CAPTIONING - Hillsborough County, Florida
CAPTIONING
SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
BOCC REGULAR MEETING
MORNING SESSION
***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.
>>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO OUR
SEPTEMBER 18th, 2013, REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED THIS MORNING, COMMISSIONER KEVIN BECKNER HAD ASKED FOR A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND ALSO TO OUR CHAPLAIN, COMMISSIONER MILLER, IF IN TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND YOUR PRAYERS THAT YOU'D PLEASE KEEP OUR COUNCILWOMAN YOLIE CAPIN, WHO'S HUSBAND PASSED AWAY ON MONDAY -- IF YOU'D PLEASE KEEP HER AND HER DAUGHTER JESSICA IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
THIS MORNING IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE TO HAVE WITH US MEMBERS OF THE TAMPA TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL NAVY ROTC -- JROTC PROGRAM.
IN A MOMENT THEY'LL DO US THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE COLORS, BUT FIRST I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THESE CADETS WHO COMPROMISE -- WHO COMPRISE TODAY'S HONOR GUARD: COMMANDER OF THE COLOR GUARD, CADET LIEUTENANT KAYLI TARAREZ; CADET LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE MURAD ALIYEV; CADET COMMAND MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER THALIA MEDINA; CADET CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ANDRES MERCADO; AND CADET PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS PATRICIO GALVEZ.
ACCOMPANYING THE GUARD WE HAVE WITH US SERGEANT MAJOR PETER HALL, USMC, RETIRED, NAVAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR.
AT THIS TIME, I'D ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRESENTING OF THE COLORS AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE INVOCATION, OFFERED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>> FORWARD, MARCH.
LEFT TURN, MARCH.
COLOR GUARD, HALT.
PRESENT COLORS.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
LEFT TURN, MARCH.
FORWARD, MARCH.
COLOR GUARD, HALT.
RIGHT TURN, MARCH.
COLOR GUARD, HALT.
ORDER.
COLORS.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THIS MORNING I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH COUNCILWOMAN CAPIN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AGO ABOUT THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND.
>> READY, CUT.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: OKAY.
>> COLOR GUARD, DISMISSED.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: SHE'S IN GOOD SPIRITS.
UNFORTUNATELY, HER HUSBAND SUFFERED CANCER, AND HE JUST PASSED AWAY I THINK IT WAS MONDAY, SO SHE IS IN GOOD SPIRITS, AND, AGAIN, WE GIVE OUR SYMPATHIES TO COUNCILWOMAN CAPIN AND ALSO TO OUR COLLEAGUE IN ST. PETERSBURG, PINELLAS COUNTY, COMMISSIONER KEN HAGAN -- KEN -- NOT KEN HAGAN, JESUS, KEN WELCH WHO LOST HIS FATHER YESTERDAY.
LET US PRAY.
OUR GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU TOUCH US WITH YOUR LOVING HANDS TO SEE ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAYS.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE A REASONABLE PORTION OF HEALTH AND STRENGTH.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING EACH AND EVERYONE OF US TO COME OUT TODAY, WHETHER WE'RE ON THIS DAIS OR IN THIS AUDIENCE, TO MAKE DECISIONS TO MAKE THIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
WE ASK THAT YOU HUMBLE OUR HEARTS AND REGULATE OUR MINDS AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS THAT WE MAY NOT ALL AGREE ON ONE ACCORD BUT THAT WE WOULD LEAVE HERE ON ONE ACCORD KNOWING THAT WE DID OUR VERY BEST FOR THIS COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
WE ASK THAT YOU PROTECT THOSE THAT ARE WEARING THIS UNIFORM, THE MILITARY UNIFORM THAT ARE ON FOREIGN SOILS OR THIS SOIL, AS THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS.
PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY WHEN THEY WALK OUT THE DOOR TO PROTECT US.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU PROTECT AND PUT YOUR LOVING ARMS AROUND THE CAPIN FAMILY.
LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU PUT NO MORE ON THEM THAN THEY CAN BEAR.
PUT YOUR LOVING ARMS AROUND THE WELCH FAMILY.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT IN THIS COUNTY, THEY'RE OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS, AND WE ASK THAT YOU PUT YOUR LOVING ARMS AROUND THEM ALSO.
FATHER, WHEN WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, WE ASK THAT YOU TAKE US BACK TO OUR HOMES TO FIND EVERYTHING SAFE AND SOUND.
THESE AND ALL BLESSINGS WE ASK IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER.
AND, AGAIN, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO TAMPA BAY TECH NAVY JROTC PROGRAM FOR PRESENTING THE COLORS THIS MORNING.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH OUR PROCLAMATIONS, COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE: YEAH.
I JUST WANTED TO AS WELL THANK AND HONOR TAMPA BAY TECH AND ALSO SERGEANT MAJOR PETER HALL, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, WHO IS A SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR THERE BUT ALSO SERVED 26 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IN SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING LOCATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE, AND I'M HONORED TO HAVE HIM IN THIS ROOM.
THANK YOU, SIR.
HE SERVED AS A DRILL INSTRUCTOR SEVERAL TIMES AT OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL, AND I TOLD HIM HE LOOKED VERY FAMILIAR, BUT HE'S A SHARP MAN AND HE'S DOING GREAT WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, SIR.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU.
AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH OUR PRESENTATIONS, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE HERE TODAY WITH THE KIDS IN THE COUNTY TOUR.
THEY'RE PART OF THE TRIDENT TEAM OR TEAM TRIDENT AT THE BRANDON SPORTS AND AQUATIC CENTER, TRIDENT IS AN ANACRONYM FOR TRAINING AND RECREATION FOR INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED ENHANCING THEIR NATURAL TALENTS, AND TOM DENHAM IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE TEAM.
HE IS HERE TODAY.
HE SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WITH OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS GROUP, AND IF I COULD JUST ASK THEM TO STAND UP AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
WELCOME.
WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL COMMENDATIONS TO PRESENT THIS MORNING, AND THE FIRST ONES WILL BE PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
THIS SET OF AWARDS TODAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING OUT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF OUR USUAL PROCLAMATIONS AND COMMENDATIONS.
THEY'RE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RECEIVED AWARDS FROM NATIONAL AND STATE PEER ORGANIZATIONS, SO I'D LIKE TO ASK LUCIA GARSYS, SHARON SUBADAN, AND ALL THE AWARD WINNERS TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM TO BE RECOGNIZED.
COME ON, DON'T BE SHY.
GREAT.
OKAY.
GREAT.
EACH AWARD WINNER OR TEAM WILL ALSO RECEIVE A COMMENDATION SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS.
LUCIA AND SHARON, YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND OF THE KEY RECOGNITIONS THEY RECEIVED BECAUSE OF IT BECAUSE WE SURELY ARE AT THE COMMISSION.
THE FIRST TWO AWARDS ARE PRESENTED BY THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY ENGINEERS AND ROAD SUPERINTENDENTS OR WHAT THEY'RE CALLED FACERS.
SHARON STROUT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[APPLAUSE]
THERE YOU ARE.
SHARON RECEIVED -- IS IT CALLED FACERS?
>> YES, IT IS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
-- FACERS' 2013 PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD.
SHE LED HER TEAM TO COMPLETE MORE THAN 30 COUNTY PROJECTS, ALL OF WHICH MADE OUR BRIDGES, OUR GUARDRAILS, AND ROADWAYS SAFER.
HER CREATIVE APPROACH TO DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A PROCESS TO CLEAN AND SEAL BRIDGE DECKS WHILE ALLOWING MOTORISTS TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR COMMUTE HAS BEEN HAILED AS A PARAGON BY WHICH OTHER COUNTIES WILL NOW BE MEASURED.
CONGRATULATIONS, SHARON, AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME.
IF -- I WANTED TO THANK ALL MY CREW MEMBERS, WHICH ARE HERE TODAY, FOR ALL THEIR HELP IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN FOR ME, BUT THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, SHARON.
AND NOW ROGER COX AND YOUR TEAM OF 21, WILL YOU COME FORWARD.
>> HI.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: HI, ROGER.
>> NICE TO MEET YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WON THE FACERS' 2013 TEAM PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR THE CULTURAL CHANGE AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
YOUR DEPARTMENT SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES AND REENGINEER PROCESSES THAT MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TEAM DYNAMIC.
THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, THE COUNTY HAS SAVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH A REDUCTION OF RESOURCES NEEDED TO FULFILL PROJECT REQUESTS.
CONGRATULATIONS, ROGER.
>> THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY TEAM, FIRST OFF.
THIS HAS BEEN A PROCESS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, AND WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THIS AREA.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THERE'S NO WAY THAT ANY OF US COULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY DIRECTOR, MR. ROB SUESS, AND, OF COURSE, THE BACKING OF MR. JOHN LYONS AND LUCIA GARSYS, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE RECOGNITION.
WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GREAT.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, ROGER.
AND NOW THE NEXT TWO AWARDS ARE GOING TO BE AWARDS THAT ARE PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES OR WHAT WE CALL NACO.
DEBBIE BENAVIDEZ.
THERE YOU ARE.
HOW ARE YOU, DEBBIE?
>> GOOD.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: CAN YOU AND YOUR FISCAL SUPPORT
SERVICES -- PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TEAM PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SO WHERE'S THE REST OF YOUR TEAM?
OKAY.
ALL OVER THERE.
YOUR TEAM RECEIVED THE 2013 ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM NACO AS A RESULT OF SUPPORTING 18 DIFFERENT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS.
BY CONSOLIDATING OFFICE EFFICIENCIES, YOUR DEPARTMENT SAVED COUNTY TAXPAYERS MORE THAN $500,000 WHILE ALSO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF WORK AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
ACTUALLY, EVERYBODY, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU-ALL HAVE DONE.
DEBBIE, WHY DON'T YOU NAME THE MEMBERS OF YOUR TEAM THAT HELPED ON THIS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OUR OUTSTANDING WORK AND SERVICE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
THIS REALLY WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
WE -- IT WAS MIKE'S VISION.
SHARON SUBADAN ACTUALLY HELPED US PUT IT TOGETHER.
IN SIX SHORT MONTHS WE WORKED WITH FACILITIES, WE WORKED WITH CIVIL SERVICE, DANE PETERSEN, AND THE MEMBERS FROM OUR TEAM THAT WE BROUGHT WITH US -- NAME ALL OF THEM?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SURE.
YES, YOU SHOULD.
>> MATT SHRADER --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>> -- MIKE ANTIS, TIM SCOTT, CHARNETTA TROUPE, KEVIN KERRIGAN, DORINDA MARTINEZ, GLENDA BLASKO, DEAN JESSUP, DEBBIE DEWITT, AND JASON BIGGERS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GREAT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF EXCELLENT STAFF BACK ON THE 25th FLOOR WHO HAVE REALLY HELPED US MAKE A LOT OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, SO THANK YOU TO THEM ALSO.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, DEBBIE.
[APPLAUSE]
AND I THINK SO MUCH TOO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T GET TO SEE ALL THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PEOPLE THAT ARE SO INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AT THE COUNTY, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS TODAY.
AND NOW LAST BUT NOT LEAST, DEXTER BARGE, THE MASTER OF ALL DEPARTMENTS --
[LAUGHTER]
-- CAN YOU AND YOUR TEAM COME FORWARD.
>>DEXTER BARGE: THEY'RE HERE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THEY'RE HERE.
OKAY.
WELL, WE'LL CALL OUT THEIR NAMES.
SO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM WON THE NACO 2013 ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR CULTURAL CHANGE FOR ITS "OPERATION FIGHT THE BLIGHT" PROGRAM.
IT HAS BEEN A ROUSING SUCCESS SINCE IT BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2012.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE RALLIED AROUND, AS IT CREATES A TRUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MANY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THOSE THAT WE SERVE.
IN FACT, THIS ISN'T THE ONLY NATIONAL RECOGNITION "OPERATION FIGHT THE BLIGHT" HAS RECEIVED.
IN 2012 IT WON THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR INNOVATION IN CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND "OPERATION FIGHT THE BLIGHT," OF WHICH I WAS VERY AWARE OF BECAUSE IT WAS IN MY DISTRICT, IN GIBSONTON JUST CONCLUDED.
TO DEMONSTRATE HOW SUCCESSFUL THE PROGRAM IS, HERE ARE SOME OF THE STATISTICS FROM THE GIBSONTON EFFORT.
REMOVED 315 TIRES, WHICH IS ALMOST 10,000 POUNDS OF WASTE; REMOVED 23 DUMPSTERS OF WASTE -- THAT'S MORE THAN 45 TONS -- REMOVED ANOTHER 40,000 POUNDS OF OTHER ACCUMULATIONS; REMOVED MORE THAN 30 SQUARE FEET OF GRAFFITI; AND CUT MORE THAN 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF OVERGROWTH; AND SECURED FIVE STRUCTURES.
SO AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, THIS PROGRAM DOES REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY CLEANING UP BLIGHTED AREAS, AND WE ALL KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RECOGNITION FOR THAT IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND I THINK IT REALLY, AGAIN, ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, SO I APPRECIATE YOU.
AND WHY DON'T YOU SAY A FEW WORDS AND IF YOU'D RECOGNIZE YOUR TEAM.
>>DEXTER BARGE: ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION, AND I AM FLANKED BY TWO VERY OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE TO REPRESENT OUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, PAUL MORALES AND ZULEMA ANDERSON, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND I AM BLESSED WITH A INCREDIBLE TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS TO INCLUDE OUR SUPPORT STAFF, OUR OFFICERS, AND AN EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT TEAM, WHICH INCLUDES ALL OUR SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS.
BUT LIKE DEBBIE SAID, THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT THE MANY PARTNERS, TO INCLUDE OUR FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS, TO INCLUDE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PARKS AND RECREATION, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON WITH THE PARTNERS, BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKE THIS WORK, AND ALSO HAVING THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IN ALLOWING US TO TRY NEW AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ACCOMPLISHING OUR MISSION.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: ABSOLUTELY.
I REALLY -- I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK.
THIS IS HEARTFELT.
I'M SURE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD EXTEND THOSE -- THOSE WARM WORDS ALSO BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, OUR COMMUNITY WOULDN'T BE THE EXCITING COMMUNITY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOING TO HAVE ALL THIS GREAT STUFF HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
AND I DO HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES OF COMMENDATION.
THIS IS, I THINK, FOR DEBBIE, FISCAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
I'LL GIVE THAT ONE TO YOU.
CODE ENFORCEMENT, DEXTER.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FEW PICTURES, OKAY.
SHARON.
AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
WHO WANTS THAT ONE?
THERE YOU GO.
>> THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
LET'S ALL GO UP THERE AND TAKE SOME PICTURES.
WHY DON'T WE DO IT BY GROUP, OKAY, SO WE'LL START WITH -- FISCAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES, WE'LL START WITH THEM.
>>KEN HAGAN: BEFORE WE DO THAT --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THEY PROBABLY NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK THE FASTEST --
>>KEN HAGAN: BEFORE WE DO THAT, I THINK --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK]
>>KEN HAGAN: -- I THINK COMMISSIONER MILLER WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT ON SOME --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: BEFORE WE TAKE THE PICTURES, LET ME CONGRATULATE ALL THE STAFF FOR ALL WHAT YOU DO.
THE PUBLIC DOES NOT RECOGNIZE YOU ENOUGH BECAUSE THEY CAN'T, REALLY, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, BUT THROUGH US WE CAN TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
YOU PUT IN SOME LONG HOURS, A LOT OF HARD WORK WITH VERY LITTLE PAY, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN RECTIFY SOME OF THAT ON OCTOBER 1st.
WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
BUT I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU.
BUT THE "FIGHT THE BLIGHT" STARTED IN THE PALM RIVER AREA BECAUSE DEXTER AND HIS STAFF CAME OUT THERE ONE NIGHT, AND AS I WAS CONSTANTLY GOING OUT THERE, HE TOLD ME, HE SAID, WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM HOPEFULLY WITH THE HELP OF OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN FINDING SOME DOLLARS TO DO THAT, AND IT NOT ONLY HELPED IN PALM RIVER, BUT IT SPREAD INTO YOUR AREA, WHICH PROBABLY NOW IS GOING TO BE A PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO PUT SOME FUNDS IN IT TO KEEP GOING THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTY, SO DEXTER, THANK YOU, BUT TO ALL OF YOU, OUR CONGRATULATIONS.
I KNEW THIS YOUNG LADY WHEN SHE WAS KNEE-HIGH TO A PUP, AND NOW SHE'S ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THIS COUNTY.
THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
WE APPRECIATE IT FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE YEARS WHEN MONEY WAS TIGHT AND YOU WERE STRETCHING IT AT HOME, YOU PUT IN EFFORTS EACH AND EVERY DAY TO COME HERE AND DO WHAT THE PEOPLE NEEDED YOU TO DO, SO THANKS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
TO CONCUR WITH THOSE THOUGHTS AND TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU'RE TRULY THE UNSUNG HEROES THAT ARE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT IS KIND OF LIKE A WATCH.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ALL THE GEARS IN THERE TO KEEP THE TIME TICKING, BUT YOU ALWAYS LOOK AT IT JUST TO SEE WHAT TIME IT IS, AND YOU RELY ON IT, BUT YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MANY GEARS THERE ARE BEHIND THAT DIAL THAT KEEP IT TICKING, AND YOU ARE TRULY THE GEARS THAT KEEP THIS COUNTY GOING.
AND, FRANKLY, YOU MAKE US LOOK GOOD AND HELP KEEP OUR CONSTITUENTS HAPPY, AND WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY, FISCAL.
AND I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO MY SEAT, AND THEN I'M GOING TO LET YOU-ALL BE IN CHARGE OF GETTING YOUR GROUP UP THERE.
>>RUSLANA PANOV: PLEASE STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
CAN YOU GET CLOSER TOGETHER, PLEASE.
I CAN'T SEE YOUR FACE.
CAN YOU MOVE, PLEASE.
STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>RUSLANA PANOV: GET CLOSER TOGETHER.
ALL RIGHT.
STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
NOW COMMISSIONER BECKNER WILL PRESENT THE NEXT PROCLAMATION.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
TODAY WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE 23rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND THE MILESTONES THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS ACHIEVED AND OUR COUNTY HAS ACHIEVED ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND ALTHOUGH WE MUST ADMIT THAT THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION GAVE CIVIL RIGHTS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND HELPED RESTORE DIGNITY TO MANY CITIZENS, THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE DO AS A COUNTY, JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT WE DO TO HELP BRING AWARENESS AND TO CELEBRATE THE ACT IS THAT WE FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS HAVE TEAMED UP WITH THE YES! ORGANIZATION TO SPONSOR THE FAMILIES ABILITIES INFORMATION RALLY, ALSO KNOWN AS F.A.I.R., AND THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE AT THE ALL PEOPLES LIFE CENTER ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE 5th, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THIS ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE -- THE INCLUSIVENESS WITHINSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED, AND, OF COURSE, IF YOU'VE NEVER ATTENDED THIS EVENT, IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLE EVENT.
THEY'VE GOT NON-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, THEY'VE GOT BUSINESSES, AGENCIES, THERE'S ARTS, THERE'S MUSIC, THERE'S SPORTS, AND ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE COME TOGETHER ON THIS DAY TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY, AND AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, I'D LIKE TO -- TO INVITE THE FACE OF -- OF THE YES! ORGANIZATION, WHO'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNER AND A FRIEND TO THE COUNTY TO WORK WITH ON THIS ISSUE, MS. BECKI FORSELL.
BECKI, WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME UP HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S ANYBODY THAT DOES NOT KNOW WHO BECKI FORSELL IS BY THIS POINT.
IF YOU DON'T, YOU CERTAINLY NEED TO GET TO KNOW THIS WOMAN.
THIS WOMAN IS A TIRELESS CHAMPION, NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS INCLUDED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW BECKI OVER THE LAST NEARLY FIVE YEARS, AND BECKI, I JUST WANT TO SAY I JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS, AND IT'S JUST -- YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING I DO HAVE TO SAY IS THAT WE'VE HAD TO INVEST IN MORE TISSUES IN MY OFFICE BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU SEE ME, YOU ALMOST -- YOU MAKE ME CRY UP THERE AND PROBABLY MANY OF YOU EXPERIENCE THAT AS WELL, BUT SHE HAS AN AMAZING, POWERFUL STORY, AND BECKI, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
AND I'LL LET YOU SAY A FEW WORDS ON WHAT F.A.I.R. IS AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> IS IT RIGHT BY ME?
OKAY.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I NEED TO REALLY THANK KEVIN.
HE HAS BEEN MY SUPPORTER FOR THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE F.A.I.R.
WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO HIM NOW SIX YEARS AGO, HE WENT, OKAY, AND NOW HE GOES, I'M THERE FOR YOU.
SO I REALLY NEED TO THANK HIM, EXCEPT THIS YEAR HE'S GOING ON VACATION, SO I HAD TO SEARCH A LITTLE BIT FARTHER, AND I HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE COMING.
SANDY IS GOING TO BE THERE IN THE PLACE OF THE PROCLAMATION THAT KEVIN GIVES, AND, OF COURSE, KEN IS GOING TO GIVE OUR WELCOME, AND WE HAVE THE MAYOR OF TEMPLE TERRACE COMING AND WE HAVE STATE REPRESENTATIVE JANET CRUZ COMING, SO WE HAVE A GREAT SELECTION OF PEOPLE.
ONE THING I WANTED TO DO IS THANK MY PARTNERS.
YOU ARE MY PARTNERS.
WITHOUT HAVING LES THIS YEAR, WE'D NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THE SENIOR EVENT.
WITHOUT HAVING SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE COME OUT TO OUR HCC EVENT FOR EDUCATION, WE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE THAT.
WITHOUT THE DOLLARS THAT YOU HELP ME PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, I COULDN'T DO IT.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, BECAUSE OF YOU THIS YEAR, WFLA AND HAVE BECOME ONE OF OUR SPONSORS BECAUSE THEY SAY, WOW, YOU'VE DONE THIS THIS LONG WITHOUT OUR HELP AND THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN BEHIND YOU?
LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND GET MORE PEOPLE THERE.
SO THIS YEAR WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE OVER 2,000 PEOPLE.
IT'S TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN WITH ALL PEOPLES.
AT 1:00 WE'LL BE DOING THE CHA-CHA SLIDE, SO PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES.
AT ABOUT 1:30 WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY SING, "WE ARE THE WORLD."
AND WE HAVE A GREAT VENDOR I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT COMING FROM GEORGIA THAT WORKS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARING PROBLEMS.
COME OUT AND TALK TO JACK.
HE'S AWESOME.
BUT WE JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT ONE OF MY FRIENDS FROM LONDON WAS GOING TO TRY AND COME, BUT SOMETHING CAME UP AND HE CAN'T COME, SO HE'S SENDING HIS REPRESENTATIVE FROM MASSACHUSETTS, FROM BOSTON, TO COME AND SHARE THE ONE TOUCH, WHICH WE HOPE TO BRING TO OUR AREA SO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WITHOUT CAN LEARN HOW TO HAVE SELF-DEFENSE IN A VERY SAFE WAY TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WITHOUT YOUR HELP PLANTING THE SEED SIX YEARS AGO, I COULD NOT BE DOING THIS.
WITHOUT MY BOARD AND WITHOUT MY COMMUNITY PARTNERS, IT WOULD NEVER COME INTO PLAY, SO THIS IS MY THANKS TO YOU.
WITHOUT YOU I AM NOTHING; WITHOUT MY LORD I AM NOTHING; WITHOUT MY FAMILY, MY CHURCH, AND MY COMMUNITY, I WOULD NOT BE HERE, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF MY FAMILY.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO, BECKI, TODAY WE DECLARE THIS TO BE DISABILITY AWARENESS F.A.I.R. AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION DAY, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'RE ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY TO COME OUT ON OCTOBER THE 5th TO CELEBRATE F.A.I.R.
AND IF YOU'RE GOING -- IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO HELP YOU LEAD YOU IN SONG, I'M SURE COMMISSIONER MILLER WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAD EVERYBODY IN "WE ARE THE WORLD."
YES, COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [SINGING] I WILL DO MY VERY BEST.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I WOULD LOVE IT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO THANK YOU, BECKI, AGAIN, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE?
>>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH.
YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE UP HERE?
>> YEAH.
WHEREVER YOU --
>>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH, COME ON.
COME HERE.
>> COME ON, GANG.
COME ON NOW.
[INAUDIBLE]
IT'S THE RIGHT DIRECTION?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.
STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
AND BECKI, WE LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THE F.A.I.R. ON OCTOBER 5th.
AND NOW IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS NEXT PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2013, AS ELAPP'S 25th ANNIVERSARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAND ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION PROGRAM.
WITH US TODAY WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS.
CO-CHAIRS OF THE ELAPP GENERAL COMMITTEE ARE JAN SMITH AND SALLY THOMPSON; WE HAVE OUR GOOD FRIEND AND MY FORMER COLLEAGUE ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION JAN PLATT; AS WELL AS JACK CARLISLE, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU GUYS TO PLEASE -- PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[APPLAUSE]
AS A RESULT OF THIS -- OF THIS PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN ENORMOUSLY SUCCESSFUL HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PRESERVE OVER 60,000 ACRES OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS.
BACK IN 2008 THERE WAS A REFERENDUM TO EXTEND THIS PROGRAM, AND IT RECEIVED, IF I RECALL, ABOUT 80% OF THE VOTE, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF FOR ANY TYPE OF REFERENDUM, SO IT'S JUST A -- AN INDICATION OF HOW SUCCESSFUL THIS PROGRAM IS AND HOW MUCH THE PUBLIC TRULY VALUES THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION, WHICH STATES, WHEREAS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION PROGRAM, ELAPP, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1987 BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VOTER REFERENDUM, WHICH GENERATED 21 MILLION OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS FOR PUBLIC LAND ACQUISITION; AND WHEREAS, THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED TWO SUBSEQUENT REFERENDUMS, IN 1990 AND 2008, THAT PROVIDED AN ADDITIONAL 300 MILLION FOR LAND ACQUISITION; AND WHEREAS, THESE REFERENDUMS HAVE PROVIDED MATCH FUNDS SO THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED IN EXCESS OF 86 MILLION TOWARDS ACQUIRING LANDS FOR PRESERVATION; AND WHEREAS, THE MORE THAN 61,000 ACRES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESERVED THROUGH ELAPP CONSIST OF A VARIETY OF NATURAL HABITATS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT, INCLUDING HIKING, BIKING, AND HORSEBACK RIDING AND FOR CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION; AND WHEREAS, THE COUNTY'S CONSERVATION SERVICES DIVISION MAINTAINS VAST ACREAGE THROUGHOUT 60 DIFFERENT SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND ALSO WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO DEVELOP GREATER WILDLIFE CORRIDORS; AND WHEREAS, ELAPP IS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE INVOLVEMENT OF CITIZEN COMMITTEES WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN ALL ASPECTS AND IMPORTANT STAGES OF ELAPP ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT; AND WHEREAS, ELAPP INCREASES THE LAND HELD FOR PRESERVATION, WITH BENEFITS THAT INCLUDE CLEAN AIR AND WATER, HEALTHY FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, IMPROVED WATER SUPPLY PROTECTION, PROTECTED OPEN SPACES THAT INCLUDE GREENWAY CORRIDORS, PARK LANDS, FORESTS, AND WATER BODY RESTORATION.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2013, AS ELAPP 25th ANNIVERSARY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND ENCOURAGES THE CONTINUED WORK OF THIS SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, EXECUTED THIS 18th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2013, SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
AND AS THE COMMISSIONER WHO CHAMPIONED THE LARGEST ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS ACQUISITION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S HISTORY, CONE RANCH, I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE THIS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, AND IT'S MY HONOR TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THESE PROCLAMATIONS.
>> MAY I SAY SOMETHING FOR JUST A SECOND?
GUS MUENCH IS SEATED, AND HE OUGHT TO BE UP HERE.
GUS, COME UP HERE, BECAUSE IT WAS GUS WHO WAS CRABBING WITH HIS TWO SONS IN THE VICINITY OF COCKROACH BAY ISLANDS THAT CALLED OUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THERE WERE PLACES IN OUR COUNTY THAT NEEDED TO BE SAVED, AND SO GUS, YOU COME AND STAND WITH US BECAUSE YOU AND YOUR SONS WERE THE INSTIGATORS OF THIS BEHIND THE SCENES.
>> THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION AND THANK YOU FOR IT ON BEHALF OF ALL THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHO HAVE VOTED FOR THIS PROGRAM THREE TIMES, AND AS COMMISSIONER HAGAN JUST SAID, WITH A VOTE OF 80% OF THE VOTING PUBLIC LAST TIME.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK JAN PLATT, WHO CONCEIVED THE PROGRAM, ED RADICE AND THE PARKS -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION, AND NOW CONSERVATION STAFF WHO IMPLEMENTED THE PROGRAM.
THERE'S NO GREATER LEGACY THAT WE CAN LEAVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAN CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, SERENE PLACES TO VISIT, PLACES TO HAVE RECREATION, AND ENJOY JUST THE ABSOLUTE BEAUTY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND SO I THANK YOU COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE ELAP PROGRAM, AND I THANK YOU FOR SPENDING THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THESE PROPERTIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK JAN AND SALLY EACH TO SAY A WORD.
THANK YOU.
>> I TOO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION TO -- TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY, REALLY, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE SUPPORTED IT, AND WHAT A WONDERFUL LEGACY THAT THEY ARE LEAVING TO FUTURE GENERATIONS BECAUSE ALL OF THAT LAND WILL NOT BE TOUCHED, AND IT OUGHT TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO ALL THE POLITICIANS IN OUR COUNTY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE THAT THE PUBLIC REALLY CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO VOTE TO TAX THEMSELVES TO BUY THOSE LANDS, AND SO I SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND I SAY THANK YOU TO THE VOTERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS ALL ALONG, AND I THANK GUS AND HIS TWO BOYS, WHO ARE NOW ADULTS, FOR HAVING CALLED OUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE LANDS IN OUR COUNTY THAT ARE SPECIAL AND NEED TO BE SAVED.
THANK YOU.
>> AND I TOO WANT TO ADD MY THANKS, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO MENTION THAT IT WAS I BELIEVE 1980 OR 1979 WHEN THE COUNTY PURCHASED THE BOWER TRACT, AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER PLATT, REALIZED THAT -- WELL, THE COUNTY HELPED, BUT IT WAS A STATE PROGRAM AND REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED A LOCAL PROGRAM IN ORDER TO LEVERAGE OUR OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE -- WE -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WE'RE THE SECOND PROGRAM IN THE STATE TO VOTE FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS PROGRAM, AND WE BECAME THE EXAMPLE FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE.
COMMISSIONER PLATT APPROACHED ME SOMETIME IN THE MID-'80s.
SHE HAD SPOKEN TO LARRY BROWN, WHO WAS THEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND PUT A GROUP OF US TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT COMING UP WITH A PLAN, AND I STILL CAN'T REMEMBER HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE WORD "ELAPP," BUT WE KIND OF WORKED THAT AROUND AND EVERYTHING.
ANYWAY, IT'S AMAZING WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER, AND I THANK YOU ALL AND HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT.
BYE.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF WHAT YOU -- FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES.
I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF WHAT POLICYMAKERS CAN HAVE ON A COUNTY AND NOT ONLY IN A CURRENT -- FOR A CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, FOR THE FUTURE ENVIRONMENTS, I CAN THINK OF NO GREATER POLICY THAT THE BOARD THAN -- AND THE COMMUNITY ADOPTED THAN THE ELAP PROGRAM, AND SO COMMISSIONER PLATT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LEGACIES, I THINK, YOU KNOW, MANY THINGS -- YOU'VE BEEN KNOWN FOR MANY THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN NAMED AFTER YOU, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS YOUR LEGACY THAT YOU LEAVE FROM YOUR YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE INTO OUR COMMUNITY, SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION -- AND WE'VE NEVER HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, AND I HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THIS WITH STAFF, BUT I WOULD LIKE STAFF PERHAPS TO COME BACK WITH AN APPROVED RECOMMENDATION ABOUT RENAMING ELAPP TO THE JAN PLATT ELAP PROGRAM IN RECOGNITION AND HONOR OF THE LEGACY THAT YOU HAVE LEFT TO OUR COUNTY, SO I'D LIKE FOR STAFF JUST TO COME BACK AND PERHAPS DISCUSS THAT WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND SEE IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE REMEMBER YOUR LEGACY TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH THIS PROGRAM.
>>KEN HAGAN: EXCELLENT SUGGESTION, COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEVIN BECKNER: IN FACT, I'LL MAKE THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I'LL SECOND IT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO THERE'S -- GO AHEAD.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECOND COMMISSIONER MILLER.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: VERY DESERVING.
>>KEN HAGAN: PLEASE COME FORWARD.
WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO.
>> WHAT ARE WE DOING?
>> TAKE A PHOTO.
>>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.
STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: AND NOW IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT OUR FINAL PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING, RECOGNIZING A VERY SPECIAL TEAM FROM KEYSTONE, THE KEYSTONE LITTLE LEAGUE ALL-STARS, AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE THESE YOUNG MEN TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AS I READ THEIR NAMES.
HERE WITH US THIS MORNING WE HAVE COACH JAY JACKSON, PLAYERS CHASE JACKSON, BOBBY CHRISTY -- YOU GUYS COME FORWARD, DON'T BE SHY -- DOMINIC LAFALCE, JOEY JOHNSTON, CARSON STREICHER, JUSTIN NOAH, TY BITMAN, JAKE CASWELL, BRETT SCHOESSLER, AND RYAN LOWDER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL TEAM.
THEY HAD AN UNDEFEATED SEASON WITH 18-0, OUTSCORED THEIR OPPONENTS BY OVER 170 RUNS, AND WENT AS FAR AS THIS DIVISION WILL GO, WINNING THE SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND AS SOMEONE THAT PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE BALL HERE YEARS AGO AND HAD THE UNFORTUNATE -- UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO COMPETE AGAINST A MAN BY THE NAME OF DWIGHT GOODEN, WE NEVER HAD AN UNDEFEATED SEASON AND WE ALWAYS ENDED UP GETTING OUR BUTTS KICKED BY BELMONT HEIGHTS LITTLE LEAGUE, SO I KNOW HOW CHALLENGING IT IS TO GO UNDEFEATED, AND I WANT TO -- I WANT TO THANK COACH JACKSON AND THE OTHER COACHES FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING YOU DO TEACHING THESE YOUNG MEN SOME OF LIFE'S GREATEST LESSONS, BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD, AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW I KNOW YOU ENJOY NOT BEING IN SCHOOL, SO THAT'S WHY I PUT YOU UP LAST, OKAY.
[LAUGHTER]
SO I HOPE YOU GUYS APPRECIATE THAT.
FUTURE VOTERS.
BUT --
[LAUGHTER]
-- I ALSO WANT TO THANK WITH US JOEY JOHNSTON, THE FATHER, MR. JOHNSTON, WHO WORKS AT THE TAMPA TRIBUNE WHO'S COVERED SPORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES, BUT I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK HIM AND ALL OF THE PARENTS FOR ALL OF THE SACRIFICES YOU MAKE AND ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK SO THESE YOUNG BOYS CAN PLAY BALL.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY MAKING MEMORIES AND CULTIVATING FRIENDSHIPS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME, BUT THEY'RE ALSO LEARNING SOME OF LIFE'S GREATEST LESSONS, AND SO A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS.
AND IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION WHICH SAYS, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR VICTORY AT THE SOUTHEAST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT OF STATE CHAMPIONS, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COMMENDS YOU ON YOUR OUTSTANDING UNDEFEATED SEASON.
THE KEYSTONE LITTLE LEAGUE'S ALL STARS' TEN-YEAR-OLD SQUAD WON 18 GAMES EN ROUTE TO AN UNDEFEATED SEASON, OUTSCORING OPPONENTS BY 170 RUNS, HITTING 21 HOME RUNS, ENDING NINE GAMES EARLY UNDER THE MERCY RULE, AND COMING FROM -- AND COMING FROM BEHIND IN TWO GAMES TO ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
THE KEYSTONE LITTLE LEAGUE ALL STARS' ROSTER INCLUDES ZACH BALE, TY BITMAN, JAKE CASWELL, BOBBY CHRISTY, KEATON HOWARD, CHASE JACKSON, JOEY JOHNSTON, DOMINIC LAFALCE, RYAN LOWDER, JUSTIN NOAH, BRETT SCHOESSLER, CARSON STREICHER, EVAN WYANT, AND JOHN ZELENKA.
THE TEAM MANAGER IS JAY JACKSON, WITH COACHES SHAWN BITMAN, MATT CASWELL, ROB CHRISTY, AND BOB NOAH.
THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY OFFER ITS CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KEYSTONE LITTLE LEAGUE ALL STARS FOR AN UNRIVALED BASEBALL SEASON IN A COUNTY KNOWN FOR OUTSTANDING LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING SEASON AND HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF YOUNG MEN.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY, SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND I'LL COME DOWN IN A MOMENT TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT COMMISSIONER MILLER WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
OBVIOUSLY, THESE YOUNG MEN ARE CONSISTENT BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSISTENTLY WINNING AND -- WHAT WAS IT -- I STEPPED OUT, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT WAS 18 STRAIGHT GAMES.
JOE MADDON NEEDS TO COME OVER AND SIGN YOU GUYS UP BECAUSE WE'RE IN A RUNOFF -- WE'RE IN A COMPETITION FOR A PLAYOFF AND WE CAN'T SEEM TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE RAYS, SO WOULD YOU PLEASE -- SOMEBODY CALL JOE MADDON TO COME SIGN THESE GUYS UP SO WE CAN COMPETE WITH TEXAS AND CLEVELAND.
I WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN: AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THAT'S FOR SURE.
YESTERDAY WAS A DISASTER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YEP.
THEY'RE NOT MAKING IT EASY.
>>KEN HAGAN: AND BEFORE I ASK COACH JACKSON TO SAY A FEW WORDS, I'M GOING TO HAVE THE PLAYERS MAYBE SAY THEIR NAME AND POSITION HERE.
>> JOEY JOHNSTON, PITCHER.
>> DOMINIC LAFALCE, UTILITY.
>> CHASE JACKSON, SECOND BASE.
>> JUSTIN NOAH, THIRD BASE.
>> BOBBY CHRISTY, SHORTSTOP.
>> CARSON STREICHER, FIRST BASE.
>> RYAN LOWDER, CENTERFIELD.
>> TY BITMAN, RIGHT FIELD.
>> JAKE CASWELL, LEFT FIELD.
>> BRETT SCHOESSLER, RIGHT FIELD.
>> COME ON, DAD.
[LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK THAT WAS THE POSITIONS THAT THEY WERE IN IN THE FINAL GAME, AND I GUESS THAT'S THE LAST THING THEY CAN REMEMBER, BUT THANKS FOR HAVING US.
IT'S A SPECIAL GROUP OF BOYS.
WE DO -- WE DO PLAY QUITE A BIT OF BASEBALL.
THEY PLAYED EVERY DAY IN THE SUMMER, PRACTICED EVERY DAY IN THE SUMMER, WORKED REALLY HARD, HAD AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER, WENT ALL THE WAY TO WEST VIRGINIA TO WIN THE SOUTHEAST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, AND ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PARENTS, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEM TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THEY ARE CUTE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
[LAUGHTER]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: COME ON, HAGAN, SHOW YOUR PARENTING SKILLS.
>>RUSLANA PANOV: ONE MORE TIME.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
[APPLAUSE]
>>KEN HAGAN: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, GUYS.
ENJOY YOUR TIME AWAY FROM SCHOOL.
>> YES.
[LAUGHTER]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THEY'D SIT HERE ALL DAY.
>>KEN HAGAN: NOW, MR. MERRILL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVIEW THE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YES, COMMISSIONERS.
FIRST WE HAVE AN OFF-THE-AGENDA ITEM, G-5.
IT'S A REPORT FROM INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT REGARDING STREAMLINING OF REGULATIONS INITIATED FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE ONE DELETION.
THAT'S A-15.
IT'S A PROPOSAL FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF DECEASED BODIES FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF REVISIONS.
A-6, WHICH IS AN AGREEMENT FOR THE REPAIR OF PORT SUTTON -- PORT SUTTON ROAD BRIDGES TO BRIDGE MASTERS CONSTRUCTION.
A-20 IS A PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH THE BANK OF AMERICA FOR THE PROVISION OF EPAYMENT SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES.
THE CHANGE THERE IS TO ADD THE PHRASE, "BASED ON PROJECTED CUSTOMER USAGE, NOT TO EXCEED APPROVED DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS."
AND B-2, WHICH IS REALLOCATING $100,000 DESIGNATED FOR THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER TO THE CHILDREN'S BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
THE CHANGE THERE IS TO SET IT FOR A TIME CERTAIN AT
11:00 A.M.
WE HAVE A FEW TIME CERTAINS.
STARTING AT 10:00 A.M., F-5.
IT'S TO DIRECT STAFF TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA IN DEDICATING BAYSHORE BOULEVARD IN HONOR OF SERGEANT PAUL SMITH, MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT.
THAT'S COMMISSIONER SHARPE'S ITEM.
10:15, ITEM F-3 IS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION REGARDING THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO AMEND THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHARTER REGARDING THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE RELATING TO ESTABLISHING ANOTHER SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT.
THAT'S COMMISSIONER MILLER'S ITEM.
10:30 IS ITEM B-6.
THAT'S THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDED AND RESTATED USF HEALTH HEART INSTITUTE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
10:45, B-7, RATIFYING THE PUBLISHING OF THE NOTICE OF INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR PASSENGER FERRY SERVICE AND WAIVE ANY BOARD PROCUREMENT POLICIES NECESSARY TO CONSIDER ANY PROPOSALS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE NEWLY ENACTED PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP STATUTE.
11:00 A.M., ITEM B-2 IS THE ITEM I MENTIONED ABOUT REALLOCATING $100,000 DESIGNATED FOR THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER.
RECESSING FOR LUNCH AT 11:45, RETURNING AT 1:45 WITH ITEM B-4, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SET AND ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR OCTOBER 16th AT 2:00 P.M. TO CONSIDER ENACTMENT OF THE LOCKSMITH SERVICES BUSINESS ORDINANCE.
AND FINALLY, AT 2:00 P.M. WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC HEARING, ITEM D-1.
THAT'S A PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS TO FISCAL YEARS 2011-2012 AND 2012-13 ANNUAL ACTION PLANS REQUIRED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
THOSE ARE THE CHANGES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE THE CHANGES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN: GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGES COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECOND COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN: NOW THE BOARD WILL GO INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT ANY INPUT OR CONCERN.
YOUR OPINIONS ARE VALUED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING VALUABLE INPUT TO THE BOARD; HOWEVER, IT'S REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD THAT YOU DO NOT DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS PERSONALLY AT COMMISSIONERS OR STAFF BUT RATHER THE ISSUES.
WE'VE SET ASIDE 45 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING.
WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
EACH PERSON WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES.
WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING, A BUZZER WILL GO OFF INDICATING SUCH.
THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, NORENE MILLER, CHRISTOPHER CANO, AND GERALD WHITE.
NORENE MILLER PRESENT?
PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS NORENE MILLER, AND I LIVE AT 1911 EAST CHELSEA STREET, TAMPA, FLORIDA.
I COME THIS MORNING WANTING TO THANK YOU -- THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT IN THE PAST, AND I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE ITEM B-12 ON THE AGENDA, AS WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT IN THE FUTURE AS WELL, AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT MAKES IN THE LIVES OF LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
CHRISTOPHER CANO.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER CANO.
I LIVE AT 1529 WEST RIVER LANE, AND I'M REPRESENTING THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS THIS MORNING, AND WE JUST HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION FOR THE COMMISSION ON ITEM F-3, WHICH IS THE REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
SO WHY ARE WE HERE?
[INAUDIBLE]
THE PROPOSAL IS TO CHANGE OUR 4-3 SYSTEM TO A 5-2 SYSTEM.
PART OF THE REASON WAS COMMENTS FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY ABOUT WANTING THE MINORITY ACCESS DISTRICT OVER ISSUES OF RETROGRESSION OF THEIR VOTING POWER IN THE 2011 REDISTRICTING, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS ACTUALLY THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA IN FLORIDA THAT DOESN'T HAVE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, AND THE 5-2 SYSTEM, I COMMEND COMMISSIONER MILLER FOR BEING FORWARD-THINKING AND THINKING OF THE COMMUNITY AND REQUESTING A MINORITY ACCESS DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK EVEN FURTHER AT IT BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ANOTHER MINORITY GROWS SO LARGE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ASK FOR THE SAME THING?
AND WE CAN SOLVE THESE ISSUES OF MINORITY ACCESS DISTRICTS BY MOVING TO A SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD, ONE, CREATE A SMALLER CONSTITUENCY FOR ALL OF YOU AND, TWO, WOULD HOLD THE COMMISSION MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO A SMALLER CONSTITUENCY TO ITS -- TO ITS, YOU KNOW, CONSTITUENTS, TO THE PEOPLE, BUT NUMBER THREE, TO GO EVEN SO FARTHER AS TO SAY WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE ISSUE ANYMORE.
AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE NAYSAYERS THAT SAY THEY -- YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE WANTED TO CHANGE THINGS, THEY SHOULD HAVE WENT TO THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME FOR MORE MINORITIES TO COME ABOARD.
HEY, WE SETTLED THIS IN 2011 WHEN WE ADOPTED THE REDISTRICTING, BUT AS I SAID, THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO THIS.
NOW, WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD, IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE REDISTRICTING SYSTEM, WE DON'T CHANGE THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW?
WELL, OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE GERRYMANDERING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE ISSUES, THERE'S DEFINITELY A POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL ACTION TAKEN ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, AND THE WORST PART IS IS THAT WHENEVER YOU SEE LEGAL ACTION IN REDISTRICTING CASES SUCH AS THIS -- AND YOU CAN VIEW THE CASE PRECEDENT FOR YOURSELVES -- THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED, AND THEY COULD ADD NINE, 14 DISTRICTS IF THEY WANTED TO.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS THE FEDERAL COURTS DECIDING, YOU KNOW, HOW WE REDISTRICT.
I'M ALL FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, YOU, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, HAVING A VOICE IN REDISTRICTING BECAUSE WE ELECTED YOU DEMOCRATICALLY.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR TODAY IS NOT JUST THAT WE LOOK AT A 5-2 SYSTEM BUT THAT WE CONSIDER SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS.
IT WILL MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.
WE'LL HAVE SMALLER DISTRICTS, EACH NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE REPRESENTED PROPERLY, BUT MORE THAN THAT, YOU GUYS ALL GET A RESET ON YOUR TERM LIMITS, SO EVERYBODY WOULD GET TO RUN FOR ANOTHER EIGHT YEARS.
SO I THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS SITUATION.
IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF A MINORITY ACCESS DISTRICT.
I APPRECIATE THE 5-2 PLAN COMMISSIONER MILLER HAS.
I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES, AND THIS IS A SOLUTION THAT NO ONE HAS REALLY THOUGHT OF.
LET'S THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND LET'S SEE ABOUT MAKING EVERYBODY HAPPY AND REACHING ACROSS THE AISLES.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, COMMISSIONERS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
GERALD WHITE.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.
GERALD WHITE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM F-3, F-5, AND A-24, COMMISSIONER SHARPE'S ISSUE RELATED TO STUDYING THE MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT POLICIES AND WORKING WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA. I STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT.
WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS, SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE ALPHA -- EXCUSE ME -- BRAVO 5.
F-3, THE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT ISSUES, I THINK -- I SUPPORT A WORKSHOP, BUT I'M NOT READY TO COMMIT AS A CITIZEN TO ANY PARTICULAR NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS.
WE MUST REMEMBER WE ARE MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS POLITICAL, IT'S RAW, IT'S REAL, IT'S DIRECT, IT'S A POLITICAL BODY WITH A $3.3-BILLION BUDGET THAT HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE WORKSHOP LOOKING AT COVERAGE OF THE HISPANIC CITIZENS, BUT WE MUST ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE SUPREME COURT HAVE STRUCK DOWN PROTECTIONS FOR MINORITY CITIZENS, AND SO I'M STRONGLY CONCERNED ABOUT OPENING UP ANY PUBLIC DIALOGUE OR OPENING UP THE BOOKS RELATED TO CHANGES OF DISTRICTS WITHOUT ANY REAL FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR MINORITY CITIZENS, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE HOW EVERYTHING WORKS OUT, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL HELP.
MIKE MERRILL, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S, GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO ANY KIND OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT WILL COME FORWARD, AND SO WITH HIS PROFESSIONALISM, WITH HIS NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ASSOCIATIONS, I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL BE STRONGLY IMPACTING ANY KIND OF PUBLIC -- POSITIVE PUBLIC POLICY ALONG WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND MARY HELEN FARRIS, SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT.
THE NAMING OF THE BUILDING OF FORMER COUNTY SHERIFF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SHERIFF, DAVID GEE.
I HAVE A MATTER OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
MY DAUGHTER, GERYAH, G-E-R-Y-A-H, WHITE, SHE GRANTED ME PERMISSION TO LET YOU-ALL KNOW CAPTAIN WHITE JUST RECEIVED HER MASTER'S DEGREE FROM AMERICAN MILITARY UNIVERSITY, AND THE DEGREE IS IN SECURITY MANAGEMENT WITH HONORS, AND SO WE'RE PROUD OF GERYAH AND ALL OF OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO ARE SERVING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
SHE JUST CAME BACK FROM A THREE-YEAR TOUR OF DUTY OVERSEAS.
SHE'S NOW IN GEORGIA IN OFFICER'S TRAINING, AND SO IN JUST A FEW MORE MONTHS SHE'LL BE OUT AND ABOUT SERVING OUR NATION AGAIN.
SO LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT THE, SURE, WAR IS OVER, BUT WE STILL HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY SERVING OUR COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR SMART, EDUCATED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COULD DO ANYTHING IN THE WORLD WITH THEIR BACKGROUND, AND SHE CHOSE MILITARY, SO WE STRONGLY SUPPORT HER.
MAY GOD BLESS HER AND KEEP HER IN HER DUTIES TO OUR NATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO, COMMISSIONERS.
GOD BLESS.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, GERALD.
YOU MUST BE PROUD OF YOUR DAUGHTER.
>> VERY PROUD.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GREAT.
THANK YOU.
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE KEN KUPGERMAN, DARRELL JOHNSON, AND DAVID McCALLISTER.
KEN.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KEN KUPFERMAN, 13908 NORTH FLORIDA AVENUE IN TAMPA.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE FLORIDA WEST COAST LOCKSMITH'S ASSOCIATION MEMBERS, WHICH IS BASED HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND IS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED LOCKSMITH ORDINANCE.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PUBLICITY ABOUT HOW SOME POSING AS LOCKSMITHS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CONSUMERS IN NEED.
IF YOU LOOK ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF LISTINGS FOR LOCKSMITHS JUST IN THIS AREA, WHEN IN REALITY THERE IS LESS THAN 100.
THESE LISTINGS ARE POSTED TO FOOL THE CONSUMER INTO THINKING THEY ARE DEALING WITH LOCAL COMPANIES, WHEN THEY ARE ACTUALLY CALLING OUT-OF-STATE COMPANIES THAT QUOTE LOW PRICES BUT END UP CHARGING WAY MORE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND DO SUBSTANDARD WORK.
THE LOCKSMITH INDUSTRY IS NOT CURRENTLY REGULATED, EVEN THOUGH OTHER PROFESSIONS LIKE BARBERS, INTERIOR DECORATORS, AND HOME INSPECTORS ARE.
WE DEAL WITH CONSUMER SECURITY, WHICH HAS -- WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTROLLED A LONG TIME AGO TO KEEP -- TO KEEP CRIMINALS OUT OF OUR INDUSTRY.
WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE HILLSBOROUGH CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR ALLOWING US TO HELP WRITE THIS ORDINANCE AND MAKE IT INTO SOMETHING THAT WE AGREE WITH AND ENDORSE.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR COMING.
DARRELL JOHNSON.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS DARRELL JOHNSON, 8410 TEMPLE TERRACE HIGHWAY.
MY ITEM WAS DELETED, SO I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE WITHOUT SAYING HELLO.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OH.
WELL, THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
DAVID McCALLISTER.
GOOD MORNING, DAVID.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
COULD I HAVE SOME OF HIS TIME?
AS YOU KNOW -- OH, DAVID McCALLISTER, POST OFFICE BOX 7343, WESLEY CHAPEL.
AS YOU KNOW, I USUALLY COME HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR PROPER RECOGNITION OF HILLSBOROUGH VETERANS AND HILLSBOROUGH HISTORY, AND I KNOW YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THIS SORT OF TOPIC BECAUSE THERE'S THE RECENT BEALSVILLE MARKER THAT'S BEEN PUT UP IN THE ITEM A-3 ON THE AGENDA FOR BEALSVILLE -- EXCUSE ME -- TO RECEIVE A HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GRANT, AND I LOVE THAT PROGRAM.
AND ALSO F-5, WHICH IS REGARDING HONORING VETERANS AND ESPECIALLY MEDAL OF HONOR VETERANS AND EXPLORE POLICIES FOR RECOGNIZING ALL OUR FALLEN HEROES, AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THESE HEROES SHOULD INCLUDE THE MEN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHO DEFENDED US AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA 150 YEARS AGO IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES, AND I'M HOPING PERHAPS THAT THE NEW DIVERSITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE A SAY IN THIS.
NOW, CURRENTLY THERE IS A REQUEST FOR A PROCLAMATION GOING AROUND THE COMMISSION, AND I DON'T HAVE CURRENT NEWS OF ITS PROGRESS RIGHT NOW, BUT BASICALLY, IT'S FOR AN EVENT OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES CALLED THE BATTLE OF BALLAST POINT OR THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER RAID, WHICH OCCURRED 150 YEARS AGO THIS OCTOBER AND WILL BE REENACTED AT HILLSBOROUGH VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5th, AND SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 6th.
THIS EVENT AND THE PROCLAMATION FOR IT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE HILLSBOROUGH MEMORIAL PARK AND MUSEUM COMMITTEE AND ESPECIALLY THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES SUBCOMMITTEE.
NUMBER TWO, THE TAMPA BAY SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION; NUMBER THREE, THE REENACTORS OF THE USS FORT HENRY AND ESPECIALLY LEW ZERFAS, WHO'S ORGANIZING THE FIGHTING PART OF THE EVENT; NUMBER FOUR, THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS AND MYSELF AS COMMANDER OF THE JUDAH P. BENJAMIN CAMP, NUMBER 2210; NUMBER FIVE, THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY AND AUGUSTA JANE EVANS WILSON CHAPTER, NUMBER 2640; AND NUMBER 6, THE SONS OF UNION VETERANS AND LARRY OPPENHEIMER, THE COMMANDER OF THE WHITE HORSE CAMP NUMBER 1 OF THE SONS OF UNION VETERANS HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, MULTIPARTISAN-SUPPORTED EVENT.
OKAY.
IT'S AN EVENT WHICH -- WHICH WE HOPE WILL GROW INTO AN ANNUAL REAL ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND TOURIST DRAW AND SHOWCASE OUR SOON-TO-BE WORLD-CLASS VETERANS PARK, AND YOU THAT HAVE BEEN THERE KNOW THAT IT'S REALLY COMING ALONG, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT SHOWS THAT WE HONOR OUR VETERANS.
AS I SAY, HOW WE HONOR THE VETERANS OF 150 YEARS AGO WILL BE HOW OUR VETERANS OF TODAY WILL BE HONORED 150 YEARS FROM NOW, INCLUDING MS. WHITE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: FOR A QUICK QUESTION.
DID I HEAR YOU CLEARLY SAY THAT THIS IS A REENACTMENT THAT IS BEING SUPPORTED AND HAVING PARTICIPANTS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE BATTLE, BOTH THE UNION AND THE CONFEDERACY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IN FACT, THE USS HENRY IS ACTUALLY A FEDERAL SHIP THAT THAT GROUP IS NAMED IN HONOR OF OVER IN PINELLAS COUNTY, LEW ZERFAS' GROUP.
>>VICTOR CRIST: SO IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC EVENT THAT CATERS TO EITHER SIDE OF THE BATTLE BUT ONE THAT JUST RECOGNIZES A PART OF HISTORY OF WHICH A BATTLE DID TAKE PLACE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BOTH SIDES -- ACTUALLY BOTH SIDES CLAIMED VICTORY AND BOTH SIDES HAVE A RIGHT TO CLAIM IT.
IF YOU COME OUT AND LISTEN OR LEARN THE TRUE HISTORY OF THIS VERY CURIOUS EVENT IN TAMPA'S HISTORY OR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S HISTORY --
>>VICTOR CRIST: AND THERE WERE AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND AMERICAN CITIZENS THAT WERE KILLED ON BOTH SIDES DURING THAT CONFLICT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS YOU MAY KNOW, EVEN THE CONFEDERATE VETERANS ARE TO BE ACCORDED ALL THE HONORS OF THE UNITED STATES VETERANS ACCORDING TO UNITED STATES CONGRESS, THE VA, AND THE PENTAGON.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU.
>> THEY'RE ALL UNITED STATES VETERANS NOW.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. McCALLISTER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN: NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, ED TILLOU, MARIA ASUNCION LOPEZ, AND GREGORY SPEARMAN.
GOOD MORNING, MR. TILLOU.
>> OKAY.
I'M ED, ED TILLOU, SULPHUR SPRING.
I'M JUST SPEAKING FROM HERE BECAUSE THERE'S A TIME THING HERE, WHEREAS ELSEWHERE NOT.
IT'S GOOD THAT LAST RECOGNIZED SONS OF UNION VETERANS BECAUSE THIS SHOWS THAT THESE ARE HISTORIC EVENTS.
THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A PARTICULAR BIAS.
OKAY.
WITH RESPECT TO THE ITEMS I WAS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT, THAT'S BECAUSE OF A HANDICAP CONFERENCE THAT WAS RECENTLY, BUT I'LL POSTPONE THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THAT AND ANOTHER ONE WERE DEVELOPED DURING THE COMMEMORATIONS, AND THE FIRST ONE WAS THAT SOME COUNTY EMPLOYEES HAD POSTPONEMENT OF ADVANCEMENTS OF -- THEY WERE NOT GETTING A PAY INCREASE.
WELL, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS WITH STATE OF MARYLAND, AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST TOOK IT LIKE, HEY, I'M GETTING A PAYCHECK WHEN A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING ANY, AND THAT WAS ENOUGH BECAUSE IN MARYLAND, THERE'S MORE COMMEMORATION OF THE BATTLE OF NORTH POINT WHEN THE CIVILIANS HAD TO DO AGAINST THE BRITISH BECAUSE THERE WASN'T AN ARMY UNIT TO DO IT, SO THERE'S A LOT EXPECTED OF THE INDIVIDUALS THERE IT'S JUST WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S A MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF STATE ENGINEERS AND ROAD SUPERINTENDENTS AND SUCH, BUT AT SOME POINT WE GOT OUR PAY INCREASE, AND MAYBE BECAUSE I WASN'T ALL UPSET, I HAVE BAD MENTAL ATTITUDE.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS -- THERE ISN'T A FORUM FOR A LOT OF THAT STUFF IN MARYLAND.
THAT'S TO SAY THERE'S LESS PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY, BUT YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF PSEUDO PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY.
ONE CASE IN POINT OF THAT WAS THE BASS PRO ISSUE, WHICH I SAID I WAS ACTUALLY NEUTRAL ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST THOUGHT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INCORPORATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RATHER THAN AUTOMOBILES IN THAT WHOLE PROJECT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT DID CONTRIBUTE TO URBAN SPRAWL BECAUSE OF THAT BIAS.
AND THE THING IS IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN, YOU HAVE TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT CAME OUT DURING THE BASS PRO, LIKE THIS WILL PROVIDE JOBS FOR PEOPLE FROM, FOR INSTANCE, THE DISTRICT I'M IN, BUT THEY DIDN'T LISTEN CARE -- THERE WASN'T A LOT OF CAREFUL LISTENING TO WHAT THE GUY FROM BASS PRO WAS SAYING.
HE SAID THEY ENDEAVOR TO HIRE PEOPLE THAT KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT HUNTING AND FISHING, SO WHAT'S CALLED FOR AT THIS POINT IS GO TO THE BOY SCOUTS AND GET MORE ATTENTION TO THE MERIT BADGES FOR HUNTING AND FISHING BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU, MOST OF THE KIDS AROUND SULPHUR SPRING AND SUCH, THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HUNTING AND FISHING.
OH, SURE, THEY KNOW ABOUT GUNS, GO OUT AND SHOOT SOMEBODY DOWN THE STREET OR SOMETHING.
SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM, THEY DO NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HUNTING AND FISHING.
WELL, ANYWAY, THAT'S MY TIME, SO I WON'T GET TO THE HANDICAP FORUM THAT WASN'T A FORUM AT ALL, IT WAS A PANEL
DISCUSSION --
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. TILLOU.
>> -- BUT I'LL COME TO THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, SIR.
MARIA ASUNCION LOPEZ, GREGORY SPEARMAN, VICTOR DiMAIO.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MARIA ASUNCION LOPEZ.
I LIVE AT 416 KINGS PATH DRIVE, SEFFNER, FLORIDA 33584.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF VOZ Y ACCION DE PUERTO RICO, VOICE AND ACTION OF PUERTO RICO, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION ON HOW TO TAKE ACTION TO HELP OUR COUNTRY AND THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE IN REGARDING SEVERAL CRUCIAL ASPECTS OF SOCIETY.
WE ARE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING OURSELVES.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOR OPENING THE DOOR TO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON COMMISSIONER MILLER'S PROPOSAL.
OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMISSIONER BECKNER FOR HIS ONGOING SUPPORT OF OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY FROM THE BEGINNING AND FOR MENTIONING IN THE PREVIOUS HEARING THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THIS EFFORT WILL ACTUALLY LEAD TO THE REALIZATION OF A HISPANIC DISTRICT.
OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMISSIONER MILLER FOR HIS PROPOSAL TO GET US CLOSER TO THAT GOAL.
WE'RE HERE IN SUPPORT OF HIS PROPOSAL FOR FIVE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS AND TWO AT-LARGE, WHICH WILL ALLOW CITIZENS AND GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A MORE EFFICIENT INTERACTION AND WILL INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A HISPANIC DISTRICT.
IT WOULD ALSO BE A REASONABLE CHANGE TO THE ACTUAL COMPOSITION OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
TODAY OUR ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE ON THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND THAT THIS CALLS ON THE EFFORTS TOWARD COMPLETION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BELONG TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE MORE THAN 306,635 HISPANICS WHO REPRESENT 70% OF THE POPULATION GROWTH IN RECENT YEARS.
TO EACH OF THE VOTERS OF PAST AND FUTURE ELECTIONS, TO EACH PERSON WHO CANNOT VOTE BUT WHO HAS GENUINELY CONTRIBUTED THEIR SWEAT AND HARD WORK TO THE PROGRESS AND CONSOLIDATION -- CONSOLIDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY TO ALL INDIVIDUALS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE RECOGNIZED THE NEED AND THE RIGHT OF HISPANICS TO HAVE A FAIR REPRESENTATION IN THE GOVERNMENT AND TO EACH REPORTER WHO HAS BEEN AN INTRINSIC PART OF THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GOAL BECOMES A REALITY THAT WILL MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER AND MORE PROSPEROUS FOR YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MS. LOPEZ.
GREGORY SPEARMAN, VICTOR DiMAIO, ROBERT NELSON.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD THIS MORNING.
MY NAME IS GREGORY SPEARMAN.
I'M DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA AND APPOINTEE TO THE COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON ITEM B-12, WHICH WAS REGARDING THE COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT FUNDING.
THE COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD IS A TRIPARTITE BOARD CONSISTING OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND LOW-INCOME SECTORS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD, TECO, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THE CITY OF TAMPA.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOARD IS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT AND DIRECTION IN TERMS OF THE EXPENDITURE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT FUNDING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY STAFF IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME CITIZENS.
SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVIDED INCLUDE FINANCIAL LITERACY, JOB TRAINING, PLACEMENT, CLASSES LEADING TO OBTAINING A GED, AND APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING.
ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, ALL OF THESE AREAS HELP TO LEAD TO LOW-INCOME CITIZENS BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS THE LARGEST COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND, THEREFORE, HAS A HUGE POTENTIAL TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS SUPPORTED THIS PROGRAM OVER MANY YEARS, AND WITH THE TIGHTENING ECONOMY, WE ARE ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY TO CONTINUE YOUR SUPPORT OF FUNDING OF COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT FUNDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, AND WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND APPROVAL ON ITEM B-12.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEARMAN.
VICTOR DiMAIO, ROBERT NELSON, WILLIAM POSEY.
GOOD MORNING, MR. DiMAIO.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
VICTOR DiMAIO, 4925 INDEPENDENCE PARKWAY.
I'M HERE AS COFOUNDER OF THE HILLSBOROUGH HISPANIC COALITION, WHICH I FOUNDED ALONG WITH DR. LYDIA MEDRANO LAST YEAR -- IT'S A FLORIDA NONPROFIT NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION --
DR. MEDRANO, MYSELF, AND NORMA RENO, WHO'S OUR REPUBLICAN COUNTERPART ON THE COMMITTEE, ALONG WITH CHRIS CANO.
WE FORMED THIS COMMITTEE DURING THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS LAST YEAR HOPING TO BRING SOME EQUITY INTO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE 300,000 HISPANICS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY OUT OF 1.2 MILLION.
THAT MEANS ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR CITIZENS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS HISPANIC.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE COMMISSIONERS HERE, THERE'S NO ONE HERE THAT SPEAKS FLUENT SPANISH.
IF A HISPANIC PERSON HAS A PROBLEM WITH A COMMISSIONER, THEY CAN'T ALWAYS RUN TO TONY MOREJON BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE WORD "COMMISSIONER" BY HIS NAME.
IT'S AN INEQUITY THAT I THINK WE COULD BEGIN TO SOLVE TODAY, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONER MILLER'S COURAGEOUS PROPOSAL UNDER F-3 TO BRING THIS FORWARD AND TRY TO BRING EQUITY.
WE -- OUR GROUP IS -- WAS FOUNDED TO FORM A SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE HAVE THREE COMMISSIONERS HERE WHO SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE UNDER A SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT PLAN, AND SOMEHOW WE SURVIVED.
WE ALL DID AN ADMIRABLE JOB UNDER A SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT PLAN.
AND I WANT TO POINT OUT ONE THING, UNDER THE MULTIMEMBER DISTRICT PLAN, WHICH IS WHAT THE COUNTYWIDE DISTRICTS REPRESENT.
YEARS AGO BEFORE WE CHANGED THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION, WE HAD ONE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA WHO WAS HISPANIC, AND THAT WAS ELVIN MARTINEZ.
HE SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR 24 YEARS.
THE ONE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA WHO WAS HISPANIC WAS ELVIN MARTINEZ FOR 24 YEARS, UNTIL WE CHANGED TO SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, AND NOW YOU LOOK AT THE LEGISLATURE, WE HAVE WOMEN, WE HAVE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WE HAVE HISPANICS.
IT'S MORE OF A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT FLORIDA'S ABOUT, AND I -- AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT SOMEHOW WE GET THROUGH THIS PROPOSAL AND SUPPORT COMMISSIONER MILLER'S PLAN, AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THAT -- IN THAT REGARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, ROBERT NELSON, WILLIAM POSEY, AND MARGARET PATTERSON.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS ROBERT NELSON.
I LIVE AT 3022 PEMBERTON TRACE COURT, PLANT CITY, FLORIDA.
THIS IS IN EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
TO THE NORTH OF ME IS SAM ALLEN, TO THE SOUTH OF ME IS THONOTOSASSA ROAD.
I'M HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT OF TRASH TALK.
SOMETIME AGO THERE WAS AN APPROVAL FOR THE COLLECTION OF GARBAGE BY AUTOMATION.
I LIVE ON A PRIVATE ROAD FOR WHICH WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR GARBAGE, TRASH, UP TO THE MAIN ROAD, WHICH IS WALLACE BRANCH ROAD.
I HAVE FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS TRYING TO GET SOME EARS TO LISTEN TO THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THE SMALL COMMUNITY FOR WHICH WE LIVE.
WHERE I LIVE WE SHARE A COMMON DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS 46 FEET WIDE.
IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT ONE OF THE PICTURES THAT I HAVE HERE, THIS IS WHAT WE -- WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THAT'S ONLY THREE RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE SEVEN DOWN THIS PRIVATE ROAD.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE ENOUGH SPACE.
TO PUT OUT ALL SEVEN OF THESE UNITS, IT WOULD TAKE 72 FEET.
NOW, WHEN I ATTENDED THE MEETING, WHICH WAS HELD AT STRAWBERRY CREST, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE TWO CONTAINERS, THREE FEET.
THAT'S A LOT OF SPACE.
WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
IF HE WOULD SHOW THE NEXT PICTURE.
TO THE LEFT, THIS IS A DITCH.
OUR DRIVEWAY, WE DRIVE OVER A CULVERT.
TO THE NORTH -- THIS IS TO THE SOUTH.
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY.
AT THAT LEVEL THERE, THERE'S NOTHING -- NO FLAT SURFACE OTHER THAN THE ROAD OF WALLACE BRANCH.
IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.
I'M STANDING NOW.
THAT'S MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE TO THE BACK OF ME.
I'M STANDING THERE, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE OVERGROWTH IS.
WE CANNOT PLACE THOSE CANS OUT.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
SO I'M HERE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.
I'VE CALLED MY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.
ELI WAS VERY KIND.
SHE STEERED ME TO SOLID WASTE, FOR WHICH NOW I'M STILL WAITING ON AN ANSWER.
OCTOBER 1st IS NOT TOO LONG FROM NOW, SO, PLEASE, I NEED YOUR HELP.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. NELSON.
IF YOU COULD JUST COME OVER HERE, PLEASE, AND MIKE, IF WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE GET WITH THIS GENTLEMAN AND ADDRESS HIS CONCERNS, PLEASE.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, MR. NELSON.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: WILLIAM POSEY, MARGARET PATTERSON, TRISTIN BITNER.
GOOD MORNING, MR. POSEY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, AND GOOD MORNING TO THE PUBLIC.
MY ADDRESS IS 8121 NORTHWEST 47th STREET IN OCALA, FLORIDA, BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A PETITION TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND TO THE DIRECTOR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES CONCERNING OWNER SURRENDERS.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
BELLA WAS AN OWNER-SURRENDERED CAT.
THE SIGNATURES AND OPINIONS OF 5,000-PLUS PEOPLE ON THIS PETITION IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS SHOW THAT A LOT OF PUBLIC -- A LOT OF THE PUBLIC IS CONCERNED.
READING RECENT SUPPORTS SUBMITTED TO YOU BY THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA VETERINARIAN STAFF, I SEE THEY REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSIONS WE ARE SUGGESTING IN OUR PETITION.
IT SEEMS THE PUBLIC AND THE VETERINARIAN PROFESSIONALS ARE IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT ON THE ISSUE.
BELLA WAS A MUCH BELOVED FAMILY PET, AND SHE WAS ILLEGALLY SURRENDERED -- I HAVE A COPY OF THE FORM -- AND KILLED IN LESS THAN 43 HOURS.
THIS, DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF SEVERAL IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO SAVE HER, KILLED NOT FOR LACK OF SPACE, NOT TO CONTROL AN EPIDEMIC IN THE CAT ROOMS, BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY COULD.
IF SHE HAD RECEIVED FIVE DAYS, THE AMOUNT OF TIMES AWARDED TO STRAYS, HER LEGAL OWNER WOULD HAVE RECLAIMED HER, BUT FOR ONGOING OBSTRUCTIVE POLICIES SUCH AS NOT KEEPING CATS IN THE FRONT CAGES WHERE THEY CAN BE SEEN, RESCUERS COULD NOT SAVE HER LIFE.
I'VE CREATED CDs FOR ALL OF THE BOCC MEMBERS, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND THE ANIMAL SHELTER DIRECTOR.
THEY GO INTO MUCH GREATER DETAIL THAN I CAN THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS.
I URGE YOU TO TAKE 15 MINUTES TODAY OR TOMORROW, WATCH, LISTEN, AND LEARN ABOUT BELLA, ONE CAT, ONE OF 160 OWNER SURRENDERS WHO MET THE SAME FATE IN LESS THAN FIVE DAYS DURING THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS IN YOUR ANIMAL SHELTER.
WE HOPE YOUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CONDITION FOR OWNER-SURRENDERED CATS DON'T GET LOST IN MANY COMMITTEES, AS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE CASE WITH BE THE WAY HOME.
PEOPLE ARE JUDGING YOU, AND AT THE PRESENT TIME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. POSEY.
>> WHERE CAN I LEAVE THIS INFORMATION FOR YOU FOLKS?
>>KEN HAGAN: RIGHT OVER HERE.
>> I HAVE DISKS FOR EVERYONE.
>>KEN HAGAN: YES, SIR.
RIGHT OVER HERE WITH THE CLERK.
>> OKAY.
FINE.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>>KEN HAGAN: MARGARET PATTERSON, TRISTIN BITNER, AND NICHOLAS PLUMMER.
GOOD MORNING, MS. PATTERSON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M MARGARET PATTERSON.
I LIVE AT 2159 RIVER TURIA CIRCLE IN RIVERVIEW, FLORIDA.
A SITUATION SIMILAR TO BELLA'S HAPPENED TO ME OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
MY MOTHER WAS A PERSON THAT ENJOYED FEEDING CATS, AND AS A RESULT, IT ATTRACTED MANY NEIGHBORHOOD CATS.
SOME OF THEM STAYED AND WE NAMED THEM, MILO, BLACKY, AND AMANDA.
I SAW TO IT THAT THEY WERE SPAYED, NEUTERED, VACCINATED, AND THEY WERE REGISTERED WITH THE TAGS IN MY NAME.
EACH YEAR I WOULD GET THEM VACCINATED AND RENEW THEIR TAGS.
ONE DAY, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, MY MOTHER CALLED ANIMAL SERVICES TO PICK UP MILO, BLACKY, AND AMANDA.
WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK AND FOUND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED ANIMAL SERVICES TO SEE ABOUT RETRIEVING MY CATS.
I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD BEEN PUT DOWN AS SOON AS THEY WERE BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THEY WERE OWNER SURRENDERS.
WHEN I TOLD THE PERSON ON THE PHONE THAT I WAS THE OWNER, SHE SEEMED SURPRISED BECAUSE, OF COURSE, MY MOTHER HAD TOLD THEM THAT SHE WAS THE OWNER.
THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING I COULD DO.
MILO, BLACKY, AND AMANDA WERE DEAD.
IT WAS TOO LATE FOR THEM, JUST LIKE IT WAS TOO LATE FOR BELLA THAT MR. POSEY TOLD YOU ABOUT, BUT IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR FUTURE OWNER SURRENDERS.
IF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES WOULD INSTITUTE A PROPER HOLD TIME FOR OWNER SURRENDERS, TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS COULD BE PREVENTED.
PLEASE GIVE THESE OWNER SURRENDERS A CHANCE, THE SAME CHANCE OTHER CATS ARE GIVEN, A CHANCE FOR THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS TO CLAIM THEM OR A CHANCE FOR THEM TO BE ADOPTED INTO A NEW HOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MS. PATTERSON.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>>KEN HAGAN: TRISTIN BITNER, NICHOLAS PLUMMER, KALI PLUMMER.
GOOD MORNING, MS. BITNER.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME'S TRISTIN BITNER.
I LIVE AT 6350 92nd PLACE, PINELLAS PARK, FLORIDA, AND TODAY I'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ON THE AFTER-HOUR HOLD REQUESTS FOR RESCUES THAT ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED FOR CATS.
THERE ARE MANY ISSUES, BUT THIS IS THE ONE I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON SINCE THEY HAVE FOCUSED ON THE OWNER SURRENDERS.
THIS IS AN INJUSTICE ON ALL ACCOUNTS.
THE WHOLE IDEA OF A RESCUE HOLD IS THAT IT BE ALLOWED AFTER HOURS.
THE EUTHANASIA LIST IS RELEASED AND A RESCUE HOLD SWEEPS IN AT THE LAST MINUTE TO SAVE DEATH-ROW CATS.
IT IS ALLOWED FOR THE DOGS BUT NOT FOR THE CATS.
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS THAT SOME CATS ARE NOT TAKEN OFF HOLD UNTIL THE VERY END OF THE DAY AT 6:30.
WELL, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW IS THAT THE CUTOFF FOR RESCUE HOLDS IS 6:00, SO THAT DOES NOT GIVE ANY TIME FOR RESCUES TO PUT IN A HOLD REQUEST.
THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY, THEN, FOR RESCUES TO SAVE THEM.
WHEN RESCUE HOLDS ARE PLACED ANYTIME AFTER 6:00, THEY'RE NOT HONORED, SO THERE'S NO WAY TO SAVE THESE CATS IF THEY'RE PUT ON THE LIST AT 6:30, EVEN THOUGH THE SHELTER IS STILL OPEN UNTIL 7:00.
THERE ARE EVEN TIMES, FOR INSTANCE, JUST RECENTLY A YOUNG KITTEN, GABBY, NOT EVEN SIX MONTHS OLD, SHE WAS STILL
ALIVE -- SHE WAS PUT ON THE EUTHANASIA LIST, BUT SHE WAS STILL ALIVE THE NEXT MORNING, AND A RESCUE PLACED A CALL THAT MORNING TO SAVE HER.
NO CHANCE.
THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW IT.
WHY IS THAT?
WHY ARE THEY NOT ALLOWING RESCUES TO SAVE THESE CATS?
WE WORK SO HARD BEHIND THE SCENES.
WE FALL IN LOVE WITH THESE CATS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO FOSTER AND ADOPT THESE CATS.
WE WORK DILIGENTLY FOR HOURS AND WE WATCH THESE CATS, WE FOLLOW THEM ON-LINE, AND WE ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, ANIMAL ADVOCATES, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN WE WORK SO HARD AND LOVE THESE CATS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE FOR THEM THAT THEY ARE KILLED SENSELESSLY AND WHY PETS THAT ARE OWNER SURRENDERS ARE NOT GIVEN AS MUCH TIME AS A STRAY CAT WHEN THEY WOULD BE A BETTER PET.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MS. BITNER.
NICHOLAS PLUMMER, KALI PLUMMER.
>> YES, SIR.
CAN I ALLOW MY WIFE TO GO FIRST?
>>KEN HAGAN: SURE.
GOOD MORNING.
>> LADIES FIRST.
GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KALI PLUMMER.
I RESIDE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
SPECIFICALLY I WANTED TO ADDRESS TODAY THE ITEM 10081 TO BE REVIEWED FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION.
THIS IS AN ITEM TO REVIEW AND IDENTIFY GAPS IN SECURITY AT THE COUNTY CENTER, THIS VERY BUILDING THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MISHANDLING OF A GUN AT THE EDGECOMB COURTHOUSE INVOLVING THE SAME CONTRACTOR THAT YOU HAVE AT THIS BUILDING RIGHT HERE.
DURING SOME RESEARCH OF CONTRACTORS, I DISCOVERED THAT AN ARMED GUARD THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO THIS BUILDING, ACCORDING TO RECORDS, WAS APPARENTLY NOT APPROVED TO BE WORKING THE CONTRACT, YET HE WAS ALLOWED TO WORK THIS BUILDING AND TO ENTER THE TWIGGS STREET COURTHOUSE WITH A GUN, I MIGHT ADD MORE THAN ONCE.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GAP IN SECURITY.
HOW DO I KNOW THIS?
I HAVE A COPY OF THE DIVISION OF LICENSING REPORT THAT DETAILS THE INCIDENT, REPORT NUMBER 1003811 WHERE ZANE SYKES MISHANDLED A GUN IN THE BREAK ROOM.
THERE WERE SEVERAL WITNESSES, AND THE WEAPON WAS POINTED IN THEIR DIRECTION, PUTTING THEM AND WHO KNOWS WHO ELSE IN HARM'S WAY.
THEN THE GUN WAS CONFISCATED BY ROBERT SPOONER, RETIRED, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND HE REPORTS HE WAITED UNTIL HE GOT HOME TO CHECK OUT THE MAGAZINES AND REPORT THAT THE GUN WAS THEN -- THERE WAS NOT A ROUND CHAMBERED, APPARENTLY NOT MAKING THE GUN SAFE.
I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ATTAIN ANY DOCUMENTATION THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS ACTUALLY EVEN REPORTED TO THE SHERIFF GEE OR OTHER DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS, SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME AT THIS POINT IT WAS NOT.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GAP IN SECURITY.
ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF'S CONTRACT WITH G4S SOLUTIONS, THERE ARE PENALTIES FOR NOT FOLLOWING SOP, SUCH AS REPORT UNUSUAL OCCURRENCES, UNAUTHORIZED OR UNQUALIFIED PERSONNEL, REQUIREMENTS TO RESPOND TO PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS, AND TO FOLLOW ALL LAWS, STATUTES, AND REGULATIONS.
OH, DID I MENTION THERE WAS A GUN IN THE COURTHOUSE?
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GAP IN SECURITY.
IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT EVENTS POSSIBLY INVOLVING SECURITY ISSUES, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AND, AT LEAST IN THIS ONE CASE, WERE NOT FOLLOWED.
PLEASE DON'T POSTPONE 10081 ITEM AND REMEMBER, THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT ONLY TAKES ONE MINUTE, AS -- MISTAKE AS WE KNOW.
PLEASE EXPAND 10081 COUNTYWIDE POSSIBLY TO THE COURTHOUSE WHERE THERE WAS A GUN REPORTED MISHANDLED.
I ONLY HAVE ONE COPY OF THE DIVISION OF LICENSING REPORT.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THAT TO THE CLERK IF --
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU.
>> -- AND SUBSEQUENT E-MAILS WITH THE RECORDS PEOPLE.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
NICHOLAS PLUMMER, THEN TRISHA KIRBY.
>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM AND COUNTY CHAIRMAN, EACH OF YOU.
I WANT TO PERSONALLY SAY THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW YOU DO HAVE AN INTEREST IN KEEPING US ALL SAFE.
I'M HERE -- MY NAME IS NICK PLUMMER, AND I LIVE IN BRANDON, FLORIDA.
I -- YOU JUST HEARD WHAT MY WIFE HAD SAID.
WE CAME AT THE LAST MINUTE AFTER THE TRAGEDY IN THE SHIPYARDS, NAVY SHIPYARDS.
WE CAN'T BE 100% PROTECTED IN EVERY WAY, BUT I HAVE BEEN A WHISTLE-BLOWER FOR TWO YEARS.
I HAVE WORKED FOR G4 WACKENHUT.
I'VE SEEN AND I KNOW THINGS AND I REPORT TO THE PROPER AUTHORITY, AND I WAS THROWN UNDER THE BUS.
NOW, I WILL SAY THIS MUCH.
DOES IT TAKE SOMETHING TO GO WRONG BEFORE IT'S CORRECTED?
I WENT THROUGH THE CHANNELS OF REPORTING SITUATIONS WITH GUNS AND PERSONNEL NOT BEING VETTED, NOT BEING TRAINED, AND NOT BEING CERTIFIED, AND IN RETURN, I WAS THROWN UNDERNEATH THE BUS BY THE VERY PEOPLE THAT I TRUSTED.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER DAVID GEE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON OR NOT, BUT IT'S SCARY.
WE HAVE PROOF AND DOCUMENTATION OF A COMPANY FALSIFYING RECORDS, LYING.
THEY DON'T TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE.
THEY DON'T CARE.
THIS POLICE OFFICER RIGHT HERE, I TRUST HIM.
HE'S TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE AND HE WOULD BE CALLED TO TASK IF HE WOULD EVEN HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO WHAT G4 WACKENHUT HAS DONE TO ME.
IT'S AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE.
WE ARE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE WITH NOT VETTING AND TRAINING PEOPLE.
I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO TELL YOU, BUT YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA DON'T CARE, EVEN UP TO PAM BONDI.
THIS IS A MESS.
IT'S A TRAGEDY.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BAD.
YOU CANNOT TAKE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT VETTED, TRAINED, OR QUALIFIED TO DO THIS MAN'S JOB.
YOU'RE ASKING FOR TROUBLE.
NOW, I WILL GO ON TO SAY I WORKED FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS AN AUXILIARY DEPUTY IN THE 1970s UNDER MALCOLM BEARD.
I DID SOME THINGS THAT HE ASKED ME TO DO PERSONALLY WITH INFORMANTS AND STUFF.
I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
MY FATHER WAS A POLICEMAN IN DAYTON, OHIO.
HE'S DECEASED NOW, BUT HE WAS HONORABLE.
MY COUSIN IS A SHERIFF IN DAYTON, OHIO, THE ELECTED SHERIFF.
I HAD ANOTHER UNCLE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
HOW DARE THIS COMPANY OR THIS ORGANIZATION OR THE POWERS THAT BE REFUSE TO LISTEN TO MY COMPLAINT.
MY WIFE JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS GUN THING.
THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT DISAPPEAR.
THE VERY PEOPLE THAT I TRUST AT THE DIVISION OF LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BASICALLY THREW ME UNDER THE BUS.
YOU CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY ALLOWED WACKENHUT TO SAY ABOUT ME.
THEY CALLED ME EVERYTHING BUT A WHITE GUY.
I HAVE PROVEN THEY HAVE LIED.
THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER.
I DO NOT WANT MY COUNTY TO BE INVOLVED IN A SITUATION LIKE WE HAVE --
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. PLUMMER.
COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK OUR ADMINISTRATOR, NOW WE CONTRACT WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE SERVICES HERE IN THIS BUILDING; IS THAT CORRECT?
>>MIKE MERRILL: YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND THEN THE CHIEF JUDGE WOULD CONTRACT FOR THEIR SERVICES OVER IN THE COURTHOUSE?
>>MIKE MERRILL: THAT'S CORRECT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY PURVIEW OVER THE COURTHOUSE; IS THAT CORRECT?
>>MIKE MERRILL: THAT'S CORRECT, RIGHT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND SO I GUESS I UNDERSTAND THE DILEMMA THAT THIS GENTLEMAN'S IN.
MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO FORWARD HIS COMMENTS OVER TO THE SHERIFF --
>>MIKE MERRILL: SURE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- SO THAT HE'S AWARE OF IT AND ALSO TO CHIEF JUDGE MENENDEZ TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE AND THEY CAN CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO GAPS.
>>MIKE MERRILL: WE'LL DO THAT.
I KNOW THE SHERIFF TAKES SECURITY VERY SERIOUSLY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES, HE DOES.
>>MIKE MERRILL: HE'S BEEN A GOOD PARTNER HERE, AND I KNOW THAT HE'LL BE ON TOP OF THIS, SO --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: ABSOLUTELY.
>>MIKE MERRILL: -- WE'LL FACILITATE THAT CONNECTION.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
AND MR. MERRILL, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WE CONTRACT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE THE SECURITY OVER AT THE COURT OFFICES OR COURTHOUSE; IS THAT RIGHT?
>>MIKE MERRILL: THAT'S CORRECT, YES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO -- AS WELL AS THIS BUILDING, SO IT IS INHERENT AND IS PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
AS MUCH TRUST THAT WE DO PUT INTO THE PROCESS, WE NEED TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY HERE BECAUSE WHEN TRAGEDY HITS, IT'S NOT GOING TO -- IT'S GOING TO IMPACT ALL OF US HERE, AND WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT FOR A TRAGEDY TO HIT LIKE AT THE -- IN THE NAVY SHIPYARDS TO -- TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO MAKE SECURITIES IN PLACE, SO I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU-ALL ALSO TO TALK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ABOUT THE SPECIFIC INCIDENT AND HAVE A REPORT BROUGHT BACK TO THIS BOARD ON THIS INCIDENT AND SO THAT WE CAN BE FULLY DEBRIEFED ON THIS AND THAT THE PUBLIC CAN ASSURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE TOP-RATED SECURITY OVER HERE.
I HAVE FULL FAITH IN OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE THIS AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY DO.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YES, MM-HMM.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
LAST SPEAKER THIS MORNING IS GOING TO BE TRISHA KIRBY.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I'M BACK AGAIN.
I'M SURE YOU CAN GUESS THE ISSUE, IT'S ANIMAL SHELTER.
ACTUALLY, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES THAT I'VE SEEN WHERE THEY'RE HELPING THE ANIMALS OUT, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SPECIFIC INSTANCES WHERE THEY HAVE SAVED ANIMALS AND THEY COULD HAVE TURNED THEM DOWN AND DIDN'T.
SO WE DID HAVE SOME NUMEROUS BAD INCIDENCES THIS WEEK, BUT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN GOOD THINGS TOO, SO I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR GROWTH, BUT SOME PEOPLE DO GOOD AND SOME PEOPLE MAKE POUR CHOICES.
I'M GOING TO ASK, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE TO RECOMMEND TO GET RID OF THE TWO ADOPTION LIMIT.
I AM SO TIRED NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER FINDING FOSTERS AND ADOPTERS AND WE CANNOT FIND RESCUES TO PULL FOR US BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF BEING BANNED FOR PULLING TOO MANY CATS, SO THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO STOP.
I WANT TO GIVE A REALLY QUICK UPDATE.
ONE OF MY FIRST FOSTER CATS NAMED ORLANDO, WHO IS ALSO AN OWNER SURRENDER AND HE BECAME DEPRESSED AND SICK IN THE SHELTER, HAD STOPPED EATING AND WENT INTO ORGAN FAILURE WHEN I GOT HIM, AND I HAVE BEEN SYRINGE FEEDING THAT CAT NOW FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS EVERY SINGLE DAY, TWICE A DAY.
THE CAT HAS NOT EATEN OR HAD ANYTHING TO DRINK IN TWO MONTHS' TIME, AND LAST FRIDAY I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT HE FINALLY ATE ON HIS OWN, SO YOU GUYS BACK THERE, YAY!
YEAH, WE'RE DOING A HAPPY DANCE THAT ORLANDO'S FINALLY EATING AGAIN, AND WE WERE CRYING WHEN HE STARTED WITH THE BOWL, SO HE'S BEEN EATING FOR WHATEVER, THREE DAYS NOW, FOUR DAYS NOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK PLEASE GIVE A 24-HOUR WARNING, AS TRISTIN STATED, IN BETWEEN A CAT COMING OFF HOLD AND BEING PUT ON THE EUTHANASIA LIST.
THAT WAY RESCUES HAVE A CHANCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE THEM.
THESE ARE ADOPTABLE CATS AND KITTENS, THESE ARE NOT LIKE SOME RATTY ANIMALS OR FERAL OR WHATEVER, ALTHOUGH I LOVE FERALS, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M A BIG FAN OF TNR, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THESE ARE ADOPTABLE ANIMALS AND THEY'RE SENDING THEM TO DEATH WITHOUT A CHANCE TO SAVE THEM.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VISIT THE URGENT CATS OF TAMPA BAY PAGE AND ALSO THE RESCUE ME TAMPA SHELTER DOGS FACEBOOK PAGES, AND PLEASE LOOK AT THOSE PAGES AND TRY TO HELP THESE ANIMALS, SO A BIG SHOUT OUT FOR THOSE ANIMALS.
JUST -- WE NEED MORE PEOPLE GOING TO THE SHELTER, WE NEED MORE EVENTS THERE.
THE NUMBER'S DROPPED FROM 6,000 TWO MONTHS AGO TO 5,000 VISITORS, ACTUALLY 6400, AND WE NEED JUST MORE PEOPLE GOING THERE AND ADOPTING THE ANIMALS, SO MORE EVENTS AT THE SHELTER AND MORE HELP.
AND I JUST WANT TO SHOW A REAL QUICK PICTURE HERE, SO I'M GOING TO MOVE OVER HERE FOR A SECOND.
THIS IS TWO OF MY FOSTERS -- AW, IT DIDN'T COME OUT RIGHT.
YEAH, SHMOO AND JUMPER.
FERAL ROOM JUMPER, AND SHMOO WAS RESCUED OUT OF THE NOW CAN GO, BUT HE WAS ACTUALLY PUT IN THE KILL ROOM AND A SHELTER STAFFPERSON KINDLY WENT BACK THERE AFTER THAT CAT'S PAPERWORK WAS THROWN IN THE GARBAGE, HE WAS DELETED FROM THE COMPUTER, AND THEY TOLD PEOPLE ON THE PHONE THAT THE CAT WAS DEAD, AND I WENT THERE IN PERSON AND THE WENT BACK THERE, AND THE GUY PULLED THE CAT FOR ME, AND HE WAS EXTREMELY SICK.
I MEAN, HE LITERALLY WAS GOING TO DIE, AND THEY GAVE HIM TO ME, AND HE'S HEALTHY NOW TODAY AND ABSOLUTELY THE SWEETEST CAT YOU EVER MET.
HE'S MY SOCIAL FACILITATOR FOR ALL MY NEW FOSTERS.
SO I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GRATITUDE TO SOME OF THE SHELTER STAFF WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MS. KIRBY.
>> THANKS, YOU GUYS.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
AND WE'VE EXTENDED OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION THIS MORNING A COUPLE MINUTES, SO THAT CLOSES THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAD A COUPLE INDIVIDUALS WHO DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
CONSISTENT WITH OUR BOARD POLICY, YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SO AT THE END OF OUR MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO MOVE.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECOND COMMISSIONER MILLER.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
MR. MERRILL, WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND THIS MORNING.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YES, COMMISSIONERS.
YOUR FIRST ITEM IS YOUR 10:00 A.M. TIME CERTAIN, F-5.
BEFORE WE DO THAT ITEM, JUST -- COMMISSIONER MURMAN ASKED ME TO CLARIFY THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SECURITY BECAUSE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME CONFUSION.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UNDER CONTRACT WITH -- WITH US, WITH THE BOARD, PROVIDES SECURITY FOR ALL OF THE FACILITIES SO THAT THE CHIEF JUDGE DOES NOT CONTRACT SEPARATELY FOR SECURITY FOR THE COURTHOUSE, BUT IT'S COVERED BY A MASTER CONTRACT FOR ALL FACILITIES, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION.
WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH -- WITH THE SHERIFF ON THAT ISSUE.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: FIRST ITEM F-5, WHICH IS COMMISSIONER SHARPE'S ITEM.
>>MARK SHARPE: BOARD MEMBERS, I'VE HAD THE -- THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE HONOR TO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS, CITY, COUNTY, WITH REGARD TO SERGEANT PAUL SMITH, WHO WAS A LOCAL RESIDENT, WENT TO SCHOOL IN TAMPA AT TAMPA TECH, AND IS ALSO A MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER, AND THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO HAVE A STREET OR ROAD NAMED AFTER HIM.
THE CITY HAS TRIED AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO SO FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
IT'S VERY CHALLENGING TO CHANGE THE NAME OF A STREET OR A ROAD, EVEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEROIC INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE SACRIFICED THEIR LIFE, AS THIS GENTLEMAN HAS DONE.
SO I WAS ASKED TO HELP, AND MY OFFICE, ERIC LARSON, DESERVES GREAT CREDIT FOR TRYING TO WORK THIS PROBLEM.
WE THINK WE HAVE A PATHWAY WHICH WE CAN RESPECT THIS GENTLEMAN BUT ALSO ALL INDIVIDUALS AND ALL SOLDIERS WHO'VE SERVED AND THEN THOSE WHO'VE GIVEN THE ULTIMATE.
WE DO PUT THE NAMES OF ALL OF THE SOLDIERS WHO ARE FROM OUR COMMUNITY WHO'VE FALLEN ON A -- ON A MEMORIAL AT CHILLURA PARK, BUT IN THIS CASE, THIS GENTLEMAN, WHO WAS A MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW HIS WEB PAGE, BUT IF YOU GO TO SERGEANT FIRST CLASS PAUL R. SMITH, MEDAL OF HONOR, AND YOU LOOK AT THE CITATION AND JUST KIND OF THINK BACK TO THE DAY BACK IN 2003 WHEN HE SINGLE-HANDEDLY FENDED OFF A VERY SERIOUS ASSAULT, PUT HIS LIFE AT RISK, PROTECTED THOSE AROUND HIM, WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED, AND WAS THEN AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR POSTHUMOUSLY BY PRESIDENT BUSH.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK IS JUST IF STAFF WOULD EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY FOR BOTH A POLICY, IN LIGHT OF THE EXISTING POLICY WE HAVE, TO RECOGNIZE FALLEN HEROES BUT ALSO THAT WE WORK TO DEDICATE BAYSHORE BOULEVARD IN HONOR OF SERGEANT PAUL SMITH, MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER -- RECIPIENT.
FOR THOSE WHO GO ONTO BAYSHORE AND WAVE THE FLAG IN SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO'VE SERVED -- THERE ARE MANY VETERANS WHO SPEND THEIR DAYS STANDING OUT THERE, AND WHEN A FALLEN SOLDIER'S BODY IS TAKEN FROM MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE TO THEIR FINAL PLACE OF REST, WE HAVE THAT STREET LINED WITH MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN CARRYING THE FLAG AND SALUTING AS THE FAMILY PASSES BY.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANY GREATER HONOR TO ALL THOSE WHO'VE SERVED THAN TO HAVE THIS GENTLEMAN'S NAME PLACED IN HONOR, DEDICATING -- DEDICATED ON THIS ROAD, AND THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST TO STAFF.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SHARPE, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THIS GENTLEMAN IS HIGHLY -- I LOOKED AT THE WEB SITE -- HIGHLY DECORATED AND GAVE GREAT SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
THE THING THAT I WOULD ASK STAFF TO LOOK AT AS WE FORM A POLICY IS WHAT WOULD THE CRITERION BE FOR NAMING A ROAD OR BESTOWING THAT TYPE OF HONOR BECAUSE THERE COULD BE MANY OTHER FUTURE HEROES SUCH AS THIS GENTLEMAN IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND SO I THINK WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED CRITERIA OF WHAT WILL THE THRESHOLD BE OR WHAT WILL THE REQUIREMENTS BE WHEN CONSIDERING THE RENAMING OF A STREET OR BOULEVARD AFTER -- AFTER SOMEBODY, SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO CURTAIL FURTHER, YOU KNOW, CONTROVERSY OR ISSUES THAT MAY COME ABOUT FROM THE RENAMING OF A STREET.
>>MARK SHARPE: OH, ABSOLUTELY, AND IN THIS CASE -- AND I'M SURE -- I'VE HAD MANY CALLS AND WE'VE DISCUSSED IT INTERNALLY IN THE OFFICE.
THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE WHO SERVED.
YOU KNOW, MY FATHER LIES AT ARLINGTON, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE ALL -- WE ALL LOVE AND GRIEVE DEEPLY WHEN A MAN OR WOMAN FALLS IN THE LINE OF DUTY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO NAME ALL OF OUR STREETS, BUT THAT, I THINK, ALSO ONLY KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST RECOGNIZING THIS ONE MAN, WE'RE RECOGNIZING ALL WHO'VE SERVED, BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF PUTTING A NAME AND A FACE TO THE SACRIFICES THAT SO MANY CARRY WITH THEM, THOSE WHO HAVEN'T FALLEN WHO STILL, YOU KNOW, JUST CARRY WITH THEM THE -- THE STRESS OF SERVICE, I THINK THAT THIS -- THIS WOULD BE A GREAT HONOR TO THEM AS WELL.
SOMETIMES THERE'S MORE POWER WHEN YOU HAVE THAT ONE NAME AND IN PARTICULAR IN THIS CASE WHERE YOU HAVE A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS A MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER -- AND THERE ARE NOT MANY.
I HAD A P.E. COACH OR A FOOTBALL COACH WHO WAS A MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER, ONE OF THE FEW LIVING, AND I'LL NEVER FORGET HIM, AN AMAZING MAN, BUT -- SO SOMETIMES TO HAVE THAT ONE NAME IS IMPORTANT, AND IN THIS CASE I THINK JUST BEING ABLE TO DEDICATE BAYSHORE BOULEVARD WOULD BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, BUT HAVING A POLICY IN PLACE, AS YOU SUGGESTED, SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH.
AND I WOULDN'T DISAGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
I JUST WANT TO RESPECT OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT MIGHT COME FORWARD BECAUSE AS WE DECIDE OF WHAT SPECIFIC NAME WE'RE GOING TO PUT ON THE STREET, OTHER FAMILIES COULD MAKE A CASE OF WHY THEIR LOVED ONES --
>>MARK SHARPE: OH, ABSOLUTELY.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: -- SHOULD BE PLACED ON THERE, SO THAT'S WHY I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR ON HAVING A POLICY THAT --
>>MARK SHARPE: [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEVIN BECKNER: -- GUIDES US.
>>MARK SHARPE: APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I TOO WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER SHARPE FOR BRINGING THIS VALUABLE ISSUE FORWARD, AND I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY OUR OTHER COMMISSIONER REGARDING, YOU KNOW, DIRECTING STAFF TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS INVOLVED IN DOING THIS.
YOU KNOW, IN LOOKING AT A COMMUNITY AND MARKETING A COMMUNITY, BRANDING THAT COMMUNITY IS -- IS IMPORTANT, AND BAYSHORE BOULEVARD IS TRULY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ICONIC BRANDING OF THE CITY OF TAMPA AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER SHARPE IS RIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE USE BAYSHORE BOULEVARD TO RECOGNIZE MANY THINGS DURING THE COURSE OF A YEAR BECAUSE IT IS THAT ICONIC PART OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S SO HIGHLY VISIBLE.
I TOO AM THINKING ALONG THE LINES OF OUR FALLEN HEROES OF THE PAST, OUR FALLEN HEROES OF THE PRESENT, AND OUR POTENTIAL FALLEN HEROES OF THE FUTURE AND LOOK AT HOW CAN WE DO THIS TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE INCLUSIVE IN THAT RECOGNITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, OUR MOST HIGHLY VISIBLE, ICONIC THOROUGHFARE THROUGH THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE BAYSHORE BOULEVARD MEDAL OF HONOR BOULEVARD WITH A MONUMENT THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY COULD GO IN TOGETHER RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN, YOU KNOW.
AND -- BUT, AGAIN, I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BRINGING THE IDEAS BACK TO US FOR CONSIDERATION, AND I LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT YOU'RE HEADED.
ONE QUICK QUESTION.
I DIDN'T GET THE IMPRESSION YOU WERE RENAMING THE ROAD, I GOT --
>>MARK SHARPE: NO.
>>VICTOR CRIST: -- THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU WERE MERELY JUST DOING A DEDICATION, WHICH WOULD MEAN A PLAQUE OUT THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD --
>>MARK SHARPE: ABSOLUTELY.
>>VICTOR CRIST: -- SO PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE CHANGING THEIR ADDRESS.
>>MARK SHARPE: YES.
WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THAT WHOLE DISCUSSION, WHICH IS THE CHALLENGE OF RENAMING A ROAD BECAUSE EVERYBODY WHO'S ON THAT ROAD HAS TO AGREE, AND IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING -- I MEAN, JUST FROM LETTERHEAD ON.
I MEAN -- AND, AGAIN, AS SOMEONE WHO DEEPLY APPRECIATES AND RESPECTS THOSE WHO'VE SERVED, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SMALL SACRIFICE WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE TO CHANGE OUR LETTERHEAD FOR THOSE WHO'VE, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THEIR ALL FOR OUR COUNTRY, SOMETIMES IT'S WORTH MAKING THAT ATTEMPT, BUT WE WEREN'T TRYING TO DO THIS HERE.
IT'S AN ACTUAL DEDICATION, SO WE'RE DEDICATING, AND, AGAIN, IT IS FOR A GENTLEMAN WHO IS A MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT AND FROM OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO DOES REFLECT EVERY SOLDIER, MAN OR WOMAN, WHO SERVED AND HAS SERVED AND HAS SACRIFICED THEIR LIFE.
I DON'T THINK IN ANY WAY IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE OTHERS, IN FACT, I THINK IT HEIGHTENS IT, BUT IT GIVES A NAME AND A FACE, WHICH I THINK IS VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE WE CAN THINK BACK TO THIS INDIVIDUAL, AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU THINK TO ALL THE OTHERS WHO'VE SERVED AND CONTINUE TO SERVE.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER MURMAN, THEN COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
AND I'LL MAKE THIS BRIEF.
COMMISSIONER SHARPE, YOU AND I SHARE SOUTH TAMPA AS AN AREA WHERE WE BOTH LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY, AND I DO COMMEND YOU FOR DOING THIS.
THE BAYSHORE BOULEVARD IS JUST A GATEWAY.
IT'S A GATEWAY, ACTUALLY, AND IT'S THE LONGEST CONTINUOUS SIDEWALK IN THE STATE, IT'S ONE OF OUR CROWN JEWELS THAT VISITORS ENJOY AND WE SHOW OFF TO BUSINESS WHEN DEVELOPERS COME HERE, SO I -- AND WE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY TO MAINTAIN THAT ROAD, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF YOU WOULD -- JUST IF YOU COULD ENTERTAIN AMENDING YOUR REQUEST TO STAFF TO INCLUDE WORKING WITH THE CITY BECAUSE I DO THINK THEY WILL BE A PARTNER, AND, OF COURSE, THEY DO HAVE A MEMORIAL AT THE END BEFORE YOU GO OVER PLATT STREET BRIDGE.
MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO TO KIND OF -- AND THAT IS, I THINK -- THERE IS -- I DON'T THINK IT'S A VETERANS MEMORIAL, BUT THERE'S SOME MEMORIAL THERE, AND MAYBE THEY CAN REDO THAT.
I THINK WOULD -- WE COULD ADD NAMES TO IT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT YOU COULD NAME THE -- THE MEMORIAL THE PAUL SMITH MEMORIAL, BUT I DO THINK, BECAUSE THE CITY IS VERY INVOLVED WITH BAYSHORE BOULEVARD, THAT --
>>MARK SHARPE: YES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- STAFF NEEDS TO WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE TO MAINTAIN WHATEVER WE DO.
>>MARK SHARPE: YES.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, THEN WE'RE GOING TO VOTE.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU.
AND I THINK THERE IS A TWIST, COMMISSIONER SHARPE, WITH THIS BEING IN THE CITY, BUT IF WE GO BACK TO 2007, MAYBE '8, WE DID THIS AT THE INTERSECTION OF KINGS AND LUMSDEN WHEN WE HAD THE DEPUTY RON -- AND HIS LAST NAME SLIPS ME.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU.
-- HARRISON WHEN HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED AT THAT INTERSECTION, AND THERE WAS DISCUSSION ON RENAMING A ROAD, AND WE DEDICATED THAT INTERSECTION IN HIS NAME, SO THERE MAY BE POLICY THAT -- WITH LANGUAGE THAT WILL HELP GUIDE AS YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS, BUT IT WAS --
>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: -- MAYBE LATE 2007, EARLY 2008.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
SECOND?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN: SECOND COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONERS, YOUR NEXT ITEM IS YOUR F-3, 10:15 TIME CERTAIN.
THAT'S COMMISSIONER MILLER'S ITEM.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU, MR. MERRILL, THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THANK YOU, MEMBERS.
THE ISSUE OF THE 5-2 PLAN, WHICH IS TO RESTRUCTURE THE MAKEUP OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION FROM FIVE -- TO FIVE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS AND TWO AT-LARGE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
I WANT TO THANK THOSE THAT CAME OUT TODAY TO GIVE THEIR SUPPORT AND THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR MAKING YOUR SENTIMENTS KNOWN.
FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THAT WE SHOULD GO TO SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT, LET ME BE EVER-MINDFUL THAT I LEARNED BACK IN 1992 WHEN I WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE FROM THE LATE DOUG JAMESON, IN THIS BUSINESS YOU'VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO COMPROMISE, AND THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A COMPROMISE IF WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS DONE.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW, AND I WANT TO THANK MARY HELEN FARRIS, WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR TWO YEARS WITH ME UP AND DOWN THIS ROAD OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.
ON OCTOBER 2nd, 2011, WE HAD ONE CITIZEN TO SPEAK AND THE BOARD VOTED TO SET THE ISSUE FOR A WORKSHOP.
ON NOVEMBER 9th, 2011, WE HAD A WORKSHOP HELD ON THE ISSUE, AND THE BOARD VOTED 7-0 TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DRAFT THE ORDINANCE.
ON FEBRUARY 22nd, 2012, WE HAD FIVE CITIZENS TO SPEAK.
THE MOTION TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ISSUE FAILED 5-2.
AND THEN ON MAY 15th, 2013, WE HAD FOUR CITIZENS TO SPEAK.
THE MOTION WAS TO DIRECT THE COUNTY OFFICE TO SCHEDULE AND ADVERTIZE ONE OR MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS OR WORKSHOPS REGARDING THE PROPOSED DRAFT ORDINANCE CALLING FOR A -- CALLING FOR A REFERENDUM FOR THE VOTERS TO CONSIDER A CHARTER AMENDMENT TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS ON THIS COMMISSION FROM FOUR TO FIVE, AND IT PASSED 6-0.
UNFORTUNATELY, COMMISSIONER HAGAN WAS NOT -- COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM WAS NOT HERE THAT DAY.
SO I THINK WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION, I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS ALMOST ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, SO TODAY I'M SIMPLY GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SCHEDULE AND ADVERTISE FOR A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON NOVEMBER 6th, 2013, AT 2:00 P.M. TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE CALLING FOR A REFERENDUM FOR THE VOTERS TO CONSIDER A CHARTER AMENDMENT TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SINGLE-MEMBER COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICTS FROM FOUR TO FIVE, AND THAT'S THE MOTION.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AGAIN.
I HAVE SPOKEN IN FAVOR OF YOUR -- OF THE GENERAL CONCEPT.
THIS GOES BACK A LITTLE WAYS WHEN -- ALL THE WAY TO THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS WHEN WE WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EQUAL REPRESENTATION FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND I'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY PROS AND THERE'S CONS ON BOTH OF THE SIDES.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO ALL THOSE DETAILS AGAIN, BUT JUST IN SUMMARY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE CREATORS OF THE CHARTER PUT THIS FORWARD, THE CONCEPT OF A 4-3, IT WAS MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAD A MAJORITY REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD, SO THAT PROBABLY MAINTAINS THE STRONG-USE ARGUMENT OF WHY YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO DO THIS IS BECAUSE YOU WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS EQUAL REPRESENTATION AND HAS THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD REPRESENTING THEM.
I WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT IT IS -- WITH THE OVERALL GOAL, WHICH I THINK WE HAVE IN COMMON, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE EQUAL VOICES AND REPRESENTATION IN GOVERNMENT IS THAT THIS PLAN COULD PASS, BUT IF THE ISSUE OF HOW THE DISTRICT LINES ARE DRAWN AND HOW THE MAPS ARE APPROVED -- IF THAT PROCESS DOES NOT CHANGE, THIS PLAN COULD ULTIMATELY FAIL AND WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION AND NOT EQUAL REPRESENTATION AS WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
SO MY SUPPORT ON THIS OVERALL CONCEPT IS GOING TO HINGE UPON THE FACT -- AND I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH STAFF -- OF HOW WE CAN RETOOL THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS AND THE DRAWING OF THE MAPS.
THE CITY UTILIZES THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'M SUGGESTING AND STAFF IS WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD INCLUDE A BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE THAT COULD INCLUDE THE PLANNING COMMISSION BUT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE NAACP, FROM LULAC, FROM THE REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, FROM THE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND HAVE THEM BE THE CORRIDOR OF BRINGING MAPS FORWARD TO THIS COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL.
IT WOULD TAKE US OUT OF THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING INDIVIDUAL MAPS AND WOULD LEAVE THIS TO -- THE MAPS THAT WE WOULD ULTIMATELY -- OR THE MAP WE WOULD ULTIMATELY APPROVE MUST COME FROM THE APPROVAL -- WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FAIR AND EQUAL REPRESENTATION FOR PEOPLE AND THAT WE TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF THIS PROCESS.
I WILL MAINTAIN, AS YOU LOOK NATIONWIDE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS POLITICAL DIVIDE IN OUR COUNTRY HAS STEMMED FROM THE DRAWING OF POLITICAL MAPS WHEN POLITICIANS PUT THE INTERESTS OF POLITICAL INTERESTS IN FRONT OF THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE, AND WE MUST, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, REMOVE THE POLITICS FROM THIS PROCESS, AND BY HAVING SUCH A COMMITTEE SET UP THAT WOULD DRAW THE MAPS FOR OUR APPROVAL, THAT IS HOW I THINK WE CAN ACHIEVE BOTH OF OUR GOALS, SO I WILL CERTAINLY SECOND YOUR MOTION, BUT LIKE I SAID, I WILL BE LOOKING FOR THE DISCUSSION OF ADDING WITH THAT THE REDISTRICTING AND THE DRAWING MAP PROCESS.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: BEFORE COMMISSIONER MURMAN SPEAKS, AND SHE'S NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMISSIONER MILLER TO PLEASE RESTATE YOUR MOTION AND -- AND CLARIFY, IF YOU CAN, SOME OF COMMISSIONER BECKNER'S --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: WELL, SIMPLY, THE MOTION --
>>KEN HAGAN: -- REMARKS BECAUSE I THINK HE KIND OF WENT A LITTLE BIT --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: SIMPLY THE MOTION SAYS, TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S TO SCHEDULE AND ADVERTISE FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON
NOVEMBER 6th, 2013, AT 2:00 P.M. TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE CALLING FOR A REFERENDUM FOR THE VOTERS TO CONSIDER CHARTER AMENDMENT TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FROM FOUR TO FIVE.
NOW, COULD I ASK A COMMENT, MR. CHAIRMAN?
>>KEN HAGAN: YES, SIR.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: COMMISSIONER BECKNER, I UNDERSTAND AND IN SOME INSTANCE TOTALLY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WE'RE NOT EVEN AT THE MAP DRAWING YET, SIR.
WE'RE JUST SIMPLY TRYING TO GET A PUBLIC HEARING SET ASIDE ON NOVEMBER 6th, 2013, AT 2:00 P.M., TO HAVE THE PUBLIC COME BACK AND MAKE THEIR COMMENTS PRO AND CON TO IF THEY WANT TO HAVE A REFERENDUM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS FROM FIVE -- FROM FOUR TO FIVE.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT DRAWING ANY MAPS, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT APPOINTING ANY COMMITTEES, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT DOING ANY OF THAT.
I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
I, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, AGREE WITH YOU.
BELIEVE ME, I HAVE BEEN IN SOME OF THE DIRTIEST, LOW-DOWN REDRAWING OF MAPS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS STATE WHEN YOU SERVE AND SIT IN THE LEGISLATURE.
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE THAT SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE A HOUSE DRAWN COMPLETELY OUT OF A DISTRICT BY ONE BLOCK BECAUSE OF POLITICAL REASONS.
THAT IS NOT MY INTENT TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN HERE.
I'M SIMPLY TRYING TO GET A REFERENDUM -- A PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR A REFERENDUM ON NOVEMBER THE 6th.
I AGREE WITH YOU TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO TODAY.
WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT MAPS AT ALL.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I JUST WANT TO ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY -- AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER.
I CERTAINLY ADMIRE YOUR TENACITY AND PERSEVERANCE ON THIS ISSUE.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE NOT IN -- WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHARTER REVIEW TYPE CYCLE -- I MEAN, THEY MEET EVERY TEN YEARS, RIGHT, TO REVIEW?
I JUST WANT TO ASK, HAS -- HAVE -- OR IT MAY BE COMMISSIONER MILLER, FIRST QUESTION.
HAVE YOU SPOKEN AT ALL WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK?
I GUESS -- SOMETIMES I HATE MOVING AHEAD OF THESE THINGS WITHOUT GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE ACTUAL GROUP THAT OVERSEAS OUR CHARTER, AND THOSE ARE OUR APPOINTEES, YOU KNOW, THAT WE PUT ON THERE, SO I GUESS -- I -- I JUST WANT TO ASK THOSE TWO QUESTIONS.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: MR. FLETCHER CAN ADDRESS THIS, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH EVERYONE I COULD CONCEIVABLY THINK OF, INCLUDING THOSE ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION IN THE PAST, THAT HAD THIS ISSUE BROUGHT FORTH THAT -- THAT DID NOT -- AND I THINK THE ISSUE THAT THEY HAD THEN WAS NOT A 5-2 PLAN, IT IS, ONE, TO GO TO SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE TO GO TO NINE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, AND IT DID NOT PASS.
THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SPECTRUM OF LOOKING AT WHERE WE'RE GOING, NOT SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, NOT NINE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, BUT FIVE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, TWO AT-LARGE, AND NO DRAWING OF MAPS, JUST A PUBLIC HEARING.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
AND THEN DO THEY HAVE -- IS THERE ANY PROVISION IN THEIR POLICY THAT THEY CAN RECONVENE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR TEN YEARS?
NO?
>>KEN HAGAN: THEY MEET EVERY FIVE YEARS, NOT TEN YEARS.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: YEAH.
THEY --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: FIVE YEARS?
>>CHIP FLETCHER: YEAH.
THEY MEET PERIODICALLY, AND THEY HAVE A WINDOW AND A CHARGE DURING THAT WINDOW, AND THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ACCORDING TO A SCHEDULE AT THAT TIME, AND MARY HELEN FARRIS OF MY OFFICE STAFFS THE COMMISSION, BUT THERE'S NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT YOU-ALL PROCEED THROUGH THEM.
NOW, I'LL DEFER TO MARY HELEN, BUT I'M NOT EVEN SURE THEY'RE TECHNICALLY ALLOWED TO --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO PROCEED THROUGH THEM BECAUSE I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE AS A COLLECTIVE BODY, BUT I ALWAYS -- I MEAN, GOING BACK TO PROCESS, I MEAN, IT'D BE NICE IF WE HAD SOME FEEDBACK FROM THIS COMMISSION, CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE THEY STAND.
THEY'RE OUR APPOINTEES.
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: FOR THE RECORD, MARY HELEN FARRIS, AND I'VE BEEN THE COUNSEL FOR THE LAST FOUR CHARTER REVIEW BOARDS.
THEY MEET EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THE NEXT CYCLE WILL BE IN THE LATE FALL OF 2014.
THE BOARD WILL -- EACH COMMISSIONER CAN APPOINT TWO PEOPLE.
THEY WILL THEN CONVENE ACCORDING TO THE PAST SCHEDULES IN FEBRUARY OF 2015.
THEY MEET FOR A YEAR.
THEIR -- THEIR PROPOSALS GO STRAIGHT TO THE BALLOT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET APPROVAL OF THIS BOARD, THEY'RE INDEPENDENT -- ONCE THEY'RE APPOINTED, THEY'RE AN INDEPENDENT BODY, SO THAT IS A SEPARATE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE CHARTER.
YOU ALSO HAVE THE CITIZEN INITIATIVE PROCESS AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PROCESS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE WHERE THE BOARD ADOPTS AN ORDINANCE PROPOSING A CHANGE, SO THOSE ARE THE THREE CHANGES, BUT THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD MEETS FOR A YEAR, THEY ADJOURN SINE DIE, AND THEN THE NEXT CYCLE, SO THE NEXT ONE WILL BE 2014.
LATE IN THE YEAR WE'LL BE BRINGING TO YOU REQUESTING APPOINTMENTS, AND THEY'LL MEET 2015, SO THAT'S THE NEXT CYCLE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
SO THERE'S NO PROCESS OR POLICY THAT THEY HAVE WHERE WE CAN TELL THEM TO RECONVENE AND GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK, NOTHING LIKE THAT?
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: YES.
THEY JUST -- YES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THEY JUST MEET EVERY FIVE YEARS FOR A YEAR AND THEY DO STUFF?
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: CORRECT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MS. FARRIS, A QUESTION FOR YOU.
SO WHAT WOULD BE, THEN -- IF A PUBLIC HEARING IS SET AT THE NEXT MEETING, WHAT WOULD THE REST OF THIS PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: AT THE PUBLIC MEETING, THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE, UNDER THE CHARTER THAT REQUIRES AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF FIVE VOTES OF THIS COUNTY COMMISSION.
THE ORDINANCE WILL CALL FOR THE -- WILL HAVE THE BALLOT QUESTION, DIRECT IN THE ORDINANCE THAT THAT BE GIVEN TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, AND IN THE CURRENT DRAFT REGARDING THE REDISTRICTING IT SAYS THAT THE BOARD WITHIN 60 DAYS WILL DO THAT BY RESOLUTION, AND THEN THE CURRENT DRAFT SAYS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL PREPARE THE MAPS AND ALL OF THAT, SO THE MAP PREPARATION WILL BE AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE AND WILL BE DONE BY RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD, SO THAT IS A POINT IN TIME I THINK COMMISSIONER MILLER IS ENVISIONING THAT FIRST WE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE FOR THE CONCEPT OF GOING TO THE FIVE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS.
ONCE THAT ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED, THEN THE BOARD HAS 60 DAYS TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE REDISTRICTING WILL OCCUR, AND THAT WILL BE APPROVED BY RESOLUTION.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH.
AND MY POINT IS IS THAT THE PROCESS -- IF WE ARE NOT WILLING TO CHANGE THE PROCESS, THEN GOING TO A 5-2 PLAN WITH THE HOPES OF INCREASING THE VOICE OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS COULD BE VERY WELL A MOOT POINT BECAUSE I BROUGHT FORWARD A MAP IN THE LAST REDISTRICTING PROCESS THAT ACHIEVED THE SAME GOALS WITHOUT HAVING TO CHANGE ALL THESE DISTRICTS.
THAT WAS NOT ACHIEVED BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS THAT IT HAD TO GO THROUGH, SO IT'S POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL WITHOUT EVEN CHANGING THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS.
SO MY POINT IS IS THAT IF WE ARE NOT WILLING TO CHANGE THE PROCESS, THEN I THINK THE 5-2 PLAN, THERE'S -- I DON'T THINK IT SERVES A PUBLIC PURPOSE.
IT DIMINISHES THE VOICE OF EVERYBODY HAVING A MAJORITY REPRESENTATION.
I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT IT PROVIDED THIS BOARD IS WILLING TO CHANGE THE PROCESS, SO MY QUESTION TO YOU, THEN, IS WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT -- BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE, AND I SPOKE BRIEFLY WITH -- NOT TOO LONG AGO WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY -- IS THAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO BRING FORWARD AT THE NEXT MEETING BEFORE THIS IS HEARD THE DISCUSSION OF CHANGING THE MAP-DRAWING PROCESS?
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: I HAVE NOT --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THAT'S NOT HER CALL.
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: I HAVEN'T BEEN DIRECTED TO --
>>KEVIN BECKNER: NO, BUT I COULD PUT AN AGENDA ITEM SEPARATE FROM THIS THAT WOULD ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE TO SEE WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.
AND MY QUESTION TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ARE YOU AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN BRING SOMETHING FORWARD TO THIS BOARD BY THE NEXT MEETING?
>>CHIP FLETCHER: IF I MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: SURE.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: JUST A COUPLE POINTS.
ONE IS FOR CLARIFICATION.
THE WAY I READ THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, WE WOULD ONLY GET INTO THE MAP-DRAWING PROCESS IF THE VOTERS PROCEEDED AND APPROVED THE CHARTER CHANGE.
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: NO, IT'S IF THE BOARD APPROVES THE ORDINANCE --
>>CHIP FLETCHER: OKAY.
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: -- THEN BY RESOLUTION -- SO THAT WOULD BE -- THE RESOLUTION WOULD BE ADOPTED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS JUST THE CURRENT DRAFT.
AND, THEREFORE, THE RESOLUTION WILL SET OUT THE PROCESS WELL IN ADVANCE, AND THEN IF THE VOTERS APPROVE IT IN THE NEXT -- IN 2014 --
>> RIGHT.
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: -- THEN -- THEN THE PROCESS THAT'S SET UP NOW WILL OCCUR.
THAT'S JUST THE CURRENT STRUCTURE.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: OKAY.
WE HAVEN'T -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS CONCEPT OF CREATING A NEW PROCESS.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL WORK TO DEVELOP THAT AND BRING THAT BACK AND DETERMINE HOW THE BOARD WOULD EVEN, FRANKLY, ADOPT THAT PROCESS, WHETHER WE WOULD RECOMMEND IT BE A CHARTER CHANGE OR WHETHER WE WOULD RECOMMEND IT BE BY ORDINANCE, SO CERTAINLY, WE CAN EMBARK ON THAT PROCESS IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD, BUT OTHER THAN THE DIALOGUE THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT HOW ONE COULD ACCOMPLISH THAT AND WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE, WE HAVEN'T REALLY PROCEEDED PAST THAT AT THIS POINT.
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: AND IF I MAY, CHIP, YOU ARE RIGHT.
THE CURRENT THING IS AFTER IT'S APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.
THERE'S SOME OPTIONS THERE ABOUT WHEN YOU WANT TO DO THE RESOLUTION.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: EXACTLY.
>>MARY HELEN FARRIS: SO THIS -- THE RESOLUTION OF THE PROCESS WOULD BE AFTER APPROVAL BY THE VOTERS.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: WELL -- AND, AGAIN, I STAND BY THE POINT BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING US FOR -- AT THE NEXT MEETING IF WE WANT TO SEND THIS OUT FOR REFERENDUM.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON AT THE NEXT MEETING?
BECAUSE IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING WE WERE SUPPOSED TO FIRST HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THIS ISSUE, WHICH NEVER OCCURRED, AND SO NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING FROM A WORKSHOP ALL THE WAY OUT TO REFERENDUM, AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO GET CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN HERE THAT THAT PROCESS COULD BE WORTHLESS AND NOT ACHIEVE THE GOALS IF THE MAPPING PROCESS IS NOT CHANGED, AND I WILL RESTATE AGAIN THAT MY SUPPORT -- AND, AGAIN, I SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT THE MAPPING PROCESS MUST BE CHANGED FOR THAT TO WORK.
OTHERWISE, WE ARE, AGAIN, I THINK DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE VOTERS AND WE'RE NOT HELPING ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS INSIDE THE COMMUNITY.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: AND I TEND TO LEAN TOWARDS THE CONCERNS OF COMMISSIONER BECKNER IN THAT WE TYPICALLY ON SOMETHING WHERE WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARING HAVE A WORKSHOP, AND SOMETHING OF THIS IMPORTANCE THAT AFFECTS ALL CITIZENS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE A WORKSHOP, THAT WE BRING IN MORE INFORMATION.
I KNOW THAT -- I HAVE NO ISSUE IN SENDING THIS FORWARD TO A WORKSHOP TODAY BEFORE WE MOVE TOWARDS A MAJOR CHANGE.
I -- I HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT THE IDEA OF A SPECIAL MEETING WITH OUR CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF DURING A WORKSHOP THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY COULD BRING THAT BACK TO US, BUT I ALSO HEARD ONE OF THE CITIZENS -- I DON'T REMEMBER WHO SHE WAS, BUT SHE MENTIONED WORKLOAD OF COMMISSIONERS AND ACCESS.
I THINK THAT YOU'VE GOT ADEQUATE -- I'M CONFIDENT YOU HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS WITH THE 4-3.
WHEN I LOOK BACK AT OUR WORKLOAD -- AND I KNOW THAT -- FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HERE A WHILE, YOU KNOW THAT I KEEP RECORDS AND TRACK.
MYSELF AND MY TWO AIDES, WE PROCESSED IN CONSTITUENT ISSUES, JUST THE THREE OF US, 31,231 IN OUR OFFICE.
WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH IT.
I'M A FULL-TIME COMMISSIONER.
WE CAN HANDLE THAT WORKLOAD.
IN OUTGOING E-MAILS, 61,867; PHONE CALLS, 41,129.
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR I HAD A MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE ON ISSUES, 274 APPOINTMENTS IN MY OFFICE, AND MEETINGS IN THE COMMUNITY, I HAD 182.
I'M A FULL-TIME COMMISSIONER.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS WORKLOAD.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STAYING IN TOUCH.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT MYSELF AND CONSTITUENTS DON'T ALWAYS SEE EYE-TO-EYE, BUT I -- I DON'T BUY THE ARGUMENT THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS TO MAKE IT EASIER ON US BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HAS A HIGH EXPECTATION OF US AND HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR TIME AND OUR TAX DOLLARS, BUT -- I'M SUPPORTIVE OF SENDING THIS TO A WORKSHOP, BUT I'M NOT READY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, YET TO SEND THIS TO A HEARING.
I WANT THE BUY-IN.
I WANT TO HAVE WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WITH OTHER ISSUES, TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THIS FROM ALL ANGLES, BUT I'M WITH YOU ON A WORKSHOP BUT NOT ON A PUBLIC HEARING TODAY.
>>KEN HAGAN: AND THE ONLY THING THAT I'LL CLARIFY, IF I HEARD IT ACCURATELY, IS THE MOTION WASN'T FOR THE NEXT MEETING, IT WAS FOR NOVEMBER 6th, WASN'T IT?
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THE MOTION WAS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR NOVEMBER 6th, 2013.
>>KEN HAGAN: NOVEMBER 6th, AND WE DO HAVE -- FOR THOSE THAT FEEL THE NEED FOR A WORKSHOP AND IF THAT'S OUR PROCESS, WE SHOULD CERTAINLY FOLLOW IT -- WE HAVE WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 26th, OCTOBER 3rd THAT I THINK CURRENTLY ARE PLACE HOLDERS, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING DOWN FOR THOSE, SO, COMMISSIONER MILLER, YOU MAY WANT TO ENTERTAIN HAVING A WORKSHOP DURING ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS.
COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
IN LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION, I THINK COMMISSIONER MILLER'S JUST FOLLOWING PROTOCOL AND GOING THROUGH THE VARIOUS STEPS HERE, AND RIGHT NOW THE FIRST STEP IS TO PUT THIS OUT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE'RE FOR OR AGAINST WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO, AT THIS POINT HE'S JUST TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, ELEVATE THE DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUE SO THAT IT WILL HAVE A FAIR SHAKE OUT THERE, AND I'D BE WILLING TO MOVE IT FORWARD AT THIS POINT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: WITH OR WITHOUT A WORKSHOP?
>>VICTOR CRIST: WITH A WORKSHOP.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: WELL, MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY I MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO MY MOTION THEN, PLEASE.
>>KEN HAGAN: YES, SIR.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: I WILL AMEND MY MOTION THAT WE HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THIS ISSUE ON OCTOBER 3rd, WE SCHEDULE IT FOR A WORKSHOP -- I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING PUT IN PLACE YET FOR THAT WORKSHOP -- ON OCTOBER 3rd AT 1:30 WE HAVE A WORKSHOP -- THAT WE HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THE 5-2 PLAN AND AFTER THAT WORKSHOP WE SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING ON
NOVEMBER 6th, 2013, AT 2:00 P.M.
THAT'S MY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: GOOD.
YEAH, I LIKE THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER, DO YOU STILL SECOND THAT?
>>KEVIN BECKNER: I WILL STICK WITH THAT, BUT JUST YOU-ALL EXPECT THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ITEM ON DISCUSSION ON THE MAPPING PROCESS, SO I DON'T KNOW -- AGAIN, I'LL GET BACK WITH STAFF ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, BUT I WILL REMAIN STRONGLY ADAMANT THAT THAT PROCESS MUST CHANGE.
OTHERWISE, AGAIN, WE COULD -- THIS COULD BE A GREAT DISSERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AS OPPOSED TO A SERVICE, SO JUST HAVE THAT AS AN EXPECTATION, BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: YES, SIR.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: WE CAN DISCUSS WHATEVER WE WANT TO DISCUSS DURING THE WORKSHOP.
I AM NOT TRYING TO DO ANY DISSERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, AND THAT'S THE THIRD TIME I'VE HEARD "DISSERVICE TO THE PUBLIC."
I WOULD BE CIRCUMVENTING MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS SWORN OFFICER OF THIS COUNTY TO DO ANY DISSERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
I AM NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING TO CHEAT THE PUBLIC, HIDE THE PUBLIC, PULL THE WOOL OVER THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC AT ALL.
THE OTHER COUNTIES IN THIS STATE HAVE DONE THIS AND THEY HAVE NOT TRIED TO HAVE ANY DISSERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO OUR COUNTY -- COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BY JUST, ONE, SHRINKING THE DISTRICTS FROM ALMOST 311,000 PEOPLE TO ABOUT 200 AND SOME-ODD THOUSAND PEOPLE.
WE CAN DISCUSS AT THE WORKSHOP WHATEVER PROCESS WE WANT TO HAVE OF DRAWING MAPS AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME, THAT'S FINE WITH ME, PUTTING TOGETHER A COMMISSION.
I DON'T CARE AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
I AGREE WITH YOU TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WE NEED TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE POINT OF HAVING A 5-2 PLAN PUT ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO DO IT OR NOT.
IF THEY SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT, I'VE DONE MY JOB AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER TRYING TO BRING GOVERNMENT CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE, AND THAT'S IT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: AND COMMISSIONER MILLER, IF YOU'VE TAKEN MY COMMENTS TO THINK THAT I'M INSINUATING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO A DISSERVICE, YOU'VE MISINTERPRETED MY COMMENTS, AND I CERTAINLY APOLOGIZE FOR THAT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS CONCEPT AND HAVE BEEN ON THE SAME TRACK.
I'M MERELY REFLECTING MY OPINION THAT THE PROCESS -- THE MAPPING PROCESS IS JUST AS INTRICATE AS CREATING THE 5-2 PLAN AND THAT REGARDLESS IF A 5-2 PLAN GOES FORWARD, IF WE WANT TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF HOW THIS PROCESS IS DRAWN OR THE MAPS ARE DRAWN, THEN THE -- REVISITING THE MAP PROCESS IS -- IS IMPORTANT AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND I'M JUST -- I'M MAKING A STATEMENT THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BECAUSE FOR ME, THIS ISSUE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS VISITING THE 5-2 PLAN, BECAUSE, AGAIN, IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO CHANGE OF HOW WE DRAW THE MAPS, THEN YOU CAN MAKE IT ANY NUMBER OF DISTRICTS YOU HAVE, IT'S NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT WE SET OUT TO ACHIEVE, SO ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES IF MY COMMENTS WERE MISINTERPRETED.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN: NEXT ITEM.
>>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONERS, YOUR NEXT ITEM IS YOUR 10:30 TIME CERTAIN, B-6.
THIS IS AN AMENDED AGREEMENT WITH THE USF HEALTH HEART INSTITUTE.
>>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, RON.
>>RON BARTON: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
THIS IS ITEM B-6.
THIS IS AN AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT WITH USF HEALTH HEART INSTITUTE.
IT'S A GRANT AGREEMENT THAT THE BOARD ACTED ON APPROXIMATELY A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
FUNDAMENTALLY, THIS AMENDMENT WAS PURSUED BECAUSE IF YOU WILL RECALL, A SIGNIFICANT CONDITION FOR SUCCESS IN THIS GRANT WAS STATE FUNDING FOR THE PERMANENT HEART INSTITUTE FACILITY, AND THAT AMOUNT WAS DESIGNATED AT $42 MILLION.
THE STATE HAS, FOR YOUR INFORMATION, TO DATE ALLOCATED $12 MILLION OF THAT 42 MILLION, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, WHEN THIS AGREEMENT WAS BROUGHT TO YOU, THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION, MAYBE AN OPTIMISTIC EXPECTATION, THAT THE STATE WOULD FULLY FUND THE 42 MILLION FOR THE HEART INSTITUTE BY THIS YEAR.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
ALL OF YOU KNOW THE BUDGET ISSUES AT THE STATE LEVEL BETTER THAN MOST, AND SO THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE NEEDED TO AMEND THE AGREEMENT TO REFLECT THAT THEY CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PERMANENT FACILITY UNTIL THE STATE FULLY FUNDS THE AMOUNT.
THE AMENDMENT IS -- IS PURELY TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND TO CLEAN UP SOME ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FACT THAT THEY'RE BASICALLY GOING TO REMAIN IN THEIR PHASE I INTERIM APPROACH UNTIL THEY GET THE STATE FUNDING.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE: I JUST WANTED TO SECOND THE -- COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OH, I'M SORRY.
>>MARK SHARPE: NO, THAT'S FINE.
-- SECOND COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S MOVEMENT OF APPROVAL, BUT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON THIS PROJECT; IS THAT CORRECT?
>>RON BARTON: THAT IS CORRECT.
I DO WANT TO NOTE I HAVE DR. STEPHEN LIGGETT HERE WITH ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT THERE'S NO EXPECTATION THAT THE STATE HAS LESSENED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT, IT'S STRICTLY THAT THE FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH IT IS MORE PROTRACTED THAN WAS EXPECTED.
MIGHT GET IT ALL THIS SESSION; WE MIGHT NOT GET IT ALL THIS SESSION, BUT THE AGREEMENT NEEDS TO AMEND THAT.
>>MARK SHARPE: THEY HAVE HAD VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONS.
>>RON BARTON: THAT'S CORRECT.
>>KEN HAGAN: DR. LIGGETT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING
OR -- YOU GOOD?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: AND YOUR NEXT ITEM IS B-7, YOUR 10:45 TIME CERTAIN.
THIS ITEM -- OH, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE?
>>RON BARTON: YEAH.
>>MIKE MERRILL: GO AHEAD.
>>RON BARTON: COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS ITEM B-7.
BASICALLY, THIS IS TO ASK FOR YOUR RATIFICATION OF A NOTICE THAT WAS PLACED ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL PUBLIC-PRIVATE VENTURE.
WE RECEIVED A PROPOSAL ASSOCIATED WITH A PASSENGER FERRY PROJECT, AND TRAVELING UNDER THE NEW FLORIDA STATUTE THAT DEALS WITH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT CONVERSATION FORWARD.
UNDER THE STATUTE, THERE'S CLEAR GUIDELINES ABOUT NOTIFICATION OF SUBMITTAL OF THAT PROPOSAL AND A PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH, WITH THAT NOTICE, ANY OTHER PROPOSERS COULD ALSO MAKE APPLICATION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PROJECT.
WE -- WE PLACED THOSE ADS, AND WE ARE HERE ASKING YOU FOR A RATIFICATION OF THAT.
THE REASON WE HAD TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY IS WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE A GRANT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE MAY OR MAY NOT PURSUE IT, BUT THERE WERE SOME TIMING ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
BUT AT THIS JUNCTURE, WE'RE MERELY ASKING FOR YOU TO RATIFY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PLACED AN AD AND WE'RE BEGINNING A PROCESS.
THERE'S NOTHING BINDING TO THE BOARD EITHER FINANCIALLY OR LEGAL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACTION, IT'S JUST A FIRST STEP IN A PROCESS RELATED TO THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE STATUTE.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND I WILL MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM --
>>MARK SHARPE: SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- AS YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US THAT WE HAVE AN OPEN AND FAIR PROCESS.
I WAS TALKING TO OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY EARLIER ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE STATE UNSOLICITED BID PROCESS ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND WHAT OUR PROCUREMENT POLICY IS, AND I GUESS AS WE MOVE DOWN THE ROAD, YOU'LL MAKE US AWARE OF ANY SITUATIONS THAT COME UP THAT -- WHERE OUR POLICY MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN OUR REGULAR PROCUREMENT, BUT, NO, I THINK THIS IS GREAT.
YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE IN SOUTH COUNTY CERTAINLY WANT THIS. THEY HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR IT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE MacDILL SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHO REALLY NEED A MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE WAY TO ACCESS THE BASE FROM SOUTH COUNTY, WHERE MOST OF THEM LIVE.
RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A VERY CUMBERSOME TRIP THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE, IT'S EXPENSIVE BECAUSE OF THE TOLLS, AND I THINK ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERAL DOLLARS IS NOW THERE, BUT THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT FIRST PROJECT FOR US, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THIS FIRST HIT PAST FIRST BASE AND MOVE ON AND HAVE THE BIG HOME RUN FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND REALLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS MAKING USE OF OUR WATERWAYS.
WE HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB IN DOING THAT, AND THIS WOULD ALSO BE A GOOD, IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN THAT REGARD TOO, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DOING GOOD, AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK WHAT THE RESULTS OF THE UNSOLICITED PROCESS WAS.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MINE'S JUST A TECHNICAL ONE.
I'VE HEARD THIS THROWN AROUND SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS, MOST RECENTLY FAST FERRY OR HIGH-SPEED FERRY.
YOU KNOW, FROM MY SERVICE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND SITTING ON THE COMMITTEE THAT DEALT WITH A LOT OF THESE ISSUES, I UNDERSTOOD THAT HIGH-SPEED FERRY WAS A HOVERCRAFT, SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHEN WE FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK AND WRITE THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE REFER TO IT IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY, WHICH I BELIEVE IS GOING TO BE A FAST FERRY, NOT A HIGH-SPEED FERRY.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
AND I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT.
JUST SO -- BECAUSE WE'RE BEING ASKED TO WAIVE SOME OF OUR PROCUREMENT RULES, I'VE ASKED SOMEBODY FROM PROCUREMENT TO BE ABLE TO SUMMARIZE EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE WAIVING AND THEN JUST REEMPHASIZE THAT WE ARE -- IF SOMEBODY -- IF THERE IS ANOTHER SERVICE THAT'S OUT THERE THAT WANTS TO COMPETE, WE ARE -- WOULD ACCEPT THEIR BID.
WE'RE NOT SHUTTING OUT ANYBODY ELSE FROM COMPETING; IS THAT CORRECT?
>>RON BARTON: THAT'S CORRECT.
TO WORK BACKWARDS IN YOUR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER, THAT, IN FACT, IS WHAT THE PROCESS ENSURES, THAT THERE'S AN OPEN FORUM AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS TO RESPOND TO THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE NOTICE PERIOD IS FOR, AND TOM AND CHRISTINE COULD COME UP FOR THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONER'S EDIFICATION.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER DID INQUIRE ABOUT THE PROCUREMENT WAIVER ISSUE.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL GET COPIES OF A MEMO THAT WAS ISSUED TO COMMISSIONER BECKNER ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, BUT VERY SIMPLY, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT A FOOT ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREAM, WE WANT TO TRAVEL CONSISTENCY WITH THE STATE STATUTES AND ITS REQUIREMENTS, THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR WAIVER.
THE ONLY THING THAT YOU SHOULD NOTE AT THIS POINT WITH YOUR ACTION IS THAT OUR PROCESS NORMALLY CALLS FOR A COMPETITIVE SEALED BID PROCESS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS DOES, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE WAIVING AT THIS JUNCTURE.
AND TO COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S QUESTION AS WELL, WE WILL ALWAYS ADVISE YOU AS TO HOW WE MAY BE DEVIATING BASED ON THE STATE STATUTE.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.
IF YOU WOULD JUST MAKE THAT MEMO AVAILABLE.
>>RON BARTON: I WILL.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M INTRIGUED BY THIS TRANSPORTATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT OUR WATERWAYS HAVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY UNDERUTILIZED ASSET, AND I FULLY SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS TO SEE EXACTLY HOW IT CAN PLAY OUT, AND THERE'S ALSO NO QUESTION THAT A FERRY SERVICE WOULD ADD TO THE WOW FACTOR, IF YOU -- IF YOU WILL, HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MR. --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN: CHIP.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE DID GET THE MEMO DISTRIBUTED TO ALL YOUR OFFICES YESTERDAY, SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THAT, AND IT DOES OUT -- CHRISTINE BECK DID OUTLINE WHICH OF OUR POLICIES IS BEING WAIVED AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, SO YOU'LL HAVE THAT WITH SPECIFICITY, SO THERE'S NO IMPLICATION THAT WE'RE WAIVING ALL STRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, IT'S SIMPLY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NOTICE PROCESS.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SHARPE.
>>KEN HAGAN: SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
NO OTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>RON BARTON: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANKS, RON.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YOUR LAST TIME CERTAIN OF THE MORNING IS B-2, AND THIS IS THE ITEM REALLOCATING FUNDING FROM THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER TO THE CHILDREN'S BOARD.
>>TOM FESLER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
TOM FESLER, BUSINESS AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
ON ITEM B-2, AT YOUR AUGUST 21st, 2013, BOARD MEETING, A REPORT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU REGARDING THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER.
YOU HAD ASKED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR FINANCES AND PROGRAMS, AND THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED BY THE REPORT, AND AT THE CONCLUSION OF PRESENTING THE REPORT, THE BOARD DID TAKE ACTION TO ASK US TO COME BACK WITH SOME OPTIONS TO CONSIDER POTENTIALLY REALLOCATING $100,000 IN FUNDING THAT WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER IN FISCAL YEAR '14 TO OTHER PURPOSES.
WHAT WE'RE COMING BACK WITH TODAY IS A RECOMMENDATION.
WE DID LOOK AT SEVERAL OPTIONS.
SEVERAL OPTIONS WOULD BE EITHER REALLOCATING THE FUNDING TO OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THOSE POTENTIALLY COULD BE THE SPRING, WHO PROVIDES THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES.
YOU COULD TAKE THE FUNDS AND PUT THEM BACK IN RESERVES.
YOU COULD ALSO LOOK AT POTENTIALLY AN IN-HOUSE PROGRAM OR YOU COULD LOOK AT AN RFP PROCESS FOR THE FUNDS.
HOWEVER, THE RECOMMENDATION WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY IS THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO REALLOCATE THE FUNDS OR AUTHORIZE US TO REALLOCATE THE FUNDS IN THE FISCAL YEAR '14 BUDGET TO THE CHILDREN'S BOARD FOR THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ORGANIZATION.
THIS IS A CONSUMER-DIRECTED PROGRAM.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST OPTION AND THE BEST USE FOR THE FUNDS.
DURING OUR CONVERSATIONS, THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD WAIVE THEIR TYPICAL 10% ADMINISTRATIVE FEE RELATED TO THE FUNDS.
THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT WE COULD HAVE BROAD DISCRETION IN HOW WE ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS OR USE THOSE FUNDS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE COULD ALSO -- THEY DO HAVE OVER 5,000 VENDORS THAT THEY WORK WITH IN THEIR DATABASE.
ONE WAY THAT THIS PROGRAM WOULD POTENTIALLY WORK IS THAT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COULD BE CASE MANAGED BY THE SPRING.
THOSE -- THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THEN, WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THEIR CONSUMER-DIRECTED PROGRAM TO ACCESS SERVICES FROM OVER, AS I SAID, 5,000 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE CHILDREN'S BOARD HAS WORKED WITH IN THE PAST.
AND WITH THAT, I BELIEVE THAT WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CHILDREN'S BOARD HERE THIS MORNING IF YOU HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ORGANIZATION, AND I WILL JUST LEAVE IT UP TO YOU FOR DISCUSSION.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, TOM.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
AND AFTER LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, I THINK THAT PUTTING THE 100,000 INTO THE ASO AT THE CHILDREN'S BOARD SEEMS TO BE THE BEST.
THEY ARE EQUIPPED TO MANAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FUNDS GET DIRECTED TOWARDS VICTIMS THAT ARE NEEDED WITH -- THAT ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN OUR CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH THEM THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED FOR SERVICES THAT WOULD BENEFIT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WOULD ALSO ASK THAT A COMPLETE AUDIT REPORT WOULD BE DONE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE TO US ON HOW THOSE FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED SO WE CAN -- AGAIN, THAT'S MY ONLY STIPULATION, THAT IT MUST BE USED FOR SERVICES RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND SO I -- I WOULD ASK, PERHAPS, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CHILDREN'S BOARD IF THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS REBECCA BACON, AND I AM THE MANAGER FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ORGANIZATION AT THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COUNTY TO ADMINISTER THESE FUNDS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, AND WE CAN PUT THAT IN THE UNDERSTANDING.
WE CAN ALSO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO BEST DIRECT THESE FUNDS TO CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS THAT WORK WITH THIS POPULATION, AND THEN THEY CAN MAKE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE WHATEVER SERVICES THE FAMILIES NEED, WHETHER IT BE CLINICAL SERVICES, HOUSING RELATED, WHATEVER'S NEEDED TO HELP MAKE THEM SAFE AND REACH THEIR GOALS, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE AN ANNUAL REPORT OF HOW THE FUNDS ARE USED, AND THE COUNTY CAN ALSO LOG INTO OUR DATABASE THROUGH OUR FUNDER LOG-IN AT ANY TIME AND SEE EXACTLY HOW THESE FUNDS ARE SPENT, WHAT SERVICES THEY'RE PURCHASING, THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS, ALL OF THAT DATA.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.
WELL, WITH THAT, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND WOULD MOVE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECOND COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MS. BACON.
>> THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE SOME TIME BEFORE THE RECESS FOR LUNCH TO PICK UP SOME OTHER REGULAR ITEMS.
B-1, BUSINESS AND SUPPORT SERVICES, PROCUREMENT ITEM.
>>TOM FESLER: COMMISSIONERS, WITH ITEM B-1, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO AUTHORIZE THE PROCUREMENT SERVICES DIVISION TO UTILIZE THE PINELLAS COUNTY CONSULTANT SERVICES CONTRACT FOR REVENUE ENHANCEMENT WITH DEI AND ISI WATER COMPANY, DOING BUSINESS AS WATER COMPANY OF AMERICA, FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS FOR REVENUE ENHANCEMENT RELATED TO UNDERBILLINGS OR INCORRECT BILLINGS IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
>>KEN HAGAN: CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: SO MOVE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO MOVE.
>>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECOND COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: COMMISSIONERS, YOUR NEXT ITEM IS B-3, AND I'LL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
THIS IS IN CONNECTION WITH -- ALSO WITH COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S ITEM, F-4, WHEREIN SHE REQUESTED AN UPDATE ON CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM.
AS YOU KNOW FROM MEMORANDA THAT I HAVE SENT TO YOU, ONCE I LEARNED THAT THE -- THE PROCESSES FOR DISSEMINATING GRANT MONEY THROUGH THE HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM APPEARED TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF CONTROLS, A LACK OF POLICIES, A LACK OF PROCEDURES, AND THAT, IN FACT, A NUMBER OF CLIENTS -- MOST CLIENTS WERE BEING PLACED IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, I IMMEDIATELY MOVED THE PROGRAM TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE ORGANIZATION UNDER PAULA HARVEY, AND EFFECTIVE LAST WEEK, MONDAY, SHE HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF THE PROGRAM, CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF THE PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY SO THAT NO NEW CLIENTS WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, IMMEDIATELY PUTTING INTO PLACE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND AS A PART OF THAT, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ALSO HAVE AN AUDIT, AND SO I MET WITH YOUR COUNTY INTERNAL AUDITOR, MICHELLE LEONHARDT, AND THERE'S A MEMORANDUM FROM HER ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM WHERE SHE AGREES, SUBJECT TO YOUR APPROVAL, MOVING FORWARD WITH AN AUDIT OF THE PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT REALLY KIND OF PERMEATES THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SO THROUGH OUR SERVICE CENTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S RENTAL ASSISTANCE, IT ISN'T JUST HOUSED SOLELY IN THE HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM, SO SHE'S GOING TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE PACKAGE.
I'VE ALSO ASSIGNED TO HER AND SHE AGREED TO TAKE THE SUPPORT OF ONE OF OUR INVESTIGATORS, WHO'S A CERTIFIED FRAUD INVESTIGATOR, AND HE WILL BE WORKING UNDER HER DIRECTION LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS, IN FACT, ANY FRAUD PERPETRATED AS PART OF THE PROGRAM OPERATIONS.
SO IT IS A -- A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT OF THE PROGRAM, AND IT WILL BE DONE RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
SHE'S READY TO -- TO JUMP IN AND GET TO IT.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT JUST TO MAKE YOU AWARE, AND I THINK THIS WAS REPORTED IN MY MEMORANDUM, THE MANAGER OF THE -- THE PRIOR MANAGER OF THE PROGRAM HAS RESIGNED, AND SO IT IS UNDER DIRECTION OF COMPLETELY NEW LEADERSHIP.
AND I WANT TO SAY I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT'S HAPPENED AND VERY APOLOGETIC TO CLIENTS WHO WERE SUBJECTED TO TREATMENT THAT CLEARLY WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I APPROVE OF, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANT THIS ORGANIZATION TO STAND FOR, AND -- AND SO I DO APOLOGIZE TO THOSE CLIENTS AND TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THAT.
WE WILL FIX THIS, WE WILL FIX IT CORRECTLY, AND IF THERE WAS FRAUD INVOLVED, WE'LL PURSUE IT VIGOROUSLY.
I -- I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT OVER THE PAST MONTHS, THE PRIOR MANAGEMENT OF THAT PROGRAM HAD NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO TELL ME THAT THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, THAT THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE POLICIES.
AS YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS THIS -- THIS -- THESE PAST FEW MONTHS, I INSISTED THAT DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS PREPARE A BUSINESS PLAN.
THE BUSINESS PLAN WAS FOCUSED ON CUSTOMERS, THEIR NEEDS, AND HOW TO BEST DELIVER SERVICE, AND IN MEETINGS WITH MANAGEMENT OF THE HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM AND OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IN A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES, FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS, THEY NEVER TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL ME THAT THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS, THAT THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
OUR MARKETING PERSON IN THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A VERY WELL-DONE AND THOROUGH REVIEW OF THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAMS, WORKING WITH THE STAFF, EARLIER THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM TO TELL US THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS, THAT THERE WAS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
NEVER A WORD SAID TO OUR PERSON CONDUCTING THAT -- THAT STUDY.
AND SO I -- I JUST FEEL THAT WE NEEDED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
I DID MEET THIS PAST MONDAY WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM FIVE OR SIX OF THE LARGE SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES, SALVATION ARMY, CROSSROADS, A VETERANS ORGANIZATION, HOMELESS COALITION, TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT RESOURCES THEY CAN HELP BRING TO BEAR, AND THEY WERE ALL VERY COOPERATIVE IN HELPING US WORK THROUGH THIS PROBLEM.
ONE OF THE MOST IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS IS THAT WHILE WE'VE -- WE'VE CHANGED THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD, THERE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT 200 OR SO CLIENTS THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PLACED IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING THAT I NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT HOUSING AND INTO DECENT HOUSING.
200 PEOPLE IS REALLY -- IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT IT REALLY IS, AND I NEEDED THE HELP OF SOME OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO -- TO IMPLEMENT THAT, SO WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THE INVENTORY OF -- OF HOUSING THAT'S AVAILABLE, THE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES CONSISTENT WITH THE BEST PRACTICE, WHICH IS HOUSING FIRST, TO GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING AND THEN PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES, AND SO THAT'S PART OF THIS INITIATIVE AS WELL.
WHAT WE DECIDE -- WHAT YOU-ALL DECIDE TO DO GOING FORWARD WITH THE HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM IS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AFTER WE STABILIZE IT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT PERHAPS MOVING ALL OR MOST OF THE PROGRAM OUT OF THE COUNTY INTO SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO DO THIS SERVICE WELL AND TO WHOM WE CAN PROVIDE THE FUNDING.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION I'M GIVING YOU, BUT I JUST WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IT FIXED, AND WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON -- ON NEXT STEPS, AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>>KEN HAGAN: APPRECIATE THE UPDATE, MR. MERRILL.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND FIRST, MR. MERRILL, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR SWIFT ACTION THAT YOU -- THAT YOU TOOK TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY INDEFENSIBLE TO THINK THAT WE COULD BE FUNNELING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO -- TO SOME OF OUR GREATEST RESIDENTS IN NEED TO LIVE IN SUCH DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS, AND SO I THANK YOU FOR TAKING SWIFT ACTION ON THAT.
WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE INTERNAL AUDITOR, I WENT OVER SOME OF MY OTHER CONCERNS, AND WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- WHILE IN THIS SITUATION WE'RE -- WE WERE REACTIVE, I THINK NOW WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS AS LESSONS LEARNED AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROACTIVE.
SO ONE OF MY EXPECTATIONS IN THIS AUDIT IS THAT THE INTERNAL AUDITOR COULD IDENTIFY TO US OTHER AREAS IN THE SOCIAL SERVICE AREAS OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTAL AREAS WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE A REFERRAL-BASED SERVICES FOR COMPENSATION OR BE REFERRING BUSINESS OUT OR THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT REOCCUR AGAIN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, SO IT WILL BE MY EXPECTATION THAT SHE WILL GIVE US A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW AND IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS THAT WE MAY WISH TO FURTHER AUDIT.
I HAVE NO PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS OR SERVICES OR PROGRAMS IN MIND, BUT WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS AND THAT WE TAKE A PROACTIVE STANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
>>MIKE MERRILL: NO, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THAT IS A SUBJECT I TALKED ABOUT WITH MICHELLE BECAUSE -- OR MS. LEONHARDT BECAUSE THERE AREN'T -- THERE AREN'T -- THERE ARE NOT SORT OF WALLS BETWEEN THE PROGRAMS IN SOCIAL SERVICES, THEY OVERLAP AND THERE'S CLIENTS MOVING BACK AND FORTH.
THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES HAS BEEN SEPARATED FROM SERVICE WITH THE COUNTY, AND I'M TALKING WITH SOMEONE TO COME IN AND REPLACE HIM, WHO I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHO CAN TURN THIS AROUND, THAT WILL BE HELPFUL AS WELL, AND WORKING WITH THE AUDITOR TO REALLY SCRUB THE SYSTEM, SO ...
>>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH.
WELL, WITH MY SUGGESTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS, I'D GLADLY MOVE THIS ITEM.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
I GUESS I'LL SPEAK NOW.
AND WE'LL -- WELL, AGAIN, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON THIS ITEM AND THEN WE'LL TAKE UP MINE.
SO THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECONDED BY -- --
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CRIST.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
AND IF IT'S OKAY, I'M GOING TO PASS THE GAVEL TO YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER, SO I CAN BRING THIS ITEM UP.
AND IT'S F-4.
GOING ON THE COMMENTS OF, YOU KNOW, OUR ADMINISTRATOR, HE DID -- HE REALLY DID A GREAT JOB OF GETTING IN THERE IMMEDIATELY.
THIS HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM WAS STARTING TO GET A VERY SERIOUS BLACK EYE ON IT, AND IF ALL -- I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I HAVE BEEN UP THERE TO THE BUILDING WHERE THEY PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, AND THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY FOR US, BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS IT WE NEED TO BE COLLABORATING WITH OTHER PROVIDERS OF HOMELESS SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT OUR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE HERE AT THE COUNTY.
WE NEED TO BE PARTNERING, AND THAT'S WHY MY SUGGESTION IS TO REQUEST A REPORT FROM STAFF TO ASSESS THIS PROGRAM AND PRESENT OPTIONS FOR A COORDINATED DELIVERY OF SERVICES FROM THE HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM WITH OTHER HOMELESS PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THIS.
AND I KNOW OUR ADMINISTRATOR HAS ALREADY HAD ONE MEETING WHERE THEY'RE -- WE ARE GARNERING INTEREST AS WE SPEAK WITH OTHER PROVIDERS BECAUSE THIS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE THAT BECOME HOMELESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S JUST -- FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW FAMILIES THAT GO TO METROPOLITAN INDUSTRIES WHO ARE JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT ON THE STREET, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ASSISTANCE, BUT IT CAN'T -- THEY'RE ONLY LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT OF ROOMS THEY HAVE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TURN BACK TO US AS THEIR FALLBACK PLAN IF THEY'RE FILLED OR IF THEY HAVE TO WAIT, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE COORDINATED AND IT NEEDS TO BE WELL PLANNED OUT BECAUSE THIS CAN BE -- OUR HOMELESS RECOVERY ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS, CAN BE A REAL SHINING STAR OF SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT I DO BELIEVE WE CAN'T DO IT BY OURSELVES, IT HAS TO BE COORDINATED WITH OTHER PROVIDERS TO BE EFFECTIVE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT AT THIS BOARD.
WE WANT EVERY DOLLAR WE DO IN THIS COMMUNITY TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR ALL -- FOR CITIZENS, FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST HOMELESS AND HOPELESS AT THIS POINT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THIS BLACK EYE AROUND INTO A REAL SHINING STAR AND A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE CAN DO AT THIS BOARD TO REALLY TURN SOMETHING AROUND IN A VERY GOOD WAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, OVER A YEAR AGO WE DID MAKE A VERY BIG POLICY STATEMENT AT THIS BOARD TO MOVE INTO HOUSING FIRST.
WELL, ACTUALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH HOMELESS RECOVERY.
IT IS STAYING WITH THAT THEME OF HOUSING FIRST, PROVIDING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, GETTING THE CHRONICS OFF THE STREET AND GETTING THEM SERVICES.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE BIG DIFFERENCE.
SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE MY ITEM TO REQUEST A REPORT FROM STAFF --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SECOND.
>>MARK SHARPE: SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- TO COORDINATE.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: YES.
THANK YOU, AND WELL SAID, COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONLY TROUBLING, IT'S -- TO ME PERSONALLY, IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT THAT WE'VE HAD THIS ISSUE, AND
MR. MERRILL, I COMMEND YOU FOR THE WAY THAT YOU'VE HANDLED THIS AND THE WAY YOU'VE GOTTEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED, AND WE'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE INFORMATION WE GET, AND, AGAIN, I'LL JUST SAY I COMMEND YOU FOR THE WAY YOU'RE HANDLING THIS, AND IT IS PERSONALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE -- WE CONTINUE THIS HOUSING FIRST AND THAT THE FIRST STEP'S THAT GAP BETWEEN THE POINT OF CRISIS AND WHEN THERE'S THAT POTENTIAL FOR SOMEONE FACING HOMELESSNESS.
IF WE CAN CATCH THEM THERE, WE CAN AVOID A LOT OF IT.
AND I'M EAGER TO SEE YOUR REPORT COME BACK AND TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHO IT IS THAT YOU'LL BE REACHING OUT TO BECAUSE THEY'RE -- YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD SOME PROBLEMS WITHIN THE HOUSING -- THE AFFORD -- OR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY, BUT AS SO DEMONSTRATED -- SO WELL DEMONSTRATED YESTERDAY IN THE MEETING THAT COMMISSIONER MURMAN WAS THERE AND I GOT TO ATTEND AS WELL, THERE -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S CUTTING-EDGE SUCCESS STORIES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW WITH THE HOMELESS INITIATIVES, AND I HOPE WE CAN FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THAT AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK OF THE -- THE EFFORTS THAT WE SAW TAKE PLACE LAST YEAR.
THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE: I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'VE JUST KIND OF BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE TANGENTIALLY, AND I WORKED WITH THE HOMELESS COALITION YEARS BACK WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN QUITE A CHALLENGE.
GEORGE PACKER, WHO'S BOOK, "THE UNWINDING" -- HE HAS A SECTION WHERE HE FOCUSES ON TAMPA AND THE HARTSELL FAMILY, SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING AT MY OFFICE, AND I WANT TO THANK ERIC AGAIN, ERIC LARSON, WHO'S BEEN JUST MIGHTY AT THIS BECAUSE WE SAW FIRSTHAND HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT NEARLY IS FOR THESE FAMILIES WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO FIND PERMANENT LOCATIONS.
THE HARTSELL FAMILY, WHICH HE WRITES ABOUT IN HIS BOOK, THE DAUGHTER'S GOT BONE CANCER, THEY'VE HAD ALL SORTS OF ISSUES, EMPLOYMENT ISSUES AND SUCH, AND THEY'RE LITERALLY BEING -- YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES THEY GET EVICTION NOTICES ON A FRIDAY, YOU'RE OUT, YOU'RE DONE, AND NO PLACE TO GO, NO RESOURCES WHATSOEVER.
I WANT TO THANK VEN AND THE OTHERS WHO'VE REALLY STEPPED UP, BUT THIS IS JUST ONE FAMILY, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THIS ISSUE WITH THIS ONE FAMILY, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MURMAN, AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS.
IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THE COLLABORATION AND ALSO WORK WITH THE CHURCHES, BECAUSE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THERE'S SO MANY PROGRAMS, GREAT CHURCHES -- I'M INVOLVED IN OUR CHURCH, WE GO TO A LOT OF ACTIVITIES, AND MANY OF THEM OVERSEAS.
OFTENTIMES I SAY TO THESE GUYS, IT'S FANTASTIC WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, BUT BOY, THERE'S A LOT OF NEED RIGHT HERE.
EVEN IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAYBE COME UP WITH A RESOURCE OR THEY COULD POOL THEIR RESOURCES AND SAY WE'LL HELP MANAGE THEM IF THE CHURCHES WOULD JUST GIVE US SOME OF THE RESOURCES, MONEY -- IT BOILS DOWN TO NEEDING MONEY, BUT I WISH YOU THE BEST, AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU, WE'LL DO IT.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
REAL QUICK.
I KNOW WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, STAFF CAN GET -- REALLY FEEL DEFEATED, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, VEN, YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL THAT WAY.
I MEAN, THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
YOU PEEL BACK AN ONION -- YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ONLY BEEN HERE, WHAT, A YEAR, AND IT JUST -- IT WAS THERE AND IT HAPPENED.
WE'RE SOLVING IT, AND IT'S A CRISIS, BUT YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD STAFF, YOU'RE WORKING HARD, WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOU, SO JUST LOOK AT THIS AS A BUILDING BLOCK OR A BUILDING STEP TO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO IN THE FUTURE.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECOND COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN: MIKE, IF WE CAN KNOCK OUT A FEW MORE.
>>MIKE MERRILL: SURE.
NEXT IS B-5, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S ITEM REGARDING ALIGNING FEES WITH THE STATE STATUTES ON RED LIGHT CAMERA ORDINANCES.
>>PAUL JOHNSTON: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
PAUL JOHNSTON, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WE'RE REQUESTING THE BOARD TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A UNIFORM FEE FOR THE COST OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS FOR THE RED LIGHT CAMERA VIOLATIONS.
THE COUNTY'S SEEKING AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $25.
WE BELIEVE THAT WILL COVER THE COST TO THE COUNTY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>MARK SHARPE: SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN: GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECOND COMMISSIONER SHARPE.
NO COMMENTS, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>PAUL JOHNSTON: THANK YOU.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANKS, PAUL.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FAMILY AND AGING SERVICES ITEMS.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S HERE TO PRESENT THEM.
>>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, BART.
>>BART BANKS: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
BART BANKS, FAMILY AND AGING SERVICES.
WE HAVE BEFORE YOU SEVERAL AGREEMENTS WITH ONGOING PARTNERS FOR OUR HEAD START PROGRAM, THE FIRST ONE BEING THE LUTHERAN SERVICES, WHO WILL PROVIDE HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START SERVICES TO 112 CHILDREN AGES ZERO TO TWO.
THE NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT IS $1,377,415.
THE MATCH, NONFEDERAL MATCH, THAT WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $344,354.
THE NEXT ONE IS THE SAME TYPE OF CONTRACT WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TAMPA METROPOLITAN AREA YMCA.
THEY WILL PROVIDE SERVICES FOR 76 CHILDREN, $923,847, AND THEY'LL PROVIDE THE MATCH AS WELL, $230,962.
THEN THE FINAL AGREEMENT IS WITH THE INTERLOCAL WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
THEY'LL PROVIDE SERVICES FOR HEAD START, 1,772 CHILDREN AGES THREE TO FIVE, NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT $10,574,822.
THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE NONFEDERAL MATCH IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,643,705.
>>KEN HAGAN: CAN WE TAKE THESE COLLECTIVELY OR DO THEY NEED TO BE INDIVIDUALLY?
>>MIKE MERRILL: YOU CAN DO THEM ALL TOGETHER.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN BY B-8, B-9, AND B-10, SECOND COMMISSIONER MILLER.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CRIST.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>BART BANKS: THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: NEXT ITEM IS B-11 REGARDING OUR HEALTH CARE SERVICES DIVISION.
GENE EARLEY'S HERE FOR THIS ITEM.
>>GENE EARLEY: GOOD MORNING.
I'M GENE EARLEY WITH THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES DIVISION.
AGENDA ITEM B-11, THIS ITEM REQUESTS THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE THE ATTACHED AGREEMENTS WITH THE FLORIDA AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION WHICH ALLOWS US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOW-INCOME POOL, INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFER PROGRAMS, AND COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE LIP PROGRAMS.
IT ALSO REQUESTS APPROVAL FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFER TO AHCA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $41,432,662, AND WILL DRAW DOWN SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HOSPITALS AND FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS.
THE REQUIRED FUNDING FOR THE IGT TRANSFERS ARE APPROPRIATED WITH INDIGENT TRUST FUND, AND IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE FY 13 ADOPTED OR THE FY 14 RECOMMENDED BUDGETS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER MURMAN AND THE BOARD FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS HIGHLY INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PROGRAM, AND IT WILL ENABLE THE HOSPITALS AND FQHCs TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $17,401,718 IN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE AVAILABLE FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE INDIGENT POPULATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE B-11 COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECOND COMMISSIONER MILLER.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: B-12, THIS ITEM HAS TO DO WITH THE GRANT FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
>>VEN THOMAS: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
VEN THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF FAMILY AND AGING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
BEFORE YOU WITH ITEM B-12 IS AN ITEM TO APPROVE THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT CONTRACT AGREEMENT FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.
THIS IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,141,541.
THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM IS FEDERALLY FUNDED.
IT'S AN ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAM AIMED AT HELPING FAMILIES ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF WORK AND PLANNING THAT GOES INTO THE GRANT AGREEMENT AND THE PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT FROM IT, AND WE RECEIVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF OVERSIGHT AND COMMUNICATION FROM OUR COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD, WHO PARTICIPATES IN HELPING TO ESTABLISH THE WORK PROGRAM AND TO OVERSEE THE MONITORING OF THE PROGRAMS.
YOU HEARD FROM TWO OF THOSE MEMBERS THIS MORNING AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THIS A REQUEST FOR YOU TO APPROVE THAT CONTRACT.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANKS, MR. CHAIRMAN.
LET ME SAY A FEW WORDS TO THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AND LISTENING OUT THERE BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN A NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING ANY NUMBER OF THINGS OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS CONTRACT AND WHAT WAS GOING ON -- GOING ON WITH IT.
LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT GRANT THAT WE HAVE THAT BRINGS SERVICES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE OF ALL OUR CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTY, AND OUR STAFF HAS PUT EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO DOT EVERY "I" AND CROSS EVERY "T" TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ANSWER EVERY QUESTION THAT THOSE THAT PROVIDE THIS GRANT -- THOSE QUESTIONS BACK TO THEM.
WE WOULD BE CIRCUMVENTING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IF WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN REASSURED BY VEN, I'VE BEEN REASSURED BY MS. SUBADAN THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE HAVE TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO PUT A PLAN IN PLACE, AND IF WE DON'T PUT A PLAN IN PLACE, WE'LL LOSE THESE DOLLARS TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST, SO THEIR STAFFS HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TO GET THIS DONE.
I HAVE -- I HAVE ASKED EVERY POSSIBLE QUESTION I CAN TO MAKE SURE THIS IS BEING DONE, AND I AM SATISFIED THAT WE'RE DOING THE PROPER THING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE DOLLARS THERE.
THE RUMORS ON THE STREET ARE SIMPLY THAT, JUST BAD RUMORS BY SOME FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DISGRUNTLED.
BE EVER-MINDFUL THAT THIS COMMISSIONER ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER COMMISSIONER UP HERE WILL BE WATCHING AND ASKING IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, HAVE ASKED IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, AND STAFF HAS GIVEN US THOSE -- EACH THOSE ANSWERS, AND
MR. MERRILL, I KNOW, IS SATISFIED WITH THOSE ANSWERS, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE RECORD STRAIGHT FOR THOSE OUT THERE WATCHING AND LISTENING THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES TO THOSE FOLKS THAT NEED IT THE MOST WITH THESE DOLLARS.
THERE WILL BE NOTHING ELSE PROVIDED TO ANYONE ELSE OTHER THAN THOSE THAT MEET THE NEEDS TO GET THESE DOLLARS, SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER SHARPE, SECOND --
>>MIKE MERRILL: MR. CHAIR --
>>KEN HAGAN: -- COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>MIKE MERRILL: -- IF I COULD JUST ADD SOME COMMENTS TO THAT.
COMMISSIONER MILLER IS CORRECT, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROGRAM'S OPERATED IN A SOUND FASHION.
I DO WANT, THOUGH, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT -- TWO THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE -- THE STAFF MANAGER FOR THAT PROGRAM HAS ALSO BEEN TERMINATED FROM THE COUNTY AFTER -- AFTER A LENGTHY TIME OF BEING ON A PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH DID NOT TAKE, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT, AND ALSO TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I DID HAVE TO SIGN A LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONCERNING SOME OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE GRANT OVER THE PAST YEAR.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
THERE WILL BE NEW MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM.
IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S OPERATED IN A SOUND FASHION, AND I DIDN'T WANT THIS ITEM TO PASS WITHOUT LETTING YOU KNOW THAT.
I FULLY SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE GRANT APPLICATION BECAUSE IT IS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF FUNDING, BUT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE WERE CONCERNS -- I HAD CONCERNS TO THE POINT THAT I FELT I NEEDED TO TERMINATE THE MANAGER OF THE PROGRAM AND MAKE SURE WE HAD PROPER CONTROLS IN PLACE GOING FORWARD.
I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON WHAT TRANSPIRES WITH THE -- THE FEDERAL GRANT, IF THERE'S AN AUDIT, WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS AN AUDIT, BUT AT THIS POINT I JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO -- TO GIVE YOU MORE -- MORE DETAILS.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
I KNOW WE HAVE THE CHIEF HERE, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD -- IF WE CAN DO THE FIRE RESCUE ONES TOO.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YES.
B-13, 14, AND 15.
>>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, CHIEF.
>>RON ROGERS: GOOD MORNING.
RON ROGERS, FIRE CHIEF FOR FIRE RESCUE.
GENE IS GOING TO HANDLE THE FIRST ITEM BECAUSE IT MOSTLY RELATES TO THEM.
>>GENE EARLEY: HI.
GENE EARLEY, AGAIN, WITH THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES DIVISION.
THIS AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL FOR ASSIGNMENT OF PAYMENT FOR AMBULATORY SERVICES PROVIDED BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HEALTH CARE PLAN CLIENTS.
THE AGENDA ITEM WILL ALLOW HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL DOLLARS AS PART OF THE IGT AND LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS, AND IT'S PART OF A LARGER COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO INCLUDE ALL OF OUR ANCILLARY PROVIDERS.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN: MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER SHARPE, SECOND COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>RON ROGERS: COMMISSIONERS, ITEM B-14 IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA FIRE RESCUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CROSS CREEK, PEBBLE CREEK, WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL AREA.
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF AN AGREEMENT THAT DATES BACK TO 1998, AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY A COST AVOIDANCE FOR US BY ALLOWING THEM TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO THOSE CITIZENS.
IT KEEPS US FROM HAVING TO OPEN A STATION IN THAT AREA AND DUPLICATE THAT SERVICE.
>>MARK SHARPE: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN: MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER SHARPE, SECOND COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>RON ROGERS: ITEM B-15 IS AN ITEM TO -- BUDGET AMENDMENT TO MOVE 1.3 MILLION FROM OUR PERSONNEL SERVICES BUDGET TO OUR OPERATING EXPENDITURES BUDGET.
THIS IS RELATED TO A SAVINGS IN OUR PERSONNEL BUDGET FROM THE TRANSITION OF THE VOLUNTEER SERVICES DUE TO THE LAG IN GETTING THOSE PERSONNEL ONBOARD, SOME OF THE FUNDS WERE RESIDUAL THERE, AND THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL UNANTICIPATED COSTS FOR THAT TRANSITION IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET AS WELL AS SOME IMPACTS FROM THE UNION CONTRACT AND THEN THE CITY OF TAMPA AGREEMENT WE JUST APPROVED.
>>KEN HAGAN: DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND.
>>KEN HAGAN: MOTION COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECOND COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, CHIEF.
AND BEFORE WE ADJOURN THIS MORNING, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND SAY THAT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT KNOW, MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE, RICH REIDY, WILL BE LEAVING US HERE VERY SHORTLY.
HE'S BEEN OFFERED AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY THAT HE COULD NOT PASS UP.
FOR 11 YEARS RICH HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKE THIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
I BELIEVE HE IS A MODEL PUBLIC SERVANT, AND I'VE SAID FOR MANY OCCASIONS THAT HE'S THE BRAINS BEHIND THE OFFICE, AND HE'LL BE MISSED MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER MILLER JUST SAID, TRUE.
THIS WILL BE --
[LAUGHTER]
-- UNDOUBTEDLY -- WELL, IT TAKES A BIG MAN TO ADMIT THAT, OKAY.
THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE THE COUNTY'S LOSS BUT THE STATE'S GAIN, AND I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST WITH HIS -- WITH HIS NEW -- WITH HIS NEW OPPORTUNITY.
HE'LL BE MISSED.
COMMISSIONER SHARPE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>>MARK SHARPE: IT TAKES A SMART MAN TO KNOW WHO TO HIRE, AND SO YOU DID, YOU HIRED TWO AIDES WHO DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.
I HAD TWO MYSELF, AND THEY BOTH FOUND OPPORTUNITIES, AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED FOR THEM TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO GO DO OTHER THINGS, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT RICH -- I HAD THE CHANCE TO DEAL WITH HIM BEFORE I WAS A COMMISSIONER, CALLING THE OFFICE AND ASKING SOME QUESTIONS, AND HE WAS RIGHT THERE, RIGHT ON THE SPOT, RESPONDED AND SOLVED THE PROBLEM, AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO MISS HIM.
AND TO ALL THE OTHER AIDES WHO WORK FOR ALL THE OTHER OFFICES, THEY'RE PHENOMENAL.
THEY'RE OFTENTIMES UNSUNG AND WE BRUSH PAST THEM.
I FEEL GUILTY RUNNING PAST THEM OFTENTIMES WITHOUT STOPPING AND SAYING THANK YOU, BUT THANK YOU TO EVERY AIDE FOR ALL THAT THEY DO AND THANK YOU TO RICH.
>>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
I'VE BEEN EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE SAME AIDES FROM DAY ONE, ACTUALLY BEFORE DAY ONE, DURING THE FIRST CAMPAIGN AND 11 YEARS GOING STRONG, AND SO I'M VERY -- VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT.
COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I TOO WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS FOR RICH REIDY.
I KNOW THAT LONG BEFORE I CAME HERE AND I WORKED WITH YOU IN YOUR OFFICE AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, HE WAS EXTREMELY GOOD TO WORK WITH AND ON THE ISSUES, AND RICH, WITH HIS KEEN INSIGHT AND INTEREST IN PUBLIC POLICY, I KNOW THAT HE RAN DUAL TRACKS OF MONITORING AND WORKING ON ISSUES AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL.
I KNOW HE'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS LOSS TO YOU IN YOUR OFFICE, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS LOSS TO ALL OF US ON THE FLOOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK HIM FOR MENTORING AND BIG BROTHERING, YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE AND HELPING US TO MAKE A SMOOTH TRANSITION HERE TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN CONGENIAL, HE IS ONE OF THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE GUYS I'VE EVER MET IN THIS PROCESS, AND I CERTAINLY WISH HIM WELL IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CRIST, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND I GIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO RICH.
I KNOW -- I CAN'T UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR AIDES IN OUR OFFICE, AND I KNOW THAT WE ALL CAN SAY THAT WITHOUT OUR AIDES, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO HALF THE WORK THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO, AND I KNOW MY STAFF HAS ALWAYS SAID IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH RICH, AND THEY HAD A GREAT COLLEGIAL RELATIONSHIP, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO RICH, AND I KNOW YOU'LL FIND SOMEBODY EQUALLY -- WELL, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE HARD TO MATCH THE SKILLS AND THE TALENT THAT RICH WILL FIND -- YOU WILL FIND A TALENTED PERSON TO BRING INTO YOUR OFFICE.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I'M ALSO GOING TO MISS RICH A LOT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T CHANGE HIS CELL PHONE NUMBER SO WE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM.
BUT, NO, I THINK HE'S GOT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF HIM, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, LETTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE -- YOU KNOW, PUSHING THEM OUT OF THE NEST AND LETTING THEM FLY AND DO THEIR OWN THING, BUT I THINK HE'S GOING TO DO VERY WELL IN THE ENVIRONMENT HE'S GOING INTO, SO WISH HIM TONS OF LUCK, AND WE REALLY DO LOVE HIM.
HE'S GREAT FOR ALL OF US.
>>KEN HAGAN: WELL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I KNOW RICH APPRECIATES IT, AND THE FACT THAT HE STILL HAS A 727 AREA CODE, I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO BE CHANGING HIS CELL PHONE ANYTIME SOON.
SO WITH THAT, WE'RE ADJOURNED AND WE'LL RECONVENE AT 1:45.
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