webapps.hillsboroughcounty.org€¦ · Web viewMARCH 18, 2015. BOCC REGULAR MEETING ***This is...

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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.


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.



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.


SO YOU WON'T BE SPEAKING AGAIN OFFER THE AGENDA?

>> NO, NO.


>> 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.




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


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.


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.


>>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.


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.


WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY

COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM ON B-9.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?


>>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.



>>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.


WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY

COMMISSIONER BECKNER.

50

ANY FURTHER COMMENT?



>>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]


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]


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.


>>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,

57

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WHITE.


WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON D-1.


>>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.


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.


>>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

59

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.


>>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.


ANY QUESTIONS?

OKAY.

BOARD ACTION.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: MOVE APPROVAL.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER --

>>STACY WHITE: [INAUDIBLE]

>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WHITE.


WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON B-1.


>>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.

61

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.

62

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.

63

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.


THANK YOU, ADAM.

WE HAVE SOME COMMISSIONER COMMENTS.



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

64

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

67

THE AMENDMENTS?

>>VICTOR CRIST: SO WE'RE VOTING ON HIS UPDATED AMENDMENT TO

THE MOTION?


>>KEVIN BECKNER: THAT INCORPORATES COMMISSIONER MURMAN'S

SUGGESTIONS.

>>VICTOR CRIST: ALL RIGHT.

GREAT.


>>CHIP FLETCHER: I HATE TO DO THIS, BUT WAS THERE A SECOND

TO THE AMENDMENT?


COMMISSIONER CRIST.

>>CHIP FLETCHER: THANK YOU.


OKAY.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE ON THE

AMENDMENT.



WE'RE NOW BACK ON THE MOTION AS AMENDED.

AND WHO IS --

>>KEVIN BECKNER: SO I'LL MOVE THE ITEM B-2 AS AMENDED.


AND COMMISSIONER CRIST, WILL YOU -- ARE YOU SECONDING THAT

68

ALSO?

>>VICTOR CRIST: [INAUDIBLE]


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.


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.



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.


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.




71

>>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

72

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

73

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.

74

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.


>>SANDRA MURMAN: GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION ON YOUR FIRST

MOTION.


>>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.

78

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.


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.


>>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.


>>KEVIN BECKNER: YES.

>>VICTOR CRIST: YES.

>>RECORDING SECRETARY: ON THE MIC, PLEASE.

>>VICTOR CRIST: YES.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: YES.


>>KEN HAGAN: YES.

81

>>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.



WE HAVE A MOTION ON F-2 BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM,

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.




>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: AGAIN, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER

HIGGINBOTHAM.

IT'S A GREAT ITEM.

GOOD JOB.

OKAY.

82

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.


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 --


>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- COMMISSIONER WHITE.




>>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.


>>SANDRA MURMAN: COMMISSIONER BECKNER.


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.


WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN, SECONDED BY

COMMISSIONER WHITE.




>>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.


ON B-5, BOARD ACTION.



>>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.


OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

WITHOUT ANY, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE, B-5.


>>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.


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.


93

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.




BY COMMISSIONER CRIST ON B-6.




>>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

94

HERE.

THERE ARE SUFFICIENT FUNDS IN THE BUDGET.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, SCOTT.



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.


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.


I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.


BY --


>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- COMMISSIONER CRIST ON B-7.



96

THANK YOU.


>>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.

97

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.


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

98

DOING WHAT WE USED TO DO.


GREAT.

OKAY.

BOARD ACTION.




MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CRIST, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER

HIGGINBOTHAM ON B-8.

WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.


>>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

99

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

100

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

101

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.




AND I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THIS CONCEPT

102

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

103

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.


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.


104

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



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?



>>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.


THAT WAS SHORT.

[LAUGHTER]

OKAY.

106



>>SANDRA MURMAN: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER

TO RECEIVE THE REPORT, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER

HIGGINBOTHAM, ON G-1.




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

108

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

110

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

112

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

113

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.


>>VICTOR CRIST: SECOND.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, SECONDED BY

COMMISSIONER CRIST TO RECEIVE THE REPORT ON G-2.


114

AND PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.


>>SCOTT STROMER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.


THANK YOU.

OKAY.

LAST -- LAST.

>>GREG HORWEDEL: I HOPE NOT LEAST.


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

115

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.


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]


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.


>>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.



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.




THAT REPORT, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, YOU WERE REFERRING TO, WAS

THAT DISTRIBUTED TO US BEFORE OR SHOULD WE HAVE RECEIVED A

125

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 --

126

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.


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.

127

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

128

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,

129

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

130

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

131

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.

132

>>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

133

THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.

DID I ANSWER THAT RIGHT?


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 --


>>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

134

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.


>>GREG HORWEDEL: WE'LL LOOK AT ALL THAT IN OUR ANALYSIS TO

YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE

PROJECTIONS.


IF WE HAVE ANY LEFT-OVER MONEY, CAN I USE IT FOR THE SPORTS

COMPLEX IN SOUTH COUNTY?

[LAUGHTER]

OKAY.

COMMISSIONER CRIST.


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

135

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

136

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

137

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.

138

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.


>>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.


>>MIKE MERRILL: MADAM CHAIR, IF I COULD RESPOND.

140

>>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.

141

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.


>>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.

142

>>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.


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.

144

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.


OKAY.

THE PEOPLE HAVE THE LIGHTS ON BEFORE YOU CALLED THE

QUESTION, SO TECHNICALLY, I KIND OF NEED TO ASK -- LET THEM

SPEAK.



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?


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

147

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.



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.


AND A SECOND BY --

>>LES MILLER, JR.: I'LL SECOND.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: -- COMMISSIONER MILLER ON G-3.


SEEING NONE, PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE.


>>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.

148

>>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 --


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.



>>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.


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.


>>MIKE MERRILL: NO OTHER ITEMS FROM US.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: NO MORE ITEMS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

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