CAPTIONING - Hillsborough County, Florida



CAPTIONING

MARCH 21, 2013

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION

***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.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE

MARCH 21st MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION.

IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE AND INVOCATION, GIVEN BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

>>LES MILLER, JR.: OUR GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU WOKE US THIS MORNING TO SEE ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAYS.

WE'RE THANKFUL THAT YOU ALLOWED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO COME OUT TODAY TO WORK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS A SAFE AND CLEAN COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

WE ASK THAT YOU REGULATE OUR MINDS AND HUMBLE OUR HEARTS AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

WE ASK THAT WHEN WE LEAVE THIS PLACE AND OUR WORK FOR THE DAY IS DONE THAT YOU TAKE US BACK TO OUR HOMES TO FIND EVERYTHING SAFE AND SOUND.

THESE AND ALL BLESSINGS WE ASK IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN.

>> AMEN.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER.

DR. GARRITY, IS THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA?

>>RICK GARRITY: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

THERE'S THREE CHANGES THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF.

IN 3-A, UNDER THE MINUTES, WE HAD AN INCORRECT SET OF JANUARY 2013 MINUTES ORIGINALLY INCLUDED, BUT WE HAVE DISPERSED THE CORRECT SET TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

ITEM 5, THE FINAL ORDER HEARING ON THE BALDOR CASE IS BEING POSTPONED AT THE REQUEST OF MR. BALDOR PROBABLY UNTIL NEXT MONTH.

AND WE'RE ADDING -- UNDER SECTION 10, WE'D LIKE TO ADD "C" ON, WHICH WOULD BE A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE THE CHANGES.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN TO MOVE THE CHANGES.

SECOND?

>>VICTOR CRIST: SECOND.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CRIST.

NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.

>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THIS IS NOW TIME FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUEST FOR COMMENTS.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES TO THE COMMISSION?

SEEING NONE, THEN WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO MOVE.

>>VICTOR CRIST: SECOND.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CRIST.

PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTES.

>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: ALL RIGHT.

AND NOW WE'VE GOT A REPORT FROM THE CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND I THINK PAMELA JO HATLEY, THE CHAIR, WILL PRESENT THAT REPORT.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M PAMELA JO HATLEY, AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO WE WEREN'T HERE LAST MONTH, AND SO I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT FEBRUARY, OUR MEETING, WE HEARD THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT DR. GARRITY GAVE, AND THEN IN MARCH WE RECEIVED PRESENTATIONS ON THE POLLUTION RECOVERY FUND PROJECTS AND ALSO ON THE MOSAIC CONSENT DECREE RESTORATION PROJECTS.

WE ALSO GOT A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

AND NEXT MONTH IN APRIL WE'RE GOING TO HEAR PRESENTATIONS ON GREEN BUILDING AND SUSTAINABILITY AND A LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP.

AND WE HAVE A -- A SPECIAL PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.

LAST YEAR WE TOOK A FIELD TRIP, THE COMMITTEE DID, TOOK A FIELD TRIP TO FLATWOODS PARK, AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF RIDING IN THE TRANSPORT VAN WITH DR. WAYNE ECHELBERGER, AND ON THAT TRIP I TOLD HIM ABOUT MY SON, WHO'S 14, WHO WANTS TO STUDY ENGINEERING, AND HE WAS ALL EXCITED AND SHARED WITH ME HIS CAREER AND EXPERIENCES AS AN ACADEMIC AND A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, AND SADLY, JUST A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WE LEARNED OF DR. ECHELBERGER'S PASSING ON JANUARY 19th, 2013.

I JUST WANTED TO READ SOMETHING ABOUT DR. ECHELBERGER AND RECOGNIZE HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

HE HAD A VERY DISTINGUISHED ACADEMIC CAREER, BOTH HERE IN TAMPA BAY AND ALSO THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AT MANY OF OUR FINEST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

IT WAS HIS CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, THAT HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE EPC STAFF.

HE SERVED AS PROFESSIONAL -- AS PROFESSOR OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING.

HE WAS AN ADVISOR AND MENTOR FOR ANY -- FOR MANY OF THE PRESENT AND PAST PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS.

DR. ECHELBERGER DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WITH HIS MANY CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND HIS DEDICATED VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO NUMEROUS PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, BOARDS, AND COMMITTEES.

ONE SUCH COMMITTEE WAS OUR CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR CEAC, AND THAT WAS ONE WAY IN WHICH

DR. ECHELBERGER SERVED TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN HIS TEMPLE TERRACE COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

HE SERVED IN THIS CAPACITY AS REPRESENTATIVE FOR COMMISSIONER HAGAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND HE CONTINUED TO SERVE RIGHT UP UNTIL HIS PASSING.

DR. ECHELBERGER WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE REACHING THE PINNACLE OF THEIR -- THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSION AND DEDICATING ONE'S LIFE TO BETTERING THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND BECOMING A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE -- THAT WE CHOOSE TO CALL HOME.

HIS DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND PROFESSIONALISM HAVE TOUCHED US ALL, AND HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.

SO THIS IS IN MEMORIAM OF DR. WAYNE ECHELBERGER, JR.

THANK YOU.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MS. HATLEY, FOR -- FOR THOSE KIND WORDS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, FROM THE EPC, OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR APPRECIATION GOES OUT TO THE ECHELBERGER FAMILY FOR HIS COMMITMENT AND HIS PASSION THAT HE HAD AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND HE CERTAINLY EXEMPLIFIES PUBLIC SERVICE, SO THANK YOU.

DR. GARRITY.

>>RICK GARRITY: AND, COMMISSIONERS, DR. ECHELBERGER'S FAMILY, THEY'RE ALL OUT-OF-TOWNERS, AND WE DID ATTEND HIS FUNERAL SERVICE IN TEMPLE TERRACE, THOUGH, AND PRESENTED THE PLAQUE THAT YOU SAW THE PICTURE OF TO HIS SONS, AND WE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM FOR ALL OF THE YEARS ON CEAC.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.

DR. GARRITY.

>>RICK GARRITY: NEXT WE HAVE A REAL PLEASURABLE AGENDA ITEM.

THIS IS THE REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR AWARDS OF THE STEM SUBJECT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS, AND WE HAVE ONE OF OUR WINNERS WITH US HERE THIS MORNING, MARGARET PARRISH, BUT TO INTRODUCE THIS TOPIC IS ED COPPOCK OF OUR WATER DIVISION, AND HE IS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IN THAT DIVISION.

ED.

>>ED COPPOCK: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ED COPPOCK.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

THE GOAL OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP BY PLANNING AND ORGANIZING EPC'S INVOLVEMENT WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS.

AS PART OF THE AGENCY'S OUTREACH EFFORTS, THE EPC PARTICIPATED IN THE 33rd ANNUAL HILLSBOROUGH REGIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS FAIR ON FEBRUARY 12th AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER.

THE STEM FAIR FEATURES MORE THAN 2,000 STUDENTS FROM GRADES K-12, REPRESENTING BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND IT'S THE LARGEST ACADEMIC COMPETITION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

EVERY PROJECT IN THE STEM FAIR HAS TO HAVE BEEN JUDGED A WINNER AT A STATE FAIR AND BEEN DEEMED REGIONAL STATE FAIR QUALITY.

THE FAIR IS AN EXCELLENT EVENT TO GET STUDENTS EXCITED ABOUT CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES AND FUTURE INNOVATIONS.

A SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYEES IN THE STEM FIELDS IS PREDICTED, SO THE ENCOURAGEMENT THE FAIR PROVIDES FOR STUDENTS TO PURSUE STEM CAREERS IN THOSE FAIRS IS IMPORTANT.

THE STEM FAIR IS ONE OF THE EPC'S CORE OUTREACH EVENTS WE PARTICIPATE IN EACH YEAR.

A NUMBER OF EPC STAFF SERVED AS JUDGES, PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON THIS YEAR'S ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROJECTS.

LOOKING THROUGH THE STATE'S -- LOOKING THROUGH THE AGENCY ARCHIVES, THE STAFF HAS VOLUNTEERED AT THE FAIR FOR AT LEAST THE PAST 20 YEARS.

THE AGENCY ALSO SPONSORED A SPECIAL EPC ENVIRONMENTAL MERIT AWARD FOR THE OUTSTANDING PROJECT IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES.

THE STUDENT WHO WON THIS YEAR'S AWARD IS MARGARET PARRISH, A FRESHMAN AT CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL.

HER TEACHER IS MR. MIKE ZANATIAN, AND THE TITLE OF HER PROJECT WAS "THE CONCENTRATIONS OF ENTEROCCI IN RESPONSE TO SEDIMENT DISTURBANCE IN LAKE CARROLL."

MARGARET'S RESEARCH WAS SO IMPRESSIVE THAT BESIDES THE EPC AWARD, SHE ALSO RECEIVED FIRST PLACE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CATEGORY, THE CLARA COMPTON MEMORIAL AWARD, AND WAS SELECTED AS STATE FAIR REPRESENTATIVE.

AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO INVITE MARGARET TO COME UP AND DESCRIBE HER PROJECT.

>> HELLO.

WELL, MY PROJECT IS THE CONCENTRATIONS OF ENTEROCCI IN RESPONSE TO SEDIMENT DISTURBANCE IN LAKE CARROLL.

NOW, I DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN ENTEROCCI LEVELS BETWEEN UNDISTURBED AND DISTURBED WATER WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE PRESENT TESTING METHOD --

>>KEVIN BECKNER: LET ME JUST PAUSE FOR A MOMENT.

SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE HAVING A LITTLE BIT HARD TIME HEARING --

>> OKAY.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: -- SO SPEAK UP PERHAPS IN THE MICROPHONE THERE.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THERE YOU GO.

>> SO MY PROJECT IS THE CONCENTRATIONS OF ENTEROCCI IN RESPONSE TO SEDIMENT DISTURBANCE IN LAKE CARROLL.

I DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN ENTEROCCI LEVELS IN UNDISTURBED AND DISTURBED WATER WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE PRESENT TESTING METHODS TEST ENTEROCCI FOR BACTERIA IN AN UNDISTURBED CONDITION, AND I WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY CHANGE IN THOSE VALUES TO THE VALUES OF ENTEROCCI IN A CONDITION THAT WOULD BE MORE LIKE WHAT A SWIMMER WOULD ACTUALLY ENCOUNTER IN A MORE DISTURBED CONDITION.

SO I TESTED THREE DIFFERENT SWIMMING DEPTHS IN LAKE CARROLL, 12 CENTIMETERS, 48 CENTIMETERS, AND 90 CENTIMETERS, AND FOR CONTRAST ONE VERY DEEP DEPTH SEVEN METERS DOWN IN LAKE CARROLL.

MY RESULTS SHOWED THAT IN THE MEAN THE ENTEROCCI LEVELS IN DISTURBED WATER WERE GREATER THAN THOSE IN THE UNDISTURBED WATER.

POSSIBLY THE MOST INTERESTING THING THAT I FOUND ABOUT MY PROJECT WAS THAT THE DISTURBED ENTEROCCI LEVELS WERE HIGHER THAN THE EPA STANDARD OF 61 COLONY-FORMING UNITS PER 100 MILLILITERS FOR SAFE FRESH WATER WHILE THE UNDISTURBED ENTEROCCI LEVELS WERE LOWER THAN THAT STANDARD.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

[LAUGHTER]

>>KEVIN BECKNER: I'VE GOT A FEELING THERE MAY BE JUST A FEW QUESTIONS.

>> OKAY.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: YES, MA'AM.

VERY IMPRESSIVE.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT GALLINIPPERS, MOSQUITOES?

[LAUGHTER]

>> I DON'T --

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THERE WAS A DISCUSSION YESTERDAY BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE, WHO'S GOT AN APPARENT CONCERN OR FEAR, AND AS I HAD SAID YESTERDAY, THAT I HAD BEEN -- AS A YOUTH HAD BEEN BITTEN BY THEM, AND OTHER THAN THE RUMOR THAT IT CAUSES HAIR LOSS, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DAMAGE.

[LAUGHTER]

VERY IMPRESSIVE, YOUNG LADY.

>> THANK YOU.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

>>KEN HAGAN: I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD HALF OF WHAT YOU SAID, AND YOU'RE AN EXTREMELY BRIGHT YOUNG WOMAN, AND AS A GRADUATE OF CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL AND AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP ON LAKE CARROLL, I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: COMMISSION CRIST.

>>VICTOR CRIST: I WAS VERY IMPRESSED AS WELL.

I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, THOUGH.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US HOW YOU TOOK YOUR SAMPLES FROM EACH OF THE DEPTHS.

>> WELL, THE HARDEST DEPTH, SEVEN METERS, I CONSTRUCTED TWO DIFFERENT DEVICES TO COLLECT FROM THOSE SINCE YOU CAN'T EXACTLY SWIM DOWN THERE, SO I CONSTRUCTED A WATER SAMPLING DEVICE MODELED AFTER A VAN DORN SAMPLER AND ALSO A SEDIMENT COLLECTING DEVICE MODELED AFTER A PONAR SAMPLER.

FOR THE REST OF THE DEPTHS, I WAS ABLE TO WADE INTO THE WATER, AND THERE WASN'T ANY DANGER, BUT I SIMPLY TOOK THEM WITH MY HANDS AND THE BOTTLES, THE STERILE BOTTLES THAT I WAS -- THAT I USED FROM THE LABORATORY.

>>VICTOR CRIST: WHEN DO YOU GRADUATE?

>> FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.

>>VICTOR CRIST: FOUR YEARS FROM NOW?

>> YEAH.

>>VICTOR CRIST: I'M SURE THAT WHEN YOU NEED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE THAT YOU'LL HAVE A WHOLE BOARD UP HERE READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO DO THAT FOR YOU.

YOU'RE IMPRESSIVE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: AND COMMISSIONER MILLER.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: COMMISSIONER HAGAN UNDERSTOOD HALF WHAT SHE SAID.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING THAT SHE SAID.

DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO VOTE ON COMING UP IN A FEW MINUTES TO VOTE ON?

ANYTHING?

COME HERE.

>> OKAY.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: OH, HE'S GOING TO LET HER SIT DOWN.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: SIT RIGHT HERE.

[LAUGHTER]

[APPLAUSE]

>>SANDRA MURMAN: VERY GOOD.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: NEXT ITEM.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY, MARGARET?

ANYTHING ELSE?

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

NO?

HOW ABOUT EXPLAINING JUST WHAT IS ENTEROCCI?

I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT THAT WAS.

>> WELL, ENTEROCCI IS BASICALLY A FECAL INDICATOR OF BACTERIA THAT IS USED TO DETECT MUCH MORE DANGEROUS BACTERIA LIKE CRYPTOSPORIDIUM, SALMONELLA, THAT KIND OF THING.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO SIMPLIFIED, IT'S POO-POO IN THE WATER?

>> WELL, IT DETECTS THAT.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.

YOU ARE DEARLY IMPRESSIVE, SO I THINK YOU HAVE A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE, AND DR. GARRITY, WE'VE GOT A SLOT OPEN FOR HER SOMEWHERE WHEN SHE GRADUATES.

>>RICK GARRITY: WE'LL MAKE -- WE'LL PROVIDE ONE FOR HER, ABSOLUTELY.

AND MAGGIE'S DAD IS HERE, MR. PARRISH.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: IN FACT, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS.

WE'LL DO A PICTURE.

IF WE'VE GOT THE PLAQUE, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BRING THAT UP.

I'LL COME DOWN THERE --

>> OKAY.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: -- AND YOU CAN JOIN ME DOWN THERE AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, HOW'S THAT?

>> ALL RIGHT.

SOUNDS GOOD.

[APPLAUSE]

>>ED COPPOCK: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: NEXT ITEM.

>>RICK GARRITY: ITEM 5, AS WE SAID, IS BEING POSTPONED, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO ITEM 6, WHICH IS THE RESTORE ACT, AND ELAINE IS GOING TO GET A FEW SLIDES UP HERE FOR US.

THAT WAS -- THAT WILL BE A HARD AGENDA ITEM TO FOLLOW, THOUGH.

BUT ON THE RESTORE ACT, I KNOW THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT YESTERDAY WITH COMMISSIONER MILLER AND BRANDON.

WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH YOU THIS MORNING.

AND YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE, COMMISSIONERS, AND FLIP ON TO THE NEXT ONE, ELAINE.

THE -- THIS IS A SLIDE -- ONE MORE.

YEAH, GREAT.

THIS IS THE SLIDE THAT INDICATES THE DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR RESTORATION WORK IN THE GULF STATES AS A RESULT OF THE BP OIL SPILL.

THIS IS MONEY THAT IS -- FLIP BACK ONE.

THIS IS MONEY THAT WOULD BE COMING INTO -- BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND BE DEPOSITED IN THE GULF COAST RESTORATION TRUST FUND.

YESTERDAY I THINK YOU PROBABLY CONCENTRATED ON THE POT ON THE LEFT, THE LOCAL FUND, AND THE THIRD POT OVER, THE STATE FUND.

TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE CONCENTRATING MORE ON THE BLUE POT, THE FEDERAL FUND.

THE FEDERAL FUND IS BEING ADMINISTERED BY THE GULF COAST RESTORATION COUNCIL, WHICH CONSISTS OF A NUMBER OF FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE GOVERNORS OF THE COASTAL STATES THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE SPILL, INCLUDING GOVERNOR SCOTT, AND GOVERNOR SCOTT HAS NAMED MIMI DREW, WHO IS THE FORMER DEP SECRETARY, AS HIS REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT COUNCIL.

NEXT SLIDE.

SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ESTUARY PROGRAMS, BOTH THE TAMPA BAY, THE SARASOTA BAY, AND THE CHARLOTTE HARBOR ESTUARY PROGRAM, TO SUBMIT PROJECTS FOR REVIEW AND FOR SUBMITTAL TO THE RESTORATION COUNCILS AND TO DEP FOR CONSIDERATION AS THE MONEY IS DISBURSED WHEN THE SETTLEMENT DOES OCCUR.

EPC HAS SUBMITTED FOUR MONITORING PROJECTS, AND THEY'RE PART OF A REGIONAL AMBIENT MONITORING PROGRAM.

IT'S NOT JUST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BUT THE OTHER COUNTIES AROUND TAMPA BAY, INCLUDING PINELLAS AND MANATEE, ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THIS WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO DO COORDINATED AND COLLABORATIVE MONITORING EFFORTS FOR WATER QUALITY AND SENTINEL SPECIES THAT WILL INDICATE TO US TRENDS IN WATER QUALITY IN TAMPA BAY.

THE -- SO THESE ARE OUR PROJECTS, AND ALSO I KNOW THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STORMWATER DEPARTMENT HAS SUBMITTED A NUMBER OF PROJECTS ALSO.

AND COMMISSIONER BECKNER, YOU VOTED ON THIS AS A MEMBER OF THE POLICY BOARD A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK, AND SO THE SUBMITTAL IS ONGOING TO THE RESTORATION COUNCIL AND TO DEP.

BUT TO GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROCESS, I'VE ASKED HOLLY GREENING TO BE HERE TODAY, AND HOLLY IS GOING TO GO OVER THE PROCESS THAT WAS USED IN -- IN VENTING THESE PROJECTS AND DECIDING WHICH PROJECTS TO SUBMIT TO THE RESTORATION COUNCIL AND TO DEP.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DIRECTORS OF THE THREE ESTUARY PROGRAMS AND THEIR STAFF.

THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AND AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED IN EVALUATING THEM AND SETTING UP A METHOD TO RANK THEM, SO HOLLY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DESCRIBE THAT IN MORE DETAIL?

>>KEVIN BECKNER: WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M HOLLY GREENING.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM.

COMMISSIONER MILLER, YOU DID A GREAT JOB YESTERDAY EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY, AND -- THAT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, COMING TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND SPECIFICALLY TO OUR AREA AFTER THE BP OIL SPILL SETTLEMENT OCCURS.

ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO POTS THAT COMMISSIONER MILLER EXPLAINED YESTERDAY AND THAT MIDDLE POT, THAT FEDERAL POT, IS THAT THERE'S A MUCH FASTER TIMELINE ON THAT MIDDLE POT FOR THE FEDERAL POT.

THE -- THE FEDERAL COUNCIL HAS TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS BY JULY OF THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF -- OF THEIR FINAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, SO WE'RE IN A MUCH FASTER TIME FRAME FOR THAT MIDDLE POT THAN FOR EITHER THE FIRST POT, WHICH COMES DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY, OR THE CONSORTIUM POT, WHICH IS WHY THE ESTUARY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE LAST AUGUST ON DEVELOPING A -- A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND HERE.

THE -- THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL DAMAGE, RESTORATION, AND FINES, THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THERE.

ONE OF THEM IS A NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT.

THE PURPOSE HERE IS TO RESTORE INJURED NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMPENSATE FOR INTERIM LOSSES.

THIS FUND WILL PRIMARILY GO TO THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE OIL, SO WE PROBABLY WILL NOT SEE A LOT OF THE NRDA FUNDS COMING TO THE TAMPA BAY AREA.

CRIMINAL FINES, MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE CRIMINAL FINES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASSESSED, AND THOSE CRIMINAL FINES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED PRIMARILY, AGAIN, TO THE OILED AREAS, ALTHOUGH WE MAY SEE SOME CRIMINAL FINES THAT COME TO THIS AREA.

AND FINALLY, THE CLEAN WATER ACT FINES AND PENALTIES, AND THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FUND.

THE RESTORE ACT DIRECTS 80% OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT FINES TO A GULF COAST RESTORATION TRUST FUND TO HELP THE GULF RECOVER ENVIRONMENTALLY AND ECONOMICALLY FROM BOTH THE DIRECT IMPACTS OF THE OIL AND OTHER IMPACTS, SO THIS IS MUCH MORE BROADLY DEFINED, AND THE TAMPA BAY AREA DOES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- TO RECEIVE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.

IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THE POLICY BOARDS OF THE THREE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA APPROVED A REGIONAL COORDINATION TO DEVELOP A PRIORITY LIST OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS AND TO ADDRESS THREE- AND TEN-YEAR PROJECTS AND DEVELOP RANKING CRITERIA.

THAT EFFORT HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE LAST AUGUST.

AGAIN, THIS IS THE -- THE FED -- THE EFFORT HERE IS FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE GULF COAST RESTORATION COUNCILS' CONSIDERATION.

THOSE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

THEY DO NOT INCLUDE AS MUCH OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY THAT THE OTHER TWO MAJOR POTS OF FUNDINGS CAN -- CAN ADDRESS.

THE REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PLAN INCLUDES A LARGE PART OF FLORIDA, ABOUT HALF OF FLORIDA, THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA, STRETCHING FROM THE BIG BEND AREA AND LEVY COUNTY THROUGH COLLIER COUNTY AND INCLUDES 11 OF THE 23 COUNTIES IN THE STATE.

THE ESTUARY PROGRAMS REQUESTED INPUT ON PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE FUNDS, INCLUDING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AGENCIES, NGOs, ALL OF THEM, AGAIN, ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

PROPOSALS WERE DUE IN JANUARY, AND WE RECEIVED ABOUT 230 PROJECTS FROM OVER 40 ENTITIES WITH A TOTAL OF ABOUT THREE BILLION REQUESTED FUNDS.

THE POLICY BOARD THEN APPROVED A PROCESS TO RANK THESE PROJECTS, THESE 230 PROJECTS, A MULTI-STEP PROCESS HERE.

ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE ESTUARY PROGRAM'S ELEMENT IS TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROJECTS ACROSS OUR FULL REGION.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WERE VERY, VERY COSTLY, AND IF THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THIS AREA WOULD ONLY GO TO THOSE PROJECTS, THEN IT WOULD NOT BE AN EQUAL DISTRIBUTION ACROSS OUR AREAS, SO ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ESTUARY PROGRAM POLICY BOARDS WAS TO CAP ANY INDIVIDUAL PROJECT'S NEED AT $10 MILLION, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT WE HAD SOME MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECTS THAT WERE PROPOSED THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY USE ALL THE FUNDS IF THEY -- I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WERE APPROVED AT THAT AMOUNT.

THE KEY OBJECTIVE OF THIS IS TO SELECT PROJECTS WITH THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF MEETING CRITERIA AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COASTS AND GULF NATURAL RESOURCES.

PROJECTS WERE GROUPED INTO THREE-YEAR PROJECTS, WHICH ARE PRIORITY PROJECTS, AND TEN-YEAR PROJECTS, WHICH ARE THE REMAINDER OF THE PROJECTS, THE LONGER-TERM PROJECTS.

THE GULF COAST COUNCIL WILL BE LOOKING AT THESE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS, SO THREE-YEAR PROJECTS AND THE TEN-YEAR PROJECTS.

I'VE DISTRIBUTED THE FINAL APPROVED LIST OF PROJECTS GROUPED.

THIS IS BY SUBMITTING ENTITY, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND EPC HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN THAT PRIORITY THREE-YEAR PROJECT.

THIS -- THIS TABLE IS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED.

THE PROJECTS IN -- THAT -- EPC AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN THAT THREE-YEAR PRIORITY PROJECT LIST IS THE REGIONAL TRUST FUND FOR MONITORING, WHICH IS A NEW IDEA THAT WOULD ALLOW PERPETUAL FUNDING OF -- OF OUR MONITORING PROGRAMS.

I THINK ALL OF THE MONITORING PROGRAMS IN THIS REGION ARE FACING THE SAME SORT OF RESTRICTIONS THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND EPC IS IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO FUND THIS LONG-TERM.

THIS INCLUDES THE WATER QUALITY MONITORING FROM EPC AND ALSO THE TAMPA BAY BENTHIC MONITORING PROGRAM.

FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THE SWEETWATER CREEK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IS A HIGHLY RANKED PROJECT, DELANEY CREEK LOW-IMPACT DEVELOPMENT, AND PARKS, RECREATION, AND CONSERVATION SUPPORT ARE ALL HIGHLY RANKED PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS THREE-YEAR PRIORITY PLAN.

PROJECT -- PROGRESS TO DATE: ALL THE PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO THE NEP REGIONAL PLAN HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE STATE DEP DATABASE, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS.

IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE THAT -- THAT SUBMITTED THESE 230 DIFFERENT PROJECTS DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANOTHER SUBMITTAL DIRECTLY TO THE STATE.

THE STATE IS DUE TO DELIVER THEIR DRAFT PLAN TO THE GULF RESTORATION COUNCIL BY MARCH 30th, AGAIN, VERY, VERY QUICK TURNAROUND HERE, BUT OUR PROJECTS ARE IN THERE, SO THAT IS -- THAT'S THE VERY GOOD NEWS.

THE -- THE FINAL REGIONAL PLAN WILL BE DELIVERED TO DEP, GO DIRECTLY TO THE COUNCIL AND ALSO TO THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION.

THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS WEEK, BUT IT WILL BE HAPPENING BY TOMORROW.

AN IMPORTANT THING TO REALIZE HERE IS THAT THE RESTORE

FUNDS -- WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MAY BE COMING TO THE RESTORE TRUST FUND OVERALL, PENDING THE TRIAL RESULTS AND SETTLEMENT.

THE LATEST THAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT THE TRIAL IS ONGOING RIGHT NOW.

IT MAY BE FINISHED BY MAY, WHICH MEANS THAT FUNDS MAY BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF SUMMER OR SO.

AND THEN HOW THE PROJECTS WILL BE SELECTED BY THE COUNCIL -- AND IT IS UP TO THE COUNCIL TO SELECT THOSE PROJECTS -- WILL BE DETERMINED AFTER THEIR PLAN IS DUE IN JULY OF THIS YEAR.

VERY QUICK TURNAROUND, AND THE ESTUARY PROGRAMS WERE VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO COORDINATE SOMETHING THAT HAS ALLOWED THE COUNTY AND EPC TO HAVE AN INPUT INTO THOSE -- INTO THESE EARLY PROJECTS.

AND THAT IS A VERY, VERY QUICK OVERVIEW.

WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE COUNTY AND EPC'S PARTICIPATION IN THIS.

I THINK THERE -- WE HAVE BEEN HEARING VERY GOOD INPUT FROM BOTH THE FEDERAL COUNCIL AND THE STATE THAT THE PROJECTS AND THE PROCESS USED BY THIS COORDINATED REGIONAL EFFORT IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED, AND WE HOPE TO HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS IN TERMS OF FUNDING FOR THOSE PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THAT THREE-YEAR PLAN.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: GREAT.

THANK YOU, MS. GREENING.

ANY QUESTIONS?

SEEING NONE, THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: NEXT ITEM.

>>RICK GARRITY: THANKS, HOLLY.

THE NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONERS, UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA YOU APPROVED ACCEPTING A NUMBER OF OUR ACTION PLANS.

I THINK THERE'S 13 IN THERE.

THESE ACTION PLANS DEPICT SOME OF THE PRIORITY THINGS THAT WE'LL BE DOING DURING 2013, AND WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS PICK ONE FROM TIME TO TIME AND BRING IT TO YOU AND LET YOU HEAR ABOUT IT IN MORE DETAIL, SO TODAY THAT ONE THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU IS AN UPDATE ON OUR ATTEMPTS TO HAVE A VIRTUAL COMPUTER SYSTEM AT EPC.

SHANNON PARRIS IS OUR I.T. DIRECTOR AT EPC, AND SHANNON IS GOING TO PRESENT THAT.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: WELCOME.

>>SHANNON PARRIS: THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS SHANNON PARRIS, EPC STAFF.

AS DR. GARRITY MENTIONED, I'M THE I.T. DIRECTOR FOR THE AGENCY.

TODAY I'LL BE -- I WILL BE PRESENTING TO YOU AN OVERVIEW OF OUR SERVER AND DESKTOP VIRTUALIZATION PROJECTS AT THE EPC.

THESE PROJECTS ARE PART OF OUR STERLING STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 5.2, AND VIRTUALIZATION IS PART OF OUR ACTION PLAN FOR 2013.

THE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION TODAY INCLUDE A DEFINITION OF "VIRTUALIZATION."

I WILL DISCUSS SOME OF THE BENEFITS, AND I WILL GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS TECHNOLOGY IS BEING USED AT THE AGENCY.

FOLLOWING THIS DISCUSSION, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

WHEN YOU'RE PURCHASING A NEW PC, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT EVERYONE LOOKS FOR.

THOSE INCLUDE PROCESSOR SPEED, HOW MUCH MEMORY, THE SIZE OF THE HARD DRIVE, WHAT OPERATING SYSTEM.

OFTENTIMES, EVEN THOUGH WE PURCHASE THIS PROCESSING POWER, THESE RESOURCES SIT IDLE.

WE BUY THEM JUST IN CASE WE NEED THEM.

THIS SAME THING HOLDS TRUE WHEN WE NEED TO PURCHASE A MORE POWERFUL COMPUTER, SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS A SERVER.

WE BUILD IT SO THAT IT WILL PERFORM UNDER PEAK LOAD.

OTHERWISE, THE SYSTEM UTILIZATION REMAINS AROUND 15%.

YOU MAY HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO BUILD A POWERFUL SYSTEM THAT IS NOT USED 90% OF THE TIME.

WHEN YOU MULTIPLY THIS TIMES THE NUMBER OF SERVERS IN A RACK OR IN A DATA CENTER, IT'S EASY TO RECOGNIZE WASTED RESOURCES.

IN ADDITION, YOU ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MANUFACTURER SERVICE CONTRACTS, THE COOLING AND ELECTRICITY REQUIRED FOR EACH UNIT, THE RESOURCES ALLOCATED FOR BACKUP AND RESTORE OF FAILED SYSTEMS, AND THE DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION OF MANAGEMENT AND UPDATES AND PATCHES.

AS YOU ADD IN THESE ADDITIONAL VARIABLES, THE WASTE MULTIPLIES.

TO SOLVE THE WASTE PROBLEM AND TO MAKE MORE EFFICIENT USE OF PHYSICAL AND HARDWARE RESOURCES, WE IMPLEMENTED A TECHNOLOGY KNOWN AS VIRTUALIZATION.

TRADITIONALLY, THE SYSTEMS INSTALLED IN YOUR DATA CENTER CONSIST OF A SINGLE HARDWARE SERVER RUNNING A SINGLE OPERATING SYSTEM AND OFTEN A SINGLE APPLICATION.

THIS IS MULTIPLIED OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL YOU REACH THE NUMBER OF SERVERS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT YOUR USERS' DEMANDS.

IN THE WORLD OF VIRTUALIZATION, THERE IS STILL A SINGLE SERVER, BUT ITS PROCESSOR, MEMORY, AND STORAGE CAN BE DIVIDED UP INTO A NUMBER OF VIRTUAL MACHINES OR VIRTUAL DESKTOPS.

IN THIS ALL OF THE SERVER RESOURCES ARE SHARED.

THIS PREVENTS THE WASTE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

NOW, INSTEAD OF ONE APPLICATION PER PHYSICAL SERVER, WE ARE CONFIGURING MULTIPLE SERVERS WITH MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS PER SERVER.

IN THE VIRTUAL DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT, ALL OF THE POWER REMAINS ON THE SERVER.

THE SYSTEM RESOURCES OF PROCESSOR, MEMORY, AND STORAGE THAT TRADITIONALLY ARE PART OF YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY WHAT IS KNOWN AS A CLIENT.

THE CLIENT ALLOWS YOU TO CONNECT TO THE SERVER AND PROVIDES CONNECTIVITY FOR VIDEO, KEYBOARD, AND MOUSE.

THE POWER OF THE SERVER IS SHARED BY EVERYONE WHO IS CONNECTED.

THERE ARE NO WASTED RESOURCES.

EACH USER IS ALLOCATED ONLY WHAT RESOURCES THEY NEED.

SOME EXAMPLES OF A CLIENT INCLUDE A TRADITIONAL PC OR LAPTOP, A ZERO CLIENT, AND BOTH ANDROID AND IPAD TABLETS AND SMART PHONES.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CLIENT.

THIS IS ONE THAT WE HAVE BEEN EVALUATING, AND THIS WOULD REPLACE A DESKTOP COMPUTER.

THIS UNIT IS AMERICAN MADE.

THIS IS AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET TO AMERICAN MADE.

IT'S MADE BY A COMPANY IN UTAH.

AND ONCE YOU CONNECT THIS DEVICE TO THE INTERNET, YOUR VIRTUAL DESKTOP CAN BE DELIVERED TO YOU ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN THE WORLD OF VIRTUALIZATION, ALL THAT'S DELIVERED TO THE CLIENT IS THE VIDEO.

ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS ARE RUNNING ON THE SERVER.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON YOUR VIRTUAL MACHINE -- FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU LAUNCH MS WORD OR OUTLOOK ON YOUR VIRTUAL MACHINE, THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE ONLY RUNNING ON THE SERVER.

WHAT YOU SEE ON THE CLIENT IS ONLY THE VIDEO BEING PRESENTED TO YOU BY THE APPLICATION.

IF YOU CAN IMAGINE A LONG VIDEO CABLE THAT'S CONNECTED TO A PC THAT CAN REACH YOU ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, THAT'S A VIRTUAL DESKTOP.

THE CLIENT PROVIDES THAT INTERFACE.

AT THE EPC, OUR FIELD INSPECTORS HAVE BEGUN TO USE IPADS AS CLIENTS IN THE FIELD.

THESE PICTURES ARE OF FRANK ARCURI, ONE OF OUR INSPECTORS, PERFORMING AN INSPECTION AT A LOCAL BUSINESS.

WE ARE ABLE TO DELIVER A WINDOWS 7 DESKTOP TO THESE DEVICES SO THAT INSPECTORS CAN ACCESS AGENCY DATABASES AND COMPLETE INSPECTION REPORTS WHILE AT THE CUSTOMER LOCATION.

THIS INSPECTOR USES THE EXISTING CAMERA AND VIDEO TECHNOLOGY OF THE IPAD, ELIMINATING THE NEED TO CARRY ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT.

THIS IS A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR DIRECT INSPECTION PROGRAM, WHERE WE'RE LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE MORE EFFICIENT WAYS OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS.

SINCE ALL OF THE COMPUTING POWER'S NOW CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE DATA CENTERS, THERE'S LITTLE NEED FOR A TECHNICIAN TO TRAVEL TO THE END USER LOCATION TO TROUBLESHOOT DESKTOP PROBLEMS.

ANOTHER ADVANTAGE IS THE SAME TECHNOLOGY IS EQUALLY AVAILABLE TO ALL USERS.

NO LONGER DO WE HAVE THE SITUATION WHERE ONE MACHINE IS BETTER THAN ANOTHER.

AS I.T. BUDGETS HAVE CONTINUED TO SHRINK, RESULTING IN FEWER I.T.E. -- I.T. FTEs, VIRTUALIZATION MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR I.T. DEPARTMENTS TO CONTINUE DELIVERING THE REQUIRED LEVEL OF SERVICE EXPECTED BY THEIR CUSTOMERS.

CENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT ALLOWS I.T. ENGINEERS TO MORE EFFICIENTLY APPLY UPDATES TO BOTH VIRTUAL SERVER AND DESKTOP MACHINES FROM A REMOTE CONSOLE.

SECURITY IS ALSO CENTRALLY MANAGED, ELIMINATING SOME OF THE RISK WITH END POINT PROTECTION.

THERE IS A MUCH SMALLER ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT RESULTING FROM LESS HARDWARE CONSUMABLES REQUIRED TO DELIVER A VIRTUAL DESKTOP OR A VIRTUAL SERVER VERSUS TRADITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

POWER CONSUMPTION FOR A PERSONAL COMPUTER DROPS FROM 300 WATTS TO SIX USING A ZERO CLIENT.

THE BUILDING AIR CONDITIONING REQUIRED TO COMBAT THE HEAT PRODUCED BY AN OFFICE POPULATED WITH TRADITIONAL DESKTOP COMPUTERS IS ALMOST ELIMINATED WHEN USING A CLIENT.

BY DEPLOYING VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY AT THE EPC, WE HAVE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF PHYSICAL APPLICATION SERVERS ON THE NETWORK BY 45%, AND WE WILL REDUCE PHYSICAL DESKTOP COMPUTERS BY 90%, REPLACING THEM WITH VIRTUAL DESKTOPS.

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE HAD A NUMBER OF SERVERS THAT WERE REACHING END OF LIFE AND WERE SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE DID NOT PURCHASE ANY NEW PERSONAL COMPUTERS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS IN ANTICIPATION OF MIGRATING TO THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.

WE WERE ABLE TO UPGRADE FROM THE TRADITIONAL SERVER AND DESKTOP CONFIGURATIONS TO THESE MORE EFFICIENT VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGIES OPERATING WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGETS BY SPENDING THE MONEY EARMARKED TO REPLACE TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS ON THESE TECHNOLOGIES.

WE ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL AND CAPITAL SAVINGS MOVING FORWARD AS THE COST OF THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES CONTINUE TO DECLINE.

THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION ON AN OVERVIEW OF VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY AT THE EPC.

I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: ANY QUESTIONS?

>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]

>>KEVIN BECKNER: ONE QUESTION THAT I HAD.

THE APPLICATION OR WHAT WE'RE DOING TO CREATE EFFICIENCY IN THE -- IN THE WORK FIELD, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, WITH OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT NOW, THEY'RE NOW USING IPADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE ABLE TO DIRECTLY TRANSMIT CASES, AND OUR CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO GO ON-LINE TO REPORT CODE ISSUES.

IS THERE SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT WE'RE DOING AS FAR AS FIELD WORK FOR OUR PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR FIELD?

>>SHANNON PARRIS: WELL, IN THE -- AS I SHOWED WITH FRANK IN THE FIELD, WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER THE WINDOWS 7 DESKTOP TO HIM USING THE IPAD.

THIS IS THE SAME DESKTOP THAT HE WOULD BE USING IF HE WAS SITTING AT HIS DESK IN THE OFFICE.

IT'S THE EXACT SAME SYSTEM, SO HE HAS ACCESS TO THE SAME RESOURCES THAT HE WOULD HAVE IF HE WAS IN THE OFFICE WHILE HE'S IN THE FIELD, SO ANYTHING THAT HE COULD ACCOMPLISH, LET'S SAY, WITH A PHONE CALL WITH A CUSTOMER WHILE HE'S SITTING AT HIS DESK, HE CAN ACCOMPLISH THOSE SAME THINGS IN THE FIELD USING HIS IPAD.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT APPLICATIONWISE, IS THERE APPLICATION OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE FIELD WORKERS CAN USE THEIR IPADS TO EITHER, ONE, WRITE UP THEIR REPORTS AND DIRECTLY TRANSMIT THEM INTO THE SYSTEM OR IS THERE A WAY THAT THIS CAN HELP CREATE EFFICIENCY IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND CASE PROCESSING?

>>RICK GARRITY: YEAH.

COMMISSIONER, I THINK WE ARE DOING THAT.

THE -- THE IPADS ARE VERY VERSATILE, AND FRANK THAT YOU SAW THE PICTURE OF THERE CAN ACTUALLY COMPLETE HIS REPORT ON-SITE AND JUST TRANSMIT IT BACK TO THE OFFICE ELECTRONICALLY, SO ALL OF THAT IS OCCURRING.

AND I THINK YOU HAD BROUGHT UP A QUESTION SOME TIME BACK ABOUT ALLOWING CITIZENS TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO US AND TAKE PICTURES AND ALLOW THAT TO BE TRANSMITTED TO US, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT ALSO.

WE'RE NOT THERE YET, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON THAT ISSUE.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING.

IF THAT -- IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD HELP IF WE GET -- IF SOMEBODY NOTICED SOMETHING THAT MAY BE IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT, WHAT'S THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW THAT THEY WOULD GO THROUGH IN REPORTING THAT AND HOW WOULD WE PROCESS THAT?

>>RICK GARRITY: WE HAVE A PRETTY BUSY WEB SITE WHERE IT DOES ALLOW CITIZENS TO SEND US E-MAILS.

IT COMES TO -- EPC INFO IS THE ADDRESS, AND THEN THAT IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DIVISION TO GET THOSE ISSUES -- THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, AND --

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>>RICK GARRITY: OF COURSE, PHONE CALLS, SURE, ALSO, BUT WE GET A LOT OF INQUIRIES ON OUR WEB SITE.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH.

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EXPLORED THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, WHAT THEY'VE DONE, BUT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE GPS WHERE IF THEY -- IF SOMEBODY RECOGNIZES THAT THERE MAY BE A CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATION, THEY CAN TAKE A PICTURE ON THEIR PHONE AND SEND IT THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND THEN THE GPS TAGS THE EXACT LOCATION OF WHERE IT'S AT, AND THE FIELD WORKERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE THE PICTURES OF IT, THEY RECEIVE IT IN THEIR OFFICE, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO GO OUT ALL THE WAY IN THE FIELD, TAKE PICTURES THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALREADY SENT IN VIA WITH THE CITIZENS.

>>RICK GARRITY: YES.

AND THAT -- WE RECALL THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT A FEW MONTHS BACK, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

ONE -- ANOTHER THING WE'RE WORKING ON, AFTER BRIEFING THE COMMISSIONERS, I THINK THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE EPC AGENDA PERHAPS IN A DROPBOX SIMILAR TO THE COUNTY'S, AND WE MENTIONED THAT TO SHANNON, AND THAT IS A DOABLE THING.

>>SHANNON PARRIS: ABSOLUTELY.

>>RICK GARRITY: SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT ALSO.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.

GREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SHANNON.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>SHANNON PARRIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: NEXT ITEM.

>>RICK GARRITY: NEXT ITEM IS A PRESENTATION UNDER OUR ADVANCED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

REGGIE SANFORD HAS BEEN WORKING ON A PARTICULAR PROJECT, AND THE PROJECT IS TO TRY TO MAKE IT AN EASIER DETERMINATION WHEN YOU DO HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT CASE WITH A PENALTY AND THE COMPANY IS UNABLE TO PAY THAT PENALTY BECAUSE OF THEIR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, THEN WHAT DO YOU DO, HOW DO YOU EVALUATE THAT CLAIM?

IN THE PAST IT'S BEEN A VERY CUMBERSOME PROCESS.

REGGIE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SOME EPA MODELS TO MAKE IT A MUCH EASIER PROCESS.

>>REGGIE SANFORD: THANK YOU, DR. GARRITY.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, I SERVE AS AN ENFORCEMENT COORDINATOR WITH THE AGENCY, AND A BIG PART OF MY JOB IS TO ASSIST COMPANIES THAT MAY HAVE RUN AFOUL OF THE RULES BACK INTO COMPLIANCE.

IN FACT, GREATER THAN 90% OF ALL THE WARNING NOTICES THAT WE ISSUE ARE RESOLVED AND NEVER ACTUALLY MAKE IT INTO ENFORCEMENT, SO FOR MY ADVANCED LEADERSHIP PROJECT, I DEVELOPED A PROTOCOL THAT WILL ASSIST COMPANIES THAT CLAIM A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS A RESULT OF AN ENFORCEMENT CASE, SO IF I MAY TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN.

FOR THE SMALL PERCENTAGE OF CASES THAT DO WIND UP IN ENFORCEMENT, THIS IS THE BASIC PROCESS BACK INTO COMPLIANCE.

A VIOLATION WOULD OCCUR, SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS ARE REACHED, AND CORRECTIONS ARE ASSESSED AND IMPLEMENTED.

BUT FOR A FEW CASES THERE MAY BE COMPANIES THAT SAY THEY CANNOT COMPLY BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THIS PROCESS IS LESS STRAIGHTFORWARD.

AS YOU WOULD IMAGINE, MOST FINANCIAL HARDSHIP CLAIMS ARE A RESULT OF THE SLOW ECONOMY, AND UNTIL I DEVELOPED THIS PROTOCOL, THE ONLY WAY THAT WE HAD TO EXAMINE A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP CLAIM WAS TO GIVE THE RESPONDENT A 12-PAGE STATE DOCUMENT TO FILL OUT, ASK FOR ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION, BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION, BOARD MINUTES, A LOT OF EXTRANEOUS STUFF -- A LOT OF EXTRANEOUS INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT ONLY ARDUOUS BUT IT WAS ALSO VERY INTRUSIVE.

IN FACT, ONE RESPONSE -- ONE RESPONDENT TOLD ME IT WOULD COST THEM $1,000 TO HAVE THEIR ACCOUNTANT COMPLETE THIS 12-PAGE STATE FORM, SO THIS IS THE -- THIS IS THE REASON I CAME UP WITH THIS PROJECT ACTIVITY, AND SO THE GOAL OF MY PROJECT WAS TO DEVELOP A STREAM -- A STREAMLINED METHODOLOGY THAT STANDARDIZES HOW WE ASSIST RESPONDENTS AND EVALUATES THEIR CLAIMS OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, AND THIS IS HOW WE GET THERE.

WE WILL GET THERE USING THESE TRIED AND TRUE EPA MODELS.

THESE MODELS WERE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED OVER 20 YEARS AGO, AND THEY'RE UPDATED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

THE MODELS EVALUATE THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF COMPANIES AND ALSO INDIVIDUALS.

THE ABEL MODEL RELIES ON COMPANY TAX RETURNS TO PROJECT FUTURE -- FUTURE CASH FLOW.

THE INDIPAY MODEL IS A MODEL THAT EVALUATES THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL, AND WHEN I SAY INDIVIDUAL, I'M NOT MOST OF THE TIME SPEAKING OF A PERSON BUT A SOLE PROPRIETOR, AND IT IS A TWO-STAGE EVALUATION PROCESS.

THE FIRST STAGE LOOKS -- IS A SIMPLE MEANS TEST, JUST LOOKS AT THE MONEY THEY HAVE COMING IN AND SEE IF THEY HAVE THE MEANS TO COMPLY.

IF WE GET PAST THAT STAGE, WE GO ON TO THE SECOND STAGE, WHICH LOOKS AT THE TAX RETURN INFORMATION AND WHATEVER OTHER FINANCIAL DATA THAT THEY FEEL WOULD HELP TO SHOW THEIR FINANCIAL CONDITION.

ALONG WITH THE POLICY, WE WOULD ASK THAT THE RESPONDENT WOULD COMPLETE A FINANCIAL AFFIDAVIT JUST ATTESTING TO THE VERACITY OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING.

ABSENT THAT, WE WOULD ASK THAT THEY ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO VERIFY THE TAX INFORMATION.

AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A QUICK SAMPLE OF HOW THE ABEL MODEL WORKS.

SOME OF YOU OR SOME OF THE PEOPLE LISTENING MAY DO THEIR OWN TAXES, AND IF YOU DO, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TURBOTAX SOFTWARE THAT YOU CAN BUY.

WELL, THIS ABEL MODEL WORKS IN A VERY SIMILAR WAY.

IT TELLS YOU WHAT TO PLUG INTO THE MODEL, AND THEN THE MODEL RUNS ITSELF, AND THEN IN THE END IT GIVES YOU A BLACK-AND-WHITE PICTURE OF THE COMPANY OR THE PERSON'S FINANCIAL SITUATION, AS BEFORE WE WOULD GET THESE -- THESE STATE FORMS BACK, AND WE DON'T HAVE CPAs ON STAFF, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THEIR FINANCIAL HEALTH.

SO HERE'S A SAMPLE OF THE -- THIS PAGE HERE IS JUST A BASIC INFORMATION PAGE, KIND OF A DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY.

SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF AT THE AGENCY WOULD COMPLETE THIS PAGE.

FROM THERE WE WOULD MOVE ON TO THE TAX INFORMATION, AND THE ABEL MODEL TELLS YOU STEP BY STEP, LINE BY LINE WHAT INFORMATION TO PUT INTO THE MODEL.

FROM THERE THE MODEL GOES TO WORK.

THE MODEL DEVELOPS A FINANCIAL PROFILE OF THE COMPANY, AND THEN THE MODEL WOULD DO ITS ANALYSIS AND TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT THE COMPANY HAS AN ABILITY TO PAY AND IF SO, HOW MUCH.

THERE ARE TWO CAVEATS THAT COME ALONG WITH THIS POLICY THAT I DEVELOPED, AND IN THE CASE THAT A RESPONDENT, A COMPANY REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH PERMIT CONDITIONS OR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS, THIS POLICY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND ALSO, IF THE COMPANY'S ACTS WERE SO EGREGIOUS TO THE POINT THAT IT MAY HAVE IMPACTED OR ENDANGERED HUMAN LIVES, THE POLICY WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE.

IN THE END, WHAT WE HAVE IS A CONSISTENT METHODOLOGY THAT WE WOULD APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

IT WOULD BE A FORMAL HARDSHIP POLICY.

IT TAKES A LOT OF THE GUESSWORK OUT OF DETERMINING THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF SOMEONE, AND USING THE EPA MODELS AND COMING UP WITH AN ANSWER IS ANOTHER TOOL FOR DR. GARRITY TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.

NONE OF THIS -- NONE OF THIS POLICY OF WHAT I'VE DONE TAKES THE DECISION OUT OF DR. GARRITY'S HANDS, AND THE TRAINING OF STAFF ON HOW TO USE THESE MODELS WOULD BE DONE BY MYSELF, AND THE GOAL, OF COURSE, OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS TO HELP THE COMPANY COME BACK INTO COMPLIANCE.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: EXCELLENT.

THANKS, REGGIE.

ANY QUESTIONS?

DR. GARRITY, I ACTUALLY HAD A QUESTION AS I WAS LISTENING THROUGH THIS.

HOW MANY CASES DO WE HAVE WHERE WE HAVE ISSUED FINES AND A COMPANY IS NOT ABLE TO PAY?

WHAT'S THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF CASES WE DEAL WITH IN A YEAR?

>>RICK GARRITY: IT'S VERY TINY, VERY -- I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGE, BUT IT'S VERY, VERY SMALL.

>> [INAUDIBLE] A YEAR.

>>RICK GARRITY: YEAH.

IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE CASES THAT WE DEAL WITH THROUGH THE YEAR, EVEN THE CASES THAT GO TO ENFORCEMENT WHERE A PENALTY IS PAID IS SMALL, SO IT'S EVEN SMALLER WHEN THEY CANNOT PAY.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: NOW, DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WOULD HAVE APPLICATION IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR COUNTY?

I MEAN, AS I -- I MEAN, I HADN'T HEARD THIS PRESENTATION BEFORE, BUT I WAS THINKING HERE IF THERE'S OTHER SECTORS WITHIN OUR COUNTY THAT MAY BE ABLE TO -- YOU KNOW, THAT NEEDS TO MAKE THESE TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS --

>>RICK GARRITY: IF THERE ARE OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS --

>>KEVIN BECKNER: YES.

>>RICK GARRITY:  -- THAT MAY BE IN THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS, SURE.

WE'D BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS IT WITH THEM.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: IF YOU COULD GET BACK TO US AND LET US KNOW HOW MANY CASES WE DEAL WITH AND THEN WHAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY OF USE OF THIS IN OUR OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.

>>RICK GARRITY: WE WILL DO THAT.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: GREAT.

THANK YOU, AND THANKS AGAIN FOR A GREAT JOB, REGGIE.

APPRECIATE IT.

NEXT ITEM.

>>RICK GARRITY: NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 9, AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW THAT ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES AT THE EPC IS TO EXTEND OUR ONE-STOP PERMITTING PROGRAM AND STREAMLINE OUR PERMITTING PROCESSES, AND SCOTT EMERY WITH OUR WETLANDS DIVISION IS GOING TO TELL YOU SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT ALL THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE ALREADY IN OUR WETLANDS DIVISION.

WE'RE MAKING MORE PROGRESS AND ARE ABOUT TO COME TO AGREEMENT WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ON THEIR WETLANDS PERMITTING PROCESS.

SCOTT.

>>SCOTT EMERY: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

SCOTT EMERY, EPC WETLANDS DIVISION.

AS DR. GARRITY SAID, THIS WILL BE A VERY BRIEF UPDATE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY -- I DON'T HAVE ANY SLIDES OR POWERPOINTS, VERY BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR LATEST ATTEMPTS TO ACHIEVE A ONE-STOP PERMITTING APPROACH WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING.

FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, IF SOMEONE -- A CITIZEN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WANTED TO GET A DOCK OR A SEAWALL PUT IN, THERE WERE FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT THEY CONCEIVABLY WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH, EPC, TAMPA PORT AUTHORITY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AND SOMETIMES, VIA THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE OR THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

MIDDLE OF 2009 EPC OBTAINED DELEGATION FROM TAMPA PORT AUTHORITY FOR THEIR PORTION OF SINGLE-FAMILY DOCKS, SEAWALLS, RIPRAP, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IN 2012 WE ACHIEVED SIMILAR DELEGATION FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

THAT LEAVES THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS' PART OF IT, AND WE'RE NEGOTIATING WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO TAKE OVER THEIR STATE PROGRAMMATIC GENERAL PERMITTING AUTHORITY.

I WAS HOPING TO HAVE THIS FOR YOU BY -- THE FULL AGREEMENT BY TODAY, BUT THERE IS AN ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE THAT IS IN FLUX, SO WE'RE HAVING TO WORK THROUGH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS WITH THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE TO WORK OUT THIS FINAL ASPECT OF IT, AND IT'S MOSTLY WITH THE TIME FRAMES BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS WE HAVE -- WE HAVE SET TIME FRAMES THAT WE HAVE TO ISSUE THESE PERMITS BY.

THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS' RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE IS KIND OF IN FLUX AND IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE OR THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ON SOME OCCASIONS WILL BE COMFORTABLE WITH THESE PERMITTING TIME FRAMES THAT WE DEAL WITH AT THE OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT BY APRIL OR MAY AT THE LATEST WE'LL HAVE A SIGNED AGREEMENT, SO THAT'S IT.

I'M -- ANY QUESTIONS?

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, DR. EMERY.

COMMISSIONER MURMAN.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

AND SCOTT, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A PERSONAL THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, NOT JUST ON THIS ITEM BUT A LOT OF VERY SERIOUS CONSTITUENT CONCERNS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED ON OUR WATERWAYS, AND AS YOU KNOW, I -- MY DISTRICT COVERS ALL THE COASTAL AREAS, AND YOU HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL, YOU ARE A VERY EFFECTIVE MEDIATOR TO TRY AND GET RESOLUTION WITHOUT PEOPLE SUING AND, YOU KNOW, LITIGATING OVER SERIOUS SITUATIONS.

BUT I THINK THIS IS -- ESPECIALLY AS A MEMBER OF THE PORT AUTHORITY BOARD -- YOU KNOW, YOU MENTION THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER AND PEOPLE CRINGE, AND IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE IF YOU NEED SOMETHING QUICK, FORGET IT, IT'S TWO TO THREE YEARS MINIMUM, AND IF YOU CAN GET AN AGREEMENT AND GET THAT PROCESS SHORTENED, IT WILL MAKE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAPPY.

IT'LL BE ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT'LL BE ABOUT JOBS, IT'LL REALLY HELP A LOT, AND, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALL THESE DOCKS THAT THINK THEY NEED TO HAVE A -- AN APPROVAL FROM THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER, SO THIS IS -- I REALLY DO APPRECIATE -- YOU'VE BEEN AN INVALUABLE MEMBER OF THIS TEAM AND YOU'VE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANKS, DR. EMERY.

NEXT ITEM.

>>RICK GARRITY: OKAY.

ON TO THE ED REPORT, AND IF YOU RECALL, WE ALSO ADDED A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE HERE.

SO, COMMISSIONERS, I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME MEETINGS WITH THE LOCAL DEP OFFICE AS WELL AS ACTUALLY THE TALLAHASSEE OFFICE, BUT MARY YEARGAN HAS TAKEN OVER IN THE LOCAL OFFICE.

MARY, YOU RECALL, WAS OUR BROWNFIELDS COORDINATOR, AND WE MET WITH HER AND HER STAFF RECENTLY.

THE -- PROBABLY THE TOP PRIORITY AT DEP RIGHT NOW IS THEIR COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND BASICALLY, WE ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM AT EPC WHERE WE TRY TO WORK WITH FOLKS TO BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT END UP IN ENFORCEMENT, LIKE REGGIE WAS TALKING ABOUT A FEW MINUTES LATER, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE AND WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.

ALSO, WE'VE -- I WANTED TO MENTION ON THE LAKE HORSE, LAKE RALEIGH, LAKE ROGERS, LAKE PRETTY ISSUE, YOU ASKED US TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT AT THE LAST MEETING AND TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO FACILITATE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES IN WATER MOVEMENT IN THE ROCKY CREEK AREA AND THE REPLENISHMENT OF SOME OF THE LAKES THAT NEED SOME ADDITIONAL WATER WITHOUT -- WITHOUT DISTURBING OTHER LAKES IN THE AREA.

WELL, SCOTT EMERY, AGAIN, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT AND

IS -- AS YOU SAY, COMMISSIONER MURMAN, IS AN EXCELLENT FACILITATOR.

HE HAS MET WITH THE TAMPA BAY WATER AND THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND THEY'VE SET A MEETING UP FOR MARCH 27th.

IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 6:30 IN THE EVENING.

CITIZENS ARE INVITED TO THAT, AND SCOTT IS GOING TO SERVE AS THE FACILITATOR FOR THAT MEETING.

SCOTT AND I AND A NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF WERE ALSO FACILITATORS AT A PUBLIC MEETING INVOLVING THE GATES CHARTER SCHOOL UP IN -- NEAR THE LUTZ AREA.

WE ACTUALLY HAD ISSUED A CONCEPTUAL PERMIT AUTHORIZING SOME IMPACT ON WETLANDS FOR A ROAD ACCESS TO THAT SCHOOL BUT GOT A LOT OF INQUIRIES FROM CITIZENS THAT HAD AN INTEREST IN THAT, SO WE SCHEDULED A PUBLIC MEETING.

WE HAD ALMOST 300 PEOPLE SHOW UP AT THAT MEETING.

SO WE HAD A GOOD EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH, AND SO THAT -- WE WILL TAKE THEIR COMMENTS INTO CONSIDERATION, AND WE ARE EVALUATING THOSE COMMENTS RIGHT NOW.

I WANTED TO ALSO MENTION SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS.

I SENT YOU AN E-MAIL YESTERDAY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF HOLLY IS STILL HERE, BUT SHE PRODUCED A REPORT EARLIER IN THE WEEK INDICATING THAT WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER INCREASE IN SEAGRASS COVERAGE IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA, AND WE ARE ALMOST UP TO -- WITHIN -- WITHIN 3,000 ACRES OF THE GOAL OF THE ESTUARY PROGRAM IN SEAGRASS RECOVERY IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE BIGGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN SEAGRASS WAS IN HILLSBOROUGH BAY, SO THAT'S A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

THE FINAL THING I WANTED TO MENTION WAS TOMORROW WE MEET WITH MIKE MERRILL ON THE BUDGET, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OUR BUDGET -- ON OUR BUSINESS PLAN, WHICH I KNOW ALL THE OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, AND WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT -- BE PRESENTING THAT TO MIKE TOMORROW, AND I'LL SEND A COPY TO ALL OF YOU ALSO.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT -- OF COURSE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO PUT IT TOGETHER, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR US BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY KIND OF MIMICKED A LOT OF THE STERLING MODEL ACTIVITIES THAT THE AGENCY HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SO WE'LL SUBMIT THAT TOMORROW.

AND THEN, FINALLY, UNDER OUR REPORT, I THINK IT'S TIME, RICK, FOR YOU TO DO A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: OKAY.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

IF I COULD JUST TAKE A SECOND, THOUGH, AND INTRODUCE OUR LATEST LEGAL INTERN, NICK CAVALLARO.

HE'S A STETSON STUDENT.

HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB FOR US, AND I JUST WANT HIM TO STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, NICK.

COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF BILLS.

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS UP AND RUNNING.

I'M GOING TO DETAIL MAYBE JUST FIVE OF OUR PRIORITIES, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER LIST OF SEVEN OR EIGHT THAT WE'RE ALSO MONITORING THAT I'LL JUST TELL YOU ABOUT REAL QUICKLY.

I CAN DO THIS PRETTY QUICKLY.

HOUSE BILL 999, REPRESENTATIVE PATRONIS, IT COMES UP EVERY YEAR.

IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL STREAMLINING BILL.

IT'S PRETTY PACKED WITH DIFFERENT THINGS TO TRY AND STIMULATE THE PERMITTING PROCESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE PERMITTING, SO THIS YEAR IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE TOO MANY PROVISIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT EPC AND ITS WETLAND REGULATIONS.

THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS IN OUR DELEGATED PORTION OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT WOULD RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE COULD ASK AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE COULD ASK FOR TO TRY TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS.

THERE ARE SOME REDUCTIONS IN FEES FOR AIR POLLUTION FEES, THINGS LIKE THAT, TO MORE MIMIC WHAT AIR POLLUTION FACILITIES ARE ACTUALLY EMITTING.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO FOLLOW THAT.

IT HAS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE A LOT OVER THE SESSION, BUT WE'RE KEEPING A GOOD EYE ON THAT ONE.

REPRESENTATIVE PATRONIS DOES HAVE A LOT OF STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, AND SO THAT'S GOOD.

HOUSE BILL 203, THE AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND PRACTICES ACT, IS A BILL THAT TRIES TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATION IN REGULATIONS OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, AND OVER THE YEARS THAT HAS GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO THEY PREEMPTED COUNTY GOVERNMENTS FROM IMPLEMENTING ANY WETLAND REGULATIONS THAT MIGHT ALREADY BE HANDLED BY OTHER AGENCIES.

THE EPC WAS GRANDFATHERED IN BECAUSE ITS WETLAND RULES WERE IN EFFECT FOR SO LONG.

THIS YEAR THE BILL IS OUT TO EXPAND THE PREEMPTION INTO ALL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, NOT JUST COUNTIES, SO IT WILL ELIMINATE THE ABILITIES OR PREEMPT THE ABILITY OF CITIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES FROM REGULATING IF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE ALREADY REGULATED BY OTHER AGENCIES, SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THAT ONE AS WELL.

THERE'S SENATE BILL 584 THAT DEALS WITH THE GOVERNMENT PURCHASE OF LAND.

THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING BILL, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS SENATOR HAYS.

THIS WOULD RESTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM BUYING ANY MORE LANDS FOR PARKS AND CONSERVATION UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT SOLD AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF ITS -- OF ITS LAND THAT IS NOT IN CONSERVATION, SO -- AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON THAT.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT WOULD PASS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO SELL ITS LAND TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ORDER TO BUY NEW LANDS FOR PARKS AND CONSERVATION.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: WOULD THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR ELAP PROGRAM?

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: WELL, THIS WOULD ONLY EFFECT LAND THAT IS NOT ALREADY IN CONSERVATION, SO IT DOESN'T REQUIRE YOU TO SELL CONSERVATION LANDS, BUT IT REQUIRES YOU TO SELL OTHER LANDS THAT ARE NOT IN CONSERVATION THAT YOU MIGHT OWN IN ORDER TO GET MORE CONSERVATION.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO IF WE WERE -- IF ELAPP WAS LOOKING TO ACQUIRE LAND TO PUT INTO CONSERVATION, WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE --

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: YES.

>>KEVIN BECKNER:  -- SELL OFF SOMETHING ELSE?

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: RIGHT.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THAT'S INTERESTING.

OKAY.

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT HAS MUCH OF A CHANCE OF PASSING.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: COMMISSIONER MILLER.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: DOES THAT BILL HAVE A HOUSE COMPANION?

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: LET ME CHECK.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: I DON'T THINK SO.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: I DON'T THINK SO.

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: SENATE BILL 584.

IT DOES.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: IT DOES?

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: IT'S HOUSE BILL 901.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: BY?

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: I DON'T HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVE

THERE --

>>LES MILLER, JR.: OKAY.

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: -- BUT IT DOES HAVE A COMPANION.

ALSO, WE'RE FOLLOWING A FERTILIZER BILL.

IT DOESN'T HAVE A BILL NUMBER YET.

THIS IS BY REPRESENTATIVE RAYBURN, AND WHAT HE'S SAID IN SOME THINGS THAT I'VE READ, QUOTES FROM HIM, THAT HE WANTS TO CREATE A BILL THAT CREATES INCENTIVES FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES TO ADOPT A MODEL FERTILIZER ORDINANCE WITHOUT PREEMPTING COUNTIES, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT PROGRESS THAT HAS MADE YET.

I DON'T THINK THAT HAS A COMPANION BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A BILL NUMBER YET.

SENATE BILL 1106 DEALS WITH AGRITOURISM.

IT WOULD LIMIT THE REGULATION OF AGRITOURISM BY CITIES AND COUNTIES.

I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DETAILS ON THAT YET, BUT THEORETICALLY, IF AN AG OPERATION EXPANDS INTO WETLANDS, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REGULATE THEM IF IT WERE ACTUALLY AGRITOURISM, SO WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THAT, JUST SEE HOW THAT DEVELOPS.

THOSE ARE KIND OF OUR PRIORITY BILLS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, BUT THERE'S A STRING OF OTHER ONES I'LL MENTION QUICKLY THAT WE'RE MONITORING.

HOUSE BILL 147 IS THE SWFWMD SEAT REDUCTION FROM 13 MEMBERS ON ITS GOVERNING BOARD DOWN TO NINE, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTIES THAT THIS WOULD BE AIMED AT BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO AND A HALF.

WE SHARE ANOTHER HALF REPRESENTATIVE WITH PINELLAS, SO IT WOULD REDUCE HILLSBOROUGH'S REPRESENTATION ON SWFWMD GOVERNING BOARD DOWN TO ONE MEMBER.

SO WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THAT, BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY POSITIONS ON THAT.

SENATE BILL 214 WOULD ACTUALLY TERMINATE THE FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE LAND-BUYING PROGRAM FOR CONSERVATION STATEWIDE.

IT WOULD ACTUALLY ELIMINATE THE PROGRAM AND --

>>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: YEAH.

I DON'T -- BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER BILL THAT ACTUALLY FUNDS THAT HIGHER, SO ...

HOUSE BILL 357 IS A MANUFACTURING PRIORITY PERMITTING BILL, AND THAT WOULD CREATE A MODEL ORDINANCE THAT COUNTIES COULD VOLUNTARILY ADOPT IF THEY WANTED TO, AND THAT KIND OF COORDINATES THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR NEW MANUFACTURING TO COME INTO THE COMMUNITY, SO -- WE HAVE A SIMILAR LOCAL PRIORITY PERMITTING BILL, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AND SEEING WHAT THAT BILL SHAPES UP LIKE.

HOUSE BILL 109 IS A 30-YEAR PERMIT FOR WATER USE PERMITS TO GO FROM 20 YEARS TO 30 YEARS IF YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY SOURCES, AND THAT ENABLES BONDING TO BE ISSUED EASIER FOR LONGER-TERM PROJECTS, AND SO -- AND THAT'S BY REPRESENTATIVE YOUNG HERE FROM TAMPA.

THE PETROLEUM CLEANUP BILL DOESN'T HAVE A NUMBER YET.

WE DO HAVE THE CONTRACT WITH DEP TO DO THE PETROLEUM CLEANUP.

THE SECRETARY OF DEP WANTS THAT TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.

IT'S KIND OF DIRECTED AT THE MONEY THAT GOES TO THE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS THAT ACTUALLY DOES THE CLEANUP AS OPPOSED TO THE COUNTY STAFF WHO MANAGES IT, SO -- BUT WE'RE WATCHING THAT BILL AS WELL.

THERE'S AN FDOT WETLAND MITIGATION BILL THAT'S OUT THERE.

AGAIN, NO NUMBER YET.

IT GIVES D.O.T. MORE OPTIONS FOR MITIGATION FOR THEIR ROAD BUILDING.

IT KIND OF DIRECTS THEM TOWARD PRIVATE MITIGATION BANKS AS WELL AS SOME OTHER OPTIONS OF THEIRS.

ALSO, THEY CAN MITIGATE ON COUNTY AND STATE PROPERTY AS WELL.

FINALLY, HOUSE BILL 33, STATE LANDS, IT'S ANOTHER BILL THAT ALLOWS THE -- IF YOU HAVE CONSERVATION OVER YOUR LAND -- IF YOU PUT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT OVER YOUR LAND, IT ALLOWS YOU TO SWAP THAT LAND THAT YOU HAVE IN PRIVATE CONSERVATION FOR STATE-OWNED LANDS.

INTERESTING CONCEPT, SO -- I'M NOT SURE, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S GOING TO GO ANYWHERE EITHER, BUT WE'RE GOING TO JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AS WELL.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

IF WE EVER HAVE ISSUES, WE HAVE OUR LEGISLATIVE POLICY IN PLACE THAT WE CAN COME QUICKLY IF WE NEED TO TO THE CHAIR FOR A LETTER OR SOME SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO SOMETHING, AND THEN IT COMES IMMEDIATELY BACK TO THE BOARD FOR RATIFICATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: GREAT.

THANK YOU, MR. TSCHANTZ.

>>RICHARD TSCHANTZ: THANK YOU.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: ANY QUESTIONS?

SEEING NONE, DR. GARRITY, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS?

>>RICK GARRITY: I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK BRANDON WAGNER ALSO FOR WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH US ON LEGISLATIVE ITEMS, AND HE'S AN INVALUABLE AID, BUT THAT'S IT.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: BOARD MEMBERS, ANYTHING ELSE?

SEEING NONE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

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