WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 2
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=guFHafO20Yc
Video-2: youtube.com/watch?v=z7vWmq7Mgh0

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: guFHafO20Yc):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Opening: Speaker Instructions and Morning Invocation
- 00:09:00: Resolution: Recognizing Citizen Engagement Month in Brevard
- 00:12:39: Citizen Testimony: Titusville Resident on Citizen Engagement
- 00:16:42: Resolution: Day of Prayer in Brevard County 2026
- 00:20:43: National Day of Prayer Representatives Share Information
- 00:29:35: Resolution: Recognizing Brevard County Citizens Academy
- 00:34:38: Citizens Academy: Testimonials from UF, Staff, and Graduates
- 00:38:31: CCA Check Presentation: Banana River Bomb Target Reef
- 00:42:02: Approving Consent Agenda and Introducing Tax Abatement Discussion
- 00:43:39: Public Comment: Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Program
- 00:53:52: Board Approves Tax Abatement; Appointments and Reappointments
- 01:00:33: Citizen Advisory Boards Appointment Discussion and Vote
- 01:02:15: Public Comment: Hammock Trace Tree Removal Concerns
- 01:19:26: Public Comment: Transparency, Zoning, and Public Trust
- 01:22:23: Approval for Justice Assistance Grant and Utility Easement
- 01:24:24: Boating Infrastructure Study: Discussion and Approval
- 01:28:34: Fire Rescue Write-Offs: Uncollectible Ambulance Debt Discussion
- 01:38:05: Approval of Debt Write Off, Settlement of Atlantic Housing
- 01:39:47: Agenda Transparency Item Removed Due to Rule Violation
- 01:43:44: Public Comment: Transparency Item Removed from Agenda
- 01:46:28: County Manager Report: District 1 Office Operation Options
- 01:57:25: Discussion and Vote to Defer D1 Office Action
- 02:00:43: Board Reports: District Commissioner Final Remarks

Part 2 (Video ID: z7vWmq7Mgh0):
- 00:13:29: Budget Workshop Opening: Pledge and Commissioner Recognition
- 00:14:29: Presentation Overview: Millage Rates, Critical Needs, Revenue Options
- 00:15:21: Charter Cap Limitations and CPI Impact on Millage Rates
- 00:17:33: Discussion of Government Admitted Inflation and Budget Impacts
- 00:18:40: Millage Rate Comparison to Peer Counties Since 2019
- 00:19:46: Critical Need Definition and Budget Process Timeline
- 00:22:30: Resolution Adoption Timing and Trim Notice Implications
- 00:24:27: Critical Needs Highlights: Infrastructure, Safety, County-Wide
- 00:25:34: Revenue Generation Options: Millage Resets & Tax Impacts
- 00:27:14: Detailed Critical Needs: Public Works, Jail, Facilities
- 00:28:54: Parks and Recreation Infrastructure Needs and IT Costs
- 00:29:59: Sheriff's Office Needs: Infrastructure, Equipment, Operations
- 00:30:50: Public Safety Prioritization and Rising Costs: Fire Rescue
- 00:32:10: Employee Benefits and Risk Management Cost Pressures
- 00:33:31: Sovereign Immunity Increase and Premium Impact Discussion
- 00:37:02: FRS Rates, Public Service Tax, and Fuel Tax Examples
- 00:39:44: Questions and Discussion on Budget Options Begin
- 00:39:59: Delaney: Exploring Insurance Cost Savings Initiatives
- 00:43:51: Feltner: Gas Procurement, Insurance, Parks & Recreation
- 00:56:21: Atkinson: Parks Maintenance, City Transfers, Future Expenses
- 01:04:15: Zoning: Identifying Millage Rate to Fund Presented Needs
- 01:09:13: Zoning: Cutting County Provided Services (Discussion)
- 01:17:38: Atkinson: Eliminating Funded Vacant Positions (Discussion)
- 01:19:46: Delaney: Focus on Vehicle Budget and Stoves
- 01:26:26: Zoning: Resetting General Fund Millage and Charter Cap
- 01:27:51: Delaney: Surtax Dollars and Flooding (Discussion)
- 01:33:41: Zoning: Tiered System for Employee Salaries (Discussion)
- 01:36:57: Zoning: Funding Critical Needs (Discussion)
- 01:41:14: Kristin: Cutting Costs and Critical Needs (Discussion)
- 01:42:40: Delaney: Items on the Ballot for Infrastucture
- 01:46:11: Ending Discussions with Break
- 01:57:34: Opening Discussions Back Up
- 01:57:34: Bailey (Public Comment): Raise for the County Manager
- 01:59:41: Sullivan (Public Comment): CPI, circles of care
- 02:03:24: Applefinger (Public Comment): The Big Budget
- 02:08:43: Adjournment of Meeting


Part: 1

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--------- [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> If you wish to speak to any item on the agenda or during the public comment portion of the meeting, please fill out a speaker card. Each person addressing the board shall have 3 minutes to complete his or her comments on each

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agenda item for which he or she has filled out a card. The chair has the discretion to determine or alter the time limits on any agenda item. The Board of County Commissioners requests that speakers appearing under the public comment section of the agenda limit their

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comments or presentations to matters relating to county business that are within the board's control, authority, and jurisdiction. Okay, good morning. Our invocation this morning will be uh delivered by Pastor Jeff Smith from the Eau Gallie Church of

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Christ. Jeff, come on up. Good morning, and would you bow with me, please? Gracious and almighty God, we come before you this morning thankful for your many blessings upon Brevard County, this beautiful place of ocean and lagoon, of rocket launches and quiet

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neighborhoods where so many of us are grateful to call home. We thank you for those who have answered the call to public service. Bless Chairman Altman, Vice Chair Atkinson, Commissioners Delaney, Goodson, Felter, along with the county manager, the

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county attorney, and every staff member who labors on behalf of our county. Their tasks are not easy. Grant them wisdom as they balance care for your creation with the livelihoods of your people, fiscal prudence with fair treatment of

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those who serve, and the needs of today with the hopes of tomorrow. We also thank you for each resident who's come to this chamber today. Their presence is a gift to our county, a sign that self-government is alive and well.

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Let peace and decorum prevail in this room. Soften any hardness of heart, sharpen every mind, and guide every word spoken that what is done here today may serve the common good. And I ask this in Jesus' name, and amen.

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Amen. Thank you, uh Pastor Smith, and thank you for what you do at Eau Gallie Church of Christ. I'm an Eau Gallieite. I grew up in Eau Gallie, lived there since the late '50s, and really appreciate your church and what it does. It's right in my neighborhood, so

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to put in that plug for my local. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, uh our uh Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Commissioner Atkinson. Will everyone stand, please? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

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and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we will go to our resolutions. E1, resolution recognizing May um 2026 as Citizen Engagement Month,

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District 1. I think we have to approve the minutes first. Okay. Um I don't Do we have any minutes? I don't Okay. I didn't see any minutes, so >> Yeah.

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And Commissioner Goodson, do we have to do something with him? >> if I may? Oh, yeah, if you can, yes. >> Can I make a motion to allow Mr. Goodson to join us, Commissioner Goodson to join us by phone? Second. Motion second. All in favor, signify by saying yay. Yay. Opposed?

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Motion It carries. Commissioner Goodson, thank you for being here. Okay, now we'll go to resolution recognizing >> Thank you. uh Citizens Engagement Month. Um I just have a little something to say before we get into the resolution. I brought this item forward to recognize

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something that sits at the core of effective local government, an engaged and informed citizenry. This resolution affirms Brevard County's commitment to citizen participation from Speak Up Brevard to advisory boards, public comment, and programs like the Citizens

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Academy. It also reflects our responsibility to consider citizen recommendations each month during Speak Up Brevard and highlight the role of Florida Sunshine Law in ensuring transparency and access. Together, these efforts reinforce that information

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informed and active participation strengthens accountability, improves decision-making, and builds public public trust. To celebrate this month, I have invited District 1 resident Tony Shifalo, who speaks frequently at the Titusville City

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Council meetings to share a few words after I read the resolution. Whereas in 2010, the citizens of Brevard County approved a referendum establishing a formal process for citizen engagement through the Citizen Effectiveness and

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Efficiency Recommendation Program, also known as the Susan B. Connelly Speak Up Brevard Program, originating from a Charter Review Commission recommendation. And whereas this referendum requires the the Board of County Commissioners to

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annually consider citizen-submitted recommendations during the month of May. And whereas Brevard County recognizes its citizens as essential partners in governance, demonstrated through service on advisory boards, participation in public

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comment, and engagement through programs such as the Citizens Academy. And whereas Florida Sunshine Law and public records statutes ensure transparency and protect the public's right to participate in government. And whereas

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active citizen engagement strengthens transparency accountability and effective decision-making, and supports the county's mission and core values. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, that May 2026

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hereby is hereby declared Citizen Engagement Month. And encourage residents to become more involved and to actively participate in public meetings, advisory boards, and other avenues to strengthen local government. Done, ordered ordered, and

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adopted in regular session this 21st of April 2026. So moved. There's a motion, is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Seconded. All in favor say yay. Yay and nay. Opposed, nay. Carries unanimously.

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All right, Miss Tony. Good morning, and thank you for allowing me to speak. I'm Tony Shifalo from Titusville Florida. Oh, some 50 years ago, my parents owned what is now 200 ft inside the

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NASA line on Playalinda Beach. 50 years later, I've returned to Titusville looking for a home on the east side of Orlando, where I grew up. And I wound up here because once you cross the St. Johns River, here you are in this beautiful area. Unbeknownst to me, I

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bought what is one of the 12 locally designated historic structures of Titusville, um due to the Titusville Historic Preservation Board. "What does that mean?" I said as at closing when the real estate agent said, "Oh, by the way, you'll be getting a plaque." She said, "Oh, you just bought a historic

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structure." So, to find out what that meant to me, I got myself involved with the Titusville Historic Preservation Board. Was appointed eventually because I started going to City Council meetings. And I found out that I only went to

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Council meetings when there was some activity that pertained to my neighborhood. And lo and behold, on just about every agenda, there was some item that pertained to my neighborhood. Now, not knowing exactly how to answer

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questions of my neighbors when they would complain about the potholes on I-95, "What's the city doing about it?" Well, it's not the city's project. "Well, what's the county doing?" So, in order to protect the county, I started finding out, you know, who's in charge of what. And then something came along

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like the Citizens Academy, and I went to that. And by golly, I learned a lot of things. Citizen involvement is very important. This is how you find out what your constituents are talking about, what they're thinking about, what they're needing, what they're wanting,

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what they're wanting you to do for them. And where do we as citizens find out about that? There's no newspaper to read anymore. Remember the days when every morning you got up and you had a newspaper with your morning coffee? Well,

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how do you find out what's going on? It takes a certain amount of integrity, information digging, and consistency to find out. Except there's ways that this county, Brevard County, is making

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it easy for the citizens. Citizens can participate fully, giving you feedback as well as pushback. But it's got to be informed and educated participation. And that's where things like the Citizens Academy come in. And

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also having a Citizens Engagement Month every year to remind the citizens that there are ways to get educated, to know what's going on, and to give proper feedback and pushback to those that

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we've elected to represent us. So, I want to commend the county for the efforts to engage citizens through your SEER Program. You know, that's the um Citizens Effective and Efficiency Recommendations,

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the SEER Program, and your Citizens Academy. And I hope that you look for other ways through town hall meetings in your districts so that your citizens can come and speak with you directly and not just at formal meetings. So, thank you very much for this resolution. The

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citizens of Brevard, especially those of us in District 1 that I'm representing today, really appreciate your efforts. Thank you. Thank you, Tony, for your service. >> [applause] >> I don't think we have one. Do we have them? Yep, we have a photo up here.

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You want to join the commissioner at the front? Okay, we have E2, resolution for a day of prayer in Brevard County, May 7th, 2026 in District 1 as well. Thank you. Um I'm bringing this forward um to

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recognize May 7th as a day of prayer in Brevard County in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer. Miss Loretta Dozier is here as the citizen requester and uh I would like to offer her the opportunity to give a few words after I read the resolution, and she's welcome

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to come up with her with her um cohorts. Whereas May 7th is designated >> on and approach the um rostrum. Whereas May 7th is designated for

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Americans to come together as a nation under God to observe the 75th consecutive National Day of Prayer. And whereas the Supreme Court has affirmed the right of state legislators to open their sessions with prayer.

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And the Supreme Court of the United States Congress themselves begin each day with prayer. And whereas the first National Day of Prayer was proclaimed by the First Continental Congress in 1775.

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President Lincoln reaffirmed it in 1863. Congress established the National Day of Prayer as an annual event by a joint resolution, signed into law by President Truman in 1952. And whereas

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in 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Ronald Reagan designating the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May. And whereas the theme for this year's observance, as stated by the National

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Day of Prayer Task Force, is "Glorify God among the nations, seeking him in all generations." And the scripture for this year is "Tell of his glory among the nations and his wonderful deeds among all the

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peoples." First Chronicles 16:24. And whereas the National Day of Prayer is an opportunity for Americans to join in united prayer to acknowledge our dependence on God, to give thanks for

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blessings received, to receive healing for wounds endured, and to ask God to guide our leaders and bring wholeness to the United States and her citizens. Whereas it is fitting and proper to give thanks to God by observing a day of

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prayer in Brevard County when all may acknowledge our blessings and express gratitude for them while recognizing the need for strengthening religious and moral values in our state and nation. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Board of County Commissioners of Brevard

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County does hereby proclaim Thursday, May 7th to be designated as a a day of prayer in Brevard County and encourage citizens to observe the day in ways appropriate to its importance and significance. Done,

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ordered, and adopted in regular session this 21st day of April 2026. So moved. I'll second. The motion is second. All in favor say yay. Yay. Opposed? Nay. Carried unanimously. Unanimously. Thank you.

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Okay Commissioner. >> Awesome. Thank you. We would like to say thank you to the Commissioners. Thank you all for your service. We thank God first for allowing us to be here and stand before you.

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Thank you for every year that we come to the Commissioners and ask you to present the resolution. You have done that for the last 10 years. I'm Loretta Dozier. I'm the Brevard County Coordinator for

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the National Day of Prayer Task Force and we have all some of the volunteers here as well that are city or town coordinators and and just and I would like them to introduce themselves because I we want

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you to know who your constituents are. So, they'll say their name and and their city where they're from. But, the goal and the mission of the National Day of Prayer Task Force is to mobilize

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and multiply unified public prayer for America. And on this on that day, May 7th, thousands of people around the country will be

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praying praying for seven different areas. If you have your brochure, those seven different areas are there. We're praying for the church family education business military government and

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arts, media, and entertainment. And of course, they're praying for their cities and their city leaders. So, we're so grateful that our country we're in a free country. We can pray and we give

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God glory for that because the the theme is glorify God. And so, we just thank you all for for presenting the resolution. I will like you have a document in front

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of you. Pastor Evie will share that just open it up for the audience and they will know what's in there. Um Pastor Evie, would you just come for a few minutes? Okay, if you look at your document, there are 70 sites and growing.

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This is a working document. People are still calling in and saying we will be a site for prayer and you can see the cities throughout Brevard County that have people who step forward to pray at government facilities, at parks, at

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at schools, at the flagpoles, on media outlets. Some of these are virtual meetings where there's telephone kind of prayer lines and conference lines. There are different languages

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Creole English Spanish Chinese and bilingual. And we're just very pleased like one is at Carter's garage some men at 6:00 in the morning. So, there's businesses and we just are very excited about how there

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are so many participants of different across the spectrum throughout Brevard County and I didn't mention churches. Lots of churches involved and so, we're just very pleased at how people have come out and they feel that this is very important. And when this day is over, we

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want you all to know that we still pray for you every day. You're very important to us. And so, when you don't see us, we are still praying for you when this day passes by. We thank God for how he's blessed our county, blessed the state of

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Florida. You can see God's blessings. If you go to the National Day of Prayer website, it'll look like red dots over everywhere that a prayer site's gone up. And when you see the state of Florida by the time the National Day of Prayer,

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Florida will be covered in red except for the Everglades. So, you will see Florida covered in red and it's just a wonderful wonderful thing. May the Lord bless you richly. And I would like just give us a few minutes, sir. Thank you so much.

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Just introduce yourself. Pastor Buwana, go ahead. Buwana Bostick, I'm the senior [clears throat] pastor of Cedar Refuge Christian Center in Cocoa. Okay. John Kane from Melbourne, Acts 2 Ministry. Linda Taylor,

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Melbourne, New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Edie Serrano, Palm Bay resident, member of Love Community Community Gospel Truth in Melbourne, and also part of Love Bible Club.

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I'm Debbie Ostrander from The Mission Church in Palm Bay. Margaret Irwin from The Mission Church Prayer Prayer Minister. Diane Laner, Palm Bay, Mission Church. >> [clears throat] >> Wendy Sunkala, Palm Bay, Mission Church.

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Brenda Barcia, Grace Life Church. Willie Dozier, Grace Life Church. My name is Ed. I'm from The Mission Church in Palm Bay and the National Day of Prayer I'll be at an observance of the National Day of Prayer at the Kennedy Space Center. Praise God. And so, thank you

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all for your time and we want to leave you with a prayer. Kathy Brenzel is the president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force and at every observance, those 70 plus observances, a prayer will be read. A prayer for America will be

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read. Every meeting will read this prayer in unison. So, we're going to leave you with this prayer. We're going to read it together and it says Almighty God, King of glory, we confess our sins and repent of our pride that

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sought our own glory and comfort allowing evil to take root instead of your fruit in our hearts, homes, culture, and country. Please forgive us. Now, with this declaration of

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rededication, we humble ourselves, pray, and seek your face turning from our wicked ways that you would heal our lives and our land. Please purify and renew our hearts with holy attributes,

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affections, attitudes, and actions to love you with all of our heart soul, mind, and strength. We give you glory as we repent and rededicate our lives and

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our nation to you. For 250 years, you have guarded and guided America in wisdom, grace, mercy, and love. We praise and thank you for our founding fathers, for all who sought you

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in fervent prayer throughout history and answered your call to defend justice, freedom, to protect and serve, preach and teach, innovate, communicate, learn,

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work, worship, and establish our laws. May your kingdom come and your will be done in our lives, our families, the church education business military

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government arts entertainment and media as it is written in heaven. We prayerfully commit to glorify God among the nations seeking him in all

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generations. In Jesus' name. Amen. [singing] God bless you. God bless you. >> [applause] >> God bless you. This is the wonderful spreadsheet of all the locations. Very impressive. No date mentioned cuz I

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assume that's the time. All May 7th. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And you are welcome to attend either one of them or get on the phone or one of the virtual meetings. Fantastic. Yes ma'am. >> Okay, we have a placard and a photo op.

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Oh, yes. You all are invited. You saw the one for Viera? 12:00? Commissioner Altamonte, we would love for you to be there. 12:00 right here. Well, maybe there, but I maybe at the one of the Kennedy Space Center, too.

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So. I'm going through the list here. Yeah. Commissioner Feltner, you've been so faithful in helping us over the years. Thank you. You're welcome, Ms. Acting Send you as well. And thank you. Always lovely to see you.

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Fantastic. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. We're going to say Jesus on three. Okay. 1 2 3 Jesus. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Last one. Okay, our next resolution is

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recognizing Brevard County Citizens Academy, which was mentioned in our earlier resolution, I think. Uh Commissioner Delaney Thank you. Um I sponsored this item because this is one of our programs that has been around for a long time, provides real value to our community, but still isn't widely

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known by all of our citizen residents. It's a valuable resource that I hope many more of our residents take advantage of for upcoming cycles. The Brevard County Citizens Academy has been offered since 2001 as a way for residents to learn how

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their county government works, what services are provided, how departments operate, and how decisions move through the process. It's a 7-week program held each February and March in partnership with our UF IFAS Extension Office.

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The most recent class concluded March 26th, and for anyone interested, this year's presentations are available online as backup for this agenda item. >> [snorts] >> Before I read the resolution, I wanted to briefly outline our speakers.

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After reading, I'll invite UF IFAS Extension Director Beth Shepherd to say a few words, followed by inviting one of the county staff who participated in the program, and then I'd like to see if one of this year's

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Citizens Academy graduates would say a few words. I also want to take a moment to recognize the many staff members who contributed to this program. I'm going to embarrass you all. Um can you Would you mind please standing up just for a moment if you've ever given a

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presentation at Citizens Academy? >> [applause] >> Their willingness to share their time and expertise is what makes the academy such a valuable experience, and with that I'll go ahead and read the resolution. All right. Yeah.

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Okay. Whereas the Brevard County Citizens Academy, established in 2001, was created to foster open communication between residents and county government and to provide participants with a clear understanding of of county operations,

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services, and opportunities for public participation. And where over the past 25 years the program has engaged as many as 800 residents and has been recognized in multiple local publications for its

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value to the community. And whereas participant evaluations consistently demonstrate increased knowledge of county functions and resources along with strengthened confidence to communicate effectively

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and engage in local issues. And whereas a significant majority of participants report an intent to apply what they have learned, attend public meetings, and take an active role in their community. And whereas since 2016,

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the UF IFAS Extension Office has partnered with Brevard County to deliver the Citizens Academy, enhancing the program through integrated integration of research-based education with practical, real-world, local government

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insight. And whereas the Brevard County Citizens Academy contributes to a more informed and engaged community by supporting civic participation collaborative problem-solving, and empowering residents with their local community.

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Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, does hereby recognize the Brevard County Citizens Academy as a valuable program and commends its continued role in strengthening informed civic engagement with the community.

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Done, ordered, and adopted in regular session this 21st day of April, 2026. So moved. It makes I'll second. Motion second. Those in favor signify by saying yay. Yay. Yay.

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Motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much. Um let me get my glasses on. On behalf of UF IFAS Extension Office, we thank you. We are truly honored to accept this recognition. Hearing the resolution, what stands out to us most is not just that Citizens Academy has been around

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since 2001, but how meaningful that work continues to be today. People gain an understanding of how county government works, how to access services, and how decisions are made. But just as importantly, they build skills to engage communication, active

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listening, and collaboration, becoming tools they can actually use. And it's truly an honor to be part of a program that continues to strengthen Brevard County, not just through information, but through people. Thank you. Thank you. I don't know who's coming next. I'm um going to pick on somebody,

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and I'm so sorry because I didn't ask you before this, but John Scott, if you wouldn't mind saying a couple words about I've heard some really great things about your presentation that you just gave, and if you could just share, you know, what you do and give us

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an insight to what that looks like. Good morning, Commissioners. Uh and thank you. Uh so, I would just Yeah, I mean, we very much in emergency management, you know, talking to the public is a big part of what we do, and anytime we have an opportunity to talk to residents who are sort of taking that big step to become

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engaged, it's it matters to us. I know it matters to all the other directors because that's someone who's going to take our message back and spread it amongst their family, friends, and and and neighbors, and that's a big part of how we continue to move forward in this county. So, we

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very much look forward to and relish the opportunity to speak with folks. Thank you. Thank you. And Ms. Tony, she is a two-time graduate of our Citizens Academy in Brevard County. I had a speech prepared, but I'm not going to waste your time because

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everybody said what the academy does, how it unites um the citizens of the county with the department heads and often staff members they bring along. And so, I just wanted to say having um

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been a a a two-time a two-time graduate, you get certificates, you get some really neat handouts from the departments that you can take home and put on your refrigerator that have contact information. Brevard is a charter county. Um Mr.

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Richardson brought this to our attention um at the end provided copies of the charter. You get fun things like from mosquito control. You not only learn about the mosquitoes, you get a coloring book and the crayons.

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It's a really tremendous program. I recommend not only that all the citizens of Brevard take the the academy, but it's been very useful. About half of the participants in each

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session I've been in were county staff members who come and learn not only what they're supposed to be doing, how [snorts] they're reported to be doing, but how their unit fits in with the other departments,

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and I think connecting the dots is a very, very important aspect of the Citizens Academy. So, I want to congratulate Brevard County and this commission and Brevard citizens

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for the Citizens Academy. Thank you so much. Thank you. I don't think we have a thank you. Do we? Okay. So, if there are other graduates, are you saying Oh, yes. Are there other graduates? Yes. If there's other graduates, please feel

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free to come and join in the picture. Thank you, Board. Okay, thank you. Um our next item is um E4, a check presentation from a security from a operative from uh from

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the Coastal Conservation Association, CCA, for 50,000 to Brevard County for the historic Banana River Bomb Target Artificial Reef for Enhanced Fish Habitat. And we have a check is going to be given

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to us, and hopefully a explanation of what the bomb target is cuz there's a really nice description in the agenda packet, but very fascinating little piece of Brevard history. I'm ready. All right, good morning. Um we're excited to begin this habitat

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restoration project where we're going to construct and install 40 artificial reef structures around a historic US Air Force bomb target in the Banana River Lagoon. This was used as a target practice for World training for World War II. Um so we aim to not only enhance and

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restore this critical habitat, but also bring awareness to this unique historic site. Um in addition, we're going to install improved signage around the submerged structure to enhance voter safety in the area. Um the county's grateful for this contribution from the Coastal

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Conservation Association, um as well as support from the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, the City of Cape Canaveral, and the Brevard Zoo for this project. Um without partnerships like this, projects like this would not be possible. Good morning. Uh I'm Frank Gidus. I'm

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the director of habitat and environmental restoration with CCA Florida. Um this $50,000 is part of our 2-year million-dollar habitat pledge that we're doing around the state of Florida. And this project really caught our eye because I don't know if you all are

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aware or not, but over the last few years, um it's been really difficult to find qualified offshore marine contractors. And so uh this is this really caught our eye cuz it's kind of a unique project being inshore. Um we've been uh donating to the uh

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Brevard County offshore artificial reef program for over a decade. And we just really like working with y'all. It's been just kind of a seamless process. And um like I said, this is this is not only really it's not only an artificial reef, um but it's also a fish enhancement project. This is going to

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attract, you know, fish. It's a it's a structure. I've been out there. It's a structure that's already in place. It's sticking up. So, um it's going to be really unique to turn this into an actual, you know, uh living, breathing artificial reef. So, we just thank you for the partnership.

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Fantastic. I think we'll do a quick photo opportunity with the check. Now, I'm I'm going to invite the whole commission down to uh to to receive $50,000. That's wonderful. Um and uh and Commissioner Goodson, you'll be here in spirit. Maybe we'll Photoshop you into this pictures.

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Um I think it's in your district, too. So, let's have a quick photo. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Fantastic. Uh we've come a long way, haven't we, from dropping having bomb targets in the Banana River to

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building fish reefs. Uh but thank you so much for that. It's wonderful what what what um the uh CCA does to protect Florida's natural environment. Okay. Uh we will now move on to the

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consent agenda. We do have one item that uh uh has a speaker uh that we will remove, and that's item F4. Like to ask the commission, is there any other items they would like to have some discussion on?

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Yes, sir. F5. F5. Okay. Okay, F4 and F5. I think that's it. And a motion being in order for the rest of the consent agenda. I move to approve the rest of the consent agenda. Second. >> The motion and a second to approve the

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balance of the consent agenda other than F4 and F5. All in favor, say yay. Yay. Yay. Motion carries unanimously. Okay, we will move to F4, a resolution to adopt the ad valorem tax

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abatement program guidelines. And the card is from Rick Helfenbein. Could you have staff make some comments before I get up cuz I'm not sure Well, why don't you address us here at the podium? If you can address us, that way we get

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you on the record since you filled out a card. Rick Helfenbein, District 1. Um I guess I had a question pertaining to the scores. Um you got some good numbers or you got bad numbers. That's what I don't

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understand because it looks like we're doing a great job making sure that we're paying our employees in Brevard. We've got a list there, one of the attachments, the Florida Commerce. How many counties we got? Oh, they didn't number them. Sorry. But number six. So, we're paying people good. My

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question is, if we're paying so good, how come our firefighters were paid so poorly? Cuz this must be a total average, right? So, I would hope that that leveling Now, maybe it's because they negotiate with a union, so we we try to squeeze them, but um

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it is a reason for cost growth. And we always say that, you know, certain organizations are paid underneath what the average is for the other counties. That's a pretty good score, but that's costing the taxpayers, all of us, to pay those salaries. So, I would hope that you guys as a commission

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would be looking at really and saying, "Hey, we pay our staff really well, and we want to get what we pay for." And and the citizens want the same thing. I'm not going to It's just uh I was hearing these in the past couple of years. I hear these

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comments about how, you know, we've got to give them cost of living increases and all that stuff because of the the inflation. Yeah, but they're they're they're staying up kind of nicely unless you think that they're all county employees from all over the state are paid low, and eighth is not a very good number.

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I don't know. It's That's just my observation. Because uh again, talk of busting the cap. I hope we don't throw more money at them this time in the We're not going to do a cost increase for their salaries, are we? Cuz they're already at eight. Yeah, and quick question. Are you speaking of F4,

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the tax abatement? Ad valorem tax abatement program? Yeah, it's got attachments, and one of them is the State of Florida incentive average wage. >> Okay, good. You're talking to that portion of the of the agenda. The attachment. Okay. >> drew my attention. That that ranking of

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number eight eight there. And I just want to [clears throat] be sure that Okay. All right. Yeah, cuz I could have stapled the wrong thing to the Okay. Yeah, I understand. Good. But that's a good question. Do we have a response to that question? Good morning, Mr. Chair and

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Commissioners. Each year, the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Council reviews the average wage as um Mr. um the um speaker had said, average wage because we have three elements when

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a person applies, a business applies for a tax abatement. We have three elements that go into that research before they go to the board. One is the number of employees, one is the payroll, one is the capital investments. At this year's discussion with the average wage going

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to 60 uh $68,000 a year, the council decided because we have so much in aerospace and heavy manufacturing, we need other businesses to support those businesses. So, it was decided by the council to keep the

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average wage at $61,784 for this particular program. Um so, EDC is requesting that the board um approve the resolution for this tax abatement program. Okay great.

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Um I just wanted to be specific to your question. So, I just wanted to say thank you. >> there that you have. So, Mr. Chair, this this is the average wage that the um Economic Development Commission uses as part of their formula to recommend the [clears throat] tax abatement. It's not the average wage of county employees.

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This is the average wage throughout the entire county. Got you. That's a big fundamental difference. So, does the I got I guess I could ask for a follow-up. So, does the EDC I mean, what does the abatement actually do? Are we going to ask the local local

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uh employers to lower their wage so that it's an attractive place to work or what? Or raise their wage? I don't know. I don't know if the score is a good thing or a bad thing. I think it's just an accounting of of what our average wage is. Is Is there a reason for that? Maybe you can take it.

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Commissioner, um the reason why the average wage is part of the calculation for the tax abatement program is because they will get points. The higher the wage, the more points they get. But the average wage of $61,784

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would get a four points for that. Anything below that would get zero points. So, the tax abatement program is based on the number of points a business brings to the county. Capital investments has um number of points

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3 through 10 cap number of employees have a also a number that's assigned to them the more people that they bring the larger the number that they have so if somebody gets a higher number they could get an abatement for 8 years at 80% of

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what they add to the tax roll. Or or 10 10 years at 100% of what they add to the tax roll. For that given abatement program. So it's just a guide

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for the tax abatement council to recommend to you to the board a a way a abatement program for those tax abatement programs that come to the board. So does that mean the county would give them a waiver on some of their business

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tax because they're bringing such high-paid individuals into the county? >> This is Rick please go through the chairman. Oh I'm sorry. >> That's okay. I I just she just provided that information. I I understand I understand. I I go ahead. What was your question

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again? Well I I just wondered does that mean because we there's been [clears throat] some talk about these programs that we give you know tax waivers to businesses that come in and that's you know good for if if we get the tax dollars from the employees that's what happens right? They go to our stores they go to our shops they buy

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votes here right? So it's good. So is this a consideration I want to look at her. Is this a consideration for the county authorizing a waiver to some of the business taxes because they brought the employees? I just I just I think it's a very

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interesting point that you bring up because I reason would think that if you had a lower average employment pay you would probably be that'd be a positive for tax abatement because you need to hire more jobs to

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increase wages. Whereas this is the opposite the higher the wage in the county the more points you get so that would be biased against community that needed more jobs but maybe there are other reasons maybe because there's a higher average wage you got to be more competitive and

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bringing in workers. We know the logic behind that? Mr. Chair >> Yes maybe Commissioner Feltner has some knowledge to >> Well I hate to summon someone from the audience but after Mr. Helfinger is finished we do have Neil Johnson I see him out

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there and he Neil I I hate to do that to you but you may be able to clear that up. I didn't see him out there. All right. I got 90 seconds left I just like to thank you for Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank you for engaging the staff so we can try to get some information to us. I appreciate that. No problem very And and I would gladly listen to whatever the

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next speaker has to say. Thank you. Very interesting question. Thank you. Sorry about that Neil but I think you could clear that up. Good morning Commissioners. My name is Neil Johnson. I live at 2491 Crooked Antler Road in um in Melbourne Crooked Antler Drive I don't even know my address.

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I am actually the chair of the ABT Council for the Economic Development Commission and just to add some in that great explanation thank you for for that. The score sheet is designed so the the ABT program is designed to give us an incentive that we can use to

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recruit companies to come to our area that have high-paying jobs. Those high-paying jobs will then create what they call direct and indirect jobs beyond that because as the speaker rightly said when you bring in those high-paying jobs they're going to shop in our stores

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they're going to buy our boats they're going to stay in our well the tourists stay in the hotels but they're going to buy houses. So the the the the return on investment and we've done the research is about 8 to 1. So for every dollar that we abate in in a

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the ad valorem piece of the property taxes we get about an $8 return on investment on the spending that they do in the community. So that's the reason that the score sheet gives them credit for high higher paying jobs is because that's the that's the design of the program.

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The reason that we bring the um average wage to you is because of state statute we're required to do that. Okay. And I can answer any other questions. Okay are there any other questions? I'd like to make a motion to approve F4.

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There's a motion to approve F4 by Commissioner Erickson. I I will second I want to I want to say one thing before we vote just on that. Second. And discussion. Okay sorry sir. That's okay. Just so that we're all aware each tax abatement stands on its own. So everyone

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has to go before the board of county commissioners. So approving the guidelines today is just that. It each each one of these would would come before the board individually. Thank Excellent. Okay any other discussion debate? All in

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favor say yay. Yay. Yay. Carries unanimously. Thank you good good discussion good question is very important issue. Thank you for staff for that. And Neil for being here. Okay. We will go to F5

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which is approval appointments and reappointments. Thank you Mr. Chair. So I think that the citizen advisory boards are really important not just to the community but particularly to me because there are individuals who are out there

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that I can work with I can learn from and they can bring to my community or from the community to me and and for me that's important. So I have a concern that if we allow some of these appointments specifically for the health facilities authority

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which has been vacant since December 2025 the community development block grant citizen advisory board which has been vacant since December 24 and the North Brevard Commission on Parks and Rec we don't have anybody in that seat. I think that it

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I think that the the next incoming commissioner for District 1 it might serve them better if they were allowed to appoint those three particular or at least be part of the decision of the board for those particular three appointments. Um

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So that's my thought and and I'd make a move a motion to I have a more discussion about that. >> Certainly but I'm just going to make a motion and see if it gets seconded and then we can make the discussion. Um so I would move to deny the appointment to the health facilities authority the community development block grant citizen advisory board and the North

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Brevard Commission on Parks and Rec. Other ones for me are fine. Okay. I'll second that. There's a motion and a second discussion. >> But Yes. >> Um so I I understand you know where you're

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coming from. I've been um myself and my team have been looking into these appointments for quite some time and um I it's still under my authority as the D1 Commissioner and the next D1 Commissioner can literally wipe out any

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any board seat that they wish and replace it with somebody else. Um once they become commissioner and so there's nothing holding them back from doing so. Um I don't believe that these vacancies should be

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um should continue. I think that it's part of my role as commissioner to appoint somebody and these are the people that I've chosen due to their experience and their willingness to serve. Um

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Like I said the next commissioner can can swap them out if if they so choose but I don't think that D1 should not have the representation during that time just because of my situation. May Yes.

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>> [snorts] >> These positions have been vacant for a year and a half. No they haven't. Well one has >> North Brevard Commission on Parks and Rec hasn't had a previous member in the seat um West Canaveral Grove Strategy

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Area since December 24th or 2024 but in any case I think that from a board's perspective it's it's not a great idea to force the next district chair to district commissioner to have to work with people that weren't

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picked by them. And it would only be a matter of months before this could be straightened out possibly if we have an appointed commissioner for D1. We all do that. We all did that when we got elected and I don't see foresee any issues with these people they're all professionals

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they're all highly experienced and um you know that it's just an insult to the people that have applied to these positions um to even suggest something like that. And um you know these these boards are in advisory role they're not making any

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decisions and so um there should be representation in those seats. Mr. Chair may make a clarification? Absolutely. So Commissioner Delaney was correct that the incoming commissioner in District 1 could remove and replace

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appointees if that commissioner wanted to as to two of the boards the Tyco appointment is a District 1 commissioner appointment for that particular seat and the Marine Advisory Council appointment. Both of those are just acknowledgements the commissioner has in effect made those and the board is just

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being asked to acknowledge those. As to the remaining the CDBG Health Facilities Authority North Brevard Library North Brevard Parks and Rec and North Merritt Island those are all board appointments. Right. And the North Merritt Island is specifically it must be recommended by the District 2 Commissioner and the

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board acts upon that recommendation. In an advice and consent manner. Okay. So we're talking about four appointments. Three. Three? Yeah. And what what are those again? Health Facilities Authority,

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Community Development Block Grant Citizens Advisory Board, and the North Brevard Commission on Parks and Rec. And so, your motion is for those three. >> These three only. The other one stand. >> Okay. Okay, good. From what I was told that those boards were D1 appointments

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approved by the board. That's not correct. District 1 is a District 1 or the TICO and Marine Advisory Council District Commissioner appointments. The others are board appointments. Okay. Uh any further debate? Okay, seeing no further debate, all in

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favor of the motion signify by saying yay. Yay. Yay. Yay. Opposed, nay. Nay. Uh motion carries with one nay. And that's uh Commissioner Denney. Okay.

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Do we need a a larger motion or would that motion cover disposing of that item? I The way I worded it was the Everything else went through. So, the North Brevard Library and the North Merritt Island were both approved by the board. Yeah.

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Okay. And we will move from the consent agenda. Can I'm I'm sorry. Can we can Cathy, I thought that when we had talked about this, the um I have an appointment on the TICO board.

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A District 1 appointment. And I have an appointment on the Health Facilities Authority. Those are From that spreadsheet you gave me, that is what it said. It said District 1. It did not say board.

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I I'm not sure what spreadsheet it is, uh but I looked at every one of these appointments. And the appointment for the uh Community Development Block Grant, the appointment for the Health

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Facilities Authority, and the appointment for the um North Brevard Commission on Parks and Recreation, the way the legislation is written, those are board appointments. Hm. That's not what the information that was

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given. So, what about the TICO? TICO is your That is a District appointment. As I said, the TICO and the Marine Advisory Council, those are just acknowledgements from the board. You made those appointments. Those are District 1 Commissioner appointments. >> those are done. Those two. Okay. All right. Thank you.

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Okay, thank you. We will move to item G, public comments, and we have three cards. Janette Edgerton is our first card. Some information to the board and thanking Mr. Feltner for taking our calls.

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Um Go ahead. We can hear you when you're up at the at the stage. >> I'm Janette Edgerton and Pat uh is going to pass out some information. Um I live at 1725 Morning Glory Drive, Melbourne, Florida. You might want to get you a little bit closer to that mic. You might

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want to pull it down a little bit. The speaker prior to you was How about that? >> All right. Okay. Okay. Um so, I'm going to read if you don't mind. Um we the undersigned we started a petition um for the trees that are going to be cut down or they were planning to

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be cut down. There was some discussion about that in our community. Um so, we started a petition um and we got a hundred and over a hundred twenty homes um out of a hundred ninety-two uh in our community. So, uh

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we were pleasantly surprised uh that we have more than more than half. Uh so, we the undersigned residents supporters of the Hammock Trace community respectfully urge you to halt the plan removal plan to removal of

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approximately six 60 mature oak trees within our neighborhood and to consider alternative solutions that preserve the natural environment we value so deeply. The trees in our community and nearly part of our

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are not merely part of our landscape. They are essential to our health, beauty, and character. Uh our of our neighborhood. Many of us choose to live here because of the rich tree canopy and sense of peace and connection to nature that it provides.

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The mature oak tree is capable of supporting over 2,300 species. Um these trees provide vital food, shelter, and habitat for wildlife contributing to a thriving and balanced ecosystem. In addition to their ecological

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importance, these trees offer significant everyday benefits to residents. They provide shade from the intense Florida sun that we're all familiar with, um making our streets more walkable and enjoyable for families, tree children,

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and pets. To help regulate temperatures, reduce energy costs, and enhance overall quality of life. The removal of these trees would have lasting negative impacts including those already mentioned, loss of wildlife

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habitat, increased heat and reduced shade, increased um energy costs for residents, decreased property values, and neighborhood appeal. Um one of the reasons that I bought in there was because of the beautiful oak trees. If I haven't said that, I want to

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make sure that I said that. Um they're talking about 60 trees being um taken out of the easement area, and I'm not sure why. So, that's one of my questions at the at the end here. This outcome was not what the residents want

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for our community nor what was envisioned at the time Hammock Trace Hammock Trace was developed. Uh we urge Brevard County to look into nearby community communities such as Titusville when thoughtful tree protection policies have been

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successfully where uh thoughtful tree protection policies have successfully be been implemented. Those citizen advocacy and city through citizen advocacy and city leadership.

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Titusville established regulations which uh I I know they have them in place. Um I don't have the numbers of them uh at this point in time requiring preservation existing tree canopy, protection of heritage trees, of which

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we have many cuz we've been there for oh, over 30 years. Um uh and the developer contributions towards tree mitigation. These measures demonstrate that responsible development

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and environment preservation preservation can go hand in hand. We We believe community involvement is essential, not just individual homes, in decisions that shape our community.

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We respectfully ask that you pause all plans to remove these trees, engage Is my time up? Yeah, go ahead and finish that call. >> Engage in residents to explore alternative solutions and consider

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implementing stronger pre-tis tree protection measures. Um my question was simply, how will we know what your decision is? And how will we be kept uh apprised of that in the future? Well, and I have a question if I may.

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>> Um sir, I think you have three cards on the trees, and I'm happy to speak on it. Mark's happy to speak on it, too. Um if we want if you prefer to do that, or I'll say a couple things real quick. Um and you have a question, so. Okay. Uh why don't we hear all three and

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then Okay. You would prefer that. >> Okay. But I do have a question for you. Now, I assume the top picture is a Um that's Pat's. >> Oh, we'll wait for Pat comes up. Okay. Okay. I think I know the answer, but thought I'd ask anyway. Thank you so much. Come on up. Uh

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Patrick French. >> [clears throat] >> Thanks, guys, for letting us come here and talk. I'm Patrick French. I'll just give you a quick history on me real quick. I've been here since 1960. Um South Patrick Shores. I went joined the Marine Corps in 1980,

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retired in 2000. Went to a place called Viera. It's in the court too long, so when I came back I go, "What is that? A new pond or something?" They said, "Viera." Drove around with the wife. We found that area over here in Hammock Trace. I've been there for 26 years. Um and like she said, uh the trees are

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just beautiful. That that picture right there was sent to me by one of the neighbors. I've got I've got pic more pictures, but I you guys don't have time to be looking at pictures all day long, but it to me it's devas I I just don't like that picture. It's devastating. And now, this is a depiction like a Photoshop picture where the trees removed.

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>> someone that from the neighbor that sent it to me to give me an idea on what what it would be like. Very Yeah, I've got a great graphic. Yes, sir. I've got pictures here of one of our streets that looks like that. But I just don't want to keep passing pictures out for you guys. That's I'm just giving you an idea what's going on. Well, they're worth a thousand words.

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>> They really are. That I can't sleep at night when I see that. Cuz this place it's beautiful there. It really is. I've been there 26 years. My tree's probably one of the bigger ones. And it's only been shaved shaved cuz you can lift the side You guys know this. You

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can lift the sidewalk, cut the roots, little square, and then you cement form it back up, boom, it's done. But on mine it's only been shaved once, just shaved to make it level with the other part of the sidewalk, once in 26 years. So, what I'm saying there is um the trees here and there they're

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going to lift. It's part you know, they get big, they're beautiful oaks. But it doesn't happen all the time. It's in intervals of every 5 years. If they if they were to come out there and do the uh sidewalks and lift where they need to be lifted in front of the trees, cut the roots. I've seen it a thousand times out here. Matter of fact, they

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they were just over at uh Spyglass about 3 months ago doing it. Not hurting the trees. And they were also last week they were over at Crane Creek. Not hurting the trees. And it just kills me to see that picture. I I I've looked at it too many times. Actually, I don't even carry it with me anymore. I just brought it for

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you guys. But um there is places in our in our little community there in Hammock Trace that needs to be either shaved or the sidewalk lifted. And then voila, the tree is still there. And these trees are awesome. They're just you know, the kids play there. The

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little people walk around with the dogs, the babies. I I just couldn't imagine if I wanted to live in a desert, I probably should have stayed in the Marine Corps by that picture. That's it's just that's decimated. It's just really it's ugly. And that's not our neighborhood will never be the same. I mean, I've got a couple years left I guess, but I'm just

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saying if they were to come and do say mine's lifting tiny bit now after 26 years. Actually, 30 cuz it's '95 they put it in I think. But I would probably wouldn't be here if they did the sidewalks for say three panels of the cement. I don't think it I don't think it would

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lift probably 15 20 years later. neighborhood in Hammock Trace. And it is a a lovely neighborhood. It it basically if you were to take Spyglass uh all the way to where uh it intersects Murrell and go across um hang a right, you're going to be in

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Hammock Trace. Uh have friends in there. I went in um there last week and I spoke with Pat. I think on Good Friday we we talked. And uh and I met with a couple of your neighbors and went out there and walked around on the

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sidewalks. And the and the and the short of it is uh and they do have majestic beautiful oak trees that are 30 years old cuz I think that neighborhood is about about 30 years old. And the trees are between the sidewalk and

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the street. So, you have that thin strip of grass and that's where they they put the trees. Conversely, in my neighborhood they put two live oaks in all of our front yards. Now, I had to remove mine cuz buckled the driveway, caused other problems

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after the 04 hurricanes, you know, all these sorts of things. We all deal with with oak trees if you have them. But they are beautiful trees. I there's no debating that fact. So, the situation out there is that the county does take care of the sidewalks. They're

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not behind a gate. And so, we have sidewalks now that are raised up. So, you have ADA uh concerns with that. Now, they can grind some tops of of sidewalks, but there definitely some areas that are going to have to be addressed. I went out there and walked

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with one neighbor and there's 5 in um that's that's not shaving the top of the sidewalk. Talked with Mark about this just so we all understand, nothing's moving forward today. We're all on pause um until we can we can figure it out. And I think we spoke

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uh the county doesn't want to go out there and cut all the trees down. I I would just suggest to everybody it's a lot cheaper if we don't have to do that. So, we're going to find the the good way to do it. Uh there's definitely going to have to be some root trimming uh to deal

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with the sidewalks. And now, I've heard this term where you can lift the sidewalk up, trim the root, put the sidewalk back down. I don't I don't think the county quite thinks that it happens like that. I think you have to repour. Right. Okay. So, and there are there are places in century I mean,

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since I've been a commissioner where we've had to repour individual segments. And when I first got here and Earl Locken was finishing up that ditch work and several pieces of the sidewalk individual were broken because heavy equipment were driving across and doing the ditch work.

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And so, that went on for a while. I will say that the the contractor the county had at that time did a did a very good job of getting out there pretty quick and doing it. So, we want to be very respectful, make sure we we do it right. But I think my office

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is trying to plan a meeting with with your residents um here and we're going to do that. Okay. With your you're the uh you're our contacts for that. Okay. And we're going to do that before they move forward with any plan. Okay. So, that's where we are today. All right.

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So, I have questions and comments and thank you for being here. Uh long I was a long time resident Viera. Um and in this case we experienced as well. We have beautiful oak tree in the middle of our yard between the house was between the house and the sidewalk. I didn't

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realize we had between the sidewalk and the road. That even complicates factors. Um and same thing. Sidewalks lifted. It's amazing what oaks in Florida this part of Florida will do to raise sidewalks. Probably because we have a high water table.

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And um so, I've lived this issue. Still live it. I'm a property owner in Viera. So, I'm very much part of your your community, Commissioner. So, I appreciate what you do there. Um and I a couple questions about this. This is a huge issue. And of course, we

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all know uh uh Rockledge Drive, the tree battles there. That was legendary. Uh that still is still is a legendary battle. This is an issue that will not go away and ultimately will affect all districts. Um

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one of the things that comes to my mind and I've thought this that maybe we need to look at our subdivision codes, our site plan approval codes that whenever a sidewalk's put in that it's put in properly. And included

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in that would maybe the need to put in what we call tree tree wells, a thickened footer on the edge of the sidewalk between where any tree would be planted to help create a a wall to prevent those roots from going right

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under the sidewalk and lift it up. Um that's just a thought and maybe when we look at our codes that we might want to evaluate that from this point going forward. Um and then my second question is um

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would I assume the county would bear the the cost of doing all those repairs? Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> Um and what would be the revenue source? Would that be maybe an MSTU um tax that would benefit the local residents? And maybe we should apply a

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certain percentage of our MSTU to fixing these problems. I I also and thirdly, uh I would love to see a poll from the neighborhood. Um it's a great picture. Great How many want to keep the trees? How many want to take them out? It'd be interesting just for me.

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>> going to concede that election. I will I will I will I will concede that point. Uh and I know the results of it. Yeah, abs- absolutely. I I I think probably most folks could agree, hey we've got a few definitely problematic areas that we

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got to address. And so, I want to be sympathetic um to to the rest that they're all not all sort of you know, just broadly done. So, let's address the the key things. I've heard the border type situation that you're describing with

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keeping the roots from doing this again. Um but uh now, I I will say uh a couple of So, it's 30 years old. So, I'm probably we're seeing the manifestation of 30 years of of root growth. And if we could address these things, they're

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probably going to Pat, I hope we're all uh still around when um when if if if roots uh do this again. But um probably take care of the lion's share of it. Um I think to your point we were talking about code and such. I

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don't I don't think the county allows for these trees to be that close now. I mean, in in the modern neighborhoods. >> Mhm. You know that's a problem. And and so, I think our staff um make sure there's enough setback for all that. And it's not just the sidewalk too by the

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way. I mean, they got utilities there. I was out there looking at >> Mhm. the water meters and and um all of those things. Uh the one good part I noticed and just happenstance really I guess um and that I noticed. But you know, thinking

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about Rockledge Drive to your point, it doesn't seem they have a height problem, right? So, it's not you know, a truck's going through there and hitting uh the limbs. That was a different thing, you know, in Rockledge. It's it's not always just what's happening underneath or always what's on top. It's kind of a

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combination of both. So, I think their problem is exclusively um roots. But I I think we can get there and and find a a solution that the neighborhood's going to and and not have a liability problem for the county. I mean, ultimately that's where we have to be. If again, if they

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were behind a gate, we wouldn't be having this conversation. >> Interesting. Yeah. Well, we look forward to hearing your report. I know the constituents are in good hands. I'm looking forward to they come back. This definitely has a county wide um impact. And so, really interesting.

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This is a big issue. The I I never I worked at this space at the Cape. And um and at a park there at the Astronaut Memorial, we had massive destruction of all of our walkways and had to rip them out and put a gravel uh replacement. That seems to be working. But these oak

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trees are powerful. It's amazing what they can do. Yeah, in Tallahassee, yes. So, I'm interested uh fascinating to hear what you come up come up with. Okay, good. Th- And thank you for being here. That's why we have a public part of the agenda. It's very informative.

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Okay now True. Chelsea, did I say Is it Chelsea? Yes. Sorry, my handwriting is awful. No, it's not. It's just my reading's not the best in the world. I can't write for myself. [laughter] Um my name is Chelsea True and I am a

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Merritt Island resident. I wanted to speak today about public trust in the process, especially as it relates to activity zoning matters currently before this board. Over the past several months, residents have been following a rezoning case 25Z00054. And that case has now gone through

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multiple continuances with explanations that the project is still evolving due to land acquisition and outreach. At the same time, public records show that the applicant's registered lobbyist has had multiple contacts with county leadership while this matter remains unresolved. Additionally, we became aware that the

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same individual is under contract with the county for state lobbying services. And that contract appears to include related to conflicts and restrictions on lobbying on behalf of private developers during the term of the agreement. I'm not making any accusations, but from a resident's perspective, when these

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overlapping roles exist, it raises questions about how those provisions are being interpreted and whether appropriate disclosures have been made. Additionally, there are still open questions about how this project would function from an access and infrastructure standpoint. For example, based on publicly available information,

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I have not been able to locate any FDOT permit or related to the proposed access points associated with this development. And I've also spoken to the project manager for this specific project. If key elements like access and traffic mitigations depend on approvals that are

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not yet in place, it adds to the concern that the project may still be evolving in ways that are not fully visible to the public. When a public When a project continues to change between hearings and residents are trying to understand what it is actually being proposed, it creates a perception that the full picture is not always clear in real

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time. Perception matters. Because when residents are showing up, asking questions, and still struggling to get a consistent understanding of the project, it can erode confidence in the process itself. I'm simply asking for clarity and transparency. As this application moves forward, I respectfully ask that any

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material changes, as well as any relevant disclosures and outstanding approvals, be clearly presented so that both the board and the public can evaluate the matter in full confidence. And I also beg you to give weight to Merritt's unanimous no and the no majority vote for our planning and

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zoning twice and the continuous community outreach to ensure that we get heard. Thank you. Do I have any questions? I have one just a uh request >> Yeah. that um

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your concern be put in writing. So we can have our county attorney address it. >> it will be. Okay, great. >> as soon as I leave here. Okay, good. Thank you. >> thank you so much. Thank you. Okay, that concludes our first section

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of our um public comments. Now we will move on to H, public hearings. H1. Okay, uh good morning, Mr. Chair. H1 is permission to participate and accept the US Department of Justice Edward Byrne

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Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. This is an item you see every year. This is the second time it's been in front of you. The last meeting was request this public hearing. This is for the sheriff's office to apply for the grant. The award would be 48,000 Excuse me, accept the grant. It'd be $48,444.

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The award will enhance criminal investigations by funding a deputy agent position that focuses on forensic fraud, referring to crimes in which somebody wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data. Make a motion to approve. Second. Motion is Motion is second. All in favor say

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yay. Yay. Yay. Carries unanimously. Thank you. H2. Good morning, uh board. Uh H2 is a position vacated portion of a public utility easement. It is south of Highway 520, west of South Courtney on Merritt

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Island. Mr. Mathis is the uh owner, uh District 2. And they're requesting a portion of a public utility easement to be vacated to allow an existing storage uh facility to remain uh that was discovered during a

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unrelated uh code enforcement case. Uh there's no objections. Okay, is there a motion? Okay, Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the uh the Second. Second. Uh Motion is second. All in favor say yay. Yay. Yay. Yay.

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Carries unanimously. Thank you. H3. H3. There is no H3. I had to turn the page. Okay I unfinished business. I1, request approval to advertise request for proposal for a boating infrastructure study. We do have one

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card. Uh Rick Helfinger. Rick Helfinger, D1 again. Sorry for all my cards. Um my question was I believe this was was brought up earlier by Commissioner Atkinson about you know, looking at reevaluating what I

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guess what we're charging for boat registration fees. Um I I didn't I don't see any numbers. I I see a I see one number. I see [snorts] an 80 to 100,000 dollars for a study. Um

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I see a reference to a county's That's Dude, getting old stinks. County boating improvement fund. And I was wondering if you could discuss or provide some information at your discretion. How much is in the county boating

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improvement fund right now? And what is going to be the return on investment for spending 80 to 100,000 dollars to study the problem. If If there is a problem. Maybe that's just a reevaluation you do routinely. I don't know. But I just wondered why we're going to

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spend and I don't know what fund that comes out of. General General fund maybe for the 80 to 100. Don't know that. Doesn't say that, I don't think. So I just wanted to know return on investment for a study and how much money we got and what do we think we need from the study to Maybe Maybe we're looking to grow that fund for some reason. That was all I had and if you can answer those

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questions, appreciate it. Okay. Um Do I Is there an answer? Okay. Commissioner Atkinson. No, you can have a seat. Okay, thank you, ma'am. So this item um is coming back to us because of our board direction March 17th. So

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First of all, thanks staff for getting it done so quickly. I mean, I expected it to be done in May, but it's early, which is fantastic. Um the direction from the board was to prepare uh an RFP um that will study the current state of and need for expansion county

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infrastructure that falls within the approved uses of the Brevard boating improvement program. So the money that this may cost, somewhere between 80 and 100,000 um is in a fund that is specific to these things. It is not general fund.

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Um It has the potential to generate over 460,000 dollars per year extra. And it can only go to specific things. So it can only go to providing, maintaining, or operating recreational channel marking and other

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waterway markers, public boat ramps, lifts, and hoists, marine railways, boat piers, docks, mooring buoys, and other public launching facilities, and removing derelict vessels and debris that specifically impede boat access, not

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including the dredging of canals. Um also for removing vessels and floating structures deemed hazardous. So this is us getting approval to go out and get the study done. Um Is there anything else that staff would

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like to say about that? Thank you, Commissioner. Good morning. Um I I would like to add that this will actually help the department with planning for the next 5 10 years as we look at expending and obligating funds to different projects. Something that we'll be looking at for within the RFP

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is actually a prioritization regarding some of those needs that we have moving forward. Okay. Thank you. All right, any other questions or discussion? May I make a motion? Yes. So I'd like to make a motion to approve the

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advertisement of the request for proposal for boating infrastructure study, authorize the county manager to execute a contract with the consultant recommended by the selection and negotiation committee, and authorize the county manager to approve the necessary budget change requests. Second.

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Motion and a second. All in favor say yay. Yay. Yay. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. >> to abstain. Oh, wait. There's a nay. Sorry. Uh there's a uh nay by Commissioner Feltner. Passes four to one. Thank you.

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Okay. I think that takes us to J1. J1? Yes. Mhm. J1, public safety group. Good morning. Item J1, write off of uncollectible ambulance debt associated with emergency medical services accounts

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for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. In accordance with BCC 37, Brevard County Fire Rescue refers appropriate delinquent accounts to contracted collection agencies for further recovery actions. For all these accounts, this action does

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not preclude continued collection efforts in future years. For the average of the two year write-off rate, it's an average of 39.6% with our 7-year average being a 41%.

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Fire rescue request board approval in accordance with resolution number 79-21 for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025 write-offs of uncollectible EMS accounts receivable and the closure of accounts associated with Change Healthcare and

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EMS Management and Consultants. Okay, we have one card, I think. Um uh Rick Hefelfinger. Again. Go ahead. Rick Hefelfinger, District 1. Here's my concern.

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We're writing off, which means the county is not getting or EMS is not getting money for services that you provided. I'm not going to look at him. I I assume I'll make the assumption and you know you know what happens when you make assumptions. I'm I'm assuming that that's a true statement. So, those guys

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are working hard, getting paid. They're picking people up is I think it's just EMS. Picking people up and those people are are welching on their bill. I I I think that's you can clarify if that's true. So,

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that means, I think, that instead of the people receiving the service paying for the service, the taxpayers are. Cuz we're not shortening their paychecks, they're still doing their job. That amount of write-off really bothers me. I don't I don't know if you're writing off,

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you know, when like Medicare or something makes a minimum payment. I I cuz insurance is is a mystery to me still. But when they say, "Hey, you guys bill them 400 bucks for a ambulance ride." I don't know what it is, so and then Medicare pays 200, you eat 200, really? Because you said your costs were

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five and what do you eat 300? My math is a little foggy this morning. So, is that what we're writing off is something we never anticipated getting because insurance didn't cover it? Or are we actually issuing a bill saying it's your responsibility, you rode the ambulance, and they just go, "Hello."

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I mean, and and collections is collections against an individual person? I mean, I think these are all good questions when we get a response from our chief. Yeah, that's that was kind of my question because that's a lot of money that's not coming into this county and I hate to think the taxpayers are making up the difference.

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So, good point by Mr. Hefelfinger. The Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare contracted rates, that is that's a separate that's all separate from this. So, I'll I'll come up with a better word than you that people that either can or won't pay their bill is what this number that we

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see here today. And I think there was a third question and I don't remember what it was. Do you remember, Rick? Well, I I guess I was say Oh and >> You're being compensated for the difference though. I mean, we're we're we're making it up to you. >> part part of the my statement too was

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they will continue with the collection agency and that number doesn't preclude continued collections. Say somebody's making a $5 a month payment, that will continue to trickle in. But anybody that nobody that Go ahead. No no, go ahead. People that didn't respond and I assume they get a

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lien on their their credit, right? Or do they get a lien from the county for No, I'm not sure. But so they're financially impacted, but you're going to say they didn't respond, there's no chance they're going to pay, and you're writing it off. Is that what the write-off part is? It is it's a write-off to clear the

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books today, but they will continue collection efforts moving forward on these accounts. >> Okay, so you'll continue to ping them, but you're just going to say, "We assume we may not get anything." >> Exactly. >> And if you do, you report that as additional income the next year that you said, "Hey, we got some of that back." Okay. But again, I'm really concerned

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about the the size of what the county is expending resources for and saying that I don't know. Do we need to be meaner to people who don't respond to their bills? You can't You can't deny them service. I understand that it's a it's a you know, the doctor must provide services. You

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can't tell them no, "Get your own ride, call a Uber." I don't know how you deal with that. It's It's again, it's a but it but it does affect my taxes, I think, if we're making up the difference. That's all. It is a tough issue. I have a question. So,

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um this is a little bit of a bookkeeping thing then. We're writing off kind of what we would call bad debt expense in private sector. >> Okay. >> But we still will make efforts to collect. Yes. Another question, I just want to clarify cuz it did come up.

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Will there be a lien placed placed on the property for lack of pay I don't think so, necessarily. >> I don't think we're doing that in this particular case. >> No, no. Yeah. Do any jurisdictions do that? Do we know? Not that I'm aware of. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. I have a question.

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>> Yes. Um and so when you say that we're continuing efforts to retrieve the money, that even includes litigation. Is that correct? It can, yes, ma'am. Up to litigation. Our collections agency has a process defined that they will go through based

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on the time and the amount and then it's their call as they use those processes of how far they want to go. And when it comes to the hacking that went on with that third-party agency, we're still going through that process of trying to retrieve those funds and all

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of that. Yes, ma'am. And that's another issue we didn't even talk about I know in the briefing. This is this is the outgrowth of our cyber attack. I don't know if you aware of that. I did I did see the notice and I I just stuck to that page about I didn't know if the cyber attack, but they So, somebody somebody ripped off money from the

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county. >> Yes, yes, sir, chair. Good morning, board. There it's a separate issue, but connected. The Change Healthcare experienced a cyber hack cyber attack in 2024. We're going through the process right now to identify the impact of those revenues that potentially could be

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lost. Part of that is working with the county attorney's office right now for a demand to get that data being brought back to the county. Once we get that data, we'll be able to analyze it and go through our processes, potential audits to determine that magnitude and the proper steps forward going forward.

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Yes. I hope you guys make the company that let that cyber attack happen pay your lawyer fees. Morris needs to get money for them for his effort, not from us. So, go get them, Morris. >> [laughter] >> It's a serious problem. All right. I thank you so much.

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>> Thank you for answering it again, Commissioner. Mr. Chair. Yes. Yes. Question as he's wrapping up there. Um How are indigents handled? Right? Um so,

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you have nothing to bill or do you bill Medicaid? How do how how are we paid for? The Medicaid Medicare is at the contracted rate. I want to say it's Tom would know it better. I think it's around $250 or $300 is their standard

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rate that they will pay and that's the contracted federal rate. >> Okay. So, that's 30% somebody when they're that's what the federal government will pay us for indigent folks. What about folks who are out of town? So, have anything to lean.

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I I know that question came up about leaning your property. sure that you can do that for ambulance ride, but certainly collections probably report to credit agencies. Right?

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I don't I don't believe that this This one does. Yeah. Because of the nature of Yes, sir. of medical. Okay. Um but that has to be a problem uh when you have out-of-town folks, they're just not even a a resident of Florida. Does that does

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that change our ability to collect from them versus No, sir. folks who are here. Our collection agency can go nationwide to to try to find those folks. The some of the issues might be if we don't have good information contact information when we provide the service.

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You know, if they don't provide a detailed address or phone number or that kind of stuff and then our collections agencies try to run those folks down, but Yes, sir. We do we every ambulance ride that our bill that we produce that's not paid for goes to the collection agency and they they make a due diligence to try and collect. And I

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think maybe it was mentioned refresh my recollection here when someone's in a coastal ambulance and if they didn't pay, then that's largely Coastal's problem. 100% Coastal's problem. Okay.

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Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay, thank you. Okay, but I think we need a motion. Do Do we have them? Move to approve. Second. >> The motion is seconded to approve. All in favor say yay. Yay. Yay.

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Carries unanimously. Thank you. Okay J2. Thank you, Mr. Chair. J2 is a proposed settlement of a case known as Atlantic Housing Partners et al. v. Brevard County that was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle

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District of Florida in 2023, I believe. Yes, and at the end of 2023, Commissioners Feltner and Commissioners Goodson were the only ones on the board when the events giving rise to that litigation happened, but essentially the

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board at that time denied a request from someone who had gone from through the Housing Finance Authority process for tax-exempt private activity bond financing for proposed development within the City of West Melbourne. The board heard strong objections from the city as well as area residents and took

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those into account and did not elect to give the preferential bond financing treatment to that developer. Developer sued under the Florida and federal fair housing acts claiming 14 million. We prevailed at summary judgment. They have appealed the

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case to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in federal court. We had a mediation last week and have agreed to settle the case with them paying $125,000 of our fees and costs and dismissing the appeal and lawsuit and um

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that was accepted by our outside claims adjuster and I strongly urge the commission to accept that as well. If there aren't questions if there aren't questions or any other debate I'll make a motion to approve. Second. It's a motion and a

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second to approve. All in favor say yay. >> Yay. Opposed? Carries unanimous. Thank you so much. Item J3. All right. Approving agenda transparency through financial disclosure. I do have a a question

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perhaps a point of order on this. Now didn't we vote on this before? You did previously and so because it's a motion for reconsideration, the board follows BCC 97 and under BCC 97 the board follows Robert's Rules of Order

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generally. Under Robert's Rules you can only make a motion for reconsideration at the same meeting at which a vote is taken. So in order to hear this item you would need to do two things first. Number one pursuant to BCC 97 3K you would have to have a majority vote of the board to

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suspend Robert's Rules of Order and then number two a separate motion to reconsider your action at the prior meeting and if both of those pass then you can address the subject of the agenda. I have a point of order on that. So what my request today is to

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>> finish. I had a point. Okay. >> Let's let's dispose of that first. So under Robert's Rules of Order if you have a motion to reconsider it must be made by a member of the prevailing party. Isn't that correct? That's correct but in this instance if the board waives Robert's Rules to even

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consider it then then that doesn't apply It wouldn't apply that. Okay. All right. So what I think what we need either is a motion from the prevailing partner to reconsider or a motion to not follow Robert's Rules of Orders. And there's a reason for that. It's to

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prevent you from just hashing and rehashing rehashing these items. Do you have a question? >> I do. I I object that this is reconsideration. I'm what I'm doing is

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under the board authority we have the authority to make changes to policy and what the motion was at the previous meeting was to direct staff to to do this and so now this time I'm proposing the changes and

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so I feel like that's two different things. Mr. Chair if I may address that. The requested action is once again to direct staff to revise the policy and reading from the commissioner's agenda item it says the item is being brought back for the board's reconsideration. So I believe the reconsideration rules apply. It's the board's

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>> And as chairman as chairman I agree with that. I was going to make that a ruling as chair. So I think what's in order is if if anybody wants to consider this a motion would be in order to waive Robert's Rules of Order or a motion to from the prevailing party

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that um to reconsider this item. I'd like to make a motion to waive Robert's Rules. Is there a second? The motion dies for lack of a second. So

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our our original action stands uh from the last meeting. Okay, we will now enter We don't hear that. It's not being heard. Okay, we will go to our second public

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>> Oh um there's a card. I'm J3. J3 is is not being heard. It was it It's it was disposed of in the last meeting and it died. So if I make a comment during public comment now are there rules about discussing something on the agenda? You can comment whatever

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you want to. There's no limit under public comment what you Did we um Do you have a He has a card already. Yeah. Okay. Rick Helfenbein.

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Rick Helfenbein District 1. Now that that item's off the agenda I'd like to talk about it a little. Waving Robert's Rules. How many times have I seen I don't have a specific list where we're pretty fast and loose with Robert's Rules around here.

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Maybe it was previous more. I think Chairman Altman you do a better job. But this item was trying to push for some transparency. She's on her way out. Can't you just cut her a little slack and hear the item and reconsider? She's trying to leave something that she

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started and she's she's got to go now. Not her choice. She's got an opportunity and you guys will block it at every opportunity. I hear a lot of pushback. She's leaving. Give her a gift. At le- at least don't try to block her her agenda that she promised to us

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that that she was going to get us some transparency. You don't seem to want to do anything with that. It looks bad. The optics are bad. That you guys don't really want to hear from us. I don't know if that's true. Again I assume and you make an ass out of you and me when we do that. But it it's it's for the it's for her

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constituents. She promised this stuff. But you guys don't seem to want to do it for I don't know what your constituents think. I would be concerned. You look like you're blocking transparency and openness and and care showing some concern for for for your because this is not just for D1. This is for everybody

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in the county who wants to come up with do a CR, have some time, have a policy that says it's going to be heard and and you're going to actually get some action and you're going to get some you're going to get it in writing. See, you make a comment through through the uh public uh

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Yeah the Well, you're just going through and making a suggestion to the county. It Does that written down anywhere? That's why I said with the garbage I'm going to follow up and say when the garbage contract comes up I said hey I I made some suggestions. Can we can we talk about those? I I hope that Mr. Walker is keeping that

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in is passed that along. But I don't know that. The CR is a documented thing. It gets You guys either say yay or nay and then people can go wow. I tried to help. I guess I'll try again next year or hey you're right. They they don't do that. Maybe there's another an

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avenue. But but but not not up supporting that program looks bad. It does. That's that's all I had to say about that one. Um The uh Yeah, I got minutes and I yeah. All right. Well, I'll catch that

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next time but again that I I really don't like the fact that it seems like ever since she's been in this position and we hate to see her go and we hope we get somebody that continues that. But boy you guys are just brutal to her. That's all I had. Thank you for your public comment. Is

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there any other cards for public comment? None. We will go to board reports. County manager. Uh yes. Good morning Mr. Chair Commissioners. I have a handout for each of you that I'm going to talk about. I already gave

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a copy to the clerk's office. Um with Commissioner Commissioner Delaney leaving on May 2nd I just put together a little sheet more talking points for me to discuss those with you options for operating a District 1 office during vacant the vacancy. Um we've had this case back in

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Commissioner Lober I believe it was 2022. I've already forgot the dates and then we also had the same issue with Commissioner Zonka in 24 23 or 24 of how to keep the office operating and the staff members. So that we see four

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different discussion points or four different ideas. One is to retain the remaining District 1 staff member Kristen Lober. The other two members have resigned. They'll be resigned they'll be out of they'll be no longer employed by May 2nd. Item number two is an appoint an

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interim District 1 staff member as appointing authority for the office. Idea number three is other commissioner offices take the phone calls, emails and other communications. Idea number four is county staff takes phone calls, emails and other communications. Underneath we just put some talking

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points on there the things to consider you know how often would you have the office open? How would citizen input be routed to other commissioners if it's handled by other commission offices? What do you do when there's a policy issue of staff's handling it? Or how do you go about appointing staff members?

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The what you what we're looking for is for the board to give direction on who the appointing authority staff wise would be for the office while it's vacant. Mind you that let's see. Under Commissioner Lober it was in April and the governor did not fill that slot and

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that you know it got filled by election in November. Commissioner Zonka I believe it was just a couple weeks between that and that office was filled by Governor DeSantis. So I would recommend to remind the commissioners that we should be planning that that office

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should be vacant till the November when the swearing is that which is like the third Tuesday of November. If the governor appoints somebody earlier than that commissioner can appoint their own staff members at that time. So I'm open to directions and ideas. I um

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just want to bring forward that Lober when this happened there was no chance given for him to give any input or bring this conversation up due to the way that you know that situation happened. His

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quick um uh exit. And Commissioner Zalewski, she was the one who brought it up um for her for her staff. And um so, I'm just I just want to throw it out there that I was willing to bring this up, and I was

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told that the county manager was bringing it up. So, I'm wondering about that about why that was the case when other commissioners had been afforded the opportunity to um make decisions about their office um you know, when and and I'm not being

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afforded that that same opportunity. Um Kristen has been somebody that's been in my office, and she's been um incredible to not only myself, but to the constituents. She's um

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you know, almost never taken any time off. She's you know, she's always there and professional, and she's um she knows the community, and uh especially during this time of vacancy, I think that for District 1, it would be

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um it would be a good thing for them if they had a familiar face in my office um just because they've already built the relationships. They've um you know, she's she's done the work. And so, uh that would be my recommendation to

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retain her. Um that way uh you know, when the new commissioner comes in, there's some cohesive um change of power and whatnot, and that that time the new commissioner can make their own decision about staff.

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That would be my recommendation. Okay. Is there any other discussion on that? If If not, I think you should um put that in the form of a motion. I think the reason staff brought this to us is is appropriate because

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they acknowledge they're not the one that that would make this decision. It's got to come from the board itself. So, Well, I think if the staff is looking for direction, the board needs to give them direction. Well, can I ask a technical question? In in lieu of some motion or what have

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you today, what what then happens? So, if the board doesn't do anything, first of all, the commissioner is still the appointing authority until May 2nd. So, the board can't do anything that's effective immediately. The board could only do something effective following that. Um following that, if there's no

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action taken >> up after I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt but >> No problem. We we don't have to take action today. We can bring it up after the May 2nd time frame. You may sir, you can take action today, or you can bring it up at the next meeting on May 5th, or however the board wishes to proceed, but to

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>> issue would be though that that May 2nd um that would be if my understanding is correct, May 2nd, because I'm no longer here, it would also take away my appointment because it's a point of point of service position, is that correct? And so,

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between May 2nd and May 5th, my constituents wouldn't have anybody in the office to answer the phones. Well, I think that um because your term doesn't expire May 2nd, you're just leaving the office, I think at that point the board becomes

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the appointing authority, and because Ms. Lortie's already been appointed, she would continue on until the board takes other action, or appoints someone else as the appointing authority to take other action. So, if we did nothing, nothing changes.

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If you do nothing, nothing changes with regard to Ms. Lortie's position. Right. Okay. And and so, you could just revisit it at the May 5th meeting. Also, if we chose if that's my only my only thing is is that if if there is something

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different that's going to happen, I I request, respectfully, that we do a kindness, and we we don't leave this hanging because it's already been brought up now. So, you know, I I think that it's only fair. Imagine if it was one of your chiefs of

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staff not knowing, you know, I I like to I like to sort of split something. Um as part of this today, okay, we could give direction today for a letter formal

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letter to be sent to the governor requesting that an interim appointment be made. I don't have to weigh in on on who or what, but I don't agree with that at all. An interim appointment? To to my seat? Well, we're talking about possibly no I

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mean, whether the governor's going to pick someone to serve in the role or not. I mean, I think that's an excellent idea. I don't think that this board should be saying who should be sitting in my seat, but I'm not saying I don't think he said who. He didn't say [clears throat] who.

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I just think the board we need to let the governor know I think there's some question of whether the governor will. I think there's a question he he certainly can. Whether whether he He hasn't done that? He has not done that historically. Well, they they did do it with Commissioner Zalewski. But if

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you look across the state historically, I mean, you know this. You're No, no, actually it it he doesn't Sorry, respectfully, he he doesn't have to. I think there's some question of shall. Isn't there The governor shall appoint?

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Or the or let me rephrase. The appointment, if there is one, is the governor's to make. It's the governor's to make. The constitution and the statutory do use the mandatory language shall, but that does not mean there will be an appointment.

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Okay. I I think that's an interesting legal question because I agree with Commissioner Feltner. I I I trust the governor. I have confidence in him. Let me finish. I this is before the board. It's improper for the public to be interrupting us as well as Feltner. Let's don't talk over each other. Let me finish my point. I agree with

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Commissioner Feltner. I'd love to see the governor make this appointment. I don't think the seat should go vacant. We could we could even we can even split it another way. Let me let me let me finish. I hope everybody seeing this on at home. Let let hold on. Are you saying you don't want the governor to appoint? Absolutely not. I want the people of D1 to decide who is their commissioner. Absolutely. They will. Respectfully, they will decide that in November. That is going to happen. It doesn't matter. They don't have to endure You have no idea what the constituents have had to endure over these years. Why the why do you think I got elected here? Why do you think I got elected here because these people out here haven't been listened to in decades. They do not trust the

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government. I don't know how much clearly people have to say that. Okay. Well, the governor governor also got [laughter] elected overwhelmingly as well, and I I think when the people of D1 constituents, I can promise you they do not want an appointment from the governor. Okay. Okay. Commis- Commissioner She hasn't had the floor, and then I'll go. Commissioner I was just going to make one last suggestion that that don't stop here. We could just simply formally inquire whether an appointment is going to be made or not.

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And if he responds to us, no, one will not be made, we get with that information, we can make a better decision on May 5th. If he says an appointment is coming, then we could also make a decision on May 5th of what to do with the office. I mean, just

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having some directive from the governor's office on that question, I think would would be helpful for the board. Well, just having no answer from the governor's office is is Okay. It's difficult. Let's have Commissioner Ickes and have a

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voice here. Thank you. I appreciate it. I would just like to state for the records for the board to understand that I also would not support requesting the governor to make an appointment to this commission. Just wanted everybody to hear that. Okay. Again, I think that's fine. You can

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>> Motion, second, discussion. Um First of all, I have two one question and Morris, do we have to allow for public input because we're making motions? Not on this motion. Not if they're just moving it to the 5th. They can have public input at the 5th. Okay.

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Um One thing that I would ask to consider again because think about it again if this was your chief of staff and would you want their their position to be unknown you know, for

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another 2 and 1/2 weeks and you know I just don't think that that's fair or a kindness to my staff that has served this district um loyally and fully.

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Um so I I really hope that this motion fails and we can continue further discussion today so that um Kristen has some idea of what her future looks like and does that doesn't have to hang over her head

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for a few more weeks. Uh any Any further debate? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying yay. Yay. Opposed, nay. Nay. Uh Commissioner Goodson, I didn't hear. I

400
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Pardon me? Nay. Yay. Okay. Motion uh passes on a 4-1 vote. With Commissioner Delaney voting against. Okay. Uh any other items under County Manager's report? >> No, thank you. Thanks, Mr. Chair. Uh

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County Attorney? No [clears throat] report, Mr. Chair. Thank you. >> District 1? I have a question. Um would I be able to have my report last since it is my last meeting? Sure. Thank you. District 2?

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None Mr. Thank you. Uh District 3? None, sir. No report. District 4? Uh I'd say two things. We could still uh ask the chair even to call the office of

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the governor to ask if an appointment will be made. You know you know, I I don't think I need board approval to do that. >> [clears throat] >> Any commissioner can call the governor's office. >> to get an answer for the board. >> Just just an answer. A very simple

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answer. It's going to happen or it's or it's not. We I'm going to make that inquiry on a personal level. >> Okay. All right. I I I think that's good. And uh so finally uh art show in Wickham Park uh this weekend. It's always a great one. So

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go to go to Wickham Park park and look at the many artists who'll be there this weekend. Great. Okay, I have no report and I think that concludes Oh, wait. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. >> Mr. Delaney. Thank you so much.

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>> to going in that chronological order. That's okay. Um Okay. I got all mixed up. I'm All right. I'm just going to wing it. Um Logan, will you go to the next slide? >> [laughter] >> Um so we had a uh citizens engagement

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event the other day and it was really great. We had it up in the Space Coast room um and where I went through and talked to the citizens from all over uh the county um about how do they get informed? Um so we

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walked through the um county website and I helped them all find, you know, the agenda. Where do you find the backup documents? All that kind of stuff. We had about 20 people there and they were all um really excited to learn about all this and that way they could get more

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informed and engaged uh with the county government. And if you wouldn't mind going to the next slide uh I have a Substack with the same information and I'm not going to play the video, but there is a video on there that walks you through how to go through

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the calendar and the agenda and um find the backup details. That way if anybody wants to get informed, all this information is out there and um even though, you have to it takes a little finagling to get used to the website, it's not that hard and I know that there

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are loads of citizen advocates that are out there that would help walk anybody through. Um you could always contact me. I'll help any anyone walk through this even after um I'm no longer in Brevard. Um but

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definitely check out that Substack if you're interested cuz it'll give you that tutorial to walk right through our our our website. Um if you wouldn't mind going to the next one. I don't know if I have an another slide. I think that's it. Um

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I also wanted to give a shout-out to um Lieutenant Manley. We had a um resident that has a situation going on and he came with me because there was a police report that needed to be made and um I just got to

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give him a shout-out. The it it's a very intense situation and just his professionalism, his care and concern for our resident um and the situation uh you know, it's it's not every day

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that you have a a mayor, a commissioner, and a deputy in your living room. So I just um really want to give him a shout-out uh for just how fantastic he was and um showing that resident that, you know he really cared about their situation

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and um the follow-through there. Um Because this didn't get to be brought up, um I just want to read a couple things um and give a little explanation about why I brought back that um financial transparency item and it's

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because of the overwhelming feedback I got from the community. I got multiple multiple phone calls um after our last meeting in regards to that item just in shock. And um I mean, this one's from District 1 and they, you know, are in

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support. This one's from uh Merritt Island and they were in some serious shock that that that item didn't go forward. This one is uh >> [sighs and gasps] >> I'm not sure where he's from, but it came to all of our emails. Um District

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2, I think it was because um Commissioner Goodson's staff member responded to him. Um and then this one's from Melbourne, also supporting. Uh another one from Melbourne. And I didn't I don't know any of these people um except for one. And so this is not,

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you know like I galvanized people and said, "Hey, go email all the commissioners." No, this is just feedback that we got just from the people that were watching this meeting and um I I really hope and pray that this board can considers

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bringing this item back forward um and making this change because it's going to you know, it it it will really help people and I understand that you don't want the agendas to be too lengthy, but um people are really

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trying to figure out um how to get informed and when you're not part of the government, it's really difficult because you don't know who to call, who to contact, what what to do, what websites are out there, what resources are out there. You've no idea. Um

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And so this is just one small thing that we could do to help our constituents get more informed. Um And just because I didn't get to say it last uh last meeting, I just really appreciate uh all the staff

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um I know at times, you know, we I asked for a lot from you all and um I just really appreciate the hard work and the information and the kindness, the patience um that you all have given me and uh I I really appreciate that a

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lot. Um and board, while we don't always agree all the time, um it's truly been an honor to serve with you all and um I uh will always be praying for this board

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and for this community. And uh thank you all so much. >> [applause] >> And thank you for your willingness to serve. Uh I think that's uh concludes the meeting. Um we will see

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you at 1:00 at the budget workshop. Looking forward to that. Commissioner Feltner, did I If you haven't been to the new Olive Tree in Viera, today's a beautiful day and this is a great time to do it and getting there before 11:30 means you can get a

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table and you can be back here by 1:00. That's some really good advice. All right. Go have a salad. Thank you. Meeting adjourned. The opinions expressed by any member of the public during any period of public comment do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions [music]

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of the Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, Space Coast Government Television, or the program sponsor and are solely those of the presenter. The Board of County [music] Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, Space Coast Government Television, and the program sponsor hereby expressly disclaim any and all

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responsibility or liability for any defamatory [music] or slanderous statements expressed by any member of the public during any such period. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music]

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[music]

Part: 2

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Mhm. >> I'm ready to order will by County budget workshop and I'll recognize uh Jim to kick it off. >> [laughter] >> Uh thanks, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Commissioners. So Let me pull that up closer. So, um uh we have we just have one

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presentation to go through. Uh I'll try to talk slower than normal, but it's not a very long presentation and then we'll bring it forward to you guys for discussion. Make it short. It's always check. >> do this Yep. >> let's do a quick pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Do we need to vote on Goodson? Yes, I we do. Thank you. I have a great lot of support on this board to keep me in

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line. A motion be in order for uh recognizing Commissioner Goodson. Second. >> Motion second to allow Commissioner Goodson to call in. All in favor say I. >> I. I. Motion carries unanimous. Commissioner Goodson, you are in.

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Thank you, sir. Okay, Jim. Okay. Um so um so with the slides, so we're going to go over a few subjects, uh the board direction, charter cap language impacts, uh county comparisons, the finding a critical need process, um some general fund critical needs for you to look at.

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We also didn't did add in it additional revenue options for you to look at and then questions and board discussion. See, and I'm already talking too fast. So, at the March 19th workshop, the board uh directed staff to evaluate what steps would take to be required to reset

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the general fund millage to a rate that would generate revenues needed to address county's infrastructure and other critical needs. Um we're going to give you a little bit of background on the millage rate um and some possible methods to look at in the critical needs. And then we're going to as the board instructed, we're going to show you steps uh we're going to present

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the steps that required to reset the general fund millage. So, this chart you've seen it a number of times. This is just a reminder for all. We have uh underneath our charter cap and you'll see the the definition coming up. Uh but uh underneath the charter cap,

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we're limited to CPIU or 3% whatever is less. So, as the taxable values, which is the red line, uh increases, you're going to see the millage rate drop, which is the blue line. So, there there's the examples we've had for the last seven excuse me uh yeah, it's the last seven fiscal years.

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I'm going to mute. And this this is the chart we use for uh determine the CPI. Our CPI is the CPIU and it's the average of the 12 months previous. When you look at the chart, the blue line is the CPU that we CPI that we've been using to um increase the revenue.

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The way this the way the charter cap works, you look at last year's revenue and you can increase by the CPI. So, if you looked in 2015, our revenue increased by 0.12%. Uh this coming fiscal year, which is all the way at right, um we'll be able to increase by 2.63%.

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The dash green line is the cap. We're not allowed to go above 3%. So, those three fiscal years in '21, '22, and '23, you see the inflation rate was higher. Uh so, we were only allowed to go up to 3%. So, the year that uh costs went up 8%, we only captured three.

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Uh the and then if you look this year's inflation rate, I went through um already through March is at 3.3%. The producer price index is up at 4%. I want to point that out cuz remember our 2.3 2.63% is a number from last year, 2025, but it

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applies to the budget that starts October 1st of '26 and runs through '27. So, if we start in face facing 4% inflation as of now through next the end of the next fiscal year, our next fiscal year, we're only going up to 2.36%. So, it's an always a lagging number

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because that's just the way it's set up in our charter and the way we have to deal with CPU CPI. Um so, it's it's just a reminder there. If gas prices don't go down and some of the other inflationary impacts, we won't be able to address them in the next fiscal year's budget. >> I'm I'm going to point out the same thing we had talked about the other day.

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Just uh I don't mean to interrupt Jim uh Mr. Chair. Um but you know, that's CPI. So, you can call that the inflation that government um admits to, okay? That the federal at the federal level. But that's compounded. So, it's a little misleading when you when you see the peak and it

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sort of goes down because each of those years uh uh is compounded from the prior one. Yeah. And and I can't give you the perfect math uh because I you know, if you just do it a based on the 3% we have to do uh new construction and some other

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things. But those three years that we're uh that we're maxed at the 3%, uh we were able to capture about 9.27% increase when the overall inflation rate was like 1.17. So, we lost about 8% year and that compounds year over the year, you know, once you lose it, you can't

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gain it back cuz you can never go above the 3%. So, the years those couple those three years have had an impact and I I have a fear that we're going to see that later this calendar year and in the next fiscal year that we're not going to be able to keep up with the inflation. This goes back to the previous chart.

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There's where our millage rate has dropped by 27% since February 2019. Um and then you look at the bottom, those are our comparison counties we look at when putting our budget together that we have a lower millage rate than everybody else. Um and then if uh 2019,

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our millage rate was 3.9%. So, of the other seven peer counties that we looked at, peer p e e r, um only one had a lower millage rate even we did before it started really going down in 2019. But that that gives you an idea of what other folks are looking at. Um you only have two counties that have decreased

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over the last seven years. We have three counties that have um Excuse me, you have had three counties that have decreased the last seven years and then you only have uh you three counties that have increased and then one uh sale has kept their millage rate the same. Um and so, I mean when I don't

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know you keep the millage rate the same if uh taxable values go up 8%, that means you capture 8%. Taxable values go up here 8% and we have a cap of 2.6, we only go up 2.6%. So, it's it's just a reminder of what what we're facing compared to other counties.

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There is the exact definition of the finding a critical need. Um the what you really need to see is about in the middle where it talks about paragraph A and B. You have to go to your charter to look that up, but if a supermajority of the board concurs in finding that such an excess is necessary

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because of emergency or critical need, that finding shall be set forth the ultimate facts upon which is based and shall be valid for the one Excuse me, for one single budget year. In the packet, we also included and we'll talk about again briefly, but we included the last two times the board uh

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critical need in the resolutions in there. If you read through it, one of them was quite detailed describing all the different critical needs. If the board went so far as that, that's the type of resolution we'd be presenting for you guys. Uh, let you decide what you want to do, but uh you got when we if we declare critical

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needs, you have to be pretty well defined and you have to follow the charter. The the date process for that is we're going through the February through March or February through May is the budget workshops and getting board direction. Uh, staff staff will be turning in their department budgets early May-ish, I

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believe, like May 4th or something, somewhere in that neck of the woods. Um, that's where they put together, then we sit down, county manager, assistant county manager, budget office, go through all the requests. Uh, we sit down with staff uh each department will be presenting uh Memorial Day week and that first week of

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June, and then we start putting our heads together, start developing we get the balanced budget and we put the budget message together for you. July 13th is the date we'll be sending a proposed budget. Um, what we do is uh cuz July 21st is your tentative

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millage, so July 13th is when we'd have the draft agenda out, so we'll have the proposed budget put together for you guys then. July 21st, there's there's two major dates on here. The first one's in green. Uh, July 21st, the board sets the tentative millage. So, if you all decided to go to critical

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needs or anything else, that is the millage you set the millage then. And you don't go lower than the millage you set on the tentative millage. I mean, there is a process you can go above it, but it's not worth talking about cuz you have to send out new trim notices, but you have to set that millage rate at that meeting. That gives the property appraiser enough time to

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put out the put together the trim notice and mail that out to all the uh property owners throughout the county. The second important date is in September. Um, and that's where the board adopts the tentative and final millages after the after the first budget hearing. If you don't adopt after the first budget

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hearing, you can't raise the millage rate at the final budget hearing. So, those those are the those are important dates. So, you basically you can't go above on July 21st and you can't go above and after the September 1st September meeting. Thank you. Let me drink some water. One second.

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So, um so, we laid out that you know, there's the dates we put the budget together. We talked about critical needs, so the question is if you decide to do critical needs and had a resolution, when would you uh vote on and adopt the resolution? And I hate to say the answer is depends, but the two times we've done it, we've

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done it two different ways. Uh, the first time we did it, we adopted in September 13th of 2016, and then 2019 we adopted it July 23rd, which was the tentative millage. So, just to let you know, there's a couple different ways and we follow whatever the board would tell us

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whatever method the board would like. I have a quick question for me. Yes. What what makes the determination between July or September? I have no idea. We kind of went back and looked and the board decided to do one in September and decided to do one in July, so

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>> just no rhyme or reason. Okay. So. >> [snorts] >> Does does trim I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. Um, the how's the trim process affect affect that? The the trim if cuz critical needs if you declare critical needs, you're going to go above the charter cap. So, the

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trim in July, you have to have sent out the trim notice with the higher above the capped millage. Right. So, so if the board were to had that direction, because of trim notice, you have to get that to the property appraiser in in July so that she can send that out

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in August. I'm just a Yeah, for that There you go. That's correct. And just to add to that, you could set that proposed millage in July at the higher rate and then adopt the critical need in September, I think, which is what was

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done that in that first instance. So, the the finding of critical need isn't really related to trim other than you have to set that higher millage rate in July. And and I should add that that works for any millage, just not general fund.

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If you want to if you want to declare critical need on any millage, you got to make sure you meet the same timelines as we're showing off here. I keep saying general fund, but it would apply to any of the non-voter approved millage rates. So, we're just going to go over some of the highlights of what could be critical

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needs and the impact. So, this these are the the slides or the areas you heard from the last budget meeting where we went through and we had the pictures and all the definitions of all the different needs. And you know, so we have infrastructure, public safety, general county-wide, and we have some numbers up

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there. I mean, they could be higher, they could be lower, but that was some of the items we could identify pretty quickly. There's about $47 million we could up to that we can uh show you and have you decide whether that's a critical need or not. In red, I want to point out that the ad valorem cuz this

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has come up, ad valorem taxes do not fund the utilities or solid waste infrastructure or operations. Those are funded through user fees and not included any finding of critical need or the millage rate set. So, what we did as a staff, we went through and we called them options for lack of a better way. I mean, uh but

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these are just examples to show you of critical different ideas for critical needs. I'll go a little bit backwards. If you look at option three, option three if the the millage rate was it's 3.0486, that was from two fiscal years ago. If the board decided to go reset the

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millage rate to two years ago, that would generate about 22 almost $23 million and an impact on a taxable value home of $200,000 would be about $36. And then down below you can see option three where it says 18.43, that's the

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increase per $100,000 of taxable value. So, if you somebody had taxable value of $500,000, I didn't write the math down, I did it last night, the tax increase would be about $90. Option one is the uh if you go back three years, the fiscal 22-23 rate,

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which is 3.2619, the impact to a $200,000 taxable value home would be 80 just under $80. That would generate about $39 million. Option Option two, we just put we picked something somewhere in the middle just so just helps us with the math. If you

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want to look at an impact of $50, that uh generates we backed into that millage rate of 3.11 and that would estimate about $28 million. So, we just we have this slide just to show you trying to give you some sample impacts, some sample amount of revenue that uh it different millages can

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generate for everything. So. So, and then as I go back then this is a little bit more detailed on some of the the possible ways of critical needs. You know, you've seen the slide the information on the left you already saw you saw before at the March 19th meeting. Uh, the $1.5 million was

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restored for resurfacing. On the right, we asked public works to put together. Those are some of the projects if you declared a critical needs, those are some of the if you declared and if you declared a critical need for public works, those are some of the projects that we'd start on immediately in fiscal year 27 just to give you an idea what

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the the needs are across the county and they're pretty much everywhere across the county itself. A little different information you haven't seen. The jail, we talked about some of the capital for the the jail, you know, the doors, these I keep calling them the tents, but the sprung structures,

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the HVAC, you know, coolers. Um, and then below you can see this is the cost increase or the the cost have been increasing. They include the jail operations and the facility CIP. The jail is pretty old. I've been here 35 years. It was old old

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enough when I got here, um and we've added on since then, so we are facing some jail needs that'll be coming up in the next handful of years. This is uh information um that you've seen before. That's all the facility not all, that's facilities being maintained by public works through the facilities

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group. Uh, but we talked about all this in March the between the north area, the central area, and the south area. Uh, and I forget in one of the briefings we got asked the south area includes Viera. So, you're pretty much when we say south, you're looking at Viera south. Central is between here and 528 and then

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north area is above 528. Uh, it's not a bad way to divide up the assets across the county aren't distributed evenly, but that comes pretty close to the uh dividing each county in the thirds based on the assets. Same information that you saw last time about parks and recreation. This is just

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to let you know that we have needs coming up in the next uh few years. Uh, same thing they um the millage that will be the last one will be paid off. The debt millage will be paid off this year, but it we as the voters voted on 2000 and 2006. So, you're looking at structures and parks

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and infrastructure that's been built 25 years ago, and those are just the ones with the uh with the referendum. Doesn't include some of our older parks, so we do have a quite a bit of needs coming back and forth on parks that will be facing and adjusting to for the next handful of years again.

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IT, same slide. Uh, it's in there just to point out that we will have some yearly cost um starting in 27 um down below for storage in our systems and working on our networks. That's I mean, they're small numbers compared to what you see in public works or the

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jail, but I want to point out IT is infrastructure. Um, you know, we can't get anything done without our IT and they've been pretty good with us working on on their budget, but we do have some needs coming up. I keep seeing the same thing, don't I, folks? So, Sheriff office, this is uh

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items that you hadn't seen at the last one, but uh Sheriff's uh has the same issues, infrastructure, equipment, and operations. Infrastructure, there's a lot's on the jail. Uh equipment, they you know, they they have I believe over 500 vehicles in their fleet. Uh you know, I'm an old transit guy, so I know

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that's a lot of turnover every year, a lot of needs on their equipment. Um and then operation, we have a a lot on the uh county jail. We have inmate food services, medical care. Both of those I as Commissioner uh Feltner pointed out, the CPI that they're admitting to. Uh we've all been to the grocery store.

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I mean, I'd love my groceries only be at 2.6%. I don't believe that number for groceries. Uh and Medicare uh medical care, same thing, that is not at 2.63%. That's a much higher number. Um so, that uh Sheriff's office are facing the same issues there as we are in our budget.

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Public safety, I'm going to kind of go counterclockwise on the slides, but at the upper left-hand corner that's in the orange. What we want to point out is that the board is public safety is the number one priority and we've been following through that the last handful of years. So, public

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safety, which includes uh Sheriff, fire rescue, and the medical examiner. The share of the general uh general fund has gone from a little over 53% to just under 60% in the last five or six years. When you take a look on the fire rescue side, um you could see and I'm I'm not

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criticizing or anything like that, but I'll just point out there's the investment we made with our firefighters um last year in 2025, their comp and benefits of $71 million are expecting this coming year, $91 million. That's all part of their contract that they just received, we agreed to. And then

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when you look at the upper right-hand corner, the as they call it the blue side, the emergency medical transfer, um their their amount of funding went up over a little little over $10 million in the general fund. That the board told us to focus on public safety and so that was the budget we balanced budget we

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delivered to you guys last year to showing what some of the impacts were. Uh talked briefly with the Sheriff uh with medical care, but don't forget we're an employer too, so we're facing the same uh pressures that we're getting on both health insurance and on the risk management, homeowners homeowners see it

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through their homeowners insurance. We through we see it through our property insurance, our uh workers comp, uh auto liability, all all those uh regular um insurance things that everyone faces. You can see that our uh balance forward or basically our our money in the bank

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for uh employee benefits has dropped from $40 million to about $23 million. And on the risk management side, uh $20 million down to $4 million. And I explained at the last meeting that we're going to take a closer look um at how we uh how we allocate the cost, how we come up with the cost, how we uh deal with

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everything. But I have this slide to point out to you that um so, let's just say um we need to raise health insurance by 10%. Well, um that 10% that's 10% more on the fire rescue budget, that's 10% more on the Sheriff's budget. So, um we got to

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how to I'd sorry, I didn't back it in the right way, but what we got to do is we got to keep that we got to stop the bleeding on employee balance forward. We got to start balancing out cuz eventually you're going to run out of money and you're going to start putting the backs on the back of the departments, but we're funding the departments with all our own money, so we got to pay this

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no matter what we put in their budget or they're going to be shore up the fund. That didn't explain. >> Could Could I Could I ask one technical question, Mr. Chair? A quick one. Okay. Um what happened with sovereign immunity this session or are are they not done with that?

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300 or 500 sovereign immunity went up. Uh and we're expecting uh Melissa at the last There's Melissa, so. Can I answer that? Yes, please. Just curious. Sure. So, um definitely.

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Um so, House Bill 145 um was passed by the legislature. My understanding is it never got signed, but it never got vetoed, so it's law. Sorry about that. >> [laughter] >> Uh so, I'll repeat myself. Um House Bill 145 did get passed by both the Senate

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and the House. Um it was not officially signed, but not vetoed by the governor, so my understanding is it's going to be law um effective October 1st. Uh the limits are increasing to I believe 350 per 350,000 per incident 500,000 per

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um event. Okay. Thank you. Yeah, and that will increase our premium on our risk management side. So, so we'll be facing this cost. >> we we are self-insured up to limits currently and then have excess cur- excess coverage um as well. Um so, our

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excess coverage costs will likely go up, but also our claim cost um in that self-insured portion is going to go up dramatically as well. Thank you. So, I had that be honest, Commissioner, I look a little bit better if I look at my notes, but the point I really want to make with employee benefits is um and

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risk management, those funds affect all budgets, whether you're board, constitutional officers, general fund, enterprise fund, special revenue funds, it affects across the board. >> a quick break? >> take a quick break. [clears throat] I need to go to the restroom. Um okay. Uh that's it. Couple more slides.

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>> Okay. Sorry about that. >> [clears throat] >> So, um the bottom chart is the FRS rates. The blue is the uh regular and orange is special risk. Just pointing out as the uh FRS rates increase, uh increase our costs. You know, a 1% increase in FRS rate is the same thing

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as a 1% cola increase. So, we have to fund those. Those rates are set by the state. Uh we we also I We got at two different um examples of other taxes um cuz we talked about uh revenues. Uh we talked about the

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public service tax and gas tax at the last uh workshop. So, what we did here is and it's not the perfect math. Um if the board's interested, we'd have to go more detailed. But basically, what we did is we pulled out a sample tax bill of an employee's FPL bill, um what their current bill was, and then

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it did a 5 and 10% on the bill. Like I said, it's not perfect, we'll do better math if you're interested, but it gives you an idea of a 5% increase on a public service tax. The impact to this customer would be about $76 a year, a 10% increase would be somewhere in the $150 range.

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Um and what does it would do is generates between 16 and $33 million. So, we just did this so you can you know, what does uh you know, what does $30 million in property tax, what's the impact to a homeowner? $30 million tax on a public service tax, what does that

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go to an average homeowner? So, we brought that out as a an example. And I will say it's not my bill. Mine came in today during lunch, so I was doing the math during our lunch break, too, with the same one, so. And then last but not least, we just have fuel taxes up there. We have the 9

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cent uh tax and then the local option gas tax of uh 1 to 5 cents. So, we also if you look in the light blue there, the the consumer um went through um we did 50 gallons a month. I went through a few studies. It

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looks like the average uh monthly consumption per vehicle is about 48. I saw a couple of say 48 to 50, it's dropped from 55, so so I asked the budget office put together based on 50 gallons just for the easier math. But if you increase the gas tax by 6 cents, that would be about $3 a month, about

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$36 annually, and that's per vehicle. So, if there's more than one vehicle in the household, it'll be higher. Um that that would also affect all your lawn services, your delivery services, whatever else that may be using different fuel taxes. Um and then I point out that that it

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generates about $9 million, but that would only take care of transportation critical needs. That would not take care of infrastructure critical needs. So, we just wanted cuz you both had you had discussions on both items at the last workshop, so we just want to show a couple examples on that. Um so, after that, you you all indicated

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that you wanted to discuss it and so we're here for questions, whatever we can do to help. Um, and then any directions that you want us to bring back at the July uh, what do I call it? July tentative millage setting meeting.

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That's it. Thank you for your patience. Okay. Commissioner Delaney. Thank you. Um, I had a question um, for either Jim or Melissa um, uh with the insurance I had spoken with the school board cuz they're doing some different things with

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clinics and um trying to do different things as far as like um early treatment and that kind of thing um, early detection of um, you know, medical needs and whatnot

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and they say that it's saving a lot of money for them uh, especially when it comes to pharmaceuticals and prescriptions and so I didn't know if we'd looked into any of that or any different ideas or um creative things that could bring savings.

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Is my mic still on? Can you hear me? Okay. Um, sure. Yes. Um, I have been speaking with the school board um, and they are expanding. They currently have a couple of clinics. They are looking to expand that and they've asked um, the county through me if we would be

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interested in joining them because obviously the more lives involved the more leverage you have to negotiate better prices. So, I definitely indicated we would definitely be interested. Um, we're working My understanding he we had some meetings um, I think about a week ago. So, I just need to follow up and

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then bring that back to the um, benefits advisory committee. And then [clears throat] obviously they make recommendations uh, that we bring to the board. Okay. And um, just from [clears throat] your initial um conversations do you think that that could be a

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possible direction we could go um, or are there other things out there that people are doing that that are bringing savings to the insurance Sure. >> issue? So, um right now kind of the current status of the industry there is a lot of um, push

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towards direct contracting with providers as opposed to going through negotiated rates with insurance companies. Um, so, we are definitely exploring options there um, and this is one piece of that. Cool. Thank you. You're welcome. Um

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I guess I'll kind of just throw out my um, thoughts for different things that are on my mind. Um one of them is the idea of bringing back the Soral plan that we have right now

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um, not talking about the renewal but the plan that we currently have with the dollars we already have um, and seeing is are there any infrastructure projects or land acquisition projects that we could implement through those

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um, funds that would still work within the Soral plan that could help um help in this because it's funds that have already been raised um and even if taxes do need to go up this

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is you know, it maybe we could make them not have to go up quite so much um, if we make some different choices as far as the Soral plan goes. And then the other thing I was thinking about was um, employee salaries and the

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the raises and poss- the possibility of looking into a tiered um a tiered situation rather than across the board. Uh, I don't really know exactly how that would look but I just figured um, it's something we

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could talk about. Those are just a couple things but I'll um, I'll open up the floor to anybody else and I've probably I've probably got more you know, thoughts going on but I'll let other feedback come in as well. Yes.

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Uh, just a couple of things um, during your your presentation there um, and since you still have that up about the gas do [snorts] do we do we buy gas in advance so we're buying at today's price versus what's going to

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happen a month from now? I mean, you know, you see things with with even airlines who are in serious trouble because they sold a ticket at a certain price and then gas gas has gone up. So is how how do we how do we do it or how can we do it to cuz we know we're going

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to use a certain amount of gas. I'm sorry that No, you're good. Um, I'm sure it's today's prices. Kathy's nodding. I will tell you as a transit guy back I can't remember when it went up. I I had a spreadsheet I budgeted 83 cents a

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gallon for diesel and I got to a dollar and I was panicking. Uh, and at that point we're paying $5 a gallon for diesel. Um, so there was quite a especially independent transit agencies it it it can work and often times it also doesn't work that you you do your futures contracts. Southwest Airlines

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was famous for doing it. They had a couple of years of savings but when their contracts future contracts came due their prices went way up. Uh, that is something to take a look at uh, but knowing the transit agencies I don't know if anybody that really came out ahead in that. I I I think futures

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contracts hundreds of thousands of dollars. Our situation is certainly in in in the short term. I mean uh, it's it's it's not a stretch of the imagination that you know, gas costs will continue to to go

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up in the in the short term and how to possibly mitigate that. So. And um on the employee insurance we're looking at is it 15,000 a year to insure? Yeah,

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it's it's yeah, 15. The employer's share is 15,000. >> the employer's share of it is um, 15,000. Those costs will only continue to go up. So, you know, I was I was thinking about what you're saying Commissioner um, with the clinics and such and um, I think the

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the new model of around here it seems to be because of the Rockledge Hospital situation um, and Health First is is building stand-alone ER because it doesn't make sense that everybody go to the big hospital ER when they have simple

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things. And um, and so they can do triage there. If you need to go to the hospital we'll go ahead and take you to the hospital. So, I think there we will see a lot more clinics in the future. I was I was curious now are they doing an in-house

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clinic the school district or how's that work? From what I understand I think they have a con- maybe a contract with some some smaller groups. Is that um Melissa, sure. Yeah, I think I think that it's it's

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more in-house. So, the clinic model is basically setting up employee clinics so it's only it's care that's only for employees of the organization and it's intended to be primary care and then you know, if if more

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um, specialized care is needed they can either have the capacity to do that with contracts with specialists or refer them out um, if they [clears throat] don't have the capacity. And I think the idea is that if people are going to if there is a place

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in-house in the buildings then employees are more likely to go to the doctor early on before diseases and illnesses get to a more serious and expensive place. That's definitely one piece of it. Um, the other piece of it is it's

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usually you're negotiating the prices for that directly with the provider as opposed to going through negotiated rates with insurance companies. So, you're not paying that overhead and and all of that with with the insurance companies. So, there there's kind of multi-level of of benefits to it. Um,

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typically the hurdles have been the upfront cost to establish you know, brick and mortar clinics. Uh, you know, if there's a way to do it which I think the school board is looking to do with kind of established groups um, that you're not having to build

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buildings or purchase buildings um, that there it could be more feasible in the long run. >> if we could share it with with them across the street. I mean, we have a lot of employees there here and and they're across the street. It um, it's interesting um, to and Commissioner

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Altman Altman will remember this very well the the doctor of the day um, you know, in the legislature during session. They have a doctor of the day and um, and and when the doctor of the day wasn't there travel or whatever uh, there were there were always a couple

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members who were also doctors and so they became the doctor of the day and I I certainly remember one time going in Dr. Renouard and I'm like I got the crud. He's like Z-Pak here you go and just that fast you know, I was off off to Walgreens and that didn't cost anybody any money.

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Um, so for for the easy stuff like that. Okay, [snorts] very good. >> [clears throat] >> Um, on page 15 Parks and Recreation uh, you it's unfunded infrastructure needs.

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Does are those numbers um is is that what's required if we went to the voter-approved millage, or how much of that millage rate would we have to go to to fund those parks unfunded needs?

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What total 29,000? I mean 29 million. I know. I know. Wish. >> Yeah. I [clears throat] I'm looking They're doing They're literally trying to figure out the math. So, I mean Yeah. Yeah. what millage you would have to levy to

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raise the amount that Right. So, we haven't really evaluated what we would need to do for millage rate to if we were to meet that number, the 29 million. And and and if you're interested, give us some sometime, not a whole lot of time, we can bring that back to you. I think it'd be good cuz I

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know we fell pretty far short of the voter-approved millage when we did it last year. And I'd love to know what it would be. And then secondly, in the second half of that slide, in the categories, community nature, senior center, the three line items,

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and the approximate age of those facilities, estimated replacement cost. So, I'll use the first line, community nature, senior citizens senior centers, eight eight sites. Uh list those as 25 to 30 plus years, the

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estimated replacement cost of 40 million. So, I mean, that's not very old, 25 30 years. You wouldn't have to do total replacement cost, would you? Would that be replacement cost or renovation? What does that number reflect? Good afternoon, Commissioners. We actually,

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when we were putting this slide together, we do ongoing upgrade and replacement maintenance costs as part of our annual budgets. This was looking at as you get to 30 plus years of age on structures, you start losing major systems. So, those are bottom, I'm sorry. major

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systems. Yeah. And so, as you start doing that, the trade-off between the cost of repairing it versus replacing it starts to blur. And so, really what we were looking there projecting forward what the cost would be for replacement.

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Total replacement? Tearing a building down and replacing it? >> Yes, sir. But what would be the need to do that? What's an example of that? >> So, an example would be maybe not even one of the facilities that we have, and I don't have it with me right now, but

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we have facilities that are older than these that were built with referendum dollars. And some of those facilities that were built in, say, the '70s or '80s and are approach- approaching 40 and 50 years of age, again, we're getting to the point where we're having to do multiple replacements

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of systems within the building. It's HVACs, it's ceilings, it's floors, potentially other structures within those buildings themselves. So, when you start spending that amount of money, you start do start looking at do we start planning for replacement of

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an entire structure? And See, that just seems to be pretty low. A 25-year-old structure and you're thinking about 12. What kind of structures are we building if they can't last 25 years? That Well, you're also talking about >> loses a lot of credibility with me because Okay.

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And and and Commissioner or Mr. Chair, this this is also part of an illustration cuz we when we voted, we voted for a debt millage and an operating millage. And the debt millage is building the facilities. Well, if the facilities, once they need any even before replacement any repair,

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we're paying that out of the operating millage. And so, if all of a sudden you got to start replacing cuz he's got a thousand different buildings and facilities. Once you start replacing it, we don't have we don't have that debt millage anymore that we can use that funds. Uh We have no ability to issue new debt to

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replace those buildings or approve those buildings. That's all going to come out of the operating funds. So, that's going to put new pressure that we haven't seen with parks ever because that those millages until 2000 didn't exist. So, that mean it's not a tomorrow issue, but this is an issue we're probably going to be facing

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over the next five or 10 years and how do we do that? I guess I'm having trouble Let's just say a nature center. Yeah. Let's 25 30 years age, and you put a estimated replacement cost. That's the total replacement cost of a

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building of only 25 years. I could understand if it was the air condition or the roof. So, again, the idea was we were trying to project out not maybe for next year. We were projecting out for the next five 10 years. And the other thing that we have to think about with the structures and the facilities that

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through the Parks and Recreation Department is the sheer number of people who are going through those facilities. Uh people have pointed out to us, well, you know, why does it cost so much for a pavilion or a bathroom repair replacement when it cost me X to get it done, you know, my friend did it at his house, put

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a pavilion in his backyard. That friend doesn't have thousands of people using that pavilion every year. They don't have thousands of people going through a bathroom every year. Uh they don't have the same ADA requirements, for example, that we do

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for those facilities. So, this was really just trying to get a handle on, you know, when we project out what the replacement costs could be for those facilities as the years wear on. Yes.

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Thank you. Um So, what about like the foundation and the structure of the buildings? Is that something that's still sound in most of these buildings, or are you saying that there's possibly foundation and structural issues? >> it depends it's a projection. Yeah. So,

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there is the potential to do footprint replacements where you leave the footprint if those structures are salvageable. So, like gut it and Could That could be an option. Again, this was just a matter of an exercise, if you will, to project out costs. Um The other

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thing that you take into account as you look down the road is there are potentially some offsets. As technology improves, the roofs that we put on or systems that we put in place years ago, if they're upgraded, they could last longer. Same thing with other things that we do when

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we go in and potentially retrofit and do repairs, they could extend the life of buildings further, also. So, it's all of those things, but again, this was just kind of an exercise to get at if we need to and if we look 10 years down the road with these type of funding issues, and

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as Jim pointed out, the fact that there are no referendum dollars left, it's coming out of basically operations, having to do long-term planning, very long-term planning. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. >> Yes, go ahead. So, this is Kim talking out loud while she's

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thinking. Um We have parks that we have to maintain, tear down buildings, rebuild buildings because we have all of these things that we have to pay for, um ADA compliance, toilets that can last through hundreds of thousands of people. How many You may not know this answer

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off the top of your head. How many parks do we have that are actually in cities or towns? You're right, I don't have that off the top of my head exactly. >> But I do know there are quite a few. There are some, such as up in this within the city of Titusville, that

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there's actually as part of an agreement with the city, uh there is a interlocal in place that allows us to actually charge the special district fund against the city population to help fund repairs and maintenance and operations at those city

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parks. What if we just gave those city parks to the cities and let them maintain it? And and somehow say you always have to be a park, right? You can't sell it or give it away. And again, this is Kim thinking out loud because then we don't have that ongoing maintenance, and

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we can still be assured if they wanted it, honestly. >> I I would have to ask the County Attorney's Office to review the interlocal, but my guess would be that if I was a city that's putting putting their tax bases

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tax dollars into repair and maintenance, Mhm. they would want those tax dollars back. So, they would remove themselves from that special district. So, we would not actually potentially see any cost savings. Mhm. Because they would want to have those dollars that their current residents

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were putting into that special district. >> Aren't you also giving them a liability? I'm sorry. >> Aren't you also giving them a liability and a future expense? Um and uh >> Sure, but maybe cities or towns would want their park to be the things that they want. If you have I'm just thinking of Melbourne Beach, which I know is not a great example, but it has a particular

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kind of community, and and they may want >> don't disagree with the the sort of the thought process, but my experience from the prior board tried some of that, and they they weren't looking to take on an expense.

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And I understand that they're they're dealing with same kinds of you know, >> [clears throat] >> burdens that that we are. But they're not constrained by the cap like we are. Um I understand that, too. I'll stop talking in one second. Something I was thinking about,

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Commissioner Altman, when you're talking about, and I'm and I'm with you, you know, you don't have to level the whole building cuz you need a roof on it and what have you, but one of the things I think of right here in this district in the center part of the county is the Zoo Linear Trail. Okay?

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Completely outdoors. Um and it won't be that long in the future before all of the surface will have to be recovered. And I can't remember how long it is. It's over a mile or something. And it's it will

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it's hard to know what that expense will be in the future to resurface all of that with the new decking. And and that's one that doesn't have the benefit of a roof and indoors and out of the elements and and all of that. That being an example of one that's

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definitely not going to make it to 25 years before >> plus we have probably miles of boardwalk. Right, that's what I mean. Not specifically. >> of a lot of things that are outdoor. Playgrounds for example. >> And especially over on the beach. I mean, you know, it it's

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uh, you know, I lived over on the beach for a number of years. Even plastic can rust over there. So, you have anything that's metal over on the beach, you're going to have to replace it. Uh, you know, um, so. And just Commissioner

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Atkinson for more information, we have three cities we maintain their parks, Titusville, Cocoa, and Rockledge. Cocoa and Rockledge is with the special rec district four. That's what district four was back way back in the day. Um, we just negotiated a new contract with Cocoa that we were pretty tough on

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Cocoa to make sure that, you know, above $5,000 costs. I mean, it took two years to get that contract done to make sure that this, you know, more of the burden was put on the cities. Uh, their contract, I believe Rockledge expires in '31. I forget which tax we share with

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the city of Titusville, but we maintain with the city of Titusville the same way. So, we collect the tax and spread that money out. Um, we have given or returned or whatever the proper word is, a number of parks, Pineda Regional, which is now known as Fred Poppe. Um, that was just before I got up here and that was five years and with the

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agreement with the cities, we funded five years or gave them enough money for five years of the transition. Uh, I know Pineda is now struggling with those parks. That is, that's come up. This is just Jim that's giving you a heads up. Um, uh, we had the, I don't know the exact

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title, but it was a gun range up in Titusville. That was one of the first ones we gave to the folks without a reverter clause. A lot of that because there was lead and yes, we don't want that back. But, you know, if we if we get the cities to work with us, uh, you also want to be careful on the reverter

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clause cuz and not I'm not saying Pineda is doing this, but you give a park to Pineda, you know, after 10 years they may not be able to afford it and then they hand it back to us. Right. You know, and and that was >> worse shape. >> Yeah, and that was a lot of negotiation with the city of Titusville if if we handed the parks back to or with Cocoa,

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we handed the parks back to them, they wanted to make sure they were properly maintained the way they were at the beginning. Same thing if somebody hands it back to us. So, it's not as easy, but yeah, I mean, it's something, but But, I think that's the gun range is the last time we've transferred any property

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to a park or private group that used you that we used to maintain. Yeah, without a reverter clause. Yeah. And it was the first I know of without a reverter clause. Now, I just go back on um, community nature centers 25 This

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building here is 25 years old. Relatively new buildings. You wouldn't propose 25 years old. You wouldn't propose tearing this down. Or let's look at the Mover Library. That's where it's 30 35 years old. You wouldn't even dream of tearing that down. So, it

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just makes me question. I can understand if it's an open air boardwalk at the ocean or something like that, but I think we need a lot more analysis for those numbers to be valid in what we have. >> Yeah, we're not coming to you right now

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saying this this is a the the bottom part here is a critical need that we need to address this now. This is it's a just a demonstration, but yeah, like this building is 35 years old and uh, we spent already, you know, rehabbing the bathrooms is over a million or pushing a million dollars to do all the bathrooms. It's complex. So,

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the parks is going to be facing the same issue as they all age, too. So, but >> And again, I I will emphasize this was a projection. This was not saying just because they were 25 or 30 years old, they had to be replaced. This was they're 25 or 30, they're on our radar as 10 years down the road, maybe longer,

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it's something we have to start planning for. Yeah, and and you know, this [clears throat] is from the last presentation cuz we talk about infrastructure. You know, we all talk about roads and bridges, drainage. You know, infrastructure is IT, we talk about buildings, but parks, I wasn't at He's got a He's got over a thousand

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buildings and facilities. We all forget about parks. They They spend a lot of time on rehab, building, repairing. You know, I what I learned is parks are parks. Parks is the ground and the facilities recreation is what the programs should provide. So, parks takes a lot of money

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to keep it up and maintain. I have another question just in general. Um, so, looking at the and staff did a phenomenal job on this. This is a really concise, understandable, >> [clears throat] >> simple uh,

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presentation. It really does capture what our needs are. So, if we were to take a look at all these unfunded needs uh, that we we need to fund to keep our present level of service, uh,

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all the critical needs that we're talking about here, um, in terms of uh, county general fund infrastructure, public safety, what what um, what millage rate would we need to pass

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to fund what you have presented here? And I talk about the county jail, historic courthouse, central and south area infrastructure needs, the whole shooting caboodle. What what would we what would we be looking at in terms of a millage rate?

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Well, um, I'm going to be bold. The you would be looking at option one, you'd be looking at rolling resetting the millage back to three years ago. That that 3.2619 that would generate somewhere around $39.8 million. So, option one you think

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would fund these needs? It it would get us it would get us there. If you look on the Let me do this. I apologize. I have slides. Um, so, you know, there's option one, but if you look at the previous slide, you know, that generates $39 million. We're showing there could be

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about $47 million in in critical needs. So, that gets you close. Um, cuz what what this does is give you the funding for the next year and the year after cuz not everything would be able to be addressed all at once. So, this gives us a chance to work through some of the I have a back up question for that. Okay. Um, does that also

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include I know you mentioned the firefighter contract, but what I the sheriff's contract was pretty substantial, too, from what I understand. Yeah. >> Um, so, does that include those increases as well? Yeah, that's part of his operations too. >> Over the three years or or okay. Yeah, I

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I can't tell you exactly all of it, but yes, it will help cover that, too. Okay. Well, uh, to me that's a doable thing. I mean, we're we're going basically back to the millage rate that we had uh, not in the not too past future and if indeed

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these needs are something that need to be funded, I think that's not a big ask. So, that'd be kind of where I'm coming from, the need to try to keep county services provided at the level that they are. Um, including the parks, I would have additional questions on that those

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numbers. Um, I I know there's other issues out there that that you don't mention that are needed. I was going to bring just a point in particular. I know if they haven't already spoken to you, they will be, Circles of Care.

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Um, they're having trouble staffing 100% of their beds and they're looking for a recurring number a little bit over a million a year, which would enable them to draw down around 1.2 million in federal funds. We're leaving a lot of money on the table that we could draw down to match that. I certainly would be willing to take a

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look at how we can try to meet those treatment dollars. Uh, I'm not advocating anything, but I just bring it to everyone's awareness if you haven't already talked, they'll be coming to you. They're I know they probably talked to staff. But, um,

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that's kind of where and then I had I'd mentioned the staff, um, that we at least have discussion of the service tax revenue stream that would have to be voted on by the voters, so it'd be something we couldn't raise, but we could definitely give the

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voters the option to vote on that, the public service tax. And some of that uh, well, the nice thing about that, you do not have to go to the public service commission for a review of the ballot language. You could put that put that on almost at any time as long as we met the

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the ballot language deadlines. And and I we could also use that to reduce some property taxes if we wanted to give some property tax relief. Virtually every I think virtually every city in the county already levies that fee and that would only

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bring bring us in to com- to the level of the other cities and maybe provide some necessary property tax relief and at the same time help meet the back backlog. It's pretty clear. Um,

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we are extremely low tax state a county. We're extremely low tax county and uh, a lot of um, necessary improvements have been kind of kicked down the road and and it's if we don't address them

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soon, it's going to cost us a heck of a lot more money than it would if we continue to delay. So, I'm I'm coming from a place of trying to meet these unfunded unfunded needs. Mr. Chair, you have a Yes. So, I'm going to pass out the same thing I passed out

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at the last budget meeting where I said I was going to bring this back for discussion. So, for anybody out there who's writing an article, um, I am not suggesting that we uh, get rid of lifeguards or crossing guards. I'm not suggesting any of those

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things. I'm simply saying these are things that the county provides, the services that they provide, that we're not required to. And it's, you know, if we're talking about raising taxes here, we need to start, I think, looking

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where we could save money. Um, and this is not a happy list, it's not fun, and nobody likes it, but I think I would like to discuss some of it. Um, and it certainly won't get us the amount of money we need. I think we need to do

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a little bit of saving and a little bit of maybe bringing in more funds, I'm not sure. Um, but when we have things, uh, I mean, can anybody tell me why why couldn't the school pay for their crossing guards? We

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already know that they're about to raise their Let me, let me, let me speak to this because I've worked hard on crossing guards, along with, um, Matt Wallace, Chief, um, and I'll tell you when I got here,

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I mean, Vera Elementary down there is like the Berlin Airlift happening every day, and I give them a lot of credit. Um, they they make it work, and as you know, I'm working on a light down there, and asking the legislature just every which way, uh, we can to get that done. But, uh, it's been hard to

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get crossing guards paying them, paying them. The idea that we'll have them if we don't pay them is it's just not not going to happen. Now, the question I'm going to ask because I'm going to I asked this question before, too. How did that become a county function? I

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I think at one time it was schools. I believe it went to sheriff, and then it and then it came to county. Okay? So, I I agree somehow they're connected, schools and and crossing guards, but it is our situation, and it's part of our

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uh, public safety, um, department, if you will, and um, I I wish that there was there was more revenue going toward that specifically, but I I I got to tell you that's the

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last thing that and the lifeguards that I'm I'm going to, And I'm not suggesting we get rid of lifeguards. >> I just my own personal experience. I just wanted to say that cuz cuz I've I've lived it. >> But that's the thing is if we're not willing to cut anything, then we have to say out loud that we're

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willing to raise taxes, or we just don't do anything and we let our capable county staff decide >> I I didn't say that. I'm just just just living that with our schools, and that that is for now, that's that's our responsibility.

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But could it be the responsibility of us, the sheriff, and the schools? I don't know. I'm I'm so I'm just I'm just throwing things out there for us to talk about and think about. I I've I've gone as far as Let me Let me just say this so so that you know, I've gone as

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far as can we have I mean, cuz I mean, when I was a kid, um, in in Ohio, I mean, part of detention was you had to go out there and be a crossing guard, and uh, so, uh, can we can we have, you know,

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high school juniors do it? And um, the thing of it is, I want I think they want to be paid. I asked about service learning hours cuz they all have to do that for bright futures. Yeah, the school board could probably get there, um, with them, but I think we can't have, um, someone under the age of 18. So,

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even with our lifeguards who are, um, often time many of them high school students, they're always with, correct me if I'm wrong here, on the on the public safety side here, right, Matt? They're always with a lieutenant,

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uh, lifeguard who's 18 and over, right? Isn't that the situation? >> that we're not funding lifeguards. >> No, I'm just but even I'm just taking the crossing guards as an example. Does that that sound Yes, sir. Those public safety functions, uh, 18 years older is

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really for liability sake of what is kind of where we draw the line. Yeah. So, it's, we've really sort of peeled the onion on that one, and it's, uh, it's extremely, um, difficult. I didn't mean to interrupt you. I just wanted to say on that one issue right right here where there's seven school zones.

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We live it every day. Since you brought up lifeguards, the other thing is I'm not saying that we don't fund them. I'm saying, could the TDC do it? Well, it does. We're we're we're continuing continuing to shift the, um, the cost because as as you know,

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Brevard's property owners paid 100% of the lifeguards, and tourists paid 0% of the lifeguards. So, even I petitioned the legislature to turn that around so we can use tourism tax, uh, to pay for the lifeguards. Expanding the services

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what or the area is is what made the bill go up, um, you know, sharply, right? Um, and we were there with the prior board. And so, um, and I I don't I can't remember how much Peter's got in the budget, um, for this

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year. We were just talking about Oh, there's Peter. Okay. Good afternoon, commissioners. Um, yeah, we currently have 1.56 million in this fiscal, and, uh, right now and going into next year, I'm I've got

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budgeted 1.6 million. None of that, by the way, is coming from the beach fund, which, um, you know, is always an option. Of course, that's a little concerning because that that fund has to go to paying Army Corps of Engineer projects, so you don't want to

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go dig too deep into that, but We were just talk Was it Friday I came up? We were talking about this. And so, I I think in the probably the next few years we get there 100% where 100% is and 0% paid by Brevard's

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residents, uh, but I think you got to get there in a couple of steps that we've we've taken since the prior board, I mean, we took a big half step, and I think we got a few more steps to to get there the rest of the way to pay for And you know, my motive in there, too, was when we were in pass with the

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firefighters because trying to move cost out of their silo, and so ocean rescue is part of fire rescue. So, that was that was the And because we had the increasing, uh, coverage and and and those expense happening, um, quickly. So, I think

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>> Sir, just one Sorry, I just one quick thing to add on, and I'll sit down, but, um, yeah, in the next couple of years our hope is that we'll hit 30 million in, uh, revenue, in which case we can ask for an extra penny of tax, which would allow then 6 million additional dollars,

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then we could cuz it, you know, conceivably cover, um, a lot more of it at that point. And so, right, that's that's in the in the law that before, uh, the county can go ask the voters, do you want to tax the voters one more penny, you got to get to

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30 million in collection. And so, with some new hotels coming and and and if the, I mean, if tourism continues to happen, uh, you know, the county the county may be looking at that in the next two years.

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Is it 1.9 plus the 1.5? That's the difference, I think, right, Matt? Uh, yeah, in the current fiscal year, the general fund is funding approximately 1.9 million, and then tourism is just over 1.5 as Peter

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stated. And And I think we just I think And I think we just raised lifeguard uh, right? >> Yes, sir, we did. With some initiatives internal to the program, we we moved the starting salaries up to $20 to be competitive with the local areas and

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local counties. Go ahead, Commissioner Atkinson. Thank you. So, Jim, one of the other things I wanted to ask you about was the And I know that the 14 million is not an accurate number completely, um, but can you tell me a little bit about the idea of eliminating funded vacant

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positions? What that looks like for you? Uh, I know we've talked about it a little bit. Yeah, um, I have an extension to that question, if I may. Um, and does that include public safety, like fire rescue, or any of the other ones that sometimes are not necessarily

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part of What does that include? The the this 14 million dollars? That I don't know what includes the 14 million. That's Commissioner Atkinson's number. The I'll get to the positions, but it gave me a segue. I can tell you as county staff, what we'll be looking forward to

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the departments, we're going to be looking through their balance forward this year, what they have projected balance forward, their vacant positions, and their positions. We're going to be looking at that. And then we've already In past years, everybody that received general fund got to, you know, budget 3%. This year we've already knocked it

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down to 2.6, uh, but we'll be looking at all budget positions. And when you said public safety, you know, lifeguards are part of public safety, but what they did is they came back with their funding is with vacant positions that's not being filled, and putting that money towards the employees. So, that's a little bit

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different, but we're going to look at different positions and vacancies. Uh, and I'll And I'll say this out loud cuz then the other ones will hear me. As a department director, if, you know, I had vacant bus driver positions, other positions that I knew I wasn't going to fill, and I didn't have enough general fund to fund whatever I need for the budget, I eliminated a position or two

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each year, uh, whatever necessary for me to present a balanced budget to the county manager. That's sort of the stuff I'll be looking at as county as a county manager, what can we do on that? >> Okay, thank you. So, yeah, it's We we are we need to look everywhere, and that's as staff Yeah, you you guys

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won't see all that machination going on, but that's what we'll be doing as staff. I have a question. And And to say, I'm sorry. I just I'll just say on that I think we all know that um you have a position in the county manager's office that that you held off

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in in hiring. Yep, I mean we're we're we're all cutting where necessary. So So I mean just just as an example just right on the other side of this wall there was a position not filled. Yep. I have a question.

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Um What about I know we had Jim we had talked briefly about vehicles and that that was something that you were going to be looking into possibly and then um It'll come back to me. You go on that and it'll come back. Yeah, it and um

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budget office has developed a different method on how we're going to be reporting purchasing of vehicles replacement versus expansion what I go back to my lizard brain is transit and vehicles is you know as if we're fun If you get a new vehicle expansion is expansion. So you have 10

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vehicles you need a new vehicle for expansion and you should have 11 but if you're replacing two vehicles you shouldn't have a fleet of 11 again. So we'll be looking trying to compare those numbers and it as we go through the the some of these are multi-year things we're going to be looking at balance forward where we are on projects the

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vacant positions and what positions aren't being filled on the other note the the lower of the percentage and with vehicles some of these are and what we're going to do with health insurance and how we bill on risk management that's going to be a multi-year risk management thing is excuse me risk management I was thinking

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of as we go through. So I mean vehicles will be included in there cuz it it's and and I can tell you last year even last year not everybody got their vehicle requests that that they requested. I remember the second part of my question. Um what about and this is

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going way into the minutiae and I know that what about things like you know of course I brought up the stoves in the park buildings like some of the things like that that are we is there opening to not saying getting

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rid of what the vision is but does it have to be the premier commercial blah blah blah. You know what I mean? Like does it have to be the does it have to be the $14,000 stove or can it be the $6,000 stove?

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You know and I know that's pennies compared to in a billion dollar budget but when you add all those pennies together through everywhere that could add up. Yeah, I mean you got to buy the equipment necessary to get the job done. Um I'm looking at the carpet but

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we're we're kind of cheap to begin with. I mean we're careful on how we're careful on how we're spending our money. I mean if if a Toyota Corolla does the job we're not buying a Jaguar. So already so I mean and the staff when they or departments when they present their

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capital equipment along with along with their CIP projects they have to show it and justify it to us. So so it's something we'll be keeping an eye on too. Jim, could I say something about sort of piggyback on on what you said there? I mean with with our our park let's take

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the example of the stoves in in our parks. I I'd imagine that there are some parks where the pavilion right you've got the attached kitchen there. It's used a lot and you know Wickham Park's got one where I

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mean they have they have events seemingly every weekend. But there might be some other places that don't. So I mean is that is that a a way to split it? I imagine Ian you probably look at something like that even though stove is is older in a

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certain facility it doesn't get that much use and so therefore So we we also we do look at [clears throat] usage but we also look at sometimes the more expensive avenue is the better for longevity. So for some of those stoves that you

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know are six versus say 14 first thing is we we budget 14 doesn't mean we're paying 14 for those because we They were budgeted at 25. Again I don't remember off the top of my head but that just gives you an example that what we budget is not what we

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always pay for the item because we do look at getting quotes we also look at piggybacking to see if we can get the best deal possible if there's another city or county across the state that's negotiated better rates. So we we do try to maximize those savings but we do have to look at what the usage is. One of those stoves was

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for the Gibson Center where there's a school in place and so they're doing meals for school five days a week plus they're running activities on the weekends. Um but like you said there are some that potentially don't and so we do take

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that into account. If I could just give an example like one of the things was the Tom Staffon building it now has like commercial refrigerators and stuff in there and so I don't know if that's totally necessary

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you know and so that's that's just you know I don't I don't disagree with you in situations where you have an offsite caterer who's coming in to do that's a beautiful park and that facility and everything

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but you know you're if you're doing a a wedding there or something you have an offsite caterer come I imagine that they they make plans for you know cooking their food themselves and and storing everything so

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and maybe some of these facilities don't necessarily need that because of that reason. Well and again sometimes we brought vehicles earlier. When we do vehicles and we look at those we look at what peak need is and so you have to purchase to whatever that peak

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need is because when you need it you can't not have it. So it's the same with vehicles that potentially have higher clearance rates for eels if they have a washout and they need to get to something. It's it's those type of things that we have to plan for. I wonder especially with vehicles

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is there for instance I know like the clerk for instance they um you know they kind of check out vehicles and turn them back in as needed and so I wonder with some of the larger vehicles if that could possibly be a an avenue

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where you know like the everyday could be a more economical vehicle but then if they need to check out a larger vehicle for those things if that could be possible. I'll say every time I drive one I say I want a car. I don't I don't want to

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drive a truck so I imagine there are other people people working for the county who like that too. I have a question going back probably for Jill on the estimated impact of resetting the general fund millage slide.

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So that so that we're clear not exceeding charter cap we're at the final column there that you have charter cap FY2627 estimate right? Am I reading that right?

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Correct and that's based on very preliminary estimates we won't receive the actual property values from the property appraiser until the beginning of June so we were doing some preliminary estimates but what you're seeing there is because

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of the charter cap that millage rate goes down based on estimating that property values will go up. So with a lower charter cap with a lower millage rate and again all these comparisons are based on just a

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$200,000 taxable value so so that would be our estimated millage rate at the charter cap. I I won't be voting to exceed the charter cap this year. Okay. So we understand um

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where we are is the staff is going to be working this summer to prepare a budget and so I let we've talked about it many many times in this in this building and and they know that so I'm just saying for the for the rest of you in this meeting

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so that we can prepare accordingly. If I may. Yes. Um with that being said >> [clears throat] >> uh could the conversation be opened back up about say the SURL dollars cuz I know we had talked about um funding and it I know we didn't necessarily say

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it would be out of SURL dollars but doing something with flooding especially for North Brevard. Listen, I I think you have to. Right. >> Okay. So um and I I said to you that I would work on things in up in the north end of the county and I'm going to make good on that. I think

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whether you're talking about wetland restoration type project that that also has the benefit of flood control but with the primary focus on keeping it that runoff out of the Indian

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River I think that's how you get there and I I think you you have to do some things. Now this board we had you remember not very long ago we had a settlement agreement on a on a Burt Harris case and we were able to work something out

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that that um you know I suggested some things and and we all agreed where SURL could buy a piece of the property and eels bought some property and all together

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we were able to get something done where they're going to get stormwater retention, flood control in Merritt Island, desperately needed, and able to settle that case. So, we don't have to continue to litigate it. So, I I just suggest to you that

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I think going forward, we have to do things like that. I don't even think it's a question of really. Okay. And so, one of the things that was brought to me by a couple of um residents in D1, Lorelei and Vince Lamb. They had come to

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my office and um there was a property up in Titusville that they were talking about that it's people have tried to rezone it over the years and it's never gotten support to get it rezoned and part of the reason is because it's got massive amounts of

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wetlands there. And um they showed me a presentation about um you know, the the effects that that would have and um possible possible benefits to um keeping water from going heading to the lagoon.

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Um the other thing that I was thinking about was Fable Farms and some of the other places in Port Saint John. We have some um breakage broken drainage pipes and um with steel plates on them. And so, if we

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um fix those draining drainage pipes, that would also keep the water going to where it's supposed to be going rather than Mhm. tunnel down the street to the lagoon. Let me say something too on on the EELs portion. I had I had talked with the EELs folks

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um you know, even when I was back when I was a candidate and and um now as a commissioner that looking at EELs properties, I've suggested to them the thing that's less painful for the county, okay, if you consider taking value off of the

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tax roll. Mhm. But if you have properties that aren't paying that much in tax and then they become an EELs property Right. as far as future tax rolls, um that's less painful for the county. So, you're talking about some property

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that maybe doesn't have a high value on it because it's problematic anyways. That's it just does as far as cannibalizing the tax roll, that's less painful in the future, right? >> And like um office Singleton, there's [clears throat] all that land there that

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is um low-quality wetlands. And so, that is something that I mean, would be astronomically expensive to develop, but could give benefit, you know, um for protection. >> We're we we've done the 100-acre hollows. So, we've we voted on that a

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couple of times and that's going to be the you know, the the best EELs property in my mind in this district because there just isn't much opportunity um for that. And I think if you remember an earlier meeting when we when we first

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brought that before the board, I said I want to reserve the right to put stormwater there if we need to because ironically it has four basins that was originally going to be a packing plant, you know, 35 years ago and it never turned into that. But

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and we don't we don't have that kind of problem along Vera Boulevard, but if we did, um I I want to I mean, that's the perfect place to um to to send stormwater. So, while that's an EELs property, they if stormwater goes there in the future

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um you know, that's that's where you get two uses out of the out of the same uh property. So, I I think there's I think you have to do that in the future. I think that's just being uh pragmatic um And so, if the votes aren't there

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to to do what's needed to reset the millage, um I used your guys's term. >> [laughter] >> Um um that uh that could be a way to also get some infrastructure projects done.

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And so, you know, you can make all sides a little happier. Again, I don't think you have a choice in the future. Yeah. I think you have to. And I guess I'll I'll bring this up. I know it's an uncomfortable topic, but um the employee salaries,

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um doing a tiered system. I don't know if anybody had considered doing something like that, but I know that we have some salaries that are, you know, 200 thousand plus and um

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you know, not that we don't value our our employees. We we certainly do. But when we're considering a um a resetting of the millage it's it's hard to go to the voters and say

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that while also you know, there are considerable raises that could happen when you go percentage-wise. Madam Mr. Chair, I'm sorry, sir. I hadn't been going through you. So, I So, I apologize. >> reading the budget. >> It's

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I know it's less formal in a work in a workshop, too. It It seems to me that probably the the in my mind the more fruitful thing to do is looking at the vacant positions, um maybe have a tiered approach to that and that might actually

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net you more money. And so, I and then I and I know it's a pain painful thing, too, when we're talking about, you know, covering positions and such, but we're we're in a financial situation. Everybody is. And so, you know, if we're living without certain higher

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administrative staff just as as an example, um we just forego that for a while. We just, you know, Jim's living without Karen Candy. You know, I'm I'm sure I'm I'm I'm sure he would like to have Karen Candy up there

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uh up here today, but but he's doing that. And so, I I think I think if you look at it that way in the vacant positions and we all agree that on the on the bottom half of those vacant positions, those are things we really do need. You really you

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really do need folks out there fixing things every day. But maybe we don't need as much and I'm I'm speaking on behalf of the county manager here, but on you know, from a board policy position and how we get through the budget, we may have we may

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have to go in that that direction. Okay. Uh Mr. Chair, um I do want to talk to briefly. I will say Commissioner Goodson is disconnecting. He has an appointment he has to make. So, just let you know. Um and and the raises are

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I I guess could call it tiered. They're 3% or a dollar an hour. So, everybody that cut off is somewhere around 60-some thousand dollars. So, everybody less than that will be making a dollar an hour. Uh and uh you'll see I don't know how to define it in the budget message. I'm I'm

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trying to thread the needle. My contract says I get the same thing as employees. So, I will be cutting off raises at some point so I don't get it, but I don't want to interfere with the medical examiner's assistant medical examiners. We still have to figure that out. So. Is it possible we could take a break?

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Maybe that's uh I have a couple things I just wanted to I know with Goodson leaving, does that mean we need to end our meeting soon or No, it's you can continue. Yeah, you're fine. >> [clears throat] >> So, I I again back to our presentation. I think staff has done a really good job

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in highlighting what we call critical fund needs for our county infrastructure needs. The jail. Serious problems. We have three tents that need to be re- refurbished. Government Center Courthouse, I've

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toured that facility. It's in really bad shape. Almost a public embarrassment. Roads, drainage problems. We know that's a problem. Public safety, we don't need to mention fire. We all know that problem. But the sheriff operations, jail operations, disaster

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response. Then county-wide, keeping the doors open in the county, health insurance, auto auto insurance rates, retirement requirements and and so forth. That's a $47 million hit. We know that we can fund these critical

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needs with no problem with a millage rate of 3.2%, which takes us back to where we were, I think, what, a couple years ago. Um that millage rate is lower

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than virtually every other county of our comparable size in comparison. And in some cases, that millage rate is half half the rate less than half the rate of some of those some of those counties. So, we can be

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fiscally responsible. We can we can really be watchdogs of the taxpayers' dollars. But but what is just as important is our need to fund the critical needs of our of our residents so we can

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provide the necessary services to have a county that's operating in a healthy way, which ultimately from an economic point of view is is even more important. We lose that, we lose everything. But we can do that with a 3.2691 um millage rate. That's option one.

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Seminole has 3.7, Saint Lucie 4.2, Osceola over twice that 6.7 [snorts] and your river higher Pasco over twice that at 7.4, Martin over twice that at 6.5, Martin County,

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which has a high assessed value. It's probably more comparable to what we are than Osceola, and then Lake at 5.3. So, to me, the question is, are we being financially responsible? Yes, we are. We're keeping the millage rate in a manageable form that makes us competitive, still the

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lowest of any millage rate of any of those counties that are comparable size and nature. And we're meeting the critical needs. Just so it's clear, that's where I'm coming from. I know there's a lot of esoteric arguments about rollback and what have you, but I think the bigger question is,

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what is being fiscally responsible, and what is providing the the responsible revenue that we need to provide healthy county services. Ultimately, that's our our our goal and responsibility. So, that's where I'm coming from. And um

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I don't know we'll have the votes to do that, but I just want to make that infinitely clear. Do any of those other counties have a charter cap? I mean, I'm not trying to be difficult, but I mean, that's that's what has

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has allowed that situation in in other counties where where they're much higher than we are. So, um it's something that I respect. The voters put it there um and I knew that when I was I was seeking this office, and um I do respect

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it. Well, there is a provision to penetrate the caps that that and I think we're at that critical nature. That's I think uh obviously we still [clears throat] have a millage rate substantially lower

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than those other counties, but um but I think there's a reason that they put that ability to penetrate um for those critical services. >> [clears throat] >> May I ask, sir? Yes. So,

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I think from my perspective, um we have a cap that the voters voted on. Um we have a critical need, but I don't I don't feel like I'm

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hearing a lot of conversation about cutting costs. And that's that's hard for me to be comfortable um going with option one, or raising it as high as we can, if I if I just don't feel like we're having a good conversation about cutting costs. And obviously, staff is still working on

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this, but that's where I am. Um I'm I'm just not comfortable with asking the people for more money if I can't tell them, "Look, we've we've cut as much as as we can, and in fact, we've cut things that have upset you." Um or

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almost got there. So, that's where I am. That's where my brain is at the moment. And I don't differ. I think we need to fund critical needs. It doesn't That doesn't preclude our our constant uh desire to cut where we can cut and doesn't cut to the bone. So, I'm not

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saying that that's a bad thing. I'm just saying we've got to fund these critical needs. I That's So, that's where I'm coming from there. Could some of these things go to the ballot as far as like um

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infrastructure needs or or whatever. Um so, we have our infrastructure sales tax. We have the transportation sales tax. Um isn't there one just for facilities? I can't remember. I don't have that list. >> good point, and that's one of the reason

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I asked the staff to include the service tax, cuz if we chose to maintain the millage below the cap, the charter does provide for us to ask the voters. We could put that on the ballot, giving them a choice to to

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to see if they they wanted to in fund those critical needs. And and the public has been very responsive to that. And that that would be an easy one to put on the ballot. And the service tax, can that be spent on anything?

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That just goes into the general fund? >> Yeah, the public service tax would be considered general fund. So, that could be used for any of those critical need purposes. And I believe maybe the other um infrastructure you were speaking of the infrastructure sales tax, which we

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had discussed previously. Right. Um which again would have to go through the Opaga review and all of that. So, I believe we're past that period to revisit that until potentially 2028. Was there another one though? I know that there's emergency services,

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hospital. There's There's like six or seven of them. I have >> There is a transportation surtax that's specific for transportation needs. Okay. No. No, it just as a technical question. Um Oh, some of those are split with

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municipal governments. Right, it's not all just goes goes to the county, right? Uh yes, that's correct for the infrastructure sales tax. The charter charter transportation system uh surtax, that one I believe it would

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come to the county, but then there could be interlocal agreements with the municipalities if I'm remembering that correctly. But the service tax one, that one goes directly to the county. >> The public service tax would just be in the county, and that would be in unincorporated Brevard. I think someone

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earlier mentioned that all of the municipalities in Brevard County are already levying that. We're unique in that our charter states that for us to levy that tax, it would have to go out to a ballot in a general election. Okay.

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Yeah, and and Commissioner, if you give me a chance, I do want to cuz I didn't explain it fully. We're showing you an example on the electric bill. The cities also put it on the gas bills. Some have it on the water bill. And I believe there's even a So, you could put it on a kerosene, too. But I mean, so we The example we showed you

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was just the electric bill. But that the 33 million is the total number. What I like about that is those people that are driving electric cars and not paying fuels tax get have to pay their fair share, which being one of those, I think that's a good thing. >> [laughter]

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>> I drive 26,000 miles a year. Yeah. And I don't have one. Yeah, I think people like I should pay their fair share. Okay. Is there any other discussion that we have that that staff have anything they want to close with?

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Do we have public comment? Yeah, I think we do. Could we possibly take a 3-minute break? Yes, absolutely. Let's take a 5-minute break. Then I can go, too. >> [music] >> Come back to order. We do have some uh

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some cards. You know, I also wanted to mention one other unfunded need, and I know you've probably been reading about it and hearing about on the news about the recent drownings. But, another critical need, and this falls into the life safety element of what we do, and that's is is

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lifeguards. And certainly, uh that's going to need to be a part of our discussions when we look forward into the budget and critical funding critical needs. But, our first card for public comment, unless there's any other questions or comments from the uh commission.

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>> [clears throat] >> Stella Bailey. Stella Bailey, um I was watching the previous budget meeting, and I don't feel that we have enough discussion on fraud, waste, and abuse. And just some examples of that is a $100,000

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promotion raise for the county manager, seven color seven salaries over 200K, 30K promotion for assistant managers, and most importantly, because I'm dealing with this in my own neighborhood, redoing sidewalks while we have

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silver plates all over most of Fayetteville Boulevard. I just don't think you've built a convincing argument to the public that we need to bust the cap. Now, I do have two questions that I'd like answered after

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I'm finished. The first question is the 3% is that warranted for the assumption of salary? And the second question, on page 16, if you look up what makes that a critical need under field upgrades and

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additions and lighting. And those are my two questions. And lastly, I do want to say Commissioner Atkinson, I appreciate you doing the list and actually trying to find areas to cut waste. Thank you. Okay, thank you.

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Uh next speaker, Sandra Sullivan. Sandra Sullivan from Waves Action. So, when you were talking about the CPI, it's currently 2.63, which is less than 3%. So, maybe we shouldn't bust the cap, which is 3%.

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Um when you look at other counties, uh and this is in your own presentations that you've done on budget, the transportation tax, other counties, that's what they use. Uh most other counties have that, which means everybody's paying. The tourists

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that come here are paying, the renters are paying, the people that own their property are paying, etc., etc. Um >> [clears throat] >> You talked about that you need um to give some more money to Circles of Care. Why did you give opioid money to

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affordable housing when you knew you needed this? Um You've prepared a budget uh without looking at the impact of a vote that you're going to be taking, which is the impact fee feasibility study. That was supposed to take 9

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months, and um and and we haven't seen anything about that. There's no um there's no showing that in this in this budget. So, what impact will that have? Um SORA promised to pay AWTS. We're going to see uh rate increases.

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And uh so, this is double taxation. We're paying for it twice. I did a records request to Space Florida and got a copy of the draft agreement. It does not have any funding coming from Space Florida to pay the the number that was mentioned as $130 million that was

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needed to upgrade that plant for Space Florida in the December meeting. That is not represented. So, in addition to busting the cap, we're looking at higher water and sewage, which was updated also in 2022. I think it was 22% aggregated over the

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few years. Um we're looking at potential new service tax fee, an increased gas tax. If you're going to increase parks and rec, it should be to a referendum and not just busting the cap as you have done in past years. And we're looking at increased a stormwater assessment at

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another county commission. You haven't talked about that to address the flooding. And so, when I look at SORA, I look at it, it should be an infrastructure surtax as Florida statute 212.055. And uh we were we were made promises to

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match state funding um for AWTS and other things that hasn't been fulfilled. Um I look at that as a stormwater, septic, and sewer tax is what it should be for infrastructure, but it is not. And so, in the end, the people are

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paying for the cost of development for all the growth that is happening in Brevard largely because we've kicked the can down the road for 25 years on on impact fees. And then we didn't see organic conversation here at this table about

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cutting costs. It was brought up like just a conversation [clears throat] so we can say we did, but there was no real conversation. For example, we doubled the budget for the Economic Development Council from about $700,000 to $1.4 million,

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and they did not deliver on results to get the funding for Space Florida. So, that's an easy one to cut right there. So, that that about sums up um what I wanted to say. So, I'd like to see some serious cost cutting, and I would like to see not all the burden put on we the

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people. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Rick Applefinger? Rick Applefinger, District 1. Um I'm getting a little confused, and it may be because I'm new to this big budget. You guys have got a large outfit. You're talking about the general Hey, it's

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right on the screen. Cool. The general fund millage rate, but you're also talking about a lot of other people. You guys correct me if I'm wrong because I'm just trying to that have their own millage rate. Not just the general fund, right? It's got one. If we bust the cap on that, that's one

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thing, but don't we aggregate the millage when we decide whether we actually broke the cap? So, we could bust the cap Get Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't know. We could bust the cap on the general fund, but still come in under because the other guys held the line. Is that true?

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That's a question you're going to answer. Um because a lot of this discussion, I think they have their own their own millage, right? But you're talking about those guys busting the cap, too. Maybe if we try to solve all these critical Right? Cuz doesn't the sheriff have a millage?

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No? Is that all he's paid for out of the general fund? Um the Well, my time's kind of going, and I The charter cap is up applies to each individual millage except for those voter-approved millages. Where the aggregate comes into

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play is more of a trim requirement, and that's where you're looking at how you advertise the final budget hearing. So, uh the cap applies to each individual millage rate except for those voter-approved millages, which are um primarily And we had discussed these

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last year, and the board actually rolled up some of those voter-approved parks and recreation millages. The fire control MSTU was also a voter-approved millage. The law enforcement MSTU is not voter-approved, so that one is subject to the cap.

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So, I guess I guess now my question is, so if you bust the cap on the general fund, we could be getting trim notices on a bunch of others that we're addressing for critical need? So, how many trim notices do you think I'm going to get? You're only going to get one trim notice, and that You get one trim notice, and that

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includes everything. Okay, so it might just not be a a rollover or a going above on the general fund. I may see some of the MSTU I don't know. The all the There's the big list of stuff that you guys hit me I don't know initially you guys, but you know, the St. Johns water gets me, too. But there are

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individual little things that are kind of I guess they're fenced funds or they're they're targeted. The general fund, I don't know, it's to somehow supports those two, right? But those guys they got critical needs. I would expect their millage rate to go up, too, if they're going to try to cover, you know, I I think facilities is just about

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all general fund. That could be wrong, too. Although and then some parks and rec Does parks and rec get their own money for facilities or does the general fund pay for some of that under facilities? I'm I'm confused. So, I'm concerned that we just talk about general fund, we say, "Hey, this is you

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know, this is the only one that's going to bust the cap." But I hear things that are they're going across the board, you know, the the the jail. Is that general fund or does the sheriff pay for the jail? I don't know where that comes from. So, I'm scared, and I'm not I'm not sure that I understand that we're

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not addressing some of these things that are going to also bust the cap. Now, I know the my last thing to kind of do is we talked Kim brought up I I should have Kim Commissioner Atkinson brought up that's wonderful list. You guys kicked it. She brought it up. I'm glad she did. I wanted to hear about

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that. But you can't make a decision here today. I understand that. We're not voting on stuff. But as Commissioner Goodson said, you can kind of vote to direct staff to complete some of those analysis on

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those cuts. Because by by some statements in here, that was not completely done by staff. So, that 12 or 13 million dollars of unfilled billets, we don't know who who that impact. Katie Katie made a Commissioner Delaney made a made a good point that we don't want to just say,

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"Hey, fire department guys, guess what? You know, you're already understaffed. We just But we can't fill them, so we're pulling the money back. Do Do it Do it with what the guys you got now." We don't want to do that. But if you've got parks and rec I'm going to pick on them just as an example because I know they had some rollover a while back. If

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you've got maintenance guys that you can't fill the billets for, and they've been sitting on the books for 3 years, 2 years, and you've been getting by, we want to claw all the money back. Claw claw claw money back, right? But but without direction to staff,

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you're already putting together a a plan right here. Option one doesn't account for any of those things that may contribute. So, I'm I'm concerned about that. Thank you. That's our final card. Uh any um other items before us? Any other discussions, questions?

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All right. Uh the stand the workshop being adjourned. Thank you. The opinions expressed by [music] any member of the public during any period of public comment do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Board of County Commissioners of Brevard [music] County, Florida, Space Coast

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Government Television, or the program sponsor and are solely those of the presenter. The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, Space Coast Government Television, and the program sponsor hereby expressly [music] disclaim any and all responsibility or liability for any defamatory or slanderous statements

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expressed by any member of the public during any such period. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music]