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT STAFF UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MR. MERRILL AND MS. LEE TO -- TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS, LIKE YOU SAID, THE COMMITTEE PER RESOLUTION, THE JOB DESCRIPTION BY ORDINANCE, REVIEW THE MOU, SEE IF THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED IN ANY WAY, AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF US GOING FORWARD -- FORWARD WITH THIS TYPE OF A PROFILE THAT MR. TARR HAS RECOMMENDED. IS THAT ABOUT ACCURATE DO YOU THINK? >> YES. AND -- AND CERTAINLY THAT WOULD SEND A MESSAGE TO THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD WHO, ALTHOUGH SOME OF YOU HAVE APPEARED BEFORE THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD AND EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE AN AUDIT FUNCTION GOING FORWARD, YOU MOVING ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS SENDS A MESSAGE TO THEM THAT THEY SEE THE BENEFIT IN ADOPTING AND PUTTING ON A BALLOT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I'VE MADE. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. AND NOT TO DIMINISH THE HELP AND COOPERATION WE'VE HAD FROM PAT FRANK AND -- AND DAN KLEIN UNDER HER DIRECTION. DAN, AS WELL, IF EITHER OF YOU GENTLEMEN WANT TO WEIGH IN OR SAY ANYTHING. >>DAN KLEIN: NO, MA'AM. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT MOU, AND I DON'T ON THE SURFACE SEE ANY REASON WHY THAT CAN'T CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AS MANY AUDIT RESOURCES TO THE BOARD AS NECESSARY FOR ANY ISSUE THAT MAY COME UP. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MR. MERRILL, DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT AT ALL ON -- ON THE MOTION OR YOUR THOUGHTS? >>MIKE MERRILL: NO. I -- I HAVE SPENT SOME TIME TALKING WITH MR. TARR, AND I THINK HIS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE RIGHT ON THE MARK, AND A WELL-STRUCTURED IPA'S OFFICE WILL BE A BENEFIT TO THE ADMINISTRATION. THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE, TO HELP US DO OUR JOB BETTER, AND I WELCOME THAT, WELCOME WORKING WITH HIM. IN TERMS OF BRINGING SOMETHING BACK TO THE BOARD, WHAT KIND OF A TIMELINE ARE YOU -- >>ROSE FERLITA: YOU TELL US. YOU'RE UNDER TIME CONSTRAINTS WITH BUDGET STIFF AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SO CERTAINLY YOU PICK THE TIME. >>RENEE LEE: WE'VE GOT ORDINANCES TO DRAFT, RESOLUTIONS. THE ORDINANCE PROCESS WILL PROBABLY TAKE TWO WEEKS, AND THEN WE'VE GOT -- >>ROSE FERLITA: YOU WANT TO COME BACK -- IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD -- IN A MONTH, WHAT ABOUT IN A MONTH? IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME, THEN YOU CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE AND WE CAN DELAY IT. >>RENEE LEE: WE CAN -- OKAY. [INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK] >>ROSE FERLITA: IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, WE CAN MAKE IT MORE RIGHT UP FRONT. >>RENEE LEE: OKAY. >>MIKE MERRILL: IS THERE A TIME FRAME IN ORDER TO GET IT INSERTED INTO THE CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS, OR IS IT -- >>RENEE LEE: I THINK WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE SOMEONE REPORT BACK TO CHARTER REVIEW AT THEIR NEXT MEETING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE AND GIVE THEM A COPY OF THE MOTION. IN TERMS OF DRAFTING THE DOCUMENTS, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT A FOUR- TO SIX-WEEK PERIOD IN ORDER TO HAVE EVERYTHING ADOPTED BY THIS BOARD -- >>ROSE FERLITA: SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION -- >>RENEE LEE: -- BECAUSE OF NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. >>ROSE FERLITA: -- SIX WEEKS FROM NOW? >>MIKE MERRILL: SECOND MEETING IN AUGUST, YEAH, WHATEVER THAT IS. >>ROSE FERLITA: THAT'S FINE. AND ONE THING, MR. TARR, I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU SUGGESTED MR. MERRILL BE PART OF THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE BECAUSE HE OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY -- ENOUGH THINGS TO DO RIGHT NOW. >> I TOLD HIM I WASN'T DOING HIM ANY FAVORS. >>ROSE FERLITA: I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND PERHAPS PART OF THE CONVERSATION COULD BE -- AND IF YOU WOULD JUST SPEND MAYBE A COUPLE MOMENTS WITH THE LISTENING PUBLIC TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT THE IPA WOULD DO AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE AS WE HAD IN CONVERSATIONS, THAT MIGHT PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATIONS, AND THEN I WOULD ALSO MAKE A SUGGESTION THAT PERHAPS IN OUR ORDINANCE OR SOMEHOW THAT WE EVEN HAVE PERHAPS EVEN A LITTLE FURTHER DEFINITION ABOUT THE DIFFERENT DUTIES SO THAT IT'S CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC AND IT'S CLEAR TO THE BOARD OF WHAT WE WOULD UTILIZE THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR VERSUS THE IPA'S OFFICE, SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST FOR -- TAKING A COUPLE OF MOMENTS AND PERHAPS FOR, AGAIN, THE LISTENING PUBLIC DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE -- THE DUTIES OF THE CLERK AND THE IPA AS YOU WOULD SEE IT. >> THE CLERK IS CHARGED WITH, OF COURSE, OVERSEEING THE FINANCES OF THE COUNTY AND AUDITING AND PERFORMING WHAT THEY CALL PREAUDITS AND COMPLIANCE AUDITS TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE LEGALLY SPENT AND THAT, IN FACT, NOTHING IS SPENT IN THE WAY OF TAX DOLLARS UNLESS IT'S BEEN APPROPRIATELY APPROVED AND REVIEWED AND IS IN THE BUDGET THAT THE -- THAT THE COUNTY'S NOT OVERSPENDING ITS BUDGET, SO ON AND SO FORTH, ALL RIGHT, AND SO PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, THE SCOPE OF WHAT THEY DO, IS LOOK AT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS AND LOOK AT HOW MONEY IS -- IS ACCOUNTED FOR AND HOW PAYMENTS ARE APPROVED AND HOW CONTRACTS ARE NEGOTIATED AND -- AND HOW CONTRACTS ARE PAID FOR. THAT IN A NUTSHELL IS PROBABLY THE BEST DESCRIPTION. THE -- AND WE CALL IT, FOR THE MOST PART, THE PREAUDIT FUNCTION, OKAY, AND THAT TERM HAS BEEN REFERENCED IN A -- IN A -- IN A SUPREME COURT DECISION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA SUPREME COURT IN DISCUSSING THIS IN A CASE THAT WAS BROUGHT IN 1977 BETWEEN ALACHUA COUNTY AND POWERS. AND WITHIN THAT CASE IT WAS DISCUSSED, OKAY, WHAT -- WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS OF WHAT THE -- THE AUDIT FUNCTION UNDER THE CLERK WOULD DO. HAVING SAID THAT, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FUNCTION BEING FOR THE BOARD INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION WOULD BE, OKAY, THE POST-AUDIT, SAYING, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE LOOKING AT ECONOMY, WE'RE LOOKING AT EFFICIENCIES, WE'RE LOOKING AT EFFECTIVENESS; IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE CONCENTRATING MORE ON THE OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF HOW THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED WITHIN THE VARIOUS COUNTY AGENCIES, SO WE CAN GO IN AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE SPENDING THE MONEY LAWFULLY, OKAY, BUT THERE ARE MORE EFFICIENT WAYS OF CONDUCTING THE ACTIVITIES, SO IT'S MORE OPERATIONALLY CENTERED THAN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING CENTERED, AND SO THAT'S THE -- IN A NUTSHELL IS AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE BASIC DIFFERENCES WOULD BE BETWEEN WHAT THE -- THE BOARD INTERNAL AUDITOR OR THE CURRENT IPA POSITION WOULD DO VERSUS WHAT THE CLERK'S FOCUS HAS BEEN. AND HISTORICALLY THEY'VE BEEN CALLED PERFORMANCE AUDITS, BUT THE DEFINITION OF A PERFORMANCE AUDIT IS A LITTLE IMPRECISE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION AS TO WHAT'S INCLUDED, AND SO JUST TO AVOID THAT CONFUSION, LET'S JUST CALL IT THE BOARD INTERNAL AUDITOR, AND THEN WE CAN BETTER DEFINE WHAT THE SCOPE OF THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE, IN FACT, THE BOARD INTERNAL AUDITOR POSITION MIGHT ALSO WANT TO DO SOME COMPLIANCE WORK IF IT RELATES TO OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO PRECLUDE THAT FROM BEING ABLE TO BE PUT ON THE TABLE IF THE BOARD THINKS IT'S APPROPRIATE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DEFINE, AGAIN, THE DIFFERENCES OF THE ROLES, SO I WOULD JUST ASK AS PART OF THAT MOTION AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE TALK ABOUT HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND FURTHER DEFINING THE ROLES BETWEEN THE DIFFERENCES OF WHAT THE CLERK WOULD PERFORM AND AS WELL AS THE INTERNAL -- OR WOULD THE BOARD AUDITOR, WHATEVER THAT NAME IS. >> AND THESE TWO ROLES COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. THERE'S NO DUPLICATION OF EFFORT HERE, AND IN FACT, I THINK A MEMO WAS DISTRIBUTED BY THE CLERK TO THE BOARD THAT POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT THE CLERK DOESN'T DO PERFORMANCE AUDIT WORK, DOESN'T DO OPERATIONAL AUDITING, ALTHOUGH THEY -- SHE SAID THEY COULD, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND STAFFING. HAVING SAID THAT, OKAY, SHE RECOGNIZES THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF AUDITING, AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR THE BOARD INTERNAL AUDITOR WOULD BE A COMPLEMENT TO WHAT THE -- THE CLERK'S INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION IS CURRENTLY PERFORMING. >>KEVIN BECKNER: GREAT. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THAT MOTION. AND ONE OTHER MOTION THAT I'LL -- I'LL MAKE AFTER THIS MOTION PASSES IS THAT WE PROCEED WITH A LETTER GOING TO THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD EXPRESSING OUR SUPPORT BECAUSE LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT SOME OF US EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THIS OFFICE, BUT THEY ALSO QUESTIONED OUR WILL OR OUR DESIRE TO REALLY CORRECT THE OFFICE, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT THAT LAST NIGHT, AND I THINK WE NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT CORRECTING THE FUNCTION OF THIS OFFICE AND THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO -- TO PUT FORTH THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY MR. TARR THAT THEY PUT THE -- CHANGE THE -- TAKE OUT THE ISSUE OF BUDGET ANALYST -- >> CORRECT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: -- AND ALSO CHANGE THE NAME, SO I WOULD MAKE THAT -- >>ROSE FERLITA: CERTAINLY, MR. HAGAN, JUST ADD THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO OUR FIRST MOTION. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A SECOND ONE THAT WE DO WHAT MR. BECKNER HAD REQUESTED. THAT'S FINE. >>RENEE LEE: AND MR. CHAIR, JUST TO RESPOND TO YOU, COMMISSIONER BECKNER, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT THIS BOARD COULD ALSO MAKE THOSE CHARTER CHANGES IF YOU WANTED. IF YOU -- IF THE BOARD WANTED TO AMEND THE CHARTER TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES WITH RESPECT TO THE IPA'S POSITION, YOU COULD AS WELL, OR THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION COULD DO IT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'D PREFER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: WOULD THERE BE ANY CONFLICT WITH THE WORK THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING -- WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE TO -- TO CONSIDER THAT BY THE BOARD, OR SHOULD WE WAIT UNTIL THE CHARTER REVIEW HAS -- HAS COMPLETED THEIR WORK? >>RENEE LEE: WELL, YOU CERTAINLY WANT TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD IS DOING, BUT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE CONVERSATION THAT I'VE HEARD AND YOU'VE CERTAINLY REFLECTED IT WELL HERE, I THINK THAT IF THEY KNEW THE BOARD WAS GOING TO TAKE SOME ACTION IN PUTTING AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT WITH RESPECT TO THIS POSITION, THEY WOULD PROBABLY NOT DO ANYTHING. SO -- >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: WERE YOU FINISHED? >>KEVIN BECKNER: YES, SIR. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: WHEN WE ENTERED INTO THIS AGREEMENT WITH MR. TARR, IT WAS TO COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE BOARD IS PLEASED WITH THE REPORTS THAT WE'RE GETTING, AND WHAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IS UNDER THE SCOPE OF YOUR CONTRACT, ARE WE ABOUT TO EXPIRE WITH THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS NOW THAT WILL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THAT INITIAL WORK AGREEMENT WAS. WE NEED TO BE -- I WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT SENDING YOU INTO A FOUR- TO SIX-WEEK MISSION AND THEN OUR WORK AGREEMENT EXPIRE WITH YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION TODAY ON THAT OR MAYBE YOU CAN COMMENT. ARE WE AT THE END OF THE WORK AGREEMENT WITH YOU? >> WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE LIMITS OF THAT CONTRACT. IT HASN'T EXPIRED YET. THERE'S STILL SOME -- SOME HOURS AND MONIES LEFT IN THAT CONTRACT, BUT WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION AS TO WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT MY INVOLVEMENT BEING GOING FORWARD AND THEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT NEED, IF NECESSARY, TO ADJUST THAT CONTRACT. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THIS TO ADD ON TO THE MOTION, BUT IF MR. MERRILL WOULD VISIT WITH MR. TARR OR SOMEONE THAT YOU DESIGNATE ON YOUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SENSITIVE AND ADDRESS THAT SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE HIS SERVICE AND WE CAN KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING IN RIGHTING THE WAYS OF THE AUDIT OFFICE. >> THANK YOU. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. NOW WAS THERE A SECOND MOTION THAT WAS GOING TO BE MADE? COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: YES. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND -- >>ROSE FERLITA: SECOND. >>KEVIN BECKNER: -- ALTHOUGH RISE THE CHAIRMAN TO SEND A LETTER TO THE BOARD -- THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD EXPRESSING OUR DESIRE TO -- AND INTEREST IN KEEPING THE OFFICE AS WELL AS MAKING THE APPROPRIATE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY MR. TARR AND GIVE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT THE ACTIONS THAT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND MR. MERRILL AND PEOPLE WILL BE WORKING ON TO BRING FORTH A FINAL RESOLUTION. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECOND COMMISSIONER FERLITA. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. TARR, THANK YOU. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANKS, MR. TARR. >> THANK YOU-ALL. >>KEN HAGAN: APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. >> HAVE A GOOD DAY. APPRECIATE IT. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: MR. MERRILL, DO YOU NEED MY REQUEST IN THE FORM OF A MOTION OR ARE YOU FINE WITH THAT? >>MIKE MERRILL: NO, I'M FINE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, YOUR NEXT ITEM WOULD BE YOUR 10:45 TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS F-4, CONCERNING THE ADOPTION OF A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOB CREATION PROGRAM. >>KEN HAGAN: I'M GOING TO GO UP TO THE ... BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE ALL INTIMATELY AWARE OF THE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES THAT WE'RE FACING NOW ON A DAILY BASIS. I SPEAK WITH FOCUS IN OUR COMMUNITY LIKE EACH OF YOU. WE READ IT IN THE PAPERS, WE SEE IT ON TV, AND WE'RE ALL VERY MUCH AWARE THAT MANY ARE HURTING OUT THERE AND THE ECONOMY AND -- AND JOB CREATION IS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE TO THEM. AND LIKE EACH OF YOU, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE STUDIED AND DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON AND GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO. LAST YEAR I SPEARHEADED THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS TASK FORCE, AND THIS BOARD HAS BEEN UPDATED ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT, AND WE'VE BEGUN TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE. IN RECENT MONTHS I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM AS WELL AS WITH THE TAMPA- HILLSBOROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE BOLD STEPS TO CREATE JOBS, AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP IGNITE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION EFFORTS. TODAY I WANT TO PROPOSE SOMETHING TO YOU THAT I BELIEVE WILL HELP START BUILDING BACK, AND I HOPE YOU'LL AGREE. THE BASIC CONCEPT IS TO PLACE A REFERENDUM ON THE 2010 BALLOT ALLOWING PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS TO ENCOURAGE EXPANSION OF EXISTING BUSINESS AND THE ATTRACTION OF NEW BUSINESS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION ALLOWS THIS WITH VOTER APPROVAL FOR A COUNTY COMMISSION TO GRANT PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS AS A WAY TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING BUSINESSES. THE OBJECTIVES, TO CREATE NEW JOBS. IT'S JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. TO PROVIDE AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE TO EXPAND EXISTING BUSINESSES, TO ENCOURAGE NEW BUSINESSES IN TARGETED SECTORS, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE BEAUTY OF THE PROGRAM, THAT IT CAN BE TAILORED TO SPECIFIC SECTORS AS WELL AS GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS TO INCREASE OUR LONG-TERM TAX BASE, ENERGIZE OUR DEPRESSED ECONOMY, AND ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY WITH OTHER COUNTIES FOR BUSINESS EXPANSION AND RELOCATION. THE NEED, NO SURPRISE HERE, UNEMPLOYMENT'S UP, JOB GROWTH IS DOWN. UNEMPLOYMENT HAS REACHED DOUBLE DIGITS, ALTHOUGH WE ARE OFF OF OUR HIGH 13%. UNLIKE OUR LAST ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN WHEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ACTUALLY HELD UP VERY WELL AND ENJOYED MODEST JOB GROWTH AT THAT TIME, THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED DURING THIS RECESSION, AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST. IN JUNE OF 2009, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ECONOMIC STIMULUS TASK FORCE OFFERED 12 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP REINVIGORATE OUR ECONOMY. THEIR TOP RECOMMENDATION CALLS FOR THE FORMATION OF A STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THIS BOARD WHOLEHEARTEDLY CONCURRED WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION. THE TAMPA-HILLSBOROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WAS CHARGED WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL BE BRINGING THAT PLAN FORWARD. ANOTHER OF THE TASK FORCE TOP RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO BROADEN THE USE AND FLEXIBILITY OF OUR ECONOMIC INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. THIS BOARD AGAIN RESPONDED PROACTIVELY BY LOWERING THE THRESHOLD OF THE STATE-AUTHORIZED INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO THEIR STATUTORY MINIMUMS; FOR EXAMPLE, CASES THAT ONCE REQUIRED OR NEEDED THE PURPOSE OF CREATING OF AT LEAST A HUNDRED JOBS, BUT NOW WE REDUCED THAT AND WE CAN MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO SITUATIONS WHERE AS FEW AS TEN JOBS ARE PROPOSED. LIKEWISE, WITH A MINIMUM SALARY, WE REDUCED THAT AS WELL. THE BOCC ALSO TOOK SIMILAR ACTION TO POSITIVELY AFFECT OUR LOCAL INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ALL WITH THE INTENT TO SPARK ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT AND JOB GROWTH. THIS PROGRAM THAT WE'RE SHOWING TODAY I BELIEVE COMPLEMENTS, BUILDS UPON, AND PROVIDES AN ECONOMIC -- AN ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC TOOL THAT -- THAT WILL HELP OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS IMPROVE OUR ECONOMIC RECRUIT -- OR CORPORATE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. HOW IT CAN WORK. THE VOTERS APPROVE THE USE OF A TAX EXEMPTION POLICY. THERE'S NO CURRENT BUDGETARY IMPACT TO IT. THE AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS ARE CONSIDERED ON A CASE-BY- CASE BASIS AT A PUBLIC HEARING; IN OTHER WORDS, THIS BOARD WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE EACH -- EACH CASE. TAX EXEMPTIONS WOULD APPLY ONLY TO TAXES LEVIED BY THE COUNTY. THE TAXES MAY BE EXEMPT UP TO 100% OF THE ASSESSED VALUE FOR ALL ADDED IMPROVEMENTS. TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY ACQUIRED TO EQUIP A NEW BUSINESS OR FACILITATE THE EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING BUSINESS MAY QUALIFY FOR TAX EXEMPTIONS, AND THE TAX EXEMPTIONS MAY REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR NO MORE THAN TEN YEARS. AGAIN, THAT'S AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD TO DETERMINE. IN FACT, MANY OTHER COUNTIES ACROSS FLORIDA HAVE OR ARE CONSIDERING THIS APPROACH. 25 HAVE A COUNTYWIDE OPTION, TEN HAVE LIMITED ENTERPRISE OPTIONS, AND 32 HAVE NO OPTION. SARASOTA WILL HAVE THE QUESTION BEFORE THE VOTERS IN AUGUST, AND POLK IS CONSIDERING IT AND SAYS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY APPROVED IT. THEY HAVEN'T OFFICIALLY APPROVED IT YET, BUT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, THEY'RE GOING TO APPROVE IT TO BE ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER AS WELL. SO AS THE BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC CENTER OF OUR REGION, I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE MUST DO THE SAME TO CONTINUE OUR ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE. LET'S ACT NOW. INACTION MEANS THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL BE LOST FOR ANOTHER TWO AND A HALF YEARS UNTIL 2012. THE REFERENDUM AND BALLOT LANGUAGE MUST BE APPROVED BY THIS BOARD BY AUGUST 18th TO APPEAR ON THE 2010 BALLOT. AFTER WE HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR TWO MOTIONS, TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DRAFT BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR THIS BOARD TO CONSIDER AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON AUGUST 4th AND ALSO TO TASK THE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WITH DRAFTING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AND THEN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON AUGUST 4th AS WELL. BOARD MEMBERS, I REALIZE this is -- THIS IS A QUICK TURNAROUND; HOWEVER, I WANTED TO BE VERY CAREFUL BEFORE I BROUGHT IT FORWARD TO HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH AND THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISSUE, AND I DO FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE SHOULD ACT UPON NOW. AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN AND WE CAN HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUE. THANK YOU. >>MARK SHARPE: WE'LL GO AHEAD -- I'M GOING TO PUT MYSELF AT THE END. IT WOULD BE COMMISSIONER -- IS THAT -- FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU, MR. SHARPE. MR. HAGAN, THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, FOR BRINGING THIS UP, AND I KNOW THAT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. IF THERE'S ANYTHING FOREMOST IN EVERYBODY'S MIND IN TERMS OF THE SITUATIONS AND THE -- THE CHALLENGES THAT THIS SITUATION BRINGS IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY IS FIRST JOBS, SECOND JOBS, AND THIRD JOBS, SO WE NEED TO -- TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO -- TO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS, BUT I THINK IF DONE APPROPRIATELY, WE CAN -- WE CAN JUSTIFY DOING THIS SO LONG AS THERE'S SOME -- SOME GUIDELINES, SO I'M -- I'M QUITE ANXIOUS TO SEE WHERE WE GO WITH THIS, BUT I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE ON ITS FACE. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERLITA. COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND AGAIN, I THINK WE ALL REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF JOB CREATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT CERTAINLY IS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES HERE AND NEEDS TO BE TO CONTINUE TO -- TO CREATE JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. ONE QUESTION I WAS KIND OF INTRIGUED BY. WHEN WE SAID -- AND PERHAPS -- I DON'T KNOW IF ERIC JOHNSON OR SOMEBODY FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND. WHEN WE SAID THAT THERE'S NO BUDGETARY IMPACT ON THAT, COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THAT EXEMPTION WOULD WORK AND HOW IT WOULD NOT IMPACT THE BUDGET IF -- IF WE'RE GIVING EXEMPTIONS. >>KEN HAGAN: WELL, BEFORE -- GENE, I'LL LET YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION, BUT I'LL JUST PUT IN MY TWO CENTS' WORTH. UNLIKE PREVIOUS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS THAT THIS BOARD HAS APPROVED, I CAME UP WITH THE FILM COMMISSION INCENTIVE PROGRAM. I BELIEVE WE HAD BIOTECH INCENTIVE PROGRAM. WE MIGHT HAVE EVEN HAD AGRICULTURE, I BELIEVE, AND ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THIS BOARD WOULD SET ASIDE 100,000, 500,000, I THINK IT WAS FIVE MILLION MAYBE OR THREE MILLION FOR BIOTECH, THAT THOSE WERE BUDGET ITEMS THAT WERE SET ASIDE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS IN ORDER TO BRING IN COMPANIES LIKE THIS, SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT. WE'RE NOT SETTING ASIDE ANY DOLLARS. THIS IS AN EXEMPTION THAT WE WOULD WAIVE FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS, BUT GENE, PLEASE ANSWER. >>GENE GRAY: YES, MR. CHAIRMAN. GENE GRAY WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER, THE WAY THIS TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM WORKS, IT PROVIDES AN EXEMPTION, AS THE CHAIRMAN HAS INDICATED, IT'S UP TO 100%, UP TO TEN YEARS FOR A PROJECT THAT QUALIFIES. AS WITH OUR OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES, IT IS A BUT FOR INCENTIVE. IT IS -- IT IS AN INDUCEMENT TO A COMPANY TO EITHER EXPAND AN EXISTING LOCAL COMPANY OR FOR RELOCATION TO HAPPEN, SO IT -- WITHOUT THIS AND/OR OTHER INCENTIVES BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM, THAT PROJECT LIKELY WILL NOT HAPPEN WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY -- THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT THESE ARE TAX REVENUES THAT WE WOULD BE NOT COLLECTING FROM A COMPANY, THAT WE PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE COLLECTED ANYWAY BECAUSE THE PROJECT PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IN OUR COMMUNITY. >>KEVIN BECKNER: WELL, THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN TO ME -- WE -- YOU MENTIONED EXEMPTION. WHAT ARE WE EXEMPTING THEM FROM? EXEMPTING MEANS YOU'RE NOT PAYING SOMETHING, SO WHAT ARE THEY BEING EXEMPT FROM? >>MARK SHARPE: GROWTH. >>GENE GRAY: AN EXEMPTION OF A PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, THEIR AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE DESIGNATED PERIOD OF TIME FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY. AND WHAT ABOUT -- WELL, THEN, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S LESS REVENUE THAT'S BEING GENERATED, SO WHAT -- HOW -- WHAT BUDGETS OR WHAT DOES THAT IMPACT BY HAVING LESS REVENUE TAKEN IN WITH THOSE EXEMPTIONS? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT HAS TO IMPACT SOMEWHERE. >>GENE GRAY: YES, PLEASE DO. >>ERIC JOHNSON: COMMISSIONERS, ERIC JOHNSON, MANAGEMENT SERVICES. COMMISSIONER, I THINK THE KEY HERE IS IT IS A -- IT IS LIKE ANY EXEMPTION A REDUCED FLOW OF REVENUE. WHAT GENE IS TRYING TO DESCRIBE IS THAT BUT FOR ISSUE WHICH IS THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF THE INCENTIVE, THE DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T OCCUR PRESUMABLY, AND THEREFORE, THE REVENUE GROWTH WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED WITHOUT THE ACTIVITY, SO THE ISSUE THAT -- THAT IS TAKEN UP WHEN -- WHEN AN ENTITY CONSIDERS AN ABATEMENT IS ARE YOU REALLY LOSING REVENUE IF IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PROGRAM, THE REVENUE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN GENERATED? BUT TECHNICALLY IT'S A LOSS OF REVENUE AS OPPOSED TO AN EXPENDITURE, BUT IT'S THAT WHOLE CONSIDERATION OF IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PROGRAM, WOULD YOU HAVE HAD THAT REVENUE STREAM ANYWAY, AND THAT'S WHAT EVERY COMMUNITY HAS TO DECIDE IN DECIDING TO STRUCTURE THIS TYPE OF AN ABATEMENT PROGRAM, ARE YOU ACTUALLY DRAWING IN ACTIVITY THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE OCCUR. >>KEVIN BECKNER: DO YOU HAVE -- WELL, LET ME ASK YOU TWO QUESTIONS HERE. FROM WHAT I HEARD AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE THIS. HAVE THEY PROVIDED US WITH ECONOMIC STUDIES AS HOW IT HAS IMPACTED POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY THE COMMUNITY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, AND PERHAPS YOU COULD PROVIDE US WITH A FULL BRIEFING OF THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS AND WHAT -- WHAT TYPE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THAT HAS HAD ON THEIR COMMUNITY. >>GENE GRAY: COMMISSIONER, WE ARE GATHERING INFORMATION FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES. PRIMARILY WE'VE BEEN GATHERING THE -- THE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES THAT THEY'RE UTILIZING IN THEIR COMMUNITY, SORT OF A BEST PRACTICES GATHERING OF DATA. WE HAVE NOT REQUESTED THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS OR -- AS YOU'VE REQUESTED, BUT WE WILL REQUEST THAT TO SEE IF IT DOES EXIST IN THE EXISTING COMMUNITIES. >>KEVIN BECKNER: WELL, AND I THINK -- BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS. I MEAN, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF GETTING MORE INFORMATION, BUT I THINK IF WE LOOK BACK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS AND THE IMPACT THAT THE STATE REFERENDUM HAS HAD AND WE WERE ASSURED THAT THERE'S -- THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, IT WOULDN'T IMPACT OUR REVENUE STREAMS, NOW LOOK AT THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN. I WANT TO PROMOTE JOBS, I WANT TO BRING GROWTH HERE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS MEANS BECAUSE I'M ALSO -- I DON'T WANT TO PUT FORTH A REFERENDUM THAT WHEN SOME -- WHEN A CONSTITUENT ASKS, WELL, HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WHAT'S IT GOING TO DO AND I SAY, I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT -- I HAVE TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, BOTH POSITIVE AND LOOK AT IT ALSO IMPACTS OUR BUDGET HERE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT DOES SOMEWHERE HAVE A -- TO ME AT LEAST ON THE SURFACE -- AND AGAIN, MAYBE YOU CAN PROVIDE FURTHER CLARITY, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT DOES HAVE SOME TYPE OF A FISCAL IMPACT TO US, AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING GOING INTO THIS BEFORE WE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU. >>MARK SHARPE: A COUPLE QUESTIONS, GENE. AND I WOULD LIKE THE -- AND I THINK ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE THE INFORMATION AS WELL. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS NOT AN ACTUAL REDUCTION -- AND MY TALK IS JUST BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES -- NOT A REDUCTION IN AD VALOREM OR PROPERTY TAXES PAID BY THE BUSINESS, BUT AS THE BUSINESS ENJOYS ECONOMIC EXPANSION AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT COMES AS A RESULT OF THEIR EXPANDING THEIR FACILITY, IT'S THAT PORTION THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE ABATEMENT? >>GENE GRAY: THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. >>MARK SHARPE: OKAY. BECAUSE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE -- AND I HEAR THIS QUITE OFTEN WHEN I'M OUT TALKING TO COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CHAMBER AND SUCH -- WE'VE GOT GREAT PROGRAMS TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE WEAK INCENTIVES FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY HERE TO TRY TO GET THEM TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS, AND OFTENTIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY NOW START SEARCHING FOR OTHER HOMES AROUND THE NATION BECAUSE THEY'LL GET AN INCENTIVE TO LEAVE HERE AND TAKE THEIR BUSINESS AND WITH IT GOES THEIR JOBS AND ALL THE REVENUE, SO WE STILL WILL SEE IF -- IF A COMPANY WERE TO EXPAND ITS OPERATIONS AND AS A RESULT GET THIS ABATEMENT BUT HIRE MORE EMPLOYEES, DO THEIR EMPLOYEES THEN PAY MORE TAXES, WHICH WE MIGHT STILL ENJOY AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM? >>GENE GRAY: YES, SIR, THAT IS CORRECT. >>MARK SHARPE: SO WE GET A BENEFIT BECAUSE THE COMPANY STAYED, THE COMPANY GETS A BENEFIT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LEAVE. NOW, MY QUESTION, THOUGH, IS -- MAYBE I MISSED IT, BUT WHAT COMPANIES WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS? WOULD EVERY COMPANY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ALL OF A SUDDEN START LOOKING FOR TAX ABATEMENTS? HOW DOES THAT WORK? >>GENE GRAY: COMMISSIONER, THAT WILL BE A POLICY ISSUE THAT THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO DECIDE, BUT OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION COMING BACK TO YOU WOULD BE THAT THERE WOULD BE LIMITATIONS ON THE INDUSTRIES THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS. I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE STRATEGICALLY IMPLEMENTED SO THAT WE GET THE MOST BENEFIT POSSIBLE OUT OF IT. I -- MY EXPECTATION IS THAT IT WOULD LARGELY TRACK WITH OUR EXISTING TARGET INDUSTRY STRATEGY THAT WE UTILIZE IN OUR OTHER PROGRAMS, AND IF I COULD FOR JUST A MOMENT, COULD I ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF -- OF LOCAL -- EXISTING COMPANIES VERSUS RELOCATIONS? AS YOU STATED, THAT IS, IN FACT, THE PERCEPTION, THAT WE HAVE INCENTIVES FOR COMPANIES TO RELOCATE HERE. >>MARK SHARPE: RIGHT. >>GENE GRAY: THE REALITY IS OUR INCENTIVES -- ALL OF OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, WHETHER THEY'RE STATE OR LOCAL PROGRAMS, ARE GEARED FOR EITHER, EITHER AN EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING COMPANY OR A RELOCATION FROM OUTSIDE OUR COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE THE SAME QUALIFYING CRITERIA. >>KEN HAGAN: LET ME SAY ONE THING REAL QUICK BEFORE I FORGET. >>MARK SHARPE: SURE. >>KEN HAGAN: THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL. WE CAN STRUCTURE IT HOWEVER WE LIKE AS FAR AS TARGETED INDUSTRIES, AS FAR AS IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS, DISTRESSED AREAS THAT WE WANT TO PROMOTE, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT NEED TO BE CREATED, AS FAR AS THE PERCENTAGE ABOVE MEDIAN INCOME, IN ADDITION TO THE NUMBER OF YEARS WE REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO STAY HERE, SO WE CAN STRUCTURE ANY WAY WE'D LIKE, AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'LL BE A, YOU KNOW, A CASE-BY-CASE. IT WILL COME IN FRONT OF THIS BOARD TO APPROVE. SOME CASES IT MIGHT BE FOR ONE YEAR, IN OTHER CASES IT MIGHT BE -- IF YOU'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW, 5- OR 10,000 JOBS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GIVE THE EXEMPTION FOR TEN YEARS, SO IT CAN BE STRUCTURED ANY WAY WE LIKE, AND IT IS A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD -- AND THAT'S GOING TO BE DETERMINED OR AT LEAST RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED BY GENE AND HIS STAFF WHEN THEY COME BACK IN A COUPLE WEEKS. SORRY. >>MARK SHARPE: THAT'S FINE BECAUSE THAT KIND OF LAYS INTO MY SECOND QUESTION, AND I WOULD -- I DO, THOUGH, WANT TO SEE THE PROJECTIONS BECAUSE IF WE'RE PROJECTING OUT OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS REVENUE STREAMS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUDGET OUR PROGRAMS, I GUESS WE BUILD INTO THOSE PROJECTIONS PLANT EXPANSIONS, FACILITIES EXPANSIONS, I DON'T KNOW. AND SO WOULD THIS HAVE AN IMPACT OR WOULD THAT IMPACT BE NULLIFIED BY, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE GROWTH THAT WE GET AS A RESULT OF NEW JOBS, NEW TAXPAYERS, NEW HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS AND SUCH, SO THERE'S MORE REVENUE? I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THAT HAS WORKED IN OTHER AREAS. THE ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME A LITTLE BIT IS THE BOARD'S GOING TO DECIDE. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT -- SHOULD WE NOT MAYBE SET UP AN ENTITY THAT SEPARATES US FROM EACH ENTITY THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT HERE AND THEN SAY WE WANT THE EXEMPTION, AND THE BOARD'S VOTING FOR THE EXEMPTION OF THIS BUSINESS "A," "B," OR "C"? I MEAN, I ALMOST WOULD LIKE TO GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR -- OR A COMMITTEE THAT'S ESTABLISHED THAT INCLUDES FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND OTHERS WHO THEN SAY THIS WARRANTS APPROVAL, AND THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, CAST OUR VOTE, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THE BOARD -- I MEAN, THAT MIGHT BE CREATING A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE IF SOMEHOW NOW THE BOARD GETS TO BE MAKING -- CHERRY PICKING WHO GETS THIS AND WHO DOESN'T, AND I -- THAT DOES CONCERN ME A LITTLE BIT. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? >>GENE GRAY: COMMISSIONER, I PROBABLY NEED TO LET THE ATTORNEYS ADDRESS THE -- THE LIMITATIONS WITHIN THE CONSTITUTION AND THE STATUTES, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S REQUIRED THAT THE BOARD MAKE THE FINDING AT A PUBLIC HEARING; HOWEVER, WHAT YOU'VE SUGGESTED IN TERMS OF HAVING INPUT FROM STAFF AND/OR AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION, WE COULD CERTAINLY INCORPORATE THAT INTO THAT PROCESS SO THAT YOU'RE -- YOU'RE GETTING A RECOMMENDATION ON A SPECIFIC PROJECT. >>MARK SHARPE: I JUST THINK THE DECISION SHOULD BE BASED NOT -- I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING WE MAKE POLITICAL DECISIONS HERE, BUT I'M SAYING THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHECKS AND BALANCES AND OVERSIGHT SO THAT THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE ARE MADE -- THEY'RE RUN THROUGH A PROCESS AND NOT JUST THE BOARD AT SOME POINT SAYING, OKAY, YOU GET -- YOU GET THIS ABATEMENT, YOU DON'T GET THE ABATEMENT. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. GRAY, THAT WAS -- THAT WAS REALLY WHAT I WAS THINKING WHEN I MADE MY -- MY INITIAL COMMENTS, THAT I SUPPORT THAT IF IT'S DONE APPROPRIATELY. MY QUESTION IS THIS. SAY, FOR INSTANCE, A BUSINESS BENEFITS FROM -- FROM THIS EXEMPTION. WHAT MECHANISM DO WE HAVE THAT IF THEY DECIDE TO COME HERE AND -- AND NOT HAVE TO PAY THESE TAXES LIKE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO AND THEN THEY DECIDE TO LEAVE WHEN IT SUNSETS, WELL, THEN OUR TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING THE BENEFIT TO THEM AND THE LOSS OF REVENUE TO OUR BASE, SO WHAT DO WE -- DO WE HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE ALREADY THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING? >>GENE GRAY: YES, MA'AM. >>ROSE FERLITA: COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT. >>GENE GRAY: PART OF THE CRITERIA THAT WE ANTICIPATE BRINGING BACK TO THE BOARD WOULD INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED, THE WAGES REQUIRED, THE INDUSTRIES THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR IT, THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT MAY BE REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE, BUT ALSO A CLAWBACK PROVISION. SHOULD THEY NOT PERFORM BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS -- AND LIKE ALL OF OUR OTHER INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, THERE WOULD BE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THEY WOULD HAVE TO MEET TO MAINTAIN THEIR ELIGIBILITY AND ACCESS TO THIS PROGRAM. IF THEY FAIL TO MEET THOSE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, WE WOULD HAVE CLAWBACKS BUILT INTO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY AND/OR THE -- WHATEVER THE LEGAL DOCUMENT IS THAT PUTS IN PLACE THIS ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COMPANY. WE WOULD HAVE CLAWBACKS BUILT INTO THAT. >>ROSE FERLITA: CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? >>GENE GRAY: YES, MA'AM. SHOULD -- IF A COMPANY COMMITS TO CREATE, SAY, TEN JOBS OVER A -- A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, AS WE TYPICALLY DO AND AS THE STATE DOES, THERE IS A SCHEDULE THAT IS ESTABLISHED THAT THEY HAVE TO CREATE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF JOBS BY A CERTAIN DATE, AND IF THEY DO NOT MEET THAT THRESHOLD OR THAT -- THAT MILESTONE IN THE AGREEMENT, THEN THEY'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT AND THEREFORE NOT ELIGIBLE. >>MIKE MERRILL: I THINK A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT WAS THE DEAL WE DID WITH MOFFITT ON THE M2GEN PROJECT. >>ROSE FERLITA: YES. >>MIKE MERRILL: THAT ACTUALLY DOES PROVIDE FOR SO-CALLED CLAWBACK PROVISIONS. IF THEY DON'T MEET THE JOB REQUIREMENTS WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, THERE'S A REPAYMENT SCHEDULE BACK TO US SO THAT ESSENTIALLY WHEN -- THEY'RE NOT GETTING WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, A FREE RIDE. >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. BUT THAT WOULD BE VERY AGGRESSIVE; RIGHT? I MEAN, I GUESS WHAT I WANT IS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, FOR CITIZENS NOT TO SUFFER FROM THE LOST REVENUE -- >>MIKE MERRILL: ABSOLUTELY. >>ROSE FERLITA: -- BUT SOMETIMES I UNDERSTAND FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT YOU'VE GOT TO SPEND MONEY TO MAKE IT, AND ACTUALLY WE'RE SPENDING IT IN THE SENSE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT -- >>MIKE MERRILL: RIGHT. >>ROSE FERLITA: -- BUT HOPEFULLY BECAUSE THAT WILL BE ONGOING REVENUE LATER BECAUSE THAT WILL SUNSET AT SOME POINT; RIGHT? >>GENE GRAY: YES, MA'AM. THAT -- IT WILL. IT CERTAINLY IS THE PREROGATIVE OF THIS BOARD TO SUNSET IT AT ANY TIME YOU WANT. >>ROSE FERLITA: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER NORMAN. >>JIM NORMAN: WELL, A COUPLE THOUGHTS. FIRST OF ALL, IS THIS GOING TO BE A COUNTYWIDE INITIATIVE? ARE CITIES BUYING IN TO PARTNERING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM? >>KEN HAGAN: I THINK IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IT JUST APPLIES TO THE COUNTY PORTION OF THE TAXES UNLESS THE CITIES BUY IN. I DID SHARE THIS WITH MAYOR IORIO DURING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEETING LAST WEEK, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY THEIR OWN ORDINANCE OR -- >>JIM NORMAN: WELL, I MEAN, IF WE PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT AND IT'S A COUNTYWIDE ORDINANCE, THEY'RE PROBABLY IN A POSITION OF HAVING TO OPT OUT IF I UNDERSTAND, IS THAT -- >>RENEE LEE: COMMISSIONER, I'D ASK SAM TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR US. HE HAS -- >>JIM NORMAN: AND I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT OLIVE BRANCH EXTENDED TO ALL THE CITIES IF WE'RE GOING TO PLACE THAT. THAT'S -- I JUST THINK THAT'S BEING UP FRONT AND FAIR WITH THEM. YES, SIR. >>SAM HAMILTON: SAM HAMILTON, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND STATUTE, EACH JURISDICTION -- SO IF THE CITIES WANTED TO DO THIS PROGRAM, THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN ORDINANCE, THEIR OWN REFERENDUM MEASURE. THE LANGUAGE WOULD BE -- COULD BE IDENTICAL, BUT THEY'D BE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT. I MEAN, THE COUNTY MILLAGE IS ALL THAT'S APPLIED. SAME THING WITH THE ACTUAL CITY MILLAGE. >>JIM NORMAN: OKAY. WHEN WE PUT IT ON A BALLOT, THEN -- >>SAM HAMILTON: NO, WHAT I'M SAYING, COMMISSIONER, IS -- SAY, FOR INSTANCE, ANY -- EACH OF THE THREE MUNICIPALITIES WANTED TO ALSO GO FORWARD WITH THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM. THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN BALLOT QUESTION. IT WOULD BE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL. >>JIM NORMAN: SO IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE VOTED ON BY COUNTY VOTERS, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY? >>ROSE FERLITA: YOU MEAN UNINCORPORATED? >>JIM NORMAN: YES. >>SAM HAMILTON: NO, IT'S COUNTYWIDE, BUT IT WOULD BE APPLY TO THE COUNTY MILLAGE ONLY. >>JIM NORMAN: SO MY POINT IS CITY VOTERS VOTE ON IT FOR COUNTY MILLAGE? >>SAM HAMILTON: THAT'S CORRECT. >>JIM NORMAN: OKAY. BUT THE COUNTY MILLAGE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING OF, THE CITY VOTERS -- OR THE CITIES THEN CAN -- IF IT'S PLACED ON COUNTY MILLAGE CAN OPT IN OR OPT OUT IF IT'S PLACED COUNTYWIDE? >>SAM HAMILTON: NOT AS TO THE COUNTY MILLAGE. IF THE CITIES WANTED TO APPLY THE PERCENTAGE TO THEIR RESPECTIVE MILLAGES, THEY'D HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME PATH. >>JIM NORMAN: OKAY. >>GENE GRAY: COMMISSIONER, COULD I ADD ONE THING TO THAT? PART OF WHAT THE -- PART OF THE POLICY DECISION THAT THE BOARD WILL NEED TO MAKE ON THIS IS WHETHER OR NOT THE APPLICATION OF IT IS ONLY AGAINST THE COUNTYWIDE MILLAGE, WHICH EVERYBODY PAYS, VERSUS THE POSSIBILITY OF ALSO APPLYING IT AGAINST THE MSTU MILLAGE, WHICH ONLY APPLIES IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. >>JIM NORMAN: RIGHT. OKAY. THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED THROUGH. OKAY. SECONDLY -- BUT -- LET'S BE REAL FRANK HERE. IF -- IF 24, 25 COUNTIES ARE ALREADY OPERATING THIS IN FLORIDA, IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT COMPETITIVE TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX TO COMPETE WITH OTHER COUNTIES, THEN -- IF WE MADE IT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS HERE, WE -- THIS IS A TOOL THAT WE CAN COMPETE WITH. IF WE -- IF IT'S NOT A RESOURCE THAT WE -- THAT WE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT, HAVE IT, PUT IT IN OUR TOOLBOX, I BELIEVE IT'S VERY -- IT'S A BIG ADVANTAGE FOR OUR COUNTY TO HAVE IT. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CREATIVE FINANCIAL TOOLS THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE. DO YOU REMEMBER -- AND I KNOW A LOT OF YOU-ALL WEREN'T HERE, BUT CITRUS PARK MALL WENT FORWARD BECAUSE WE -- WE DID SOME INCENTIVE THINGS LIKE THIS THAT WE CHANGED THEIR IMPACT FEES FOR THEM TO HAVE THAT REGION PAID BACK -- THEY DID OUR ROADS, THEY WIDENED OUR ROADS, AND THAT LET THE MALL GO FORWARD. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT AND HAVE THAT GIANT IMPACT OF REVENUE STREAM, CAN YOU IMAGINE -- IF WE'D HAVE SLOWED IT DOWN BY SAYING, OH, WE CAN'T DO THAT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY POLICIES IN PLACE OR WHATEVER -- WE NEED THESE KIND OF THINGS AND WE NEED THEM BADLY, SO HAT'S OFF TO YOU, AND I WOULD SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN PUT INTO A TOOLBOX THAT CAN GIVE US THAT ADVANTAGE, ADDED ADVANTAGE TO BE ABLE TO BRING JOBS HERE. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NORMAN. COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: MIKE, I KNOW THAT YOU TALKED WITH THE -- MY OFFICE ABOUT THIS CREATION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. WOULD THAT FIT IN TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE MAYBE THE AUTHORITY COULD HELP PROVIDE ADVICE AND CONSENT ON SOME OF THE ISSUES WE DISCUSSED EARLIER AND ALSO HELP WITH THIS -- MAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON, YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD QUALIFY AND NOT QUALIFY SO IT'S NOT JUST PURELY, YOU KNOW, US MAKING A DECISION AT THE END OF THE DAY? >>MIKE MERRILL: YES. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A -- I WOULD SAY IT'S -- IT'S A GOOD VEHICLE. I HAD RAISED IT INITIALLY WITH RESPECT TO OUR RESEARCH PARK -- >>MARK SHARPE: RIGHT. >>MIKE MERRILL: -- DEVELOPMENT, AND THERE'S MODELS -- >>MARK SHARPE: [INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK] MULTIPLE TASKS. >>MIKE MERRILL: YES. AND THERE ARE MODELS AROUND THE COUNTRY OF THAT TYPE OF AN AUTHORITY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROMOTING AND DEVELOPING -- >>MARK SHARPE: I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION. WOULD YOU MIND IF WE ANALYZED AS WELL THIS CREATION? I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DATA, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET MORE BACK AS WELL ON THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THAT THE BOARD COULD HELP ESTABLISH, WHICH COULD THEN PROVIDE US WITH SOME OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO MAKE THIS WORK SATISFACTORILY. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER NORMAN AND THE OTHERS. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, DONE RIGHT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE TO EXPAND AND GROW, AND, YOU KNOW -- AND IT'S A SHORT TIME WHERE THEY WILL RECEIVE THE BENEFIT. I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S A SHORT TIME IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS. THEN YOU HAVE A BUSINESS THAT'S WELL PLACED, IS PAYING TAX, HAS MORE EMPLOYEES, AND THAT THE ENTIRE COUNTY BENEFITS AND THEY HAVEN'T LEFT AND GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK TO -- TO ECHO SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF COMMISSIONER SHARPE. I THINK IN THIS TYPE OF A PROGRAM OVERSIGHT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL OR AT LEAST THERE'S SOME TYPE OF DEFINED PROCESS THAT WOULD DEFINE HOW AND WHEN THOSE BENEFITS ARE DETERMINED, AND LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE FORMULAS YOU USE IN THE QTI PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I WOULD JUST HAVE SOME CONCERN THAT THE FULL AUTHORITY LIES WITH THE BOARD. THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME TYPE OF A MEASURED CRITERIA, AGAIN, TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNTS AND SUCH BECAUSE I COULD JUST -- I COULD JUST SEE THE -- HOW IT COULD BE APPLIED DISCRIMINATORY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE, SO I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND AS I ECHOED BEFORE, I THINK HAVING THE RIGHT TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX IS IMPORTANT, AND IF OTHER COUNTIES ARE USING THIS AND THEY'VE HAD THE SUCCESS, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO JUST HEAR ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE SUCCESSES HAVE BEEN IN OTHER COUNTIES, HOW THEY USE IT, THE STRUCTURE OF THEIR PROGRAMS BECAUSE IF SOMETHING'S WORKING OUT THERE AND IT'S WORKING FOR OTHER COUNTIES, UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WHY REINVENT AN ENTIRE WHEEL? SO IF THERE'S A PROCESS ALREADY CREATED THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE USING THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL, YOU KNOW, WHY -- YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHY REINVENT AN ENTIRE WHEEL IF SOMETHING'S ALREADY WORKING, SO THOSE WOULD BE JUST SOME OF MY THOUGHTS. AGAIN, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HEARING A LOT MORE OF THIS. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT WHEN WE PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT THAT ANY ONE OF US CAN EXPLAIN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHAT THIS IS AND TALK ABOUT OF HOW THIS IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY INTELLIGENTLY AND NOT JUST SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WORKS. >>GENE GRAY: COMMISSIONER, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU, AND REGARDLESS OF THE CRITERIA THAT'S INITIALLY ESTABLISHED, YOU CAN ALWAYS MODIFY THAT CRITERIA DOWN THE ROAD. IF IT'S NOT PERFORMING TO MEET WHATEVER STANDARDS YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED OR THINK ARE APPROPRIATE, THE CRITERIA CAN BE MODIFIED, AND WITH REGARD TO THE TOOLS, FROM AN -- AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPER, YOU CAN'T HAVE TOO MANY TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX. THE REALITY IS EVERY SINGLE INCENTIVE PROGRAM HAS QUALIFYING CRITERIA AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. NO SINGLE TOOL ADDRESSES EVERY SINGLE PROJECT THAT COMES ALONG, AND THERE ARE TWO PARTICULAR AREAS WHERE I THINK THIS TOOL COULD BE HELPFUL, AND THAT IS PROJECTS THAT ARE EXTREMELY HIGH-VALUE PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE NORMAL INCENTIVES ON THE TABLE IN ORDER TO COMPETE FOR THAT PROJECT. SOMETIMES WE DON'T -- WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PUT ON THE TABLE, SO THIS WOULD GIVE US AN ADDITIONAL TOOL IN THAT RESPECT. THEN THERE ARE ALSO PROJECTS THAT DON'T FIT NICE AND NEAT WITHIN ANY OF THE EXISTING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, THAT THIS COULD BE USED TO QUALIFY THOSE PROJECTS IF WE DEEMED IT APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE AN INDUCEMENT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: GREAT. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: AND IN CLOSING, I JUST -- I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR ALL THE COMMENTS. I THINK THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT DIALOGUE. AS I SAID WHEN I -- WHEN I BEGAN THE DISCUSSION, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KICKSTART OUR ECONOMY AND -- AND TO HAVE JOB CREATION NOW. IT IS ALL ABOUT JOBS. COMMISSIONER SHARPE MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS APPLIES TO EXISTING BUSINESSES AS MUCH AS NEW BUSINESSES BECAUSE I HEAR IT EVERYWHERE -- I MEAN, FOR YEARS I'VE HEARD IT FROM FOLKS SAYING, YOU GUYS ARE JUST GIVING INCENTIVES FOR NEW BUSINESS COMING HERE, BUT HOW ABOUT OUR GUYS, HOW ABOUT THE LOCAL GUYS? SO THIS APPLIES TO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND IT GIVES THEM AN ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE IN ORDER TO EXPAND, IN ORDER TO GO OUT AND HIRE SOME MORE FOLKS. THIS NEEDS TO REMIND US THAT -- GOING BACK TO THE OLD NBA DAYS -- THE ECONOMY DOES NOT OPERATE IN A STATIC ENVIRONMENT, SO WE CANNOT LOOK AT THINGS AND SAY, OKAY, BECAUSE THIS COMPANY'S GOING TO COME IN HERE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO COLLECT TAXES FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT'S A BUDGET HIT. NO, IT'S NOT. YOU KNOW, TWO TIMES ZERO IS STILL ZERO. OKAY? IF WE DO NOT OFFER INCENTIVES LIKE THIS, THE COMPANIES WOULD NOT RELOCATE, THEY WOULD NOT BE HERE. THIS IS AN ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE, THIS IS AN ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT ARE SPURNED BY CUTTING TAXES, OKAY. WHETHER YOU'RE JFK OR RONALD REAGAN, WE'VE SEEN IT TIME AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU CUT TAXES, YOU IGNITE JOB GROWTH, YOU IGNITE THE ECONOMY, AND IN GOES ALONG THE VERY SAME PATH, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, SURROUNDING COUNTIES DOING THE SAME THING, IF WE DO NOT ACT, WE WILL BE PUT AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT. AND AGAIN, THE BEAUTY OF IT IS WE CAN STRUCTURE THIS HOWEVER WE WANT, FOR DISTRESSED AREAS, FOR THE TARGETED SECTORS WE WANT TO HAVE, FOR THE NUMBER OF JOBS. WE HAVE THE STRONG PROVISIONS IN THERE THAT REQUIRES THEM TO PAY THE MONEY BACK IF THEY DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA, SO THIS IS JUST A WONDERFUL ECONOMIC TOOL, AND I'M PLEASED THAT WE'RE GOING TO THE NEXT STEP. I REALIZE WE ARE UNDER A SHORT WINDOW, BUT I BELIEVE WE WILL BE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL AND AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE IF WE DO NOT ACT ON -- ACT ON THIS, SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PASS THE GAVEL AND MAKE TWO MOTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DRAFT LANGUAGE FOR THE BOCC TO CONSIDER FOR OUR NEXT MEETING ON AUGUST 4th. SO THAT'S MY FIRST MOTION. >>MARK SHARPE: OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AS MADE BY THE CHAIRMAN. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >>JIM NORMAN: SECOND. >>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>KEVIN WHITE: BEFORE WE VOTE, CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE DRAFT LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT IN ADVANCE OF THAT JUST IN CASE WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR REVISIONS SINCE THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE? >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD POINT. >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND MOTION IS JUST TO HAVE THE ECONOMIC -- GENE AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLKS TO DRAFT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT ADDRESSES ALL OF THE CRITERIA THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED TODAY AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER SHARPE'S RECOMMENDATION AS FAR AS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO -- TO CREATE THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THAT COULD WORK WITH THAT, SO IF YOU COULD BRING BACK BOTH OF THOSE. SO THAT'S MY SECOND MOTION. >>MARK SHARPE: GREAT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>KEVIN BECKNER: IF I COULD JUST INTERJECT THERE, COULD WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT PRESENTATION WELL IN ADVANCE? IF THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD -- ASKED TO MOVE FORWARD AT THE NEXT MEETING, I'D LIKE TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME TIME TO SPEND WITH STAFF AND MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THAT WELL IN ADVANCE SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS INTELLIGENTLY. THANK YOU. >>MARK SHARPE: OKAY. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. >>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONERS, AT THIS TIME, YOU WOULD ADDRESS YOUR 11:00 TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS ITEM B-3, CONCERNING A POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, PETER. >>PETER ALUOTTO: GOOD MORNING. PETER ALUOTTO, PLANNING AND GROWTH. IN 2008 WE ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, WHICH THEY UNDERWRITE -- UNDERWROTE THE COST OF A CONSULTANT TO HELP US WORK ON OUR POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, AND YOUR ADOPTION OF THIS REPORT FULFILLS OUR OBLIGATION UNDER THAT AGREEMENT. HAVING SAID THAT, I'D JUST LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE POST- DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN -- RECOVERY PLAN IS OUR BLUEPRINT FOR HOW TO BRING THIS COMMUNITY BACK IN THE EVENT OF A NATIONAL -- NATURAL DISASTER OR PERHAPS A NATIONAL DISASTER AS THE CASE MAY BE. IT WAS PRODUCED, YOU KNOW, WITH THE HELP OF, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND IT PRESENTS A MODEL FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW AT THE -- AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS. IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO CALL GENE HENRY JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THOSE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS AND ALL THE CITIZENS WHO -- YOU KNOW, WHO GAVE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO THE CAUSE IF I MAY. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING. >>EUGENE HENRY: GOOD MORNING. FOR THE RECORD, EUGENE HENRY, HAZARD MITIGATION, PLANNING AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS LED TO OVER -- OVER 2,000 HOURS OF A HUNDRED -- WITHIN 103 MEETINGS, AND YOUR HELP AND LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN GREATLY APPRECIATED. COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT AS WELL. I DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME PEOPLE THAT CAME IN TODAY. THERE IS MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, CHRISTINA HUMMEL, THAT HAS SHOWED UP, AND THERE'S ALSO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, RYAN, THAT'S BACK BEHIND ME. SUSAN MUELLER FROM THE TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY WAS GOING TO BE HERE, BUT SHE'S BEEN CALLED TO PARTICIPATE IN DOING -- IN SHOWING WHAT THIS POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN IS GOING TO DO FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, SO SHE'S ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING THIS MORNING IN D.C. GOING OVER HOW WE LOOK AT THINGS, AND THEY'RE TAKING SOME HINTS FROM THAT. SO AGAIN, TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY LED A LOT OF THAT, AND SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE. STATE OF FLORIDA IS ACTUALLY WATCHING US THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE, OUR HTV CHANNEL, AND -- AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE TAKING NOTICE TO HOW WE'VE MOVED FORWARD. THE TAMPA -- TEMPLE TERRACE, DIANE REICHERT IS HERE AS WELL, BUDDY DAVIS IS LISTENING FROM THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, AND ALSO WE HAVE OUR OTHER CHAIRPERSONS, GENE GRAY, DAVID ROGOFF, AND SOME OTHERS THAT ARE HERE BEHIND ME THAT I MAY NOT HAVE SEEN COME IN. SO IF I MISSED ANYONE, I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, BUT AGAIN, YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS LED OVER -- BETWEEN 200 AND 300 MEMBERS, A CROSS-FERTILIZATION OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAS INCLUDED INDUSTRY AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AS WELL AS OUR CITIZENS, AND I DID FORGET ONE SPECIAL NOTE. THAT WAS REPRESENTATIVE AMBLER'S OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY PARTICIPATORY, AND WE'VE ALSO HAD ATTENDANCE THROUGH REPRESENTATIVE BURGIN'S OFFICE AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE BILIRAKIS'S OFFICE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME THIS MORNING. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, GENE. PETER, YOU NEED TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE? >>PETER ALUOTTO: NO, SIR. WE JUST NEED ADOPTION. >> [INAUDIBLE] >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION AS I WAS -- AS I WAS READING THROUGH THE PLAN, AND PERHAPS MAYBE I MISSED A SECTION, SO MAYBE YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION. WHEN WE HAD OUR LAST MAJOR HURRICANE THAT WAS COMING THROUGH THIS AREA, ONE OF THE ISSUES OF CONTENTION WAS WHO HAD PARTICULAR AUTHORITY. I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THE TURMOIL BETWEEN CITY LEADERSHIP AND COUNTY LEADERSHIP. I DIDN'T SEE THAT DEFINED THROUGHOUT THE PLAN AND WAS WONDERING IF THAT WAS TOUCHED UPON OR DISCUSSED OF WHO WOULD HANDLE WHAT PARTICULAR PROCEDURES OR WOULD DO WHAT IN THAT SITUATION? >>PETER ALUOTTO: GENE, YOU WANT TO TAKE A CRACK AT THAT ONE? >>EUGENE HENRY: LARRY GISPERT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL MENTOR IN THIS PROCESS AS WELL. THE COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN EXPLAINS OR DEFINES THE UMBRELLA IN WHICH WE'LL WORK AFTER A DISASTER. IN THE LONG-TERM POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THE BOARD HAS ORDINANCE 93-20, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER THE CITIES. THIS POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTUALLY BUILDS UPON THAT, AND IT HAS EIGHT TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND THOSE COME TOGETHER TO ASSIST US IN MAKING AND PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO YOU, OUR LEADERS -- OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITHIN UNINCORPORATED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. NOW, THAT'S A CROSS GROUP, WHICH INCLUDES THE CITIES. THE CITIES STILL RETAIN THEIR -- THEIR AUTHORITY OVER WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE LAND USE AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, SO I HOPE THAT HELPED. >>KEVIN BECKNER: SO AS FAR AS -- I JUST REMEMBER THE DEBATES BACK AND FORTH ON TELEVISION AROUND THIS ABOUT WHO HAD THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT, SO IS THERE -- WAS THERE SOME AGREEMENT AS FAR AS WHAT THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION WOULD DO AND WHAT THE COUNTY'S ADMINISTRATION WOULD DO AND WHO HAD THE SPECIFIC AUTHORITY TO CALL WHAT ACTIONS? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO -- TO DEFINE. OR TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF CONSENSUS OR IF THAT WAS ADDRESSED AT ALL. >>EUGENE HENRY: IN -- THAT WAS -- IT WAS BROUGHT UP BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT OUR PRIORITY REDEVELOPMENT AREAS, AND AS FAR AS THE OVERALL AUTHORITY AS FAR AS LAND USE AND WHAT GOES ON WITH THE POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN TO - - TO BEING SUCCINCT ABOUT IT, EACH CITY RETAINS THEIR -- THEIR AUTHORITY. UNDER THE DISASTER, THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN WHERE LARRY'S GETTING UP THERE UNDER THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THAT WOULD BE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS OF THE CITIES, AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO -- AND I CAN'T FULLY ANSWER THAT. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT LARRY WOULD -- AND WE CAN COME BACK WITH YOU OR SEND YOU A MEMO AND IDENTIFY THAT A LITTLE BIT CLEARER. >>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH, IF YOU COULD DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. IT'S JUST LEAVING THE MESSAGE OF STAY TUNED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE I THOUGHT YOU-ALL DID A GREAT, COMPREHENSIVE JOB IN PUTTING THAT ALL TOGETHER, SO I THANK ALL OF YOU THAT WERE INVOLVED AND WORKED ON THAT PLAN. >>EUGENE HENRY: THANK YOU. IT'S DEFINITELY A TEAM EFFORT. >>PETER ALUOTTO: THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THERE IS A MINOR DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EVENT VERSUS WHAT THIS REDEVELOPMENT PLAN COVERS LONG-TERM, YOU KNOW, NOT ONE WEEK OR TWO WEEKS OUT, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE REPORT AND THE DAMAGE ESTIMATES, WE'RE LOOKING YEARS OUT -- >>KEVIN BECKNER: RIGHT. >>PETER ALUOTTO: -- HOW TO REPLACE OUR FUNCTIONS, SO -- >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. ALUOTTO, JUST FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CLARIFICATION, I KNOW ABOUT THE LONG-TERM PLAN THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO RELAY TO US, BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING -- MAYBE I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THIS -- THAT DURING THE ACTUAL EVENT AND DURING THE EMERGENCY, I THOUGHT BY STATE MANDATE -- >>RENEE LEE: BY STATE STATUTE. >>ROSE FERLITA: -- BY STATE STATUTE THAT THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE COUNTY IS THE ONE THAT LEADS THE CHARGE IN TERMS OF DIRECTION, AND CERTAINLY WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CITIES, BUT CITIES KIND OF LEAD BY FOLLOWING, AND THEN THAT ELIMINATES THIS -- THIS RUCKUS ABOUT THE MAYOR WANTING TO DO THIS AND THE ADMINISTRATOR WANTING TO DO THIS. IS THAT NOT CORRECT, THAT WE SHOULD ALL FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE ADMINISTRATOR? >>CARL HARNESS: COMMISSIONER FERLITA, CARL HARNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATOR. YOU ARE CORRECT. >>ROSE FERLITA: HI, CARL. HOW ARE YOU? >>CARL HARNESS: WHEN A DISASTER IS DECLARED, THE COUNTY IS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON DIRECTING THE RESPONSE AND THE RECOVERY FOR THE DISASTER. >>ROSE FERLITA: AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE IF WE CLARIFY AND GIVE MORE EDUCATION ABOUT, IT WILL HELP US BECAUSE ALTHOUGH PERHAPS NOT INTENDED, I SAW SOME OF THAT CONTROVERSY WHEN YOU HAVE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY GIVING DIRECTION IN ONE LOCATION AND THE ADMINISTRATOR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, TOTAL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SAYING SOMETHING ELSE. I MEAN, THEN MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME IN -- IN OUR SITUATION WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHO'S IN CHARGE, WHO NEEDS TO DO WHAT, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, AND I'M NOT REAL, REAL SURE THAT THEY'RE THAT WELL DEFINED YET, AND I THINK THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT WE SHOULD OVERCOME. >>CARL HARNESS: WE'LL FURTHER CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE CORRECT WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES GIVING DIFFERENT INFORMATION, IT WOULD BE -- >>ROSE FERLITA: AND YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST A FRIENDLY MEETING TO REDEFINE THAT POLICY BASED ON STATE STATUTE WITH PLANT CITY AND TEMPLE TERRACE AND THE GUYS OVER HERE IN TAMPA. I THINK THAT WE REALLY OUGHT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW SO WE CAN GET THE BENEFIT OUT OF -- OUT OF, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE BEST SAFETY FOR OUR CITIZENS. >>CARL HARNESS: YES, MA'AM. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU, CARL. MR. ALUOTTO, THANK YOU AS WELL. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. A MOTION TO ADOPT THE POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. >>KEVIN WHITE: SECOND. >>ROSE FERLITA: I DID. >>KEN HAGAN: BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA. SECOND COMMISSIONER WHITE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE ONE MORE ITEM, 11:15 TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS COMMISSIONER BECKNER'S ITEM, F-6. DO YOU WANT TO STILL DO THAT ITEM NOW? >>KEVIN BECKNER: YES, THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU, MR. MERRILL AND THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS. WE HEARD SOME -- THIS MORNING OF SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE EXTRA ORDINARY, HAD AN IMPACT ON THE TRAGIC EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 29th, AND I THINK WE CAN ALL RELATE THAT THAT WAS INDEED A TRAGIC EVENT, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA BUT FOR OUR WHOLE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK THAT WORDS COULD APPROPRIATELY JUSTIFY WHAT WE COULD SAY TO REPLACE THE LIVES OF A FIRST RESPONDER AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND I JUST FIRST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK CHIEF CASTOR AND ALSO MAYOR IORIO FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING TOGETHER AUTHORITIES FROM AGAIN JUST NOT LOCALLY HERE BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS THEY WERE -- HAD THIS ONGOING STATEWIDE MANHUNT FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IS APPROPRIATELY RECOGNIZE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT ULTIMATELY PAY THE SACRIFICE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE ESTABLISHED ACTUALLY A GREAT MEMORIAL SITE OVER AT HERO'S PLAZA THAT THIS BOARD WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THE CITY ESTABLISH, AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED, AND I THINK IT'S -- IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT THAT WE MEMORIALIZE THEIR NAMES IN AN ENGRAVING, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE JUST DON'T REMEMBER THE INDIVIDUALS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FAMILIES THAT THEY LEAVE BEHIND, AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN AND ESPECIALLY A TRAGIC DEATH OF A -- OF A SPOUSE OR A LOVED ONE, YES, THEY WANT TO BE REMEMBERED, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THEY NEED IN ADVANCE IS THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME STABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD, AND WHAT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH AS A COUNTY IS A MEMORIAL FUND THAT WOULD RECOGNIZE THE -- THE FALLEN OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WHETHER IT BE IN OUR UNINCORPORATED COUNTY, WHETHER IT WOULD BE INSIDE OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES, THAT WOULD MAKE A PAYMENT -- ONE-TIME PAYMENT TO THE FAMILIES TO HELP PROVIDE SOME MORE INSTANT STABILITY, AND SO ONE OF THE NAMES THAT I WAS WORKING WITH, LORI HUDSON, ON THIS, AND I WANT TO THANK HER AND HER DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING DO SOME OF THE RESEARCH AROUND HERE, IS ESTABLISH THE FALLEN HEROES MEMORIAL FUND, AND WHAT THAT FUND WOULD DO IS THE COUNTY WOULD MAKE A ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF $100,000 TO THE FAMILIES OR THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE -- THE FALLEN FIRST RESPONDER, AND THAT WOULD BE -- PROVIDE SOME INITIAL STABILITY. THERE'S OTHER PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE -- TO FALLEN FIRST RESPONDERS. THE GOLD SHIELD FOUNDATION, MR. STEINBRENNER, HE WAS A CHAMPION OF THAT, WAS A BELIEVER IN THAT, AND CERTAINLY IS RECOGNIZED AS ESTABLISHING THAT FUND. IT'S A TREMENDOUS FUND. THAT FUND PROVIDES A FIRST -- ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF $5,000 IN ONGOING EDUCATION. WHAT I WANTED TO ESTABLISH WITH THIS PARTICULAR FUND IS, AGAIN, IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE FAMILIES OF FIRST RESPONDERS. SO WHAT I WOULD DO, WE CAN OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION, AND WE ALSO HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY AND EMPLOYEES COULD CONTRIBUTE INTO THE MEMORIAL FUND THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTION AND THEN PROVIDE SOME OTHER OPTIONS AS WELL, AND WE CAN HAVE SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT TOO, BUT FOR THE TIME BEING, I WOULD JUST MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WOULD DIRECT STAFF TO BRING BACK AT OUR SECOND MEETING IN AUGUST THE COMPLETE STRUCTURE AS WELL AS THE DESIGN OF THE FALLEN HEROES MEMORIAL FUND. >>ROSE FERLITA: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER NORMAN. >>ROSE FERLITA: SECOND. >>JIM NORMAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS, AND ANYTHING WE CAN TO STRUCTURE IT GOING FORWARD, BUT YOU ALSO MAY HAVE MISSED THAT -- THAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB IN PARTNERING -- LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THE -- WHAT WE DO FOR VETERANS, HOW WE PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES OF ALL THE VETERANS SERVING IN A COMBAT ZONE, AND IF THEY DIE, WE PAY THEM FOR FIVE MORE YEARS WHERE THEY WON'T LOSE THEIR RESIDENCE. WE ALSO HAVE THAT IN PLACE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS. I THINK THIS, IF ANYTHING, CAN BE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT WE MOVE FORTH TOGETHER. IT ACTUALLY TOOK A PERIOD OF TIME TO GET THE COORDINATION OF EVEN THE VETERAN -- OR THE -- THE MILITARY GRANTS GOING, AND THERE'S NOT A BETTER COORDINATION OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, THAN WE HAVE CITIES AND COUNTIES AND EVERYONE -- AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT TOO IS WE HAVE A BLUEPRINT, WHICH IS OUR VETERANS OFFICE, HOW YOU MINIMIZE OVERHEAD COSTS, YOU MINIMIZE THOSE KIND OF THINGS, HAVING ONE UMBRELLA COORDINATING ANY -- BOTH -- ALL THE DOLLARS, ALL THE AWARDS, ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS, SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THAT TO BE LOOKED AT AND HOW WHEN SOMETHING'S BROUGHT FORWARD, IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE FOR ALL OFFICERS, ALL FIREFIGHTERS, AND WHATEVER, AND IT'S JUST NOT SEGMENTED INTO COUNTY, CITY, AND WE OVERCAME THAT WITH THE MILITARY, BUT IT ACTUALLY TOOK A YEAR OR MORE. SO I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, AND THAT'S THE INTENTION OF THIS IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST UNINCORPORATED, IT WOULD INCORPORATE ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES. IT WOULD -- ALSO IS INTENDED FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT HAS A PRESENCE AT USF AS WELL, SO THIS IS DEFINITELY MEANT TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, AND I HAD BRIEF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR, AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO EXPLORE HOW WE CAN ALSO PARTNER IN THEIR PARTICIPATION AS FAR AS CONTRIBUTION GOES INTO THIS, AND SHE THINKS THAT THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES, AND THERE'S ALSO SOME OTHER MEANS TO -- THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS THE MANAGEMENT AND THE OVERSIGHT OF THIS THAT WOULD -- THAT COULD PERHAPS PROVIDE MATCHING DOLLARS AS WELL, SO THERE'S A LOT OF COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH THAT'S GOING INTO THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND AGAIN PARTNER. >>JIM NORMAN: CAN I -- CAN I ALSO ASK YOU THIS? WE RIGHT NOW HAVE GRIEVING FAMILIES TODAY. I WOULD -- IN THIS STUDY, I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHERE THE FALLEN ARE TODAY, AND IF -- IT'S SORT OF MAYBE A CLAWBACK, BUT MAYBE SEE WHAT -- INSTEAD OF PASSING IT MOVING FORWARD, MAYBE THERE COULD BE A CLAWBACK ELEMENT TO THIS THAT WE GO BACK AND HELP SOME EXISTING FAMILIES FIND OUT -- YOU KNOW, HAVE OUR COMMUNITY FOLKS FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE, AND MAYBE THERE'S SOME EXTENDED BENEFITS THAT WE CAN ALSO GIVE TO SOME OF THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE PAID THAT ULTIMATE PRICE NOW, SO I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST HAVE THAT ELEMENT LOOKED AT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: I THINK THAT'S A GREAT OPTION, AND WE STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH AROUND THAT. WHEN WE WENT BACK THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THERE ARE -- BETWEEN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUES, ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER, THERE ARE EIGHT THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. IF YOU GO BACK TEN YEARS, THERE'S 12, SO I THINK THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS BOARD COULD ALSO FURTHER DISCUSS AND WE COULD BRING BACK SOME SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THAT. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU. THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD REGARDING THIS, I GUESS WHOEVER'S DOING THE RESEARCH TO BRING THIS BACK, I THINK WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHO'S -- WHO WOULD BE THE QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES. I THINK IT'S A GREAT -- I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND A GREAT SUGGESTION. YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE MOTHER, BROTHER, SISTER, CHILD, OR IF THERE ARE NO -- IF THERE ARE NO FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO GO TO? SO THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY SUGGESTION WITH THAT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH, AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT AS HOW TO STRUCTURE THAT, AND AGAIN, THEY'LL BRING BACK THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING BEING ABLE TO NAME A DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY TO THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO FINANCIAL PLANNING AS WE HAVE DONE, SOMETIMES YOU MAY HAVE -- YOU KNOW -- THE INDIVIDUAL KNOWS THEIR PERSONAL FINANCIAL SITUATION AND THEY MAY DESIGNATE THE BENEFICIARY OF ONE PARTICULAR FUND OR THEIR PENSION OR SOMETHING TO -- TO SOME FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THEY HAVE OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS INSIDE THEIR FAMILY, WHETHER IT'S A CHILD OR SOMEBODY ELSE THAT MAY BE A DEPENDENT THAT NEEDS CERTAIN OTHER BENEFICIARIES, SO THEY ARE RESEARCHING THAT, AND THEY'LL BRING THAT BACK AS WELL. >>KEVIN WHITE: THAT'S FINE. I GUESS MAYBE MORE POIGNANT, I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND IT'S GOING TO BE COUNTY FUNDS, I THINK IT SHOULD GO DIRECTLY TO IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS TO HELP IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OUT THROUGH THIS TIME OF CRISIS, SO, I MEAN, JUST -- I WOULD JUST LIKE -- >>JIM NORMAN: IT HAS TO BE DEFINED, I GUESS. >>KEVIN WHITE: I'M SORRY? >>JIM NORMAN: IT HAS TO BE DEFINED. >>KEVIN WHITE: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I WANT THE DEFINITION OF WHO OR WHAT WOULD BE A QUALIFIED BENEFICIARY. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALL ARE TALKING, AND CERTAINLY NOBODY IS GOING TO SAY NO TO DOING ANYTHING FOR - - FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DETAILS TO WORK THROUGH, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU JUST SAID, MR. WHITE, AND THEN THE OTHER MECHANISM, OF COURSE, IS IF WE'RE DOING THIS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WE CERTAINLY WANT HIS CHOICE OF BENEFICIARY TO BE WEIGHED IN TO THE WHOLE PROCESS. YOU MENTIONED GOLD SHIELD. I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF GOLD SHIELD FOR LONGER THAN I CAN COUNT, AND I APPRECIATE SO MUCH WHAT THEY DO. SO THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING. YOU MENTIONED TALKING TO MAYOR IORIO, AND CERTAINLY I'M SURE THAT SHE AND CHIEF CASTOR ARE GOING TO SHOW THE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY'VE BEEN SHOWING IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS OR THE LAST MONTH. AT THE SAME TIME, KEVIN, I THINK YOU REALLY OUGHT TO EXPAND ON THAT AND TALK TO MAYOR AFFRONTI AND MAYOR RAULERSON SO THAT WE HAVE A FULL PARTICIPATION FROM EVERYBODY. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY SAYING NO, BUT I CAN IMAGINE SOME ENTITIES BEING -- BEING OFFENDED THAT WE DON'T INCLUDE THEM, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF STUFF TO GO THROUGH, BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL IDEA AND THE INTENT OF WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD, I APPLAUD YOU FOR DOING THAT AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT IT, AND WE'LL SEE HOW WE WORK IT OUT. >>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER. WHO WAS THE SECOND? >>ROSE FERLITA: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND COMMISSIONER FERLITA. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. ANY OTHER ITEMS THIS MORNING? >>MIKE MERRILL: DO YOU WANT TO TRY AND DO F-5 BEFORE WE -- >>KEVIN WHITE: IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO, I THINK IT'LL BE VERY BRIEF AND WE CAN GET IT OUT OF THE WAY. JUST TWO MINUTES. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. GO AHEAD. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. AS -- AS WE STATED LAST YEAR, WE KNOW WE'RE RUNNING INTO THE RAINY SEASON, AND OUT IN THE PALM RIVER/PROGRESS VILLAGE AREA, WE HAD QUITE A BIT OF HEAVY FLOODING AND POUR DRAINAGE ISSUES OUT IN THE PALM RIVER AND THE DELANEY CREEK AREA SPECIFICALLY AND DOWN BY THE SCHOOL, AND BASICALLY STAFF WAS JUST GOING TO BRING US AN UPDATE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT'S OCCURRED SINCE LAST YEAR UP TO NOW TO HELP EASE SOME OF THOSE FLOODING AND DRAINAGE ISSUES, AND THAT'S ALL THIS IS, JUST A BASIC INFORMATIVE UPDATE FROM STAFF. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, JOHN. >>JOHN NEWTON: THANK YOU, SIR. JOHN NEWTON, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE DIVISION, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS. AS COMMISSIONER WHITE MENTIONED, THE PURPOSE OF THIS UPDATE IS TO PROVIDE YOU WHAT OUR ONGOING MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IS FOR THE GREATER PALM RIVER AREA, AND I WANT TO USE THE ELMO. I'VE GOT A SERIES OF MAPS TO SHOW YOU. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE LONG. [INAUDIBLE] EVERYBODY'S GOT THE MAP? >> UH-HUH. >> THE MAP YOU SEE ON THE ELMO IS THE DELANEY CREEK WATERSHED. IT'S ONE OF 17 WATERSHEDS THAT ARE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND THE GREATER PALM RIVER AREA IS WITHIN THAT WATERSHED. THE DELANEY CREEK WATERSHED, THERE ARE FOUR MAJOR CANAL/CREEK SYSTEMS THAT FLOW IN THE AREA. DELANEY CREEK, DELANEY CREEK POP-OFF, NORTH ARCHIE, AND ARCHIE CREEK. THIS MAP, THE RED BLOTCHES YOU SEE WERE THE FLOODED AREAS THAT WE EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR. JULY THE 1st WE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED RAIN EVENT, ABOUT NINE INCHES OF RAIN IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. A LOT OF THE AREAS ABOVE THE CAUSEWAY BOULEVARD WE -- MAINLY LOCALIZED FLOODING, NOT UNCOMMON WHEN YOU HAVE A HEAVY RAIN EVENT WHERE YOU SEE THE FLUSHING OF DEBRIS THAT'S CLOGGING UP INLETS, CLOGGING UP PIPES. WE HAVE SINCE, COMMISSIONER, GONE OUT, WE'VE CLEANED THOSE INLETS, CLEANED THOSE PIPES. THE BOARD THIS YEAR APPROVED THE FUNDING OF OUR STREET SWEEPING CLEANING PROGRAM, AND WE ARE STREET SWEEPING TODAY IN THIS AREA UP HERE. WE'LL WORK BACK AROUND, AND OBVIOUSLY IT'LL SERVICE THE WHOLE COUNTY. THE MAIN CONCENTRATION OF FLOODING OF ROADS AND PRIVATE PROPERTY CENTERED AROUND THE PROGRESS VILLAGE AREA, AND IMMEDIATELY WE'VE BEEN -- BEGINNING LAST YEAR WE'VE BEEN IN WITH OUR WALKING EXCAVATORS AND OUR TRACT EXCAVATORS TO CLEAN THOSE CANAL SYSTEMS. USING A MILITARY TERM, AS YOU -- AS I FOLLOW THIS CREEK SYSTEM, THE -- ALONG HERE, WE'VE CLEANED THAT. THAT'S BEEN CLEANED. THE LONG POLE AND THE TENT IS THIS AREA RIGHT IN HERE. WE'LL GO BACK AND CONTINUE TO SPRAY THAT, MAKE SURE THE VEGETATION HAS SUBSIDED. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING IN THIS AREA HERE ALONG 78th OFF OF HARTFORD, AND WE SHOULD HAVE THAT COMPLETED BY THE END OF AUGUST. I'VE GOT ANOTHER MAP. THIS IS ALL THE -- SINCE JULY WE'VE HAD OVER 104 WORK ORDERS, VARIOUS TYPE OF ACTIVITIES FROM INLET CLEANING, PIPE CLEANING, DITCH MAINTENANCE, CANAL CLEANING, CREEK CLEANING, AND AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE'RE WORKING UP IN THIS AREA RIGHT NOW. ON TOP OF THE -- ON TOP OF THE MAINTENANCE, WE HAVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS, AND OVER 23 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED IN THIS AREA. THERE ARE SEVEN THAT ARE FUNDED THAT WILL BE WITH CONSTRUCTION ON SOME OF THOSE STARTING IN -- IN AUGUST AND DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR. OTHERS ARE IN DESIGN. WE DO HAVE 11 UNFUNDED PROJECTS THAT -- ON THE BOOKS AWAITING WHEN WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, SO -- EXCUSE ME - - PUBLIC WORKS HAS PUT A LOT OF EFFORT IN THIS AREA, BUT WE ALSO -- AS I SAID, WITH 17 WATERSHEDS, WE HAVE OTHER AREAS, ROCKY BRUSHY IN THE CARROLLWOOD AREA, TOWN 'N COUNTRY WHERE THE SWEETWATER WATERSHED IS, OVER IN PEMBERTON AND BAKER IN THE EAST COUNTY, AND WE'RE DOING SIMILAR EFFORTS IN ALL THESE WATERSHEDS AS WE'RE DOING NOW HERE IN DELANEY CREEK. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. JUST NEEDED AN UPDATE ON THAT. >>KEN HAGAN: APPRECIATE THE UPDATE, JOHN. THANK YOU. >>JOHN NEWTON: AND I HAVE HANDOUTS I'LL JUST LEAVE WITH YOU-ALL THAT HAS ALSO THE REPORT THAT WE PROVIDED LAST YEAR ON THAT RAIN EVENT. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. MR. MERRILL, ANY OTHER ITEMS THIS MORNING? >>MIKE MERRILL: NO, NO MORE ITEMS THIS MORNING. WE'RE ADJOURNED UNTIL 1:45. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. WE'LL RECONVENE AT 1:45. 1