1 CHARTER REVIEW MEETING, 1-25-01 **NOTIFICATION: **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. >>JAN SMITH: GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WE'RE GLAD TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU HERE AND HOPE DURING THE COURSE OF THE EVENING TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU. MS. WILLIAMS, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU. MS. WEST, MAY WE HAVE THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. [ ROLL CALL TAKEN ] YOU HAVE A QUORUM. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU. AT OUR LAST MEETING, AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE BOARD DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE TIME THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK. SO THIS EVENING, WE'RE EXTENDING YOUR TIME FROM THE THREE MINUTES TO THE FOUR MINUTES. WE DO ASK THAT YOU TRY TO COMPLY WITH THE TIME LIMIT. IT'S A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. EACH PERSON WILL BE GIVEN FOUR MINUTES. YOU MAY NOT PASS YOUR TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON. AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT, THE BOARD WILL CLOSE THE 2 PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN CONTINUE ON WITH THEIR REGULAR BOARD MEETING. WE'VE HAD SOME CORRESPONDENCE LATE THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND I'VE ASKED MR. TINKLER FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO REPORT TO US ON THAT. >>KENNETH TINKLER: GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, KEN TINKLER, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE PASSED OUT THE DRAFT FORM OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION. THE BOARD HAD REQUESTED THAT WE ASK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REGARDING THE BUDGET LIMITATION THAT WAS PROPOSED. I WANT TO READ FROM A SECTION OF IT. THE ANSWER FROM THEM IS THE COUNTY MAY NOT AMEND ITS CHARTER TO LIMIT THE ANNUAL INCREASE IN THE COUNTY'S OPERATING BUDGET 3% OR THE RATE. SUCH AN AMENDMENT CONFLICTS WITH THE PROVISION 129 AND 200 FLORIDA STATUTES WHICH SETS FORTH THE MANNER OF WHICH THE COUNTY BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATES MUST BE ESTABLISHED. THIS IS A DRAFT OPINION. UNTIL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SIGNS IT, IT IS NOT THE FINAL DECISION. THEY HAVE INDICATED HE HAS REVIEWED IT, AND THIS WILL BE THE OPINION. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. TINKLER. >>KENNETH TINKLER: YOUR WELCOME. >>JAN SMITH: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THOSE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE 3% CAP, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT ISSUE. 3 MS. MERRITT, DO YOU HAVE A SIGN-UP SHEET? SHE'S JUST GONE TO GET IT. >>STEVE LaBOUR: MADAM CHAIR, WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR MS. MERRITT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE AUDIENCE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE WERE JUST READ. APPARENTLY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS SAYING IF WE WERE TO PLACE 3% CAP AS A REFERENDUM, IT WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. I DO NOT WANT TO PREEMPT ANYONE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THAT, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT GIVEN OUR SPEAKERS ONLY HAVE FOUR MINUTES, AND WE HAVE FIVE OTHER ISSUES THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO SPEND A MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME TALKING TO US ON THOSE ISSUES BECAUSE THIS ONE MIGHT QUICKLY BECOME MOOT, AND WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACT UPON IT. >>JAN SMITH: THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTEDDED THAT THEY MAY STILL SPEAK TO IT IF THEY WISHED TO, BUT THAT BASED ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION, THIS IS -- WILL BE DETERMINED TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. >>GERALD WHITE: MADAM CHAIR. >>JAN SMITH: MR. WHITE. >>GERALD WHITE: RELATED TO THE CAP, I DID HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE ATTORNEY WHETHER OR NOT THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S WORK CHANGED THE QUESTION THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD TO -- THAT WAS ASKED. AND SO, THE DRAFT THAT WE HAVE NOW IS -- IS THAT IN LINE WITH THIS OPINION? >>KENNETH TINKLER: AGAIN, KEN TINKLER, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. 4 THE DRAFT THE COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH FOLLOWS THE SAME LINE THAT WAS SENT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS TAKEN THE STRICT VERSION OF CHAPTERS 129 AND 200 SAYING IF IT IS NOT IN THOSE CHAPTERS, IT CANNOT BE IN THE CHARTER. SO EVEN THAT REVISED PAPERWORK BY THE COMMITTEE COULD NOT MEET THIS STANDARD. >>GERALD WHITE: OKAY. >>KEVIN AMBLER: I THOUGHT THAT OPINION WAS NOT SIGNED YET. >> IT IS NOT AT THIS TIME. >>KEVIN AMBLER: NOT UNTIL HE HAS SIGNED IT YET? >>KENNETH TINKLER: NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL HE SIGNS IT. ALL WE KNOW IS HE HAS REVIEWED IT AND PLANS ON SIGNING IT. >>JAN SMITH: THAT'S WHY I SAID PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE IF THEY WISH TO CHOOSE TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUE THEY MAY. >>KENNETH TINKLER: UNTIL IT IS FINAL, IT IS NOT THE OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. >>JAN SMITH: MR. TINKLER PASSED OUT WHAT WE WILL GIVE TO EVERYONE AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE SIGNED COPIES. I'LL MAKE SURE THE ENTIRE BOARD HAS COPIES OF THAT ALSO. SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND MS. WEST, ARE YOU PREPARED FOR FOUR MINUTES PER SPEAKER? THANK YOU. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE FOUR MINUTES' WORTH, DON'T BE OBLIGED TO FILL UP BLANK SPACE. [ LAUGHTER ] THE FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST IS MR. AL DAVIS AND NEXT WILL BE 5 KARL WARREN. >> MADAM CHAIRMAN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD, MY NAME IS AL DAVIS, AND I RESIDE AT 3724 EAST WILDER AVENUE, TAMPA, FLORIDA, 33610. MADAM CHAIRMAN, I NOTE THAT THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY, VERY BUSY, YOU KNOW. IN LOOKING AT THE -- AT LEAST SEVEN ISSUES AND IN ONE CASE A -- SOME WITH A VARIETY SUGGESTS THAT YOU REALLY HAVE WITHIN BEEN BUSY. AND HAVING SERVED ON THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD, YOU KNOW, I CAN APPRECIATE THE ENERGY AND THE THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THESE PROPOSALS. MADAM CHAIRMAN, I WON'T GO INTO EACH INDIVIDUAL ONE OF THEM BECAUSE WHATEVER YOU MAY DECIDE TO FINALLY DO, I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THIS GUIDING PRINCIPLE. AND THAT IS, IDENTIFY THE PRESENT PROBLEM OR SITUATION THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS ON THE PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE OR THEIR WELL BEING. AND ONCE YOU HAVE DONE THAT, THEN DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPOSAL AND HOW IT WILL ADDRESS THE IDENTIFIED PROBLEM OR SITUATION AND HOW IT WILL BENEFIT THE PEOPLE FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF COST BENEFIT, SHORT-TERM, LONG-TERM BENEFIT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, EQUAL PROTECTION RIGHTS SO I'M IMAGINING, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS, THAT IF YOU DO DECIDE -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S YOUR CHOICE. AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD SUGGEST ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY TO YOUR DILIGENCE THAT YOU DECIDE NOT TO PUT 6 ANYTHING. BUT IF YOU DO DECIDE, THEN LET THAT BE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE. SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO JUSTIFY BASED ON THAT PRINCIPLE A NEED FOR THE EXECUTION OF ONE OF THESE PROPOSALS THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED SO FAR. NOW, MAYBE AS RESULTS OF YOUR DELIBERATION, RESULTS OF THE INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE THAT I MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW YET, MAYBE YOU DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION THAT REALLY WARRANTS A CHANGE, AND THAT CHANGE WOULD BENEFIT THE CITIZEN. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. KARL WARREN. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KARL WARREN, TAMPA, FLORIDA. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN LIEU OF THE PRESENT ATTORNEY GENERAL DRAFT, AND IN VIEW OF OUR LOCAL HOME RULE AUTHORITY, AND THE FAILURE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DISCUSS HOME RULE AUTHORITY IN HIS OPINION, I OFFER MY POSITION. I COME BEFORE YOU AND CATEGORICALLY STATE I AM TOTALLY IN SUPPORT, CONCEPTUALLY AND PRINCIPALLY OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VOTERS, ESPECIALLY THE TAXPAYERS, TO VOTE UP OR DOWN ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY, THE TAXPAYER VOTERS, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME FORM OF STRUCTURE RESTRAINTS PLACED ON COUNTY GOVERNMENT OPERATIONAL BUDGET. I BELIEVE THERE WAS DISCUSSION MADE ON CERTAIN INITIATIVES THAT REQUIRED LARGE SPENDING AND GREAT FUTURE COMMITMENTS OF 7 COMMUNITY RESOURCES MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE DILIGENTLY AND RESTRAINLY CONSIDERED. IF THERE WERE SOME KIND OF STRUCTURAL AMENDMENTS IN PLACE FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING SOME OF THE MOST NOTABLE OR COSTLY DECISIONS. I DO NOT BELIEVE I HAVE TO REHASH FOR THIS CHARTER REVIEW BOARD OR FOR THE TAXPAYERS OR FOR THE VIEWERS THE VARIOUS COSTLY EXPENDITURES BY OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. I VERY STRONGLY BELIEVE IN OPPORTUNITY OR TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD THAT WILL ALLOW THE TAXPAYER VOTERS TO SET BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS THAT WILL CAUSE THE BOCC AS A COLLEGIATE BODY TO WEIGHT ITS SPENDING ON THE EXISTING INFLATION RATE WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH RATE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE INFLATION RATE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE CENSUS BUREAU OR OTHER CREDIBLE RESOURCES AS 2.5% AND THE POPULATION GROWTH IS 1.5%, THEN THE CAP FOR THE BUDGET OUGHT NOT TO EXCEED A FULL PERCENT CAP LEVEL; HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, THE BOCC ALSO HAS OPPORTUNITY POWERS TO EXTRAORDINARILY OVERRIDE THIS CAP RESTRAINT WITH A SUPER ORDINARY VOTE OF 5-2, WHICHEVER THE RATIO NUMBERS ARE IDENTIFIED THAT WOULD CONSTITUTE A SUPER ORDINATE VOTE IN THE EVENT OF AN EXPANSION OF THE BOCC. I BE RENICE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO WILL -- RECOGNIZE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO WILL USE THE POOR AND DISENFRANCHISED PEOPLE. I HAVE FOUND THAT SUCH RATIONALITY AGAINST SUCH RESTRAINTS FLIES IN THE FACTS OF REALITY WHEN GOVERNMENT IS STRUCTURED -- 8 ISN'T STRUCTURED, RESTRAINED THE PUBLIC COFFERS ROBBED AND THE POOR AND DISENFRANCHISED STILL SUFFER GREATLY BECAUSE THE LION'S SHARE OF THE RESOURCES ARE SIPHONED FROM THE TOP WITH LITTLE TRICKLING DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. I BELIEVE THE OBJECTION THAT SAYS THIS ISSUE FOR CHANGE SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN THIS FORM IS A MISGUIDED ASSUMPTION SINCE SIMILAR RESTRICTED PARAMETERS ARE PLACED IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION. AGAIN, I MUST REITERATE, THAT I BELIEVE OUR PRESENT SYSTEM FOR ACCOUNTING, FOR TAXPAYER RESOURCES POLITICAL SPENDING IS INDEED BROKEN AND IS IN THE NEED OF AN EFFECTIVE AND MEANINGFUL FIX. THIS INFLATION AND POPULATION INCENTIVE WILL NO LONGER AFFECT THE DISENFRANCHISED. THE PRESENT UNRESTRAINED BUDGETARY PROCESS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT WILL BE BROUGHT UNDER MORE PUBLIC DEBATE AND SCRUTINY, WHICH WOULD THEN ALLOW GREATER INPUT AND PARTICIPATION OF THE VARIOUS LEADERSHIPS AND SPOKESPERSON ELECTED AND CLAIMING TO REPRESENT THE POOR AND DISENFRANCHISED AND DOWNTRODDEN PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY. I STRONGLY URGE THIS CHARTER REVIEW BOARD TO SUPPORT SUCH AN INITIATIVE AND ALLOW THE VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS TO DECIDE THE DESTINY OF THIS COMMUNITY RATHER THAN YOU 14 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THIS AS MY OFFICIAL COMMENTS. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULD GIVE IT TO MS. WEST, PLEASE. 9 I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE -- TO NOTE THAT -- TO THOSE IN OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE THAT WE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER THIS EVENING THAT YOU MAY CALL IN AND LEAVE A MESSAGE OR A QUESTION. THAT PHONE NUMBER IS 276-8457. THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, MR. BART SIEGEL AND MR. MARK SCHONBRUN. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BART SIEGEL. I LIVE AT 6017 SOUTH ELKINS AVENUE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORTS. I COULDN'T IMAGINE HAVING TO SIT THERE IN YOUR PLACE NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, WEEK AFTER WEEK. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW ALL OF THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, BRAVO TO MR. WARREN'S COMMENTS. HE STATED VERY ELOQUENTLY MY PERSONAL OPINION, THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF STRUCTURED WAY THAT SHOULD BE CONSTITUTIONAL TO CREATE A DISCIPLINED ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN -- WHERE WE STOP SPENDING MONEY LIKE DRUNKEN SAILORS. IT'S JUST OUT OF CONTROL. AND THE TAXPAYERS ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF THE PROBLEM, AND THERE SHOULD BE A SOLUTION THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO FULFILL ALL CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND GIVE THE TAXPAYERS A SECURITY OF NOT BEING TAXED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND OUT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED ON THAT I -- ABOUT THAT I BROUGHT UP SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, PROBABLY MONTHS AGO, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ACTIVITY AS FAR AS TRYING TO BRING OUR 10 CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION. THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO TERM LIMITS. I THINK IT'S -- IT'S NOT A GOOD SITUATION. I THINK IT'S -- IT ALLOWS POWER TO GO UNCHECKED. AND I JUST LIKE TO THINK -- I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THAT SOME MORE CONSIDERATION BEFORE YOU ADJOURN, THAT ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS AS -- HAS BEEN INDICATED BY THE TAXPAYERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WANT ALL CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO BE SUBJECTED TO TERM LIMITS. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. RALPH HUGHES FOR KEEPING US ABREAST OF THE VARIOUS SITUATIONS THAT ARE GOING IN FRONT OF YOU. I AGREE WITH HIM THAT IF ANY CHANGES IN OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT ARE CONSIDERED, I WOULD SUPPORT OPTION "A" FOR SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, PLUS THREE AT-LARGE WITH GEOGRAPHIC RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS. THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. AND, ALSO, I HAVE AN OPINION ON PROPOSAL NUMBER 2. I SUPPORT PARTISAN ELECTIONS. IT GIVES US IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM WHICH WE CAN MAKE A DETERMINATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. SIEGEL. MR. SCHONBRUN. >> EVERYTHING THAT I WAS GOING TO SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID AND SAID VERY WELL BY MR. WARREN, BY MR. SIEGEL. 11 I HAVE ONLY ONE COMMENT. I'M JUST SURPRISED AND ACTUALLY INFURIATED BY THIS DRAFT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. IT -- TO ME, IT'S A LOT OF HOGWASH. I CAN'T IMAGINE THEM TELLING US HOW TO RUN OUR GOVERNMENT. THE FIRST GOOD THING THAT COMES ALONG IN A LONG TIME, CONSERVATIVE FISCAL APPROACH, WHICH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING AS WELL, COMES ALONG, THE CONCEPT OF A CAP, AND THEY JUST TEAR IT DOWN BECAUSE AN -- IN A LEGAL OPINION. I'M QUITE ASHAMED ON BEHALF OF MY GOVERNMENT FOR THAT, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >>JAN SMITH: MR. SHUN BRUN, GIVE YOUR ADDRESS. >> 1802 NORTH MORGAN STREET. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU. WE DO ASK THAT WHEN YOU COME TO THE MIKE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. SPEAK IT CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS ARE MIMI OSIASON AND JEAN WESTIN CARR. . >> I AM MIMI OSIASON, 491 BAY WAY PLACE, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR POINTS OF VIEW WITH YOU. BECAUSE OF TIME LIMITATIONS, I WILL BE BRIEF IN MY COMMENTS ON EACH PROPOSAL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION, I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. 12 AT YOUR LAST MEETING, I VOICED THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTER'S STRONG OBJECTION TO BOTH THE PROPOSAL LIMITING INCREASES IN THE GENERAL REVENUE OPERATING BUDGET AND THE ENTIRE PROPOSAL FOR COUNTY AUDITOR. THIS OPPOSITION IS BASED ON OUR OBJECTIONS TO PLACING THESE ITEMS IN THE CHARTER. FOR THE SAME REASON WE OBJECT TO THE PROPOSAL REQUIRING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO BE A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL CITY-COUNTY MANAGER'S ASSOCIATION. WE PREVIOUSLY TESTIFIED THAT THE DEBATE REGARDING AN ELECTED CHAIR OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION HAS DOMINATED DISCUSSIONS OVER SEVERAL CHARTER REVIEW BOARDS. THERE IS LITERATURE TO SUPPORT AND TO OPPOSE BOTH SIDES AND NOTHING TO SHOW A CLEAR ADVANTAGE TO CHANGING OUR CURRENT STRUCTURE. WE STAND BY THAT STATEMENT. WE SEE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MOVE TOWARD CONSOLIDATION. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THIS CHANGE IN STRUCTURE WILL BE USED AS A STEPPING-STONE TO PILE ON OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE CHAIRPERSON WHO MAY UNDERMINE SOME BUSINESS-LIKE ADVANTAGES ENJOYED BY OUR COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED WHETHER OR NOT APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL BE MADE BY THE CHAIR. THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEEDS INDEPENDENCE, ESPECIALLY IF THE STATE MOVES FORWARD, AS IT APPEARS IT IS, WITH LESS OVERSIGHT AND MORE LOCAL CONTROL. 13 IF A CHANGE TO NONPARTISAN ELECTION LEADS TO A MORE COLLABORATIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, IT WILL BE A POSITIVE OUTCOME. WE CAN SEE NO DISADVANTAGE. WE WOULD, HOWEVER, SUGGEST THAT YOU DRAFT LANGUAGE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF HAVING THE ELECTION DECIDED IN THE PRIMARY. I HAVE SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS TO SHARE ON THIS ISSUE IF TIME PERMITS, BUT FIRST, I WANTED TO ADDRESS CHANGING THE CHARTER REVIEW TO EVERY EIGHT YEARS RATHER THAN FIVE. IF THAT ENCOURAGES -- IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY OF CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES. I KNOW MR. GERALD WHITE WANTS TO GIVE CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CHARTER REVIEW ON A FREQUENT BASIS, BUT WE ALSO PUT A PROVISION IN THE CHARTER FOR CITIZEN INITIATIVE, WHICH IS A SAFEGUARD FOR SITUATIONS THAT CAUSE AN OUTCRY FROM CITIZENS. FRANKLY, AS I HAVE ATTENDED THESE MEETINGS, I HAVE GENERALLY SEEN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS EVENING, NO OUTPOURING OF INTEREST FROM THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. INSTEAD, I HAVE SEEN A VERY FEW BUT VERY INTERESTED PEOPLE. I THINK THIS IS REGRETTABLE, BUT IT IS THE REALITY. THE MECHANICS OF GOVERNMENT IS NOT OF INTEREST TO MANY PEOPLE BESIDES THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CITIZENS HAVE INCREASED INITIATIVE POWERS FOR ORDINANCES SO WE DON'T ALWAYS LOOK TO THE CHARTER WHEN WE WANT TO MAKE CHANGES. AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES, IT IS DANGEROUS TO MESS WITH OUR 14 CONSTITUTION EVERY TIME WE SEE A PROBLEM WE WANT TO SOLVE. REVIEWING THE FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNMENT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DELIBERATIVE, SHOULD NOT DEAL WITH LEGISLATIVE ISSUES, AND IS BETTER SERVED WITH LESS RATHER THAN MORE FREQUENCY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF OUR COMMENTS. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MS. OSIASON. JEANNIE WESTIN CARR. . >> MY NAME IS JEANNIE WESTIN CARR. I LIVE AT 118 BARRINGTON DRIVE, BRANDON, FLORIDA. MY COMMENTS ARE BASED ON AN ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN THE BRANDON EDITION OF THE "TAMPA TRIBUNE" TODAY. ZONING AT PARSONS AND LUMSDEN CHANGES DESPITE OPPOSITION. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT RESPONSIVE TO THE PEOPLE IN UNINCORPORATED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WHILE TAMPA MAY HAVE HELD THE PREDOMINANCE OF POPULATION TEN YEARS AGO, THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE TODAY. UNINCORPORATED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS ALMOST DOUBLED, MAYBE 1 1/2 TIMES THE POPULATION OF TAMPA. HAVING FIVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOUTH TAMPA IS NOT EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION. I DO SUPPORT THE PROPOSALS AS PRESENTED BY F.A.I.R. REPRESENTATION, AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE TERM LIMITS. WE HAVE TO START REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE. I COMMEND EACH ONE OF YOU FOR GIVING THE TIME TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE AND EACH OF THE COMMITTEES THAT YOU MAY SERVE ON IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT. 15 BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE IS MAYBE 30 COMMITTEES IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND THE PREDOMINANCE OF THE REPRESENTATION ON THOSE COMMITTEES IS BY THE PEOPLE IN TAMPA. WE JUST ASKED THAT YOU GIVE US A CHANCE TO SERVE ON THESE COMMITTEES AS WELL. THERE'S A LOT OF CITIZENS THAT WOULD STAND UP AND ARE WILLING TO DO THAT. BUT LET US -- LET US HAVE OUR CHANCE AT IT AS WELL. I MEAN, WE'RE WILLING TO WORK. WE JUST ASK THAT YOU PUT YOUR PROPOSALS ON THE BALLOT AS REPRESENTED BY F.A.I.R. SO WE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE AND HAVE OUR VOICES BE HEARD. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MS. CARR. THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS. THE FIRST ONE IS MR. RON WOLF AND SECOND IS -- OH, AL A MA GONZALEZ HASKINS. . >> GOOD EVENING, CHARTER REVIEW MEMBERS. I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE BRIEF THIS EVENING. I'VE ASKED BARBARA MERRITT TO DISTRIBUTE THIS F.A.I.R. PIECE, THE LATEST PAPER. I AM SURE YOU HAVE TERRIFIC READING TEACHERS. WE HAVE BECOME FASCINATED WITH THIS DOCUMENT, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER. IT IS A WONDERFUL DOCUMENT, AND OUR PURPOSE IN COMING TOGETHER IS TO FIND WAYS, WORKING TOGETHER, TO IMPROVE IT AND MAKE IT 16 STILL BETTER FOR ALL THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO THAT'S THE SPIRIT IN WHICH F.A.I.R. CAME TOGETHER, FAIR ACTION AND REPRESENTATION. TOP OF OUR LIST IS ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING RELATED TO FAIR REPRESENTATION, WHERE WE CAN CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY CITIZEN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FELT THAT THEIR VOICE MEANT SOMETHING, THAT THEY DID HAVE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT. THAT THEY DO ENJOY ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION. AND WE CONDUCTED OUR INITIAL RESEARCH, WE FOUND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THIS IS WHY WE'VE BEEN COMING TO YOU TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN ADVANCING THE IDEA OF A RESTRUCTURING OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO GO TO A SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT AND CONTINUE TO ELECT THE CHAIRPERSON AS USING THE METHOD THAT'S NOW USED. WE THINK THAT WORKS VERY WELL. WE THINK THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KNOW BETTER WITHIN THEIR RANKS WHO IS THE LEADER, WHO IS THE CONSENSUS BUILDER. AND I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD RETAIN THAT AUTHORITY TO ELECT THEIR LEADER ON A ONE-YEAR BASIS SO THAT EACH YEAR THAT SUBJECT IS REVISITED ONCE AGAIN, AND INDEED, SUCH IS THE CASE AS PAT FRANK, LEADERSHIP IS CONTINUING TO BE EXHIBITED, LET THEM BE REELECTED ANNUALLY FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THEIR TERM LIMITS. I AM GOING TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE PROPOSALS. PROPOSAL NUMBER 1, MY REGRET IS THE STRUCTURE THAT F.A.I.R. HAS BEEN ADVANCING IS NOT INCLUDED FOR CONSIDERATION; HOWEVER, 17 "C" COMES THE CLOSEST. AND WE MOVED TO A SIX SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT, ONE ELECTED AT LARGE COMMISSIONER. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTED AT-LARGE COMMISSIONER BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM. AND THERE MAY BE A PERSON ELECTED THAT REALLY DOES NOT HAVE NECESSARILY THE SKILLS OF LEADERSHIP TO ENCOURAGE FELLOW BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ENGAGE IN FOLLOWSHIP. THAT WILL BE A CONCERN THAT THE TAXPAYERS WILL LIVE WITH THAT SITUATION FOR A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD RATHER THAN GO TO THE VOTING BOOTH AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I MUCH PREFER THE ONE-YEAR ANNUAL REVIEW. PROPOSAL NUMBER 2, WE SUBSCRIBE TO NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. I THINK I'VE MADE THAT POINT IN THE PAST. IT WILL OPEN THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN OFFICE PERSONS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO CONSIDER PARTICIPATING IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS TODAY. THE MATTER OF THE OPERATING BUDGET FORMULA THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED. I'M CONCERNED AS A TAXPAYER ABOUT THIS SPIRALING INCREASE OF TAXES AND THE COST FOR GOVERNMENT. AND EACH AND EVERY TIME I'VE LOOKED AT IT, I'VE TRIED TO SEPARATE THE REQUIRED EXPENDITURES THAN THOSE THAT ARE DISCRETIONARY. INDEED, BY IMPOSING A CAP ON -- THROUGH THE CHARTER GOVERNMENT ON THE OPERATING BUDGET BASED ON THE FORMULA, THAT INCLUDES 18 THE INFLATION RATE AND POPULATION INCREASES EACH YEAR, SO WE ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF SERVICE, I WILL SUPPORT THAT. THE COUNTY ORDERED A PROPOSAL. I'M DELIGHTED THE WAY THIS THING HAS MOVED AND BEEN AMENDED. BACK IN AUGUST I TOOK THE POSITION THAT I FELT THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NEEDED AN IMPORTANT TOOL THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW HAVE AVAILABLE TO DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE ANNUAL BUDGET, TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM, TO INTERPRET SOME OF THESE NUMBERS AND TRANSLATE IT INTO TERMS THAT CAN BE BEST UNDERSTOOD. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO VISIT TONIGHT. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. WOLF. MS. ALMA GONZALEZ HASKINS. >> GOOD EVENING. BUENOS NOCHES. MY NAME IS ALMA GONZALEZ HASKINS. 602 ROSEMARY AVENUE IN BRANDON. I'M A FORMER TEACHER PRESENTLY WORKING FOR A NONPROFIT AGENCY SERVING SOUTH COUNTY. I'M HERE TO CATEGORICALLY STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE IN THE PRESENT COUNTY ALIGNMENT MADE BY F.A.I.R.. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE FAIR AND EQUAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF EASTERN AND SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I STRONGLY SUPPORT A SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT AND THE 19 ELIMINATION OF THE AT-LARGE DISTRICT, HOPING THAT THE NEEDS OF THE HISPANIC POPULATION WILL BE BETTER SERVED WITH MORE ADEQUATE SERVICES, STRONGER AND MEANINGFUL WORKING SOLUTIONS, AND INCREASED ACCESS TO WHOMEVER REPRESENTS THEM ON THE BOARD. I ALSO ENTERTAINED A THOUGHT THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ELECTIONS SHOULD BE NONPARTISAN AND INDEPENDENT OF PARTY AFFILIATION, IN PART BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY NOBLE, HARD-WORKING SOUTH COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT FOR MULTIPLE REASONS CAN'T OR DON'T CAST VOTES BUT STILL YET DESERVE QUALITY REPRESENTATION AS THE REST OF THE COUNTY. THE DATA OF THE NEW CENSUS WILL FURTHER PROVE MY POINT. AND I WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE FAIR AND EQUAL REPRESENTATION. I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THIS BOARD TONIGHT. GRACIAS. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. NEIL COSENTINO. . >> GOOD EVENING. I'M NEIL COSENTINO, 708 SOUTH DAVIS BOULEVARD, TAMPA. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF A THINK TANK, PUBLIC INTEREST THINK TANK CALLED THE BAY WORLD PUBLIC TRUST. I'M HERE, ONCE AGAIN -- I PASSED OUT A PRESS RELEASE, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS WILL ACTUALLY GO INTO THE COURTS, AND WHEN THIS ISSUE GOES INTO THE COURTS, WE NEED A CORRECTION. AND WE THINK THE CORRECTION SHOULD BE DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW IN 20 THIS PROCESS, AT LEAST IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE DYNAMICS OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. IN SIMPLE TERMS, WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS THE PUBLIC OWNED 65 ACRES OF LAND. THE PUBLIC PURCHASED THE 65 ACRES OF LAND FROM ITSELF FOR $20 MILLION. NOW WAS IT NECESSARY TO BUY THAT LAND? NO. THAT'S OUR CONTENTION. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE JURY WILL AGREE WITH US. IF IT WERE NECESSARY, WERE THERE OTHER WAYS OF DOING THIS, YES, THERE WERE MANY OTHER WAYS. THE MONEY WAS THEN USED BY THE PUBLIC TO ACTUALLY LOBBY ITSELF TO GET MORE MONEY FOR C.I.T. TAX. SO WE HAVE A VERY, STRANGE, UNUSUAL, UNDESIRABLE, TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TRANSFER OF MONEY. THE MONEY THAT WAS OBTAINED IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE. WE BORROWED MONEY ON THE OPEN MARKET. SO WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE, AS TAXPAYERS, ARE BUYING WHAT WE ALREADY OWN AND BORROWING MONEY TO DO IT. AND WE ARE BUYING A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S UNNECESSARY FOR A STADIUM THAT'S UNNECESSARY, AND THEN WE ARE PAYING TO TEAR DOWN A STADIUM WITH OUR OWN MONEY TO THE BENEFIT OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. THIS CAN'T CONTINUE TO BE THIS WAY. AND WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE GIVE IT YOUR SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO STOP THIS. 21 AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE CAN BE SOMETHING PUT IN THE CHARTER TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE SECOND SUBJECT IS SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE, AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO VISIT IT THIS TIME, AND POSSIBLY WE CAN GET IT INTO THE NEXT CHARTER REVIEW. SO AS A THINK TANK, WE DO LOOK DOWN THE ROAD. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NEXT -- POSSIBLY THE NEXT CHARTER REVIEW. WE'VE CREATED A SITUATION CALLED "COMMUNITY HOME RULE." AND TO UNDERSTAND "COMMUNITY HOME RULE," THAT'S GIVING UP SOVEREIGNTY. SO IF OUR COUNTY HOME RULE GIVES UP SOVEREIGNTY TO THE COMMUNITY, THOSE ARE THE DYNAMICS WE HAVE TO ASK FOR NOW AND THE NEXT REVIEW BOARD. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE LOWEST LEVEL OF SOVEREIGNTY GIVEN TO A GROUP OF CITIZENS IS, FOR EXAMPLE, A CONDO ASSOCIATION WHICH HAS A FLORIDA STATUTE THAT CONTROLS THAT. ABOVE THAT, ON THE NEXT LEVEL, IS CALLED "SMALL CITY AND CORPORATIONS." AND JAN PLATT, COMMISSIONER PLATT, WAS AGAINST THAT RECENTLY BECAUSE SHE'S FELT THAT AND WE AGREE WITH HER. WE FELT THERE WAS TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT. WE FELT THERE WERE MULTILAYERS OF GOVERNMENT, FOR INSTANCE, IN PINELLAS COUNTY. WE DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE THAT WAY. WE THINK THERE IS A BETTER WAY OF DOING IT AND IT'S CALLED "COMMUNITY HOME RULE CHARTER." 22 AND IF THIS COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY HOME RULE CHARTER, WE'D BE HAPPY TO COME FORWARD AND EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS. THE PROJECT IS CALLED "THE CAMELOT PROJECT." THE CAMELOT PROJECT WHICH IS THE THEORETICAL WONDERFUL COMMUNITY WE WANT, AND THEN YOU REVERSE ENGINEER BACK TO WHERE WE ARE, AND THEN YOU GO FORWARD FROM THAT POINT. YOU DESIGN A COMMUNITY HOME RULE CHARTER THAT TAKES YOU TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AGAIN ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE VIEWING AUDIENCE WHO MAY WISH TO CALL IN TO THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD. OUR PHONE NUMBER IS 276-8457. YOU MAY CALL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE REGARDING YOUR OPINIONS OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD IS CONSIDERING OR YOU MAY LEAVE A QUESTION AND WE WILL TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BEFORE THE EVENING IS OVER. AND AS A QUICK ASIDE HERE, FOR ANYBODY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE RECENT SPEAKER SAID AND WHETHER OR NOT THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD CAN DEAL WITH IT, THE AVIATION AUTHORITY WAS CREATED BY A SPECIAL ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE. THIS CHARTER REVIEW BOARD, IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING, THAT WE CANNOT DEAL WITH ANYTHING THAT IS A SPECIAL ACT. IT IS OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW. SO WE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERING THAT. 23 THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, THE FIRST ONE IS HENRY DAVEY, AND THE SECOND ONE IS JOANNA TOKELY. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M HENRY DAVIS. I LOOKED ACROSS THE AUDIENCE REAL QUICK TO SEE THAT -- I THINK I REPRESENT PROBABLY A LARGE MAJORITY OF EAST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BEESVILLE, INC. OUT OF EAST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, PLANT CITY. MY CONCERNS WHEN I SAW WHAT THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD WERE DOING, I LOOKED AT YOU ON TV. I ACTUALLY STOOD THERE AND WATCHED, AND I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THREE THINGS. THE FIRST ONE WAS, WHERE IT SAYS, CHANGE OF COUNTY COMMISSION FROM PARTISAN TO NONPARTISAN. THAT'S, TO ME, IN PLAIN ENGLISH, IS A DEFINITE NO-NO. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DISENFRANCHISING THE PEOPLE. IF YOU DO THAT, MY WAY OF THINKING, AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN EAST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. YOU HAVE DISENFRANCHISED A LOT OF PEOPLE. THAT PARTISAN VOTE IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED. ANOTHER THING THAT I LOOKED AT, AND AS I READ THIS AND STUDIED IT, AND RESTUDIED IT, AND THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T COME TO THE 11th MEETING, WAS THAT THE CHANGE IN THE CHARTER REVIEW -- I'M LOOKING AT MR. CHARTER -- MR. GERALD WHITE, I DON'T GO FOR FOUR YEARS. 24 WHEN YOU GO ON FOUR YEARS, THAT'S LIKE A PRESIDENCY ELECTION. I DON'T CARE FOR THAT. IN OTHER WORDS, IT COULD BE REPUBLICANS, THE NEXT TIME DEMOCRATS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT. THE LAST THING I VIEWED AS PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE, BUT -- IS THE PART WHERE IT SAYS, REQUIRE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL CITY-COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION. I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND SAYING THERE ARE QUALIFIED PEOPLE THAT CAN HANDLE THAT JOB QUITE WELL WITHOUT BEING IN THAT ASSOCIATION. WHEN THAT ASSOCIATION -- WHEN I SEE -- IT BRINGS A RED FLAG TO ME AND SAYS I AM GOING TO GO ON A WORLDWIDE HUNT, A NATIONWIDE HUNT FOR AN ADMINISTRATOR. AND SOMETIMES I LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND SAY, IS THAT A NECESSARY THING TO DO? SOMETIMES GOOD, QUALIFIED PEOPLE FOR POSITIONS COME FROM LOCALLY. YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT, YOU ARE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THE LESSON THAT I HAD AS I CLOSE HERE SAYS THAT -- I THINK IT SAYS HERE ONLY ONE OF WHICH -- ONLY ONE WHICH MAY BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT. SO REPRESENT BEESVILLE CORPORATION EAST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, PLEASE BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE, BECAUSE THE ONE 25 THAT YOU CHOOSE MAY BE THE ONES THAT WE MAY GO TO THE STREETS TO TAKE CARE OF. I'M SAYING THAT FROM A PARTISAN POINT OF VIEW. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. DAVEY. MS. TOKELY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOANNA TOKELY, AND I RESIDE AT 2118 WEST CARMEN STREET IN THE WEST TAMPA AREA. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD FOR OBVIOUSLY THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT YOU HAVE SPENT IN COMING UP WITH THE AMENDMENTS ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. AND, ALSO, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT EVERYBODY WHO LIVES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS A TAXPAYER. IF THEY BUY A STICK OF GUM -- A PACK OF GUM, THEY ARE A TAXPAYER. AND SO, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A HOMEOWNER FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING TO FEEL THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE A VOICE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE POSITION OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I SUPPORT AMENDMENTS 2, 3, AND 6. I STRONGLY SUPPORT OPTION 1-A, AND I OPPOSE AMENDMENTS 4, 5, AND 7. MORE SPECIFICALLY TO SPEAK TO 1-A, I'M A SUPPORTER OF SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS AND A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTING. 26 FOR THAT REASON, I THINK 1-A IS A MORE VIABLE OPTION FOR REPRESENTATION. I ALSO WANT TO GO ON RECORD AS OPPOSING AMENDMENT NUMBER 1. I FEEL THAT IS MICROMANAGING GOVERNMENT. I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD SHOULD DETERMINE THE BUDGET BASED ON COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT THIS WAS EVEN CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THE CHARTER. AMENDMENT NUMBER 5, I FEEL THAT THIS HAVING A COUNTY AUDITOR APPOINTED IS NOT AS INDEPENDENT AS HAVING AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR TO RESPOND TO A RFP. THE PERSON WOULD HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE MAJORITY OF PERSONS WHO VOTED FOR THAT PERSON TO BE AN AUDITOR AND I REALLY HAVE NOT SEEN ANY CONCRETE REASONS OR DEFINITIONS THAT WOULD SUPPORT NOT HAVING AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR. AND AS FAR AS NUMBER 7, I THINK THAT'S AGAIN MICROMANAGING. I CAN SEE YOU REQUIRING CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND CERTAIN EXPERIENCE, BUT I CERTAINLY CAN'T SEE PUTTING IN THE CHARTER WHAT ORGANIZATIONS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHOULD BE A MEMBER OF. I THINK WE ARE OPENING UP FOR JUST MICROMANAGING EVERY ASPECT OF GOVERNMENT, AND THAT'S WHY WE ELECT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THAT'S WHY, I THINK, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHOULD SELECT THEIR CHAIRPERSON ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AS THEY ARE DOING PRESENTLY. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MS. TOKELY. WE HAVE RECEIVED ONE CALL. 27 MR. HURLEY WILL READ IT INTO THE RECORD. >>DAVID HURLEY: THIS WAS FROM ROBERT BETTIS OF BALBOA LANE IN APOLLO BEACH. HE AGREES WITH F.A.I.R. OF HAVING SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU. >>GERALD WHITE: MADAM CHAIR. MS. TOKELY JUST CITED SOME NUMBERS THAT SHE SUPPORTED AND DIDN'T SUPPORT. ARE WE GOING BY NUMBERS RELATED TO THESE RESOLUTIONS? >>JAN SMITH: I DIDN'T THINK THAT MY NUMBERS WERE EXACTLY LIKE HERS AT THE BEGINNING, BUT I UNDERSTOOD WHICH ONES SHE WAS SPEAKING TO. >>STEVE LaBOUR: MADAM CHAIR, I SUSPECT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THE TALLY SHEET THAT WAS HANDED OUT, THE YELLOW SHEET. [ INAUDIBLE ] >>JAN SMITH: IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT --. [ INAUDIBLE ] MS. TOKELY, IF WE CAN ASK YOU TO PLEASE -- IF YOU WILL GET ONE OF THE YELLOW PAGES FROM MS. MERRITT AND FILL IT OUT AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN YOUR NAME TO IT, WE CAN PUT IT IN THE RECORD SO IT'S CLEAR. YEAH, BUT I THINK THESE ARE IN A DIFFERENT ORDER. >>GERALD WHITE: I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS READING OUT OF. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT SHE WANTS. >>JAN SMITH: THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, CLAIRE CARDINA AND GORDON COMEE. 28 . >> MADAM CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD, MY NAME IS CLAIRE CARDINA. I LIVE AT 14024 TRUEVILLE DRIVE. THE ZIP IS 33624. AND I AM PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, OF THE FRIENDS OF THE TAMPA/HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, IF YOU WANT THE WHOLE NAME FOR IT, AND WE ARE THE ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS THE GERMANY LIBRARY DOWNTOWN, AND WE ARE THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR ALL OF THE FRIENDS OF ALL OF THE BRANCH LIBRARIES. AND COMING IN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING TONIGHT, I MAY BE TALKING ABOUT A MOOT QUESTION, BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE STILL FOR YOU TO HEAR OUR VIEWS CONCERNING THE 3% CAP. AND THAT IS -- AND I AM IN OPPOSITION TO THE 3% CAP. SERVICES LIKE THE LIBRARY COMBINED WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH ARE EXPANDING AT A DIFFERENT RATE. WHEN YOU GO ACROSS -- THAT ARE EXPANDING WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH. SO THEY MAY BE EXPANDING IN A WAY THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY BUDGET ARE EXPANDING AT. TO JUST PUT AN OVERALL CAP AND SAY, OKAY, EVERYTHING IS LIMITED, I THINK IS THE WRONG WAY -- THE WRONG APPROACH TO DO IT. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WITH RESPECT TO THE LIBRARIES, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS DOES NOT -- DOES NOT INVOLVE THE CAPITAL FUNDING. 29 SO THERE IS ALREADY IN THE COUNTY MONEY TO BUILD NEW BRANCH LIBRARIES TO SERVE OUR COUNTY AND THERE'S MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO ENHANCE AND ADD TO EXISTING LIBRARIES TO IMPROVE THEM. BUT IF WE PUT A CAP LIKE THIS ON, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND THROUGH THE OPERATING BUDGET. THE STAFF FOR THOSE NEW LIBRARIES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BUILD. I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION. LIBRARIES MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE, BUT I'M SURE YOUR SUPPORT -- I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL SUPPORT THE LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO SO MANY PEOPLE. AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'M DEFINITELY A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CREDIT GIVEN TO THE VOTERS AND SAY, IN MY CASE, AS I SAID, I'M A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, AND I'LL VOTE FOR MY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BASED ON MY OPINION OF WHAT THEY DO WITH MY MONEY AS A TAXPAYER. AND I THINK THAT WE, AS VOTERS, SHOULD HAVE CREDIT FOR BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MS. CARDINA. >>KEVIN AMBLER: MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. WE HAVE REFERRED PROPOSAL NUMBER 4, WHICH CONCERNS THE BUDGET CAP TO COMMITTEE. AND THE COMMITTEE HAD REPORTED OUT A REVISED LANGUAGE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY CONTAINED IN THE PACKAGE UNDER THE SUMMARY PAGE, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN THE LANGUAGE AS IT'S QUOTED ON THE FACE SHEET OF THE TALLY SHEET. 30 AND I THINK IN FAIRNESS TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE COMMENTING ON THIS, THAT THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO REPORT OUT WHAT THAT REVISED LANGUAGE IS SO AT LEAST IF FOLKS WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT, THEIR COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSAL AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS SUBMITTED TO THEM FOR THEIR. AND THE 3% IS NO LONGER IN OUR LANGUAGE THAT THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO REPORT OUT. >>JAN SMITH: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING THE ATTORNEY, MR. KEN TINKLER WENT OVER THIS AS NOT BEING A SUBSTANTIAL DEVIATION OF THE WORDING THAT WAS SENT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AT THE BEGINNING. WE CAN GET INTO THE DISCUSSION, BUT THIS IS THE PERIOD OF TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND WE WILL COME BACK. >>KEVIN AMBLER: I UNDERSTANDING THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT IS IN THE PACKAGE HERE DOES NOT -- FOR THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEFORE THE BOARD. AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT THAT IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE BASIS FOR THE REQUEST WE MADE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, BUT THE LANGUAGE IS DIFFERENT, AND FOLKS THAT ARE COMMENTING ON AN ABSOLUTE CAP OF 3% MAY BE MISLED BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE THAT IS CURRENTLY DRAFTED IS A CAP INVOLVING POPULATION GROWTH PLUS THE INFLATION INDEX ADDED TOGETHER. >>JAN SMITH: THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS GIVEN US AN OPINION. WE WILL GET INTO THESE DISCUSSIONS AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO LISTEN. 31 SO I WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK. WE CAN CORRECT THIS -- MOST OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS -- THESE ARE OUR THOUGHTS OF WHERE WE THINK WE'RE GOING, BUT ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED SO FAR CAN CHANGE THIS EVENING, COULD CHANGE AT A NEXT MEETING OR THE FINAL MEETING ON THE 8th. BUT WE WILL FURTHER CLARIFY THAT AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT. >>STEVE LaBOUR: MADAM CHAIRMAN, ONE OTHER POINT, MR. AMBLER IS REFERRING TO LANGUAGE THAT THIS BOARD HAS NOT VOTED ON. WHETHER THE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS MET, I APPRECIATE THAT, AND THAT WILL BE SET OUT FOR US. BUT THE LANGUAGE THAT THIS BOARD VOTES ON. AND ANY LANGUAGE OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT THIS BOARD HAS NOT VOTED ON. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN. GORDON COMEE, SEFFNER, FLORIDA. I'VE GOT A BAD COLD HERE, SO I'M GOING TRY TO KEEP MY REMARKS AS SHORT AS I CAN. I SUPPORT WHAT WARREN WEATHERS STATED EARLIER WHEN HE CAME UP HERE. HE WAS TO THE POINT ON ALL ITEMS -- AS CEO -- I'M CEO OF TAXCAP COMMITTEE, STATE OF FLORIDA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BEING MY BASE. AND, ALSO, RECENTLY, WE JUST FORMED A CYBER-CITIZENS FOR JUSTICE, CCFJ.NET, SO PULL IT UP, ACROSS THIS GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA. WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR CHANGE. 32 WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOY A LOT OF SPENDING BECAUSE THE NORMAL PEOPLE ON THEIR STREET DOESN'T HAVE $100 BILL TO GET THEM FROM WEEK TO WEEK. WE NEED THESE CAPS. AS TAXCAP COMMITTEE MEMBER AT THAT TIME, WE WENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND GOT THREE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT. THAT'S NOT EASY, 43,750 SIGNATURES OF REGISTERED VOTERS. I WAS IN EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THIS COUNTY, AND OTHER COUNTIES, BUT MAINLY HILLSBOROUGH IS MY CHARGE. AND THE PEOPLE ARE TIRED. THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE KIND OF MONIES THAT YOU ARE OUT SPENDING NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE BULLET TRAIN COMING DOWN THE TRACK AT YOU AT THE SAME TIME. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A WATER SHORTAGE COMING DOWN AT YOU THE SAME TIME. SO THE SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS WHAT WE WOULD VOTE FOR AND PUT THE WORD OUT TO OUR PEOPLE TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS, OTHERWISE WE WILL GO AS A LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. WE WILL GO BACK TO THE CITIZENS' INITIATIVE, AND WE WILL DO IT AGAIN. WE DID THREE TIMES WHICH IS AWESOME. WE HAVE A FOURTH ONE WHICH NOW HAS SOME STATEWIDE MEETINGS ON TERM LIMITS ON JUDGES. AND THAT'S GOING TO RAISE A LITTLE HAIRS ON A FEW PEOPLE'S NEXT. 33 BUT WE ARE GOING TO LET THEM KNOW THAT NO ONE MAN IS A MOUNTAIN. THE CITIZENS IN THE CONSTITUTION, IT SAYS "WE, THE PEOPLE." THE WORD OF THE PEOPLE AND AS THE OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WE NEED SOME CONSTITUTIONAL OPINIONS TO BACK UP HIS OPINION, BUT TO TAKE ONE ATTORNEY'S OPINION, I THINK THAT'S BEEN OUR FAULT THROUGHOUT HISTORY THAT WE TOOK IT AS THE GOSPEL. WE NEED SOME CONSTITUTIONAL PROFESSORS TO BACK UP THOSE OPINIONS IF IT IS CONSTITUTIONALLY CORRECT OR NOT. SO THAT TIES IN WITH THE AUDITOR. WE DEFINITELY NEED AN APPOINTED COUNTY INTERNAL PERFORMANCES AUDITOR. WE DEFINITELY NEED THEM. IT IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE. I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY IF THEY I BELIEVE IT IS $50 MILLION, WHAT WOULD IT COVER? WHAT OTHER PROGRAM THAT YOU REALLY NEED THE MONEY, IF THIS AUDITOR CAN SAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY, THAT YOU CAN WELL AFFORD? WELL, WHETHER IT BE SCHOOL BOOKS OR WHATEVER, WHICH I DID BRING ONE IN. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SET UP A LITTLE LIBRARY FOR THIS. A 100-YEAR-OLD BOOK WITH FAMOUS PATRIOTS THAT SPOKE AND FORMED THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WAS IN HERE AND YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE POOR MAN'S ALMANAC, IF YOU DON'T NEED IT, DON'T BUY IT. SAVE AND YOU WILL BE WEALTHIER FOR IT. 34 >>JAN SMITH: JOSEPHINE TERRY AND JANET WILSON. >> MADAM CHAIRMAN, I'M JOSEPHINE TERRY. I RESIDE AT 14511 SUTTER PLACE. 33625. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT LIBRARIES BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR LIBRARIES TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES, EVEN AT THE BEST. SO I SUPPORT MRS. CARDINA'S STATEMENTS AND CONGRATULATE YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. MS. WILSON. >> JANET WILSON, 1926 WELLFLORAL DRIVE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. MANY THANKS FOR EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR A YEAR OF DILIGENT WORK AS CITIZENS AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE GIVEN TO CITIZENS TO SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND FOR KEEPING SCORE. ULTIMATELY, IN THE GOVERNMENTAL FORM OF A REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC, WITH DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES, A FINAL DECISION WILL BE YOURS. I SECOND AL DAVIS'S PRINCIPLES AND KARL WARREN'S ELOQUENT SPEECH. DO NOT SUPPORT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. FIRST, I PREFER AND SUPPORT THE PRESENT COLLEGIAL FORM OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. ANY FORM HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS. 35 THIS FORM IS FAR BETTER THAN STRONG MAYOR OR CHAIR THAT HAS CREATED A BOSS CULTURE OF PATRONAGE AND ULTIMATE CORRUPTION. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE CHOICE OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM. SECOND, I FEEL THAT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS OF THAT DAY, THE CHARTER WENT TOO FAR IN TAKING POWER FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AND GIVING TOO MUCH POWER TO THE ADMINISTRATOR AND A STAFF WAITING FOR THE NEXT ELECTION. THERE'S NO EFFECTIVE WAY TO ENFORCE EVEN UNANIMOUS DECISIONS, EXCEPT AT BUDGET TIME OR BY FIRING, WHICH AT FIRST BECAME A REVOLVING DOOR SOLUTION. PRESENTLY, THE COMMISSIONERS ONLY HAVE CONTROL AT BUDGET TIME, AND WITHOUT TIME AND ABILITY TO ANALYZE HOW TO PROVIDE THE USE OF THOSE POWERS. THIRD, THEREFORE, I SUPPORT GIVING THE COMMISSIONERS MORE POWER BY, ONE, ADDING HELP FROM AN INTERNAL PERFORMANCE AUDITOR WHO WILL PERFORM HEALTH AND BUDGET ANALYSIS. THEY PREDICTED THAT DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA WOULD LAST UNTIL THE MASSES FOUND THE WAY TO GET THEIR HANDS INTO THE PUBLIC PURSE. AND AT BUDGET TIME, ALL HANDS ARE OUT. BY ALSO PROVIDING THE STRENGTH FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO RESIST FINANCING ANY GOOD INTENTION TO COMES ALONG BY PROVIDING -- BUT BY PROVIDING BASIC GOVERNMENT SERVICES BY GIVING A CAP. IF WE CAN'T DO IT NOW, THEN WE GO TO THE STATE AND CHANGE THE STATUTES. HOWEVER, I WOULD SUGGEST AN INCREASE TO THE BUDGET OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT PROVIDED BY AN INCREASE IN GROWTH ADDED TO THE 36 CPI PERCENTAGE. I SUPPORT THE PRESENT 4-3 FORM OF GOVERNMENT WITH THE CHAIR ELECTED BY THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, THE COMMISSIONERS. A LONGER TERM COULD BE DESIGNATED AND SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES CAN BE SPELLED OUT. THIS WILL MAKE THE COMMISSIONERS CHOOSE THE BEST LEADER AMONG THEMSELVES TO REFLECT AMONG THEMSELVES AND PERHAPS PREVENT THE ROTATION THEORY. I HAVE FOUND THAT OFTEN AT LARGE-LARGE COMMISSIONERS PAY MORE ATTENTION TO AREA PROBLEMS, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN GET YOUR DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO PAY ATTENTION, AND THAT THEY PROVIDE BALANCE AND FACILITATE MORE CONSIDERATION FOR CONSENSUS FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE COUNTY. AND I HAVE FOLLOWED THIS COMMISSION FOR 14 YEARS. THE DISTRICTS FOR THE THREE AT-LARGE SHOULD REQUIRE THEM TO RESIDE IN CERTAIN AREAS OUTSIDE OF TAMPA TO MATCH THE NUMBERS OF THE COUNTY POPULATION VERSUS TAMPA FOR REPRESENTATION. SIX SINGLE DISTRICTS AND ONE CHAIR AT-LARGE GIVES AN INSURMOUNTABLE FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE TO THE CANDIDATE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND LEGAL COMMUNITY. IF YOU WANT A PUBLIC RELATIONS PERSON OR A DICTATOR, THIS IS THE START. WHEN YOU SET UP DISTRICTS, SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, YOU LOSE CONTROL AND THEY CAN BE SHAPES FROM TAMPA AND -- FOURTH, I VERY MUCH OPPOSE NONPARTISAN. I HAVE REGISTERED AS A DEMOCRAT AND AS A REPUBLICAN. I CHOSE THE PARTY THAT MOST CLOSELY RELATED TO MY BELIEFS AND 37 THAT CHANGED AS MY LIFE EXPERIENCES CHANGED. I VOTED FOR THE CANDIDATE THAT WAS BEST QUALIFIED AND REPRESENTED MY PRINCIPLES. DURING THE CHARTER REVIEW, LAST ONE, AL DAVIS MADE THE REMARK, PARAPHRASED, THIS IS A NORTHERN PARTISAN PARTY. WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS THEIR PLATFORMS? WHAT KIND OF -- SOUNDS LIKE MOTHERHOOD AND APPLE PIE, IT COVERS UP INFORMATION FROM THE VOTER. DO YOU SEE A COUNTRY WITH MULTIPLE PARTIES BETTER THAN OURS? IN CLOSING, I HAVE ONE SENTENCE. SHAKESPEARE POE HE TREE TO YOU. THEY HAD NO TRANSFER OF WEALTH, TAXES, AND NO TAKING OF THE PART OF A MAN OR WOMAN'S EARNINGS. WE CAN AT LEAST PUT A CAP ON IT. PERHAPS THE REVIEW OF THE FEDERALIST PAPERS WILL BE MORE TO THE POINT THAN KING RICHARD. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MS. WILSON. OWEN WHITMAN AND MIKE CARDUCCI. . >> MADAM CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS OWEN. TEMPLE TERRACE, FLORIDA. THERE ARE VERY ELOQUENT SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THE AREA THAT I HAVE DISCUSSED. THE ONE THING THAT SEEMS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT DO YOU IS 38 PUT SOME SORT OF CAP, A SPENDING CAP ON THE COUNTY BUDGET. IT'S -- THE -- WE WERE JUST TOLD OF A RULING, THE UNSIGNED RULING, THAT -- EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT WE CAN'T HAVE A CAP WHEN THE VOTERS HERE IN FLORIDA MANDATED A "SAVE OUR HOMES" CAP OF 3%. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE SITUATION HERE. I WOULD VERY STRONGLY SUPPORT WHAT I THINK IS A VERY FAIR CAP WHICH WOULD BE THE RATE OF INFLATION PLUS THE RATE OF INCREASE OF POPULATION. THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A CERTAIN LOGIC TO IT. AS FAR AS SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES HERE THIS EVENING, I MUST CONFESS THAT THE MAJOR ISSUE OF CONCERN TO ME HAS BEEN EMERGENCY TARRY. I WOULD VERY MUCH -- I THINK THAT NUMBER ONE BE REQUIRING TO RESIDE IN GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTINCT DISTRICTS IS A VERY, VERY GOOD PLAN. AND I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A COUNTY AUDITOR. AND I THINK THAT PERHAPS WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT HERE THAT WE HAVE CAPPED OUR PROPERTY TAXES, BUT WE'RE DYING THE DEATH OF OF A THOUSAND CUTS HERE WITH OUR COUNTY BUDGET. EVERYBODY HAS THEIR HAND OUT. I THINK IN BUDGETARY TIME, IN PARTICULAR. AND I DON'T QUITE DOCTOR SOMETIMES I THINK THE PUBLIC DOESN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FUNCTION, YOUR FUNCTION HERE, THAT YOU ARE NOT POLITICIANS, I HOPE, I THINK YOU ARE PEOPLE LIKE ME, AND YOU ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SIMPLY CONCERNED ABOUT PASSING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE ON UP. 39 AND OVERWHELMINGLY, I THINK WE CAN ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A MAJORITY PREFERENCE FOR CAPPING THE COUNTY BUDGET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. WHITMAN. MR. CARDUCCI. >> GOOD EVENING, CHARTER REVIEW BOARD. MADAM CHAIR. MY NAME IS MIKE CARDUCCI. I LIVE IN VALRICO, 1427 CARRION DRIVE. OUR F.A.I.R. GROUP HAS MADE MANY PRESENTATIONS TO THIS BOARD, BUT IT AMAZES ME SOME PEOPLE STILL ASK WHY. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE WE THOUGHT IT WAS SELF-EVIDENT. FAIR REPRESENTATION BY POPULATION IS A BILL OF RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN HELP EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND OUR REPRESENTATION STYLE OF GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON POPULATION, ON NUMBER OF FEDERAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES ARE BASED ON POPULATION. NO ONE SHOULD QUESTION WANTING FAIR REPRESENTATION IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT BASED ON POPULATION. PRESENTLY, WE HAVE 64% OF THE POPULATION IN THE UNINCORPORATED HILLSBOROUGH AREA WITH LESS THAN 20% OF THE REPRESENTATION IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THAT IS NOT FAIR. EVERY FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICE REQUIRES RESIDENCY IN THE DISTRICT THAT THEY REPRESENT. WE HAVE FIVE OF THE SEVEN BOCC LIVE IN TAMPA WHO IS 30% OF THE VOTE. 40 SO THE RESIDENCY RULES ARE NOT FAIR. WE HAVE THREE AT-LARGE COMMISSIONERS, ALL LIVE IN SOUTH TAMPA, YET SUPPOSEDLY REPRESENTATIVES THE COUNTY. THAT IS NOT FAIR. OUR FOUR DISTRICTS INCREASE POPULATION OVER THE FEW YEARS THAT RISK MINORITIES LOSING THEIR SEAT. THAT IS NOT FAIR. WE MUST INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS TO ALLOW FAIR REPRESENTATION TO ALL COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S GEOGRAPHICAL, RACIAL, OR GENDER, THAT IS FAIR. WE SUGGEST SEVEN DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, WHERE THE COMMISSION RESIDES IN THAT DISTRICT. WE BELIEVE THIS CREATES FAIR REPRESENTATION BY REDUCING THE POPULATION AND THE SIZE OF EACH DISTRICT, ALLOWING GREATER CITIZEN ACCESS AND INTERFACE. WE BELIEVE A FACILITATOR TYPE OF CHAIR, ELECTED BY THE PEERS, LIMIT THE POWER EXERCISED OVER THE REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE. IT IS LOGICAL IN A MAYOR TYPE CHAIR. YES YOU MAY GET THINGS DONE FASTER WITHOUT RESISTANCE IN A MAYOR TYPE CHAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, YOU GET THE DIRECTION OF ONE PERSON RATHER THAN THE SELECTION OF SEVEN COMMISSIONERS WHO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE. WE SUGGEST NOTWITHSTANDING PARTISAN BECAUSE NO LABEL DETERMINES THE QUALITY, THE MOTIVE, THE INTEGRITY, FOR THE IDEAS OF THE CANDIDATE BY TAGGING THEM AS A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN. 41 IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THE NEEDS FOR SCHOOLS, ROADS, AND LIBRARIES ARE NOT PARTY ORIENTED. MAJOR PARTY CONTROL PROMOTES PATRONAGE. WE SUGGEST A COUNTY AUDITOR OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT AND INDEPENDENT TO REVIEW THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCES AND SERVE ALL AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND BRING INTEGRITY TO THE USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS, AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING TO THE BUDGET. TO TEACH US HOW AND WHY OUR TAXWATCH SERVICE -- SAVINGS WERE NEVER EXERCISED. WE WOULD SUGGEST TO KEEP THE SCHEDULE OF THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD TO EVERY FIVE YEARS, BECAUSE THE DELAY IN REFERENDUM AND IMPLEMENTATION HITS FOUR MORE YEARS AND AT MINIMUM, IT COINCIDES WITH THE CENSUS. THE POPULATION CHANGES ARE SO RAPID, THEY CANNOT WAIT TO BE IMPLEMENTED. ALSO KEEP IT OUT OF THE NATIONAL ELECTION YEAR WITH ALL THE CONFUSION THAT WILL ADD IMPORTANCE TO THE REFERENDUMS DESPITE A LOWER VOTE COUNT AND OBVIOUSLY NO RECOUNTS. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE BOARD DECISE, F.A.I.R. ASKS FOR ONE RULE, EVERY COMMUNITY BE REPRESENTED EQUALLY AND FAIRLY BASED ON POPULATION. THAT MUST BE YOUR LITMUS TEST. THAT MUST BE CORRECTED. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT THAT DO NOT SHOW UP BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THIS MEETING, THE TIME, THEIR PREFERENCE AND OBJECTS AND INTERFERENCE, BUT WE HAVE ASKED SOME OF OUR PEOPLE TO SEND YOU SOME E-MAILS, AND I THINK 42 BARBARA WILL VERIFY THAT YOU HAVE E-MAILS FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT VERY LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN OUR AREA. F.A.I.R. DID NOT TAKE A POSITION ON THE BUDGET MAXIMUM BECAUSE IT IS NOT TIED INTO FAIR REPRESENTATION. BUT I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO ENDORSE AND SUPPORT THAT RECOMMENDATION FOR A CAPPING OF OUR SPENDING FOR THIS REFERENDUM. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR DOING THIS WORK. IT IS A REAL TASK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME THAT EXTRA MOMENT. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU. WE -- WE HOPEFULLY ARE RUNNING A CRAWL ON THE SCREEN, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, AGAIN, ANNOUNCE THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THOSE IN OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE WHO MIGHT LIKE TO CALL IN TO GIVE US YOUR COMMENTS ON THE WORK OF THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD OR TO LEAVE A QUESTION AND WE WILL TRY TO GET AN ANSWER BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THAT PHONE NUMBER IS 276-8457. THANK YOU. THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, JEAN WELLS AND THEN TIM CURTIS. . >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GENE WELLS, 6205 SANDERS DRIVE IN TAMPA. THE PREAMBLE OF OUR CHARTER SETS FORTH FOUR STANDARDS CREATING THE HOME RULE CHARTER WOULD OBTAIN FOR THE PEOPLE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THEY ARE GREATER SELF -- GREATER SELF-DETERMINATION LOCALLY, 43 EXERCISE MORE CONTROL OVER OUR OWN CONTROL DESTINY. CREATE A MORE RESPONSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT. GUARANTEE EQUAL AND CIVIL POLITICAL RIGHTS TO ALL. THIS IS THE RULER WE SHOULD MEASURE TONIGHT'S PROPOSALS BY. WHICH OF THE SEVEN PROPOSALS MEET THE TEST OF THE PREAMBLE OF OUR CHARTER? DOES ITEM ONE? THE CHANGES OF THE STRUCTURE IN GOVERNMENT. I HAVE FOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS I CAN VOTE FOR TODAY. ALL OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN ITEM 1 REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT I CAN VOTE FOR, THEREBY REDUCING MY REPRESENTATION. I BELIEVE THAT THE OUTER AREAS THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS OR FEEL UNREPRESENTED COULD TAKE CARE OF THAT IN ELECTIONS. FOR INSTANCE, IN THE DISTRICT 3 RACE, THERE WAS ONLY TWO TAMPA RESIDENTS THAT RAN FOR THAT -- I'M SORRY, THE JAN PLATT DISTRICT, I DON'T RECALL WHAT DISTRICT THERE WAS, BUT IN HER RACE, ONLY TWO PEOPLE THAT RAN IN THAT RACE, AND THEY WERE BOTH FROM TAMPA. THERE WAS NOBODY FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY. SO I BELIEVE ANY CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT WOULD REDUCE OUR REPRESENTATION. NUMBER TWO, MAKING THE COMMISSIONER NONPARTISAN. PLEASE DON'T PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT. IT IS UNNECESSARY AND DEPRIVES VOTERS OF VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM IS A PARTY SYSTEM. 44 THE ELECTION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, IN MY MIND, IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE ELECTION OF MY SENATOR, AND THERE IS NO MOVE TO CHANGE THAT. I HAVE RAN AS A CANDIDATE IN A NONPARTISAN RACE, AND THE FIRST FROM MANY PEOPLE WAS WHAT WAS MY POLITICAL AFFILIATION. I BELIEVE THAT THE VOTERS WANT TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION, AND I BELIEVE BY KNOWING IT, IT GIVES THEM A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION. AND IN ITEM THREE, IF CHANGING THE REVIEW TO EIGHT YEARS IS A NECESSARY FUNCTION, COULD IT BE DONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND DOES IT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE DONE IN THE CHARTER? ITEM FOUR, THE BUDGET CAP. WHATEVER FLAVOR IT IS, HOWEVER I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A SEPARATE COMMITTEE THAT TWEAKED OUT SOME -- SOME DETAILS OF THIS PROPOSAL. I SUPPORT IT ANYWAY. I BELIEVE, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO OUR PREAMBLE THAT THIS DOES GIVE THE PEOPLE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THE CONTROL OF THEIR GOVERNMENT THAT THEY NEED. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU MEMBERS THAT HAVEN'T VOTED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S MEETING THAT YOU SUPPORT THAT ITEM. ITEM 5 IN THE PERFORMANCE AUDITOR. AGAIN, THIS COMMITTEE HAS DONE GREAT WORK BY WORKING TO THE AND HAMMERING OUT COMPROMISES -- TOGETHER AND HAMMERING OUT COMPROMISES AND TAKING POSITIONS THAT YOU TOOK BEFORE. I STILL SUPPORT THAT ISSUE. I READ SOMEWHERE THAT SOME OF YOU WERE CONCERNED THAT THOSE OF 45 US WHO SPOKE ABOUT IT BEFORE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT LAST YEAR. MY ISSUE COMING BEFORE YOU BEFORE UNDERSTANDING IT, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND IT TODAY AND I DO HOPE THAT YOU PUT THAT ITEM ON THE BALLOT. ITEM SIX, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REALLY NEEDED IN THE CHARTER. WHETHER OR NOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE CHARTER OR THAT CAN BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY. AND THE SAME WITH ITEM SEVEN. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HELPED SELECT THE MANAGER AND IF THAT'S A REQUIREMENT THEY WANT TO SET, THEN SHE SHOULD HAVE THAT OPTION. I DON'T BELIEVE THE MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE A PART OF OUR CHARTER. YOU'VE DONE GREAT JOB IN CONDUCTING THIS REVIEW OVER THIS PAST YEAR. THE TIME IS NOW -- YOUR WORK IS NOW COMING TO A FINISH. AND IT'S TIME TO MOVE THOSE IMPORTANT ISSUES, THOSE IMPORTANT PROPOSALS AHEAD FOR THE BALLOT SO WE CAN HEAR THE VOICES OF THE VOTERS. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE BUDGET PROPOSAL CAP AND THE AUDITOR ARE THE TWO ISSUES THAT THIS REVIEW BOARD SHOULD MOVE FORWARD, AND THE OTHER ONES REALLY DON'T ARISE TO THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. WELLS. MR. CURTIS. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE REVIEW BOARD. 46 IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AGAIN TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND HOW WE GO ABOUT THINGS. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, LET ME SAY, CONFER -- FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, WE WISH PAT FRANK A SPEEDY RECOVERY. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN UPDATE LATELY, BUT LAST THING I HEARD SHE'S DOING GOOD AND SHE'S REAL IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK SHE'S DONE AND I HOPE SHE RECOVERS QUICKLY. BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO IMPLORE YOU TO GIVE THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NO LESS THAN WHAT PROBABLY EACH ONE OF US HERE TONIGHT DO IT EVERY DAY IN OUR OWN LIVES AND IN OUR OWN BUDGETS, AND THAT'S TO PRACTICE JUST A MODICUM OF RESTRAINT ON OUR SPENDING. AND I WANT TO MAKE IT REAL CLEAR THAT MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROPOSAL, BOTH IN THE FORM, MR. LaBOUR, THAT EXISTS AND THE ONE THAT CAME OUT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE IS NOT A MOVE, IT IS NOT AN ACT TO TIE THE HANDS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS INTENDED TO DO. IT IS, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE, INTENDED TO SAY THAT THERE IS SOME RESTRAINT NEEDED AND JUST HOW MUCH, HOW FAST, AND HOW FAR GOVERNMENT GOES AND GROWS. I HEARD A SPEAKER EARLIER TALKING ABOUT LIBRARIES. WELL, LIBRARIES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AS ARE MANY OTHER PROJECTS. I DON'T SUPPOSE THERE IS PROBABLY ONE PERSON WHO REPRESENTS AN 47 INTEREST GROUP THAT DOESN'T THINK THAT THEIR PROJECT IS BIGGER, BETTER, FASTER, SMARTER, MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE NEXT. SO THEY OUGHT TO GET ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY WANT. WELL, THEY MIGHT OUGHT TO GET A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH AND SO FAR THAT WE CAN GO. THE IDEA THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MR. AMBLER, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE WAY THE WORDING WAS CHANGED WAS TO INCORPORATE TWO FACTORS, THE RATE OF INFLATION AND POPULATION GROWTH. AND THAT WOULD CERTAINLY ALLOW FOR THE ADDITIONAL FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN USING THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. IT'S GOING TO MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THAT. SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE -- PLEASE, PLEASE, I'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU BEFORE AND WE TALKED ABOUT PARTISAN ELECTIONS AND SOME OF THE OTHER INTERNAL AUDITOR. BUT MY REAL FOCUS TONIGHT HAS TO DO WITH SOME FISCAL CONSTRAINT IN IS NOT A MOVE TO TIE THE HANDS, JUST SIMPLY TO SHOW SOME RESTRAINT IN THE GROWTH AND THE RATE OF GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO JUST SAY NO TO SOME PROJECTS. THIS PROVISION, THE WAY IT'S WORDED, THE CHANGES ARE WORDED, WOULD ALLOW EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY AT SOME OF THE GROWTH, THE RATE OF INFLATION PLUS THE POPULATION GROWTH. IF WE DON'T DO THIS, MY FEAR IS, AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE A TRACK RECORD TO PROVE IT WHERE THE RATE OF GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT HAS GREATLY EXCEEDED OUR POPULATION GROWTH AND THE INFLATION RATE IF YOU ADDED THOSE TWO TOGETHER. 48 IF WE DON'T DO THIS, I'M AFRAID WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE UNRESTRAINED AND SOMETIMES UNREASONABLE RATES OF GROWTH IN OUR GOVERNMENT. IT WILL BE NICE IF EACH OF US, AS INDIVIDUALS, HAD THE ABILITY SIMPLY TO WRITE A CHECK ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S CHECKBOOK WHEN WE NEEDED THAT NEW CAR OR WHEN WE NEEDED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR AN OLDER VEHICLE, IF WE NEEDED A NEW TV, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I DON'T THINK THAT -- AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M GOING TO PHRASE IT IN THE POSITIVE. I THINK IT IS VERY REASONABLE -- NOT ONLY REASONABLE, BUT RATIONALE, TO EXPECT THAT OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WOULD GROW AT A REASONABLE RATE. RATE OF INFLATION, POPULATION GROWTH I BELIEVE IS REASONABLE. IT'S BEEN THOUGHT OUT. IT'S BEEN LOOKED AT. IF YOU PUT THOSE TWO FACTORS TOGETHER, I THINK WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND I ASK YOU PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MOVE THIS PROPOSAL FORWARD, ALLOW THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. CURTIS. >>JAN SMITH: THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS ARE DAVE HUBBARD ANDLIN McGARVEY. -- AND LYNN McGARVEY. . >> HI, DAVE HUBBARD. 49 I LIVE AT 2306 WEST TEXAS AVENUE AND I WANTED TO SPEAK ON THREE OF THE PROPOSALS. THE NUMBER 2 PROPOSAL OF PARTISAN, NONPARTISAN. I'M -- I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF CHANGING THAT. I THINK WE NEED PARTISAN COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THE AFFILIATION OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING. THE NUMBER 4, THE LIMITING THE BUDGET INCREASE. I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT. I THINK THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT WISELY AND YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND IT. AND NUMBER 5, I AM IN FAVOR OF THAT AS WELL. AND THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. HUBBARD. LYNN McGARVEY. >> LYNN McGARVEY DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE, TAMPA, 33624. GOOD EVENING. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT THE MEMBERS HAVE PUT INTO THIS STUDY. I WISH THE CHANGES TO THE CHARTER MIGHT IMPROVE OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. BUT THIS IS A TALL ORDER, AND ACTUALLY, WE ALL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND CANDIDATES THAT CAN LOOK AT ISSUES IN A MORE BALANCED WAY ENSURING THAT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS SHARE IN FUTURE GROWTH AND IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE WHILE PRESERVING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY. 50 WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE ABILITY OF THESE CANDIDATES TO WORK TOGETHER IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION. I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED. NUMBER 1, CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE CHARTER CANNOT BE DONE FOR POLITICAL REASONS TO PUT ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER IN A BETTER POSITION. OF THE THREE OPTIONS CONSIDERED FOR CHANGING THE STRUCTURE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT, ONLY ONE MADE SENSE TO ME. THIS CHANGE IS "A," ENSURING THE THREE AT-LARGE COMMISSIONERS OF WHICH I ASSUME WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR, ALL THREE OF THEM, COME FROM DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE COUNTY. I, MYSELF, HAVE QUESTIONED THE NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS WHO LIVE IN SOUTH TAMPA, WONDERING HOW WELL THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE REST OF THE COUNTY. TWO OF THESE -- IT MAKES SENSE TO CHOOSE THE AT-LARGE COMMISSIONERS FROM THREE SEPARATE PARTS OF THE COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED THE SOUTH -- AS TWO OF THE DISTRICTS, SOUTHEAST AGRICULTURAL AND THE NORTHWEST RURAL. THESE DISTRICTS MUST BE BASED ON GEOGRAPHY AND COMMON INTERESTS, NOT POLITICS. PARTISAN VERSUS NONPARTISAN. I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK WHAT PARTY YOU ARE EVEN IF IT IS A NONPARTISAN ELECTION. CHARTER REVIEW MEETING SCHEDULE. I THINK FIVE YEARS IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT I DON'T THINK EIGHT WOULD BE TOO LONG. 51 A LIMIT ON THE BUDGET INCREASE. NOW YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM. LIKE SIX YEARS OF WORKING ON GROWTH MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. I WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT. ANY INCREASE IN THE INCOME AND BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY IN THE NEAR FUTURE WILL BE NEEDED TO PLAY CATCH-UP WITH OUR SCHOOLS, OUR TRANSPORTATION, AND OUR WATER NEEDS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. WITH THE SPRAWL BUILDING PLAN THAT WE HAVE FOLLOWED, THE COST TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE A MILLSTONE UNTIL WE LOOK REALISTICALLY AT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH. WOULD WE ALLOW ONLY A% GROWTH IN INDUSTRY OR COUNTY RESIDENTS -- A 3% GROWTH IN TRICOUNTY RESIDENTS, OF SCHOOL CHILDREN, OR WATER USAGE? THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. COUNTY AUDITOR? NO. THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED EVERY YEAR. THAT'S ALSO WHAT OUR ADMINISTRATOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, KEEPING AN EYE ON THESE EXPENSES. CUTTING COSTS HAVE BECOME THE ISSUE, NOT MORE EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT. THE TRICK FOR AN INSIDE AUDITOR OR AN ADDITIONAL ONE WOULD BE TO LOOK AT ALL THE DIVERSE GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND UNDERSTAND WHAT SPEND SOMETHING CRITICAL TO A THRIVING COMMUNITY AND WHERE COSTS COULD BE CUT WITHOUT UNDERMINING A WHOLE OPERATION. 52 HOW COULD HE UNDERSTAND THE FUNCTIONS OF SO MANY DIVERSE OPERATIONS AND HOW THEY AFFECT THE COUNTY FUNCTION AS A WHOLE. ISN'T THIS WHAT WE HAVE DEPARTMENT MANAGERS AND AN ADMINISTRATOR FOR? I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB IF WE ARE MORE EFFICIENT, BUT IT WILL NOT NECESSARILY COST LESS. THE 7th ONE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR. I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE PUT ON THE CHARTER. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MS. McGARVEY. RICHARD RUSKEY AND KELLY CLEM. >> MY NAME IS RICHARD RUSKEY. I LIVE AT 412 LAKEVIEW AVENUE, SEFFNER, FLORIDA. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON NONPARTISAN. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ALL MY STATE OFFICERS GO BEFORE THE BOARD SO I CAN ASK THEM ARE THEY REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT OR FROM THE GREEN PARTY. I LIKE TO ASK THEM BECAUSE I'M AGAINST ANYBODY THAT PUTS TAXES ON ME BECAUSE I WANT TO LIVE ON ABOUT $14,000, ME AND MY WIFE. I DRIVE A '88 FORD ESCORT. SO I KEEP MY EXPENSES DOWN. NOW, Y'ALL MIGHT THINK IT'S FUNNY SITTING UP THERE AND LIVING ON HIGH INCOME, BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN THERE, YOU DO NOT WANT TAXES TO GO UP. I'M AGAINST ALL KIND OF TAXES. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO ASK MY ELECTED OFFICERS TO -- IF THEY ARE 53 GOING TO PUT TAXES ON ME. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW. THE SCHOOL BOARD IS NOT -- IS PARTISAN. AND I CAN'T ASK THEM NO QUESTIONS BECAUSE NOBODY HARDLY RUNS AGAINST THEM. GET ONE WOMAN OR ONE MAN UP THERE, THEY END UP FOR TEN YEARS. I JUST -- THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TERM LIMITS. NEXT ONE. I'M AGAINST -- ON THE DISTRICTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THE DISTRICTS, BECAUSE MY -- I'M IN DISTRICT 5. AND I AIN'T SEEN THAT MAN IN FIVE YEARS SINCE I LIVED IN SEFFNER. HE DON'T EVEN COME OUT THERE BECAUSE HE IS OUT THE BOONDOCKS. HE WANTS TO VOTE IN TAMPA. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EVERYBODY ON A DISTRICT LEVEL. AND THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY, AND THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. RUTSKY. >> Y'ALL HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB UP THERE AND I HAVE BEEN ON SOME BOARDS AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA COMMITTEE, AND I HAD THE SAME TROUBLE Y'ALL HAD. THEY ARE GETTING AFTER ME ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU. KELLY CLEM. >> KELLY CLEM, 12103 SHADY FOREST DRIVE, RIVERVIEW. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO MAKE A REQUEST THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THE 54 VOTERS OF OUR COUNTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON PLACING A LIMIT OR A CAP ON THE ANNUAL INCREASES IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET. I DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE OR UNFAIR TO ASK OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO LIMIT ITS SPENDING TO COME MORE IN LINE WITH OUR COUNTY POPULATION INCREASES AND INFLATION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ACCORDING TO PUBLIC RECORDS, THE COUNTY POPULATION AVERAGE INCREASE WAS 1.8% AND THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE IS 2.7. WHY IS IT THAT THIS COUNTY'S LAST OPERATING BUDGET HAD TO INCREASE -- IT WAS VOTED IN SEPTEMBER, TO OVER $80 MILLION, WHICH IS OVER AN 8% INCREASE? IF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE LIMITED ITS SPENDING AND KEPT IT IN LINE WITH POPULATION AND INFLATION, THEN THE OPERATING BUDGET WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT HALF THAT AND SAVED THE TAXPAYERS $40 MILLION. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SINCE 1832. WE WERE HERE BEFORE IT WAS A COUNTY. AND WE'RE PIONEERS OF THE LUTZ AREA. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SEVERAL OF MY COUSINS, THAT THEY'RE MOVING OUT. THEY'RE FEELING COMPELLED TO BECAUSE OF THE HIGH IMPACT FEES WHEN THEY GO TO BUILD A NEW HOUSE, AND BECAUSE OF THE WATER AND SEWER RATES. I WAS JUST TALKING TO MY COUSIN, JENNIFER. SHE HAS A HOME THAT'S COMPARABLE TO MINE, AND IT'S JUST OVER THE PASCO COUNTY LINE. 55 HER TAXES ARE $1500 A YEAR. MINE ARE $2400 A YEAR. HER WATER AND SEWER BILLS RUN IN THE $40s. MINE RUN IN THE $80s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th. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT UP AND VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, AND LET THE -- EVERYONE INTERESTED HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SCRUTINIZE 63 THIS -- THIS OPINION AS -- AS I THINK IS ONLY FAIR AND JUST THAT WE SHOULD DO SO. I'D LIKE NOW TO SPEAK TO A PROPOSAL PERTAINING TO OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT. I WOULD SUPPORT OPTION "A" IF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT FOUR SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS PLUS THREE AT-LARGE DISTRICTS. THAT WILL TON ALLOW EVERY VOTER IN OUR COUNTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR EVERY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AND ENSURE THAT FIVE OUT THE SEVEN WOULD NOT RESIDE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA AS THEY DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE PROPOSAL PERTAINING TO PARTISAN VERSUS NONPARTISAN, I SUPPORT PARTISAN ELECTIONS. THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT IN SMALL TOWNS WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY, HOWEVER WE HAVE A POPULATION COUNTYWIDE OF APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE DESERVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT A CANDIDATE AS POSSIBLE. THE CANDIDATE'S PARTY AFFILIATION IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. IT SPEAKS VOLUMES. FURTHER, THE POLITICAL PARTIES PLAY A ROLE IN ASSISTING GOOD, QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IN BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES THEY SHOULD FOLLOW IF THEY WANT TO BECOME A CANDIDATE. THE PROPOSAL PERTAINING TO APPOINTED COUNTY INTERNAL PERFORMANCE AUDITOR I THINK SHOULD BE REVISED TO READ COUNTY ATTORNEY INTERNAL PERFORMANCE AUDITOR TO APPOINTED COUNTY ATTORNEY PERFORMANCE AUDITOR/BUDGET ANALYST. 64 AN ERROR IN THE PAPER THAT STATES AN ADDITIONAL BUDGET ANALYST. THIS PAPER SHOULD NOT READ AN ADDITIONAL ANALYST BECAUSE THE BOCC DOES NOT HAVE A BUDGET ANALYST. THE WORD "IN ADDITIONAL" IS INAPPROPRIATE AND SHOULD BE DELETED TONIGHT. ONE FINAL COMMENT. SOME OF YOU BELIEVE YOU SHOULD NOT PLACE THE PROPOSAL ON THE BALLOT UNLESS YOU ACCEPT IT YOURSELF. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT BUT I HAVE ONE PARAGRAPH. THAT THE PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE YOU WILL NOT HAVE PLACED THAT PROPOSAL ON THE BALLOT UNLESS YOU SUPPORT IT, NOT TRUE. WHETHER YOU SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL OR NOT DOES NOT MATTER. WHAT MATTERS IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREE THE PROPOSAL IS LEGAL AND IN PROPER FORM AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE SHOULD GIVEN THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO MAKE THIS IMPORTANT POLICY DECISION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>JAN SMITH: I DO RECALL SAYING THAT IF WE HAD SOMEBODY WITH THREE MINUTES, THEY'D TAKE THREE. IF THEY GOT FOUR, THEY WOULD TAKE FIVE. >> YOU WON'T TALKING ABOUT ME BECAUSE PUBLIC COMMENT DOESN'T END UNTIL 8:00. >>JAN SMITH: YOU LIVED UP TO MY EXPECTATIONS AND I APPRECIATE IT. >> I NEVER LET YOU DOWN, MADAM CHAIR. >>JAN SMITH: YOU NEVER LET ME DOWN. 65 THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO READ AGAIN THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THIS CHARTER REVIEW BOARD PUBLIC HEARING. IF ANYONE IN OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE IS WATCHING AND WOULD LIKE TO CALL IN. THE PHONE NUMBER IS 276-8457. WE'LL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS OR YOUR COMMENTS. AND MR. HURLEY, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE TO READ INTO THE RECORD. >>DAVID HURLEY: MR. JOSEPH FRITZ, 4204 NORTH NEBRASKA, TAMPA HAS CALLED IN AND PARAPHRASED, HE SUPPORTS THE BUDGET CAP. AND HE'S UNHAPPY WITH THE ELECTION PROCESS. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT REALLY SAY WHAT IS HE THINKS WE OUGHT TO DO ABOUT IT, BUT THAT'S BASICALLY IT. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU FOR CALLING, MR. FRITZ. OUR NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, THE FIRST ONE IS JAMES P. DAVIDSON AND THEN JOSEPH CATANO. >> JAMES P. DAVIDSON, 17823 HICKORY MOSS PLACE IN THE NEW TAMPA SECTION OF TAMPA. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. IT'S NICE TO SEE FAMILIAR FACES UP THERE. I DON'T KNOW ALL OF YOU BUT IN THE FUTURE I HOPE TO GET TO KNOW ALL OF YOU. TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE BOARD AND TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE CONSIDERING. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE MEETINGS, AND I HAVE YET TO SEE A LIST 66 PROPOSED BY THE BOARD OF THOSE THINGS IN THE COUNTY WHICH THE BOARD OR A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD DEEMED ARE EITHER BROKEN OR FUNCTIONED SO POORLY THAT THEY REQUIRE A CHANGE IN THE CHARTER AND, THEREFORE, CONTEMPLATION BY THIS BOARD. I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT CHANGING THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOCC, BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN A STATEMENT BY THE BOARD THAT THIS STRUCTURE IS BROKEN AND, THEREFORE, NEEDS FIXING. WITHOUT THAT, AND WITHOUT MAKING THAT STATEMENT THAT THIS IS BROKEN AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO FIX IT, YOU ARE KIND OF PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. AND IS IT THAT A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD FEELS THAT PEOPLE IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTY ARE UNDERREPRESENTED? IS THAT THE PRESENT STRUCTURE OF THE BOCC OVER THE YEARS IS PROVEN INEFFECTUAL IN RESOLVING THE CHRONIC ISSUES PLAGUING THIS COUNTY? THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOCC, -- PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE MADE THE STATEMENT BEFORE YOU, IF IT IS NOT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT. IF THE CURRENT BOARD, MEANING YOU, CANNOT STATE WHAT IS BROKEN, THEN WE PROBABLY SHOULD ALL ADJOURN AND ENJOY THE SUPER BOWL. NEITHER SHOULD THE BOARD ATTEMPT TO SOLVE IN THE COUNTY THOSE THINGS WHICH RIGHTFULLY BELONG IN THE REALM OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. WE ELECTED THOSE PEOPLES, AND IT IS THEIR DUTY TO PASS A LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNS A SPENDING THAT DELIVERS MOST OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTS IN THIS COUNTY. AND I DON'T THINK IT IS THE RIGHTFUL AREA OF THE CHARTER. 67 WE NEED TO FIX THE CHARTER SO THE BOARD IS ENABLED OR SOMEONE ELSE BESIDE THE BOARD IS ENABLED TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE THINGS. LIKEWISE, NOTHING WILL BE GAINED BY SIMPLY REARRANGING THE BOARD. IF ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS VOTE ON FOXES, BY REARRANGING THE FOXES, YOU ARE STILL GOING TO BE GOVERNED BY FOXES. AND SO, WHAT I PROPOSE TODAY IS THAT WE CHANGE THE GAME. NOW, THE ISSUE HAS BEEN SKIRTED AND, IN FACT, WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR DELIBERATIONS, YOU WILL PUT BEFORE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL HELPFULLY GO TO BALLOT AND THE PEOPLE WILL VOTE ON. BUT THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO WORK HARD TO GET TOGETHER ENOUGH VOTES ON A PETITION TO PLACE AN ISSUE ON THE BALLOT THAT WILL BE VOTED AND WILL BIND ON THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AN ACTION. THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO FIXING WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTY. THEY MUST -- IN OTHER WORDS, THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY SHOULD BE ABLE TO THROUGH THE 10% OF THE VOTERS AND THE 15% OF THE VOTERS BE ABLE TO COLLECT ENOUGH VOTES ON A SINGLE ISSUE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT TO BE VOTED UPON AND THAT BALLOT, IF FOUND POSITIVE, WOULD REQUIRE AN ACTION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. NOW YOU CAN ARGUE THE DETAILS ANY WAY YOU WANT IT, YOU CAN EVEN HAVE A 7-0 VOTE THAT WOULD PUT A MORATORIUM ON THAT VOTE FOR A YEAR, SIMILAR TO WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE ON THE TRAIN, BUT IF YOU DO THAT, WHAT YOU WILL DO IS YOU WILL ENABLE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY TO START TO REJOIN GOVERNMENT. 68 THEY'LL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON A 3% CAP. PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY CAN WORK HARD AND GET THEIR ISSUES ON A BALLOT AND HAVE IT VOTED ON BY THE ENTIRE COUNTY TO SEE IF IT'S PROPER. ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED. TRAFFIC, WATER, AND SO ON AND SO ON. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ELECTIONS IN THIS COUNTY WHERE MAYBE 8% OF PEOPLE IN A PRECINCT SHOW UP TO VOTE. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO UP HERE, IF YOU DON'T FIX THAT, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO WORK. BUT BY BRINGING BACK THE RIGHT OF A CITIZEN TO PETITION TO BALLOT, YOU WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND YOU WILL ENTICE THE COMMISSIONERS. YOU WILL PUT A NEW SENSE OF URGENCY IN THEIR WORK, AND ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS. THEY WILL HAVE TO -- EXCUSE ME, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE POINT TO MAKE. THE ADMINISTRATOR ALSO HAVE TO FORM QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT TO THE PEOPLE WHAT THAT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IS, BECAUSE THEY WILL KNOW IF THEY DON'T, THEN THE PEOPLE ASSUME THERE IS NO QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, THEY WILL WANT TO PUT ON THE BALLOT AN ISSUE EWE THAT WILL ENFORCE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. IT WILL ENHANCE EVERYONE'S WORKING IN GOVERNMENT. I WOULD URGE YOU TO -- TO AT LEAST CONSIDER THAT. HAVE THE ATTORNEY BRING TO YOU THE LEGALITY OF PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT, WHETHER IT TAKES A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, 69 DONE BY FIAT BY THIS COMMITTEE OR BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR DELIBERATION. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS EVENING. JOE CATANO. >> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS JOSEPH CATANO. I LIVE AT 5304 CANTEBURY IN TAMPA. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD FOR THEIR DEDICATION FOR THEIR YEAR OF SERVICE. I KNOW I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU ON THE TV. IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF DEDICATION. I JUST HOPE THAT THERE'S SOME FRUIT AT THE END OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE FOR THIS LAST YEAR. AN INCREASE OF 8.2% ON OUR MONSTER OF A BUDGET IS MORE THAN THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER CAN ENDURE. I SUPPORT NUMBER 4 A CAP ON OUR BUDGET. AS A SMALL BUSINESS PERSON, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT WE CAN ENDURE IN TAXES, RATES AND FEES. WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT. WHILE LIVING IN A COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS FOR 20 YEARS PRIOR TO COMING HERE IN 1987, IN THE EARLY '80s, WE HAD PROPOSITION 2.5. SIMILAR TO PROPOSITION 13 OUT OF CALIFORNIA. THERE WERE TWO PARTS. ONE, 2.5 WOULD CAP THE BUDGET. EVERY MUNICIPAL WORKER, THE FIREMEN WHERE THE HOMES ARE GOING TO BURN, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE MANPOWER TO PUT THESE 70 FIRES OUT. THE EM, IT SAID PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE IN THE STREET BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO CUT OUR BUDGET. WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE MANPOWER TO SERVICE THESE PEOPLE. NONE OF THIS HAPPENED. PUBLIC WORKS, THE SAME THING THAT THE STREETS ARE GOING TO BE IN DISREPAIR. THERE WILL BE NO MONEY. GUESS WHAT? THE STREETS WERE FIXED. NOBODY DIED AND NO HOMES BURNED OTHER THAN THE USUAL HOMES. AND THIS WAS WHEN THEY CUT THE FAT OUT OF THE BUDGET. AND THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE. I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED OF THIS OPINION THAT YOU GOT TODAY, THAT YOU CANNOT INCREASE -- KEEP A CAP ON THE BUDGET BECAUSE OF AD VALOREM TAX. I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT UNTIL MR. HUGHES SPOKE ABOUT IT. EVIDENTLY, THE PERSON WHO WROTE THIS OPINION MUST HAVE JUST GOT OUT OF LAW SCHOOL AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING BECAUSE THE STATE HIRES A LOT OF INCOMPETENT PEOPLE. THE PETITION IN MASSACHUSETTS WAS PASSED WITH GREAT RESULTS. AND THAT'S FOR THE STATE, FOR THE CITIES, AND ALL COUNTIES, 2.5%. CLASSIFICATION WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH REAL ESTATE, WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL, BECAUSE REAL ESTATE TAXES IS CONTROLLED BY THE STATE AND WHAT THAT DID, THEY PUT COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL IN TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. 71 A PERSON WITH COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WOULD PAY A HIGHER TAX THAN THOSE IN RESIDENTIAL. WE NEED THIS TO BE ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE PEOPLE CHOOSE, THE PEOPLE WHO PAID THE BILLS. AND EVERYBODY UP HERE HAS BILLS TO PAY. YOU MAY BE A ONE-PARTY AFFILIATION. YOU MAY BE A DEMOCRAT, A REPUBLICAN, OR A GREEN PARTY, BUT YOU STILL HAVE GOT TO PAY. APPEARED WE CANNOT ENDURE THESE INCREASES. -- AND WE CANNOT ENDURE THESE INCREASES. THANK YOU. >>JAN SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. CATANO. GRANDMOTHER AT LARGE, MARILYN SMITH. >> GOOD EVENING, GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE ALL HARD AT WORK HERE. AND I KNOW YOU DIDN'T MISS ME, BUT I HAD TO SAY WHAT I SAID, AND I STAYED HOME FOR A REASON. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ISSUE WITH THE MIXED MESSAGE THAT IS BEING GIVEN ON THE TAXCAP. FIRST OF ALL, IT HAS BEEN TO COMMITTEE. AND I PERSONALLY THINK WE OUGHT TO JUST SET IT ASIDE, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED WITH IT NOW FROM WHAT YOU SAID, JAN, AND YOU REFERRED TO LaBOUR AND YOU TWO OBJECT FEW SKATED SO WHATEVER KEN WAS TRYING TO SAY IS LOST. >>JAN SMITH: THE FULL BOARD HAS NOT SPOKEN ON THE ISSUE. >> I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE OBFUSCATED FOR THE PUBLIC. YOU TALKED ABOUT POPULATION AND INFLATION INDEX. THAT WILL GUARANTEE YOU HAVING ENOUGH MONEY. 72 GROWTH PAYS FOR ITSELF. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA FOR ME. YOU ARE NOT TIED WITH A CAP. IF YOU GROW, YOU GET MORE PEOPLE AND YOU HAVE MORE ABILITY TO SPEND. LET'S GO DOWN THE ROAD HERE WITH YOUR NUMBER 1. I PRESENTLY -- I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE NEED TO CHANGE THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR BOARD. I LIKE OUR CHAIR TO BE CHOSEN FROM AMONG THE ELECTED COMMISSIONERS. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT IF YOU THINK YOU REALLY GOT TO CHANGE SOMETHING, I'LL VOTE FOR ONE, BUT THE OTHERS ARE JUST -- YOU KNOW, MORE MINUTIA. I SAID MINUTIA. NUMBER TWO, IF YOU GO -- THIS IS A JOKE. NONPARTISAN IS NOT GOING TO WORK IN THIS COUNTY. EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOUR PHILOSOPHY IS IF YOU'RE RUNNING AND IF YOU ARE NONPARTISAN, YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, I DON'T HAVE A PHILOSOPHY. I JUST WANT TO BE ELECTED? YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW SMART THAT IS. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS JUDGES ARE PARTISAN. YOU KNOW THAT. WE ARE NOT IDIOTS. YOU WANT -- YOU WANT ME TO NAME HOW MANY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS YOU HAVE FOR JUDGES? NUMBER 3, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GET MIXED UP IN ANYBODY -- 73 IN ANY PAT SHALL YEAR APPROVE WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH THAT. WE NEED TO MEET EVERY FIVE YEARS. WITH THE DYNAMICS OF THIS COUNTY AND THE WAY IT IS CHANGING AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE INFLUENCE AND INFLUX OF MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOT BORN IN FLORIDA, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE FOLKS COME AND VOICE THEIR OPINION EVERY FIVE YEARS. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN WE GO TO OUR CHARTER CHANGES. I ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT NUMBER 4, POPULATION AND INFLATION IS A VERY GOOD GAUGE ABOUT HOW TO SPEND YOUR MONEY. NUMBER 5, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT INTERNAL AUDITOR THAT IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND, ALSO, THAT PERSON NEEDS TO BE CALLED A "BUDGET ANALYST." IF YOU RECALL, THIS IS WHAT MRS. FRANK WAS VERY ADAMANT ABOUT, BRINGING SOMEONE FORWARD TO TAKE OFF THE SPIN OF THE BUDGET THAT THEY GET AND THAT THEY HAVE TO PLOW THROUGH VERY, VERY QUICKLY AND GIVE DECISIONS. PART OF THE REASON YOU HAVE SO MANY BAD THINGS GOING ON WITH YOUR SPENDING BECAUSE IT'S SPUN IN, AND THERE'S NO ONE TO UNSPIN IT, EXCEPT PEOPLE LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS AND USE THE FLORIDA STATUTE 119 AND PULL RECORDS. NOW, LET ME TELL YOU FOLKS, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE DOING EXACTLY NOTHING FOR JOHN Q PUBLIC. AND THE ADMINISTRATOR HAS DONE NOTHING TO GET RID OF THEM, SO 74 WE NEED TO HELP HIM GET RID OF THEM BY IMPOSING A LITTLE HELP ON HOW MUCH YOU CAN SPEND. IF YOUR GROWTH IS GROWING, YOU GET TO SPEND THA