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CAPTIONINGMARCH 18, 2015
BOCC REGULAR MEETING
***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.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO YOUR BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS MEETING.
IT IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18th, AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PRAYER, BY COMMISSIONER,
OUR CHAPLAIN, LES MILLER.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>>LES MILLER, JR.: OUR GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER, THE
ALPHA, THE OMEGA, WE COME TO YOU AS HUMBLE AS WE KNOW HOW,
THANKING YOU FOR LETTING US WAKE UP TO SEE ANOTHER ONE OF
YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAYS.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH US TODAY AS WE MAKE
DECISIONS TO MAKE THIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US
TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY; MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL HUMBLE OUR
HEARTS AND REGULATE OUR MINDS AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH US BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTY IS TREATED FAIRLY AND
ABOVEBOARD.
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FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU PUT YOUR LOVING ARMS AROUND THOSE
THAT PROTECT US, WHETHER THEY'RE ON THIS SOIL OR FOREIGN
SOILS, THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
FOR US EACH AND EVERY DAY.
AND, FATHER, WHEN WE'RE DONE HERE TODAY, 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.
>> AMEN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER, FOR THAT
WONDERFUL PRAYER TO START THE DAY.
AND WE HAVE THREE COMMENDATIONS TODAY, AND THE FIRST ONE
WE'LL START WITH IS FROM COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO TODAY RECOGNIZE THE
JEFFERSON DRAGONS' BASKETBALL TEAM, AND I'M GOING TO ASK
THAT THE COACH, MR. ERIC HAYES, COME FORTH FIRST --
MR. HAYES IS ALSO MY CHURCH MEMBER, HIS FATHER IS ONE OF THE
ASSISTANT PASTORS AT MY CHURCH -- ALONG WITH ASSISTANT COACH
BILL HEILIG, ASSISTANT COACH DEREK SMITH, ASSISTANT COACH
MARVIN SOMERSET, ASSISTANT COACH DION THOMAS, THE PRINCIPAL
OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, MR. VAN AYRES, AND THE ASSISTANT
PRINCIPAL, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, MR. BERNARD CANNON, AND
THE REMAINING SUPERSTARS, COME FORTH, PLEASE.
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WITH HEAD COACH ERIC HAYES AT THE HELM, THIS WAS THE FIRST
APPEARANCE IN THE REGIONAL FINALS SINCE 1974.
ON THE HOME FLOOR WITH 38 SECONDS LEFT IN REGULATION, THE
JEFFERSON DRAGONS' BASKETBALL TEAM SCORED THE FINAL SEVEN
POINTS IN A COMEBACK WIN AGAINST LEHIGH LIGHTENING AND
SECURED A SPOT IN THE CLASS 6A DISTRICT 9 STATE SEMIFINALS.
COACH HAYES SAYS, DEFENSE IS OUR THING.
HE URGED HIS TEAM TO LIMIT THEIR OPPONENT TO ONE SHOT, ONE
OPPORTUNITY.
COACH HAYES ACKNOWLEDGED HIS TEAM LIKELY POST-PRESENCE, AND
HE STATES THAT ONLY ONE PLAYER IN THE JEFFERSON DRAGON
ROSTER IS TALLER THAN 6'4".
THAT'S YOU?
[LAUGHTER]
HOWEVER, THEIR OPPONENTS FOUND OUT THAT WITH THE DRAGONS
LACK IN HEIGHT, THEY MADE UP IN DEFENSE AND IN BALL
HANDLING.
COACH HAYES SAID THIS SEASON THE DRAGONS TURNED UP THE
DEFENSE INTENSITY AND OPENED UP THE TRANSITION GAME.
FACULTY, ALONG WITH THE STUDENT BODY, HAVE SUPPORTED AND
EMBRACED THE TEAM.
APPROXIMATELY 200 FANS, INCLUDING A PACKED SPIRIT BUS,
TRAVELED TO RALLY THE DRAGONS DURING THE REGIONALS AND STATE
SEMIFINALS.
THE JEFFERSON DRAGONS LOST THE ROUND WITH A TEAM THAT HAD
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SOME 6'11" GUYS ON IT, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
WE'VE GOT 6'4".
NEVERTHELESS, WE'RE ALL PROUD OF THEIR EFFORTS.
JEFFERSON WAS THE ONLY TEAM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO MAKE
IT TO THE 2015 STATE TOURNAMENT.
THE DRAGONS FINISHED THE SEASON WITH AN IMPRESSIVE 27-5
RECORD.
WE APPLAUD THE TEAM FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK OFF-SEASON,
SUMMER, AND THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, SO IT IS A PLEASURE FOR
ME TO PRESENT THE COMMENDATION TO THE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL
BASKETBALL TEAM.
AND THE COMMENDATION READS, THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CONGRATULATES THE
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE
REGIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 39 YEARS, THE JEFFERSON DRAGONS WON
THE CLASS 6A DISTRICT 9 BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
FURTHERMORE, THE PLAYERS' OUTSTANDING EFFORTS ENSURED THE
DRAGONS CLINCHED A CLASS 6A REGION 3 TITLE AND SECURED A
SPOT IN THE STATE SEMIFINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 41 YEARS.
UNDER THE IMPRESSIVE LEADERSHIP OF COACH ERIC HAYES, THE
DRAGONS FINISHED THE SEASON WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL 27 WINS OUT
OF 32 GAMES.
THE BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, HILLSBOROUGH
COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY COMMEND COACH ERIC HAYES AND
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THE MEMBERS OF THE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL
TEAM FOR WINNING THE CLASS A REGIONAL FINALS.
FURTHERMORE, THE BOARD CONGRATULATES THE TEAM FOR HAVING
ADVANCED TO THE STATE SEMIFINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE
THAN A DECADE, AWARDED THIS 18th DAY OF MARCH 2015, AND IT'S
SIGNED BY THE SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.
NE OF THESE WILL GO TO YOU, COACH HAYES, AND THE PRINCIPAL.
I KNOW YOU'RE THE BOSS, BUT I'M GOING TO CALL THE COACH TO
SAY SOMETHING FIRST.
COACH, WOULD YOU SAY A FEW WORDS AND INTRODUCE WHO'S HERE
WITH YOU AND MAYBE LET THE TEAM BRIEFLY SAY WHO THEY ARE AND
IF THEY'RE GOING SOMEPLACE ELSE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US HERE.
IT'S A PLEASURE.
I'M VERY HUMBLED TO BE HONORED AS -- FOR THIS COMMENDATION.
THESE YOUNG MEN BEHIND ME PUT FORTH A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF
EFFORT.
I WANT TO THANK SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE, THE PARENTS WHO ARE
SITTING BEHIND THEM.
THEY ALLOWED ME TO HAVE THEIR SONS, I GUESS YOU'D SAY ALL
SUMMER, ALL FALL, ALL SPRING.
WE DO A LOT OF STUFF IN THE WEEKENDS, WE DO A LOT OF STUFF
AFTER SCHOOL, WE HAVE WORKOUTS 6:00 IN THE MORNING BEFORE
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SCHOOL, SO WE PUT A LOT -- THERE'S -- A LOT OF TIME AND A
LOT OF EFFORT'S BEING PUT INTO WHAT THEY ACHIEVED, AND I
BELIEVE THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, IF GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY AND
GIVEN THE BACKING, THAT THEY COULD BE VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I HOPE THIS CATAPULTS THEM TO DO AND HAVE MORE SUCCESS AS
THEY MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES.
I HAVE ONE OF MY ASSISTANT COACHES WHO'S HERE, DION THOMAS.
TWO OF MY OTHERS, THEY ARE WORKING.
THEY COULDN'T GET OFF OF WORK. AND MY THIRD ASSISTANT, HE
JUST HAD -- HIS WIFE JUST TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK,
AND HE'S GETTING READY FOR THE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
TOMORROW, SO, LIKE I SAY, AS US AS A FAMILY, WE'VE ALL
RALLIED AROUND HIM AND RALLIED AROUND THAT AS WELL.
I'LL LET THE BOYS COME UP.
ALSO, MY PRINCIPAL, MR. VAN AYERS, MR. BERNARD CANNON, WHO
IS MY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE SUPPORT THEY'VE GIVEN
OUR PROGRAM, I WANT TO THANK THE PARENTS FOR THE SUPPORT
THEY'VE GIVEN US.
LIKE I SAY, I HAVE THEIR SONS A LOT OF TIME.
THEY HAVE TO PICK THEM UP OR DROP THEM OFF EARLY IN THE
MORNING, THEY HAVE TO COME PICK THEM UP SOMETIMES LATE AT
NIGHT, BUT WE WERE WORKING TOWARDS A GOAL, AND I THINK WE
DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
I THINK WE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
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I'LL LET EACH ONE OF YOU COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> MY NAME'S TIMOTHY GREEN.
I'M PROUD TO BE HERE AT JEFFERSON.
>> MY NAME'S OCTAVIOUS WILLIAMS.
I'M A JUNIOR.
>> MY NAME IS MALIQ LAWRENCE, AND I'M ALSO A JUNIOR.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> MY NAME IS PATRICK SCOTT.
I'M A SENIOR, AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE -- FOR
THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
I REALLY WANT TO GIVE IT ALL TO COACH HAYES AND THE
ASSISTANT COACHES AND THE PARENTS AND THE PRINCIPALS.
THEY REALLY DO IT ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME'S CAMERON PADGETT.
I'M A JUNIOR.
>> MY NAME IS MATTHEW SHARPE.
I'M A SOPHOMORE.
>> MY NAME'S VERNON JACKSON, AND I'M A SENIOR.
>> I'M ALTORIAN SALARY, SOPHOMORE.
>> MY NAME'S JACKIE MOORE, JUNIOR.
>> MY NAME IS DEANDRE DAMANZE.
I'M A SENIOR.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS STEPHON LOFTON, AND I'M A SENIOR.
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>> I'M THADDEUS JENKINS, AND I'M ALSO A SENIOR.
>> I'M EUGENE THOMAS, AND I'M A SENIOR TOO.
>> MAURICE MOORE, AND I'M A SENIOR.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: BEFORE THE PRINCIPAL COMES UP, MY AIDE,
ALPHANETTE JENKINS' SON -- WHERE ARE YOU? -- IS ON THE TEAM
ALSO, AND HE'S A PRETTY GOOD BALL PLAYER.
COME ON UP.
>> GOOD MORNING.
WE TALKED A LOT TODAY ABOUT WHAT THEY DID ON THE COURT, BUT
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT THESE YOUNG MEN OFF THE
COURT.
THEY ARE LEADERS AT OUR SCHOOL, AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR
OUR ENTIRE STUDENT BODY, THEY ARE TRULY THE BEST GROUP OF
BOYS THAT -- YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN EDUCATION FOR ALMOST 20
YEARS NOW, AND THIS GROUP OF BOYS HERE ARE JUST OUTSTANDING
ON AND OFF THE COURT, AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF THEM.
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL IS SO PROUD OF
THESE YOUNG MEN, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR GIVING US
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE RECOGNIZED IN FRONT OF YOU
ALL, SO THANK YOU.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: COME UP FOR A PICTURE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO UP FRONT HERE.
COME ON.
>>RUSLANA PANOV: CAN YOU GET CLOSER TOGETHER, PLEASE.
DO TWO ROWS.
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STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER WOULD LIKE TO JUST
SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE YOU ALL LEAVE THE ROOM.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK COMMISSIONER MILLER FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS RECOGNITION AND RECOGNIZING THESE YOUNG MEN UP
HERE, AND WHILE WE ARE RECOGNIZING THESE MEN FOR THEIR
SKILLS ON THE BASKETBALL COURT AND WHAT THEY'VE
ACCOMPLISHED, TO THE COACHES AND TO THE PRINCIPAL OUT THERE
AND TO ALL THE LEADERS THAT ARE MENTORING THESE MEN OFF THE
COURT, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE IN THE FUTURE IS WHAT THESE MEN
ACCOMPLISH OFF THE COURTS, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK THAT
YOU'VE LEARNED PROBABLY AND YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO HONE YOUR
BASKETBALL SKILLS, BUT KNOWING THAT WHAT ORGANIZED SPORTS,
WHAT THEY CAN DO TO -- AS THE PRINCIPAL MENTIONED -- TO
DEVELOP YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND TO HELP YOU GROW AND
MATURE OFF THE COURT I THINK IS WHAT THIS COMMUNITY IS
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL DO, AND WE DO HOPE THAT
YOU WILL, AFTER YOU COMPLETE YOUR EDUCATION OR YOUR MILITARY
OR YOUR -- WHEREVER YOU'RE GOING TO GO AFTER YOUR HIGH
SCHOOL CAREER THAT YOU'LL STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU'LL FIND
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A PLACE HERE, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL YOUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I'LL ECHO THOSE SAME COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD
TODAY.
IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL, GREAT SCHOOL, AND I WAS JUST THERE FOR
A WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT, THE COUNTYWIDE WOMEN WERE HAVING A
TOURNAMENT THERE, SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING, AND WITH THE NCAA
FINAL FOUR WOMEN'S COMING HERE, WE HAVE THE NCAA MEN'S
TOURNAMENT, I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE ANXIOUSLY WATCHING AND
SEEING WHAT SCHOOLS YOU WANT TO GO TO AFTER YOU LEAVE
JEFFERSON, SO IT'S A GREAT DAY.
OUR NEXT COMMENDATION WILL BE PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER
KEVIN BECKNER TO RECOGNIZE THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TEEN
COURT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND, YOU KNOW,
ONCE I WAS ELECTED IN 2008, ONE OF MY THINGS THAT I HAD
FOCUSED ON AND THIS BOARD HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON IS HELPING OUR
YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT PERHAPS DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY OR THE MENTORS THAT SOME OF THESE YOUNG MEN
YOU'VE SEEN HAD IN THEIR LIVES, AND WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL
KIDS GROWING UP DO HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, AND SOMETIMES
THE ACTIONS THAT THEY TAKE EARLY ON SOMETIMES LEADS THEM TO
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GET CAUGHT IN THE REVOLVING DOOR OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, I
HAVE JUST BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR
COMMUNITY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, FROM THE COURTS, FROM THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THEIR
FOCUS TO HELP KIDS THAT MAY HAVE DONE SOME INAPPROPRIATE
THINGS YOUNGER -- WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE GIVE THEM A SECOND OPPORTUNITY AND GIVE THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MATURE AND ADVANCE AND NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE
REVOLVING DOOR.
AND ONE OF THE PROGRAMS YOU WANT TO RECOGNIZE TODAY IN
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS THE TEEN COURT, AND GOING INTO THEIR
25th ANNIVERSARY IN THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM, AND I'D
LIKE TO INVITE UP INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PART OF OUR COURT
SYSTEM TODAY, MIKE BRIDENBACK, WHO IS OUR ADMINISTRATOR,
OFFICER OF THE COURT, MARTY MERRELL, MONICA MARTINEZ, WHO IS
THE MANAGER OF THE JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM, AND PAM
STOKES, WHO IS THE JUVENILE DIVERSION TEEN COURT'S PROGRAM
COORDINATOR.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: GOOD MORNING.
[APPLAUSE]
AND BEFORE I PRESENT THIS COMMENDATION, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
GIVE YOU ALL AN OPPORTUNITY KIND OF TO DESCRIBE TO THE BOARD
AND ALSO THE PUBLIC EXACTLY WHAT IS TEEN COURT AND HOW IT
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WORKS AND WHAT ROLE IT PLAYS IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
>> OKAY.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
TEEN COURT IS A DIVERSION PROGRAM WITH OUR COURT SYSTEM
WHERE WE HAVE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS VOLUNTEER
THEIR EVENING HOURS TO WORK WITH FIRST-TIME JUVENILE
OFFENDERS.
THEY ATTEND ONCE A WEEK IN THE COURT SYSTEM TO HEAR THESE
CASES TO TRY TO HELP THE YOUTH REALIZE THAT THEY'VE MADE A
MISTAKE.
ONE OF THE BEST COMPONENTS THAT I BELIEVE WE HAVE WITH OUR
TEEN COURT PROGRAM IS THAT WE REQUIRE THESE OFFENDERS TO
RETURN AND ACTUALLY SERVE AS A PART OF THEIR SANCTIONS TO
SERVE ON THE JURY.
THIS HAS TURNED A LOT OF THE STUDENTS AROUND AND ACTUALLY
RETURN AND VOLUNTEER, AND THIS WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.
THE STUDENTS HAVE FIVE WEEKS TO COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS;
THEREFORE, THEN, THEY CANNOT GO FURTHER INTO THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM AND REALIZE THEY'VE MADE A SIMPLE MISTAKE.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.
WE'VE SERVICED OVER 6500 STUDENTS TO GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM,
AND OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE SERVED ABOUT 4,000 COMMUNITY HOURS.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME'S MONICA MARTINEZ.
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I'M THE MANAGER FOR THE JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM, AND I
WANTED TO ESPECIALLY THANK COMMISSIONER BECKNER AND THE
COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT FOR OUR PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, OUR PROGRAM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SINCE THE LATE
'70s, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES.
TEEN COURT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BAD BONE PROGRAMS FOR US.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND ALSO MIKE
BRIDENBACK AND MARTY MERRELL, WE HAVE REALLY FOCUSED ON
MAKING SURE THAT YOUTH WHEN THEY COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM
ARE NOT JUST HELD ACCOUNTABLE BUT ARE ALSO CONNECTED WITH
SERVICES THAT WILL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND MENTOR
THEM SO THEY DON'T COME BACK AND REOFFEND.
THE TEEN COURT PROGRAM HAS A VERY LOW RECIDIVISM RATE.
OUT OF THE 114 YOUTH THAT COMPLETED THE PROGRAM IN 2013,
ONLY 8% REOFFENDED, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THOSE NUMBERS.
BUT WE REALLY COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT ALL OF THE HARD WORK
AND THE SUPPORT FROM OUR STAFFS.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DEDICATED TEAMS THAT I'VE EVER WORKED
WITH, SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR THEM TO PLEASE STAND UP,
THEY'RE NOT UP HERE.
CAN YOU GUYS STAND UP?
THESE ARE THE REST OF OUR CASE MANAGERS AND OUR PROGRAM
ASSISTANTS.
THEY WORK VERY DILIGENTLY FROM THE INTAKE OF OUR CASES,
MAKING SURE WE RESEARCH APPROPRIATELY.
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THE CASE MANAGERS WORK WITH THE PARENT, WITH THE STUDENT,
MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED, AND WE MONITOR THE CASE
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
PAM HAS BEEN WITH OUR PROGRAM FOR 29 YEARS.
MOST OF OUR CASE MANAGERS HAVE BEEN LONG-TERM, SO THAT
REALLY SHOWS A COMMITMENT, AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE'RE ALL
VERY PROUD TO WORK FOR, SO I TELL THEM ALL THE TIME IN THE
OFFICE THAT IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENT AND LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH I REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL THEIR WORK.
THEY'RE REALLY GREAT TO WORK WITH.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: WELL, AGAIN, MIKE, MARTY, MONICA, AND PAM,
AND ALL THE STAFF THAT WORK HARD FOR OUR YOUTH IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND WHAT YOU DO, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS
COMMENDATION, AND I'LL READ IT INTO THE RECORD.
IN HONOR OF THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF TEEN COURT, THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY APPLAUDS THE
STATE OF FLORIDA'S 13th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT'S JUVENILE
DIVERSION PROGRAM AND IS PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE PROGRAM'S
VALUE AND IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
TEEN COURT PROMOTES YOUTH ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT BY HELPING JUVENILES LEARN TO ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR, AS WELL AS FOR THE
CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS.
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THIS EXEMPLARY PROGRAM PROVIDES FIRST-TIME JUVENILE
OFFENDERS AGE 13 TO 17 WITH MEANINGFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE
ALTERNATIVES TO FORMAL COURT PROCESSING.
YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS WHEN THEY
PARTICIPATE IN TEEN COURT, WHICH ALLOWS OTHER TEENS TO HEAR
THEIR CASES AND TO RECOMMEND SANCTIONS.
THIS PROGRAM CREATES COMMUNITY COHESIVENESS BY MENTORING
TEENS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION, BY PROVIDING
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND BY WORKING WITH
ADULT PRO BONO ATTORNEYS WHO SERVE AS TEEN COURT JUDGES.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY,
FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY COMMEND TEEN COURT FOR 25 YEARS OF
COMMITMENT TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND TO DIVERT YOUTH FROM
PROGRESSIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,
SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON
THIS DAY.
SO, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
AND I WOULD INVITE ACTUALLY, ALL THE STAFF -- IF YOU WANT TO
JOIN US UP HERE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE REAL QUICK,
SO -- YEAH.
>>RUSLANA PANOV: CAN YOU GET CLOSER TOGETHER, PLEASE.
CAN WE MAKE TWO ROWS, PLEASE.
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE.
AND ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
THAT WAS A WELL-DESERVED COMMENDATION.
OUR NEXT COMMENDATION WILL BE BY AL HIGGINBOTHAM RECOGNIZING
THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM.
THANK YOU.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THOM STORK AND THOSE WITH HIM TODAY TO COME
TO THE PODIUM, AND I'LL LET TOM INTRODUCE THE TEAM HE'S GOT
WITH THEM.
I KNOW WE HAVE, IN ADDITION, ROCKY AND REEF ARE HERE AS
WELL, BUT THIS IS A SPECIAL COMMENDATION AND RECOGNITION FOR
20 YEARS OF THE AQUARIUM, AND I'LL SAY 20 YEARS OF
TREMENDOUS SUCCESS, THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HEARD ME
REFERENCE THIS IN YEARS PAST, BUT IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO THAT I
WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND SUFFERED A SPINAL CORD INJURY, AND
THE VERY FIRST TRIP THAT I MADE WITH MY FAMILY AS I WAS
RECOVERING WAS TO A PLACE THAT WE HAD RESEARCHED THAT I
FOUND THAT WAS ACCESSIBLE, THAT WOULD ALLOW ME AS A DAD AND
THE FAMILY HAD TO PROVIDE A NICE OUTING, AND IT WAS THE
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FLORIDA AQUARIUM, AND THE STAFF WAS WONDERFUL TO MY WIFE AND
TWO CHILDREN THAT DAY.
THEY DON'T REMEMBER IT, I KNOW, AND -- BUT IT WAS A
MEMORABLE TIME, AND THAT WAS IN GREAT PART WHY WHEN I WAS
ELECTED IN '06 THAT I WANTED TO SIT ON THE BOARD, AND WHEN
I'M NOT NECESSARILY AS HERE THE MOST VOCAL, I LISTEN AND
HAVE TRAVELED TO TALLAHASSEE AND WASHINGTON WHEN WE WERE IN
SEARCH OF FUNDS AND WORKED WITH BRINGING IN PRIVATE PARTNERS
-- AND I DON'T KNOW IF, THOM, YOU'RE GOING TO MENTION THE
PARK PROJECT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE, BUT THIS IS ABOUT
SUCCESS.
WE'LL ALSO -- BEFORE I READ THIS COMMENDATION -- SAY THAT ON
APRIL 2nd YOU ALL WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AT EAT AT JOE'S
RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, AND I HOPE THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING
AND WHO ARE REGULARS AT EAT AT JOE'S WILL MAKE SURE TO GIVE
YOU A WARM WELCOME.
BUT I WANT TO READ THIS, AND THEN I'LL ASK FOR THOM TO MAKE
COMMENTS AND DO THE INTRODUCTIONS.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
CONGRATULATES THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM ON THE OCCASION OF ITS
20th ANNIVERSARY, AND IS PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE AQUARIUM'S
VALUE AND IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
ON MARCH 31, 1995, THE AQUARIUM OPENED ITS DOORS, AND THE
ORGANIZATION SERVED ONE MILLION GUESTS IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF
OPERATION.
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SINCE THEN, THE AQUARIUM HAS BECOME A CORNERSTONE FOR
DEVELOPMENT IN THE CHANNEL DISTRICT, WHICH HAS GROWN TO
INCLUDE CRUISE SHIP TERMINALS, EVENT COMPLEX, RETAIL STORES,
RESTAURANTS, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, AND RESIDENTIAL UNITS.
IN ITS IMPRESSIVE 20-YEAR HISTORY, MORE THAN 13 MILLION
GUESTS HAVE MARVELED AT PLAYFUL SEA CREATURES, THE EXQUISITE
BEAUTY OF UNDERWATER WORLD THE AQUARIUM HOUSES.
IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FUN FOR GUESTS, THE AQUARIUM PLAYS
AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN EDUCATING STUDENTS, VISITORS, AND
TOURISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ABOUT MARINE LIFE AND
CONSERVATION.
IT IS ALSO A LEADER IN RESCUE AND REHABILITATION OF AQUATIC
ANIMALS, INCLUDING SEA TURTLES AND RIVER OTTERS.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY COMMEND THE
AQUARIUM FOR PROVIDING 20 YEARS OF FUN, EDUCATION,
CONSERVATION, AND MARINE LIFE RESCUE.
FURTHER, THE BOARD EXTENDS GRATITUDE TO THE AQUARIUM FOR ITS
POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND FOR HELPING
MAKE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND WELCOME TO THE CHAMBERS, THOM.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
THIS RECOGNITION AND JUST HAVING US HERE TODAY.
THIS IS MARK WATSON, WHO'S OUR CHAIRMAN-ELECT.
HE WILL BE COMING IN NEXT YEAR.
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MARK HANEY, WHO'S OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT, AND
MEAGAN AND CATHERINE ARE HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE WENT FROM 6-FOOT-FIVE SUPERSTARS TO FOOT-AND-A-
HALF SUPERSTARS, YOU KNOW, SO ANYWAY.
YOUR AQUARIUM IS DOING VERY WELL, AND WE'RE ON PACE FOR A
RECORD YEAR THIS YEAR.
WE'VE HAD RECORD YEARS THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IT'S VERY SATISFYING TO KNOW THAT THE AQUARIUM WAS KIND OF
THE CORNERSTONE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS EVOLVED AND DEVELOPED
IN CHANNELSIDE AND TO SEE TODAY WHAT IS GOING ON AND WITH
WHAT MR. VINIK HAS PLANNED, WE WILL FINALLY BECOME THE
DESTINATION THAT ALL OF US WANTED THE AQUARIUM TO BE AND
CHANNELSIDE TO BE AND DOWNTOWN TO BE IN THE NEXT THREE TO
FIVE YEARS.
COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM MENTIONED OUR PROJECT, AND I
WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
THE JOINT PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING WITH FISH AND WILDLIFE
AND TECO DOWN AT THE BIG BEND PLANT, WE'RE OUT OF THE
GROUND.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE GREENHOUSES UP THAT WE'RE PROPAGATING
CORAL.
WE'RE BREAKING GROUND ON AN EDUCATION CENTER DOWN THERE.
WE WILL BREAK GROUND LATER THIS YEAR ON A RESEARCH FACILITY.
THAT IS A 22-ACRE CONSERVATION RESEARCH EDUCATION FACILITY
THAT WE'RE BUILDING FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE
20
A MARVELOUS PARK IN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS, A 400-ACRE
PARK THAT TECO IS BUILDING, AND IT WILL ALL BE FREE TO THE
PUBLIC.
AND YOUR AQUARIUM IS DOING THAT, FISH AND WILDLIFE, AND TECO
IS DOING THAT.
WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES AT THE AQUARIUM OF A $15-MILLION
CAMPAIGN TO GROW THE AQUARIUM.
IT'S WHAT THIS COMMUNITY WANTS AND WHAT IT NEEDS AND WANTS
US TO GROW THIS AQUARIUM, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE THAT
CORNERSTONE DOWN THERE.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY.
WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND REALLY DO, COMMISSIONER
HIGGINBOTHAM, APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, SIR.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: TELL US ABOUT OF THE PENGUINS.
>> GO AHEAD.
YEAH, COME TO THE MIC.
>> I'LL LET HIM SPEAK.
[LAUGHTER]
THESE ARE AFRICAN BLACK-FOOTED PENGUINS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
YOU CAN FIND THEM AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM IN OUR WETLANDS
GALLERY.
WE HAVE THEM AS PART OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.
THESE ARE A VERY ENDANGERED ANIMAL, SO PART OF THE
AQUARIUM'S MISSION IS TO HELP PRESERVE THIS TYPE OF ANIMALS
21
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD FOR A PICTURE AND RECEIVE THE
COMMENDATION.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER WANTED TO SAY A FEW
COMMENTS, AND I'M REALLY GLAD YOU DIDN'T BRING SNAKES THIS
YEAR.
[LAUGHTER]
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: TO THOM AND ALL THE PEOPLE AT THE
AQUARIUM, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR
COMMUNITY, CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR 20 YEARS OF SUCCESS, AND
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, YOU ARE PART OF THE CORNERSTONE
DOWN TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF DOWNTOWN TAMPA AND THE
CHANNELSIDE AREA, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU
DO, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED
THAT THE SNAKES AREN'T HERE THIS YEAR, AND SO -- I MISS THEM
BUT LOVE YOUR PENGUINS ANYWAYS.
>>RUSLANA PANOV: STAND BY.
ONE MORE TIME THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I DON'T THINK WE CAN SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THOM
STORK.
YOU KNOW, GREAT PLACES HAVE GREAT LEADERS, AND, THOM, YOU
22
HAVE CERTAINLY TAKEN THE AQUARIUM THROUGH TROUBLED WATERS AT
THE BEGINNING, AND IT IS A SHINING STAR, AND I -- YOU'VE
DONE SO MUCH IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU HAVE
TOUCHED, AND I KNOW I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU --
>> THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S A GREAT TEAM.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
YES, THOM, YOU ARE A WONDERFUL CORNERSTONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING YOU FOR WELL OVER 30
YEARS, A MENTOR OF MINE, AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU
OVER THE YEARS.
THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL ON BEHALF OF FLORIDA
AS A WHOLE, THOUGH, IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT, A DRIVING FORCE
FOR THE CREATION AND EXPANSION OF VISIT FLORIDA.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ENJOYING A LOT OF FRUITS OF HARD LABOR THAT
WAS DONE MANY, MANY YEARS AGO THANKS TO YOU AND SEVERAL
OTHERS LIKE YOURSELF, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO
HAVE YOU IN THIS MARKET.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
23
THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YOU'RE WELCOME.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
COME TO THE AQUARIUM.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S A COOL PLACE TO BE, SO TO SPEAK.
OKAY.
MR. MERRILL, YOU READY?
>>MIKE MERRILL: YES.
WE HAVE A FEW CHANGES TO THE AGENDA BEGINNING WITH AN ITEM
ADDED PURSUANT TO RULE 13 BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, WHICH IS
ITEM F-4.
THAT IS TO REQUEST BOARD SEND A LETTER OF REFERENCE TO THE
FLORIDA SECRETARY OF STATE IN SUPPORT OF JAMES TOKLEY'S
NOMINATION AS POET LAUREATE FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
WE HAVE ONE DELETION, THAT'S A-32, WHICH WAS BOARD
APPOINTMENTS RELATING TO THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD.
THERE'S ONE CHANGE WHICH IS NOT LISTED ON THE ADDENDUM, AND
THAT IS B-9.
THAT'S AN ITEM RELATED TO COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
THE CHANGE THERE IS TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE OVERSIGHT
GROUP TO BE THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT BOARD.
24
THE ITEM DESCRIBES THAT GROUP AS THE COMMITTEE.
IT IS, IN FACT, GOING TO BE CALLED THE COMMUNITY SERVICES
BLOCK GRANT BOARD, SO THAT IS A CHANGE FOR B-9.
NO OTHER ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT.
IN TERMS OF TIME CERTAINS, WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO, BECAUSE
COMMISSIONER MILLER HAS TO LEAVE EARLY FOR AN AWARD THAT'S
BEING GIVEN TO HIS WIFE, GWEN MILLER, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK
THE BOARD TO TAKE ITEMS B-9 AND F-4 FIRST IN THE TIME
CERTAINS SO THAT COMMISSIONER MILLER CAN MAKE -- GET TO THAT
AWARDS CEREMONY.
AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE D-1, WHICH IS YOUR PUBLIC HEARING,
REQUIRED -- FIRST OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR AN
AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE DESIGN,
PERMITTING, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SEGMENT OF U.S. 301.
AT 10:15, F-3, COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S ITEM CONCERNING A
REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CODE ENFORCEMENT,
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT BOARD THAT HAVE
JURISDICTION TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE CRAZY
HORSE BAR FOR POSSIBLE CODE VIOLATIONS.
AT 10:30 IS ITEM F-2.
THAT'S A REQUEST TO DEVELOP A STUDY OF COUNTY LANDS AND
OTHER ASSETS TO DETERMINE IF THEY MAY BE USED TO GENERATE
TRADABLE CARBON CREDITS.
CARBON CREDITS COULD BE POSSIBLY USED TO ESTABLISH A NEW
REVENUE SOURCE TO FUND AND TO OFFSET THE COST OF MAINTAINING
25
ELAPP LANDS.
THE FINAL TIME CERTAIN IS B-4.
THAT'S THE COUNTY INTERNAL AUDIT'S REPORT ON THE HOMELESS
SERVICES, PHASE II, AND RECESSING FOR LUNCH AT 11:45.
THOSE ARE THE CHANGES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE THE CHANGES.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECOND BY
COMMISSIONER MILLER TO APPROVE THE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.
WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
OKAY.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO INTO --
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF
THE AGENDA.
THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT ANY ISSUE OR
CONCERN.
YOUR OPINIONS ARE VALUED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INPUT TO THE
BOARD MEMBERS; HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED AT THE SAME TIME
WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD THAT COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED
PERSONALLY AGAINST A COMMISSIONER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER
ARE DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES.
THIS PROVIDES A MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN THE BOARD MEMBERS AND
26
THE PUBLIC.
THE BOARD HAS SET ASIDE A 45-MINUTE PERIOD IN THE MORNING
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR, THE BOARD MAY AGAIN HEAR
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
PEOPLE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE BOARD DURING THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING SHOULD COMPLETE THE REQUEST
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FORM LOCATED AT THE SIGN-UP TABLE INSIDE
THE BOARDROOM.
CITIZENS SPEAKING ON SCHEDULED AGENDA ITEMS WILL BE HEARD
BEFORE CITIZENS SPEAKING ON NONSCHEDULED AGENDA ITEMS.
WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND
ADDRESS, SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THREE MINUTES WILL BE ALLOWED FOR EACH SPEAKER.
AND WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS FOR ON-THE-AGENDA ITEMS, AND WE
HAVE EIGHT SPEAKERS FOR OFF-THE-AGENDA ITEMS.
THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR ON-THE-AGENDA IS SCOTT BORDMAN FOR
ITEM F-3.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS SCOTT BORDMAN.
MY OFFICE IS LOCATED AT 1710 EAST 7th AVENUE IN TAMPA, AND
I'M HERE ON F-3, WHICH IS THE REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN
TO INVESTIGATE THE CRAZY HORSE.
27
I AM THE HEAD OF -- HAVE THE HEAD OF SECURITY FOR EAGLE ONE
HERE TODAY, THE OWNER, AND WE JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS
KNOW THAT WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE IN WORKING WITH CODE
ENFORCEMENT.
CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN OUT TWICE ALREADY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM.
WE'RE READY TO WORK WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, WITH THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND WE RECOGNIZE THE ISSUES THAT HAVE
OCCURRED IN THE PARKING LOT RECENTLY, AND WE WANT TO ADDRESS
THEM AND WORK WITH EVERYONE TO ARRIVE AT A MUTUALLY
AGREEABLE RESOLUTION TO THE ISSUES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: NEXT SPEAKER NOELLE FERRARO ON F-3.
NOELLE.
AND AFTER THAT, CARLOS CABRAL.
>> OH, MY GOD, IS HE HERE?
HI.
I'M NOELLE FERRARO, AND I'M JUST HERE BECAUSE I WANT CRAZY
HORSE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE MY FRIEND WAS SHOT AND KILLED THERE
THE OTHER DAY.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
28
DID SHE IDENTIFY HERSELF?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OH, OKAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLOS CABRAL, AND CARLOS, YOU'RE ALSO
SIGNED UP FOR OFF-THE-AGENDA AS WELL AS ON-THE-AGENDA.
>> YES, MA'AM.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: CRAZY HORSE IS ON THE AGENDA.
>> OKAY.
OKAY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
SO YOU WON'T BE SPEAKING AGAIN OFFER THE AGENDA?
>> NO, NO.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS CARLOS CABRAL, 11048 LA JORDAN CIRCLE, TAMPA,
FLORIDA.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3.
MY COMMISSIONER IS LES MILLER.
THE REASON IS VERY -- I SUPPORT VERY SOON THE CLOSING OF
CRAZY HORSE.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FIGHTS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
SHOOTINGS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ROBBERIES, THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF PROSTITUTIONS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WAS LIVING IN FEAR.
DEPUTIES HAS BEEN CALLED NUMEROUS OF TIMES.
29
A GOOD NAME NAMED ANGEL REYES HAS LOST HIS LIFE TWO WEEKS
AGO BECAUSE OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT.
TO COMMISSIONERS, I'M ASKING YOU TO WORK WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT, CODE ENFORCEMENT, I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO DO THE
RIGHT THING, TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CRAZY HORSE BECAUSE -- SO
A FAMILY CAN FIND CLOSURE, THE COMMUNITY COULD BE SAFE, AND
NO ONE EVER GETS HARMED AGAIN AT THAT ESTABLISHMENT.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, CARLOS.
AND ON THE AGENDA, ANNA RODRIGUEZ, F-3.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ANNA RODRIGUEZ.
I LIVE AT 7323 MONTEREY BOULEVARD.
MY SON, ANGEL REYES WAS KILLED IN FRONT OF THIS
ESTABLISHMENT, AND IT'S KNOWN FOR ITS VIOLENCE AND ITS CRIME
AND ITS ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, AND I HAVE OVER 470 SUPPORTERS
THAT HAVE SIGNED A PETITION TO CLOSE THIS PLACE DOWN, AND
THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR, STOP THE VIOLENCE IN THIS PLACE
SO THAT NO ONE ELSE GETS HURT.
MY SON WAS A GREAT MAN, LEFT TWO KIDS BEHIND, AND IT NEEDS
TO BE CLOSED DOWN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, ANNA.
I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE TO COME HERE.
THANK YOU.
30
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT SPEAKER FOR OFF-THE-AGENDA IS MAC ROLOCKLIN, IF YOU'D
LIKE TO COME FORWARD, AND MARK GRISTY, AND ALLAN HARRISON
WILL FOLLOW HIM.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MAC McLAUGHLIN.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2.
I LIVE AT 15215 LIVINGSTON AVENUE.
I TRAVEL LIVINGSTON AVENUE EVERY DAY GOING TO AND FROM
BUSINESSES THAT I FREQUENT, AND AFTER THE ELECTION FOR
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, THERE WERE TWO SNIPE SIGNS AND ONE MUCH
LARGER SIGN ATTACHED TO A CYCLONE FENCE.
AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WITH THOSE BEING UP THERE,
I CALLED MY COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND ASKED WHEN
THOSE SIGNS WERE GOING TO BE TAKEN DOWN.
I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE AIDES THAT SHE WOULD RELAY THAT TO
ANOTHER AIDE AND THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.
I CALLED A WEEK LATER.
THE FEMALE AIDE RECOGNIZED MY NAME AND SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN
TAKEN CARE OF.
STRANGELY, AS I DROVE DOWN THE STREET, THERE WERE STILL TWO
SNIPE SIGNS AND ONE MUCH LARGER SIGN ATTACHED TO THE FENCE.
I WAS TOLD THEY WERE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
I CALLED AGAIN ASKING WHEN THEY WERE ALL GOING TO BE TAKEN
31
DOWN, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
I FINALLY CALLED CODE ENFORCEMENT TO ASK HOW LONG THOSE
SIGNS WERE TO BE UP -- ALLOWED TO BE UP, AND GOT A GREAT
DEAL OF COOPERATION FROM MR. BLINCK OF CODE ENFORCEMENT.
I WAS TOLD THAT EVENT SIGNS COULD REMAIN UP 20 DAYS AFTER
THE EVENT.
APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AGO I CALLED MR. BLINCK'S OFFICE
AND ASKED IF I COULD MEET HIM OR ONE OF HIS REPRESENTATIVES
AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE SIGNS WERE TO DETERMINE WHETHER
THEY WERE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR PUBLIC PROPERTY.
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TWO OF THE SIGNS -- SNIPE SIGNS AS
THEY ARE CALLED -- WERE ON THE EASEMENT AND ON PUBLIC
PROPERTY.
ONE SIGN BEING HELD UP BY A STRING AND BLOWN OVER BY THE
WIND WAS CONSIDERED TO BE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
I HAVE THOSE TWO SNIPE SIGNS IN MY POSSESSION AT THE PRESENT
TIME.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE THEM TO MY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.
I WAS RAISED FOR 24 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
WHEN PEOPLE TELL ME THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, I EXPECT
THEM TO DO IT.
I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A CALL BACK FROM THE
AIDE.
DID NOT GET A PHONE CALL UNTIL 3:45 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
I HAVE MADE A REQUEST OF THAT OFFICE TO HAVE THE
32
COMMISSIONER CALL ME AND THE AIDE CALL ME.
I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM MY COMMISSIONER YET.
I WANT TO REMIND ALL COMMISSIONERS THAT I AM A VOTER, AND I
CAN ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS AND BRING THIS UP FOR THE FAILURE
TO ATTEND.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MARK GRISTY, ALLAN HARRISON AND DON HARRISON.
>> GOOD MORNING, BOARD.
MY NAME'S MARK GRISTY.
I RESIDE AT 9420 ORANGE GROVE DRIVE, AND ALSO OWN 2512 MAY
BERRY STREET, AND THEY BOTH ARE CURRENTLY ACROSS FROM THE
SOUTH SIDE OF ORANGE GROVE PARK, WHICH HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF
FRUSTRATION FOR ME AND MY EXISTING NEIGHBORS FOR BETTER THAN
TEN YEARS IN THE RESPECT OF LACK OF MAINTENANCE.
THE BASKETBALL COURTS ARE COMMONLY USED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK,
ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND INTO THE EVENING, EVEN THOUGH THE
PARK CLOSES AT 3:00 -- OR AT DUSK.
THERE'S BEEN CONSIDERABLE VANDALISM IN ADDITION TO ALL THE
DEBRIS.
IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT I'VE BROUGHT IN,
ALL OF THE DEBRIS THAT'S LEFT CONSIDERABLY, SAY, SATURDAY.
THE DEBRIS REMAINS THERE FOR DAYS ON END.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, TUESDAY IS GARBAGE PICKUP DAY, AND THEY
PICK THE GARBAGE UP, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE GARBAGE CANS ARE
33
RARELY USED, SO THE GARBAGE MEN DUMP THE GARBAGE CANS BUT
DON'T PICK THE GARBAGE UP OFF OF THE GROUND.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE VANDALISM AND
THE DOUGHNUTS THAT ARE BEING DONE IN THE PARK AND THE
BELLIGERENT, DELIBERATE VANDALISM OF THE DAMAGE TO THE PARK.
THE BARRIER POSTS ARE DECAYING AND ROTTEN, AND BASICALLY
MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS ARE REPLACING THEM WITH OUR
MATERIALS AND OUR LABOR FOR A LACK OF MAINTENANCE, AND THE
KIDS GET OUT AND DO DOUGHNUTS INTO THE PARK TO THE EXTENT OF
RIPPING UP AN ENTIRE SECTION OF THE PARK LITERALLY, AND SO,
THEREFORE, THEY PUT A GATE UP, AND THE GATE IS NOW USED --
AND KEPT THE CARS OFF OF THAT, BUT, HOWEVER, WHEN THEY LET
THE TRAFFIC IN FOR THE BALLPARK, THE GATES REMAIN OPEN FOR
DAYS AT END.
NOW, THAT'S A DUTY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TASKED BY, I
BELIEVE, THE REFRESHMENT STAND, BUT EVIDENTLY THEY'RE VERY
BUSY WITH REFRESHMENTS AND NOT LOCKING THAT GATE, SO, IN
TURN, THE KIDS GET BACK IN THEIR WITH CARS AND DO ADDITIONAL
DAMAGE.
IF YOU LOOK, THERE'S ONE PART WHERE I RAN THE KIDS OFF AND
BASICALLY PUT THE POSTS BACK IN AT MY OWN TIME AND LABOR,
AND AS A RESULT OF DOING THAT, HE RETURNED AND DID DOUGHNUTS
IN MY BACKYARD, AND I SIMPLY REQUEST THAT THIS PARK IS
MAINTAINED --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS.
34
>> -- MAINTAINED WITH DILIGENCE AS THE REST OF THE COUNTY
IS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALLAN HARRISON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>>MIKE MERRILL: EXCUSE ME JUST A SECOND.
SIR, OUR PARKS DIRECTOR IS HERE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH PARKS PRIOR TO COMING
HERE, BUT HE'S IN THE BACK, AND HE'LL WORK WITH YOU, OKAY?
>> COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING OUR PLEA HERE.
MY NAME IS ALLAN HARRISON.
I LIVE AT 9317 NORTH ARRAWANA AVENUE.
I ALSO OWN PROPERTY AT 2520 AND 2522 MAYBERRY STREET.
I'VE LIVED THERE NOW FOR 52 YEARS.
I WAS THERE ORIGINALLY BEFORE THE PARK WAS EVER BUILT WHEN
IT WAS DONATED TO THE COUNTY.
IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE DEVELOPED, AS WILL STATED, BUT
THEY DEVELOPED OUT THERE, THEN THEY WERE ONLY GOING TO PUT
THREE FIELDS OUT THERE AND NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE SIX FIELDS
AND A MAKESHIFT SEVENTH FIELD ON THE PARK OUT THERE.
MY MAIN CONCERN REALLY IS THE VANDALISM AND THE PROBLEMS
WE'RE HAVING OUT THERE AND THE TRASH, AND THEN MY PROBLEM ON
35
MY MAYBERRY STREET SIDE IS THE PARKING.
THERE IS NO PARKING SIGNS THERE, AND I'VE CALLED THE COUNTY
OUT SEVERAL -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OUT
SEVERAL TIMES.
I'LL CALL THEM AT 5:30, 6:00 IN THE EVENING WHEN I'M GETTING
HOME BECAUSE I CANNOT EVEN TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE PARKED PARTIALLY INTO THE ROAD BECAUSE THERE IS
NO PARKING THERE, AND THEY'RE PARKING RIGHT AGAINST THE
WOODING -- WOODEN PILLARS THAT ARE OUT THERE TO STOP
PARKING, AND THE STREET IS ONLY ONE-LANE WIDE.
YOU CAN ONLY PASS ONE CAR ON THE STREET THERE, AND SO IN
ORDER TO GET INTO MY DRIVEWAY, I HAVE TO PULL UP, BACK UP,
PULL UP, BACK UP, AND THEN FINALLY PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY,
AND IT'S REALLY BECOMING A CONCERN OUT THERE.
AND THERE'S NO PARKING SIGNS, BUT NOBODY DOES ANYTHING.
LIKE I SAY, WHEN I CALL THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ON THE
PARKING OUT THERE, I CALLED AT 6:30 IN THE EVENING THE OTHER
NIGHT, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY GOT OUT
THERE.
THEY WOKE ME UP AT 11:05 P.M. IN THE EVENING WHEN I'VE
ALREADY GONE TO BED, AND, OF COURSE, THE PARK IS FINISHED
OUT THERE, AND THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BURN UNTIL 12:00, 1:00
IN THE MORNING.
SO THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HE COULD DO, AND LIKE I SAY, I
KNOW IT'S A NONEMERGENCY, SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TRY TO
36
GET ANYBODY OUT THERE IN ANY ORDER.
THE PICTURES THAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU SHOW THE CARS PARKED OUT
THERE, AND THAT WAS A MINIMAL DAY WHEN I PARKED, WHICH IS
DURING THE WEEK.
THE WEEKENDS ARE SO BAD THAT WE CAN'T EVEN GET UP AND DOWN
THE STREET.
WHEN SOMEBODY COMES DOWN THE STREET AND SOMEONE'S COMING THE
OTHER WAY, YOU USUALLY HAVE TO PULL INTO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY
IN ORDER FOR SOMEONE TO PASS THE STREET.
THE STREET'S IN VERY POOR CONDITION.
WE'VE GOT POTHOLES.
THE STREET HAS NOT BEEN REPAVED OUT THERE NOW IN OVER 35
YEARS, AND THEY'LL COME OUT AND THEY'LL PATCH HOLES WHEN WE
CALL REPEATEDLY TO GET THE ROAD FIXED, AND THERE'S A HOLE
OUT THERE THAT'S SO BAD NOW IT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE YOUR TIRE
OFF.
SO WE'D JUST LIKE TO SEE IF YOU WOULD, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER TO
TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN TRY TO FIX THE PLACE UP A LITTLE BIT
OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE
YOU ALL HEARING ME TODAY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, ALLAN.
THANKS FOR COMING.
AND DON HARRISON.
MM-HMM.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
37
HOW YOU ALL DOING TODAY?
JUST HERE AS KIND OF LIKE THE SAME COMPLAINT AS REFERENCE TO
THE ORANGE GROVE PARK.
I KNOW YOU-ALL GOT PROBABLY A LOT BIGGER AND BETTER ISSUES
TO DEAL WITH, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR US IT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
WE'VE BEEN LIVING THERE -- LIKE I SAID, I'M 51 YEARS OLD.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON MAYBERRY STREET, AND I BELIEVE A
FEW YEARS AGO, MR. HAGAN, ONE OF HIS ASSISTANTS, WE WENT OUT
THERE AND KIND OF EVALUATED THE PARK BACK A FEW YEARS AGO,
AND A FEW THINGS WERE TAKEN CARE OF.
BUT AS TIME HAS EXPIRED, IT'S GONE BACK TO THE SAME ROUTINE
AND IT'S DECLINING AT A RAPIDLY PACE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE OWN PROPERTY, AGAIN, ON 2516 MAYBERRY
STREET.
WE HAD IT UP FOR SALE AND HAD IT AT OUR JUST MARKET VALUE.
WE COULDN'T EVEN SELL THE PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE PARK, TO
BE HONEST WITH YOU, BECAUSE OF THE BAD CONDITION THAT IT WAS
IN.
NOBODY WANTED TO LIVE THERE.
SO WE WERE KIND OF FORCED TO KEEP IT, AND BASICALLY RENT IT
OUT.
WE -- YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE PARK.
WE ENJOY THE PEOPLE COMING AND USING THE PARK, BUT WE JUST
WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER MAINTAINED AND
PROBABLY GET SOME SECURITY OUT THERE TO KEEP SOME OF THE
38
VANDALISM DOWN.
THEY'RE JUST NOT TAKING CARE OF IT.
LIKE I SAID, THEY COME OUT THERE AROUND THE BASKETBALL
FIELD.
THAT REALLY SEEMS TO BE THE BIG PROBLEM AROUND THE PARK
ITSELF.
PEOPLE COME IN THERE TO USE THE PARK, THEY'LL PLAY BALL,
THEY'LL TRASH IT, AND THEN THEY JUST BASICALLY LEAVE, AND WE
FIND OURSELF OUT THERE, MY BROTHER AND I AND MARK, PICKING
UP ALL THE TRASH UP OUT THERE IN THE FIELD.
THE ONLY OTHER TIME IT GETS PICKED UP IS WHEN THEY COME OUT
TO CUT THE GRASS BY THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PARKS
DEPARTMENT.
AND, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT PARKING ISSUES OUT HERE.
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PARK, THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO
DEDICATED PARKING AREAS, ONE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE
PARK AND A LARGE PARKING AREA ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE
PARK, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO USE THAT PARKING AREA.
THEY'D JUST AS SOON PARK ON MAYBERRY STREET AND TAKE A
SHORTCUT TO THE PARK TO SAVE A FEW STEPS, BUT IT'S JUST --
YOU KNOW, IT'S -- WE JUST TRY TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF HELP TO
TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE'RE
HAVING OUT THERE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COURTESY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING US OUT.
39
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YES, SIR.
ALSO, STEVE, IF YOU COULD GET THIS GENTLEMAN OUT TO DEXTER
AND TO FOREST TO TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONER COMMENTS.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE INDIVIDUALS FOR COMING DOWN THIS
MORNING.
I HAPPEN TO HAVE BEEN BORN AND RAISED -- OR NOT RAISED BUT
THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS OF MY LIFE ON ORANGE GROVE DRIVE,
RIGHT ACROSS FROM THIS PARK WHEN THE ACTUAL LITTLE LEAGUE
WAS ADJACENT TO IT.
THIS IS -- THE OFFICIAL NAME IS [INCOMPREHENSIBLE] PARK.
IT'S ACTUALLY HOME OF FOREST HILLS PONY BASEBALL LEAGUE
WHERE I PLAYED AND COACHED FOR DECADES.
THE VANDALISM AND THE MAINTENANCE ISSUES THERE ARE NO EXCUSE
FOR.
I THINK STAFF NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY.
THE PARKING, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT ISOLATED TO THIS PARK.
IN MANY OF OUR PARKS WE HAVE PARKING ISSUES.
THERE ARE PARKING LOTS, AS THE GENTLEMAN SAID, TO THE NORTH
AND NORTHEAST; HOWEVER, ON GAME DAYS, THOSE ARE AT CAPACITY,
AND THE LEAGUE, IN FACT, HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TOWED CARS
40
THAT PARK ILLEGALLY.
SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PARKING ISSUES.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, THE LEAGUE HAS
THE USE AGREEMENT, AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACTUAL
FIELDS.
WHERE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS AROUND THE BASKETBALL COURT,
WHICH IS SOUTH AND TO THE EAST, AND I CAN IMAGINE THAT THE
LEAGUE -- I DON'T KNOW IF THEY OFFICIALLY HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THAT OR NOT, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE
THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN.
THEY'RE CONCERNED WITH THE ACTUAL BASEBALL FIELDS, SO IF
STAFF COULD GET WITH JIM ARNOLD, WHO'S THE PRESIDENT OF
FOREST HILLS, AND COORDINATE ON WHAT'S THE BEST STRATEGY AS
FAR AS ALLOWING THE CARS TO COME IN INTERNALLY BUT CLOSING
THAT DURING MAYBE ON THE WEEKENDS BUT THEN CLOSING IT UP AND
PREVENTING THE DOUGHNUTS AND THEM ENTERING THE PARK AFTER.
I THINK THAT MAY BE THE SOLUTION, BUT IN ANY EVENT, MIKE,
MAKE SURE WE GET ON THAT AND GET WITH JIM, WHO'S THE
PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE.
THE REALITY IS PARKING IS AN ISSUE, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A
CHALLENGE TO ADDRESS, BUT CLEARLY, WE CAN DO BETTER.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
TO BUILD ON THAT, THE TROUBLES THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THIS
41
PARK ARE UNFORTUNATE.
THEY'RE NOT UNIQUE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER TROUBLED AREAS AS WELL, AND I
THINK AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO ASK STAFF TO TAKE A CLOSER
LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND THE OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE TAKEN
PLACE AND BRING BACK A PLAN ON HOW WE CAN STRATEGICALLY DEAL
WITH IT.
I KNOW ONE IDEA WOULD BE TO INSTALL A DIGITAL CAMERA WITH A
DIGITAL RECORDER.
DISRESPECT TO OUR PARKS IS REALLY NOT ACCEPTABLE, AND IF
IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE, THEN WE NEED TO KNOW WHO'S DOING
THIS, AND TO HAVE IT ON DIGITAL RECORDING WOULD CERTAINLY
PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD NEED TO
GO AFTER THE PERPETRATORS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I'LL JUST MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT.
WE HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT TOWN 'N COUNTRY AT THE TOWN 'N
COUNTRY COMMONS, AND WE WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE, AND
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETER CRIME, SO I GUESS I WOULD JUST
ASK THE PARKS PEOPLE TO GET WITH WHOEVER -- WHATEVER AREA
WHO COVERS TOWN 'N COUNTRY AND FIND -- JUST REPLICATE THAT
PROCESS BECAUSE IT REALLY HELPED A LOT.
AND ACTUALLY, IT WAS PUTTING MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CARS
SITTING AT THE PARK, SO IT WAS GOOD.
WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE SPEAKER, NEIL COSENTINO, BEFORE
10:00.
42
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES.
WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETE THE SPEAKERS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUSPEND PUBLIC COMMENT FOR JUST A FEW
MINUTES WHILE WE TAKE UP A COUPLE ITEMS, AND -- BUT WE WILL
COME BACK AND FINISH THE SPEAKERS.
YES, NEIL.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
NEIL COSENTINO, 708 SOUTH DAVIS BOULEVARD IN TAMPA.
AND THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE LAST PRESENTATION.
WE'RE PASSING OUT A DIAGRAM ON THE FRIENDSHIP TRAILBRIDGE,
AND THIS WAS FROM THE INSPECTION THAT WAS DONE WITH THE
BRIDGE.
I'M SHOWING THIS BECAUSE THERE'S A GLARING ERROR IN THIS.
IT SHOWS SIX GIRDERS, WHICH ARE BEAMS, AT EACH SPAN.
THE BRIDGE, INDEED, DOES NOT HAVE SIX GIRDERS, IT HAS ONLY
FOUR.
SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS SOMETHING THAT IS WRONG, BUT OUR
POINT IS THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT'S WRONG THAN THIS -- THESE
INSPECTIONS.
AND SO THE KEY ISSUE IS THE BRIDGE ENGINEER'S DETERMINATION
WASN'T DONE BY VISUAL INSPECTION, BUT, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A
DIFFERENCE HERE.
THIS IS A $25-MILLION ASSET, AND WE ARE INTERESTED -- WE'VE
43
ASKED FOR INFORMATION SO WE CAN EVALUATE THE INFORMATION IN
MORE DETAIL, AND THIS IS A REQUEST FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION.
AND THE OTHER POINT IS THAT THE ENGINEER USED TECHNICAL
BRIDGE TESTING EQUIPMENT THAT'S NOW AVAILABLE AND USED BY
THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
NOW, THIS EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE BUT HAS NOT BEEN USED, AT
LEAST WE DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN USED, BECAUSE IT'S NOT
SHOWING UP IN THE REPORTS.
IT APPARENTLY WAS ALL DONE ON VISUAL INSPECTIONS, AND I
DON'T THINK AN ASSET WORTH 25 MILLION, AND IF WE'RE LINING
UP TO DESTROY IT AND SPEND SIX MILLION, I THINK WE DESERVE
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE BRIDGE.
NOW, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT THE BRIDGE FROM A POINT OF
VIEW OF INSTALLING SOLAR VOLTAIC PANELS ON THE BRIDGE.
THAT MEANS THE PUBLIC WOULDN'T USE IT, BUT THE BRIDGE WOULD
STILL HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT PURPOSE.
THERE ARE, BY THE WAY, 15 STRUCTURES IN THE BAY, AND IF YOU
INSTALL SOLAR VOLTAIC PANELS ON THESE STRUCTURES, WHICH IS
ALL POSSIBLE, AND WE'RE IN DIALOGUE WITH FDOT, WE COULD
PRODUCE OVER 100 MEGAWATTS OF POWER.
SO THIS BRIDGE WOULD JUST BE THE BEGINNING.
AND I THINK IT REALLY DESERVES A SLOW-DOWN AND THAT WE GET
TOGETHER AND FIND OUT EXACTLY THE SITUATION WITH THE BRIDGE,
IS IT SAFE FOR SOLAR VOLTAIC PANELS, AND IF IT IS SAFE, WE
44
CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, NEIL.
AND IF I COULD GET A MOTION TO SUSPEND PUBLIC COMMENT.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SO MOVE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
AND WE WILL COME BACK TO THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO, MR. MERRILL.
>>MIKE MERRILL: SO B-9, THEN, WHICH IS TO APPROVE A
RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD AS THE
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT BOARD, AND WHO'S PRESENTING?
SHARON.
WE NEED TO KEEP IT BRIEF.
>>SHARON SUBADAN: YES, SIR.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
THIS RESOLUTION WOULD FORMALLY ADOPT THE COMMUNITY ACTION
BOARD OF THE TRIPARTITE BOARD REQUIRED BY THE COMMUNITY
SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
THIS RESOLUTION WILL CLEARLY OUTLINE THE ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD AND DEMONSTRATE THE COUNTY'S
COMMITMENT TO THE CSBG GRANT AND THE SERVICE OF THE LOW-
45
INCOME POPULATION IN OUR COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD WHO HAVE SERVED FOR MANY YEARS, AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THEM AS WE GO FORWARD.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU, MS. SUBADAN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORTH.
LET ME MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, AND I'LL BE BRIEF.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONCERNED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SOME
CURRENT CONCERNED CITIZENS, ABOUT THESE CHANGES THAT ARE
BEING MADE.
BELIEVE ME, I'VE HEARD THEM LOUD AND CLEAR.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS MORNING THE CHAIR OF THAT BOARD,
MS. NOREEN COPELAND MILLER, WHO I HAVE THE MOST RESPECT FOR
BECAUSE OF HER CONCERN AND HER WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE
CITY OF TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS GENUINE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THESE CHANGES
ARE NOT IN ANY WAY GOING TO -- GOING TO PREVENT THE PEOPLE
THAT GET THESE DOLLARS FROM GETTING THEM.
WE WILL BE DERELICT OF OUR DUTIES AS A COUNTY COMMISSION AND
AS A BOARD -- A COUNTY COMMISSION BOARD IF WE ALLOWED THAT
TO HAPPEN.
THESE CHANGES MUST TAKE PLACE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ON
46
OUR CASE BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
THIS MORNING WHERE THIS RESOLUTION SAID "COMMITTEE," WE'VE
CHANGED THAT, WE SET WITH THE MOTION TO MAKE IT "BOARD."
THAT IS NOW BOARD THROUGHOUT THIS DOCUMENT.
DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA, LOOK AT WHAT'S
IN THE RESOLUTION ITSELF, AND THE RESOLUTION
RESPONSIBILITIES IDENTIFY AND PUT INTO PLACE EXACTLY WHAT
THAT COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE.
WE HAVE TO ROTATE SOME MEMBERS OFF.
WE HAVE TO ROTATE OURSELVES OFF THIS BOARD, SO THEREFORE,
MEMBERS OF ALL OF OUR BOARDS HAVE TO ROTATE OFF.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE SOME LONGTIME SERVING MEMBERS OF THIS
BOARD THAT WILL BE ROTATED OFF.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE, BUT WE HAVE TO
ROTATE MEMBERS OFF, JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO ROTATE OTHER
MEMBERS OFF.
BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE -- AS LONG AS LES MILLER'S SITTING
HERE, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE UNDERPRIVILEGED, THE PEOPLE
THAT THIS MONEY COMES DOWN FOR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO US WILL GET THESE DOLLARS,
REGARDLESS IF NEW MEMBERS COME ON HERE OR WHOMEVER WILL BE
ON HERE.
MS. COPELAND HAS MY NUMBER, SHE HAS MY HOME NUMBER, MY CELL
NUMBER, MY OFFICE NUMBER, AND I'LL BE ACCESSIBLE TO HER ANY
TIME SHE NEEDS TO TALK, BUT DO UNDERSTAND THE COUNTY
47
COMMISSION, THIS BOARD, AND MR. MERRILL, AND THE STAFF WILL
MAKE SURE THAT THESE DOLLARS ARE SPENT ADEQUATELY, AND THE
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CAB, THE COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD, ARE
OUTLINED HERE, AND THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES DICTATE THAT YOU
WILL BE THE ONE THAT WILL BASICALLY ADMINISTER AND WORK WITH
STAFF TO GET THESE THINGS DONE, SO DO UNDERSTAND THAT
REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S BEING SAID OUT THERE, REGARDLESS OF
WHAT PEOPLE ARE NEGATIVELY SAYING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO GETS
THESE DOLLARS WILL BE THE ONES THAT GET THEM.
WE WILL BE DERELICT OF OUR DUTIES TO MAKE A MISTAKE AND LOSE
THE DOLLARS THAT -- AND NOT GIVE THOSE DOLLARS TO PEOPLE
THAT NEED THEM MOST.
THAT WOULD BE STUPID ON OUR PART, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO
THAT, AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT LES MILLER AND ALL THE
MEMBERS UP HERE ON THIS COUNTY COMMISSION WILL MAKE SURE
THESE THINGS WILL HAPPEN.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU READ -- ON THE AGENDA IT SAYS
"COMMITTEE," IT'S NOT A COMMITTEE, IT'S A BOARD.
THAT'S BEEN CHANGED.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JULY 1st.
THAT DATE HAS TO BE IN THERE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS, AND IF THERE'S NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS, MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
48
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM ON B-9.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: THE COMMISSIONER'S MOTION INCLUDES ANY OF
THE SCRIVENER'S ERRORS --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: YES.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: -- IN THE RESOLUTION --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: YES.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: -- IN ADDITION TO THE AGENDA ITEM TO
CHANGE ANY REFERENCE TO "COMMITTEE" TO "BOARD."
>>LES MILLER, JR.: I THOUGHT THAT WAS [INCOMPREHENSIBLE]
I SAID THAT WITHIN MY MOTION, YES.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: IS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE MOTION?
>>CHIP FLETCHER: THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE MOTION.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: INCLUDED IN THE MOTION.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: INCLUDED IN THE MOTION.
OKAY.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON B-9.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: AND THE OTHER ITEM WOULD BE F-4, WHICH IS
49
COMMISSIONER MILLER'S ITEM.
IT WAS ADDED CONCERNING MR. TOKLEY.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU, MR. MERRILL.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD.
OUR OWN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY POET LAUREATE, MR. JAMES TOKLEY
-- AND WE KNOW THAT HE COMES HERE EVERY QUARTER AND BRINGS A
PRAYER THAT IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE, AND WE KNOW THE WORK THAT
HE'S DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY -- HE IS NOW A FINALIST FOR THE
STATE OF FLORIDA'S POET LAUREATE, WHICH IS A SHOT IN THE ARM
FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO HAVE HIM AS ONE OF THE FINALISTS,
AND HE HAS ASKED THAT WE SUBMIT A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF HIS
NOMINATION.
HE HAS ATTACHED A DRAFT LETTER TO THE DOCUMENTATION HERE, SO
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION THAT STAFF WORKS WITH HIM TO
LOOK AT THIS DRAFT LETTER AND PUT IT INTO PLACE TO BE
SUBMITTED TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA, SIGNED BY OUR CHAIR,
REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS IN SUPPORT OF HIM BEING NOMINATED AND
HOPEFULLY SELECTED AS THE POET LAUREATE FOR THE STATE OF
FLORIDA.
THAT'S MY MOTION.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
50
ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND BEFORE YOU LEAVE, YOUR WIFE IS GETTING
RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT?
>>LES MILLER, JR.: YES, MA'AM.
MY WIFE, WHO'S SERVED 16 YEARS ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION
AND --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: CITY COUNCIL YOU MEAN?
>>LES MILLER, JR.: CITY COUNCIL.
[LAUGHTER]
SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO THE
COUNTY -- TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAIR OF THE CITY
COUNCIL.
SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO BE ELECTED TO A
CITYWIDE SEAT.
THIS IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AND SHE'S GETTING THE
JOSEPHINE STAFFORD AWARD THIS MORNING FOR HER SERVICE TO THE
CITY OF TAMPA, AND PUTTING UP WITH ME PROBABLY FOR ALL THESE
YEARS, SO I'VE GOT TO RUN TO CITY HALL NOW TO WATCH HER GET
HER AWARD, WHICH SHE RIGHTFULLY DESERVES, AND I'LL BE BACK
AS SOON AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: WELL, PLEASE EXTEND TO HER OUR -- REALLY,
A CONGRATULATIONS FOR GETTING THIS AWARD.
51
>>LES MILLER, JR.: I WILL.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR HER TO GET
THAT.
IT'S WELL DESERVED.
>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE WILL RESUME PUBLIC COMMENT WITH THE FINAL TWO SPEAKERS.
ED TILLOU IS FIRST AND MARK KLUTHO WILL BE SECOND.
YES.
>> OKAY.
I'M ED, ED TILLOU, SULPHUR SPRING.
OKAY.
WELL, FIRST, ABOUT FIVE DAYS AFTER SOME YOUNG WOMEN CAME TO
THIS MEETING, YOUR MEETING HERE, LAST MEETING, ABOUT THEIR
WAGES, THIS WAS IN TBT, AND I KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM, BUT
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES,
RESTAURANTS ESPECIALLY, ARE JUST COASTING ON THE EDGE, AND I
KNOW LIKE ABC PIZZA'S ONE OF THEM.
THE THING IS THAT THEY DID MANAGE TO RESOLVE THINGS, BUT AS
THEY LEFT, I SAID TO ONE OF THE WOMEN -- I SAID, WELL, THE
PLACE FOR THIS WOULD BE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND THEY
SAID THAT THAT'S WHERE THEY STARTED OUT, AND NOTHING GOT
DONE.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY INPUTS TO THAT, SOMETHING
52
SHOULD BE DONE AT THE LEVEL OF DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WHICH IS
A FEDERAL ORGANIZATION RATHER THAN STATE.
OKAY.
I HANDED SOME HANDOUTS AROUND, AND MacDILL MIGHT HAVE BEEN
SAVED BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED WAS ISIL EXECUTED TWO WHAT ARE
NOW SVR INTELLIGENCE AGENTS.
IT'S NOT CALLED KGB ANYMORE, IT'S SVR, SO RUSSIA'S PROBABLY
PRETTY ANGRY AT ISIL AND APPRECIATES THE VALUE OF MacDILL.
NOW, I'M NOT FISHING AROUND FOR AN AWARD -- A COMMENDATION
FROM MacDILL, ALTHOUGH THAT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA, BUT
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THERE ARE A BILLION AND A
HALF MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD.
ONLY 3% OR 4% OF THEM ARE THESE EXTREMISTS, BUT STILL THAT'S
50 MILLION PEOPLE YOU NEED TO KEEP TRACK OF.
NOW, MOST OF THOSE RECORDS ARE UP AT THE CIA AND IN EUROPEAN
-- [INCOMPREHENSIBLE], PLACES LIKE THAT, BUT A LOT OF THEM
ARE AT MacDILL, SO THIS MIGHT BE AN ACHILLES HEEL.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THIS FELLOW, HE WAS NEVER IN THE SVR
BECAUSE HE RESIGNED FROM THE KGB WHEN THE SOVIET UNION
DISSOLVED.
HE ACTUALLY TOOK A PRETTY COURAGEOUS STANCE, BUT THESE ARE
HIS COLLEAGUES, YOU MIGHT SAY, SO IN ANY CASE, THE REAL
PROBLEM IS I THINK THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR
ANOTHER PETER THE GREAT TO OPEN THE DOORS TO EUROPE AND
INSTEAD THEY GOT THIS GUY, ANOTHER IVAN IV, IVAN THE
53
TERRIBLE.
THIS IS HIS SON THAT HE KILLED.
SO ANYWAY, MAY NOT HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MOST
IMMEDIATELY, BUT STILL TO THINK ABOUT HIROSHIMA AND A HALF
AND THE DAMAGE IT CAN DO.
THERE WAS SOME MATERIAL ABOUT CLIMATIC CHANGE THAT I
INCLUDED.
OUR GOVERNOR DOESN'T BELIEVE IN IT, BUT THE THING IS IT
PROBABLY IS REAL.
HE SEIZED ON A TECHNICALITY THAT HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
VALIDITY, NOT A LOT, BUT THAT ONLY CERTAIN SCIENTISTS KNOW
ABOUT THIS CARBON DIOXIDE LINK.
NOT ALL SCIENTISTS KNOW THIS.
MOST OF THE SCIENTISTS ARE OCEANOGRAPHERS THAT ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, ED.
OKAY.
AND MARK KLUTHO WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER.
>> MARK KLUTHO, 14496 120th AVENUE NORTH, LARGO.
JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT WE SHOULD BE HONORING THE
CONFEDERATES ON THIS HALL OF FAME.
NOT.
IT'S A DOGGONE SHAME THAT I HAD TO SERVE AT THREE POSTS THAT
HAVE THE NAME OF CONFEDERATES.
HOW SICK IS THAT?
54
AND, HA, HERE'S THE HEADLINE FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGE OF THE
ST. PETE TIMES, SCOTT TURNS FLORIDA INTO A NATIONAL JOKE.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF HIM IGNORING CLIMATE CHANGE, AND DANNY
RUTH, BANDYING WORDS WON'T STOP CLIMATE CHANGE.{}
AND OTTO AT THE TRIBUNE AND HENDERSON AND ALL OF THE -- OH,
WHAT'S HIS NAME? -- PITTMAN AT THE ST. PETE TIMES.
THEY ALL HAVE THEIR PANTIES IN A WAD NOW BECAUSE THE
GOVERNOR'S DENYING IT.
WELL, HERE'S THE PROBLEM.
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE I HAD THE SCIENCE, HIGH-PERFORMANCE
BUILDING, MAY 29th, 1998, WAS THE SEMINAR THAT BROUGHT BILL
BROWNING, THE OFFER ON THE PRIMER ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING.
AND YOU KEEP IGNORING IT, ALONG WITH RUTH AND OTTO AND
HENDERSON, AND NOW, OH, THE GOVERNOR, THE GOVERNOR, HE HAS
HIS HEAD IN THE SAND.
WELL, HERE'S THE BOOK, "THE SIXTH EXTINCTION, AN UNNATURAL
HISTORY."
YOU'RE HONORING THE AQUARIUM TODAY.
WELL, GUESS WHAT?
IT'S GOING UNDER WATER.
WATCH "VICE" ON HBO, THE SCIENTISTS DOWN IN ANTARCTICA
LOOKING AT THE GLACIERS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE OCEAN.
MUCH OF FLORIDA IS GOING TO DISAPPEAR BECAUSE OF THE SCIENCE
THAT YOU IGNORE.
I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM, THE
55
IDIOT WAS HOLDING THE GLASS UP ABOVE HIS HEAD AND SAYING,
OH, IT'S NOT HOT.
WELL, YOU HAD THE AIR FLOWING ALL AROUND YOU.
YOU WEREN'T MAKING AN ENCLOSED GREENHOUSE.
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT, GLOBAL WARMING, YOUR LEGACY.
OH, HOW SAD.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MARK.
OKAY.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION --
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOSE ARE THE "A" ITEMS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
ANY COMMENTS?
WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: IF ANYONE IS HERE FOR AN "A" ITEM, YOU
HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
OKAY.
MR. MERRILL.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YOUR FIRST ITEM IS YOUR 10:00 A.M. PUBLIC
HEARING, D-1.
56
MIKE WILLIAMS IS HERE FOR THIS ITEM.
>>MIKE WILLIAMS: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MIKE WILLIAMS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
TODAY WE'RE HERE TO CONDUCT THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC --
REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPER
AGREEMENT WITH BELMONT REAL ESTATE, LLC, HIGHLAND CDD
HOLDINGS, LLC, AND LENNAR HOMES, LLC.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO EXTEND THE TIME FRAME OF
THE AGREEMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN YEARS.
THE APPLICANTS HAVE ALL SATISFIED ALL OF THEIR FINANCIAL
OBLIGATIONS, WHICH WENT TOWARDS THE WIDENING OF U.S. 301,
AND THAT WAS THEIR TRANSPORTATION MITIGATION.
NO FINAL ACTION IS REQUIRED TODAY.
TODAY IS JUST A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE
PUBLIC AND FOR STAFF, AND THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE
SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1st, 2015.
AND WITH THAT, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MIKE.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK TO D-1?
OKAY.
BOARD ACTION?
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: MOVE THE ITEM.
>>STACY WHITE: SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM,
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SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WHITE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON D-1.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: YOUR NEXT ITEM IS YOUR 10:15 TIME CERTAIN.
THAT'S COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S ITEM, F-3, CONCERNING THE
COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE CRAZY HORSE BAR.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO BE PASSING THE GAVEL WHEN I MAKE THIS MOTION.
WE HAVE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT
ABOUT THE CRAZY HORSE BAR AND OTHER BARS IN TOWN 'N COUNTRY
FOR NOISE, POSSIBLE CODE VIOLATIONS, UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY, SO
MY MOTION WILL BE TO REQUEST THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
AND CODE ENFORCEMENT TO WORK WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT BOARD, AND ANY
OTHERS THAT HAVE JURISDICTION, TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS
AGAINST THE CRAZY HORSE BAR IN TOWN 'N COUNTRY AND OTHER
BARS FOR POSSIBLE CODE VIOLATIONS.
THE SECOND PART OF THE MOTION WILL BE REQUEST DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES TO REVIEW ALL CURRENT CODE AND ZONING POLICIES AS
IT RELATES TO DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS FROM BARS TO RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS, EXAMINE OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND POSSIBLE
CONDITIONS OR INCENTIVES THAT CAN BE SET FOR USE OF -- IF
THE CURRENT BUSINESS DOES LEAVE, FAILS, OR CLOSES, AND THAT
BUSINESS HAS CODE VIOLATIONS OR UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES ON THE
58
SITE.
I THINK FROM MY STANDPOINT, I'D SEND A STRONG MESSAGE HERE
THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TOLERATE ANY BUSINESSES THAT CAUSE
REPEATED DISRUPTIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE NEED TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE MAINTAIN ADEQUATE QUALITY OF LIFE IN ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND SO THAT IS MY
MOTION.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: ALL RIGHT.
THE CHAIRMAN HAS PASSED THE GAVEL.
I HEAR A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
I'LL RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER MURMAN FOR
HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE, AND ONE THING I WOULD ASK -- I
DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE MOTION OR NOT,
BUT YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY 2006, 2007, INITIATED
A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGE WHICH PREVENTS ANY NEW BOTTLE
CLUBS FROM OPENING, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A BOTTLE
CLUB EITHER NEXT TO IT OR ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
I'M NOT UP TO SPEED ON THE PARTICULARS, BUT IF WE CAN JUST
MAKE SURE THAT STAFF LOOKS INTO THAT.
IF THEY WERE CURRENTLY IN OPERATION, THEY WERE ALLOWED TO
CONTINUE, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CLOSE THEM DOWN, BUT THE CHANGE
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PREVENTED ANY NEW BOTTLE CLUBS FROM OPENING, SO MAKE SURE
YOU LOOK INTO THAT AND SEE IF THAT'S AN AREA OR TOOL THAT WE
CAN USE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I WANT TO SAY THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW
ONES THAT HAVE OPENED SINCE YOU DID THAT.
WE STILL HAVE THREE LEFT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
I -- I DID INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE MOTION AS THEY DO THE
REVIEW, SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S ADEQUATELY COVERED.
IF YOU-ALL FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO ADD SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THE
MOTION, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY AT THIS POINT.
BUT ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
AND, AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ANY MEANS POSSIBLE TO
PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE
RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: WE HAVE SOME TIME BEFORE YOUR 10:30 TIME
CERTAIN, SO WE'LL TAKE SOME REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS BEGINNING
WITH B-1.
>>JACQUELYN JENKINS: GOOD MORNING.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GOOD MORNING, DR. JENKINS.
>>JACQUELYN JENKINS: JACQUELYN JENKINS, HEAD START/EARLY
HEAD START DIVISION UNDER THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
AND I'M HERE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO
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ALIGN $1,245,213 IN PERSONNEL SERVICES AND OPERATING
EXPENDITURES WITHIN OUR FISCAL YEAR '14 HEAD START BUDGET TO
THE HEAD START FISCAL YEAR '15 ADOPTED BUDGET TO ALIGN
BUDGET ITEMS WITH ACTUAL EXPENDITURES ALLOCATED FOR INDIRECT
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND TO CLOSE THE GRANT OUT.
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS ARE REQUIRED.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
BOARD ACTION.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER --
>>STACY WHITE: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WHITE.
ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON B-1.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>JACQUELYN JENKINS: THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU, JACQUELYN.
NEXT ITEM IS B-2.
IT'S A REQUEST TO DISBURSE IMPACT FEE FUNDS TO THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
GO AHEAD, ADAM.
BEFORE ADAM PRESENTS THIS, I JUST WANT TO MENTION I DID
DESCRIBE THIS IN OUR BRIEFINGS.
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I MET WITH THE NEW SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ON MONDAY THIS
WEEK, AND HE'S -- HE SEEMS VERY COMPETENT, A BREATH OF FRESH
AIR.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ITEM, BUT, REALLY, IT'S A LARGER ISSUE
OF TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS WE HAVE AROUND A NUMBER OF
SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTY, AND HE -- THE FIRST THING THAT HE
SAID, WHICH GAVE ME SOME COMFORT, WAS THAT IN THE PAST WE
HAD TO WORK THESE PROBLEMS OUT WITH EACH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL,
EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, WHICH DIDN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE.
HE SAID THAT THAT POLICY IS GONE, EVERYTHING WILL NOW BE
DEALT WITH AT HIS LEVEL SO THAT WE CAN BE LOOKING AT A
HOLISTIC LEVEL FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.
HE AGREED THAT THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO WORK WITH, AND WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE POSSIBILITY
OF A JOINT WORKSHOP AT SOME POINT BETWEEN THE COUNTY
COMMISSION AND THE SCHOOL BOARD AT WHICH WE WOULD BRING
TOGETHER SOME POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOLUTIONS TO DEAL
WITH THIS ON A HOLISTIC BASIS.
SO ANYWAY, AS -- JUST AS A PREAMBLE TO THAT -- THAT ISSUE.
>>ADAM GORMLY: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
ADAM GORMLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE ITEM YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A REQUEST FOR
DISBURSEMENT OF SCHOOL IMPACT FEES AT THE REQUEST OF THE
SCHOOL BOARD.
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THESE ARE IMPACT FEE FUNDS THAT ARE COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY
PURSUANT TO THE COUNTY'S IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT THE BOARD -- ONLY THE BOARD HAS
THE AUTHORITY TO ASSESS AND COLLECT IMPACT FEES THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO OFFSET THE COST OF GROWTH AND IN PARTICULAR THE
COST OF THE IMPACT OF GROWTH ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THIS
ITEM.
THE IMPACT FEES ARE COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY AND KEPT IN OUR
TRUST ACCOUNT, AND THEY ARE -- HAVE BEEN DISBURSED TO THE
SCHOOL BOARD AT THEIR REQUEST TO BE SPENT ON NEW SCHOOL
FACILITIES OR EXPANSION TO EXISTING SCHOOL FACILITIES, AND
THAT'S THE -- THAT'S THE TEST THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO MEET
FOR EXPENDITURE OF IMPACT FEES.
THEY NEED TO BE SPENT TO BENEFIT THE FEE PAYER, SO WE
COLLECT THEM AND ENSURE THAT THEY'RE SPENT TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WITH THAT, THIS REQUEST TODAY IS FOR A RELEASE OF
$15,760,809 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE SCHOOL SITES.
THIS WOULD BE THE JACK LAMB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL
TT, AND ADDITIONS TO LENNARD HIGH SCHOOL.
AN AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY $44 MILLION WAS PREVIOUSLY
DISBURSED FOR THE -- TO THE SCHOOL BOARD FROM SCHOOL IMPACT
FEES FOR THESE THREE SCHOOLS; HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT REQUESTED
WAS GREATER THAN THAT, SO THIS ITEM IS MAKING UP THE BALANCE
OF THE REQUESTED FUNDS FOR THOSE THREE SCHOOLS.
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SO THIS -- WITH THAT, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO MOVE THOSE FUNDS AND TO APPROVE THE
DISBURSEMENT OF THE FUNDS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
THANK YOU, ADAM.
WE HAVE SOME COMMISSIONER COMMENTS.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I AM CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE RELEASE OF THESE FUNDS, BUT
TO MR. MERRILL'S POINT -- AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT SOME OF
THESE POLICIES HAVE CHANGED.
AS THE STATE STATUTES AND THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE CHANGED
AROUND CONCURRENCY AND TRANSPORTATION, HOW TRANSPORTATION
CAN BE PAID FOR, I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY MAKES SENSE THAT WE
CONVENE A WORKSHOP ALSO WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO FIGURE THIS
OUT.
OBVIOUSLY, THE TAXPAYERS, YOU KNOW, THEY CONTRIBUTE FROM
THEIR TAX BILL, PROPERTY TAX BILL, TO THE SCHOOLS, THEY
CONTRIBUTE TO US, SO THE QUESTION IS, IS HOW SHOULD
TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS BE PAID FOR AND FROM WHAT FUNDS?
AND MY UNDERSTANDING, MR. MERRILL, FOR RIGHT NOW,
TRANSPORTATION -- UP TO NOW, TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS HAVE
BEEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY?
>>MIKE MERRILL: OFF-SITE -- OFF OF THE SCHOOL SITE, YES, WE
HAVE TYPICALLY USED CIT MONIES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IN EARLIER
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YEARS WAS NOT SO MUCH A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE HAD CIT MONEY,
BUT NOW, OF COURSE, WE DON'T, SO IT'S -- YEAH.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: AND AS WE HAVE LOOKED AT HOW WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPERS PAY FOR THE IMPACTS OF
THEIR DEVELOPMENT, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SAME THING
FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THERE'S A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY THAT'S
THERE.
I MEAN, THERE IS A PUBLIC NEED THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE
BUSINESS BECAUSE THERE IS A PUBLIC NEED THAT'S BEEN
ESTABLISHED FOR THE SCHOOLS, BUT THE QUESTION IS IS WHOSE
BUDGET SHOULD THAT COME FROM, AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT AS BETWEEN OUR TWO BOARDS THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
WORK OUT.
SO INCORPORATED IN THIS MOTION, DOES THERE NEEDS TO BE A
MOTION TO ESTABLISH A WORKSHOP, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT
STAFF IS GOING -- ALREADY PROCEEDING WITH?
>>MIKE MERRILL: NO.
I THINK IT WOULD BE UP TO YOU ALL HOW YOU WANT TO HANDLE
THAT, BUT --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION.
WHY DON'T WE INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE MOTION?
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THEN I'LL MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM B-2
AND ALSO ADD TO HAVE STAFF ARRANGE FOR A JOINT WORKSHOP
BETWEEN THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE SCHOOL
65
BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DISCUSS HOW THE IMPACTS TO
NEW SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTS SHOULD BE PAID FOR AS IT RELATES TO
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND ANY OTHER ISSUES.
>> SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND -- OKAY.
SO THAT'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, AND WE NOW HAVE THIS
NEW POLICY WHERE WE ARE GOING TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO
MOTIONS.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN WASN'T HERE -- I DON'T THINK YOU WERE
HERE WHEN WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION, BUT WE ARE NOW UNDER A NEW
POLICY THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO MOTIONS; IS
THAT CORRECT?
AND I HAVE ANOTHER THING TO ADD, AND THAT WOULD BE TO
INCLUDE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THAT DISCUSSION.
>> YES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WE JUST DID A
DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGE INVOLVING CHARTER SCHOOLS AND
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AROUND CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE SITING OF
CHARTER SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING SITED ON PIECES OF
LAND THAT ARE TOO SMALL FOR TRAFFIC AND FOR PARKING.
THE SCHOOL SIZE IS OKAY, BUT THE LAND SIZE, IT'S NOT -- IT'S
NOT SITED THE SAME WAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SITE THEIR SCHOOLS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THAT MOTION TO
MAKE SURE WE COVER ALL THE ASPECTS OF THIS AND TRAFFIC.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: I WOULD SAY IT'S ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
66
CHARTER SCHOOLS, SO IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU TO ADD --
>>VICTOR CRIST: MADAM CHAIR, YOU'RE CIRCUMVENTING YOUR NEW
RULE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I REALIZE THAT.
>>VICTOR CRIST: HE HAS AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION ON THE
FLOOR.
WE NEED TO DISCUSS, DEBATE, AND VOTE ON THAT, AND THEN IF
YOU WANT TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED MOTION WITH
YOUR IDEA, THEN YOU CAN DO THAT, BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT
NOW IS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WHICH IS WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A
GOOD PROCESS THAT EVERYONE SAID NO TO LAST WEEK.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: NO.
ACTUALLY, THE WAY IT WORKS IS I MADE AN AMENDMENT TO HIS
MOTION, SO WE WILL BE APPROVING THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED.
OKAY?
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: AND I HAVE A HEADACHE.
[LAUGHTER]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: NOW YOU HAVE A HEADACHE.
>>VICTOR CRIST: YOU'RE THE CHAIR.
IF YOU SAY SO.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO LET'S JUST EVERYBODY PRESS YOUR BUTTONS
TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT.
>>KEN HAGAN: THIS IS WHY WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: ARE WE GOING TO USE OUR BUTTONS TO APPROVE
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THE AMENDMENTS?
>>VICTOR CRIST: SO WE'RE VOTING ON HIS UPDATED AMENDMENT TO
THE MOTION?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THAT INCORPORATES COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S
SUGGESTIONS.
>>VICTOR CRIST: ALL RIGHT.
GREAT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: I HATE TO DO THIS, BUT WAS THERE A SECOND
TO THE AMENDMENT?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES.
COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES.
OKAY.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON THE
AMENDMENT.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE'RE NOW BACK ON THE MOTION AS AMENDED.
AND WHO IS --
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO I'LL MOVE THE ITEM B-2 AS AMENDED.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
AND COMMISSIONER CRIST, WILL YOU -- ARE YOU SECONDING THAT
68
ALSO?
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
SO WE HAVE SOME MORE SPEAKERS.
COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: MY HEADACHE IS BETTER GOING THROUGH
THOSE AMENDMENTS.
I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS THE SAME ISSUES AS COMMISSIONER
BECKNER WAS, AND I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A
WORKSHOP TO SIT DOWN WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SIT WITH
THEIR -- THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THEIR STAFF TO SEE HOW
WE CAN BETTER PARTNER WITH THIS, SO I'M IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: STILL HAVE A HEADACHE FROM THIS
AMENDMENT STUFF.
>>KEN HAGAN: DITTO.
JUST A COUPLE QUICK COMMENTS.
NUMBER ONE, I FULLY SUPPORT THE WORKSHOP AND HAVING A
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE THE PROBLEM AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL, CARROLLWOOD
ELEMENTARY, AND OUR STAFF AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARE
PUTTING UP SIGNS AND TRYING TO ADDRESS IT, SO IT EXISTS
THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
69
I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BECKNER'S COMMENTS AS FAR AS
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT'S WHY I WAS A SWING VOTE BACK IN 2006 TO SUPPORT SCHOOL
IMPACT FEES BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WE CERTAINLY HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME; HOWEVER, THE
REALITY IS THE HEART OF THIS ISSUE IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR
THE COUNTY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OFF-SITE IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE WAS LITIGATION.
I REPRESENTED THE COUNTY BACK THEN IN MEDIATION, AND THAT'S
THE PROBLEM BECAUSE AS IT STANDS NOW, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
DOES NOT HAVE ANY INCENTIVE TO FIND NEW SCHOOLS WITHIN THE
URBAN CORE WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTS, AND I GUESS THE
REALITY IS THERE PROBABLY WON'T BE TOO MANY NEW SCHOOLS
GOING FORWARD, BUT THAT IS THE REAL ISSUE.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S ADDRESSED, AND I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT'S VIA AN ORDINANCE CHANGE OR WHAT, BUT THAT'S THE
REAL ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS DURING THE WORKSHOP.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE TOP OF THE
AGENDA FOR THE WORKSHOP, ABSOLUTELY.
I AGREE.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I WAS JUST CONFIRMING WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AROUND THAT,
AND I THINK WE SHOULD REFER PART OF THAT TO OUR COUNTY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CONCERNING SOME OF THIS IS EMBEDDED IN
70
STATE STATUTE TO SEE WHAT IS THE BEST APPROACH AND HOW WE
CAN ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR
SCHOOL DISTRICT ON HOW TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, SO --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YOU WANT TO AMEND THE MOTION AGAIN?
[LAUGHTER]
>>KEVIN BECKNER: I THINK WE VOTED ON THAT, DIDN'T WE?
OR DID WE NOT?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: NOT TO REFER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: I UNDERSTOOD THE MOTION TO INCLUDE US --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YOU DID?
>>CHIP FLETCHER: -- ASSISTING ADMINISTRATIVELY --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
>>CHIP FLETCHER: -- SO I DON'T THINK THERE IS A CONCERN
THERE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU FOR THAT INTERPRETATION.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MADAM MAGISTRATE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE ARE NOW ON THE MOTION FOR B-2.
IT WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER CRIST.
I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE LEGISLATURE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON B-2.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
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>>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU, ADAM.
>>ADAM GORMLY: THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: BACK TO YOUR TIME CERTAINS, 10:30 TIME
CERTAIN, F-2, WHICH WAS COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM'S ITEM
CONCERNING CARBON CREDITS.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, AND I WANT TO
START BY JUST MENTIONING TO THE COMMISSIONERS MILLER,
BECKNER, THAT DESPITE THIS TOPIC I'M BRINGING FORWARD, IT IS
NOT NECESSARY TO GIVE ME A SWITCH CARD.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: YOU'RE MAKING US FEEL VERY BLUE TODAY,
THOUGH.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: WELL, THANK YOU, BUT ABOUT A YEAR AGO,
THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT -- ON THE LANDS
THAT ARE PUBLICLY OWNED, IN PARTICULAR ELAPP, BUT ALSO
POSSIBLY COUNTY PARK PROPERTY, THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL TO
CREATE A CARBON CREDIT BANK BY SEQUESTERING THE TREES THAT
WOULD QUALIFY, AND I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON IT AND PICKED
UP WITH INTENSITY IN JANUARY AFTER I READ AT THE SUPER BOWL
WHERE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON CARBON
CREDITS AND INITIATED ADDITIONAL MEETINGS WITH STAFF, AND
I'VE ASKED SCOTT EMERY TO ATTEND TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK GREG HORWEDEL FOR HIS HELP AND PARTICIPATION
IN THIS.
THIS IS NOT A SOUND BITE AGENDA ITEM.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT AND GRASP RIGHT
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AWAY, BUT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FIND A WAY THROUGH
PRIVATE FUNDS TO MAINTAIN THE LANDS THAT WE HAVE BOUGHT FOR
PRESERVATION THROUGH THE ELAP PROGRAM.
I'VE ALSO -- I THINK BONNIE IS HERE, AND I'D LIKE HER TO
ADDRESS, ALONG WITH MY MOTION BUT MAYBE ADDRESS TO THE
BOARD, THE CONCERNS WE MAY HAVE WITH BOND ISSUES BECAUSE WE
DON'T WANT TO GET TRIPPED UP INADVERTENTLY THERE AS WELL.
BUT CREATING CARBON CREDITS ACTUALLY WORKS INTO THE PLAN AND
THE REQUEST THAT DR. SCOTT EMERY WROTE IN 2012, AND I'M SURE
EVERYONE HAS THIS AT THEIR NIGHTSTAND AND READ IT FROM TIME
TO TIME, BUT IT'S THE LOWER GREEN SWAMP PRESERVE LAND
MANAGEMENT AND LAND USE PLAN, WHERE -- AND IF I COULD CALL
DR. EMERY UP HERE -- HE ADDRESSES THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE
HAVE TO GET INTO A PROGRAM AND GENERATE FUNDS TO HELP
MAINTAIN THE PROPERTIES THAT WE OWN THROUGH THE ELAPP AND
COUNTY PARK PROGRAMS.
DR. EMERY.
>>SCOTT EMERY: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
SCOTT EMERY, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
COMMISSION.
WHEN I WROTE THAT REPORT, I WAS A CONSULTANT FOR THE COUNTY.
THIS -- ACTUALLY, I STARTED IN 2009-2010, AND IT WAS PART OF
THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR, AT THAT TIME, CONE RANCH, NOW
THE LOWER GREEN SWAMP PRESERVE.
THE -- BACK WHEN I WAS DEVELOPING THE DRAFT PLAN, CARBON
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BANKS WERE KIND OF A HOT COMMODITY, AND SO I FIGURED THAT IT
MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE FOR -- TO PUT IT IN THE PLAN AS AN
OPTION AT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE SHOULD IT BE DETERMINED
THAT, NUMBER ONE, IT'S FEASIBLE FOR A PLACE LIKE THE LOWER
GREEN SWAMP PRESERVE, AND NUMBER TWO, IF IT MIGHT BE COST-
EFFECTIVE AS A REVENUE SOURCE.
SHORTLY AFTER 2009-2010, AS YOU FOLKS REMEMBER, THE
ECONOMIES IN THE NATION WERE SOMEWHAT STRESSED, AND THE
CARBON BANKS KIND OF WENT BY THE WAYSIDE FOR A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT NOW THEY SEEM TO BE COMING BACK, AND I
DON'T CLAIM TO BE A DETAILED EXPERT ON ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF
THE NEW VERSIONS OF THE CARBON BANKS, ALL I KNOW IS THAT
THERE IS A MARKET OUT THERE AND THAT GIVEN -- AT THE LOWER
GREEN SWAMP PRESERVE, YOUR STAFF IN PARKS, RECREATION, AND
CONSERVATION ARE ACTIVELY DEDITCHING, DECHANNELIZING, AND
ENLARGING WETLAND SYSTEMS, CREATING MORE HYDRIC SOILS,
PLANTING WETLAND AND MESIC AND UPLAND SPECIES OF TREES, ALL
OF WHICH CAN BE, MY UNDERSTANDING -- LIMITED UNDERSTANDING,
IT CAN BE UTILIZED AS CARBON SEQUESTRATION CREDITS FOR A
BANK.
AND IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY AND
IF THE COUNTY MIGHT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
REVENUE FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING ANYWAY, IT MIGHT BE WORTH A
LOOK.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: VERY GOOD.
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THANK YOU.
AND IF FOREST TURBIVILLE COULD COME UP, AND THEN I'M GOING
TO ASK FOR BONNIE.
I KNOW I CALLED YOU LAST MINUTE, FOREST, BUT WE'VE HAD
DISCUSSIONS, YOU'VE BEEN HELPFUL IN THESE MEETINGS AS WELL.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING AS FAR AS TRYING TO
MANAGE AND MAINTAIN AND BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PROPERTIES.
>>FOREST TURBIVILLE: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
IN TERMS OF RESTORATION, WE'D WANT TO LOOK AT NOT ONLY
REFORESTATION BUT ALSO INSTALLING THE PLANTS THAT ARE
TYPICALLY FOUND IN THE UNDERSTORY, GRASSES, SHRUBS, SAW
PALMETTO, WIREGRASS.
IN TERMS OF RESTORING NOT ONLY CONE RANCH, LOWER GREEN SWAMP
PRESERVE, BUT REALLY ALL OF OUR ELAPP SITES, WE WANT TO TAKE
A COMPREHENSIVE, HOLISTIC APPROACH TO RESTORATION AND HAVE
BOTH THE OVERSTORY TREE COMPONENT AS WELL AS THE UNDERSTORY
COMPONENT.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: GOOD.
AND BONNIE, IF YOU COULD COME UP, AND I DON'T KNOW IF, GREG,
YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING.
YOU'VE BEEN HELPFUL AS WELL, BUT BOND ISSUES.
>>BONNIE WISE: YES, SIR.
THANK YOU.
BONNIE WISE, CHIEF FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR.
THERE ARE CERTAIN ESOTERIC TAX ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO
75
ADDRESS AS WE LOOK AT SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE, AND WE WOULD
WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR BOND COUNSEL, WHO'S ACTUALLY HERE
TODAY ON ANOTHER ITEM, AND WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T RUN AFOUL OF ANY OF
WHAT WE CALL PRIVATE USE TESTS AND OTHER TAX ISSUES THAT MAY
COME UP, SO WE WOULD JUST WANT TO STRUCTURE IT KEEPING THAT
IN MIND.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: OKAY.
AND I'M GOING TO MAKE TWO MOTIONS.
THANK YOU, BONNIE.
I'M GOING TO MAKE TWO MOTIONS.
ONE TO SET THE CHARGE FOR THE CARBON CREDITS, AND ALSO A
SECOND ISSUE TO -- TO DO AN ASSESSMENT OF OUR LANDS THROUGH
THE FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY, WHO CURRENTLY WORKS WITH
THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
IT'S A VOLUNTEER FORCE THAT COMES OUTS AND DOES THESE
ESTIMATES, AND THEY MAY -- IF WE'RE PURCHASING ELAPP
PROPERTY WITH STATE FUNDS, AND THEY'RE OVER A THOUSAND
ACRES, THERE'S A STATUTE THAT REQUIRES THAT ASSESSMENT, BUT
TO REACH OUT TO FNPS, FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY, OF WHICH
I'M NOW A MEMBER, BUT TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN THE
ASSESSMENTS TO SEE WHAT MORE WE CAN DO.
SO THE FIRST MOTION I'M GOING TO MAKE IS TO REQUEST STAFF TO
DEVELOP A PLAN TO STUDY COUNTY LANDS AND OTHER ASSETS TO
DETERMINE IF THEY MAY BE USED TO GENERATE TRADABLE CARBON
76
CREDITS.
THE GOAL IS TO EVALUATE WHETHER CARBON CREDITS CAN ESTABLISH
A NEW REVENUE SOURCE THAT COULD BE USED TO OFFSET THE COST
OF MAINTAINING ELAPP AND OTHER COUNTY PROPERTIES.
THAT'S THE FIRST MOTION.
>> SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: OKAY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION ON YOUR FIRST
MOTION.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
AND COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, I THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, MY COMMENTS I MADE TO YOU EARLIER ABOUT BRINGING A
LITTLE BIT MORE BLUE ONTO THE COMMISSION WAS MADE PURELY IN
JEST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SO UNFORTUNATE THAT -- HOW SUCH
IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT IMPACT A WHOLE COMMUNITY BECOME
POLITICIZED TO ONE POLITICAL PARTY OR POLITICAL VIEW, AND,
YOU KNOW, I HAVE TAKEN ON ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE OFFERED TO
GIVE ME SWITCH CARDS FOR THAT WERE CONSIDERED BY STEREOTYPE
THAT OF YOUR PARTY, AND SO -- BUT I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT
THIS IS -- THIS GOES BEYOND POLITICS.
THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE, THIS IS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, AND BEING
ABLE -- AND I READ THE ARTICLE IN THE TRIBUNE BY
77
MR. SALINERO.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY -- NUMBER ONE, BY YOUR EFFORTS AND
YOUR THOUGHT PROCESSES AND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO TO
CREATE ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO HELP FUND THE PRESERVATION OF
SUCH PRECIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS IN GOING FORWARD, AND
LIKE I SAID, I JUST THINK IT'S A SHAME THAT WHEN WE HAVE
ISSUES LIKE THIS, SOMETIMES THEY GET POLITICIZED, AND
ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU READ ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON ON
THE STATE LEVEL AND WHEN THERE'S SCIENCE THAT DIRECTLY TALKS
ABOUT THE IMPACTS TO OUR ENVIRONMENT THAT THESE ISSUES HAVE
BECOME SO POLITICIZED, SO THANK YOU FOR DEPOLITICIZING IT
AND FOR TAKING ON THIS ISSUE.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: AND I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I MISSED THE
BLUE AND RED REMARK WHEN YOU MADE IT EARLIER.
I WAS RELATING TO SKY OR WATER.
SO A BIT SLOW TODAY.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THE IMPORTANT THING ON THIS BOARD IS THE
GREEN BUTTON.
[LAUGHTER]
>>KEVIN BECKNER: YEAH.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO, OKAY.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER, YOU SPOKE.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: NO.
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I JUST WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM FOR THIS --
FOR INITIATING THIS ITEM.
BACK WHEN I CHAMPIONED THE CONE RANCH ACQUISITION, I SAID
THEN THAT THE GOAL SHOULD BE TO NOT ONLY PRESERVE BUT ALSO
TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN THESE LANDS.
WHEN I TOURED CONE RANCH WITH SCOTT, AS I'M SURE SEVERAL
BOARD MEMBERS HERE DID AS WELL, THOUSANDS OF THE ACREAGES IS
QUITE BEAUTIFUL, BUT A LOT OF IT IS DAMAGED, AND SO ANY
EFFORTS THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH TO BE CREATIVE AND TO FIND
WAYS TO RESTORE AND TO MAINTAIN THESE LANDS, I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT.
I MEAN, FOR YEARS WE HAVE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL ACQUISITION
PROGRAM WHERE WE'VE PRESERVED THOUSANDS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY
SENSITIVE LANDS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE UNFORTUNATE
REALITY HAS BEEN OUR PUBLIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO USE THEM OR
TO BENEFIT FROM THEM, SO I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT AVENUE
TO LOOK INTO, RESTORING AND MAINTAINING THESE LANDS SO OUR
PUBLIC CAN ENJOY THEM.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I SECOND THOSE COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER
HAGAN, ABSOLUTELY.
AND I DO APPLAUD COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM ALSO ON HIS
EFFORTS HERE BECAUSE WE NEED TO REALLY MOVE OUR CONSERVATION
PROGRAM FORWARD.
I WANT TO -- I DON'T KNOW -- I THINK MOST OF US KNOW HOW
DEDICATED FOREST TURBIVILLE IS TO THESE EFFORTS.
79
HE HAS, I THINK, A LEADING CONSERVATION EXPERT IN THIS
COMMUNITY, DR. EMERY, YOU ARE TOO, BUT HE IS ON OUR STAFF,
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHEN I GO OUT AND VISIT PLACES WITH
HIM, HIS KNOWLEDGE IS INCREDIBLE, SO GREAT JOB.
AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER -- COMMISSIONER
BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: AND JUST ONE FINAL NOTE.
I MEAN, THE WORK THAT SCOTT HAS DONE AND WHAT FOREST BRINGS
TO THE TABLE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IS JUST TREMENDOUS, AND I'VE
ALWAYS RESPECTED, DR. EMERY, YOUR WORK THAT YOU HAVE
PRESENTED TO THIS BOARD.
AND ONCE AGAIN, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, I THANK YOU
BECAUSE IF I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD, WE WOULD HAVE
HAD TO SPEND AN EXTRA 45 MINUTES FOR ME AS A DEMOCRAT TO TRY
TO DISSUADE THE REPUBLICANS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE
NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT, SO --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I DON'T KNOW, GUYS.
THEY'RE WRITING AS FAST AS THEY CAN BACK IN THAT CORNER, SO
I THINK WE'VE ACHIEVED OUR GOALS HERE.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, SECONDED
BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER ON ITEM -- THE FIRST PART OF ITEM F-
2.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
AND YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR SECOND.
80
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU.
ALSO I WANT -- I'M INSTRUCTING STAFF IN THIS MOTION TO
CONTACT THE FNPS, FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY, THEIR
CURRENT PRESIDENT IS ANNE COX, AND I'LL PROVIDE THAT CONTACT
INFORMATION TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING, BUT TO --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: WE NEED TO TAKE AN ORAL VOTE ON THAT
LAST ONE, PLEASE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OH, THE BOARD'S LOCKED UP?
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: YES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: MY HEADACHE'S COMING BACK.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YEAH.
IT'S NOT AN AMENDMENT.
DON'T WORRY.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: OKAY.
BY ORAL VOTE, COULD YOU PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: YES.
>>VICTOR CRIST: YES.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: ON THE MIC, PLEASE.
>>VICTOR CRIST: YES.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: YES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES.
>>KEN HAGAN: YES.
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>>STACY WHITE: YES.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: THANK YOU.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: SECOND PART.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SECOND MOTION IS TO INSTRUCT STAFF TO
CONTACT FNPS, FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY -- THE CURRENT
PRESIDENT IS ANNE COX -- TO DISCUSS CONDUCTING LAND
MANAGEMENT REVIEWS ON ELAPP AND COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTIES AND
OTHER ASSETS THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL TO HELPING US IN
DETERMINING HOW WE BETTER MANAGE OUR LANDS, AND THAT'S NOT A
CRITICISM, IT'S JUST AN ASSET THAT WE HAVE THAT WOULD BE OF
HELP TO US.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON F-2 BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AGAIN, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
HIGGINBOTHAM.
IT'S A GREAT ITEM.
GOOD JOB.
OKAY.
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MR. MERRILL.
>>MIKE MERRILL: NEXT ITEM IS YOUR 10:45 TIME CERTAIN, B-4,
INTERNAL AUDIT'S REPORT ON HOMELESS SERVICES.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GOOD MORNING.
>>MICHELLE LEONHARDT: INTERNAL AUDIT COMPLETED THEIR REVIEW
OF HOMELESS SERVICES, PHASE II.
YOU-ALL HAVE SEEN THE REPORTS.
THERE WERE FOUR FINDINGS, AND WITH THOSE FOUR FINDINGS, THAT
RESULTED IN AN OVERALL AUDIT OPINION OF SATISFACTORY OF THE
THREE AUDIT OPINIONS AVAILABLE, THEY'RE SATISFACTORY,
REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT, AND UNSATISFACTORY, SO BASED ON THE
OVERALL CONTROL ENVIRONMENT, WE DID RATE THIS A SATISFACTORY
RATING.
FOR THE FOUR FINDINGS, THREE OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY BEEN
REMEDIATED AND INTERNAL AUDIT HAS VALIDATED THAT
MANAGEMENT'S ACTIONS ARE IN PLACE AND ARE ADDRESSING THE
RISKS NOTED.
FOR THE FINDING THAT IS STILL OPEN RELATED TO CONTRACT
MONITORING, THAT ONE MANAGEMENT IS CURRENTLY ADDRESSING THAT
RISK, AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL HAVE THEIR ACTION
PLAN COMPLETED BY THE DATE IN THE AUDIT REPORT OF APRIL
30th, SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY, MICHELLE.
YES, MR. MERRILL.
83
>>MIKE MERRILL: YEAH.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT.
I WANT TO THANK MICHELLE, FIRST OF ALL, FOR THE AUDIT AND
FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION.
SECOND THING IS THAT I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET ABOUT
THE FINDINGS THAT RELATE BACK TO THE PROBLEMS THAT OCCURRED
UNDER THE HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT GOT US INTO THIS
TROUBLE, AND EVEN THOUGH NO CLIENTS WERE PUT IN HARM'S WAY
IN THIS CASE, THAT DOES NOT EXCUSE -- THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR
NOT INSPECTING PROPERTIES THE WAY THAT WE HAD PROMISED THAT
WE WOULD, THAT I HAD PROMISED YOU AND THE COMMUNITY, AND SO
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GETS CLEANED
UP, AND I WILL DO THAT.
I HAVEN'T DECIDED YET EXACTLY HOW I'M GOING TO DO THAT, I
WANTED TO GET MORE INFORMATION BUT, AGAIN, WILL ASSURE YOU
THAT I WILL GET THIS REMEDIED, AND STAND READY FOR ANY
QUESTIONS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MIKE.
I'LL JUST MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
I THINK WE HAVE BEEN VERY METHODICAL AND STRATEGIC IN OUR
APPROACH.
WE ARE REALLY BUILDING A RESPECTABLE MODEL HERE, AND I KNOW
THESE THINGS DO TAKE TIME.
THE COUNTY, I BELIEVE, IS DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS, AND I
84
THINK WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR FROM THIS BOARD SENDING THE
MESSAGE THAT WE WANTED A HIGHER LEVEL OF STANDARD AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ATTACHED TO EVERYTHING WE DO.
WE DON'T WANT ANY PAST RECURRENCES, AND I THINK BECAUSE WE
SPENT SO MUCH TIME CLEANING UP THAT MESS HERE AT THIS BOARD.
WE -- THE AUDIT DOES SHOW SOME DEFICIENCIES IN REPORTING,
BUT I AM VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT --
AND WITH THE STAFF THAT THEY WILL OVERSEE AND DO WHAT IT
TAKES OR NEEDS TO GET THE JOB DONE AND GET IT DONE RIGHT.
WE DO WANT TO BE THE BEST IN THIS STATE, AND WE ARE BUILDING
A MODEL TO MAKE US THE BEST.
TALLAHASSEE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO US.
THEY LOVE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
THEY THINK OUR INVESTMENT IS A GOOD INVESTMENT, BUT THERE
ARE NO EXCUSES FOR NOT HAVING THE RIGHT ACCOUNTABILITY.
I THINK, JUST LIKE THE ACTS CONTRACT AND THE BACKGROUND
CHECKS, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE.
THE OVERSIGHT'S GOT TO BE THERE.
WE'VE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY.
WE'VE CHANGED OUR POLICIES.
WE DO HAVE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES.
I DO THINK THE AUDIT DOES SHOW THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTRACT
MANAGEMENT, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND CONTRACT OUT MORE
SERVICES, THIS IS WHY THESE AUDITS ARE SO GOOD AND WHY HER
-- YOUR FUNCTION, MICHELLE -- I KNOW YOU'RE LEAVING -- SHAME
85
ON YOU.
SEE WHAT YOU STARTED?
YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB, AND IT'S EASIER TO SEE IF
EVERYTHING IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
SO I KNOW STAFF WILL CORRECT THIS.
IT'S A SMALL BLIP IN THE SCREEN.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT, OVERLY CONCERNED BECAUSE NO ONE
SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS, NO INDIVIDUALS, BUT LET'S JUST
TIGHTEN UP THE SHIP, GET IT RIGHT, STEER IT FORWARD, AND
LET'S DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, AGAIN, TO GET THIS JOB DONE.
SO --
>>MICHELLE LEONHARDT: IF I COULD ALSO ADD, YOU KNOW, WE DID
THE AUDIT OF THE HOMELESS RECOVERY PROGRAM INITIALLY, AND
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES FROM WHAT WE SAW PREVIOUSLY
WITH THAT FIRST AUDIT TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THIS SECOND
ONE, SO, YES, THERE WERE FINDINGS, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THEM TO IMPROVE, BUT A HUGE DIFFERENCE FROM WHERE WE WERE TO
WHERE WE ARE NOW.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT'S WHY WE SHOULDN'T LET THIS OVERLY CONCERN US
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT
PEOPLE IN PLACE, WE'VE JUST GOT TO WATCH OVER.
I SEE YOU-ALL OUT HERE.
YOU'RE WORKING HARD, I KNOW.
I SEE YOU EVERY DAY.
86
YOU'RE WORKING REALLY HARD, BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT TO KEEP OUR
EYE ON THE BALL, AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
SO THE -- IT'S ITEM B-4, AND WITHOUT COMMENT, DO I HAVE
BOARD ACTION?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CRIST, SECONDED
BY --
>>STACY WHITE: SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- COMMISSIONER WHITE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MICHELLE.
>>MICHELLE LEONHARDT: THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: IS THIS YOUR LAST APPEARANCE?
>>MICHELLE LEONHARDT: IT IS.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD HERE, GETTING TO WORK WITH
EVERYONE, THE BOARD, EVERYBODY WITHIN THE COUNTY.
IT'S JUST BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, AND I
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: WELL, YOU'VE SET THE BAR HIGH.
>>MICHELLE LEONHARDT: THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
87
>>MICHELLE LEONHARDT: THANKS.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANKS, MICHELLE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE TIME CERTAINS, SO FINISH UP THE REST OF
THE REGULAR AGENDA.
BACK TO B-3, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF A VOLUNTARY BENEFITS
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR INFORMATION.
>>BONNIE WISE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
BONNIE WISE AGAIN.
BEFORE YOU TODAY WE HAVE AN RFI FOR VOLUNTARY BENEFITS WITH
EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES.
BACK IN MAY, YOU AUTHORIZED STAFF TO SOLICIT PROPOSALS FOR
SUCH SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL VALUE OF THE EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT PROGRAM.
STAFF WORKED CLOSELY WITH CINDY OSTER IN THE COUNTY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CHUCK TOBIN WITH GALLAGHER, AND WE
HAVE BEFORE YOU THIS RFI.
YOU WANTED TO SEE IT BEFORE IT WAS DISTRIBUTED.
WE HAVE REVIEWED YOUR COMMENTS FROM THOSE -- FROM THAT
MEETING BACK IN MAY, AND WE HAVE CERTAIN PARAMETERS
ESTABLISHED WITHIN THIS RFI.
THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE -- WILL PAY THE PREMIUMS ASSOCIATED
WITH THESE SERVICES.
IT WILL BE THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTION.
IT IS VERY CLEAR IN THE RFI THAT NO COMMISSIONS OR BONUSES
WILL BE PAID TO THE STAFF OF THE PROVIDER OF SUCH SERVICES,
88
AND THE POLICIES THAT EXIST TODAY FOR THE VOLUNTARY BENEFITS
WILL BE UNAFFECTED BY THIS PROPOSAL.
WE WILL HAVE AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF WELL-
QUALIFIED HR AND EXECUTIVE STAFF MEMBERS IN THE EVALUATION
PROPOSAL.
A CONE OF SILENCE ONCE THE RFI IS ISSUED WILL OCCUR;
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE A -- ON MARCH 31st, A PREPROPOSAL
CONFERENCE FOR ANY INTERESTED VENDORS BEFORE AND WE COULD
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THAT TIME.
SO BEFORE YOU WE DO HAVE THE RFI.
WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL, AUTHORIZATION TO DISTRIBUTE
THAT RFI, AND ALSO A WAIVER OF THE BOARD'S POLICY REGARDING
THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES,
AND WITH THAT, I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>>KEN HAGAN: I MOVE THE ITEM.
>>STACY WHITE: SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
BONNIE, DO WE ANTICIPATE, THEN, THAT THESE BENEFITS WOULD BE
AVAILABLE AND IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT OPEN ENROLLMENT IN THE
FALL?
>>BONNIE WISE: YES, SIR.
THAT IS THE PLAN, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH
THE RFI PROCESS NOW, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE IT TO
IMPLEMENTATION AT THIS NEXT ENROLLMENT.
89
>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER WHITE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON B-3.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: B-5, AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE
AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.
>>TOM FESLER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
TOM FESLER, MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DEPARTMENT.
ITEM B-5 IS ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FOR THE SCHOOL
RESOURCE DEPUTY OFFICER PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,164,083.
THE CHANGE -- THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE AGREEMENT
THIS YEAR IS THAT SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO
THE AGREEMENT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
ON B-5, BOARD ACTION.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECONDED
BY COMMISSIONER CRIST ON B-5.
90
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: NO, I'LL JUST WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS.
MY DAUGHTER'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS THEY
HAVE A PRESENCE AT, AND IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE, B-5.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: B-6, BONNIE WISE IS GOING TO PRESENT THIS
ITEM.
IT'S THE SALE OF BONDS FOR THE NEW EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
CENTER.
>>BONNIE WISE: COMMISSIONERS, THIS ITEM IS AUTHORIZATION
REQUESTING YOU TO ADOPT A BOND RESOLUTION AND SUPPLEMENTAL
RESOLUTION FOR A BOND ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $78 MILLION.
THIS FINANCING IS FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTY.
IT IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS
COMPLEX, THE ACQUISITION OF THE PINEBROOK OFFICES FOR THE
USE OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE PLAN TO CONSTRUCT OR REPLACE NINE FIRE STATIONS, PROVIDE
MONIES FOR THE NEW TAMPA COMMUNITY CENTER, AND PROVIDE FUNDS
FOR VARIOUS PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECTS AS WELL.
91
THE RATING AGENCIES JUST YESTERDAY DID PROVIDE US THEIR
RATINGS ON THESE BONDS, AND WE'RE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT
THEY ARE AA-1 BY MOODY'S, AA BY STANDARD & POOR'S, AND AA-
PLUS BY FITCH.
ALL THE BOND RATING AGENCIES ALSO REAFFIRMED OUR AAA BOND
RATING FOR THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE STAFF HERE WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS BOND
ISSUE.
I ESPECIALLY WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE JULIE WISDOM AND SAM
HAMILTON, AND WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR FINANCIAL
ADVISOR, OUR BOND COUNSEL, AND OUR SENIOR MANAGING
UNDERWRITER IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WE ARE PROVIDE -- THIS IS GOING TO BE ISSUED VIA A
NEGOTIATED SALE.
THIS IS A NEW CREDIT FOR US.
WE ARE PLEDGING THE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TAX, AND WE FEEL
THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET VERY STRONG -- VERY LOW INTEREST
RATES, ACTUALLY, FOR THIS PARTICULAR BOND ISSUE.
SO THE UNDERWRITERS WILL BE RBC CAPITAL MARKETS AND RAYMOND
JAMES ON THIS FINANCING.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GREAT.
THANK YOU, BONNIE.
COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: YOU SAID THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CENTER OR
92
YOU SAID THE NEW TAMPA COMMUNITY CENTER?
>>BONNIE WISE: NEW TAMPA COMMUNITY CENTER.
>>VICTOR CRIST: WHICH COMMUNITY CENTER WOULD THAT BE?
>>BONNIE WISE: IN IS THE ONE THE BOARD JUST RECENTLY
AUTHORIZED IN NEW TAMPA REGARDING THE -- NEAR THE DOG PARK
AND --
>>VICTOR CRIST: CAN WE CORRECT THE NAME?
IT'S THE NEW TAMPA CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.
>>BONNIE WISE: YES.
>>VICTOR CRIST: ALL RIGHT.
NOT A COMMUNITY CENTER.
>>BONNIE WISE: YES, WE CAN DO THAT.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK BONNIE AND
HER STAFF FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.
IT WAS A PRIORITY OF MINE TO WORK ON RESERVES, AND KEEPING
OUR BUDGET AS CLOSE AS TO CENTER AS POSSIBLE, WORK ON THOSE
BOND RATINGS, BUT IT'S YOUR EXPERTISE THAT'S IMPLEMENTED
THAT AND MADE THIS COUNTY SUCCESSFUL, AND IT SAVES US
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, US MEANING THE TAXPAYERS HERE IN
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY GREAT JOB.
I'M PROUD OF YOU AND ALL YOUR STAFF.
>>BONNIE WISE: THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: ABSOLUTELY.
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DITTO, I THINK FROM EVERY MEMBER HERE AT THAT BOARD.
YOU'VE KEPT US IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE, SO WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.
>>BONNIE WISE: THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECONDED
BY COMMISSIONER CRIST ON B-6.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON B-6.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: ITEM B-7, PROCUREMENT SERVICES.
SCOTT STROMER IS HERE FOR THIS ITEM.
>>SCOTT STROMER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
SCOTT STROMER, DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES.
B-7 IS AN AWARD TO POLYDYNE, INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$3,455,910 FOR LIQUID POLYMER THAT IS USED TO TREAT
WASTEWATER -- WASTEWATER SOLIDS.
THE CONTRACT IS EFFECTIVE FOR TWO YEARS.
THERE WAS ONLY ONE BID RECEIVED, SO A SINGLE BID ANALYSIS
WAS DONE.
THE PRICES WERE FOUND TO BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE, ACTUALLY 9%
LESS THAN WHAT THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY.
THERE WERE NO DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE OR SMALL
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES LISTED IN THESE CATEGORIES OR THESE
WORK CATEGORIES, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TARGETS FOR THIS ONE
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HERE.
THERE ARE SUFFICIENT FUNDS IN THE BUDGET.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, SCOTT.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BID.
WHEN I WAS REVIEWING THIS CONTRACT, I HAD FOUND THAT THE
CONTRACT PRESENTED TO US WAS -- AND ACTUALLY, AT LEAST THE
BACKUP THAT WE HAD RECEIVED AS A BOARD WAS IN QUITE A BIT OF
A DISARRAY.
THERE WERE EITHER SOME -- QUITE A FEW PAGES OUT OF ORDER OR
MISSING, AND I WORKED WITH STAFF, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS PRESENT, AND I JUST WANT
VERIFICATION FROM STAFF THAT THE CONTRACT AS A COMPLETE
CONTRACT HAS BEEN PLACED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD AND IS
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING ON-LINE BECAUSE OUR STAFF WAS
NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN THAT ON-LINE THIS MORNING.
>>SCOTT STROMER: YEAH, WE'LL GET THAT CORRECTED, SIR.
LOOKING AT THE DOCUMENT, IT APPEARS THAT WHEN THE VENDOR
SUBMITTED THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS SCANNED AS THE VENDOR
SUBMITTED IT.
SO ALL THE PIECES ARE THERE, ALL THE PARTS ARE THERE, LIKE
YOU SAID, THEY WERE IN DISARRAY.
THEY WERE OUT OF ORDER.
BECAUSE TESTING RESULTS HAD TO BE SUBMITTED, THEY KIND OF
95
INSERTED IT WHERE THEY THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE AS ANSWERING THE
QUESTIONS, BUT, YES, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CORRECTED,
AND I REVIEWED IT THIS MORNING AS WELL AS LAST NIGHT, AND
EVERYTHING'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.
VERY GOOD.
WELL, AND I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE I KNOW STAFF WORKS REALLY
HARD AND THEY HAVE SO MUCH THAT THEY HAVE TO SCAN IN FOR US,
SO I KNOW AT TIMES THEY DO -- YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS CAN SLIP
THROUGH, BUT I WOULD JUST ASK STAFF, ESPECIALLY IN CONTRACTS
OF THIS NATURE, THAT THEY JUST BE REALLY DILIGENT IN MAKING
SURE THE BOARD, WE GET IT IN COMPLETE ORDER.
>>SCOTT STROMER: ABSOLUTELY.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE POST THOSE, WHEN THEY'RE DONE,
THAT THEY'RE IN THE ORDER AND ALSO THE PDFs ARE ORIENTED SO
YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THEM, SO THEY'RE NOT ON THEIR SIDE.
THAT MAY BE VERY HELPFUL AS WELL.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.
I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER, SECONDED
BY --
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- COMMISSIONER CRIST ON B-7.
ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
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THANK YOU.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: B-8 WILL BE PRESENTED BY AUDREY ZIEGLER.
>>AUDREY ZIEGLER: GOOD MORNING.
AUDREY ZIEGLER, SOCIAL SERVICES.
ITEM B-8, SOCIAL SERVICES IS REQUESTING BOARD APPROVAL FOR
ACCEPTANCE OF THE LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE ENERGY
AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,293,116.
THE FUNDS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON EXECUTION BY BOTH
PARTIES OR ON APRIL 1st, 2015, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER, AND
ENDING IN MARCH 31st, 2016.
THE GRANT WILL BE UTILIZED FOR DIRECT ENERGY ASSISTANCE
PAYMENTS FOR LOW-INCOME ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS, FUNDS
PERSONNEL, AS WELL AS OPERATING COSTS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, AUDREY.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
OF WHAT -- HOW WILL YOU DETERMINE WHO'S GOING TO GET
ASSISTANCE AND WHO ISN'T?
LIKE, WHAT HOUSEHOLDS?
ARE THEY GOING TO BE PRIORITIZED OR THEY COME INTO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER?
HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET IN THERE?
>>AUDREY ZIEGLER: THEY CAN COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
SERVICE CENTER.
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WE ALSO HAVE WAYS FOR THEM TO CALL IN AND WE CAN MAIL THE
APPLICATION AND DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY VIA MAIL AND DROP OFF
COPIES, BUT THE GRANT DETERMINES WHAT THE ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA IS.
IT'S BASED ON THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES, 150% OF THE
GUIDELINES, OF THAT FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINE THAT'S
ESTABLISHED, AND THAT DOES GO UP ON APRIL 1st.
WE PLAN ON BUDGETING A LITTLE BIT BETTER THIS YEAR SO THAT
WE CAN SPREAD THE FUNDS OUT THROUGHOUT THE 12-MONTH PERIOD.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR POLICY AND ENSURING THAT WE CAN
REACH MORE FAMILIES, MORE HOUSEHOLDS BECAUSE OUR CURRENT
POLICY ALLOWED US TO PAY UP TO THREE PAYMENTS FOR ONE
HOUSEHOLD IN A 12-MONTH PERIOD, AND WE PLAN ON REDUCING THAT
TO TWO PAYMENTS IN A YEAR.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
AND SO YOU SCREEN THE PEOPLE, BUT HOW DO THEY FIND OUT ABOUT
THE PROGRAM?
>>AUDREY ZIEGLER: WE RECENTLY UPDATED OUR WEBSITE.
WE HAVE A RACK CARD.
WE RENAMED THE PROGRAM FROM THE LIHEAP GRANT TO KEEP THE
PORCH LIGHT ON.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO REBRAND AND DO AN OUTREACH.
WE HAVE AN OUTREACH CALENDAR THAT WE'RE REACHING DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES, SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT TO
REACH THE POPULATION THAT WE WANT TO SERVE RATHER THAN JUST
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DOING WHAT WE USED TO DO.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
GREAT.
OKAY.
BOARD ACTION.
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CRIST, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
HIGGINBOTHAM ON B-8.
WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THANKS, AUDREY.
MOVE TO THE COMMISSIONER'S SECTION, BEGINNING WITH F-1,
COMMISSIONER HAGAN'S ITEM CONCERNING CARROLLWOOD VILLAGE
PARK.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU.
BOARD MEMBERS, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF
CONSTRUCTING A SPECIAL COMMUNITY ASSET IN CARROLLWOOD
VILLAGE.
WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY RARE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A 50-ACRE
PARK THAT'S RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THEIR COMMUNITY, AND WHAT
MAKES THIS EVEN MORE UNIQUE IS THAT THE COMMUNITY
OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTS AND EMBRACES THIS PROJECT.
THIS OPPORTUNITY IS BEING CREATED BY THE COUNTY TAKING THEIR
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CURRENT 53-ACRE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN CARROLLWOOD
OFF-LINE.
THIS WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING
CONTRACTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN GRANTED FOR REROUTING TO THE NEW
PLANT.
WHY I'M SO ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING THIS
PARK IS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A CITIZEN-DRIVEN INITIATIVE.
ONCE THE CARROLLWOOD VILLAGE COMMUNITY LEARNED OF THE
COUNTY'S PLANS TO TAKE THIS PLANT OFF-LINE, THEY MOBILIZED
AND HAVE BEEN MEETING MONTHLY FOR OVER A YEAR.
A COMMITTEE WAS CREATED.
THEY ESTABLISHED THE FRIENDS OF NORTHWEST REGIONAL PARK
WEBSITE, WHERE INFORMATION IS SHARED AND PETITION SIGNATURES
ARE BEING COLLECTED IN SUPPORT.
I HAVE ATTENDED THREE MEETINGS.
I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER CRIST AND COMMISSIONER BECKNER HAVE
BEEN OUT THERE AS WELL.
I KNOW OUR PARKS STAFF, WATER RESOURCES STAFF REGULARLY
ATTEND THEIR MEETINGS.
INCLUDED IN OUR BACKUP IS THEIR VISION OF HOW THEY WOULD
LIKE TO DEVELOP THE PARK, AND THIS WAS PRINTED IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLICATION.
IF YOU REVIEW THE MAP AND PLAN, IT INCLUDES TRAILS, KAYAK
LAUNCH, FISHING PIER, VOLLEYBALL, DOG PARK, AND BUTTERFLY
GARDEN, AMONG OTHER AMENITIES, AND WITH RESPECT TO THE
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BUTTERFLY GARDEN, I SET THEM UP WITH THE ZOO FOLKS, AND I
KNOW LOWRY PARK ZOO'S INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH THEM ON
THAT PART OF THE PARK.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY BOLD VISION.
I CANNOT THINK OF A SIMILAR PARK IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
THIS WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITY AND BE A
CENTERPIECE FOR THE ENTIRE NORTHWEST TO ENJOY.
I HAVE ADVISED THEM THAT WHILE I SUPPORT THE CONCEPT, A
PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE WOULD HAVE TO BE PHASED IN OVER A
NUMBER OF YEARS, AND CANDIDLY, DEPENDING ON THE ULTIMATE
COST TO CONSTRUCT THE PARK, ALL OF THE AMENITIES THAT ARE
BEING CONSIDERED MAY NOT BE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE; HOWEVER,
WITHOUT QUESTION, I DO NOT WANT TO SURPLUS THE LAND AND SEE
ADDITIONAL HOMES BEING DEVELOPED THERE.
IT IS AN IDEAL LOCATION RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF
CARROLLWOOD VILLAGE FOR A PARK, AND I DO WANT TO SEE IT
BECOME A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY ASSET IN SOME FORM.
THE FIRST STEP IS LAND ACQUISITION BECAUSE SIMILAR TO CONE
RANCH, IT IS -- IT WAS INITIALLY PURCHASED BY OUR WATER
DEPARTMENT, AND SO YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THE LAND.
I'M HOPEFUL THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THE MOTION FOR TODAY IS SIMPLY FOR STAFF TO COME BACK BEFORE
WE GET -- WE'VE STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT BEFORE THE
BUDGET IS OFFICIALLY PRESENTED TO US -- WITH A TIMELINE AND
PLAN FOR BRINGING THE PLANT OFF-LINE AND THEN HOW WE CAN
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DESIGN AND POSSIBLY BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK
CONCURRENTLY WITH THE PLANT GOING OFF-LINE.
IN ADDITION, WHILE IT'S NOT AS URGENT, I WANT STAFF TO
CONSIDER AND COME BACK WITH US ON HOW THE PARK SHOULD BE
OPERATED AND MAINTAINED.
THE CARROLLWOOD CULTURAL CENTER IS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THIS
PARK.
THE COMMITTEE FEELS THAT HAVING THEM OPERATE THE FACILITY
MIGHT BE THE BEST MODEL TO CONSIDER, SO I WANT STAFF TO --
JUST TO REVIEW IT AND CONSIDER IF HAVING THE CCC OPERATE IT,
IF THAT -- IF THAT MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE.
I WANT TO POINT OUT WITH THIS MOTION WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE
PARK OR ANY OF THE AMENITIES YET, WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR A
TIMELINE AND PROCESS FOR BRINGING THE PLANT OFF-LINE AND HOW
WE COULD BEGIN TO DEVELOP THE PARK IF WE DECIDE TO DO SO.
IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SEVERAL-YEAR
PROCESS IF THIS ULTIMATELY MATERIALIZES.
SO THAT'S THE MOTION, AND ESSENTIALLY IT'S JUST FOR THE
STAFF TO COME BACK WITH THE INFORMATION AND PROCESS TO MOVE
FORWARD.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THIS CONCEPT
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IS WHEN I WENT OUT THERE AND MET WITH THE CITIZENS, THE
AMOUNT OF WORK AND EFFORT AND INITIATIVE THAT THEY HAVE
TAKEN TO PUT THIS FORWARD.
I MEAN, SO OFTEN, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS COME TO US AND THEY
SAY, HEY, LISTEN, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THIS, WE WANT THAT,
HERE, YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO FIX IT AND
DO IT.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE A VISION FOR THIS PARK.
THEY SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THERE.
WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE -- FROM
OUR TREATMENT PLANT THAT'S THERE, AND IT'S JUST SO
ENCOURAGING TO SEE PEOPLE CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY
TO COME OUT AND ALSO HAVE THE VISION TO GET IN THE
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, TO START LAYING EVERYTHING OUT, AND I
THINK THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS PARK IS SIGNIFICANT.
ONE THING, OF COURSE, THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN -- WHEN WE'RE --
AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND WE -- WHAT
I'VE ALWAYS ASKED FOR AND THAT STAFF NEEDS TO CONSIDER WHEN
THEY BRING THIS BACK TO US, OF COURSE, IS JUST NOT THE
CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR THIS BUT, OBVIOUSLY, THE OPERATIONAL
EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED.
AND ONE DISCUSSION THAT I HAD WITH THE CITIZENS, AND I THINK
THERE'S POTENTIAL HERE AS WELL, IS THE ENGAGEMENT OF A
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, AND WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN
PARTS OF THIS PARK, AND THAT'S ONE THING I WOULD ASK STAFF
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AS THIS DEVELOPS, PERHAPS, IF WE CAN CONSULT WITH THE
CITIZENS AND GIVE THEM IDEAS AND DIRECTIONS OF HOW THIS CAN
BE OBTAINED AND MAYBE ALSO AS PART OF OUR INITIATIVE, LINK
APPROPRIATE BUSINESSES AND ENTITIES THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED
IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF
THOSE COSTS AND ALSO GIVE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND IDEAS TO
THE -- TO THE DESIGN, SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA, I'M
EXCITED ABOUT THIS PARK AS WELL, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, AND
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT DEVELOPS FROM IT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I AM TOO IMPRESSED WITH THE GOOD WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE
CITIZENS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
DURING THE COURSE OF THE SEVERAL MEETINGS I HAD WITH THEM
AND THE SITE VISIT, YOU KNOW, I SAW THIS THING TRULY TAKE
SHAPE FROM A COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORT.
IT HAS THE POTENTIAL WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT GEOGRAPHICALLY TO
BE A REAL HUB FOR THAT COMMUNITY, A CENTRAL PLACE WHERE THE
CHILDREN CAN GATHER AND BE INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITY
FOR THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE A SENSE OF PRIDE AND MAINTAIN A
SENSE OF PRIDE IN THE WONDER OF WHAT THEY HAVE THERE, AND I
THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD TRANSITIONAL USE FOR THAT SITE, AND
I APPLAUD COMMISSIONER HAGAN FOR HIS EFFORTS IN MOVING THIS
FORWARD.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
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COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: YEAH.
IN CLOSING, I THANK COMMISSIONER BECKNER AND CRIST FOR THEIR
COMMENTS.
THE -- AS COMMISSIONER CRIST SAID, THE POTENTIAL HERE REALLY
IS UNLIMITED, AND AS COMMISSIONER BECKNER SAID, I DON'T KNOW
IF I'VE EVER SEEN THE DEGREE OF SUPPORT AND JUST REALLY
TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT TO TELL THEM TO SLOW DOWN,
BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THIS VISION, I MEAN, IT'S INCREDIBLE,
BUT THE NUMBER OF -- I GO TO THEIR MEETINGS, AND THERE'S 20
DIFFERENT PEOPLE THERE REPRESENTING DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES,
DIFFERENT AREAS, THE CULTURAL CENTER, ON AND ON, AND IT'S --
THAT'S WHY I'M TRULY EXCITED ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE
ONES DRIVING THE BUS.
I FULLY SUPPORT ANY TYPE OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT
COMMISSIONER BECKNER IS ALLUDING TO, BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE WANT
TO MINIMIZE OUR OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, BUT THIS
COULD REALLY BE SOMETHING SPECIAL, AND TYPICALLY WHEN WE'RE
LOOKING AT INFILL PROJECTS, YOU ALL -- INEVITABLY, YOU
ALWAYS HAVE A COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD OR STREET THAT
OPPOSES IT BECAUSE OF LIGHTING OR DIFFERENT ISSUES LIKE
THAT, AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS' SUPPORT.
105
>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
THANKS FOR YOUR EVERLASTING SUPPORT FOR OUR PARKS AND
THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK IT'S VERY, YOU KNOW, COMMENDABLE THAT YOU REALLY
KEEP PUSHING THAT FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S GREAT.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER CRIST ON F-1.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THE NEXT ITEM IS G-1, STAFF REPORT FROM
HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START.
>>JACQUELYN JENKINS: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AGAIN.
THIS IS SEEKING APPROVAL FOR OUR FEBRUARY MONTHLY REPORT
FROM HEAD START.
CONTINUES TO BE GOOD NEWS.
WE'RE MEETING OUR FUNDED ENROLLMENT, OUR REQUIRED AVERAGE
DAILY ATTENDANCE, AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A FAVORABLE
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR POLICY COUNCIL.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
THAT WAS SHORT.
[LAUGHTER]
OKAY.
106
>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER
TO RECEIVE THE REPORT, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
HIGGINBOTHAM, ON G-1.
PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GREAT.
GLAD THINGS ARE GOING WELL.
>>MIKE MERRILL: AND THE FINAL TWO ITEMS ARE PROCUREMENT
STAFF REPORTS, G-2 AND G-3.
>>SCOTT STROMER: HELLO AGAIN.
SCOTT STROMER, DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES.
AS THE NEW GUY, I WAS CHARGED WITH GOING OUT AND SEEING WHAT
WE COULD DO FOR VETERANS IN ASSISTANCE.
IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING EXERCISE.
IT WILL BE VERY SHORT.
I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE REPORT.
THE OBJECTIVES OF LOOKING AT THE VETERANS ASSISTANCE, ONE
WAS TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION FROM THE VENDORS OR FROM
VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES, NOT TO IMPEDE ON OUR EXISTING
PROGRAMS, THE DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, AND TO
AVOID ADDING ANY BUREAUCRACY OR ANY ADDITIONAL STEPS OR
STAFF TIME, SO WE KEPT TO THAT.
I MET WITH FOUR VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES, VERY DYNAMIC,
107
OFFICER-LEVEL, JUST PHENOMENAL SUPPORT, COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING THE DISADVANTAGED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE SECTION, THE ENTREPRENEUR COLLABORATION
CENTER, LIBRARY SERVICES, AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, ALL
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AS FAR AS THE ENTIRE STRATEGY.
IN DECEMBER 2009 YOU OFFERED FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS
-- YOU HAD A PROVISION INSERTED INTO THE SMALL BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE SECTION.
YOU ALSO ADDED THE TIEBREAKER FOR SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS,
AND YOU DIRECTED OUTREACH TO SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS.
PART OF THE QUESTION YOU HAD WAS WHAT IS EVERYBODY ELSE
DOING?
THE STATE OF FLORIDA DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A PARTICIPATION
GOAL.
THEY DO HAVE A TIE-BREAKER PROVISION.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A 3% PREFERENCE OR A
PARTICIPATION GOAL.
THEY DO HAVE SOME SET-ASIDES.
ORANGE COUNTY, MIAMI-DADE, CITY OF ORLANDO, THEY HAVE
VARIATIONS OF IT.
I HAVE SOME ACTUAL HARD PREFERENCES AS WELL AS SOME POINT
ALLOCATIONS FOR QUALIFICATIONS-BASED PROCESSES.
OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THROUGH THEIR --
THROUGH THE ECC, THE ENTREPRENEUR COLLABORATION CENTER, THEY
HAVE SOME TRAINING SESSIONS, THE SMALL BUSINESS
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ADMINISTRATION TRAINING SESSIONS, THEY HAVE THEIR SYMPOSIUM
FOR THE VETERANS, SO THEY ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN THE
VETERAN COMMUNITY.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE TAMPA BAY AREA, THERE'S
APPROXIMATELY 94,000 VETERANS IN THE AREA, 30,000 VETERANS
ARE ASSISTED ANNUALLY BY VETERANS SERVICES, AND TO THE TUNE
OF ABOUT $323 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR SERVICE FOR VETERANS AND
THEIR DEPENDENTS, WHICH PLACES HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN THE
FIRST IN THE STATE, SO IT'S A HEAVY ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS WE BOIL IT ALL DOWN -- I WAS TALKING
TO THE VETERANS, VETERANS SERVICES, ALL OF THE PARTIES THAT
I TALKED ABOUT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ESTABLISH A GOAL SEPARATE AND
APART FROM OUR DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES --
ESTABLISH A GOAL OF 5% FOR PRIME VENDOR PARTICIPATION, AND
OF THAT 5%, 3% FOR SERVICE DISABLED.
NOW, THE TRICKY PART THERE IS AS I WAS LOOKING THROUGH IT,
WE AREN'T DOING A GREAT JOB OF TRACKING WHO'S PARTICIPATING.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
WE'RE NOT REALLY TRACKING WHO WE SOLICIT AND WHAT THE
CATEGORIES ARE OF THOSE VENDORS WHO RESPONDED, WHO RESPONDS,
AND WHAT THE CATEGORIES ARE AND THEN ACTUALLY WHO'S AWARDED.
WE HAVE A GOOD BEAT ON WHO'S AWARDED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I
CAN'T TELL YOU IF WE'RE HITTING ANY OF THE TARGETS NOW
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO WE'RE REACHING OUT TO, SO WE HAVE
109
TO DO A BETTER JOB OF BRINGING THAT DATA IN AND PACKAGE THAT
UP.
ON THE DBE SIDE, WE'RE DOING VERY, VERY WELL, BUT ON THE
VETERANS AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER GROUPS, WE AREN'T GETTING A
GOOD BEAD ON THAT YET.
EASY FIX.
VERY EASY FIX.
FOR CERTIFICATIONS, NOT TO ADD A WHOLE LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY
FOR OUR STAFF, USE THE STATE OF FLORIDA CERTIFICATION FOR
VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND USE THE FEDERAL ORGANIZATION
FOR THE SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS, WHICH REQUIRES A 30%
DISABILITY.
SO THAT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FRAUD THROUGHOUT
THE STATE AND THROUGHOUT THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS FOR SELF-
IDENTIFICATION, AND THE VETERANS WERE ADAMANT ABOUT HAVING
THAT FEDERAL CERTIFICATION TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE EXACTLY WHO
THEY ARE.
RETAIN YOUR TIEBREAKER PREFERENCE, REDUCE THE SERVICE-
DISABLED, VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS.
IN THE SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM NOW, YOU HAVE IT AS
100% OWNERSHIP, REDUCE THAT TO 51% OWNED BY VETERANS, AND
THAT WILL MIMIC WHAT THE STATE IS DOING AND WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT REQUIRES, SO THAT KIND OF OPENS THAT UP A LITTLE
BIT ON THE SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AS WELL.
WE NEED TO START RECOGNIZING THE MILITARY EXPERIENCE, IF
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IT'S TANGIBLE EXPERIENCE THAT SOMEBODY HAS, RECOGNIZE THAT
FOR OUR QUALIFICATION-BASED PROCESSES.
REALLY KEEP OUR BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS SIMPLE, AND MAKE SURE
THAT THEY'RE REASONABLE, AND WE'VE ASSESSED THE RISKS.
WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE BURDENS TOO HIGH TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY CAN PARTICIPATE, AND THAT'S FOR ALL VENDORS.
WE NEED TO STREAMLINE AND SIMPLIFY THE VENDOR INTERACTIONS
WITH PROCUREMENT.
THOSE INTERFACES WE HAVE WITH THEM, WE HAVE TO MAKE IT A LOT
SIMPLER.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A SURVEY ACTUALLY TO
REACH OUT TO THE VENDORS WHO MAYBE HAVEN'T REGISTERED WITH
THE COUNTY TO FIND OUT WHY THEY HAVEN'T REGISTERED, FIND OUT
WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, WHAT ARE THE BURDENS, SO WE CAN DIAL
INTO THAT AS WELL, WHICH IS A BIG PART OF THE VENDOR
OUTREACH IS TO GRAB ALL VENDORS AND TRY TO INCREASE THAT
PARTICIPATION.
AND LASTLY, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS ACTUALLY TO
EXPLORE A MENTOR PROTEGE PROGRAM, WHICH IS BASED ON A
FEDERAL PROGRAM, BUT WHAT IT DOES IS IT PARTNERS SMALLER
FIRMS WITH LARGER FIRMS WITH RESOURCES, WITH EXPERIENCE, AND
WE CAN KIND OF FLUSH THROUGH THAT TO GET SOME OF THESE
SMALLER FIRMS UP TO SPEED.
SO THOSE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHAT CAME OUT OF THIS, THOUGH, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO NOTE
111
-- AND THIS IS -- I'LL WRAP IT UP.
AS I ASSESSED THE PROCUREMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ONE THING
THAT I'M FINDING IS THAT IS GRABBING THAT DATA, ANALYZING
IT, AND MAKING SOME DATABASE DECISIONS.
RIGHT NOW, I'VE GIVEN YOU RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF DATA TO BACK IT UP, SO WE'VE GOT TO FIX THAT PART
OF IT.
BUT OUT OF THIS, VENDORS ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND ABOUT
A THIRD OF OUR TIME REALLY SHOULD BE SPENT ON OUTREACH AND
DEVELOPING THAT VENDOR DATABASE BECAUSE WITHOUT THE VENDORS,
THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT TO TALK ABOUT, AND WE HAVE SO MANY
VENDORS HERE.
IN MY EXPERIENCE IN PASCO, JUST -- MY IMPRESSIONS AND WHAT
I'M SEEING COMING IN, I WAS PROBABLY GETTING A LITTLE BETTER
RESPONSE RATE THAN PASCO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST A
DAUNTING -- IT'S A VERY LARGE ORGANIZATION, IT'S VERY
COMPLEX, THEY HAVE VERY COMPLEX DECISION TREES, IS
SIMPLIFYING THAT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FRIENDLY AND
EASY TO WORK WITH.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING IN THE PROCUREMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO
KIND OF REALIGN SO WE CAN LET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CUSTOMER
SATISFACTION DRIVE THE PROCESSES AND NOT THE OTHER WAY
AROUND, TO MAKE SURE WE REACH OUT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
RESPONSIVE AND AGILE SO WE CAN GET THESE THINGS DONE.
SETTING UP A TEAM THAT ALL THEY DO IS CONCENTRATE ON THE
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PERFORMANCE METRICS AND WATCHING THAT DATA, CONCENTRATING ON
THE CUSTOMER SERVICE.
THEIR SOLE PURPOSE OR ONE OF THE MAJOR PURPOSES WILL BE
SIMPLY TO PUNCH HOLES IN THE PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.
THEY'LL ACT ESSENTIALLY AS AN OMBUDSMAN FOR VENDORS AND OUR
DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR NEEDS.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TWIST ON IT, BUT WE'RE VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT ADAPTATION.
WITH THAT, THAT WRAPS IT UP.
I TRIED TO MAKE IT QUICK.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THAT WAS A GREAT REPORT, SCOTT, AND I WANT
TO SAY YOU'RE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN PROCUREMENT.
YOU REALLY TOOK THIS ISSUE.
VETERANS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, 94,000 VETERANS IN OUR AREA.
I MEAN, THAT'S, YOU KNOW -- A POPULATION OF 1.3 MILLION,
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND A LOT OF THOSE DO
WANT TO OWN BUSINESSES.
THEY'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY TO DO
CERTAIN THINGS, AND THEY -- SO I JUST -- I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR MEETING WITH ALL THE BUSINESSES.
YOU LISTENED TO THEM, YOU LISTENED TO THE CHALLENGES THAT,
YOU KNOW, THEY TALKED ABOUT THAT THEY'RE FACED WITH, BECAUSE
I THINK ALL WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THEY HAVE FAIR ACCESS
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TO OUR PROCUREMENT.
>>SCOTT STROMER: RIGHT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND NOT THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEFORE, BUT WE
NEED TO -- YOU EXAMINED OTHER COMMUNITIES, YOU LOOKED AT
STATE, YOU -- YOU HAVE TAKEN THIS -- WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
WITH VENDOR PROCUREMENT NOW FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE VETERAN-
OWNED BUSINESSES, WE'RE GOING AS FAR AS WE CAN WITHOUT
DISRUPTING OUR CURRENT SBE, MBE VENDORS, AND OUR POLICIES,
SO I JUST APPLAUD YOU.
WE'RE -- THIS IS GOING TO HELP US BUILD EVEN BETTER
PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS, GETTING MORE JOBS OUT THERE,
GETTING MORE HELP TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, AND ESPECIALLY
VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST PROVIDE REAL
MEANINGFUL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TO EVERYONE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
BUT I KNOW FRANK STROM WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT, AND I DON'T
SEE HIM HERE TODAY, BUT I KNOW IT WAS -- HE'S VERY MUCH
BEHIND THIS AND VERY SUPPORTIVE.
SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THIS, AND IF I COULD HAVE
A MOTION TO RECEIVE THIS REPORT.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: [INAUDIBLE]
>>VICTOR CRIST: SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER CRIST TO RECEIVE THE REPORT ON G-2.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
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AND PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
>>SCOTT STROMER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: GREAT.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
LAST -- LAST.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: I HOPE NOT LEAST.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
I REALIZE LOOKING AT THE AGENDA THAT I AM THE LAST PERSON
STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND THE END OF THIS MEETING, SO I WILL
BE BRIEF ON THIS TOPIC.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING A PROCESS TO FACILITATE A OUTDOOR
AMATEUR MULTISPORT COMPLEX.
AS YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2013 A STUDY WAS DONE THAT SUPPORTED
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COMPLEX TO ATTRACT TOURNAMENT
FACILITIES TO THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE MET AS A TEAM.
I'D LIKE TO THANK ROB HIGGINS, WHO WAS PART OF THAT TEAM,
ERIC HART WAS PART OF THAT TEAM AS WELL, BONNIE WISE LED THE
TEAM, SCOTT STROMER, AS YOU SAID, MADAM CHAIR, HAS BEEN A
BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND HAS HELPED US SIGNIFICANTLY IN THIS
PROCESS.
WE LOOKED AT WHAT AN IDEAL SITE WOULD LOOK LIKE BASED UPON
THE STUDY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT SITES THROUGHOUT
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THE COUNTY.
WE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL, BUT THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.
16 TO 20 FIELDS THAT ARE EITHER GRASS, SYNTHETIC TURF, OR A
COMBINATION THEREOF, CONCESSION, RESTROOM FACILITIES SHOULD
BE READILY AVAILABLE ON-SITE, AND PARKING SUFFICIENT TO
HANDLE LARGE TOURNAMENTS, OF COURSE, IS NECESSARY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING LOCAL FIELDS USE THE FACILITY NOT AS
A HOME TEAM; HOWEVER, WE ARE GOING TO ASK THAT THEY LIMIT
THEIR USE TO NONTOURNAMENT TIMES, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT
FIELDS THAT ARE CONSTRUCTED FOR SOCCER, LACROSSE, AND
CRICKET.
WE THINK ALL OF THOSE HAVE SIGNIFICANT DEMAND, AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO
OUR LOCAL TEAMS AS WELL AS TOURNAMENTS.
WE LOOKED AT SUFFICIENT AMENITIES NEARBY AND CAME UP WITH
SEVERAL.
THERE NEED TO BE SUFFICIENT HOTEL ROOMS SO THAT WE CAN
CREATE MORE BED TAX OPPORTUNITIES, WE NEED TO HAVE
RESTAURANTS AND SHOPPING SO THAT WE CAN CREATE AD VALOREM
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES
AND GENERATE ADDITIONAL SALES TAX.
WE THINK THAT HAVING SOME VACANT LAND NEARBY FOR ADDITIONAL
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IS A GOOD THING.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A SITE THAT MEETS THAT CRITERIA.
THERE ARE SEVERAL SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, BOTH PUBLIC
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AND PRIVATE, THAT WE THINK WOULD BE VERY GOOD SITES FOR US
TO CONSIDER.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING A PROCESS THAT INVOLVES TWO
RFPs, ONE FOR THE LAND AND ONE FOR DESIGN-BUILD.
THE TWO RFPs CAN BE DONE CONSECUTIVELY OR CONCURRENTLY,
DEPENDING UPON THE COMMISSION'S NEED TO PUSH THIS FORWARD OR
GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
IF WE DO IT CONSECUTIVELY, IT'S ABOUT 150 DAYS.
IF WE DO THE ISSUANCE CONCURRENTLY, WE EXPECT IT TO BE ABOUT
120 DAYS.
WE DO HAVE A COUNTY SITE; HOWEVER, WE DO NEED TO SEE WHAT
OTHER SITES ARE OUT THERE, SO WE'RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SITES AND HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THESE TYPES OF
FACILITIES TO SUBMIT FOR BOTH RFPs.
WE THINK THIS PROCESS WILL BE FAIR, IT WILL GENERATE A
NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO CONSIDER, AND ULTIMATELY,
WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH A TERRIFIC FACILITY TO
HOST TOURNAMENTS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
WITH THAT, I'LL CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS AND LISTEN TO YOUR
QUESTIONS AND ASK FOR YOUR CONCURRENCE IN THAT DIRECTION.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: THANKS, MADAM CHAIR.
I WANT TO, FIRST OF ALL, THANK GREG FOR THAT EXCELLENT
INTRODUCTION.
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I DO WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS HERE, BUT I WANT TO
START OUT BY THANKING GREG, BONNIE, CHIP, SCOTT STROMER, OUR
NEW PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR, FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK IN
PREPARING THIS REPORT.
THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE REALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REDEFINE HOW WE BUILD AND OPERATE FACILITIES.
THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL RFP.
WE ARE BREAKING NEW GROUND WITH THIS PROPOSAL, AND AS SUCH,
IT HAS REQUIRED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AND CREATIVITY,
SO I SINCERELY THANK ALL THE STAFF THAT'S WORKED HARD ON
THIS.
AS I STATED BACK IN DECEMBER, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE SPORTS COMMISSION AND SPORTS
AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE THE NEED AND FEASIBILITY OF AN
AMATEUR OUTDOOR MULTISPORT COMPLEX.
AS IT STATED IN OUR BACKUP, THE NEED EXISTS IN HILLSBOROUGH
COUNTY, AND A FACILITY WITH 16 OR MORE FIELDS WILL IMPROVE
THE MARKETABILITY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS A DESTINATION
FOR AMATEUR SPORTS TOURNAMENTS.
ROB HIGGINS, WHO IS HERE THIS MORNING, HAS INDICATED THAT
SOCCER IS OUR GREATEST NEED, AND BY FOCUSING ON MULTIPURPOSE
FIELDS, SPECIFICALLY A NEW CONSOLIDATED VENUE, WE CAN TARGET
FOOTBALL, LACROSSE, CRICKET, AND OTHER OUTDOOR SPORTS IN
ADDITION TO SOCCER.
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I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN ADDITION TO BEING A TOURNAMENT
FACILITY, OUR LOCAL LEAGUES AND KIDS WILL BENEFIT.
THE PROPOSED FACILITY WILL NOT HAVE A HOME-CLUB TENANT, SO
THE FIELDS WON'T WEAR DOWN DURING EVERY-NIGHT USAGE.
THIS ALLOWS THE FACILITY TO BE MAINTAINED AT THE HIGH LEVEL
REQUIRED TO HOST HOTEL VISITOR ROOM NIGHT-PRODUCING
TOURNAMENTS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.
THAT BEING SAID, OUR LOCAL KIDS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO USE THE
FACILITY IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCAL ALL-STAR GAMES,
CLINICS, AND COMBINES THAT CREATE SCHOLARSHIP EXPOSURE FOR
OUR LOCAL ATHLETES, SIMILAR TO WHAT THE SPORTS COMMISSION
PRODUCES ANNUALLY, THIS FACILITY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO HOST
LOCAL AND REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS.
THESE EVENTS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE LARGE NATIONAL EVENTS
THAT WILL BE SCHEDULED.
SO WE HAVE THE NEED, A COMPLEX OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL BE A
REVENUE-PRODUCING ASSET THAT BOOSTS OUR ECONOMY THROUGH
HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS AND CONSUMER SPENDING THAT OCCUR AS A
RESULT OF HOSTING TOURNAMENTS.
IN MY OPINION, OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO OFFER AN IDEAL BLEND OF
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO POINT OUT TYPICALLY THESE FACILITIES DO NOT PAY
FOR THEMSELVES, AT LEAST IN THE EARLY YEARS, BUT THE REALITY
IS NONE OF OUR PARKS PAY FOR THEMSELVES, HOWEVER, IT IS
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INCUMBENT ON US TO BE PRUDENT AND THOUGHTFUL WITH HOW WE
PROCEED.
THE RECOMMENDED APPROACH TO THIS MULTI-SPORT FACILITY
PROVIDES US AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE OUR FUNDING
AND MINIMIZE OUR OPERATING COSTS BY PARTNERING WITH THE
PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR MARKET WILL BEAR.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT PUBLIC -- PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
WELL, I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT ON
THE TABLE.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS, INCLUDING, AS
GREG MENTIONED, A COUNTY-OWNED FALKENBURG SITE, WHICH DOES
HAVE SEVERAL BENEFITS AND ATTRIBUTES, BUT WILL ALLOW US TO
ULTIMATELY CHOOSE THE BEST POSSIBLE LOCATION.
AND I ALSO LIKE THE CONCEPTS OF HAVING TWO SEPARATE RFPs, IN
MY OPINION, ISSUED CONCURRENTLY.
THIS WILL EXPEDITE THE PROCESS, ONE THAT WILL BRING FORWARD
POTENTIAL LAND OPPORTUNITIES AND ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL
SELECT A DESIGN-BUILD TEAM.
AND I THINK BY HAVING TWO SEPARATE RFPs, WE DO NOT LIMIT THE
NUMBER OF POTENTIAL BIDDERS THAT HAVING ONE RFP WOULD LIKELY
DO.
SO THE MOTION FOR TODAY I'M GOING TO PUT ON THE TABLE IS TO
ISSUE TWO RFPs CONCURRENTLY, ONE FOR LAND AND TO COME BACK
WITHIN 90 DAYS, AND THEN ANOTHER RFP FOR THE SELECTION OF
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THE DESIGN-BUILD TEAM TO COME BACK WITHIN 120 DAYS, AND BOTH
OF THESE FOR BOARD APPROVAL.
AFTER THESE SELECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, WE WILL DETERMINE THE
BEST MODEL FOR OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE.
THE SPORTS AUTHORITY IS ONE POSSIBILITY, BUT THE PRIVATE
SECTOR MAY BE WILLING TO OPERATE THE FACILITY, MINIMIZING
OUR COST; HOWEVER, WE CANNOT MAKE THAT DETERMINATION UNTIL
THE ACTUAL SITE DESIGN-BUILD TEAM HAVE BEEN CHOSEN, SO WE'LL
ADDRESS THE OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE AFTER A SITE AND
DESIGN-BUILD TEAM HAVE BEEN SELECTED.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: RIGHT.
>>KEN HAGAN: DO YOU CONCUR WITH THAT?
THAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION; RIGHT?
>>GREG HORWEDEL: YES, COMMISSIONER.
THAT'S EXACTLY ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT WE WERE THINKING WITH
WOULD BE THE BEST APPROACH AS WELL.
>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
SO WITH THAT, THAT'S THE MOTION.
>>STACY WHITE: [INAUDIBLE]
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
AND THERE'S A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE.
COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU.
AND I KNOW IN THE ORIGINAL MOTION WHEN WE HANDLED THIS LAST
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YEAR THAT I'D ASKED, AND I KNOW YOU ACKNOWLEDGED IT IN YOUR
PRESENTATION, THAT DESIGN FOR CRICKET FIELDS FOR -- TO
SUPPORT TOURNAMENTS WOULD BE INCLUDED.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTINUES THROUGH THE PROCESS.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: YES, SIR, IT ABSOLUTELY WILL BE INCLUDED.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I HAD ALSO ASKED, IS THERE GOING TO BE
TENNIS COURTS?
>>GREG HORWEDEL: I DON'T BELIEVE THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION
ALLOWS FOR TENNIS COURTS; HOWEVER, WE CAN PUT THAT AS AN
ALTERNATE IN THE BID PACKAGE IF THAT'S DESIRED.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I MEAN, THERE IS NO PLACE TO HOST BIG
TENNIS TOURNAMENTS IN THIS STATE FOR KIDS, HERE IN THIS
AREA.
THEY HAVE BEEN GOING TO HCC, I THINK IN THE PAST.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GO NOW, BUT I THINK THIS IS A BIG
NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT HAVING THAT
BE A SEPARATE PROCESS.
THE ONLY REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE WE'RE PRETTY FAR ALONG
ON THIS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: AND IDENTIFYING OUR SITES THAT WOULD HAVE
SUFFICIENT SPACE TO PUT IN ADDITIONAL TENNIS COURTS MIGHT BE
A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT GIVEN THE CURRENT DESIGN CONSTRAINTS;
HOWEVER, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, AND IF WE CAN DO THAT,
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PUT IT IN AS AN ALTERNATE.
IF NOT, WE CAN COME BACK AND TELL YOU WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO
DO SOMETHING ON A TOURNAMENT BASIS FOR TENNIS COURTS.
IS THAT FAIR?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: RIGHT.
THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
OKAY.
COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: YOU KNOW, THERE'S A VARIETY OF SPORTS
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD LIST TO GO IN THERE THAT COULD
ALSO INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, SKATEBOARDING BOWLS AND VELODROMES
AND OTHER THINGS WHERE THERE'S COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES,
BUT I THINK IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THE SCIENCE AND LOOKING AT
THE MARKET AND WHAT THE MARKET WOULD BEAR AND WHAT WOULD
BRING THE REVENUE IN TO SUSTAIN THE PROJECT.
HAVE WE DONE OR IS THERE ANY PLAN TO DO AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT
HERE AND TO DO A FULL-SCALE PLAN OF WHAT SHOULD GO IN THERE
AND WHAT WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE?
>>GREG HORWEDEL: YES, SIR.
THAT WILL BE PART OF THE WHOLE DESIGN-BUILD REVIEW PROCESS.
THERE WAS SOME FOUNDATIONAL WORK DONE AS PART OF THE INITIAL
STUDY THAT INDICATED THAT THIS COULD BE SUPPORTED BY THE
COUNTY AND COULD BRING IN ADDITIONAL TOURNAMENT REVENUE, SO
WE'LL FLESH THAT OUT.
WHEN WE GET TO THE DESIGN-BUILD REVIEW PROCESS, WE WILL, OF
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COURSE, LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT MODELS THAT WILL
GENERATE THE REVENUE THAT'S NECESSARY SO THAT WE CAN
MINIMIZE THE COST IMPACT ON THE COUNTY, YET MAXIMIZE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SPORTS TEAMS.
>>VICTOR CRIST: I'M GOING TO NEED TO SEE THAT -- THAT
RESEARCH.
I'M GOING TO NEED TO SEE IT VERIFIED BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL PAY FOR ITSELF.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: RIGHT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: I JUST WANT TO START OUT BY SAYING THAT IT
WILL NOT PAY FOR ITSELF, SO IF THAT'S THE BASIS, GO AHEAD
AND VOTE NO RIGHT NOW.
THAT BEING SAID, IT WILL BE A REVENUE-PRODUCING ASSET, AND
WE'VE DONE A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS THAT INDICATES SUCH.
IT'S STILL IN OUR INTEREST TO BE AS PRUDENT AS WE CAN BE AND
TO MINIMIZE OUR OPERATIONAL COSTS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY,
IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY WILL ULTIMATELY END
UP BEING THE -- BEING THE MODEL THAT WE CAN USE TO -- BEST
USE TO MINIMIZE OUR COST.
ROB IS HERE IF ANYONE HAS SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT
STUDY AND THE REASON WHY WE'RE FOCUSING ON MULTI-USE FIELDS
THAT CAN BE USED TO ATTRACT THE LARGEST NUMBER OF VENUES AND
TOURNAMENTS, MEANING SOCCER, FOOTBALL, CRICKET, LACROSSE,
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RUGBY.
AS I SAID DURING OUR DECEMBER MEETING, I'M A BASEBALL GUY.
I'D RATHER HAVE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL, CANDIDLY, BUT THE
NUMBERS DO NOT REFLECT THAT THAT'S THE ROUTE THAT WE SHOULD
GO.
IF WE COULD POSSIBLY -- I MEAN, WE HAVE $15 MILLION.
I MEAN, IF WE POSSIBLY -- IF WE HAD UNLIMITED RESOURCES,
UNLIMITED LAND, I'D LOVE TO SEE TENNIS, SKATEBOARD PARK,
PASSIVE -- I'D LOVE TO SEE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, BUT THE
REALITY IS WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, AND WE HAVE TO GO WITH
WHAT THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS HAS INDICATED, AND CANDIDLY,
ROB'S ADVICE AND DIRECTION, WHICH HE HAS REPEATEDLY SAID
THIS IS THE ROUTE -- THIS IS THE GREATEST NEED THAT WE HAVE.
I MEAN, WE LOST HOW MANY TOURNAMENTS AS A RESULT OF HAVING
ONE COMPLEX WITH EIGHT FIELDS AND THAT WERE SUBPAR, SO THIS
IS NOT BASED ON WHAT I WANT TO DO, THIS IS BASED ON THE
NUMBERS AND THE ADVICE AND DIRECTION OF THE SUBJECT-MATTER
EXPERTS, AND ONE OF WHICH IS HERE.
IF YOU DO HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK
THEM.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THAT REPORT, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, YOU WERE REFERRING TO, WAS
THAT DISTRIBUTED TO US BEFORE OR SHOULD WE HAVE RECEIVED A
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COPY OR IS HAS THAT NOT BEEN GIVEN TO US YET?
>>GREG HORWEDEL: [INAUDIBLE]
ANSWER THAT.
ROB.
OKAY.
ROB INFORMS ME THAT WE DID RECEIVE THE REPORT.
COME ON UP, BONNIE.
>>BONNIE WISE: COMMISSIONERS, IT'S BEEN SOME TIME.
I JUST DON'T RECALL WHETHER IT WAS DISTRIBUTED AND, IF SO,
IN WHAT FORMAT, SO --
>>KEVIN BECKNER: AND I THINK TO COMMISSIONER CRIST'S POINT,
I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO SEE THAT STUDY
BECAUSE I ALSO UNDERSTAND, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, THAT, YOU
KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THING IN GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PAY FOR
ITSELF, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S NOT A BENEFIT, BUT I
THINK WHAT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE HELPFUL IS TO SEE THE
DEMAND FOR EACH OF THESE THINGS THAT WE ARE BUILDING, AND SO
WHAT IS THE REAL DEMAND FOR ADDITIONAL SOCCER FIELDS, FOR
CRICKET, FOR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD BECAUSE
I THINK THE LAST THING WE'D WANT TO SEE IS TO BUILD A
FACILITY THAT IS DESIGNATED FOR A CERTAIN SPORT AND THEN
NOBODY'S USING IT.
I MEAN, THAT'S A REAL LOSER IN THE COMMUNITY.
IF WE'RE USING IT AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT RECUPERATING ALL
OF OUR COSTS, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BOARD WILL DECIDE --
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THAT'S HOW -- YOU KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE THING IN
THE ECONOMIC RECESSION ABOUT HOW DO WE SUSTAIN PARKS?
WELL, WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO SUSTAIN THE PARKS, INSTEAD
OF CLOSING THEM, WE WERE GOING TO CHARGE A SMALL FEE, SO HOW
WE CAN PAY FOR THEM, WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT IF WE'RE
NOT GETTING ACTIVITY THERE, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE A REAL
LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY, SO I THINK THAT WILL BE REALLY
HELPFUL FOR US TO SEE THAT REPORT.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: YES, COMMISSIONER.
YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELL TAKEN.
WE WILL PROVIDE THE ANALYSIS.
I'M COMMITTED TO DO THAT.
WE'LL MAKE SURE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE'LL OUTLINE
WHAT WE EXPECT THE COSTS TO BE, WHAT WE EXPECT THE COUNTY
COST TO BE AS WELL, SO I THINK THERE'S SUFFICIENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO IDENTIFY
WHAT OUR COSTS ARE, WHAT THE EXPECTED REVENUE WILL BE, AND
THEN HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL THAT WE BELIEVE MAKES
GOOD FISCAL SENSE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN: I AM GOING TO ASK ROB TO MAKE A COUPLE
COMMENTS, BUT MY WHOLE GOAL IS TO -- FOR US TO ESTABLISH
REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS AS FAR AS WHAT THE REVENUE WILL
ULTIMATELY GENERATE FROM THIS FACILITY.
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I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OF THESE FACILITIES NATIONWIDE THAT PAY
FOR THEMSELVES.
THERE MAY BE, BUT I DON'T -- I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY.
NOW, THAT BEING SAID, WILL THIS BE A REVENUE-PRODUCING
ASSET?
WITHOUT QUESTION, AND THE NUMBERS DICTATE THAT.
I'M GOING TO ASK ROB TO SPEAK ON THAT IN A MOMENT.
BUT AS COMMISSIONER BECKNER POINTED OUT, THERE ARE OTHER
REASONS IN ADDITION TO THE REVENUE THAT WILL BE PRODUCED,
SUCH AS QUALITY OF LIFE, SUCH AS HOW HAVING A STRONG, ROBUST
PARK SYSTEM ASSISTS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND
OTHER ISSUES THAT GO WITH THE ACTUAL REVENUE THAT THESE TYPE
OF FACILITIES PRODUCE.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD ANYONE BY ANY STAGE AND SAY, OH,
THIS IS GOING TO PAY FOR ITSELF, BECAUSE IT'S NOT.
BUT NO PARKS DO THAT I'M AWARE OF ROB, CAN YOU BRIEFLY
SUMMARIZE THE WORK THAT WENT INTO PREPARING THE REPORT AS
WELL AS YOUR -- WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS TOLD ME OR ADVISED ME AS
FAR AS WHAT OUR GREATEST NEED IS, WHY YOU FEEL WE HAVE THAT
NEED, AND WHY YOU THINK A FACILITY OF THIS NATURE WOULD --
WOULD BENEFIT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY?
>> SURE.
WELL, THE REPORT ITSELF, WHICH WAS DONE LATE IN 2013, WAS
FOLDER BY A THIRD-PARTY AGENCY CALLED SPORTS FACILITIES
ADVISORIES, WHICH IS A NATIONALLY RENOWNED COMPANY THAT
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SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES HAVE USED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO
PERFORM SIMILAR TYPE STUDIES.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE REPORT AND HAVING A CHANCE JUST TO
USE OUR PAST EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS WHEN IT
COMES TO ACTUALLY RECRUITING THESE EVENTS, HOW THEY
ACTUALIZE FROM A ROOM-NIGHT STANDPOINT AND ECONOMIC IMPACT
STANDPOINT, WE WOULD CONTEND THAT THE NUMBERS THAT WERE
PRESENTED, FOLLOWING UP ON THE REPORT, WERE CONSERVATIVE.
IT GIVES BASICALLY, AS YOU'LL SEE, A FIVE-YEAR LAYOUT IN
TERMS OF THE OVERLY VISITOR ROOM-NIGHT PRODUCTION THAT WOULD
TAKE PLACE WITH A FACILITY LIKE THIS.
IN YEAR ONE ONLY, 11,000 HOTEL VISITOR ROOM NIGHTS ARE
PRODUCED.
THIS PAST YEAR ALONE, OUR ORGANIZATION BID ON AND THEN
HELPED HOST AND GENERATE 150,000 HOTEL VISITOR ROOM NIGHTS,
SO WHEN YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS, I MEAN, WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT
THEY WOULD BE ON THE LOW SIDE OF WHAT WOULD BE CAPABLE AND
WHAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE DONE.
YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING THAT YOU HAVE TO BREAK OUT IS IN
OUR WORLD, THERE'S TWO TYPES OF EVENTS THAT COULD TAKE
PLACE.
THERE'S EVENTS THAT YOU CAN BID ON, WHICH CERTAINLY WE DO A
LOT TO BE ABLE TO BID ON THESE EVENTS AND ATTRACT THEM TO
THE FACILITY, AND YOU SEE THE TOURISM REVENUES FROM AN EVENT
THAT YOU BID ON, WHETHER IT BE HOTEL VISITOR ROOM NIGHTS,
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WHETHER IT BE THE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS SPENDING, BENEFITING
ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO
START YOUR OWN EVENTS, AND WHEN YOU START YOUR OWN EVENTS ON
A CONCURRENT PATH OF BIDDING ON EVENTS AND HAVE A MIX OF
BOTH, WHEN YOU HOST YOUR OWN EVENTS, YOU CAN CAPTURE EVEN
MORE REVENUE FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE
REVENUE STREAMS THAT WOULD LEAVE AND GO TO AN OUTSIDE
GOVERNING AGENCY -- GOVERNING BODY THAT'S NOT LOCATED IN
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, YOU WOULD LOSE SOME OF THOSE REVENUE
STREAMS TO IT, SO IT'S A GREAT BLEND WHEN YOU HAVE A
FACILITY LIKE THIS TO NOT ONLY BID ON AND HOST EVENTS
THAT'LL COME HERE FROM OUT OF THE COMMUNITY BUT THEN ALSO
START YOUR OWN EVENTS THAT WILL ATTRACT VISITORS FROM OUT OF
THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS COMMISSIONER HAGAN SAID, WE'VE TAKEN A VERY
STRATEGIC APPROACH TO IT.
WE'VE LOST THREE OF OUR BIGGEST -- OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS,
THREE OF OUR BIGGEST YOUTH SOCCER TOURNAMENTS SPECIFICALLY
THAT WERE ALL BIG ROOM-NIGHT-PRODUCING EVENTS TO NEIGHBORING
COUNTIES THAT HAVE FACILITY -- THAT HAVE FACILITIES WITH
MORE FIELDS BUT LACK SOME OF THE AMENITIES AND ATTRACTIONS
THAT MAKE US REALLY THE PREMIER PLACE TO HOST EVENTS, AND SO
WITH A FACILITY LIKE THIS, WE FEEL LIKE WE'D NOT ONLY BE
ABLE TO GET THOSE EVENTS TO COME BACK, TO GET NEW ADDITIONAL
EVENTS, AND ALSO START-UP EVENTS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP
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PROVIDE A GREAT ROI FOR THE FACILITY.
>>KEN HAGAN: I JUST HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.
NUMBER ONE, IN YOUR OPINION, DO WE HAVE A NEED FOR A
FACILITY LIKE THIS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE -- RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SITUATIONS TO BE ABLE TO HOST
EVENTS THAT COULD BE ALL HOUSED AT ONE FACILITY WITH THIS
PROPOSED ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN 60 AND 20 FIELDS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO GO BETWEEN TWO AND THREE DIFFERENT A-
PLEXES, AND WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL THAT TO AN EVENT
ORGANIZER AND SAY, HEY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIVIDE UP
YOUR OPERATIONS AND COSTS INVOLVED AND SPREAD THEM ACROSS
THREE DIFFERENT FACILITIES AND HAVE TEAMS COMMUTE FROM ONE
PART OF THE COUNTY TO ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTY AND ALL
THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, IT'S A DIFFICULT PITCH.
WE'VE TRIED TO DO OUR BEST TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE, BE CREATIVE WITH THROWS FACILITY PACKAGES, BUT AS
I'VE SAID, WE'VE LOST SOME EVENTS TO THAT, AND A FACILITY
LIKE THIS WOULD CERTAINLY CURE THAT AND THEN OPEN UP SOME
GREAT NEW MARKETS THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVEN'T HAD A
CHANCE TO TRUDGE, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S CRICKET, WHETHER OR
NOT IT'S LACROSSE, SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT SPORT MARKETS
THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PLOW GROUND ON BECAUSE WE'VE
LACKED A FACILITY LIKE THIS.
OF THE THIS WILL GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO
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THAT.
>>KEN HAGAN: AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION, WHY -- AND YOU'VE
SOMEWHAT ANSWERED THIS, BUT WHY MULTI-USE FIELDS AS OPPOSED
TO BASEBALL OR TENNIS OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF SPORT?
>> YOU KNOW, WE ALMOST LIKE AT IT LIKE A CONVENTION-CENTER
APPROACH WHERE YOU WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE WITH
THE NUMBER OF BODIES AND VISITORS IN THAT AND WITHIN THAT
SPECIFIC NUMBER OF TIME, SO IF YOU TOOK THE -- YOU KNOW, THE
SIZE OF A YOUTH SOCCER FIELD, THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT YOU
CAN TURN IN AN HOUR IN THAT WITH ONE GAME, AND THEN THE
NUMBER OF GAMES YOU CAN TURN IN A DAY AND THEN THE NUMBER OF
ROOM NIGHTS THAT THAT WOULD GENERATE IN ONE DAY WOULD BE
BIGGER THAN, QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU HAD -- I'LL JUST THROW
OUT A GOLF COURSE, FOR EXAMPLE.
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY -- HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WOULD YOU TURN IN
AN HOUR IN THE SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE IN A GOLF COURSE WOULDN'T
TOUCH THE NUMBER OF, YOU KNOW, KIDS ON A TEAM, THE NUMBER OF
PARENTS THEY BRING WITH THEM, TRAVELING IN FOR -- TO
MAXIMIZE THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE.
AND THEN THAT 16 TO 20 FIELDS ALLOWS YOU, BASED ON THE SIZE
OF THE EVENTS WE'RE DISCUSSING, IT ALLOWS YOU TO BE ABLE TO
DO SOME LAYERING AS WELL WHERE YOU COULD BE ABLE TO HAVE
CONCURRENT TOURNAMENTS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME AND
MAXIMIZE THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE IN AN ROI LIKE WE'D WANT THEM
TO DO.
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>>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: CAN I -- WHO'S GOING TO RUN THE FACILITY?
WOULD THE -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY?
>>KEN HAGAN: IN ALL -- IN MY OPINION, WE'LL START WITH THIS
-- NOT IN MY OPINION.
THE SPORTS AUTHORITY HAS OFFERED TO RUN IT IF WE CHOOSE --
OR IF WE FEEL THAT'S THE BEST MODEL.
THE REASON WHY THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO THAT IS ESSENTIALLY
BECAUSE THEY CAN -- ALL THE -- THEIR PURCHASING ABILITY
BECAUSE THEY BUY IN BULK FOR -- FOR FERTILIZER AND DIFFERENT
THINGS FOR THE GOLF COURSES, SO THE THINKING IS THEY WOULD
HAVE THE ABILITY -- NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE OPERATIONAL
CAPACITY BUT FROM A PROCUREMENT STANDPOINT, THERE ARE
INHERENT ADVANTAGES WITH THEM DOING IT.
THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE UNABLE TO CHOOSE OR MAKE THAT
DECISION NOW UNTIL WE HAVE A SITE AND HAVE THE DESIGN-BUILD
TEAM AND KNOW WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.
THAT'S WHEN STAFF FEELS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE THAT
DECISION.
WE MAY DO AN RFP AT THAT POINT TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMEONE IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT CAN DO IT CHEAPER THAN THE SPORTS
AUTHORITY, BUT I DON'T THINK STAFF WANTS OR FEELS THAT
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STAFF SHOULD BE THE ONES TO ULTIMATELY
RUN IT, THAT IT WOULD LIKELY BE A PRIVATE-SECTOR COMPANY OR
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THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
DID I ANSWER THAT RIGHT?
>>GREG HORWEDEL: YES, SIR.
AND I ECHO THAT.
MUCH IF THIS IS A FIRST-CLASS TOURNAMENT FACILITY, WHICH IS
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE LIKELIHOOD OF US BEING ABLE TO
HAVE THE STAFF AVAILABLE TO DO THAT ON AN ONGOING BASIS
SEEMS TO ME TO BE REMOTE.
WE HAVE PROFESSIONALS WHO DO THAT IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE SPORTS AUTHORITY DOES A TERRIFIC JOB RUNNING A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT VENUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THEY HAVE OFFERED THEIR ASSISTANCE.
WE DO NEED TO EVALUATE ONCE WE GET THE PROPOSALS BACK WHAT'S
THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO
DO.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I MEAN, POTENTIALLY, IF YOU HAVE A P3 --
>>GREG HORWEDEL: RIGHT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I KNOW WE HAVE THE $15 MILLION LOCKED
IN THERE, BUT COULD IT BE CONCEIVABLE THAT A PRIVATE
INVESTOR WOULD INVEST IN THE PARK SO WE DON'T HAVE TO USE
ALL OF OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES, SO -- I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAVE
THE 15 MILLION AVAILABLE, BUT IF WE ONLY NEED TO USE 10
BECAUSE THIS GUY'S GOING TO KICK IN 10, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD
OBVIOUSLY BE A BETTER DEAL FOR US.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS EXACTLY THE SAME LINE
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OF THINKING THAT WE HAVE, SO WE'RE GOING TO STRUCTURE THE
RFP SO WE CAN TRY AND DEFINE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE
PRIVATE-SECTOR COMMITMENT THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
ALSO, ON TOURNAMENT FACILITIES LIKE THIS -- AND I'M SURE ROB
CAN VERIFY IN -- IT'S NOT UNCOMMON AT ALL FOR NEW
DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR AROUND THAT, HOTELS, NEW RESTAURANTS.
THAT'LL ADD TO OUR AD VALOREM BASE, AND THAT WILL ALSO
SUPPLEMENT THE INCOME WE'RE GOING TO GET DIRECTLY FROM THE
FACILITY ITSELF.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: WE'LL LOOK AT ALL THAT IN OUR ANALYSIS TO
YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE
PROJECTIONS.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
IF WE HAVE ANY LEFT-OVER MONEY, CAN I USE IT FOR THE SPORTS
COMPLEX IN SOUTH COUNTY?
[LAUGHTER]
OKAY.
COMMISSIONER CRIST.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY RESPECT COMMISSIONER HAGAN AND
HIS -- AND HIS DESIRE TO WANT TO ADVANCE OUR PARK AND
RECREATIONAL SYSTEM, BUT I'VE GOT SOME CONCERNS HERE.
I MEAN, THE FIRST ONE IS I KNOW THAT WE AREN'T ALLOWED TO
TALK TO EACH OTHER, SO THERE'S BEEN NO DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN
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ANY OF US, BUT, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANYBODY ELSE
ABOUT THIS.
IF IT'S THAT IMPORTANT OF A PROJECT, SOMEONE AT SOME POINT
SHOULD HAVE COME IN TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M GETTING ANY INFORMATION ON THIS,
AND THAT IS A HUGE LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT.
WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT SPENDING $15 MILLION-PLUS UP
FRONT ON A NEW PROJECT THAT OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF DISCUSSIONS
UP HERE ISN'T GOING TO PAY FOR ITSELF, YOU'RE TAKING ON --
WE'RE TAKING ON A POSSIBLE NEW LIABILITY -- ALL THESE FLAGS
ARE GOING UP, AND HONESTLY, I THINK WE'RE PUTTING THE CART
BEFORE THE HORSE.
THE FIRST THING THAT SHOULD BE DONE HERE IS A NEEDS
ASSESSMENT.
AT WHAT LEVEL IS THIS NEED COMPARED TO THE OTHER $5-BILLION
WORTH OF UNFUNDED NEEDS THAT WE HAVE?
WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE TALK ABOUT ROI, RATE
OF RETURN, ON INVESTMENT.
OKAY.
WHERE DOES THIS FALL ON THAT CHART?
SO THE FIRST THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS A NEEDS
ASSESSMENT.
THE SECOND THING IS AN IMPACT STATEMENT.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE ACTUAL IMPACT OF THIS AND
HOW DOES IT RATE COMPARED TO THE OTHER $5-BILLION WORTH OF
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PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR LIST IN IMPACT?
THE THIRD THING IS FUNDING OPTIONS, WHAT ARE THE OTHER
FUNDING SOURCE?
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE BED TAX DOLLARS IT'S GOING TO
GENERATE.
WELL, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED OUT OF THE BED TAX DOLLARS
AND NOT OUT OF THE GENERAL REVENUE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT OTHER
PARKS THAT ARE FALLING INTO POOR SHAPE.
WE HAD PEOPLE HERE TODAY COMPLAINING, AND WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT BRINGING ONBOARD A NEW FACILITY AND BUILDING IT OUT
WHEN WE HAVEN'T EVEN MAINTAINED THE ONES WE HAVE?
IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE, LET'S PUT THE
PARKS WE HAVE BACK IN THE WORKING ORDER THEY WERE IN 10
YEARS AGO, WHICH IS CERTAINLY A HECK OF A LOT BETTER THAN
THEY ARE NOW.
THE FOURTH THING IS AN ACTION PLAN.
WE DO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WE DO THE IMPACT STATEMENT, WE
DO THE FUNDING OPTIONS, AND THEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND
IT TURNS OUT TO BE THE BEST THING SINCE THE LAST WONDERFUL
PLAN THAT CAME ALONG, WHAT'S GOING TO BE OUR ACTION PLAN ON
HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS?
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE KIND OF JUST THROWING IT AGAINST
THE WALL AND HOPING IT STICKS HERE, AND HONESTLY, WHEN YOU
START TALKING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE MONEY UP FRONT AND YOU
START TALKING ABOUT THE LONG-RANGE COMMITMENT, THE
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LIABILITY, THE FUNDING LIABILITY, I THINK THIS DESERVES A
WHOLE LOT CLOSER LOOK, AND I'M ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT SHOCKED
THAT YOU'RE UP HERE TODAY ASKING ME TO SUPPORT THIS AND HAVE
NEVER COME BY TO TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: YES.
>>VICTOR CRIST: NO, NO, HOLD THAT THOUGHT.
WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND WE START
TALKING ABOUT INCREASING ROI, WE START TALKING ABOUT WHAT
VINIK'S DOING DOWNTOWN, I CAN THINK OF A DOZEN FACILITIES
THAT ARE ALREADY HERE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A TRACK RECORD ON
THAT HAVE ALREADY COME TO US WITH A LIST OF WANTS AND NEEDS,
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE 15-PLUS-MILLION PEOPLE THAT COME
THROUGH OUR AIRPORTS -- AIRPORT INTO TAMPA AND TURN AROUND
AND LEAVE THE SAME DAY, WE'RE ONLY RETAINING FIVE MILLION OF
THE 15 MILLION THAT COME IN HERE, AND IT'S BECAUSE WE
HAVEN'T OFFERED THEM YET ENOUGH TO WANT TO COME AND STAY A
NIGHT OR TWO OR THREE.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT, IT'S GETTING BETTER, BUT WE NEED MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTRACT THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY COMING
HERE, AND IF WE GROW WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, IT'S A
MUCH SURER, SAFER BET THAN SOMETHING THAT IS NEW AND
UNSTUDIED.
SO I HAVE SOME GENUINE CONCERNS HERE.
YOU KNOW, BEFORE I'LL PUT THE COUNTY ON THE HOOK, I NEED TO
SEE THE RESEARCH DONE.
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I NEED TO SEE THE SCIENCE THAT BACKS UP WHAT YOU'RE TELLING
ME AT THAT PODIUM.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: SURE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
I WASN'T AWARE THAT YOU HAD NOT HAD THAT REPORT OR THE STUDY
THAT WAS DONE PRELIMINARILY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE HAD ALLOCATED DOLLARS FOR THAT
PROJECT, SO, AGAIN, MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT RECOGNIZING THAT
YOU WANTED THAT LEVEL OF INFORMATION.
WE WILL CERTAINLY GET THAT TO YOU.
AS FAR AS ANY ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO, PART OF
IDENTIFYING THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO IS
DEPENDENT UPON US GETTING SOME RESPONSES BACK FROM PEOPLE
WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THIS.
BECAUSE SOMEBODY RESPONDS TO US THROUGH AN RFP DOESN'T MEAN
WE'RE OBLIGATED TO PURSUE THE PROJECT IF WE DECIDE THAT IT'S
NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COUNTY, SO IT'S HARD TO SAY
WITH CERTAINTY THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT OUR COST IS GOING TO BE
WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT OTHER SITES ARE OUT THERE AND WHAT THE
DESIGN-BUILD COST IS GOING TO BE.
>>VICTOR CRIST: FOLLOW-UP?
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES, PLEASE.
>>VICTOR CRIST: AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT REALLY, GREG,
KNOWING THAT THIS WAS COMING TODAY, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
SOME FOLLOW-UP WITH US -- I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER
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COMMISSIONERS, BUT AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, FOR ME --
>>GREG HORWEDEL: SURE.
>>VICTOR CRIST: -- TO ENSURE THAT I DID GET THIS, I DID GET
A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT AND, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT
WOULD BE MY OPINION ON IT, AND I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU IN
ADVANCE UNTIL YOU SELL ME ON THE IDEA, I'M ALL ABOUT
SWEEPING THOSE FUNDS AND PUTTING THEM INTO THE CARE AND
MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING PARKS AND FACILITIES THAT WE
HAVE THAT ARE FALLING INTO DISREPAIR, THAT PEOPLE ARE
ALREADY PAYING FOR OUT OF THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: RIGHT.
>>VICTOR CRIST: THAT ARE BEGINNING TO COME AND COMPLAIN TO
US BECAUSE IT'S GETTING BAD, AND I'VE BEEN IN THESE PARKS,
AND THE CONDITIONS HAVE SLIPPED, AND RIGHTFULLY SO BECAUSE
WE'VE JUST COME OUT OF A RECESSION AND WE'VE HAD TO CUT
BUDGETS, BUT IF WE'VE GOT $15 MILLION SITTING THERE
EARMARKED FOR PARKS AND WE'RE ALLOWING OUR EXISTING PARKS TO
FALL INTO DISREPAIR, I THINK THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE.
SO RIGHT NOW I'M LOOKING AT THAT MONEY FOR CARE AND
MAINTENANCE OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
IF YOU WANT ME TO SUPPORT IT FOR A NEW FACILITY, I NEED TO
SEE THE DATA THAT JUSTIFIES IT.
AND IT'S GOT TO BE MORE THAN RHETORIC.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: RIGHT.
>>MIKE MERRILL: MADAM CHAIR, IF I COULD RESPOND.
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>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES, PLEASE.
>>MIKE MERRILL: I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN, AS
GREG MENTIONED.
SO THIS IS A STAFF REPORT, IT'S NOT A RECOMMENDATION, AND
STAFF REPORTS ARE REALLY INTENDED TO JUST LAY AN IDEA IN
FRONT OF THE BOARD AND THEN BRING BACK RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED IN THE BUDGET FOR TWO YEARS,
SO INITIALLY THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF BIALLOCATING MONEY,
AND NOW REALLY BRINGING FORWARD ANOTHER LEVEL OF DISCUSSION
ABOUT SOME POSSIBILITIES FOR WHAT WE MIGHT ENCOUNTER, WHAT
WE MIGHT WANT TO DO, SO, AGAIN, AS GREG SAID, WE -- WE NEED
TO GET YOU THE FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT WAS DONE BY THE SPORTS
COMMISSION, BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING AS
STAFF ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD WITH AN
RFP THAT WILL GET US MORE INFORMATION, SO APOLOGIZE FOR
THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A PROJECT THAT HAD BEEN
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED, AND WE'RE JUST KIND OF TAKING IT TO THE
NEXT STEP HERE, SO WE'LL GET YOU WHAT YOU NEED.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?
HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN WITHOUT A PARKS DIRECTOR NOW?
HAS IT BEEN, LIKE, SIX MONTHS OR EIGHT MONTHS?
>> IT'S BEEN ABOUT SIX MONTHS, YES.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: ARE WE -- I MEAN, HERE -- I THINK HERE'S
THE THING THAT'S BUBBLING UP IS WE DON'T HAVE -- AND I THINK
I BROUGHT THIS UP TO YOU SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
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WE REALLY NEED TO BRING A CONSULTANT IN THAT HAS EXPERTISE
IN PARKS, AND THIS IS KIND OF GETTING AWAY FROM THE SPORTS,
BUT TO CREATE THIS OVERALL PICTURE AND ASSESS WHAT WE HAVE
AND -- SO WE CAN MAKE GOOD LOGICAL DECISIONS ABOUT THESE NEW
PROJECTS THAT COME UP.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM EVERYBODY IS THAT I
DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THE PARKS DIRECTOR, HAVE WE
HIRED SOMEBODY OR IS --
>>MIKE MERRILL: WELL, YOU KNOW, JACK CARLISLE LEFT ON VERY
SHORT NOTICE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES.
>>MIKE MERRILL: I MEAN, FOR GOOD -- FOR HIS OWN GOOD
REASONS, AND I WISH HIM WELL, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AS IF
WE HAD SIX MONTHS FOR HIM TO BE HERE WHILE WE DID A
RECRUITMENT, SO WE ASKED FOREST TO STEP IN AS INTERIM, AND
NOW WE'RE CONDUCTING A NATIONAL RECRUITMENT WITH THE HELP OF
A RECRUITING FIRM, AND THAT WILL LAND VERY QUICKLY.
AND SO PART OF IT IS HAVING THAT VACUUM WHICH, AS I SAY, WE
DIDN'T HAVE MUCH NOTICE.
JACK WAS GONE IN 30 DAYS, AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO RECOVER,
BUT, AGAIN, THIS PROJECT -- SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WE
NEED -- YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND WE'VE HAD THIS
DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT'S THE PARK'S PLAN FOR FIVE, TEN YEARS
DOWN THE ROAD.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THE FUTURE.
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>>MIKE MERRILL: BUT, AGAIN, THIS PROJECT WAS APPROVED IN
THE BUDGET TWO YEARS AGO, SO --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: RIGHT.
>>MIKE MERRILL: -- WE DON'T USUALLY THEN GO BACK AND SAY,
WELL, LET'S, YOU KNOW, KIND OF --
>>SANDRA MURMAN: I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT DOING THAT.
I'M JUST -- I JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO PUT THESE PIECES OF THE
PUZZLE TOGETHER, THIS BEING ONE OF THEM --
>>MIKE MERRILL: RIGHT.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- TO SEE, YOU KNOW -- AGAIN, GOING BACK
TO COMMISSIONER CRIST, HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, ASSESSING WHAT WE HAVE, AND BEING
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD?
WE'RE GOING INTO THIS BUDGET CYCLE REALLY NOT HAVING THAT
INFORMATION.
>>MIKE MERRILL: MM-HMM.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: AND ALL OF US WANT TO DO PARKS, I MEAN,
ALL OF US.
I'VE GOT TWO PARK PROJECTS I WANT TO DO, YOU'VE GOT SOME.
WE'VE GOT NEW TAMPA COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE'VE GOT STUFF ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
BUT WE HAVE NO ASSESSMENT GOING BACK TO HIS COMMENT, NO DATA
TO PROVE WHAT DO WE NEED, WHERE IS THE UNDERSERVED AREAS FOR
PARKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO ASSESS -- TO
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FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR STEPS, WHAT OUR PLAN IS, HOW DO WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES WE HAVE?
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE DESIRABLE QUESTION FOR ME IS
WE NEED TO GET THAT DONE SOONER THAN LATER.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: YES, MA'AM.
IN FACT, AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR INDICATED, WE ARE UNDER
RECRUITMENT.
THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR WHOEVER WE SELECT WILL BE TO DO THE
REVIEW OF THE PARKS MASTER PLAN.
IT IS ESSENTIAL PRIORITY FOR US, I KNOW THAT.
IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO ON A SOMEWHAT
LIMITED BASIS GIVEN THE NUMBER OF HOLES THAT EXIST IN OUR
PARKS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, SO YOUR CONCERN IS WELL-FOUNDED.
WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS IT, AND AS SOON AS WE
POSSIBLY CAN, WE WILL GET THAT INFORMATION BACK BEFORE YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
SO WE CAN DISCUSS THIS, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO PUT AN ITEM ON
THE AGENDA NEXT BOARD MEETING TO GET THIS TRAIN MOVING DOWN
THE RIGHT TRACK.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN FOR WRAP-UP.
>>KEN HAGAN: LAST COMMENTS.
MIKE SAID TWO YEARS.
I'D SAY THIS PLAN HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR ABOUT EIGHT
YEARS, SO WE'VE CERTAINLY NOT RUSHED IT.
THE FEASIBILITY STUDY HAS BEEN PERFORMED.
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ALL THE COMMISSIONERS NEED TO HAVE THAT IF THEY HAVE NOT
SEEN IT, BUT AS GREG AND MIKE INDICATED, WE'RE SIMPLY
GETTING MORE INFORMATION, TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL,
SEEING WHAT IS OUT THERE, WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS WILLING
TO OFFER ON THIS, AND BY MOVING FORWARD TODAY, IT DOES NOT
LOCK US IN TO ANY PARTICULAR SITE, ANY PARTICULAR DESIGN-
BUILD TEAM, ANY PARTICULAR MODEL FOR OPERATIONS, WE'RE JUST
SIMPLY GETTING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
AND FINALLY, REGARDING COMMISSIONER CRIST'S COMMENTS ON NEED
ASSESSMENT, DAILY OPERATIONAL INPUT, AND THINGS OF THAT
NATURE, I JUST WONDER IF HE FEELS THE SAME WAY ABOUT THE
$3.5 MILLION THAT WAS TUCKED AWAY FOR THE NEW TAMPA CULTURAL
CENTER IN B-6, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE GOTTEN ANY OF
THAT INFORMATION FOR THAT PROJECT AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
OKAY.
THE PEOPLE HAVE THE LIGHTS ON BEFORE YOU CALLED THE
QUESTION, SO TECHNICALLY, I KIND OF NEED TO ASK -- LET THEM
SPEAK.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
AND I THINK JUST IN CLOSING, I THINK THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT
TRACK LOOKING AT THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS, GOING OUT WITH THE
-- YOUR CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS.
145
I CERTAINLY DO ALSO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER CRIST AND TAKE
IT TO HEART AS WELL THAT PERHAPS WE NEED TO ELEVATE
OURSELVES MAYBE AROUND 10- TO 20,000 FEET TO LOOK AT WHAT
ARE THE EXISTING NEEDS OF OUR CURRENT PARKS, HOW ARE WE
PAYING FOR THE UPGRADES, THE MAINTENANCE, THE OPERATIONAL
EXPENSES, AND WITH THE ADDITIONAL NEW PARK, AGAIN, AS I
CONTINUE TO STRESS NOT ONLY THE CAPITAL NEEDS BUT THE
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THIS, SO MAYBE
ALSO INCORPORATING, WHEN YOU-ALL COME BACK IN THE FUTURE
WITH THIS A HOLISTIC APPROACH AS AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF
OUR PARK SYSTEM, CURRENT CONDITIONS, AND WHAT A NEW PARK
LIKE THIS OR PARKS WOULD ADD TO OUR BUDGET, AND I DON'T EVEN
KNOW, ALSO, IF THERE ARE EXISTING -- I HAVEN'T GONE BACK TO
THE CIP TO SEE IF THERE ARE EXISTING PARKS SOMEWHERE IN THE
PIPELINE TOO, SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE
AGENDA ITEM.
COMMISSIONER CRIST, DO YOU HAVE A BRIEF COMMENT?
>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
TWO POINTS.
ONE IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMENT MADE BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.
THE NEW TAMPA CULTURAL CENTER IS CERTAINLY NOWHERE NEAR THE
MAGNITUDE OF THIS.
IT'S LIKE COMPARING A LAWNMOWER TO A CADILLAC, FIRST OF ALL.
146
SECONDLY, ARE WITH THE NEW TAMPA SITE, THERE WERE ALREADY
PARTNERS IN PLACE, THERE WERE ALREADY ASSESSMENTS DONE WITH
THE REVENUES THAT WOULD HAVE -- THAT WOULD BE GENERATED FROM
THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, AND THERE WERE DOLLARS ALREADY LAID ON
THE TABLE BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SO THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCES.
THOSE AREN'T FAIR COMPARABLES.
I AM -- LIKE I SAID, I AM VERY RELUCTANT TO SUPPORT THIS
UNTIL I SEE THE DATA.
I'M BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS A REPORT THAT IS OUT THERE, BUT
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR IS AN UPDATED
DATA THAT SHOWS BASED ON OUR PRIORITIES TODAY -- AND OUR
PRIORITIES HAVE CHANGED IN THE LAST 24 MONTHS -- WHERE THIS
COULD AND WOULD FALL IN THAT LIST OF PRIORITIES AS FAR AS
OUR RATE OF RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT.
AND I UNDERSTAND, NOT EVERY INVESTMENT'S -- THAT RATE OF
RETURN IS GOING TO BE IN CASH, THAT RETURN COULD BE IN
QUALITY OF LIFE, IT COULD BE IN HOW IT PLAYS IN THE TOOLBOX
FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS, BUT GOOD REPORTS
SHOW THAT DATA AND PLACE THAT DATA AND HELP YOU SEE THE
BIGGER PICTURE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
OUT OF RESPECT FOR COMMISSIONER HAGAN AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS
IS TO YOU -- AND I KNOW THIS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU -- I WILL
SUPPORT THIS STEP FORWARD, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I NEED
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SOME COMFORT, AND THAT COMFORT'S GOING TO BE KNOWING THE
DATA ON HOW AND WHERE THIS PROPERLY FITS IN THE LIST OF OUR
PRIORITIES AND OUR NEEDS AND THE RETURN AND HOW IT'S -- AND
HOW IT'S COMPARED TO SOME OF THOSE OTHER NEEDS.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: YES, SIR.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN TO RECEIVE THE
REPORT.
>>KEN HAGAN: TO ISSUE THE RFPs, THE LAND, TO COME BACK
WITHIN 90 DAYS, AND THE DESIGN-BUILD TEAM WITHIN 120 DAYS,
AND THEN AT THAT POINT WE WOULD ASSESS WHAT'S COME FORWARD
AS WELL AS ANY POTENTIAL OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE MODEL
THAT WOULD BE USED.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
AND A SECOND BY --
>>LES MILLER, JR.: I'LL SECOND.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- COMMISSIONER MILLER ON G-3.
ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
SEEING NONE, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.
>>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
>>GREG HORWEDEL: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, GREG.
>>MIKE MERRILL: THAT WAS YOUR LAST ITEM UNLESS YOU HAVE
FUTURE ISSUES.
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>>SANDRA MURMAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING -- I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT I -- I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ADDRESSING THIS TO THE
ADMINISTRATOR OR I.T., BUT THAT WE'RE UNABLE TO PULL UP OUR
AGENDAS ON-LINE.
WE WERE TRYING TO GET IT THIS MORNING IN MY OFFICE AND
COULDN'T GET IT.
IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH GETTING AGENDAS ON-LINE?
>>MIKE MERRILL: NO, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, BUT I'LL MAKE
SURE WE GET SOMEONE --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: OKAY.
IT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH COMPUTERS IN OUR OFFICE, AND WE
NEED SOMEONE IN THERE TO CHECK THEM.
>>MIKE MERRILL: I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM THIS MORNING, BUT
WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE GO BACK AND CHECK.
MAYBE THEY'RE --
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: ALL RIGHT.
IF THEY COULD GET DOWN THERE THIS AFTERNOON, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>>MIKE MERRILL: SURE.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: ALONG THOSE LINES, BECAUSE WE HAD THE SAME
PROBLEM WHEN TALKING ABOUT B-7, BUT ALONG THOSE LINES, I
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WENT TO THE HILLSBOROUGHCOUNTY.ORG WEBSITE AND TRIED TO
ACCESS THE DETAIL AND THE BACKUP ON MY iPAD, AND WHEN I
TAPPED IT, IT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE, SO MY LARGER CONCERN IS
FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE BACKUP.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO iPAD
TECHNOLOGY OR IF THERE'S ISSUES OUT THERE ON REGULAR
COMPUTERS, AND LIANA SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU.
>>LIANA LOPEZ: HI.
LIANA LOPEZ.
IF YOU'D FORGIVE ME, I'M GOING TO READ FROM MY PHONE BECAUSE
I JUST GOT THE ANSWER ON THIS, BUT WE TESTED THE OTHER MAJOR
WEB BROWSERS, GOOGLE, CHROME, APPLE, SAFARI, MOZILLA
FIREFOX.
BASICALLY, IT'S A PLUG-IN ISSUE, SO WE'RE GOING TO WRITE
SOME CODE TO CHANGE IT, AND WE HAVE PUT A MESSAGE SAYING
IT'S BEST VIEWED IN INTERNET EXPLORER AT THE MOMENT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER: OKAY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE CODE CHANGES THIS AFTERNOON.
>> YES.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: BUT YOU CAN GET IT BY GOING -- YOU COULD
GET ACCESS BY GOING ON-LINE ON OUR COMPUTERS?
>> YEAH, THERE'S NO PROBLEM ACCESSING THE AGENDA.
SOME OF THE BACKUP MATERIAL THERE'S SOME ISSUE WITH
DEPENDING ON THE WEB BROWSER YOU'RE USING.
>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: BUT IF IT'S INTERNAL --
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>> THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE, SO WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT FOR
YOU.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
>>MIKE MERRILL: NO OTHER ITEMS FROM US.
>>SANDRA MURMAN: NO MORE ITEMS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.