Hillsborough County, Florida
CAPTIONING
OCTOBER 1, 2014
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.
>>MARK SHARPE: GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS THE 1st DAY OF OCTOBER, AND IT'S A MEETING OF YOUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE, BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>>LES MILLER, JR.: OUR GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER, YOU ALLOWED US TO SEE ANOTHER DAY, AND WE'RE SO VERY THANKFUL FOR YOU ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN TO US, FATHER.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH US AS OUR STEPS AND OUR DAYS IN LIFE GET SHORTER.
WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US A REASONABLE PORTION OF HEALTH AND STRENGTH THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED US HERE IN THIS COUNTY, THIS STATE, AND THIS COUNTRY.
BE WITH US.
HUMBLE OUR HEARTS AND REGULATE OUR MINDS AS WE DO THAT WORK THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED US TO DO.
IF WE DISAGREE, LORD, ALLOW US TO AGREE TO MAKE THIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WHETHER THEY'RE ON THIS SOIL OR FOREIGN SOILS.
WE ASK THAT IF THEY'RE ON FOREIGN SOILS, YOU BRING THEM BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES SAFE AND SOUND.
AND THOSE THAT GO TO WORK EVERY DAY AND PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, MAKE SURE THEY GO HOME AND FIND EVERYTHING IN THEIR HOME SAFE AND SOUND.
AND, FATHER, WHEN WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, WE ASK THAT YOU TAKE US BACK TO OUR HOMES TO FIND EVERYTHING SAFE AND SOUND.
PUT YOUR LOVING ARMS AROUND US, GUIDE US, COMFORT US, AND KEEP US.
THESE AND ALL BLESSINGS WE ASK IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT WONDERFUL PRAYER, COMMISSIONER MILLER.
WE HAVE A SERIES OF PROCLAMATIONS, AND THE FIRST PROCLAMATION WILL BE BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I AM ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO PRESENT THE FIRST PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING, RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 5-11 AS 2014 FIRE PREVENTION WEEK.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE CHIEF RON ROGERS TO, PLEASE, TO COME FORWARD.
GOOD MORNING, CHIEF.
>>RON ROGERS: GOOD MORNING.
>>KEN HAGAN: WITH US HERE WITH CHIEF ROGERS IS DAVID TRAVIS, DEPUTY CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATION; MIKE GUINCHO, DEPUTY CHIEF OPERATIONS; KAREN DAVIDSON, RESCUE DIVISION CHIEF; BRUCE DELK, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CHIEF; STEVE KENDRICK, FIRE MARSHAL; PRESTON COOK, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MANAGER; JEFFREY PATTERSON, SPECIAL OPERATIONS CHIEF; TODD CARNELL, QUALITY MANAGEMENT CHIEF; TAMMY ZURLA, ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL; BECKY WIDDOES, EMERGENCY DISPATCH MANAGER; HOLLEY WADE, GENERAL MANAGER; TIM DONAHUE, FACILITIES MANAGER; ANGELA POTENZIANO, SENIOR PROGRAM COORDINATOR; NACOLE REVETTE, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER; RONNIE RIVERA, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER; JESSICA COY, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER; AND ALSO ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHARON SUBADAN.
AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT I JUST LISTED ARE THE ONES WEARING PINK OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.
CHIEF, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU HERE THIS MORNING.
>>RON ROGERS: THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: IN 1920, PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON ISSUED THE FIRST NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION DAY PROCLAMATION, AND SINCE 1922, FIRE PREVENTION WEEK HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON A SUNDAY-THROUGH-SATURDAY PERIOD, IN WHICH OCTOBER 9th FALLS. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION'S LIBRARY INFORMATION CENTER, FIRE PREVENTION WEEK IS THE LONGEST-RUNNING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OBSERVANCE ON RECORD.
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK WAS ESTABLISHED TO COMMEMORATE THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE, WHICH KILLED MORE THAN 250 PEOPLE, LEFT 100,000 HOMELESS, DESTROYED MORE THAN 17,400 STRUCTURES, AND BURNED MORE THAN 2,000 ACRES.
IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION, WHICH STATES, WHEREAS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL THOSE LIVING AND VISITING OUR COUNTY; AND WHEREAS, FIRE IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, AND HOMES ARE THE LOCATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT GREATEST RISK FROM FIRE; AND WHEREAS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS ARE DEDICATED TO REDUCING THE OCCURRENCE OF HOME FIRES AND HOME FIRE INJURIES THROUGH PREVENTION AND PROTECTION EDUCATION; AND WHEREAS, THE 2014 FIRE PREVENTION WEEK THEME, "WORKING SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES: TEST YOURS EVERY MONTH," EFFECTIVELY SERVES AS A REMINDER TO TEST SMOKE ALARMS EACH MONTH TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE WORKING PROPERLY; AND WHEREAS, HOME FIRES KILLED MORE THAN 2,300 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2012, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES RESPONDED TO 365,000 HOME FIRES; AND WHEREAS, ON AVERAGE EACH YEAR, THREE OUT OF FIVE HOME FIRE DEATHS OCCUR IN FIRES WHERE THERE WERE EITHER NO SMOKE ALARMS OR NO WORKING SMOKE ALARMS; AND WHEREAS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENTS SHOULD TEST ALL SMOKE ALARMS EVERY MONTH, INSTALL SMOKE ALARMS OUTSIDE EACH SLEEPING AREA AND ON EVERY LEVEL OF THE HOME, AND REPLACE ALL SMOKE ALARMS EVERY TEN YEARS OR SOONER.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 5-11, 2014, AS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND URGES ALL RESIDENTS TO TEST THEIR SMOKE ALARMS AT LEAST MONTHLY, AND TO SUPPORT THE MANY PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIVITIES AND EFFORTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES; EXECUTED THIS 1st DAY OF OCTOBER, 2014, SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND, CHIEF, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO PROTECT US AND KEEP US SAFE, AND I SAY THAT NOT ONLY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BUT SOMEONE WHO EXPERIENCED A HOME FIRE IN MY YOUTH AND -- AT WHICH TIME I SAW FIRSTHAND THE BRAVE WORK OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
AND I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU AND ALL YOUR FOLKS WHO ARE DOING SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB.
IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>>RON ROGERS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, HELPING US TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT FIRES BUT ALSO BE PREPARED FOR THOSE THAT WE CAN'T PREVENT.
AND ESPECIALLY, THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE WHO ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY SERVING THE CITIZENS IN THE PREVENTION MODE BUT ALSO IN THE RESPONSE MODE, BUT PARTICULARLY, I WOULD -- AS THE PROCLAMATION POINTED OUT, WE WANT TO POINT OUT THE BENEFITS OF SMOKE ALARMS, AND I, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THAT PROGRAM.
OUR SMOKE ALARMS FOR EVERYONE PROGRAM HAS REALLY STEPPED UP IN THE LAST YEAR.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, BUT WE ALSO THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO GET OUR FOUNDATION UP AND RUNNING.
THE FOUNDATION HAS DONE A EXCELLENT JOB, AND THERE ARE OVER $90,000 IN CONTRIBUTIONS RIGHT NOW TOWARDS SMOKE ALARM PURCHASES IN JUST THAT PROGRAM, AND HELPING US TO GET THE WORD OUT OF THE BENEFITS, BUT NOT JUST -- THIS IS MORE THAN JUST PUTTING THE WORD OUT, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND INSTALLING THESE IN PEOPLE'S HOMES WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEM.
THAT'S A BIG, BIG PLUS FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT AND I THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING THAT EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, CHIEF.
DO YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD FOR A PHOTO.
>>RON ROGERS: YES, SIR.
>>MARK SHARPE: ABSOLUTELY.
BRING THEM ALL, ALL THE PINK SHIRTS.
>>RUSLANA PANOV: YES, WE NEED TO MAKE THREE ROWS, PLEASE.
WE ALL HAVE TO GET RIGHT HERE.
[INAUDIBLE]
STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>MARK SHARPE: AND OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION WILL BE PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS PROCLAMATION, YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING WHAT IN THE WORLD --
>>MARK SHARPE: YES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- IS SHE DOING NOW?
>>MARK SHARPE: I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I WANT TO TELL YOU I'VE GOTTEN INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO LEGISLATIVE DAYS, BUT THIS -- SO MANY CHILDREN ARE BEING MISDIAGNOSED EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER, AUTISM, ADHD, AND -- WHEN IT CAN BE -- AND I THINK THAT'S WHY I'M DOING THIS TODAY IS TO HELP BRING ABOUT THE AWARENESS.
WHEN THESE CHILDREN REALLY -- ALL THEY NEED IS MAYBE A DOSE OF ANTIBIOTICS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE ON THE RITALIN AND ALL THESE DRUGS THAT MIGHT REALLY AFFECT THEIR BEHAVIOR LONG-TERM.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY, AND I WILL SAY IT ONE TIME, THE PANDAS/PITAND/PANS AWARENESS DAY, AND FOR SHORT WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT PANDAS AWARENESS DAY, BUT I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE THE PARENT SPEAK WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE AWARENESS GROUP.
AND DR. TANYA MURPHY, SHE'S FROM THE ROTHMAN CENTER AT USF, DR. ROBERT FRIEDMEYER; RIGHT?
HE'S NOT HERE?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
HE'S NOT ON THE LIST.
SORRY.
BUT WE DO HAVE HIS -- HE'S FROM KIDS & MORE PEDIATRICS?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YOU'RE FROM USF.
OKAY.
MRS. MAGGIE BARSZCZ.
SHE'S A TEACHER OF VALRICO ACADEMY.
SANDRA GORMAN.
SHE'S THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FLORIDA PANDAS' PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE HER -- SOME CHILDREN HERE, HER CHILDREN, MATTHEW GORMAN, THE PARENT -- THE OTHER PARENT, BRODERICK GORMAN, McKINLEY GORMAN.
THEY'RE BOTH PANDAS' PATIENTS.
JAMIE TANKERSLEY, WHO'S A PARENT.
JADE AND JT ARE BOTH PANDAS PATIENTS.
SO I'M GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN HAVE HER COME UP, AND I'M NOT -- THIS PROCLAMATION HAS A LOT OF TECHNICAL TERMS IN IT, SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THERE BECAUSE I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND ALL THE TECHNICAL TERMS, BUT I THINK HEARING FROM SANDRA GORMAN'S REALLY GOING TO -- I THINK SHE'LL KIND OF ENLIGHTEN US.
BUT IT SAYS, WHEREAS, PANS IS A BROAD CATEGORY OF ILLNESSES CHARACTERIZED BY THE SUDDEN ONSET OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER AND OTHER DISORDERS, AND THAT SOME OF THESE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH VIRAL INFECTIONS OR BACTERIAL INFECTIONS OTHER THAN STREP; WHEREAS, ESTABLISHING THOSE DIAGNOSES REQUIRES THAT OTHER KNOWN NEUROLOGIC OR MEDICAL DISORDERS MUST HAVE BEEN RULED OUT AS A CAUSE FOR THE SYMPTOMS; WHEREAS, CHILDREN EXPERIENCING THESE DISORDERS MAY HAVE MODERATE TO DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS WITH ANTIBIOTICS WITHIN ONE WEEK OF TREATMENT IF THE DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP SHOWS AN INFECTIOUS TRIGGER; WHEREAS, FUNDING AND AWARENESS FOR PANDAS IS SCARCE.
DR. TANYA MURPHY AND DR. ERIC STORCH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE RESEARCH AND TREATMENT OF THESE DISORDERS AND ARE WIDELY RESPECTED WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR WORK IN ADVANCING THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF THESE DISORDERS; AND WHEREAS, PANDAS NETWORK, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 2009, IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH PANDAS BY PROVIDING AN ONGOING DATABASE OF CASES PARENT REFERRALS TO SUPPORT GROUPS AND PHYSICIANS.
SO NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, DOES HEREBY SET ASIDE OCTOBER 9, 2014, AS PANDAS/PITAND/PANS AWARENESS DAY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS AND TO INCREASE THEIR AWARENESS OF THESE HEALTH DISORDERS.
AND, SANDRA, WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AND JUST SAY A FEW WORDS, AND I'LL GIVE THAT TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER MURMAN AND COMMISSIONERS.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
MY TWO CHILDREN BOTH SUFFER WITH PANDAS.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE TERRIFYING AS A PARENT TO HAVE YOUR CHILD WAKE UP FROM A NAP A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CHILD THAN WHAT YOU PUT DOWN FOR THAT NAP, AND THAT IS JUST HOW SUDDEN THESE ISSUES COME UP WITH PANDAS.
WE WERE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WHERE WE HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, AND OUR PEDIATRICIAN, DR. FRIEDMEYER, DID RECOGNIZE THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN INFECTION AT PLAY BEFORE HE SENT US OFF TO A PSYCHIATRIST FOR MEDICATION FOR THE OCD AND ODD THAT MY SON WAS PRESENTING AT A VERY EARLY AGE.
DR. MURPHY, DR. STORCH, AND DR. INDEAU IS HERE TODAY REPRESENTING USF.
THEY'VE DONE SO MUCH RESEARCH TO HELP ADVANCE THIS CAUSE, AND I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH TO PARENTS, TEACHERS, CAREGIVERS, DOCTORS, IF YOU SEE A CHILD THAT HAS PRESENTED WITH A SUDDEN ONSET OF ANY SORT OF MENTAL ILLNESS, LOOK FOR THE CAUSE, RULE OUT INFECTIONS, RULE OUT THE AUTOIMMUNE ASPECT OF THIS TYPE OF DISEASE BEFORE YOU CONSIDER MEDICATING A YOUNG CHILD AND CONDEMNING THEM TO A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION AND MENTAL ILLNESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US RAISE AWARENESS FOR THIS ISSUE.
WE APPRECIATE IT, AND THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MURMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AS A FATHER WITH CHILDREN -- AND I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER HERE WHO HAVE KIDS -- I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS, SO IT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO HEAR ABOUT THIS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>>RUSLANA PANOV: STAND BY.
STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: AND OUR FINAL PROCLAMATION WILL BE PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF THE FLORIDA MANUFACTURING MONTH, AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT A GROUP WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE, AND I'M GOING TO JUST CALL THEM BY NAME, AND THOSE WHO ARE HERE PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.
KEN ATWATER, MARILYN BARGER, SHARON SWEATMAN, WHO'S HERE ON BEHALF OF ROY, I BELIEVE HE'S TRAVELING; DESH BAGLEY, BECKY BURTON, DENNIS STOTTS, JIM LONG, DAVID STAILEY, JERRY CUSTIN, AND MIKE RAMSEY.
IF YOU COULD JUST COME UP.
AS WE ALL KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE BECOME A LEADER IN NEW JOBS AND BRINGING IN NEW JOBS, BUT I LEARNED IN MY ADVOCACY AT EDC SOME YEARS AGO THAT MANUFACTURING IS A CORNERSTONE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, AND I WANT TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
IT STATES, WHEREAS, THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION, AMTA; THE ASSOCIATION OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, APICS; THE BAY AREA MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, BAMA; THE FLORIDA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, FLATE; FLORIDA FEDERAL CONTRACT ASSOCIATION, FCA; HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HCC; THE NATIONAL TOOLING & MACHINING ASSOCIATION, NTMA; THE SOCIETY OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERS, SME; AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, USF-COE, SUPPORT MANUFACTURING AND CAREERS; AND WHEREAS, THE BOCC OF HCFLUSA WELCOMES YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
AND THAT'S THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, USA, BUT ...
WHEREAS, THE MANUFACTURERS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PROVIDE OVER 50,000 JOBS FOR OUR CITIZENS, MAKING MANUFACTURING FACILITIES -- MAKING -- THE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES IN OUR COUNTY MAKE PRODUCTS AS DIVERSE AS ADVANCED FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS TO THE NEWEST DEVICES, SUCH AS THOSE THAT ARE BEING USED ON THE MARS ROVER EXPLORATION;
WHEREAS, COORDINATION FOR MANUFACTURING DAY STUDENTS TOURS IS LED BY FLATE AT HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO STRENGTHEN TECHNICAL AND ACADEMIC SKILLS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ENROLLED IN MANUFACTURING, ENGINEERING, AND DESIGN COURSES OF STUDIES; WHEREAS, RECOGNIZING -- WHEREAS, RECOGNIZING OF OCTOBER 3rd AS MANUFACTURING DAY, OCTOBER IS MANUFACTURING MONTH, AND IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURING IN OUR NATION'S ECONOMY AND TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE MANY REWARDING HIGH-SKILLED MANUFACTURING JOBS, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING AND CELEBRATING FLORIDA'S MANUFACTURERS AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS AS WE PREPARE OUR WORKFORCE.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THIS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS -- THAT'S BOCC OF FL -- DOES HEREBY DECLARE THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS FLORIDA MANUFACTURING MONTH IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF OUR MANUFACTURERS AND THE IMPORTANCE THEY SERVE IN OUR COUNTY, STATE, AND UNION.
SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
WE WELCOME YOU AND WOULD ASK YOU TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS, THEN COME UP FOR A PHOTO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM AND COMMISSIONERS.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
AGAIN, WE DID THIS LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR MANUFACTURING DAY TO BRING AWARENESS FOR MANUFACTURING AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE MANUFACTURERS IN THE COUNTY -- IN THIS COUNTY
HAVE -- ARE OPENING THEIR DOORS THIS MONTH TO OVER 500 OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR TOURS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE THOSE MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR COLLEAGUES BUT ALSO BAMA, WHO'S PARTICIPATED GREATLY IN HELPING US RECRUIT THOSE MANUFACTURERS TO OPEN THEIR DOORS BUT ALSO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHO'S HELPED US COORDINATE THE TOURS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THOSE SITES.
SO WE'LL BE DOING THIS ALL MONTH, PRIMARILY ON FRIDAY.
WE HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF TOURS THIS FRIDAY.
IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN GOING ON ONE OF THE TOURS, JUST LET US KNOW, AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO GET YOU HOOKED UP WITH ONE OF THE GREAT SCHOOLS, CLASSES THAT WILL BE IN ONE OF THE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES THIS FRIDAY.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD FOR A PHOTO.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: EXCUSE ME.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: NO, I'LL MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS BECAUSE I THINK -- COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
I THINK NO ONE'S WORKED HARDER TO CREATE JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAN YOU HAVE, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS CREATING JOBS, AND WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD.
I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, LINDSEY AND KEN AND RON BARTON, FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE, WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURING ACADEMY AND THE GAAP ANALYSIS AND ALL THAT TO TRY AND GET MORE PEOPLE HERE SO WE CAN CREATE MORE JOBS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THIS TODAY.
I THINK IT WAS A GREAT -- IT'S A GREAT CELEBRATION.
>>MARK SHARPE: COME FORWARD.
>>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.
STAND BY, PLEASE.
ONE MORE TIME.
OKAY.
STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> EXCUSE ME.
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MANUFACTURING DAY T-SHIRTS THAT THE STUDENTS ARE GETTING, IF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE ONE.
I'LL LEAVE THEM HERE.
>>MARK SHARPE: OH, WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WHAT IS IT?
>>MARK SHARPE: MANUFACTURING SHIRTS.
>> MANUFACTURING DAY.
>>MARK SHARPE: OH, COOL.
ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND COMMISSIONER MURMAN, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A RECOGNITION YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES, I WOULD.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A GROUP THAT'S HERE TODAY, THE EMERGING LEADERS OF SOUTHSHORE GROUP, HEADED BY MELANIE MORRISON FROM THE SOUTHSHORE CHAMBER.
SHE'S THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
AND IF YOU-ALL WANT TO STAND.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A TOUR OF THE COUNTY CENTER AND LEARNING ABOUT HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT WORKS, AND SO WE HAVE MELANIE, OF COURSE; CARRIE ELWELL, WHO IS ACTUALLY CHAIR OF THE CHAMBER THIS YEAR, LEILANI -- SOMEBODY DIDN'T WRITE REAL WELL; JASON FREDERICKS; MAXWELL JACOBSON; JACQUELINE [INAUDIBLE]; BURT BRAVO, MEGAN, AND BILL.
SO GLAD YOU ALL ARE HERE AND HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY WITH US HERE AT THE COUNTY.
AND COME BACK AND WATCH US AS WE DELIBERATE MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES AS WE GO TODAY.
THANKS A LOT.
>>MARK SHARPE: WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
AND WITH THAT, WE'RE TO REVIEW THE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.
MR. MERRILL.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YES, COMMISSIONERS.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM THAT WAS ADDED PURSUANT TO RULE 13.
THAT'S ITEM F-1, DISCUSSION REGARDING DESIGNATING THE TAMPA SPORTS AUTHORITY AS THE AGENCY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE TAMPA BAY RAYS, ADDED BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
WE HAVE ONE REVISION.
THAT'S B-9.
THE CHANGE THERE IS TO MOVE IT FROM A 1:30 TIME CERTAIN TO A 1:45 TIME CERTAIN.
THAT'S THE ITEM SETTING AND ADVERTISING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ADVANCED DIRECTIVES AND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT FOR DISCUSSION.
A-1 WAS REMOVED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
THAT'S THE ITEM TERMINATING THE IN-HOME SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH AMERICAN SENIORS ASSOCIATION, INC., FOR NONPERFORMANCE.
AND ITEM A-18, WHICH IS TO SCHEDULE AND ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE UNDERGROUNDING OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES.
THAT WAS PULLED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF TIME CERTAINS, BEGINNING AT 10:15 WITH ITEM B-12.
THAT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXTENSION OF THE LEASE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND FLORIDA HOSPITAL.
B-13, AT 10:30 A.M., A CONTRACT FOR SALE AND PURCHASE BETWEEN MOUNTAIN HIGH PINEBROOKE, LLC, AND THE COUNTY FOR TWO OFFICE BUILDINGS AND A PARKING LOT WITHIN THE PINEBROOKE BUSINESS PARK, AS REQUESTED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO MEET FUTURE EXPANSION NEEDS.
10:45, ITEM G-1 IS A STATUS REPORT FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT REGARDING THE PRIVATIZATION OF PROPERTY REGISTRATION PROGRAM.
11:00 A.M., ITEM B-11 IS TO ADOPT A PROPOSED -- TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED 2015 STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS.
AND 11:15 IS THE ITEM I MENTIONED EARLIER REGARDING DESIGNATING THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AS THE AGENCY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE RAYS.
RECESSING FOR LUNCH AT 11:45, RETURNING AT 1:45 WITH ITEM B-9.
THAT'S TO SET AND ADVERTISE THE HEARING ON THE ORDINANCE FOR ADVANCED DIRECTIVES AND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY.
WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC HEARING AT 2:00 P.M., ITEM D-1, AND THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ENACTMENT OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COUNTY'S HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF IT'S THE BOARD'S PLEASURE, LATER IN THE DAY I DO HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE TO GIVE YOU A BRIEFING ON WHERE WE ARE WITH ACTIVITIES TO DEAL WITH THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF RAIN WE'VE HAD AND STORMWATER.
IF YOU WANT THAT REPORT, WE'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE THAT TO YOU LATER IN THE DAY.
IT WILL JUST BE A FEW MINUTES.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THOSE ARE THE CHANGES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE THE CHANGES.
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: -- TO MOVE THE CHANGES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: NO, I'D JUST ASK IF WE COULD TAKE UP B-3 AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE DO B-1.
>>MARK SHARPE: B-3 AND B-1 TOGETHER?
>>KEN HAGAN: B-3 AND F--1.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO MOVE THE CHANGES.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: AND WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE BOARD SETS ASIDE TIME EACH BOARD MEETING TO ALLOW THE CITIZENS TO COME FORWARD AND TO SPEAK THEIR PIECE.
WE JUST ASK THAT WHEN YOU DO, YOU DO IT WITH RESPECT AND COURTESY, NOT ONLY TO YOURSELF AND THE AUDIENCE BUT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.
PLEASE DO NOT DIRECT ANY PERSONAL ATTACKS TOWARDS BOARD MEMBERS OR THOSE WHO WORK FOR THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.
WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO SPEAK TO AN ITEM WHICH WILL BE BEFORE US AT 2:00, SO IF YOU SPEAK NOW, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 2:00.
IF YOU'RE FINE WITH THAT, THAT'S GREAT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND START.
OUR FIRST THREE SPEAKERS, REBECCA BRECOCIOUS, WELCOME, REBECCA; AND THEN ED LALLY; AND ELIZABETH BELCHER.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS REBECCA BROCIOUS, FROM 929 BALLY RIDGE CIRCLE, TAMPA.
MY FAMILY INCLUDES MYSELF, MY LEGAL-IN-PENNSYLVANIA SPOUSE BETHA, AND OUR SIX-YEAR-OLD SON.
AT THE LAST COMMISSIONER'S MEETING, I SPOKE ABOUT HAVING ALL OF OUR PAPERWORK COMPLETED, OUR WILLS, OUR LIVING WILLS, OUR POAs, AND HOW AWKWARD ITS TO HAVE EVERYTHING WITH YOU IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCY.
IT WAS SO ODD, THAT I HAD NEWS MEDIA INTERVIEW AND QUESTION ME ABOUT IT.
THE LAST TIME A COMMISSIONER SAID THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE INCLUSION IN THE DPR.
TODAY I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT INCLUSION.
INCLUSION IS IMPORTANT.
THE DOMESTIC PARTNER REGISTRY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS SOMEONE WHO IS GAY AND IS A MOTHER AND A DAUGHTER, I HAVE FACED MORE STIGMA AS A GAY PERSON IN A HOSPITAL THAN I EVER DID AS A DAUGHTER.
HAVING A SAME-SEX SPOUSE, I'VE BEEN FORCED TO SAY, WHILE SHE IS UNCONSCIOUS, WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE 1996.
I'VE BEEN FORCED TO SAY, SHE HASN'T SPOKEN TO HER FAMILY IN YEARS.
IMAGINE THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE TO SAY, IN OCCASION THAT I BE UNCONSCIOUS, HER ONLY LIVING FAMILY HAS DEMENTIA AND IS IN A SMALL NURSING HOME IN PENNSYLVANIA.
WHEN WE GO TO THE ER, WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE OPINIONS OF THE HOSPITAL STAFF, AN ADMISSION STAFF THAT MAY SCOWL AT ME AND JUDGE ME AT A TIME WHEN I AM IN A LIFE-AND-DEATH SITUATION, OR A DOCTOR WHO WON'T INCLUDE ME IN DECISIONS ABOUT HER.
WE NEED THE DPR SO THAT THERE IS NO AMBIGUITY WHO CAN SPEAK FOR ME, MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER, THE ONE WHO KNOWS ME BEST, THE ONE WHO KNOWS WHAT I MIGHT BE ALLERGIC TO IN A MOMENT WHEN I AM IN A LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATION, THE ONE WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER ILLNESSES I MIGHT HAVE IN A LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATION, AND SHE MAY NEED TO CONVEY THAT TO THE DOCTOR IN THE FIRST MINUTE WHEN I AM IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM, AND NO ONE ELSE KNOWS THAT.
NO ONE ELSE HERE IN TAMPA KNOWS THAT.
MY MOTHER, IN A NURSING HOME IN PENNSYLVANIA, MIGHT REMEMBER ME AS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD.
SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
PLEASE, PLEASE, WE NEED THIS.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, REBECCA.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ED LALLY, AND THEN ELIZABETH BELCHER AND GINA DUNCAN.
WELCOME, ED.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME'S ED LALLY.
I RESIDE AT 2621 SOUTH BRYANT CIRCLE.
AT MY SIDE IS MY HUSBAND, PHIL DINKINS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER BECKNER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES OF FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY, THE DOMESTIC PARTNER REGISTRY AND THE ADDENDUM TO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.
BILL AND I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 37 YEARS, AND IN 2003 WE WENT TO CANADA TO GET MARRIED BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NOWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY WE COULD DO SO.
ALTHOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOW RECOGNIZES OUR MARRIAGE, IN FLORIDA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WE HAVE NO LEGAL PROTECTIONS.
AS A RESIDENT OF TAMPA, OUR LONG-TERM COMMITMENT IS RECOGNIZED TO THE TAMPA DOMESTIC PARTNER REGISTRY FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
EXCUSE ME.
BUT WHEN WE LEAVE THE CITY LIMITS, WE HAVE NO SUCH PROTECTIONS.
THIS IS WHY A DOMESTIC PARTNER REGISTRY FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS SO IMPORTANT TO US, SO PHIL AND I HAVE THE SECURITY, THE COMFORT, THE PEACE OF MIND THAT MARRIED COUPLES HAVE.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL RIGHTS BUT SIMPLY EQUAL RIGHTS.
THE CARD YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS OUR TAMPA DOMESTIC PARTNER REGISTRY CARD.
THIS IS ALL IT TAKES FOR A NURSE, A DOCTOR, A FIRST RESPONDER TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER'S BEST INTEREST.
SOME HAVE SAID THAT HEALTH CARE, HOSPITAL VISITATION RIGHTS, AND END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH LEGAL DOCUMENTS, BUT PULLING OUT A LEGAL DOCUMENT IS NOT PRACTICAL IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
YOU CAN EASILY PULL OUT THIS CARD OUT OF YOUR WALLET AS A VERY EASY THING TO DO.
ALL LOVING COUPLES IN COMMITTED RELATIONSHIPS LIVING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, GAY OR STRAIGHT, MARRIED OR NOT, DESERVE THESE BASIC PROTECTIONS.
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING TODAY.
PLEASE MOVE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FORWARD AND VOTE YES FOR A DOMESTIC PARTNER REGISTRY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING HERE TODAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH BELCHER, GINA DUNCAN, STEPHANIE NICHOLS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
ELIZABETH BELCHER, SEFFNER, FLORIDA.
B-9, EVERYONE MUST BE TREATED EQUALLY, PERIOD.
F-1, THE COMMISSION STATES THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE -- THE COMMISSION ALWAYS SEEMS TO STATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE RUN LIKE A BUSINESS.
ANY NEGOTIATION WITH THE RAYS OR ANY OTHER SPORTS TEAM MUST INCLUDE THE PROVISION NO TAX MONEY WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT THE TEAM.
ANY -- EXCUSE ME.
ANYTIME YOU START TALKING ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENT, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ROI, AT BEST, IS MINIMAL.
THE FIASCO OF SPENDING $35 MILLION TO REMODEL SKYBOXES ON THE TAXPAYER DIME MUST NOT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN, SO, AGAIN, NO MONEY FOR ANY PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
NEXT SPEAKER, GINA DUNCAN.
WELCOME.
AND THEN STEPHANIE NICHOLS AND TROY KLUFT.
WELCOME, MS. DUNCAN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>>MARK SHARPE: GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M GINA DUNCAN.
I'M THE TRANSGENDER INCLUSION DIRECTOR OF EQUALITY FLORIDA, AND I AM A TRANSGENDER CITIZEN.
AS A MEMBER OF EQUALITY FLORIDA, I REPRESENT THE STATE'S LARGEST LGBT ORGANIZATION, REPRESENTING OVER 200,000 MEMBERS AND CORPORATE SPONSORS.
I RISE IN FAVOR OF ENACTMENT OF HILLSBOROUGH'S H.E.L.P. ORDINANCE AND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY AND THE HRO AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR EXPRESSION, AND WE THANK THIS COMMISSION FOR MOVING THESE FORWARD.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE H.E.L.P. ORDINANCE AND THE NEED FOR A CLEARLY DEFINED DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY.
SINCE ITS ENACTMENT IN 2012, ORLANDO'S MODEL ORDINANCE HAS REGISTERED OVER 1500 COUPLES UNDER THE DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY AND ONLY 35 COUPLES UNDER H.E.L.P.
WHILE THE H.E.L.P. ORDINANCE EXPANDS THE SCOPE OF SOME RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS, IT IS PURELY CONTRACTUAL BETWEEN TWO PARTIES.
A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY ACKNOWLEDGES THE VALIDITY OF A SAME-SEX HOUSEHOLD AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE EXISTENCE OF A LOVING FAMILY RELATIONSHIP.
WHILE THE ENACTMENT OF A COMBINED H.E.L.P./DPR IS CERTAINLY GREAT PROGRESS, THE ENACTMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY IS OF PRIME IMPORTANCE.
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ADDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION HAS CERTAINLY BEEN MADE.
EMPLOYERS BELIEVE IT MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE TO BE INCLUSIVE SO THEY CAN -- SO THEY CAN RECRUIT THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST AND COMPETE ON A GLOBAL BASIS.
BEING INCLUSIVE CAN ALSO HELP THE COUNTY TO CONVINCE SUCCESSFUL FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES TO RELOCATE HERE.
AND FINALLY, BEING A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY MAKES HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MORE ATTRACTIVE TO TOURISM, THUS GROWING THE ECONOMY AS WELL.
FLORIDA'S MAJOR EMPLOYERS BELIEVE IN THIS SO STRONGLY THAT 19 CORPORATIONS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO FORM A COALITION CHAIRED BY FLORIDA BLUE TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF SIMILAR STATEWIDE ANTIDISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION, CALLED THE FLORIDA COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE ACT.
MEMBERS INCLUDE WELLS FARGO, WALT DISNEY & COMPANY, WINN DIXIE, AND JET BLUE TO NAME A FEW.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, COMMISSIONERS, TO QUOTE COMMISSIONER BECKNER, THESE PROPOSALS ARE ABOUT EQUALITY, THEY'RE ABOUT FAIRNESS, THEY'RE ABOUT PEOPLE, THEY ARE GOOD PUBLIC POLICY, AND, MOST OF ALL, THEY ARE CERTAINLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MS. DUNCAN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE NICHOLS, TROY KLUFT, AND ED TILLOU.
>> MY NAME IS STEPHANIE NICHOLS.
I LIVE AT 16114 GARDENDALE DRIVE, TAMPA.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF CHANGING THE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCE 00-37 TO INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.
AS A MEMBER OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE THAT FLORIDA TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION SURVEY, REFERENCED ON YOUR PAGE 3, LINE 29, IS THE REASON AND SHOWS THE NEED FOR TRANSGENDER PROTECTION.
I ATTEND THREE TRANSGENDER GROUPS HERE IN TAMPA.
THE GROUPS OF TRANSGENDERED MEN AND WOMEN ALL COMPLAIN ABOUT LOSING THEIR JOBS.
ONE GIRL STILL LOST HER JOB AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, AND THEY HAD A TRANSGENDER POLICY ALREADY IN PLACE.
WE ARE NOT THE DRAG QUEENS EVERYONE SEES.
WE TRY TO BLEND INTO SOCIETY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
WE ARE IN THE AEROSPACE FIELD, BANKING, TELEPHONE SALES, CHURCH MINISTRY, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS WAITERS AND WAITRESSES, ANNOUNCERS ON LOCAL TV AND TELECOMMUNICATION, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, JUST TO NAME A FEW FIELDS WE ARE HERE IN TAMPA DOING.
DISCRIMINATION IS HAPPENING MORE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE.
THERE WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE ON TV JUST THE OTHER WEEK.
WE HAVE FAMILIES TO FEED.
IN CLOSING, I QUOTE FROM YOUR MISSION STATEMENT, THE MISSION OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE QUALITY SERVICE AT A REASONABLE COST WITH COURTESY, INTEGRITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON A MANNER THAT PROTECTS AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR DIVERSE POPULATION.
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AND PASS IT.
THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TROY KLUFT AND THEN ED TILLOU.
IS MR. KLUFT HERE?
WE ALSO HAVE DAVID McCALLISTER.
TROY KLUFT?
ED, YOU'RE UP.
WELCOME, SIR.
>> OKAY.
I'M ED, ED TILLOU, AND I'M SENDING AROUND SOME THINGS, ONE OF WHICH RELATES TO -- IT'S A LITTLE BEAT UP BECAUSE I'VE BEEN CARRYING IT AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, BUT IT DEALS WITH TEA PARTIES, LIKE THE REAL ONES, AND I JUST THOUGHT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE WAS A TEA PARTY IN NEW YORK.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, ED.
>> YOU KNOW, AS I SAY, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT TEA PARTIES, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S THE CONTEMPORARY ONES.
OKAY.
WHAT HAS BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT WAS MANUFACTURING, AND THIS 7% FIGURE IS KIND OF A GOOD ONE BECAUSE IT'S THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT STILL GIVE PENSIONS.
IT'S NEXT TO NOTHING ANYMORE.
SO THIS RELIANCE ON SELLING REAL ESTATE TO RETIREES -- AND EVEN TOURISM, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY USED TO, SO THESE ARE NOT AS RELIABLE, AND THERE SHOULD BE SOME HEDGING OF ONE'S BETS BY MANUFACTURING.
AND AS I SAY, A TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR BY MacDILL ABOUT AVIATION, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT BOEING IS KIND OF IN TROUBLE, SO MAYBE SOME OF THEIR SOLUTIONS COULD BE FARMED OUT SO SOME OF THE SUBCONTRACTING COULD BE DOWN HERE CLOSE TO MacDILL.
MY MODEL FOR THAT, OF COURSE, IS AMES RESEARCH CENTER IN SAN JOSE, WHERE A LOT OF GOOD RESEARCH WAS DONE PROXIMAL TO STANFORD.
ANYWAY, THIS SHOWS -- THE LOCAL PRESS HAS FINALLY PICKED UP ON THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE SHOWING, LIKE, BAY AREA INCOMES ARE LOWER, WHICH IS BETTER THAN NOT AT ALL, ALL THESE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WORK, A WHOLE ROOMFUL OF THEM UP IN NEW JERSEY BECAUSE THEY RELIED ON GAMBLING.
SO THERE'S GOTTA BE DIVERSITY TO HAVE THE PIGGY BANK AFLOAT.
OKAY.
AS I SAY, I OFTEN SPEAK ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING, AND NOT MUCH GETS DONE DOWN HERE, BUT IN NEW YORK THEY'RE KIND OF CONCERNED BECAUSE THAT'S HOW FAR THE ICE WOULD GO, I SUPPOSE, YOU KNOW.
THERE'S A RECRUDESCENCE OF THE ICE AGE, AND THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF FLOODING.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE A QUARTER OF A MILLION CARS WERE TOTALED IN HURRICANE SANDRA, SO THEN YOU SAY, WELL, THAT'S SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THE THING IS THE SOLUTIONS ARE DOWN HERE, VOLTS AND HYBRIDS, AND THE THING IS ONE OF THE FELLOWS HERE TOOK THE BULL BY THE HORNS, AND HE BOUGHT HYBRIDS.
NOW, I DON'T THINK HYBRIDS PAY AS MUCH THAT THEY CAN BE OFFSET BY THE GASOLINE SAVINGS, BUT IT DOES HELP, AND IT DOES PAY IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $20,000 CARS.
I WOULD COMPARE IT WITH A FIESTA, ABOUT 14- TO 15,000, AND HAS -- YOU KNOW, VERY FUEL EFFICIENT.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. TILLOU.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
WELCOME, MR. McCALLISTER.
[LAUGHTER]
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
>>MARK SHARPE: ED AND I ARE GOOD FRIENDS.
ED AND I ARE GOOD FRIENDS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
SEE, WE HAVE THIS LITTLE CLOCK HERE.
THAT'S A BIG HELP HERE TO US.
I'M DAVID McCALLISTER, P.O. BOX 7343, WESLEY CHAPEL, FLORIDA, AND I COME HERE, AS YOU KNOW, TO ADVOCATE FOR APPRECIATION FOR LOCAL HISTORY AND VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE WAR-BETWEEN-THE-STATES PERIOD.
I WANTED -- I'M SORRY THEY LEFT, BUT I WANTED TO WELCOME THE OBSERVERS TODAY AND TELL THEM IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT SMOKE ALARM MONTH, BUT THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE FOLKS WHO WANT TO GET THEIR MESSAGES OUT AND RAISE AWARENESS.
REGARDING B-9 AND D-1, I WANTED TO START OFF BY REPEATING WHAT I SAID LAST MONTH, WHICH IS SUMMED UP BY THE PHRASE, IF YOU WANT RESPECT FOR THE RAINBOW FLAG, YOU MUST ALSO RESPECT THE CONFEDERATE FLAG.
OUT IN CALIFORNIA A VERY FOOLISH LAW WAS JUST PASSED BANNING THE SALE OF LITTLE SOUVENIR CONFEDERATE FLAGS IN THE STATE SOUVENIR SHOPS AT THEIR PARKS.
YOU KNOW, HOW UNCONSTITUTIONAL IS THAT?
HOW DISCRIMINATORY IS THAT?
HOW SHORTSIGHTED AND JUST STUPID IS THAT?
I HOPE THAT NEVER COMES TO FLORIDA.
BUT HERE IN FLORIDA, THE -- FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE AUGUSTA JANE EVANS WILSON CHAPTER 2640 OF THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY AND THE JUDAH P. BENJAMIN CAMP OF THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS WENT UP TO TAVARES THIS LAST WEEK IN LAKE COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RIFLES, RAILS, AND HISTORY EVENT, WHICH JUST PROVED THAT HISTORICAL TOURISM IS A REAL DRAW, EVEN IN POURING-DOWN RAIN, WHICH HAPPENED ALL OVER FLORIDA LAST WEEKEND.
BUT THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT TO SEE THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES' REENACTMENT AND LIVING HISTORY PORTRAYED.
WE'VE MISSED A CHANCE THIS YEAR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BY NOT HAVING THE 151st ANNIVERSARY REENACTMENT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER RAID, WHICH HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST FOR 20 YEARS AT THE HILLSBOROUGH VETERANS PARK.
I HOPE IT WILL COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND THAT YOU-ALL WILL SUPPORT IT.
AND, REALLY, THOSE OF YOU THAT REFUSED TO SIGN THE PROCLAMATION LAST YEAR FOR IT REALLY SENT A MESSAGE THAT YOU DIDN'T RESPECT HISTORY OR VETERANS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND WOULD RATHER PROMOTE A SELFISH AGENDA OF DISCRIMINATION RATHER THAN BE INCLUSIVE AND RECOGNIZE DIVERSITY.
AND I WANTED TO ALSO POINT OUT TO REBECCA THAT THE DIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETS TONIGHT.
WE'LL SEE IF THEY FULFILL THE MANDATE AND HOLD THIS COUNTY TO ITS MISSION STATEMENT THAT USED TO BE POSTED IN THIS CHAMBER ABOUT RESPECT FOR ALL CULTURES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. McCALLISTER.
APPRECIATE THAT, SIR.
THAT CLOSES PUBLIC HEARING.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE CONSENT.
>>MARK SHARPE: AND WE NEED TO MOVE CONSENT.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE CONSENT.
THAT WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
WHO'S OUR SECOND?
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: SECOND'S COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YES, COMMISSIONERS.
WE HAVE SOME TIME BEFORE YOUR 10:15 TIME CERTAIN, SO WE CAN TAKE SOME OF THE OTHER REGULAR ITEMS, BEGINNING WITH BUSINESS AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
TOM FESLER IS HERE FOR THESE ITEMS.
>>MARK SHARPE: MR. FESLER, WELCOME, SIR.
>>TOM FESLER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
TOM FESLER, BUSINESS AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
ITEM B-1 THIS MORNING IS ASKING YOU TO AWARD AND EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT FOR THE BRUCE B. DOWNS SEGMENT "A" ROADWAY RECONSTRUCTION TO PRINCE CONTRACTING, LLC, IN THE AMOUNT OF 36,148,000 FOR THE PUBLIC -- $148,000 FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THIS AWARD DOES HAVE A MINORITY PARTICIPATION GOAL OF 8.6%.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CRIST, AND THAT'S FOR ITEM B-1.
NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: B-2.
>>TOM FESLER: COMMISSIONERS ITEM B-2 IS ASKING YOU TO SELECT THE KCI TECHNOLOGIES AS THE MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED FIRM TO PERFORM SERVICES FOR BRUCE B. DOWNS, SOUTH BEARSS AVENUE TO SOUTH OF PALM SPRINGS BOULEVARD FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
IN ADDITION, IT'S ASKING YOU TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE THE AWARD FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENTS, WHICH RESULTED FROM NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TOP-RANKED FIRM IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,797,838.
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>MARK SHARPE: MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER CRIST.
COMMISSIONER CRIST, YOUR LIGHT'S ON.
WOULD YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM?
>>VICTOR CRIST: I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT WILL CERTAINLY GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING THE FOLKS OUT THERE IN NEW TAMPA BE ABLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITIES IN A MUCH SWIFTER AND SAFER WAY.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CRIST.
THAT MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER CRIST, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: B-3.
>>MIKE MERRILL: B-4.
>>MARK SHARPE: B-4.
>> BINGO.
>>TOM FESLER: COMMISSIONERS, ITEM B-4 IS ASKING YOU TO SELECT CUMBEY & FAIR, ELEMENT ENGINEERING GROUP, TBE GROUP, AIM ENGINEERING & SURVEYING, SURVTECH SOLUTIONS, STANTEC CONSULTING, BAYSIDE ENGINEERING, AND GEORGE F. YOUNG, INC., AS THE MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED FIRMS TO PERFORM SERVICES FOR PROFESSIONAL AND MISCELLANEOUS SURVEYING AND MAPPING SERVICES FOR THE GEOMATICS AREA OF THE REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT.
IN ADDITION, IT'S ALSO ASKING YOU TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENTS THAT RESULTED FROM NEGOTIATIONS IN THE TOP-RANKED FIRMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $400,000.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE].
>>KEN HAGAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
THAT'S FOR ITEM B-4.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES, BEGINNING WITH ITEM B-5.
>>MARK SHARPE: WELCOME, DOCTOR.
>>JACQUELYN JENKINS: GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
DR. JENKINS, HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START DIVISION UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES.
I'M HERE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE HEAD START 2014 STATE OF FLORIDA VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN STATEWIDE PROVIDER AGREEMENT WITH THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION, AND THIS IS TO OFFER CONTINUED SERVICES TO OUR CHILDREN FOR THE 2014/15 YEAR.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
THAT'S FOR ITEM B-5.
NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: B-6.
>>JACQUELYN JENKINS: B-6 IS TO APPROVE THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR PROGRAM OPERATING FUNDS FOR THE HEAD START DIVISION 2014-15 YEAR.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN FOR B-6.
NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: B-7.
>>JACQUELYN JENKINS: B-7, APPROVE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND LUTHERAN SERVICES FOR PROGRAM OPERATING FUNDS FOR THE HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM FOR 2014-15 PROGRAM YEAR.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
NO FURTHER COMMENT FOR B-7, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: ITEM B-8.
>>JACQUELYN JENKINS: B-8.
THIS IS TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND TAMPA METROPOLITAN AREA YMCA FOR EARLY HEAD START SERVICE FOR OUR PROGRAM OPERATING FUNDS FOR THE 2014-15 YEAR.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE -- SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
THAT'S FOR ITEM B-8.
NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, DR. JENKINS.
>>JACQUELYN JENKINS: THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: YES, MA'AM.
>>MIKE MERRILL: ITEM B-10, DO WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES?
AH, CARL.
>>MARK SHARPE: MR. HARNESS, WELCOME, SIR.
>>CARL HARNESS: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
ITEM B-10 IS BASICALLY SEEKING YOUR APPROVAL FOR AN AMENDMENT RESOLUTION TO CARRY OVER FUNDS TO THE '14-'15 YEAR FOR OUR RYAN WHITE PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,477,049, TO A TOTAL -- WHICH BRINGS US UP TO A TOTAL OF $8,606,202, AND THIS IS, AGAIN, CARRYOVER MONEY FOR OUR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE RYAN WHITE "A" PROGRAM.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MILLER FOR ITEM B-10, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>CARL HARNESS: THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, SIR.
>>MIKE MERRILL: AND ITEM B-14.
>>MARK SHARPE: B-14.
>>MIKE MERRILL: NOPE.
OKAY.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR ITEM G-2?
ADAM.
>>MARK SHARPE: MR. GORMLY, HOW YOU DOING, SIR?
>>ADAM GORMLY: DOING WELL.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
ADAM GORMLY WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
TODAY WE HAVE BEFORE YOU A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE COUNTY SITE DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED SOME CHANGES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR THAT PROVIDED A STANDARD THAT WE APPLY NOW FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR THEIR ON-SITE TRAFFIC QUEUING, AND THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT'S PROVIDED ON-SITE AND THE ROUTE THAT PARENTS OR PEOPLE DROPPING OFF CHILDREN WILL TAKE WHEN THEY'RE DROPPING OFF THEIR KIDS AT SCHOOL OR PICKING THEM UP.
WHAT WE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING, THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH SCHOOLS THAT WERE NOT PROVIDING ADEQUATE ON-SITE TRAFFIC QUEUING SPACE, AND THAT WAS CAUSING BACKUPS OF TRAFFIC ONTO THE ADJACENT STREETS AND CAUSING DISRUPTION IN THE TRAFFIC AROUND THE SCHOOLS.
WE ADOPTED A CODE AMENDMENT AT THE BOARD'S INITIATIVE TO REQUIRE A ENHANCED QUEUING THAT'S BASED ON THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL, SO WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO DO SPLIT SESSIONS OR WHETHER THEY'RE PLANNING ON DOING BUSING, WE'RE REQUIRING NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS COMING IN NOW TO PROVIDE ON-SITE TRAFFIC QUEUING TO ACCOMMODATE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT COULD BE DROPPED OFF THERE.
IN ADDITION, WE REQUIRE THAT THE SITES IDENTIFY EXTRACURRICULAR PARKING AREAS.
THESE ARE NOT STANDARD PAVED PARKING AREAS, BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT, WHERE WILL THEY PROVIDE THAT PARKING?
WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THESE CODE CHANGES CAME INTO EFFECT SOME CHANGES IN THE DESIGNS OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE COME IN.
SOME OF THEM HAVE COME IN AND OPENED, SOME OF THEM HAVE COME IN AND ARE IN THE DISCUSSION STAGES WITH US, BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH ALL OF THESE SCHOOLS IS IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH OUR REGULATIONS, THEY'RE HAVING TO CHANGE THEIR DESIGN AND DO AN ENHANCED QUEUING THAT IS, WE BELIEVE, EFFECTIVE OF MAKING SURE THAT THE SCHOOL IS ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAFFIC ON-SITE.
AS OF THIS POINT, WE'VE HAD, I BELIEVE, ONE SCHOOL OPEN THAT'S COME IN AND BEEN PERMITTED UNDER THE NEW QUEUING STANDARDS AND, THUS FAR, HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THAT SCHOOL, AND IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF QUEUING THAT WE'RE SEEING ON-SITE.
THIS IS A -- SORT OF A DESIGN THAT HASN'T BEEN PERMITTED BUT IS A DESIGN THAT THE PROFESSIONAL HAS COME IN AND DISCUSSED WITH COUNTY STAFF.
>>MARK SHARPE: GO AHEAD, SURE, PLEASE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. GORMLY.
>>ADAM GORMLY: SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE -- LET ME ORIENT THIS PROPERLY -- IS THE SCHOOL DESIGNED HERE IS SHOWING A LONGER EXTENDED QUEUING AREA, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE ON-SITE, AND TO A DEGREE, WHAT IS DRIVING IS THE BIGGER YOUR SCHOOL POPULATION, THE BIGGER STUDENT POPULATION, THE BIGGER SITE YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO ACCOMMODATE THAT SIMPLY TO JUST KEEP THE VEHICLES ON-SITE.
I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF THE BOARD HAS THEM.
ANY SCHOOL THAT'S COMING IN NOW IS REQUIRED TO MEET THESE NEW STANDARDS, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES, AND WE ALSO REQUIRE SCHOOLS THAT COME IN FOR PERMITTING, A SPECIAL USE APPROVAL FOR THE SCHOOL, NOT THE DESIGN OF THE SITE, TO DEMONSTRATE BEFORE THEY GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT THEY CAN AT LEAST MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS ON-SITE SO WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO A SITUATION WHERE A SCHOOL IS GETTING PERMITTED FOR A NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT THEY PHYSICALLY CAN'T ACCOMMODATE ON-SITE.
>>MARK SHARPE: RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
THANK YOU, ADAM.
GOOD REPORT, AND I'LL MOVE ACCEPTANCE OF THE REPORT.
A FEW COMMENTS.
WE'RE SEEING A PROLIFERATION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.
IT'S A HEADLINE IN THE NEWSPAPER, AND, OF COURSE, I THINK FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AS REGULAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR SITING.
THEY -- AND IT KIND OF -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY DEPENDENT ON CAR TRAFFIC COMING TO THEIR SCHOOL.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BUSING AND SCHOOL BUSES THAT BRING THE CHILDREN THERE.
SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE -- AND TWO PARTICULAR SITUATIONS IN MY DISTRICT WHERE CARS COULD NOT GET OUT -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SITING SCHOOLS ON VERY SMALL PIECES OF LAND AND -- NEAR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GETTING HAMSTRUNG OF BEING ABLE TO GET OUT AND GET TO WORK AND -- IN THE MORNINGS DURING THOSE TIMES.
SO I THINK THIS GOES A LONG WAY TO CREATING A GOOD STANDARD, GOOD PARKING STANDARD FOR THESE SCHOOLS.
THIS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS SAFEGUARD WILL GO A LONG WAY TO REALLY HELPING NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS BUT THE PEOPLE ATTENDING THESE SCHOOLS BE IN A SAFER ENVIRONMENT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.
>>ADAM GORMLY: THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: [INAUDIBLE]
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
NO FURTHER COMMENT FOR G-2, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. GORMLY.
>>ADAM GORMLY: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANKS ADAM.
WE CAN GO BACK AND PICK UP ITEM B-14, SOCIAL SERVICES.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
>>AUDREY ZIEGLER: GOOD MORNING.
AUDREY ZIEGLER, SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT FOR THE PERIOD OF
OCTOBER 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30th, 2015, IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.3 MILLION.
THERE IS NO MATCH REQUIRED FOR THESE FUNDS.
THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THIS GRANT COMPLEMENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ALREADY OFFERED BY SOCIAL SERVICES.
WE ADDRESS SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, HOMELESS PREVENTION, CRISIS INTERVENTION, TRANSPORTATION, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>LES MILLER, JR.: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
THIS IS STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO ITEM B-14.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>AUDREY ZIEGLER: THANK YOU.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU, AUDREY.
THANK YOU.
AND ITEM G-3, HUMAN RESOURCES, A REPORT REGARDING YOUTH SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
>>MARK SHARPE: FABULOUS.
WELCOME.
>>LORI KRIECK: GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS.
>>MARK SHARPE: GOOD MORNING.
>>LORI KRIECK: LORI KRIECK, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
THIS REPORT IS A RESPONSE TO COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S REQUEST FOR STAFF TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING A SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST APOLOGIZE TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE DELAY IN RESPONDING TO AND FINALIZING THIS REPORT.
I AM PLEASED, HOWEVER, TO RESPOND AND REPORT THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED THE PROGRAM THAT THE SHERIFF INTRODUCED THIS PAST SUMMER, AND IT WAS EXECUTED VERY WELL AND WELL ORGANIZED.
THIS REPORT OUTLINES THE STEPS AND DETAILS NECESSARY FOR STAFF TO CREATE A PROGRAM AND ESTABLISH CRITERIA.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT COUNTY STAFF CAN DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SUCCESSFUL BOCC-SPONSORED PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE SHERIFF'S FOR THE SUMMER OF 2015; HOWEVER, THIS INITIATIVE IS NOT FUNDED FOR FY 15.
STAFF HAS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT OPTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU, LORI, FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO GET OFF TO A GOOD START.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO START SMALL WITH JUST TEN PARTICIPANTS.
I WILL HOPE THAT YOU'LL BRING BACK TO US MORE OR LESS AN OUTLINE OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR AN INTERN THAT'S GOING TO BE HERE AND WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO BE USED, AND I GUESS ALSO HOW WE'RE GOING TO SCREEN THE CANDIDATES TO SEE WHICH ONES ARE PICKED.
NOT THAT WE'RE GOING TO PICK THEM, I THINK YOU CAN, BUT MAYBE YOU COULD LET US KNOW.
BUT I THINK THIS IS GOING TO GO SUCH A LONG WAY TO ENGAGE OUR YOUTH IN, YOU KNOW, THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE COUNTY CENTER AND START TO GET THE WHEELS TURNING.
MAYBE THEY'LL FIND AN AREA THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, LIKE PUBLIC UTILITIES OR TRANSPORTATION OR PLANNING OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DO HERE, AND IT MIGHT REALLY OPEN THE DOOR TO A CHILD CHOOSING THEIR FUTURE OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL COME BACK.
I THINK THIS PROGRAM WILL GO A LONG WAY TO EDUCATE, NOT JUST OUR YOUTH ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS, BUT MAYBE IT WILL HELP LURE THEM BACK TO TAMPA TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY HERE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THIS, THE MAYOR TALKS ABOUT IT AD NAUSEAM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HE DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE HIS DAUGHTERS TO NORTH CAROLINA.
WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST ONE PERSON, THIS IS -- WE HAVE SO MANY STUDENTS HERE, WE HAVE 100,000 STUDENTS HERE EVERY SINGLE YEAR IN USF, AT HCC, AT UT, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES, BUT LET'S START IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND MAYBE THEY'LL GO TO SCHOOL HERE AND END UP STAYING HERE AND WORKING HERE, SO I THINK THAT THIS IS -- WE WANT THIS TO BE REALLY SUCCESSFUL, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THIS IS GOING TO BRING TO US AND TO THE COUNTY AND REALLY GETTING OUR 16- TO 18-YEAR-OLDS INVOLVED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, BECAUSE WE SEE THE BENEFITS OF THEIR WISDOM.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALWAYS MATURE, BUT WE -- WE REALLY SEE THAT IT WILL GET US A LONG WAY.
SO THANK YOU, AND I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.
>>MARK SHARPE: SO THE AGE IS 16 TO 18?
>>LORI KRIECK: THAT IS OUR PROPOSAL, YES.
>>MARK SHARPE: AND WHERE -- WHO WILL YOU BE TARGETING AND WHAT -- OBVIOUSLY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
>>LORI KRIECK: PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ACTUALLY, WE WOULD OPEN IT TO ANY 16- TO 18-YEAR-OLDS WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
AND THAT'S PART OF OUR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS TO COME UP WITH CRITERIA AND WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES TO DEVELOP THAT CRITERIA AND WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS OFFICE AS WELL.
>>MARK SHARPE: ONE AREA WHERE I THINK YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK, WE ACTUALLY HIRED A -- I THINK HE WAS 17 AT THE TIME, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY YOUNG MAN THAT CAME TO WORK FOR A CARDIOVASCULAR GROUP THAT WAS LOOKING FOR SOME COMPUTER HELP, AND THEY WENT THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT CONSULTING AGENCIES, AND NO ONE COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
THIS YOUNG MAN KEPT SAYING, I CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM; I CAN SOLVE -- HIS NAME WAS VICTOR MUSSO.
I'M GOING TO ADVERTISE HIM.
HE WAS EXCELLENT.
HE'S MUCH OLDER NOW.
BUT HE WAS PHENOMENAL.
HE CAME IN, AND HE ACTUALLY WASN'T JUST AN INTERN HERE, BUT HE CAME IN AND HELPED US SOLVE THE PROBLEM, SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL LOOK TO I.T. AS WELL --
>>LORI KRIECK: ABSOLUTELY.
>>MARK SHARPE: -- BECAUSE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE --
>>LORI KRIECK: WE'RE GOING TO ASK --
>>MARK SHARPE: -- ARE REALLY --
>>LORI KRIECK: ALL DEPARTMENTS TO PARTICIPATE AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK OF WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
>>MARK SHARPE: OUTSTANDING.
GREAT.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN FOR G-3.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANKS, LORI.
>>LORI KRIECK: THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: WE CAN TAKE OUR TWO ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT.
A-1 WAS REMOVED FROM CONSENT BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
THAT'S TERMINATING THE IN-HOME SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH AMERICAN SENIORS ASSOCIATION FOR NONPERFORMANCE.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU, MR. MERRILL.
I JUST WANTED STAFF TO COME FORTH AND, WITHIN LEGAL PARAMETERS, GIVE A REASON OF WHY THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT WAS REQUESTING TO BE TERMINATED AT THIS POINT.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>>TRACY GOGICHAISHVILI: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
TRACY GOGICHAISHVILI, THE DIRECTOR FOR AGING SERVICES.
I'M GOING TO, JUST FOR CONSISTENCY AND TO ENSURE I'M 100% ACCURATE IN HOW I PRESENT THIS, JUST READ DIRECTLY TO YOU WHAT WE PROVIDED TO THE VENDOR AS THE REASON FOR THE TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT.
WE STATE, AMERICAN SENIORS, INC., SUBMITTED TIMESHEETS TO THE AGING SERVICES DEPARTMENT CERTIFYING SEVEN DATES WHERE CONTRACT SERVICES WERE RENDERED TO AN AGING SERVICES CLIENT.
ROUTINE MONITORING OF VENDOR BILLING RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE CLIENT, IN FACT, DID NOT RECEIVE THE SERVICES BILLED ON THE TIMESHEETS IN QUESTION.
OUR DECISION GOES BEYOND THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS DOWN TO CLIENT SAFETY AND WELL-BEING.
WE NEED TO BE CERTAIN BEYOND REASONABLE -- REASONABLE CONFIDENCE THAT OUR VENDORS ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES TO THE CLIENTS THAT WE HAVE REFERRED SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND WELL-BEING.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS, I ASKED THAT THEY BRING -- COME FORTH TO GIVE A VERBAL EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN RECEIVING E-MAILS FROM THIS VENDOR, AND IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE TESTY IN THE E-MAILS, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT STAFF WAS DOING HERE AND WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR WHY THEY'RE REQUESTING THIS CONTRACT TO BE TERMINATED.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THANK STAFF FOR COMING FORTH, AND I MOVE THE ADOPTION OF A-1.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR A-1 BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER, FOR GIVING STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC ON THIS ISSUE.
YOU DID A FINE JOB.
THANK YOU, MA'AM.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU, TRACY.
ITEM A-18 WAS PULLED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
THIS IS THE ITEM TO SCHEDULE AND ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE REGARDING UNDERGROUNDING OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE THIS ITEM FORWARD, BUT I DO WANT TO ASK THAT WE DO -- A GROUP OF CITIZENS FROM DANA SHORES CAME TO US, AND THEY WANTED TO UNDERGROUND THEIR UTILITIES.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TECO.
TECO'S BEEN IN AGREEMENT.
IT'S NOT -- THERE'S NOTHING CONTENTIOUS GOING ON, NOTHING, BUT THEY WANTED US TO HELP THEM FIND A WAY, THROUGH THIS MSBU TO, I GUESS, HELP ASSESS THEMSELVES, TO HELP PAY FOR THE UTILITY, UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.
IN LOOKING THIS OVER AND TALKING WITH MIKE MERRILL, THAT I REALLY FELT THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO DEVELOP A POLICY, SO IT'S -- I WANT TO APPROVE THE ITEM TODAY, BUT I WANT IT TO INCLUDE DEVELOPING A POLICY AND BRINGING IT BACK TO THE BOARD BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, IT COULD COME BACK AS A FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR THE COUNTY, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WANT TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AN UNFUNDED MANDATE ON US THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PREPARE FOR, UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY, AND SO I -- I THINK WE'RE GOING A LONG WAY IN HELPING CITIZENS.
ACTUALLY, THIS PROGRAM, IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, WILL BE A MODEL.
I KNOW THE CITY OF TAMPA WOULD LIKE TO, I THINK, ENGAGE IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND THEY'RE WATCHING THIS VERY CAREFULLY, BUT I DO THINK WE'RE GOING A LONG WAY, AGAIN, TO HELP OUR CITIZENS FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND -- BUT I DO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A POLICY THAT WILL ELIMINATE ANY COUNTY RISK THAT WE MIGHT HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM AND KEEP THE MECHANISM INTACT FOR THE CITIZENS TO USE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO PAY FOR THESE DESIRED SERVICES.
SO I WANT TO ADD THAT TO THE ITEM UP FOR APPROVAL.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MURMAN, FOR THOSE COMMENTS, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY LARGER CONCERNS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT CERTAINLY WILL BENEFIT OUR RESIDENTS FOR THOSE THAT ARE LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR GENERAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY POWER LINE ISSUES HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A WHILE, AND SO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PUT THOSE IN -- UNDERGROUND IN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE IMPORTANT; HOWEVER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY CAREFULLY CONSIDER, AS COMMISSIONER MURMAN HAD MENTIONED, IS MINIMIZING THE RISK TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE THERE MAY BE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND HAVE THE EXPECTATION THAT COUNTY -- THAT THE COUNTY PAYS FOR ALL THE STUDIES JUST TO FIND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT MAY COST THE RESIDENTS A LOT MORE MONEY THAN WHAT THEY HAD ANTICIPATED, SO I WOULD LIKE STAFF TO ADDRESS HOW WE MINIMIZE THE RISK TO THE COUNTY FINANCIALLY THROUGH HAVING TO DO ALL THESE STUDIES THAT MAY NEVER, EVER BE IMPLEMENTED AND HOW WE CAN PUT SOMETHING, AGAIN, EFFECTIVE FOR THE -- FOR OUR CITIZENS BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS HAVE MINIMAL RISK AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, THAT WAS, I THINK, IN MY COMMENTS THAT I SAID, SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>KEVIN BECKNER: [INAUDIBLE]
>>MARK SHARPE: BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
NO FURTHER COMMENT TO ITEM A-18, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OH, CAN I -- I REALLY WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS.
>>MARK SHARPE: ABSOLUTELY.
YES, MA'AM.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I'M SO SORRY TO INTERRUPT, I USUALLY -- BUT BONNIE WISE AND YOUR STAFF AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN EXHAUSTIVE MEETINGS ON THIS ISSUE, IN ADDITION TO OTHER ISSUES YOU'RE IN EXHAUSTIVE MEETINGS FOR, BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, BONNIE.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES BEFORE YOUR TIME CERTAIN.
JOHN LYONS CAN COME UP AND GIVE YOU A SHORT BRIEFING ON OUR EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THE RAIN AND STORMWATER ISSUES.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. LYONS.
CAN YOU SLOW THE RAIN DOWN A LITTLE BIT MAYBE?
>>JOHN LYONS: DOING A LOT OF HOPING AND PRAYING, BUT THE WEATHER FORECAST LOOKS BETTER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WHICH IS GOOD.
GOOD MORNING.
JOHN LYONS, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
COMMISSIONERS, OVER THE LAST -- SINCE FRIDAY EVENING, WE'VE ENCOUNTERED A LOT OF RAINFALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
OUR SEPTEMBER RAINFALL TOTALS AT OUR THREE SERVICE UNITS AVERAGED PROBABLY ABOUT 14 TO 15 INCHES OF RAIN WHERE A NORMAL SEPTEMBER IS ABOUT SIX INCHES OF RAIN.
OBVIOUSLY, IT OVERWHELMS THE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
WE HAVE RIVERINE FLOODING GOING ON ON THE LITTLE MANATEE AND THE ALAFIA RIVER, WHICH AFFECTS FOLKS ALONG THAT AREA.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY HOMES THAT HAVE FLOODED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IN THE NORTHWEST, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE MANY CHAINS OF LAKES THAT -- ONE LAKE IS DEPENDENT UPON THE OTHER DOWNSTREAM OF HAVING SOME ROOM TO MOVE WATER TO, SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SWFWMD, YOU KNOW, PUMPING AS WE CAN, OPENING GATES UP, TRYING TO GET THE WATER OUT.
YOU KNOW, TIME IS OUR FRIEND ON THIS WITHOUT RAIN.
NOW, WE HAVE HAD SOME ROAD CLOSURES IN CERTAIN AREAS WHERE THE ROADS HAVE FLOODED DURING SOME OF THESE INTENSE RAINFALLS.
FOR THE MOST PART, EVERYTHING IS PRETTY MUCH BACK OPEN.
WE DO HAVE TEMPLE TERRACE HIGHWAY WITH AN ISSUE OUT THERE THAT WE'LL BE INVESTIGATING FURTHER.
ALSO, LOOKING AT OUR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- WHEN WE DO GET DRY WEATHER THAT WE JUMP ALL OVER IT AND GET DITCHES CLEANED AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. LYONS.
>>JOHN LYONS: YOU'RE WELCOME.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU, JOHN.
I THINK WE CAN TAKE OUR 10:15 TIME CERTAIN.
IT'S ITEM B-12.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXTENSION OF THE LEASE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND FLORIDA HOSPITAL.
I DID MOVE THIS TO REGULAR.
I DO -- I DO SUPPORT THIS ITEM ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
I'VE SPENT TIME TOURING THE NEW FLORIDA HOSPITAL FACILITIES.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
I THINK THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF FLORIDA HOSPITAL HERE.
>>MARK SHARPE: THERE ARE.
>>MIKE MERRILL: BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ITEM.
IT DOESN'T CAUSE US TO INCUR ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSE.
THERE'S NO LIABILITY TO US, BUT IT IS EXTENDING THE LEASE SIGNIFICANTLY TO ENABLE THE HOSPITAL TO REALLY BE ENSURED THAT THEY CAN PAY FOR ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY'VE BEEN INCURRING.
ALSO, THIS WILL FORMALIZE THE EXISTENCE OF OUR FIRE RESCUE FACILITY AT THE HOSPITAL, WHICH HAS BEEN THERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT NEVER OFFICIALLY ADDRESSED IN THE LEASE, SO NOW THAT'S ADDRESSED, AND, OF COURSE, FLORIDA HOSPITAL IS A GREAT PARTNER, PROVIDING INDIGENT CARE SERVICES IN THEIR EMERGENCY ROOM, SO WITH THAT, JOSH, I PROBABLY SAID EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY, BUT SINCE I WAS THE ONE WHO MOVED IT, I JUST WANTED YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT I DO ENDORSE IT HIGHLY, AND THOSE ARE THE REASONS WHY.
ANYBODY FROM FLORIDA HOSPITAL WHO WANTS TO SPEAK?
MIKE SCHULTZ IS HERE.
>>MARK SHARPE: MIKE SCHULTZ IS THE REGIONAL PRESIDENT FOR FLORIDA HOSPITAL.
DO YOU CARE TO SPEAK, SIR?
>> [INAUDIBLE] QUESTIONS.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YOU GOOD?
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, SIR.
WELCOME, JOSH.
>>JOSHUA BELLOTTI: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
THANKS.
JOSH BELLOTTI, REAL ESTATE AND FACILITIES SERVICES.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD BEYOND WHAT MIKE ALREADY EXPLAINED, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: CHAIRMAN SHARPE, PLEASE PUSH YOUR --
>>MARK SHARPE: I'M ABSTAINING.
I NEVER PUSHED THAT ONE BEFORE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
CHAIRMAN SHARPE ABSTAINED.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
I'VE NEVER PUSHED THE YELLOW BUTTON BEFORE.
>>MIKE MERRILL: WE ARE AHEAD OF OURSELVES HERE, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, SO WE COULD TAKE ITEM B-13.
ARE THERE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HERE?
>> YES.
>>MIKE MERRILL: OKAY.
SO I GUESS WE'D HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND WAIVE AND --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: MOVE TO WAIVE THE RULES AND TAKE UP B-13 OUT OF ORDER.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: GREAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN FOR B-13.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: GO AHEAD, JOSH.
I WON'T DO IT THIS TIME FOR YOU.
>>JOSHUA BELLOTTI: THANKS, MIKE.
OKAY.
ITEM B-13 IS FOR PURCHASE OF TWO OFFICE BUILDINGS IN THE PINEBROOKE BUSINESS PARK, TOTALING 91,000 SQUARE FEET, FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT A PURCHASE PRICE OF $8.7 MILLION, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY TWO SEPARATE APPRAISALS.
THE COUNTY HAS PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED ANOTHER OFFICE BUILDING IN THIS BUSINESS PARK IN 2006, WHICH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CURRENTLY USES AS A TRAINING CENTER.
THE PURCHASE OF THESE TWO BUILDINGS WAS REQUESTED IN ORDER TO MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE EXPANSION NEEDS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
COUNTY AGENCIES HAD BEEN ATTENDANCE IN THESE BUILDINGS FOR OVER TEN YEARS AND HAVE RECENTLY VACATED THEM AND MOVED INTO OTHER COUNTY-OWNED BUILDINGS.
THE PURCHASE OF THESE BUILDINGS WILL RESULT IN A LEASE COST SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY $400,000 ANNUALLY.
THE APPROVED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR THIS ACQUISITION IS BUDGETED TO COVER THE INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE AS WELL AS PROGRAMMED UPGRADES TO THE BUILDING'S ROOFING, HVAC, AND ANTERIOR FOLLOWING THE ACQUISITION.
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN -- SORRY -- FOR ITEM B-13.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
COMMISSIONER MILLER.
OH, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: NOW.
>>MARK SHARPE: NOW, COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: EXCUSE ME, SIR, ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING IN THIS ROOM?
[LAUGHTER]
IT'S ABOUT TO SNOW.
[LAUGHTER]
>>JOSHUA BELLOTTI: UNDERSTOOD.
WE'LL --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: IT WAS FINE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ARCTIC CAME IN.
>>MIKE MERRILL: I THINK I SAW THE TEMPERATURE FAIRY COME THROUGH HERE EARLIER --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: IS THAT WHAT IT WAS?
>>MIKE MERRILL: -- AND CHANGE IT.
JOSH WAS HERE EARLIER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: CAN YOU CATCH THAT FAIRY AND TELL HER TO COME BACK AND TURN -- IT'S COLD.
>>JOSH BELLOTTI: OKAY, COMMISSIONER.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.
>>JOSH BELLOTTI: THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: CAN'T ESCAPE THAT FAST.
>>MIKE MERRILL: GET OUT YOUR EQUIPMENT, JOSH, AND SCOPE IT OUT.
IT'S WINTER.
WINTER'S COMING.
>>MARK SHARPE: YEAH, I'M READY.
I'M READY FOR IT, MAN.
>>MIKE MERRILL: SO WE CAN ALSO WAIVE THE RULES AND GO TO G-1, IF YOU'D LIKE.
IT'S A --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: MOVE TO WAIVE THE RULES, TAKE UP G-1.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES FOR G-1 BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: I DON'T NEED TO -- DID STAFF JUST WANT TO --
>>MARK SHARPE: OH, YOU JUST WANT TO -- OKAY.
FINE.
OKAY.
GREAT.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: COMMISSIONER CRIST.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
AND SO WE'LL BE TAKING UP --
>>MIKE MERRILL: YEAH, DEXTER'S HERE.
>>MARK SHARPE: DEXTER, WELCOME.
AND COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: NO, I DON'T KNOW, DEXTER, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY OPENING REMARKS, YOU KNOW, ON THE REPORT.
>>DEXTER BARGE: DEXTER BARGE, ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THE REPORT IS THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARD PRIVATIZATION OF THE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE CONTACTED OVER 36 CITIES THAT ARE USING THIS PARTICULAR COMPANY.
WE'VE RECEIVED 20 COMMENTS BACK, AND ALL WERE VERY, VERY FAVORABLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE.
THE CONTRACT WILL BE -- THE CONTRACTOR WILL IDENTIFY NAMES OF MORTGAGEES, AGENTS, OWNERS, PROPERTIES THAT HAVE FILED FOR FORECLOSURES.
THIS INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY IN AN ELECTRONIC FORMAT.
WE WILL IDENTIFY THOSE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEGUN THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS, AND THE CONTRACTORS WILL THEN CONTACT THE MORTGAGEES DIRECTLY TO VERIFY ANY PERTINENT INFORMATION.
REQUESTMENT OF THE FEES IS -- THIS IS TYPICALLY DONE THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC -- ELECTRONICALLY WITH LENDING INSTITUTIONS, AND IN THE CASE WHERE A MORTGAGEE REFUSES TO REGISTER, PROPERTY WILL HANDLE THAT UNDER OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD PROCESS.
IT'S MOVING ALONG FINE.
I THINK THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH A RESOLUTION TO INCREASE THE FEES FROM $100 TO $200.
PROCUREMENT IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO FINALIZE THE CONTRACT, SO WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE BY THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS.
>>KEN HAGAN: I WAS JUST GOING TO THANK DEXTER FOR HIS WORK ON THIS.
YEARS AGO I WAS THE BOARD MEMBER WHO CHAMPIONED CREATING THIS PROGRAM.
IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE BENEFITS TO PRIVATIZING THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'LL VASTLY EXPAND THE SCOPE, WHICH ULTIMATELY WILL MEAN ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE COUNTY AS WELL, SO I'M GOING TO MOVE TO ACCEPT THE REPORT, ASK THAT YOU COME BACK WITH THE NECESSARY ORDINANCE CHANGES, AMENDING THE FEE, AND THEN ALSO GIVE CHIP ANY DIRECTION THAT HE NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD ON PIGGYBACKING THE PROGRAM WITH HERNANDO COUNTY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
THAT'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN FOR ITEM G-1.
THAT WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. BARGE.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANKS, DEXTER.
AND WAIVE THE RULES FOR B-11?
>>LES MILLER, JR.: MOVE TO WAIVE THE RULES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN TO WAIVE THE RULES FOR B-11.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
>>MIKE MERRILL: AND BRANDON WAGNER IS HERE FOR THIS ITEM.
>>MARK SHARPE: YES.
>>BRANDON WAGNER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
BRANDON WAGNER, OPERATIONS AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR THE COUNTY.
BEFORE YOU IS THE 2015 PROPOSED STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS.
WE HAVE MET WITH YOUR OFFICES.
WE'VE ALSO MET INDEPENDENTLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, ADMINISTRATION AND LEADERSHIP.
APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK THEY'VE GIVEN US AND IDEAS THEY'VE GIVEN US FOR THINGS WE NEED HERE AT THE COUNTY.
I WANT TO PARTICULARLY THANK MY STAFF, JEAN MORGAN, ROBERT SALMON, ELIZABETH PYTLIK FOR ALL THEIR WORK IN HELPING TO COMPILE THIS INFORMATION.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE JEFF HARTLEY, WHO'S HERE REPRESENTING SMITH, BRYAN & MYERS, WHO'S OUR STATE CONTRACT TEAM.
REMEMBER, THIS IS YOUR FEDERAL -- STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAM, SO ANY CHANGES THAT YOU SEE FIT TO MAKE AS WE PROCEED FORWARD, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE.
WE'LL ALSO BRING BACK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADJUSTMENTS.
AS SESSION PROCEEDS, ISSUES COME AND GO, AND WE'LL GET YOUR FEEDBACK AND GUIDANCE, AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT US.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE IN PUTTING TOGETHER THIS LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.
I REVIEWED IT.
WE HAVE A MONUMENTAL TASK COMING UP IN THIS NEXT SESSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF NEW MEMBERS THERE.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK ON JEFF'S PART WITH HIS STAFF TO GET NEW LEGISLATORS UP TO PAR ON WHAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT'S ALL ABOUT, ESPECIALLY A COUNTY GOVERNMENT LIKE OURS THAT HAVE PUT FORTH THE PROGRAMS AND THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND I'M QUITE SURE THAT ALL OF US UP HERE, IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP OUT DURING THIS PROCESS, PLEASE LET US KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME VITALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS YEAR, AND WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, BUT YOU'VE GOT YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU.
>>BRANDON WAGNER: WE DO.
WE'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THE OFFER.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I DO SAY IT'S TIME TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR WORK, BRANDON.
YOU DO A LOT FOR THE COUNTY.
YOU DO A LOT BEHIND THE SCENES THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU DO DO, AND YOU DO IT WELL.
WE APPRECIATE YOU HERE.
WE KNOW IT'S A TOUGH JOB AND YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO WIN, BUT THE EFFORTS THAT YOU PUT FORTH ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY, THEY SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOU.
>>BRANDON WAGNER: THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CRIST.
COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I KNOW JEFF HARTLEY IS HERE.
>>BRANDON WAGNER: YES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I WANT TO SAY PUBLICLY, JEFF, YOU TOTALLY STEPPED UP YOUR GAME THIS LAST SESSION.
I -- THAT IS THE MOST INVOLVED -- REALLY, THE INCREASED ACTIVITY WAS NOTICED BY ALL, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE NET RESULTS THAT WE GOT BACK HERE AT THE COUNTY WERE EVIDENT OF YOUR EFFORTS.
I JUST -- I WAS VERY, VERY WELL PLEASED, AND I KNOW OUR CONTRACT IS NOT VERY BIG, BUT I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT FORWARD FOR US BECAUSE I KNOW THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT IGT, WE'VE GOT MEDICAID ISSUES, SOME REALLY MAJOR ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE PLATE THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT THIS COUNTY, ESPECIALLY EFFORTS TO DECREASE PROPERTY TAXES.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR, AND LIKE I SAID, I'LL BE AVAILABLE TOO, ALL OF US WILL BE.
>>BRANDON WAGNER: WELL SAID.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: AND I WANT TO AS WELL CONGRATULATE YOU.
I'VE NEVER -- WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A GOOD TEAM.
I'VE FELT THAT WE'VE HAD A GOOD PROGRAM SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT I WILL ECHO THE WORDS OF COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
I'VE JUST SEEN JUST A REALLY GOOD SENSE FROM YOUR TEAM OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE ON ANY OF THE ISSUES, NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE A COMMAND OF THE ISSUES, THE BILL ITSELF, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING INTERNALLY, THINGS THAT SOMETIMES WE NEED TO KNOW.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE -- YOU ALL ARE A STEP AHEAD, AND THE COUNTY, ONE OF THE LARGEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE, IS VERY WELL SERVED BY WHAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT TOGETHER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN NEXT SESSION.
>>BRANDON WAGNER: IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING.
AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS.
IT IS THIS WHOLE TEAM, ROBERT, BETH, JEAN, AND CINDY FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND JEFF HARTLEY HERE AT THE STATE, IT IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, AND WE APPRECIATE IT, AND YOUR EFFORTS AND PARTICIPATION HAVE BEEN MONUMENTAL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THE LEGISLATORS SEE THE WORK OF THIS COMMISSION, THEY RESPECT WHAT YOU DO, AND SO THAT PROCESS HAS HELPED MAKE THE RELATIONSHIP MUCH STRONGER AND OUR ARGUMENT MUCH MORE CREDIBLE, SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AS WELL.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, BRANDON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO WE HAVE TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, AND THAT'S FOR ITEM B-11.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>BRANDON WAGNER: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU, BRANDON.
>>MARK SHARPE: MR. -- COMM --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: BRANDON.
BRANDON.
>>MARK SHARPE: SHE'S 'NOT HAPPY WITH THE THERMOSTAT.
SHE WANTS TO SEE IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.
[LAUGHTER]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YEAH.
HOW MUCH IS THEIR CONTRACT?
>>BRANDON WAGNER: $72,000.
>>MARK SHARPE: WOW!
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I HOPE YOU-ALL REALIZE WHAT VALUE WE'RE GETTING.
THAT IS VERY, VERY SMALL COMPARED -- AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE APPROPRIATIONS ISSUES WE GOT THIS YEAR AND THE RESULT, I MEAN, I -- I WOULD NOT MIND REEVALUATING, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT MORE TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS FROM THEM, MANAGED LANES, BUS MONEY.
I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT.
I'M NOT ONE TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SPEND MORE DOLLARS, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE VALUE FOR WHAT WE'RE GETTING AND WHAT THE ACTUAL CONTRACT IS, AND I DO THINK IT'S PROBABLY TOO SMALL.
>>MARK SHARPE: IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT COMING UP IN THIS 2015 AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD HAVE 2015-2016, REALLY, AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL AND THE WORK THAT'S GOING TO GO BETWEEN THE TWO, I THINK IT'S A WISE CONVERSATION TO HAVE AT SOME POINT.
I'M NOT -- MR. MERRILL.
>>MIKE MERRILL: ACTUALLY, WE DID PUT AN ADDITIONAL 50,000 INTO THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR FOR --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OH, YOU DID?
>>MIKE MERRILL: YEAH.
>>MARK SHARPE: EXCELLENT.
>>BRANDON WAGNER: UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH SMITH, BRYAN & MYERS AND WITH ALCADE AND FAY, WHO WE PAY THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO, WE HAVE A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THREE AUTOMATIC ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS AT ADMINISTRATION'S DISCRETION.
WE EXERCISED THAT THIRD AUTOMATIC EXTENSION FOR THIS YEAR, SO WE WILL GO TO AN RFP FOR A NEW -- FOR BOTH FIRMS NEXT SUMMER, SO THAT WILL BE THE TIME IN WHICH WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT RATES.
>>MARK SHARPE: EXCELLENT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GOOD.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.
YOU'RE ON TOP OF IT.
THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU, BRANDON.
AND MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES FOR ITEM F-1.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES BY COMMISSIONER MILLER FOR F-1, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: AND WE WILL DO B-3 AS A COMPANION FOR THIS AS WELL.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONER HAGAN'S ITEM.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR KEEPING THE RAYS IN TAMPA BAY FOR THE LONG-TERM.
I BELIEVE, AND I KNOW THAT YOU DO AS WELL, THAT IT IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE FROM BOTH ECONOMIC AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE PERSPECTIVES THAT THE RAYS REMAIN IN TAMPA BAY.
SIMPLY STATED, THE CURRENT FACILITY IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM OPTION FOR THE RAYS.
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER THE RAYS ULTIMATELY RELOCATE, BUT IT'S WHEN AND WHERE.
THAT IS WHY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, I HAVE DOGGED THIS ISSUE IN AN ATTEMPT TO BE METHODICAL, YET PROACTIVE IN OUR PURSUIT OF FACILITATING A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO ENSURE THE RAYS REMAIN IN OUR REGION.
COMMISSIONERS, LAST YEAR THE RAYS SPOKE WITH THIS BOARD REGARDING THEIR LONG-TERM GOALS, PLANS, AND NEEDS.
THE DISCUSSION WAS BROAD -- WAS IN BROAD, GENERAL TERMS DUE TO LIMITATIONS OF THEIR USE AGREEMENT WITH ST. PETE AND CANDIDLY THREATS OF SPURIOUS LITIGATION.
THE RAYS HAVE CONSISTENTLY STATED THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER LOCATIONS OUTSIDE PINELLAS COUNTY AND HAVE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO AMEND THEIR USE AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THE TEAM TO AT LEAST CONSIDER SITES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
AT THE TIME OF OUR LAST DISCUSSION, I STATED THAT THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE FOR US TO ASSEMBLE A GROUP WHO WOULD BE TASKED WITH MEETING AND NEGOTIATING WITH THE RAYS WHEN THAT -- WHEN AN AGREEMENT IS ULTIMATELY REACHED.
I DID NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSAL AT THAT TIME BECAUSE NOTHING SUGGESTED THAT A -- THAT AN AGREEMENT WAS REMOTELY CLOSE.
SINCE THEN, MAYOR KRISEMAN HAS BEEN ELECTED, AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNICATION CHANNELS HAVE DRAMATICALLY CHANGED IN ST. PETE.
HAVING MET WITH MAYOR KRISEMAN, I CAN SAY, WITHOUT QUESTION, HE HAS A VASTLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN HIS PREDECESSOR.
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT
ST. PETE AND THE RAYS HAVE HAD PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOAL OF REACHING AN AGREEMENT, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE RAYS TO CONSIDER STADIUM LOCATIONS OUTSIDE OF PINELLAS COUNTY.
IN FACT, AS RECENTLY AS TUESDAY IN THE TIMES, THE STORY THERE REAFFIRMED THIS, STATING THAT MAYOR KRISEMAN AND MATT SILVERMAN MET ON FRIDAY IN THE LATEST OF A SERIES OF GOOD MEETINGS.
IT QUOTES MAYOR KRISEMAN'S CHIEF OF STAFF SAYING, NOW THAT THE SEASON'S OVER, THEY CAN HAVE MORE MEETINGS, MORE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS, AND IT CONCLUDED BY SAYING CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT A DEAL CAN BE REACHED BY YEAR'S END.
THE SEASON IS OVER, AND THE -- AND THE -- AGAIN, THE RAYS HAD THE WORST RECORD IN BASEBALL -- WORST ATTENDANCE RECORD IN BASEBALL.
>>MARK SHARPE: I WAS GOING TO SAY.
>>KEN HAGAN: I THINK THEY WERE 18 GAMES BACK, BUT IT WASN'T THE WORST RECORD, BUT WORST ATTENDANCE.
WITH THE SEASON CONCLUDED AND THE MOST RECENT REPORTS, WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT AN AGREEMENT IS NEAR WHICH WILL ALLOW THE RAYS TO LEGALLY SPEAK AND MEET ABOUT STADIUM LOCATIONS OUTSIDE OF PINELLAS COUNTY.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY TO SIT BACK AND LET ANOTHER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS PASS BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE ON THE RAYS' FUTURE.
IF THIS OCCURS, MAKE NO MISTAKES, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND THE RAYS WILL MAKE THAT DECISION FOR US, AND I AM FEARFUL THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL NOT LIKE THE CONSEQUENCES.
IN FACT, I THINK YESTERDAY'S TRIBUNE EDITORIAL SUMMED IT UP BEST WHEN IT SAID, ANOTHER SEASON OR TWO WITH THE LOWEST ATTENDANCE AND WITH NO PLAN IN THE WORKS FOR A NEW STADIUM IS AN INVITATION FOR THE TEAM TO LEAVE THE MARKET.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, DURING OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL DISCUSS EXTENDING THE DOWNTOWN CRA.
THIS WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS, NOT ON -- NOT ONLY WITH RESPECT TO REDEVELOPING DOWNTOWN BUT ALSO AS IT RELATES TO FUNDING OPTIONS REGARDING A POTENTIAL STADIUM AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER PROJECTS AS WELL.
SO AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS OF MEETINGS WITH MIKE MERRILL, BONNIE WISE, CHIP FLETCHER, AND ERIC HART, AS WELL AS MAYOR BUCKHORN, WE BELIEVE, AND ALL INDICATIONS SUGGEST, THE TIME IS RIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD AND TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
TO SIT -- TO SIT BACK, SIT ON THE SIDELINES, AND HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE RESOLVES ITSELF IS INCREDIBLY SHORTSIGHTED.
SO TODAY I'M GOING TO ASK THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DESIGNATE THE TAMPA SPORTS AUTHORITY AS THE ORGANIZATION WHO WILL BE TASKED WITH NEGOTIATING WITH THE RAYS.
HERE IS WHY THAT THIS FORMAT OR MODEL, WE BELIEVE, SHOULD BE UTILIZED.
THERE IS PRECEDENT.
THIS IS THE SAME STRUCTURE THAT WAS USED FOR THE RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM DISCUSSIONS AS WELL AS THE FORUM OR AMALIE ARENA, AS IT'S CALLED NOW.
THE TSA WILL LIKELY BE THE OPERATING AND CONTRACTING ENTITY, AND THEY ALSO HAVE BONDING CAPABILITY.
IT WILL NOT BE THE TSA BOARD, IF YOU WILL, BUT A WORKING GROUP COMPRISED OF COUNTY, CITY, AND THE TSA.
THIS WAS NOT ONLY THE FORMAT FOR RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM AND FOR THE FORUM, BUT THE FORMAT IS CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR BOND REFINANCING THAT IS TAKING PLACE.
MAYOR BUCKHORN WILL REPRESENT THE CITY, ERIC HART WILL REPRESENT THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, I WILL BE THE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE.
THERE WILL ALSO BE PRIVATE-SECTOR REPRESENTATION, ALTHOUGH NO ONE HAS BEEN CHOSEN AT THIS POINT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS GROUP NEEDS TO BE SMALL IN ORDER TO BE MANAGEABLE AND EFFECTIVE.
THE SECOND ITEM I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON IS B-3 FOR BOND UNDERWRITING SERVICES.
THIS IS A GROUP OF SEVEN FIRMS THAT WE CAN UTILIZE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO ASSIST IN BOND UNDERWRITING TO MEET FUTURE DEBT FINANCING NEEDS.
THE BACKUP IDENTIFIES AREAS WHERE WE MAY NEED THESE SERVICES OF THESE FIRMS.
IT INCLUDES COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
WHILE IT DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY LIST A BASEBALL STADIUM, THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE AREA WHERE WE WILL NEED THE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE OF A WORLD-CLASS FIRM.
AND BY APPROVING A POOL OF POTENTIAL UNDERWRITERS, THE COUNTY WOULD BENEFIT FROM EACH FIRM'S EXPERTISE, BECAUSE WHAT WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN IS THAT THEY WILL COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER FOR THE WORK, AND IT SAYS SO IN SO MANY WORDS IN OUR BACKUP WHEN IT STATES, THIS WILL PROVIDE MAXIMUM IDEA FLOW AND COMPETITION.
BUT TO CONCLUDE HERE, BY HAVING A TEAM READY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE RAYS AND BY HAVING FINANCIAL EXPERTS ONBOARD, THE MESSAGE WE ARE SENDING TO THE RAYS AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS READY.
WE ARE PREPARED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ONCE AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PUT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT WE DESIGNATE THE TAMPA SPORTS AUTHORITY AS THE ORGANIZATION WHO WILL BE TASKED WITH NEGOTIATING WITH THE RAYS.
THERE'LL BE AN INFORMAL WORKING GROUP CONSISTING OF MAYOR BUCKHORN, THE TAMPA SPORTS AUTHORITY, ERIC HART, MYSELF, THE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THE WORKING GROUP WILL DETERMINE WHO THAT PRIVATE-SECTOR REPRESENTATIVE OR REPRESENTATIVES ARE.
AND THAT'S THE FIRST MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN FOR F-1, AND IT WAS SECONDED -- F-1.
IS THIS BOTH F-1 AND --
>>KEN HAGAN: I'LL DO B-3 SEPARATE.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
-- FOR ITEM F-1, AND THAT WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, I UNDERSTAND THE WORKGROUP THAT YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER, WILL THAT WORKGROUP ULTIMATELY, THEN, REPORT BACK AND GET INPUT FROM THE SPORTS AUTHORITY WHEN YOU ALL HAVE REACHED SOME SORT OF NEGOTIATIONS SO THEY'LL BE KEPT UP-TO-DATE ON THE PROGRESS?
>>KEN HAGAN: I'M GOING TO LET CHIP RESPOND TO THAT.
IT'S -- BECAUSE A LOT OF IT INVOLVES SUNSHINE ISSUES AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF, OBVIOUSLY, KEEPING NEGOTIATIONS PRIVATE.
AT SOME POINT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IF AN AGREEMENT IS ULTIMATELY REACHED, IT WOULD REQUIRE -- TYPICALLY ON THESE AGREEMENTS, IT'S A TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY, CITY, AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, SO IT WOULD REQUIRE SPORTS AUTHORITY -- VOTE OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AND THEN COME BACK, CLEARLY, TO THE BOARD FOR OUR APPROVAL AS WELL AS THE CITY, BUT I'LL LET CHIP ANSWER.
HE CAN PROBABLY DO A BETTER JOB THAN ME.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: THAT'S CORRECT.
WE'RE NOT CREATING A NEW ORGANIZATION HERE.
ALL THE COMMISSIONER IS ASKING IS THAT LEADS FROM EACH OF THE THREE ORGANIZATIONS BE DESIGNATED TO, IN THE EVENT THAT THE RAYS ARE ABLE TO LOOK BEYOND PINELLAS COUNTY, TO WORK WITH THE RAYS TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR SITING AND ULTIMATELY DEVELOPMENT OF A STADIUM.
THERE WOULD BE NO INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY OF THIS ORGANIZATION, AND ANY ACTION WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE RESPECTIVE BODIES, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD, THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THIS BOARD.
THIS IS HOW NEGOTIATIONS OF THIS TYPE TYPICALLY HAPPEN.
TYPICALLY, IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AT LEAST, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY OPERATES, THE COUNTY OWNS, THE CITY HAS A CONTRIBUTION AS WELL, SO THIS IS REALLY JUST THE INITIAL JUMPING-OFF POINT, AND ANY ULTIMATE DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE VARIOUS BODIES FOR APPROVAL, SO THAT WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE WILL BE UPDATES AND OTHER KINDS OF DIALOGUE BACK AND FORTH TO MAKE SURE THE BODIES ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ULTIMATE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED IF, IN THE EVENT, WE'RE ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO THE SUBGROUP WOULD NEGOTIATE THE INITIAL TERMS AND THE CONTRACTS, IT WOULD THEN PROBABLY MOST LIKELY GO BACK TO THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, THEY WOULD GIVE THEIR INPUT, THE CITY WOULD GIVE THEIR INPUT, AND THEN ULTIMATELY BACK TO THE COUNTY FOR THEIR INPUT?
>>CHIP FLETCHER: PROBABLY THE BETTER WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE THREE AGENCIES WOULD NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF EACH AGENCY AND THEN BRING BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENCIES.
THERE WOULD NOT BE A COMMITTEE, SO TO SPEAK, THAT WOULD VOTE OR IN ANY OTHER WAY PREAPPROVE ANYTHING, SO THE COMMISSIONER, WITH OUR SUPPORT, WOULD GO NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, MR. HART WOULD NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, THE MAYOR WOULD NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND BRING BACK ANY AGREEMENTS TO THE THREE BODIES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: BUT, I MEAN, ULTIMATELY EACH BODY WOULD APPROVE THE AGREEMENT, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE THEIR ADDITIONAL INPUT --
>>CHIP FLETCHER: ABSOLUTELY.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: -- ON THAT?
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: ABSOLUTELY.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU.
AND IN THE MOTION, THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD OR THIS COMMITTEE, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, YOU'RE DESIGNATING YOURSELF AS THE BOCC REPRESENTATIVE OR THE --
>>KEN HAGAN: YES.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: OKAY.
THE COMPONENT -- THE OTHER COMPONENT OF A COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT DOES -- WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
I MEAN, IS THAT -- CAN THAT BE ANOTHER COMMISSION MEMBER -- MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION HERE OR IS IT SOMEONE THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT WOULD BE --
>>KEN HAGAN: NO.
I WOULD BE THE COUNTY/BOCC REPRESENTATIVE.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: OKAY.
THEN THERE'S NOT ANOTHER OPEN SPOT TO BE NAMED?
>>KEN HAGAN: WELL, I THINK THE OPEN -- TECHNICALLY NO; HOWEVER, I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING PRIVATE-SECTOR REPRESENTATION ON THERE, BUT IT WOULDN'T -- NOT FROM AN ELECTED POSITION.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: OKAY.
SO NO OTHER -- BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MINORITY REPRESENTATION ON THIS FORCE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER.
>>KEN HAGAN: I'M COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE PARTICULAR PERSON.
WE'VE DISCUSSED A COUPLE OF OPTIONS, BUT I'M OPEN TO WHOMEVER IT IS.
WE JUST --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: YEAH.
>>KEN HAGAN: -- CLEARLY WANT IT TO BE SMALL AND MANAGEABLE.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SURE.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW FROM THE WAY YOU WERE DESCRIBING THAT -- I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOU BEING ON THIS -- THIS IS YOUR ISSUE AND ITEM, BUT IF THERE WAS SOMEONE ELSE FROM THE COMMUNITY, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, STRESS THAT, AND IF IT WAS GOING TO BE ELECTED, I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST LES MILLER, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT TWO BOARD -- THAT MAY CREATE SUNSHINE ISSUES.
>>KEN HAGAN: THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: ALL RIGHT.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP, AND COMMISSIONER HAGAN, I KNOW THIS IS YOUR LIFELONG PASSION AND HOPE YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL TO THE END.
I HOPE WE CAN HIT THE HOME RUN ON THIS DEAL.
BUT I DO REALLY WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR JUST STAYING ON TOP OF THIS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING AN EXPLOSION OF OPPORTUNITY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND IT ISN'T OFTENTIME WHERE THE STARS ALL LINE UP TOGETHER.
YOU'VE GOT THE CHANNELSIDE AND MR. VINIK AND WHAT HE'S DOING, THE PORT MASTER PLAN, THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN, THE TRANSPORTATION.
THERE'S SO MUCH HAPPENING HERE THAT THIS IS JUST, FOR ME, A REALLY GOOD TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, AND I THINK THAT WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, IT'LL -- WE'LL GET -- WE'LL GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO START SMALL.
I THINK THAT THIS WILL EVOLVE.
THERE WILL BE STEPS AS WE GO ALONG, BUT I THINK THIS INITIAL -- THIS INITIAL FIRST STEP NEEDS TO BE A SMALL GROUP TRYING TO WORK OUT SOME DETAILS AND TRYING TO NEGOTIATE AND MEDIATE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO GET TO AN AGREEMENT SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
SO GOOD JOB.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN, LET ME ASK MAYBE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE, BECAUSE I HAVE A CONCERN AS TO -- NOT A CONCERN BUT INTEREST IN WHAT EXACTLY WILL THE COMMITTEE -- THIS THREE-PERSON -- I THINK IT'S THREE- OR FOUR-PERSON COMMITTEE WILL BE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU START NEGOTIATING -- MAYBE NOT NEGOTIATING, BUT SPEAKING WITH THE RAYS' OWNERSHIP?
WILL THE GOAL -- ULTIMATE GOAL BE, NUMBER ONE, A SITE FOR -- IF THIS DECIDE THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MAY BE THE PLACE THEY NEED TO LOOK AT, WILL THERE BE A SITE THAT THIS GROUP WILL BE LOOKING AT?
IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?
>>KEN HAGAN: SITE OR SITES, AND HOPEFULLY, IDEALLY, TO COME UP WITH A LOCATION AND AN AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN ALL SUPPORT.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: OKAY.
AND B-3 THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT IN A FEW MINUTES, WILL THAT BE AN ASPECT OF FINANCING, WHETHER IT'S -- WHATEVER?
WHEN I SAY, WHATEVER, THAT MEANS A WHOLE GAMUT OF THINGS YOU'LL BE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS FINANCING GOES?
>>KEN HAGAN: YEAH.
THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE THE NEXT ITEM, THE NEGOTIATION MOTION, BUT STAFF BROUGHT THIS -- I THINK INITIATED THIS, NOT BECAUSE OF BASEBALL BUT BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT P3 OPPORTUNITIES AND BONDING ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO COME FORWARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE SUBJECT EXPERTISE OF FIRMS THAT ARE ON THIS LIST, AND A PART OF THAT INVOLVES COMMUNITY FACILITIES, WHICH CLEARLY A BASEBALL STADIUM WOULD BE, AND I CAN TELL YOU OVER THE LAST FOUR AND A HALF, FIVE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE, IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ALIGNED BUT THAT YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR TEAM OF FINANCIAL EXPERTS, OF LEGAL EXPERTS, OF DIFFERENT FOLKS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND CAN ADVISE US ON THE BEST -- WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO, SO I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A POOL THAT -- AND AGAIN, IN THE BACKUP IT STATES THAT THEY'RE ALL GOING TO WANT THE WORK, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BID ON IT, THEY'RE GOING TO COMPETE FOR IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BENEFIT -- STAFF CHARACTERIZED FROM THE IDEA FLOW, WE'RE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THE IDEAS THEY GIVE TO US, SUGGEST TO US, BUT THAT'S NOT THE SOLE REASON WHY THAT UNDERWRITING POOL IS THERE, BUT THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE -- HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE FIRMS TO BID ON THE WORK.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: LASTLY, AS COMMISSIONER HIGGIN -- HIGGINBOTHAM'S OFFICE SAYS, SUNSHINE KEEPS US IN THE DARK.
AND MY CONCERN -- I HAD A CONCERN ALSO THE FACT THAT THE MINORITY COMMUNITY WOULD NOT BE -- HAVE ANY REPRESENTATION ON THIS GROUP, AND WE CAN'T TALK BECAUSE OF THE SUNSHINE LAW, BUT MY MIND GOES BACK TO RAYMOND JAMES WHEN THE PROCESS WAS GOING THROUGH THERE, HAVING SPONSORED THE BILL THAT EVENTUALLY GAVE RAYMOND JAMES -- GAVE US RAYMOND JAMES, WHEN THE WHOLE NEGOTIATION PROCESS WENT THROUGH AND THERE WAS NO MINORITY PARTICIPATION THERE, THERE WAS AN UPROAR IN THE COMMUNITY AS TO -- THERE WAS A FACT THAT THERE WAS NO ONE THERE REPRESENTING THAT COMMUNITY AND THEY HAD NO SAY-SO ABOUT IT AT ALL.
AND I KNOW WHAT YOU JUST SAID AS FAR AS WHAT THE SUNSHINE LAW WOULD DICTATE CONCERNING WHAT COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM JUST BROUGHT UP, BUT THERE WILL BE NO WAY THAT WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL ON THIS GROUP?
AND I'M SAYING THAT THAT'S GOING TO SLOW US DOWN WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE NEED TO KEEP THE RAYS, AND I'M A BASEBALL FAN.
I LOVE BASEBALL.
THE RAYS HAD A DISMAL SEASON ATTENDANCE-WISE AND PLAY-WISE, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IF THAT OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF AND IT COMES TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT THEY WILL PLAY BETTER AND THE ATTENDANCE WILL GO UP.
I THINK THE ATTENDANCE WILL GO UP, WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET BET BALL PLAYERS OR SOMETHING.
CAN WE ADDRESS THAT, CHIP?
>>KEN HAGAN: BEFORE CHIP JUMPS IN THERE, I'LL LET HIM ADDRESS THE ELECTED OFFICIAL ASPECT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT I DON'T WANT TO REALLY PUBLICLY SAY --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: I UNDERSTAND.
>>KEN HAGAN: -- FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS, THAT WERE KIND OF CONSIDERED AND KICKED AROUND AS POTENTIALLY BEING A PART OF THIS, AND I WILL TELL YOU ONE OF THEM IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM TELLING YOU THAT.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: OKAY.
THAT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.
BUT GO AHEAD, CHIP.
MR. FLETCHER.
>>VICTOR CRIST: BEFORE HE ANSWERS, I HAVE A QUESTION, PART OF THIS QUESTION.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER CRIST, GO AHEAD.
>>VICTOR CRIST: AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT COMMISSIONER MILLER'S SAYING, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OF THE SUNSHINE LAW, AND MAYBE A WAY TO GET AROUND THAT WOULD BE TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT COULD REPRESENT THE MINORITY COMMUNITY TO SERVE ON THERE AS WELL THAT COULD BE AN ASSET IN THAT PROCESS.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: WELL -- GO AHEAD, MR. FLETCHER.
THEN I'LL MAKE MY COMMENT.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: SO A COUPLE POINTS.
ONE IS AT THE OUTSET, WE -- WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY DISCUSSION WITH THE RAYS, WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN AT THIS POINT.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: RIGHT.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS JUST ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK WHERE THE SPORTS AUTHORITY WOULD BE THE LEAD AGENCY, WE'VE GOT LEADS FROM THE OTHER TWO AGENCIES THAT WOULD EITHER OWN OR FUND THE -- POTENTIALLY THE FACILITY, AND THAT'S JUST WORKING OFF THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS VENUE WOULD BE DONE LIKE OTHER VENUES HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
SO HAVING A LEAD OF EACH OF THOSE AGENCIES, WE DON'T HAVE A NEW BODY, WE DON'T HAVE SUNSHINE ISSUES, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO OPERATE FREELY, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT MEMBERS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGE WITH THAT IN AN AD HOC FASHION, THAT CAN MOVE FORWARD IN KIND OF A FLUID WAY.
IF THE COMMISSION STARTS APPOINTING MEMBERS AND SAYING, THIS PERSON AND THAT PERSON AND THIS PERSON ARE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THEY'RE GOING TO REPORT BACK TO US AS A WHOLE, WE'RE CREATING A SUNSHINE COMMITTEE.
SO FOR THAT REASON, WE WOULDN'T WANT, AT THIS STAGE I DON'T THINK, TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE WHERE YOU'RE IDENTIFYING CERTAIN MEMBERS FROM THE COMMUNITY, AS I UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT.
FOR THE SAME REASON WE WOULDN'T APPOINT MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE SAME BOARD, WE WOULDN'T APPOINT TWO COMMISSIONERS, TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, OR TWO MEMBERS OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT AS WE PROCEED AND SOMETHING ACTUALLY STARTS TO GEL WE DON'T GO THROUGH A PROCESS THAT'S MORE ROBUST WHERE WE LOOK AT SITING, SOMETHING LIKE OUR COUNTY FACILITY SITING POLICY OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, BUT AT THIS STAGE, REALLY WHAT SEEMS APPROPRIATE AND WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS TO SIMPLY IDENTIFY THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AS THE LEAD AGENCY AND HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF EACH AGENCY SO THAT THEY CAN -- THEY CAN OPERATE MORE FLUIDLY.
IF WE WERE TO START APPOINTING AN ADVISORY GROUP, THAT WOULD BE A SUNSHINE BODY, AND WE'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE FORMALITIES OF HAVING A SUNSHINE BODY.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: WELL, I UNDERSTAND, AND I WOULD NOT WANT IN ANY WAY TO SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN OF NEW NEGOTIATIONS OR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RAYS.
IT'S JUST THAT -- AND I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM -- THAT WE NEED TO HAVE -- AND HE -- COMMISSIONER HAGAN HAS ALREADY SAID THAT THERE IS A MINORITY PERSON THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS PARTICULAR GROUP, AND I HOPE THAT THAT PERSON IS THE ONE THAT RISES TO THE TOP WHEN THEY START THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
I JUST THINK THAT WE WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVE A BACKLASH OF DISCUSSIONS IN THE MINORITY COMMUNITY AS WE DID BACK WHEN THE RAYMOND JAMES DEAL WAS CUT, THAT THEY FELT THAT THERE WAS NO REPRESENTATION AND NO VOICE, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I'M QUITE SURE THAT COMMISSIONER HAGAN DOES NOT WANT THAT AND NEITHER TO THE RAYS OR THE MAYOR OR ANYONE ELSE.
I'M QUITE SURE THAT WE'LL BE KEPT ABREAST.
WE DON'T WANT TO SLOW ANY PROCESSES DOWN HERE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE AT THAT POINT.
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER.
THANK YOU, SIR.
COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I THINK GOING BACK TO MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS, I JUST -- FOR RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THIS GROUP SMALL.
>> RIGHT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I THINK COMMISSIONER HAGAN HAS PROBABLY THOUGHT THIS OUT.
AND HE -- HE'LL COME BACK -- BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONVERSATIONS.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION TO SEE IF WE CAN -- WHERE WE ARE AND TRY TO GET THEM ONBOARD, YES, WE WANT TO COME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
AND THEN THAT WILL INVOLVE MORE OF THE SITE DECISIONS, AGREEMENT DECISIONS.
AND, OBVIOUSLY, I'M SURE COMMISSIONER HAGAN WILL COME BACK HERE, TELL US, OKAY, WE'RE NOW GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL, YOU KNOW, HERE'S WHAT WE THINK THE GROUP SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND ADVISING, YOU KNOW, AT THIS LEVEL.
SO I THINK THERE'S JUST DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONVERSATION HERE, AND I FEEL COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS LEVEL BECAUSE I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE SMALL.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY DON'T -- WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE THINKING, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOTTA TRY AND ENGAGE THEM IN A CONVERSATION, BUT LET'S JUST -- LET'S JUST PUT OUR CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
HE'S GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, HE'S GOING TO COME BACK TO THIS BOARD AS THINGS DEVELOP, GIVE US AN UPDATE, AND WHEN AN ADVISORY GROUP IS APPROPRIATE TO START, I'M SURE HE'LL RECOMMEND THAT TO US AS WE MOVE FORWARD; IS THAT CORRECT?
>>KEN HAGAN: NO, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE ALLUDED TO THAT EARLIER.
THE -- WHAT I HAD ENVISIONED -- AND MIKE AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS -- IS ONCE YOU GET DOWN TO A SITE OR MAYBE TWO SITES, CREATING SOME TYPE OF ADVISORY BOARD MADE UP OF NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES, MADE UP -- BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE LOCATION WOULD BE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS IT COULD AFFECT.
SO AT THAT POINT, YOU WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMUNITY SITTING ON THERE AS WELL AS CHAMBER, EDC, PARTNERSHIP, AND THAT'S WHEN YOU WOULD HAVE A LARGER GROUP THAT WOULD BE AN OFFICIAL ADVISORY BOARD.
SO --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO IT'S GOING TO BE A STAGED TYPE PROCESS WHERE WE'RE AT STAGE 1 RIGHT NOW; STAGE 2 MIGHT INVOLVE, YOU KNOW, SOME AGREEMENTS AND LOOKING AT SITES; AND THEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO YOU'LL COME BACK HERE AS WE MOVE ALONG?
>>KEN HAGAN: YES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW WITH THE SMALL GROUP, AND I DON'T WANT TO, AS COMMISSIONER MILLER SAID, HINDER THE PROGRESS BECAUSE OF SUNSHINE ISSUES.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: NO, I'M GOOD.
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU.
AND MY INTENTION IS NOT TO HINDER OR SLOW THIS DOWN.
YOU'VE GOT THE LEAD ON THIS, AND YOU'VE WORKED IT AND YOU'VE EARNED THE LEAD, BUT I HEAR TOO OFTEN, AND I REMEMBER AND -- THE PROBLEMS WITH THE RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, DIFFERENT WALKS AND CALLING OF LIFE, DID GET INPUT LATER ON DOWN THE LINE, AND THAT JUST WASN'T -- IS NOT WHERE THIS COMMUNITY'S HEADED.
I'VE HEARD IN MY ADVOCACY WITH EDC, WHY DO YOU NOT HAVE -- THIS WAS EARLY ON, AND WE WERE CONSCIOUS ABOUT THAT AND WE'VE WORKED ON IT, BUT WHY DON'T YOU HAVE MORE MINORITIES THAT ARE ON THE -- THAT OUTREACH FOR US, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING THAT SUCCESS NOW AND WE'RE SEEING THAT HAPPEN, BUT I JUST -- JUST -- I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD IT FROM TWO OF US STRONGLY THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S MINORITY REPRESENTATION, AND HOPEFULLY, WHOEVER IT IS THAT YOU -- YOU'RE TALKING TO WILL RISE TO THE TOP AND WILL BE THAT PERSON BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONLY PROPER AS THIS COMMUNITY GROWS AND DEVELOPS TO THAT NEXT LEVEL.
>>KEN HAGAN: UNDERSTOOD, AND I AGREE.
>>MARK SHARPE: AND WAS THE SECOND MADE BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>MARK SHARPE: I WANT TO CONGRATULATE COMMISSIONER HAGAN FOR HAVING THE FORTITUDE TO BRING THIS ITEM FORWARD THE FIRST TIME WHEN YOU COULDN'T EVEN WHISPER THE -- YOU KNOW, RAYMOND JAMES AND POSSIBLE MOVEMENT OF THE TEAM WITHOUT SOMETHING SUGGESTING A LAWSUIT, AND SO I WANT TO THANK THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OTHERS FOR REALLY WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER HAGAN AND OTHERS TO HELP CALM THE WATERS.
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES YOU ALL WILL BE FACING, I THINK, IN YOUR TIME HERE IN SERVICE, AND IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT A BASEBALL TEAM OR A BASEBALL STADIUM, IT REALLY IS ABOUT A COMMUNITY, TAMPA BAY, AND OUR ABILITY TO BE A MAJOR LEAGUE COMMUNITY, AND DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RETAIN A TEAM OR, FOR THAT MATTER, REALLY MANAGE THE PROBLEM?
YOU MIGHT FIND AT SOME POINT -- I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE LOCATION WILL ULTIMATELY BE.
YOU MIGHT DETERMINE AT SOME POINT, POTENTIALLY, THAT IT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT AT LEAST BEING ABLE TO MANAGE THE ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO ALLOWING IT TO JUST CONTINUE ON WHERE YOU'VE GOT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SAYING, AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST, YOU BETTER STEP UP OR WE'LL STEP IN, AND I THINK IT -- IT'S A GREAT CREDIT TO YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, THAT YOU'VE STEPPED UP, AND SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN FIRST HAVE A -- THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEST OUR RELATIONS WITH ST. PETE BECAUSE IT'S A SENSITIVE ISSUE.
I MEAN, YOU TALK WITH ST. PETE, AND THEY'LL -- THEY JOKE ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S A SENSE OF THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE OUR TEAM.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR, NO, WE'RE NOT.
WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND THE BEST LOCATION, WHEREVER IT MIGHT BE, BUT, YOU KNOW, CITING A STUDY, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS, I PULLED IT UP LAST WEEK, JUST TO READ, YOU KNOW, WHY DO SOME STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS SUCCEED WHERE OTHERS FAIL, THE COLGATE STUDY, 2012.
MANY STADIUMS DON'T WORK.
THE ONES THAT DO FIGURE OUT THE LOCATION.
I MEAN, THEY -- IT'S 29 PAGES, IT'S NOT THAT LONG, BUT, BOY, IT ZEROS IN ON LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
THAT'S THE KEY TO SUCCESS.
IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT ONCE YOU FIGURE THAT OUT -- AND DOWNTOWN STADIUMS TEND TO BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN IT COMES TO REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS -- WALKABILITY.
SO -- ON PAGE 25.
PAGE 8 IS LOCATION, LOCATION.
PAGE 25 IS WALKABILITY, AND THEN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
SO I KNOW I FIND A WAY TO ALWAYS BRING THOSE ISSUES IN, BUT IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER.
IF WE FIND A WAY TO HELP REVITALIZE OUR ENTIRE TAMPA BAY AREA, DOWNTOWN ST. PETE IS VERY WALKABLE, TAMPA'S BECOMING MORE WALKABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE A DYNAMIC MAYOR WHO'S BEEN PUSHING WALKABILITY, AND WE'VE GOT GREAT LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE COUNTY STEPPING UP.
IT'S A PERFECT STORM OF EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER TO CREATE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY WHILE YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT A STADIUM.
WHEREVER YOU PUT IT, YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE IN AND OUT WITHOUT A CONFLAGURATION OF CONGESTION.
IF IT'S PEOPLE DRIVING IN AND LEAVING, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER PERSON TO BE LEADING THE CHARGE FOR THE COUNTY, NOT THAT ANY OF THE OTHERS COULDN'T STEP UP, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU ARE VERY THOROUGH AND ALSO VERY CONSIDERATE AND WILL MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE APPRISED OF WHAT'S GOING ON, SO, AGAIN, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY, WE'VE GOT A GREAT MAYOR, WE'VE GOT A GREAT CHAIRMAN -- WELL, WE HAVE A GREAT FORMER CHAIRMAN AND SITTING COMMISSION READY TO STEP IN AND AN ADMINISTRATOR THAT'S NOTHING SHORT OF PHENOMENAL, SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO WELL.
COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
CONCUR WITH THAT.
I MEAN, EACH OF US UP HERE HAVE OUR AREAS OF INTEREST THAT ARE UNIQUE AND EACH OF US HAVE OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE.
I HAVE ABSOLUTE FULL CONFIDENCE IN COMMISSIONER HAGAN, BOTH I KNOW HIS PASSION FOR BASEBALL, I KNOW HIS LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW HIS INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT AREA THAT HE WOULD DO WELL FOR ALL OF US.
YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, YES, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NUMBERS THAT HAVE SHOWN THAT, BUT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE UNIQUELY HAVE THREE DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS, IT ISN'T JUST THE CITY OF TAMPA.
YOU KNOW, THE WESTSHORE AREA'S VERY MUCH DEVELOPED AS A DOWNTOWN AREA AND IS CERTAINLY A CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS UP IN THE UNIVERSITY AREA, WHICH IS DEVELOPING AS A DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT IN TRANSPORTATION TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY TO AND FROM THIS UPTOWN DISTRICT WHERE THE REALITY IS IS WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOPING WITH OUR NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS FIVE DOWNTOWN AREAS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COMMUTE SHORTER DISTANCES AND CAN LIVE CLOSER TO WHERE THEY WORK.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL OPTIONS HERE, AND I HAVE FULL FAITH IN YOU.
>>MARK SHARPE: AND THAT WAS -- I WASN'T GOING TO SAY THAT, BUT THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CRIST.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREAS, AND I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER HAGAN WILL BE LOOKING AT ALL THOSE.
WHILE WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, POTENTIALLY TRANSPORTATION FROM A PRIVATE GROUP COMING FROM ORLANDO TO OUR DOWNTOWN, THIS DOWNTOWN, SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS MOVING.
COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
ONE LAST POINT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I DO HAVE UTMOST CONFIDENCE OF COMMISSIONER HAGAN TO WORK ON THIS, BUT COMMISSIONER HAGAN, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
CAN WE GET AN NBA TEAM?
[LAUGHTER]
>>KEN HAGAN: WELL, I LOOKED INTO THE SACRAMENTO KINGS POTENTIALLY LOCATING HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
THE ARENA WAS BUILT TO ALLOW FOR NBA, BUT I THINK THE ORLANDO MAGIC MAY HAVE A LITTLE CONCERN WITH THAT.
[LAUGHTER]
>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HAGAN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
>>KEN HAGAN: THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE KIND REMARKS FROM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
OBVIOUSLY, I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THERE ISSUE, BUT IT'S -- IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, THAT WE CAN SHOW AND STAND UP AND PROVE THAT WE ARE A MAJOR LEAGUE COMMUNITY, AND IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FROM AN ECONOMIC AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE PERSPECTIVES THAT THE TAMPA BAY RAYS REMAIN HERE.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY, ALONG THE LINES OF COMMISSIONER SHARPE'S COMMENTS, I THINK THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT MOST OF YOUR RECENT STADIUMS ARE LOCATED IN URBAN AREAS, NOT NECESSARILY DOWNTOWN, BUT IN AN URBAN AREA.
THEY'RE SMALLER FACILITIES, AND TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THERE'S NO LESS THAN A DOZEN BASEBALL STADIUMS I'VE GONE TO AND TAKEN RAIL THERE, AND --
>>MARK SHARPE: YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT.
>>KEN HAGAN: THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE STADIUM IS ULTIMATELY LOCATED, BUT TRANSIT'S GOING TO BE A NECESSARY INGREDIENT.
>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
IT WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, AND THAT'S FOR ITEM F-1.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MARK SHARPE: AND NOW B-3.
>>KEN HAGAN: AND I'LL JUST MOVE -- I'VE ALREADY COMMENTED ON B-3, BUT I'LL MOVE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH IS CREATING AN UNDERWRITING POOL TO ASSIST US WITH FUTURE DEBT FINANCING REQUIREMENTS.
>> SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: WE HAVE NO OTHER ITEMS THIS MORNING, RETURNING AT 1:45.
>>MARK SHARPE: 1:45.
BONNIE, IT'S GOING TO BE -- YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT.
I'M EXCITED.
THANK YOU.
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