CAPTIONING MAY 7, 2008 BOCC REGULAR MEETING MORNING SESSION ***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate. >>KEN HAGAN: WELCOME, AND GOOD MORNING TO THE WEDNESDAY, MAY 7th, 2008, REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE AND INVOCATION, GIVEN BY COMMISSIONER BRIAN BLAIR. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>BRIAN BLAIR: HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU BESTOW UPON US EACH AND EVERY DAY, FATHER, AND THOUGH TIMES ARE DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW WITH HIGH OIL PRICES AND LOW UNEMPLOYMENT AND THINGS THAT SEEM REAL TOUGH EACH AND EVERY MORNING WHEN WE WAKE UP, LET US REMEMBER TO NOT LEAN UPON OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING BUT TRUST IN YOU TO GUIDE OUR PATHS. FATHER, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL BECAUSE WE HAVE MUCH MORE THAN MANY. WE PRAY TODAY FOR A FALLEN OFFICER, OFFICER GUERRERO WHO WILL BE HONORED TODAY, AND WE ASK THAT YOU COMFORT HIS FAMILY AND HIS PEERS. THE OFFICERS AND THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT PROTECT US HERE EACH DAY ARE OUR HEROES, AND THOSE THAT ARE HERE AND ABROAD PROTECTING US FROM EVIL, THEY ARE ALSO OUR HEROES. WE PRAY FOR THEM, FATHER, AND FOR THE COMFORT OF THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL. FATHER, GIVE US THE LOVE, THE WISDOM, THE STRENGTH, THE UNDERSTANDING TO DEAL WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH EACH AND EVERY DAY. HELP US TO -- HELP US AND GUIDE US TODAY AS WE DELIBERATE ALL THE ISSUES, AND LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER, FATHER, THAT IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? THANK YOU SO MUCH. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BLAIR. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS TO PRESENT, AND THE FIRST ONE WILL BE GIVEN BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA DECLARING MAY 4th-10th AS "NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WEEK." >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. CHAIRMAN, COLLEAGUES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO'S HERE TO ACCEPT IT. YOU? SHERIFF GEE, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION, PLEASE ALLOW ME THE PLEASURE OF READING THIS ON BEHALF OF YOUR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. WHEREAS, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WITHIN THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF DETENTION SERVICES HELP TO PRESERVE PUBLIC SAFETY BY PROVIDING THE CARE, THE CUSTODY, THE CONTROL, AND SUPERVISION OF PRETRIAL AND SENTENCED INMATES; AND WHEREAS, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS THROUGHOUT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF INMATES WHILE MAINTAINING A SECURE, SAFE, AND HUMANE ENVIRONMENT; AND WHEREAS, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS GUARANTEE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF OPERATION THROUGH TRAINING AND EDUCATION; AND WHEREAS, THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY COMPLEX AND DEMANDING; WHEREAS, THE WEEK BEGINNING MAY 4th, 2008, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED "NATIONAL CORRECTION OFFICERS WEEK" AND MAY 3rd, 2008, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED "NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY" BY CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY DESIGNATE MAY 4th-10th, 2008, AS "NATIONAL CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WEEK" IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND COMMENDS ALL DETENTION DEPUTIES FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO DUTY, EXECUTED THIS 7th DAY OF MAY, SIGNED BY OUR CHAIRMAN, MR. HAGAN, AND THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS, AND I WILL SAY, SHERIFF, THAT I WAS JUST TOLD TO -- WAS ASKED TO READ THIS, SO I DON'T REALLY NEED TO PREPARE ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT ANYTHING THAT YOU DO, ANYTHING THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DOES -- AND CERTAINLY WE'VE WEATHERED SOME ISSUES TOGETHER -- IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS ON BEHALF OF THE MEN THAT REPRESENT YOU AND YOU THAT REPRESENT YOUR MEN AND WOMEN. IT IS ALWAYS MY PLEASURE TO THANK YOU IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN. >>DAVID GEE: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO DO WORK IN OUR DETENTION DEPARTMENT, WE APPRECIATE IT. THEY DO -- AS YOU FOLLOWED SOME OF THE THINGS THIS PAST YEAR, THEY HAVE A VERY, VERY TOUGH JOB AND A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THEM, BUT THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH 75,000 PEOPLE A YEAR COMING THROUGH THERE UNDER SOME VERY TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WE'RE PROUD OF THEM, AND WE APPRECIATE THE BOARD AND YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >>KEN HAGAN: SHERIFF. >>ROSE FERLITA: AND I WILL SAY AGAIN FOR THE AUDIENCE THAT NOT TOO, TOO VERY LONG AGO MY AIDES AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING TO SEE THE FACILITIES AND WAS QUITE IMPRESSED. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND ALL OF YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. WE APPRECIATE IT. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, SHERIFF. THE NEXT PROCLAMATION WILL BE PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, COLLEAGUES. WOULD EACH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT'S REPRESENTED PLEASE COME UP. THIS NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR "PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL DAY." AS WE KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY IS WHAT IT IS, AND IT SAFE AS IT IS BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT PROTECT US EACH AND EVERY DAY AS WE GO ABOUT OUR DAILY LIVES, AND THE POLICE OFFICER MEMORIAL DAY -- AND IT'S ACTUALLY -- IT'S GOING TO BE A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION, I GUESS, AS THE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES GO THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE CELEBRATORY PROCEDURES -- A TIME TO REFLECT AND MEMORIALIZE ON ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES PROTECTING US AND KEEPING US SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THIS PROCLAMATION TO ALL OF THE AGENCIES REPRESENTED HERE AND TELL YOU HOW PROUD WE ARE OF YOU AND THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT REPRESENT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS I'D SAY I AM VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT I HAVE SERVED ON TWO OF THESE AGENCIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND KNOW MANY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN AND JUST ARE PLEASED THAT WE HAVE SUCH OUTSTANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN OUR COUNTY. THE PROCLAMATION READS AS SUCH. WHEREAS, THE CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE DESIGNATED MAY 15th "PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL DAY" AND THE WEEK IN WHICH MAY 15th FALLS IS "NATIONAL POLICE WEEK;" WHEREAS, THE MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF RESIDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE CITY OF PLANT CITY, TAMPA POLICE -- TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, TEMPLE TERRACE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA; WHEREAS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL CITIZENS KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, HAZARDS, AND SACRIFICES OF THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND THE MEMBERS OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES RECOGNIZE THEIR DUTY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AND SAFEGUARDS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY BY PROTECTING THEM AGAINST VIOLENCE, DISORDER, AND BY PROTECTING THE INNOCENT AGAINST DECEPTION AND THE WEAK AGAINST OPPRESSION; WHEREAS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY UNCEASINGLY PROVIDE VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE FOR WHICH ALL ARE GRATEFUL; AND WHEREAS, THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FURTHER HONOR THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO, THROUGH THEIR COURAGEOUS DEEDS, HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO SERVICE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY OR HAVE BECOME DISABLED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTY; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY DECLARE THE WEEK OF MAY 11th-MAY 17th AS "POLICE WEEK" AND THE DATE OF MAY 15, 2008, AS "PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL DAY," SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO EACH AND EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT'S REPRESENTED HERE TODAY. [APPLAUSE] >>JIM NORMAN: GIVE THEM A HAND, YEAH. >>KEVIN WHITE: ALSO, I HAVE THE CHAIRMAN'S PERMISSION, I WOULD LIKE THE DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY TO COME UP REAL QUICK, PLEASE. THEY'RE ALL THE LADIES IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN RED. THEY ARE HERE TODAY CELEBRATING THEIR SECOND ANNUAL DELTA DAY AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THIS IS THE DELTA THETA SORORITY, THE TAMPA ALUMNI CHAPTER, AND IF THEY WOULD HAVE A QUICK REPRESENTATIVE TO COME UP, AND THIS -- THEY ARE HERE TODAY IN OBSERVANCE OF THEIR GOOD GOVERNMENT DAY. >>JIM NORMAN: COMMISSIONER WHITE, YOU COULD HAVE SHARED, YOU KNOW. [LAUGHTER] >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION. I AM -- SURE -- I AM MARIAN LAURIA-DAVIS, PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, AND IT IS INDEED OUR PLEASURE TO BE HERE AGAIN FOR OUR SECOND DAY, OUR SECOND DAY -- OUR SECOND DAY AT THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSION. WE WERE HERE LAST YEAR, AND WE ENJOYED IT SO MUCH WE THOUGHT WE WOULD COME BACK, SO WE ARE CERTAINLY HERE. I JUST WANT TO SAY VERY QUICKLY THAT THE TAMPA ALUMNI CHAPTER, WHICH WAS CHARTERED IN 1947, HAS BEEN PROVIDING MORE THAN 60 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE TAMPA BAY AREA. THAT IS WHAT WE DO, PUBLIC SERVICE. WE ARE ON A MISSION AS ONE SISTERHOOD, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR COMMITTED SERVICE, AND THERE IS WHAT WE DO. TODAY OUR -- ONE OF OUR PROGRAMMATIC THRUSTS IS REPRESENTED, THE POLITICAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY HEDDIE SUMPTER AND LYNETTE JUDGE, AND OF COURSE, THE REST OF US ARE HERE JUST TO REPRESENT AND SUPPORT THEM FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO. WE DO SEVERAL THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO OUR POLITICAL AWARENESS -- AND OF COURSE THAT IS FOCUSED IN THE AREA OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND EACH YEAR WE ARE VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE GIVE MORE THAN $15,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO MORE THAN 20 HIGHLY ACADEMIC ACHIEVERS, STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING AND READY TO MATRICULATE INTO A COLLEGE OF THEIR CHOICE, SO JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING SO THAT WE CAN GO BACK INTO OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AND HELP SPREAD THAT WORD AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO HELP MAKE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENRY. I WOULD JUST ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT HEDDIE IS THE CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH ACTION BOARD. SHE'S VERY INVOLVED IN THAT INITIATIVE. SO AGAIN, WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO ARE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF DOING THEIR THING ASIDE FROM WHAT WE DO AS AN ORGANIZATION, AND OF COURSE YOU KNOW JOYCE RUSSELL, WHO IS VERY ACTIVE WITH THE TAMPA ALUMNI CHAPTER, ALSO SERVES AS THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LIAISON FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS, SO THERE WE'RE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY IN DOING WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO TO HELP ITS CITIZENRY, SO THANK YOU SO VERY KINDLY FOR HAVING US. WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK NEXT YEAR FOR OUR THIRD DAY AT THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: LADIES, WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR COMING HERE, FOR SPEAKING TO THE BOARD, AND FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S SO MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE -- THAT LOOK TO YOU AS ROLE MODELS, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GREAT STANDARD-BEARERS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, AND WE JUST APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WHAT YOU DO AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. HAVE A GOOD DAY. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF PRESENTING THE NEXT PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE WEEK OF MAY 10th THROUGH THE 18th AS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TOURISM WEEK, AND I BELIEVE MS. JACOBS IS IN THE AUDIENCE. CAN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE. THIS PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS, THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY SUPPORTS THE VITAL INTERESTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THE UNITED STATES, CONTRIBUTING TO OUR EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE, PEACE, UNDERSTANDING, AND GOODWILL; AND WHEREAS, ALMOST 17 MILLION TRAVELERS VISITED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 2007, CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN 3.2 BILLION TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND PROVIDING MORE THAN 50,000 JOBS FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENTS; AND WHEREAS, THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT FOR MORE YOUNG PEOPLE, WOMEN, AND MINORITIES THAN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY; AND WHEREAS, PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HAVE BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING CULTURAL, ENTERTAINMENT, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THE UNITED STATES, TRAVEL AND TOURISM WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES HEREBY SET ASIDE THE WEEK OF MAY 10th THROUGH MAY 18th, 2008, AS "HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TOURISM WEEK," AND URGES ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE TAMPA BAY & COMPANY AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY, EXECUTED THIS 7th DAY OF MAY, 2008, AND SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU, DIANE, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND TAMPA BAY & COMPANY FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO AS BEING SUCH AN INTEGRAL ECONOMIC ENGINE, PARTICULARLY DURING SLOW ECONOMIC TIMES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING. YOU GUYS DO A FANTASTIC JOB, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND I'D LIKE TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >>THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSION. AS YOU HEARD, OVER 17 MILLION VISITORS CAME TO OUR COMMUNITY LAST YEAR AND IN PREVIOUS YEARS AS WELL, AND THEY LEAVE BEHIND $3-BILLION WORTH OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND WILLINGLY DO SO. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH THE YEARS. WE HAVE STRONG STEWARDS OF THE DOLLARS THAT ARE PUT IN OUR CARE TO MARKET THIS DESTINATION, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE YOU PROUD OF US. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, DIANE. [APPLAUSE] PAT, AT THIS TIME, CAN WE REVIEW THE CHANGES? >>PAT BEAN: YES, SIR. WE'LL DO THAT RIGHT NOW. FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE SOME OFF-THE-AGENDA ITEMS. ONE OF THOSE ITEMS HAS ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED. THAT WAS THE "NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS' WEEK" PROCLAMATION. F-6 IS AN ITEM REGARDING THE COUNTY'S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS COMMENDING THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD FOR NAMING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTER FORMER COMMISSIONER SYLVIA RODRIGUEZ-KIMBELL. THAT'S BROUGHT TO THE BOARD BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR. ITEM F-7, TO DISCUSS THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED HUMPS ON LAKE MAGDALENE BOULEVARD AND THE BALLOTING PROCEDURES AS DESCRIBED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING MANUAL, AND THAT'S ALSO BROUGHT TO THE BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR. THERE ARE SOME DELETIONS AND DEFERRALS. THERE WAS A PROCLAMATION THAT WAS TO BE ON THIS MORNING REGARDING "OLDER AMERICANS MONTH," BUT THAT ITEM WAS DELETED FROM TODAY'S AGENDA AND WILL BE PRESENTED AT A LATER DATE. ITEM B-8 IS DELETED FROM THE AGENDA. THAT HAD TO DO WITH SUPPORT AND APPROVING A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE IPA TO PERFORM AN AUDIT AND ANALYSIS OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX FOR '08 AND '09. AND THEN ONE THAT DOES NOT SHOW ON YOUR ADDENDUM, ITEM B-5, WHICH IS THE WATER DEPARTMENT ITEM REGARDING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA, TAMPA ELECTRIC, AND MOSAIC IS DEFERRED FROM THE AGENDA. THE NEXT WE HAVE ITEMS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM CONSENT FOR DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. ITEM A-19, APPROVING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR CARROLLWOOD RECREATION BUILDING AND SITE WORK, THAT ITEM HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR DISCUSSION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN. >>KEN HAGAN: PAT, THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE FOR DISCUSSION. WE'LL DO THAT DURING HIGHLIGHTING. THAT WOULD BE FINE. >>PAT BEAN: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN ITEM A-56 WAS REMOVED FROM THE COUNTY -- FROM THE AGENDA BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA AND COMMISSIONER NORMAN AND COMMISSIONER HAGAN, AND THIS IS AN ITEM RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REGARDING THE PROGRESS ENERGY PROPOSED TRANSMISSION LINE. THE ITEMS THAT ARE SCHEDULED FOR A TIME CERTAIN INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: ITEM F-3 IS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD AT 10:00. IT IS A PRESENTATION BY MR. THOM STORK, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF FLORIDA AQUARIUM. AT 10:15, ITEM B-1 WILL BE HEARD, AND THAT IS TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON STAFF'S ACTIVITY AND INPUT FROM INTERESTED PARTIES AND THE THREE MUNICIPALITIES. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE VISIONING PROGRAM. AT 10:30, ITEM F-5, DISCUSSION CONCERNING IMPACT FEES IMPOSED ON KIDS' CHARITY OF TAMPA BAY. THEN AT 10:45, E-1, A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY WIT OSTRENKO, PRESIDENT OF MOSI. AT 11:00, ITEM B-4, APPROVING THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HEALTHCARE FACILITY REVENUE BONDS. THIS IS RELATED TO UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, AND THIS ITEM RELATES TO THE ITEM THAT IS NEXT ON YOUR LIST OF E-2, APPEARANCE BY TOM MORRISON, BOND COUNSEL FOR THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. AT 11:15 YOU WILL HEAR ITEM B-6, WHICH IS RECEIVING THE COUNTY AUDIT REPORT REGARDING HUMANA INSURANCE COMPANY. THAT'LL BE PRESENTED BY DAN POHTO. AT 11:15 YOU WILL ALSO HEAR B-7, RECEIVING THE COUNTY AUDIT REPORT REGARDING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' LENGTH-OF-SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM. AT 1:30 YOU WILL TAKE UP ITEM C-1, WHICH IS A BRIEFING, ON THE MAP, REGARDING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. AT 1:45, B-2, APPROVING A BUDGET AMENDMENT APPROPRIATING THE PROCEEDS OF THE COUNTY'S TAXABLE TRANSPORTATION REVENUE NOTES, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY, ITEM B-3, ADOPTING INITIAL ASSESSMENTS RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO THE FUNDING OF A PORTION OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS FOR HIGHWAY 301. AT 2:00, ITEM D-1, DIRECTING STAFF NOT TO ARBITRATE TAMPA BAY WATER'S PRIMARY ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR THE NORTHWEST HILLSBOROUGH PIPELINE PROJECT. AND THEN D-2, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO CLOSE THE 30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. AND AT 2:15, ITEM F-4, DIRECTING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO WORK WITH APPROPRIATE COUNTY STAFF AND PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ORDINANCE 06-09 IN ORDER TO CLARIFY THE COUNTY ORDINANCE. AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH MEDICAL TRANSPORT. THOSE ARE THE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA, MR. CHAIR, THAT I'M AWARE OF. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER NORMAN. >>JIM NORMAN: AND COMMISSIONERS, ON THE CONTINUATION OF B- 5, THERE WAS SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT I -- WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DETERMINE, BUT LET ME SAY -- AND I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD HERE -- I BELIEVE THIS ITEM IS GREATLY NOT PREPARED, AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY. THERE ARE SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. FOR INSTANCE, I BELIEVE IT NEEDS -- THERE'S -- THERE WAS A $900,000 NONPROFIT SET UP TO RUN AND BRING THIS FORWARD. THE MODEL'S A GOOD ONE, BUT WHERE -- THERE'S NO MENTION IN THIS ITEM ABOUT THE NONPROFIT AND THE $900,000, WHERE THAT MONEY WAS INVESTED, HOW MUCH IS LEFT. THERE'S ONLY TWO MONTHS LEFT ON THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE NONPROFIT. IS THE NONPROFIT STRUCTURE NECESSARY NOW FOR THERE PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD? AND I BELIEVE OUR BOND COUNSEL, THE TAX SIDE NEEDS TO REVIEW THIS TO FIND OUT WHAT'S THE NECESSARY STRUCTURE TO MAKE THIS A WINNING PROJECT. SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AS THIS IS BROUGHT BACK FORWARD. IT'S BEEN CONTINUED, BUT I WANTED TO GET IT ON THE RECORD THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO FIND OUT THE NECESSARY STRUCTURE AND WHAT IS THE ACCOUNTING OF THE $900,000 TO DATE, WHERE IT'S BEEN INVESTED, AND HOW MUCH IS LEFT, AND I DON'T WANT US TO PASS -- I DIDN'T WANT US TO PASS THIS TODAY AND SAY WE'VE APPROVED THE CONCEPT AND IN 30 DAYS US HAVE ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM SAYING NOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND ANOTHER NONPROFIT FOR $500,000. ALL OF THESE THINGS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND BROUGHT FORWARD AS ONE ITEM TOGETHER, SO THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD IT'S CONTINUED. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: DID I HEAR G-1, G-2, WILL THOSE ALSO BE HEARD? WHEN WILL THOSE BE HEARD? >>PAT BEAN: THEY'RE NOT TIME CERTAINS, SO THEY DON'T COME UP ON THE ADDENDUM, COMMISSIONER. THEY'LL COME UP WHENEVER WE GET TO THEM. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: WITH REGARD TO B-5 -- AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONER NORMAN REGARDING HIS CONCERNS, ALTHOUGH I THINK ON THE WHOLE, LOOKING AT THIS PROJECT, I KNOW THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DELAYS AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE USE OF THIS -- OF THE RECLAIMED WATER. THIS WON'T IN ANY WAY INJURE THEIR EFFORT? I MEAN, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, I DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING UNTIL WE'VE ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS, IN PARTICULAR WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $900,000, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN I GOT MY BACKGROUND BRIEFINGS, MY SENSE WAS THAT THEY -- >>JIM NORMAN: DON'T THINK THAT WAS IN IT, COMMISSIONER. >>MARK SHARPE: OKAY. SO WILL THEY BE PREPARED, THOUGH? WHEN THEY COME BACK, WILL THOSE ANSWERS BE ADDRESSED SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD? >>PAT BEAN: OH, CERTAINLY. >>MARK SHARPE: OKAY. >>KEN HAGAN: CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGES. >>KEVIN WHITE: SO MOVE. >>BRIAN BLAIR: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WHITE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR TO APPROVE THE CHANGES. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>KEN HAGAN: AT THIS TIME WE'LL GO INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT 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 DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. THE BOARD'S SET ASIDE 45 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES. THREE SPEAKERS WE HAVE THIS MORNING ARE MARILYN SMITH, DAVID McCALLISTER, AND MARK KLUTHO. WELCOME, MS. SMITH. >> ACTUALLY, WAIT A MINUTE. DON'T START ANYTHING. CHAIR -- WHO'S VICE CHAIR? WELL, DUE TO THE EGREGIOUS MATTER AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF MY PUBLIC COMMENT, I WOULD MOST RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR FIVE MINUTES. I REPRESENT THE PUBLIC, AND WHAT I HAVE TO SAY -- AND IT'S A SHORT TIME THIS MORNING, THERE'S ONLY THREE SPEAKERS, I'M ASKING FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT TO BE EXTENDED. THIS IS SERIOUS MATTERS, UNLESS WE GET IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC -- OUR COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT ISN'T GOING TO TELL ANYBODY. >>MARK SHARPE: CURRENTLY THE PROCESS IS THREE MINUTES. GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE THREE MINUTES. WE'LL BE AS -- >> WELL, WHEN THE CHAIR COMES BACK, I WANT TWO MORE. >>MARK SHARPE: CONTINUE, PLEASE. >> LET'S SEE A SHOW OF HANDS OUT HERE IN THE PUBLIC. >>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A PROCESS. WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW -- >> DON'T GIVE ME A PROCESS. YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WITH THAT PROCESS. >>MARK SHARPE: PLEASE JUST BEGIN. THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. >> OKAY. FIRST OF ALL, JUST TO PROVE -- YEAH, YOU NEED TO BE HONORING NUMBER 3, THE OLDER CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE BELIEVE ME WE DO PLENTY. NOW -- BRIAN, PAY ATTENTION. >>BRIAN BLAIR: I'M PAYING ATTENTION. [LAUGHTER] >> WE ALREADY HAVE A BUILDING NAMED AFTER SYLVIA. WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER, MUCH AS I LOVED HER. WHERE IS IT WRITTEN THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE TWO BUILDINGS NAMED AFTER A COMMISSIONER? WRONG. WE DON'T DO THAT. IT'S THAT LEE DAVIS CENTER. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. AND LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT HOW YOU ABUSED THE WORD "GESTAPO." YOU ACCUSED EPC OF GESTAPO TACTICS. LET ME SHOW YOU WHERE THAT IS. IT'S RIGHT OVER HERE, WALLY HILL AND PAT BEAN, AND THEY RUN PRS. THEY GO AFTER RETIRED PEOPLE AND HARASS THEM. YOU WANT TO TALK GESTAPO? I'VE GOT LURID STORIES WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. THIS IS IMPORTANT BUSINESS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MS. BEAN HAS GONE OUT OF HER WAY TO BUST OUR BUDGET. HERE WE ARE IN A VERY CRITICAL TIME. SHE GOES FORWARD -- AND SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN DO IT - - TO BRING IN A PERSON TO GO WAY PAST THE MEDIAN OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET ON HIRING. THE TOP THEY COULD POSSIBLY GET EVER IS 91, AS IT CURRENTLY SAYS. SHE BUSTS THE BUDGET TO 86,000 TO BRING A BRAND-NEW EMPLOYEE IN. NOW, I THINK THAT'S WRONG WHEN WE'RE LAYING OFF PEOPLE AND WE'RE CUTTING THROATS, WRONG. NOW, LET'S GO ON TO HOW GREEN WE AREN'T. WE HAVE CARS BEING USED THAT ARE OUTRAGEOUS HOGS. I TOLD YOU LAST YEAR WE SHOULD NOT BE GIVING DEXTER BARGE THAT BIG, FAT FOUR-DOOR CAR. YOU KNOW WHAT HE DOES, HE GOES BACK AND FORTH TO LUNCH, HE GOES TO BELL SHOALS CHURCH AND SIGNS CHECKS FOR THEM ALL ON OUR DIME. EVEN I'VE CAUGHT HIM DOWN IN YBOR TROLLING THE LOTS TO SEE WHO'S IN THERE FOR THE RETIREMENT PARTIES. DEXTER IS A REAL STERLING CITIZEN. THERE ARE NO MARKS ON THAT CAR CONTRARY TO WHAT WALLY SAYS. THERE ARE NO COUNTY SEALS ON THERE. HE THINKS HE'S AN FBI AGENT. THE MAN'S PARANOID. I'M NOT TOO CRAZY ABOUT B-4 EITHER. IT STILL DOESN'T GIVE ME A LOT OF SECURITY ABOUT THE BOND ISSUE TOM MORRISON'S GOING TO BRING UP ABOUT THAT HOSPITAL BECAUSE PASCO COUNTY HAS NOT BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE ROADS THEY USE ON OUR SIDE OF THE BORDER. NOW I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG ISSUE. >>MARK SHARPE: 30 SECONDS. >> I GOT 30 SECONDS. >>MARK SHARPE: YES, MA'AM. >> YEAH, WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO LET ME FINISH THIS STATEMENT. HERE WE ARE WITH A BUDGET AND A MESS OF UNPARALLELED BELIEF, AND MRS. BEAN GETS A LETTER FROM HUD STATING -- AND YOU GOTTA LISTEN, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT -- WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE LIMITED PROGRESS ON THE PART -- THIS WAS APRIL 30th -- ON THE PART OF THE COUNTY TO ADDRESS VARIOUS CPD PROBLEMATICS -- I'M GOING TO DROP DOWN HERE -- IT ALSO APPEARS THAT THE COUNTY IS INAPPROPRIATELY -- APPROXIMATELY IN THE SAME POSITION IT WAS THIS TIME AS IT WAS THE LAST YEAR. >>MARK SHARPE: MS. SMITH, I APPRECIATE -- >> I'M GOING TO FINISH. I'M GOING TO FINISH. YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT $900,000. WE HAVE HOME FUNDS FOR 2.4 -- >>MARK SHARPE: MR. McCALLISTER. >> -- WE HAVE 1.5 MILLION. HOWIE'S LOST TWO MILLION -- >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU. >> -- AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT 900,000? >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. >> HOW MANY BABY-SITTERS DO WE NEED OVER THERE? >>MARK SHARPE: THE ISSUE WILL BE ADDRESSED. >> WE GOT BOB -- >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. >> -- WE'VE GOT THE RETIRED COLONEL. WE'VE GOT ALL THIS MONEY THAT NOBODY'S HANDLING. >>MARK SHARPE: MS. SMITH, THANK YOU. >> GO AHEAD, ARREST ME. I LOVE IT. >>MARK SHARPE: DAVID McCALLISTER AND THEN MARK KLUTHO. THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. >> YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE GRIM DETAILS. >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. WE'LL TALK. >> NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK -- >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. >> -- BECAUSE YOU REFUSED THE INFORMATION WHEN WE WANTED TO GIVE IT TO YOU. >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. >> YOU THINK YOUR AUDITOR CAN EVEN FIND THIS? HE DOESN'T EVEN SPEAK THIS LANGUAGE. >>MARK SHARPE: MR. McCALLISTER. >> AND OH, BY THE WAY. >>MARK SHARPE: NO, NOT BY THE WAY. >> HERE'S THE BIBLE. HERE'S THE BIBLE. EVERYTHING I SAY, I'VE GOT THE BIBLE RIGHT HERE. NOW, DO YOU WANT ME TO PASS IT TO MS. BEAN -- >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. >> -- WHILE SHE TALKS TO YOU AND TELLS YOU ONCE AGAIN, OH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE ANY MONEY? >>MARK SHARPE: SIR, YES. JUST -- THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. MR. McCALLISTER. THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. >> HI. >>MARK SHARPE: JUST COME ON, MS. SMITH. YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE AGAIN. >> THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT US HERE. >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> [INAUDIBLE] >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. McCALLISTER. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. >>MARK SHARPE: GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> I SEE WE HAVE THE USUAL SUSPECTS HERE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BUT I AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW MS. SMITH, AND I'M HAPPY THAT MR. KLUTHO IS HERE AS WELL. WE ALL HAVE OUR TURN. RECENTLY I ATTENDED -- AND IF THEY PUT UP THE SLIDE THERE OR THE SHOW THERE -- BOTH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY AND THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY. AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN HERE MONTH AFTER MONTH ASKING FOR A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY. WE DID NOT RECEIVE IT LAST YEAR, WE DID NOT RECEIVE IT THIS YEAR. IT IS NEVERTHELESS A FLORIDA STATE HOLIDAY. BOTH THESE EVENTS, THE SHERIFF'S MEMORIAL AND THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL, ARE TAKEN VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY BY THE PARTICIPANTS. BOTH OF THESE EVENTS HAD AT LEAST ONE COMMISSIONER IN ATTENDANCE. THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY WAS NOT HELD AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AS IS CUSTOMARY BECAUSE OUR MONUMENT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT TODAY OR RIGHT THIS YEAR; HOWEVER, IT WAS HELD AT THE SITE OF THE ROBERT E. LEE MEMORIAL, WHICH WAS REDEDICATED AT THAT TIME ON THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER. I HAVE TO SAY THAT OF COURSE THE PARTICIPANTS WERE DISAPPOINTED IN THE ACTION OF THE COMMISSIONER IN REFUSING OUR PROCLAMATION THIS YEAR AND FELT THAT -- MANY OF THEM FELT THAT YOU WERE DISRESPECTING THEIR ANCESTORS. I TRUST THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE; HOWEVER, THEY DO TAKE -- YOU KNOW, EACH MEMORIAL PARTY, THE SHERIFFS AND THE CONFEDERATES TAKE THEIR MEMORIALS VERY SERIOUSLY. IF YOU COULD SHOW THE HONOR GUARD THERE. OKAY. THAT THERE -- THIS IS JUST -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE SHOWN UP ON THE TOP THERE. THERE WE ARE. THIS IS JUST TO SHOW AN EXAMPLE OF THE HONOR GUARD PROVIDED BY THE SONS OF VETERANS FOR CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY. IN TAKING THEIR TASK SERIOUSLY, THEY CONSIDER THIS A SOLEMN TRUST AND ATTEND IT WITH RELIGIOUS FERVOR, AND IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION IN A RELIGIOUS MANNER. THERE HAS BEEN AMONGST YOU A JUDAIST ISCARIOT WHO BETRAYED HIS OWN KIND; A CAIAPHAS, HIGH PRIEST OF THE SANHEDRIN, WHO WANTED TO PUSH HIS OWN AGENDA AND BRING DOWN COMPETITORS; A HEROD ANTIPAS WHO PANDERED TO POWER TO PROTECT HIS OWN BAILIWICK; AND A PONTIUS PILATE WHO TRIED TO WASH HIS HANDS OF THE WHOLE AFFAIR. I LEAVE IT TO YOU TO CONSIDER WHICH COMMISSIONER MAY REPRESENT WHICH CHARACTER. I WOULD SAY THAT DELTA SIGMA THETA, MR. CURTIS STOKES WOULD HAVE I TRUST AND BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT OUR PROCLAMATIONS BECAUSE AS THEY SAID THEY DO RESPECT THE DIVERSITY IN THE COMMUNITY -- >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. McCALLISTER. >> -- AND THE VALIDITY OF ALL CULTURES AND ALL PEOPLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, SIR. ENJOYED IT. >> SEE YOU NEXT TIME. >>MARK SHARPE: MR. KLUTHO. >> MARK KLUTHO, 14496 120th AVENUE NORTH, LARGO. LAST MEETING I HEARD SOME OF THE MOST ABSURD THINGS EVER UTTERED IN THIS BUILDING. THAT FOOL REPORTER, BILL VARIAN, FROM THE ST. PETE TIMES, HE COULDN'T REPORT ANYTHING ABOUT THAT CELEBRATION OF THE TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR SUSTAINABILITY RESOLUTION, AND HE COMMENTED ABOUT MY SILLY UNIFORM I HAD ON, BUT THEN I LOOK AT YOU FOOLS WITH COATS AND TIES AND THEN THE RESULTING CARBON THAT'S BELCHED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. HOW SICK. AND THEN COMMISSIONER WHITE SAYING THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IN THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN FIXED. WHAT IGNORANCE. THAT IS SO, SO SAD. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT. AND THEN PEOPLE REMEMBER MAY 21st IN TALLAHASSEE, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WILL HAVE THEIR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOOLS AT REGRESSIVE ENERGY, THEIR IDEA TO HAVE A NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. BE THERE. AND THEN WE HAVE THESE TWO STUPID MUSEUMS COMING, THE HISTORY MUSEUM AND THE ART MUSEUM, AND WHAT DID THE IDIOTS OVER THERE AT THE ART MUSEUM DO? FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING THEY PLAYED THE MUSIC FROM ROCKIE, NOT MOZART, NOT BEETHOVEN, ROCKIE. THIS IS ABOUT BEATING SOMEBODY IN THE HEAD, MINDLESS 20th, 21st CENTURY GLADIATORS. I MEAN, THIS SHOWS THE STUPIDITY. YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT AS DUMB AS THAT WRESTLING. DUMB, STUPID BUILDINGS THAT ARE GOING TO PUT FLORIDA UNDER WATER, IGNORING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. HERE'S THE BOOK FROM AMORY LOVINS, NONNUCLEAR FUTURES, THE CASE FOR AN ETHICAL ENERGY STRATEGY, COPYRIGHT 1975. AND THEN WE HAVE BETTER BUILDINGS BY DESIGN. WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS, THEREAFTER THEY SHAPE US, WINSTON CHURCHILL, 1960, AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE, IT IS JUST SICK. IT'S THE ARCHITECTURE, STUPID. AND BOY, ARE YOU BEING STUPID. IT IS SO SAD. VIETNAM, THE GULF OF TONKIN. HERE'S THE NATIONAL SECURITY REPORT, STATES THAT THE GULF OF TONKIN, THAT ATTACK ON DESTROYERS NEVER HAPPENED. >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. KLUTHO. >> NEVER HAPPENED. THAT PERSON THEY'RE CALLING A HERO, YOU KNOW, McCAIN, THAT'S A LIE. VIETNAM -- >>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MR. KLUTHO. >> -- A LIE JUST LIKE THE WEAPONS OF MASS DECEPTION IN IRAQ. A LIE. >>KEN HAGAN: CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: SO MOVE. >>KEVIN WHITE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>JIM NORMAN: COMMISSIONER HAGAN, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT COMMISSIONER BLAIR'S ITEM ON A-7, BEFORE OUR TIME CERTAIN -- I KNOW THERE ARE CITIZENS THAT MADE A TRIP DOWN HERE FOR THE CALMING OFF LAKE MAGDALENE, AND WHERE THEY WOULDN'T BE TIED UNTIL LATE INTO THE AFTERNOON, COULD WE PROBABLY -- >>KEN HAGAN: YEAH, WHY DON'T WE DO IT THE FIRST ITEM AFTER WE DO THE TWO CONSENT ITEMS. >>JIM NORMAN: OKAY. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>PAT BEAN: COMMISSIONERS, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE ITEM A-19, WHICH WAS THE ITEM PULLED BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN, WHICH WAS PULLED FOR HIGHLIGHTING. >>KEN HAGAN: YEAH. THANK YOU, PAT. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO STATE ON THE RECORD THAT THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROJECT THAT WILL NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THE COUNTY'S AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM, BUT IT WILL ALSO INCREASE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS AT CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY. IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TOGETHER WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS RAISED REGARDING HOURS OF OPERATION AND USES, AND THERE WERE RUMORS GOING AROUND THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LIGHTED BASKETBALL COURT AND THE EVENING PROGRAMS, WEEKEND PROGRAMS. THERE WAS EVEN A RUMOR ABOUT ROCK BAND CONTESTS GOING ON THERE AND ALL KIND OF CRAZY THINGS LIKE THAT, SO WE REVISED OR STRENGTHENED THE LANGUAGE. IT WAS PASSED OUT, I BELIEVE, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND I JUST WANT TO FORMALLY READ SOME OF IT, AGAIN, ON THE RECORD, THAT THE COUNTY'S CURRENT AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE DURING THEIR NORMAL HOURS WITH NO EVENING OR WEEKEND PROGRAMS AT THIS FACILITY, AND IN ADDITION, WE MADE IT EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE IN THAT THAT PROGRAM OR THAT SCHEDULE CANNOT BE AMENDED WITHOUT A PUBLIC MEETING, SUPPORT OF THE CCA AND CRD AND APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SO I JUST WANTED TO FORMALLY PUT THAT ON THE RECORD, AND WITH THAT, I'D ASK SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >>JIM NORMAN: MOVE THE ITEM. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN, SECOND -- >>JIM NORMAN: I GOTTA TELL YOU, COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THE HARD WORK ON THIS. THIS IS A FABULOUS PROJECT FOR THESE KIDS. >>KEN HAGAN: I BELIEVE SO TOO. UNFORTUNATELY THERE WERE SOME RUMORS GOING AROUND, SO I WANTED TO GET IT ON THE RECORD. >>JIM NORMAN: FABULOUS, FABULOUS. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>PAT BEAN: MR. CHAIR, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE CONSENT ITEM THAT WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION ALSO? WE TYPICALLY DON'T TAKE THOSE UNTIL LATER IN THE MEETING, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, WE CAN. >>KEN HAGAN: WHAT ABOUT A-56? >>PAT BEAN: THAT'S ONE THAT WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION. >>KEN HAGAN: OH, YES, YES. >>PAT BEAN: ALL RIGHT. ITEM A-56 IS A REPORT FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REGARDING PROGRESS ENERGY AND THE PROPOSED TRANSMISSION LINE. THAT WAS PULLED BY COMMISSIONERS NORMAN, FERLITA, AND THE CHAIR. >>KEN HAGAN: I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST. >>RENEE LEE: MR. CHAIR, IF YOU'D LIKE, MARVA TAYLOR IS HERE. SHE'S PREPARED THE REPORT AND WILL OUTLINE IT IF YOU DESIRE. >>KEN HAGAN: SURE. >>RENEE LEE: THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MARVA TAYLOR, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I, ACTUALLY AS RENEE SAID, PREPARED THE REPORT ON PROGRESS ENERGY, THEIR PROPOSED LINE. AS YOU KNOW, PROGRESS IS BUILDING A NUCLEAR POWER FACILITY IN LEVY COUNTY. THEY ARE PLANNING TO BUILD OR UPGRADE APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES OF TRANSMISSION LINES OVER TEN COUNTIES. EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT DIRECTLY SERVE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THEY ARE PLANNING ON COMING THROUGH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE NORTHDALE AREA. AS COMMISSIONER NORMAN MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING, THERE WERE SOME ISSUES BACK IN THE MID-'80s THROUGH THE MID-'90s WHERE THEY TRIED TO UPGRADE A LINE TO A 500 KV, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF UPHEAVAL, COMMOTION, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BLOCK THEM FROM -- THERE WAS A VARIETY OF LAWSUITS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BLOCK THEM FROM UPGRADING TO 500. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LINE THAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO BUILD THROUGH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS ONLY A 230 KV. I SPOKE YESTERDAY -- ORIGINALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS A DOUBLE CIRCUIT LINE. I SPOKE TO THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PERSON YESTERDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE A SINGLE CIRCUIT. IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE 230, SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO UPGRADE. BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, IT APPEARS THAT THEY MAY NOT NEED ADDITIONAL RIGHT-OF-WAY. WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT HAVING THE LINE FINALIZED, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT DO AS MUCH ANALYSIS AS WE WOULD LIKE. WE CAN PREPARE OURSELF IN THE EVENT, YOU KNOW, THEY DEVIATE FROM THEIR PREVIOUS PLANS. WE CAN, YOU KNOW -- WE HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF THE CITIZENS WHO'VE ALREADY STARTED SENDING LETTERS, AND -- >> [INAUDIBLE] >> AND WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, WAITING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: WELL, I DIDN'T PULL THE ITEM. I'LL -- OKAY. GO AHEAD. I WAS GOING TO COMMENT -- [INAUDIBLE] GO AHEAD. >>JIM NORMAN: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU MENTIONED WHAT WE WENT THROUGH BEFORE. >> YES. >>JIM NORMAN: I REMEMBER SIMILAR COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE AND WE DIDN'T KNOW AND -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED FROM THAT WAS TRYING TO DEAL FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH. >> YES. >>JIM NORMAN: AND RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SITTING BACK DOING IS SITTING BACK WAITING. WE'RE SITTING BACK WAITING FOR THEIR COMMENTS, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO. WHAT I BELIEVE THIS COUNTY SHOULD PURSUE -- AND I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO PUT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO DO THIS. I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING -- EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND ACTUALLY, WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS, AND THAT'S THE STRENGTH OF HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. I BELIEVE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OUR ADMINISTRATOR NEEDS TO GO -- IT'S ALREADY BEEN ON THE PASCO COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA. WE NEED TO JOIN FORCES, WE NEED TO HAVE OUR LAW FIRMS WORKING TOGETHER, WE NEED TO GO UP AND THEN INCLUDE THE BROOKSVILLE AREA. WE NEED TO HAVE A FOUNDATION OF STRENGTH THAT WE ARE ALL TOGETHER PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE TRY TO DO THIS ALONE, WE GET CROSSWAYS AGAINST OTHER COUNTIES. WE SHOULD START OUT RIGHT NOW WITH A FOUNDATION OF STRENGTH AMONGST ALL COUNTIES TO SHOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BE ENCROACHED UPON, BE DISSECTED. IF YOU -- IF YOU WOULD SEE HOW -- WHEN THEY EXPAND THIS STUFF, IF THEY GO FORWARD AND THEN EXPAND IT TO 500 WHAT IT CAN DO TO A NEIGHBORHOOD. NORTHDALE EXPERIENCED SOME OF THAT BEFORE. I THINK RIGHT NOW THIS COMMISSION CAN TAKE THE LEADERSHIP POSITION AND ASSIGN OUR ADMINISTRATOR AND OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BE THE LEAD TO GO TO PASCO, TO GO TO BROOKSVILLE, GET A COUNTY FOUNDATION OF THESE GROUPS AND COUNTIES TO -- LET'S START PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS LIKE WE SHOULD AND LET'S DO THAT RIGHT NOW. DON'T WAIT FOR PROGRESS ENERGY TO SAY WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO. LET'S BE AT THE TABLE AS A -- AS A UNITED FRONT TALKING TO PROGRESS ENERGY AS ONE VOICE. THAT WAY OUR CITIZENS ARE THE MOST PROTECTED, AND THAT'S WHAT I SAW, HOW EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER AND WE STOPPED THE 500 -- ABOVE ACTUALLY 500 K LAST TIME, SO ACTUALLY I WOULD MOVE THAT WE WOULD DIRECT OUR STAFF TO TAKE THE LEAD TO TRY TO CONTACT THESE OTHER COUNTIES AND DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENRY IN THIS EFFORT. >>BRIAN BLAIR: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: OKAY. I WANT TO THANK THE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPORT. I'M -- I SHARE THE CONCERN WITH REGARD TO MAKING SURE THAT THE CITIZENS ARE PROTECTED, BUT -- AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHERE I MIGHT BE BY MYSELF ON THIS -- I THINK THAT THE CITIZENS ARE ALSO CONCERNED WHEN THERE ARE POWER OUTAGES. >> YES. >>MARK SHARPE: THE STATE IS GROWING. WE HAVE VASTLY, BOTH ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND HERE IN FLORIDA -- UNDERINVESTED IN THE UPGRADING OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SO I -- AND THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO UPGRADE THE INFRASTRUCTURE -- AND WHAT I READ HERE IN THIS REPORT IS UPGRADE EXISTING 115 TO A 230, UPGRADING TO A 500. I DON'T KNOW IF WE REMEMBER THE POWER OUTAGE IN MIAMI ABOUT FIVE OR SIX MONTHS AGO. THAT WAS CAUSED BECAUSE ALONG THE TRANSMISSION LINES THERE WAS A HALF-SECOND HICCUP. >> RIGHT. >>MARK SHARPE: AND AS A RESULT OF THAT HALF-SECOND HICCUP, THE WHOLE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, AND PEOPLE -- AND YOU HAD INTERSECTIONS WITHOUT POWER, HOSPITALS WITHOUT POWER UNTIL THEY GOT THEIR GENERATORS RUNNING, HOMES WITHOUT POWER, SO I UNDERSTAND AND AM SYMPATHETIC TO THE CITIZENS WITH REGARD TO POWER LINES, BUT WE'VE GOT TO UPGRADE OUR SYSTEMS, SO I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE AN EFFORT WHERE WE BASICALLY TELL FLORIDA PROGRESS WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR -- AND EVEN THOUGH THE ENERGY'S NOT GOING TO COME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I THINK THE STATE DESPERATELY NEEDS THE ENERGY, SO I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO IN ANY WAY INJURE OUR EFFORTS -- AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE ATTEMPT OF COMMISSIONER NORMAN, BUT I WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THIS -- THAT WE DO ANYTHING TO INJURE OUR EFFORTS TO UPGRADE OUR POWER INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN THE STATE OR WE'RE GOING TO BE SUFFERING BROWNOUTS, BLACKOUTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES OF THE DISCUSSION FROM MR. SHARPE AND FROM MR. NORMAN, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE UPGRADING TO 230, AND IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. I THINK THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH TALKING TO OTHER POTENTIAL COUNTIES THAT ARE CONCERNED, GROUPS THAT ARE CONCERNED, ET CETERA, JUST SO THAT WE'RE NOT AT THE END FOUND TO BE IN A DEFENSIVE POSITION AS OPPOSED TO OFFENSIVE. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH SHARING OUR CONCERNS. AND JUST LIKE THE REST OF YOU COLLEAGUES, I AM GETTING E- MAILS, JUST THE RECENT ONE THIS MORNING FROM HILL WARD & HENDERSON, GINA GRIMES, WHO REPRESENTS ERIKA AND DON WALLACE, AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT CONFIGURATION, ET CETERA. THAT'S FINE. WE HAVE TO POSTURE THIS SO THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO HELP OUR CITIZENS DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF THE FINAL CONFIGURATION, BUT YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK, MARK, WHAT YOU SAID WAS -- WAS DEFINITELY ON TARGET. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THAT THE UTILITY COMPANIES ARE OUR ENEMIES. THE OLD STORY THAT COMES UP ALL THE TIME IS WE ALL HAVE CELL PHONES, WE ALL WANT CELL PHONES, BUT I DON'T WANT A CELL TOWER CLOSE TO MY HOUSE, MAYBE CLOSE TO YOURS. SO WE HAVE TO BE REASONABLE IN TERMS OF OUR APPROACH, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THE SAME REASON BACK FROM THEM JUST LIKE WE'VE ENCOUNTERED DISCUSSIONS, AT LEAST I HAVE, WITH TECO AT THE CITY SIDE. SO I THINK WE GO FORWARD. I THINK CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY OUR ADMINISTRATOR AND OUR ATTORNEY WILL BE VIGILANT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS, BUT LET'S NOT START STIRRING IT UP TO THE POINT THAT EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT LAWSUITS. I KNOW THERE'S SOME BAD BLOOD FROM PAST LITIGATIONS IN THE LATE '80s AND '90s AND THE ISSUE WITH THE TWO RIVERS RANCH. WE HAVE DEP THAT IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED OR HAS BEEN INVOLVED, THE EPA IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE ROUTE THAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT. PASCO COUNTY CERTAINLY HAS SOME SAME CONCERNS TOO. SO I THINK IT'S NOT ABOUT PREPARING A DEFENSE, IT'S ABOUT COLLABORATING SO THAT THE CONCERNS ON A COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL ARE THERE SO THEN WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO USES AND WE ALSO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEIR LOGIC IS ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, SO IF THE MOTION ON THE TABLE IS ABOUT GETTING TOGETHER AND GETTING READY TO BE PREPARED TO LITIGATE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE THERE YET. I THINK WE NEED TO BE VIGILANT AND WAIT AND SEE, AND THAT'S MY POSITION ON THIS. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER NORMAN. >>JIM NORMAN: WELL, I GUESS I TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH. I THINK WE NEED TO AGGRESSIVELY PREPARE TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED TO DO THAT AS A COMBINATION OF ALL COUNTIES INVOLVED, SHOW STRENGTH THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO DO ANYTHING NECESSARY, IF IT'S LAWSUIT OR WHATEVER, BUT ANYTHING NECESSARY. THESE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS, SIX, TEN, 12 -- I MEAN THROUGHOUT THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED BY A POTENTIAL GIANT POWER LINE, AND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THESE PEOPLE BOUGHT -- THEY BOUGHT IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS KNOWING THERE WAS A LINE BUT NEVER, NEVER THINKING IT COULD GO TO SOMETHING LIKE A 500 K OR ABOVE. WE AS THEIR -- THEIR GOVERNMENT NEED TO SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE WANT YOUR POWER. USE EXISTING LINES. GO TO THE 230 OR 220 OR WHATEVER IN YOUR EXISTING RIGHTS- OF-WAY, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO 500, DIVERSE YOURSELF, FIND OTHER RIGHTS-OF-WAY BUT DO NOT IMPACT ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE THERE. THESE ARE -- THIS IS -- THE ENTIRE NORTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S FACING THIS STUFF, PASCO'S FACING IT, HERNANDO'S FACING IT. WE GOTTA -- WE SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD AND DO EVERYTHING AGGRESSIVELY TO PROTECT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IF YOU DON'T TAKE THAT APPROACH, YOU'RE GOING TO GET RUN OVER. I'VE SEEN THIS STUFF AND I'VE SAW IT IN ATLANTA AND I SAW IT IN WASHINGTON. IF YOU DON'T -- IF YOU DON'T SHOW A SOLID COME-TOGETHER STRENGTH, YOUR CITIZENS ARE GOING TO SUFFER. >> MAY I RESPOND, SIR? >>KEN HAGAN: IN A MOMENT. >> OKAY. >>KEN HAGAN: FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER NORMAN IN THAT PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS PARAMOUNT AND THAT SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WHEN I REVIEWED THE REPORT, I WAS CONCERNED THAT WE WERE BEING REACTIVE IN NOT BEING PROACTIVE ON THE ISSUE. I THINK WE SHOULD TO THE EXTENT WE CAN TAKE A PROACTIVE POSITION, BE UNITED, TRY AND COME, AS COMMISSIONER NORMAN STATED, FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH. THE -- SO I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION. WHEN I SHOWED UP TODAY, I WAS GOING TO ASK IF IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, SIMILAR TO WHAT I THINK WAS -- THE ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN BY THIS BOARD IN EARLY '90s WAS TO PASS A MOTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE ROUTES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE TO DO THAT NOW OR NOT. MY CONCERN IS THAT -- IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY -- THAT ROUTES OR THE LINES ARE MANDATED TO INCREASE SOMEWHERE, AND AS OF RIGHT NOW IT'S US OR PASCO, SO SHOULD WE TAKE THAT POSITION, WHICH I SUPPORT OPPOSING THE ROUTE THROUGH HILLSBOROUGH, IT MAY PUT US IN OPPOSITION TO PASCO, AND THAT MAY MAKE THE INTENT OF THE MOTION MOOT, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW. >>JIM NORMAN: CAN I ANSWER THAT, COMMISSIONER? >>KEN HAGAN: SURE. >>JIM NORMAN: SEE, I BELIEVE IF WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM, YOU WON'T IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS. IF YOU CAN FORCE THEM TO STAY WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS-OF-WAYS, DO WHAT THEY SAY RIGHT NOW, TAKE IT TO THE 200 AND LEAVE IT THERE, SINGLE POLES, EXISTING RIGHTS-OF-WAYS, YOU'RE NOT -- YOU'RE NOT IMPACTING NEIGHBORHOODS IN EITHER COUNTY, AND IF YOU COME TOGETHER WITH BOTH LEGAL TEAMS, BOTH ADMINISTRATIONS, AND INVOLVE HERNANDO, I THINK AS A FULL BASE OF SUPPORT WE CAN STAND TOE TO TOE, BUT IF WE TRY TO DO IT ON OUR OWN, WE'LL LOSE. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. CHAIRMAN, I AGREE THAT A UNITED FRONT IS HELPFUL IN TERMS OF ALL OF US PROTECTING OUR OWN CONSTITUENTS HERE AND IN OTHER COUNTIES. I'M JUST SAYING THAT I THINK THE SPIRIT IN WHICH WE DO THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BELLIGERENT. I MEAN, WE DON'T WANT TO PUNCH THEM IN THE FACE BECAUSE WE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING OR DO SOMETHING WRONG. THEY'RE RIGHT NOW IN A POSITION THAT SEEMS TO BE OKAY. WE JUST NEED TO LET IT UNFOLD, AND YES, MR. NORMAN, I AGREE, THAT WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO, AND THAT'S PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROTECT OUR CITIZENS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO UNDERREACT, I DON'T WANT TO OVERREACT. I WANT TO BE POSTURED TO BE PREPARED TO RESPOND DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY DO. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH SENDING A MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR, WE'RE OPPOSED TO THIS, WE WOULD SUPPORT THIS, WE'RE TOLERANT OF THIS, BUT LET'S NOT GET ON THE WAR WAGON BEFORE WE HAVE SOMETHING TO ARGUE ABOUT. I THINK THAT MS. LEE IS VERY ABLE TO KEEP US POSTED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING. I JUST DON'T WANT TO START THAT SENSE OF BELLIGERENCY UNTIL WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT. THAT'S MY SENSE. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE, THEN WE'LL LET THE COUNTY ATTORNEY RESPOND. >>MARK SHARPE: I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION WITH REGARD - - YOU KNOW, I THINK TO BE ABLE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM FLORIDA PROGRESS WITH REGARD TO -- OR PROGRESS ENERGY WITH REGARD TO THE ROUTES WOULD BE HELPED, BUT I GO BACK TO MY ORIGINAL STATEMENT. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A REAL MESS, GO TO CALIFORNIA. NOBODY WANTS POWER STATIONS, NOBODY WANTS POWER LINES, AND EVIDENTLY AT TIMES NOBODY WANTS POWER, AND SO IT'S THE -- THE POWER'S UNRELIABLE. IT SHUTS DOWN AT TIMES WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU -- YOU CAN ILL AFFORD TO NOT HAVE THE POWER, AND THEN WE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING COMPANIES TO COME HERE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RELY ON US, AGAIN, FOR AFFORDABLE ENERGY, AND WHEN YOU'RE A STATE THAT'S GROWING, AND WE'RE GROWING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO UPGRADE THE SYSTEM. THERE'S A POINT AT WHICH YOU JUST CAN'T MAINTAIN A SMALL -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT THE FLORIDA OF THE 1950s AND '60s, SO - - AND I APOLOGIZE, YOU'RE -- >> YOU'RE FINE. >>MARK SHARPE: YOU'RE ON THE RECEIVING END. I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO -- I KIND OF LEAN MORE TOWARDS MS. FERLITA IN THAT I THINK WE NEED TO TALK WITH THEM, BUT I -- WHEN SOMEONE TELLS ME THEY WANT TO UPGRADE A SYSTEM WHICH IS IN NEED OF UPGRADE AND AGAIN DON'T LOOK MUCH FURTHER THAN THE FIASCO IN SOUTH FLORIDA THAT WAS ONLY CAUSED BY -- IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, AND IT WAS A HICCUP THAT LASTED LESS THAN HALF A SECOND, AND AS A RESULT IT WAS A CATASTROPHE. WE DON'T NEED MANY OF THOSE, AND SO I UNDERSTAND CITIZENS DON'T WANT POWER LINES, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT POWER, THERE'S A COST. AND SO I -- I WOULD -- I WOULD URGE US TO TALK WITH THEM, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IN OPPOSITION AT THIS TIME. >>KEN HAGAN: MS. LEE, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT? >>RENEE LEE: YES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. BASED ON THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY WATCHING THIS ROUTE AND HOW IT'S GOING TO SHAPE UP. I THINK BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A SPECIFIC ROUTE IDENTIFIED YET THAT A MOTION MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO EARLY. ONCE WE -- ONCE WE'VE IDENTIFIED WHAT IT IS, I'D LIKE TO BRING YOU A RESOLUTION BACK TO THE BOARD THAT YOU MAY VOTE IN OPPOSITION OF THAT ROUTE. I CERTAINLY SUPPORT COLLABORATING WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS EARLY ON SO THAT WE CAN HELP -- HELP PROGRESS ENERGY FOCUS THE ROUTE OUTSIDE OF OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO START WORKING WITH THEM EARLY ON, BUT IN TERMS OF TAKING A POSITION IN OPPOSITION OF THE ROUTE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS YET, SO I WOULD SAY LET'S WAIT AND BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK. MARVA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO ADD. >> THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS IN SPEAKING WITH PROGRESS ENERGY, THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US, THEY ARE WILLING TO COME IN. THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF THEY SHOULD BE HERE TODAY, AND I SAID THERE WAS REALLY NO REASON FOR THEM TO BE HERE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE COMMISSIONERS MADE A STATEMENT ON WHERE WE WERE GOING. WITH RESPECT TO COMMISSIONER SHARPE EARLIER SAID THE UPGRADING OF THE ROUTE, RIGHT NOW, BASED AGAIN ON WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME, IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO STAY WITHIN THAT EXISTING RIGHT-OF-WAY AND UPGRADE. THEY ARE GOING TO REMOVE THE POLE THAT'S THERE THAT'S NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE AND REPLACE IT WITH WHAT SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SIDE AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE WITH COMMISSIONER NORMAN AND HIS MOTION, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS I THINK PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE OUR PARAMOUNT FUNCTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND COMMISSIONER SHARPE, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AS FAR AS CALIFORNIA, WE CAN LOOK AT EGYPT LAKE, THE DEBACLE WE HAD RIGHT HERE IN TAMPA WHERE THE POWER COMPANIES DID NOT CONSIDER WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS WANTED, AND THEN WE HAD THIS TWO- TO THREE- YEAR LEGAL BATTLE WITH TECO RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN -- IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK IT'S JUMPING ON THE WAR WAGON, AND THE ONLY - - THE ONLY REASON THAT I WOULD TEND TO LEAN THAT WAY, TOWARD COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S MOTION AT THIS TIME, IT'S NOT TO TELL PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING OR WHERE THEY ARE GOING, BUT IT'S JUST TO LET PROGRESS ENERGY KNOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR POSTURE. THIS BOARD IS MORE CONCERNED WITH NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITY AND KEEPING THEM SAFE AND KEEPING THE STATURE OF THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH PEOPLE INVESTED IN SAFE AND HARMONIOUS IN THAT ASPECT, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BRING IN THESE BIG 500 K LINES. THIS IS NOT WHAT I INVESTED IN. BUT I JUST -- I JUST REALLY HOPE -- AND I'M -- AND I'M KIND OF GLAD IT'S GOING THROUGH WHERE THE PROPOSED ROUTE IS AFFECTING THE NORTH END AND THE HIGHER END AND THE MORE AFFLUENT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF WE'D BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION IF IT WAS GOING THROUGH EAST TAMPA AND THE POORER SECTIONS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GLAD WE ARE HAVING THIS HEALTHY DISCUSSION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT BEING CONTINUED, AND LIKE MS. FERLITA SAID, SHE GOT AN E-MAIL, I GOT THE SAME ONE FROM MS. GINA GRIMES WHO'S REPRESENTING DON AND ERIKA WALLACE, AND THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR MORE AFFLUENT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, WITH NAMES AND SUCH OF THAT BEING DROPPED IN THIS TYPE OF VENUE, OF COURSE NOW WE HAVE HEIGHTENED THE HIGHLIGHT TO THIS, BUT I THINK IF IT WAS JOHN AND JANE DOE, THE SAME CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE MADE FOR EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERY MEMBER OF OUR CITIZENRY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BUT I TOO WANT TO ALSO BE ON THE SIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERY COMMUNITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO MAKE IT SAFE. SO THAT'S WHERE I AM. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. WE'VE GOT FOUR COMMISSIONERS THAT WANT TO SPEAK. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING THIS IN OR CONTINUE IT TO THE END OF THE DAY. I JUST -- LAST COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT I SUPPORT DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S MOTION. I DON'T THINK ANYTHING MS. LEE SAID OR HER RECOMMENDATION IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT TO WHAT COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S MOTION IS, SO I THINK WE CAN, IN MY OPINION, MOVE FORWARD WITH COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S MOTION. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DOING WHAT MS. LEE RECOMMENDS WHEN THE ROUTE IS KNOWN. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, AND THEN WE NEED TO GET MOVING. COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU. I'LL TRY TO MAKE MY TIME COMMENTS QUICK. I WOULD HOPE AND TRUST CERTAINLY EVERYTHING WE DO HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FINANCIAL STATUS, LOCATION, COLOR, CREED, NO MATTER WHO'S WRITING US THE E-MAILS. THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO PERHAPS OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, TO DIRECT MS. LEE TO AGGRESSIVELY, AGGRESSIVELY FOLLOW THE PROCESS AND KEEP US APPRISED IN TERMS OF ALIGNMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES, AND IN ADDITION TO DIRECT MS. LEE TO OPEN A COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH PASCO COUNTY AND OTHER RELATED ENTITIES AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION AND DIALOGUE WITH PROGRESS ENERGY IN AN EFFORT TO BE PREPARED SHOULD WE HAVE TO DEFEND ANY ISSUES FOR ALL OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE AFFECTED WITH THIS. THAT'S MY MOTION. >>BRIAN BLAIR: THAT'S THE MOTION? >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER NORMAN. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND, BUT WITH COMMENT LATER. >>JIM NORMAN: WELL, THAT'S ALMOST THE MOTION, BUT THE POINT IS -- AND THE REASON I WANTED TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS POSSIBLE, WE NEED TO BE. LET ME JUST TELL YOU SOMETHING. COMMISSIONER SHARPE, THAT WAS THE ENERGY'S COMMENTS VERBATIM WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO PUT IN THE 500 K BEFORE, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT THEY GOT NOW WORKS. WHAT THEY DID NOW WORKS. THEY FOUND OTHER ROUTES. THEY DIDN'T DISSECT NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HELD FIRM, AND THAT WAS THE LINE. OH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THIS BLACKOUT STUFF. WE DON'T. THEY FOUND ALTERNATIVE WAYS. THEY RAN THE ENERGY AND IT DIDN'T KILL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED -- WE NEED TO TAKE THE LEAD. WE NEED TO GO TO THESE COUNTIES. THEY'VE HAD MEETINGS. I DON'T WANT PROGRESS ENERGY COMING IN HERE AND MEETING WITH US ALONE AND DIVIDE AND CONQUER. I WANT US TO HAVE A GROUP OF COUNTIES THAT ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH PROGRESS ENERGY AND GET THE BEST FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENRY. WE HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: AND I'LL BE BRIEF, AND I SUPPORT COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S MOTION, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE LEAD, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S CONSIDERED AGGRESSIVE OR BELLIGERENT OR INAPPROPRIATE TO BE WATCHING OUT AT EVERY ANGLE. I DON'T SEE HOW IT WILL IMPEDE THE PROGRESS FOR THIS NEW TRANSMISSION LINE, SO I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S MOTION. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: VERY QUICKLY. THAT'S WHY I SECONDED THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER WHITE TOUCHED ON A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER THAT TOOK YEARS TO SOLVE, AND A LOT OF HEARTACHE, HEADACHES, A LOT OF TEARS, EMOTIONS WENT INTO THE DIVISION OF THE EGYPT LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DON'T NEED THAT AGAIN. COMMISSIONER FERLITA SAID A VERY WISE STATEMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF HER DIALOGUE, AND THAT WAS THAT IT'S BETTER TO BE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE, SO TO BE OUT IN FRONT OF THE -- OF THIS MATTER COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE MENTIONED IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, SO WITH THAT SAID, MR. CHAIR, I'M READY TO VOTE. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: AND I'LL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING I WANT TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THIS IS JUST A -- IT'S A LARGE -- WE'VE GOT A MACRO PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE'RE NOT INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE NOT INVESTING IN OUR POWER SYSTEMS, AND WHEN ANYONE TRIES TO UPGRADE, IT'S THE SAME WITH OUR ROAD, EVERYTHING YOU TALK ABOUT. WHEN YOU UPGRADE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE CITIZENRY, WE DON'T WANT IT, WE DON'T WANT IT IN OUR BACKYARD, WE DON'T WANT IT NEAR US. I DON'T WANT A POWER STATION RAMMING THROUGH MY HOME, I DON'T WANT IT DISRUPTING MY NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I APPRECIATE WHAT JIM NORMAN'S TRYING TO DO TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT I DON'T WANT THIS MOTION TO DO IS IN ANY WAY SUGGEST -- FIRST OFF, WE'RE MAKING LIKE THEY'RE THE ENEMY. THEY'RE PROVIDING US ENERGY. THE POWER THAT WE USE THE MOMENT WE WAKE UP, WHAT WE USE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, IT'S IMPORTANT, WHETHER IT'S TAMPA ELECTRIC OR PROGRESS ENERGY, AND WE MAKE THESE GUYS LIKE THEY'RE THE BAD GUYS. THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP US, AND WHEN WE NEED THE DOGGONE ENERGY, WE EXPECT IT WHEN WE TURN ON THE LIGHT SWITCH. AND WHEN YOU'RE GROWING AS WE ARE GROWING, WITH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE STATE OR NEW BABIES, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THE POWER FOR THEM, AND WE'RE SITTING BACK HERE LIKE CALIFORNIA AND LIKE A LOT OF OTHER STATES COMING UP WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF EXCUSES WHY WE WANT THE POWER BUT WE WANT TO UPGRADE THE INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WE NEED TO UPGRADE THE INFRASTRUCTURE. >> THAT'S NOT TRUE. >>MARK SHARPE: I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD DAMAGE -- WELL, I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO DAMAGE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POWER COMPANIES THAT ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR STATE. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE YOUR VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION FAILED 2-5. COMMISSIONERS BLAIR, HAGAN, HIGGINBOTHAM, NORMAN, AND WHITE VOTED NO. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. THE ORIGINAL MOTION BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR. COMMISSIONER NORMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE -- >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. CHAIRMAN, PLEASE HAVE HIM REPHRASE IT -- >>KEN HAGAN: RESTATE THE MOTION, PLEASE. >>ROSE FERLITA: -- OR REPEAT IT. >>JIM NORMAN: FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO TAKE THE LEAD IN APPROACHING PASCO COUNTY, AND SECONDARY PHASE BASICALLY GO TO HERNANDO OR BROOKSVILLE, GET A COLLABORATION OF ALL COUNTIES TOGETHER TO FORM A FOUNDATION OF SUPPORT TO TRY TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AGGRESSIVELY, AND MEET WITH PROGRESS ENERGY BUT SHOW THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROTECT ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS FROM EXPANSION OF OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF THE EXISTING RIGHTS-OF- WAYS. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: IN THE WAY THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN -- I MEAN, MR. NORMAN, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COLLABORATION AS WELL AS OPPOSED TO GETTING PREPARED FOR LITIGATION, AND I THINK THAT'S A FRIENDLIER WAY TO POSE IT, AND SO I THINK WE'VE ALL EXPRESSED WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, DEFENDING AND PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SO IF THAT'S THE POINT AT WHICH YOUR MOTION STOPS, THEN I'LL SUPPORT IT. >>KEN HAGAN: PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: COMMISSIONER BLAIR. MOTION PASSES 6-1. COMMISSIONER SHARPE VOTED NO. >>KEN HAGAN: F-7. >> THANK YOU. >>PAT BEAN: COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE A TIME CERTAIN THAT YOU NEED TO GO TO. >>JIM NORMAN: COULD HE -- >>KEN HAGAN: WE WANTED TO DO F-7. WE INDICATED WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT RIGHT AFTER THAT ITEM. >>JIM NORMAN: THE CITIZENS ARE HERE, AND WE'LL GET THEM OUT THE DOOR. >>PAT BEAN: ALL RIGHT. F-7 IS THE ITEM REGARDING THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED HUMPS ON LAKE MAGDALENE BOULEVARD AND THE BALLOTING PROCEDURES AS DESCRIBED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING MANUAL. THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE BOARD BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'RE, I'M SURE, AWARE OF - - I KNOW COMMISSIONER HAGAN IS AND COMMISSIONER NORMAN ARE ALSO VERY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT LAKE MAGDALENE IS -- THE RESIDENTS THERE HAVE TRIED TO GET SPEED BUMPS, AND THEY PETITIONED, AND I GUESS -- WELL, NOT I GUESS, I KNOW NOW AFTER TALKING TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT IT IS A FLAW IN OUR LANGUAGE THAT IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T RESPOND, THEY'RE COUNTED AS A NO VOTE. WELL, THAT'S SIMPLY NOT RIGHT AS DETERMINED BY OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND CHRISTINE BECK -- AS YOU RECALL, RENEE WAS IN THERE WHEN WE DISCUSSED THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A MOTION -- ACTUALLY TWO MOTIONS FOR THESE PEOPLE. ONE WOULD BE THAT FIRST OFF FOR US THAT WE UPDATE THE LANGUAGE THAT GUIDES THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING SPEED BUMPS. APPROVAL SHOULD BE BASED ON THE MAJORITY OF BALLOTS THAT ARE RETURNED, NOT WHETHER SOMEBODY VOTED OR NOT. AND THEN THE SECONDARY MOTION WOULD BE THAT THE BALLOTS ALREADY TURNED IN ON THIS PARTICULAR PETITION SHOULD BE COUNTED AND ISSUED INSTEAD OF CONDUCTING ANOTHER VOTE. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: BOB GORDON -- IS BOB HERE OR -- >>PAT BEAN: BUZZ BARBER IS HERE. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. I ASKED BOB LAST WEEK, AND THIS WAS PRIOR TO COMMISSIONER BLAIR ADDING THIS TO THE AGENDA -- TO GIVE A REPORT ON THIS PROJECT, AND HE ISSUED ME THIS MEMO LAST WEEK AND, AND IT ESSENTIALLY SAYS POLICY DOESN'T GIVE STAFF THE -- THE DISCRETION TO WAIVE THE POLICY AND APPROVE THE REQUIREMENTS. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TRAFFIC SERVICES DIVISION WENT FORWARD WITH IMPROVEMENTS AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS OR THAT MR. GORDON MADE RECOMMENDATIONS AS FAR AS INSTALLING TWO RAISED INTERSECTIONS ON LAKE MAG, NOTTING HILL DRIVE AND WOODLEAF WAY, SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WILL SATISFY THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WILL NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE 'NOTHER BALLOT OR PETITION PROCESS, SO - - MR. GORDON, YOU'RE HERE. CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO GET -- I KNOW SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ARE HERE, SEE IF THEY CONCUR WITH THAT SO THERE'S NO NEED TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE 'NOTHER PETITION IF WE CAN GO FORWARD REQUEST THAT PROCESS. I FULLY SUPPORT CHANGING THE POLICY FOR FUTURE -- FUTURE APPLICATIONS THAT COMMISSIONER BLAIR IS BRINGING UP. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT I THINK WE CAN AVOID GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE VOTE AGAIN IF THIS SATISFIES -- SATISFIES STAFF AND IT SATISFIES THE CITIZENS, SO CAN YOU PLEASE COMMENT ON THAT. >>BOB GORDON: YES. BOB GORDON, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. THAT WAS THE -- THAT WAS THE ACTUAL ISSUE OF THE BALLOTING WAS -- INVOLVED TWO RAISED INTERSECTIONS AT THIS SEGMENT OF LAKE MAGDALENE. I THINK -- OUR RECOMMENDATION IS IF YOU STAY WITH THE TRAFFIC HEARING MASTER'S RECOMMENDATION, IT'LL DO TWO THINGS. I THINK IT WILL CALM THE TRAFFIC ALONG THIS SEGMENT, I THINK IT'LL ALSO RESULT IN A LESS RESISTANCE AND GREATER ACCEPTANCE BY THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY SINCE THIS WAS INITIALLY PART OF THE BALLOTING PROCESS, AND AS YOU'VE INDICATED IN THE MEMORANDUM THAT I SENT TO YOU, WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN SOME ACTION TO PUT UP SPEED FEEDBACK SIGNS, REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT, AND INCREASE THE SIGNS ALONG THAT STRETCH OF ROADWAY, SO I THINK THOSE THINGS COMBINED WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE SPEEDING. THERE'S CLEARLY A SPEEDING PROBLEM THERE BECAUSE IT'S ELIGIBLE, IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS. THE ONLY PROBLEM WE HAD IS WE DIDN'T HAVE IN OUR POLICY A WAY TO IMPLEMENT THAT BECAUSE OF THE MAJORITY REQUIREMENT OF 60% OF ELIGIBLE BALLOTS. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. AND IS -- MR. MITULINSKY, IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE. I KNOW YOU'RE VERY PASSIONATE ON THIS ISSUE, AND YOU CAME DOWN I BELIEVE IT WAS AT OUR LAST MEETING AND SPOKE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND OR FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION AS FAR AS THE LOCATION OF THE RAISED INTERSECTIONS? >> RICK MITULINSKY, 16205 LAKE MAGDALENE BOULEVARD. I THINK I DO. I'D LIKE TO GET MORE -- TWO SPEED BUMPS, TWO TRAFFIC CALMING -- WE CAN'T CALL THEM SPEED BUMPS. >>BOB GORDON: RAISED INTERSECTIONS. >> RAISED INTERSECTIONS, OKAY. ONE AT WETSTONE, IS THAT IT, AND THEN ONE AT FAIRCLOTH. NO. THIS ONE IS IMMATERIAL. THIS IS -- I WANTED -- WE WANTED -- AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND WE VOTED ON IT, BUT THAT SHOULD BE [INAUDIBLE] BUT I'LL TAKE WHATEVER WE CAN GET. CAN WE WORK ON IT LATER? [LAUGHTER] >>JIM NORMAN: YOU GOOD WITH IT? OKAY. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. >>BRIAN BLAIR: CAN I JUST INTERJECT? RICK, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, AS YOU DO, EVERYBODY'S SAFE AND THE SPEEDING STOPS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE A GREAT DEPARTMENT HERE UNDER BOB GORDON, AND THEY'VE DISPLAYED IN THE PAST SOME MAGNIFICENT WORK. I'VE ONLY SEEN THEM MESS UP ONE TIME ACTUALLY, SO -- [LAUGHTER] >>BOB GORDON: THANKS FOR REMINDING US. >>BRIAN BLAIR: BUT ANYWAY, THEY DO A GREAT JOB, AND I'M SURE THAT -- CAN YOU -- >>KEN HAGAN: WHAT I'LL DO, I'LL STATE THE MOTION, AND YOU CAN -- IT'LL BE YOUR MOTION, AT LEAST THE FIRST ONE, THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSION DIRECT THE TRAFFIC SERVICES DIVISION UNDER PUBLIC WORKS TO INSTALL THE TRAFFIC CALMING VERTICAL DEVICES RECOMMENDED BY THE HEARING MASTER FOR THIS SEGMENT OF LAKE MAGDALENE BOULEVARD AND THE TWO DEVICES OF RAISED INTERSECTION INSTALLED AS FOLLOWS, ONE AT NOTTING HILL DRIVE AND ONE AT WOODLEAF WAY. THE DIRECTION SHALL ALSO INCLUDE CONTINUATION OF THE OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS MENTIONED ABOVE. SO IS THAT ACCEPTABLE? OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR. CAN WE HAVE A SECOND. >>JIM NORMAN: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>KEN HAGAN: NOW, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A SECOND MOTION REGARDING THE BALLOT -- REGARDING THE LANGUAGE? >>BRIAN BLAIR: UPDATE THE LANGUAGE THAT GUIDES THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING SPEED HUMPS. APPROVAL SHOULD BE BASED ON THE MAJORITY OF BALLOTS THAT ARE TURNED IN, AND, THEREFORE, A NONVOTE IS -- SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IRRELEVANT. >>BOB GORDON: IF I COULD INTERJECT FOR JUST A SECOND. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND CHANGING THAT MOTION, IF YOU COULD CHANGE THAT TO THE BALLOTS THAT ARE RECEIVED THAT ARE VALID BECAUSE IN SOME CASES WE GET SOME -- >>BRIAN BLAIR: OKAY. THAT ARE VALID. >>BOB GORDON: -- INCORRECTLY MARKED, THOSE KIND OF THINGS. THAT WAY IT CAN ACTUALLY BE A MORE TRUE REPRESENTATION OF THE BALLOTS THAT WE GET. >>JIM NORMAN: COMMISSIONER BLAIR, THOUGH, WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD OF 500 PEOPLE AND THEY SAY, OKAY, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GO OUT AND GET FIVE BALLOTS AND WE GOT THREE OUT OF FIVE THAT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO PUT THEM IN, BUT YET -- SO WE DON'T NEED TO GO TO THE OTHER 495. >>BOB GORDON: I THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO. ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM THE PROCESS WAS CHANGED. WE ACTUALLY MAIL THE BALLOTS OUT, SO YOU'RE RIGHT. IF IT WAS JUST THE CITIZENS GETTING THE BALLOTS, THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM, BUT SINCE WE ACTUALLY MAIL THEM OUT, THERE'S A CERTAINTY IN THE NTC PROGRAM THAT THEY'LL GET MAILED OUT. I UNDERSTAND NOW IT'S NOT FUNDED AFTER THIS YEAR ANYWAY, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TROUBLE THIS IS WORTH. >>BRIAN BLAIR: THEY'RE GOING TO ALL GET A NOTICE, SO -- I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THOUGH, EXACTLY. SOMEBODY COULD JUST GO OUT TO FIVE DOORS. >>JIM NORMAN: WHAT IF IT'S SNOWBIRD TIME, HALF THE PEOPLE AREN'T THERE? I'M JUST A LITTLE SHAKY ABOUT THAT. >>BRIAN BLAIR: WELL, HEY, THEY SHOULD HAVE LIVED THERE FULL-TIME. [LAUGHTER] >>JIM NORMAN: WELL, WE LIKE PEOPLE BUYING HOUSES HERE, COMMISSIONER. [LAUGHTER] >>BRIAN BLAIR: ESPECIALLY NOW. >>BOB GORDON: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY, AND THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN CHANGED WHERE THE STAFF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAILING OUT THE BALLOTS. >>JIM NORMAN: YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS? >>BOB GORDON: YES, SIR. >>KEVIN WHITE: SECOND THE MOTION. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE TO STRENGTHEN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, BOB. >> THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: RICK, THANKS FOR COMING DOWN. >>PAT BEAN: MR. CHAIR, THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM F-3, WHICH WAS YOUR 10:00 TIME CERTAIN. THIS IS RECEIVING A PRESENTATION BY THOM STORK, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM, AND MR. STORK IS COMING DOWN AS I SPEAK, AND I BELIEVE HE ALSO HAS BROUGHT SOME FRIENDS WITH HIM. >> HUMAN AND NONHUMAN. >>KEN HAGAN: WELCOME, MR. STORK. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU. >>PAT BEAN: OH, LOOK. >>KEVIN WHITE: IF YOU COULD, MR. STORK, EACH MEMBER OF THE DELTA SORORITY WANTS TO PET THE SNAKE. [LAUGHTER] >> WE CAN DO THAT, COMMISSIONER. >>KEVIN WHITE: [INAUDIBLE] >>JIM NORMAN: I THINK YOUR ANIMALS ARE ONE-UPPING YOU, MAN. >> THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS. >>BRIAN BLAIR: WHERE'S LEX'S MONKEYS? >>JIM NORMAN: THEY'VE BEEN CAUGHT. >> WELL, THAT ENDS THE PRESENTATION, MR. CHAIRMAN. I APPRECIATE IT. >>PAT BEAN: OH, HE WANTS TO BE HELD TOO. LOOK AT HIM. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSION, FIRST OF ALL, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE AQUARIUM. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM FOR THE INVITATION AND FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON OUR BOARD, THANK COMMISSIONER SHARPE FOR HIS PAST LEADERSHIP ON OUR BOARD. UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE CONTINGENT HERE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND LET THEM LEAVE AND GET BACK SO WE CAN ENTERTAIN SOME FOLKS AT THE AQUARIUM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: DID YOU WANT TO BRING THE SNAKE UP CLOSE SO EVERYBODY COULD HANDLE IT? [LAUGHTER] >>JIM NORMAN: I THINK THAT PENGUIN WANTS TO EAT HIS TAIL, THOUGH. LOOK AT THAT. >> MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, I HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE AQUARIUM, BOTH SENIOR STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS, WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON HOW YOUR AQUARIUM IS DOING. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE PROMISED THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO RUN A BUSINESS OPERATION AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM AND RUN A BUSINESS OPERATION THAT LOOKS AT RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND HOW WE'RE IMPROVING THAT AQUARIUM WHILE AT THE SAME TIME CARRYING ON WITH OUR MISSION TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, TEACH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN. I WANT TO SHOW YOU A FEW QUICK SLIDES HERE JUST TO SHOW YOU TRENDS, IF THIS IS GOING TO WORK FOR ME. TOTAL REVENUES, YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY HAVE INCREASED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. OPERATING SURPLUS, AND WE'VE GOT RECORD OPERATING SURPLUS. ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN ON A STEADY INCREASE. ADVANCEMENT DOLLARS, FUNDS WE RAISED FROM THE COMMUNITY HAVE INCREASED; EDUCATION REVENUES HAVE INCREASED ON A STEADY MARGIN. LAST YEAR WE HAD THE BEST YEAR IN THE HISTORY OF THE AQUARIUM. WE HAD 675,000 IN ATTENDANCE. THAT WAS THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE SINCE THE FIRST YEAR WE OPENED. THAT WAS 13% OVER BUDGET, 11% OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. OUR OPERATING SURPLUS LAST YEAR WAS $364,000. IT'S THE 9th CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT WE'VE OPERATED YOUR AQUARIUM IN THE BLACK. THE NET WAS GREATER THAN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS COMBINED, LAST YEAR'S NET. WE NO LONGER HAVE LONG-TERM DEBT. OUR ECO TOUR BOAT IS PAID OFF. OUR OPERATING REVENUES, MORE THAN $14 MILLION. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER. THE BEST PRIOR WAS 12.7. REVENUES WERE OVER BUDGET BY A MILLION, AND 1. -- A MILLION OVER BUDGET AND 1.4 OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WE DO UNIQUE PROGRAMS. YOU SAW THE PENGUINS COMING HERE THIS MORNING. WE DON'T PUT THOSE PENGUINS IN AN EXHIBIT, WE PUT THOSE PENGUINS ON THE FLOOR WHERE CHILDREN COMING INTO THE AQUARIUM CAN INTERACT WITH THEM. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABOUT THE LAST FEW YEARS. AS I HOPE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INTRODUCED DIVE PROGRAMS WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY SWIM WITH SHARKS AND SWIM IN OUR CORAL REEF. LAST YEAR WE DOVE OVER 300 GUESTS IN THE SHARK EXPERIENCE AND OVER A THOUSAND GUESTS IN OUR CORAL REEF. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 18,000 HOURS OR A SAVINGS OF OVER $350,000 TO THE AQUARIUM. WE OUTSOURCED. WE HAVE A NEW OUTSOURCE OPERATION FOR OUR FOOD AND BEVERAGE, AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THIS. THEY GENERATED 2.5 MILLION IN REVENUE LAST YEAR, ALMOST 700,000 TO THE AQUARIUM. THE BESTS EVER PRIOR BY OUR PREVIOUS VENDOR WAS 118,000. SO I THINK IT WAS A WISE MOVE GOING WITH ARAMARK, AND IF YOU KNOW, ARAMARK ALSO WORKS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. THERE'S GREAT SYNERGY THAT HAPPENS THERE. THEY'VE MADE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AQUARIUM FOOD AND BEVERAGE FACILITY AS WELL. WE OUTSOURCED OUR GIFT SHOP. FOREVER THAT GIFT SHOP WAS OPERATED BY THE AQUARIUM, AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER FINANCIALLY TO OUTSOURCE THAT. GIFT SHOP REVENUES SURPASSED 1.5 MILLION, A NET OF 500,000 TO THE AQUARIUM. THAT WAS AN INCREASE OF 100,000 FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. WE OUTSOURCED OUR PHOTO OPERATION. THE PRIOR YEAR WE MADE $7,000. LAST YEAR THE NET TO THE AQUARIUM WAS $100,000 BY OUTSOURCING THAT PHOTO OPERATION. SO THAT WAS LAST YEAR. YEAR TO DATE WE'RE RUNNING 6% AHEAD OF BUDGET. THIS IS IN A TOUGH ECONOMY TIME. WE'RE RUNNING 6% AHEAD OF BUDGET AND AT 7% AHEAD OF LAST YEAR. WE'RE $111,000 AHEAD OF OUR PLAN IN REVENUES. WE HAD AN EXTREMELY STRONG BRING BREAK, AND THE NCAA MEN'S FIRST ROUND PLAYED GAMES HERE AS WELL AS THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR. ANYBODY WHO SAYS SPORTS DOES NOT HAVE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ON A COMMUNITY, THEY'RE FOOLISH. IT HAD A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND IT IMPACTED -- >>JIM NORMAN: SAY THAT AGAIN. [LAUGHTER] >> MR. NORMAN, I WILL SAY THAT OVER AND OVER. I MEAN, WE HAD FOLKS IN DURING THAT FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF WEEKEND ALL WEEKEND, AND THEN WHEN THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR WERE HERE, WE HAD THEM IN, IN ADDITION TO HAVING EVENTS WITH THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR. WHERE DO OUR VISITORS COME FROM? 62% ARE FLORIDA RESIDENTS, AND IF YOU TAKE THAT AS 100%, 64% OF THAT 100% COME OUT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. ANOTHER 23% COME FROM OTHER FLORIDA. 33% COME FROM OUT OF STATE WITH NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, PUERTO RICO, AND OHIO BEING OUR LARGEST OUT-OF-STATE MARKETS. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ABOUT 5%. THIS FOLLOWS THE TRENDS OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA IN TERMS OF HOW TOURISM FALLS. OUR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS COME FROM CANADA, GERMANY, AND THE UK. THAT'S THE BUSINESS SIDE OF WHO WE ARE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AS A BUSINESS YOUR AQUARIUM IS DOING VERY WELL, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW IT, BUT THE REASON WE'RE THERE, THE MISSION WHY WE'RE THERE IS CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. OUR GOALS FOR CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP ARE TO PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN CHALLENGES FACING FLORIDA'S AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM. WE WORK IN CAPTIVE ANIMAL HEALTH, WE DO FIELD STUDIES, EDUCATE THROUGH EXHIBITS, FACILITATE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE STATE, ADDRESS LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL CONCERN. WE FORMED THE CENTER FOR CONSERVATION AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM WITH THREE DIVISIONS, DIVISION OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH, AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS, AND SCIENTIFIC DIVING, AND I'M GOING SHOW YOU JUST A FEW SLIDES ON EACH OF THESE. WE'RE WORKING ON SAND TIGER SPINAL PROBLEMS. DR. ILZE BERZINS, WHO'S SITTING BEHIND ME, AND HER TEAM ARE WORKING ON THOSE. WE REHABILITATE NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTERS. SO OFTEN WE GET CALLS WHERE A CONSTRUCTION SITE HAS COME ACROSS A FAMILY OF OTTERS AND THERE'S NOPLACE FOR THEM TO GO. WE TAKE THEM IN AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM. WE'VE ESTABLISHED A BREEDING PROGRAM. WE'RE ABLE TO SEND OTTERS TO OTHER ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE DO SEA TURTLE REHAB. RIDLEY TURTLES THAT ARE DAMAGED UP NORTH DURING THE WINTER, WE TAKE THEM INTO OUR AQUARIUM, WE REHABILITATE THEM, AND THEN RELEASE THEM. WE WORK WITH MARINE MAMMAL STRANDINGS, WORKING WITH CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, MOAT AQUARIUM, WHENEVER THERE'S A CALL AND NEED FOR THAT. AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE HAVE AN ISLAND OUT IN THE BAY. IT'S A COOPERATIVE EFFORT WITH THE TAMPA PORT AUTHORITY. IT'S ONE OF THE SPOIL ISLANDS. WE HAVE SCRAPED THAT ISLAND CLEAN, WE HAVE PLANTED IT WITH NATIVE FLORIDA SPECIES, WE HAVE AN EDUCATION PAVILION ON THAT ISLAND, WE DO ECO TOURS OUT TO THAT ISLAND, AGAIN EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. CORAL PROPAGATION, I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON CORAL AGAIN IN A MOMENT, BUT WE HAVE A CORAL FARM AT THE AQUARIUM WHERE WE'RE PROPAGATING CORAL. WE DO MARINE MAMMAL I.D.-ing PROGRAMS IN TAMPA BAY. EACH DOLPHIN HAS A DIFFERENT FINGERPRINT IN THEIR DORSAL FIN, AND WE'RE ABLE TO TRACK THE PODS OF FAMILIES OF DOLPHINS IN THE BAY. I CAN'T SAY THAT FIRST WORD, BUT THAT'S BASICALLY SEAHORSES. WE DO SEAHORSE WORK -- WE DO SEAHORSE WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA. WE'RE WORKING IN GUYANA, SOUTH AMERICA, ON RIVER OTTERS AND HELPING THEIR ZOO COMMUNITY DOWN THERE. LITTLE SALT SPRINGS, THE DIVING OPERATION OF WHAT WE DO. TWO MAJOR PROJECTS. WE'RE DIVING IN LITTLE SALT SPRINGS DOWN IN SARASOTA. THIS IS A SINKHOLE, AND THE WORK WE'RE DOING THERE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI COULD VERY WELL PREDATE ALL KNOWN LIFE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHEN WE'RE FINISHED DOING THAT WORK. IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING DOWN THERE IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. AS I HOPE YOU KNOW, WE'RE MAPPING TAMPA BAY. THIS IS A PROJECT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT -- OR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN TALLAHASSEE, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT PROJECT FOR TWO YEARS NOW. WE'VE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED SHIPWRECK SITES IN TAMPA BAY THAT WE WILL BE EXPLORING AND HOPEFULLY TURNING THE AQUARIUM FROM JUST BEING AN AQUARIUM INTO A MUSEUM. OTHER DIVE PROJECTS, WE WORK ON RED TIDE, REEFS/FISH SURVEYS, REMOVAL OF NONNATIVE SPECIES, DEEP DIVES. WE HAVE DIVERS ON OUR TEAM THAT CAN GO 250 FEET OR DEEPER, AND THEY'VE DONE WORK ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THIS IS THE ONE WE'RE MOST PROUD OF, THE CORAL REEF INSTITUTE, THE GLOBAL CORAL REEF INSTITUTE. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, WE ARE THE ONLY INSTITUTION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT HAS A HEALTH CERTIFICATE TO REPLANT CORALS. WE TAKE DAMAGED CORALS THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE ENVIRONMENT, HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY SHIPWRECKS, WE BRING THEM INTO AN ENVIRONMENT AT THE AQUARIUM, WE BRING THEM INTO AN ENVIRONMENT AT THE FLORIDA AQUACULTURE LABORATORY WHERE CRAIG WATSON IS THE LEADER DOWN THERE. WE PROPAGATE THOSE CORALS, AND THEN WE ARE ABLE TO RETURN THOSE CORALS TO THE WILD, AND WE'RE THE ONLY INSTITUTION ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT HAS A CERTIFICATE THAT CAN DO THAT. WE'RE BEING CONTACTED BY COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD ABOUT HOW DO WE GET THIS HEALTH CERTIFICATE, HOW CAN WE REPROPAGATE CORALS AND REPLANT THEM INTO THE WILD. THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. THOSE ARE CORAL FRAGMENTS ON THE RIGHT THAT HAVE BEEN PLANTED ON THESE LITTLE CONCRETE SLABS, AND THEY'RE BEING PROPAGATED AND PUT BACK. WE'VE GOT AN 80% SUCCESS RATE IN THE CORALS WE'VE PLANTED DOWN IN THE KEYS. IT'S ONE OF THE SITES IN THE KEYS WHERE WE'RE DOING THIS WORK. THE SECOND PIECE OF OUR MISSION, THE EDUCATION. OF THE 600,000 GUESTS PLUS THAT CAME THROUGH THE AQUARIUM, OVER 100,000 OF THEM ARE STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, OVER 80,000 ON-SITE, 20,000 THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMS, AND OVER A THOUSAND TEACHERS. WE TEACH TEACHERS HOW TO TEACH THE MARINE SCIENCES. OUR ON-SITE PROGRAMS, OUR OUTREACH FIELD PROGRAMS, OUR TEACHER WORKSHOPS, CAMPS AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND SLEEPOVERS, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY, CONSTANTLY ENTERTAINING FOLKS AND EDUCATING FOLKS THROUGH OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE AQUARIUM. DEBBIE BERGER IS OUR HEAD OF EDUCATION, AND SHE'S HERE WITH US AND DOES A TERRIFIC JOB. SO WHAT'S NEXT AT THE AQUARIUM? WE'RE NOW IN A POSITION, FOLKS, WHERE WE CAN LOOK INTO OUR FUTURE. WE HAVE DONE A STRATEGIC PLAN WITH OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND WE'VE MAPPED OUT A FIVE-YEAR PLAN OF EXPANSION FOR THE AQUARIUM. WE'RE IN A $6-MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND WANT TO TAKE YOU QUICKLY THROUGH THE PIECES OF THIS. THE FIRST PIECE IS A NEW EXPANSION. IT'S A NEW EXHIBIT WE WILL OPEN THIS FALL CALLED "OCEAN COMMOTION." IT'S BASICALLY TAKING OUR SEA HUNT EXHIBIT AND CONVERTING THAT. SEA HUNT IS THE AREA WHERE YOU COME OUT OF THE CORAL REEF AND YOU COME DOWN BY THE SHARK EXHIBIT. THAT'S ALL SEA HUNT, AND WE'RE CONVERTING THAT. THIS IS GOING TO BE A MULTISENSORY EXHIBIT WITH UPBEAT MUSIC, LIGHTS, SOUND, AND THE MESSAGE I WANT YOU TO HEAR HERE IS THAT THIS IS THE WAY CHILDREN LEARN TODAY. YOU GO INTO A MUSEUM, YOU GO INTO AN AQUARIUM, AND TRADITIONALLY YOU SEE A STATIC SIGN. THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN OCEAN COMMOTION. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PLASMA SCREENS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TOUCH SCREENS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IPOD DOWNLOADS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE CELL PHONE DOWNLOADS, ALL DONE IN A VERY BRIGHT, COLORFUL ENVIRONMENT WITH BEAUTIFUL FISH FROM THE PACIFIC. THIS IS THAT EXHIBIT AREA, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHERE IT IS. WE'VE GOT ANIMATED CHARACTERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ALL THROUGH THIS EXHIBIT. WE'VE GOT FOG SCREENS THAT WILL HAVE PROJECTIONS ON THERE THAT THE CHILDREN CAN WALK THROUGH AND THESE IMAGES WILL CHANGE. IT'S GOING TO BE HIGHLY ACTIVE, HIGHLY EDUCATIONAL, AND AGAIN IN IS THE WAY CHILDREN ARE LEARNING TODAY. THAT'S GOING TO OPEN IN OCTOBER. BEYOND THAT, OUR NEXT THING IS WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND THE PHYSICAL SPACE TO THE AQUARIUM. WE'RE GOING TO ADD NEW AREA. WE NEED NEW CLASSROOMS. I TALKED TO ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND SCHOOL KIDS BEING EDUCATED. IF WE HAD MORE CLASSROOMS, WE COULD EDUCATE MORE CHILDREN. IF WE HAD MORE PUBLIC SPACE, WE COULD BE DOING MORE EVENTS AT THE AQUARIUM. THAT YELLOW AREA IS THE GROUND FLOOR LOBBY AREA OF THE AQUARIUM THAT WE'LL BE EXPANDING, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND THE OLD EXPLORE-A-SHORE DECK UP ON THE AQUARIUM, SECOND FLOOR, WE'RE GOING TO ENCLOSE THAT TO BUILD CLASSROOMS AND PUBLIC SPACE. THIS IS A LOOK AT WHAT THE AQUARIUM LOOKS LIKE TODAY, AND WHEN WE FINISH THIS PROJECT, THAT NEW AREA TO THE RIGHT IS WHAT YOU'LL BE SEEING. THAT IS THE SECOND PHASE OF OUR THREE-PHASE EXPANSION. THE NEXT ONE IS AN ECO TOUR BOAT. OUR CURRENT BOAT HOLDS 48 PASSENGERS AND STAYS SOLD OUT CONSTANTLY. IF WE HAD A LARGER BOAT, WE COULD BE EDUCATING AND ENTERTAINING MORE PEOPLE, SO WE ARE GOING TO DO A NEW BOAT, AND THIS IS JUST AN ARTIST'S RENDERING OF A NEW BOAT. WE'RE GOING TO DO 150 PASS JERKS AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT ON-STREAM NEXT YEAR. THIS IS A $6-MILLION CAMPAIGN. WE'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TALKING TO OUR FRIENDS TODAY. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE EXPANSION IS 1.2, AND WE'VE PRETTY WELL GOTTEN THAT ONE TAKEN CARE OF, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. I MADE THE COMMENT TO YOU AT THE BEGINNING, ALL OF THESE HAVE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WE DON'T DO ANYTHING AT THE AQUARIUM ANY LONGER UNLESS THERE'S A STRONG RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND ALL THREE OF THESE EXPANSIONS WILL RETURN STRONGLY TO US. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. YOU HAVE GIVEN US $100,000 FOR OCEAN COMMOTION, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT YOUR AQUARIUM. >>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER NORMAN. >>JIM NORMAN: I JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT. YOU HAVE THOROUGHLY LIVED UP TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS BOARD. I'VE PROBABLY BEEN THE ONE THAT'S BEEN AS AGGRESSIVE AS -- TOWARDS YOUR ORGANIZATION TO MAKE YOU GIVE ME NUMBERS, GIVE ME INFORMATION, AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, I AM THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED BY WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND HOW YOU CONTINUE TO ACTUALLY ASTONISH ME, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE DOING. >> THANK YOU. >>JIM NORMAN: SO I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT. >> THANK YOU. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING. >>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU. THOM, AS YOU RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD THAT ARE SITTING OR HAVE ON YOUR BOARD, I CERTAINLY WAS NOT INCLUDED, AND I CAN TELL YOU WHY. I THINK, AS MR. NORMAN SAID, YOU HAVE TAKEN THIS SUCH A LONG WAY. I REMEMBER MANY, MANY YEARS AGO WHILE THE AQUARIUM WAS STRUGGLING. WE DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THAT. WHAT WE NEED TO GET INTO IS WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT PART YOU HAD IN GETTING US THERE. I HAD TO LAUGH QUIETLY AS YOU WERE TALKING. I WAS PAYING ATTENTION, AND I KNOW YOUR FIGURES ARE GOOD EVEN IN A TIME OF ECONOMIC DECLINE BECAUSE YOUR LEADERSHIP IS VERY OBVIOUS, AND OBVIOUSLY YOUR BOARD IS EXTREMELY STRONG. SOME I KNOW PERSONALLY, SOME I DON'T. I REMEMBER ON CITY COUNCIL IF WE DARED RAISE OUR HAND OR VOLUNTEER OR LET THE CHAIRMAN KNOW WE WANTED TO BE ON THE AQUARIUM, I BELIEVE I WOULDN'T BE ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE MARY ALVAREZ WOULD HAVE KILLED ME, SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT WASN'T BECAUSE WE DIDN'T EXPRESS AN INTEREST, BUT WE COULDN'T GET BEYOND MARY ALVAREZ BECAUSE SHE WAS SO PASSIONATELY SUPPORTIVE OF THE AQUARIUM, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE THE REASON, THEY'RE THE REASON FOR WHAT IS DONE. LOTS OF TIMES THE PUBLIC DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, HOW YOU'RE DOING SOME MEDICAL TREATMENT AND STUFF TO RESTORE LIVES TO DIFFERENT ANIMALS. >> IT'S INCREDIBLE TO WORK WITH THEM. >>ROSE FERLITA: IT'S NOT JUST A TOUR -- AN AQUARIUM. >> IT'S AN INTERESTING INSTITUTION. IT'S A LEARNING SCIENCE ATTRACTION. >>ROSE FERLITA: SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU TO YOU AND TO YOUR BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: JUST ONE QUICK PLUG FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT TAKEN THAT ECO TOUR WHERE THE BOAT GOES INTO THE BAY. THE PODS AND THE SHOW THAT THE DOLPHINS PUT ON THERE TO ME WAS AS INTRIGUING, AS INTERESTING AS THE KILLER WHALE TOURS THAT I'VE BEEN ON WHEN I'VE BEEN OUT ON THE WEST COAST IN WASHINGTON STATE, I MEAN, JUST FASCINATING, AND IT'S JUST A SHORT WALK FROM HERE WHERE THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: MR. STORK, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF AS WELL I'VE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE YEAR THAT I SERVED ON YOUR BOARD, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, MY KIDS WERE MEMBERS. I BROUGHT THEM THERE. THE LAST TIME WE WERE THERE WAS DURING THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR. THE PLACE WAS PACKED. I MEAN, NOT -- >> YOU WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN? >>MARK SHARPE: BOTH THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR, BUT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM. IT WAS -- [LAUGHTER] FINAL FOUR IS BACK, BUT THE AQUARIUM IS BACK. PEOPLE WERE THERE FROM ALL OVER, AND IT'S ALSO A GREAT EDUCATIONAL TOOL, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS ABOUT BETTER THINGS WE CAN DO TO INCREASE OUR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THERE AT THE AQUARIUM, AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN COUNT ON ME TO SUPPORT YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >>KEN HAGAN: THOM, I WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS. YOU'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. IT'S A GREAT FACILITY, ONE THAT MY FAMILY GOES TO FIVE OR SIX TIMES A YEAR, PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT, SO YOU DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. >> I APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL KEEP GROWING IT TOO. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: NEXT ITEM. >>PAT BEAN: MR. CHAIR, YOUR NEXT ITEM WAS YOUR 10:15 TIME CERTAIN, B-1, RECEIVING AN UPDATE ON STAFF'S ACTIVITY AND INPUT FROM INTERESTED PARTIES AND THREE MUNICIPALITIES REGARDING THE VISIONING PROCESS. AND LUCIA GARSYS IS GOING TO MAKE HER WAY OVER HERE AS SOON AS SHE CAN. SHE'S ON HER WAY. >>KEN HAGAN: WELCOME, LUCIA. >>LUCIA GARSYS: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, LUCIA GARSYS, OFFICER FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. I WAS HERE ON AUGUST THE 2nd AND SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT A PROPOSED CONCEPT TO LOOK AT HOW WE MIGHT DO VISIONING IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I CAME HERE WITH THE WORK THAT WE HAD DONE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ONE BAY, AND YOU ASKED USES TO GO LOOK AND TALK TO FOLKS ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW AND WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS IMPORTANT IN THIS PROCESS. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO REPORT TO YOU TODAY IS OUR FINDINGS IN TALKING TO THE FOLKS WHO WERE CONCERNED VERY LEGITIMATELY SO THAT WE DID NOT REACH OUT TO THEM BEFOREHAND, AND WHAT WE DID IS WE DID A COUPLE OF THINGS. NUMBER ONE IS WE PUT THE PROPOSED CONCEPT ON OUR WEB SITE AND MADE IT AVAILABLE WITH A COMMENT BOX FOR FOLKS TO PROVIDE COMMENTS. WE RECEIVED ABOUT FIVE COMMENTS THAT WAY. AS WELL WE REACHED OUT TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE. WE RECEIVED NAMES FROM SOME OF YOUR OFFICES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WERE SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED AND SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROCESS, SO WE CALLED THEM AND INVITED THEM FOR MEETINGS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WITH COUNTY STAFF, AND/OR WITH ONE BAY, AND FOLKS TOOK US UP ON THAT. I WILL TELL YOU THAT SOME FOLKS WERE CONCERNED THAT THE TIME FRAME WAS A LITTLE CONSTRAINED AND DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND MEET WITH US. WE DID MEET WITH -- RAY CHIARAMONTE AND I MET WITH A PARTICULAR GROUP FOR A NUMBER OF -- FOR QUITE A BIT AND RECEIVED GOOD COMMENT, AND THE COMMENTS WERE VERY SIMILAR ACROSS MOST OF THE FOLKS THAT WE TALKED TO. CLEARLY, JUST IN VERY HIGH-LEVEL SUMMARY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MISREPRESENT WHAT THEY SAID, IS THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT ONE BAY'S INVOLVEMENT, THERE IS A PREFERENCE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION BE INVOLVED, AND THERE IS A CONCERN THAT WHATEVER PROCESS IS DESIGNED, ENGAGE THE PUBLIC, AND I'M GOING TO START USING THAT WORD INSTEAD OF PUBLIC INPUT BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF WORD. SO WE'RE HERE BEFORE YOU TO REQUEST -- ONE OTHER THING, THOUGH, IS WE ALSO MET WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES. WE SPOKE TO THE MUNICIPALITIES ABOUT IT. DURING THIS TIME FRAME, WE WERE ABLE TO INITIATE CONVERSATIONS -- INITIAL CONVERSATIONS AND WOULD APPRECIATE TIME TO CHAT WITH THEM AGAIN. SO WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS -- TO ASK YOU TO DO IS TO HOLD ON THE -- POSTPONE THE ACTION ON THAT PREVIOUS DOCUMENT, THE PROPOSED CONCEPT -- CONCEPTUAL PLAN THAT WE HAD PROVIDED TO YOU AND ASK YOU TO LET US GO OUT AND CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE WITH THE THREE MUNICIPALITIES ABOUT HOW WE STRUCTURE THIS BEST, HOW EVERYONE IS INVOLVED, AND THAT WE CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T HAD YET A CHANCE TO MEET WITH US, THAT WE EXPLORE HOW VISIONING IS DONE IN COMMUNITIES WHERE IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. DURING THE PROCESS WE LEARNED A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF HOW VISIONING CAN BE UNDERTAKEN, AND WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS DO IT RIGHT AND SEE WHAT WAS REQUIRED, WHAT WERE THE KEY INGREDIENTS, HOW WERE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES STRUCTURED, WERE THERE RESOURCES REQUIRED AND DO OUR HOMEWORK IN THAT PART. WE WOULD CERTAINLY PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE BOARD. WHAT I WOULD OFFER IS MAYBE ON A 30- TO 45-DAY INTERIM IS A WRITTEN REPORT TO YOU. SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO HEAR IT IN THIS FORUM, WE'D BE HAPPY TO COME BACK, BUT THAT SOMETIME AROUND THE END OF THE SUMMER WHEN ONE BAY COMPLETES ITS PROCESS AND WE'VE COMPLETED OURS, IN LOOKING HOW WE SHOULD STRUCTURE THINGS, WE WOULD COME BACK TO YOU WITH SOMETHING MORE FORMAL AND MAYBE SOME OPTIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED. LASTLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE ONE BAY PROCESS AND PROVIDE -- HAVE EYES AND EARS HEAR WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL TO LEARN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT INITIATIVE. SO THOSE ARE KIND OF THE FIVE POINTS THAT WE BRING BEFORE YOU TODAY AND REQUEST THAT YOU ALLOW US TO GO TAKE CARE OF THOSE FIVE THINGS. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: WELL, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I THINK YOU'VE DONE A SUPERB JOB IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION WITH RESTRAINED BUDGETS AND SUCH AND TRYING TO WORK WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT PARTIES TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING SO VERY IMPORTANT, WHICH IS OUR VISIONING, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THEN, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE JUST NEED MORE TIME. IS THAT CORRECT? I MEAN -- >>LUCIA GARSYS: THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE, COMMISSIONER, YES. >>MARK SHARPE: YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VERY IMPATIENT ABOUT THE VISIONING. I FELT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED THIS A YEAR OR SO AGO. I WOULD -- I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO -- I JUST GOT A COPY -- IT JUST CAME OUT ABOUT A WEEK AGO. THIS IS THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE'S INFRASTRUCTURE 2008 REPORT, AND IT LOOKS AT INFRASTRUCTURE BOTH HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEN ACROSS THE NATION, AND IT DEALS WITH ISSUES LIKE TRANSPORTATION, ROADS, TRANSIT, POWER, AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER ISSUES, AND WHAT IT SAYS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. AS A NATION WE'VE UNDERINVESTED AND WE'RE NOT PREPARED. IF YOU GO BACK AND YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE GREATEST GENERATION PROVIDED FOR THIS COUNTRY, EVEN WHEN THEY WENT BACK AND BUILT THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM, THEY UNDERSTOOD IT WAS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME. BACK IN THE 1950s YOU HAD A LOT OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAD ALREADY SACRIFICED, FOUGHT IN TWO WARS, BUT KNEW IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD A SOUND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEY ALSO KNEW THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO ENJOY IT. IT WAS GOING TO TAKE 40 YEARS TO BUILD, BUT THEY WERE PREPARED TO DO IT FOR THE GOOD OF US. WE NEED TO BE PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE, SO I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE DO THE VISIONING. AND I DO FIND IT INTERESTING BECAUSE IN THIS REPORT, AT THE VERY BACK, IT TALKS ABOUT AN ACTION AGENDA FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. NUMBER ONE, BUILD A VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY, LEAD WITH A VISION. WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO, AND THE PROBLEM IS WE GOT PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT CERTAIN -- YOU KNOW, WELL, WE'VE HAD -- THERE'S BEEN SUSPICION, THERE'S FRUSTRATION, SOME OF IT LEGITIMATE. BUT I THINK IT'S ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE BRING ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES TO THE TABLE, WE BRING ALL OF THE INTERESTED PARTIES TO THE TABLE, BUT I ALSO THINK WHILE YOU'VE GOT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THIS TIME, THAT YOU FIND A WAY, CREATIVE, TO BRING THE CITIZENS INTO THE PROCESS, AND I MEAN MORE THAN SIMPLY THE LAST THREE MINUTES AT THE END OF THE MEETING. THEY NEED TO BE INVOLVED. THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND, THEY NEED TO DIALOGUE, THEY NEED TO BE -- YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY THRUST ON THEIR SHOULDERS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE BECAUSE IT'S OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK THIS IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE DO IT, AND I APPRECIATE, LUCIA, YOUR HARD WORK BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER, AND I'LL SUPPORT YOU WHEN YOU'RE READY. >>LUCIA GARSYS: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. SHARPE, I MUCH AGREE WITH YOU ON THE PARTICIPATION OF OUR CITIZENS, OUR NONELECTED OFFICIALS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. IF SOMEBODY HAS SEEN THE PROCESS FROM BEGINNING TO END, HAS A SEAT ON THE TABLE -- AT THE TABLE, THEN THEY HAVE LESS DIFFICULTY WITH PERHAPS MAYBE SOMETHING NOT BEING DONE EXACTLY LIKE THEY WANTED THEM TO DO. WE DON'T WANT A PSEUDO ACTIVIST TO BE ABLE TO IN THREE MINUTES SAY WHAT THEY OBJECT ABOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS. THAT'S SO COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE RELATIONSHIP WE WANT TO CREATE AND CONTINUE TO NURTURE WITH OUR CITIZENS. SO, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU, MARK. I THINK SOME OF THE COMPANIES -- SOME OF THE BIG CORPORATIONS ARE DOING THAT SAME THING, GOING THROUGH THE EXTRA EFFORT OF ENCOURAGING NORMAL CITIZENS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN PROCESSES SO THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEY MIGHT HAVE LESS DISCONTENT ABOUT WHAT THE FINAL PRODUCT IS, SO I THINK THAT IS PART AND PARCEL TO SUCCESS. WE'VE SEEN HOW MANY TIMES WE GET TO ALMOST THE END AND AT THE 11th HOUR SOME OF US WON'T SUPPORT THINGS, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY'RE DISGRUNTLED. WE GIVE THEM THREE SILLY MINUTES UP THERE, AND THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THEIR 100% PARTICIPATION IN A PROJECT. WE CAN DO BETTER. I THINK FROM WHAT I HEAR TODAY, MS. GARSYS, WE ARE LEADING IN THAT DIRECTION, AND I'M STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT TYPE OF A PROCESS. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: JUST LAST WEEK I MET WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE THREE MINUTES, AND I JOKINGLY STARTED THE MEETING OUT BY SAYING YOU HAVE MORE THAN THREE MINUTES, AND THAT WAS WHAT WE'VE RECOGNIZED, AND THAT'S BEEN MY DIRECTION IN MY CAPACITY HERE WITH THIS EFFORT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS THAT WE HAVE THE -- THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE INVOLVED AND ENGAGED AND IT BE MORE THAN JUST THREE MINUTES, AND WE HAD THAT MEETING AND DISCUSSION A WEEK AGO MONDAY, SO WE'RE AFTER THAT AND WE'RE AFTER THIS -- AS COMMISSIONER SHARPE SO WELL PUT IT, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO ENJOY, BUT IT'S THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE. I -- TWO QUESTIONS, AND THEN IF WE NEED A MOTION TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, THAT'S GREAT. PLANNING COMMISSION IS INVOLVED IN THIS; RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT EXCLUDED? >>LUCIA GARSYS: YES. I FAILED TO SAY, COMMISSIONER -- THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME -- RAY CHIARAMONTE AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS. RAY CHIARAMONTE HAS REVIEWED THE REPORT, AGREES WITH THE REPORT. UNFORTUNATELY, HE IS IN TALLAHASSEE ON AN E.A.R. ITEM RIGHT NOW, SO HE COULD NOT BE HERE. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: AND OF ALL THE RESOURCES WE'RE USING, WE'RE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT EVERYONE AND INPUT FROM ALL -- YOU MENTIONED THE NAME ONE BAY ONE TIME. ARE THEY RUNNING THIS PROGRAM? >>LUCIA GARSYS: NO, THIS IS OUR PROGRAM. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO HEAR. THAT'S RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN MY MANTRA FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THAT THIS IS BEING POWERED BY THE COMMISSION AND THE COUNTY AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THAT IT'S GOING TO -- IF I'M GOING TO BE INVOLVED, IT'S GOING TO HAVE CITIZEN INPUT. IF WE NEED A MOTION TO -- >>KEN HAGAN: LUCIA, DO YOU NEED A MOTION TO -- >>LUCIA GARSYS: YES, WE NEED A MOTION. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US, THANK YOU. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE. PLEASES RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>PAT BEAN: MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO TAKE ONE MOMENT, BEFORE LUCIA WALKS AWAY TOO FAR, TO SAY THANK YOU PUBLICLY FOR HER GOOD WORK, NOT ONLY ON THIS ENVISIONING PROJECT THAT SHE'S EMBARKING UPON BUT ALSO WITH THE TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE THAT SHE HAS BEEN WORKING SO DILIGENTLY WITH COMMISSIONER HAGAN ON AND THE OTHER WORK THAT SHE MANAGES TO FIT IN AT THE SAME TIME THAT SHE'S DOING THESE MAJOR PROJECTS. SHE'S A REAL ASSET TO THIS ORGANIZATION. I'M REALLY PROUD TO HAVE HER AS ONE OF THE KEY MEMBERS OF MY TEAM. >>KEN HAGAN: I CONCUR. >>PAT BEAN: THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: NEXT ITEM. >>PAT BEAN: ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM, THEN, WOULD BE YOUR 10:30 TIME CERTAIN. THAT WAS F-5. THIS IS A DISCUSSION CONCERNING IMPACT FEES IMPOSED ON KIDS' CHARITY OF TAMPA BAY. THAT'S COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S ITEM. >>JIM NORMAN: COMMISSIONERS, LET ME JUST OPEN BY SAYING THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL THAT THIS ORGANIZATION HAS PUT THIS TOGETHER FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS IS A PRIVATE-SECTOR BASICALLY NONPROFIT BUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR GOING OUT AND TAKING CARE OF A RESPONSIBILITY THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE. THESE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF CHILDREN THAT WOULD BE IN OUR CARE TO SOME DEGREE IN DIFFERENT LEVELS THAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS TRYING TO FORM AND TAKE ON AND TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY KIDS. WHAT THEY'RE -- THE REASON I PUT THIS ON HERE IS THEY'RE BEING IMPEDED TO MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF IMPACT FEES THAT A NONPROFIT -- THEY'RE GOING AROUND AND RAISING MONEY TO BUILD THIS FACILITY, OPERATE THIS FACILITY ON OUR BEHALF, ALONG WITH -- AND I WANT TO INVITE UP -- DAVID GEE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE EARLIER TODAY, AND ELSE'S LEFT FOLKS THAT WOULD SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THIS ORGANIZATION. OUR POLICY IS THAT WE CAN ONLY WAIVE UP TO 25,000 FOR A NONPROFIT. THEIR FEES RANGE WELL ABOVE $100-SOMETHING THOUSAND TO TRY TO GET STARTED, AND IT'S A SHAME IN A SENSE THAT SOMEONE THAT IS GOING TO BE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT A RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT OUT FUTURE DOLLARS TO OFFSET THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF THESE KIDS, THAT WE ARE HELD TO ONLY 25,000 TO BE ABLE TO WAIVE OF THEM TRYING TO GET STARTED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE SHERIFFS' OFFICES AND -- I KNOW MS. BERGER'S ALSO HERE. WOULD YOU-ALL LIKE TO SAY JUST A COUPLE WORDS? >>KEN HAGAN: WELCOME, MS. BERGER. >> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. ACTUALLY I WAS HOPING THAT THE PENGUINS WERE GOING TO DO THEIR HAPPY FEET DANCE TODAY, SO I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME SPEAK TO YOU. YES, KIDS' CHARITY OF TAMPA BAY IS BUILDING A SHELTER ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE BRANDON AREA, ACTUALLY IN LITHIA- PINECREST. DCF SAID THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS PROJECT FOR 15 YEARS AND NOBODY WOULD STEP FORWARD. THE ONLY CRITICISM THAT WE HAVE HAD IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING THIS, NOT THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WELL, WE HAVE RAISED OVER $3 MILLION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WE HAVE ASKED FOR NO MONEY FROM GOVERNMENT. WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY IN WAIVING THESE IMPACT FEES. THE ACTUAL IMPACT FEES ARE LIKE $170,000, AND WE'D NEED TO RAISE ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD THIS FACILITY. WE'RE GOING TO BREAK GROUND ON JUNE 13th. YOU'LL ALL BE INVITED TO THAT. AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL -- THEY DO THE INVESTIGATION FOR ALL CHILD ABUSE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. CAPTAIN BOLERA IS HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE HIM COME TO SPEAK TO YOU ALSO. >> MAY I HAVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. >> SORRY. DOTTIE BERGER-MacKINNON. >> THANK YOU. >>JIM NORMAN: SO BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE DO OUR PART IN WAIVING THE 25,000. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ADDRESS THE OTHER. I MEAN, WE'RE SLOWING THEM DOWN BY THESE ASSESSMENTS, AND EVERY TIME -- EVERY DAY THAT WE MISS, IT'S MORE KIDS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM THAT IT'S GOING TO COST US A LOT MORE THAN THIS $170,000. ANYWAY, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE SUPPORT THE 25 -- >>BRIAN BLAIR: SECOND. >>ROSE FERLITA: SECOND WITH DISCUSSION. >>JIM NORMAN: -- AND SEND IT OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING POSSIBLE WITH CREATIVITY TO ASSIST IN OTHER PIECES. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: MS. LEE, NOW IF WE HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY, WE CAN WAIVE THAT FEE; IS THAT CORRECT? >>RENEE LEE: [INAUDIBLE] >>ROSE FERLITA: OKAY. AND JUST FOR THE LISTENING AUDIENCE, I DON'T BELIEVE WE DO THIS VERY OFTEN BECAUSE DOLLARS ARE TIGHT AND BUDGET IS RESTRICTED; HOWEVER, THIS IS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME, WE TALK ABOUT THE WELFARE OF OUR CHILDREN, THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN, THE LEADERSHIP THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GIVE THIS COMMUNITY LONG AFTER WE'RE GONE, AND THIS, IN FACT, IS TRULY A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. MS. BERGER AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT HAVE NOT, AS SHE SAID, COME TO US, SO I THINK THE LEAST WE CAN DO AS A GOVERNMENT IS TRY TO COMPLEMENT -- AND ACTUALLY, SINCE, DOTTIE, YOU'VE ALREADY COLLECTED THREE MILLION, ACTUALLY ALTHOUGH THE IMPACT FEES ARE A LOT, JUST IT'S REALLY ALMOST IN SOME SMALL WAY TO PARTNER WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE CITIZENS, FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE CHILDREN, SO I HAVE NO RESERVATION IN SUPPORTING IT. IT'S FOR THE RIGHT CAUSE, IT'S FOR ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND IT'S CERTAINLY AN INVESTMENT WELL MADE AND WELL THOUGHT OUT, SO I'M HAPPY TO SECOND MR. NORMAN'S MOTION. HAPPY, PROUD TO DO THAT. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: DOTTIE, I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL, BOTH YOUR SERVICE AS A FORMER COMMISSIONER AND YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR KIDS, AND YOU KNOW, BOTH YOU AND COMMISSIONER NORMAN, I -- YOU KNOW, AT TIMES WE GET A LITTLE HEATED, BUT -- JIM AND I, BUT THERE'S NOBODY I THINK IS MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE THAN COMMISSIONER NORMAN, AND HE'S DONE A SUPERB JOB, AND I APPLAUD HIM FOR THIS, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION OF OUR STAFF BECAUSE I JUST -- AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT IT'S JUST THE PRECEDENT. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE NOW AS AN -- AN AVALANCHE OF OTHERS COMING N THE ISSUE IS THIS. WE START WAIVING IMPACT FEES. THE IMPACT FEES ARE USED TO PAY -- I DON'T WANT TO GET BACK ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE BANDWAGON -- BUT TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE CAN'T HAVE OURSELVES FALLING TOO FAR BEHIND, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I FULLY ACCEPT THE ARGUMENT THAT COMMISSIONER NORMAN HAS MADE WITH REGARD TO THE FACT THAT -- AND YOU'VE POINTED OUT -- YOU'RE PROVIDING A SERVICE WE CAN'T PROVIDE BUT WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING, AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE THAT. I MEAN, IT'S A WONDERFUL SERVICE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT? IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN -- >>PAT BEAN: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS. YOU'RE GOING TO WAIVE THE ORGANIZATION FROM PAYING, BUT THE COUNTY HAS TO PAY THE IMPACT FEES THAT YOU'RE WAIVING. THEY CANNOT BE WAIVED, PARTICULARLY THE WATER PIECE. >>MARK SHARPE: RIGHT. >>PAT BEAN: BUT IT IS THE HISTORY THAT THE BOARD PAYS WHEN YOU WAIVE. REMEMBER ALL THE NO FEE ZONES AND YOU HAD TO PAY THOSE NO FEE ZONE AMOUNTS, SO YOU WILL BE PAYING THIS. NOW, AS FAR AS HOW TO PREVENT FUTURE, ONCE YOU DO THIS -- >>MARK SHARPE: CASE BY CASE. >>PAT BEAN: YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS IS THE BEST I CAN SAY FOR THAT. >>MARK SHARPE: IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE, AND I THANK COMMISSIONER NORMAN FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE BOARD, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: DOTTIE, I WANT TO THANK YOU. I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED THE JOSHUA HOUSE. IT'S A TREMENDOUS PLACE TO GO TO AND SEE THE WAY THAT SO MANY PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE CHILDREN, AND YOU'VE BEEN AT THE HELM OF THAT, AND YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED. ALSO AS A FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THAT THAT IS, AND YOU PERFORM THAT DUTY VERY WELL. THE MOTION AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS TO WAIVE THE 25,000 BUT TO GO BACK TO STAFF TO LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS, AND THE WAYS THAT I WOULD THINK WOULD BE TO LOOK FOR SOME CREATIVE FINANCING, MAYBE SOMETHING OVER SOME TIME OR GIVE THEM -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THAT OR NOT, BUT -- LET ME FINISH, PLEASE. WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP THESE PEOPLE, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A PRIME EXAMPLE. IN IS THE EPITOME OF WHAT A 501(C)(3) SHOULD BE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME OUT, AND WHOEVER CRIES THE BIGGEST TEAR WE ARE GIVING THEM LOTS OF MONEY YEAR AFTER YEAR WHEN THESE PEOPLE DO IT THE OLD- FASHIONED WAY, THEY EARN IT. AND THEY, AS COMMISSIONER NORMAN SAID, ARE TAKING A GREAT BURDEN OFF OF WHAT NORMALLY WOULD BE A COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY. LOOK HOW MUCH MONEY WE GIVE TO THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, LOOK HOW MUCH MONEY THAT WE -- THAT THE TAXPAYERS GIVE TO THE CHILDREN'S BOARD. THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE THESE PEOPLE UNDER DOTTIE'S LEADERSHIP HAVE DONE EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD HOPE EVERY OTHER 501(C)(3) WOULD DO, WOULD BE TO GO OUT AND HAVE FUNDRAISERS, GOLF TOURNAMENTS, ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY DO TO RAISE MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVE GENEROUS PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH OPEN HEARTS. YOU JUST GOTTA KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND YOU GOTTA KNOCK ON IT FIVE MORE TIMES, AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THAT AND YOU'VE DONE IT WELL, AND YOU'RE TAKING THAT BURDEN OFF OF US, AND I COMMEND YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS, AND I WISH THAT EVERYBODY THAT COMES TO THIS BOARD AND ASKS FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY -- IT'S NOT MY MONEY, IT'S OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THE DOLLARS THAT BELONG TO OUR PEOPLE, OUR RESIDENTS, NOT -- NO DOLLAR THAT COMES IN HERE BELONGS TO THE COUNTY. WE JUST DISBURSE IT IN THE WAYS WE FEEL IS BEST SUITED FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT AGAIN, YOU DO AN EXEMPLARY JOB AT DOING WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SHOULD DO. SO WITH THAT SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE PRECEDENT, BUT WE WANT TO BE CREATIVE WITH THAT IN MIND, AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD ASK THE BOARD, AND I THINK, COMMISSIONER NORMAN, IS THAT WHERE YOU WERE GOING? AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT FORWARD, AND TELL OLIN I SAID HELLO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>KEVIN WHITE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I JUST WANT A CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION. IT WAS JUST TO WAIVE THE 25, NOT THE HUNDRED -- >>JIM NORMAN: AND SEND OVER THE REST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT CAN OFFSET SOME OF THEIR COSTS OR SOMETHING TO -- >>KEVIN WHITE: I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, MS. MacKINNON, THAT THIS BOARD WAS IN FULL SUPPORT WHEN THEY CAME FOR THE REZONING SOMETIME BACK FOR THIS, AND WE'RE STILL IN FULL SUPPORT OF WHAT YOU DO FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THE CHILDREN OF THIS COUNTY, SO YOU'LL HAVE MY SUPPORT AS WELL. >>KEN HAGAN: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER NORMAN. WHO WAS -- >>JIM NORMAN: CAN I ALSO SAY, THOUGH -- >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>JIM NORMAN: AND I KNOW DOTTIE WILL PROBABLY COME OUT OF HER SKIN WHEN I SAY THIS, BUT, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR TAXES -- IF THERE WILL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TAKING OVER OWNERSHIP. >> BECAUSE WE'RE A 501(C)(3), WE SHOULD NOT BE TAXED. WE SHOULD NOT BE PAYING PROPERTY TAX AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND JUST UNDERSTAND THESE ARE FOR FOSTER KIDS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THESE ARE OUR KIDS. IT'S CALLED "COMMUNITY-BASED CARE." THIS IS THE COMMUNITY STEPPING FORWARD TO TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS, SO WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HELP FOR YOU. WE'VE GOT TO RAISE ANOTHER $1 MILLION, BUT IF YOU COULD HELP USES IN THIS TOTAL, I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. >>JIM NORMAN: AND I'D ALSO LIKE THE DEPUTY TO STAND UP AND SAY HOW THE SHERIFF AND WHATEVER IS ALSO -- >> YES, SIR. THE SHERIFF TOOK OVER THE OBLIGATION FROM THE STATE IN 2006 WORKING THESE ABUSE WELFARE INVESTIGATIONS. THIS WAS A NEED, AS MS. BERGER SAID, THAT DCF HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR YEARS, AND HER GROUP WAS WILLING TO STEP UP AND FILL THAT NEED, WHICH AS THE COMMISSIONER SAID, THOSE ARE OUR KIDS. THESE ARE KIDS WE'D HAVE TO PLACE OTHER PLACES, AND RIGHT NOW THERE'S A NEED FOR THIS AND WE DON'T HAVE IT. AND MS. BERGER AND OLIN MOTT AND SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE STEPPED UP. IT'S A GREAT IDEA SHE'S COME UP WITH, AND SHE'S DONE IT ALL ON HER OWN. >>KEN HAGAN: CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. >> CAPTAIN ROB BOLERA. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. >>PAT BEAN: COMMISSIONERS, YOUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM E-1, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR 10:45. THIS IS A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY WIT OSTRENKO WHO IS HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE NAME OF THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2008 NATIONAL HISPANIC SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, WIT. >> GOOD MORNING. WOW, WHAT A GREAT DAY -- WIT OSTRENKO, PRESIDENT OF MOSI. WHAT A GREAT DAY TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE JOSHUA HOUSE AND THE AQUARIUM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR MOSI, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY STAFF HAVE HELPED MOSI BUILD A BRAND-NEW PLANETARIUM FOR THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL BE OPENING IN JULY, AND ON MAY 22nd WE'LL HAVE A MAJOR EXHIBITION OPENING UP ON HUMAN HEALTH, BUT IT JUST POINTS OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A NATIONAL CRITICAL NEED FOR SCIENTISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS, ENGINEERS, AND MATHEMATICIANS IN THIS COUNTRY. WE'RE IMPORTING A GREAT DEAL OF THEM. AND THIS PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR IT'S 8th YEAR NOW, THE NATIONAL HISPANIC SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR, IT'S NOT JUST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, IT'S THE ENTIRE NATION. WE BRING SOME OF THE BEST HISPANIC SCIENTISTS TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE A GREAT ONE THIS YEAR. THE 8th RECIPIENT IS LYDIA -- DR. LYDIA VILLA-KOMAROFF. SHE'S A MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST. SHE'S DONE SOME GREAT THINGS LIKE -- SHE WAS PART OF THE TEAM THAT DEMONSTRATED THAT BACTERIA CELLS CAN PRODUCE INSULIN SO THAT -- THIS IS WHERE WE GET OUR INSULIN TODAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIABETES. IT'S PRODUCED BY BACTERIA, AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE ONES WHO HELPED ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR. SHE'S HAD A GREAT CAREER AT MIT, HARVARD UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY -- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, AND NOW SHE'S THE CEO OF A COMPANY THAT SORTS CELLS. WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO GET A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT, THEY HAVE TO GET THE RIGHT KIND OF CELLS. YOU CAN IMAGINE CELLS ARE SO SMALL, COMPLETE CELLS ARE FLOATING AROUND IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW, SO THEY HAVE TO SEPARATE CELLS AT A MICROSCOPIC LEVEL, AND HER COMPANY DOES THAT SO THAT A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT PERSON CAN GET THE PROPER CELLS INTO THEIR MARROW TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THEIR CANCER. WE'RE -- WE DO THIS BECAUSE HISPANIC KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE NATION DROP OUT AT THE HIGHEST RATE OF ANY MINORITY GROUP. 30% DO NOT MAKE IT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. WE BRING -- BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE MENTORS AT HOME, THEY DON'T HAVE SCIENTISTS IN THE HOUSEHOLD OR THEIR UNCLE IS NOT AN ENGINEER OR THEY DON'T -- IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE SOMEONE SHOW THEM THE WAY, SO MOSI HAS TAKEN ON THIS CHALLENGE, AND IT'S BEEN VERY EXCITING TO HAVE A SCIENTIST COME INTO THIS COMMUNITY FOR THREE DAY, WORK WITH A THOUSAND MIGRANT FARMWORKER CHILDREN ON A THURSDAY, FOLLOWED BY A FRIDAY OF WORKING AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL AND ENCOURAGING KIDS TO STAY IN -- TO GET THROUGH COLLEGE AND THEN STAY IN COLLEGE. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS THANK YOU AND RECOGNIZE ANDREA WHITE FROM BRIGHT HOUSE, WHO'S OUR TITLE SPONSOR. >>KEN HAGAN: WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, AND GOOD MORNING. AGAIN, THE NAME IS ANDREA WHITE. I'M THE SENIOR MANAGER OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE LIVE AND WORK IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WE BELIEVE AND INVEST HEAVILY BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AND AS YOU KNOW, I'M ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY. AND THERE IS ANOTHER WAY THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE OUR YOUTH IN EDUCATION IN THE SCIENCE AREA AND AGAIN IN MATH BECAUSE IT IS SO NEEDED, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. >> AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ALICIA SLATER-HAASE, OUR SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT AND MARKETING. ALICIA HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AT THE SCIENCE CENTER TO INCREASE SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO KEEP MOSI FINANCIALLY SOUND AS WELL, AND WE HAVE SOME JOINT PROGRAMS WITH THE AQUARIUM TO SEE IF WE CAN'T BECOME MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AS WELL, USING OUR DOLLARS WISELY INSTEAD OF REPLICATING SERVICES AT EACH INSTITUTION. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU ON OCTOBER 11th, 2008, FOR THE -- HER ARRIVAL AND OUR PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: WIT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. I KIND OF GOT -- HAVE TWO COMMENTS. ONE, LYDIA IS DEFINITELY TO BE COMMENDED. I HOPE THAT I CAN MAKE THAT EVENT ACTUALLY, AND -- >> PLEASE. >>BRIAN BLAIR: -- JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I'M SURE EVERYBODY ELSE IS INTERESTED IF YOU CAUGHT THE MONKEYS. >>PAT BEAN: THAT'S THE ZOO. >>BRIAN BLAIR: THAT'S THE ZOO, I'M SORRY. >> NO, I HAVE NOT. [LAUGHTER] >>BRIAN BLAIR: THAT'S THE ZOO. >> I'LL CALL LEX AND SEE HOW -- >>BRIAN BLAIR: THAT'S THE ZOO, BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER HERE, SO I HEARD YOU WERE OUT THERE. >> THAT'S THE CHEMISTRY OF WORKING VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER -- [INDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALK] [LAUGHTER] >>JIM NORMAN: I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ME. >>BRIAN BLAIR: I WAS REFERRING TO SOME HELP THAT WIT WAS GIVING. >>KEN HAGAN: WIT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PLUG YOUR NEW EXHIBIT? >> THE AMAZING YOU IS OPENING MAY 22nd. WE'RE OPENING -- IT'S A TOUR THROUGH YOUR LIFETIME. WE'RE STARTING OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF LIFE THROUGH CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE. THAT WILL BE THE OPENING OF THIS -- THE AMAZING YOU EXHIBITION. THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WILL BE UNVEILED IN 2009, BUT THIS IS REALLY A GREAT OPENING TO GET PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR OWN HEALTH. IF I CAN DO A TRIATHLON LAST -- TWO WEEKENDS AGO AT 61 YEARS OLD, WE NEED TO GET EVERYBODY TO REACH FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE EXTENT OF THEIR LIFE NO MATTER THEIR ABILITIES, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS EXHIBITION IS ALL ABOUT, HOW TO STAY HEALTHY THROUGH NUTRITION AND EXERCISE AND HOW TO -- WHEN SOMETHING DOES GO WRONG, WHAT DOES OUR COMMUNITY DO ABOUT IT AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THE BEST ADVOCATES FOR OUR OWN HEALTH, SO THAT'S MY PLUG. IT'S GOING TO BE FUN AND INTERESTING. >>BRIAN BLAIR: YEAH. LAST QUESTION WAS, I KNOW THE PALEONTOLOGIST, FRANK, HAD A LOT OF BONES WITH YOU. VERY INTERESTING STUFF. I JUST READ HIS BOOK. DO YOU STILL -- ARE YOU STILL IN POSSESSION OF ALL OF THAT? >> YES, UH-HUH. AND WE HAVE THEM ON DISPLAY AT THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, SCIENCE LIBRARY. THEY'RE ON DISPLAY AT -- >>BRIAN BLAIR: WHERE IS THAT LOCATED? >> RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE -- IN THE HEART OF THE SCIENCE CENTER, IN THE FREE PART OF THE SCIENCE CENTER, SO ANYBODY CAN COME VISIT THOSE WHENEVER THEY WANT. >>BRIAN BLAIR: VERY GOOD. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER NORMAN. >>JIM NORMAN: WELL, IF YOU KEEP DOING THOSE TRIATHLONS, MAYBE YOU CAN CATCH THE MONKEYS. [LAUGHTER] >> I CAN [INAUDIBLE] FASTER THAN I CAN RUN, THOUGH. >>JIM NORMAN: THE UNIQUENESS AND THE GREAT LEADERSHIP THAT WIT BRINGS AND THE DIFFERENCE IN A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND -- YOU GOTTA FACE IT, IS WE OWN THE WHOLE MOSI CONCEPT, AND IF HE FAILS OR THEY FAIL, WE WRITE A CHECK, AND HIS LEADERSHIP OF KEEPING MOSI GOING IN THE WAY AND THE EXCITING THINGS AND BRINGING THE EVENTS THAT HE'S BROUGHT THERE, THAT HAS SAVED TAXPAYERS JUST A TREMENDOUS - - A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE IT WOULD ALL FALL BACK ON US, AND WIT, YOU HAVE JUST DONE ONE HECK OF A JOB FOR THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS, AND I'VE JUST STOOD BACK AND WATCHED YOUR GREAT LEADERSHIP AND YOUR CREATIVITY THAT IS - - HAS REALLY BEEN UNBELIEVABLE, AND ALL THE KIDS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THERE AND HAVE TOUCHED SCIENCE AND TOUCHED THE THINGS THAT ARE GREAT FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE -- >> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING. WE HAVE A NICE BALANCE. A QUARTER OF A MILLION CHILDREN CAME THROUGH THE SCIENCE CENTER, AND A QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 55. THEY'RE PROBABLY THEIR GRANDPARENTS. AND WE JUST GOT A NATIONAL RECOGNITION. WE WERE CREDITED BY A NATIONAL TEAM THAT CAME IN AND WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING AT THE SCIENCE CENTER AND OUR 7,000-PAGE DOCUMENT THAT WE HAD TO PRESCRIBE, AND THEY WENT THROUGH OUR WHOLE INSTITUTION, AND WE GOT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUM ACCREDITATION. >>PAT BEAN: YAY! >>JIM NORMAN: AND THE WAY YOU TOUCHED ON THE HISPANIC HONOREE TODAY AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS, THOSE ARE CREATIVE WAYS TO FOCUS ON SCIENCE IN A GREAT WAY AND SHOWING TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND I SEE TONY CAME IN THE ROOM BACK HERE. WE COULDN'T HAVE HAD A HISPANIC EVENT WITHOUT TONY BEING IN THE ROOM, AND I WAS GLAD THAT HE'S HERE, BUT THE CELEBRATION IS GOING TO BE GREAT IN OCTOBER. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>KEN HAGAN: AND WIT, I WANT TO FINALLY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, ECHO THE COMMENTS THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS MADE, BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY, ALL THE PARTNERING THAT YOU DO WITH COMMUNITY EVENTS, PARTICULARLY THE CYBERSAFE EVENT THAT WE HAD BACK IN FEBRUARY. >> YES. FABULOUS. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU FOR OPENING UP THE FACILITY AND EVERYTHING YOU DO. MY SON'S I THINK HAS BEEN THERE THREE OR FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS. >> NICE LISTENING TO YOU IN 10,000 WATTS OF SOUND. [LAUGHTER] >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. WE HAVE AN 11:00 TIME CERTAIN. >>PAT BEAN: YES, WE DO, COMMISSIONERS. 11:00, ITEM B-4, APPROVING THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY'S HEALTHCARE FACILITY'S REVENUE BONDS. TOM MORRISON IS HERE. THIS ACTUALLY ADDRESSES ITEM B-4 AND ITEM E-2. >>KEN HAGAN: WELCOME. >> CHAIRMAN HAGAN, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. TOM MORRISON, 1200 WEST PLATT STREET, COUNSEL FOR THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND TO YOU APPROVAL OF A BOND ISSUE BY THE AUTHORITY FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN AN UPSET AMOUNT OF $275 MILLION. THE FINANCING HAS SEVERAL ELEMENTS TO IT. THEY'RE GOING TO FINANCE RENOVATION AND EXPANSIONS OF THEIR TWO FACILITIES HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THERE'S AN ELEMENT THAT WILL PROVIDE FINANCING TO CONSTRUCT A LONG-TERM ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL IN THE CONNERTON DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE BORDER IN PASCO COUNTY, AND I'D POINT OUT AT THIS POINT THAT THAT'S PERFECTLY LEGAL AND APPROPRIATE UNDER ALL OF OUR AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION WHEN YOU HAVE A FACILITY OF THIS IMPORT IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO HELP THEM EXPAND ACROSS A NEARBY BORDER. AND THEN FINALLY THERE'S A REFUNDING ELEMENT WHERE THEY'RE SEEKING APPROVAL TO REFUND SOME OF THEIR OUTSTANDING BONDS. THE AUTHORITY APPROVED THIS ON SEVERAL CONDITIONS. THE -- A PORTION OF THE DEAL IS NOT CREDIT ENHANCED, AND YOU HAVE SOME GUIDELINES THAT REQUIRE IN THOSE INSTANCES THAT BONDS BE ISSUED IN $100,000 DENOMINATIONS. THE HOSPITAL REQUESTED THAT THAT BE WAIVED, AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME WE HAD NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT WITH YOUR STAFF, SO THE AUTHORITY APPROVED IT ON THE CONDITION THAT IT EITHER BE -- THAT ELEMENT EITHER BE IN $100,000 DENOMINATIONS OR WE REACH SOME ACCOMMODATION THAT WOULD MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF HAVING IT IN SMALLER DENOMINATIONS FOR RETAIL SALE WITH COUNTY STAFF AND THEN WITH YOUR APPROVAL. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, NEGOTIATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE AND CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AND NEGOTIATED AND I BELIEVE AGREED UPON. AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM YOUR STAFF ON THAT. AND AT THIS POINT THE AUTHORITY RECOMMENDS THIS TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL, AND I THINK YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OF YOUR STAFF TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, SIR. MR. MERRILL. >>MIKE MERRILL: GOOD MORNING. MIKE MERRILL, DIRECTOR OF DEBT MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. AS TOM INDICATED, THE COUNTY -- BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE IDA HAVE A POLICY THAT RELATES TO THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE IDA, AND ONE OF THOSE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT BONDS BE CREDIT ENHANCED, AND IF THEY'RE NOT, THAT THEY BE ISSUED IN $100,000 DENOMINATIONS. IN -- IN DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE HOSPITAL AND OUR OWN FINANCIAL ADVISOR, WE DETERMINED THAT IN THIS MARKET ENVIRONMENT TODAY THERE IS ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT WOULD BE BORNE BY UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IF THE BONDS WERE TO BE ISSUED IN $100,000 DENOMINATIONS. THAT'S A FUNCTION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CREDIT MARKETS. IT'S AN ADDITIONAL PREMIUM THAT INVESTORS ARE CHARGING TO DO THEIR OWN DUE DILIGENCE OF DEALS, NOT JUST RELYING ON THE RATINGS THAT ARE GIVEN BY RATING AGENCIES. GIVEN THAT THE HOSPITAL DOES PROVIDE INDIGENT CARE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CITIZENS, THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PARTNER, IT WOULD BE IN OUR INTEREST TO TRY AND FIND A WAY TO ALLOW THEM TO ISSUE BONDS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE INTEREST RATE, AT THE SAME TIME MEETING THE OBJECTIVE OF OUR POLICY, WHICH IS TO APPROVE BONDS IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS BOND HOLDERS. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING BONDS CREDIT ENHANCED, THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING BONDS ISSUED IN LARGER DENOMINATIONS SO THAT MORE SOPHISTICATED INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS ARE BUYING THE BONDS. SO IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO ACHIEVE BOTH OF THOSE GOALS, WHAT WE CAME TO AGREEMENT ON WAS THAT THE HOSPITAL WOULD AGREE TO PROVIDE WHAT'S CALLED A "GROSS REVENUE PLEDGE," WHICH MEANS ESSENTIALLY THAT THE BOND HOLDERS STEP TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE AND ARE PAID FIRST BEFORE OPERATING COSTS, BEFORE ANY OTHER COSTS OF THE HOSPITAL. THAT PUTS THEM IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION, I THINK, EVEN THAN REQUIRING $100,000 DENOMINATIONS. IT ALSO REQUIRES THAT IN THE EVENT OF DEFAULT BY THE HOSPITAL UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE FOR THE BONDS THAT REVENUES WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE TRUSTEE IN A LOCK BOX KIND OF SITUATION. THE TRUSTEE THEN WOULD ENSURE THE BOND HOLDERS ARE PAID FIRST. SO I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE ARRIVED AT IS A SOLUTION THAT PROTECTS BOND HOLDERS, IT ALLOWS THE HOSPITAL TO ISSUE BONDS IN LOWER DENOMINATIONS, AND OBTAIN A LOWER INTEREST COST, AND SO FOR THAT PURPOSE OR FOR THAT BASIS I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE THE TRANSACTION. THE -- A COUPLE THINGS I NEED TO POINT OUT TO YOU. ONE IS THAT WHEN THIS TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY GOT UNDERWAY, WE -- THE COUNTY HAS TWO BOND COUNSEL FIRMS THAT WORK FOR US, ONE THAT HANDLES GENERAL BOND COUNSEL ISSUES AND ONE THAT HANDLES ENTERPRISE FUND-RELATED BOND ISSUES. WHEN THIS TRANSACTION BEGAN, BRYANT MILLER & OLIVE, WHO HANDLES OUR GENERAL BOND COUNSEL ISSUES, WAS ACTING AS COUNSEL TO THE UNDERWRITER FOR THE BONDS, AND THEY WERE ALSO ACTING AS COUNSEL TO THE IDA, WHICH DOESN'T NECESSARILY CREATE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND HAD THIS DEAL JUST GONE DOWN THE ORDINARY PATH, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM, BUT AS THIS CHANGED AND DEVELOPED INTO THE TRANSACTION I JUST DESCRIBED, I DETERMINED IT WOULD BE BETTER -- IT WOULD BE IN THE COUNTY'S INTEREST TO HAVE ANOTHER BOND COUNSEL FIRM STEP IN, DELIVER THE OPINION THAT'S REQUIRED, AND HELP US NEGOTIATE, SO THE OPINION THAT YOU FIND IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE WAS DRAFTED BY BRYANT MILLER & OLIVE. THAT OPINION IS BEING REPLACED BY OUR OTHER BOND COUNSEL FIRM, EDWARDS ANGELL PALMER & DODGE. SO I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT ON THE RECORD TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO CONCERNS ABOUT ACTUAL CONFLICTS, PERCEIVED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AT ALL IN THIS DEAL. THE OTHER THING THAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT AS THIS DEAL DEVELOPED, THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR HAS REVIEWED IT, AND SHE HAS PREPARED A LETTER FOR ME SUPPORTING THIS ARRANGEMENT. SHE'S HERE IF YOU WANT TO ASK HER ANY QUESTIONS. AND FINALLY, ALL OF THE BOND DOCUMENTS FOR THIS TRANSACTION ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE COUNTY AND APPROVAL BEFORE THE BONDS ARE ISSUED SO THAT AS THE DOCUMENTS GET FINALIZED, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THOSE BEFORE THE BONDS ARE SOLD. SO I THINK ON THAT BASIS, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE THE TRANSACTION. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. MR. MORRISON, DO YOU NEED TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE? >> YES, JUST ONE THING. EXCUSE ME. I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY ON BEHALF OF THE AUTHORITY -- THANK YOU, MIKE -- TO COMMEND MR. MERRILL AND LINDA MILLER AND THEIR STAFF FOR THEIR CREATIVE THINKING. THIS WAS NOT EASY, AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND BECAUSE OF THEIR FLEXIBILITY AND THEIR CREATIVE THINKING, THIS WAS ABLE TO BE DONE, AND IT'S A PLEASURE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH A STAFF THAT WORKS LIKE THAT, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: I JUST WANT TO THANK MIKE, THE HARD WORK OF THE STAFF, OUR BOND COUNSEL, AND ALSO OBVIOUSLY UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK ANYTIME WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER IN A WAY THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SUPPORT, SO I'LL MOVE THE MOTION -- MOVE THE ITEM. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: I JUST WANTED TO ASK MIKE ONE QUESTION, JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S SECURITY. THERE'S -- WHAT IS THE RISK IN THIS OR -- IT SHOULD BE MINIMAL, CORRECT? >>MIKE MERRILL: THE RISK TO THE COUNTY OR THE BOND HOLDERS? >>BRIAN BLAIR: THE -- FIRST THE RISK, THEN THE COST TO THE COUNTY. >>MIKE MERRILL: THERE'S NO RISK TO THE COUNTY. >>BRIAN BLAIR: NO RISK. >>MIKE MERRILL: THERE'S -- THE FUNDAMENTAL BASIS OF ALL OF THESE DEALS WITH THE IDA IS THAT THE COUNTY IS NOT ON THE HOOK FOR ANY REPAYMENT OF BONDS AND SO FORTH. >>BRIAN BLAIR: RIGHT. UNLESS THEY WENT BANKRUPT OR SOMETHING. >>MIKE MERRILL: EVEN IN THAT CASE, WE'RE NOT LIABLE. >>BRIAN BLAIR: WE'RE STILL COVERED? >>MIKE MERRILL: THE COUNTY HAS NO OBLIGATION, RIGHT. >>BRIAN BLAIR: AND WHAT WAS THE COST TO THE COUNTY, DID YOU SAY? THERE WAS SOME COST? >>MIKE MERRILL: THERE'S NO COST TO THE COUNTY. THE COST TO THE HOSPITAL OF ISSUING BONDS IN $100,000 DENOMINATIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER IN TERMS OF -- THE INTEREST RATE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER -- >>BRIAN BLAIR: HAD WE NOT STEPPED IN. >>MIKE MERRILL: -- HAD WE NOT FOUND THIS OTHER WAY TO ACCOMMODATE THEN AND AT THE SAME TIME PROTECT BOND HOLDERS. >>BRIAN BLAIR: SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU DID WITH THE SHRINERS AND -- >>MIKE MERRILL: YES. IT'S CONSISTENT WITH -- IT'S DIFFERENT BUT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE SHRINERS, TGH, FOR MOFFITT ON SIMILAR INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND ISSUES, SO I WAS TRYING TO BE MINDFUL THAT WE NOT TREAT ANYBODY DIFFERENTLY, ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, THE DEALS ARE DIFFERENT, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ASPECTS, BUT I THINK IT'S CONSISTENT. >>BRIAN BLAIR: NO. I APPRECIATE IT TOO. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE OVER 2500 EMPLOYEES AND $150- MILLION PAYROLL, AND THEY'RE A GREAT ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE COMMUNITY. >>MIKE MERRILL: ABSOLUTELY. >>BRIAN BLAIR: NOT TO MENTION THE LIVES THEY SAVE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>MIKE MERRILL: ABSOLUTELY. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >>KEVIN WHITE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 7-0. >>KEN HAGAN: B-6. >>PAT BEAN: YES. ITEM B-6 IS THE COUNTY AUDIT REPORT REGARDING HUMANA INSURANCE COMPANY. DAN POHTO WILL PRESENT THAT. CHRISTINA SWANSON IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >>KEN HAGAN: GOOD MORNING, DAN. >>DAN POHTO: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. DAN POHTO, DIRECTOR OF COUNTY AUDIT WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE. WE HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU OUR REPORT NUMBER 165 ON THE HUMANA CONTRACT. I JUST WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE DISCOVERED, ONE BEING SOME INCONSISTENCIES IN YOUR CONTRACT FOR PHARMACEUTICALS WITH HUMANA VERSUS HUMANA'S CONTRACT WITH THEIR PHARMACIES. THAT BEING SAID, WITH -- OUR CONTRACT WITH HUMANA SAYS -- EXCUSES ME -- WHAT THE DRUG PRICES ARE GOING TO BE, PARTICULARLY FOR GENERICS, AND A DISPENSING FEE. IN A LOT OF CASES THAT COST OF THE GENERIC AND THE COST OF THE DISPENSING FEE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE $10 COPAYMENT. WHAT WE DISCOVERED WAS THAT THE CONTRACTS THAT HUMANA HAS WITH THE PHARMACIES ALLOWS THE PHARMACIES TO COLLECT THE PHARMACY'S WHAT THEY CALL USUAL AND ORDINARY -- OR UNC -- >>ROSE FERLITA: USUAL AND CUSTOMARY. >>DAN POHTO: -- USUAL AND CUSTOMARY, THE LOWER OF THAT OR THE COPAY, WHICH, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE COST OF DRUGS FOR OUR CONTRACTS IS USUALLY LESS THAN THE COPAY. SO WHAT'S HAPPENED IS BECAUSE OF THIS DISCREPANCY OR INCONSISTENCY, THE COST OF GENERIC DRUGS FOR THE FOLKS UNDER THE PLAN AS OUTLINED IN OUR CONTRACT, THEY'VE PAID MORE IN OUR -- IN MY OPINION FOR THE DRUGS THAN WHAT OUR CONTRACT ALLOWS. IN THE EIGHT-MONTH PERIOD THAT WE LOOKED AT, WE CAME UP WITH APPROXIMATELY $159,000 BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES GENERICS ARE $2.25, DISPENSING FEE IS A BUCK AND A HALF. THAT'S 3.75, AND YOU GET CHARGED TEN BUCKS. IT DIDN'T COST THE COUNTY ANYTHING, DIDN'T COST HUMANA ANYTHING, IT COST YOU AND ME IF WE HAVE GENERIC DRUGS, SO THERE'S INCONSISTENCY THERE. ALSO AN OBSERVATION WE HAD THAT IS REALLY KIND OF OUTSIDE OF THE CONTRACT, WE FOUND THAT AS THE COUNTY DOES BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING AND PARTICULARLY A CASE -- THIS WAS WITH HUMANA. WE DISCOVERED THAT HUMANA OUTSOURCES THE OUTSOURCING. THEY DON'T DO THE PHARMACY BILLING AND THEY DON'T DO THE MEDICAL BILLING. THEY HAVE TWO OTHER FIRMS THAT THEY'VE HIRED, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT ANYONE REALLY REALIZED THAT. THOSE TWO FIRMS WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON. WE DON'T HAVE ANY FINANCIALS ON THEM, WE DON'T HAVE ANY WHAT WE CALL A SAS 70 STATEMENT DONE BY A CPA FIRM, AND HUMANA'S COMPLIANCE OFFICER DID TELL US THAT THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO AUDIT THESE PARTICULAR TWO ENTITIES BUT DIDN'T INDICATE WHETHER THEY HAD DONE IT OR NOT, SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE IS THAT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER PROCESS ON HOW WE HIRE OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS. AND I THINK ANOTHER ONE IS THE OBSERVATION ONE ABOUT THE RATE SETTING AND HOW IT'S DONE TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR ESTIMATES ARE FOR OUR RISK INSURANCE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OVERSIGHT ON THAT AND A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW BY OTHER FOLKS. AND I DIDN'T PUT IT IN HERE, BUT ON THE OVERALL -- AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE PUT IT IN HERE, BUT IN HINDSIGHT I DIDN'T THINK OF IT -- IS THAT MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY MAYBE TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE HUMANA PROCESSING OF COSTS AND THAT TYPE OF THING, SOMEONE THAT'S INDEPENDENT THAT -- OF EVER TOUCHING ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE HUMANA CONTRACT. THAT BEING SAID, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: NO, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. I JUST HAVE A COMMENT, ACTUALLY, ON SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID, AND THAT'S VERY COMMONPLACE IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY. WHEN YOU HAVE A CONTRACT WITH HUMANA OR ANYBODY ELSE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING SERVICE, THERE'S USUALLY A STIPULATION THERE THAT IT IS THE COPAY OR THE USUAL AND CUSTOMARY, WHICHEVER IS LESS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE AS A GOVERNMENTAL BODY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OR HAVE -- IT'S NOT WITHIN OUR PURVIEW TO GO IN AND AUDIT. WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OR HUMANA OR ANYBODY ELSE GOES IN AND AUDITS THE RECORDS OF THAT PARTICULAR PHARMACY OR ENTITY, THEN THEY WILL REQUEST THAT THEY SEND THAT BACK IF THEY HAVE MISCHARGED. WE REALLY DON'T ENTER INTO THAT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. WE DON'T LOSE, WE DON'T BENEFIT, BUT WHERE WE DO LOSE INDIRECTLY IS WHEN PHARMACIES ARE OVERCHARGING OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY'RE CHARGING THE $10 -- AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IN SOME CASES, THE USUAL AND CUSTOMARY IS 2.99 OR THE COST OF INGREDIENT PLUS A DISPENSING FEE IS LESS THAN $10. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE REMEDY THAT. I THINK THAT'S KIND OF AFTER THE FACT AND IF THEY'RE CITED, THAT'S THE BEST LESSON TO LEARN IN TERMS OF DON'T DO IT AGAIN OR YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THIS CONTRACT. THAT'S JUST MY INPUT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT ACTUALLY. I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE CAN CERTAINLY EDUCATE OUR EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY GO IN, AND SOMETIMES IF PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC IS SAVVY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, THAT CHANGES THE DIRECTION OF THEIR CARE, THAT CHANGES THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY ARE CHARGED. IS THAT CHEAPER THAN YOUR REGULAR USUAL AND CUSTOMARY CHARGE? ONCE YOU SAY THAT, THEN YOU'VE REALLY PUT THEM ON THE SPOT, AND THEY BETTER CHARGE OUR CONSUMER THE LOWEST PRICE. THAT'S DICTATED BY THEIR CONTRACT. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: DID YOU SAY THAT WAS ABOUT $150,000? IS THAT WHAT -- DID I HEAR THAT FIGURE? >>DAN POHTO: YES. IT WAS FROM OCTOBER OF '05 THROUGH MAY OF '06, AND THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MOSTLY GENERIC CAME TO ABOUT $159,000. >>BRIAN BLAIR: SO THEN AS COMMISSIONER FERLITA MENTIONED, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING WE COULD DO OTHER THAN EDUCATION? AND THEN QUESTIONING -- IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING, ROSE, THAT WE QUESTION? >>ROSE FERLITA: SEE, BRIAN, WHEN YOU GO TO THE DRUGSTORE AND YOUR CARD SAYS $5 FOR GENERIC, $10 FOR BRAND, IF YOU GET CHARGED $5 FOR GENERIC OR $10 FOR BRAND, YOU WOULD THINK ON IT'S FACE THAT THAT'S APPROPRIATE, BUT IF THE CONSUMER IS ASKING THAT PHARMACY OR PHARMACIST IS THIS LOWER THAN YOUR USUAL AND CUSTOMARY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE FRAUDULENT IF THEY SAY NO AND CHARGE YOU TEN WHEN THEIR NORMAL CUSTOMER THAT'S NOT INVOLVED AND ELIGIBLE FOR THE INSURANCE PLAN IS ONLY PAYING 4.99 AS OPPOSED TO $10, BUT I THINK THAT'S REMEDIED AT THE LEVEL OF CONSUMER AND PROVIDER POINT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO. IT'S NOT A LOSSES TO US AT ALL, RIGHT, SIR? >>DAN POHTO: THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S A LOSS -- >>ROSE FERLITA: IT'S JUST OUR EMPLOYEES ARE BEING MISCHARGED. >>BRIAN BLAIR: YEAH. SO IT'S A LOSS TO OUR FAMILY? >>ROSE FERLITA: EXACTLY. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, AND I GUESS YOUR IDEA ABOUT EDUCATION IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MECHANISMS WE CAN USE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY AT THAT POINT OF PURCHASE THAT THEY CAN ASK THAT. WE CANNOT MONITOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING. >>BRIAN BLAIR: RIGHT. >>ROSE FERLITA: THEY WILL SUBSEQUENTLY LATER ON, GIVEN RANDOM TIMES FOR AUDITS, HUMANA WILL AUDIT THEM, AND THEY WILL JUST RUN THE RISK OF LOSING THE CONTRACT, AND IF THEY DO A LOT OF PRESCRIPTIONS AND THEIR SUCCESS IS BASED ON VOLUME, THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW THAT THEY STAND TO LOSE THAT CONTRACT. THAT'S AN ISSUE WITH AN ETHICAL VERSUS A NONETHICAL PHARMACIST. >>BRIAN BLAIR: SO EDUCATIONALLY COULD WE USE THE BOTTOM OF THE SQUARE OF EACH PAYCHECK IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO MENTION THAT THEY ASK WHEN FILLING A PRESCRIPTION IS THIS - - HOW DID YOU SAY IT, ROSE? >>ROSE FERLITA: I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO BE TOO CUMBERSOME AND IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT. I DON'T KNOW. I THINK -- I DON'T WANT TO STRAP ANOTHER RESPONSIBILITY ON TO CHRISTINA SWANSON'S GROUP BECAUSE THEY DO ENOUGH AS IT IS. THEY DO MORE THAN ENOUGH. >>BRIAN BLAIR: WELL, WE'LL USE IT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. >>ROSE FERLITA: YEAH, BUT I'M NOT SURE, BRIAN, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT. WHEN THEY GO TO THEIR DOCTOR, THEY'RE SICK, THEY HAVE A SCRIPT, THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR CHECK STUB IN FRONT OF THEM, SO I THINK EDUCATION HAS TO START MORE INFRASTRUCTURELY HERE. IT MIGHT HELP, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE THE SOLE SOLUTION. BUT ANYTHING THAT HELPS IS OKAY. >>BRIAN BLAIR: YEAH. I'M JUST SAYING -- >>ROSE FERLITA: WE'RE TOSSING IDEAS AROUND. >>BRIAN BLAIR: YEAH. I'M THROWING STUFF OUT BECAUSE WE'RE ALLOWED TO PUT A MESSAGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAYCHECK, YOU KNOW, EACH TIME. >>ROSE FERLITA: THAT'S AN INTERNAL CALL. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM EITHER WAY, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO GO BEYOND THAT IF WE WANT TO HELP THEM, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE TO INCREASE COPAYS, AND AT A TIME WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE TO INCREASE THEIR PREMIUMS. AT LEAST WE KNOW WE CAN PERHAPS GUIDE THEM THROUGH, EDUCATE THEM AT THE POINT OF SERVICE TO PERHAPS PAY LESS FOR THEIR PRESCRIPTION WHEN THEY WOULDN'T NORMALLY KNOW THEY SHOULD OR COULD. THAT'S JUST A COMMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GO WITH IT, BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU THE REALITY FROM HAVING DONE THAT, IF YOU DON'T SET YOUR COMPUTER TO CHARGE EITHER/OR, WHICHEVER IS LESS, A LOT OF PEOPLE -- A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY ETHICAL AND THEY SUPPORT WHAT THE CRITERIA IS IN THE CONTRACT, AND I'M SORRY TO SAY, LIKE IN ANY OTHER PROFESSION, SOME PEOPLE DON'T. IT'S ABOUT THE DOLLAR. >>KEN HAGAN: IN ANY EVENT, DAN, BY IMPLEMENTING YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU -- THIS WILL STRENGTHEN OUR INTERNAL CONTROLS? >>DAN POHTO: YES. YES, SIR, I BELIEVE THAT. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE. >>ROSE FERLITA: SO MOVE. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERLITA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>DAN POHTO: NEXT ONE IS AUDIT 166. IT'S A FOLLOW-UP ON YOUR -- IT'S CALLED "LOSAP." IT'S THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER'S LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD . WE HAD LOOKED AT THIS IN NOVEMBER OF '06. MOST OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE EITHER BEEN IMPLEMENTED OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING IMPLEMENTED. WE DID FIND A NEW FINDING THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE THE LOSAP COMMITTEE TO -- IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INCONSISTENCIES ON HOW PEOPLE ARE -- THE WORDING ON HOW THEY'RE VESTED IN ONE SECTION VERSUS THE OTHER, SO I THINK THAT THE LOSAP COMMITTEE IS ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE, AND THEN WE'LL PROCEED THROUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF IT AND THEN BRING BACK HOPEFULLY TO YOU THE UPDATED LOSAP AGREEMENT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. >>KEN HAGAN: CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE THE REPORT. >>MARK SHARPE: MOTION TO RECEIVE. >>KEVIN WHITE: SECOND. >>KEN HAGAN: MOTION TO RECEIVE BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, DAN. >>DAN POHTO: COMMISSIONER FERLITA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT ON -- >>ROSE FERLITA: YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME. AND IF WE WANT TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT SOME IDEAS HOW WE CAN GET THAT MESSAGE TO OUR EMPLOYEES, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND CHRISTINA AND WHOEVER ELSE. >>DAN POHTO: THANK YOU. >>ROSE FERLITA: AND THANK YOU AS WELL. >>PAT BEAN: COMMISSIONER HAGAN, THOSE WERE ALL THE ITEMS THAT WERE TIME CERTAIN, BUT THERE IS ITEM F-1, WHICH IS YOUR ITEM. I DON'T BELIEVE THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE TO BE THERE FOR THAT, DO THEY? >>KEN HAGAN: TODAY? >>PAT BEAN: TODAY. >>KEN HAGAN: NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. >>PAT BEAN: OKAY. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND DO F-1? >>KEN HAGAN: YEAH, WE CAN DO MY TWO ITEMS, THEY WON'T TAKE BUT A MOMENT, F-1 AND F-2. NO, AS YOU SAW IN THE BACKUP, WE RECEIVED A LETTER THAT THE WADE BOGGS SELECTION COMMITTEE MADE A SELECTION FOR THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT AND JUST WANT TO CONCUR WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND SCHEDULE THE MEETING ON THE 22nd. I KNOW THIS IS AN AWARD THAT -- >>PAT BEAN: THE 21st. >>KEN HAGAN: 21st, I'M SORRY, TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY -- THAT COMMISSIONER BLAIR CAME UP WITH THIS AWARD A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND BEING A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE, I STRONGLY, STRONGLY SUPPORT IT. >>MARK SHARPE: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS YOUNG MAN BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ON AN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP. [LAUGHTER] SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SCHEDULE THE PRESENTATION ON MAY 21st BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHITE. >>BRIAN BLAIR: I TALKED TO WADE, AND IF HE COULD GET A 10:00 TIME CERTAIN, HE'D CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. >>PAT BEAN: WE'LL MAKE IT 10:00. >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: BRIAN, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE THIS SETS SOME SORT OF A STANDARD FOR OUR YOUNG ATHLETES TO LOOK AT, AND I THINK OF IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA. I KNOW WHEN I APPOINTED MY APPOINTEE, HE WAS EXCITED TO BE THERE BECAUSE HE HAD A SPORTS BACKGROUND. I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR THE KIDS, WONDERFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE MR. BOGGS HERE. >>KEN HAGAN: IT'S INTERESTING THAT SINCE YOU MENTIONED YOUR SELECTION ON THE COMMITTEE, MY CHOICE WAS ACTUALLY MY HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACH MY SENIOR YEAR. THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING AS WELL. SO -- OKAY. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>PAT BEAN: YOUR NEXT ITEM IS YOUR SECOND ITEM, COMMISSIONER HAGAN, DISCUSSING ESTABLISHING A RECYCLING PROGRAM AT COUNTY PARKS. >>KEN HAGAN: YES. THIS WILL BE REAL QUICK. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COACH BASEBALL AT FOREST HILLS YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE, JUST LIKE COMMISSIONER BLAIR DOES, AND I'VE NOTICED OVER THE PAST YEAR THAT ALL TOO FREQUENTLY OUR TRASH CANS ARE JUST FILLED AND OVER THE TOP WITH PRIMARILY RECYCLABLE ITEMS, AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, WE DO NOT HAVE A RECYCLING PROGRAM AT OUR PARKS. I KNOW WHEN YOU GO TO CERTAIN FACILITIES LIKE RAYMOND JAMES YOU'LL SEE LARGE NOT DUMPSTERS BUT -- OR RECYCLABLE CONTAINERS WHERE YOU'RE DIRECTED TO ACTUALLY PUT BOTTLES OR CANS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT IDEA FOR THE COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A RECYCLING PROGRAM AT OUR COUNTY PARKS. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ANYTHING OVERLY IN-DEPTH BUT AT LEAST PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AND ENCOURAGE, IN FACT, OUR CHILDREN AND PARENTS THAT ATTEND THE PARKS TO -- INSTEAD OF JUST THROWING THEIR COKE BOTTLES AND GLASSES INTO THE GARBAGE CAN TO RECYCLE, AND I KNOW AT LEAST AT FOREST HILLS IT'S WASTE SERVICES THAT COMES IN WITH A BIG TRUCK AND EMPTIES THE DUMPSTER, BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF CONTAINER WHERE WE CAN RECYCLE, AND I'VE SPOKEN A LITTLE BIT WITH THE SOLID WASTES DIRECTOR AND WITH MARK THORNTON. ADVISED THEM I DIDN'T NEED ANYTHING IN CONCRETE TODAY BUT WOULD LIKE THEM TO STUDY THE ISSUE. I KNOW THEY'RE ONGOING WITH THE -- THERE'S ALWAYS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE PROGRAMS, AND THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS, IT SEEMS LIKE A NEVER-ENDING PROCESS, WITH NEGOTIATING WITH OUR SOLID WASTE COMPANIES ANYWAY FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTS. PERHAPS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE NEXT ROUND OR IN ANY UPDATES THAT ARE GIVEN, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, SO COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: WELL, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. I KNOW I PICKED UP AT LEAST 15 PLASTIC BOTTLES LAST NIGHT AFTER THE GAME AND HAD TO THROW THEM IN THE TRASH CAN, BESIDES THE ONES THAT ARE LAYING ALL AROUND, AND IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A TERRIBLE WASTE. I COMMEND YOU AND I -- IF YOU WANT TO PASS THE GAVEL, I WOULD CERTAINLY SECOND YOUR MOTION AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO EXPLORE THIS AND POSSIBLY COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT COLOR CONTAINER PROGRAM OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE TO ESTABLISH THE RECYCLING PROGRAM. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER FERLITA. >>ROSE FERLITA: YOU KNOW, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M JUST SITTING HERE LISTENING TO YOU, AND IN A TIME THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING, LIKE NOW, IT'S REFRESHING WHEN WE KIND OF TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT IDEAS THAT ARE JUST COMMONSENSICAL IDEAS, AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PROGRAM, IT'S FOR A WORTHWHILE CAUSE, AND ALONG WITH THAT, WHEN -- IF YOU DON'T MIND, IN TERMS OF YOUR MOTION -- CERTAINLY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT AS WELL -- CAN YOU DIRECT STAFF TO GIVE US A BRIEF IDEA OF WHAT THE RECYCLING PROGRAM IS NOW AND WHAT PARTS OF THE COUNTY -- I'M JUST NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THAT AS I WAS AT THE CITY. >>KEN HAGAN: CERTAINLY. NO, I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION. I'LL PASS THE GAVEL TO COMMISSIONER SHARPE AND JUST DIRECT OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AND PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE OF ESTABLISHING A COUNTY RECYCLING PROGRAM AT OUR PARKS AND ALSO COME BACK WITH A REPORT DETAILING WHAT, IF ANY, TYPE OF -- I DON'T THINK A PROGRAM IS IN EFFECT, BUT TO WHAT DEGREE THAT WE CURRENTLY RECYCLE AT OUR PARKS AND TO OBVIOUSLY GET TOGETHER AND WORK WITH THE SOLID WASTE CONTRACTORS ON TRYING TO ESTABLISH THIS PROGRAM. >>BRIAN BLAIR: SECOND. >>PAT BEAN: I THINK THE COMMISSIONER'S REQUEST WAS BROADER THAN JUST WHAT RECYCLE HAS DONE AT THE PARKS. >>ROSE FERLITA: YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO BE MORE INFORMED OF WHAT THE COUNTY'S POLICY IS ON RECYCLING. I KNOW AT THE CITY -- AND I HATE TO KEEP COMPARING THAT -- SOME AREAS HAD RECYCLE, SOME DIDN'T, SOME COMPLAINED, SOME WERE PROMISED, SOME NEVER GOT IT, SO I JUST WANTED TO BE IN-SERVICED ABOUT WHAT OUR POLICY IS CURRENTLY. YOU'RE RIGHT, JUST OVERALL IN TERMS OF COUNTY POLICY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. >>KEN HAGAN: SURE. >>ROSE FERLITA: THANK YOU. >>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. >>PAT BEAN: THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE COULD TAKE UP IS F-6, WHICH IS AN ITEM BROUGHT TO THE BOARD BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR. THIS IS THE ITEM REGARDING COMMENDING THE SCHOOL BOARD, COMMISSIONER BLAIR. >>BRIAN BLAIR: WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER WAS WHEN MS. KIMBELL WAS IN THE HOSPITAL I GUESS IT WAS BY TELECAST CASTING VOTES, AND I THOUGHT, WOW -- I GUESS THAT WAS BACK IN '94, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, BUT I THOUGHT, WOW, THIS WOMAN HAS SUCH -- SUCH A DESIRE AND SUCH A DEDICATION, AND THEN I HEARD THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD NAMED ONE OF THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AFTER SYLVIA KIMBELL RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THEIR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OR SOMEBODY OUTSIDE, THEY ACTUALLY NAMED THE SCHOOL AFTER SYLVIA KIMBELL. SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, I'M FRIENDS WITH JOE CHILLURA, AND HE WROTE AN ARTICLE IN ONE OF THE PAPERS, AND IT SAID SYLVIA WAS TRULY ONE OF OURS -- AS RECENTLY WRITTEN BY THE CHAIRMAN OF BOCC AT THE TIME OF HER PASSING, JOE CHILLURA, SYLVIA WAS A ROLE MODEL TO YOUNG STUDENTS, AND SHE WILL ALWAYS BE THE LADY WHO IS JUDGED BY THE CONTENT OF HER CHARACTER. SO WITH THAT SAID, IN THE SPIRIT OF HARMONY, COOPERATION -- HARMONY AND COOPERATION AND THE SPIRIT MOST OF ALL OF SYLVIA RODRIGUEZ-KIMBELL, I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE THE BOARD TO OFFER THE SCHOOL BOARD A PLAQUE IN HONOR OF SYLVIA WOULD BE MY MOTION, THAT WE WOULD PRESENT TO THE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD FROM THIS BOARD COMMENDING THEM FOR DOING THIS WONDERFUL ACTION. >>MARK SHARPE: SECOND. >>BRIAN BLAIR: BASICALLY -- >>MARK SHARPE: [INAUDIBLE] >>KEN HAGAN: COMMISSIONER SHARPE. >>MARK SHARPE: I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR. I HAD THE HONOR OF KNOWING MS. KIMBELL. I KNOW SHE WAS A WONDERFUL WOMAN, HEROIC, STRONG, AND I THINK A PLAQUE IS A GOOD SYMBOL. AND I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD. >>KEN HAGAN: OKAY. WE HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS. WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BLAIR, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHARPE. PLEASE RECORD YOUR VOTE. >>RECORDING SECRETARY: MOTION CARRIED 6-0. >>BRIAN BLAIR: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. >>PAT BEAN: COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS. IT'S ALMOST YOUR SCHEDULED TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO TAKE THE REPORT FROM EDITH STEWART. SHE IS BACK IN THE BACK OF THE BOARDROOM. SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT QUICKLY IF YOU'D LIKE. >>KEN HAGAN: YEAH. WE'VE GOT A 1:30. WE SHOULD HAVE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE 1:45, SO WHY DON'T WE JUST TAKE IT AFTER THE 1:30 TIME CERTAIN. >>PAT BEAN: OKAY. WE'LL DO IT. >>KEN HAGAN: AND WITH THAT, WE'RE ADJOURNED FOR THE MORNING. THANK YOU. 1