[4:15] >> Good morning.
[4:15] Welcome to the Tuesday August 4th,
[4:18] board of County Commission meeting.
[4:21] In a moment I will introduce our guest for the invocation.
[4:27] Following the invocation and pledge,
[4:29] the Communications Division Director Doctor Jeff Williamson
[4:32] will read a proclamation recognizing Purple Heart Day
[4:37] and introduce the Naco Achievement Awards.
[4:41] Reverend Alexander H Smith, also Commissioner Smith,
[4:47] is a lifelong educator, minister, community leader,
[4:51] and public servant.
[4:52] Whose career has been dedicated to faith, education,
[4:55] and service.
[4:57] Born in Thomasville Georgia, he accepted Christ
[5:00] at the age of seven and has called Central Florida
[5:04] home since 1965.
[5:05] A graduate of Florida A&M University
[5:08] with a bachelor's degree in agricultural education
[5:12] and a minor in horticultural science, Reverend Smith devoted
[5:16] 40 years to education, including 39 years in Orange County Public
[5:21] schools.
[5:22] Throughout his distinguished teaching career
[5:24] he received numerous honors for educational excellence
[5:28] and served in leadership roles at the local, state and national
[5:31] levels and held the positions of the president of the Florida
[5:35] Association of Agricultural Educators.
[5:38] President of the Orange County Association
[5:40] of Agricultural Educators for 21 years.
[5:44] And president of the Florida FFA Board of Directors.
[5:47] In 2022 he was inducted into the Florida FFA Hall of Fame.
[5:53] Reverend Smith has also demonstrated an unwavering
[5:56] commitment to civic leadership.
[5:58] He served eight years on the City Council.
[6:01] Represented the community on numerous advisory boards.
[6:05] Continues to serve Orange County Public Schools
[6:08] through its Advisory Housing board.
[6:10] He is also the project manager for the Grand East Village
[6:14] Senior Housing Development.
[6:15] Which is currently under construction.
[6:17] A respected faith leader, Reverend Smith served for 18
[6:22] years as a associate pastor of new Hope Missionary Baptist
[6:27] Church, before being installed as pastor on October 22nd, 2023.
[6:33] He remains actively involved in several ministerial
[6:36] organizations throughout Central Florida.
[6:38] His leadership extends nationally through Prince Hall
[6:42] Freemasonry.
[6:42] Where he has held numerous prestigious offices.
[6:46] Including, most worshipful Grand Master of Florida and President
[6:52] of the General Grand Masonic Congress of USA.
[6:57] Is also the founder of the Prince Hall Scholarship
[6:59] and Economic Development Foundation
[7:01] and has been recognized with numerous national Masonic Honors
[7:07] including the induction into the US Masonic Hall of Fame.
[7:11] Reverend Smith is married to his wife Linda
[7:13] and together they are blessed with five children.
[7:16] 14 grandchildren.
[7:18] And five great grandchildren.
[7:21] His life and ministry continue to be guided
[7:25] by his favorite scripture.
[7:27] Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature.
[7:33] Reverend Smith, please join us for prayer.
[7:37] Thank you so much.
[7:41] [Applause]
[7:49] >> Let us pray.
[7:49] Our heavenly father, thank you for this new day.
[7:53] Thank you for the gift of freedom to come together today.
[7:56] We ask for God now that you would bless these county
[8:00] commissioners.
[8:01] Oh God that you would give them the discernment that may
[8:06] make them make wise decisions.
[8:09] That you would bless all endeavors and all
[8:13] they shall say and do.
[8:15] Bless this community.
[8:16] We thank You and thy son Jesus.
[8:20] Amen.
[8:23] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States
[8:26] of America.
[8:27] And to the republic for which it stands one nation under God
[8:33] indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
[9:32] >> Thank you very much.
[9:33] Thank you very much Reverend Smith.
[9:34] As the vice mayor said, we do have
[9:36] one proclamation for today and then one special presentation.
[9:39] The proclamation that we have today is for Purple Heart Day.
[9:43] Purple Heart Day, the proclamation reads,
[9:46] whereas August 7th, 1782, General George Washington,
[9:50] then the commander in chief of the Continental Army established
[9:53] a Purple Heart Award, originally designated as the Badge
[9:57] of Military merit, as a sign of appreciation and gratitude
[10:01] towards those who served during wartime.
[10:03] Whereas Purple Heart recipients, men and women of extraordinary
[10:07] courage, have offered the highest form of devotion
[10:09] to our nation, having faced the harshest of battles,
[10:13] endure the most grueling conditions,
[10:15] and borne the scars of conflict, all in the name of liberty
[10:19] and justice, and whereas August 7th is a day for Americans
[10:22] to remember the men and women who bravely represented
[10:25] their country and were wounded or killed while serving,
[10:27] and were decorated with the Purple Heart in the name
[10:30] of the president.
[10:31] And whereas it is important not only to remember and thank
[10:34] the brave young men and women who have been wounded in combat
[10:38] but also how they are taken care of when they return home,
[10:42] including acknowledgment of their unique needs as veterans.
[10:45] Whereas for as long as U.S. Service
[10:48] members placed their life on the line
[10:49] against the nation's enemies, the Purple Heart Medal
[10:53] honors their sacrifice and carries
[10:54] the legacy of George Washington and his ideals
[10:56] and honoring contributions of volunteers and those
[11:00] putting their lives in danger.
[11:01] A hallmark of the U.S. Armed Forces.
[11:03] And whereas it is the desire of the Orange County
[11:06] Board of Commissioners to recognize
[11:08] the many members of the general Bob Betts, chapter 400, Military
[11:13] Order of the Purple Heart who reside in Orange County Florida
[11:17] and have received the Purple Heart recognition of wounds
[11:20] sustained in combat, including those
[11:23] who have made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.
[11:26] Now therefore, mayor Jerry, by virtue of authority vested
[11:31] in him, Orange County Mayor does hereby proclaim Friday,
[11:36] August 7th, 2026, as Purple Heart Day in Orange County.
[11:40] For the sacrifices Purple Heart recipients
[11:44] have made in defending and preserving our freedoms.
[11:47] Done in order this fourth day of August,
[11:49] 2026, signed by the mayor and all five members of the Board
[11:53] of County Commissioners.
[11:54] Accepting the proclamation is David Mercado.
[11:57] Mr. Mercado is the commander of chapter 400 Military
[12:01] Order of the Purple Heart.
[12:03] Mr. Mercado?
[12:07] [Applause]
[12:13] >> Good morning commissioners.
[12:15] Folks here today.
[12:17] I accept that proclamation in honor of all of our veterans
[12:23] who have served throughout all conflicts and skirmishes
[12:28] throughout the entire world.
[12:30] And to all Gold Star parents and families who are present
[12:35] and who are not present.
[12:38] We must remember that our men and women have served
[12:42] this entire country and sacrificed their lives
[12:47] throughout the world.
[12:51] We had 460 000 members in World War Two killed,
[12:58] sacrificed their lives in defense of America and freedom.
[13:01] We've also had more than 1.1 million members who received
[13:06] Purple Hearts in World War Two.
[13:09] In the Korean War we had 36,000 members killed.
[13:15] Sacrificing their lives for this great nation.
[13:19] And more than 100,000, 100 Wounded in that war of Korea.
[13:28] In Vietnam we had more than 250 000 members killed in that war
[13:34] in Vietnam.
[13:35] Excuse me.
[13:36] 36.
[13:37] We had 36,000 killed in Korea.
[13:39] And we've had 55 double 58,000 members killed in the war
[13:47] in Vietnam.
[13:48] And 352 wounded in that war in Vietnam.
[13:51] This is how far we have gone to risk our lives
[13:57] and sacrifice our lives for this great country.
[14:00] We have just celebrated 250 years of independence.
[14:05] And we will continue to sacrifice and defend
[14:10] this great nation.
[14:13] We have to keep in thought our members who
[14:16] are serving throughout the world, right now.
[14:19] So they can be safe and we can continue enjoying
[14:25] the freedom we have here.
[14:27] Freedom is not free.
[14:29] Thank you very much for being present
[14:32] and have a good day, ladies and gentlemen.
[14:39] [Applause]
[14:54] >> Grab a picture first with Mr. Mercado alone.
[14:56] Then we'll ask the members to take a picture as well.
[15:03] I'll write, gentleman, would you mind?
[15:07] Ladies and gentlemen, would you mind joining for a photograph,
[15:10] please?
[15:30] And hang on one more second.
[15:34] Members of the mayor's council, please.
[15:36] If you wouldn't mind grabbing a photograph as well.
[16:01] Let's give our men and women a round of applause.
[16:08] Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen.
[16:12] And a quick shout out to Shelly Wong who manages the Veterans
[16:18] Advisory Council.
[16:20] Thank you Shelly for the hard work you do.
[16:22] Appreciate you Shelly.
[16:24] Yes sir, you're welcome.
[16:26] All right now it's time for another very
[16:29] special presentation.
[16:30] Your county employees, ladies and gentlemen,
[16:34] are busy and doing great things.
[16:36] And in return they have won many awards for their hard work
[16:40] from the National Association of Counties or Naco.
[16:44] I'm going to call on Jane, the communications manager,
[16:48] to present those awards at this time.
[16:51] Jane?
[16:53] >> Thank you Jeff.
[16:55] Good morning everyone, commissioners,
[16:57] Commissioner to be.
[16:59] Senior staff.
[17:00] Orange County employees and guests.
[17:02] And I know Mayor Demings is watching from afar.
[17:04] Today we're going to celebrate something truly special.
[17:08] 33 awards were earned by the Orange County government
[17:12] Departments and Division and recognition
[17:14] of outstanding public service, innovation, and excellence.
[17:18] These honors come from the National Association
[17:20] of Counties or Naco.
[17:22] The nation's leading organization representing
[17:25] county governments.
[17:25] Each year Naco recognizes the best and most innovative county
[17:30] programs across the country.
[17:32] Receiving a Naco Award means Orange County's work
[17:35] is being recognized among the very best in the nation.
[17:39] Every program we recognize today reflects our employees
[17:42] commitment to serving residents and making
[17:44] Orange County a great place to live, work and thrive.
[17:48] Let's get started with our community and family services
[17:51] winners.
[17:52] There's 11 of them.
[17:54] County Administrator Books is here.
[17:56] Vice Mayor Kelly Martinez summer had.
[18:00] Let's go ahead with our first one.
[18:02] The Credible Messengers Naco Award.
[18:12] [Applause]
[18:12] as I read this, will all commissioners please come down
[18:16] and stand with our recipients.
[18:18] Thank you.
[18:18] Orange County Governments the first agency
[18:20] to employ credible messengers.
[18:22] Trusted community leaders who support youth
[18:24] impacted by the justice system.
[18:25] Since implementation, the initiative
[18:28] has contributed to reduction in violent juvenile crime.
[18:33] Congratulations.
[18:37] [Applause]
[18:43] We want you to stand on the other side. (laughs)
[18:59] Next up, it would be our domestic violence transportation
[19:05] mini grant initiative.
[19:07] The domestic violence transportation mini grant
[19:10] initiative removes a critical barrier for survivors
[19:12] by providing safe, reliable transportation through trusted
[19:16] nonprofit partners.
[19:17] In 2025, the program provided over 500 rides
[19:21] for 170 domestic violence survivors and for pets.
[19:25] Helping them connect families to shelters, medical care,
[19:29] and other essential services.
[19:31] Well done.
[19:40] [Applause]
[19:43] Next up is a small scale citizens review panel which
[19:47] is another big award winner.
[19:48] Orange county's small scale Citizens Review panel fund
[19:52] distribution process expands access
[19:54] to public funding for grassroots organizations.
[19:57] And nonprofits Pinkston's implementation
[19:59] has funded 52 organizations, distributed more than $5
[20:04] million, and helped nearly 90% of the recipients
[20:07] receive county funding for the very first time.
[20:10] Excellent.
[20:15] [Applause]
[20:16] orange county's community navigation initiative.
[20:18] The community navigation and real time services connection
[20:22] initiative brings services directly to residents,
[20:25] to community ambassadors, and engagement managers.
[20:28] The program has connected more than 5400 residents
[20:31] to resources peered through proactive outreach.
[20:34] Resulting in nearly 2500 service referrals.
[20:36] Great job, everyone.
[20:43] [Applause]
[20:43] all right.
[20:45] Next up is Orange County mayor's public sector Academy.
[20:50] Orange County partnered with Careersource of Central Florida
[20:55] to host the mayor's Public Sector Career Academy.
[20:57] It introduces high school students
[20:59] to careers in local government.
[21:00] Through a month long paid summer program.
[21:03] Since its launch, the Academy has served 90 students
[21:08] with four participants hired by the county and many more who
[21:13] want to return to the county to work for Orange County
[21:15] government.
[21:16] Congratulations.
[21:23] [Applause]
[21:26] And thank you Careersource, so much, for partnering with us.
[21:31] Next up is Orange County's capacity building initiative.
[21:35] Our citizens Commission for children,
[21:37] in partnership with UCF, strengthened grassroots
[21:41] nonprofit through an initiative to improve
[21:43] financial management and organizational effectiveness.
[21:46] From 2023 to 2025 more than 100 organizations
[21:51] participated, achieving a 38% increase in overall competency
[21:57] and building a stronger pipeline for sustainable, community
[22:01] service.
[22:02] Excellent job, everyone.
[22:11] [Applause]
[22:12] Orlando collected his next.
[22:13] To celebrate the city of Orlando's 150th anniversary,
[22:16] the Orange County Regional History Center created Orlando
[22:19] Collective.
[22:20] And exhibition featuring 100 rarely seen
[22:24] artifacts from the Historical Society of Central Florida.
[22:28] Curated with input from community members
[22:30] and local leaders, the exhibition
[22:32] inspired residents to connect with and help preserve
[22:35] our region's shared history.
[22:37] Thank you.
[22:42] [Applause]
[22:43] I know this is something near and dear to commissioners.
[22:46] The Lake Apopka Connector Trail.
[22:49] The 10 million Lake Apopka Connector Trail
[22:53] was completed in February.
[22:55] Adding 3.3 miles of multi-use path
[22:57] that links the West Orange Trail to the North Shore Trail.
[23:01] To complete 48 Mile Lake Apopka Loop Trail
[23:05] now connects Orange and Lake counties.
[23:07] Our Parks and Recreation wanted to give a big shout out
[23:11] to Public Works, engineering, highway construction,
[23:14] and transportation planning, for all the teamwork
[23:17] it took to make the Lake Apopka Connector Trail.
[23:21] Good job, everyone.
[23:26] [Applause]
[23:32] Next up is our pollination.
[23:37] Integrating public art, agriculture, and nutrition.
[23:40] This is a mobile teaching kitchen,
[23:42] with agricultural science and nutrition education.
[23:45] It improved food literacy, promoted healthy behaviors,
[23:49] and brought UF IFAs extension learning through public spaces
[23:53] for youth and adult audiences.
[24:03] [Applause]
[24:04] and we're going to be honoring UF IFAs a little bit more
[24:09] with two more awards.
[24:10] The Florida Native Landscaping Education.
[24:14] The UF IFAs extension Florida Native Landscaping education
[24:20] and water Conservation Initiative
[24:22] promotes native plant use and water conservation
[24:24] through education, demonstrations,
[24:27] and hands on resources.
[24:29] Reaching more than 350 participants,
[24:32] the program has helped residents convert landscapes
[24:34] to native plants and has conserved roughly 9 million
[24:37] gallons of water every year.
[24:42] [Applause]
[24:42] and last but not least, for our family services,
[24:45] the peanut butter challenge.
[24:47] Another UF IFAs extension program
[24:50] is the peanut butter Challenge.
[24:51] It's a volunteer food drive.
[24:53] County departments community partners and Four-h youth
[24:56] come together to support local food pantries.
[24:58] The program has grown from 800 pounds, collected in 2020,
[25:03] 2,200 pounds in 2025.
[25:06] For 17 local food pantries.
[25:09] Thank you, everyone.
[25:12] We're moving on to our awesome peds department.
[25:17] Planning environmental and Development services.
[25:19] We are talking about the peds Strategic Management Plan.
[25:24] Our peds department launched first strategic Management
[25:26] plan to unify operations and improve service
[25:29] across seven divisions.
[25:31] The plan has cut development review times in half.
[25:34] Supported more than 10 billion in projects.
[25:37] And strengthened efficiency, transparency,
[25:39] and public engagement congratulations.
[26:02] [Applause]
[26:02] thank you.
[26:03] But that's not all.
[26:04] Let's talk about peds web.
[26:07] A virtual professional development initiative offering
[26:10] staff led training leadership sessions,
[26:12] and collaborative opportunities.
[26:14] Since February 2025 the program has hosted 16 sessions,
[26:17] with more than 1900 employee engagements.
[26:21] Strengthening learning combat leadership development,
[26:23] and workforce connection.
[26:25] Congratulations.
[26:30] [Applause]
[26:39] Now it's time for our environmental awards.
[26:43] Orange County pollution prevention,
[26:45] turning awareness into action.
[26:47] Orange County marked the 40th anniversary of the National
[26:49] Pollution Prevention Roundtable with events promoting waste
[26:53] reduction, reuse, and environmental stewardship.
[26:55] The initiative engaged more than 250 participants and diverted
[26:59] over 1,700 pounds of waste from landfills.
[27:02] Through a pair of events, cleanups, and community
[27:07] education programs.
[27:08] Excellent job.
[27:21] [Applause]
[27:22] another environmental award is Orange County's Green Place
[27:27] program, which uses a data driven approach
[27:31] to protect environmentally sensitive lands.
[27:34] Preserving land nearly 27 acres.
[27:40] Including 20,000 acres within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
[27:44] Through strategic purchases and partnerships,
[27:46] the Green Place program serves as a model
[27:50] for large scale conservation.
[27:52] And we're so happy that you're all being recognized today.
[27:55] Thank you.
[27:57] Let's crowd in their.
[28:26] [Applause] Good job everyone.
[28:28] Next up is Orange County recovers.
[28:32] Hurricane Ian housing recovery program.
[28:34] Orange County recovers was launched in March of 2025
[28:37] to help low to moderate homeowners repair,
[28:42] reconstruct, or Replace homes damaged by Hurricane Ian.
[28:49] The initiative has received more than 435 applications
[28:53] and is helping residents return to safe housing
[28:57] while strengthening community resilience.
[28:59] Kudos to you all.
[29:10] [Applause]
[29:10] all right next up is our awesome Public Works.
[29:14] Yes.
[29:15] And the first award is for the Kerkin Road Extension project.
[29:20] Orange County partnered with universal
[29:22] to deliver the 315 million Kirkman Road extension.
[29:25] With a 1.7 mile multimodal corridor.
[29:29] Improving mobility and reducing congestion and supporting
[29:32] regional growth the project creates a vital connection
[29:35] to major tourism and employment while advancing the county's
[29:39] I-drive 2040 vision Plan.
[29:59] [Applause]
[30:00] next up is Orange County sidewalk gaps assessment.
[30:03] Orange County transformed sidewalk planning and delivery
[30:07] through a data driven system that identifies, evaluates,
[30:10] and prioritizes improvements prepared
[30:12] by using a GIS database, objective scoring, and project
[30:17] bundling, the county is delivering
[30:19] a safer, more accessible, and more equitable
[30:23] pedestrian infrastructure.
[30:24] Let's hear it for the Orange County Sidewalk Gaps Assessment
[30:29] Program.
[30:30] Yes.
[30:39] [Applause]
[30:41] Thank you all.
[30:50] [Applause] Next up is AltaVista mitigation project.
[30:52] Orange County is 24.3 million AltaVista flood mitigation
[30:55] project transformed one of the county's most flood prone
[30:59] neighborhoods.
[31:00] By expanding stormwater capacity and adding
[31:03] critical infrastructure.
[31:04] The system proved its value during Hurricane Milton in 2024.
[31:09] Providing -- preventing street and residential flooding after
[31:13] nearly ten inches of rain fell in the area.
[31:16] Well done, everyone.
[31:24] [Applause]
[31:27] On to human resources, with three awards.
[31:31] With ozone mind matters campaign.
[31:33] Orange county's Ozone Mind Matters initiative
[31:36] supports employee mental health through awareness training
[31:39] and access to resources.
[31:41] The 2025 campaign saw a 212% rise in on site counseling use
[31:48] and completion of mental health first aid training by 1300
[31:53] managers peer ozone mind Matters team also won, you'll see,
[31:58] a national award, from the National
[32:00] Association of Government Communicators Blue Pencil
[32:02] and Gold Screen Awards.
[32:04] First place for internal communications campaign.
[32:07] Weldon.
[32:08] Next is HR recruiting online hiring.
[32:11] This initiative streamline Orange County's hiring approval
[32:15] process by replacing fragmented emails
[32:18] and manual tracking with centralized web based forms
[32:21] and shared recruitment trackers pick the solution reduce
[32:25] duplicate work, improved accuracy,
[32:28] and saved an average of five minutes per hiring request.
[32:32] Well done everyone.
[32:34] Excellent job.
[32:46] [Applause]
[32:46] thank you everyone.
[32:48] This next award is near and dear to every Orange County employee.
[32:51] Take your child to work day.
[32:59] [Laughter]
[33:01] [Applause]
[33:01] orange county's 2025 take your Child
[33:02] to Work day transform into a county wide initiative that
[33:04] strengthened employee engagement and children to the impact
[33:07] of public service.
[33:08] The event engaged 570 participants
[33:11] across 14 departments.
[33:12] The HR team was also honored with a National award.
[33:16] The press a Anvil Award of Excellence for
[33:20] Take Your Child to Work day.
[33:21] In other words this program was recognized nationally
[33:24] for its excellent work.
[33:25] Thank you, everyone.
[33:27] Next up, Arts and culture.
[33:31] Canvas, a cultural plan for the City of Orlando and Orange
[33:35] County.
[33:36] This is a ten year roadmap to strengthen and celebrate
[33:40] the region's arts and culture.
[33:41] Adopted in September of 2025, the plan
[33:44] is being implemented with guidance from Canvas Cultural
[33:49] Plan Committee.
[34:02] [Applause]
[34:02] and with the second award, it's going
[34:04] to be Orange County's annual act award.
[34:06] Celebrating arts and cultural tourism.
[34:07] This honor recognizes art and cultural tourism organizations
[34:11] that receive Orange County's cultural tourism grants.
[34:14] Funded by the.
[34:16] The Tourist Development tax.
[34:18] The program awarded more than $5 million
[34:21] to 39 organizations in fiscal year 2025.
[34:25] Thank you all.
[34:33] [Applause]
[34:34] We are good?
[34:35] Okay.
[34:38] For the next two is our -- great to see you guys!.
[34:45] Information services division.
[34:47] I s.
[34:48] So they'll stay up there and I'll read both the words.
[34:51] The first one is called AI threat Hunter.
[34:53] Orange County developed and AI enabled cybersecurity solution
[34:57] that analyze security data in real time
[34:59] to identify potential threats.
[35:01] The system improve threat detection saves an estimated 750
[35:05] staff hours a month and delivers $19,000 a month in savings.
[35:14] [Applause]
[35:15] the next program is Nexus One.
[35:16] Orange County's web application that
[35:18] centralizes staff information for multiple internal systems.
[35:22] Thank you all.
[35:24] To Orange County Fire Rescue Department.
[35:27] All right.
[35:34] [Applause]
[35:35] oh CFRD.
[35:36] Has a beautiful training center, if you're not aware of it.
[35:39] It strengthens public safety through workforce development,
[35:42] firefighter training, and career opportunities for the community.
[35:45] The training center is a $53 million
[35:47] state of the art facility.
[35:49] It enhances regional preparedness,
[35:51] with advanced training spaces and supports
[35:54] a highly skilled and resilient workforce.
[35:57] Well done.
[36:03] [Applause]
[36:05] That's it for Orange County Fire Rescue pick just one award.
[36:10] But we love you guys every day. (laughs)
[36:22] Next is utilities.
[36:24] A new day.
[36:26] County wide curbside collection transition.
[36:29] Orange County utilities successfully
[36:32] transitioned to a new curbside come a solid waste and recycling
[36:35] collection contract, through its outreach campaign,
[36:38] called a new Day.
[36:40] It ensured uninterrupted service for more than 230
[36:43] 5000 households across a 1000 square mile service area.
[36:48] The 18 month effort improved road efficiency strengthened
[36:52] recycling performance, and launched smoothly on December
[36:55] 29th of last year with minimal disruptions.
[36:58] You know what it's like when you get a new solid waste schedule.
[37:01] These guys are the pros.
[37:03] We had very few complaints.
[37:04] Congratulations to all of you.
[37:14] [Applause]
[37:21] Risk management is up next followed by procurement.
[37:27] Orange County single parent captive insurer.
[37:29] So for risk management Orange County
[37:32] established its own single parent captive insurer carrier
[37:36] to provide an alternative risk transfer solution
[37:38] and help manage rising commercial insurance costs.
[37:41] In its first ten months this program
[37:43] generated approximately $6 million in savings.
[37:47] Excellent job.
[37:59] [Applause] Thank you thank you, risk management.
[38:03] Next up is procurement.
[38:05] They're always award winners.
[38:07] AI enabled procurement governance.
[38:09] Orange County implemented an AI enabled procurement governance
[38:14] framework to improve efficiency consistency and risk management.
[38:18] Using AI assisted tools with human oversight.
[38:21] The program reduces, reworks, strengthens document quality,
[38:25] and streamlines procurement and project review processes.
[38:29] They were recognized by this with the Naco Award.
[38:43] [Applause]
[38:45] the next two awards is for our team.
[38:48] I'm going to read both of them and our team will go up.
[38:51] The communications team.
[38:52] We received an award for the mayor's toy drive
[38:54] because it's in its 15th year and we've distributed 90,000
[38:57] toys to children and families in need.
[38:59] The other is called Truth and Transparency.
[39:01] We got a national award for this.
[39:04] July of 2025, Orange County government
[39:08] was accused by state officials of fraud and misspending tax
[39:12] dollars.
[39:13] Creating significant reputational risk
[39:15] the county's communication team responded with transparency,
[39:18] facts, and data appeared to reinforce the public's trust
[39:21] and commitment to responsible stewardship and taxpayer
[39:24] dollars.
[39:24] The response by the comms team also
[39:26] earned a national PRSA Anvil Award of Excellence as well.
[39:36] [Applause]
[39:59] [Applause]
[40:01] And now I want to call your attention to our final award.
[40:06] We saved a national award for last.
[40:09] It is called vision Zero, orange County.
[40:13] County wide commitment to eliminating traffic fatalities.
[40:16] This award highlights how Orange County
[40:18] is transforming its transportation
[40:21] safety through its Vision Zero initiative.
[40:23] A data driven effort to eliminate traffic fatalities
[40:27] and serious injuries by 2040.
[40:29] By embedding safety into every transportation project
[40:32] and using data Cumberland County has
[40:34] shifted from reacting to crashes, to preventing them.
[40:38] This proactive approach has already
[40:40] produced impressive results.
[40:42] I want to hear the results.
[40:44] A 28% reduction in traffic fatalities
[40:47] between 2022 and 2024.
[40:50] The manager of our Traffic Engineer division,
[40:54] Humberto Castelo, accepted the national Award in New Orleans
[40:58] last month.
[40:59] I want to say one thing again about this award.
[41:01] This proactive approach for Vision Zero
[41:04] has included a 20% reduction in traffic fatalities
[41:08] between 2022 and 2024.
[41:11] Remember, we were number one.
[41:13] We are now down to like number 25.
[41:15] And it's because of these people.
[41:17] So, thank you all.
[41:24] [Applause]
[41:49] Thank you everyone.
[41:52] Congratulations.
[41:55] Fantastic results.
[41:57] Congratulations to all our award recipients.
[41:59] These words are a testament to Orange County's creativity,
[42:03] dedication, and teamwork.
[42:05] Of our employees who serve our residents every day.
[42:08] It was an honor to present these awards.
[42:10] Thank you.
[42:10] And now on to the County Commission meeting.
[42:13] Thank you, everyone.
[42:24] [Background Conversation]
[42:28] [Laughter]
[43:24] >> Good morning everybody before we begin,
[43:24] mayor Demings is not joining us today,
[43:25] but he's doing very well he's recovering.
[43:27] We send him prayers and extra get well wishes.
[43:32] I am Kelly Sommer.
[43:35] I'm serving as vice mayor today.
[43:37] Welcome.
[43:37] I do see we're going to move into public comment
[43:40] and I do see we have some public officials here.
[43:44] I would like to offer them to come to the podium first.
[43:47] I see Doctor Anna V Eskamani, state representative.
[43:51] Welcome.
[43:54] >> We do need you to read the statement.
[43:56] >> Oh come on I do need to read the statement.
[43:58] One moment, doctor.
[43:59] I would like to invite comments from members
[44:03] of the public regarding topics of interest or concern.
[44:06] That are within this board's authority.
[44:08] However, there are certain matters
[44:10] which are not appropriate for public discussion
[44:12] during this public comment period.
[44:14] These matters include pending procurement or land use issues
[44:17] or concerns that should be properly brought
[44:21] to another board, rather than this board.
[44:24] Also, we will of course solicit public input
[44:28] during each public hearing scheduled for this afternoon.
[44:31] Speakers are limited to two minutes.
[44:33] And now I welcome Doctor Eskamani.
[44:39] Nick, how many speakers are there?
[44:44] 20?
[44:50] >> Thank you so much Vice Mayor.
[44:51] Entire Board of commission and staff.
[44:53] It was such a joy to see everyone get their flowers
[44:55] this morning.
[44:56] Congratulations to all the employees
[44:58] who worked so hard to deliver on the promise of serving
[45:00] our community.
[45:01] I also wanted to add come and give a shout out,
[45:04] I'm sure Mayor Demings is watching.
[45:06] Just in addition, we just shared vice Mayor, my love
[45:12] and support and healing energy for a quick recovery
[45:15] back to the Dias.
[45:17] My name is Representative Doctor Navia Eskamani
[45:20] and I'm so excited to be here for two main reasons
[45:23] I never had the chance to come before the County Commission.
[45:25] Thank you again for this opportunity.
[45:27] Congratulations on what I hope to be
[45:30] the passage of a very important decision
[45:33] today on the mobile temporary Overnight Shelter ordinance.
[45:37] We've seen the connect for seven program
[45:40] be very successful in the city of Orlando
[45:42] and I have volunteered with organizations
[45:44] like Samaritan Resource Center and others over the years.
[45:48] I grew up in East Orange County.
[45:50] I grew up at the intersection of Lake Pickett and Colonial.
[45:54] I know the need to serve our unhoused community
[45:56] goes far beyond the city limits.
[45:58] I'm grateful for your tedious work on this.
[46:00] For your rigor on it.
[46:02] And for what I hope to be a passage later today.
[46:05] With that said, the other issue that
[46:06] brings me here and up until a year ago, I wouldn't think I
[46:11] would be here.
[46:12] But it's about sloths.
[46:13] Of course the effort to prevent another sloth world tragedy.
[46:16] And what I have found to be so impactful in the last eight
[46:20] years of my time before the legislature,
[46:23] is animal welfare knows no party.
[46:25] People of all political backgrounds
[46:26] care about the health and well-being of animals
[46:28] in the state of Florida.
[46:29] Whether it's a debate over bear hunts
[46:31] and their prevention of expanding or renewing
[46:34] those, whether it's the health of Lake Eola swans,
[46:37] or today the conservation of sloths.
[46:40] We don't have to relive the controversy and tragedy today.
[46:45] I know, Commissioner Wilson, you have a presentation.
[46:50] It's important to remember where the number one tourism
[46:53] destination in the world and what happened at world
[46:56] has created a huge stain on that record.
[46:59] We have been leading the charge alongside members of this county
[47:03] Commission of accountability, seeking criminal charges
[47:06] for the actors involved, but also seeking statewide reform
[47:10] and we are in conversation with the Florida Wildlife Commission
[47:13] to prevent another tragedy like this from happening.
[47:16] These were wild caught sloths, stolen from their environment,
[47:20] brought to Orlando for human entertainment.
[47:22] This was never an accredited facility.
[47:24] It was never a facility designed to educate or provide
[47:27] a good, secure environment.
[47:29] It was purely designed to make profit
[47:32] off the sweet, sweet, vulnerable sloths.
[47:36] Which I know the commissioner will do an excellent job
[47:39] in providing all the context.
[47:40] I really want to take a moment this morning
[47:42] to express my support for this effort.
[47:44] Things can move slowly at the state level.
[47:47] The next meeting, will be able to get a public hearing
[47:51] on rule changes.
[47:52] It won't be until December.
[47:58] I just want to again express my gratitude and my support
[48:02] and I appreciate everyone's work every single day.
[48:05] And I hope to see you soon.
[48:06] Thank you so much.
[48:09] >> Thank you, doctor Eskamani.
[48:11] I did see also doctor Jim Moyers.
[48:14] Is he still here?
[48:16] From Soil and water.
[48:17] Come on up, sir.
[48:27] And then Nick, following doctor Moyer.
[48:30] We don't have any other elected officials, correct?
[48:34] Can you call the first three names,
[48:38] they can shuffle in behind doctor Moyer.
[48:51] [reading names]
[48:58] >> Good morning, vice mayor, commissioners my name is doctor
[48:58] Jim Moyer.
[48:59] I'm elected orange swan water conservation district
[49:03] supervisor, serving Northwest orange.
[49:05] And as always this is my presentation.
[49:08] And mine alone.
[49:09] First of all, my prayers go out to the mayor.
[49:13] He's in my prayers every day.
[49:17] I'm certain it all will go well.
[49:22] I'm here this morning -- secondly,
[49:26] I'd like to thank you for bringing Pastor Smith here
[49:29] today.
[49:30] Because when I had a fundraiser for Archville and Water
[49:35] last year, I didn't know how it would go.
[49:40] And former Apakah Commissioner Pastor Smith
[49:44] was the first one to generously donate to the fundraiser.
[49:48] The timing was outstanding.
[49:51] I'm here today to thank the mayor, administrator Brooks,
[50:02] and family Services.
[50:07] Eddie in Family Services has done an outstanding job reaching
[50:13] out to work with me to try to get an initiative to work
[50:19] with the public one on one.
[50:21] In Northwest Orange in the unincorporated areas.
[50:26] It looks like we're making great progress.
[50:28] We're going to have the opportunity
[50:31] to work with the public one on one, to come in for office hours
[50:36] and we can go over the three things I've
[50:40] been promoting for a while.
[50:42] One, change your habits peer to, conserve water use.
[50:48] And three clean water bottles.
[50:52] Again, thank you for your time.
[50:54] Great job, vice mayor, in the mayor's absence.
[50:58] And God bless you all.
[51:14] >> The next speaker may approach the podium.
[51:21] >> Good morning.
[51:21] I'm Janet Osborne.
[51:21] First I would like to thank Commissioner Nicole
[51:23] Wilson for bringing to light and imposing a ban on importation
[51:28] of exotic wildlife for entertainment purposes.
[51:31] I would also like to thank the hardworking and very skilled
[51:37] people at the Central Florida Zoo
[51:39] for saving eight of the tragically injured and very sick
[51:47] sloths.
[51:49] We are living through a defining moment for wildlife.
[51:53] Future generations we'll ask who spoke up.
[51:57] I would like to add my name to that list.
[52:01] The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
[52:04] is responsible for the humane treatment
[52:07] of wild and captive wildlife in this state.
[52:11] But did you know that the agency is
[52:15] run by seven commissioners who are developers and trophy
[52:20] hunters and who are appointed and have been
[52:24] installed by governor Desantis.
[52:26] Unfortunately, the FWC has a disturbing history
[52:30] of failing wildlife and habitats they depend on.
[52:35] They failed the gopher tortoise by allowing entombment policies.
[52:40] That simply means being buried alive and bulldozed over.
[52:44] Or at best by moving them to inadequate small parcels.
[52:49] Their numbers have declined by 80%.
[52:51] They failed the Florida Panther by allowing real estate
[52:56] and infrastructure developments and cutting off corridors
[53:00] in the Panther breeding territories.
[53:04] Also failed the manatees by ignoring toxic water
[53:08] pollution in the Indian River lagoon.
[53:10] Resulting in the die off of seagrass and record deaths
[53:14] of manatees due to starvation.
[53:17] And of course, they failed the iconic Florida black bear
[53:23] by using outdated population data and sponsoring a hunt .
[53:39] I'm running rapidly out of time.
[53:41] But if I can just get this across.
[53:41] >> I'm sorry.
[53:41] You are out of time.
[53:42] But I do think we understand your sentiments.
[53:44] The terms of what you're expressing.
[53:46] Thank you.
[53:48] >> Thank you.
[53:59] >> Next speaker.
[53:59] And again if you can begin with your name
[53:59] and address for the record.
[54:01] >> It's Elizabeth Osborne.
[54:03] Windermere Florida.
[54:05] Again I would like to thank Commissioner Wilson and Central
[54:09] Florida Zoo for making this matter as public.
[54:15] The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission mission
[54:18] is to manage fish and wildlife resources for their long term
[54:21] well-being and the benefit of the people.
[54:23] Did you know that sloths can starve
[54:26] to death on a full stomach?
[54:29] They are completely reliant on environmental conditions.
[54:33] If they get too cold, the special microbes
[54:38] they have in their digestive systems
[54:40] die and therefore they can no longer digest the food they eat.
[54:44] Over 60 wild sloths died due to cold, exposure, disease,
[54:48] and poor conditions, as they were housed in the vehicle
[54:53] storage warehouse.
[54:53] The FWC was made aware of sloth world in December of 2024.
[54:58] By the time of the FWC s first inspection in August, 2025, 21
[55:05] sloths had died.
[55:06] FWC issued a verbal Warning.
[55:09] This is clear and some would say a criminal failure of the FWC
[55:14] to follow its mission.
[55:15] Report these findings to Orange County.
[55:17] And take immediate action to protect
[55:19] the well-being of the remaining sloths
[55:21] appear clearly the FWC has neither the expertise
[55:25] nor the desire to manage exotic wildlife or prosecute
[55:30] businesses that neglect and cause harm to animals.
[55:33] Finally, until the FWC is reformed
[55:36] and biologists, zoologists, environmentalists,
[55:39] and veterinarians replace the businessmen, hunters,
[55:44] and developers that make up the current commission,
[55:48] we will continue to have a lack of humane oversight.
[55:51] The loopholes need to be closed.
[55:53] I am supporting the county wide ban on the importation
[55:58] of exotic wildlife.
[55:59] I would also indiscernible.
[56:04] And who knows, maybe the next deportation
[56:08] will be another COVID 192.0 to us.
[56:20] >> Alright folks.
[56:21] Next batch of speakers is going to start with Brad Papas.
[56:22] Followed by Peter Murray.
[56:24] Natalie Lopez.
[56:25] Nelson Betancourt.
[56:29] Hope Bellamy.
[56:32] Ryan Myers.
[56:40] Mr. Murray, your first up.
[56:59] I want to welcome my new commissioner.
[57:02] I want to extend my best wishes to Mayor Demings.
[57:07] I hope it gets better soon.
[57:10] That said, I'm here not to talk about pleasant awards.
[57:15] I want to talk and congratulate the award winners,
[57:18] but for the past two and a half years
[57:19] my family has gone through quite an ordeal and when
[57:22] I saw the Florida Doge come out and talk about
[57:26] the excessive spending here in Orange County,
[57:28] and congratulations to Mr. Williamson and his team.
[57:31] I was really upset because what he said about that,
[57:36] I had directly witnessed as a consultant
[57:37] to the mayor's office.
[57:39] Comptroller Diamond investigated one of my allegations
[57:44] and it was in the press.
[57:46] It was 101,000 overbilling on a project that was $1,900 an hour.
[57:53] Mr. Brooks issued a very detailed memo
[57:56] stating how thorough that investigation was
[57:59] and how he was going to sue to recover funds.
[58:02] Months later the county legal contradicted the findings
[58:06] of Mr. Diamond and said it wasn't in the county's best
[58:09] interest to recover the funds.
[58:10] Even though the contracts come with the, and the proposals
[58:14] all support control of Diamond's findings.
[58:19] Went to the wife of Democratic politician and sister
[58:22] in law of a current state Senator.
[58:25] Also provided evidence of two procurements
[58:27] that were also suspect.
[58:29] One member of the mayor's staff was found guilty of misconduct.
[58:33] And they said I was lobbying, which again, I'd
[58:38] love to address, but nobody will meet with me to discuss
[58:41] these issues.
[58:41] One of them they wouldn't investigate,
[58:44] but during the previous investigation,
[58:46] Milan told them they did not want Fpla to get an award.
[58:52] Two years later, two years later after this evidence,
[58:57] the comptroller investigated and he confirmed what I had alleged.
[59:01] This was a federally non-compliant transaction.
[59:04] A member of the mayor staff appeared
[59:09] to be playing favorites again.
[59:10] Second was this gross negligence or a cover up?
[59:13] They refused to meet with me.
[59:15] I have more evidence.
[59:17] >> Thank you Mr. Murray.
[59:19] Thank you.
[59:27] >> Good luck.
[59:27] >> All right come on folks.
[59:27] Reminder of the names already called.
[59:28] Jim dewberry.
[59:28] Brad Papas.
[59:29] Natalie Lopez.
[59:31] Nelson Betancourt.
[59:32] Hope Bellamy.
[59:34] And Ryan Myers.
[59:35] Barring any of those, our next speaker
[59:38] will be Zach Moldoff, followed by Amara Smith.
[59:44] Sana Afeez.
[59:47] David Siegel.
[59:52] And Tim McKinney.
[59:56] Starting to worry I have the right list.
[1:00:07] >> Good morning everyone.
[1:00:08] My name is Amara.
[1:00:09] 32801.
[1:00:10] As the mayoral election draws to a close
[1:00:12] and while we contemplate budget cuts and spending
[1:00:14] we must focus on who matters most, our residents.
[1:00:17] Many community members cannot be in this room today because they
[1:00:20] lack the time and resources to navigate the civic process.
[1:00:23] Yet they are deeply worried.
[1:00:25] Every vulnerable community in Orlando
[1:00:27] faces a compounding crisis.
[1:00:28] Skyrocketing property taxes.
[1:00:30] State approved gentrification.
[1:00:33] Environmental degradation.
[1:00:35] And a looming affordability breaking point.
[1:00:37] As we look to the future, I urge every resident to rigorously vet
[1:00:41] the candidates.
[1:00:42] If you find as many voters had a pattern of empty promises paired
[1:00:46] with heavy corporate funding, do not let that breed apathy.
[1:00:50] Stay engaged and keep speaking up.
[1:00:53] Government does not start or end with who
[1:00:56] sits in the mayoral seat period government starts and stops
[1:00:59] with the people.
[1:01:00] Thank you.
[1:01:11] >> Good morning my name is David Siegel.
[1:01:15] 1866 Corner View Lane.
[1:01:18] I'm a little confused because there were so many names
[1:01:21] read before.
[1:01:22] At any rate.
[1:01:24] I wanted to come and just quickly address two issues.
[1:01:27] The first one, I talked to you all about the pet poisoning
[1:01:30] person we have.
[1:01:32] He started engaging in harassing other people in the neighborhood
[1:01:36] and the state of Florida told me that they
[1:01:38] double dashed through legislation, people that
[1:01:42] engage in this type of stuff, if they try to retaliate,
[1:01:45] those reporting them, it's actually considered stalking.
[1:01:49] At any rate, our pet poisoner, we've
[1:01:52] been finding a lot of the wildlife poisoned.
[1:01:55] I've called the county to come and collect the bodies and they
[1:01:58] didn't.
[1:01:58] I had to get up early one morning,
[1:02:02] it's 530, and raccoons on my sidewalk.
[1:02:06] Whatever.
[1:02:07] Convulsing.
[1:02:08] The perpetrator zoomed by me about 80 miles an hour
[1:02:13] getting his message to me.
[1:02:15] The second thing, I'm not going to go into a lot of details.
[1:02:20] I'll be seeking meetings with some of you commissioners
[1:02:22] or probably all of you.
[1:02:24] And what I'm about to say has nothing
[1:02:26] to do with anybody who is sitting at the dais.
[1:02:30] But, a few years ago I chaired.
[1:02:35] I was president of a not for profit.
[1:02:38] And I was drawn into an elections tampering mechanism.
[1:02:41] I would have completely forgotten about it,
[1:02:45] but somehow it's raised its ugly head again.
[1:02:50] At any rate, I know Commissioner Wilson,
[1:02:53] you're an expert in not for profit law and proper business
[1:02:57] conduct.
[1:02:57] This is a doozy.
[1:02:59] I have all the information here but I don't have enough time
[1:03:03] to present it and it's probably better dealing with you
[1:03:07] all individually on it.
[1:03:09] At any rate, thank you for your time.
[1:03:11] Best wishes to the mayor's recovery.
[1:03:14] I noticed there was an absent space there.
[1:03:19] I must have been out of the loop for a while.
[1:03:21] Thank you for considering my points.
[1:03:24] >> Thank you.
[1:03:26] Byron, this is the second time we've
[1:03:28] heard from Mr. Siegel regarding pet poisoning and our animal
[1:03:31] poisoning.
[1:03:32] What do we do in these instances?
[1:03:39] >> Last time it was the Sheriff's office.
[1:03:43] Some of the items that's not our area.
[1:03:48] Again, if I'm correct, I believe there was a referral
[1:03:52] to the Sheriff's office.
[1:03:54] >> Okay.
[1:03:55] Mr. Siegel, because you live right down --
[1:03:58] you live in district five.
[1:04:00] Ethan is right there and we'll try
[1:04:01] to help you connect to who you need to speak with.
[1:04:04] Thank you.
[1:04:10] Ethan is right there.
[1:04:12] He'll help connect and Victoria.
[1:04:14] Thank you.
[1:04:24] >> Sana Hafiz.
[1:04:25] 32801.
[1:04:25] Hello.
[1:04:25] Recently we saw the Orange County Fire Rescue chief Anthony
[1:04:27] Resigned from his position after questions
[1:04:29] from Representative Uribe about where
[1:04:31] fleet purchases were accounted for within the department's
[1:04:34] budget.
[1:04:34] We also saw that Orlando approved -- or I'm sorry,
[1:04:39] the county approved a contract with Kratos, a defense company,
[1:04:43] with a base on allocates or Jerusalem with a base
[1:04:53] [indiscernible]
[1:04:56] What assurances do we have that these audits will be carried out
[1:04:59] and what assurances do we have that those responsible for money
[1:05:00] laundering will be held accountable.
[1:05:01] I couldn't help but notice that the responses to the gentleman
[1:05:04] that spoke a few speakers ago weren't as warm or receptive
[1:05:08] as those that were when people talk
[1:05:12] about sloths or other things that seem to be more unifying.
[1:05:15] I think that making sure our funds that
[1:05:17] come from our taxpayer dollars are being appropriately spent,
[1:05:21] knowing the economic situation our residents are in,
[1:05:24] is a nonpartisan issue as well.
[1:05:26] I'm quite concerned, honestly.
[1:05:29] This is a pattern I've seen across several meetings.
[1:05:31] I'm not sure if you guys recognize me or not.
[1:05:33] But I recognize you all.
[1:05:35] I've been coming around and I haven't
[1:05:37] seen aides go to the other individuals that
[1:05:39] talk about corruption.
[1:05:40] I haven't seen even responses to individuals
[1:05:42] that talk about corruption.
[1:05:43] I haven't seen any interest in the resources
[1:05:45] that they present about that proof and not just the gentleman
[1:05:48] that I spoke of before.
[1:05:50] But several people from several years.
[1:05:53] I would really appreciate if you all in your current positions
[1:05:57] and those that you aspire to be in
[1:05:59] could clarify what you'll do to make those changes
[1:06:01] and what ramifications that would have for our constituents.
[1:06:05] Thank you very much.
[1:06:31] >> My name is Tim McKinney.
[1:06:32] I live at 415 East Pine Street.
[1:06:34] Orlando Florida.
[1:06:36] 32801.
[1:06:37] This is Haley Dubois.
[1:06:38] She's dead.
[1:06:39] She was homeless in East Orange County.
[1:06:41] She was an identical twin.
[1:06:43] She was 23.
[1:06:44] She had a baby girl named Harley.
[1:06:45] She was found on Saturday in the woods
[1:06:48] by our outreach team, which is right here in the front row.
[1:06:50] One of them is here with us.
[1:06:52] Christa, who actually found her.
[1:06:54] The other one is Crystal.
[1:06:56] Both of them were on the first day of work.
[1:06:58] Crystal was already fostering Hailey's baby for the past year.
[1:07:02] She was in a DCF case.
[1:07:04] No doubt directed by God and where to go
[1:07:07] and then spilling the stench and the smell of death
[1:07:10] they discovered her body.
[1:07:12] Too badly decomposed by -- and damaged and unrecognizable
[1:07:18] to even know the cause of death at site.
[1:07:21] Mayor, our new commissioner, soon to be sworn in, deputy,
[1:07:25] you smelled that smell, and it's a smell
[1:07:28] that you'll never forget.
[1:07:29] It's horrifying.
[1:07:30] It's horrific.
[1:07:31] So many emotions.
[1:07:32] I feel sadness, heartbroken, sorry.
[1:07:35] But today, I'm pissed.
[1:07:38] I knew Hailey and her identical twin sister Hannah.
[1:07:40] Her best friend since birth.
[1:07:42] They were among some of the first students at my school,
[1:07:46] Orange County Academy.
[1:07:47] She lived a life of trauma, abuse, and hardship.
[1:07:50] I'm not sure what the medical examiner is going
[1:07:52] to put as a cause of death.
[1:07:53] I don't know what the Sheriff department's office
[1:07:55] is going to determine.
[1:07:56] If it's the Latin Kings, a drug dealer, a domestic relationship,
[1:07:59] an overdose that killed her.
[1:08:02] If she had a safe place to stay overnight,
[1:08:04] she wouldn't be dead today.
[1:08:05] We have solutions.
[1:08:06] For two years I've been in meetings
[1:08:07] with the county trying to get $1 million match for $3 million
[1:08:11] we have committed for 22 affordable housing units.
[1:08:17] The county and the state have paid $250,000 for trailers
[1:08:20] to sit in a parking lot for a year,
[1:08:22] that I wish today you would let me pull my pickup truck there
[1:08:26] and pull them out of there because the county owns property
[1:08:29] adjacent to Transformation Village that we could sit them
[1:08:32] on today, with all of the wraparound services.
[1:08:34] For Hailey's sake, Mr. Brooks, you take action.
[1:08:40] Mr. Brooks can't get it done, vice mayor, mayor,
[1:08:44] County commission, I demand that you take action.
[1:08:47] People are dying every day.
[1:08:48] Thank you.
[1:08:59] >> Thank you, Mr. McKinney.
[1:09:00] >> Our next speaker is going to be Christopher Stalder.
[1:09:00] Followed by Lee Padua.
[1:09:03] Dana Hutchinson.
[1:09:07] Alan Levi.
[1:09:11] Tracy Jackson.
[1:09:14] And Samia Pratt.
[1:09:27] >> Good morning.
[1:09:28] I'm Christopher Stelzer.
[1:09:28] 5102, Saint Germain Avenue, Florida 32812.
[1:09:30] I'm here with support Orlando shelters
[1:09:32] to help our most vulnerable in our community.
[1:09:34] Every day there are more and more
[1:09:36] people suffering from the devastations of poverty
[1:09:40] and not being able to keep up with the expense of things that
[1:09:45] keep getting more expensive.
[1:09:46] I just saw again this morning a lady
[1:09:49] near the intersection of Conway and Anderson
[1:09:52] she was there yesterday and she's suffering alone.
[1:09:55] There's so many people like her and so many families
[1:09:58] on the street suffering as well.
[1:10:01] At least they have each other.
[1:10:03] But there are a lot of people that are alone, two.
[1:10:08] I had the opportunity to go to the Central Florida Behavioral
[1:10:13] Hospital near SeaWorld last week.
[1:10:15] I met a young gentleman that is a licensed clinical social
[1:10:18] worker, that is interested in doing a group
[1:10:20] home for the homeless.
[1:10:23] I will forward an email that I received from him to you
[1:10:27] and maybe you can help him.
[1:10:30] With people having to make the hard choices of whether to make
[1:10:35] their mortgage payment or to feed themselves
[1:10:37] or their families and they get foreclosed on,
[1:10:41] maybe something can be done to help these people in group
[1:10:44] homes, in the communities where they
[1:10:47] are, to be able to resuscitate them and rehabilitate them
[1:10:51] back to being self-sustaining.
[1:10:55] I appreciate all everyone is doing.
[1:10:59] It's a huge problem and it's only getting worse.
[1:11:03] Whatever we can do to help our neighbors
[1:11:06] helps our whole community and will help us have a brighter
[1:11:10] future together.
[1:11:11] Thank you very much.
[1:11:39] >> Hi, I'm Lee Padua and I'm here to talk about sloths.
[1:11:41] Thank you Commissioner Wilson for bringing this situation
[1:11:44] to light and also thank you representative
[1:11:46] doctor Eskamani for informing of the presentation
[1:11:50] by Commissioner Wilson.
[1:11:51] I will respect your time.
[1:11:53] I'm sure hers is more elegant.
[1:11:55] All of the facts I had written down.
[1:11:58] I won't yap on that.
[1:11:59] I'll just say if we treat this as an isolated incident
[1:12:02] then history will probably repeat itself.
[1:12:04] Leadership is tested after tragedy.
[1:12:05] I really think all of you --
[1:12:08] I really thank all of you for serving Orange County
[1:12:11] and the way that you do.
[1:12:12] And I look forward to Orange County setting a higher
[1:12:14] standard for animal welfare.
[1:12:15] Thank you so much.
[1:12:30] >> Good morning data Hutchinson.
[1:12:31] 19246 Lansdowne Orlando, 32833.
[1:12:34] Sloth world Orlando tragedy is not just
[1:12:37] a case of animal deaths.
[1:12:38] It's a stark example of systemic neglect
[1:12:41] from a regulatory failure, and the exploitation
[1:12:44] of our vulnerable wildlife.
[1:12:45] Florida state officials had knowledge come authority,
[1:12:48] and opportunity to take action to protect the sloths
[1:12:51] and yet they did nothing.
[1:12:53] I was surprised at how inexpensive the sloths were.
[1:12:57] Only 3 to $400 each.
[1:12:58] And people were excited enough to see them
[1:13:01] that they prepared for tickets to a venue that hadn't even
[1:13:04] opened.
[1:13:04] The incentive was there for someone to do this again.
[1:13:07] The state's priority is making sure businesses in Florida
[1:13:11] maximize their profits above all else.
[1:13:13] I did a lot of research, I saw pictures
[1:13:15] and read everything I could find regarding sloth world.
[1:13:19] The fact that FWC refused to charge the owner with anything
[1:13:22] is an absolute disgrace.
[1:13:25] I think it is up to the county to prevent something like this
[1:13:28] from happening again.
[1:13:30] I want to be clear, this is not a knee jerk reaction
[1:13:33] to an incident.
[1:13:34] Even if this business had done everything
[1:13:36] to properly care for those animals,
[1:13:38] taking an animal from the wild to put
[1:13:41] into an indoor fake rainforest is cruel.
[1:13:44] Orange County does not need this kind of attraction.
[1:13:47] Show that we believe in protecting the defenseless,
[1:13:50] support a county prohibition on importing exotic animals
[1:13:55] for entertainment.
[1:13:56] Lastly, this afternoon, please do not approve of item C,
[1:14:02] minimizing wetland impacts should always
[1:14:05] be a priority and this does not do that.
[1:14:08] It can and should be done better.
[1:14:10] Thank you.
[1:14:22] >> Good morning.
[1:14:23] My name is Alan Levi.
[1:14:23] 535 East Harding Street, Orlando.
[1:14:23] District three.
[1:14:24] I am with support Orlando shelters.
[1:14:28] People got to go to the bathroom.
[1:14:31] Orange County has 20 public restrooms for 100 000 people.
[1:14:38] But it's sundown, that number drops to zero.
[1:14:43] 300 people were arrested for public urination in 2024.
[1:14:48] 276 of those were unhoused.
[1:14:53] 274 were arrested again.
[1:14:56] It costs $300 per rest.
[1:15:00] It's not just the unhoused.
[1:15:03] Everyone at some time in their life
[1:15:05] has been in a public space and just absolutely needed to go
[1:15:09] and maybe did not make the best decision.
[1:15:12] And maybe they got arrested.
[1:15:15] That's damage to your dignity and that's
[1:15:17] damage that makes it harder to sign a lease or get a job.
[1:15:23] This is what we're asking, for a shared partnership
[1:15:27] to distribute 15 public restrooms in strategically
[1:15:31] placed locations along the tourist corridor.
[1:15:35] That are accessible to the unhoused community.
[1:15:38] Also, let's just limit arrests when
[1:15:43] there are no bathrooms nearby.
[1:15:44] Lets it stop criminalizing a basic public need.
[1:15:49] Thank you.
[1:16:03] >> Hello.
[1:16:04] Good morning my name is Samia Prat.
[1:16:04] I'm a mom of four with children spread across three
[1:16:04] of your Orange County schools.
[1:16:06] Last year we were successful in moving the bus stop.
[1:16:10] After I posted a picture on social media of a car hopping
[1:16:15] the corner of our intersection and the children standing
[1:16:18] there waiting for the bus.
[1:16:19] We are still fighting.
[1:16:22] It's been two years and we are still
[1:16:24] fighting to try to get some sort of safety measures,
[1:16:28] turn lane lighting on our streets.
[1:16:30] I attended your transportation planning session
[1:16:33] earlier this year and they identified that area
[1:16:35] as a hotspot.
[1:16:36] They talked about arts funding.
[1:16:38] Then when I tried to follow up and I
[1:16:41] have been, for the last two years
[1:16:43] working to try to get someone to pay attention to this,
[1:16:46] and I've had no success at all.
[1:16:48] I know you have your Vision Zero initiative.
[1:16:50] I just shook the hand of the gentleman who received the award
[1:16:53] and asked how he was shaking my hand I know he was like oh God,
[1:16:56] not you again.
[1:16:57] I just keep showing up until someone will
[1:16:59] pay attention and do something.
[1:17:01] I go out of my house, Bhargava states,
[1:17:06] and I still see the memorial of a new death
[1:17:08] that we've had in the last two months.
[1:17:10] That is not accounted for now on your initiative.
[1:17:14] If someone could please pay attention.
[1:17:16] We need a turn lane.
[1:17:17] We need some lighting.
[1:17:19] My address is 4818 gilded Jewel drive, Mount Dora.
[1:17:25] I'm in unincorporated Orange County.
[1:17:27] It's at the corner of Sadler Road in Orange Blossom Trail.
[1:17:30] You're getting ready to build a brand
[1:17:32] new park at that intersection.
[1:17:34] However, I will not allow my children
[1:17:36] to even cross the street to go get a piece of candy
[1:17:38] from the store.
[1:17:39] We don't have any pedestrian sidewalks in that area
[1:17:42] where the children can safely cross.
[1:17:44] We don't even have a turn lane to pull into our community.
[1:17:48] When we had Jerry Hume come out to do the story on it,
[1:17:52] he was almost rear ended getting into our community.
[1:17:56] If someone could please help us, I would appreciate,
[1:18:00] and I thank you for your time today.
[1:18:05] >> Miss Pratt, if you could see Brett black door.
[1:18:08] Thank you.
[1:18:22] >> And thank you for showing up keep on keep on.
[1:18:34] >> Good morning.
[1:18:35] Elected officials and all of the citizens of Orlando.
[1:18:35] My name is Tracy Jackson.
[1:18:36] I come before you a citizen of Orlando.
[1:18:40] I live at 2436 East Illiana Street.
[1:18:45] I came here two years ago facing the same issue.
[1:18:49] Eight years ago I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress
[1:18:54] disorder after a life interrupting
[1:18:57] event happened to me and I was given a section eight voucher.
[1:19:01] I've been here about five years now.
[1:19:05] I've moved from Miami, thinking there
[1:19:08] was more safer or habitable housing here.
[1:19:12] I have moved four times in five years.
[1:19:16] Since I've been here in Orlando.
[1:19:18] A lot of the properties that are on the section eight list,
[1:19:23] I've been told by my worker to try to pick
[1:19:26] a good unit from that pool.
[1:19:28] But how can you pick a good unit from the pool
[1:19:32] when the pool is full of doodoo.
[1:19:35] This is my toilet.
[1:19:37] Two years ago I moved into this property, after I came here.
[1:19:41] And I had the same complaint about the slumlords
[1:19:44] that are on the program.
[1:19:47] It's a very difficult to get yourself back on pace
[1:19:51] when you're moving from place to place.
[1:19:54] It is very difficult for your children
[1:19:56] to get a proper education when they're being
[1:19:59] snatched from school to school.
[1:20:01] I was sent upstairs to the housing agency there.
[1:20:05] I have not heard anything back from them.
[1:20:08] My question is, how can the tenant, the participant
[1:20:14] of section eight, continue to have a platform
[1:20:17] to make a complaint to the community section
[1:20:20] eight department or any supervisor,
[1:20:24] when they become a villain, because I'm
[1:20:27] complaining about roaches.
[1:20:29] This is my kitchen.
[1:20:31] There are so many roaches in my kitchen,
[1:20:34] I would have to charge them rent to evict them.
[1:20:38] I have sewage coming up through my tubs.
[1:20:41] My toilets.
[1:20:42] And even my kitchen sink.
[1:20:44] Three months after I moved into this new property.
[1:20:47] My question is, I just need one person on this,
[1:20:51] I just need one person to care.
[1:20:53] Just one.
[1:20:55] I'm just looking for a place to call home.
[1:20:57] That's all.
[1:20:59] That's it.
[1:21:01] >> Miss Jackson.
[1:21:02] See the young lady standing in the back?
[1:21:05] That's Tanya Wilson.
[1:21:06] She's director of the department that has housing.
[1:21:10] So if you would please see her.
[1:21:14] >> Thank you.
[1:21:26] >> Vice mayor, I believe that was our last speaker.
[1:21:28] >> Thank you, Nick.
[1:21:29] Do we have anyone else who would like to make public comments?
[1:21:33] No, okay, we will close the public comment
[1:21:35] at this time period I'll call on county administrator, Byron,
[1:21:40] to present the consent agenda.
[1:21:43] >> Thank you, madam vice mayor.
[1:21:46] I have just one item to pull off the consent agenda.
[1:21:50] And that's item G five.
[1:21:51] Regarding a standard permit for environmental protection.
[1:21:55] That item will be considered concurrently
[1:21:57] this afternoon along with public hearing eight one.
[1:22:02] So item G five being pulled to be heard this afternoon.
[1:22:07] Staff presents the remainder of the consent agenda for the board
[1:22:10] consideration.
[1:22:12] >> Thank you.
[1:22:13] >> Motion for approval?
[1:22:15] >> Second.
[1:22:17] >> Commissioner Uribe, you agree with the motion?
[1:22:21] All in favor, say aye.
[1:22:37] Motion carries unanimously.
[1:22:38] And we have Commissioner Mike Scott who's joining us now
[1:22:38] but was absent on the vote.
[1:22:40] I would like to highlight some items that
[1:22:42] were approved in the consent agenda this morning.
[1:22:44] That are exciting and worthwhile of celebrating.
[1:22:49] Orange County is preparing for its fourth wave
[1:22:51] of what has become the largest medical debt relief initiative
[1:22:55] in Central Florida's history.
[1:22:58] To date the county's debt relief efforts have eliminated over
[1:23:02] $637 million from more than 427 000 Orange County residents.
[1:23:09] Adding an additional $2 million for a revised
[1:23:14] amount of 6.5 million.
[1:23:17] The county anticipates alleviating
[1:23:20] the financial hardships of more than 100
[1:23:22] thousand additional residents.
[1:23:24] The Citizens Commission for Children Division has added
[1:23:28] an additional $112,500 in funding for existing reading
[1:23:33] and mathematics coaching program provided through its partnership
[1:23:37] with the nonprofit Impact Outreach Ministries of Central
[1:23:42] Florida.
[1:23:42] The additional investment is expected
[1:23:44] to help mitigate and prevent learning
[1:23:45] loss for more than three dozen additional youth.
[1:23:48] With this increase, the revised three year contract totals
[1:23:52] $562,500.
[1:23:54] The additional funding supported by rollover funds
[1:23:58] from the Children's Services Fund.
[1:24:00] Which would be contractually obligated by the end of 2026.
[1:24:11] With that, I will call on Karrie Mathis
[1:24:15] the procurement division manager to present
[1:24:18] the procurement committee recommendation regarding
[1:24:21] selection of one firm and two ranked alternatives
[1:24:23] to provide professional solid waste
[1:24:26] system financial consulting services for Orange County
[1:24:29] utilities request for proposals.
[1:24:32] Y 26-137- KC.
[1:24:37] >> Thank you good morning Vice Mayor and Commissioners.
[1:24:40] This procurement committee had evaluated proposals
[1:24:42] for professional solid waste system financial consulting
[1:24:45] services for Orange County Utilities.
[1:24:47] I'm requesting board selection of one firm and two
[1:24:50] ranked alternates as well as the request of action on the screen.
[1:24:55] Commissioner Semerad was assigned
[1:24:56] to the Procurement committee.
[1:24:59] >> Thank you?.
[1:25:00] I move for the selection of Taylor's Financial Consultants
[1:25:05] Inc..
[1:25:06] With 359.88 points.
[1:25:08] With Geo Syntax Consultants Inc. With 345 points and Nugent
[1:25:14] strategies and Solutions LLC with 307.54 points, as well as
[1:25:21] the ranked alternatives.
[1:25:24] >> Second.
[1:25:26] >> Thank you.
[1:25:27] I think Commissioner Wilson, ladies first, got it.
[1:25:33] All those in favor?
[1:25:36] Those opposed?
[1:25:38] Motion carries unanimously.
[1:25:46] With that again I call on Carrie Mathis.
[1:25:50] The management of the procurement division
[1:25:52] to present an update on the procurement ordinance.
[1:25:55] We have no action requested on this item.
[1:25:58] But we are all ready.
[1:26:02] >> I would like to also invite Heather Wallace from the County
[1:26:05] Attorney's office to join me at the podium.
[1:26:07] We will be tag teaming this.
[1:26:09] Taking you through this work session with
[1:26:12] regards to the update to the Procurement ordinance.
[1:26:17] As part of the work session today
[1:26:18] we're going to be providing you a bit
[1:26:20] of the background on the ordinance, and overview
[1:26:23] of the proposed changes.
[1:26:24] We'll be digging into some of the specific subsections
[1:26:26] of the ordinance that will be the focus of this update.
[1:26:31] Prior to providing some detail on the accompanying
[1:26:34] administrative regulation update and then discussing key policy
[1:26:37] recommendations that we would like
[1:26:38] to get feedback from the board.
[1:26:41] As background, the procurement ordinance,
[1:26:44] which is chapter 17, article three, was adopted back in 1992.
[1:26:48] So 34 years since its original adoption.
[1:26:51] It has not had a comprehensive review and update
[1:26:54] since that time.
[1:26:55] It has largely remained unchanged.
[1:26:57] There have been several updates to particular portions
[1:26:59] of the ordinance.
[1:27:00] Such as the nondiscrimination provisions.
[1:27:03] Some definitions, source selection, and protest.
[1:27:07] This procurement ordinance update
[1:27:09] is intended to enhance consistency, clarify,
[1:27:12] modernize some procurement practices to really
[1:27:15] reflect what our current practices and standards are
[1:27:17] and to improve the operational efficiency while still
[1:27:20] maintaining the high level of transparency,
[1:27:23] competitiveness, and accountability.
[1:27:25] We are requesting board input on proposed updates.
[1:27:30] Which will advance as a public hearing in the fall.
[1:27:32] To provide an overview, the procurement ordinance as a whole
[1:27:36] covers 43 general subsections.
[1:27:37] Focus on delegation of authority,
[1:27:40] exemptions, definitions, conflict of interest,
[1:27:44] source selection methods, protest process,
[1:27:48] causes for suspension and debarment, as well as
[1:27:51] inspection and testing this particular update.
[1:27:56] The proposed revisions you'll find
[1:28:00] are largely administrative in nature.
[1:28:02] They're intended to align the procurement ordinance
[1:28:05] with our current procurement practices.
[1:28:07] Again, over the course of three decades,
[1:28:09] we have evolved in terms of our processes.
[1:28:12] We want to make sure that we're creating consistency
[1:28:14] throughout the ordinance.
[1:28:15] Supporting all competitive procurement methods
[1:28:17] that now exist.
[1:28:18] And incorporate the use of electronic procurement tools
[1:28:22] and processes.
[1:28:23] Since we are no longer paper based.
[1:28:26] In the decades since the procurement ordinance was
[1:28:29] adopted, technological advances have
[1:28:31] come online and really transformed
[1:28:33] the procurement process.
[1:28:35] We leverage automation.
[1:28:37] We reduce administrative costs to the community as well as
[1:28:40] the county and utilizing these electronic systems.
[1:28:43] Procurement methods for solicitation
[1:28:45] have also evolved from the standard invitation for bid.
[1:28:48] Which are competitive sealed bids.
[1:28:50] And request for proposals.
[1:28:51] Which includes some of those qualitative factors
[1:28:54] to really identify overall best value.
[1:28:56] Today's work session, we're going
[1:28:57] to introduce a couple of additional tools
[1:28:59] we would like to put in that toolbox for procurement methods.
[1:29:02] It should be noted that the procurement division routinely
[1:29:05] seeks feedback from internal and external stakeholders
[1:29:09] to support our continuous improvement efforts
[1:29:12] and we'll be taking you through some of those stakeholder
[1:29:15] engagements that helped inform the proposed
[1:29:17] updates to the procurement ordinance
[1:29:19] as we go through the work session.
[1:29:22] Transitioning to the proposed changes to the ordinance,
[1:29:25] we really seek to modernize the ordinance for alignment
[1:29:27] to best practices.
[1:29:29] Ensuring that we're consistent throughout.
[1:29:32] We're proposing updates to six of the general subsections.
[1:29:36] Those include general updates, definitions,
[1:29:39] competitive exemptions, the types of solicitations,
[1:29:43] the protest process, and causes for suspension.
[1:29:47] Regarding general updates covered
[1:29:49] the procurement ordinance currently
[1:29:52] identifies the procurement division
[1:29:53] as the contracts department.
[1:29:55] We are proposing an update to the Procurement Division
[1:29:59] for consistency to the county's organizational structure.
[1:30:02] These are some of the administrative changes
[1:30:04] to bring it up to date to what the county's current standards
[1:30:10] are the procurement ordinance also identifies
[1:30:12] the Head of Procurement Division as the Chief of Purchasing
[1:30:15] and Contracts.
[1:30:15] We are proposing to update all references
[1:30:18] to the term Chief procurement official, which
[1:30:21] will remove the need for any ordinance update
[1:30:23] if the current title of the procurement manager
[1:30:25] were ever to change.
[1:30:26] The procurement ordinance includes numerous provisions
[1:30:29] which reference the term bids and we're
[1:30:32] proposing to update the terminology throughout.
[1:30:35] Just refer to solicitation that will
[1:30:38] encompass all types of competitive procurement methods
[1:30:41] and not specifically focus on bids.
[1:30:43] The procurement ordinance also reflects very manual processes
[1:30:46] for the submission of bids and proposals.
[1:30:47] It should be noted since we are six years removed
[1:30:50] from being a paper based procurement operation,
[1:30:53] we want to propose an update to reflect
[1:30:57] the use of the electronic procurement system, which
[1:31:00] is our sole platform utilized for all county
[1:31:03] competitive solicitation processes.
[1:31:04] That's some of the evolution over time
[1:31:06] that we're now transitioning to leverage
[1:31:08] some of the technologies.
[1:31:10] Transitioning to definitions, we want
[1:31:12] to ensure that we have concise verbiage
[1:31:14] throughout the procurement ordinance.
[1:31:16] We're proposing updates to remove unnecessary definitions
[1:31:19] that have common meanings, such as business and contract.
[1:31:22] We want to ensure terminology is consistent
[1:31:24] and reflects current terms.
[1:31:26] The proposed update will update the definition of construction
[1:31:29] to a definition that is more consistent with the county's
[1:31:32] current practice and replaces references to bitter,
[1:31:36] again, with respondent where appropriate.
[1:31:38] So that is a consistent terminology throughout,
[1:31:40] regardless of the solicitation type.
[1:31:43] Regarding competitive exemptions,
[1:31:45] those are all codified under section 17-286.
[1:31:48] They identified the following as exempt
[1:31:52] from procurement requirements.
[1:31:53] There is a series of them you'll see on the accompanying slides.
[1:31:56] It starts with agreements to the board
[1:31:58] and nonprofit and governmental entities for procurement
[1:32:02] and transfer of sale and exchange of goods and services
[1:32:05] with regards to this bullet point,
[1:32:06] I would like the Commission to know that we are currently
[1:32:09] undergoing a separate analysis that's
[1:32:10] being performed with regard to nonprofit exemptions.
[1:32:14] We will be advancing for further discussion in the future
[1:32:17] and item specific to this particular analysis.
[1:32:21] The second bullet you can see, there's
[1:32:24] a myriad of competitive exemptions.
[1:32:26] They include dues and memberships, advertisements,
[1:32:30] engaging expert witnesses, title insurance for real property,
[1:32:35] art and artistic services, etc..
[1:32:37] It continues on with more competitive exemption elements
[1:32:41] identified as real property.
[1:32:43] Purchases from state and federal GSA term contracts.
[1:32:47] If we are awarding contracts by any local state or national
[1:32:50] government agency and we're utilizing those as piggybacks,
[1:32:53] those are considered competitive exemptions period
[1:32:55] this is the current listing of all the competitive exemptions
[1:32:58] that exist in the procurement ordinance.
[1:33:01] We're proposing updates to the competitive exemptions.
[1:33:04] Including adding the competitive exemption for medical services
[1:33:08] provided by physicians or other medical professionals.
[1:33:10] This is primarily used by corrections and health services
[1:33:14] to ensure the inmate population has the care
[1:33:17] and treatment that they need.
[1:33:18] While they're in our custody and care.
[1:33:21] This exemption for medical services
[1:33:23] by physicians and other medical professionals
[1:33:25] is consistent with an exemption that is allowed by Florida State
[1:33:28] Statute.
[1:33:29] We are requesting an additional competitive exemption
[1:33:33] for accreditations.
[1:33:34] Typically there is only one accrediting body
[1:33:36] and so it would be virtually impossible
[1:33:38] for us to be able to gain competition amongst accrediting
[1:33:42] bodies, since they're just competition
[1:33:45] that typically exists.
[1:33:47] We're looking to clarify the existing exemption for utilities
[1:33:49] to include internet and phone services
[1:33:51] and add language that might allow
[1:33:53] for future expansion of those particular utilities exemptions
[1:33:56] where competition doesn't exist.
[1:33:59] With regards to types of solicitation, is --
[1:34:07] that is the invitation for bid, which we know is our competitive
[1:34:10] Seal bidding process, as well as request for proposals which
[1:34:14] really seeks to achieve best value through qualitative
[1:34:17] factors.
[1:34:18] We're seeking to incorporate some additional procurement
[1:34:21] methods to support agile and strategic procurement sourcing.
[1:34:24] We'd like to add a process for the request
[1:34:28] for information, which is an informal process that
[1:34:31] allows the county to obtain information through market
[1:34:33] analysis to help inform us when the county is unclear of how
[1:34:37] to meet a specific need.
[1:34:38] That helps us to gauge what the market has to bear,
[1:34:42] fact finding, and helps us consider
[1:34:45] how we might structure a formal solicitation in the future.
[1:34:48] There's no award that's made in a request for information.
[1:34:51] Is simply some market analysis.
[1:34:53] We'd like to add a process for invitation to negotiate.
[1:34:56] This method is very similar to a request for proposals, whereby
[1:34:59] we would score in a short list the proposers
[1:35:03] of the respondents.
[1:35:03] This particular process would allow the county
[1:35:05] to simultaneously negotiate to ultimately achieve the best
[1:35:08] value amongst the shortlisted firms.
[1:35:10] This is a method that has been undertaken
[1:35:13] by the state of Florida.
[1:35:15] Also, if we're looking at our neighboring community,
[1:35:17] the city of Orlando has the past leveraged invitation
[1:35:20] to negotiate as a procurement strategy.
[1:35:22] We'd like to add a new provision to consider public private
[1:35:26] partnership proposals or the P3's.
[1:35:29] Florida Statute 255065 provides a general process
[1:35:33] that allows for agencies to create their own more
[1:35:36] detailed process.
[1:35:37] Many of our neighboring local governments
[1:35:38] have created their own process but Orange County to date
[1:35:41] has not yet done so.
[1:35:43] By virtue of this update we're seeking
[1:35:46] to be able to incorporate that so we
[1:35:48] have a more defined process.
[1:35:50] We have received an unsolicited proposal
[1:35:52] that is currently under evaluation
[1:35:54] and so we're recommending that a process be created
[1:35:56] to further delineate what that process will
[1:35:58] be should we receive any future unsolicited proposals
[1:36:01] in the future.
[1:36:02] We are going to be providing an accompanying administrative
[1:36:06] regulation to further define that process.
[1:36:08] Which Heather will provide you some guidance on.
[1:36:11] And I'm going to turn it over to Heather
[1:36:13] to take us through the protest process portion of the work
[1:36:17] session.
[1:36:19] >> We have identified several inconsistencies in the protest
[1:36:26] processes that are described in our current procurement
[1:36:28] ordinance.
[1:36:29] These inconsistencies have created confusion
[1:36:31] to vendors in the past.
[1:36:33] We have different time frames.
[1:36:35] We have different methods by which people
[1:36:38] are to challenge a procurement.
[1:36:41] And it has resulted in sometimes people
[1:36:44] not following the correct process
[1:36:45] and sometimes losing out on their ability to protest.
[1:36:49] We are going to be talking more as we
[1:36:51] go through this about some suggestions
[1:36:54] that we have to improve that process.
[1:36:56] This update hopefully will improve the clarity, efficiency,
[1:37:01] and consistency of the protest process.
[1:37:04] But we want to maintain fairness and due process.
[1:37:07] On average, the county issues 345 formal solicitations
[1:37:12] annually.
[1:37:13] With a protest rate of 4%.
[1:37:17] This gives you an idea of the number of protests
[1:37:20] that have been received by the county
[1:37:22] over the last several years.
[1:37:23] As well as the percentage of those protests that were denied
[1:37:27] and the percentage of those protests
[1:37:28] that were upheld as they went through the process.
[1:37:33] We put together this benchmark analysis that gives you --
[1:37:38] I understand it's really small, and I apologize.
[1:37:40] Gets a lot of information.
[1:37:42] We're going to talk about these things in more detail moving
[1:37:45] forward.
[1:37:46] But a few things I would like you to notice about this slide,
[1:37:49] one is that Orange County is in the minority
[1:37:53] and we have two different processes,
[1:37:56] depend whether it's an invitation for a bid
[1:37:58] or a request for proposal.
[1:38:00] As you can see, almost all of these other entities
[1:38:04] have one process.
[1:38:06] Regardless of the type of solicitation.
[1:38:09] Miami Dade is an exception to that.
[1:38:11] They have a carve out for a design solicitation,
[1:38:15] funded with federal funds.
[1:38:17] I'm not sure why.
[1:38:18] But other than that, everyone has one consistent process,
[1:38:21] regardless of the type of solicitation.
[1:38:23] I would like to point out that most
[1:38:27] of these organizations, the first level
[1:38:30] is a protest to the procurement director or procurement manager.
[1:38:35] Whatever their title is for that particular position.
[1:38:38] I wanted to point out that as far as an appeal process,
[1:38:43] almost all of these other entities
[1:38:45] have some type of formal hearing as part of their appeal process.
[1:38:49] Either a formal hearing before the Board
[1:38:52] of County commissioners come a formal hearing
[1:38:54] before the hearing master, or a special master or an appeal
[1:38:58] committee.
[1:38:58] And currently in our process we do not have a hearing.
[1:39:02] We have a process whereby the appellate will
[1:39:07] contact each one of your offices and try
[1:39:09] to set up a meeting with you and so again, we're
[1:39:13] going to talk about this in more detail.
[1:39:15] These are the things we noticed when
[1:39:17] we were looking at the other local governments
[1:39:21] that we normally compare ourselves to.
[1:39:25] Carrie is going to talk a little bit about some stakeholder
[1:39:28] engagement that was done as part of this process.
[1:39:32] And
[1:39:34] >> We didn't coordinate our back and forth here.
[1:39:36] For stakeholder engagement, back in April of this year
[1:39:39] we launched a survey because we wanted to gain
[1:39:41] some feedback from respondents.
[1:39:44] Any proposal who might have participated
[1:39:47] in a formal solicitation that was proposed
[1:39:49] tested that doesn't necessarily mean
[1:39:51] they were the ones protesting but they were
[1:39:52] a party to the procurement process for which a protest was
[1:39:55] filed.
[1:39:56] We took a look at our FY 25 data of all our solicitations
[1:39:59] that were protested and we sent out a survey
[1:40:02] to 125 vendors, all of which has the entirety
[1:40:06] of the pool of vendors that had participated
[1:40:08] in a formal solicitation process during which a protest was
[1:40:13] filed.
[1:40:13] We left the survey out and open for a period of ten business
[1:40:17] days.
[1:40:17] We received a total of 11 responses.
[1:40:20] In addition to that we convened a focus group
[1:40:25] the following month where we invited a subsection
[1:40:27] of those 125 vendors.
[1:40:29] Representing all of the different sections
[1:40:31] so bidders and proposers who pursue goods and services.
[1:40:37] Bidders and proposers who preserve
[1:40:38] construction and professional service procurements.
[1:40:40] We invited them to the table and we
[1:40:43] got some feedback that helped inform the ordinance
[1:40:45] updates that we're proposing as well as a separate procurement
[1:40:48] action plan that's outside of the procurement ordinance update
[1:40:51] that we're proposing and I will take you
[1:40:53] through what each of those look like
[1:40:55] as a result of that feedback.
[1:40:57] With regards to the procurement update,
[1:40:59] as a result of that feedback and engagement,
[1:41:01] we're adding verbiage in to allow protesters the ability
[1:41:04] to supplement their formal written protest after filing
[1:41:08] a public record request is filled.
[1:41:11] We heard from them it's a very short period of time
[1:41:13] for which they have to protest and file their formal written.
[1:41:16] And sometimes there's an accompanying public record
[1:41:18] request that's in the process of being fulfilled.
[1:41:20] They said it's not really fair if we get fulfillment
[1:41:22] after the time frame.
[1:41:23] We would like consideration that we submit a public record
[1:41:26] request that we can utilize that and supplement that information.
[1:41:30] We are writing that into allow for that
[1:41:31] and give them that due process to understand
[1:41:33] the record fulfillment and incorporate that in.
[1:41:37] We are proposing to structure the protest process
[1:41:39] as a single consistent process regardless
[1:41:42] of the procurement type.
[1:41:43] Something that Heather mentioned that you
[1:41:45] would see in the benchmarking is we have a separate protest
[1:41:48] process for Ifb's versus a separate protest
[1:41:52] process for RFP s.
[1:41:54] The feedback from the business community
[1:41:56] was that we just want to have a single process.
[1:41:58] We don't want to have to figure out
[1:42:00] what's the process for and IFB versus an RFP.
[1:42:05] To avoid confusion and understand
[1:42:06] how to navigate it because that's the way
[1:42:08] we are structuring the protest update.
[1:42:10] In accordance with one process throughout.
[1:42:13] As a result of their feedback, we are responding
[1:42:29] -- as the ordinance currently reads,
[1:42:32] if you participate in an invitation for bid and you
[1:42:32] protest, you as the protester are responsible to provide
[1:42:34] your protest to all of the other bidders.
[1:42:36] If you protest in an RFP process,
[1:42:39] the current ordinance says we will distribute the protest
[1:42:42] to all the other proposers.
[1:42:43] We just want to make it consistent.
[1:42:45] The feedback we heard in the focus group
[1:42:47] was we want procurement to be the central point of contact.
[1:42:50] That's what you told us it is throughout the whole process.
[1:42:53] We don't want to have to be communicating and providing
[1:42:55] any sort of messaging or information
[1:42:57] to the others that participated.
[1:42:59] That should be your function.
[1:43:01] We are incorporating that in and removing the requirement
[1:43:04] and creating the sole responsibility for procurement
[1:43:06] to distribute the protest regardless of solicitation type.
[1:43:10] In terms of a procurement action plan that's
[1:43:14] outside of this ordinance update, what
[1:43:15] are some of the actions we took away from the focus group
[1:43:18] and from the survey?
[1:43:19] As we are currently coordinating with our E-procurement platform,
[1:43:23] which is open, to create some additional status
[1:43:27] flags in the system that will automatically
[1:43:30] deploy a notification.
[1:43:31] That will give them a more automated information
[1:43:36] to understand the status of the procurement.
[1:43:38] Rather than have to go mine our website
[1:43:41] for every specific status.
[1:43:45] They'll receive an automatic notification
[1:43:47] through their email that will inform them
[1:43:49] and then they can go look at our recommendation for award pair
[1:43:52] currently we don't have that technology throttle on.
[1:43:56] It's incumbent upon any bitter or proposal
[1:44:00] to have to keep looking at our website
[1:44:01] to see if a recommendation has been posted.
[1:44:03] We're trying to leverage some of the technology that
[1:44:05] exists to help provide some more automated communication
[1:44:08] to the business community so they
[1:44:10] can understand the status in a more efficient way.
[1:44:13] Additionally we've completed updates to our Boilerplates
[1:44:17] to incorporate the debrief provision into all invitation
[1:44:20] for bid Boilerplates.
[1:44:22] It had existed only in a request for proposals
[1:44:25] and so we would offer debriefs to proposers
[1:44:28] to understand how their scoring was derived but we really didn't
[1:44:33] have the debrief provision included
[1:44:34] in an invitation for bid period and sometimes bidders are deemed
[1:44:38] non-responsive and they really want
[1:44:40] to have a deeper dive into why.
[1:44:41] We do post that in the recommendation for award.
[1:44:44] A posting that's on the website.
[1:44:46] But some of them endeavor to want to have more education.
[1:44:49] To learn about those specific factors in an invitation
[1:44:53] to bid that led them to not be considered for their.
[1:44:56] So we've already updated our Boilerplates
[1:44:58] to include that debrief provision
[1:45:00] so they know they have the opportunity to come to us
[1:45:02] and we'll meet with them and explain it in further detail
[1:45:04] to help educate them so it doesn't
[1:45:07] occur in that situation in the future.
[1:45:10] Those updates are already either in the work or the second one
[1:45:14] with the debriefing is already done.
[1:45:15] We're developing a an educational curriculum
[1:45:18] to the departments to provide comprehensive training
[1:45:20] on technical evaluation components.
[1:45:23] That's a critical part of assessing any bidder's
[1:45:25] responsibility and we want to make sure
[1:45:27] that we're doing our part to educate some of those staff that
[1:45:29] are assigned to do these types of things we want to make
[1:45:32] sure they're fully informed and educated on what
[1:45:34] specific components they need to make sure they are sufficiently
[1:45:37] addressing, to determine the responsibility of any bidder.
[1:45:42] Turn it back to Heather.
[1:45:46] >> As we already mentioned covered the Procurement
[1:45:49] ordinance defines two different processes for invitation
[1:45:52] for bids and requests for proposals for protest.
[1:45:55] Under the invitation for bids, the current process
[1:45:58] is, we do a protest review with the procurement manager who
[1:46:02] makes a decision.
[1:46:03] If the person is unhappy with that decision,
[1:46:05] they then go to a protest hearing with a protest committee
[1:46:09] and then if they're still unhappy it's
[1:46:11] an appeal to the board.
[1:46:13] Under the request for proposals, they have a protest hearing.
[1:46:17] They go back to the procurement committee that scored
[1:46:20] the solicitation to begin with.
[1:46:22] And then an appeal to the board.
[1:46:25] The protest hearing with the procurement committee,
[1:46:29] just so you know, some issues we run into recently,
[1:46:32] there are some parts of a request for proposals that are
[1:46:37] not scored by the committee.
[1:46:38] They are scored by the procurement department
[1:46:41] based on standards within the procurement manual.
[1:46:45] When someone protests that, they still
[1:46:47] have to go back to the procurement committee
[1:46:49] and that makes it difficult for the procurement committee
[1:46:51] because they're trying to decide a protest about something
[1:46:56] they didn't decide to begin with and have no control over.
[1:46:59] So based on all of these issues, we're
[1:47:01] recommending establishing one process for all solicitation
[1:47:03] types to avoid the kind of conflicting processes
[1:47:07] and confusion.
[1:47:08] As we already mentioned, our benchmark analysis
[1:47:12] only identified one other county that
[1:47:14] has different processes based on the type of solicitation.
[1:47:18] We're going to propose three different options for you
[1:47:22] today to try to get some feedback as to what
[1:47:24] you feel is the best option.
[1:47:26] Option one would be maintain our current process
[1:47:30] but add clarifications.
[1:47:32] Do everything we can to try to avoid confusion.
[1:47:36] For instance, like I mentioned, there's
[1:47:39] different time periods based on the protest process.
[1:47:43] We would make it all one time period.
[1:47:45] Make the process consistent.
[1:47:47] But still have the current process
[1:47:50] that we already maintain.
[1:47:51] Option two would be to replace the current process
[1:47:54] with a decision by the procurement manager and then
[1:47:58] an appeal hearing to the Board of County Commissioners.
[1:48:00] Option three would be to replace the current process
[1:48:04] with a decision by the procurement Manager and then
[1:48:07] an appeal to a protest committee.
[1:48:10] That protest committee would be comprised of three staff members
[1:48:13] appointed by the county administrator
[1:48:14] to serve in that capacity on an annual basis.
[1:48:18] Again, option one would be administration --
[1:48:23] would be to maintain the current process.
[1:48:26] Which we've already identified has some issues.
[1:48:28] We would do the best we could to create as many consistencies as
[1:48:32] possible and try to avoid some of those problems
[1:48:35] we've had in the past.
[1:48:37] Option two would be to replace the current process
[1:48:41] with the decision by the procurement manager
[1:48:43] and an appeal hearing to the Board of County Commissioners.
[1:48:45] This again would create a consistent process
[1:48:48] for protest review and an appeal hearing
[1:48:51] before the Board of County Commissioners
[1:48:53] would ensure that the vendor has an opportunity
[1:48:55] to present concerns to the Board of County Commissioners.
[1:48:58] This would consist of an actual scheduled agenda item
[1:49:01] where you would hear from both sides
[1:49:04] as to what the substance of the process
[1:49:06] is and then make a decision after the hearing.
[1:49:10] And then again option three would be replace current process
[1:49:14] with a decision by the procurement manager
[1:49:16] and an appeal to this protest committee, which
[1:49:19] would be made up of three individuals appointed
[1:49:21] by the county administrator to serve on an annual basis.
[1:49:25] This would provide a hearing process and also
[1:49:28] a consistent process regardless of the type of solicitation.
[1:49:34] Our recommendation is to -- is for option three.
[1:49:40] Obviously it's up to you all which you would prefer
[1:49:43] but that is what we are suggesting
[1:49:45] as we feel like it could be the best option in terms of removing
[1:49:49] these inconsistencies and also providing those who
[1:49:54] are protesting with an ability to have a hearing in front
[1:49:58] of individuals and present their case.
[1:50:00] And we'll come back to that at the end of the presentation.
[1:50:05] And then another item that we wanted to discuss with you today
[1:50:10] is the possibility of a protest bond.
[1:50:13] We are proposing implementing a protest bond that
[1:50:16] recognizes the administrative resources that are required
[1:50:19] to conduct a formal protest review
[1:50:22] and encourages well-founded protest.
[1:50:24] It's intended to support an efficient procurement process.
[1:50:28] Not discourage legitimate vendor challenges.
[1:50:32] It ensures that protests are filed
[1:50:34] when there is a substantive basis for the challenge
[1:50:37] while preserving their rights to due process.
[1:50:40] Again we did some benchmark analyzes and you can see here,
[1:50:44] most other organizations have some type of protest fund.
[1:50:50] Some have -- for instance, Miami-Dade,
[1:50:55] they have a filing fee and an admin fee per Seminole has 5%
[1:51:00] or $5,000.
[1:51:01] Whichever is less.
[1:51:03] Some require a bond on appeal.
[1:51:06] It varies based on the local government.
[1:51:09] Most have some type of bond included
[1:51:12] as part of the protest process.
[1:51:14] And you can see, most of the time it is refundable.
[1:51:18] If the protester prevails.
[1:51:20] If the protester does not prevail,
[1:51:22] sometimes it's refundable at less cost.
[1:51:26] Again our staff recommendation is
[1:51:30] to implement a protest bond requirement
[1:51:32] equal to 1% of the annual value of the bid or proposal.
[1:51:37] So the under design rewards would be an estimated budget
[1:51:42] or a $5,000, whichever is less.
[1:51:44] The bond would be fully refundable
[1:51:45] if the protester prevails in their protest.
[1:51:47] And again, this would be consistent with the bond
[1:51:51] requirement for several other jurisdictions in the area.
[1:51:54] This just gives you an idea of what
[1:51:57] the bond would look like depending
[1:51:58] on the value of solicitation.
[1:52:00] If it was $250,000 solicitation, it would be $2,500 bond.
[1:52:05] And then $1 million and up, it would be a $5,000 bond that
[1:52:09] would have to be posted.
[1:52:12] And now Kerry is going to talk a little bit about causes
[1:52:15] for suspension and we will come back
[1:52:17] to the protest process at the end.
[1:52:20] >> Section 17-314 of the ordinance addresses causes
[1:52:24] for suspension and debarment and identifies nine scenarios
[1:52:28] for which a vendor may be suspended.
[1:52:30] These have been in place for many decades.
[1:52:33] You can see five of them on the screen here.
[1:52:35] When it comes to defaulting or failure
[1:52:38] to comply with the contract, if they
[1:52:40] commit fraud or misrepresentation,
[1:52:41] if they're charged with a court with a criminal offense,
[1:52:46] charged in court for embezzlement, theft, forgery,
[1:52:50] etc.
[1:52:51] Or if they have bankruptcy proceedings instituted
[1:52:55] against it.
[1:52:57] Continuing on if they commission an act or a mission to perform
[1:53:00] any act which is grounds for departure --
[1:53:04] if they're suspended by another governmental entity.
[1:53:06] Many of our counterparts and even the state of Florida
[1:53:09] does produce lists that are monitored for if they're
[1:53:13] convicted offenders.
[1:53:14] We have the ability to suspend reflectively.
[1:53:18] Or if there's any other cause that the procurement manager
[1:53:22] determines on a commercial basis to be
[1:53:24] so serious and compelling that it materially versus,
[1:53:27] impacts their ability to function as a contractor.
[1:53:31] It is -- there is still due process if for some reason they
[1:53:38] are suspended, they have the ability to appeal and go through
[1:53:41] the due process, to be able to state their case as to why they
[1:53:44] believe they should not have been suspended.
[1:53:46] We're proposing some updates to the suspension division.
[1:53:49] As you see on the screen, we'd like
[1:53:51] to add the ability to suspend the principles of the business
[1:53:54] entity, as well as the business entity itself that participated
[1:53:58] in the activity causing the suspension period we'd
[1:54:00] like to add in the ability to suspend for a violation of Cone
[1:54:04] of Silence or the blackout period
[1:54:06] because that currently does not exist
[1:54:07] and yet it is a very serious offense
[1:54:09] if someone is to violate our blackout process.
[1:54:13] We want to add the ability to suspend for withdrawal
[1:54:17] of a better proposal after opening
[1:54:19] and this would only be if multiple occurrences were
[1:54:22] to happen period such as there is a trend of constantly asking
[1:54:25] for withdrawal after the bid opening occurs.
[1:54:28] We'd like to add in the ability to suspend if the vendor fails
[1:54:32] to comply with the county's small business enterprise
[1:54:34] participation or requirements of an awarded contract.
[1:54:38] Previous one, the mwb process, when that program was in place,
[1:54:43] there was a suspension ability to basically mirror this
[1:54:47] and we sunsetted it when the mwb was suspended.
[1:54:51] We'd like to bring it back in the form of an ability
[1:54:54] to suspend if they don't comply.
[1:54:57] And we'd like to allow for the length of the suspension
[1:55:00] to be effective for a period of up to five years currently
[1:55:04] the code limits up to two years of suspension.
[1:55:07] Heather's going to take us through the administrator
[1:55:11] regulations that will accompany the procurement ordinance
[1:55:15] updates.
[1:55:16] And
[1:55:17] >> As a companion to the procurement ordinance update,
[1:55:21] we would like to add some language in the ordinance
[1:55:24] to incorporate public private partnerships,
[1:55:26] as Carrie discussed earlier.
[1:55:28] These are allowed by statute.
[1:55:30] We have actually received one that we are currently
[1:55:33] processing.
[1:55:33] We would like to suggest and incorporation
[1:55:36] into the ordinance but also a new administrative regulation
[1:55:39] that would give us a much more specific process for how
[1:55:44] we would process those unsolicited proposals.
[1:55:48] This will provide a formal process that's accessible
[1:55:51] to proposers prior to submittal to provide transparency
[1:55:55] and consistency in processing.
[1:55:56] Right now the one we're processing,
[1:55:59] we are using the statute to process it.
[1:56:01] The statute doesn't have a lot of detail in it.
[1:56:04] We would like to have a process that gives us more, and gives
[1:56:09] people who want to submit them more guidance
[1:56:11] as to what we are expecting as part
[1:56:14] of their unsolicited proposal.
[1:56:15] It would be consistent with processes
[1:56:18] that are adopted by other local governments in the area.
[1:56:21] Would also provide for an application fee that
[1:56:23] would help reimburse the county for extensive staff time spent
[1:56:26] on the review of these proposals.
[1:56:29] I can tell you with the one we are currently processing now,
[1:56:33] a number of staff members have spent a significant amount
[1:56:36] of time reviewing that, before we get to the point
[1:56:39] where we feel like we can't bring it to you.
[1:56:41] And then there is of course, if you all
[1:56:44] decide to move forward with it, they'll
[1:56:46] be negotiating a contract.
[1:56:48] They will be monitoring the process as it moves forward.
[1:56:52] We would like to have an application fee that
[1:56:55] helps pay the county back, so to speak, for the amount of time
[1:57:00] that we're spending on these.
[1:57:02] We're also proposing some revisions
[1:57:04] to the administrative regulation for the procurement Committee
[1:57:07] membership.
[1:57:08] We are updating it to the SBE instead of the MWBE.
[1:57:12] We're also updating to reflect the fact that the scoring will
[1:57:17] be consistent with ordinance solicitation and procurement
[1:57:19] manual.
[1:57:20] We're also proposing some revisions
[1:57:21] to the administrative regulation for contract negotiation
[1:57:25] because we're trying to update it to reflect how we actually
[1:57:29] go about negotiating contracts.
[1:57:31] As far as our key policy recommendations
[1:57:34] that we'd like input on before we
[1:57:37] bring the ordinance back to you, one
[1:57:39] would be the protest process.
[1:57:42] As we discussed, we're suggesting three options.
[1:57:46] Option one, maintain the current process but add clarifications.
[1:57:49] Option two, replace the current process with a decision
[1:57:53] by the procurement manager and appeal hearing
[1:57:56] to the Board of County Commissioners.
[1:57:57] Or option three, replace the current process
[1:58:00] with a decision by the Procurement Manager
[1:58:02] and an appeal to a protest committee comprised
[1:58:05] of three staff members, appointed
[1:58:06] by the county administrator.
[1:58:22] >> Thank you.
[1:58:22] Does that conclude your presentation?
[1:58:22] >> We've got one other recommendation.
[1:58:22] >> I was going to ask, do you want to stop and let the board
[1:58:23] weigh each one?
[1:58:25] >> There's only one more.
[1:58:26] We also wanted, we also mentioned a recommendation
[1:58:29] for a board direction on a protest bond.
[1:58:33] We would love some direction on whether you
[1:58:34] would like us to bring that back as part of the ordinance update
[1:58:37] or not.
[1:58:41] And that's it.
[1:58:43] Unless you have follow up questions.
[1:58:46] >> Thank you.
[1:58:47] We will go to the board for comments.
[1:58:49] We have a couple commissioners who rang in.
[1:58:52] Starting with Commissioner Uribe.
[1:58:55] >> Good morning ladies.
[1:58:57] Thank you for this update.
[1:58:59] Just a really quick question, what is our current appeal
[1:59:03] cost right now?
[1:59:05] So if somebody appeals a decision.
[1:59:08] >> There's no cost for anything right now.
[1:59:12] >> Nothing right now?
[1:59:13] We're pretty much one of the only major counties that
[1:59:16] doesn't.
[1:59:17] That's what I thought.
[1:59:18] I had a couple notes here.
[1:59:21] One, during procurement process over the last year,
[1:59:24] there were state and federal law changes that caused that process
[1:59:28] to change and I was one that advocated for rebidding
[1:59:33] because I felt that if you were actually in that process or had
[1:59:37] been awarded the contract, if those measures had kept,
[1:59:43] at once -- but when that is a heavy weight part of the RFP,
[1:59:50] it's swayed the entire process and ironically when you rebid
[1:59:55] it, it actually went totally different.
[1:59:57] My point is, I don't feel like that is addressed enough.
[2:00:02] Those things are out of your control.
[2:00:05] If the federal government or state government
[2:00:07] says you no longer can do this, how do we proceed in the future
[2:00:12] because, I felt they were correct.
[2:00:16] But I felt the way you took it made sense
[2:00:21] but it didn't really make sense because one company had never
[2:00:26] really put the effort into that application
[2:00:30] and so the company who never even went by the rules
[2:00:34] that we existed would have been awarded the contract.
[2:00:37] Can you give me some feedback on that?
[2:00:39] >> I hope I answered your question right, Commissioner.
[2:00:42] Please help me if I need to provide more context.
[2:00:44] You're right, sometimes there are changes in legislation
[2:00:47] that will help what we can evaluate
[2:00:49] and what we can't evaluate.
[2:00:51] What we've done in the procurement
[2:00:52] Procedures manual is we've incorporated
[2:00:54] a threshold of a firm must achieve
[2:00:58] a minimum score of 60% of the total weighted score
[2:01:01] in order to be deemed considered qualified.
[2:01:04] That will help us in the event that a criteria
[2:01:07] needs to become because it's no longer allowed
[2:01:10] by law to consider.
[2:01:11] We don't have to have a total weighting of 100 necessarily.
[2:01:14] If you're familiar with the procurement process
[2:01:17] and I know that you are because you've said on many of them
[2:01:20] and participated, the total weighting is typically 100
[2:01:22] and then we have a scale of one through five for the scoring.
[2:01:26] Proposer could achieve potentially
[2:01:27] a total of 500 points if they got fives
[2:01:30] on all of the A criteria.
[2:01:32] Our baseline has always been a score of 300
[2:01:35] is the minimum to advance forward.
[2:01:37] That's basically a three.
[2:01:38] That's meeting minimum requirements.
[2:01:40] 360% of 500.
[2:01:42] That's how we establish the baseline of 60%.
[2:01:45] Even if that total weighting of 100
[2:01:48] needs to be throttled down because something
[2:01:50] is no longer able to be considered but we've established
[2:01:52] that that total waiting time, the five eligible points,
[2:01:55] you have to achieve 60% of that.
[2:01:57] That gives us the ability to continue on.
[2:01:59] I don't know if that answered your question Commissioner.
[2:02:04] >> It doesn't because at the time that was a very significant
[2:02:10] part of the procurement process we had in Orange County.
[2:02:15] We really respected companies that actually took that
[2:02:18] into place as opposed to a company
[2:02:20] who disregarded it completely and never would
[2:02:22] have qualified to get that bid.
[2:02:24] I don't feel that's an easy fix because mathematically,
[2:02:28] and you guys are math geniuses, you
[2:02:32] would just say if I just remove this, remove that value,
[2:02:36] everything should work out.
[2:02:37] But then I think of the applicant part
[2:02:40] when I know how important that is
[2:02:42] and I make sure my company fulfills that
[2:02:44] and maybe I wasn't as strong in other areas.
[2:02:48] Now I didn't get to just apply according to your rules.
[2:02:54] I don't see it as clean as that.
[2:02:57] And I really can't offer you -- this is what you all do.
[2:03:00] I can't offer you the exact way but I
[2:03:02] don't think that we should be able to do that.
[2:03:06] I don't think that's really fair because the applicant applied
[2:03:10] with the rules that were set and the rules
[2:03:12] got changed after they applied.
[2:03:14] As much as that is very difficult for you
[2:03:19] all, how do we deal with this, we would essentially
[2:03:22] have to redo all of our work.
[2:03:24] It would be nice to find a way to do that.
[2:03:26] When you think of veterans, let's just say the veteran.
[2:03:30] It doesn't carry as much weight.
[2:03:33] My experience has been where companies have not had any
[2:03:37] and then let's just say our next president
[2:03:39] says I want to take care of veterans
[2:03:42] and completely weighs it up.
[2:03:46] You would actually exclude a lot of your applicants
[2:03:48] right now who don't really invest
[2:03:50] in that part of your application.
[2:03:53] Hopefully we won't be dealing with anything extreme.
[2:03:58] We have to be cognizant of that.
[2:04:02] I think it's hard.
[2:04:04] I will tell you, I worry on a couple of things and I just want
[2:04:09] to --
[2:04:10] I am falling in line with your recommendations.
[2:04:13] I have been boisterous over the years on certain things
[2:04:16] that I didn't feel were great.
[2:04:17] When we talked about headquartered.
[2:04:20] There was a case that you guys helped tweak it
[2:04:24] where the applicant was not even based in Florida.
[2:04:29] Went against it.
[2:04:31] Was lobbying federal -- went against companies who were based
[2:04:35] in Florida.
[2:04:36] Won the bid.
[2:04:37] I was really upset about that because I
[2:04:39] said we are not helping a business that's
[2:04:42] actually located centrally.
[2:04:45] My concern comes on the value point.
[2:04:51] And also I've also sat through your executive order sheet.
[2:04:58] Where they're like hey come on our HR lady is this.
[2:05:01] So give us points because we have a position here.
[2:05:03] It is not you.
[2:05:05] It is me.
[2:05:06] Sometimes I question these applications
[2:05:08] and I sat through them and I've read them
[2:05:10] and I've questioned did you just happen
[2:05:12] to stick someone in that department to qualify
[2:05:15] and so forth.
[2:05:17] I wonder when another issue is, when we've requested folks
[2:05:24] at our headquarters, who just have office space here
[2:05:29] but don't really have an office here.
[2:05:31] When do we start validating those things.
[2:05:37] Especially when they are repeat applicants.
[2:05:40] Kind of tend to those companies that
[2:05:44] go after government contracts.
[2:05:45] They're kind of shaped that way.
[2:05:47] When I talk to businesses, and I was a little disappointed
[2:05:50] on the return of your 9%, because what we notice is
[2:05:54] companies were -- we have found that over the years, their kids,
[2:05:58] a student at UCF, and they use their kids dorm as an office,
[2:06:03] or they rent a room at ABC construction,
[2:06:05] so they can say we have an office here.
[2:06:08] But they really don't.
[2:06:09] So that means money they're taking
[2:06:10] is going to another state.
[2:06:12] And not staying here.
[2:06:14] Have we ever gotten into really looking
[2:06:19] into that a little deeper to really validate the tax dollars.
[2:06:24] What's rolling out of their.
[2:06:26] How many employees are actually here.
[2:06:28] When I talk to a lot of folks who want to apply,
[2:06:32] but, just don't feel it's a very -- it's really solidified.
[2:06:38] And then I've had people come to me who are part of a contract
[2:06:42] and didn't get the work.
[2:06:44] And they just get to those, that division is like well,
[2:06:48] good faith.
[2:06:49] Well, good faith isn't rules.
[2:06:51] I can tell you don't be bad and that doesn't
[2:06:53] mean, what does bad mean?
[2:06:56] You guys do such a great job at really scoping the best person.
[2:07:00] I think the other half of this is actually
[2:07:03] securing that those are done and fulfilled
[2:07:05] because a lot of these people come back and rebid
[2:07:08] on other projects.
[2:07:10] I would love to see a little more teeth in how you do that.
[2:07:16] And it worries me a little because I've
[2:07:20] sat in these where we've got people from that division.
[2:07:25] Because clearly you won't know what's
[2:07:30] important to public works or solid waste.
[2:07:34] I don't think that's the intended way of how
[2:07:37] you look at applications.
[2:07:38] But I've sat in those conversations where
[2:07:40] I've pushed back, not all the time because I don't know,
[2:07:44] but to say well, it works, so we're good with that
[2:07:49] and I've also seen how you all have tried
[2:07:51] to get references and have had challenges actually
[2:07:54] even getting anyone to call you back and things like that.
[2:07:58] Sure, if I gave someone a contract, what motivation
[2:08:01] do I have that no longer contracted with me to help
[2:08:05] them get additional work?
[2:08:06] I hope one day we can actually look at what all this means
[2:08:09] in that situation.
[2:08:10] I am not for delaying.
[2:08:13] I think it'll take too long.
[2:08:16] I think that's probably why we end up
[2:08:18] paying more than market rate.
[2:08:20] Because if I put a bit in today, it
[2:08:21] could be a year before I actually get the job.
[2:08:24] So costs go up.
[2:08:25] I think it's a backlash of how folks just know, hey,
[2:08:28] bid high with the government because it's
[2:08:30] going to take forever to get it and I've just
[2:08:33] spent so much manpower applying for this.
[2:08:36] But it really won't come through until 27.
[2:08:39] I would love to find ways to help streamline that.
[2:08:46] I am with you for option three.
[2:08:48] I do think some people just like to protest because they can.
[2:08:52] I do believe the bonding is that I would
[2:08:57] like to see additional ways of finding when you do protest
[2:09:01] that there has to be some legitimacy, just
[2:09:04] besides I didn't like it.
[2:09:07] I've seen that two.
[2:09:09] I do worry when things have been rebooted within your system
[2:09:12] and the numbers change.
[2:09:15] I question two things, was there not openness and fairness
[2:09:19] the first time?
[2:09:20] Or was it not openness and fairness the second time?
[2:09:23] I had an issue with the last RFP that came up here,
[2:09:26] because how did that completely change?
[2:09:28] It had nothing to do with the company.
[2:09:29] It worries me on the process because it was the same players
[2:09:33] changing of mind.
[2:09:35] Except one person no longer worked for Orange County.
[2:09:38] That is worrisome to me.
[2:09:40] When you do that.
[2:09:42] Carey, I mean I think your team really
[2:09:45] tries to be as clear and transparent on this.
[2:09:48] But I think outside of your job, making sure these things that
[2:09:53] are fulfilled on how you got it, it
[2:09:55] has to become part of the process
[2:09:57] for people who are repeat applicants.
[2:10:00] I'm with you on option three.
[2:10:02] I do also believe that there should be a bond minimally.
[2:10:07] But I do think that we take too long.
[2:10:10] I would just love to wait, find a way that we can streamline,
[2:10:16] maybe by putting the bond and maybe by doing things,
[2:10:20] but I would love to have more weight on --
[2:10:28] someone gets a five on veterans but it means so little.
[2:10:32] And then the complying of repeat applicants who get other things.
[2:10:38] Did they really hire all the small businesses?
[2:10:43] Companies they would use locally.
[2:10:45] Because I've heard too many small businesses
[2:10:47] not get the work when they were part of an application.
[2:10:50] And then they came forward to qualify on their own,
[2:10:53] and then one last thing is I would
[2:10:57] love to also see a prime be required
[2:11:00] to put their own bonding up.
[2:11:02] Not make the small sub put their own bonding when they actually
[2:11:06] qualified for the RFP.
[2:11:08] And this is something with Sheena.
[2:11:10] Because they're capable of bonding.
[2:11:12] If I'm capable of bonding $1 million,
[2:11:15] but I hire a subcontractor and I make my subcontractor
[2:11:18] use his own bonding on his share of the work, that
[2:11:21] doesn't seem fair because that's what qualified
[2:11:23] the guy in the first place.
[2:11:25] Thank you.
[2:11:26] >> Thank you Commissioner Uribe.
[2:11:28] Commissioner Wilson.
[2:11:30] >> Very briefly for me.
[2:11:31] I think I want to be super complimentary to your team,
[2:11:35] to this process, for people who don't understand
[2:11:39] public procurement and the importance of it being public.
[2:11:43] That is sometimes in and of itself
[2:11:45] a delay because it is a public process.
[2:11:47] It is something that we have a great deal of deliberation.
[2:11:51] Anybody that wants to know how bad things can get when you
[2:11:55] do go through that process come and go
[2:11:57] check out the reflecting pool in DC.
[2:11:59] It is critical that we include as many experts
[2:12:02] when we go through these processes.
[2:12:06] I think for the purpose of this update,
[2:12:08] I want to say a lot of it feels very common sense to me
[2:12:11] and I know sometimes it's a lived experience for you all.
[2:12:19] Then to make them part of an update
[2:12:21] is very and efficiency in and of itself.
[2:12:24] Thank you for that.
[2:12:24] I am supportive of option three, which aligns
[2:12:28] with staff recommendations.
[2:12:29] I am also in support of the implementation of a protest bond
[2:12:36] and I want to -- those are my two things.
[2:12:40] I am going to support both of those.
[2:12:43] But I also wanted for public purpose
[2:12:44] for you to explain a little bit or give
[2:12:47] an example of what an invitation to negotiate is, in comparison.
[2:12:52] Because I think it's a little bit of a different creature.
[2:12:55] >> Thank you for asking.
[2:12:56] It is a method that's out there and there's
[2:12:57] certain agencies that utilize it because they
[2:12:59] have the ability to.
[2:13:01] The previous to coming to Orange County, we leveraged invitation
[2:13:06] for negotiations several times.
[2:13:08] I've had a little bit of experience doing those.
[2:13:10] I know the city of Orlando has done them
[2:13:12] and I've said in training that the state of Florida has given.
[2:13:14] They've leveraged invitations to negotiate as well.
[2:13:18] An invitation to negotiate is still a formal solicitation
[2:13:21] process.
[2:13:22] Like into an RFP process.
[2:13:24] It's kind of labeled differently.
[2:13:26] There's still criteria that one would have to go through.
[2:13:28] They get scored like a shortlisting period
[2:13:30] but what it gives us the ability to do
[2:13:32] is let's say we shortlist to three firms,
[2:13:35] we couldn't negotiate with all three of them at the same time
[2:13:38] to try to arrive at the best negotiated
[2:13:40] agreement with the county.
[2:13:42] As opposed to only going to the top rank
[2:13:44] from negotiating and then if we're not successful,
[2:13:46] we have to terminate and go to the next.
[2:13:48] It gives us the ability to simultaneously
[2:13:50] negotiate amongst those three to try
[2:13:52] to figure out how we can get the best negotiated agreement.
[2:13:57] >> So really another efficiency.
[2:13:59] Thank you so much.
[2:14:14] >> Thank you, Commissioner Wilson.
[2:14:16] Commissioner >> Thank you, Commissioner.
[2:14:20] I have four questions.
[2:14:21] I think they're easy.
[2:14:21] I don't think they have been answered.
[2:14:21] The first one is in the protest process.
[2:14:22] For example, how will this affect small minority business?
[2:14:30] >> The protest process is the same regardless of business
[2:14:33] type.
[2:14:34] They all follow the same process and our current ordinance,
[2:14:37] regardless if they're a small business or minority
[2:14:40] business or a large firm.
[2:14:41] They have to follow the same process.
[2:14:43] That would be no different if we updated.
[2:14:45] Would apply to all the business community and not
[2:14:47] just subsections of it.
[2:14:49] They would all have to consistently follow
[2:14:51] the same process.
[2:14:54] >> Could this be a financial barrier?
[2:14:57] Could they be penalized if they have the bond?
[2:15:02] >> It could be I have seen some other local governments that
[2:15:06] waive the bond for registered small businesses.
[2:15:12] That could be an option if that's something
[2:15:15] you wanted us to put in there.
[2:15:29] >> Okay.
[2:15:30] But will this penalize the vendor?
[2:15:39] >> It will be a cost to them to bring forward a protest.
[2:15:41] But if they prevail, they'll get it back.
[2:15:41] It's only if they do not prevail in the protest
[2:15:43] that we would hold on to it.
[2:15:53] >> They will have to have it by the application time, right,
[2:15:56] when they submit the application?
[2:15:56] >> No, when they actually file a protest to the decision.
[2:15:56] They wouldn't need to file it in a normal solicitation
[2:15:57] period's only when they decide if they want
[2:15:58] to bring a protest themselves of the decision,
[2:16:01] then they would have to file the bond.
[2:16:06] >> Keeping that line, do we have any data showing how many bids
[2:16:16] protest Orange County or how many were
[2:16:30] [indiscernible]
[2:16:37] >> There's the data Commissioner from 2020 to on current to date.
[2:16:39] So you can see the number of protests
[2:16:39] received by fiscal year.
[2:16:39] And ultimately the percent that were upheld by fiscal year.
[2:16:42] And again on average we get about 4%
[2:16:44] of our total solicitations that are
[2:16:47] protested on an annual basis.
[2:16:50] >> Thank you.
[2:16:53] >> I had a question on this slide.
[2:16:54] Just out of curiosity, when you look
[2:16:57] at the numbers and the number of protests that were received,
[2:17:01] in the years where there is a higher number received,
[2:17:04] protest, is there some type of a market shock
[2:17:08] that happens that creates a catalyst effect
[2:17:12] or anything like that?
[2:17:14] >> It's a good question, Commissioner.
[2:17:16] But I can't tell you that off the top of my head.
[2:17:19] Was it a time with extreme volatility where people
[2:17:21] were kind of vying more for government contracts as opposed
[2:17:24] to times when the market was more
[2:17:26] stabilized so they had choices in the market,
[2:17:28] I really can't tell you today and put my finger
[2:17:31] on what caused the increase over certain years
[2:17:34] versus other years.
[2:17:35] It's possible it could be correlated to something
[2:17:37] with regards to supply chain or volatility,
[2:17:39] but I don't have that data to share with you.
[2:17:43] >> Thank you.
[2:17:44] I would like to say that I appreciate your department so
[2:17:47] much because I think that the entire reason of procurement
[2:17:52] process and making sure we have a good one
[2:17:54] is to make sure that public money is used
[2:17:56] to the benefit of public and not just to serve those who
[2:18:00] are politically well connected.
[2:18:02] Your process is very important to ensure fairness.
[2:18:05] I also support option three with my colleagues as well.
[2:18:10] And I wanted to just let you know
[2:18:12] that I also appreciated how you included and educational front.
[2:18:17] Where when somebody applies and doesn't get it,
[2:18:21] that you actually spend time with the applicant
[2:18:23] to educate them.
[2:18:24] I know that your time is valuable.
[2:18:27] And I know that's an additional task on your plate.
[2:18:31] But I know it's super important as far as small businesses
[2:18:33] to learn from you.
[2:18:35] You guys are the experts.
[2:18:37] I thank you for all that you do.
[2:18:39] Byron, there was no requested action period
[2:18:42] can I hear that there's a consensus.
[2:18:46] Commissioner Scott, did you want to ring in?
[2:18:50] No, go ahead.
[2:19:08] >> We talk about those statuses.
[2:19:09] Could you put a generic update, because obviously
[2:19:13] just in the room of processes, there
[2:19:16] could be a lot going on administratively.
[2:19:19] And there's no update.
[2:19:21] But a lot has passed.
[2:19:24] Something that allows you to give a generic update
[2:19:27] and say there is no update.
[2:19:29] In regards to the options, so every year
[2:19:31] the county administrator will pick a process, rate?
[2:19:35] Have you figured out what you guys
[2:19:37] are going to do when we add two additional commissioners?
[2:19:42] Obviously right now it averages out
[2:19:44] to about two procurements per commissioner per year.
[2:19:47] Are you still tweaking that process or have you
[2:19:49] landed on that?
[2:19:50] >> Good question that's prescribed in the administrative
[2:19:53] regulation of the composition of the procurement committee and it
[2:19:56] does identify board delegates.
[2:19:58] We do the quick math and we have six district commissioners.
[2:20:01] Serve on a rotating basis, basically two months out
[2:20:04] of the year.
[2:20:05] It was easy math.
[2:20:07] We have 12 months.
[2:20:08] Six commissioners.
[2:20:10] That's something we're going to be doing.
[2:20:11] The staff assignment of those come January.
[2:20:14] We working through that now.
[2:20:15] What does it look like.
[2:20:16] Is it an eight week rotation.
[2:20:18] Is it something that we just go through, the districts,
[2:20:22] so you won't necessarily have January and July.
[2:20:25] You might have January and then several months later.
[2:20:29] It's not exact math now.
[2:20:30] But yes Commissioner, it is something
[2:20:32] we are thinking about now as we're
[2:20:33] going to be elevating to a district commissioners.
[2:20:36] We want to make sure we have that staffing scheduled
[2:20:39] for the procurement committee.
[2:20:40] That will be forthcoming in January.
[2:20:44] >> And are there any other counties or cities that have
[2:20:47] a more public or process that involves members of the public?
[2:20:56] Is there like a procurement advisory committee
[2:20:59] or anything like that?
[2:21:01] >> Not that I'm aware of.
[2:21:02] I could do some outreach to pole peers.
[2:21:04] I'm not aware of that.
[2:21:05] There are occasions Commissioner,
[2:21:07] where we do have members from either another agency
[2:21:11] or technical advisors that serve on a procurement committee
[2:21:14] to give that technical advisor.
[2:21:16] But I'm not aware of any sort of member advisory committee that
[2:21:20] would be associated with procurements.
[2:21:22] As you know, these are public meetings.
[2:21:26] The public can come.
[2:21:28] We also broadcast them virtually as a courtesy
[2:21:31] to help some people who don't want
[2:21:33] to drive down to the office.
[2:21:34] We have many people who are just observing the proceedings
[2:21:37] virtually as well.
[2:21:38] Whether their proposals or whether their citizens come
[2:21:42] we don't really know.
[2:21:43] But we do allow for those folks to come in and observe it.
[2:21:46] They're not participating, but I am not
[2:21:49] aware of any agency that has any sort of member
[2:21:51] advisory committee associated with any given procurements.
[2:21:57] >> Two more things, vice mayor.
[2:22:00] With the -- I guess the boilerplate that you were
[2:22:05] talking about.
[2:22:05] In the language, when you talk about
[2:22:08] like frequency of payments, the net 30, the prompt payment act,
[2:22:13] and then you talk about insurance thresholds,
[2:22:15] I know that there have been a number of barriers
[2:22:18] and Commissioner Cordero kind of talked
[2:22:20] about this, of smaller businesses who might otherwise
[2:22:24] be eligible, but are financially priced out
[2:22:26] because they can't afford some of the insurance thresholds.
[2:22:29] And I know that not every company
[2:22:31] needs every level of insurance.
[2:22:33] We require a lot of insurance and generally it's standard.
[2:22:36] But really looking at -- how do we put systems in place that are
[2:22:45] easy to allow for the waving of insurance?
[2:22:49] Because right now it seems challenging to just go
[2:22:51] through the process.
[2:22:52] But something that will allow you or John Pizzarelli
[2:22:56] and his team to make some type of adjustment.
[2:23:00] We need honesty insurance.
[2:23:03] We don't -- that's another cost.
[2:23:08] That cost is factored in.
[2:23:11] Whereas if I didn't have that cost it'd be cheaper to you
[2:23:14] as an entity.
[2:23:17] >> Typically what I'll say Commissioner is we have
[2:23:19] a collaborative workspace with risk.
[2:23:22] We are managing a large system with them.
[2:23:26] We're constantly collaborating on when we have scopes.
[2:23:29] We start with the basic standard insurance requirements
[2:23:31] that they require and then we kind of do bolt on
[2:23:35] to and say this is a construction project
[2:23:37] or they're going to need pollution liability.
[2:23:40] We add on.
[2:23:41] They are working out there in social services.
[2:23:44] They need the child protection.
[2:23:48] In addition to the standard.
[2:23:50] We are always coordinating with risk
[2:23:51] to understand what is the specific level of insurance
[2:23:54] needed for this particular procurement.
[2:23:55] It's not one size fits all.
[2:23:57] We don't require them to provide their insurance with their bid
[2:24:00] or proposal.
[2:24:01] Only at the time of award.
[2:24:03] We don't want people to have to come out of money just
[2:24:05] to be able to bind that insurance coverage.
[2:24:08] That's something I want to be clear,
[2:24:10] we don't ever want anyone to have to commit funding,
[2:24:13] just to submit a bid or proposal.
[2:24:15] It's only for that awardee.
[2:24:17] But we do declare what the insurance requirements
[2:24:19] will be for that particular procurement in the solicitation.
[2:24:21] As part of our education when we do
[2:24:23] outreach as we encourage folks, take a look
[2:24:26] at your current coverage.
[2:24:27] Take a look at what the county is asking for.
[2:24:29] Get with your carrier and see if they can do gap.
[2:24:32] If you have a gap in that coverage and you're successful,
[2:24:35] what is the value, what is the cost to cover that fact.
[2:24:39] So that you're covered for that event.
[2:24:42] We try to educate on that but we do
[2:24:46] work very closely with risk on a case by case basis
[2:24:49] to make sure we have the proper insurance coverages declared
[2:24:52] upfront.
[2:24:53] Not after the fact.
[2:24:54] It's not really fair to go back to somebody and say now
[2:24:56] you need to have these additional coverages.
[2:24:58] That's not how we handle procurements.
[2:25:01] >> My last thing is more of a comment.
[2:25:03] You're aware we discussed this before.
[2:25:06] As you obviously will talk about the makeup of who
[2:25:10] these staffers are.
[2:25:11] On a year to year basis.
[2:25:14] I would ask that it never be a circumstance where there is
[2:25:17] a supervisor and a subordinate.
[2:25:20] >> Yes.
[2:25:21] >> That was a concern.
[2:25:22] Like okay, my boss is voting one way, I may feel a certain way
[2:25:27] but I'm going to vote with my boss because he's my supervisor.
[2:25:30] I don't -- I think that creates a situation.
[2:25:35] If someone is going to go with their supervisor or manager
[2:25:39] that they're going to go in there
[2:25:40] that way and it's not a fair process.
[2:25:43] That is a factor of consideration.
[2:25:45] >> Thank you for bringing that up.
[2:25:46] That is something that's been adjusted
[2:25:48] for in the proposed admin rig that
[2:25:49] will be advancing with this.
[2:25:51] We didn't highlight it on there but we
[2:25:53] have heard that feedback as well from the business community.
[2:25:57] A perception out there that hey, maybe there's undue influence.
[2:26:00] We have actually already written that
[2:26:02] into the administrative regulation
[2:26:04] to preclude a direct report from serving with their supervisor
[2:26:07] on a procurement committee.
[2:26:09] That's something that will be coming forward in the fall.
[2:26:11] >> I know we talked about thresholds larger $9 million.
[2:26:16] Commissioner eBay had you guys do some additional research.
[2:26:21] But I remember when I left here on the 17th,
[2:26:23] you couldn't spend more than $1,500 on an a B card.
[2:26:27] And then when I got the UCF it was $10,000 on a B card.
[2:26:32] I mean -- while you've got the book open,
[2:26:37] look at all those things as well because that may be something
[2:26:41] that may be we're having (indiscernible).
[2:26:55] >> Those thresholds are specifically prescribed
[2:26:57] in the ordinance.
[2:26:57] They're in policy.
[2:26:57] A couple of years back we did take
[2:26:57] a look at updating the formal solicitation threshold.
[2:26:57] It was very low at the time.
[2:26:57] It was 3000 and the board was willing to increase it up
[2:27:00] to 150 zero zero.
[2:27:02] Respectively with that we did look at those lower tiers
[2:27:04] of when do you need quotes.
[2:27:06] What is a single quote.
[2:27:07] We are fairly refreshed on that and what the board did authorize
[2:27:11] during the time was an automatic escalator to the former
[2:27:14] solicitation threshold so every five years we look at the value
[2:27:17] that the CPI has increased and we can adjust up to the nearest
[2:27:22] 10,000.
[2:27:22] Five years ago or six years ago the board
[2:27:25] authorized that board approval or the formal solicitation
[2:27:28] threshold to change.
[2:27:29] This past October was our first year doing that five years CPI
[2:27:33] increase and we found that the value of that CPI over the five
[2:27:36] years had increased $40,000.
[2:27:40] Automatically as a result, we've increased our formal
[2:27:44] solicitation threshold up to $190,000 to account for that.
[2:27:48] Every five years we'll do the calculation
[2:27:50] to make sure that we are in line in keeping with the CPI.
[2:27:53] And then we'll have to take a look at the single transactions
[2:27:56] and the quotes to make sure that our scale is appropriately
[2:27:59] adjusted as well.
[2:28:00] But thank you for that feedback.
[2:28:01] I appreciate it.
[2:28:20] >> My apologies.
[2:28:20] Thank you.
[2:28:20] No requested action.
[2:28:20] But it does sound as though --
[2:28:21] I'm sorry, Commissioner Cordero, go ahead.
[2:28:21] >> Thank you.
[2:28:21] Carry on I have another question because you
[2:28:24] know when Commissioner Scott was talking it came to my mind
[2:28:28] as well.
[2:28:31] If the protests go on the small business,
[2:28:34] like they don't have enough capital or whatever,
[2:28:37] but they want to protest, they have the 1% or the 5000,
[2:28:44] that money will be returned if they get the >> Correct.
[2:29:03] If they are successful in protest.
[2:29:05] If they protest and it's found to be upheld,
[2:29:05] they will receive the full amount of the bond back.
[2:29:05] >> What does that mean?
[2:29:06] I mean, okay, they prevail in the protest or whatever,
[2:29:12] what would be the process for them to go in?
[2:29:16] >> We will maintain their bond on file.
[2:29:18] In the event they're successful, we simply
[2:29:20] return the bond to them.
[2:29:23] >> But okay, if they prevail in the protest,
[2:29:25] what is the process before you, for them to come back
[2:29:29] into the >> It would depend on what the basis of the protest
[2:29:45] was.
[2:29:46] If they are found to have been upheld,
[2:29:46] we would continue on with the procurement process
[2:29:46] and give them the consideration they had asked.
[2:29:46] Yes.
[2:29:46] Yes.
[2:29:47] Yes.
[2:29:47] I apologize.
[2:29:48] That's right.
[2:29:51] >> Okay and then, option three, of the protest process,
[2:29:58] we get into the option three, which is the replacement
[2:30:03] and decision by procurement management and appeal.
[2:30:09] Three members assigned to.
[2:30:12] What if that goes into there and let's say (indiscernible).
[2:30:30] Would that come here or whatever decision
[2:30:32] is made in that option three?
[2:30:32] >> In the final scenario, no, the protest committee would be
[2:30:32] the final decision maker, as far as the county is concerned
[2:30:36] if they feel like they are aggrieved and want to challenge
[2:30:39] it further, then they would take it to court.
[2:30:44] >> Thank you.
[2:30:52] Court, right coming up BK?
[2:30:57] >> The protest would not come to you.
[2:30:59] But the award of the solicitation
[2:31:00] would come to you for a decision, yes.
[2:31:19] >> C, yeah,
[2:31:23] >> I'll say I'm okay with it going to a judge.
[2:31:25] In terms of the evaluation of the rubrics scorecard.
[2:31:27] But if you have an additional --
[2:31:41] >> (indiscernible).
[2:31:42] >> If I can, we get to serve on this,
[2:31:42] but we don't get to serve on the appeal process.
[2:31:42] None of us would actually have the ability to know this.
[2:31:42] And we have overturned and we have had things rebooted.
[2:31:44] I'm not saying it would happen all the time,
[2:31:46] but it worries me that having this board that
[2:31:49] was elected by the public not being able to be in this process
[2:31:53] at all, at least while I've been here,
[2:31:56] there's been a couple of times where it's come to us.
[2:32:15] >> We want your feedback on this.
[2:32:17] It would be a change, option 2 or 3
[2:32:17] would be a change to what our current process is.
[2:32:17] In order to be able to bring this back to you
[2:32:17] for consideration, it really would be helpful,
[2:32:17] I think we've heard some detail about your consideration
[2:32:18] of the protest bond.
[2:32:19] It's really up to this board how you
[2:32:21] would like to see this protest process advance forward
[2:32:24] for the due process.
[2:32:25] If you have a desire to look at an option
[2:32:27] other than what we're recommending,
[2:32:29] this is helpful information for us
[2:32:31] to know so that we can craft the ordinance in such a way
[2:32:33] that the board wants.
[2:32:50] >> Kerry my last question, I promise.
[2:32:50] It goes to court.
[2:32:50] Court decided that, they prevail, so what they do,
[2:32:50] they come back, you stop the process with others
[2:32:50] and then they come back and include that.
[2:32:52] So what do you do? (indiscernible).
[2:33:08] >> We've never had anybody go to court.
[2:33:10] The way the process works now, they
[2:33:10] would normally try to make an appointment with you all
[2:33:10] to have a meeting to talk about their appeal.
[2:33:12] This actually, if we do option three or we do option two,
[2:33:14] it would allow them an opportunity
[2:33:16] to present their case and allow the county to present our case
[2:33:20] and have someone make a decision.
[2:33:23] With the current process, they can make a meeting
[2:33:27] with a commissioner.
[2:33:28] You all don't have to take those meetings and sometimes don't.
[2:33:32] This would give them a process whereby
[2:33:34] they can air their grievances in front of someone
[2:33:36] and it will give them time to have an actual hearing.
[2:33:41] To present their case.
[2:33:43] It's absolutely up to you all how
[2:33:45] you would prefer to handle it.
[2:33:47] We wanted to give you these different options that we've
[2:33:49] seen in other localities.
[2:33:51] To see if you would like to keep going the way
[2:33:53] you are or change it.
[2:33:56] >> My question though is not (indiscernible).
[2:34:12] My question is, is the process, the whole entire process
[2:34:14] would have to stop?
[2:34:15] Until that is completed.
[2:34:26] >> We do that now.
[2:34:27] >> Everyone has that option now.
[2:34:27] >> That's not new.
[2:34:27] >> Yeah, that's not new.
[2:34:27] They've always had that option.
[2:34:27] If anyone is unhappy by the final decision made by either
[2:34:27] the procurement -- in this case, ull.
[2:34:28] They can go to court and challenge that if they want to.
[2:34:31] It has not happened.
[2:34:35] >> Yeah, but they go to two court after the BCC approved.
[2:34:39] >> Yes.
[2:34:39] And you would still have the solicitation
[2:34:41] come to you for approval.
[2:34:42] If it's over the formal threshold.
[2:34:46] That part would still occur.
[2:34:48] If they wanted to challenge the decision of the committee,
[2:34:52] then they would have to go to court.
[2:34:53] Which they can do now, if they're
[2:34:56] unhappy with the decision made by this body.
[2:35:00] >> Commissioners, we have to get to a point where we're making
[2:35:03] a recommendation to them of our options.
[2:35:05] One 2 or 3.
[2:35:06] We were, it sounded like we were in consensus.
[2:35:09] It sounds like we're splitting.
[2:35:11] Commissioner Wilson has tagged in.
[2:35:13] Then Commissioner Uribe.
[2:35:14] And then Byron I'm coming to you for -- okay.
[2:35:18] Let me just close after that.
[2:35:20] Commissioner Wilson, go ahead.
[2:35:22] >> I just wanted to say I continue to support
[2:35:24] the recommendations.
[2:35:25] I believe an independent arbitrator at that stage
[2:35:28] is critical.
[2:35:29] At that level it's supposed to be
[2:35:32] balls and strikes being called.
[2:35:33] And those are factual findings.
[2:35:34] For us to be in a position to be lobbied to,
[2:35:37] I think complicates the situation.
[2:35:39] Then the bandwidth for whoever has the best lobbying team
[2:35:43] ends up being sort of a louder voice in the room.
[2:35:48] I'm very comfortable at that stage, this recommendation.
[2:35:53] >> Okay, I actually have a solution because I am not.
[2:35:56] We represent people and we represent
[2:35:58] business owners and that's part of our job being here.
[2:36:00] Some of us in society are involved in the RFP.
[2:36:04] Not all of us are.
[2:36:05] And that's just the way it is.
[2:36:06] But I would actually like to offer a solution
[2:36:08] that I get very nervous when staff's in charge of everything.
[2:36:12] And the people who were elected here to represent everyone out
[2:36:15] there has no footprint on this.
[2:36:18] I can't control which electives come and actually serve.
[2:36:22] I know where I have been.
[2:36:24] Can we find a way that when you are --
[2:36:27] and to me adding more staff members is just confirming us
[2:36:30] not being involved.
[2:36:31] Could there be an option that the commissioner --
[2:36:34] because when I disagreed with one of the decisions,
[2:36:37] when it came back, I wasn't even on it to actually make that
[2:36:40] influence, which is the one I was assigned to.
[2:36:43] Is it possible to put a threshold in there
[2:36:45] that the commissioner that was actually in that application
[2:36:49] have the opportunity to be one of those additional three staff
[2:36:52] members?
[2:36:52] So there is that open transparent
[2:36:56] and I, from elected officials.
[2:37:00] I'm good with option three.
[2:37:01] I would just instead of three staff members, two staff members
[2:37:04] and the commissioner that actually would
[2:37:06] have been assigned to the case.
[2:37:07] >> One thing I'll offer Commissioner,
[2:37:09] is we are talking about RFP and RFP is.
[2:37:14] This would be one process for any solicitation type
[2:37:16] and there is no commissioner assigned when it
[2:37:18] comes to invitation for bids.
[2:37:35] >> So let's look at RFP.
[2:37:36] Can we define that as RFP as.
[2:37:36] We are good enough to be on there when it's Bidded
[2:37:36] but we're not good enough to be on there when it's protested.
[2:37:36] It's a concern to me.
[2:37:36] This is an elected body.
[2:37:37] To be transparent with the public.
[2:37:40] Staff controlling everything, not undermining what you do,
[2:37:45] but this division and almost like what Commissioner
[2:37:48] Scott kind of said, my boss is on there,
[2:37:50] my colleagues on there, do we really stand up for the company
[2:37:54] that we grow?
[2:37:57] It allows at least some decency without it having
[2:38:00] to come back before the BCC.
[2:38:03] >> What I would note though is, the board under that option
[2:38:06] would have to make the commitment that they would
[2:38:09] actually participate.
[2:38:11] >> You can't make them participate anyways.
[2:38:28] >> I'm saying it's part of the process here.
[2:38:30] >> What's wrong with that?
[2:38:30] I felt it was wrong.
[2:38:30] Excuse me.
[2:38:30] Excuse me.
[2:38:30] Let me.
[2:38:30] When that one, when I agreed that it was not fair,
[2:38:30] when I came back and it was protested,
[2:38:30] I didn't get to be on it.
[2:38:31] Which I was the one that actually got all the information
[2:38:34] and knew what was out there and why it was being protested.
[2:38:37] That's a big concern to me.
[2:38:41] I mean we're elected to present the people.
[2:38:44] When you put this all on staff, now you're
[2:38:46] having staff be in control of everything.
[2:38:48] And not giving that option to the person who would
[2:38:50] have been part of that decision in the first place.
[2:38:53] To not be able to actually influence us at all.
[2:39:12] >> The board considers that it is important as part
[2:39:14] of the protest process that there is representation.
[2:39:14] That was also one of those feedback
[2:39:14] that we recognize that for the protest
[2:39:14] that there was a desire to ensure that there was
[2:39:16] full attendance in those protest hearings and the protest
[2:39:21] process.
[2:39:21] As well as we hate to be in a situation
[2:39:24] where there are only two people because then
[2:39:26] it would be a 1 to 1 tie.
[2:39:29] I understand that --
[2:39:49] >> I have a suggestion that might be helpful.
[2:39:49] We could add another layer.
[2:39:49] We could do -- they go to the procurement manager,
[2:39:49] they're unhappy with the decision,
[2:39:49] they go to this protest committee.
[2:39:49] If they're unhappy with that decision,
[2:39:49] then they come to the board.
[2:39:49] It's a lengthier process.
[2:39:51] And I doubt many would take advantage of it because usually,
[2:39:55] we really have people who actually take the appeal
[2:39:59] that we currently have now.
[2:40:01] But that would be an option that could satisfy you,
[2:40:03] if that's something you all wanted us to write in their.
[2:40:06] We can absolutely do that.
[2:40:08] It's up to you.
[2:40:09] >> I just think there has to be a level of transparency.
[2:40:12] >> That's fine.
[2:40:13] >> And there have been a couple of things over the years that I
[2:40:16] have questioned.
[2:40:17] Not you.
[2:40:17] The people involved making the decision.
[2:40:19] >> Absolutely.
[2:40:21] >> Especially Commissioner Scott,
[2:40:23] when you had the boss and you had the person who worked
[2:40:27] for the boss on the board, and on the committee,
[2:40:30] making that decision.
[2:40:33] That's where I'm worried.
[2:40:35] That's a concern.
[2:40:36] I don't know how you all feel.
[2:40:39] >> Commissioner what I'm hearing now is a hybrid option where
[2:40:42] we're looking at basically number three.
[2:40:44] But we're adding an additional layer
[2:40:47] where it would say replace the current process with decision
[2:40:51] by procurement manager.
[2:40:52] Appeal with the protest committee comprised of three
[2:40:55] staff members appointed by the county administrator..
[2:41:00] Then appeal to the hearing to the BCC or something.
[2:41:02] Is that what you're proposing as a hybrid?
[2:41:06] >> It's absolutely up to you.
[2:41:07] That was just a suggestion.
[2:41:23] >> To clarify, what you're actually saying is this plus
[2:41:26] come to the BCC.
[2:41:26] So you're worried about the votes?
[2:41:26] We're worried about that odd number.
[2:41:26] I know Byron said, will that commissioner actually attend?
[2:41:28] Wasn't that the concern?
[2:41:30] Was how --
[2:41:50] >> (indiscernible).
[2:41:51] >> You say due process N1 but then you throw it out we were
[2:41:51] part of the decision in the first place,
[2:41:51] but then we're not part of the appeal.
[2:41:51] That is not due process.
[2:41:51] >> I will say it's very unusual in a proceeding where someone is
[2:41:54] appealing a decision to have the person who originally made
[2:41:57] the decision involved in the appeal.
[2:41:59] In fact I can tell you in the past agencies I've worked for,
[2:42:04] I have actually advocated for board members
[2:42:06] not to serve on procurements for that very reason period
[2:42:09] so they ultimately don't have to decide
[2:42:12] on an appeal of a decision they made originally.
[2:42:15] I mean if you think about it -- we're trying to get away from
[2:42:34] that.
[2:42:35] As an attorney, I will tell you any court process,
[2:42:35] a normal process in court, you appear before a judge.
[2:42:35] If you are unhappy with that judge's decision,
[2:42:35] you don't go back to that same judge.
[2:42:35] Generally you go to an appeals court
[2:42:36] and that appeals court will make a decision
[2:42:38] on whether they thought that judge made
[2:42:40] an appropriate decision or not.
[2:42:42] Sometimes they send you back but it's back with instructions,
[2:42:45] not to do it differently.
[2:42:49] It is unusual to have a process whereby
[2:42:52] you make the initial decision and you decide the appeal.
[2:42:55] That is one of the reasons why we want to take it out
[2:42:57] of the hands of the procurement committee
[2:42:59] and we suggested this appeal committee.
[2:43:03] Because it is odd.
[2:43:06] And people have expressed concerns over that process.
[2:43:09] Whereby you appear before the procurement committee who
[2:43:13] scores your submittal and then when
[2:43:15] you are unhappy with the way you scored your submittal
[2:43:17] you go back to them and ask them to do it again.
[2:43:20] It's -- that's unusual in terms of the type of initial decision
[2:43:25] and appeal.
[2:43:27] >> That might help.
[2:43:28] Now if you get to ask a commissioner
[2:43:30] to be there, so no longer is it the one,
[2:43:33] you're offering to ask a commissioner to step in
[2:43:35] on the appeal process.
[2:43:38] We're going to have eight of us.
[2:43:40] You have a better odd than a commissioner will actually
[2:43:43] be present then is not.
[2:43:45] If you believe that, because three staff members is --
[2:43:51] I've sat in some, I don't want to bring it up right now,
[2:43:55] they're very uncomfortable that we're approved.
[2:43:57] And I have been boisterous about this.
[2:44:00] This to me is leaving a layer of transparency closed off.
[2:44:04] Having a commissioner as opposed to the commissioner,
[2:44:08] I'd be open to that, considering what you're saying
[2:44:10] is you're already part of the process,
[2:44:12] this is what you agreed on, are you
[2:44:15] going to be trying to be influenced?
[2:44:19] >>, I disagree.
[2:44:20] I think the lobbying difference with the Board of County
[2:44:22] Commission or any elected is very
[2:44:24] different than an independent judiciary.
[2:44:27] And I think there's --
[2:44:48] >> I'm saying instead of having three staff members offer
[2:44:48] a commissioner to be there.
[2:44:48] That's the transparency.
[2:44:48] That's where we get to look out for the businesses.
[2:44:48] >> I mean I don't vote there.
[2:44:48] I vote here.
[2:44:49] I'm in the process of.
[2:44:51] But really, why are we going to --
[2:45:11] >> Can I propose, just one, you guys,
[2:45:11] unless it's like a contentious protest,
[2:45:11] generally we'll move it forward without a briefing.
[2:45:11] Or you'll give us a briefing.
[2:45:11] I would ask, in this process, and I
[2:45:11] think this might get what you're looking for,
[2:45:13] Commissioner, I hope, give them the option, if that makes sense.
[2:45:18] They could have like the two step process.
[2:45:21] Where there's one process to proper to the contractor.
[2:45:27] Hey, you can go through this process
[2:45:30] or you can go through this process with the commissioners.
[2:45:32] If I choose a particular process,
[2:45:36] I'm good with the outcome.
[2:45:41] >> It's like an opt out clause.
[2:45:43] >> And then they choose how they want to protest.
[2:45:46] Hey, I want to go through staff.
[2:45:49] So keep the option three but add an additional process
[2:45:52] that allow them to go through the commissioners
[2:45:54] if they decide.
[2:45:54] But also it's binding.
[2:45:59] But the commissioner, (indiscernible).
[2:46:08] It would be maybe that Commissioner in the staff.
[2:46:17] Could we offer them two processes?
[2:46:19] And let them decide?
[2:46:32] >> Oh I can offer commissioners is the feedback we got from
[2:46:35] the business community.
[2:46:35] They want one process.
[2:46:35] It created confusion with some of their legal counsel quite
[2:46:35] frankly to understand which process they needed to navigate.
[2:46:35] It's been confusing for attorneys.
[2:46:36] We were desiring and based on the feedback
[2:46:38] from businesses to have a single protest process that
[2:46:40] would apply to all.
[2:46:42] Rather than you can choose paths or this applies to that.
[2:47:02] >> Let's be realistic.
[2:47:03] They're going to choose to come to the board.
[2:47:03] For different reasons.
[2:47:03] Offering that, really as an option
[2:47:03] because I think they come to the board or go through the protest.
[2:47:06] It really needs to be one or the other.
[2:47:22] >> That's how we found out the red light camera one.
[2:47:24] Because I had -- the rules changed.
[2:47:24] The whole application changed.
[2:47:24] When you took the minority and women out of
[2:47:25] it and it completely went different.
[2:47:25] And then when it actually got appealed,
[2:47:27] it went completely different again.
[2:47:47] >> The board already has that discretion.
[2:47:49] The county has that discretion to cancel any RFP process.
[2:47:49] It was just a matter in that particular case of how
[2:47:52] you were bringing that forward.
[2:47:54] Because of the law and the way it was written at that point.
[2:47:58] That we would just not count that category.
[2:48:02] It was a matter that has to do with the language
[2:48:07] or anything of that nature.
[2:48:09] That was a discretionary matter in this case.
[2:48:13] More than an appeal process the board made.
[2:48:17] The choice to exercise your option to always cancel an RFP
[2:48:20] and start over.
[2:48:22] Slightly different.
[2:48:25] >> Without being able to adjust the application.
[2:48:29] So when you apply with a certain rules and those rules change, --
[2:48:52] the protest.
[2:48:53] That's really what I was trying to get to.
[2:48:53] >> We do have one other suggestion that may alleviate
[2:48:53] your concern.
[2:48:53] If you were to go with option three, where
[2:48:53] it went to an appeals committee that was made up of three staff
[2:48:55] members, we could make sure that a report or some sort
[2:48:58] of communication was issued to all of you
[2:49:02] so that you're aware that this particular procurement went
[2:49:06] through this process.
[2:49:07] When it comes to you for approval,
[2:49:09] you would already know this person has protested.
[2:49:12] It was decided this way by both the procurement manager
[2:49:16] and this appeals committee.
[2:49:18] And then you could take that into account
[2:49:21] when the solicitation comes before you.
[2:49:24] Would that work?
[2:49:28] >> But for all of them.
[2:49:29] >> We do that generally.
[2:49:30] If there's a procurement that's advancing to the board.
[2:49:33] We always identify if a protest was filed.
[2:49:35] How it was resolved.
[2:49:37] We would go into greater detail, obviously, if there was --
[2:49:41] to give you that detail.
[2:49:43] But they are included in the agenda items.
[2:50:01] >> Sometimes we get ambushed in the meetings.
[2:50:03] And that way just have a procurement report from you all.
[2:50:03] >> So just like we do the monthly report of the contract
[2:50:03] reports, we could create a monthly report of the protest
[2:50:03] essentially, and the resolution thereof.
[2:50:03] That's easy enough to do that.
[2:50:05] >> That sounds like a winner.
[2:50:07] So you have consensus.
[2:50:09] >> So do you need to adjust that report?
[2:50:11] We just want to make sure it's due process.
[2:50:17] >> That's fine.
[2:50:20] >> So with an ordinance --
[2:50:41] >> We're going to do all of these things to make sure
[2:50:43] you're comfortable.
[2:50:43] >> I mean, this is a general overview of the changes.
[2:50:43] There will be some other changes within there.
[2:50:43] But they're mostly administrative Eric
[2:50:43] you'll see the ordinance, our proposed changes
[2:50:43] prior to coming to you for a decision.
[2:50:45] And we will be bringing it back for a public hearing.
[2:50:47] We will do another presentation.
[2:50:49] All of that before you actually decide.
[2:50:53] >> Thank you.
[2:50:55] Now we'll bring up Kelly Noel, chief engineer public works,
[2:51:00] fiscal and operational support Division,
[2:51:02] to present an update on the accelerated Transportation
[2:51:05] Safety Program.
[2:51:07] AtSb.
[2:51:07] We have no request to board action on this item.
[2:51:11] Thank you.
[2:51:46] >> Good morning.
[2:51:47] It's still morning.
[2:51:47] So good morning.
[2:51:47] Vice mayor.
[2:51:47] Commissioners.
[2:51:47] Comptroller diamonds.
[2:51:47] Administrator books.
[2:51:47] I'm here to talk to you about the accelerated Transportation
[2:51:47] safety program.
[2:51:47] This is a five year program addressing
[2:51:48] critical transportation infrastructure needs.
[2:51:51] The program began in 2023.
[2:51:54] It's a five year program and it's reaching
[2:51:57] a midway point in the program.
[2:51:58] We'd like to give you an update on how we got here.
[2:52:02] The programs we had in place prior to this AtSb
[2:52:07] as well as tell you a little bit of the achievements
[2:52:10] we've been able to accomplish.
[2:52:13] Our progress to date.
[2:52:15] And other advancements in the field and give you
[2:52:18] a summary, an idea of what to expect in the second half
[2:52:22] of this program.
[2:52:23] A little bit of background.
[2:52:25] We developed a comprehensive plan
[2:52:28] to support the transportation sales tax initiative.
[2:52:32] Back in 2022.
[2:52:35] In that plan there were major infrastructure improvements
[2:52:39] such as roadway and transit improvements proposed,
[2:52:42] as well as minor but still critical
[2:52:45] sidewalk, roadway, lighting, and other safety improvements.
[2:52:49] That was the origins of AtSb.
[2:52:52] And although the voters did not approve that sales tax ballot
[2:52:58] measure, the critical item still remain.
[2:53:01] So staff developed a plan to address
[2:53:06] these critical infrastructure improvements with a short term
[2:53:09] implementation in mind.
[2:53:11] As well as Vision Zero safety concerns.
[2:53:13] This would utilize existing revenue sources.
[2:53:17] Such as existing -- coming from state sales tax and leverage
[2:53:24] from projected increases in gas taxes over the following five
[2:53:27] years.
[2:53:28] Here's a timeline of the AtSb development
[2:53:32] period in May of 2023, briefings occurred
[2:53:35] where we solicited input on lighting,
[2:53:37] sidewalk, safety improvements, as well as transit improvements.
[2:53:41] The following month in June there
[2:53:43] was a work session held in which the program
[2:53:46] framework and the project lists were presented
[2:53:48] to the commissioners and a key point of this program
[2:53:53] was to frontload some of the simpler less complex projects
[2:53:57] early on.
[2:53:58] So the more complex projects could actually
[2:54:04] kick off at the beginning of the project, the program,
[2:54:07] and then carry through at the midpoint of the program.
[2:54:10] In the following months, the program
[2:54:13] was approved as part of the fiscal year 23, 24 CIP budget.
[2:54:19] And on October 1st, 2023, the Accelerated Transportation
[2:54:24] Safety Program officially began.
[2:54:26] For all of you, the accelerated Transportation Safety Program
[2:54:30] is the 100 year, $100 million five year program. $55 million
[2:54:35] go into the county for sidewalks, roadway lighting,
[2:54:38] and safety improvements. $45 million
[2:54:41] going to transit and links for increased operational frequency
[2:54:45] as well as capital project bus shelters.
[2:54:48] I actually have Mr. James Boyle and Tiffany Homer Hawkins
[2:54:54] here with links today who, Mr. James Boyle will be presenting
[2:54:59] on the transit slides.
[2:55:01] These are the slides and this is what was presented back in 2023.
[2:55:05] The sidewalk lighting and safety projects.
[2:55:08] As a result of those discussions with the commissioners
[2:55:12] prior to approval and these are the transit projects
[2:55:17] and improvements we are also discussing
[2:55:19] with the commissioners at the time.
[2:55:22] In talking about a TSP framework,
[2:55:26] we had several programs in place.
[2:55:29] Prior to TSP.
[2:55:31] That included the CIP sidewalk program.
[2:55:34] The CIP lighting program and also one that's
[2:55:39] more recent investment of the zero safety programs.
[2:55:42] These programs I'll talk about initially
[2:55:45] so we can see how it teed up the TSP framework.
[2:55:48] As well as emphasize how the TSP was
[2:55:52] able to supplement that investment.
[2:55:54] So that we could make bigger progress
[2:55:57] toward completing our goals.
[2:56:00] First sidewalks.
[2:56:01] Sidewalks are a proven safety countermeasure
[2:56:05] according to the Federal Highway Administration
[2:56:07] we can expect up to an 89% reduction in pedestrian crashes.
[2:56:13] As a result of providing sidewalks
[2:56:16] on both sides of the road.
[2:56:17] Also, additionally, the county maintains the Ada transition
[2:56:24] plan.
[2:56:25] In which we actually upgrade and improve
[2:56:27] accessibility on all our county facilities.
[2:56:30] Beginning in the 1990s, the CIP sidewalk program,
[2:56:35] came about as a result of sidewalk connectivity and school
[2:56:41] walkability concerns.
[2:56:42] And although there have been varying levels of budget
[2:56:44] to support the sidewalk construction,
[2:56:47] the current budget is set at $3.3 million annually.
[2:56:50] Producing seven miles of sidewalk.
[2:56:53] The remaining needs as determined before AtSb
[2:56:56] was over 170 miles of sidewalk gaps
[2:56:59] and that would take, at this current funding level, 20 years
[2:57:03] to complete that existing program.
[2:57:05] Enter TSP.
[2:57:07] With an investment of $25 million
[2:57:10] to produce 22 miles of sidewalk, this
[2:57:13] is a small drop in the bucket and we still
[2:57:17] expect to have 151 miles left after this program
[2:57:22] and as these remaining gaps are getting costlier
[2:57:25] to build as they often require design and permitting
[2:57:31] and the inflationary impacts, we're
[2:57:34] expecting it's going to take at least 33 years to complete that.
[2:57:37] Moving over to the roadway lighting program,
[2:57:41] roadway lighting is a proven safety countermeasure as well.
[2:57:46] According to the Federal Highway Administration.
[2:57:49] The nighttime mortality crash rate is three times that.
[2:57:54] Of the daytime crash rate.
[2:57:57] And the simplest solution and the most effective solution
[2:58:01] is investment in roadway lighting.
[2:58:03] Where we can see an up to 42% reduction in pedestrian injury
[2:58:09] crashes.
[2:58:10] At intersections with the use of roadway lighting.
[2:58:14] The history of the CIP roadway lighting program
[2:58:17] and how we work with our partners,
[2:58:19] we have OUC and Duke Energy who can, who we partner with.
[2:58:25] The county identifies the projects and Duke Energy
[2:58:29] and oh you see, they scheduled the design and installation
[2:58:35] as well as the county paying the capital charges for that design
[2:58:40] and installation.
[2:58:41] And paying the ongoing maintenance charges.
[2:58:44] All designs meet Fdo standards and as a side note,
[2:58:49] under Florida statutes, the lighting on local roads
[2:58:52] is administered by the county controller's office.
[2:58:56] A little idea of the history since the year 2000.
[2:59:00] The CIP roadway lighting program has actually
[2:59:04] been able to cover 385 miles of arterial and collector roads.
[2:59:10] Under this program.
[2:59:13] As a result, we were able to find
[2:59:17] that 166 miles are remaining on arterial collector roads.
[2:59:25] With the investment of $15 million under a TSP,
[2:59:30] we're expecting that installation
[2:59:32] of 131 miles of lighting on the arterial collector roads,
[2:59:37] with the remaining needs of approximately 25 miles.
[2:59:41] However, we don't have the additional funding
[2:59:43] for roadway lighting outside of funded CIP roadway projects.
[2:59:47] As the current lighting program addresses pedestrian safety
[2:59:51] but at intersections only.
[2:59:54] Moving on to the Vision Zero Safety program,
[2:59:57] vision Zero safety initiatives, have been implemented
[3:00:00] at the federal, state, and regional levels to support --
[3:00:04] to promote the safety systems approach to road user safety.
[3:00:09] In August 2022, the board approved Vision Zero resolution
[3:00:16] that is to eliminate fatalities on our transportation systems
[3:00:19] by the year 2040.
[3:00:21] Two years later, the Vision Zero Action Plan was approved.
[3:00:25] By the board.
[3:00:27] Which identified the top 24 projects
[3:00:46] with approximately $251 million.
[3:00:47] Subsequently the board approved an annual budget of $2.5 million
[3:00:47] annually to meet those Vision Zero goals.
[3:00:47] These efforts were recognized recently
[3:00:47] by the National Association of Counties.
[3:00:49] As a best in Category Award.
[3:00:52] As far as the safety program goes,
[3:00:57] the TSP funds, the $15 million over the five years
[3:01:01] to fund those nine major corridors,
[3:01:05] those corridors were identified prior to the Vision Zero Action
[3:01:09] Plan.
[3:01:10] The remaining needs after a TSP still
[3:01:13] remain those 24 corridors at $251 million.
[3:01:17] This investment of $2.5 million under the Vision Zero
[3:01:22] is a small drop in the bucket and makes a little bit
[3:01:24] of a dent in the overall needs.
[3:01:26] Would take about 100 years to complete.
[3:01:29] Under the current funding commits.
[3:01:33] Moving on to our progress report, from the start
[3:01:35] we recognize the need for public transparency
[3:01:38] of taxpayer investment in the safety program.
[3:01:41] The website was put together ahead
[3:01:44] of the program and several months
[3:01:46] after the conception of the program,
[3:01:48] the public facing dashboard was rolled out.
[3:01:51] This is accessible to the public and updated every two weeks.
[3:01:55] It shows both links and county Projects and their status as.
[3:01:59] One of our major goals is to refresh this website
[3:02:02] to further highlight the successes of the program.
[3:02:05] We have also been bringing the news to the residents.
[3:02:09] Through newsletters at the neighborhood level
[3:02:12] as well as through social media.
[3:02:15] We've been presenting at ESP successes.
[3:02:18] Completed projects.
[3:02:20] Projects and construction and planning.
[3:02:22] That's come through over 70 project newsletters
[3:02:26] and over 60 social media posts through the county's
[3:02:29] major social media platforms.
[3:02:31] We also want to extend our gratitude to the commissioners.
[3:02:34] For their ongoing support in amplifying these messages.
[3:02:38] And helping be an active part of our communication strategy
[3:02:42] to help residents know and learn about our safety projects
[3:02:46] and how it benefits the community.
[3:02:49] As our goal under at ESP is to build safety projects quickly,
[3:02:55] we have successfully employed a variety of methods
[3:02:58] to carry this out.
[3:03:00] We program projects early on in the projects
[3:03:03] so we can get to the more complex projects with higher
[3:03:07] budgets to construction by the second half of this program
[3:03:10] and complete by the end of this program.
[3:03:12] We've also been augmenting our staff
[3:03:15] with project management on the project management side
[3:03:18] and on the construction inspection side.
[3:03:21] We've been bundling projects to save time and money
[3:03:26] and understanding our funds are limited
[3:03:28] in that to offset inflation effects we've been constructing
[3:03:33] quickly and one of the major successes coming out
[3:03:36] of this program is the use of the term construction contract.
[3:03:40] To accelerate the delivery of sidewalk projects.
[3:03:44] That results in a savings of time
[3:03:47] and a cost savings of over $5 million,
[3:03:51] as we employ this strategy.
[3:03:53] Keep that in mind as we look at the next few slides.
[3:03:56] Here's the overall program spending
[3:03:58] from the start of the program.
[3:04:00] The blue bar represents the overall $100 million
[3:04:04] program pair combined between Orange County and Links.
[3:04:07] And the Orange Bar shows our progress spending
[3:04:10] to date we are currently at $40.6 million spent.
[3:04:15] Breaking down ATSP into the smaller programs for a sidewalk,
[3:04:32] lighting, safety and transit, the blue bar
[3:04:34] represents have any money allocated to each program
[3:04:34] and how many projects we're expected at 2023 to be planned
[3:04:34] under that allocation.
[3:04:34] We are under the halfway point under each category
[3:04:37] and as I mentioned, we're able to achieve significant savings
[3:04:40] through construction management, project bundling,
[3:04:43] and that use of term contracts.
[3:04:44] Thus we are able to maximize efficiencies
[3:04:47] in our spending which still helps to mitigate but not
[3:04:50] fully offset the effects of inflation.
[3:04:54] And as our more complex projects are kicking off, now
[3:04:57] in the construction phases, those
[3:04:59] are projects that have larger budgets.
[3:05:01] We expect there to be an uptick in construction spending.
[3:05:06] Looking across all of the categories,
[3:05:11] we are making good progress with 117 projects completed
[3:05:15] on the public works side.
[3:05:17] That translates to 19 miles of sidewalk.
[3:05:20] Over 26 miles of roadway lighting.
[3:05:23] And 24 corridor miles of corridor with improved safety
[3:05:28] measures.
[3:05:28] At this moment I'm going to pass this
[3:05:30] along to Mr. James Boyle who will take it over
[3:05:32] for transit accomplishments.
[3:05:35] >> All right thank you Kelly.
[3:05:37] Good morning Vice Mayor, members of the commission.
[3:05:40] James Boyle.
[3:05:41] Chief development officer I'm happy to be here in front of you
[3:06:00] to talk about the success.
[3:06:01] What it means to links writers and for the community overall.
[3:06:01] To date we have completed all of our service enhancements.
[3:06:01] Six routes that we identified where we increased frequency.
[3:06:04] There were four routes that we extended service to
[3:06:06] to connect to the Pine Hills Transfer Center
[3:06:09] that we talked about a little bit at the last time I was here.
[3:06:12] We also have used the funds to create a new route.
[3:06:16] The link 311.
[3:06:18] And then on our capital side, with our bus stops,
[3:06:23] we have been very robust.
[3:06:26] We've upped our ante in delivering
[3:06:27] the number of bus shelters and bus stops
[3:06:30] throughout the service area.
[3:06:31] Typically we average about 25 bus stops a year.
[3:06:35] And we are now up to 75.
[3:06:37] We're using a lot of our on call contractors and consultants
[3:06:40] to help deliver those bus shelters.
[3:06:44] And every commission district has received new bus shelters
[3:06:47] and still will be receiving new bus shelters.
[3:06:50] On the server side, the chart shows the increase
[3:06:53] in weekday average weekday ridership
[3:06:56] for routes that did receive frequency enhancements.
[3:06:58] You can see for links come on route 474125.
[3:07:03] Those all received frequency increases
[3:07:06] and you can see just by that alone, the ridership goes up.
[3:07:10] The more often a bus comes the more likely
[3:07:12] you are to get people to use it.
[3:07:14] That's a good thing.
[3:07:15] That's the number one thing from riders and Non-riders.
[3:07:21] I would ride the bus if it came more often.
[3:07:26] We didn't stop on weekday.
[3:07:28] A big opportunity for transit is adding more service on weekends.
[3:07:33] We looked at our Sundays where we
[3:07:35] had a lot of routes that only ran once an hour.
[3:07:37] We picked several routes to increase the frequency
[3:07:40] to 30 minutes on those routes.
[3:07:41] You can see the ridership there speaks for itself.
[3:07:44] The increases on all those routes.
[3:07:49] The continuation of the progress we have been able to implement,
[3:07:53] the 311, which I briefly spoke about earlier this
[3:07:57] is a new route that basically connects
[3:07:59] the Orlando International Airport to SunRail,
[3:08:02] to Disney Springs.
[3:08:04] It's a great route.
[3:08:06] Ridership has been doing well.
[3:08:08] This is the airport connector to SunRail and Disney Springs.
[3:08:12] As a side note it does to Epic Universe,
[3:08:15] which they pay for separately.
[3:08:17] We were also able to extend links, route nine, route
[3:08:22] 44, 48 and 49, to connect to Pine Hills.
[3:08:26] This has been a great success for the passengers who ride
[3:08:29] those bus routes in that area.
[3:08:33] And then overall, the ridership increase that we've seen
[3:08:38] for the past year on all the routes that we've approved
[3:08:41] service on, it equates to about 735,000 trips a year.
[3:08:46] For our links, for our riders, this has been a great success
[3:08:51] and we thank the county for providing funds to links for us
[3:08:55] to be able to do that.
[3:08:56] Thank you.
[3:08:57] I'm going to turn it back over to Kelly.
[3:09:19] >> Coming back to the public works side,
[3:09:20] we have completed those 117 projects and with the remainder
[3:09:20] of this program's funding, we expect to complete those
[3:09:20] projects that are under production.
[3:09:20] Those are projects identified as under construction and design
[3:09:21] and in the planning stages.
[3:09:23] A little bit more about that.
[3:09:26] In production projects are those projects
[3:09:28] that are in construction.
[3:09:30] We actually are pleased to announce
[3:09:32] that one of the two signals on the clear Kona CoA quarter
[3:09:37] this is located at the Fountain West Boulevard,
[3:09:40] has just opened this past week and we're celebrating that
[3:09:43] with another pedestrian signal and two more on Turkey Lake
[3:09:46] Road that are going to be turned on in the coming months.
[3:09:49] We also have more projects that are in the design and planning
[3:09:53] stages.
[3:09:53] And we show those removed and reprioritize projects listed
[3:09:58] at the bottom of this chart.
[3:09:59] These are projects that we have found
[3:10:01] to have additional concerns as we evaluated them.
[3:10:04] The removed projects were identified
[3:10:07] due to projects that were subsequently annexed
[3:10:09] after the start of the program.
[3:10:11] Or projects that were identified and funded
[3:10:14] under other programs such as the Ada Transition Program.
[3:10:18] Those projects are not going to be funded under a TSP.
[3:10:23] Coming back to this progress, the spending graph,
[3:10:27] the blue bar on the right does show the budget amount
[3:10:29] for each category and the number of projects that were projected
[3:10:32] that we could complete.
[3:10:35] The left represents our completed projects as well as
[3:10:38] production spending.
[3:10:39] This orange line at the top of each category
[3:10:42] represents our full utilization of that allotted budget
[3:10:45] and how many more projects we expect
[3:10:47] to be able to complete by the end of the program.
[3:10:49] Due to inflation we are limited in being
[3:10:52] able to deliver the full list as approved by the board
[3:10:55] and we expect to deliver those in production projects.
[3:10:59] Taking a look at the map of projects,
[3:11:03] this is the project shown in blue,
[3:11:04] the projects that were originally
[3:11:06] approved by the board in 2023.
[3:11:09] Looking at this next map, these are
[3:11:15] the projects currently completed and in production.
[3:11:19] 117 projects shown in dark green with projects in production,
[3:11:24] 86 of them, shown in the lighter green.
[3:11:27] And here's a map of the Reprioritized project.
[3:11:31] These are projects that were identified to have limitations
[3:11:34] in the right of way.
[3:11:36] Constraints and funding as we lack
[3:11:39] matching grants and concerns that
[3:11:41] were raised by the community.
[3:11:43] They comprise a small portion by count and by mileage
[3:11:46] of the overall program.
[3:11:48] At the start of this program with the board's direction,
[3:11:52] staff has prioritized projects for public health,
[3:11:55] safety, and known risk factors and while availability
[3:11:58] of remaining funds may limit our ability
[3:12:01] to construct a reprioritized project under this program,
[3:12:05] the reasons that they're on the list, for the most part,
[3:12:08] still remain.
[3:12:09] Under the Vision Zero resolution approved by the board,
[3:12:13] we prioritize safety on all our transportation systems.
[3:12:16] And therefore we'll be bringing this list
[3:12:18] of reprioritized projects and recommendations
[3:12:20] back for later discussion with the board.
[3:12:24] Let's talk a little bit more.
[3:12:27] Switching gears towards how, since the beginning of a TSP,
[3:12:33] we've worked with our consultants
[3:12:35] to stay up to date on prioritizations and assessments
[3:12:38] and keeping up with the latest standards.
[3:12:40] Again, award winning Naco award winning project.
[3:12:44] The sidewalk assessment.
[3:12:45] Windows completed in 2025.
[3:12:47] Developed a comprehensive inventory.
[3:12:51] Missing sidewalk gaps countywide.
[3:12:53] And the prioritization metric and weighting factors as
[3:12:57] determined by input from the commissioners.
[3:12:59] This potentially turns the sidewalk program
[3:13:01] into a proactive effort that -- to fill those missing sidewalk
[3:13:06] gaps.
[3:13:07] Additionally on the roadway lighting front,
[3:13:10] the fDOT design manual now has updates
[3:13:13] to allow the use of warmer color temperatures
[3:13:15] in the appropriate context of surrounding conditions.
[3:13:18] Utility company is now offer dark sky option.
[3:13:21] That varies across different companies.
[3:13:24] Those were not available at the start of the program in 2023.
[3:13:28] That does include lower color temperature and warmer hues
[3:13:33] as well as full cutoff fixtures to prevent light
[3:13:38] from traveling upwards.
[3:13:39] On the Vision Zero safety front, as I mentioned earlier,
[3:13:42] the action plan was approved in 2024
[3:13:44] and that identified those top 24 projects
[3:13:47] and additionally it also developed a toolkit
[3:13:51] of countermeasures for use on public works Safe Vision Zero
[3:13:55] safety projects.
[3:13:57] In summary, Orange County and Lynx
[3:14:00] has been using innovative strategies
[3:14:02] to meet the program objectives to implement
[3:14:06] those projects quickly and follow the Vision Zero Safety
[3:14:08] Strategy.
[3:14:09] We are on target with $40.6 million spent to date period
[3:14:14] completing those 19 miles of sidewalk,
[3:14:16] over 26 miles of roadway lighting, 24 miles of upgraded
[3:14:20] corridors, ten enhanced bus routes, one new Lynx
[3:14:24] route, and 72 bus shelters.
[3:14:26] As we reach the end of the program
[3:14:28] and by the end of the program Orange County
[3:14:31] expects to complete the original program list,
[3:14:34] except for those reprioritized projects,
[3:14:36] due to financial constraints.
[3:14:38] And links will continue those operational improvements
[3:14:40] through the end of this program and expects
[3:14:43] to complete all 264 bus shelters using AtSb funding
[3:14:47] and supplemented by federal funding.
[3:14:52] Next steps are to report back to the board by spring of 2027
[3:14:57] to discuss those Reprioritized projects and advanced sidewalk
[3:15:01] and roadway lighting policies.
[3:15:04] To update and share a new AtSb website
[3:15:07] and to continue to bring innovative cost saving
[3:15:10] measures to bring those safety projects to the community.
[3:15:14] In closing, I would like to acknowledge
[3:15:16] the hard work, demonstrated by the combined public works
[3:15:22] and Lynx teams.
[3:15:23] This is a collaborative effort.
[3:15:25] Our talented and resourceful staff
[3:15:27] has been working hard to make sure we continue
[3:15:29] to meet the goals of the accelerated Transportation
[3:15:31] Safety Program.
[3:15:32] To deliver safety projects quickly and responsibly
[3:15:36] to the public.
[3:15:37] This concludes my presentation.
[3:15:38] Thank you very much.
[3:15:40] And we're here for any questions.
[3:15:59] >> Thank you, Kelly for the presentation, and the team.
[3:16:01] We'll go to the board for questions, comments?
[3:16:01] Commissioner Wilson?
[3:16:01] >> Thank you so much.
[3:16:01] I just want to start by saying that you're
[3:16:01] very kind for thanking us for our support.
[3:16:01] I know that I pester you all almost every day about something
[3:16:04] safety related out there and to see the accomplishments, to see
[3:16:09] the actual national evaluation of these efforts,
[3:16:12] it confirms that we're on the right path and on those days,
[3:16:18] it's really annoying to continue to try to work through,
[3:16:21] it's good to know we're doing the right things.
[3:16:24] I had a question understanding that this is one of the one time
[3:16:27] investments that we really felt was important because it aligned
[3:16:30] with Division Zero and all the things
[3:16:32] that we're trying to do to keep people safe.
[3:16:34] Some of these, will hopefully continue on.
[3:16:38] I'm thinking specifically about links and the results
[3:16:42] that Lynx has had in seeing ridership.
[3:16:45] Honestly when I got this presentation
[3:16:49] I was so excited to see that it approves
[3:16:53] what we see all the time.
[3:16:55] That if it's convenient and frequent and attractive
[3:16:58] that it's going to get ridership.
[3:16:59] That felt like a pilot program to me.
[3:17:02] A pilot program only does any good
[3:17:04] if you have a long term plan of how
[3:17:05] to make sure we continue that.
[3:17:07] I guess my question is, is there an opportunity for funding
[3:17:13] matches, grants, state funding opportunities
[3:17:16] to try to continue along this path, knowing
[3:17:19] we're going to continue to be constrained
[3:17:21] as a local government, based on what we know
[3:17:23] is coming down the pipeline?
[3:17:27] >> I let James jump in.
[3:17:28] Because I think your focus is more on transit.
[3:17:30] And then I'll jump in.
[3:17:33] >> Great question, Commissioner Wilson.
[3:17:36] On the transit side there's always opportunities for us
[3:17:38] to see additional funding.
[3:17:40] Grants and things like that.
[3:17:43] Obviously it's for transit it's more on the capital side
[3:17:45] where it's easier to get grants than do
[3:17:48] the operational improvements.
[3:17:49] But the Dot does have service development grants
[3:17:52] that we can do things operationally.
[3:17:54] At the end of the program, we would reevaluate everything
[3:17:58] as we kind of always do on an annual basis with our service
[3:18:00] and we would work with the county staff
[3:18:03] to identify other efficiencies in the system
[3:18:06] where we might make some adjustments to save
[3:18:09] some of the improvements we've done to the AtSb funding.
[3:18:12] It would not all just come to an end period
[3:18:14] we would look at it holistically and then decide
[3:18:17] if we need to move things around and how we
[3:18:19] can do >> That's great to hear.
[3:18:35] Is there an opportunity to leverage the success?
[3:18:37] I think oftentimes when we struggle
[3:18:37] with justifying funding, people like
[3:18:37] to point out ridership issues.
[3:18:37] Which I will forever say as a public service and quite
[3:18:37] frankly you have to put it out there for there to be ridership
[3:18:37] and this is proving that.
[3:18:38] Will this give you any continued opportunity
[3:18:40] that maybe you didn't have before the investment?
[3:18:44] >> I would say yes.
[3:18:45] It is a good news story.
[3:18:47] It shows that we've taken the dollars.
[3:18:49] We've used those dollars right away.
[3:18:51] And we have been able to show the increases in ridership
[3:18:53] and the number of trips passengers are taking.
[3:18:55] And just kind of anecdotally hearing folks
[3:18:58] say they have their transfer time cut in half.
[3:19:02] Those things go a long way.
[3:19:04] Especially for a future endeavors
[3:19:05] that we could point back to and say this was a great success
[3:19:08] and we would like to continue that.
[3:19:10] >> I agree.
[3:19:11] You're going to hear it coming out of my mouth.
[3:19:13] I am incredibly grateful for the investment but also the outcome
[3:19:17] that we're seeing.
[3:19:18] My final question was, about that new route.
[3:19:23] Sorry, I forgot you again.
[3:19:24] About the new route, understanding it
[3:19:27] is very specifically targeted towards our tourism corridor.
[3:19:31] It goes from Disney Springs to the airport.
[3:19:33] We understand that it's been a great benefit to our --
[3:19:38] it's a great benefit to our tourism industry by having this
[3:19:43] direct connection.
[3:19:44] Are there any tourist development tax dollars that
[3:19:46] make its way to this, knowing it is
[3:19:49] a clear benefit to our tourism corridor
[3:19:52] and to tourism industry?
[3:19:55] >> This particular route is funded through AtSb and Orange
[3:19:57] County dollars.
[3:19:59] There's no funding that pays for this particular route.
[3:20:03] It's strictly from what the county gives us
[3:20:06] on the annual basis to fund the services and then
[3:20:08] part of the AtSb.
[3:20:10] However we did do a partnership with the Shingle Creek Utility
[3:20:15] District for universal to connect their.
[3:20:18] And we do have other agreements and partnerships
[3:20:21] with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight
[3:20:23] District for Disney routes.
[3:20:25] There's an opportunity there.
[3:20:28] >> Is that within Disney or does that include the route
[3:20:30] to and from the airport?
[3:20:32] >> That is not for the 311.
[3:20:33] The 311 is strictly just general funds
[3:20:35] from Orange County and AtSb.
[3:20:39] >> Obviously I think it's a timely conversation for us.
[3:20:42] We're wrestling right now with the future of TT.
[3:20:46] Thank you for humoring me but I wanted
[3:20:48] to point out that there is an obvious benefit to our tourism
[3:20:53] industry.
[3:20:53] As well as the visitors who come in and finding those investment
[3:20:59] dollars where we have them and where they've been stable
[3:21:02] is critical now but will continue
[3:21:04] to be so because this is definitive in its funding
[3:21:08] source.
[3:21:08] Thank you so much.
[3:21:12] >> Thank you Commissioner Wilson Commissioner Uribe?
[3:21:17] >> Brian you didn't have to leave.
[3:21:22] When we look at the tourism corridor,
[3:21:24] how many locations are there where
[3:21:27] there are stops and so forth?
[3:21:28] Not only for the people that work
[3:21:30] there but the people who use it because they
[3:21:32] visit our community?
[3:21:33] Can you give us a little bit of overlay on that?
[3:21:36] And
[3:21:37] >> I'll do my best.
[3:21:38] Pull numbers from what I can remember.
[3:21:40] The majority of our routes double
[3:21:42] a huge number of our routes serve the tourism district.
[3:21:46] I drive.
[3:21:47] Disney universal.
[3:21:48] And based on our last owned origin and destination survey,
[3:21:53] almost 50% of our trips are people working in that area.
[3:21:57] A lot of our ridership is derived
[3:21:59] from folks working in the service industry
[3:22:02] and serving in particular the heavy tourism
[3:22:05] district in those areas.
[3:22:07] We're talking about thousands of trips a day.
[3:22:10] Well over 6000 7000 trips a day.
[3:22:13] In those general areas or those specific corridors
[3:22:15] on very specific routes.
[3:22:19] It's very close to 50% of our ridership
[3:22:22] is for the service industry.
[3:22:24] It's very high.
[3:22:28] >> I agree we should look to get some tourism dollars to help
[3:22:31] you.
[3:22:31] Are all of your locations actually covered and so forth
[3:22:36] or are there still some that we need to get in that quarter?
[3:22:40] >> We think we do a great job of trying to get as much as we can
[3:22:44] of the resources we have.
[3:22:45] Obviously there's other areas we would like
[3:22:47] to serve a little bit better.
[3:22:48] Adding more frequency really is the key to it.
[3:22:51] It's not so much adding new routes.
[3:22:54] It's taking what we have.
[3:22:57] >> I was actually saying areas where folks can stand.
[3:23:03] >> O, shelters.
[3:23:04] There's always a need for more shelters.
[3:23:06] We could have taken more of that funding
[3:23:09] and put it toward more shelters.
[3:23:11] It's kind of a trade off a little bit.
[3:23:15] If you have a more frequent service,
[3:23:17] you don't have to worry about people standing out
[3:23:19] in the hot sun and thunderstorms come up waiting
[3:23:21] 30 minutes or an hour for bus.
[3:23:40] >> Jim Harrison, who we miss, you know when we went to you
[3:23:43] guys and said look, (indiscernible).
[3:23:49] The exact example of us all working together and talking.
[3:23:52] I appreciate it.
[3:23:52] It was obviously a loaded question,
[3:23:52] but we're just trying to find more funding that isn't
[3:23:52] all codependent on taxpayers.
[3:23:52] I understand.
[3:23:52] I'll move on.
[3:23:53] Thank you.
[3:23:56] >> First of all, I want to thank you guys.
[3:24:00] It's a double edged sword when we've gone and tried
[3:24:04] to do sidewalks and communities it's been interesting.
[3:24:07] No, we barely have a front yard.
[3:24:11] You're coming into our right of way.
[3:24:13] I want to give you all credit.
[3:24:17] When I bothered Susan, and I think all of us
[3:24:21] have sent her or sent in issues of concern.
[3:24:25] When was a bus stop for an elementary school
[3:24:27] that had no sidewalk.
[3:24:28] The kids were actually standing on the road,
[3:24:32] waiting for the bus stop to come, and knowing now
[3:24:36] there's a sidewalk period that community has been so helpful.
[3:24:39] I also want to give kudos for when
[3:24:43] you're going over infrastructure and you have the bars to protect
[3:24:47] people who are walking.
[3:24:48] Which kind of gives that additional Ada production
[3:24:52] of individuals.
[3:24:53] I want to say that's been great.
[3:24:55] I did have a question on the lighting.
[3:24:57] That is a hot item.
[3:25:02] When do you guys make decisions of prioritizing certain areas
[3:25:06] compared to others.
[3:25:08] I will say that econ has been something that prior to me
[3:25:14] getting here eight years ago was a hot item.
[3:25:17] But it just hasn't made its level up to get that.
[3:25:21] It's concerning because there's residential right on the road.
[3:25:25] There's an elementary school right on the road.
[3:25:27] And while you guys have done that little quarter
[3:25:30] around the school, there's clearly,
[3:25:33] it's just such a dark non-straight road
[3:25:36] with residential on both sides.
[3:25:39] Can you explain to me that criteria
[3:25:41] so that I can tell my constituents why they are still
[3:25:44] not getting streetlights?
[3:25:46] >> There's shared responsibility between public works
[3:25:49] and the controller's office, depending on what kind of road
[3:25:53] that roadway lighting is requested
[3:25:55] on if it's a functionally classified arterial
[3:25:58] and collector roads, the board has demonstrated the willingness
[3:26:01] to support those roadway lighting projects on those
[3:26:07] functionally classified roads.
[3:26:08] If it is an aside as a local road,
[3:26:11] those requests go to the controller's office
[3:26:15] for administering the process.
[3:26:18] Setting up something like an MSP you to be
[3:26:21] able to pay for that funding.
[3:26:42] >> That's a specific area where it's not very organized.
[3:26:45] I believe it's like one acre or two homes per acre or something
[3:26:45] like that.
[3:26:45] It's very broad.
[3:26:45] But then you've got an elementary school.
[3:26:45] So how do we handle?
[3:26:45] >> That's something we we do handle on a case by case basis.
[3:26:45] Just because we might identify quickly that oh
[3:26:47] this is a local road.
[3:26:49] We still take that in through public works
[3:26:51] and try to identify as much as possible before,
[3:26:53] who is responsible before coordinating.
[3:26:57] >> If I can comment I would love to have an update on that
[3:27:00] because it's not necessarily a neighborhood road,
[3:27:05] it's much more specific.
[3:27:07] It's an actual road.
[3:27:09] It's a major road corridor for the county.
[3:27:12] >> Okay.
[3:27:12] Is that the one that's south of Deerwood Elementary?
[3:27:16] >> Yes.
[3:27:16] It's right on Deerwood Elementary.
[3:27:19] >> I ride that one too.
[3:27:22] >> Thank you.
[3:27:23] Commissioner Kordell?
[3:27:25] >> Yeah thank you.
[3:27:27] I have a question, Kelly, and I think we discussed it yesterday.
[3:27:34] But I wanted to ask you, in the slide number
[3:27:38] 29, the orange column means that, that's what's completed.
[3:27:49] Based on the new column?
[3:27:53] >>, the orange bar represents how much has been spent to date
[3:27:56] and that's on projects that are already completed as well
[3:27:59] as progress spending on projects that are in production.
[3:28:02] Maybe a percentage of that 9 million under sidewalks
[3:28:08] is for completed projects but we also
[3:28:11] have projects that are in design and under construction
[3:28:14] and not yet complete.
[3:28:16] This bar represents how much progress spending to date.
[3:28:20] As compared to what the blue bar is the blue bar
[3:28:23] is when we're done.
[3:28:25] This is the full amount of funding for each category.
[3:28:46] >>, that means that based on what I'm seeing here,
[3:28:48] that if we still have the sidewalk, 110 projects,
[3:28:48] that's million, 25 million?
[3:28:48] But we have done 60.
[3:28:48] For example, for the money we have there,
[3:28:48] maybe we won't complete the 110 projects, right?
[3:28:51] Because the money is not -- >> The bars can be a little
[3:28:57] misleading to because it shows what's been spent and not
[3:29:00] what's been encumbered.
[3:29:01] There's a good percentage that has been encumbered
[3:29:04] beyond that orange bar that's been set aside and reserved
[3:29:08] because we know, as we finish that project,
[3:29:10] this is what it's going to take.
[3:29:12] I really should have shown all three bars so that you can see,
[3:29:16] this is actually what's gone out the door.
[3:29:18] Has gone towards contractors.
[3:29:19] Towards design firms, to complete these projects.
[3:29:23] How much has been set aside so that as we complete
[3:29:25] those projects, this is how much we
[3:29:28] expect to be spending and that blue bar of the limitation
[3:29:32] of the budget allocation.
[3:29:34] I'll be able to get you those updated numbers
[3:29:36] so you can get an idea.
[3:29:56] >> Because I still think that the money won't be enough.
[3:29:58] >> It won't be enough for all the projects originally planned
[3:29:58] under a TSP back in 2023.
[3:29:58] But we do expect to be able to complete,
[3:29:58] I believe it's slide 40, where we
[3:29:58] kind of talk about how many projects are under production.
[3:30:01] Those additional projects, the 16 projects, those
[3:30:03] are the ones that we expect to further complete
[3:30:06] as we complete this program.
[3:30:28] >> So then in slide 28, it says here that we already spent 40.6
[3:30:30] million from the 100?
[3:30:30] >> Yes.
[3:30:30] That's adding together all those orange bars
[3:30:30] on the following slide.
[3:30:31] I kind of summed them all up and broke them out.
[3:30:35] >> Okay.
[3:30:36] Thank you.
[3:30:38] >> Commissioner Scott, I don't have you on the screen.
[3:30:40] Can you try again?
[3:31:07] >> I just wanted to say thank you.
[3:31:08] Bus shelters have been installed the past week.
[3:31:08] I think they finished up the Oak Ridge corridor.
[3:31:10] Commissioner, right up (indiscernible).
[3:31:18] I just wanted to say thank you.
[3:31:31] I'm happy with the program.
[3:31:32] Thank you Vice Mayor.
[3:31:32] >> Kelly thank you so much.
[3:31:32] My comments are congratulations on all
[3:31:32] the projects that your team finished
[3:31:32] and the safety improvements you've made.
[3:31:32] For all of that.
[3:31:33] So, I just want to keep always putting it
[3:31:36] on public record with Wedgefield because it's
[3:31:39] a sensitive community because of the water and sewage issues
[3:31:41] that they are facing.
[3:31:45] And we all understand the pots of money and such.
[3:31:49] They are they're conscious of how
[3:31:51] they're taxpayer money is going on infrastructure.
[3:31:56] The stoplights that we put in on Bancroft
[3:31:59] when they had a dark sky ordinance in effect.
[3:32:03] Way out in the middle of the rural area.
[3:32:05] It's kind of like an airplane trip landing at night.
[3:32:08] And they're very frustrated by it still.
[3:32:11] I know that over the course of time
[3:32:12] we're going to try to correct it.
[3:32:14] I just want to make sure that I remind you
[3:32:16] on behalf of the community that are anxiously awaiting.
[3:32:21] >> I appreciate the reminder.
[3:32:23] Overall I appreciate that this is a team effort.
[3:32:29] Everybody at Public Works as well.
[3:32:31] As Duke Energy.
[3:32:33] Thank you for the reminder.
[3:32:36] We will be looking to be able to address
[3:32:41] further as we have funding.
[3:33:04] >> Thank you.
[3:33:05] I have some good news.
[3:33:05] There are some communities like in Christmas
[3:33:05] where they are not interested in receiving the light.
[3:33:05] And then we have other communities
[3:33:05] that didn't make the list.
[3:33:05] I just wanted to bring up Bithlo.
[3:33:05] I know we have a small scale study that's going on right now
[3:33:08] for safety improvements.
[3:33:09] I just wanted to bring up that that
[3:33:12] is a high pedestrian high bicycle community.
[3:33:14] That doesn't have sidewalks or lights
[3:33:17] and so there is a high fatality of people who
[3:33:20] have been unfortunately hit.
[3:33:23] The community has been asking for speed plates.
[3:33:28] Going down sixth Street headed towards community park.
[3:33:34] I've heard since I knocked on doors
[3:33:37] since the days of Commissioner Ted Edwards
[3:33:38] so it has been a very long time and we do have a study going on,
[3:33:42] but I want to bring to the forefront that we do need safety
[3:33:45] improvements and by flow.
[3:33:46] With that being said, as Lynx is here,
[3:33:49] we have a bus stop in Bithlo.
[3:33:52] And I see McKinney is here.
[3:33:55] It's near Transportation Village.
[3:33:56] And I want to make sure that route
[3:33:58] is remaining intact, functional, and is going nowhere.
[3:34:02] Like it's there for the people.
[3:34:06] >> I will follow up on that.
[3:34:07] We'll get back with you.
[3:34:09] We're trying to schedule one on one meetings with your offices
[3:34:12] just to follow up from the budget meeting.
[3:34:14] We can talk about that with more detail.
[3:34:17] >> Thank you.
[3:34:18] I would like to say I agree with Commissioner
[3:34:20] Wilson, Commissioner Uribe.
[3:34:23] We talk about TT and how it should
[3:34:28] fund some of the Lynx routes.
[3:34:30] More than 50% of the Lynx routes service tourist attractions.
[3:34:34] More than 50% means we have a lot of tourists that are on that
[3:34:39] and I think also this board should consider
[3:34:43] looking at something where we do a formal assessment of how
[3:34:47] much money is actually being spent on marketing,
[3:34:50] once we pass that 40% threshold.
[3:34:53] It does open the state statute for use in transit.
[3:34:57] There are so many events that the state
[3:35:01] doesn't have a definition of destination marketing.
[3:35:04] There's no definition for it.
[3:35:06] When we have events like immersion that exist exclusively
[3:35:11] and only to promote Orlando and it's
[3:35:14] receiving millions of dollars in taxpayer money,
[3:35:17] that should count towards marketing.
[3:35:18] All the sports events that we do, life Orlando
[3:35:23] when it's WWE or the Jaguars.
[3:35:25] That is constant marketing for the destination.
[3:35:29] Maybe we are to the point where once we look at how much we're
[3:35:34] actually spending on marketing, we're past that threshold
[3:35:37] and I think we should look at that.
[3:35:40] I also support the use of TT to help fund our transit
[3:35:44] and hopefully that would add to your budget
[3:35:46] so that you could continue to serve us all in safety.
[3:35:50] Does anybody have any other comments?
[3:35:52] So the next agenda item, we are moving to is --
[3:35:57] thank you Kelly and Team.
[3:35:59] Thank you very much.
[3:36:01] And we are moving to Commissioner Wilson
[3:36:03] to present her report on the countywide prohibition
[3:36:07] on the importation of exotic wildlife.
[3:36:11] Commissioner Wilson.
[3:36:33] >> Thank you.
[3:36:33] I was going to say, you all have been with me long enough now
[3:36:34] to know that typically if I get near technology it goes down.
[3:36:34] I'll do the best I can but it is a pretty rudimentary
[3:36:34] presentation today because I think this is our starting point
[3:36:34] and I want to make sure that what I'm doing here
[3:36:36] is getting you all up to speed getting the public up to speed
[3:36:39] and then providing some potential interactions
[3:36:43] with the county attorney's office.
[3:36:45] Or anybody else who has some thoughts.
[3:36:50] And then making recommendations.
[3:36:53] We'll start with the goal today is
[3:37:01] to think about what we can do to prevent another sloth world
[3:37:04] tragedy.
[3:37:04] For those of you who followed along
[3:37:08] know there was a devastating series of events.
[3:37:13] Beginning in late 2020 for shipments of sloths
[3:37:17] arrived from South America and ultimately were
[3:37:20] housed in conditions that proved to be catastrophic.
[3:37:23] 21 sloths arrived from Guyana to unequipped Orlando warehouse
[3:37:28] on International Drive.
[3:37:29] Actually, it was an Orange County warehouse
[3:37:32] that lacked running water and electricity.
[3:37:34] Space heaters that were powered by extension cords
[3:37:36] failed overnight after a tripping fuze and 21 sloths
[3:37:39] died from that cold stunt.
[3:37:41] As it turns out, they starved to death
[3:37:43] because they have a microbe in their belly
[3:37:46] that helps them digest their food
[3:37:48] and that microbe dies in the cold.
[3:37:53] They literally starve to death in their bodies,
[3:37:57] even though they have food.
[3:38:00] The second shipment of sloths arrived from Peru.
[3:38:04] Given they were dead upon arrival.
[3:38:06] And remaining eight were emancipated and subsequently
[3:38:09] died.
[3:38:10] Raising the initial death toll to 31.
[3:38:13] The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
[3:38:16] inspected the facility in spring, summer, 2025.
[3:38:20] They had the opportunity to inspect the facility.
[3:38:25] They know the cages were too small.
[3:38:27] They issued a verbal Warning.
[3:38:29] A verbal Warning.
[3:38:31] Before closing the initial review.
[3:38:34] There was continued fatalities from their.
[3:38:38] New shipments arrived because they
[3:38:39] were continued to be offered permits
[3:38:42] through fish and wildlife.
[3:39:01] Additional deaths mounted in some of the specialized care
[3:39:04] that we're seeing them now getting in appropriate setting.
[3:39:04] More animals perish from malnourished, vitamin
[3:39:04] deficiencies, linked to improper diets
[3:39:07] and bringing the total recorded fatalities past 50.
[3:39:10] And I think this is probably an undercount based
[3:39:13] on what we know about shipping and the actual process of coming
[3:39:17] to the United States and crates as a sensitive animal.
[3:39:24] The intervention in zoo transfer happened.
[3:39:26] I think we were starting to get the news by then.
[3:40:29] That was reactive enforcement.
[3:40:32] Limited local tools.
[3:40:33] That we know we have under our existing code.
[3:40:35] When we look at the layers of government and trying
[3:40:38] to make sure we're addressing things that we can
[3:40:40] under us because I know we don't want
[3:40:42] to do an exercise at this time, we
[3:40:45] want to do things that are actionable.
[3:40:47] The federal government does have a key role in what could be,
[3:40:52] I believe, making some moves from Washington
[3:40:55] to prohibit the import of exotic wildlife.
[3:40:58] That is not necessarily on the horizon.
[3:41:01] But I think we continue to pressure
[3:41:03] our local representatives that go to DC
[3:41:07] and trying to get movement on that type of federal act.
[3:41:12] The focus is not federal government
[3:41:15] doesn't focus on the local land use compatibility.
[3:41:17] That's where we come in and of course
[3:41:20] we have heard about the failings of FWC.
[3:41:22] They are the responsible party for captive wildlife permits
[3:41:26] and the state's structure, the rulemaking that
[3:41:30] has been put in place and the categorization of wildlife
[3:41:34] failed these animals.
[3:41:36] They are not required to notice us that these animals were
[3:41:41] being imported.
[3:41:41] If it was alligators, they would have had to notice us.
[3:41:45] But this is something that at the state level
[3:41:47] we need to continue to articulate and advocate
[3:41:49] for making sure that we do a better job of getting in place
[3:41:55] rulemaking from the state to communicate
[3:41:57] with local governments on this type of use.
[3:42:03] Why should we act?
[3:42:05] I just gave you the federal and the state background.
[3:42:07] The important part of why Orange County needs to do something
[3:42:11] is first of all we do need land use zoning compatibility.
[3:42:16] Licensing.
[3:42:17] Location.
[3:42:18] And we also know what it's like to deal with community impacts.
[3:42:21] When things happen with our beloved animals,
[3:42:25] we are the calls that are made.
[3:42:28] We get the calls at our office.
[3:42:29] And I think that gives us the unique perspective.
[3:42:32] Additionally understanding that we received
[3:42:36] 76.7 million visitors annually and we
[3:42:39] are a destination that's considered
[3:42:40] a top notch destination.
[3:42:42] One of the beautiful places to visit.
[3:42:45] And there's no assurance that's given out
[3:42:47] to the families traveling here that when they come and see
[3:42:51] something in a tourist facility, it is something that
[3:42:57] should be ethical and treating all involved
[3:43:01] with the utmost dignity.
[3:43:04] I have heard from many people that
[3:43:07] believe what happened at Sloths World
[3:43:09] has cast a dark shadow and that tourism industry.
[3:43:13] We need to make sure we're correcting that and doing
[3:43:16] the signaling that we're not going
[3:43:17] to allow that to happen again.
[3:43:20] So, there's several different options
[3:43:22] to discuss that we may be able to hear from a little bit.
[3:43:26] This is just a preliminary discussion of it obviously.
[3:43:29] But commercial use of exotic wildlife in exhibitions, this
[3:43:33] is something that has been used in other jurisdictions.
[3:43:35] A lot of jurisdictions across the country.
[3:43:39] An effort to try to prevent circuses
[3:43:43] that were using animals and wildlife cruelly.
[3:43:46] These are still animal cruelty.
[3:43:50] But in the stationary business.
[3:43:52] It's requires regulatory oversight.
[3:43:55] The other one that I would like to discuss or find out
[3:43:58] if there's options to be able to address
[3:44:01] are the public contact encounters.
[3:44:03] There's no reason for a wild animal that came directly
[3:44:07] out of the top of a forest in Kiana
[3:44:11] to be handled by a class of sixth graders.
[3:44:16] We know that humans can get diseases from wild animals.
[3:44:19] We know that humans give diseases to wild animals.
[3:44:22] And we understand that what makes them wild
[3:44:24] is that they stay in the wild.
[3:44:25] So the importance of that as a business model,
[3:44:28] not talking about education.
[3:44:29] We're not talking about specifically exemptions
[3:44:32] that we can see for truly accredited educational purposes,
[3:44:38] this is about entertainment for profit.
[3:44:41] One of the things we would do is of course
[3:44:44] maintain exemptions for accredited institutions.
[3:44:47] So zoning approach common this is all very preliminary.
[3:44:51] I know we are, we have an incredible team
[3:44:54] in our zoning division.
[3:44:55] I have said this a million times and I'll say it again.
[3:44:58] I believe our code compliance officers are unsung heroes
[3:45:03] for being out there in the world with their badge and a notebook
[3:45:06] and they don't necessarily have all the tools
[3:45:09] to be able to intervene when something this, I
[3:45:13] think catastrophic happens in a location that
[3:45:17] wasn't permitted to be used.
[3:45:20] Omitted permit and use tables potentially creating definition
[3:45:24] for something that may be prohibited
[3:45:26] and then non-conforming status for existing,
[3:45:29] if they do fall out of that education exemption.
[3:45:32] And then the other avenue might be business licensing.
[3:45:38] The idea that we didn't know what
[3:45:39] was going on in this business, in this location.
[3:45:43] Because they didn't come in and tell us.
[3:45:45] This was a bad actor and they didn't
[3:45:47] disclose what they were going to be using that space for a.
[3:45:51] Well, you don't come potentially if the applicant name
[3:45:57] is sloth world, you know, is there a mechanism by which we
[3:46:01] can require a zoning clearance before the issuance
[3:46:03] of a business license?
[3:46:05] Is there the ability to have some kind of code of compliance?
[3:46:09] Any alert system if you will.
[3:46:11] One of the most devastating photographs
[3:46:13] that came out of these last few months
[3:46:14] was a picture of our code enforcement officers
[3:46:18] that they took, of empty crates or maybe
[3:46:21] it was somebody at FWC, of empty crates
[3:46:26] outside the warehouse, that indicated
[3:46:28] there may be animals inside.
[3:46:29] Having those kinds of indicators,
[3:46:31] would there be an opportunity for a better enforcement
[3:46:34] activity?
[3:46:35] And then administrative enforcement
[3:46:38] looks like fees and fines.
[3:46:40] The idea of being held to some de minimis fee
[3:46:45] after killing dozens of beautiful animals
[3:46:47] that were brought here without having any recourse
[3:46:54] is a huge problem.
[3:46:57] If somebody is using something and they're not
[3:47:01] zoned to be using that then we need
[3:47:04] to look at if there's an opportunity to have something
[3:47:08] more enforceable and then as a background,
[3:47:11] I don't want to get too far in the weeds
[3:47:14] but there are jurisdictions all over the country and some
[3:47:19] in the state that do limited restriction of public contact.
[3:47:26] And some of those, like zoning regulations and zoning
[3:47:28] ordinances and some of them are specific to specific species.
[3:47:35] I would request we do something for wildlife that
[3:47:39] could include the species that are listed in some
[3:47:41] of these other jurisdictions.
[3:47:43] But of course this loss of which we understand
[3:47:46] have a unique sensitivity.
[3:47:47] And this leads me to why this loss needs specifically
[3:47:50] needs special protection.
[3:47:52] These animals are a wild animal that actually responds
[3:47:56] to stressors by shutting down.
[3:47:58] Their entire metabolism shuts down when they are stressed.
[3:48:02] Cold stress stops their digestive system.
[3:48:05] Handling can affect their entire bodily functions and they are
[3:48:11] susceptible to so much of the environmental concerns that
[3:48:15] happen in a handling --
[3:48:18] commercial handling business.
[3:48:20] Of some tourists believe that handling them shows love,
[3:48:23] just know that if they're holding their hands up,
[3:48:26] that's because they're scared.
[3:48:27] I really believe the people who bought tickets ahead of time
[3:48:31] and wanted to come to sloths world
[3:48:33] commonly love these animals.
[3:48:34] It wasn't because they were bad actors or they had malintent.
[3:48:38] I think the reason why they did that is because maybe they
[3:48:43] didn't understand.
[3:48:44] So I do believe that educational opportunities exist,
[3:48:47] but sloths in particular are a sensitive species
[3:48:51] that need special protection.
[3:48:52] The issue with the wild capture, once again,
[3:48:56] I think we have to continue to advocate.
[3:48:58] So it's important to know when they are pulled out
[3:49:03] of the woods, a captive breeding program,
[3:49:05] that you're pulling adults that may
[3:49:07] be right in the middle of reproduction.
[3:49:11] You're interrupting their reproduction cycle.
[3:49:15] That is taking a toll on the overall mortality
[3:49:18] period we understand transport is deadly for them.
[3:49:20] Very few actually arrive when there is a transport.
[3:49:24] Those impacts aren't even contemplated today.
[3:49:26] It's important to understand.
[3:49:28] Here's a list of possible exemptions.
[3:49:30] Of course we have our accredited agencies.
[3:49:34] Such as the great people that took in our surviving
[3:49:37] sloths from sloths world.
[3:49:39] And then of course licensed wildlife rehabilitations,
[3:49:42] certified veterinary care, it's a different certification
[3:49:46] for this type of wildlife and the person that
[3:49:48] was listed on the FWC application
[3:49:50] for the permit for sloth world was not the kind of veterinarian
[3:49:56] that needed to be hired.
[3:49:58] And then of course for the educational institutions,
[3:50:00] they need to be able to do the outreach that would potentially
[3:50:05] include something, that could have a exhibit that
[3:50:08] wouldn't be disqualified.
[3:50:09] And then of course some conservation organization.
[3:50:12] And import distinction between some
[3:50:15] of the educational conservation and need for those programs.
[3:50:19] And commercial entertainment.
[3:50:22] Sloth world, was an example of something
[3:50:24] that was being put into place specifically
[3:50:26] for commercial entertainment.
[3:50:28] It was for tickets.
[3:50:29] Much like an exhibition on anything.
[3:50:33] The idea that these beings didn't get any specialized
[3:50:36] treatment for being special is a little terrifying
[3:50:40] and as an oversight body, we need
[3:50:44] to find opportunities to address that.
[3:50:49] If this board feels like this is a worthwhile endeavor,
[3:50:53] we will seek guidance from our county
[3:50:56] Attorney's office to review our state exemptions.
[3:51:00] And constitutional issues including
[3:51:03] some of the grandfathering of existing businesses.
[3:51:05] I don't know of any right now.
[3:51:07] I don't think it hurts to say that we're not penalizing
[3:51:11] good actors out there.
[3:51:13] We're trying to make sure we're preventing another tragedy.
[3:51:15] Public benefits, I think everything we do here
[3:51:19] should be able to be justified by saying how
[3:51:21] this is making a difference.
[3:51:22] First of all, animal welfare is a great concern
[3:51:25] to almost everybody that I know and for people
[3:51:28] who don't believe they are animal welfare advocates,
[3:51:33] they oftentimes understand the public safety issue
[3:51:37] and we have a potential business that
[3:51:39] doesn't care about the lives of the animals that are there.
[3:51:43] That means they don't really care
[3:51:45] about the lives of the visitors either.
[3:51:47] They are subjecting everybody to potential safety issues.
[3:51:50] Responsible tourism is what our brand is.
[3:51:53] We are a welcoming home a family friendly,
[3:51:56] forward facing county and region.
[3:51:58] And we want to make sure that people come here
[3:52:02] with the knowledge that they are going
[3:52:04] to visit a place that takes really good care of its people
[3:52:06] and its wildlife.
[3:52:07] And then of course regulatory clarity.
[3:52:09] There is an unbelievable, I felt when
[3:52:12] I was reading through all the documents in this case that,
[3:52:17] how did we not stop this?
[3:52:21] There's just a blind spot at almost every level
[3:52:26] that allowed it.
[3:52:27] The timeline, I know there's no magic wand
[3:52:31] and I am a patient commissioner.
[3:52:32] As long as I have support on why our board and staff and try
[3:52:38] to make sure we're trying to do something that has meaning.
[3:52:40] It's not just for show.
[3:52:42] We want to make sure we include the public.
[3:52:46] That's its own process.
[3:52:47] This is sort of the final piece.
[3:52:50] Asking for support.
[3:52:52] Asking questions of the county Attorney's office
[3:52:55] at how this might look and then potentially seeing
[3:52:57] if we can return to put something
[3:52:59] in place that will assure residents for years
[3:53:03] to come that we don't allow this type of cruelty
[3:53:06] in Orange County.
[3:53:08] That's at.
[3:53:09] >> Thank you Commissioner Wilson.
[3:53:10] We'll go to the board for questions, comments.
[3:53:14] Commissioner Uribe.
[3:53:16] >> First of all thank you for doing so much research on this.
[3:53:19] This has been phenomenal.
[3:53:20] I think we all agree.
[3:53:23] We know no animal, no anybody should suffer.
[3:53:27] I will say a couple of things that I worry about.
[3:53:29] And Jennifer is here.
[3:53:31] Of course we all remember the tragedy of the fireworks
[3:53:33] in the warehouse that blew up and all of those young people
[3:53:37] died.
[3:53:37] They weren't supposed to have fireworks in a building.
[3:53:41] And so it leaves me to -- how do we make sure we are vigilant.
[3:53:49] Clearly multiple people new fireworks were going on there.
[3:53:53] There's companies locally that we're getting fireworks
[3:53:59] through their.
[3:54:00] And the company never had a business license.
[3:54:05] 100%, we need to put some regulations in there.
[3:54:09] We need to see what that looks like.
[3:54:12] I just hope we can also have a mechanism where
[3:54:14] we continue to tell people, if you see something,
[3:54:17] say something.
[3:54:18] Because, all of these tragedies, obviously people involved new,
[3:54:25] but no one bothered to say anything until it basically
[3:54:28] all came about.
[3:54:29] The only other question I have is,
[3:54:32] one, like this particular one was in the city,
[3:54:35] is it required to have a county business license if it
[3:54:39] has a city business license?
[3:54:41] >> It's a great question.
[3:54:42] We've talked about this.
[3:54:45] That sloth world storefront was in the city of Orlando,
[3:54:49] but the warehouse was in the county.
[3:54:51] And knowing that we have great partnerships with the city,
[3:54:55] also you know, talking through this as part of the stakeholder
[3:54:59] portion of discussions, having some understanding of what they
[3:55:04] would want to participate in as maybe collaborating
[3:55:08] for something that has consistency
[3:55:10] across jurisdictions.
[3:55:13] >> I don't know if we currently have any zoning that would allow
[3:55:16] exotic wildlife to be permitted currently in Orange County.
[3:55:20] Do we?
[3:55:21] Or do we just not talk about it, is it not listed?
[3:55:25] Do we have any exotic wildlife zoning in Orange County,
[3:55:29] right now?
[3:55:32] >> It's not specifically exempted.
[3:55:34] >> So, Commissioner, let me refer to my notes.
[3:55:38] I believe it was in 2015 ish.
[3:55:42] We used to have a category for exotic animals in our use table
[3:55:47] and we took it out altogether and I
[3:55:48] think it's because we just defer to the state
[3:55:51] because they're the ones that ultimately regulate them.
[3:55:54] We don't currently have anything.
[3:55:58] There's no permission or prohibition.
[3:56:04] >> My follow up question would be,
[3:56:05] and maybe this is for Georgina, if we do some co compliance,
[3:56:08] can we put some teeth in it.
[3:56:11] There was a verbal discussion, but could there
[3:56:14] be kind of like the health department
[3:56:16] on restaurants, where we shut it down?
[3:56:18] I mean, do we have the ability to do something
[3:56:21] when there's a clear violation?
[3:56:23] >> I think what we're going to do,
[3:56:25] we're listening to discussion today, (indiscernible).
[3:56:51] As it relates to wild exotic life.
[3:56:52] Consistent with our charter, our office
[3:56:52] is always saying you guys have the powers that are given to you
[3:56:52] or that are not consistent with state or general law.
[3:56:52] F powers are in the Constitution.
[3:56:53] They have the regulatory power.
[3:56:55] It's going to be difficult for us to step in and make
[3:56:58] some sort of regulatory decisions related
[3:57:01] to the importing or licensing.
[3:57:05] So we're going to have to stay with our local powers.
[3:57:08] Which is in land use.
[3:57:10] We're going to have to do a little listening
[3:57:13] to the discussion today.
[3:57:14] But we need to know if there's interest in consensus.
[3:57:19] We have to do that research and come back and either explain
[3:57:23] how the process works, because there's also different levels
[3:57:27] that the state gets.
[3:57:29] Class one, class two, class three.
[3:57:32] Unfortunately are not 1 or 2.
[3:57:34] That is another fact that is a unique situation.
[3:57:37] We do get notice from the state on class one
[3:57:40] or class two I think.
[3:58:05] >> If it was a gator we would have gotten notice.
[3:58:10] >> We'll have to do that research and come back
[3:58:12] and figure out where the board consensus lies or what
[3:58:12] you're able -- >> I would support the most intensive
[3:58:12] opportunity for us as a county to do.
[3:58:12] And secondly I always comment my concern is always enforcement.
[3:58:14] Whatever your findings do accomplish
[3:58:17] of what we're capable of as a body and a government to do,
[3:58:21] but again, how is that enforcement
[3:58:24] able to be reassured.
[3:58:28] >> I think giving you the clearer picture,
[3:58:30] you started saying this is an actor who did not get
[3:58:33] the business license.
[3:58:33] We need to bring the information to you
[3:58:36] about how it's supposed to work so
[3:58:40] that it would have triggered an inspection by the fire Marshal.
[3:58:43] But as you noted, at the very beginning,
[3:58:45] this was an actor who didn't do what they were supposed to do.
[3:58:50] It wasn't on what they called high alert for explosives.
[3:58:53] We had fireworks.
[3:58:55] All right.
[3:58:56] Will.
[3:58:56] Hopefully you guys can find everything you can.
[3:58:59] I think this is a great effort to do.
[3:59:03] We should move forward.
[3:59:05] I agree.
[3:59:08] >> Thank you commissioner Uribe.
[3:59:09] Commissioner Cordero or commissioner Scott?
[3:59:13] >> I have to say thank you for this.
[3:59:15] This process and research.
[3:59:40] >> I'm in full support.
[3:59:41] >> Thank you.
[3:59:41] I am too.
[3:59:41] District five.
[3:59:41] You need to double down you didn't need
[3:59:41] to convince me on anything.
[3:59:41] What I do also want to draw attention to
[3:59:41] is we talk about establishing some form
[3:59:41] of regulatory framework.
[3:59:41] One of the things we need to consider
[3:59:41] is how we actually do and I'll go back to the topic of TT
[3:59:44] because visit Orlando, despite laws already having died,
[3:59:52] spent our public money on advertisements
[3:59:56] for sloths world, which resulted in some of those advanced sales.
[4:00:01] Had this been just a one off, where it only happened once,
[4:00:06] with one animal organization, but it hasn't.
[4:00:09] It actually also happened in 2024.
[4:00:12] With Wild Florida as well.
[4:00:15] Where we had the use of our TT funds
[4:00:19] being spent on an animal organization
[4:00:21] that had animal welfare.
[4:00:24] Accusations and cases against it.
[4:00:28] And I think we owe our constituents and taxpayers
[4:00:31] the due diligence to make sure that with our public money
[4:00:35] we are not promoting one of the most grotesque crimes that
[4:00:42] is severely under punished in our justice system.
[4:00:46] I do think we need to move towards some type of oversight
[4:00:50] with regard to how that money is spent.
[4:00:54] That's aside from it.
[4:00:56] I think this report, district five
[4:00:57] will submit something with regard to that.
[4:00:59] And I also fully support you, Commissioner Wilson.
[4:01:03] >> Thank you so much.
[4:01:04] So, just making sure, are there any --
[4:01:46] >> Honestly, it would be a great holiday gift for us to present
[4:01:49] Orange County, to say that we're never going to allow something
[4:01:49] like this to happen again.
[4:01:49] I just want to make sure, for clarification purposes,
[4:01:49] the FWC wildlife permits are for that captive import.
[4:01:49] But what we're looking at is the regulatory schemes
[4:01:51] that we already work under.
[4:01:53] Which are our land use, zoning, business license.
[4:01:56] Not the import.
[4:01:59] >> Yes.
[4:01:59] The way the language is, they have all.
[4:02:02] We have to figure out what that means.
[4:02:07] >> I think there's a lot of other jurisdictions.
[4:02:09] Thank you so much.
[4:02:10] I appreciate it.
[4:02:11] Have a good lunch.
[4:02:13] >> Thank you.
[4:02:15] Happy lunch.
[4:02:15] See you at two.