[CALL TO ORDER]
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GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS THAT TIME IF EVERYONE WOULD SILENCE THEIR PHONES, THEIR ALARMS AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
AND LET'S GET THIS FEBRUARY 23RD COMMISSION MEETING STARTED.
IT IS 9:30. CITY CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
COMMISSIONER BOLTON. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
GOOD MORNING, VICE MAYOR GELIN.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM MAYOR GOMEZ.
IF EVERYONE WILL, PLEASE STAND COMMISSIONER PLACKO WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IT'S EXCELLENT TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE IN CHAMBERS.
WE WILL NOW GO TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY REPORT.
[1. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT]
THANK YOU. OK, MY APOLOGIES, I DID NOT SEE YOU'RE NOT SITTING IN YOUR SEAT.MAYOR, YOU ALL HAVE DISTRIBUTED BEFORE YOU A COPY OF MEMO THAT WAS PREPARED BY MY OFFICE.
REGARDING THE ISSUE OF PARTY HOUSES.
IT'S THERE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, IT SETS FORTH THE EXISTING REGULATIONS IN THE CITY CODE THAT ALLOW US TO REGULATE SUCH ACTIVITIES MOVING FORWARD.
IT ALSO HAS A COUPLE OF PROVISIONS OR.
REFERENCES TO TWO PARTICULAR CODE PROVISIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER AMENDING IN THE FUTURE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT TOOLS, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THE ITEM TO YOU ALL AT AN UPCOMING MEETING.
FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION IN DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION, THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING.
[2. CITY MANAGER REPORT]
CITY MANAGER, YOUR REPORT, PLEASE.GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSION, I'M PLEASED TO CELEBRATE THE SERVICE OF SOME OF OUR LONGTIME EMPLOYEES, AND WE'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR REACHING THESE MILESTONES.
MARIE SHEILA DOVAS, INSPECTOR, EMT, FIRE RESCUE 10 YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS, SHEILA, AND THANK YOU.
WITH 15 YEARS OF SERVICE, WE HAVE ALICIA SINCLAIR, PROCUREMENT AGENT FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND WE HAVE NISHAAD PREETAM WATER PLANT LEAD OPERATOR, 15 YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICES. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS WELL.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR EMPLOYEE SERVICE RECOGNITION AWARDS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, AND I BELIEVE WE NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION, A VIDEO WILL BE PLAYED. YES, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE CITY OF TAMARAC UNITED WAY COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS GREG, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION GREG WARNER AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES, CHRISTINE CAJUSTE OF THE 2021-2022 EMPLOYEE DONATION TO THE UNITED WAY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK BOTH CHRISTINE AND GREG PUBLICLY FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
THIS IS A REAL TESTAMENT TO THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE TO HELP THOSE OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE THAT UNITED WAY HELPS.
SO I CAN THANK THE TWO OF YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO THE UNITED WAY IS ABLE TO ASSIST AND TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES WHO DECIDE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS VERY WORTHY CAUSE.
THANK YOU, KATHLEEN. THANK YOU, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN AND EMPLOYEES, AND I HOPE THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, EMPLOYEES KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK IN DONATING TO TO THE UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN.
SO WE RUN A CAMPAIGN EACH YEAR AND I BELIEVE WE ARE STILL THE NUMBER ONE MUNICIPALITY IN BROWARD COUNTY FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED WAY.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE THIS YEAR, AND THESE EMPLOYEES GAVE UP THEIR TIME TO ATTEND MEETINGS TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER EVENTS FOR FUNDRAISING AND ALSO EMPLOYEES, AS YOU KNOW, FOR THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON.
WHILE EVERYBODY'S SITTING DOWN, ENJOYING THEIR MEALS, TALKING WITH EACH OTHER, THESE
[00:05:02]
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE WORKING DURING THAT EVENT, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.JENNIFER JOHNSON FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
NANCY RIVERA, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, ZACHARIAH SMITH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
PATRICIA WHITE, FINANCIAL SERVICES, NANCY WILSON, FINANCIAL SERVICES, JUSTINO BRANCH, FIRE RESCUE.
TINA LEONE, HUMAN RESOURCES, SANA SWAROOP, HUMAN RESOURCES.
ZACH STEINER, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
LINDA PROBERT, PARKS AND RECREATION.
CHARLENE NAVADOMSKY, PARKS AND RECREATION.
DONNA BOWMAN, PARKS AND RECREATION, GERMANIA ROMAN PARKS AND RECREATION, DEB MECHUCA FROM PUBLIC SERVICES AND TROY GEISS FROM PUBLIC SERVICES.
BEFORE WE BRING UP CELESTE AND TONY FROM THE UNITED WAY FOR THE CHECK PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO CHRISTINE TO THANK THE EMPLOYEES.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING CITY OF TAMARAC.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO THE EMPLOYEES OF CITY OF TAMARAC, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THIS CAUSE YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT DESPITE THE SITUATION WITH THE PANDEMIC.
YOUR GENEROSITY IS A TESTAMENT THAT LENDS TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE STILL GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD. THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO BENEFIT FROM THE UNITED WAY ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS YOUR SUPPORTERS.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, IF MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE COULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
AND ALSO, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO HAVE CELESTE ABLE, SENIOR DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FROM UNITED WAY, AND TONY HOPPER, VICE PRESIDENT OF WORK, WORKPLACE DEVELOPMENT FROM UNITED WAY. PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC MAYOR AND COMMISSION AND THE CITY OF TAMARAC EMPLOYEES, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS CHECK FOR TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO THE UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY.
EVERY YEAR, I'M SO HAPPY TO COME HERE AND PRESENT THE CHECK, WE MISSED IT LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT I'M GLAD WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY.
AND I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK GREG AND CHRISTINE AND NANCY AND THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING THIS CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS AS YOU ALWAYS HAVE AND KEEPING YOUR NUMBER ONE STATUS AMONG MUNICIPALITIES.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN AS NUMBER ONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS AND GENEROUS SUPPORT.
AND ONE OTHER THING, I WOULD JUST MAKE A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT FOR NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE HAD TWO MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC STEP UP TO BECOME CHAIRS FOR NEXT YEAR, AND WE HAVE TROY GEISS AND LINDA PROBERT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL, COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO, WE ALSO HAVE A SHORT VIDEO FOR YOU FROM THE UNITED WAY CEO KATHLEEN CANNON.
THIS IS KATHLEEN CANNON, THE CEO OF UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF TAMARAC, ALL THE EMPLOYEES.
YOU GUYS STEP IN, STEP UP, LEAN IN GENEROUSLY, GIVE EVERY YEAR TO SERVE THOSE MOST IN NEED. YOUR GUYS ARE A SHINING EXAMPLE.
HONESTLY, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
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THIS PAST YEAR AND A HALF HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT FOR SO MANY, AND I THINK YOU KNOW THAT WE CONTINUE TO FUND OVER ONE HUNDRED PROGRAMS THAT WE WERE ALREADY DOING.BUT THEN WE ADDED DOZENS MORE BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] SO GREAT THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT YOUR GENEROSITY.
YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SERVE.
I KNOW THAT. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU AGAIN TO BE GENEROUS, TO GIVE TO UNITED WAY SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND SERVICES, HELP MORE FOLKS.
UNITED, WE FIGHT FOR THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, FINANCIAL PROSPERITY OF EVERY PERSON IN YOUR COMMUNITY. UNITED, WE GOT THIS.
WONDERFUL, GREAT JOB, CITY OF TAMARAC, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, AND I'M PRETTY SURE WE WILL BE NUMBER ONE AGAIN NEXT YEAR, WITHOUT A DOUBT.
CITY MANAGER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE.
YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHRIS TATHAM OF ETC INSTITUTE, WHO WILL BE GIVING US A PRESENTATION OF THE BSO SURVEY RESULTS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SIT FOR A LITTLE BIT, YOU ARE A VERY WELCOME TO DO SO.
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
I NOTICED YOU RECOGNIZED YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE SERVED FOR 15 YEARS, ETC HAS ACTUALLY BEEN SERVING THE CITY NOW FOR OVER 17 YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN SURVEYING RESIDENTS OF BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME, REALLY TO HELP YOU IN YOUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS, IN YOUR EFFORTS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WELL TODAY.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ETC INSTITUTE.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR, I GUESS, ALMOST 40 YEARS.
WE DO WORK GLOBALLY AND OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS GATHER INPUT FROM THEIR COMMUNITY TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.
I RECOGNIZE THAT SURVEY RESULTS THEMSELVES AREN'T THE DECISION MAKER, BUT OFTENTIMES IT'S GOOD TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY THEY FEEL THE WAY THEY DO.
OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE ASKED PEOPLE WHETHER OR NOT THEY PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS AND ON AVERAGE, NATIONALLY, LESS THAN THREE PERCENT OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE. WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE.
BUT MOST RESIDENTS ARE GOING AROUND THEIR LIVES, NOT REALLY HAVING TIME OR PAYING MUCH ATTENTION UNTIL SOMETHING GOES WRONG OR THEY DON'T LIKE SOMETHING.
SO AS A RESULT, WITHOUT TOOLS LIKE THIS, SOMETIMES YOU'RE ONLY HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SPECIFIC INTEREST THAT MAY NOT REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
AS FAR AS THE RESULTS THIS YEAR, OR WHAT I'D LIKE TO WALK YOU THROUGH, JUST BRIEFLY, HOW THE [INAUDIBLE] WALKS THROUGH THE PURPOSE AND METHODOLOGY, AND I'M GOING TO KIND OF PULL OUT. THERE'S A TON OF INFORMATION IN THIS, BUT THERE'S FIVE THINGS THAT I THINK YOU SHOULD PERHAPS REMEMBER FROM THIS PROCESS.
AND THEN I'LL KIND OF WRAP IT UP WITH THE SUMMARY.
WE'VE ALSO TO HELP THE CITY USE THE SURVEY BETTER HAVE DEVELOPED AN ONLINE DATA ANALYTICS DASHBOARD. SOME OF THAT KIND OF SHOW THAT TO YOU BECAUSE I KNOW IN SOME OF THE PAST PRESENTATIONS I'VE MADE, SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN INTERESTED TO BE ABLE TO DOVE INTO THE DATA MORE DEEPLY.
SO WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE FOR YOU MOVING FORWARD.
WELL, AS FAR AS THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AS WE'VE DONE YOUR SURVEY, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW IS BSO AND THE COMMUNITY INTERACTING? WE OFTENTIMES SEE SURVEY RESULTS THAT SUGGEST THERE'S A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING. BSO AND TAMARAC DO HAVE A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP, SO PART OF THIS SURVEY WAS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY DO KNOW ABOUT BSO, THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE AND ULTIMATELY TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP BETTER THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND HELP THE POLICE SERVE THE COMMUNITY BETTER.
THIS IS THE FIRST SURVEY THAT ETC INSTITUTE HAS EVER DONE ON POLICE SPECIFIC ISSUES, SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE NEW THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE HELPFUL TO YOU.
AND OVER TIME, WE HOPE THESE SURVEY RESULTS WILL PROVIDE A BASELINE FOR YOU MORE OBJECTIVELY ASSESSING PERFORMANCE AS FAR AS THE SURVEY ITSELF.
THE SURVEY WAS SIMILAR IN THE WAY IT WAS CONDUCTED AS TO YOUR RESIDENT SURVEY THAT WE DO EVERY TWO YEARS.
WE ADMINISTERED IT TO MORE THAN TWELVE HUNDRED HOUSEHOLDS, MADE SURE THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE HUNDRED SURVEYS COMPLETED IN EACH COMMISSIONER DISTRICT.
THE RESULTS AREN'T PERFECT, BUT THEY HAVE AN ACCURACY OF ABOUT PLUS OR MINUS TWO POINT SEVEN PERCENT OF THE NINETY FIVE PERCENT LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE.
AND THAT JUST MEANS THAT WE DID THE SURVEY ONE HUNDRED TIMES.
WE'D GET THESE SAME RESULTS ABOUT THREE WITHIN THREE PERCENT OR LESS, NINETY FIVE TIMES OUT OF 100. SO IT'S A VERY GOOD SAMPLE.
IN ADDITION, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY COMPARE THE SAMPLES COMPOSITION WITH DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS LIKE GENDER, RACE, HISPANIC ANCESTRY, AND SO FORTH, IT PRETTY MUCH LINES UP WITH THE U.S.
CENSUS. SO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A GOOD SAMPLE REPRESENTATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEMOGRAPHICS. WE ALSO HAVE GOOD DISTRIBUTION.
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AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS MAP, PRETTY MUCH THERE'S DOTS JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY WHERE THERE'S RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND WE JUST THIS BASICALLY SHOWS THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS BY WHERE THEY LIVE.WE ACTUALLY DON'T CAPTURE THE EXACT ADDRESS WE CAPTURED FOR WHAT WE CALL THE BLOCK ADDRESS. SO SOME OF THESE DOTS REPRESENT TWO OR THREE IF THERE'S AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, BUT IT DOES GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA THAT WE HAVE ALL AREAS OF THE CITY WELL REPRESENTED.
SO WITH THAT, LET ME JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THE THINGS THAT WERE TAKEAWAYS FROM ME.
AND AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT MORE INFORMATION IN THE STUDY THAN JUST THIS.
BUT THE FIRST THING I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS JUST THAT RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY GENERALLY FEEL VERY SAFE, NOT JUST FOR SOUTH FLORIDA, BUT ACTUALLY WHEN YOU TAMARAC NATIONALLY, THERE'S A HIGH SENSE OF SAFETY IN THE CITY COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS.
OVERALL, PERCEPTIONS OR RATINGS OF POLICE SERVICES ARE VERY HIGH, BUT THE CITY DOES HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE SATISFACTION THROUGH EXPANDED OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS. AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THE SPECIFIC DATA THAT REALLY ESTABLISHES THAT CASE.
WE INCLUDED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE USE OF BODY CAMERAS, AND THEY WERE STRONGLY SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THEN FINALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT IS IF YOU WERE TO TARGET SPECIFIC GROUPS WITHIN THE CITY, WHERE WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO BETTER MOST IMPROVE SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS AND SATISFACTION WITH POLICE SERVICES? SO I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE DATA WE FOUND THERE THAT ARE DRIVING THOSE.
SO, LET ME KIND OF START OFF WITH OUR FIRST FINDING.
AND THAT'S JUST THE GENERAL PERCEPTION THAT RESIDENTS FEEL SAFE AND AND WHAT'S REALLY GREAT ABOUT TAMARAC IS THOUGH IT'S A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY, YOU FEEL SAFE.
YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE INDIVIDUALS WHO FEEL DIFFERENTLY, BUT WHAT THIS MAP SHOWS YOU AS WE'VE SHADED EACH OF THE COMMISSION DISTRICTS BASED ON THE AVERAGE RATING WITH REGARD TO THE OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY IN THE CITY.
AND YOU CAN SEE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, THE AVERAGE PERSON'S SATISFIED WITH SAFETY. AND IN FACT, WHEN WE FOLLOW IT UP AND WE ACTUALLY ASKED PEOPLE WHETHER OR NOT THEY AGREED WITH THE STATEMENT, I PERSONALLY FEEL PERSONALLY SAFE.
IN TAMARAC, YOU SEE ABOUT A QUARTER OF PEOPLE SURVEYED SAID THEY STRONGLY AGREED WITH THAT. ALMOST HALF SAID THEY AGREED.
YOU DID HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT, AND THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT EIGHT TO 10 PERCENT OF THE COMMUNITY.
ALL IN ALL, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY GENERALLY FEEL SAFE IS THAT MOST PEOPLE WERE NOT VICTIMS OF CRIME AND OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE VICTIMS OF CRIME.
ONLY MOST OF THEM WERE PROPERTY CRIMES OR NONVIOLENT.
AND SO I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING GOOD IN MY PRACTICE AS WE SURVEY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
I TEND TO ASSESS THIS BASED ON COMPARISONS.
DOES TAMARAC GENERALLY FEEL SAFER THAN OTHERS IN THIS NEXT CHART SHOWS YOU FROM A RECENT SURVEY THAT WE DID NATIONALLY FOR THE UNITED STATES AND ALSO IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
HOW RESIDENTS RATED THAT SAME QUESTION WITH REGARD TO HOW SAFE THEY FEEL IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS DURING THE DAY AT NIGHT.
THEIR OVERALL FEELING OF SAFETY AND IN CITY PARKS.
AND AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THIS CHART.
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS IN LIGHT BLUE AND THE FLORIDA AVERAGE IS IN YELLOW.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN ALL CASES, RESIDENTS IN TAMARAC GENERALLY FEEL SAFER THAN RESIDENTS AND THE REST OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND ALSO NATIONALLY.
SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE GOOD FINDINGS THAT WE FOUND FOR THE SURVEY.
ONE OF THE NEXT THINGS THAT WE ASSESSED IS SOME OF THE SPECIFIC RATINGS ABOUT POLICE SERVICES. AND AGAIN, WE NOTICED WHEN IT COMES TO OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH POLICE SERVICES, THOSE TWO ARE RATED RELATIVELY HIGH.
YOU'LL SEE A SIMILAR CHART HERE.
SAME QUESTION WAS OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH POLICE SERVICES IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC, AND YOU CAN SEE IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHERE PEOPLE LIVE.
THERE'S PRETTY UNIFORM OVERALL SATISFACTION IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DID NOTICE, THOUGH, WHEN WE BROKE THE QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICE SERVICES INTO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, THERE WERE SOME UNIQUE OBSERVATIONS HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS WHEN IT COMES TO OVERALL QUALITY OF POLICE VEHICLES, HOW QUICKLY BSO TAMARAC RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES, THE PERCEPTION THAT DEPUTIES ARE PROFESSIONAL DISPATCH SERVICES, THINGS LIKE THAT WHICH ARE OFTENTIMES WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL THE SERVICE DELIVERY, THE ACTUAL INTERACTION WITH POLICE OFFICERS ALL RATED REALLY HIGH. IN FACT, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THOSE ITEMS HAVE A PARTICULARLY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY SATISFIED, WHICH IS A STRONG BRAND INDICATOR THAT USUALLY IS A MORE PASSIONATE RESPONSE THAN JUST SOME SATISFIED OVERALL.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THINGS RELATED THAT ARE OFTEN CAUSED BY OUTREACH AND INFORMATION AWARENESS, YOU'LL NOTICE THOSE THINGS TENDED TO RATE LOWER.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LOWEST RATED ITEM HERE IS POLICE EFFORTS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED ABOUT LOCAL ISSUES.
YOU SEE THINGS ABOUT VISIBILITY OF TAMARAC IN NEIGHBORHOODS, PUBLIC SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS, POLICE OUTREACH PROGRAMS. SO IT WAS INTERESTING THAT FOR A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY WORKING WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE POLICE SERVICES AND THAT CAN CREATE SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES, WE REALLY SEE THAT IN THE SURVEY DATA.
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SO THE DELIVERY OF THE SERVICE GETS GOOD RATINGS, BUT THE AWARENESS OF THE SERVICE TENDS TO GET LOWER RATINGS. AND AGAIN, WHEN WE DO OUR ASSESSMENT COMPARED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, YOU NOTICE YOU ACTUALLY RATE REALLY WELL WHEN IT COMES TO OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH POLICE SERVICES, YOU CAN SEE TAMARAC AT SEVENTY FOUR PERCENT, WHICH IS 20 PERCENT ABOVE THE FLORIDA AVERAGE AND ALMOST 20 PERCENT ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.SO THE RATINGS OF THE OVERALL SERVICE ARE REALLY GOOD THE RESPONSE TIME.
ALSO, RATES REALLY WELL, YOU CAN SEE IT'S 69 PERCENT.
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS ABOUT THAT IS TRAFFIC FLOW IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY WE KNOW FROM THE RESIDENT SURVEY.
AND USUALLY WHEN YOU HAVE ISSUES OF TRAFFIC FLOW, POLICE RESPONSE TIMES RATES LOWER.
SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY GOOD THING TO FIND.
DO YOU SEE YOUR POLICE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS TEND TO RATE A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT OVERALL, COMPARED TO THOSE OTHER TWO, THEIR RATINGS LOWER.
AND WHEN YOU'RE IN A HIGH PERFORMING COMMUNITY, SOMETIMES THE EXPECTATIONS FOR DIFFERENT SERVICES ARE HIGHER.
BUT AS YOU WORK YOUR WAY DOWN, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE TWO THINGS VISIBILITY OF POLICE AND NEIGHBORHOODS VISIBILITY OF POLICE AND RETAIL AREAS ACTUALLY RATE BELOW BOTH THE STATE AND NATIONAL AVERAGE.
SO I THINK THERE'S SOME ISSUES RELATED TO UNDERSTANDING AND REALLY WHO'S PATROLLING WHAT, AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE ULTIMATELY IMPACTING SOME OF THE RATINGS THE RESIDENTS GIVE.
WE DID SOME ANALYSIS, SO FOR ALL OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE POLICE SERVICES OR POLICE SERVICES THAT WERE RATED, WHICH ONES SHOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE MOVING FORWARD, PARTICULARLY IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE VISIBILITY ISSUES ARE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
AND THEN YOU ALSO SEE EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME.
WHAT WE FOUND OVER THE YEARS THAT ACTUALLY VISIBILITY ISN'T NECESSARILY PEOPLE SEEING VEHICLES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S OFTENTIMES THEM JUST KNOWING THAT THE PATROLS ARE TAKING PLACE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN AT HOME AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY EVEN AWARE OF IT. WE'VE SEEN THAT COMMUNITIES THAT OFTENTIMES DO THE BEST TO GET THE HIGHEST RATING FOR VISIBILITIES ARE OFTENTIMES THE ONE WHO RESIDENTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE DOING AND MORE AWARE OF JUST THE OVERALL PLAN FOR CRIME PREVENTION IN THE COMMUNITY. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THOSE ITEMS THAT IF YOU CONTINUE DOWN THE LIST, I WON'T GO THROUGH THEM ALL, BUT POLICE EFFORTS TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED AND TO WRAP OUT THOSE TOP FOUR ITEMS, WHEREAS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE RELATED TO THE DELIVERY OF THE SERVICE RANK LOWER ON THE LIST.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AS IMPORTANT, IT'S JUST THAT OVERALL THE CITY'S DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO DO THROUGH THIS SURVEY, THOUGH, WAS FIND OUT, WELL, IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME OF YOUR OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS AND SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES THAT WE IDENTIFIED IN THE SURVEY? ONE OF THE BEST WAYS FOR ME TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU IS ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THE CORRELATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT QUESTIONS ON THE SURVEY.
AND HERE'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND.
WE FOUND THAT THE EFFORTS TO KEEP RESIDENTS INFORMED REALLY APPEAR TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH THE VISIBILITY OF POLICE, EVEN MORE SO THAN NECESSARILY SEEING POLICE OFFICERS.
WHAT THIS MAP SHOWS IS THE SATISFACTION ON THE LEFT, WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE CITY BY POLICE TO KEEP RESIDENTS INFORMED ABOUT LOCAL POLICE RELATED ISSUES.
THE RIGHT SHOWS YOU THE LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH THE VISIBILITY OF BSO, TAMARAC AND NEIGHBORHOODS, AJND YOU CAN SEE THE DISTRICT WHERE PEOPLE ARE MORE INFORMED TENDS TO GET BETTER RATINGS ON VISIBILITY, AND THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH RESEARCH THAT WE'VE DONE NATIONALLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
WE ALSO FOUND THAT POLICE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE CITY'S EFFORTS PERCEIVED EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME.
YOU'LL SEE THE SAME THING ON THE MAP TO THE LEFT SHOWS THE LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH POLICE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
THE MAP TO THE RIGHT SHOWS SATISFACTION WITH EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME.
AGAIN, THERE APPEARS TO BE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND COMMUNICATION AND PEOPLE'S SATISFACTION WITH THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME.
AS I SAID BEFORE, MOST RESIDENTS HAVEN'T BEEN VICTIMS OF THE CRIME AND THOSE WHO HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN VICTIMS OF MORE NONVIOLENT OR PETTY CRIME.
BUT AS A RESULT, THEIR PERCEPTIONS ABOUT HOW WELL THE CITY IS BEING TAKING ON CRIME PREVENTION IS OFTENTIMES GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY WHAT THEY SEE AND READ AND KNOW IN THE DATA. AND THE SURVEY SHOWS THAT COMMUNICATION PIECE IS CLEARLY IMPORTANT.
AND YOU ALSO SEE THAT THE REASON IT'S IMPORTANT IN TAMARAC NOT ONLY IS THE POLICE SERVICE BRANDED DIFFERENTLY.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T INTERACT WITH THE TAMARAC DEPUTY SHERIFFS.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THIS CHART HERE SHOWS THE TYPES OF INTERACTION THAT PEOPLE IN TAMARAC HAVE HAD WITH THE BSO TAMARAC IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, AND YOU CAN SEE ALMOST THREE OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE HAD NOT HAD ANY.
IT DID NOT HAVE ANY INTERACTION AT ALL.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CITY IS NOT DIRECTLY PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
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SO THE FOURTH THING THAT WE LOOKED AT IN THE SURVEY WAS JUST THE USE OF BODY CAMERAS, AND WE FOUND THAT THAT WAS STRONGLY SUPPORTED ACROSS THE CITY.WE ALSO FOUND THAT IT WAS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY ALL DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS.
WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS WE ASK A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT PEOPLE'S AGREEMENT WITH STATEMENTS LIKE BODY CAMERAS INCREASES THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFICERS, WHETHER OR NOT BODY CAMERAS LEAD TO GREATER TRANSPARENCY WITH BSO TAMARAC DISTRICT AND IF ENCOUNTERED BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF, IT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER KNOWING THE INTERACTION IS BEING RECORDED.
AND YOU CAN SEE ALMOST TWO OUT OF THREE RESIDENTS STRONGLY AGREED WITH EACH OF THOSE STATEMENTS. IF YOU ADD IN THE PERCENTAGE THAT AGREE, IT WAS ALMOST NINE OUT OF 10.
IN MOST CASES, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT WAS TRUE REALLY.
ACROSS THE BOARD, YOU CAN SEE EIGHT PERSONS 18 TO 35 HAD SLIGHTLY LOWER RATINGS, BUT STILL, IN MOST CASES, IT WAS EIGHT OUT OF 10 FOR EACH OF THEM.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENTAGES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER, BLACK, WHITE AND HISPANIC, AND ALL GROUPS SUPPORTED THE USE OF BODY CAMERAS.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHEN IT COMES TO MAJOR FINDINGS AND PERHAPS THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, IS THAT THE CITY AND BSO TAMARAC SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO THE DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY KEY SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION VIEW THE POLICE AND WITH VARIOUS ISSUES, I MIGHT JUST SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
HERE IS THE FIRST THING IS WE ASKED THEM QUESTIONS JUST TO GET KIND OF ATTITUDES ABOUT COMMUNITY TOWARD THE POLICE.
AND OFTENTIMES THERE'S BEEN IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA THAT SOMEHOW THE PEOPLE OF COLOR PERHAPS DO NOT RESPECT THE POLICE AS MUCH AS OTHERS, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT TRUE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS FOR TAMARAC, YOU CAN SEE THAT RACE DOES NOT SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCE THE LEVEL OF RESPECT THAT RESIDENTS HAVE FOR DEPUTY SHERIFFS.
IN FACT, IF YOU'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, YOU CAN SEE THE OVERALL RATINGS OR THE LEVEL OF RESPECT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ACROSS ALL GROUPS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF YOUNGER PEOPLE.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE, ONLY 58.7 PERCENT SAID THEY HAD A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR POLICE OFFICERS OVERALL.
YOU CAN SEE THAT EIGHT OUT OF 10 RESIDENTS HAD A HIGH RATING, WHICH IS VERY, VERY GOOD AND VERY FEW PEOPLE DID NOT RESPECT.
AND SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY STRENGTH.
A REAL STRONG FINDING IS THAT RESIDENTS DO RESPECT DEPUTY SHERIFFS, BUT IT SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE CONCERN AMONG THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNGER ARE LESS LIKELY TO DO SO.
THE NEXT THING THAT WE TOOK A LOOK AT WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THE KEY INDICATORS HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT RESIDENTS TRUST DEPUTY SHERIFFS.
AND AGAIN, VERY STRONG FINDING VERY FAVORABLE THAT MORE THAN THREE OUT OF FOUR RESIDENTS TRUST BSO TAMARAC DEPUTY SHERIFFS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENTAGE THAT STRONGLY TRUST WAS OVER HALF. YOU CAN SEE HERE YOUNG ADULTS WERE THE LEAST LIKELY ONLY THIRTY SIX POINT THREE PERCENT. AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE A LITTLE LESS LIKELY, BUT AGAIN, THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF THE DISTRUST WAS AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNG.
AND THEN THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH PEOPLE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE 55 AND OLDER WERE ACTUALLY THE MOST TRUSTING OF DEPUTY SHERIFFS. BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING SURVEYS FOR THE CITY ALMOST TWO DECADES AGO, THE POPULATION WAS MUCH OLDER THAN IT IS NOW.
AND I THINK THE RELATIONSHIP THAT BSO TAMARAC HAS WITH YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT IT SHOULD REALLY BE TAKING A LOOK AT TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THEY EXIST AND THE WAY IT PLAYS THAT I SEE THAT IS ACTUALLY WITH REGARD TO THE INTERACTIONS THAT BSO TAMARAC SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE HAD WITH RESIDENTS.
I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING IS THAT PEOPLE WHO REPORTED HAVING A POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH AN OFFICER WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO STRONGLY TRUST BSO TAMARAC SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES THAN THOSE WHO HAD NOT HAD ANY ACTION AT ALL.
AND THIS WAS TRUE FOR ALL AGES.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IN THE CHART BELOW OR CHART ON THE SCREEN IS THE DARK BLUE BAR IS THE PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS WHO SAID THAT THEY STRONGLY TRUST BSO TAMARAC DEPUTIES IF THEY'D HAD A POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH THEM DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE RED IS THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO STRONGLY TRUST WHO HAD NOT HAD ANY ACTION WITH THE BSO TAMARAC DEPUTY SHERIFF, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, THE GAP IS ACTUALLY THE GREATEST.
IT WAS 27.2 PERCENT DIFFERENCE.
ONLY 30 PERCENT OF PEOPLE UNDER, OR 18 TO 34 WHO HAD HAD AN INTERACTION STRONGLY TRUSTED THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SHERIFFS, WHERE IT WAS NEARLY SIX OUT OF 10.
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD INTERACTIONS AND YOU COULD SEE THE OTHERS, IT'S TRUE THERE WERE GAPS FOR ALL LEVELS. AND ONE OF THE FINDINGS FOR THIS PERHAPS TO BE LOOKING AT IS HOW CAN BE SO TAMARAC ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE AGES 18 TO 30 FOR MORE.
MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN OVERALL OVERALL RATINGS OF THE POLICE.
[00:30:03]
SO JUST TO SUMMARIZE THINGS, I THINK THERE'S A REAL GREAT TAKEAWAY HERE THAT RESIDENTS REALLY FEEL SAFE IN THE CITY AND OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH POLICE SERVICES GENERALLY HIGH. AND THAT'S TRUE, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW TAMARAC RATES COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES IN FLORIDA AND ALSO AROUND THE COUNTRY.BUT THERE ARE, AS I SAID, OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE SATISFACTION WITH POLICE SERVICES.
AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT CAN COME THROUGH EXPANDED OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS TO HELP RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT THE CITY IS DOING TO PREVENT CRIME, AND ALSO HOW BSO TAMARAC IS ACTUALLY BEING DEPLOYED IN THE COMMUNITY SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW THE PATROLS ARE BEING DEPLOYED, SO THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE CONCERNS THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT VISIBILITY. THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO THE DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY KEY SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION VIEW POLICE AND PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO THE MORE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT WILL REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PROBABLY PAUSE JUST ONE SECOND AND EVERYBODY DIGEST THAT AND THEN I'M GOING TO TAKE A SECOND AND SHARE WITH.
SOME OF THE DASHBOARD ITEMS THAT WE DEVELOPED.
ALL RIGHT, SO HERE WE GO, SO WE'VE DEVELOPED BASICALLY AN ONLINE DASHBOARD THAT HELPED THE CITY ESSENTIALLY TAP INTO THE SURVEY DATA REALLY ON DEMAND.
YOU CAN HAVE THE LINK, YOU CAN GO IN AND ACTUALLY DO A LOT OF YOUR OWN ANALYTICS AND BREAK THINGS DOWN. SO FOR DATA, JUST KIND OF WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT. SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS THE FIRST LANDING PAGE YOU CAN GO HERE AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY JUST OVERALL.
FOR ANY QUESTION, YOU CAN BREAK THEM DOWN AND SEE THEM FOR KEY DEMOGRAPHICS AND TRENDS AND EVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF ITEMS. THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND IF YOU ACTUALLY CLICK ON THE SURVEY.
YOU'LL ACTUALLY NOTICE THAT YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS FOR EACH OF THE QUESTIONS, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO TO THE SCREENS AND PULL DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE, WHATEVER THE TOPIC IS, AND THEN ALL THE INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
IN ADDITION, YOU'LL NOTICE HERE AT THE TOP WE HAVE A FILTER PAGE.
WHAT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DO IS YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO IN TO THE SURVEY AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY DECIDE, HEY, I LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PERHAPS UNDER 35 OR PERSONS WHO ARE OVER 65.
YOU CAN JUST CLICK THAT AND THEN THAT WILL ACTUALLY BREAK THE SURVEY DOWN.
SO YOU'RE NOW ONLY LOOKING AT THE RESULTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR GROUP, WHICH IS REALLY NICE. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE HOME PAGE.
IF YOU'RE HERE, YOU JUST CLICK ON THAT LITTLE HOUSE AND IT TAKES YOU RIGHT BACK TO WHERE YOU'RE BEGINNING. IF FOR SOME REASON, THOUGH, YOU'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE BREAKOUTS FOR SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS, YOU CAN GO OVER HERE TO THE FAR RIGHT AND YOU CAN JUST USE THE TABS ON THE FAR RIGHT, AND YOU CAN PERHAPS CLICK ON THE RESULTS FOR KEY DEMOGRAPHICS. AND ON THIS PAGE, YOU CAN SEE ON ONE SCREEN YOU CAN SEE HOW PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD RATE DIFFERENT, THEIR SATISFACTION WITH POLICE SERVICES YOU SEE UP HERE, IT'S BY RACE. YOU CAN SEE OVER HERE, IT'S BY GENDER, BY INCOME AND OTHER FACTORS.
SO ON ONE SCREEN, IF YOU ACTUALLY ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS, YOU CAN SEE IT ALL ON ONE SCREEN.
THE TAB DOWN SHOWS YOU TRENDS.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF PUBLIC FEELING OF SAFETY IN THE CITY.
AND WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS WE HAVE A BASE HERE THAT FOR 2016, USUALLY WE GO ABOUT FIVE YEARS BACK. WELL, THEN GO TO YOUR LAST SURVEY AND YOUR MOST CURRENT SURVEY AND IT SHOWS YOU UP AT THE TOP HOW SATISFACTION HAS CHANGED LONG TERM AND WHICH IS ON THE RIGHT AND SHORT TERM. IN THIS CASE, RATINGS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OR FEELINGS OF SAFETY IN PARKS HAS ACTUALLY GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY, BOTH IN THE LONG TERM AND THE SHORT TERM.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT WHAT THE TOP PRIORITIES ARE, YOU CAN THEN TAP ON THIS BUTTON HERE THAT SAYS THE IMPORTANCE, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT POLICE SERVICES RIGHT NOW ARE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY BASED ON YOUR LAST SURVEY, AS FAR AS WHAT THE CITY SHOULD EMPHASIZE MOST IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
SOME OF THE OTHER FEATURES THAT ARE INTERESTING IS IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK A THE RESULTS BY MAP OR ON MAPS, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CURRENT RESULTS BY CLICKING THE RESULTS BY ZONE THAT'LL SHOW YOU THE CURRENT SURVEY RESULTS.
MY FAVORITES ACTUALLY TO LOOK AT THE RESULTS AND HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME.
SO IF YOU CLICK ON THAT, THAT WILL BRING UP A MAP OF THE CITY.
AND THIS IS REALLY POWERFUL INFORMATION BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS IT JUST DOESN'T SHOW THE OVERALL RESULTS THAT ACTUALLY SHOW YOU HOW EACH OF THE DISTRICTS HAVE CHANGED.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS THE ADEQUACY OF CITY STREET LIGHTING.
SO WHEN I SHARED THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY LAST FALL, THE OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH
[00:35:05]
STREET LIGHTING HAD CHANGED BY LESS THAN A PERCENT AND HAD GONE DOWN 0.87 PERCENT.BUT YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IN DISTRICT TWO, IT WAS UP SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY DOWN IN ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
AND SO THIS WAY, IF THE CITY DOES SOMETHING REALLY WELL IN ONE AREA, BUT PERHAPS OTHER AREAS OF TRAIL BEHIND IN THE OVERALL RESULTS HAVEN'T CHANGED.
YOU MIGHT NOT NOTICE THAT THERE ARE SOME CHANGES ONE PART OF THE CITY AND NOT THE OTHER.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP YOU AS YOU BREAK IT DOWN IN THOSE AREAS.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE CAN DO IS YOU CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THIS IS THIS INFORMATION I SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE.
WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE SERVICES OR PUBLIC SAFETY, THE VISIBILITY OF POLICE AND NEIGHBORHOODS IS AT THE TOP, FOLLOWED BY CRIME PREVENTION.
BUT WHAT'S NICE ABOUT THIS IS YOU CAN ACTUALLY FILTER THIS UP HERE AND ACTUALLY LOOK FOR WHAT ARE THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS IF YOU WANTED TO SEE HOW YOUNG PEOPLE RATED PRIORITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE FILTER AND SELECT YOUNG PEOPLE IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER. SAME THING OR BY RACE, IT'S REALLY GREAT INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE SPEAKING TO A GROUP, OR ARE GOING TO BE TALKING TO A GROUP THAT HAS SPECIFIC INTERESTS.
THE LAST TOOL THAT WE HAVE HERE IS THIS YOU CAN BREAK IN IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW TAMARAC COMPARES TO NATIONAL AVERAGES AND REGIONAL AVERAGES.
WE HAVE DATA AT THE NATIONAL REGIONAL, HOW THINGS COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE AND EVEN HOW AGES OF GROUPS RATE DIFFERENT ITEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU CLICK ON IT BY SIZE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE HOW TAMARAC STEPS UP IN THIS CASE. I'VE GOT POPULATIONS OF 30 TO NINETY NINE THOUSAND.
BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW THE CITY STACKS UP.
AND YOU COULD SEE, IN MOST CASES, THE TAMARAC IS DOING GENERALLY WELL IN A LOT OF AREAS COMPARED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, SO THAT'S REALLY KIND OF A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE NEW TOOL THE CITY HAS AT ITS DISPOSAL.
I HOPE IT WILL BE USEFUL TO YOU MOVING FORWARD, AND I HOPE THE OVERALL FINDINGS FOR THE BSO TAMARAC SURVEY HAVE HELPED SHED SOME LIGHT ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN DO TO IMPROVE SATISFACTION AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY SERVICE.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PROBABLY STOP PRESENTING, AND MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT THOROUGH PRESENTATION, ALL THAT GOOD INFORMATION, I SEE COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
THANK YOU, CHRIS. THAT WAS EXCELLENT.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE MAYBE QUESTIONS COMMENTS WE'VE HEARD.
WE'VE HEARD VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY AND I GUESS WITH COVID THINGS HAVE CHANGED. CAN YOU WAIT A SEC? YEAH. CAN YOU SILENCE ANYBODY ELSE ON THERE OTHER THAN CHRIS? PLEASE . LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN.
YEAH, I'M HERE. [INAUDIBLE] COMING FROM YOUR AREA, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING MOVING AROUND IN THE BACK, BUT COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT VISIBILITY, I KNOW COVID HAS PLAYED A PART IN THAT.
I HAVE NOW HEARD THAT OUR COP PROGRAM WILL BE BACK ON THE ROAD, SO I KNOW THAT WILL DEFINITELY HELP.
THAT VISIBILITY IS INCREDIBLE AND SO I'M I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
THE OTHER THING I NOTICED IN LOOKING AT.
THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS THERE APPEAR TO BE.
VERY, VERY DISTINCT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INFORMATION BEING DISSEMINATED AND VISIBILITY BY DISTRICT, SO I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND MAYBE ADDRESS THOSE DISTRICTS THAT FEEL THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE VISIBILITY AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION TRANSFERRED DOWN TO THEM FROM BRAZIL.
BECAUSE TO ME, IT SEEMED VERY, VERY VIVID DIFFERENCE IN DISTRICTS OTHER THAN THAT.
THAT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU, CHRIS.
SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS.
CHRIS, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR GREAT PRESENTATION AND THE INFORMATION AND PUTTING IT INTO A DASHBOARD THAT WE CAN ALL USE.
YOU BE WELL. GREAT. GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU. CITY MANAGER? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK CAPTAIN CIRMINIELLO FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND MAJOR AMY RUSSO IS HERE AS WELL AND WANTED TO THANK HER, TOO.
[Additional Item 1]
GIVEN THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE SURPRISE FOR ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE LEAVING THE[00:40:08]
CITY TODAY, MAYOR IS GOING TO PROVIDE LAURA KARPAVICIUTE WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR HER SERVICE.WHILE THIS GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE.
IT ALSO BRINGS SOME SADNESS, BUT I WILL TRY TO KEEP IT TOGETHER.
SO THIS PROCLAMATION WAS REQUESTED BY MYSELF, WHEREAS LAURA KARPAVICIUTE STARTED HER CAREER WITH THE CITY OF TAMARAC AS A MANAGEMENT INTERN IN 2012, WAS PROMOTED TO MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN 2014 AND WAS THEN PROMOTED TO HER CURRENT POSITION OF ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER IN 2018.
WHEREAS LAURA'S EFFORTS WHILE WORKING IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE LED TO NUMEROUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT HELPED ENHANCE THE CITY OF TAMARAC PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, EFFICIENCY AND OVERALL IMAGE.
AND WHEREAS LAURA CONTINUES TO BE INVOLVED WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, WHICH HELPED HER PROMOTE PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE IN THE CITY, MANAGEMENT IN CITY MANAGEMENT AND ASSIST GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONALS IN DEVELOPING THEIR MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP STYLES.
AND WHEREAS LAURA'S FOCUS ON DEVELOPING HER OWN LEADERSHIP SKILLS LED HER TO OBTAIN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC AND ADMINISTRATION, ALLOWING HER TO BE A GREAT ASSET TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
AND WHEREAS LAURA'S LEADERSHIP RESULTED IN THE CITY'S CONTINUED SUCCESS IN BEING AWARDED THE INTERNATIONAL CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, THE ICMA CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD, THE ICMA'S HIGHEST CERTIFICATE RECOGNIZING THE CITY'S PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT EFFORTS SINCE 2014.
AND WHEREAS LAURA, WITH HER STRONG WORK ETHIC AND FIRM YET UNDERSTANDING STYLE HAS BEEN AN EXCEPTIONAL ROLE MODEL TO ALL WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HER.
AND WHEREAS LAURA HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OFFICE DURING HER CAREER IN TAMARAC, AND WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS AND HER DEDICATED SERVICE.
WHEREAS LAURA IS NOW MOVING ON FROM THE CITY OF TAMARAC AFTER SERVING THE CITY HONORABLY FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS, AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY ALL.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHELLE J.
GOMEZ, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, BROWARD COUNTY, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, DO HEREBY CONGRATULATE, ACTUALLY, WE CONGRATULATE LAURA ON HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS PERSONALLY AND FOR OUR CITY, AND THANK HER FOR HER UNPARALLELED DEDICATION AND WISH HER THE VERY BEST ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF HER CAREER AS A GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL AND PROCLAIMED FEBRUARY 23, 2022 AS LAURA KARPAVICIUTE DAY IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
I, THIS IS A SURPRISE, I'M A LITTLE BIT AT A LOSS OF WORDS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM REALLY GRATEFUL AND I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE A CITY OF TAMARAC FOR THE LAST OVER NINE YEARS OF MY CAREER.
IT'S A GREAT CITY, IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY AND IT'S BEEN REALLY AMAZING TO SEE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THE INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT YOU HAVE BEHIND YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE ORGANIZATION.
SO I KNOW THE CITY IS IN GREAT HANDS WITH YOUR DIRECTION, WITH KATHLEEN'S LEADERSHIP OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM LEADERSHIP AND WITH REALLY EVERY EMPLOYEE DOING THEIR BEST.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OTHER CITY HAS SO MANY AWARD WINNING DEPARTMENTS AS WE DO.
I THINK IT'S ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT SO.
SO IT'S REALLY A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
YOU KNOW, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CHALLENGES, FOR SUPPORT FOR TRUST PLACED IN ME WHILE I WAS HERE.
AND YOU KNOW, IT HELPED ME GROW AS A PROFESSIONAL THAT I AM TODAY.
SO I HAVE NOTHING BUT GRATITUDE FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'LL GO FAR.
YOU KNOW, YOU'LL, TAMARAC WILL KEEP ON GETTING BETTER AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A CITY, AS AN ORGANIZATION. AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST HAVE TO WATCH IT FROM AFAR NOW.
SO, LAURA, BEFORE YOU GO COMMISSIONER BOLTON WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.
[00:45:04]
LAURA, I ONCE TOLD YOU THAT YOU ARE A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL AND THAT YOU ARE JUST AMAZING AND YOU ARE MY FAVORITE EMPLOYEE.AND I MEANT IT WHEN I SAID THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST ONE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT HAS A GET IT DONE ATTITUDE.
YOU BRING SUCH LIFE AND POSITIVITY TO OUR CITY.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT.
I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE.
AND I OFTEN TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I WAS TO WORK WITH YOU, AND YOU PROVE THAT THE DAY WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT YOU WERE LEAVING.
I WAS OUTSIDE AND LAURA, I SAID TO LAURA, IS THERE ANYTHING THE CITY COULD DO TO KEEP YOU AND.
LAURA SAYS THAT SHE'S GROWING AND SHE'S EVOLVING INTO A NEW POSITION SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND TO SHOW HOW POSITIVE YOU ARE, LAURA SAID TO ME THAT JUST REMEMBER PAT TUFAL AND HOW AWESOME SHE WAS.
AND NOW PAT TUFAL HAS GONE ON AND WE NOW HAVE A SUPERSTAR, JENNIFER JOHNSON.
AND THINK ABOUT MARIA SWANSON IN H.R., HOW AWESOME SHE WAS.
AND NOW WE HAVE A SUPERSTAR IN LORENZO AND SHE WENT ON TO TALK ABOUT THE AMAZING EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAD AND HOW WE HAVE REPLACED THOSE EMPLOYEES WITH A COMPARABLE TALENT.
AND IT JUST GAVE ME A HOPE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE LOSING YOU, TAMARAC COULD FIND SOMEBODY AS COMFORTABLE AS YOU, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE TRUE IN THAT STATEMENT.
NO ONE CAN WALK IN YOUR SHOES.
YOU HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AT LEAST FROM ME, THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME BACK.
I LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU.
I ALWAYS HOPE THAT YOU WILL BRING A PIECE OF MARLON BOLTON, AS CRAZY AS HE IS, IN YOUR HEART. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE THE KIND WORDS, AND I MEANT EVERY WORD I SAID, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS CITY HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH FILLING POSITIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO TAKE THE CITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO THAT'S WHY I'LL HAVE TO KEEP WATCHING YOUR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
ONE LAST THING, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT OUR 2022 BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION WILL BE HELD THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH FROM ONE TO THREE A CAPORELLA PARK , 5200 PROSPECT ROAD.
THIS EXCITING EVENT WILL FEATURE ART DISPLAYS, FOOD VENDORS, LIVE JAZZ MUSIC BY EJ AND COMPANY, POETRY BY REBECCA BUTTERFLY VAUGHAN AND A PERFORMANCE BY THE DELOU AFRICAN DANCE ENSEMBLE. THERE'S LIMITED ONSITE PARKING, SO WE ASK THAT ATTENDEES PLEASE PARK AT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER AT 2699 WEST COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD AND USE THE SHUTTLE BUS WILL HAVE AVAILABLE. WE HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
[3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION]
WE WERE NOW. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, COMMISSIONER GELIN, I, OK.DID YOU NEED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT OK. CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE RULES OF THE ROAD? YES, MADAM MAYOR.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND FOR RESPONSES BY THE CITY COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-29 OF THE CITY CODE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK AT CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THEIR TIME TO BE SPECIFIED BY THE MAYOR OR PRESIDING OFFICER DURING THE PERIOD SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION IN THE CITY COMMISSIONER AGENDA, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING RULES MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK ONLY AT TIMES DESIGNATED BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES AND ALL REMARKS SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE CITY COMMISSION. AS A BODY THROUGH THE MAYOR AND NOT ANY MEMBER THEREOF.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHALL ADDRESS ONLY THE TOPIC BEING DISCUSSED DISRUPTIVE, BELLIGERENT OR ABUSIVE CONDUCT BY ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HAS PROVEN AND SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED. ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO VIOLATES THE SECTION MAY BE INSTRUCTED BY THE CITY OF COMMISSIONER, WHO REMOVE HIMSELF OR HERSELF FROM THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS OF THE CITY UPON HIS OR HER FAILURE TO DO SO.
[00:50:02]
A MEMBER OF THE BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE SHALL EJECT THE PERSON FROM THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS UPON INSTRUCTION BY THE CITY COMMISSION.IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY REASON FOR ANY PERSON TO REFUSE TO LEAVE THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS VOLUNTARILY OR INVOLUNTARILY WHEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY THE MAYOR OR PRESIDING OFFICER. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE REQUESTED TO STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS.
FOR THE RECORD, IN LIEU OF THEIR ADDRESS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY GIVE THEIR CITY OF RESIDENCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2-34 OF THE CITY CODE.
THE CITY COMMISSION HAS THE FOLLOWING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES RECOGNITION SHALL BE GIVEN ONLY TO BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
UPON BEING RECOGNIZED, THE MEMBER MAY PROCEED.
NO MEMBER THE CITY COMMISSION MAY FILIBUSTER AND MAKE AND MAY NOT SPEAK FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES CONTINUOUSLY, EXCEPT BY LEAVE OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
THE DECISION OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS FINAL.
GENERALLY, BRIEF PRESENTATIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION NOT COUNT AGAINST THE FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMITATION. A MEMBER MAY SPEAK AT A SECOND TIME ON ANY ONE QUESTION, ONLY AFTER ALL, MEMBERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
GENERALLY, THIS IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES.
THE MAYOR SHALL REGULATE DEBATE IN ANY OTHER MANNER THAT SHE DEEMS NECESSARY, PROVIDED THE RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ARE RESPECTED.
QUESTION COMMENTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COMMISSION SHOULD BE RESERVED INSOFAR AS POSSIBLE FOR THE END OF A PRESENTATION TO AVOID INTERRUPTING THE SPEAKER, DISRUPTING THE TIMEKEEPING PROCESS AND DUPLICATING GROUND THE SPEAKER MAY COVER ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION SHALL BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER AND SHALL NOT BE RULED OUT OF ORDER BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER UNLESS THE MEMBER THE MEMBER HAS MADE ABUSIVE, DEROGATORY OR RUDE REMARKS. NO MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION SHALL BE LIMITED IN HIS OR HER DEBATE ON ANY ISSUE, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED HEREIN, UNLESS THE MEMBERS ENGAGE IN ABUSIVE, DEROGATORY OR RUDE COMMENT ON MEMBERS OF CITY COMMISSION ACCORDED THE UTMOST COURTESY TO EACH OTHER, TO THE CITY EMPLOYEES, TO THE PUBLIC MEMBERS APPEARING BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, AND SHALL REFRAIN AT ALL TIMES FROM FROM RUDE AND DEROGATORY REMARKS, REFLECTIONS AS TO INTEGRITY, ABUSIVE COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS AS TO MOTIVES AND PERSONALITIES. THE CITY MANAGER MAY SPEAK TO ANY MANNER IN WHICH HE OR SHE HAS INFORMATION FOR CITY COMMISSION.
IN THE EVENT THAT THE MAYOR PRESIDING OFFICER FAILS TO ACT.
ANY MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION MAY MOVE TO REQUIRE THE PRESIDING OFFICER TO ACT TO ENFORCE THE RULES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT AT A TIME SHALL REQUIRE THE PRESIDING OFFICER TO ACT.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE MR. MEL YODER. NAME AND LOCATION, PLEASE.
GOOD MORNING, GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD MORNING, MEL YODER, KINGS POINT, TAMARAC COMMISSIONERS, MADAM MAYOR, AT THE END OF THE LAST MEETING A COMMISSIONER ASKED A QUESTION OF A CITY ATTORNEY, THE COMMISSIONER KNEW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION BEFORE IT WAS ASKED. EARLIER IN THE MEETING, A CITY ATTORNEY AND THIS COMMISSIONER BOTH REPRIMANDED THE RESIDENTS ABOUT MAKING ACCUSATIONS TOWARD A COMMISSIONER.
BOTH SAID THAT ACCUSATIONS MUST BE IN THE FORM OF ETHICS COMPLAINTS AND MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
THIS COMMISSIONER KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN A CITY ATTORNEY.
THROUGH QUESTIONING, THE COMMISSIONER ENABLED THIS COMMISSIONER TO MAKE AN ALLEGATION AGAINST ANOTHER COMMISSIONER.
I WANT TO WARN THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THE AGENDA ITEM QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
THIS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT WILL LEAD TO EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
CITY ATTORNEY, COMMISSIONERS AND TAMARAC, IT PRESENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ACCUSATIONS WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES AND EMBARRASS PEOPLE.
IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS BEFORE THE MEETING IN PRIVATE.
IF THE CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER AND COMMISSIONER FEEL THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND RESIDENTS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE QUESTION AND ANSWER, THEN BRING IT UP AT THE MEETING. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR SHOWING THE RESIDENTS HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED. IF YOU DON'T USE ANYONE'S NAME, YOU CAN MAKE ANY ACCUSATION AND NOTHING IS SAID.
AT THE LAST MEETING, DISCUSSION OCCURRED ON INCREASING HOURS OF LIASONS TO ASSIST THE COMMISSIONERS. I KNOW THE CITY WILL PRESENT VARIOUS ESTIMATES LATER.
MY ROUGH GUESS? IT WOULD COST RESIDENTS ABOUT 275 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, PLUS TAXES, INSURANCE AND OTHER ITEMS. AS WE KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN CREATING PERMANENT FULL TIME POSITIONS THAT WILL COST EVEN MORE IN THE FUTURE.
MAY I SUGGEST COMMISSIONERS LOOK INTO OTHER POSSIBILITIES BEFORE LOOKING TO SPEND RESIDENTS MONEY? TAMARAC ALREADY TAPS INTO ASSETS THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEES ON VETERANS AFFAIRS, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, TO NAME A FEW.
IF YOU NEED HELP WITH ONE OF YOUR PROJECTS, SEND OUT A REQUEST TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS FOR VOLUNTEER HELP. I KNOW EVERY COMMISSIONER HAS THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN SHOW UP AND HELP. THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE WHO WOULD LOVE TO HELP THE COMMISSIONERS MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. USE YOUR LIAISON TO COORDINATE THE INFORMATION GATHERING OF YOUR VOLUNTEERS.
YOUR VOLUNTEERS GATHER THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED AND GIVE IT TO YOUR LIAISON.
YOUR LIAISON MAKES A REPORT FOR YOU.
[00:55:03]
IT'S DONE.DIDN'T COST THE TAXPAYERS A PENNY, JUST A SIMPLE THANK YOU.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ARE OUT THERE READY TO BE TAPPED, PLEASE UTILIZE IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD MORNING, MS. FISH, NAME AND LOCATION, PLEASE, WHEN YOU ARE AT THE PODIUM.
8012 NW NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE. SORRY.
THAT'S OK. WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION.
IF YOU WOULD JUST PLEASE SAY IT INTO THE MICROPHONE, WE HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE HEARING YOU.
OH MY. MY NAME AND ADDRESS? SANDRA FISH [INAUDIBLE].
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, I'D JUST LIKE TO FIND OUT IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN THIS NEW THING ABOUT HAVING A BUSINESS OUT OF YOUR HOME.
I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH A NEIGHBOR WITH MOTORCYCLES AND OBVIOUSLY SMOKING POT AND ALL THIS TYPE OF STUFF. BUT ANYWAYS, MY HOME USED TO BE QUIET AND NO LONGER IS.
SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS PASSED, AND IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A BUSINESS ON YOUR HOME.
THE CITY MANAGER WILL HAVE SOMEBODY FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, TALK WITH YOU. OK.
WELL, I HAVE BEEN WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT.
I'VE TALKED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, I'VE TALKED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE EXPLAINING IT PROPERLY.
I WOULD LIKE IT TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE.
AS YOU MENTIONED, NOISE ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS INVOLVED WITH HAVING A BUSINESS OUT OF YOUR HOME.
YES, AND TYPICALLY AT THE COMMISSION MEETING, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS WAS YOUR FIRST TIME WE HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY AND THEN WE WILL GET BACK WITH YOU AFTERWARDS.
AND ACTUALLY, LAURA IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
SHE'S GOING TO GET YOUR FULL INFORMATION.
AND SO IF THAT INFORMATION IS INSUFFICIENT, THEN SOMEBODY WHO IS YOUR DISTRICT COMMISSIONER WILL GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOU.
AND I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU AFTER THAT AS WELL.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. BEFORE I START, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT UNLESS THE MAYOR CONFIRMS AN ORDINANCE HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE BARRING THE IDENTIFICATION OF PEOPLE, MY NAME AT THE COMMISSION MEETING BY PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PARTICIPATORS AND IF SUCH AN ORDINANCE IN THIS CITY EXISTS OR A CITY LAW EXISTS, I WILL PURSUE MY FREEDOM OF RIGHT SPEECH WITH THE ACLU KNOWING THAT UNLESS THERE IS AN ORDINANCE, I WILL BE USING NAMES OF PEOPLE I REFERENCE.
TO START, EXCUSE ME, CAN WE STOP THE CLOCK? THIS IS VERY DISTURBING.
TO START, I HAVE REVIEWED JOHN HERIN, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S CONTRACT.
HIS ROLE AT THE COMMISSION MEETING IS TO BE A PARLIAMENTARIAN, AS SEEN IN EXHIBIT A SCOPE OF SERVICES LETTER L.
HOWEVER, HE HAS YET TO PERFORM AS A PARLIAMENTARIAN, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE COMMISSIONERS ARGUE WITH THE MAYOR, DISMISS HER AND ARE EXCEPTIONALLY RUDE.
DURING MY THREE MINUTE TALK LAST MONTH, I CHOSE TO AVOID BOLTON'S NAME.
HOWEVER, HERIN CHOSE TO SHUT ME DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF MY PRESENTATION WITH A VERY RUDE STATEMENT QUOTE.
AS I HAVE SAID TO, "AS I'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH MY CHILDREN" UNQUOTE, SUGGESTING AND INTIMATING I AM A CHILD.
HOW DARE HERIN DENY ME MY RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH? I WAS NOT USING PROFANITY.
I WAS POLITE IN MY STATEMENT AS A RESULT OF SHUTTING ME DOWN, SEVERAL AUDIENCE MEMBERS CHOSE NOT TO SPEAK FOR FEAR OF BEING INSULTED OR CHASTISED.
AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
SO MUCH SO IT WAS BROUGHT UP AT THE BREAKFAST WITH THE MAYOR AT KINGS POINT IN 18TH.
I, AT THIS TIME, EXPECT AN APOLOGY FROM HERIN, IN REGARD TO HIS RUDENESS OF FOR A
[01:00:02]
WHILE AND RESPECT HIS RUDENESS AND FOR VIOLATING MY FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND TRUST THAT THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.HIS LACK OF APOLOGY REALLY SPEAKS WONDERS FOR THE RESPECT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
DR. SCHULER, AS WE KNOW, WE DON'T RESPOND BACK, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. WEBSTER, I SAW YOU COME IN AND I SAW YOU LOOK FOR THE SIGN UP SHEET, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? AS USUAL, MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU.
STUART WEBSTER, RIVERSIDE GARDENS.
MADAM MAYOR COMMISSIONER STAFF ON THE DAIS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
ONCE AGAIN, I MENTIONED CHINESE WATER TORTURE, AND AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, I WILL START TO ELABORATE.
BOTH YOU AND I KNOW, MADAM MAYOR, THAT YOU HAVE THE PREROGATIVE TO EXTEND THE TIME TO ALLOW PERSONS TO QUICKLY CONCLUDE WHAT THEY TOOK, THE COURAGE AND TIME TO APPROACH A COMMISSION WITH, WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO EXERCISE THAT PREROGATIVE IS ALSO YOURS.
THE LAST TIME I HAD FOUR SENTENCES TO CONCLUDE WITH BEFORE I WAS CUT OFF.
YOU SEE, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, AND THESE WERE THE SENTENCES, I CONCLUDED.
YOU SEE MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS AT MEETINGS, THIS IS HOW WE, THE RESIDENTS OF THIS GREAT CITY, ARE BRUSHED OFF BY COMMISSIONERS.
I WATCHED THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS WHEN WELL-MEANING RESIDENTS COME BEFORE YOU WITH THEIR COMMENTS.
TRUST ME, YOUR INTEREST AND THAT'S YOUR PLURAL.
YOUR INTEREST AND ATTENTION ARE NOT THE SAME WHEN ELECTION TIME COMES AROUND.
ENOUGH SAID. WHILE THOSE WERE WORDS THAT I WAS GOING TO END WITH SINCE THEN, I MUST THANK SENIOR CITY STAFF FOR TAKING THE TIME TO AT LEAST RESPOND TO ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I MADE. AS FOR THE OTHER, AS IT WAS DEALT WITH AND A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF STAFF AND I PERSONALLY STOPPED BY AN OFFICE, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT PERSON DID NOT FEEL LIKE CONDESCENDING TO RESPOND.
AND AS A SENIOR STAFF, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS STARK.
TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO DEAL WITH TWO AREAS OF MY CONCERN AS TO THE THREE AREAS OF MY CONCERN AS TO THE CITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CITY RESIDENTS.
THE FIRST IS A SLICK, BORING TELEGRAM THAT NEEDS TO BE REVITALIZED AS IT IS QUITE DEAD.
TAMARAC ALLEGES THAT IT IS SENSITIVE TO RECYCLING.
THE TELEGRAM IS NOT RECYCLABLE.
AS FOR ITS CONTENTS, I INVITE YOU TO READ IT AS CRITICALLY AND LOOK AT THE LAYOUT, AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO DISAGREE WITH ME AS TO ITS CONTENTS.
THE SECOND CONCERNS, THE EQUALLY EXCITING ART INSTALLATIONS THAT ARE BEING IMPOSED UPON CITY RESIDENTS WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SOLICIT WORKS OF ART TO SHORT LIST.
DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT AND OR A SAY IN THE SELECTION PROCESS? I PERSONALLY AM NOT AWARE OF ANY.
I, FOR ONE, KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT EVEN APPLY FOR THE ARTS COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF PERSONAL PREJUDICE AGAINST ME.
AS FOR THE COVID MASTERPIECE THAT WAS PLACED AT THE WRONG END OF LAGOS DE CAMPO, THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT THANK YOU FOR IT AS THERE ARE SIMILAR PIECES OUT THERE.
THE THIRD AND FINAL IS THE OFFICIAL TAMARAC WEBSITE IS ONE OF THE MOST USER UNFRIENDLY AND CONVOLUTED ONE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.
I AM QUALIFIED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT AS I HAVE A MASTERS IN TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. ENOUGH SAID.
THANK YOU, MR. WEBSTER. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO SIGN UP, WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? SEEING THAT THERE'S NOBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA? NO, MAYOR, I DO NOT.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE VICE MAYOR HAS A REQUEST TO REMOVE ITEMS. VICE MAYOR, THE REQUESTED ITEMS YOU WISH TO REMOVE.
[01:05:03]
CORRECT. SO WE HAVE THE ANNUAL PURCHASE OF WASTEWATER LINING MATERIALS.WE HAVE AUTHORIZATION FOR CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENTS FOR THE DISPOSITION OF NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM, THREE PROPERTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH A.. THAT'S I SEE.
AND THEN. I OR MAYBE THAT'S L.
I'M SORRY, L.. OK, SO I IS BACK ON THE TABLE.
L IS DISH WIRELESS CELLULAR SITE LEASE AGREEMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL ANNECY AS FIRE CHIEF. ALL RIGHT.
THOSE ARE THE THREE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED, SOME MOVED SECOND. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MAYOR GOMEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? NO. COMMISSIONER BOLTON? YES. COMMISSIONER PLACKO? YES. AND VICE MAYOR GELIN? YES. THE MOTION PASSES 4-1.
CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE READ THE TITLE TO TR-13703 ANNUAL PURCHASE OF
[4c. TR13703 - Annual Purchase of Wastewater Lining Materials]
WASTEWATER LINING MATERIALS.YES, MA'AM. MADAM MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SAY RESOLUTION CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FLORIDA, CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF WASTEWATER LIGHTING SERVICES FOR WASTEWATER MAINLINE LATERALS AND MANHOLES NOT TO EXCEED 545 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SAID SERVICES, AND AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO SELECT A PROVEN AWARD OF THE PURCHASE. SAID SERVICES UTILIZING COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT METHODS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, VORTEX SERVICES LLC, UTILIZING CITY OF TALLAHASSEE CONTRACT NUMBER 4523 AS AK CONSTRUCTION LLC, UTILIZING CITY OF ST.
236499 AND BLD SERVICES UTILIZING CITY OF LARGO BID NUMBER 19-B-625 IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 545 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SAID PURPOSES, AUTHORIZING AN APPROPRIATION NOT TO EXCEED FORTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR POLLUTION PREVENTION ENHANCEMENT TO BE INCLUDED IN FUTURE BUDGET AMENDMENTS PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE 1662412 PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
A MOTION. SO I BELIEVE THAT WAS SO MOVED BY THE VICE MAYOR.
SECOND. AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BOLTON.
WE DO NOT HAVE A PRESENTATION READILY MADE FOR THIS PART, BUT TYPICALLY, I WOULD OPEN IT UP AS A REGULAR ITEM FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, SO IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAS ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM, SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
SO COMMISSIONER GELIN? YOU KNOW, JUST ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT OUR WATER OR OUR WATER TREATMENT.
SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE SPENDING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AND HOW IT BENEFITS THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
SO THIS IS. ONE SECOND, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
SORRY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, AGAIN FOR THE RECORD.
TROY GEISS, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICES.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY AN ANNUAL EXPENDITURE WE HAVE BUDGETED IN THE PAST, RANGING FROM OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, DOWN TO $250000 A YEAR.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE SETTLED AT ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED ABOUT WE'VE SETTLED AT $500000 A YEAR FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
AND WHAT THIS IS IS GOING THROUGH AND FINDING THOSE WASTEWATER LINES THAT HAVE LEAKS IN THEM. SO THERE'S STORM WATER ROLLING IN.
AND WHAT THAT DOES IS OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A RISK OF POLLUTION, BUT IT ALSO IS WE'RE CHARGED FOR THEN PROCESSING RAINWATER THAT COMES INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE LINING ACCOMPLISHES.
WE ACTUALLY BRING THIS BEFORE THE COMMISSION PERIODICALLY, SINCE WE'VE KIND OF SETTLED ON THESE THREE FIRMS THAT EACH HAVE THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE.
AND THAT WAY WE ALWAYS HAVE SOMEBODY AVAILABLE TO USE.
WE BRING THIS BACK TO YOU GUYS.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT EVERY THREE YEARS WHENEVER WE GET ONE OF THOSE CONTRACTS THAT'S REBID OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THEN IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE'RE DOING THAT FOR THE
[01:10:03]
CONTRACTS. AND THERE'S ALSO SOME MANDATED WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.IT'S THAT TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PROJECT THAT'S THAT'S LISTED IN THERE THAT WE SPECIFICALLY NEED TO DO. SO THAT'S PART OF WHY WE WANTED TO BRING IT TO COMMISSION AS WELL TO MEMORIALIZE THAT THAT PROJECT IS IS BEING DONE.
AND IT SPECIFICALLY NEEDED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WASN'T A BUDGETED PROJECT, AS SINCE THAT'S FDP WANTED TO MAKE SURE WAS SOMETHING THAT WASN'T ALREADY BUDGETED ALREADY ON THE BOOKS. SO THAT'S WHAT THAT IS.
IS THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SEEING, NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION, SO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU. MAYOR GOMEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER PLACKO? YES. VICE MAYOR GELIN? YES. COMMISSIONER BOLTON? YES. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
YES. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 5-0.
THANK YOU. MOVING TO L, TR-13750 DISH WIRELESS CELLULAR SITE.
[4l. TR13750 - DISH Wireless Cellular Site Lease Agreement]
LEASE AGREEMENT. CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE READ THE TITLE, FOR THE RECORD.YES, MADAM MAYOR. THE COMMISSION, IT IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC FLORIDA APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH DISH WIRELESS, LLC FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A CELLULAR ANTENNA AND ASSOCIATED GROUND EQUIPMENT ON THE EXISTING TOWER AT THE CITY'S WATER TREATMENT PLANT PROPERTY AT A MONTHLY RATE OF $4000, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE ANY PERMIT APPLICATIONS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AS OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THANK YOU, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE.
AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW OPEN.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
WE DO NOT HAVE A PRESENTATION, VICE MAYOR.
YES, I WAS READING THE BACKUP MATERIAL, UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL RECEIVE REVENUE OF FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH OR FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR FOR THIS LEASE AND THEN WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL YEARS.
IS THERE SOME KIND OF ESCALATOR OR ADDITIONAL REVENUE WE'RE GOING TO GET? OR ARE WE LOCKED IN FOR FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR FOR TEN YEARS? GOOD MORNING. MAYOR COMMISSIONER, INTERIM ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER [INAUDIBLE] TO DRAW THIS CONTRACT HAS A THREE PERCENT ANNUAL ESCALATOR FOR THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT.
OK. AND HOW DOES THE MONTHLY RATE COMPARE TO THEIR AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER CITIES FOR THE LEASE COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES? FAIR. ABSOLUTELY MUCH BETTER THAN THAN SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES COMPARED TO SOME OF OUR EXISTING LEASES FROM TWENTY TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO, THESE DON'T FARE AS WELL, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MARKETPLACE IN PRIVATE CELL TOWERS THAT ARE STILL IN CITY OF TAMARAC.
THEIR RATES ARE RANGING BETWEEN 2200AND TOWARDS THE END OF MAYBE 26-2800 DOLLARS.
SO OUR 4000 IS A BIT OF A LIMIT FOR THESE FACILITIES.
HOW MANY TOWERS DO WE LEASE OUT AND HOW MUCH REVENUE ARE WE GETTING IN TOTAL FOR LEASING OUT TOWERS? I CAN GIVE YOU SOME BALLPARK FIGURES, BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY I THINK THE CITY OWNED CELL TOWERS.
WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR OR FIVE OF THEM, AND SO WE HAVE MULTIPLE INSTALLATIONS ON THEM. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE ALSO PRIVATELY OWNED CELL TOWERS, TWO OF THEM THAT WE THAT WILL RECEIVE REVENUE FROM AND I BELIEVE THAT WERE SOMEWHERE AROUND $600000 PLUS ANNUALLY. AND SOME OF OUR OTHER INSTALLATIONS BRING IN A WHOLE LOT MORE REVENUE FOR FOR THESE INSTALLATIONS WITH DISH NETWORK COMING INTO THE CELLULAR MARKET AND WE'RE TALKING TO THEM AT LEAST FOR TWO ADDITIONAL SITES.
AND SO THEY WILL COME BACK TO US WITH SIMILAR WITH SAME CONDITIONS FOR TWO ADDITIONAL SITES ON CITY CITY OWNED CELL TOWERS.
OK, THANK YOU. SO JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, MOST OF THE TIMES ITEMS WE VOTE ON, WE'RE ALWAYS SPENDING MONEY.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE ACTUALLY GENERATE MONEY AND GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE COMPETITIVE.
THANK YOU. AND SINCE THE VICE MAYOR OPENED THE DOOR, I KNOW I'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS, ABOUT THIS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND I DO BELIEVE THE CITY COULD BE GETTING MORE MONEY FOR IT, FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THE COST THAT IT, THAT THE COMPANY IS ABLE
[01:15:05]
TO MAKE OFF OF THE CITY'S ABILITY TO UTILIZE OUR SPACE.I HEAR WE'RE HAVING TWO OTHER CONTRACTS, I HOPE THOSE CONTRACTS WILL BE BETTER, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE PUSHING THE LIMIT, SO TO SPEAK.
BUT ON THIS ONE, I THINK, IS WHEN WE CAN.
THEY'RE MAKING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THE EXPANSION OF 5G.
THERE'S CERTAIN OTHER THINGS THAT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS, AND THIS MAY JUST BE THIS IS A CELLULAR MARKET. BUT I'M JUST TALKING IN GENERAL, ALL OF THESE CELLULAR EXPANSIONS AND FIBER NETWORK, THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN.
IT'S OK. I'M JUST I'M JUST SAYING, I THINK THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE.
PROJECT AND FOR WHAT WE COULD BE RECEIVING.
I THINK COULD BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, BUT IF YOU WISH TO SAY GO AHEAD, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING THAT, MADAM MAYOR, THE CELLULAR MARKET IS BECOMING SO COMPETITIVE AND THE TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING, AND A LOT OF THE ESTABLISHED CELLULAR SERVICE PROVIDERS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING AWAY WITH THESE TALL TOWERS AND THEN MOVING INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOOD INSTALLATIONS. A LOT MORE INSTALLATIONS IN NEIGHBORHOODS ON SHORT TOWERS LIKE 30 FEET, 35 FEET. THEY'RE UTILIZING LIGHT POLES AND THEY'RE BASICALLY PUSHING THE CITY OUT OF THIS BUSINESS. AND SO THEY'RE DEALING WITH FPL AND STATE LEGISLATION.
ALSO, FEDERAL LAWS, THEY SORT OF PREEMPT OUR EXISTENCE IN THIS MARKET.
SO THESE ARE JUST THE LEFTOVER, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE BUSINESS FOR OUR PART IN THE CELLULAR SERVICE PROVISION.
I APPRECIATE THAT. AND ACTUALLY, YOU JUST OPEN THE DOOR FOR A DIFFERENT ISSUE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE STATE TRYING TO ALLOW THESE ITEMS IN.
BY GOING TO [INAUDIBLE], GOING INTO PERSONAL PROPERTY, WHICH BECAUSE OF VERY BIG AESTHETIC ISSUE ON TOP OF THE HEALTH ISSUE, BUT WE'LL JUST GO WITH THE AESTHETIC ISSUE FOR RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE REVIEW AND TO BE PUSHING BACK FOR THE NEXT AGENDA BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME MORE THINGS COMING DOWN THE PIKE, BUT THESE THINGS GO INTO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE IN THE LIKE, SIGHTLINE OF OUR RESIDENTS, AND WE HAVE NUMEROUS RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING, AND THEY BORDERLINE JUST ENOUGH TO NOT BE ON A PERSON'S PROPERTY, BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY RIGHT THERE AT THEIR RIM.
SO YES, THAT'S, I KNOW LAURA WON'T BE HERE FOR THIS, BUT WE NEED TO PUT IT ON THE NEXT PERSON'S LIST OF THINGS TO LOOK INTO FOR THE CITY, PLEASE.
BUT I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION, THANK YOU.
CITY CLERK. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER GELIN? YES. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? YES. COMMISSIONER PLACKO? YES. COMMISSIONER BOLTON? YES. MOTION PASSES 4-1.
EXCELLENT. NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO, I BELIEVE IN A LONG AWAITED ITEM FOR MANY OF THE
[4m. TR13751 - Appointment of Michael Annese as Fire Chief]
PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE, M, TR-19751, APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL ANISE AS FIRE CHIEF CITY ATTORNEY PLEASE RETURN TO THE COMMISSION.THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY.
COMMISSION OF TAMARAC FLORIDA APPOINTING MICHAEL ANISE AS FIRE CHIEF EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 24, 2022 WHERE IT SAYS THE DATE IS A MUTUALLY AGREED UPON PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
EXCELLENT. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW OPEN.
NOW, ALL RIGHT, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
VICE MAYOR, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO HAVE OUR NEW FIRE CHIEF HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING A SEPARATE READING OF HIS ITEM AND WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING LUNCH WITH HIM AND OUR FORMER FIRE CHIEF A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
WELL, I THINK WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO SAYING CONGRATULATIONS AS SOON AS WE GET THIS VOTE UNDERWAY, SO SEEING THAT THERE'S NO MORE COMMENTS.
CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
MY PLEASURE. MAYOR GOMEZ? YES. VILLALOBOS? YES. COMMISSIONER PLACKO? YES. VICE MAYOR GELIN? YES. COMMISSIONER BOLTON? YES. OH, HOW SULTRY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, WE WELCOME YOU.
WE KNOW YOU WILL DO AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE OUR TAMARAC FIRE RESCUE HERE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT OF YOU AS WELL.
THEY'RE ALL AMAZING. YOU'RE AMAZING AND.
[01:20:01]
IS THIS ON? YES, YOU'RE ON. WE WILL LET YOU HAVE THE MIC FIRST.I DO KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL.
TAKE AWAY. OK, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER FOR THE APPOINTMENT.
VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I APPRECIATE THIS IS A TREMENDOUS HONOR TO BE CHOSEN AS THE FIRE CHIEF IN TAMARAC, IT'S EVEN MORE OF AN HONOR TO BE WORKING WITH THE GREAT MEN AND WOMEN OF TAMARAC FIRE RESCUE.
THEY ARE THE BEST IN THIS COUNTY, I ASSURE YOU OF THAT, AND IT WILL BE AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THE EXCEPTIONAL EXECUTIVE TEAM, WHICH I'VE LEARNED IS A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THEY DO THE VERY BEST WORK IN THIS CITY AND IN THIS COUNTY.
SO IT'S AN HONOR ALL THE WAY AROUND.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS AND GRATITUDE. YOU STEPPED UP BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND HAVE BEEN RUNNING WITH THE BALL EVER SINCE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THE SUPPORT OF YOUR TROOPS IS A TESTAMENT TO WHO YOU ARE AS A MAN.
YOU'VE BEEN SERVING THE CITY FOR 24 YEARS.
YOU'VE WORKED YOURSELF UP FROM THE RANKS AND I'VE LEARNED RECENTLY HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK ON LEADERSHIP. SO WE ARE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU.
AND I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE READY TO STEP INTO KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN AN ENDURANCE RUN WITH THE PANDEMIC AND ALL THE STUFF THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD TO DO AS LEAD.
BUT WE ARE EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND THE EFFORTS OF THE ENTIRE TEAM.
SO THANK YOU. SO WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO LOSE MOST OF OUR AUDIENCE.
BE SAFE OUT THERE. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
AND ON THAT NOTE, WE'RE ALSO IT IS 10:52, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 11:10.
WE ARE NOW IN RECESS. SEE YOU BACK HERE AT 11:10.
THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MY APOLOGIES. WE ARE ONE MINUTE LATE.
IT IS NOW 11:11 AND WE ARE BACK ON THE RECORD.
WE WILL BE MOVING ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA ITEM TR-13735, COMPREHENSIVE
[5a. TR13735 – Comprehensive Disparity Study Analysis Award]
DISPARITY STUDY ANALYSIS AWARD.CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE READ THE TITLE FOR THE RECORD.
MADAM MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF SEEING COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY OFFICIALS TO AWARD AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE DISPARITY.
STUDY ANALYSIS TO MILLER 3 CONSULTING INC PIGGYBACKING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGREEMENT NO.
RFP18-036MT IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE DOLLARS PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. I WILL NOW ASK KEITH GLATZ TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION.
HE IS OUR CONTRACTS AND PURCHASING MANAGER.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. KEITH GLATZ HERE, PURCHASING CONTRACTS MANAGER AND I DO WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE HAVE ON TEAMS MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS.
WE HAVE, WE SHOULD HAVE DAVE MILLER, LAUREN MILLER, SHERRI WILLIAMS. EXCUSE ME IF I DON'T GET THIS NAME RIGHT, BUT UTENDE [INAUDIBLE] AND ANNE-MARIE SORREL OF THE MOSAIC GROUP. WE'RE ON THE TEAM'S CALL WHEN I LOOKED AT IT A FEW MOMENTS AGO, AND SO TODAY WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT A DISPARITY STUDY AND WHAT IS A DISPARITY STUDY.
IT'S SIMPLY A STUDY THAT DETERMINES WHETHER A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, EITHER IN THE PAST OR CURRENTLY ENGAGES IN EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES IN THE SOLICITATION AND AWARD OF CONTRACTS TO MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, WHICH WE CALL MWDBES.
SO WHY DO WE NEED TO CONDUCT A DISPARITY STUDY? THIS GOES BACK TO A DECISION THAT WAS MADE BY THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT IN 1989 IN THE CASE OF CITY OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, VERSUS JA CROSON, WHICH THE COURT DECISION IMPOSED LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ON JUST THE JURISDICTIONS TO ESTABLISH A COMPELLING INTEREST TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS
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PROGRAM. AND THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY THEN WOULD BE USED TO DETERMINE IF COMPELLING INTEREST EXISTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FORMAL M/WBE TYPES OF REMEDIATION PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO DO BUSINESS WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES.IT'S ALSO A MEANS TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MINORITY WOMEN ON BUSINESS, AS WELL AS TO, WITH RESPECT TO ANY CONTRACT SERVICES AND A DISPARITY STUDY IS THE ONLY LEGAL MEANS TO DEVELOP A SET ASIDE PREFERENCE PROGRAM BASED ON ETHNICITY OR GENDER.
SO WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS, WHAT ARE THE WHAT DOES THE STUDY MEASURE? AND I'M JUST GOING TO PARAPHRASE THESE FIRST EXAMINES THE CURRENT CONTRACTING PROCESS THAT WE USE HERE AT THE CITY.
SECONDLY, PROVIDES A RELEVANT MARKET ANALYSIS OF THIS REGION, SOUTH FLORIDA.
IT WILL PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS OF THE MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS FIRMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY IN THIS AREA AND OTHER PLACES, AND EXAMINES THE CITY'S HISTORIC USE OF MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.
DETERMINES THE GAP BETWEEN ACTUAL, BETWEEN, OLD ON A SECOND.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, I LOST MY PLACE.
IN TERMS OF THE GAP BETWEEN ACTUAL MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS CONTRACTING AND POTENTIAL MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK WE'RE THE NEXT PAGE. IT EXAMINES, IT DETERMINES THE GAP AND EXAMINES THE CAPACITY OF MINORITY WOMEN ON BUSINESS VENDORS IN THIS AREA TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE WORK AND IF RACE OR GENDER IS ACTUALLY CREATING AN IMPACT ON THEIR PARTICIPATION, COLLECTS ANECDOTAL INFORMATION FROM MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES ABOUT THEIR PERCEPTION OF DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY AND OTHER ENTITIES IN THIS AREA, AND IT DETERMINES THE POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF RACE AND GENDER NEUTRAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION.
SO HOW DID WE GET HERE? THIS IS THE REAL QUICK HISTORY, ABOUT A YEAR AGO LAST FEBRUARY, THE CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZED A STUDY.
WE WENT TO WORK TRYING TO IDENTIFY, STUDYING AND VERY QUICKLY IDENTIFY WITHIN ABOUT 30 DAYS OF THAT TIME WITH THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH AND WE WERE WORKING WITH THEM AND THEY HAD CHOSEN MILITARY CONSULTING WHO WERE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT TODAY, AND THEY TOOK SOME TIME TO NEGOTIATE THEIR CONTRACT.
IT TOOK THEM UNTIL ABOUT OCTOBER, WHEN THE CONTRACT FINALLY WENT IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION AND SADLY, THE MOTION WAS DENIED, AND THEY REJECTED THE STUDY, SO WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
SO WE THOUGHT ANOTHER STUDY IDENTIFIED ONE FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOLS, WHICH WAS THEY ACTUALLY CREATED A PROPOSAL WITH A TERM CONTRACT TIME FRAME, AND WE IDENTIFIED THAT IN DECEMBER, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN THE PERMISSION OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOLS AND THE VENDOR, MILITARY CONSULTING, IN EARLY JANUARY THIS YEAR.
AND THEY PROVIDED US WITH THEIR FIRST PROPOSAL IN JANUARY, AND WE ENTERED INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH MILLER 3, AND WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE A BEST AND FINAL OFFER PRICE OF THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE, AS OPPOSED TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL PRICE OF THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN THOUSAND FIFTY DOLLARS.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONSULTANT, MILLER 3 CONSULTING IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED FIRM, WAS FOUNDED IN 1986 BY DAVE MILLER, SENIOR, WHO CREATED THE FIRST MINORITY BUSINESS PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTA AS THE YOUNGEST AND FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR IN THAT CITY.
MILLER 3 CONSULTING IS STILL A FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS WITH DAVE MILLER JR.
AND LAUREN MILLER AS ITS PRINCIPALS.
THEY'VE CONDUCTED THE FIRST NATIONS FIRST.
THEY'VE CONDUCTED THE NATION'S FIRST DISPARITY STUDY FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN 1988, WHICH HAD CORRECTLY ANTICIPATED THE DIRECTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OUTCOME OF THE RICHMOND VERSUS CROSON DECISION A YEAR BEFORE THE DECISION WAS EVEN BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE COURTS AND SOME OTHER CLIENTS HERE IN FLORIDA THAT HAVE USED THEM ARE BROWARD COLLEGE CITY OF TAMPA, CITY OF ST.
PETERSBURG, CITY OF TALLAHASSEE, THE GREATER ORLANDO AVIATION AUTHORITY, ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SO A SUMMARY MILITARY CONSULTING IS THE CONTRACTOR WE PIGGYBACKED TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
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SCHOOLS CONTRACT RFP-18-036-MT.WE UTILIZE THE SAME HOURLY RATES AS MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS UTILIZED.
THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE IS THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE DOLLARS AS A FINAL COST, AND THE SCHEDULE IS APPROXIMATELY 360 DAYS AFTER AWARD OF A CONTRACT.
SO THAT'S COMPLETES MY PRESENTATION.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS AGAIN, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE ON THE CALL AS WELL. ARE WE ABLE TO PLAY THEIR VOLUME IN HERE, JIM? YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO PLAY.
THEY ABLE TO. WHAT WERE YOU ABLE TO TRANSMIT THROUGH VOLUME IN HERE, OK? THERE THEY ARE. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING OUT THE FULL STAFF.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? I WOULD TO MAYOR GOMEZ, VICE MAYOR GELIN AND COMMISSIONER MEMBERS BOLTON VILLALOBOS, AND PLACKO. I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE VIRTUALLY WITH YOU TODAY.
AND SO IN WONDERFUL BROWARD COUNTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMISSION'S COURAGE AND COMMITMENT TO FURTHER ENHANCE AND PROPEL ITS CURRENT INITIATIVES FOR EQUITY AND THE CITY'S CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK AS MR. GLATZ HAS JUST COMMUNICATED, THE CITY STAFF HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB IN CAPTURING THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF DISPARITY STUDY.
BUT JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TO THAT DISPARITY, STUDY TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION BOTH QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE APPROACH AND HOW WE EXECUTE THE DEPLOYMENT OF OUR TEN POINT METHODOLOGY AND SHOW THE DISPARITY STUDIES THE TRIAGE OF THE CITY'S VITAL SIGNS THAT IMPACT THE CREATION OF A SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE PROCUREMENT ENVIRONMENT SIMILAR TO OUR BODIES. VITAL SIGNS OF TEMPERATURE, BLOOD PRESSURE AND OXYGEN LEVELS.
DISPARITY STUDY SEEKS TO OPTIMIZE EACH VITAL ELEMENT AND COMPONENT TO CREATE THE SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT ENVIRONMENT, SO A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR TEAM.
OUR CORE TEAM HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, AND WE'VE PARTNERED WITH TWO PHENOMENAL SOUTH FLORIDA TEAMS AND DUE TO THESE STRATEGIES.
PRINCIPAL ROB LONG, I BELIEVE, IS ON THE CALL, AS WELL AS THE MOSAIC GROUP OUT OF WEST PALM BEACH. ANN-MARIE SOREL IS ON THE CALL, BOTH OF WHICH WE INTENDED TO WORK WITH ON DELRAY. WE'VE HAD SOME PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH ANN-MARIE AND SOME OF OUR OTHER ENGAGEMENTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND SO I, ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE DISPARITY STUDY PROJECT TEAM ASSEMBLY TODAY, ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO COMMENCING THIS DISPARITY STUDY EFFORT.
THANK YOU. THEY'RE OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS NOW.
THANK YOU. I SEE THAT VICE MAYOR GELIN HAS HIS LIGHT LIT.
VICE MAYOR? SURE, FOR THE MILLER TEAM, IS THE DISPARITY STUDY COMPLETE FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY? [INAUDIBLE].
AND WHAT WAS THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY? WELL, I MEAN, THE END RESULT WAS THAT THERE CONTINUES TO BE SOME OPPORTUNITY AREAS FOR THE DISTRICT TO IMPROVE SOME EQUITY IN THIS CONTRACT.
THEY HAVE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT STRIDES OVER THE PAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS, REALLY LEVERAGING THEIR BOND PROGRAM AND ATTRACTING MORE M/WBES INTO THE FOLD.
AS A RESULT OF OUR STUDY, THE LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS A SUPERINTENDENT, EMBRACED OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY FURTHER SORT OF DOUBLE DOWN ON THEIR COMMITMENT IN THIS SPACE BY ENCOURAGING AND MAKING POLICY AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES FOR WHICH WE'RE ADOPTED.
AND SO WE'RE SORT OF TRACKING THEIR CONTINUED GROWTH IN THIS SPACE AS THEY PURSUE TO SORT OF ENHANCE THEIR CURRENT INITIATIVES.
AND WHEN WHEN PUBLIC AGENCIES IMPLEMENT MWB PROGRAMS TO HELP FACILITATE A FAIRER PROCESS FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, DOES THAT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY? NO, NOT AT ALL, ACTUALLY, I THINK ONE OF THE CORE IMPACTS IS THAT IT CREATES A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT IN TERMS OF THOSE FIRMS THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, BRING UNIQUENESS, BRING INNOVATION AS WELL AS COMPETITION, YOU KNOW, THE MORE COMPETITION YOU HAVE FOR OPPORTUNITIES.
IT SORT OF DRIVES PRICES DOWN IN A FAVORABLE WAY FOR MOST MUNICIPALITIES.
OK, THANK YOU. JAMES, CAN YOU PLAY THE POWERPOINT THAT I SENT TO YOU? SO YESTERDAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WENT TO A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WAS HELD AT THE BROWARD MAIN LIBRARY, WHICH INCLUDED HISPANIC UNITY OF FLORIDA, THE URBAN LEAGUE OF BROWARD COUNTY AND FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
SO I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME THE STATE OF HISPANIC AND IMMIGRANT BROWARD 2022, BROWARD COUNTY
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EQUITY INITIATIVE AND THE STATE OF BLACK BROWARD FIU.IT'S A BROWARD COUNTY EQUITY INITIATIVE AND THIS IS, I THINK, A 30 PAGE SLIDE.
I'M GOING TO GO OVER ONE OR TWO SLIDES AND JUST REMEMBER WE STILL HAVE OUR FIVE MINUTES.
GO AHEAD. SO THE PURPOSE, AS YOU SEE HERE, IS TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC AND INTEGRATED ANALYSIS OF THE BLACK AND HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN BROWARD AND PROVIDE A PLATFORM SO THERE CAN BE A BROWARD COUNTY PLAN OF ACTION.
LET'S SEE. SO THE GOALS I'M JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON NUMBER ONE, NUMBER THREE ITEM, HIGHER WAGE JOB OPPORTUNITIES, BUILDING WEALTH AND THEN TARGETED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. NOW I'LL JUST GO RIGHT TO THE ECONOMIC SECTION.
SO HERE, STATE OF BLACK, BROWN AND HISPANIC IMMIGRANT BROWN REPORTS FIND CLEAR EVIDENCE OF ONGOING AND PERSISTENT RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND OTHERS.
WE'RE HERE TO FOCUS ON ECONOMICS, BUT THAT'S THE REAL PURPOSE OF HAVING THIS DISPARITY STUDY, WHICH OTHER CITIES LIKE FORT LAUDERDALE AND MIRAMAR HAVE ALREADY DONE.
SO THIS IS HOW YOU ADDRESSED SOME OF THESE DISPARITY STUDIES.
A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION HERE, BUT AGAIN, I'LL JUST FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY.
ECONOMIC EQUITIES ACHIEVE WHEN BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH ARE SHARED BY RESIDENTS ACROSS THE INCOME SPECTRUM AND WHERE THEY LIVE.
IT INCLUDES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE FORM OF A VARIETY OF JOBS AND OCCUPATIONS, PAYING COMPETITIVE WAGES AND INCOMES THAT INCREASE RAPIDLY WITH IMPROVED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A DISPARITY STUDY.
A LOT OF WOMEN OWNED, HISPANIC OWNED BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO WIN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, SO THIS HELPS IDENTIFY THOSE DISPARITIES AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. WHEN YOU GUYS LOOK AT THOSE, I'M DONE.
THOSE ARREST REPORTS THAT WE GET MONTHLY FROM BSO.
THOSE ARE NOT COMING FROM PEOPLE THAT COME FROM MEDIAN OR HIGH INCOME FAMILIES THAT COMES FROM POVERTY AND POVERTY LEADS TO CRIME.
SO THIS IS HOW WE ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
OK, SO AS WE KNOW, AS A COMMISSION, WE ALL AGREE TO WANTING THIS.
BACK IN FEBRUARY, 2021 AND A DIFFERENT FINANCIAL TIME OF OUR CITY.
AND WE DID NOT KNOW UNTIL RECENTLY WHAT THE COST OF THIS WOULD BE.
SO WHILE I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE NEED TO EARN A LIVING AND DO GREAT WORK, I DO HAVE A CONCERN, AND I EXPRESSED THIS WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP AT OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING ABOUT THE COST OF THIS PARTICULAR YEAR LONG STUDY AND WONDERING IF THERE WERE OTHER WAYS TO ACHIEVE SIMILAR MEANS WITHOUT THIS EXPENSE, OR IF THIS EXPENSE COULD BE MODIFIED TO OBTAIN RESULTS WITHOUT SUCH A BIG OUT OF POCKET ITEM FOR US, SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, SOME ANSWERS, I DO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO SOME OF THEM.
I DON'T. CURIOUS AS TO WHY DELRAY VOTED AGAINST IT? DO WE KNOW? I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY AND THE CONSULTANT MAY HAVE SOME BACKGROUND ON THAT, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAD AN ISSUE WITH.
A POLITICAL ISSUE WITH ONE OF THE SUBCONTRACTORS.
OK, AND IT WAS IT WAS JUST AS SIMPLE AS THAT, AND I THINK THEY ALSO HAD THE SITUATION WHERE THEY HAD HAD JUST HIRED A BRAND NEW CITY MANAGER AND THEY WANTED THE CITY MANAGER, THE NEW CITY MANAGER, TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE PROGRAM AND SEE IF THAT WAS A PROGRAM THAT THEY WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AS WELL.
SO THEY DIDN'T WANT TO USURP THE NEW CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY BEFORE THE NEW CITY MANAGER CAME IN TO OFFICE.
OK, TEAM MILLER, ARE YOU WILLING TO DISCLOSE WHAT THE POLITICAL CONCERN IS? WELL, WE QUITE HONESTLY, MAYOR GOMEZ, WEREN'T VERY CLEAR AROUND WHAT THE CONCERN WAS, THAT IT APPEARED THAT THERE WERE SOME COMPETING NARRATIVES, SOME OF WHICH SUGGESTED TO US THAT IT MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF THE CONE OF SILENCE IN THE SCOPE FOR HOW MUNICIPALITIES CONTRACT.
IRRESPECTIVE OF THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SOUGHT TO DO IS TO STILL WORK WITH THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE WERE INVITED TO COME TO THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH AFTER A SORT OF LABORIOUS SEVEN MONTH EVALUATION PROCESS.
THERE WAS NO CONCERNS AROUND THE PROCESS TO GET TO THE PLACE OF A WAR.
IT WAS JUST SOME CONCERNS AROUND MAYBE POTENTIAL FODDER THAT REPRESENTATIVES ON THAT BODY
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HAD SOME CONCERNS WITH.SO I SAW IN THE BACKUP AND I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE I SAID, FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE, HOW MANY CITIES HAVE ACTUALLY DONE A DISPARITY STUDY? AND WHAT I SAW WAS THAT THERE'S TWO CITIES IN BROWARD THAT VICE MAYOR GELIN MENTIONED.
THERE WAS ONE COUNTY OF PALM BEACH AND WHAT THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH AND THEN MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS IS THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DISPARITY STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED IN THE TRI COUNTY AREA.
THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE MORE I KNOW THE SOLID WASTE AGENCY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY PERFORMED THE STUDY.
AND DID YOU MENTION BROWARD COLLEGE? I DIDN'T. I DIDN'T NOT SEE THAT ONE IN OUR BACKUP, SO THEY HAD DONE ONE SOME TIME AGO, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT UP TO DATE.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO NOTE THAT THE CLOCK HAS BEEN TICKING.
WELL, I'VE NOT BEEN TALKING, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME EXTRA SECONDS.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND THIS, A STUDY IS NEEDED IF WE ARE GOING TO DO A SPECIFIC SET ASIDE.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT EXACTLY A SET ASIDE IS? WELL, OUR PROGRAM THAT INFLUENCES THAT HAS THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD, EXCUSE ME, A PROGRAM THAT CENTERS ON TRYING TO FIND VARIOUS METHODS TO PROVIDE SOME SORT OF AN ADVANTAGE TO PROVIDE EQUITY FOR MINORITY OR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.
BASICALLY, WHAT IT DOES? WELL, I GUESS PART OF ME IS A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE WE WORKED REALLY HARD OVER THE PAST YEAR FOR PUTTING IN A PROGRAM TO INCREASE OUR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES OR VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES, OR TAMARAC PREFERENCE OR COUNTY BUSINESS PREFERENCE. ALL THESE KIND OF THINGS.
SO ARE WE SAYING THAT WHAT WE DID IS VOLATILE OF THE LAW, THAT WE DID IT WRONG? NO, NOT AT ALL.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT IN A VACUUM.
AND SO WE'VE TAKEN ON THE INITIATIVE IN PURCHASING CONTRACTS DIVISION TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE NUMBER OF FIRMS THAT DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY THAT FALL INTO THE MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS CATEGORY.
AND WE MOVED FROM 8.4 PERCENT MINORITY, 9.3 PERCENT WOMEN ON BUSINESS, OR 17.7 PERCENT IN FY20, UP TO 21.7 PERCENT IN FY21 FOR MINORITY AND 6.3 FOR WOMEN OWNED FOR A TOTAL OF 28 PERCENT.
NOW AT ETHNICITY WISE THAT THEY CAME OUT FOR 26 PERCENT BLACK BUSINESSES, 63 PERCENT HISPANIC BUSINESSES AND OTHER VARIOUS SUNDRY ASIAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
THEY MAKE UP THE BALANCE OF THAT.
SO WE HAVE BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE IN MAKING EFFORTS TO ATTRACT BIDS AND SOLICITATION RESPONSES FROM MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE SHOWING A SUCCESS.
AND THEN WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF ADDING AT THIS TIME, A $300000 INCREASE TO OUR BUDGET THAT HAS NOT BEEN BUDGETED FOR? IT WOULD COME OUT OF OUR CONTINGENCY.
WE JUST REDUCED OUR MILLAGE RATE TO ATTACK SAVING, SO TO SPEAK, OF BUDGET DECREASE OF 405 THOUSAND AND CHANGE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO NOW EAT IT OUT OF OUR CONTINGENCY.
HAVE WE HAD ANY PROBLEMS TO DATE THAT WE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT? I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ANY ISSUES TO DATE.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN FAIRLY LATE.
AS I SAID, WE'VE BEEN FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL, BUT THIS DOES PROVIDE THE LEGAL.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROVIDES THE LEGAL, BUT IF WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THINGS IN A PROPER MANNER TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR ABILITY TO INCREASE OUR OUTREACH AND PROCUREMENT TO WOMEN, BUSINESS OWNERS AND MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS, I GUESS RIGHT NOW AT THIS TIME, I'M HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON OUR CITY.
TO ADD SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING, I'M PRESUMING LEGALLY OR ELSE WE WOULDN'T BE DOING IT. SO I'M NOT SURE THE TRUE NEED OF THE STUDY AT THIS TIME.
I'M HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED IT LEGALLY, BUT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING LEGALLY ALREADY.
CAN YOU HELP? WELL, THE ABILITY TO CREATE VARIOUS OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND EQUITY BUILDING PROGRAMS REQUIRE THE STUDY TO BE IN PLACE BECAUSE THE CROSSING DECISION BASICALLY STATED THAT WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE CROSON DECISION THERE WERE A LOT OF ENTITIES THAT WERE
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ATTEMPTING TO SET ASIDE BUSINESSES AND BACK IN THAT DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LATE 80S SET ASIDE MEANT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY STATE THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IS RESERVED FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES ONLY, AND THE CROSON DECISION WAS BASICALLY A REVERSE DISCRIMINATION TYPE OF SUIT AND SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT.YOU CAN'T REQUIRE ONE TYPE OF BUSINESS ENTITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PREFERENCE TO OR NOT A PREFERENCE, EVEN THE ONLY THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM BUSINESS AND THE CROSON DECISION OUTLAWED THAT AT THAT POINT IN TIME, UNLESS THEY UNLESS THEY COULD, UNLESS THE ENTITY COULD COME UP WITH A COMPELLING ARGUMENT THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE PAST AGAINST BUSINESSES.
AND IF THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT, THEN THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO.
IMPROVE EQUITY IN BUSINESS FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, AND THAT'S BEEN THE BASIC PREMISE OF THE DISPARITY STUDY, THE DISPARITY STUDY WAS THEN THE CONCEPT OF THAT WAS DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND IN CASES OF MILLER 3 CONSULTING, THEY ACTUALLY HAD ADDRESSED THAT BEFORE THE DECISION CAME DOWN FROM THE SUPREME COURT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE DISPARITY STUDIES TO IMPROVE EQUITY OF FIRMS DOING BUSINESS FOR THE CITY THAT ARE MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I LIKEN IT TO THIS WITH THE LEED CERTIFICATION FOR OUR BUILDING, WE DON'T REQUIRE OUR PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND GET THE LEED CERTIFIED FINANCIALLY MORE EXPENSIVE CERTIFICATION, BUT WE PUT IN OUR CODE THAT WHICH CAN LEAD THEM TO BEING A LEED CERTIFIED.
THEY JUST CAN'T SAY THEY'RE LEED CERTIFIED UNTIL THEY DO THE NEXT STEP.
ISN'T THERE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THAT WE CAN WORK ON HERE, WHERE MILLER CAN COME THROUGH AND LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE WRITTEN, COMPARE IT TO WHAT IS MAYBE INAPPROPRIATE OR WHAT HAS BEEN INAPPROPRIATE. WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE THE SET ASIDES.
WE'RE NOT DOING THAT BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL.
BUT WE ARE ALREADY WORKING TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENT.
SO IS THERE A MODIFIED WAY TO DO THIS WITHOUT IT BEING A YEAR LONG STUDY, WITHOUT IT BEING $300000 TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A GOAL OF EQUALITY THAT IS BEING SOUGHT BECAUSE THE CITY ISN'T AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, TRYING TO PUT? THIS CATEGORY HERE, WE'RE PUTTING SET ASIDES, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE EVERYTHING EQUAL AND ACCESSIBLE, FAIR.
WHAT IS THE ACTUAL WORDING? FOSTER FAIR, OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PROCUREMENT WITHOUT REGARD TO BIAS IN RACE, GENDER, RELIGION AND ETHNICITY.
SO WE TRY TO ACHIEVE THAT ANYWAY WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING.
SO MIGHT IT JUST BE AN EASIER WAY FOR YOU TO MAYBE GO THROUGH OUR PAPERWORK AND HELP US? SO I KNOW.
GO AHEAD. IT'S SORT OF A RHETORICAL QUESTION, BUT.
I GUESS IT'S FOR MR. MILLER AND TEAM TO MAYBE ANSWER IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT AND IF IT'S INAPPROPRIATE TO ASK IT NOW AND SEND YOU GUYS BACK TO A NEGOTIATION TABLE OR WHATEVER.
I'M CURIOUS. I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO THIS TO ACHIEVE A GOAL SIMILAR TO THAT OF WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO DO AN ALTERNATIVE.
MY RIGHT AND I WILL DEFER TO DAVE AND HIS CREW FOR THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, MAYOR GOMEZ.
I'LL LET OUR ASSIGNED PROJECT MANAGER FOR THIS EFFORT, SHARI WYNNE, AND SPEAK TO THE LEGAL DISCUSSION THAT YOU WERE SHARING.
AND THEN I'LL COME BACK AND FOLLOW SHARI WITH SOME COMMENTS AROUND POTENTIAL OPTIONS AND SOME PROS AND CONS FOR THOSE OPTIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DAVE, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.
IN TERMS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RACE AND GENDER CONSCIOUS PROGRAM, WHAT THE COURTS HAVE, WHAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID IS THAT IN ORDER TO UTILIZE ANY RACE AND GENDER CONSCIOUS PROGRAMS, YOU MUST COMPLETE A FACTUAL PREDICATE SHOWING THAT THERE IS A NEED AND A FACTUAL PREDICATE IN THIS INSTANCE IS A DISPARITY STUDY.
I WOULD ASK THAT WE NOT USE THE TERM SET ASIDE WHAT THE COURTS HAVE LITIGATED AND SETTLED ON IS THE PERMISSIBILITY OF FLEXIBLE AND ASPIRATIONAL GOALS IF THERE IS A SHOWING
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OF STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT DISPARITY THROUGH A DISPARITY STUDY ANALYSIS.THE QUESTION, MADAM MAYOR, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE DISPARITY STUDY IN THE FACE OF INCREASED UTILIZATION.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO EXAMINE IS THAT INCREASED UTILIZATION IN LIGHT OF THE AVAILABILITY OF MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES BECAUSE IT IS THE COMPARISON OF THE TWO THAT TELLS US WHETHER YOUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT TO CORRECT ANY DISPARITY OR DISPARATE TREATMENT WITHIN YOUR JURISDICTION.
SO ONLY LOOKING AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF UTILIZATION IS ONLY ONE HALF OF THE STORY.
YOU ALSO NEED TO KNOW THE AVAILABILITY SIDE SO THAT YOU CAN COMPARE THE TWO AND SEE IF THERE IS IN FACT, AN ISSUE.
I THINK THE SECOND ISSUE THAT I WOULD OFFER TO YOU, PIGGYBACKING ON THE VICE MAYOR, ECONOMIC IMPACT COMMENTS IS THAT IT IS A WELL PROVEN FACT THAT BLACKS, HISPANICS AND WOMEN GET THEIR GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES INITIALLY FROM OTHER BLACK, HISPANIC AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.
THAT IS CONSTANTLY TRACKED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
SO IN INCREASING MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES IN YOUR JURISDICTION NOT ONLY LEADS TO INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES AT BOTH THE CONTRACTING AND EMPLOYMENT LEVEL, IT ALSO LEADS TO INCREASED REVENUES FOR THE CITY AS THOSE THOSE MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES GROW AND EXPAND.
AND THERE ARE STUDIES OUT THERE WHERE MUNICIPALITIES AND STATES HAVE BEEN MEASURING THE IMPACT, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE GROWTH OF MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES IN THEIR AREAS ON BOTH REVENUES AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH.
DAVE, YOU'RE ON MUTE. I APOLOGIZE IN TERMS OF OPTIONS, MADAM MAYOR.
WE'VE SEEN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ISSUE RFPS IN A PHASED APPROACH AND SOME OF THOSE APPROACHES THAT WE'VE RESPONDED ON AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN BECOMING AWARDED.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS SORT OF STRESS, THE VALUE OF TAKING THE COMPREHENSIVE AND NON PHASED APPROACH. AND WHILE I RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL CONCERNS YOU HAVE WITH REGARD TO THE PRICING OF THIS STUDY, WE STILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO PERFORMING IT. IF THIS IS THE I'M NOT SURE THIS IS A PROPER FORUM TO TALK ABOUT SOME ALTERNATIVES AND OPTIONS THERE, BUT I WOULD WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT PHASE APPROACHES HAVE BEEN OFFERED MANY TIMES WHEN THOSE OFFERED BY MUNICIPALITIES ONCE WE ENGAGE IN FURTHER DIALOG ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF THE PHASE APPROACH.
MANY GO BACK TO THE COMPREHENSIVE VIEW BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE A INTROSPECTIVE LOOK THAT IS YOUR POLICIES, PROCEDURES, YOUR UTILIZATION AND THAT, TO SHARE HIS POINT, ADDRESSES ONE SIDE OF THE COIN, BUT ABSENT HAVING THE ANECDOTAL COMPONENTS OF THE STUDY, THE QUALITATIVE COMPONENTS OF A STUDY WILL BE ASSESSING THE COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES AND TRYING TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.
IT LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED.
SO WE'RE WELCOME TO ENGAGE THE CITY IN FURTHER CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE.
I WOULD SORT OF SUGGEST THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
I BELIEVE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PIGGYBACKING VEHICLE THAT IS BEING OFFERED TO GET TO THIS POINT AND MOVE FORWARD.
BUT AGAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INSTANCES WHERE PHASED APPROACHES HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE TABLE. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I WILL RESERVE THE REST OF MY COMMENTS BECAUSE I'M OVER TIME AND WE ARE GOING TO COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
OH, I GUESS MAYBE IT'S ALMOST AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THE FIRST QUESTION, KEITH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY; WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL? OH NO, NOT AT ALL. OK.
ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
[01:55:03]
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.HOWEVER, $300000 IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT IS NOT BUDGETED.
I AM WONDERING IF WOMEN'S BUSINESS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE.
OF TYPES OF CONTRACTING, WE WOULD DO.
HOW MANY WOMEN BUSINESSES ARE WITHIN THAT REALM IN THE TRI COUNTY AREA? DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT? I COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY WOMEN BUSINESSES ARE IN THE AREA.
I COULD GET BACK TO YOU AND TELL YOU HOW MANY WE'VE DONE BUSINESS WITH.
OK, I WOULD BE CURIOUS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS NICHE OF WOMEN BUSINESSES AND THERE ARE VERY FEW WITHIN EACH REALM, THEN ARE REACHING OUT THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN MAY BE SUFFICIENT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE WOMEN TO COME OUT AND DO BUSINESS.
ABSOLUTELY. BUT I JUST THINK THAT EITHER IF THERE IS A WAY WE HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL AND YOUR STAFF HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY REACHING OUT.
IS THERE A WAY TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THAT IN OUR APPROACH? KEITH, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO FIND I FOUND WE HAVE RECORD OF 33 FIRMS THAT HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT. BUSINESS THAT WE'VE DONE WITH IN FY21.
OK. I THINK PROBABLY THE BEST THING IS TO TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING.
IF THAT, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE UTILIZE OUR BIDS AND TENDERS PLATFORM FOR FIRMS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO THEN THEY THEY'RE ALLOWED TO COME IN AND SIGN UP TO BE ON THE PLATFORM.
THEY CAN TELL US WHAT THEY WANT TO BID ON.
AND IF WE IF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR MATCHES, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY SEND THEM A NOTIFICATION THAT THE ITEM IS SOMETHING, AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY MAY BE INTERESTED IN AND THEY CAN THEN DOWNLOAD IT? WE ALSO CROSS POST EVERYTHING TO DEMANDSTAR.COM, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A FAIRLY, T'S NOT AS ROBUST, IN MY OPINION, AS BITS AND TENDERS, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE A GOOD NOTIFICATION PROCESS TO THE MARKETPLACE AND SO THE DEMAND STAR FOLKS CAN THEN.
COMING TO THE DEMAND STAR WEBSITE, CLICK GO TO THE BITS AND TENNIS AND DOWNLOAD THE OPPORTUNITY. WE ALSO, OF COURSE, HAVE OUR SUN-SENTINEL AD AND OUR SUN SENTINEL AD, WE ENCOURAGE MINORITY WOMEN ON BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN ALL OF OUR ADVERTISEMENTS.
WE SEND COPIES OF OUR SOLICITATIONS TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IN MIAMI.
WE ALSO SEND THE STATE OF STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF SUPPLIER DIVERSITY SINCE VIA THEIR BIDS AND TENDER SUBSCRIPTION, AND WE ALSO SHARE WITH THE BROWARD COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT'S THAT'S OUR PROTOCOL FOR EVERY SEAL SOLICITATION.
DO YOU FEEL WE ARE DEFICIENT IN ANY AREA? THERE COULD BE SOME ASSOCIATIONS THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO SEND SOME PROPOSAL OPPORTUNITY NOTICES, TOO, AS WELL.
AND WHY HAVEN'T WE? WE DON'T KNOW. WELL, WE DON'T KNOW ALL WHO THEY ARE.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE.
OK. I THINK THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? HEY, KEITH, HOW MANY VENDORS COMPETED TO GET THIS BID OF DISPARITY TESTS THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, WE UTILIZE THE PIGGYBACK APPROACH BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO GET WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING MOVING AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY COULD, AND WE FOUND THAT THE COST OF THIS PARTICULAR STUDY WAS WAS VERY COMPETITIVE.
WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS RATES AND THE ONLY THING THAT WE CHANGED WERE THE QUANTITIES, THE NUMBER OF HOURS REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE DIFFERENT TASKS FOR THE CITY AS OPPOSED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
HAD WE NOT PIGGYBACKED, WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS? WE WOULD HAVE HAD, WE WOULD HAVE GONE OUT WITH A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
WE WOULD HAVE INVITED THE FIRMS IN THE INDUSTRY AND THERE AREN'T A LOT OF THEM.
THERE ARE ABOUT THREE OR FOUR THAT ARE REALLY WELL VERSED IS AND ONLY I'VE ONLY SEEN ABOUT THREE OF THEM RESPONDING IN THIS AREA OF THE STATE.
THERE'S ANOTHER FIRM THAT RESPONDS RATHER REGULARLY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.
[02:00:01]
AND IS MILLER 3 CONSULTING, A WOMEN OWNED COMPANY? MILLER 3 CONSULTING IS A BLACK MALE OWNED, AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE OWNED COMPANY.BUT I BELIEVE HE HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH LAUREN, SO I THINK THEY HAVE SOME INFLUENCE IN THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER PLACKO, MADAM MAYOR GOMEZ RAISED REGARDING THE COST AND NOT BEING BUDGETED FOR ME PERSONALLY IS CONCERNING AS WELL.
AND SIMILAR QUESTION IS THIS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO IN-HOUSE WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE PROCESSES? YOU SAID THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE THAT WE HAVE NOT HAVE APPROACHED ANSWERING COMMISSIONER PLACKO QUESTION.
ARE WE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT FIRST NOW? WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE PROCESSES AND WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON AND HIS METHODS TO IMPROVE. THIS IS A RHETORICAL QUESTION TO THE COMMISSION, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A RUSH TO PUT THIS PROCESS IMMEDIATELY.
WELL, WE CAN START TO PROCESS WHERE YOU'RE SAYING WHERE WE CAN LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO ACCEPT A CONTRACT TODAY BECAUSE REALLY WE ARE DOING BETTER.
YOUR NUMBERS STATED THAT WE'VE HAD RECORD NUMBERS OF WOMEN OWNED AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES IN TAMARAC, ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
DOING BUSINESS IN ONE CITY? YES. YEAH, DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, CORRECT.
SO THAT SET ASIDE, I DON'T SEE THE NEED TO REALLY I CAN SEE HOW THIS GETS POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, WITH HOW IT'S BEING MANEUVERED.
BUT PERHAPS I THINK WE NEED TO WE NEED FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS.
THIS IS A RHETORICAL QUESTION TO THE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU, AND COMMISSIONER GELIN WISHES TO SPEAK AGAIN.
YES, SO SOME OF YOU HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COST OF THE DISPARITY STUDY AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN BUDGETED.
IT WAS NOT BUDGETED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE FORMER CRIMINAL, CORRUPT CITY MANAGER.
COMMISSIONER GELIN, WE WILL NOT BE MAKING THOSE COMMENTS.
THIS ITEM WAS VOTED ON AND APPROVED A YEAR AGO, AND SO HE IS SUPPOSED TO OR A KEITH OR FINANCE OR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WAS SUPPOSED TO PUT THIS ITEM IN THE BUDGET AHEAD OF TIME, AND THAT WAS NOT DONE.
AND THAT'S WHY I WORKED SO HARD TO HAVE AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE FORMER CITY MANAGER, WHICH HE NEVER ALLOWED US TO DO PER REQUIRED IN HIS CONTRACT.
KEITH, YOU SAID THAT WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS? WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY AN IMPROVEMENT.
STOP THE CLOCK, PLEASE, I'M NOT TALKING.
WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY AN IMPROVEMENT FROM WHERE WE WERE, I MEAN, WE MOVED UP IN ONE YEAR FROM IN THE MBE AREA, MOVED UP FROM EIGHT POINT FOUR PERCENT TO TWENTY ONE POINT SEVEN PERCENT IN JUST ONE YEAR.
SO HAVING CONTRACTS WITH ONE PERCENT OF BLACK BUSINESSES; IS THAT SUCCESS? THE MARGINAL SHIFT, THE FACT THAT WE'VE DONE BETTER IS SHOWING THAT WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.
AND DOING EIGHT PERCENT WITH HISPANIC BUSINESSES; IS THAT SUCCESS? OH, THAT WAS THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.
WE MOVE, WE MOVE FROM MAYBE FROM EIGHT TO 21 PERCENT, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD JUMP IN ONE FISCAL YEAR.
FOR MILLER, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S DANGEROUS TO JUST LOOK AT OVERALL PERCENTAGES INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE REAL DATA PER THE NEED FOR A DISPARITY STUDY? DAVE? IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT NOT DOING THE BREAKDOWN BY RACE, GENDER, IT DOES NOT ALLOW, ONE, IT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO IDENTIFY WHERE THERE ARE ISSUES WITH PARTICULAR RACE, GENDER OR ETHNIC GROUPS.
AND THEN TWO, IN MEETING THE CROSON ANALYSIS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE ANY RACE AND GENDER CONSCIOUS INITIATIVES, THE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID YOUR INITIATIVES HAVE TO BE NARROWLY TAILORED TO THE GROUPS WHERE THERE ARE IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN CERTAIN INSTANCES FOR MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL WAS ABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITH AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND WITH WOMEN IN CERTAIN PROCUREMENT CATEGORIES, BUT NOT WITH HISPANICS IN OTHER PROCUREMENT CATEGORIES.
SO THE DISPARITY STUDY ALLOWS YOU A DETAILED LOOK TO IDENTIFY EXACTLY WHERE YOUR ISSUES ARE AND WHAT YOU CAN ADDRESS WITH RACE AND GENDER CONSCIOUS INITIATIVES.
[02:05:07]
SO WHEN COMMISSIONER PLACKO ASKED THAT QUESTION ABOUT WOMEN THAT OUR PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR COULD NOT ANSWER YOUR DISPARITY STUDY WOULD ALLOW US TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.IS THAT CORRECT? YES, BOTH IN TERMS OF WHO IS UTILIZED AND WHAT WOMEN ARE AVAILABLE IN YOUR MARKETPLACE FOR THE, ACROSS THE DIFFERENT PROCUREMENT CATEGORIES.
OK, THANK YOU. AND QUESTION FOR THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHRISTINE CAJUSTE, DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL SERVICES, CAN THE CITY AFFORD A DISPARITY STUDY? IS IT GOING TO BREAK THE BUDGET OR BREAK THE BANK? WE WOULD BRING BACK A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT'S BALANCED IN TERMS OF I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADD THAT TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S A ONE TIME AND NON-RECURRING.
AND WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDS THAT WE CAN USE FOR NON-RECURRING ITEMS. AND HOW OFTEN DO WE DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT? WE DO IT TWICE A YEAR, SO WE OFTENTIMES ADD ITEMS TO THE BUDGET THAT WAS NOT PRIOR BUDGETED BEFORE, AND WE OFTENTIMES APPROVE IT TWICE A YEAR? YES, TWICE A YEAR. WE DO ONE HISTORICALLY IN APRIL AND ANOTHER IN NOVEMBER.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? JUST A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
KEITH, DO WE HAVE, I BELIEVE YOU ANSWERED THIS QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE PROBLEMS? LIKE THAT, SHERRI WILLIAMS MAY BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT WE CANNOT IDENTIFY OURSELVES.
WELL, WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE THE SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE THAT A PROFESSIONAL FIRM WOULD HAVE, WE CAN IDENTIFY SOME ANECDOTAL QUESTIONS, BUT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO. WE MAY NOW BE ABLE TO ANALYZE THE MARKETPLACE AS THOROUGHLY AS THE FIRM CAN DO THAT. AND THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE IN THAT.
WOMEN OWNED, MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS WANTS TO DO BUSINESS IN TAMARAC.
THEY'RE BEING PROCESSED ACCORDINGLY.
THEY'RE BEING AS STRAIGHT AS WE CAN, POSSIBLY HELP THEM TO BE ABLE TO WIN THOSE BIDS.
IF THEY WANT AN OPPORTUNITY, WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY.
THAT'S A GREAT STATEMENT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PLACKO? THANK YOU. I AM ALL IN FAVOR OF FINDING OUT WHERE WE'RE LACKING, BUT AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A STEP BACK, I WOULD LIKE STAFF TO GO BACK AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO AGGRESSIVELY IMPROVE AND MAYBE FIND OUT IF THERE IS A WAY TO DO SOMETHING IN A STAGED ISSUE OR SOMETHING.
$300000 IS STILL A LOT OF MONEY.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND IT AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY OF IT, BUT AT THIS POINT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES WE MAY HAVE.
I AND THEN COME BACK TO US, THAT WOULD BE MY OPINION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR HISTORICAL APPROACH, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT TIME AND ERA WITH MORE TECHNOLOGY, MORE ACCESS, MORE THINGS AND WE'RE CONTINUALLY EVOLVING AND OUR CITY HAS BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB, IN MY OPINION, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EVOLVE AND WE GO THROUGH AND WE MAKE SURE WE DO THINGS LEGALLY AND APPROPRIATELY.
AND WE ARE CONTINUALLY MINDFUL OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A FAIR CHANCE AND ABILITY TO GET WHERE WE NEED.
I WOULD SAY THAT I BELIEVE YOU DID RESPOND TO THE QUESTION OF HOW MANY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES ARE IN OUR CITY.
NO. ESPECIALLY WITHOUT HAVING PREPARED FOR THAT.
SO I DON'T THINK WE NEED A STUDY FOR OUR OWN PURCHASING DIRECTOR TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH US THAT INFORMATION.
AND AGAIN, WHILE WE MAY HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF OUR RESERVES OR A CONTINGENCY FUND OF THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, JUST BECAUSE WE CAN DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN WE SHOULD.
AND SO I HAVE CONCERNS ON THAT.
AND AT THIS RATE, I AM REMISS BECAUSE WE WENT STRAIGHT INTO DISCUSSION AND WE DID NOT OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? WELL, I'VE GOT, BUT.
[02:10:01]
NAME AND ADDRESS OR LOCATION, PLEASE, FOR THE RECORD, YEAH.TOM WATER WITH RED BIRD, A RESIDENT OF PLANTATION.
I SAW THAT SOMEONE MENTIONED POLITICAL ISSUES IN ANOTHER CITY.
I WONDER IF THAT HAD TO DO WITH MS. SOREL OF MOSAIC GROUP.
NOT ONLY IS SHE A FAMILY MEMBER OF FORMER COMMISSIONER DALE HOLNESS AND AN AIDE AND A CONSULTANT, SHE'S A FRIEND AND FORMER ROOMMATE OF OMAR SMITH, ANOTHER ASSOCIATE OF COMMISSIONER HOLNESS AND CREATOR OF POLITICAL COMMITTEES THAT ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION.
VICE MAYOR GELIN CONTRIBUTED TO ONE OF THOSE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES, AND MS. SOREL ALSO HOSTED OR SPOKE IN AUGUST IN MIAMI WITH COMMISSIONER GELIN'S WIFE AT A BLACK BUSINESS SUMMIT. I WONDER IF COMMISSIONER GELIN HAS MADE ANY ASSURANCES HIS WIFE WON'T PLAY ANY ROLE IN ANY DISPARITY STUDIES SINCE SHE RUNS BLACK BUSINESS GROUPS AND A LOT OF THESE ISSUES. I'D BE HAPPY TO SOMEONE TELL WHAT CITIES THESE ARE BEING PASSED.
I KNOW MS. SOREL, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH HER WORK IN PAHOKEE, WHICH IS ALSO A TROUBLED SPOT WHERE SOME OF THE CITY ATTORNEY CANDIDATES FOR YOUR CITY WERE REPRESENTING UNTIL VERY RECENTLY.
SO IT'S ALWAYS AND I THINK MR. SMITH DID SOME WORK WITH COMMISSIONER BOLTON'S CAMPAIGN.
SO IT'S JUST VERY INTERESTING ALL THE CONNECTIONS HERE AND HOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T THINK $300000 IS SUCH A BIG DEAL AND THEY'RE SO WILLING TO SPEND $300000.
AND TO SAY THAT STAFF CAN'T FIGURE OUT THINGS THAT SOMEONE THEY PAY $300000 TO CAN.
I'M SURE THERE'S MANY UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT WOULD GLADLY HELP THE CITY OF TAMARAC FOR FREE, THAT HAVE THE LATEST STATISTICS AND SCIENTIFIC METHODS, AND WHY WE ARE USING CONSULTANTS WITH TIES TO LOCAL POLITICIANS WHO ARE TIED TO SITTING COMMISSIONERS STINKS.
WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR TAMARAC RESIDENTS? WHO? WHO? DO YOU NOT HAVE GOOGLE? WHEN YOU SEE ALL THESE CONSULTANTS HERE, YOU JUST GOOGLE THEIR NAMES, IT POPS UP, BUDDY EVANS. DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
BUDDY EVANS HAD A WHOLE STORY OF HOW DALE HOLNESS WAS HIRING CONSULTANTS FROM PALM BEACH, MS. SOREL MR. OMAR SMITH, SOPHIA NELSON AND OTHER ASSOCIATE OF, I THINK, MR. ELLIS COMMISSIONER HOLNESS' NIECE.
SO IS THE MOSAIC GROUP BEING PAID BY ANY OTHER AGENCIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND BROWARD COUNTY; HAS SHE DISCLOSED THAT? IS BSO ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS? I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE THIS COMMISSION TO TAKE THE LEAD AND DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND FIGURE OUT WHO THEY'RE GIVEN $300000 TO AND NOT FOCUS ON WHAT THEY'RE SAYING THE BIG ISSUE IS.
THANK YOU. MR. MESA, DID YOU WISH TO SPEAK? AND I PRESUME YOU'RE SPEAKING AS A RESIDENT VERSUS A CITY EMPLOYEE.
NAME AND LOCATION, FOR THE RECORD.
STEPHEN MESA, I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, SO I JUST HAD A FEW POINTS THAT I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY TOUCH ON IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT AND WHY I THINK IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE ACTUALLY DO A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.
FOR ONE, THERE IS A LACK OF EDUCATION IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING AND PROCUREMENT WITHIN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
WOMEN OWNED OR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND WE'VE SEEN THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHERE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE GOING OUT PURPOSELY TO EDUCATE THESE BUSINESSES AND TO ACTUALLY INTRODUCE THEM TO THAT PROCESS AS A LOT OF BUSINESSES KNOW WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO GROW. ONE OF THE NEXT STEPS FOR THEM IS TO GO AHEAD AND GET INTO THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING AND GOVERNMENT SECTOR BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE MONEY DOES RELY. FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY'RE NOT REALLY, YOU KNOW, FOCUSED ON ACTUALLY DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SMALL MINORITY OWNED OR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO, BUT BECAUSE THEIR MAIN FOCUS WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SURVIVING AT THOSE FIRST FIVE YEARS. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW.
POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR. IF I MAY? GO AHEAD. THROUGH THE CHAIR, CITY ATTORNEY.
STOP. CITY ATTORNEY, CAN HE INTERRUPT A SPEAKER? HE HAS A POINT OF ORDER. HE HAS A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY? THE TIME IS STOPPED, SO AS SOON AS I'M ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IF I CAN, THEN SPEAKER WILL BE ABLE TO START BACK UP.
[02:15:03]
YES, SIR. IS IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR AN ENGAGEMENT LIAISON TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN AGENDA ITEM? AND.I CAN. FLORIDA LAW GIVES THE RIGHT TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK TO ANY ITEM ON ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUE THAT'S ON AN AGENDA.
THAT WAS AN ESTABLISHMENT STATE LAW FOR LEGISLATURE ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, THE SPEAKER, TO THE EXTENT THAT HE HAS IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A RESIDENT OF THE THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, HE HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEAK LIKE ANYONE ELSE.
OK, I WOULD JUST CONFUSED THAT SINCE HE'S AN ENGAGEMENT LIAISON TO THE VICE MAYOR.
I BELIEVE HE'S IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AND AS A RESIDENT CITY OF TAMARAC. THANK YOU.
IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE BROUGHT UP IN A FUTURE DISCUSSION FOR POLICY.
PLEASE PROCEED MR. MESA. OK, THANK YOU ALSO.
AND MY FINAL POINT IS UNLIKE OTHER NEIGHBORING CITIES, TAMARAC CURRENTLY THAT I'M AWARE OF AS A RESIDENT OF ACTUALLY ENGAGING THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY OR ACTUALLY JUST ENGAGING PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHO WANTS TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS, WHO WANT TO HAVE A PIECE OF LAND HERE IN TAMARAC TO SAY THAT THEY ARE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY AS A RESIDENT BUT AS A BUSINESS OWNER.
SO IN ALL REALITY, THIS MINORITY WELL, THIS DISPARITY STUDY WOULD ACTUALLY BEHOOVE OF THE CITY TO ACTUALLY GET ON BOARD WITH.
NOT ONLY WOULD WE BE CULTIVATING A CULTURE WITHIN THE CITY, WHICH IS THE STAPLE SPECIFICALLY THAT WE WANT THIS CITY TO BE THE CITY FOR YOUR LIFE.
WHOSE LIVES ARE WE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT? WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE WE TRYING TO INTEREST AND ACTUALLY AFFORD THE ABILITY TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY? SO THIS DISPARITY STUDY, I DO BELIEVE, WOULD BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE CITY.
IT WOULD BE NOT ONLY AN INTEREST FOR THE COMMISSION TO VOTE ON, BUT I THINK IT WOULD ENTICE A LOT OF NEW BUSINESSES AND, YOU KNOW, GET A LOT OF THE OLD BOYS TO ACTUALLY START DOING WHAT WE SAY CAPITALISM DOES, WHICH IS CREATE COMPETITION, CREATE INGENUITY.
SO IF THIS DISPARITY STUDY DOES THAT FOR THE CITY, I SEE THAT AS BEING, IF ANYTHING, MORE FORWARD THINKING AND USING HINDSIGHT AS THEY'VE DONE BEFORE TO ACTUALLY BRING IN A LOT OF NEW BUSINESSES, A LOT OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO IGNITE A GROWING, DIVERSE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS NOW 50 PERCENT MINORITY COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.
SO I DO THINK THE COMMISSION SHOULD VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS.
AND TO MR. VILLALOBOS POINT, I HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHER ENGAGEMENT LIAISON AND THEY DO SPEAK WITH BUSINESSES, AND I THINK IT'S BEHOOVE THEM TO SPEAK ON ITEMS LIKE THIS IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND POINT OF CLARIFICATION, CITY ATTORNEY.
WOULD THAT COMMENT LAST COMMENT BE CONCERNING? MAKE A CONCERN REGARDING VIOLATION OF SUNSHINE LAW.
SPEAKING AMONG THEMSELVES ARE THE EQUIVALENT OF ME SPEAKING TO THE CITY MANAGER.
IT'S NOT A SUNSHINE VIOLATION.
OK, SO THEY CAN SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER ABOUT ITEMS AS LONG AS THEY DON'T BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION, NOR THE PERSON THAT THEY REPRESENT.
IT'S A VIOLATION OF SUNSHINE LAW.
IF ANY EMPLOYEE, PERIOD, ANY EMPLOYEE IS USED AS A CONDUIT FOR COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING AN ITEM OR ITEMS THAT ARE OR FORESEEABLE TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
OH, SORRY. NOT CLOSED, I APOLOGIZE.
PLEASE PROCEED. NAME, LOCATION, PLEASE, FOR THE RECORD.
KATHLEEN JOHNSON, I'M RESIDENT OF MAINLAND SPORE.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION AND THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP ARE REAL CONCERNS TO ME AS WELL.
300 THOUSAND IS A LOT OF MONEY.
ALSO, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE RESEARCH, I DO KNOW THAT IT IS.
WE ARE ABLE TO DO IT IN HOUSE TO A LARGE EXTENT.
SO I THINK THAT FOR ME SHOULD BE THE FIRST STEP.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST.
YOU HAVE LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE.
YOU HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN ONE YEAR AS A WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS OWNER.
I WILL SAY, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE A MARVELOUS JOB.
CAN YOU DO MORE? ABSOLUTELY. CAN YOU RESEARCH IT MORE BEFORE YOU SPEND $300000 OF OUR TAX MONEY? ABSOLUTELY. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT TO BE THE FIRST STEP BEFORE HIRING AN OUTSIDE
[02:20:05]
CONSULTANT WHO ABSOLUTELY WILL THEY DO A THOROUGH JOB? I HAVE NO DOUBT, BUT THERE IS A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE IN-HOUSE FIRST TO DECIDE IF WE NEED TO GO TO THE NEXT STEP OF THIS STUDY.THE STUDY WILL BENEFIT IN THE LONG RUN, PROBABLY, BUT WILL IT MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS YOU'RE ALREADY MAKING? I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK THE THE POINT ABOUT HOW MANY BUSINESSES WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES ARE IN THE AREA AS A POOL TO DRAW FROM.
HOW MANY HISPANIC, HOW MANY BLACK, HOW MANY OF ANY NATIVE AMERICAN, HOW MANY ARE IN THE AREA TO ACTUALLY DRAW FROM? I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT, BECAUSE IF OUR WE ONLY HAVE X NUMBER OF WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES TO DRAW FROM, THEN THE PERCENTAGE WE HAVE MIGHT BE A GOOD PERCENTAGE BASED ON WHAT'S OUT THERE. SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE STUDY WOULD REALLY GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY OF THAT. BUT I DO THINK, AS WAS SUGGESTED, THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE IN HOUSE AND THEN LOCAL UNIVERSITIES THAT COULD HELP OUT WITH GETTING SOME OF THAT INFORMATION.
AS SOMEONE SAID, GOOGLE IS A GREAT RESOURCE.
THE CENSUS IS A GREAT RESOURCE.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAN BE DRAWN IN TO GIVE A BETTER PICTURE BEFORE WE SPEND $300000.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS DARCY SCHILLER, KING'S POINT.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS COMMISSION IS GOING TO BE ULTIMATELY VOTING ON THIS AT SOME POINT, I THINK WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT TOM LAUDER STATED.
I WOULD THINK THAT MR. GELIN, WHATEVER WOULD REMOVE HIMSELF FROM THE VOTE BECAUSE OF HIS WIFE'S TIE INTO THIS WHOLE CREW. I SUSPECT THAT MARLON BOLTON SHOULD ALSO BE REMOVED FROM THIS VOTE BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIORS THAT ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION CURRENTLY.
AND I ALSO THINK IT'S THE BIGGEST WASTE OF MONEY I'VE EVER HEARD AND THAT YOU HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AT DOING A GREAT, YOU KNOW, I'M HERE TO PITCH SOMETHING YOU DON'T NEED.
CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
MAYOR GOMEZ? NO. COMMISSIONER BOLTON? YES. VICE MAYOR GELIN? YES. COMMISSIONER PLACKO NO.
COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? NO. MOTION FAILS 3-2.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OTHER, ITEM 10A.
INCREASING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, LIAISON.
POINT OF ORDER THROUGH THE CHAIR, I HAVE A GUEST HERE FOR ITEM D.
CAN WE MOVE ITEM D TO ITEM A? SO AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONER GELIN IS REQUESTING THAT 10D, RANKED CHOICE VOTING BE MOVED
[10d. Ranked Choice Voting]
UP TO THIS ITEM.YOUR GUESTS NAME IS? DAVID ANGEL, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR RANK MY VOTE FLORIDA.
OK, I DIDN'T HEAR SOME OF THAT BECAUSE IT WAS MUFFLED, BUT MR. ANGEL, YOU ARE AN ATTORNEY FOR? RANK? MY VOTE FLORIDA.
RANK MY VOTE FLORIDA, AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION FOR US ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER GELIN? PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM. WE ARE NOW MOVING THIS ITEM 10D BEFORE 10A.
CAN I REMOVE MY MASK? CERTAINLY. WHATEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH.
OK. PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL QUALIFICATIONS, FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS DAVID ANGEL AND I AM THE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR RANK MY VOTE FLORIDA.
AND THERE'S A PRESENTATION DECK.
THE ONE THAT DAVID EMAILED ME.
ACTUALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND IF YOU WOULD SHARE, WHERE ARE YOU AN ATTORNEY? ARE YOU LICENSED IN FLORIDA? I'M LICENSED IN FLORIDA.
AND THE BUSINESS IS IN FLORIDA? THE NONPROFIT CORPORATION IS REGISTERED IN FLORIDA, YES.
ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO TRY TO MOVE THROUGH THIS QUICKLY, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
SO WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY? WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT ALL?
[02:25:02]
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT WAY THAT WE VOTE, BOTH LOCALLY AT THE STATE LEVEL? FEDERALLY, THE CURRENT WAY THAT WE VOTE IS CALLED THE PLURALITY SYSTEM.WHOEVER GETS THE MOST VOTES WINS AN ELECTION.
SOMETIMES YOU GO TO A RUNOFF, BUT IN MANY OTHER ELECTIONS YOU DON'T.
AND MANY OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEMS OF THE PLURALITY SYSTEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN HAVE NON MAJORITY WINNERS.
SOMEBODY WINS WITH A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE, SAY 20 PERCENT IN A CROWDED FIELD.
A THIRD PARTY RUNS IN AN ELECTION, IT SIPHONS OFF ENOUGH VOTES FROM SOMEONE THEY'RE IDEOLOGICALLY ALIGNED WITH.
AND THEN THE OTHER PERSON WINS THE ELECTION, SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T REALLY REPRESENT THE PREFERENCES OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
SOMETIMES THEY'LL VOTE FOR A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE.
THAT ABSOLUTELY HAS NO CHANCE, BUT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO OR THEY'LL VOTE STRATEGICALLY. THEY'LL SAY, I DON'T REALLY LIKE ONE OF THE TWO LEADING CANDIDATES, BUT I KNOW THAT I SHOULD VOTE FOR ONE OF THEM BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE PERSON I LIKE LESS IS GOING TO WIN AND IT INCREASES POLARIZATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
ONE OF THE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS THAT THE CURRENT PRIMARY SYSTEM LEADS TO MORE EXTREME CANDIDATES BECAUSE THE MOST MOTIVATED AND THE MOST PARTISAN VOTERS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE USUALLY GOING TO SHOW UP TO VOTE IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
YOU CAN SEE A FEW EXAMPLES OF INSTANCES WHERE SOME OF THE WEAKNESSES ARE ON DISPLAY.
THIS IS FROM A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT PRIMARY WHERE A REPUBLICAN, BYRON DONALDS, WON WITH 22.6 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN AN EXTREMELY FRACTURED FIELD.
YOU ALSO SEE THIS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THIS IS A RECENT CLEARWATER ELECTION WHERE ANOTHER CANDIDATE, MARK BUNKER, WON WITH TWENTY SEVEN PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND THERE IS NO RUNOFFS IN PINELLAS COUNTY FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. AND HIS PRESENCE ON THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN A THORN IN THE SIDE OF THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONER SINCE.
AND MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE ALSO SEEN THE RECENT SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE CONGRESSMAN ALCEE HASTINGS, WHERE THERE WERE NUMEROUS CANDIDATES IN THAT FIELD.
I THINK ALMOST 15 OR 20, AND THE THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WON THAT ELECTION WON WITH A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE, WITH ONLY A FEW HUNDRED VOTES OVER THE NEXT PLACE CANDIDATE.
AND THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF GHOST CANDIDATES IN FLORIDA.
RECENT EXAMPLES ACROSS THE STATE SHOW THAT OPERATIVES HAD PUT UP FAKE CANDIDATES IN ORDER TO SIPHON OFF VOTES, PRIMARILY FROM DEMOCRATS.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS A RACE IN THE MIAMI AREA, STATE SENATOR JOSE JAVIER RODRIGUEZ GOT 48.5 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.
A FAKE CANDIDATE WHO WAS NOT EVEN FROM MIAMI, HE WAS FROM PALM BEACH PUT HIS NAME ON THE BALLOT AT THE BEHEST OF SOME POLITICAL OPERATIVES.
AS A RESULT, IT SIPHONED OFF JUST ENOUGH VOTES IN ORDER TO SWING THE ELECTION TO THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN A PRIMARILY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT.
SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR ALL OF THIS? I GUESS IT'S NO SURPRISE, AS I'M ADVOCATING FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING, THAT I THINK THAT IS THE SOLUTION, AND IT'S AS EASY AS ONE TWO THREE.
VOTERS COME, THEY RANK CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE INSTEAD OF JUST ONE VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE YOU LIKE. YOU RANK IT IN ORDER.
FIRST PLACE, I LIKE THIS, SECOND PLACE, I LIKE THIS, THIRD PLACE, I LIKE THIS, AND SO ON.
IF SOMEBODY GETS OVER 50 PERCENT OF THE FIRST PLACE VOTES WHEN YOU TABULATE THEM, THE ELECTION IS OVER THE SAME WAY AS WE HAVE NOW, HOWEVER, IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T GET 50 PERCENT OF THE FIRST PLACE VOTES, THE LAST PLACE CANDIDATE IS ELIMINATED AND THOSE VOTES ARE REALLOCATED BASED ON VOTERS PREFERENCES.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE RECENT RACE FOR CONGRESSMAN HASTING'S SEAT, YOU WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE LAST PLACE CANDIDATE VOTES WOULD BE REALLOCATED.
DOES ANYONE HAVE OVER 50 PERCENT? NO. ELIMINATE THE NEXT LAST CANDIDATE.
IT'S THE SAME THING AS HAVING A SERIES OF RUNOFFS, BUT YOU ONLY NEED TO GO TO THE BALLOT BOX ONCE YOU DON'T NEED TO PAY FOR ANY RUNOFF ELECTIONS.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, A WINNER HAS 50 PERCENT PLUS MAJORITY SUPPORT.
SO IN CASE THAT'S NOT CLEAR, WE HAVE A VIDEO THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN EMBEDDED IN THE PRESENTATION, AND I THINK IT SHOULD HELP ILLUMINATE THINGS SLIGHTLY.
NO, I THINK I MIGHT HAVE THE SAME IN MY PRESENTATION, SO WE CAN WAIT TILL I GO.
SURE. SO THIS VIDEO, UNFORTUNATELY, IS A REALLY GOOD REPRESENTATION OF HOW IT WORKS IN PRACTICE AND HOPEFULLY VICE MAYOR GELIN WILL BE ABLE TO GET TO THAT IN HIS PRESENTATION.
SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A RANKED CHOICE BALLOT LOOKS LIKE.
[02:30:02]
FIRST CHOICE GOES IN COLUMN ONE, SECOND CHOICE GOES IN COLUMN TWO, THIRD CHOICE GOES IN COLUMN THREE, FOURTH CHOICE GOES IN COLUMN FOUR AND SO ON.CITIES ARE ABLE TO SET IF THEY PASS RANKED CHOICE VOTING, HOW MANY RANKINGS THEY WANT TO ALLOW. SOME CITIES ALLOW YOU TO RANK AS MANY AS YOU WANT.
OTHERS LIMIT IT TO FIVE IN ORDER NOT TO OVERWHELM VOTERS, ET CETERA.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BALLOT FROM THE STATE OF MAINE, ONE OF THE STATES WHERE THE SYSTEM IS NOW BEING USED IN STATEWIDE ELECTIONS FOR THE U.S.
SENATE, FOR CONGRESSIONAL RACES, ET CETERA.
AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE SYSTEM? ENCOURAGES MORE COMPETITION.
CANDIDATES HAVE TO APPEAL TO A BROADER BASE OF VOTERS RATHER THAN USING INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC IN ORDER TO RILE UP A VERY MOTIVATED MINORITY OF VOTERS TO WIN A PLURALITY, IT SAVES MONEY IF YOU AVOID RUNOFFS ALTOGETHER.
IN JACKSONVILLE, THE LARGEST CITY IN FLORIDA, THIS IS AS MUCH AS $1.2 MILLION EVERY CYCLE.
OTHER CITIES AS BIG AS SARASOTA AND CLEARWATER WERE WE WERE DOING A LOT OF WORK ESTIMATED THAT THEY WOULD SAVE OVER $100,000, AND IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS, WHERE USUALLY IT'S ACTUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE TO SET UP ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS. IN GAINESVILLE, I KNOW THAT THEY RECENTLY HAD A SPECIAL ELECTION WHERE THEY HAD TO SPEND $400,000 ON A RUNOFF, YOU WOULD JUST ELIMINATE THAT COST COMPLETELY.
AGAIN, FOSTER CIVILITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO APPEAL TO A BROADER BASE OF VOTERS AND NOT ALIENATE THEIR SUPPORTERS, PRODUCES MAJORITY WINNERS AND EVERYBODY CAN VOTE THEIR [INAUDIBLE]. THERE'S NO SPOILERS, YOU CAN'T WASTE YOUR VOTE BY VOTING FOR A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE, AND SO IT ALLOWS VOTERS MORE CHOICE AND MORE FREEDOM, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER BENEFITS, AND I'LL TRY TO MOVE THROUGH THEM QUICKLY.
MORE REPRESENTATION FOR WOMEN AND JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE USING RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
I LIKE THESE STUDIES BECAUSE THEY COME FROM THE BAY AREA, WHERE THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS, AND SO IT'S AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO A CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT. IN OTHER WORDS, FOUR CITIES THAT HAVEN'T IMPLEMENTED, FOUR CITIES THAT HAVE, ALL IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITH SIMILAR DEMOGRAPHICS, AND SO YOU CAN SEE WHETHER OR NOT CITIES THAT IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE VOTING HAVE CERTAIN BENEFITS.
SO IN THOSE CITIES THAT ADOPTED RANKED CHOICE VOTING, YOU SAW A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN THAT WERE WINNING ELECTED OFFICE, ALTHOUGH IN OTHER CITIES, IT'S BEEN MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED.
IN THE RECENT NEW YORK CITY ELECTIONS FOR THEIR MUNICIPAL OFFICES, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL IS NOW MAJORITY WOMEN BY A LARGE MARGIN, AND YOU SEE SIMILAR RESULTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEN THEY'VE DONE STUDIES.
SIMILARLY, REPRESENTATION FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THIS IS ALSO FROM THESE CALIFORNIA CITIES, AND CITIES THAT DID NOT ADOPT RANKED CHOICE VOTING, YOU SAW A SLIGHT BUMP, BUT IN CITIES THAT DID ADOPT RANKED CHOICE VOTING, YOU SAW A PRETTY SIZABLE INCREASE.
AND YOU SEE SIMILAR RESULTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE ADOPTED IT.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY NOVEL.
IT'S USED AROUND THE WORLD IN SOME COMBINATION OF FEDERAL OR LOCAL ELECTIONS AND ALL OF THESE COUNTRIES AUSTRALIA, CANADA, IRELAND, INDIA, NEW ZEALAND, SCOTLAND.
THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE SMALLER, MALTA, BUT IT'S NOT JUST BEING USED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES, THOUGH.
USE IN THE UNITED STATES IS GROWING.
HERE YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE ADOPTED RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN SOME FORM, WHETHER IT'S CURRENTLY IN USE AND NOT BECAUSE IN SOME CASES IT HAS BEEN ADOPTED AND THEN BECAUSE OF STATE LAW, IT HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
YOU CAN SEE STATEWIDE THAT IT'S BEEN ADOPTED IN ALASKA AND MAINE, AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY JUST ABOUT TO OPEN IT UP FOR--.
IT'S USED ALL THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH, BUT THEY'RE JUST ABOUT TO OPEN IT UP FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA SHORTLY, OR IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING THAT WAY.
JUST A COUPLE OF ENDORSEMENTS FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, ALL THE WAY FROM THE LEFT END OF THE SPECTRUM TO THE RIGHT.
YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF PROMINENT ENDORSEMENTS FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING, AND IT HAS ALSO BEEN ENDORSED BY A NUMBER OF FLORIDA PAPERS, AS WELL AS NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS, MANY MORE THAN JUST THE TAMPA BAY TIMES, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS ONE OF THE MORE PROMINENT ENDORSEMENTS.
AND SO WHAT IS OUR ORGANIZATION RANK MY VOTE FLORIDA? WE WERE PUSHING FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN CITIES ACROSS THE STATE, AND WHILE THE SYSTEM IS VERSATILE AND CAN BE USED OF ALL LEVELS OF ELECTIONS, THE REASON THAT WE PUSH FOR IT TO BE USED IN CITIES IS BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY PLACE THAT IT'S LEGAL UNDER THE FLORIDA STATE CONSTITUTION.
YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY HAVE IT ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND STATE STATUTES.
AND CITIES HAVE THE MOST TO BENEFIT FROM IT BECAUSE THEY SEE SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS AS A RESULT OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN JURISDICTIONS THAT USE IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AGAIN, JUST A REHASH OF SOME OF THE BENEFITS, SO I'LL SKIP OVER THIS.
[02:35:01]
NOW TO GET TO THE STATUS OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN FLORIDA.UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHERE THINGS HAD STOOD A FEW MONTHS AGO.
SARASOTA HAD ACTUALLY PASSED RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN 2007, BUT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE SYSTEM BECAUSE APPROPRIATE SOFTWARE TABULATORS HAD NOT BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE STATE.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CAN'T JUST SHOW UP WITH VOTING EQUIPMENT ON THE DAY OF AND RUN AN ELECTION. THE STATE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING PROPERLY, YOU KNOW HOW THE BALLOT IS GOING TO LOOK AND IT'S FED IN THE MACHINE AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO COME OUT AND BE COUNTED THE RIGHT WAY, ET CETERA.
SO YOU HAVE TO CERTIFY A TABULATOR, PIECE OF SOFTWARE THAT JUST RUNS THIS CALCULATION.
WHO'S IN LAST PLACE? ELIMINATE THEM, REALLOCATE THE VOTES, SO ON.
THE HARDWARE IS ALREADY IN PLACE IN ALL JURISDICTIONS IN FLORIDA, ALL COUNTIES, BUT THEY NEEDED THE SOFTWARE.
SO THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE UP THE CERTIFICATION OF A TABULATOR BECAUSE IT WAS ILLEGAL UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
THEY SAID, OH, THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS GENERAL ELECTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY A PLURALITY AND THAT ACTUALLY GETS RID OF ALL RANKED CHOICE VOTING ELECTIONS. IT FORECLOSES THE POSSIBILITY.
YOU KNOW, WE TRIED TO CLEAR IT UP THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE CHANNELS.
IT DIDN'T WORK. EVENTUALLY, WE WENT TO THE CITY OF SARASOTA AND ASKED THEM TO BRING A LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE STATE, WHICH THEY AGREED TO.
THEY THEN PAUSED FOR A MOMENT IN ORDER TO RECONSIDER, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, OTHER CITIES WERE GETTING READY TO HAVE THEIR OWN REFERENDUMS. CLEARWATER HAD ALREADY PUT TOGETHER THE BALLOT LANGUAGE AND WAS GOING INTO ITS FIRST READ. THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE HAD PASSED A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT, SAYING THAT ONCE THE TABULATOR HAD BEEN CERTIFIED AND THINGS HAD BEEN CLEARED UP IN SARASOTA, THEY WOULD GO FORWARD AND HAVE THEIR OWN REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS WE WERE HAVING, WE'RE FACING A LOT OF PUSHBACK AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND SO A FEW MONTHS AGO, SB 524 WAS INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER AND SB 524 INCLUDED A BAN ON RANKED CHOICE VOTING FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
WHEN THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL WAS ASKED WHY IT IS THAT HE INTRODUCED THIS BAN, HE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE HE HAD SPOKEN TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND SHE TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS LEGAL IN CITIES. SO IN OTHER WORDS, THIS WHOLE RUNAROUND AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS TELLING US IT WAS NOT LEGAL STRINGING US ALONG, IT WAS BOGUS, AS WE SAID IT WAS, AND NOW THAT THEY SAW A LAWSUIT WAS COMING, THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT IT.
SO THEY INTRODUCED SB 524 AND IT SAT DORMANT FOR A WHILE, THE GOVERNOR HAD ALSO BEEN TALKING ABOUT HIS OWN ELECTIONS BILL, AND IT WASN'T CLEAR HOW THOSE TWO THINGS WERE GOING TO INTERACT. SO UNFORTUNATELY, EITHER LATE LAST MONTH OR EARLIER THIS MONTH, I'M A LITTLE FUZZY ON IT AT THIS POINT, THE BILL WAS AMENDED TO TAKE IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE GOVERNOR'S ELECTIONS PACKAGE, BUT STILL INCLUDED THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING BAN.
IT WAS IMMEDIATELY VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND IS NOW HEADED TO SENATE APPROPRIATIONS THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY IN THE HOUSE.
IT HASN'T BEEN--. IT IS WITH THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, THOUGH NO DATE HAS BEEN SET.
APPROPRIATIONS WOULD BE THE LAST STOP IN BOTH CHAMBERS BEFORE IT HEADS TO THE FLOOR, AND IF LANGUAGE GOES TO THE FLOOR, IT'S LIKELY TO PASS.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING TO TRY TO REMOVE THE LANGUAGE OR AMEND IT BEFORE THEN.
SO, MY NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES ARE JUST COMMON OBJECTIONS TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING THAT WE USUALLY TRY TO REBUT.
I KNOW THERE MUST BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS UP NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
BEFORE HE TAKES QUESTIONS, CAN I DO MY PRESENTATION AND YOUR PRESENTATION WILL BE YOUR FIVE MINUTES? NO, ACCORDING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHEN YOU'RE PRESENTING ON THE ITEM, YOU DON'T HAVE A TIME LIMIT. BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE HIM BEING THE PRESENTER, WE HAVE A PRESENTER HERE. SO YOU ARE NOT THE PRESENTER BECAUSE WE HAVE A PRESENTER HERE.
WE HAVE CO PRESENTERS, SO I'M PRESENTING.
HOW LONG IS YOUR VIDEO? I DON'T HAVE A VIDEO. YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION? [INAUDIBLE] VICE MAYOR.
HOW LONG [INAUDIBLE]? I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T TIME IT.
PLEASE PROCEED. LET'S HOPE IT'S QUICK, BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS AND OTHER ITEMS TO GET TO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. SO DAVID COVERED A LOT OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO COVER, SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH WHAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS, BUT ESSENTIALLY WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY VOTE COUNTS. SO, DAVID, EXPLAIN ALL OF THIS, JUST SOME DATA, 73 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS IN NEW YORK CITY APPROVED IT, AND THEY IMPLEMENTED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR AND THEIR VOTE FOR MAYOR. SAME, SARASOTA.
ALREADY COVERED THAT. AND I BELIEVE THIS WAS THE VIDEO YOU WERE TRYING TO PLAY.
[02:40:09]
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED TO REFRESH THE SCREEN? [INAUDIBLE] JUST TAKING TIME TO LOAD.OR YOU CAN--. LET'S COME BACK TO THAT, LET ME JUST CONTINUE THE PRESENTATION, SO WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT. AND DAVID, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE RESULTS HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PAY TAXES TO HAVE A SEPARATE RUNOFF WHERE IF WE HAD RANKED CHOICE VOTING, WE COULD HAVE DECIDED THIS ELECTION IN ONE ELECTION.
RESULTS. THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE RUNNING FOR THIS ELECTION, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND IT WOULD HAVE MADE THINGS A LOT EASIER AND YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION IN YOUR BACKUP. LET'S LOOK AT THE TAMARAC ELECTION RESULTS FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS ON THE FACE VALUE, IT APPEARS THAT FIFTY EIGHT PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE DID NOT WANT MAYOR GOMEZ TO BE THE MAYOR, HOWEVER, IF WE HAD A RANKED CHOICE VOTING, WE WOULD REMOVE THE VOTES FOR GERALD HELLER, AND AS DAVID SAID, THOSE WOULD BE REALLOCATED AND WE WOULD FIND OUT WHO VOTED FOR MAYOR GOMEZ SECOND OR ELVIN VILLALOBOS SECOND AND WHO VOTED FOR THEM THIRD, AND THEN IF WE GOT TO 50 PERCENT, EITHER MAYOR GOMEZ OR ELVIN VILLALOBOS WOULD FEEL THE CONFIDENCE OF KNOWING THEY GOT MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD TO KNOW A FEW YEARS AGO.
SAME THING, DAVID TALKED ABOUT HAVING A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE THROWN INTO A RACE TO TIP THE SCALES. SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT A WOMAN WAS THROWN INTO THIS RACE TO TIP THE SCALES TO FAVOR ONE CANDIDATE, BUT AGAIN, IF WE HAD RANKED CHOICE VOTING HERE, WE WOULD KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR JODI-ANN WRIGHT, WHO DID YOU WANT FOR YOUR SECOND CHOICE OR FOR YOUR THIRD CHOICE? AND AS DAVID SAID EARLIER WHEN IN MY CASE, YOU HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY, THEN RANKED CHOICE VOTING GOES OUT OF THE WINDOW BECAUSE I GOT WELL ABOVE 50 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. AND COMMISSIONER BOLTON CASE, HE DIDN'T HAVE A SECOND OPPONENT AND STILL GOT ALMOST SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTE.
AND THIS IS HOW NEW YORK CITY VOTERS FELT ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING, 83 PERCENT VOTED FOR AT LEAST TWO CANDIDATES, 72 PERCENT VOTED FOR THREE OR MORE CANDIDATES, AND 42 PERCENT OF VOTERS VOTED FOR ALL FIVE CANDIDATES.
SO THEY VOTED THEIR PREFERENCE.
NEW YORKERS WANT IT FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS, 77 PERCENT, 95 PERCENT OF VOTERS FOUND IT SIMPLE TO USE, 78 PERCENT SAID THEY UNDERSTOOD IT, NO COMPLICATIONS.
AGAIN, ACROSS ALL RACIAL SPECTRUMS, THEY ALL FOUND IT EASY TO USE.
TAX SAVINGS AND INCREASED VOTER ENGAGEMENT, SO MORE PEOPLE CAME OUT FOR THIS ELECTION BECAUSE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
$15 MILLION WAS SAVED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A RUNOFF.
SO IF THERE WAS A RUNOFF, THERE WOULD BE A SECOND ELECTION FOR THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS, THIS AVOIDS THAT.
EIGHTY FIVE PERCENT OF VOTERS HAD A SAY IN THE RESULT, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OF THE 38 PERCENT PRIOR TO THAT, SO THERE'S HUGE BENEFITS TO HAVING RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER VIDEO HERE, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S GOING TO WORK.
CAN YOU CHECK TO SEE IF THE OTHER VIDEO WORKS? THE INITIAL ONE FROM NEWSWEEK OR BUSINESSWEEK.
OK. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT WEBSITE THAT CAME FROM? OK.
I THINK THAT WILL BETTER EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.
YEAH, THAT'S A SEPARATE ONE. [SIGNING] THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE.
CAN YOU PLAY A DIFFERENT ONE? [INAUDIBLE]. JUST LOOK UP WHAT IS RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
SO WHAT IS RANKED CHOICE VOTING? IN MOST PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES? VOTERS SELECT A SINGLE CANDIDATE FOR EACH POSITION ON THEIR BALLOT AND THE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST VOTES WINS, THIS IS KNOWN AS SINGLE CHOICE WINNER TAKE ALL, WHICH CAN SOMETIMES RESULT IN THE ELECTION OF A CANDIDATE WHO EARNED ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE, EVEN WHEN THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS SUPPORTED OTHER CANDIDATES, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY OF ELECTING OUR LEADERS.
[02:45:01]
RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS ANOTHER VOTING METHOD WHICH ALLOWS VOTERS TO RANK THEIR CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE.IN A RANKED CHOICE VOTING ELECTION.
A CANDIDATE NEEDS TO EARN MORE THAN HALF OF THE VOTES TO WIN.
ALL FIRST CHOICES ARE COUNTED, AND IF A CANDIDATE HAS A MAJORITY, THEN THEY WIN JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ELECTION.
IF NOT, THE CANDIDATE WITH THE FEWEST VOTES IS ELIMINATED, AND VOTERS WHO PICKED THAT CANDIDATE AS A NO ONE WILL HAVE THEIR VOTES COUNT FOR THEIR NEXT CHOICE.
THIS PROCESS CONTINUES UNTIL A CANDIDATE EARNS A MAJORITY AND IS DECLARED THE WINNER.
HERE YOU SELECT ORANGE AS YOUR FIRST CHOICE CANDIDATE, YELLOW HAS YOUR SECOND, PINK AS YOUR THIRD AND GREEN AS YOUR FINAL CHOICE.
THE FIRST CHOICES ARE COUNTED.
YELLOW EARNED 35 PERCENT, ORANGE 21 PERCENT, PINK EARNED 28 PERCENT, AND GREEN EARNED 16 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.
BECAUSE NOBODY WON MORE THAN 50 PERCENT, THE CANDIDATE WITH THE FEWEST VOTES IS ELIMINATED, AND VOTERS WHO PICKED HIM AS THEIR FIRST CHOICE HAVE THEIR BALLOTS COUNT FOR THEIR SECOND CHOICE.
THIS CONTINUES UNTIL A CANDIDATE RECEIVES MORE THAN HALF OF THE VOTES, OR 50 PERCENT PLUS ONE. SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING? RANKED CHOICE VOTING PROVIDES MORE CHOICES, ALLOWING MORE THAN TWO CANDIDATES TO COMPETE WITHOUT FEAR OF SPLITTING THE VOTE AMONG LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS.
SOMETIMES, VOTERS FEEL PRESSURED TO VOTE FOR THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS.
RANKED CHOICE VOTING ALLOWS PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE CANDIDATE, NOT JUST AGAINST THE CANDIDATES THEY DISLIKE.
WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING, WE SEE MORE POSITIVE CAMPAIGNS AND LESS NEGATIVE ADVERTISING.
CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO REACH OUT TO AS MANY VOTERS AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING THOSE SUPPORTING THEIR OPPONENTS.
THEY CAN BUILD A WINNING COALITION WITH LIKE MINDED CANDIDATES TO EARN VOTERS SECOND AND THIRD CHOICES.
IT'S TIME TO FIX OUR DEMOCRACY AND MAKE OUR ELECTIONS WORK BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.
WE CAN DO THAT WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
VISIT WWW.FAIRVOTE.ORG TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED.
NOW, IF YOU CAN JUST PLAY LIKE TWO MINUTES OF THE OTHER VIDEO, THIS JUST GIVES YOU FEEDBACK ON HOW PEOPLE WHO VOTED IN THIS PROCESS FEEL ABOUT THE PROCESS.
RANKED CHOICE VOTING ALLOWS US TO START TO BREAK THIS UP AND TO MAKE IT A MORE FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM WHICH WE ARE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ONE PERSON NOW, YOU HAD TO KNOW, GET A LITTLE MORE ABOUT OTHERS. I'M MOST EXCITED FOR NEW YORKERS TO HAVE MORE CHOICES AND NOT TO HAVE TO SETTLE FOR THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS, WHICH HAPPENS ALL TOO FREQUENTLY WHEN WE HAVE THESE VERY EXCITING, CROWDED FIELDS, AND SO BEING ABLE TO RANK GIVES PEOPLE MORE CHOICES AND IT GIVES THEIR VOTE MORE POWER.
I'M EXCITED THAT WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING, MY VOICE AND VOTE MATTERS IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS, AND IT'S NOT JUST ALL OR NOTHING.
IT DEFINITELY MADE ME MORE ENGAGED WITH THE PROCESS TO FEEL LIKE I COULD PICK MORE THAN ONE PERSON. YEAH, IT'S A BETTER SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFERENT CANDIDATES.
I THINK THAT WHAT IT DID, IT JUST ALLOWED ME TO PAY ATTENTION TO EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE EVENT THAT I HAD WANTED TO CHOOSE MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT. I THINK IT SORT OF CHALLENGED ME TO THINK MORE DEEPLY ABOUT MULTIPLE CANDIDATE'S POSITIONS.
YOU KNOW, LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT'S GOING TO BE REPRESENTING YOU MAKES A DIFFERENCE. PEOPLE HAVING MORE OF A VOICE MATTERS, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT YOUR CANDIDATE DIDN'T WIN, YOU HAVE FIVE CANDIDATES NOW, AND HOPEFULLY ONE OF THEM WILL WIN.
IF I RANKED, SOMEONE ONE AND SOMEONE TWO, I SORT OF FELT LIKE IF IT TURNS OUT MY NUMBER TWO ENDS UP BEING THE PERSON, I'LL PROBABLY BE OK WITH THAT.
I'M NOT BOXED INTO ONE CANDIDATE, AND IF THAT ONE CANDIDATE DOESN'T WIN, I HAVE OTHER CHOICES THAT STAND ON THE SIMILAR ISSUES AS I DO.
I'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF ADS AND ALL SORTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN THE PAST MONTH.
THAT WAS PRETTY WELL COVERED IN THE MEDIA.
I WOULD SAY THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE I LEARNED MOST ABOUT IT.
THEY WERE PUSHING IT ON TV AND I'M LIKE, OH, OK.
DID I FIND IT EASY? YES, I DID HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, DO A LITTLE RESEARCH, MAKE SURE I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING WHEN I GOT IN THERE, BUT IT WAS IT WAS FUN.
ACTUALLY. I LIKED IT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
WASN'T AS CONFUSING AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
I WOULD SAY JUST BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES THAT WE HAD AND JUST HAVING TO MAKE ONE CHOICE, I THINK IT'S JUST, I THINK, TOO BIG OF AN ASK FOR JUST SOMEONE WHO'S COMING OUT TO VOTE, AND SO BEING ABLE TO RANK IT BASED ON THE CANDIDATES THAT THEY KNOW, I THINK
[02:50:03]
IS JUST A BETTER WAY TO LEVEL UP THE PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING. BOTTOM LINE ALL RIGHT.I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE A GIST OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING PROCESS.
SO I GUESS THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
DAVID, YOU COVERED THIS ALREADY AND THEN DAVID COVERED WHERE WE ARE IN FLORIDA, SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. AND SO IN TERMS OF THE ASK--.
[INAUDIBLE] CONCLUDE YOUR PRESENTATION? YEAH, SO NOW THERE'S AN ASK.
OK, SO WHAT AM I ASKING? GO AHEAD, CORRECT. OK, SO THAT IN TERMS OF THE ASSETS THAT WE DRAFT A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING THAT WE CAN SEND TO TALLAHASSEE.
AS A REMINDER, THIS IS NOT A VOTE.
THIS IS A--. WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S CONSENSUS TO PUT THIS ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR THE ITEM THAT IS BEING REQUESTED.
COMMISSIONER PLACKO? CAN I [INAUDIBLE] MAYBE SOMEBODY MAY NOT BE ABLE, BUT THE SOFTWARE INVOLVED, WHO'S PAYING FOR THE SOFTWARE AND HOW MUCH IS IT? THANK YOU. THE SOFTWARE IS FREE, IT IS CREATED BY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT [INAUDIBLE] PROVIDED SOFTWARE TO A LOT OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IT PROVIDED THE SOFTWARE TO NEW YORK CITY.
IT PROVIDED THE SOFTWARE TO THE 24 CITIES IN UTAH THAT JUST RAN RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS.
WOULD IT HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE, THE COUNTY OR THE CITY? OR ALL? THE WAY IT USUALLY WORKS AT THE STATE LEVEL IS THAT YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE USED AT AN ELECTION AS A PACKAGE, SO THE HARDWARE EQUIPMENT MIGHT COME FROM ONE VENDOR, THE SOFTWARE MIGHT COME FROM ANOTHER VENDOR, THE DISPOSABLE MATERIALS THAT ARE USED MIGHT COME FROM ANOTHER VENDOR, BUT YOU TAKE ALL OF IT TOGETHER AND THE STATE SIGNS OFF ON IT.
SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS YOU WOULD SUBMIT YOUR REGULAR HARDWARE THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE ALONG WITH THE SOFTWARE TABULATOR, NOT THE CITY OF TAMARAC, BUT THE VENDOR THAT'S LOOKING TO GET THE SOFTWARE CERTIFIED WOULD SUBMIT YOUR REGULAR HARDWARE, THE SOFTWARE, ALL THE DISPOSABLE MATERIALS, ET CETERA.
THE STATE WOULD SIGN OFF ON IT, AND THEN ONCE THE STATE SIGNS OFF ON IT, IT'S ABLE TO BE USED BY THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS.
DOES THE COUNTY HAVE TO SIGN OFF AND APPROVE IT, OR ONCE THE STATE DOES, IT'S A DONE DEAL ? THE WAY THAT I THINK IT WOULD WORK, USUALLY MUNICIPALITIES HAVE A CONTRACT WITH SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS IN ORDER TO RUN THEIR ELECTIONS, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE ALLOWED TO RUN IT THEMSELVES.
ONCE IT IS APPROVED AT THE STATE LEVEL, IF HYPOTHETICALLY, THE CITY OF TAMARAC DECIDED TO PASS A CHARTER AMENDMENT SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO RUN A RANKED CHOICE ELECTION, THEN YOU WOULD GO TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND SAY, HEY, PLEASE RUN OUR RANKED CHOICE ELECTION. USUALLY, SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS CAN DECLINE TO RUN ELECTIONS FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY DON'T WANT TO, BUT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN USED ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN NUMEROUS JURISDICTIONS AND IS GROWING.
I CAN'T SAY WITH CERTAINTY WHAT THE BROWARD SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS WOULD DO, BUT THEY CERTAINLY WOULD BE CAPABLE FROM A LOGISTICAL PERSPECTIVE OF RUNNING THE ELECTION.
I'M WONDERING, DO WE KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, HOW SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS FEELS, HOW THE COUNTY FEELS, HOW THE LEAGUE OF CITIES--? HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING FROM ANYONE ELSE? I SPOKE TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND HE WOULD SUPPORT IT, RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING LIKE FROM THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, THEY'RE USUALLY ONE OF THE LIGHTNING RODS IN THINGS LIKE THIS? I'M NOT SURE IF THEY PUT OUT A POLICY POSITION ON IT, BUT I WILL CERTAINLY ASK.
I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES PRIOR TO--.
OK. I THINK SHE WAS ASKING FOR--.
COMMISSIONER PLACKO, WERE ASKING FOR FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES OR BROWARD LEAGUE OF CITIES ? BOTH. SO. SO WITH THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
I THINK, LIKE MOST PEOPLE OR MOST ORGANIZATIONS AND MOST PEOPLE IN GENERAL, THEY DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THIS ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY BECOMING SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE PAID ATTENTION TO.
THAT WAS WHAT THE REASON FOR BEING FOR OUR ORGANIZATION WAS TO RAISE AWARENESS, AND SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A STRONG POSITION ON IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, FRANKLY.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY NEW, IT'S INNOVATIVE, AND I DON'T WANT TO TOTALLY DISCOUNT IT, BUT
[02:55:06]
I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT ENOUGH ABOUT IT THAT--.[INAUDIBLE] WE'RE NOT VOTING ON IT, SO I GUESS THAT'S OK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? [INAUDIBLE] QUESTION. YEAH, JUST MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE FOR A LITTLE BIT.
SURE. I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY THAT IT'S AGAINST OUR CONSTITUTION OR SOMETHING CHANGE OUR CONSTITUTION. SIR, WOULD YOU SAY YES OR NO, OUR CONSTITUTION WOULD FIND THIS ILLEGAL OR LEGAL. I DID NOT SAY THAT COMMISSIONER.
WHAT I SAID WAS THAT IT PROHIBITS RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND GENERAL ELECTIONS HAS A TECHNICAL LEGAL DEFINITION, WHICH MEANS ELECTIONS THAT ARE RUN FOR FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY AND DISTRICT OFFICES IN NOVEMBER AT THE SAME TIME AS THE NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTIONS, SO THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE MUNICIPALITIES.
THAT WAS WHAT THE WHOLE LAWSUIT IN SARASOTA WAS ABOUT, AND THEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THE ONE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY RAISED THIS SUPPOSED BAR TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN ALL ELECTIONS, ADMITTED THAT WE WERE RIGHT AND THAT IT IS LEGAL UNDER THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION. I MEAN, I SUPPOSE A COURT COULD FIND DIFFERENTLY IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT THE LAW SEEMS FAIRLY CLEAR CUT IN THAT RESPECT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE BEING LOBBIED TO GET CONSENSUS ON THIS, CONSIDERING THAT WE DON'T--.
I GUESS WE'D DO ULTIMATELY, WOULD HAVE TO SAY IN BROWARD, IF THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION IS AMENABLE TO DOING THE CHANGE, BUT SHOULDN'T WE OR YOU BE LOBBYING THE STATE LEGISLATORS VERSUS CITIES TO MAKE THE TYPE OF CHANGE? WE HAD BEEN LOBBYING PARTICULAR CITIES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY ADOPT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN CITIES, SO IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE IT ACTUALLY HAD ANY BENEFIT FOR US TO LOBBY.
NOW THAT THIS BAN IS BEING CONSIDERED IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE ARE LOBBYING THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN ORDER TO TELL THEM TO NOT INTRODUCE THE BAN.
IF THEY DON'T INTRODUCE THE BAN, THEN IT'S STILL LEGAL IN CITIES.
IT ALSO WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT IT AT ANY COUNTIES BECAUSE OTHER THAN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND DUVAL COUNTY, WHICH HAVE SPECIAL TREATMENT UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION, YOU CAN'T RUN RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
IT WOULDN'T BE VIABLE FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR THE SHERIFF, THE PROPERTY APPRAISER, CLERK OF THE COURT, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
YEAH, I JUST SEE A LOOPHOLE IN THERE THAT REALLY WOULD FIXED SOME ELECTIONS HERE, SO THAT'S MY CONCERN.
SEEING THAT NO OTHER [INAUDIBLE] TO SPEAK, I HAVE SOME PROBABLY OUT OF ORDER QUESTIONS.
SO COMMENTARY IN SUPPORT OF THIS IS THAT IT SAYS THAT IT WILL FOSTER CIVILITY.
MM HMM. WHAT IS YOUR PROOF THAT IT WILL FOSTER CIVILITY? I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS REFORM AS A SILVER BULLET THAT'S GOING TO CLEAR ALL NASTINESS OUT OF POLITICS, I THINK A LOT OF ADVOCATES WHO ADVOCATE FOR THIS ISSUE WILL COME UP AND SAY THAT, AND FRANKLY, I THINK IT'S BOGUS.
IT'S ALL ABOUT CHANGING THE INCENTIVES IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE CANDIDATES TO BE MORE CIVIL BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REACH OUT TO A BROADER SPECTRUM OF VOTERS IN ORDER TO GET OVER 50 PERCENT. I THINK THAT MUDSLINGING AT YOUR OPPONENTS, IF THEIR SUPPORTERS LIKE THAT CANDIDATE AND WANTING TO REFRAIN FROM DOING THAT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THOSE PEOPLE FROM HAVING A NEGATIVE OPINION ABOUT YOU, I THINK THAT THAT INCENTIVE INTUITIVELY MAKES SENSE . IN TERMS OF HARD DATA, MAYOR, I WILL SAY THAT I DON'T HAVE IT.
OK, FAIR ENOUGH. AND THEN SO ALSO, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF YOUR VIDEOS HAD PEOPLE ALL OF A SUDDEN JOINING SO YOU CAN HAVE A SLATE.
SO NOW YOU'RE RUNNING AS A SLATE, HOW DOES THAT CULTIVATE CIVILITY, AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, AND IT'S OK THAT YOU DON'T, BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND YOU EVEN SAID KIND OF YOUR COMMENT WAS YOU'RE NOT SAYING IT'S A SILVER BULLET, BUT THESE ARE ALL YOUR MARKETING POINTS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO USE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHY WE SHOULD ADDRESS A RESOLUTION TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND SUPPORT YOUR-- THAT IT GUARANTEES CIVILITY IN ELECTIONS.
AS FOR THE ISSUE OF FOLKS RUNNING AS A SLATE, I WOULD ARGUE THAT'S A FEATURE OF THE SYSTEM AND NOT A BUG.
CANDIDATES--. LET'S TAKE THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, FOR EXAMPLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF MANY OF YOU FOLLOWED THAT CLOSELY, BUT THERE'S THIS CONCEPT OF LANES IN
[03:00:03]
POLITICS THAT OFTEN GETS THROWN OUT, AND THE REASON THAT LANES GET THROWN OUT IS BECAUSE CANDIDATES CAN'T DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES BASED ON THEIR POLICY POSITIONS.THEY'RE JUST VERY CLOSE TOGETHER, AND SO INSTEAD, THEY TRY TO MAKE EVERYTHING PERSONAL.
SO THERE'S A PROGRESSIVE LANE WHERE ALL THE CANDIDATES ARE TEARING EACH OTHER APART AND THERE IS A MODERATE LANE WHERE EVERYBODY IS TEARING EACH OTHER APART.
IF THESE IDEOLOGICALLY MINDED CANDIDATES CAN ALL LINK UP AND SAY [INAUDIBLE], VOTE FOR ME, BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE ME, THIS OTHER PERSON MOST CLOSELY ALIGNS WITH OUR VALUES SYSTEM. I DON'T SEE WHY THAT'S A PROBLEM.
OTHERWISE, IT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A RANKED CHOICE VOTING, IT CREATES A SITUATION WHERE ALL OF THESE IDEOLOGICALLY MINDED CANDIDATES ARE ALL RUNNING AT ONCE, AND IF YOU JUST HAVE ONE PERSON WHO'S IN THE OTHER LANE, EVEN IF MORE PEOPLE PREFER THE POLITICS OF THE IDEOLOGY WHERE ALL THOSE CANDIDATES ARE CLUSTERED, THE OTHER CANDIDATE CAN WIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M EXPLAINING THAT CLEARLY, BUT--.
WELL, WE IN TAMARAC AT LEAST, ARE NONPARTISAN, IN ALL OF THE 31 MUNICIPALITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY ARE NONPARTISAN, SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY IDEOLOGICAL ITEMS FOR US TO CONTEND WITH. NOT SOMETHING FOR YOU TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RESPONDING.
SO, THIS IS NOT BEING ASKED OF US FOR US TO CONSIDER FOR OUR OWN CITY BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR CHARTER BOARD AND IT WASN'T BROUGHT UP AT OUR CHARTER BOARD, IF I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECT, CITY CLERK, IS THAT CORRECT? IT WAS NOT MADAM MAYOR. OK, GREAT.
SOME OF YOUR STUFF ON YOUR PRESENTATION, I SEE, IS EIGHT YEARS OLD FROM 2014 FOR THE LAST ITEMS THAT YOU HAD FOR THE WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD HELP WOMEN, WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD HELP MEN. I'M NOT SURE.
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU HAVE ANY NEW DATA FOR US AT THIS TIME, I ALSO SAW THAT YOU SAID IN THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA, YOU HAVE AS PURPLE THAT ALL CITIES ARE DOING THIS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, I WOULD RECOMMEND WHEN YOU BRING US SOMETHING, AT LEAST FOR ME, I UNDERSTAND MARKETING COMPLETELY AND STATISTICS, BUT I LIKE THEM TO BE FAIR AND HONEST, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DO A PRESENTATION TO ASK US TO DO SUPPORT OF SOMETHING.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, I FEEL THAT SOME OF THIS PRESENTATION DID NOT HAVE THAT.
SO I THINK THAT THIS IS INTERESTING, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR CITY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKED TO EVEN WEIGH IN ON AND GET MORE INFORMATION FROM OUR RESIDENTS, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT, AND JUST BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME SOFTWARE PROGRAMING THAT BROWARD COUNTY SUPERVISOR ELECTION COULD USE AND WOULD POSSIBLY USE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REALLY A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR US TO BE LOBBYING THE STATE ON THIS AS A COMMISSION.
IF THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THIS COMMISSION THAT FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IT, THEN INDIVIDUALLY THEY ARE ALL AT LIBERTY FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL SELVES TO THROW SUPPORT TO IT, BUT NOT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY UNLESS THERE IS CONSENSUS.
THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO CALL FOR CONSENSUS.
DO I HAVE CONSENSUS FOR A RESOLUTION OF THIS MATTER FOR US TO TELL THE STATE OF FLORIDA WE SUPPORT THEM, NOT--.
LET ME REPHRASE IT IN NOT BEING A DOUBLE NEGATIVE.
THE REQUEST FROM VICE MAYOR GELIN IS FOR THIS CITY TO SEND A RESOLUTION TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA REQUESTING THERE IS NOT A BAN ON RANKED CHOICE VOTING, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. WE'RE AGAINST THE BAN.
SO. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT--.
THIS IS--. WE'RE UP FOR THE CONSENSUS--.
CITIES HAVING RIGHTS AND STATES LEAVING US ALONE, SO.
OK, SO I'M TAKING THAT AS A NO AT THIS TIME.
I AM A NOT, THEREFORE THERE'S NO CONSENSUS--.
PARDON. I DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD TO RESPOND TO IT THE LAST TIME WE GOT CONSENSUS, BUT PEOPLE WERE QUIET, SO.
OK, SO THERE IS NO CONSENSUS ON THIS FOR A RESOLUTION TO BRING THIS UP SUPPORTING THE BAN, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK AND WE WILL BE BACK HERE AT 1:10.
[03:05:03]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE IN RECESS.[INAUDIBLE] 1:13, AND WE WILL BE GOING BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL 10 A.
[10a. Increasing the maximum number of hours for Community Engagement Liaisons]
AND 10 A IS INCREASING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS FOR A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON.THIS WAS REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR GELIN AND MS. CAJUSTE, OUR FINANCIAL I DID NOT REQUEST THIS ITEM.
I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE CITY CLERK AND CITY MANAGER REQUESTING THREE ITEMS TO BE ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY GARDEN, ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT, AND RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
I DID NOT REQUEST FOR THIS TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
WELL, CONSIDERING THAT THIS HAS BEEN ON A PIECE OF PAPER THAT WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING SINCE LAST WEEK, OBVIOUSLY YOU DIDN'T REQUEST IT.
WE WILL PULL THE ITEM. THE ITEM IS NOW PULLED.
IF YOU HAVE AN EMAIL, IF YOU CAN PULL UP THE EMAIL, THAT WAS ORIGINALLY REQUESTED BY A COMMISSIONER GELIN.
AT THE LAST DISCUSSION, THE COMMISSION DIRECTED US TO COME BACK WITH SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SO PERHAPS IT'S MISLABELED THAT IT WASN'T EXACTLY REQUESTED FOR THIS DISCUSSION, IT WAS ORIGINALLY REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR GELIN, SO IF THAT IS AN OVERSIGHT, WE STAND CORRECTED. OK, SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO US BECAUSE VICE MAYOR GELIN ORIGINALLY WANTED IT IN OUR LAST MEETING, THERE WAS THREE PEOPLE THAT HAD CONSENSUS FOR IT. THE CITY STAFF IS NOW RESPONDING TO THE CONSENSUS OF THE THREE, BRINGING IT AS AN ITEM FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AT THIS MEETING.
OK, NOW THAT WE GOT THAT ALL SQUARED AWAY.
WE HAVE MRS. CAJUSTE, OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, AND MR. CALHOUN, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, WHO WILL PROVIDE A PRESENTATION FOR THIS COMMISSION. PLEASE PROCEED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
CHRISTINE CAJUSTE, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.
ON FEBRUARY 9, 2022, AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING [INAUDIBLE] STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO REVIEW A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOURS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON TO 29 HOURS PER WEEK PER LIAISON.
STAFF WAS ALSO REQUESTED TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSAL.
CITY ORDINANCE O-2021-008 WAS AMENDED ON FEBRUARY 21ST, 2021, TO ALLOW UP TO THREE ENGAGEMENT LIAISON PER COMMISSIONER.
THE ORDINANCE STATES THAT ANY MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS ENTITLED TO HAVE A MAXIMUM OF THREE LEGISLATIVE AIDES OR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON TO ASSIST IN COMPILING BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON SUBJECTS THAT LEGITIMATELY ARE OR COULD BE OF CONCERN TO THE CITY COMMISSION. THE LEGISLATIVE LIAISON OR LEGISLATIVE AIDES OR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON SHALL BE EMPLOYED BY THE CITY AND SHALL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE PARTICULAR MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
HIRING PREFERENCE TO RESIDENTS MAY BE PROVIDED.
THESE TEMPORARY PART TIME POSITIONS ARE PAID AT 20 DOLLARS PER HOUR.
OUR A FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET WAS UNCHANGED FROM 2021.
THAT WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS CREATED AND REFLECTS 1,250 HOURS, OR APPROXIMATELY 25 HOURS A WEEK, FOR 50 WEEKS EACH.
COMMISSIONER WAS LIMITED TO 25 HOURS PER WEEK IN TOTAL, IN SUMMARY.
HERE IS HOW THE BUDGET WAS BUILT, IT WAS BUILT ORIGINALLY INTO 2021 AND CONTINUE INTO 2022 ON ONE ENGAGEMENT LIAISON AT TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR, PLUS THE ADDITIONAL COST OF CELL PHONE AND ADDITIONAL PAYROLL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EMPLOYEES.
HERE IS A DEPICTION OF THE BUDGET, AS IT STANDS NOW WITH THE DOLLAR VALUES REMAINING UNCHANGED, HOWEVER, IT REFLECTS THE CURRENT NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENT LIAISON THAT'S EMPLOYED PER COMMISSIONER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MAYOR HAS TWO, THE VICE MAYOR HAS TWO, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS HAS ONE, COMMISSIONER BOLTON HAS TWO AND COMMISSIONER PLACKO HAS ONE ENGAGEMENT LIAISON.
IF WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOURS FOR EACH LIAISON, AS IT CURRENTLY STAND BASED ON THE CURRENT NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BUDGET WILL INCREASE BY $131,012 TO
[03:10:10]
$272,620. IF EACH COMMISSIONER INCREASES TO THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LIAISONS ALLOWED BY ORDINANCE, THE BUDGET INCREASES BY $369,556 TO $511,164.WE WERE ALSO ASKED TO SUGGEST ALTERNATIVE, THIS IS ONE ALTERNATIVE, AND THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE INCREASING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS PER COMMISSIONER FROM 25 HOURS A WEEK TO 40 HOURS PER WEEK, WITH NO LIAISON WORKING IN EXCESS OF 20 HOURS PER WEEK.
THIS WOULD INCREASE THE BUDGET BY A LESSER VALUE.
IT WOULD BE BY $98,272 AND THE BUDGET WOULD GO TO $239,880.
AS ADDITIONAL NOTE, WE WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT EACH LIAISON ALSO COMES WITH EQUIPMENT AND THE EQUIPMENT FOR EACH LIAISON IS VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $3,000.
FOR MAXIMUM, THIS EQUATES [INAUDIBLE] NINE LIAISONS, THIS EQUATES TO TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND PER YEAR. FOR NINE OR MORE IF IT'S 15.
AN ADDITIONAL NOTE IS THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO WORKS AN AVERAGE OF 30 HOURS OF SERVICE PER WEEK IS ENTITLED TO FRINGE BENEFIT, SO ANY OVERAGE IN EXCESS OF THE 29 HOURS PER WEEK THAT MAY BE WORK BECAUSE IF THERE IS A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT REQUIRES MORE TIMES OR EVENTS THAT REQUIRES THE ASSISTANCE OF LIAISON OR ANY OTHER MATTER THAT LEADS TO MORE THAN THE ALLOTTED HOURS CAN TRIGGER AN ENTITLEMENT TO FRINGE BENEFITS, WHICH INCLUDES HEALTH INSURANCE AND THE FRINGE BENEFITS AN ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE CITY COMMISSION BUDGET. IT'S FOR YOUR DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION.
COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? I HAVE A QUESTION, OBVIOUSLY.
I THOUGHT THE REQUEST WAS FOR EACH COMMUNITY LIAISON PER WEEK, PER LIAISON [INAUDIBLE] WE SEE THAT? YES.
SO IF IT'S 29 HOURS PER WEEK, PER LIAISON.
SO AT TWENTY NINE HOURS PER WEEK, ONE LIAISON WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $30,160 PER YEAR.
FOR TWO, IT WILL BE $60,320 PER YEAR.
OK, I GUESS I DID SOME DIFFERENT MATH WHEN I WAS DOING MY CALCULATIONS, AND IT WAS WAY MORE THAN THAT. SO MY CONCERN IS THAT THOSE--.
IF WE GO ABOVE 30 HOURS, THAT CAN JEOPARDIZE THE CITY'S POSITION WHEN IT COMES TO FLORIDA LAWS OR WHATEVER LAWS, LABOR LAW [INAUDIBLE] REQUIRES ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS AND PERHAPS A LAWSUIT FROM THE INDIVIDUAL FOR NOT OBTAINING THOSE BENEFITS, AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY BAD. VICE MAYOR GELIN? CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT HAS THE LANGUAGE? THE NEXT SLIDE.
HOURS PER YEAR OF WORK BY LIAISON.
THIS EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FIVE HOURS PER WEEK FOR 50 WEEKS.
EACH COMMISSIONER WAS ASKED TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF HOURS TO 25 HOURS PER WEEK TO STAY WITHIN BUDGET. SO I DON'T SEE WHERE IT SAYS THAT EACH LIAISON HAS TO SPLIT TWENTY FIVE HOURS. WELL, IT STATES THAT IT'S 25 HOURS PER WEEK FOR THE $25000 BUDGET, SO IF YOU HAVE TWO THEN THERE IS 25 HOURS FOR YOU TO SHARE TO STAY WITHIN THE $25,000 BUDGET. DOES THAT READ RIGHT, CITY ATTORNEY? [COUGH] IT'S 1,250 HOURS PER YEAR OF WORK BY LIAISONS.
SO IF YOU HAVE TWO LIAISONS, THAT WOULD BE 1,250 HOURS FOR EACH LIAISON.
OR IS IT SILENT? IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S SILENT ON THAT? MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW STAFF IS INTERPRETING IT, IT HAS [INAUDIBLE] THE WAY THAT [INAUDIBLE], BUT I WILL SAY THAT THAT'S TAKING OUT OF CONTEXT.
I WOULD WANT EVERYONE TO SEE THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF
[03:15:02]
THAT'S RIGHT OUT OF THE ORDINANCE OR--.2021 BUDGET WAS DEVELOPED ON ONE ENGAGEMENT LIAISON AND A BUDGET OF TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND . IN 2021, WHEN THE THE ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED, WE CAME BACK TO THE COMMISSION TO INCREASE THE BUDGET TO REFLECT A NEW NUMBER AT TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND EACH FOR THE ENGAGEMENT LIAISON, AND IT WAS NOT PASSED AND THE CONSENSUS WAS TO LEAVE THE BUDGET AT TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND.
AND WE WERE IN THE PANDEMIC AT THE TIME AND THEY WEREN'T BEING USED AS MUCH, RIGHT? THAT'S THAT'S MY RECOLLECTION, BUT GO AHEAD.
WELL, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE THE BUDGET AT $25000 PER LIAISON PER COMMISSIONER FOR ENGAGEMENT LIAISON. OK.
CAN YOU GO BACK AGAIN TO THAT LANGUAGE? SO, CITY ATTORNEY--.
SO WHERE IS THIS LANGUAGE COMING FROM? THAT ACTUALLY IS MY PRESENTATION.
OK. BASED ON HOW THE BUDGET WAS CONSTRUCTED.
SO HAVE YOU LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE, CITY ATTORNEY? YES, SIR. SECTION 2-32, LEGISLATIVE AIDES.
ANY MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS ENTITLED TO HAVE A MAXIMUM OF THREE SPEAKERS] THAT'S ON THE SCREEN ABOVE US, I MEAN, BEFORE US NOW, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT LIMITING THE NUMBER OF HOURS TO TWENTY FIVE, WHETHER YOU HAVE ONE PERSON, TWO PERSON, OR THREE PEOPLE? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT SAYS, WHERE'S THE DOCUMENTATION THAT SAYS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS IS TWENTY FIVE HOURS PER WEEK? FOR ALL LIAISONS, WHETHER YOU HAVE ONE OR THREE, AND MAYBE THE HR DIRECTOR IS BEHIND YOU, HE CAN SPEAK ON THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
LORENZO CALHOUN, FOR THE RECORD, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
WHEN WE INITIALLY BROUGHT FORWARD THIS POSITION AS IT WAS CREATED DURING A WORKSHOP, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WITH THE PRIOR CITY MANAGER AND THE QUESTION WAS POSED TO HIM IF A COMMISSIONER OR THE MAYOR WANTED MORE THAN ONE, HOW THOSE HOURS WOULD BE ALLOCATED.
AND AT THAT TIME, HE SAID THAT THE LIAISONS WOULD HAVE TO SHARE THOSE 25 HOURS, AS CHRISTINE MENTIONED, BECAUSE THE BUDGET WAS BUILT OUT AT THAT WAY AT THAT TIME.
AND AS SHE DID MENTION, WE RECONSIDERED BASED ON SOME DIRECTION INCREASING THAT, BUT WE WERE TOLD TO PULL IT BACK, AS YOU MENTIONED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BEING UTILIZED DURING THE PANDEMIC AS MUCH.
OK, SO THERE'S NO DOCUMENTATION THAT SAYS IT, THAT'S JUST FROM HIS MOUTH? THAT'S CORRECT. OK, THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME. COMMISSIONER PLACKO? THANK YOU. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME, I REMEMBER ASKING STAFF TO COME BACK WITH SOME ALTERNATIVES, AND I SEE THE ALTERNATIVES ARE HOW MANY MORE DOLLARS IT WILL COST, BUT I THINK MORE WHERE I WAS GOING, WERE MAYBE INTERNS.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT YEARS AGO ABOUT HAVING INTERNS.
THERE ARE SO MANY BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WE COULD UTILIZE THEIR TALENTS, IT WOULD GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.
SO I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT RATHER THAN INCREASE COST? WE DEFINITELY COULD, COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
ONE OF THE DANGERS WE RUN INTO FROM A FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT IS HAVING TWO INDIVIDUALS PERFORMING ESSENTIALLY SAME FUNCTIONS.
ONE BEING AN INTERN AND NOT PAID, AND THE OTHER BEING A PAID POSITION, SO--.
EXPLAIN THAT TO ME. SO IF YOU ARE SUGGESTING TO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS, ONE BEING, LET'S SAY, A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS AN INTERN WHO IS ESSENTIALLY PERFORMING THE SAME FUNCTIONS AS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON, WHICH WE ARE PAYING FOR, WE COULD LEGALLY RUN INTO SOME ISSUES FROM A FAIR LABOR PERSPECTIVE IF WE'RE NOT PAYING THE INTERN AS WELL.
WHAT IF WE USED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS? THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY MORE LEGAL.
YOU'D STILL--. SO YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY IF THE FUNCTIONS ARE DIFFERENT FOR AN INTERN, WE DEFINITELY COULD BRING INTERNS ON BOARD, HOWEVER, IF THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY PERFORMING THE SAME ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON JOB DESCRIPTION, WE WILL LIKELY RUN INTO SOME ISSUES.
SO IF WE HAD A SEPARATE JOB DESCRIPTION, MAYBE THEY JUST DID RESEARCH OR SOMETHING, I'M
[03:20:05]
JUST GRASPING HERE, BUT--.YOU KNOW, LOOK, IF PEOPLE NEED HELP, I GET THAT I'M TRYING TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT, BUT WE ALSO DON'T HAVE AN OPEN CHECKBOOK, SO WE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.
SO I'M TRYING TO FIND SOME MIDDLE GROUND WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE NEED MORE ASSISTANCE, THEY HAVE IT WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK HERE.
SURE. IF I MAY, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN CORRECT ME OR ADD FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING IN THE CHARTER THAT PROHIBITS YOU FROM HAVING VOLUNTEERS THAT COULD WORK FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE AGAIN, THAT I WOULD CAUTION THIS BOARD IS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT FORMING THE SAME ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON JOB DESCRIPTION. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? [LAUGHTER] OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DO NOT.
WELL, COME ON. [LAUGHTER] TRUST ME, I HAVE SEARCHED OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO LOOK AT OTHER MODELS. THIS IS THE MODEL THAT THE MAJORITY UTILIZE THAT HAVE EITHER A LEGISLATIVE AIDE OR A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON.
I CAN REACH BACK OUT AND DELVE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, GO OUTSIDE OF STATE OF FLORIDA AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
[INAUDIBLE] IN THE OFFICE WE WERE RUNNING UNDER STAFFED FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
WE HAD ONE PERSON WORKING FOR FIVE OF US, WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
SO WE NOW HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHERE IT'S SPREAD.
MAYBE WE COULD MAKE MORE USE OF OUR INTERNAL EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE, BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE NOT OVERTAXED, IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION.
I JUST AM LOOKING FOR SOME WAY TO FIND A WAY AROUND THIS, SO I'M OPEN TO ANYBODY'S IDEAS.
[INAUDIBLE] VICE MAYOR GELIN, YOU HAVE YOUR SECOND ROUND.
YEAH. WE DON'T BREAK THE BANK WHEN WE SPEND 20 DOLLARS AN HOUR FOR SOME PART TIME JOBS, BUT WE WERE BREAKING THE BANK WHEN WE PAID A CITY MANAGER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
CAN WE KEEP IT TO THE ACTUAL TOPIC AT HAND INSTEAD OF BRINGING IN POLITICAL OPINIONS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY TO THE TOPIC WE'RE DISCUSSING, PLEASE? IT'S NOT POLITICAL OPINION, IT'S-- IT IS A POLITICAL OPINION.
PLEASE JUST TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS AND WHY YOU WANT IT.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE RUBBER STAMPER.
THE STAFF BRINGS ITEMS TO YOU AND YOU VOTE YES OR YOU VOTE NO, AND THERE ARE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE TRUE POLICY MAKERS DOING RESEARCH.
BRINGING ITEMS TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO CONSIDER TO WAY TO EVALUATE, TO BRING CREATIVE IDEAS TO THE COMMISSION THAT BENEFITS LOCAL BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES, VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES, [INAUDIBLE] BOX TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PASSING JUNETEENTH TO HONOR DIFFERENT TRADITIONS.
SO THERE ARE SOME COMMISSIONERS, YOU DON'T NEED HELP BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING EXCEPT STAMPING YES OR NO.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE HELP, BUT THERE ARE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE BRINGING ITEMS TO THE AGENDA, LIKE THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT THAT REQUIRES RESEARCH AND THAT REQUIRES RESEARCH FROM QUALIFIED PEOPLE WHO ARE COLLEGE EDUCATED OR IN COLLEGE OR IN LAW SCHOOL TO CONDUCT THAT TYPE OF RESEARCH THAT AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT CAN'T REALLY CONDUCT.
AND AS A COMMISSIONER, YOU KNOW YOU'RE A BOSS, RIGHT? YOU'RE YOU'RE AN EXECUTIVE.
SO EXECUTIVES DON'T DO THE DIRTY WORK, THE EXECUTIVES DIRECT, GIVE ORDERS, EVALUATES THE WORK THAT'S PUT TOGETHER BY EITHER STAFF OR YOUR LEGISLATIVE AIDE OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH. YOU EDIT AND FINALIZE AND THEN PRESENT IT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE AN ITEM IS BUDGETED DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT, AND SO I THINK IF YOU GO TO A NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES.
NEXT ONE. YEAH, SO IF WE GO TO THIS SLIDE, SO IF THIS PASSED, LET'S SAY WE--.
HOW MANY HOURS IS THIS? THIS IS A--.
DO YOU HAVE A SLIDE FOR 29 HOURS? [INAUDIBLE]. OK.
SO IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, YOU WOULD BUDGET TO THE CURRENT STATUS WHILE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM OTHER AIDES OR, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WOULD ASK COMMISSIONER PLACKO, VILLALOBOS
[03:25:01]
IF THEY'RE GOING TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL PERSON OR MAINTAIN THEIR CURRENT LEVELS? \ WE WILL [INAUDIBLE] THE DIRECTION OF THE--.I'M SORRY. PLEASE ANSWER HIS QUESTION AND THEN HIS TIME IS DONE.
WE WOULD ACT AT THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS I THINK THAT WE'VE ALL DETERMINED THAT THIS IS A FULL TIME JOB, RIGHT? I THINK WE ALL CAN AGREE TO THAT, I THINK WE'VE ALL SAID THAT AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER. THAT MEANS THAT'S 40 HOURS, THEN WE HAVE, PER WEEK, THAT'S 80 HOURS PER WEEK FROM OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATORS, BOTH [INAUDIBLE].
THEN WE HAVE OUR LIAISON FOR TWENTY FIVE HOURS, THAT'S 145 HOURS A WEEK, NOT INCLUDING STAFF'S TIME, BECAUSE WE USE STAFF'S RESOURCES WHEN WE OUTSOURCING GRAPHICS OR SOCIAL MEDIA POST. SO IT GOES, I WOULD SAY, JUST GIVE IT ANOTHER FIVE HOURS, 150 HOURS A WEEK THAT WE INDIVIDUALLY, COLLECTIVELY CAN HAVE.
I DON'T MEAN TO TAKE A JAB AT MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER BOLTON HAVING TWO LIAISONS, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'M SURE THEY EACH HAVE--.
THEIR LIAISONS, HAVE A ROW ON EACH, WHATEVER THEY DO WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME, BUT TO ADD 29 HOURS MORE FOR AN ADDITIONAL LIAISON, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A THIRD LIAISON.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FULL TIME PEOPLE.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BENEFITS.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, IT'S THEY'RE GOING OVER TWENTY NINE HOURS.
DO WE HAVE DATA, CHRISTINE, SHOWING THE HOURS ACTUALLY WORKED BY THE LIAISONS? BECAUSE MINE DOESN'T EVEN DO 50 HOURS EVERY TWO WEEKS.
YES, WE DO, BUT I DON'T HAVE THEM WITH ME.
OK. IT WAS JUST A RANDOM THOUGHT.
I DON'T KNOW. I THINK WE HAVE PLENTY OF RESOURCES BETWEEN THE CITY, THE TWO ADMIN COORDINATORS THAT ARE NOW FULL TIME, TO BE ABLE TO DO OUR JOB.
OTHERWISE, AS VICE MAYOR GELIN TOLD ME TWO WEEKS AGO, IF YOU'RE NOT UP FOR THE TASK, YOU SHOULDN'T BE ON THE COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONER BOLTON? YOU KNOW, WHILE WE'RE THROWING STONES, LET'S NOT FORGET THAT--.
[INAUDIBLE] STONES THEN. PLEASE PROCEED WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO SAY.
I AM. LET'S NOT FORGET THAT COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS WENT THROUGH ABOUT THREE OR FOUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS.
POINT OF ORDER MAYOR. THIS IS NOT--.
THIS IS NOT YOUR WARNING, BY THE WAY, THE NEXT ONE WILL BE A MOTION TO REMOVE YOU FROM THIS COMMISSION.
FROM THE DAIS. COMMISSIONER BOLTON, PLEASE PROCEED FOR WHY YOU FEEL OR DON'T FEEL WE NEED TO INCREASE HOURS FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON.
SO LET'S NOT FORGET THAT COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS HAD THREE-- LET'S NOT FORGET OUR MANNERS.
COMMISSIONER BOLTON FROM THIS DAIS, AT THIS MOMENT.
[INAUDIBLE] IS AT THE CORRECT PROCEDURE FOR THIS.
YES, IT IS. ASSUMING THERE'S A SECOND THAN IT WOULD BE VOTED ON.
COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, I WILL TELL YOU, I WOULD LOVE TO PASS THE GAVEL AND SAY YES, BUT THE REALITY IS THERE'S NOBODY ON THIS COMMISSION OTHER THAN YOU AND I THAT HAVE THE STONES TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT COMMISSIONER BOLTON IS BEHAVING OUT OF LINE SPEAKERS]. FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE NOT HAD THREE LIAISONS, I'VE HAD TWO.
TALK ABOUT WHY YOU DO OR DO NOT WANT EXTRA HOURS FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON WE MIGHT ACTUALLY GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE FOUR O'CLOCK BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS LEFT TO DO.
COMMISSIONER BOLTON, PLEASE PROCEED ON THE SPECIFIC ITEM ONLY ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS FOR YOUR ITEMS WITHOUT THROWING STONES OR SHADE OR WHATEVER COMBINATION OF WORDING YOU WANT TO USE. MAYOR, I'M NOT THROWING STONES.
THE COMMISSIONER MADE REFERENCE TO ME HAVING TWO ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS, AND WE HAVE TO BE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT I'M THROWING STONES, HE WAS ALSO THROWING STONES WHEN HE-- POINT OF ORDER I WANT TO CLARIFY MY STATEMENT, WHICH I SAID, I APPRECIATE YOU WANT TO CLARIFY, BUT THE REALITY--.
YOU KNOW WHAT, IF COMMISSIONER BOLTON CANNOT READ THE PAPERWORK AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS,
[03:30:01]
SAYING THE CURRENT NUMBER OF LIAISONS FOR THE ANNUAL BUDGET IS THIS, WHETHER OR NOT YOU IN THE PAST HAD THREE LIAISONS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE ALL SEPARATING FOR OR SPLITTING THE TWENTY FIVE HOURS PER WEEK IS IRRELEVANT.THE ONLY THING RELEVANT AT THIS MOMENT IS FOR US TO DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT THIS COMMISSION HAS CONSENSUS TO BRING FORTH, ADDING ANOTHER FOUR HOURS PER WEEK FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL LIAISON PACKAGE, OR IF THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EXPANSION FOR IT TO BE EVERY SINGLE LIAISON, WHICH WE HAVE UP TO THREE, OR NOT DOING ANYTHING AT ALL.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, SO MAY WE PLEASE PROCEED WITH JUST THAT? THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER BOLTON. QUESTION FOR LORENZO CALHOUN.
DO YOU HAVE THE NAMES OF CURRENT AND PAST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS? I DO YOU HAVE THE NAME OF THE CURRENT LIAISONS, I CAN PROVIDE THE NAMES SHORTLY FOR THE PAST LIAISONS IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
GO AHEAD. THE CURRENT LIAISONS AT THIS MOMENT, IS GRANTLEY ADAMS, ALEX BAILEY FOR COMMISSIONER BOLTON, FOR THE MAYOR, IS RUBI GARCIA AND MATTHEW.
I'M GOING TO MASSACRE HIS LAST NAME [INAUDIBLE] I WAS CLOSE, AND FOR COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, JOSHUA KAUFMAN, AND FOR COMMISSIONER GELIN IS DEIDRA ROGERS AND STEVEN MEZA.
OH, I'M SORRY. AND BARBARA, TARNOVE FOR COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST.
PRIOR TO THAT, I RECALL THERE WERE AT LEAST TWO OTHERS-- THREE OTHERS, THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM THEIR SERVICE WITH THE CITY.
I CAN SECURE THOSE NAMES IF YOU GIVE ME A MINUTE FOR MY STAFF AND COME BACK TO THE PODIUM. IF IT IS RELEVANT TO THE CONVERSATION, THEN IT SHOULD PROCEED.
IF IT'S NOT RELEVANT TO THE CONVERSATION, THEN IT IS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR CURRENTLY MOVING FORWARD OF WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING OUR LIAISON HOURS FOR BEING PAID OR NOT.
SO YOU CAN BRING IT TO HIM AND YOU CAN GIVE IT TO HIM AT ANOTHER TIME.
AT THIS RATE, WE NEED TO PROCEED MOVING FORWARD.
IT IS RELEVANT BECAUSE IF THERE WAS EVER A POINT IN TIME WHERE SOMEBODY HAD TWO OR THREE ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS AT THE SAME TIME, THEN IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A NEED, AT LEAST IN THE PAST, FOR THAT NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS, BOTH IN THE FUTURE AND IN THE PAST, SO THAT IS IMPORTANT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION.
WE CAN LOOK AT THE INFORMATION AT ANOTHER TIME.
COMMISSIONER BOLTON, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
NANCY METAYER, CURRENT COMMISSIONER FOR CORAL SPRINGS, WAS MY COMMUNITY SPEAKERS]. MR. ATTORNEY, PARLIAMENTARIAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE DIRECT THIS COMMISSION TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES? INDIVIDUALS ARE SUPPOSED TO ASK TO BE RECOGNIZED BEFORE THEY SPEAK UNDER YOUR RULES OF PROCEDURE, ONCE THEY ARE RECOGNIZED, THEN THEY HAVE THE FLOOR.
I BELIEVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, COMMISSIONER BOLTON HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AND HAS THE FLOOR. THAT IS WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO SPEAK AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
IN THE PAST, OUR ORDINANCE HAD LANGUAGE THAT WE HAD UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF LEGISLATIVE AIDES THAT WOULD BE UNPAID.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
OKAY. AND SO WHY IS IT THAT WE WERE GIVEN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE AIDES UNDERSTANDING THAT WE COULD HAVE NEEDED ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, UNLIMITED NUMBER? WHAT WOULD BE SO DIFFERENT NOW? COMMISSIONER, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I WASN'T INVOLVED WITH THE CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE.
AT THE TIME, YOU MAY RECALL WHEN SAM GOREN AND HIS FIRM WERE HERE, WE DID ENTERTAIN STRIKING THROUGH THAT [INAUDIBLE] AND REPLACING IT JUST WITH THE PAID INTERNS WE HELD OFF AND WITH THE CHANGE OF COUNCIL AT THE TIME, I THINK HANS OTTINOT AND HIS FIRM DID BRING LANGUAGE BACK TO MAKE THAT--.
THE LANGUAGE IS ACTUALLY SILENT IN TERMS OF WHETHER THEY'RE PAID OR UNPAID, IT JUST SAYS THREE, BUT IT DOES NOT DESIGNATE.
SO I'M NOT CERTAIN FOR THE CHANGE FOR THE FOUR OR FIVE VOLUNTEERS THAT WERE ALLOWED VERSUS THE THREE PAID OR UNPAID.
OK. AND EXPLAIN JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL WHY WOULD [INAUDIBLE] LABOR LAW ISSUE TO
[03:35:08]
HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON BEING PAID AND THEN ANOTHER NOT BEING PAID? UNDER THE LABOR LAW, IF YOU HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PERFORMING THE SAME ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF A JOB DESCRIPTION WHERE ONE IS PAID AND THE OTHER IS UNPAID, WE COULD FACE A CLAIM OF AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE FROM THE INTERN OR NON PAID PERSON IF THEY ARE PERFORMING THE SAME JOB AND ONE IS NOT BEING PAID.SO WE HEARD FROM A RESIDENT EARLIER THAT SAID THAT MAYBE WE COULD MAKE A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY, SO IF WE MAKE A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY ASKING THEM TO DO THE SAME THING AS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS, WOULD THAT NOW CREATE ALSO A LABOR LAW ISSUE? I THINK THAT IT MAY IF WE ARE USING THEM ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.
AND THEY ARE PERFORMING THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS LISTED IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER BOLTON, IF ANY OF YOU OR YOUR COLLEAGUES WANTED VOLUNTEERS TO WORK ON A PROJECT, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE, BUT IF YOU ON A CONSISTENT BASIS HAVE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE PERFORMING THE SAME JOB FUNCTIONS AS THOSE WE ARE PAYING EMPLOYEES TO PERFORM, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE AT THAT POINT. I MEAN, THE WHOLE IDEA OF OF ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS IS BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE BUDGET BANDWIDTH TO SUSTAIN ADDITIONAL ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS, AND SO IT'D BE ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS IN ORDER TO FILL THAT GAP.
SO IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE THE SAME JOB FUNCTIONS AS THE PAID PERSONNEL, SO YOU WERE SAYING THAT WOULD CREATE A LABOR LAW ISSUE? YES, IF IT WAS PERFORMED ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, WE WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE.
WHAT [INAUDIBLE] ARE THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ARE OUR HR DIRECTOR WITHIN AN ILLUSTRIOUS LAW DEGREE? CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WE MAY HAVE? WHAT ABOUT AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS WE CAN HAVE UNLIMITED LEGISLATIVE AIDES, AS WE DID IN IN THE PAST, BUT SEPARATING THE LANGUAGE, SEPARATING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AIDES? I THINK THAT WE COULD ENTERTAIN THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY AREN'T PERFORMING THE SAME FUNCTIONS. I THINK WE WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM IF WE DIFFERENTIATE YOUR VOLUNTEERS VERSUS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS.
SO IT DOES NOT CREATE A LABOR LAW ISSUE IF IT'S IN AN ORDINANCE, YOU'RE SAYING? BECAUSE A MOMENT AGO YOU SAID THAT IT CREATES A LABOR LAW ISSUE IF THEY'RE DOING THE SAME JOB FUNCTIONS, BUT NOW IN A DIFFERENT SCENARIO, PUTTING IT INTO AN ORDINANCE, YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN IT.
SO WHAT WOULD BE THE CORRECT-- ACTUALLY, I WAS TAKEN, WHAT YOU REFERENCED AS CREATING AN ORDINANCE AND REFERRING TO ONE AS A LEGISLATIVE AIDE VERSUS THE OTHER, THE PAID COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON.
IF WE DIFFERENTIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE VOLUNTEERS ARE DOING VERSUS THE WORK OF THE COMMUNITY LIAISON, WHICH IS A PAID POSITION.
I THINK WE WILL NOT HAVE AN ISSUE.
ABSENT A ORDINANCE, WOULD YOUR OFFICE BE ABLE TO CRAFT, THEN, JOB DUTIES FOR VOLUNTEERS SO IT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH THE JOB DUTIES OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON SO THAT WE DO NOT RUN INTO THE LABOR LAW ISSUE? I COULD PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE, BUT WE WOULD NOT CREATE A JOB DESCRIPTION SINCE IT IS A VOLUNTEER ROLE OR INTENDED TO BE A VOLUNTEER ROLE.
BUT WE COULD PUT TOGETHER SOME GUIDANCE FOR THE COMMISSION.
I COULD SEE HOW I MISSPOKE WITH SAYING JOB DESCRIPTION, BUT WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO WORK ON THEN, A VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION THAT IS SEPARATE [INAUDIBLE] THAT, THAT DISTINCTLY SHOWS THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS THAT IS PAID AND VOLUNTEERS THAT IS NOT PAID.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. VICE MAYOR ? QUESTION FOR THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, WE RECEIVED $5 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP SPUR THE ECONOMY.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS ON THAT SPEND?
[03:40:03]
WE COLLECTED THOSE FUNDS FOR OUR GOVERNMENT SERVICES, WHICH WE DID, WE APPLIED IT TO OUR GOVERNMENT SERVICES, WHICH WERE POLICE SERVICES.THEY'RE WERE RECEIVED IN 2021, SO NOW THEY'RE ARE PART OF OUR RESERVES, MUCH OF IT IS PART OF OUR RESERVES.
ARE WE GETTING ANOTHER FIVE MILLION THIS YEAR AS WELL, CORRECT? YES. OK. BUT OUR POLICY IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET ONE TIME MONEY, YOU CAN'T APPLY A RECURRING EXPENDITURES TO ONE TIME FUNDS.
SO IF THEY'RE RECURRING, YOU WANT TO APPLY THOSE TO YOUR RECURRING DOLLARS.
CORRECT. QUESTION FOR THE HR DIRECTOR.
HOW MANY JOB VACANCIES DO WE HAVE CURRENTLY? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THERE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT 9 OR 10.
SO ONE OF THE GOALS, I THINK, WHEN WE FIRST ESTABLISH HAVING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS WAS TO HAVE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT.
HR DIRECTOR, AGAIN, AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT WHAT IS THE APPROXIMATE AVERAGE AGE OF EMPLOYEES THAT WORK IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC? [INAUDIBLE]. HOW MANY COLLEGE AGE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE OR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES THAT WE HAVE WORKING FOR THE CITY? I DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION, I CAN GET IT FOR YOU--.
WE'D PROBABLY HAVE FIVE, I WOULD SAY ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 10, ALL RECENT COLLEGE GRADS, IF I HAD TO GUESSTIMATE THE AVERAGE AGE AND THEN SOME EMPLOYEES WOULD PROBABLY LAUGH AT ME, I WOULD PROBABLY SAY BETWEEN 35 TO 40.
[INAUDIBLE] OVER 40. YES, I THINK, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE GOAL OF HAVING COMMUTER ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS IS TO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE, COLLEGE AGE PEOPLE GET MORE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT, UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT, UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS FROM THE INSIDE AND FROM THE POLICY SIDE, WORKING IN THE CITY COMMISSION OFFICE, HAVING INTERACTIONS WITH DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, CITY ATTORNEYS, CITY MANAGERS AND STAFF.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I TRY TO ACCOMPLISH, AND ALSO SERVING AS A MENTOR, AS I STATED EARLIER, MY PRIOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON IS NOW A CITY COMMISSIONER IN THE CITY OF CORAL SPRINGS.
AND SO SHE WAS ABLE TO LEARN FROM THE INSIDE AND NOW APPLY THAT IN THE CITY WHERE SHE LIVES. SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE MOVE TO INCREASING THE HOURS TO UP TO TWENTY NINE HOURS A WEEK, AND IF YOU DON'T USE IT, YOU DON'T USE IT.
IF YOU DO USE IT, THAT'S FINE.
BUT THAT WAY WE AVOID SOME OF THE POTENTIAL ISSUES BROUGHT UP BY HR, AND THEN WE ALSO ALLOW FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET SOME EXPERIENCE WORKING INSIDE OF GOVERNMENT.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BOLTON YOUR SECOND TIME AROUND.
LORENZO I'VE QUESTION FOR YOU.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH LAURA KARPAVICIUTE WAS PAID IN 2012 AS AN INTERN? I CANNOT TELL YOU OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I COULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION SHORTLY.
AND DO YOU REMEMBER-- DO YOU RECALL SHE WAS A PAID INTERN OR SHE WAS JUST INTERNING WITHOUT PAY? I WAS NOT HERE AT THAT TIME.
I WAS NOT HERE AT THAT TIME, BUT I CAN CHECK WITH MY STAFF AND GET THAT ANSWER FOR YOU.
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO ASK LAURA HERSELF? YES, I DO--.
OH, I'M SORRY, MADAM MAYOR. [LAUGHTER] IT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU THOUGH.
MS. KARPAVICIUTE, IF YOU WISH TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS STILL PUBLIC RECORD, PLEASE DO SO.
I WAS A PAID INTERN WHEN I STARTED IT, AND--.
IS YOUR MIC ON? I'M NOT SURE. [INAUDIBLE].
YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH. YES. I WAS HIRED AT THE CITY OF TAMARAC AS A PAID INTERN.
I DO NOT RECALL MY EXACT SALARY WHEN I STARTED AS A PART TIME INTERN, AND THEN I BECAME A FULL TIME INTERN, I BELIEVE IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND $30000 A YEAR.
OKAY, SO YOU RECEIVED MORE MONEY IN 2012 AS AN INTERN THAN THOSE WHO ARE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS 10 YEARS LATER? AS A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE WITH NO BENEFITS AS A TEMPORARY POSITION.
OK. AND YOU WOULD SAY THAT YOUR INTERN POSITION, YOUR PAID INTERN POSITION WAS A SPRINGBOARD TO OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS IN THE CITY? YES, THE POSITION DEFINITELY GAVE ME OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVE MYSELF AS A VALUABLE EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY. DO YOU SEE IT AS A NEGATIVE THAT AFTER YOU WERE A PAID INTERN WITH NO BENEFITS, THAT YOU BECAME AN EMPLOYEE WITH BENEFITS AND THAT YOU PROVIDED VALUABLE
[03:45:07]
CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY? ABSOLUTELY NOT, I'M I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.OK, SO YOU WOULD AGREE THEN THAT PAID INTERNS OR PAID COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS PROVIDE FOR UPLIFTMENT OF THE CITY AND THEY'RE A VALUABLE PART OF THE BACKBONE OF THE CITY BECAUSE THEY COULD EVENTUALLY BECOME WHO YOU ARE TODAY? I WOULD HOPE SO.
WOULD THAT BE A YES OR NO? [INAUDIBLE] OATH HERE, SHE'S ANSWERED THE QUESTION.
[LAUGHTER] DON'T MAKE HER WANT TO RUN BEFORE HER TWO DAYS ARE UP BEFORE SHE LEAVES US.
I CAN ONLY ATTEST TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND IN THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THAT REGARD IS A RESOUNDING YES.
I DO KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY WE CREATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON POSITIONS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION NEEDED ASSISTANCE IN REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY AND REACHING THE PUBLIC IN THE WAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO DO WITH EXISTING STAFF AND YOUR OWN TIME. AND IN THAT REGARD, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A VALUE IN THOSE POSITIONS FOR YOU TO HELP YOU DO THE JOBS THAT YOU DO.
OKAY. A FORMER COMMISSIONER WHO I LOVE AND ADORE, JULIE FISHMAN, ONCE SAID, IT IS NOT ABOUT NOW, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT THE FUTURE.
AND LAURA, YOU ARE A SUCCESS STORY.
YOU'RE A PRODUCT OF A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON, PAID INTERN, AND SO I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE JUST AMAZING FOR US TO MAKE THE DECISION NOW TO HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS WHO COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A LAURA WHO'S MOVING ON TO GREATER THINGS AND MORE MONEY.
UNDER G, YOU CAN BRING THAT UP DURING WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO POSSIBLY INCORPORATE IN THE FUTURE.
COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, YOUR LAST TIME AROUND THROUGH THE CHAIR TO CITY ATTORNEY.
SO THE LIAISONS WORK AT OUR PLEASURE WHILE BEING ELECTED, DOES THAT MEAN THAT LIAISON GOES AWAY WHEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS REMOVED FROM OFFICE? OR DO THEY STAY HIRED WITHIN THE CITY AND REROUTED--? I'M GOING TO DO A POINT OF ORDER.
NOT NECESSARILY, ARE THEY REMOVED FROM OFFICE, THEY'RE NO LONGER ELECTED IN OFFICE OR ARE THEY NO LONGER RUN.
RIGHT. I THINK THAT THE CONCEPT OF THE COMMISSION LIAISON POSITIONS ALL RUN CONCURRENT WITH THE COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE SELECTED THEM, SO IF AND WHEN A PARTICULAR COMMISSIONER WERE TO LEAVE OFFICE, THEN THE PERSON WHO THAT'S SELECTED TO REPLACE THAT COMMISSIONER OR TAKE THAT OFFICE AFTER THAT COMMISSIONER LEAVES WOULD HAVE THE THE RIGHT TO SELECT THEIR OWN LIAISONS AND THE PRIOR LIAISONS THEIR EMPLOYMENT WOULD BE TERMINATED WITH THE CITY.
OK, THANK YOU. AND FOR THE RECORD, I DID HAVE THREE LIAISONS, AT ONE POINT I HAD TWO, AND IT WAS POINTLESS FOR ME PERSONALLY TO HAVE TWO BECAUSE ONE WAS ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING I NEEDED. SO I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT COMMISSIONER BOLTON FOR SAYING A TWO VERSUS THREE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE'S NO NEED FOR A RESPONSE.
HIM. COMMISSIONER BOLTON, YOU--.
WE NEED TO-- HE DID NOT ASK FOR YOUR COMMENT, HE MADE A COMMENT.
HE BASICALLY SAID THAT HE IS CORRECTING HIS RECORD.
PERIOD. THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY, I HANDLED IT.
SO AT THIS POINT, MY THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER AND I WOULD START WITH MY FIVE MINUTES.
SO THERE WAS A QUESTION ASKED, BUT NEVER COMPLETED, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE ANSWER, MS. CAJUSTE, HAS ANYBODY ON THIS COMMISSION GONE OVER THEIR-- TRADITIONALLY, GOING OVER THEIR TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, THAT IS MAKING THIS A REASON THAT WE'VE GONE OUT OF BUDGET TO MAKE THIS REQUEST? ACTUALLY, WE ARE NOT OVERBUDGET.
EXCELLENT. FOR ONCE, THIS COMMISSION HAS NOT GONE OVER BUDGET AND THEN ASK FOR AN EXTENSION. ARE WE CLOSE? IS THERE ANYBODY WHO'S CLOSE? I DON'T NEED WHO, JUST A GENERAL.
EXCELLENT. WE DISCUSSED THIS MATTER A MINIMUM OF TWICE BEFORE, AND IT WAS WHEN WE HAD THE
[03:50:08]
BUDGET ITEM BEFORE US IN THE ORDINANCE BEFORE US, WE DECIDED WE WERE NOT GOING TO INCREASE THE BUDGET.THERE WOULD BE THREE LIAISONS AND ANYBODY WHO WANTED IT WOULD THEN BE HAVE TO SPLIT THE TWENTY FIVE HOURS, PER WEEK.
I THINK, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, WE ARE ALL CAPABLE OF DOING OUR JOBS.
WE KNOW WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR WHEN WE GOT HERE.
IF WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE THIS THE COUNTY OR THE CITY OR THE STATE, THEN, OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR POSITIONS ELSEWHERE.
WE ARE THE CITY MUNICIPAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO OUR JOB.
WE DID NOT HAVE SOME STAFF MEMBERS BEFORE OR STAFF MEMBERS WERE ROTATING DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS IN OUR OFFICE.
WE HAVE SOME STABILITY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING THAT.
SOME OF US BELIEVE THAT WE'RE NOT THE BOSS.
WE ARE JUST AS EVERYBODY ELSE, WE HAVE OUR ROLE TO PLAY, AND SOME OF US GET INTO THE DIRT AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK OF EVERYBODY JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND IF WE CAN'T DO OUR JOBS ACCORDINGLY, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD BE RETHINKING AGAIN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ACCOMPLISH.
AS FAR AS THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE BY OUR EXECUTIVE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR ABOUT HIRING AND FIRING CERTAIN THINGS WITH INTERNS, MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S IN OUR CHARTER OR ORDINANCE OF SOMETHING WHERE WE DON'T HIRE AND FIRE, WHICH IS THE WHOLE REASON WHY THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON PRACTICE WAS CREATED WAS TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFF HIRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THIS COMMISSION WITH WHAT OUR INITIATIVES WERE AND BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR REACH OUT.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, IF WE'RE ABLE TO TRACK SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE REQUESTED BY SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS OR PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION, INCLUDES MYSELF. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ASK PEOPLE TO FOLD AND STUFF ENVELOPES AND SIT IN ONE OF OUR CONFERENCE ROOMS CONSTANTLY, THAT'S A VOLUNTEER POSITION, I'M NOT GETTING PAID . IF IT'S DONE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO PAY THEM IN THE FUTURE? IF NOT, THEN IT'S NOT.
BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS ARE DIRECTED TO ONLY BEING YOUNG OUT OF COLLEGE, IN COLLEGE PEOPLE.
I BELIEVE IF WE HEARD ALL THE NAMES ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS, WE HAVE A NICE RANGE OF AGES AS WELL BECAUSE WE SHOULDN'T BE DISCRIMINATING BASED ON AGE.
AND AS OUR POPULATION HAS A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE--.
IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF YOU WOULD TURN YOUR PHONES OFF AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE MEETING. WE'RE BE OUT OF HERE SOONER.
WE HAVE A LOT OF UNTAPPED EXPERIENCE--.
WELL, YOU'RE HERE, YOU DON'T NEED TO WATCH IT ONLINE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF UNTAPPED EXPERIENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE GREAT BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS, PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP US DO THE RESEARCH THAT I THINK THAT SOME OF US MAY BE REQUIRING OR REQUESTING.
WE FOR SOME REASON I THINK GOT RID OF OUR INTERN PROGRAM.
I'VE WELCOMED THE INTERIM PROGRAM BEING BROUGHT BACK TO US TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMISSION WOULD REQUEST TO DO IN THE FUTURE, THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT IT THEN, BUT AS FAR AS IT GOES FOR THE TOPIC AT HAND FOR LIAISONS INCREASING THE HOURS, WHETHER IT'S TWENTY NINE HOURS A WEEK FOR THE TOTAL ALLOTMENT OF THREE OR GIVING EACH ALLOTMENT OF THREE.
I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF IT ALL AT ALL.
I DO KNOW FOR MY LIAISONS THESE, I JUST GOT A NEW LIAISON JUST, YOU KNOW, POOR GUYS TWO WEEKS INTO THE THING AND I'VE INTRODUCED HIM SAYING, YES, THIS IS MY LIAISON, AND NO, HE'S NOT GETTING A RAISE. SO--.
AT LEAST AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE EXPENDING THE BUDGET ANY FURTHER. I THINK WE NEED TO JUST BE DOING OUR JOBS AND REASSESSING WHAT WE'RE DOING IF WE NEED THE HELP. SO ON THAT NOTE, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR CONSENSUS AND SEE WHERE WE STAND ON, THE FIRST ONE OF INCREASING THE THREE AVAILABLE POTENTIAL LIAISONS TO 29 HOURS A WEEK.
COMMISSIONER BOLTON DO YOU WISH TO INCREASE THEM IN THAT CAPACITY? YES. OK.
COMMISSIONER PLACKO. I'M LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE, $131,000 DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY, SO WE NEED ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE VOLUNTEERS, INTERN, SOMETHING.
OK. LET'S FIND THE HELP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, BUT PLEASE, LET'S FIND IT ANOTHER WAY. THANK YOU.
SO THAT IS A NO FOR INCREASING THE THREE SHARED TO 29 HOURS.
OK. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS IS A NO, AND I'M A NO.
SO WE ARE NOT INCREASING THE THREE TO 29 HOURS PER WEEK.
[03:55:03]
OBVIOUSLY, I'M WORKING UP WITH THE CHAIN, SO THIS IS--.IS THERE A CONSENSUS TO INCREASE 29 HOURS A WEEK FOR EACH OF THEM VERSUS SHARED? COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
THE FIRST ASK WAS WE HAVE A TOTAL OF THREE THAT ARE SPLITTING TWENTY NINE HOURS AND THAT DID NOT GO FORWARD.
SO IF YOU CAN CORRECT THE RECORD ON THAT--.
COMMISSIONER GELIN IS AGAINST IT, NOT IN FAVOR OF HAVING THE THREE ALL SPLIT THE TWENTY NINE HOURS. SO.
NO. OK, NOW WE'RE UP TO WHETHER EACH OF THE THREE HAVE THEIR OWN TWENTY NINE HOURS A WEEK.
COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS HAS SAID NO.
COMMISSIONER PLACKO? I KNOW THAT THEY ARE UNEDUCATED BLOGGERS OUT THERE--.
SO I MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CONTEXT.
NO, YOU DON'T. YOU'VE HAD TIME--SO WE TALKED ABOUT JUST NOW 29 HOURS--.
SO I WAS FOR THAT, 29 HOURS SPLIT BETWEEN THREE PEOPLE.
NOW, IF A MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION WANTS--.
I HAS BEEN ALLOTTED TO EACH MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION, IT IS NOT CALLED FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE TIME.
IS YOUR ANSWER YES OR NO TO THREE COMMUNITY LIAISONS EACH HAVING 29 HOURS? YES OR NO. POINT OF ORDER, THROUGH THE CHAIR, CITY ATTORNEY, CAN YOU WEIGH IN? CAN AN ANSWER BE RESTRICTED TO A YES OR NO? TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A MOTION, THE ANSWER IS EITHER YES OR NO.
I MEAN, SAY FOR THE REASONS I'VE PREVIOUSLY SAID, I'M VOTE YES, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S THE TIME FOR DISCUSSION IS OVER, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR RULES, EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR REASONING AS TO WHY YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
SO WHAT ARE THE RULES REGARDING ASKING FOR CONSENSUS? ARE THERE WRITTEN RULES ABOUT THAT? IT'S THE SAME RULES.
EVERYBODY HAS HAD THEIR ALLOTTED TIME.
WE ARE NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CONSENSUS AND THE ONLY OTHER PERSON LEFT OTHER THAN MYSELF IS COMMISSIONER BOLTON.
DO YOU WISH TO HAVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS EACH OF THE THREE OF THEM, THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP TO, TO EACH HAVE PAY UP TO TWENTY NINE HOURS PER WEEK? SINCE THERE IS SILENCE, IT'LL BE TAKEN AS A NO.
THEREFORE, WE HAVE AT LEAST THREE, ONE ABSTENTION, BUT WE DON'T ABSTAIN HERE, AND VICE MAYOR, WHO IS FOR IT.
I BELIEVE WE'RE NOW DONE WITH THIS TOPIC.
WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO 10 B, DISCUSSION RELATED TO ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT.
[10b. Discussion related to the Anti-Corruption Act]
IF I'M CORRECT BASED ON OUR PAPERWORK, COMMISSIONER GELIN, THIS WAS REQUESTED BY YOU? THAT IS CORRECT. PLEASE PROCEED.THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS BRIEF BECAUSE I AM GETTING HUNGRY.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, CITY OF TAMARAC HAS A LONG HISTORY OF CORRUPTION, AND I THINK THIS COMMISSION SHOULD TAKE A STAND AND SAY WE WILL NOT ALLOW FOR IT GOING FORWARD.
AND SO IN MY VIEW, WE SHOULD MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE AGAINST CORRUPTION. I THINK AS A CITY COMMISSION, WE HAVE FAILED TO HOLD THE PRIOR CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE. HIS CONTRACT REQUIRED AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW, AND I REQUESTED IT MULTIPLE TIMES, THE MAYOR WAS AGAINST IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REQUIRED BY HIS CONTRACT, BUT I DO WE HAVE ANY LIABILITY WHEN THERE IS A OPEN LAWSUIT PENDING? A PERSON HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY.
WE DO HAVE THIS--. WE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHERE IT'S INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN SUCH,
[04:00:03]
DO WE HAVE ANY LIABILITY WHEN THERE'S ONE PERSON ON THE COMMISSION WHO KEEPS PUTTING OUT WRITTEN STATEMENTS AND PUBLICIZING THINGS, IT IS NOT [INAUDIBLE] AS POSSIBLY THE BODY AGREEING TO. CERTAINLY, EACH ONE OF YOU CAN VOICE YOUR PERSONAL OPINION.AS TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, I OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO ANSWER.
THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY, I THINK THAT THERE WAS A ROBUST AND THOROUGH DISCUSSION AS TO THE REASONS BEHIND THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THIS COMMISSION WITH REGARD TO MR. CERNECH AND HIS TERMINATION, I THINK THAT RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
I, FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH, I WOULD RECOMMEND MINIMIZING THAT ANY ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, TIME WILL TELL.
[INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW, BUT TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF LIABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO STATEMENTS OF THE COMMISSION AND ACTIONS OF THE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR GELIN, IT WOULD BE REALLY APPRECIATED IF YOU CAN TRY TO MAKE YOUR POINTS WITHOUT DEROGATORY STATEMENTS AND FINGER POINTING AT OTHERS AND JUST GET TO THE ACTUAL MEAT AND POTATOES OF WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
I'M SURE THERE'S QUITE GOOD STUFF IN THERE WITHOUT THE NEGATIVITY.
THANK YOU. IF FACTS HAPPEN TO BE NEGATIVE, IT'S JUST NEGATIVE.
I MEAN, I DIDN'T MAKE ANYBODY PARTICIPATE IN A $3.4 MILLION SCHEME.
PLEASE PROCEED. THE ITEM IS ANTI-CORRUPTION, AND WE HAD A CITY MANAGER ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION. HE'S BEEN ARRESTED, BUT NOT--.
HE'S BEEN CHARGED, BUT NOT CONVICTED.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IN YOUR STATEMENTS, IT'S CALLED ALLEGED.
CORRECT. FOR ANYBODY ON THIS COMMISSION WHO MIGHT BE TAKEN OFF FOR THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUES. THANK YOU. SO THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN THE RESIDENTS AND MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT AND STAND AGAINST CORRUPTION, AND SO I'M RECOMMENDING THAT WE PASS AN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT.
WE HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS, NOT JUST LOCALLY BUT NATIONALLY, BECAUSE THE DEFENDANT, FORMER CITY MANAGER MICHAEL CERNECH, CONSPIRED WITH CONVICTED FELONS, RELAYED FALSE INFORMATION TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, WHICH INCLUDES THIS COMMISSION AND HIGH LEVEL STAFF MEMBERS, MADE NATIONAL NEWS NOT JUST THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, BUT ALSO U.S.
NEWS AND WORLD REPORT. SO PUTTING A NEGATIVE STAIN ON THE CITY OF TAMARAC, AND THAT'S JUST THE RECENT HISTORY. ALSO REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE.
SO THIS HAD A LOT OF BROAD COVERAGE WHICH DOES NOT HELP OUR CITY OR OUR CITY'S REPUTATION. AND, YOU KNOW, CITY OF DELRAY BEACH ALMOST HIRED THEM, THEY'RE GLAD THAT THEY DIDN'T. HE ASKED FOR A REALLY BOLD PACKAGE OF FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND, AND HE ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY THERE, I'M NOT RELATED TO THIS LYNN GELIN PERSON, NOT TO DISCLOSE THE DETAILS OF THE COMPENSATION HE WANTED BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO APPEAR GREEDY.
SO THIS COMMISSION DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON A DISPARITY STUDY, BUT YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO A GUY WHO DIDN'T WANT TO APPEAR GREEDY FOR ASKING FOR $400,000 WITH THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH.
BUT WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF CORRUPTION GOING BACK TO THIS GENTLEMAN, AND AT THE TIME, ANOTHER CITY, COMMISSIONER SAID NO DEVELOPER COULD GET ANYTHING DONE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THIS COMMISSIONER, AND HE BECAME A MILLIONAIRE AFTER BECOMING THE MAYOR OF TAMARAC. ALL THE BUILDING PERMITS NEEDED TO GO THROUGH HIM.
WHEN HE STARTED IN POLITICS, HE WAS DRIVING A LITTLE CAR, AND WHEN HE FINISHED, HE WAS DRIVING A MERCEDES.
THIS IS THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, WHERE OUR PRIOR CITY MANAGER WAS HERE AT THE TIME. THEN WE HAD ANOTHER CITY COMMISSIONER, WHO TOOK $30,000 WHILE IN OFFICE AND PASSED CONTROVERSIAL VOTES THAT BENEFITED THE SAME SHAWN AND BRUCE CHAIT BROTHERS, OR FATHER AND SON DUO, THAT THE LAST CITY MANAGER WAS WORKING WITH.
SO THAT'S THE LONG HISTORY OF CORRUPTION IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
DIDN'T COMMISSIONER SULTANOF PASS AWAY BEFORE ANY CONVICTION, SO THEREFORE THERE SHOULD NOT BE COMMENTS AS IF HE DID? I BELIEVE THAT, AS I RECALL, I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY, BUT MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT HE WAS CHARGED, BUT BEFORE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE CASE AND TO MOVE FORWARD, HE DID PASS AWAY.
BUT HE WAS CHARGED FOR A CRIME OF GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS CORRUPTION IN HIS CAPACITY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
AND AS SHOWN IN THIS AFFIDAVIT, THIS INVESTIGATION, WHICH LED TO THE ARREST OF THE FORMER CITY MANAGER, HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 11 YEARS.
SINCE 2010, THEY'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND THE LEADERSHIP HERE.
[04:05:04]
MAYOR GOMEZ, YOU WERE ALSO CITED IN THE DOCUMENT TALKING TO 13TH FLOOR ABOUT HOW IT MAY AFFECT THE FUTURE VOTE, WHICH SHOULD ONLY BE BASED ON THE FACTS AND EVIDENCE IN A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING, SO THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ROLE THAT YOU HAVE PLAYED IN THIS SITUATION.AND THEN WE HAD SOME OTHER COMMISSIONERS ACTUALLY, YOU GOT INTO OFFICE BECAUSE ANOTHER COMMISSIONER WAS REMOVED, HOWEVER, BOTH WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED, BUT FOUND NOT GUILTY, AS I AM SHOWING HERE.
AND IF YOU CAN PLAY THIS VIDEO.
SO HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO TO END CORRUPTION AND THE PERCEPTION OF CORRUPTION IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC. AMERICA HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS, AND WHEREVER YOU ARE ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, WHATEVER PROBLEMS YOU CARE ABOUT, I'LL BET THAT YOU AGREE POLITICIANS ARE MAKING THINGS WORSE AND NOT BETTER. IT'S NOT SURPRISING, REALLY.
A RECENT PRINCETON STUDY FOUND THAT AVERAGE AMERICANS HAVE A NEAR ZERO STATISTICALLY NONSIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON PUBLIC POLICY.
WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS TO FIX, BUT WE HAVE A NEAR ZERO IMPACT ON OUR OWN GOVERNMENT.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? WELL, POLITICIANS SPEND UP TO 70 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME FUNDRAISING LOBBYISTS WRITE OUR LAWS AND THEN DONATE TO THOSE POLITICIANS, WE HAVE A TWO PARTY DUOPOLY, EVEN THOUGH MOST VOTERS DON'T LIKE EITHER PARTY, AND GERRYMANDERING HAS MADE 86 PERCENT OF U.S.
HOUSE ELECTIONS SO UNCOMPETITIVE THAT WE ALREADY KNOW WHICH PARTY WILL WIN BEFORE THE ELECTION EVEN STARTS.
I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT HERE'S WHAT MATTERS.
THERE IS A VAST RING OF INFLUENCE OVER OUR ELECTED LEADERS AND YOU KNOW WHO'S NOT A PART OF IT? YOU.
THE SYSTEM ACTUALLY IS RIGGED AGAINST ORDINARY AMERICANS, AND IT'S WHY ALL THE ISSUES YOU CARE ABOUT ARE STUCK.
FOR MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WATCH THIS VIDEO.
BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO FIX THINGS.
WE STARTED BY ASKING CONSTITUTIONAL ATTORNEYS, POLITICAL EXPERTS, EVEN EX LOBBYISTS, HOW DO WE RIG THE SYSTEM? AND THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING.
FIXING THE LAWS THAT GOVERN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM WOULD FIX THE SYSTEM ITSELF, SO THEY HELPED US DRAFT A MODEL LAW CALLED THE AMERICAN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT.
THE ACT IS DESIGNED TO UNDO THIS RING OF INFLUENCE AND REINSTATE 'WE THE PEOPLE' AS THE TOP PRIORITY OF OUR ELECTED LEADERS.
YOU CAN READ THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT AT ANTICORRUPTIONACT.ORG.
WE ASKED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF IT AND MORE THAN 90 PERCENT, PROGRESSIVE AND CONSERVATIVE, SUPPORT THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT, 90 PERCENT ACROSS PARTY LINES. YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE POLLS THAT HIGH? FREE ICE CREAM AND THIS KITTEN.
BUT EVEN WITH THAT MUCH SUPPORT, CONGRESS SIMPLY WON'T PASS IT.
I MEAN, WHY WOULD THEY? THEY'D BE CHANGING THE VERY SYSTEM THAT KEEPS THEM IN POWER.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO GO AROUND CONGRESS, AND THAT MEANS A MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE PASSING ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTS CITY BY CITY, STATE BY STATE, ACROSS AMERICA.
BUT WAIT, YOU SAY, HOW DOES PASSING STATE AND LOCAL LAWS FIX OUR BROKEN FEDERAL SYSTEM? WELL, MY FRIEND, TWO WAYS.
FIRST, THE U.S. CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT STATES SET THE RULES FOR FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
SO WHEN WE FIX GERRYMANDERING OR VOTING RULES IN A STATE, WE'RE DIRECTLY FIXING CONGRESS.
SECONDLY, AS IF THAT'S NOT COOL ENOUGH, ALLOW ME TO QUOTE DIRECTLY FROM THIS BLOOMBERG NEWS STUDY. PASSING STATE LAWS ULTIMATELY LEADS TO FEDERAL VICTORY.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS. THIS MAP WILL SHOW WHICH STATES FIRST GAVE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE, AND THIS CHART WILL SHOW THE NUMBER OF STATES OVER TIME FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS CHART IS WHERE WOMEN FINALLY WON THE RIGHT TO VOTE FEDERALLY IN 1920. SO LET'S START OVER HERE ON THE LEFT IN 1890, WHERE WYOMING BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO LET WOMEN VOTE.
OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES, MORE STATES GOT ON BOARD UNTIL WE EVENTUALLY HIT THIS YELLOW LINE. THEN WE SEE A RUSH OF STATE ACTIVITY, FOLLOWED BY FEDERAL VICTORY.
HERE'S THE SAME CHART SHOWING STATES LEGALIZING INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE OVER NEARLY TWO CENTURIES. WE HIT THAT YELLOW LINE AND SOON AFTER FEDERAL VICTORY.
BUT HERE'S THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY ONLY TOOK THREE YEARS AFTER HITTING THIS YELLOW LINE TO REACH FEDERAL VICTORY. THIS IS A STRATEGY THAT'S WORKED OVER AND OVER FOR ISSUES THAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE AT THE TIME, AND IT CAN WORK FOR THIS TOO.
SO WHAT'S THIS MAGIC YELLOW LINE ALL ABOUT? IT MARKS A KEY EVENT, OFTEN A COURT DECISION OR GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN, REACHING MATURITY THAT TRIGGERS A RUSH OF STATE ACTIVITY THAT ULTIMATELY LEADS TO A CHANGE IN FEDERAL LAW.
SO WE'VE GOT A PROVEN POLITICAL STRATEGY, AND WE HAVE LAWS THAT WOULD DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE OUR BROKEN SYSTEM.
BUT HOW DO WE GET THOSE LAWS PASSED? WELL, THAT GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN REACHING MATURITY, IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
REPRESENT US IS BRINGING TOGETHER CONSERVATIVES AND PROGRESSIVES TO PASS CITY AND STATE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTS ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
[04:10:01]
TOGETHER, WE'VE ALREADY WON MORE THAN 90 VICTORIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND BY THE TIME YOU WATCH THIS VIDEO, THAT NUMBER WILL PROBABLY BE OUT OF DATE.THAT'S HOW POPULAR ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS ARE IN THE UNITED STATES.
ALMOST NINE OUT OF EVERY 10 PEOPLE SUPPORT IT.
THEY JUST MAY NOT KNOW WHAT'S POSSIBLE TO WIN.
OUR GOAL IS TO PASS ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTS AND A HANDFUL OF STATES IN TWENTY EIGHTEEN.
MORE IN 2020 AND DOZENS BY 2022.
ALL IN PURSUIT OF THAT TIPPING POINT WHERE A RUSH OF STATE ACTIVITY LEADS TO A CHANGE IN FEDERAL LAW. ALL RIGHT, SO REWIND.
NOW WE HAVE A LAW THAT CAN FIX THESE PROBLEMS, WE HAVE A STRATEGY THAT'S STARTING TO WORK, AND YOU'RE THINKING TO YOURSELF, HEY, CAN I HELP OUT? ABSOLUTELY. THERE ARE TWO WAYS YOU CAN HELP RIGHT NOW.
THE FIRST IS TO VOLUNTEER WITH A LOCAL REPRESENT US CHAPTER.
GO TO REPRESENT.US, RIGHT? AND FIND OR START ONE NEAR YOU.
LET'S SEE. SO THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT, THE PEOPLE, YOU GUYS, THE RESIDENTS, THE MOST IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS AND WE NEED TO RELY ON YOU TO WIN OFFICE.
WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS? IT STOPS POLITICAL BRIBERY, ENDS SECRET OR DARK MONEY AND ENFORCES THE RULES, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE IN PLACE NOW.
IT ALSO CHANGES HOW ELECTIONS ARE FUNDED.
A LOT OF ELECTIONS ARE FUNDED WITH LOBBYISTS, WITH BUSINESS OWNERS MAKING BIG THOUSANDS DOLLAR, FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR BIG TIME CHECK DONATIONS, AND SO ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE LIKELY TO LEAN TOWARDS PASSING LAWS THAT BENEFIT SPECIAL INTERESTS RATHER THAN BENEFITING THE PEOPLE. REASONABLE TERM LIMITS.
YOU KNOW, WHAT, IF WE HAD A LAW THAT SAID YOU CAN SERVE NO MORE THAN 18 YEARS IN TOTAL FOR ALL OF YOUR ELECTED OFFICE? SO FOUR YEARS IS COMMISSIONER, FOUR YEARS AS MAYOR, FOUR YEARS AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
ONCE YOU HIT 18 AT EVERY LEVEL YOU'RE DONE, IT JUST AVOIDS HAVING PEOPLE THAT BECOME CAREER POLITICIANS DOING WORK FOR SELF-DEALING RATHER THAN FOR THE PEOPLE.
WHO PASSED ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTS ALREADY? CITY OF TALLAHASSEE WAY BACK IN 2014, CITYWIDE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT, WHICH PASSED TWO TO ONE. THAT WAS NOVEMBER 4, OF 2014.
HERE'S ANOTHER VIDEO REGARDING THE PASSAGE OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT AND THE VARIOUS GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT GOT TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SOMETHING BIG JUST HAPPENED IN ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST INFAMOUS POLITICAL BATTLEGROUNDS.
SOMETHING THAT STOPS BIG MONEY FROM CORRUPTING POLITICS AND PUTS POWER BACK INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE.
CITIZENS NEED TO TAKE BACK THEIR GOVERNMENT, AND WE'VE DONE THAT HERE IN TALLAHASSEE.
THE STORY OF HOW THEY WON SHOULD MATTER TO EVERY AMERICAN BECAUSE TODAY WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT ONLY LISTENS TO A TINY FRACTION OF OUR POPULATION.
IT MEANS THAT WE GET STUCK WITH LAWS THAT ARE BAD FOR US AND GOOD FOR THEM.
IT AFFECTS EVERY ISSUE AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.
IT'S RAMPANT, SYSTEMIC, AND WORST OF ALL, IT'S LEGAL.
WE CANNOT IGNORE THIS CORRUPTION ANYMORE BECAUSE [APPLAUSE] THERE IS NO SENSIBLE REFORM POSSIBLE UNTIL WE END THIS CORRUPTION.
IT ALL STARTED WHEN A COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA DECIDED TO SHOW AMERICA WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
THEY SET OUT NOT ONLY TO PROTECT THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT FROM BIG MONEY'S INFLUENCE, BUT TO CREATE A MODEL FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA TO DO THE SAME.
CORRUPTION IS AN ISSUE THAT THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON AND WORK TO AFFECT CHANGE.
CONSERVATIVES AND PROGRESSIVES PUT ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND GOT TO WORK.
THE CHAIR OF THE FLORIDA TEA PARTY NETWORK, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, THE CHAIRMAN OF FLORIDA COMMON CAUSE AND A FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER, BANDED TOGETHER TO CREATE CITIZENS FOR ETHICS REFORM.
WE USE THE AMERICAN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT AS A MODEL FOR WHAT WE DID HERE IN TALLAHASSEE, AND I'M SURE ANY OTHER CITY OR STATE COULD DO THE SAME.
THE AMERICAN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT INCLUDES TOUGH NEW LOBBYING AND ETHICS RULES TO STOP POLITICAL BRIBERY BECAUSE BRIBERY SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, ILLEGAL.
TRANSPARENCY LAWS TO PUT AN END TO SECRET MONEY, SO WE KNOW WHO'S REALLY BACKING OUR POLITICIANS, AND A TAX REBATE FOR VOTERS WHO MAKE SMALL POLITICAL DONATIONS SO WE CAN ELECT POLITICIANS WHO HAVEN'T SOLD OUT TO SPECIAL INTERESTS.
THIS IS WHAT I'M FIGHTING FOR.
I'M FIGHTING FOR YOU, BUT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT TOO.
POLLING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SHOWS THAT ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS ARE INCREDIBLY POPULAR.
WHEN THEY SHOW UP ON THE BALLOT, THEY WIN.
YOU WOULD JUST WALK UP TO PEOPLE AND SAY, WE WANT AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS OFFICER IN TALLAHASSEE, AND PEOPLE WERE LIKE, WHERE DO WE SIGN?
[04:15:02]
WE NEEDED A LITTLE OVER NINE THOUSAND SIGNATURES, WE WERE ABLE TO GET OVER TWENTY THOUSAND. IT'S NOT SO MUCH CONVINCING PEOPLE TO SIGN OFF ON THE PETITION.IT WAS TO CONVINCING PEOPLE THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO DO IT.
SIXTY SEVEN PERCENT OF TALLAHASSEE VOTERS SAID YES TO AN ETHICS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION CODE FOR CITY COMMISSIONERS [INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE] TONIGHT PROVED TWO THINGS, ONE, THAT THIS ISSUE OF FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND MAKING OUR GOVERNMENT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, IT'S NOT A LIBERAL ISSUE, IT'S NOT A CONSERVATIVE ISSUE. IT'S AN AMERICAN ISSUE AND WE PROVED IT IN TALLAHASSEE TONIGHT.
AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING BECAUSE AFTER TONIGHT WE ARE TAKING THIS VICTORY AND WE WERE GOING OUT TO OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY UNTIL IT REACHES WASHINGTON AND WE PASS IT NATIONALLY AND STARTED HERE TONIGHT.
WE CAME TOGETHER TO SHOW AMERICA THAT WE CAN TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT IF YOU'RE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR IT, THE PROMISE OF A GOVERNMENT OF, BY, AND FOR THE PEOPLE IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
PASS THIS VIDEO ON TO YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR COLLEAGUES, YOUR FAMILY.
IF WE PUT ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES AND WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN PASS ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS FROM COAST TO COAST AND GIVE AMERICA BACK TO ITS RIGHTFUL--.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S TALLAHASSEE, COCOA FLORIDA CITY COUNCIL ALSO PASSED IT, AND AS STATED EARLIER, A PRINCETON STUDY SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BASICALLY HAVE NO IMPACT ON THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE SAW THAT HERE, AND WE SAW PEOPLE STAY HERE UNTIL 5:00 A.M.
AND ASKED FOR US TO VOTE NO ON SOMETHING, AND SOME PEOPLE VOTED YES AGAINST THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. SO, WHAT ARE THE ACTION ITEMS NEXT STEPS? LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS AND DIRECTION TO HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY DRAFT AN ORDINANCE AND ADOPT AN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC, BASED LARGELY ON THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE ANTICORRUPTION ORDINANCE, BUT WITH INPUT FROM THE CITY COMMISSION.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT ARE ON THE ACT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THEY LIMIT THE CONTRIBUTION TO $250 DOLLARS, AND SOME PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE MORE THAN $250.
SO I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF LIMITING THAT AMOUNT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I DO AGREE WITH IT. DRAFT A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A DISCUSSION. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS, EVEN THOUGH THE CITY MANAGER WASN'T ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION AND ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION, IT STILL REFLECTS BAD ON THE COMMISSION. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE CORRUPT WHEN IT WAS REALLY THE CITY MANAGER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? I'M ALL RIGHT WITH THE CITY COMING BACK TO US FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD REFLECT TAMARAC IN ANY OTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY FEDERAL OR STATE LEVELS, SO I'M ALL FOR TRANSPARENCY, I'M ALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
I THINK ON A TAMARAC LEVEL IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
COMMISSIONER PLACKO? THANK YOU. I AM ALL FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION YOU SAID AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY.
THROUGH THE CHAIR, VICE MAYOR GELIN? GO AHEAD. PARDON ME.
YOU SAID [INAUDIBLE] THE COMMUNITY.
ARE WE GOING--? ARE YOU SUGGESTING WE GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ASK WHAT THEY THINK? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO, I THINK WE JUST--.
[INAUDIBLE] WANTED TO BE SURE I UNDERSTOOD.
YEAH. SO FOR THE OTHER CITIES, THEY JUST GOT TOGETHER AND GOT IT ON THE BALLOT, BUT WE HAVE THE POWER TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT OURSELVES.
THANK YOU. CITY ATTORNEY? YES, MADAM MAYOR.
ACTUALLY, THERE IS A PROVISION WITHIN YOUR CHARTER RIGHT NOW THAT PROVIDES FOR ESSENTIALLY THE ADOPTION OF AN ETHICS CODE, WHICH IS IN CHAPTER TWO OF YOUR CODE.
I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU ALL THAT IF IT'S YOUR DIRECTION TO ME AND MY OFFICE TO DRAFT SUCH AN ORDINANCE, IT CAN BE PUT THERE BY YOUR ACTION, BY ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE ELECTORATE OBVIOUSLY HAS TO GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS, ET CETERA. [INAUDIBLE] WAS UP TO YOU IF WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO PUT IT UP TO A REFERENDUM VOTE OR JUST ADOPT IT YOURSELVES BECAUSE IT CAN, AND THE CHARTER ALREADY PROVIDES FOR THE ADOPTION OF A CODE OF ETHICS FOR THIS BY THIS CITY COMMISSION AND YOU ALREADY HAVE IT IN YOUR CODE. WE WOULD JUST AMEND IT TO INCLUDE THESE PROVISIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE SEGUE, IT'S PERFECT.
IN 2010, THERE WAS A BALLOT REFERENDUM FOR THE BROWARD COUNTY, FOR THERE TO BE A CODE OF
[04:20:06]
ETHICS, AND IT WAS IMPARTED ON THE COUNTY.THE COUNTY ALSO THEN IMPARTED IT ON TO US AS LOCAL LEADERS IN BROWARD COUNTY, AND ACTUALLY IT EVEN STEMS DOWN TO, NOT EVEN THE DAIS, IT SENDS TO ALL, I THINK AT THIS POINT, CITY MANAGERS AND POTENTIALLY CITY ATTORNEYS OR ANY OTHER EXECUTIVE TEAM IS THAT CORRECT? SO WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS ON OUR CITY.
WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WE ACTUALLY TOOK OUT OUR ETHICS RULES AND OUR CODE OF ETHICS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND WE MADE SURE THEY WERE SHIPSHAPE AND STRONG AND WE HAD DONE THAT IN THE PAST. OUR CITY COMMISSION ALREADY HAS THAT.
THE STATE ALSO HAS SOME VERY STRICT RULES THAT WE, ON THIS COMMISSION, DO HAVE TO FOLLOW WHEN WE ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
THAT'S WHY THE CITY CLERK GETS, ONCE A MONTH FROM ANYBODY WHO'S RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THESE DETAILED LISTS THAT SAY WHO WE RECEIVE MONEY FROM THE MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION AND WHAT THEIR OCCUPATION IS, AND IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND NICE AND TRANSPARENT FOR ANYBODY TO SEE.
SO OUR CITY HAS ALREADY BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THAT, SO EVERYBODY IS FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND THAT THE PEOPLE SEE AND HAVE ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY TO WHAT WE'RE DOING OR EASY ACCESS TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
[INAUDIBLE] IS SEPARATE AND APART FOR EACH COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO VOTE, THAT IS A REFERENDUM BEFORE THE PEOPLE FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE COUNTY, THAT IS THE COUNTY AND THE STATE IS A STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY LOCALLY TO BE CROSSING THOSE LINES AND MAKING THAT DETERMINATION. THE VIDEO IS FROM 2014, NOVEMBER 2014, SO.
AND SEEING THAT SINCE 2014, THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE OTHER CITY THAT HAS--.
WELL, YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD NO, BUT VICE MAYOR [INAUDIBLE] COCOA IS THE ONLY ONE THAT YOU MENTIONED IN FLORIDA, SO I'M GOING BASED ON WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED.
IT'S A GREAT, GREAT, GREAT SOUNDBITE.
WE'RE ALL AGAINST CORRUPTION, OBVIOUSLY, WHETHER THAT'S A SOUNDBITE OR NOT, IT IS THE TRUTH. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE TRUTH FROM THIS COMMISSION, BUT IF THIS COMMISSION HAS REVIEWED OUR ETHICS ORDINANCE AND FEELS THAT WE NEED TO ENHANCE IT FOR SOME WAY, THEN YEAH, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
BUT TO PASS SOMETHING ON AN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT TO JOIN A MOVEMENT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GOOD, I DON'T THINK OUR CITY COMMISSION SHOULD BE USED FOR THAT KIND OF PROPAGANDA, SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU WISH TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS IN GENERAL, PLEASE DO SO. PARDON ME.
YOU LIT YOUR MIC, SO YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO YOUR THOUGHTS IN GENERAL? YEAH, YEAH.
YEAH, WE HAVE BROWARD COUNTY ETHICS COMMISSION AND WE HAVE SOME STUFF IN OUR CODE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC ANTICORRUPTION ACT.
AND SO AS I WAS STATED EARLIER, WE SHOULD MODEL OUR ACT AFTER THE ACT THAT WAS PASSED IN TALLAHASSEE, WHICH WAS LARGELY BASED ON THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT, WHICH YOU HAVE AS PART OF YOUR BACKUP MATERIAL.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE FOR THE COMMISSION TO THOROUGHLY READ THE ACT AND LOOK AT THE ELEMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
LOOK AT THAT CITY OF TALLAHASSEE CODE, WHICH WE CAN ALL ACCESS ON THE INTERNET THROUGH MUNICODE.COM AND SEE WHAT ELEMENTS OF THAT THAT YOU LIKE OR DISLIKE.
WE CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP DISCUSSION ON IT AND DECIDE WHAT ELEMENTS WE WANT TO INCLUDE TO JUST HOLD OURSELVES TO A HIGHER STANDARD, TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AND LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ANTI-CORRUPTION BY PASSING AN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT.
IT'S EASY TO SAY, YEAH, YEAH, WE'RE ALL AGAINST CORRUPTION.
I'VE BEEN ANTI-CORRUPTION FOR A LONG TIME, WHICH IS WHY I WAS ON THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE I KNEW HE WAS CORRUPT, BUT DIDN'T GET SUPPORT ON THE COMMISSION TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT PASSING AN ACT TO HOLD OURSELVES TO A HIGHER STANDARD IS WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.
SO I THINK WE HAVE SUPPORT THROUGH COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS AND COMMISSIONER PLACKO, SO I THINK WE SHOULD WORKSHOP IT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
CITY ATTORNEY, YOUR LIGHT WAS LIT? YES, TO THAT POINT THAT I DO HAVE THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE SECTIONS OF THE CODE [INAUDIBLE] WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT IN FURTHER DEPTH AND CONTACTING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE MAIN COMPONENT OF THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE IN A CORRUPTION ACT AS THEY ADOPTED IT IS A LIMITATION ON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO CITY ATTORNEYS, SHOULD THAT NOT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO OUR BACKUP MATERIAL, IF THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD FOR OUR LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE PRESENTATION? AS A PERSON WHO IS PRESENTING TO US, I BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF THE PRESENTER TO PROVIDE US THAT INFORMATION, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY NICE THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO BE READ BEFORE TODAY FOR FUTURE
[04:25:04]
DISCUSSION. SO I THINK WE HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED WITH ALL MATERIALS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE REST OF THIS ITEM.COMMISSIONER BOLTON. I'M ALL FOR THE ANTI CORRUPTION ACT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE CAN COME BACK WITH.
SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I'M DOING CONSENSUS ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL BE COMING BACK FOR A FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH A COMPLETE PICTURE OF WHAT TALLAHASSEE HAS BEEN DOING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON HOW IT RELATES TO OUR POLICIES IN PLACE BEFORE GOING FORWARD.
YES, BUT TALLAHASSEE IS ONE OF THE MANY CITIES THAT'S OVER 120 CITIES--.
WE ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT FLORIDA RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, AND THAT'S THE ONE WE CAN LOOK AT ANY OF THE 120 CITIES AND GET ELEMENTS OF THOSE.
IS NOT UP TO ME TO GIVE YOU THE BACK UP ON 120--.
SO, I TAKE IT, WE HAVE A YES FOR VICE MAYOR GELIN ON WISHING TO PROCEED WITH A FUTURE DISCUSSION ON HOW IT MAY RELATE.
COMMISSIONER PLACKO? COMMISSIONER BOLTON? YOU HAVE CONSENSUS, PLEASE PROCEED WITH DRAFTING.
WHAT'S YOUR VOTE, MAYOR GOMEZ? COMING BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR DISCUSSION BASED ON THE TALLAHASSEE ACT AND OUR OWN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT ARE IN PLACE.
AND BECAUSE YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, VICE MAYOR, THIS IS NOT A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, YOU ASK ME-- I DON'T WANT TO LIMIT THE TALLAHASSEE, YOU'RE SAYING LIMIT TO TALLAHASSEE.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE LIMITED--.
ISN'T THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THAT WAS IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
SO THEREFORE, THAT IS WHAT WILL BE DONE.
CITY CLERK, YOU HAVE THE CONSENSUS OF THE COMMISSION.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO 10 C, ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR GELIN. YEAH, I NEED A RESTROOM BREAK.
THEN WE WILL NOW MOVE TO COMMISSIONER BOLTON WHILE VICE MAYOR TAKES A RESTROOM BREAK.
WE WILL NOW BE GOING TO ITEM E.
I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT UNDER THAT ITEM.
I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. I DO NOT HAVE ANY DIRECTIONS UNDER THAT ITEM.
HE DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN THE ITEM FOR [INAUDIBLE].
WE WOULD LIKE TO. CAN WE GET THIS DONE? IT SHOULD BE QUICK. CAN WE HOLD IT? YOU KNOW WHAT--.
MAYOR, LET'S GO TO I THOUGHT YOU HAD NOTHING FOR ITEM E.
ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SOMETHING UP JUST TO MAKE SOMETHING UP TO STALL? ACTUALLY, THIS ITEM--. WE ARE NOW IN RECESS.
RECESS. IT IS 2:40, WE ARE RESUMING OUR COMMISSION MEETING.
[10c. Establishment of a community garden]
COMMISSIONER PLACKO SENDS APOLOGIES, BUT SHE HAS A MEETING THAT SHE HAS TO GET TO.THE EXPECTATION OF THIS MEETING TO LAST AS LONG AS IT HAS WAS NOT WHAT WAS EXPECTED WHEN HER DAY WAS SCHEDULED.
SO WE ARE NOW UP TO OUR LAST ITEM, WHICH IS COMMUNITY GARDEN REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR GELIN. THANK YOU.
THIS IS A PRETTY SHORT PRESENTATION, MAYBE THREE OR FOUR SLIDES.
SO I THINK THE CITY OF TAMARAC HAD A COMMUNITY GARDEN BEFORE, IT DIDN'T GO WELL.
IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL, SO IT SHUT DOWN.
I THINK IT DIDN'T GO WELL BECAUSE WE DID NOT ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, WE DID NOT ENGAGE THE SCHOOLS, WE DID NOT ENGAGE THE SENIORS.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD REEVALUATE WHAT WE DID BEFORE AND THEN START IT AGAIN AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. NEXT SLIDE.
OH, I HAVE IT [INAUDIBLE], I'M SORRY.
SO HERE'S A BRIEF OVERVIEW, GOALS, MOTIVATION.
AGAIN DEVELOPED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ALL ENGAGED AND ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN.
WHEN YOU ESTABLISH ONE, IT OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUOUS EDUCATION, NOT JUST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT FOR ALL ELEMENTS OF OUR LOCAL SOCIETY.
AND THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS WHEN YOU GROW FOOD IN A COMMUNITY GARDEN, YOU CAN USE THAT FOOD TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE DISPARITIES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IF YOU TALK TO ANY OF THE THREE PRINCIPLES THAT ARE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN, CHILDREN THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE, AND IF WE GROW AND RAISE OUR OWN FOOD, WE CAN ACTUALLY PROVIDE HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT ACTUALLY NEEDS IT.
THERE ARE VARIOUS FUNDING LEVELS, SOMETIMES IT NEEDS NO FUNDING AT ALL, JUST VOLUNTEERS,
[04:30:02]
AND OTHER TIMES ALL YOU NEED IS GRANT MONEY AND THERE'S GRANT MONEY OUT THERE AVAILABLE FOR IT, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL MAKE DONATIONS, AND THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE CITIES HAVE ACTUALLY MADE MONEY BY SELLING SOME OF THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY RAISE, SOME OF THE FOOD THAT THEY RAISE.SO THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM HAVING A COMMUNITY GARDEN THAT'S REALLY ENGAGING WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE A COMMUNITY GARDEN, CORAL SPRINGS, DEERFIELD BEACH, WESTON.
MIRAMAR HAS A GREAT ONE, AND WE HAVE A VIDEO TO SHOW ON THAT AND ALSO THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE. POTENTIAL SITES, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE SITE THAT WE HAD BEFORE, WHICH IS THE CAPORELLA AQUATIC CENTER, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM BOTH CHALLENGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MILLENNIUM MIDDLE SCHOOL, SO WE CAN ENGAGE THOSE STUDENTS.
WE ALSO HAVE A BUNCH OF SENIORS AT KINGS POINT.
I WAS IN KINGS POINT ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND I MENTIONED THE IDEA OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN AND THE AUDIENCE THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE OTHER CITY THAT ACTUALLY GOT A DONATION OF LAND FROM BROWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY GARDEN.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES IN VENUES, SO THAT ENDS MY PRESENTATION.
IF YOU COULD JUST PLAY THAT FIRST VIDEO AND THIS TALKS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A COMMUNITY GARDEN. I'M MATT FROM [INAUDIBLE] AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY FRIEND [INAUDIBLE]. GARDENS HAVE BROUGHT AN ARRAY OF OPPORTUNITY TO OUR TENANTS, THEY PROVIDE FOOD BUDGET SAVINGS, BRING FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD TO THE TABLE, GIVE A COMMUNITY OF NEIGHBORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD NEW RELATIONSHIPS AND ENGAGE FAMILY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES.
BEFORE WE DIDN'T KNOW THEIR NAME, MY NEIGHBOR, AND HOW MANY ARE THEY, BUT NOW WHEN WE MAKE IT THE GARDEN WE MET THERE AND WE TALKED TOGETHER, AND NOW WE KNOW EACH OTHER.
THEY ARE FRIENDS NOW BECAUSE OF THE WAS A GARDEN.
BEFORE I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING FRESH FRUIT, I GO AND BUY AT THE STORE, BUT NOW I KNOW HOW TO PLANT AND HOW TO DO EVERYTHING NOW.
GARDENS PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS TO WORK TOGETHER.
MY FOUR YEAR OLD WILL ACTUALLY COME OUTSIDE AND HELP ME.
ONCE, I GUESS, ONCE WE STARTED THE GARDENING, THAT'S WHEN THEY WANT TO BE OUT THERE MORE WITH ME. KIDS ALSO THEY KNOW HOW TO AND PLANT AND HARVEST THE FRUITS THEY LEARN FROM THE GARDEN.
GARDENS, TEACH US ABOUT OUR FOOD AND WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM, AND WE KNOW THAT THE MORE KIDS ARE DIGGING IN THE DIRT AND WORKING IN THE GARDEN, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO EAT THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT THEY GROW AT HOME.
SHE DOESN'T LIKE VEGGIES, BUT I GUESS THE FIRST TOMATO THAT SHE GOT FROM US, SHE STARTED EATING [INAUDIBLE] IT WHEN IT'S NOT EVEN COOKED OR STEAMED, OR SHE'LL JUST EAT IT BY ITSELF. THEY SEE WE [INAUDIBLE] AND THE WAY, YOU KNOW, HARVEST IN THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY LIKE TO EAT NOW.
RESULTS SUGGEST THAT THE GARDEN PROGRAMS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP AND INTERPERSONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT, INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL, EXPLORING COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCE AND IMPROVED NUTRITION.
IT'S AMAZING HOW SO MANY DIFFERENT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS CAN COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SOMETHING SO SIMPLE, SO HUGE FOR SO MANY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COMMUNITY GARDENS--.
OF OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH OF US, CITY OF MIRAMAR.
I'M A FOODIE, I LOVE FOOD, BUT I ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW WHERE MY FOOD COMES FROM, AND SO MY CHILDREN, THEY EAT WHATEVER I FEED THEM AND I LIKE THEM TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT THINGS.
KALE, MY FAVORITE, OKRA, EGGPLANTS, ONIONS AND CARROTS.
TOMATOES AND EGGPLANT AND HERBS LIKE LAVENDER AND SAGE AND THYME.
AND SO WE KEEP ON DOING ALL DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE THIS TREE.
THEY PROVIDE SHADE, SO WE KEEP ON GROWING IN THE SUMMER AND IT'S JUST AMAZING.
THE GARDEN HAS BEEN EXPANDING, AND IT'S A GREAT EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR ALL OF US.
WE COME, WE WORK, WE LEARN EVERY DAY, WE LEARN SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT'S HAPPENING AND HOW TO GROW BETTER.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO LEARN GARDENING BECAUSE MOST TIMES THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TOMATOES COME FROM. THEY DON'T KNOW IT COMES FROM A VINE.
THEY DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A VEGETABLE.
THEY JUST THINK YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND YOU JUST PICK EVERYTHING UP.
I LIKE SEEING ALL THE VEGETABLES AND ALL THE PLANTS AND BUTTERFLIES.
[04:35:03]
I'VE LEARNED HOW TO MIX THE SOIL AND WEEDING.EVERYONE CAN HAVE A HAND IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR FOOD IS GOOD, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S NOTHING BAD GOING INTO IT.
WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES BY TEACHING THEM THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY GROW THEIR OWN FOODS IN THEIR BACKYARDS, AND WITH THE CITY HAVING THE NEW ORDINANCE WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GROW IN THE FRONT OF YOUR YARD.
FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] CENTER, WHO HAVE COME IN AND BEEN ABLE TO GET VEGETABLES AND WHATEVER THEY NEED, AND JUST TO GENERALLY BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND AND SEE WHAT'S BEING DONE.
JIM, WHAT'S THE TITLES OF THE OTHER TWO? THAT I HAD SENT TO YOU. CAN I JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT? WHICH ONE? YOU MUST DO THE GANGSTER GARDEN.
BEFORE YOU DO THAT. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, DO YOU HAVE A POINT OF ORDER? YES, I GOT TO GO.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IF WE CAN GET THE CITY TO COME BACK TO US WITH MORE INFORMATION ON THIS, THAT'S WHERE I STAND.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GOOD DAY, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU. IF YOU WANT TO [INAUDIBLE].
YOUR BEST, YOU GOT TO TRY [INAUDIBLE].
HIS GRASSROOTS WORK HAS INSPIRED GREEN THUMBS AROUND THE WORLD, BUT NOW THE SELF-PROCLAIMED GANGSTA GARDENER OF SOUTH LOS ANGELES IS FIGHTING TO SAVE HIS OWN URBAN FARM FROM EVICTION.
MIREYA VILLAREAL HAS HIS STORY.
LIQUOR STORES, FAST FOOD, VACANT LOTS.
RON FINLEY DOESN'T SUGARCOAT HIS INNER CITY UPBRINGING, EVEN IN THIS VIRAL TED TALK.
FUNNY THING IS THE DRIVE THROUGHS ARE KILLING MORE PEOPLE THAN THE DRIVE BY.
AND THAT'S WHAT DRIVES FINLEY TO CHANGE HIS COMMUNITY.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES LINE THE SIDEWALK OF HIS URBAN GARDEN.
ONCE AN ABANDONED COMMUNITY POOL, FINLEY IS NOW SWIMMING IN POMEGRANATES, ORANGES, CURLY KALE AND EVEN BANANAS.
MOST PEOPLE EXPECT UGLY DRESSERS AND MATTRESSES AND CHAIRS ON THE PARKWAY, BUT THAT'S WHY I DID THIS. I WANT TO END THAT.
FINLEY'S GANGSTER GARDENER PERSONA HAS INSPIRED SIMILAR INITIATIVES THROUGH THE RON FINLEY PROJECT. THE SOIL IS GANGSTER.
BEING SELF-SUSTAINING IS GANGSTER.
NOT THIS ROBBING AND SMOKING DOPE AND GETTING HIGH.
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A NAME FOR THIS AREA.
I CALL THIS A TRIFECTA OF DEATH.
IN LOS ANGELES SOUTH SIDE, THE OBESITY RATE IS 34 PERCENT.
THAT'S MORE THAN 10 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE COUNTY RATE.
WHY DO I HAVE TO FIGHT TO GET HEALTHY FOOD? WHY CAN I DO THIS IN A 40 OUNCE, OR SOME ALCOHOL IS GOING TO BE IN MY HAND, BUT I CAN'T GET AN ORGANIC APPLE.
I CAN'T GET SOME HEALTHY FOOD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT FIRM STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY LATE LAST YEAR.
UNLESS FINLEY CAME UP WITH $500,000 TO BUY IT BACK, HE'D BE EVICTED.
THE COMMUNITY RALLIED, CREATING A GOFUNDME PAGE THAT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF NATURAL FOOD GIANTS NELL NEWMAN, CO-FOUNDER OF NEWMAN'S OWN, AND JOHN FAUCHER, PRESIDENT OF ANNIE'S.
WE HAD TO COME AND SUPPORT HIM AND FIGHT NO MATTER WHAT, TO SAVE IT.
THE TEAM CREATED A CARE2 PETITION TO BRING IN MORE DONATIONS.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NATURAL FOODS INDUSTRY TO GIVE BACK, TO SUPPORT THOSE AREAS THAT ARE FOOD DESERTS THAT DON'T HAVE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
THE GOFUNDME PAGE HAS NOW SURPASSED ITS ORIGINAL $500,000 GOAL, AND FINLEY'S LEGAL TEAM IS WORKING TO CLOSE THE DEAL.
DO YOU THINK THAT THE OWNERS OF THIS PLACE WILL HONOR WHAT THEY'VE SAID? LET'S HOPE SO. THEY GOT A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I MEAN, IT WOULD BE BEAUTIFUL IF THEY DID THE RIGHT THING.
MIREYA VILLARREAL CBS NEWS LOS ANGELES.
THERE'S A LOT MORE VIDEOS. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S TIME.
ALSO WANT TO MENTION THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, THEY ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY GARDEN, AND THEY HAVE ITS OWN WEBSITE CALLED THEPATCHGARDEN.COM.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD RECONSIDER HAVING A COMMUNITY GARDEN, HAVING THE RIGHT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND HAVING OUR OWN COMMUNITY GARDEN, WHICH I THINK WOULD BENEFIT ALL LEVELS OF THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED.
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK STEVEN MEZA IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS.
[04:40:02]
YOU'RE THE LEADER OF SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION? FORGIVE ME, CITY ATTORNEY.IF HE'S PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION, FINE.
BUT IF YOU ARE ASKING HIM AS SEPARATE, WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR DISCUSSION. SO, MR. MEZA ARE YOU HERE AS HIS LIAISON? ARE YOU HERE AS PART OF HIS PRESENTATION AS AN ORGANIZATION TRYING TO SUPPORT SPEAKERS]? I'M HERE AS AN ORGANIZATION.
THEN PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ORGANIZATION FOR THE RECORD.
OKAY, THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS STEVEN MEZA, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS OF FLORIDA HERE FOR THE BROWARD COUNTY CHAPTER.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE THIS ONE OF OUR STAPLE INITIATIVES FOR THIS YEAR GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, WHERE WE CAN AT LEAST BRING A COALITION OF CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO CONTINUE THE IDEA OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN AND ACTUALLY EXPOUNDING UPON THAT AND BRINGING FORTH THIS VERY GREAT INITIATIVE THAT THEY'VE DONE IN CORAL SPRINGS, WHERE THEY'VE DONE A FOOD FOREST, SOME FORM OF URBAN FARMING.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE AND WHAT THE CAUCUS WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT TO THIS CITY IS KNOWING THAT WE WILL BE PROVIDING RESOURCES, FUNDINGS AND THE VOLUNTEERS NECESSARY TO KEEP THIS GARDEN SUSTAINABLE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WILL ALSO BE BUILDING OUT THIS COALITION AGAIN WITH OTHER VOLUNTEERS AT OTHER CITIES SO WE CAN PULL THOSE RESOURCES TOGETHER.
SO AGAIN, ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH ALL COMMUNITY GARDENS TENDS TO BE NOT ONLY THE SUSTAINABILITY, BUT THE UPKEEP OF THE PROPERTY AND MAINTENANCE OF IT ITSELF.
SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS ONE OF OUR CONTRIBUTIONS BACK TO OUR COUNTY, BACK TO OUR CITIZENS HERE OF BROWARD COUNTY, KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE NOT ONLY A BEAUTIFUL AREA TO WALK THROUGH AND TO PARTICIPATE IN, BUT THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SORT THROUGH THE FOOD INEQUITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN OUR DEVELOPING COMMUNITY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THOSE FOODS AND RESOURCES BACK TO LOCAL NOT ONLY FOOD VENDORS, BUT AS WE SAW IN THE PANDEMIC AND BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WITH THE LOCAL SERVICES THAT ARE DOING FOOD DRIVES, THEY HAVE COME TO A POINT OF SCARCITY.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST SUPPLEMENT THAT, SO CITIES SUCH AS TAMARAC.
I RECENTLY SAW THE MAYOR, SHE OFFERED A PROCLAMATION TO ONE OF THE LOCAL FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO DOES A WEEKLY OR MONTHLY FOOD DRIVE.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST HARVEST THAT MATERIAL AND ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. SO IT'S NOT JUST A MONTHLY THING, IT'S NOT JUST A WEEKLY THING.
IT'S YEAR ROUND WHERE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET FRESH SOURCED FOOD FROM THEIR COMMUNITY AND KNOW THAT THERE WAS NOT ONLY MONEY INVOLVED, BUT THERE WAS LOVE AND CARE BECAUSE THE CONSTITUENTS OF THAT COMMUNITY WANTED TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.
UNLESS YOU HAVE TIME FOR ANOTHER VIDEO.
I DON'T THINK YOURSELF INCLUDED REALLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE I'M DONE. I'M DONE.
AS YOU WERE DONE. COMMISSIONER BOLTON OH, OAKLAND PARK ALSO HAS A COMMUNITY GARDEN.
SO GOING IN NO ORDER, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT IT UP.
MR. MEZA JUST KNOW THAT THE KOREAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HAS BEEN DOING THIS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AND THEY DO IT WEEKLY.
AND THEY ARE A USDA CERTIFIED FOOD PANTRY, WHICH HAS CERTAIN REGULATIONS THAT COME WITH IT FOR CERTAIN FOOD SOURCING.
I AM A LITTLE CURIOUS IF THERE IS THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU AS A LIAISON WITH YOU AS A BUSINESS OWNER NONPROFIT TRYING TO BRING A BUSINESS INTO THE CITY WITHOUT GOING THROUGH CERTAIN PROCUREMENT ITEMS IS JUST KIND OF HIT ME IN THE HEAD AS YOU SPOKE.
ANYWAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMMENT.
SO I WOULD GUESS I WOULD ASK OUR CITY PARK AND REC DEPARTMENT IF YOU WOULD, CITY MANAGER IF IT'S OK, UNLESS IT'S A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, WHAT HAPPENED WITH OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN AND WHY DID IT NOT SUCCEED? GOOD AFTERNOON, GREG WARNER, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION AT THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
WITH THE PAST COMMUNITY GARDEN, WHAT WE HAD IN STARTING [INAUDIBLE] IS A SPONSORSHIP BY THE KIWANIS CLUB OF TAMARAC, THEY PAID FOR THE INSTALLATION.
WE HAD TWO RAISED BEDS AT THE AQUATIC CENTER, LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE FITNESS CENTER THERE, AND WHAT WE DID GO THROUGH, WE HAD IT OPEN FROM 2009 UNTIL 2018 AND WE HAD A VARIETY OF GROUPS.
WE WORKED WITH THE SENIOR PROGRAM TO HAVE HAVE VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE, IN THE INITIAL INSTALLATION, WE HAD MILLENNIUM MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
SO WE TRIED TO TARGET THE SCHOOLS, WE TRIED TO TARGET THE SENIOR PROGRAM IN IN RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS TO UPKEEP THOSE BEDS AND DO THE PLANTINGS AND THINGS OR AFTER THE PLANTINGS.
[04:45:01]
WE ALSO HAD WITHIN THE SENIOR PROGRAM, WE HAD A MASTER GARDENER WHO WAS OUT THERE AND HELPING OUT, WO WE OFFERED SOME SOME EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS AS WELL.WE JUST COULD NEVER LATCH ON TO A VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT WAS SUSTAINABLE OR REMAIN SUSTAINABLE OUT THERE.
SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS THROUGH THE YEARS AS PUBLIC SERVICES HAD TO GO OUT THERE A NUMBER OF TIMES AND DO CLEAN OUT OF THE GARDENS.
AND THEN WE HAD TO DO REPLANTING AND THINGS, AND IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE THAT INVOLVEMENT.
I DID LOOK AT MANY OF THE CITIES THAT THE VICE MAYOR MENTIONED, AND THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE, BUT I WOULD WANT TO LOOK INTO THAT INFORMATION A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BEFORE WE COMMIT AT THIS POINT AND BRING THAT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS FOR YOU OR FOR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. MS. LORENZO, BECAUSE I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE GARDEN THAT IS OVER AT CHALLENGER AND THAT IS ASSISTED BY MILLENNIUM COLLEGIATE ACADEMY.
I WAS THERE PRIOR TO THE LOCKDOWN WHEN EVERYTHING STOPPED FOR COVID AND I SAW THE KIDS WORKING ON IT AND IT WAS GREAT, AND THE FOOD AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY WERE GROWING, I GUESS, PERTAINS AND GOES BACK TO THE SCHOOL.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE WE HAVE--.
WHO WOULD BE PROVIDING THE RESOURCES, WHO WOULD BE THEN MAKING SURE THE FOOD GOT OUT? TO WHOM ARE WE GIVING THE FOOD OUT? OR ARE WE HAVING IT PAID? DO PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FOOD? WE ALSO HAVE A FRESH MARKET THAT IS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL OF LOCAL GROWERS AT OUR SUNDAY FOOD MARKET, SCREWING UP THE NAME BUT FRESH MARKET, I BELIEVE, OR--.
FARMER'S MARKET. FARMER'S MARKET! THERE YOU GO, FARMER'S MARKET AND THEY HAVE A GREAT SELECTION OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD, SO THERE IS AVAILABILITY FOR THAT.
DO I THINK IT'S GREAT TO LEARN HOW TO PLANT AND HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AND BE ABLE TO HAVE YOUR SELF GROW YOUR OWN FOOD? YES. DO I KNOW OF SOME OF OUR OWN RESIDENTS BECAUSE THE CITY'S ORDINANCES ALLOW FOR IT, HAVE THAT ABILITY AND THEY ARE DOING IT AND THEY'RE ENJOYING THEIR TOMATOES AND ALL THEIR KIND OF GOOD STUFF? EXCELLENT.
SO I THINK THAT THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT OUR CITY WANTS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF FRESH GROWN FOOD BY EACH OTHER, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD PLAN IN PLACE YET TO THINK ABOUT IF IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, AND FORGIVE ME, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT BRINGING FORTH A PROJECT THAT HAS SPECIFIC POLITICAL TIES, [INAUDIBLE] YOUR NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION, BEING BROUGHT THROUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY ABILITY TO DO AN INITIATIVE.
SO I KNOW THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR IS HERE.
I KNOW YOU CHAIR THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE EDUCATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS GROUP.
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING FURTHER OR HAVE YOU HAD ANY OPPORTUNITY OR REASON TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY GARDEN THAT IS HOSTED AT CHALLENGER AND CULTIVATED BY THE STUDENTS BETWEEN CHALLENGER AND MILLENNIUM COLLEGIATE ACADEMY? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, MAYOR, ALSO WITH THE CITIES THAT I DID LOOK AT, THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OUT THERE, SO THOSE WOULD [INAUDIBLE] THAT YOU TALK ABOUT.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DECIDE ON AND DETERMINE HOW WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD IF WE CHOSE TO MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, LORENZO CALHOUN, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
THAT NOW SAY THAT WE HAVE NO QUORUM? WE NO LONGER HAVE A QUORUM, CORRECT? IF ONE MORE OF YOU WERE TO LEAVE, WE WOULD NO LONGER HAVE A QUORUM.
SO IF ONE OF YOU SEES THE NEED THAT THEY MUST LEAVE, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE, NOTWITHSTANDING MR. CALHOUN'S INPUT, IF YOU MAY.
AFTER THAT, MAYBE GIVE DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS OR NOT, SO WE CAN THEN END THE MEETING. SO BASICALLY, I WILL WAIVE THE REST OF MY TIME AND SAY THIS, IF THEIR WANTS--.
IF THERE IS DESIRE, IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS DESIRE FOR THERE TO BE MORE INFORMATION BROUGHT BACK FOR A FUTURE DISCUSSION, NOT A COMPLETE PLAN, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE REST OF OUR COMMENTS AND ABILITY TO HAVE THINGS HEARD.
WE CAN PUT THIS AT ANOTHER MEETING AND AT THAT MEETING, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THERE BEING MORE--.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY CONSENSUS THAT WE LIKE THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY GARDENS, BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE HAD AND SOME ANSWERS TO BE HAD FOR WHAT WAS CURRENTLY IN PLACE AND WORKING OR NOT.
SO WITH THAT SEEING THAT PEOPLE WISH TO LEAVE AND IT IS THREE P.M., 3:01 TO BE PRECISE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.