COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WORKSHOP
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Escambia County Government Complex
221 Palafox Place
May 8, 2008, 9:00 a.m.
Called to order at 9 03 a.m.
All Commissioners were present.
Florida Sterling Council – Region One Team Showcase Presentation
A spokesperson from the Road Prison was not available to speak. They sent a short video of a road prison skit that will be presented to the Florida Sterling Council at the end of the month.
In the first scene the roles were played by two inmates. They were talking about the benefits of the road prison. It was funny. (I think it was supposed to be.)
They highlighted the parenting and vocational classes and certifications.
“What do you have to have,” one inmate asked. “A fancy high school diploma or a degree of some kind?”
“No man,” the other answered. “Just a ninth grade education.”
In the next scene two corrections officers were talking. (Still hilarious).
They talked about how great it is working with the road prison inmates and the economical benefits.
In the third scene an officer talks with a contractor at one of the vocational schools. They talked about the low “return to prison” rate associated with the road prison.
A. Discussion
“If you can look beyond the production, that is a great presentation,” said Commissioner Mike Whitehead. “The message is amazing.”
B. Board direction
None discussed.
Escambia River Muzzleloaders Update
“Through a mediation process, we have bore some fruit,” said Kevin Briski. “We do have an agreement with the Muzzleloaders and the Rocky Management neighborhood.”
A redesign of the current location will address each issue brought to light by the neighbors including parking, noise, screening, security, ricochet, water and lead treatment and target shooting, he said.
“We asked the Muzzleloaders to address these issues,” Briski said. “All were addressed. What we recommend to you is to recognize the agreement and the parties involve.”
The neighborhood feels like this liability can now be an asset, he said.
Today is Briski’s last day with the county.
He is moving to Wisconsin.
“If you go hunting up there make sure to get a license,” Commissioner Kevin White said.
The crowd erupted in laughter.
A. Discussion
“It has to go through DRC for approval,” Whitehead said.
“This facility will not be rivaled by any other facility within 300 miles,” said Max McDaniel, who represented the Muzzleloaders.
Commissioner Marie Young asked about the cost of the new facility.
Answer: Just under $200,000.
“This is a commitment of the Muzzleloaders,” Briski said. “As far as I know there is no financial commitment by the county.”
“Except the road,” Commissioner Grover Robinson said. “But that’s down the way.”
B. Board direction
A motion was made to move forward with the plans and the DRC approval.
This was passed unanimously.
White made a motion to wave al DRC fees for the new construction.
It was passed unanimously.
ECAT Citizens’ Advisory Report
“Our transit system is adrift,” said Scott Remington, a ECAT Citizen’s Advisory Committee representative. “It needs someone to be a leader. I think that is what this council has done.”
The first recommendation is that the commission take a leadership role, Remington said.
“The community’s attitude towards ECAT hasn’t been great in the past,” he said. “We look to the Commission to be a leader to help change attitudes.”
“There is an idea that we move empty buses around nonsensical routes,” said Jane Birdwell, of ECAT. “But that is not the case.”
Birdwell reported that there are just under 1 million riders per year.
New funding sources include a beach route, military route, public/private partnerships, intergovernmental relationships and a vending program.
“For every $1 invested in public transportation, the transportation projects generates from $7 to $12 or local economic activity,” Birdwell said.
It costs about $8 million to run the system and next year should be around $9 million with fuel costs.
“The county pays most of the costs,” Remington said. “We are pleased to report that this is the first year we are back up to our ‘pre-Ivan’ ridership.”
The Advisory Committee reviewed several sources of funding, he said.
Viable dedicated funding sources include rental car assessment fees, a gas tax and a $25 mass transit operational assessment.
“At the three cent level, the average cost per person would be $15 per year,” Remington said. “The gas tax would also spread the burden beyond the county.”
A. Discussion
“We have committed funding this year,” Whitehead said. “We are looking for a committed source of funding so we don’t have to go through this turmoil again.”
B. Board direction
“I would like to review all of this documentation and come back to the next committee of the whole meeting with some specific direction,” Valentino said.
Topics for Joint City-County Meeting – May 27, 2008
Agenda items for the next meeting include Wayside Park and Concession building, Wellness, Stormwater Management, Fair Housing, Animal Control, Regional Transportation Finance Authority, ECAT and the West Florida Regional Library Services, said County Administrator Bob McLaughlin.
A. Discussion
B. Board direction
Regional Conflict Committee
“Right now I can tell you I will have a total of seven attorneys and two support people,” said Jeffrey E. Lewis. “The state is paying for 95 percent of this.”
A. Discussion
B. Board direction
Facade Policy Revisions
“We have our first applicant taking advantage of this program,” Deputy Chief of Neighborhood Community Services Keith Wilkins said. “He will be speaking at the next meeting.”
A. Discussion
B. Board direction
Scenic Highway Land Swap
Macky Bay Development Company desire to trade property owned by Escambia County located in the 9200 block of Scenic Highway for similar sized property located at 9250 Scenic Highway.
“Frontage will be retained by MBDC,” said Wilkins. “A 25′ access easement would be given to the county.”
A. Discussion
“It is very similar to our existing access,” Robinson said.
“There still need to e appraisals and such,” Wilkins said.
B. Board direction
A motion was made to direct staff to go forward with the agreement.
It was passed unanimously.
Tow Truck Ordinance
“Under state law we can regulate maximum towing and storage fees,” said County Attorney Alison Rogers. “The city would be willing to repeal their towing ordinance if the county establishes one.”
The rates would be set by resolution which would allow for revisions. This is only for nonconsensual towing.
A. Discussion
“Many communities do regulate this,” Whitehead said. “It is a consumer protection thing.”
“A few bad apples make the whole industry look back,” said Mr. Rogers of the local towing group. “We want to do something to better the community and the industry.”
B. Board direction
“Let’s direct staff to move forward with a draft ordinance,” Whitehead said.
The issue will be discussed at a City/County joint meeting in June.
Civil Air Patrol Memorandum of Understanding
The nearly all volunteer group performs search and rescue, has a cadet core and teach aerospace education, said George Schaefer of CAP.
“We augment anything (the county) needs,” he said. “Like if you needed to take a look at the sharks out at Pensacola Beach.”
A. Discussion
B. Board direction
“Let’s let staff review and MOU and bring it back for our consideration,” Whitehead said.
Consolidation Plan Fire Services / Volunteer Fire Department Status Report
“Lt. Daniel Ackerman has been moved to my staff to help move information between administration and the volunteer and career firefighters,” said Ken Perkins of Escambia County Fire Rescue. “We know communication is going to be key in this transition.”
A new organizational structure has been agreed on.
“We would like to get the board permission today to take a look at our budget to find money to get some more trainers,” Perkins said.
“You can find funding by eliminating the plans reviewer,” Whitehead said. “It is duplicating serviced by having a fire inspector do a job that the architects are doing too.”
Assistant Chief Robbie Whitfield showed the organizational goals including enhancing the view of Escambia County Fire Rescue and maintaining a reasonable funding mechanism.
A. Discussion
“Good job guys,” Whitehead said. “Keep up the good work.”
B. Board direction
4th Cent Tourist Development Tax Status Report
“We request that you keep $150,000 in the reserve,” Amy Lovoy with County budget said. “We now have $224,610.”
Sixty-two percent of revenues are received in the second half of the fiscal year.
The summer months dictate the overall performance.
“We are slightly below our forecast,” Lovoy said. “Regardless of what these numbers say in the last six months, it is going to be up to the next six months.”
A. Discussion
“It is tracking about like we would anticipate,” Whitehead said.
B. Board direction
Status of Civic Center
“On the June 5th agenda we will be asking for more subsidies,” said Lovoy. “This is a best case scenario.”
A. Discussion
“What is happing to create this problem,” Robinson asked.
“When we are budgeting, we are budgeting on the past,” said the Civic Center general manager. “Six events we budgeted for this year have not happened.”
“I went to the Elton John concert,” Whitehead said. “I walked past row G and it was empty. What occurred to me is I would love to see us set aside a row for the military. If we could send those out to NAS I think that would be a huge thing for the military.”
“Who is going to pay for those tickets,” the manager asked.
“I don’t care,” Whitehead said. “We talk about making relationships, let’s do it.”
“I think we have some business in town who would partner with us,” Young said.
“Run the numbers and come back to us,” Whitehead said. “It is something that needs to happen. In a $400 million budget I think we can find it if the promoters aren’t willing to do it for us.”
B. Board direction
Fencing Ordinance
“We have drafted an ordinace and sent it to legal for review,” said Lloyd Kerr of the Development Services bureau. “Legal did not approve the ordinance.”
“I can not and will not sign off on anything that removes the requirement for fencing around wet or dry retention ponds,” Rogers said. “The special ordinance is still in effect. It is premature to amend our ordinance at this time.”
A. Discussion
Are we sure that the governor is not behind this,” Valentino said.
“I sat in Gov. Crist’s office and he told me ‘This may be the worst law ever past by Florida but this Governor will never lift it,'” Whitehead said. “Right now we are required to build fences around our lakes, ponds, intercoastal waterways, and maybe even Pensacola Beach depending on how far you want to take this.”
B. Board direction
Staff was directed to go forward with working on a special ordinance to allow wet retention ponds.
Perdido Key Cap Removal Update
“We recommend formal remediation,” said McLaughlin. “I believe we have an agreement with DCA. I think a mediation will formalize these agreements to make sure all parties agree on these amendments.”
A. Discussion
B. Board direction
“I think we should go forward with the mediation,” Valentino said.
The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.