[18:24] Good rainy couple of days we've
[18:26] had, which is well, well
[18:28] received by the folks at Tampa
[18:30] Bay water and all of us, of
[18:32] course. But anyway, welcome to
[18:36] our. SEPTEMBER 20th. SEPTEMBER.
[18:38] AUGUST 25th. AUGUST 25th
[18:40] Commission meeting and glad to
[18:42] have you here today. If you're
[18:43] online, welcome as well. And we
[18:46] will get started with our
[18:48] invocation and our pledge
[18:54] Commissioner Scheer, please.
[18:55] >> Dear gracious GOD, our
[18:57] father, we thank you for the
[18:59] gift of this day, for the
[19:01] community we share, for the
[19:03] privilege and responsibility of
[19:05] serving our neighbors. As we
[19:08] begin this meeting, we ask you
[19:10] to grant wisdom to those who
[19:13] lead, clarity to those who
[19:15] speak, and understanding to all
[19:18] who listen. Where there are
[19:20] difficult decisions, give us
[19:21] discernment. Where there are
[19:23] differences of opinion, give us
[19:26] patience and respect. And in
[19:28] all that is decided here, help
[19:30] us to remember the people whose
[19:31] lives are affected by the work
[19:35] we do. Teach us to seek what is
[19:39] just to love mercy, to walk
[19:41] humbly, and to use whatever
[19:42] authority and influence we have
[19:45] for the good of others. We ask
[19:47] your blessing upon our
[19:49] community, upon those who serve
[19:51] it, and upon all who call it
[19:54] home. In the name of Jesus we
[19:55] pray. Amen. Amen.
[19:56] >> Commissioner Scott, will you
[19:58] lead us, please?
[19:58] >> I pledge allegiance,
[20:00] allegiance to the flag of the
[20:02] United States of America and to
[20:04] the Republic for which it
[20:08] stands. One nation under GOD,
[20:10] indivisible, with liberty and
[20:14] justice for all.
[20:16] >> We have one proclamation
[20:18] today. And before I do that, I
[20:19] wanted to again welcome and
[20:21] thank Corporal Clyde Thornton,
[20:23] deputy Mike Winnecke, Deputy
[20:25] Kevin McSweeney and Deputy Jeff
[20:26] Atkinson for being here and
[20:28] taking care of us as they do
[20:29] every meeting. So thank you,
[20:31] gentlemen. Absolutely. Thank
[20:36] you. They don't always get an
[20:52] applause. All right. Today I
[20:54] get to talk to about a building
[20:56] department appreciation day.
[20:57] Probably one of the departments
[21:00] that I spend a lot of time with,
[21:02] with Kevin McAndrew and company
[21:04] and always appreciate the work
[21:07] that they do on so many levels
[21:10] as changes occur and technology,
[21:12] as changes occur in their
[21:14] business, they always stand up
[21:15] and do the job for our
[21:17] residents. And even sometimes
[21:18] our residents don't realize
[21:20] you're doing a job for them,
[21:21] but appreciate the safety that
[21:23] you all look out for all of
[21:25] them every single day. So with
[21:27] that, Jim McMillan, our
[21:28] building official, please come
[21:31] on up. Cami Vasser, deputy
[21:33] building official. Robert
[21:35] Dryden, customer operations
[21:37] manager. Bo Cunningham,
[21:40] building inspector Mark Roberts,
[21:42] plans examiner. Barbara Metcalf,
[21:44] permit technician, and Tausha
[21:46] Snead flood desk. And did I
[21:49] forget anybody? Okay, good.
[21:50] Welcome. Good to have you here.
[21:52] Thank you, thank you, thank.
[21:56] >> You, thank you. Good to see
[21:59] you.
[22:01] >> Okay. I'm going to read this
[22:02] proclamation. And then you all
[22:04] can decide amongst yourselves
[22:06] who would like to say a few
[22:08] words or you're chosen. Okay.
[22:09] All right. And if somebody else
[22:11] wants to, you can join in as
[22:13] well. The safety of our homes,
[22:15] businesses and public
[22:16] infrastructure relies on the
[22:18] dedicated professionals of the
[22:19] building department, including
[22:22] building officials, inspectors,
[22:24] plans, examiners and permit
[22:26] technicians. Florida's unique
[22:27] coastal environment and
[22:30] vulnerability to severe weather.
[22:31] You've had that in the last
[22:32] couple of years, require
[22:34] rigorous construction standards,
[22:36] and our local building
[22:37] departments ensure these
[22:39] standards are met through
[22:41] strict enforcement of the
[22:42] Building Florida Building Code
[22:44] and building safety
[22:45] professionals are largely
[22:47] unsung guardians of public
[22:49] safety, ensuring structural
[22:51] integrity, fire protection,
[22:53] electric safety, electrical
[22:55] safety, plumbing compliance and
[22:57] accessibility for all residents.
[22:59] These professionals foster
[23:01] community and economic growth
[23:03] by reviewing building plans and
[23:04] conducting inspections that
[23:06] keep construction projects
[23:07] running efficiently while
[23:09] minimizing risks. Building
[23:11] Department Appreciation Day
[23:13] informs and educates the public
[23:15] about the critical role of our
[23:17] community's largely unknown
[23:20] protectors of public safety.
[23:22] Our local building code
[23:24] officials who assure us of
[23:25] safety, sustainable, energy
[23:27] efficient and livable buildings
[23:28] that are essential to Pinellas
[23:30] counties prosperity and now
[23:31] therefore, be it proclaimed by
[23:33] the Pinellas County Board of
[23:35] County Commission that
[23:37] SEPTEMBER 1st, 2026 be
[23:38] recognized as Building
[23:41] Department Appreciation Day in
[23:44] Pinellas County. And again,
[23:51] thank you.
[23:55] >> Go right ahead. Hello,
[23:56] everybody over here.
[23:56] >> They won't.
[23:57] >> Hear you.
[23:59] >> Hello, everybody. My name is
[24:00] Jim McMillan. I'm the building
[24:02] official for Pinellas County as
[24:04] well as the manager for
[24:06] building and Development Review
[24:08] Services, Building Division. I
[24:10] am here today on behalf of the
[24:13] building division's entire team,
[24:15] to give a heartfelt thank you
[24:18] for your support and
[24:19] recognition of our mission,
[24:21] which is to protect the health,
[24:24] safety and welfare of our
[24:26] citizens and the built
[24:28] environment. Recovering from
[24:31] Hurricanes, Helene and Milton
[24:33] have presented our department
[24:36] with unprecedented challenges.
[24:37] Our staff faced damage
[24:41] assessment operations, complex
[24:44] documentation reviews and
[24:46] assisted anxious residents
[24:50] desperate to rebuild. Staff
[24:52] worked exhausting hours under
[24:54] immense pressure to keep our
[24:56] community moving forward with
[24:59] recovery efforts, which
[25:01] continue to this day. Data
[25:05] collected in MAY of 2026 show
[25:06] 5800 storm repair permits had
[25:09] been issued. As their manager,
[25:12] I am incredibly proud of their
[25:14] resilience and dedication.
[25:15] Commissioners and executive
[25:18] management. You have validated
[25:21] their sacrifices and given them
[25:24] a well-deserved morale boost.
[25:26] Thank you for your leadership,
[25:28] your support and providing us
[25:30] with the technology and tool
[25:32] upgrades. Allowing our team to
[25:35] work as efficiently as possible.
[25:37] We thank you all for the
[25:41] resignation recognition.
[26:03] >> I appreciate. That. You're
[26:20] smart guys in the back.
[26:23] There
[26:39] you go.
[26:45] Thank you. Thank you,
[26:54] thank you, thank you, thank you.
[26:56] Thank you, thank you so much. I
[27:00] appreciate it. Thanks, Robert.
[27:06] Thank you so much. Thank you.
[27:22] Okay.
[27:31] >> All right. Okay. We have a
[27:32] couple citizens to be heard.
[27:34] We'll start with David Ballard
[27:39] Geddes JR. Followed by Lisa
[27:43] McMurray.
[27:46] >> Hi. Good afternoon, David
[27:48] Ballard, Geddes JR. I live on
[27:50] Georgia Avenue in Palm Harbor.
[27:52] The Federalist Papers again
[27:55] reveals three constitutions the
[27:59] former, the latter and The Last
[28:03] Resort. One and one and one is
[28:05] three. Got to be good looking.
[28:07] It's just so hard to see. Tip
[28:09] your hat to the new
[28:12] Constitution and pray you don't
[28:13] get fooled again. The change.
[28:16] It had to come and you knew it
[28:19] all along. Even Mick Jagger at
[28:22] Madison Square Gardens in 1969,
[28:25] he stated in front of the crowd,
[28:28] welcome to the breakfast show,
[28:32] lunch, dinner. Okay. The
[28:33] Federalist Papers were not
[28:36] written by Hamilton, Madison or
[28:38] John Jay. The Federalist Papers
[28:40] were originally drafted by a
[28:43] shoemaker named Jacob Boehme.
[28:45] Shoemaker, stick to thy last.
[28:48] The Declaration of Independence
[28:50] again counterfeits itself as
[28:53] preamble to a second
[28:54] constitution seen as the
[28:56] capture of water in article one,
[29:00] section eight, clause 11
[29:03] birthing unwarranted 14th
[29:05] amendment water jurisdictions
[29:08] as declared, thus revealing the
[29:10] methodology of the prints in
[29:12] the Declaration of Independence,
[29:15] written by Niccolo Machiavelli.
[29:17] For it is better to be feared
[29:20] than it is to be loved. Even
[29:22] George Washington, claiming to
[29:24] be of greatest rankness and
[29:27] truly one's worst enemy in his
[29:29] Farewell to Christianity,
[29:31] address states that we are
[29:34] being given a useful lesson on
[29:36] our heads, seen as a useful art
[29:38] for limited times. In article
[29:40] one, section eight, clause
[29:43] eight. Our current constitution
[29:46] is unconstitutionally being
[29:48] used as a bill of attainder, a
[29:51] letter of marquee, an ex post
[29:54] facto form of reprisal seen as
[29:56] inexcusably defective in
[29:59] Federalist Paper 64, using
[30:02] water as their weapon of choice,
[30:03] deaf to the voice of justice,
[30:05] and consequently, as written in
[30:08] the Declaration of Independence,
[30:10] Abraham Lincoln. He did not
[30:12] write the 14th amendment. He
[30:14] amended the 14th amendment to
[30:16] include the rebellion Clause
[30:19] denouncing the Book of Common
[30:21] Rebellion, such well bound Book
[30:23] of Common rebellion, as
[30:27] possibly referenced in statute
[30:29] 298.36. London Bridge is
[30:32] falling down, London Bridge is
[30:33] falling down and they can take
[30:36] their wayfaring mercenaries
[30:38] down with them. Welcome to the
[30:42] bond market. Thank you.
[30:44] >> Okay, as Lisa McMurray comes
[30:46] up, I just wanted to take the
[30:48] opportunity to introduce her.
[30:50] She is the chair of our
[30:51] employee advisory council,
[30:53] which she'll tell you. And I
[30:55] just wanted to give her a sense
[30:57] of appreciation from the
[31:00] commission for her being on board for.
[31:04] >> 25 years and CHAIRMAN 20 of
[31:05] those years. So she is a
[31:07] trooper. So thank you for what
[31:11] you do for our. For our
[31:13] employees every single day. So
[31:15] thank you. And the mic is yours.
[31:16] >> Thank you, Commissioner
[31:19] Eggers. Good afternoon,
[31:21] commissioners Barry Jewell. My
[31:23] name is Lisa McMurray. I'm the
[31:25] chairperson of the Pinellas
[31:25] County.
[31:26] >> Lisa, could you pull that
[31:28] down so we can hear you?
[31:29] >> Thank you. Lisa.
[31:30] >> Yep. That's perfect. Thank
[31:31] you.
[31:32] >> I currently work for
[31:34] utilities where our department
[31:36] helps ensure that our residents
[31:39] have safe, reliable drinking
[31:41] water. I'm here today
[31:42] representing the classified
[31:45] employees of Pinellas County. I
[31:46] listen to the board of County
[31:48] commissioners meetings, and I
[31:49] understand the budget
[31:51] challenges facing the county. I
[31:52] also believe Pinellas County
[31:54] has historically been a good
[31:55] steward of both general fund
[31:58] and enterprise resources. I
[31:59] understand the difficult
[32:01] decisions are being considered,
[32:03] including reductions in
[32:04] potentially elimination of
[32:06] entire departments. I
[32:08] appreciate the Commission's
[32:09] recognition that Workforce
[32:10] Relations and the Office of
[32:13] Human Rights provide critical
[32:15] services and are necessary for
[32:18] the county's operations. But
[32:19] today, I want to speak about
[32:21] the people behind the services,
[32:22] the dedicated employees who
[32:24] keep Pinellas County moving
[32:26] forward every day. Our
[32:27] employees are the people behind
[32:29] our award winning beaches, our
[32:32] nine over 11 operations, our
[32:34] traffic signals, mosquito
[32:36] control, utility services, road
[32:38] maintenance, sewer repairs,
[32:40] passport services and so many
[32:42] other services our residents
[32:45] rely on. The list is extensive,
[32:46] and our commitment doesn't stop
[32:49] when the workday ends or when
[32:52] circumstances become difficult.
[32:53] During hurricanes, County
[32:54] employees leave their families
[32:56] to serve our community. Some
[32:58] sleep on cots at county
[33:00] facilities. Others work in
[33:02] shelters. Answer calls at the
[33:03] Emergency Operations Center,
[33:05] assist residents who are
[33:06] frightened or uncertain, and
[33:08] clear roads after the storm so
[33:10] people can get to work, obtain
[33:13] supplies and begin rebuilding.
[33:14] Some of these employees are
[33:17] dealing with the catastrophic
[33:19] losses of their own, yet they
[33:21] still report to work to help
[33:23] their neighbors. That's who
[33:24] Pinellas County employees are.
[33:27] We show up a few years ago on
[33:28] Christmas Eve, some of our
[33:29] employees were called away from
[33:31] their families to repair a
[33:32] broken water main in Pinellas
[33:34] County neighborhood. It MAY
[33:36] seem like a small example, but
[33:37] situations like this happen
[33:39] regularly. County employees
[33:40] routinely put the needs of the
[33:42] community ahead of their own
[33:44] personal time. These employees
[33:46] are not just county workers.
[33:48] Many are also Pinellas County
[33:49] residents. Their friends,
[33:51] families and neighbors live
[33:53] here too. They are the people
[33:55] residents encounter every day,
[33:56] and they are the face of
[33:57] Pinellas County in our
[34:00] communities. At an Employee
[34:02] Advisory Council meeting,
[34:03] delegate meeting, a
[34:04] representative from Visitors
[34:06] and Convention Bureau made a
[34:08] statement that stayed with me.
[34:11] We are all stewards of Pinellas
[34:13] County. This is something I
[34:14] have understood throughout my
[34:17] 20 years, 28 years of county
[34:19] service. Not long after that
[34:21] meeting, I was at the beach
[34:23] having dinner. While waiting
[34:24] for a table, I overheard
[34:26] visitors talking about where to
[34:27] watch the sunset, how far
[34:29] certain attractions were, and
[34:30] what they should see in
[34:32] downtown Saint Petersburg. I
[34:34] found myself answering their
[34:36] questions, telling them about
[34:37] our community, and sharing some
[34:39] of its history. They didn't
[34:40] know about some of the movies
[34:42] that were filmed here. I was
[34:44] proud to let them know. That
[34:46] moment reminded me that many
[34:47] county employees feel the same
[34:49] way. We aren't simply doing a
[34:51] job. We take pride in the place
[34:54] we live. Most of us didn't
[34:55] choose public service because
[34:58] we expect to become wealthy. We
[34:59] chose it because we have a
[35:01] calling to serve, to help
[35:02] others, to protect our
[35:04] environment, to maintain our
[35:05] infrastructure, and to make our
[35:08] community better. The work can
[35:10] be rewarding, but it can also
[35:12] be stressful, difficult,
[35:13] overlooked, and sometimes, yes,
[35:15] thankless. Yet despite these
[35:16] challenges, county employees
[35:18] continue to come to work, do
[35:19] their jobs, and serve our
[35:21] residents with professionalism
[35:24] and dedication. This is why I
[35:25] felt compelled to speak today,
[35:27] especially in the midst of
[35:30] budget discussions. Pinellas
[35:31] County workforce is not aligned
[35:34] in the budget. We are dedicated
[35:36] professionals. We are your
[35:37] neighbors. We are the people
[35:39] who keep the county's essential
[35:40] services open, operating every
[35:42] day in good times and in the
[35:46] most difficult circumstances. I
[35:47] respectfully ask that as you
[35:49] make these difficult budget
[35:50] decisions, you recognize the
[35:52] value of the people behind the
[35:53] services and consider the
[35:54] impact these decisions have on
[35:57] the workforce and the residents
[36:00] we serve. In light of football
[36:02] season, I thought of this quote,
[36:04] the achievements of an
[36:06] organization are the result of
[36:09] the combined effort of each
[36:11] individual. Thank you for your
[36:13] time, your cooperation and your
[36:14] service to Pinellas County.
[36:16] >> Thank you Lisa, appreciate
[36:19] that.
[36:22] >> MR. Chair. MR. Chair, yes,
[36:24] if I MAY. Lisa also serves on
[36:26] the office for Human Rights
[36:27] Board, and she was also an
[36:29] integral part when we were
[36:32] doing our selection process for
[36:33] the new director of the
[36:35] department. So I just wanted to
[36:36] echo it's been a pleasure
[36:37] working with her.
[36:40] >> Thank you. Thanks, Lisa.
[36:49] Okay. Greg Powell.
[36:52] >> Yes. Greg Pound, the issue
[36:54] that I'd like to bring to the
[36:57] county commissioners is 2019. I
[36:59] was on my way to courthouse, as
[37:00] I've been doing for
[37:02] approximately 15 years,
[37:03] exposing the corruption in
[37:05] Pinellas County Courthouse as
[37:07] the people went to court every
[37:09] day. And on my way to court, I
[37:11] was rear end in the back of my
[37:16] car. Car totaled out. And so
[37:17] what happened is I was exposing
[37:20] the child molestation, the, the,
[37:23] the government's destroying
[37:24] families for money and all the
[37:25] things that's going on Pinellas
[37:27] County, that's, that's got us
[37:28] in a situation we're in today
[37:30] with the suicide rate, the drug
[37:32] problem among our youth, just
[37:33] destroying our families because
[37:35] of federal grant money that
[37:37] comes into this county in order
[37:38] to destroy our families. It's
[37:39] called cooperative agreement
[37:40] contracts. You'd have to read
[37:42] them. I've explained it over
[37:44] and over again. And so what
[37:47] happens is now I'm being fined
[37:49] for man smashing, for young man
[37:51] who was in so many wrecks, he
[37:53] couldn't even count him in the
[37:55] deposition. And the guy smashes
[37:57] in the back of my car, towed my
[37:58] car out, and the courts put a
[38:01] judgment against me for $18,000.
[38:02] So I have to file in the
[38:03] appeals court. I'm in the
[38:06] appeals court. I file in the
[38:08] appeals court, and they want to
[38:11] supplement my record, my appeal
[38:13] with the transcript that they
[38:17] did at our at a hearing for my
[38:20] attorney. And and, and I asked
[38:21] the judge, I said, Your Honor,
[38:22] I said, did you read my
[38:24] pleading, my motions, pleading
[38:26] you not to dismiss my attorney?
[38:29] And she said, yes, I said no. I
[38:31] asked her, did you receive it?
[38:32] She said yes. I said, did you
[38:35] read it? She said no. So what
[38:36] happens is now. They
[38:37] supplemented a transcript into
[38:39] my appeal in the second
[38:40] District appeals court with a
[38:42] bunch of lies. So you've got
[38:44] mass, you've got out of control
[38:46] corruption. I mean, when I run
[38:47] for sheriff in this county and
[38:50] I get beat up, I get beat up,
[38:51] my head smashed against the
[38:52] wall where I should have went
[38:54] to the hospital. They took me
[38:55] to PIMs. You go read the
[38:56] newspaper articles and read
[38:58] what they said in order to
[38:59] discredit me as a candidate for
[39:01] sheriff against Jim Coates. And
[39:03] then when I run against his his
[39:04] attorney, Robert Gualtieri,
[39:06] who's still an attorney, who's
[39:07] an illegal sheriff in this
[39:09] county that's working with the
[39:11] corruption in the courthouse
[39:12] and what you're doing to people
[39:15] just like you did to this, this
[39:16] plastic surgeon, the stuff
[39:17] that's happened to him and he
[39:20] reacted to it. And this is the
[39:21] corruption. We've got massive
[39:22] corruption in this county.
[39:24] They're destroying our families.
[39:25] I mean, these people are out of
[39:27] control. The Bible shows
[39:28] corruption always starts from
[39:29] the top down. It's been that
[39:30] way since the beginning of time.
[39:33] It's always top down corruption,
[39:34] not bottom up. It's not the
[39:35] poor people you see on the
[39:37] street that's raping and
[39:38] robbing our system, destroying
[39:41] our republic. We've got out of
[39:43] control corruption. We've got
[39:44] we got the city attorney here
[39:45] who doesn't know whether it's
[39:47] right or wrong for an attorney
[39:48] to be the sheriff of Pinellas
[39:50] County. We've got we got we got
[39:51] problems here. You people are
[39:53] looking the other way for your
[39:54] jobs and your money.
[39:56] >> Thank you. All right. We are
[39:59] moving on to our consent. And
[40:02] as we do that, I did want to
[40:03] draw attention to item four and
[40:05] five, which is division of
[40:07] Inspector General two. Two
[40:09] reports that came out. Just to
[40:11] reiterate to our residents that
[40:13] our Inspector General has a
[40:14] report or two, seemingly maybe
[40:16] even more, on every single
[40:18] report that we do, every single
[40:19] meeting that we have, which
[40:22] means that they're looking over
[40:22] operations, they're looking
[40:23] over procedures, they're
[40:25] looking over all aspects of our
[40:28] county to make sure that we're
[40:30] abiding by the rules, that we
[40:32] have procedures in place. And
[40:35] when we don't, they call it out
[40:36] and and we take action. They
[40:38] take action on that. So I just
[40:39] wanted to give a special shout
[40:41] out to our division of
[40:42] Inspector General for the work
[40:44] that they do. That's all I had.
[40:45] And do we have anybody who
[40:47] wants to pull anything from the.
[40:48] Was that.
[40:49] >> Number 11?
[40:50] >> Number 11 you wanted to pull?
[40:54] Okay. Anybody else? All right.
[40:56] Do I have a motion to approve
[40:58] the rest of the move? Approval
[40:59] from Commissioner Peter. Second
[41:01] by Commissioner Flowers. All in
[41:01] favor, say aye.
[41:02] >> Aye.
[41:04] >> Any opposed? Motion carries
[41:05] unanimously.
[41:07] >> Item 11. And this is just a
[41:09] question. Bury the language
[41:11] says that we're spending. We're
[41:14] matching 2.7, I think 8.8
[41:15] million on this. Where's the
[41:18] money coming from.
[41:19] >> That I'll let Cathy's
[41:21] already on her way up, so I'll
[41:23] let her answer that. These were
[41:24] pre-approved projects.
[41:25] >> Yep. Cathie Perkins director
[41:27] for Emergency Management. Thank
[41:28] you, Commissioner, for your
[41:31] question. So emergency
[41:32] management had penny for monies.
[41:36] We had 1.25 million in a
[41:37] mitigation fund for projects
[41:39] that we could do. And then the
[41:42] Lealman cra would contribute
[41:43] 1.76 for.
[41:45] >> Okay. So I support the I'm
[41:46] supporting this. I'm voting for
[41:47] it because I know we need the,
[41:49] the shelter. But when we when
[41:51] we do that, can we itemize
[41:52] where the money is coming from?
[41:54] Because nowhere in here did it
[41:56] say it was from the Lealman cra.
[41:57] Got it. And I read the Lealman
[41:59] cra minutes and saw it in the
[42:00] minutes and then looked at that
[42:02] and didn't see it in that. So
[42:03] for continuity's sake, can we
[42:05] be clear in the future where
[42:06] the money is coming from? And
[42:08] then I want to talk to you
[42:10] later about the cra. So in our
[42:11] next meeting, make sure that's
[42:13] on the list. Thank you.
[42:15] >> Need a motion. Second motion
[42:17] by Commissioner Flowers. Second
[42:19] by Commissioner Peters. All in
[42:22] favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion
[42:23] carries unanimously. We are on
[42:27] to a regular agenda item 14.
[42:30] >> The award for airport car
[42:32] rental or rental car
[42:33] concessions for Saint Pete
[42:35] Clearwater International
[42:37] Airport.
[42:38] >> We have a motion by
[42:40] Commissioner Peters, second by
[42:43] Commissioner Flowers. I noticed
[42:45] five vendors, three contracts.
[42:47] There are somewhat different
[42:49] eight and a half, 9.4 and 10.4
[42:51] million each. What's the
[42:52] difference in the contracts
[42:54] themselves? Could somebody just
[42:54] speak?
[42:55] >> That sounds like a mark
[42:57] question to me.
[42:59] >> Yeah, I was just thinking
[43:01] there might be one for all of
[43:02] them, but there's three
[43:03] separate ones. Thank you. Mark.
[43:05] >> Mark Sprague, director of
[43:07] the Saint Pete Airport. There's
[43:08] no differences in the contracts
[43:10] themselves. The reason why
[43:11] there are different monies is
[43:12] because the square footage that
[43:14] they have actually in the car
[43:14] rental lot.
[43:16] >> So otherwise they're.
[43:17] >> The same identically the
[43:18] same. It's just the square
[43:18] footage.
[43:19] >> Thank you Mark. Appreciate
[43:21] it. MR. CHAIRMAN. Yes. Did you
[43:23] have a question, Commissioner
[43:23] flowers.
[43:25] >> If I can. Yes. I just want
[43:27] to say, because I use it
[43:29] frequently. Yes you do. I just
[43:31] want to say I really appreciate
[43:33] I call it the contactless
[43:34] service that they now have,
[43:36] because before you had to go to
[43:37] the counter, stand in line and
[43:39] wait to get all your stuff, but
[43:40] now if you make your
[43:42] reservation, you can go right
[43:43] out to the lot. And so I've
[43:44] noticed for the traffic and
[43:46] because you get your luggage
[43:47] right there, and then people
[43:49] are standing in lines for their
[43:51] cars. And so it kind of gets a
[43:52] little crowded. But by having
[43:53] that service, it has really
[43:54] thinned out that area. So
[43:56] people get straight to, to
[43:57] catch the, the busses out to
[43:59] the beaches, or they can, you
[44:01] know, go straight out and get
[44:02] their cars. And it kind of
[44:03] moves people more expeditiously
[44:04] through the airport. So I
[44:06] wanted to say thank you for,
[44:08] for that. However, they came up
[44:10] with how they do it, but thank
[44:10] you.
[44:12] >> It's a big collaboration.
[44:13] We're always looking at
[44:14] customer convenience.
[44:16] >> Thank you. Thank you, Mark.
[44:18] Appreciate it. Pull up the
[44:24] voting card, please. Motion
[44:28] carries unanimously. All right.
[44:30] Let's move on to number 15.
[44:32] >> This fiscal year 2026 event
[44:34] funding recommendation. This is
[44:36] for the Clearwater Offshore
[44:37] Nationals. I think you had a
[44:39] question and Brian sent you an
[44:40] email regarding it.
[44:41] >> Yeah. Thank you, Brian, for
[44:44] that. Any other questions on
[44:46] that move.
[44:46] >> Approval.
[44:47] >> Second. Motion by
[44:49] Commissioner Peter. Second by
[44:51] Commissioner Latvala. Pull up
[44:58] the voting card, please. Motion
[45:00] passes unanimously. Item 16,
[45:01] please.
[45:03] >> This is an amendment to add
[45:07] a a Career connect, which is an
[45:08] electronic information exchange
[45:09] platform to this contract. So
[45:12] this is the same for 16 and 17.
[45:15] >> Okay. Motion by Commissioner
[45:17] Peters. Second by Commissioner
[45:20] Scott. Any questions comments.
[45:27] Bring up the voting card please.
[45:29] Motion carries unanimously.
[45:31] Number 17 again.
[45:33] >> Yeah same thing. This is for
[45:33] the permanent supportive
[45:35] housing and for safe haven with
[45:36] Boyd. Yeah.
[45:37] >> I should have done those
[45:39] together, but I didn't.
[45:40] Commissioner motion by
[45:42] Commissioner Peter. Second by
[45:44] Commissioner Flowers. Assuming
[45:45] no questions. Bring up the
[45:50] voting card for item 17. One
[45:54] more motion carries unanimously.
[45:56] Number 18.
[45:57] >> This authorizes me, as
[45:59] county administrator, to be
[46:02] able to adjust for pre-approved
[46:03] Arpa projects to where we are
[46:05] underspent by a few dollars on
[46:07] one, we can move it over to an
[46:09] existing already bid project
[46:11] that we're currently
[46:12] implementing to be able to
[46:14] maximize the use of those Arpa
[46:15] funds that we have to spend
[46:17] those by the end of the year.
[46:19] So at the end, time will
[46:20] tighten. We can we can move
[46:21] funds around appropriately.
[46:22] >> Second.
[46:23] >> Motion by Commissioner
[46:24] Peters. Second by Commissioner
[46:26] Scott. And that voting card
[46:28] from the last one was still up
[46:29] there.
[46:31] >> Yeah.
[46:32] >> It's showing recorded on my
[46:34] end that I'm preparing for the
[46:35] next voting card. But let me
[46:36] know if there's any issues.
[46:38] >> Okay. Try bring up the card
[46:40] for 18 if you can and see if we
[46:43] we can't move our. Yeah.
[46:44] >> Does it look correct for 18
[46:46] currently?
[46:49] >> Motion carries unanimously
[46:53] and it's still there. I can't
[46:58] move mine. Am I the only 1.
[47:00] >> Or 1718 popped up but 18 is
[47:00] gone away.
[47:03] >> 17 now 17 is back up. Yep.
[47:04] Perfect. Got it.
[47:04] >> Okay.
[47:06] >> Thank you. Thank you for
[47:08] taking care of that. Yours is
[47:09] still up.
[47:11] >> Yeah.
[47:13] >> Everybody else's still.
[47:14] >> I can't maneuver.
[47:15] >> Mine's fine.
[47:16] >> I can't maneuver the screen
[47:18] until it goes away.
[47:19] >> You don't want to take
[47:21] longer on this meeting, so we
[47:23] have less time between.
[47:25] >> I've got to stretch.
[47:27] >> I'll just turn it off and
[47:28] start back over. I can vote on
[47:29] this thing.
[47:30] >> Okay.
[47:31] >> So we can keep.
[47:32] >> You're good to go.
[47:33] >> Did you try hitting another
[47:37] part of your screen? All right.
[47:38] >> If it's not working, you can
[47:39] let me know whether you're yes
[47:41] or no. I can record for you.
[47:43] Okay. I do show unanimous on 18
[47:46] though, as well as 17.
[47:48] >> All right. Item 19, please.
[47:49] >> It's the Third Amendment to
[47:50] an agreement with precision
[47:52] sidewalk safety for. This is
[47:54] for our trip hazard prevention
[47:58] and maintenance. Move approval.
[47:59] >> Motion by Commissioner Scott,
[48:01] second by Commissioner Latvala.
[48:03] Any questions or comments on.
[48:05] 19 bring up the voting card,
[48:11] please. Motion carries
[48:13] unanimously. Item 20.
[48:15] >> This is a Resilient Florida
[48:16] grant program application. This
[48:19] is for our South Cross Bayou
[48:21] Reclamation facility for high
[48:22] service pump station
[48:26] improvements. There we go.
[48:28] >> No motion in a second.
[48:30] Motion by Commissioner Peters.
[48:31] Second by Commissioner Scott.
[48:33] Question on this. Are these
[48:36] grants that come in as other
[48:39] income. Are they registered as
[48:41] expenses on the on the
[48:42] department.
[48:42] >> On the capital.
[48:44] >> On the capital, or are they
[48:46] are they zero out outside the
[48:48] operating statement?
[48:50] >> Chris, come on up and answer
[48:52] the question.
[48:54] >> I just want to make sure I
[48:55] kind of know the answer. I want
[48:57] to make sure that the point
[48:59] being, when we get a lot of
[49:01] grants and we try to get grants
[49:02] it, we get the revenue. But
[49:04] sometimes it's and it shows up
[49:05] as expenses. I just wondering
[49:07] if that was the case.
[49:09] >> Yes, sir. Chris Rose Office
[49:10] of Management and Budget. They
[49:12] do show up as expenses in the
[49:12] capital budget.
[49:14] >> And the capital side. So it
[49:16] doesn't show up at all on the.
[49:17] >> That's correct.
[49:18] >> Okay. That's right.
[49:19] >> Thank you. You're welcome.
[49:22] >> All right. We have a motion
[49:24] and a second on item 20. Bring
[49:32] up the voting card, please.
[49:34] Motion carries unanimously.
[49:35] Item 21.
[49:37] >> This an agreement with jp
[49:39] Morgan Chase for our banking
[49:42] services.
[49:43] >> Motion by Commissioner
[49:44] Peters. Second by Commissioner
[49:49] Scott. Any questions? Bring up
[49:55] the voting card, please. One
[49:58] more motion carries unanimously
[50:01] I County attorneys reports.
[50:02] >> On item number 22. I am
[50:05] going to ask that this item be
[50:07] deferred until your SEPTEMBER
[50:08] 10th meeting. No action
[50:10] necessary on the part of the
[50:11] board. We will simply put it on
[50:13] the agenda at that time.
[50:14] >> Okay. Thank you.
[50:16] >> Under item number 23,
[50:17] requesting authority to file
[50:19] suit in the referenced case,
[50:21] this will be a foreclosure of a
[50:22] special magistrate lien arising
[50:24] from a code enforcement
[50:26] proceeding.
[50:27] >> Second motion by
[50:28] Commissioner Peters, second by
[50:31] Commissioner Flowers. Any
[50:34] questions? Bring up the voting
[50:39] card, please. One more motion
[50:42] carries unanimously. Item 2424.
[50:43] >> I'm seeking a ratification
[50:45] of the chair's authority to
[50:47] file a petition to maintain
[50:48] custody of a cruelly or
[50:51] neglectfully treated animal.
[50:52] >> Second motion by
[50:53] Commissioner Peters, second by
[50:54] Commissioner Scott. Bring up
[51:02] the voting card, please. Motion
[51:05] carries unanimously. Item 2525.
[51:06] >> I'm asking that the board
[51:07] approve the resolution that is
[51:08] attached to the agenda item.
[51:10] This is a resolution approving
[51:12] the early extension of the 2026
[51:15] tax rolls. This will allow your
[51:17] tax collector to get the tax
[51:18] bills out on time. While the
[51:20] Value Adjustment Board process
[51:22] continues.
[51:24] >> Motion by Commissioner
[51:26] second by Commissioner Peters.
[51:27] Bring up the voting card,
[51:34] please. Motion carries
[51:36] unanimously. Any other reports?
[51:37] >> No reports today.
[51:39] >> Thank you. County
[51:40] administrator reports.
[51:43] >> No report. We're working on
[51:44] budget. That's all I have to
[51:45] report.
[51:48] >> Okay. Well, good. Keep
[51:50] working hard. We got some
[51:52] meetings coming up, so we do.
[51:53] All right. We're going to jump
[51:55] into county commission comments.
[51:57] And we will start with
[51:59] Commissioner Scott.
[52:01] >> Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[52:03] First of all, I want to thank
[52:05] Lisa for coming up to public
[52:06] comment today and just speaking
[52:07] on behalf of the Pinellas
[52:10] County employees and and
[52:12] personally, I've always been
[52:14] very impressed with the quality
[52:15] of staff we here at Pinellas
[52:17] County and, and they certainly
[52:18] have my support and appreciate
[52:19] everything that they do every
[52:24] day. I mean, working for
[52:25] working for the government
[52:28] isn't always necessarily a sexy
[52:30] job, but it's one that is
[52:32] necessary. And they make life
[52:33] livable here in Pinellas County.
[52:35] So thank you for all the hard
[52:39] work that they do. So a couple
[52:41] items here on just some update
[52:43] community events. I was at the
[52:46] Upper Chamber Tampa Bay Chamber
[52:47] Legislative Luncheon along with
[52:49] Commissioner Nowicki, and we
[52:52] did some q&a with with the
[52:54] crowd there a lot, a lot of
[52:55] discussion on amendment three
[52:57] as you can as you can imagine,
[52:58] among some other things, I got
[53:00] to experience our special
[53:03] magistrate process firsthand
[53:04] with the result of the short
[53:06] term rental that is just two
[53:09] doors down from me. It's very
[53:10] interesting to kind of watch
[53:11] that process and see how that
[53:13] how that play out played out.
[53:14] And I thought I would
[53:15] understood it pretty well just
[53:17] from my interaction from code
[53:18] enforcement, but actually
[53:20] seeing it in real in real time
[53:22] gave me even a deeper
[53:25] appreciation for the hard work
[53:27] that code enforcement has to go
[53:28] through to make sure they check
[53:30] every box. And there's a very
[53:31] methodical process that they
[53:33] have to follow to make sure if
[53:34] they're going to take something
[53:35] before special magistrate that
[53:37] it's actually going to stick.
[53:40] So in this particular case,
[53:41] code enforcement had
[53:43] recommended a $1,000 fine,
[53:46] which was the was knocked down
[53:49] to $500, but they were fined
[53:52] $500. And immediately following
[53:53] my case was, was Hillary
[53:57] Simpson, who is also a
[53:58] regularly complains about a
[53:59] short term rental adjacent to
[54:01] her home. And she had the exact
[54:03] same result as well. So I just
[54:05] want to hats off to the code
[54:06] enforcement team for all their
[54:08] hard work and following through
[54:10] on on a very detailed and
[54:11] thorough investigation to get
[54:13] the result that we got and
[54:15] being able to see, you know,
[54:16] the types of questions that
[54:19] were asked and the types of, of
[54:21] defenses that the attorney
[54:22] representing the short term
[54:24] rental tried to come out with
[54:25] gave us a little better
[54:26] understanding of how to
[54:27] approach things differently in
[54:30] the future. So, so thankful to
[54:31] go through that process and
[54:32] that we were able to get a
[54:35] positive result. Was that the
[54:36] Tunnel to Towers home
[54:38] dedication in Pinellas Park? I
[54:40] think it was Friday last week,
[54:43] and Representative Luna's staff
[54:44] was all down from dc last week
[54:46] as well, touring the entire
[54:47] county. They took a bus all
[54:49] over the county, even up into
[54:50] Pasco County, and toured her
[54:52] entire district. So I met them
[54:54] for coffee. Nice to to meet her
[54:56] entire team, even the folks
[55:01] that were down from dc. Also, I,
[55:02] I think at our work session
[55:05] last week, I looked at a, a
[55:08] line item that was in the
[55:12] public defender's budget. That
[55:15] was $767,000. And then there
[55:18] was another that was for Public
[55:20] Defender Special, and then
[55:22] another $939,300 in public
[55:24] defender mitigation, advocacy
[55:26] and treatment. And I just
[55:28] wanted to have a line of sight
[55:29] better understanding of what
[55:30] that money was actually being
[55:33] spent for. And I had a really
[55:36] great conversation last week
[55:38] with Sarah Marlow, and I very
[55:39] much appreciate everything that
[55:41] she does and her passion for
[55:44] her job. These monies are not
[55:45] they're not required under
[55:47] title five. They're not
[55:48] required that we spend any of
[55:50] these money by the state. What
[55:52] they're for is basically
[55:53] they're providing social
[55:56] services to people that are in
[56:01] the in the criminal defense
[56:03] situation and trying to keep
[56:06] them from getting rearrested,
[56:07] trying to connect them with
[56:09] social services, helping them
[56:12] out with transportation, things
[56:16] like that. And it supports five
[56:18] FTEs, all non-lawyers.
[56:20] Basically, it's providing case
[56:23] management is what it is, was
[56:25] not a program that that she
[56:27] started. It was a program that
[56:29] Bob Dillinger started back in
[56:34] the day. And the I'm sure this
[56:36] is helping people out. The
[56:38] challenge that I had with it
[56:40] and have with it is that how do
[56:43] we define success with it? And
[56:44] there weren't any metrics on
[56:45] that. I mean, how many people
[56:48] are not getting rearrested? How
[56:50] many people, you know, how is
[56:52] this affecting jail population?
[56:56] You know, how is this affecting
[56:57] recidivism? And none of that
[57:00] data is available. And this is
[57:02] kind of a situation I look at
[57:03] almost like Pinellas hope. It's
[57:05] like if you got rid of it,
[57:06] there's going to be a problem.
[57:08] We don't really know where the
[57:09] problem is going to go
[57:11] necessarily. And I kind of view
[57:14] this as one of those social
[57:15] services that is great
[57:16] intentions and probably started
[57:17] as one thing and probably got
[57:19] some mission creep. And now
[57:20] it's probably doing a lot of
[57:21] different things that it
[57:23] probably never intended to do,
[57:25] perhaps at, at the start. And
[57:26] I'm not, I'm not really
[57:27] suggesting we have a specific
[57:29] call to action on this this
[57:30] year, but it's just another one
[57:32] of those line items that I
[57:33] think is probably being
[57:35] duplicative. There are a ton of
[57:36] not for profits out here that
[57:38] do these exact same things.
[57:40] Connecting people to homeless
[57:41] services, mental health
[57:43] services, substance abuse
[57:45] services, and basically, you
[57:46] know, public Defender's office
[57:49] is a law firm that's providing
[57:51] social services completely
[57:52] outside the mission of what
[57:54] they're what they're really
[57:57] their core function is. But if
[57:59] we didn't do it, there would be
[58:01] people that probably would get
[58:04] rearrested. The jail population
[58:06] MAY go up, and that costs us
[58:09] money too. So what I would just
[58:11] like to see in the future is
[58:13] that if we can, if we can try
[58:14] to get some metrics on this,
[58:16] you know, how is the money?
[58:17] What's the return on that
[58:19] investment? And it's really,
[58:20] really hard to know right now
[58:22] because it's just not being
[58:24] tracked. So that would be
[58:25] something that I would request,
[58:27] you know, from Sarah and from
[58:28] our Health and Human Services
[58:30] team, if we could try to get
[58:31] some understanding in the
[58:33] future of what are we getting
[58:35] for that spend? Because you
[58:38] look at that, there's $1.7
[58:40] million. Then you look at Safe
[58:41] Harbor, there's another $2.4
[58:42] million, and we could probably
[58:44] go through the Health and Human
[58:45] Services budget and probably
[58:47] find a lot of other line items
[58:48] like that, too, that, you know,
[58:49] health care for the homeless
[58:51] and dental van for the homeless.
[58:53] And, you know, there's a lot of
[58:55] those types of things where I'm
[58:56] sure it's doing good in the
[58:59] community, but it just seems
[59:00] like there's a lot of overlap.
[59:03] And it's a very decentralized
[59:06] system, very fragmented system
[59:08] that I think could be a lot
[59:10] more efficient. We just have to
[59:11] figure out different ways of
[59:13] doing it. So that is my report,
[59:14] MR. CHAIRMAN.
[59:15] >> Thank you. Okay. Thank you,
[59:16] Commissioner Scott.
[59:18] Commissioner Nowicki.
[59:21] >> Thank you, chair. First, for
[59:24] new business. You know, I was
[59:25] wondering maybe, you know, I
[59:26] could connect, you know, Barry
[59:28] could help me maybe connect
[59:29] somebody with staff with
[59:31] Sunstar to, you know, I've been
[59:32] hearing a lot of things about
[59:34] priority dispatch, and I guess
[59:36] that was kind of relatively
[59:38] implemented in 2019, you know,
[59:39] before my time. And so I've
[59:41] just been hearing kind of some
[59:44] complaints about it that, you
[59:47] know, Sunstar MAY not have the
[59:48] resources that there's like 20
[59:50] minute call wait times, and
[59:52] then there's an emergency and
[59:53] then it's elevated to like
[59:56] emergency 911 response, kind of
[59:59] defeating the whole priority
[1:00:01] dispatch system. So I don't
[1:00:02] know, you know, maybe we could
[1:00:04] get a report on, you know, how
[1:00:05] many times priority dispatch
[1:00:07] calls come in, and then Sunstar
[1:00:10] then has to elevate those calls
[1:00:13] to 911 emergency responses.
[1:00:14] Instead of using the priority
[1:00:16] dispatch system. So maybe we
[1:00:18] could get some more numbers on
[1:00:20] that.
[1:00:22] >> Those numbers are readily
[1:00:24] available, so we should those
[1:00:25] should be there's, you know,
[1:00:28] there is the transport between
[1:00:29] facilities and, you know,
[1:00:31] places like that that does not
[1:00:33] have that time frame, but they
[1:00:35] usually follow our first
[1:00:36] responders out. I think they
[1:00:37] have a ten minute target time.
[1:00:39] I'm not sure what it is, but
[1:00:39] Barry.
[1:00:41] >> There's a there's a lot
[1:00:42] going on with that. We
[1:00:43] certainly can get you more
[1:00:45] information. I'd love for you
[1:00:46] to meet with staff and kind of
[1:00:47] go through that, because
[1:00:49] priority dispatch just is, is
[1:00:50] really on the fire and ems side
[1:00:51] versus. And it's integrated
[1:00:53] with Sunstar and Priority
[1:00:55] dispatch really is talking
[1:00:57] about how, you know, how many,
[1:00:59] what sending the appropriate
[1:01:01] response to the situation, you
[1:01:03] know, rather than, you know,
[1:01:05] two Sunstar and two fire trucks
[1:01:06] and to.
[1:01:06] >> a.
[1:01:08] >> Stubbed toe, you know, and,
[1:01:09] and trying and trying to make
[1:01:10] some of those calls, happy to
[1:01:12] go through that. We can get
[1:01:13] choked up with staff. And
[1:01:15] they've got all kinds of data
[1:01:16] on that type of information.
[1:01:17] >> Okay, great. Thank you. And
[1:01:19] then I wanted to bring up I
[1:01:20] didn't know, you know, the
[1:01:23] proper, you know, format on the
[1:01:24] administrator review. You know,
[1:01:26] I guess I didn't understand why
[1:01:28] we set a date and then the date
[1:01:29] was pushed back. And I guess I
[1:01:31] also didn't understand on why
[1:01:33] like it's not televised, but
[1:01:35] last year the administrative
[1:01:37] review was televised, so I just
[1:01:39] didn't know if there was any
[1:01:41] clarity because those are only
[1:01:43] my you know, I did one last
[1:01:44] year, it was televised and then
[1:01:46] I saw this year it's not
[1:01:47] televised. So I guess.
[1:01:49] >> There was no no particular
[1:01:51] reason. But we certainly can if
[1:01:52] the will of the commissioners
[1:01:54] to put it on the on the you
[1:01:55] know, we can do that. That's
[1:01:56] not it.
[1:01:58] >> It has changed depending
[1:02:00] upon the. Chair yeah.
[1:02:02] >> Preference. Yeah. No, no
[1:02:03] particular reason.
[1:02:04] >> We haven't even had that
[1:02:05] conversation with the chair
[1:02:07] with the current chair yet.
[1:02:09] >> So, I mean, my, my, my issue
[1:02:11] has always been about
[1:02:12] transparency. So more than
[1:02:14] likely will be on the, on the
[1:02:15] agenda somewhere.
[1:02:16] >> Okay. And then I just wanted
[1:02:21] to also thank Julie and Jewel,
[1:02:22] you know, for the canvasing
[1:02:23] board. You know, I know they
[1:02:25] had a really close election, so
[1:02:26] they had to, you know, Jewel
[1:02:28] and her staff was working
[1:02:29] really hard along with the
[1:02:31] supervisor of elections staff
[1:02:32] working really hard. And I
[1:02:33] thought, you know, they had a
[1:02:35] clean election and Jewel
[1:02:36] working hard on the canvasing
[1:02:39] board. So I appreciate that.
[1:02:41] And then lastly, you know,
[1:02:43] there was the good Florida Tax
[1:02:46] Watch article that was sent out
[1:02:47] and it was, you know,
[1:02:48] interesting to see how, you
[1:02:49] know, Pinellas County ranked
[1:02:54] number six as the most highest
[1:02:55] millage rate out of 67 counties.
[1:02:58] So I found that interesting.
[1:03:00] You know, so there's definitely
[1:03:01] some good information in that
[1:03:03] Florida Tax Watch article. So
[1:03:05] thank you, Commissioner Flowers.
[1:03:07] And that is it. Chair. Thank
[1:03:08] you.
[1:03:10] >> Commissioner Peters.
[1:03:12] >> Yeah, I just want to
[1:03:13] congratulate Jewel and Julie on
[1:03:14] that election. That's two
[1:03:16] elections in a row with a
[1:03:18] mandatory recount. Wow. That's
[1:03:20] incredible. And the fact that
[1:03:21] it was a difference of two
[1:03:23] votes in the beginning and then
[1:03:24] turned out to only be seven
[1:03:26] votes. So clearly every vote
[1:03:27] counts. And it's really good to
[1:03:29] have a supervisor of election
[1:03:32] and a team that is so good.
[1:03:34] It's the the redundancy that
[1:03:35] they do that they make sure
[1:03:37] they don't have errors and they
[1:03:40] do a great job. I don't have a
[1:03:41] lot to report except for I went
[1:03:43] to the Tampa Estuary meeting
[1:03:45] down at Port Manatee. It was
[1:03:46] this year. They're they're
[1:03:47] going all through the estuary
[1:03:50] for their meetings. Would have
[1:03:52] been nice if they let us tour
[1:03:54] it, but they didn't. But
[1:03:55] anyways, what was one of the
[1:03:56] presentations was very
[1:03:59] interesting is back in the 60s,
[1:04:03] the way that this country
[1:04:04] decided in this state to get
[1:04:06] rid of tires because we didn't
[1:04:09] recycle tires back then, and
[1:04:11] burning them was very dangerous.
[1:04:14] And so they decided to tie them
[1:04:15] together and dump them in the
[1:04:17] bay. And so we have a bunch of
[1:04:19] tire reefs in the bay, and they
[1:04:20] are analyzing one that's just
[1:04:23] off of Pinellas Point. And
[1:04:25] they've done a lot of surveys
[1:04:27] with anglers and boaters and
[1:04:29] other scientists to see what is
[1:04:31] the best approach, how much
[1:04:33] each approach is going to cost.
[1:04:35] If you totally remove the tires,
[1:04:36] how much is that going to cost?
[1:04:38] If we remove some of the tires
[1:04:40] and put other structures that
[1:04:42] will actually create a reef,
[1:04:45] like concrete or rocks, the the
[1:04:47] tires, things don't grow on it
[1:04:50] properly to to create a reef,
[1:04:52] although they did find quite a
[1:04:54] few species of fish in and
[1:04:57] around it. But most of the
[1:05:00] coral growth was on rocks and
[1:05:01] the cement that got poured into
[1:05:03] the tires to keep them sunk. So
[1:05:05] it was interesting. But what
[1:05:06] they did find when they went
[1:05:07] and surveyed the site is that
[1:05:09] many of the tires have broken
[1:05:11] free, and they're moving, so
[1:05:12] they're scattered. Many of the
[1:05:16] tires are frayed and are. D you
[1:05:18] know, d they're getting you
[1:05:20] know, they're not really
[1:05:21] dissolving, but they, they're
[1:05:22] breaking off into pieces and
[1:05:25] they're getting into the water.
[1:05:26] And that has a big impact on
[1:05:29] water quality. So it was a very
[1:05:30] interesting presentation. Both
[1:05:33] the scientists, both both the
[1:05:35] anglers and boaters all said
[1:05:36] that full removal would be the
[1:05:38] most optimal. They'll never be
[1:05:39] able to do full removal because
[1:05:42] of how many tires have moved.
[1:05:43] They don't believe they can get
[1:05:44] them all, but they can get the
[1:05:46] vast majority of them, which of
[1:05:48] course is the most expensive
[1:05:50] option. So they are seeking
[1:05:52] ways in which they can fund
[1:05:53] that and they will do it in
[1:05:55] sections. So I believe they
[1:05:56] have some funding to do some of
[1:05:58] it now. And then over time, as
[1:06:00] they get grants and things like
[1:06:02] that, they will remove that
[1:06:04] reef. And then maybe there's a
[1:06:06] potential of rebuilding a new
[1:06:09] reef in the same location. So
[1:06:11] that's it was very interesting.
[1:06:13] I really enjoyed the
[1:06:15] presentation. Thanks.
[1:06:17] >> Thank you. That's
[1:06:18] interesting, Commissioner sheer.
[1:06:20] >> Oh, thank you chair. Yeah.
[1:06:22] I've been going through my psta
[1:06:24] meetings. Yes, Mike.
[1:06:26] >> Thanks.
[1:06:31] >> I've been attending my psta.
[1:06:34] Popik's pretty much.
[1:06:35] >> I've been focused on the
[1:06:38] budget, which leads me to the
[1:06:40] the email I sent to Barry
[1:06:42] yesterday. I copied you all on.
[1:06:45] I've been trying very hard to
[1:06:48] get a grasp on the size of our
[1:06:50] our departments and how much
[1:06:51] money is spent on our
[1:06:53] departments, and I have, you
[1:06:56] know, become aware that not all
[1:06:58] of our departments reflect
[1:06:59] exactly what what we're going
[1:07:01] to spend in those departments.
[1:07:03] It's the budgeted amount. And
[1:07:05] that amount that we're given is
[1:07:06] lower than what is actually
[1:07:09] going to cost because of contra
[1:07:11] numbers. Now a contra number,
[1:07:12] and I've reviewed this with
[1:07:16] Chris many times, if you go to
[1:07:18] the public works department and
[1:07:19] you study the budget, you'll
[1:07:21] see that the budget is $173
[1:07:23] million, but that is not the
[1:07:26] total cost of that budget, that
[1:07:29] that budget is funded by many
[1:07:30] by six different funds. But you
[1:07:32] won't see the Penny fund in
[1:07:34] there. Now, the the Public
[1:07:35] Works Department does a lot of
[1:07:37] work for the penny and charges
[1:07:39] the penny, but it's not
[1:07:40] reflected in that budget
[1:07:41] because they charge it back.
[1:07:44] But what the budgeting process
[1:07:47] is, my understanding is you
[1:07:48] take the total cost of the
[1:07:50] Public Works Department, and
[1:07:52] then you. And then they back
[1:07:54] out the penny costs or in other
[1:07:56] funds. And then that's the
[1:07:57] number you see. So if the
[1:07:59] Public Works Department was
[1:08:01] $200 million, and they back out
[1:08:02] the contra numbers for the
[1:08:04] penny, anticipated penny
[1:08:06] revenues are going to come in
[1:08:07] for funding. Then you get down
[1:08:11] to $173 million. And so what I
[1:08:14] have been asking for is an
[1:08:16] accounting of the contra
[1:08:18] numbers. So I can add them back
[1:08:19] to the budgets and see what the
[1:08:21] department actually costs in
[1:08:23] total. Now, I'm not saying that
[1:08:25] it's wrong. We definitely want
[1:08:27] to charge different funds for
[1:08:28] administration and expenses,
[1:08:30] but as a commission, we need to
[1:08:32] know what those charge backs
[1:08:33] are, and we need to know what
[1:08:35] the total cost of the
[1:08:37] department is. And that's why I
[1:08:39] respectfully requested and have
[1:08:42] been requesting a complete list
[1:08:43] of the contra charges that
[1:08:46] Chris is using to present the
[1:08:47] budgets to us, because those
[1:08:48] Contras. If you want to know
[1:08:50] what the total cost of the
[1:08:52] budget is, you add those contra
[1:08:55] charges back. I don't get that.
[1:08:57] And you don't get it. I haven't
[1:08:58] seen these contra charges. I
[1:09:00] don't know how to find them. So
[1:09:01] but I've been asking for that.
[1:09:04] And then I think as a
[1:09:06] commission we should also know
[1:09:08] how much have we charged our
[1:09:11] different funds for
[1:09:12] administration overhead and
[1:09:13] expenses for the last couple of
[1:09:15] years. I don't I don't know
[1:09:17] what that number is. And so
[1:09:19] I've been trying to get a
[1:09:20] handle on it, and that's why I
[1:09:22] requested it. And I know that,
[1:09:23] Barry, I know that you guys
[1:09:25] have been respectful and you've
[1:09:26] met with me and talked to me
[1:09:29] about it, but all I get is you.
[1:09:30] I get an explanation of what
[1:09:32] you're doing, but I don't know
[1:09:34] how much it costs. And I'm the
[1:09:35] I'm a numbers guy. I want to
[1:09:37] know what we've been charging
[1:09:39] these funds for and what we're
[1:09:41] going to charge them for this
[1:09:43] year. And I want to know how
[1:09:44] big these what we're spending
[1:09:45] actually spending on our
[1:09:46] department. So that was the
[1:09:48] basis of my email. I'm still
[1:09:50] would like it and I would I'm
[1:09:52] asking the board to please ask
[1:09:54] them to provide it to us,
[1:09:56] because I think you should have
[1:09:57] these detailed list of numbers
[1:10:00] that we're charging to the cost
[1:10:02] of our department to lower the
[1:10:03] department costs. So that's
[1:10:05] kind of where I am. I can't
[1:10:07] make an accurate decision on I
[1:10:08] don't know how big our
[1:10:09] departments are.
[1:10:10] >> I think it MAY be a fair
[1:10:12] request and that's fine. I'm
[1:10:13] sure we can get that
[1:10:15] information. What they should
[1:10:16] be charging or not should be
[1:10:18] charging is that's that's the
[1:10:20] discussion we can have. Because
[1:10:23] clearly the penny doesn't it's
[1:10:26] not just capital, it's people's
[1:10:28] correct people working to
[1:10:30] implement capital. So that's
[1:10:31] expenses. Some of those are
[1:10:33] contractor expenses and some of
[1:10:35] those are our department
[1:10:36] expenses. So to understand what
[1:10:38] that amount is, is fair, I
[1:10:39] think.
[1:10:41] >> And the one of the reasons I
[1:10:43] was digging into it is I want
[1:10:45] to make sure we're not not just
[1:10:46] that we're overcharging, maybe
[1:10:46] we're undercharging, maybe
[1:10:48] we're not charging enough, but
[1:10:49] I don't know because I have no
[1:10:50] idea what we're charging.
[1:10:52] >> Well, to the same extent
[1:10:53] that they have administrative
[1:10:55] costs passed on to each
[1:10:58] department, I'm sure there are
[1:10:59] some of those administrative
[1:11:00] costs on the projects that are
[1:11:02] being charged to the projects.
[1:11:03] >> Right. But you don't see
[1:11:05] them in the budget.
[1:11:05] >> Understand?
[1:11:07] >> It's not all in one spot,
[1:11:08] and that's what makes it
[1:11:09] difficult. So so our staff has
[1:11:11] met with Commissioner several
[1:11:14] times. All right. And and so
[1:11:15] it's not as easy to produce
[1:11:16] that report because first of
[1:11:17] all the maintenance stuff is
[1:11:19] not a capital project. So we
[1:11:21] have a lot that's going on that
[1:11:22] is in public works. That's not
[1:11:24] going to be charged back to a
[1:11:25] capital project. We also have
[1:11:27] an indirect cost plan. It's
[1:11:27] federally certified indirect
[1:11:29] cost plan. That's how we get
[1:11:30] all of our administrative back
[1:11:32] charges. It's two years in the
[1:11:33] rear, and we use that because
[1:11:35] that's how that we have to use
[1:11:37] that for all of our all of our
[1:11:38] federal grants. Anything that
[1:11:40] comes through has to be under a
[1:11:41] certified federal indirect cost
[1:11:42] plan. So that's how you get
[1:11:43] your administrative charge
[1:11:46] backs. And, and you like you're
[1:11:48] asking questions. And when we
[1:11:49] started this, I'm like, I was,
[1:11:51] I'm and that's why I said in my
[1:11:52] email, I'm absolutely on board.
[1:11:54] If there's ways, if there's
[1:11:55] costs that we're not charging
[1:11:56] back to the projects, let's do
[1:11:58] that because then that would
[1:11:59] lower our, our general fund
[1:12:01] costs.
[1:12:02] >> Chris has already developed
[1:12:03] these budgets, right?
[1:12:05] >> The the departments have
[1:12:06] already been budgeted. We have
[1:12:09] the budget, and Chris has
[1:12:11] developed contra numbers to get
[1:12:13] to those budgets. And so he has
[1:12:15] the contra. I just want the
[1:12:16] contra numbers so I can add
[1:12:18] them back, you know, and find
[1:12:19] out what the Department.
[1:12:21] >> Is working on it that the
[1:12:22] last one we thought we had
[1:12:23] answered previous questions
[1:12:24] when.
[1:12:26] >> If he has a budget for the
[1:12:27] department and it includes
[1:12:28] contra numbers, he's already
[1:12:29] got the information. He doesn't
[1:12:30] have to develop it. It's
[1:12:33] already been done.
[1:12:34] >> Where are you at, Chris?
[1:12:42] Come on up.
[1:12:43] >> Good afternoon,
[1:12:43] commissioners Chris Rose,
[1:12:45] Office of Management and Budget.
[1:12:46] Just as the county
[1:12:48] administrator said, we have
[1:12:50] these in the budget. You are
[1:12:51] correct. Both the current year
[1:12:54] and next year. It is harder to
[1:12:55] pull out than you think it is.
[1:12:57] So we are doing that right now.
[1:12:59] >> And what's the total amount
[1:13:00] of contra charges for the
[1:13:01] public Works department?
[1:13:03] >> I don't know off the top of
[1:13:04] my head, sir.
[1:13:05] >> But you've subtracted it
[1:13:09] from something to come down to
[1:13:10] 173 million, right? Yes, sir.
[1:13:12] You started at a number. Was it
[1:13:14] 26 million? Was it 5 million?
[1:13:16] Was it 57 million? I don't know.
[1:13:18] >> But if it's accurate, it's
[1:13:20] immaterial because that's a
[1:13:21] charge back to the capital
[1:13:21] projects.
[1:13:22] >> And that's fine. I'm just
[1:13:23] saying what's the top number?
[1:13:25] >> Okay.
[1:13:27] >> I need a top number for each
[1:13:28] department. And then you can
[1:13:29] subtract your contra numbers.
[1:13:30] >> And then we'll get the
[1:13:32] contrast. Then you can add
[1:13:34] those to the project to the the
[1:13:35] budget. So this is overall what
[1:13:37] the department's spending. But
[1:13:39] but also remember public works
[1:13:41] does capital projects not just
[1:13:43] for public works. And so
[1:13:44] they're managing several
[1:13:45] different funds. They're
[1:13:47] managing grants. They bring in
[1:13:49] a lot of grants. And so they're
[1:13:50] >> Each. Each project is
[1:13:52] handled usually through
[1:13:54] multiple funding sources. And
[1:13:56] so it's got to be different for
[1:13:57] each each different area. Just
[1:13:59] like I was saying on the
[1:14:01] federal grants, that's a
[1:14:02] different than just charging
[1:14:04] back your administrative costs
[1:14:05] to your.
[1:14:06] >> And that's another problem.
[1:14:07] >> And that's a, that's another
[1:14:09] problem I have with this
[1:14:10] because we're budgeting what
[1:14:11] we're going to be charging
[1:14:12] funds in the future, but we're
[1:14:14] not. And we're voting on what
[1:14:15] we're going to charge these
[1:14:17] funds in the future, but we
[1:14:18] don't see a list of what we're
[1:14:20] charging these funds in the
[1:14:21] future. And we're voting to
[1:14:22] approve a budget based on that.
[1:14:24] >> But they are because they're
[1:14:25] all in the capital budget.
[1:14:26] Every single project.
[1:14:28] >> The charges are not. I don't
[1:14:29] see those. I don't know what
[1:14:30] we're charging these funds.
[1:14:32] >> So it's on both sides.
[1:14:33] You'll see both the positive
[1:14:36] and the negative. So it is
[1:14:37] charging from one fund to the
[1:14:39] other. So it is it is budgeted.
[1:14:42] It's in the overall budget sir.
[1:14:44] >> Not in this book.
[1:14:45] >> It's not laid out the way
[1:14:46] you're asking.
[1:14:49] >> No. He he'll complete that
[1:14:51] report and we'll get that to
[1:14:52] you as soon as.
[1:14:54] >> It's hard for me to approve
[1:14:55] a budget when I don't know what
[1:14:56] I'm approving.
[1:14:57] >> I understand we thought we
[1:14:59] had a when when staff met with
[1:15:00] you, they thought that they
[1:15:01] explained.
[1:15:02] >> The process to me, but I
[1:15:04] have never been given again.
[1:15:05] >> Let's remember that the
[1:15:06] budget that we're approving
[1:15:07] includes capital and operating.
[1:15:09] What you're trying to do is
[1:15:10] distinguish the two so that we
[1:15:13] fully understand what is being
[1:15:15] charged to those accounts away
[1:15:17] from the the main account, but
[1:15:19] it's no more or less in total.
[1:15:20] It's just a matter of trying.
[1:15:22] >> To see we're missing
[1:15:23] anything or anything. I just I
[1:15:26] don't know what who decided
[1:15:27] what we are allowed to charge
[1:15:29] to these different funds. Is it
[1:15:31] us staff? Is it state statute.
[1:15:33] >> It depends on the fund.
[1:15:34] >> Yeah, yeah. I mean.
[1:15:36] >> It's a grant from the state.
[1:15:37] They tell you how.
[1:15:39] >> Much the the projects. I
[1:15:41] mean, if it's if we're if we're
[1:15:43] talking about a, you know, a, a
[1:15:45] small capital project that just,
[1:15:47] just penny funds, that's a lot
[1:15:49] simpler than Joe's Creek or,
[1:15:51] you know, something that
[1:15:52] involves multiple sources over
[1:15:55] multiple budget years, grant
[1:15:56] funds, state funds, federal
[1:15:59] funds and penny funds as
[1:16:00] matching dollars. And, and they
[1:16:02] have to be I mean, there's
[1:16:03] requirements that they be
[1:16:06] treated appropriately. So it's
[1:16:07] a fair question. We haven't
[1:16:09] been able to put it in the
[1:16:11] format that you're looking for.
[1:16:13] But but it's all there. I mean,
[1:16:15] it.
[1:16:16] >> I would just be happy with
[1:16:18] the close to total number. And
[1:16:21] this is what this department
[1:16:22] was. And when you count back
[1:16:25] these numbers out and get a
[1:16:25] total.
[1:16:27] >> And we got we. And that's
[1:16:28] why I respond to you this
[1:16:30] morning. We they're working on
[1:16:32] your APRIL or AUGUST 20th memo,
[1:16:33] and they'll get that to you as
[1:16:35] soon as they can. Okay.
[1:16:36] >> Thank you. I, you know, I'm
[1:16:39] not trying to I just got a big
[1:16:40] vote coming up and I want to
[1:16:42] understand what I'm voting on.
[1:16:45] >> Yeah. And again, we know
[1:16:47] that staff is pretty taxed
[1:16:50] right now and no pun intended.
[1:16:51] But we're going to we're going
[1:16:53] to do our best to deliver what
[1:16:55] the commissioners are asking
[1:16:59] for. And so, you know, and next
[1:17:00] year, that list will probably
[1:17:02] grow on what we don't think of
[1:17:05] this year. So get ready. You
[1:17:07] know, we're all doing our best
[1:17:08] to try to scrutinize the budget
[1:17:11] right now for, for either, as
[1:17:14] you said, under charging from
[1:17:17] capital or overcharging. So we
[1:17:20] just get a more realistic
[1:17:21] number for what's actually
[1:17:23] being spent by the department,
[1:17:24] regardless.
[1:17:25] >> Of if.
[1:17:27] >> It's categorized at the end,
[1:17:29] we at least get a feeling for
[1:17:31] what's in there. And it doesn't
[1:17:34] mean that what's been done
[1:17:36] allocating out to capital isn't
[1:17:38] the right thing to do. So we
[1:17:40] just want to make sure you
[1:17:41] understand that. We all
[1:17:46] understand that. Okay, marching
[1:17:51] orders. You got it. Okay. You
[1:17:52] finished, Commissioner shear.
[1:17:53] >> Yes, Commissioner.
[1:17:57] >> Flowers.
[1:18:02] >> Thank you, MR. Chair. So I'm
[1:18:04] going to start out by just
[1:18:05] making a comment. I hope no one
[1:18:08] gets offended by this, but
[1:18:10] we've had several meetings
[1:18:11] where a person from the public
[1:18:14] has come up and made some very
[1:18:16] strong allegations against the
[1:18:18] sheriff and against other
[1:18:20] persons that work in county
[1:18:22] government. They have an
[1:18:23] opportunity and a right to say
[1:18:26] whatever it is that they desire.
[1:18:28] But I also just want to say
[1:18:34] publicly that. Oh, I'm sorry,
[1:18:35] but I also just want to say
[1:18:40] publicly that. We are not the
[1:18:42] court system here. So whatever
[1:18:44] has been adjudicated through
[1:18:46] the courts and whatever
[1:18:47] decision the judge has come up
[1:18:49] with, that is the judge's
[1:18:50] decision. And this is not a
[1:18:52] place, nor do we have the
[1:18:55] ability to override, overturn
[1:18:57] or to change those decisions.
[1:18:59] And I think when some people
[1:19:01] hear the comments here, they
[1:19:02] are receiving the impression
[1:19:04] that we are not acting, we
[1:19:05] don't have the ability nor the
[1:19:07] authority to act. That's number
[1:19:09] one. Number two, the
[1:19:10] allegations that have been made
[1:19:13] against some of the officers as
[1:19:15] molesting children and things
[1:19:17] of that nature while we sit and
[1:19:19] we listen, those are still very
[1:19:21] serious words to say about
[1:19:22] someone in the profession that
[1:19:24] those persons are, and we never
[1:19:25] address it, because I know we
[1:19:27] have our unwritten policy that
[1:19:29] we don't, you know, go back and
[1:19:30] forth with persons when they're
[1:19:32] speaking, but just for the
[1:19:35] general public to understand
[1:19:37] when allegations are made,
[1:19:41] there are avenues by which to.
[1:19:44] Have that information
[1:19:45] researched or have that person
[1:19:48] charged. If that is correct
[1:19:50] information, and if it is not
[1:19:54] correct information. Then it
[1:19:56] shouldn't be a continual
[1:19:58] talking point. And in the
[1:19:59] instances that have been
[1:20:01] provided consistently here,
[1:20:03] none of those allegations have
[1:20:06] been proven to be true. So I
[1:20:07] just wanted to say that because
[1:20:09] i've gotten a couple of
[1:20:10] requests, you know, is what
[1:20:12] that person saying accurate?
[1:20:14] And so I'm sure they weren't
[1:20:16] the only ones to ask that
[1:20:18] question.
[1:20:19] >> Commissioner, I appreciate
[1:20:21] your saying that. And now and
[1:20:21] not then.
[1:20:23] >> Oh, yeah. No, I wouldn't.
[1:20:24] >> Have time like you said.
[1:20:25] >> Yeah I wouldn't.
[1:20:26] >> That's perfect.
[1:20:27] >> Because that's our that's
[1:20:29] the rule. So I just wanted to
[1:20:30] say that. So moving on to the
[1:20:36] things that I have done. The
[1:20:39] policy committees for the
[1:20:40] Florida Association of Counties
[1:20:43] are beginning to meet. I after
[1:20:45] we had our workshop about
[1:20:47] e-bikes, I did some research as
[1:20:49] well. And I know that that is a
[1:20:52] big issue. As I shared with our
[1:20:54] school safety committee. So I
[1:20:57] drafted a policy proposal for
[1:20:59] the Florida Association of
[1:21:01] Counties to take up at their.
[1:21:02] At the next meeting, we're
[1:21:03] going to be having in
[1:21:05] Jacksonville, and I submitted
[1:21:06] it through the application
[1:21:07] process and whatnot, and I
[1:21:09] believe I copied you guys on it
[1:21:11] just so you can see. So I will
[1:21:12] be asking that that be taken up
[1:21:14] as a policy to move forward.
[1:21:16] And I'm sure we're not the only
[1:21:17] ones that are having that issue.
[1:21:19] But since I know some of us are
[1:21:20] very concerned about it and
[1:21:22] it's a concern, I think it will
[1:21:23] be a concern in other
[1:21:25] communities as well. So I did
[1:21:27] do that. And if you have
[1:21:31] anything, I know that sometimes.
[1:21:32] Commissioner Peters has
[1:21:33] submitted stuff, and I think
[1:21:34] Commissioner Scott has
[1:21:35] submitted things. If it's
[1:21:36] something going on that you
[1:21:38] think, you know, it involves
[1:21:40] all 67 counties, please go
[1:21:43] ahead and get that in so we can
[1:21:45] take care of it, because we're
[1:21:47] usually pretty successful in
[1:21:48] getting that as a part of our
[1:21:51] policy committee. I was really
[1:21:52] trying to see if the the next
[1:21:54] innovation conference could be
[1:21:55] here, because we have some
[1:21:57] wonderful things going on with
[1:21:58] some of the corporations that
[1:22:00] have moved here that are doing
[1:22:01] things with drones, that are
[1:22:02] doing things with technology.
[1:22:04] So I thought it would be
[1:22:05] wonderful. Went through the
[1:22:07] whole process. Brian. He's left.
[1:22:09] Brian had already reached out
[1:22:13] to a couple of hotels. We had
[1:22:14] proposals, some middles,
[1:22:17] quickly bury myself, Brian and
[1:22:18] Doctor Cynthia Johnson were
[1:22:19] going to have a meeting the
[1:22:21] other day, and then I was
[1:22:23] informed that the legislative
[1:22:25] conference is going to be here
[1:22:28] in 2027. And so it was kind of
[1:22:31] like and you're also asking for
[1:22:34] the innovation conference. So
[1:22:36] I've acquiesced. So we will
[1:22:37] have the legislative conference
[1:22:41] here in 2027. It will be at the
[1:22:42] Hilton in Saint Pete.
[1:22:44] >> There's always 2028.
[1:22:45] >> Yeah. It will be at the
[1:22:46] Hilton in Saint Pete.
[1:22:48] Commissioner Scott came for the
[1:22:51] last one that was here where it
[1:22:53] was really nice. And we had the
[1:22:54] after reception in the gardens
[1:22:56] at the Woodson Museum and all
[1:22:57] of that. So please know that
[1:22:58] I'm trying to put together
[1:23:00] something really nice to show
[1:23:01] off all of the wonderful things
[1:23:03] that we have been doing here in
[1:23:04] Pinellas County so that our
[1:23:06] colleagues can see it. But i
[1:23:07] was trying to put something
[1:23:08] together because I did have a
[1:23:11] special request from our
[1:23:14] Commissioner Latvala, and it
[1:23:15] didn't work out, but parts of
[1:23:18] it will work out. So bear with
[1:23:23] me, young man. We yeah, he's
[1:23:23] he's not.
[1:23:24] >> He's not.
[1:23:26] >> Young, much younger.
[1:23:28] >> We had a very successful
[1:23:30] area agency on Aging Pinellas
[1:23:37] and Pasco fundraiser at. In
[1:23:41] Tampa at the Pelican. Yeah.
[1:23:44] Pelican restaurant off of
[1:23:46] Courtney Campbell Causeway.
[1:23:48] Very successful in that. And so
[1:23:50] I want to thank all of the
[1:23:52] corporations that sponsored or
[1:23:54] helped to co-sponsor and
[1:23:56] everyone who participated,
[1:23:57] because we put those funds back
[1:23:59] into the pot and use those to
[1:24:01] help our seniors. We are well
[1:24:04] on our way to the senior living
[1:24:05] facility that we will be
[1:24:07] building in Pasco County. Of
[1:24:09] course, the land has already
[1:24:11] been identified. Congressman
[1:24:13] Bilirakis has been absolutely
[1:24:14] wonderful in getting us money
[1:24:15] from the federal government for
[1:24:17] the construction. The Pasco
[1:24:18] County Commission has been
[1:24:19] really wonderful. They're
[1:24:21] building department has been
[1:24:22] great. So we are moving right
[1:24:24] along, and we sincerely hope we
[1:24:26] will be shoveling dirt very
[1:24:27] soon. So that's going to be the
[1:24:29] first project ever that Area
[1:24:31] Agency on Aging has done, where
[1:24:33] we are providing living
[1:24:34] quarters, affordable living
[1:24:38] quarters for seniors. I was the
[1:24:39] speaker yesterday regarding
[1:24:41] amendment three for the
[1:24:42] Democratic Women's Club of
[1:24:46] Upper Pinellas, and I also
[1:24:47] presented the same thing at the
[1:24:49] League of Women Voters last
[1:24:52] week at Allendale Church. So
[1:24:54] it's really nice to get the
[1:24:55] questions that people are
[1:24:57] asking and only providing
[1:24:59] educational information. And I
[1:25:00] always give them links where
[1:25:02] they can go research it for
[1:25:03] themselves and they'll know
[1:25:05] they're there, not just the
[1:25:06] recommendations from me as an
[1:25:10] individual. I have a meeting
[1:25:11] coming up with the PRESIDENT Of
[1:25:12] the University of South Florida,
[1:25:14] Saint Petersburg campus,
[1:25:16] PRESIDENT Moise, I hope I'm
[1:25:18] saying the right the name
[1:25:20] correctly. I went over and
[1:25:22] visited the facility the day
[1:25:23] after the lightning struck and
[1:25:25] burned the research facility.
[1:25:26] Well, the lightning struck, it
[1:25:28] caught on fire, and it burned
[1:25:30] that facility. The professor,
[1:25:31] some of them were able to
[1:25:32] recoup a lot of the research
[1:25:34] material, which we're really
[1:25:35] excited about, because if not,
[1:25:37] that was going to be years
[1:25:38] worth of research. Absolutely
[1:25:41] gone. I also want to say thank
[1:25:42] you to Eckerd College publicly,
[1:25:45] because Eckerd provided space
[1:25:47] for the professors in those
[1:25:49] researchers to go over there
[1:25:52] and work until the facilities
[1:25:54] are rebuilt on the usf Saint
[1:25:56] Pete campus. So thank you and
[1:25:59] shout out to both of them. And
[1:26:00] as many have already said,
[1:26:02] thank you so much. And shout
[1:26:03] out to the Supervisor of
[1:26:05] Elections office throughout the
[1:26:07] state, a lot of people look at
[1:26:09] our soe for the way that we run
[1:26:10] our elections, for how smooth
[1:26:13] they run. Our results are in by
[1:26:16] seven 2740 at the latest. We
[1:26:18] did have a recount process, but
[1:26:20] that shows that the system
[1:26:22] works. And so thank you to
[1:26:23] everybody who had to go through
[1:26:25] that process. And I also want
[1:26:27] to say thank you to the workers,
[1:26:28] the volunteers, because that's
[1:26:31] a whole day that they volunteer,
[1:26:34] almost 16 hours that they
[1:26:36] volunteer. I was over at Lake
[1:26:37] Vista. There was an issue with
[1:26:40] the machine with no sooner than
[1:26:42] the person shared the concern.
[1:26:43] There was somebody who had
[1:26:45] already been called and was
[1:26:46] walking up the sidewalk from
[1:26:48] the office to take care of it.
[1:26:50] So that's what I like. I just
[1:26:52] love it. And I'm so glad and so
[1:26:54] excited. And I want to thank
[1:26:55] everybody for their
[1:26:56] participation and support in
[1:26:59] those areas. And the last thing
[1:27:01] I'll have is there is going to
[1:27:05] be a, a wellness day experience,
[1:27:06] OCTOBER 10th. I'll just keep
[1:27:08] doing a reminder. And it's for
[1:27:11] men, the number of prostate
[1:27:14] cancer diagnoses is on the rise.
[1:27:16] And so this organization is
[1:27:17] just really trying to make sure
[1:27:20] that men are taking their exams
[1:27:21] seriously. I'm sure it's
[1:27:23] probably not a comfortable exam,
[1:27:25] but it certainly is one that
[1:27:28] can detect early because I know
[1:27:30] of several men to include one
[1:27:32] of my assistant pastors now in
[1:27:35] my church who was diagnosed
[1:27:36] recently, and it's because they
[1:27:37] went to an event like this.
[1:27:40] They got tested and it was
[1:27:42] discovered. So men, take your
[1:27:43] health seriously as well as
[1:27:46] women. And that's all I have.
[1:27:47] >> Thank you, Commissioner
[1:27:49] Flowers. Commissioner Latvala.
[1:27:50] >> Thank you very much, MR.
[1:27:52] CHAIRMAN. I wasn't going to say
[1:27:53] anything, but since you
[1:27:56] mentioned it, Commissioner, the
[1:27:58] First Amendment does afford
[1:28:02] people the opportunity to make
[1:28:04] fools of themselves on occasion,
[1:28:06] and I will always defend that.
[1:28:09] Right. One of the things that I
[1:28:11] did not realize when I first
[1:28:14] got elected to this commission
[1:28:17] is that some of the folks that
[1:28:19] would travel to Tallahassee to
[1:28:22] speak before committees also
[1:28:25] come here on occasion. So it's
[1:28:27] kind of nice to get the
[1:28:28] Tallahassee perspective from
[1:28:31] time to time, but I will always
[1:28:33] support our residents and
[1:28:36] nonresidents from wherever they
[1:28:38] MAY be, from their opportunity
[1:28:44] to speak to their government
[1:28:49] folks and, and, and give their
[1:28:52] grievances to their government.
[1:28:55] I have a couple since we've
[1:28:56] talked a little bit about the
[1:28:59] budget in previous years, I've
[1:29:03] mentioned my thoughts on
[1:29:06] cutting libraries, parks and
[1:29:09] communications. At the time,
[1:29:12] that wasn't very popular. Our
[1:29:16] administrator had a suggestion
[1:29:19] on giving a couple parks back
[1:29:24] to the state, which some
[1:29:26] residents didn't necessarily
[1:29:30] like. I understand where he was
[1:29:31] coming from because we talk a
[1:29:37] lot about unfunded mandates and
[1:29:40] and I might be in the minority
[1:29:42] on this board, but I kind of
[1:29:44] appreciate where our
[1:29:45] administrator was coming from
[1:29:48] in that suggestion and
[1:29:51] recommendation. One thing,
[1:29:53] though, that I am not in favor
[1:29:56] of and probably will never be
[1:30:00] in favor of, is cutting the
[1:30:03] sheriff's budget anymore, and
[1:30:05] especially closing down safe
[1:30:09] harbor, because that will mean
[1:30:12] putting a couple hundred people,
[1:30:14] many of which with substance
[1:30:16] abuse issues, onto the streets
[1:30:20] of Largo and Clearwater, which,
[1:30:23] you know, is in Pinellas County,
[1:30:24] but more specifically in
[1:30:27] district five. And I don't want
[1:30:31] to burden my community with
[1:30:36] that issue. And if we do shut
[1:30:40] down Safe Harbor, I will want
[1:30:42] to bust some of those people to
[1:30:43] Tarpon Springs, the Tierra
[1:30:45] Verde and the Saint Pete and
[1:30:47] other parts of the county to
[1:30:51] help spread that issue around.
[1:30:54] So it's not just in Largo and
[1:30:59] Clearwater. But hopefully we
[1:31:01] don't have to close down safe
[1:31:04] Harbor. As for what I've been
[1:31:07] doing lately, on the first day
[1:31:09] of school, I welcomed the
[1:31:11] students and teachers back at
[1:31:13] Largo Middle School with school
[1:31:16] board member Katie Blacksburg,
[1:31:17] and they have a new principal
[1:31:21] at Largo Middle, who is one of
[1:31:25] the up and coming principals in
[1:31:27] Pinellas County. She was a
[1:31:31] principal at a local elementary
[1:31:33] school in Largo last year and
[1:31:37] now is a is moving up to Largo
[1:31:39] Middle. And one of the first
[1:31:41] things that she did was
[1:31:44] institute a uniform policy that
[1:31:47] looked like the students were
[1:31:49] adjusting well to on the first
[1:31:51] day. And also another thing
[1:31:54] that they started, which was
[1:31:56] interesting, is usually middle
[1:31:58] schools start at like 930 or
[1:32:00] 9:00, something like that. But
[1:32:02] at Largo Middle and a couple
[1:32:03] other middle schools in
[1:32:05] Pinellas County, they have the
[1:32:06] same schedule as high school.
[1:32:10] So they start at like 730. And
[1:32:12] so a lot of the teachers and
[1:32:13] students look like they're
[1:32:15] pretty tired on the first day
[1:32:16] of school. So hopefully they
[1:32:20] are adjusting now that we are a
[1:32:25] week or two into to school. And
[1:32:26] speaking of school,
[1:32:28] applications for yac are open.
[1:32:31] The deadline to apply is next
[1:32:34] week, SEPTEMBER 1st. You can
[1:32:44] apply on pinellas.Gov/yac,
[1:32:46] pinellas.Gov/yac. And then
[1:32:48] tomorrow I will be presenting
[1:32:50] an overview of the county
[1:32:53] budget at the big c meeting. So
[1:32:56] I got I picked the lucky straw
[1:32:59] to do that. And then Thursday I
[1:33:01] will be joining the CHAIRMAN,
[1:33:03] our distinguished CHAIRMAN,
[1:33:08] who's turning 70 on JUNE 2nd at
[1:33:12] the Besties Award presentation
[1:33:14] in Saint Pete. So I MAY have to
[1:33:16] mention to them about your
[1:33:18] upcoming birthday next year.
[1:33:20] I'm looking forward to that.
[1:33:20] >> Yeah.
[1:33:22] >> From your from your lips to
[1:33:24] GOD's ears that I'm I'm, I turn
[1:33:26] 70 next year. Thank you
[1:33:30] Commissioner. Appreciate it. So
[1:33:32] again, just a few things here.
[1:33:33] I mentioned the inspector
[1:33:36] general audits. They look at
[1:33:38] look at things going on. So for
[1:33:40] our residents, just to you know,
[1:33:42] I'd like to take the
[1:33:43] opportunity to remind folks
[1:33:47] that we had a dose report done
[1:33:48] because they thought, you know,
[1:33:50] the thought was that we were
[1:33:52] wasting a lot of money. And the
[1:33:54] report came down. It was pretty
[1:33:55] friendly to Pinellas County. It
[1:33:57] certainly doesn't alleviate our
[1:33:59] responsibilities to continue
[1:34:03] doing more and more to make all
[1:34:06] of us accountable. But in
[1:34:07] perspective is what I'm trying
[1:34:08] to get at. I don't think that
[1:34:11] we are wasting taxpayer dollars.
[1:34:13] I do want to take a look at
[1:34:14] those dollars that we were just
[1:34:17] discussing, so that we have a
[1:34:19] feeling of, of, of the amount
[1:34:20] of dollars that we're being
[1:34:22] charged by the grants that
[1:34:24] we're getting. We don't go out
[1:34:26] and get grants. It makes a big
[1:34:27] difference. And so we're, we're
[1:34:28] trying to fund, we're trying to
[1:34:30] take care of. We're trying to
[1:34:31] expense. We're trying to make
[1:34:32] sure that we implement those.
[1:34:35] So it's a tricky thing. You
[1:34:37] know, you mentioned we have the
[1:34:39] sixth highest millage rate. I
[1:34:40] don't know what millage rates
[1:34:42] are included by everybody. And
[1:34:43] I'm not going to be defensive
[1:34:46] about them. As I've said, we
[1:34:47] have lowered them each for the
[1:34:49] last five years, and we'll
[1:34:50] continue looking at those
[1:34:52] opportunities. I also would
[1:34:53] like to remind our residents
[1:34:55] that there's a tax commission
[1:34:56] that's that meets every I think
[1:34:59] it's every ten years. Right.
[1:35:01] And they're they're due to meet
[1:35:03] next year to discuss the tax
[1:35:04] system within the state of
[1:35:06] Florida and those that affect
[1:35:09] the counties as well. Again,
[1:35:11] they, you know, they usually,
[1:35:12] you know, come out with
[1:35:14] suggestions to make us all more
[1:35:17] accountable. Again, the cart
[1:35:20] before the horse as we discuss
[1:35:24] the amendment three this year.
[1:35:25] Some people have been critical
[1:35:27] about how slow the exemptions
[1:35:29] have been rolled out as they
[1:35:31] have done, you know, and I
[1:35:34] think that's a fair statement.
[1:35:36] So the way to to way to combat
[1:35:38] that is to make is to rip the
[1:35:40] band aid off and do it in one
[1:35:43] year. Neither is right in my
[1:35:46] opinion. I think if you do a,
[1:35:47] you know, these exemptions that
[1:35:48] we're looking at and you do
[1:35:50] them more incrementally, it
[1:35:55] allows us to. Bring forward the
[1:35:56] kind of government, the kind of
[1:35:57] Pinellas County that we've been,
[1:35:59] you know, presenting to our
[1:36:01] residents over the decades.
[1:36:03] Some good, some not so good,
[1:36:05] maybe. But we continue to try
[1:36:07] to do that job. So I just think
[1:36:09] we just have to, you know,
[1:36:10] think through all of us to
[1:36:11] think through what it means.
[1:36:13] And as I've told a couple of
[1:36:14] different groups that I've
[1:36:17] spoken to, if the vote is to do
[1:36:19] that, we'll do it. I mean,
[1:36:20] we'll, we'll, we'll make it
[1:36:23] happen. And it would be nice to
[1:36:24] be able to do it more
[1:36:26] incrementally. That's why it's
[1:36:27] one of the complaints I have
[1:36:28] with Tallahassee often is that
[1:36:30] they want to rip the band aid
[1:36:32] off in one year, when we could
[1:36:33] do things a little more
[1:36:35] incrementally, but they have
[1:36:36] that shot because they MAY not
[1:36:38] be up there, but for two years
[1:36:40] or four years. So they have a
[1:36:41] shot and they do it now. It
[1:36:43] doesn't make it right. And I
[1:36:44] want our residents to make sure
[1:36:46] that they continue to think
[1:36:47] through things. So I'm going to
[1:36:50] continue to hold our employees
[1:36:51] accountable to their budgeting
[1:36:53] process. Like like our
[1:36:55] residents are demanding. So
[1:36:57] either way that that comes out,
[1:36:58] we're going to respond and
[1:36:59] we're going to respond
[1:37:00] appropriately. And that means
[1:37:03] if it passes, we have to
[1:37:04] respond. If it doesn't pass, we
[1:37:06] will respond because the
[1:37:09] message will be clear that
[1:37:10] smaller government is the way
[1:37:12] we want to go. So just a few
[1:37:14] comments, just a few things. I
[1:37:15] wanted to thank Kevin MacAndrew
[1:37:17] for a field visit. I had a
[1:37:20] young man who was complaining
[1:37:22] about fence in a flood zone.
[1:37:23] And, you know, fencing has
[1:37:25] always been an easy you don't
[1:37:27] have to get a permit for a six
[1:37:28] foot fence anywhere in our
[1:37:31] county up except in a flood
[1:37:34] zone. And a lot of our fence
[1:37:35] companies didn't know that very
[1:37:36] simple thing. And there's a
[1:37:37] certain type of fencing that
[1:37:39] needs to be used. Regardless of
[1:37:41] that, Kevin took the time and
[1:37:43] appreciated Kevin going out
[1:37:45] there and holding the hand of a
[1:37:46] resident and making sure that
[1:37:48] they understood why it was in
[1:37:51] place and maybe even own a
[1:37:52] little bit, that we haven't
[1:37:54] done enough loudly enough to
[1:37:56] educate our our fence companies.
[1:37:58] And so he stepped that up as
[1:38:00] well. And that's what I respect
[1:38:01] about the building department.
[1:38:03] And Kevin, they own mistakes
[1:38:04] that they make them not often,
[1:38:06] but they also get out there in
[1:38:07] the field and work with our
[1:38:09] residents. So I wanted to give
[1:38:11] them a heads, a pat on the back
[1:38:13] for that. I also wanted to
[1:38:14] thank the commissioners that
[1:38:16] did come to our Tri-County
[1:38:19] meeting. This is a big deal. I
[1:38:20] had one of the commissioners
[1:38:21] say, well, what did you
[1:38:22] accomplish? He didn't show up,
[1:38:24] of course. And I said, well,
[1:38:25] luckily for you, we didn't do a
[1:38:27] whole lot in terms of decisions.
[1:38:29] But I told them, you can be
[1:38:30] part of the solution or part of
[1:38:32] the problem. And I think having
[1:38:33] the discussion on regional
[1:38:35] issues together and getting a
[1:38:36] feel for what they mean in each
[1:38:38] of our counties and bringing
[1:38:39] ideas to the table is really
[1:38:41] important and a really big deal.
[1:38:43] And I hope our commission
[1:38:44] continues to support it as you
[1:38:47] have and and making sure that
[1:38:49] our some of our Hillsborough
[1:38:52] folks understand the importance
[1:38:56] of it. A really big deal this
[1:38:58] week. Fixa, which is our Palm
[1:39:01] Harbor group, that Palm Harbor
[1:39:02] Eastlake Group that takes care
[1:39:04] of our recreation and library
[1:39:07] services, recognize Collin
[1:39:10] Levique, his mom, Amanda at
[1:39:13] their at their meeting, our
[1:39:16] county staff, the. MR. Tim
[1:39:18] Tipton was there and gave them
[1:39:19] an award as well. And what this
[1:39:24] young man did is on his own
[1:39:26] quietly, sometimes early
[1:39:28] morning, late at night, not
[1:39:29] late into the evening, but you
[1:39:31] know, later in the evening,
[1:39:33] said he went out and cleaned up
[1:39:34] graffiti that somebody had put
[1:39:37] all over the facilities on the
[1:39:39] recreation, did it on his own,
[1:39:41] got the material, got the the
[1:39:42] grinding material, whatever it
[1:39:44] took to get that job done. And
[1:39:46] he was out there without
[1:39:48] fanfare. He was out there just
[1:39:50] doing what he thought was right.
[1:39:51] What a great young man. I told
[1:39:53] him about yac. I didn't know
[1:39:54] the deadline. Thank you for
[1:39:56] mentioning that. Today,
[1:39:56] SEPTEMBER 1st. I'll make sure
[1:39:59] he gets that. But he is really
[1:40:01] one of those special young kids
[1:40:04] that went above and beyond.
[1:40:07] Certainly we can all take notes
[1:40:08] and lessons from that, but
[1:40:10] certainly the young people that
[1:40:11] are our high schools can do the
[1:40:14] same. So congratulations, Colin,
[1:40:16] and to his mom for raising a
[1:40:19] special young man. Had a good
[1:40:21] meeting this morning with our
[1:40:23] our Veterans Engagement Board.
[1:40:26] I sit on that board and we talk
[1:40:32] about what the what the our
[1:40:35] veterans hospital is doing for
[1:40:37] our for our vets. And also we
[1:40:38] hear from our vets in different
[1:40:40] groups. There's different
[1:40:41] groups that are on that board
[1:40:43] talking about the things that
[1:40:46] are affecting our military
[1:40:47] veterans. And so it's really a
[1:40:50] good board to be on. And Brett
[1:40:51] Miller, who is on that board,
[1:40:54] he's been our chair in the past,
[1:40:56] as was one of our is one of our
[1:40:58] leaders. Father Bob Swick
[1:41:01] helped establish the board when
[1:41:03] it first came out in 2015. And
[1:41:05] they do they do a lot of good
[1:41:07] work. So I want to thank them
[1:41:08] and the multitude of folks that
[1:41:10] are on that board. I have a
[1:41:11] meeting with Florida. I'm on
[1:41:15] the Florida Healthy Kids board
[1:41:17] tomorrow, and so we'll be
[1:41:19] having our quarterly board
[1:41:27] meeting. We have I talked to
[1:41:29] the the county attorney because
[1:41:30] I was a little uncomfortable
[1:41:35] with leaving the resolution or,
[1:41:37] excuse me, leaving a potential
[1:41:41] code change to our. Oh, what's
[1:41:44] the name, the town, the, the
[1:41:45] facilities that we're talking
[1:41:46] about.
[1:41:46] >> Data centers.
[1:41:49] >> Yeah, yeah. Thank you. And
[1:41:52] so it's been her recommendation
[1:41:53] that we don't do code changes
[1:41:56] for a lot of reasons. But we
[1:41:58] talked about maybe something
[1:41:59] else stepping up and doing a
[1:42:02] resolution of, of support. And
[1:42:03] maybe we can do something that
[1:42:06] just kind of says, hey, we're
[1:42:08] not in favor. So maybe you want
[1:42:10] to comment on that just briefly.
[1:42:12] >> Yeah, I think that, you know,
[1:42:13] we've had discussion about data
[1:42:14] centers here. I know that
[1:42:15] you've seen many of your
[1:42:16] colleagues around the state
[1:42:18] take action, both county and
[1:42:19] city levels. We've expressed a
[1:42:21] concern to you about sb 180 and
[1:42:22] just some other moving pieces.
[1:42:24] But I think probably one of the
[1:42:25] biggest concerns I would have
[1:42:26] and moving forward with the
[1:42:27] proposed moratorium is we've
[1:42:28] already expressed to you that
[1:42:30] our code does not allow data
[1:42:31] centers, and I would be
[1:42:33] hesitant to enact a moratorium
[1:42:34] on something that is not
[1:42:35] currently allowed, because I
[1:42:37] feel like that would give the
[1:42:38] impression that it is, in fact,
[1:42:40] allowed. Commissioner Eggers, I
[1:42:41] did speak earlier and I
[1:42:42] suggested a resolution. I think
[1:42:44] some others of you have had
[1:42:45] that conversation with members
[1:42:47] on my staff. A resolution would
[1:42:48] be, I think, preferable for a
[1:42:50] number of reasons. I think that
[1:42:51] you could we could use a
[1:42:53] resolution passed by the board
[1:42:54] to express our intent, that
[1:42:56] these aren't allowed by our
[1:42:57] code. We don't intend for them
[1:42:58] to be allowed by our code. We
[1:43:00] stand by what's currently in
[1:43:01] our code. But I do think we
[1:43:03] need to take some a look at
[1:43:04] some of the provisions
[1:43:05] eventually. You know, perhaps,
[1:43:07] maybe once sb 180 is not an
[1:43:09] issue. My understanding is
[1:43:11] there are not the kind of data
[1:43:13] centers we're talking about,
[1:43:14] but smaller versions that are
[1:43:16] maybe associated with hospitals
[1:43:19] or, you know, educational
[1:43:20] institutes. So I think we need
[1:43:22] to take a look at maybe some
[1:43:24] definitions in the code and
[1:43:25] clarifying those those those
[1:43:27] remain allowed and others don't.
[1:43:28] But, you know, we could get
[1:43:30] certainly with the staff and
[1:43:31] planning staff to take a look
[1:43:33] at something like that. Another
[1:43:34] nice thing about a resolution
[1:43:36] is you could pass that at any
[1:43:37] meeting, rather than having to
[1:43:39] go through the drc and the lpa
[1:43:40] and several public hearings
[1:43:43] before an ordinance like a
[1:43:44] moratorium could make it to
[1:43:47] this body. So we certainly
[1:43:49] understand, you know, the the
[1:43:50] issues related with data
[1:43:53] centers. And I think a
[1:43:54] resolution stating, you know,
[1:43:56] our intent and reinforcing that
[1:43:59] that's what this board supports
[1:44:01] is no data centers, you know,
[1:44:02] in unincorporated county, I
[1:44:04] think would be a yeah, I think
[1:44:05] it would be a good compromise
[1:44:06] move.
[1:44:07] >> And I, and I really, you
[1:44:09] talked about it and intuitively,
[1:44:11] it made sense to me, but I
[1:44:12] don't want to send her down
[1:44:14] that path unless we felt
[1:44:16] comfortable giving her some of
[1:44:17] that direction. But
[1:44:18] Commissioner Scott, go ahead.
[1:44:21] >> No, I agree completely that
[1:44:22] I think a resolution would be a
[1:44:24] really smart thing to do,
[1:44:26] because there's a lot of angst
[1:44:27] out in the public on this
[1:44:29] particular item. And and I've
[1:44:30] gotten the emails as well as
[1:44:32] I'm sure all of you have. And
[1:44:34] they're really pushing us some
[1:44:35] groups to do a moratorium, but
[1:44:38] we can't because of sb 180. And
[1:44:39] a moratorium is only good for a
[1:44:42] year anyways. So I think if we
[1:44:44] were to do a resolution that
[1:44:45] just, you know, laid out our
[1:44:47] intent, I think that would just
[1:44:49] go a long way to building some
[1:44:50] trust with the public, because
[1:44:51] there's just a concern out
[1:44:53] there that if we don't do a
[1:44:54] moratorium that some some slick
[1:44:56] developers are going to come
[1:44:57] through here and they're just
[1:44:59] going to find a way to get it
[1:45:00] through. And before you know it,
[1:45:02] we're going to have this. We
[1:45:03] don't have the space anyways. I
[1:45:05] mean, let's, let's be honest
[1:45:06] about it. But, but I think
[1:45:07] there's also a big difference,
[1:45:09] like Joel was saying about
[1:45:10] defining what a data center is.
[1:45:12] I mean, it's, you know, a
[1:45:13] Google or an Amazon or
[1:45:14] Microsoft data center that
[1:45:15] takes up acres and acres and
[1:45:16] acres. That's for retail
[1:45:18] purposes, is a lot different
[1:45:19] than a data center that the
[1:45:20] sheriff's office uses or a
[1:45:22] hospital uses. I mean, they're
[1:45:23] already here, but they're for
[1:45:24] their for in-house specific
[1:45:26] purposes, industrial purposes
[1:45:28] specific to their mission. So I
[1:45:29] think there's a big distinction
[1:45:31] there between between what they
[1:45:33] are. Yeah. So but I think
[1:45:34] resolution is a great idea.
[1:45:35] >> Thank you, Commissioner
[1:45:37] Scott. Commissioner flowers.
[1:45:38] >> Thank you, MR. Chair. I just
[1:45:40] want to ask this question just
[1:45:41] for clarity, because Pinellas
[1:45:43] Park just recently did a
[1:45:45] moratorium. They had a proposed
[1:45:46] data center that was going to
[1:45:48] come over there. I know Citrus
[1:45:49] County has done one. They did
[1:45:51] one for 14 months because of
[1:45:52] something else that was going
[1:45:54] on. So and you MAY not know the
[1:45:56] answer to this, how are they
[1:45:57] getting around sb 180? Because
[1:45:59] it's all the state of Florida.
[1:46:01] So just asking the question
[1:46:03] because excuse me, I think I
[1:46:05] shared with you guys at Naco,
[1:46:07] there were three huge sessions
[1:46:09] on data centers because it's
[1:46:10] all over the United States, the
[1:46:12] issue or concern. And then I
[1:46:13] know with the Florida
[1:46:15] Association of Counties, we had
[1:46:16] breakout sessions on data
[1:46:18] centers because it is becoming
[1:46:19] a real issue in more of our
[1:46:21] rural communities that have the
[1:46:24] land available for potential.
[1:46:27] So just curious.
[1:46:28] >> Well, one thing I would
[1:46:30] point out is if you paid
[1:46:31] attention to the action taken
[1:46:32] over in Hillsborough, they
[1:46:34] deferred theirs until the
[1:46:36] expiration of sb 180.
[1:46:37] Recognizing the potential
[1:46:38] impact. I would recommend that
[1:46:39] you do that either because the
[1:46:41] language in sb 180 talks about
[1:46:45] proposing, which you know, is
[1:46:48] something short of adopting. I
[1:46:49] can talk with you offline about
[1:46:51] what some of my colleagues and
[1:46:52] some of those counties have
[1:46:53] told me. They advised their
[1:46:56] boards that passed ordinances.
[1:46:59] Nonetheless, it's a risk. I
[1:47:00] mean, it's a risk. And also, I
[1:47:02] don't know the status of of the
[1:47:03] ordinances and their land
[1:47:04] development code and those
[1:47:05] other communities. Here we have
[1:47:07] a code that specifically says
[1:47:09] if a use is not specifically
[1:47:11] provided for in this code, it
[1:47:13] is prohibited. I don't know
[1:47:14] what the codes look like in
[1:47:15] those other those other areas.
[1:47:17] And perhaps it might have just
[1:47:18] been a risk assessment and they
[1:47:20] thought it was worth it. Your
[1:47:21] code doesn't allow for data
[1:47:23] centers. So and some of the,
[1:47:24] you know, the look that we
[1:47:26] might want to take. And I think
[1:47:28] that some of the what you've
[1:47:29] heard is described here as far
[1:47:31] as the smaller ones, those are
[1:47:32] ancillary to another use.
[1:47:33] They're not they're not a
[1:47:34] primary use, you know, so we've
[1:47:36] got data centers in this county
[1:47:37] that are ancillary uses, not
[1:47:39] the primary use, which is which
[1:47:40] is what people are, which is
[1:47:43] what people are upset about. So
[1:47:45] I, I can tell you what some of
[1:47:46] my colleagues have said, but I
[1:47:48] think that I think that I think
[1:47:50] that some folks are just taking
[1:47:51] a risk analysis and deciding
[1:47:52] that it's worth it for them,
[1:47:54] because perhaps their codes do
[1:47:55] not already prohibit them.
[1:47:56] >> Thank you. Commissioner
[1:47:56] Peterson.
[1:47:58] >> So when I asked this, I
[1:47:59] don't know if it was Thursday
[1:48:02] or when I asked this, the
[1:48:05] response I got was that Forward
[1:48:06] Pinellas was working on
[1:48:07] something that would be county
[1:48:09] wide and therefore to impact
[1:48:10] all the cities. So therefore it
[1:48:11] would truly be county wide
[1:48:13] versus if the county does
[1:48:15] something. So, Barry, is that
[1:48:16] our understanding?
[1:48:17] >> Because that was my
[1:48:17] understanding.
[1:48:18] >> And I talked to whit about
[1:48:20] it yesterday. And whit said
[1:48:22] they hoped to have it to us by
[1:48:24] OCTOBER, sometime in OCTOBER.
[1:48:25] He also said NOVEMBER. I said
[1:48:27] OCTOBER would be better, so I'm
[1:48:30] hoping it comes in OCTOBER, but
[1:48:32] I don't think that we should do
[1:48:33] something different than what
[1:48:34] forward Pinellas is going to
[1:48:35] propose, that we're going to
[1:48:37] then adopt forward.
[1:48:38] >> Pinellas has a very
[1:48:39] different forward. Pinellas is
[1:48:41] a. Land is a comprehensive plan,
[1:48:43] and the only regulatory
[1:48:45] authority forward Pinellas has
[1:48:47] is to ensure that the other
[1:48:48] local governments plans within
[1:48:50] Pinellas County are consistent.
[1:48:51] We would be enacting this
[1:48:53] through our land development
[1:48:54] codes for. Pinellas has no
[1:48:56] ability to do that. They can
[1:48:58] create a model, but it really
[1:49:00] is not going to have a lot of
[1:49:01] impact in other communities. It
[1:49:02] is best for the individual
[1:49:03] communities here to handle it
[1:49:05] themselves in a consistent
[1:49:06] manner. Now forward Pinellas
[1:49:08] can put into their local rules
[1:49:10] and their plan a framework with
[1:49:11] which all of the local
[1:49:12] governments would have to be
[1:49:13] consistent.
[1:49:14] >> That's what they're looking
[1:49:15] at. That's exactly what they're.
[1:49:17] >> Looking at. The the local
[1:49:19] land development codes is where
[1:49:22] you really need to have the
[1:49:24] restrictions in place.
[1:49:24] >> Okay.
[1:49:25] >> Thank you.
[1:49:27] >> And let me just say, a
[1:49:29] developer could not be denied
[1:49:31] the a data center use strictly
[1:49:32] because of the forward Pinellas
[1:49:34] plan.
[1:49:34] >> Barry.
[1:49:37] >> But for clarification this
[1:49:39] this come about by two
[1:49:42] inquiries into two different.
[1:49:43] One in the unincorporated area
[1:49:45] and one in Pinellas Park. And
[1:49:47] it was simply an inquiry, not a
[1:49:49] formal application. And so a
[1:49:50] lot of the. And that's where
[1:49:52] people are concerned about it.
[1:49:53] Right. And the noise that is
[1:49:55] generated and what they read
[1:49:58] and hear without knowing, is it
[1:50:00] an ancillary use? Is it a big
[1:50:03] data center? You know what the
[1:50:04] particulars are we you know, we
[1:50:06] even looked at and I talked to
[1:50:07] different commissioners about,
[1:50:08] you know, water restrictions in
[1:50:11] use. But but it's not allowed
[1:50:12] in Pinellas Park. It's not
[1:50:15] allowed in our code. So we have
[1:50:16] those those protections in
[1:50:18] place. But we have we have not
[1:50:24] had a formal application.
[1:50:26] >> So okay. To have her kind of
[1:50:28] look into this and bring that
[1:50:29] forward.
[1:50:30] >> Okay. I'd like.
[1:50:31] >> I'd like it sooner than
[1:50:32] later because we've been
[1:50:34] talking about this for a long
[1:50:34] time.
[1:50:36] >> Yeah, I think we can move
[1:50:38] pretty quickly. Right. Joel.
[1:50:39] >> Tom, Tom will work with
[1:50:40] county attorneys on that.
[1:50:43] >> Okay. Thank you. And not not
[1:50:45] to get into the big discussions
[1:50:46] about the other thing that's
[1:50:48] floating around. And that's the
[1:50:51] the flock camera controversy or
[1:50:53] whatever, which, you know,
[1:50:56] again, it's all we hear about
[1:50:58] are the evils of, of the, of
[1:50:59] the, of the technology and of
[1:51:02] the use. And yet there are many
[1:51:04] cases and many things that are
[1:51:06] been solved because of it, you
[1:51:08] know, and so it's not, it's not
[1:51:11] all bad. But what I have heard
[1:51:13] repeatedly is that there
[1:51:15] probably needs to be additional
[1:51:22] work done for additional.
[1:51:24] Repercussions for any law
[1:51:26] enforcement officer that abuses
[1:51:29] the use of that and abusing to
[1:51:31] be defined, whatever that is,
[1:51:35] in illegal or personal benefits.
[1:51:37] So I, you know, again, I think
[1:51:39] it, you know, I'm not I'm not
[1:51:41] asking anybody to come forward
[1:51:44] to explain the technology of
[1:51:45] flock cameras. But I do think
[1:51:48] that we probably can look into
[1:51:49] that that aspect. I think
[1:51:50] regardless of how you might
[1:51:53] feel individually about them, I
[1:51:54] mean, I think that that aspect
[1:51:56] is probably the one area that
[1:51:58] we could really make it because
[1:52:00] that's we want to keep this
[1:52:03] information private. Barry. Oh.
[1:52:06] >> Commissioner, first.
[1:52:08] >> Commissioner Scott. Go ahead.
[1:52:10] >> Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN. I
[1:52:13] mean, I people have a lot of
[1:52:15] distrust in government, and
[1:52:17] this hasn't helped that at all.
[1:52:19] Nothing. We didn't make any
[1:52:21] decisions on any of it. I mean,
[1:52:23] we we don't we don't do that
[1:52:24] here. Right. The sheriff
[1:52:26] handles that for the county.
[1:52:27] And the individual agencies
[1:52:29] handle that amongst themselves.
[1:52:31] We never voted on it. We never
[1:52:33] talked about it. It never
[1:52:34] nothing ever came before us on
[1:52:37] it. Now you're starting to see
[1:52:39] some agencies come out and talk
[1:52:40] about it, and I'm glad to see
[1:52:42] them doing that. Okay. They're
[1:52:44] talking about some of the good
[1:52:45] things that that it's doing,
[1:52:46] but the fact that these things
[1:52:48] just showed up and people are
[1:52:49] wondering what what they are. I
[1:52:51] mean, it looks like a big, vast
[1:52:52] surveillance net. I mean,
[1:52:53] that's what it looks like. And
[1:52:55] it makes people uncomfortable.
[1:52:56] It just does. And when it
[1:52:57] happens without any, any public
[1:52:59] input or any comment, people
[1:53:00] are understandably going to be
[1:53:02] upset about that. I mean, I
[1:53:03] don't I don't think that
[1:53:04] they're being unreasonable. I
[1:53:06] talked to a lot of people about
[1:53:07] these, and some of them are
[1:53:08] unreasonable, and they're never
[1:53:10] going to like an answer. But
[1:53:11] I've talked to a lot of people
[1:53:14] that are very like solid
[1:53:15] community people that are
[1:53:17] concerned about it and just
[1:53:18] wondering where they came from,
[1:53:19] how they're used, who has
[1:53:22] access to the data, what are
[1:53:23] the data retention policies? I
[1:53:25] mean, those are legitimate
[1:53:26] concerns. So I'm glad to see
[1:53:28] that there are some agencies
[1:53:29] out there actually talking. I
[1:53:30] mean, I mean, Chief Holloway's
[1:53:31] out there talking about it.
[1:53:32] Grady Judd's out there talking,
[1:53:34] talking about them. And I think
[1:53:36] the more that people do that,
[1:53:38] people will they MAY not like
[1:53:39] them, but they MAY have at
[1:53:40] least have a better
[1:53:41] understanding.
[1:53:42] >> Allay the concerns a little
[1:53:44] bit, you know, because yeah,
[1:53:46] yeah. I mean, the complaints
[1:53:47] that you hear about are
[1:53:49] occasional case around the
[1:53:51] country where there's been an
[1:53:54] abuse of that private data and
[1:53:55] go ahead.
[1:53:57] >> And any system is, you know,
[1:53:58] that's no different than an
[1:54:00] officer sitting in his car and
[1:54:01] just, you know, plugging in
[1:54:04] license plates of pretty girls,
[1:54:06] right? I mean, and there have
[1:54:08] been officers that have been
[1:54:09] disciplined for things like
[1:54:10] that too. So any system like
[1:54:13] that is capable of being abused.
[1:54:14] There just has to be policies
[1:54:16] around that to make sure that
[1:54:17] that was my point. If it
[1:54:19] happens that there's, you know.
[1:54:20] >> Well, thank you for the
[1:54:21] context because I think that's
[1:54:24] important as well where it's
[1:54:26] come from and, and what our
[1:54:27] responsibility is for that. But
[1:54:29] I do think to your point about
[1:54:31] more groups talking about it,
[1:54:32] just.
[1:54:34] >> If you don't talk about it
[1:54:35] in the absence of information.
[1:54:36] >> People.
[1:54:37] >> They're going to fill in the
[1:54:39] blanks and it's not going to be
[1:54:40] with something good. Yeah. I
[1:54:42] mean, it's just not going to be
[1:54:42] right.
[1:54:44] >> So thank you. Appreciate the
[1:54:47] perspective. Anybody else? Okay.
[1:54:48] >> Can we take a moment for
[1:54:50] Dolly Parton who just passed
[1:54:52] away? She is like an American
[1:54:53] legend. And if you don't feel
[1:54:55] that way, but she just she just
[1:54:57] passed away. And so.
[1:54:58] >> That's fine.
[1:55:00] >> And the song.
[1:55:01] >> Can you sing something? No,
[1:55:04] I'm. Yeah. Can you sing 9 to 5?
[1:55:07] >> It's it's either you or
[1:55:09] Vince Nowicki.
[1:55:11] >> Any other time I would, but
[1:55:12] because it's more of a somber
[1:55:14] moment. Yeah, yeah. I wouldn't
[1:55:20] do a 9 to 5. Catch me after the
[1:55:21] 6:00 thing. I think my voice
[1:55:24] will be better and I can do the.
[1:55:27] I'll do one stanza of the I'll
[1:55:28] Always Love You because
[1:55:29] actually she sung that before
[1:55:32] Whitney Houston, and she did a
[1:55:37] wonderful job of it. And so
[1:55:38] yeah, but, you know, nine
[1:55:41] working 9 to 5, her work is
[1:55:42] done. She's, she's received her
[1:55:45] wings. And we feel bad about
[1:55:46] saying that I'll be in the
[1:55:48] newspaper, you know. Ren\
[1:55:50] flowers is singing, working 9
[1:55:51] to 5 for Doctor Park. Passing
[1:55:53] away. Y'all trying to mess with
[1:55:53] me?
[1:55:54] >> No, we're not.
[1:55:55] >> So before we adjourn.
[1:55:56] >> Tonight, that.
[1:55:57] >> a little snippet?
[1:55:59] >> Yeah, just a little snippet.
[1:55:59] Thank you, Commissioner.
[1:56:02] >> Peters, for that. And like
[1:56:03] Commissioner Scott, I had a
[1:56:04] chance to meet Congressman
[1:56:07] Lucas or Luna's team here at
[1:56:08] the courthouse. So it was kind
[1:56:10] of nice. And she was on her way
[1:56:12] down. She says, we got to get
[1:56:12] going because Commissioner
[1:56:14] Scott's waiting for us. So I
[1:56:15] said, okay, excuse me. So and
[1:56:17] the last thing I would just say,
[1:56:19] and it's just just a brief
[1:56:20] comment. I wanted to take the
[1:56:21] opportunity. I don't normally
[1:56:23] do this political stuff at the
[1:56:24] dais, but just thank the
[1:56:27] residents of of North County
[1:56:29] for Reelecting Reelecting me,
[1:56:32] it was you know, it's always
[1:56:33] humble regardless. It's always
[1:56:34] nerve wracking. When you look
[1:56:36] at seven, it's always. 7072 I
[1:56:37] tell everybody it's coming,
[1:56:39] it's 707. And you just kind of
[1:56:40] close your eyes and, and hope
[1:56:44] for the best. But I was again,
[1:56:45] honored to be reelected.
[1:56:47] >> So greater.
[1:56:48] >> Percentage than your.
[1:56:50] >> Age to.
[1:56:53] >> Yeah, yeah, just slightly.
[1:56:54] But anyway, so I was thank you
[1:56:56] for thank you to the residents,
[1:56:57] I appreciate it. Is there
[1:56:58] anything else before we adjourn?
[1:57:00] >> I have one thing.
[1:57:01] >> Go ahead.
[1:57:02] >> Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN. One
[1:57:04] thing that I. You mentioned
[1:57:06] dosage, which sparked something
[1:57:08] that I had talked to Barry
[1:57:10] about. And I don't want to put
[1:57:13] any carts ahead of the horse,
[1:57:15] but if I run for chair next
[1:57:17] year and succeed in getting
[1:57:22] four votes to succeed our
[1:57:24] distinguished CHAIRMAN, one of
[1:57:26] the things that I would like to
[1:57:28] do, and I talked to Barry about
[1:57:33] this, is Hillsborough has a
[1:57:36] like citizen Doge committee.
[1:57:38] And that's one thing that I
[1:57:44] would like us to do. And my
[1:57:47] idea would be for each
[1:57:50] Commissioner to appoint a
[1:57:52] resident in their district to
[1:57:56] serve as somebody on this
[1:57:57] committee. And so there would
[1:58:00] be seven members, and then the
[1:58:01] chair would serve as a
[1:58:04] non-voting member each year.
[1:58:07] And then that committee could
[1:58:10] give recommendations to the
[1:58:14] Commission every year on things,
[1:58:16] you know, in the budget that
[1:58:20] they would like to see funded.
[1:58:22] You know, things that they'd
[1:58:25] like to maybe not see funded,
[1:58:27] things to decrease things, to
[1:58:27] increase things like that. And
[1:58:29] I think that doing something
[1:58:32] like that could bring more
[1:58:35] transparency to the residents.
[1:58:38] You know, in our budget process.
[1:58:39] And it would make it a year
[1:58:42] round process if we started
[1:58:46] this in JANUARY and have, you
[1:58:49] know, monthly meetings or, or
[1:58:50] bi monthly meetings or, you
[1:58:52] know, every couple of weeks,
[1:58:55] you know, something like that,
[1:58:59] it would give, you know, Chris
[1:59:00] and his team a little bit more
[1:59:02] work, but they don't have a lot
[1:59:06] of stuff going on. But that's
[1:59:08] just a thought that that I had.
[1:59:12] And, and if y'all, you know, if
[1:59:17] we were to. To appoint somebody,
[1:59:19] if everybody was to appoint
[1:59:20] somebody to this committee,
[1:59:21] that's something to start
[1:59:22] thinking about. Now.
[1:59:24] >> I think it's a great idea
[1:59:25] whether you're the CHAIRMAN Or
[1:59:28] not. And so we'll see how that
[1:59:29] how that works out.
[1:59:30] >> But yeah.
[1:59:32] >> You could you could try to
[1:59:33] stay on for another year and
[1:59:34] then you can be the CHAIRMAN
[1:59:36] For your 70th birthday.
[1:59:38] >> So but I do, but we did have
[1:59:41] a board of finance, the city of
[1:59:42] Dunedin that was really
[1:59:43] effective. I mean, it was it
[1:59:45] was good. There was a lot of
[1:59:46] pretty fiscally conservative
[1:59:49] people on there that gave their
[1:59:51] annual thoughts and but they
[1:59:53] were they met monthly at least,
[1:59:55] and kind of followed the the
[1:59:57] commission, they had like, they
[1:59:59] had that retreat in the
[2:00:00] beginning and kind of followed
[2:00:02] them with the macro look. And
[2:00:04] then as the budget came, they
[2:00:06] got more in the detail. So I
[2:00:07] think it's a great idea. So we
[2:00:09] can look at that. Probably want
[2:00:11] to look at that in OCTOBER so
[2:00:13] that we get it set up in time
[2:00:15] for for JANUARY. Did you have
[2:00:16] something, Commissioner? Sure.
[2:00:18] Oh okay. I thought you maybe.
[2:00:20] >> MR. Chair. Yeah. I'm sorry.
[2:00:21] Mary Murph will kill me if I
[2:00:24] forget this. The sickle Cell
[2:00:26] Foundation, which does some
[2:00:27] phenomenal fundraising to
[2:00:28] support families for children
[2:00:30] and adults who have been
[2:00:31] diagnosed with sickle cell.
[2:00:33] They're having their annual
[2:00:36] fundraiser and extravaganza. 54
[2:00:37] years that that chapter has
[2:00:39] been in Pinellas County,
[2:00:42] started by Mary Murph, who both
[2:00:43] of her daughters had sickle
[2:00:44] cell. Terry, who was a
[2:00:46] debutante with me, and we were
[2:00:48] very dear friends. She passed
[2:00:49] away, but her older sister is
[2:00:52] still with us. But she has
[2:00:53] challenges from time to time.
[2:00:55] And so Mary would kill me if I
[2:00:57] did not say, yeah, she. She
[2:00:59] told me and I forgot. And so
[2:01:02] the event is SEPTEMBER 26th.
[2:01:03] I'll say it again in SEPTEMBER,
[2:01:05] but it's SEPTEMBER 26th from 5
[2:01:07] to 830 at the University of
[2:01:09] South Florida's activity center.
[2:01:11] So that is the sickle cell.
[2:01:12] Mary, if you're listening or
[2:01:15] looking, I did it. That is the
[2:01:17] sickle cell dinner and musical
[2:01:19] extravaganza. It's always a
[2:01:21] very good event. And then they
[2:01:23] have a person to speak who has
[2:01:25] been diagnosed with sickle cell.
[2:01:27] They have them to speak about
[2:01:29] their journey. And that person
[2:01:30] serves as like the ambassador,
[2:01:32] and they travel all over to
[2:01:34] share that. And as an fyi, I
[2:01:35] did not know this. I had a
[2:01:38] chance to talk with Kathy Woods
[2:01:40] last year, and I found out that
[2:01:43] one of her arms of her
[2:01:45] businesses actually funds the
[2:01:47] research for sickle cell, and
[2:01:49] they were a part of the group
[2:01:50] that funded the research for
[2:01:52] the young man that has been
[2:01:53] cured of sickle cell that was
[2:01:55] up in Chicago. I didn't know
[2:01:56] that until I had my
[2:01:57] conversation with her, and she
[2:01:59] shared with me the work they're
[2:02:01] doing in Dubai regarding sickle
[2:02:03] cell. So just a little fyi,
[2:02:05] something I learned, which I
[2:02:06] did not know, but very excited.
[2:02:08] Thank you so very much for the
[2:02:10] research on it, because now
[2:02:12] that they've found a way to
[2:02:14] provide a potential cure, it's
[2:02:15] still in the research
[2:02:17] development phase, but it will
[2:02:19] be phenomenal once it gets past
[2:02:20] that phase where it can help
[2:02:21] people.
[2:02:22] >> Very nice. Thank you,
[2:02:23] Commissioner Flowers. All right,
[2:02:26] last chance. All right. We're
[2:18:30] Welcome back. After our couple
[2:18:32] hour break there, and we are
[2:18:33] going to go straight into
[2:18:36] public hearings and item 29.
[2:18:37] >> Thank you, MR. Chair. Agenda
[2:18:40] item number 29 is case number z
[2:18:42] 012604. This is a request by
[2:18:44] Manuel Jones for a zoning
[2:18:45] change from Geo general office
[2:18:48] to r3 single family residential
[2:18:50] on approximately 21 acre,
[2:18:53] located at 1515 Lakeview Road
[2:18:54] in unincorporated Clearwater.
[2:18:56] Since this is a quasi judicial
[2:18:57] hearing, all those individuals
[2:18:59] who plan to speak on this item
[2:19:00] must be sworn in. For those
[2:19:01] wishing to speak, whether
[2:19:02] you're attending in person or
[2:19:04] virtually, if able, please
[2:19:05] raise your right hand. Do you
[2:19:06] swear or affirm testimony
[2:19:07] you're about to give? Is the
[2:19:09] truth the whole truth, and
[2:19:10] nothing but the truth? Signify
[2:19:12] by saying I do. The public
[2:19:14] hearing was properly advertised
[2:19:15] and an affidavit has. A
[2:19:16] publication has been received
[2:19:18] for filing. No correspondence
[2:19:19] has been received by the clerk,
[2:19:20] and the matter is properly
[2:19:22] before the board to be heard.
[2:19:25] >> Thank you, ma'am. Board. Any
[2:19:28] questions? Comments. Action.
[2:19:30] Motion by Commissioner Peters
[2:19:32] for approval. Second. Second by
[2:19:35] Commissioner Flowers. Again.
[2:19:37] Questions? Comments. See.
[2:19:39] Nobody to comment from the
[2:19:41] public. Bring up the voting
[2:19:47] card, please. Motion carries
[2:19:51] unanimously. Item 30.
[2:19:53] >> Agenda item number 30 is a
[2:19:54] petition of Charles and Rita
[2:19:57] King to vacate a portion of a
[2:19:58] 33 foot wide right of way known
[2:20:01] as Portsmouth Road, lying east
[2:20:03] of lots 41 through 43 Gulf
[2:20:04] Breeze Estates. Plat. Book 27,
[2:20:07] page 57. Line in section 30
[2:20:09] 2916 Pinellas County, Florida.
[2:20:10] The public hearing is properly
[2:20:12] advertised and an affidavit of
[2:20:13] publication has been received
[2:20:15] for filing. No correspondence
[2:20:16] has been received by the clerk
[2:20:17] and the matters before the
[2:20:18] board to be heard.
[2:20:21] >> Thank you. And Lauren
[2:20:23] Rubinstein is here if she is
[2:20:25] needed for any questions. What
[2:20:28] is the will of the board?
[2:20:30] Motion by Commissioner Peters,
[2:20:32] second by Commissioner Scott.
[2:20:35] Final questions? Comments?
[2:20:36] Bring up the voting card,
[2:20:45] please. Motion carries 6 to 1.
[2:20:48] Item 31, please.
[2:20:50] >> Agenda item number 31 is a
[2:20:53] petition of ovss gateway llc to
[2:20:55] vacate a portion of Poultry
[2:20:56] Boulevard Road, 86th Avenue,
[2:20:59] North County Road number 139
[2:21:00] declared to be a public road in
[2:21:01] Board of County Commissioners.
[2:21:04] Minutes. Book seven, page 23.
[2:21:06] Filed on APRIL 17th, 1928.
[2:21:08] Lying along the south 33ft of
[2:21:10] 4100 Gateway Central Boulevard,
[2:21:13] Gateway Center Business Park,
[2:21:15] 97, pages one through 13,
[2:21:19] section 2230 16 Pinellas County,
[2:21:20] Florida. The public hearing was
[2:21:21] properly advertised in an
[2:21:22] affidavit of publication has
[2:21:24] been received for filing. No
[2:21:25] correspondence has been
[2:21:26] received by the clerk and
[2:21:27] matters properly before the
[2:21:28] board to be heard.
[2:21:30] >> Thank you. What's the will
[2:21:33] of the board, please? Motion by
[2:21:34] Commissioner Peters, second by
[2:21:36] Commissioner Scott. Any
[2:21:38] questions? Comments? Okay.
[2:21:40] Bring up the voting card,
[2:21:44] please. Motion carries
[2:21:47] unanimously. Item 32.
[2:21:48] >> Agenda item number 32 is a
[2:21:50] petition of Robert and Kathleen
[2:21:52] Warren to vacate a northerly
[2:21:54] 35ft of the easterly, 17ft of
[2:21:56] that right of way, East Lake
[2:21:58] Drive, 105 one East Lake Drive,
[2:21:59] as recorded in the Official
[2:22:01] Records book five six, five
[2:22:04] four. Page 1434 of the public
[2:22:05] records of Pinellas County,
[2:22:09] Florida, lying in section 42716
[2:22:10] Pinellas County, Florida. The
[2:22:12] public hearing was properly
[2:22:13] advertised and an affidavit of
[2:22:14] publication has been received
[2:22:16] for filing. No correspondence
[2:22:17] has been received by the clerk
[2:22:19] in the matter is properly
[2:22:20] before the board to be heard.
[2:22:22] >> Thank you. MISS Cindy is
[2:22:24] here. If you have any questions
[2:22:27] of the applicant. And what is
[2:22:28] the. Well, the board.
[2:22:30] Commissioner Peters motion.
[2:22:33] Commissioner Scott the second
[2:22:35] comments. Questions. Bring up
[2:22:40] the voting card, please. Motion
[2:22:43] carries unanimously on to 33.
[2:22:45] >> Agenda item number 33 is a
[2:22:46] proposed ordinance amending
[2:22:49] section 11832 of the Pinellas
[2:22:50] County Code relating to the
[2:22:52] Tourist Development Plan. The
[2:22:53] public hearing was properly
[2:22:54] advertised and an affidavit of
[2:22:55] publication has been received
[2:22:57] for filing. No correspondence
[2:22:58] has been received by the clerk
[2:23:00] and the matter is properly
[2:23:01] before the board to be heard.
[2:23:03] >> Commissioners, if I can
[2:23:04] explain this is a companion
[2:23:07] item to item 34, and so this
[2:23:09] would amend the plan to allow
[2:23:11] for that. If vote no, then the
[2:23:13] answer of what you can do on 34
[2:23:16] is fixed at the $3 million. So
[2:23:18] this just authorizes you
[2:23:23] flexibility on your next item.
[2:23:23] >> Okay.
[2:23:25] >> Move. Approval.
[2:23:26] >> Motion by Commissioner Scott,
[2:23:28] second by Commissioner Latvala.
[2:23:30] Any questions? Comments. Voting
[2:23:38] card please. One more motion
[2:23:41] carries unanimously. Item 34.
[2:23:43] >> Agenda item number 34 is the
[2:23:45] fiscal year 2027 elite event
[2:23:46] funding recommendations from
[2:23:48] the Tourist Development Council.
[2:23:49] This is a regular agenda item
[2:23:50] that is companion to agenda
[2:23:53] item number 33.
[2:23:55] >> Will the board motion by
[2:23:57] Commissioner Scott.
[2:23:59] >> So can I just make a comment?
[2:24:00] >> Sure.
[2:24:01] >> Can I get.
[2:24:03] >> a motion to put it on the
[2:24:03] table?
[2:24:05] >> Come on up.
[2:24:07] >> No motion for a second.
[2:24:07] >> Second.
[2:24:09] >> Okay. Second by Commissioner
[2:24:09] Nowicki.
[2:24:11] >> I was going to do that too.
[2:24:12] >> But go ahead, Commissioner.
[2:24:14] >> You know, I talked to Brian,
[2:24:16] so I understand it. But the
[2:24:20] number 38 to 44 and I know some
[2:24:22] of these are, you know, close
[2:24:26] to some of our hearts, but I
[2:24:28] attend that kite festival every
[2:24:29] year in Treasure Island. And,
[2:24:30] and it turns out every year
[2:24:32] they always pick a weekend with
[2:24:33] bad weather. So they don't
[2:24:35] really get the return. And I
[2:24:37] guess what I'm saying is, I
[2:24:38] know if it doesn't do well,
[2:24:39] then next year you've got to,
[2:24:41] you know, you've got the data,
[2:24:42] I get where you're coming from.
[2:24:43] I understand where you're
[2:24:45] coming from. I understand we
[2:24:46] didn't increase the funding for
[2:24:47] many, many, many, many, many
[2:24:48] years. So I understand where
[2:24:51] you're coming from on that. But
[2:24:53] if anybody else had issues with
[2:24:56] those 38 to 44, I think it's
[2:24:58] worth a conversation. But if
[2:24:59] you all are good with that,
[2:25:01] then I'm going to end this
[2:25:02] conversation right here.
[2:25:03] >> Oh, good.
[2:25:04] >> Because I can tell you the
[2:25:06] savior, Saint Pete, I don't
[2:25:07] know that that's bringing in
[2:25:09] bed tax. I don't know that
[2:25:10] that's marketing what we need
[2:25:13] to do. The kite festival. You
[2:25:14] know, they get a lot of vendors,
[2:25:16] but unfortunately the weather
[2:25:17] is always bad and they get
[2:25:20] maybe one. Good afternoon. I
[2:25:22] have not been to the Blues
[2:25:24] Festival, the spring King of
[2:25:26] the beach. The. The main king
[2:25:28] of the beach is always huge.
[2:25:29] Spring King. King of the beach
[2:25:31] is always lackluster. And is it
[2:25:33] merely meeting the goal that
[2:25:34] there's you know, they have
[2:25:35] parameters. They have got to
[2:25:37] bring in bed nights and you got
[2:25:40] to. And and are we just doing
[2:25:41] events for the sake of doing
[2:25:43] events because we're nice, or
[2:25:45] are we going to stick to the
[2:25:48] rules we created that have data
[2:25:50] metrics? And so that's why I'm
[2:25:51] bringing it up. If you all are
[2:25:53] fine with it, I'm good because
[2:25:55] next year my intuition tells me
[2:25:56] these are going to fall by the
[2:26:00] wayside anyways. So, you know,
[2:26:02] we can give them a year to do
[2:26:05] it. But I and Brian knows I was
[2:26:06] going to say this. We talked
[2:26:06] about.
[2:26:08] >> Yeah. And just to address
[2:26:09] your point, I think you bring
[2:26:11] up a good point. And we finally
[2:26:13] have data now and we use placer
[2:26:14] to collect data. This is the
[2:26:16] first time we implemented that
[2:26:18] data capture resource. And what
[2:26:19] we found is there were many
[2:26:22] events that were not producing
[2:26:25] the attendees and out of town
[2:26:26] attendees that we had thought
[2:26:28] in the past. And so those,
[2:26:29] those particular events that
[2:26:31] you see, they fall within that
[2:26:33] 50% threshold. And part of the
[2:26:35] changes to the guidelines last
[2:26:36] year that were approved,
[2:26:37] implemented for the first time
[2:26:40] this year for one time only.
[2:26:42] Any event couldn't receive less
[2:26:45] than 50% of what they received
[2:26:47] last year. So it's a one time
[2:26:49] deal and it gives them one year.
[2:26:51] So this year they're getting
[2:26:52] 50% of what they received in
[2:26:54] the past. If their performance
[2:26:55] doesn't come up, if they're
[2:26:56] just equal to what they did
[2:26:58] last year, they will not be
[2:26:59] part of the program next year.
[2:27:02] >> It was a way to transition
[2:27:03] transition them for one year.
[2:27:04] Correct. Give them a chance.
[2:27:06] >> And so if if they do bring
[2:27:07] their numbers up, they now know
[2:27:09] they're almost on notice.
[2:27:10] Here's what you need to do to
[2:27:12] boost your your event.
[2:27:13] Otherwise next year you're at
[2:27:14] risk of falling out.
[2:27:16] >> Yeah. And I don't disagree
[2:27:17] that when people are in town
[2:27:19] and these events are going on,
[2:27:21] it helps. It enhances their
[2:27:23] experience while they're here
[2:27:24] because they get to go to these
[2:27:27] events. But I'm just, I just
[2:27:28] don't want to be funding events
[2:27:30] for the sake of funding events
[2:27:31] unless there is. And so like I
[2:27:33] said, I'm good with letting
[2:27:35] this go, but we've kind of set
[2:27:37] these rules and then then
[2:27:38] didn't follow the rules. And
[2:27:40] then we set the rules again.
[2:27:41] And, and we're kind of not
[2:27:42] setting the rules. We're going
[2:27:44] to give them a transition.
[2:27:45] We've done this since I got on
[2:27:46] this commission.
[2:27:47] >> So that's why they changed
[2:27:49] the way they collect data.
[2:27:51] >> And, and I get that. I get
[2:27:52] that we weren't collecting data
[2:27:54] before I get that. But we've
[2:27:56] done this cycle. I can't even
[2:27:57] tell you how many times. And so
[2:27:59] I'm just bringing it up.
[2:28:00] Whatever the will of the board
[2:28:02] is, I'm going to be with you,
[2:28:03] but I'm just bringing it up
[2:28:05] because we have we have talked
[2:28:06] about this, I think every
[2:28:07] single year and every single
[2:28:09] year, we don't make a solid
[2:28:10] decision.
[2:28:11] >> Well, I'm really I'm happy
[2:28:13] that we've changed the way we
[2:28:16] try to make allow events to
[2:28:19] qualify metric driven data. So
[2:28:22] I'm I'm much happier. It caught
[2:28:23] a few people probably napping a
[2:28:26] little bit with our new our new
[2:28:27] criteria. So that was the
[2:28:30] rationale for that one group
[2:28:32] who didn't qualify, but they
[2:28:36] get 50% for one time. MR. Scott,
[2:28:36] did you.
[2:28:37] >> Have something? Thank you,
[2:28:38] MR. CHAIRMAN. So our
[2:28:40] methodology in the past hasn't
[2:28:41] always been perfect, but we
[2:28:43] continue to refine it as new
[2:28:44] technology comes online and
[2:28:46] becomes available and as we
[2:28:48] learn more. So I'm fine with
[2:28:51] with recommendations here. And
[2:28:53] I'm confident in the way that
[2:28:54] we're collecting data going
[2:28:55] forward. And I think we're
[2:28:56] going to have really good
[2:28:58] metrics to evaluate this next
[2:28:58] year with.
[2:29:03] >> So anything else? Okay. So
[2:29:04] we did get a motion in a second.
[2:29:07] Did you get that? Okay. Could
[2:29:08] you bring up the voting card,
[2:29:19] please? One more. One more. Oh,
[2:29:21] there we go. Motion carries
[2:29:23] unanimously. Item 35.
[2:29:25] >> Agenda item number 35 is an
[2:29:26] amendment by resolution
[2:29:27] supplementing the fiscal year
[2:29:30] 2026 budget, realigning
[2:29:31] reserves and recognizing
[2:29:32] unanticipated revenue for
[2:29:34] requesting departments. The
[2:29:35] public hearing was properly
[2:29:36] advertised, and an affidavit of
[2:29:37] publication has been received
[2:29:39] for filing. No correspondence
[2:29:40] has been received by the clerk,
[2:29:42] and the matter is properly
[2:29:43] before the board to be heard.
[2:29:47] >> Thank you. Will the board.
[2:29:49] I'm sorry, would you say motion
[2:29:51] by Commissioner Peters? Second.
[2:29:53] Second by Commissioner Scott.
[2:29:55] Questions? Comments? Bring up
[2:30:01] the voting card, please. One
[2:30:02] more. There we go. Motion
[2:30:04] carries unanimously and we are
[2:30:07] almost adjourned. We have one
[2:30:09] little singing thing that was
[2:30:11] promised.
[2:30:13] >> I thought maybe he forgot
[2:30:15] about it. I'm not sure if I'm
[2:30:17] going to be able to sing it.
[2:30:18] Are you? Y'all have heard me
[2:30:19] cough and stuff.
[2:30:21] >> Are you okay? Well, if you
[2:30:21] can't. If you.
[2:30:22] >> No, I'm serious.
[2:30:25] >> Not you don't. Yeah, I
[2:30:26] that's what I would be doing.
[2:30:27] >> No, I'm serious though,
[2:30:29] because, you know, I don't you
[2:30:31] know, I don't mind. Well let me
[2:30:32] sing this little, little piece
[2:30:34] and then that'll be it and
[2:30:35] we'll be gone. All right.
[2:30:36] >> What little piece?
[2:30:42] >> No. I'm serious. I hope life
[2:30:48] treats you kind. And I hope you
[2:30:54] have all you've dreamed of.
[2:30:59] There you go. Wow. Yay! Thank
[2:31:02] you. No, no.
[2:31:04] >> I know you like to sing, so.
[2:31:06] But thank you. That was
[2:31:07] wonderful. In honor of Dolly
[2:31:09] Parton today. So thank you.
[2:31:10] >> Dolly's team calls me, I
[2:31:13] will.
[2:31:14] >> All right. Anything else?
[2:31:16] For the good of the order, we
[2:31:33] are adjourned. Good night.