Feb 10, 2025 Workshop

[00:00:01]

>> GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

[Call to Order]

IT IS 10:05.

APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY.

CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MAYOR GOMEZ.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> VICE MAYOR DANIEL.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> COMMISSIONER WRIGHT.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> COMMISSIONER PATTERSON.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>>THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. IF EVERYONE WILL PLEASE STAND.

VICE MAYOR KICIA DANIEL WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND WE WILL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU.

PLEASE BE SEATED. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT.

I SOUND AWFUL. I'M NOT SICK.

I'M TIRED AND I'M HAVING SOME STUFF GOING ON WITH MY VOCAL CORD, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

I MAY SOUND REALLY ANGRY WHEN I TRY TO HAVE YOU HEAR ME.

I'M NOT. I JUST WANTED EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT.

FIRST ON THE AGENDA,

[Items 1.a & 1.b]

THIS IS A RESOLUTION REGARDING OUR 2025 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

THIS IS BEING PRESENTED BY VALERIE MASSOLO, OUR SENIOR ADVISOR FROM THE FERGUSON GROUP, WHO WILL BE APPEARING BY ZOOM OR TEAMS, TANYA WILLIAMS, OUR GRANTS AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER.

>> MADAM MAYOR.

>> YES.

>> 1A AND 1B ARE RELATED.

>> I GUESS WE'LL DEAL WITH 1B AS WELL, WHICH IS TR 14195.

THIS IS THE RESOLUTION REGARDING APPROVING THE AMENDMENT NUMBER 16 TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND THE FERGUSON GROUP, OUR FEDERAL LOBBYING SERVICES, FOR A TERM NOT TO EXCEED ONE-YEAR PERIOD, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 13, 2025, AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $85,500 PER YEAR. PLEASE PROCEED.

>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

TANYA WILLIAMS, GRANTS AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MANAGER.

I KNOW THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA IS THAT WE DO THE LEGISLATIVE ITEM FIRST, AND I KNOW NOW WE'VE INCLUDED THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT.

I WILL BE PRESENTING ON THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT.

I WILL DEFER TO VALERIE MASSOLO OF THE FERGUSON GROUP.

SHE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THE PRESENTATION ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, WHICH BASICALLY WILL HIGHLIGHT THE SKILLS AND SERVICES THAT SHE'S BRINGING TO THE GROUP, AND THEN I'LL JUST CLOSE OUT.

>> VALERIE, ARE YOU HERE?

>> YES. CAN YOU SEE ME? CAN EVERYONE SEE ME AND HEAR ME?

>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.

WE'RE NOT SEEING YOU.

BUT THERE YOU ARE. NOW WE SEE YOU.

>> GOOD. MAYBE I WAS TOO FAR BACK.

WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT TO YOU THIS MORNING.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M TRYING TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THAT.

I CAN'T REALLY SEE THE SCREEN.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE FEDERAL PRESENTATION.

I ASSUME THAT IT'S UP ON THE SCREEN.

THE VERY FIRST PAGE IS WAYS TO MEASURE YOUR ADVOCACY PROGRAM.

GREAT. I WANTED TO JUST GO OVER BRIEFLY A FEW OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE FERGUSON GROUP DOES PERFORM IN SUPPORT OF TAMARAC'S FEDERAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT WE DO EACH YEAR.

I KNOW THAT TANYA WILLIAMS IS ALSO GOING TO GO OVER A FEW THINGS.

I DIDN'T WANT TO DUPLICATE.

JUST TO RUN THROUGH THAT QUICKLY.

WE HELP YOU BUILD RELATIONSHIPS IN WASHINGTON, DC.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REGULAR OLD THING THAT LOBBYIST SHOULD DO, BUT IT TURNS OUT TO BE VERY IMPORTANT, AS I THINK YOU ALL KNOW.

EVERY TWO YEARS, WE GET CHANGES IN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

OF COURSE, THIS YEAR, WE'VE GOT A NEW SENATOR, SENATOR MOODY, WHO I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH FROM HER WORK AS THE FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF ALL NEW WHITE HOUSE STAFF AND MANY NEW PEOPLE IN THE AGENCIES THAT ARE ALL IMPORTANT TO GET TO KNOW, AND EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

[00:05:01]

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR, WE GO TO OUR CONGRESSWOMAN WITH A REQUEST FOR A FEDERAL EARMARK, WHICH IS NOW CALLED COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING.

I STILL CALL IT AN EARMARK, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

RELATIONSHIPS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IN THAT AREA BECAUSE OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, ALL OF THE REQUESTS THAT COME IN, WHICH ARE HUNDREDS, SHE'S ONLY ABLE TO CHOOSE 20 EACH YEAR.

ONLY 20 PROJECTS TO FUND.

THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE ALSO HELP YOU PROACTIVELY RESPOND TO CHANGES IN FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND POLICY.

THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION, LOTS OF NEW POLICIES, LOTS OF ACTIVITY RIGHT FROM THE GET GO WITH ALL THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

WE'VE GOT NEW HOUSE AND SENATE MAJORITIES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR INTENT TO MAKE CHANGES TO POLICY THROUGH LEGISLATION.

WE HAD A FREEZE IN FEDERAL FUNDING NATIONWIDE LAST WEEK, WHICH CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE BY SURPRISE, AND WE HAD TO PROACTIVELY FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE, WHAT TO EXPECT, AND AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ON THE FRONT LINES AT YOUR CITY.

WE ALSO HELP TAMARAC OBTAIN FEDERAL FUNDING.

I'M GOING TO GO INTO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL IN SUBSEQUENT SLIDES.

THEN HELPING YOU RAPIDLY ANALYZE NEW FEDERAL INITIATIVES THAT NEVER EXISTED BEFORE.

THIS NEW DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, USUALLY REFERRED TO AS DOGE, HAS BECOME QUICKLY A MAJOR PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON.

ALL OF THE FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO PUT TOGETHER A TEAM OF AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE IN THE AGENCY THAT'LL REPORT DIRECTLY TO DOGE IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCIES THAT CAN BE FOUND WITHIN THEIR AGENCIES, AND THEN ALSO POLICY CHANGES, LIKE THE ROLLBACK OF DEI POLICIES WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

NEXT SLIDE. I DID A QUICK OVERVIEW OF OUR YEAR IN REVIEW.

I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND REALLY CAPITALIZE ON OPPORTUNITIES TO OBTAIN FEDERAL FUNDING.

YOUR CONGRESSWOMAN CAME TO THE CITY AT LEAST TWICE TO PRESENT CHECKS TO THE CITY OR PARTICIPATE IN CEREMONIES.

LAST JANUARY WAS THE CEREMONY FOR THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS PROGRAM, AND THEN THE FIRST PERSON TO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THAT PROGRAM, WHICH WAS A BIG DEAL TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN WHO SUPPORTED THAT PROGRAM THROUGH A FEDERAL EARMARK.

THEN AGAIN, IN AUGUST, I BELIEVE, THE CONGRESSWOMAN CAME BACK TO NOTE THE FUNDING THAT IS ACTUALLY PENDING IN THE HOUSE, INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL.

THAT'S AN EARMARK THAT WE HAVE PENDING FOR $1,105,800.

WE ALSO DID A LOT, MADE SOME MORE MOVES TOWARDS EXPANDING OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND STRENGTHENING OUR RELATIONSHIPS IN WASHINGTON, DC.

THE COMMISSION WENT TO DC IN THE SPRING.

WE MET WITH A VARIETY OF GRANTING AGENCIES, FROM HUD TO DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

WE MET WITH OUR SENATE OFFICES AND OUR CONGRESSWOMAN.

THIS YEAR, WE INTEND TO MEET AGAIN WITH OUR SENATORS.

OF COURSE, THE NEW SENATOR.

WE WILL BE SHOOTING FOR A MEETING WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AGAIN THIS YEAR AS WE DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE TRY TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THEM EACH YEAR. NEXT SLIDE.

OUR 2024 KEY AREAS ARE VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE KEY AREAS THAT WE IDENTIFIED. I'M SORRY.

THIS IS 2024. THESE WERE THE KEY AREAS FROM LAST YEAR.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT OUR KEY AREAS THIS YEAR ARE VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THESE, WHICH SHOWS THAT TAMARAC HAS STAYED VERY FOCUSED ON WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING.

[00:10:05]

THAT HAS A LOT OF COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT ABOUT WHAT WE DO FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND HOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

THIS YEAR IS REALLY JUST FOCUSED ON 2024.

YOU CAN SEE THAT IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, WE'VE GOT FEDERAL FUNDING COMING FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

ONE, IT'S COMING FROM FEDERAL DISCRETIONARY GRANTS, WHICH TANYA WILLIAMS IS GOING TO GO INTO IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL IN HER CO-PRESENTATION.

THEN THERE IS FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COMES THROUGH DIRECT GRANTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT, FORMULA FUNDING.

THOSE ARE THINGS LIKE YOUR HOME PROGRAM AND YOUR CDBG FUNDS.

WE USUALLY RECEIVE SOMEWHERE ON ORDER OF 600,000 OR MORE EACH YEAR FOR THAT.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR FEDERAL EARMARKS THAT WE PURSUE.

THOSE HAVE BEEN RANGING FROM ONE AND ALMOST THREE QUARTER MILLION THE YEAR BEFORE FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM.

THIS YEAR, WE'VE GOT THIS $1.1 MILLION EARMARK PENDING FOR THE EAST SIDE WATER DISTRIBUTION EXPANSION PROJECT.

WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS FOR LAST YEAR, THE SPENDING BILLS FOR LAST YEAR AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THOSE.

OUR FEDERAL EARMARK IS A LINE ITEM IN THOSE BILLS JUST LIKE LINE ITEMS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES AND NONPROFITS.

IF THOSE BILLS ARE PASSED, WHICH WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL BE PASSED AS IS, THEN THAT $1.1 MILLION WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO THE CITY.

THERE'S ANOTHER SCENARIO THAT COULD HAPPEN, HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT.

WE'RE ALL WAITING TO SEE.

THAT'S IF CONGRESS DECIDES TO PASS SOMETHING CALLED A CONTINUING RESOLUTION, THAT WILL FUND THE GOVERNMENT WITHIN ALL THE AGENCIES FROM NOW UNTIL THE REST OF THE YEAR.

WHEN CONGRESS CHOOSES TO DO THAT, THEY TYPICALLY DO THAT AS A BLANKET, AND IT KNOCKS OUT ALL OF THE FEDERAL EARMARKS THAT ARE PENDING.

THEY DON'T PICK AND CHOOSE. IT'S ALL OR NOTHING.

THEY EITHER PASS IT LIKE THEY NORMALLY DO AND THE EARMARKS ARE IN THERE OR THEY DO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

IF THEY DO IT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, IT'S GOING TO KNOCK OUT ALL OF THE FEDERAL EARMARKS, INCLUDING OURS.

NOW, THERE'S AN INTERIM POSSIBILITY WHICH WE'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT, AND THAT'S WHERE CONGRESS DECIDES, WE'RE GOING TO DO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION FOR SAY TWO OR THREE MONTHS TO GET US TO MARCH OR APRIL SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY FIGURE THIS STUFF OUT DURING THAT TIME AND THEN PASS THE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS WITH THE EARMARKS IN THEM FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

I HOPE THAT WASN'T TOO CONFUSING, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS. NEXT SLIDE.

THAT PART OF THE PRESENTATION WAS LOOKING BACKWARD.

NOW, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD INTO WHAT OUR PLANS ARE FOR 2025.

AS I MENTIONED, THE KEY AGENDA AREAS TRACK WHAT OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA PRIORITIZED LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

SUSTAINING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY AND TO THE WHOLE REGION.

PUBLIC SAFETY, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, AND RECOVERY.

THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.

I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO ALL OF THESE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL COMING UP.

OUR GREEN INITIATIVES, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, AND OF COURSE, BEHAVIORAL AND WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS.

OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BASICALLY REVOLVES AROUND PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE A LIVING WAGE, MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO OUR CITIZENS, AND LOTS OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

WE ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THE TAX INCENTIVES FOR ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING BEAUTIFICATION THROUGH MAKING OUR CITY MORE AND MORE ATTRACTIVE TO THOSE WHO PASS THROUGH IT, THOSE WHO RESIDE IN IT, AND THOSE WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT COMING TO WORK OR CITING THEIR BUSINESSES THERE.

[00:15:02]

>> WELL, THE ANSWER IS YES AND NO.

PART OF THE THING IS THOSE ITEMS AREN'T LINE ITEMS IN OUR PAMPHLETS OR OUR BACKUP THAT WE HAVE.

WELL, I THINK IT'S BEST TO ACTUALLY JUST PUT IT ON THE RECORD FOR US, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.

>> I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. ABSOLUTELY. WITHIN THIS, I HIT UPON THE FIRST BULLET POINT.

THE SECOND BULLET POINT IS SUPPORTING THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF MUNICIPAL BONDS.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS ABSOLUTELY TELEGRAPHED THEIR PRIORITY TO ALMOST A NUMBER 1 PRIORITY, TO PASS A NEW TAX BILL BEFORE THE 2017 TAX BILL EXPIRES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

I THINK THAT AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THINGS THAT TAKE PLACE WITHIN THAT BILL AND MAKING SURE THAT WE PRESERVE SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT, WHICH IS THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF MUNICIPAL BONDS.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO WANT TO PRESERVE THINGS LIKE THE NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE PROGRAM.

WHAT THOSE ARE, ARE THEY RECOGNIZE ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL DEFINED BY THE CENSUS TRACT, AND THEN THEY OFFER PREFERENTIAL TAX TREATMENT FOR NEW INVESTMENT WITHIN THOSE AREAS.

DURING THE LAST 2017 TAX BILL, THE LEAD UP TO THAT TAX BILL, WE WORKED WITH OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND PARTICULARLY SENATOR RUBIO AT THAT TIME, I BELIEVE HE WAS ON THE COMMITTEE, TO GET A DESIGNATION FOR PART OF OUR CITY TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WANTING TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THAT AGAIN.

SUPPORTING NEW TAX INCENTIVES OR EXISTING TAX INCENTIVES AND OTHER TYPES OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS FOR FAILING RETAIL PLAZAS, WHICH YOU CAN GET THROUGH EPA, PUBLIC ARTS PROGRAMS, THROUGH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS, AND OF COURSE, LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION.

>> THE NEXT SLIDE.

THE PROSPERITY BROWARD & BROWARD COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR AT LEAST THE LAST HANDFUL OF YEARS.

BASICALLY, THROUGH THE COLLABORATION, THE CITY SHARES INFORMATION FROM BROWARD COLLEGE ABOUT ITS PROGRAMS, ITS CLASSES, AND RESOURCES THAT TAMARACK RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS VIA YOUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE.

NEXT SLIDE. INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'VE OUTLINED FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT AREAS OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT ARE REALLY CRUCIAL TO HELPING THE CITY CONTINUE TO MODERNIZE ITS INFRASTRUCTURE.

WITHOUT GOING THROUGH EACH ONE, THEY REVOLVE AROUND SOME KEY AREAS FOR THE CITY.

THAT IS UNDERGROUNDING THE FIBER TO ALL THE CITY SERVICES.

THAT'S BEEN A FABULOUS THING THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, PROVIDING WI-FI EVERYWHERE, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS ALL THE CITY SERVICES THROUGH THEIR COMPUTERS, AND ESSENTIALLY REALLY BRINGING THE CITY INTO ITS MOST MODERN ITERATION.

ROADWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION IN GENERAL.

TRANSPORTATION IS A HUGE PRIORITY FOR THE CITY, ALL TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT BE REPAIRING AND REPAVING MAJOR ROADWAYS PUTTING UP THE BUFFER WALLS THAT ARE BOTH BEAUTIFUL AND PROVIDE A SOUND BARRIER FOR FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING NEAR CERTAIN ROADWAYS, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S 88 ACCESS FOR ALL OF THE SIDEWALKS AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE SIDEWALKS ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THE CANAL WALL IMPROVEMENTS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR SEVERAL YEARS, VERY IMPORTANT, MAKING SURE THAT RUNOFF DOESN'T GO INTO OUR CANALS AND THAT THOSE CANAL WALLS ARE SAFE AND NOT CRUMBLING.

THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

[00:20:03]

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH IS OVER 50 YEARS OLD, IS BROUGHT UP TO CODE IN VARIOUS WAYS.

THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX AND CITY HALL FEASIBILITY STUDY, ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF FOCUSING ON REDEVELOPMENT AND RELOCATION OF THOSE STRUCTURES.

THEN, OF COURSE, TRANSIT.

WELL, TRANSIT IS CURRENTLY SOMETHING THAT WE WORK ON HAND IN HAND WITH THE BROWARD MPO.

IT'S THE MPO THAT ACTUALLY RECEIVES FUNDING AND THEN TRANSFERS IT OUT TO US.

WE DO MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT OUR TRANSIT PRIORITIES TO OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND ALSO THE AGENCIES IN TERMS OF MASS TRANSIT AND THE PARA-TRANSIT PROGRAM AND OF COURSE, NEW LOCATIONS FOR POTENTIAL TRANSIT HUBS.

NEXT SLIDE.

I ALMOST FORGOT THE 57TH STREET QUARTER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO COMPLETE THE STREETSCAPE, TO EXTEND TAMARAC VILLAGE, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE SIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, I'M SPEAKING TO THE CHOIR HERE, BUT THE TRI-COUNTY AREA HAS JUST BECOME INCREASINGLY UNAFFORDABLE DURING THE LAST DECADE, AND EVEN MORE SO IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE COVID.

MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR STOCK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS AND NOT ONLY MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THEM BUT ENABLE THEM TO ALSO REPAIR AND UPGRADE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT OUR CONGRESSWOMAN HAS REALLY GOTTEN BEHIND AND HELPED US WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL FEDERAL EARMARKS FOR THIS FOR OUR PROGRAM, TOTALING OVER $2 MILLION WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT INCREASES EVERY YEAR TO THE CDBG OVERALL PROGRAM NATIONWIDE, AND ALSO THE HOME PROGRAM NATIONWIDE THAT ONLY HELPS US AT HOME IF THEY'VE GOT MORE FUNDING, AND IT HURTS IF THEIR FUNDING IS SLASHED.

NEXT SLIDE. PUBLIC SAFETY.

ALSO, SOMETHING THAT WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE WILL WORK WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES ON REGIONAL ISSUES.

THERE WAS A GRANT FOR A REGIONAL INTERCONNECTED RADIO SYSTEM THAT WE DID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MANY OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY.

CURRENTLY, WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT A LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM, SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES IN BOTH BROWARD COUNTY AND PALM BEACH COUNTY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PUT INTO PLACE.

WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, A LOCAL REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER.

THEN, OF COURSE, IMPROVING FIRE RESCUE RESPONSE TIMES AND EMERGENCY OPERATION RESPONSE TIMES. NEXT SLIDE.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY.

I CAN'T REALLY SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS, WITH EVERY YEAR, WE BRACE FOR AND EITHER HIT OR NEAR MISS WITH THE MANY HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS AND THAT HIT OUR STATE.

GIVEN THE NUMBER OF HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS THAT WE EXPERIENCE OR AT LEAST GET READY FOR, AND THE ASSOCIATED FLOODING AND WIND DAMAGE THAT OFTEN OCCUR MAKING SURE THAT WE SUPPORT FEMA AND ITS ABILITY TO TURN AROUND AND SUPPORT US WHEN NEEDED IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

NEXT SLIDE, THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.

[00:25:04]

THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND OUR HOME-OWNING RESIDENTS HAS NOT BEEN REAUTHORIZED FOR 13 YEARS.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND CONGRESS MAY OR MAY NOT REAUTHORIZE AN ENTIRE NEW BILL OR THEY MAY JUST EXTEND THE CURRENT AUTHORIZATION FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO.

IF IT WERE TO EXPIRE, IT WOULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.

THE PRICE OF FLOOD INSURANCE WOULD BALLOON.

NOW, IF THEY WERE ABLE TO REAUTHORIZE IT, WHICH CONGRESS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO.

THIS IS A SERIES OF CONGRESSES, 13 YEARS IS SIX DIFFERENT TWO-YEAR CONGRESSES.

IT WOULD REVISE FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE LIMITS, WHICH COULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO OUR RESIDENTS, AND ESTABLISH A PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AFFORD THE RISING COST OF FLOOD INSURANCE.

NEXT SLIDE. GREEN INITIATIVES.

THE NEW ADMINISTRATION HAS PAUSED FUNDS FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND ALSO THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO TRANSPIRE WITH THAT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PLAY NOW THAT ARE NOT PLEASED ABOUT A PAUSE IN FUNDING, SO WE'LL SEE WHETHER THAT CONTINUES OR WHETHER IT'S TURNED BACK ON.

THE NEW ADMINISTRATION HAS REPEALED THE NATIONAL GOAL FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS TO MAKE A PATH OF ALL NEW CARS AND TRUCKS, AND THEY'VE ALSO REPEALED CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES.

WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING AND EXPECT TO SEE SOME PRETTY MAJOR CHANGES IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF GREEN INITIATIVES THAT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IS SUPPORTING.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTING ANY GREEN INITIATIVES, THAT WAS A BIG CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO REPEAL SOME OF WHAT THE OLD ADMINISTRATION HAD PUT IN PLACE.

WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO FALL IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING NEW GREEN INITIATIVES.

NEXT SLIDE.

PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE CITY.

WE HAVE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PARKS THAT WE HAVE UPGRADED AND ENHANCED SHAKER VILLAGE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON NOW, ADDRESSING THE LACK OF RECREATIONAL ACCESS, IN THAT PART OF THE CITY, HELPING TO PUT IN SOME NEW HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, AND ADDRESSING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL ARE NEEDED IN THAT PART OF THE CITY.

THEN THE LAST ITEM IS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACCESS AND WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES HAVE A LESS STRESS AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF AND PUT ON THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PROGRAMS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT HELP SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THAT.

WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO THE VERY LAST SLIDE.

WE VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING HARD FOR YOU THIS YEAR.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION IS COMING OUR WAY IN TERMS OF NEW INITIATIVES FROM THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW MAJORITIES IN CONGRESS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU SORT THROUGH THOSE THINGS AND ANALYZE THEM SO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ON TOP OF THEM AND NOT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL AND REACTING.

WITH THAT, I TURN IT BACK OVER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MS. MASSOLO.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR OR COMMISSION HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. MASSOLO REGARDING THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA OR THE ITEMS SHE DISCUSSED BEFORE I PROCEED INTO MY PRESENTATION. COMMISSIONER PATTERSON.

>> CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY? YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE WHAT PRESENTATION?

>> THE RENEWAL OF HER CONTRACT. I'LL WAIT FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

>> COMMISSIONER VAL.

>> YES.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THE $1.7 MILLION WE GOT WE GOT THROUGH THE EARMARK PROCESS, CORRECT?

>> YES. IS IT FOR THE HOUSING?

[00:30:02]

>> 1.66679.

>> YES.

>> THEN WE ALSO GOT $497,807 FOR CDBG FUNDS.

THAT WAS ALSO EARMARKED?

>> NO. THAT'S THROUGH FEDERAL FEDERAL FORMULA FUNDING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT FEDERAL FORMULA FUNDING FIRST.

I THOUGHT I SAW A MEMO SENT TO US THAT CDBG FUNDING THROUGH THIS FEDERAL FORMULA FUNDING IS IN A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE BECAUSE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT A STOP TO CDBG FUNDING.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF OR HEARD?

>> YES. WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID, WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO OVERALL, AND WE'RE MOSTLY SEEING IT THROUGH A LOT OF THE NEWS COVERAGE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY IS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ROOT OUT INEFFICIENCIES ACROSS ALL THE AGENCIES, AND THEIR GOAL IS TO FIND AND EXTRACT SAVINGS OF $1 BILLION A DAY.

I DON'T KNOW FOR HOW LONG, BUT THAT'S THEIR CURRENT GOAL.

WHAT THEY DID IN ORDER TO ANALYZE WHAT'S GOING ON IS THEY PUT A TEMPORARY FREEZE ON ALL FEDERAL FUNDING.

IT WAS ALL GRANT FUNDING, ALL FORMULA FUNDING.

YOU PROBABLY SAW ON THE NEWS, MEDICAID FUNDING ALL OF IT.

PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT ACROSS ALL AREAS.

THAT HAS SINCE GONE TO THE COURTS.

THE COURTS HAVE SAID YOU CAN'T SUSPEND THE FUNDING.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THAT FUNDING GOING.

IT'S IN A LITTLE BIT OF FLUX RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T EXPECT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ABLE TO RE-FREEZE THE FUNDING.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LET THINGS FLOW.

WHAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IN TERMS OF THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS THAT WITHIN HUD, THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS AND SOME GRANT PROGRAMS THAT MAY HAVE HAD AS PART OF THEIR PRIORITIES TO SHOW THAT ANY GRANT APPLICATION WAS SEEKING TO SERVE DEI NEEDS.

BECAUSE PART OF THE DOGE, DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY IS TO GET RID OF ALL THE DEI POLICIES, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND TRYING TO WELL, EXTRACTING THAT FROM ANY OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO ATTEND TO IN ANY OF YOUR GRANT PROGRAMS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S VERY CLEAR.

BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT CDBG SHOULD CONTINUE.

I DON'T FORESEE IT BEING COMPLETELY OBLITERATED.

THE ADMINISTRATION IS DEFINITELY SHAKING THINGS UP AND PUTTING THINGS ON HOLD AND TAKING A LOOK AT THINGS.

>> IN RESEARCHING THIS ITEM AS WELL, I BENCHMARKED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON THE FIRST GO AROUND TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LAST, AND I NOTICED THAT DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE EARMARKING PROCESS WAS PRETTY MUCH NON-EXISTENT.

WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAME A FRONT, EARMARKING CAME BACK.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THIS ADMINISTRATION NOW? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT EARMARKING WILL GO AWAY AS IN THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION, OR DO YOU THINK THAT IT WILL CONTINUE?

>> WELL, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY RUMBLINGS ABOUT IT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THERE'S ALWAYS THAT POSSIBILITY.

BUT THE EARMARKING PROCESS IS REALLY A FUNCTION OF CONGRESS.

NOT TO SAY THAT THE CONGRESS IS NOT VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO PURSUE AS ITS PRIORITIES.

BUT NOW THAT WE'VE HAD EARMARKING FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE INVESTED IN IT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY RUMBLINGS ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE EARMARKING PROCESS.

IN FACT, NOW THAT WE HAVE A NEW SENATOR, WE'RE ACTUALLY WAITING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INTEL FROM

[00:35:03]

WE IN FLORIDA, BOTH OF OUR PREVIOUS SENATORS WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF PURSUING EARMARKS.

WE'VE BEEN RELYING ON OUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT OUR NEW SENATOR MAY IN FACT DECIDE, LIKE MANY OTHER SENATORS TO GO AHEAD AND GO FORWARD WITH THAT.

WE'LL KEEP YOU APPRISED.

BUT LIKE I SAID, I'VE REALLY NOT HURT ANYTHING WHICH WE WOULD TYPICALLY HEAR, AND WE HAD HEARD PRIOR TO ALL OF THOSE YEARS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN, THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, SOME BACK AND FORTH ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'D BE EARMARKS.

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD.

>> THAT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION, BUT YOU ELABORATED ON THAT WHERE WE KNOW THAT SENATOR RUBIO AND SENATOR SCOTT ARE NOT NECESSARILY CHAMPIONS OF THE EARMARKING PROCESS.

BUT IN YOUR ROLE AS OUR FEDERAL LOBBYIST, YOU HAVE MENTIONED THAT YOU'VE NOT YET HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH INCOMING SENATOR MOODY, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY INTEL ON WHETHER OR NOT SHE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE EARMARKING PROCESS AS WELL.

BUT HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO ANY OF HER STAFF OR ANYBODY CLOSE TO HER TO FIND OUT WHERE HER HEAD SPACE IS, WHERE EARMARKING IS CONCERNED?

>> NOT YET. ONLY BECAUSE THE HOUSE USUALLY MOVES MORE QUICKLY ON THEIR EARMARKING PROCESS.

THEIR DEADLINES ARE TYPICALLY 2-3 MONTHS EARLIER LIKE APRIL, MAY, FORGETTING EARMARK PROJECTS TO THEM, AND THEN THE SENATE TYPICALLY FOLLOWS.

THEY GO ALONG AT A SLOWER PACE, AND SO THAT DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN UNTIL LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.

I HAVEN'T PICKED THEIR BRAIN ON THAT, COMMISSIONER BOLTON, MOSTLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET MORE OF A SENSE OF OVERALL ISSUE AREAS AND PRIORITIES THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT AND THEN GET A SENSE OF THE EARMARKING.

>> WOULD I BE CORRECT IN SAYING THAT CONGRESS HAS NOW CHANGED WHERE THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IS 218 REPUBLICANS VERSUS 215 DEMOCRATS? IS THAT HOW YOU UNDERSTAND IT?

>> YES.

>> YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT EARMARKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHAMPION OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE IT WAS PRIMARILY A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE.

BUT NOW THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OWNS THE HOUSE, AND WE REALIZE FROM THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS, RUBIO AND SCOTT THAT THEY WEREN'T CHAMPIONS OF THE EARMARKING PROCESS.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT EARMARKING IS AT RISK THROUGH THE HOUSE PROCESS, UNDERSTANDING NOW THAT IT IS MORE OF A REPUBLICAN LANDSCAPE?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK SO.

HISTORICALLY, MANY MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE BEEN VERY INVESTED IN THE EARMARK PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S A WAY OF BRINGING FEDERAL FUNDING HOME DIRECTLY TO YOUR DISTRICT.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND IT'S TRUE THAT EARMARKS DID COME BACK UNDER A DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION.

BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS IN THEIR DISTRICT THAT THEY WOULD PREFER TO KEEP ON DOING.

LIKE I SAID, I'VE NOT HEARD ANY RUMBLINGS ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE EARMARKS, AND SO WE EXPECT THAT WE'LL HAVE THEM GOING FORWARD.

WHEN WE DO HEAR RUMBLINGS, WELL, WE ALWAYS REPORT THOSE TO THE CITY AND IT JUST HASN'T COME UP.

>> THANK YOU. TANYA, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WHERE WE SHOWED THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE GOT LAST? THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION, I THINK MY NOTE SAYS 2.458 MILLION, BUT I JUST WANT TO VERIFY THE NUMBER THAT IN THERE, SO $2,458,370.

NOW, VAL, CAN YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER AND TELL US IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE EARMARKING PROCESS, HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD WE HAVE GOTTEN IN FEDERAL FUNDING OF THIS $2.5 MILLION?

[00:40:04]

>> LET ME PULL UP THE SLIDE SO I CAN SEE IT MARK CLEARLY.

WITHOUT THE EARMARKS, HAVE GOTTEN SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF, SO THIS IS 2.5 WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1.1.

THAT'S ABOUT THREE POINT, LET'S JUST SAY THREE POINT [OVERLAPPING]

>> THE 1.1 IS PENDING AND WE CAN'T COUNT WATER UNTIL IT'S IN A BUCKET.

>> TRUE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE $2.5 MILLION.

OF THE $2.5 MILLION THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED, AND VAL, IF YOU ADDED THE $1.1 MILLION THROUGH EARMARK THAT IS PENDING FOR THE TAMARAC'S EAST SIDE WATER DISTRIBUTION PROJECT, YOU'D ALSO HAVE TO MINUS IT BECAUSE IT'S ALSO PENDING THROUGH EARMARKS.

I'M TRYING TO BE FAIR.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE $2.5 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVED IN FUNDING, AND LET'S MINUS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED THROUGH THE EARMARKING PROCESS AND SO NOW WE CAN QUANTIFY WHAT YOU BROUGHT BACK TO TAMARAC.

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT 2.5-1.6, SO IN DOING THOSE 800 AND SOMETHING.

THAT WOULD BE THROUGH THE CDBG, THE HOME, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, AND THE EECBG GRANT.

THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER, I THINK, $650,000 IN DISCRETIONARY GRANT FUNDING THAT ALSO CAME TO THE CITY THAT I DIDN'T INCLUDE IN HERE BECAUSE TANYA'S GOT IT AS PART OF HER PRESENTATION, IT WAS FOR A FEDERAL [INAUDIBLE] GRANT, AND ANOTHER GRANT.

I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEWHERE TO THE TUNE OF 1.4 OR 1.5 OR SO MILLION DOLLARS FOR THAT PARTICULAR YEAR.

OF COURSE, IT RANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

THERE WERE YEARS WITH COVID THAT WE WERE RECEIVING UPWARDS OF SIX MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR COVID FUNDING THAT WAS AVAILABLE THEN PLUS THE OTHER, CDBG AND HOME, AND DISCRETIONARY GRANTS, ETC.

>> VAL WOULD NOT PARTICULARLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COVID ERA BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS WERE ENTITLED BECAUSE OF THE OTHER CITIES AND WHAT THEY WERE GETTING.

EVEN CITIES THAT DID NOT HAVE A LOBBYIST WERE GETTING COVID FUNDING, BUT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON 2024 IN THAT VEIN.

YOU BROUGHT BACK $792,091 IF WE TOOK AWAY THE EARMARK FUNDING? WE ALSO REALIZED THAT CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK CAME TO OUR MEETING AND SHE TOUTED THAT HER STAFF AND HERSELF MADE THE MONEY THAT WE GOT POSSIBLE, HOW WOULD YOU DEFEND THAT? HOW DID YOU WORK IN TANDEM WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDING CAME TO US? OR IF YOU WERE NOT IN THE EQUATION, DO YOU THINK THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE MONEY BACK HOME REGARDLESS OF YOUR SERVICES?

>> WELL, WE DO A LOT, ACTUALLY.

AS I HAD MENTIONED, THEY GET OVER 200 REQUESTS FROM VARIOUS ENTITIES IN THE DISTRICT EVERY YEAR, AND OF THOSE 200, THEY CAN ONLY SELECT 20, AND SO EACH OF THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT EARMARKS HAVE EVEN BEEN AVAILABLE, WE'VE BEEN ONE OF THOSE 20, AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT, AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE DO A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF ALL OF THE CITY'S PROJECTS AND ALL OF THE POTENTIAL EARMARK REQUESTS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE.

THEN WE NARROW THAT DOWN TO USUALLY TWO, ARE SO PROJECTS THAT WE THEN TALK TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN STAFF AT LENGTH ABOUT TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HER PRIORITIES ARE FOR THE YEAR AND HOW [OVERLAPPING]

>> I THINK I HEARD THROUGH ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST SAID, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, BECAUSE I'M RUSHING AND NOT RUSHING YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE TIME AND GIVE MY COLLEAGUES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS WELL.

BUT VAL, THE $1.66279 MILLION THAT WE GOT THROUGH THE EARMARKING PROCESS.

>> I CAN'T HEAR.

>> ARE YOU HEAR ME NOW?

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S LIKE A VERIZON COMMERCIAL.

OF THE $1.7 MILLION THAT WE GOT THROUGH THE TAMARAC AFFORDABLE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,

[00:45:03]

WE PURPOSELY AND BOLDLY ASKED THE CONGRESSWOMAN TO REQUEST MORE.

CAN YOU SPEAK ON THAT VOW? CAN YOU TELL US HOW MUCH MONEY YOU WERE INITIALLY ASKING THE CONGRESSWOMAN FOR AND HOW MUCH MONEY I SAID THAT WE SHOULD ASK FOR INSTEAD.

>> I THINK WE CAME IN WITH A REQUEST FOR, I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY, IT WAS EITHER $500,000 TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

>> AROUND $500,000. ACTUALLY, NOT $500,000, $350,000. IS WHAT YOU REQUESTED.

>> I THINK THAT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE. IT WAS THE 350.

>> SO 350 BEFORE, 500 LATER.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO QUANTIFY OUR ROLE IN THIS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE WANT TO FIGHT VERY HARD FOR OUR DISTRICT.

BUT REALLY AND TRULY I'M ASKING FOR $350,000 WHEN WE COULD HAVE ASKED FOR TWO MILLION DOLLARS OR THAT STUFF.

WE WERE THE ONES TO SAY TO CONGRESSWOMAN MCCORMICK THAT, LISTEN, IT IS TOO SMALL OF A NUMBER.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR REPRESENTATION FOR US IS LOW BALLING US IN ANY WAY?

>> NO, I DON'T.

THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THE NUMBER THAT WE CAME IN WITH THAT SECOND YEAR WAS BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE HAD FUNDED PROJECTS LIKE OURS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THEN WE WENT INTO THAT MEETING, WHICH WAS A GREAT MEETING, AND I REMEMBER IT WELL, THE CONGRESSWOMAN IN CONCERT WITH OUR DISCUSSION, SAID, HEY, LET'S REALLY GO FOR THIS, LET'S BUMP IT WAY UP, WE CAN ONLY SHOOT HIGH AND DO LESS THAN THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID. WHAT WE WOUND UP DOING LATER THAT YEAR.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU DID, VAL?

>> I THINK WE ALL [OVERLAPPING].

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL PARTICIPATED.

>> THAT'S WHAT MYSELF AND DR. DANIEL AND COMMISSIONER WRIGHT DID.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THEN FURTHER IN THAT YEAR, THOUGH, THE CONGRESSWOMAN CAME BACK TO US AND SAID, THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO CUT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S GOT COMPONENTS OF IT THAT ECHO LAST YEAR'S PROJECT, AND THEY CAN'T FUND THE SAME PROJECT TWICE.

WE HAD TO QUICKLY REVISE THE PROJECT, REVISE THE SCOPE OF IT, REVISE THE DESCRIPTION OF IT, GET ALL THAT BACK WITHIN LITERALLY HOURS SO THAT IT WASN'T CUT ALTOGETHER FROM THE COMMITTEE AND SO WE DID, SO WE WOUND UP WITH A $1.666 MILLION PROJECT, WHICH FRANKLY, WAS VERY GOOD.

>> THANK YOU, VAL. LET'S LOOK AT THE $125,590 THAT WE GOT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

I REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE WERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S OFFICE, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF THIS GRANT.

WE ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE, CALLED MS. CALLOWAY ON THE PHONE TO GIVE US SOME INFORMATION AS WELL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT OUR EFFORTS IN WASHINGTON CONTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT WE GOT $125,000 AFTER THAT VERY MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THE VISITS THAT YOU ALL MAKE AND THE ADVOCACY THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY IS IMMEASURABLY IMPORTANT.

THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU MAKE, THAT EFFORT THAT YOU MAKE TO GO TO WASHINGTON AND MEET WITH THE PEOPLE AND DESCRIBE YOUR STORY TO PUT INTO CONTEXT, TAMARAC AND THE CHANGES THAT TAMARAC HAS GONE THROUGH AND HOW THOSE CHANGES HAVE AFFECTED THE RESIDENTS AND HOW IT'S AFFECTED THE PRIORITIES THAT THE COMMISSION SETS FORTH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND VERY USEFUL AND IMPACTFUL.

[00:50:04]

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM. VAL, THANK YOU FOR BEING ACCOMMODATING FOR TREATING US NICE WHEN WE COME TO DC AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY, YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT.

YOU SAID RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT.

YOU MENTIONED THAT IN YOUR BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION.

GOING BACK TO COMMISSIONER BOLTON'S POINT, GOING TO THE CONGRESS SOMEONE OFFICER WAS SITTING THERE AND JUST HAVING PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS AND DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP THAT WE ALREADY HAD WITH HER.

HER SAYING, LET'S SHOOT FOR SEVEN MILLION AND EVENTUALLY, WE GOT 1.6.

BUT I THINK INITIALLY, IF MY RECORD SHOWS ME CORRECTLY, YOU MENTIONED THAT WE SHOULD ASK FOR 350.

BUT THE RELATIONSHIPS OF TALKING WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN, WE TALKED ABOUT CARNIVAL.

SHE'S LIKE SHE'S GOING TO BRING DOWN ADA HAKE AND JEFFREYS, OR CNIVAL, AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

YES, RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT.

I SAW THAT IN THIS EXPERIENCE AND GETTING THAT 1.6 MILLION.

I REMEMBER A FEW MONTHS AGO I RAN INTO A YOUNG LADY AND SHE GAVE ME A HUG AND SHE SAID, THANK YOU.

I WAS LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU THANKING FOR? SHE SAID, THANK YOU AND COMMISSIONER BOLTON, WE CAME OVER TO YOU A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER WORKSHOP AND WE'RE ABLE TO BUY A HOME WITH THE FIRST-TIME TAMA HOME BUYERS GRANTS.

SHE SAID, GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO YOUR BRETHREN COMMISSIONER BOLTON FOR ORGANIZING THAT.

MOMENTS LIKE THOSE AND HAVING RESIDENTS COME TO US AND SEEING THAT WE CHANGE THEIR LIVES ARE THINGS THAT IMPACT US.

I REMEMBER THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE THE CONGRESSMAN AND HOW THE WHOLE THING UNFOLD.

THINKING, IF WE ONLY GOT 350 AT A MAXIMUM OF 70,000, THAT'S ONLY 56 FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS, WHEREAS HAVING 1.6 MILLION, WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD THE FIRST-TIME HOME.

RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT. I DO AGREE.

THE CURRENT SITUATION, HOW IS THE LOBBY AND LANDSCAPE CHANGE IN WASHINGTON, DC WITH THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS DIFFERENT THAN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THIS ADMINISTRATION IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR PRIORITIES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

BUT THEY'VE BEEN VERY PUBLIC ABOUT THE NEW PRIORITIES.

AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL LOBBYIST, I MEAN, WE REALLY ARE CONDITIONED TO EXPECT CHANGE ALL THE TIME.

I MEAN, WE HAVE CHANGED CHANGES ALL THE TIME WITHIN OUR OWN CLIENTS BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONERS AND COMMISSIONS CHANGE, CITY COUNCILS CHANGE.

PRIORITIES CHANGE. THEN, OF COURSE, WASHINGTON IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

THERE'S ALWAYS NEW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND REALLY FOR THE LAST DECADE OR SO, THERE HAVE BEEN VERY MAJOR SHIFTS FROM ADMINISTRATION TO ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S OUR JOB TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THOSE THINGS SMOOTHLY AND UNDERSTAND WHO IT IS THAT YOU GUYS NEED TO MEET WITH AND UNDERSTAND THE PRIORITIES OF NEW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS, NEW GRANT PROGRAMS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

HOW DOES THE LOBBYING LANDSCAPE CHANGE? I THINK IT CHANGES IN TERMS OF THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF LOBBYISTS WHO ARE, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR CLIENTS ARE MEETING WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE, AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE THIS YEAR AND HOW THEIR COMMUNITIES ALIGN WITH THOSE OR NOT.

>> GOING BACK TO YOUR POINT, RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE A TRADITIONAL K STREET FIRM? TRADITIONAL UNIFORM.

IN DOING MY RESEARCH, I'M SEEING MORE AND MORE FLORIDA FIRMS OUT GOING INTO DC.

WOULD YOU SEE THIS IS FLORIDA'S MOMENT? WE HAVE PAM BONDI, WHO IS THE WALL'S TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FLORIDIAN.

WE HAVE SUSIE WELLS, WHO'S THE SECOND MOST POWERFUL WOMAN IN THE WORLD BEING THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT, FLORIDA FLORIDIAN.

WE HAVE SENATOR RUBIO, WHO'S THE WALL'S MOST POWERFUL DIPLOMAT, WHO IS NOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

SO I'M SEEING MORE AND MORE FLORIDIAN FIRMS ARE GETTING INTO LOBBYING BECAUSE AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO YOUR POINT, RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT.

WOULD YOU SEE THE TRADITIONAL K STREET FIRMS WOULDN'T BENEFIT FROM THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THAT A LOT OF LOBBYING FIRMS HAVE A LOT TO BENEFIT FROM THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, AND THOSE WHO HAVE LONGTIME FLORIDA RELATIONSHIPS.

SOME OF THESE NEW FOLKS WHO ARE NOW IN WASHINGTON CAN ONLY BE BENEFICIAL.

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING THE FLORIDA FIRMS ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THESE RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY HAVE LEVERAGE.

>> I THINK THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD.

[00:55:02]

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

THOSE THINGS HAND IN HAND MAKE FOR A VERY IMPACTFUL LOBBYING EXPERIENCE.

>> I SAW FLORIDIAN FIRM CALLED BALAD PARTNERS, WHERE PAM BANDE, THE WORLD MOST POWERFUL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR SUSIE WILES PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR THAT FIRM.

I ALSO RECENTLY SAW THE MAY OF HIALEAH RESIGNED FROM HIS JOB AS MAYOR TO WORK FOR A COMPANY, A FLORIDIAN FIRM CALLED THE SOUTHERN GROUP, BECAUSE AGAIN, LEVERAGING THESE RELATIONSHIPS, GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID, RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT.

PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS IN DIFFERENT AND THE LANDSCAPE IS DIFFERENT.

HAVING THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND LEVERAGING THIS RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO GET WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR CLIENTS AND WHICH IS LIKE CITIES AND GOVERNMENTS.

I EVEN SAW HARVARD UNIVERSITY FROM THE LIBERAL BASE N OF MASSACHUSETTS HIRED ONE OF THE FLORIDIAN FIRMS TO WORK FOR THEM.

WE BEING A FLORIDA CITY AND THIS BEING FLORIDA'S MOMENT PUT POLITICS ASIDE.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A TIME FOR US TO BENEFIT.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT ANY OF THE FLORIDA FIRMS, BECAUSE DOES A GREAT FIRM.

THEY HAVE ONLY GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THEM.

>> THANKS.

>> COMMISSIONER PATTERSON.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. HI VAL, GOOD MORNING.

>> HI.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO RESERVE MY QUESTIONS UNTIL AFTER TANYA DID HER PRESENTATION, BUT I GUESS I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK SINCE WE DID THIS EXERCISE.

OBVIOUSLY WITH ME BEING THE NEWEST MEMBER ON THE COMMISSION.

I JUST HAVE SOME GENERAL QUESTIONS, I GUESS, I WANT TO JUST THROW AT YOU FOR SAKE OF MY OWN UNDERSTANDING AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE LISTENING WHO DON'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS FEDERAL LOBBYIST OR JUST A LOBBYIST OVERALL.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS ON DIFFERENT LEVELS.

I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, BESIDES OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CONGRESSWOMAN, SHEILA CHEF LZ MCCORMICK, WHAT OTHER KEY RELATIONSHIPS DOES THE CITY HAVE WITH THE DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON?

>> WELL, EACH YEAR, WHEN WE GO TO VISIT WASHINGTON, WE ALWAYS GO IN AND WE MEET WITH BOTH OF OUR SENATE OFFICES TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STAFFERS, THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, THE CHIEF OF STAFF, THE LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS, KNOW WHAT OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS AND SO THAT THEY CAN HELP US WHEN WE COME TO THEM FOR SUPPORT WITH A GRANT, FOR INSTANCE, OR A LETTER THAT WE WOULD LIKE SIGNED SUPPORTING OVERALL FUNDING FOR A PROGRAM THAT IS IMPORTANT TO US.

SO THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK ONE OF THE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT, FOR INSTANCE, I HAD MENTIONED THAT DURING THE LAST GO ROUND OF THE TAX BILL, IT WAS SENATOR RUBIO'S OFFICE ACTUALLY THAT DID THE HEAVY LIFTING AND GETTING US A DESIGNATION AS A FEDERAL OPPORTUNITY ZONE.

ALSO, THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE GRANT MANAGERS, THOSE PEOPLE WHO OVERSEE THE ACTUAL GRANTS THAT WE ARE APPLYING FOR, THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, WE KNOW, MOST OF THE FOLKS ON THE COMMISSION HAVE BEEN IN MEETINGS WHERE WE'VE MET WITH, SAY, THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, THROUGH WHICH WE'VE APPLIED AND RECEIVED VARIOUS GRANTS.

A LOT OF TIMES THOSE FOLKS ARE NOT NECESSARILY FAMILIAR WITH EXACTLY WHERE TAMARACK IS IN RELATIONSHIP TO, SAY LAUDERDALE, MIAMI, SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT THEY MIGHT BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH, AND HOW WHAT IS THE STORY OF THE CITY.

BUT HOW DID THE CITY ARRIVE AT WHERE IT IS NOW AND THE ISSUES THAT IT'S FACING NOW? WHAT IS THE TRAJECTORY TO GET TO HERE AND THEN ALSO GOING FORWARD? IT'S THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, PARTICULARLY WITH GRANT MANAGERS THAT ARE ALSO REALLY BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO OBTAIN A FEDERAL GRANT, AND IT OFTEN TAKES MORE THAN ONE SHOT.

GETTING TO MEET WITH THOSE PEOPLE BEFORE AND AFTER THEY ANALYZE THE GRANT TO GET ACTUAL FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REVIEWING IT CAN BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

WITH RESPECT TO GRANTS, WE TYPICALLY WOULD WRITE A GRANT AND IT WOULD GO UP.

IF THERE'S SOMETHING AVAILABLE, WE WOULD APPLY FOR IT, AND THEN THERE WOULD BE, I GUESS, A LOBBYING EFFORT THERE.

BUT IN TERMS OF ADVOCACY AND RELATIONSHIPS, SPECIFICALLY, I'M INTERESTED TO UNDERSTAND BESIDES OUR CONGRESSWOMAN SPECIFICALLY.

[01:00:06]

I'M CURIOUS TO JUST KNOW WHERE ARE WE WITH RELATIONSHIPS IN DC.

>> WELL, WE USE THESE RELATIONSHIPS TO TRANSMIT WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE EITHER CONCERNED ABOUT OR SUPPORTIVE OF.

IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE'D BE QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO CONVEY TO THE STAFF OF NOT JUST OUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS, BUT BOTH OF OUR SENATORS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT KIND OF COMES OUT OF SPEAKING WITH YOU GUYS AND ALSO REPORTING ON THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THE FERGUSON GROUP PROVIDES OUR TRANSPORTATION REPORT AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT, AND OUR BROADBAND REPORT.

THOSE THINGS, IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH, YOUR STAFF, TRY TO HELP ROOT OUT THOSE THINGS THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY ADVOCATING ON YOUR BEHALF.

TYPICALLY IN THIS PART OF THE YEAR, WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SO THAT YOU CAN APPROVE IT.

WE TRANSMIT THAT TO YOUR HOUSE AND SENATE OFFICES SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE.

OH, NO. ARE YOU THERE? HOLD ON. SORRY.

>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.

>> OKAY. SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PRIORITIES, AND THEN WE GET MOVING, ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING OR DEFENDING THOSE PRIORITIES.

>> LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.

WITH THE NUMBERS THAT YOU DEMONSTRATED ON THE SLIDE EARLIER, WOULD THAT BE A MEASURE OF SUCCESS? IS THAT HOW THE COMMISSION WOULD MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE FIRM?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S THE ONLY MEASURE OF SUCCESS.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MEASURES, AND IT'S THE ONE THAT'S SORT OF MOST EASILY CALCULATABLE.

BUT THE OTHER MEASURES OF SUCCESS ARE, DO YOU AS A COMMISSION, FEEL LIKE YOU WERE BEING BLINDSIDED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON OR THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO PROACTIVELY RESPOND, IS YOUR LOBBYIST MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE CITY, NOT EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN WASHINGTON IMPACTS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUT MANY THINGS DO.

IT'S OUR JOB TO TAKE ALL THAT MASS OF INFORMATION AND NARROW IT DOWN INTO PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL CAN HOPEFULLY EASILY DIGEST AND RESPOND TO.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT, AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION.

IN TERMS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND ALL OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN DC.

MAYBE I'M NOT ADDED TO THE LIST YET.

I COULD BE JUST STILL OUT THERE IN TERMS OF JUST RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM YOUR OFFICE.

JUST WONDERING, DID WE RECEIVE ANY STRATEGIC GUIDANCE OR ADVICE ON HOW TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS RELATING TO DEI EFFORTS, THE IMMIGRATION CHANGES? I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME REAL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, I HAVEN'T SPECIFICALLY BEEN NOTIFIED OR GIVEN ANY INFORMATION IN TERMS OF HOW TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THAT.

I KNOW THAT I HAVE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT, THAT HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE DEI PROGRAMS HERE IN OUR CITY, AND I'LL SAY THAT I PERSONALLY AM NOT PREPARED TO RESPOND.

I'M WONDERING, GIVEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP AND TO YOUR POINT THAT WE SHOULD BE PREPARED AND WHETHER THE ISSUES ARE ISSUES THAT WE CAN DIRECTLY LEGISLATE ON OR NOT, I THINK THAT I WANT TO BE AT LEAST PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A QUESTION AND OR CONCERN BY A CONSTITUENT.

I DON'T THINK THAT I PERSONALLY AM PREPARED.

I'M WONDERING, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTING FROM YOUR OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THOSE ISSUES? I WAS ON A CALL LAST WEEK WITH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES SPEAKING TO LOCAL MATTERS,

[01:05:03]

I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE I DIDN'T GET MAYBE THE LINES WERE ACROSS MAYBE.

I DIDN'T GET TO THE RIGHT NUMBER ABOUT, BUT I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING BACK, JUST WONDERING, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO RIGHT NOW WITH REGARD TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DC.

>> OKAY. WELL, I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS WITH TANYA WILLIAMS AND TANYA STERLING ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT'S COME THROUGH.

I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE BRINGING IT UP BECAUSE IT BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU ALL WOULD WANT MORE DIRECT QUICK, SHORT REPORTING ON, HEY, THIS HAS COME UP, AND THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW, AND THIS IS HOW YOU MAY WANT TO RESPOND IF IT COMES UP FOR YOU, LOCALLY WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

WE HAVEN'T TYPICALLY DONE THAT, BUT AT LEAST FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT WITH ALL OF THE BARRAGE OF THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT IN TERMS OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR YOU AS A COMMISSIONER, MAYBE EVEN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION FOR US TO DO THAT.

I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.

I TRY NOT TO BOMBARD YOU WITH TOO MUCH INFORMATION BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF REPORTS THAT COME OUT OF THE FERGUSON GROUP, AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GET TOO MUCH, IT'S HARD TO READ ALL OF IT.

BUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT.

I WOULD THINK THAT THE DEI AND ALSO THE FREEZE ON FEDERAL FUNDING WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY IS PROBABLY GETTING QUESTIONS ABOUT, EITHER PERSONALLY OR FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THE FREEZE AND FEDERAL FUNDING AFFECT IMPACTS SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD IN SO MANY AREAS.

>> FOR SURE I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY ONE THING THAT I THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER, THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING.

I WOULD EVEN ADD PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, I'VE GOT RESIDENTS THAT ARE CALLING ME SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD YOU KNOW THEIR DRUGS, THEY'VE COMPARED PRICES.

THEY CAN'T EVEN GET A QUOTE AT PUBLIX OR SAM'S ON WHAT A DRUG WILL COST THEM.

AND SO WHILE I DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS I RECOGNIZE THAT NOT EVERY CITY HAS A FEDERAL LOBBYIST.

IF I'M BEING ASKED TO REVIEW AN AGREEMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT I AM FULLY EQUIPPED AND PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO MY RESIDENTS HERE LOCALLY, SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOBBYIST.

WITH THAT I GUESS I WOULD YIELD.

BEFORE I YIELD I WANT TO ASK THIS AS WELL, ARE THERE ANY BENCHMARKS? IN TERMS OF THE APPROPRIATIONS AND THE DOLLARS THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN IN RECEIPT OF, COMPARING, I GUESS, A CITY OR CITIES HERE IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA AREA, SAME SIZE, SAME POPULATION, MAYBE.

ARE WE IN LINE IN TERMS OF BENCHMARKS AND WHAT WE'RE RECEIVING IN TERMS OF APPROPRIATIONS?

>> I WOULD IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE AHEAD OF MOST OF THE CITIES IN TERMS OF RECEIVING APPROPRIATIONS, BECAUSE THE EARMARKS WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 11 YEARS AND THEN THEY CAME BACK THE YEAR THAT CONGRESSMAN HASTINGS WAS REPRESENTING US AND HE ACTUALLY PASSED THAT YEAR.

WE WERE NOT ABLE TO START SEEKING AN EARMARK UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WHICH IS WHEN WE HAD OUR NEW CONGRESSWOMAN.

EVER SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BEEN ONE OF THE 20 ENTITIES HAS PICKED EACH YEAR OF THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR A FEDERAL EARMARK.

NOT ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES THAT ARE PART OF THE 20 ARE EVEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SOME OF THEM ARE NON PROFITS.

IN TERMS OF COMPARISON, WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE AHEAD.

>> IS THIS AN ANALYSIS THAT'S BEEN DONE OR WE WERE JUST OBVIOUSLY?

>> NO, I HAVEN'T DONE A FULL ANALYSIS.

I CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE RECEIVED EARMARKS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS YOU CAN GET SOME OF IT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> NO, I DON'T MEAN EARMARKS.

I'M REFERRING TO JUST DIRECT LOBBYING EFFORTS.

THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF DIRECT LOBBYING EFFORTS.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT.

>> YEAH. TO THAT, WITHOUT HAVING DONE AN ANALYSIS OF THE OTHER CITIES, I WOULD SAY THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY AHEAD.

GIVEN THAT ONLY 20 ENTITIES

[01:10:01]

OF THOSE 20, SOME PORTION OF THAT VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR ARE GIVEN TO NONPROFITS SO IT'S NOT 20 CITIES WE'RE COMPARING PATIENTS.

>> WE'RE COMPARING AMONGST THOSE IN HER DISTRICT NOT JUST OVERALL?

>> YEAH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. YEAH.

>> VICE MAYOR?

>> GOOD MORNING. I KNOW IT'S A LONG CONVERSATION BUT IT'S DEFINITELY NEEDED.

QUESTION OR NOT QUESTION, STATEMENT.

I REMEMBER THE TIME WITH THE 350 I WENT IN ONE AND OVER ONE MILLION.

I WAS TOLD IN THE ROOM THAT KICIA, DO NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN 350.

NO ONE BROUGHT THAT UP BUT I WAS TOLD DO NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN 350.

AND THE FIRST THING THE CONGRESSWOMAN SAID WAS WHY ARE WE ASKING SO LOW? I ASKED THE SAME QUESTION, WHY WE ASKING SO LOW? THAT TO ME WAS A PROBLEM.

WE DID GET OVER TWO MILLION SO THAT'S AWESOME.

BASED ON THE DIFFERENT CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING TODAY IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT LOBBYISTS.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHOEVER ELSE IS OUT THERE.

THE ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING, WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE, I SAID IT, AT A PREVIOUS MEETING TRANSITION IS OCCURRING.

YES, RELATIONSHIPS ARE HERE AND YES WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR COMPANY BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THESE OTHER COMPANIES HAVE TO OFFER? BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST BASED ON RELATIONSHIP, IT'S BASED ON RESULTS.

WHAT RESULTS CAN YOU BRING TO THE TABLE? IF WE COULD HAVE CONSENSUS ON LOOKING AT DIFFERENT LOBBYING COMPANIES AND LET THEM PRESENT WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER TO US.

BECAUSE TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

I REMEMBER EVEN WHEN WE'RE IN DC, I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS MY FIRST OR SECOND YEAR.

I WAS TOLD, REPUBLICANS DON'T GIVE MONEY.

THEN HOW CAN WE GET REPUBLICAN SUPPORT? BECAUSE REPUBLICAN IS IN CHARGE, HOW CAN WE GET THEIR SUPPORT? WHAT COMPANY IS GOING TO GET US THE RESULTS WE NEED IN THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT AND NOT GOING TO ALLOW US TO NOT TURNING THINGS ON TIME? WHAT COMPANY IS THAT? I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AND I HOPE MY TEAMMATES WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE.

WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE? WHAT ELSE CAN WE GET MORE FROM? THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION, UPDATE ON ENERGY.

THE FUNDING WE GOT TO GET ELECTRICAL CAR CHARTERS AND ALL THIS.

I HAVE RESIDENTS ASKING WHO HAVE TESLAS AND STUFF THEY CAN'T CHARGE ANYWHERE UNLESS YOU OWN A HOME.

WHERE ARE WE ON THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WE WENT TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO GET ANY UPDATES ON THAT?

>> I'M GOING TO LET HER KNOW THAT THAT PART IS COMING FIRST, BUT YOU HAD TWO THINGS IN THERE.

>> YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> IF YOU WOULD PLEASE ADDRESS THE QUESTION ON FUNDING FOR THE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGERS.

THE OTHER ITEM THAT WAS PRESENTED WILL BE A DISCUSSION AFTERWARDS. GO AHEAD.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS?

>> SURE.

>> YES.

>> WHOEVER WANTS TO MAKE, HAVE FUN.

>> WE WERE AWARDED 125,000 IN ALLOCATED FUNDS.

WE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR HIGH ENERGY ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION LEVEL 3.

APPLICATION WAS APPROVED, WE WERE AWARDED ON DECEMBER 17TH TO BE EXACT.

I HAVE ADVISED THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED.

THE $125,000 WILL FUND TWO HIGH SPEED LEVEL 3 CHARGING STATIONS IN TWO CITY PARKS.

IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, ONE WOULD BE IN THE CAPORELLA PARK OVERFLOW PARKING LOT AND THE OTHER ONE, IF I RECALL, IS THE AQUATIC CENTER AREA.

WE HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

BUT THAT'S A COMPETITIVE GRANT AND I'M AWAITING NOTIFICATION FOR THAT ONE.

SHOULD WE BE AWARDED THAT ONE, IT WILL BE FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ALL LEVEL 3 CHARGERS.

AT THIS TIME WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT WE HAVE FUNDING FOR TWO AND IT'S DUAL, SO WILL BE ONE CHARGING STATION WITH DUAL PORTS AT THE TWO LOCATIONS I'VE INDICATED.

[01:15:02]

>> HOW DID WE COME UP WITH THOSE LOCATIONS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 4 THAT OWNS TESLAS OR WHATEVER ELECTRICAL VEHICLE.

I KEEP SAYING TESLA, 'CAUSE IT'S THE MOST POPULAR ONE.

>> BASICALLY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE $125,000 GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED, THEY HAD SPECIFIC PERIMETERS AND SO ONE OF THE PERIMETERS WAS THAT WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT WELL, 40% OF THE FUNDS NEEDED TO BE SPENT IN A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE TWO LOCATIONS WOULD BE A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.

WE HAD INITIALLY APPLIED FOR THE CFI GRANT, THAT'S THE ONE FOR THE FIVE LOCATIONS FIRST.

THOSE LOCATIONS, LIKE I SAID, THOSE, THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME PERIMETERS.

BUT WHEN WE'RE DONE, SHOULD WE BE AWARDED THAT CFI GRANT FOR THE FIVE LOCATIONS, WE WILL HAVE ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THE FIRST IN ANSWER TO THE INITIAL QUESTION, THE 125, ONE LOCATION HAD TO BE IN A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY USING THEIR MAP. YES.

>> ONE WOULD HAVE TO BE IN DISADVANTAGE.

BUT TO ME, CAPORELLA PARK, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S DISADVANTAGED AND IT'S SURROUNDED BY HOMEOWNERS.

>> AGAIN, THE LOCATIONS SELECTED FOR THE 125 GRANT WERE LOCATIONS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED FOR THIS ADDITIONAL.

>> YOU HAD FIVE ALREADY SO YOU CHOSE THE ADDITIONAL TWO THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE FIVE?

>> CORRECT.

>> BUT THEN THE FIVE IS NOT GUARANTEED?

>> WHAT WE HAVE, IT SHOULD BE ONE TECHNICALLY ON THE EAST SIDE.

>> THEN ONE ON THE WEST?

>> THEN ONE ON THE WEST, SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

>> QUESTION. IF PEOPLE COME LIKE THEY LIVE IN AN APARTMENT OR A PLACE, A CONDO THAT DOESN'T HAVE ONE, AND THEY CAN'T HAVE ONE, THE PARK THEY COME FROM WORK AT 6:00 THE PARK CLOSES AT, I'M ASSUMING PROBABLY 8:00-9:00.

NOT THAT PARK? THAT ONE WOULD STILL BE OPEN.

THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO IT AT LATE HOURS.

>> THAT WAS ALSO ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT IT BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'D BE DOING THE BUSINESS OPERATING HOURS BUT THEY HAD SPECIFIC CRITERIAS THAT WE HAD TO MEET BOTH GRANTS.

BUT WE DID, IN LOOKING AT THE AREAS, TRY TO SELECT AREAS THAT WERE IN ACCESSIBLE [OVERLAPPING]

>> FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE?

>> YES.

>> IT WILL BE FOR LATER HOURS, BECAUSE I THINK THEY LIKE TO CHARGE A CAR WHEN THEY'RE NOT DRIVING THEIR CARS.

>> WE ALSO HAD CHOSE LOCATIONS, COMMISSIONER, THAT YOU COULD DO SOMETHING AT THAT LOCATION BECAUSE TYPICALLY NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THE LEVEL 3 CHARGERS, WHICH WILL PROBABLY TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

YOU CAN DO SOMETHING AND COME BACK BUT IT WON'T TAKE AS LONG AS THE LEVEL 2 CHARGERS.

AS FOR THE HOURS, THEY ARE PUBLIC FACILITIES SO THAT WILL BE DICTATED BY THE CITY, THE HOURS.

BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DURING THE OPERATING HOURS WHATEVER THOSE HOURS ARE.

>> I THINK THE CITY MANAGER JUST SAID THOSE HOURS ARE LATE FOR THOSE PARTICULAR LOCATIONS?

>> CAPORELLA PARK OVERFLOW PARKING IS GOING TO BE 24/7.

>> THAT'S AWESOME. THAT'S VERY GOOD NEWS. THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> DID YOU LOOK AT OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE PRIVATE CHARGING STATION? BECAUSE I KNOW SOMEONE INTERESTINGLY THIS MORNING, WHO LIVES IN CORAL SPRINGS RIGHT ACROSS THE BORDER IN SOUTHGATE, THEY DRIVE THEIR CAR TO CITY FURNITURE TO CHARGE OVERNIGHT.

I KNOW IN DISTRICT 2, WE HAVE CITY FURNITURE.

WE HAVE ONE NEIGHBOR THE DUNKIN DONUTS, WE HAVE TAMARAC VILLAGE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF CHARGERS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

I KNOW THERE'S PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT HAVE CHARGERS.

TO WHAT DR. DANIEL IS SAYING, WE DON'T WANT TO OVER REPRESENT ONE AREA AND NOT SPREAD IT OUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> I HEAR YOU, COMMISSIONER. IN SUBMITTING THE FIRST APPLICATION THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS, THEIR CRITERIA IS THAT WE FILL THE GAP.

I CHECKED TO SEE WHERE THEY WERE EXISTING CHARGING LOCATIONS.

I ALSO LOOKED TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE FAST CHARGERS VERSUS LEVEL 2.

WHEN WE APPLIED, WE MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO LOOK FOR LEVEL 3 VERSUS LEVEL 2 CHARGERS.

MAKING A NOTE AND POINTING OUT IN THE APPLICATION WHERE THE EXISTING ONES WERE LOCATED AND BASICALLY

[01:20:04]

>> ARE WE LOOKING INTO OTHER GRANTS JUST IN CASE WE DON'T GET THE GRANT FOR THE FIVE?

>> YEAH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO.

BECAUSE THE ONLY GRANT OBVIOUSLY THAT WE WERE SHORT OF WAS THE 125 EECBG GRANT AWARD AND THOSE ARE ALLOCATED FUNDS.

THE ONE OBVIOUSLY FOR THE ONE MILLION IN EXCESS, THAT'S A COMPETITIVE GRANT THAT WE ARE COMPETING FOR.

WE SHOULD HEAR SOMETHING LATER ON IN THE YEAR BUT YES I BELIEVE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ON OUR AGENDA, BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS ON MY LIST TO CONTINUE TO SEEK FEDERAL STATE FUNDING FOR.

>> COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, ARE YOU STILL TURNED OVER?

>> YOU'RE DONE. WELL, I'D LIKE TO HAVE COMMENTS. DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS? I'M GOING TO START WITH MY COMMENTS BEFORE THE QUESTION THAT CAME ABOUT, CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I STILL HAVE MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.

ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR FROM WHAT I HEARD THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE BASING A $920,000.

IT WAS $650,000, $650,000 THAT'S IN YOUR REPORT.

THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF QUANTITATIVE FUNDS THAT CAME IN FROM LAST YEAR WAS $1,000,440 AND CHANGE.

IF WE'RE PUTTING WHAT'S IN YOUR REPORT TO WHAT'S IN VAL'S REPORT. AM I CORRECT OR NOT? I UNDERSTAND THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONVERSATION, BUT I LIKE CONVERSATIONS BASED ON THE SAME FACTS NOT OTHER THINGS.

>> WELL, I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE AGENDA OF WHAT'S BEING SUPPORTED ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THIS HAS TAKEN A TURN. IT'S MY VOICE.

I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN.

AGAIN, I'M NOT ANGRY. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET IT OUT.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS ON THE AGENDA THAT I FEEL ARE TOO TARGETED TO WHERE WE'VE HAD OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE ON IN OUR PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AREA.

THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN PUT SECOND FIDDLE OR THIRD FIDDLE, SOMETHING I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS NECESSARILY AN ITEM THAT IS YOUR ISSUE, NOW.

IT'S MORE OUR ISSUE, THE WAY WE HAVE SEEMED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PRIORITIES.

BUT GIVEN WHERE THE CONVERSATION MAY BE GOING, IT MAY NOT BE A WORTHY CONVERSATION TO HAVE JUST YET.

I STILL BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALSO BEING HIT WITH THE ZIP CODE ISSUE THAT WE'VE NEEDED TO RE-ESTABLISH BECAUSE WE ARE BEING LUMPED IN WITH OTHER FIVE OTHER ZIP CODES THAT TAKE AWAY OUR PURE FOCUS FROM OUR CITY AND FOR WHICH WE COULD BE RECEIVING CERTAIN GRANTS, OR MAYBE WE'RE RECEIVING CERTAIN GRANTS BECAUSE WE HAVE THEM AND ARE NOT SURE.

BUT THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD BROUGHT OUT AND WE DON'T SEEM TO FINISH SOMETIMES.

I'M NOT PUTTING BLAME ON ANYONE.

CITIES ARE VERY SLOW-MOVING, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON, AND PRIORITIES SEEM TO SHUFFLE FOR WHATEVER'S GOING ON.

I DO KNOW THAT YOUR FIRM AND YOURSELF HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL WHEN I'VE BEEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BEEN TO NEA, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS.

I KNOW WE'VE RECEIVED SOME FUNDS.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER PLACKO IS IN THE AUDIENCE AND KNOW WE WENT THERE AND RECEIVED CERTAIN FUNDS FOR SOME OF THE ARTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, AND I HAD BEEN UP THERE LAST APRIL.

I ALSO HEAR SOME POSSIBLE ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE COMMUNICATION-BASED THAT I KNOW IN THE PAST, I RECEIVED WEEKLY MEMOS FROM YOURSELF, FROM VAL'S OFFICE.

I ALSO RECEIVED WEEKLY MEMOS FROM OUR STATE LOBBYISTS.

I KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE MEMOS ARE NO LONGER COMING TO US, BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT'S COMING TO US HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR LOBBYISTS, BUT COMING IN FROM INTERNAL PROCEDURES, WHICH I DON'T THINK THAT OUR LOBBYISTS SHOULD BE AFFECTED, ANY OF OUR LOBBYISTS.

ANYBODY SHOULDN'T BE AFFECTED BY THE INTERNAL PROCEDURES THAT OUR CITY IS GIVING TO PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATION TO US.

I THINK THOSE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT NEED TO BE KEPT IN MIND.

[01:25:03]

THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT IS WANTED TO BE DISCUSSED BY GOING TO A DIFFERENT LOBBYIST.

SINCE I'VE GOT THE MICROPHONE FOR RIGHT NOW, I'LL JUST FINISH WITH MY OPINIONS ON THIS.

I KNOW THAT VAL'S TEAM HAS BEEN OUR LOBBYIST WHEN WE HAD A REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE SHE WAS OUR LOBBYIST DURING THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I BELIEVE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ON AND OFF.

AM I CORRECT ON SERVICE? WE'VE RECEIVED MONEY THROUGH ALL THIS TIME.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WORLDS HAVE CHANGED WITH WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO TODAY, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO EVEN THREE YEARS AGO, FOUR YEARS AGO, SIX YEARS AGO, 10 YEARS AGO BECAUSE COMMUNICATIONS HAVE CHANGED, PROCEDURES HAVE CHANGED, LIFE HAS CHANGED.

IT'S ALL GOOD. I DO THINK THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE MINUTES BEFORE SESSION STARTING, MINUTES BEFORE A CONTRACT IS ENDING.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY HAVE A FULL DISCUSSION IS NOT NECESSARILY HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD BE BEST SERVED GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE AT THIS VERY MOMENT, ESPECIALLY AS WE HAVE A WHOLE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RIGHT BEFORE US, AND WE'RE RUNNING NOW.

WE'VE GOT ADMINISTRATION CHANGES COMING FROM THE NEW PRESIDENT THAT HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

WE'VE GOT RELATIONSHIPS IN PLACE THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT WE DO OURSELVES A POTENTIAL DISSERVICE BY NOT BEING IN THE GAME IF WE'RE TOO BUSY HUNTING FOR ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE TO REPRESENT US IN THIS GAME WHERE TIME IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I KNOW I SOUND REALLY FUNNY.

I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WISH THAT THE VOICE COMPLETELY GOES AWAY, BUT I WOULD TELL YOU I STILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE HEARD BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S LITTLE CHAT BOXES THAT CAN COME OUT NOW.

YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T LIKE THE VOICE THERE.

I ALSO THINK WE'RE NOT GIVING VAL AND HER TEAM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW WHAT THEY CAN DO.

WE'RE BEING PRESUMPTIVE RIGHT NOW JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN DC.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW DEEP THEIR POOL RUNS TO THEIR CONTACTS TO THE NEW FLORIDA TAKEOVER IN WASHINGTON, DC.

WE JUST GOT BACK FROM TALLAHASSEE, SO I THINK MY HEAD IS STILL THERE.

LET'S SAY UP NORTH, IT WORKS FOR BOTH TALLAHASSEE AND FOR DC.

I GET THE CONVERSATION.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CONVERSATION, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE CONVERSATION TO ACTUALLY KEEP THAT IN MIND BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR CITY'S AGENDA IS WHAT IS BEING PUT FORTH FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CITY, AND KEEPING ALL OF THESE SPINNING PLATES IN MIND AS WE DO SO.

VAL, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WISH TO SAY?

>> DID YOU JUST ASK ME?

>> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?

>> WELL. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

I WOULD ECHO THAT I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS WAS BREWING AND WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK MORE WITH YOU ALL, AND GET A SENSE OF YOUR NEEDS.

NOT THAT I DON'T KNOW OVERALL, BUT THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY SOME INDIVIDUAL NEEDS THAT ARE NOT BEING MET, WHICH I WASN'T AWARE OF, AND I CERTAINLY NEVER WANT THAT.

WE SHOULD HAVE OPEN COMMUNICATION.

I WOULD AGREE THAT IT'S GOING TO SOUND COMPLETELY SELF SERVING, BUT I WILL SAY IT ANYWAY, IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE SELF SERVING.

IT IS NOT YOUR OPTIMUM TIME TO MAYBE BE WITHOUT A LOBBYIST BECAUSE THINGS ARE COMING SO QUICKLY.

BUT THAT'S YOUR DECISION, NOT MY DECISION.

THERE IS A LOT THAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU ALL.

I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE, OBVIOUSLY.

I HAVE SPENT TIME WITH NEARLY ALL OF YOU AND WOULD HOPE TO CONTINUE, AND HOPE THAT WE CAN JUST HAVE THIS DIALOGUE FOR SOME TIME SO

[01:30:02]

>> I'M GOING TO ASK TANYA, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WISH TO ADD AS WELL.

I DON'T I DON'T THINK THAT 1A MAKES A DIFFERENCE AT THIS POINT IF WE DON'T HAVE A 1B.

WHAT OUR AGENDA MAY BE MAKES NO SENSE UNLESS WE KNOW IF WE HAVE A LOBBYIST AT THIS TIME.

TANYA, DID YOU WISH TO ADD ANYTHING BEFORE WE TURN IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR DISCUSSION?

>> YES, MADAM MAYOR.

I DON'T WANT TO BE REPETITIVE.

VAL HAS STATED SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE IN MY PRESENTATION.

BUT JIM, IF YOU COULD THE CONTRACT RENEWAL.

MY PRESENTATION WAS ON THE CONTRACT RENEWAL AND [INAUDIBLE] GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC.

IN MY POSITION, AND THIS IS OFF SCRIPT, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH VAL AND HER TEAM.

I MUST SAY THAT WE DO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

NOW, GOING ON SCRIPT, THE CITY HAS HAD A CONTRACT WITH FERGUSON GROUP SINCE 2008.

THE INITIAL CONTRACT WAS FOR TWO YEARS.

THEN IN 2010, WE STARTED THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION OR AMENDMENT.

THE INITIAL CONTRACT WAS FOR $95,000, AND THE SERVICE FEE OF 855 HAS BEEN SINCE 2010.

NOW, I THINK WHAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON OR WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THE SCOPE OF WORK.

THIS IS THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT'S DESCRIBED IN OUR INITIAL CONTRACT AGREEMENT, AND WHICH I CAN HONESTLY ATTEST AND SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.

THEY HELPED US TO DEVELOP FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WHEN MYSELF AND TANYA STERLING SAT DOWN TO DO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

IT WAS WITH THE FERGUSON GROUPS BACK AND FORTH INPUT.

THEY ASSESS OUR CITY NEEDS, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, AND I CAN TELL YOU, IN FACT, THAT THEY DO THAT.

I RECEIVE SO MANY REPORTS.

I WANT TO SAY WEEKLY OF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE TO QUICKLY PERUSE.

I DON'T FOCUS AS MUCH ON THE OTHER REPORTS BECAUSE MY ROLE IS THAT OF THE GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR.

THEY ASSIST IN PREPARATION OF SUPPORTING MATERIALS, SO THEY CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT LETTERS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE'RE SUBMITTING AN EARMARK REQUEST, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE FLORIDA APPROPRIATIONS REQUEST, THEY CONSIST US WITH THE LANGUAGE OR EVEN THE FORM FOR THOSE SUPPORT LETTERS, TALKING POINTS IF WE NEED THEM WHEN YOU GO TO WASHINGTON AND ANY TESTIMONIES.

THEY DEVELOP MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND STAFF.

THEY PLAN AND COORDINATE OUR WASHINGTON ADVOCACY MEETINGS, THEY PREPARE THE CITY ITINERARY BRIEFING SHEETS AND COMMITTEE FORMS. THEY SERVE AS THE CITY'S LIAISON TO FEDERAL AGENDAS.

THEY DEVELOP RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GRANT MANAGERS WHEN A GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED.

IF THERE IS AN ISSUE, WE CAN REACH OUT TO THE FERGUSON GROUP AND THEY CAN CONTACT THAT DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR GRANT DEPARTMENT.

THEY COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND COMMITTEE STAFF.

AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THEY PROVIDE REPORTS.

OUR CONTRACT PROVIDED FOR MONTHLY UPDATES, AN ANNOUNCEMENT, WE RECEIVE THEM WEEKLY.

NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT VAL ALREADY TOUCHED ON, OUR EARMARK SUBMISSION.

WE WERE AWARDED OVER $1.6 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR HOUSING REHABILITATION AND REPAIR SERVICES.

[01:35:04]

THEY ALSO SUGGESTS THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING WE SEEK.

FOR THIS PROJECT, THE EAST SIDE WATER DISTRIBUTION EXPANSION PROJECT, WHERE WE WERE AWARDED OR EXPECT TO RECEIVE 1.1 MILLION, OUR REQUEST WAS FOR $2 MILLION, BUT WE WERE AWARDED $1.058.

I AM THE PERSON THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING OR COMPLETING THE EARMARK AS WELL AS THE APPROPRIATIONS, AS WELL AS THE GRANT APPLICATIONS.

FOR TOTAL FEDERAL GRANTS, NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARMARK.

THEY'RE IDENTIFIED HERE.

THAT'S THE JAG AWARD.

THOSE ARE ALLOCATED FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

THEN WE HAVE THE URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANT THAT'S $1.516,000.

THAT GRANT WE RECEIVED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS.

THEN WE HAVE THE 125,590 EEC BG GRANT THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER.

THAT'S THE GRANT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FOR THE FAST CHARGING STATIONS.

THE FERGUSON GROUPS CONTRACT IS ON OUR AGENDA THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 12TH FOR THE RENEWAL OF ITS CONTRACT.

NOW, DOES THE COMMISSION OR THEY MAY I HAVE ANY?

>> WE'RE GOING TO NOW HAVE A DISCUSSION BECAUSE I'VE GOT THINGS TURNED OVER. THIS IS ON YOUR TOPIC.

>> DO YOU WANT ME TO GO?

>> NO. GO AHEAD.

>> QUESTION JUST BASED ON YOUR PRESENTATION.

YOU SAID THEY STARTED OFF AT 95,000, BUT THE FIRST CONTRACT WAS FOR TWO YEARS.

TECHNICALLY, THEY STARTED OFF AT 95,000/2 AND THEN WENT TO 85,000 EACH YEAR.

>> NO. IT WAS 95,000 PER YEAR, BUT IT WAS A TWO-YEAR TERM.

>> A TWO-YEAR TERM.

>> THEN AFTER THAT, IT WENT TO ONE YEAR.

>> IT WAS EXTENDED.

I THINK WE SET OURSELVES UP TO HAVE A CONTRACT UP WHEN WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DC IN MARCH.

THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, THAT A CONTRACT IS NOT UP WHEN WE SIGN OUR NEW CONTRACT THAT WE DON'T SET UP CONTRACTS WHERE I DON'T FEEL LIKE I MAY NOT BUY IT.

ONE THING I LIKE ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHICH, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HE SAYS, I DON'T LIKE, BUT WHEN HE SEES A PROBLEM, HE SAYS IT AND HE FIX IT IMMEDIATELY.

HE'LL FIRE YOU IN A HEARTBEAT.

TO SAY THAT IT'S A BAD TIME SO HE CAN'T FIRE SOMEONE.

NO. IT'S NEVER A BAD TIME. THAT'S THE CLIMATE WE'RE IN.

[LAUGHTER] IT IS, THOUGH.

IT REALLY IS. HE SAID, DON'T SAY THAT, BUT IT IS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO FIRE SOMEONE.

I HAVE EMPATHY. BUT IF YOU SEE LEAKAGE AND THERE CAN BE BETTER, THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY, WHY KEEP DOING THE SAME THING IF IT DOESN'T WORK? I THINK THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY.

WELL, IF YOU KEEP DOING THE SAME THING, YOU MIGHT WANT TO BANG YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH CHANGE.

I REALLY DON'T. IF CHANGE IS NEEDED.

FROM MY EXPERIENCE, I KNOW SOMEONE SAID YOU'RE ASSUMING, NO, I EXPERIENCED.

I EXPERIENCED BEING TOLD DON'T ASK FOR MORE THAN 350.

I EXPERIENCE THESE THINGS.

LUCKILY FOR ME, IT IS FROM EXPERIENCE.

I EXPERIENCED BEING TOLD THAT WHEN YOU GO TO REPUBLICANS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY MONEY.

BUT I WANT TO BE WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO GET WHAT TAMARAC WANTS, WHAT TAMARAC NEEDS, AND WHO FINDS IT TO BE A PRIORITY.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE FERGUSON GROUP HAS IT.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE WHO CAN DO A BETTER JOB AND GET US MORE.

BASED ON THE CONVERSATION, IT ALSO SEEMED THAT THIS IS A YEAR WE DON'T PLAN TO GET MONEY ANYWAY, JUST BASED ON THE ATMOSPHERE.

IT MIGHT BE A GOOD YEAR TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT COMMISSIONER PATTERSON.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. IN TERMS OF THE REPORT, WHAT COMMISSIONER PATTERSON ALLUDE TO.

YOU SAID YOU GET THE REPORTS ALL THE TIME, BUT FOR SOME REASON,

[01:40:01]

CITY MANAGER IN TERMS OF PROCESSES, HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THAT PROCESS WHERE WE ARE INFORMED ON ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DC? WE LIVE IN A VERY POLARIZING CLIMATE AS COMMISSIONER MENTIONED.

RESIDENTS ASK QUESTIONS AND EXPECT US TO HAVE ANSWERS IN TERMS OF FEDERAL POLICY, STATE POLICY, AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE THAT PROCESS IN TERMS OF KEEPING THE ENTIRE COMMISSION INFORMED?

>> SO COMMISSIONER, AS TONY MENTIONED, THAT WE TRY TO BE SELECTIVE ABOUT THE MESSAGES THAT WE RELATE TO COMMISSION, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO HAVE TRULY LOCAL IMPACT ON TAMARAC OPERATIONS AND SO.

THERE'S DEFINITELY A WEALTH OF INFORMATION THAT COMES IN, A FLOOD OF INFORMATION, I SHOULD SAY, THAT COMES INTO TAMARAC, AND WE WANT TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL, SELECTIVE.

OTHERWISE, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS THAT WE CAN, OPEN UP ALL FILTERS AND PASS IT ALONG.

BUT IT WOULD BE A FLOOD OF INFORMATION COMING IN NOT JUST FROM OUR, LOBBYISTS, BUT OTHERS AS WELL.

>> CAN'T WE CREATE THAT INFORMATION TO WHAT WILL BE RELEVANT TO US? WE DON'T HAVE TO GET THE NUANCES AND GET GRANULAR.

BUT PERHAPS WE CAN CREATE IT BASED ON THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING BIG PICTURE OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN.

OBVIOUSLY, IMMIGRATION, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

PRESCRIPTION, SENIORS, WE HAVE A BIG SENIOR COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND FROM YOU AS A MANAGER IN THE PROCESSES AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BOMBER TO THE BUNCH OF INFORMATION.

BUT PEOPLE EXPECT US TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION.

PEOPLE EXPECT US TO HAVE ANSWERS, IF NOT SPECIFIC ANSWERS, BUT SOME SEMBLANCE OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE IF THEY'RE WATCHING CNN OR FOX NEWS OR MSNBC, THEY'RE GOING TO SEEM A LOT MORE INFORMED THAN WE ARE.

THEY ARE COMING TO US WITH THINGS THAT THEY'RE HEARING ON THESE MEDIA OUTLETS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT INSIDER'S INFORMATION BECAUSE AS A LOBBYIST, THEY'RE INSIDERS, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING A DECISION IN WASHINGTON, DC.

FOR US, WE WANT TO GET THAT INSIDE INFORMATION SO WE CAN GO TO THE RESIDENTS AND SAY, I'M AWARE THAT THIS ISSUES COME UP WITH PRESCRIPTION.

I'M AWARE THAT THIS HAPPENS HAPPENING TO IMMIGRATION.

THIS GUY IS GOING TO STOP TPS OR WHATEVER.

IT MIGHT NOT AFFECT US LOCALLY IN TERMS OF PICKING UP YOUR TRASH OR DOING THE LOCAL THINGS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AS LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

BUT RESIDENTS COME TO US AND ASK THESE QUESTIONS AND HAVING A LOBBYIST IN PAIN FOR LOBBYISTS GIVES US INSIDER ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.

THAT'S SOMETHING PERHAPS WE CAN DEFINITELY DO GOING FORWARD.

IN TERMS OF THE LOBBYIST, VAL IS A FLORIDIAN, SHE CAN BE A PART OF THE FLORIDA MOMENT.

I LIKE THAT ABOUT HER BECAUSE SHE'S A FLORIDIAN AND FLORIDA IS RUNNING THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

I DO BELIEVE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PROVE THEMSELVES.

I AM OPEN FOR US TO GO THERE AND FIND A NEW COMPANY.

I THINK CHANGE IS GOOD.

WE NEED TO HAVE CHANGE.

BUT FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, I THINK YOU GUYS ARE ABOUT TO GO TO DC IN MARCH.

UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT GOING.

BUT FROM ORGANIZER PERSPECTIVE, I THINK CHANGE IT LAST MINUTE RIGHT NOW, INTERFERES WITH THE BUSINESS PROCESSES THAT WE CAN ALREADY HAD PLANNED.

I DON'T KNOW, IF I'LL BE IN FAVOR OF RENEW IT FOR ONE MORE YEAR, GIVE SOMEBODY A CHANCE TO PROVE THEMSELVES.

THEN IN THAT TIME FRAME, WE CAN TRY TO GET PROPOSAL FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, INCLUDING THE FERGUSON GROUP, AND BENCHMARKING HOW MUCH MONEY THAT SHE CAN BRING IN.

QUESTION, IN TERMS OF MATRIX, SO WE SPENT 85,000, AND SHE THEY BROUGHT BACK 792. IF YOU DIVIDE 81.

>> 1,442,000

>> ONE MILLION, I'LL TAKE YOUR NUMBER.

THAT'S A 18 TIMES RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

TALLAHASSEE, MR. BOOK, WE SPENT 59,000.

HOW MUCH DID WE GET IN FUNDING FROM TALLAHASSEE? JUST JUST DOING MY BENCHMARKS. DO YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER CLOSE BY? HOW MUCH DID WE BRING HOME LAST YEAR FROM TALLAHASSEE? YOU DON'T KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE IT CLOSE BY.

JUST LOOK AT CURIOSITY IN TERMS OF USING MATRIX AND WHAT WE GET IN TERMS OF RETURN ON.

>> AT THE LEAST, COMMISSION, WE GET THAT $400,000 FOR OUR CULVERT AND GRANT, AND THEN WE ALSO RECEIVED SOME OTHER GRANTS FOR LANDSCAPING OUR PARKS AND RECREATION GRANT.

WE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS FROM THE STATE THIS YEAR.

>> THEN THE 1.85 FOR THE PARK, THE PARKA VILLAGE.

>> HE'S ALREADY AT TWO MILLION. WE DIVIDED BY 59,000 IT'S BETTER.

IT'S A HIGHER RETURN.

>> YES.

>> JUST PLAYING AROUND WITH NUMBERS AND USING MATRIX AND RETURN AND INVESTMENT AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

ALSO, DC IS BIGGER.

YOU HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS.

IT'S A BIGGER BUDGET.

[01:45:01]

TALLAHASSEE IS ONLY 115 BILLION.

YOU HAVE A LOT MORE MONEY TO PICK FROM.

OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU HAVE FOUR TRILLION, YOU'RE ONLY GET IN 1.4, THE RETURNS THERE IS DIFFERENT.

WHERE'S TALLAHASSEE IS ONLY 115 BILLION, AND WE'RE GETTING ALMOST TWO MILLION.

>> COMMISSIONER, THERE'S ANOTHER 1.6 MILLION OF THE EARMARKS.

IT'S MORE LIKE THREE MILLION.

>> THREE MILLION. I'LL MOVE YOUR NUMBER UP HIGHER.

JUST LOOKING AT THAT COMPARISON AND JUST PLAYING WITH MATRIX.

I'M JUST TRYING TO COMPARE NUMBERS, WHATEVER.

BUT AGAIN, I'LL RENEW.

I'M OPEN TO RENEWING FOR ONE MORE YEAR, BUT I'M ALSO THINK THAT WE SHOULD GO OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

AGAIN, VAL IS A FLORIDIAN, I THINK SHE BENEFITS FROM BEING A FLORIDIAN TO BENEFIT THE FLORIDA MOMENT.

BUT I THINK I'M SEEING THE FLORIDIAN FIRMS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GETTING ACCESS TO THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION.

THEY KNOW WHO THE PRESIDENT OPERATES AND HOW IS THE PEOPLE AROUND AND OPERATE.

A LOT OF THESE FIRMS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW ON THE INSIDE.

I THINK SOMEONE WHO DID A FELLOWSHIP IN WASHINGTON, DC I KNOW INSIDE ACCESS WORK BECAUSE WHEN YOU MOVE IN A POSITION, YOU TAKE THE STAFF THAT WORK WITH YOU AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSE TO YOU WITH THAT POSITION.

PEOPLE CAN MAKE PHONE CALLS AND GET THINGS DONE, AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT BENEFIT IN TERMS OF LOBBYING.

A GREAT BENEFIT TO US IN HAVING THIS SUCH INFORMATION, AND ACCESS, AND PEOPLE CAN TELL US, THIS IS WHERE THIS IS GOING.

THIS IS WHAT THIS IS HAPPENING.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE AHEAD OF THE CURVE, AND WE ARE HEAD OF THE CURVE, AND WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE LEGISLATURES. THAT'S MY OPINION.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, I SEE YOU ARE NO LONGER WISHES, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

I'M NOT FORCING YOU. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM. GO AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO JUST EMPHASIZE THE COMMUNICATION PIECE BECAUSE I DID GET A LITTLE THROWN WHEN STAFF MENTIONED.

I THINK WHAT I WOULD BE SAYING IS IN TERMS OF, IF WE WERE TO QUANTIFY THE TIME THAT WE'VE HAD THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FIRM, IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS. TOTAL CUMULATIVE.

>> 2008.

>> I GUESS WHAT I WAS JUST TRYING TO RECONCILE IN MY HEAD IS THAT WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS WHERE I'M SURE THERE'S BEEN A NEED FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION FROM THE LOBBYIST.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY REFERRING TO THE SYSTEMATIC NEWSLETTERS AND EMAILS, THIS HAPPENED, THAT HAPPENED.

I'M MORE SO SPEAKING TO HAVING WHAT IS IN TERMS OF THE DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR OFFICES AND OUR LOBBYIST, WHAT IS THE GUIDANCE BEING GIVEN? NOT THE SYSTEMATIC COMMUNICATIONS, BUT THAT IN THE COURSE OF 18, 20 YEARS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED WHEN THERE IS A NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION OUTSIDE OF THE RENEWAL PERIOD OR THE DC TRIP THAT WOULD SPEAK TO ISSUES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR CONSTITUENCY, BUT THAT WE NEED TO BE INFORMED ON, EDUCATED ON, AND PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS INTELLECTUALLY, A, AND THEN B, WHAT IS IT THAT OUR CITY CAN DO IN A RESPONSE? CAN WE DO ANYTHING? THAT'S THE TYPE OF COMMUNICATION THAT I WAS MORE SO REFERRING TO, DEFINITELY NOT INTERESTED IN THE BLAST EMAILS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTLY IN RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR TEAM PREPARING US FOR, AGAIN, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DC TODAY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN, WE'VE SEEN ADMINISTRATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DEPENDING ON WHAT PARTY YOU LEAN ON, IT COULD BE CONSIDERED CRISIS FOR WHOEVER YOU ARE.

I DON'T WANT TO, SEPARATE THIS FROM ANY OTHER.

I THINK THAT THAT'S SUBJECTIVE.

BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT THERE'S BEEN A NEED FOR DISCUSSION, I DON'T WANT TO OVERLOOK THAT AND MIX IT UP INTO IF WE ARE GETTING COMMUNICATION, THAT'S COOL, BUT WE NEED TO BE RECEIVING DIRECT COMMUNICATION AND STRATEGIC GUIDANCE ON HOW TO HANDLE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT OUR CITY CAN AND CAN'T DO.

I'VE LOOKED AT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKING POSITIONS, WHETHER IT'S VIA RESOLUTION.

WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE MIAMI DADE HAS DONE SOME STUFF ON TBS.

THE PEOPLE ARE TAKING POSITIONS, AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE COMMUNICATION YOU GUYS ARE GETTING AND IF YOU ARE GETTING THAT, I WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT.

BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO CLARIFY.

IN TERMS OF WHAT THE COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN. THANKS.

>> IF I MAY, MAYOR. OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE DEVELOPED A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LOBBYING FIRMS AND WITH FERGUSON AS WELL, THAT OUR ENTIRE REPRESENTATIVES OF DEPARTMENTS AND STAFF,

[01:50:06]

THEN BASED ON THAT, THE FERGUSON GROUP AND THEN LOOK AT FOR AVAILABLE FUNDING AND POSSIBILITIES.

WE DO HAVE THAT, PROJECT BASED CONVERSATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FERGUSON GROUP.

THAT EXISTS. THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

ALTHOUGH IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT EACH YEAR, CHALLENGING AND COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF, FINDING THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR DIFFERENT NUMBER OF PROJECTS, LIKE THE EASTSIDE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, IS A 13, 14, $15 MILLION PROJECT, AND, WE'RE RECEIVING $1.1 MILLION, IF IT GOES THROUGH.

BUT AT LEAST, WE DO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP TO TALK ABOUT OUR NEEDS AND SPECIFIC PROJECTS.

>> IF I MAY, FOR THE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE PART OF THIS, GO TO THE QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT I'VE DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP WITH VAL OVER THE YEARS.

VAL KNOWS WHICH ARE MY HOT BUTTON TICKET ITEMS. IN THE PAST WHEN THEY WERE COMING UP, SHE KNEW TO CALL ME OR SEND ME AN EMAIL SAYING YOU MAY WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.

SINCE YOU'RE JUST BRANDING ON THE COMMISSION, YOU'RE LOBBYIST, VAL OR WHOMEVER IT MAY BE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO STILL HAVE IF WE HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS.

GRANTED, WE HAVE ALSO NOW HAVE A GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR THAT WE HADN'T HAD FOR A BIT.

THERE MORE STUFF GOING THROUGH ADMINISTRATION LOCALLY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW AS FAR AS ALSO COMMUNICATION, WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR.

NOT NECESSARILY IS IT THE SAME AS WHAT IS FILTERED TO US.

BUT I THINK IT'S A COMMUNICATION ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE RESOLVED INTERNALLY AND THEN FOR TERMINATION EXTERNALLY.

BECAUSE WE ARE LOCAL, NOT FEDERAL.

WE GET FUNDS FEDERAL TO LOCAL.

BUT YOU HAVE CERTAIN SPECIFICS, I MAY HAVE CERTAIN SPECIFICS EACH OF US MAY, BUT DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR LOBBYISTS CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH US UNLESS THERE IS A COMMUNICATION ISSUE REGARDING THIS.

BUT JUST TO SPEAK.

>> WE KNOW LOBBYIST ARE BAD ONES IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION.

>> [LAUGHTER] COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, NO LOBBYIST. I'M TALKING TO SOMEBODY.

ANYWAY, YOU GOT YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, COMMISSIONER PATTERSON? YOU'VE BEEN TURNED OVER, SO I'M GOING TO GO TO COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> THANK YOU, AGAIN, VAL, FOR YOUR EXCELLENT WORK SO FAR FOR OUR CITY.

YOU MADE A COMMENT THAT YOU DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WAS BREWING AND CERTAINLY WE'RE NOT MIND READERS, SO WE CAN'T KNOW IF SOMETHING IS BREWING OR NOT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR ON RECORD THAT YOU'RE HEARING THIS INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME THAT I'M SURE ALL OF US ARE HEARING THIS SITUATION AND JUST BECAUSE ONE COMMISSIONER HAS AN OPINION ON SOMETHING DOES NOT MEAN THAT ALL OF US HAVE THAT SAME OPINION.

I DO WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, THOUGH, THAT WE FEEL THE CONTRACT IS PROBABLY TIMED POORLY.

DR. DANIEL, YEAH.

BOTH INTELLIGENT WOMEN.

SOMETIMES I MIX UP WHERE INFORMATION IS COMING FROM.

THE CONTRACT IS TIMED POORLY.

I ALSO FEEL LIKE MY HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE OF THE CONTRACT, GIVE ME A SECOND, WHEN IT'S BEING RENEWED.

BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS TO SEE, AND WHERE MY DISCUSSION THIS MORNING WAS GOING WAS MORE OF BENCHMARK THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, THAT BEING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THEN BENCHMARK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT BOTH ADMINISTRATIONS DOES AND HOW THINGS OPERATE UNDER EACH UMBRELLA.

[01:55:04]

I LOOKED AT YOUR PERFORMANCE BASED ON THAT ITEM.

WOULD YOU THOUGH, SINCE WE'RE HERE, BE AMENABLE TO WORKING ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS SO THAT THE TIMING OF THE AGREEMENT IS DIFFERENT.

BECAUSE I HEAR WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK WHILE ALSO WORKING WITH YOU.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU THINK.

VAL WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO TALK TO THE LEGAL IN THIS RESPECT BECAUSE ALSO THE CONTRACT CALLS FOR A 30-DAY NOTICE OF TERMINATION.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. I JUST WANT TO HEAR YOUR OPINION, VAL, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY FOR THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE ALSO DEVELOPED A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO JUST COME AND BE BLINDSIDED AT A MEETING.

IT'S EIGHT YEARS OF RELATIONSHIP, I WOULD'VE CALLED YOU OVER THE WEEKEND.

GIVE ME YOUR OPINION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SAID, COMMISSIONER, AND EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE HAS SAID.

I THINK THAT WE WANT YOU AS OUR CLIENT TO BE HAPPY, AND WE WANT TO FEEL LIKE WE ARE, LIKE I SAID, MEETING YOUR NEEDS.

WHAT'S BEEN CLEAR TO ME, AND I KNOW I'M NOT COMPLETELY ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION.

I'LL GET TO IT IN JUST A SECOND.

WHAT'S BEEN VERY EVIDENT TO ME IS THAT [NOISE] THE MAJORITY OF OUR WORK AND OF THE MINUTE COMMUNICATIONS ARE WITH YOUR STAFF.

AT VARIOUS TIMES, WE'VE HAD MORE INTERACTION WITH THE INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS THAN OTHERS.

I DID NOT REALIZE, WE PUT OUT EVERY YEAR, IN DECEMBER, JANUARY, A TIME TO MEET WITH ME AND FOR ME TO MEET WITH YOU TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE.

COMMISSIONER PATTERSON AND I DID DO THAT, WHICH WAS VERY NICE A MONTH OR SO AGO.

COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, I'M SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T GET THE REPORTS AFTER THAT.

I HAVE TO GO BACK TO MY STAFF.

I KNOW THEY HAD PUT YOU ON AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE THEM.

IN ANY CASE, BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OF YOU IS MISSING AND THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE OF THAT SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE AT ON DIFFERENT ISSUES AND HOW WE CAN TITRATE THE BLAST REPORTS AND MOVE THEM TO MORE INDIVIDUAL REPORTING OR TEXTS OR EMAILS THAT HELP YOU WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT.

OVERALL THOUGH IN TERMS OF MOVING THIS TO ANOTHER MONTH-TO-MONTH OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, I THINK WE WOULD BE OPEN TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH YOU AND HOWEVER THAT PLAYS OUT, WE'D CERTAINLY BE OPEN TO.

>> NOW THAT THEY HAVE THAT OPINION, LET'S ASK THE ATTORNEY HIS OPINION, FROM A LEGAL POINT OF VIEW.

>> AHEAD CITY ATTORNEY.

>> OBVIOUSLY, IF BOTH PARTIES WANT, WE NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT PRECLUDES THE CITY OR THE LOBBYIST FIRM FROM AGREEING TO A MONTH-TO-MONTH CONTRACT.

>> BECAUSE I ALSO WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY VAL TO SEE YOU IN WASHINGTON AND TO SEE HOW YOU ARE OPERATING ON THIS UNDER THIS NEW KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.

I WOULDN'T BE BOLD AS DR. DANIEL TO GIVE AN OPINION ON THE ENVIRONMENT, WHETHER OR NOT I LIKE THIS ENVIRONMENT OR NOT IN WASHINGTON.

I'D LOVE TO SEE HOW YOU VOTE. [LAUGHTER]

[02:00:01]

>> I SAID NOTHING ABOUT, I DISLIKE AN ENVIRONMENT.

I JUST SAID WHAT I LIKE ABOUT OUR PRESIDENT.

THAT IF HE'S UNHAPPY WITH SOMETHING, HE LIKES IT.

CLARIFICATION. I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND.

>> WELL, I'M NOT AS BOLD.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I'M MOVING FORWARD.

HE'S GOING TO CONTINUOUSLY BRING IT UP, SO IT COMES OUT, IT'S COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> MY COLLEAGUES VERY WELL KNOW MY POLITICAL STANCE, AND WE SHARE MY POLITICAL STANCE OVER COFFEE AND DINNER SOMETIMES.

VAL, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU WHEN I GO TO WASHINGTON.

HOPEFULLY, I GET THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS ON MY CALENDAR THAT IS MAYBE SAYING OTHERWISE, BUT I'D LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU AND TO BREAK BREAD, THAT I PAY FOR, AND HAVE THAT ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

FOR THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE THOUGH, AND THIS IS NOT A JAB AT YOU, THE MAYOR HAS BEEN ASKING FOR ZIP CODE REFORM, AND I'VE NOT SEEN THAT HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK FOR YOU OR THAT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK FOR STAFF.

BUT THAT'S NOT BEEN DONE.

BUT I'VE BEEN HERE EIGHT YEARS GOING ON NINE YEARS, AND YOU'VE BEEN A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL AND YOU HAVE DONE EXCELLENT WORK SOME YEARS BETTER THAN NOT, BUT THAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME.

THAT'S HOW BUSINESS GOES AND HOW WASHINGTON OPERATES.

I WANT TO BALANCE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.

AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THAT WE PROBABLY USE LETTERS OF INTEREST MECHANISM THOUGH TO HEAR FROM LOBBYISTS FROM LOBBYING FIRMS. I THINK THAT THE RFP OR ANY OTHER PROCESS COULD BE CUMBERSOME, AND IN THE TIMING CRUNCH THAT WE HAVE, WE PROBABLY WANT TO SEE LETTERS OF INTEREST OTHER THAN ANY OTHER MECHANISM.

I'D LOVE TO HEAR THAT FROM MY COLLEAGUES, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME NOT APPROVING THIS CONTRACT ON WEDNESDAY, BUT GIVING STAFF THE ABILITY TO GO BACK AND NEGOTIATE SOME MONTH-TO-MONTH ARRANGEMENT WITH THE FERGUSON GROUP SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT OTHER LETTERS OF INTEREST.

VAL, LET ME TELL YOU, AGAIN, YOU'RE A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL AND YOU ARE A SHINING STAR AT THE FERGUSON GROUP, AND YOU DO GREAT WORK.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PROPONENT OF CHANGING LONGSTANDING AGREEMENTS.

TWENTY YEARS, 17 YEARS IS ALONG, AND THAT'S WHY ONE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ALTERNATIVES, AT LEAST LOOK AT SOME JUNCTURE OF AN AGREEMENT.

I'M NOT SAYING, "VAL, YOU'RE FIRED." I'M NOT SAYING THAT.

[LAUGHTER] I'M SAYING THAT I JUST WANT TO BALANCE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING.

AT THIS JUNCTURE, LOOK WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE, SEE WHO ELSE MIGHT BE INTERESTED, AND THEN PERHAPS IT IS THE FERGUSON GROUP AFTERWARDS.

BUT I THINK THAT COMMISSIONERS HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO LOOK AT LONGSTANDING AGREEMENTS, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS BEST PRACTICE AS WELL.

AT SOME JUNCTURE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR LONGSTANDING CONTRACTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT BY OUR RESIDENTS.

OUR RESIDENTS NOW MORE THAN EVER ARE ASKING FOR OTHER THINGS.

STAFF MIGHT DRAFT A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, AND THAT STUFF.

MAYBE NEXT YEAR, WE NEED TO HAVE RESIDENT INPUT BEFORE WE DRAFT A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO HEAR WHAT RESIDENTS ARE SEEING.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS CLIMATE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER TIMES.

[02:05:05]

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE, VAL.

I ALSO WANT TO HEAR YOUR OPINION AGAIN WITH WHAT I JUST SAID, BECAUSE AGAIN, AS MUCH AS YOU ARE SURPRISED, I THINK MOST OF US ARE ALSO SURPRISED.

I DON'T WANT THE NARRATIVE TO BE, "SHE WAS BLINDSIDED AND SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND." I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE PARTNERS AND WE'RE HOLDING YOUR HAND AND WE KNOW THAT YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.

>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT AND THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD, THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK AS HARD AS WE POSSIBLY CAN FOR YOU.

IF YOU DECIDE THAT IT'S ON A MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY OR WHATEVER PROVIDES GOOD CONTINUITY AND ALSO ENABLES YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TALK TO OTHER LOBBYING FIRMS AND FIND OUT WHAT'S OUT THERE AND THE ABILITY TO CONVERSE ABOUT WHAT YOU FOUND OUT, HOPEFULLY WITH ME AND WITH THE FERGUSON GROUP TOO, SO I CAN GET A SENSE OF, "WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT YOU FEEL LIKE MIGHT BE OUT THERE THAT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS? WHAT IS THAT PROJECT OR THAT ISSUE THAT YOU'RE HOPING THAT A LOBBING FIRM CAN JUST PICK UP THE PHONE AND TALK TO A CERTAIN PERSON AND THAT YOU MIGHT FEEL LIKE, OR KNOW OR DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE FERGUSON GROUP CAN DO THAT?" WE REALLY JUST HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONVERSE, REALLY.

ON BEHALF OF THE FERGUSON GROUP, WOULD REALLY WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN AND FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO DIG INTO MORE AND YOU WANT YOUR LOBBYISTS TO BE TALKING TO YOU MORE ABOUT OR ADVISING YOU.

ALL OF THAT STUFF. SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE WORKED WITH ME FOR A WHILE AND KNOW HOW I WORK ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TOGETHER IN WASHINGTON, I THINK YOU GET A BETTER SENSE OF ME.

IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO ALL, CERTAINLY TO ME, TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IN-PERSON, WHETHER IT'S IN WASHINGTON OR IN TAMARAC, TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

THEN WHATEVER YOU ULTIMATELY DECIDE, "HERE IS WHAT YOU ULTIMATELY DECIDE." [NOISE] OF COURSE, WE HOPE THAT IT'LL BE.

BUT WE WOULD HOPE FOR A PROCESS OF CONVERSATION SO WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND.

>> I THINK THAT THIS IS WHY ALSO THIS PROCESS WOULD BE FUN AND INFORMATIVE BECAUSE WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, SHOW WHAT OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS TO ANOTHER FIRM.

LET THEM TELL US IF THEY COULD HANDLE IT, LET THEM TELL US WHAT THEY COULD DO, ASK YOU IF YOU CAN HANDLE THAT.

MAYBE IT IS A NEGOTIATION OF THE TERMS OF YOUR AGREEMENT AS FAR AS WHAT YOU DO FOR US AND WHAT WE EXPECT.

SEE THIS AS VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND NOT DIVISIVE AND I THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME IN WASHINGTON WHILE AT THE SAME TIME LOOKING AT THIS 17-YEAR MARRIAGE, SO TO SPEAK.

>> I'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH ONE DIVORCE, MARLIN IN MY PERSONAL LIFE.

>> ME TOO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE STILL TURNED OVER, RIGHT? BEFORE I BRING THIS TO YOU, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ATTORNEY OR FOR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM.

I HEAR A SUGGESTION OF HOW WE GO ABOUT PROCURING A CONTRACT OVER $2,500.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE AS A COMMISSION ARE ALLOWED TO TELL YOU HOW TO PROCURE CONTRACTS LEGALLY, WE CAN ONLY DO THAT FOR YOU FOR ATTORNEY OR FOR CITY MANAGER.

THE LAST THING I WANT IS FOR US TO HAVE A DISCUSSION THAT COULD POTENTIALLY PUT US WHERE ONE, IT MIGHT BE A WASTE OF DISCUSSION AND TWO, MIGHT GET US IN TROUBLE.

AS THIS IS A CONTRACT OVER $2,500, AND IT'S NOT IN OUR USUAL HANDS WE APPROVE OR NOT

[02:10:03]

>> BASED ON THE CITY CODE, LOBBYIST CONTRACT, CERTAIN CONSULTANTS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

YOU CAN HAVE A LETTER OF INTEREST TO SOLICIT DIFFERENT PROVIDER SERVICE WITH RESPECT TO THE CONTRACT AMOUNT.

OBVIOUSLY, IF IT'S OVER $60,000 IS SUBJECT TO COMMISSION APPROVAL.

CITY MANAGER DOESN'T HAVE DISCRETION TO APPROVE ANYTHING OVER $60,000, IF I'M CORRECT ON YOUR THRESHOLD, I THINK I AM.

BUT YES, THE CITY COMMISSION CAN SUBMIT LETTER OF INTEREST FOR LOBBYIST FIRM UNDER THE CITY CODE.

THE MANAGER AND HIS STAFF WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE DIRECTED TO COME UP WITH APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK TO SOLICIT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

VICE MAYOR AND THEN I HAVE COMMISSIONER WRIGHT.

>> THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL, FROM SOMETHING PREVIOUS THAT AS LONG AS IT'S OVER 65, IT COMES TO THE COMMISSION, RIGHT?

>> YES. THRESHOLD, THE CITY COMMISSION HAS TO APPROVE IT.

>> THIS IS JUST FINE WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THIS IS FOR VAL. WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TO GET OUT OF OUR MARCH VISIT? WHAT CAN YOU GUARANTEE US? WELL, NO GUARANTEES, BUT HAVE A GOOD CHANCE THAT IF WE FIGHT FOR THIS, WE'RE GOING TO WIN IN MARCH.

BECAUSE IF THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN SAY, WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO WIN IN MARCH, I DON'T EVEN SEE WHY THE MONTH-TO-MONTH IS NECESSARY.

I LIKE YOU AS A PERSON, I'M JUST TALKING BUSINESS.

>> WELL, IN MARCH WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IS WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING AND FIGHTING FOR THE EARMARK THAT WE HAVE PENDING, THE 1.1 MILLION EARMARK FOR THE EAST SIDE WATER DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM EXPANSION.

BUT WHAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT IS FIGHTING FOR A NEW EARMARK FOR THIS YEAR.

THAT REQUEST REQUIRES A LOT OF BEFOREHAND TALKING TO THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND THEN WHILE WE'RE THERE AND THEN AFTER ALL THE FOLLOW-UP.

THERE'S QUITE A BIT INVOLVED, SOME OF IT NOT NECESSARILY WITH YOU.

BUT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND THEN MEETING WITH SOME OF THE GRANTING AGENCIES ON GRANTS THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE APPLYING FOR IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THOSE MEETINGS CAN BE EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE SO I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU MAKE THE TRIP.

>> THESE MEETINGS ARE ALREADY SET AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO WIN?

>> NO. THEY'RE NOT SET.

WE DON'T USUALLY START SETTING THEM UNTIL FIRST OF ALL, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A DATE.

>> WE ALREADY HAVE A WEEK. THE WEEK OF MARCH 11TH.

>> YES. YOU USUALLY SORT OF CONFIRM IT AT THIS MEETING WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE.

THEN WE DON'T START SETTING THE MEETINGS UNTIL 3-4 WEEKS IN ADVANCE SO WE HAVEN'T STARTED THAT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO WALK AWAY WITH AS A WIN?

>> NO MATTER WHAT LOBBING FIRM YOU HAD WITH YOU, YOU'D NOT BE WALKING AWAY WITH A CHECK OR CONFIRMATION THAT THE REQUEST OF YOUR EARMARK FOR THIS YEAR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE IT INTO THE BILL, AND THEN THE BILL WILL BE PASSED.

THAT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY COULD PROVIDE IN MARCH.

WHAT IT IS IS THE BEGINNING OF THAT ANNUAL PROCESS AND IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF THAT ANNUAL PROCESS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AN EARMARK.

>> WE'LL BE A PART OF THE ANNUAL PROCESS REGARDLESS.

I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY THE CLOSENESS OF THE CONTRACT WITH MARCH, I THINK WE COULD STILL GET THE JOB DONE REGARDLESS IF WE DO ANNUAL EXTENSION LIKE IT SEEM HAS BEEN DONE SINCE 2010.

REGARDLESS IF WE GO MONTH-TO-MONTH, REGARDLESS IF WE DO AN ANNUAL EXTENSION, THE MEETING WILL STILL BE DONE BECAUSE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SETTING UP A CALENDAR SO WHETHER WE WAIT FOUR WEEKS, FIVE WEEKS.

>> THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO TALKING TO THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR STAFF [OVERLAPPING].

WE TRY TO SET THE STAGE OF THEM UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE COMING IN WITH SO THAT THAT MEETING THAT YOU PARTICIPATE IN THAT ONE MEETING IN DC IS PRODUCTIVE BY PRODUCTIVE,

[02:15:04]

>> BECAUSE WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE IS IT SEEMED LIKE I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO HAVE A GUARANTEE THAT I MIGHT BE GOING BECAUSE COUPLE OF COMMISSION SAID THEY PROBABLY WON'T.

THEN IT'S NOT SET SO I WAS JUST WONDERING.

MY NEXT THING WAS, I NEVER GOT ANY COMMUNICATION IN DECEMBER ABOUT MEETING SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE COMMUNICATION DROPPED.

I KNOW YOU MET WITH PATTERSON, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS HER REQUEST, BUT I PERSONALLY NEVER GOT ONE.

I DON'T WANT TO FEEL INTIMIDATED BY ASKING FOR A CHANGE OR ASKING TO SEE OTHERS.

IF ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS OF INTIMIDATION, BECAUSE I ASK FOR A CHANGE, PLEASE KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

IT IS ASKING FOR A CHANGE WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE OR MORE EFFICIENT, JUST PLAYING BETTER SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ASKING FOR A CHANGE. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER WRIGHT.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. VAL, IN TERMS OF THE NUANCES OF THE CONTRACT, WHEN WE SAY MONTH-TO-MONTH, COMMISSIONER BOLTON PROPOSED MONTH-TO-MONTH.

I'M STILL IN FAVOR OF THE ONE-YEAR.

FROM A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE, USUALLY MONTH-TO-MONTH CONTRACTS TEND TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE.

WOULD THE PRICE GO HIGHER IF WE DO A MONTH-TO-MONTH CONTRACT?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT I CAN SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE FIRM, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND SPEAK TO PEOPLE SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ANTICIPATE.

THAT DIDN'T COME ACROSS MY RADAR HONESTLY WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP, BUT I'D HAVE TO ASK.

>> YOU'LL HAVE TO TALK TO THE SALES DEPARTMENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR THAT PROCESS.

I USUALLY MONTH-TO-MONTH CONTRACTS TEND TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE SO I'M JUST LOOKING AT FISCAL PERSPECTIVE.

IN TERMS OF IF WE GO AHEAD WITH THE ONE YEAR AND CORRECT ME, CITY ATTORNEY, IF WE GO AHEAD WITH THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT, I THINK THE MAYOR MENTIONS A 30-DAY NOTICE CANCELLATION.

IS THERE A WAY SO IF WE DO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT, IT RENEWS AROUND THE SAME TIME NEXT YEAR? I THINK ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED THAT IT RENEWS AROUND THE TIME WE'RE GOING TO DC.

IF WE DO THE ONE-YEAR CONTRACT AND WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW FIRM, CAN IT BE WHERE WHEN WE FIND A NEW FIRM, WE PUT IN A TIME FRAME THAT DOESN'T CORRELATE WITH WHEN WE TRAVEL TO DC IN TERMS OF GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS? BECAUSE I'M HEARING DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS.

I HEARD THAT ONCE MONTH-TO-MONTH, I HEARD THAT WE FEEL THAT IT'S RENEWED AROUND THIS TIME TO PIGEONHOLE US.

IF WE GO AHEAD AND WE KEEP FERGUSON FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND WE SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THIS UNPREDICTABLE CLIMATE, AND THEN WE NOW GO OUT AND GET SOLICITATIONS FOR COMPANIES WHO WANTS TO GET THE SERVICES, INCLUDING FERGUSON GROUP AND THEY COME WITH DIFFERENT PRESENTATION IN TERMS OF QUANTIFYING VALUES THAT THEY BRINGS, CONNECTIONS THAT THEY HAVE, KNOW THAT WE KNOW WHEN A DIFFERENT CLIMATE, AND IT'S NOT 2008.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT MATRIX THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.

WE HAVE A YOUNGER COMMISSION, WHO'S A LOT MORE PERHAPS THE MOST EDUCATED COMMISSION IN TERMS OF EDUCATION IN BROWARD COUNTY.

WE CAN LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS TO JUDGE THESE FORMS AND ASSESS THESE FORMS. I KNOW NOW WE HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE.

IT ALSO GIVES A NEW COMMISSION OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THE FERGUSON GROUP HAS TO BRING AND PROVE THEMSELVES.

I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH YOU.

I HAVEN'T HAD THAT SINCE.

THE FIRST TIME WE GOT ELECTED, WE HAD A MEETING AS THE FIRST TIME WENT TO DC.

I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY COMMUNICATION SINCE THEN.

I'M NOT BLAMING ANYONE.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

I AM OPENING TO DOING IT FOR ANOTHER YEAR, BUT I'M ALSO OPENING FOR US TO TRY TO GO AND GET OTHER FIRMS AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT MATRIX AND SEE HOW THESE FIRMS CAN HELP US TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE.

>> CITY MANAGER YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?

>> NO.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SELECTED MARCH BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

THIS WASN'T ANYBODY ELSE'S DECISION OF WHEN WE GO TO DC.

WE SELECTED MARCH.

BECAUSE IT WAS EASIER NATIONAL LEAGUE CITIES HAD THEIR PROGRAM.

WE WERE UP THERE FOR THAT AND IT WAS JUST WHILE WE WERE ALL IN TOWN, AND WE KNEW LEGISLATORS WERE IN TOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO BE IN DC.

I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE JUDGING THE EXPIRATION OF THE CONTRACT BASED ON OUR DETERMINATION OF WHEN IT'S EASIEST FOR US TO GO TO DC.

[02:20:01]

AGAIN, THAT'S ON US.

THE ZIP CODES. I APPRECIATE BEING BROUGHT UP, BUT THAT TOO IS ON US.

IT WAS PRESENTED TO US WITH ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND WHETHER THIS COMMISSION WAS GOING TO APPROVE OUR LOBBYISTS AND OUR STAFF TO DO THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.

NO, WE DID NOT.

WHEN VAL CAME TO PRESENT, TOLD US ALL THE HARD WORK, IT WAS LEFT IN OUR LAP, AND THERE WAS NO CONSENSUS TO TELL HER TO GO FORWARD TO DEAL WITH ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

WE LEFT IT ON THE TABLE, NOT OUR LOBBYIST.

WE NEED TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY HERE.

COMMUNICATION ISSUES, I'M SORRY, YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU BUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINES, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT YOU GUYS WOULD HELP US AND HAD A GOOD STUFF TO DETERMINE WHAT TO GET FILTERED THROUGH TO US.

IT IS VERY EVIDENT JUST SEND US OUR EMAILS, WE WILL DETERMINE WHAT WE WANT TO READ AND WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO READ.

WE DO NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT PUBLIC POLICY AS A CITY OFFICIAL, WE ARE NON PARTISAN.

WE DON'T REPRESENT FACTIONS.

WE REPRESENT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HAVE OUR CITY FUNCTIONING AND MOVING FORWARD.

IF WE DECIDE TO TAKE ANY OF THE INFORMATION WE ARE PROVIDED AND USE THAT PERSONALLY FOR HOW WE FEEL ABOUT PERSONAL ITEMS, THAT'S DIFFERENT.

I DO HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER WRIGHT, IN MY OPINION OF HOW MONTH-TO-MONTH CONTRACTS WORK, HAVING HAD TO REVIEW SEVERAL OF THEM.

USUALLY DURING THIS TIME, THE BIGGEST PUSH TO GETTING WORK DONE, THE MOST HOURLY PUSH, THE MOST NEEDED PUSH IS WHILE LEGISLATIVE ITEMS ARE GOING BEFORE THE SESSION.

PROBABLY IN THE SUMMER WHEN EVERYTHING IS OVER, AFTER EVERYONE'S ON VACATION, THAT MUCH TIME IS NOT NEEDED, I GET IT.

WHAT I WOULD AGREE THAT I THINK IN THE SMARTEST FIDUCIARY ITEM, IF WE'RE THROWING THAT WORD AROUND, WE KEEP THE CONTRACT THE WAY WE ARE AND THEN WE AS A CITY, KNOWING THAT THIS EXPIRES BY FEBRUARY, THEN WE GO OUT WITH ENOUGH TIME WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE, THREE MONTHS, FOUR MONTHS PRIOR, AND WE GO OUT AND MAKE THE DETERMINATION AND DO THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, THE WAY WE WOULD DO SO IF THIS WAS GARBAGE.

IF THIS WAS WHATEVER OTHER BIG CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE, NOT TO HIT HOT BUTTONS THAT GET PEOPLE A LITTLE NERVOUS WHENEVER YOU MENTION A CERTAIN WORD BECAUSE YOU USE THE WORD LOBBYIST AND YOU USE WHATEVER THEY GET THE HOT SEATS.

BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE ALSO SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON THAT FROM WHAT I HEAR RIGHT NOW OF AT LEAST AT THIS VERY MOMENT, WE'VE GOT THREE THAT HAVE SAID WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, EVEN IF IT'S MONTH-TO-MONTH OR NOT.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN ACTUALLY GONE BACKWARDS TO DISCUSS WITH WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE SATISFIED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

I'M PRETTY SURE THAT AT 12:28, THERE'S A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ASKING FOR BATHROOM BREAKS PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE THINGS THAT YOU WERE EXPECTING TO DO, AND WILL WE BE CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION NOW OR ARE WE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK AND COME BACK TO IT.

WE HEAR THAT WE HAVE YOU FOR AT LEAST A MONTH.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, DO YOU HAVE A I BELIEVE I HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER DANIEL, SHE ON MONTH-TO-MONTH.

COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE?

>> ARE WE VOTING?

>> I'M ASKING FOR CONSENSUS.

WE DON'T VOTE AT THIS TIME.

WE'LL VOTE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

>> I PREFER TO VOTE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, MAYOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT I NEED TO GIVE A RESPONSE IN THIS MOMENT. THANKS.

>> I'VE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.

AT THIS TIME, YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE AT THIS TIME WHO'VE EXPRESSED THAT WE TO KEEP IT AS A YEARLY AND THEN GO FORWARD IN THE OFF SEASON, SO TO SPEAK, AND FIGURE OUT THE PROCESS.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE TWO THAT WISH TO DO MONTH TO MONTH.

AT THIS POINT, CONVERSATIONS ENDED ON THAT.

I WANT TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY SINCE CONVERSATION ON CONTRACT IS ENDED.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THIS COMMISSION WANTS TO DISCUSS BACK ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BECAUSE KEEPING IN MIND.

YOU WISH TO SAY SOMETHING, CITY ATTORNEY?

>> NO. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTRACT IS ON THE AGENDA AND THE COMMISSION COULD GO FORWARD, AMEND THE CONTRACT, OR WHATEVER DURING THE MEETING.

[02:25:03]

>> I ONLY HAD THIS TURN BACK TURNOVER BECAUSE I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I'M NOT PUTTING ANY FORMAL OPINION ON THE RECORD AND THAT THIS ITEM WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR A VOTE ON WEDNESDAY.

>> THAT'S WHY I SAID AS IS.

I SAID THERE ARE FOUR OF US WHO HAVE EXPRESSED AN OPINION AS IS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT, OPINIONS CAN CHANGE.

MY NEXT QUESTION WAS AND WHY I WENT TO YOU BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR THAT WAS WE DIDN'T DISCUSS THE AGENDA.

WE WENT STRAIGHT DURING THE AGENDA.

>> BUT WE HAD CONVERSATION.

>> WHATEVER THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE IN TERMS OF IF THEY WANT TO PRESENT A MONTH TO MONTH OPTION.

>> NO, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO MAKE YOUR DECISION ON THAT.

>> WHAT'S THE QUESTION?

>> IT'S A TWO-ITEM.

THE RESOLUTION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS ONE.

THE OTHER IS RENEWING THE CONTRACT.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT RENEWING THE CONTRACT. THAT ONE'S DONE.

IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, CHANGE, KEEP QUESTION, OR YOU GO WITH THE CONVERSATION.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE RECORD.

>> GO WITH THE CONVERSATION. GO WITH THE CONVERSATION.

I'M GOING TO JUST BRING UP BECAUSE I GUESS I'M NOT GOOD WITH THE CONVERSATION.

SINCE I FEEL ZIP CODES WERE LEFT ON THE TABLE AND WERE PRESENTED TO US.

BUT I HEAR IT SEEMS THAT WE'RE OKAY WITH IT ON THE COMMISSION.

IF THAT'S OKAY, THEN I WANT IT ACTUALLY IN A LITTLE MORE CLEARLY UNLESS I'VE MISSED IT BECAUSE REMEMBER, WE DON'T HAVE THE SLIDE SHOW THAT WAS THERE.

>> IT'S NOT IN THERE. IT WOULD NEED TO BE ADDED.

>> IT'S NOT IN THERE. IT WAS NOT KEPT IN THERE BECAUSE THE COMMISSION LET IT.

ARE WE PUTTING IT BACK IN THERE OR NOT IS MY ASK. THE ZIP CODE.

I'VE GOT A NODDING YES FROM THE VICE MAYOR.

COMMISSIONER BOLTON WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE MATTER OR ANY MATTER.

>> YOU'VE GOT THREE THAT SAYS, YES, PUT IT IN THERE, SO PLEASE PUT IT IN THERE. COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> LET ME UNDERSTAND, VAL OR TANYA, WHEN WE HAD THE ZIP CODES AS A PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS BECAUSE REMEMBER, WE PUT IT IN THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

WHAT WERE THE ACTION ITEMS AFTER THAT? WAS WAS THERE WORK FOR THE COMMISSION TO DO OR WAS THERE WORK FOR THE STAFF TO DO? WAS THERE WORK FOR YOU TO DO? JUST BACKTRACK A LITTLE BIT AND TELL US WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

>> ALSO AFTER THIS, I CAN SEND AROUND, THERE WAS A MEMO THAT WE PUT TOGETHER THAT HAD ALL THE STEP BY STEP PROCESS OF WHAT TO DO.

A LOT OF THE STEPS HAD TO DO WITH ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS THAT THE CITY NEEDED TO UNDERTAKE.

THERE'S AN ACTUAL PROCESS FOR CHANGING ZIP CODES THAT THE US POSTAL SERVICE GOES THROUGH AND HAS ANYONE WHO WISHES TO UNDERTAKE A POSTAL CODE CHANGE HAS TO GO THROUGH THOSE STEPS, AND THEY'RE ADMINISTRATIVE AND THEY NEED TO BE DONE STEP BY STEP.

I DON'T RECALL OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BECAUSE IT WAS SEVERAL, IF NOT MORE YEARS AGO THAT WE PUT TOGETHER THIS INITIAL WALK THROUGH OF WHAT TO DO.

I THINK THAT WE'VE SINCE UPDATED THAT A LITTLE BIT LAST YEAR WITH COMMISSIONER GOMEZ'S TRIP TO WASHINGTON, DC.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET THAT TC CAN HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE STEPS.

IT'S A VERY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE MOVED FORWARD AND LOBBIED ON WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE STEPS THAT THE CITY NEEDED TO TAKE.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED ADMINISTRATIVE BECAUSE WE ARE POLICYMAKERS, AND WE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF THIS GOVERNMENT AND SO WE DON'T DO ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.

TO THE EXTENT THAT, ZIP CODES WERE PLACED IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THERE IS ONE MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION SAYING THAT THE COMMISSION NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING.

THE COMMISSION CAN'T JUST ARBITRARILY TAKE STEPS TO CHANGE ZIP CODES.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN STAFF'S PREROGATIVE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES AND THEN COME TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS POLICYMAKERS IF THERE WERE ANY NEEDED STEPS.

[02:30:02]

MISS WILLIAMS, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN PREVIOUS YEARS? OR MS. CALLOWAY?

>> YES. THIS PRECEDED.

>> MS. CALLOWAY. YOU WEREN'T HERE, TANYA. MS. CALLOWAY.

THIS WAS PLACED ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, AND I'M HEARING FROM VAL THAT ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS NEEDED TO BE DONE.

I'M HEARING A SHIFTING OF BLAME, SO TO SPEAK, WITH REGARDS TO WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO FOLLOW UP ON THE DISCUSSION.

WOULD IT HAVE BEEN THE CITY COMMISSION'S RESPONSIBILITY OR WOULD IT WOULD HAVE BEEN STAFF'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW UP ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE PIECE SO THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN ADVANCED?

>> COMMISSIONER, FIRST, LET ME JUST PUT A DISCLAIMER ON THE RECORD.

I HAVE NOT REVIEWED, NOR HAVE I SEEN THAT MEMO THAT IS BEING MENTIONED BY VAL.

>> BECAUSE THERE WASN'T.

>> THERE WAS.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE MEMO VOW THAT WAS SENT TO THE COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE ENVELOPED EMAIL THAT IT WAS SENT IN.

MS. CALLOWAY, YOU DID NOT RECEIVE ANY MEMO.

HAD YOU RECEIVED A MEMO, WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY WOULD HAVE WOULD IT HAVE BEEN TO FOLLOW UP ON THE ACTIONS IN THAT MEMO?

>> IF THE ACTIONS ARE ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE AS ALLUDED TO BY VAL, THEN IT WOULD BE STAFF'S RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLETE THOSE ACTIONS AND THEN BRING AN UPDATE TO THE COMMISSION.

>> THEN STAFF WOULD FULFILL THOSE DUTIES AND THEN BRING IT TO THE COMMISSION AS POLICYMAKERS, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> ONE CANNOT SHIFT BLAME TO SAY THAT WE AS A COMMISSION DID NOT DO ANYTHING, THAT IS, WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE, RIGHT?

>> WELL, I THINK, FOR STARTERS, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE CAN SEE THAT MEMO JUST TO SEE IF IT DOES INCLUDE JUST ALL ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS.

>> YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING?

>> I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY SEEN THAT MEMO.

>> MANAGER, HAVE YOU SEEN ANY MEMO?

>> HE WAS NOT HERE AS A MANAGER.

>> MANAGER, HAVE YOU NOT SEEN ANY MEMO?

>> I HAVE NOT.

>> I PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO BRING UP COMMISSIONER PLACKO WHO WAS HERE PREVIOUSLY TO ASK HER IF SHE SAW ANY MEMO BECAUSE THERE I DON'T BELIEVE IT EXISTED.

THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.

NOW, VAL, I DON'T BELIEVE A MEMO EXISTED, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT IT DID, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE MEMO THAT WAS SENT WITH THE ENVELOPE THAT IT WAS SENT IN BEFORE WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU.

>> WELL AND GOOD.

I KNOW THAT WE ARE POLICYMAKERS, BUT WHEN THERE'S ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, CITY STAFF DOESN'T SEEM TO DO THINGS WITHOUT HEARING THAT IT'S OKAY FIRST.

WHEN WE WERE GIVEN THE PRESENTATION OF HOW MUCH NEEDED TO BE DONE, THAT WAS WHERE THINGS MAY HAVE FELL.

WHATEVER COMMUNICATION ISSUE AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN TO, IT SEEMS THAT OVER THE SEVERAL YEARS FOR CERTAIN DIFFERENT THINGS, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME COMMUNICATION GAPS OR WHATEVER THEY ARE.

I THINK REHASHING SOME OF THIS IS NOT WORTH ALL OF OUR TIME, BUT EVERYBODY GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THAT'S FINE.

BUT THE THING BEING FORWARD THAT I HAVE ASKED FOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT NOW THAT IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THERE IS CONTINUED CONSENSUS BECAUSE IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA BEING PART OF A FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

IT IS BACK ON.

AS SUCH, WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY CLEAR TO STAFF THAT WE DESIRE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WHATEVER PAST MISCOMMUNICATION OR THINGS THAT WERE UNCLEAR ARE NOW CLEAR. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT.

>> ON A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

ON WEDNESDAY, SHE'S ALSO GOING TO SEND US THE COSTS FOR MONTH TO MONTH CONTRACT.

BECAUSE IF WE HAD CONSENSUS THAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT AS THIS, WHICH IS ONE YEAR, AND WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE SHOULD BE A COST.

IS SHE GOING TO SEND US A COST AS WELL FOR WEDNESDAY'S MEETING?

>> FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

>> TWO PEOPLE WANT MONTH TO MONTH.

COMMISSIONER PATTERSON HAS TO MAKE A DECISION.

HOW CAN SHE MAKE A DECISION IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST OF MONTH TO MONTH IS GOING TO BE?

>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION. I DIDN'T SAY I DIDN'T MAKE A DECISION.

I JUST SAID I DON'T FEEL LIKE I NEED TO VOTE IN THIS SETTING.

I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WORKSHOP FOR DISCUSSION AND SO I DON'T FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT IT'S NOT A COMMISSION MEETING.

>> I UNDERSTAND. I'M SUPPORTING A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, BUT IF SHE SENDS US A PRICE AND IT'S IN LINE WITH WHATEVER, LIKE YOU SAID, WHEN WE VOTE ON WEDNESDAY, PEOPLE'S MINDS CAN CHANGE.

HAVING THE PRICE OF A MONTH TO MONTH WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FROM A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE ON WEDNESDAY'S MEETING.

I JUST WANT TO GET A POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

>> IF I MAY, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A POINT TO HAVE CONSENSUS TO BRING THAT INFORMATION FORWARD BECAUSE VAL NOW UNDERSTANDS THAT IF WE GO TO WEDNESDAY AND WE'RE JUST VOTING UP AND DOWN THE AGREEMENT, THEN ON WEDNESDAY WE MIGHT JUST TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT OR PASS IT AS IS.

[02:35:06]

>> ARE WE GOING TO, FROM COMMISSIONER WRIGHT'S REQUEST, USE CONSENSUS FOR THE FERGUSON GROUP TO HAVE AVAILABLE BEFORE WEDNESDAY'S MEETING, WHAT IT WOULD BE IF IT WAS MONTH TO MONTH.

OBVIOUSLY, COMMISSIONER WRIGHT SAYS YES.

COMMISSIONER BOLTON SAYS YES.

HE'S NODDING HIS HEAD. VICE MAYOR DANIEL SAYS YES, SHE'S NODDING HER HEAD. YOU'VE GOT THREE.

ON THAT NOTE, IF THERE'S NO OTHER ITEMS TO DISCUSS ON ONE AND TWO, IT IS CURRENTLY 12:40.

WE WILL BE BACK HERE AT 1:10.

WE'RE IN RECESS. YES. HALF AN HOUR.

SORRY. AGAIN, WE ARE A LITTLE BIT LATE.

[1.c Inspiration Way Alternates & We Are Tamarac Presentation Presented by Maher Mansour, Assistant Community Development Director & George Gadson, Gadson & Ravitz LLC.]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR GOMEZ AND VICE MAYOR DANIEL AND COMMISSIONERS.

GEORGE GADSON, GADSON AND RAVITZ.

HERE TODAY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF OUR MOVING FORWARD WITH THERE WERE TWO SCULPTURES THAT NEEDED TO BE SELECTED TO REPLACE THE ONES THAT WERE NOT SELECTED FROM THE PREVIOUS WORKSHOP.

I'M JUST SHARING WITH YOU THE REPLACEMENT, THE ONE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT IS THE ONE THAT WAS NOT SELECTED AND SO DAVID HAYES, THIS PARTICULAR SCULPTURE WILL REPLACE THAT SCULPTURE FOR INSPIRATION WAY.

THE OTHER ON THE LEFT.

THIS PARTICULAR ARTIST WAS PULLED OUT AND HAD COMMITMENTS ELSEWHERE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET A REPLACEMENT FOR THAT PARTICULAR SCULPTURE WITH HANNA JUBRAN, THE ONE THAT YOU SEE HERE IN THE CENTER SCREEN.

THIS PARTICULAR WEEKEND THE 14TH AND 15TH, THE INSTALLER IS MEETING WITH ALL THE ARTISTS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED, AND GOD WILLING NEXT WEEK, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DRIVE DOWN INSPIRATION WAY AND SEE NEW SCULPTURES INSTALLED.

>> YOU DON'T EVEN NEED CONSENSUS WITH US.

THESE ARE GOING IN. HERE YOU GO.

>> YES. WE JUST WANT TO UPDATE YOU THAT WE MOVED FORWARD AND WE'RE INSTALLING. GREAT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT MISS ELLIE IS STAYING WHERE SHE IS.

WE HAVEN'T RELOCATED HER.

>> NO, MA'AM. ELLIE IS STILL THERE AND WE KEEP HER THERE UNTIL AT SUCH TIME, THE COMMISSIONER OR WHOMEVER FEELS IT'S APPROPRIATE TO MOVE HER, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE'S AT A REALLY GOOD SPOT.

>> THE IDEA IS SHE LOVES WHERE SHE IS.

>> IF IT'S NOT BROKEN, WHY FIX IT.

>> EXACTLY. AGREED. TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT ONE.

>> WE ARE TAMARAC, THE PUBLIC ART.

FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF YEARS, THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF HAVING SOME TYPE OF AN ENTRYWAY FEATURE, IF YOU WILL, HAD BEEN BROUGHT A MAJOR DISCUSSION, AND A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS TOOK PLACE, WHICH NEVER REALLY TOOK GROUND AND NEVER TOOK FRUITION.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THERE THERE IN TAMARAC, AND HAVING A BANNER ACTUALLY PLACED THERE AS PEOPLE ARE DRIVING DOWN UNIVERSITY ON BOTH SIDES, THEY SEE THE BANNERS THAT WE ARE TAMARAC.

FORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THINGS HAPPENED FOR A REASON, THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE BECAUSE OF SOME THINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

THE BACKGROUND HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE IN TERMS OF THE DISCUSSIONS.

JUST OF LATE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE COMMITTEE DID A REQUEST FROM A COUPLE OF PROVIDERS OF PRODUCTS LIKE THIS, ASSIGNED COMPANIES THAT ACTUALLY DO THIS TYPE OF WORK.

JUST TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT, THE DOG PARK AND THE VETERANS PARK ARE, OF COURSE, TWO LOCATIONS THAT ARE VERY ACTIVELY USED.

AND OF COURSE, WE KNOW VETERANS PARK DURING THE CELEBRATION OF VETERANS DAY AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

IT'S ALSO VERY ACTIVELY USED.

THE COMMITTEE DETERMINED THAT THE MEDIUM THAT IS OWNED BY THE CITY THERE ON SOUTHGATE BOULEVARD WILL BE AN IDEAL PLACE TO PUT SOMETHING THAT REALLY SAYS WE ARE TAMARAC SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE PULL

[02:40:03]

THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS A MOCKUP OF WHAT BASICALLY WOULD TAKE PLACE THERE.

SIXTY INCHES SELF STANDING ILLUMINATED CHANNEL LETTERS THAT WILL BE MOUNTED ON A CONCRETE FOOTER RIGHT THERE WITHIN THE MEDIUM.

WE'VE EXPLORED IF THERE WERE ANY OBSTACLES THERE IN TERMS OF ELECTRICAL, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO OBSTACLES THERE.

THEN AT THE SAME TIME, THE MINIATURE VERSION OF WE ARE TAMARAC IS BEING PROPOSED TO HAVE AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS.

IT CONTINUES TO BE IN FRONT OF OUR RESIDENTS, IF YOU WILL, A SMALLER SIZE, AND THAT'S TRANSPORTABLE.

THE COST FOR HAVING THE TWO OF THESE DONE IS 68,000.

I MOVE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

>> QUESTION. WAS THIS THE ONLY OPTION? JUST A QUESTION.

>> MA'AM, I'M SORRY.

>> THIS WAS THE ONLY OPTION, BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY ONE.

>> THIS WAS THE ONLY OPTION.

WE HAD TWO CONTRACTORS IF YOU WILL AND THIS WAS THE ONE THAT WAS THE LOWEST.

YES. WE HAD BASICALLY GIVEN THEM PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING IN TERMS OF WE WANT SOMETHING IN THE MEDIUM THAT SAYS WE ARE TAMARAC.

>> I APPRECIATE THE LOCATION THAT WAS CHOSEN.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> I APPRECIATE THE LOCATION THAT WAS CHOSEN.

>> THANK YOU. WE TRY TO GET IMPACT.

>> COMMISSIONER PATTERSON.

>> THANK YOU. GEORGE, I'M JUST CURIOUS PIGGYBACKING OFF WHAT THE VICE MAYOR JUST SAID.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OPTIONS.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT INITIATIVE.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPARE IT TO IN TERMS OF IDEAS.

>> YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPARE IT TO? IS THAT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD.

>> OPTIONS.

>> OPTIONS.

>> IF THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT'S NEW AND DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE WERE DOING PREVIOUSLY IN TERMS OF JUST ART.

THIS IS A LANDMARK TO SOME DEGREE BRANDING THE CITY.

I LIKE WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED, BUT I THINK IT'D BE GOOD TO HAVE SOME OPTIONS ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> AS I INITIALLY MENTIONED AND MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH A PHOTO OF A PREVIOUS OPTION THAT WAS BEING CONSIDERED, AND THAT WAS THE THE WALKWAY ACROSS UNIVERSITY THAT HAD ACTUALLY WE ARE TAMARAC HAD ACTUALLY FIGURES OF INDIVIDUALS, CHILDREN, FAMILIES, ETC.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS DOABLE, BECAUSE THE DOT WOULD NOT ALLOW THAT TO TAKE PLACE.

>> GIVEN CONSIDERATION TO WHAT'S HERE, DOES THIS SIT LITERALLY ON THE GROUND?

>> IT WILL BE ELIMINATED, YES.

IF THE FABRICATOR IF YOU WILL, WILL CONSTRUCT THESE CHANNEL LETTERS ON A CEMENT FOOTER BASE.

WE'VE ALSO EXPLORED THE OPTION IN TERMS OF LIGHTING.

THE ELECTRICAL POWER IS AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO RUN IT TO THE FINAL PIECE ITSELF FOR THE LETTERS AND TO LIGHT UP.

>> I GUESS WHAT POPS UP TOO IS VANDALISM.

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH VANDALISM? CAN SOMEONE SPRAY-PAINT, GRAFFITI ON IT? WHAT WILL WE BE DEALING WITH? THE MATERIAL WILL BE CONSTRUCTED FROM?

>> METAL.

>> THOSE ARE JUST THINGS THAT ARE POPPING UP AND TO MY MIND WHEN I LOOK AT THIS PROJECT, IT'S WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF VANDALISM? HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT? AGAIN, I KEEP GOING BACK TO I'M THE NEWEST ONE HERE.

WHAT'S THE OVERALL BUDGET? THIS IS COMING FROM THE PUBLIC ART ALLOCATION?

>> IT'S 2% ON DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FEES DEVELOPMENT FEES.

>> WE'RE RECEIVING THAT ON A?

>> CONTINUUM BASED.

>> THANK YOU.

[02:45:01]

>> IF I MAY COMMISSIONER, YOUR CONCERN ABOUT GRAFFITI IS ALWAYS AND WILL ALWAYS BE A LEGITIMATE CONCERN.

WHEN WE ENGAGE IN PROJECTS AS BEST AS WE CAN, WE TRY AND HAVE THEM DONE IN A WAY TO MITIGATE THAT IF YOU WILL.

BUT AS WE ALL KNOW WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY, THEREFORE IF AN INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO DO THE GRAFFITI INDEED WE CAN'T HINDER THEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO THE FABRICATOR IS HOW HE SEALS THE LETTERS TO BE CERTAIN THAT INDEED IT WOULD BE JUST A MATTER OF BEING ABLE TO REMOVE GRAFFITI IF THAT SHOULD TAKE PLACE.

>> THE FABRICATOR, CAN HE MAYBE GIVE SOME OPTIONS AROUND HIS PROPOSAL? THIS IS ONE VARIATION, CAN HE GIVE SOME OTHER VARIATIONS?

>> WELL THIS IS ACTUALLY THE OPTION THAT WAS PRESENTED AND BASICALLY RECOMMENDED BY THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE.

THEY REACHED A CONSENSUS THAT ''WE ARE TAMARAC'' IS WHAT THEY WOULD WANT.

>> SURE, BUT WHAT I'M ASKING IS NOW THAT IT'S HERE IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE FABRICATOR TO DEMONSTRATE SOME OTHER VARIATIONS OF WHAT THEY'VE PROPOSED?

>> A DIFFERENT MATERIAL?

>> NO. JUST PERIOD.

MAYBE TAMARAC IN PINK, WE IN YELLOW.

I DON'T KNOW, JUST SOME OTHER VARIATIONS OF WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED.

>> THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE ''WE ARE TAMARAC'' THAT WOULD SOMEHOW CONNECTS WITH THE TAMARAC LOGO'S COLORS, THE BRANDING COLORS.

>> NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU.

>> MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY.

GEORGE HAVE WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING THE ARTWORK THAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY PLANNING FOR THE BRIDGE ON THE GROUND?

>> THAT WAS A GREAT-LOOKING ART PIECE.

>> THANK YOU, ONE MORE QUESTION.

>> THE ARTWORK THAT WE WERE PROPOSING FOR THE BRIDGE WAS GOING TO BE ACTUALLY DONE, FABRICATED IN METAL.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE DISCUSSION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DID NOT ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> CAN THAT BE PUT ON THE GROUND?

>> WE CAN ADDRESS THAT IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S AN OPTION THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.

>> IT WAS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BRIDGE, SO IT'S A TWO-SIDED.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD.

>> FOR THE RECORD MA'AM, MAHER MANSOUR, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

DURING THE MEETINGS WITH THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE, THEY ESTABLISHED I THINK A MAXIMUM OF $60,000 FOR JUST THE FIRST OPTION.

THEY DID NOT WANT TO GO ABOVE THAT.

I THINK AT ONE POINT THE FIGURINES WERE GOING TO COST MUCH MORE THAN THIS INDIVIDUALLY, SO THE WHOLE BUDGET WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY HIGHER THAN THIS.

IT TOOK CONSENSUS AND EVENTUALLY VOTING BY THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO LET'S DO THE LETTER, THE ''WE ARE TAMARAC'' WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE WITHOUT THE FIGURINES.

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, EACH FIGURINE WAS GOING TO COST A SPECIFIC AMOUNT AND THEY WOULD NOT WORK ONE OR TWO.

YOU HAVE TO PUT THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER TO MAKE THE ORIGINAL IMPRESSION OF WHAT WAS INTENDED.

>> UNDERSTOOD. THE VICE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONER ARE MUCH MORE DIPLOMATIC THAN I'M.

I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL LOCATION.

I DON'T THINK THIS GOES WITH OUR BRANDING.

OTHER THAN PULLING OUT SOME COLORS FROM OUR RIBBON, I WOULD THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT COLOR.

ANYWAY, OURS IS ALWAYS IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER.

PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE PINKS, THE REDS, THE PURPLES, AND THE BLUES, BUT WHATEVER.

I HAVE TRAFFIC CONCERNS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIVE FOOT HIGH, BRIGHTLY LIT, ON AN AMINION AS WE'RE PULLING OUT U-TURNING GOING IN AND OUT OF THE BALLING ALLEY, COMING AROUND, AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THAT'S SAFE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT NEXT LEVEL AND SO I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT LEVEL IF WE SHOULD APPROVE THIS.

THEN IT'S GOING TO COME BACK TO US SAYING, IT'S REALLY NOT THE SAFEST THING TO PUT AT EYE LEVEL OF A CAR THIS BRIGHT LIGHT. THAT'S ONE THING.

I GET WE WANT A BRAND PERSONALLY THEN.

[02:50:02]

UNFORTUNATELY, IT OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T WORK.

WE WERE IN TALLAHASSEE AND THEN IN TALLAHASSEE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A BILL PENDING.

MAY IT NOT GROW LEGS, BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT IT VERY WELL PROBABLY WILL WHERE THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER ABILITY TO CHARGE THE DEVELOPERS FOR PUBLIC ART.

WE WOULD HAVE TO PROVE THIS THAT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE DETAILS, BECAUSE REALISTICALLY THOSE DETAILS COULD PROBABLY CHANGE TOO.

WITH THAT IN MIND PERSONALLY, BECAUSE THEN THE 13,000 JUST TO PUT THEM AT EVENTS SO WE CAN TAKE PHOTOS ALL OVER IT.

WE GOT OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO WITH THAT.

I DON'T FEEL A $68,000 EXPENDITURE AT THIS TIME IS A WORTHY EXPENDITURE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE AT THIS INTERSECTION.

I DON'T CARE WHAT COLORS WE'RE PUTTING IT IN AND IF WE'RE NOT EVEN HAVING IT LIGHT UP.

OR EVEN IF WE HAVING LIGHT UP OR WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT VERSUS EACH STANDALONE LETTER WAS BRIGHTLY LIT AND COMING OUT TO US, AND WE FIGURED OUT A MORE SAFE WAY TO DO IT.

PERSONALLY, MY FEELING IS THAT THIS IS NOT HITTING THE BRANDING MARK FOR ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER WRIGHT.

>> I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR AS WELL. I GET THE IDEA.

I GET WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO DO.

I'VE TRAVELED TO ALMOST ALL THE INHABITABLE CONTINENTS IN THIS WORLD AND EVERY CITY, OR COUNTRY, OR TWO.

THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SAYS, I LOVE JAPAN, I LOVE DUBAI, I LOVE AMSTERDAM, I LOVE ETHIOPIA, I LOVE BRAZIL, I LOVE PERU.

[OVERLAPPING] CALL A LOT MORE. I LOVE JAMAICA.

YOU TAKE A SOCIAL PROOF OF THAT YOU'VE BEEN TO A PLACE.

I THINK THE LOCATION SHOULD BE SOMEPLACE.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A PERFECT LOCATION IN TERMS OF THE IDEA OF WHAT THIS IS TRYING TO BE.

IT SHOULD BE SOMEPLACE ELSE WHERE THERE'S FOOT TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE CONGREGATE AS OPPOSED TO DRIVING ALONG A BUSY STREET.

I THINK THE LOCATION FOR IT IS NOT NECESSARILY.

I THINK THE COST AS WELL.

AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED THERE'S THIS BILL THAT'S HAPPENING, SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ART FUNDS, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO DO IN TALLAHASSEE.

WE KNOW THE CONSULATE IS TRYING TO REMOVE HOME RULE.

I AGREE WITH THOSE POINTS AS WELL.

BUT I THINK THE IDEA IS THERE, WE'RE TRYING TO BRAND OURSELVES, WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHATEVER.

I THINK THE LOCATION IS BAD AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE SOMEPLACE ELSE WHERE PEOPLE CAN STOP AND TAKE A PICTURE, AND THERE'S FOOT TRAFFIC IN THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE? IS THIS HOW MUCH PEOPLE PAY FOR THOSE SIGNS?

>> SIGNAGE IS EXPENSIVE.

WE DO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNAGE PROGRAM. IT IS EXPENSIVE.

THIS HAS TO BE WATERPROOF.

THIS HAS TO HAVE CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS FOR EACH LETTER, ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, AND ILLUMINATION.

>> WELL AS A BUSINESS EXECUTIVE I CAN UNDERSTAND THE MARKETING VALUE CAN'T BE QUANTIFIED, BECAUSE IF YOU GO TAKE A PICTURE, I LOVE WHATEVER OR WE ARE TAMARAC THEN PEOPLE THAT SEE IT, YOU REALLY CAN'T PUT A VALUE AND THAT STUFF.

BUT IF IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A PLACE WHERE CARS DRIVE BY, THERE'S NO MARKETING VALUE.

NO ONE IS STOPPING AT IT TO TAKE A PICTURE TO SAY THAT ''WE ARE TAMARAC'', SO WE CAN'T EVEN GET THAT INTRINSIC VALUE FROM IT.

>> IT WAS CARRIED OVER FROM THE ORIGINAL LOCATION ON UNIVERSITY WHICH WE WERE PREEMPTED FROM DOING ANYTHING OVER THERE, BECAUSE OF LACK.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW MEDIANS AFTER CONVERSATION WITH PUBLIC SERVICES THAT WE ACTUALLY OWN AND IT'S ACTUALLY DOABLE.

IT'S A MAJOR ENTRYWAY INTO THE CITY.

>> [OVERLAPPING] THIS IS THE ENTRYWAY? [LAUGHTER]

>> YES AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO BE SEEN BY TRAFFIC.

REALLY BASICALLY, IT'S JUST TO BE SEEN BY CARS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW LOCATIONS THAT ACCOMMODATE A SIGN OF THAT SIZE WHILE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OR DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS WHETHER BY THE CITY, OR THE COUNTY, OR WHATEVER THOUGHT SO.

>> IF PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE THEY HAVE TO CROSS.

>> THEY COULD PARK IN THE PARK AND WALK OVER.[LAUGHTER]

>> WALK OVER.

>> LITERALLY. THERE'S A LIGHT RIGHT THERE.

>> THAT'S JUST MY FEEDBACK BASED ON SEEING THESE TYPES OF SIGNS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, HAVE YOU TURNED OVER AGAIN? VICE MAYOR I KNOW YOU WERE TURNED OVER BEFORE COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> I CAN TURN OVER AGAIN. GO AHEAD [OVERLAPPING]

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> I'VE SAID IN PLENTY OF MEETINGS THAT I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TAMARAC AND WHAT WE ARE KNOWN FOR, I'VE SAID THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR

[02:55:02]

I SAY THAT IN THE NICEST OF WAYS, BECAUSE WE CAN BE KNOWN FOR A CITY THAT CELEBRATES ART.

YOU COME IN THE CITY AND EVERYTHING IS JUST ART.

I BELIEVE IN THE LAST MEETING I ALSO SAID THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT PUBLIC ART IN A SET SPACE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE AN OUTDOOR MUSEUM AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO.

BUT LIKE COMMISSIONER WRIGHT SAID, WE NEED TO HAVE ART THAT REALLY BRINGS OUT THE TOURIST VIBE.

I HAPPENED TO VISIT JAMAICA AND I WENT TO NEGRIL, AND THEY HAVE THE SAME COLORS WRITTEN IN NEGRIL.

IF SOMEBODY JUST WANTS TO GOOGLE WELCOME TO NEGRIL SIGN AND GO ON THE GOOGLE IMAGE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT.

WELL YOU CAN GOOGLE LATER.

>> YES.

>> PEOPLE ACTUALLY GO THERE AND TAKE PICTURES.

THEY STAND BEHIND THE WORDING AND THEY TAKE PICTURES.

IT'S BIGGER, IT'S TALLER, AND IT'S NOT AS SMALL ON THE GROUND.

WHAT'S THE HEIGHT OF THESE LETTERS? TWENTY FEET?

>> ABOUT 60 ".

>> SIXTY INCHES.

>> FIVE FEET.

>> FIVE FEET.

>> WITHOUT THE PAD.

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> THAT'S CORRECT, WITHOUT THE PAD.[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]

>> [LAUGHTER] FIVE FEET?

>> YES, SIR.

>> I'M 6'3.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, MAYBE THAT WOULD BE TOO TALL, AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE BEHIND IT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY STAND BESIDE IT OR OR BEHIND IT OR THAT SORT OF STUFF.

MAYBE YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HEIGHT OF IT.

THAT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS LOW ON THE GROUND, LIKE IT WOULD BE AT MY KNEES LENGTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT FIVE FEET IS PROBABLY TOO TALL.

THEN JUST LIKE YOU HAVE THE WORD NEGRIL, I WONDER IF WE COULD JUST PUT TAMARAC AND TAMARAC IN DIFFERENT COLORS SO THAT IT BRINGS OUT THE TOURIST VIBE IN IT.

BECAUSE YOU ALSO WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT MARKETING AND YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SHARE PICTURES OF YOUR CITY, THAT'S TOO WIDE.

YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT AN INSTAGRAM SQUARE, JOANNA.

THINKING ABOUT AN INSTAGRAM SQUARE AND YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE AT THAT SIGN, YOU WANT IT TO FIT IN THAT INSTAGRAM SQUARE.

YOU CAN'T JUST PUT WE ARE TAMARAC, IT'S TOO FAR.

PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO STAND FAR AWAY FROM THE SIGN IN ORDER TO TAKE THE PICTURE, AND THEN BY THE TIME THEY WANT TO POST IT, THEIR IMAGE IS TOO SMALL IN CONTRAST TO THE SIGN.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE MARKETING ASPECT, THE TOURISM ASPECT OF IT, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS ALSO MISSING IN THIS PUBLIC ART PIECE AND NOT JUST THIS PIECE SPECIFICALLY, BUT THE PUBLIC ART DISCUSSION THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE, WE BRING ART AND WE DON'T KNOW THE IMPETUS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE DOING IT.

WE JUST BRING IT JUST BECAUSE, AND SO WE NEED TO START HAVING THE WHY BEHIND THE ART, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE BEEN VERY ADAMANT FOR MANY YEARS TO NOT HAVE ART IN FRONT OF WALGREENS ON 441 AND COMMERCIAL, AND PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME WHY DO YOU NOT WANT PUBLIC ART THERE? I'LL TELL YOU WHY. I'LL FINALLY TELL YOU WHY.

BECAUSE WALGREENS AND CVS, ARE ALMOST LIKE THEIR TRANSIENT BUSINESSES.

THEY CLOSE DOWN EVERY YEAR, AND YOU PUT PUBLIC ART IN FRONT OF THAT BUILDING.

WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO GO IN THAT BUILDING IF THEY EVER CLOSE DOWN?

[03:00:02]

BUT THE LOCATION OF THIS IS VERY NICE.

I THINK SOUTHGATE IS WHERE THIS PIECE OF ART NEEDS TO BE.

AGAIN, DR. DANIEL SAYS, MAYBE THEY CAN WALK FROM THE PARK ACROSS THE STREET.

HOW DO YOU CONNECT THIS PIECE OF ART TO THE PARK ACROSS THE STREET? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? DO YOU WANT TO THEN BRING IN AUTISM AWARENESS INTO IT? I DON'T KNOW IF IN BROWARD COUNTY, THE CROSSWALKS HAVE TO BE WHITE?.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHITE.

WHY NOT MAKE THE CROSSWALK COLORED AND HAVE SOMETHING IN THE PARK WHERE IT CONNECTS TO AUTISN YOU CROSS THE STREET IN LIVING COLOR, AND THEN YOU WALK ACROSS TO THE TAMARAC ART.

I KNOW THAT IS OUR VETERANS PARK, BUT WE WOULDN'T BE CHANGING THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF VETERANS PARK, BUT WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE MARKET TAMARAC IN A WAY WHERE THE WORLD WOULD WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE IN TAMARAC AND SAY, OH, MY GOSH, I WENT TO TAMARAC.

YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING, IT'S LIKE, WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE? [LAUGHTER] BUILDINGS AND APARTMENTS.

WHY DO PEOPLE COME HERE? WE NEED TO START WORKING ON THAT AND I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND I'M ON MY LAST RODEO, SIR.

[LAUGHTER] SO WHAT ARE WE DOING?

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AND YOUR COMMENTS.

JUST AS A SIDE NOTE TO COMING ATTRACTIONS.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING AN ACTUAL PUBLIC ART BROCHURE DONE IN THE PROCESS OF ALSO DOING THE MAINTENANCE AND SO DOING THAT, TAKING THE INVENTORY OF ALL THE ART THAT WE HAVE, WE FELT THIS IS AN IDEAL TIME NOW TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PAMPHLET BROCHURE AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER WHO DOES THE DESIGNS.

I CAN SEE HOW WE CAN CONNECT THE ARTS.

THE ONE ACROSS THE STREET, WITH THE VETERANS PARK, WITH THIS PARTICULAR PIECE, AND OTHER THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND AT SOME POINT IDEALLY CREATING SOME TYPE OF A PUBLIC ART TOUR.

THERE WILL BE THAT ONE PIECE THAT WOULD BE A USE AS A TOOL FOR CONNECTIVITY.

>> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES AGREE WITH ME THAT WE ARE TAMARAC IS TOO LONG.

HOW DO YOU SAY? HORIZONTAL.

>> HORIZONTAL OR DIAGONAL.

>> I THINK JUST THE WORD TAMARAC IN COLOR, LIKE DIFFERENT COLORS LIKE THE LETTERS ARE DIFFERENT.

EACH LETTER HAS A DIFFERENT COLOR, AND IT CAN FIT IN AN INSTAGRAM SQUARE.

WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA ASPECT AND THE TOURISM ASPECT AND WHAT THE BANG FOR OUR BUCK BECAUSE $68,000, [LAUGHTER] IT'S QUITE A CHANGE.

>> ALSO WITH THE $68,000, I THINK IF IT'S WORTH IT, IT'S WORTH IT.

I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE LAST WORKSHOP, WE DID A FIRE STATION ARTWORK AND IT WAS $134,000, AND NO ONE COMPLAINED, AND I WAS ONE WHO ASKED WHAT'S THE COST RELATED? IS THAT THE PRICING? YOU SAID ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S HOW IT IS.

I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON SINCE THEN.

ART IS EXPENSIVE.

SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS IS HALF OF WHAT THE FIRE STATION ARTWORK COSTS, SO I'M NOT ARGUING WITH THE 68.

I DO WANT IT THERE.

I THINK THE LOCATION IS PERFECT.

I DRIVE BY SOUTHGATE EVERY DAY.

I THINK IT SHOULD SAY TAMARAC THEN STATE A COLOR BECAUSE IT GOES WITH OUR LOGO.

IF YOU LOOK AT HIS SHIRT, TAMARAC IS JUST ONE COLOR BLUE SO I THINK WE SHOULD STICK WITH THE LOGO BECAUSE IT SHOWS CONTINUITY.

>> IT'S LIKE [INAUDIBLE]

>> NO. IT'S LIKE THIS TWO.

NO. IT IS EVERYWHERE.

YOU PROBABLY DON'T NOTICE BUT EVERYWHERE IT'S THE SAME WAY.

I LIKE THE CONTINUITY OF IT.

IT SHOWS THE SAME SIGN IS ACROSS THE STREET.

THANK YOU. I THINK OUR PUBLIC SERVICE GUYS DO SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB.

I SEE THE SIGN WENT BACK UP, ONE THAT SOMEONE HIT ON SOUTHGATE AS WELL.

IT'S GOING BACK UP, SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BECAUSE

[03:05:01]

I WOULDN'T WANT IT TO BE THE SIGNAGE HERE, THE SIGNAGE AT THE PART, THE SIGN HERE, THAT EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT.

NO, I THINK THAT'S CRAZY.

WE DON'T WANT CRAZINESS IN DISTRICT 4, WE WANT UNITY.

I THINK KEEPING THE UNIFIED COLOR IS GOOD.

BUT I LOVE WHAT COMMISSIONER BOLTON SAID, AND I THINK WE'VE DISCUSSED IT BEFORE.

MAYBE IT'S JUST ME THAT SINCE WE HAVE SO MUCH ARTWORK GOING ON, WE SHOULD HAVE OUTSIDE GALLERY PER SE OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT AND I KNOW WHAT GOES ON ON NOB HILL.

BUT EVEN WITH NOB HILL, YOU DON'T STOP, YOU DRIVE BY, SO I'M CONFUSED AT THIS ARGUMENT BECAUSE EVERYWHERE YOU JUST DRIVE BY, NOWHERE YOU STOP.

LET'S PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONLY PLACE YOU COULD STOP.

[LAUGHTER] LITERALLY.

SOUTHGATE, THERE'S JUST LAND RIGHT ON THE SIDE AND I SPOKE TO THE CITY MANAGER.

THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO WITH THAT LAND.

WHY NOT MAKE THAT THE ART GALLERY? AS YOU COME DOWN SOUTHGATE EAST OF UNIVERSITY. THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

THERE'S A BUTTERFLY PATCH, I THINK OF SOME SOMEWHAT NATIVE PLANTS, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF LAND THERE OTHER THAN THE BUTTERFLY PATCH.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD LOCATION AND THEN IT COULD TIE INTO THAT.

NOW YOU COULD REALLY MAKE THAT PLOT OF LAND SOMETHING THAT FAMILIES CAN COME TO.

THEY HAVE THE PARK, THEY HAVE THE DARK PARK, AND THEN NOW THEY HAVE THE ART.

IT COULD BE AN ATTRACTION IF YOU MAKE IT REALLY GOOD, AND THAT IT SPEAKS TO EVERY GENERATION, NOT JUST ONE.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER PATTERSON.

>> I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH. I'M SORRY, MAYOR, BUT SINCE YOU RECOGNIZED ME, I WOULD JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE COLOR TO WHAT BOLTON AND WRIGHT WERE SAYING.

MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT SOME OTHER LOCATIONS COMING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, NOT FOR THIS PROJECT, BUT I JUST MEAN IN GENERAL, AS WE LOOK AT SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE.

AS PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO THE CITY FROM SAWGRASS, MAYBE THERE'S A LOCATION THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM THE HIGHWAY EITHER GOING NORTH OR SOUTH.

MAYBE SOMETHING THAT SITS UP ON A BILLBOARD, SOMETHING THAT AGAIN, WOULD ATTRACT MAKE THIS A COMMUNITY THAT SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO COME INTO AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE IN TAMARAC.

BUT IN TERMS OF JUST IDENTIFYING OTHER OPTIONS AND OTHER LOCATIONS, THAT COULD BE ANOTHER OPTION AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SAY?

>> I'VE JUST GOT A FOLLOW UP ON COMMISSIONER BOLTON'S POINT WHERE THE WORD SHOULD BE TAMARAC OR EVEN ONE TAMARAC SOMETHING THAT SHOWS UNITY.

BECAUSE WE ARE TAMARAC IS A LITTLE TOO BIG AND YOU MISSED THE WHOLE IDEA OF IT.

NOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE MENTIONED, IT IS THE LOCATION.

PEOPLE CAN WALK ACROSS THE STREET.

PEOPLE FROM THE BOWLING ALLEY AND PEOPLE FROM THE VETERANS PARK.

YOU MIGHT HAVE YOUNG KIDS WHO MIGHT COME ACROSS AND TAKE A PICTURE, IT MIGHT BE A COOL PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND TAKE PICTURES.

FROM A TOURIST PART OF IT, I DO AGREE AS WELL.

TAMARAC IS A GLOBAL CITY.

I WAS AT CHURCH IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND A GUY TOLD ME, I LIVE IN TAMARAC.

I WAS IN TRINIDAD AND SOMEONE CAME TO ME AND SAID, "UNCLE LIVES IN TAMARAC." EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT BE 75,000, [NOISE] IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A SMALL CITY IN THE SCOPE.

>> WE WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> WE WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE HEAD SECRET SERVICE PERSON SAID HE WAS FROM TAMARAC.

>> IN DISTRICT 1.

>> YEAH. I HAVE A GUY THAT LIVES IN DISTRICT 2, HIS SON PLAYS WITH CHICAGO BUZZ.

SO TAMARAC IS WELL RENOWN AND WE WANT TO SPREAD THAT MESSAGE AND WE WANT TO BUILD UP ON THAT AS A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY, OR WE MAKE SURE WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT LOOKS GOOD.

ALL OF US ON HIS COMMISSIONER.

LIKE I SAID, MUCH YOUNGER THAN THE TAMARAC OF THE PREVIOUS DECADE.

THIS IS A NEW TAMARAC, A NEW GENERATION, A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING IT, AND WE GOT TO TIE IN ALL OF THIS STUFF, TIE IN THE MARKETING, TIE IN THE DEVELOPMENT.

ALL OF THAT GOES HAND IN HAND FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH VISION.

COMMISSIONER BOLTON HAS BEEN CHAMPIONING THIS STUFF HE SAID FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S SAYING IN TERMS OF MARKETING.

I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER PATTERSON AS WELL.

PEOPLE TRAVERSING ALONG THE SAWGRASS OR THE TURNPIKE OF THOSE PLACES.

WE WANT THEM TO SEE THAT, HEY, THIS COMMUNITY IS TAMARAC, THIS IS UNIQUE.

I WANT TO JUMP OFF ON THAT EXIT.

I WANT TO JUMP OFF ON THE SAWGRASS AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER.

I WANT TO DRIVE THROUGH THAT COMMUNITY.

I THINK DOING THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE AND USING A PUBLIC ART, IF WE'RE KNOWN FOR PUBLIC ART, THAT'S A GOOD STRATEGY AS WELL, AND CITY MANAGER AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO THINK LIKE 360.

IT'S LIKE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

BEFORE YOU GET A RECORD DEAL, KNOWING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS A 360 DEAL.

YOUR AGENT IS HANDLING, SINGING IS HANDLING, CONCERT IS DOING WHATEVER.

SO ART TIES INTO DEVELOP.

[NOISE] IT TIES INTO THE INSTAGRAM POST, PIO, LOOKING AT THE DESIGN AND ALL THAT STUFF.

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S THE GENERATION THAT WE LIVE IN.

[03:10:01]

PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND SEE IT, THEY WANT TO TRY IT.

I AGREE WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER BOLTON IS SAYING AND A LOT OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING, AND I DO AGREE WITH DR. DANIEL.

LOOKING AT IT AGAIN AND HEARING YOU GUYS EXPLANATION.

THE LOCATION IS RIGHT BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN COME FROM THE PARK, AND THEY CAN COME FROM THE BOWLING ALLEY. THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS.

WHEN THEY SAY I'M GOING IN MY OWN ORDER, PEOPLE ALWAYS TAKE PICTURES IN TAMARAC, AND IF WE'RE TAKING PICTURES, MY COLLEAGUES PROBABLY GET THE SAME THING.

ARE WE GOING IN THE TAMOGRAM? LIKE, THEY WANT TO BE SEEN.

THEY LOVE TAKING PICTURES, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM SUPPORTING OUR CITY.

I LIKE SOMETHING THERE.

THE LIABILITY HEAD, WHICH IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE MY HEAD, HAS A LITTLE CONCERN WITH SAYING WE'RE PARKING IN ANOTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES PARKING LOT THAT WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PARKING IN BECAUSE IT'S BOWLING.

TECHNICALLY, WE'RE TRESPASSING TO GO ACROSS THE STREET AT NIGHT IF WE'RE NOT IN OUR OWN PARK TO CROSS THE STREET.

I THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE YOU CAN TAKE PICTURES ALL OVER SHOULD BE IN ONE OF OUR PARKS.

TEPHFORD PARK MAY BE TOO FAR WEST, BUT THE IDEA IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IF YOU'RE CHANGING THE NUANCE OF WHAT THE PURPOSE IS, FOR IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE PICTURES ALL OVER, THEN IT SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE WHERE IT'S FUN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE MEDIAN OF AN INTERSECTION IS FUN.

NOW, I DO AGREE THAT IT IS A GREAT LOCATION IN TAMARAC, AND IT'S A GOOD SPOT TO BE SEEN.

BUT DEPENDING ON WHAT WE'RE CALLING FOR IT TO DO, IT'S PURPOSE, WE SAY WE WANT IT TO BE SEEN.

IF TEPHFORD PARK IS NOT GOOD, THEN MAYBE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF VETERANS PARK AND THE DOG PARK, WHERE PEOPLE ARE ON THE WALKING TRAIL, IT'S SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY AND BE SEEN ON.

MAYBE THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF ART SCULPTURE IS NOT AN END CAP SCULPTURE, IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING.

I DO THINK THAT THE LACK OF THE BETTER WORD, THE PRISM.

REMEMBER THE RED BOX OF SUNSET POINT PARK WAS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SEEING FROM THE EVERGLADES.

WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE DO HAVE ARTWORK AS YOU COME OFF THE SAWGRASS BETWEEN THE TWO HOTELS, BUT WE DON'T OWN MUCH, AND SO WE HAVE TO USE THAT.

MY ISSUE WITH MONEY ON THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT WORTH DOLLAR SIGNS, LIKE A DIFFERENT SCULPTURE.

MY POINT IS WE HAVE BEEN PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE THAT CONTINUAL FUNDING MECHANISM SOON.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, I WOULD THINK WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE'RE SPENDING IS THAT PIECE.

NOT SAYING, WE CAN GET MORE MONEY AND IT'LL BE FINE, BUT IT IS THAT PIECE.

WE HAVE DONE BROCHURES IN THE PAST.

I KNOW I'VE HANDED THEM OUT.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE HAVE A CHANGING INSPIRATION WAY.

WE SHOULD FIGURE OUT WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE BROCHURE IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE IT, OUR STANDARDS, AND WHAT WE ADD ON, WHICH WOULD BE OUR NEW PIECES THAT CHANGE EVERY YEAR.

>> PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE COLORFUL LOGO DEPENDING ON WHERE WE'RE PUTTING IT.

IF IT'S PLAYFUL IN THE PARK, WE HAVE SEVEN COLORS IN OUR LOGO, SEVEN COLORS IN OUR RAINBOW.

I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM IT BEING COLORFUL.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I'D LIKE IT IF IT'S JUST LIKE THAT.

BUT MAYBE IT COULD BE NOT NECESSARILY TOTEM BUT STAGGERED DEPENDING ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, WHAT OUR MESSAGE IS, AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS ART.

DO WE WANT TO STAND UNDERNEATH THE T AND THE AMS AS IT GOES DOWN AND THEN HAVE PEOPLE STANDING AROUND IT AND ENJOYING IT, OR IS IT JUST VERTICAL, BUT VERTICAL, HORIZONTAL? BUT I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT THAT CORNER IS A GOOD CORNER FOR ART.

I DON'T HEAR OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS THAT THIS PIECE IS THE PIECE FOR THE ARTWORK.

WE'LL GO THROUGH IT AND WE'LL MAKE SURE IF IT IS OR ISN'T. GO AHEAD.

>> MAY I SUGGEST SOMETHING, MAYOR.

I THINK THE COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE HEARING IS THAT, WE NEED SOMETHING THAT SYMBOLIZES, SOMETHING LIKE I HEART TAMARAC THAT CAN BE REPLICATED IN MULTIPLE PLACES SO THAT IT CREATES A SELFIE OPPORTUNITY SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST ONE PLACE, BUT IT CAN BE PLACED IN PARKS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, LIKE PART OF OUR BRANDING EFFORTS.

[03:15:02]

>> BUT THAT'S WHAT HE ORIGINALLY PRESENTED.

HE PRESENTED TWO, ONE RIGHT THERE AND THEN ONE THAT MOVES AROUND.

THAT WAS HIS PRESENTATION, LITERALLY.

>> IT IS.

BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT WE CAN USE AS PART OF OUR BRANDING EFFORT, AND IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT IN DIFFERENT PARKS, DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A PICTURE LIKE THAT LOVE SIGN IN PHILLY.

>> I HEAR YOU, I HEAR WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING, BUT I'M SKEPTICAL OF THE PICTURE TAKEN THERE.

THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING AT SOUTH, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PICTURE TAKING, IF PEOPLE START TAKING PICTURE, THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAINTENANCE.

THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME, I THINK.

FOR THAT SPOT IN THE MEDIAN, IT COULD JUST BE TAMARAC OR WE ARE TAMARAC, WHATEVER YOU WANT.

>> IT'S A GREAT SPOT, TO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

>> BUT FOR THE PICTURE-TAKEN ONE, MAYBE THAT'S THE PORTABLE ONE THAT MOVES AROUND.

INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GO TO THE MEDIAN AND WE'RE MESSING WITH TRAFFIC AND ALL THAT.

>> WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS TO COME UP WITH AN IDEAL SYMBOL, WHETHER IT'S WE ARE TAMARAC, OR I HEART TAMARAC, OR I LOVE TAMARAC OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THIS WOULD BE A GREAT LOCATION FOR THAT, TO EXPOSE TO THE TRAFFIC, BUT WE CAN ALSO UTILIZE THE SAME SYMBOL IN OTHER PARKS, OTHER LOCATIONS.

>> BECAUSE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET IS THE SIGNAGE PROGRAM SIGN.

MY THING WAS IF IT'S GOING TO SAY TAMARAC, IT SHOULD BE SOME FORM OF UNITY WITH IT, NOT JUST OH, THIS IS THE BRAND TWO YEARS AGO, NO.

THIS IS THE BRAND NOW.

THEN, TO ME, THAT'S CRAZY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT WAS WHERE I WAS STARTING TO GO.

ALSO, THIS FUN ONE WAS AT THE SCHOOL.

REMEMBER, IT WAS ON UNIVERSITY, BUT IT WAS AT THE SCHOOL, AND THE PURPOSE FOR THE FUN WAS WITH KIDS.

I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR.

I LIKE THE CONTINUITY.

WE'VE WORKED HARD TO BRAND US SO WE NEED TO FIGURE SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE ALONG THOSE LINES.

BUT I THINK THERE'S CONSENSUS FOR YOU'VE HEARD WHAT WE'VE SAID TO BRING IT BACK TO THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE AND ASK THEM TO THINK ABOUT ALONG THOSE LINES.

KNOWING THAT WE WANT POSSIBLY SOME FUN IN THE PARKS, SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE A STAND-OUT PIECE IN THE INTERSECTION OF WHICH IS WELCOME TO TAMARAC ON SOUTHGATE AND UNIVERSITY, AND GOING FROM THERE.

>> I THINK CORAL SPRINGS IS ACROSS, SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF, MAYOR.

IT'S ACROSS THE STREET, AND THEY HAVE A SIGN ON THE OTHER SIDE.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE BIG TAMARAC WORD.

DON'T GET ME WRONG. I DO LIKE THE IDEA.

NOW, I'M NOT MARKETING OUR BRANDING GURU LIKE MY NEIGHBOR RIGHT HERE.

BUT I DO LIKE THE BIGNESS.

YOU CAN'T MISS US.

YOU CAN'T JUST DRIVE BY US AND GO TO THE NEXT CITY. I DO LOVE THAT.

>> IF I MAY, MAYBE YOU TAKE WHAT OUR SIGN IS ALREADY AND JUST PUT A BEAUTIFUL TAMARAC ON THERE.

WELCOME TO IF YOU WANT, THE CORAL SPRINGS IS THIS HUGE HALF CIRCLE OF CEMENT.

MAYBE WE ASK YOU GUYS TO GO BACK AND FIGURE OUT A MONUMENT-TYPE SIGN THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE.

FOR OUR PRESENCE. I'M GETTING A BUNCH OF ADS.

ANYWAY, THERE'S CONSENSUS FOR YOU GUYS TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THAT.

>> NO. I ACTUALLY HAVE A COMMENT.

>> DO ME A FAVOR. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, PLEASE HELP ME OUT, TURN YOUR THINGS DOWN AND TURN IT BACK OVER.

IT'S BEEN UP, SO I CAN'T TELL THAT.

>> MR. GADSON, I HOPE THAT YOU'RE NOT THINKING THAT WHAT WE ARE ASKING WHAT I WOULD BE ASKING FOR IS JUST A TAMARAC, AND YOU PUT IT ON THE GRASS AND YOU CALL IT.

THAT'S THE DELIVERABLE.

BECAUSE THAT PIECE OF GRASS AS PATCHY AS IT IS NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED ANYWAY.

IMPROVE THAT WHOLE LANDSCAPE.

MUSTAFA AND YOUR TEAM.

THEN JUST LIKE YOU PROBABLY SEE THE NEGRIL SIGN, PLEASE GOOGLE IT AND LOOK AT IT.

[03:20:02]

THEN THERE IS LIKE A STEP UP AND STEP DOWN, THEY'RE ON LIKE A LIKE A STEP UP THING.

MAKE IT FUN.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN A PARK.

THERE ARE THINGS CALLED PASSIVE PARKS, AND THERE ARE THINGS CALLED FORGOT WHAT THIS WOULD BE CALLED, RUDY.

BUT A PARK DOESN'T HAVE TO BE YOU GO THERE, AND YOU PLAY.

ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET, YOU HAVE A BENCH, YOU CALL IT A PASSIVE PARK.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS WILL BE CALLED, BUT THIS ENTRANCEWAY, SOUTHGATE NEEDS TO LOOK BETTER ANYWAY.

WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT PUTTING THIS ART HERE, TALK TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND TALK TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, TALK TO PARKS, TO BEAUTIFY THAT BEFORE YOU PUT LIPSTICK ON THAT PIG. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> YEAH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

[1.d Commission Initiatives Presentation Presented by Parks & Recreation Director, Rudolph Galindo]

>> 1D. WE'RE GOING TO COMMISSION INITIATIVES PRESENTATION BEING PRESENTED BY OUR PARK AND RECREATION DIRECTOR, RUDOLPH GALINDO.

DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A SECOND PERSON I BRING UP. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSION, RUDOLPH GALINDO, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.

I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE COMMISSION INITIATIVE, POLICY AND PROCEDURES, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THE PRESENTATION AS WELL AS THE POLICY ITSELF IN FRONT OF YOU OR IN YOUR BINDER.

IS IT IN THERE?

>> NO.

>> THE POLICY, IT'S IN THE BINDER.

>> I SAID PRESENTATION.

UNDERNEATH APOLOGIES.

>> OKAY. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAD IT IN FRONT OF THEM.

THE GOAL OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO GO OVER THE POLICY THAT WAS APPROVED TO REVIEW EACH OF THE SECTIONS AND THEN OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS BY THE COMMISSION.

>> ACTUALLY, I'M JUST GOING TO WELCOME JUSTIN BARNABY.

[INAUDIBLE] TITLE SORRY.

>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COMMISION JUSTIN BARNABY, SPECIAL EVENTS SUPERVISOR.

TO START US OFF, DURING THE COMMISSION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2022, THE RESOLUTION R-2022-017 WAS PASSED.

THIS WAS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION, ADOPTING THE CITY COMMISSION INITIATIVE POLICY AND AUTHORIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION.

THESE ARE SECTIONS THAT ARE PULLED FROM THE POLICY.

THE PURPOSE IS TO ESTABLISH A POLICY AND UNIFORM PROCEDURE FOR EFFECTIVE FUNDING AND MANAGEMENT OF INITIATIVES THAT ARE ORGANIZED, INITIATED, OR FACILITATED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THIRD-PARTY ORGANIZATIONS IS ALSO PART OF THIS POLICY, AND THIS POLICY PROVIDES GUIDELINES AND METHODS FOR PAYMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INITIATIVES.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY, THE TERMS INITIATIVE REFERS TO ANY ACTIVITY, COMMUNICATION, EVENT, OR MEETING, OR OTHER EXPENDITURE INITIATED, ORGANIZED, OR FACILITATED BY A MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION THAT REQUIRES THE USAGE OF CITY RESOURCES, SERVES A PUBLIC PURPOSE, AND IS CARRIED OUT IN THE COMMISSION MEMBERS OFFICIAL CAPACITY.

THERE ARE A FEW LISTED HERE, JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF INITIATIVES, SPECIAL EVENTS, RECEPTIONS, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, PANELS, ROUNDTABLE, SPORTS AND FITNESS, OTHER EVENTS, MEETINGS, OR ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.

[03:25:02]

THE THIRD-PARTY ORGANIZATIONS.

THIS INCLUDES A REQUEST FROM A CITY COMMISSIONER FOR A CITY ROOM FACILITY OR OTHER RESOURCE TO USE ON BEHALF OF THE THIRD PARTY, EVEN IF THE COMMISSIONER MEMBER DOES NOT PLAN TO BE PRESENT.

IT ALSO INCLUDES MEETINGS OR EVENTS AT THIRD-PARTY FACILITIES THAT REQUIRE STAFF ENGAGEMENT AND STAFF RESOURCES OUTSIDE A REGULAR CITY COURSE OF BUSINESS.

CITY RESOURCES INCLUDE SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE HERE, ROOMS, FACILITIES, PARKS, STAFF ASSISTANCE, EQUIPMENT, MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, AND EFFORTS OR OTHER CITY ASSETS.

LOOKING AT THE POLICY IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING, COMMISSION INITIATIVE ACCOUNT EXPENDITURES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNTS ALLOCATED IN THE APPROPRIATE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AND SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL REQUIRED REGULATIONS AND THE CITY'S PROVISIONS THAT INCLUDES GOODS AND SERVICES FOR INITIATIVE PROCURED THROUGH THE CITY'S PROCESS.

ALL PUBLIC FUNDS MUST HAVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE.

THE NEXT ONE IS MAKING SURE THAT ALL PUBLIC FUNDS HAVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE, AND THERE'S ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED IN HERE FOR WHAT CONSTITUTES THAT PUBLIC PURPOSE.

IN THIS NEXT ONE, ALL EXPENSES RELATED TO THE INITIATIVE IMPLEMENTATION SHALL BE CHARGED TO THE SPONSORING COMMISSION ACCOUNT, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING.

WE HAVE A LIST HERE OF ITEMS THAT FALL UNDER THOSE EXPENDITURES.

FUNDING MAY ONLY BE USED BY ACTIVITIES DEEMED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE, AS WAS MENTIONED, INCLUDING ALL STAFF RESOURCES, AND INITIATIVE FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED, DEPENDING ON THE REQUESTS OF THE INITIATIVE AND ITEMS REIMBURSED FOR DOLLARS THAT ARE SPENT.

PROCEDURALLY, AND THIS ALL COMES FROM THE POLICY THAT WAS APPROVED.

ANY COMMISSIONER PLANNING INITIATIVE SHALL FOLLOW THE INITIATIVE PROCEDURE, AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE EXHIBITS IN YOUR BINDER.

JUST GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT PROCEDURE IS.

THE COMMISSIONER SH SUBMIT THE COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND WE WILL COORDINATE INTERNALLY FROM THERE, WORKING WITH THE COMMISSION OFFICE.

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE DEADLINES FOR APPLICATION, 120 DAYS FOR LARGER EVENTS, 45 DAYS FOR FACILITY USE, AND 30 DAYS FOR SMALLER INITIATIVES.

STAFF OVERTIME COSTS SHALL BE FACTORED INTO THE INITIATIVE COSTS AND SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT BUDGETED FOR THIS PURPOSE IN THE APPROPRIATE FISCAL YEAR, PERTAINING TO STAFF COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH AN EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE IN CITY PROPERTY OR OFF CITY PROPERTY.

>> AGAIN, THIS TALKS ABOUT FUNDING IN TERMS OF THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS FOR DOLLARS THAT ARE SPENT AND DOLLARS THAT NEED TO BE SPENT USING THE CITY'S PROCEDURE WORKING WITH OUR PROCUREMENT DIVISION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMPLY WITH ALL REGULATIONS.

TO TOUCH ON A FEW MORE ITEMS THAT FALL UNDER THESE INITIATIVES, GIFT CARDS, VOUCHERS, GIFT BASKETS, AND OTHER GIVEAWAYS, ARE SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE INCLUDED AS PART OF THIS POLICY.

ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES CASH HANDLING CAN BE COORDINATED WITH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

THIS TALKS ABOUT WORKING WITH THE CITY AND MAKING SURE WE COMPLY WITH OUR RISK COMPLIANCE AND MAKING SURE THAT AGAIN, EVERYTHING FALLS WITHIN THE CITY'S PROPER PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS.

I'M GOING TO GO TO THIS NEXT SLIDE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE FLOW CHART.

THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT FLOW CHART LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THE WORK PROCESS IS FOR THE INITIATIVES.

WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THE INITIATIVE, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES.

>> DO YOU FEEL IN YOUR PRESENTATION THAT YOU'VE CAPTURED EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO BE REVIEWING AND DISCUSSING, OR DO WE GO THROUGH THAT LEGALLY SPLIT? I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE WE START THE DISCUSSION,

[03:30:04]

>>ALL OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT I MENTIONED WERE IN THERE, AND IN EACH OF THE SLIDES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO COVER THE HIGHLIGHT OF EACH SLIDE, AND THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE POLICY AS A WHOLE.

>>THANK YOU.

>> VICE MAYOR.

>>A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

FOR OVER I WANT TO SAY MAYBE FROM DECEMBER, DEFINITELY JANUARY, OR MAYBE BEFORE DECEMBER, BUT DEFINITELY JANUARY, FEBRUARY.

WE HUNG THE DOG EXPO SIGN FOR THE WHOLE CITY TO SEE EVERYONE TO SEE ADVERTISE EVERY DAY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A CITY EVENT, YESTERDAY WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL, IT WAS ACTUALLY THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS RIDE EVENT.

BUT I WAS TOLD ON MY EVENTS, YOU CANNOT ONLY LIST CERTAIN STIPULATION FOR ADVERTISEMENT.

HOW COME THEIR STUFF GET ADVERTISED FOR MONTHS, POSSIBLY? BUT THEIR PICTURE IS NOT ON IT.

I ASSUME THEY GAVE IT TO THE CITY TO DO IT IS NOT THEIR INITIATIVE.

BUT THEN I GOT A EMAIL AND IT IS THEIR INITIATIVE.

I WAS CONFUSED WITH THAT.

BECAUSE WHEN I SENT OUT MY STUFF IT'S ONLY, YOU COULD DO TWO DAYS ON THIS, THREE DAYS ON THIS, SO THAT I HAVE A CONCERN WITH.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD BECAUSE IT WAS PERFECT ADVERTISEMENT BECAUSE THE DOG PARK IS RIGHT THERE, SO OBVIOUSLY DOG OWNERS WILL SEE IT.

I'M NOT SAYING DON'T DO IT.

I'M JUST SAYING IT'S PERFECT.

BUT WHY MY STUFF IS LIMITED? I THINK THAT'S UNFAIR.

THE NEXT THING WAS SO I'VE HAD EVENTS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE NEED MORE EVENTS FOR KIDS.

NOTHING I HAVEN'T BEEN SAYING.

SO MOST OF MY EVENTS ARE GEARED TOWARDS KIDS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S LACKING.

I PAY OVERTIME FOR STAFF THAT ARE COUNSELORS THAT GET PAID $10 AN HOUR BECAUSE I KNOW THEM.

SOME OF THEM I TAUGHT. I KNOW THEIR KIDS.

WHEN THEY'RE GETTING PAID WHAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM IS MORE THAN WHAT I WOULD PAY FOR ACTUAL CERTIFIED TEACHER.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

IS THERE ANY WAY MAYBE BECAUSE IT'S A SET PRICE THAT EVERYBODY, I'M PAYING THIS 18-YEAR-OLD $50 AN HOUR BECAUSE IT'S A SET PRICE? I GET IT.

I WORK FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. I GET IT.

WE DON'T ACTUALLY SEE THE MONEY, BUT THE CITY GETS THE MONEY.

IT'S YOUR MONEY ANYWAY, SO I GET IT.

BUT MAYBE IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING WHERE OUR EVENTS IS A CITY EVENT.

BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE DOG PARK THING, THEY GET ADVERTISEMENT FOR FREE FOR TWO MONTHS, BUT KICIA THING GET TWO LITTLE THINGS SENT OUT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO IT GOES TO.

HOW CAN WE UNIFY THAT?

>> [INAUDIBLE] IN REGARDS TO THE BANNERS AND POSTING, WE DO HAVE CERTAIN STIPULATIONS THAT APPLY THAT WE REALLY GO CASE BY CASE OR EVENT BY EVENT.

I'M NOT SURE THE REASON FOR THE LIMITATIONS THAT WERE ON YOUR INITIATIVE, BUT WE DO WORK WITH THE COMMISSIONER WHO'S INVOLVED WITH THE EVENT TO WORK ON THINGS LIKE MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION.

>>BUT I GET STIPULATION, I COULD SHOW YOU THE PROOF OF THE EMAILS OF THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO.

BUT APPARENTLY, THE MAYOR AND MR. WRIGHT DOESN'T GET STIPULATIONS.

BASED ON THAT AND IF YOU DRIVE BY, NO, IT'S PROBABLY THERE.

>> I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT TO SEE.

I DON'T KNOW, AGAIN, THE REASON FOR THE LAST TIME, BUT WE DO WORK WITH THE COMMISSIONER WHO'S DOING THE INITIATIVE TO DO OUR BEST TO PROVIDE THE BEST MARKETING AND PUBLICIZING IT AS WE CAN.

IN REGARDS TO THE STAFF.

AGAIN, IT'S REALLY INITIATIVE BY INITIATIVE.

WE WORK WITH COMMISSIONERS AS CLOSELY AS WE.

>> WITH THE STAFF THING, I GET WHY I THINK THE YOUNG KIDS RIDE A TEENAGER, SOMEONE IN THEIR 20S, 10 YEARS OR BE WITH THEM.

I'M NOT KNOCKING THE KIDS.

I'M JUST SAYING, WHY AM I PAYING $600 FOR A 18-YEAR-OLD TO COME ON A TRIP WITH ME AS CITY STAFF? 600, I THINK, 600 PLUS. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

I STILL HAD TO HIRE TEACHERS TO SUPERVISE THE KIDS.

>> SURE. I THINK YOUR QUESTION WAS, CAN THIS BE A CITY EVENT SO THAT IT'S COORDINATED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY WITH STAFF?

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE I'M SPENDING ALL THIS INITIATIVE, BUT REALLY, I'M PAYING CITY PEOPLE, AND SOME PEOPLE GET IT FOR FREE.

>> THAT'S A DISCUSSION FOR THE COMMISSION.

THIS INFORMATION IS FROM THE POLICY, SO IT'S UP TO THE COMMISSION RIGHT NOW FOR THAT DISCUSSION.

>>JUST FOR CLARITY, OUR BANNERS, I BELIEVE, WERE GOING UP A MONTH BEFORE, SO THE EVENT IS FEBRUARY 22ND,

[03:35:02]

IT'S A MONTH BEFORE.

THERE WAS ONE AT TPC MULTIPURPOSE CENTER IN TIME FOR BUT IT DIDN'T GO UP TO THE OTHER PLACES UNTIL AFTERWARDS.

LOOK, VICE MAYOR, I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH YOU.

BUT YOU'RE NOT EVEN LETTING ME FINISH WHAT I'M SAYING.

BUT YOU'RE THROWING DAGGERS RIGHT NOW, AND I'M TRYING TO.

[OVERLAPPING] WELL, THERE ARE FACTS THAT WILL BE REPORTED AS FACTS VERSUS OPINIONS OF FACTS.

I KNOW THAT THEY DIDN'T GO UP.

IF THEY WENT UP IN TIME FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR EVENT BECAUSE IT WAS AT THAT PARK, THAT WAS THE ONE THAT WENT UP THERE.

I KNOW WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T GO TO THE OTHER PLACES UNTIL SUCH TIME MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR EVENT WAS DONE BEING ADVERTISED.

I AGREE THAT IT SHOULD BE EQUAL.

IF WE'RE GETTING BANNERS, I OPTED FOR BANNERS.

I FILLED OUT THE APPLICATION, AND I PUT BANNERS IN.

IF COMMISSIONER OR VICE MAYOR OR ANYBODY ELSE IN THE COMMISSION PUT IN FOR BANNERS AND THEY DIDN'T GET IT FOR WHATEVER REASON.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BANNER POLICY IS, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE UNIFORM.

I AGREE THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE UNIFORM AND GIVING UNIFORM. THANK YOU.

BECAUSE ACTUALLY, SOMEBODY HAS SAID TO ME WHEN OUR PIO ITEM WENT OUT THEY HAD NO CLUE IT WAS ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER WRIGHT.

BUT WHEN OTHER PEOPLE'S EMAILS GO OUT, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHICH COMMISSIONER DISTRICT IS DOING IT.

WHY DIDN'T OURS EVEN HAVE IT? YOU DON'T HAVE US IN THERE OTHER THAN THE LITTLE FLYER AND IF YOU SEE IN THE LITTLE FLYER YOU SEE OUR FACES, OTHER THAN THAT, YOU DON'T KNOW IT'S OURS.

CONSISTENCY. AS FAR AS PAYING FOR THINGS, I UNDERSTAND.

MY EVENTS, WE PUT THEM OUT THERE.

I GET THE SALARY, MOST OF MY LIKE THE DOG PARK EVENT, OTHER THAN THE TENTHS FROM LAST YEAR, IT'S ALL STAFF.

IT'S ALL STAFF BECAUSE I'M PAYING THE OVERTIME.

IT'S WHAT THE INITIATIVE IS ABOUT.

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD.

YOU GET SOME CERTAIN OF MONEY.

SPEND IT AS YOU BUDGET.

YOU GIVE US WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH SUFFICIENT TIME BEFORE THE EVENT, WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THE 120 TO GO BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE IT'S A BIG EVENT OR 45 DAYS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, WHERE YOU DON'T REALLY NEED MUCH.

YOU HAVE THAT ABILITY TO GO BACK AND FORTH AND GIVE STAFF TIME TO PROCESS HOW MUCH IT IS AND COME BACK TO US AND SAY WHETHER WE WANT IT.

BUT ALSO STAFF TIME TO TELL THE CITY MANAGER, WHETHER THERE MIGHT BE ANY ISSUES, SUCH AS THERE'S BEEN SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS FOR ABOUT A YEAR BECAUSE I THINK WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THE LAST DOG EVENT, WE SET THIS YEAR'S EVENT, JUST LIKE FOR THE RECORD, HA-HAS FOR THE TATAS IS SET FOR OCTOBER 11TH.

WE SET IT FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS ARE BEING PUT IN LAST MINUTE, SO IT FEELS THAT OUR STAFF I'LL USE AN EXAMPLE OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE EVENT THAT I HAD.

THERE WAS ANOTHER EVENT THAT WAS PUT IN, WHETHER IT WAS DONE WITH ENOUGH TIME OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW.

BUT STAFF WAS SPLIT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO RUN FROM MY EVENT AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER TO ANOTHER EVENT, NOT AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

ONE PERSON HAD TO CALL IN AND I'M GOING TO COMPLIMENT HIM.

I HOPE THIS DOESN'T MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

JUSTIN BARNABY KNEW WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF THERE TO HELP US OUT BECAUSE WE PUT IN OUR BUDGET, AND WE WERE TOLD WE'D HAVE A STAFF MEMBER THERE FOR US.

BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A STAFF MEMBER ON THERE FOR US BECAUSE THEY GOT PULLED AWAY.

BUT WE HAD PUT OUR BUDGET IN AND WE'RE PULLING OUR STAFF SO JUSTIN CAME IN ON HIS DAY OFF.

HE WASN'T ASKED TO, BUT HE IS VERY COGNIZANT OF THE JOB HE DOES, THE CITY THAT HE REPRESENTS, AND KNOWING THAT IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

I APPRECIATE THAT. SORRY, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE PUT A BRAVO IN, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT THAT'S DONE.

>>IT'S FINE.

>>HERE'S A BIG BRAVO.

>>THANK YOU.

>> BUT THE FACT IS WE'RE PULLING ON OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE'RE MAKING OUR EVENTS, OUR EMPLOYEES' RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THAT'S NOT SUPPOSEDLY THE IDEA BEHIND THE INITIATIVE.

WE'RE NOT AND YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS IN MY OPINION, WE'RE NOT HERE TO DO SPECIAL EVENTS.

WE'RE HERE TO SET POLICY.

WE'RE HERE FOR OUTREACH.

YES, BUT WE'RE NOT HERE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU HOW MANY EVENTS A YEAR DO YOU GUYS RUN?

>> BUT THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR?

>>WHICHEVER. GIVE ME BOTH.

[03:40:01]

>>THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THIS YEAR, 37 EVENTS WE HAVE UPCOMING.

>> UPCOMING 37 EVENTS, NOT INCLUDING INITIATIVE.

>> NOT INCLUDING INITIATIVES AND NOT INCLUDED OBVIOUSLY RIBBON CUTTINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> WHICH SO LAST YEAR.

>> LAST YEAR, WE DID A TOTAL OF SPECIAL EVENTS, 32, AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING RIBBON CUTTINGS.

>> YOU HAVE FIVE OF US? AT LEAST ONE EVENT PER EACH OF US, THAT'S WHAT WE GET UP TO 42, 40? WE'RE GOING OVER 40.

NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY WE SPEND.

THEN YEAH, WE'RE PAYING OVERTIME BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BIG ENOUGH STAFF TO SUPPORT PULLING THEM AWAY FROM THEIR REGULAR DUTIES, PULLING THEM AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN LIFE.

WE'RE PUTTING THEM ON OVERTIME.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS.

I ALSO DO THINK THAT IT IS UP TO STAFF CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO DETERMINE WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING ALREADY ON THE DOCKET IF IT'S A BIG ONE OR A LITTLE ONE, AND POSSIBLY SAY TO US, WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF FOR THIS.

STAFF DOES HAVE TO ADMIT TO THE CITY MANAGER OR THE COMMISSION.

WE KNOW YOU WANT TO DO THIS, BUT CAN YOU PLEASE PICK ANOTHER DAY? WE ARE OVERLOADED ON THAT.

IT COMES TO THE CONVERSATION EARLIER.

COMMUNICATION IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED.

EMPOWERMENT IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED.

WE LOVE OUR JOBS.

YOUR COMMISSION LOVES WHAT WE DO.

WE ENJOY BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE BELIEVE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS HELPFUL.

BUT IT'S ALSO NOT PUBLIC POLICY, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO.

BUT JUST BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING, DOESN'T MEAN YOU GUYS WORK SO HARD TO MAKE SURE WE LOOK GOOD AND DO THINGS TO MAKE IT WHERE IT HAPPENS.

THAT'S NOT IN MY OPINION, YOUR JOB TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS AND BREAK YOURSELVES.

IF WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SOMETHING REASONABLE, AND IF WE HAVE A PROCEDURE, WE SHOULD BE FOLLOWING IT.

IF WE'RE DOING ADVERTISING AND BANNERS, WE SHOULD KNOW EACH OF US HAVE AN EVENT, HOW MANY BANNERS WE GET, HOW LONG IT GETS TO GO UP, WHAT IS OUR SCOPE.

WHO GETS THE EMAILS TO GO OUT? WHEN THEY GO OUT? WHO COULD DO FLYERS? WHO CAN'T DO FLYERS? BECAUSE I KNOW I HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT MY LIAISON WAS ABLE TO CREATE FLIERS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD I CAN'T USE CITY EMPLOYEES TO MAKE FLIERS.

HOWEVER, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, CITY EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING FLYERS FOR OTHERS.

AGAIN, WELL, THINGS MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE.

BUT I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S BEEN I'M NOT THROWING DAGGERS AT YOU GUYS.

IF YOU GUYS FEEL GUILTY, KEEP TALKING.

[BACKGROUND] BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? DON'T LET YOUR FEELINGS OF GUILT COME OUT, THEN.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU.

>> WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW. [OVERLAPPING]

>> BUT YOU'RE INTERRUPTING ME. [OVERLAPPING]

>> BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING THINGS THAT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE MAYOR, YOU'RE SAYING? YOU'RE SAYING THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW. [OVERLAPPING]

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON YOU DON'T CONSTANTLY DO THE SAME THING.

WHENEVER IT'S CONVENIENT FOR YOU, LIKE, YOU'VE DECIDED THAT YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SET UP ALL THE POLICIES FOR WHEN THE CITY STAFF IS GOING TO GO OUT AND LOOK AT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WHEN DID I SET UP POLICY?

>> ACTUALLY, YOU HAD PIO PUT IT OUT THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER THE DISTRICT MEETINGS WHERE YOU GO OUT WITH EACH DISTRICT COMMISSIONER GOES OUT WITH STAFF TO DETERMINE WHAT'S GOING ON WHEN THAT'S BEEN DONE WITH [INAUDIBLE] HERE.

ANYWAY. THERE'S NO NEED. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THE BUSSTORE WAS MY IDEA.

>> NO, IT WASN'T. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YES IT WAS.

>> [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR PLAYING.

ANYWAY, THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

I'M GOING TO FINISH MY COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE THIS ITEM IS YOU TRYING TO MAKE US LOOK BAD FOR THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

[OVERLAPPING] WHOSE ITEM IS THIS?

>> WHO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA?

>> WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA [OVERLAPPING].

>> ON WHOSE BEHALF?

>> BASED ON THE REQUEST FROM THE CITY COMMISSION TO LOOK AT THE [OVERLAPPING].

>> BASED ON CITY COMMISSION, SO EACH CITY COMMISSIONER ASKED YOU TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA?

>> NOT EVERYONE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMISSION. [OVERLAPPING]

>> SO ONE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE.

>> NO.

>> NO, DON'T EVEN DO THAT.

SEE, THIS IS YOUR ASSUMPTIONS.

THE CITY STAFF IS ASKING FOR SUPPORT. GO AHEAD, CITY MANAGER.

>> THIS IS THE CITY COMMISSION'S POLICY, AND WE KNOW THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO, IN THE EXECUTION OF THIS POLICY, WE MAY HAVE HAD SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH SCHEDULING AND STAFFING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

MAYOR, WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SAYING NO.

THE STAFF IS GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO ACCOMMODATE EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS, IF I MAY.

[03:45:03]

WE'RE GOING TO TRY EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO ACCOMMODATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS' REQUESTS OR EVENTS OR INITIATIVES.

SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY COMMISSION TO LOOK AT THE POLICY AND MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS OR THE CHANGES THAT IT DESERVES OR IT DESIRES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE BASED ON THE COMMISSION'S VISION AND DIRECTION.

>> WELL, THANK YOU. I KNOW MY VOICE IS ROUGH, BUT IT IS APPARENT NOBODY LISTENS, EXCEPT TO WHAT IS CONVENIENT FOR THEMSELVES.

AGAIN, I'M NOT NECESSARILY TALKING TO YOU, COMMISSIONER BOLTON, SO BACK OFF.

>> BUT DON'T SAY THINGS THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED BY THE PUBLIC.

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON, DON'T THROW WHAT YOU DO ALL THE TIME.

>> [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST BRINGING THIS FOOLISHNESS SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE US LOOK BACK FOR YOUR STUPIDITY. STOP IT.

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

SO CITY ATTORNEY WHO JUST SITS THERE PLAYING ON YOUR DAMN PHONE.

THIS IS PROPER BEHAVIOR REALLY?

>> FIRST OF ALL, MAYOR, IN YOUR DISCUSSION, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU AND COMMISSIONER BOLTON [OVERLAPPING].

>> I'M NOT CALLING HIM STUPID.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE THE PRESIDING OFFICER, YOU CONTROL THE CONVERSATION, AND YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC.

>> NO, WE'RE GOING TO FINISH THIS TOPIC.

>> DON'T LOOK AT ME TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM WITH COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> I'M NOT COMMISSIONER BOLTON, BY THE WAY, IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED.

>> DON'T LOOK AT ME TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM.

>> YOU'RE THE PARLIAMENTARIAN WHO IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ORDER [OVERLAPPING].

>> THIS IS THE THOUSAND TIME THAT YOU AND COMMISSIONER BOLTON HAS DISAGREED ON SOME ISSUES AND HAVE DISAGREEMENT.

I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT BECAUSE YOU GUYS CREATED THE ISSUES.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT? THEN YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY GIVEN UP YOUR ROLE AS PARLIAMENTARIAN, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO ALSO KEEP ORDER. BUT THAT'S FINE.

ANYHOW, I DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE'S GUILTY FEELINGS.

THE COMMENTS THAT IF PEOPLE WOULD LET ME FINISH, THE RUDENESS IS INCREDIBLE HERE.

>> RUDENESS?

>> BASICALLY, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET TO YES FOR EVERYBODY, CITY MANAGER.

THAT'S THE POINT OF WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SAY, IS TO DO IT IN A UNIFORM WAY SO PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS PERSON IS GETTING THE BENEFIT AND THAT PERSON'S NOT.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM WHEN WE DON'T FOLLOW POLICY WELL AND WE LEAVE IT OPEN UP TO INTERPRETATION.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE HAVE FEELINGS OF THEY GET THIS AND I GET THAT OR THIS ONE GETS THIS, AND THAT ONE GETS THAT.

THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME BETTER PROCEDURES WRITTEN UP THAT NOT NECESSARILY COME FROM THIS COMMISSION.

THIS POLICY, THE PROCEDURES WERE PUT TOGETHER BY STAFF IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE USING CITY DOLLARS PROPERLY, SO WE WOULDN'T GET INTO ANY TROUBLE.

IT WAS ALSO BEING DONE IN A MANNER FOR CITY STAFF TO PROCESS WHATEVER EVENTS WE WERE TRYING TO DO.

NOW, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE PROCESS, AND MAYBE IT'S NOT UP TO US, BUT IT'S UP TO THE STAFF TO COME BACK AND YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT EVENTS GO ON AND SAY, HERE'S HOW MUCH TIME WE NEED FOR NOTICE, AND HERE'S HOW MUCH TIME FOR BANNERS, AND HERE'S HOW MUCH TIME FOR THIS, AND HERE'S HOW MUCH TIME FOR THAT, AND THIS IS THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? WE GO FORWARD.

VERSUS WHATEVER OTHER COMMENTS ARE BEING MADE THAT DON'T NEED TO BE MADE.

>> MAYOR, A COUPLE OF US HAVE OUR THINGS TURNED OVER?

>> YES, JUST ONE MORE THING.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE ASKED THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS BEFORE GETTING DERAILED. OR MAKE MY COMMENTS.

I'M ENTITLED TO MAKE MY COMMENTS.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I GO TO COMMISSIONER PATTERSON.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK THAT IT IS TREMENDOUS THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM.

I THINK THAT CITIES DO THEMSELVES A DISSERVICE.

THEIR PARKS DEPARTMENT DO A DISSERVICE WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM.

I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ONE IS FANTASTIC AND I WISH I HAD GONE FIRST BECAUSE, JUSTIN, I LOVE YOU ALL.

YOU GUYS ARE THE BOMB.

I THINK YOU GUYS DO A FANTASTIC JOB IN TERMS OF JUST IT'S ORGANIZED, IT'S ON TIME.

I LOVE YOUR PASSION.

THE DELIVERY IS REALLY EXCEPTIONAL.

I JUST WANTED TO ALSO GO ON RECORD AND SAY THAT I THINK YOU GUYS ARE DOING A SUPER JOB.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. YOU DO LIVE IN MY DISTRICT, RIGHT?

>> YES, I DO.

>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. [OVERLAPPING] HOLD UP, MAURIE.

[03:50:01]

>> JUST KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY, I'M IN EVERYBODY'S DISTRICT.

>> I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST GET SOME CLARITY.

I'M KIND OF A PERSON THAT BELIEVES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, NOT TOO LONG AGO, A LOBBYIST CONTRACT AND THE FACT THAT CHANGE IS GOOD. WE HEARD THAT A LOT.

I'M ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE OF JUST LOOKING AT THINGS AND FIGURING OUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WHETHER OR NOT WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IS STILL RELEVANT AND NECESSARY.

I DON'T AGREE THAT IT'S STAFF'S JOB TO FIGURE IT OUT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT DIRECTION IS GIVEN AND YOU GUYS HAVE SOME IDEA ON WHAT IT IS THAT THE COMMISSION IS LOOKING FOR.

THEN NATURALLY, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO JUST PROVIDING SOME OPTIONS AND SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW WE EXECUTE, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE APPROACH TO THIS WHOLE SITUATION.

BUT ALL THAT SAID, I JUST HAD A FEW THINGS I WANTED TO ASK.

IT SAID ADOPTED IN 2022, SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT PRIOR TO '22, WE DIDN'T HAVE AN INITIATIVE POLICY?

>> BEFORE THAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE AN INITIATIVE EITHER.

>> WE'RE A 60-YEAR-OLD CITY THAT, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE DECIDED TWO YEARS AGO THAT WE NEEDED A POLICY TO MANAGE THE COMMISSION.

>> WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO SPEND.

>> NO, THAT WAS NOT IT.

>> WE HAD THE FUNDS. THE FACT IS, THE COMMISSION WANTED TO USE THE FUNDS PRIOR TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE.

THIS STARTED UNDER CITY MANAGER CERNECH, AND THE POLICY WAS NOT COMPLETED AND IT WAS BEING WORKED ON AND WORKED ON, AND IT NEVER CAME BACK BEFORE US UNTIL CITY MANAGER GUNN WAS ABLE TO DO SO.

>> THE COMMISSION HAD DOLLARS AND THEY EXPENDED THEM JUST THROUGH DIRECTION, NOT THROUGH AN ACTUAL DOCUMENTED PROCEDURE?

>> IT WAS A MODIFIED WAY.

>> THAT'S YES?

>> YES.

>> TWO YEARS AGO, WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO CONTROL THE COMMISSION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

ANYTIME A LEGISLATION IS ADOPTED, AN ORDINANCE IS CREATED, IT'S BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING.

TO SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING WHEN WE THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE IT TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK IT IS JUST WE'RE A LITTLE IN CONFLICT TO ME.

I THINK THAT NOW THAT WE DECIDED TWO YEARS AGO THAT WE NEEDED TO ADOPT A POLICY, THE POLICY IS EXTREMELY DETAILED, VERY SPECIFIC.

I WASN'T HERE IN 2022, BUT I CAN TELL YOU I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

EVERYONE KNOWS I COME FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND I KNOW A LOT, AND SO I KNOW WHEN THINGS ARE ADOPTED TO CONTROL, AND I'M NOT AN ADVOCATE OF THAT.

I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT WE WERE ELECTED FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES, PRIMARILY TO ADVOCATE AND ADVOCATE IN WHATEVER FASHION WE NEED TO ADVOCATE, WHETHER THAT IS THROUGH POLICY-MAKING.

I JUST LAUNCHED A PROGRAM IN MY DISTRICT, AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT OUT INTO THE HANDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S NOT JUST THROUGH SITTING HERE IN A WORKSHOP OR IN A COMMISSION MEETING TWICE A MONTH.

THERE ARE OTHER REASONS BY WHICH I NEED TO BE IN MY COMMUNITY OR IN ANY COMMUNITY IN THIS CITY.

I HAVE PEOPLE CALLING ME, I HAVE PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK ASKING ME QUESTIONS ABOUT MATTRESSES THAT ARE NOT IN MY DISTRICT.

I HAVE PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO ME ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT MAYBE THEY'RE NOT PRIVY TO OR AWARE OF AND THEY DON'T LIVE IN MY DISTRICT.

I'M SURE EVERY OTHER COMMISSIONER ON THIS BOARD HAVE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY REACHING OUT WITH QUESTIONS.

WE KNOW OUR DISTRICTS.

THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT DISTRICT THEY LIVE IN.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, TO SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE COMMUNITY I THINK IS A FALSEHOOD.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WE DO AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, I CAN TELL YOU ON SATURDAY AT ONE TAMARAC, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAME AND SAID, IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU GUYS ARE OUT HERE.

PEOPLE WANT TO SEE US IN THE COMMUNITY.

TO SAY THAT ALL WE SHOULD BE DOING IS POLICY MAKING, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

THAT IS A PART OF OUR JOB, BUT THIS IS A NON STOP TYPE OF JOB. WE ALL KNOW THAT.

ANYONE THAT SITS ON THIS BOARD, SOME OF US DO IT FULL TIME, WHILE OTHERS OF US HAVE JOBS, BUT STILL DO THIS THING FULL TIME.

THIS IS A FULL TIME GIG.

I HAVE PEOPLE REACHING OUT FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE ASKING, HEY, I CAN'T PAY MY BILLS.

WHEN WE START RELEASING PROGRAMS AND WE WANT TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, WE WANT TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY,

[03:55:01]

I STRONGLY DISAGREE THAT I REFUSE ON ANY LEVEL TO DO MY JOB FROM BEHIND THIS TABLE. THAT WON'T BE ME.

I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF WE HAVE AN OPINION, WE KEEP OUR OPINIONS, WE DON'T SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COMMISSION.

I ADVOCATE FOR THAT ON EVERY LEVEL.

EVERY REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS CITY HAS A VOICE, AND WHETHER WE AGREE, GREAT.

IF WE DISAGREE, THAT'S FINE AS WELL, THAT'S HEALTHY.

ALL OF THAT IS HEALTHY.

ALL THAT BEING SAID, FOR ME PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BE TOUCH, SEEN, AND FELT BY THE COMMUNITY.

NOW, WITH RESPECT TO COMMISSION INITIATIVES, I WAS LOOKING AT THE DEFINITIONS.

IT'S A BROAD DEFINITION.

I THINK EVERYTHING WE DO UP HERE IS A COMMISSION INITIATIVE.

EVERY SINGLE ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA ON WEDNESDAY IS BEFORE THIS COMMISSION, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR CONSENSUS.

WE'RE ASKING FOR CONSENSUS ON REBRANDING THE CITY IN PUBLIC ART.

WE'RE ASKING FOR CONSENSUS ON WHETHER OR NOT A LOBBY SHOULD HAVE A MONTH TO MONTH AGREEMENT.

EVERYTHING WE DO IN THE CITY IS A COMMISSION INITIATIVE.

WHY IS THIS ANY DIFFERENT? UNDER WHAT PREMISE IS HOSTING SOMETHING FOR THIS COMMUNITY THAT WOULD BENEFIT THEM FOR IT'S A PUBLIC PURPOSE, WHY IS THAT ANY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO FROM A POLICY MAKING STANDPOINT OR FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT? I WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AS NON PARTISAN LOCAL ELECTED IS FOR THE BENEFIT AND BETTERMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S FOR MY DISTRICT OR THE CITY AT LARGE.

I SAY THAT TO SAY THIS, I THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO REVISIT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT'S HERE.

I THINK WE NEED TO BROADEN SOME OF THE LANGUAGE TO ALLOW FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE RELY ON THE CITY STAFF TO BRING THINGS TO LIFE.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE WANT TO MAKE THINGS ANY MORE DIFFICULT, BUT I ALSO HEARD THE MAYOR MENTION THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH STAFF, SO THEN I LOOK TO YOU MANAGER, WHAT DOES THIS DEPARTMENT NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS EFFECTIVELY? I SEE THE TWO JUSTINS RUNNING AROUND.

DOES THAT DEPARTMENT, SINCE IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT DEPARTMENT FOR OUR CITY, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED ON SOME LEVEL.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE IF THIS IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT, AND THIS IS THE TEAM THAT'S EXECUTING ON THE BEHALF OF THE CITY, BECAUSE WE ARE THE CITY, WE'RE ONE TAMARAC.

REMEMBER, WE ARE TAMARAC. LET'S NOT FORGET THAT.

WE CAN DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.

IT CAN'T BE A DIFFERENT MESSAGE.

IT'S ONE MESSAGE.

A PART OF OUR BRANDING IS WE ARE A FIVE-MAN COMMISSION.

THE STAFF, WE'RE ALL ONE TEAM.

WHAT DOES THIS TEAM NEED IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, AND SO THAT THEY CAN DELIVER ON THE BEHALF OF THE CITY?

>> IN ALL OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH RUDOLPH AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF, INCLUDING THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, AS WE LOOK AT THE OVERALL CHART OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

MY MESSAGE TO TO RUDOLPH HAS ALWAYS BEEN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR STAFFING, LOOK AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS DIVISION, THAT'S THE PART THAT WE NEED THE MOST AMOUNT OF STAFFING.

RUDOLPH IS DEFINITELY AWARE OF THAT AND WHATEVER CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE'RE OPEN TO ACCOMMODATE.

>> I WOULD SAY FROM A STRATEGIC PLANNING STANDPOINT, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COMMISSION, WHAT COMMISSIONER WRIGHT HAS SAID IT A NUMBER OF TIMES, WE'RE A YOUNGER GROUP.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE TIME, ENERGY.

WE WANT TO DO MORE ON THE BEHALF OF THIS COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE DISCUSSION DOESN'T BECOME A FIGHT BETWEEN THE COMMISSION.

THERE'S SOME OF US THAT WANT TO DO MORE THAN OTHERS MAYBE.

THAT'S FINE. NO ONE'S A BAD PERSON BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

EVERYTHING THAT WE DO HAS TO BE APPROVED AS A PUBLIC PURPOSE.

NO ONE HERE IS DOING ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE.

THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHEN IT'S BEING DELIVERED ON BASED ON THIS TWO-YEAR-OLD POLICY, THIS IS GIVING PEOPLE THE LEVERAGE TO BE ABLE TO PICK APART WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT'S INAPPROPRIATE.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, AND IT WOULD BE MY WISH THAT WE GIVE THE STAFF WHAT THEY NEED SO THAT THEY ARE NOT PULLED FROM THEIR FAMILIES EVERY SINGLE TIME UNILATERALLY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE IN HERE WHERE THE PRIORITIES ARE IN TERMS OF STAFF NEEDS, AND WE GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED, THE ALLOCATIONS, THE APPROPRIATE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THE CITY BENEFITS.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WOULD OFFER FOR NOW.

I'LL HEAR WHATEVER ELSE IT IS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY,

[04:00:01]

I HAVEN'T SAID IT ON THE RECORD, BUT I'LL SAY IT NOW.

OVERTIME IS A DEPARTMENT LINE ITEM, NOT A COMMISSION INITIATIVE.

NO ONE WILL SAY ANYTHING TO MAKE ME SEE THAT ANY DIFFERENTLY.

IF THERE IS AN OVERTIME LINE ITEM, THAT OVERTIME LINE ITEM NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY APPROPRIATED IN THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, COMMISSION INITIATIVE.

IF I HAVE A RESIDENT THAT CALLS ME AND SAYS, HEY, MY LIGHTS ARE ABOUT TO BE SHUT OFF, I CAN'T HELP YOU BECAUSE I JUST HAD TO PAY A STAFF SALARY, INAPPROPRIATE.

I DISAGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY, WHOEVER PUT THAT HERE WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

OVERTIME BUDGET IS A PART OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS.

THE INITIATIVE DOLLARS SHOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR ISSUES AND ITEMS APART FROM OPERATIONS.

WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST PEOPLE, DO THINGS IN OUR DISTRICT AND IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE STAFF CAN'T DO.

TO ASSIST OUR COMMUNITY AND GET THEM IN A BETTER POSITION AND THAT'S DISCRETIONARY.

MAYBE THIS NEEDS TO BE CALLED DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS AS OPPOSED TO COMMISSION INITIATIVES.

BUT INITIATIVE AND MAYBE THE LANGUAGE IS WHERE WE'RE GETTING THINGS CONFUSED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INTENT WAS.

I WASN'T HERE, BUT I DO FEEL QUITE BOUND BY THIS POLICY.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT WORKS FOR WHERE WE ARE TODAY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. [OVERLAPPING]

>> MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY CLARIFY JUST THIS ONE POINT.

COMMISSIONER, DO I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THAT THE INITIATIVE EFFORTS ON THE STAFF'S PART SHOULD BE PART OF THE DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETING PROCESS?

>> YES. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION THROUGH THE MANAGER, RUDY.

DOES YOUR BUDGET HAVE AN OVERTIME LINE ITEM?

>> WE DO HAVE OVERTIME, YES.

>> WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WE PAY OVERTIME, WE JUST DON'T PAY OVERTIME IF THE COMMISSION WANTS TO DO SOMETHING?

>> IF THE STAFF WORKS OVERTIME BECAUSE OF EVENT, WE PAY OUT OF OVERTIME. WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?

>> THIS POLICY AND LET ME SEE BECAUSE I CIRCLED A COUPLE PLACES.

THIS THING, AND I BELIEVE IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU READ SOMEWHERE THAT IT SAYS THAT STAFF IS PAID OVERTIME THROUGH COMMISSION INITIATIVE DOLLARS.

MY QUESTION IS, FOR THE OVERTIME LIGHT ITEM THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BUDGET, YOU USE THAT FOR EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE 40 HOURS, EXCEPT COMMISSION ON THE CORNER OR MAYOR ON THE MOVE OR WHATEVER THESE, [BACKGROUND] MOVE WITH THE MAYOR.

YOU GUYS PAY OVERTIME FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT THOSE THINGS?

>> IF I MAY, RUDY, YOU'RE WELCOME TO ANSWER, BUT WE DO HAVE OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, CHRISTINE CAJUSTE, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO HAVE?

>> [OVERLAPPING] BUT THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR.

>> MS. CAJUSTE, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD?

>> NO, I DON'T WANT TO ANSWER FROM MS. CAJUSTE.

I'M ASKING RUDY, MAYOR, RESPECTFULLY.

HE'S THE DEPARTMENT HEAD. IT'S HIS BUDGET.

IF HE WANTS TO PUT IN AN INVOICE, IT WILL GO FROM HIS OFFICE DIRECTLY TO HERS FOR APPROVAL.

[BACKGROUND] MAYOR, THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE, BUT I GOT IT.

RUDY, CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY [BACKGROUND] FOR ME WHETHER OR NOT YOU PAY FOR OVERTIME ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND 40 HOURS FOR ISSUES THAT ARE AN EXCEPTION TO THE COMMISSION INITIATIVES?

>> THE STAFF WHEN IT COMES TO OVERTIME AND EVENTS.

EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, WHETHER IT'S OUR CITY EVENTS OR COMMISSION INITIATIVE, WE WORK TO INCLUDE THAT WITHIN THE STAFF SCHEDULE.

THE SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM AND IN EVERY CITY I'VE WORKED FOR IS A FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE TO MAKE SURE WE ACCOMMODATE THAT.

IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET SOMETHING DONE WITHIN THE WEEK OR HAVE OTHER THINGS, IT'S OVERTIME FOR A SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COVER IN THE DEPARTMENT.

>> BUT COMMISSIONER, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YOU'RE RIGHT.

EVERYTHING BUT THE COMMISSION INITIATIVES ARE COVERED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET, BUT YOUR INITIATIVES, STAFF TIME IS CHARGED TO YOUR INITIATIVE BUDGET.

>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THEN, YES, I BELIEVE THAT THIS POLICY NEEDS TO BE REVISED TO ALLOW FOR, AGAIN, MAYBE WE NEED TO RECONSIDER, MAYBE IT'S NOT AN INITIATIVE, MAYBE THIS NEEDS TO BE CALLED COMMISSION DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS, BUT THESE DOLLARS SHOULD BE EXPENDED DISCRETIONARY.

IF THIS COMMISSION HAS A MATTER THAT COMES UP IN THEIR DISTRICT THAT THEY WANT TO ADDRESS THAT IS OUTSIDE OF OPERATIONS.

BECAUSE AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THIS CITY, WE ARE ONE CITY, ONE TAMARAC, COMMISSION STAFF, WHATEVER.

[04:05:01]

TO SAY THAT THE SMALL APPROPRIATION THAT THIS COMMISSION IS GIVEN TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTUATE CHANGE AND MAKE IMPACT IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES HAS TO BE USED TO PAY FOR STAFF SALARY, I THINK IS INAPPROPRIATE.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM. FIRST AND FOREMOST.

STAFF, YES.

YOU GUYS DO AN AMAZING JOB.

I DO FEEL THE SAME SENTIMENTS AS WELL.

LAST, WHEN I DID MY HEART EVENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, GRANDMA DIED AND I WAS AT THE FUNERAL, AND YOU GUYS DID AN AMAZING JOB OF PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER, AND I DID NOT HAVE TO BE THERE IN PERSON.

I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE EXTREMELY QUALIFIED.

I DON'T GET ANY NUANCES OF DOING MY EVENTS BECAUSE I CAN CALL YOU ON A SATURDAY WHEN I HAVE EVENTS, KNOWING THAT YOU GUYS GOING TO OPERATE AND DELIVER.

THAT'S PART OF BEING A BUSINESS EXECUTIVE IN THE WORLD.

YOU HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT YOU HIRE.

YOU TRUST THEM, THEY EXECUTE, THEY DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THAT TREMENDOUSLY.

I HAD NO NEED TO GET INTO THE WEEDS OF HOW ALL OF THIS STUFF WORK, BECAUSE ONCE I HAVE A VISION, AND I TELL WHAT I WANT TO DO, IT'S EXECUTED AND IT'S DONE.

KUDOS TO YOU, KUDOS TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR HIRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

KUDOS TO RUDY FOR HAVING A GOOD TEAM.

KUDOS TO YOU, JUSTIN AS BEING A GOOD LEADER.

THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WELL OILED AND OUR WELL RUN ORGANIZATION.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M GOING THROUGH THE NUANCES IN THE DETAIL BY SEEING THIS OF ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO FOLLOW AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

MY CODE ENFORCEMENT COLLEAGUE, WHO'S A SPECIALIST IN ANALYZING THIS STUFF, BROUGHT UP SOME THINGS THAT I WAS NECESSARILY AWARE OF, BUT AGAIN, DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM.

GOING TO DR. DANIEL'S POINT, I TRY TO SUPPORT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.

I SUPPORTED COMMISSIONER BOLTON FOR HIS FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAM.

I SUPPORT DR. DANIELS EVERY YEAR FOR HER WOMAN'S EVENT.

I SUPPORT THE MAYOR IN HER PET EVENT BECAUSE I'M A TEAM PLAYER, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MARKETING WORK.

COMMISSIONER BOLTON IS A MARKETING GENIUS.

HE MARKETS A DIFFERENT WAY.

THEY MAY OR MIGHT NOT LIKE THE DOOR HANGERS, BUT GUESS WHAT? IT BRINGS OUT PEOPLE AND IT WORKS.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT LIKE THE BANNER THAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE IT'S ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT THAT'S YOUR WAY OF MARKETING, AND IT WORKS.

AS A COMMISSION, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING THINGS, AND ONE SHOULDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE WAY AND HOW OTHER PERSON IS DOING IT BECAUSE WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT MARKETERS IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

I THINK SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS.

THE MAYOR MIGHT NOT LIKE COMMISSIONER BOLTON'S DOOR HANGERS BECAUSE RESIDENTS MIGHT COMPLAIN, BUT IT WORKS AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT LIKE HER BANNERS.

I THINK AS A COMMISSION, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHERS STRENGTH.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO AS A TEAM AND AS AN ORGANIZATION.

IN TERMS OF THE INITIATIVES, I THINK WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, 2022, YOU GUYS SAID THIS CAME INTO PLACE.

I REMEMBER SEEING AN ARTICLE IN THE SUNSET WHERE THE INITIATIVE FUNDS WERE TAKEN AWAY, AND THEN THEY WERE REALLOCATED.

WHEN I FIRST CAME IN IT WAS 6,000 PER COMMISSIONER.

THEN WE CHANGED IT FOR 4-1, INCLUDING COMMISSIONER LOBOS FOR 20,000 PER COMMISSIONER.

I WAS THE ONE THAT SAID, HEY, 25,000 FOR THE MAYOR.

SHE'S AT LARGE AND SHE DOES EVENT.

OBVIOUSLY, THE MAYOR DIDN'T SUPPORT IT AT THE TIME, BUT SHE'S DEFINITELY CAPITALIZED ON THE INITIATIVE FUNDS, AND SHE HAS MULTIPLE EVENTS EVERY YEAR.

I DO THINK THAT THE COMMISSION INITIATIVES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE YOUNGER COMMUNITY.

WE ARE MORE VIBRANT.

I HAD A FRIEND THAT WAS IN MIRAMAR ON SATURDAY AND THEY'RE LIKE, MIRAMAR HAD A FAITH EVAN CONCERT.

WHY WOULDN'T TAMARAC DO THAT? I SAY, WE CAN'T DO THAT.

BUT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, DIVERSE COMMUNITY, YOUNGER COMMUNITY, BROWARD COUNTY IS NO LONGER A RETIREMENT PLACE.

IT'S A PLACE OF YOUNG PEOPLE, WORKING PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE CERTAIN EXPECTATIONS, THEY EXPECT CERTAIN EVENTS, MOVE WITH THE MAYOR.

THEY EXPECT COMMISSIONER ON THE CORNER.

I LEARNED SO MUCH GOING INTO THOSE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE AND WHAT AFFECTS THEM.

SOMEONE IN LANE BAY MIGHT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES OF SOMEONE IN THE WOODLANDS.

EVERY PART OF MY DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT.

BY HAVING THIS EVENT, I'M GETTING MORE ACCESSIBLE AND CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE.

I DO AGREE. IT'S DONE.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE, THE FINANCIAL WAY OF APPROACHING IT.

I THINK I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER PATTERSON IN DOING THAT, BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT MORE FROM US.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THIS STUFF TO THE RESIDENTS, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T PROVIDE IT, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE US AS NOT BEING EFFECTIVE LEADERS.

THEY WANT TO SEE YOU. THEY WANT TO SEE ALL THERE.

BECAUSE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING IT, SO IF THEY'RE SEEING IT IN OTHER CITIES, THEY EXPECT TAMARAC TO BE DOING THOSE THINGS.

THEY EXPECT US AS A NEW, YOUNGER, VIBRANT, A LOT MORE COMMISSION TO COME AND MAKE THESE CHANGES.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO REVISIT SOME OF THESE POLICIES AND THESE IDEAS AND FINANCIALLY HOW WE APPROACH IT.

I'M OPEN TO THAT DISCUSSION.

I'M OPEN TO LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES, THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE, THINGS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE, THINGS THAT WE CAN MAKE BETTER AND HOW WE CAN BE CLOSER AND MORE

[04:10:03]

I KNOW IN SOME CITIES, THEIR PARKS AND REC BUDGET INCLUDES INITIATIVES WHERE COMMISSIONERS ARE ALLOCATED CERTAIN FUNDS TOWARDS INITIATIVES AND DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN PROPERLY REVISIT IN TERMS OF THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

LIKE THE LASER SHOW ON SATURDAY, IT WAS PHENOMENAL, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID THEY WANT A DRONE SHOW.

[LAUGHTER] PEOPLE ARE ASKING ABOUT A DRONE SHOW.

SOME MIGHT SAY, DRONE SHOW IS A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT WE SPEND MONEY ON DIFFERENT THINGS OR DOING WHATEVER.

BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO SEE, SOMETHING THAT THEY APPRECIATE AND THEY'RE GOING TO LIKE, AND HAVING A YOUNGER, MORE DIVERSE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE WANT THINGS THAT ARE UNIQUE AND THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT.

IF YOU'RE COMING TO TAMARAC FOR THE ONE FESTIVAL, THAT'S WHAT'S UNIQUE TO TAMARAC.

OTHER CITIES MIGHT DO A SPECIFIC CULTURAL FESTIVAL, BUT PEOPLE KNOW TAMARAC AS THE ONE FESTIVAL.

TAMARAC IS A PLACE OF UNITY.

I THINK THE SAY IN JAMAICA [FOREIGN], AND WE ARE A MICRO COUSIN OF AMERICA.

IF THAT'S GOING TO BE A BRAND AND WE WANT TO DO THINGS THAT EMBRACES THE UNITY OF TAMARAC AND TYING BACK TO THE VISION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE SIGN, PARKS AND RECS, SIGNS, DEVELOPMENT, ALL OF THESE TEAMS, YOU GUYS HAVE TO CROSS COLLABORATE, AND WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

HAVING A BUDGET THAT'S JUST ALLOCATED TOWARDS ONE AREA, I THINK WE CAN BE MORE CREATIVE IN PUTTING ALL THESE THINGS TOGETHER AND WORKING AS A CROSS COLLABORATIVE DEPARTMENTS TO ENCOMPASS THE VISION THAT WE HAVE FOR RESIDENTS AND THE CHANGING AND MORE DYNAMIC COMMUNITY.

YES, SENIORS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE FIRST CLASS IN OUR EYE.

WE WERE A SENIOR COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN SEAT 1A.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND I THINK DR. DANIEL IS A CHAMPION, WE HAVE TO PUT FAMILIES FROM 27B AND BRING THEM TO FIRST CLASS.

KIDS, YOUTH, THOSE PROGRAMS, BRING THEM IN FIRST CLASS.

IN OUR EYES, WE'RE A SENIOR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE ENSHRINED, THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR US.

BUT AS A CITY, WE HAVE TO BRING THE OTHER THINGS FORWARD.

WE HAVE TO BRING THOSE PEOPLE IN FIRST CLASS AS WELL AND TREAT ALL THESE THINGS AS ONE.

I DO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE.

WE HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND FIND CREATIVE WAYS WHERE WE CAN ACHIEVE THESE GOALS.

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I'M GOING TO START FROM THE BACK OF THIS PRESENTATION.

ON SLIDE 16 OR PAGE 8 OF THE PRESENTATION, IT SAYS, SECTION, I THINK THAT'S 4 OR 6.

SECTION 4, 2.1-6.6, DO NOT APPLY TO ONE TIME PURCHASES.

EXAMPLE, LUNCH WITH CONSTITUENT, PRESS RELEASES, MAILER, CITY SHIRTS, DONATIONS, ETC.

I WANT AN EXPLANATION ON THAT BECAUSE WHERE DO THOSE PURCHASES GO? [BACKGROUND] LUNCH WITH A CONSTITUENT, PRESS RELEASES, MAILER, CITY SHIRTS, LIKE THE ONE THAT I'M WEARING OR COMMISSIONER WRIGHT IS WEARING, DONATIONS.

WHERE DO THESE COSTS GO? ALL OF THE ABOVE WHERE THAT IS CONCERNED?

>> I THINK THAT THEY BELONG TO DIFFERENT CONTAINERS, AND WE DO HAVE UNIQUE LINE ITEMS IN THE COMMISSION BUDGET THAT COVERS SOME OF THESE ITEMS.

>> THE INITIATIVE HAS TO DO WITH EVENTS?

>> IT'S IN THERE AS A BROAD TERM, MEETINGS, EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, SO IT'S VERY BROAD IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT INCLUDES.

IT'S BEEN DIFFERENT FOR EVERY INITIATIVE.

>> IN ORDER TO USE THE INITIATIVE FUNDS, IT HAS TO BE A PUBLIC PURPOSE, AND THE ITEM THAT IS BEING PURCHASED OR PROCURED HAS TO BE TIED TO THE INITIATIVE. THAT'S WHAT I READ.

>> RIGHT. USING THE INITIATIVE FUNDS, YES.

>> RIGHT. IF I'M GOING TO USE THE INITIATIVE FUNDS, IT HAS TO SERVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE, AND THE PURCHASE HAS TO BE TIED TO THE INITIATIVE, WHICH IS THE EVENT, WHICH IS THE INITIATIVE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> HERE'S A TAMARAC PEN.

SERVES A PUBLIC PURPOSE? YEAH?

[04:15:01]

>> YES.

>> A RESIDENT BROUGHT TO ME A PEN THAT DID NOT HAVE TAMARAC ON IT.

IT HAD MAYOR MICHELLE GOMEZ ON IT.

WHERE IS THAT PUBLIC PURPOSE? WHERE WAS THE EVENT? WHERE IS THAT EVENT THAT THAT PURCHASE AND I WANT TO SEE THE RECEIPTS.

WHERE WAS THAT PURCHASE OF THOSE PENS? WHERE DID THEY GO?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THIS INITIATIVE.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT MICHELLE J. GOMEZ PENS.

WE DID THE PURCHASE OR MAYBE IT'S THE TIME TO CALL CHRISTINE? WHERE DID THAT PURCHASE GO? WHAT INITIATIVE WAS IT ATTACHED TO? WE GOING TO TALK IN CIRCLES. WE GOING TO TALK DIRECTLY.

>> BUT THEN YOU ALSO BETTER PUT THAT I HAVE MY TAMARAC INFORMATION ON THERE.

>> IT DON'T MATTER.

>> BUSINESS CARD I HAVE [OVERLAPPING] A BUSINESS CARD.

>> IF WE ALREADY HAVE A PEN THAT SERVES A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND WE'RE ALREADY PURCHASING PENS WITH TAMARAC ON IT, WHY DO WE NEED TO HAVE PENS WITH A MAYOR'S NAME ON IT? WHAT INITIATIVE WAS THOSE PENS ATTACHED TO?

>> COMMISSIONER.

>> CITY MANAGER GOT.

>> NO. WE'RE CALLING CHRISTINE EARLIER.

>> SHE WAS HERE YESTERDAY.

>> WHY NOT CALL HER NOW?

>> CITY MANAGER.

>> BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE SANDBOX.

>> I'M NOT IN SANDBOX [OVERLAPPING].

>> BECAUSE WE'RE CALLING OUT YOUR STAFF.

>> THE MANAGER IS THE ONE, I DON'T GIVE A FOR HODLES.

IF YOU WANT TO CALL ME OUT, THEN ASK ME DIRECTLY.

>> SO WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK COMMISSIONER PATTERSON TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION TO THE MANAGER [OVERLAPPING].

WHY WERE YOU CALLING CHRISTINE.

>> I SAID THE CITY MANAGER THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER WHO CONTROLS CITY STAFF.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE PURCHASE MANAGER OR CHRISTINE. WHERE DID IT GO?

>> SO THE COMMISSIONER, THE INITIATIVE FUNDS ARE ALSO SERVING AS EXPENSE ACCOUNTS FOR ALLOWABLE PUBLIC PURPOSE EXPENSES.

>> IT HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO AN INITIATIVE.

>> IT'S NOT.

>> THIS IS WHAT YOUR POLICY SAYS.

IT HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO AN INITIATIVE.

SO THE PENS THAT HAS THE MAYOR'S NAME ON IT, WHAT INITIATIVE WAS IT ATTACHED TO? AND BY THE WAY, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INITIATIVES, THE PENS THAT ELVIN BOUGHT WITH HIS FACE ON IT, WHAT INITIATIVE WAS THAT ATTACHED TO? YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE PENS WITH SOMEBODY'S FACE ON IT, I SAW THE PURCHASE.

IT WAS PURCHASED ACROSS THE STREET AT POST NET OR WHATEVER IT WAS.

OH, YOU DIDN'T REIMBURSE IT BECAUSE MARLIN COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. YES.

>> LOOK AT THE DEFINITIONS.

>> NO, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

WHEN SOMEBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT A PURCHASE AND YOU KNOW IT'S WRONG, YOU PULL IT BACK. BUT GUESS WHAT? YOUR PENS WERE NOT PULLED BACK.

SO MAKE SURE YOUR PENS IS ATTACHED TO AN INITIATIVE.

BECAUSE WE DON'T TALK AROUND CIRCLES, I DON'T TALK AROUND CIRCLES.

I GO DIRECTLY TO THE SOURCE AND I SPEAK ABOUT THE SOURCE.

I DON'T BRING ANY WINDOWS.

I GOT A COPY OF THE PEN BECAUSE RESIDENTS HAD A PROBLEM.

WHY DO WE HAVE TAMARAC PENS, BUT ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A MICHELLE GOMEZ PEN?

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

>> YEAH, BUT YOU USE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO BUY PENS.

WHAT PURPOSE WAS THAT USED FOR? WE ALREADY HAVE PENS.

SO WHAT'S THE PUBLIC PURPOSE IN HAVING A PEN WITH YOUR NAME ON IT? AND THEN TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE INITIATIVE FUNDS ARE $1,500 AND IT MOVES TO 6,000.

AND OH, WE DON'T NEED THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND THEN WHEN WE GET THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU USE IT.

YOU'RE THE BIGGEST USER OF INITIATIVE FUNDS IN HERE, SO DON'T GET ME STARTED AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TO THAT, THAT'S A RHETORICAL.

I HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> OH, BUT I SHOULD [OVERLAPPING].

>> OH, I HAVE THE FLOOR.

BE RESPECTFUL.

LET'S MOVE NOW TO THE NEXT ITEM BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING BACKWARDS.

WHY ARE WE PUTTING THE OWNERS ON CITY COMMISSIONERS FOR RISK MANAGEMENT? THIS IS WHAT NUMBER 9 SAYS, IF YOU WANT TO GO BACKWARDS.

THE SPONSORING ELECTED OFFICIAL SHALL WORK WITH RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION PRIOR TO SIGNING ANY AGREEMENT WITH THE VENDOR AND OR PARTNER TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPER INSURANCE PROVISIONS ARE INCORPORATED IN THE AGREEMENT AND THAT THE VENDOR OR PARTNER PROVIDES THE REQUIRED INSURANCE DOCUMENT? THAT'S A STAFF THING TO DO. YOU UNDERSTAND? I'M A POLICY MAKER.

I AM BUSY. I MAY NOT HAVE THREE JOBS ANYMORE. I MAY HAVE TWO.

I MAY NOT BE AS BUSY AS I WAS AND TALKING ABOUT BUSY, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOOD AT.

I WAS GOOD AT FLYERS WHEN I HAD THE TIME TO DO IT.

GOOD AT ALL THESE THINGS.

THAT'S WHY I WAS PAID THE BIG BUCK.

SO I DON'T HAVE TO ASK STAFF TO DO MY FLYERS, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, MS. CALLOWAY, THOSE FLYERS THAT STAFF WILL SEND TO ME.

[04:20:01]

THEY LOOK LIKE A CARTOON SHOW.

I NEVER USE YOUR FLYERS.

SO DON'T SPREAD THAT IN A WINDOW THAT I, MARLIN BOLTON USES STAFF TIME TO CREATE FLYERS.

NEVER, NEVER WILL, BECAUSE THE TALENT IS NOT HERE FOR THAT.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT RISK MANAGEMENT.

WHY DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GO TO RISK MANAGEMENT, RUN UPSTAIRS WITH MY PAPERWORK, GO TO RISK MANAGEMENT, AND THEN RUN TO THIS DEPARTMENT, RUN TO THIS DEPARTMENT FOR AN INITIATIVE TO BE PROCESSED.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THEN THAT COMMISSIONER WRIGHT RUN AFOUL OF THAT LAW BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT UP A TENT ON THE CORNER OF THE STREET.

COME ON. I'M NOT ATTACKING YOU.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT THIS POLICY IS, YOU'RE GOING TO PUT UP A TENT ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET COMMISSION ON THE CORNER AND WHEN THE WIND BLOWS AND IT HITS A CAR, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE? DID HE RUN UPSTAIRS? THESE POLICIES ARE DESIGNED TO PUT COMMISSIONERS IN TROUBLE. YOU HEAR ME? THESE POLICIES.

AND WHY ARE WE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS POLICY? BECAUSE I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, INCLUDING YOU MAYOR, WITH ALL YOUR TENTS THAT YOU PURCHASED FOR THE PET SHOW THAT YOU STILL HAVE, WHERE DID YOU STORE IT? YOU JUST SAID IN YOUR COMMENTARY THAT YOU PURCHASED THINGS ON THE LAST PET SHOW AND SO NOW ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS JUST THERE AND IT'S STAFF TIME.

>> [OVERLAPPING] NO, YOU'RE QUESTION AND YOU'RE THROWING IN YOUR COMMENTS [OVERLAPPING] INTERRUPT RENTAL TENTS.

>> THE THINGS THAT YOU PURCHASED FOR THE PET SHOW, WHERE DID YOU STORE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN YOUR OFFICE? SO TRUST ME, IT IS NOT IN THAT OVAL TYPE OFFICE THAT BY THE WAY, YOU RENOVATED WITH CITY TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHEN YOU DIDN'T WANT THE CARPET THAT HARRY DRESSLER HAD IN HIS OFFICE, DON'T GET ME STARTED.

SO WHY IS IT THEN THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR RENTAL SPACE? WHERE ARE THESE PET STUFF BEING HELD? BECAUSE IF THIS YEAR'S EVENT IS HAPPENING BY JUST STAFF TIME, WHERE ARE THE ITEMS BEING STORED? THIS IS FOOLISHNESS.

YOU'RE GOING TO [OVERLAPPING].

>> NO NO.

>> YOU INTERRUPTED ME TO HAVE YOUR PROVOCATION.

>> NO, NO, NO, MA'AM. NO, MA'AM.

>> THEY WERE RENTED.

>> NO, MA'AM.

>> THEY WERE ALL RENTED.

>> NO, MA'AM.

>> AND I SUPPLIED IN MY OFFICE.

>> LISTEN. DON'T DO THAT.

YEAH, BE A MAYOR.

LET'S TALK ABOUT STAFF TIME AND STAFF OVERTIME.

DEFINE STAFF. ANYBODY ON TAMARAC PAYROLL? IS THAT WHAT STAFF IS?

>> YES.

>> SAY IN MIKE?

>> YES, SIR.

>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU'RE ON TAMARAC'S?

>> I AM.

>> SHOW ME THE STAFF TIME WHERE YOU WERE PICTURED IN A PICTURE AT COMMISSIONER IN THE CORNER.

BECAUSE YOU'RE THE HIGHEST STAFF HERE PERHAPS.

SO I WANT TO SEE YOUR HOURLY TIME ON HIS COMMISSION INITIATIVE.

>> I WAS A VOLUNTEER.

>> OH, BECAUSE THE POLICY ALSO SAYS THAT STAFF CANNOT VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME, SIR.

LET ME SHOW YOU THE POLICY.

LET ME READ YOU THE POLICY.

PAGE NUMBER 5, HOLD ON A SECOND.

PAGE NUMBER 5, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT ATTACKING YOU.

I'M JUST SHOWING YOU.

>> IS HE SALARIED.

>> ARE YOU SALARIED?

>> YES.

>> ARE YOU ON SALARY?

>> YES.

>> I PAY YOUR OVERTIME, CORRECT? WHEN I HAVE MY INITIATIVES AND I'M TOLD THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR STAFF TIME AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMES OUT AND PARKS AND RECREATION COMES OUT, I HAVE TO PAY FOR OVERTIME. YES?

>> SOME OF PUBLIC SERVICES STAFF ARE HOURLY, SO THEY GET OVERTIME.

JUSTIN BOWEN IS SALARIED?

>> HE'S SALARIED.

>> BECAUSE I HAD A COMMISSION OF INITIATIVE THE OTHER DAY, AND I GUARANTEE YOU HE'S ON THERE BECAUSE I SAW THE PAPERWORK.

SO LET'S NOT GO INTO THE WEEDS JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS CAUGHT.

PAGE NUMBER 5,

[04:25:01]

YOU CAN LAUGH ALL YOU WANT.

LAUGH ALL YOU WANT, BUT YOUR HAND IS CAUGHT IN THIS COOKIE JAR, MAYOR.

PAGE NUMBER 5, NUMBER 9, IT SAYS, STAFF SHALL NOT VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME FOR INITIATIVES.

I JUST ASKED YOU THE DEFINITION OF STAFF AND YOU SAID ANYBODY THAT GETS MONEY FROM THE CITY, THAT'S A STAFF.

I DON'T CARE IF IT'S SALARIED STAFF.

I DON'T CARE IF IT IS HOURLY STAFF.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT THE STAFF THAT I'VE BEEN USING FROM MY INITIATIVES HAVE NOT BEEN HOURLY.

WHO'S HOURLY THAT I'VE EVER USED? WHO'S HOURLY? NOBODY. I'M JUST POINTING OUT THAT YOU'LL USE THIS POLICY, WHEN IT SUITS YOU.

DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ARE SUPPORTING.

IF IT'S MARLIN, OH, IT'S MARLIN SO THE MAYOR IS GOING TO SAY THIS, SO I GOT TO THIS.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE SUPPORTING THE MAYOR, OH SHE BREAKS ALL TYPES OF RULES.

OH, SAYS THE PAPERWORK, SAYS THE BANNERS ON EVERY CORNER OF THE STREET.

THE UGLY BANNERS THAT DOES NOT MAKE OUR CITY LOOK GOOD.

TALK ABOUT DOOR HANGERS.

PEOPLE COME TO OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS TO SAY THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS EVENT, BUT FOR A DOOR HANGER ON MY DOOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FIVE PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN, TALK ABOUT THE HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTS THE DOOR HANGERS BEING ON THEIR DOOR.

COME ON, THAT'S FOOLISHNESS.

SO COMMISSIONER SHOULD NOT BE TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RISK MANAGEMENT.

AND SO WE SHOULD NOT ALSO BE TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ESTABLISHING WHETHER OR NOT THE INITIATIVE IS A PUBLIC PURPOSE.

IT SAYS THAT IN THIS POLICY AND I'LL SHOW YOU FORGOT THE PAGE, BUT IT'S COMING.

IT SAYS, WHEN WE TURN IN THE DOCUMENT, PAGE NUMBER 7, SLIDE NUMBER 13.

IT SAYS, REIMBURSEMENT PURCHASE PAYMENT REQUEST FORMS ATTESTING THAT THE EXPENDITURE WERE MADE FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND WHILE CARRYING OUT THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

FOR GOODS AND SERVICES PROCURED BY THE SPONSORING ELECTED OFFICIAL, THE SPONSORING COMMISSIONER SHALL SUBMIT SAID REIMBURSEMENT FORM.

WHEN WE TURN IN THAT REIMBURSEMENT FORM, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER PATTERSON IS THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC PURPOSE.

OWNERS IS NOT ON STAFF TO DOUBLE CHECK OR CHECK.

THE BOOK STOPS WITH YOU.

SO IF THE PEN WITH THE CHAIRS NAME ON IT DOES NOT SERVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THERE'S A HAMMER COME IN.

BECAUSE AGAIN, IT WAS NOT CONNECTED ALSO TO AN INITIATIVE.

LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT THE T-SHIRTS THAT YOU ORDERED BECAUSE THOSE T-SHIRTS ARE MOVED WITH THE MAYOR AND MOVE WITH THE MAYOR WAS AN INITIATIVE.

MAYBE THE 1,000 T SHIRTS THAT YOU ALSO ORDERED THAT PEOPLE ARE WALKING AROUND BERMUDA CLUB WEARING.

>> JEALOUS?

>> I'M NOT JEALOUS. I WON MY ELECTION BY LANDSLIDE THREE TIMES.

SO YOU CANNOT VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME.

STAFF TIME SHOULD BE ON THIS AND YOU DIDN'T CLOCK YOUR TIME FOR MAURY.

SO PLEASE DON'T CLOCK YOUR TIME OR ANY OTHER STAFF THAT IS ON SALARY FOR ME.

AND AGAIN, I'M NOT ATTACKING YOU.

I'M JUST POINTING OUT HOW THIS DOCUMENT SERVES FOR ONE GOOSE, BUT IT DOESN'T SERVE FOR THE GANDER.

SO WHEN YOU CALL UP A POLICY, MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE CLEAN.

BECAUSE THOSE HANDS DARLING, THEY'RE NOT CLEAN.

I CAN GUARANTEE THAT.

PUBLIC PURPOSE, WHAT IS A PUBLIC PURPOSE? WHY DIDN'T YOU PAY FOR THE FANS FOR ELVIN? DID HE SUBMIT IT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PAST COMMISSIONERS.

>> IS THAT RELEVANT.

>> YES. IT WAS AN INITIATIVE.

[04:30:04]

>> [INAUDIBLE] I WAS NOT PAID FOR BY THE CITY.

>> BECAUSE MARLIN COMPLAINED.

>> OF THIS CONVERSATION, KEEP IT TO YOUR DREAMING BRAND.

>> I'M GLAD YOUR VOICE IS BACK SO YOU CAN DEFEND YOURSELF.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

THIS POLICY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IT IN ONE SITTING IN THIS WORKSHOP.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THE BLEEDING, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THE AOC OF TAMARAC, MS. PATTERSON JUST SAID.

IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHO IS CONNECTED TO WHO, MS. AOC, BARACK OBAMA, AND MAYOR GOMEZ, YOU'RE THE TIFFANY HENYARD OF TAMARAC.

[LAUGHTER] GOOGLE HER.

THE ONE THAT I'M CONNECTED TO, HE DIED.

[LAUGHTER] I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN TRASH THIS OUT TODAY BECAUSE THIS POLICY IS CONNECTED TO 12 PAGES OF AN ACTUAL DOCUMENT.

THIS POWERPOINT IS CONNECTED TO THIS DOCUMENT.

I DON'T KNOW THE PURPOSE FOR Y'ALL COMING TODAY.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS SOMEBODY'S IDEA.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS BREWING, BECAUSE ANYTIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS TALKED ABOUT, SOMETHING IS BREWING.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHOEVER IS WATCHING ALSO KNOWS THAT YOU ORDERED SOME PENS THAT WAS ILLEGAL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ONE TIME PURCHASES.

LUNCH WITH CONSTITUENT, I PAY FOR THAT OUT OF MY POCKET.

IT'S THE LEAST I CAN DO FOR MY CONSTITUENTS.

PRESS RELEASES, I WRITE THEM MYSELF.

I'M VERY GOOD WITH IT. LET'S TALK ABOUT MAILER CITY PURCHASES DONATIONS.

BECAUSE WHEN I GIVE A DONATION, IT MAY HAVE COME OUT OF MY INITIATIVE FUND.

YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ME A REFUND IN PRIOR YEARS?

>> YOU WANT AN ANSWER?

>> YES.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COMMISSIONER.

CHRISTINE CAJUSTE, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.

AS COMMISSIONER PATTERSON HAD MENTIONED EARLIER WHEN SHE MENTIONED THE WORD DISCRETIONARY, WE CALL IT INITIATIVE FUND, BUT IN REALITY, IT'S ACTUALLY YOUR DISCRETIONARY FUND.

THESE FUNDS ARE USED FOR YOUR INITIATIVE AS WELL AS YOUR ONE TIME PURCHASES.

YOU HAVE A SEPARATE FUND WHICH GIVES YOU EACH $3,000 FOR DONATION.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE DONATION ABOVE THAT 3,000, YOU CAN DO IT FROM YOUR INITIATIVE FUND, AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEING REFERRED TO HERE IN THE POLICY.

>> BUT IT SAYS EXPLICITLY, MS. CAJUSTE.

>> SORRY?

>> IT SAYS EXPLICITLY.

>> YES.

>> WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU, MY TONE CHANGES.

FOR OTHER PEOPLE, IT DOES NOT.

BUT MS. CAJUSTE, PAGE NUMBER 8, NUMBER 16, WE'RE ON THIS LINE.

IT SAYS THAT INITIATIVE FUNDS DO NOT INCLUDE THESE ITEMS. DO NOT MEAN, DOES NOT MEAN IT'S A RUNOVER?

>> YES. IT MEANS THAT IT'S NOT PART OF THE INITIATIVE, BUT IT'S STILL BUDGETED IN THAT PART OF THAT $20,000 THAT YOU GET.

YOU HAVE AN INITIATIVE THAT'S LIKE AN EVENT AND YOU HAVE YOU HAVE THE APPLICATION AND EVERYTHING DESCRIBING ALL THAT, AND THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THESE PURCHASES.

>> COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY CLARIFY, IT'S SAYING THAT THE INITIATIVE POLICY DOES NOT APPLY TO THESE ONE TIME PURCHASES.

>> PAGE NUMBER 6, SLIDE NUMBER 11.

DEADLINES FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AS FOLLOWING; MINIMUM OF 120 DAYS, [LAUGHTER] MINIMUM OF FOUR MONTHS BEFORE EXPECTED IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR MOST EVENTS.

THIS WILL ENSURE PROPER PLANNING,

[04:35:01]

MINIMUM OF 45 DAYS FOR FACILITY A REQUEST, MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS FOR SIMPLE INITIATIVES, SUCH AS MEETINGS OR VIRTUAL PANELS.

BALONEY. THIS IS NOT PRACTICAL.

THE WAY HOW MY BRAIN WORKS, I GET AN IDEA LAST NIGHT, I'M DOING IT TOMORROW. IT'S NOT PRACTICAL.

IT'S NOT PRACTICAL FOR ANY COMMISSIONER ON THIS DESK.

YOU WANT ME, FOUR MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO TELL YOU THAT I WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT LAST NIGHT THAT I KNOW I CAN WHIP UP IN TWO HOURS? [BACKGROUND] NO.

>> YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT STILL SAID.

I AGREE BECAUSE I COME UP WITH IDEAS TOO. I AGREE.

>> BECAUSE RESIDENTS WILL COME TO YOU.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THAT THE IDEAS THAT I HAVE, MOST TIMES, ARE NOT FROM MY FABULOUS BRAIN.

YOU WANT TO TALK? THE IDEAS THAT I HAVE SOMETIMES DOES NOT COME FROM MY FABULOUS BRAIN.

THEY COME FROM RESIDENTS WHO ASK ME TO DO SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THEM.

I MAY BE IN TALLAHASSEE, AND I'M TALKING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE.

THE REPRESENTATIVE MAY SAY, DID YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE CONTACTS WITH THE DBPR, AND IF YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH ANY RESIDENTS AND THEIR HOAS, I CAN HELP? A LIGHT BULB MAY GO OFF IN MY HEAD.

LET'S DO A SEMINAR WITH THIS REPRESENTATIVE, AND LET'S CALL DBPR AND DBPR SAYS, I'M AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK. LET'S DO IT.

CONDO ASSESSMENTS, LET'S DO IT, AND IT'S NEXT WEEK.

YOU EXPECT ME TO PUT OFF MY IDEA FOR FOUR MONTHS? YOU CRAZY? NO, I'M NOT DOING IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS.

BUT HERE'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

NUMBER 1, HAVE CONSENSUS TODAY, THAT THIS 120 DAYS, 45 DAYS, 30 DAYS, BALONEY.

THIS COMES OUT OF THE POLICY TODAY.

WE HEARD FROM AOC, THAT STAFF TIME AND WE HEARD ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OR HARD EVIDENCE THAT YOU'VE NOT BEEN PLUCKING YOUR TIME FOR COMMISSIONER ON THE CORNER, SO STAFF TIME SHOULD NOT BE IN THIS POLICY.

THAT COMES OUT. WHATEVER ELSE THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, WHATEVER JUMPED OUT AT US, CROSS IT OUT OF THE POLICY BECAUSE WE GOT THINGS COMING UP AND HERE'S WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN.

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE SAID THAT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, AND YOU GOT A COMMISSION INITIATIVE ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, AND YOU KNEW.

AGAIN, I KNOW HOW PEOPLE OPERATE.

SOMETHING IS BREWING. TAKE THE TIME AND TAKE SOME STUFF OUT OF THIS.

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHO OFTEN TAKES NOTES BECAUSE THESE DAYS, WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A PRESIDING OFFICER.

BUT NUMBER 1, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT RISK MANAGEMENT PIECE, THE ONUS, THE RESPONSIBILITY DOES NOT LIE ON ME.

WHEN I GIVE MY PAPERWORK TO STAFF, THEY SHOULD GO TO RISK MANAGEMENT AND DO WHATEVER IT IS.

IT'S STAFF RESPONSIBILITY.

[04:40:02]

I'M NOT APPROACHING YOUR STAFF.

LET ME FINISH. [BACKGROUND] I'M NOT APPROACHING STAFF.

I'M NOT GOING TO WORK WITH RISK MANAGEMENT.

THE WAY HOW THIS IS WRITTEN PUTS US IN DOUBLE JEOPARDY.

NUMBER 1, WE CAN'T APPROACH STAFF BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST THE CHARTER.

NUMBER 2, I'M A POLICYMAKER, THIS IS NOT GOING TO FLY.

SPONSORING ELECTED OFFICIALS SHALL WORK WITH RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION PRIOR, NOT DOING IT.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT I WOULD LIKE CONSENSUS ON.

SECOND THING IS THAT WHEN I SUBMIT INITIATIVE FORM, AND THAT INITIATIVE FORM GOES TO, LET'S SAY, THE STAFF MEMBER, THAT INITIATIVE FORM SHOULD PROBABLY IMMEDIATELY GO TO CITY ATTORNEY FOR CITY ATTORNEY TO SAY, THIS SERVES A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR NOT.

BECAUSE MY FABULOUS IDEAS, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT THAT ONUS TO BE ON ME.

WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY FOR A REASON.

ATTORNEYS GIVE OPINIONS, SAFE HARBORS, GIVE MEMOS, WHATEVER IT IS, I'M GOOD WITH DRAFTING MEMOS TOO.

BUT IT'S NOT MY JOB.

PUBLIC PURPOSE, THAT FORM GOES TO CITY ATTORNEY, AND CITY ATTORNEY SAYS, BEFORE YOU PAY THIS INVOICE, YES, IT SERVES A PUBLIC PURPOSE.

RISK MANAGEMENT, CITY ATTORNEY.

NUMBER 3, STAFF, AS AOC SAID, I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD PAY FOR STAFF TIME.

NUMBER 3, I THINK THAT STAFF SHOULD BE DEFINED.

WHO IS STAFF? BECAUSE IF I'M GOING TO ASK CAPTAIN COOPER TO JOIN ME AT A MEETING AND HE'S AVAILABLE, IS HE STAFF? BECAUSE HE'S A VENDOR.

HE'S BSO. DEFINE STAFF.

I SAW HIM IN YOUR PICTURE TOO.

YOUR EMAILS ARE LOVELY COMMISSIONER, BY THE WAY.

YOU'RE FOLLOWING IN BIG SHOES.

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> YOU DID?

>> [INAUDIBLE] GOOD. SAY THAT ON THE MIC.

PAGE NUMBER 4, SLIDE NUMBER 8, ALL EXPENSES TO THE INITIATIVE IMPLEMENTATION SHALL BE CHARGED TO THE SPONSORING COMMISSIONER'S INITIATIVE.

THE WORD SHALL SHOULD BE CHANGED TO MAY BECAUSE, CHRISTINE, YOU SAID THAT SOME OF THE ITEMS, FOR INSTANCE, DONATIONS, DON'T COME FROM COMMISSION INITIATIVES.

WHAT THE MANAGER ALSO SAID IS THAT PERHAPS THERE ARE OTHER LINE ITEMS THAT JUSTIFIES THE PURCHASE OF, LET'S SAY, MY SHIRT.

I NEVER KNEW THAT MY SHIRT DIDN'T COME FROM INITIATIVE.

BY THE WAY, THESE SHIRTS ARE OLD.

FOR WHOEVER THE MAYOR SET UP TO LISTEN TO THIS CONVERSATION, THESE SHIRT PURCHASES WERE PROBABLY FROM 2016.

I LOST SOME WEIGHT SO I CAN FIT IN THEM AGAIN.

MY BELLY IS NOT AS BIG.

THAT'S WHY NOW I'M WEARING MY SHIRTS AGAIN.

>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITHOUT YOU IN FOUR YEARS?

>> I KNOW I'LL PROBABLY COME BACK.

>> [INAUDIBLE] .

>> [LAUGHTER] THE WORD SHALL ON PAGE NUMBER 4, SLIDE NUMBER 8, SHOULD BE CHANGED TO MAY.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE MAYOR OUT OF TROUBLE ON THAT SAME SLIDE, YOU SHOULD ADD PENS AND FANS.

SEE, I'M PROTECTING YOU.

>> CONSIDERING IT'S AN INCIDENTAL EXPENSE TO AN INITIATIVE.

>> YEAH, IT'S AN INCIDENTAL EXPENSE TO AN INITIATIVE.

[OVERLAPPING] AGAIN, I WANT TO SEE THE INITIATIVE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THOSE PENS.

I AM HEREBY REQUESTING PUBLIC RECORD REQUEST FOR A COPY OF

[04:45:05]

WHERE DID IT COME FROM? I NEED TO KNOW THAT. PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN WRITING.

>> FEEL FREE TO GIVE IT TO HIM.

>> SHE DOESN'T NEED YOUR PERMISSION. SHE'S A CLERK AND I'M ENTITLED BY LAW TO IT.

YOU CAN WHISPER ALL YOU WANT.

YOU DO THAT WELL ANYWAY.

>> THOSE WOULD BE THE THINGS THAT POP OUT, OH, AND THE TIMING.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DAYS OR 30 DAYS OR WHATEVER DAYS STRIKE THAT.

RISK MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC PURPOSE GOES TO CITY ATTORNEY.

DEFINE STAFF.

STAFF TIME SHOULD NOT BE COUNTED.

THE WORD SHALL SHOULD TURN TO MAY AND THE TIMING OF 120 DAYS.

I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES, BUT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME CHAIR, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO GET CONSENSUS ON THESE ITEMS.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION.

CITY MANAGER WANTED TO SPEAK AND THEN MS. CAJUSTE WANTED TO SPEAK. PLEASE SPEAK.

>> I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COMMISSION THAT THIS IS A COMMISSION APPROVED POLICY THAT THESE CHANGES THAT WE CAN MAKE WILL COME TO COMMISSION BEFORE THEY TAKE EFFECT.

>> IF THERE ARE CHANGES MADE AFTER IF THERE'S CONSENSUS.

>> SURE.

>> MS. CAJUSTE, YOU HAD SOME COMMENTS YOU WANTED TO MAKE?

>> NO. I WANTED TO SAY THE SAME THING THAT THIS POLICY WAS APPROVED BY WAY OF A RESOLUTION, AND IN ORDER FOR THE CHANGE TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME TO US IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION FOR US TO MAKE THE CHANGES.

>> UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU.

>> I'M AFRAID THAT BY THE END OF THIS WORKSHOP, WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE COUGHING AND SNEEZING. I HATE TO TELL YOU.

>> NOT ME. I'M COVERED UNDER THE BLANKET.

>> I HAVE COMMISSIONER DANIEL WHO WANTED TO SPEAK.

DO YOU NOT WISH TO SPEAK? YOU DON'T HAVE TO. I'M NOT FORCING YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON. SO I'M GLAD THAT WE DISCUSSED THE PAIN BECAUSE THE OVER TIME FOR A TEENAGER, THAT'S NOT A CITY EMPLOYEE WAS RIDICULOUS ON MY PART.

I NEVER SAID I HATED BANNERS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM. I HEARD COMMISSIONER WRIGHT SAID.

>> I SAID [INAUDIBLE]

>> YEAH.

I LIKE BANNERS, I LIKE DOOR HANGERS, ANYTHING TO GET PEOPLE COMMITTED TO COMING TO AN EVENT, AND KNOW WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM, I'M ALL FOR IT.

I'M LEARNING AND I'M ALL FOR IT.

I DON'T HATE IT.

WHAT I DO HATE IS WHEN SOMEONE IS TREATED BETTER THAN ME AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TREATED THE SAME. SO THAT I HATE.

I HATE WHEN MY STUFF DON'T GO OUT WITH SOMEBODY ELSE STUFF GOES OUT, THAT I HATE.

I HATE WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE BANNERS FOR MONTHS AND I DON'T THAT I HATE.

THAT'S WHERE I WANTED UNITY.

I DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO COMPLIMENT STAFF BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY A STAFF THING.

IF I DON'T COMPLIMENT YOU, IT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T LIKE YOU, IT JUST MEANS I DON'T LIKE THE PROCESS THAT'S NOT FAIR BEING DONE FAIRLY.

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T NOT PUT OUT HER STUFF, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IF IT'S A CITY EVENT, THEN ALL OUR PICTURES SHOULD BE ON IT.

IF IT'S NOT A CITY EVENT, THEN MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT A CITY EVENT BY SAYING, OH, HOSTED BY THIS OR THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS CONFUSION FOR ME.

THAT'S ALL I WAS SAYING WITH THAT MATTER.

BUT I WOULDN'T MIND CHANGING SOME OF THESE PROCEDURES BECAUSE DEFINITELY I THOUGHT I WAS ROBBED FOR THAT EVENT.

I'M OKAY WITH THE CHANGES BECAUSE IT DID IMPACT ME NEGATIVELY BY PAYING FOR CERTAIN STAFF.

THAT WASN'T STAFF WAS TEMPORARY STAFF.

BUT I DID THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB BECAUSE I DID HAVE TO MEET WITH RISK MANAGEMENT, I THINK WITH YOU, JUSTIN, AND YOU'RE VERY HELPFUL.

EVERYBODY IS SAYING IT'S NOT AGAINST YOU, JUST MAKE IT BETTER.

>> OF COURSE.

>> BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.

ONE THING WE CANNOT GET BACK IS TIME, AND THE OLDER I GET, I REALIZE THAT TIME IS BETTER THAN MONEY, SO YOU CAN'T PAY ME FOR MY TIME BECAUSE IT'S SO PRECIOUS.

TO WASTE TIME ON STUFF THAT THERE'S EXPERTS WHO CAN DO A BETTER JOB ON IT.

LET THE EXPERT DO THE JOB, SO I'M ALL WITH YOU ON THAT.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO A RISK MANAGEMENT.

WE'RE NOT EVEN CAPABLE, AND YOU HOLD MY HAND THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH, I AGREE. LET STAFF DO THEIR JOB. THANK YOU.

>> I LOVE THE HYPOCRISY FROM BEING TOLD

[04:50:02]

I KNOW THAT YOU GIVE OUT WHATEVER YOU NEED TO BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHERE THEY WERE DONE THROUGH THE INITIATIVES AS MY BUSINESS CARD, AND IT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN USING AS MY BUSINESS CARD.

SO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, NOT A WORRY.

I THINK A KEY THING THAT HAS BEEN MISSED FOR WHATEVER REASON, BECAUSE THINGS GET SWIRLED ABOUT, I AGREE WITH VICE MAYOR, THERE HASN'T BEEN UNIFORMITY.

THERE HAS BEEN A FEELING FROM WHOMEVER MAY BE FEELING IT, THAT WE'RE NOT ALL TREATED ALIKE, AND OUR EVENTS ARE NOT ALL HANDLED IN THE SAME MANNER AND ONE PERSON THINKS THIS, ONE PERSON THINKS THAT, FOR WHATEVER IT IS, AND DESPITE BEING GIVEN CREDIT FOR HAVING US DISCUSS THIS TODAY, I GET THE CREDIT, I GET THE BLAME.

I DON'T GIVE A HOOT. IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NEEDED TO BE HAD AND SO IS BEFORE US.

I NEVER SAID THAT I DON'T WANT UNIFORMITY, I THINK UNIFORMITY IS IMPORTANT.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT STILL SAYS DRAFT ON SOME OF THESE PAGES, BUT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIALLY DOING CERTAIN THINGS WITHOUT US TELLING YOU CERTAIN THINGS TO DO CERTAIN WAYS.

WHERE WE DON'T KNOW THE EFFECTS ON EMPLOYEES AND TIMING AND STAFF.

WHETHER IT'S A LINE ITEM OR NOT, I THINK I PAID SOMETHING LIKE THREE GRAND OR SO, FOUR GRAND OR SO ON MY PET EXPO FOR EMPLOYEES LAST YEAR.

THAT WAS THE BIGGEST PART OF MY THING, AND THAT WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO DO, AND THAT'S WHAT I DID BECAUSE I WANTED IT THAT WAY.

YES, I RENTED ALL THOSE TENTS, OTHER THAN FOUR, I THINK WE HAD WITH CITY TENTS AND THEY WERE BACK TO THE THING. I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

IF I AGREE TO AMEND THE POLICY, I'M GOING TO GET A NICE BOATLOAD BACK FOR THE INITIATIVE COMING UP ON THE 22ND.

BUT THAT'S ALSO NOT MY PURPOSE IS TO HAVE THE CITY'S BUDGET HAVE SOME POTENTIAL ISSUES IF WE HAVE LAST MINUTE PLANNING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT COULD POSSIBLY DO.

THAT'S WHY THERE WAS FOR WHOMEVER PUT THE PLAN TOGETHER, TIMING.

WHAT IF WE WANT COMMUNITY CENTER, AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS USING IT? ARE WE KICKING THEM OUT? ARE WE RETURNING THEIR MONEY? WHAT ABOUT THEIR PLANS? THAT'S THE REASON FOR HAVING CONSIDERATION FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME AND HAVING SOME TIMING WITHIN HERE.

YOU THINK I LIKE THE IDEA OF PLANNING 120 IN DAYS IN ADVANCE? NO. BUT I'VE HAD TO DO IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MY EVENTS WERE LARGER.

THESE THINGS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR INDIVIDUAL SMALLER EVENTS, GOING OVER TO AN ASSOCIATION, GOING TO A CLUBHOUSE, WHERE THEY'RE INVITED AND DOING THINGS THERE, WHERE WE'RE NOT REALLY PULLING OUT PEOPLE'S TIMES.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S A STAGGERED TIMING OF 120, 45, 30.

THE REALITY HAS ALSO COME THAT WHEN WE PLAN AN EVENT, WE'RE NOT REALLY PLANNING IT BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING FOR STAFF TO PLAN IT.

AS WE'VE COMPLEMENTED, STAFF TAKES THE IDEA AND RUNS WITH IT.

THERE IN MY OPINION, NEEDS TO HAVE SOME TIMING IN THERE BECAUSE 32 EVENTS ALREADY PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR, DON'T INCLUDE US OR 37 FOR THIS YEAR, DON'T INCLUDE US.

THAT'S THE DECENCY OF WORKING AS A TEAM.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A TEAM.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A POLICY THAT IS IMPLEMENTABLE, OR ELSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHAOS, AND I LOVE MY THAT DOG CHAOS, BUT HE'S NOT COMING OUT AND AROUND FOR THESE THINGS.

THIS HAS BEEN ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE POLICY EFFECTIVE FOR THE COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE AND FOR STAFF, TO BE ABLE TO PUT THROUGH.

THIS IS MY CONVERSATION WHEN I SAW IT ON THE AGENDA, AND I ASKED THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE I WAS SURPRISED ON THE CITY MANAGER AND PUT IT ON HERE, THOUGH I GET CREDIT FOR HAVING IT PUT ON HERE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF MORE AGREEMENT IN HERE THAN NOT AGREEMENT THAT WE DO NEED SOME CHANGES TO THE POLICY ON HOW TO MAKE IT EFFECTIVE, BUT ALSO WORKABLE, AND SO THAT WE ALL FEEL THAT WE'RE ALL GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

I SEE THAT COMMISSIONER PATTERSON TURNED FOR A THING OVER.

AT THAT NOTE, I AM NOT GOING TO DO THE CONSENSUS ITEM.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE POLICY AS IT STANDS AND RECOMMENDING CHANGES.

[04:55:01]

INITIATIVE IS TIED TO PROGRAMS. IT'S DOLLARS THAT IS ALLOCATED SPECIFICALLY FOR EVENTS, PROGRAMS, ETC.

WHILE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS ARE MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE AND PROVIDE FOR THE COMMISSION TO HAVE DISCRETIONS.

I PERSONALLY DON'T CARE FOR ANYTHING IN HIS POLICY. IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I DON'T THINK THAT AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT EVENTS AND PROGRAMS ARE EVERYTHING ON THAT 60, I BELIEVE JUSTIN MENTIONED JUST 37 EVENTS PLANNED FOR THE YEAR.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EVENTS.

IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT FROM A STRATEGIC STANDPOINT AS A CITY, LET'S LOOK AT THAT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TIE MY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS TO PROGRAMS. TO ME, DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS AS A COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT I DO WITH THOSE DOLLARS.

I DON'T WANT THOSE DOLLARS TIED SPECIFICALLY TO EVENTS AND PROGRAMS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ONE CITY AND EVERYTHING THAT THIS CITY SPONSORS TO SOME DEGREE IS A REFLECTION OF THIS COMMISSION.

IF THIS COMMISSION HAS ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS OR EVENTS THAT THEY WANT TO SPONSOR OR BRING TO THE TABLE, BUDGETS ARE MEANT TO BE AMENDED.

WE CAN MAKE CHANGES AS NECESSARY AS THE YEAR GOES ON, OR WE LOOK AT TWO SEPARATE ALLOCATIONS.

THERE'S AN ALLOCATION FOR INITIATIVE, WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO PROGRAMS, AND THEN THERE'S AN ALLOCATION FOR DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS, WHICH IS USED FOR EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF PROGRAMS. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE HERE AS IT'S CURRENTLY PRESENTED, THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY SECTION BECAUSE IT'S VERY RESTRICTIVE, AND SO I BELIEVE THAT, THE COMMISSION GENERALLY IS SAYING THAT, MAYBE WE LOOK AT I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS WAS DRAFTED, IF IT WAS DRAFTED SPECIFIC TO THE MEMBERS.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE VOTING RECORD, AND I SEE WHO WAS HERE ON THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHO DRAFTED THIS AND WHERE THE LANGUAGE CAME FROM.

BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE SURROUNDED BY TONS OF OTHER CITIES.

LET'S LOOK AT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE END ALL BE ALL WHILE I'M FINE WITH SUPPORTING WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.

I REALLY THINK WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A BIGGER PICTURE, FROM A BIGGER LENS BASED ON WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED HERE TODAY.

ANY DOLLARS THAT I HAVE IN MY DISCRETIONARY OR INITIATIVE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT AS IT STANDS TODAY, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR EVENTS WITH THAT.

IF SOMEONE CALLS ME AND SAYS THAT THEY NEED ASSISTANCE, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP A RESIDENT.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IMPACT WITH THOSE DOLLARS.

WE HAVE A HEALTHY BUDGET.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE MESLEY $100,000 THAT SHARED ACROSS THIS BOARD IS GOING TO KILL US IN TERMS OF HAVING AN EVENT.

I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION SEES IT THE SAME.

I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE AS IMPACTFUL AS WE COULD BE.

EVEN IN THIS CONVERSATION.

HAVING 37 EVENTS IS PROBABLY A LOT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF BACK TO WHAT I SAID ORIGINALLY, NOT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING A WHOLE LOT.

THERE ARE CITIES THAT ARE DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS.

THERE'S COMMISSIONS WITH 15 AND 16 MEMBERS ON IT, AND THEY'RE DOING A TON OF STUFF.

MAYBE THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS A GROUP OF THE 37 AND DECIDE WHETHER THESE ARE THINGS WE STILL WANT TO DO AS A CITY.

JUST LIKE WE'RE EVALUATING EVERYTHING ELSE, MAYBE WE NEED TO EVALUATE THAT AS WELL AND THEN GIVE STAFF SOME DIRECTION ON ARE THESE THE EVENTS? BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU I HEARD A LOT OF MUMBLINGS AT THE ONE TAMARAC.

NO REFLECTION OF OUR STAFF AND THE PRODUCTION, BUT JUST WHERE PEOPLE ARE, WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE, WHERE THEY WANT OUR EVENTS, THE DIRECTION THEY WANT OUR EVENTS TO GO IN.

MAYBE THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION AS A PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

WE'RE STILL TYING THE DOLLARS THAT THIS COMMISSION IS IN RECEIPT OF TO PROGRAMS. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR WHAT THE INTENDED USE SHOULD BE FOR THIS MONEY.

THAT WOULD JUST BE MY COMMENTS.

>> THANK YOU. I'VE GOT VICE MAYOR DANIEL WANTED TO SPEAK AND VICE MAYOR RIGHT NOW.

>> CLARIFICATION FROM MS. CHRISTINE.

I WAS TOLD THIS MONEY COULD ONLY AND I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE IT'S TIED TO THIS ORDINANCE, BUT IF IT'S DISCRETIONARY, CAN IT BE USED TO HELP RESIDENTS?

>> YEAH.

>> SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS?

>> NO. [LAUGHTER]

[05:00:01]

>> THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I WANTED.

>> NO. [NOISE]

>> EVEN IF IT'S CHANGED TO DISCRETIONARY, IT STILL CANNOT?