Hillsborough County, Florida



CAPTIONING

MAY 7, 2014

BOCC REGULAR MEETING

AFTERNOON SESSION

***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.

>>MARK SHARPE: WELCOME BACK.

IT'S MAY 7th, OUR AFTERNOON SESSION OF YOUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION.

I'VE GOT A MEMORANDUM TO READ INTO THE RECORD.

PLEASE BE ADVISED DUE TO FAMILY ISSUES -- FROM COMMISSIONER LES MILLER -- I WILL NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE DURING THIS AFTERNOON'S SESSION OF THE MAY 7th, 2014, BOCC MEETING.

PLEASE READ THE REASON FOR MY ABSENCE INTO THE RECORD.

WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. MERRILL.

>>MIKE MERRILL: YES.

1:30 TIME CERTAIN IS F-2.

IT'S COMMISSIONER SHARPE'S ITEM, PRESENTATION OF THE TEEN -- OF THE TEEN COMMUNITY LEADER AWARD.

>>MARK SHARPE: AND I WOULD ASK OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM TALLAHASSEE -- WELL, ACTUALLY, HE'S OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM RIGHT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BUT HE SERVES US IN TALLAHASSEE, MR. SPANO, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM, SIR.

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO ASK KRISTA REINHARDT IF SHE WOULD MIND STEPPING TO THE PODIUM AS WELL.

AND, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS YOUR AWARD, SO I'M GOING TO LET YOU ALL TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT, BUT IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

I WAS TELLING MS. REINHARDT'S FAMILY THAT I HAD THE HONOR THIS WEEKEND -- I RARELY LIKE TO DO EVENTS, BUT I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK AT AN ELK'S CLUB DINNER IN BRANDON, AND THERE WERE 100 PEOPLE OR SO IN ATTENDANCE AND THERE WERE TEN STUDENTS, AND THEY'D ALL WRITTEN ESSAYS ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND SERVING, AND I SAID, BOY, WITH AN ESSAY LIKE THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO MISS, AND THE PARENTS WERE AMAZING AND THE STUDENTS WERE JUST INCREDIBLE, AND I WALKED OUT OF THERE FEELING GOOD ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, THINKING WE ARE GOING TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE.

I'VE HAD A BRIEF CHANCE TO MEET MS. REINHARDT, AND I FEEL THE EXACT SAME WAY, AND HER FAMILY, HER MOM AND DAD AND SISTER AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A FRIEND, A NEIGHBOR --

>> YMCA.

>>MARK SHARPE: OH, THE YMCA, OH, WONDERFUL.

AND, IN FACT, THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE INTO THIS.

THE YMCA'S YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM ASKED TEENS FROM ACROSS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM TO SUBMIT ESSAYS REGARDING THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT AND HOW THEY ASPIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND AS PART OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DAY IN TALLAHASSEE ON APRIL 9th, SENATOR LEGG RECOGNIZED KRISTA REINHARDT AS THE ESSAY WINNER, AND KRISTA RECEIVED A $500 SCHOLARSHIP AND WAS ALSO RECOGNIZED BEFORE THE HOUSE ON APRIL 19th.

SHE'S HOMESCHOOLED, HAS A 4.0 GPA, AND IS PRESIDENT OF THE Y'S YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.

AND KRISTA'S WITH US TODAY, AND WE'RE ALSO HONORED, AGAIN, TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE ROSS SPANO, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING MS. REINHARDT WITH A PLAQUE, WHICH I HAVE HERE AND WILL BRING TO YOU, ON BEHALF OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR FINE REPRESENTATIVE, MR. SPANO.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER, AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, ALL OF YOU, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE AND TO PRESENT MS. KRISTA WITH THIS AWARD.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I -- I CAN SEE YOUR PARENTS BACK HERE BEAMING.

THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT, AND I SHARE THE COMMISSIONER'S HOPE IN OUR FUTURE WHEN I SEE FOLKS LIKE YOU.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET AS OLD AS I AM, YOU -- YOU KIND OF GET TAINTED A LITTLE BIT BY LIFE IN SOME CASES, AND SO THE THING I LOVE ABOUT YOUTH IS THAT YOU STILL BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THINGS AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THAT YOUR VOICE MATTERS, AND IT DOES, AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPTIMISM AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT AT YOUR CHURCH WITH THE YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION, AND YOU PLAY GOLF ON THE TEAM AT DURANT HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU'VE BEEN TO THE CAPITOL A COUPLE OF TIMES, I THINK, THIS YEAR ALREADY.

I KNOW I'VE SEEN YOU AT LEAST TWICE UP THERE, AND SO YOU'VE BEEN SO ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S IN STORE FOR YOU.

I CAN SEE JUST GREAT THINGS FOR YOU IN THE FUTURE, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'RE PROUD OF YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR INFLUENCE AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, KRISTA.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

HERE YOU GO.

[APPLAUSE]

>>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.

STAND BY.

ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: I THINK COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS.

>>MARK SHARPE: WE'RE GOING TO GIVE KRISTA AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS WELL --

>>SANDRA MURMAN: OH, OKAY.

>>MARK SHARPE: -- AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE "Y," AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

PLEASE, THE PODIUM IS YOURS.

>> WELL, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO TO MAKE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THE GREAT PLACE THAT IT IS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO COME HERE AND MEET YOU ALL, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, AS I WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MY LOCAL YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT CLUB, SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, AND I HOPE TO STAY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE.

SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE]

>>SANDRA MURMAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: I'LL YIELD TO WHOEVER'S NEXT AND THEN --

>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.

COMMISSIONER CRIST, AND THEN COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM WILL BE AFTER HIM.

>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY EXCITED -- ALWAYS EXCITED TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT COME UP HERE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING ACTIVITY AND GROWTH IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOU ARE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW, AND PLEASE KEEP IT UP.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU LATER ON AS YOU MOVE FORWARD INTO THE PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE AND POSSIBLY FILLING ONE OF OUR SEATS UP HERE.

AND REPRESENTATIVE SPANO, NEW ON BOARD ON THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, YOUR FIRST TERM IN OFFICE HAS BEEN AN EXEMPLAR ONE, AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR TEAM AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND I WAS JUST HOPING BEFORE YOU LEFT -- IT'S SO RARE THAT WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A LEGISLATOR THIS FRESH OUT OF SESSION, AND IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF YOU COULD SHARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS WITH US BEFORE YOU LEFT.

>> I'D LOVE TO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I WANT TO, IF I MAY, TAKE THE LIBERTY OF THANKING THE COMMISSIONER -- THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DAYS THAT WE HAD A FEW WEEKS AGO.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU UP THERE.

OUR CONSTITUENCIES OBVIOUSLY OVERLAP, AND SO THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT OUR OVERLAPPING CONSTITUENCIES IS TO WORK TOGETHER, AND SO YOUR INVOLVEMENT, YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THAT EVENT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO IS PROOF POSITIVE OF YOUR INTEREST TO REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE.

IT WAS OUR HONOR TO HAVE YOU.

I -- JUST VERY BRIEFLY, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT FROM AN OVERARCHING STANDPOINT I WAS EXCITED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE THINGS THAT PERSONALLY I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

THE -- WE PASSED FLORIDA'S FIRST GI BILL, AND IT WAS OUR EFFORT AND INTENTION TO MAKE FLORIDA THE MOST MILITARY-FRIENDLY PLACE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

WE WANT FLORIDA TO BE TOP-OF-MIND AWARENESS WHEN SOMEONE RETIRES FROM THE MILITARY.

WE WANT THEM TO COME TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA BECAUSE THEY'RE POSITIVE FOLKS, THEY BRING GREAT ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS, AND SO WE JUST -- WE WERE PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, TAX RELIEF THIS YEAR, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, UNLIKE SOME OF THE YEARS MOST RECENT -- IN THE MOST RECENT PAST WHERE WE -- OUR REVENUES WERE UP, AND SO WE HAD THE ABILITY TO GIVE ABOUT $500 MILLION BACK TO THE -- TO CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, SO I WAS PARTICULARLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

WE -- WE WENT A LONG WAY TOWARD PROTECTING FLORIDA'S MOST VULNERABLE.

WE PASSED A BILL THAT STRENGTHENS FLORIDA'S ABILITY TO PUNISH SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS WITH A MANDATORY PRISON TERM FOR THE VIOLENT RAPE OF A CHILD OR A SENIOR OF 50 YEARS, 50-YEAR MANDATORY PRISON TERM, THE MOST HARSH PRISON TERM IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FOR SUCH VIOLENT FELONIES.

AND THEN ALSO EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WE FELT STRONGLY THAT IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHAT ZIP CODE THAT YOU LIVE IN, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A GREAT EDUCATION FOR YOUR KIDS.

TWO THINGS I WORKED ON I'M REALLY PROUD OF.

MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LEGISLATIVE WORKING GROUP IN THE HOUSE FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS OR SO SPECIFICALLY DEVOTED TO THE AREA OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER AN OMNIBUS BILL THIS YEAR THAT ACHIEVED SOME REALLY, REALLY NEAT THINGS, ONE OF WHICH WAS TO GET RID OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR THE PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS; NUMBER TWO, INCREASE PENALTIES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL TYPES OF TRAFFICKING LABOR AND SEX TRAFFICKING.

IT CREATED A LIFE FELONY FOR THE TRAFFICKING OF A CHILD OR A MENTALLY DISABLED PERSON WITH A MANDATORY PRISON TERM OF 25 YEARS IN PRISON, AND IT ALSO ADDRESSED A PROBLEM THAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT DOWN IN MIAMI.

ABOUT PROBABLY FIVE MONTHS AGO THERE WAS A YOUNG GIRL ABOUT 13 YEARS OLD WHO WAS FOUND TO BE DANCING IN A STRIP CLUB IN MIAMI, AND SO THIS BILL ACTUALLY REQUIRES ADULT THEATER OWNERS TO VERIFY THE AGE AND IDENTITY OF A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR BEFORE THEY HIRE THAT INDIVIDUAL, SO THAT WAS -- THAT WAS A NEAT BILL.

AND THEN ALSO A BILL THAT WE WORKED ON TO PROTECT HOME BUYERS IN THE ADVENT OF A TERRIBLE SITUATION WE HAD WITH D.R. HORTON OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT'S A BILL THAT REQUIRES NOTICE TO BUYERS IF THE SELLER INTENDS TO RETAIN THE SUBSURFACE MINERAL RIGHTS OR HAS RETAINED OR TRANSFERRED THE SUBSURFACE MINERAL RIGHTS TO THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, THEY'VE GOT TO NOTIFY THE BUYER OF THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR -- THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND I HAVE A WHOLE NEW APPRECIATION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE THAT I'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE, AND SO I WANT EACH ONE OF YOU TO KNOW HOW VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, SIR.

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: KRISTINA, COULD I ASK YOU AND YOUR MOM, DAD, AND SISTER TO COME BACK UP TO THE PODIUM.

AND I SAW YOUR FOLKS TAKING PICTURES, BUT I'D LIKE FOR THE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, RUSLANA, IF YOU'D TAKE A PICTURE OF THE FAMILY TOGETHER UP HERE AS WELL.

AND IF THE BOARD DOESN'T MIND, IF WE CAN GET ONE WITH MOM AND DAD.

>>MARK SHARPE: ABSOLUTELY.

GOOD CALL.

>>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.

STAND BY.

ONE MORE TIME.

BEAUTIFUL.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: AND AS THEY'RE GOING BACK TO THEIR SEATS -- THANKS, DAD -- I GOT INVOLVED WITH YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT WELL OVER TEN YEARS AGO, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR DOUBT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY AND YOUNG PEOPLE -- AND I KNOW WE REFERENCED THEM TODAY WHEN WE HAD SOME FOLKS FROM THE DISTRICT IN WITH COMMISSIONER MURMAN, BUT IT JUST WARMS MY HEART AND -- TO SEE THAT FAMILY VALUES ARE STILL STRONG, THAT HOMESCHOOL IS A WONDERFUL, VIABLE WAY FOR CHILDREN TO GET AN EDUCATION AND TO KEEP THAT BASIC BUILDING BLOCK OF HUMANITY TOGETHER, AND THAT IS -- THAT IS FAMILIES.

YOU KNOW, I SAID I DIDN'T LOVE MY CHILDREN ENOUGH TO HOMESCHOOL, BUT IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND TO THE KIDS, I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES YOU MAY WONDER, WELL, WHY CAN'T I GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL?

YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO EXCHANGE THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE NEXT TO YOUR FAITH, IT'S FAMILY, AND I'M JUST SO APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT YOUR PARENTS ARE DOING FOR YOU, AND KRISTINE -- KRISTA WAS INVOLVED IN A LITTLE PROJECT WITH SOME OTHER YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT KIDS BACK IN 2012 WHEN YOU CAME OUT, AND I THINK WE HAD COKE AND PIZZA AND WORKED ON A LITTLE PROJECT, AND SO JUST KEEP IT UP, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY, YOUNG LADY, AND THAT'S TO INFLUENCE THROUGH EXAMPLE, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND TO YOUR FOLKS, SPECIAL THANKS.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

MR. MERRILL.

>>MIKE MERRILL: YOUR NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, IS YOUR 1:45 TIME CERTAIN.

THAT'S A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY RICK HOMANS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; AND SANTIAGO CORRADA, CEO OF VISIT TAMPA BAY, TO PRESENT THEIR QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT.

>>MARK SHARPE: WONDERFUL.

WELCOME, MR. HOMANS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, AGAIN.

NICE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

I WILL WORK THROUGH FAIRLY QUICKLY OUR QUARTERLY REPORT TO YOU.

THINK BIG, WE DO.

I THINK THAT'S OUR NEW MANTRA, AND WE ARE CERTAINLY DOING THAT AT THE EDC.

OUR YEAR-TO-DATE SECOND-QUARTER METRICS -- AND THESE ARE AS OF MARCH 30th -- ON OUR JOBS, CAPITAL INVESTMENT, PERCENTAGE OF LEADS FROM OTHER SOURCES, OPEN PROJECTS, AND PRIVATE INVESTOR REVENUE, WE'RE TRACKING VERY NICELY ON EACH ONE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE, I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.

ON OUR COMPLETED PROJECTS, AS -- AS REQUESTED IN THE PAST, WE HAVE INCLUDED WHICH ONES HAVE COUNTY INCENTIVES, WHICH ONES ARE IN TARGET INDUSTRIES, AND -- AND YOU CAN SEE, I THINK ONE THING WORTHY OF NOTE HERE IS A HANDFUL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE ONE JOB.

THEY GO UP TO 1200 JOBS.

OFTENTIMES THE CRITICISM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS WE'RE JUST FOCUSED ON THE BIG PROJECTS, AND I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS LIST, YOU SEE SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

THIS GRAPH HERE GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS THAT WE ARE WORKING, 70 DIFFERENT PROJECTS, WHERE THEY CAME FROM, SO IT'S A PRETTY GOOD BREAKDOWN.

YOU CAN SEE FROM CONSULTANTS, FROM THE PARTNERSHIP, FROM THE CITY OF TAMPA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND DIRECT LEADS THAT WE GET, BUSINESS VISITS THAT WE DO, RETENTION AND EXPANSION, AND ENTERPRISE FLORIDA.

WE'VE ALSO TAKEN THAT SAME LIST AND BROKEN IT DOWN BY INDUSTRY CATEGORY, AND THIS GIVES YOU A REAL GOOD SNAPSHOT OF WHERE THE BUSINESS IS COMING FROM, MANUFACTURING, FINANCIAL/PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ARE BIG CONTRIBUTORS TO WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO IS MARKETING, AND ON THESE TWO PAGES HERE YOU CAN SEE THE EVENTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO AND ATTENDING ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I JUST CAME FROM A LUNCHEON WITH THE ENTERPRISE FLORIDA OFFICES FROM THE UK AND FROM FRANCE AND ITALY AND BELGIUM.

WE'RE BRINGING THESE PEOPLE IN ROUTINELY.

MOST OF THEM HAVE NEVER BEEN TO TAMPA BEFORE.

THEY'VE BEEN TO MIAMI, THEY'VE BEEN TO ORLANDO, THEY'VE BEEN TO JACKSONVILLE.

THEY HAVEN'T MADE IT OVER TO THIS PART OF THE STATE AND TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE MAKING THE EFFORT TO BRING THEM HERE AND SHOWCASE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT ACTIVITIES, THE GRAND OPENING OF BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB; THE CONNECTWISE EXPANSION OF 112 JOBS AND 1.2 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT; WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE AIRLINE ON THEIR DIRECT FLIGHTS TO PANAMA, LATIN AMERICA, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH ENTERPRISE FLORIDA.

WE HAVE STOOD UP, I THINK, VERY SUCCESSFULLY THE TAMPA HILLSBOROUGH FILM AND DIGITAL MEDIA COMMISSION, THANKS TO COMMISSIONER HAGAN'S INVOLVEMENT THERE, AND WE ARE -- HAVE A BRAND-NEW WEB SITE, ALL SORTS OF COLLATERAL MATERIAL, REEL-SCOUT PRODUCTION DIRECTORY, ET CETERA.

THE EDC HAS MOVED INTO NEW OFFICES IN THE BANK OF AMERICA BUILDING, SUITE 1750.

WE ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL, OPERATIONAL INTERNALLY WITH ALL OUR INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK SANTIAGO AND GREG FOR THEIR ALLOWING US TO BE UNDER THEIR WING THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP OF GROWTH FOR THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY WITH THEIR HELP AND SUPPORT.

WE HAD 100 MEMBERS OF THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY AT AN ECONOMIC UPDATE EVENT AT CAMLS, AND WE PARTICIPATED VERY ACTIVELY WITH GEOINT WHEN IT WAS HERE IN APRIL, AND ARE GOING TO ENGAGE VERY HEAVILY WITH SOFIC WHEN IT'S HERE LATER THIS MONTH.

FINALLY, THIS FRIDAY WE HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL TOWN HALL THAT I MENTIONED TO YOU THIS MORNING, 7:30 A.M. TO

11:30 A.M., AT THE GRAND HYATT, TAMPA BAY, WOULD LOVE FOR ANY OF YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY TIME DURING THAT MORNING, JUST TO STOP IN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOTTA STAY FOR FOUR HOURS.

YOU CAN POP IN, LOVE TO RECOGNIZE YOU, AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT PANEL STARTING IT OUT WITH JOE LOPANO, PAUL ANDERSON, MIKE MEIDEL, MYSELF, TALKING ABOUT OUR OVERALL STRATEGY.

WE'VE BROUGHT IN THE COUNTRY EXPERTS FROM THE UK, FROM CANADA, FROM COLOMBIA, FROM BRAZIL, AND THEY'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THEIR PARTICULAR MARKETS, AND FROM CHILE AS WELL, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PANEL WITH ACTUAL EXPORTERS TALKING ABOUT LESSONS LEARNED, AND AN EXPO THERE WITH ABOUT 25 PARTICIPANTS OF ALL THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO HELP OUR COMPANIES EXPORT PRODUCTS INTERNATIONALLY, AND WE'VE GOT ABOUT 180 PEOPLE REGISTERED AT THIS POINT, LOOKING TO BREAK THE 200 MARK TODAY, AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US.

SO WITH THAT, COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

>>KEN HAGAN: THANKS, MR. CHAIRMAN.

RICK, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS I'VE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF -- OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE AN UNDERLYING CONCERN THAT THE PRIORITIES MAY BE SHIFTING A LITTLE BIT FROM SECURING A SUSTAINABLE PRIVATE INVESTOR REVENUE BASE AND SUPPORTING INVESTOR ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT AND FOCUSING MAYBE A LITTLE TOO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY ON MEDIFUTURES, WHICH IS RESULTING IN SOME MISSION CREEP.

WHILE I THINK EVERYONE HERE SEES AND RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF MEDIFUTURES AND THE VISION OF THIS, I THINK -- OR I KNOW THAT SOME, AT LEAST THAT I'VE SPOKEN WITH, ARE NOT CONVINCED THAT THE EDC SHOULD NECESSARILY BE DRIVING THAT BUS AND FOCUSING ON RAISING, I THINK, A HALF A MILLION OR MORE DOLLARS AT A TIME WHEN THE PRIVATE INVESTOR BASE IS STILL AT A CRITICAL POINT, SO TWO QUESTIONS I HAVE.

ARE THESE CONCERNS VALID?

AND WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATUS OF MEDIFUTURES?

>> WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, I WOULD SAY ANY CONCERN IS VALID CONCERN WHEN I HEAR IT AND RESPOND TO IT.

I WOULD ALSO REMARK THAT OUR PRIVATE INVESTOR BASE HAS -- HAS ACTUALLY GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND STEADILY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS FROM ABOUT $800,000 THREE YEARS AGO TO ABOUT

1.3 MILLION MINIMUM AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, SO THAT'S -- THAT'S CONSIDERABLE GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN, AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FROM OUR PRIVATE INVESTORS FOR PARTICULAR EVENTS THAT WE DO, WHETHER IT'S THE INTERNATIONAL TOWN HALL, TRADE MISSIONS THAT WE UNDERTAKE, OR THE ANNUAL MEETING THAT WE HOLD.

THERE'S ABOUT $250,000 IN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT COMES IN FOR THOSE THAT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE, SO YOU'RE TALKING SOMEWHERE PROBABLY AROUND 1.5 MILLION IN PRIVATE INVESTOR SUPPORT WITHOUT THE MEDIFUTURE INITIATIVE, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT EFFORT, PROUD OF PEYTON WOODROFFE, WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THAT, AND JP AND THE WHOLE STAFF AND THE BOARD.

THE MEDIFUTURE INITIATIVE IS A -- IS, I THINK, EMBLEMATIC OF WHAT I FELT I WAS BROUGHT HERE TO TRY TO DEVELOP, WHICH IS TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THIS COMMUNITY COULD PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN AN EMERGING INDUSTRY, AND WHAT WE'RE -- WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPENING IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY IS A PIVOT FROM A -- AN INDUSTRY THAT IS FOCUSED

ON -- ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON SICK CARE TO ONE THAT'S MOVING TO WELLNESS, PREVENTION, PREDICTION, WHERE WE'VE ALREADY MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF THE HEART INSTITUTE, M2GEN, CAMLS DOWNTOWN, ALL OF WHICH WERE ENVISIONED AS BEING PART OF A NEW HEALTH CARE MODEL GOING FORWARD, SO WHAT WE HAVE -- AND -- AND THE COMPANIES THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THIS NEW INDUSTRY, MANY OF THEM HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST.

IF WE WERE TO CREATE THAT MODEL HERE IN TAMPA BAY, THEY WOULD MOVE THEIR OPERATIONS HERE AND WE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A CENTER OF ACTIVITY, A CLUSTER, THE -- KIND OF THE LAUNCHPAD FOR THIS NEW INDUSTRY, SO WHAT I'VE DONE IN THE LAST YEAR IS TO TRY TO PRESENT THAT OPPORTUNITY TO OUR BOARD, TO THE INVESTORS HERE, AND TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO PURSUE.

AS A RESULT, WE HAVE, IN SEPTEMBER 16th THROUGH 18th, A NATIONAL CONFERENCE HAPPENING RIGHT HERE AT THE MARRIOTT WATERSIDE WITH ANYWHERE FROM 500- TO 1,000 LEADERS IN THE EXISTING AND NEW HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY TO -- TO MAP OUT WHAT THE -- WHAT THE NEW HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY WILL LOOK LIKE AND -- AND TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN TAMPA BAY TO PLAY A ROLE WITH US IN BECOMING A CENTER FOR THAT ACTIVITY.

SO WE -- WE HAVE RAISED $485,000 OF SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT FOR THAT EVENT, AND IN OUR COMMUNICATION WITH ALL THE SPONSORS, THEY SEEM TO BE VERY HAPPY AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN IT, AND I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO PURSUE LONG-TERM OR NOT, BUT THAT'S, I THINK, THE JOB OF THE EDC, IS TO PRESENT THESE STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES TO THE BOARD, TO THE CITIES, AND TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE WE FEEL THERE'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY.

>>KEN HAGAN: I GOTCHA.

ONE LAST QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU -- NOT YOU BUT THE ORGANIZATION DOING TO ENSURE THAT THE PRIVATE INVESTOR REVENUE FUNDING WILL NOT ONLY BE SUSTAINABLE BUT CONTINUE TO GROW -- I THINK THE GOAL WAS TWO MILLION, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY -- AND WILL THE -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE RESEARCH GROUP, BUT WILL THE RESEARCH GROUP'S FINDINGS HELP TO DEFINE HOW YOU GET THERE AND SO FORTH?

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, WHAT WE -- WE DID IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS WAS TO HIRE A THIRD-PARTY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GROUP TO -- WHO'S WORKED WITH A LOT OF EDOs ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ADVISE US ON THE ISSUE OF INVESTOR ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE I DIDN'T -- I FELT LIKE WE COULD -- WE HAD GROWN THE INVESTOR BASE CONSIDERABLY.

THE NUMBER OF INVESTORS HAD INCREASED FROM ABOUT 60 TO CLOSE TO A HUNDRED, AND I FELT IT WAS CRITICAL THAT WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE EACH ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH US SO THAT WE'RE -- THEY'RE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED OUT OF US AND WE'RE GETTING WHAT WE NEED OUT OF THEM.

SO THAT REPORT -- IN FACT, A DRAFT OF IT JUST LANDED ON MY DESK THIS MORNING.

WE'RE PRESENTING IT TO OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM TOMORROW, TO OUR STAFF NEXT WEEK, TO OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IN JUNE, AND INTEND TO ADOPT THE -- AS MANY OF THE FINDINGS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, AND -- AND MY PHILOSOPHY IS IF WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF -- A GREAT JOB OF ENGAGING OUR INVESTORS, INVOLVING THEM IN OUR WORK, AND KEEPING CLOSE TO THE VALUE PROPOSITION THAT WE HAVE BOTH WAYS, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THEM, BUT IF WE FALL DOWN ON THAT KEY JOB, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS RAISING THAT MONEY.

>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.

THANKS.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: AND -- AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THE QUESTION -- I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IN MY VISION ON THIS BOARD AS WELL, WE HAD A SPIRITED DISCUSSION IN JANUARY 2011 OR '12 -- '11, I BELIEVE IT WAS -- ABOUT HOW WE FUNDED AND MAKING SURE WE HAD ADEQUATE PRIVATE FUNDING BECAUSE IF THE EDC MISSION, WHICH IS WORKING, CONTINUES TO WORK, IS TO HAVE THAT PRIVATE BUY-IN, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT OUR JOB IS TO FACILITATE AND THEN STEP BACK AND GOVERNMENT GET OUT OF THE WAY, ALWAYS WATCHING CLOSELY, BUT TO OBSERVE WHAT'S GOING ON AND HELP YOU AND SUPPORT IN ANY WAY, AND I AM ALWAYS WILLING, AS I KNOW OTHER BOARD MEMBERS ARE TOO, TO HELP WHENEVER YOU HAVE SOMEONE CORPORATELY WHO'S THINKING ABOUT GETTING ON BOARD OR JOINING THE EDC BOARD AND KNOW THAT WE STAND READY TO HELP, BUT ON THE HALF A MILLION THAT YOU'VE BEEN RAISING, IS THIS FOR THE MEDIFUTURES EVENT ITSELF, FOR THE -- FOR THAT WEEKEND, OR IS THIS FOR THIS COMPANY THAT -- AND I THINK YOU -- I BELIEVE NOW THIS IS -- I'M PUTTING TWO AND TWO TOGETHER -- THE GROUP THAT YOU BROUGHT BY SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THAT HAS THE WRISTBANDS THAT -- AND I'M STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF THAT'S BIG BROTHER FOLLOWING US AROUND WHERE WE HAVE TO WEAR THIS WRISTBAND THAT MONITOR OUR HEALTH AND EATING AND ACTIVITIES.

NOW, IS THIS THE SAME GROUP, AND IS THIS -- THESE FUNDS GOING TOWARDS FUNDING THAT GROUP TO COME HERE, OR IS IT, AGAIN, JUST FOR THE MEDIFUTURES EVENT?

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, IT'S FOR THE EVENT ITSELF --

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: OKAY.

>> -- WHICH WE ARE PARTNERING WITH OLIVER WYMAN TO DO, BUT IT'S --

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: HE'S THE FELLOW FROM CHICAGO?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: OKAY.

EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING.

ALL RIGHT.

I JUST -- OKAY.

BUT IT'S NOT FOR HELPING FUND THAT COMPANY TO COME HERE?

ALL RIGHT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE WRISTBAND OR THAT MONITORING DEVICE THAT WE WOULD WEAR, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IF I WANT TO BUY INTO THAT OR NOT.

THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

KEEP IT ON, IT READS ALL THE INFORMATION, DOCTOR GETS IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO.

I LIKE THAT.

COMMISSIONER MURMAN.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.

AND COMMISSIONER HAGAN HAD A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, AND I THINK -- I WENT LAST YEAR TO MEDIFUTURES, AND -- OR IT WASN'T -- WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE LAST --

>> YES.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: DID WE HAVE -- YEAH, WE HAD ONE LAST YEAR, BUT THIS NEXT ONE'S A LITTLE BIT LATER.

I THINK THE ISSUE AND -- MAYBE FOR ME IS THE VALUE THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS, AND I -- I GUESS I PERSONALLY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING SPECIFIC OR TANGIBLE COME OUT OF THAT LAST ONE, THOUGH I HOPE THIS ONE PRODUCES MORE DEFINITIVE OUTCOMES THAT WE CAN SEE SOME VALUE IN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT US GETTING A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE DO, WHETHER IT'S INCENTIVES OR CORPORATE RELOCATIONS, WHATEVER IT IS, AND WE WANT TO HELP YOU DO THAT.

I MEAN, WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

I THINK IT'S JUST WE HAVE TO BE -- SEE MORE VAL -- WHAT THE VALUE IS FOR US AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> AND, MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONER MURMAN, I WOULD HOPE THAT IN A REPORT I'VE GIVEN YOU TODAY WHERE OUR CORE EFFORTS ARE BUILT AROUND HELPING TO CREATE NEW ECONOMIC-BASE JOBS, NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY -- THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE JOB THAT WE DO -- THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AN EXTREMELY STRONG RECORD IN THAT -- IN THAT AREA, AND SO IF -- IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN ON -- ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF A -- OF A BRAND-NEW INDUSTRY THAT FITS WITH OUR STRENGTHS WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING WITH DATA AND WORKING WITH MEDICAL DEVICES, THAT'S GRAVY ON TOP OF THE CORE JOB THAT WE -- THAT WE DO HERE, AND I WOULD OFFER THAT THE NUMBERS THAT WE ARE PRODUCING OUT OF THE EDC ARE RECORD NUMBERS LAST YEAR, AND I BELIEVE THEY WILL BE THIS YEAR AS WELL WHEN WE REACH THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, SO I HOPE YOU'RE AS PROUD OF THEM AS WE ARE.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: YEAH.

IS YOUR GOAL TO GET MORE MEDICAL COMPANIES TO COME HERE?

IS THAT THE BOTTOM-LINE GOAL?

>> OF THE MEDIFUTURE INITIATIVE?

>>SANDRA MURMAN: MM-HMM.

>> WELL, THE MEDIFUTURE INITIATIVE IS -- THE KINDS OF BUSINESSES OF WHICH THERE ARE -- AGAIN, I --

>>SANDRA MURMAN: HEALTHCARE-RELATED BUSINESSES?

>> WELL, THEY'RE HEALTHCARE RELATED, BUT THEY'RE -- MANY OF THEM ARE BUILT AROUND THE COLLECTION, THE ANALYSIS, AND THE USE OF DATA.

M2GEN IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

THAT'S NOT A HIGH-SCIENCE BUSINESS ANYMORE, IT'S ABOUT CRUNCHING DATA WHEN IT COMES TO DECODED DNA AND MEDICAL RECORDS AND SEEING WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT OR WHAT KIND OF PHARMACEUTICALS WORK FOR SMALLER POPULATION GROUPS.

THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AT CAMLS IS ABOUT ACCREDITATION AND SIMULATION AND EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE.

OTHER COMPANIES THAT DEAL WITH TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO COST AND QUALITY FROM MEDICAL PROVIDERS REALLY DON'T EXIST TODAY.

THOSE ARE BRAND-NEW INDUSTRIES THAT WILL BE STANDING UP, AND WE'RE PERFECTLY POSITIONED TO CAPTURE THAT KIND OF GROWTH, AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THEM HERE.

SHILEN PATEL WITH -- DR. KIRAN PATEL'S SON RUNS HEALTH ACCESS.

IT'S ALL BUILT AROUND THIS INDUSTRY.

SARU SESHADRI RUNS ULTRAMATICS.

IT'S ALL BUILT AROUND THIS INDUSTRY.

A THOUSAND JOBS THAT WE ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR AT HEALTHPLAN HOLDINGS CREATES EXCHANGES, HEALTH EXCHANGES.

THAT'S ALL BASED IN THIS NEW INDUSTRY.

SO WE ALREADY HAVE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THIS MARKETPLACE TIED TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NEW INDUSTRY, WE JUST WANT TO BE KNOWN AS THE CENTER OF IT.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO ARE YOU GOING TO -- IS IT LIKE AN INCUBATOR TYPE THING THAT YOU'RE DEVELOPING FOR ALL THESE COMPANIES TO, LIKE, BECOME AN EXCHANGE SO THAT THEY CAN ALL CONNECT?

>> THE CONCEPT, QUITE SIMPLY, IS IF -- IF ENOUGH COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, WHO ARE SELF-INSURED WERE TO JOIN TOGETHER IN SOME KIND OF A COALITION, THEN THE ASSEMBLY OF THAT COALITION WOULD ATTRACT ALL THE NEW PLAYERS WHO, QUITE FRANKLY, HAVE NEVER BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND TO INTEGRATE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND TO SERVE A LARGE MARKET, SO WE WOULD BE -- AN INCUBATOR COULD BE ONE WAY TO TERM IT, BUT IT'S A PRETTY BIG INCUBATOR THAT WE WOULD --

>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.

>> -- ULTIMATELY BE IN ATTRACTING ALL OF THE STARTUPS AND THE BIG COMPANIES THAT ARE KIND OF MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION AND NEED TO HAVE A -- NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE BUSINESS MODEL IS AND HOW THEY FIT IN.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I MEAN, IT'S BECOMING A LITTLE MORE CLEAR.

THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: WELL, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY'S MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THE DECADE THAT I'VE BEEN HERE WITH REGARD TO, YOU KNOW, THE MOFFITT-MERCK COLLABORATION, M2GEN, THAT WAS A $25-MILLION INVESTMENT; WITH THE INVESTMENT WE MADE WITH PEPIN HEART AND AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY; A NUMBER OF --

>>KEN HAGAN: DRAPER LABS.

>>MARK SHARPE: DRAPER LABS.

I MEAN, IT GOES ON AND ON, AND IT'S BEEN PIECEMEALED, AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MR. HOMANS HAS MADE CLEAR AND IT'S EVIDENT IT WILL OCCUR -- AND LIKE WITH ALL GREAT INDUSTRIES, THERE'S DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION TAKING PLACE.

HEALTH CARE IS A MULTI-TRILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY, AND TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT FROM, AS YOU SAID, SICK CARE -- I TALKED WITH A DOCTOR OVER THE WEEKEND, AND HE WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE GREATEST TRIAGE SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.

IF YOU'RE ILL, INJURED, WE CAN FIX YOU, BUT PREVENTION, WE'RE KIND OF LAGGING ON THAT ONE, BEING ABLE TO GET AHEAD SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY REWARD AND INCENTIVIZE PROVIDERS, WHETHER FROM THE WRISTBAND MAKER TO THE DOCTOR, TO KEEP YOU FROM GETTING ILL AND THEN BE ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE THE HOSPITALS, THE PHYSICIANS, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND SUCH TO BE ABLE TO REWARD YOU FOR NOT GETTING SICK IS A HUGE INDUSTRY, AND I THINK IT'S ONE THAT WE'D ALL LOVE TO BE PART OF BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GET ILL.

YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGE IS YOU'RE TRYING TO SHIFT AN INDUSTRY WHICH MAKES ITS MONEY OFF OF LOTS OF TESTS AND, YOU KNOW, TREATING YOU AFTER YOU'RE SICK, AND SO I THINK THE PARADIGM THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO IS CERTAINLY ONE THAT'S WORTH ATTEMPTING.

MY CONCERN HAS BEEN -- AND I VOICED IT AS WELL -- IS JUST THAT SHIFTING -- MOVING THAT NEEDLE IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT, AND ARE YOU CONFIDENT -- ARE WE STILL TRYING TO TREK FORWARD WITH BEING ABLE TO BRING ENOUGH PRIVATE INDUSTRY TOGETHER WITH PARTICIPANTS SO THAT ULTIMATELY WE CAN BE THAT DEMONSTRATION?

IS THAT -- IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO DRIVE, OR DO YOU THINK THAT WE'RE HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION?

>> WELL, MR. CHAIRMAN, IT WILL TAKE -- IT'LL TAKE SOME CAPITAL IN ORDER TO DRAW THE BLUEPRINT FOR WHAT THIS NEW PREVENTION/WELLNESS PREDICTION MODEL LOOKS LIKE TO HELP TO CREATE THE NEW PRODUCTS THAT WOULD BE BOUGHT AT THE FRONT END THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE AND INCENTIVIZE WELLNESS AND PREVENTION, SO THAT -- THAT IS, I THINK, WHAT'S YET TO BE SEEN OVER THE MONTHS AHEAD, AND I KIND OF, QUITE FRANKLY, VIEW THE MEDIFUTURE EVENT AS THE OPPORTUNITY.

LAST YEAR WE TALKED IN BIG PICTURE ABOUT THE -- THE HIGH-LEVEL 30,000-FOOT OPPORTUNITY IN HEALTH CARE.

THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ALL THE PLAYERS HERE ACTUALLY SHOWING AND TELLING WHAT THE NEW SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE, AND IT WILL BE A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP TO WITNESS IT FIRSTHAND, TO UNDERSTAND IT -- IT IS A COMPLEX ISSUE -- BUT TO UNDERSTAND IT A LOT BETTER AND TO ACTUALLY HEAR FROM THE PLAYERS OF THEIR INTEREST IN COMING HERE AND BEING HERE IF WE WERE TO TAKE A BIG STEP FORWARD.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES THAT HAVE TO COME TOGETHER FOR US TO BECOME THE CENTER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO DO.

>>MARK SHARPE: RIGHT.

>> I WILL JUST SAY BRIEFLY, THE -- AS THE CHAIRMAN SAID, ONE OF THE ISSUES HERE HAS TO DO WITH AN INDUSTRY THAT EXISTS TODAY THAT -- THAT MAKES ITS MONEY OFF OF ADMISSIONS AND EMERGENCY INTERVENTIONS, AND WHERE THE GOAL OF THE NEW INDUSTRY IS TO REDUCE ADMISSIONS AND READMISSIONS AND EMERGENCY INTERVENTIONS, THIS IS A BIG ISSUE TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE --

>>MARK SHARPE: RIGHT.

>> -- IN EQUIPMENT, IN BEDS, AND SO AS YOU MAKE A SHIFT LIKE THIS -- AND ANY COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE DEALING WITH EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES, AND I'D, QUITE FRANKLY, LIKE TO BE THE PLACE THAT SOLVES IT AND LEADS IT RATHER THAN THE PLACE THAT FOLLOWS, BUT WE'LL SEE WHERE THE DISCUSSION GOES OVER THE MONTHS AHEAD, AND I -- I CERTAINLY HAVE AN OPEN MIND TO WHATEVER DIRECTION WE TAKE.

>>MARK SHARPE: WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, MURMAN, AND HIGGINBOTHAM, AND I THOUGHT YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF RESPONDING.

IT'S COMPLEX.

I'VE HEARD THE PRESENTATION MANY TIMES.

I THINK I'M JUST FINALLY SLOWLY UNDERSTANDING IT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I SEE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, AND SO THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

>>MARK SHARPE: YES, SIR.

MR. MERRILL.

>>MIKE MERRILL: NEXT PRESENTATION IS SANTIAGO CORRADA.

>>MARK SHARPE: WELCOME.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN YOU RECENTLY, YOU AND AL HAVE BEEN, LIKE, ALL OVER THE NEWS, DANCING.

>> DANCING, YEAH.

WE TRY TO NOT DO THAT TOO OFTEN.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

IT'S ALWAYS SUCH A PLEASURE TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE GREAT NEWS TO SHARE, AND WE REALLY DO HAVE SOME GREAT NEWS TO SHARE.

OUR -- OUR SECOND-QUARTER NUMBERS REALLY FOLLOWED A VERY STRONG FIRST QUARTER.

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, OUR PRODUCTION FOR THE SECOND QUARTER YEAR-TO-DATE, OVER 100%, WHICH REALLY PUTS US IN A GREAT POSITION TO CONTINUE THE REST OF THE YEAR AND NOT HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR POOR QUARTERS.

SO OUR QUARTER PRODUCTION THERE ON CONVENTION, ROOM NIGHTS, AND LEISURE ROOM NIGHTS, AGAIN, VERY, VERY STRONG, AND, IN FACT, THE THIRD QUARTER HAS STARTED OUT WITH A BANG.

THE BED TAX COLLECTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL ARE THE HIGHEST FOR ANY MONTH SINCE WE'VE TRACKED BED TAX COLLECTIONS, BY CLOSE TO 12% OVER OUR LAST RECORD-BREAKING MONTH, WHICH WAS BACK IN 2007.

SO, AGAIN, OUR INDUSTRY IS DOING -- IS DOING VERY, VERY WELL.

DURING THE SECOND QUARTER WE HAD SOME BIG WINS, AND WE'RE JUST POINTING OUT THREE THERE WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT.

WE TAKE THE FLORIDA STATE THESPIAN SOCIETY ANNUAL FESTIVAL FOR GRANTED.

I CAN TELL YOU IF IT WEREN'T IN TAMPA, WE'D FEEL IT AND WE'D KNOW IT.

WE'VE LOCKED THEM IN FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS, THROUGH 2021.

THE SECOND IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE, AGAIN, THOSE SUMMER MONTHS ARE SO CRITICAL FOR US, AND THEY'RE A GROUP THAT WE BELIEVE WILL SPEND SOME MONEY HERE IN TOWN, AND WE'VE GOT THEM FOR JULY AND AUGUST OF '16.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS HUGE, IS FOR 2021 FOR JULY, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLOSE TO 18,000 ROOM NIGHTS, WHICH IS JUST AN AMAZING WIN.

WE HAD STIFF COMPETITION FOR THAT ONE.

WE BROUGHT OUT EVERYONE IN SUPPORT.

WE HAD PARTNERS, WE HAD THE COUNTY, WE HAD THE MAYOR THERE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO WIN THAT -- THAT CONVENTION FOR TAMPA.

OUR MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION GOALS, AGAIN, JUST HUGE.

AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MEDIA IMPRESSIONS DURING IIFA, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN.

NOW, WE HAD A GREAT WINTER LEISURE ADVERTISING -- THAT'S NOT OOH, THAT'S OUT-OF-HOME MARKETING -- WHERE WE HAD THESE BILLBOARDS ALL OVER CHICAGO AND PLACES THAT WERE FRIGID, AND IF YOU CAN READ SOME OF THOSE, WE HAD OUR TAMPA LIVE TEMPERATURE ON THOSE -- ON MANY OF THE HIGHWAYS WHERE FOLKS WERE HOMEBOUND OR WERE REALLY MISERABLE ON THE ROAD, AND YOU SEE SOME OF THE VERY CREATIVE MARKETING THAT WENT ON THERE, FROSTBITES, UNLOCK SUN-SOAKED TREASURE, AND BASK IN OUR SOLAR VORTEX AS OPPOSED TO THEIR POLAR VORTEX, AND SO WE HAD SOME GREAT MARKETING GOING ON IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT WERE VERY MISERABLE WITH THIS WINTER.

AND THEN OUR MEETINGS ADVERTISING, WE'VE CREATED THIS INVASION GUIDE THAT WE'VE PUT OUT.

IN FACT, WHEN WE HAD IIFA IN TOWN, WE HAD AN IIFA-SPECIFIC INVASION GUIDE IN EVERY HOTEL ROOM WHERE WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE IIFA VISITORS.

WE'VE LAUNCHED A GREAT WEB SITE.

IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN ON THERE, IT'S ALL ABOUT OUR PARTNERS, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU'LL HAVE HERE IN -- IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SO I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU VISIT IT.

IT'S GOT INTERACTIVE MAPS WHERE YOU REALLY LOOK AT A LOCATION OF -- IN TOWN AND YOU CAN FIND RESTAURANTS, ACCOMMODATIONS, VENUE ATTRACTIONS, EVENTS, JUST A REALLY, REALLY STRONG WEB SITE, WHICH WE, YOU KNOW, DESPERATELY NEEDED.

AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT PARTNERSHIP, PRIVATE REVENUE, AND VISITOR CENTER GOALS, AGAIN, VERY, VERY STRONG.

THESE ARE PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL GOAL, AND WE SHOULD BE AT THE 50% MARK, AND IN SOME CASES WE'RE ALREADY OVER 100% AT THE HALFWAY MARK, SO, AGAIN, DOING VERY, VERY WELL.

AND THEN BED TAX, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'RE ON PACE TO SET A RECORD THIS YEAR WITH BED TAX COLLECTIONS.

IN FACT, I'M GOING TO DEVIATE FOR A MOMENT AND SHARE SOME NUMBERS.

THROUGH APRIL OF THIS YEAR, WE'RE OVER $600,000 AHEAD OF BUDGET IN COLLECTIONS AGAINST LAST YEAR, AND LAST YEAR WAS NOT A WEAK YEAR.

AGAINST LAST YEAR, WE'RE ALMOST 300,000 AHEAD OF BUDGET.

AGAINST OUR WORST YEAR, WE'RE ALMOST $1.4 MILLION AHEAD OF BUDGET, AND AGAINST OUR BEST YEAR, WHICH WAS IN 2007, WE'RE ALMOST $700,000 AHEAD OF THAT YEAR, SO WE -- WE'RE EXPECTING A STRONG BED TAX YEAR THIS YEAR.

AND THEN FINANCIAL RESULTS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, TOTAL REVENUES ARE ALMOST AHEAD BY A MILLION DOLLARS.

TOTAL EXPENSES ARE A LITTLE BIT HIGH, ABOUT $350,000 HIGH.

THAT'S RELATED TO -- TO BOLLYWOOD, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT BUDGET THERE AS PART OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET, SO THAT'LL COME OUT WITH THE WASH, AND SO, AGAIN, WE'RE AHEAD OF BUDGET EXPENSES VERSUS REVENUE.

AND THAT'S OUR FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF MARCH 31st.

AND THEN WE'VE HAD SOME -- SOME GREAT STUFF HAPPEN DURING THE SECOND QUARTER.

WE BECAME PART OF THE CITYPASS FAMILY.

ONLY 12 DESTINATIONS IN AMERICA, INCLUDING TORONTO, HAVE CITYPASS.

IT COMBINES A NUMBER OF OUR ATTRACTIONS, FIVE TO BE EXACT, FOR ONE LOW PRICE, AND, AGAIN, IT'S A HUGE SAVINGS FOR NOT ONLY LOCALS BUT PEOPLE VISITING THE DESTINATION.

WE'VE GOT THE ZOO IN THERE, WE'VE GOT THE AQUARIUM IN THERE, WE'VE GOT BUSCH GARDENS IN THERE, CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, AND THEN YOUR FIFTH PICK IS A PICK BETWEEN MOSI AND THE CHIHULY COLLECTION IN ST. PETE/CLEARWATER, AND WE HAVE CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM IN THERE AS WELL, SO, AGAIN, A GREAT, GREAT ADVANTAGE FOR US WHEN IT COMES TO TOURISM AND EVEN FOR OUR LOCALS.

WE RECEIVED THE ADRIAN PLATINUM AWARD.

THE ADRIAN IS LIKE THE OSCAR IN OUR INDUSTRY, AND THIS WAS FOR MARKETING, SPECIFICALLY THE MARKETING THAT WENT ON DURING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

WE'VE GOT SO MANY MORE PROJECTS THAT WE CAN NOMINATE NOW FOR THIS YEAR'S ADRIAN AWARDS, AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THOSE RELATED TO BOLLYWOOD AND IIFA.

AND THEN I REALLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE GREG.

HE WAS SELECTED AS CFO OF THE YEAR IN THE NONPROFIT CATEGORY BY THE TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL.

AND THEN LET ME JUST GO OVER SOME THINGS WITH BOLLYWOOD BEFORE I SHOW YOU A FEW VIDEOS.

A LOT HAD BEEN SAID ABOUT HOTELS AND WHETHER WE WERE GOING TO SEE THE PICKUP OR NOT, AND SO WE JUST RECEIVED OUR SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH NUMBERS, SOLID INFORMATION FOR THE FOUR NIGHTS OF IIFA, AND OVER THE FOUR NIGHTS, OCCUPANCY WAS UP, AVERAGE DAILY RATES WERE UP, AND REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM WAS UP, AND IN SOME CASES DRAMATICALLY.

THE NIGHT OF THE IIFA AWARDS -- AND THEY'RE HIGH ACROSS THE BOARD.

I'LL DO OCCUPANCY FOR THE FRIDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT IIFA WAS IN TOWN.

COMPARED TO LAST APRIL FOR THAT FRIDAY, A 16% CHANGE IN OCCUPANCY AND A 21% CHANGE ON SATURDAY NIGHT FOR OCCUPANCY.

IT WENT FROM A LOW OF 68% LAST YEAR DURING THAT SATURDAY NIGHT, WHICH WAS STILL A STRONG YEAR, TO ALMOST 83% THE SATURDAY THAT IIFA WAS HELD HERE THIS YEAR.

AVERAGE DAILY RATE JUMPED FROM $84 ON THE SATURDAY OF LAST YEAR TO $113 THE SATURDAY THAT IIFA WAS HELD, AND YOU CAN -- YOU HAVE A MORE DRAMATIC JUMP IN THE REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM, JUMPED FROM $57 LAST YEAR SATURDAY TO $93 THE SATURDAY THAT IIFA WAS HELD HERE OR A 63% JUMP IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM, SO, YES, WE DID HAVE THE HOTELS BENEFIT.

AND WE'VE HIRED AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT TO DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.

WE'VE GOTTEN SOME PRELIMINARY NUMBERS ON THAT.

BASED ON SOME PRELIMINARY NUMBERS, THEY FEEL THAT IN DIRECT SPENDING WE SAW A $30.9-MILLION BOOST IN DIRECT SPENDING.

WHEN YOU INCLUDE DIRECT, INDUCED, AND INDIRECT SPENDING, OVER $56 MILLION.

THEY ESTIMATED THAT ATTENDANCE WAS NATIONWIDE, ALL THE WAY FROM NEW YORK TO SAN FRANCISCO.

WE HAD ABOUT 10% IN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, AND 75% OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE HERE STAYED IN HOTELS AND 25% STAYED IN HOMES OR HOME RENTALS, SO WE'LL HAVE MORE TO COME WHEN THAT -- THAT STUDY IS COMPLETE.

AND THEN MEDIA IMPRESSIONS, WHICH IS HUGE, FOR THE RNC FOR THREE MONTHS WE HAD 9.6 BILLION MEDIA IMPRESSIONS, FOR THREE MONTHS.

FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL WITH IIFA, WE HAD 13.2 BILLION IMPRESSIONS FOR JUST ONE MONTH.

SO AS FAR AS MARKETING, MEDIA RELATIONS -- WE HAD 1870 MEDIA STORIES THE WEEK OF IIFA, AND, IN FACT, I THINK WE WERE ON NATIONWIDE ABC NEWS LAST NIGHT WITH A REPORT ON BOLLYWOOD INVADING THE U.S. AND TAMPA SPECIFICALLY.

I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THREE QUICK VIDEOS THAT WILL MOVE RATHER QUICKLY.

ONE HAS TO DO WITH THE -- A FLASH MOB THAT OCCURRED IN TIMES SQUARE THAT WAS ORCHESTRATED BY IIFA WHERE AT THE END THEY UNFURLED THIS VISIT TAMPA BAY IIFA CELEBRATION BANNER, WHICH WE COULD NEVER AFFORD TO DO.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MARKET IN TIMES SQUARE, SO WE HAD A FLASH MOB HAPPEN IN TIMES SQUARE.

THEN YOU'LL SEE A COMMERCIAL THAT WE SHOT WITH A COUPLE OF STARS THAT WERE HERE PROMOTING THE IIFA WEEKEND.

AND THEN FINALLY, THEY DID COME UP WITH A THEME SONG FOR TAMPA.

YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, "DO DA TAMPA," AND YOU'LL SEE THAT VERY BRIEF VIDEO, SO I THINK I'M SUPPOSED TO ASK SOMEBODY TO RUN --

[VIDEOS PLAYED]

[CHEERS]

[END OF FIRST VIDEO]

[BEGINNING OF SECOND VIDEO]

[MUSIC]

WHEN YOU'RE HERE, THE CITY'S YOURS.

LET THE MUSIC PLAY, DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY, EH, EH, EH, EH.

[END OF MUSIC]

>> BE HERE WHEN BOLLYWOOD INVADES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> DISCOVER MANY, MANY MORE VIEWS LIKE THIS AND THE SPECTACULAR HOSPITALITY OF TAMPA BAY.

>> JOIN US IN BEAUTIFUL TAMPA BAY THIS YEAR.

>> FOR THE IIFA AWARDS, BOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST INTERNATIONAL SPECTACLE.

[MUSIC]

WELCOME TO MY CITY, EVERYBODY ...

[END OF SECOND VIDEO]

[BEGINNING OF THIRD VIDEO]

[MUSIC ONLY]

[END OF VIDEOS]

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS THAT THE SHOW HASN'T AIRED YET, AND THE SHOW WILL BE AIRING IN JUNE AND BE SEEN BY OVER 800 MILLION PEOPLE, AND FOR FIVE HOURS EVERYONE THAT WAS ON THAT STAGE MENTIONED TAMPA OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SO IT WILL BE THREE HOURS OF A COMMERCIAL FOR TAMPA THAT IS YET TO AIR, AND SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE -- THE IMPACT THAT THAT WILL HAVE.

WHILE IIFA WAS HERE, WE -- I MENTIONED THE INVASION GUIDE.

YOU SAW THE PRESENCE PROGRAM.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WAS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED AS A MAJOR SPONSOR IN WINDOW POSTERS, IN DOOR HANGINGS, IN BANNERS, YOU NAME IT, AND WE DEVELOPED AN IIFA TAMPA BAY IPAD APP THAT REALLY FEATURED ALL WE HAD TO OFFER.

WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY NOW WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY THAT THAT NOW REVERTS BACK TO A VISIT TAMPA BAY IPAD APP, SO WE LOSE THE IIFA INFLUENCE AND IT BECOMES OUR DESTINATION APP, AND WE'VE LAUNCHED ALSO OUR MOBILE APP, SO WE HAVE THE IPAD APP AND THE MOBILE APP, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW IT WAS INTERACTIVE.

WHEN IT WAS UP IT SHOWED THE ITINERARY AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU COULD DO WHILE YOU WERE HERE.

AND REALLY WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION AND THE COUNTY STAFF FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT WITH IIFA.

I THINK -- I KNOW -- I KNOW THAT OUR INVESTMENT IN THIS ONE REALLY PAID OFF, AND I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WATCHING, AND WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE BRAVER, A LITTLE BIT MORE BOLDER, THINK OUT OF THE BOX, HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN PUT ON EVENTS LIKE THIS THAT WILL PAY OFF, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING WHEN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS INFERIORITY COMPLEX.

YOU KNOW, WE PUT ON AN EVENT THAT WAS SOUGHT AFTER BY CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, CITIES ALL OVER AMERICA, AND WILL FOREVER BE THE FIRST U.S. CITY TO HAVE HOSTED IT, AND SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO THINK THAT WAY BECAUSE A SMALL INVESTMENT AT THE END OF THE DAY CAN PAY OFF IN HUGE DIVIDENDS.

SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

I KNOW AT TIMES IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATING, BUT I THINK THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING, AND WE HAVE SOMETHING WE CAN ALL BE VERY, VERY PROUD.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW I'LL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, SIR.

COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: HOW YOU DOING?

>> I'M DOING WELL.

THANK YOU.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: YOU CATCHING UP?

>> ALMOST.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SAME HERE.

ABOUT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON --

>> ALMOST.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: -- I'M STARTING TO FADE, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THINKING OUT OF THE BOX AND BE BOLD.

AND FOR SO LONG I WOULD SAY PUBLICLY AND QUALIFY IT WITH I AM PART OF TAMPA, BUT WE ARE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY WE WERE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY BECAUSE WE PROVED THAT PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND IT WAS -- SINCE I GOT INVOLVED -- AND I WILL TELL YOU IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT VENTURES OF MY CAREER.

WHETHER IT WAS PERSONAL, POLITICAL, BUSINESS, FAMILY, IT PRESENTED CHALLENGES THAT WERE TOUGH SOMETIMES, AND FOLKS ASKED ME, WELL, WHAT DID YOU DO THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT, AND I SAID, THE SAME THING I DID THE DAY I CLIMBED WHITE MOUNTAIN, I WEPT, BECAUSE IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL LETDOWN, ONE OF PRIDE, ONE OF JOY, AND ONE OF JUST SAYING, MAN, IT'S OVER AND IT'S HAPPENED.

BUT YOUR NUMBERS, I WANTED TO -- FOR YOU TO REVIEW, THE 30.9 MILLION, THE 56 MILLION, TELL ME WHAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE AGAIN.

>> THE -- AND THESE ARE PRELIMINARY.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: CORRECT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE VERY, VERY ACCURATE, BUT WE -- I WOULDN'T HAVE MENTIONED THEM IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE THEY WERE VERY ACCURATE BECAUSE THEY'RE STARTING TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH NUMBERS.

30.9 MILLION IN DIRECT SPENDING, AND WHEN YOU ADD INDIRECT AND INDUCED SPENDING, IT JUMPS TO $56 MILLION, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THOSE VERIFIED AND CONFIRMED, BUT BASED ON THE ATTENDANCE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE -- AND I HAD THE GREAT FORTUNE OF STAYING IN THE HEADQUARTER HOTEL BECAUSE I WAS HAVING EVENTS THAT WERE RUNNING UNTIL ABOUT 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND THEN I HAD TO BE AT OTHER EVENTS AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE AMOUNT OF MERCHANDISE THAT WAS WALKING IN AND OUT OF THE HILTON AS FAR AS SPENDING -- I CAN ALMOST VOUCH FOR THESE NUMBERS BY MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH IT.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SURE.

AND THE MEDIA IMPRESSIONS, AGAIN, COMPARED --

>> THE MEDIA IMPRESSIONS --

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: -- TO -- THE RNC WAS THREE DAYS?

>> I'LL TELL YOU, MEDIA IMPRESSIONS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL EXCEEDED 13.2 BILLION JUST FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, AND THAT COMPARES TO 9.6 BILLION FOR THE THREE MONTHS THAT WERE TRACKED PRIOR TO THE RNC --

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: YEAH.

>> -- AND INCLUDING THE RNC.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: ONE OF THE OBSERVATIONS OR CRITICISMS THAT I RECEIVED WAS, YEAH, WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON PR, BUT HOW DID THE LOCALS' BUSINESSES BENEFIT?

WELL, THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST REMARKABLE TO SEE THAT, AND I'M PROUD OF EVERYTHING THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS DONE.

AND ONE LAST NOTE THAT -- IN FOLLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER THE WEEKEND'S ACTIVITIES, TPD AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF SAID THERE WERE NO ARRESTS.

THERE WERE -- THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT THERE WERE FOUR EJECTIONS.

THEY SAID THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

>>MARK SHARPE: WOW.

>> AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUGE NUMBERS.

I MEAN, THE EVENT AT CURTIS HIXON THE OPENING NIGHT WE WERE EXPECTING MAYBE 3- TO 4,000 PEOPLE.

WE HAD CLOSE TO 10,000 PEOPLE.

THEN WE FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH THE FASHION SHOW, WHERE IN CHINA THEY HAD A LITTLE OVER 300 PEOPLE.

WE HAD OVER 3,000 PEOPLE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, THEN WE FOLLOWED THAT UP AT THE AMPHITHEATRE WITH ANOTHER 10,000-PLUS AUDIENCE, AND THEN THE NIGHT AT RAYMOND JAMES WE WERE CLOSE TO 24,000 PEOPLE.

SO WHEN YOU ADD UP THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OVER THE FOUR DAYS, TO HAVE THAT KIND OF LAW ENFORCEMENT NUMBER IS PRETTY REMARKABLE.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: RIGHT.

AND ONE LAST REQUEST.

COULD YOU DO THAT SPLIT AGAIN?

[LAUGHTER]

>> YOU DON'T REALLY WANT ME TO DO THAT SPLIT TODAY.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: NO.

I'VE ENJOYED WORKING ON THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO OTHER VENTURES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER CRIST.

>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THOSE ARE IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS.

EVERY TIME YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM TO DELIVER GOOD NEWS, YOU ALWAYS DELIVER GREAT NEWS, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ONBOARD, AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, IMPRESSIONS AND OTHERS, MAY NOT MEAN A LOT TO SOME FOLKS, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND THEY'RE VERY IMPRESSIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

>>VICTOR CRIST: JOB WELL DONE.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.

EXCELLENT REPORT.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>MARK SHARPE: YES, SIR.

HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE LEFT FOUR -- ON YOUR AGENDA FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR 2:00 P.M.,

BEGINNING WITH D-1, AND CAMERON IS HERE TO PRESENT THIS.

>>CAMERON CLARK: GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

CAMERON CLARK, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 96-31, WHICH REGULATES THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR CERTAIN BUSINESSES THAT SELL ALCOHOL IN THE COUNTY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU WOULD NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE WAY THE COUNTY CURRENTLY REGULATES ALCOHOL SALES, IT IS MERELY INTENDED TO BRING THE TEXT OF THIS ORDINANCE INTO LINE WITH THE EXISTING LANGUAGE OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS THE ENFORCING AGENCY FOR THIS ORDINANCE, CHRIS BROWN IS ALSO HERE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, SIR.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK TO ITEM D-1?

>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: [INAUDIBLE]

>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER FOR D-1.

PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.

>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.

>>MARK SHARPE: MR. BROWN, ALWAYS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>>MIKE MERRILL: NEXT ITEM IS D-2, PUBLIC HEARING.

>>KURT GREMLEY: GOOD AFTERNOON.

KURT GREMLEY, ELAPP ACQUISITION MANAGER.

THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED BY ORDINANCE 93-16 FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS NOT REQUIRED FOR PROPERTIES PRESERVED THROUGH THE JAN K. PLATT ENVIRONMENTAL LAND ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION PROGRAM.

ON JUNE 15th, 2005, THE COUNTY ACQUIRED APPROXIMATELY 1,085 ACRES FROM PULTE HOME CORPORATION FOR 11.2 MILLION, OF WHICH THE COUNTY RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 7.35 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST PROGRAM.

A PORTION OF THIS ACQUISITION INCLUDED 160-FOOT-WIDE, APPROXIMATELY 1.5-MILE-LONG EASEMENT FOR TAMPA ELECTRIC, FLORIDA GAS, AND OTHER PARTIES THAT HAVE NONEXCLUSIVE EASEMENTS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES.

THIS EASEMENT AREA IS ESSENTIALLY AN OPEN PASTURE.

PEOPLES GAS PRESENTED A REQUEST FOR A NONEXCLUSIVE 945-SQUARE-FOOT EASEMENT WITHIN THE EXISTING EASEMENT AREA SO THEY COULD INSTALL AN UNDERGROUND PIPELINE TO CONNECT TO THE EXISTING FLORIDA GAS TRANSMISSION MAIN IN ORDER TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY TO THE SOUTH OF FISHHAWK BOULEVARD.

STAFF HAS NO OBJECTIONS TO GRANTING THIS EASEMENT, PROVIDED THAT THE PEOPLES GAS FUND THE PUBLIC HEARING COSTS.

FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST REQUIRES COMPENSATION FOR THE EASEMENT, WHICH CAME OUT TO BE $200.

THE ELAPP GENERAL COMMITTEE SUPPORTS GRANTING THE EASEMENT.

PEOPLES GAS AGREED TO THESE CONDITIONS AND HAS PROVIDED THE REQUIRED PAYMENT.

THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED AND A NOTIFICATION SIGN WAS POSTED AT THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE EASEMENT.

AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE BOARD IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE GRANTING THE EASEMENT.

LUIS CASTELLANO IS HERE WITH PEOPLES GAS IN CASE THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.

>>MARK SHARPE: THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK TO ITEM D-2?

>>KEVIN BECKNER: [INAUDIBLE]

>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.

>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.

NO OTHER PUBLIC -- NO OTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.

>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.

D-3.

WELCOME.

>>ED HELVENSTON: THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

ED HELVENSTON, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.

COMMISSIONERS, TAMPA BAY WATER'S CONSOLIDATED WATER USE PERMIT FOR THEIR 11 WELLFIELD CENTRAL SYSTEM REQUIRES THE PREPARATION OF AN OPERATIONS PLAN WHICH DICTATES HOW TAMPA BAY WATER IS TO OPERATE THE WELLFIELD.

THE PLAN HAS TO BE UPDATED EVERY TWO YEARS, AND THE NEXT UPDATE IS DUE TO THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ON JULY 1st.

TAMPA BAY WATER HAS CONDUCTED A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING WELLFIELD CONTROL POINTS WHICH SET THE WATER LEVELS IN THE WELLFIELDS.

THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 40 OF THESE POINTS.

THEY SET THE WATER LEVELS IN THE WELLFIELD SO THEY CAN AT THE SAME TIME OPTIMIZE PRODUCTION WHILE MINIMIZING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.

THIS STATISTICAL ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT SOME OF THESE CONTROL POINTS REQUIRE MINOR MODIFICATIONS BASED ON THE RECENT HYDROLOGICAL STATUS, AND THAT IS THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE EXISTING PLAN THAT'S PROPOSED WITHIN THIS UPDATE.

STAFF HAS REVIEWED THESE CONTROL POINT MODIFICATIONS AND BELIEVES THEY ARE APPROPRIATE, AND SO, THEREFORE, WE HAVE NO -- WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD SEEK ARBITRATION ON THIS ISSUE.

DR. LUKE MULFORD OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT IS ALSO HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, ED.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK TO ITEM D-3?

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

IF NOT, NEED TO -- FOR ADOPTION.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MURMAN HAS MOVED APPROVAL.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND?

>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND.

>>MARK SHARPE: SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.

THIS IS FOR ITEM D-3.

PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.

>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.

>>MARK SHARPE: FINALLY, D-4.

MR. WILLIAMS, WELCOME, SIR.

>>MIKE WILLIAMS: THANK YOU, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

MIKE WILLIAMS WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS TO AMEND THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENT WITH M/I HOMES TAMPA, LLC.

THIS IS DA NUMBER 14-0356.

THIS AMENDMENT IS AMENDING THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY AND REQUIRES THE -- OR THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT REQUIRED THE DEVELOPER TO CONSTRUCT TWO PHASES OF OFF-SITE IMPROVEMENTS.

THE DEVELOPER CONSTRUCTED THE FIRST PHASE AND NOW WISHES TO CONVERT THE SECOND PHASE TO A PROP SHARE PAYMENT OF $49,333.

APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM WILL NOT INCREASE ANY COUNTY BUDGETS BUT WILL RESULT IN A PAYMENT TO THE COUNTY, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.

AND, AGAIN, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE COMMENTS.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. WILLIAMS.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK TO ITEM D-4?

>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.

>>KEN HAGAN: [INAUDIBLE]

>>MARK SHARPE: IF NOT, WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE FOR D-4.

>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.

>>MIKE MERRILL: AND ALL THAT REMAINS IS FUTURE DISCUSSION ITEMS.

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

>>KEN HAGAN: YEAH, I'VE GOT TWO ITEMS.

AS WE ALL KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE FAILED TO PASS A FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT BILL, AND AS A RESULT, "THE INFILTRATOR" MOVIE IS AT RISK OF NOT BEING FILMED HERE OR AT LEAST POTENTIALLY SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY DO FILM HERE, SO AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING I'M GOING TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM JUST TO DISCUSS OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE, AND IN THE MEANTIME, THE FILM COMMISSIONER IS SPEAKING WITH THE PRODUCER AND SO FORTH OF THE MOVIE, SO WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE, AND THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT THE COUNTY OR CITY CAN DO TO HELP ENSURE THAT COMES BACK.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

>>KEN HAGAN: AND THE SECOND THING, AND THIS IS FOR STAFF, THE COUNTY OFFERING VOLUNTARY BENEFITS TO OUR EMPLOYEES IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN -- FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT, INITIATED THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND I THINK IT WAS LAST JULY, IT WAS EITHER COMMISSIONER BECKNER OR COMMISSIONER MILLER, I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE, BUT WANTED TO CONSIDER THIS, I GUESS, HOLISTICALLY WITH OUR OTHER HEALTH -- HEALTH CARE PLAN AND WANTED THE CONSULTANT TO -- TO REVIEW, I THINK, OR MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT.

I KNOW WE HAVE A WORKSHOP SCHEDULED -- HEALTH CARE WORKSHOP ON THE 22nd.

I WOULD LIKE THE CONSULTANT TO COME HERE ON THE 21st AT OUR BOARD MEETING AND MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY HAVE SO IF WE NEED TO DISCUSS OR DO ANYTHING AT OUR WORKSHOP, THEN WE CAN DO THAT.

>>MARK SHARPE: EXCELLENT.

>>KEN HAGAN: SO I'D LIKE TO DO THAT.

>>MARK SHARPE: ANYONE ELSE?

I THINK EVERYBODY'S TIRED.

OKAY.

WE STAND ADJOURNED.

>>MIKE MERRILL: MM-HMM.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.

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