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>> WELCOME!
MY NAME IS DR. BILL LAW.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE.
IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE THIS EVENING TO WELCOME
ALL OF YOU TO OUR SEMINOLE CAMPUS,
MANY OF YOU HERE IN PERSON IN OUR WONDERFUL DIGITORIUM,
AND MANY OF YOU ONLINE OR AT THE OTHER END OF THE TV
DIGITAL CABLE STATION.
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE OUR COUNTY COMMISSION USE OUR
FORUM HERE TO WORK THROUGH THEIR PUBLIC ISSUES, YOUR
PUBLIC ISSUES, OUR PUBLIC ISSUES, IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS
ALL OF US TO PARTICIPATE AND TO SHARE.
SO WHEN WE CAN OPEN OUR DOORS AT THE COLLEGE, AND HAVE
PEOPLE JOIN US WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN OUR GREAT
CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE, IT'S ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME OUR PANEL HERE
TONIGHT.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AL RUECHEL: DR. LAW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE GLAD TO BE HERE AT ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE.
BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE IN THIS WONDERFUL AUDITORIUM.
WHAT A GREAT COLLEGE WE HAVE HERE RIGHT IN OUR MIDST.
I'M AL RUECHEL FROM BAY NEWS 9, AND TONIGHT I AM GOING TO
BE THE MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S EVENT, SORT OF THE
REFEREE, AND I HAVE A STACK OF QUESTIONS AND EVERYTHING
THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET TO, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
GREAT TIME AS WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET HERE AT THE
DIGITORIUM AT ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. TONIGHT, OUR PURPOSE IS
PRETTY SIMPLE.
WE ARE COMING TO YOU FROM THIS CAMPUS TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS AND OTHERS AND TO GATHER AND DISCUSS YOUR INPUT
AS COUNTY LEADERS DEVELOP THE UPCOMING 2014 BUDGET.
HOW IS THE COUNTY'S BUDGET DEVELOPED?
HOW DO THOSE DECISIONS AFFECT YOU AND ME?
WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY DO WE WANT TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN?
AND HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS ALL THOSE TOPICS AND MORE TONIGHT
IN THIS ONE SHORT HOUR.
SO PLEASE, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT HOUR, SO STAY WITH
US.
FIRST, WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR VIEWERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU MAY BE WATCHING US ON PINELLAS COUNTY CONNECTION
TELEVISION, ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE TELEVISION, OR ON
WSPF-TV -- THAT'S THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG -- OR ON
THE eTownHall WEB SITE.
WHATEVER WAY THAT YOU ARE JOINING US, WE ARE GLAD THAT
YOU ARE GETTING INVOLVED.
PINELLAS COUNTY ALSO WANTS YOU TO BE INFORMED SO YOU CAN
WEIGH IN ON VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT THESE MEN AND
WOMEN HAVE TO MAKE ON YOUR BEHALF.
WE ALSO WANT TO WELCOME OUR LIVE AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING HERE.
GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, IF YOU WOULD.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW, WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME SOME OF OUR STUDENT
PARTICIPANTS THAT I GOT TO MEET AND SOME OF THE
VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE HERE EARLIER TONIGHT AS WE HAD OUR
DISCUSSION.
STUDENTS FROM THE PUBLIC POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
PROGRAM HERE AT ST. PETE COLLEGE ARE PARTICIPATING IN
THIS REAL-LIFE GOVERNMENT-IN-ACTION EXERCISE, IN
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPED BY ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE AND THE
PINELLAS COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
NOW, IF WE CAN HAVE THE SEMINOLE CAMPUS PROVOST, DR. JIM
OLIVER, STAND, PLEASE.
JIM, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
INSTRUCTOR IN CHARGE, JEFF KROCH ROBLES.
AND ALL THE STUDENTS, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED, IF
YOU WOULD.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE WITH THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, A
GROUP THAT LEARNS ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT THROUGH
PARTICIPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.
IF YOU WOULD APPLAUD FOR THOSE PEOPLE AS WELL.
DO YOU WANT TO STAND UP, STUDENTS? [APPLAUSE]
GREAT! ALONG THE BACK WALL.
ALSO ANOTHER GROUP WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE PINELLAS
COUNTY CITIZEN UNIVERSITY AS WELL, AND FINALLY WANT TO
RECOGNIZE OUR PINELLAS COUNTY VOLUNTEERS HERE TONIGHT.
YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR ANY
ORGANIZATION. EVERY DAY, HUNDREDS OF YOU FOLKS
VOLUNTEER, AND YOU HELP THE COUNTY DELIVER THE BEST
POSSIBLE SERVICE WITHOUT COSTING THE MONEY, AND OF COURSE
YOUR HEARTS ARE ALWAYS IN IT.
OUR HEARTS ARE ALWAYS WITH VOLUNTEERS.
OUR AUDIENCE HAS JUST ATTENDED WHAT WE CALL AN OPEN
HOUSE.
THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THESE FOLKS ONE ON
ONE.
IT'S NOT AN ELECTION YEAR, IS IT?
BUT THEY STILL SHOOK HANDS AND EVERYBODY WAS VERY
CORDIAL.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THE FISCAL CHALLENGES FACING THE
COUNTY, HOW THE COUNTY IS BALANCING AND IMPROVING, HOW
SERVICES ARE DELIVERED TO YOU, AND ABOUT WHAT KIND OF
COMMUNITY WE ALL WANT, NOW AND, VERY IMPORTANT, IN THE
FUTURE.
NOW SCATTERED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I HAVE LITERALLY DOZENS
AND DOZENS OF CARDS.
OUR AUDIENCE HAS LOTS OF COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS HERE AS
WELL.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM YOU.
SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
YOUR THOUGHTS OR JOIN US BY PHONE, HERE IS A LITTLE
DISCUSSION.
WE HAPPENED IS WE CALLED 65,000 PEOPLE AND SAID, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO LISTEN IN TO THE TOWN HALL MEETING?
THEY CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU ARE AT HOME RIGHT NOW AND PARTICIPATING, ALL YOU
HAVE TO DO IS PRESS ZERO.
NOW, DON'T WORRY, YOUR VOICE ISN'T GOING TO BE ON THE
AIR.
YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE YOUR COMMENTS TO ONE OF OUR WRITERS
WHO WILL TYPE IT DOWN AND THEY WILL RUN IT UP TO ME AND
WE WILL GET A CHANCE TO ASK THE COMMISSION HERE.
CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN OR YOU CAN GO TO THE
eTownHall WEB SITE AND LOG IN AT ANY TIME DURING OUR
BROADCAST.
YOU CAN ALSO USE TWITTER AND TWEET.
I STILL CAN'T GET USED TO THAT.
AND THE HASHTAG #PINELLAS eTown in your tweet.
Now, for the folks that are here in the audience, if you
would like to tweet you can do that.
But I would like to keep your eyes focused up here so you
can hear me answer.
Sometimes we get so involved in tweeting and we don't
hear the answers that are given, but if you would like to
have a comment, there are people around here. If you
will raise your hand they will come to you and you can
give a comment.
All right.
We would like to get started now by introducing our
panel, but first I would like to let everybody know that
unfortunately commissioner Karen Williams Seel, who was
here just a short time ago, had another commitment.
So she was able to shake hands with some folks, but she
is not going to be able be here.
But we have a number of other people who will be happy to
speak in her stead.
These are your county commissioners.
WE BEGIN ON THE FAR RIGHT OF THE STAGE WITH COMMISSION
CHAIRMAN KEN WELCH.
KEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YOU WERE JUST ON A PROGRAM ON POLITICAL CONNECTIONS JUST
LAST WEEK, AND THE REVIEWS WERE RAVE REVIEWS.
>>KENNETH WELCH: THANKS SO MUCH, AL.
THANKS FOR MODERATING TONIGHT.
THANKS EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING THIS eTownHall.
LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> OUR NEXT COMMISSIONER IS JANET LONG, ONE OF THE NEW
COMMISSIONERS HERE.
YOU WERE ALSO ON OUR PROGRAM.
WE HAD A COUNTY COMMISSION THING GOING FOR A WHILE,
DIDN'T WE?
>>Janet Long: LOTS OF FUN.
>> LOTS OF FUN.
GREAT.
NEXT TO HER IS JOHN MORRONI.
JOHN, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>>JOHN MORRONI: NICE TO SEE YOU, TOO, AL.
THANKS FOR THE AUDIENCE FOR COMING, AND ESPECIALLY THE
STUDENTS, AND I AM GOING TO MAKE A PREDICTION THAT ONE OF
THE STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT WILL BE UP HERE IN A FEW YEARS,
AND I THINK THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> SUSAN LATVALA IS OUR NEXT COMMISSIONER.
SUSAN, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>>SUSAN LATVALA: GREAT, AL. GOOD TO SEE YOU, AND THANKS
FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, AND THANKS TO ALL THE AUDIENCE
FOR PARTICIPATION.
>> SUSAN AND I GO WAY BACK TO OUR DAYS ON THE SCHOOL
BOARD.
WHEN SHE WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, I WAS COVERING THE
SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PTA, SO ANYTIME YOU ARE INVOLVED IN
PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS, YOU GET AROUND, DON'T YOU?
>> I DO.
>> COMMISSIONER CHARLIE JUSTICE WHO MADE THE BIG
TRANSITION FROM TALLAHASSEE BACK TO THE NECK OF THE WOODS
THAT HE LOVES THE MOST.
>> GREAT TO BE HERE, AL, AND GREAT TO BE HOME EVERY
NIGHT.
>> IT DOES, REALLY. ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN
TALLAHASSEE THESE DAYS.
>> NEXT IS NORM ROCHE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>>NORM ROCHE: THANK YOU, AL, AND DR. LAW AND ST. PETE
COLLEGE.
WHAT'S MOST ENCOURAGING IS THAT EVERY YEAR WE HAVE DONE
THIS THE CROWD GETS LARGER AND LARGER AND LARGER, AND I
THINK THAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT IT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE ARE READY TO GO.
>>AL RUECHEL: AND BOB LASALA, YOU ARE THE GUY THAT DOES
ALL THE NUMBERS, AND, BOY, HE WAS JUST SHOWING ME SOME
NUMBERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY QUITE FRIGHTENING IN TERMS OF
THE ECONOMY, HUH?
>>BOB LASALA: WELL, IT'S A SLOW RECOVERY.
IT A SLOW CRAWL OUT OF A VERY DEEP HOLE LOOKING AT IT.
>> AND WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE THAT CRAWL A
LITTLE MORE LIVABLE FOR ALL OF US.
NOW A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS WHOLE EVENING.
YOU KNOW, IN NOVEMBER, PINELLAS COUNTY'S OFFICE OF
MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET BEGINS DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT THEY
CALL A TEN-YEAR BUDGET FORECAST.
THAT'S A TOOL THAT THEY USE TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS.
THE FORECAST INCLUDES AN EVALUATION OF THE NATIONAL
ECONOMIC OUTPUT.
HEY, IF YOU ARE NOT MAKING IT, THEY CAN'T MAKE IT, AND
THE COUNTY AND THE CITY CAN'T SPEND IT EITHER.
THEY LOOK AT THE STATE'S ECONOMY, THE ECONOMY OF THE
COUNTY AS WELL, IN A COUNTY THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BUILT UP
MAKES IT EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.
IT ALSO ANALYZES AND REPORTS THE PROJECTED STATUS OF EACH
FUNDING SOURCE THAT THE COUNTY RECEIVES REVENUE FROM,
FROM YOU AND ME.
NOW, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THE CURRENT BUDGET
FORECAST FOR YOURSELF, ACTUALLY LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT.
VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
YOU CAN GO TO THE eTownHall WEB SITE NOW AT
PINELLASCOUNTY.ORG/eTownHall.
FORGET THE SLASH.
JUST GO TO THE WEB SITE AND START LOOKING AND YOU WILL
FIND IT.
WHAT THEY HAVE, IT'S VERY HELPFUL.
IT'S A CITIZENS GUIDE TO THE BUDGET LINK BELOW THE VIDEO
WINDOW.
IF YOU GO TO THAT YOU WILL FIND THAT VERY HELPFUL.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET GOING WITH OUR QUESTIONS AND WE'LL
ROCK AND ROLL FOR THE NEXT HOUR.
FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, CHAIRMAN, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
USING THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
TELL ME WHY A BUDGET FORECAST IS SO IMPORTANT.
>>KENNETH WELCH: WELL, THE BUDGET FORECAST IS REALLY AN
INVALUABLE TOOL FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSION, AND I THINK --
I DON'T THINK IT'S HYPERBOLE TO SAY IT REALLY HAS SPAWNED
AND EVOLUTION IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE REALLY RESHAPED THE DEFINITION OF COUNTY
GOVERNMENT BASED ON THAT FORECAST.
IN THIS ERA OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, YOU COULDN'T JUST
BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THIS FORECAST SHOWS US OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD, A
COMBINATION OF ALL THE HEADWINDS, ALL THE ECONOMIC
FACTORS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO FACE, AND WHAT IT LED TO THE
COUNTY COMMISSION WORKING WITH OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
OFFICERS AND BOB AND HIS STAFF WAS THE REALIZATION THAT
WE WOULD NOT ONLY HAVE TO CUT THE BUDGET SIGNIFICANTLY
BUT IN FACT CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF PINELLAS COUNTY
GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF CUTTING SOME SERVICES, REDEFINING
WHAT OUR CORE SERVICES ARE, AND BECAUSE OF THAT FORECAST,
BECAUSE WE HAVE A HOLISTIC LONG-TERM VIEW, WE ARE IN A
POSITION NOW WHERE WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE STORM YET, BUT
THIS YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A BUDGET
STABILIZATION FUND THAT WE USED FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS THAT WILL HELP US ABSORB MOST OF THE $12 MILLION
DEFICIT FOR THIS YEAR.
BUT IT SETS THE PATH TOWARDS SO WE HAVE A SUSTAINABLE SET
OF SERVICES MOVING FORWARD, AND WE ARE NOT MAKING
DECISIONS TODAY THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE COMMISSION IN FIVE
OR TEN YEARS.
>> AL RUECHEL: AND YOU USE THE WORD SUSTAINABILITY WHICH
SOMETIMES GETS TIED UP IN POLITICAL JARGON ONE WAY OR
ANTOHER WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT ECOLOGY AND THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS, BUT SUSTAINABILITY IS WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED
WHICH MEANS WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS TODAY IN
2014 COMING UP, THAT ARE GOING TO HAUNT US IN 2024.
>> KEN WELCH: ABSOLUTELY.
AND SUSTAINABILITY IN EITHER DEFINITION IS FINE WITH ME,
BUT SUSTAINABILITY IN TERMS OF OUR FISCAL POLICY IS ONE
OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES, THAT IF WE CAN'T INVEST EVEN
IN SERVICES THAT FOLKS WANT, I MEAN, IF THEY WANT MORE
CODE ENFORCEMENT, MORE ANIMAL CONTROL, WE CAN'T JUST ADD
THOSE SERVICES WITHOUT SEEING HOW WE ARE GOING TO SUSTAIN
THAT OVER THE LONG-TERM.
>>AL RUECHEL: OKAY. BOB, YOU WERE JUST SHOWING ME SOME
CHARTS, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN
THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW.
GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE
IS NOW AND THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE
GOING TO HAVE AND THE ONES THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW YOU HAVE
IN THE FUTURE.
>>BOB LASALA: WELL, THIS RECESSION -- THIS GREAT
RECESSION HAS BEEN A SEA CHANGE, AND IT'S MADE US ADAPT
AND RETHINK THE DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE, AND HOW THOSE
REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE USED IN TERMS OF EXPENDITURES
AND SERVICE LEVELS.
THE ECONOMY'S RECOVERY IS MUCH SLOWER THAN IT HAS BEEN
OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, AND SO WE NEED TO ADJUST AND
ADAPT TO THAT, ANTICIPATE THAT SLOW GROWTH, ANTICIPATE
THE LIMITATIONS THAT THAT BRINGS AND HELP THE BOARD MAKE
THESE DIFFICULT CHOICES MUCH MORE CLEAR SO THAT THEY ARE
IN A POSITION TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE IN TERMS OF
SERVICE AND LEVELS OF SERVICE.
>> WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF EXTRA
MONEY TO GO AROUND, IS THERE?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE HAVE MAXIMIZED EVERY REVENUE, AND WE HAVE MADE MAJOR
REDUCTIONS IN EXPENDITURE THAT HAVE BEEN MEASURED IN
GREAT EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY, AND PRODUCTIVITY
IMPROVEMENT, IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THE SERVICES THAT ARE IN
PLACE TODAY.
>> OKAY.
NOW, LET ME READ THIS. THIS IS ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT
CAME IN FROM ANOTHER BOB, AND THIS ISN'T YOU, AND I HAD
TO MAKE SURE THIS WASN'T SOME PEOPLE PLUGGED IN HERE.
THE ELASTICITY OF SALES TAX AND OTHERS, THAT'S WHEN
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TRY AND BUILD PRESERVES TO HELP THEM
GET THROUGH THE DOWNTURNS WITHOUT MAJOR JOB CUTS.
IT'S FAR MORE ECONOMICAL TO KEEP A PERSON OR SERVICE IN
PLACE FOR A SHORT PERIOD THAN TO CONSTANTLY CUT AND
REINSTATE THEM.
THE TRAINING, LAUNCH AND OTHER ANCILLARY COSTS ARE VERY
EXPENSIVE.
ELASTICITY OF SALES TAX.
WHAT IS THAT?
>> WELL, WHAT THAT PERSON IS POINTING TO IS AS THE
ECONOMY EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS, THE REVENUE THAT WE GET
FROM SALES TAX EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS.
AND BY PROJECTING OUT INTO THE FUTURE BASED ON THE GROWTH
THAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY, WE CAN BETTER ANTICIPATE HOW TO
STAFF, AT WHAT LEVELS, AND THIS PERSON IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
HE SEES THE WISDOM THAT THIS BOARD HAS INSISTED ON IN
TERMS OF TAKING A LONGER VIEW.
>>AL RUECHEL: WE GOT A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS THAT CAME IN
FROM BLOGS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY SENT THESE IN EARLY TO
US.
THIS ONE CAME IN ON MONDAY, APRIL 8th AT 4:54.
WHAT I AM GOING TO DO, COMMISSIONERS, I AM GOING TO ASK
THE QUESTION AND ONE OF YOU JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND TAKE
IT.
AND WE WON'T HAVE EVERY COMMISSIONER MAKE A COMMENT ON
EVERY ONE OF THESE.
OTHERWISE, WE'LL BE HERE TILL 9:00 TONIGHT.
ISN'T "AMERICAN IDOL" TONIGHT?
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
THE QUESTION COMES MONDAY, APRIL THE 8th AT 4:54 FROM
BILL.
HERE IS THE QUESTION.
IS HEAD START OR EARLY HEAD START IN THE COUNTY BUDGET
FORECAST?
WHO WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THAT?
>>SUSAN LATVALA: THAT'S AN EASY ONE.
HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START, TOO, ARE BOTH FEDERALLY
FUNDED PROGRAMS, AND THE COUNTY DOES NOT FUND THEM AT
ALL.
ACTUALLY, A SMALL PORTION OF THEIR FUNDING COMES FROM THE
JUVENILE WELFARE BOARD.
IT'S NOT IN OUR BUDGET.
>>AL RUECHEL: OKAY, THAT WAS GOOD.
WE MAY GET THROUGH A LOT OF QUESTIONS TONIGHT.
HERE IS ANOTHER ONE FROM THE BLOG THAT CAME IN ON
TUESDAY, APRIL 9th.
THE PERSON WHO HAS CHOSEN TO BE CALLED "GUEST."
HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY JUSTIFY A STORMWATER TAX IN THIS
HORRIBLE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT?
>>NORM ROCHE: THANK YOU.
IT'S A FASCINATING CHALLENGE AND I THINK WE HAVE ALL
TALKED ABOUT THAT RECENTLY, WITH THE DECLINE IN THE
REVENUE AND BALANCE WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'M THE ONE WHO VOTED SORT OF -- THE ONE WHO VOTED
AGAINST GOING FORWARD ON IT BUT IT WASN'T NECESSARILY AN
ANTI-TAX THING.
WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH OUR STORMWATER.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TEN MUNICIPALITIES DOING IT AND THE
COUNTY DOING IT, SO IT'S A COMPOUNDING PROBLEM.
WE HAVE GOT AN AGING SYSTEM.
WE HAVE GOT A BUILT-OUT COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF CONCRETE.
AND THAT WATER HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE.
AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING -- THE COUNTY HAS BEEN INVESTING
$10 MILLION A YEAR FOR SOME TIME TO KEEP PACE IT WITH.
BUT, AGAIN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING.
EPA HAS THROWN IN SOME HIGHER STANDARDS THAT ARE GOING TO
BE VERY COSTLY TO CATCH UP WITH AND TRY AND KEEP TRACK
OF.
SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE -- MAYBE A BETTER TERM IS A
NECESSARY EVIL.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE GOT TO LOOK AT IT, GOT
TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE THE EMPIRICAL DATA, THAT WE
HAVE A VERY GOOD PLAN THAT GOES FORWARD IN A COMPOUND
PLAN, AND A COMPLEX PLAN, THAT ADDRESSES THE COMPOUND AND
COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUES, BECAUSE IT'S MULTI-FACETED.
IT ISN'T JUST WATER FROM A TO Z.
IT'S WATER AND WHAT IS BEING CARRIED BY IT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
THE STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT TO PREPARE A PRETTY
LENGTHY AND DETAILED PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE A
DECISION ON IT.
>>AL RUECHEL: I WANT TO COME BACK AND REVISIT THAT IN
JUST A SECOND.
WE JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT IF YOU ARE ON YOUR PHONE,
YOU ARE BLOGGING OR TWITTERING, REMEMBER, IF YOU HAVE GOT
A QUESTION, IF YOU ARE JOINING US BY PHONE, PRESS ZERO.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOUR VOICE IS GOING TO SHOW UP ON THE
AIR, BUT IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE GET IT IN TO US,
AND GET THESE COMMENTS IN EARLY, FOLKS, BECAUSE I CAN
TELL YOU WHAT ALWAYS HAPPENS WITH THESE PROBLEMS,
EVERYBODY WAITS UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE AND THEN WE GET TO
7:58, WE STILL HAVE 40 QUESTIONS TO GO.
LET ME FOLLOW UP ON THE WHOLE THING WITH STORMWATER.
BECAUSE I THINK WHEN PEOPLE HEAR STORMWATER, THEY SAY,
WELL, THAT MEANS MY STREET IS GOING TO FLOOD BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STORMWATER CAPACITY.
IS THAT WHAT STORMWATER IS?
>>CHARLIE JUSTICE: WELL, THERE'S TWO PARTS TO IT.
THERE IS PART OF FLOOD CONTROL, BUT IN PINELLAS COUNTY WE
HAVE HUNDREDS OF THESE SMALL PONDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT THE WATER SOMETIMES GOES THROUGH THAT, SO WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE WATER THAT GOES INTO
THOSE PONDS, BUT ALSO THE QUALITY OF WATER THAT ENDS UP
IN THE GULF, WHICH IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR ALL OF US.
>> AND THAT'S WHERE THE GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED WITH
THAT.
WE HAVE A QUESTION THAT COMES IN FROM THE PHONE, AND WILL
THERE BE MORE FUNDING GOING TO EDUCATION?
THAT'S A PHONE QUESTION.
NOW, DOES THE COUNTY ACTUALLY PROVIDE MONEY FOR
EDUCATION?
>>NORM ROCHE: WE GET THIS QUESTION OFTEN.
WE GET SOME FOLKS THAT COME TO THE BOARD MEETING AS WELL.
THE PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IS A SEPARATE ENTITY IN
PINELLAS COUNTY.
THEY ARE THEIR OWN TAXING AUTHORITY.
NEITHER THIS BOARD HAS POWER OR CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY DO
WITH THEIR BUDGET, NOR DOES THE SCHOOL BOARD HAVE POWER
AND CONTROL OVER HERE.
IT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- I DON'T KNOW IF THEY GAVE YOU
A NAME -- TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY GET THE RIGHT
QUESTION TO THE RIGHT BODY, AND THE RIGHT BODY IS THE
SCHOOL BOARD.
SO PINELLAS COUNTY IS VERY LIMITED.
WE HAVE EARLY LEARNING COALITION.
WE HAVE FUNDING GOING IN THERE FOR THE EARLY START, K-12
PROGRAM AND DAYCARE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT ACTUALLY INTO THE NEEDS OF EDUCATION, THAT QUESTION
IS BEST ANSWERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
>> KEN?
>>KEN WELCH: AND I AGREE WITH THAT.
I WOULD JUST ADD ON, THOUGH.
WE HAVE DEVELOPED A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS
THAT WE FACE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND EDUCATION TRADITIONALLY IS MORE THAN JUST THE TIME
THAT THAT CHILD SPENDS IN SCHOOL.
IT'S WHAT DO THEY GO HOME TO AFTER SCHOOL, AND WHAT DOES
THAT ENVIRONMENT LOOK LIKE?
DO THEY HAVE INTERNET ACCESS?
DO THEY HAVE A MEANS TO COMPLETE THEIR HOMEWORK?
DO THEY HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT?
SO WE ARE TRYING THROUGH THIS "25 EQUALS ONE"
INITIATIVE -- AND COMMISSIONER ROCHE CAME UP WITH THAT
MONIKER -- TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND
JWB AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO DEAL WITH
THESE PROBLEMS HOLISTICALLY BECAUSE JUST PUTTING MORE
MONEY INTO, SAY, A PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL DOESN'T SOLVE A
PROBLEM THAT WE SEE SPECIFICALLY IN SOME PARTS OF THE
COUNTY THAT ARE TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTED BY POVERTY.
AND FROM A TAXPAYER PERSPECTIVE, THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE
PAYING IN TERMS RECIDIVISM, CRIME, HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES,
ALL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN A HOLISTIC WAY, AND THAT
MEANS EVERY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS,
FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, NEIGHBORHOODS, FAMILIES, ALL
WORKING TOGETHER.
SO GOING BACK TO EDUCATION, WE DON'T DIRECTLY FUND IT,
BUT WE HAVE SAID AS A COMMISSION WE WANT TO PARTNER IN A
MORE EFFECTIVE WAY WITH EVERYONE THAT'S INVOLVED IN
EDUCATION, BE IT JWB OR SCHOOL DISTRICT OR ST. PETE
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
>> YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT IN THIS COUNTRY -- THE COUNTRY
IS WELL OVER 200 YEARS OLD -- WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE
PROBLEMS.
BIGGER CITIES HAVE HAD A LOT BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN WE
HAVE.
BUT HERE IS A QUESTION THAT CAME FROM ONE OF OUR PHONE
LISTENERS RIGHT NOW.
HER NAME IS LINDA.
SHE SAYS, DOES THE COUNTY HAVE A RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT
FUND TO KEEP UP WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY WHEN
INFRASTRUCTURE FAILS OR NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED?
ANYBODY?
>>KEN WELCH: WELL, OUR MAIN WAY OF FUNDING CAPITAL
PROJECTS IS THE PENNY FOR PINELLAS, AND THAT HAS FUNDED
PROJECTS FROM PARKS TO 49th STREET BRIDGE, TO CJC.
IT IS OUR MAIN WAY OF FUNDING THOSE KINDS OF PROJECTS.
AND WE SET ASIDE, I DON'T KNOW, 20% OF THAT RIGHT OFF THE
TOP OF THE BAT, OF COURSE, IS JAILS. GOING INTO THE NEXT
PENNY FOR PINELLAS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE PRIORITIZE
THOSE PROJECTS.
THAT'S OUR MAIN WAY OF FUNDING CAPITAL PROJECTS.
>>BOB LASALA: WHAT THIS BOARD HAS DONE IS ASKED THE
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO CONSIDER RECOMMENDING TO THE
FULL LEGISLATURE THAT A PORTION OF THOSE DOLLARS FROM THE
PENNY FOR PINELLAS BE ALLOCATED FOR THE OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, SO NOT
JUST SIMPLY PUTTING MORE BRICKS AND MORTAR IN THE GROUND
BUT MAINTAINING THEM AS WELL.
>>AL RUECHEL: I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
PENNY FOR PINELLAS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IT PROVIDES A
LOT OF SERVICES FOR US THAT MAYBE WE WOULDN'T THINK WE
WOULD HAVE.
AND, OF COURSE, THE BIGGEST PENNY FOR PINELLAS PROJECT I
CAN THINK OF IS THE PINELLAS TRAIL WHICH I USE QUITE
REGULARLY AND CRASHED THREE TIMES ON IT.
IT'S NOT THE TRAIL'S FAULT.
IT WAS ME.
I WAS GOING TOO FAST.
>>BOB LASALA: AL, THIS COMMISSION DEDICATES ITS GAS TAX
REVENUE TOWARDS THE MAINTENANCE OF TRANSPORTATION OF
HIGHWAY SYSTEMS.
BUT THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THAT AS WELL AS WE
WOULD LIKE.
BUT IT IS A HIGH PRIORITY, AND A CONCERN THAT THIS BOARD
IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSING AS PART OF THE FINANCIAL
FORECAST.
>>AL RUECHEL: BUT DO YOU THINK THAT TAKING SOME OF THE
MONEY FROM PENNY FROM PINELLAS, AND ARE YOU ESSENTIALLY
TRYING TO ROLL THAT INTO THE GENERAL BUDGET?
WHAT'S THE MECHANISM FOR THAT?
>>NORM ROCHE: PENNY FOR PINELLAS WAS A WONDERFUL IDEA.
IT'S STILL A GOOD PROGRAM.
IT ALLOWS YOU TO USE THOSE FUNDINGS TO BUILD THE PROJECT,
BUT DIDN'T ALLOW FOR THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS TO MAINTAIN
THE PROJECT.
SO THAT FUNDING COMING FROM THE GAS TAX OR THE GENERAL
FUND SORT OF CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN THOSE PROJECTS, IT'S
REALLY A COMBINATION OF THE TWO, REALLY, AND WHAT THE
LEGISLATURE OR WHAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT WAS BEING
ABLE TO PEEL OFF WHETHER IT'S A PERCENTAGE OR QUARTER OF
A PENNY, WHATEVER IT IS, AND BEING ALLOWED TO UTILIZE
SOME OF THAT FUND TO ALSO MAINTAIN AND SERVICE THE
PROJECTS WE BUILD WITH THAT MONEY.
IT'S QUITE A CHALLENGE.
IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, THEN YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE
INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES OR COME UP WITH GAS TAX
INCREASES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, TO HELP MAINTAIN IT.
AND YOU KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER.
WE ARE AT A BUILT-OUT STAGE BUT WE HAVE AN AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO START REPLACING AND
MAINTAINING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ARE COMING OFF A CRASH AND A SLOW RECOVERY.
SO THAT'S THE MANY CHALLENGES.
THAT'S WHY WE GET THE MATCHING SET OF LUGGAGE UNDER OUR
EYES.
IT'S STILL CARRY-ON LUGGAGE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM ELIZABETH -- OR FROM
GEORGE, RATHER.
HE SAID, IS ANYTHING BEING DONE TO STIMULATE LOCAL
BUSINESSES TO HELP WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION?
ANYBODY?
>>NORM ROCHE: I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONLY ONE.
>> STIMULATE LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HELP WITH UNEMPLOYMENT.
DOES THE COUNTY HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR AS
UNEMPLOYMENT IS CONCERNED?
>>KEN WELCH: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS YOU CAN LOOK
AT THAT FROM AN EDUCATION PERSPECTIVE.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY -- THE JOB CORPS PROJECT WAS A JOINT
VENTURE BETWEEN THE COUNTY, THE CITY AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S IN THE JOB TRAINING ASPECT OF IT.
IN TERMS RETENTION OF SERVICES AND ATTRACTING NEW JOBS,
THE COUNTY DOES PARTNER WITH CITIES AND THE STATE THROUGH
VARIOUS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS -- QTI IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT.
I KNOW WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF
DISCLOSURE ON THAT, BUT THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT DOES BRING
JOBS, AND THE INCENTIVES DON'T HAPPEN UNTIL THE JOBS AND
THE INVESTMENT HAPPENS.
AND SO THOSE ARE WAYS THAT THE COUNTY CAN PARTNER WITH
OTHER ENTITIES TO STIMULATE JOB GROWTH AND JOB TRAINING
IN TERMS OF EDUCATION.
>>AL RUECHEL: LET'S GET ANOTHER COMMENT FROM ANOTHER
SOURCE HERE.
IT SAYS, COST SAVINGS TO HAVE ONE MAIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND/OR ONE MAIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WHERE DO HE WOULD STAND ON THAT?
CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES.
I KNOW THAT SHERIFF GUALTIERI IS OUT HERE AND HIS
ORGANIZATION.
WE COULD HAVE HIM COME UP HERE AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
BUT WE WILL LET THE COMMISSIONERS DO IT BECAUSE THEY ARE
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE RIGHT NOW.
CONSOLIDATED.
>>Janet Long: I'LL TAKE A STAB AT THAT, IF NORM IS OKAY.
THESE TWO ISSUES HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN OUR COUNTY FOR
OVER 30 YEARS.
AND BECAUSE WE HAVE THE 24 MUNICIPALITIES, AND, YOU KNOW,
COUNTY GOVERNMENT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IF THEY WANT TO
HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT I THINK THE SHERIFF HAS DONE AN ADMIRABLE JOB OF
SLOWLY BUT SURELY TAKING OVER SOME DEPARTMENTS FROM THE
MUNICIPALITIES, BECAUSE, FRANKLY, THEY JUST CAN'T AFFORD
IT ANYMORE.
SO AS IT RELATES TO THE FIRE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
ARE HOPING WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND
MAKE SOME SYSTEMIC CHANGES TO KEEP US, AGAIN TO USE THE
WORD "SUSTAINABLE," SO WE CAN PROTECT EVERYONE FOR THE
LONG-TERM.
>>Charlie Justice: IF I COULD, AL, YOU HAVE TO BALANCE
THE NUANCES OF COST SAVINGS THAT YOU CAN HAVE BY HAVING A
LARGER POOL, BUT ALSO THE RESPECT THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE
COMMUNITIES THROUGH THEIR IDENTITY AND THE HISTORY THAT
THEY HAVE.
BUT THE BUDGET HAS FORCED THE CITIES TO TAKING A
LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
THE CITIES ARE PARTNERING ON SERVICES THAT THEY CAN SAVE
MONEY ON BY WORKING TOGETHER ON THINGS.
SO THE CITIES ARE TAKING A LEAD ON CONSOLIDATING SOME
THINGS.
>>AL RUECHEL: AND THIS KIND OF FOLLOWS WITH THIS, AND WE
ALWAYS WONDER IF WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS QUESTION,
BECAUSE WE JUST ASKED THIS QUESTION A LOT OF POLITICAL
CONNECTIONS BECAUSE WE GOT SO MUCH E-MAIL ABOUT THIS.
WE KNOW THAT THE SITUATION BETWEEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND SUNSTAR AND THE PARAMEDICS, WHERE ARE WE GOING WITH
THAT?
BECAUSE HASN'T IT BEEN QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE MOST
ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE?
AND THERE WAS A STORY ABOUT PINELLAS COUNTY MAYBE LOSING
19 FIREFIGHTERS BECAUSE THEY HAD TO RESPOND TO THE HIGH
POINT AREA.
SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?
>>KEN WELCH: WELL, LET ME SAY THIS.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS A STUDY UNDERWAY -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY STUDIES HAVE HAPPENED -- BUT WHEN THIS STUDY IS
COMPLETE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AS A
COUNTY COMMISSION WORKING WITH THE CITIES AND THE FIRE
DISTRICTS THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY SERVICE IS DELIVERED.
AND FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ACCEPTING OF THAT
CHANGE.
AND THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE.
ONE IS THE ITS MODEL WHICH MOVES MORE TOWARDS THE
AMBULANCE PROVIDER.
ONE IS A FIRE-BASED MODEL BROUGHT FORTH BY FIREFIGHTERS.
AND THE THIRD IS A HYBRID.
BUT EITHER ONE OF THOSE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE THE ONE
THAT BRINGS THE MOST SUSTAINABLE EMS SERVICE TO THE
COUNTY, BUT IT WILL REQUIRE A CHANGE IN THE WAY THAT
SERVICE IS DELIVERED.
AND FOLKS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT CONSOLIDATION.
WE COULD SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF WE CONSOLIDATED IN
THIS COUNTY.
BUT WHEN YOU GO TO A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND ASK, DO YOU
WANT TO GIVE UP THE CITY OF KENNETH -- I'LL USE MY
NAME -- ON THE SIDE OF THAT POLICE CAR, THAT FIRE TRUCK,
YOU WILL GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER.
SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON ARE THE PEOPLE WILLING TO ACCEPT
THE CHANGE IN THE WAY THE SERVICE IS DELIVERED?
IN ORDER FOR THAT EMS FUND TO MOVE BACK INTO THE
SUSTAINABILITY, THAT CHANGE IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN SO
PEOPLE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
>> AND TALKING TO FIREFIGHTERS WHO SAY, HEY, WE COULD
PROVIDE THE TRANSPORT SERVICE.
I HAD A LITTLE BIKE ACCIDENT A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, BEING
VERY CARELESS, AND A GUY DECIDED TO TRY TO RUN ME OVER,
AND BEFORE I EVEN COULD GET MY WRECKED BIKE OFF THE ROAD,
I HAD TWO AMBULANCES AND TWO FIRE STATIONS THAT HAD
RESPONDED.
NOW, ADMITTEDLY, WHEN THEY PROBABLY HEARD MY NAME AND
KNEW THAT I WAS A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, THAT PROBABLY
BROUGHT THEM OUT A LOT SOONER, BUT THIS IS A BIG QUESTION
THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE, IS DON'T WE HAVE ENOUGH
FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE COULD SAVE A LOT OF MONEY IF THEY
DID THE TRANSPORTING OR EVEN IF THE DISPATCH SYSTEM WAS
SLIGHTLY CHANGED, SO WHEN YOU KNOW AN ACCIDENT ISN'T
QUITE AS SERIOUS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEND AS MANY AS
VEHICLES THERE?
>>SUSAN LATVALA: TRANSPORTING IS MUCH MORE THAN DRIVING
THE AMBULANCE FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE TO THE HOSPITAL.
AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING SOME TOURS OF THE SUNSTAR
CENTER TO EDUCATE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE COUNTY ABOUT
WHAT ACTUALLY GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
BUT THERE HAS TO BE A CERTIFICATE OF NEED BY EVERY FIRE
DEPARTMENT THAT PROVIDES THAT SERVICE NOT EASILY
OBTAINED.
THE MEDICAL RECORDS KEEPING HAS TO BE DONE AND THE
BILLING TO MEDICAID AND MEDICARE AND PRIVATE INSURANCE
COMPANIES.
VERY DIFFICULT TO DO.
AND IF IT'S NOT DONE ACCURATELY, IT COSTS MONEY.
AND WE HAVE A WONDERFUL RECORD, INCREDIBLE RECORD OF
BEING ABLE TO BILL AND COLLECT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE
MONEY THAT IS OWED TO THE SERVICES.
AND IT'S JUST NOT AS SIMPLE AS LETTING THE FIREMEN DRIVE
THE AMBULANCE.
>>NORM ROCHE: IT IS A COMPLEX ISSUE, AND IT'S AN
IMPORTANT ONE, SO IT WARRANTS SPENDING THE TIME TO
DISCUSS IT, BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE
ARE FACING.
AND IT IS A TOUGH CHALLENGE.
IT KIND OF IS AT THE HEART OF THAT SORT OF "25 EQUALS
ONE" THEORY.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT ECONOMIC REALITIES TODAY.
WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT WORLD TODAY.
AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS VERY DIFFERENTLY.
AND THAT IS THAT "25 EQUALS ONE" CONCEPT WHERE WE HAVE
GOT TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE THINGS WHERE THE 24
MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COUNTY CAN SIT DOWN OPENLY AT A
TABLE AND SAY, HOW CAN WE DO THIS MORE EFFICIENTLY
TOGETHER?
IT'S A TOUGH CHALLENGE, BECAUSE IF IT'S YOUR LOVED ONE
WHO IS HURT, YOU WANT EVERYBODY, ALL HANDS ON DECK THERE.
TAKE A HELICOPTER, TOO, TO BRING IT IN IF YOU WANT THAT
HELP.
BUT YOU SEE THAT, AND IT'S VERY NATURAL, WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH THAT?
SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE ALL GOING
TO BE DEALING WITH AND FACING WITH.
I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD --
>> AND AS A POINT OF INFORMATION, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS
BEEN DOING IT WITH THEIR EMS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS WITH
SOME SUCCESS, THEY SAY.
>>SUSAN LATVALA: THEY HAVE DIFFERENT A GEOGRAPHY THAN
WHAT WE HAVE.
>>KEN WELCH: EVERY LARGE URBAN COUNTY HAS SOME FORM
OF FIRE-BASED TRANSPORT, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A DEBATE
THAT WILL UNFOLD OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
BY THE WAY, YOU TAKE A LOT OF BIKE FALLS, AL.
(LAUGHTER)
>> WELL, I WEAR A HELMET ALL THE TIME, THOUGH.
>> SO COMMISSIONER LATVALA AND I HAVE DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES ON THAT, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE WILL
BE A CHANGE, AND FOLKS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND BE
PREPARED FOR IT.
>>SUSAN LATVALA: BUT THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS
THERE WON'T BE A CHANGE IN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE.
>> CHARLIE, YOU HAD THAT MIKE UP.
>>Charlie Justice: WE COULD COME BACK AND SPEND SEVERAL
HOURS JUST ON THIS ISSUE.
>>AL RUECHEL: BY THE WAY, FOLKS, IF YOU ARE LISTENING ON
THE PHONE RIGHT NOW, ONE OF 65,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE
AUTOMATICALLY CALLED TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAM, JUST
PRESS ZERO AT ANY TIME IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
AGAIN, YOUR VOICE WON'T BE ON THE AIR.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR VOICES ON
THE AIR.
BUT WE WILL TAKE THE INFORMATION AND THEY WILL TRANSMIT
IT UP TO ME HERE.
JUST VERY BRIEFLY BECAUSE WE USED THIS PHRASE A COUPLE OF
TIMES AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE AUDIENCE UNDERSTANDS.
"25 IS ONE."
WHAT'S THAT MEAN?
>> THAT MEANS THAT -- I'LL DEFINE YOUR PHRASE -- IT MEANS
THE 24 CITIES AND THE COUNTY WORKING TOGETHER
COLLABORATIVELY.
>>AL RUECHEL: OKAY.
LET'S GO TO -- DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A NEW JOE MADDON PHRASE, YOU KNOW?
25 EQUALS A WIN?
I DON'T KNOW.
LET'S MOVE ON.
JOHN, THIS IS FOR YOU.
DOES THE COUNTY DEDUCT UNION DUES FROM PAYCHECKS AND
TRANSFER FUNDS TO UNIONS?
THAT WAS ONE OF OUR BLOGGERS.
>>JOHN MORRONI: NO.
EXCEPT IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE UNION DUES
IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BUT NOT IN THE REGULAR COUNTY
WORKERS, NO.
>>AL RUECHEL: AND AS LONG AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MONEY,
SHIRLEY B FROM CLEARWATER SAYS, WILL THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS GET RAISES THIS YEAR?
DO YOU KNOW WHO SHIRLEY B IS?
>>JOHN MORRONI: NO, BUT I CAN ANSWER THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, OUR SALARIES ARE SET BY A FORMULA IN
TALLAHASSEE.
THE LEGISLATURE VOTES ON WHAT WE GET PAID.
AND THAT'S DONE BY A FORMULA.
AND IT DEFINITELY TAKES THE POPULATION INTO
CONSIDERATION, AND AS YOU KNOW, THE POPULATION OF
PINELLAS COUNTY HAS GONE DOWN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS,
AND ACTUALLY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SEVEN
YEARS, LIKE COMMISSIONER WELCH AND I AND COMMISSIONER
LATVALA, THERE'S BEEN A DECREASE IN PAY BY ABOUT $500.
I THINK IT'S $499 EXACTLY OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
BUT, ALSO, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED CUTTING REAL STRONGLY A
FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN THE RECESSION REALLY HIT, WE ALSO --
THE COMMISSION DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT BUT WE DID IT -- WE
VOLUNTARILY GAVE 3% OF OUR SALARY BACK TO EITHER TO THE
COUNTY -- I DID TO THE COUNTY; SOME PEOPLE GAVE 3% BACK
TO CHARITIES.
SO WE CUT OUR OWN SALARY WHEN ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE WERE
GETTING FIRED OR LAID OFF OR THEY WERE TAKING CUTS, TOO.
SO WE FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE SOME OF THE BRUNT, TOO.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
EXCEPT THE NEW PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY THAT JUST CAME IN, BUT WE
WERE DOING THAT FOR A FEW YEARS.
>>NORM ROCHE: PUT THEM ON THE HEAT.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
MY FAMILY AND I TITHE 10%.
>> HERE IS A COUPLE FROM THE PHONE, WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST
AN UNTAPPED POTENTIAL RETIREES WHO HELP MENTOR KIDS IN
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
IS THAT A GOOD IDEA? MENTORING.
>>KEN WELCH: ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE WHOLE EDUCATION ISSUE.
MENTORING IS A MISSING PIECE BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE KIDS
WHO ARE UNDERPERFORMING IN SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE A
TWO-PARENT HOUSEHOLD, OR THEY HAVE A PARENT WHO CAN'T
TUTOR THEM FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. MENTORS CAN HELP
FILL THAT GAP.
AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE CITIES ACTUALLY INCENTIVIZE
IN ENTERING WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT AT THE COUNTY
LEVEL. AND HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT IN
STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUT MENTORING IS VITALLY IMPORTANT
AND IT'S A LOW-COST OPTION.
>> WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM IN PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
BECAUSE I DO A PROGRAM WITH PINELLAS COUNTY CALLED 5,000
MENTORS, AND IT'S TREMENDOUS.
IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD, CHANGE IT ONE PERSON AT
A TIME AND YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WHAT KIND OF IMPACT YOU
CAN HAVE.
ALL RIGHT.
HERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT CAME FROM A BLOG THIS PAST
TUESDAY.
WHAT IS THE COUNTY DOING TO BRING ENERGY-EFFICIENT
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS SUCH AS NATURAL
GAS?
>>NORM ROCHE: WELL, THE COUNTY DOESN'T CONTROL NATURAL
GAS.
I THINK THERE ARE TWO COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT OFFER
NATURAL GAS, JUST OFF THE BAT.
SOME OF THE CITIES HAVE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.
OBVIOUSLY, IT WOULD BE A MAJOR COST INVOLVED TO THE
COUNTY DOING AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT TO PROVIDE IT, BUT
IT DOESN'T PROVIDE AN INDIVIDUAL FROM PUTTING A TANK AT
THEIR HOUSE AND PLUMBING THEIR HOUSE FOR THAT.
I THINK WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY LOOK AT OUR BUSES, OUR
COUNTY VEHICLES, OUR OVER-THE-ROAD TRUCKS ALL GOING
TOWARDS AN LP GAS SYSTEM.
THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT EVEN ACROSS THIS NATION, AND I'M
KIND OF PERPLEXED AS TO WHY WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT JUMP ALL
ACROSS THIS NATION.
THAT SEEMS QUITE SIMPLE.
BUT THE COUNTY ITSELF DOES OUR WORK IN THE COUNTY.
IN FACT, WE RECEIVED ABOUT A $34,000 REFUND CHECK FROM
PROGRESS ENERGY BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE EFFORTS WE HAVE
MADE WITHIN THE COUNTY ITSELF TO PUT IN HIGH-EFFICIENT
LIGHT BULBS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND THAT WORK CONTINUES.
EVERYBODY SHOULD BE DOING THAT IN THEIR OWN HOME.
OF COURSE, THE SAVINGS HELPS.
SO I THINK THAT'S A LIVING PROGRAM.
WE DO IT ALL THE TIME.
I THINK IF WE WERE FLUSH WITH ALL KINDS OF MONEY, WE
WOULD, I'M SURE, BE WANTING TO PUT DOWN NATURAL GAS LINES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
PERHAPS WHEN WE ARE DOING STORMWATER MIGHT BE A GOOD
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
BUT I THINK WE LOOK FOR EVERY EFFORT TO DO IT.
I'M ALWAYS PERPLEXED.
I HAVE MENTIONED IT A FEW TIMES.
WE HAVE GOT AN AREA OUT THERE CALLED TOYTOWN THAT I THINK
IS JUST SCREAMING FOR A RECYCLED MANUFACTURING PLANT.
IT WOULD BRING JOBS HERE, HELP US RECYCLE SOME OF THE
TRASH AND PRODUCTS WE HAVE, WHERE WE COULD PRODUCE THESE
CHAIRS WE ARE SITTING ON, SHOULD BE MADE RIGHT HERE IN
PINELLAS COUNTY BY OUR OWN RECYCLED PLASTIC AND BRING
JOBS.
BUT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THEM,
CONTINUES TO WORK HARD AT IT.
>>AL RUECHEL: THE NEXT QUESTION CAME FROM OUR BLOG
AGAIN.
WHAT IS OUR COUNTY'S POSITION ON EXPANDING RECLAIMED
WATER?
>>SUSAN LATVALA: PRETTY MUCH, ALL THE RECLAIMED WATER
THAT WE PRODUCE IS BEING PUT OUT TO OUR CITIZENS.
IT TAKES ABOUT FOUR HOUSEHOLDS TO PRODUCE ENOUGH
RECLAIMED FOR ONE HOUSEHOLD, SO VIRTUALLY ALL THAT IS
PRODUCED IN THE COUNTY'S WATER SYSTEM -- AND THERE ARE
SEVERAL CITIES AND OTHER ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE WATER --
BUT IN THE COUNTY'S WATER SYSTEM, WE ARE VIRTUALLY
PUTTING ALMOST EVERY DROP OF IT BACK OUT TO OUR CITIZENS.
>> SO IT WOULD MAKE NO SENSE TO EXPAND IT --
>> YOU CAN'T EXPAND IT IF YOU CAN'T MEET THE NEEDS.
>> AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT CAME TO US AND I JUST
WANT TO ADDRESS THIS, BUT THIS IS KIND OF WITH THIS WHOLE
STORMWATER.
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE THING THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING
ABOUT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
WE ARE ASKING THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO HELP US CLEAN
UP THE AREA BETWEEN THE THREE LARGE CONDUITS FLOWING INTO
OUR SUBDIVISION, THE WEIR CANAL AND TRASH FLOWING INTO
THAT AREA, SO WE WANT TO KEEP THIS JUNK FROM GOING INTO
THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY.
DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT IS?
>>JOHN MORRONI: I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THAT.
THERE ARE AREAS -- AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S IN TARA CAY
THAT THAT PERSON IS TALKING ABOUT -- WE HAVE BEEN HEARING
A LOT ABOUT THAT AREA.
THE WEIRs HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN SOME OF THESE
UNINCORPORATED AREAS, BUT THESE ARE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS,
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THE STORMWATER, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG
ISSUE WITH EMS, BECAUSE SOME OF THE COUNTY'S WASTE IS
GETTING INTO THESE PEOPLE'S PRIVATE LAKES AND PONDS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR TEN YEARS, EASY, OF
TRYING TO HELP THEM.
SOME OF THESE AREAS HAVE TO BE DREDGED, AND DREDGING IS
EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOUND OUT OVER THE YEARS THAT SOME
OF THAT IS OUR FAULT, AND WE ADMITTED THAT, BUT THE
MAJORITY OF IT IS RUNOFF, AS COMMISSIONER LATVALA SAID,
WITH ALGAE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THAT'S HELPED, YOU
KNOW, MAKE THAT WATER DIRTY, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS
BEING AFFECTED FOR THOSE FOLKS.
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT, AND WE HAD A PLAN
CALLED "ADOPT A POND" YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WAS MONEY IN
THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT PLAN WILL COME BACK THAT WAY.
BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THESE
FOLKS THAT ARE OUR CITIZENS, OUR TAXPAYERS, AND EVEN
THOUGH IT IS A PRIVATE POND, WE DID CONTRIBUTE SOMEWHAT
AND SOMETHING TO THAT DIRTY POND.
>>AL RUECHEL: LET ME GET BACK.
TWO MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT STORMWATER AND PENNY FOR
PINELLAS.
AND I WILL READ WHAT IT SAYS.
CAN PENNY FOR PINELLAS BE USED TO DEFRAY EXPENSES TO BE
COVERED UNDER THE PROPOSED STORMWATER TAX?
AND ALONG THOSE LINES IT ALSO SAYS, ISN'T STATE SALES TAX
SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR CLEANING UP COUNTY
INFRASTRUCTURE?
ARE THOSE TIED TOGETHER AT ALL?
>>JOHN MORRONI: I DON'T BELIEVE SO, NO.
ESPECIALLY THE PENNY FOR PINELLAS IS ONLY FOR STRUCTURES.
IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S NOT FOR TAKING CARE OF MAINTENANCE AND THINGS LIKE
THAT, NO.
>> IT COULDN'T BE USED TO REDUCE THE STORMWATER TAX THEN?
>> NO.
>>AL RUECHEL: HERE IS ANOTHER QUESTION.
HASN'T SPENDING PENNY FOR PINELLAS ON MULTI-MILLION
DOLLAR CITY HALLS AND HURRICANE RESISTANT MAINTENANCE
BUILDINGS IN SMALL MUNICIPALITIES BEEN COST EFFECTIVE?
HOW COULD YOU BETTER SPEND PENNY FOR PINELLAS AND HOW
COULD IT BE CHANGED?
>>JOHN MORRONI: CITIES GET A PORTION OF EACH PENNY.
AND THEY ASK THEIR CITIZENS, I WOULD THINK, THAT THEY
WOULD ASK THEIR CITIZENS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THEIR PORTION OF THE PENNY BEING SPENT ON, AND THEY ARE
THE ONES THAT MAKE THE DECISION, NOT US, ON WHAT THEY ARE
DOING WITH THEIR MONEY.
AND IF THEY ARE BUILDING A CITY HALL, OR A NEW GYM OR
WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING, WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
>>NORM ROCHE: AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE COMPOUND AND THE
COMPLEXITY OF THESE ISSUES.
THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST PENNY FOR PINELLAS IS
CONNECTED BY LAW, THE CITIES GET THEIR PORTION AND WHAT
HAVE YOU, AND WE DISBURSE THAT TO THEM, OBVIOUSLY THROUGH
THE SALES RECEIPTS.
BUT WE DON'T CONTROL THAT.
WE CAN'T REACH INTO THE CITY AND SAY YOU HAVE TO SPEND IT
THIS WAY AND SPEND THAT THE WAY.
AND WE RUN INTO A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THAT.
AND I HATE TO BRING IT FULL CIRCLE -- NO, I'D LOVE TO
BRING IT FULL CIRCLE, BUT I GO BACK TO "25 EQUALS 1,"
THERE'S A LOT OF MAJOR PROJECTS, AND YOU HAVE SEEN OUR
ROADS.
AL, YOU FALL ON THEM ON YOUR BIKE ALL THE TIME.
>> I'M SO SORRY I SHARED THAT STORY.
>> BUT THEY CHANGE THEIR NAME AND THEY GO FROM THE CITY
TO THE COUNTY TO THE CITY.
SO YOU LOOK AT THESE MAJORS PROJECTS.
WITH THAT SORT OF "25 EQUALS ONE" CONCEPT, IF WE ALL GOT
TOGETHER AND REALIZE WE HAVE THIS MAJOR ROAD PROJECT, AND
INSTEAD OF THE COUNTY FUNDING IT ALL THROUGH THEIR
PORTION, WHY DON'T WE TAKE SOME OF THAT COLLECTIVE
PORTION THAT THEY ARE ALL GETTING TOGETHER AND DO THIS
PROJECT TOGETHER, DO IT MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY?
AND SOME OF THAT WORK IS BEING DONE NOW THAT WE JUST NEED
TO EXPAND ON THAT IDEA, WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE PROJECTS,
AND PENNY FOR PINELLAS, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND, TO A
POINT EARLIER, TO ALSO GO TO THE COUNTY WEB SITE,
PINELLASCOUNTY.ORG/BUDGET, AND TAKE A VERY GOOD LOOK, AND
STAFF HAS PUT AN EXCELLENT DOCUMENT OUT THERE THAT IS OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE BUDGET WITH THE PENNY FOR PINELLAS FROM
2013 -- DON'T CUT MY MIKE -- FROM 2013 TO 2022 -- PLAY
THE MUSIC LIKE THE AWARDS.
I WOULD RECOMMEND EVERYBODY LOOK AT THAT.
THAT SHOWS YOU HOW WE ARE ALLOCATING THOSE DOLLARS OVER
THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
>>AL RUECHEL: OKAY, JOHN.
>>JOHN MORRONI: IT'S GREAT BEING HERE ON THE NORM ROCHE
SHOW.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS WITH THE CITIES, ONE THING THAT WE
DID WORK WITH THE CITIES FOR THE NEW PENNY, WE DID
INCREASE THEIR PORTION COMPARED TO THE OTHER PENNIES, AND
WE DID HAVE ALL THEIR AGREEMENTS IN BUILDING OUR JUSTICE
CENTER ON 49th STREET, AND WE DID ASK THEM OUT OF
THEIR PORTION THAT $225 MILLION FOR THAT JUSTICE CENTER
WAS GOING TO BE THE COUNTY AND THE 24.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE DO NOT ASK THEM WHAT THEY ARE
DOING WITH THEIR MONEY.
THAT'S UP TO THEIR PEOPLE AND THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES.
>>AL RUECHEL: CHARLIE, YOU ARE ONE OF THE NEW ONES
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.
OUR COUNTY IS BUILT OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE EXCEPT FOR
MAYBE FIVE FEET IN MY BACKYARD WHICH IS ALONG THE BAY.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR PINELLAS COUNTY?
A, NUMBER ONE, THAT OUR GROWTH IS GOING TO BE RESTRICTED
BECAUSE WE ARE SO BIG?
NUMBER TWO, IF YOU DON'T HAVE GROWTH, YOU DON'T HAVE
ADDITIONAL REVENUE?
NUMBER THREE, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE HOUSING MARKET IS
BETTER, IT HASN'T CORRECTED ITSELF.
GIVEN ALL THOSE THINGS, WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE
COUNTY?
JUST SURVIVING?
>>Charlie Justice: WELL, NO.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THOUGHT BY OUR STAFF AND
PLANNING STRATEGICALLY OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR NEW
DEVELOPMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT SWATH OF LAND.
WHAT THERE IS IS FORMULAS, THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN LOOK
AT POCKETS OF LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT.
WHETHER IT'S REDEVELOPMENT.
THERE ARE STILL ARE POCKETS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IN
PINELLAS COUNTY THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
WHAT MY VISION FOR OUR COUNTY, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, IS
EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS WHEN I GREW UP HERE.
IT WAS SOMEWHERE THAT YOU WANT TO GROW UP, YOU WANT TO
WORK, YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY, YOU WANT TO RETIRE.
SO IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE THOSE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS FOR THE
COMMUNITY, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS, A PLACE WHERE WE CULTIVATE
THE NEW ENTREPRENEURS THAT WE HAVE COMING THROUGH, OUR
UNIVERSITIES, AND OUR SYSTEM.
BUT ALSO THAT WE DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE ENTREPRENEURS
AND THE BUSINESSMEN THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT FUEL OUR
INDUSTRY, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE TOURISM THAT SAW 20,000 NEW
JOBS LAST YEAR, $28.7 MILLION IN BED TAX COLLECTION.
SO WE CULTIVATE AND WE STIMULATE THE ECONOMY THAT WE
HAVE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT NEW WAYS OF HOW WE CAN BRING
NEW ECONOMY HERE, TOO.
>> SUSAN, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>>SUSAN LATVALA: MY VISION IS INCLUSIVE OF A MORE
TRANSIT ORIENTED FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
AS THE OLD HOUSING AREAS ARE TORN DOWN, REDEVELOPED, IT
WILL BE MORE HIGH DENSITY, HOPEFULLY RAPID TRANSIT, MASS
TRANSIT WILL BE USED TO GET PEOPLE FROM ONE PLACE TO
ANOTHER, REDUCING OUR NEED TO BUILD MORE ROADS, WHICH WE
DON'T HAVE THE LAND TO DO.
BUT THINKING ABOUT TRANSIT AND HOW OUR CITIZENS ARE GOING
TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT INCLUDES WHERE THEY
LIVE, WHERE THEY WORK, AND WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
SO ALL THOSE ARE -- WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS
REDEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE.
>>AL RUECHEL: THIS ONE IS FOR JANET, ANOTHER NEW MEMBER
OF THE COUNCIL.
THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS, WHERE DOES THE INPUT
COME FOR THAT?
AND WHAT'S THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND
THE QUALITY OF LIFE, LET'S SAY, FIVE TO TEN YEARS DOWN
THE LINE?
BECAUSE I THINK SOME PEOPLE -- I WILL GIVE YOU AN
EXAMPLE. IN ST. PETERSBURG WHEN YOU SAY, WELL,
ST. PETERSBURG JUST GOT SO LUCKY THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN
THOSE RESTAURANTS WERE BUILT.
AND THEN YOU HEAR RICK BAKER SAYING, YEAH, THAT'S 15
YEARS OF LUCK THAT MADE ALL OF THAT HAPPEN.
SAME THING WITH THE COUNTY.
STRATEGIC PLANNING.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
>>Janet Long: I THINK IT'S A NECESSARY PROCESS TO GO
THROUGH IN ORDER TO DEFINE WHAT OUR VALUES AND WHAT OUR
PRIORITIES ARE, BECAUSE THAT HELPS US BETTER DEFINE WHERE
WE ARE GOING TO PUT OUR MONEY.
AND SO IF YOU ARE A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU ARE
EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME DEGREE OF JUDGMENT AND VISION SO
THAT YOU CAN LOOK AND TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT YOUR
COUNTY TO BE.
AND I COULDN'T AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER LATVALA MORE,
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A BIG BUSINESS OR A BIG CORPORATION
AND YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE A CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
TO COME AND INVEST IN PINELLAS COUNTY, OR GO TO
CHARLOTTE, FOR EXAMPLE, WELL, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO COME
TO PINELLAS?
WE HAVE NO WAY TO MOVE OUR PEOPLE AROUND.
WOULDN'T IT BE LOVELY IF YOU COME FROM A FOREIGN COUNTRY
AND YOU LAND IN TAMPA, IF YOU COULD GET ON A LITTLE RAPID
TRANSIT OR PEOPLE MOVER OR SOME METHODOLOGY OF MOVING OUT
TO THE BEACHES WHERE YOU WANT TO ULTIMATELY END UP?
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO COME HERE FROM OTHER
PLACES IN THE COUNTRY OR THE NATION, BECAUSE THEY ARE
USED TO BEING ABLE TO HOP ON A LITTLE TRAIN OR SUBWAY OR
A BUS SYSTEM THAT REALLY WILL TAKE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO
GO, AND EFFECTIVELY, AND IN A TIME FRAME THAT DOESN'T
TAKE YOU THREE OR FOUR HOURS TO GET THERE.
>>AL RUECHEL: KEN, I ASKED THIS WHEN WE HAD POLITICAL
CONNECTIONS, BECAUSE THIS IS A GOOD POINT TALKING ABOUT
MASS TRANSIT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T REMEMBER, BACK IN THE EARLY
'70s, PINELLAS COUNTY RESIDENTS HAD A CHANCE TO TAX
THEMSELVES FOR ABOUT $150 MILLION WHICH WOULD HAVE BUILT
A TRAM ALL THE WAY FROM FORT DESOTO TO TARPON SPRINGS.
THEY TURNED IT DOWN.
NOW YOU ARE GOING BACK TO THE COUNTY AGAIN.
MANY, MANY YEARS LATER, A LOT HAS HAPPENED.
A LOT OF HEADACHES.
EVEN TRYING TO GET ACROSS THE BRIDGES ANYMORE.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK OF THIS TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE
THAT THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO FEEL ANY DIFFERENT ABOUT IT
THAN THEY DID 30 YEARS AGO?
>>KEN WELCH: WELL, I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT REASONS.
NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING THIS FOR ABOUT TWO
YEARS NOW.
AND YOU DID ALSO ASK ME ABOUT THE HILLSBOROUGH
INITIATIVE.
WE HAD TWO HILLSBOROUGH FOLKS, ONE FROM THE MPO AND ONE
FROM HART, I BELIEVE, ON OUR PLANNING COMMITTEE TO HELP
US LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE.
I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN DIFFERENCES IS, IN TERMS OF THE
RAIL PART OF IT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MAP.
HILLSBOROUGH DID NOT HAVE A MAP.
WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THE PENNY FOR PINELLAS, THREE TIMES
NOW, THAT IF YOU HAVE A LIST OF PROJECTS, AND FOLKS CAN
ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET FROM THAT
INVESTMENT, THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT IT.
BUT CALLING IT THE RAIL PLAN AS IT'S BEEN CALLED IS A
MISTAKE.
THIS IS A TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR OUR COUNTY.
THE FIRST THING FOLKS WILL SEE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR IS
IMPROVED BUS SERVICE FROM NORTH COUNTY TO SOUTH COUNTY.
AND IT'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS COMMISSIONER
LATVALA STATED.
WE HAVE TO GROW AS A COUNTY.
IF WE DON'T GROW WE FALL BEHIND OTHER COUNTIES WHICH ARE
GROWING LIKE PASCO, HILLSBOROUGH, MANATEE.
THE IMPACT ON BAYFRONT, MEDICAL CENTERS, TRAUMA CENTERS,
IS ONE EXAMPLE WHEN WE ARE NOT GROWING AND OUR NEIGHBORS
ARE.
AROUND THE 16 STATIONS ON THE PROPOSED CORRIDOR IS WHERE
YOU CAN TARGET THAT SMART GROWTH THAT COMMISSIONER
LATVALA TALKED ABOUT, AND THE INITIAL ESTIMATES ARE SOME
3,000 JOBS A YEAR COMING FROM THAT DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE
STATION.
SO I THINK THIS PLAN HAS A LOT TO OFFER.
IT ALSO INCLUDES ELIMINATING THE PSTA PROPERTY TAX THAT
EXISTS NOW, AND MOST TRANSIT AGENCIES AROUND THE COUNTY
DON'T FUND THEIR BUS SYSTEM BASED ON A PROPERTY TAX.
THEY FUND IT BASED ON A SALES TAX, AND TOURISTS ARE GOING
TO PICK UP 30% OF THAT IF APPROVED.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REASON FOR FOLKS TO SUPPORT
THIS, AND OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF WE ARE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT RAIL.
IT'S ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE
FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T AGREE ABOUT GROVER NORQUIST MUCH.
BUT I AGREE -- HE CAME DOWN TO THE RNC AND SAID YOU
CANNOT GET AROUND TAMPA BAY WITHOUT HAVING A CAR.
AND FOLKS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
OUR COMPETITORS' STATURE VERSUS OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY, AND WE ARE GOING TO LOSE OUT IN THE LONG TERM IF
WE DON'T CORRECT THAT.
>> JUST A REMINDER, WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT IN
THIS PROGRAM.
GOOD TIME IF YOU ARE STILL LISTENING AND YOU HAVE A
QUESTION, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PRESS ZERO.
WE'LL TAKE THAT QUESTION AND TRY TO GET IT IN.
AND I'LL APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GETTING FLOODED WITH
A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SO IF WE DON'T GET THEM ALL ANSWERED,
SORRY.
PLEASE GO TO THE COUNTY'S WEB SITE.
A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION THERE.
BOB, YOU HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE VERY PATIENTLY.
I KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO THE NUMBERS, THEY ARE SO
IMPORTANT TO THE COMMISSION IN MAKING DECISIONS.
YOU WENT THROUGH A METHODOLOGY CHANGE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO BORE ANYBODY ABOUT THAT.
BUT IT REALLY MEANS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT THINGS IN A
DIFFERENT WAY.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT FOR WHAT THE COUNTY IS DOING
FINANCIALLY?
>>BOB LASALA: WELL, WE HAVE TO MAXIMIZE EVERY DOLLAR
THAT THE TAXPAYERS GIVE US AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AS
EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, ECONOMICAL AND PRODUCTIVE AS WE CAN
BE.
>> DOES THE SQUEAKY WHEEL ALWAYS GET THE GREASE IN THE
COUNTY?
>>BOB LASALA: WELL, WE TRY TO RUN A SMOOTH OPERATION
THAT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH NOISE.
>>AL RUECHEL: SO THERE ISN'T A WHOLE LOT OF SQUEAKING
GOING ON.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER THING.
COST EFFICIENCIES.
AND THESE DAYS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO SQUEEZE
THE MOST THEY CAN OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR.
WHAT KIND OF COST SAVINGS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE
COUNTY SO FAR?
>>BOB LASALA: DRAMATIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS HAVE
BEEN PUT IN PLACE.
CONSOLIDATION OF COUNTY SPACE.
THE UTILIZATION OF FUEL EFFICIENCY APPLICATIONS IN OUR
FLEET AND OUR EQUIPMENT.
GREATER SAVINGS AT THE JAIL COMPLEX.
REUSE OF WATER AND MORE EFFICIENT USE OF WATER BY THE
SHERIFF'S CORRECTIONS DIVISION, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
OUR TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS HAVE HELPED US SAVE MONEY
THROUGH OUR VOICE-OVER INTERNET TELEPHONE SYSTEM.
THAT SAVED US OVER THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THE USE OF ENERGY REDUCTION IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S
FACILITY HAS SAVED US $50,000.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT YOU START
ADDING THOSE THINGS UP, AND WE HAVE SAVED TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH THOSE KINDS OF EFFICIENCIES.
>>AL RUECHEL: YOU KNOW, I HAD A QUESTION IN MY EAR THAT
SOMEBODY ASKED, WHAT ABOUT RAISES FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS AT THIS
POINT, BUT WE HAVE TO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RETAIN THE TALENT WE NEED TO DO THE
JOB AND ATTRACT THE TALENT WE WILL NEED IN THE FUTURE SO
THAT WE ARE COMPETITIVE WITHIN THE TAMPA BAY REGION AND
MARKETPLACE TO HIRE AND KEEP THE VERY BEST AND THE
BRIGHTEST IN SUPPORT OF THE CITIZENS' INITIATIVES AND
PROGRAMS.
>>AL RUECHEL: I THINK WE PARTIALLY ANSWERED THIS BUT I
AM GOING TO ASK IT AGAIN BECAUSE SOMEBODY CALLED IN ON
THE PHONE.
THEY SAID -- THIS IS FROM ROBERT -- THANK YOU, ROBERT --
WANTS TO KNOW WHY WE DON'T USE MORE NATURAL GAS TO FUEL
OUR VEHICLES.
>>KEN WELCH: WE ARE, IN FACT, LOOKING AT THAT.
THE CITY OF ST. PETE, PSTA AND THE COUNTY ARE DISCUSSING
WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE FOR NATURAL
GAS TO FUEL VEHICLES.
FOUR COMMISSIONERS HERE THAT SIT ON PSTA -- ARE WE
MISSING ONE?
WHO IS THE FOURTH ONE?
OH, COMMISSIONER LONG.
SIT ON PSTA.
AND PSTA MADE THE DECISION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I
THINK, TO GO TO ALL HYBRID VEHICLES FOR OUR NEW VEHICLES.
SO WE ARE PURCHASING FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLES RIGHT NOW,
BUT IN ADDITION WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NATURAL GAS OPTION.
>>BOB LASALA: CONVERSION COSTS OF EXISTING VEHICLES IS
SUBSTANTIAL, AND WE HAVE TO BE SURE THAT THE REDUCED
COSTS OF NATURAL GAS WILL EXCEED -- THE PAYBACK FROM THE
REDUCED COST OF NATURAL GAS WILL EXCEED THE EXPENSE OF
MAKING THE CONVERSION OVER THE LIFE OF THAT VEHICLE.
PLUS THE FILLING STATIONS HAVE TO BE ACCESSIBLE, AND THE
COST OF ESTABLISHING THOSE IS SUBSTANTIAL.
>>AL RUECHEL: AND I HAD THAT DISCUSSION AND I HAVE TO
GET IT IN BECAUSE SOMEBODY WROTE IT HERE AND WE DIDN'T
KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE BROUGHT UP.
BASEBALL AND THE RAYS.
WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR ABOUT 45 SECONDS?
SHORT AND SWEET.
WHERE ARE WE AT?
SUSAN?
>>SUSAN LATVALA: MY PERSONAL OPINION IS, I WANT THE RAYS
TO STAY IN OUR REGION.
THEY ARE A GREAT ASSET TO OUR REGION.
I PREFER THAT THEY STAY IN PINELLAS COUNTY.
BUT IF THEY ARE NOT VIABLE HERE, THEN I WANT THEM IN THE
REGION.
AND THEY HAVE A LEASE.
THEY HAVE A CONTRACT.
AND THEY ARE PLAYING BALL.
WHEN THEY ARE READY TO MAKE A DECISION AND MOVE FORWARD,
I THINK WE NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE TALKING TO THEM.
THEY WILL BE COMING TO US FOR MONEY FROM THE TOURIST
DEVELOPMENT TAX.
THAT'S A BIG DISCUSSION.
IT'S A BIG DISCUSSION.
>>KEN WELCH: I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER LATVALA, BUT
FOLKS ARE LINING UP FOR THAT FOURTH CENT OF BED TAX,
WHETHER IT BE DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS, OR WHETHER IT'S BMX, THE
CLEARWATER AQUARIUM.
SO THAT DISCUSSION WITH THE RAYS NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD,
BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT SOME PLANNING TO DO FROM A TDC
PERSPECTIVE AND A COUNTY COMMISSION PERSPECTIVE.
>>AL RUECHEL: ANOTHER QUESTION CAME TO US FROM THE
PHONES.
SHIRLEY WANTS TO KNOW, WILL YOU STAY WITH THE SAME TRASH
PROVIDER THAT WE HAVE NOW?
AND WILL PRICE BE THE SAME?
THE PERSON DID NOT SAY WHERE THEY WERE FROM.
DID NOT GIVE AN AREA.
IS THAT THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL?
>>SUSAN LATVALA: WE HAVE ONE AREA THAT TRASH IS
PROVIDED, AND THAT'S LEALMAN.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT FOR THAT AREA.
AND I DON'T KNOW THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT.
DO YOU, BOB?
NO.
SO AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT, WE WOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN.
BUT FOR THE TIME BEING THAT WOULD BE WHERE WE STAY.
>>AL RUECHEL: I'M TRYING TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE
QUESTIONS AND MAKE SURE WE GET THE BIG ONES, AND NOT WHAT
MY SHOE SIZE IS.
IT'S SIZE 11. OKAY?
WHAT A QUESTION.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BOARD'S OPTIONS TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET IN THE SHORT TERM, BECAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING
A $12 MILLION SHORTFALL.
BOB, I'LL ASK YOU THAT.
>>BOB LASALA: WELL, WE HAVE A FUND THAT THE BOARD SET UP
TO HELP US FILL THAT GAP ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS.
WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR ECONOMIES AND EFFICIENCIES IN HOW
WE DO BUSINESS TO REDUCE THAT GAP BETWEEN AVAILABLE
DOLLARS AND THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
AND WE LOOK AT MAXIMIZING THE COLLECTION OF REVENUE FROM
THE VARIOUS SOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
WE WILL ALSO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING
REVENUE AS AGAINST THE TRADE-OFF OF REDUCING SERVICES.
>>AL RUECHEL: WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT VOLUNTEERS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE HERE.
HOW IMPORTANT ARE THEY TO PINELLAS COUNTY, AND HOW DOES
SOMEBODY GET INVOLVED WITH BEING A VOLUNTEER?
WHAT KIND OF SKILLS DO YOU HAVE TO BE?
DO YOU HAVE TO BE A MINIMUM AGE, A MAXIMUM AGE?
CHARLIE.
>>Charlie Justice: TO ME, THERE IS NO CERTAIN SKILL SET,
BECAUSE IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO ME.
I HAVE BEEN GETTING BRIEFINGS ON ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AS A
NEW COMMISSIONER.
ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE, NOT JUST WHAT YOU MIGHT
THINK AS STAND AT THE PARKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS IN BUDGET.
WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS IN OUR BUILDING INSPECTIONS.
I MEAN, IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO ME THAT PEOPLE ARE
WILLING TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, TO
PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
SO IF THEY GO TO THE PINELLAS COUNTY WEB SITE THEY CAN
FIND OUT HOW TO SIGN UP, BUT THEY DO A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR
US.
>>AL RUECHEL: AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
SIDEWALKS.
WHY ARE WE BUILDING SO MANY SIDEWALKS, AND WHAT ABOUT ALL
THOSE THAT WE HAVE TO PUT ON THEM WHEN THEY ARE NEAR THE
WATER?
WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM? AND ARE WE REQUIRED TO
BUILD THOSE THINGS?
YOU KNEW THAT HAD TO COME UP SOMETIME.
ANYBODY?
>>NORM ROCHE: SOME OF THEM ARE REQUIRED.
ADA IS PUT INTO THERE.
BUT THAT GOES BACK TO THAT PENNY DISCUSSION WHERE SOME OF
IT IS PINELLAS COUNTY.
SOME OF IT IS CITIES.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT SIDEWALKS.
I CERTAINLY WANT MY CHILDREN WALKING ON SIDEWALKS AS
OPPOSED TO A ROAD.
SO THAT'S PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SIDEWALKS ARE PART OF IT.
SO IT COMES OUT OF PENNY FOR PINELLAS, OBVIOUSLY, OR SOME
OTHER AREAS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PROJECT MAY BE.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF THOSE SHARE PROJECTS.
>>AL RUECHEL: AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS RELATES TO THIS.
RUTH SAYS, IS THE PENNY FOR PINELLAS OUT OF MONEY NOW?
>>KEN WELCH: IT'S NOT OUT BUT IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY
REDUCED. WE REDUCED SEVERAL PROJECTS EXCEPT FOR THE
PARKS, OF COURSE THE JAILS, BY ABOUT 25%.
SO WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE WE HAVE
ELIMINATED PROJECTS, DELAYED PROJECTS, BECAUSE OF THE
IMPACT OF SALES TAX AND DUE TO THE RECESSION, WE HAVE
FEWER FUNDS THAN ANTICIPATED.
>>JOHN MORRONI: I WANT TO SAY BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN
BROUGHT UP IN THE LAST HOUR, BUT ALSO EVERY DAY WE WORRY
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND THE STATE ABOUT UNFUNDED MANDATES.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, THESE THINGS THEY
ARE FAMILIAR WITH, UNFUNDED MANDATE, AND WHAT THAT IS, IS
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE IS TELLING US TO
DO SOMETHING AND THEY ARE NOT FUNDING IT.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO FUND IT.
AND IF WE DON'T FUND IT, THERE'S PENALTIES.
SO WHETHER IT'S TALLAHASSEE IS IN SESSION, AND WE ARE
WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS THERE UNTIL THE LAST DAY WHEN
THE BUDGET GETS PASSED, OR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
WASHINGTON, BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT STUFF IS BEING FUNNELED
DOWN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THEN IT'S ON US.
>>AL RUECHEL: KEN, I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST CHANCE TO
SAY SOME THINGS.
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GETTING THE KIND OF QUALITY FEEDBACK
THAT YOU NEED FROM CITIZENS?
BECAUSE, LET'S FACE IT, ANYBODY WHO IS IN ELECTED
POSITION, YOU ARE THERE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE.
SOMETIMES YOU SCRATCH YOUR HEAD AND SAY, WHY AM I HERE?
ARE YOU GETTING THE KIND OF QUALITY FEEDBACK THAT YOU
THINK THAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM ALL OF THE COUNTY AND NOT
JUST THE DISGRUNTLED PEOPLE THAT TEND TO SHOW UP A LOT
AND HAVE A LOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT?
>>KEN WELCH: WE GET GOOD FEEDBACK.
WE COULD USE MORE FEEDBACK.
AS COMPARISON, WE HAD 63 PEOPLE AT A MEETING YESTERDAY
ABOUT A DOCK.
AND WE GET FEWER PEOPLE FOR A 1.7 BILLION DOLLAR
BUDGET.
SO WE DO NEED FOLKS TO GIVE US THEIR INPUT.
WE HAVE HAD THAT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
WE HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
BUT IF YOU CARE ABOUT A SERVICE, IF YOU SEE A SERVICE
THAT YOU THINK WE NEED TO ENHANCE OR EVEN IF THERE'S A
WAY THAT WE CAN DO THINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY, LET US KNOW.
WE HAVE GOT SEVERAL WAYS TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE
COUNTY AND GIVE US YOUR INPUT.
SO WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GET US INVOLVED.
>>AL RUECHEL: TWO SECONDS.
>>JOHN MORRONI: NOT ONLY THOSE 63 PEOPLE, BUT IF YOU GO
TO A FAST MEETING, THERE'S OVER 5,000 PEOPLE THAT HAVE
INPUT INTO THIS COUNTY COMMISSION, AND THAT'S FROM PEOPLE
FROM THE ENTIRE COUNTY, FROM TARPON DOWN TO GULF PORT.
>>AL RUECHEL: COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU HAVE BEEN REALLY HELPFUL TONIGHT.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU IN THE AUDIENCE FOR COMING TONIGHT.
GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, AND ALSO FOR OUR
COMMISSIONERS THAT SHOWED UP.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE, THE
PRESIDENT DR. BILL LAW, SEMINOLE CAMPUS PROVOST DR. JIM
OLIVER AND HIS STAFF FOR PARTNERING WITH US TO BRING US
THIS EVENT, AND MANY THANKS ALSO TO THE CITY OF
ST. PETERSBURG AND WSPF-TV FOR SIMULCASTING TONIGHT'S
EVENT.
THANK YOU TO MY BOSSES FOR LETTING ME BE HERE.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE WANT TO REMIND YOU MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTY'S BUDGET PROCESS.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.
YOU CAN ATTEND ONE OF UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS AT THE
COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN CLEARWATER OR WATCH THE MEETINGS
LIVE ON PCC-TV OR ON THE WEB.
ALSO VISIT PINELLAS COUNTY.ORG AND CLICK ON THE PUBLIC
MEETINGS LINK ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE FOR A
SCHEDULE OF FUTURE MEETINGS, AND AGAIN TO WATCH MEETINGS
LIVE.
AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
COUNTY'S BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, VISIT CITIZENS GUIDE
TO THE BUDGET WEB SITE AT PINELLASCOUNTY.ORG/BUDGET.
HAVE WE SAID ENOUGH?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND HERE IS TO A HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS LIFE IN PINELLAS
COUNTY.